Chapter 3: Comeback Kid
She stumbles, her vision swimming, and she catches herself on the ropes. The crowd gasps, and she can hear the referee's whistle, but it sounds distant, like it's underwater. She takes a deep breath, trying to clear her head, and that's when she realizes that the weighted boots are gone. She looks down and sees them lying on the floor, the weight gone, the pain in her shoulders already fading.
She rubs her shoulders, feeling the tension ease out of her muscles. She's a toon, after all, and she's been through worse. She takes a deep breath, her vision clearing, and she looks up at April, who's standing there, a cruel smile on her face. "You're not done yet," she says, her voice dripping with malice.
Olive, fueled by a sudden surge of defiance, lifts her chin, her eyes narrowing. "I said I can't do this, not that I won't." Her chin, now a brick wall of determination, juts out, daring April to hit it. April, never one to back down from a challenge, obliges. Her fist connects with Olive's chin, but instead of the satisfying crunch of bone, there's a dull thud as her glove bounces off. April's eyes widen in surprise, her hand stinging from the impact. She hits again, and again, her gloves reducing to shreds as they fail to penetrate Olive's newfound resolve.
The air leaves April's lungs in a whoosh, and she doubles over, gasping for breath.
She looks down at her shredded gloves, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How... how did you do that, Oyl?" she stammers, her voice barely above a whisper.
Olive just smirks, her eyes gleaming with a newfound confidence. "I told you, April. I can't do this... but I won't give up." She takes a step forward, her fists raised, ready for another round.
April, still reeling from the unexpected turn of events, stumbles backwards, her hands raised in a desperate attempt to protect her face. "Wait, Oyl, wait!" she cries, her voice laced with panic. "We need to talk about this!"
But Olive is having none of it. She lunges forward, her fists flying in a flurry of jabs that catch April off guard. April tries to dodge, but Olive's punches are too quick, too precise.
Each one lands with a satisfying thud, the sound echoing through the arena like a drumbeat. April's clothes, once pristine and crisp, are now shredded and hanging in tatters. Her hair, once neatly coiffed, is now a wild, tangled mess, stuck to her face with sweat and blood. She stumbles, her vision swimming, and catches herself on the ropes.
Olive reaches over, grabs April's headband, and stretches it around April, enclosing her and wrapping her up in a ball. Stretching up the corner post, Olive hangs April from it and begins using April like a punching bag. "In training, you said my speedbag work needed work," Olive grunts, her fists flying, "How's this?"
April, now a human speedbag, squeals in protest, her body bouncing with each impact. "Oyl! Stop! This isn't what I meant!" she cries, her voice muffled by the headband.
Olive, however, is not done. She unravels April from her makeshift net, holding her by the hair, and begins to skip around the ring, dragging April behind her like a ragdoll. "How's this for skipping, April?" she taunts, her voice laced with a newfound confidence. The crowd watches in awe as Olive's feet dance across the ring, her body moving with a grace and agility that belies her earlier clumsiness. April, meanwhile, is left to stumble and trip, her body bouncing and jerking with each step. She continues to skip, her laughter echoing through the arena as she drags April along like a human skipping rope.
April's body bounces and jerks with each step, her limbs flailing helplessly as she tries to keep up with Olive's relentless pace. The crowd watches in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief as they witness the spectacle unfolding before them.
Olive, her eyes gleaming with a newfound confidence, throws April against the ropes. April's body slams into the hard, unforgiving material, the force of the impact sending a shockwave through her entire body.
She bounces off the ropes, her limbs flailing helplessly as she tries to regain her balance. The crowd gasps, their eyes wide with disbelief as they watch the spectacle unfold. Olive, her eyes gleaming with a newfound ferocity, doesn't miss a beat. She grabs April's headband, stretching it taut around her neck, and uses it to pull her back towards the ropes. "Time to work on your heavy bag skills, April," she taunts, her voice laced with a cruel satisfaction. "How's this for a workout?" She throws April against the ropes again, the force of the impact sending her body bouncing back and forth like a human pinball. The crowd watches in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief as they witness the brutal display of power and determination. April's body bounces and jerks with each impact, her limbs flailing helplessly as she tries to keep up with Olive's relentless assault.
"A little roadwork does a body good, isn't that what you said, April?" Olive taunts, her voice laced with a cruel satisfaction. She grabs April by the waist and hurls her towards the nearest ring post. April's body slams into the hard wood, her breath leaving her lungs in a sharp gasp. "Oyl!" she cries out, her voice barely above a whisper. But Olive is already moving, dragging April towards the next post. "Come on, April," she says, her voice dripping with mock concern, "You're not done yet." She throws April against the next post, and the next, each impact sending a jarring shockwave through April's body.
April's body is a mess of bruises and scrapes, her clothes torn and tattered from the relentless beating.
She crawls back to her corner, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her body aching with every movement. The sound of the bell saves her from being counted out, and she collapses into her stool, her head lolling to the side.
Olive stands in the center of the ring, her chest heaving, her eyes gleaming with a fierce determination. She looks over at April, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "You're not done yet, April," she taunts, her voice laced with a newfound confidence.