RP Title: Forced Reincarnation
Date Written: July 20th, 2002
Scene: Various
People Used: "The Franchise" Neo
People Mentioned: “The Angel of Death” Sin, Wolvesbane, Unibomb, TOC Competitors

“…And the people rejoiced at the return of their hero…Their legendary hero…For he had returned to please them…And to save them…”-Unknown

[The scene opens up on a secluded island in an unknown part of the world. It is night time, and rain is falling, hard and fast, as waves crash against the rocky shore. On this island, smack dab in the middle, are the smoking ruins of what was once a grand castle belonging to the fallen Shadow Walker, William Diamond. The ground around the castle is literally soaked with the blood of his many servants, who perished in the incident that destroyed the castle. There is only a single survivor. A mixed up 21 year old with blood red hair, that, for now, is laying face down in a pool of mud, rainwater, and blood. This young man is confused as to who he is and what he is doing. He was a being that lived only for destruction. Not even a man, this being was closer to a god, the closest thing to perfection this world will ever see. But, he paid a heavy price for all that he had. He was forced to leave his family, his friends, even his beloved wife behind, for fear that he would destroy them as well. That is why he stayed locked away in his castle, only coming out a few times to cause havoc, mayhem, and death. But then, this being started to think. Think of what he lost. And, slowly, it started to regain its feelings, its humanity. Those that watched over this being grew increasingly unhappy, until they could stand it no longer. They made a deal with this lord of destruction. They told it…him, that if he would destroy his current surroundings, destroy this false life, then he could be the man he was. The chaos that reigned in that castle lasted days…weeks…until no more could be done. Then, the man stumbled out of the ruins, weakened and without his powers or immortality. He staggered a few steps, then fell, bleeding from many non fatal wounds. That was a week ago, and the man still lies where he fell, face down in a pool of mud, rainwater, and blood. Yes, that man is William Diamond, the fallen Shadow Walker, the fallen god. He now knows not who he is, but he is searching his mind in his dreams for the answer…]

{A young man stands atop a transparent purple platform above a dark void of nothingness. To every side of the platform colors and faces swirl in a never ending tornado that represents every person he’s ever met and everything he’s ever done in his life. He stands, arms crossed, and wearing the same thing he is wearing in his physical reality: a pair for torn black leather pants, black and red sneakers, and a torn black bandanna, that rests on top of his head, covering the front part of his blood red hair. The only thing he is not wearing is the pair of broken sunglasses, which sit beside his left foot on the platform. He stands, staring unblinkingly into the tornado of his life, listening to the voices of his past, and his future. The most prominate are his major influences: His wife, Jennifer Harte-Diamond; His lifelong best friend, Roy Nova, formally known as the Pro wrestler, Y2K; His Wrestling idol and long time friend, Steve Corino; And his trainer and mentor, Sean Stylez.}

Jennifer Harte-Diamond: You’re the best Neo, and I love you…

Roy “Y2K” Nova: They said we’d never amount to anything…but look at us now! Look at us now, Neo! We’re famous! We’re the SCW World Tag Team champions! This only the beginning man! We’re gonna make it, and we’re gonna show up everyone back home! Then they’ll praise us, eh? Treat us like fucking kings they will!

{At this, the young man gets choked up, and almost begins to cry, as he responds to the voice out of sorrow, forgetting that it is only a replay of a memory.}

Young Man: No they won’t, Roy. They’re gonna throw us out on our asses. They’re gonna call us sell outs. We’re gonna lose those belts next week, and then we’re gonna lose the rematch at Dark Dayz. Then…then…Roy, I’m sorry, but…Then I’m going to drop you to for the Dark Carnival. Me and the ICP are gonna throw you off of the top of the arena and end your career, as well as almost end your life. I’m so, so sorry man…

{The young man really starts to break down as the voice of Steve Corino, whom he watched and idolized when he was an indy wrestler, and whom he met in a Philly bar one night after an ECW Hardcore TV Taping, begins to speak to him.}

Steve Corino: Hey kid, what’s up? Did you just come from the show? Yeah? Great shit. You enjoy it? Good, good. Who’d you come to see? Me? You’re just saying that I bet. No? Are you an indy guy? You are? Well, care to go to the gym? Call it training…

{This cheers him up a little bit, as it was the happy beginning to his wrestling career. The night he trained with “The King of Old School” Steve Corino, was a night that ranks up there almost with his and Jennifer’s wedding. He still thinks of it as the second greatest thing to ever happen to him. As he stands on the platform, looking on at the night he spent training with Corino, another voice cuts through the silence. This time, it is not a loved one, or family, or even a friend. This voice is more then all of that. It is the strong and demanding voice of his mentor, Sean Stylez.}

