Spring had long since hit, melting all the snow and sending the forest surrounding the Training Temple into a frenzy of activity. Green was everywhere, from the grass covering every bit of ground within sight to the trees blowin' out their leaves to go whoom and soak up dat sweet, sweet sunshine. As a squad of people in sweat-soaked white tee-shirts ran by on one of the tracks, Tom was sitting on a wooden bench, hands tucked underneath his thighs.

 

The camera was either on a tripod or a Steadicam harness, focused cleanly on Tom's face. The Rider, the Ranger, the Foreshadower sat quietly for a few moments, before taking a breath.

 

"Some people would just make a crack about your height and blow you off, Alceo. I've seen it. But here's the thing..."

 

Tom slowly looked up, the faintest wisp of a smile on his lips. His eyes sparkled with that limitless energy that his match with Python, his talks with Walker and Dane, and his brawl with Box had granted. Sure, he took a Roundhouse from Heidi, but the rest made it a pretty good night, all things considered.

 

"I'm not gonna do you that disservice. In fact, I'd dare say I'm taking you as seriously as any Untouchable, Team Danger, or anyone else of that level."

 

Tom took a moment, looking off to the side, swallowing. A breeze ruffled his hair, sending a stray lock of hair across his face. He paused, brushing the hair from his face before he continued.

 

"You beat Heidi Christenson in a match. Definitively. That's something I haven't been able to do... And you get my immense respect for being able to do it."

 

Tom nodded a bit, as the irritating breeze pushed his hair right back into his face. Making a face in exasperation, Tom grabbed a double handful of his hair and pulled it into a tight ponytail, slipping an elastic from around his wrist onto the 'tail. There. Problem dealt with.

 

"So, Alceo, suffice to say, I take you very, very seriously. You're not just a prime threat to me, you're a prime threat to Jiles, Box, and anyone else who may be in your way on route to the DEFIANCE World Championship."

 

Tom's smiley face suddenly grew a bit harder, as if Tom was plunged into an ice bath. His eyebrows knit together, and his eyes slowly narrowed, goin' all stern and focused.

 

"That being said, I'm not saying you're gonna cakewalk on through me to the Ladder War. I might not have been winning every match and title laid before me, but I sure have been through wars recently. I don't think a single person in this company can say that they've shed more sweat, more blood, and more tears in the past six months than I have."

 

A moment's pause.

 

"Maybe Cancer Jiles. But anyone else? Nah. I've been through situations the likes of which would break some people. And now, you and me are gonna step into that ring, Alceo."

 

Tom pursed his lips, eyes going downward for a few moment's consideration.

 

"I'm gonna bring the Tom Sawyer who took three Untouchables to the limit of their sadism. I'm gonna bring the Tom Sawyer who could hang with former World Champions and some of the biggest monsters in our sport."

 

The kid suddenly popped to his feet, and the until-now-unseen cameraman brought the camera up, keeping the lens on Tom's face.

 

"Before you underestimate me, Alceo, I want you to understand one thing. This is my golden opportunity. For my entire career, I've either been seen as "that tag team guy", or "that joke kid". And Eric Dane just gave me two presents, wrapped up into one match."

 

Tom clenched both fists, eyes widening as he did so. His fists shook, as Tom began to get hype.

 

"This is my first real chance to really get into a World Title match, Alceo. The first chance of my singles career to prove everyone wrong who ever said I couldn't do it. I'm NOT gonna waste that chance!"

 

A finger points. Tom jabbed his digit square at the camera. 

 

"If I've gotta go through you, then so be it, Alceo! If I've gotta fight you AND your Gorillas, then I'll do it! I’ll walk through fire, Alceo. I’ll take your very worst. I’ll take ANYTHING you can throw at me!"

 

Tom puffed out his chest, jutting out his chin, eyes wild and manic. 

 

"There's not a DAMN thing you can do to me that hasn't been done worse by other people! And the difference between them and you... Well, that's the other present that Big Poppa Eric gave me."

 

The kid brings one hand up, fist clenched n' shakin' with the pure majesty, force and restrained Sawyerosity. 

