- Messages
- 303
- Points
- 93
"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other." – Audrey Hepburn
The Matriarch sat alone at her long table, a plate before her that bore a single, thick-cut Wagyu steak. She drew her knife through it in one unhurried motion, fork anchoring the meat in place, and lifted the cut to her mouth. She chewed slowly, deliberately, her eyes fixed on the camera — pausing now and then to savor the bite.
When she finally swallowed, a small smile crossed her lips, followed by a chuckle. She pushed the plate forward, just slightly, and let the silence do the rest.
“It is my favorite time of the year; a new season is upon us, and with that come new opportunities, new stories to tell, and new faces to step into the arena to make a name for themselves. For others, it is a time to forget about what happened in the previous season, and make their mark on this one. For people who walked out of Pain for Pride as Champions, this is the moment when they begin to submit their legacy. Anything can happen; everything is open to everyone, and it is quite exciting to see what EAW is like by the end of this large surge of New Breeds. But while things have changed a lot, something never does — your Matriarch brings one of those constants. I walked into Pain for Pride knowing that it was a formality; everyone knew that I was going to win, but it was a match strictly for me to showcase my strength on the grandest stage. Miku Sakai, of course, denied me, and Brianna Hill…well, I think she was less delusional about it. And it ended the exact way that I knew it would, with me as the victor. All it did was give me further proof that I am above the competition that Mikami would’ve struggled with, if it wasn’t proven by me winning Empress of Elite, if it wasn’t proven when I broke Raven’s body and brought out a side of her that can now contend with Hans Grayson. Then it was proven right there at Pain for Pride.”
“And now, I begin this season as one of the top faces on the totem pole. No longer am I wondering what I am going to do now or what the future holds for me. I know what the future holds for me, and I look forward to making it a reality. Unlike some people who have won this crown, I know how valuable the opportunity to be Empress of Elite is. A Universal Women’s Champion match, whenever I want. That isn’t something I take lightly, and a power that should be treated with the respect that it deserves. It is too bad that Tahira slipped up and lost the Championship to Siobhan; it would’ve been satisfying to take it from the woman who people considered the greatest in this new era of EAW. But the opponent doesn’t matter much; all that matters is what they carry. Whether it’s Siobhan or anyone else that may get their hands on the Championship, they know they have a target on their back, and I know, despite being on an entirely different brand, that Siobhan is watching me. Just like Tahira was watching me, and waiting for me to jump at the first opportunity to call my shot.”
“It will happen, of course it will. But you won’t know the day, the time, or the place. All you’ll know is that the moment I call for my Championship match is the day you lose that belt. It’s the day that I take what was owed to me since birth, and I reign as the Champion that pushes the women’s division into the future—molded and shaped by The Matriarch, with the vision of the Urai family. It will be a glorious day for my people and for those that love their Empress and their Matriarch. But until your day of reckoning comes to whoever may hold the Championship, enjoy your time and your glory. Because in those fleeting moments, when I usurp you and take my Championship. Memories will be all that you have left.”
KASAI laughs manically, the sinister sound echoing in the dining room. She covers her mouth, trying her best to contain it. Eventually, the fit stops, and she straightens herself out.
“But look at me talking about the then and will be. I should be talking about the now, all the new faces on Dynasty, and one of them seemed to have taken interest in me—Harper Lee, of all people. I should be surprised; I mean Harper Lee and I aren’t exactly best friends, and I could recall her calling Mikami a waste of space who wouldn’t make it this long. But in all honesty, it is on brand for Harper Lee to try to find solace in someone else. For years of her career, she has been aligned with her boyfriend in Silas World over there on Showdown. She has gotten used to getting opportunities and being at the top of the brand, off the back of a once dominant group. So now that she is on my show, with no real help and a target in the form of a Cash in the Vault briefcase, she wants help from a woman who not only knows Dynasty but dominates it with an iron fist. She wants the help of your Matriarch.”
