On a dark, stormy and very dull night. Amber Mansley lounges on her queen sized bed doomscrolling on her phone. With a splutter of her lips, her arms flop down to her side as she glances out the window to the rain pattering against the glass. With her sigh she goes back to her phone and brushes her perfect blonde hair away from her eyes; the phone dings as a message appears on the screen.


“Ugh!” Amber throws her head back. “Finally!” before typing back.

She hops out of bed, tightening her sleeping gown as she prances giddily over to her closet. The windows rattle from the wind and the lights suddenly go out. Amber lets out a gasp as she stops dead in her tracks with an annoyed sigh.

“Oh what the shit!?”

Gliding over to the light switch, only the moon lighting her way through the glass, she flips it on and off repeatedly hoping for some change which never comes.

CRAAASH

The window bursts open, sending shards into the room as the wind lets out a piercing howl. Amber shrieks in fear as raindrops batters her and the whole room begins to rumble. Amber is lifted briefly off her feet and is thrown around the room as the house itself rips from its foundations and everything goes black.

. . .

The smell. It was different.

She opened her eyes, the darkness turning into light but the vision was blurry. Amber’s consciousness regained its strength but she sat up slowly, rubbing her head, and checking for any significant pain or wounds. None, thank you lord. The damage around her? The opposite. Wreckage, debris, and trashed remains all around her and she stood up dusting herself off wondering how she could have survived that.

Well, she survived but another didn’t.

While stepping out of the house, she looked around to understand her environment. What was noticeable was a pair of humanoid legs under the debris of the wrecked home. Amber gasped, both hands covering her mouth and she was shocked. She gently approached the body, looked at what she saw carefully and ripped the slippers from the unfortunate soul’s foot as the shoes shone red and sparkled in her eyes.

“Oh this is definitely a limited edition.”

As Amber slips them on, she’s startled by a crowd of little people who rush in cheering and surrounding her.

“She did it!” cries one “She killed the Wicked Witch!”

Another round of applause goes off as Amber defensively puts her hands up and glares at each individual. Three of them step forward and begin rhythmically dancing and sing in horrid croaky voices.

“We represent the Worker’s Union, the work-”

“EW!” Amber involuntarily blurts. “The fuck is wrong with your voices?”

A little disheartened, they step away and Amber looks to the sky as a calm voice vocalises. On a little yellow cloud hovers down-

“Game Girl?” Amber questions.

GG gives an excited wave as she lands. “Hey, Amber :D”

“The hell are you doing here?”

Game Girl looks around with a shrug. “I dunno, I kinda just float around from place to place nowadays. Guess fate lined us up together.”

“Hmm.” Amber scrunches her face up briefly. “I don’t know whether that’s freeing in a niche hippy way or super sad.”

“Why not both!” GG responds with a smirk.

Amber gives a “hm” with a side smile and moves past GG placing a hand on her shoulder and giving a squeeze. “So… How do we leave?”

“Why would you want to leave this pl-” One of the munchkins asks before Amber cuts them off.

“Please stop speaking, your voices make me want to die.”

“Aw.” Game Girl looks around with a reassuring smile. “I like ‘em.” before looking back up to Amber “And on leaving, erm… Actually I don’t know usually when this happens to me I get a quest by now.”

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! A shrill cackle echoes through the sky.

“Oh there we go :)” GG places a hand on her hip and shields her eyes with the other looking up to the figure approaching as the munchkins run in terror. Amber squints as a foul looking green woman swoops down saddled on a kendo stick, dressed in a black cloak with arm tassels and a black bandana with the words “Witchamania” printed over.

“Well, well, well DUDE if it isn’t my sister MURDERERS, brother!!!!”

“Ew.” Amber recoils in disgust. “Why does everyone in this place sound like shit?”

“Murderers?” GG questions looking this ridiculous person up and down. “We haven’t hurt anybody!”

“Oh yeah, dude!? Then how do you explain the domicile on top of my brother, brother!?”

