As We Go On... [Dynamic Duos Final]

[Cordy]

Looking back on what we've been through

Looking back on what we've done

Seeing all the times we've fallen

And all of the victories we've won

There's a glow of happiness

And a melody of pride

As we start a new beginning in our lives

* * * * * 

They were supposed to have conquered the world together, and in the eyes of many they had. Their names were often whispered in awe; held in the highest esteem and regarded with the utmost respect. They’d been touted as influences to many, symbols of what it meant to be a woman and successful in the wrestling industry and there wasn’t a shadow of a doubt that they’d solidified their status amongst the elite in a relatively short time. They’d become synonymous with greatness. Cindy Parker. Cordelia Stevenson.

Sex Sells.

But it hadn’t quite unfolded the way that Cordelia had always imagined it would.

She’d always envisioned them making their journey side by side every single step of the way. Together in the very end, just as they’d been in the beginning; having successfully navigated the long, arduous and seemingly endless path to the top of the business, only to revel in a success that so many had doubted they would ever find. That was the plan. That had always been the vision. But Cordelia had long learned that life hardly went according to anyone’s plan. Its unpredictableness was what made it a treasure all in itself, because you never really knew where you’d end up. And even on the rare occasions when you did -- the chances were you had absolutely no idea how you’d get there.

And that was exactly what had happened with she and Cindy.

Somewhere along the line, they’d gotten separated. Life had got in the way. Circumstances forced them apart and eventually they were left to travel down their own individual paths. The destination never changed however. Not for either one of them. The truth of the matter was, they were both too stubborn to accept anything other than the goal they had set for themselves. That commitment and the desire to follow through was something that had initially bonded them and the mutual respect that stemmed from it was the foundation for what had grown to be a sisterhood between the two women.

Their respective journeys had undoubtedly made them stronger — they were better women because of them. Each with their own detailed narrative of overcoming, enduring, persevering and surviving. And in her head, Cordelia had just always known that in the end, no matter how many times life steered them off course, they’d eventually put the pieces back together again and conquer the world of tag team wrestling just as they’d originally envisioned.

But as Cordelia stood there, listening to her best friend speak on her life after the ring… it was finally beginning to dawn on her, that it would just never be.

Cindy’s path had come to an end entirely.

Not that Cordelia hadn’t known it before… Cindy had always talked about retirement; about moving on and focusing on the more important aspects of her life away from the ring such as being a mother. It wasn’t that Cordelia hadn’t believed her -- she knew the internal struggles that Cindy had often dealt with over the years in regards to that; whether or not she was doing the best she could and whether or not she could do more. It was just that the wrestling business had always been an integral part of Cindy’s life for as long as Cordy had known her, and it was hard to imagine her staying away from the ring. Cordy had deluded herself into believing that maybe all Cindy needed was a break away from it all; a minor reprieve if you will; that the disenfranchisement she felt towards the business was but a temporary thing, and a mere result of the situation that had transpired between her and Zero.

But right then and there, as she intently studied her friend, Cordelia could tell that it ran far deeper than that. For the first time in forever, Cindy genuinely looked… content? Happy? At ease? Cordelia couldn’t necessarily put a finger on it, all she knew was that there was a certain glow about her friend now that she hadn’t seen in God knows how long.

“You know, this still feels weird.” Cindy said from her seat on the carpeted floor of Cordy’s living room, as she watched Cordy pace back and forth, patting her nephew Corey on the back and trying to get him to burp.

“What does, chica?” Cordy asked, adjusting her body and dipping her shoulder so that she could see Cindy from her peripheral vision. “Being retired?”

“No. Not that.” She replied with a shake of her head. “Seeing you with a baby.” Cindy quipped back, clearly amused as she tossed a few kernels of popcorn into her mouth. “I mean, I know it’s not your baby… but still!” Cindy laughed. “You’re all motherly and stuff now. It’s like you’re settling down…. but not settling down…” She paused for a second, scrunching up her face in confusion. “...but... settling down?” She throws her hands in the air, giving up on trying to make sense of it all. “Gaaah, you know what I mean, right?” She asked, cocking her head to the side and glancing up at Cordy quizzically.

Cordelia couldn’t help but to laugh at her friend’s quirkiness. It was one of the many things that endeared her to the woman so much. And sure enough, she knew exactly what Cyn was getting at. She always did. “I do.” She nodded.

The fact that she’d gotten her point across just fine seemed good enough for Cindy, whose face lit up.

