Mercy

"You ready?" After the party, Miguel slept over at Cherry's house. The two were cuddling, trying to make the moment last as long as possible. "Yeah," Cherry sighed. "Let's get ready." Cherry walked to her bathroom to shower while Miguel used the guest bathroom. Cherry quickly showered then changed into blue jeans, a black sports bra, and she zipped on a jacket. Putting on her shoes, she grabbed her karate bag and headed downstairs to make her and Miguel breakfast.

She was upset that her parents wouldn't be there for her first tournament, something that Miguel noticed. So, he hugged her from behind and placed his head on her shoulder. "Hey." He kissed her cheek and smiled down at her. "I'm sure they're still rooting for you."

Cherry smiled at him and pecked his lips. "Thanks for making me feel better. Now come on, let's eat." After a quick and healthy breakfast, they went to her motorcycle and Cherry drove them to where the tournament is being held. By then, everyone was waiting there, only Johnny hadn't arrived yet.

"Where's sensei?" Eli asked.

"The tournament's gonna start soon."

"He'll be here," Aisha tried to reassure him.

"I don't know about that."

Everyone turned to Bert. "Why's that?" "Last night, I saw him at the mini mall. I was buying. . . a carton of milk when I heard him in the parking lot, yelling." "Well, why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Cherry asked. "I don't know. I'm guess I'm just used to seeing him drunk and it didn't seem that big of a deal." "Well we're here and he's not. So it's officially a big deal. What if something happened to him?" "Like what?" "I don't know - like he drove his car off a cliff. Or he bought a gun and blew his brains out."

"No, sensei would never kill himself."

"She's right, that's why I'm gonna kill him." Cherry made for her bike, but Miguel held her back. "We're just gonna have to do it without him." "Do what without me?" Everyone turned to see Johnny approaching them. "Sensei." "I didn't think you were gonna show up," Eli admitted.

"I may not always win but I never back out of a fight. . . That I'm pretty sure red her would've killed me," he motioned to Cherry who nodded in response. "Let's sign up," said Miguel. "Not yet. There's one more lesson I have to teach you." Johnny led the group inside and they formed a circle.

"You've all learned to strike first. Be aggressive, not be losers. I've taught you to strike hard. And put every ounce of your power behind everything you do. I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai. No mercy. The older you get, the more you're gonna learn that life isn't fair. You wake up one morning feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls and takes a big steaming shit in your mouth. You get an F on a test, you get suspended, have a fall out with a close friend."

Miguel glanced down at Cherry and he squeezed her hand.

"Just when you think things are going good, everything falls apart. That's how it goes. Life shows no mercy, so neither do we. We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. We do whatever it takes to win! Remember who you are: you're badass! You don't give a shit. Kick ass! You're Cobra Kai."

"Cobra Kai!" Miguel and Cherry yelled.

"Yeah!"

"All right guys, let's get down there and kick the shit out of everybody!"

"Yeah!"

Miguel took out his Gi.

"No. You're not wearing those."

× × × ×

"Everyone, line up. I want Miguel up front, Cherry behind him, and Eli behind her." They did as told and waited for Johnny to give them the signal.

"Go."

They all began jogging out, chanting.

"Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai. Cobra Kai."

Miguel stopped and they all faced forward, a look of determination on all of their faces. "Now that's what I call an entrance! And a badass name for a dojo! Let's hear it for Cobra Kai!" Everyone cheered and Miguel took hold of Cherry's hand. "And finally, fighting unaffiliated from North Hills, we have Mr. Robby Keene."

Both Miguel and Cherry glared at Robby when he passed them.

"All right, folks, get ready. It's karate time." The crowd cheered. Miguel would be the first one fighting. "All right gentlemen, you know the rules. Three points wins. Step on the mat." Cherry pulled Miguel's head down and gave him a quick kiss. "Good luck." Miguel smiled and turned to Johnny who called him over. After nodding at whatever Johnny told him, Miguel stepped forward. "Face me, bow. Face each other, bow. Ready? And fight!" Miguel had used the winning move that Daniel used 30 years ago.

Cherry was up next after Miguel had won and he held her hand, stopping her. "Be careful." Cherry nodded and Miguel kissed her before letting her go onto the mat. After bowing to the referee and her opponent, Cherry got into fighting position. "Go Cherry!" She smirked and had a glint in her eyes. "Fight!"

Within two seconds, she had her opponent down.

"That's my girlfriend!" Miguel cheered.

