SHOWCASE EPISODE THREE: NEW HORIZONS

The crowd was in an utter frenzy, standing up in applause as “The Ambassador” by Barbarian Overlords shook up the PA system, sweeping over the Limitless Dojo. The lights swirled around, giving the show a big fight feeling as the camera swept through the crowd, trying to catch the fan expressions, and the signs, highlighting a few.

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As the camera cut to backstage, viewers were greeted to the sight of numerous lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, flickering in shades of deep red and yellow, flashing on and off and on again. There seemed to be light singing in the background. Sweet and subtle, almost a humming hymn than anything else, and strangely familiar. The tune was eerily like the sounds of Boards of Canada, and their track “Reach For The Dead”, a song that was infamously taken on by one of the most notorious tag teams of the past decade.

Athena Adler: San Diego, California. Where it all began.

Came the voice of Athena Adler, clad in her Janus zebra print ring gear, and paired with a neon blue faux leather jacket, with blue winter roses in her hair. Behind her was another figure, identical in almost every way bar the jacket they were wearing, theirs being more of a natural looking hippie robe, though the flowers in their hair were the same. Mirror images of one another, yet somehow different. Athena standing there with a smug grin upon her face, arms folded. Behind her, the mirror image of Minerva Janus danced and pranced around, arms outstretched and spinning.

Minerva Janus: And where it all begins again.

Athena then began to speak, confidently, egotistically, clearly gloating and full of confidence as her sibling span in circles behind her, humming that same addictive tune as the lightbulbs flickered.

Athena Adler: Years ago, this was the location of our first venture into the wrestling world. In that disastrous company beginning with E. Two sisters from New South Wales, who had relocated to Sacramento, making their international wrestling debut on live television in the heart of San Diego, California. And what did we do, Minnie? What did we do then?

Minerva Janus: We danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight.

Athena paused, half turning to her sister, who seemed to be gathering speed after their Jack Nicholson impression, adding hops and jumps into their wild, uncontrollable spinning.

Athena Adler: Not… Not exactly. But we faced off against multiple World Champions Fiona Rourke and the former Christian Kane, now known as Henny Heartache…

Minerva Janus: You have to shout his name now. It’s all in capitals, and it’s in your contract too.

Minerva spoke, pausing in her rapid, random movements as she looked over at her sister. As soon as Athena began speaking again, Minerva began to prance once more, picking up a large piece of plain, white card as she used it as a dance partner.

Athena Adler: Whatever. But we were two unknowns, who fought as one, and shocked the world and won. Which is exactly what we have continued to do, as that set us on a path of domination that no one but ourselves expected as we set the world on fire.

Minerva Janus: It was more lighting a few bulbs. Save the Rainforest!

The bulbs flickered as she shouted this out of turn, making Athena roll her eyes at her siblings strange tomfoolery.

Athena Adler: But nonetheless, we branched out. We moved to RISE, and became their record breaking three time Tag Team Champions. We destroyed what that company became, joined the Underground under the guidance of the late, great Bobby B. Barabbas and became their inaugural, and quite frankly GREATEST Tornado Tag Team Champions.

As Athena spoke, Minerva span with the card, showing she had written a note on it reading “We Were Actually Gifted The Belts As A Present.”

Athena Adler: We then moved on, Minerva hearing winning Tag Team Gold in Florida alongside me, and the infinitely prestigious 2CW Texarkana Cup. My sister then went on to win both Extreme, Television AND United States gold as a singles competitor, while I…

Another note was held up by Minerva, one held up behind Athena’s back. This one read: “Apologies, she rants like this quite often. Prepare your mute buttons in future”.

Athena Adler: … became the GREATEST export from that doomed Green Brand, becoming a TWO-TIME WORLD CHAMPION. The greatest wrestling export that ever came from Australia. A CULTURAL ICON!

Minnie let out a little cough, causing Athena to half turn to her sibling, the one many had publicly viewed as being the more competent member of the unit. Athena never liked that.

Athena Adler: WE are CULTURAL ICONS. The true ORIGINALS of twin Tag Team wrestling. Always imitated, and never, ever bettered. We set the standard. We are the standard, and we are the very definition of Limitless. So here we are, making a fresh start after all of our singles glory, coming back with one goal in mind… To become the greatest team this company has ever seen, in the stomping grounds where we forged our careers.

Minnie spun around giggling at Athena’s words, as Adler glared into the camera giving a confident look. Maybe a little too confident.

Athena Adler: And tonight, we make our grand start, facing off the supposed Highlanders. Hmph, they aren’t even Scottish, why the hell are they called that?

Minerva paused, holding up another piece of white card that read “There is such a place called the Essex Highlands. It’s a small collection of quaint market villages that are popular with elderly ladies who take lunchtime tours, enjoying cream teas, the medieval sights and discussing their syphilis. It is well known that everyone in Essex has syphilis… Athena went there once…” As she held up the sign, Athena turned, causing Minnie to drop the sign, faking a smile as she tried to look innocent. Just as Athena went to question what on Earth she was playing at, the bulbs began to flicker again. Brighter, faster, the sounds of electric surging echoing out into the room. Athena looked a little frightened, while Minevra’s eyes rolled back, her body quivering and shaking violently as if she had been possessed by some supernatural creature.

Athena Adler: Minnie?

Janus suddenly stopped, a tear running down her eye as the lights simply lit up. No longer flashing, no longer burning bright. Just… normal. Minnie just smiled at her sister, before skipping to the other side of the room.

Minerva Janus: Sophia is here! Our sister!

She shouted out excitedly, moving towards the door. Athena seemed perplexed by the entire situation, chasing after her sibling, a look of concern on her face.

Athena Adler: W-what are you talking about? What was all that about? And stop calling her our sister, we don’t even know her!

Athena chanted, chasing her sibling out of the room as the camera faded away.