The Legacy of Kane: Aunt Viv

[Hope FHK]

Lineage. 

That's kind of funny, don't you think? Like my lineage. The past, the bloodline. I mean, I'm still green as grass, but I'm getting my very first IWF… No WRESTLING full stop, and not inky do I get that for myself? But it's also the same night my Dad and one of my Mom's are fighting for the world titles respectively. 

Now that's some Lineage, right? 

I get to see first hand what Mommas stories were all about. I get to see the lighthouse in the abyss in all her glory. I get to see the Rainbow Warrior fighting in her absolute prime. Then, I'll get to see my father…. In His element. In his creation, doing what he does better than absolutely anyone on this planet. I'll actually get to see it… In Person, wow… 

That kinda just hit me. 

On top of all of that, not only are the Freeman-Hall-Kanes rocking the title scene? I get to have my first one on one title match against my absolute favourite person in the world, a woman who cared for me, looked after me, and always made sure we had somewhere safe to be. 

Aunt Viv. 

---

They’d managed to get away from the rest of the thralls that were battling with Reaper. Adrenaline flooded through the bodies of Hope Freeman-Hall-Kane and Redcap. They’d been gone longer than they had planned to, and Hope knew if they didn’t make it back soon, then Viv would send out a search party, which in Hope’s mind, just meant more people out here risking their lives, and she didn’t want that on her conscience.

Redcap: Almost there now, just through through these last few trees and then there should be a clearing.

Hope: Yup. Almost. There.

Redcap stops for a second and leans up against a tree, shifting his mask up so that he could catch some air. Hope slowed to a walking pace when she caught up.

Redcap: So….all that back there, you’re okay with everything?

Hope: What do you mean?

Redcap: Well, like….isn’t he your brother?

The words almost stung a little as Redcap said them, he clearly didn’t mean to hurt or upset Hope, but it still did regardless.

Hope: Yes? I mean, well….he’s never really met me. They say that, after Dad died? He kinda lost the plot a little….like, his grip on reality just freakin’ slipped and he started like doing some crazy experiments and stuff.

Redcap: Don’t you find it funny that in this world we live in, these things can still shock us?

She raised an eyebrow and smirked, before tapping him on the shoulder and heading on through the trees. The only light they had was from the full moon in the sky, which Hope used to navigate to the rendezvous point. After a few minutes walking, the trees just stopped and for some reason, the light from the moon was completely gone.

Redcap: I think this might b-

Cap was cut off as a floodlight burst to life, and a huge fishing net rose from the ground capturing both Hope and Redcap. Hope let out a deep sigh, while Redcap just chuckled.

Hope: You know you could at least act annoyed?

Redcap: Why bother? We tested the defences, and now we’ll get a free ride back to camp!

Hope: You have a weird outlook.

After a couple of moments a small four by four truck drove up to the area they were hanging from, as the headlights focused on them a figure walked in front, and the flash of bright blue hair made Hope’s heart beat.

Hope: Mom!

Pandora: Don’t you be “mom”-ing me, what’re you doing setting the defences off?

Redcap: We wanted a ride back!

Another figured came through the headlights and the tension from Hope and Redcap faded almost instantly.

Viv: Come on you two, let’s get you down and back home into the warm. This so-called “fresh air” isn’t really doing any of us any good, especially with the Thralls getting closer and closer.

Pulling a knife from her boot Vivienne walked up and began to cut them down as Pandora smirked at the whole scenario. As soon as the net dropped both Redcap and Hope lunged into a big hug with Viv, who put her arms around them both.

Viv: I’m glad you both made it back.

Redcap: Yeah, so are we! We almost got snuffed out by the Reap-

Cap tries to stop himself, realising that it’s probably not the best company to talk shit about someones family. He holds his hands up and heads towards the jeep, giving Pandora a fist bump as he passed, before she closed the gap between her and both Viv and Hope.

Pandora: You saw Warren?

Hope hesitated to answer, she started, and then stopped, took a sideways step and then turned to face Viv and Pan.

