Chapter 1: You Blew It

POV: Jack Brewer

I clutched my bruised ribs as my friends crowded around me. "Jack, I know you're upset, but there's no proof Carson was cheating." Kim said quietly. "She's right, but Jack, it's fine, your mind probably wasn't able to handle the concept of losing, it's perfectly understandable that you created a fictional preceding to compensate for your defeat." Milton added. I glared at him.

I looked over at Rudy as he began to speak. "Remember when I told you that true character is revealed in defeat not victory? Well, it seems you still are having trouble grasping that concept, but it's okay. I can help you with that." I nodded slowly. "Is there any way we could convince you to come back to the dojo?" He looked at me. I stared at him; then looked around at my friends.

"Look, I only have one thing to say to you guys." I told them, shaking my head. "No." I began backing away. "You blew it." With that, I turned and walked over to Ty. I glanced back at them. They were all staring after me, hurt in their eyes. I turned away. "Come on, Jack. Let's take you where you belong." Ty put his hand on my back and walked with me out of the ring.

POV: Kim Crawford

(same time)

I stared after Jack in shock and hurt. He had left. I couldn't believe how much he was putting into this lie he'd come up with, just so he'd feel better about losing. I stared at the floor. It was so unlike Jack. I looked over at Rudy, who was staring at the floor. "Rudy?" I asked quietly. He turned and walked away, not looking at us. I looked up at the others, battling tears. "See you later guys." I whispered, walking slowly away.

I hugged my arms to my chest as the gentle breeze picked up my hair and tossed it carelessly around my head. I stopped when I came to the parking lot. I stared across the way. What I saw hurt me more than words can describe. I saw Jack, getting in a car with Ty, the Black Dragon's gi back on. His gaze locked with mine. He stared at me icily as the car backed up and left the parking lot, leaving me standing, tears falling.

POV: Ty

(same time)

I chatted excitedly with Jack the whole way back to the Black Dragon. He wasn't in a very talkative mood, so I did most of the chattering. "I'm so glad you finally realized the better dojo, Jack." I told him, glancing over at him, then back at the road. All he did was nod. "They didn't believe you, and they still don't. But I believe you Jack. It was their own fault." I couldn't help but inwardly rejoice at their stupidity, to throw away someone like Jack for someone like Carson, Jack was way better than that wanna-be.

"You will not be treated in such a manner at the Black Dragon." I told him, patting his knee. He nodded again. "Thanks Ty." He said softly. I smiled. He was already warming up to me. He reached up a hand and rubbed his head slowly. "What you thinking about?" I asked him. "A lot of things, my friends, the dojo…" He shook his head. "Just forget about them, Jack, they betrayed you with Carson." I told him.

After many moments of silence, he replied. "You're right." He told me. I glanced at him. He looked a little more relaxed. That was good. I knew it would take time for him to get used to this, and I needed to be careful, I couldn't lose Jack now that I finally had him. I'd have to make sure he stayed mad at the Wasabi twerps. That shouldn't be too hard, after all, I had a whole dojo of students to my advantage.

POV: Rudy Gillespie

(later that day)

I'd tried calling Jack several times, but he never answered. I wanted to ask him to come back, to let him know I wasn't mad with him about him still trying to say Carson was a cheater. I sighed. I heard a knock on my door. "Come in." I called quietly. "Oh, hey Rudy." It was Carson. "Hey, Carson, what's up?" I asked. "I just wanted to let you know how sorry I am about the whole thing with Jack. I mean, if I hadn't beaten him, he wouldn't have gotten jealous a-and…" I stopped him, jumping up. "No, Carson, this isn't your fault. Jack's just… I don't know. He's letting his pride get in the way. It's fine." I told him.

He nodded. "Okay." I sighed. "So, see you after school tomorrow?" He put up his hand and I high-fived him, ending in a man-hug. "Sure, see ya then." I told him. He waved and left, closing the door behind him. I sighed, sitting back down. We had Carson, but we lost Jack. Was it just impossible for my dojo to have more than one breath of fresh air?

