ATROPOS vs. F.M. YOUNG

A lot had happened to FM Young in the last few weeks. Thoughts and doubts entered her mind as she trained hard in preparation for yet another fight. Does she voice them? No. Does she ignore them? No. Three times she'd lost against opposition she felt she had the upper hand on.

Sweat poured down her brow as she was nearing the tail end of a very long run. Six miles in a large circular path, all part of a larger effort to improve her cardiovascular conditioning and clearly it was working. She felt she could go at least another couple miles and decided to even sprint down the path to her vehicle.

Her thoughts drifted as she ran further.

Am I losing my touch? Maybe age has finally caught up to me after all...

She'd given Alyssa everything she had and then some, but in both instances, she came up short and it bothered her to no end. FM focused her thoughts.

Now as not the time for doubt, but for action and change. I'm only defeated when I give up and I'm not giving up. I refuse to make things that easy for Atropos...

Atropos, a promising new contender entering the fields of Elysium with two victories under her belt against someone she had proclaimed the Gate Keeper of Elysium. The thought actually brought a small chuckle to her lips.

I can beat her, and get back on track. If I keep climbing that ladder, Alyssa can’t thwart me forever.

She just had to keep punching up, even if the dog got the belt...

A Tiger v.s. A Wolf? Take that bet. I'll take it. No doubt. Win. Lose. Work. Continue. Survive. Thrive. 

FM Young jogged on, pushing her body so that every muscle in her legs and lungs burned at the same time.
Moving her body forward so that thundering footfalls echoed around the open space.

She was nearing the end of the trail, picking over strategy in her mind...How to deal with Atropos? This woman had been beating rookies since day one...Of course, Atropos being slightly bigger, taller but less muscular, wasn’t a disadvantage.

I’ll just have to literally punch-up. Atropos's matches have been short, I’ll drag this one out. Work her. She's good, technically, but I've got experience, instinct...She's got, destiny..Hah...Destiny, what a joke. The only destiny is what you make of it and Fate can be changed. By small things. 

The One Woman Army was in the unique position of being bigger than one group and smaller than the other. Big for a woman, still small enough to have to fight harder than most. She would push the rookie, Fate’s Chosen, after two matches? No! FM would set the pace and make the woman work harder than she ever had.

As FM jogged, things changed. Jake Archer standing in front of a camera. FM Young running behind him, into an obstacle course set up in a park. The One Woman Army barreled through the tire section, tackling the wall with an audible snarl.

“Alyssa Daniels, I want you to take a good long look. Because while you stand there, with the Elysium Title wrapped around your undeserving waist, FM Young is here putting in the time to hone her body for battle! She’s getting ready to step into the ring with this so-called rookie sensation Atropos, for the chance to right the wrongs you have committed time and time again! You have somehow managed to escape with your title twice, through chicanery, deceit, and flat out luck! But third time’s the charm, “champ”, and that’s exactly what’s going to happen after we run through Atropos.

Let’s make this clear, two wins is not an “undefeated streak.” Two wins are just two wins, and considering she wasn’t facing the cream of the crop like FM has, I’d say she’s got nothing to brag about at all! Take it from the ACTUAL GREATKEEPER! FM has fought Alyssa Daniels twice, Erik Holland, she is STILL the Iron Champion despite what some corporate suits might think! Atropos has only had two matches, two measly matches, and she’s gifted a chance to fight for the main title? Well, I say no! I say “you just haven’t earned it yet,” and to pretend otherwise is ridiculous! She might be good…. one day. But against FM Young, your RIGHTFUL Elysium World Champion, the end result is never in doubt.”

Jake walked away, thumping his chest with his fist. FM hurls herself over a very real hurdle, only to hit the ground and crawl under a field of wire.

Atropos is just the first step on the ladder all over again. I am a Woman On Fire, and I’m determined, I’ll climb that ladder again and again. As many times as it takes, whoever is on top. It doesn’t matter. I’ll get there.

FM would push forward, not minding the mud and grit, wearing a large grin on her face. As if the Tiger was truly at home, here on this shallow hunting grounds. 

I’ll push Atropos, harder than I’ve pushed anyone else, harder than I’ve ever even pushed myself. I am Elysium’s Tiger, and I am focused...Enough pouting. Enough doubt, time to get back in the ring and let the blood in my ears eclipse everything.

She hummed as she thought, as she worked, rolling to her feet to grab the monkey bars.

Get ready Atropos, one of us can’t be standing at the end of the match. If I can’t walk out on my own? At least I’ll take Fate’s Disciple with me. The Tiger is on the hunt.