Dedicated to @CamrynKissel, @AbbyWatson4, @Robby2Keene, @NewYorkDoll, and @LOVESTODOODLE for their amazing support :)

"Don't look into his eyes, he can smell fear!" thought Demetri, frantically as he hid behind a beautiful cardboard cut-out of Yasmine.

Even he had to admit that hiding from Kyler Park wasn't exactly his bravest moment, though he knew well enough by now that running was his specialty when it came to fighting.

Plus, I do have to point out that if even Eli looked slightly scared back there then, I'm actually doing better with the whole bravery thing after all!

"I'd be scared to face me too, nerd," Demetri heard his bully sneer from a few feet away.

"Why can't we ever just settle our fights over a nice game of chess or honestly, I'd even take football at this point," whispered Demetri, exasperatedly.

Well, not really football considering it has one of the highest injury ratio outputs for players, but still!

Kyler's footsteps were slowly nearing his location and the Miyagi-Fang was in dire need of a plan.

He quickly looked all around the room, searching for anything that would spark an idea until his eyes landed upon his blue backpack that lay near the base of the marble staircase. Ever since the first day Daniel started training Demetri in the art of Miyagi-Do, he'd stored several extra training tools in his backpack so he could practice at home after his inevitable failure to achieve even the lowest level of progression in his Sensei's lessons.

For once, my inability to have any physical prowess pays off in my favor!

"Boo," breathed Kyler, yanking Demetri upward by his shoulder.

His grip felt all too familiar for he'd felt the wrath of his bully for far too many years.

"By any chance, could you wait until one of my friends are here to help me?" asked Demetri, his voice shaking slightly.

Kyler's fist struck Demetri's stomach harder than a wrecking ball, almost making him sink to his knees.

Why can't any of the Cobras have nerdy muscles like me?

As Demetri was trying to stand up, he felt his enemy's foot collide with his back, knocking him fully onto the ground.

"Didn't expect anything more from a pathetic loser," commented Kyler, laughing proudly at the Miyagi-Fang's misery.

But as he threw the next punch aimed directly at Demetri's ribs, his fist was suddenly grabbed before he was punched onto the ground himself.

"Just because I'm not a jerk like you, doesn't make me a loser," stated Demetri, his voice holding steady this time.

I might not be the bravest of my friends, but that doesn't mean I'm a loser, Mr. L taught me that.

He swiftly pushed himself to his feet, his lanky legs nearly making him topple over as he watched Kyler struggling to get back up. The room around Demetri was no longer visible through the chaos, though that wasn't abnormal due to the mass swarms of fighters that weaved between one another as they viciously fought their enemies.

"Well, here goes nothing," sighed Demetri before rushing into the crowd, leaving Kyler on the ground.

Everything moved in blurs as Demetri dodged between various members of Miyagi-Fang and their combatants, occasionally being hit by a cobra's rogue blow to the shoulder or leg. He felt a particularly painful kick hit him in the stomach, making him temporarily reel over in pain before continuing his sprint.

That one must have been Tory and I can tell from the high-heel print nearly indented in my chest...

The only people he saw no sight of in the chaos was Miguel and Robby which was especially notable considering they tended to be in the center of the dojos' duels, but he had no time to go looking for them as he was barely getting by himself.

With the amount of force they're hitting with, you'd think they're trying to kill someone. Kinda just hoping that person isn't me.

Finally, he reached his desired destination on the opposite side of the ballroom, his eyes locking onto his backpack.

"Okay, well that could've gone worse," smiled Demetri, relief flooding his body as he bent down to pick up the object from where it lay at the base of the stairs.

"You didn't think you could get away that easily, did you!" shouted Kyler, jumping out from within the crowd, his fist immediately colliding with the side of Demetri's face.

Ow, I'm definitely going to need some ice for that one...

"Any chance we can talk about this over some punch?" offered Demetri, smiling up at the bully, feebly.

Kyler kicked him hard in the side, making him face-plant the cold tile floor. He could already feel a dark bruise forming around his right eye as he got to his feet.

I've beaten him once in a fight, even if that was most likely due more to Eli. But still, that must count for something, right?

"You know I'm gonna beat you so, why don't you just make it easier on both of us and stop pretending to fight," said Kyler, his fists clenched tightly in front of his chest as he circled around Demetri like a bird circles its prey.

Slow and overly confident of its own success.

"Because I can actually stand up to you, Kyler. And I know you think you're this scary bully guy which quite frankly, you are, but you don't control me anymore and you know why? Because I actually believe in myself," stated Demetri, his shoulders raised high.

Hey, that actually sounded like I had some self-esteem!

"What are you talking about?" asked Kyler, a blank expression hanging on his face.

His speech clearly had confused the bully rather than angered him which was always what Demetri would prefer.

Brain wins over brawn every time. Just look at Hermione Granger or Sherlock Holmes.

He took no time in using this temporary distraction as an opening for an offensive attack.

Demetri grabbed the heavy backpack and tossed it into the air with as much force as his muscles could manage before spin-kicking it into Kyler's chest.

Kyler fell backwards, his entire body slamming roughly against one of the waiter's rolling trays before he slid to the ground, unconscious.

"I can't believe I actually just did that! And without dying!" exclaimed Demetri, happily punching his fist into the air.

It was the first time he'd ever taken on an enemy of any high ranking caliber by himself without it ending in a painful disaster.

If only Eli could see me now, he'd be so impressed!

But his victory only lasted a few seconds as he watched Anthony LaRusso hit into the ground by an unrelenting Kenny Payne.

Looks like something else might need a little help...