This was my rp for the second round of Ascension last year. Figured it would be relevant to post this seeing how I'm here for well... first round of Ascension. Please enjoy and if you so desire, you can leave feedback on it.

::Going Once... Going Twice::

“You have got to be bloody kidding me?!”

Katherine Stryfe did not seem amused as she was finishing up cleaning out her locker room she shared with Belladonna, keeping a few of the cherryades for her son to drink. Looking over at her brother, Liam who she had tasked to find information on her opponents for the tournament.

“I am not, Kat...”

“I HAD TRANCE GRACE THIS ROUND, NOT RICK RAMPAGE!”

Katherine slams her fist onto the counter, threatening to almost break her hand in the process, shaking her hand, she snarled at Liam.

“Don’t kill the messenger, Kat. Trance dropped out and T-Bone needed to replace him and I guess he thought Rick would be best for it.”

“No... he picked Rick because he has a thing for the man. He has always had a think for Rick that dates back to the original Ascension tournament and even into On Hallowed Ground! This is pathetic, Liam. I should not be facing a man who already lost in this tournament! It’s an injustice!”

Shrugging his shoulders, Liam leaves the folder on Rick Rampage on the counter and starts to walk away but not before turning to face his sister.

“You can beat him, Kat. I know you had your game plan for Trance, but you can beat Rick, I know you can.”

With those words, Liam walked out of the locker room, leaving Katherine to her thoughts. Pacing around the room, Katherine lets out a small sigh of frustration.

“He does not deserve a second chance... he was eliminated.”

****

It must be nice, Rick... being given a second chance in this tournament after being knocked out by that stupid clown. Must be nice indeed, granted I would not know what it was like to be given chance after chance to become something in this place, Rick.

After all, I am the record holder for longest reigning champion in this place. Back to back tag team of the year with Nightmare, Inc. What have you done again, Rick? Ah that’s right... nothing since you lost your precious North American championship. Besides who made your reign as North American champion worth talking about again?

Oh, that’s right... it was Em and I as you were trying to keep up with us as longest reigning champion. So you are welcome for making you at least relevant back then. But since then, Rick... you’ve been hit and miss. Mostly miss, judging by the fact that the ONLY reason you are even in the second round is because Trance Grace backed out and T-Bone needed to find someone to replace him.

How does that feel?

Knowing that you truly don’t even belong in the second round and that the only reason you even are in this thing is because frankly... T-Bone felt sorry for you. Or is trying to ensure that I don’t get far in this thing once more. We both know that T-Bone has never liked me to begin with and you were always his good little puppet. Doing his bidding in the past, so who’s to say that you are not doing it again.

After all, you are playing with house money now. Nothing to lose from here on out. Only hearing the people like myself claiming you don’t even belong here now. You were ELIMINATED last round... taken out by the clown and yet here you are, Rick. A golden chance... a second shot, maybe to redeem yourself for your failings?

Maybe I should not be so hard on you, Rick? I mean it’s not every day that someone gets a second chance in life. Most people would kill for this chance you have been given. I know Belladonna would love this chance, hell even Bryan Deas would have loved to been given a second chance to go far. But it was given to you, so I will commend you for that at least.

Good job on the ass kissing you did in the past to T-Bone... finally paid off, eh?

I have nothing left to say about you, Rick. It’s all be said before. So I am going to leave you with this...

Sweet dreams, Rick... sweet dreams and beautiful nightmares.

****

Katherine closed her eyes, placing on her headphones once more. It was almost that time again, showtime. A sly smirk appeared on her lips as she looked at the folder that her brother had gotten on Rick Rampage, not that she really needed to read it. She knew plenty on the guy. Like how he was wrapped around the finger of T-Bone, at least in the past. And judging by the fact he got placed back in the tournament, it only furthered her thoughts on that matter.

“So much for the easy second round... was expecting Trance Grace, not him. Not Rampage, but never the less I have this match. I have the speed on him, among other tactics.”

Katherine’s head bounced up and down as she got into the music, slamming her hands on her knees to the beat of the drums.

“Rick, I used to respect the man... used to see him as a worthy challenge during our little game of who could become longest reigning champion, even though he had been T-Bone’s yes man... I could not knock his in-ring talents. I still can’t... but I can knock his heart and his drive. What kind of man goes asking for a second chance after being knocked out of a tournament? I sure did not do that after losing to Jinx in round three last year and I wouldn’t do it this year either. He’s playing with house money now, I know this. That makes him dangerous.”

Opening her eyes, she looked over at her son, sleeping once more, a smile replaced her smirk as she kept her thoughts on the match, she was doing this for him. She made that known last round and she’ll make it known once more. All she did in this business was for her son. To make him proud of her. To cheer for his mom as she did her best in that ring, because win or lose, he was proud of her. It was all a mother could ever ask for.

“I cannot let Rick use his power game out there, he’ll be gunning to keep me grounded but it won’t happen. I cannot let it happen because if I do, he’ll win this contest and move on when he shouldn’t even be here. He’ll rub it in for all the world to hear. That here stands Rick Rampage, a man given a chance of a lifetime, a chance to redeem himself and he did at the expense of the Beautiful Nightmare! Bullshit... it won’t happen, it cannot happen!”

