The Perfect Prey

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August 31st, 2022
The Lyons Den Training Facility
Raleigh, North Carolina
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The students of the Lyons Den work hard, and train hard in hopes that one day head trainer Keevee Kaiser can find a home for them in one of the many pro wrestling companies around the world. He’s sent a handful out already, and they’ve all seen some success, tag championships, united championships, affliction championships, and most recently one of them won a World Championship.

However, there is one who just hasn’t been able to find her niche, while one cousin is finding success elsewhere, another cousin is ready to start his career on Conquest, her brother once a top name in his old wrestling headquarters, and another former felon was able to turn her life around thanks to Keevee Kaiser and The Lyons Den, it is Victoria Lyons who still struggles to find her place in this business, it’s Victoria who still struggles to find her success.

Ever since she decided to put her managerial career behind her, and lace up her boots it’s been failure after failure with only a few meaningless wins peppered in here and there. Having to see the rest of her family rise above her only made her mind worse. Her father started The Lyons Den, and yet her and her brother are treated like second class citizens, in her mind at least.

That needed to change, and she knew just who was to blame for her lack of success in PWE and before, her trainer, Keevee Kaiser.

—-------

The door to the office opened with a force as though it had been kicked, as Victoria stormed in,followed as always by Vincent, she slammed both fists on the desk, and glared Keevee Kaiser directly in his eyes.

“This is all YOUR fault.” she growled angrily, Kaiser still taken by surprise, “All my failures, it’s all on YOU!”

Kaiser raises a palm, in an attempt to calm the seething Victoria.

“Calm down Victoria” he said, “What’s the problem now?”

“YOU!” she repeated, “I can’t get any momentum, because YOU won’t give me the focus and attention I need, the attention I DESERVE.”

“Victoria..” Kaiser started

“You give WAY more time to Cleo” she interrupted, “It’s all about her now isn’t it? Your precious little world champion is all you even care about now. You don’t care about me, about Vincent, you don’t even care about Alex.”

“Victoria..” Kaiser replied, “You know that isn’t true, I want all my students to succeed, you, Vincent, Cleo, Eddie, Alex. I want the best for all of you. You know that.”

“Liar!” growled Victoria, “You abandoned me, and you abandoned Vincent once Cleo started her rise, you KNEW Coalition was a bad idea and you sent us there to rot anyway.”

“While I had some reservations about Coalition” Kaiser said, “I truly thought you could thrive there, and you were, it was their management who had no clue what the fuck they were doing and just wanted to feed their own fetishes with shoving fireworks up peoples asses. I at least thought they wanted to be a wrestling promotion. I was wrong, and maybe should have just sent you back to the revived WWH, but I didn’t. We all make mistakes okay?”

“So, my brother and I are mistakes?” snapped Victoria, “Is that what your trying to say?”

“That isn’t what I said at all." said Kaiser shaking his head.

“My father taught you everything.” she said, “Without him you would be nothing. When he passed, he willed that you take over training the students of The Lyons Den, he trusted you to see that his children succeed, that The Lyons name continues into another generation, and in return you cast all of us aside in favor of that thug.”

Kaiser starting to get frustrated, takes a heavy breath, and slams a fist of his own on the desk.

“Enough!” he said, “Cleo has NOTHING to do with this, but maybe you should take some notes from her on proper attitude, she was able to change hers and look where it got her. She put in the hard work, and it paid off for her. What YOU need to do is change your attitude, stop this crazy schizo whateverthefuck shtick you gave going on and just focus on being Victoria!”

“I tried being Ordinary Victoria.” she said, “It’s just not who I am, I’m not some basic blonde bimbo who flashes her tits and ass all over social media to get the likes from a bunch of horny fans. I want to fucking fight. I want to fucking break bones, and make people bleed. I want to strike fear into my opponents and make them whimper at my heels.”

“I’m not saying you have to be…ordinary as you call it” said Kaiser, “Just maybe tone it down a little.”

“I can’t tone down who I am.” Victoria growled, “This is who I am, and who I will continue to be.”

“I’m only trying to help you Victoria, just dial it back some.” said Kaiser, “But YOU need to do the work, I can’t write your story for you.”

Vincent coughs.

“And what of you Vincent?” said Kaiser shaking his head, “You were the first graduate of the revamped Lyons Den, you were a mainstay in WWH, one of the companies top stars. Now, you just follow Victoria around like some lapdog? Where’s the Vincent who stood up to Havoc and his Ashes of The Wake? I thought you were about balance. Isn’t that what your facepaint was to represent? Some balance between the good and evil inside of you?”

Vincent says nothing, but his daggerlike glare says it all, he’s quietly seething.

“She guided you in WWH right?” said Kaiser, “Maybe you need to wake up and guide her in PWE.”

“You leave Vincent alone.” said Victoria, “This isn’t about him. This is about me, and your failure to guide ME.”

