The Real Queen

==========

Scene 1

Off Camera

==========

We’re on the outskirts of London, England in the parking lot, half-full, of a wrestling school, the Braddock Wrestling School to be precise.  And the person we see approaching this school is a person that has been missing for quite some time, a person who had, up until now, dropped off the face of the earth…

…Julia Alexis Braddock.

It has been years since this woman had been allowed out on the surface.  Up until just recently she had been chained up and buried deep down in Julia’s soul, replaced by the very ladylike, very regal Julia Alexis Noel.

The woman walking towards the Braddock Wrestling School looks far from regal in blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a plain, raggedy t-shirt with her long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail in the back.  But how did it come to this point?  And why now?  Why here?

It goes back to the beginning of Julia’s wrestling career, a career marred with pressure to live up to the Braddock name; a name and legacy built up by the great British national champion Glenn Braddock and Julia’s cousin , Glenn’s daughter the thirteen time world champion and hall of fame pro-wrestler Glory Braddock.  Julia knew, she knew that she was destined for professional wrestling.  Julia knew that she had to follow in her family’s footsteps.

Unfortunately that also means that she had the epic Braddock legacy to live up to.  An uncle who was on the fast track to Olympic fame and a cousin who would go on to take that fame to a whole new  level and become a multi-time world champion.  Fair or unfair, fans across the world expected great things of the next Braddock to enter the world of pro-wrestling.

A few have that natural talent and ability to make a quick rise to the top.  Glory Braddock was among those rare individuals.  She had trained with her father in the art of the amateur Greco-Roman style before entering pro-wrestling.  On her debut night as a pro-wrestler she won a one-night tournament to win a vacant championship.

Not everyone can match that kind of instant success.  Julia knew that mentally but she still felt the pressure to perform up to that level and she just couldn’t do it.  Not that quickly.  Not that fast.  She felt the pressure not just form fans and wrestling observers, but from Glenn himself.  Glenn Braddock had been training Julia and he put a ton of pressure on her to succeed.  But that was his style.  He put that kind of pressure on all of his students, Glory included.

Julia couldn’t handle the pressure.  It got to her in a big way and she broke down; that break down led her to making a choice, one that she would live to regret.

Drugs.

Julia chose to use drugs as a means of putting herself and her nerves back together.  She chose drugs to help her maintain composure despite the pressure that was being placed upon her.  And for awhile the effects of the drugs were able to distract from her problems.

Then Aphrodite Noel came into the picture.

Somehow Aphrodite Noel had found out about the drug abuse and she used it to threaten Julia.  Not willing to bring shame to the family by having this dirty secret come out, Julia agreed to serve Aphrodite as her maid.  Little did Julia know servitude was just the beginning.

Aphrodite had much bigger plans for Julia.  It went so far that Aphrodite herself became Julia’s new drug.  For the longer she was with Aphrodite, the less pressure she felt.  No longer did she feel the pressure of having to live up to the Braddock name, for Aphrodite put it into her head that she could make her proud as her new daughter.

So she gave in and fully embraced the fantasy.  She fully embraced her role as Aphrodite’s daughter.  Being a pampered princess was a nice change of pace from being pressured by the Braddock legacy.  It seemed as if Julia had found the perfect way out.  She even gave back to Aphrodite, giving her the one crown jewel Aphrodite had wanted for a long time.

Julia set up Glory Braddock and, through master manipulation, she forced Gloria to put her freedom on the line in an impossible situation.  Gloria lost the gamble and thus Julia was successful in turning Glory into Aphrodite’s daughter, Julia’s younger “sister”.

In the present day Julia stops in front of the doors, the entrance into the Braddock Wrestling School.  She is hesitant to enter because she knows that the man inside is none other than Glenn Braddock himself and she knows that she is the one responsible for taking his daughter away from him.  It was a plan that sounded good at first.  She would turn Glory into a Noel, she would go from being a cousin in the Braddock family to a sister in the Noel family.  And by all accounts she would be responsible for the death of the Braddock family itself.  Surely Aphrodite would be pleased with her.  Surely she would be the favorite child.

Unfortunately Aphrodite started showering praise upon Glory Braddock, now known as Gloria Marie Noel.  Much like Julia, Gloria also fully embraced her role as a daughter of Aphrodite Noel.  Even though Julia was the one responsible for building this new “family”, she was still pushed aside, looked at as a second-class citizen.  Gloria was the favored child.  Julia was just there.

Julia has aired her grievances with Aphrodite but nothing came of it.  Aphrodite did try to distract Julia by assigning Mason Van Stanton to manage her career.  She then sent Julia to Independent Wrestling Cartel to compete, as a federation of her own to rule.

