Dreams And Dust

["Iron Heart" Ethan King]

DON’T DENY THE TRUTH

An open window allowed a breath of fresh air to flow into the compact dorm room and circulate through the stuffy interior. The room, in simple terms, was a disaster. The walls were covered with numerous sticky notes and posters, each with little bits and pieces of information about certain truths and lies that culminated into a bigger picture that only a certain Eddie Felt would ever truly be able to piece together in that delusional mind of his.

Or was it delusional?

Perhaps the truth really was out there, but the simple, caring mind of Ethan King couldn’t dare fathom that, not when there was so much else at stake. Not when the biggest battles of all were just starting to commence, for those were the only things running through his mind.

Just like the horizon line that appeared at the far end of the Earth, at least from the view out of his particular window, there was a Great War looming, a battle of gods, where titans and leviathans, sharks and aliens, men and legions would stand at once and let out a triumphant cry in unison. Where the lines would be drawn and the world would come to a standstill for that split-second, when the armies gathered and the leaders set out there plans.

There was something deadly in the works, something vicious, cunning, cruel and manipulative. Yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, even in that deep sleep of his, where he fell victim to the anchors that weighed down his eyes and left him limp on the floor. The butterflies were still swimming, the nervousness and excitement never subsided, it would always remain.

Because he knew.

Oh, he knew.

It was coming.

The tidal wave, it was coming.

And he would be on the forefront of the battle, of this great threat that would threaten to tear everything apart in an instant.

In truth, it scared him.

But with the stakes rising by the minute, it only excited him even more. This wasn’t merely another throwaway moment in his career that he would let pass through his fingers, this wasn’t a time for him to cower, linger in the darkness and throw his hands up in defeat.

He… no, The Pride itself, would stand before the threat.

And they would take it down.

No matter the cost.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

Eddie Felt: Dude, wake up. For real, I’m about to head out.

He muttered something unintelligibly, an incoherent sprawl of words that only served to make the looming Eddie chuckle slightly. Ethan felt a sturdy pair of hands start to lift him up from underneath the armpits, forcing him upward into a seated position. His eyes fluttered slowly, until they inevitably opened to the sight of Eddie and the glaring sunlight that cast itself into his eyes. Instinctively, he shut his eyes tightly and held his hands over his face.

Ethan King: What time is it?

Eddie Felt: I don’t know, like seven. I’m going to hit up that café down the road, you coming?

Ethan King: What? No. I just woke up.

Then, it hit him.

Ethan King: How are you already up? Last I saw, you were staring directly at that screen.

He gestured toward the shut-down laptop, which resided on the small table in front of a sofa covered with bread crumbs.

Ethan King: What where you doing?

Eddie Felt: Eh, don’t worry about it my dude. There’s just something I’m trying to figure out, that’s all.

He shrugged.

Eddie Felt: Nothing important, really.

Ethan knew better than to believe that, although there were certainly things he didn’t know about his friend, there were some things that could never be hidden. He caught him out just the night before, when he stumbled into the room with a lack of wherewithal. That’s when the deep sleep took over him, when whatever had entered him system controlled him and sent him crumpling down to the room floor.

But he didn’t forget.

He couldn’t forget.

REALity iS stranger than fiction

He shook his head upon seeing that image once more, his friend staring at that screen in the middle of the dark, his eyes focused with an intent that he had rarely seen from Eddie, one of determination. As if there was something toying with him, gnawing away at him, something that he just needed to figure it out.

Just another piece of the eternal puzzle that he never seemed able to fit together in its entirety.

Ethan smiled at his friend graciously, as he noticed the outstretched hand he offered him. Eddie pulled him up to his feet and clapped him on the shoulder, but even with those bloodshot, tired eyes of his, he could see the uncertainty sprawled over Ethan’s features.

Eddie Felt: Seriously man, it’s nothing.

Ethan wasn’t so sure, then again, when was he? There was only doubt and confusion, something that reigned supreme over him ever since the three of them had entered the WCF. The stakes had never been so high.

The bar had been raised.

What had changed since the three of them had stepped into the federation, looking to make a name for themselves? What was this queer feeling that seemed to be enveloping over him. Had he changed upon becoming a working part of this bigger organization, or was there really something out there that was begging for his attention.

Something that could potentially harm him?

These were the questions he wanted answers to, and yet he didn’t have the heart to ask his friend, as he stood before him. He didn’t have the guts to come right out with the question, for there was already tension enough with the other people he cared for in his life.

But in doing so, Ethan failed to realize that this was bigger than simply him.

It involved everyone.

And if he didn’t learn what he needed to soon…

Then it would all come falling down.

Like the walls of Rome, the might of the #BeachKrew, and the great acts performed by the heroes of the past.

It would all fall eventually.

The only question was…

When?

THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE

Cara Segreti: What do you mean, he seemed off?

Ethan King: I don’t know, just everything about him. The way he talked, the way he told me to stop worrying and shit. Like he thinks I don’t know there’s something going on with him. Something that I can help him with!

