Match of the Millennium

As the broadcast goes live, the team of Tom and Lou appear on-screen, seated across from each other at a shared desk news anchor style. Between them is a large electronic display showing the NFG logo. The music cuts out a little faster and more dramatically than usual, replaced with a subtle, tense track. TOM: "Welcome, ladies, gentlemen, and all of our other friends. I'm Tom, and this is Lou. You may be aware that our usual NFG podcast was cancelled this week." LOU: "Yup. We decided that the news from this week was too big -" TOM: "- and too dependent on visual media -" LOU: "- not to reserve it for the live NFG broadcast. We've had major upsets..." TOM: "...and majorly upsetting events." LOU: "All in all, this may have been our spiciest week of New Fighting Generation yet." TOM: "And it's about to get a whole lot spicier!" LOU: "Like a five alarm chili. In fact, I can feel a Rumble coming on!" TOM: "Are we finally allowed to talk about it?" LOU: "Just about! Now, without further ado, let's get on with the rundown!" ==*== MATCH 1: COCO VERSUS CHEVY ==*== TOM: "It was our first match of the round, and the one where the elephant definitely entered the room. I'll leave this one to you, Lou." LOU: "This had all the makings of a masterpiece. Two beautiful young ladies competing first by washing customers' cars on their way to watch the match, then representing two sides of one of the great American rivalries." TOM: "Nevermind that one of them was English." LOU: "Indeed, nevermind that. Two ladies in white shirts over bikinis, two buckets of water. It was all set for a tasteful yet tantalizing match where everyone could have felt like a winner afterward." TOM: "But this fight clearly wasn't all for show." LOU: "Nope! Something was clearly coming to a boil between these two. It was easy to miss when it all started. In fact, it looked downright amicable." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- A bright, friendly smile crosses Coco's face. "Hiya! Goodness, Chevy, you do suit that look. I bet you've slaughtered me as far as the washing competition goes. You're like a machine, with that watery power you've got. I'm well jell; all I can do is throw a few kicks and look pretty, and only one of those is useful when it comes to scrubbing cars." The hayseed blinks back at her: "Oh, uh... yeah!" She pauses. It might seem intentional, but it's not: the compliments caught her by surprise. "... Aww heck, that only helps with the rinsing. I'm sure you're better'n me at the scrubbin'!" Chevy seems bewildered for a moment, as if she hadn't been prepared in advance for the words that just spilled from her mouth. Wincing, she adds, "But sure, you look pretty hot too!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Amicable indeed. But, as we soon found out, silken smiles can hide steel blades." LOU: "I'm not sure about the metaphor, but tonally, it's accurate." (continued in next post!)

-=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- "Wow! You're really good at handling a pole, Chevy! Probably as good as Djamila!" Coco smiles as she faces her opponent, her own hair slightly disheveled apart from her ponytail as her silver eyes take on an almost manic friendliness. "Of course, I did /beat/ Djamila, but maybe I was just lucky!" Coco cocks her head slightly to one side before suddenly surging in with a couple of fast leading jabs to try and set Chevy on the back foot before aiming to grab hold of the farm girl's sunburnt-looking upper arms in a clinch. Applying pressure if she succeeds with sadism that would assuredly be unintentional, she would aim to overpower Chevy and get a hand on the back of her neck before sweeping her violently down to the mat. COMBATSYS: Coco successfully hits Chevy with Singapore Sling. - Power hit! - -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Thanks to our sound techs, you can really start to see where things started to take a nastier turn, here." LOU: "I think things had already taken a nastier turn. This is just where the masks started to slip." TOM: "Yes - the banter definitely started to get a bit more personal." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- "Every fight's diff'rent though," comments Chevy, whipping the pole around in a one-handed spin. "Heck, maybe you can even keep your clothes on for this fight!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #4 -=*=- "So sorry," Coco apologizes as her expression turns more sympathetic as Chevy spins her stick. "You do suit red, though -" Suddenly, the hiss of the serpentine surge of water reaches Coco's ear, and she swiftly sidesteps, only harmlessly splashed by stray splatter along her arm and t-shirt as the torrent rushes past her. "Oh, there you go, making a mess again. I see your aim hasn't improved since the kitchen," she says with a tone that sounds more playful than it probably is, tilting her head. "I could keep my clothes on, but really, I think you need this more than I do," she says as she grabs hold of the lower hem of her t-shirt and tugs it over her head in one swift motion, the stretched collar making ease of the casual disrobement as the purple halter bikini top and toned bod beneath are revealed. She slings the slightly-damp shirt around once before tossing it underhand at Chevy. "There you go. See if that helps with the bleeding," she says magnanimously before suddenly stepping in and spinning around into a less-charitable low roundhouse aimed to put Chevy on her back! -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "So, detective Harris, I think we're starting to see what's unfolding here. Clearly, Coco was upset that Chevy had been making cake in the kitchen with Hawksley." LOU: "Yup. And I doubt that it was for our benefit that Coco decided to take her shirt off here. After all, Hawksley had a front hood seat for the show. Either she was trying to impress him, or she was trying to make him jealous." TOM: "It would definitely appear to be some sort of triangular romantic rivalry going on. However, the fight - and the tendency of Coco's wardrobe to disappear - was going to take a darker turn still." (Continued in next post!)

