La Pequena Luz vs. Polly Pingotti

[Wisteria Waltz]

OOC: Full disclosure, this wasn't the original plan I wanted to do CD-wise for this week, but I agreed to do only one against Jay so I split some of what I had planned and reworked it into this. Not sure if I'll be able to rework what I didn't use for this for next week pending the Trios plans, but I will get myself back on my planned CD schedule at some point, somehow.
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The first Breakdown of a new season for SCW was in the books, and an odd tension hung in the air regarding The Light In The Darkness.

The couple had been prepared to come back from a well-deserved break following Rise to Greatness ready to hit the ground running and tackle whatever challenges awaited them now that the World Tag Team Championships were back in their possession. It could be argued that things weren't off to the best of starts for the young couple with Amelia's loss to Xander Valentine tonight, but Luz couldn't have been prouder of the fight her soon-to-be-wife had put up despite every overwhelming disadvantage she'd been at, and she doubted that even Xander would forget about that match anytime soon. Luz believed that, even in defeat, Amelia had hopefully proven to the Executioner that she was every bit the future star that he believed her to be.

Now it would be her turn to prove that she was right there with her partner, no matter where their paths took them.

As the couple returned to their hotel room in Dallas, Luz knew she had been booked for next week's Breakdown in Oklahoma City, though at this exact moment she didn't know who her opponent would be. That was a problem for next week, however, because her primary concern tonight was Amelia. While Amelia didn't look any worse for wear than she usually did following a match, she'd still asked to get checked out by the trainer before they left the arena, as a precaution. Thankfully, being on the receiving end of Xander's Valhalla Has Fallen finisher hadn't caused any neck problems to resurface or develop, which left the both of them breathing sighs of relief. Still, the drive back to the hotel had been somewhat quiet, and Luz was the kind of partner who knew to give Amelia her space and let her open up when she was ready.

As easy as it was to want to try and help right away, they had both learned time and time again over the years to trust in one another and not force those kinds of conversations. While healthy communication had been the heart that kept their relationship alive and strong, that also included knowing when not to push if the other simply didn't want to talk right away.

“It's hard, Luz...” Amelia suddenly said with a sigh as the two had gotten settled back into their room and were changing into their pajamas to hit the hay.

“What's hard, cariño?” Luz carefully asked, her tone making it clear to Amelia that they didn't have to talk now if she wanted to sleep on it, but as they locked eyes she could tell her fiancée wanted to get this off her chest now or else it would likely plague her dreams tonight.

Amelia took a deep breath, steeling herself before she replied. “It's so hard to keep reminding myself of how good I can be, even knowing now that my parents will never be able to put me down ever again. Every time I start trying to put tonight behind me to focus on what's next for us, I can just hear my father's voice criticizing me for losing to Xander... just like I can hear my mother's voice berating me for being the weak link in our tag team.”

“Amelia...” Luz carefully spoke, but Amelia kept going.

“I know it's stupid, but... it's hard to ignore when I look back on things. I mean, Xander talked so much about the potential he saw in me even knowing he was going to be facing me, hyping me up like I'm destined to go on to be SCW World Champion someday... just like my parents would have expected of me by now. And yet, looking only at our singles records, yours is far better than mine is... heck, you actually have a winning record. I know it's stupid to fixate so much on it, but... when the time comes where we lose the World Tag Titles again, if we actually step back and decide to try something else for a while...”

“We'll bust our behinds to keep getting better and pushing one another to greater and greater heights, just like we've always done,” Luz firmly cut in, pulling Amelia into a tight hug. “And before you try to tell me otherwise... do you remember where we were at around Taking Hold of the Flame last year?”

“I...” Amelia started to say before sighing and burying her head into the crook of Luz's neck. “I try not to think about that too much...”

“Well, now's a perfect time to think about it and talk it over,” Luz offered. “At that time, you were heading into the finals of a tournament to decide a brand new United States Champion, and you were on the kind of roll I don't think anybody expected from you because they'd been so fixated on what we could do for so long, not what you could do. Meanwhile, I was struggling to get any solo wins to my name, I got an Underground Title shot mostly because I had the guts to call Kim out about how she got that belt back and fell short... I was jealous that you were having the kind of success I wanted myself. I think, now, the roles have been reversed a little bit. Yeah, I may look more successful on paper just because of my record, but I never would've gotten those wins and had the TV Title run I did if you hadn't won that belt first and inspired me to go even farther with it. Even then... who have I really beaten? Every win I got was hard-fought, but there's plenty of people out there who will claim my only real big wins were taking the title off of Kirsten Scott and maybe defending it against Simon Lyman. Probably the toughest challenge I've faced in their eyes was that fourway where Adam Allocco was involved and Deanna won. And then there's you, Amelia... you've stood toe-to-toe with several big names at this point. On your own, you've taken the likes of Glory, Bree and Xander to their limits... heck, I'm pretty sure you're one of the last people who's actually been able to defeat Deanna one-on-one. I may have a better-looking record than you do, but I think it's safe to say your record has more substance to it.”

