Aired - September 4, 2026
PART 1 is HERE
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The ring has been cleared.
At its center stands Elias Coldmere.
Dark suit.
No entourage.
No security.
A microphone rests in one hand.
Behind him, the great screen burns to life.
Stone gives way to steel.
Red, white and gold light spreads across the display as the special-event crest appears.
WRESTLEFEST
LABOUR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2026
The crowd responds loudly.
Elias Coldmere waits.
He allows the reaction to settle naturally.
Then raises the microphone.
Elias Coldmere: “Before we discuss Monday…”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “…there is something from Sunday that deserves acknowledgement.”
The screen changes.
The HCW crest appears.
Then footage from Reign of Champions.
Jack Lumber.
The Convergent Championship.
Yeti.
Images flash of the two enormous men colliding.
Then the final image.
Jack Lumber still holding the championship.
The Coliseum cheers.
Elias Coldmere: “At HCW’s Reign of Champions, Jack Lumber defended the Convergent Championship against Yeti.”
Another shot of Jack Lumber raising the title.
Elias Coldmere: “And when the match ended, the championship remained with him.”
The crowd applauds again.
Elias Coldmere: “So first…”
He looks toward the camera.
Elias Coldmere: “Congratulations to Jack Lumber.”
A strong reaction.
Elias Coldmere: “The Convergent Championship exists precisely because divisions should occasionally be forced to discover whether the walls around them are as strong as they believe.”
A small pause.
Elias Coldmere: “On Sunday, Jack Lumber demonstrated that his wall remains standing.”
The footage disappears.
AGE OF RUIN
SEPTEMBER 27, 2026
The event crest appears.
Beneath it, the announced matches begin appearing.
KING ARTHUR vs ROBIN HOOD.
The Wizard’s Warriors against Severin Crowne, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Sir Agravaine.
The Ultimate Beasts against the Virtuous Blades.
The Blonde Bombshells against the War Council.
Then an empty space.
Elias Coldmere: “There is one position remaining on the Age of Ruin card that I have not yet announced.”
The crowd begins buzzing.
Elias Coldmere: “That position belongs to the Convergent Championship.”
A strong reaction follows.
The championship appears across the screen.
Elias Coldmere: “Jack Lumber will defend his championship at Age of Ruin.”
A beat.
Elias Coldmere: “Against whom?”
He lowers the microphone slightly.
Elias Coldmere: “You will find out next week.”
The audience groans and cheers simultaneously.
A faint smile appears on the Commissioner’s face.
Elias Coldmere: “Yes.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “I am aware that withholding information occasionally causes impatience.”
Another.
Elias Coldmere: “I have decided to endure it.”
A small reaction moves through the building.
Elias Coldmere: “Next Friday, Jack Lumber will be here on Dark Fable.”
The crowd cheers.
Elias Coldmere: “And his Age of Ruin challenger will be announced.”
Suddenly—
A bell tolls.
Not the Dark Fable bell.
Something older.
Colder.
The Age of Ruin graphic disappears.
The great screen turns pale blue.
Snow begins falling across a graveyard.
A spectral silhouette emerges between ancient stones.
The Coliseum erupts in boos.
Julian Ward: “Wait a moment.”
At the entrance, crooked lettering forms.
THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
The spectral music rises.
Fenwick Grimbough steps through the curtain first.
Bent posture.
Severe expression.
A dark coat wrapped tightly around him.
He raises one hand toward the crowd as though their hostility carries an unpleasant odor.
Then the Universal Champion appears.
Ghost of Christmas Past.
The Universal Championship rests prominently over his shoulder.
The boos intensify.
Brick Brody: “Well, somebody finally found the road to Camelot.”
Julian Ward: “And considering what Hansel said last week, the timing does not seem coincidental.”
Ghost of Christmas Past stops beneath the entrance arch.
He looks toward Elias Coldmere.
Then toward the Universal Championship.
Then back toward the Commissioner.
Fenwick Grimbough begins walking.
The champion follows.
Inside the ring, Elias Coldmere watches them approach.
No irritation yet.
Perhaps curiosity.
They reach ringside.
Fenwick Grimbough climbs the stairs.
Ghost of Christmas Past enters behind him.
The Universal Championship now shares the ring with the Mythic Commissioner.
Fenwick immediately gestures toward the timekeeper.
A microphone is handed through the ropes.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Commissioner.”
Elias Coldmere: “Mr. Grimbough.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “I was standing backstage listening to this little celebration of the Convergent Championship.”
His lip curls.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Congratulations to Jack Lumber.”
A deliberately weak clap.
Once.
Twice.
Then he stops.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Charming.”
The crowd boos.
Fenwick Grimbough: “But perhaps someone should explain why a secondary championship is being granted a privileged position on Age of Ruin while the most prestigious championship in NPCW is apparently being ignored.”
He gestures dramatically toward the title on Ghost’s shoulder.
Fenwick Grimbough: “The Universal Championship.”
The boos continue.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Not a championship belonging to one division.”
A beat.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Not a championship created to move politely between promotions.”
Another.
Fenwick Grimbough: “The Universal Championship.”
He looks around the Coliseum.
Fenwick Grimbough: “And you intend to hold Age of Ruin without showcasing it?”
His voice sharpens.
Fenwick Grimbough: “It is a travesty.”
Elias Coldmere waits until he finishes.
Elias Coldmere: “You have developed a sudden interest in being showcased in Camelot.”
The crowd reacts.
Fenwick’s eyes narrow.
Elias Coldmere: “Interesting.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “Because the Universal Champion has not appeared here for months.”
The Coliseum cheers.
Ghost of Christmas Past finally steps forward.
He removes the microphone from Fenwick’s hand.
His voice is colder.
Quieter.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “There was no reason to come.”
Boos.
Elias Coldmere: “None?”
Ghost of Christmas Past: “No one here was worthy.”
The crowd erupts.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “Camelot is filled with knights pretending honor makes them dangerous.”
A beat.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “Outlaws pretending rebellion makes them important.”
Another.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “Hunters chasing stories.”
His expression remains completely detached.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “I am the Universal Champion.”
He raises the championship.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “I do not travel simply because lesser men wish to see me.”
Elias Coldmere: “That is convenient.”
The words echo what Hansel said last week.
The crowd recognizes it.
Ghost notices as well.
Elias Coldmere: “Especially considering a former Eternal Flame Champion has already challenged that assessment.”
Fenwick Grimbough takes the microphone back.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Oh?”
Elias Coldmere: “Hansel.”
The reaction becomes loud.
Fenwick Grimbough stares at him.
Then begins laughing.
Ghost of Christmas Past does the same.
Not loudly.
Almost worse.
A cold, dismissive laugh.
Fenwick Grimbough: “The witch hunter?”
Elias Coldmere: “The same.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “That is your answer?”
Elias Coldmere: “I have not given one yet.”
The laughter stops.
Elias Coldmere steps closer.
Elias Coldmere: “But you have helped me arrive at one.”
A small pause.
Elias Coldmere: “Monday.”
The Wrestlefest Labour Day logo suddenly returns.
The crowd responds.
Elias Coldmere: “At Wrestlefest Labour Day…”
He looks directly at the champion.
Elias Coldmere: “Ghost of Christmas Past will face Hansel.”
The Coliseum erupts.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Absolutely not.”
Elias Coldmere: “You interrupted my announcement to complain that the Universal Championship was not receiving sufficient attention.”
A beat.
Elias Coldmere: “I am providing attention.”
Brick Brody: “Careful what you complain about around this man.”
Julian Ward: “It has become a recurring lesson.”
Inside the ring, Ghost of Christmas Past looks unimpressed.
Ghost of Christmas Past: “For my championship?”
Elias Coldmere: “No.”
That draws another reaction.
Elias Coldmere: “Monday will be non-title.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “Then this remains a waste of his time.”
Elias Coldmere: “Perhaps.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “So I will make his time valuable.”
Now Fenwick listens.
Elias Coldmere: “If Ghost of Christmas Past defeats Hansel at Wrestlefest…”
He gestures toward the Age of Ruin logo.
Elias Coldmere: “…I will add a Universal Championship match to Age of Ruin.”
The crowd erupts.
For the first time, Ghost’s expression changes.
Interest.
Elias Coldmere: “And your champion may select his opponent.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “Anyone?”
Elias Coldmere: “Any eligible competitor from the Mythic Division.”
A slow smile forms across Fenwick’s face.
Elias Coldmere: “Since he believes no one here is worthy…”
A beat.
