"YOU THREATENED her with a knife, again?" Her mom eventually found out— Miguel couldn't keep a secret. Carmen raised her voice, "After everything that has happened!"

Isabella sat in silence on the couch, opposite her mother and Johnny, who had gotten a bit too close recently. Sensei didn't say much, but she couldn't tell if he was disappointed or proud. Carmen, however, was the most furious she'd ever been, yet sadness still laced her voice.

The truth: Isabella didn't know why she felt the need to use a knife. She was just so exhausted and she was afraid that Tory wouldn't stop hitting her. Isabella regretted it since the moment she grabbed the piece of cutlery. She just wanted it all to stop. She just wanted to feel safe.

Isabella wasn't a psycho. She didn't want her friends to be afraid of her.

Carmen scoffed, "Do you have anything to say for yourself?" She looked at her daughter, then at Johnny for help.

The man took a breath, "Look, kid. We just wanna know why you felt the need to get a knife involved."

"Because I had to defend myself. What else was I supposed to do?" Isabella questioned sarcastically, "Give up and let her kick the shit out of me?"

Carmen sighed, "You could've hurt her, Isabella."

"But, I didn't." The girl shot back.

"But would if you did?" Her mom retorted, "You need to think before you act, Isabella."

She argued, "I did think. I was thinking that if I didn't stop her, I'd end up in the hospital... like, Miguel—"

"Do not get your brother involved." Carmen said sternly.

"He got me involved!" Isabella exclaimed, "He forced me to go to the LaRusso's house. I wanted to go home." She scoffed, "Who's side are you even on?"

Johnny replied, "Your side, kid."

"Then defend me for a change." Isabella stood up angrily, before storming towards the front door, ignoring the calls from her mother.

The door slammed behind her, and Isabella was calmed by the breeze of the evening. She didn't understand why nobody understood her; she only used the knife as a precaution. She wanted to scare Tory, not hurt her. Isabella wasn't capable of that.

"Belle, wait." The bodiless voice of Sensei travelled behind her, as she heard her front door open and then shut again. Footsteps followed behind her, as she attempted to leave the block of apartments. Johnny insisted, "Get in my car."

She replied, "Just leave me alone—"

"Stop acting like a brat. Get in the car." Sensei repeated, causing Isabella to stop storming away. The girl turned around, staring at Johnny as he sat inside his car and waited for the girl to join him.

Reluctantly, Isabella sat in the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her on purpose. She sighed, "What are you doing?"

"You're burning off that steam." Johnny retorted, as he reversed his car out of the space and started driving down the street.

After a silent car journey, Johnny and Isabella had arrived at a familiar abandoned metal works factory. Within the darkness of the building, there was a pile of karate equipment that Johnny had left here from his last visit. The man picked up karate pads and held them up in front of his body.

"Hit me," Sensei nodded; Isabella took a breath, before throwing a punch at one of the pads that was gloved to Sensei's hand. The man scoffed sarcastically, "Is that all you've got?"

Isabella punched again. Harder.

"Come on, Diaz." Johnny encouraged, "Pretend this pad is the face of one of your ex-boyfriends—"

"I'm gay." Isabella deadpanned.

Sensei Lawrence shifted uncomfortably, before adding, "Oh. Well, quit standing there and start punchin'."

Isabella hesitated, before punching the pads on his hands again and again. Harder and harder. Her breath grew heavier; with each punch a groan of frustration escaped her lips. With every punch, her chest felt lighter— this is why she joined karate.

"Yes!" Johnny encouraged, "Again, Diaz."

She punched and kicked at the two karate pads in front of her, panting as she came to a stop. She wiped the sweat from her forehead with her arm, her chest heavy but a weight had been lifted from her. Isabella smiled at Sensei, as they both sat down on a work bench.

The girl panted, "Thank you for that."

"No problem, kid." Sensei shrugged slightly, "That's why I'm here. To help."

Isabella paused, taking a bottle of water from Johnny to drink, "I'm telling the truth about what happened. I would never hurt Tory like that, no matter how much I hate her. I was just scared. I needed it to stop."

Johnny nodded, opening a bottle of beer, "A good way to make it stop is to join karate. Trust me, kid, I've been there. All that anger isn't good for you."

"I know." Isabella sighed.

"So, it's a yes?" Johnny smirked slightly, "You'll fight at the All Valley?"

Isabella rolled her eyes, trying her best not to smile. She remarked, "I mean, if you need me that much... I'm sure I can fit it in my schedule."

Sensei chuckled, fist-pumping her, "Good choice, kid." He paused, before standing up, "Right, there's something I gotta do, but I'll drop you back home. Apologise to your mom, even if you think you didn't do anything, then say you're joining back karate."

"Got it," Isabella nodded, "Where are you going?"

Johnny sighed, "Getting Robby."

"Is he okay?" She asked curiously.

"He's at Cobra Kai, with Kreese." Sensei replied, as they began walking back to the car.

