Promo: Lose Yourself

[Guest Ash Ketchum]

Upstairs, on the roof of the Little Rock Marriott Hotel, we can hear the sounds of someone punching a heavy bag:

 

Thud.

 

Thud.

 

Thud.

 

Thud.

 

Thud.

 

Panting heavily, working out in the humid, hot conditions, training himself is Ash Ketchum, who has had a few tough, cheap losses to Chili Chili Bang Bang for the SWF Tag Team Titles. He could be on Ground Floor in the air-conditioned weight room right now, but he is not a wuss. He trains hard, and after this, a 15-minute break, then swimming laps in the pool. More than fifteen, to be exact. He is silent, except for the occasional grunt, as he preferes to think.

 

Thud.

 

Damn... those fuckers beat my ass up pretty good... ribs still are hurting me like hell... should've expected it, it's part of their gameplan to to try to injure their opponents. Those two are a damn tough team... but there's gotta be some weakness to beating them...

 

Thud.

 

And I will beat them...

 

Thud.

 

To disprove the ones who said I would never amount to anything...

 

Thud.

 

The ones who said I could never hold a title, much less seven of them...

 

Thud.

 

The ones who said I could never go anywhere because of my gimmick...

 

Thud.

 

The ones who said I could beat Raynor...

 

Thud.

 

Bo...

 

Thud.

 

Stryke...

 

Thud.

 

Wilson...

 

Thud.

 

Strangler...

 

Thud.

 

Flesher...

 

Thud!

 

Pete...

 

Thud!

 

I'LL SHOW THEM ALL!

 

And with that, Ash lets out a gigantic cry, slamming his fist into the heavy bag with a big Thud! The chain on the bag squeaks as it swings up and nearly flies off the chain, but the metal links catch it and swing it back, Ash lining up for another punch. But as he does, he hears the door opening, and quickly, he grabs the bag to stop it, turning around. It is none other than Misty, carrying an acoustic guitar, top of the line, up to the roof. Ash kinda sighs, but he smiles, not wanting to get into an argument with the mother of his future child.

 

Shit... what's up with this? I came up here to get away from all this and just relax... I really didn't need her and the baby coming up here now. But I can't really just send her away now. She needs me, too. But I need to be getting ready... not screwing around. Dammit! I hate when this happens...

 

"I brought you something that might make you feel better..." Misty begins to explain.

 

"Whatchu mean?" Ash fires back?

 

"Ash, what do you do when you need to calm down?"

 

"Well, you always gimme-"

 

"NO. Besides THAT."

 

"Um... play my damn guitar?"

 

Ash grins happily

 

"Exactly. Now I'll see you later."

 

Misty begins to turn and leave, placing the guitar with Ash, but suddenly, Ash cuts her off, forcing her to turn back around.

 

"You know, I'm getting FUCKIN' tired of reading all this shit that I don't have what it takes anymore. Hell, whatever fucker is Hardcore Champ come Storm, whether it be Ced or that big oaf Frost... I want a shot at them. My bet is that Frost is gonna tear Ced to shreds, and he'll want a real challenge. Well, if he wants a fuckin' challenge, then he's gonna get himself one."

 

"I thought you said you were done with the Hardcore Division?" Misty inquires with great confusion.

 

"No, I said I was taking a break. I want that 3rd Hardcore Title. I want people to recongnize me, dammit! I'm sick of being ripped on by these dumbasses at 1Wrestling like Fiero! I'm sick of Meltzer asking the same fuckin' question: 'Is Ash Ketchum's career done? Does he still have what it takes?' I'M TIRED OF READING THESE DAMN INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS AND SEEING SOME PEOPLE CALL FOR MY FIRING! I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE, DAMMIT!"

 

"Ash, calm down-"

 

"I DON'T CARE WHO THEY PUT ME UP AGAINST! I WANT A TITLE! I WILL TAKE TOD'S US TITLE! I WILL TAKE FROST AND TNT'S TAG TITLES! I WILL TAKE BACK THE HARDCORE TITLE! AND ONE DAY, I WILL BEAT FLESHER FOR THE ICTV TITLE AND I WILL BEAT ELM AND I WILL BE SWF WORLD CHAMPION! AND IT WILL START WHEN I DESTROY TNT ON STORM!"

