"The lion is called the 'king of beasts' obviously for a reason."

― Jack Hanna



Old Friends.

The Ex-Detective wakes up. He rolls over on the cold bench lined along the jail cell and falls on the floor. His chin meets the cold concrete first before he finally snaps out of his deep, drunken sleep. He moans for a moment before upon opening his eyes and picks his head up. He looks around the empty cell, when his vision clears he sees the guard behind him, outside of the cell. The guard sits on a stool with his feet on his desk as he watches a small 12' box television which some would deny even still existed.

Guard-
"Keep it down in there!"

The Ex-Detective pushes himself off of the floor to his knees and back to the bench. The guard outside of the cell doesn't take his eyes off of the little television showing an old episode of 'Cops' in a fuzzy presentation. The guard pulls a bottle of whiskey from beside him on the floor and takes a large drink from it. The Ex-Detective's mouth waters at the sight but at the same time makes his stomach turn in a way that made him cringe a bit, but it didn't matter. He needed a drink.

The Ex-Detective stands up and walks to the bars and rests his pounding head against them for a moment.

Trevor-
"Hey."

The guard doesn't move.

Trevor-
"HEY!"

The guard sighs out loud and pulls his legs from the desk down to the floor.

Guard-
"I would sug' 'JEST you keep it quiet back there, boy. It's late. Go back to sleep."

Trevor-
"How 'bout a drink, pal...!"

The guard looks back at the Ex-Detective and laughed for a moment. He turns to the Ex-Detective. The man is missing seven teeth in just plain site and looks like he's had his face beaten in quite recently. At first sight, what seemed to be an officer of the law was actually just a man younger than the Ex-Detective dressed in nothing but denim with a silver star clipped on his belt.

Guard-
[color=#0000CD]"I told you to BE QUIET! God damn boya... I'm TRYING to watch some T-V. And I think you've had an-nuff to drink.

The guards takes another big drink from the bottle and nearly chokes on it. He lets his arm hang to his side and still clings onto the bottle as he spins back around in the chair.

The Ex-Detective grows impatient.

Trevor-
"So, tell me, what exactly... transpired here, sir. I've obviously been placed under arrest."

The guard shutters again and now stands up out of the chair. He's no more than 5'8" and about as heavy as a sack of potoatoes.

Guard-
"Nah can't you see that I'm tryin' to watch mah show?! I don't know the details but the sheriff said ya can't handle yer licker.. And yer in the drunk tank for the night! So deal with it! Damn, the people......."

The guard sits back down after his faint attempt of intimidation. The Ex-Detective steps back a bit and sits back down on the bench. The headache isn't going away and he's still very thirsty. The guard has gone back to his original position with his feet up on the desk watching the television.

"Trevor."

The Ex-Detective's head shoots up from where it was buried in his hands and peers around the room. The guard is still facing the television watching 'Cops' and no one else is around.

Trevor-
"Did you... Say something?"

The guard nearly falls out of the chair, catches himself, and very clumsily pushes himself off the ground into a standing position again. Outraged.

Guard-
"Are you going to 'sass' me all night, boya? 'Cuz, if ya are..."

The guard fumbles around through a few drawers in the desk and pulls out a can of mace.

Guard-
"I gawt the cure right here, babay."

The guard points the can of mace at the Ex-Detective and holds the trigger tightly.

Guard-
"Naw. I sug-JEST you lay your little head down, shut them eyes, and go back tuh sleep. Cum-pren-day?!"

The Ex-Detective waved the guard off as if saying "Ok, ok" and laid his head on the piece of cloth that was supposed to be a pillow.

What the fuck...

"Trevor."

The Ex-Detective's body shoots back up and he looks around again. The guard is now munching on a bag of potato chips making an orchestra of noise on his own. He hasn't moved though.

What. The. Fuck.

"Trevor."

The Ex-Detecitve whispers back.

Trevor-
"What?!"

"Are you coming or not?"

The Ex-Detective looks around once again and sees that his environment hasn't changed.

Trevor-
"Where?!"

"Open the door, Mister Dedtnik."

The Ex-Detective stands up from the bench and walks to the celldoor. He watches as the guard continues to watch the small television nearly placed on his lap. He pushes the celldoor open.

It slowly creaks open and let's out a small squeak in the motion. The Ex-Detective creeps out of the cell and begins to walk behind the guard as he sits and continues to shove potoato chips into his mouth. As the Ex-Detective slowly gets passed the guard a commercial comes on the television. The guard's arms flails into the air and he sighs. He spins the chair around.