The two walked through the park grounds, one of them with a spring in there step, and the other with his head down, trying to figure out exactly what was going on in the world that surrounded them. This dastardly place that only held mystery and intrigue, rather than the love and joy of life that he had enjoyed in the past. Nothing had fallen into place like he had expected it to be.

Once, he was just a carefree boy, but now a storm was appearing in the distance, destined to rip apart everything he ever knew.

This would be what turned him into a man. That’s what he hoped, anyway. For nothing was ever a certainty, that much he already knew.

He saw the smile she gave him, the sweet one that never failed to melt his heart, it still managed to do that, but nothing would be able to take his mind off of what was proceeding, right underneath his nose. He could smell it, he could taste it, he KNEW there was something going on.

But how much could he prove, when he had a friend who merely shook his head and told him that everything was going to be alright?

How much could he figure out, when everyone only wanted to look to the nearest solution? The simplest solution? The one that told him to “go make things right” or “just ignore it”. How far would that get him, when he had bigger plans in store?

Cara Segreti: Ethan, helloooooo? You listening to me, or am I talking to a brick wall?

He jumped back into reality.

REALity.

Ethan King: No? I mean… yeah?

She sighed and rolled her eyes, before crossing her arms.

Cara Segreti: You didn’t hear word I said?

She received an apologetic look from Ethan, coupled with a contrite smile that didn’t quite have that ‘heart-warming’ effect that hers had. Once again, she rolled her eyes.

Cara Segreti: Whatever, I’m just telling you; that’s just the way Eddie is. He’s obviously got some things he wants to keep secret, you know he’s all about those forum pages and stuff. I say you just leave him to it, and if he wants your help, he’ll ask for it. Okay?

Ethan King: That’s not what I want though. I’m his friend, he knows I’ve got his back. We’ve known each other for years, you know what I’m saying? How’s he going to just sit there and tell me everything’s alright, when it clearly isn’t?

Cara Segreti: Maybe you’re just assuming.

Ethan King: Maybe I’m right.

He hoped she would concede the point, but the way her lips pursed and her jaw stuck out said otherwise.

Cara Segreti: You’re just being paranoid, give it a few years and you’ll be scanning those forums too.

Ethan King: Seriously?

He playfully swatted at her, a smile forming over his lips.

Ethan King: Look, I know where you’re coming from with this. I’m just worried, you know? We’ve got a lot of things to think about right now and I just want him to know that I’m there for him.

Cara Segreti: You don’t think he knows that?

He shrugged his shoulders, clearly unsure of himself, his eyes narrowed slightly as his feet shuffled forward.

Ethan King: I hope he does.

She took a hold of his hand, stopping him momentarily. With a delicate touch, she used her finger to tilt his head, forcing him to glare directly into her mysterious green eyes. For a second, he thought he could see a hard light forming in them – but the moment passed quickly.

Cara Segreti: No, he DOES know that. You just have to show some trust. He’ll come to you in his own time, this isn’t about trusting you or not trusting you. It’s just a matter of time. You get it?

He forced himself to nod convincingly, stowing away the doubt that still remained, creeping and crawling.

Ethan King: I get it, I do. Like I said, I’m just worried.

She smiled sadly.

Cara Segreti: I know you are.

He turned away from her, and their feet began to move once more, taking them through a densely packed garden. Even though there were still dark thoughts, the talk had calmed him down. Letting his fears and thoughts out always had a way of… calming him down. Now, the aromas of the flowers and the bright, vivid colours all seemed so much more real.

REAL.

Ethan King: I might just shoot him a message anyway, tell him what’s up.

He glanced at her curiously whilst he said it, she nodded, although it seemed perfunctory to say the least.

Cara Segreti: You do that. After you’re done, we have something else to discuss.

Ethan King: That being?

Cara Segreti: Our little meet-up with your Dad.

Her mischievous smile told him the whole story, but he refrained from asking her any questions. He would receive the answers in due time.

Just a little patience, he thought.

In a flash, he whipped out the phone that had sat in his pocket for the majority of the morning, he navigated through it quickly before finding his messages. He clicked on the name ‘Eddie Felt’, fingers flying into a flurry as he shot a message to him.

“Hey dude, I just wanted to let you know that I’m here for you. If there’s something going on, I need you to tell me so that I can help you out. I’m not gonna tell anyone what’s going on, alright? I’m just worried, dude. We’ve got a lot on our plate and we need to work together if-“

He cut himself short, and then deleted the message, sighing unhappily.

“Hey dude, are you back at the room yet?”

He sent the message, and received a reply almost instantly.

“Just got back, whats up?”

He fired back a reply.

“Nothing, just wondering. I’ll be back soon.”

Again, almost instantaneously, a response.

“Aight my dude, catch u in a bit.”

He shoved the phone down into his pocket after reading Eddie’s message, Cara shot him a side-long glance.

Cara Segreti: You guys figured it out?

Ethan faked yet another smile, as if it would get him anywhere.

Ethan King: Yep, all sorted.

