Chapter One Hundred Ten
Primadonna

EVERYTHING SHE WORKED so hard for came down this moment. Every struggle she endured, the pain she felt, the heartbreak and loss of self-esteem she had to overcome, the blood, sweat and tears, made her stronger than she ever was before, and she deserved to be where she was. But Sydney was anxiety ridden, trembling with nerves. She masked her vulnerability the best she could, but it was hard to hide when her shaking hands were visible to everyone.

Everyone at home would be watching. Her mother, father, friends, everybody. They would watch her fight, see her vulnerability unleash through her fists, and maybe they would hope she'd win. She built her reputation as a girl who didn't care about anything, someone who would do anything to get what she wanted, a mean girl, but that wasn't true anymore. Everybody knew how that Sydney Benoist actually really cared about people, especially the ones she loved, and she really, really cared about Tory Nichols. Now the two were forced to fight each other again.

So there was a battle happening in her head: what was more important to her? Winning a tournament or repairing a friendship?

Sydney sat in the hallway by her room, her phone pressed to her ear. After a few rings, her father answered the phone. "Bonjour chérie,"  hi sweetheart

"Bonjour papa."

"Pourquoi avez-vous I'air si contrarié." Why do you sound so upset?

Sydney brought her knees up and she rested her elbow against it. She laid her forehead against her hand. "J'ai de difficultés en de moment et j'ai vraiment besoin de vos conseils." She told him.  I'm struggling right now as I really need your advice

She hears shuffling in the background. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" Alex switched to English.

"Do you remember when you told me the story of when you played basketball in high school? And you said you got lots of panic attacks.

There was a moment of silence. "Yes."

Sydney felt tears threaten to spill. In fact, they did. She closed her eyes and felt her throat tighten. "I'm just so confused. I don't want to let my team down but I don't want to lose a friend," she expressed tightly and covered her eyes. "I'll feel terrible either way."

"Sydie, the best thing you can do for yourself is to listen to yourself and not anybody else. You're in control of your own life. Your decisions are yours. The advice my coach gave me all those years ago, I carry that with me to this day. So listen to my advice when I tell you that at the end of the day, do whatever is going to make you feel right with yourself. Do whatever will settle your heart. It's just karate, sweetheart."

Sydney was silent as she listened to her father, tears falling down her face. The hallway was empty and silent. She inhaled a deep breath. "Merci papa." She said quietly.

"Quoi qu'il arrive, tu seras toujours ma gagnante." Whatever happens, you're always my winner

The arena was full of buzz and excitement and yet Sydney was stiff with nerves. She messed with the tie of her gi, fixed her ponytail, chewed at her nails, and repeat. But she was proud of herself. She looked around the room at all the other teams and smiled. She was finally here with her team. The only thing that stood in her way was Cobra Kai. That wasn't anything new.

"And now, for the moment we've all been waiting for: the Sekai Taikai tournament of champions!"

"I feel like we should have entrance music right now," Charlie mentioned. "I wanna feel like Rocky entering the ring," he said and threw two fists.

"Technically you'd be Colt," Johnny pointed out. "Robby would be Rocky."

Robby heard and shook his head. "Charlie's definitely Rocky."

"Yeah, maybe any other day, but right now he's Colt."

"Hell yeah, I'll be Chuck Norris any day of the year." Charlie said with a giddy smile.

Sydney shook her hands and then popped her fingers. She once against tightened her already tight ponytail and she was sure she'd get a headache soon, but she was too anxious to care.

"Welcome, competitors, to the semifinal round of the Sekai Taikai," Gunther continued his announcement. "Each dojo will retain the points they have accumulated thus far. Each match will consist of three two-minute rounds with unlimited scoring and no stoppages. One point for a hit, ten for a knockout, and should anyone score a knockout, that's worth 20. So it's still anyone's tournament to win. Because at this stage of the tournament, no deficit is too large to overcome. Best of luck to all of you. And may the best dojo win."

The words sent chills down her spine. Sydney tightened her gi again, almost only the breath out of herself. Demetri walked over and stood tall beside her. "You look like you're about to vomit," he pointed out.

"Thank you, Metri."