It merely pacifies Julia and sometimes it doesn’t even do that.  Granted she will get a chance to really impress her “mother” at Invictus when she challenges Marina Valdivia for the IWC Queen of the Ring Championship.  And even before that, she will get a match on New Age against another supposed Queen in the form of Selena Frost.

To defeat a woman who claims royalty and to bring home the Queen of the Ring Title would most definitely put her back in good graces with her “mother” but she is under no illusion that even victories over Selena Frost and Marina Valdivia would ever put her on the same level or above  with Glory.  Julia has accepted that in the eyes of Aphrodite Noel, Glory will always be her favorite child.

Which is what brings her to the Braddock Wrestling School today.  Julia realizes that she made a mistake.  As family, of course Glory would be Glenn’s favorite.  Glory, after all, is his daughter whereas Julia is just his niece.  But when it came to professional wrestling he treated them both the same.  As students they were always on equal footing in the eyes of Glenn Braddock.  Glenn had always been able to separate himself from being a father and from being a teacher.

And yet this is going to be the most challenging thing she has ever done.  She needs Glenn’s help but she is the one responsible for Glory’s current state of mind.  Will Glenn be interested in helping Julia now?

Julia takes in a deep breath and pulls the door open before stepping inside.  There are people inside, some working out, some sparring on a blue wrestling mat, others working out on the heavy bag.  Finally Julia finds who she is looking for, namely Glenn Braddock in a set-up pro-wrestling ring with a student.

“You need to understand one thing you little pencil neck!” Glenn almost resembles a military boot camp instructor in his teaching style. “In this ring no one gives a fuck who you are or what you’ve done.  It doesn’t matter one damn if you are famous or a nobody.  You’re on an even playing field between these ropes.  I can whip a nobody’s ass like you just as easily as I could whip Donald Trump’s ass if given the chance.  It’s all the same to me.  Are we fucking clear?”

Julia can’t help but smile.  Hearing him dress down this student like this brings back some memories.  It also makes her feel more and more as if she made the right decision by choosing to approach him.  She wants someone who understands that she just wants to be treated equally with her cousin Glory and not like a second-class citizen.  Glenn seems to understand that it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done, once that bell rings it’s just two wrestlers going at it.  Notoriety and popularity go out the window.

At that time Julia decides to approach the wrestling ring.  Making her way past other students, none of whom seem to recognize her, she steps up to the side, the ring apron.  She looks up at Glenn who seems to be giving more directions and orders.

“Now then, scumbag, I want you and me to spar.  You think…”

“Uncle Glenn.” Julia speaks out, hoping to get his attention.

“…you can handle that?”

“Uncle Glenn!”

She speaks out louder this time, causing Glenn to turn his head and stare at Julia.  The usual stone-faced resolve of Glenn, for a split second fades away, but he quickly recovers, narrowing his brow in what appears to be an angry glare.  Julia isn’t quite sure what he’ll say next but he turns to face the student instead.

“Go run the track…NOW!”

The student doesn’t even utter a word of protest.  He quickly exits the ring to hit the track and run.  Glenn then turns to face Julia.

“Get to my office.”

Julia nods and, without saying anything, turns and walks over to another set of doors.  She knows that these lead to a hallway, a hallway that leads to her uncle’s office.  Julia enters the hall and then finally into the office, an office marked with his name.  She’s done this many times before.  She knows it all too well.  She finds a seat on the comfortable red sofa at the back end of the office.  It isn’t long after that when Glenn Braddock himself comes storming into the office.  He slams the door shut behind him and Julia can sense the rage in his eyes.  She braces herself for the worst.

“You have some fucking nerve bringing your sorry ass here to my school!”

“Uncle Glenn, please…”

“NO!” He points an accusatory finger at Julia. “YOU listen to me, because I have a lot to say, a lot to get off of my chest ever since you went and did what you did!”

Julia shakes her head. “You don’t understand…”

“I understand that my daughter has disowned the family!  I understand that you and that Aphrodite bitch poisoned her mind!”

He storms over to Julia and stares over her threateningly, in an intimidating manner. “I was there for you.  I gave you everything you could ever want and you repay me by slapping me in the face and destroying my family.”

Glenn shakes his head. “I don’t care why you came.  I really do not care.  I just want you to leave.”

“Will you at least give me a chance?!” Julia begs, pleads with her hands folded. “That’s all I want!  Let me try to explain myself!”

