On this chilly autumn evening, Rogan MacLean stood on the front porch of Lucy’s home in Western Maryland.   He hadn’t expected her call yesterday, asking him to come – But the Dark Man was all too happy to oblige.   He stood with his back to the front door, gazing out at the driveway, drifting over the Buick and then towards the woods that surrounded the home.  

“Mr. MacLean!”

Rogan hears the door open and he turns around to see Morrie standing there, a big smile on his face as he motions for Rogan to enter.

“Do come in! Lucy’s been expecting you.”

Morrie said excitedly as he ushered Rogan in the front door, and quickly closed it behind them. The Dark Man had never seen Morrie move about like he was, nor had he expected to see such an air of excitement in his eyes.

“You look… excited, Morrie.”

The older gentleman turned and nodded his head as he guided Rogan into the living room and motioned for him to take a seat. As Rogan took a seat, he looked around the room, noticing the obvious scarcity of decor.

“Have you been cleaning up?”

Rogan asked, to which Morrie shook his head in response.

“That has been all Lucy. She came home after.. Keeper of the Keys, was it? Yes, I think that’s the one. And she set out to do this.”

Rogan nodded approvingly.

“Wow. It looks so different. Speaking of, where is Lucy?”

“She’s out back, finishing up. I’ll go see if she’s ready.”

With that, Morrie turned and scurried out of the room. Rogan sat back and tried to make himself comfortable, but each time he’s come here, he’s never been able to shake the feeling of being watched. Today was no different, although today he could feel a definite shift in the feeling within this old farmhouse.

He couldn’t help but believe that all the work Lucy’s put in is the reason for the change. And Rogan could only imagine how the spirit of her ex-husband was taking the changes.

He looked around, fully expecting to see CJ’s ghost, much like he had every other time he spent time here. Much to his surprise, the room remained empty.

“Don’t hurt her, Dark Man.”

The voice startled him, but that was all it was. CJ, or rather the visual representation of CJ Wylde was no where to be found. So Rogan did what any normal, common sense having individual would do. He responded to nothing.

“If you really thought I would hurt her, Mr. Wylde, I believe you’d be making more of an effort to keep me away.”

Rogan hears a sigh.

“So you think my convincing you to go back to that Halloween store and buy those masks was me trying to keep you around?”

A disembodied chuckle.

“The woman defies all logic. The thing I think will make her mad, doesn’t. The thing I believe won’t make her angry pisses her off.  I don’t think I’ll ever get rid of you, Dark Man.  So I’ll say it again.  Don’t hurt her.“

“I think in your own sick, twisted way of thinking, you believe that I am everything she needs. Whether that’s partnership on a professional level and nothing more, or the friendship we’ve developed… or perhaps even beyond that. I think you know that I’m here to protect Lucy. And I will be whatever she needs me to be.”

Finally, CJ appears to Rogan, seated on a chair across the room, a somber look on his face.

“We’ll see.”

The ghost of CJ Wylde stared at Rogan MacLean for a few more seconds, before slowly drifting back into nothingness. It took Rogan a few moments to fully realize what he’d just seen, and even then, as it was every other time – It was hard for the Dark Man to accept.

The thought didn’t linger for long though as he glanced up to see Lucy standing in the doorway to the living room, a soft smile on her dusky pink painted lips and her arms crossed over her chest. For a moment Rogan hardly recognized her, with her tight faded blue jeans and a pink and gray flannel shirt. Even her makeup was different. It was much lighter, more natural. And her hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft curls.

“I take it you had a visitor.”

 

Lucy had been outside most of the day – as she had been for the last few – preparing the surprise she had in store for her partner. She glanced up as she saw Morrie step through the back door, and she placed her hands on her hips.

“How does it look?”

She asked, a big smile on her face. Morrie took a look around the backyard and nodded.

“I cannot claim to know what any of this signifies. But, I think he’ll very much enjoy it.”

Lucy took a few steps towards Morrie and turned around, taking in her handiwork.

“I hope so.”

She replied, a hint of doubt in her voice. The more she looked at it, the more she wondered if this was too much, or too cheesy for Rogan.

