Black Water Valley

"THE LAST FIGHT OF THE NIGHT!! LET'S GET IT ON!!!"

A roaring crowd with three sections in a coliseum-like building.

The man with the microphone then switched from a bombastic to a more hushed-down tone.

"Now the last match and deciding point of the battle between the Dirty Dogged Black Water Dogs or the Prime Pristine Princestons!"

Billy Bays continues to maestro the mic.

"One is fighting for glory and legacy! While after speaking with Paul Nava himself, I can confirm is fighting for beer money!"

A hailing boo from all three sections of the crowd.

"SPEAKING OF THE MAN FROM A LAND FORMERLY KNOWN AS "ROSEBUD." LET ME INTRODUCE THE BANISHED SON HIMSELF! THE MAN WITH NO FAMILY, HOME, OR COUNTRY OTHER THAN BLACK WATER! THE MAN WITH IRON HANDS! THE MAN WITH A TITANIUM WILL! THE MAN WITH A STEEL CHIN A STEEL CHIN! PAAAAAUUUUUUL NAAAAAAAAVAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

Inside one of the tunnels that connect to the bowl center. Paul waits for the introduction.

Waiting in the shadows he chuckles to himself.

"Yeah I guess, my Wife and Kids don't count as family," Paul said to himself.

"Paul!"

Paul turning his head to see

"Yes my adopted third son?"

Facing his "third son" the very serious Jesse.

"Whatcha doin here? I thought you were training the boys?" "I am but they're taking a little break. So I came here to check on the rest of the team."

Paul's face then shifted to that of a boy showing his parents a failing report card.

"Well you aren't gonna be happy to hear the Trailer Park Twins lost their match."

A vein popped across Jesse's forehead. Though his stone face remained.

"They lost?" You could hear the silent fury building in Jesse's voice.

Paul afraid that this young man half his age was going to discipline him instead. Paul with open palms out tries to calm down the ticking time bomb.

"But Reggie won his match! In spectacular fashion, I might add. "So then you're the tie-breaker?" "Y-yeah" Paul deflated as he replied.

"Uh...PAAAAUUUL NAAVVVVAAA!!!" Billy Bays reannouncing Paul.

"Whoops looks like they're callin' me. Be back in a blink."

Just as Paul turns to leave the tunnel

"We have to talk later Paul." Jesse calls over. "About what?"

"PAAAUULL NAAVAA!!" Billy getting irritated now.

"This is our first of the three fights. We're already in a sudden death match? If this is how it's gonna go why sign us up for this, to begin with?" Jesse sounded lost on Paul's logic as he spoke.

"Tell ya what. I'll run through this guy and we can talk later, maybe at your house? Maybe over some brews?" "We're lucky Reggie won his match, and that you'll win yours. Otherwise, this will be our first loss." "Or not. You can keep on going." Paul said under his breath. "I am NOT about to be the weak link." There was raw intensity in Jesse's eyes as he said this.

"PAAAUUULL NAAAVVAA?! He didn't run off did he? Nah where would he run to?"

"Listen we WILL talk about this. Stay and watch, because this is not gonna take long. We'll talk when we're back home and gotten settled in."

Jesse exhaled a sigh. "Fine." Jesse then leaned up against the wall. Crossing his arms over his chest, and closing his eyes.

"No good luck or anything?" Paul a bit hurt by this. "You don't need it." Jesse answered back.

This making Paul smile. "Yeah you're right. That's the only fortune I've been blessed with."

Paul finally passed out to the light that is outside of the tunnel.

"THERE HE IS EVERYONE! PAUL 'THE MAN FROM ROSEBUD' NAVA!" Billy Bays is happy to finally announce.

Paul waving at everyone so casually. As if he isn't a post-apocalyptic gladiator.

"AND HIS OPPONENT! Who hopefully won't make me wait that long. FIGHTING ON BEHALF OF THE PRINCESTONS! COMING FROM A LONG LINEAGE OF PUREBREDS, THE EPITOME OF PRIM AND PROPER, PRISTINE AND PRESTIGIOUS! CHARLES PRIIIINCCESSSSTOOOOONNNN!!!"

Out he walks with a smug look on his face.

"Oh thank God he came right out." Billy Bays able to breathe easy.

"HERE IT IS FOLKS! LEADER VS LEADER! ONE IS FROM THE GUTTER! BOTTOM OF THE BARREL! SCUM OFF THE STREET!"

"Alright get on with it." Paul said underneath the microphone.

"VERSUS THE GIFT FROM GOD! THE GOLDEN-BLOOD LINE! THE PRIME OF HUMANITY!"

