(We open up inside Pete’s Party Palace and standing underneath the doorway are two men; one of them is called Alex and the other, Tim. One of them is a WWA superstar and the other worships said superstar. One of them has black hair, the other has appalling hair. One of them is going to beat Joey K and advance to Round 2 of the IC title tournament and the other is going to enjoy watching it. One of them steps out onto the shop floor, Alex follows)

Alex Knight(AK): Remind me why we’re here again?

Tim Davies(TD): Because, i’ve been worried about you lately, Alex.

AK: Why?

TD: You’ve been acting strange recently, kinda distant.

AK: So you thought that meant you should be worried? That i’ve not been at your feet twenty four seven?!

TD: That and your two most recent flashes.

AK: *Nods* Right, yeah. But my question remains, why are we……here?

(Alex motions with his hands, spreading them apart and prompting the camera to pan around with flawless subtlety and professionalism. As the shot follows Alex’s hand round, we get a good view of the shop. From wall to wall this is the ultimate party store; wigs, costumes, silly string, props, masks, fake blood, balloons of all shapes of sizes, the list goes on and on and on or in this case, as long as the narrator doesn’t stop making observations…like just then.)

TD: Aside from the fact that it’s always great to pretend your a kid again?

AK: *sigh* Yes, aside from that.

TD: Well because it’s the first stage of getting you back on track. Stage.1: Get Alex into Pete’s Party Palace for some costume fittings…

AK: Woh. Costume fittings?

TD: Yeah, to help give you inspiration for your new look. Your new identity.

AK: Tim, I think you are missing the point.

TD: Nonsense. I can tell when my favourite superstar isn’t right within himself and I CAN tell that you are not right…within yourself. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction and that’s why we are here.

AK: Nudge me towards what? The circus? Kid’s parties?

TD: *thinking* note to self, look for Clown costume.

AK: Tim! Step pout of your thought bubble and engage me.

TD: You’ve got nothing to lose, remember? Only something to gain.

AK: I cannot believe you are quoting me and by the way, quoting me completely out of context.

(As Alex continues to argue with Tim, a man dressed in a crude vampires costume springs up from behind the counter; with plastic fangs, slicked back hair, white make up and a cape that may as well be a quilt for all its authenticity. Tim and Alex turn there heads for a brief moment, take a look at the man and return to their ‘discussion’)

AK: I meant I have nothing to lose against Joey K. Aside from the fact that I won’t lose, obviously. I didn’t mean I have no shame, no pride or no dignity. I’ve got plenty of that to lose---*interrupted*

Vampire Pete(VP): *interrupting* I vant to suck your blood!

AK: Seriously Tim. This *pointing towards Pete* is what you consider help? What you consider reasonable action when a friend is in need?

TD: Just give it a try, it’ll be fun.

VP: And thanks to your camera-crew *the camera nods* I get some good promotional benefits, which in turn means you get cash benefits.

AK: Cash benefits?! *Alex sounds interested* Ok, where’s the changing room?

VP: This vay, Mwhahahaha!

(Alex follows the middle aged Party store, in no way a little creepy and suspect, man into the changing room. Tim sits outside, opposite the changing room curtain, waiting to give the verdict. As Pete exits the changing room, he places a black bag, containing the first costume, over the rail.)

VP: Ok, Alex. Try it on and step out when you’re ready.

(As the curtain occasionally ruffles we can safely assume that Alex is getting dressed, whilst Tim and Pete sit outside, eager for the first unveiling. As the curtain ruffling persists, Tim grabs a piece of paper from his back pocket, it seems to have something written upon it but from this narrators angle, it is unreadable.)

VP: What's that?

TD: Oh this? It’s just some notes I made to accompany the costumes. Just a little extra something to set the mood.

VP: *to Alex* Are you veady yet?

AK: I’m ready but i’m certainly not happy about this whole charade. It’s going to do my character no good whatsoever.

TD: Just get out here and i’ll be the judge.

(The curtain is pulled back and Alex Knight emerges but not as we know him. He is dressed from head to toe in Pirates clobber; hat, eye patch, blazer, parrot, sword and even a peg leg [YES! Just like Zack's but better]. As Alex once again protests Tim proceeds to read from his notes.)

TD: You are Captain A.J Knight. You were conceived and born on a large pirate ship. Your parents were Pirates and they died before you knew them. You have a rebellious attitude and have a complete disregard for anyone other than yourself. You steal from others and those who resist are dealt with. You finish them with your new move ‘Walking the Plank’ which translates to them walking along the top rope and then pushed to the concrete floor. You are Captain A.J Knight.

