Prologue - A Frustrated Champion

"That was too easy you dolt! Couldn't you tell the crowd was feeling cheated!?"

Vivienne Locke furiously bench pressed a heavy barbell, while berating her assistant turned manager. The object of her ire shielded herself behind a clipboard close to the doorway, desperately attempting to get a word in.

"W-we thought that fighting Brangeline again would be exciting. Y-you said yourself that..."

"A knockout victory in thirteen seconds is 'exciting' to you, huh? Are you stupid, Michelle? And cease that fucking stutter, it's annoying!"

Michelle winced. The truth was that Vivienne had insisted on fighting Brangeline, but there was no point in bringing that up. Vivienne was just too strong. Ridiculously so. In her flyweight class of 125 lbs. there wasn't a single opponent who could even make her sweat.

They had attempted a publicity stunt where Vivienne would fight Brangeline, an opponent two weight classes higher and a champion to boot. Brangeline was not only strong, but also a big social media presence who had made tens of millions on her line of combined sports and beauty products. Inside the ring, however, none of that had meant anything. Brangeline had lost, completely humiliated, again and again. This was the third time they had fought, and for the third time, Vivienne's opponent had been sent to intensive care.

Brangeline kept coming back, though. She was desperate for revenge. Every post she made was full of mockery and there were entire compilations online on how the famous fighter was a complete failure.

Vivienne, the self-styled Fighting Queen, was a complete monster inside the ring.

A monster that craved constant challenge.

"It’s a farce, Michelle! A joke! Unless you can find me a worthy opponent, you can start looking for another job. Seriously, you're the worst manager I've ever had!"

And the only one, Michelle thought. But she needed the job. She carefully approached.

"Don't get any closer", Vivienne said, still not making eye contact. "And don't even think about touching me. You know I fucking hate being touched."

Michelle hadn't even considered touching Vivienne. The fighter before her could take punches and kicks like they were nothing, but intimacy... Vivienne had taken that very idea, encased it in concrete and sunk it down the Mariana Trench.

Suddenly, Michelle remembered something.

"T-there was this weird challenge that came a while ago. It c-certainly sounds challenging b-but-..."

"B-b-b-but", Vivienne mocked. "I don't care if it's weird! It could be against a guy, it could be against more than one opponent, there could be special rules. I. Don't. Care. I'll beat anyone. Just set it up, Michelle. I'll beat anyone who dares to face me into a pulp.

"H-happy to be of service!"

Michelle scurried away. Vivenne had, without knowing, ticked every box in the issued challenge. She was going to get the fight of her career.

Chapter 1 – A Peculiar Set of Rules

As Vivienne stood alone in the ring under blinding spotlights, she felt excited about a fight for the first time since she'd beaten the schoolyard bully at the age of five.

The seats of the arena were completely sold out. The crowd had been chanting "Fighting Queen" for over an hour, and as she had made her entrance, complete with a red ermine cloak and a tiara, they had gone absolutely ballistic.

The attention sure was addicting. As long as they kept their distance.

Vivienne turned her focus inwards. She still didn't know who her opponent would be. It didn't matter, and it made everything that much more exciting. That little idiot Michelle had bothered her endlessly with details upon details. Vivienne had gotten so bored and frustrated that she had told Michelle to fuck off and to assume she consented to any clauses.

She slammed her gloved fists together over her formfitting skintight hotpants. Along with her matching top, it made her clothes very hard to take advantage of while grappling. She preferred to fight standing, letting her fists and kicks finish things.

The announcer struggled onto the stage. A short round man with a large microphone. What he lacked in stature he made up in volume. The speakers struggled to transmit his energetic voice.

"Ladiiies and gentlemeeen! Today we have an unbelievable treat! The Fighting Queen herself - Vivieeeenne Loooocke!"

Vivienne raised her fist up high. The crowd was roaring, along with Michelle, as always ready at ringside with sports drinks, medical equipment and towels. Vivienne scoffed. She never needed any of that crap.

"Today The Fighting Queen has agreed to a special challenge! Normally, I'd announce her corner, but instead, she will take... CENTER STAGE!"

