The Long Run

October 11, 2025. Las Vegas, NV.

Nate Colton sat on the sofa in an apartment he barely recognized.

No time to get familiar; he was only in town for the day. Long enough to handle an important piece of business before flying back to Evansville, then on to Columbia.

He just had to write down a single word. To complete a sentence, to solve a puzzle.

If only he could turn to the last page for the answer…but that wasn’t an option, because he was already there. The last page of this book, a gift from his parents, held the key to his upcoming challenge for the Universal Title.

The final Rule.

Success in wrestling is simple. All it takes is

Underneath it was a word, written–and crossed out–in his own hand.

Direction.

He wasn’t wrong, when he chose that answer a year ago.

He just wasn’t right enough.

Now, Nate Colton sat on his couch, tapping a pen against his lips as he thought.

What did he need?

What tool raised the Tower? What weapon put a crown on the King? What beacon lit the way for the Financier’s escape from the pit?

His phone buzzed, several times in succession. He paid no mind; the messages could wait until he solved this problem.

He’d think of the answer…eventually.

# # #

“Ain’t you tired, Cecilworth?”

“Not from being the champion. I haven’t held a belt in a while, but I remember how it feels. You never get tired of that.”

“But the fights you’ve had to keep it.”

“Stanislav. Jiles. Diamonds. Now, no disrespect to those guys…”

“...”

“OK, that ain’t true.”

“No disrespect to their abilities. TAL, too, but he ain’t part of my point. Every one of them is tough as nails. Shrewd. Absolutely cutthroat.

“But they lean on the spectacle. The tricks, the traps, the bullshit. Fighting them…it’s like having ice cream for dinner. It feels good in the moment, the fans love it…but it won’t keep you going.”

“Eventually it’ll make you sick. But ‘cause this business is what it is, you ain’t got a choice. They’re gonna keep serving it until your stomach turns at the smell of chocolate, the sight of whipped cream. Until you feel bile rise in your throat whenever sweetness hits your tongue. Until you’re begging, you’re dying, for some meat and potatoes.”

“So again I ask. After months of ice cream for dinner. Guys who couldn’t hold your jock if they played it straight. Guys who could, but won’t ‘cause they’re so afraid of failure that they gotta game the system any way they can.”

“Ain’t you tired?”

“I sure as hell hope so, Cece. I hope you’re chomping at the bit for this. Bouncin’ off the walls of the Glue Fortress at the thought of someone giving you the kind of fight the Universal Title should be about.”

“‘Cause I am.”

“A match with one of the all-time greatest technical wrestlers in the world? At the top of his game, putting his title up for grabs, and coming off a loss so I know he won’t be complacent?”

“Hell yeah, sign me up.”

“Now, my motivations…I ain’t reinventing the wheel here. I want the title for the same reasons everyone else does. The prestige, the honor, the right to call myself the best.”

“Also, ‘cause it’ll be the worst day of FLAMBO’s life. I’m gonna laugh my ass off.”

“Then there’s why I need the title…and those haven’t changed since I fought Coral. To prove my old man right. To show everyone what the Colton name means.”

“But this time around, that ain’t the most important thing either.”

“Y’see…I’m not here because I need the title.”

“I’m here because the title needs me.”

“So…here I am.”

# # #

September 6, 2025. Indianapolis, IN.

Nate Colton woke to the sound of running water.

The fuck’s going on

He tentatively opened his eyes and took in his surroundings, eventually recognizing them as his hotel room, bathed in lamplight and television glow. He rolled over to look at the clock, drawing cries of agonizing protest from his neck, back, and shoulder.

Hell of a fight

He couldn’t make out the numbers through the haze of sleepiness and pain. The best he could do was “night,” judging by the light pollution that leaked in through the curtains. Rolling back–and drawing further ire from his body parts–he looked at the television for answers…and found them in the glaring eyes of the Inhuman Being.

Matt looks a lot younger than I remember

The shot changed to a strange-looking man, all limbs and unnerving expressions. Barely looked like he belonged in a wrestling ring, let alone holding the Universal Title.

Oh shit this is the Pinnacle, Nova’s gonna be next

Hope he’s not in my shower too

Nate retraced his steps from the last two days.

Kidnapped by Erik Black. A daring escape. The brutal match with RIA Lockhart. The tearful reunion with Kohime…cut short by Anna Daniels’ attack on their friend.

A long night in the hospital, only stepping away long enough to treat his own injuries.

