Chapter One: Walkabout

[Tasha Lavondyss]

I guess it's kinda difficult for someone to understand a girl like me. Sometimes even I don't understand me. But I'm just along for the ride and wherever the road takes me is where I'll end up. I guess you could say I am somewhat of a Gypsy, not that I look into crystal balls or anything. I'm just always on the move finding a new place to call home. I like it that way. There is a freedom to spirit when you're always trying new things. I've gotten to see such lovely things over the course of my time roaming this planet. In Australia we call that walkabout. You just pack up and get going not knowing where you'll end up. But you always know you've arrived once you got there. My favourite part of the journey is finding a new destination.



I suppose you'd wonder why someone like me would want to take a job in a wrestling company? Even to me that sounds a right bit peculiar but I like to think that the traveling to a new place every week is what drew me in. Being a free spirit means that you never experience the same thing twice. It's always different and I think in a way, that being a traveling wrestler is alot like being in a circus. People come from miles around to get a sharp look at something spectacular. The ring is my circus and I'm here to have fun. I've always thought that there's no point in doing something if you can't have fun while doing it.



We're in the States to start right off and that is a treat. I've spent a lot of time on walkabout in Oz and plenty with the Poms but I haven't the opportunity to spend a good deal of time in America. New Jersey is lovely. I hadn't realised that America had so many trees. I suppose that is because we always see the big cities and tons of people rushing about for no good reason on the tele. I like America, it's so much more beautiful than I could have imagined. Tonight is the first night I'll be heading to stadium on the boardwalk and it's much bigger than the places back home. I can't imagine how many people will be there just to watch a bunch of blokes and some sheilas have at it in a wicked good blue. I'm excited too right. I might have me knickers wrapped up a bit and I know I'll be stuffed by the end of the night. People here are so nice, and here I thought Americans were always rude and obnoxious. Mr. Kenny has come to yabber for a bit with me. I wonder if he's with the Abos?

Kenny Stevens approaches Tasha in the hallway. She has her sack slung over her shoulder, looking around at everything in amazement. Kenny smiles at her and has a cameraman following with him.



"Hello there." he said.



"G'day." Tasha replies.



"I'm Kenny Stevens with Valentine Wrestling Syndicate. You must be Tasha Lavondyss?" he offers up his introduction.



"That's me." Tasha smiles with acknowledgement.



"Great!" Kenny exclaims with excitement. "I wanted to have a word with you about your upcoming match. Huge opportunity for you on your debut" he continued.



Tasha turns her head sideways, oddly.



"You want me to speak of it?" she questions him with some confusion.



Kenny scratches his head a bit.



"Well yes. That is how we normally do things." he answers.



Tasha still seems to be quite puzzled by this.



"What do you want me to say?" she asks. "I thought we just have a go? I hadn't realised I'd be jabbering with Journos on it?"



Kenny has no idea what she said for the most part.



"Maybe you can tell us why you will win the match and why Lilith will not win?" he offers up.



"You wish me to speak badly of her?" she looks even more confused now. "I don't know her personally and haven't anything to say."



Kenny is now the one that's confused.



"You do understand how wrestling works, don't you?" he asks.



"Of course. We have a go, and it'll be bonzer for one of us. The other will have a fair suck of the sav. That's how it works, ain'tit?" she responds.



Kenny is growing visibly frustrated. The colour in his face turning beet red.



"Listen. What we do here in the States is hype the match. So I have an interview with you, and you tell me why you are the best person in the match. You let the fans know why you will win and you get people to back you. If they don't see you on camera, they don't know who you are and have no reason to want to see you win." he explains.



Tasha frowns a bit. She understands what he is asking of her now. But she still doesn't like it.



"What if I'm not the best?" she asks.



Kenny is dumbfounded.



"Who goes into a match not thinking they're the best?" he replies.



"Who has to think like that?" she responds. "I'm having a go for the fun of it. Telling you a right furphy to make myself look like I'm built like a brick shit house is no way to show sportsmanship." she adds.



Kenny is shaking his head in disbelief.



"So you have no intention of winning? This is all just fun to you?" he asks.



Tasha smiles big.



"Of course I wish to win. My talents in the ring will decide that, not some badger bashing that would be nothing but made up porkys." she says confidently.



Kenny sighs.



"People like Alex Jones, Crystal Millar and Landen Dalmon are where they are because of being able to trash people both in and out of the ring. That is something to think about." he responds.

I can see the way Kenny is looking at me. He isn't pleased with my answers. I think it's cute how Americans prepare for a fight. This odd custom of standing in front of a moving camera to speak badly of the competition is somewhat appalling. I can't understand why I have to tell someone that I am the best at something in order to make it so. There are seven billion people in this world, how could I know something like that is fair dinkum? I'm prolly not the best, but I don't pay any mind to that. If you have to be that worried about it, you are just wasting away your life. There are so many opportunities around every corner. Why bog yourself down to just one? Life is about experiences to me. Coming about and right bashing a sheila that I haven't met isn't something I'll take kipper to doing.