POV: Jerry Martinez

(same time as Rudy)

I kicked the dummy. Once. Twice. Harder, stronger. Three times. Four. Faster, more upset. I let out a cry of frustration and kicked it with my full force. It fell over, but at the price of my foot smarting. I limped it off, not caring. My best friend had left us for another dojo. And worst of all, he'd left us for the Black Dragons. Our worst enemy. Out greatest nightmare.

I sat down on the bench, grabbing a towel and dabbing it at my forehead, holding my head in my hands. Milton sighed. He'd been sitting and watching me. "I know you're upset about Jack, but violence isn't the answer." He told me. I looked up at him. That's all it took. One Jerry glare. He made a face and scampered away, and I returned to moping in the sweaty towel.

I looked around, suddenly realizing Kim and Eddie were missing. "Yo, Milton?" he peeked over the knee-wall. "Yes Jerry?" He asked in a high-pitched voice. "Where's Kim and Eddie?" I asked. "Oh, they went over to the Black Dragon's to try and get Jack to come back." He told me. I jumped up. "What? Why didn't they let me come?" I cried. "They couldn't get you to wake up from your dummy-kicking trance." He told me.

"Yo, come on bro!" I cried, running for the door. "Where are you going?' He cried, chasing me. I stopped and looked at him. "To get my best friend back."

POV: Ty

(same time)

"Frank, I want you to get Kim angry. Really angry." I told him. He smiled and nodded idiotically. "Okay sensei." He turned and walked over to her. "Hi Kim." He smiled at her. "Frank." She said in a 'you know I don't like you' voice. She grabbed his arm and flipped him. Frank, loyal and stupid, stood up and tried again.

"Stupid freak!" Kim cried, kicking him, right as Jack walked in, just what I was looking for. "Hey! Kim stop!" Jack cried, running over and stopping her from her volley of kicks. Frank was her karate weakness. She couldn't keep herself from hurting him. Jack shoved her back. "What's your problem?" He cried, helping Frank up. Frank was blubbering. "I was just trying to be nice a-an she flipped me, a-and started kicking me!" He cried, holding his stomach and ribs in pain. Jack turned back to Kim and the other kid.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jack cried. "I'm trying to get my friend back!" She cried. "Well you can't have me! I'm sick of you guys not believing me!" Jack yelled, taking a step towards her. She stood her ground, intimidated, but not showing it. "Just get out of here." He told her. She glared at him, then at Frank, then at me, then turned on her heel and grabbed the other kid's arm and started dragging him with her.

"Wait, Kim, what about-" She cut him off, turning to glare at Jack. "He's not coming." She growled. The other kids from the Bobby Wasabi dojo had just come in. "Don't even bother guys, he's already one of them." Kim told them angrily, throwing a glare at Jack, who was still helping a whimpering and moaning Frank. Jack pointed an accusing finger at her. "Attacking Frank was uncalled for!" He cried. She snorted and stormed out.

"Yo, Jack-" Jack cut the Latino off. "Save it Jerry, I'm not interested. This is my dojo now." He told them. I chose that moment to walk over and put a hand on Jack's shoulder, as if confirming what he'd just said. Jerry stared at him, then at me and nodded. "Okay, I see how it is. If that's how you want it, then fine!" He cried. "FINE!" Jack yelled after him as he spun and left.

Stick-figure, as I liked to call the skinny one, stared after Jerry, then looked back at Jack. "Jack, I'm sorry all this happened. I hope you and I can stay friends." He offered. "I'll forgive you if you admit Carson was a liar and a cheat!" Jack told him. Stick-figure stared at him for a moment. "You've changed Jack. The Jack I knew would never let his pride go this far. I'll see you around, Jack." He turned and left.

I shook my head in disgust. "How dare they come here." I growled, meaning it. Jack shook his head, turning to Frank. "Hey, you okay man?" He asked. Frank nodded, feeling of his ribs which were slightly swollen. Jack sighed again and walked with him over to the locker room. I smiled after him. That went perfectly.

(A/N: So… what do ya think? Eh? EH?Please let me know! REVIEW!