Blinded by the "Light" Pt. 3

[Nick Watson]

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Believing In Change
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*Unknown Gym, Unknown Time*

Bryan Payne. A name that so long ago I had scorned and mocked for no apparent reason, a name that had dissapeared from my sight not too long ago, and only recently popped up again this time, on my turf. I closed my eyes as I lifted the weight again, groaning in pain, but enjoying the feeling of a job well done at the same time. I grunted out to Madok who was sitting next to me.

"More weight."

Madok looked at me and then at the bar. I could tell he didn't want to listen to me, I could tell he was thinking that I was over-doing it, but I didn't care.

"More weight, damnit!"

He jumped a bit as I uttered my command again, he shook his head, but knew better than to argue as I put the bar up, and allowed him to put ten more pounds on each side. After he did so, after making sure that the weight was put in place properly and was fastened correctly, I lifted the bar again. Bryan Payne...oh how I had wronged you in the past. A long time ago we had fought each other, we had bothed lashed into each other like a butcher carving up meat for a potential buyer, and at the time neither of us had cared. But things changed. Where we might have hated each other in the past...some kind of mutual respect had been kindling since that day, a respect that neither of us fully understood, and a respect that seemed to be showing itself now, of all times, before a major match. A match that would shape my future.

"He wants to get a couple of beers and hang out."

Madok looked over at me, one of his eyebrows raising in confusion. I grunted as I lifted the bar another time, reaching my ten repititions of the current weight, and as I did so I put the bar back in its' holder. I sat up off the bench, drenched in sweat, and grabbed hold of my bottle of water, drinking its' contents in one giant gulp.

"Who wants to take you out for beers?"

"Who do you think?"

I decided to take my fifteen minute break right then and there as I felt my arms. Clearly I was a bit tired, but that is what happens when you decide to go into a gym almost every day after a humiliating loss to "shape up". Madok sighed and then gave his reply.

"Bryan Payne?"

"That's right. He wants to get beers and relax...I think I may take him up on the offer."

"Really?"

I looked at Madok with a raised brow of my own as he let out another sigh and leaned back in the steel chair he was sitting in.

"What? What is so wrong with hanging out with him?"

"I don't know...maybe it is the fact that at any moment he could easily become your number one contender!"

"How can that happen? John Green is already my number one contender...I don't see how he can get involved now. Besides...I think we have a lot in common."

Madok let out a laugh and then stood up from his chair, walking over to the white board next to the owner of the gym's office. Madok turned around to look at me and then responded.

"Can't you tell he is trying to butter you up? Trying to throw you off your game? Seriously dude, how can ou be so gullible."

I got off the bench and stretched my legs, replying once I felt my legs were warmed up enough.

"I don't think that is the case. He seemed sincere and I trust him...don't get me wrong, that doesn't mean I'm going to be pulling punches...but I trust him."

"Remember the last guy you really trusted? He ditched you...disappeared off the face of the earth!"

"Leave Wright out of this. Payne is different...I can sense it."

"What are you some kind of fucking mind reader, now? The fuck is this 'sense it' non-sense."

I walked over to the leg press, shaking my head as I did so, and sat down, looking at my watch reaizing I had plenty of time to explain my logic behind my thoughts. But as I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. Why did I trust, Bryan Payne? I had no idea why, maybe it was because I felt like out of all the people in the wrestling world right now...he was the only one I thought would understand my problems because he was going through the same thing. We had both lost a mentor and at the same time both of us had been world champions, mind you on different shows, but definitely both of us had been champions. Maybe I felt he was like a brother to me...like that brother that I had never had.

"So is there any method to this fucking madness or are you just fucking loopy. I mean for a while now you have been acting different...respectful to other good guys and spiteful to the villainous types. What is going on in that head of yours?"

I looked at him for a second and then nodded my head.

"I trust him because he is the only person I can relate to. He lost his mentor...he was a champion...and if there is any man in the business who pushed me to my limit besides Level One...it was him. That's why I trust him."