And with that, they continued, one of them holding their head up high, savouring the opportunity to dance throughout the wonderful garden and share a moment with her lover, whilst the other continued to hang his head, hiding something that would only serve to send him crashing back down to REALity in a moment’s notice.

And so their lives continued.

WINDS AND WORDS

“It’s been three weeks people.

Three weeks since we came into this federation and made a bigger splash than anyone in the history of the federation, in under a month we not only got the endorsement of current champions, but got the entire roster on notice.

In any other world, the two relatively low profile matches we’ve been given would’ve been reason for ridicule, but instead we made that shit our own and proved to the world that The Pride is the next big thing.

In any other world, guys would cry them salty tears as they realize they aren’t getting thrown to the top of the card immediately after joining the federation.

But what did we do?

We thrived.

We took these matches and made them something bigger, we made ourselves something bigger in the process. Through dominating twitter and getting that publicity up, we have taken what for ninety-nine percent of the federation been a ‘regular, plain’ debut and made it something special.

And look where it’s gotten us.

A PPV match up against the F-Team (unless you’re counting Oblivion and Sandy LOL) of the #BeachKrew. (A little harsh? Maybe.)

Doesn’t sound all that iconic, now does it? Throw in some higher stakes, like a shot at those tag team straps, and suddenly everyone’s got eyes on this match. Where the new talent come up against…

A): A former TV Champion who disgraced himself by losing the strap and then being a whiny bitch about it.

B): A guy who calls himself a winner, but for the majority of his career has been a punching bag for the more driven, dedicated talent of the federation.

Damn, could I get some of those “LOLS” and “dank memes” up in here right about now?

But let’s not kid ourselves, this isn’t going to be just another walk in the park. Not like our first match, hell, not even really like our second match.

This could actually be an interesting challenge. You got this juggernaut in the Krew being thrown up against the new talent, the new guys looking to cement themselves and take their spot, against the still relatively new guys, the ones hanging around at the bottom of the #BK Food Chain.

Yeah I said it.

I’m awaiting the salty tears, I can feel them coming, I can already feel that rage about to be spat back at us.

Oh, I can see it now.

I can see everything you guys are going to throw at us, Andre going to come up in here calling us copycats and shit, then Beaver comes in from behind and tell us all to “beavlieve’ or whatever retard shit he likes to spout out at random intervals.

So, what’s it going to be, guys?

This shits going to be hilarious, for real. Their voices are going to crack, they’re going to shed some tears, they’re going to stamp there feet and throw tantrums as they cry and swear, telling everyone that we copied them, that we’re just trying to be a second version of a team that hit the top and never looked back, am I right?

At least, that’s what they’ll tell you.

They’ll try make you believe that shit, even when they continuously contradict themselves and come off like some of the biggest spastics on the fucking planet.

Like when you called yourself a winner, Andre.

That’s what you did, right? You told the world that you were a winner, you told John Gable that he’d be a teaming with a winner.

Well, I’ve seen no evidence of that shit yet, now have I?

In fact, your biggest accomplishment to date is probably pinning that boy Charon, and we all know that shit ain’t a real victory. Hell, I could argue that your biggest moment in this federation is getting pinned by Joey Flash. You know, the guy your whole Krew talks all that shit about, but gets continuously #rekt #shrekt #murkt against twenty-four-fucking-seven?

Yeah, that guy.

A stable filled with hypocrisy, contradictions, and narcissists. Damn, WCF. Is this what we’ve allowed to reach the top of this hill, are these the guys that have a relentless hold over on the entire federation, are these the guys that have dominated the federation for the past few months?

Yes.

These guys climbed to the top of the mountain, they reached the pinnacle and held it all.

World Title? You got it.

TV Title? Beaver had a great run with it.

Tag Titles? Big victory at One, all of that good shit.

These guys took it to the federation, and then everyone hopped on them the moment they lost, and rightfully so.

No, not everything these guys did was a fucking fluke guys, it was just smart. What they did was smart, whether it be through cheating or manipulating, or even in some cases just being better than the opposition, they did what so few stables have managed to do in the past.

But yet, not everything they did was legit, now was it?

They didn’t EARN it all, did they?

There was some bullshit that got pushed under the rug, that a lot of people seem to refrain from mentioning, the shit that makes all these huge victories and monumental moments look just a tad less great in the eyes of the masses, if you decide to actually mention them.

What’s with that, guys?

What are we afraid of?

In the entire federation, I see maybe one guy besides The Pride that actually wants to take a stand against these guys, and that’s Teo Del Sol. He sees the oncoming threat, he knows what’s about to happen, he knows that if we don’t unite these guys are going to once again take control of the federation.

But these guys aren’t everything they make themselves out to be, they’ve got the reputation that precedes them, and that’s all they’ve got for them.

Sure, they’re all talented individuals in their own right, but they aren’t everything they make themselves out to be.

Like when Andre Aquarius called himself a winner.