“It’s not too much, is it?”

“It absolutely is too much, but if you know Mr. MacLean as well as I think you do, I think he’ll love it.”

Lucy bit her lip, thinking about it for a few moments. The sun was beginning to set.. It was far too late to go back now. Lucy had executed this plan as close to her vision as she could, and deep down she knew she was worrying about nothing.

She laid a hand gently on Morries shoulder.

“Thank you Morrie.”

The old man placed a hand on hers and patted it.

“No need to thank me. Just enjoy the fruits of your labor.”

Morrie turned to head back towards the house, stopping just as he got to the door.

“Oh, and he’s here.  He’s inside, waiting for you.”

He added, giving Lucy a sly grin as he went back into the house. Lucy paused for a moment, her stomach doing somersaults as she smoothed her hands over her clothes, and checked her hair in the window.

“Shit, shit…”

She muttered, taking one final look at herself, and the backyard before she went in the house. Giving Morrie a glance as she moved towards the living room, she couldn’t help but smile. She was nervous, but she was also so happy that he was here to share in what she had planned.

She rounded the corner and came into the living room, only to see Rogan seated on the couch. He was staring at a chair across the room, his eyes in a far away place. She could tell the Dark Man was deep in thought, as if something..or someone were there in the room with him.

Lucy watched him for a little while, completely content in the simplicity of it. Unexpectedly while Lucy was staring at him, Rogan turned his head, noticing Lucy as she stood. She was taken back a bit by the look on his face, and she felt a bit of heat rise to her cheeks as she wondered if she looked okay considering she had tried something a bit different for today’s activity.

But when he smiled at her, Lucy felt at ease once more. She smirked at him.

“I take it you had a visitor.”

Lucy finally said, shaking her head. For a long time, Rogan didn’t answer. Finally, he nodded his head thoughtfully.

“Yes, I suppose you could say I did.”

Lucy shrugged her shoulders and moved further into the room.

“He’s grumpy that I’ve gotten rid of all his shit.””

Rogan nodded and looked down.

“I thought you might not believe me if I told you he was… well, haunting me.”

He smiled to himself and stood, shrugging it off with a chuckle.

“I guess I should have known better.”

He looked at Lucy and suddenly forgot about CJ and the haunting altogether.

“You look very nice,”

He said quietly. Lucy grinned and motioned towards the exit to the room.

“Thanks. Come on. I’ve been waiting all day to show you this…”

She grabbed him by the hand and pulled him through the house until they were near the back door.

“Close your eyes.”

He looked at her with amusement.

“Is it a big ass library like in Beauty in the Beast?”

He smirked, but closed his eyes anyway, after giving her a wink.

“I didn’t know you could read.”

Lucy replied sarcastically, shooting Morrie an amused look from across the kitchen as she led Rogan out the back door and out into the backyard. She positioned him where she wanted him, and moved out of his way.

“Okay.. Open em!”

He opened his eyes and looked around, eyes widening. He looked at Lucy.

“I’m thoroughly impressed! You did all of this?”

He stared at the backyard with disbelief. It had everything from the Waystation he could have possibly imagined. The only way it could have become more authentic is if it were the desert itself.

Tents circled a huge area for a bonfire, which had also already been prepared. Wood benches surrounded the bonfire itself. But Rogan knew, tonight, it only needed seats for two. He wondered, if he stepped inside one of the tents, would he be transported to another when? To another where? His eyes wandered the land behind Lucy’s home, before returning back to Lucy.

“You’ve done an amazing job. This is much better than a library!”

He grinned and Lucy gave him a playful slap on the shoulder. His smile faded a bit as he pondered.

“But now, one might ask himself, why?”

He stared at her with playful suspicion. She rolled her eyes at him and walked towards the fire, eyeing it up as she replied.

“Because.”

She said simply, not bothering to finish that thought for a few moments. Finally she turned around to face him and shrugged.

“Because it’s finally story-time… And I figured since I made you wait this long, I might as well make it worth your while.”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything. A smile crept onto his face.

