𝐓𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐨𝐧𝐞

 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬.

They say change comes for the better. So Nichols believed after going through her sensei's manipulation and becoming champion by paid referee. Having broken her hand to show loyalty to the Cobra Kai dojo wasn't enough, much less being champion by paid referee, which led her to join Miyagi-Do.

Things seemed better: her mom had improved, her relationship with Robby was going well and she had left rivalries behind, focused on the Sekai TaiKai and learning lessons with her three new senseis.

After a consultation at the hospital, Tory was on her way home carrying her medications and her key by hand. As she walked, she heard noises, forcing her to be alert; she had her key as a defense.

Without further ado, she threw a punch, which was dodged by the person. Then, a kick was caught by her Kreese sensei, or rather, former sensei.

—Glad to see you're still training, Nichols— Kreese remarked, his voice carrying the hint of a sneer.

What are you doing here? Aren't the police looking for you?—Tory questioned, her tone sharp and wary."

—I'm not that easy to catch," the old sensei smirked.

—I just came to see how my champion was doing,How are you holding up? he inquired, his expression hard to read—.

—Oh, so now you care?—Tory shot back incredulously.

—The last time I saw you, I needed your help, and what did you tell me? the blonde teen retorted, her eyes blazing with hurt—.

—The best thing you could do was look after yourself. I went back for you, and you left me to deal with Silver and his psycho sidekick on my own—.

—You have every right to be angry, Kreese conceded, his voice low—

—But I couldn't risk involving you in my plan to free myself. I know it seemed cold, but I was only trying to protect you—.

—And now that I'm out, we have an opportunity to dominate, the ex-sensei asserted, trying to rekindle their old alliance—

—No, there is no we, she shot back defiantly.Kreese's eyes shifted to the Miyagi-Do gi peeking from her bag—.

Oh, I see now, he muttered bitterly. I never thought I'd see the day when the Cobra Queen would join the enemy.he replied disappointedly.

—They're my friends," Tory stated firmly, her voice edged with defiance—.

—Don't be naive, darling," the elder sensei scoffed.They'll welcome you in, but you'll never truly belong. —When push comes to shove, they'll always find a way to put you second to LaRusso's daughter . Explain kreese—

Go crawl back under your rock,Tory fired back, her voice laced with disdain. I may not be calling the police, but if my sensei sees you, they will.

—I am your sensei, and you are my champion, Kreese insisted, his tone dripping with authority—

—I may be a champion,she declared, her eyes narrowing, but I'm not yours—.

After the tense meeting with Tory, Kreese wore a smug smile as if he had just won a championship.

—He made his way to his new dojo, where he was joined by Kim and her grandfather, observing Kwon fiercely training the new recruits.— Yet, Kreese's eyes kept scanning the room, searching for one particular studenthis champion, Tory Nichols, who was noticeably absent.

—So, did you convince her?—Kim asked, her curiosity piqued as she studied Kreese's expression.

—She's not that easy to sway,the elder sensei admitted with a hint of frustration. —It's going to be more complicated than I thought. But I know she'll be back.

—Tory's a fighter; it's who she is fighting offensively has always been her way, both in life and on the mat.—

Unbeknownst to them, Kwon was quietly eavesdropping on Their conversation, intrigued bythis mysterious "champion" he had vaguely heard about before.He trieS to brush off his curiosity, focusing instead on his training until Kreese's voice broke his thoughts.

—Kwon—Kreese called sharply, pulling the teen's attention. "Get ready. The Queen Cobra will join us, but before she does, I want you to test her. —

See if she's truly ready, understand?Yes, sensei.— Kwon responded, his voice filled with determination.

Meanwhile, across town at the Miyagi-Do dojo, Tory was sparring with Robby. As they practiced, Tory relayed her recent encounter with Kreese.

—I still can't believe you told off Kreese," Robby exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "I've never seen anybody do that before—.

—He had it coming," Tory replied coolly, shrugging off the encounter—.

—Can you keep that between us? she added, her voice laced with concern. "I don't want anyone thinking I'm still in contact with him—.

—Yeah, I won't say a word,the brown-haired teen assured her, nodding—.

–Thanks, the blonde responded calmly—.

—I'm just happy you're here, Robby confessed, a smile breaking across his face—.

Yeah, well, this is all we have, Tory remarked, her tone tinged with a mix of determination and resignation. Everyone else is worried about college, but for us, this is our last chance to win big.

—You've already done something big, Robby pointed out, recalling her victory. "I mean, you won the All Valley.—

—Silver paid off the referee, Tory reminded him, her voice bitter. "It doesn't count.—

—Still, it's better than always coming in second,—Robby remarked, trying to keep their spirits up.

—Hey, this is bigger than the All Valley,— Tory continued, her eyes lighting up with anticipation. —It's going to be televised all over the world. If we win, that's all anyone's going to remember.

—It would be amazing to stand on that podium, she mused, her gaze distant as she imagined the momen—.

Kwon was on his way home. Once inside, he took off his gi and changed into comfortable clothes.