Andre’s the type of guy that whispers that shit to himself on the bus ride back home, that word runs through his mind thousands of times each and every day, as he tries to throw up all these smoke screens and facades that covers the insecure guy that’s really underneath, the guy that lurks below.

He calls himself a winner, whilst realizing that he’s anything BUT a winner.

That’s how deep this shit runs, that’s how deep these doubts and fears run. But he’ll tell you different, he’ll tell you that he’s got this shit on lock. That in the future, he’ll be hoisting up championship gold and running the federation with his boys once again, even though we know that shits not going to happen, not again, not like it did last time.

He’ll call himself a winner whilst he’s getting pinned by Joey Flash, he’ll call himself a winner while he’s barely scraping out victories against sub-par competition, he’ll call himself a winner as he watches all his boys get the big wins, while he sits in the locker room watching them, clapping to himself and nodding contentedly, saying that he earned this shit along with them.

I can tell dude, you’re just along for the ride.

This isn’t what you’re about.

Hell, just a few weeks ago, you barely made appearances over on Slam. You weren’t even showing up for matches, you were barely over on that twitter, you weren’t hitting anyone or anything up. You were just that guy in the background, chilling with all your boys. Hanging around in a couple of segments with them, beating up some “fuccbois”, am I right?

Yeah, you know I’m right.

Because that’s what you’re about, you don’t take initiative, you don’t bring that competitive fire, you act like you’ve suddenly had a huge revelation and know exactly what you need to do to reach the top, but you don’t.

You don’t know where you’re at right now.

You have no fucking clue.

You’re just riding the wave, my dude. You’re just happily allowing yourself to mesh in with this group of guys that have been overshadowing you ever since you stepped into the federation. Even when you faced guys that you were almost certainly supposed to beat, like that “fuccboi” Derek Moreno, you still dropped the ball, you still needed your boys to come save you the absolute disgrace of getting pinned by such a “low-life” like him. Yeah? That’s what you needed, that’s what you needed to save face.

That’s what you’ve needed ever since you stepped into this federation.

You call yourself a winner as you talk down Rebellution, telling them that they aren’t shit. While you’re telling respectable competitors that have earned their places here in the WCF that they aren’t deserving of everything they’ve got, that they aren’t good enough to hang with the likes of you.

And what happens?

You fucking fail.

Are we starting to see a pattern here?

You aren’t a winner.

Not yet, anyway.

You haven’t proven that you have those capabilities, that you have the strength to work with the team that’s been casting that shadow over you for the longest of times, while they were taking off with their meteoric rises, you were just… there.

Andre Aquarius.

The dude with a dream, to seize the federation and have it fall to its knees, with his close friends riding that wave of success with him.

But while they were shooting off into the stratosphere like shooting stars, you were still grounded, anchored down by something that you just couldn’t put your finger on, you were lost, you had no idea where in the world your head was at.

And then it hit you.

You realized you needed to focus and concentrate, and since then?

We’ve gotten a bunch of shitty little rants from a cry-baby who calls himself a winner but fails to back it up, over and over and over again.

We’ve gotten a narcissist who wants to sit there and scold other people for thinking they have a chance, but then fail to do anything of worth.

That’s sad dude.

That’s pathetic.

You want to try and put other people down, even when they’ve worked harder than you ever have?

So be it.

Just realize that the moment you step into that ring, all of that natural talent you might have in that ring will mean nothing when you come up against the heart and passion that guys like you seemingly lack.

Because truth be told? You don’t give a fuck about this, man.

You act like you do, but in reality you don’t. You just want to ACT superior to everyone, you feign it, fake it until you fucking make it, but there’s a catch here; you never really make it, do you?

You’re just content to sit back and let your boys get their hands dirty, you’re happy to play off of their success and act like you earned all this shit, acting like the real “winner” that you are, am I right? Because you know deep down that you don’t have what it takes to earn anything off of your own merit, and you know what? That’s absolutely fine.

What’s sad about it all… is that you just can’t admit it.

It twists you up, it kills you, like a stake piericing through your heart, you feel that pain and it immediately turns into this twisted rage and anger that you just can’t control. So you let it all out, you call the other guys that step into this ring useless pieces of shit, you tell them that they don’t got nothing on you, that’s your superior to them and that you’re a winner.

When we all know… Andre…

That you aren’t.

You’re not a winner, as much as you try to elevate yourself to that status.

In the future? I could see you becoming something great man, I really can. I’m not gonna lie, there IS talent there, there’s potential to make something of yourself, but you’re going down the wrong path.

A bad path.

A path that’s going to lead you into some shit that’s going to land you right back where you started, at the bottom of the totem pole, looking up to a group of guys that are just going to keep on keeping on, while you become a perennial underachiever that tags along with them every now and again.

Is that what you want?

Is that how you want to live out your career here in the WCF?

I hope not dude, I really hope not.

Some day? I see you hoisting up some championship gold over your head proudly, knowing that you earnt that shit off your own merit, off your own talent and skill that you honed through hard work and effort. I see that shit in the future dude, I truly do.