“There is not a DAMN thing you can say that can change my mind!”  He walks over to his desk and sits down on it. “But go ahead…just choose your words carefully.  I am not in a good mood and you are no longer family, so I will punch you in the mouth.”

Julia knows that he means it.  She is cautious as she stands up.  “You were always a great wrestler, Glenn.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“It’s the truth.” She insists. “You were a tremendous amateur wrestler and would have been an Olympic Gold Medalist, the world knows it.  But your true greatness came with this school.  You continue to add to your legacy by training the next generation, among your many students was Glory Braddock.”

Julia shuts her eyes tight as she thinks about her next words. “I watched with awe as Glory competed in the ring.  I was so happy for her when she won her first world championship.   I cheered her on as she dominated MCW, GDW, and MWA.  It made me want to follow in her footsteps…in your footsteps.”

“Like hell you did!” Glenn speaks up, outraged. “You ruined this family!  You destroyed it!  You brainwashed Glory!  You even brainwashed her daughter….MY GRANDCHILD!”

“I did want to follow in the Braddock footsteps but do you understand how tough it is to live up to that?  You are a British National Champion.  Glory is a multi-time world champion.  There was tremendous pressure on me.  I gave in…I…”

“You went to Aphrodite Noel.” He growls.

“No, I went to drugs.”

Glenn blinks several times in confusion, genuinely stunned by this news.  The surprise of it causes his anger to be subsided, at least for now.

“Drugs?”

“I went to drugs first and Aphrodite found out about it.  She bailed me out when the drug dealers came after me wanting their money and she ended up getting me help.  She helped me break free of my drug problem.  But she also held that secret over my head.”

“I could have helped you, Julia.”

“You were among the hardest on me, Glenn.  As a teacher you were real hard on your students and I was worried also about the shame the news might bring upon the family.  So I stayed with her.”

Glenn studies her intensely for a few moments. “So she brainwashed you?”

“Somewhat.  It was…it was my jealousy that she used to brainwash me.” Tears form in her eyes. “I was jealous of Glory.  I was jealous of all the attention she got.  Everyone loved her and bragged on her and then there was me, the failure, the one who couldn’t seem to be quite as good as Glory Braddock.”

Despite his anger, Glenn hands Julia a box of tissues.  She nods in thanks as she takes the box and picks out a few tissues to wipe her eyes.

“At first I was just her maid but later Aphrodite treated me as her daughter.  And as her daughter I could sense she truly loved me.  I was her favorite…” she chuckles uneasily “…I was her only child.  But the jealousy was still there.  I wanted Glory to feel what I had felt for so long.  I wanted her to feel jealous of me, the favorite daughter of Aphrodite our mother.  So yes, I tricked Glory, I helped brainwash her even, and I made her my sister, a fellow daughter of Aphrodite Noel.”

She shakes her head vehemently. “But now things are back to the way they were before.  Glory is Aphrodite’s favorite.”

“Let me guess, you want me to change that?”

“I want an even playing field, Uncle Glenn.  What you said to that student out there, that’s all I want.  I want an even playing field.”

So that’s it, she has made her appeal to Glenn Braddock, her blood relative and the only man she can think of who may be able to help.  Now she watches his stoic, emotionless gaze, knowing full well that the wheels in his head are turning.  He is plotting out his next move, or maybe he knows his next move and he’s just trying to come up with the right words.

“I’m not your uncle.”

“What?”

“You made the decision to be a Noel.  You can live with it.  You are not a Braddock now, you are a Noel, I am NOT your uncle.”

Julia fights back the tears as she realizes that her hopes are lost.  She nods her head. “Ok, I understand…”

Julia starts to walk away, but then…

“Get your ass back here.”

Julia stops dead in her track and turns to face Glenn. “Huh?”

He points at the red sofa she had been sitting on earlier. “Sit down.”

She can’t imagine what else Glenn may have to say to her, but she knows better than to defy him. She nods as she walks over and sits back down on the sofa.

“I said you were not a Braddock.  I never said I wouldn’t help.”

“But…”

“Just listen.  You fucked up, you fucked up royally…no pun intended.  And now you’re beginning to realize it so you’ve come back to me on your hands and knees begging for my forgiveness.  How could I not forgive my family?”

He points a finger at her. “Problem is, YOU are not family anymore.  You are a Noel.  I can easily kick your ass out and I would sleep just fine.  But I am going to give you a chance.”

He holds up one finger. “Just one chance.  I will help you but you are not to refer to me as your uncle because as far as I’m concerned we are NOTHING!  I am Glenn, or Mr. Braddock, or just plain Braddock, but you MAY NOT refer to me as Uncle Glenn.  You also may not come to my house.  You are not allowed to stay there.  You must continue to stay with your “mother”…are we clear?”