“Story-time huh? I must admit, Ms. Wylde, I’m very intrigued. All of this, for me?”

He stood, his gaze moving from Lucy to the Way-station, then back to Lucy who nodded her head at the Dark Man.

“Definitely for you, and for us.”

She replied with a smile.

“We’re celebrating.”

“Oh we are? What’s the occasion?”

His expression changed to that of sincere curiosity. Lucy motioned for him to join her as she sat down on one of the logs that surrounded the fire. The fire lit up her face as she watched him, and grinned devilishly.

“Life. Living. I’ve spent a long time not living.. but because of you, I feel like a completely different person. So why not celebrate that?”

He nodded and grinned behind his beard.

“Okay then, let’s celebrate!”

He sat down next to her and admired the work she put in. Lucy glanced over at him, noticing him taking in the scene she laid out before him.

“Just so you know.. The tents don’t have any special powers. I couldn’t quite figure out how you do that.”

He chuckled.

“A magician never tells his secrets…”

“I’m sure he would if I asked nicely.”

She replied without missing a beat. Lucy turned her head and winked at him before she got up and moved to the opposite side of the fire, reaching down and grabbing something. When she came back, Rogan realized she was holding the two broken masks that they’d found in their locker room at the last show, courtesy of Eden and Gabriel.

Lucy laid the Cthulhu mask down between them, and held the halved Jenova mask in her hands.

“So, storytime. This might sound like something that shouldn’t be a revelation to me, but Jenova’s been a part of me all my life.”

Her hands grew clammy as she began. She’d been thinking about this all day, but now – she wasn’t sure what to say next. She stole a glance beside her, to find her partner’s eyes solely on her. Giving her his full attention.

“B-Back then, the anger didn’t have a name. The rage was just that. Rage. But growing up how I grew up, dealing with what I dealt with… It makes a lot of sense. Who wouldn’t be angry?”

She sighed.  The story of her childhood was a well known one at this point.   Even if she wished it weren’t.   People like Gabriel and Eden didn’t help that any way back when.  But they were past shit like that now, weren’t they?

Lucy shook her head and continued. 

“The thing was, though.. that back in Baltimore where I grew up, I didn’t have an outlet for my feelings. Hell, I was the outlet for my father’s feelings. But that only made the anger worse. Feeling so helpless and worthless… it fucks you up. As I got older I can’t say I learned how to contain it, but I did learn how to swallow it all down and let it fester in my gut. Because I didn’t dare do what I really wanted to do.”

She clenched her fists.  What she’d really wanted to do was exactly what she watched her mother do to her father.  She wanted to bleed him dry and watch the life leave his eyes.  The thought, the memory of what happened in that warehouse sent a shiver up her spine.  

She turned to look at Rogan again, to find his eyes trained on her.  To say that Rogan was hanging on her every word would have been an understatement – Even if Lucy found herself wondering why.  The longer she stared though, the less the doubting words inside her mind came through.  Finally, she tucked a wayward piece of hair behind her ear and pulled her gaze away from his.  

“But eventually, I got out. Ran away. And the guilt I felt afterwards made me even angrier… but at myself. So I got into wrestling. It was the best of both worlds. I found an outlet for my anger, and I found a way to punish myself for my self-perceived sins.”

Lucy’s cheeks burned as she took another deep breath and pressed forward, Rogans eyes still watching her, his interest completely captured – The Dark Man wondering to himself how something so breathtaking could ever want to punish herself.  But before he could follow that thought through to completion, Lucy cleared her throat – Drawing him back in as she continued. 

“And then, I met CJ. I was so young. Young and stupid. And desperate to feel anything besides bitterness and… empty. I needed… to be wanted, and I wanted to be needed. And he gave that to me. He made me feel like everything wasn’t completely hopeless. He was the only person, up to that point, that I genuinely enjoyed being around.”

Lucy steals a glance at Rogan and her face softens into a smile as she continues.

“Years passed, and the negative feelings started to fade. We got married. We retired from wrestling and settled down to start a life together. We bought this house. It was good. It was all so good. I finally had everything I’d wanted, everything I thought I wasn’t good enough to have… And I didn’t need to wallow anymore. I finally had a life worth living.”