-=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #5 -=*=- Miss Beaumont misreads the flow of combat though -- and while she recognizes the punch for what it is, her tardiness gets her slugged in the ribs. A grunt of pain slips out through gritted teeth as she skids backwards on the rubber mats. "... Ow... geez. Yeah... I mean, -sure-, when the sun's up an' all..." Chevy keeps backing up, though, easing towards the Chevrolet side of the fighting grounds. One eye squints shut from the pain, though her nose has thankfully quit bleeding. She keeps one hand extended forward as she twirls her pole behind her. The water in the area starts to tremble, as if from a slight whirlwind. The farm girl cracks a smile. "But is it just me, or is the dojo a little lonely at nighttime?" The spilt water stirs again. Chevy's plastic water bottle tips over -- and cracks a hole in the side on the asphalt. "Almost like he's slipping out to spend time with another love?" "What?" Suddenly, there's a red heat in Coco's cheeks at the insinuation, her fists tightening in guard as her eyes narrow. "I don't even know what you're trying to imply is going on with me and... and whoever it is you're on about!" Coco cries out. "But if it were true, all it would go to show is that you've still got the knack for taking swine for a roll in the muck!" Anger overwhelms any trepidation she might have had at approaching Chevy as the water coalesces around her weapon, and Coco runs forward, leaping as she does to aim a jumping roundhouse at the rival fighter's upper body! -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "Surprisingly, sweet Miss-American-Pie Chevy seemed to really be taking digs at Prissy-Miss-Crumpet Coco here. It's a tactic some fighters use to throw their opponent off their game, but not one I woulda expected from Chevelle Beaumont. She's basically sayin' Hawksley's been sneakin' out on Coco to tumble in the hay with Chevy every night." TOM: "That's one possible interpretation, Lou, but she immediately denied it, and regardless, it certainly wasn't a justification for what happened next." LOU: "Well, that's debatable, Tom." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #6 -=*=- With reinvigorated enthusiasm, channelling the anger inside into controlled energy, Coco charges forward toward Chevy, her feet flying across the slippery mat before launching her toward her opponent, aiming to wrap her slick thighs around the farm girl's waist and trap her daisies-to-dukes. Should she succeed, she'll throw herself backward, flipping through the air to try and slam Chevy onto the mat beneath her. Thus straddling her foe, the sopping, shirtless slugger would use the advantageous position to start heedlessly raining down punches and elbow shots toward Chevy's face and upper body. After all, words may hurt, but getting punched in the face hurts more. COMBATSYS: Chevy fails to counter S.O.T.B. from Coco with King Tide. ~~ Alluring Hit! ~~ [ \\\\\\\\ < Coco 1/-------/<<<<<<<| COMBATSYS: Chevy can no longer fight. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "And it would have all been fair and legal if it had been settled there and then." LOU: "But somebody had to get one more shot in." (Continued in next post!)

-=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #7 -=*=- Maybe she's just punch drunk. It's hard to say, as her head lolls back from the last of the strikes. Reddish hair tumbles loose. Her swollen cheeks present a dazzling palette of red and purple hues. Her ribbed tank top now a ruddy tone, spattered with drops of water-soaked blood. Her ribcage heaves for breath -- but she makes no particular moves to resist, her arms hanging limply at her sides on the mat. Chevy looks back up at Coco, one eye half swollen shut. And despite coughing out a glob of blood... she's smiling. It's in her nature, after all. "Ha. I bet you didn't even leave him any of that stack cake..." Having spent herself of the necessary energy to keep trying to punch the smile off of Chevy's face, Coco finally stops swinging, stands up casually, and starts to wring her hair out, averting her eyes from Chevy's face to look toward Hawksley as the farm girl delivers one more verbal shot. She acts as if she hasn't even heard the comment as she finally flicks her hair out of her face once more. "Is anyone going to ring the bell?" she asks with a light Chelsea lilt. Then, with sudden violence, she snaps a vicious football kick right into the side of Chevy's ribs. As officials suddenly lurch toward her with the intent of impeding any further violence, Coco goes wide-eyed and holds her hands up at waist level. "Oh, sorry! She was still talking, so I wasn't sure if we were still fighting." As the bell rings, Coco unbuttons the front button of her waterlogged Isabel Marants, then bends down deep to slide them all the way down to her toes, fully revealing her purple thong bikini bottoms (and more besides). The pose puts her face close to Chevy's as she steps out of her shorts one foot at a time. "And sorry, I didn't bother with the cakes. I prefer vegan desserts," she says in a catty tone. "I heard Zog loved them, though." Then, straightening back up, she waves the denim shorts with one hand. "Sorry, not sure where my shirt ended up, but you can clean yourself off with these, if you like." With that, she tosses the soggy garments down toward Chevy's face before turning around and sauntering away toward the dealership, undoing the bands of her gloves as she walks. The farm girl may be in a world of pain. But she's not so far gone that she can't react. The denim doesn't make it to her face; it's instead caught up by a forearm flung into their path. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "I'm not one who likes to let my personal biases enter into my commentary, but I thought this was a despicable display by Constance Coalbridge." LOU: "I'm one whose job is to let my personal biases enter into my commentary, and I thought this was an incredible display by Coco. Talk about sass. Talk about dominance. Talk about /heat./" TOM: "Talk about disqualification. There was no way that that kick was legal! Other than the official ruling of the NFG's conduct review, that is." LOU: "Well, we both agree that this is the thing to talk about. Hence why we've dedicated so much time already to this match. Anyway, Coco made a point of confirming that the match wasn't over before she pulled that one. You and I both know she didn't have to do it, but she was within her rights, and Chevy was clearly twisting her knickers." TOM: "Regardless of how twisted Coco's knickers may have been, there's no excuse for unsportsmanlike conduct like that. She could have put Chevy on long-term injury leave. And if she was trying to win Hawksley over, this clearly wasn't the move to do it with. He even spent the rest of the evening making sure Chevy was okay." LOU: "Maybe she just wanted to show them both what she thought of them sneaking around behind her back. Or maybe she was just a pissed-off teenager. Either way, this was my highlight moment of the week in a week full of highlights. And it was going to get even crazier." TOM: "You're not kidding. After all, this move got everyone's attention - even some very unexpected parties." (Coco vs Chevy: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012138.