Madok's face lightened up a bit at hearing me say that and then he began to speak again.

"So that's why you trust him...because you believe you are the same as him?"

I nodded my head again and Madok let out his third sigh of the evening before going over to the leg press and taking a seat on the press next to me.

"I believe I can help him...he has had a hard time and I feel that if there is one man in the business that can help him...it has to be me. Maybe then I can repent for the things I did."

"I guess this also has to do with his leaving the SCW, as well?"

I nodded my head again, that was a no-brainer. Back in SCW I thought that he would have been around forever...a challenger that would continously butt heads with me, but when he was fired...it was like a piece of me died. He was a good guy, a bit cocky, but a good guy, and when he left I felt remorseful that I had not rebuilt the bridge between the two of us when I had the chance. It was why I had tried to live my life differently since he left, trying to strive to fill the void of darkness that had been left behind when he left. I had began to succeed and was on my way to making things better, but I knew that no matter how much I tried, I would never be able to look him in the eyes and tell him how much I respected him. But now I had my shot. Now I could tell him face to face that I respected his abilities and mend things between us two, and who knows? Maybe we would even become good friends. God knows at this point in my career I needed them.

"What do you think I should do?"

Madok smiled as I asked that question and rubbed his chin a bit before giving me a response.

"I don't know...usually I'm not very good at these things. Not really my cup of tea if you catch my drift."

"You're right...you are a pretty big prick."

I laughed and he joined in, I felt a bit better that I could discuss these sort of things with my manager. Madok got pretty serious after he finished laughing, his face held the look of a man who was thinking deeply about something, and as he spoke I could tell the gears were grinding in his head.

"So what is the game plan?"

"When did you become concerned with my game plans?"

"It is not every day that you fight a man you respect..."

That was true.

"So, what is the game plan?"

I thought for a second and then smiled, I knew of only one thing to do, and that was...

"I will inovate."

"What do you mean by that?"

Madok asked in confusion as my smile grew wider.

"Bryan Payne has fought me before so he knows how I'm going to play...power all the way, but I'm going to throw him a curveball..."

"You mean you are going to use the teachings of master Shun?"

I nodded my head and then responded.

"The last time me and Bryan fought was a few months ago...way before I completed my training in Japan, and also way before my Light's Essence had been developed."

"So I see...you have a clear advantage over Payne in terms of unpredictability."

"I assume if I try to nail the Heavy Artillery he will have that scouted...much like I have his moves scouted...so nailing the Light's Essence is a critical point in my offense. He will have no time to prepare for it because I've only used it once in my career. So he has no clue on how I use it in an offensive setting or a defensive setting."

"Also he has pretty much given you his battle plan in his promotion...he is going to try to take out your power game with submission maneuvers...your knees are his target."

I rubbed my beard a bit and then responded.

"Utilizing all of the training I have undergone in the past three or so months will be crucial to picking up a victory. Countering moves that may hurt my knees and reduce the power of my moves will be the turning point in this match...I may need a sparring partner..."

"Don't worry about that. I can be your sparring partner until Overdrive."

I nodded my head, remembering that at one time Madok had been the invoker, and was talented in regards to flying and technical wrestling...he would be the perfect partner to sparr against.

"Sounds like a plan...however there is an air of surprise that he can throw my way as well."

"Oh and what is that? He has practically given you his battle plan, what could he possibly do to over turn the odds?"

"He can vary from plan and target another part of my anatomy...after all, he will see this tape much like I have seen his."

Madok shrugged and then replied.

"I guess we will just have to keep him guessing then won't we?"

I smiled and nodded my head in agreement.

"Yeah, I guess we will."

Madok got up from where he was sitting and removed his jacket. He turned to look at me and then nudged his head toward the sparring ring on the opposite side of the gym. A smile spread across his face as he uttered the words that reminded me of the good old days when we had taken down the Los Numeros together.