She chuckled and let out a deep sigh as she turned her gaze towards the fire.

“Then CJ got sick. What we hoped was something curable turned into a death sentence. He was dying, and there wasn’t a damn thing we could do about it. Manage it the best we could, and wait for the inevitable. I was devastated, and I was angry. Angry at the world for taking away the one person who’d ever given a damn about me. But as easy as it would have been to let myself be angry – I couldn’t. He was dealing with enough as it was, so I did the only thing I knew how to do. I took care of him. Got him to all his doctors appointments. Made sure he had all his medications. Made almost daily trips to the store for whatever he wanted.. It didn’t matter. I just wanted to do everything I could to keep him with me. That’s incredibly selfish, I know.”

Lucy sighed as her fingers began tracing the lines of the mask she held.

“But I was desperate. I couldn’t imagine life without him. A stupid little girl, clinging to the one person who gave her the time of day. And all he could tell me was that he wanted me to leave. He wanted me to ‘move on’ because he didn’t want me to see him like that. He didn’t want me to see him die. But where would I have gone? At that point, I was terrified because outside of CJ, I didn’t have anything, or anyone. So I didn’t go anywhere. I held my ground because ‘in sickness and in health’, right? But the more I denied him, the more we fought. The more we fought, the more helpless I started to feel. He wasn’t even gone, but I felt more and more alone with every passing day.”

Rogan stiffened his jaw as Lucy’s gaze remained focused on the mask in her hand. She turned it over and stared through the eyehole as she chuckled humorlessly.

“…And then… I came home from the store on that fateful day. Came in the door like any other day, lugging two arms full of groceries and I found him on the couch in our living room with that bitch.”

Lucy’s face took on a much darker expression.

“It was like something snapped inside of me at that moment. After everything we’d been through. After months upon months of dying right alongside him – I find him with his lips pressed to some whore’s. Words could never fully express how I felt on that day.”

She shook her head.

“He’d made himself perfectly clear. He was done with me. He didn’t want me anymore, so I left. I gave up and I didn’t look back. It felt like I was a kid again, alone and helpless – Searching for something to make me feel like I belonged. But without him.. fuck.”

She wiped away a single tear as it rolled down her cheek.

“Without him, I honestly didn’t know what to do. So I hid myself away. I mean, I gave every bit of myself to our life and he just threw it away like it was nothing. I was ashamed of myself for believing him and believing that I actually mattered. I was so unbelievably hurt, but in my fucked up mind, I figured that I deserved it. But most of all? I was God damned livid. When I saw him join the OWF after finding out that he’d been misdiagnosed all along and he wasn’t dying? When I saw him just ‘move on’ with his life as if he didn’t completely destroy mine?”

Her hands started shaking as she squeezed the mask tighter in her hands.

“Something snapped inside of me again and I knew that I couldn’t just let him move on without consequence. I couldn’t sit by and let him get away with what he did. Deep down in here–”

She pointed to her chest.

“-There was this feeling, like I had to rectify my anger somehow. I had to make him pay for what he’d done. So I did. But when all was said and done… I looked back on those terrible things I did, and I was ashamed again. And somehow over the years, I’d convinced myself that Lucy Wylde wasn’t that type of person… That was, until Maggie came along and pushed all the right buttons. All the buttons that would bring me to this moment…”

She let go of the mask, watching it drop to the ground at her feet.

“…Right here, and the realization that that’s been me all along. I’m not the Lucy that let Kyra nearly kill me. I’m not the Lucy that nearly killed herself because.. Because she felt like she wasn’t any good for the world. I spent too long denying a part of myself because I was ashamed of doing the right thing, even though it had consequences. So here I am, Rogan. I am the Jenova to your Cthulhu. The Dark Lady… to your Dark Man.”

Lucy whispered that final sentence, leaning forward to stare at the fire. There it was. The story of who she really was, and honestly, Lucy couldn’t bring herself to look over at Rogan. She wasn’t sure what she’d see.  She didn’t want to think about the possibility of seeing something in Rogan’s face that told her she wasn’t wanted or needed again. 