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 2: DJAMILA VERSUS AYALA ==*== TOM: "But before we get to that, our next match was Djamila versus Ayala." LOU: "Oh, yeah. I watched this one personally. Zog was there, too." TOM: "Really? I didn't notice either of you in the footage, and Zog's pretty hard to miss." LOU: "We were in the V.I.P. room. Or at least, that's what they told us." TOM: "Sounds like they just wanted to keep the lecherous ogres away from the dancers." LOU: "I doubt it. Zog's not that - hey!" TOM: "This was a much friendlier exhibition than Coco versus Chevy." LOU: "As I'm sure our next clip will demonstrate." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- "Well done, Ayala, you caught me off guard. I must admit." She starts swinging her hips while she talks. "I am proud of you." Winds build up around her, and she starts chanting the humming sound. Letting the wind soothe her leg out. "Give me more, Ayala." She smiles. "Come on!" She keeps undulating her hips. COMBATSYS: Djamila makes the om sound and wind chi flies around her for a short moment. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Friendlier, indeed." LOU: "I mean, setting is one thing, but I thought that was kinda suggestive." TOM: "I think you might be reading too much into it, Lou. This was just a match between two young ladies who get along well." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- Djamila starts undulating her hips again. Soon the wind can be felt, and she soothes herself again as she hums. It always takes a bit out of her when she does, but she can pace herself. The wind is her friend. "More Ayala, give me more." COMBATSYS: Djamila makes the om sound and wind chi flies around her for a short moment. "Djamila want more?" Ayala frowns, confused, but also a little incensed, noticing Djamila is doing the same sort of meditation thing she had done just earlier. The cavelady isn't used to being ignored like that, so she stalks over and wrenches free one of the stage lights, likely one of the metal-framed strobes--and launches it at Djamila to knock her out of her trance! "Ayala will give you more--hrnnghh--" she grunts as she tosses the heavy thing, letting it sail toward her! "Yes more." Djamila keeps undulating her hips. "Give me all you got Ayala. All of it!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Okay, maybe it was a little suggestive." LOU: "And not quite as friendly as it started. Ayala was frustrated at the lack of aggression from Djamila." TOM: "We can't forget that Djamila was going into this after a vicious attack earlier in the week, so she might have been off her game." LOU: "She was showing off some new moves, though, like this here." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- COMBATSYS: Djamila interrupts Fling from Ayala with #Drama Queen#. "I know when to bid my time. That's what I am doing with him too." The front door slams open as Ayala prepares itself. Winds gather already around her. Some seem to speed her up. Some just flow around her. Then Ayala attacks. She grabs Djamila and throws her, but the wind grows stronger. Djamila lands hard on her feet, feeling it, but then starts lifting with a sort of mini tornado. She brings Ayala with her, and the poles nearby are shaking heavily, wanting to give away and join the duo for some nasty fun. Once they are both in the air and face to face, Djamila unleashes a flurry of staff blows. At one point, one of the poles gives away and slams at Ayala. It is angry wind alright. Not the calm wind usually around Djamila. But after the flurry of hits, The wind calms down, and Djamila gives one last blow, to slam Ayala back down to the ground, before gliding down herself. After that, she is panting and perhaps even sobbing. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Always interesting to see fighters unleash some new 'tech,' as they call it. In the end, though, aggression won out, as shown in our last highlight for the match." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- She forces her legs to work and she starts running toward Ayala. Then she uses her staff like an Olympic pole. She uses it to launch herself in a jump kick toward Ayala's chest if she is lucky. Now bruises can be seen where clothes are not covering her. It's taking its toll. COMBATSYS: Ayala interrupts Butterfly from Djamila with Spin Kick. - Power hit! - [ \\\ < > ///////// ] Djamila 1/-----==/=======|====---\-------\0 Ayala "Ayala no give up... never--Ayala die before she give--" Ayala is quite winded from this, but she's nowhere near down, or out. As Djamila pole-vaults at her again, Ayala pushes herself with all her strength and with a beastial roar--she jumps up to meet Djamila--her converse-sneaker clad foot spinning as it impacts with her--Ayala herself getting thrown to the ground and taking a rough tumble on the way down--rolling a few times before she uses her hands and nails--dragging them against the ground to come to a stop, on all fours. COMBATSYS: Djamila can no longer fight. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "The moral of the story is, showboating is great - I mean, dance all you want - but sooner or later, you gotta hit your opponent. Djamila was waiting for openings; Ayala was making openings." TOM: "It did seem as though Ayala spent a lot more of the match on the offensive. An impressive effort to take down an opponent much higher in the standings." LOU: "Kudos indeed. You should have seen Zog's reaction to Ayala winning. Unfortunately, by the time he was done dancing around, Ayala had already left, so he never got a chance to get her autograph. He wanted her to sign his belly." TOM: "I'm sorry that I missed it." (Djamila vs Ayala: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012139.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 3: ICHIKA VERSUS BRIAN STORM ==*== TOM: "Well, you know what time it is, Lou." LOU: "That's right! It's yet another match with BRIAN STOOO-" TOM: "BRIAN STOOO-" LOU: "- wait! No!" -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- There's a clattering sound from the shadows and a muffled exclamation of 'Oh crap!' in the darkness. A few seconds letter, a musclebound figure emerges into the light of the overhead fixtures before Ichika, scrap parts rolling away from his feet as he comes into view. Apart from yellow full-leg tights, yellow elbow pads, and the yellow mask with compound eye visors that hides his face from view, the wrestler is covered in a multitude of black belts, a black codpiece, black boots, and false insect wings on his back, creating an allusion that sits in the uncanny valley adjacent to the image of a giant man-bee. "WHAT'S ALL THE BUZZ ABOUT?" thunders a familiar voice from behind the mask. "THAT'S RIGHT - IT'S BRIAN SWAAAAARRRRMMM!!!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- BOTH: "BRIAN SWAAAAARRRRMMM!!!" LOU: "Yup! Nobody shocks the world better than Brian Storm, and his new gimmick this week left everybody buzzing." TOM: "Indeed. Environmentally conscientious, visually striking - and inspiring, as always. He even got his opponent on board with his message." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- Ichika can't keep the smile off her face, now. Turning back to Brian, she gives him her full and total attention. Bright blue eyes glimmer in the darkness, and her fingers curl around the hilt of her sword. "The bee population has declined by over sixty per cent in the last fifty years!" She declares, bafflingly. She really has to SHOUT to make herself heard over the machinery, but she gives it her best... and Ichika definitely has a good set of lungs on her. "Whilst you are my enemy today, BRIAN SWARM, and I shall give it my all to overcome you, it is important to remember that our REAL foes are the POLLUTING INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX which threatens biodiversity worldwide!" The girl settles into a low stance, ready to draw her blade, cracks her neck, and grins. For all the serious, grim situations she's had to deal with lately - a fight with a wrestling electric-powered bee-man might be just what she needs to take her mind off it. "Come, then! Let us see which of us tastes the STING OF DEFEAT, and who shall enjoy the NECTAR OF VICTORY!