This was unusual. Normally you and your opponent started at opposite corners. Well, whatever.

"Because her opponents will be coming from ALL FOUR CORNERS! They are the Quadruple Companions of Combat... Please welcome... The Hojojutsu Heavyweights!"

The Hojo... what now? Vivienne didn't have time to process the announcer's words, as pyrotechnics went off at all four corners, spewing sparks and smoke. As it evaporated, Vivienne realized that the four corners were now occupied by four identical men. They really looked like quadruplets. Shaved heads and massive muscles. Each and every one of them at least twice her weight. They all looked dead serious. No signs of weakness in their stances. They were all wearing black wrestling trunks with some kind of long cords wrapped around their waists. Probably some kind of cultural marker.

"Today we will fight a single round of one hour, with the ability for you, our dear audience to take selfies with the combatants afterwards!" The announcer waited for the jubilation of the crowds to die down before continuing. "As always, knocking your opponent out is fair game. A submission where either opponent taps the mat three times means the bout is finished, just as if any combatant’s second throws the towel onto the mat. Should there be any confusion concerning the towel, the combatant can always clarify, by audibly announcing their acknowledgement of defeat."

Vivenne had been very clear to Michelle to never even think about throwing in the towel. That was a complete loser's move.

The Announcer continued.

"The Fighting Queen has also graciously agreed to a special set of rules! The Hojojutsu Heavyweights may attempt to restrain our champion using any material they've brought into the ring. To offset this unfair advantage the Fighting Queen can also claim victory if she's able to completely escape the ring! If, at the end of the bout she has not escaped and any of her opponents are still standing, she loses. How about that, folks!"

Vivienne's shot Michelle a deadly glare. Sure, she had left any arrangements to her assistant, but this was completely out of order. Not only had Michelle agreed to four opponents, but they were allowed to use equipment as well!? This stammering pathetic girl was fired as soon as the fight was over!

However, Vivienne couldn't back down. Her pride wouldn't let her, and the audience had paid good money for these seats. Her status as invincible champion would never recover.

As the gong went for the first round, a familiar yet demonic thirst for victory possessed her.

Vivienne was going to win.

Chapter 2 - Fight or Flight

As Vivienne took aim on the west corner, she realized that her opponents were quick. Much quicker than their bulking frames indicated. Also, they weren't wearing full gloves - a hint that they preferred takedowns and submission holds.

She smiled.

Sure, they were quick, but she was way quicker.

A low kick struck her western opponent in the knee. It felt like kicking titanium. Completely solid. However, Vivienne wasn't exactly made of playdough herself.

She continued her barrage, keeping her opponent on the defensive. Her plan was clear. She would make a feint towards the guy's nose, then use the moment where his eyes reflexively closed to slip out of the ring before his partners could move in.

As Vivienne threw a left hook to confuse her opponent’s guard, it worked way better than anticipated. He was suddenly completely open for an attack.

For a fragment of a moment, Vivienne was in flux. Her idea had been to slip out of the ring and simply claim victory. But what if these guys could actually be beaten? They were big, but she was the Fighting Queen. The headlines would be insane.

For a fragment of a moment, Vivienne contemplated. And then she went for the knockout punch. All of her body weight behind it. A devastating right straight that had put every opponent she ever used it on to sleep. With a satisfying crunch, her glove connected with her opponent’s nose. Vivienne let out a roar of pure combat.

That was the final punch Vivienne threw that night.

Instead of falling, the man had waited for this exact attack. Both of his hands tried to grab her wrist. Vivienne slipped away with not a hundredth of a second to spare. Change of plans. No knockouts. No insane headlines. She needed to win by escaping.

Vivienne dove between the mat and the lowest ring rope. Her head went through, as did her shoulders, her midriff, her thighs. As her knees slid over the edge, gravity took over and she was just a tumble away from victory.

She would actually do it!

