Chapter One Hundred One
Primadonna

SYDNEY'S ANGER SCARED her. If she sat in it for too long, it consumed. It ate at her skin, rotting her insides and causing poison to drip from her bones. It scared her how mean she could be, how cruel she sounded to those who didn't deserve it, and it scared her even more how it sounded to those who did. She didn't want to be mean. She didn't want to angry. But god, that's all she could feel. But she didn't direct it towards her team. Instead, she channeled it all out on the mat, leaving behind trails of poison wherever she went.

The strength of the Iron Dragons shocked them behind belief, especially their captain Axel. He was the height of Charlie with the strength of steel. It was almost inhuman. But Charlie knew his own strength. He'd been doing karate for ages, gaining strength and agility since he was twelve. He was confident within himself and his ability to take down anybody who came at him.

"Hai!" Charlie yelled out and did a high fan kick in Axel's direction, extending his foot in hopes to hit him in the chest but the Iron Dragon leaned back slightly, unfazed.

Axel brought his knee up, lodging his foot into Charlie's gut and then he went in for a punch. Charlie ducked under his fist, avoiding the very quick punch and he came back up, immediately stepping back on his foot, twisting his upper body, and doing a back kick. He dropped his leg back down before he could grab a hold of it. The two boys threw punches back and forth and Axel was able to grab Charlie's wrist and twist his arm so that he could get out.

Before Charlie could blink, he was being thrown over Axel's back. "Whoa!" He gasped and almost landed on the mat but he quickly recovered his balance. What the hell is this guy? He quickly turned back around, taking quick breaths.

"You got this, Charles," he heard Miguel encouraging him.

Alex appeared to be shocked that he hadn't taken him down. The Iron Dragon stepped up again and Charlie raised his fists. The boys rocked back and forth for a couple seconds before Charlie made the first move. He threw a few more punches in Axel's direction and then did a round kick to his chest, which felt like a rock if he might had, and then he attempted to do a high round house kick to his face but Axel ducked under his foot. The Iron Dragon leaned forward and sent a punch to his ribs, causing Charlie to falter and Axel hooked his foot around the back of his knee, taking his leg out from under him and the Iron Dragon grabbed ahold of his shoulder, taking him down into the mat.

"Point, Iron Dragons!" Said the announcer.

"Dammit!" Charlie groaned and banged his head against the mat.

While the crowd of people cheered for Axel, Miguel went over and helped Charlie to his feet. "Hey man, that was good. I think you're one of the only ones who's lasted with him that long," he assured.

"Yeah, but it's not good enough." Charlie mumbled angrily and moved his hair out of his face. He watched another opponent step on the mat with Axel and he shook his head. "Jesus, it's like trying to fight Ivan Drago."

So far, Sydney had yet to lose any of her individual matches, which made up for their loss during the Captain's War. Each win and point added to her team increased her confidence levels. She appeared confident with her shoulders back, chest out, and her game face on. She kept eye contact with her competitors, narrowing them into slits and staring at them when she slammed them onto the mat. Her mannerisms were almost cynical, something she didn't mind people thinking of her. In fact, Sydney wanted them to fear her. She wasn't there to make friends. She had her friends. She was there to win.

Her opponent was a girl from Dragonfly Fly. It was almost too easy, Sydney thought, or maybe she was just being cocky. The girl whose name she didn't know threw a forward punch in her direction. Sydney remembered the move the girl from Iron Dragon, her name being Zara, pulled on Tory, and she grabbed the girl's wrist. Sydney pulled her forward and she wrapped her arm under hers so that she was almost patted onto her. Then, she lifted herself from the mat and swung herself around the girl's back, using her free arm to grab her neck and pull her down onto the mat.

"Whoa," Sam gasped when she watched, her eyes going wide.

"That's so badass," said Eli with a giddy smile.

"Sydney Benoist with another point for Miyagi-Do!"

Sydney stood up and smirked at the girl below her. Hearing cheers around her, she lifted her head and looked around the room and up to the second floor. Her smirk increased, feeling proud of herself.

"Tory Nichols with another point for Cobra Kai!" She heard the announcer and Sydney looked over, seeing Tory high five Kwan after her win.

They locked eyes for the quickest second, Sydney breaking the she contact first. She rubbed her nose and turned to Robby. "Your turn, mate. I gotta grab a bow staff." She said and patted his arm as she passed by him.

Sam followed her. "I'm nervous for this part," she admitted.

"I won't lie, I kind of am, too," said Sydney and the two of them retrieved their bow staffs. "But I had to do a baton twirling routine for one of my dance recitals when I was younger, so, hopefully it stuck with me."

Sam chuckled. "You're just good at everything, aren't you?"

The Brit shrugged nonchalantly. "Not everything, but, mostly everything."

There was another chuckle. "Well, you're one of the only ones actually keeping our points up, so. . ." Sam trailed.

"You're doing amazing, Sammy. You and Charlie," Sydney encouraged her. She glanced over and watched Robby in his fight. "I just wish Robby would get his head in the game."

"Yeah, that makes two of us," Sam agreed, "well, eight of us, really."

She grinned.

Sydney was aware that a bow staff was much different than a baton, but the concept was the same. She was only twelve when she did that routine but she won first place. Before she stepped onto the mat, she looked up at Miguel. "Wish me luck?" She said with a half smile.

He smiled back. "I don't think you're gonna need it, but, I can do this," he said and leaned down, kissing her.

Sydney hummed. "That'll bring me all the luck in the world," she said and walked onto the mat to meet her opponent.

"Take your time, Sydney. Let her come to you," Daniel instructed her.