Elias Coldmere: “…he may determine for himself which unworthy man he prefers to defeat.”
A larger reaction.
Fenwick glances toward Ghost.
The champion appears perfectly satisfied with those terms.
Fenwick Grimbough: “And when he defeats Hansel, we choose the challenger.”
Elias Coldmere: “Correct.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “Excellent.”
He begins turning away.
Elias Coldmere: “There is another half.”
Fenwick stops.
The crowd laughs.
Brick Brody: “There is always another half.”
Ghost of Christmas Past turns slowly back toward the Commissioner.
Elias Coldmere: “If Ghost of Christmas Past does not defeat Hansel…”
The crowd becomes louder.
Elias Coldmere: “…then the question of whether Hansel is worthy will have been answered for us.”
Fenwick’s expression hardens.
Elias Coldmere: “And Ghost of Christmas Past will defend the Universal Championship against Hansel on a future episode of Dark Fable.”
The Coliseum explodes.
Fenwick Grimbough: “If he does not defeat him?”
Elias Coldmere: “Correct.”
Fenwick Grimbough: “You mean if Hansel wins?”
Elias Coldmere: “I chose my language deliberately.”
That earns another crowd reaction.
Elias Coldmere: “Defeat him.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “Or defend against him.”
The two sides stare across the ring.
Fenwick looks toward Ghost.
The champion says nothing for several seconds.
Then—
Ghost of Christmas Past: “Agreed.”
The crowd reacts.
Fenwick Grimbough smiles again.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Then enjoy your little Labour Day experiment.”
He points toward Elias Coldmere.
Fenwick Grimbough: “Because on Monday, Hansel learns why hunting ghosts is considerably more difficult than talking about them.”
Ghost of Christmas Past raises the Universal Championship.
Elias Coldmere: “Then we appear to have a match.”
The Wrestlefest graphic forms behind them.
WRESTLEFEST LABOUR DAY
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST vs HANSEL
NON-TITLE
IF GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST WINS:
UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ADDED TO AGE OF RUIN
GHOST SELECTS HIS MYTHIC CHALLENGER
IF GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST FAILS TO WIN:
HANSEL RECEIVES A FUTURE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON DARK FABLE
The crowd erupts again.
Ghost of Christmas Past and Fenwick Grimbough exit the ring.
Neither looks back.
Elias Coldmere watches them walk halfway up the aisle.
Then turns toward the camera.
Elias Coldmere: “Since we have now added an unscheduled interruption to my scheduled announcement…”
A faint pause.
Elias Coldmere: “…we should probably finish the scheduled portion.”
The audience cheers.
The Wrestlefest Labour Day crest expands across the great screen.
Elias Coldmere: “This Monday, NPCW presents Wrestlefest Labour Day.”
The first match graphic appears.
LADY GUINEVERE vs REGINA
Elias Coldmere: “Lady Guinevere faces Regina.”
The graphic changes.
SIR AGRAVAINE & SEVERIN CROWNE vs MERRY BAND
Elias Coldmere: “After their victory earlier tonight, Sir Agravaine and Severin Crowne face representatives of the Merry Band.”
Another graphic.
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST vs HANSEL
Elias Coldmere: “The Universal Champion Ghost of Christmas Past meets former Eternal Flame Champion Hansel in the non-title match whose consequences we have just established.”
The crowd responds loudly.
Another graphic.
MORDRED vs SIR LANCELOT
The reaction becomes more complicated.
Elias Coldmere: “And following what happened earlier tonight, Sir Lancelot will have an opportunity to turn his attention away from Will Scarlett and toward another difficult problem.”
A beat.
Elias Coldmere: “Mordred.”
The crowd reacts.
Then the screen goes black.
A single royal crest appears.
Camelot.
An arrow strikes through it.
The audience erupts.
Then a fractured crimson moon rises behind the arrow.
Four figures appear.
On one side—
KING ARTHUR.
Beside him—
SIR GALAHAD.
Opposite—
ROBIN HOOD.
And beside the outlaw—
BLOOD-MOON WARDEN.
The Coliseum explodes.
Elias Coldmere: “And in the main event…”
The image enlarges.
Elias Coldmere: “Two men already bound for Age of Ruin will share the ring before September 27th.”
He gestures toward Arthur and Robin.
Elias Coldmere: “The Mythic Crown Champion, King Arthur, teams with Sir Galahad.”
A beat.
Elias Coldmere: “Against Robin Hood…”
Another.
Elias Coldmere: “…and the Blood-Moon Warden.”
The reaction becomes deafening.
The full card appears.
WRESTLEFEST LABOUR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2026
LADY GUINEVERE vs REGINA
SIR AGRAVAINE & SEVERIN CROWNE vs MERRY BAND
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST vs HANSEL
MORDRED vs SIR LANCELOT
MAIN EVENT
KING ARTHUR & SIR GALAHAD vs ROBIN HOOD & BLOOD-MOON WARDEN
Julian Ward: “That is an extraordinary main event.”
Brick Brody: “And somebody thought putting Arthur, Robin Hood, and the man who keeps warning everybody about corrupted kings into one match was sensible.”
Julian Ward: “That somebody is standing in the ring.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly.”
Elias Coldmere lowers the microphone.
He looks toward the card one final time.
Elias Coldmere: “Monday.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “Wrestlefest Labour Day.”
Another.
Elias Coldmere: “Five matches.”
His gaze settles momentarily on the main-event graphic.
Elias Coldmere: “Several problems.”
A faint smile.
Elias Coldmere: “I assume you know which interests me more.”
He places the microphone down.
The crowd applauds as the Commissioner steps through the ropes.
He walks up the aisle.
The Wrestlefest card remains behind him.
Julian Ward: “And that event now carries direct implications for Age of Ruin.”
Brick Brody: “More than one.”
Julian Ward: “Certainly. Ghost of Christmas Past can force his way onto the Age of Ruin card with a victory over Hansel.”
Brick Brody: “Or lose and discover the witch hunter really did become a ghost hunter.”
Elias Coldmere reaches the top of the aisle.
He steps through the curtain.
The camera follows.
The sound of the Coliseum becomes muffled immediately.
Stone walls replace arena light.
Elias walks only several feet backstage.
Then stops.
A large figure is waiting.
Pale coat.
Dark gloves.
Eyes burning with the restless intelligence of a man who regards creation as an entitlement.
Dr. Frankenstein.
The crowd reacts when his image appears on the arena screen.
Elias Coldmere: “Doctor.”
Dr. Frankenstein: “Commissioner.”
There is no greeting beyond that.
Dr. Frankenstein: “You said there was one position remaining.”
Elias Coldmere: “I did.”
Dr. Frankenstein: “The Convergent Championship.”
Elias Coldmere: “Correct.”
Dr. Frankenstein steps closer.
Dr. Frankenstein: “Then remember our agreement.”
A pause.
Dr. Frankenstein: “The Alpha Monster receives the opportunity against Jack Lumber.”
Elias Coldmere looks at him calmly.
No surprise.
Elias Coldmere: “I have not forgotten.”
Dr. Frankenstein: “Good.”
A thin smile appears.
Dr. Frankenstein: “Because neither has he.”
The words sit heavily between them.
Elias Coldmere: “I would be disappointed if your creation suffered from poor memory.”
Dr. Frankenstein’s smile fades slightly.
Elias Coldmere: “Be here next week.”
A pause.
Elias Coldmere: “And be ready.”
Dr. Frankenstein: “For the announcement?”
Elias Coldmere: “For everything that follows it.”
The Commissioner steps past him.
Dr. Frankenstein turns.
Watches Elias disappear down the corridor.
Then slowly looks toward the camera.
His smile returns.
Larger this time.
Dr. Frankenstein: “He will be ready.”
A low growl sounds somewhere beyond the frame.
Not human.
The camera does not reveal its source.
The screen cuts to black.
11. MAIN EVENT — ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPIONSHIP
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM vs TIN MAN — TWO OUT OF THREE FALLS
Referee: “Honest” Abe
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
For several seconds, the building is almost completely dark.
Then a low metallic clang rings through the arena.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
The great screen slowly fills with silver.
A heart appears.
Not flesh.
Metal.
The sound of gears turning rolls through the Coliseum.
The crowd rises.
A yellow brick road cuts through the darkness.
Then—
Tin Man steps through the entrance arch.
The reaction is immediate.
Silver armor catches the arena lights.
His face remains serious.
No smile.
