Monster Heel-in-Law (Part 2)

For Cassie Horn, the last few weeks have been quite a whirlwind. First off, after defeating Kristina Richards inside the squared circle, Cassie went fully public with their year long relationship before finally popping the question in front of thousands and thousands of fans. The engagement party that followed saw Vonda Richards, Kristina's mother, arrive with her older daughters (Kristina's sisters), Vanessa and Serena Richards. Vonda Richards, a wrestling legend in her own right, the longtime villainous rival of Patricia Horn (Cassie's mother), and a former Queen of the Ring and eight-time World Champion.

Vonda celebrated the engagement, but afterwards, she engaged in a one-on-one talk with Cassie; asking Cassie if she knew what she was marrying into, and reminding Cassie of Vonda's past against Patricia. Cassie voiced her respect for Vonda, but added that she doesn't fear her. Vonda responded with two simple words:

"That'll change."

It was weeks later that Cassie found herself taken to a warehouse by a pair of masked culprits, later revealed as Vanessa and Serena, acting under Vonda's orders. That's when the challenge was made. Cassie and Vonda will face each other in two weeks' time. No rules, anything goes.

Cassie knew she'd be in for the match of her career. She also knew that she'd have a lot to answer to leading to the contest. First off, Kristina:

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I didn't want to involve you in this," said Cassie.

"My mom confronts you, brings up the rivalry with your mom, and she has my sisters abduct you so she can challenge you to a match," Kristina said, "yeah, I'm pretty much involved."

"I didn't want to speak badly of your mom," said Cassie. "History and actions aside, she is a legend."

"Hon, we're not in the ring, so drop the babyface persona," Kristina said with a slight laugh. "It's OK to say that my mom's a bit crazy."

"Vonda is everything that you and my mom told me about her," said Cassie. "She's intense, ruthless, a bit on the over-dramatic side, but I think she means well, in her own way." Kristina gave Cassie a big hug, a sign of her continued admiration for her future wife.

"Sounds like you're ready for action," said Kristina.

Next up for Cassie, her parents:

"I knew she'd do this," said Patricia, though not out of any indignation. "I know Vonda."

"I told you she's crazy," laughed Chester.

"I wouldn't say that," replied Patricia, who quickly turned her attention to Cassie and noticed how deep in thought she was. "Cassie, what's on your mind?"

"I'm thinking that on one hand," Cassie said, "this is the biggest match of my career. I'm going up against a legend in our business. On the other hand..."

"She's your future mother-in-law," said Patricia.

"If I were in your shoes, that would be all of the motivation I needed," Chester quipped.

"Chester!" Patricia said, knowing that Chester was being funny. She then turned her attention back to Cassie. "Cassie, are you sure about this? Vonda told you about our past rivalry, and about everything she's done to me, right?"

Cassie nodded.

"I know you've accepted this, because you don't turn down challenges," said Patricia. "So here's a piece of advice. Don't go into this believing that you have to 'avenge' me. Vonda will feed on that. Plus, Vonda and I always held each other in the highest regard. As far as she's concerned, you are Cassandra Louise Horn, a young star who is in a huge match." Cassie gave her mother big hug afterwards, and she later turned her attention to her father.

"Knock 'em dead, kiddo," said Chester. "Show out like you always do."

"Thanks, Dad," said Cassie, who hugged Chester. "Thanks, Mom. Now I'm definitely ready."

The two weeks leading into the match went by like it was nothing. The hype was immense; young up-and-comer against her mother's longtime rival. Cassie was playfully teased by Vanessa and Serena as the day drew closer.

"The Queen's going to have so much fun with you," Vanessa taunted one day during a family gathering.

"Maybe Mom will leave something left for us," said Serena. "After all, we still owe her for defeating our baby sister."

When it was down to the final three days, that's when Vonda delivered a video promo about her upcoming match.

"Greetings, peasants!" Vonda said in her usual commanding tone. "I've done it all in my legendary career. Queen of the Ring. Eight-time World Champion. Made so many opponents bow to me. Now, I have a chance to fulfill yet another goal: to teach my future daughter-in-law a very memorable lesson." The video then turned to highlights from Cassie's career so far, but in addition, past clips from Vonda's matches against Patricia were also shown.

"Little Cassie Horn," Vonda said with a sinister hiss. "Pretty Patty's little prodigy, and also the very woman who won the heart of my youngest daughter, your princess, Kristina Richards. Cassie makes my girl happy, and that makes me happy, but Cassie needs to learn what she married into." At that moment, Vonda motioned for the camera to zoom in on her, and it did just that, a close up of Vonda flashing a sadistic and venomous smile.