“God I’ve legit missed you, yo.” Cordy blurted out, unable to hide the happiness that she felt just having her friend around. The outburst seemed to have caught Cindy by surprise and turned her cheeks a rosier shade of pink.

“I don’t know why. I’m always around, silly!” She exclaimed. “Always at the house, finding little things to do so I don’t go insane! I really needs a job me thinks.” She pondered aloud to herself, before shifting her gaze back towards Cordy. “And it’s not like we don’t text or anything!”

“I know, I know…” Cordy relented with a sigh. “It’s just…” She paused for a second, trying to find the words that could best convey how she was feeling at the moment. Finally she shrugged. “I just miss seeing ya pretty face, that’s all chica. It just seems so rare that we get to hang out like this anymore, you know?” Cordy spoke honestly.

She could remember a time when they were damn near inseparable and moments like those were the norm for them. Those were the days that Cordelia truly missed — when every appearance and booking was done as a tandem. It was very rare that you would see one without the other somewhere close by. Before they were broken off into their own individual paths to stardom — and the only obligations they really had were to each other and the team. Things just seemed so much simpler back then. It was almost hard to believe that so much time had passed.

Cindy completely understood just where Cordy was coming from. “I know. I don’t think it’s intentional or anything on either of our parts. Things just get hectic at times.” She concluded with a shrug.

That was something Cordy could definitely agree with. There was a lingering silence in the air before little Corey let out a burp causing both ladies to laugh.

“Well geez, I see he’s already picking up some of his aunt’s habits.” Cindy cracked sarcastically with a roll of her eyes. “Over there sounding like a grown little man.”

“Ha. Ha.” Cordy snarked, as she set him back down in his crib. She'd been on babysitting duty all day while Alyssa was at school. It was how she spent most of her days during the week whenever she wasn’t out of town working on a project or getting ready for a match. “But hey, there was something I’ve been meaning to ask you about.” Cordy said, turning back around to face Cindy.

“Is it about our wedding date?!” Cindy joked. “I still have my ring and stuff!” She exclaimed, causing Cordy to smile by bringing up a recurring joke between them that had started a few years back.

“No, it’s not about the wedding date.” Cordy giggled before taking a deep breath. “It is about that tweet you posted…” She paused briefly, gauging Cindy’s reaction. Seeing that Cyn had no idea what she was talking about, she continued. “The meme… about being the one that everyone replaces after a while.”

Cindy sighed, but waved the notion off. “Cordy, I already told y--”

“Did it have to do with Dan being my partner for Dynamic Duos?” Cordy asked, cutting straight to the chase. It was something she’d wondered ever since Cindy had made the post, especially considering that Dynamic Duos had been Cindy’s idea.

She’d wanted them to enter it together; for Sex Sells to have that one final run. However, Cordelia had wanted Cindy to focus on being the FGA World Champion. She’d known how much the title had meant to her, and she hadn’t wanted her friend to get stretched too thin by trying to do too much. Instead, she opted to go a different route and thus Status Quo was born; however she’d never really taken the time to consider whether or not Cindy had felt some kind of way about it.

Cindy stared at her momentarily, contemplating her answer. “No, silly.” She responded with a shrug. “It was just… a general comment. You know that! We’ve had this discussion before!”

“I know.” Cordy nodded. “And you’ve also said that you felt as if I were replacing you before, remember?”

“That was different, Cordy.” Cindy responded, trailing her finger around the top of the popcorn bowl. “I’m glad that you and Mr. How Shiny…” She caught herself. “Dan… are out there kicking butt. I wanted you to go for this, remember?! The first person to win the Gold Rush Rumble, The Lion’s Cup AND Dynamic Duos?! Heck, I was the one that suggested it.”

Cordy smirked. “You did, chica. But I also know that you wanted it to be us in the tournament, Cyn. And I just…” Her voice trailed off. “I just don’t want you thinking that I was trying to replace you, because no one will ever replace you chica. You’ll always be my Cynderblock, and that will never change no matter what.”

Cordelia meant every word. The chemistry that she and Cindy had would never be replicated. She didn’t want it to be. Their bond and everything that they had accomplished together was unique, and it often frustrated Cordy knowing that there had been so much left on the table for them. They had never reached their fullest potential as a team, and now it was apparent that they never would. The Sex Sells chapter had officially come to an end.