No grand gesture.
Just the look of a man who has spent weeks being told opportunity is something someone else must grant him.
Tonight, the Eternal Flame Championship is finally within reach.
Julian Ward: “There are moments in a career when opportunity stops being hypothetical.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “For Tin Man, this is one of them.”
Brick Brody: “And he better treat it that way.”
Julian Ward: “Last week, the Sheriff of Nottingham told Tin Man to earn the right to touch the Eternal Flame Championship.”
Brick Brody: “So Elias Coldmere saved everybody some time and made the title match.”
Julian Ward: “And now Tin Man enters with considerably more at stake than personal satisfaction.”
The screen briefly shows the Age of Ruin graphic.
WIZARD’S WARRIORS
vs
SEVERIN CROWNE — SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — SIR AGRAVAINE
Julian Ward: “On September 27th, Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion face Severin Crowne, Sheriff of Nottingham, and Sir Agravaine at Age of Ruin.”
Brick Brody: “Which means if Tin Man wins tonight, that six-man match changes immediately.”
Julian Ward: “Because he would arrive as Eternal Flame Champion.”
Brick Brody: “And the Sheriff would have to stand across from the man who took his gold.”
Tin Man reaches ringside.
He stops beneath the ropes.
Looks toward the empty opposite corner.
Then climbs onto the apron.
He enters.
Moves directly toward the center of the ring.
The silver lighting fades.
Then—
A horn sounds.
Not ceremonial.
Authoritarian.
Deep red light pours across the entranceway.
The crest of Nottingham appears.
Flames rise beneath it.
The Eternal Flame Championship materializes across the screen.
The crowd immediately begins booing.
Sheriff of Nottingham emerges.
The championship rests around his waist.
He pauses.
Allows the hostility to wash over him.
Then another figure appears.
Severin Crowne.
Immaculate.
Controlled.
Hands clasped behind his back.
No championship.
No official title.
Yet the sense that he has become central to everything around the Sheriff is undeniable.
Julian Ward: “And there is perhaps the most significant difference surrounding the Eternal Flame Champion over the last several weeks.”
Brick Brody: “He stopped taking advice from Prince John.”
Julian Ward: “And began standing beside Severin Crowne.”
Brick Brody: “Better decision.”
Julian Ward: “You have consistently approved.”
Brick Brody: “Because Crowne does not scream orders at him.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “He makes offers.”
Sheriff of Nottingham starts down the aisle.
Severin Crowne follows.
The championship catches the torchlight.
Inside the ring, Tin Man never looks away.
Julian Ward: “This is also a two-out-of-three falls match.”
Brick Brody: “Good.”
Julian Ward: “You approve of that as well?”
Brick Brody: “Absolutely. One mistake does not decide it.”
He points toward the ring.
Brick Brody: “You want the championship? Beat the champion twice.”
Sheriff of Nottingham reaches ringside.
He removes the Eternal Flame Championship.
For a moment, he holds it up toward Tin Man.
Sheriff of Nottingham: “Still interested?”
Tin Man: “More than ever.”
The crowd reacts.
Sheriff of Nottingham gives a faint smile.
Then hands the title to Honest Abe.
Severin Crowne takes his position on the floor.
The champion enters.
At center ring, Louie Linville raises the microphone.
The Eternal Flame Championship is held high between the competitors.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is your MAIN EVENT!”
The Coliseum erupts.
Louie Linville: “It is a two-out-of-three falls match for the ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPIONSHIP!”
A louder reaction.
Louie Linville: “Introducing first…”
He turns.
Louie Linville: “The challenger… representing the Wizard’s Warriors… forged with courage, strengthened by heart, and determined to prove that steel can withstand any flame…”
A pause.
Louie Linville: “TIN MAN!”
The crowd cheers loudly.
Tin Man raises one fist.
Louie Linville turns.
The boos begin again.
Louie Linville: “And his opponent… accompanied to the ring by Severin Crowne…”
The hostility grows.
Louie Linville: “The reigning and defending ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPION… the law of Nottingham given human form…”
A pause.
Louie Linville: “SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM!”
The champion raises one fist.
Severin Crowne gives the slightest nod from ringside.
Louie Linville exits.
Honest Abe shows the championship to both men.
Then carries it to the timekeeper.
He returns.
Checks each competitor.
Signals.
The bell rings.
Minute 1
Neither man rushes.
They circle.
Engage.
Break.
Then engage again.
No clean opening.
A third collision finally produces movement.
Sheriff of Nottingham catches Tin Man.
Russian Legsweep!
Tin Man hits the canvas.
But he rolls through, hooks the champion, and answers immediately with a Takeover Suplex.
Both men rise almost together.
Julian Ward: “A perfectly balanced opening.”
Brick Brody: “Good.”
Julian Ward: “Why good?”
Brick Brody: “Because neither one gets to pretend the other man is intimidated.”
The two stand across from one another again.
The tone has been established.
Minute 2
Sheriff of Nottingham moves first.
He comes off the ropes.
LARIAT!
The strike catches Tin Man across the chest.
The challenger tries to absorb it.
Cannot.
He falls backward.
Julian Ward: “The champion establishes the first clear physical advantage.”
Brick Brody: “And now Tin Man knows that title doesn’t make the Sheriff ceremonial.”
Tin Man gets to one knee.
The Sheriff remains close.
Minute 3
The champion catches him.
EXECUTION ORDER!
The Death Valley Driver sends Tin Man hard into the canvas.
But Tin Man scrambles back to his feet before the Sheriff can cover.
He hooks the champion.
TAKEOVER SUPLEX!
Both men crash.
Julian Ward: “Execution Order answered by another Takeover Suplex!”
Brick Brody: “That is exactly what Tin Man has to do. Every time the champion hurts you, make him pay for being close enough to do it.”
Sheriff of Nottingham rises first.
Barely.
Minute 4
The Sheriff slips behind.
Sleeper!
The arm wraps under Tin Man’s chin.
The challenger tries to turn.
At the same time, he catches the champion’s body and throws him with a Belly-to-Belly Suplex.
But the Sleeper remains long enough to do damage.
Honest Abe checks.
Tin Man refuses to submit.
He twists free.
Both men separate.
Julian Ward: “The Sleeper was secured.”
Brick Brody: “Not long enough.”
Julian Ward: “But enough to introduce the threat.”
Brick Brody: “And in a two-out-of-three falls match, you remember every submission hold that almost worked.”
Minute 5
Tin Man advances.
At ringside, Severin Crowne moves.
Fast.
He reaches under the bottom rope as Tin Man turns.
HIT-AND-RUN SPINEBUSTER!
Tin Man crashes down violently.
The crowd erupts.
Honest Abe turns too late.
Severin Crowne is already back on the floor.
Hands behind his back.
Expression unchanged.
Julian Ward: “Severin Crowne just physically involved himself!”
Brick Brody: “Efficient.”
Julian Ward: “Illegal.”
Brick Brody: “Also true.”
The Sheriff watches Crowne.
No visible surprise.
No objection.
Then he turns back toward Tin Man.
Minute 6
The champion sends Tin Man through the ropes.
Then runs.
SUICIDE DIVE!
The Sheriff crashes into the challenger at ringside.
But Tin Man fires knee strikes during the collision.
One.
Two.
Three.
Both men fall against the barricade.
The crowd rises.
Julian Ward: “Both men paying for that exchange.”
Brick Brody: “That dive hurt everybody.”
Honest Abe orders them back inside.
The Sheriff rolls under the ropes first.
Tin Man follows.
Minute 7
Sheriff of Nottingham grabs the challenger.
Snap Brainbuster—
No.
Tin Man blocks.
Drops his weight.
The champion cannot lift.
They struggle.
Then separate.
Julian Ward: “Neutralized.”
Brick Brody: “Good defense from Tin Man.”
Julian Ward: “And perhaps important because the Brainbuster could become decisive later.”
Severin Crowne moves around ringside.
The camera catches him reaching beneath the apron.
Minute 8
Tin Man catches the champion.
STEELY RESOLVE LOCK!
The Bodyscissors begins tightening.
Sheriff of Nottingham grimaces.
At ringside—
Severin Crowne produces a steel chair.
Julian Ward: “No.”
Crowne enters the ring.
Honest Abe sees him.
Severin Crowne raises the chair—
CRACK!
It comes down across Tin Man.
The bell rings immediately.
The Coliseum erupts.
Honest Abe points toward Severin Crowne.
Then toward the Sheriff.
Disqualification.