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "And celebrity spotters will have noticed Lucky Chloe in the crowd. Unfortunately, it seems she was mostly there to fulfil harmful blonde stereotypes. -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- "He's a bee!" she gasps, alongside many other members of the crowd, who she can now see clearly as they emerge from the shadows to get a look at the bizarrely dressed Brian. "Why are all these people on our date?" she wonders. "Oh, is this some kind of environmental protest? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "Tom, people these days don't even think of stereotypes when it comes to blondes, other than that they tend to be wealthy and have great hair. See, I had the latest goss on Chloe's part in all this buzz-iness. According to the Pretty Kitty Fanclub newsletter, she asked Brian on a date, and he decided this match would be their date." TOM: "I see! So this was the first NFG match to double as a date for one of the competitors. I'm starting to understand why people compare this league to a soap opera. By the way, Pretty Kitty Fanclub?" LOU: "I'm a member for professional and journalistic purposes, Tom. How else would I have the latest goss about who Lucky Chloe's dating?" TOM: "Fair enough." LOU: "And speaking of keeping up with the kids, a certain turn of phrase showed up again here." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- "I see you're not holding back," Bee-rian declares, mask turning momentarily toward his fresh injury before back to Ichika. "I'm glad to see it. Give it your ass, Kasumoto-san!" Apparently Brian, too, is up on the latest lingo. "Because I know I will!" Spinning forward, the masked wrestler throws his arms out to either side, electricity arcing around his extended limbs as he somehow rushes toward Ichika while whirling like a propeller - aiming to crash his fists or forearms into the younger fighter repeatedly! "My... ass?" Ichika blinks, genuinely confused. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "I hear that if it gets used in broadcast two more times, Webster's will have to include it in the next edition." TOM: "What a time we live in." LOU: "And while I encourage all our viewers at home to watch the VOD for this one if they missed the match, there's one more thing we definitely gotta highlight - Ichika's first win in the competition." TOM: "Absolutely! This feels like it could be a real turning point for Kasumoto-san. Brian Storm is no joke, and her victory over him was clean." LOU: "Team Thunder's investment seems to finally be paying off in the standings, and between this match and Ayala's win, every active fighter in the NFG has at least one competitive draw or better under their belt." (Brian Storm vs Ichika: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012142.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 4: HAWKSLEY VERSUS BUCK ==*== TOM: "So, if our viewers will remember, we alluded to the fact that there would be further fallout from Coco's late hit on Chevy. This match took place the very next day - and as we're fairly certain, Hawksley was at the center of that rivalry." LOU: "And get this. Hawksley shows up to this match in the same clothes he was wearing the day before. And who's he with? Chevelle Beaumont." TOM: "Even I'll admit that this must have come as a real slap in the face to Constance Coalbridge, if the rumours about her prior relationship with Hawksley are true." LOU: "This might have been the long game for Chevy all along. Trigger Coco into doing something reprehensible, then seduce Hawksley. It's the wounded gazelle gambit, except instead of wounding herself, she gets Coco to do it." TOM: "That sounds much too far for Chevy. I doubt she'd orchestrate something that manipulative. Anyway, there are rumours that others in the NFG were already conspiring against Coco by the time that she showed up for this fight, where she seemed to give Hawksley the cold shoulder after providing him with a change of clothes." LOU: "It was almost like she was letting him out of prison or something, but I doubt he was out of the doghouse. And you're right about that cold shoulder - she was an ice queen in a bikini." TOM: "We could get completely lost in the context, but the match itself was spectacular as well." LOU: "I wouldn't say that Hawksley singing his own theme song because he forgot his music was spectacular." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- When he returns from the bathroom, Hawksley is like a different fella. Dressed in his usual blue jeans and white sneakers, whilst showing off a topless and tanned torso, he strides across the sand towards the battle pit, high fiving some of his supporters on the way. Although he's now in possession of his phone charger, he's not had a chance to plug it in and therefore, today's theme song will be sung by the fighter himself. It's a voice more suitable to a punk band than a boy band that starts to belt out the lyrics from his favourite band. "Fortune comes around, here in this town, it can keep you down. That life has me in a grip, I forfeit and I give it a sip. It can happen for everyone, it's just a matter of condition. It always seems outrageous till it's done." "Go! Fight! Win!" What he lacks in melody, he makes up for in volume. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "We'll have to agree to disagree, Lou. I thought it was a great display of showmanship and adaptability." LOU: "I thought it was 'cringe,' as the kids say." TOM: "I think they'd say he gave it his ass." LOU: "I'd say that's a pretty good description, actually." TOM: "And despite the palpable tension surrounding the match, the fighters themselves seemed to be having a good-natured brawl." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- Buck tries to smack away the incoming fists with his own open palm strikes, but he can't quite seem to get the right rhythm to his strikes, and his oppenent gets in a good blow to his chest that has him stumbling back a few steps. "Like gettin' kicked by a mule." He says with a grin as he rubs at his chest, even if it was a punch. But he's on his back foot for a moment and trying to get his guard back up, leaving at least something of an opening for Hawksley. "Ah, you'll be grand. We'll have a bit of a brawl and then a few beers. Unless you're set on sticking to the slushies," Hawksley says. As he sends the other slugger stumbling, he steps into him. "I've been called an ass a few times but never a mule." He pushes up from the pit, making a grab for Buck and trying to force him into a side headlock. If he manages to maneuver thus, he will start to punch him repeatedly in the head. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "These guys are definitely a couple of scrappers at heart. They wouldn't let anything get in the way of having a good, honest fight." TOM: "Though somebody did manage to distract Hawksley from the action, if only for a moment." (Continued in next post!)