Sean Stylez: You’re going to go straight to the top Neo! I can see big things for you, but you’ve got to work hard. You’ve got to train hard. You’ve got to give it your all. Then, and only then, will you be the best. Then you’ll only have one test left. That’ll be to beat the one who trained you. You’ll have to conquer me, you’ll have to beat me…

{This brings the young man to tears again. How can he face his mentor? He doesn’t even know who he is. He falls to his knees on the platform, tears beginning to fall again. He slams his fists into the platform so violently that it appears as though it might break. It holds tight though, as he continues to slam his fists into it again…and again…and again, until his knuckles pour blood. And even then, he doesn’t stop. The pain and the blood mean nothing to him. All that matters is finding out who he really is. But, at this moment, he doesn’t know, does he? No, and that’s what bothers him, what frustrates him. His own identity is being hidden from him. Clouded by the dark and evil cloud the elder Shadows put into his mind. Finally, he stops slamming his fists into the platform. He knees still, and drops his arms behind him, looking up to the top of the swirling mass of dreams and memories. The frustration finally gets to him, and he screams out…}

Young Man: WHO THE FUCK AM I?! TELL ME!

{As if on que, all the voices yell to him at once, but he can’t make it out. Feeling more frustrated and helpless than ever, the man yells out to them again…}

Young Man: JUST TELL ME WHO THE FUCK I AM!!!!

{At that, the man slams both fists into the platform again, but this time it cracks. Not caring, the young man continues to slam his fists into the cracked platform, breaking it more. Suddenly, and without warning, the world of his mind begins to collapse. The man stands up and looks around at everything, which is being sucked into the void. He then looks down at the breaking platform, staring straight into the void. He is surprised by a voice that seems to come from there. It is not just a playback of memories anymore. This time, it is something he’s never heard before.}

Jennifer Harte-Diamond: You are Neo. You are The Franchise. You are my husband. Now come back to the life you left behind…

{The young man understands at once. Tears stop falling as a smile crosses his face. But, his happiness and joy are short lived, as the platform shatters. He lets out one final scream before he falls into the void…}

[…And back into reality. The body of the sole survivor of the castle disaster, the former Shadow Walker, now known as Neo, his former identity, begins to stir. Quickly, he regains consciousness and opens his eyes. He then realizes he’s underwater. Swiftly, he brings his head up, gasping for air, as he moves into a sitting position. When his breathing returns to normal, Neo looks around at his surroundings. The ruins of a castle. HIS castle. No, not his castle. That…That “Thing’s” castle. He slowly gets to his feet, barely noticing the rain, or even the fact that he’s drenched. He staggers a few steps, then falls down again.]

”The Franchise” Neo: I guess ya lose tha strength in yer legs when ya “die”. Aw well. Let’s take it slow and steady then.

[Once again, Neo slowly gets to his feet. He then looks around, trying to find something to support himself with. There is nothing around him. The closest thing is what’s left of the stone wall of the castle, but that’s still at least twenty steps ahead of him. Neo sighs, then, taking it one step at a time, starts to make his way towards the ruins, talking to himself.]

”The Franchise” Neo: This must be some sight. A cripple walking towards the ruins of a castle on some godforsaken island, in the pouring rain! Man, I hope one day I can look back on this and laugh, cuz it sure as hell ain’t funny right now.

[After about ten minutes of struggling along, Neo makes it to the ruins and sits down on what’s left of the stone wall. He then looks down the hallway that was once the entranceway to this magnificent castle. Half way down, he sees that, although the roof is gone, the walls are still standing, though they look weak.]

”The Franchise” Neo: If I’m gonna have any chance of gettin off this stupid island, it’ll be in there. I just hope tha kitchen’s still intact, cuz I’m fuckin hungry!

[Sighing once again, Neo gets up from the wall and starts slowly walking down the hallway, still taking it one step at a time. After a long time of struggling to walk and to get over debris that clog the hallway, Neo slumps down to the floor, resting his back against one of the tiny walls, as he is still far off from the fully walled part of the hallway. He looks up to the sky and closes his eyes, allowing the rain to fall onto his battered and bruised face. After a time, he even opens his mouth, hoping the rain will quench his thirst. Much to his disappointment, it doesn’t. Neo then lowers his face as the rain falls onto his already soaked hair, and he almost starts to cry again, thinking all is lost.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Fuck! I’m gonna die on this stupid, deserted island! I can barely walk, lord knows if there’s any food, and, with my luck, the jet is trashed too. Gah! Fuck if I knew how to fly it anyways!

