Fremtiden (The Future).

[Ulf Hednir]

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"Leaving in the field his arms,
let no man go a fot's length forward:
for it is hard to know when on the way
a man may need his weapon."
-The Havamal

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Darkness seemed to cover the terrain due to dark grey clouds sitting still near the top of the sky; the mist stretched downward to the terrain leaving a fog to anyone near the ground, and it left moisture on the blades of grass, and the leaves that filled each tree. A dull orange light tried to break through the crowds, hitting the terrain anywhere it could; the cloud was proving to be too much as it hardly allowed the light to get through-- the roar of a thunder went on for several seconds. The forest stretched for miles, weaving back and forth as it followed the river. The riverbank sat at the edge of the forest. Sitting on the riverbank with his legs slightly bent and his elbows resting on his knees; in one of his hands was a Mjolnir pendant, the hammer of the god called Thor, and his hands twiddled with it. His eyes looked more grey today than the vivid blue that they usually were. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as he listened to the thunder’s continuous roll.



Jeg felt… forvirret… confused… Jeg heard hvat Astrid had said to me-- en skam. I sneered at the thought of the remark, and my eyes seemed to lose focus on the water roaring downstream; the wind brushed my face and through my hair. Jeg was confused because jeg knew that Xavier Cross had no reason to lie to me-- he had nothing to gain from it… yet it felt weird striking the legendarisk Spike Kane. It felt weird interfering in honorable combat between two teams. While jeg did not do anything with the intent to cause dishonor to myself, my family, or my ancestors-- it did not feel particularly honorable. It left me confused. Jeg shook my head for a moment, trying to allow this anklage to come back to my fokus. This… insult… Jeg wanted to retaliate. Jeg wanted to tell hun that she var wrong! But, dypt nede, jeg felt that she just may be right-- but hvat purpose would Xavier Cross have to lie to me? Everything that he said has happened! Mye of it made sense. Roberto Verona-- Cable Arcane-- Mike Laszlo-- Spike Kane… all of which were well established within the industry; som alle were names for the number one contendership for the Imperial Championship!

Og hvat did they do to earn this? Simply demand it? Jeg felt myself sneer at the thought of any of these men getting a shot at the Imperial Championship quite so quickly just because they have been around as long as they have been. It was a belt that jeg sought. Et skudd det jeg would earn.

The thunder clapped even louder, as it drew ever closer to Ulf, and he lifted his head to see the sparks of lightning dancing in the clouds. His expression remained still-- the light reflected off his eyes and the orange glow that was once peeking out slowly diminished. Early in the morning, and it looked as if it were already evening.

Jeg var ikke skurken. I. Was. Not. The villain. And neither was Cross-- he simply opened my eyes to see what these four were villig to do; there were many names of people that had waited for their turn to battle for the Imperial Championship, many people that had earned their chance to fight for the Imperial Championship. Why these four? Why four people who were already the champion at one point?

Ulf jumped slightly as a lightning bolt struck the ground no more than three feet away from where Ulf had been sitting-- it left a spark on the ground, as smoke rose from where it struck. Ulf used the long sleeve on the hoodie he was wearing to ensure it did not ignore into a giant flame, when suddenly the clouds all dissipated, and the orange glow returned to the sky-- the sky was suddenly blue. This seemed to astonish Ulf Hednir as he looked around the terrain, and saw that the river was no longer aggressive.

Strange…

He thought to himself, as he unzipped his hoodie… There was rustling from the forest, the bushes, and the grass that was behind Ulf, and he turned to see who may have wandered his way especially after the day had looked gloomy. A man came out from the forest; a fishing pole slung over his shoulder, clad in all fishing gear preparing to wade in the water.

Stranger:
“God morgen, gutt!” (Good morning, boy!)

‘Gutt’. Jeg felt a little disrespected at the thought of being called a boy when jeg var well beyond the age of manhood… jeg swallowed my pride, and returned the greeting to this stranger, who was a rather large man with a red beard; his hair matched his beard.