Julian Ward: “That is a disqualification!”
Brick Brody: “Obviously.”
Julian Ward: “And in a two-out-of-three falls match, that costs the champion the first fall!”
Severin Crowne drops the chair.
He does not argue.
The Sheriff looks toward him.
For a moment, the champion appears irritated.
Then he understands.
The scoreboard changes.
TIN MAN — 1 FALL
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — 0 FALLS
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen, as a result of a disqualification… the winner of the first fall… TIN MAN!”
The crowd cheers.
Tin Man sits against the ropes holding his back.
Julian Ward: “A strange decision from Severin Crowne.”
Brick Brody: “Maybe.”
Julian Ward: “He deliberately sacrificed a fall.”
Brick Brody: “And hit Tin Man with a chair.”
A beat.
Brick Brody: “Don’t ignore the second part.”
The referee orders Crowne back to the floor.
The wrestlers are reset.
The bell rings for the second fall.
Minute 9
Severin Crowne immediately moves toward the apron.
He begins arguing with Honest Abe.
The referee turns.
Inside the ring, Tin Man catches Sheriff of Nottingham with a Fireman’s Carry.
The champion rolls through.
The referee finally turns back.
Julian Ward: “And Crowne remains involved even after costing his man a fall.”
Brick Brody: “Because the match isn’t over.”
Julian Ward: “The champion now has no margin for error.”
Brick Brody: “Then stop making errors.”
Minute 10
The two men collide again.
Sheriff of Nottingham drives through with a Lariat.
Tin Man answers with another Takeover Suplex.
Both attacks land.
Both men fall.
Julian Ward: “Again, even.”
Brick Brody: “Except the scoreboard isn’t.”
The graphic briefly reminds everyone.
TIN MAN — 1
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — 0
The champion sees it.
His expression hardens.
Minute 11
The pace slows.
Both men circle.
Tin Man suddenly drops low.
Legsweep!
The champion hits the canvas.
Tin Man tries to follow.
Sheriff of Nottingham rolls away.
Julian Ward: “The challenger beginning to use simpler attacks.”
Brick Brody: “Because he doesn’t need to win a beauty contest.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “One more fall and he leaves with the title.”
That fact hangs heavily over the ring.
Minute 12
Severin Crowne moves again.
He climbs onto the apron.
Honest Abe immediately turns toward him.
The referee orders him down.
Inside the ring, Tin Man begins moving toward the champion.
Crowne continues arguing.
The Sheriff uses the delay to reposition.
Julian Ward: “Another distraction.”
Brick Brody: “And Tin Man needs to stop looking at him.”
Julian Ward: “Difficult when Crowne has already struck him twice tonight.”
Brick Brody: “Necessary anyway.”
Minute 13
Sheriff of Nottingham catches the challenger.
Russian Legsweep!
This one lands clean.
Tin Man attempts to brace.
Cannot.
The champion stands over him.
No cover.
Not yet.
Julian Ward: “The Sheriff remains remarkably calm despite trailing one fall to none.”
Brick Brody: “That’s why he’s champion.”
Minute 14
Sheriff of Nottingham hooks Tin Man.
German Suplex!
The challenger lands across the shoulders.
But he catches the champion’s legs immediately afterward.
STEELY RESOLVE LOCK!
The Bodyscissors closes around the Sheriff.
The champion struggles.
Honest Abe checks.
No submission.
Julian Ward: “This would end the match.”
Brick Brody: “And the reign.”
The Bodyscissors tightens.
The Sheriff reaches.
Turns.
Eventually breaks free.
He rolls toward the ropes.
Still alive.
Minute 15
Tin Man stays on him.
Kick to the thigh.
The strike lands hard.
The Sheriff’s leg buckles.
Another attempt nearly follows, but the champion retreats toward the ropes.
Julian Ward: “Very smart targeting.”
Brick Brody: “Take away the legs and suddenly all that authority has trouble standing.”
Sheriff of Nottingham massages the thigh.
Severin Crowne watches closely.
Minute 16
The champion moves first.
Russian Legsweep!
Again.
Tin Man is driven down.
He cannot defend.
The Sheriff remains beside him.
Breathing harder now.
Julian Ward: “The Russian Legsweep has become one of the champion’s most reliable weapons tonight.”
Brick Brody: “Because Tin Man keeps giving him the angle.”
Minute 17
The Sheriff slips behind.
SLEEPER!
Tin Man immediately drops low and catches the legs.
Legsweep!
Both attacks effectively land.
The Sleeper remains briefly secured.
Honest Abe asks.
Tin Man refuses.
He twists free.
Julian Ward: “Again Tin Man survives the Sleeper.”
Brick Brody: “But every time he has to fight out of it, he loses oxygen.”
Minute 18
Sheriff of Nottingham catches Tin Man.
Russian Legsweep!
The challenger responds during the continuation.
Belly-to-Belly Suplex!
Both men hit hard.
Tin Man tries to capitalize.
He covers.
But the Sheriff shifts his weight.
Reversal!
Now Tin Man’s shoulders are down.
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
The bell rings.
The Coliseum reacts sharply.
Sheriff of Nottingham rolls away.
Tin Man sits upright in disbelief.
The scoreboard changes.
TIN MAN — 1 FALL
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — 1 FALL
Louie Linville: “The winner of the second fall… SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM!”
The boos rise.
Julian Ward: “One fall apiece.”
Brick Brody: “Now everything starts over.”
Julian Ward: “Not entirely. Both men have absorbed eighteen minutes of punishment.”
Brick Brody: “Fine.”
A beat.
Brick Brody: “Everything important starts over.”
The referee allows both men a moment.
The Eternal Flame Championship is visible at ringside.
One fall decides ownership.
The bell rings.
Minute 19
Both men attack immediately.
Sheriff of Nottingham launches forward.
Springboard Dropkick!
Tin Man absorbs the strike and answers with a Legsweep.
Both men hit the canvas.
Julian Ward: “No caution now.”
Brick Brody: “Why would there be?”
Julian Ward: “Because one mistake ends everything.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly.”
Minute 20
The Sheriff catches Tin Man.
German Suplex!
The challenger rolls through.
Kick to the thigh!
The Sheriff’s leg buckles again.
Julian Ward: “Tin Man returning to the leg.”
Brick Brody: “Good memory.”
Sheriff of Nottingham backs away.
His movement is beginning to show the cumulative damage.
Minute 21
The champion grabs the challenger.
Snap Brainbuster!
Tin Man crashes down.
But during the next exchange, he drives repeated Knee Strikes upward.
The final knee catches the Sheriff under the jaw.
Both men stumble away.
Julian Ward: “Brainbuster answered by the knees.”
Brick Brody: “Nobody is getting anything free.”
Minute 22
Sheriff of Nottingham charges.
Lariat!
Tin Man turns through the impact.
Takeover Suplex!
The champion goes down.
Again, both men land significant offense.
Julian Ward: “Twenty-two minutes, and this remains remarkably even.”
Brick Brody: “Except Tin Man has had to fight the champion and Crowne.”
Julian Ward: “An unusually fair observation from you.”
Brick Brody: “Don’t get used to it.”
Minute 23
The champion catches Tin Man.
EXECUTION ORDER!
The Death Valley Driver lands clean.
Tin Man lies flat.
The Sheriff considers the cover.
Instead, he pulls the challenger upward.
Julian Ward: “Execution Order.”
Brick Brody: “And no cover.”
Julian Ward: “Perhaps the champion does not believe it is enough.”
Brick Brody: “Or he wants to hurt him before he beats him.”
Minute 24
Russian Legsweep!
Again.
Tin Man cannot defend.
The champion remains in control.
Severin Crowne watches from the floor.
No interference now.
Only observation.
Julian Ward: “Two consecutive minutes completely belonging to the Sheriff.”
Brick Brody: “This is where Tin Man has to stop surviving and start answering.”
Minute 25
The champion tries the Snap Brainbuster again.
It lands.
But Tin Man fires back immediately.
HINGED HAMMER!
Punches.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
The Sheriff is driven backward beneath the barrage.
The crowd rises.
Julian Ward: “There is the answer!”
Brick Brody: “He’s still got something left.”
Tin Man keeps swinging until the champion finally retreats.
Minute 26
Both men hesitate.
Circle.
Break.
Another false start.
Then Tin Man suddenly attacks.
Knee Strikes!
One catches the midsection.
Another the chest.
A third drives the champion toward the corner.
Sheriff of Nottingham absorbs the punishment.