But that time?

It’s not now.

It’s not going to be for a while, not while we’re here looking to make a name. Not after we’ve put in all this effort into making an impact, into honing our craft and making sure that we were fucking ready for this moment, the moment we stepped into this federation and glanced upward at the crazy amount of talent, and in some cases… the vicious sharks that glared down on us, telling us that “we aren’t shit”, just like you do.

We were prepared for this.

We knew exactly what we were getting into.

The question Andre, is…

Do you?”

PUT YOUR DREAM ASIDE, YOUNG ONE.

Sudoku: You know, I didn’t think you would’ve come to me for a matter as… as grave as this.

Ethan King: I don’t think I had any other choice, I feel you’re the only one that’d know about something like this.

He felt a cool breeze flutter over him from the air-conditioner that had almost been put at ceiling level, the wave sent a chill down Ethan’s spine as he took a sip from the warm cup of coffee that lay before him. His eyes darted forward to catch a glimpse of his elder, the man who sat before him. The owner of the “Real Sudoku Hours” (yes, that’s what it’s called) College Campus. The man, who went by the name of “Sudoku” placed his hands on the wooden desk in front of him, clasping them together warmly. He seemed to be contemplating something, a question, rather. One that had undoubtedly been asked by the young man seated before him.

Sudoku: There’s a lot of things that Eddie could be trying to figure out, although I truly do think you’d be much better off asking him about it, rather than me. There’s clearly a lot of things that go through that mind of his, he’s a very intelligent but somewhat… eh…

Ethan King: Obnoxious?

Sudoku: Yes, obnoxious young man. He comes off quite strong with his… “investigations”… then it probably means he’s looking for something huge.

Ethan King: Something huge…

Sudoku: I wouldn’t know what that would be, but there’s been many atimes where Eddie has told me about his very… let’s just say, outlandish theories. He feels that there’s some sort of truth that needs to be revealed, and in some ways, I actually agree with him. I just don’t have it in me to go to the extent that he does, not when I’ve got all my students to worry about. And I DO worry about Eddie at times, but you have to understand that he will eventually traverse down his own path. Sometimes, we need to accept that, we can’t just sit here and ridicule people for what they want to do Ethan.

Ethan sighed.

Ethan King: Yeah, I know. But I’m not trying to come off like that, he just needs to tell me man. I care, I want to know what’s up. I don’t want to stick my nose in or anything, but this seems like something he’s really working hard to figure out. I saw the notes, I saw the way he was so damn focused on whatever it was that was in front of him.

He frowned.

Ethan King: I can help him, man. I can.

Sudoku reached out to him, and placed a hand on his shoulder, whilst offering him a warming smile.

Sudoku: Then tell him that.

THE RETURN LETTER

Hey, Dad.

I’ve missed you too, I’m sorry I haven’t reached out or anything in the past few weeks… I’ve just had a lot on my plate, you know? I’ve been saying that a lot lately, but I feel like there’s something up that I just need to figure out.

It’s not you or Kylie, or even Mom. It’s just something that I feel I need to find out on my own, something that I’d rather not trouble you guys with…

But yeah, enough of that. I did get signed to “that big wrestling company”! It’s awesome, everything that I thought it’d be, to be honest. You know I’ve been a fan for a little while and actually making it… well… it’s a lot to take in.

There’s so much talent here, and sometimes I get a little worried thinking that maybe I’m not good enough. I’ve had those thoughts a couple of times, but I like to think that all my training and stuff will be enough to help me make it big around here, that’s what the dreams been ever since I was little.

It makes me appreciate all the time you sacrificed to help me on the way there, sometimes I feel I should repay you in a way, but I don’t really get around to it all that often. Maybe I’m just scared, scared that everything isn’t as good as we make it out to be, you know?

I don’t really think it was your fault that you had all this expectation for me, you shouldn’t feel guilty about anything, for real. There’s been so much I’ve missed out on lately because I’ve been all caught up with this college stuff… and this wrestling gig, but in the end I know where my families at.

I know that you guys are always watching.

Cara told me all about how the two of you organized our little get together! I can’t wait! It’s been how many months now? I can’t even remember. Tell Kylie I miss her heaps, even though she’ll probably call me within the next few days or whatever…

But yeah, it’s going to be great to see you guys. I know it may not seem like it sometimes, but I really do miss you guys. I just want you to know that, okay? It’s going to be awesome catching up with you guys, I’ll make sure we organize some more times for visits and whatnot.

See you in a few days.

Love,

Ethan.

He wrote the last word down on the piece of paper, the noise of his scrawling finally being subdued as he dropped the pen, allowing it to thud lightly against the wooden table beneath him. The lamp that sat upon the desk illuminated the room, he went to turn it off, but heard the opening of the door behind him.

Miguel Myles: Guess whose back.

Ethan inspected him up and down, the classy dress style he chose for that particular night catching him off-guard.

Ethan King: Uhh… you? I didn’t know you left, where were you at?

Miguel Myles: You know, just hitting up that new club a few blocks away.