Guard-
"Ya know, Gad damn it. One interruption after another.. I have to piss!"

As the guard's chair spins the full 180 degrees he notices his prisoner is outside of his cell.

Guard-
"Wut in tarnation?!"

The Ex-Detective stops in his tracks and looks back at the guard as he reaches for the mace on the desk beside him. The guard points the bottle at the Ex-Detective and pulls the trigger only to spray himself in the eyes. The guard immediately hits his knees and begins screaming in absoulute agony. The Ex-Detective remains still for a moment as he watches the guard roll around on the conrete floor crying in pain.

"Trevor..."

The Ex-Detective snaps out of it, runs across the room, grabs the bottle of whiskey and his belongings from the desk, and continues towards the front door and leaves the jailhouse.

Outside, he looks around and doesn't have a clue where he is. The land is flat and few buildings around him show much significance at all. The road in front of him hasn't been paved in what seems like decades and has nearly rotted awaay from the traffic through the insignificant little town. He looks down in his hand and finds a single key in his hand and a white car parked across the parking lot from him. He shrugs and slowly jogs over to the car and opens the already unlocked driver's side door. He puts the key in the ignition. It starts up with no trouble and the Ex-Detective drives off into the night.

The sights from this town are still completely unfamiliar to the Ex-Detective. Not knowing where he is, how he ended up there, or where he was going. It's always been laid out for him in his head. Like someone has always drawn out a map and diagram for him in his brain. Telling him every destination, every direction, every action. No map this time. No automatic instincts. Just that voice.

That same fucking voice.

The Ex-Detective places the car in drive and takes the vehicle from the parking lot and down the road. He drives with his knee for a moment to remove the cap from the bottle of whiskey, wipes the finish of the off on his sleeve back and forth several times, and takes a long drink from it. The hillbillies backwash didn't seem to bother him at the moment.


"Hello, my friend."

The large drink nearly comes out of the Ex-Detective's nose after the Doctor appeared in the passenger seat beside him. He takes a hard swallow and looks over at the Doctor, handing him the bottle.

Trevor-
"What the hell, Doc. What the hell."


"You never seem to have a warm greeting for me do you, Trevor?"

Trevor-
"Well, you always show up at the most convenient times, Lou."


"I'm quite sure we have a deal, my friend."

Trevor-
"Yeah, yeah. So where to now?"


"New York City."

Trevor-
"You've got to be kidding. I hate New York. Let me guess, more patients?"


"There's always more patients, my dear Trevor. Always. This, however, is a very special occasion. King of the Ring. The one night tournament to crown the king of the XWF!"

The Ex-Dectective shakes his head and grabs the bottle of whiskey from the Doctor and takes another swig from it. Finally, he starts to feel normal again. As the car zooms out of the city carrying our two passengers, the Ex-Detective notices a sign. 'Now Leaving Arlington, Kentucky. Y'all Come Back Now!"

This is going to be a long trip.


"Fear not, my friend. This will be one of my greatest sessions of all time. Once again, the XWF has blessed me with not one, not two, but a chance for five different patients in a single night. Much like my first two bouts here, I have a chance to spread my treatments across the board for all who attend."

"As I've said before, titles, wins, and losses have nothing to do with my purpose here. They never have. Then why would I find myself so involved as I have? Why would I enter myself into the King of the Ring Tournament to claim the crown? Well, my friends. Why wouldn't I? As I said, a chance to treat several of my patients at once or even in the same night is as rewarding as can be. To all of the newcomers here whom have found themselves lucky enough to be included.... Hello, my friends. My name is Doctor Louis D'Ville. I am here to cleanse the minds of all my patients here in the XWF. Anything on your mind? Anything troubling you? There are many, many types of mental illness and you could be unaware of that could be polluting your minds. Stop in for a visit, my friends, we'll talk. My doors are always open."

"The tournament this Monday will be my first session since War Games, which went nearly exactly as we planned. Team Victory Forever dominated the Pryce of Business with no trouble at all. A landslide, my friends. Mister Pryce, however, had much bigger plans for the evening. Our new XWF Universal Champion bailed on his very own team, hid in the shadows until the moment was right, and capitalized. I must give you credit for the months of preparation, Mister Pryce. You fooled the entire world and deceived us all. Quite a devilish ask, if I may say so. Congratulations on your revenge and good luck on your reign as champion, my friend. Keep your eyes looking all around you, however, because you now have the target on your back. You used the same tactics Shade's did during the mini gauntlet, including the services of Evertrust. He and his Crimson Face seem to be masters of deception themselves. Tell me, Mister Evertrust... Is it something about Eli James, or is Eli just lucky to get struck down twice while standing in the same exact place? After providing his service to Shades before you, Mister Pryce... I would be weary of who I trust. I could be wrong, but I don't see Evertrust as the loyal type. I see him as an opportunist. The first chance he has to make a bit of dough on the side and screw you out of your new prize, I'm sure he'll jump on the occassion. But who am I to give advice to a mastermind? You seem to have everything under control and the entire XWF in your back pocket."