Isabella blurted out, "Don't drop me home, I can help—"

"You're already in enough trouble as it is." Johnny explained, "Your mom will kill bo—"

"She doesn't have to know," Isabella shot back, as she climbed into the car, "Trust me, Sensei. In juvie, Robby and I actually got along. Please, Sensei."

Johnny hesitated, "Fine. But you're taking the blame if your mom finds out."

She replied, "Sounds good to me."

Due to Johnny's speeding, it didn't take long for the two to arrive at Cobra Kai. The dojo brought back unwanted memories for Isabella— a time when she was angrier than ever before. Kreese changed her into a new person that ended up in juvie. She hated him for that; Isabella didn't want Robby to go through that either.

Isabella followed Johnny as he stormed inside the duo, kicking down the door to the back room, where they were met with Kreese and Robby— training.

Kreese remarked, "What took you so long?"

Johnny ignored the man, "Robby, what are you doing here?"

"He's exactly where he belongs." Kreese replied, "As are you... both. We won't just dominate the tournament, we'll melt this whole snowflake generation." He paused, "This is your last chance, Johnny. Are you in?"

"Listen to him, dad." Robby intervened, "He only wants what's best for you."

"Kreese got in your head, Robby," Isabella exclaimed, "Just a few days ago, in juvie, you weren't striking first, remember? You didn't want this."

"You don't know what I want," Robby retorted— though it didn't seem like Robby at all, as he was brainwashed by Cobra Kai; Isabella knew how that felt.

Suddenly, Johnny stepped in front of Isabella to kick Kreese in the stomach. The old man was still a good fighter, despite his age and appearance, though Johnny's rage made him stronger. Sensei Lawrence pinned Kreese up against the wall, punching him repeatedly and Kreese allowed him to.

"Is that all you've got?" Kreese managed to say in between the punches to his bloody face. Johnny shoved him out of the back room as they travelled their fight into the main room of the dojo. Johnny had pinned Kreese onto the matted floor, punching him, though the old man started to fight back.

Robby and Isabella stared at them from at the end of the hallway, not knowing whether to help or to stay out of the mens' history together.

Isabella asked in concern, her eyes staring at the view of the two men fighting in the room at the other side of the hallway, "What do we do?"

Robby replied, attempting to walk down the corridor towards them, "We stop my dad—"

"No, Robby. Stop!" Isabella interrupted, stopping him by grabbing his arm, "Kreese is lying to you, like he did to me. Trust me. You're better off without him, no matter how alone you feel."

The boy scoffed in disbelief, "You hated me a few days ago. Why do you suddenly give a shit about what I do?"

"I will always give a shit, Robby, because whether I like it or not, you're my friend. My best friend." Isabella pleaded, "There's a place for you at Eagle Fang. I've rejoined, too—"

"So, my dad got in your head. Did he tell you that you're special and that you'll win the All Valley? He's lying, Belle, it's what he does!" Robby snapped, "You're just my replacement."

Isabella choked back the burning sensation in her throat, "You don't mean that."

"I mean every word," The boy gritted his teeth, "He fucked up with me, so he's trying to make himself feel better by being your dad. Sooner or later, he'll get bored of you, don't worry."

She shoved him, hard, causing Robby to stumble back into a wall. Isabella raised her voice, "You know, what? Join Cobra Kai. I don't give a shit. You and Kreese will get along... you're both assholes, so at least you have one thing in common."

Robby stepped forward threateningly, towering over her with dark eyes. He stopped himself from saying any more, before jogging towards Johnny and Kreese. Isabella jogged after him, watching as the boy pulled his father off of Kreese.

Johnny panted, "You don't understand. You can't trust him!"

The boy retorted, "And I can trust you? You know, all those years you weren't there, I blamed myself. Sensei Kreese is right— I can't be my own worst enemy. But you can be!"

Robby lunged towards his father, punching and kicking him, though Johnny refused to fight back. He defended and blocked every punch, but Robby offended harder and harder.

"I won't fight you." Johnny repeated, before pushing his son away from him— however, Robby was moving at a great force, causing him to not be able to stop himself from running in time. The boy's head collided with the metal lockers, resulting in Robby collapsing to the floor with a groan.

Johnny rushed over to him, in panic, "Robby! Robby, are you okay? I'm sorry that I hurt you."

Isabella's eyes travelled to Kreese, as he picked up a sai dagger from the display wall. The girl stood in front of him bravely, blocking his way from Johnny and Robby.

Sensei Kreese chuckled sarcastically, "I'll give it to you, kid. You've got balls. Now, get out of my way."

Isabella raised her fists, despite every organ in her body refusing to. She glared at him, lowering her voice to disguise her pure fear, "Fuck you."

Now that Isabella thought of it, fuck you was probably not the best thing to say, considering Kreese was stronger and older than her.

"I admire your bravery," Kreese laughed, almost mocking her.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails pierced through the palms of her hands. Isabella stood her ground, despite Kreese raising the sai dagger. Before Isabella could react, the metal weapon collided with the side of her head, causing a black fog to cover her vision. She descended to the floor; her body hitting the mat as she lost all consciousness.

"Belle!"