"Cassie," said Vonda, in a dangerously low tone, "I know you're watching. I know you're listening. I know your dear mother told you about everything I've done to her, about all of the ways I've caused her so much pain. That, alone, should have been a warning, yet you accepted my challenge. You told me that you are just like your mother, and you truly are. Because you'll bow down to me... just like your dear, sweet mommy!"

The promo fades to black, but Vonda's evil cackle is heard loud and clear. One thing was also clear to Cassie: she was in for the fight of her life.

The night finally arrived, and the IWW fans were amped and ready. At a press box, Vanessa, Serena, and Kristina were seated, with all of them watching intently, especially Kristina. They weren't the only ones closely watching, as Patricia and Chester were in the front row, anxiously awaiting for the combatants. The first one to emerge was Cassie, who entered to a bevy of loud cheers from her faithful fans. She greeted the fans during her entrance, and gave a hug to her two biggest fans, Patricia and Chester. As she entered the ring, she noticed Kristina sitting with her sisters in the press box. Cassie understood this, because it was in character for Kristina, who wore a face of neutrality, but couldn't help but be concerned for Cassie.

Next up, Vonda made her entrance, and along with her usual black bodysuit and cape, she actually held two objects: her signature crown on her left hand, and a kendo stick on her right hand. Vonda basked in the negative reaction she received, something she had done for decades. She walked towards both Chester and Patricia, and gave a playful wink at both of them before laughing wickedly. Vonda entered the ring and stared a hole into Cassie, who stared right back at her opponent. The bell rang, and Vonda appeared to be ready to use the kendo stick on Cassie. Instead, she tossed it to Cassie, who caught it and looked at the weapon.

"Come on, little Cassie!" shouted Vonda. "Here's your one free shot! Give it to me! Come on, Cassie! Remember what I've done to your precious mommy! Remember, Cassie!" Cassie looked at the kendo stick, and part of her wanted to use it simply because of Vonda's past with Patricia. Nothing could be done about it. This match had no rules. Despite this, Cassie remembered Patricia's advice to not act out of revenge, and that moment of hesitation allowed Vonda to go on the attack; a knee to Cassie's gut followed by a clothesline. Vonda picked up the kendo stick, and struck Cassie's back, with Cassie screaming afterwards.

"You hesitated, little girl!" said Vonda. "And now, you'll regret it!" Vonda tossed Cassie on the ropes, and with her opponent hanging on the middle rope, the sinister Vonda delivered a number of repeated kendo stick shots to Cassie. The referee in this match could do nothing about it, as Cassie was in anguish, while Vonda grinned sadistically. Six shots to the back; that's what Vonda delivered to Cassie, and she snarled at the referee for even thinking of coming between them.

"You can't stop me!" snarled Vonda, who later turned her attention to the jeering crowd. "None of you can stop me! I am the Queen! I own every single one of you!" Vonda drank in the heat she was receiving before delivering a seventh shot to Cassie. Feeling that she had it won already, Vonda left the ring and decided to confront the most invested fan in attendance: Patricia.

"Hey, Pretty Patty," teased Vonda. "That's your little girl out there. Not exactly a chip off the old block, is she?" Patricia stood her ground, but Cassie--seeing her villainous opponent taunt her mother--regained herself, rolled out of the ring, and suddenly went on the attack. Cassie delivered various punches to Vonda before tossing her in the ring, and she later picked up the kendo stick, and this time, Cassie didn't hesitate. Seven lashes, the same amount that Vonda dished out to Cassie. With each strike, the crowd counted, and Cassie found herself revved up, while still in some pain.

Cassie wasn't done yet. She ditched the kendo stick, and later took out a steel chair, also perfectly legal in the situation that Vonda created. Cassie found herself in total control, and Vonda knew it, as she was actually pleading to Cassie.

"Cassie, please don't," said Vonda. "I'm going to be your mother-in-law! Think of Kristina! We're going to be family!" As this was going on, Chester and Patricia were watching with bated breath. At the press box, Vanessa and Serena couldn't help but smile over their mother's act, while Kristina was anticipating the next moves of both combatants. In the ring, Cassie again showed hesitation, and it allowed Vonda to trip Cassie, disarming her in the process. Vonda later placed the chair in the ring's center, and with immense force, delivered her patented DDT to Cassie on the chair.

"Look at you," Vonda said as she grabbed Cassie by her hair. "I warned you, little Cassie. I told you what you were marrying into. Now you'll suffer the consequences." Vonda set up Cassie for her Lethal Explosion finisher, which is a powerbomb move. In her mind, it was all over.

One...

Two...

But at what seemed like 2.999, Cassie's right shoulder just popped up!