 

"You, Alceo Dentari, are the picture-perfect image of a bully. You might have established your reputation strong enough to stand ten feet tall, but you've got a significant lack of people standing up to you."

 

A finger jabbed downward, marking the "here and now". X marks the dayumn spot, and Tommy's standing on it.

 

"I showed that I'll stand up to anyone. I'll stand up to three Untouchables. I'll stand up to you too, Alceo. As soon as that bell rings, I'm gonna punch you straight in the mouth. And from there, it's gonna get NUTS!."

 

Tom's eyes go wide again. His nostrils flare, as he leans his shoulders back, puffing his chest out. The MADNESS was beginning to flow. Macho Coin or no, Tom’s voice was getting a raspy, bass-y edge to it. His eyes were beginning to bulge madly, his pulse thundering through his veins.

 

"I'M GONNA RIDE INTO THAT RING ON A COMET LIKE SLEIPNIR, ALCEO! I'VE GOT THE WHOLE WORLD RUNNIN' THROUGH MY VEINS, MAN! WITH THE KIND OF FURY I'VE GOT INSIDE ME, I'M GONNA LET IT GO LIKE A SPEAR MADE OF LIGHTNING, A JAVELIN MADE OF DREAMS AND A LANCE MADE OUTTA HOPE!"

 

Tom shot that index finger out like the aforementioned spear! Slowly, the kid twisted that hand around, the tip of his very finger shaking and twitching under the barely-restrained power of the 80s.

 

"RIGHT through your chest, Alceo! I'm gonna punch a hole in the legend of the Cosa Nostra, and I'm gonna let alla your wind run out like water, all over the canvas!"

 

Tom's chest heaved, his lip quivering. He even bared his teeth, those pearly whites gleaming as his lips pulled tight against ‘em.

 

"I MADE THE BELTS YOU SO PROUDLY WEAR, ALCEO! WITH MY BLOOD, MY SWEAT, AND MY TEARS, I ESTABLISHED THE BASELINE FOR YOU TO STAND ATOP! And if I can't have them back, if I can't get a Trio goin' to take those belts from you, I'll have to do the next best thing!"

 

Tom slammed the butt of his fist into his other hand's palm, a forceful gavel smash like the Universal Judge of Harmonious Righteousness bringin' down the hammmer!

 

"I'll stop you from gettin' into that Ladder War with an Ode to Madness, I'll lay you out with a Permanent Wave, and I'll snap that freakin' shinebox of yours with the Billy Dee Williams!"

 

Tom grabbed the neckline of his t-shirt, unmentioned until now due to the unremarkableness of the plain gray cotton, and he rended the pocket-tee right down the middle! Not for nothin', but Tom had put on quite a good amount of muscle. He had defined his muscle groups, popped his biceps and one could even see a bit of the cans of Tom's six-pack!

 

"There's no WAY I'm gonna walk into Everett bringing you anything but THE UTMOST, PEAK CONDITION TOM SAWYER! Don't GIVE ME ANY GARBAGE ABOUT THAT NOT BEING GOOD ENOUGH, EITHER!"

 

Tom jabs a finger in the general direction of Lousiana. 

 

"Ask any of those people in New Orleans if Tom Sawyer was good enough! Ask any of those people in Orlando if Tom Sawyer was good enough!"

 

The kid sprang forward, face filling the screen. His voice suddenly went dangerously low, steady, and quiet. He held it at a baritone flatline... For a few moments.

 

"Don't even try to tell me that if I couldn't beat Python, I can't beat you. And if I can't beat three Untouchables, I can't beat you. Because I'm refreshed. I'm revitalized. I'm healed.”

 

Composure broke like a crystal wineglass.

 

“I'M PUMPED! I'M JACKED! I'M PSYCHED, AND I'M GONNA PROVE TO EVERYBODY JUST HOW GOOD TOM SAWYER CAN BE WHEN HE'S GOT A BRASS RING TO REACH FOR!"

 

The kid stepped back, hands pushing at the camera, shoving it away from him. 

 

"And my brass ring... is you, Alceo. It's all you."

 

Hardcut. Upload that bitch to Youtube, Splenda.