Ulf Hednir:
“God morgen-- fisker…” (Good morning-- fisherman…)

Jeg said with a weak attempt of a smile, my eyes looking up at the man who took a glance at his own fishing pole, before bellowing out with laughter.

Stranger:
“Alltid oppmerksom!” (Ever observant!)

Without waiting for an invitation, to come over, the man plopped down next to me before casting his line straight into the water. He sniffled, and coughed, before pulling gently on the line to see if he had gotten a bite. Jeg wondered who he was, and almost as if he were reading my mind, he spoke.

Stranger:
“Som dagen kalles de meg Thursday. Og du er Ulf.”

I was at a loss for words.

Thursday:
“Du trenger ikke å bekymre deg, gutt. Jeg vet at du er med IWF.” (Don’t worry, boy. I know you are with IWF.)

Ulf Hednir:
“Så du har sett meg på TV?” (So you saw me on TV?)

Thursday:
“Ja!” (Yes!)

Thursday’s voice was very powerful as he spoke, and he spoke with excitement as he saw himself sitting next to Ulf, an IWF “superstar”.

Thursday:
“Ja, gutt! Brillet som du satte på denne uken var fantastisk! Det var som om Thor lånte deg sin stryke.” (Yes, boy! The spectacle that you put on this week was amazing! It was as if Thor lent you his strength.)

Jeg thought about hvat jeg had done later in that evening-- the attack on the four people competing in a match. Jeg turned to speak again to the man, but he cut me off before jeg could say anything.

Thursday:
“Det er ingenting galt med å vente på tur.” (There is nothing wrong with waiting your turn.)

Ulf hesitated in speaking, but Thursday had suddenly yanked on the fishing pole and the line was tight-- the rod bent toward the water with force, and Thursday cheered loudly. He straightened himself, but did not bother to get up as he reeled in.

Thursday:
“Det er en god dag!” (It is a good day!)

A fish was pulled from the river-- a salmon that was almost the length of Thursday’s arm, and he stood up as the fish tried to flop its way back to the river, but Thursday got up and held the fish up for Ulf to see.

Thursday:
“En god første fangst for dagen!” (A good first catch for the day!)

With some crushing blows from Thursday’s own fist, he pounded it a couple times until it stopped squirming; he pulled the hook from the fish and attached another bait to the hook before casting the line back out.

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Jeg sat with my partner for this week-- Jason Sandman… there was a certain look on his face, and in his eyes-- no remorse. A look det jeg kunne ikke replicate, no matter how much jeg tried; no matter how many mistakes jeg made while growing up.. Growing up, jeg never looked back at hvat jeg did with any regret. Do not waste your time looking back; du er not going that way. Jeg did not feel regret for what jeg have done, but jeg knew better than most that jeg could right my wrongs. Jeg chuckled to myself, and allowed a sly grin display on my face. My eyes looked toward the ground, but jeg parted my lips and allowed my voice to escape…

“People have questioned why jeg did hvat jeg did, with de people that jeg did-- jeg need to take this opportunity to explain myself, clearly,” jeg said, considering more of hvat jeg hørt coming from Astrid Hall-- a fellow Norsk.

“Jeg understand that there were better ways for me to handle my business, rather than get in the middle of a sanctioned competition-- believe me when jeg say, it was not my intent to interfere, but rather send a message with my newly found brethren-- vi var going to send a message that those four people would not be permitted to run amok-- de ville ikke rob the opportunities away from the people who have waited their turn in line, to get to the front for an opportunity to fight for the Imperial Championship-- du vil not find a way to cheat yourself back to the front.”

Jeg felt my tone grow angry, angry at the thought that these people were stealing title shots away from those that have earned it, away from those that have waited their turn just to be pushed back further because they did not want to get to the back of the line! As a newcomer myself, jeg knew that jeg had a way to go before jeg ville get my own opportunity-- at least… until Heir to the Throne… the thought of earning my spot in Heir to the Throne, and winning the entire tournament forced a sincere smile. Jeg clenched my fist, and while jeg knew jeg had to keep Heir to the Throne on my mind-- where my allies would become my enemies-- jeg continued discussing the current roadblock. The current situation.