As she sat there, she could feel her hands tremble as she pressed them into her legs.  And beside her, Rogan sat there, staring at the side of her face, quiet as a mouse – the sound of wood crackling the only thing to be heard around them.  It was the first time Rogan had heard the story in its entirety.  At Wrestlestock, he had a taste of it. He was afraid of pushing Lucy away by pressing her to tell him the whole thing.

But she knew he longed to hear it.

The Dark Man loved stories, it was infamously known. And she went through not just what he saw in front of him to tell him. She went through hell with Maggie. She went through enduring the mask CJ possessed him to buy. She went through an internal struggle. And that’s what made it as special to Rogan as it did.

She was still gazing into the fire, reliving the pain. She was reliving the anger, the guilt, all of the ugly emotions that the Dark Man wanted to extract from her to begin with.

He put a hand on her cheek, turning her to face him, and finally, Rogan kissed Lucy. In the backyard of her home, beneath the moon, within the Waystation, they kissed.

 

We fade into a warm, inviting home. A fire is going in the fireplace, the mantle decorated with strands of white Christmas lights and a small Christmas village with fake snow. It even has a hill where two figurines are sledding and a small dog is chasing them.

The walls of the home are decorated with Christmas, as well, highlighted by a portrait of a little girl with bright blue eyes looking up at Santa Claus. Santa is enjoying a classic Coca-Cola, and grinning behind a fluffy white beard and rosy cheeks.

A Christmas tree, lit in all-white lights stands across the room from the fireplace. A snowflake shaped window reveals snow lazily floating down outside in the darkening evening.

Leaning against the window sill, looking out the window dramatically is Rogan MacLean. He’s wearing a white turtleneck sweater with red silhouettes of pine trees lining his chest. His hair is comically slicked back. He cups a white coffee mug in his hands, the whipped cream and red sprinkles inside can be seen over the rim.

Next to him, wearing a turtleneck sweater of her own, is Lucy Wylde. Her sweater is a midnight blue with a green Christmas tree on the side, its colorful multi-colored lights popping against the dark blue background. She’s also holding a mug with identical contents inside. She’s leaning against the arm of a dark red leather couch.

The lighting in the room belongs only to the fire and the Christmas lights.

Rogan turns, and pretends to be surprised.

“Oh! Hello,” he says, setting his mug on the mantle and turning his full attention to the camera. He speaks softly, as if he’s afraid of waking someone. “Merry Christmas. You know, this is my favorite time of year.”

Lucy scrunches her nose and looks at him.

“I thought you said Halloween was your favorite time of year?”

“Oh it’s up there,” he says, keeping his voice at that low, gentle level. “But nothing is like this time of year.”

“That’s what you said about Halloween,” Lucy says, holding her arms up in exasperation.

“There’s beauty in all seasons, you Grinch!” Rogan says from the side of his mouth, and collects himself quickly. “Sorry. Sorry,” he says gently again, chuckling awkwardly. “What I mean is, I love this time of year.”

Lucy smirks in amusement, rolling her eyes and taking a sip of her hot cocoa.

“This time of year, everyone has their favorite traditions,” Rogan says, “and we’d like to share one of ours with all of you. Is that ok?”

He smirks and takes a sip of his own hot cocoa, pulling it away quickly.

“Oh! It seems that Lucy Claus may have spiked the hot cocoa this year,” he laughs, wagging a finger towards Lucy. She grins and gives him a wink.

Setting his mug back down on the mantle once more, he walks out of the picture, briefly. Some rummaging can be heard off screen, before he comes back, dragging a big red bag with him. He’s put on a Santa hat, too.

“One of our favorite things to do,” he says, centering himself back onto the camera, “is reading Santa letters from all of the good little boys and girls around the world. We’d like to read a few for you tonight.”

He reaches into the bag and pulls out a letter, unfolding it and sighing with a smile.