"You have nothing to worry about. You're ten times better than anyone here," he told her genuinely.

Sydney looked up at him, smiling softly. "Thanks, D."

"Alright, friendship intervention." He reached over and grabbed Eli, yanking him over by the arm.

"Dude, what–"

"Since we're not fighting, Hawk and I are going to do everything possible to make sure you win by doing what we know you love: shouting things at you."

Catching on, Eli's mouth formed an o shape and he nodded. "Oh yeah, totally."

Sydney chuckled. "That's sweet, guys. You're right, I do love encouraging affirmations."

"You're going to do great cause you're the best," said Eli and he held up his hand.

She high fived him. "Thanks, darling." She said, nerves still rattling in her voice, and she once again tightened her gi.

"Ladies and gentlemen, competitors and senseis, please welcome to the mat our first semifinalist. From Miyagi-Do Karate, Charlie Howard and from Cobra Kai, Kwon Jae-Sung."

Charlie inhaled a panicky breath. "Oh gosh, I'm first."

"No time to start panicking, Howard. It's time to win," Johnny told him, slapping a hard hand on his back, causing him to flinch.

Daniel briefly rolled his eyes. "Okay Charlie, remember everything you've learned up until now, okay? You have nothing to worry about," he took the gentler approach. He paid a calmer hand on his shoulder. "You're an amazing fighter. You always have been. Don't forget that."

Charlie smiled at his girlfriend's father. "You got it, Mr. L." He looked at his teammates. "Here goes nothing."

"Good luck," Sam told him with a smile as the other encouraged him.

"You got this, Charles."

"Let's go, Charlie."

He walked onto the mat where Kwon already stood. He inhaled a quiet but deep breath. He bowed in the slightest when requested by the ref but the boys didn't break eye contact. Charlie raised his fists.

"Fight!"

He immediately stepped forward with his fists still raised. Kwan jumped and did his 360 kick. Quickly, Charlie bent backwards to avoid getting hit and then he slid to the other side, swiping his other leg once he was back on the mat.

"Point!" Yelled the ref.

Charlie tried to hide his surprise. He looked at his cheering team, all of their eyes wide. Then, he looked to a shocked and pissed off Cobra Kai, Tory's eyebrows raised with shock, and Kwan stared at him dearly from the mat. He locked back in. Charlie glared back and raised his fists again.

"Yeah, let's go Colt!" Johnny yelled at him, waving his arm.

Kwan stood back up. Charlie stepped forward and swung his arm, the boy from Cobra Kai backing up. Kwan grunted and stepped forward on his left leg, kicking twice with his right, and Charlie managed to block his foot with his wrists. He went in with a side kick, hoping his long legs would be his advantage. Unfortunately, Kwan blocked his foot as well and then once again did another front kick, throng his body and doing a back kick to Charlie's chest.

"Point!"

"Damn," he muttered and rubbed his chest.

"It's okay, Charlie. You got this," he heard Sam cheer him on.

"Let's go, big boy," Kwon taunted him.

Charlie huffed and rolled back his shoulders. The boys slowly circled around each other, looking for the right opportunity. After a couple seconds, Charlie jumped forward with a quick side back. Kwon blocked his foot and moved around him, the taller boy duplicating his move but missed again. Charlie spun around and kicked his leg over Kwon's head as he ducked down, the Cobra Kai captain coming back up and jumping in the air, going in with a front kick. Charlie backed up and Kwon came forward again, side kicking in his direction and Charlie blocked it with his ankle. He kept his fists raised. Charlie threw a punch and he blocked it with his wrist. The taller boy took the opportunity and grabbed his wrist, turning his upper body around and yanking Kwon over his shoulder. He landed hard on the mat.

"Point!" The ref yelled and another point appeared by Charlie's name.

Kwon slapped the mat hard. He swiftly rose to his feet and wiped his nose. He shuffled forward on his feet, fists raised, and he turned his upper body around, bringing his right leg back with a back hook to Charlie's body. Charlie jumped back and did a high kick, Kwon doing the same kick move and he kicked him in the chest.

"Point!"