The Witch points behind our “heroes” who look back at the house and the legs poking from underneath and back to the front.

“That’s manslaughter tops!” Amber responds. “Insane act of god any other day.”

“You’re even wearing his slippers, dude! You think you can job out my brother, brother, steal his stuff, jack, and lie to my face, dude!? That doesn’t work for me, brother!

Amber and GG share a look before Amber clears her throat and puts up a pointer finger to The Witch.

“Can you just give us a minute?”

The pair turn away and huddle into a whisper.

“Paige, this person suuuuuuucks.”

GG stifles a chuckle. “Ye-yeah. Erm, you did squish their brother though.”

“I didn’t mean to! It’s like drunk driving, you can’t blame yourself.”

“I-I don’t think that’s right?”

“Whose side are you on!? Anyway, how do we get rid of them and get out of here?”

“Hmm.” GG thinks for a moment. “Most of the time it's either beat up a bad guy or learn some existential lesson.”

“Which one do you think this is?”

Game Girl looks back from the huddle to The Witch flexing their muscles, before rolling their wrist and cupping their ear. She turns back to Amber.

“I’m praying for the first one.”

The pair break the huddle and turn back to The Witch.

“Witch, woman, thing, whatever you identify as.” It wasn’t the best way to come clean but Amber couldn’t help it. She looked next to Game Girl and rolled her greenish eyes then reverted her attention back to The Witch. “I’m sorry about your brother. Look, you clearly are upset and probably need a LOT of therapy. Why don’t you go away on your stick, fly, and come back when you don’t look like the clearance sale on a Whole Foods produce aisle?”

Game Girl forces a smile at her words. Amber’s cocky attitude never failed to shine and the witch upon hearing her response wasn’t too happy.

“You murdered my brother, brother, stole his slippers, and now you make fun of my skin?! Not cool dude!”

“Oh shit.” Amber muttered. She frantically looked around. “Okay, umm, ugh.” She nudges Game Girl. “Say something!”

GG’s eyes widen as she stammers “Erm… Well. Vegetables are good for you? And… Green is a great color! …”

Amber looks down, slowly blinking. “Damn, you’re worse at this than me.”

The Witch fires up. “OH YOU HAVE DONE IT NOW, DUDES! I'M HEADING TO THE EMERALD CITY RIGHT NOW AND ME AND MY MINION ARE GOING TO DO EVIL PLANS, BROTHER! I’M GOING TO GET YOU MY PRETTY, AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TURD COMPANION TOO, DUDE!”

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Amber and Game Girl awkwardly stand there as The Witch kicks down on an invisible pedal and revs the kendo stick before speeding away.

“Why do you get called pretty and I get called dog poop? :(” GG says with a pout.

“Because bitch, I keep telling you to use the products I got you.” Amber snapped. She was even annoyed having to put up with the madness but now a certain witch has managed to escape with a clear notion for vengeance. Before the two could move on, Amber yelled out in sudden realization.

“FUCK!”

Game Girl looks up to her. “You should really cool down on the cursing.”

“Bite me.” Amber replies, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I just remembered I was about to go to a party and THIS has TOTALLY ruined my night.”

“... That's what you’re focusing on right now?”

“Duh, yes!” Amber shakes her head, “Forget it, let’s just go find the exit or whatever and get home.”

Amber storms off as GG follows behind with a slight huff.

“Y’know, Amber.” GG speaks up as they walk. “Usually normal people would be pretty psyched to be in a world like this. I mean look around!”

Amber does so, at the yellow brick road under her feet. The giant lollipops sticking out of the ground, the grass so green it almost appears blue and far, far in the distance a glimmering city made entirely out of emerald.

“I’ve seen the Wizard of Oz, bitch, this ain’t new to me. It’s old even.”

GG rolls her eyes. “Jeez, can you just let go of your ego for one minute and enjoy something?”