"Come on, Pence...lets climb this mother fucking mountain."

I laughed and nodded my head in agreement, deciding to screw lifting weights, and instead go for sparring instead. At that moment, my mind drifted to a far off place, a place where for the first time in many years... I saw an equal opponent that I could not wait to wrestle. And that opponent was...Bryan Payne.

*Scene Fades to Black*

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Lunch With Sasaori
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*Pence's Apartment, Two Days Ago*

"You've barely touched your food...is there something wrong?"

My mind snapped back to reality as my eyes looked at Sasaori who was sitting across from me, clearly she was concerned just as concerned as the day I first came back with the bruises on my legs and arms from my sparrs. I nodded my head lightly, not wanting to tell her that I was hurting all over, and that I was completely exhausted. I guess that some good had came from it however, after all I had managed to perfect the Light's Essence in preperation for the match, and I had a feeling I was ready for every curve ball that he could throw at me.

"No, nothing is wrong Sasaori. My head is just in the clouds that's all."

"No it's not."

I noticed that she had caught on to my exhaustion as I focused on her and she shook her head, not knowing what to say really. But she tried to say something anyway, something was better than nothing.

"You are obviously tired, Pence. Why are you putting yourself through this again? You just had a hard match and now you are killing yourself once again in training."

"Its' no big deal...honestly. I have been doing this so I can give the fans what they want. They want a champion hey can be proud of...so I'm going to give them just that...a champion they can look up to."

"Pence, I can tell when you are lieing...it is Bryan Payne isn't it? Why are you training so hard to beat him."

I lowered my head in defeat, this woman could seriously pick me apart that easily. I guess I put my emotions on my sleeves too frequently and as I responded, I did so in a low voice.

"It is because I need to prove something."

"Prove what? You've already beaten Level One...you may have stumbled in that tag match, but that is to be suspected when the odds are stacked against you like they were."

"I have to prove..."

"What?!"

"I have to prove it wasn't a fluke! Alright! Jesus!"

Sasaori looked at me as if she had been hurt and I put my hand on hers quickly, trying my best to apologize for the outburst. So we sat in silence for a bit before I continued speaking.

"I have to prove I didn't win this belt by some astralogical fluke, but by talent, and skill. Because if I can't do that...then the victory at Rasslemania was nothing more than a shallow win over a superior fighter. And if that is the case then I don't deserve to call myself a champion."

She rubbed my hand lightly and as I looked up at her face, I saw her smiling. In that moment, I can't remember why, but I smiled. It was like a burden had been lifted by just looking at her pretty face.

"Pence...you won and the fans believe in you. You don't need to prove to anyone that you are the man that the people love, you don't need to prove to anyone that you are the champion, and you sure don't need to prove to Bryan Payne that the win was not a fluke. You have all the proof you need right..."

She then pointed her index finger at my heart and then continued.

"There. If you were not the champion you would not feel the need to prove yourself...so don't worry. And if you ever have doubts...just remember the people who love you and the people who respect you, forget all the rest, and just do your best. It is all the people really want."

That is when I leaned over a bit and gave her a kiss on the hand, she knew exactly what to say to make me feel better, and as I began to feel better the resolve to win seemed to burn brighter than it had ever before. This was no longer just a test of my abilities to me anymore, it had grew into a test of everything that I was! I was not going to let the fan's down and I was sure as hell not going to let Bryan down...I knew he had high expectations of our match and I was not going to roll over and die just yet. There was plenty of fight in this old dog for Bryan Payne.

"Thank you...you always know what to say to get me ready for a fight."

"I know...it really is a gift isn't it?"

I chuckled and brought her over for a swift hug which ended as quickly as it had began. Now that the hug was over, I decided to begin to eat. I pulled out my fork and began to shovel the shrimp fried rice that Sasaori has made into my mouth, she let out a chuckle, and I looked up at her again, mouth covered in rice that had missed its' mark, this made her laugh even louder.

"You know you really are a pig?"

