Post by X on Oct 29, 2010 20:59:39 GMT -5
"Home Field Advantage"
by Jaden Hunter
by Jaden Hunter
I could walk away now.
It would be easy to do.
I have options, such as tending to my family land back home in Dublin, or even going the route of the Irish pit fighting leagues again.
Yeah, it would be easy to do… but I won’t.
I won’t walk away and hang up my “hat” even though my match did not go my way last week. I have played out everything that had taken place inside of that ring over and over in my mind and I still can’t wrap my head around what took place. Were Somba and I evenly matched? Sure we were. Did I put out all the effort that my body could muster? You bet your ass I did. So, why didn’t I win? Further more, why don’t I just walk away now, knowing full well that I gave my best and came up empty? I will tell you why..
I am the son of Xplode. A man who lived and died for the chance to feel the taste of victory. There is no giving up in my family nor any room for self doubt. The Hunter family always rolls with the punches and finds a way to achieve victory.. one way or another. I am no different.
Sitting here, resting on top of the Kingdom of Pride’s medical bench in the injury wing, I grasp my hands together and take a deep breath. My limbs are exhausted, I know this because I can literally see my thigh twitching. Glancing around the room, I watch one of the medical staff prepare a few Ace bandages and such. I was told that I had put on a good show just a few moments prior, yet somehow I don’t feel that way. Somba and I had been scheduled to go one on one in front of a packed house of screaming fans. I had trained all week to make sure that I had my game plan down tight. Countless hours were spent watching videos of Somba, a habit I picked up from my dead beat father. There was nothing that my opponent could attempt that I was not ready for.
One way or another.. I would win.
I surprised him with my own strength in that match, proving that I was his equal despite my own lack of body tattoos. As I hoisted his large frame above my head, I could feel everyone in the front rows that surrounded the ring just suck in all of the humid air around the arena. I impressed them. Hell, I impressed the world! Yet, I did not impress myself. Somba and I tore into one another and the end result was a draw. A BLOODY FUCKING DRAW!
The fans do not come to see draws. Men do not get off of work, shell out their hard earned cash, and drag their kids to see our shows to watch a stalemate. So to say that I was disappointed would be an understatement. What hurt the most though was not that I did not win. It was purely the fact that there were no final answers given as to who was better between Somba and I. That’s fine though. We will meet again.
Warriors always do.
“Alright, Jaden, I want you to lift your leg slowly so I can find the right place to begin the stitches.” began the medical worker. “Do you need any pain reliever first?”
“Nay.” I answered. Pain was a part of life, a lesson if you will. Without pain, errors in our past were hardly remembered at all. “Just stitch the bloody gash up. Do it quickly. I am not worried about scars.”
After a bit of an odd stare, the half assed employee began to stitch me up. I won’t lie, it hurt like a son of a bitch. I deserved the torture though. I needed to remember this feeling, the emotion of failure, and make sure that it never.. happened.. again. Leaning back against the cold white brick behind me, I closed my eyes and tried to center myself. It was quiet, just the way I liked it.
“Jaden..”
Alright, perhaps I spoke too soon. Opening my eyes once more, I quickly found that I had a new visitor. Standing before me was a man who was hardly a stranger, and yet he was a man who had anything to do with my life. He was my uncle.. Toby “Oblivion” Hunter… a two time EUW World Champion. Finding a seat on the bench across from me, Toby began speaking. He was dressed in a simple pair of blue jeans completed with a matching black T-Shirt. With his hair pulled back into a ponytail, I was able to see a few strands of grey hair along the sides of his head. I never figured that my Uncle Toby could actually age now that I think about it..
“How you feeling? You really put on a damn good show out there.” he began.
“I feel like shit.” I answered. My voice was sharp with him, perhaps too sharp. It didn’t look like he even noticed it however. “Somba got lucky out there. He obviously had the home field advantage.”
“Home field advantage?” Toby laughed. “You sound like your fucking father. He used to make excuses about his matches too.”
“Look, I don’t need any damn lectures from you, okay?!” I snapped now. I could careless how I was coming across. The Hunter family had not done a thing for me throughout my life. Why start now? “My father and I are hardly alike. The Kingdom of Pride pushed Somba and not me from the start. They don’t want a son of a champion from another fed being successful on their turf-”
“Bullshit.” Toby interrupted. “You gave as good as you got out there, kid. Leave it at that. You know, the best of the best spent their time worrying more over how they could improve themselves and less on why things didn’t go their way. That’s not why I am here though.”
“So why are you here?” I laughed. “Trying to catch up on a few Birthdays that you missed?”
Rising from the chair, Toby Hunter strode across the room. He was large, much taller than I had remembered. With one easy gesture, he shoved the medical worker away from me and got right into my face. I could see why Toby’s past opponents respected him so much. He had this way about him.
“Whatever happened between Xplode and you is between you guys. I am here because I was in town.. and you are family. I watched you out there and you look like you have all the promise in the world. The thing is, you are raw, angry.. and in need of direction. You are my nephew, but don’t get things twisted. If you keep running your lips, I will put you down. Understand?”
