Light in the Darkness vs. European Fiery Nation

[Wisteria Waltz]

OOC: Just to go the extra mile to have a little bit more fun with this, consider the following promo as having been done with Luz and Amelia speaking in Japanese and the text you're reading is the "translated version" appearing in "subtitles" as you watch the promo.

Or you can just consider the whole thing in English if you don't want to have a bit more fun with picturing this in your head as you read. Up to you.
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Breakdown may emanate from Saitama, Japan this week, but that doesn't mean a trip to the nearby city of Tokyo should be out of the question if you have a reason to make the roughly 40-minute trip. We can quickly assume that The Light In The Darkness had such a reason, given that anyone who's familiar with Japan would quickly deduce that we are nowhere in Saitama right now. Instead, we find ourselves at the torii to the Hikawa Shrine located in the Akasaka district of Tokyo, one of the most historic shrines in all of Japan and one of the ten shrines recognized by the Emperor himself as a representative shrine to pray for Tokyo's protection and the peace of all people.

In the presence of this incredible sight, we find Amelia Blythe and La Pequeña Luz walking through the torii and towards us, seemingly having finished whatever they came here to do. With the unending exception of Luz's luchadora mask, both women are dressed in beautiful and elegant kimonos—purple for Luz and pink for Amelia—which are decorated with patterns of falling wisteria leaves and what resemble little floating orbs of light. Notably, there is no sign of their Tag Title belts, though considering our location it makes sense that they felt they should only bring what felt essential for visiting such a sacred place. The couple notice our presence and delicately stand with the shrine and its torii looming in the background, hands folded in front of them in a manner reminiscent of how Amelia stands during their entrances. Maybe it's a bit surprising to see Luz looking a little more subdued than usual, but it's clear that even she acknowledges the spiritual weight all around them.

“Good afternoon everyone, and we're hope you're having a pleasant day no matter where in the world or what time of the day you happen to be watching this. Now, we have to apologize a bit for any potential confusion you might have right now... yes, Breakdown is scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena this week, but Luz and I are not currently in Saitama. We'll be honest... it's not too often we get to come to Japan, much less compete in front of its fans, so we felt it was only right to immerse ourselves in the culture while we had this rare opportunity to do so.”

“Amelia and I love Japan, and not just because we aren't ashamed to admit that anime and manga have had a major influence on helping us consider the kinds of people we truly wanted to be in our lives. Japan is also steeped in a rich history with an amazing culture that you have to experience for yourself to truly appreciate everything that it has to offer. That's actually why we felt that it was only right to make a stop here, to the historic Akasaka Hikawa Shrine... I'm sure SCW fans haven't forgotten that Amelia and I proposed to one another during our Rise to Greatness entrance last year, and we're hoping to have our wedding before this year is done if all goes according to plan. This particular shrine is known for giving special blessings to ward off bad luck and bring good luck in marriage... a marriage we hope will thrive and prosper for the rest of our lives.”

“It also didn't hurt to ask for a blessing regarding our luck in SCW as well, because we're not going to lie... we knew, even before the first time we even challenged for the World Tag Team Championships, that being at the top of the mountain was not the end of the challenge, but rather, the beginning of an even greater challenge. We know full well we have a giant target on our backs and everyone wants to be the ones to ultimately dethrone us, and we have welcomed that challenge with open arms time and time again because we want to be pushed beyond our limits in order to keep getting better. What we weren't expecting, however, was that everything would be plunged into chaos because nobody wants to listen and everyone wants to march to the beat of their own drums thinking that's how they're going to cut the line and get to us the quickest.”

“Make no mistake, we have our own issues with Twisted & Sadistic just like everyone else does, and that in and of itself is one of the biggest reasons why we've actually acknowledged their statements and want to prove them wrong. Even then, we've made it clear we don't condone what Glory and Brittany did to try and get back to where they are now, but like it or not, they're recognized as the number one contenders and that makes them our problem... not the Cowgirls From Hell, not the duo of Striker and Dumont, not anyone else in the tag team division, but OUR problem. Call us selfish for wanting to keep some semblance of order if it interferes with everyone's desire for revenge, but if Amelia and I are going to make this inevitable title defense count and prove to Glory and Brittany once and for all that The Light In The Darkness CAN beat Twisted & Sadistic 2v2, then we want there to be absolutely no excuses on either side. Can any of you honestly say that if we win that match but those two weren't at 100% that they won't simple repeat this cycle all over again because 'we didn't beat them at their best'?”

“This has been the difficult tightrope we've had to walk ever since we won these titles back, and it's honestly heartbreaking that so few of you are either putting your faith in us to turn back this challenge or hoping for us to be dethroned once again so Twisted & Sadistic has an even greater target on their backs. Instead, you're all taking matters into your own hands and trying to dictate how you believe things should be according to your own whims instead of actually earning the right to try and call yourselves champions, something we made clear to Glory and Brittany, to their faces, that we weren't going to acknowledge or accept when it comes to how you get us in the ring to take your shot.

That, funny enough, actually brings us to this upcoming Breakdown...”

Amelia turns to glance at Luz, a playful smile forming on her lips.

“Luz, do you remember what happened back on the final Breakdown of 2023?”

Luz takes a moment to ponder this question, tapping her chin in thought.

“Let's see... if I remember correctly, I successfully defended the Television Title I held at the time against Derek Adonis. I was all set to celebrate my reign continuing, and then everything changed when the European Fiery Nation attacked.”