"Would you rather me be like Bryan Payne? Eating sea weed and other things?"

"No, I just find it funny how little table manners you have."

"I know! It's a gift."

She punched me on the shoulder and in the process agrivated a bruise, which caused me to hiss like a snake in pain. I held my arm, dropping the fork on to the table, and closing my eyes in pain. I felt something wet touch my arm as I opened my eyes. Sasaori had dumped her water and put the ice from the drink into a paper towel which she was now using on my bruise.

"I'm sorry...does it hurt?"

"Yeah...remind me to kill Madok for using so many arm drags in practice."

"You should take it easy for the next two days, Pence. I think that Madok will understand the situation if you explain it to him."

"When did you become a doctor?"

She pressed down on the bruise a little harder and I let out a yowl of pain.

"Take it easy until Overdrive, alright?"

I rubbed my arm and then replied.

"I get the point...man you can be a psycho some times."

"You should go straight to bed after lunch, you need your rest, I will be up with some ice later this evening that you can use to cool your bruises with."

"I thought you would come up with me...."

She shook her head, a wide grin on her face, and her cheeks a bright red.

"You are such a pervert."

"Only when I'm in the presence of beauty.

I let out a light chuckle as she sat back down. I quickly picked up the fork and once again comenced shoveling food into my mouth as Sasaori shaked her head in dissaproval of my current eating habits. So sue me...I liked to eat like a hoover vaccume. Plus the food was delicous, so much in fact that after I had devoured the plate full of food I found myself asking for seconds. Sasaori obliged my hunger and gave me what was left of her plate, which I promptly devoured. It was really good, far better than most of the food that was cooked in the fast food joints I usually ate.

"Your cooking is really good."

"I always wanted to be a cook."

"Why didn't you become one?"

"Because of my grandfather...he wanted me to be a martial artist like him, so I followed in his foot steps."

I nodded my head and then let out a sigh of contentment before leaning back in my chair.

"I'm pretty sure he would have wanted you to follow your heart...no matter where it took you."

"I think so too, but I didn't want to dissapoint him...after all, father left him to become an accountant, and my uncle died in a car accident years ago...he had no one left. So I stayed with him and learnt the ways of the fighter."

"You know you are the kindest woman I have ever met."

"Oh stop it."

"No, seriously...you are the nicest person I have ever met. And as a nice gesture...I'm going to pay for culinary schooling for you."

Sasaori shook her head, clearly she didn't want to accept my present, but I wanted her to have it anyway.

"I can't accept that from you."

"Oh come on...please?"

She looked at me for a few seconds before letting out a large sigh and nodding her head for yes. I smiled and stood up from the table.

"I guess I should go to bed now, eh?"

"It would be for the best, yes."

I nodded my head and made my way to the bedroom of my apartment. It didn't take me long to begin to fade to sleep as I lay down on my bed, but my mind was a buzz. I had a big match in two days against a man who could quite possibly beat me, but for some odd reason I was not frightened. Instead I was determined to win, determined to give the fans a great show, and determined to take on all those that came for my belt. As I finally reach a state of peace I fall asleep, my last thoughts are of the coming battle, and what I must do to win. It will not be easy, but I know that no matter what...I must not give in and tha I must come out on top...for myself and most importantly...the people I love and care for.

*Scene Fades to Black*

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Respecting the Revelation...Fighting the Payne
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*Present Day, Taco Bell Arena*

"Everything" by Pillar hits as the fans get to their feet and begin to cheer. It is still early in the evening and the show has not yet began, but as "Everything" hits it is like the show has just began, and in a way it has. The chants start without warning, the fans love their champion, and they are clearly showing their love as Pence walks out on to the entrance ramp. A smile is on his face and he is nodding his head, wearing his in ring attire and his championship belt slung over one shoulder, Pence begins to walk down the ramp. He slaps hands with the fans and poses for photos, moving at a deliberately slow pace, and as he reaches the outskirts of the entrance ramp, he looks around the arena. The grin grows wider on his face and then he slips into the ring, a man holding a microphone is waiting for him, and Pence takes the microphone from him and shakes his hand. The man slips out of the ring and the fans are still going, not one of them has sat down since Pence has stepped foot in th ring.