"It's a shame neither of you but Mister Sane have decided to join a few of us in the King of the Ring Tournament. Quite a debut Mister Sane. Quite a debut, indeed. You not only delivered the winning blow for your team, but one of the knives used to stab your captain in the back belonged to you. I hope you're not planning on continuing this 'alliance' you've been invited to. First of all, did you see what Theo Pryce did for his own team? I certainly didn't, besides leaving them for dead at the hands of my own team, 'Victory Forever'. What makes you think Mister Pryce would not do the same for you? He follows his own desires and does business that benefits himself and himself alone. I hope your aware of the situation you've put yourself in, because I'm certainly concerned for your safety. The same would go for Evertrust. Forming a tag team with this fellow may lead to certain victory for you, maybe even some gold in the future. In my eyes, Evertrust hasn't shown much when it comes to making friends around here. If you think he could help you the same way in the King of the Ring Tournament as he did Shades and Theo Pryce, you're mistaken, my friend. Evertrust and I have met on several occassions in the past few weeks. It seems he just cannot stay away from my office. Although he has managed to escape a few sessions, my work with him is not done. I sense his troubling presence and using him as a possible side arm is a waste of time. That is, if you happen to reach the finals along with me, which will be taxing enough for you from the start. Perhaps your first match will be a breeze... In my opinion, the GM's were a little generous when it came to a few of their selections. None of my business. However, I have seen what Mister Venomous is capable of, let me reassure you, it's not much, Mister Sane. The Pryce of Business were short handed due to Mister Pryce's master plan, well, Team Victory Forever might as well have been short handed as well due to a few of my captain's selections. Your other opponent, Wrestler82, has shown his face a few times during his time here in the XWF... A much larger bark than bite, I must say, and he apparently has no idea what he's up against. Overlooking me, my friend, the wrong thing to do. It may take five rounds for you to reach me, but you should atleast know where the true threat lies so you do not get blindsided. The fraction of a chance you have in meeting me in the finals is barely worth mentioning, so I'll stop there. Enjoy your bye into the next round, Mister Sane."

"Looking at your possible opponents in the second round, well, what can I say... It seems you have it pretty easy, my friend. Derek Rampant, Harley Jack, and Joey Hawkins... I'm sorry gentlemen, but your presence in this tournament just seems to be part of the paved road that Mister Sane has been given. Best of luck to you, friends, but I don't find it necessary to speak in too much detail about this part of the tournament. So far, a clean sweep for Justin Sane."

"I believe your third round will ask for a little more effort, however. The XWF's pet dwarf will surely succeed in his first round triple threat. More generousity from the GM's with Gein and Ghost Tank as your opponents. Ghost Tank's performance at War Games was so destructive that he took himself out of the equation all together. Quite irresponsible, my friend. Considering yourself as a contributing factor for your team's victory is a delusion, as you've proven the capability of having. Lost in a sea of madness and confusion, here you are in the King of the Ring Tournament. Unfortunately, my friend, I do not see you getting out of the first round. The little man's ambitions seem a bit higher than where you've placed your own. Your destructive demeanor will be your downfall once again. In the other corner there's someone I have little history with, but some. Gein was involved in a failed transaction between the captain of my own team, Morbid Angel, and your captain, Theo Pryce. Heart-broken and feeling unwanted, you went to War Games only to be left without a leader in the end. Disowned by Theo Pryce twice in one week. How underachieving do you feel? Unwanted across the board you were left on a team that did not appreciate you and that looked at you as mere dead weight to just pawn off. The price of business is certainly expensive. Am I right, friend? After being tossed aside as you were, perhaps joining this tournament is a way for you to prove to the XWF that your much more than everyone made you out to be. Perhaps, but, I also do not believe you stand a chance. Even if the hobbit has a bad day and you manage to escape the first round. How far do you actually expect to go? Please, save yourself the embarrassment and don't say, 'the finals'. You would just look foolish."

