The House of Frost vs. Light in the Darkness

[Wisteria Waltz]

OOC: And my second for Luz
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If you've ever wondered why Portland is known as the City of Roses, the International Rose Test Garden should give you a pretty good idea of why. Filled with roses of various kinds, including thousands of Madame Caroline Testout roses that were historically planted and thrive in the city, the garden is the beautiful heart and soul of Portland, Oregon and one of the loveliest experiences to indulge in if you're a tourist. That said, there does seem to be one “flower” who maybe feels a little out of place being here right now, and part of the problem is the fact that she's missing someone important to her.

After talking a bit of a walk through the garden ourselves and seeing just why it delivered Portland its nickname, we find ourselves moving towards an area set up almost like an amphitheater with raised sections of grass and cobblestone forming a huge area of stairs and seating. One particular figure sitting here draws our attention, and it's not long before we find ourselves approaching La Pequeña Luz. Both World Tag Title belts are criss-crossed across her chest like a pair of bandoliers, which makes this seen feel surreal knowing that she's still holding onto both titles even though she and her wife are set to defend them come Thursday night over at the Moda Center. Luz's focus, however, is on a black rose she's twirling in her hand, which probably causes some concern when combined with the lack of her usual smile, as has unfortunately become the norm lately. Luz takes a deep sniff of the black rose's scent before her eyes slowly raise to us.

“I'm sure plenty of you out there are worried right now, and many more of you have questions. Let me put you at ease first off: I don't have this flower because somebody's passed away recently, though I'm certain some of you believe that might be the case in the metaphorical sense. But if they were truly gone, then I wouldn't still be fighting to bring them back, because I know from experience that the moment I give up is the moment all is truly lost. But a close friend of mine, if the name Ivy Plume rings any bells from her appearance a few years ago in the End of the Year open invitational, knows a thing or two about flowers, and according to her, black roses symbolize things such as change, hope, courage... they represent the beginning of a new era, the coming of major changes.

Now, more than ever, do I believe that all of these are important to keep in mind, especially for this upcoming Breakdown.

Before I get into that, however... I'd like to apologize to Colleen. I know a lot of people have made a big deal out of how The Light In The Darkness could have finally both been double champions if I had won our match by any way other than countout, but I truly did get so lost in the incredible match we were having that the referee's count completely slipped my mind until it was too late. For that, I apologize Colleen, that our match did not have the satisfying conclusion it deserved, and I hope that we can meet in that ring again soon, Television Title or no, to at least finish the fight we started. And... thank you, for pushing to help snap me out of the mental funk I've been in for quite some time. Honestly, I needed the distraction of a great match with no major strings attached, because this upcoming Breakdown?

Come Thursday night, I'll engage in what may be one of the most important battles I can have in trying to set everything right... and I wasn't even asked if I wanted this or not.”

Luz can't keep herself from sighing as her free hand moves to trail along the nameplate of the frontmost Tag Title belt, which we can see is the one bearing the name of Amelia Nevado. Luz's eyes turn back to the black rose, as if trying to will it to take root in her palm and feed her the hope and courage she needs to keep pushing forward.

“Last week, we saw both Amelia and Deanna give separate interviews about their upcoming main event match at Rise to Greatness, and... I'd be lying if I say I haven't watched Amelia's side of things a thousand times in the span of the past week, trying to rationalize the things she's saying and the attitude she's putting forth. Maybe I should be upset that she basically set up a Tag Title defense for us when I'm the one who's been left with the belts since Taking Hold of the Flame, but... if I can be honest for a moment? I actually don't disagree with the challenge she made, even if I wish she'd talked with me about it beforehand. This is a match that needed to happen, and perhaps the best time to do it is right now, before Rise to Greatness... before things potentially reach a point of no return.

For the longest time, you could say The Light In The Darkness and the House of Frost have been mirror images of each other. Two incredible talented teams formed from two couples completely fueled by the power of love who always strove to not only earn the right to be the best, but also elevate all of SCW to guide it to a bright future. Over the years, that comparison may feel like it's started to become a broken reflection with the issues between Selena and Deanna, but now? It's a broken mirror reflecting the same fractured images: two couples both in turmoil, and within those two couples there's one woman who's fighting with everything she has to pick up the pieces and hold it all together... and another who's become so broken by the pressure and consumed by the thought of needing to be the best that they almost feel like entirely different people altogether.

In some form or another, we've crossed paths with the Frosts several times over the years. We've been on opposite sides of the Trios Tournament, we've battled in Taking Hold of the Flame, Amelia and Deanna had an all-time classic in the semi-finals of that U.S. Title tournament years ago, Deanna and I have had many great clashes even if they haven't exactly been the proper one-on-one we still deserve one of these days. And yet... I still think back to when Amelia and I first returned to SCW, how Selena and Deanna posited the idea of defending these titles against us. Only a few months later, it became a reality. Retribution 2023, the first time any of us met in that ring, and while we stole the entire show, it was the Frosts who prevailed on that night.