 

Thud.

 

Another punch into the bag sends if into the air, and the chain catches it again, jingling as it flies back down towards Ash.

 

"MICHAEL!"

 

By now, Misty is angered enough to call Ash by his real name. Wow, that's pretty damn angry. Ash turns himself around to face the wrath of an angry girlfriend.

 

"LISTEN YOU! I DIDN'T COME UP HERE TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN TO YOU BITCH! I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY, AND I WANNA BE HAPPY, TOO! BUT YOU AREN'T DOING ANYTHING YELLING AND COMPLAINING! GET OUT THERE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, MICHAEL! GO TALK TO STUBBY, OR GO FND SOMEONE WHO WILL FIGHT YOU! BUT DO NOT TAKE OUT YOUR STRESSES ON OTHER PEOPLE! DOM SOMETHING ABOUT YOU NOW HAVING A TITLE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

 

"Yes ma'am..." he replies meekly, almost in fear of his girlfriend. He just got a new hole ripped into him. Ouch. That sucks.

 

"Good... Mr. Nagasaki told me he's expecting you at the pool soon for your workout there. Don't be late."

 

She still has scorn iin her voice. Ash thinks for a second, head bowed down

 

"Right. See ya. I love you." Ash answers back, smiling. Misty finally cracks a smile, waves a little bit, and then exits stage left, leaving the door behind her as Ash turns back to his heavy bag, thinking heavily, and deeply before he comes to a small conclusion:

 

"You know, Misty's right. It's time I fuckin' did something about this title thing. I'm gonna do this. Ced or Frost is Hardcore Champ, Tod's US Champ, Annie is Light Heavyweight Champ. Edwin, Raynor, Wilson, and Silent are all gone. I've got a shot here to make a name for myself. I could possibly be champion again before the end of the month. But I need to get crackin' on this."

 

Ketchum prepares to unleash yet a few more punches on the bag, but he is distracted by a $2000 black Caddie with a $20000 sound system. Looks like a Thuggmobile. And as it passes, the preferred music of the driver floats upward to the top of the Marriott and into the ears of Ash Ketchum...

 

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment

You own it, you better never let it go

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo...

 

In mid-swing, Ash's arm stops as the car drives off aroud the corner and the music fades out. The words, not the background beats, catch his attention. They make sense to him. He relates them to himself. It's like Eminem wrote the song for Ash.

 

"Damn, what a conincidence," the words beginning to roll from Ketchum's mind to his mouth, "kinda ironic, though. Good song, though. I'll have to find it online later. But now, back to work. I've got a match to go get the fuck ready for..."

 

And with that, there is another "Thud" as those words echo inside the mind of Ash Ketchum:

 

You better lose yourself in the music, the moment

You own it, you better never let it go

You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow

This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo...

[Guest Kibagami]

...

 

...

 

 

Uh....huh.

 

S.

[Guest realitycheck]

Ash IS Wolverine.

 

Interesting, if not a rather halting 180*, character switch for this one. Though I like the style this was done in. I don't think you'll get many arguments if I say you write better serious/drama promos than comedy, dude.

 

Anyway, good promo.

 

-Z

[Guest Insanityman]

Agreed, serious are way better than comedy. It was interesting.

[Guest AnnieEclectic]

*raises hand*

 

it's not really promo related, but could Misty's theme song NOT be "She Is Beautiful" by Andrew W.K.? Because If I go face again in the future, it would make sense for me to return to my old face theme.

 

that is all.

 

-Annie

 

P.S. You're my friend and all. But I just feel the need to do this. *Stabs Ash in the eyes. Twice.* Thanks, I needed that.

[Guest Insane Clown Dan]

Thoughtful and deeper, the promo was. Nice element added to Ash's character that was being added in the JL earlier, but the serious transformation then wasn't really complete. I really like how you wrote this Ash, it'll be cool to see where this angst of yours takes you and Misty.