“Astrid, du har ikke snakket med Xavier Cross som jeg har. Du forstår ikke hva disse mennenne er. Du… must… open your eyes to see hvat these men are doing. Hvat the veterans are doing! De er taking full advantage to the fact det de have been in the business as long as de har been. They bury their competition so that they may continue to thrive-- du would be a fool not to put an end to their corruption!

But this match… it is not about you, Astrid-- you simply must understand why jeg did hvat jeg did. Jeg am not on the bad side-- jeg am on the side that has opened my eyes, and the side that believes in me! They believe that jeg have the chance that most people older than jeg never see-- Xavier Cross, Kole Kaos, Jason Sandman,” jeg gestured toward Jason Sandman, who returned the glance to me, “They believe in me.”

Jeg could not keep the pride hidden in my voice as jeg spoke of The Council, my brethren, knowing that they accepted me into their ranks for a reason. Because they saw something.

“These are men that have been in this industry for over ten years. For over twelve years! For over fifteen years! And these men chose me because they see me for what jeg am: fremtiden. The future. Jeg er the true future of this industry-- and it is only a matter of time before the entire world sees hvat these three have! Ja, the thought of the Norns always come to my mind…

Am jeg doing right by the gods?

Am jeg following my destiny?

Am jeg honoring my ancestors?

The only answer that jeg believe-- and truly believe,” jeg said without any hint of hesitation, or doubt, “Jeg believe that the gods are with me. Jeg believe that they know jeg am doing the right thing! Jeg am showing the world that our people-- vi er sterke! Vi. Er. Styrke.”

Jason Sandman sits near the background as the camera has remained focused on Ulf Hednir this entire time, and he just nods his head. Likely not having a clue as to what he is saying, but nodding all the same.

“The gods know that jeg am fighting for the right reasons-- and they support me for it… they support that jeg am taking a stand for something jeg believe in. Jeg am fighting for any newcomer that signs their name to a contract-- no matter how many years they have had in this business, or if, som meg, they are new to de business; jeg am fighting so that these men cannot further corrupt this business as they have already done for years!

Det er tid.

It is time.

It is time that vi stand up, and fight these people-- the same way that they have buried us. No holds barred. Jeg do not mistake hvat vi did this past week-- interfering with that match… vi are not fighting with honor. But vi are fighting for honor.”

Jeg looked toward my ally; vi exchanged glances, and jeg looked forward again while the last thing on my agenda came to my mind.

“Heir to the Throne-- it has officially started… that means that all of us are looking to make a name for ourselves; that means that ally--” jeg tilted my head toward Jason Sandman, “--vil be against ally. Bror mot bror. The reason that we, The Council, vil work as a cohesive unit is because we do not live in a fairy tale! Vi did not live like The Lost Boys-- under this cloud that our paths would not cross. De vil krysse. Vi vil meet each other in the ring! And jeg know, jeg know vi er going to meet in this tournament and stand against each other-- and know that vi are in for the fight of our lives! Because-- like everybody that is under a contract with IWF, there is not one person that jeg cannot say is an extraordinary competitor! And this does include the four people that we jumped!

But vi er bedre. Jeg am ready for Heir to the Throne-- jeg know that when the time comes that name are being mentioned: jeg VIL be at the top of the list! Jason Sandman-- vil be at the top of the list! Kole Kaos-- vil be at the top of the list! Xavier Cross-- vil be at the top of the list! The Council-- vil be at the top of the list.

Now, jeg did not come here alone…” I said, while tilting my head again toward Jason Sandman, “Hvat ville du like to share. Vær så snill, Jason Sandman, snakke!”

The camera shifts its focus over toward Jason Sandman.