"Speaking of the hobbit. My dear Mister Frodo... I hope you enjoyed the gift, my friend. I do not mind feeding my patients with the things they desire from time to time. Although, I could not help you directly, I certainly made your offer a bit more inticing, did I not? Do not look at my own generousity as a weakness though, my friend. I do see you having the potential to reach the final round, but your story will be the same as everyone else. A new king will be crowned and it will not be you. You see, even though you lack the confidence in myself that I have for you, I can be reasonable and speak the truth. You and I have never crossed paths before and basing your predictions off of a previous match of mine is the wrong move. I am not one to make excuses, I did not walk way the Television Champion the night of September 15th... However, my opponent barely walked away after retaining it. Do not place me in your 'no worries' category, Mister Frodo. There's plenty to worry about as you go through this tournament, but the greatest threat will not come unless you reach the finale. You've expressed your love for video games as of late. Well, consider me the end boss to conquer at the end of your game. No lives left, but a single one to carry you though all of those levels. Adjust your focus, Mister Frodo."

The Doctor pulls a cigar from his inside pocket and lights it. The Ex-Detective looks over at him, reaches down into the center console, pulls a cigarette from a small box, and lights his as well.

Trevor-
"You think it's going to be you and the little guy in the end, Lou?"


"Hard to say, Trevor. Very hard to say. He's gone through every round in this tournament and insists his predictions are correct. He sees himself facing Tony Santos in the final round for the crown, of course him 'taking the cake' at that point. Another historical member from the XWF's past here relive some past glories. Since you two have a score to settle, it seems you're simply hoping the tournament plays out the way you see. Knowing that you will not relive the same results again, since Paul Heyman is on hiatus, you see a perfect chance for you to claim the crown you so desire. Wishful thinking, my friend... How unfortunate."

"If we're going to talk about scores to settle, there is another one I see in the mix in the lower brackets. I believe one of your potential second round opponents surely has something to say of the harrassment and ruthless comments you've been throwing his way. Another former teammate of mine, Mister Maverick. Again, I do not see a threat here, I've seen what Maverick is capable of as well as Venomous. They didn't amount to much in War Games, I doubt they will here. If Maverick does happen to advance to the second round, I'd watch yourself Mister Frodo. Like I said, if he manages to get out of the first round. His two opponents, Mister Smoochie-Wallace, who deserves no spot here, and the knight. Mister Smoochie-Wallace was another member of Team Eli who's impact may as well be thrown in the garbage. As for the knight, wouldn't it be something if you made it clear to the finals? The private session that you wanted so badly before Wyatt Reynolds came into the mix. I too feel a bit cheated that you and I did not get our time alone. Though you may have eventually had your hand raised that night, but you were face down and didn't realize it until the carnage was all over and I was thrown from the building. So share that tainted victory with the crippled Mister Reynolds, I have plenty more under my belt than to worry of that meaningless opportunity for vengeance. It is funny how things turn out, isn't it friend? May I suggest you bring a bit more to the table this time around because there is no one else around to take the punishment that was meant for you from the beginning. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, though."

"Now considering all of this talk about my possible last opponent, let me start from the beginning. The tournament, obviously, opens up with a triple threat match in round one. My first two patients, Lucius Fyre and Lucifer Kage. Lucifer Kage, are you named after someone specific, my friend? Just curious, I nearly blushed. The two of you have unfortunately been placed in a dead end right from the start. It's not your lack of time in the XWF and it's not your lack of talent, it's just me. As for most of the first rounds in this tournament, this will simply be a warm-up for the strongest corner. The two of you together would not get passed me, let alone the two of you fighting for your own advancement. I wish you the best of luck though, and perhaps, in the future we'll have a chance for a private session. My doors remain open to all the XWF members who desire a session with the good doctor. So, don't be shy, my friends. Come back and see me any time you like."

"The top brackets seem filled with the same other rubbish as below. Mastermind has entered the tournament. Of course he has, after failing his team during War Games, failing himself countless times, and basically being the go-to for anyone looking for a quick victory in the XWF... Has your time here not expired yet, Mister Mastermind? Haven't you had enough of the constant beatings you receive nearly every week. I would grow tired of it myself, however, I do not share the same shortcomings as you do. So I wouldn't know. I will not drag you down so much as to say you will not reach the second round though, my friend. Surely the many rookies you've been against in the past has provided you with plenty of practice with the two you share round one with. Stephen Kessler and Grayson Stinger will surely be a breeze for you and you'll have atleast something positive to look back on once this is all over with. A crown though? Very unlikely. Maybe next year and a thousand more debut matches."