“You need to help her find her balance” said Kaiser, ignoring Victoria “You are her twin, you can reach her better than anyone. Find her balance Vincent. I know the real you is still in there somewhere, so wake up be a proper brother and help your fucking sister get past whatever the fuck this NOVA crap is.”

“Shut up!” Victoria shouted, pushing herself in between Kaiser and Vincent, “NOVA is my only true guide, she might be leading me through some dark valleys but I know she has a greater plan for me. I mean someone has to guide me, because you sure as hell won’t fucking do it.”

“YOU WON’T FUCKING LISTEN!! CLEO LISTENS!! EDDIE LISTENS!! EVEN FUCKING ALEX LISTENS SOMETIMES!!” Kaiser fumed, “YOU JUST WANT TO BE ALL DARK AND MYSTERIOUS AND IT’S NOT FUCKING WORKING!”

“You know what, I don’t have time this shit.” said Victoria moving to the exit, “All I wanted was MY FUCKING TRAINER to give a shit, but it’s clear you don’t want to put any real time into me. So I guess I’ll just figure it out myself.”

She glares at Kaiser before exiting the room, where she can he heard calling one last time.

“Come Vincent.” she said.

Kaiser grabbed Vincents arm, and spun him back around before he made his exit.

“Fix her.” he told Vincent.

Vincent glared at Kaiser, scoffed slightly, and pulled his arm away, saying nothing as he followed out after his sister.


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September 1st, 2022
The Lyons Family Home
Cameron, North Carolina
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“Maybe Keevee was right…” Vincent said, looking at his sister from across an island kitchen counter.

Victoria nearly squeezed all the coffee from her Starbucks cup as the words entered her ears, was her brother hinting at treason?

“Excuse me?” she piqued, saving herself from wasting her delicious pure black dark roast.

“Forgive me, my queen if I have offended, but my job is to support and advise you.” Vincent continued, “So if I may, let me advise.”

“Fine” Victoria scoffed, rolling her eyes “Please bless me with your advice brother.”

“It’s just…you’re up against Ellie Quinn at the next Victory show…” he explained, “This is the moment you need. You have a chance to defeat the Victory champion who if the last show is any indication is now weakened prey. She clearly has a bum leg of some sort, even if she did win.”

Victoria keeps a cold stare on Vincent, as he continues

“If there was any match for you to pickup your first victory in, it’s this one.” continued Vincent “Ellie is a champion, and a weakened one at that. You need to awaken the feral lyoness in you, and finish her off, all while proving your dominance by putting down a company champion. You said before your match with Lachlan that you just needed your moment, and this…this is it. Nobody can ignore you, or doubt your talent if you defeat Ellie in front of the world.”

“You think I don’t know that?” replied Victoria, “I want nothing more than to establish dominance by tearing Ellie limb from limb.”

“So, like Keevee said…” Vincent continued, “Dial yourself back some, you can win this. Just maybe don’t try to be so….spooky?”

“Spooky?” she laughs, “Vincent, this is who I am now. You should understand more than anybody. You were there that night HWL fell, the night we fell victim to The Left Hand, and our revolution was killed.”

“That was almost two years ago now, isn’t time we moved on?” said Vincent

“Don’t you see dear brother.” smirked Victoria, “I have moved on. I just accepted what I became after all that happened. I accepted NOVA into my life because she understands, she listens, and I know she’s just leading me through a dark valley and that she has a greater plan for me.”

“But..” said Vincent, voice shaky, “NOVA isn’t real..it’s just you elevating your subconscious or something, I don’t know ‘I’m no psychiatrist but you have to understand..there is no NOVA..”

“Watch your words brother.” Victoria snapped back, “I won’t have you speaking ill of the one person who’s REALLY trying to help. Maybe you need the pit again, you’re being ridiculous.”

“My queen, I only wish to help, but if you won’t even give my advice a chance…” started Vincent

“Perhaps you need to think of some better advice then.” said Victoria, “Because NOVA is not the problem here.”

“Then who is?” came another voice, not Vincent, this one was female, and older.

“This doesn’t concern you mother.” Victoria replied as their mother entered the kitchen.

“Excuse me?” Mrs. Lyons said, “You can do whatever you want put there in the world young lady, but under this roof, I am still queen, and you won’t disrespect me.”

Victoria sighed, “Yes mother.”

“Your brother is only trying to help you.” Mrs. Lyons continued, “You can’t let this NOVA guide you. You have to let VICTORIA be the guide.”

“I tried that in WWH, and they all still only cared about Vincent, and Renee Jonae.They left me as the third wheel of our Revolution. Ordinary Victoria is so basic and boring, and it’s not who I want to be.” said Victoria.

“But you know that isn’t true.” replied Mrs. Lyons, “The company closed before you even had a chance to get momentum, and you picked up a few good wins. You held your own in their Shogun tournament.

“But I didn’t win did I?” said Victoria.

“But you never gave up, you had the respect of all the fans, you know it’s true.” said Mrs.Lyons “Now, your brother was a two time Affliction champion, and a tag team champion there. Maybe you should give his advice a shot. NOVA can’t know everything right?”

