Fractures In My World Need To Be Fixed...
Jul 1, 2023 22:40:46 GMT -5
TheNewBreed and Jim Caedus like this
Post by Peter Vaughn on Jul 1, 2023 22:40:46 GMT -5
Peter Vaughn has truly been down the rabbit hole as of late.
In the last few months, Vaughn has been dealing with flashes of an alternate reality, one straight from his own mind. He's seen his former bosses and family members appear out of nowhere, seemingly not aged a day. He's seen both friends and foes, neither truly being there in the moment. He's seen himself, a kinder, gentler Peter Vaughn, yet one who was willing to try and fight for his own place in the world. Vaughn's had moments where he's doubted reality, wondering what's true and what's an illusion. But still, as a true World Champion, he's pushed through it, determined to continue to be one of the greatest talents on the wrestling scene.
It seemed that nothing could stop Vaughn from continuing to reign supreme on top of the WGWF. He wouldn't let anything slow him down, and would do anything in the world to make sure the momentous run continued.
And then there was War Games.
And everything seemed to change.
~Slowly, a tiny amount of light filters in through the shot, letting us know that the cameras are recording. But it's mostly darkness, impossible to tell what's happening. All we can hear is the sound of breathing nearby, a sign that someone is alive in the black depths of the room. The image slowly adjusts, as more light begins to shine down from above. This allows us, finally, to make out the back of Peter Vaughn, as he continues breathing heavily, facing away from the camera. He doesn't acknowledge anyone, staring straight ahead, away from the camera. In front of him, we suddenly see a shimmering vision appear in front of Vaughn. It appears like a mirror, as we can see Vaughn looking back at us. But the movements aren't the same. This is a different Vaughn than the one we know.~
"Peter Vaughn": You're slipping, Peter.
~The Vaughn facing away from us shakes his head quickly, immediately denying even the thought, but the Vaughn we can see just smiles.~
"Peter Vaughn": You rescued your friend from Hell. A noble gesture. A respectful one.
Peter Vaughn: No... it was all for the team, so we could win. Outcast was indispensable..
~The camera begins rotating to the right, bringing us up towards Vaughn's shoulder as he rubs at his eyes, as if trying to remove what he's seeing the old-fashioned way: with his fingernails.~
"Peter Vaughn": You were right there. The Deacon Brody Pendant. You thought it would solve all your troubles. You thought it would get rid of me. So why turn back? Why run to your team's aid, sacrificing yourself to save Christian?
Peter Vaughn: It... it wasn't like that. I planned to... to go back...
~Vaughn sputters, struggling to come up with a good excuse. The camera is now even with the two Vaughns, and strangely, we can SEE the second Vaughn standing on the other side of the mirror. It now looks more like a window, as both men are staring through at each other, with one unable to deny the smirk that's come to his face.~
"Peter Vaughn": But you didn't, did you? You put your team ahead of you. And then, at War Games, you did it again. Why, Peter? Why would you, this black-hearted son of a bitch in front of me, willingly submit just to save your teammate? That doesn't sound like the Peter I've been watching for the past few years...
Peter Vaughn: I... I don't... I was handcuffed... I...
"Peter Vaughn": You saw your teammate, right? You saw him about to get the victory for your team. You just had to wait. You just had to let Jim Caedus do what he was going to do, and your team would have still won. Wasn't it all about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of the few, as long as you weren't in the few? Why did you submit? Why, Peter? Why did you do it?
~The camera has continued rotating, bringing us now behind the second Peter. We now see the Vaughn on the other side, pulling at his hair, looking like he's hoping to loosen up the truth of why he did what he did. Because, honestly, he still doesn't know. He doesn't have an answer. Suddenly, we see cracks beginning to appear in the mirror, separating the two. They cut across the glass, spider webbing outwards to all edges of the mirror.~
"Peter Vaughn": It's beginning to happen, Peter. You can't hold on much longer. Soon... soon we will be one once again. You can’t prevent it.
~With a gasp, the first Vaughn puts out his hand towards the glass, hoping to contain the fractures. He fails, as they continue to spread, with the mirror creaking ominously.~
"Peter Vaughn": Soon, Peter. Soon.
~With a loud crack, the mirror shatters, although the shards fly upwards instead of straight out. Vaughn’s hands stay in place, frantically trying to stop them.~
Peter Vaughn: No!! NEVER!!!
~Fire erupts, consuming the mirror, but also seemingly blocking it off once again. As Vaughn continues to yell, the mirror sizzles, as if being a nicely-seared steak…~
~And after a second, as the shot changes, we see a piece of meat sizzling in front of us on the hibachi grill. The camera pans up, showing Vaughn suddenly jumping out from his seat, sending it flying. He looks around wildly, his hands now outstretched once again. He’s met by a bunch of concerned stares, as the rest of the people in the hibachi restaurant look over at him. He focuses on the Japanese chef in front, who has stopped in mid maneuver. The onion train has stopped on its tracks~
Thomas Hill: Peter? Are you okay?