"Please be seated."

Pence says this like a judge and the fans laugh while taking a seat. The fans are abuzz still, but Pence shrugs his shoulders and begins to speak, the smile not leaving his face as he does so.

"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen.... and welcome to Overdrive!"

The fans get loud with "APW" chants and "Mr. Main Event" chants. Pence nods his head and continues.

" As you all know tonight, we here at APW, have quite the treat for you. A match that may very well blow the mother fucking roof off this God damn arena. And I know you are all dieing to see it as much as I am dieing to fight in it. That's right folks! The rematch that may very well become the match of the year...Pence Weatherlight vs. Bryan Payne!"

The fans are getting even louder if that is possible and Pence quiets them down by speaking again, clearly they want to hear what he has to say. They are ready to hear the slander, the vileness, the despicable things that he has to say to Bryan, but they are quickly going to be dissapointed by Pence.

"A long time ago, Bryan...we had a fight, a fight that did not just stay in the ring, but a fight that went outside the ring as well. It was a battle of words, me mocking you, and you mocking me. It got so heated that neither of us wanted anything to do with the other and for a long time...we did just that. But then came On Hallowed Ground...an event that caused us to put aside our differences and work as a well oiled unit to give the Experts a victory. During that time, working together with you against the foes of the Experts...I began to admire your abilities and with that, even began to realize that what originally I had thought was hate...was nothing more than pride. You see back in the day...you called me heartless. I had no heart in my matches, I had no heart in the way I spoke, or acted, and you know what...Bryan you were right. But...at the time I was so prideful, so stuck into my ways that I could not admit you were right, and that was why things turned out the way they did.

But things are different now...I am different. I'm not that rude obnoxious fuck that everyone mocked and laughed at...I've grown as a person...as a wrestler...and as a champion. I think I have many things to thank for that, but the main one is the championship that I have slung over my shoulder. The APW World Heavyweight Championship. When I won this championship the realization that I am the icon...the face...the metaphorical leader of this show forced me to change who I was and to face my faults and try to repent for the vile things that I have done. I have tried to apologize to you on several occasions, hell I have spoken about it on Wildcard almost every week, and it perplexes me how you have not heard about it, but I guess now is a better time than any..."

Pence lowers his head for a minute and then lifts his head up so that the cameras can get a close up of his face.

"I apologize for all the things I have done."

The fans don't know what to think of their champion, surprise is clearly evident on some of their faces, and the crowd is silent.

"I know you have been through a lot lately...with your friend passing away and all, but you are not alone in this. I too have lost a friend, he was a big part of my life, he was my coach, and my mentor...he helped me come back to wrestling after I had thought my days were done. He helped me become a better man and when he died...I did not know what to do and in the process...I lost myself. I guess that is why I was such a dick to you...because you had everything. A championship. Friends. A group of people that loved you unconditionally. I was an empty man...and you saw through the bravado and all the bragging to the core...I had no heart because I had no guidance. But things are different now, I feel better than I have ever felt, I have a beautiful girl who seem to love me, and a great manager who helps me with what I need and the love of millions of fans world wide. I have found my heart and as such...I am what I should have always been...a champion."

The fans are emotional, a few people mourn Nick, and others mourn John, but most of them cheer in respect of Pence admitting he was wrong.

" I know that you may not believe me when I say I'm sorry, Bryan, and that is a fact I may very well have to live with, but I am truly sorry for what I have done and for your loss. I know how painful it can be and as such I know that it takes a big man to over come such a thing and I respect that you did it, that you found a way to do it without destroying who you are, and found a way to grow from it because you are right Bryan, life is too short to hold a grudge. And as such...I hope that you can forgive me as I have forgiven you."