For the first time in several minutes, he has no response.
Julian Ward: “Momentum shifting again.”
Brick Brody: “Six minutes into the deciding fall and neither man has found the finish.”
Minute 27
The Sheriff attempts to recover with speed.
Springboard Dropkick!
It lands.
Tin Man catches him afterward.
Takeover Suplex!
Both men go down.
The audience begins clapping.
Julian Ward: “Every exchange is costing more.”
Brick Brody: “Good.”
Julian Ward: “You enjoy exhaustion?”
Brick Brody: “I enjoy finding out what people do after they run out of easy options.”
Minute 28
The champion gets underneath Tin Man.
POWERBOMB!
The challenger hits hard.
But Tin Man grabs the champion during the continuation.
STEELY RESOLVE LOCK!
The Bodyscissors traps the Sheriff again.
The crowd rises.
Honest Abe asks.
The champion shakes his head.
No.
Tin Man squeezes harder.
Julian Ward: “If the Sheriff submits, Tin Man becomes Eternal Flame Champion!”
Brick Brody: “And he knows it.”
The Sheriff claws forward.
His face tightens.
He refuses.
Eventually he reaches enough leverage to break free.
The crowd groans.
Minute 29
Both men rise.
The champion attacks.
Springboard Dropkick!
Tin Man absorbs it and fires Knee Strikes in return.
Neither falls immediately.
They stand barely upright.
Then both collapse.
Julian Ward: “Twenty-nine minutes.”
Brick Brody: “And they are beating each other into bad decisions now.”
Honest Abe checks both.
Movement begins.
Minute 30
Sheriff of Nottingham reaches his feet first.
He goes to the ropes.
Springboard—
DROPKICK!
The strike lands cleanly.
Tin Man falls.
The Sheriff covers.
ONE!
TWO!
Tin Man kicks out.
The Coliseum erupts.
The champion sits upright.
He looks at Honest Abe.
Two.
Julian Ward: “Two!”
Brick Brody: “That was close.”
Sheriff of Nottingham turns toward Severin Crowne.
Crowne remains calm.
No instruction.
The champion turns back.
Minute 31
Sheriff of Nottingham catches the challenger.
German Suplex!
Tin Man lands badly.
But he forces himself up.
HINGED HAMMER!
The punches begin again.
One catches the jaw.
Another the cheek.
A third turns the champion around.
Tin Man continues striking.
Julian Ward: “The challenger refuses to disappear.”
Brick Brody: “That’s heart.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “Which is ironic considering the man’s made of metal.”
Julian Ward: “Perhaps not.”
Both men stagger.
The crowd stands.
Minute 32
Tin Man throws another punch.
The Sheriff ducks.
He catches the head.
Hooks the body.
SNAP BRAINBUSTER!
Tin Man tries to shift free.
He cannot.
The challenger is driven into the canvas.
The building reacts sharply.
Sheriff of Nottingham falls across him.
Hooks the leg.
Honest Abe drops.
ONE!
The crowd rises.
TWO!
Tin Man’s leg moves.
Not enough.
THREE!
The bell rings.
The Coliseum erupts.
Boos.
Cheers.
Exhaustion.
Finality.
Sheriff of Nottingham rolls away.
He lies on his back for several seconds.
The Eternal Flame Championship has survived another trial.
Tin Man remains flat on the canvas.
The scoreboard changes.
SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — 2 FALLS
TIN MAN — 1 FALL
Louie Linville enters the ring.
Honest Abe receives the championship.
He helps the Sheriff stand.
Then raises his arm.
Louie Linville: “Ladies and gentlemen… the winner of the third and deciding fall…”
A pause.
Louie Linville: “And STILL ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPION…”
The boos rise.
Louie Linville: “SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM!”
The championship is handed to him.
The Sheriff pulls it against his chest.
He closes his eyes.
Only briefly.
Then raises it.
Severin Crowne enters the ring.
No applause.
No embrace.
He simply stands beside the champion.
The replay begins.
The first fall.
Severin Crowne smashing the chair across Tin Man.
The disqualification.
One fall to zero.
Then the second fall.
The Russian Legsweep.
The reversed cover.
Three.
One fall each.
Then the deciding fall.
Execution Order.
The Steely Resolve Lock.
Springboard Dropkick.
The kickout.
The Hinged Hammer.
Finally—
Snap Brainbuster.
Three.
Julian Ward: “Thirty-two minutes. Three falls. And the Eternal Flame Championship remains with the Sheriff of Nottingham.”
Brick Brody: “But don’t simplify this.”
Julian Ward: “I have no intention of doing so.”
Brick Brody: “Tin Man took the first fall because Severin Crowne sacrificed it with the chair.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “Then the Sheriff had to win twice.”
Another.
Brick Brody: “And he did.”
Julian Ward: “The second came by reversing a pinning attempt. The third came after perhaps the most competitive stretch of this match.”
The replay freezes on the final Brainbuster.
Julian Ward: “Whatever anyone thinks of the interference surrounding the first fall, the deciding fall ended in the center of the ring.”
Brick Brody: “Exactly.”
The camera returns live.
Tin Man remains on the canvas.
He has begun moving.
One arm stretches toward the ropes.
Sheriff of Nottingham watches him.
Then looks toward Severin Crowne.
Crowne reaches inside his jacket.
The crowd immediately begins reacting.
He removes something small.
Black.
Rectangular.
One of his cards.
The same kind that has appeared around Camelot for weeks.
The same kind previously offered to Tin Man.
Julian Ward: “Wait.”
Brick Brody: “There it is.”
Severin Crowne holds the card between two fingers.
He looks toward Tin Man.
Then toward the Sheriff.
Without a word—
he hands it to the champion.
The crowd boos.
Sheriff of Nottingham looks down at the card.
Then at Tin Man.
The champion walks toward him.
Tin Man is still flat on his back.
Breathing heavily.
The Sheriff crouches.
For one moment, the two men look at one another.
Tin Man tries to sit up.
The Sheriff presses one hand against his chest.
Not violently.
Enough to keep him down.
Then he places Severin Crowne’s black card directly on Tin Man’s chest.
The Coliseum erupts.
Julian Ward: “That card again.”
Brick Brody: “He told them no.”
Julian Ward: “Repeatedly.”
Sheriff of Nottingham rises.
The card remains resting on the silver chest of Tin Man.
Severin Crowne steps beside the champion.
He looks down.
Severin Crowne: “Consider the terms.”
Tin Man glares up at him.
No answer.
Crowne smiles faintly.
The Sheriff lifts the Eternal Flame Championship over one shoulder.
Then the two men turn toward the entrance.
The Age of Ruin graphic appears behind them.
WIZARD’S WARRIORS TIN MAN — SCARECROW — LION vs SEVERIN CROWNE — SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM — SIR AGRAVAINE
Julian Ward: “On September 27th, these men are scheduled to stand on opposite sides.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “And after everything that has happened, Severin Crowne is still extending the invitation.”
Brick Brody: “No.”
Julian Ward: “No?”
Brick Brody: “That wasn’t an invitation.”
The camera tightens on the card lying across Tin Man’s chest.
Brick Brody: “That was a reminder.”
Julian Ward: “Of what?”
Brick Brody: “That Crowne still believes everybody has terms.”
Inside the ring, Tin Man finally sits up.
The card falls into his lap.
He picks it up.
Looks at it.
The crowd begins chanting.
“TEAR IT UP!” “TEAR IT UP!” “TEAR IT UP!”
Tin Man looks toward the entrance.
Severin Crowne and the Sheriff of Nottingham have stopped at the top of the aisle.
Both look back.
The Eternal Flame Championship rests across the Sheriff’s shoulder.
The card remains in Tin Man’s hand.
He does not tear it.
He does not accept it.
He simply stares.
Julian Ward: “The championship remains with the Sheriff of Nottingham.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “The question surrounding Tin Man remains with Severin Crowne.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “And Age of Ruin now stands only weeks away.”
The camera holds on the three men.
The champion.
The architect.
The challenger who refused the offer once already.
Then the screen fades.
RESULT: SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM DEFEATED TIN MAN TWO FALLS TO ONE TO RETAIN THE ETERNAL FLAME CHAMPIONSHIP.
TIN MAN WON THE FIRST FALL BY DISQUALIFICATION IN THE 8TH MINUTE AFTER SEVERIN CROWNE STRUCK HIM WITH A STEEL CHAIR. SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM WON THE SECOND FALL BY PINFALL IN THE 18TH MINUTE AFTER REVERSING TIN MAN’S COVER FOLLOWING A RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP, AND WON THE THIRD FALL BY PINFALL WITH A SNAP BRAINBUSTER IN THE 32ND MINUTE.