~Vaughn turns, taking in the fact that his half-brother, Thomas, is sitting there, alongside two of his ranch hands, Sadie and Leon. They’re all surprised at Vaughn’s sudden reaction.~
Thomas Hill: Take a breath, brother. You seemed to zone out there for a minute.
~Vaughn rubs at the back of his head, pulling himself back together. He bows quickly to the chef, showing his apology for the disturbance, before pulling out his wallet.~
Peter Vaughn: I’m sorry, guys. I don’t think I’m feeling the greatest. But you guys have fun. Here, this ought to cover the meal. I’ll see you all later.
~Vaughn lays a stack of twenties in front of Thomas, nodding to him, before walking off at a quick pace. Sadie reaches out as if to stop him, but she holds off, watching him go. Thomas, meanwhile, only has eyes for the money. Leon stares over at it, too, blinking rapidly a few times to make sure he’s seeing what he thinks he’s seeing.~
Leon: Am I losing it, or did Peter Vaughn just pay for all our meals?
Thomas Hill: Yeah. Pretty wild, huh? I’ve never known him to be so generous. Maybe he’s feeling better than he looks?
~Thomas shrugs, putting the money to the side, then looks back at the Japanese chef, who is now working to salvage the meal, now that his timing was thrown off. He pushes the onion train a little bit.~
Japanese Chef: Choo choo!
~Everyone at the table raises their eyebrows, but hey, that’s part of the show, right? We cut away from them, ending up outside the restaurant, where Vaughn is hurrying over to his truck. He gets in, staring at himself briefly in the mirror. He might be checking to make sure he’s not seeing anyone in the back seat again, but no one appears.~
Peter Vaughn: There… there has to be another option. Another path. Another… artifact?
~Vaughn puts the truck into gear, quickly pulling away and heading onto the main road. We fade out.~
There are always solutions to every problem. You just have to seek them out.
For instance, I had the problem of Joe Montortoise stealing my championship, thinking that made him champion. Well, I sorted that problem out last Fury, even if it led to a higher cleaning bill for the ring mats. I'm dealing with the problem of Jimmy Caedus proving to be a world class asshole, but you can bet I'll find a solution for that as well.
And then there's the problem of one Johnathan Cable, aka The Beast, who's getting himself a World Title opportunity out of literally nowhere.
I mean, I guess I get it. Cable's been a big-time friend of Chris Page for some time now, right? He loves hanging out with him at all the old-timer reunion parties. So when Cable comes back from his little break, resting his weary old bones, and manages to get past Fred Debonair at the PPV, I guess Page saw that as a worthy enough victory to warrant a World Title shot. I mean, sure, I beat Fred not that long before that. He hasn't exactly had a stellar run in the WGWF, really, which makes it a strange jump to a World Title shot.
But hey, what do I know? J Mont hasn't won a match here in 2023, and he's getting a shot, too, after all. So the rules for worthiness are pretty much broken anyway.
So, Cable, here we are, about ready to go at it with the championship on the line. You now have a chance to make your own destiny, don't you? You can get yourself into the main event, joining Jimmy and J-Mont in the J-challenger line. Maybe that explains it all. Maybe Page just loves a good J. But the problem is, Cable, you've got to find a way to get around me, the most dominant champion the WGWF has ever seen.
It sure as hell ain't an easy path to navigate, boyo.
Now, sure, I have to admit that I respect your wrestling ability, old man. I've seen you fight, and for someone in his fifties, you aren't half bad in the ring. When other people are just thinking about reaching their retirement age, you keep trudging out there, night after night, fighting away. Well, in-between long breaks, but that's going to happen to anyone your age. I'm still a fan, though. I mean, I remember when you won the World Title... then lost it in minutes. Is that still the record? I mean, did you even have the belt long enough for it to count as a 'reign'?
Eh, it's in the history books either way, I'll count it.
So I'm sure you use that to justify why you're deserving of a shot at the belt here in 2023. I bet back in the day, you would never think you'd still be wrestling, would you? But here you are, taking on one of the great talents of current day wrestling, and I'm getting my chance to add another legend to my List of the Vanquished. I missed you once, Cable, after that Double Countout Brawl in our six-man. I'm not going to miss that chance again.
It's a very impressive list to be on, by the way. You can join guys like Matthew Knox, Jimmy Caedus, Corey Black, Centurion, and many other veterans of the sport. There's no shame in getting your skull smashed in by The Mechanic, not in this day and age.
Of course, I know you're going to lean on the same tropes that so many other powerhouse types have done before. After all, I'm not the biggest guy. I'm not the strongest. I'm certainly not the ugliest, either, but nobody really keeps track of that category, even if I don't have to wear a freakish mask at times like you do. Although I'll admit, I did mask up at one point. But I grew out of it.