Hope: Yeah...I mean, we didn’t go looking for him or anything. Just, like...he was there, and Cap had the shot so he tried to take it.

Viv: But he can phase through bullets.

Hope: Which he did! And then he was on us in a second flat, I had to do something to save Cap, I couldn’t let Reap-....Warren, take someone else.

The three of them all put their heads together, and place their arms around each others backs.

Viv: You’re right, we’re still reeling from when he took Devlin from us…

Hope: Oh! But! Like, I used Momma’s sword!

Pandora: Wait, what?

Pandora’s smile vanished in a second, as the thoughts of her daughter slaying her step-son wracked her brain.

Hope: No, no….not like that. Like, he came for me and tried to do that phase thingy he does? I swung Momma’s sword at him, and it sliced him. It made him bleed!

Redcap sticks his head out from the back of the car, no longer wearing the mask but sporting a huge grin on his face, like he’d been waiting for this moment.

Redcap: And if it bleeds we can kill it!

Pandora: Real funny.

Hope: That’s not the first time he said that, I swear it’s been killing him trying to keep it in this long.

Viv: Yep, our Redcap has got some issues, but we love him anyway!

Pandora: Let’s go home, your Momma can’t wait to see you.

The two lock eyes, and though there’s a hint of sadness, both sets of those eyes twinkle at the prospect of the three of them being reunited, and we fade as the three of them head towards the car.

---

You don't know me Viv. Not yet, anyway. I like to hope that the person that I knew isn't too different from the person I see before me today. I know it's a lot to take in, I know it doesn't make sense, and even if it does I've probably broken every rule about the space time.. Thingymajig that the Thaddeus guy was talking about but… 

I'm happy to see you Viv. 

You never really talked about your time as a wrestlers, never mind being a champion. The Open-weight champion, taking in the role and prestige of the Shield Maiden. You've really lived up to the highest of the reputations, women like Eternity and Shea O’Hara. Its impressive to see in person Aunt Vi-erm, I mean… Vivienne. 

You're an absolutely great example to all the women and girls around the world. 

In a place where we've got demons, and gods, and time jumping limeys, and future children? You're there holding that beacon up into the air. Repressing everything that is good and right in this world, representing the truth of free will and justice. Man, I wish I could tell you some of the stories I have about you, how you could light up any room, and how you would go out of your way to make sure everyone had something to be happy about. 

We all loved you so much Viv. 

But now I know I have to fight you. Not in an angry way, or some OTT violent way like what's all the rage now. More in the way that I need to prove myself to you, I need to prove myself to the entire world. Mom told me, that it doesn't matter who I get booked against, that I have to go out there and give it my all, every night, every match, no matter who my opponent is. So that is what I plan on doing, I plan on going out there and giving it my absolute all. I'm going to show the IWF, the fans, and everyone backstage what I'm capable of. As each week goes by I pick up more and more from my parents, and the guest trainers at the school. The more I train, the better I become and trust me… 

I could already handle myself perfectly fine. 

I was a warrior, I lead people, I fought in some of the fiercest battles our little blue ball has ever seen, and I walked out of those fights unscarred. See, I'd already learned so much from my Mom's, their different and conflicting styles blending to make almost a dance of death. I was good at what I did, and I did it to protect people. Whether they were people I cared about, or just poor innocents stuck in the way. I did what needed to be done, and now I know I need to do the same thing when I step into that ring with you at Lineage. 

I want to be the Open Weight Champion. 

I want to continue my families Legacy and be more than just a child of War. I want to live life, with my family, with the people I care about. I want to be somebody. 

That means I have to go through you Viv, and I hope you don't take any of this personally. I genuinely hope that we can hang out when all is said and done, I want to get to know the Viv of this time, before the hardship, before the…. 

Before the loss…. 

I want to see the woman we all loved so much, the warrior who protected us, and readied us for this shit show of a world. I really hope I haven't freaked you out, and I sincerely hope that my hunger for that gold doesn't come between us, but I've seen my father go for his gold, I've seen my Mom go for hers… 

Now it's my time.