The night after Reckoning Day was hard for Dan Stein. Losing his title; the very title he beat both Kenji Yamada and Azraith DeMitri to retain, the title he beat the far and away BEST Iron Fist champion for. Stein was feeling that loss, hard, and the beaches of Hawai'i felt it, too. Stein sat there, alone, with his feet in the low tide, looking out as the moon and stars danced on the water. He sat, and he thought, and he whined that he maybe wasn't good enough. That he just wasn't as violent as Azraith DeMitri and Kenji Yamada. That maybe, just maybe, Kenji Yamada was better than him at something. But almost as soon as he thought that, Stein pushed himself up to his feet, grabbing a handful of sand as he did, and stared off into the water.

Dan Stein: “There is no man, no where, that I am incapable of beating. So what, you lost your title, Danny? So – fucking – what? Get it back. Better yet, the Master of the Mat tournament is coming up...”

Stein smirked as he looked out towards the moon.

Dan Stein: “Win it all. Prove to them, prove to EVERYONE that you're not just some kid with talent.”

Stein threw the sand into the water.

Dan Stein: “You're Dan 'The Lights' Stein, SHOOT Project's NEXT World Heavyweight Champion.”

Stein nodded, confidently, before he turned around, right into Gemma's chest. She nearly fell over before Stein grabbed her to steady her. Her face looked almost pale, noticeable even in the moonlight.

Gemma: “Danniboo. There's a pretty wicked storm rolling through Iowa right now, and they're saying the levee in Waterloo is going to break.”

Stein looked at her, not sure why it mattered.

Gemma: “They're saying Cedar Rapids will be under water by this time Tuesday, if not before.”

Stein looked at her, and Patrick as he walked towards the couple. Dan sighed for a second.

Dan Stein: “Pack your bags, guys. We're going to Iowa.”

Stein walked past Gemma, extending his hand for hers. She reluctantly took it, before asking him a question.

Gemma: “But Dan, what about Alaska? You know you're already scheduled to work!”

Stein nodded, and stopped in his tracks. He looked at her, squeezing her hand tight.

Dan Stein: “Gemma, even in wrestling, sometimes things don't go your way. All you can do is live with what you got, and make the best of it. But Cedar Rapids? That's my hometown. That is where I keep everything I own. That's all my friends, whats left of my family, my teachers and coaches, all of them are in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and if the city of Cedar Rapids is going to be struck by a disaster, if Cedar Rapids is going to be crushed by the water, then so is my life. Cedar Rapids is my life. I know I can't do much when I'm there, but I can do more there than I can in Alaska, or Las Vegas, or anywhere else. Now, I'm going to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And I'm going to do my best to help save what can be saved of Cedar Rapids. You two can come with me, or I can put you on a plane back to Phoenix. It's up to you.”

Stein looked at her face for a second, before she spoke.

Gemma: “Danny, you know I wouldn't want anything else in the world than to be with you forever. I just wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing.”

Dan smiled at her, and pulled her in close for a hug.

Dan Stein: “I know, Gemma. And I do know what I'm doing. I'm doing the right thing.”

Patrick: “Yeah, man. But isn't Mr. Johnson going to be upset that you're missing his show?”

Stein sighed for a second, his chin on Gemma's head.

Dan Stein: “I guess we'll see.”

* * *

THE LIGHTS: “Eli Storm versus Dan Stein. Round one of the Master of the Mat Tournament. If you'd have asked me any other time, I'd say this match was main event stuff. The Whole Canuckin' Show against The Lights. You, the self proclaimed Ratings Boost, one-on-one with the Golden Boy. The former World Heavyweight Champion versus the former Iron Fist champion. Winner moves on to the second round. Loser? Well, in my mind, the loser has a date with Roland Caldwell.”

Stein was back in Las Vegas now. The camera was positioned on him from the front, looking at his black 'The Lights' t-shirt.

THE LIGHTS: “Eli, I know you understand who I am. I know you're quite familiar with me, from word of mouth and from what you've seen. I know you study EVERYTHING about me, because that's who you are. That's what you amount to. One gigantic God damn film studying, overachieving piece of work, and you study the best, because that's what you do best. You study, and you study, and you study, until you have the person that you're across from down like the back of your hand, and when you get the chance, when you see the opening... you capitalize.