“...do I need to turn this conversation right around and give you a big speech about selling yourself short, La Pequeña Luz?” Amelia sternly said after a moment of silent contemplation.

“Nope!” Luz laughed. “But the fact that you're willing to do so is proof I've gotten through to you, at least, and I will do so every single day for the rest of my life if that's what it takes because no matter who we face, I want to keep pushing and inspiring you like you do to me.”

Amelia was quiet again for a moment, thinking over Luz's words. While she wasn't about to let the luchadora sell herself short now or ever, she knew there was some truth to her partner's words at least from the perspective of both fans and future opponents who would try to find any little detail they thought they could run with to use in an argument against them. Luz may have wrestled more matches than her because of how long her Television Title reign had been, but it could be argued that Amelia had the tougher schedule when it came to who each of them actually had faced. She could hear her mother's voice in the back of her head now, trying to justify this by her being the superior member of their tandem who was squandering it by not being able to rise to the challenges she was given, but she quickly shook this off. She was an incredibly talented wrestler, especially in spite of how her parents had tried to mentally program her growing up, and Luz was every bit as good as she was. After all, she had been the first person to properly defeat her in her entire career, the only person to date who had properly survived her application of the Blight Choke. Luz had just as much potential as she did to become SCW World Champion someday, and she wasn't about to let anyone, least of all Luz herself, forget that.

“Thank you, Luz,” Amelia sighed contentedly as she pulled Luz to the bed, cuddling up with her in spite of the ache in her muscles. “I'm glad to know that I inspire you, and I can't wait to be inspired by your performance on Breakdown next week. You're right... you struggled at first on your own in SCW but turned it all around once you found your rhythm, and I'll do the same the more singles opportunities I get. I don't care if it isn't easy... we didn't come to SCW to just be told we're among the best, we came to prove it.”

“And just because we're both former Television Champions and now three-time World Tag Team Champions doesn't mean we still don't have more to prove,” Luz nodded before kissing Amelia on the cheek. “There will always be flaws in our game to iron out, more challenges to overcome and accolades to achieve. I don't care who I'm facing next week or what Trios may have in store for us two weeks from tonight, we'll face it head-on and find a way to rise to that challenge.”

“Even in spite of anyone out there who wants to see us fail, hoping we'll spiral again and be our own undoing,” Amelia firmly said, her tone almost being in defiance of her own words.

“So... feeling better?” Luz couldn't help but ask, putting on her cheesiest grin as she did so.

“I do,” Amelia laughed, feeling the tension leave her body as she returned Luz's cheek kiss. “Thank you Lulu... what did I ever do to deserve having you to light up my life?”

“By being the light in mine,” Luz said, and Amelia could immediately feel her face heating up with how much love she had put into that honest statement. “And I cannot wait to be able to call you my wife.”

“Soon...” Amelia grinned before a yawn escaped her lips, her body finally making it clear that it wanted rest after the war with Xander.

As the two snuggled up and prepared to go to sleep, Luz couldn't help but watch Amelia a tiny bit as she drifted off, her hand moving to stroke the soft brown locks. Deep down, it always hurt her to see Amelia struggling with her confidence. True, she'd been there and done that plenty of times herself so she didn't have much of a leg to stand on, but knowing how much pressure the other woman put on herself time and time again because the influence of her parents would likely haunt her thoughts for perhaps the rest of her life... it infuriated Luz like nothing else did.

As sleep finally claimed her, she made a quiet vow to herself... she would do whatever it took to help Amelia reclaim that confidence she deserved to have in herself so they two of them could continue to rise to greater and greater heights together, no matter what form that took. And whoever she would face on Breakdown next week in Oklahoma City... her efforts were going to start by beating them.

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“Hola, all you wonderful SCW fans! I know, this seems a little unusual for me, doing a little audio recording instead of what Amelia and I usually do leading into a match. Truth be told, I just couldn't wait to give a voice to my thoughts, and I'm... not exactly in a position to stand in front of a camera right now. You all know that Amelia and I proposed to one another at last year's Rise to Greatness, making a magical moment for ourselves even if our match didn't turn out in our favor that night. Well... we've had some snags outside of the ring because of some personal matters you may or may not have seen in the news at some point, and the self-deprecating spiral we fell into before this year's Rise to Greatness certainly didn't help matters either, but the two of us are finally starting to make some progress on wedding plans! That's a big reason why I can't stand in front of a camera right now... I'm actually in the middle of working with one of the best mask-makers in all of Mexico right now to have a very special mask designed for me to wear for our big day. I follow the sacred codes of lucha libre at all times, and that not only includes my wedding day, but also moments like these where my face is actually exposed as I'm trying on some test masks to settle on a base for this new design. Maybe you guys will get to see it at some point since it is a mask meant for a luchadora, after all, but for now I'm going to keep it under wraps. Don't want bad luck before I actually tie the knot with the love of my life, after all!

