Remember Where You Came From | 01

[Van Zant]

R E M E M B E R  W H E R E  Y O U  C A M E  F RO M //


Violet's rise to the top of RSW has been nothin' but net – a few of the backstage personnel, her friends (what little of them were left) and her colleagues stressed it over and over and over again; "Violet," they'd sigh, "this is a different game you're playing". When?  When was it different? Where was it different? How was it different? And if it was so complicated, so intricate and so much more demanding, why is Violet the number one contender for the Bay Area Championship in a matter of months? Over the summer alone, Violet has blown through every opponent placed in front of her with nothing but a background in growing up on the street. The unfortunate thing for Maddie Lott, and each and every opponent that follows, is that Violet is only going to get better with experience.

Violet jogged around, making calculated circles around Joey, a younger boy she had met a handful of times through her coach. Joey was a Muay Thai fighter under Martin's gym and occasionally offered to hold pads for Violet when she came back to practice. She struck the pads with quick jabs, turning it into a combination with a body kick and a knee strike.

"Good job, dude. Take a break. Get some water in you and when you're back we'll switch," Violet tossed her gloves aside, beginning to unwrap her wrists.

"Violet!" Martin Ptsazek called from across the gym, his raspy voice echoing throughout the dojo. "Take the pads for me, will ya?"

Violet looked confused, looking down at Joey who was still in the process of taking all of his protective gear off.

"Yeah," Violet nodded down to Joey, "We're switching after we take a break."

"No, y'aint," Martin smirked. "I need you to hold pads for Jess."

"Who the fuck is Jess?" Violet's voice rose in confusion as she furled her brow, looking between Martin and Joey for answers.

"Me."

Martin stepped aside, revealing behind him a rather fit and slender redheaded girl, about 5'8" and what Violet guessed was anywhere between a Bantamweight and a Featherweight.

"Why the fuck do I have to do it? Why can't Josh do it?"

"Josh has a fight coming up in two weeks, you think he has time to train the new blood?"

"You think I do?!" Violet raised her arms with more of an attitude than she intended.

"Is she scared or something?" Jess turned to Martin with a shit-eating grin on her face.

Well, that did it. Martin chuckled, not willing to entertain Jess' newfound ego on Violet's account. He turned and hobbled away, his hip injury getting the better of him in his older age. Violet kept eye contact with Jess while she bent at the knees to grab the pads off Joey. She strapped up, standing toe-to-toe with Jess now.

"What about your head gear, Champ?" Jess prodded.

"Buddy, I watched you shadow box. The shadow won. I don't need 'head gear'," Violet mimicked Jess, holding up the pads and giving her the nod to go ahead and start hitting.

For the first couple of hits, she nailed the pads. But Violet started getting creative; coming at her with a bit more speed, throwing the pattern off to see if Jess could anticipate a strike. She couldn't.

"You're doing that on purpose!" 

"Yeah, dingus – the people across from you are going to be hitting you on purpose, too. We're not drilling. You have to learn how to anticipate somebody coming at you."

"I know how to fight, thanks," Jess rolled her eyes, unwilling to accept Violet's criticism. 

"Yeah, of course you do. All the 'new blood' know how to fight already, right? You don't need help, right? You know every counter-punch, takedown, combo, and submission hold, right?"

Jess's eyes narrowed.

"Sure you do. The new kids never want to learn, always want to believe they have what it takes to be a professional fighter after doing a couple shoulder rolls here and there on Fundamentals night. Fuck off. This is my life. I fight, I wrestle, I put food on my table. I don't have time to train Maddie Lott and you, too.  If you want to be Championship material, walk in my foot steps. These ones, right here."

Violet drops the pads in frustration, bumping shoulders with Jess as she walks away.