An anxiety-filled wait while Lockhart received surgery. Then…

Then Dad and Blake took over, ‘Hime went to the show, I came back to the hotel…

…and fell asleep

Must have muted the tv before I conked out

Whoever’s in the bathroom…they’re not pointing a death ray at my bidness so it’s probably fine

Nate lost himself in the list of legends that paraded across the screen. Name after name, face after face, writing themselves into PRIME’s most storied chapter.

How the hell did one of these guys almost melt my junk yesterday and he’s only like the fifth biggest asshole on here

The Pinnacle continued, showing men all too familiar with the New Diamond. A litany of men who crossed paths with Colton on their way to the top.

In many of those meetings, they were the ones forced to yield. Yet there they were…and here he was. Still waiting to add his name to that list…and forced to wait longer.

The bathroom door creaked open, pouring steam into the room.

Oh shit I forgot all about that

Well if they’re here to kill me I can’t do shit about it anyway

A figure emerged, clad only in a white towel wrapped around her body, another one scrubbing away at her damp hair. She wasn’t there to kill anyone, but she stopped Nate’s heart dead in its tracks anyway.

He tried to push himself up, but only managed a half-turn before his shoulder flared again, drawing a hiss of pain.

That was enough to draw Kohime’s attention. “Oh! Sorry, I did not want to disturb you…I just really needed a shower. Syrup got everywhere…so gross.”

“Syrup? That’s weird even by PRIME standards.”

She giggled; a soft titter that brought a smile to Nate’s face. Funny how much he’d missed the little things. All the cute noises she made when she was happy, content, or startled. Hearing those again filled his heart in a way that more physical acts couldn’t.

I mean, I won’t say no if you want to try, but AAAAHHHH

He tried to prop himself up again, but his shoulder put a stop to that idea…as well as others.

Kohime sat down next to him, her bare shoulders and back tantalizingly close. “How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Getting better,” he said. “Hurts like hell, though. God, don’t ever let us fight like that again.”

“I will not.”

The words hung heavy in the air, carrying a force Nate wasn’t used to hearing from his lady love.

“I’m so sorry, babe,” Nate said. “I never wanted to put you through any of that. You or RIA. It just…I let it all get out of control.”

Like everything else

He reached toward her, brushing his fingers against her hand. Just a little touch, to let her know–and to remind himself–that the bad times were over.

Or they would be…if she hadn’t moved her hand away.

“Nathan…I think we should talk.”

No no no no noooooooooooooooooo

“I think we should talk” has never led to a fun conversation. Nobody ever “thinks we should talk” about nunchuck lessons or the coolest monster trucks or the socioeconomic benefits of staying in bed and cuddling all day.

That streak would continue.

“I still love you, Nathan…but I cannot be with you. When I left–”

“‘Cause of that program, I know,” he interrupted. The Art in Motion dance program that prominently featured his ex-girlfriend, Skye Reeves. The one she found in his travel bag.

The one that still sat on his coffee table in his Las Vegas apartment.

“I promise, I’ve learned my lesson about that bitch,” Nate continued, his voice turning sour. “Soon as I get back to Vegas, I’m throwing that thing right in the goddamn trash where it belongs.”

“Nathan, please.”

Nate took a deep breath to continue ranting, but stopped with Kohime’s words…and her face. While most of his family would cheer to see Nate drag his ex like that, it just made Kohime uncomfortable.

“I left because of that. But that is not why I stayed away.”

I guess I should be thankful; almost makes up for all the times Skye did fuck up my life

“I took some time to think while I was gone. I thought a lot about you, and…I realized how much you had changed.”

Any protest, any rebuttal trying to take shape in his thoughts, suddenly deflated like an old bike tire. He couldn’t even begin to deny it; he’d felt it himself.

“You had gotten so angry, Nathan. And mean. All the time. It…scared me.”

“Kohime, you know I would never–”

She nodded. “I know. But those fights you had with Mr. Hanlon and Mr. Snow, the way you talked about them…”

Fuck those assholes they have no honor and don’t deserve honorifics

“Are you thinking mean things about them right now?”

“...”

“And you were that way with Miss Ria, too! You are supposed to be her friend!”

“I know, ‘Hime. I lost control…honestly, it’s been a while since I had it.”

“I do not know when it started, but it feels like you turned into a different person. He is mean and scary and I do not like him. I want the old Nate back.”

Kohime Mori stood and turned away, hiding the tears that welled in her eyes.