That's when a gigantic fist closed around her ankle, stopping her entire forward momentum. Vivienne had never been big on physical contact, and she had never felt a grip like this. It was unyielding, like a piece of industrial machinery. As she was pulled back into the ring, Vivienne tried to grab at the ropes with her hands. It was more of a primal instinct, desperately trying to cling to something. Anything. Her full gloves made it all the harder, and she had barely grazed the ring ropes when two more pairs of hands closed around her, each grabbing one of her wrists. With the size of their huge fists, it was more like her arms were suddenly completely encased way past her sharp elbows. A muscular inside elbow wrapped beneath her chin, squeezing the air out of her.

“Let me go!” Vivienne cursed and complained as she was hauled, face down, back into the middle of the ring. No one had ever manhandled her like this. It wasn't even painful, just an utterly overwhelming force. Like a child must feel, wrestling an adult. The strong hands all over her body made Vivienne panic. Her wild kicks were brought to a complete halt by the fourth opponent, straddling her legs and putting his entire weight into keeping them pinned to the mat. Vivienne had never felt this kind dominating pressure. Her body wasn’t hers to command. If these men wanted to reposition anything of hers, they just did. It was nothing like fighting the likes of Brangeline.

In spite of how Vivienne felt at this moment, her situation was soon about to get much worse.

Chapter 3 - Cardinally Controlled

As she thrashed around, helpless as a kitten under the four hulking figures, they all began to unwind the cords around their waists. It all happened so quick. Synchronized as a troupe of ballet dancers, her arms and legs got restrained by the cords. Her wrists were crossed and pulled high, high between her shoulder blades. Her ankles, calves and thighs were similarly entwined. Loops and ends were thrown from one person to the next at a dizzying pace and she hardly had time to react to one thing before the next was already in motion.

Vivenne realized her upper arms were already caught lashed to her upper body, ropes circling her breasts and squeezing them from all sides. Another rope slid around her waist and between her legs, cleaving her spandex hotpants along with everything else in two. Her knees bent under unyielding pressure, as her feet were connected extremely close to her wrists and arms, bending her back like an archery bow getting strung. Three more coils snaked around her neck, pulling her head back and up towards the blinding ceiling spotlights.

There was some elasticity in the cords, and with how tight everything was pulled, Vivienne was squeezed, pressured and choked all over. The entire process had taken no more than ten seconds, but Vivienne had already reached a limit.

She needed to get out!

For a moment, as the grabbing hands left her, Vivienne thought she would get a shot at escaping. Perhaps she could, somehow, inch herself towards the edge of the ring and clutch victory from the jaws of defeat? Vivienne was a complete victory machine and, in her mind, as long as she hadn't lost, she still had a chance.

The four men had been entirely silent through the entire ordeal. Now, they each grabbed a long end of rope that dangled from their opponent, turned victim.

"HEP!"

They suddenly dashed in all four directions, each wrapping their end around the ringside ropes.

"HEP! HEP!"

They all pulled mightily on the ropes, taking every fraction of slack out of the fibers and stretching the elasticity to the absolute maximum. Vivienne felt the very air inside her lungs squeeze out of her as absolutely everything around her body tightened to a merciless degree. The sturdy ring ropes themselves creaked and bent inwards as Vivienne felt her body partially leave the mat, in large parts hovering just above it

"HEP! HEP! HEP!"

The men finally hitched and knotted everything off. For Vivienne, the entire world was swimming in a haze as she attempted to get to grips with what had just transpired. As she struggled to breathe through the constricting coils, she vainly tried to break free from her restraints. There was no method, just desperate flails and grunts. Pathetic attempts to find knots that, even if discovered, would be impossible to pick at through the full boxing gloves encasing her furious fists. As Vivienne was anchored in place at four points, every little movement she accomplished had a reaction as she was yanked back to her original position. If she so much as attempted to extend her legs, the ropes around her wrists, arms, breasts, crotch and throat all irrevocably tightened without mercy.

As the four men approached and silently looked down on her writhing form, the haze over Vivienne's eyes turned red.

She was furious.

Chapter 4 - Let's Get Ready to Mumble

The first reason for Vivienne's newfound rage was the four men who lumbered ever closer. Vivienne realized she had to get out of this. They could do anything to her. Touch her. Pinch her. Spank her. Vivienne was completely unable to fend for herself. To shield herself from her vulnerability she transformed it into anger.