[Neo then puts his face in his hands and starts to cry. Not a real manly thing to do, of course, but, when faced with death, what man wouldn’t break down and cry? Anyways, after a long, long while of crying, Neo finally looks up. Then…he spots something across the hallway. He crawls over on his knees and, as luck would have it, it’s a broken broom handle. One he can use as a walking stick.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Holy fucking god in heaven! Yes! Finally, some luck!

[Using the broom stick as a support, Neo gets back up to his feet. Then, using the stick as an old man would use a cane, Neo slowly makes his way down the hall and into the part that is still pretty much standing. Although he’s not sheltered from the rain, he leans against the wall and breathes a sigh of relief, as he is one step closer to his ultimate goal. After resting for a few minutes, Neo continues down the hall. After a little while of walking (hobbling with a cane is more like it), he realizes that the rain isn’t falling anymore. He then looks up, and what he sees surprises him. High above his head, the roof (or, rather, the floor of the second floor) is still standing. This relieves him even more, but he doesn’t stop to rest just yet. Neo continues on, down the hall and through the huge double doors at the end, into the lobby. He is awed to find it still pretty much intact. Trashed beyond belief, but still intact. He goes on, walking through the lobby and through a door on the left side, which leads to the kitchen and the cellar. When he walks into the kitchen, his heart sinks. The place is completely trashed. The stove is destroyed, the cupboards are demolished, even the fridge is broken and tipped over. He sits down in a chair beside an upturned table and begins talking to himself once again.]

”The Franchise” Neo: This place is destroyed…I don’t even think there’s any food left…FUCK! GODDAMNIT! All I need is some food and a fuckin way outta here! But I can’t even find that! What tha fuck!? I might as well just give up now, accept my fate, and die! Cuz I ain’t never getting outta here…

[Neo sighs, and looks down. As he does, he spots something orange poking out from under the fridge. He gets up and walks over to the fridge, inspecting the thing. I appears to be…a carrot! If there’s still a carrot, maybe there’s still some food, he thinks. Using what little strength he has left, Neo struggles and, finally, tips the fridge back over, putting it in its original position. Before he even looks at the fridge, Neo looks down at the carrot. A puzzled look then comes across his face. The carrot is a whole carrot all right, but it’s…growing…hair? He picks it up and examines it. The carrot is soft to the touch, as id the hair on it. It feels almost like the fuzz (fluff, fur, whatever) of a rabbit. Neo smiles at this, slipping the carrot into his pocket and…well, speaking to it.]

”The Franchise” Neo: I guess ya can’t have a bit of good luck without a bit of bad, eh? You, my little furry friend, are good luck. And, seein as how I lost Bill when I…erm…changed, you’re gonna be my new manager! That is, if I ever make it back…

[Thinking about making it back snaps Neo back into reality. He turns to the fridge, and is very happy to see it still fully stocked. Of course, the meat has gone bad, and most of the vegetables are rotten, but there are still some good things left, like a bottle of warm mayo, and a six pack of Bud. Neo takes these two things out of the fridge and sets them on the table, then he goes back to searching, but he skips the fridge, as he knows it’s all gone bad anyways. He now starts searching the floor. His search turns up only a loaf of bread. He takes it back to the tables as well. Then he begins to think. A few minutes pass and, finally, he decides to just eat the bread and mayo, regardless of whether or not it’s much of a “traditional” meal. When he finishes, Neo sweeps it all off onto the floor, his confidence building.]

”The Franchise” Neo: I’m gonna make it! I’m gonna fuckin make it! I’ma get my ass off this island!

[He then grabs his “cane”, leaves the kitchen, and enters the lobby again. This time he goes all the way to the back and to a door under the stairs. This door leads out to the back shore, where any and all boats are kept. Neo breathes in deeply, then opens the door…and realizes he can’t see the shore through the darkness. He sighs, then steps out the door. The second he does, it slams shut behind him, due to the wind. But, almost absolutely positive that he will find a boat, Neo doesn’t care. He hobbles down the walkway that leads to the shore, ignoring the gruesome testaments to his final days of destruction. When he makes it to the shore, he finds that three out of his five ships are sunk. All that’s lest is his yacht (which he never had the time to use) and a fishing boat. Having never been on the yacht, he knows nothing of how good it is. But, he has been on the fishing boat, and he knows this for sure. A little bit of common sense tells him what to do here. Neo gets aboard the fishing boat, starts up the engines, and turns it towards the open sea…]

