The Moment of Truth

It's been a few days since the All Valley festival, and a day since Miguel and Cherry's first date, and they were back at the dojo. Miguel and Cherry were stretching while Mr. Kreese was telling Aisha and Eli a story from when he was in the army. "They were out gunned, we were out manned. I tell you, Rwanda was no joke." "Don't you mean Somalia?" Cherry asked as she and Miguel stood up. "Mogadishu is in Somalia, Rwanda's a whole different country," Miguel backed her up. "Of course, Somalia. I've spent so much time in the sandbox, it all kinda bleeds together, you know?"

Cherry leaned towards Miguel.

"I don't like him. I get a bad feeling from him." "Me too."

"Listen up! I see we got some new recruits. Everybody, fall in! In neat rows and lines," Johnny clarified. Miguel and Cherry stood next to one another, Aisha next to Cherry, and Eli next to Aisha. "Time to see what you're made of." Johnny walked around and began to inspect them.

"Sorry, parents can't stay for class. It's an insurance thing." "I'm not a dad - I am here to kick some ass, sir!" "Do I know you from somewhere?" "Oh yeah, I sold you the mirror. We kinda bonded, talked about rock bands." "Look, you're a little old, this is a class for teenagers."

The man bribed Johnny with cash and Cherry chuckled.

"I thought my last group of recruits was pathetic. But if you do what I tell you to do, you'll at least have a chance of becoming a fighter. But to do that, you gotta fight. So, which one of you has the balls to take on the champ and our Firecracker?" Miguel and Cherry stood tall with proud smirks as no one seemed to want to go against them. "We'll take them on." Everyone turned to see two identical people. "Oh, you will huh?" "We saw your little demo at Valley fest. You guys can put on a show, but can you actually fight?" A girl challenged. "And I don't remember seeing your little 'Firecracker' out there," said the boy.

Cherry growled as the guy smirked at her, causing Miguel to glare at him.

"That sounds like a challenge."

"We like a challenge," they said in sync.

"Mr. Diaz, show little miss hotshot here what Cobra Kai is all about. Ms. Bennington, you can take on the cocky bastard next." Everyone lined up outside the mat and Cherry took hold of Miguel's hand. "Don't let her distract you." Miguel nodded and smiled down at her. "I love you." "I love you too."

Cherry walked back and stood in between Eli and Aisha, right across from the unknown boy. "Look, are you sure that you want to -" Miguel was cut off by the girl kicking his chest, causing him to stumble and nearly fall. Cherry made a fist and glared at the girl. "Okay. Game on."

Cherry couldn't help it but she found it hot when she saw Miguel flipped a switch and he got into fighting mode. The two began to fight and she pinched the bridge of her nose as Miguel began to help the girl. "Stop giving her tips and start striking," Cherry hissed. The unnamed boy smirked at Cherry and rose an eyebrow.

Cherry glared in return.

"You're tailgating. Don't let me see it coming."

The girl suddenly tackled him and stood over him. "Did you see that coming?" Miguel wrapped his legs around hers and flipped her to the ground. "Maybe. My name's Miguel." Miguel stuck his hand out. "Tory." She took hold of it, but flipped him over her shoulder and pulled his arm back. "With a 'y'." Cherry began to fume in anger and Johnny called it off. "All right. Red. Let's see if you can beat Mr. Cocky guy next." Tory backed up and Miguel got up. He went towards Cherry's direction, but didn't do anything. He knows better than to try to calm her down when she's angry. That, and she fights better when angered.

The dojo cheered for the female when she approached the unnamed boy.

Putting a hand up, everyone stopped.

"I see that you're the queen here?"

"Something like that."

Cherry wasted no time and immediately kicked the boy. "Strike first," Cherry said with a smirk. The boy chuckled before running towards her. Cherry side stepped, but quickly wrapped her legs around his shoulders. Swinging down, she landed as the boy was slammed onto the mat and everyone but Tory cheered.

The boy suddenly grabbed her foot and pulled, causing Cherry to land on the mat. The boy got ontop of her and Cherry smiled an innocent smile. "You know, you're pretty cute." She's thrown him off his rhythm. The boy seemed shock, giving Cherry time to kick his face. Jumping up, she hit his stomach, knocking out the air in him.

The boy chuckled yet again.

"You're pretty good. I'm Tony."

"I don't care."

She ran at him, jumped, and wrapped her legs around him once more. Slamming him to the mat, she held his hand behind his back, putting pressure. "That's what I'm talking about! Way to go Firecracker!" Johnny yelled and everyone cheered. Cherry smiled and looked down at the boy. "Cherry. And if you pull me down, I swear I'll kick your ass."

She stuck out her hand and Tony took it.

Cherry heaved him up and walked over to her three friends.

When the lesson was over, everyone changed and Cherry walked over to Miguel who finished talking to Johnny about Mr. Kreese. Miguel looked annoyed and Cherry sighed. "You know I only said that to get him distracted, right? Miguel, I love you and only you."

"I'm sorry. I know you would never cheat on me. And I would never cheat on you. I love you, too."

Cherry smiled at him.

"Hey!"

They turned around to see the two new people. "You guys fight good. This is my twin brother, Tony." "So, do you really think I'm cute?" Tony asked while smirking at Cherry. "I have a boyfriend." "Who?" "Me." Tony looked taken back and Cherry noticed that Tory seemed upset. "We're gonna go." The twins watched as Miguel lead Cherry to her motorcycle. Miguel did a cliché thing and put on Cherry's helmet for her. He then kissed her before putting on his helmet and getting on behind her.

"So much for flirting," Tony muttered, Tory nodded, agreeing with him.

× × × ×

Cherry was having dinner with her family when there was a knock on the door. "I'll get it," Cherry assured. Upon opening the door, she was shocked to see Sam. "Sam? Hey." "Hey. Can I talk to you?" "Um, yeah. Come in." Cherry informed her parents that Sam was here and Cherry lead the girl to her room. "What's up?" "Is there a new girl in Cobra Kai?"

"Yeah, Tory. Why?"

"I met her."

"And how did that go?"

"She stole a bottle of Vodka, and then my mom's wallet went missing. I was stupid enough to accuse her of stealing it. And, well, I got shoved into the food." "Oooh." "Yeah. Are you friends with her?" "Not really. She was flirting with Miguel, and her twin brother was flirting with me." "There's two of them?" Cherry laughed at Sam.

"Well hopefully, you don't have another encounter with Tory."

Sam nodded and stayed for dinner.

"So are you two friends again?"

"We're working on it." Sam then smiled at Cherry.

× × × ×

Cherry was standing in between Miguel and Aisha. "The back thrust kick works like this." Johnny showed them the move, everyone studying him. "You step, pivot, throw a side kick." "What about if your opponent attacks you from behind?" Eli asked. "Excellent question. Sensei Kreese, you want to take this one?" Cherry was surprised as she and Aisha shared a look. "Certainly, sensei Lawrence." Johnny neared Miguel. "You sure about this, sensei?" Cherry heard Miguel ask Johnny.

Johnny looked at the two.

"There's nothing to worry about."

The two teenagers nodded, trusting Johnny.

John Kreese then approached the front and he faced everyone. "The key to this move is to make your enemy think you are retreating. But just as they let their guard down, that's when you strike your hardest." Cherry shuddered. Hopefully she never lets her guard down. If she does - it might just be the end of her.