Valley of Unrest (2/3)

[Princess]

Once it Smiled a Silent dell
Where the people did not dwell...
They had gone unto the wars...

Indeed it was a cold day in Sunnyvale. It was not particularly of temperature, but more of mood. The clouds occasionally passed over the sun, but the truth was that beneath your feet you could feel the earth trying to move. Such was life here, knowing that one's home and livelihood could be taken by the cruel creaking of our planet's bones. I felt it that morning, the rumble, the crashing of old photos to the floor. I sat up straight from the bed as it subsided into nothing more than a mere tremble like a man with Parkinson's. My bed, the covers lopsided now after my body rose, and my feet planted firmly to the floor.

The rumble, the tremor. Like a man with a coffee twitch. I felt the fear then, but then it subsided. I can buy a new house. I can move. I can swim out pas the breakers...watch the world die. Whatever I want, I can have for...

You are a Shark. They are the Sheep. Sharks prey upon the sheep. Cannon fodder. Wiped from the earth their blood will stain our mouths.

I can't believe I raised my hand to my boss the other day, but is he my boss, or am I his? In the end, it's MY talents which have been giving him a job, money, for years. Now...it's more intimate of a relationship. I am his "mascot" and he earns from what I bring in by publicity. Blood, pain, fear...those are my exports as of late, and the port of Kristoff has been doing well. So very well. Business is good, very good.

So bloody good.

My underwear-clad body rises, steady despite the tremors. My chiseled frame drops for a round of push-ups to start my day. I need to stay fit, always. I need to keep my shape, my form, my talent. Were I to lose even the slightest bit it would be an atrocity that could not stand. I cannot let them win. Cannot let Laszlo decide he will beat me on his way to the top. Or Pooler take his smugness to the Invictus championship. He is not the man I want to see in that position. The man is ME. I am PERFECTLY NORMAL and I DESERVE that belt. After all that I've been given, I DESERVE it.

"Seven...eight...nine...ten...They've. All. Gone. Off. To. The. Wars. Trusting. To. The. Mild. Eyed. Stars."

Unrest. Never rest, Kristoff. You are BETTER than they are. You are the SHARK. They are the SHEEP. Don't let them show you up. Never...never.

"I am. The Best. Won't Rest. Never...Never..."

On my feet again I stretch, looking out at the sunshine that is occasionally blocked by a passing cloud. Better than the ever-cold of the northern states. Better than the winters cold. I enjoy my weather here. Always. Forever. Sunnyvale.

"You can't keep me down. He was a quiet man, they'd say. But I'm not...I'm just myself. Always...forever."

Trusting to the mild-eyed stars,

Nightly, from their azure towers,

To keep watch above the flowers,

In the midst of which all day

The red sun-light lazily lay

The sun is lazily strewn over the horizon, rising slowly over the city. Much like the lazy men and women who stand over the rest of us. Ortega has gotten lazy, slow, quiet. He's not who I thought he was. Angel has become complacent and wishes more to bring his brother back to the fold than to do the RIGHT thing...and save us from his own pompous ideals. Spike has lazed his way down into obscurity, facing Ace and Gib...over and over again, repeating old battles instead of actually treading new ground. Pooler has associated himself with the lazy, with the underwhelming. I'd rather be excellent. To be the man I will myself to be. I cannot be stopped. My ascension will continue. Invictus...it's my BIRTHRIGHT!

"Spike, you've always been lazy. You take the easy way up. Cheat to win, find your crutch, your posse, do it with help, keep it with help. The minute someone finds a way around your posse, you lose. Save for those who are weaker than you, you're nothing without your help."

Pompous Brit has no class. He's a sheep to be fed to the sharks.

"Family is too important, it's always gotten in your way, Angel. I have none, now. My wife was a liar, and she's GONE. Gone with her bastard children. And yet, you're always too focused on your daddy issues, on your women, on your brother, to EVER be competent. You have visible weaknesses, and they are great ones to you. I can steal a single one from you, and you'll lose your bloody mind. Just think Angel, why have you NOT been the man you are "supposed" to be? It's your FAMILY...the Family brings you down. Too bad you value them over your success, and your name will be just another blip in the history books."

Save Yourself, since you fail to save anyone else.

"The rest of you have no idea what you're getting into. I have the stamina, the will, the strength. Not a single one of you will get past me. You'll all fall. One...by...one...Nothing can stop me. Not a DAMN thing. I saw the drawing order. Number 5, so early, they think they can wear me down. No...I'm stronger than that. I'll win the Invictus Championship, I'll win a shot at the World Champion. I'll take EVERYTHING I can, I'll prove that Spike has been doing it wrong. You don't need a posse, just a partnership. A Business Partnership. Equal members, with equal idea of what the goals are. Someone to simply watch for those who are too weak to do it without a whole posse. Two of the strongest, most venerable champions in this roster will be on our way up. Suits and ties, and we won't be HUNG from them like Pooler insinuates. I'm not Sparkly, and neither is Du Lac. Welcome...to the end. Because in the end, it'll all be blood. Blood and tears."

I am restless.
I am angry.
The weak shall not stand.
The men who fall in line.
The ones who blindly follow.
Call me what you will.
I am not a FREAK.
I am not what you can beat.
I am...PERFECTLY NORMAL!

And in the end.
In this valley of Unrest.
I'll make the world...
SHUT UP!