Ethan King: There’s a new club?

Miguel Myles: Man, you really don’t get out, do you?

Ethan drew breath to respond hastily, but cut himself off as he processed the question. Unhappily, he tapped his fingers rapidly against the desk.

Ethan King: Truth be told… not all that much, man. Been kind of stuck here, thinking about things.

Miguel got the hint almost immediately, he clicked his tongue thoughtfully before beckoning toward the letter on the desk.

Miguel Myles: Writing up another late night assignment?

Ethan laughed – although there was clearly some pain and remorse behind it, a direct result of the guilt that lingered over him like a dark cloud on a rainy day. It tore away at him, glancing down at that letter and reading the words, they sounded so fake, even to him. Even though he knew deep down those were the true thoughts that resided within him. Even so, he hid the pitiful laugh behind an amused expression, one that had clearly been practiced for moments like these, where he masked the disappointment or embarrassment that reigned over him.

Ethan King: I wish, I can't be bothered with that shit man. This is just a letter to my Dad, Cara and I are going to be meeting up with him and my little sister in a few days.

Miguel Myles: Oh, that’s cool. You were telling me you hadn’t seen them much recently?

He wanted to cringe, but didn’t.

Ethan King: Yeah… this course and all of the wrestling stuff just made me lose sight of where I was at really. I think I just need to take a step back and re-evaluate everything that’s going on.

Miguel Myles: Step away from the federation?

Ethan King: No, no. Not like that, I just need to take a moment, get a feel of what’s going on and tackle the situation.

Miguel Myles: That sounds like some solid advice, you should use that in the future.

They shared a laugh, once their chuckles subsided, Miguel gestured to his room with open arms.

Miguel Myles: Well, I’m going to head off to sleep man. Got a big day tomorrow.

Ethan analysed him quickly, eyes narrowed and brow furrowed. Slowly, a smile formed over his lips.

Ethan King: No you don’t, you just feel like you’re about to pass out.

Miguel Myles: You got me.

Ethan smiled, but was gracious enough to cut the conversation off there.

Ethan King: I’ll let you go dude, night.

Miguel Myles: Night.

Miguel retreated into his room, crumbling onto the bed with a thud, Ethan’s lips curved into a half-smirk, but it was short-lived. His gaze soon levelled itself back on the letter he had written up, he read over it once, twice, three times.

It didn’t feel right, to send a letter like this after ignoring the issue for so many months. He felt like a hypocrite, reading the words he had put down on the sheet, acting as if now that they were meeting up, all their problems would be solved.

That wasn’t how the world worked.

That wasn’t how REALity worked.

Angrily, he reached down at the sheet and crumpled it into a paper ball, which he left wrapped up on the desk. His hand flickered to the light and flipped the switch, allowing the room to form into a dark abyss, his own little peaceful place, where he could think and reflect on the past events he had ran through.

At the time, it all seemed like a blur, his actions didn’t have any consequences then, at least… not to him.

But now? Problems were arising.

Like the armies and legions that gathered in the WCF, there were people ready to capitalize on the mistakes he made outside of the ring to. There were mysteries that needed solving, relationships that needed fixing, and a whole lot of time and determination needed to make it all happen.

It was now or never.

And as he began to fall into yet another trance, one that would gradually take over his entire being and cast a “spell” on him that would force him to descend into a deep sleep, where he could finally rest and stop thinking about everything that was “wrong” with his life…

He only had one thought on his mind.

Reality and Fiction.

Which one was he living in?

EVEN IN DREAMS, YOU COULD NOT FALL FOREVER.

“Dustin, what’s up with you, my dude?

Still hanging around with the rest of ya boys, I see. Still trying to get everyone to buy into all the shit you’ve been spewing the past few months.

Like your tag partner, you’re another one of these cardboard cut-out “I am greater than you” type dudes, which makes it hilarious considering your entire Krew is out here trying to make the world “beavlieve” that we’re carbon copies of them.

Give me a fucking break. LOL.

It’s comedic, to say the least. You stepping up here with your Krew, I bet you’re going to go on the same tirade as your boy Andre will, talking about how we aren’t original and all of that shit. Even though you’re just another narcissistic asshole who thinks he’s got what it takes to make it big in this federation.

Unfortunately, we haven’t received any evidence that proves this.

You’re probably screaming on the inside though, listening to this. You’ll puff out your chest proudly and talk about your incredible TV Title run, that cemented you as credible threat in the WCF, that showed you weren’t just another joker trying to get some laughs out of the audience.

Too bad you’re still just that, even when you aren’t trying to be.

Now, don’t get me wrong. It’s not like you’re all that bad, but you’ve done some really questionable shit since grabbing a hold of that Television Strap. You came off a huge victory at One against Occulo, showcasing exactly WHY you were deserving of that strap. But then just a few weeks later, you dropped that shit to Slane, halting all of that momentum you had been building up after your huge victory.

And to make matters worse, you weren’t even man enough to accept the fact that you got your ass kicked, god damn some of these #BeachKrew guys are fucking babies.

