Matty vs Matipuno: Ch.2

It was several hours later, when Matipuno was in the grey locker room surrounded by lockers, showers, and benches. He held the phone in his hand as he glanced down at the floor. He sighed as he let his face fall into his hands. Recently, he had been feeling depressed about his life. He was barely on the edge of having a complete breakdown. However! There were more important matters than his personal feelings getting in the way.

He opened the cell phone up as he began dialing the numbers…

---

Matty was in a guest bedroom that the General Manager had told Miss Fine and Dick to prepare for him. He was practicing a few punches as he grinned.

"Oh yeah!" he yelled happily, "I'm gonna pulverize the competition! I can't wait to get in that ring with Matipuno and rock up the intensity of the match to the maximum!"

Just then, his cell phone ringtone, "Cadillac Phunque" by Family Force 5, immediately shot out loud and clear from his phone on his bed. He immediately brought his head up in realization and walked over to it. Picking it up, he hit the speak button and placed it near his right ear.

"Yo! This is Matty," he said.

"Hey, Matty, this is Matipuno," the voice on the other end said.

Matty's face suddenly lit up as he grinned and said, "Hey! Matipuno! How's it going?"

"Well, I'm getting by," Matipuno's voice said.

However, Matty suddenly stopped smiling as he showed an expression of concern on his face. Something about how Matipuno said that made him worry. It sounded like he was sad or hurt.

"Hey," Matty said, "Are you okay? You sound like you're depressed…"

"Oh!" Matipuno said, "No, I am fine. It's okay, really."

"Okay…" Matty said, not believing that but playing along, "So, what's up?"

"Well, I think that you and I need to have a talk," Matipuno's voice said.

"Uh-oh," Matty said, "hey, I am not going to steal your thunder, okay? If you want to be the star of the show, then by all means--"

"Oh, no, no," he heard Matipuno say, "I am not jealous or angry. I just wanted to meet you. Is that okay?"

"Sure!" Matty said happily, "Uh… where are we meeting?"

"In the auditorium," he heard, "the main event arena, where the matches will happen, I want you to meet me there. I need to discuss very important things with you. Okay?"

"All right," Matty said, "I am coming right over! See you soon!"

With that, they both said good-bye on the phone. Matty put it on his bed as he began to walk out of his guestroom door. He locked the door, shut it behind him, and hurried off to the auditorium.

---

Matty walked through the west side entrance doors of the humungous room. He looked around; completely empty. However, in a few days, he knew it would change into an action-packed noisy fan room. He grinned at thinking about how many people would be watching him in a few days. He looked at the entrance ramp and stage under construction, but he didn't see anyone working on it. It technically was finished, but the lights and stage props weren't turned on yet. He looked up at the ceiling and saw the lights shining back down on the whole area. That's when he looked at it.

"Whoa…" Matty whispered.

The ring stood up as a symbol of wrestlers, fighters, and their fans. The square ring had the label of the WWI Championship Wrestlefest logo on it. The ropes and the mat of the ring was shiny gold as the silver poles and padding stood up. The silver metal steps was calling towards Matty as the teenager grinned walking over to it. He shook in excitement as he stepped on them and onto the apron. He walked across the edges as his hand gently stroked the top rope. He slowly bent underneath it and put his feet inside of the ring. Matty looked up and felt so much energy through his body. He was in a wrestling ring before when he teamed with Hound, but the feeling never seemed to die. It just kept on going on and on…

"He-he," Matty giggled to himself, "I can't believe I get to fight in front of so many people again and show how much I've improved."

He raised his arms and clenched his hands into fists as he screamed, "OH YEAH! I AM SO FIRED UP!!"

"I am glad to see that you are pumped up for this, Matty," he heard a familiar voice say from the ramp.

Matty turned around and said, "Matipuno, I'm here for--"

Suddenly, he stopped short when he saw Matipuno walking down the ramp in his wrestling attire! Matipuno was wearing his white wristbands, black wrestling speedo/briefs, and black and white wrestling boots. He walked over to the other pair of steel steps and continued to the apron.

"Matipuno," Matty said in a shocked manner, "You're… in your wrestling outfit!"

"Yes, Matty, I am," Matipuno said, slightly smiling as he entered into the ring through the ropes.

"Why?" Matty asked, "We're not wrestling tonight, or against each other."

"I know that," the wrestler said, "but, I am here to fight you… in a sense, anyways. Matty, I feel that… I need to spar with you."

Matty brought his head back as he asked, "Spar?"

Matipuno raised his right arm above his head. He put his left hand on his right elbow and pulled the arms backwards behind his head, stretching it. He held it there for several seconds as he let out an exhale of exercising and slowly walked in a pacing back and forth manner.

As he still stretched his arm, he said, "Yes, Matty. You see, you, technically, are a street fighter. I am a pro wrestler. Despite us hearing about each other and possibly seeing each other fight, we have no idea what the other one's skills are like. This could make the performance of our team awkward and ineffective."

He let his arms fall below his head, shook them off briefly, and did the same with the left arm. Matty began to tighten his arm sleeves as he listened closely to his partner.

Matipuno continued, "That's why I have decided we should spar; a little practice battle, if you would. That way, we both can know each other's skills, so we can be a more effective tag-team."

"Oh, I get it!" Matty said joyfully.

Matipuno shook his arms off again after lowering them. He then pulled his right arm across his chest near the elbow with his left arm. He nodded as Matty tightened his headband.

"I called the General Manager, so we have the auditorium for several days to ourselves to train together," he said to the American Phenomenon.

"All right," Matty said.

As Matipuno did the arm stretch the other way and was about to say something, Matty interrupted him and said, "But before we do…"

The wrestler looked up as Matty faced him with a serious face. It was sudden and caught him off guard slightly, but he listened carefully as Matty turned to him.