Two to two. Charlie huffed. He brushed his hands through his hair and went back to his spot. Getting back into his position, Charlie grunted and jumped forward with a front kick, Kwon blocking it with his wrist and the boy threw a high punch. Charlie blocked it and went to punch him in the shoulder but Kwon grabbed his wrist, throwing his leg forward. Charlie jumped back with his wrists still held intact and then he twisted to the side, jabbing his elbow back into Kwan's shoulder. The boy let him go jumped, doing another 360 spin. Charlie slid under him and quickly stood back up on the other side of the mat. He did a full body spin, kicking both of his legs and he stood up, facing Kwon again and the two boys threw multiple punches at each other, high and low.

Sydney felt exhausted just watching. She rested hand on Sam's shoulder. "This is intense," she spoke their thoughts.

"Yeah, tell me about it." She muttered back.

"You doing alright?"

Sam looked at her. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just have nerves is all."

Sydney nodded. "Yeah, I know." She squeezed her shoulder. "We got this. My parents are watching right now, proud as ever. I wouldn't be surprised if my dad accidentally broke your tv."

She laughed. "Let's hope not. My mom might actually kill him."

Kwon earned two more points, Charlie earning another, neither of them giving up. Kwon did a full body spin, kicking his leg and Charlie managed to duck under his raised leg, bending his upper body downward and he kicked his back leg up, his foot colliding with Kwan's face. The force was so strong that he fell backwards and landed on the mat.

"The winner by knock out and earning an impressive 23 points for Miyagi-Do, along with the first spot in our boy's final, Charlie Howard!"

Charlie's jaw dropped so low, it almost popped. "YOO!" He screeched in shock, a smile stretching across his face.

"Let's go!" Miguel shouted with his eyes wide.

He ran off the mat dog piled into his team, his long arms wrapping around them all. "That's the way of the fist, baby!" He shouted to nobody in particular while jumping up and down. He lifted Sam off her feet. "Yeah!"

She laughed loudly. "Yes!"

Sydney clapped happily. "Nice job, Charles," she praised and patted him on the back once he sat Sam back on the ground.

"That's what I'm talking about, String Bean!" Johnny pointed at him ecstatically as the senseis praised his win.

"Next up, Maria Àlvarez from Furia de Panthera against Zara Malik from Iron Dragons."

Sydney turned around. She watched Zara and Malia step towards each other and she watched Zara score two points within five seconds. The room clapped for her and she blew them a kiss, smiling big. She turned around and caught Sydney's gaze, smiling again and blowing a kiss in her direction.

Smiling sarcastically, Sydney held up her middle finger used it to flick her long ponytail off her shoulder.

Soon after Zara and Maria's fight was over, it was Robby turn to fight. Sydney stood in front of him as he prepared himself. She brushed his shoulders. "Okay, take deep breaths, focus, and show these tossers why you're a captain. Yeah?"

"Yeah," he nodded slightly with a nerves smile. "Thanks Syd, I got this."

"I know you do," she replied and they double fist bumped.

Charlie walked up and shook him by the shoulders, roughly if she might add. "Good luck, Rocky. And remember, he's not a machine. He's a man. Be more man than him!" He recited, pointing a finger in his face.

Robby laughed. "Thanks, Charles." He said and they fist bumped also.

Sydney gave him a weird look. "Do you just know every sports movie quote in your head?"

Charlie nodded. "Yeah, they're all in a folder righttt here," he said and pointed to the front of his brain.

"That and his ability to remember every strange childhood memories he's ever had," said Sam, making him poke her multiple times in the ribs and she squirmed.

Miguel came and stood beside her. Sydney wrapped her arm around his. "I'm nervous for this one," she admitted.

"Don't be nervous. Robby's been doing better than ever," he told her.

"I know but look at the guy," she said and looked at Axel. "I could poke him with a stick and he still wouldn't budge. . .and don't get me started on the out one. I'm resisting the urge to claw her eyes out with my nails."

"I don't think anybody would object," Miguel mumbled. "Who knows? Maybe you'll get lucky and get to fight her."

The thought made her smirk. "I'm looking forward to that time."