------------------------A few weeks later--------------------

[The scene is somewhere on the streets of Cancun, just a block or two away from where FWW Redemption is supposed to take place. Standing around, looking at a huge poster that is advertising the two main events (The TOC Finals and Sin vs. Neo) is The Franchise himself, Neo. Oh, and the carrot, whom Neo has decided to call “Fred”. The carrot isn’t standing, of course, but is being held in Neo’s hand. As Neo stares up at the poster, he begins to speak. More to himself than Fred…]

”The Franchise” Neo: Well, I guess this is my chance to become the very best. He may be called Sin, but he’s still Sean Stylez, my mentor. And Redemption is my chance to prove to him and to everyone else that there’s isn’t anyone better than me. Let’s go to tha arena, Fred. I heard they’re puttin on House Shows all week, wit local talent and tha like. We can cut a promo there. I’m sure tha jobbers won’t mind.

[Neo places Fred back into his pocket as he turns and starts to walk the block to the arena…]

----------------------30 minutes later-------------------------

[Two of the local talent (i.e. Jobbers) go at it inside the FWW ring, as a week long fan festival goes on. With a week to go until Redemption, Rob Lowe is pulling out all the stops. But, what he and the rest of the world have been missing is their Main Event. Sure, Sin’s been around, but Neo hasn’t. Well, needless to say that when the lights went out during the jobber match, everyone was rather surprised. Shocked is more the word. Then the cheers started to ring out as the very familiar opening to “Cry” by Monster Magnet hits the PA. The lyrics kick in as red pyro goes off.]

Love lies in pools of questions
Love stays away from me
Love dies and there’s no question
I’m gone baby, I’m all the way gone…

[Even more cheers rise up from the crowd, as even the two jobbers in the ring stop and look up towards the stage.]

Call me your lousy father
Call me your demon king
Call me your new tornado
Right here baby, together we stay…

[Flames engulf the stage as the song gets heavier for the chorus.]

I don’t think I can feel any longer!
I only know that void’s gettin stronger!
The only time it’s real is when you cry!

[The wild cheers from the fans drowns out anything the announcers could be saying, as everyone looks on at the flaming stage in anticipation.]

Here’s a torch to burn your cancer
Here’s a hand to fill the hole
Lost souls need simple answers
It feels good to do what you’re told

[The chorus kicks in again, but it is lost in the explosion of pyro and the cheers of the fans. From out of the flames, just like before, steps “The Franchise” Neo, free of his evil curse, for the first time since entering FWW. The fans continue to cheer wildly as a “Welcome back!” chant starts up. For the first time in a long time, a smile crosses Neo’s face. He then looks out into the fans, and runs down to the ring, slides in under the bottom rope, jumps up onto the top turnbuckle and raises his left arm in the air, showing off the red dragon tattoo that spirals down it. He then jumps down and takes the mic from the ring announcer.]

”The Franchise” Neo: I’m back! Sweet fuckin jesus I’m back!

[The fans begin to cheer again and many chants start up. When it all dies down, Neo turns towards the two jobbers, who were about to leave. He stops them, then begins to speak.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Now, I don’t want no hard feelins wit ya’ll, so, I just wanna say that I admire tha work you guys do. I really do. But, if there is a higher purpose, this is it. I hope you guys understand that.

[The two jobbers nod, then leave the ring, allowing Neo to speak his mind.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Now then, ya’ll are psyched for this weekend right? Good! Ya have good reason to be! I mean, we got some great matches goin on. Plus, we got tha TOC, where tha only gold that matters is on tha line. And, it looks like it’s gonna be a BDC domination, no matter wut happens, considerin there’s three BDC members left in tha TOC, myself included. But, Il’l get to that in a minute. First, there’s a more important matter I gotta address…

[The fans begin to cheer and chant “Game! Game! Game!”. Neo leans against the ropes, a solemn look on his face. The fans immediately calm down and allow Neo to speak.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Yea ,that’s right. “The Game” Sean Stylez. Now known as “The Angel of Death” Sin. The man whom I owe most of my career to. He is my mentor. He is my trainer. He was my best friend, until he decided to abandon SCW. It was on that day that I lost all respect for this man. He’s just another of Lionhart’s followers. Can’t think for himself, he’s gotta follow Darren around. I thought you were better then that, Sean, I really did. But ya know wut? I AM better then that! I guess that makes me better, eh Sean? Or should I say, Sin? I hope yer watchin from wherever tha fuck you are, cuz I got some shit I want you to hear.

[Neo steps away from the ropes and goes over to the other side of the ring, where he sits in the corner.]