He went straight to his laptop, searching for information on Kreese's champion. He needed to know who his potential ally would be; it couldn't just be anyone. As Kwon scanned the screen, a news headline caught his attention.

To say he wasn't surprised would be a lie. How did that weakling ? I haven't even seen her in person, and I already have a nickname for her, he thought.

So, Goldilocks will be our future leader,— Kwon scoffed.—Nichols, you look so fragile and delicate. I doubt you could even break a board,he sneered.

—Unless you can prove to me that you're still Queen Cobra  my Queen Cobra, he added with a mocking tone before slamming his laptop shut.—

Meanwhile, after a long day and a grueling training session with her father-in-law, Tory arrived home, answering a phone call as she walked through the door.

After a long day, after a hard workout with his father-in-law, Tory arrived home while taking a phone call.

—Well thank you, Mrs. Parton.—Tory said as she closed the door. You're sur it's okay for Brandon to stay the both nights?–Tory asked, worried about her brother.

—You're the best— she said relieved, as she asked her brother —please make sure his brushes his teeth,okay.

At the end of the call, Tory turned off the stove.

-Mom, I'm home," Tory announced.

-Dr. Judith lowered all  your prescriptions.She said you're doing much better.—she said as she took out the pills. As she opened them

Tory dropped them. Bending down to pick them up, she saw something that broke her heart: her mother lying on the floor with her hand in a fist.Tory went to the mailbox hanging there.

—No ,Mom!

—Mom reply

—Mom Mom

—Mom Mom

Mom  wake up. Mom, please wake up. -The cries of desperation didn't wake her mother.

Tory's phone kept ringing. It was Robby, asking her where she was; they had arranged to go to practice in the park, but Tory could not. She was in the hospital, sitting with her hands clasped. The doctor was on her way to her.

—Tory— the doctor called.

Tory didn't answer, lost in thought, with her mother's figure in her mind.

—Tory—the doctor called again, but she was in shock.

Once again, the doctor called:

—Tory—.

Tory turned around, and what she heard was:

—I'm so sorry sweetie —say the doctor.

Tory took a stance, approaching the surgeon, standing face to face.

—you  said she was getting better," Tory said firmly.

-Your mother had  a pulmonary embolism. We had not idea  she was developing  a blood clot, and when it broke up-The doctor explained calmly.

But Tory broke something as a relief. The doctor, impressed, also understood Tory's pain.

—YOU SHOLD HAVE CAUGHT IT should —Tory shouted.

—You have every  right to be upset. You're grieving—the doctor tried to reassure her.

—Just try to remember that last five years were a gift. Your mother was—.

—I have to go— Tory said, sadly.

—Is there anyone we can call? -said the doctor.

—nobody—Tory replied, sobbing.

She left the hospital disheveled, sleepless, with tears in her eyes. Many people who saw her wondered what was wrong with that poor girl. But what Tory didn't know was that someone was watching her from afar, in detail. Seeing her like that, she could only turn away; she had seen enough.

Tory was at home, with her mother's belongings, looking at her phone and the messages from her boyfriend that she had ignored all day. She wasn't in the mood for anything. Among her mother's things, she saw a little purple cap.

—Tory—a voice called out to her.

Tory stared blankly.

—Tory—the sweet voice called back.

The image of her mother came to her mind. The memory of her mother.

—What are you drawing, sweetie?—the woman asked curiously.

The little girl was drawing in a bowl, showing it to her mother with a smile.

—Wow, is that a queen and her princess? -asked her mother–.

—Mermaid princess— said the little girl.

—Oh, yes, of course. I can see her little tail  right there.— said the mother sweetly. —And who is this? ——asked the lady.

-The prince — answered the little girl. He's gonna fight anyone who tries to hurt them.—said Tory.

The mother changed her gaze, thinking of the prince. She looked at the drawing again and said:

—Well it's beautiful. But why do they need a prince to defend them?—How about if the queen and the princess learn to defend themselves?—suggested the woman—.

—But they don't know how.— answered the little girl.

-Well n ot yet.—answered the mother, agreeing with her—but maybe they can learn together.—What do you think? —asked Tory's mother.

Tory looked at her mother's marks from the dialysis.

—It's okay, Sweetie,Life dealt us a bad habd— her mother soothed her daughter. —We can change that cause we're fighters now — her mother encouraging to tory.

Tory grabbed a lid and painted it. Once it was painted, the little girl said:

—Until we learn how, this magic jewel will protect you—Tory assured giving it to his mom—

—You're a pretty amazing little girl—Tory's mom said, giving her a hug. And Mommy loves you so much—said her mother hugged her daughter.—

Those were the words the teenager remembered as she clutched the cap, thinking that her mother wouldn't have wanted her to give up.

She wanted her to be a fighter, and a fighter must fight. She put on her gi, even though she had tears in her eyes, combed her hair and went to Miyagi-Do. Once there, she went over to get a better look at her boyfriend fighting.

—-Hey, are you okay?— asked Devon worriedly.

—-Yes,  just ready to fight —Tory answered.