Please don’t cry baby I promise it’ll be OK, you just need to crawl into bed so I can wrap my arms around you and we’ll sleep for a year and when we wake up this will all be in the past…

But the real world didn’t work that way.

“I should get dressed,” she whispered, and disappeared back into the bathroom. When the door closed, the other side might as well have been on a different planet.

# # #

“What is it Cancer used to say about the Uni?”

“The man makes the belt.”

“Hell of it is, he’s right. Sort of.”

“What he forgets–let’s be honest, he doesn’t care–is what he’s making that belt.”

“All these ice-cream-for-dinner guys, they see the Big Gold and only think about what it can do for them. They think about basking in all that glory that comes from being the Champ.”

“Trouble is, glory ain’t exactly an infinite resource. It can run out…and if you don’t treat the belt right, it runs out pretty fast.”

“The Universal Title is supposed to represent the absolute best. The apex. The Pinnacle of All Sports. But how can that be true when the belt is won by screwjob, or defended by sucker punch? When the champion declares all challengers unworthy and that the belt is his forever? Or threatens to take it to another company?”

“That kinda shit makes the title cheap. Keep it up long enough, might as well make the damn thing out of cardboard.”

“That’s why the belt needs me, Cece. I bring something vital. I bring what the Uni needs.”

“Risk.”

“I know, ‘cause of what you said at 76. Talking me up like everyone thinks I’m the rightful champion and you’re the pretender.”

“First, the balls on you, trying to paint yourself as the underdog here. When you’re the champion who’s main evented every PPV for a year. Honestly…respect the hustle.”

“Second, I don’t need you to tell me I’m a threat. I know who I am.”

“But you are onto somethin’. ‘Cause you’re the guy I can’t get past. You beat me for the Five Star. Eliminated me from the Rumble. Beat my team at War Games. Outlasted me in the Manhunt.”

“And you’re still sweating.”

“That’s that risk, baby. That’s what makes a fight mean something. That’s what makes the Universal Title shine more than all the polish in the world.”

“You want to prove to the world that you’re the best to ever do it? You need that risk. You need that threat.”

“So…here I am.”

# # #

With Kohime out of sight, Nate mustered his remaining strength and used it to finally push himself upright, his bones and joints screaming all the while. But it was worth the agony if he could at least see her off properly.

Also, get to his painkillers. Those wore off a while ago.

Soon after, Kohime Mori emerged from the bathroom, wearing a black t-shirt and pink athletic shorts. She carried a duffel bag in her hand, which smelled faintly of maple.

He took a few weak steps toward her, desperately balancing what he felt she wanted with his own desires. Nate came as close as he dared, while still respecting her boundaries.

“I wish you could stay.”

“I–” She froze for a moment, but quickly recovered. “Miss Ria will need me soon.”

What were you about to say?

“It’s all right. Can we at least stay in touch?”

“I…would like that.”

He gingerly offered a hug, which she returned–thankfully without her usual chiropractic force. A gentle touch, for a delicate situation.

An idea sprung into his head.

No better time to start making amends

“Oh…before you go…”

Nate hobbled to a nearby chair, which held his travel bag. He opened up the main compartment, and brought out an old familiar face.

Kohime’s eyes lit up at the sight of Oinkers McGoo, dressed in a little blue ring jacket that Mallory Colton had stitched up for the occasion. “MMMMMMMMMM!” she squealed as she snatched the pig from Nate’s hands and squeezed him with all her considerable might. “I have missed Oinkers so much!”

“He’s missed you too,” Nate said. It did him good to see Kohime happy like that.

I hope she feels that way about me again someday

“You know…” he said, trying to muster the strength for what he was about to say. And do. “You could take him with you. If you want.”

Her eyes went wide. “You…you would do that?”

“It’s…well, you’re right about the way I’ve been acting. I haven’t been proud of myself for a long time, and I think…I just think he deserves a better friend right now.”

She brought Oinkers away from her chest, regarding him with serious contemplation. This would be a special addition to her collection of stuffies–which, to be fair, were all special. But Oinkers…he would be extra-special.

“Are you sure?”

“Y-Yeah,” he said, sounding the opposite of sure. “I want you to have him.”

“I don’t know what to say.” Kohime took another long look at the pig, staring into his plastic beady eyes. Then she looked up at Nate, and saw what was in his own.

“Oinkers…” she said, haltingly. “Oinkers is the best friend.”

“Darn right he is.”

“And I think, if you really want to be better…”

She softly pressed the stuffed pig back into his hands.