So what do you do, Dustin? Oh, yeah. You take off with that belt, ruining a great moment for a guy that defeated you clean and ripped that title off you in an instant, and honestly? It seems like you haven’t recovered.

Now you’re so desperate for validation and acceptance, it’s fucking pathetic.

You’re different from Andre in a way, you weren’t the one being overshadowed, you aren’t the guy that’s all of a sudden stepping back up to the plate, trying to make an impact and failing miserably.

No, you’re a whole different beast. You had a reason to be recognized as something more than just your average, cocky, brash young guy. But instead, you blew your fucking chance to reach greatness, to hit that superstar status. You lost one match that you thought was yours from the beginning, and you fell apart. Emotionally, hell, maybe even physically. Your performances just weren’t as good as when you had that big gold belt to keep you motivated through all the tough times, and you started working this idea into your head…

One that told you people didn’t believe in you.

And maybe that’s the truth of it, because fast forward a few weeks and you got Wade Moor saying shit like…

“You gave everyone yet another reason to Beavlieve in you tonight. You should be proud of what you did here tonight.”

Your esteemed former World Champion says, as he acknowledges the fact that all you accomplished that night was standing in the ring with the rest of your squad, beating on a guy that had already been in a match.

Oh shit, is it time?

L-M-A-O.

Yeah man, excellent work, for real for real. You sure showed everyone exactly why you deserve to be in that upper-echelon of the WCF, now didn’t you?

But let me be real with you man, it’s actually kinda sad, what’s been going on with you. Even your fellow teammates know it, they can see it in your eyes.

You don’t even believe in yourself.

That’s why you got Wade Moor clapping you on the shoulder, throwing them kind words your way, telling you that you gave everyone a reason to believe in you, he doesn’t even have enough confidence to say aloud that HE believes in you.

Now does he?

How does that feel, man. Knowing that even your squad don’t have your back? That when the times are tough and you’re still trying to find your self, they don’t even have the decency to let you know that they trust you?

It cuts man, it cuts deep. I wouldn’t know, but I can see the toll it’s taken on you.

Your fall from grace came quickly, sharply, I bet you never saw it coming. You have a fear of the unknown, when you’re out there chilling with your boys, telling the world that you’re “better than everyone else” and that “you’re going to walk out victorious”, on the inside you just don’t know what to believe.

You don’t know whether the words that are coming out of your mouth are the truth, or just instinctual at this point. For you, Dustin. Telling others that they’re inferior to you has become a routine, a routine that ends with you getting embarrassed a majority of the time, as your most notable moments are when you’re sharing the spotlight with a group of guys who in reality, are far more than anything you could ever amount to.

At least, that’s what you tell yourself.

That’s what you’re thinking when you’re standing in the ring with those guys.

You see a former World Champion, you see a leader who has taken what seemed to be a joke of a group and made it the biggest talking point of the year of 2015, you see guys who have seemingly limitless potential in Rabid and you see guys like Andre Aquarius, who have all the freedom in the world to take what they want in an instant, if they put in the time and effort to make that a reality.

But you?

You don’t see yourself in that way.

You don’t think you can hang with those types of guys, that’s why you’re so desperate for people to believe in you, you need that validation. That’s what makes you run, if you’re not getting accepted by the masses and your homies than you feel like a piece of trash that doesn’t belong in a WCF ring. This isn’t subjective, this is an objective fucking fact that’s been proving time and time again.

You didn’t just lose all your championship, but you lost the confidence that made you, you. You lost what made you that dominant champion that came at all contenders and had victories that at one stage seemed unlikely. You lost the urge to compete and prove to the world why you belonged, but even when you didn’t have the heart to compete, you still wanted everyone to believe in you, didn’t you?

And how do you expect that to work, exactly?

While you were running away with a title that wasn’t even yours at the time, while you were hiding away in the distance as you left guys like Andre Holmes to compete in handicap matches, you were muttering to yourself consistently, that people would eventually wind up believing in you.

Believing in what you had to bring to the table.

But that’s where it all came crashing down, didn’t it? That’s where you were cut down from your soaring flight off into the stars, you hit the ground as hard as possible and have remained at rock bottom ever since.

You went from a somewhat respectable TV Champ, to a dude that everyone just sees as another gear in the machine that is the #BeachKrew. You aren’t seen as an individual, you’re just seen for what everyone else in the squad does. Like Andre, their achievements are your achievements, you bask and the glory and run your mouth off, telling everyone that they don’t belong in the ring with you.

You gain minor victories here and there and suddenly act like you own the place, even though that time has already passed. You don’t own anything here anymore, Dustin, and you aren’t owed anything.

You’re just a self-entitled little brat who thinks that he can slip through the cracks and take advantage of situations, you’re delusional enough to believe that you can run away with titles that aren’t yours, perform pathetic acts with the rest of the Krew, yet still be regarded as one of the top competitors around.

Question time, guys.

Is Dustin Beaver worth being considered apart of the upper-echelon in the WCF?

