Chances.

[Jennie Docherty / Djinnie!]

Christmas morning.

The multi-colored flickering lights from the Christmas tree faintly illuminate the room… Shadows dance on the wall as the camera pans around to take in the entirety of the room. The presents tucked underneath the branches… the decorative train encircling them, as the tiny locomotive suddenly bellows out a low horn. The camera continues panning throughout the room until it finally falls on one of the two finalists of Heiress to the Throne, Jennie Fenix, as she lies across a large recliner, sunk in as far as she can with her legs hanging over the armrest, and covered by a fuzzy blanket with her cat, Purrseus, curled on her lap. She holds a remote in one hand, and a steaming mug topped with marshmallows and whip cream.

She slurps from the mug leaving behind whip cream on her upper lip, and then presses a button on the remote as the locomotive bellows out again, causing the cat to raise his head momentarily before settling back in.

“I’ve had… a lot on my mind as of late, and a lot of time to think.” Jennie says.

The corner of her lips curl a little into a wry smile and she takes another careful swig of the hot chocolate, “I’ve been thinking about– opportunities. Second chances. I’ve been thinking about what is at the end of Heiress to the Throne– the opportunity that is there… The opportunity to be back in the ring with none other than Miss Can’t Miss herself, Brooklyn Madrox. I’m going to go ahead and say that fighting her has been, quite honestly, rejuvenating! Refreshing! I feel like every time I get in the ring with her, I learn something new… I dig a little deeper… and even if I’ve come out on the losing end, I come out with some new tricks up my sleeve for the next time, and so here we are with another chance– another opportunity– to be in the ring with Brooklyn Madrox and see if these tricks are going to pay off. The first time– I was able to beat her, but she learned… oh, she learned! ‘Cause the next two times both went in her favor, and the only thing I could do was– get back in line… and earn my way back to the top… and I’m just one step away from another opportunity– another chance– to challenge for the title! A title–” Jennie raises a finger in the air as if to protest, “–that nobody thought that I was ever going to claim. All ‘cause they didn’t see me for everything I am. All ‘cause they thought that there was some sort of cookie cutter build that was meant for champions!” Shaking her head, she snorts out heavily.

Another sip of cocoa, and she smacks her lips together several times before continuing, “I didn’t quite fit the mold, did I? I didn’t quite live up to what people thought of when they thought of a champion, and so I had to be stopped, didn’t I? I had to be knocked down a peg, right? I was in over my head– and out of my element– isn’t that right?” She turns her head toward the camera, and cocks her head to the side, “But I think I’ve proven… in round one… when some overzealous redhead thought she was going to have some grand return to the ring and go after the only group that she seems to be able to talk about! The Murder. Again… in round two, going against one of the baddest women this company has ever seen– again– couldn’t stop talking about The Murder… Rowan… you name it… and thought she had my number, but–” Jennie clicks her tongue, “–you underestimate me. And I made you pay for it.” She says with a shrug.

“It seems… silly… that all people want to talk about is The Murder. The Murder this; The Murder that. Murder, murder, murder, murder, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah! Y’know what I think of when I see The Murder? HOT AIR! I saw an opportunity for them to have some grand return under their new moniker and try to take the reins of the company, and control– everything– but what happened? Like… Rowan, did you just get paid for a cameo appearance? And Vivi, honey, snookums, boo bear, honey bunches, dollface… nada… April? Astrid?” Jennie scoffs, “The reality is that there is only one name that matters from that little group anymore, and that’s… BROOKLYN MADROX. The champion. Another chance! Round four against the champ, and no matter what you think I deserve, and no matter what you think I can or can’t do, I’m never going to stay knocked down. I’m never going to stay down. I’m never going to be the person that just says– this isn’t for me. I’m never going to be the person that says– it’s just too hard. Y’see, people always talk about my family. It never seems to be enough! The Docherty family! The Blake family! Everyone in affiliation! Everyone talks about us. They love us! Or they hate us! And why do they hate us? Why do they wanna chase us off? ‘Cause I can tell you before they have to say it that there’s not one person in that Murder group that has any love for my family. Why? I’ll tell you why. ‘Cause we’re–” Jennie glances down, and carefully balances her cup of cocoa while covering Purrseus’s ears just bringing utter confusion to the poor critter, “–fucking good!” Jennie brings her hands back to her mug, and Purrseus glares at her momentarily before putting his head back down.