But one thing that Fayetteville had shown Cordy was the true potential of Status Quo. It had started as something for the fans. Something to get them talking and a refreshing way to reintroduce herself and Dan. But the match against RubyWay… the way that the crowd fed off of their energy, and the way that they just seemed to get more and more in sync as things progressed… Cordelia was starting to realize that She and Dan were possibly on the verge of something huge.

“You’ll always be my ace.” Cordy said, walking over and flopping onto the couch behind Cyn. “And my partner in crime fighting. Well. at least until the Chaoticas convert me into one of their minions.”

Cindy quickly shot a worried glance back at her. “We can never let that happen. Ever.”

Cordy chuckled. “All we can do is try, chica. But in the meantime, pass some of that popcorn and let’s find a movie to watch.”

It really did feel like old times.

Except there was no planning strategies for an upcoming match. No talks of who the next contenders to their titles would be, and no talks of the next time they’d eventually get the opportunity to tag again. 

Those days were officially over.

Cordelia was simply spending quality time with her sister.

And she was more than ok with that.

* * * * * 

I've had the time of my life

And I can't believe what we've achieved

My how the time did fly

Filled with such precious memories

And now that we must go our separate ways

I pray we don't forget

These golden days

* * * * * 

Look at me now, they look at me like the golden child. Can’t nobody hooolllld me down.

Especially not right now.

Word to Drizzy Drake.

The road has only gotten tougher.

Each round of this tournament has presented a task more daunting than the one before it, yet here we stand; unwavering in our quest. Battered, but far from broken. Our strength only resounding as we draw nearer to the goals we’ve set out for ourselves. Driven by ambition but smart enough not to put it in cruise control: we understand that there is still some dangerous terrain left to navigate, but I do believe we’re more than ready and capable of doing so and the last Vertigo is a testament to that.

First off, allow me to say hats off to Ruby Tyler and to Kevin Hardaway. You two brought it in ways that I didn’t even think you could. And no, don’t get me wrong, there was no underestimation of you on my part. You simply stepped it the fuck up. Everything we gave to you, you gave it right back -- and low and behold the outcome was something that many are viewing as a potential Match of the Year candidate.

What happened in Fayetteville that night? That was special.

That was something that Dan and I will probably remember for the rest of our lives, and it is something I’m sure the fans will too. You two have absolutely nothing to hang your heads about, because in all fairness, I think that match was only a glimpse of what you’re truly capable of. A tiny glimpse of the potential Ruby Tyler has just waiting to be cultivated, and a tiny glimpse of the myth, immortalized in legend, that I’d only heard of but had never gotten the privilege to see.

Did my words get to you, Hardaway?

Good.

Although you pretended to be unbothered: what was it that you said to Zero? Words are words? Well clearly they’re more than that when the weight of truth is behind them and bears down on your conscience. Those words that you were so ready to dismiss obviously had some sort of effect on you because that fiery demeanor that you displayed in Fayetteville? It was something that the FGA faithful haven’t seen from you in YEARS.

But why’d it suddenly make an appearance now?

It’s ok to admit that I lit a fire under your ass, Kevin. Believe me, that was my every intention. Cast my friendly and overly social demeanor aside, at my core you’ll realize that I’m a competitor and I always have been. When I’m in that ring? It’s go time, and I want whoever it is standing across from me at their absolute best. My words were scathing, I know. Many have said that I went at you kind of hard, but I don’t think you’d disagree when I say that it was needed. Look at what that tiny dose of reality has done for you, my friend. For the first time in God knows how long, people are actually talking about Kevin Hardaway. Finally we were able to see that maybe you are more than the myths and legends from a time long gone bye.

Maybe the Loch Ness Monster exists after all.

Let’s just see if you can keep the momentum rolling or if you revert back to your old ways.

Regardless of what happens next, I do thank you and Ruby both for giving us your all in that ring. A match that grueling… that intense… as taxing as it may be physically, it can do nothing but help us in the long run. It can do nothing but help us prepare mentally for what is to come, for I know another war awaits us in Florence.

Le Pacte De Immortels.

Translation? The runts of the Lasiewicz and Kaiser litters.

And in no way is that meant as a slight or a sign of disrespect — but more so an acknowledgement of the shoes that Lady Magdalena and Sophie are left to fill in regards to their own respective families. A nod if you will, to the legacies that Andreas and Artemis have left behind.