-=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- Coco appears mostly to be observing the match dispassionately - nearly as dispassionately as her dozing bearcat - which is rather contrary to her usual stance when it comes to her frequent appearances as a spectator for Hawksley. Normally, she would either be cheering him on, or shouting her displeasure for him even more vigorously, depending on what he's done to placate or infuriate her this week. Still taking her time covering herself in lotion, she's working on her left leg when she does eventually interject her own commentary into the din of the match: "Come on, Buck! Maul him like you mean it!" Pushing himself up and out of the pit, Hawksley ducks down to pick up some driftwood that's somehow got past the standards of the security team. Lifting it up and then smacking it against his other palm to test the weight, he's about to leap back into action when he hears the bolshy Brit bringing her support to Buck. He turns to look at her, calling "Hey, Constance. I've got a present for you." Lifting his middle finger, he flips her off, before focusing back on his opponent. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Not a lot of team loyalty being shown by Coco, there." LOU: "Hey, at least cheering for his opponent shows she cares. Other than that, Coco couldn't even be assed to watch the match." TOM: "Indeed. When she wasn't busy lotioning herself up, she was reading a copy of 'How To Keep Your Woman.'" LOU: "Very subtle." TOM: "Despite the differences in their styles, it's hard not to draw some parallels between Buck and Hawksley. I've heard that they even both have a technique dubbed 'Burn Out.'" LOU: "Yup - Hawksley used his to start the match, and Buck used his to finish it." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- Like the last time he goes repeatedly pounded in the skull, Buck pulls something of a similar trick, his own skull seeming to grow thicker as horns slide out of his brow, but these ones sweep back. The last headbutt sends him reeling backwards but he's already taking in a deep breath, reptilian visage turning onto the flaming Irishman. He opens his mouth, showing Hawksley just a moment of a flash at the back of his throat, then he unleashes a gout of chi flames from his open mouth, the force of it evan making Buck take a step back to brace himself as the rush out in a wide, blazing arc in front of him. He lets out a grunting laugh as they cut off with his face returning to normal. "HA! Take.." He rocks forward, catching himself with a quick step. "Take th..." And he never manages to finish as he tilts forward and lands right in the warm sand with a rather solid thud, lazy curls of smoke drifting up into the air from his mouth and nostrils. Hawksley tries to get out of the path of this fearsome foe, he really does, but the flames find his face, scorching his skin and singing the strands of hair that find their way there. He's determined to stay on his feet, he's -fighting- to do it, but he's starting to feel faint now and it's so bloody hot. As his legs buckle, he falls backwards into the pit, landing close to the fallen Thunder fighter. Will they share the same fate? It seems the Celtic man doesn't want to concede. He pushes himself forwards on to his hands and knees to try and clamber back up... COMBATSYS: Hawksley takes no action. COMBATSYS: Hawksley has reached second wind! He just about manages it. He's bruised, he's burned, he's breathless, but most importantly he's still standing. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "These guys really went all out. You could see that it took sheer determination for Hawksley to stay standing after Buck's fire breath and take the victory." LOU: "And that would've been a dramatic enough ending for the match, but somebody had to come in and literally steal the show." (Continued in next post!)

-=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #4 -=*=- Rrrrr... It's easy to miss the sound of the motorcycle as the fight comes to its climax. There's a lot of noise at moments like these! .. rrRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNN! It's more difficult to miss it when the bike ramps off the boardwalk and comes down in an arcing skid across the sand, sending up a gritty spray across the crowd. Right in front of Coco. The bike itself is impressive enough. Jet black with purple detailing and LEDs in the wheels, it looks more like something out of a cyberpunk thriller than the kind of thing you'd see tearing down Sunshine City's street. The rider is something else entirely. The helmet is full-face, purple, with stylized devil horns. She's wearing a tight-fitting purple bodysuit which should cover her from neck to ankle, unzipped to show a frankly scandalous amount of cleavage. One arm snatches out to wrap around Coco. If the British socialite isn't very quick indeed, she'll find herself being slung up onto the rider's shoulder like a sack of particularly shapely potatoes. One might think that this is a terrible decision when it comes to safe riding. That does not seem to be a concern that the kidnaper shares. "Don't worry." Comes a mocking voice from within the helmet. One whose casual menace should be familiar enough to anyone who had been present at the draft; whatever else she might be, Juri Han is not an easy woman to forget. "I'll bring her back in one piece. Probably." And if she has her prize, the (ex?)-Shadaloo assassin will be wheeling her way back around and up the beach at shocking speed, with only cackling laughter and dire questions left in her wake. Suddenly, Coco's being hauled off her arse and onto the back of a motorcycle. Silver eyes wide, Coco doesn't have enough time to consider her reaction before the violent lurching of the motorcycle gives her only one option: clinging to the rider in front of her for dear life. "What the fuuu--" Morgie, for his part, lifts his head up and looks toward the departing form of his bikini-clad caretaker before pushing himself languorously up to his feet. Then, turning around toward Coco's handbag, he leans over it, sticks his head in, and pulls out a bag of grapes. Ripping into it, he starts chowing down at his leisure, without a further care in the world. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "That someone, of course, is Captain Morgan, Coco's pet binturong." TOM: "I think that the motorcyclist abducting Constance Coalbridge was a bit more of a showstopper than the sleepy bearcat eating grapes." LOU: "I bet Morgie would get more hits on FightTube, but yes, I was being ironic." TOM: "This resulted in Hawksley teaming up with members of Team Thunder to storm Team Frost's headquarters in a rescue attempt. Officially, this chain of events was sanctioned as a coordinated training exercise between teams." LOU: "Oh, good. I wouldn't want to think that league officials would allow sponsors to just kidnap each other and basically start a gang war outside of the official matchups." TOM: "Of course they wouldn't, Lou." (Hawksley versus Buck: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012144.shtml) (The Princess Peach Maneuver (followup): http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012148.shtml) (Titanic Trouble (rescue log #1): http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012152.shtml) (Titanic Trouble (rescue log #2): http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012154.shtml) (Holding Out For The Heroes (rescue log #3): http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012149.