Trying to accomplish a task and failing, time and time again can really play tricks on someone's mind. Vincent Lyons Jr was once full of piss, vinegar, smiles and Hollywood good looks. But falling into a rough patch after the loss of the Affliction championship and failing to defeat Havoc time and time again has taken away the smiles, and hid half the looks behind some facepaint. The piss and vinegar however, remains as full as ever.
Since forming The Revolutionaries, he’s started to get himself together a little more, and with another chance to become Affliction Champion ahead of him, at the same event he first won it at a couple years ago when he was still a fresh face to the company in his virgin year.
Victoria wasn’t even at his side then, Keevee Kaiser a man who was trained and looked at like a son by their father was the one at his side back then, it was the day after that Victoria convinced him to dump the “False Lyon” and the twins started to team up.
She wasn’t with him now either, really since she decided to wrestle herself, and gotten married the two had been spending more time apart. They weren’t fighting or really mad at each other, they were both growing into their own careers, with their 21st birthdays on the horizon they were both just looking to grow as individuals. Blood is still blood however, and if need be they would still be there for one another.
Shogun was the only time they really got out to see Sensei Dojima. Last year he made Vincent wrestle a sparring match against his sister, a match Vincent lost. The year before that, he did the same against Keevee Kaiser, also in a losing effort. He came alone this time, but was prepared for whatever Dojima might send his way.
[Dojima] Good to see you Young Vincent. Victoria came by the other day.
[Vincent] How did that go?
[Dojima] It went well, she seems focused on her task and goal of becoming Women's Champion.
[Vincent] Yeah, she is. She’s not even interested in the other belts. Something about being a champion for the women.
Dojima nods.
[Dojima] Yeah, well in any case we are not here to talk about your sister are we?
Vincent shakes his head.
[Vincent] No. It’s my turn, I need to work as hard as I can, so I can defeat Havoc. I need this win, because I don’t think I can handle ANOTHER loss to Havoc, especially not now.
[Dojima] Just remember that overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
[Vincent] Well, considering I haven’t been able to beat him once, I can’t really be overconfident, or if I’m being honest, just confident in general.
Dojima stands before Vincent, and quietly looks him up and down observantly.
[Dojima] Well, if you can’t shake that lack of confidence, you will lose again.
[Vincent] I know, but it’s hard to really convince yourself you can win, when you already tried time and time again, and just can’t get the job done.
[Dojima] It can be, but you have to believe in yourself. Havoc like anyone can be defeated.
[Vincent] It’s been done, but not by me.
[Dojima] But it can be. Shake off those doubts.
[Vincent] I’m just going to try my best.
[Dojima] No, there is no try. Do or do not.
Vincent was sure he had heard that somewhere before, but deep down he knew Sensei Dojima was right, he had to shake his doubts off.
[Vincent] Well, what would you recommend?
[Dojima] A sparring match.
Vincent huffs, shaking his head.
[Vincent] No, I’m not falling into that again. My luck with sparring in this dojo is just as bad as my luck with Havoc.
[Dojima] Then change it.
[Vincent] So...who is it this year then?
Dojima cracks a smile, and removes his shirt.
[Dojima] Me.
Vincent takes a step back, Sensei Dojima couldn’t be serious, this was someone who worked alongside his father, someone who trained Vincent's trainer. Now was the time to square off against his sensei? Dojima is already in the ring, waiting for Vincent.
[Dojma] Ready when you are Vincent-kun.
With no other option, Vincent shook himself off a bit and rolled into the ring, a student had already been at the ready to play referee, After a bow of respect, the match was on. Vincent was off to the races, trying to get a quick pinfall early on which only result in a series of quick covers and kickouts. Dojima counters one of Vincent's wild punches, and takes control. Taking more time trying to wear Vincent down, getting a few near falls of his own, one coming after a nasty martial arts kick to the face.
Neither man would relent, and it nearly got personal a few times when Vincent started to get a little hot, before a slap to the face brought him back to reality. The end came as Vincent ducked a kick, then another, then blocked a third countering it into a Lyons Roar DDT for the three count.
Vincent takes only a moment to celebrate, before helping his sensei back to his feet. Dojima nods and claps for Vincent.
[Dojima] You have certainly come a long way from that kid I saw a couple years ago. You have all the ability in the world to win that championship. You broke a curse here tonight, and I believe you will break another at Shogun.
[Vincent] ...well, it wasn’t easy Sensei, you still have a lot of fight in you.
[Dojima] It shouldn’t be easy. But with all his victories over you, it’s possible Havoc is going to think it’s easy and become overconfident.
[Vincent] And overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer.
[Dojima] Exactly, there will come a time when he falls and everything he knows starts to crumble around him.
[Vincent] And that time, is at Shogun.
[Dojima] Best of luck to you Vincent-kun, we’ll be rooting for you and your sister here at the dojo.
[Vincent] Thank you sensei. Mind if I hang out here a bit, do some workouts?
[Dojima] Of course not, my dojo is always open to your family.