12. CLOSING
The camera returns to Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.
The ring is empty now.
The Eternal Flame Championship match is over.
But the evidence of the evening remains.
The camera slowly moves across the crowd as the lights dim from competition brightness back toward the torchlit shadows of Dark Fable.
At the broadcast table, Julian Ward removes one page from the stack in front of him.
Beside him, Brick Brody leans back in his chair.
For once, neither man speaks immediately.
Behind them, the great screen shows the final image from moments ago.
Tin Man sitting in the ring.
The black card of Severin Crowne resting in his hand.
At the top of the aisle—
Sheriff of Nottingham.
Still Eternal Flame Champion.
Beside him—
Severin Crowne.
Watching.
Waiting.
Julian Ward: “Thirty-two minutes. Three falls. And when everything was finally settled, the Eternal Flame Championship remained with Sheriff of Nottingham.”
The replay begins.
Tin Man securing the first fall by disqualification after Severin Crowne struck him with the steel chair.
The Sheriff reversing the cover for the second.
Then the Snap Brainbuster.
Three.
Julian Ward: “Tin Man won the first fall. He pushed the champion deep into the third. He came within moments of changing what the Age of Ruin six-man match would represent.”
The image freezes on Sheriff of Nottingham raising the championship.
Julian Ward: “But he did not take the flame.”
Brick Brody: “And now he has that card again.”
The screen changes.
Sheriff of Nottingham placing the black card on the fallen Tin Man.
Brick Brody: “That might be the part I remember.”
Julian Ward: “More than the championship match?”
Brick Brody: “The championship match gave us a winner.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “That card gave us another question.”
The replay disappears.
The Age of Ruin crest slowly emerges.
Julian Ward: “And the card for September 27th grew substantially tonight.”
The first graphic appears.
UNIVERSAL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
ULTIMATE BEASTS
vs
VIRTUOUS BLADES
Footage shows King Arthur standing before Elias Coldmere earlier in the evening.
Sir Galahad.
Sir Gawain.
Merlin.
Julian Ward: “King Arthur confronted Mythic Commissioner Elias Coldmere and attempted to make a royal decree concerning the Universal Tag Team Championships.”
Brick Brody: “And Coldmere reminded him that crowns do not book wrestling matches.”
Julian Ward: “He did.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “But he also acknowledged the substance beneath the king’s demand.”
The championship graphic returns.
Julian Ward: “The Virtuous Blades have earned their position among the elite tag teams of this division.”
Brick Brody: “The king says the elite tag team.”
Julian Ward: “The Commissioner was somewhat less absolute.”
Brick Brody: “That seems to bother Arthur more every week.”
The footage changes.
Elias Coldmere leaving.
Then—
King Arthur telling Merlin that the Commissioner is finally beginning to know his place.
The screen catches the reaction behind him.
Sir Galahad.
Sir Gawain.
The concerned look between them.
Julian Ward: “And perhaps the more important part of that encounter came after the match was granted.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “King Arthur interpreted the Commissioner’s independent decision as obedience.”
Brick Brody: “The knights didn’t.”
Julian Ward: “No.”
The image lingers briefly on Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain.
Julian Ward: “And their king did not notice.”
The screen fades.
A crimson oni mask replaces it.
Then a black wolf.
The new image of Taro Okami appears.
Demon-wolf gear.
Black and crimson.
The red wolf mask.
Julian Ward: “Tonight also marked the first appearance of Taro Okami since he stopped hiding behind the black mask.”
The six-man tag flashes across the screen.
John Henry.
Takuma Ryujin.
Raigen.
Against—
Kaen.
Enrai.
Taro Okami.
The Phoenix Splash from Takuma Ryujin.
The interference by Lord Kurogami.
The cane strike against John Henry.
Then—
STEEL DRIVER.
Three.
Julian Ward: “The Blood Oni Syndicate attempted intimidation, interference and numbers.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “And still John Henry pinned Taro Okami.”
Brick Brody: “Which is a very bad way to debut a terrifying new look.”
Julian Ward: “Particularly when the man you betrayed is watching.”
The footage changes.
Raigen standing over Taro Okami afterward.
Still waiting for an explanation.
Taro placing the demon-wolf mask over his face.
Leaving without answering.
Julian Ward: “But the question remained unanswered.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “Why?”
The screen goes black.
Then words appear.
BLOOD SYNDICATE TRIAL
The crowd reacts immediately.
Footage from the backstage confrontation follows.
Lord Kurogami.
Taro Okami.
Hana Nakamura.
Then Raigen arriving.
Julian Ward: “What followed may ultimately prove far more consequential than the match itself.”
The terms begin appearing one by one.
IF RAIGEN LOSES:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE BLOOD ONI SYNDICATE.
THE REMAINING DEBT PASSES THROUGH HIS BLOODLINE.
The Coliseum boos.
Brick Brody: “Still sounds insane.”
Julian Ward: “Because it is.”
Then the second condition.
IF RAIGEN WINS:
TARO OKAMI MUST ENTER THE DRAGON’S VEIL SANCTUARY.
TARO OKAMI MUST UNDERGO CLEANSING.
Julian Ward: “Raigen accepted the risk—but demanded his own consequence.”
A final graphic appears.
NO DISQUALIFICATION.
THE DOJO OF BLOOD.
Julian Ward: “And then Lord Kurogami revealed the environment.”
Brick Brody: “That’s the part people should be afraid of.”
Julian Ward: “A Blood Syndicate Trial.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “No disqualification.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “Inside the Dojo of Blood.”
The camera finds several members of the crowd staring at the screen.
Julian Ward: “Nothing has been signed.”
Brick Brody: “Yet.”
The word CONTRACT SIGNING appears.
NEXT WEEK.
Julian Ward: “Next week, Raigen and Taro Okami are expected to put those terms into writing.”
Brick Brody: “A hundred years.”
He shakes his head.
Brick Brody: “I’ve signed some stupid contracts in my life.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “Nothing that stupid.”
The screen changes again.
The North Star Tag Team Championships appear.
BLONDE BOMBSHELLS
vs
WAR COUNCIL
Julian Ward: “Another championship match became official for Age of Ruin after Athena and Bellona battled Mother Earth and Sayaka Mizuhana for the full thirty-minute time limit.”
Highlights roll.
Mother Earth’s Spears.
Sayaka Mizuhana’s Tombstone.
The tandem attacks of the War Council.
The final collision between Bellona’s Crimson Spear and Mother Earth’s Spear.
Then the clock expiring.
Julian Ward: “No winner.”
Brick Brody: “But the War Council still left with something.”
The announcement from Goldie Locks appears.
Julian Ward: “Northern Belles Commissioner Goldie Locks signed Athena and Bellona to challenge Alice and Dorothy for the North Star Tag Team Championships at Age of Ruin.”
Brick Brody: “That match is going to hurt.”
Julian Ward: “I suspect that is precisely how the War Council prefers it.”
The graphic disappears.
Now—
Rapunzel.
Yurei Rinn.
The audience reacts.
Julian Ward: “Earlier tonight, we also reported that Rapunzel may be under consideration for an opportunity against Lilith.”
The match footage runs.
Descent from the Tower.
The interference by Lord Kurogami.
Powerbombs.
Submissions.
Then the Blood Oath Signal.
Finally—
Tombstone.
Three.
Julian Ward: “A victory tonight might have solidified that argument.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “Instead, Yurei Rinn changed the conversation.”
Brick Brody: “That’s what happens when you start discussing the next opponent before you beat this one.”
Julian Ward: “The potential championship opportunity for Rapunzel has not been formally decided.”
Brick Brody: “But Yurei Rinn just gave the people making that decision something else to think about.”
The screen shifts.
Will Scarlett.
Sir Lancelot.
Then Prince John’s sceptre.
The decisive blow.
Three.
Julian Ward: “Will Scarlett defeated Sir Lancelot after a match in which both Prince John and Merlin repeatedly influenced events.”
Brick Brody: “That match had more outside help than some armies.”
The footage continues past the match.
Sir Lancelot walking toward the back.
Then stopping.
King Arthur waiting.
The king’s words appear through replay audio.
“You have disappointed yourself.”
“You have disappointed the people of Camelot.”
“But most importantly…”
“You have disappointed your king.”