So you're going to come into this one thinking you can just overpower me, I'm sure. It's a blind spot I still don't understand. Why do you think your attacks will be any different than all the other meatheads who take me on? I run circles around all of them, all the time. I can be practically untouchable when I want to be. And if you haven't realized it yet, I'm a man who's built to take a beating. I can come back from everything you can throw at me, and you certainly can't say the same.
They say stamina is the first thing to go when you get old, right? You looked positively dead on your feet after that match with Freddie, and I mean, that was Fred. Not someone like me. You ever hear the term "rope-a-dope"?
What am I saying, that's closer to your era, of course you've heard of it. But will you know how to avoid it? I think not. I'm betting you're still the type to just keep charging forward, heedless of the effect it's having on your body. And once you're standing there, suddenly realizing that your muscles have gotten tight and your legs won't follow the directions you're sending them, you'll have a moment to think about how I warned you about this very scenario.
Then I'll plow into you like a bulldozer, hitting you from all directions, still fresh as a Cholo on the dance floor.
Once you wake up from that, realizing that you missed out on another chance to hold the World Title for longer than a bull ride, you'll be forced to deal with the fact that you will have to move back down the ladder, as I go on to battle the true #1 contenders.
But don't worry. I'm sure Chris will find another reason for you to get another title shot. So have faith!
~As we rejoin the live action, we see Vaughn's precious truck, Gabriella, pulling up in front of a specific home that we've seen just recently. It looks more like a mausoleum than a house, really, but it's still a very impressive structure. Vaughn hops out and jogs over, quickly grabbing the door knocker and slamming it repeatedly. He waits only a few seconds, before banging on it again.~
Peter Vaughn: C'mon, c'mon, you have to be home. When the hell are you ever out somewhere? OPEN UP!!
~Vaughn reaches for the door knocker one more time, but this time he misses his grasp, as the door swings open. The woman standing on the other side just glares at Vaughn for several seconds, before letting out a long sigh.~
Maria: You've really come back here, have you, Vaughn?
Peter Vaughn: I... I still need your help, Maria. You know you told me about the pendant in Hell. Now I need you to tell me where I can find something else. Anything else. Will you help me?
~Maria is quiet for several seconds. She just can't believe that Vaughn has once again darkened her doorstep.~
Maria: After you nearly got Mac killed? No, Vaughn. I will not help you. Now go away.
~The door slams shut, with Vaughn standing there, a little shocked that she actually said no to him. He takes a step back, thinking things through... before rushing back over to the door and hammering on it again.~
Peter Vaughn: You know me, Maria! I'm not just going to leave! Now let me in!
~Vaughn slams the door knocker some more, before waiting for a few seconds. Finally, the door opens again, with Maria staring daggers towards him. She eventually steps back, and Vaughn quickly takes advantage, jumping into the building. Maria looks up at the sky for a moment, as if silently cursing a spirit up there, before shutting the door again. After a second, we jump into the home as well, which is just how you would expect the living quarters of a woman like Maria to look. Vaughn follows Maria back to a blanketed chamber, one good for spiritual enlightenment. It's about the last thing Vaughn has on his mind right now.~
Peter Vaughn: So you know what I've been going through.
Maria: About your supposed 'mental breaks'? Yes, I remember you rambling about them to me. That is why you wanted the Pendant. But you came back without it. That was your decision.
Peter Vaughn: It wasn't my fault! Your precious Mac was in danger, and I had to do... something to keep everything from falling apart. I never got another opportunity at it, and I'm sure the path to Hell isn't nearly as ready for us now.
Maria: No, You escaped the grasp of Hell once. Going back would almost surely mean your eternal damnation begins earlier than expected.
Peter Vaughn: So I need something else. You must know of another such item, something that can help me strengthen my mind and pull everything back together.
Maria: Have you considered... a shrink?
~This was the last response Vaughn was expecting, considering Maria's background. He shakes his head, quickly removing any possibility of it.~
Peter Vaughn: Those quacks don't know what they're talking about. I remember being forced to talk to several of them after an... incident involving one of my opponents and his family. They tried to act like I was crazy then, too, but I proved them all wrong, didn't I?
Maria: Because you haven't gone on a killing rampage yet? I suppose that counts as "proving them wrong."
Peter Vaughn: No, they can't help me. I really feel that only you can.
~Maria shakes her head again, starting to get up, but Vaughn's hands snap out, grabbing her around the wrists, keeping her in place.~
Peter Vaughn: You don't understand! I'm seeing visions everywhere nowadays. They come at me whenever I lose focus for only a few seconds. They keep telling me... that they're coming to replace me. That I'm going to lose everything that has made me a five-time World Champion. I can't let that happen. I WON'T let that happen!! There's got to be another way!! PLEASE!!