Anyways, as much as I know there are some of you out there who have been curious since Ames and I have been a bit quiet about wedding plans after our big proposal—though we had good reason for doing so, I'm sure you understand—I know what you all are really here to listen to me talk about, and that's SCW. Honestly, I could sit here and talk about how incredible Rise to Greatness was, I could talk about how Amelia and I are now three-time World Tag Team Champions and how amazing it felt to finally conquer some of the demons that have been lurking over our heads in recent months... but I know you all heard Amelia already cover that last week when she addressed her match with Xander. That, however, is something I actually want to address myself. Yeah, Xander won last week... and Amelia still gave him a heck of a fight and proved that even in defeat, she can go toe-to-toe with the best SCW has to offer even on her own. I know that can be interpreted many different ways, and I've heard the talk everyone likes to throw around. It's in the frequent comparisons made between us and Dark Fantasy, considering how Syren and Ravyn both found major singles success even if it came at the expense of their team and their relationship to some degree, if Ravyn's mind games for us last year were any indication. It's in the way people like to pick apart our respective singles records, trying to find anything they can use against us or hope will turn us against one another and create that rift that will spell the end of The Light In The Darkness.

We've made it clear, time and time again, that even in defeat, we will get back up and push ourselves and each other to improve for next time. Mark my words: Amelia will bounce back from her recent setbacks, just as I bounced back from all of mine around this same time last year en route to my Television Title reign... a reign I probably couldn't have pushed myself into making what it was had Amelia not been the first between us to obtain singles gold in SCW when she won that very same title from a woman named Polly Playtime.

Hola Polly, it's been a while, hasn't it? Honestly, I think the last time you crossed paths with The Light In The Darkness in any fashion was that particular point in time, along with you and the rest of the team now known as Body, Heart & Soul teaming with us and James Evans for that big twelve-person tag match at the pay-per-view that immediately followed that night. That said, a lot has changed over the past year and a half, that I know for sure. I've had my own run with the Television Title, everyone knows about the dedication of Amelia and I to be the heart and soul of SCW's tag division right now, both the good and the bad that has come with it all. On your end... well... I think we can both agree the less said about whatever that mess was with that Marissa Swanson woman, the better. Since that got resolved though, I've seen the change you've undergone. Obviously the fact that you're Polly Pingotti now, and that I shouldn't expect to have to fight you in a ball pit like you made Amelia have to do, but I've also noticed the aggression, the fight, the passion that's gone into trying to prove that you belong at that top level of competition in arguably the biggest and toughest wrestling company in the world today.

Considering I strive to do that exact same thing every time I set foot in the ring, just as Amelia does as well, I understand your fight better than you might think.

I know how tough it feels when you find your head constantly hitting that glass ceiling, the frustration of throwing all your effort into finally breaking through and not being able to do so. Trust me... I've been there. That's where I felt I was for the longest time when my career first got started, with the burden of feeling like I was letting everybody down because I couldn't live up to the legacy of mi papá. That's where Amelia and I both felt when we had such a promising start years ago in this company before injuries derailed it all, when we first fell short against the Frosts last year in proving we were worthy of standing where we do today. Heck, you remember what I mentioned earlier? To everyone who wants to look at mi amor and mock her recent struggles despite the fight she's shown each and every time against some of the absolute best... don't forget that she and I had these roles flipped around this time last year. She had reached the finals of the tournament to crown a new U.S. Champion, she seemed to be on the roll of a lifetime... and I was struggling to actually get anything doing, no matter what I tried or how hard I fought. Say what you will about the success we've had together as World Tag Team Champions over the course of this past year, but the night where I pushed myself father than I ever have before and earned my reign as Television Champion... that was the night where La Pequeña Luz finally started to put it all together.

That's why I know that Amelia will overcome her recent struggles and earn her glory just like I will keep trying to do as well.

That's why I know that you, Polly, will break that glass ceiling eventually.

I've seen it in the wars you've had with Deanna over the U.S. Title, I've seen it in you efforts against Selena recently, in your match at Rise to Greatness even when Syren was pulled from it. I've seen what Polly Pingotti is capable of, and that's why I welcome that fight come Breakdown this week in Oklahoma City. Win or lose, I want to be able to walk out of the Ford Center this week knowing that you gave me the kind of fight that proves everything I just said, that you, Polly, are going to keep pushing yourself and will earn your time in the sun no matter how long it takes because all that effort will be worth it.

Just know this Polly: I may be rooting for you to reach the top of the mountain, to prove to the world that you've earned your place here... but I'm not going to just lay down and hand it to you. I want the exact same thing, and being a champion doesn't mean my own fight to prove that is on pause. I'm coming to Breakdown to earn this win not just for myself, but to help inspire Amelia as she has inspired me. I want this win to continue proving to the fans, the locker room and to myself that I belong here, even standing on my own. Maybe that inspires you to take that win from me... whatever the case, I look forward to taking everything you have to throw at me Polly, and you know I'll respond in kind.”