The music got louder and faster in her ear as Katherine closed her eyes once more, lighting a cigarette and taking in a long, slow drag. She had to be prepared for anything out there in that ring, anything Rick Rampage would throw at her, she would need to counter it and hit him harder and faster. Keep up the tempo, wear the bigger man down. Keep him on his toes and have him make mistakes, that was the only way she could achieve victory and she knew it.

“I outlasted Rick last year in this tournament, I can do it again. I’ve been here before, I know the pressure that comes with going far into tournaments, Rick does not. Rick will still be fuming over losing to Jinx... looking to redeem himself, he’ll make mistakes and those mistakes will be my opening... the only opening I need to send him home... again.”

A knock on the door broke her concentration as she removed her headphones and walked towards it, opening it slowly, seeing a stage hand.

“It’s not time for my match yet is it?”

“No, Mrs. Stryfe... you have a vistitor.”

Katherine’s eyes blinked, she was not expecting anyone to visit her. Her husband was on the other side of the country preparing his own ventures and the rest of her family outside of Liam and Val were over in Ireland.

“Who is it?”

“They say you know them...”

“I’m not expecting anyone, sir.”

“He said he’s your son’s father...”

Those words hit Katherine like a sack of bricks... her eyes went wide as she dropped down to one knee and quickly closed the door, locking it in the process. This could not be happening! He found them, it took him five years but he found them finally.

“Shit... shit... this cannot be happening to me! Not now of all times, not before this match... I never should have brought Matthew with me.”

Katherine looked over at her son who was stirring in his sleep, tears started to form around her eyes, what was she going to do now? She was trapped in her locker room and had no clue how to get Matthew out of here. She could deal with the man on her own, but she would not subject Matthew to it. Quickly she rushed for her cell phone and dialed a number.

“Liam... get back to my locker room, now! No time for questions, I need you to get Matthew out of here quickly!”

Katherine was quick to start packing her son’s bags, but did not wake him, not yet.

“Yes, Liam... he found us. Now get here, please...”

Katherine picked up her son and kissed his cheek, holding him tightly.

“I love you, Matthew.”

“Love you too mum.”

Katherine smiled at his and closed her eyes... this was it. No turning back now, she clutched her son in her arms, preparing for the worst and it was at this time she heard the music blarring through the headphones.

I AM A FIGHTER! I AINT GONNA STOP, THERE IS NO TURNING BACK, I’VE HAD ENOUGH![/b]

Katherine smiled and placed Matthew back down and behind her, turning to face him and smiled.

“Be a good boy, Matthew, mum has to go take care of some business.”

“Ok.. love you mum.”

“Love you too, kiddo. Uncle Liam will be around to pick you up shortly.”

Katherine gave her son a kiss on his cheek one last time and gave him a hug before walking towards her door, unlocking it and walking outside. Looking at the stage hand who had remained outside. She nodded her head at him.

“Where is he?”

“Down the hall, near the entrance...”

“Thank you, be sure to not allow anyone in my locker room saved for my brother, Liam.”

“As you wish.”

Katherine nodded her head and started to head for the entrance, she was not going to allow this man to scare her anymore, she had enough. This was it... her time to deal with this once and for all. Then she saw him, leaning his body against a wall, he smirked at her, running a hand through his short black hair.

“Don’t talk... don’t say a word... just go outside and we’ll talk there.”

“Is that any way to treat the father of your son?”

He really was a smug bastard and Katherine snarled, pointing towards the exit.”

“NOW, ALEC! YOU WILL NOT DO THIS IN HERE!”

Alec chuckled before walking towards the exit and Katherine followed him, when they reached the outside, the protesters were in full march and Alec looked over at Katherine, realizing what she just did.

“You always were a bright girl, Kat.”

“Dad didn’t raise a fool. Now talk...”

****

Rick, this could not come at a worse time for me in my life... I’m sure you all saw the scene in the entrance way, so go ahead use it against me... say I won’t be focused, but I will be focused, Rick.

I have a lot of anger to let loose now and sadly for you... you will be the one who feels the brunt of it all. Round three is calling my name and much like last year... you won’t be seeing it. You’ll be nursing your bruised ego... again.

But this time, there will be no third chance for you. No more men or women will back out and allow you to sneak your way back into this tournament, Rick. Your second chance... it ends tonight. You got the short end of the stick in round one and got sent home and now you got the short end again and you’ll be sent home... for the second time.

I hate you, Rick Rampage... I hate people like you who get eliminated only to find a way back in. As if you actually deserve it. A real man would have taken his loss and told T-Bone no... but here you are, all smug and arrogant like you actually deserve this? News flash, Rick...

YOU DO NOT!

I will prove it and you will be sent to the back, head held low... humbled by your second loss in this tournament and I will be moving on to round three... primed and ready for who ever is thrown at me. Whether it’s Alexia or Valerie... I don’t care! This is MY time to finally prove my worth in this company outside of the tag team ranks... and you will not stop me Rick...

No one will... and when it’s all said and done, Rick... you will be remembered for three things in this tournament and that is as followed...

Going once....

Going Twice....

GONE!

Now get the fuck out of my way, you piece of shit... I have a tournament to win!