That's what you're known for. Being mediocre. I'm right, aren't I? Yes, you won the SHOOT Project World Heavyweight Championship, but who really thought you deserved it? You? Your mentor, Matt Kanyon? The man who is synonymous with lucking out? I'm sure it gets beaten into you, almost every. Single. Day. That you didn't deserve that title from Cade Sydal. I'm sure even you sometimes wonder, 'Gee, eh? Am I better 'an that hoser, eh? Or did I just get lucky, eh?' I'm quite certain that's run through your head, Storm.”

Stein sighed for a second.

THE LIGHTS: “Stop thinking like that. Stop LETTING people think that. Stop acting like you're just some joke of a champion. What do I mean, Eli?”

Stein smirked.

* * *

He was lucky he got in before the water spilled over the streets, or he might not have been able to. When the plane flew over the city, and Stein was leaning over Gemma's lap looking at the desperation Mother Nature had caused, his heart sank. Gemma rubbed his back, Stein grabbed her behind the head and pulled her close, kissing her on the forehead.

Dan Stein: “Wow. This is worse than I thought...”

He spoke as he turned back to the water. Sitting beside him was Patrick, Gemma's brother, and in two of the three seats behind them were The Flying Avengers, out of their outfits; Just Chance and Chris.

Dan Stein: “Thanks for coming out, guys. I really do appreciate it.”

Stein nodded to the tag team – his friends, and the two of them nodded back, examining the despair. Stein turned around as the plane descended into the Eastern Iowa Airport. Ground Zero.

* * *

THE LIGHTS: “I know the type of wrestler you are. I know the moveset, and I know the flaws. I know how you capitalize, and I know how you get picked apart. I know you, Eli Storm, almost as well as I know myself, because – in all honesty – we are NOT that different. High Impact High Flyers, right? That's us. We like to pick apart the opponent, and we like to defy the laws of gravity, and we do it with a smile. You're SHOOT Project's 'show-stopper'. I'm SHOOT Project's Show-Stealer. You're what makes the people tune in? I'm what makes the people tune in WEEKLY. You're the man that ended Cade Sydal's first and only title reign. In effect, you've beaten the man who has beaten OutKast for the very title you're famous for holding.

No, Eli. For those fleeting moments, you were better than every. Single. Wrestler. On the SHOOT Project roster. You were better than EVERYONE. OutKast, Real Deal, Cade Sydal. You. Were. It.

You. Are. It.”

Stein nodded.

THE LIGHTS: “Just like one does not simply walk into Mordor, you, Eli, did not simply forget how to wrestle. You did not simply forget how to train, or to fight, or any of that. But during and after that match with Michael Collins in the World Heavyweight Title tournament, I could see what you did forget. I could see what you were lacking, Eli. The entire roster could see what you were lacking, Eli.

Pride.”

* * *

Stein walked down third avenue towards the river, tall city buildings on either side of him, shading him from the sun. He had Gemma's hand in his, her brother and Chance Ryan and Chris Sydal behind them. Stein felt heartbroken as he walked up to the water line, several blocks from the river. He looked side to side on the streets to the sandbags that didn't stand a chance, and sighed.

Dan Stein: “Well... I guess it's time to rebuild.”

Stein looked at all of them, before turning and looking for the large group of people which he knew were the Relief Effort.

And he walked towards the future.

* * *

THE LIGHTS: “What was it, Eli? What HAPPENED after they stripped your title? What happened after you won it in the first place? Did you not care any more? Were you just going through the motions? What was it? YOU HELD THE GREATEST TITLE IN THE WORLD, Eli. What happened? You beat far and away the most technical wrestler in SHOOT Project history, what HAPPENED to you? Was the stress of having the title too much? Actions unbecoming of a champion?”

Stein shook his head.

THE LIGHTS: “After you lost that match to Michael Collins, you quit. You gave up. You picked up your hockey puck, and you moved on. You lost more than that match to Michael Collins.

You lost everything. And it's because of what you did, not what you didn't do. People still respected you, even in that loss. People respected you, even when they felt you might not deserve the World Heavyweight Championship – you did. You earned it. You absolutely deserved it. But when you quit, when you gave up on people? That's when people lost respect for you, that's when you became a joke – the joke you thought you were before.”

Stein crossed his arms over his chest.

THE LIGHTS: “But then, you came back. Something clicked in your head, something snapped in your mind, and you knew that you had something to accomplish. You knew you had to prove people wrong. You knew it was time to rebuild a legacy that many people are doubting.