"According to the hobbit, there's one man in the bracket below that seems to be his favorite for this side of the tournament. Mister Tony Santos. Tell, me my friend, what makes you Mister Frodo's favorite to reach the finals in this tournament? Is it because you bested him the last time you two met? Of course he wasn't using any excuses when claiming his loss was at fault of Paul Heyman, but a loss is a loss, correct? As I told him, his hunt for vengeance will be his downfall. Along with that, a shadow of disappoint, as well. You will not reach the finals of this tournament, Mister Santos. You accolades in the past year you've been part of the XWF do surely reach the sky, as a former one time Television Champion and one time Xtreme Champion, but those accolades are long forgotten. It's time to start anew, my friend. Your time previous of my arrival here is irrelevent because I'm the new threshold here. Make it through me, reach the finals, and we'll see if Mister Frodo's praise for you is for real, or just another strange lust of his. If everything plays out according to your friend's predictions, I'll see you in the semi-finals. Looking at the brackets, in my opinion, it seems like a nice paved road for you as well. Don't disappoint. Hopefully, Mastermind will prevail and bring everything he has to you."

"The moment I've been waiting for... Jacob. Hello again, my friend. I told you our war was far from over. Even after our meeting here in this tournament, win or lose, do not expect me to ever forget about you. The one man who can say he's best the doctor. I appreciate your short praise, Jacob... Please, do not reminise in your past glory over me... It's obvious that our first session could have gone either way. Don't be foolish."

"The scenery has changed this time around. There is different gold on the line other than your strap. The crown, Mister Jacob. Gator. This crown, which twenty-two others seek, is a prize that I will not be without. After we're done taking care of business in round one, disposing of a few miscreants, we will surely meet in round two. Now, if you've been paying attention, which I'm sure you have... Our friend, the dear leprechaun, favors you in our match. I don't think it's fair for him to base our possible outcome after our first meeting, do you? Even though, as I've mentioned, you've done the same thing. Handing me my first and, mind you, only loss here the in the XWF is quite a feat indeed, my friend. You will always hold that special place in my heart, Jacob. Your love for our sessions is proof that my 'nonsense psychological crap' has had some effects on you. For better or for worse, that's hard to say. You have defended the title once after our match and it's been well over a month, and that was against the 'Master of Minds'... I've said enough about him already. So you've basically had the entire month off until War Games. Not much to say there, you basically took leadership of the team yourself and drove them into the ground. You blame Ezekial Carter-Williams for the loss where it was the faults of you, Mister Lane, Mastermind, McBride, as well as Mister Carter-Williams. You all failed each other and in the end the dwarf and his dildo-crowned captain left with a victory. Jacob, since when have you been known to make excuses? I know losses do not come often to you, but did I throw excuses out when you got the best of me? I did not. I simply stated that you and I will meet again and things would be different. The Television Title is behind us now, Jacob. Ahead of us is the XWF crown! Now, after my five victories and this tournament comes to a close, perhaps you and I could meet on yet another occasional to settle our score once and for all. Then again, it's hard to imagine our relationship ever coming to an end. If you happened to escape this tournament with all of your limbs and healthy enough to defend your title a few nights later on Warfare, perhaps you'd give 'the doc' another crack at it. But, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. I'll try to save you a little so you don't go into the dreadful Fatal Five-Way half dead. Best of luck to you, my friend. I am very much looking forward to this, as I hope you are, as well."

The Doctor pulls a drink from what seems like an endless bottle of whiskey sitting between the two men. The Ex-Detective flicks half of his cigarette out the window and blows the smoke from his lungs out of his nose. He looks over to the Doctor.

Trevor-
"So, you really think you can beat 'em all?"


"Confidence is not something I lack, Trevor. I believe I'm going to take this tournament by storm."

Trevor-
"Your match with Gator was our first road trip, Doc."


"Yes, you are correct. My session with Gator led me through Las Vegas, where I came to your aid, and to Denver."

Trevor-
"You still pissed about losing?"


"Ha. Losing a single battle did not discourage me, my friend. It just fueled me for the entire war. The XWF hasn't seen the best of the Doctor yet. This tournament is only the beginning."

The two continue to travel up the lonely highway north-east to New York City. To Madison Square Garden, where Madness awaits.

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***The top banner was created by Azrael Erebus.
**The signature banner was created by Justin Sane.
*Song "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n' Roll, via YouTube.