“My ego!?” Amber scoffs. “I’m sorry getting transported to some weird hellhole without my consent doesn’t make me all cringey and sunshiney like you. And I do enjoy things! But MY things. Things I like to do. We could have gone to a salon for the day, or shopping in the hills. But every time someone joins up with you, we get this shit.”

Game Girl goes to respond but hesitates.

“I don’t do it on purpose.”

There’s a beat as they walk and Amber sighs.

“I know… It’s just, this is weird.”

“Ha, yeah.”

There’s another beat.

“I will use those products you got me by the way.”

Amber smirks. “If you don’t like them, give them to that witch, she needs them more than you.”

The pair let out a laugh as they walk down the yellow brick road.





“- I’m not saying your skin is leather-like but yes, you need to moisturize every day.”

Game Girl rubs her cheek. “Seems like a lot of work.”

“HALT!” A guard rings out as Amber and GG reach the entrance of Emerald City, the glorious towers shooting up into the cyan sky. Two guards block their path, crossing halberds over the large castle doors. “If thou wants to see Dime, the Great & Powerful then-”

“Dime!?” Amber shouts with a laugh “Fucking Dime!? What kind of a name is that?”

GG thinks for a sec before groaning and leaning into Amber "Dime... Instead of Cent..."

"Wha-... " Amber is stun-locked "That is so fucking stupid. Why is Cent even involved in all this? Is that just coincidental or?"

"I try not to think about it anymore, just causes migraines."

"As I was saying, is thou wishes to see Dime, the Great and Powerful than thou must prove thy worth."

There's a brief pause as the guard tries to spit out his words.

"Are... Are you under the age of 25 and willing to date a man past his prime? ..."

The guard avoids eye contact at the two women who each raise an eyebrow.

"So it is just Centurion in there?"

"Yeah, I'm not answering that question Mr. Guard so-"

Game Girl throws out an hellish jumping uppercut into the guard's jaw knocking him far away , the other guard goes to swing his halberd but Amber rushes in with a nasty side kick into the guard's stomach, causing him to double over in pain and Amber follows up with a brutal knee strike to his nose. An arc of blood flows through the air as the guard tumbles down to the ground, GG gives an impressed thumbs up as Amber smiles and dusts off her hands.

The pair push open the doors and walk down a corridor before entering a large open room filled with screens. On them shows Game Girl and Amber walking around the room and looking around at the emptiness, the dust, the lack of care. GG squints looking over at curtain and a silhouette moving slightly behind it. Game Girl tugs on Amber's arm and points over.

"Holy shit! Are you jacking off behind there!?"

The silhouette jumps up and clambers around. "Pay no attention to the pervert behind the curtain!"

Amber lets out a "tsk" before heading over and peeling the curtain back, revealing a shrivelled old man who quivers in fear.

"Please don't hurt me! I'm just a man!"

Amber looks at him with disgust and turns away walking towards GG.

"Can this guy actually get us home or is this some bullshit?"

GG peeks behind Amber and looks at the sad, old man. "I doubt he can do anything, honestly."

"Great! So we're fucked!"

"OH YOU'RE FUCKED ALRIGHT!!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

The Witch jumps down from their kendo stick and flexes.

"I GOT YOU FOR 3 MINUTES!" They hold up 3 fingers while adjusting their wraparound sunglasses with their spare hand. "3 MINUTES OF PLAYTIME, YEAH!"

Amber throws up her hands "What the FUCK!? Now this guy has completely changed their persona! Do you have ADHD!? Are you not well!?"

Game Girl snickers "I kinda think they're just not very creative."

*GASP* "NO MY ONE WEAKNESS!" The Witch begins dissolving into a puddle. "BEING CALLED OUT ON MY BULLSHIT!"

Amber and GG watch as The Witch goes lower and lower into a puddle crying out in pain.

"OOOOOH WHAT A WORLD WHAT A WORLD OH YEEEAH!!!"