You're rebuilding your pride.”

* * *

Stein, Gemma, Patrick, Chance and Ryan spilled into the old farm house – the very house that Stein's mother was slain in front of. Stein had refused to sell it, though the livestock was auctioned off. The grass outside was absolutely scary, a luscious green color but nearly two feet tall.

The group made their way upstairs, and Stein divided them out. Dan put Patrick in the room he grew up in, Chance and Chris in the guest room, and Gemma and himself in his parent's room. Gemma walked to the bathroom, leaving Stein alone for a few moments, with nothing but his thoughts, and the memories trapped in picture frames all across the room.

He walked to a certain picture, the one of him wearing his first state medal in swimming. The one where he, and his parents, looked the happiest; the proudest.

Gemma: “You know they still love you, right?”

Stein turned and looked at her, swinging the picture with him.

Gemma: “...That they still look over you, and cheer you on through every match, win or lose. You know that they make sure you're safe, even when you do stupid things – like wrestle Azraith DeMitri and Kenji Yamada at the same time.”

Stein chuckled as she walked closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her words were soothing, and just what he wanted to hear.

Dan Stein: “I know they are. Or else I wouldn't have met you.”

She cooed against his chest, and he put the camera frame down where he picked it up from.

Gemma: “I'm sorry, Boo.”

Stein wrapped his arms around her.

Gemma: “This just seems like a horrible week for you, not long after a horrible time in your life.”

Stein sighed for a second as he thought about it for a second, then shaking his head.

Dan Stein: “Not horrible. Yes, I want to win my Iron Fist title back. Yes, I wish this flood never happened, but... so what? I've learned over the last couple years, when life throws you lemons...”

Gemma: “Make lemonade?”

Dan Stein: “That works. I was going for 'drink wheat beer', but lemonade works.”

She slapped his chest playfully. Stein smirked.

Dan Stein: “There's a whole new era waiting to be built, Gemma. One better than the last, better... than ever before.”

Stein smiled, before falling into the bed. Gemma stood over top of him for a split second before collapsing on him.

Dan Stein: “And Cedar Rapids will be fine, too.”

* * *

THE LIGHTS: “See, Eli, that's where you and I differ. That's where you and I are NOT the same. I lost MY Iron Fist championship in a match that I chose. I picked my opponents. I picked the men I would face, and I failed. Miserably. But I'm not going to quit. I'm not going to run away. I don't need the time to get my head straight, Eli.

I know that I am the best. I know that I am capable of beating the best. I know, Eli Storm, that I am everything I claim to be. When I lost my Iron Fist championship, it hurt – you're damned right it hurt, Eli. But when life throws me lemons? I don't make the sour face and squirt a tear or two, I make the best fucking lemonade you'll ever DREAM of drinking.

I don't lose my pride just because a few jackasses in the back call me names, and make fun of me. I fight that much harder. And if they still don't believe in me? I keep fighting. And if the still don't believe in me? Fuck them. I believe in me. I believe in Dan Stein, just like I know that you're starting to believe in yourself.

We tagged together earlier in the year, and I saw the fire in your eyes.

I saw the fire in your eyes when you beat Roland Caldwell, ANOTHER former World Heavyweight Champion, at Reckoning Day.

Show me that fire in the ring at Revolution 35, PLEASE, Eli Storm.”

Stein nodded.

THE LIGHTS: “I want to know that I have beaten both the CURRENT World Heavyweight Champion, and a FORMER World Heavyweight Champion, in my path to BECOMING the World... Heavyweight... Champion.

Do that for me, Eli? And I promise you, nobody will laugh at you. You and Nightmare can team up and take on the Tag Title scene, and nobody will fault you for giving your all.

But Eli? As much as you study, and study, and study, and as much as you THINK we are alike? I study just as hard, I train just as hard, I wrestle just as hard, Eli. I will not underestimate you, I will not judge you like the rest. All it takes, Eli, is one kick.

One – single – kick.

And you'll end up on your back, looking up at those orbs, wondering where in the fuck you are. And I'll look down over your semi-conscious body, waving at you on my way to the second round of the Master of the Mat, mouthing those two simple words people all over the nation have come to know and love.”

Stein grinned.

THE LIGHTS: “Lights Out.”