“But… I’m going to make myself crystal clear… I don’t care about The Murder. I’ll be honest in saying, I don’t even care about Brooklyn. The only thing I care about is the title. And to get to the title, I have to win Heiress to the Throne, and for Heiress to the Throne…” Jennie wags her finger a little bit, chuckling under her breath, “There is just one more hurdle. There is just one more person standing in front of me from winning it all! And that’s ZASSHU II!” The name escapes Jennie’s lips with a surprising amount of enthrallment over the mentioning of the second finalist in Heiress to the Throne.

“Honey, I know there were a lot of people that were looking at you– and they were counting you out… from day one, they were counting you out! It wasn’t anyone saying that you weren’t good, it was more that they were saying… you weren’t ready. It wasn’t too long ago that you went into the ring with my sister, and that was something that was used against you– that was something that people tried to say… that because you couldn’t beat Tara, you had nothing to show for it, but I was watching, honey! I was watching from start to finish, and I know you– you were so close! SO CLOSE! SO CLOSE to winning! There’s some people out there who saw you lose, and they saw that as a weakness, but– I know we like to say that nothing matters except for who is standing at the end with their arm raised, but you and I…” She takes a momentary pause, snorting out lightly while shaking her head at her own recollection, “You and I both know that it’s so much more than that. We both know what it means to march down to the ring and walk out with– nothing– nothing to show for it. Nothing to smile for. Just… nothing…” She sighs.

“Nothing except for the haunting thought of: what could we have done differently? What could we have done better?! Y’see, that’s what I see in you, and that’s what I know is in me– I don’t go around making excuses, and you don’t go around making excuses for why we lost… we accept… that we lost. We accept that we just need t- t- t–” Stuttering a little bit as a flurry of words swarm inside her head, and she picks out the best combination in the moment she has, “To be BETTER. We need to fight HARDER. We LEARNED! Yeah, we walked out with nothing. Nothing but experience. Nothing but questions for ourselves. That’s why– I look at you, Zasshu, and I’m not going to lie! I knew you were good! But you weren’t the person that I expected to be standing across the ring from… You weren’t the person I wanted to be standing across the ring from! There was that part of me that really, really, reallllllllllyyyyy wanted to be facing off against Atty! But she underestimated you for the very thing that I’m not. And who’d’ve thunk that you would beat a Hall of Famer in Vivi?!” She exclaims.

Clicking her tongue several times, Jennie tilts her head slightly to give a surprised yet proud look to the camera, to Zasshu II, “So, y’know… that’s why I know that you’re not someone that I should take lightly. Y’know– honestly– I feel like we’re two of the last people that everyone expected to see in the finals! The tournament as a whole was stacked… and it’s like I’ve said a hundred times before, and just something I don’t fully comprehend: I’m used to being the underdog. I’m used to people counting me out. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if we went to Vegas and they wanted to say that you’re the favorite… and I’d be okay with that! I’d be okay with them counting me out because, honey, that’s what I thrive on! That’s how I live! By proving all of these naysayers wrong! By proving to all of these people who don’t think I belong that I’m one of the best– I’m one of the top people to ever step into the ring… and it’s nothing to do with my family! They’re not going in the ring and fighting for me. I’m going out there and I’m doing all of this– on… my… own. It’s ME! It’s ME that is going in the ring and doing all of the work. It’s ME.”