”The Franchise” Neo: You always had to be tha best, didn’t ya Sean? You always had to be number one! And, cuz you were one of Darren’s boyz, you always were number one! You and Syckx. And I, just like everyone else, was fed tha bullshit about how you guys were tha greatest, about how you guys were elite. And yea, I’ll admit, I believed it. I looked up to you guys just like everyone else. Then, suddenly, Syckx was gone. It was all you then, Sean. You were all that mattered. Then, somethin changed. Did tha fame and glory go to yer head? Or did Darren just fuck wit ya some more? Either way, you were changed. You abandoned all of us. And for that Sean, I ain’t never gonna forgive ya! Never!

[The fans gasp, surprised that a man could say such things about his friend and mentor. Neo ignores them and goes on.]

”The Franchise” Neo: But Sean, next Sunday at Redemption, it’s you an me, one on one in a Cell. This is tha match tha world though they’d never, EVER, see! This match could be compared to The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania X8. The only difference being, you trained me. You taught me what I know now. But Sean, that won’t matter. Everythin goes out tha window when they lock tha door to that cell. Everythin! Then again, it’s not like we had much left to begin wit. Sean, this is for tha glory, tha legacy of SCW! This is for everythin SCW stood for! This is for every one of tha fans you let down! And ya know wut Sean? This…This is for me!

[The fans erupt into cheers at this. Neo stands up and looks out into the fans again. But he’s not really looking at them. He’s thinking of the words he’s saying, and focusing on the match.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Sean, do you remember wut you said to me, way back when? Back when we were trainin? You said I had to beat you to be tha best. Well, Redemption is my chance. My chance to prove I’m tha best! My chance to defeat YOU! It all comes down to this, Sean. But man, when it’s done, there’s gonna be a lotta blood, sweat, and tears on the mat, but I’m gonna be tha one standin in tha end! Cuz Sean, it’s not about you anymore. It’s about ME! I’m tha sat of this show, and I’m gonna prove it!

[The fans begin to cheer and chant “Neo! Neo! Neo!”. Neo turns to face the entranceway and then begins to speak again, ignoring the chants for now.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Wit that outta tha way, that brings me to tha TOC. It’s down to me and six other guys. Legends like Tony Roars, and Wolvesbane, my stablemates. Nobodies like The Demon, and others. Now, I’ll admit, it’s not gonna be tha easiest thing to do, getting past guys tha caliber of Wolvesbane, but ya know wut? If anyone can do it, I can! Cuz I AM tha greatest thing to EVER happen to tha sport of professional wrestling! And if ya don’t believe that, pay attention to tha Hell in a Cell match. You’ll learn it there.

”The Franchise” Neo: Bane and Roars, I just wanna let you guys know that this is all business. But one of us has gotta win that title, not like THAT’S gonna be a problem. But, if we meet each other in tha tournament, I just wanna let ya’ll know that wutever I do, it’s just to win. No hard feelins in tha end, eh?

”The Franchise” Neo: Now, Unibomb, it’s you vs me, right off tha bat. Now, just cuz you got that title on yer shoulder, don’t get cocky. Cuz we’re fightin for a title that’s worth WAY more then that stupid piece of gold on yer shoulder! Unibomb, there’s no way in HELL that yer advancing off MY back! Hell, yer not even WORTHY of winnin tha FWW World Heavyweight Title! Yer right where ya belong right now, in tha IC Title range. Stay there. Don’t show up for our match. Cuz, believe me, this is a humiliation you could do without. So, just bask in tha sun wit yer title. Don’t show up. That save me from wastin my time, and it saves you from bein humiliated.

[The “Neo!” chant starts up again as Neo starts to wrap up his little speech.]

”The Franchise” Neo: Winnin this tournament means more to me than…well, almost anything. Cuz, WHEN, not if, when I win, I’ll go down in history as only tha third man to EVER win both tha SCW World Heavyweight Title and tha FWW World Heavyweight Title! And that, my friends, is an honor I plan to achieve by ANY MEANS NECESSARY!

[The fans cheer wildly again as “Cry” by Monster Magnet hits the PA once more. Neo throws the mic out into the fans, then gets out of the ring and goes backstage, where he pulls Fred out of his pocket and begins speaking to him.]

”The Franchise” Neo: There’s that done, Fred. Now, we got some more important things to do. Like, we gotta find Jenny. Cuz, I miss her so fuckin much. If nothin else, I wanna tell her I love her, one more time…

[Neo puts Fred back into his pocket as he sets out on his journey to find his lost love and wife, Jennifer Harte-Diamond…]

END