"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who dos not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

― Nelson Mandela

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I rub my eyes over and over again and nearly fall forwards back down the other side of the hill. After the darkness from my sight leaves, I refocus and, yes, there it is. What I've been after, but how is this possible?

In utter disbelief I started down the steep hill towards an abandoned road. When I reach the bottom I jump across a ditch and barely catch my footing on some loose gravel. I shuffle across the empty road and stop in the middle of it to look around. The church bell still rings, but I can't place where it's coming from. It seems to be echoing back at me from all directions.

I walk up to the nearest building and look inside and it's empty. It appears to be a hardware store of some kind. The doors open so I walk in.

"Hello?!"

Why did I do that? Just keep quiet and check stuff out.

"Hello?!"

Shut... Up!

You can tell it's an old place because the floor creaks with every step you take. As freaked out as I should be, this isn't so bad. I gather enough wits to at least find something to help me along the way. All I could really find was a shovel. I'd hate to leave completely empty handed and between the nuts and bolts and chemicals, what the hell?

So I leave this hardware store with my new shovel and begin to walk the streets of my forgotten little town. I walk several blocks, stopping and looking into each building as I go by. No electricity, no people. just nothing. I peaked inside houses and plates of food were left on the table and everything was left astray.... Did I miss the rapture, or what?

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The bell continued to ring.

DING!

DONG!

DING!

DONG!

It seems like I've been walking for an hour. Or two, maybe. I've just been circling the blocks looking for anything. I found something familiar finally, a Wendy's. I could TOTALLY go for a burger right about now, but of course it ain't happening. The sight of one is comforting enough though. I hate this place because every building is so bland and looks the same. Even the house resembl one another like one dark figure manufactured and planted it all.

The wind starts to pick up and I'm still freezing so I decide to take refuge inside of this old restaurant. I pull on the back door and even if the place was open I don't think it would have been unlocked.... Walking around front now.

I pull on the glass door and it glides right open with ease. Inside it's just as cold, but at least the wind is no longer a factor. I make my way across the lobby and towards the kitchen when a voice comes over the loud speaker.

"Can I help you?"

I stop for a moment, question if I've even heard anything at all. It's been a crazy day...

"Hello?" I say aloud in response to my craziness.

"Nigga, did I stutter? I SAID, can I fuckin' help you?"

Yeah, I definitely heard that.

"Um, yes?"

The sound of pans and glass and what ever the hell else crashing comes from the kitchen. It scares the God damn daylights out of me. Suddenly, a short-fellow comes charging out from the kitchen dressed in a pink bunny suit carrying a microphone. It explains the voice, anyway.

"What the fuck are YOU?!"

I suppose I was a little over excited. It was a short man in a pink rabbit costume, after all.

"What do you mean, what the fuck am I? What the fuck are you bitch? What do you want?"

Little asshole is what he is.

"I'm not sure. I came here expecting the town to be, well, not here, I guess."

The short-man in the rabbit costume just stared at me.

"So, you need to see the doc then."

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The office looks extra cozy tonight with the fireplace a blazing off to the side. The Doctor, himself, strolls in from the side and faces us with his good eye.

Hello, my friends. My name is Doctor Louis D'Ville, and I am your King.

The Doctor takes a short bow then casually walks to his drinking stand behind the desk and begins preparing himself a drink.

Mister Prince, do you recall the discussion we had not too many days ago? The "having nothing, free to do anything" discussion? I know you've taken a few bumps as of late, but let's work together here a little bit. From rags to riches, we'll start from the beginning.

Your confidence, obviously, took a couple shots in the last couple of weeks. Which easily explains the open challenge. Now, I don't know who you were expecting, but I would think only a fool would do such a thing in a zoo like this one. Maybe things have mellowed out a bit, which is why you've been running wild for this long already. You would have been better off to just take a random opponent that the suits assign you than be in a situation like THIS one...

The Doctor turns around, drink in hand and places it on the large desk after taking a sip. He finds his way to his seat and folds his arms in front as he glares at us through his one good eye.

BUT, here we are again. Back to the "me, me, me" thing I was talking about. It wasn't about the lack of confidence, or the over-confidence, or proving to your 'Believers' that you're still a star... It WAS all about you. You stood out from the rest of the XWF'r's announcing their participation in the show, and made something of your very own.

So! Challenge accepted, right? Now, why after all of this were you so surprised when it was announced you and I were head-to-head on Warfare? I could understand being scared, at first, I'm glad you're not anymore... But.. All the whining and crying? The abandonment? What's the matter with you people? If you would look at Mason Prince now you would have thought nothing was ever wrong with him. He's gone from a hospital gown to suit and tie in less than a week. From talking about 'his condition limiting his performance' and using experimental drugs to driving around in a limousine spilling champagne all over yourself. How many times are you going to change your mind about this whole thing, Mister Prince?