The corner of her lips curl into a smile, “It’s us. Y’see, I like you. I like that you were blunt with Vivi. I like that you were blunt with Atty. And I know– you aren’t going to go easy on your words to me… I know that you’re going to have something to say that’s going to tear me down to pieces, and tell this world why you’re going to win. Why you should be the one to win! Why you should be the next person to be in the ring with Brooklyn and challenge for the championship! I know it’s coming, and that’s why I’m so– so– so happy ‘cause whatever words you’re saying to yourself in the mirror every morning to convince yourself that this is finally going to be your time, as much as I love you– as much as I respect you– as hard as I know you are– I’m going to also make you eat each and every single one of those words! When the bell sounds at the end of Odyssey, you’re going to know that I’m not my sister! You can go over that match all you want, and you can learn all of her tricks, and yeah, she taught them to me, but I was able to find a way to learn them– and twist them… I bring something different each and every time, and while she’s the one that’ll go into the ring to tear you to pieces, honey, I’m the one that’ll go into the ring and end you in three– well… hmm…” Jennie taps her finger against her chin to contemplate momentarily.

“Let’s say actually five seconds, flat, ‘cause, y’know, you gotta give a me and the referee a moment to get into position for the count! But I’ll end you like that, and I’ll do it with a smile every single time.” She flashes another smile.

“So… with all of that being said, Zasshu… I know that this isn’t going to be easy, and I want you to know that I’m going to be looking for that quick finish– I’m going to be looking for that roll up that brings an end to this tournament and have my arm raised and hear my name announced as Heiress to the Throne. And now that you know I’m going to be looking for it– you’re telling yourself that’s not going to happen! You’re telling yourself that there’s no way I’m going to catch you like that! But– let me say: a lot of people have said that, and a good number have gone down without even realizing it. I’m not here to– hurt you– I’m not here to break your body, mind, and spirit. I’m here to win. I’m here to go after the championship! I’m here to be the best! I know– I KNOW– that when I win this tournament, this isn’t the last time that we’re going to be in the ring with each other! ‘Cause I know that when I win, you’re going to be already inside your head trying to ask yourself everything you could’ve done differently to avoid the outcome, what you should have done, and you’re going to obsess over every little detail to look for a sign… a sign for the next time we get in the ring. When I say it’s nothing personal, babe, you know… I mean it. You know that I’m serious. It’s nothing personal! It’s just that I want to be the best. See you at the end of Heiress to the Throne.” Jennie blows a kiss to the camera.

“And bring your A-game.”

The scene goes to a momentary close.

Later in the morning, the entire house is now full of life. The family, the extended family, friends, and everyone is sitting around the living room as they watch the children opening their presents… Tara sits on the floor with Lilith sitting between her legs as she pries at some of the wrapping paper. The gleeful cheers from the children as they receive anything and everything they could ever want.

Allen Chaney stands beside the tree and picks up one of the presents, carefully reading who it’s to, “This one’s to–”

Jennie springs to her feet, and just as she does, her phone starts ringing. Jennie answers fast, “Sa-hare-bear! How’s it going?!”

“JENNIE! Get on Warcraft!” Lauren “Sahara” Duke exclaims.

“But– but we’re opening presents!” Jennie answers, “I’m in the middle of something!”

“UGH! FINE!” Sahara answers, but the line remains open.

Allen, regaining his attention, “This one’s to… SABEY! Coming from the Jolly Comedian.” Allen tosses the gift over to Sabin– the nephew of his girlfriend, who he has been in the ring with a couple times before but the IWF world was robbed of the opportunity to see them fight for a third time. Sabin smirks while looking over the gift with one hand, and holding Mikaela Jade with his other arm.

“AND THIS ONE’S TO!” Jennie says whilst reaching onto the branches of the tree, and pulls out a tiny box…she kneels down behind Allen Chaney and everyone gasps momentarily. Allen, unaware, turns around to see Jennie kneeling down.

“WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHY IS EVERYONE GASPING?” Sahara asks.

“I’M PROPOSING! SHH!” Jennie says.

The scene goes out.

“WHAT’D HE SAY?!”

The scene completely ends with Sahara’s question.