I nod.
“Good.” he continues. “You have an important show coming up next. Death’s desire is the name of it I believe. Your opponent is John Parker. What do you know about him?”
I slide off the bench now and make space between Toby and I. I was feeling slightly disrespected, and a bit angry. I knew he was trying to help me though, so it was worth working out. “He is some kid from Florida I believe. Made his name off of defeating some bloke named Delikado.”
“Delikado?” he replied. “Never heard of him.”
“Yeah well he is well known amongst these parts.” I continued. “This John Parker fella’ had his way with him a few rounds, and came up the winner. Apparently, he wins matches by faking a hurt toe.. And then rolls them up for the win.”
Toby steps away now, hands behind his back, and glances in the other direction. The wheels were turning inside of his head. I didn’t feel like I needed the help to be honest. I knew that Death’s Desire was a big deal. It was my first bloody pay per view! I had to make a good impression. Realistically, it was do or die for me. I would accept nothing but victory. Reading over the information on Parker, he seemed like a damn joke. A fucking toe?! This was his huge game plan? Whatever happened to the warriors of the ring? When did they die out? Was I all that was left?
Turning to face me once again, Toby rubbed his bearded chin and spoke. “Alright kid. I got some time on my hands and you obviously need some family. I think I will be sticking around awhile, just long enough to get you going on your way. That being said, we need to get ready for this Parker guy. He doesn’t seem like much on paper but paper often lies. One thing I learned in all my years in this business is that anyone can be unbeatable at any one time if properly provoked. Let’s just make sure it is you who is provoked.. and not him.”
Gathering my belongings, I turn to Toby and smirk. There was no use in asking him to leave me be. To be honest, I could use the company. Since arriving in the Americas it had been me and my pet Parrot named “Peckerwood”. Nodding, I answer him. “Aye. You are welcome to tag along. Just know that I do things my own way and could care less about whatever history that resides in the Hunter family. I want to make my own name and I will accept nothing less.”
The world has finally had a taste of who I am. Somba, a man who is highly respected, finally found the challenge that he searched for in me. In front of the world, I showed that I am here to play, as I matched him power for power. Respect was not only demanded.. but earned. Of course, I was left with a draw in the end. This has to burn not just him up, but those he associates with.
The battle wages on..
John Parker, you are next in line to face me. Know that you will not stand in the ring with some wet behind the ears rookie who only wishes to grovel at your feet. Aye, it is actually quite the opposite. Let me give you a small history lesson into who I am.
Over the last 7 years, I have busted my ass, fighting in the darkest, raunchiest rings that mankind has ever wasted the time building. Fighting to succeed in the Irish Wrestling Divisions taught me to be a survivor! Every match meant life or death because in Ireland.. Only the strong were bothered with. In time, I was able to capture the gold there but I could not be content with that. Oh no.. Instead I chose to come here, into the Kingdom of Pride.. in search of a greater challenge. While I would hardly consider you a challenge, you will have to do. In the middle of the ring, at Death’s Desire, I will once again shock the world as I put down a joke of a man in you.
Will I be compassionate when you begin yanking and tugging on that bum toe? You bet your ass I won’t. As a matter of fact, I will use that toe, injured or not, as a source of weakness to attack you with! I will start there, crushing every damn bone in your foot on up until I reach your face. From there, the only compassion I will offer is to put you down like a master does to his own sick dog.
There will be no more draws in my career, lad. I will not allow it. This time around, I will beat you, my next victim, so badly that the only choice for the officials will be to raise my hand in victory.
As I said, I will not walk away. The Kingdom of Pride is my home now too.
The Home-Field Advantage is no longer an issue.
The battle wages on..
John Parker, you are next in line to face me. Know that you will not stand in the ring with some wet behind the ears rookie who only wishes to grovel at your feet. Aye, it is actually quite the opposite. Let me give you a small history lesson into who I am.
Over the last 7 years, I have busted my ass, fighting in the darkest, raunchiest rings that mankind has ever wasted the time building. Fighting to succeed in the Irish Wrestling Divisions taught me to be a survivor! Every match meant life or death because in Ireland.. Only the strong were bothered with. In time, I was able to capture the gold there but I could not be content with that. Oh no.. Instead I chose to come here, into the Kingdom of Pride.. in search of a greater challenge. While I would hardly consider you a challenge, you will have to do. In the middle of the ring, at Death’s Desire, I will once again shock the world as I put down a joke of a man in you.
Will I be compassionate when you begin yanking and tugging on that bum toe? You bet your ass I won’t. As a matter of fact, I will use that toe, injured or not, as a source of weakness to attack you with! I will start there, crushing every damn bone in your foot on up until I reach your face. From there, the only compassion I will offer is to put you down like a master does to his own sick dog.
There will be no more draws in my career, lad. I will not allow it. This time around, I will beat you, my next victim, so badly that the only choice for the officials will be to raise my hand in victory.
As I said, I will not walk away. The Kingdom of Pride is my home now too.
The Home-Field Advantage is no longer an issue.