In a time where a lot of uncertainty was beginning to hang over SCW like a fog because Mr. D had revealed he was going to sell the company, a time that many point back to as the starting point for Selena Frost becoming the 'devil' we all know today... the four of us simply met in that ring and put on one of the best tag team matches that anyone had ever seen. The titles may have been on the line, but that match was defined primarily by the love we all shared for this sport as we proved, on that night, exactly what wrestling could, and should, be.

Sadly, things change as time goes on... and maybe this black rose is the symbol I needed to finally start accepting that things will never be as easy as I'd like them to be in this business, where any problems can just be solved by meeting in the ring and settling things fair and square. But I also have hope that this match on Thursday night will be the eye-opening revelation I think we all need that things can come full circle, that The Light In The Darkness and the House of Frost can all come together and still put on a match like that, that we can remind each other of how things can be if we just embrace the love of competition instead of trying to force this to be about which side truly has things together.

If we play our cards right... the correct answer will be that both sides have their act together and we can start rebuilding the bridges that have begun to break.”

As Luz's gaze lifts from the rose back to us, we see that familiar determined fire in her eyes, the passionate look of a woman who is absolutely hellbent on fighting with everything she has to earn the result that matters most to her. Slowly, she stands up, the petals from some of the roses planted around her being caught by the breeze and decorating the space around her in a beautiful display of nature, as if trying to further prove the strength of her conviction.

“Deanna... you got me. I entered Taking Hold of the Flame ready to fight with everything I had to be the one who would face my wife on SCW's grandest stage of them all, and your conviction was unfortunately greater on that night. As I said weeks ago... I hate it, but I can't hate you for being the one to ultimately stop me. Maybe some people out there want to blame the fact that I had just gone through physical and psychological hell maybe about a half-hour before my number was called, but I refuse to accept excuses on my behalf. In a way, I guess it was your way of paying me back for officially taking the U.S. Title from you on that grand stage last year, and in that regard? I'd say we're even.

That said, Deanna... there is something I do have a bit of a problem with, even if I completely understand your intention behind it. It's been all but confirmed at this point that you'd made a deal with Delatosso that effectively gave Amelia her supposed reason to call for this match we're about to have on Breakdown... if the Glimmers actually won at Taking Hold of the Flame, as many people likely thought they might considering how heavily they stacked the deck in their favor and tried to prey upon the rift between my wife and I, then you and Selena were immediately going to face them with the Tag Titles on the line. I may understand wanting to make sure the Glimmers did not walk out of Las Vegas with everything they thought they deserved after how much they spat in the face of everything we all stand for, I may understand wanting to use it as a means of trying to make sure Selena would be present so the two of you could maybe try to start fixing things... but, as your friend? As someone who's tried to be like a sister to you these past few years?

It hurt to learn that you didn't have enough faith in us that you even needed to put a backup plan on the table in the first place.

You didn't even know if Amelia and I would be able to still function together, even when we both made it clear that our synergy is the one thing that can never be questioned between us no matter what's going on, and you were still willing to invoke a rematch on Selena's behalf without knowing if you and her were in any better state. It truly hurts to think that even you were willing to give up on us despite knowing from experience that the situations you and I find ourselves in isn't as black and white as others who have their issues with Selena or Amelia or the New Order or whatever want to think. Amelia and I never gave up on you with everything you were going through, from Selena to whatever The Enigma did all the way back when. You still haven't fully given up on Selena, just as I refuse to give up on Amelia, and I know Amelia hasn't given up either because I can see her fighting desperately against the decisions she thought she had to make. I still believe, Deanna... and if you don't believe in us anymore, then I want you to make that clear when we meet in that ring and throw our absolute best at each other, because how you choose to fight me will tell me everything I need to know.

Don't become like Selena, who stopped believing in us a long time ago... even when I still believe in her.”

That admission perhaps causes a shocking chill to run through everyone watching, and Luz hopes it has that same effect on Selena if and when she hears this. Amelia had told Selena something similar two years ago, heading into their collision in the Trios Tournament finals, and while Amelia might claim she's changed her mind and stopped believing, Luz knows deep in her heart that it's just all the pain and frustration shining through and guiding her words. But Luz? She speaks with firm conviction as her attention turns to the woman who's long declared herself the true face of SCW.

“I'm not going to mince words, Selena. If I've started to understand anything in these trying past few months, it's that maybe I do need to stop being so nice all the time and hope I get that same respect in return. It's been taken advantage of time and time again, and you're one such person who's chosen to weaponize that against Amelia because of your own insecurities. I look at you right now, and I mean it when I say I see exactly what Amelia is on track to become if I fail. You put the doubt in her head by insisting she let her Trios contract lapse so you could be the one to try and dethrone Cid Turner, you're the one who's insisted for months that you, and you alone, were the only one worthy of being World Champion and becoming the very thing I watched you stand against for most of your career.