The second reason was that Vivienne found herself trying to tap out. It was an entirely involuntary instinct. Completely restrained as she was, it was impossible to make any movement clear enough to be understood as submission. The psychological impact was all the greater. She was the Fighting Queen. And here she was, completely unable to throw even the weakest punch. Even unable to tap out. That shame turned into a fury strong enough to replace a nuclear plant.

The third reason was that Vivienne had briefly made eye contact with Michelle. Her useless assistant turned manager turned second who was supposed to look out for Vivienne's best interest. And what was she doing? She was standing next to the ring, holding the towel, looking dumbfounded as usual.

"For fuck's sake Michelle!" Vivienne screamed. "Use the god damn towel!"

It was all Michelle's fault. She should have known better. She should have been pushier about explaining the conditions when Vivienne told her to get lost.

Finally, the towel sailed through the air. Sure. It would mean defeat, but Vivienne couldn't stand being on display in front of all of these people for a second longer. Their phones were obviously recording every frame of her humiliation. This had to end.

The toweled sailed and sailed. And landed with a plop on the shaved head of one of the Hojojutsu Heavyweights. A reddish complexion over his nose told Vivienne it was the guy she had punched in the face.

"God damn it, Michelle! You're fired! You completely useless sack of crap! I never want to see you again!"

The announcer chimed in from the sidelines.

"There seems to be some confusion in the arena! If the combatant would make clear whether she would like to continue?"

Vivienne snarled. Wasn't it obvious enough? Did she really need to debase herself even further?

"I..." she paused. Even through all of the humiliation, admitting defeat was hard. The guy plucked the towel from his head, looking at it.

"I admit..." Gaah! Why was this so hard! And now the guy with the towel was approaching. Squatting down in front of her. Vivienne suddenly realized he was completely within his right to punch her right back. As many times as he wished. She opened her mouth to finally end things.

"I ADMIT DEFRGMLGH!"

As Vivienne tried to speak, the guy shoved the entire towel into her gaping mouth, holding it in by clamping his sweaty palm over her entire lower face. Vivienne shook and sputtered, trying to dislodge the big wad of cloth while fighting the cords that ensnared her neck and throat.

The guy reached inside the bulge of his pants, and even through her rage Vivienne felt a cold sweat trickle down her back. That kind of thing clearly wasn't allowed. Right?

"Don't worry, little kitten", the guy said. "Or rather, you should worry, but about different things."

As he spoke, he brought out a roll of athletic tape. Vivienne breathed a sigh of relief, before again realizing what was about to happen. And where that tape had just been. The man plastered the foul-smelling tape over her mouth and began winding tightly between her lips and around her head, going again and again until there was a complete seal over her lower face, trapping the towel deep inside Vivienne's mouth. She felt like her head was about to pop.

"By the way", the man whispered close to her ear. "Brangeline says hi."

Completely unable to win and completely unable to submit, Vivienne was reduced to a screeching bundle of emotions. Anger gave way to shame. Shame gave way to fear. Fear gave way to anger. Vivienne was trapped in an endless loop of frustrated grumbles where she helplessly tried to get free of her constantly squeezing restraints and hopelessly tried to communicate her wish to admit defeat through the massive cloth and strong tape. The only time her frustrated muffled yells ceased was when her burning lungs ran out of oxygen and her flaring nostrils inefficiently gasped for air.

Somehow, Vivienne managed to keep her fit going until the gong signaled the hour was up.

The fight was over. A complete loss.

Epilogue – The Final Blow

As Michelle approached the ring in the now empty arena, Vivienne felt something akin to relief. She was still tied just as tightly, still gagged just as mercilessly. The entire audience had filed by, posing at her helpless body, putting their feet on her head, squeezing her cheeks and take closeup selfies next to her taped and stuffed gob. A suspicious amount of them had been wearing Brangeline merch.