Amelia can't help but laugh as Luz just grins at her, knowing full well what she's done.

“You just couldn't resist the Avatar reference, could you?”

“Nope!”

The grins they're giving one another soon give way to more serious looks as they turn their full attention back to us.

“But in all seriousness, Konrad attacked Adonis just because he was furious over his Fatal Fortunes drawing because he had to wrestle in a match sponsored by... well, I'm not too comfortable continuing on with that thought. But before we could intervene because the whole thing was unwarranted, Dakon and Ludvig attacked us, both to make sure we didn't get involved and to make a statement of their own.”

“A statement they then spent weeks bragging about, claiming they got our attention and believing it would soon lead to a title opportunity for them and they did it without actually having to play by the rules. Now, we could have very well pursued the idea of revenge for that little stunt, but we realized it would ultimately accomplish nothing. Even a non-title match would be justifying the purpose behind their attack on us, and between Luz's Television Title reign and the challengers we had lined up already for our World Tag Team Titles, it just wasn't worth it. If Dakon and Ludvig wanted to face us that badly, all they had to do was ask. Better yet, they could have earned the opportunity to challenge us with the titles on the line because they have claimed time and time again they are the most dedicated tag team in all of SCW today, which begs the question...

Why aren't you showing that dedication you claim to have?”

“Your claims are founded on the belief that because the World Tag Team Championships are the one and only championship in all of SCW that matters to you and you refuse to compete outside of tag matches together unless forced to do so, then you must be justified. And yet, time and time again you've proven that as soon as things don't go your way, your first instinct is to break out the weapons and take one step backwards in your pursuit, refusing to get better so that you can validate those bold claims and earn the opportunities you crave so badly. You excuse this by claiming that you're just 'spicing things up' because you find the way we prefer to do things 'too boring.' That, to us, doesn't sound like a team that's truly dedicated to the craft of tag team wrestling.

Let's be clear here: Amelia and I are not afraid to step outside of our comfort zone if that's what it takes to prove ourselves, but there has to be a reason to raise the stakes to that level. Repeatedly going the hardcore route just to 'spice things up' will inevitably make that option stale as well. More importantly, you're implying throughout all of this that we aren't as dedicated to tag team wrestling as you are just because we've both had solo opportunities and took them without a second thought. Never mind the fact that we have always supported each other no matter what opportunities come our way, never mind the fact that we willingly exiled ourselves from Tag Title contention for MONTHS just to prove to the then-champions how much all of this meant to us and what we were willing to do to prove it.”

Luz opens her mouth to keep going, but Amelia gently places a hand on her shoulder to stop her. The two fall into a silent conversation before nodding to one another as Amelia takes over.

“Luz could keep going, but I think our point is pretty clear. Bear in mind that tag team wrestling wasn't even in our plans when we first entered this business... Luz's father was never a tag team wrestler, nor were my parents. My older siblings were, but that wasn't entirely by choice thanks to our parents refusing to see past them being twins in their plans for our family legacy. The plan for me was to become the best singles wrestler I could be, and I know Luz had similar aspirations... and yet, here we are, recognized as one of the greatest tag teams in the entire world. That's an honor we have earned, time and time again, by pushing ourselves in that ring and training our butts off until we were so in sync with each other our opponents started to believe we could communicate telepathically with each other. We know the path to the top never gets easier the farther you go, and we have embraced that challenge and evolved to stand here as your two-time and reigning SCW World Tag Team Champions.”

“And yeah, in the meantime we've both reigned as Television Champion and had other opportunities at singles gold, but even those accomplishments ultimately contributed to pushing each other to get better and preparing ourselves for those situations where one of us has to stand alone until the other can recover to get back in the fight. There's just as much to learn fighting on your own as there is to fighting by each other's side.”

“We have pushed ourselves beyond our limits for years to build a legacy that was all our own, and the fact that we stand here today proudly trying to carry the SCW tag division on our backs and encourage teams just like you to step up and prove how badly you truly want this is a testament to just how much tag team wrestling, SCW or otherwise, means to The Light In The Darkness. You're not the first to have called our dedication, our integrity, everything that all of this means to us, into question, and you certainly won't be the last. But... Dakon, Ludvig, understand that when that bell rings, you will find all of that out firsthand, and then you'll have a very difficult decision to make. When push comes to shove and you realize just how worthy of the mantle of SCW World Tag Team Champions Luz and I truly are, will you push yourselves to that next level to actually prove to us that your dedication to this craft IS stronger than ours and earn that opportunity you want so badly? Or will you take the coward's way out, rushing for the first weapons you both can get your hands on and hoping, in the face of all the evidence to the contrary we've provided to you and the rest of the division for months now, that if you 'beat' us without your names being announced as the actual winners of this match that it will have proven anything?”

“Know this: we're not afraid of you or anything you think you can do to us to make your point. It's going to take a lot more than excessive violence to snuff out The Light In The Darkness, and if that's the game you want to play, then you only have yourselves to blame with it blows up in your face in more ways than one.”

With that, Luz and Amelia actually bow in a show of respect to us for hearing them out before turning and bowing one last time to the shrine in thanks for the blessings they have received today and the chance to visit. With their minds clear and their focus on this upcoming match absolute, the couple join hands and take their leave as we linger on the sight of the shrine's torii for just a little longer before fading out.