Just like Amelia, you became this 'devil' you like to call yourself because you became so consumed by your frustrations over nothing going the way you wanted it to, even when you were World Champion again, that you felt there was no other way. And when the ego you chose to hide behind was inevitably challenged by people like Amelia and I who were fighting tooth and nail to rise through the ranks and didn't agree with you trying to hold everyone down, you eventually stopped caring about everything this business meant to you and let that power corrupt you into just another person obsessed with being the best by any means necessary.

I've even heard you come up with excuses to try and justify the setbacks that have been no fault but your own for thinking this path wasn't going to come without consequences. The saddest part about that, in my opinion? By your own logic, I'm the last person you should be trying to use to diminish everything Amelia has fought for despite adopting your playbook! You criticize Amelia for not being able to win on her own, earning her World Title shot and then the title itself in multi-person matches and then needing my help to defend it at Taking Hold of the Flame... but what about me, Selena? Look at my three U.S. Title reigns: I won the right to challenge for it the first time in a multi-person match, just like Amelia, but I never got my title match and was instead just named interim champion because Deanna was deemed unable to compete. I swore to hold that title until she was ready to return so we could have that match... and I failed. My second reign? Also won in a multi-person match where Deanna was involved, and while Amelia defeated you directly to become World Champion, I didn't do the same to Deanna last year. Heck, my third reign was also the result of a multi-person match, so if anything, I'm a bigger fraud than Amelia is according to your own words.

Not only that, but your logic would also suggest Deanna might be a fraud as well, because would you think she earned the right to be the undisputed U.S. Champion had she won that four way last year instead of me? Or is she a worthy winner of the battle royal because the match had 39 other people in it and I, the last person she eliminated, also wrestled another match right beforehand? Or what about you, Selena? Would you believe you would have truly earned the World Title by winning it in that four way had Amelia not stopped you from pinning Gavin? Or how about that Ladder Match at last year's Rise to Greatness if you had won it instead of Cid?

That's the thing, Selena... your logic just doesn't work because it's built on excuses you're hiding behind to try and shield yourself from the pain, something Deanna has also said about Amelia. The funny thing is... Amelia was set to wrestle in singles matches both at Hubris and at Taking Hold of the Flame before other parties, you being one of them, decided to intervene and rewrite the script. She's been trying, but as you know full well even if you keep trying to deny it, this business doesn't always work exactly how you want it to go, and if you're willing to adapt to the situation thrown at you and rise above it? Then you truly have proven yourself.

It's why you're choosing to ignore your own logic and insist on making amends with Deanna by letting her have the shot she earned. It's why, deep down, I know the Selena Frost I respected and called my friend is still in there somewhere... and why I think you hope as well as Deanna and I do that Amelia can still be saved as well.”

Luz looks down at the black rose again as she gently twirls it in her hand.

“This Breakdown here in Portland is a night I'm choosing to have hope in, because I'm going to walk into this tag match with the courage to fight for how things should be. I want to fight you, Deanna, both as a friendly rivalry to pay you back for the battle royal and to prove to you that Amelia and I are still worth having faith in. I want to fight you, Selena, because just like Amelia, I see the flickers of light within the darkness and I will not hesitate to dive in and pull you out by reminding you of exactly the kind of match that gave you hope for the future of this business in the first place. Whatever it takes, I owe it to Deanna to give her the real Selena Frost back, someone who doesn't need to destroy herself under the pressure of carrying SCW on her shoulders alone... not when you have Deanna, Amelia, and even me to share that burden.

And lastly... I hear you loud and clear, Amelia. I've read between the lines, I know why you really want this match, and I swear to you, I will help you find your way again. I've meant it every time I've said you've earned this, that you deserve to be here, and I know in my heart of hearts that you can prove to everyone, and to yourself, that you don't need Delatosso or his New Order or whatever hurdles everyone insist you jump over to prove you belong at the top of the mountain. I believe in you Amelia... I believe in us... and come Breakdown, I have hope that both you and Selena can see the courage it's taking Deanna and I to brave this journey to bring you both back.

You know as well as I do Amelia, and Selena and Deanna will both be reminded right here in Portland, that the true art of wrestling is a language all its own, and it speaks volumes far greater than many will ever understand. It's what helped me guide you out of the darkness before, mi amor... and I'm confident it will do so again.”

With that, Luz leans down and gently kisses the black rose before she gently sets it back among the flowers, leaving us with one last look of the hopeful fire in her eyes and the World Tag Title belts where Amelia's is still the one in front, hoping these symbols will be enough to guide her flight towards not only a successful title defense come Breakdown, but also a significant step towards finally breaking down the walls that have been put up around some of the most important people in her life and career to help bring them back.