We started off with the brilliant idea of.... KING versus prince!! I was going to lay my crown on the line and it was going to be your BIG chance to become something for nothing. Well, you've already jumped the gun on that one, haven't you? You became something for nothing over night. Now, that silly crown of mine means nothing to you. Well, good for you, sir. I'm glad that a few million dollars suddenly made you better at speaking, better at thinking, better at fighting, and just an all-around better person. Money cures everything, am I right?

Let me reassure you that there's no buying your way through me, my friend. We already know I'm sitting at the top. You've admitted that yourself. No matter who the Universal, CCWF, Lucha Lucha, IWGJP, Cruiserweight, or Women's Champion is, the Doctor is still at the top. You run the world now with your fancy suits and dollar bill signs in your eyes? Well, it's still the Doctor's Universe, and you're all tiny little bugs scurrying around nipping at each other's heels and making empty threats to one another. It's cute to watch at first, but it does get boring rather quick. That's when I pull out the old magnifying glass, and guess who I focused that first beam of sunlight onto first?

Ding! You've guessed it.

The Doctor chuckles to himself.

Mason Prince, do you know why you're first? It has nothing to do with your coat tails, I can assure you. To think the Doctor needs you for anything at all is just a bullet to the brain... I almost fell over dead after that one, so, there's some simple proof of my mortality for you. Anyway, you're right about one thing ,I did see a bit of light in you. A little sparkle inside the soul of yours. I feed on that kind of stuff, you know. You're not the first little brat full of piss and vinegar to come trala-dah'ing along. I've had plenty JUST like you.

I love it.

You can take yourself apart from the rest, just as they did.

You can make yourself better, just as they did.

You can 'find out my little secrets', just as they did.

And guess what, you can fail, JUST AS THEY DID.

I liked your little poster-board action you had going on there, Mister Prince. You spelled everything out just perfectly. Here's the thing though, if your putting that big question mark beside MY name on the board, YOU are the one the dark here. If you're looking for answers, my friend, there's an entire roster of folk to share plenty of stories with you. In fact, I've been telling stories here for ages. I mean, heh, EVERYONE has a few skeletons in their closet, am I right? Maybe it was for the best that you didn't spend any of your 'hard earned' cash in finding anything out about me. To be honest, Mister Prince, what you find isn't always what you're looking for. In fact, you'll probably wish you never found it.

Is that mysterious enough for you?

My point through all of this, Mister Prince, is I'm already inside of your head. From the very SECOND that I accepted your challenge, I've had a strangle hold on you and haven't let it go. You're choking and not sure which direction to take at the moment. In less than a few days you've gone from a humble nobody to a rich nobody and think that means you're a prize. You've changed your mind so many times that I'm not even sure where the show is now. That's probably the Doctor's Alzheimer's though, right?

I'm sure your "Believers" truly believe in you now. Don't get me wrong, a billion dollars is a billion dollars, but with the best doctors or not you can't take it with you in the end.. Now, that is no threat, by all means. I do not wish to end your career or KILL you, for that matter... I'd be a bit out of work, don't you agree? I'd love for you to stick around, Mason Prince. Basque in the Doctor's glory that you've missed out on over the past year. Have a cigar, my friend! Have a drink! We'll drink to this wonderful new outlook on life you have!

Doc finishes the glass set before him and slams it back on the desk as he puckers his lips.

After this Warfare event you'll realize that staying humble will be in your best interest. Everyone already knows the outcome, even you, so you're allowed to take the loss lightly. I am not a boost in your confidence and I am not a trophy to be won. I'm not a rung on your ladder and I'm not window to better things. I am not a brick wall, neither. Like I said, I'm not here to end your career. I want you to live on Mason Prince, but know and be reminded of what's waiting in the shadows. If you throw enough stones at something it's going to wake up and wonder what the fuck you want.

I can't make you famous, friend. I can only help YOU, help yourself become famous. As for the moment, you don't belong up here. You should figure a few things about yourself before you run as fast as you can up that ladder of yours. Investigate. Is it safe? No. It's not.

When this is all over Mister Prince, just remember that this doesn't have to be the end. I've had plenty of patients return for several follow-up sessions, so don't be shy. Come on down for a visit, and of course, the Doctor's doors are always open.

The Doctor stands up and reaches behind him on the bookshelf. He pulls a single book from it and places it on the desk. The Doctor leafs through it a bit and then slams it shut. The sound of the book closing echoes through the room and the fire blasts then sucks back in the hole.

Darkness surrounds us once again.