Julia nods her head. “Yes, sir.”

“Now, just one question…” he sneers “…what’s your end game?”

“What do you mean?”

“I deserve to know, do you want to stay with the Noel family?  Or are you going to leave them?”

“My end game is to be treated equally.  I don’t think mother will ever treat me and my sister equally.  That’s why I came to you.  As wrestlers, you always treated me and my sister the same.  That’s why I came to you.”

“I notice you refer to your cousin as your “sister” instead…”

Julia nods her head. “Everyone has two families, a mother’s and a father’s, but both of mine are dead.  Aphrodite is now my mother, I just hope we can reconcile someday.  But I do want to be allowed back into the Braddock family.”

Glenn nods his head. “That’s fine, but you DO understand that you will have to earn that back, right?  You will have to earn back the Braddock name.”

“I know…and I want to assure you, Mr. Braddock, that I will bust my ass to earn that name back.”

==========

Mason Van Stanton

On Camera

==========

I have a horrifying secret to tell the world, a secret that will rock professional wrestling to its core:

#SelenaFrostWearsGrannyPanties

That’s right, true believers!  The blonde bimbo bitch is a granny panty wearing prude living in a Disney invented fantasy world.  But have no fear, The Master Manager of Professional Wrestling Excellence is here to make sure that her granny panty wearing crimes do not go unpunished.

This is a woman who actually wears granny panties.  Do we really want someone like Selena Frost in professional wrestling?  Do we want someone like that serving as a role model for young girls?

Mika Kozlov, MY WIFE, is a far better role model for young girls.  Or maybe even Kennedy Street, who by her own admission does not wear panties at all.  Both of those women are far better role models than Selena Frost.

But let’s be honest, there is really just one person that you people need to look up to, one person you need to be worshipping and that is IWC’s true Queen, the Princess of Camelot Julia Noel.

New Age is coming up you frosty bitch and your granny panties are going to be gone forever when my client makes you bow down and worship at her feet!

Oh by the way, Tabitha Silverstone is a coward!

==========

Julia Noel

On Camera

==========

The Independent Wrestling Cartel is mine.  Legally Drew Bryant and Blaire McBride may own it but I am IWC’s one true Queen, not because of some made-up fantasy, but because my mother, the Queen of all Professional Wrestling Aphrodite Noel, has gifted me IWC to rule.

And rule it I shall, with an iron fist.

Yes, there are those who doubt my rule.  There are even those who believe themselves to be royalty.  One such individual and doubter of my legitimacy is none other than Selena Frost.

One easy way to silence them all is to become the Queen of the Ring Champion.  I have the opportunity to do just that at Invictus when I face Marina Valdivia.  That is where my road to glory will take me.  That is where my road to Invictus will come.

Before my road to Invictus comes to an end I must first deal with Selena Frost and I will promptly deal with her on New Age.  Selena Frost, like all others, will quickly learn that IWC is my kingdom and I shall rule it.

==========

Scene 2

Off Camera

==========

Now we are back in the United States.  Things have changed since Julia’s tense meeting with Glenn Braddock at his wrestling school.  The doubt that was in her mind earlier, doubts about her future, have all been erased.  She knows what she wants.  She wants to be able to straddle the fence.  She wants her Braddock legacy and name back but, at the same time, she does not want to disown the Noel family legacy that her new mother Aphrodite bestowed upon her.  But can she really straddle the fence between two warring families?

As if this wasn’t bad enough, Julia still has to deal with the IWC and trying to become Queen of the Ring Champion.  That will take place at Invictus when she faces Marina Valdivia but before she gets to that point she has to face Selena Frost on New Age, another self-appointed Queen who would like nothing more than to become champion.

Julia now finds herself heading up to the front door that leads to her “sister’s” home on the vast Noel estate.  She dressed herself down when visiting Glenn Braddock but when visiting Gloria, she knows she must play her role.  Thus a seeming transformation has occurred, a transformation from Braddock to Noel.  Gone are the simple jeans, tennis shoes, and raggedy shirt.  In its place is a stunning fitted open back cap sleeve form fitting cocktail dress that features v-neckline.  Her feet are encased in black high heeled pumps and her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

She gets to the door and rings the bell.  It isn’t long before the door opens and standing there is one of the maids.

“Good afternoon, Princess.”

Julia nods her head. “I would like to speak to my sister.  Is she available?”

“Yes, she is.  Follow me, Your Majesty.”