Robby and Axel stood in front of each other. When the ref called for them to fight, Robby immediately went in with a high jump and kick. Axel barely flinched. He threw a punch at him and the taller boy moved out of the way, shifting on the mat so he was behind him. Robby kicked at him and Axel ducked, shifting on the mat again and they switched sides. The taller boy blocked his kick and they circled each other. Robby threw another punch and a kick, Axel blocking them and he tried to grab Robby's arm but the boy slipped from his grip and did a one handed cartwheel.

"He's like just standing there," said Hawk as he observed the fight.

"His defense is on point. Robby can't get through," she heard Daniel say.

Robby attempted another kick but Axel held both of his arms in front of him, blocking the boy from hitting him.

"Axel!" His sensei called his name and then yelled something in Chinese.

It switched something in Axel. The tall boy kicked Robby's arm and blocked his hit, grabbing him by the arm and he twisted his wrist, holding his arm in place so he had free range to punch him in the ribs. Robby tried to lunch with his other hand but Axel blocked it, then he punched him in the abdomen again with his fist.

"Point!"

"Dammit," Sydney cursed and laid her forehead on Miguel's arm. "This could be bad."

"Don't lose faith in him," Miguel told her and kept his eyes concentrated on the fight.

Axel punched Robby in the face, blood and salvia escaping from his mouth.

Charlie flinched. "Holy shit, he's literally Ivan Drago," he said and looked at Johnny with a bewildered expression.

"Can it, String Bean," Johnny snapped stressfully.

"Come on, Robby. You can do this," Sydney called out encouragingly.

"Defense, Robby!" Daniel yelled at him.

Gaining composure, Robby looked back at Axel and the taller boy stepped forward him. He blocked Axel's low kick and then his high punch. He tried to grab ahold of his arm but Robby spun around and blocked another one of his hits. He managed to get on the other side of Axel and block his knee. When Axel grabbed a hold of his gi, Robby blocked his punch and then he punched his ribs. He hooked his arm under his and Axel clutched tightly onto him, got in his face, and then pushed him into Kwan and Yoon.

The senseis objected. Sydney watched Kwan elbow Robby in his side. "Hey! What the hell?" She yelled.

"Hey!" Miguel shouted just as the objections began to uproar. He ran on the mat only to get shoved back by Axel, the force making him fall on the mat.

"Hey, keep your hands off!" Charlie yelled and shoved Axel back.

"Charlie, stop!" Sam yelled just as the boys got in each other's faces.

Sydney quickly went and helped Miguel to his feet.

Zara came running over to help her teammate. "Hey, back off!" She yelled at Charlie and tried to push him.

Oh hell no, she said in her mind and left Miguel's side. Sydney shoved the smaller girl away. "Don't even think about it," she spat.

"Syd," Miguel warned.

"Stop! Stop this!" Gunther exclaimed into his microphone once the chaos started to happen.

"You really don't want to mess with me," Zara told her with a dark look.

"Oh sweetheart, you have no idea how much I want to actually," Sydney said back, getting closer to her. "You think you're tough cause you have a bunch of sponsors—" she laughed. "Oh wait, had."

"Off the mat! All of you off the mat!" Gunther tried to do damage control. He was cuff off by Sensei Ivanov punching him the face and knocking him out cold, the action pausing the uproar. The sensei yell in Russian and the Russian team ran onto the mat.

At once, all of the dojos started fighting each other. Zara yelled and jumped forward, throwing a kick at her and Sydney backed up. The shorter girl threw a sharp punch and she grabbed her wrist, punching her in the abdomen then the chest. Zara stumbled but she quickly recovered, doing a 360 spin kick. Sydney slid under her and came back up, kicking her in the back. Zara stepped forward and did a front flip, Sydney backing up and when she faced her again, Sydney spun around and side kicked her in the chest. She continued to spin and she dropped down, going in for a leg sweep.

Zara spun around and kicked her in the abdomen, then she threw two high and low punches. Sydney blocked them with her wrists and she grabbed one of them, twisting her upper body and throwing her over her shoulder. She stepped on her chest, keeping her in place. "You think you can take advantage of my friend and get away with it, you stupid bitch?" She spat.

Yelling again, Zara grabbed her foot and threw her off of her. She swiftly got back on her feet. "It's not my fault your little blonde friend's not good enough for him."