~Maria just stares at Vaughn for several seconds, before finally looking down at his hands.~
Maria: Let. Me. Go.
~Vaughn suddenly snaps his hands back, shaking them as if they were burned. He stares at both of them, seeing that they're red, but the color quickly fades, much to his relief. He's got a World Title match coming up, after all, and burned fingers would be a major detriment to have to overcome.~
Maria: As it happens... I do know of another way. In some ways, it could be seen as even more dangerous than your previous trip.
Peter Vaughn: More dangerous than going to Lucifer's domain? That sounds like a fun trip...
~Maria rises up, walking to the side, where she approaches the bookshelf there... a bookshelf that Vaughn hadn't noticed before.~
Peter Vaughn: Wait, was that there earlier?
~Maria doesn't respond. She flips through the book in front of her, with it quickly turning pages until it ends up on a specific picture. She then lays the book in front of Vaughn, who stares at it.~
Peter Vaughn: ... A cup? You want me to go search for a simple cup? What is this, an Indiana Jones movie?
~With a growl, Maria snaps a long finger onto the book, causing Vaughn to jump due to the impact in front of him. He quickly shuts his mouth.~
Maria: This is no mere cup. This is the Chalice of Hygieia, the Goddess of Mental Health. It is said that this Chalice can be used to bring sanity back to those who are broken. It can make a mind whole again, silencing the nightmares haunting them.
Peter Vaughn: Really? Well, that sounds like exactly what I'm needing. Why didn't you show me this earlier, rather than pointing out I'd have to go to Hell?
Maria: Maybe I wanted you to go to Hell. Maybe I wished that you would have stayed there.
Peter Vaughn: Now that's just not a very nice thing to say, really...
Maria: Plus, while the Pendant was a considerable task, you at least could get to its location easily. The Chalice of Hygieia is said to be lost in the depths of one of her shrines, deep underground underneath The Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus.
~Vaughn stares at her for a few moments, puzzled.~
Peter Vaughn: You just made that name up, didn't you?
Maria: I never lie, Peter Vaughn. You should know that by now. It was a city in ancient Greece. There are still ruins in that area, around the municipality of Epidaurus. Many have sought the treasure said to be in the catacombs of the Sanctuary. None have returned.
Peter Vaughn: That sounds familiar.
Maria: It's said that all of those souls are now trapped there, with each new soul joining in the power of the protection of the Chalice. Hence, it is nearly an impossible mission for anyone to undertake.
~Vaughn takes it all in, once again staring at the picture of the Chalice. He then smiles, as you just knew he would.~
Peter Vaughn: That certainly sounds like a hell of a road trip. I'm in. So do you have any protection or anything you can offer me? Or is this a one-way trip?
~In response, Maria takes off one of the necklaces she was wearing and holds it out to him. Surprised, he takes it, only for the necklace to wrap itself around his hand tightly for a moment, before releasing. He stares at it, taking note of the eye that seems to be at the center of it.~
Maria: When the time comes, you'll know to use this. I'd wish you luck, Peter Vaughn, but as I said, I am never a liar.
~Vaughn chuckles to himself, before getting to his feet.~
Peter Vaughn: I owe you for this. Big time. And I'm always a man who pays my debts. I will be back, Maria, once I have the Chalice. And you will see what a World Champion with a sound mind can do.
~With a large, relieved grin, Vaughn turns and marches off, quickly going through the front door of the building and slamming it behind him. Maria takes a deep breath in, releasing it almost like a hiss, before turning back to the book. She turns the past, showing the next picture inside, which appears to be some sort of multi-headed gargoyle. She slowly shakes her head.~
Maria: No, Peter Vaughn. I will never again see you as the man you are now. And the world... will be better for it.
~Maria then slams the book shut, as the scene abruptly comes to an end.~
Looks like another problem is going to get solved.
But first, Cable, we're going to have to finish our little dance. It's time to see what the ancient Beast has left in the tank. I'm sure it's going to be mightily impressive for the first 5-10 minutes. But can you be a marathon man still? Can you stand up to the constant assaults I'll be bringing to the conflict, using everything I have in my arsenal to bring you down?
Are you prepared for Jimmy and J Mont to get themselves involved, too? Because you know that they won't be able to help themselves. Hell, who knows what they'll do. I could be attacked right out of the gate, and you'll lose your opportunity. That would suck, so I hope you put something together to protect your match.
I mean, I could do it, but I keep the belt on a DQ, so...
Overall, I hope we have a clean match, Cable. I don't want there to be anything that allows you to come up with excuses to why you lost. I want it to be the truth when I say I wiped the floor with you, literally and figuratively.
And in the end? I want you to know I defeated you when you're taking the Plunge.
Prepare for another bumpy ride, gramps. It ain't gonna be pretty.