Breathe.

Breathe. Just like Daddy says... just like Mr. Hiachi said. Breathe in... breathe out... nice and slow. You don't want to lose yourself like before, do ya, girl? No, there's too much on the line here, you have grown so much since Annika... don't lose control...

But this isn't Annika. This isn't some cheating Russian, this is Mercedes Debonair... Mercy; although she hasn't lived up to her name since we arrived... even so, you can't let her bring that side of you back out again... now, breathe... focus on just the breathing... and out...

This isn't a technical contest, it's a street fight... how can I keep myself from going too far when blood is sure to spill, if not hers, then mine. Too much blood had already been shed by her, someone needs to stop her... no, calm down... focus on just the breathing. In... and... out... in... and out...

She ruined my moment... then she put Junko on the shelf... in...

She reduced Taylor Blazer from talent to staff... out...

She put Katia in the hospital... almost Lien... in...

She attacked Jolie Vexx, putting her off the road... out...

In...

She tried to end my career...

out.

Search your soul, girl... dig deep... you have to live up to your own name as well... you can't let Mj get inside of your head... that's what she does best, toys with emotions, and ruthlessly preys on those who lose their composure... not me... not this time.

But you can't become like her to stop her... you can't let her actions bring you to the point that you are committing the same evil deeds... you have to prove the right way is the only way, and that it works! You have to avenge those who have fallen before her... but you have to do it the right way... you have to make an example out of her... if First Class is to survive Mercedes Debonair... then you have to win at Malevolence.

In...

Out...

Enough of this shit.

Solace opens her eyes, the candle in front of her flickers to itself, enjoying the wick without interruption before it's snuffed by a sudden gust from Solace's mouth. She always enjoys blowing out the candle because to her, it was ending the cringefest suggested to her by her Yoga instructor all those years ago to aid her in meditation. 'Watch the flame dance... be entranced by it's movements, and then... you will be one with your mind and free to escape this realm to turn inward.' She rolls her eyes thinking about his words as she unfolds her legs to stand on the blue mat of a quiet gym.

She reaches for her phone when she notices the blinking green light. Once the screen illuminates she sees a message from Tigran. 'The house won't be ready until next week... sry."

Solace scoffs, but truthfully, she is happy... she isn't in the right frame of mind to go house hunting right now. She did consider visiting Salem, Massachusetts to cut a promo for Malevolence, but now, there'd be no reason to fly to the North East.

Sigh.

Solace rolls over to her hands and kicks her legs out, beginning to do push-ups as fast as she can.

She thinks about her upcoming match and a mixed bag of anxiety and urgency overcomes her. She knew she could beat Mercedes any day of the week, but what variables of chaos could give her nemesis the edge? She ponders the hypothetical.

After 50 up and downs, she drops to her forearms, tightening her abdominal region to hold a plank position.

Interference; Her Coven sisters have been ever-so-present in her assault on every First Class leading up to this moment... what's to say they wouldn't show up to help Mercedes yet again... Steph would be busy with her Evolution title match, but after that, especially after the potential loss, she could decide to take her anger and aggression out on behalf of Mercedes.

Solace drops her knees, before elevating her right leg back and her left arm out in front of her, and then switching each side.

Bum leg; My leg and it's shakey history since The Coven's brutal attack during the Queen of the Ring Tournament. It almost put a stop to my in-ring action, so much so, that I couldn't even be there for my main girls... which to this day bothers me. If my leg gives out during this match, there's no doubt Mercedes would put the nail in coffin and god only knows how far she would take it this time.

She lowers her leg back down, kicking out her legs again to do another plank.

MJ's Ruthlessness; in my heart of hearts, I know that my ambition and persistence will always outlast Mercedes, but there is a line I won't cross... Mercedes, however, there doesn't seem to be a line she wouldn't cross to achieve her goals. I have to be prepared for the cheating... for the hidden weapons... for the sneaky attacks and brutality she hasn't spared anyone, and for me, I assume she'll leave out all the stops.

Solace, now lifts herself up, pulling her right leg in front of her to get leverage as she stands.

She breathes... in... and out... in... and out...

Solace retrieves her phone, thumbing the Facebook app to begin a live video. When it begins, she lifts it up in front of her.

"In three days, at the first ever ALL Women IIW Pay per view, Malevolence... it's going to be the end of the old and the official beginning of a new day for the First Class brand. It's the kickoff of a new era for the IIW and first and foremost, that's something that should be celebrated so... to the fans watching this, I want to thank you so much from deep inside my soul, because without you... this revolution, so to speak, could not have happened... and it's truly remarkable that it took this long for us women to finally have it but you can tell Bob Mitchell... he and his old fashioned mentality is coming to an end, we are the future... we are the wrestling business, and we are going to surpass the Mayhem boys as we have been for the last 5-6 weeks! So, again, thank you all for your support because this first pay per view truly is something to be proud of... but..."

Solace's smile drops off of her face as she prepares those watching for the grim side of the sword.

"This same night, although a milestone for women across the world of professional wrestling, two women, including myself, will step into the ring to solve a problem. The problem can't be solved by a girl's night out... and it can't be solved with mediation, so, despite our evolution from the archaic version of what a woman is in the minds of men like Bob Mitchell, and despite our growth from those twisted, chauvinist points of view... our transformation to a superior brand must be...paused, because there is NOTHING civilized about what will transpire between Mercedes and myself... for the progress we've made as professional athletes and rolemodels for little girls everywhere, I ask you to turn off your television... and I don't care if the head honchos get upset that I'm saying this, because what you are going to see isn't going to be savory... it's going to be ugly... really, really ugly and I can't sleep at night knowing that some eleven year old who aspires to be like Solace Tatum is about to see her hero turn into something... else."

Solace shakes her head in preemptive guilt.

"I hate that Mj has brought me to this... place... but there's nobody else to stop her, it has to be me, and if going to that place is what it takes, then I plead with you all.. Don't let your children see this, because I plan on teaching MJ a lesson she will never forget. Every time she lays down for sleep at night, I want her to see my face... every time she wakes up, I want her to remember what I did to her. I am going to make her regret every single thing she has done to every woman over the last two months! Forget all of the witch jokes, because I'm over it... I'm passed it... you couldn't deal with me beating you in the tournament so you decided to be the loudest in the room, and you know what I've learned over the years? The loudest in the room is ALWAYS the weakest... but don't worry about it, I'm going to show you first hand at Malevolence."

Solace smiles.

"Search your soul, Mercedes... and instead of what I normally advise my opponents, I'm going to tell you right now, straight up... Take it personal. Take it SO personal... because it is... and at Malevolence, I'm going to do what should have been done a long time ago... I'm going to burn this witch alive."

Solace's eyes have a fiery gaze as the live video ends.

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