"…I want to ask you a few questions," Matty finished, to which Matipuno replied by nodding his head.

"What are the rules to the match? Do you know?" Matty asked.

Matipuno sat down on the mat and began stretching his legs out by putting his legs out straight and trying to touch his toes. His tail swished along the mat while Matty bent on one knee and tightened his belts on his shorts.

Matipuno looked at him and stated, "The match is an elimination tag-team match. The match is over when one of the teams have lost both of their members to pinfall, submission, or disqualification. There is a 10 second limit for being outside of the ring; if you do not get inside in time, you are disqualified. There is a rope-break law in submission holds; if you do not let go in 5 seconds, you are disqualified. There are no weapons allowed in the match; if you use a weapon, you are disqualified."

"Oh, thank God!" Matty cried out, "No weapons! Hallelujah!"

Even though he was a fist and feet kind of fighter, Matty had come across legions of fighters who could use powers that weren't human and fighters who were spirits. But most aggravating of all, he had often fought fighters who were used to using weapons as a main offense. Matty didn't hate weapons, but he hated how the other fighter would use it as an advantage in the fight. But then again, it was a very good experience booster dodging bullets, swords, and other weapons.

Matipuno simply shook his head and slightly smiled again at the grinning teenager. Matty then chuckled as he rubbed underneath his nose.

"Okay, question number 2," Matty said sheepishly, rubbing his head, "Is your partner going to hate me for stealing his thunder?"

Matipuno smiled and answered, "No, my partner is a carefree, easygoing guy. He wouldn't hate you for saving the match in his place. However, he may be annoyed if we lose…"

Matty made a funny frown and said, pretending to be intimidated, "Then, I guess I can't afford to lose…"

Matty chuckled nervously as he looked at a grinning Matipuno who had finished stretching and stood up. He walked over as he chuckled as well.

"All right," he said to Matty, "What's your last question before we practice together?"

Matty let out a sigh, and asked, "My last question is... Are you okay?"

Matipuno gasped as he brought his eyelids up in a shocked manner. Matty stood there awaiting his reply to the question.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Matipuno asked.

"The way your body moves," Matty said, "and the way your voice sounds like when you're talking all point to sadness or depression."

The wrestler shook it off as well as his head.

"No," he said, "I am not depressed. I am feeling fine, really."

"Are you sure?" Matty raised an eyebrow, and folded his arms as he took a step back, "You really don't sound quite confident in saying that. You can tell me; I'm your buddy."

Matipuno put his hands on his hips and said seriously, "Matty, I am fine. You don't need to worry about me. I can take care of myself and my emotions. Really, Matty, I'm okay."

"All right, if you say so," the teenager responded, but still was not fully convinced.

"I know so," Matipuno replied and immediately got into a ready stance, "Now, let's focus on sparring right now. Matty, I want you to come at me with everything you've got. But remember, you have to tone down on the combos, okay?"

Matty got into his fighting stance as he grinned and said, "All right, I am not pulling any punches, though. Here I come!"

With that, Matty bolted at Matipuno as the wrestler got ready for the incoming attack.

---

Days had finally had gone by, as Matty and Matipuno had trained together. Finally, they had decided to call it a day as they sat in the center of the ring. Both of them were breathing deeply after having an intense match. Both were covered in several bruises, masses of sweat, and fatigue all over their bodies. Matty briefly pulled off his headband, which was drenched in sweat. He untied it and wiped his forehead, gasping for air.

"Geez," he groaned, "That was one of the most aggravating work-outs I've ever had! I can't believe that the match is tomorrow night!"

Matipuno took a deep breath as he rubbed his right wrist and slowly got up. Matty looked up as he jumped up. Both began to stretch out as a cool-down process.

"Time has sure flown by, huh?" the wrestler said, "I really think we have gotten a good glimpse of each other's skills and attributes."

"All right, man!" Matty said pumping his fist in the air, "I can't wait for this match! I just know that as long as we keep our heads up, we're gonna do so great in this match!"

Matipuno put his hands on his hips and looked down slowly. He sighed deeply, and rubbed his left wrist. He began walking towards the ramp as he looked back at him.

"You really think that we are going to do very good, huh?" he asked.

"I know we're going to do amazing!" Matty smirked as he tightened his fists, "I can just taste victory and experience in one! We are come out through this with strength when we win!"

"Yeah," Matipuno muttered under his breath, "if we win…"

Matty suddenly lost his smile as he looked down. Did he hear what he thought he just heard? Matipuno was doubting victory? Matty looked up towards the lion wrestler, who had his back turned to him. He was shaking his head as he sighed. He started to lift the ropes and walk out of the ring.

"What?" Matty said softly.

Matipuno realized that he spoke so Matty heard him by accident. He turned to look over his left shoulder as the teenager stared at him.

"What did you just say?" Matty said, his voice shocked in disbelief.

Matipuno gave a fake smile, "O-oh, nothing, nothing. I was just talking to myself."

Matty gave him a glare. It was official. Something was bothering Matipuno, and halting him from being the best he could be. And, he was going to find out what. Matty looked up, took a deep breath, and walked over. Matipuno was surprised as he leaned against one of the turnbuckles.

"All right," Matty said, looking serious and raising an eyebrow, "What's gotten into you?"

Matipuno blinked in surprise. Why wasn't he letting up on this? He had tried his best to keep his emotions under control. He grinned at Matty, trying to persuade him.

"Ha-ha, what are you talking about, kid?" he said, leaning against the ropes with his hands, "I told you I'm fine. I am raring to go in this match as much as you-"

"Matipuno, either tell me what's got you down, or I will go back to the General Manager and say that I am withdrawing as your partner," Matty cut him off in a surprisingly serious tone of voice.

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