The crowd gives a mixed reaction even hearing it again.
Julian Ward: “Sir Lancelot was struck by a sceptre behind the referee’s back.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “The king never asked.”
Brick Brody: “He only cared that his knight lost.”
The final replay frame is Sir Lancelot standing alone after Arthur and Merlin walk away.
Julian Ward: “There was a time when service to Camelot appeared to bring honor.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “Increasingly, it appears to bring expectation.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “And punishment when that expectation is not satisfied.”
The screen goes black.
Then suddenly—
WRESTLEFEST
LABOUR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
The crowd erupts.
Brick Brody: “Now we get to Monday.”
Julian Ward: “And there is much to discuss.”
The full Wrestlefest card begins forming.
First—
LADY GUINEVERE
vs
REGINA
Julian Ward: “Lady Guinevere faces Regina.”
Next—
SIR AGRAVAINE & SEVERIN CROWNE
vs
MERRY BAND
Footage briefly recalls the opening match tonight.
Sir Agravaine pinning Scarecrow.
Julian Ward: “After Severin Crowne and Sir Agravaine defeated Lion and Scarecrow tonight, they turn their attention toward the Merry Band.”
Brick Brody: “And every time Crowne gets another opportunity to put that little organization of his in the ring, it looks more organized.”
The next graphic appears.
NON-TITLE
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
vs
HANSEL
The response becomes enormous.
Julian Ward: “Perhaps no Wrestlefest match carries more unusual consequences than this.”
The earlier confrontation returns.
Universal Champion Ghost of Christmas Past.
Fenwick Grimbough.
Elias Coldmere.
Julian Ward: “The Universal Champion finally returned to Camelot tonight after months away.”
Brick Brody: “Because Fenwick Grimbough complained that the Universal Championship wasn’t getting enough attention.”
Julian Ward: “And the Commissioner provided some.”
The stipulations appear.
IF GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST DEFEATS HANSEL:
UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ADDED TO AGE OF RUIN.
GHOST SELECTS HIS MYTHIC CHALLENGER.
IF GHOST FAILS TO DEFEAT HANSEL:
HANSEL RECEIVES A FUTURE UNIVERSAL CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH ON DARK FABLE.
Julian Ward: “Hansel accused the champion of hiding from this division.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “Monday gives the Ghost of Christmas Past an opportunity to answer him.”
Brick Brody: “And if he doesn’t?”
Julian Ward: “Then the witch hunter gets his championship match.”
Brick Brody: “Ghost hunter.”
Julian Ward: “That was his description.”
The graphic changes.
MORDRED
vs
SIR LANCELOT
The crowd reacts.
Julian Ward: “Sir Lancelot will have little time to dwell upon tonight’s disappointment.”
Brick Brody: “Because Mordred is about the worst man you could face while having an identity crisis.”
Julian Ward: “Monday may tell us considerably more about where Lancelot’s head is after what his king said tonight.”
Then the arena darkens.
The final Wrestlefest graphic appears.
MAIN EVENT
KING ARTHUR & SIR GALAHAD
vs
ROBIN HOOD & BLOOD-MOON WARDEN
The Coliseum erupts.
Julian Ward: “And then there is the main event.”
The Mythic Crown Championship appears between King Arthur and Robin Hood.
Behind Robin, the fractured red moon of the Blood-Moon Warden rises.
Julian Ward: “Three weeks before King Arthur defends the Mythic Crown against Robin Hood at Age of Ruin…”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “…king and outlaw share a ring again.”
Brick Brody: “Except this time Robin Hood brings the man who has spent weeks warning everyone what happens when kings decide obedience and loyalty are the same thing.”
Julian Ward: “The Blood-Moon Warden.”
Brick Brody: “And Arthur brings Sir Galahad.”
The screen briefly flashes to the concerned look exchanged earlier tonight between Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain.
Julian Ward: “A knight who may enter Monday’s match with questions he did not possess when tonight began.”
The full card fills the screen once more.
WRESTLEFEST LABOUR DAY
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
LADY GUINEVERE vs REGINA
SIR AGRAVAINE & SEVERIN CROWNE vs MERRY BAND
GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST vs HANSEL
MORDRED vs SIR LANCELOT
MAIN EVENT
KING ARTHUR & SIR GALAHAD vs ROBIN HOOD & BLOOD-MOON WARDEN
Julian Ward: “Five matches.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “Championship consequences.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “Age of Ruin consequences.”
Brick Brody: “And probably a few consequences nobody bothered scheduling.”
The Wrestlefest graphic burns away.
The Convergent Championship appears.
JACK LUMBER
The crowd cheers.
Footage shows Jack Lumber successfully defending against Yeti at HCW’s Reign of Champions.
Julian Ward: “And then, one week from tonight…”
The Age of Ruin crest forms behind him.
An empty challenger silhouette stands opposite Jack Lumber.
Julian Ward: “Convergent Champion Jack Lumber comes to Dark Fable.”
Brick Brody: “He knows he’s defending at Age of Ruin.”
Julian Ward: “He does.”
Brick Brody: “He just doesn’t know against whom.”
The camera briefly flashes backstage.
Dr. Frankenstein confronting Elias Coldmere earlier tonight.
“Remember our agreement.”
“The Alpha Monster gets the shot against Jack Lumber.”
Then Elias Coldmere’s answer.
“I have not forgotten.”
“Be ready for next week.”
The screen returns to the mystery silhouette.
Julian Ward: “We know Dr. Frankenstein believes an agreement has already determined that answer.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “But the official announcement belongs to Elias Coldmere.”
Brick Brody: “And if the Doctor is right…”
He looks toward the screen.
Brick Brody: “Jack Lumber might want to bring something heavier than the championship belt.”
The graphic changes.
NEXT WEEK.
JACK LUMBER IS HERE
AGE OF RUIN CHALLENGER REVEALED
The crowd reacts.
Then red begins spreading beneath it.
A demon wolf appears on one side.
A dragon on the other.
TARO OKAMI.
RAIGEN.
Between them—
a contract.
NEXT WEEK
BLOOD SYNDICATE TRIAL
CONTRACT SIGNING
The reaction becomes even louder.
Julian Ward: “And that is not all.”
The terms return.
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
BLOODLINE DEBT.
DRAGON’S VEIL CLEANSING.
NO DISQUALIFICATION.
DOJO OF BLOOD.
Julian Ward: “Next week, Raigen and Taro Okami are scheduled to sign the contract that could bind one man’s bloodline for a century…”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “…or force the other into a cleansing ritual inside the sanctuary of the Dragon’s Veil.”
Brick Brody: “Provided they make it through the contract signing without trying to kill each other.”
Julian Ward: “A legitimate concern.”
The camera slowly pulls away from the desk.
The final images from tonight begin appearing across the great screen.
Sir Agravaine pinning Scarecrow.
King Arthur believing Elias Coldmere has learned his place.
Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain exchanging worried looks.
John Henry driving Taro Okami down with the Steel Driver.
Raigen agreeing to stake a century of his bloodline.
Athena and Bellona learning they will challenge the Blonde Bombshells.
King Arthur telling Sir Lancelot he has disappointed his king.
Yurei Rinn pinning Rapunzel.
Ghost of Christmas Past finally standing inside Camelot.
Jack Lumber holding the Convergent Championship.
And finally—
Tin Man.
The black card in his hand.
Severin Crowne watching from the distance.
Julian Ward: “Tonight, champions survived.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “Challenges were accepted.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “Opportunities were granted.”
Another.
Julian Ward: “Debts were offered.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “And in Camelot, even loyalty itself has begun to carry conditions.”
The audience quiets as the screen turns almost completely black.
Only the Mythic Crown remains visible.
Then the black card.
Then the demon-wolf mask.
Then the Convergent Championship.
Four symbols.
Four unresolved stories.
Brick Brody: “You know what I like about all of this?”
Julian Ward: “I hesitate to ask.”
Brick Brody: “Nobody here is getting what they want without paying for it.”
A pause.
Brick Brody: “That’s wrestling.”
Julian Ward looks toward him.
Then toward the camera.
Julian Ward: “Perhaps.”
The Dark Fable crest begins forming.
Julian Ward: “But in this division, the price has a habit of being revealed only after someone agrees to pay it.”
The screen darkens further.
WRESTLEFEST LABOUR DAY flashes one final time.
MONDAY.