“And to her shock, I said no. It should be obvious why, but since I know Harper Lee isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, I will explain my reasoning as bluntly as possible. You don’t just come onto my brand and demand that we team together like it is some grand honor, despite what you may have in your head, Harper. We are not equals; I am not the Mikami you bullied during her development. Maybe that spineless wimp would’ve hopped on the first opportunity to team with a former World Champion, and someone with your resumé, but I tend to have a lot more pride than my former self. In Silas World, you might’ve been able to call your shots and stand on the backs of weaker people, who will throw themselves in front of you and Donovan with the snap of a finger. But guess what? This is not Showdown; I am not Silas Mason, Donovan Duke, and most certainly not that bald FUCK Ronan Malosi. I am the Empress of Elite — The Matriarch, and if you don’t treat me as such, Harper, I will rip you apart. Do you understand?”
“Besides, you’re not the only person that has bad experiences with tag teams; Mikami spent the beginning of her career mentoring a nobody who ended up dragging her further down to the point where she needed to play catch-up with her contemporaries. Now the people she came into the company with have achieved so much, just for me to have to fix the mess that she left me. All because she wanted to help some poor girl get into this cut-throat business that she was never cut out for. So you should never question whether I’m capable; you should tell me what you can do for me that I can’t do for myself. I didn’t need a Silas World or a Potara to give me a boost; I got here off my own strength. Maybe if you show me that you’re more than just a whiny, parasitic leech, maybe then I’ll extend an olive branch and give you the help that you seem to need. Until then, Harper, this is strictly just business.”
“Speaking of which, Chris Elite and Daryl Kinkade. It’s an honor to share the ring with The Matriarch; I hope you realize this, especially as two males. Let me guess: you guys are hoping to bounce back to your former glory after failing to obtain and maintain it at Pain for Pride. Did I get that right? Oh, who am I kidding? Of course I did. It’s always the same with you men and your nostalgia acts. Never able to let go of the way things are, and having to take from others that are currently the torch bearers for the industry going forward. Chris Elite, let’s talk about you. Since I believe you are the most experienced in this company. You tried to take the King of Elite crown away from Cody Maverick? Now it’s not that I care about Maverick of all people, but I can at least say that he fought hard — maybe not as hard as me — to win his crown and have that second-place honor bestowed upon him. Then you come along and try to take that, try to wear a crown that you have no right to wear. On top of that, you fail even to capture it. So you stand here before me, not only as an old, self-centered and selfish male but as one that can’t seem to get the job done when it matters the most. A man named Chris Elite is supposed to be someone I believe represents this company. The poster boy and first person I think about when mentioning this company. But your history and your mark on this company have faded more and more as time has gone by. Eventually, all Chris Elite will be is another Brian Daniels whose tales of greatness are more folklore than noticed. I would say that is upsetting to me, but truthfully I couldn’t care less about the fate of Chris Elite.”
“Same goes for your partner, Daryl. Who just like that his 15 minutes is over and it’s back to the grind for you. I have to say, that I am impressed you managed to claw your way back to Championship glory. Unlike Chris Elite, I see you have potential to do more then just leech and steal other people’s accolades. But it’s as simple as this Daryl, you bore me. I don’t think of you as competition and I sure am not going to pretend that you are a threat to me. You can claim that you are more motivated since losing the Championship, and you’re going to use that new found motivation to show me who’s boss. But the reality is, even before stepping into the ring, you’re out matched and out classed in every way possible. While I’m not a huge fan of Harper Lee, I can at least trust that she is capable of holding her own. We both are stepping into the scene as one of the most watched and feared women in the company. Her because of that briefcase, and me because I am the Empress of Elite and The Matriarch. You’re in over your head and I suggest, that when you speak to me — speak to me with respect and know your place, boy. Maybe if you bow your head a little, I won’t hurt you as badly.”
“As I said before this match is business, a light little warm up for the larger scale damage that I am going to cause on my way to EAW immortality. Depending on things go, for all party involves. Will determine whether two people leave on a stretcher…”
“Or three.”