The maid leads the way as Julia follows her into the home and shuts the door behind her.  The maid leads Julia down the hallway and into the living room.  Immediately Julia finds Gloria seated on the sofa.  Gloria Noel is wearing a radiant long sleeve fitted black dress that features a v-neckline and beaded embellishments.  Her feet are encased in strappy high heeled shoes and her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

“Princess Julia Noel is here to see you, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you, my dear.  You may go.”

The maid nods and makes her exit.  Once the maid is gone Gloria motions for Julia to come and sit down next to her.

“Come, sit.”

Julia walks over and sits down next to her on the sofa.  Gloria grins knowingly. “I must admit, I find this to be a rather unexpected visit.”

“Yes, we haven’t exactly been on the best of terms.”

“Jealousy tends to do that to people.” Gloria pipes in, referring to Julia’s jealousy.

“Can you blame me?” Julia remarks. “You always have been the favorite in the family.  I work so hard and sacrifice so much to change that and…”

“Nothing happens?” Gloria says, finishing her statement for her. “Can’t fight fate, right mate?”

Julia nods her head. “Maybe you’re right.”

At this time the maid returns, this time carrying a silver tray with a wine bottle and two empty wine glasses.  She hands one glass to Gloria and the other to Julia.  The maid pours wine into both glasses and then exits the room again.

“Oh?  Have you accepted it, then?” Gloria asks as she sips on her wine.

“I had a long talk with someone you know well.” She looks deep into Gloria’s eyes. “Glenn Braddock.”

Gloria immediately sets her wine glass down. “What did you discuss?”

“I just wanted to get some things off of my chest.  I wanted to talk about my feelings regarding you and me.”

“What else?” Gloria presses.

“There is nothing else.” Julia assures her. “I just wanted to talk to him and…”

“And what?”

“…and maybe get some help preparing for my matches.  I have Selena Frost on New Age.  I have Marina Valdivia for the Queen of the Ring Title at Invictus.  I need to be at my best, I need to hone my skills, and he has worked with me before.”

Gloria sighs, nodding her head. “I have to admit, there is no one better than Glenn Braddock.  With his help you can beat anyone.  Even mother would admit that using his skills for training purposes is not a bad idea.  Just so long as you are using him for ONLY that purpose and that purpose alone.”

Julia sips on her wine. “I am responsible for the end of the Braddock family.  I single handedly brought it about.  Even if I wanted to rejoin he Braddock family, do you think that Glenn would welcome me back?  Do not fear, sister.  I am a Noel, now and forever, I accept that.  I am loyal to our mother and queen.”

“That’s good to hear, my sister.”

==========

Gloria Marie Noel

On Camera

==========

My name is Gloria Marie Noel.  You can call me Glory.  I am a hall of fame professional wrestler, the owner of Global Championship Wrestling, and The Best in the World.  That is who I am.

That blood runs through my veins and it runs through the veins of Julia Alexis Noel as well.  Granted she isn’t as good as me and probably won’t achieve quite the level of accomplishments and accolades that I have achieved, but she is nevertheless my sister, she is my blood, and she is still far superior than most any other athlete who would dare step into the ring against her.

That includes you, Selena.

We can sling mud at one another about fake claims of royalty all day long but whoever is the true queen of IWC is not the point.  Setting fantasies aside for just a moment we can all agree that in this world of professional wrestling what matters is what you can do in the ring, can you back up your words.

I know that Julia can back up her words.  She doesn’t need Mason Van Stanton or anyone else to back up her words, either.  She can defeat anyone in this company.

Absolutely anyone, and that includes you.

Can you back up your words, Selena?

I doubt it.

==========

Julia Noel

On Camera

==========

Invictus is nearly here and I just have one final roadblock standing in my way, one final nuisance, a nuisance who actually thinks herself to be a Queen…

…now don’t start with the chants of hypocrite.  I do claim to be a queen but just as my sister said, I back up my claims.  I back them up every time I step into the ring.  After all, have you been able to stop me up until now?

No.  In fact, I managed to stop you from becoming IWC Queen of the Ring Champion.  Your dream of going to Invictus and becoming champion, I am the one living that dream.  I am the one facing Marina Valdivia on the grand stage for the title.  Not you.

And I will become Queen of the Ring Champion.  Why?  Because it is my destiny and because I am just that damn good.  I will beat Marina down and make her worship me.  I will make her hand over the championship, leaving no doubts as to who the queen really is.

You can then face me again.  You can have your title match and, once again, I will dash your hopes.  I will defeat you again.  Just like I will defeat you on New Age.