Cherry had won the next two rounds, meaning she won her match, and stood next to Miguel. "It feels weird kissing you without your lip ring," Miguel admitted, causing Cherry to laugh.

× × × ×

Match after match, and Miguel, Cherry, and Eli kept winning. Cherry felt herself using strategies that Daniel had taught her, making her smile before frowning, remembering that after the party, the LaRusso's don't want anything to do with her. They officially hate her and cut off all ties. "You okay?" Miguel asked.

"Yeah."

"All right, you just seem out of it."

"Don't worry, I'll get my head back in the game."

She winked at Miguel and he chuckled at her. She winced, however, when Bert got hit hard and lost. "Oh, I'm taking him down." The Cobra's cheered for Cherry as she made her way to the mat. "Come on Cherry!" "No mercy!" Locking eyes with Johnny, he nodded at her and she nodded back. Cherry was dodging her opponent. He kept doing flips, so she decided to call him flippy. "Hey Flippy!" He was taken aback, giving Cherry the opportunity to strike.

"No one likes a cocky guy."

Her opponent had certainly put up a fight, but Cherry won in the end.

Soon enough, it was now the semi finals. Cherry was going to head into them, but couldn't after one of the opponents had injured her leg badly. "Cherry!" Miguel ran to the mat and helped her up. He helped her over to the medics and was going to go the guy that hurt her, but Johnny held him back.

"You want payback?"

Miguel nodded.

"Then win for her."

Miguel watched as the medics brought Cherry back, an ice pack on her leg. Miguel sighed and walked over to her. "How bad?" "It's gonna be a major bruise, but I should be up and walking again in a few days." Miguel nodded and kissed the top of her head. "I'll win, for you." Cherry smiled and pulled him into a kiss.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

That had given Miguel a boost of energy as he won the next match within a minute. There were only four remaining - Eli and Miguel from Cobra Kai, Robby from unaffiliated, and Xander Stone from Topanga karate. Miguel would be going against Xander, and Johnny helped Cherry as she stood up front. "You got this babe!" Miguel smirked at her and he bowed at the referee. They were both putting up a good fight, and all of Cobra Kai were encouraging Miguel.

With one final kick to the stomach, Xander lost and Miguel won.

Cherry and the rest of the Cobra's, and Johnny, cheered for Miguel.

"That's my boyfriend!"

Cherry had pulled Miguel into a hug and they watched as Eli got on the mat, his opponent being Robby. Eli had Robby down in a matter of seconds, giving him a point. Robby got back up and went back to his side. Cherry was surprised that Daniel yelled at Robby, giving him advice. "Remember what you've learned, Robby!" She knew he was talking about balance. "Fight!" Robby had blocked Eli and then kicked him in the face, leaving them tied.

Cherry saw them talk, then Robby began to walk back to his side. But Eli suddenly attacked him, kicking his shoulder and getting himself disqualified.

× × × ×

It was now Miguel against Robby.

Aisha had taken over for Johnny and was helping Cherry stand. "Will it be Miguel Diaz from Cobra Kai?" Cheers. "Will it be Robby Keene -" a lady whispered something into the announcers ear. "Daniel LaRusso is gonna coach! Robby Keene will now be fighting for Miyagi-do karate with former champion, Daniel LaRusso as his sensei!"

Miguel quickly approached Cherry and he kissed her. "Good luck," Cherry whispered. Miguel nodded and headed over to the mat. "And fight!" Miguel was coming in strong, but Robby kept blocking. Seeing a chance, Robby kicked Miguel hard, earning him a point.

"Come on, Miguel! Focus!"

"Remember the pitching machine! Don't get hit!"

"Fight!"

This time, it was Robby who attacked first. Miguel dodged, kicked his shoulder, then kicked his stomach. "One point." Miguel had quickly earned another point, but Robby was more hurt. Daniel called for time and Cherry locked eyes with Miguel. "Focus," she mouthed. Miguel drew in a deep breath, let it out, and nodded. The referee called them over, and Robby had done a move that only two people Daniel knew could do: Mr. Miyagi and Cherry. Robby balanced all of his weight on one hand and kicked Miguel, earning him a point and they were tied yet again.

Another time out was called. This is it. Both Miguel and Robby fought hard, but in the end, it was Miguel who won. Miguel rushed oved to Cherry and lifted her into a hug, everyone cheering. "You won!" "No. We won!" Cherry smashed her lips against his and Miguel smiled into the kiss.