Then—
NEXT WEEK ON DARK FABLE
JACK LUMBER
AGE OF RUIN CHALLENGER REVEALED
RAIGEN & TARO OKAMI
BLOOD SYNDICATE TRIAL CONTRACT SIGNING
The crowd roars beneath the graphics.
Julian Ward: “First, Monday belongs to Wrestlefest.”
A beat.
Julian Ward: “Then next week, the Convergent Champion comes to Camelot…”
Another.
Julian Ward: “…and two men place blood, loyalty, and a century of consequence onto paper.”
The screen becomes black.
One final bell tolls.
Julian Ward: “For Brick Brody, I am Julian Ward.”
A pause.
Julian Ward: “Good night from Scrooge’s Camelot Coliseum.”
The Dark Fable crest appears.
The final words burn beneath it.
EVERY STORY DEMANDS A PRICE.
Fade to black.
The screen returns after the closing credits.
No commentary.
No music at first.
Only the low crackle of torchlight.
Then the image fades in on Arthur’s Court.
The chamber is lit in gold and blue, but the warmth feels thinner than it should.
At the far end of the room, elevated upon the throne platform, sits King Arthur.
The Mythic Crown Championship rests across his lap like an extension of the throne itself.
Beside him stands Merlin, one hand resting upon his staff, his expression unreadable beneath the shifting light.
One step below the throne stands Lady Guinevere.
Composed.
Elegant.
But not fully at ease.
On the lower stone before the throne stand three knights of Camelot.
Sir Lancelot.
Sir Galahad.
Sir Gawain.
All three face their king.
For several moments, the chamber is silent except for the sound of the torches.
Then King Arthur speaks.
King Arthur: “The rowdiness of these outlaws has become unbearable.”
His fingers drum once against the side of the championship belt.
King Arthur: “Again and again they treat Camelot as if it were some common road to be mocked, trespassed upon, and challenged whenever whim takes them.”
A faint sneer crosses his face.
King Arthur: “Robin Hood speaks as though insolence were a virtue.”
He glances briefly toward Merlin.
King Arthur: “And now the Blood-Moon Warden stands beside him filling weak minds with poisoned cautions.”
Merlin: “Fear often disguises itself as prophecy, my king.”
King Arthur nods.
King Arthur: “Just so.”
He leans back slightly on the throne.
King Arthur: “I have considered whether a bounty should be placed upon them.”
That draws a subtle reaction from the room.
Arthur notices it.
His smile is slight.
King Arthur: “A formal reward.”
A beat.
King Arthur: “Coin, favor, status.”
Another.
King Arthur: “Something to encourage the ambitious to bring these nuisances to heel.”
Sir Gawain shifts his posture almost imperceptibly.
Sir Galahad keeps his face carefully neutral.
King Arthur: “Or perhaps such measures should not be necessary at all.”
His gaze drops toward the knights below him.
King Arthur: “Perhaps my own knights should be the ones stepping forward.”
The implication hangs in the air.
Sir Lancelot lifts his head.
His frustration, barely contained since earlier tonight, finally breaks through.
Sir Lancelot: “My king…”
Arthur’s eyes settle on him.
Sir Lancelot: “If that is your belief, then why am I not the one standing beside you against Robin Hood and the Blood-Moon Warden on Monday?”
Silence follows.
Merlin turns his head slightly.
Guinevere looks toward Lancelot.
Galahad and Gawain remain still.
Then King Arthur gives a short snicker.
Not loud.
Not amused.
Dismissive.
King Arthur: “You?”
He looks down from the throne as if the answer should already be obvious.
King Arthur: “After that abysmal performance against Will Scarlett?”
The words land hard.
Sir Lancelot’s jaw tightens.
King Arthur: “I felt another would be more suitable.”
His gaze shifts briefly toward Sir Galahad.
King Arthur: “So I chose Galahad.”
Sir Galahad bows his head slightly, though there is no triumph in it.
Sir Lancelot: “My king, with respect, I was struck from outside the ring. Prince John—”
King Arthur: “Enough.”
The word cracks through the chamber.
Sir Lancelot stops immediately.
King Arthur leans forward on the throne.
The change in his voice is unmistakable.
Sharper.
Colder.
King Arthur: “Do not stand in my court and offer excuses.”
A pause.
King Arthur: “Do not speak to me of what might have been if circumstances had favored you more kindly.”
Another.
King Arthur: “And above all…”
He fixes Lancelot with a hard stare.
King Arthur: “…do not question your king.”
The chamber goes completely still.
Sir Lancelot looks as though he wants to answer.
He does not.
Guinevere’s expression tightens.
Gawain glances down.
Galahad keeps his posture firm, but concern flickers briefly in his eyes.
Arthur settles back into the throne.
The outburst passes from his face as though it never happened.
King Arthur: “You are all dismissed.”
Then, after only the smallest pause—
King Arthur: “All but Merlin.”
The meaning is immediate.
Guinevere bows her head.
Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain do the same.
After a moment, so does Sir Lancelot.
Sir Lancelot: “Yes, my king.”
The knights turn.
Guinevere follows them down from the throne platform.
None of them speak as they leave the chamber.
Only Merlin remains beside Arthur.
The great doors close behind the others.
The scene shifts.
Now outside the chamber, the corridor is quieter.
The torchlight is dimmer here.
Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain move ahead, giving Guinevere space as she walks behind them.
Then Sir Lancelot reaches out gently.
Sir Lancelot: “Guinevere.”
She stops and turns toward him.
The two stand slightly apart from the others now.
Sir Galahad and Sir Gawain continue down the corridor, discreetly leaving them alone.
For a few seconds, Lancelot says nothing.
Then he exhales.
Sir Lancelot: “I am concerned.”
Lady Guinevere studies him.
Lady Guinevere: “About tonight?”
Sir Lancelot: “About Arthur.”
The answer comes without hesitation.
Sir Lancelot: “He is not himself.”
A pause.
Sir Lancelot: “Or if he is, then I fear I have misunderstood him for far too long.”
Guinevere looks away for a moment.
Not in denial.
In thought.
Sir Lancelot: “He speaks more harshly each week.”
Another pause.
Sir Lancelot: “He sees challenge where once he saw counsel.”
His voice lowers.
Sir Lancelot: “He treats loyalty as something to be tested rather than trusted.”
Guinevere’s expression softens, though worry remains beneath it.
Sir Lancelot: “Surely you see it too.”
For a moment, she says nothing.
Then she nods.
Only slightly.
Lady Guinevere: “I do.”
That answer clearly brings him no comfort.
Lady Guinevere: “And yes, I am worried.”
She folds her hands together in front of her.
Lady Guinevere: “But I believe he is under tremendous strain right now.”
Sir Lancelot looks unconvinced.
Lady Guinevere: “The crown. Robin Hood. Mordred. The pressure upon Camelot. The constant defiance.”
A pause.
Lady Guinevere: “All of it weighs upon him.”
Sir Lancelot: “Perhaps.”
His tone says he does not fully believe that is enough to explain it.
Sir Lancelot: “But pressure reveals a man as often as it burdens him.”
That line lingers between them.
Guinevere looks at him carefully.
Sir Lancelot: “I worry for you.”
Her expression changes slightly at that.
Softer.
Sad, perhaps.
But calm.
Lady Guinevere: “Arthur will not harm me.”
Sir Lancelot: “You cannot know that.”
Lady Guinevere: “I know him.”
A beat.
Then a quieter addition.
Lady Guinevere: “Or at least I must believe that I still do.”
Sir Lancelot absorbs that answer.
It does not reassure him.
But he hears the truth inside it.
Lady Guinevere steps a little closer.
Lady Guinevere: “Do not carry this alone, Lancelot.”
A faint, tired smile touches his face.
Sir Lancelot: “That has never been your way, my lady.”
Lady Guinevere: “And it need not become yours.”
They hold one another’s gaze for a moment longer.
Then Guinevere inclines her head.
Lady Guinevere: “Good night, Lancelot.”
Sir Lancelot: “Good night, my lady.”
She turns and walks down the corridor.
After a second, Lancelot goes the other way.
The camera lingers.
Neither of them notices the darkness between two stone columns farther back in the hall.
A figure stands there.
Still.
Watching.
As the torchlight shifts, his face becomes visible.
Severin Crowne.
One hand rests lightly against the stone.
A knowing smirk curves across his face.
He has heard enough.
He steps out from the shadows.
Adjusts the cuff of his sleeve.
Then turns toward the great doors of Arthur’s Court.
Without hesitation, Severin Crowne enters.
The doors close behind him.
Cut to black.
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