“Ah… this one says,

‘Dear Rogan MacClaus,

My name is Liam Davies. I tell people I used to be a police officer because I feel like that will get them to respect me more. But the truth is, I’m not. I’m not at all who I claim to be. I was never on the force. I’m just a belligerent imbecile with a badge I bought off Amazon. Despite all of that, I would like something for Christmas this year. If you could, please bring me an expanded vocabulary. It seems the only words I know to say are fuck and cunt and bitch. I would really love to have some new insult words that I can clench my fists to. Thank you.

Your friend,

Liam Davies.’”

Rogan looks up with a smile.

“Aww, little Liam. I admire your honesty. Rogan MacClaus will bring you a dictionary for Christmas. Perhaps then you’ll be as interesting as you want to be. I wouldn’t hold my breath, though. Ho ho ho!”

He looks up at Lucy and winks, then nods towards the bag. She sets her hot cocoa down on the mantle next to Rogan’s and grabs a letter from the bag.

“Let’s see here…”

Lucy says, opening up the letter.

“Ahem. Dear Lucy Claus,

If you didn’t already know, this letter is coming to you courtesy of your UGWC World Heavyweight Champion, Donovan Hastings. Many would think that a man of my standing wouldn’t need anything for Christmas, but dear Lucy Claus – there is one thing that would make all my Christmas wishes come true. As you know, I have a contest fast approaching with who many would call the brightest star in all the skies, Sloane Taylor for the championship I hold so dear.

So for Christmas this year, I’m asking for one simple thing.

The talent to beat dear, sweet Sloane. The talent to beat her cleanly and without question, for I need this World championship more than anyone could ever imagine. I know you’re a busy lady, Lucy Claus. But please. I fear I cannot beat her without your help.

Your obscenely humble champion,

Owen Donovan Hastings”

Lucy folds the letter neatly and places it in her lap as she glances up with an amused smirk on her lips.

“Well, Donovan…”

She rolls her eyes subtly.

“Normally Lucy Claus would be all too willing to help someone who’s so honest and humble, but unfortunately for you, Lucy Claus has already checked her list, and checked it twice and when I went to find out who was naughty or nice? Well, little guy, you were not a very good boy this year.”

Lucy Claus shakes her head and wags her finger, disappointment on her face.

“I’m afraid that a devastating loss at the hands of the Sky Queen is the only thing you’re going to be receiving this year.”

She glances over at Rogan MacClaus who is motioning for her to do something but Lucy shakes her head. But he’s insistent and finally Lucy Claus sighs and turns back to the camera with a smile.

“Ho, ho, ho.”

Rogan nods, satisfied, already reaching in for the next letter. He opens it and immediately ho-ho-ho’s.

”’Dear Rogan MacClaus,

My name is Tempest. I’m a simple boy. For Christmas this year, I’d like gunpowder and dynamite. I’d also like stronger rope for our kidnapping adventures. And can I also get–’”

Rogan pauses and sighs.

“You know what, Tempest. Rogan MacClaus has already brought you a gift this year. The red phone booth was enough. I must spread Christmas cheer elsewhere. And, based on my list…”

He bends down, fumbling through a stack of papers, before coming to the one he’s looking for.

“Ah-ha! Yes, you’ve been very naughty, as well, Tempest. I’m afraid I can’t bring you what you want this year. Say… How is that phone booth coming along for you, Tempest? Are you getting out of it everything you thought you would?”

He stares coldly into the camera and chuckles. Lucy slugs him on the shoulder and he corrects himself. Mid-chuckle he breaks into a jolly “Ho-ho-ho.”

Lucy reaches for the next letter and her eyes widen a bit.

“Oh! This one appears to be from our friends.”

Rogan’s eyes widen in the middle of sipping from his mug, some of the whipped cream sticking to the tip of his nose.

“Oh! Ho-ho-hoooo! Let’s see what they want for Christmas!”

He wipes the whipped cream from his nose as Lucy nods excitedly and begins to read.