Sydney did a front aerial, swinging her legs in her direction and when she came back up, she was met by Zara knuckles, the punch directed at her mouth. Her head turned to the side from the force and she grabbed her jaw. Sydney touched two fingers to her lips and pulled them away, seeing blood. She looked at Zara, the girl standing there with her fists raised, ready to continue. Sydney smirked and licked her lips. She yelled and threw a sharp side kick in her direction.she then did a full body spin with her legs swinging. Sydney ducked under her punch and grabbed her wrist, twisting her arm and then she took her legs out from under her, pushing her down to the mat. She stood over her and blew a kiss before taking off.

She searched for her friends through the crowd of fighting teens. Sydney avoided getting hit even though she did punch a few of them in the face for trying. She spotted Sam fighting one of the Irish chicks from days before. Sydney ran up behind her and grabbed her wrist just as she was about to punch Sam. "Looks like your Irish luck's run out," she said and punched her in the face. The Irish girl stumbled and Sydney spun around, kicking her in the shoulder and she fell backwards.

"Jesus, what happened to your lip?" Sam asked once she saw her bleeding mouth.

"Got into a fight with Zara. Totally worth it."

"This is insane."

"Tell me about it." Sydney huffed. She looked to her left and saw Miguel fighting a boy from Furia de Panthera. "Be right back!" She said and sprinted off.

Miguel ducked under the boy's arm just as his fist almost collided with his face. He came back up and avoided another punch, grabbing the boy's arm and twisting it. Just as he did so, Sydney came running and she jumped, kicking the boy in the ribs and Miguel released his arm, making him stumble far away from them. "Holy shit, nice opening," he exhaled and held up his hand.

"Thanks, love," she said and high fived him, moving her hair out of her face. She looked around them. "Does this feel familiar to you?"

Miguel hadn't realized how much it reminded him of the school fight until now. "Oh wow, yeah. It does."

She pointed to the second floor of the arena. "You stay away from up there." She demanded.

He nodded curtly. "You got it."

Sydney saw Zara pinning Tory to the mat not far from them. She huffed and ran off. "Gotta go. Be careful!" She yelled over her shoulder.

Charlie was still occupied with Axel, who he was very sure was trying to kill him at this point. "What the hell is your problem man?" He exclaimed and ducked under his arm, coming up the other side and back kicking him in the ribs.

Axel quickly turned around and dodged one of his punches, grabbing a hold of Charlie and he pulled him close, wrapping his other arm around his neck. "You think it's you who should be with her?" Axel spat.

"W-What?" He stuttered and clutched onto his arm, trying to relieve the pressure from his neck.

"It should be me, not you!"

Charlie brought his foot back and kicked him in the knee. When he felt Axel's arm loosen up, Charlie slid under his arm and raised his fist. "Are you talking about Sam?" He huffed.

Axel gave him a duh look. "Who else?"

When he lunged forward with a kick, Charlie ducked switched to the other side, kicking him in the ribs. "What the hell does this have to do with Sam?" He questioned and dodged another punch.

"You should ask her. The other night on the beach."

Charlie's face filled. When he said it, he remembered the other night when they went to out and Sam left to go get some air. She was gone for a while. No, there's no way. He was so deep in thought that Axel's punch brought him out of it and he felt his nose crack.

Sydney and Tory were both working on two girls from Iron Dragon. Tory had a hold of Zara while she had the other one. Sydney ducked under her extended her and she shifted behind her, wrapping arm around her neck and she held her in place. She punched her in the ribs once and then hooked her ankle around her's, pulling her leg out from under her. The girl stumbled and she released her grip, kicking her in the back. When she turned back around, Sydney jumped and did a 360 spin, kicking her across the face.

Looking over, she watched Zara kick Tory in the abdomen and she took her down on the mat. Sydney jogged over and grabbed her fist that was raised. She grunted and twisted her arm around, bringing her knee to her ribs and then she spun the girl around so that they were face to face. Sydney kicked her in the chest hard. Zara stumbled backward and the girl spun around, extending her foot out and it collided with her cheek. Sydney huffed. "Stay down, bitch."