Of course they had exclaimed "Say Cheese!" and laughed as Vivienne mumbled at them angrily. They questioned her relentlessly. How did it feel to lose? Was she actually that helpless or was it all staged? Were all of her former wins a fluke? At first, Vivienne had given them the silent treatment, but after some encouraging pinching and tickles, Vivienne was conditioned into playing along, mumbling wordless answers and wiggling uselessly to prove she really couldn't free herself even if her life depended on it.

Somewhere along this parade, someone had placed the tiara Vivienne had worn as she made her entrance back upon her head. Somehow, being reduced to a dress up princess doll had cut so deep that Vivienne had turned blood red with embarrassment. After that, there was no end to the quips about "The Tied Tomato" and "The Blushing Bride". Everyone was a comedian.

At the end, Vivienne had run out of rage. All she could muster were watery frustrated eyes and a body that yearned for release. And as Michelle approached, Vivienne realized her ordeal was over. The frustrated tears turned into tears of gratitude towards her assistant. Kind, stuttering Michelle would free her, and she could finally stretch, get home and sleep for a hundred years. Maybe by then people would have forgotten about tonight.

"T-they really did a number on you with all those cords."

Vivienne tried to nod, but the ropes around her throat barely allowed it.

"I s-suppose my duties now would be to release you and f-fix your post-game bath..."

The thought of nice steamy bubbles was enough to make Vivienne purr. She would even consider letting Michelle give her a full body massage. In a weird way, she felt more relaxed and at ease than she could ever remember. If only she was released from these squashing, wringing bonds. Something had changed.

"Of course I would be happy to release you. But as I seem to recall, you fired me?"

Vivienne suddenly got very pale. Surely Michelle didn't think she meant that for real? It was in the middle of a fight. It was just due to frustration. Through the soggy towel and the layers of tape, Vivienne pleaded desperately. She would give Michelle a raise. She would treat her better. Almost like an equal! Anything! Please!

"Sorry", Michelle said, giggling. "I can't understand a word. You sound so silly trying to talk with that gunk in your mouth. Didn't your mommy teach you not to talk with your mouth full?"

Vivienne was in shock. Michelle's stutter was gone. She seemed... confident? And even worse, her former assistant was mocking her?  Vivienne felt her rage trying to rekindle, but she was completely drained, like a car trying to sputter to a start with an empty gas tank. Instead, she pleaded as best she could with her eyes for Michelle to take mercy on her. To untie even a single knot. To just loosen something. Anything.

Michelle went up to Vivienne, squatted down and readjusted her tiara. With a napkin, she gently wiped the sweat from her former employer’s face. Her nose looked very cute as it flared over the coarse athletic tape.

Then, she suddenly felt mischievous. Using the napkin, she pretended to wipe Vivienne’s nose. As the helpless woman breathed out, Michelle firmly clamped her nostrils shut, cutting of any air supply. This mighty woman. In this state. So trivial to control. It was a complete rush.

"Don't worry about me, though!" Michelle said, as Vivienne fought for air. "I've already got a new job! Turns out Brangeline is very nice once you get to know her. She tripled my salary and gave me dental insurance! Did you know she actually bought this place after you agreed to this fight? Oh, you can’t answer, can you?"

Vivienne’s eyes were slowly drifting up. She couldn’t even struggle. Then, just as easily as stealing it, Michelle released her grip and returned her breathing privileges.

"I have to get going now. I'm sure you'll manage without me, being the mighty Fighting Queen and all."

As she spoke, Michelle took out a sleeping mask, pulled it over Vivienne’s eyes and tightened the elastic band keeping it in place.

"Since you said you didn’t want to see me again, I guess I’ll do you this courtesy. Now you’re free to be completely alone and self-sufficient.”

Michelle got up. Without her eyes, Vivienne couldn’t even beg anymore.

“Oh, and if you actually can’t get free from this little predicament, you should probably try to get some rest. Brangeline promised to stop by tomorrow morning and check on you. She mentioned something about a live stream and showing you her new adult toy collection. Sounds fun, but you’ll probably need some energy!”

Before leaving, Michelle took a final look at her former employer. Utterly helpless, bound and gagged in the middle of her beloved arena.

Vivenne had truly discovered defeat.