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 5: KENZO VERSUS BUFORD ==*== TOM: "And now for something completely different: the match between Kenzo and Buford. I'm not entirely clear on where the heat came from for this one, but this had all the hallmarks of a showdown between absolute rivals." LOU: "I'll tell you where the heat came from: Kenzo. He's got some major beef with Buford. And if you want to know why? All you gotta do is watch Buford's arrival." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- Buford seemed a bit different. Maybe it was that confident swagger as that towering Canadian strutted along the the side of the canals. Maybe it was the long, strange bamboo sheath he kept over his shoulder, concealing a blade within. Maybe it was the fact he was wearing a bright pink bathrobe, tied around the waist by a thick rope. But as the self-proclaimed Samurai stride (strode?) ((Stridden)) forward, he approaches his rival, unaware of the rage, unaware of what had happened. And unaware of his own danger. "So, the so-called gadget ninja has finally faced off against me." Buford states contemptuously. "It is fortuitous, then, that you face a sort of reborn Buford! You may not be aware, but like the caterpillar that has found itself in the chrysalis, or the cicada of summer having come from the shell, I am in the midst of a transformation of sorts. And, hmm hmm, like the cicada, you certainly shall hear my cry." Buford levels the bamboo sheath before him, licking his lips nervously as he shakes off his anxiety. "And while I, too, have to rely on a certain modification of sorts, know this: I come practically naked against you! No tricks!" Buford extends a hairy leg forward from within the bathrobe, leaning as he shoulders his bamboo sheath. "The only tool I need is the blade, my code of samurai honor..." And he rattles his bamboo sheath. "And a personal mister my sensai has installed in the hilt of my reforged blade!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "I'm not sure what the problem is." LOU: "Tell me, Tom, does 'bathrobe samurai' sound like a title for someone who respects Japanese culture?" TOM: "Perhaps not. Kenzo then proceeded to express himself in a cryptic haiku." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- After a moment, Kenzo speaks the first words he has spoken since he arrived to this fight location. "Oblivious fool, Divorced from reality A false samurai." With that Kenzo is a sudden blur immediately eating up the space between the two fighters. As sudden as his movement from where he was to right in front of Buford was, the slash from the sickle is even more sudden. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- LOU: "I don't think that was particularly cryptic. This fight definitely got juiced when Buford decided to reply with a haiku of his own." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- Pivoting, Buford throws his full weight as he lurches and surges (lurges as it were) right back at Kenzo. With it, he swings his lacquer bamboo sheath with a savage overhead strike aiming squarely upon Kenzo's brainpan, the bloodied-breasted ronin mewls out his own haiku in retort. Edgeless, yes, but still a brutal headache (and the actual attack is pretty bad too). "All Knowing Ninja, Depends On His Toys?! He Is Blind To His Folly" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Indeed, a lot of fans were dazzled by the NFG's first-ever haiku battle. However, none moreso than this young fan." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #4 -=*=- With the gear shifting up yet another notch, the speed of both fighters on full display, Raiza finds herself bouncing on her feet, plastic bottle and cardboard box crinkling as her grip unconsciously tightens. She wants to cheer, but she can't decide who for. For Kenzo, the sleek ninja with a shared affinity for lightning, an aspirational figure for what she wants to be? Or for the rugged and relatable Buford, whose heart, like hers, lies across the sea from the land of his birth, and whose voracity for Japanese culture is, like hers, beyond his capacity to fully digest? A scantly-visible heat fills her face, causing her whole body to tingle. She can't choose. She wants them both to stay locked like this, in the sultry embrace of battle, for all time. She has to express that desire somehow. Finally, she throws both hands up in the air, spraying the area around her with soda and Pocky crumbs. "BUFORD AND KENZO OH-TEE-PEE!" -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "As I'm sure you're aware, Lou, Oh-Tee-Pee means -" LOU: "One true pairing. Of course I'm aware, Tom; I'm a member of the Pretty Kitty Fanclub." TOM: "Of course. ...Would you say that we're a sort of Oh-Tee-Pee, Lou?" LOU: "I'm feeling far too tsun-tsun to acknowledge that comment, Tom." TOM: "Fair enough. I'll ask again when you're feeling more dere-dere. Anyway, Kenzo proved the ultimate victor in this match, chalking another one up for his streak and proving his dominance in the rivalry." LOU: "But not as the seme to Buford's uke." TOM: "Not outside the minds of certain teenage female fans, anyway." (Buford vs Kenzo: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012140.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 6: NIXIE VERSUS SARAH ==*== TOM: "And here was Nixie Greene's return to the NFG scene. Apparently she'd gotten over whatever it was that had put her out of commission last round." LOU: "And it was back to business as usual - and as usual, business was booming." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- Nixie was expected Sarah to go in close, after all it's kind of hard to dance battle someone from a distance. She intends to exploit that until Sarah proves otherwise. A magic sigil appears underneath her opponent's feet. She better be quick on her feet if she doesn't want to detonate the explosive rune she's just placed on the ground. COMBATSYS: Nixie successfully hits Sarah with Mine Mayhem. [ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ < > //////////////////////// ] Nixie 0/-------/------=|===----\-------\0 Sarah Mines? Here? That's a bit of an explosive-- BOOM! Unfortunately, Sarah just misses and is knocked back by the explosion onto her back, but she rolls backwards and gets onto her feet again. "Whoa, now that's something I've never seen before!" Sarah says, her expression still as excited as ever. She gets back into her ginga stance, although there's a slight hint of pain on her left foot as she does this. Apparently, going barefoot when something like that happens can be painful. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "I see what you did there, Lou. This was a pretty straight fight - as far as any fights with Nixie can be called." LOU: "She's very resourceful, that Nixie." TOM: "And a straight win, too. Funnily enough, nobody in the NFG has proven that they can handle an opponent who brings literal bombs to their fights." LOU: "Don't forget the sharpened straw. Nixie's got that max-security-prison mentality that gives her the edge over the soft souls of her opponents." (Nixie vs Sarah: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012147.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 7: TAMAKI VERSUS IRIS ==*== TOM: "Do you ever have one of those days where it just doesn't go your way, Lou?" LOU: "Every day we aren't on broadcast together, Tom." TOM: "Aww, you do care after all." LOU: "Now get back on your segue before it drives off without you." TOM: "Right. Well, this match was one of those for one of our fighters." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- The cameras are in place, the official representative watching, the crowd that always seems to be present at an event like this getting as close as they're allowed to - and the traditional bell sounds. Tamaki gives it about two seconds before she steps, pivoting about halfway so her side faces Iris. Her tail lifts and flicks, a blob of roughly shaped chi detaching from the last third or so and rushing toward Iris in a vaguely oblong shape! Tamaki finishes her step, adopting a lazy stance afterwards. It looks too casual to fight in, and very loose. COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Iris with Swaying Tail. The fight is actually like, starting-starting, and Iris has to deal with a... well, frankly she doesn't know what that is. This is probably why she squares off with the incoming chi blob like a soccer goalie, which is almost certainly the wrong mindset, because a goalie is attempting to CATCH the ball and what Iris should be doing is AVOIDING the ball, which she spectacularly fails to do at the very last second, getting an orb to the face, snapping her head back a bit. There's a brief pause, before she leans forward, and then straightens. "Bloody ow," is all she can think of to say. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- The apparent laziness of Tamaki's stance is of no consequence to somebody who is mostly making it up as she goes along, truly, but when Iris suddenly swings forward on the attack, it's not COMPLETELY incompetent-seeming. Ducking in low, the British wizard swings her arm (and empty hand) around, which suddenly manifests, right before it would impact the tanuki, a one-handed mace in that empty hand in a burst of rainbow sparks, the mace head itself swirling with frost. Apparently Iris is committed to this, however, because the swing turns itself into a second, and then a third swing, all rather more smoothly connected than one might expect, a new weapon appearing each time: the mace followed by a gladius crackling with lightning, and finally a flail that emits a burst of wind on contact. COMBATSYS: Tamaki dodges Iris' Teiwaz - Justicar's Mercy ES. Tamaki leans back so far it looks like she's going to tip over backwards, the frozen mace brushing past the hem of her shirt. She rises, but with a weaving, staggering step that makes her a frustrating target. Iris seems to want to stay in close, and Tamaki does too, using her proximity and her erratic, evasive maneuvers to keep one (metaphorical) step ahead of the weaponry. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #3 -=*=- Oh right: in said raised hand is the handle of a bullwhip. In the Looney Tunes version of this fight, the camera follows the length of the whip itself down and across the floor to find that while she was, shall we say, 'escaping' that throw, the mage summoned the weapon and let it lie there, meaning all she has to do NOW is make a snap motion with her wrist, attempting to snag it instantly around Tamaki's ankles and send her crashing to the floor. Or maybe into a nearby stand full of avocados. Or something. Which is totally what she does, by the way. COMBATSYS: Tamaki blocks Iris' Medium Throw. Tamaki's gaze is drawn to the whip in Iris' hand. "Ah," she says, just a moment before Iris snags it around her ankles. And that does indeed happen. Tamaki barely even tries to stop it; she instead turns so that she doesn't land on her gourd tokkuri and curls up. She curls up a lot, in fact, to the point that when she does hit the ground she actually starts to roll, redirecting the throw and turning into a repeated forward somersault at Iris to basically slam into her lower legs and bowl her over. The fruit stands are saved from disaster! (Briefly! Because THAT certainly won't last.) Whether she hits or not, it leaves Tamaki sprawled on her back, dizzy from spinning end-over-end. "Houf," she huffs out, less a word and more just a sound effect. She reaches for her jug, uncorks it, tries to take a swig and misses, splashing what smells like sake across her throat and collarbone. COMBATSYS: Tamaki successfully hits Iris with Medium Kick. This is truly not going Iris's way, this fight. The whip thing was a gamble that sort of paid off, but nowhere in the various combat manuals she's read and self-defense classes she's taken was there anything about how to defend against a youkai going full Sonic the Hedgehog at you inside a grocery store. Squinting, Iris shrugs, and decides the best thing to do is to make a sprightly step backwards. This would work great, if there weren't a display right behind her that she didn't notice, because her last attack on Tamaki didn't require turning around. The Brit has a moment to turn her head, go "Aw, sh--" and then Tamaki literally knocks her INTO THE DISPLAY, all of which goes down on top of her with a vaguely plastic-sounding rattling sound. At least it wasn't canned goods, right? For a moment, there is nothing but silence and debris, before Iris erupts out of what appears to be a stack of bottles of chai-flavored bottled ice tea like an Arrakis sandworm. "Okay. I think I need... a second, here." She doesn't go back on the offensive. She DOES, however, grab a bottle of the tea and accidentally makes like her opponent, uncapping it and taking a big swig before wiping her mouth and tossing the empty bottle over her shoulder. "Not bad but I don't know that I'd drink that WARM again, ugh." -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "It did feel a bit like Iris couldn't catch a break this fight." LOU: "Even the iced tea was warm. This was just one of those matches. It's hard to tell exactly what went wrong for Iris, considering how hard Tamaki is to read, but honestly, luck always comes into it, sooner or later." TOM: "And Tamaki's never been a slouch in her time in the NFG. Well, maybe literally, but not in terms of match performance." LOU: "When you've got two magic users throwing around totally different flavours of sorcery - which I am by no means an expert on - you gotta expect some chaos. I definitely still rate Iris as a competitor." (Tamaki vs Iris: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012150.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