When you’re kin to “The Morning Star” Andreas Lasiewicz… one of the most decorated names in the history of this business… I can only imagine the pressure that comes along with that; the overcast of the shadow that you’re forever left to live underneath. How do you ever go about escaping the confines of that? Surely that’s something that Sophie can probably relate to as well, given the success and acclaim of her sister.

As if it weren’t hard enough making a name for yourself in this business… you two have the added task of living up to the reputation of others as well.

Is that the common bond that you share? The tiny thread of familiarity that spurned whatever it is that you have blossoming? I mean, who could possibly understand you better than someone that knows the struggle you face? With all that considered, it’s easy to understand why Sophie looks to Magdalena for guidance the way that she does.

But is that really the person that she needs to be following?

You know, a good friend of mine warned me about Lady Magdalena.

‘Please be safe against her.’ I was told. ‘I've experienced first hand how out of control she can be. She seems... okay. For now. But she's... fragile.’

Fragile.

Easily broken.

As I listened to what my friend had to say, I couldn’t help but to process it all with a tad bit of skepticism, ya know? Because I’ll be completely honest here — fragile is a word that I would never on my own think to associate with Our Lady of Peace. Coy. Sophisticated. Cunning. Elegant? I think those fit the bill, very much so. But fragile? It just didn’t seem right to me. For the life of me I couldn’t see it. But then I thought back long and hard to the mental breakdowns of hers that I witnessed, and the torment that she put my friend through… and I knew just exactly what was meant.

You see, I’ve come to realize that Maggie is just a master at holding her facade. She exudes this regal and elegant air of strength, so it’s kind of hard to see the spidering crack in her psyche.

But it’s there, and it can be exposed.

You see, I’ve seen her fall to pieces before. And now I see that she’s all put together again but I can’t help but to question the craftsmanship behind the build. I mean, I heard that Strike’s tool works wonders but even this might be beyond his level of expertise.

So tell me, just how close are you to being broken again, Mags?

That is a question that I have every intent of finding the answer to at Vertigo, and just know that I don’t do it out of malice. I do it out of necessity, because it may just be the only thing I can do to put you down. I’m not a malicious person, Mags. Anyone that knows me will attest to that. But Dan and I haven’t come this far just to fail now. We didn’t have the privilege of any bye weeks. We were out there from the very start earning our keep. We didn’t have the luxury of flying low under the radar either. We’ve had the biggest targets on our backs the moment we announced that we’d be partaking in this tournament.

And yet we’ve risen to the occasion every single time that we’ve stepped into the ring.

Us being here? It is truly an honor. It’s something that I’m definitely proud of, having made it this far in the biggest Dynamic Duos tournament to date; but why settle when there is so much more that he and I can accomplish?

Most didn’t believe that we could make it this far. They had us pegged as a threat in name only. The thought that we could return after being away from the ring for so long and make some legit noise in this thing was preposterous to many. But I guarantee that the thought isn’t so preposterous any more. Not after the last show.

Because here we are. One match away from winning it all. One match away from punching our tickets to All Star Showdown V for a shot at the FGA World Tag Team Championships. I understand that this is your opportunity for a rebound, Mags. Believe me, I do. It was crushing to see you lose your Hybrid title the way that you did at HKW’s Smoke and Mirrors Pay Per View against Jackson Magnum. It was a blatant robbery and the entire world could see that. But you won’t have to worry about that in Florence, my dear. When you’re beaten, there will be no shenanigans about it. You will simply know that you and Sophie came head to head with the better team.

I just hope you’re strong enough to withstand that blow.

Because you seem to be the pillar of strength. How something so fragile can be depended upon to carry such weight? To be the foundation of something greater… who knows. I don’t think Sophie could handle seeing you fall apart at the seams. Sophie herself is but a fractured shard, looking to be made whole again. And the way that she takes to you, Mags? The way that she seems to look up to you… It only leads me to believe that she feels you’re the piece she’s been missing all along. You have her fooled. On one hand I commend you for taking her under your wing, but on the other… I don’t condone you lying to the girl and painting this portrait of strength that clearly isn’t you.

You’re a shard. Just like she is.

And maybe that’s what makes you appeal to one another. Maybe you’re both looking for that complementary piece to make you whole again.

I understand it. Believe me, I do.

But too many shards just sounds like too much of a damn mess to me, and I’m too much of a neat freak to let that slide.

So on Vertigo, Status Quo will be there to clean up the mess.

Four rounds. Four wins.

Let’s just call it a clean sweep.

Get familiar.