All that is left is a bandana and sunglasses. Dime steps forward.

"They're... They're dead! You killed The Wicked Witch of Wrasslin'"

Amber sighs "Game Girl, with all due respect never get me associated with your dimensional bullshit again."

GG nods in agreement. "I'm thinking of calling it quits too to be honest."

Dime smiles a toothless grin, "You two, you heroes! Why the courage was in you all along! And your way to go home along with it! If you just-"

Amber punches him in the face knocking him out.

"I'm not listening to a thing that creepy old man has to say."

There's a moment.

"So..." GG kicks her feet. "What now?"

"I mean... It's a pretty cool castle, wanna just hang out for a bit?"

Game Girl smiles warmly, "I'd like that, Amber."

And with that, our heroes move up the spiral stairs as the scene fades to black.

---

The dark skies over Emerald City pouring down strong waves of powerful rain, water droplets being extremely heavy and accelerated by the roving winds. The lights of the manmade beauty overpowered by mother nature’s roar of lightning ripping through the clouds and striking all in its path. Thunder bellows, the sound imploding but up in the room of the highest tower are two individuals, Amber Mansley and Game Girl. The sound of music. Amber sits before the organ, pressing her fingers on each note, tapping the keyboard and playing a tune of her improvisation. She stops and listens to the thunder, smirking confidently then speaks for her voice to echo into the open space.

What happens when you decide that a fairytale isn’t worth it?

When we strip away all the joy, the pleasure, the singing, the worship and truly remind everyone what reality is?

What happens when we decide that something is too Wicked?

When the praise of a song now becomes the fire of Salem?

Because that’s what will happen at Warfare when we take a being such as The Wicked Witch of Professional Wrestling and a new refined Centurion who has found enlightenment and wisdom after years of causing turmoil, pain, suffering, violence and betrayal in XWF.

What we have here isn’t a fairy-tale.

It’s a eulogy.

It’s a beginning countdown to the numbered days of our opponents who share the same sentiment in understanding that reality can be the only escape from their miserable lives but has forgotten that the final journey to end it all is death.

And death waits for no one.

Amber spins around on the chair before the organ instrument. She stands up, her beach blonde hair curly, strutting in a silver dress with heels on. The make-up portraying a princess turned into a fighter after understanding the corruption behind the fantasy.

Because we’re going to kill the fantasy. We’re going to make sure when the curtain falls, it doesn’t end the show, it crushes the bodies of our opponents.

As a matter of fact, has everyone forgotten what this is? Are we all just living our own damn lives trying to pretend something we’re not?

Centurion.

I don’t understand how one of the most decorated professional wrestlers in XWF has fallen to this old crumpled body of a man and with all those resources, wealth, connections, you still have no idea what to do in a world that has left you behind. Yes, we get it. You’re the veteran. You have accomplished almost everything in your primal days of XWF. What knowledge you have oh great wizard but now, we’re seeing you fall, we’re seeing you descend from the heavens and you’re on equal ground with us.

All those years of being on the mountain when it took you days to fall to the bottom.

It’s not fun being with the rest of us, isn’t it?

And it’s even more insulting how you mask your condescending attitude with a comforting sympathy.

At least give us the credit to not gaslight us into believing you’re the counsel to the next generation of warriors who simply want to tear down your legacy.

What do you have to say, Game Girl?

Well… Given Cent's history I say it’s less likely that he’s guiding new talent and more he’s trying to have… “Relations” with them.

It’s quite embarrassing honestly, he’s someone who has been a figure in the XWF longer than anyone. He holds the record for the most wins in the company! Heck, he could be the wrestler with the most wins under their belt that's still active! His legacy is impressive!

Yet, he’s here now.

Flailing. Stumbling around like an old man at the retirement home, telling people he used to be something, trying to talk to the nurses and relive the charm and charisma he once had before looking back in the mirror and seeing this shell, this husk staring back at him. Someone who should be regarded as a living legend, treated with the utmost respect but somehow manages to find a way, week-in week-out to tarnish everything he’s worked so hard on.