Victoria growled angrily, “And there you go, favoring him once again mother. I don’t need this. I'm the one that LED him to all those championships.  I’ll respect the home as your domain and show myself out.. Come Vincent.”

Victoria grabs her coffee, and storms out of the kitchen, Vincent sighs heavily and follows after her shortly, stopped momentarily by his mother.

“Just keep trying, she’ll get there.” Mrs. Lyons said, “And take it easy on the NOVA isn’t real stuff. She may not be, but to Victoria she is and you have to play along..at least a little, soon enough she’ll forget all about that voice in her head."

“How can you be sure?” asked Vincent

“Because your father was the same way.” said Mrs. Lyons.

“Syth…” muttered Vincent

“Yes.” nodded Mrs. Lyons, “That was your fathers dark side, but as time went on he was able to cast the voice away. In time so will she, but it can’t be forced and it won’t happen overnight.”

“Any advice?” asked Vincent

“Just stand by her, support her even when she’s not making sense. She’ll pick up her first victory before long, and depending on when that happens and who it happens against it should help guide where she goes next.” Mrs Lyons said

“COME VINCENT!!!!” Victorias voice shouted from the next room.

“I better go…” said Vincent “I..I love you mom.”

He sighed heavily, kissed his mom on the cheek, and left the kitchen after Victorias voice.

“Coming my queen.” he said.

—-------
Unknown Time
Unknown Location
—-------

It’s about midday, as the scene finds Victoria Lyons, sitting on a large rock, a creek flows behind her where Vincent stands next to a small paddle boat, she looks back to Vincent, and then turns her attention back to the camera.

“You know Ellie” she began, “You’re someone I could see myself getting along with in some other time. You go against the grain, and aren’t afraid to tell a motherfucker off. That’s something I can respect.”

She smiles, grins and nods slightly.

“But that doesn’t mean I’m not seeking to destroy and embarrass you.” she said, “Sure I’m still hunting for my first victory here, and how sweet would it be if I got it over a champion?”

She breathes in deeply, the thought of defeating a champion filling her with a sense of euphoria.

“I have everyone in my life telling me what I need to do to succeed, my mom, my trainer, even my brother had words for me.” she said, “But it is NOVA, the one who lives within me who truly cares, and she’s telling me to strike hard, and finish off the weakened prey.”

She casually slaps her leg, with a cocky grin.

“How’s the leg?” she said, “Now I’m sure you want your revenge on Sabina for being the one who hurt you, and I would LOVE to see you carve her organs out, but that won’t be happening. She may have hurt you, but I’m going to finish you. I need to make a statement around here, and all the stars are aligned so I can make it on you.”

She smiles and giggles one of her creepy giggles, playing with her hair for a moment.

“I’m not one of these bimbos you’ve dealt with these past few shows like Peach Dillinger, and as I’ve said before, you’d be foolish to not take me seriously.” Victoria continued, “The more I keep losing, the hungrier I get, the angrier I get and all that pent up frustration is about to get let out all over the Victory champion.”

The look of euphoria fills her eyes again, a hint of madness between them.

“You may have far more experience and success than I do, but that doesn’t intimidate me Ellie, in fact it rather delights me.” she giggled, “It just means your a big prized goose waiting to me slaughtered, and who better to slaughter the prey than a lioness?” she says with grin “You're entering the unknown with someone like me. I am not someone who gives up, I am not someone who makes friends. I am coming to make a statement, and I don’t really care where that leaves you because you’ll be the champion who couldn’t even beat the girl that hasn’t beat anybody. How’s THAT going to make you look? How’s that going to rest on your fragile mind? Not well I’d imagine., and me?..."

She smiles, and laughs to herself.

“I’m going to be the unexpected entity that embarrassed and destroyed the Victory champion. The lioness you don’t see waiting in the grass to pounce, and sink her teeth into her unsuspecting prey.” said Victoria, “Your downfall begins with me, and I will finally taste the sweet taste of PWE victory and start the momentum I need to sit at the top as a champion.”

She stands from her seated position, and motions for the belt around her waist.

“That’s how it works right?” she said, “I finish you, humiliate you and embarrass you by defeating you and that puts me in line for a championship match. I suppose that means Sabina would deserve one as well, but I’ll deal with that hosebag as well if I need to. I held my own against a former champ in Lachlan Kane, and now it’s time to defeat one.”

She begins walking closer to Vincent and the paddle boat, the camera pans over to see a bodybag with a printout of Ellie Quinns face on it, a smaller one lays next to it with a picture of Markov on it.

“I wouldn’t want you to be without your companion.” she says with a smirk, “I’m not a monster.”

She pauses, and giggles some more.

“I’ll see you at Victory Ellie, and I promise one thing, you will…” she says, taking a moment to pause.

“HEAR ME ROAR.”

She nods to Vincent, and he takes the boats paddle, and uses it to push the boat into the creek, as it floats away, the camera pans back to revel a handmade wooden sign, bearing the name in paint.

SCHITT'S CREEK.

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