The fans are applauding Pence, Pence nods his head in agreement with the applause, and once it has died down he begins again.

"So now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, lets get down to brass tax here, Payne. Me and you can be friends, can be respectful of each other's work, and have nothing but smiles and warm feelings to each other, but in the end one thing is going to be constant. I'm going to win this match. You were the one who wanted me to prove I am capable of being champion so that must be a large load off of your shoulders. It is too bad honestly that it has to be you that I have to crush first to prove my worthiness, but from what I hear that is what you want. And who am I to dissapoint? I will give you my all, much like I gave Level One my all, and you can save your congratulations for after because you giving me congratulations now is like you applauding your own demise...just doesn't feel right you dig? And if you think I'm all talk no bite...well we will find out tonight won't we? I know I talk a big game, but that is because I believe in myself, much like these fans believe in me...and when you have that sort of thing backing you...you are a hell of an athlete to beat."

The fans are cheering, chanting "Weatherlight" as loud as they can to let the whole world know who they support.

"Bryan, you are talented, you are skilled, and you are a smooth talker, but in the end it will all fall short. You may have proven yourself in a big handicap match last week, but beating three pieces of utter shit does not make you the big cheese. And as you said yourself...it is way too early to give you a Main Event match...and I'm going to fucking prove it. You may think you are some hot shit, some kind of invincible warrior who thinks I need to win this title from him for it to mean anything, but you are not. I am champion for a reason and it is not because I'm a fan favorite or because I'm a sneaky mother fucker, but because I am the man who took on the titan and walked out alive. And tonight...I will take on another titan and do what I did before...I will walk out alive with my head held high and my fans chanting my name like a conquering hero because that is what I do Payne."

The fans have not stopped chanting Pence's name the whole time, clearly they are loving it.

"I've always been a strong believer in actions speaking louder than words so I will prove what I say to be true when I beat you tonight. Lets just hope the doctor clears you to drink alcohol after he puts you on the pain medication you will need to simply go through the day after I'm done with you so that we can go get a drink after the match. That's right, no fight in the lot, a good old fashioned drink at a bar...told you I'm a changed man."

The fan are laughing as Pence shrugs and then goes back to his normal posture.

"So you want to come in and bruise the ego, put a stop to the newly awakened champion of the people? Then be my guest, but be warned this champion is not playing any fucking games and will rip your head off if you so much as think of crossing him."

The fan's are roaring, clearly they want Pence to get brutal with Payne.

"And from what I hear you like to win, eh, Payne? Which is crying shame because I like to win too, but only one of us can be a winner Payne, and I will be mother fucking damned if I allow somebody like you take me out before I've even got a chance to fight back. I'm sorry it has to come to it Payne, but in the end...I must win as I promised these fans last week after the piss poor performance I gave them. They deserve a champion that they can be proud of and regardless of who is gunning for me, regardless of if Biggs walks out tonight and fucks me over, or if Level One comes out with a chair and breaks my legs, or if John Green comes out in a pissy mood to get a little physical with me...I will percevier because a World Champion has to. Because he does not fight for only himself, but for the image of the company. So you should rejoice, not feel any sense of woe because tonight Bryan...when you step into that ring with thousands upon thousands of fans chanting my name, I will make you a star by beating you in a close contest, and by accepting you as my fellow brother here on APW. So get ready, Bryan because I promise that I will vanquish you tonight in front of these thousands of fans to make up for the fuck fest that Biggs put me through last week. And know this Ladies and Gentlemen...when Mr. Main Event makes a promise...he will sure as hell come through with it. So enjoy the show folks because tonight is going to be one hell of an evening. This is Mr. Main Event, signing off for now...see you all in the Main Event tonight!"

The fans go crazy as Pence raises up his belt and throws the microphone aside as "Everything" by Pillar hits the PA. The scene bursts to static on Pence saluting the fans.

*Scene Bursts to Static*