A grown man, a legend, a veteran who still says they're going to… Amber help me out here? With the “F” word.

Fuck?

Their opponents' moms. (Thanks, Amber.)

A megastar, a record holder, a man who has held several championships over 3 decades.

Making basic insults that a newbie makes in their first week, who still talks about their nightlife like they’re a teenager, who chased people like Ruby to try and stay relevant, who is now clinging onto this Monster of the Week mess he’s partnered up with.

It’s not just insulting to us.

Not just insulting to the fans or your legacy.

It’s degrading to the XWF as a whole and with The Trillionaires in charge I didn’t think it could get much worse, but you somehow did the impossible. Guess you broke another record, Centurion.

Speaking of, degrading.

Wicked Witch of Wrestling! … And I thought my name was stupid :)

I’ve noticed a pattern recently, we seem to have fresh new faces come by every other week and disappear quicker than they arrived. Everytime people get kinda excited, they say “Oh, this new guy is good!” They get hopeful, they look forward to what they’ll become.

Then without fail, they fall off.

And everyone just gets annoyed and bored when it happens and keeps happening.

Now!

We got a witch!

WOWEE!

So cool and original!

Would it kill any of you new guys to… Try?

Like just once have a modicum of determination to be here and present, to actually care about this amazing sport. And- GG breaks out in laughter. And a Wicked Witch!? And I’m your first opponent? Dude, you’re screwed! I was whooping witches when I was in diapers.

It’s literally Hero Stuff 101!

That, you’re paired with a washed-up nobody and it’s your debut…

I cannot wait for this to be your first and last match!

And once that happens, you can blame Centurion for that unfortunate predicament.

Game Girl’s confidence, determination and verbal savagery was commended by Amber. She listened to every word Game Girl spoke, the sheer brutality of the harsh words captured Amber’s interest and gave her the fire as she came into the fray with a voice hardened by the passion to win and embarrassment.

Game Girl touched a brilliant point ladies and gentlemen. All these new entrants into the game with pathetic names such as The Wicked Witch of Professional Wrestling have to look up to the man who allows this to continue. The make believers, the fantasy bringers and the childish antics? It’s one thing to embrace that but when you start to introduce newer generations to it with absolutely no chance of success, now you have to take responsibility.

And that’s something you Centurion or your little Witch of a friend has done. I am so tired of watching the crafty veteran who cannot even enter through the ropes correctly try to come back in this sort of redemption story when retirement should have been your one way out of this world.

Now? Look at you.

The Great Centurion is reduced to teaming with a woman who probably has bipolar issues and personality disorder coming together for a situationship.

The Wicked Witch of Professional Wrestling?

I might as well have Game Girl try to pick out all my purses and guess which designer made them.

But let me make this clear.

We’re coming to beat the utter piss out of you.

The Wicked Witch of Professional Wrestling won’t melt. We will burn her. We will tie her up, make sure her skin rips and blood trickles down her body. We will both grab our torches and light the fires underneath that the Salem Trials will wonder why they never thought of us in the first place.

We will make sure you will disappear into the void of people who shouldn’t have stepped foot in the ring.

And finally, I can finally point at you and go…

WWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Centurion.

You old decrepit fuck!

Go home.

Go back to the assisted living building your family left you in, stop wasting our time with your monologues about the good ol’ days, stop trying to flex your wealth by buying meideval things, parading your employees as lords entering into your court and remember that we are not here to be thanking you for building XWF.

We don’t respect your legacy. We damn sure won’t be coming to you for any advice because we’re going to beat you at a point that makes you realize the world of professional wrestling has evolved.

You haven’t.

You are obsolete.

And as a rookie, I damn sure will NEVER choose you as someone to follow the blueprint to having a successful career when myself and Game Girl brutalizes you so much to the point your legacy becomes ours.