The fans erupted over Cassie's refusal to give up. Chester and Patricia beamed over their daughter's perseverance. Vonda's three daughters found themselves unable to hold on to their heel personas, and were emotionally invested, with Kristina in tears as she watched her mother and her fiancée go at it. As for Vonda, she wore a number of emotions. In her mind, Vonda was actually amazed and proud of Cassie for taking everything she dished out. When it came to the business at hand, Vonda got right back in character, and she was livid. She picked up Cassie, who delivered a superkick to Vonda, and later picked up the chair and struck Vonda's back.

"That... is not for my mom!" shouted Cassie. "She raised me to be respectful, and that's what I am. No matter what, Vonda, regardless of the pain you dished out to my mom, to others, and to me, you will always have my respect! That shot was me saying... 'Thank you'." Vonda gave a look of genuine fondness, but it was broken by another chair shot to Vonda's back.

"I admit, that was for me," Cassie said humorously before delivering a German suplex to Vonda, successfully pinning her shoulders for the three count. After a grueling battle that lasted close to a half an hour, Cassie Horn, aged 26, picked up the biggest victory of her career, defeating a certified legend. Vanessa, Serena, and especially Kristina stood up and applauded, while Chester and Patricia shed happy tears.

"That's our girl," said Chester.

Patricia rose up from her seat, entered the ring, and gave her daughter a big and emotional hug, with the crowd cheering over the beautiful moment. As for Vonda, she managed to get herself up and walked towards Patricia and Cassie, with the fans fearing that Vonda may do something to taint this moment. Vonda's attempts to stay in character failed, as she was overcome with emotion.

"I was right," Vonda said to Cassie, "you truly are your mother's daughter. I am proud to call you my daughter-in-law." Vonda hugged Cassie, and brought in Patricia for a group hug that the fans truly loved witnessing.

A week passed after the match, which gained a lot of talk on social media. Many fans loved the angle; young up and comer against her evil mother-in-law. Among the many who talked about the match: Vonda and Patricia, who were hanging out at a diner.

"Young Star Defeats Mother-In-Law From Hell," Patricia reads on her phone, drawing a genuine chuckle from Vonda. "Vonda, you're amazing."

"I'm crazy," said Vonda. "Your husband's said it. Even my youngest has said it. Everyone has told you that. They're not wrong."

"Oh, come on, Vonda," said Patricia.

"I still remember our first match together," said Vonda. "We were just kids, looking for an identity, a role, a gimmick. Being a heel suits me, it's basically me times about 10 or 20. But your babyface persona isn't a persona, it's genuine. It's what I love about you." Vonda gave a deep sigh, showing that she was very deep in thought, before continuing on.

"I haven't made our friendship easy," said Vonda. "I can be arrogant, haughty, nasty, even fiendish at times, but you remained the ultimate constant. You're always there for me, including at the toughest of times, six years ago, when I lost my husband, Rance."

"Vonda, I know you," said Patricia. "I know that underneath the villainess you've enjoyed playing for so long, there is a woman who cares, who loves, and is a spectacular friend and mother. And I know that when you faced my girl, it may have been to reignite our history, but you also did it because you saw something in Cassie."

"She thanked me, Patty," said Vonda. "Cassie took one look at the monster that I was in that ring, and she thanked me."

"Cassie saw the mother of her future wife," said Patricia. "And she told me that the match was the most amazing experience of her life, because she wanted to make us proud."

"Cassie is so dynamic," Vonda said fondly. "And yes, I knew once she and Kristina started dating, I had to make my move to really challenge her, see what she's made of. I'm still feeling it a week later!" Both women laughed, and they continued sharing so many stories; some from their wrestling past, some about their daughters, especially the wedding.

Speaking of the wedding, that took place five months later, an in-ring ceremony that was live in front of a massive crowd. IWW's General Manager, Dianne Worley, performed the ceremony. Cassie entered, donning a simple white dress, and flanked by her maids of honor, fellow wrestlers Tanya Fitzpatrick and Lana Hebert, as well as Patricia and Chester. As for Kristina, she made her entrance in a wedding dress fit for the evil princess she was portraying, and her camp consisted of her sisters, Vanessa and Serena, and of course, her mother, Vonda Richards.

"We are gathered here," Dianne began, "to join this couple together in holy matrimony." Dianne turned to Cassie first.

"Cassandra Louise Horn," said Dianne, "do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded partner in life?"

"I do," Cassie said sweetly.

"Kristina Marie Richards," Dianne said to Kristina, "do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded partner in life?"

"I do," Kristina said fondly and confidently.

"Then by the power invested in me by Infinity Women's Wrestling," said Dianne, "I now pronounce you married, and you may seal it with a kiss!"

The fans erupted in cheers, as Cassie Horn and Kristina Richards became spouses. Two generations of rivals are now together as one big family, and all coming just months after Cassie passed a brutal test conducted by the very woman who is now, officially, her mother-in-law.