"Go on." Charles smiled with the praise.

Now both competitors are nose-to-nose with each other. The referee just behind both of them.

"BEGIN!"

Paul with both hands in his pants.

" 'Ey I got a question for ya!" Paul calling over. "Hmm?" Grabbing Charles's interest. "Your Dad didn't love you huh?" "What kind of question is that?! Coming from someone whose Dad let their son LIVE in Black Water!" "Haha, let me show you what I mean."

Charles then gets into a typical textbook "Put up your dukes" boxing stance. Hoping up and down.

"Ay Charlie-boy! Come on over I'll give ya a couple free shots. Yer gonna need em."

Charles was just about to rush to him. Canceled it mid-dash. Full shoulder strut, towards Paul Nava. He isn't about to let a free chance slip. His team's pride is on the line.

CRACK! - A straight right landing right on Paul's cheek.

But Paul's head wasn't even moved a single inch.

CRR-CCK! - A snap is heard in Charles's wrist. He recoils back in pain, though tries to hide it.

Creating some distance first. Trying to shake off the pain, though it went bone-deep. He pushed the pain to the furthest of his mind and blitzed forward. Immediately attacking with a left hook.

Paul swinging his chin to intercept Charles's fist mid-swing.

SNAP! - Another CRACK being heard in his other fist. A crack formed inside his fist.

Charles clenching his teeth in pain, reeling back.

"It's like I'm punching a concrete wall." Charles thought to himself.

Charles hopping back. But Paul is right in front of him. Walking him down. Putting his face right in front of Charles.

Charles then slides back into his fighting stance.

PAP-PAP - Charles throws two left jabs. Trying to put distance between them. CRUNCH! - Charles groans in agony. This time, Paul didn't even swing his chin against Charles's fist.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! - Charles fighting on the backfoot. While Paul still hunted him down. Head butting some punches, while hitting others with his jaw.

Bones from Charles hand SNAPPING and POPPING. From the wrist to the knuckle. Shaking, shivering, outright trembling.

Staring at his broken hands. Then at the nonchalant Paul. Who is still making his way to him.

He throws a limp punch SLAP! - Paul able to parry it away with the back of his hand.

"This. This is what I mean by your Dad didn't love ya" Paul clarified.

Gritting his teeth, Charles threw another punch.

SLAP! - Paul slapped away this floppy excuse for a punch.

"Before my Dad left for the 'Glorious War' he slugged me one, sending me across the room. Then said 'take care of your Mother.' And left."

Charles tried going for a front kick.

SLAP! - Paul merely pushed his knee out of the way. Misdirecting the kick.

"And I thought 'why would my Dear ol' Dad do that to me?' He's been nothin' but kind my whole life. But I finally get it after all this time. It was to prepare me for life's punches. Life is a cruel mistress, my uptown friend. So if I can take a punch from my Dad, I can damn sure take a punch from her!"

Paul then getting a devilish grin across his face.

"You ready for this Black Water ass whoppin?"

Cocking back his hand at his side. Sliding his feet apart while turning his hips in.

Charles watched it come for him. Like a deer in headlights, he didn't know what to do - where to go, until

BANG!!!

That punch was more like a bomb going off. Sounding like a gun and landing like a brick.

Charles spun around three times while in the air. Teeth flew out like spare change. Before finally toppling to the ground.

Eyes rolling to the back of his head. Foam forming out of his mouth, blood splattered all over his face.

The referee waving it off. No count to ten is necessary. Immediately the medics from the back came out with a stretcher.

"AND THERE YOU HAVE IT FOOOOOLKKKSSSS!!! YET ANOTHER WIN FOR THE BLACK WATER DOGS!!!"

Paul waved at the crowd as money rained down from the top deck.

Paul began picking up as much as he could. Stuffing it into every inch of his clothing. Throwing some of it over the fence to the lower class watching him.

"Thank you Paul! thank you!" One lower class person said. "God Bless you Paul!" Another one cried out. "This is why I cheer for you! Bless your heart!" A third one shouted while getting the money.

"Thank ya! I appreciate all the support." Paul casually handing out the money.

Paul then goes all the way around the ring, tossing some of the money back into the crowd of the lower class. Before finally taking his leave through the tunnel. Jesse had left by this time. So he just went back home alone.

END

*Sidenote

So I did want to mention for anyone new to the medium of Manga and Anime. This story's pages are done in the style of Manga. So instead of reading left to right, it's right to left.

Just wanted to help in case there is any confusion on the matter.