“...this is where he needs to be.”

Oh great, now we’re all crying.

“Thank you,” he whispered, hugging her again. A little harder this time, pain be damned. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too. But…yeah.”

“Yeah.”

A soft kiss on the cheek, and then he let her go.

Nate smiled through pain worse than what lanced through his shoulder. “Take care of Ria, OK?”

“I will. And you…” Kohime tapped Oinkers on his little pink snout. “...take care of Nate, OK?”

The noble pig fired off a crisp salute, fully accepting the daunting task given to him. Or he would, if, y’know.

The young once-lovers nodded sadly, and Kohime Mori left the room. His heart went with her, though his pig stayed behind. He flopped back onto the bed.

Fuck, forgot to grab my pills

Eh

They can’t get to what really hurts anyway

And yet…inside that pain was a fresh sliver of hope. A hint at the way forward. It wouldn’t be quick, and it wouldn’t be easy…but nothing worth it ever was.

Resigned to his fate, Colton scooched up against the headboard and looked at the television, which had been running silently the whole time.

On the screen, the Universal Title match between Cecilworth Farthington and Daytona Diamonds played out. Much like his relationship, it was a picture he wasn’t part of.

Maybe that too would change, someday…

# # #

“Last year, I had the chance to take Coral Avalon’s title…and that’s exactly what I did.”

“Just…not the one I wanted.”

“From the moment the bell rang that night, I’ve been back on the path to this moment. It may not seem like it, ‘cause I don’t go shouting it every minute I’m on the air. But I promise you, I know what I’m about.”

“As much as I would have loved winning the Manhunt or the Almasy…it wasn’t in the cards. Hurt like hell, but that’s the thing about the wrestling business–and it’s something that I’ve come to accept lately.”

“If you only loved her when she gave you what you want…did you ever really love her?”

“So I changed my plan. Stopped following you, and I headed for where I knew you had to be.”

“Defense number four. The last benchmark you need to clear to make history.”

“Now, I’m your Finish Line.”

“You’ve got a chance to reach true immortality in PRIME. All you need is someone who can give you the kind of fight you’re looking for. One you don’t know that you can win.”

“And guess what?”

“Here.”

“I.”

“Am.”

# # #

Nate tapped the pen against the paper, then drew it back. So many times, he almost had the answer, only to second-guess himself.

What did he need?

He looked up to a nearby shelf for inspiration. Oinkers watched over him from that lofty perch, still wearing his little jacket. He had another accessory too, one Nate’s mother made before his match with Coral Avalon last year.

A little Universal Title.

A reminder of what I’m doing here

Nate smiled at the thought before returning to the question that plagued him.

All it takes is

What separates me from everyone else? What do I have that Cecilworth hasn’t seen?

Family?

No. Try again.

Positive thinking?

No. Try again.

A sweet jacuzzi?

No. Try a–

…

Oh

Duh

At last, he put pen to paper.

Ivan Stanislav hid from his failures. Nate Colton learned from them.

Tom Battaglia overthought everything. Nate Colton set a plan and executed. No room for doubts or fear.

Cancer Jiles chased the Universal Title. Nate Colton pursued it. Quietly. Deliberately. Heading for where his prey would be, instead of where it was.

Daytona Diamonds looked for shortcuts. Nate Colton followed his path, one step at a time.

More than anything else, Nate Colton would always be the guy who put the work in. No matter what form it took. Whether it be giving help…

@BWColton: I just sent my Belmont application! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! @NCColton: Hell yeah bro! @BWColton: Thanks for helping me fill it out! @NCColton: You’re in for sure. Four for the family!

…or receiving it…

Thank you for choosing Wellmind Clinic! Please reply “YES” to confirm your video appointment…

YES

…striving for his goal…

@JMColton: Remember Mandy Wells? You trained under her before you went pro @NCColton: of course @JMColton: She’s coming up for a few days to help you out with the Farthington match @NCColton: Hell yeah she’ll get me ready for sure

…or backing off and letting things happen on their own.

@kmori: Miss Ria says no stickers on her mask! Look how cute they are though! @NCColton: Look how cute you are I miss you so much I love you See if she’ll go for googly eyes

Whatever the situation calls for. Whatever gets him to his goal, no matter how long it takes.

He had the destination. The direction. All he needed now was…

Nate read the word aloud, before closing the book.

“Persistence.”

He had his answer. God only knew if it was the right one.

But if not?

Well…he’d just keep trying.