Short Answer? No.

Long Answer? Are you fucking kidding me?

I’m not going to go as far as to say this guy doesn’t have the ability, because it’s painfully obvious that he does, but he’s lacking the confidence that brought him up to his peak, and before he could realize that potentila and utilize it, he fell down the ranks in a fucking instant.

You don’t have any heart, plain and simple dude.

You were on a roll, you had it all, and then you let one thing get the best of you, it literally mind-fucked you, you couldn’t believe that YOU, Dustin Beaver, had failed to defeat someone who was so far “beneath” him and the rest of your group.

That’s what you were thinking, weren’t you, Dusty?

You couldn’t fathom this idea that said you weren’t good enough, for one of the first times in you WCF career.

It broke you, cut you down piece by piece, and now? Now you’re just trying to rehabilitate.

You’re trying to claw up the rankings once again, and it all starts here at Explosion, doesn’t it? Where you face these “inferior” opponents in The Pride, for a shot at the Tag Team Titles.

This will be YOUR salvation, this will be YOUR chance to make up for the mistakes you made in the past, this will be the time Dustin Beaver stops caring so much about what other people think, and starts to realize that he’ll have to take his opportunities, rather than get handed them.

Well, that’s what he wants you to think.

In reality, we can all see what’s about to go down.

No matter what the situation is, there’s no way these guys have a chance in hell of beating The Pride clean, and that’s a fucking fact. These guys don’t have the heart or the mindset right now to make that shit even slightly realistic, but if there’s one thing they have going for them, it’s that they’re crafty.

That they’re not the type of guys to fight fair.

They’ll play their little mind games, they’ll try to set the tempo with their dirty tricks and holds, they’ll try to spite us and makes us become irrational beasts, hellbent on beating the absolute shit out of them.

Rest assured, that’s still going to happen. But it’ll be in a controlled and calm manner, because that’s not what we’re about. We aren’t savages, we aren’t going to be opportunistic little runts that try to cheat their way to the top. We aren’t going to stoop down to that level, because we know we’re above that shit.

The question is, are Andre Aquarius and Dustin Beaver?

I’d like to think so, but we all know that shit just ain’t real.

These are two guys who are currently in the same boat, they just want to feel like they belong in this place, and this is MEANT to be what guides them down that path, down the road they desperately want to start travelling down.

But there’s a roadblock in that way, one that at the moment? Is arguably insurmountable.

It’s The Pride.

And no, I don’t think that we’re actually fucking invincible, unlike our opponents, we aren’t delusional. We know our limits, we know how far we can push the pace, we know exactly how far we can go. We understand that sometimes? We’re not always going to win, and we can accept that. We can live and learn from that shit.

But when you’re faced with guys like this, the stakes are set so much higher.

There’s something looming in the distance, a huge war that’s going to involve many vital parts of the federation, lines will be drawn, and soon enough everyone is going to head into battle. This is just a skirmish, this is where we get a feel or what we’re getting up against, and at the moment?

I’m not exactly impressed.

And this isn’t even from seeing them in the ring, remember. I’m just looking at their actions, everything they’ve done, what makes Andre and Dustin… well… Andre and Dustin.

Two arrogant assholes who don’t know what they’re getting themselves into.

That isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact. Like I said, we know what we’re bringing to the table. We see the challenge that’s been set in front of us, and we plan to go at it with everything we got. The question is…

Are our opponents willing to do the same?

Will they actually put in the one hundred percent they need to have even a slim fucking chance of taking us to the limit? Will they put on a show for the WCF Universe that’s put them in the position that they’re in today? Are they willing to put it all on the line, or are they just going to go back to their same old routines, were they proclaim greatness and fail to hit the mark, time and time again?

It’s interesting, to say the least. We all know what these guys are about, don’t we? Predict a few attacks from their buddies, some cheap shots, some mouthing off, and you basically just wrote the entire story for this match, except for the ending.

Because we’re the ones who plan on writing that ending.

We kick off this little “war” that’s set to take place with a bang, we step into the firing line and avoid all that shots being thrown at us, we go through hell and back and we slowly start to chip away at this juggernaut that is the #BeachKrew.

Because that’s where our actions have lead us, and unlike the guys we’re set to be facing off against, we aren’t afraid to take responsibility for those actions.

No excuses, no fear, none of that shit.

This is nothing but the truth.

And that truth is going to be hitting these guys like the tonne of bricks.

You can “beavlieve” that.

Can’t wait to see what you guys throw our way, I expect a fuckton of #BK comparisons, I can see Andre already, telling the world that we aren’t shit compared to him.

It’s going to be awesome, to tell you the truth. To see these guys reach as far as they fucking can to get under our skin, only to get decked the moment we step into that ring together.

But as always, guys…

Good luck, honestly.

There’s some excitement being generated for this one, and I can see why. It’s new talent across the board, in a fresh match up that’s sure to entertain.

Let’s make it a good one.

If you guys are capable of that.

See you at Explosion.”