"No, get in there, Frenchy. Be aggressive!" Johnny contradicted him.

She hid her eye roll. A girl from Rising Sun Karate stood in front of her. Sydney showed off a bit before starting the fight, twirling the bow staff between her hands and then terming it behind her back. Then, she yielded the staff above her head with ease.

"Jesus Christ, is she just good at everything?" Hawk asked and looked at his team.

"That's a stupid question," Demetri answered without making eye contact, causing Eli to roll his eyes.

"Looks like those dance classes really paid off." Robby stated, watching with impressed eyes as she started her fight.

"Go, Syd!" Sam cheered for her.

The female opponent went forward with her bow staff and Sydney hit her staff against hers, rolling her bow around hers so that her wrists were twisted. Then, Sydney shoved her bow stuff towards her so that she stumbled back. She stepped forward on her right foot and twirled the bow staff in front of her challengingly: the girl from Rising Sun grunted and swung the bow staff at her. Sydney hit every corner of the bow staff with hers, creating piercing whooshing sounds, and she yelled out, whacking the girl in the side with the front of her staff.

"Point, Miyagi-Do!"

"Good, Sydney, get in there! Don't slow down!" Johnny yelled at her.

"Stay balanced, Syd. Keep focus!" Said Daniel and they started to argue.

Trying to stay focused, Sydney backed up and her female opponent swung her staff at her. The Brit held her staff up horizontally, blocking the other form coming down on her and then quickly, she brought the end of her staff downward and swiped it behind the girl's legs, making her fall to the mat.

"Sydney Benoist earns another point to her team."

"Yes!" She heard her team cheer.

Her opponent gazed up at her with wild eyes and she held her face. "Where the hell did you learn that?"

"Dance classes. . .and my best friends are Star Wars nerds," Sydney huffed out and moved her hair from her face. She looked around the cheering room and smiled. Hearing the announcement made her feel a rush of happiness and she ran off the mat to be with her team.

Miguel was the first person to greet her with open arms. "That's what I'm talking about baby!" He screeched.

She wrapped her free arm that wasn't holding the bow staff around his neck. Sydney smiled widely while giggling. "That was such a rush."

"Look at you go, Frenchy," said Johnny and he came over, clapping his hands on her shoulders. "You took charge. Nice job out there!" He praised.

Daniel stood by his side, side eyeing him. "Nice job out there, Syd. You stayed focused and composed just like I taught you," he added his opinion, earning a look from Johnny.

Sydney glanced at her team, all of them giving each other the same look. Here we go again.

The fights came to an end and although it was rough, Sydney was proud of herself and her team. Their points combined was enough to move them higher on the board. Though she was sore, and they were all sore, her energy had yet to run out, and she felt like she could keep fighting and fighting until she had nothing left. When the events were over, all of the teams returned to the hotel.

"All right, this morning's event was tough, but let's not get discouraged yet. We have two more events today and the elimination Ms don't begin till the second one."Daniel lectured them as they all stood together in the lobby.

Sydney rubbed Miguel's shoulders as she listened to him talk, the boy sighing with relief as she hit every one of his aching muscles.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Demetri cut in. "If that wasn't the elimination round, then what is? Getting our heads cut off with swords?"

"Awesome, that's some Enter the Dragon shit," Charlie said joyfully. When they all just stared at him, his smile fell. "Sorry."

"We knew this wasn't gonna be be easy. We're going up sharing the best dojos in the world, but don't forget you guys are one of 'em, too."

"Hell yeah we are," Sydney said with a smirk and she popped her knuckles.

"Easy for you to say, Syd. You racked up half our points," Hawk said disappointedly.

"Exactly, and if you want to be like French, start fighting like it!" Johnny stepped in, raising his voice.

Daniel sighed. "Johnny, come on, man. The best thing you can do right now is just clear your minds, get some rest, you know, put this behind one."

Sydney raised her eyebrows at their senseing differences.

"You got this, all right? I believe in you."

None of them were able to be happy even at his encouragement. The teenagers walked away to go to their rooms. "I need a hot bath," Sydney brought up and grabbed Miguel's hand.

"That sounds nice," he muttered, his face stoic.

She slowed down her pace. Sam and Devon paused and looked over their shoulders. "I'll meet you guys in the room," Sydney told them, earning two nods and the girls continuing walking to the elevator. She tugged on Miguel's hand and they went to sit down. "What's the matter, my love?"

The boy sighed and beside her on the chair. "I'm just pissed off with everybody. I mean, besides you, we all sucked out there," Miguel expressed his feelings.

She pinched her brows together. "Are you kidding me? Miguel, you did amazing out there. You never missed a beat."

"But it wasn't enough," he jeered. Miguel sighed again. "I mean, Robby was too distracted to even make one point. Go figure, and Demetri's too slow. Charlie and Hawk are the only two that are trying."

"Give everybody a break, Mig. It's the first day." Sighing quietly, Sydney rested her elbow on the back of the chair and she rubbed his shoulder with her other hand. "The best thing for us to do if we want to move up on the board is to encourage each other. Am I right?"

Miguel stared down at her lap. "Yes." He mumbled reluctantly.

"Good." She leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. "Now cheer up for me, will ya? You're too pretty to be frowning," she said in his ear.

A smile crept on his lips and Miguel looked at her. "Thanks, baby."

From the corner of her eye, Sydney saw Zara strut by with her phone raised in front of her face. Her face stilled. "Now that's a girl I'd like to take down on the mat," she said out loud.

Miguel watched Zara make her way to the elevators. "Good luck with that. I think she knocked a girl's tooth out with that big staff."

"Huh, we have that in common then."