Another bow of respect between the two, before Dojima goes to help some other students, and Vincent begins a workout on one of the punching bags.
----------
A melodic piano version of Happy Birthday plays through the darkness of the scene, before we see a shadowed Vincent, seated behind a table, illuminated by a tuxedo style birthday cake bearing exactly twenty-one candles, he begins singing softly.
[Vincent] Happy birthday to me...happy birthday to me. Happy birthday dear Vincent..happy birthday to me.
He looks at the camera, wearing a smile behind his half painted face, ready for yet again another encounter with the man who had become his first true rival in the business, the one they call Havoc.
[Vincent] So we meet again Havoc. This never ending rivalry between us reaches yet another chapter. This time it happens to be right around my birthday, and let me tell you what a great present winning the Affliction Championship back would be. I’m sure in your mind I’m nothing, just that same little punk you’ve defeated time and time again. But it’s like my Sensei told me, overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. So I would advise you still take me seriously, because you don’t want me to catch you slipping. Because I will strike.
The piano melody still plays almost hauntingly in the background, as Vincent continues on.
[Vincent] I can feel it in the air..can you? This event, Shogun. I can just feel it in the air, The Revolutionaries are going to come out strong. Victoria will earn her championship match, Renee will become Shogun and I will become Affliction Champion, and together the three of us will bring brighter days to WWH in 2021. It’s a new year, I’m a whole year older. A man now some would say since I finally hit twenty one.
Vincent makes a motion to the cake in front of him, still the only thing illuminating his face.
[Vincent] Most would want to take advantage of having their twenty first also be on New Years, have a party for the ages and all that. That’s not me. All I desire this year is the Affliction Championship, or more importantly finally getting that pinfall or submission over you Havoc. Your reign of terror is over, once I’m done with you, there won’t be much left for Zolton, but that’s Z’s problem. I’m focused on you and I.
There is something different, Vincent does seem more serious in his speaking manner, and it’s clear hes growing. No longer the loud mouthed kid he was when he first arrived, and lost to Havoc, who was still Sabertooth at the time.
[Vincent] We could have been friends you know. We both remember how I tried recruiting you to be part of The Pride. You, as Christopher Sabertooth rejected me and why wouldn’t you? I was a little shithead back then, and I only really cared about myself. Sabertooth was right to reject me because I would have thrown him under the bus first chance I had. Now, years later look at us. You preach to join Ashes Of The Wake, that as part of your family we would never walk alone. Now it’s me rejecting YOU. Funny how that works.
Vincent smiles with a barely audible chuckle.
[Vincent] Really, it was you that beat some sense into me, wasn’t it? Never being able to beat you has allowed me to grow, allowed me to mature. It was around this time last year that I took out a lot of my anger toward you on David Gibson. I came out on top of that feud in the end, but I still wasn’t properly focused. I was takings to personally, and it even cost me a chance to become World Champion in that ridiculous zipline match.
Vincent scoffs slightly at that memory, something that looks to still possibly bother him.
[Vincent] I just need to make right. I was such a little bastard during my first reign, and now I have a chance to do better. A chance to be a champion these people can actually respect. So understand Havoc, this goes far beyond you and I. I need this for myself as well. After a few changes over the years, I have been able to find my true self, the man you see before you. I’m not the cocky youthful kid who cheats his way to victory, and I’m not the guy who tried to be the hero of World Wrestling Headquarters. Now, I’m just a man, a man who fights for what’s right. A man who no longer seeks shortcuts. A balance of both. I don’t need to be anybody's hero anymore, if people want to stand alongside me, or support me then I will welcome it. But now, I’m really just fighting my own fights.
He pauses for a moment, catches his breath, keeping his eyes always on the camera.
[Vincent] Of course now, I will fight alongside Renee and my sister because we are stronger together and we need an army to counter an army. Nothing is forever though and there will come a day when The Revolutionaries go their separate ways. I’m not saying it will be soon, but I understand I must ready myself for that time, especially since my sister will now be focused on her own wrestling career. I need to always stay focused on Vincent Lyons Jr.
Another short pause to catch his breath, Vincent continues onward.
[Vincent] You’re welcome to overlook me all you want Havoc, and given our history I’m guessing you will. I promise you this is the end, Shogun begins your downfall, your reign of terror is over. I am going to become Affliction Champion for the second time, as for that World Championship? Well, should you get past Zolton, I guess we’ll have to wait and see what Renee Jonae has to say once she wins Shogun. What’s important now is The Affliction Championship, cross one bridge at a time.
Vincent smiles slightly, more of a smirk really.
[Vincent] A new year, a new champion, and a new era. The Revolutionaries are looking for a clean sweep at Shogun, and I believe each of us will meet our desires. This will be our year, The Revolution is going to lead WWH into brighter days, we will end the terror of Havoc and his Ashes of The Wake. It’s time to take WWH out of the…
Vincent blows out the candles, leaving the scene in total darkness.
[Vincent] ….Darkness.
The scene stays on the darkness as the melodic Happy Birthday tune comes softly to and end along with the scene.