==*== MATCH 8: JOHN DOE VERSUS GENIE ==*== TOM: "And last, but not least, we have John Doe versus Genie." LOU: "I gotta say, there seemed to be some real romantic tension going on between these two." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #1 -=*=- "A-ah! You are very strong, Mister Doe!" Genie musters, taking a careful backstep before adjusting her footing. She steps up and hops into a taekwondo style spin kick--but as she does, she seems to float just a little unnaturally to keep herself in the air long enough to deliver it. "Yrmfhtf..." the actor murmurs shyly in response, still grinning as he sways back onto his heels and takes a moment to shake out his aching fists. Though he won't meet her eye, she can sense the brief spark of pleasure at her complement, the excitement that thrills through him as she moves to engage him. "We really should be devoting this time to meditation." Miranda calls from the corner, both hands now clutching at her silk shawl while she looks on with pointed disapproval. That happy excitement flickers with the spiritual adviser's rebuke, sputtering like a candle in the wind. Still, it does not die, his shoulders remaining square as the pink-haired Swiss Miss comes leaping in, foot ploughing into his side with a solid THUMP. The force of it threatens to topple him over, but the sturdy young man leans into it, arms reaching to try and catch her around the waist before she can fall. If he can secure that grip he will draw her in close, cheek pressed into her upper belly and hips crushed against his chest as he flops forward into a crude slam, attempting to plough down atop her into a messy clinch. Fortunately for them both he isn't a sweaty mess, his grip cool, clearly still fresh this early in the bout. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "I'm sure it's difficult for an impressionable young lady like Genie not to be somewhat smitten with a handsome young man like John Doe." LOU: "I think the feeling mighta been mutual. I swear I saw him wink at Genie." -=*=- FOOTAGE: HIGHLIGHT #2 -=*=- Genie reacts in a panic, leaning out of the way as she seems to almost be thrown clear of the punch by some unseen force. She skids along the uncarpeted portion of the floor, briefly, before bumping into a bookshelf as a brake. It wobbles on its feet. "Oh, my apologies!" she says to no one in particular, while meanwhile a decoration--what looks to be a football-sized stone elephant, rumbles on the top of the shelf dangerously. When it falls, Genie squeaks, raising her hands over her head--as the brief glow of an aura not unlike her shield encapsulates it and throws it like a fast pitch right toward the other fighter! COMBATSYS: John Doe blocks Genie's Thrown Object. Lurching to an unsteady halt in the wake of his whiffed punch, John Doe glances to the side to track Genie's sliding escape with wide eyes. Seeing the wobbling elephant that threatens to fall on her, he begins to lift a hand, to grunt out some sort of warning, when the shell of power catches it out of the air and flings it toward him like a little stone missile. "GRRFK!" Acting on instinct, the actor pivots toward the projectile, hands coming together to catch it with the loud SMACK of stone striking skin. The force of the launch still drives his arms back against his chest, sneakers scuffing a step backward, but he is soon holding the decoration up with a triumphant smile, clutched carefully in both hands. Caught up in the moment, all shyness forgotten, JD offers Genie a wink, turning to place the elephant statue gently in the lap of a stuffed moose with a bow tie. That done, he dusts his hands off, combs his hair back with his fingers, and spreads his arms wide, dropping into a low crouch. "A-ah, sorry," Genie apologizes. "It was a reflex. I am very glad that it was not broken!" Despite money being no object for the Swiss miss, she does seem to have respect for other people's things at the very least. But her grace and poise is swiftly disrupted when John Doe winks at her, causing the young woman to turn bright red. Her poise is further destroyed when he flops forward into a face-first dive and slides toward the woman's shins. Genie backsteps, pulling her legs toward her in a tight guard, but it only does so much against the impact. When JD hits her she almost tumbles over again, barely maintaining her footing. "Oh, how--unorthodox!" Genie seems to have struggled for the right word. Even so, she doesn't skip a beat. Instead, the woman draws back her hands and starts gathering her mysterious power, which slowly shapes itself into what looks like the rough approximate shape of a warhammer. She brings it around overhead, the object weighing much less for her than the real thing would as she drives it downward in an overhead strike. COMBATSYS: Genie successfully hits John Doe with Par-Lui-Fet. -=*=- END FOOTAGE -=*=- TOM: "Well, I guess that's one way to express a crush on your opponent." LOU: "I see what you did there, Tom." TOM: "This one seemed like a very close fight - but in the end, John managed to continue his win streak, perhaps not just winning the match, but also the heart of a fair maiden." LOU: "He's got game, in more ways than one." (John Doe vs Genie: http://motm.kicks-ass.net/log/idx/0012146.shtml) (Continued in next post!)

TOM: "So, let's take a look at the points standings after Round 3." LOU: "Let's." The points come up on the display. ================================ NFG - Points ================================ End of Round Three Nixie - 17 Points Hawksley - 17 Points Coco - 17 Points Tamaki - 16 Points John Doe - 14 Points Djamila - 13 Points Kenzo - 13 Points Sarah - 12 Points Genie - 11 Points Ichika - 11 Points Buford - 10 Points Chevy - 10 Points Ayala - 10 Points Iris - 9 Points Buck - 9 points Brian Storm - 8 Points TEAM METAL - 60 Points TEAM BLAZE - 51 Points TEAM THUNDER - 46 Points TEAM FROST - 43 Points ============================================================================== TOM: "As you can see, we've had some shifts in the standings. Especially notable, I would say, are John Doe and Kenzo moving up into the upper bracket, and Ayala and Ichika pulling themselves out of the bottom. It feels so strange that Brian Storm is still dead last in the standings. I mean, we all respect him as a fighter and as a person, but he just can't pull out a win." LOU: "He might be last place in the standings, but he ain't last place in our hearts." TOM: "I'd say Buford and Coco are in fierce competition for that position." LOU: "Some may agree, but Coco's joint first in the actual standings. I doubt she'll care what people think of her methods any more than Nixie does. You remember what she did to Brian, don't you?" TOM: "If only I could forget, Lou. But do you feel that?" LOU: "Feel what?" Sure enough, the camera starts to shake, and Tom and Lou lurch about as if tossed around by an earthquake. TOM: "It feels like a..." BOTH: "...RUUUUMBBBLLLE!!!" (Continued in next post!)