Alex Jones is the World Champion. And I suppose there is some truth to what Kenny is telling me. I might have to be more aggressive with the kind of shelias that I'll be stacked against. I had to meet with Ana Valentine to get going here, but I can't imagine ever being like that ... so angry about everything. There is too much to life to have that kind of an outlook. I guess I should consider the sheila I'll be in the ring with. I don't know any of her and she doesn't know me. I still feel like this is fun like a circus. The little that I do know about Lilith has it settled right for me. Kenny is still looking at me funny. I told you it's hard for people to understand someone like me. I look at things through a different lens than everyone else. That's always been they way I've liked it.

"Alright Mr. Kenny. I'll have a go at this. Give it a proper dinky roo." she says with a smile.



Kenny still isn't sure on about half of what she's said. But he gets enough of it to know the interview was getting somewhere now.



"Great. Let's get started. At All In, you have an opportunity to earn your way into the Round Robin tournament for the brand new Defiance Championship. But in order to qualify, you've gotta get through Lilith. How do you plan to do that?" he asks.



Tasha thinks for a moment, trying her best to think of something to say. Finally, It hits her.



"Oh the lovely girl who plays with teddys?" she exclaims with a slight giggle. "I am looking forward to having a sit down with her. I think it's be mighty fun." she adds.



Kenny again scratches his head.



"That isn't really the answer we're looking for." he says.



"Well tis my answer." she says. "I already told you I am not going to speak badly of people. I have no reason to. I am looking forward to meeting Lilith. After that, we'll give the fans a right fit spectacular."



"Alright." Kenny says with some frustration. "But what do you intend to do to win? This IS for entry into a tournament you know"



"Well I'm to do me best of course. I'm a bit nervous as I've never been out right in front of so many people before. I'm sure it'll be a treat." she replies.



Tasha thinks about it for a moment, remembering what else che can about Lilith.



"I think it's fine for the ride that she's always so stoked, don't you?" she asks. "



"I am not sure what you just asked me." Kenny responds.



"Stoked? Happy, excited?" she offers.



"Nearly that. She talks to bears." Kenny confirms.



"Well that's none too proper, I'm sure. But tis none of my business. I certainly can't argue against someone being a free spirit. Especially not one who has as many friends as Lilith does. Cute ones to boot." she says.



"They're not actually her friends. They're just stuffed bears. She just thinks they can speak and are her friends." Kenny replies.



"Oh don't be silly. Tis nothing wrong with having friends, imaginary or otherwise. Imagination is one of the most important aspects of life. Let her have her bears." she says with a smile.



"Moving along now. How do you plan on contending with her? She's got a reputation for being ... well, insane." he asks.



Tasha smiles excitedly at this point.



"Holy dooley that is a rip snorter I can't wait for! That'll be a sight for sure. Not often you get to meet someone inside of their own head up close. Will be my favourite part of the night too right! I've so many questions to ask her." she exclaims.



"I don't think being a fan to your opponent is going to help you much." Kenny fires back.



"I don't see the problem. Tis just some friendly competition. I haven't a thing against Lilith and I could see her being a mate. Might even get to have some tea and cookie wafers with her and the teddys." she says.



Tasha places her hand on Kenny's shoulder and smiles.



"I think you've got your grundies wrapped too tight. Tis just having some fun is all." she adds.



Kenny sighs again.



"Alright fair enough. What about you? How do you think you'll do out there?" he asks.



Tasha looks up, taking in some of the scenery again as she answers.



"I told you. I'm going to have fun. Tis like a proper circus. Everyone watching on just to see what the next big spectacle will be. It's like walking the tight rope high above and everyone wonders if you'll make it or if you'll fall. If you make it, they'll cheer, if you fall they'll get a bit of an awe from it. Either way they're entertained. And either way you have fun. This opportunity is my tight rope. I'm going to start walking across it. If I make it to the other side, great! If I fall, I've still enjoyed myself." she answers.



Tasha offers a handshake to Kenny, smiling.



"I'm not trying to be a ruddy, but I've still lots to see." she explains.



"Alright, was nice talking to you Tasha." he says.

This new chapter for me is exciting. I'm going to get to experience things that I have never had the chance to before. You only get one chance at a first impression. It means a lot to me to make sure that everyone has as much fun as I do. I'm not worried about winning or losing. When I walk out, I'll know I've given 110% to everything that I do. That is important. I don't know how Lilith feels about it all. I just know that life is a series of choices. I can't tell you what the outcome will be, because I don't believe in fate. I don't believe that our destiny is chosen for us and that anything is set in stone. I've made a lot of choices in my life and I don't regret any of them because they have allowed me to experience the very best of what this world has to offer. Now my choices have led me here, and being part of this family of travelers seems to be everything that I was looking for. I'm not wrapped up in any goals. I don't look badly at anyone who is here to do what I am doing. I can't even say I'm a wrestler. I'm just a free spirit who follows the road of wherever life takes me. That road has brought me to VWS and I am going to make the most of my time here. You can fall a million times, but if you've never taken the opportunity to fly in the first place you've missed out.