"Holy shit," Tory exhaled and stood on her feet. "Thanks."

She nodded shortly. "Of course," she replied, meeting her eyes.

While she was distracted, Zara had gotten up and ran forward, mixing her in the side and Sydney fell over. She then grabbed Tory and the two began fighting again.

"Syd!" Shouted a voice that she didn't register was Robby's until he was right by her. "Syd, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine," she dismissed but took his hand and he held her up. "Go help her!" She yelled and saw that Zara had Tory pinned down and she was punching her. Sydney watched him sprint over and grab Zara, throwing her off of Tory with such force that she flew off the mat. It made her smirk. "Nice."

Seeing Demetri and Eli fighting side by side, Sydney ran over and grabbed the hair of the boy fighting Demetri. She yanked his head back and then jabbed her elbow into his shoulder. He fell backwards and she spun around, kicking him in the jaw.

"Holy shit, thanks," he said with wide eyes.

"I might've just broken a toe after that," she said and winced, looking down at her foot.

"Sydney, look out!" Eli yelled when he saw a girl coming up behind her.

Not having to turn around, Sydney brought her foot back and it collided with the girl's abdomen. Then she turned around and fan kicked her in the face, making her fall. The three stood side by side. "I have a bad feeling this is going to end terribly," she admitted.

"Already worse than this?" Eli asked, raising one of his brows.

"Worse, darling."

It was complete madness. A horrific sight, something she hadn't seen since what happened at the school. It brought back horrible memories of her friends getting hurt, of Miguel getting hurt, and having to relieve it all made her shiver. It made her nauseous. She couldn't do that again. Sydney fought her way through the crowd of fighting dojos, feeling some bones crack under his knuckles, and she turned her head, seeing Kwan and Axel fighting each other. She suddenly felt arms wrap around her neck and she was pulled back. A loud scream, Zara's scream, filled her ear. "You think you can defeat me, bitch? Think again?"

"You seriously don't know when to quit, do you?" Sydney said, almost bored, and she stepped on the girl's foot. She slid under her arm and turned around, swinging at her. Zara blocked her punch and jumped, attempting to kick her across the face but Sydney did a back flip, staying down low as the smaller girl came running at her, then she turned and put her hands on the mat, kicking her in the chest with her back foot when she was close enough and then she went into a one handed hand stand, twirling herself back around and standing straight in front of her. She raised her fists again.

But before anything else could happen, she heard a horrific scream. Blood curdling. It made her shudder and she turned around to see where it came from. A shaky breath passed her lips when she saw Kwan on the ground, face down, and Axel standing by him. The scream caused everybody to stop fighting. Sydney walked forward, her eyes still on Kwan and she touched Axel's arm when she approached him. "Axel, what happened?" She voice.

The boy was unable to answer. His eyes shifted from Kwan to her and then back to Kwan.

He wasn't moving. He was so still that it was unnerving. Sydney eyed the boy, waiting for him to jump back up and continue fighting but he didn't. Slowly they all started to crowd around him. "Wha–What happen–" she tried to say but what unable to get the words out. That's when she saw blood start to pool around him.

Daniel emerged from the crowd, his eyes also on the boy. He crouched down next to him. "Kwan?"

"He's not moving!" A woman from the crowd shouted.

When Mr. Larusso turned him over on his back, Sydney gasped horrifically. A knife was sticking from his chest, blood everywhere and his eyes were open, the shadow of a scared expression on his face. She covered her mouth and felt her eyes immediately well with tears.

"Hey," Miguel uttered when he quickly appeared at her side. He pulled her into him so she wouldn't see. "It's okay. It's okay," he whispered and pressed his hand to the back of her head, staring at the scene in front of him with wide eyes.

Sydney's hand was still pressed to her mouth to conceal the cries she knew were coming. Her heart beat increased drastically, almost like she was going to have a heart attack. She heard Gunther yell for them to cut the cameras and she closed her eyes, feeling the tears start to fall down her face.

i can't express the amount of shock I was in when I finished episode 10. Definitely wasn't where I thought the writers were going to go

Only two more months until my girl gets ready to say her final goodbyes 😢 I'm not okay