VP: Vell I must say I like it. *semi-clap*

AK: Although I do look rather fetching with a sword by my side, this is not what I meant when I said I feel a lack of identity within WWA.

TD: It’s OK, Alex, i understand.

AK: Can we go then?

TD: Nope, next costume.

(As Alex goes to walk away, Pete rubs his fingers together in a ‘i’ve-got-cash-for-you’ motion. Alex admits defeat and heads back into the changing room, taking the next costume bag from the rail.)

Five minutes later…

(He steps out again, this time wearing an all black number but not spandex, as your sick-sick minds may have imagined it to be. Instead he is wearing a rather clumsy and heavy looking Knight’s costume; huge black chest plate, black armour that covers every muscle and black chain mesh that covers any other exposed flesh. Alex lifts the visor of the black helmet, moving his head from side-to-side as the weight swifts, swaying like a Jibba-jabba.)

AK: Let’s hear it then.

VP: Vell I must say I love it. *big clap*

TD: Me too. You are Dark Knight. You were born and conceived and born in a medieval village. Your parents were peasants and lived amongst pillagers, they died after a disease infected life. You were once a noble Knight but then, one day, the cruel Sheriff had your house burnt down and all your earthly good’s with it. You are now the darkest of all Knight’s and look only to inflict pain upon others, hoping it will help ease your own. You ‘inflict pain’ upon your opponents by using your move, ‘The Double Edged Sword’ a submission combo, that combines a Ganso bomb and a Boston Crab. You are Dark Knight.

AK: Tim.

TD: Yes Alex?

AK: Step into my office.

TD: O…k.

(Both men head into the changing room this time and as Alex shuts the curtain behind Tim, they have a little privacy. Tim slides down the wall into a sitting position, whilst Alex is forced to stay standing.)

AK: I understand that you want to help. I understand that you want to try and solve all my problems and somehow lift this great weight from my shoulders BUT you cannot. It’s up to me.

TD: But Alex, you look totally cool in that outfit. You’re like a superhero.

AK: Argh. Tim, if I wanted to create an identity inside a Party store I wouldn’t dress up like a superhero. People like Joey K are the one’s who think that it actually works and then come to the crashing conclusion that they are actually better of JUST losing, without the added embarrassment of a spandex costume.

TD: What then?

AK: Nothing, Tim. Your concentrating on the cosmetics of everything. People need to know what I stand for and more importantly what I don’t stand for. Take Cameron for example, I can just about stand the fact that she “kicked my ass” last Monday but I cannot stand the fact that she continues to talk about me. I actually pleaded with her not to, save me the horrific mental images that haunt me at night and save her the time. People know that I despise Cameron for persisting with her quest to badmouth me at every opportunity and that’s good.

TD: But people don’t know how you stand with everyone and everyTHING else?!

AK: Correct-a-mundo. So as much as I loved playing dress up, Tim, I would rather be at home relaxing.

TD: So you wanna split?

AK: Indeed.

TD: But you wanna see the last costume I had lined up?

AK *resignful sigh* Fine.

(Tim unzips the final costume bag that hangs over the rail. Out from the bag Tim pulls out a mask, not unlike Freddy Kruger in features but of course, due to copyright issues, in no way of any resemblance. Tim holds it up to Alex.)

TD: You like?

(Alex takes his time, almost in a daze as he stares at the mask. Using the magic license issued to every narrator, we can hear Alex’s thoughts.)

AK: *thinking* Strange. I know it is meant to look like Freddy but I cannot help but draw a different conclusion. The evil, yet arrogant grin pushes me further into seeing what surely cannot be. For days I have been thinking about this face and for many hours I have studied the man behind it. And now, as I look into it's eyes, real or not, I feel different to how I would expect.

No disgust. No fear. No hate. Just an overwhelming feeling of admiration. I know this is not him and I know this is not he’s face but I can’t help wondering whether I could wear that mask. Whether I could become what is loathed so much. "Can i?" As my mind wonders, the question becomes "Will i?" Yet the answer still escapes me.

TD: YO! Alex. What do you think?

AK: Oh. It’s crap, nothing but a poor latex imitation. Now like you said, let’s ‘split’, i’ve got a match to prepare for.

TD: Speaking of…i have something back at mine that may be of some use.

AK: A ninja? Rookie? DENROL?!?!

(Find out soon…but just so you know, it’s neither Denrol or Rookie………or a ninja, so there. Fade out.)