“‘Dear Mr. MacClaus and Ms. Claus,

We are the couple who calls itself Incendium. As we look ahead to the new year, we both believe the perfect Christmas gift would be to defeat our good friends, Numinous Fate, and add onto our already enviable legacy in the Cooperative division. You see, we don’t want our friends to get too comfortable in their spot at the top of the division. To be clear, we feel that we are the ones who belong at the top of that division. And we don’t think it’s fair that they’re getting all the attention that they’re getting. That attention belongs to us. Please fulfill this simple request for Christmas. And also, Eden would like shoes. Lots of them. As many as what’s in your inventory.

Cordially,
Gabriel Baal and Eden Morgan-Baal’”

Rogan looks up at Lucy and she looks back at him with a shrug.

“Seems like a reasonable request,” Rogan says gently.

“It certainly does,” Lucy says with a sweet smile.

“Well, Gabriel… Eden…”

Rogan begins.

“…Ms. Claus and I don’t think we can fulfill your Christmas wishes this year.”

“I mean,” Lucy interjects, “what more could you want from us? We did something the two of you couldn’t seem to do. We not only defeated the… hashtag Cool Kids, but we ran them out of the company entirely. Isn’t that something you’ve always wanted?”

“To be fair,” Rogan says, taking his turn to interject, “that’s something I’m sure a lot of people have wanted. Do you know how much money we’ve saved the company over the last several months on cleaners and sanitizers since Roxy Cotton hasn’t been around? It’s an astronomical number.”

The two look at each other and laugh.

“Anyway,” Rogan continues, “as much as I’d like to see the two of you as Cooperative Champions again, I refuse to let that happen at our expense.”

“And no disrespect,” Lucy says, “but while the two of you have been sitting back, lurking in the shadows, and strategically picking your place to jump back into this division, Rogan and I have been busting our asses week in, and week out. And as far as we’re concerned? Our championship reign has only just begun. At Horizons, we’re sure you expect to step into the ring and show off whatever underhanded tactics you plan to use to try to get the best of us and get in our heads…”

“What you need to realize, however,” Rogan continues, “you’re not dealing with gullible Rogan and Lucy anymore. Perhaps you feel that, and maybe that’s why you want to challenge us for the Cooperative titles. Maybe we’re mistaken and it isn’t that you’re jealous of your best friends standing in the limelight that you may feel entitled to. Maybe it isn’t that at all. Maybe it’s what we personally hope it is.”

“And that’s that you think that nobody can represent the Cooperative division better than Incendium and Numinous Fate,” Lucy says with a smile. “That’s what we believe. And we hope your mindset is in the same place that ours is. This could be a special moment in all of our careers. But, it may surprise you how far we’re willing to go to defend the Cooperative championships. Our reign and our legacy are both still young, but undeniable. At Horizons, Gabriel, Eden, with all due respect, it will be our hands raised in the end. It will be our validation as being at the top of this division.”

“It will be our moment,” Rogan says. “And with any hope, it won’t be the last time we face each other for those championships. With any hope, Incendium and Numinous Fate will be synonymous with the Cooperative Championships by this time next year.”

“But, for now?” Lucy continues. “For now, Numinous Fate is only out to do one thing, and that’s add the name Incendium to the same list that…” she rolls her eyes, “hashtag Cool Kids, and the Piercing Media Empire reside: the list of teams that have fallen to Numinous Fate between our two title reigns.”

Rogan grins, briefly.

“Oh!” he says, “and more shoes Eden?”

He stares at the camera in exasperation.

“…I don’t think so. I’m not going to add to the nightmares that Gabriel has of all of those shoes you own.”

Lucy slugs him on the shoulder, and winks to the camera – Mouthing ‘I got you‘, presumably to Eden herself.

“Oh… Ho-ho-hoooo! Merry Christmas!”

Lucy giggles, then looks into the camera.

“So, we’ll see you at Horizons. And Gabriel? Eden? We won’t take anything personal this Monday. We hope that you won’t either. I’m sure that nobody wants to see this friendly rivalry get ugly.”

She winks, then looks at Rogan, and the two laugh softly together. After a few seconds, they both turn back towards the camera.

“Merry Christmas,” Rogan says gently, but his tone is a little unsettling.