Chapter 1
iFight for you
Chapter 1
Carly's POV
I can't believe it's been three years since we met Shelby Marx... after our "fight" and Nevel's failed plot we all became good friends and we saw each other constantly, Shelby even got to be a part of iCarly with a fitness segment after her cousin Tori Vega taught her over the summer how to be on camera, and yes iCarly continued being the hit it was, even now, that we're 17, we keep doing it, although high school homework lefts us little time to prepare for it we love it. Shelby on the other hand had to retire at 19 when, during a fight her knee gave up and she was declared unfit to fight again, it was hard for her to retire... but Sam convinced her of opening her own gym and teach young girls not only MMA martial arts but also self defense, her becoming one of her first pupils. That brought a smile back to Shelby's face and everything seemed to go great until one day when I went to the gym to pick Sam up so we could rehearse iCarly.
-Sam? Shelby?
-SHHH! - Sam replied
I heard the TV on Shelby's "office" which was actually her private dressing room more than an office.
-What? - Carly asked
-Look, a fighter chick from Russia...
-...Anika is the new evolution, she has held every MMA title in Russia and now we want to prove that we're better than any American fighter, we plan to face and defeat your current champion -Anika's trainer said
-The nerve of some people... -Shelby said
-You could beat her anytime with your hands tied on your back - Sam replied.
As Sam and Carly left, Shelby took off her sweat pants and opened a bag she hadn't opened in a while, inside, her fighting gear looked back at her, bringing old memories to her mind. Slowly she slid on her shorts, then her top followed, her right and then the left glove were in position, she walked out to the training mat, she closed her eyes and remembered her best times.
Shelby's POV
I need this... I feel it in every cell of my body... It's my life... I was the best... I have been moving for the last thirty minutes and I barely feel anything on my knee... just when I tried to put weight on it... but I can survive it..
-Shelby?
The teenager turned around in shock.
-Mick? What are you doing here?
It was her old trainer Mick Chavez, a former MMA fighter himself, he discovered and saw Shelby morph from a street-fight-for-your-life kind of girl into the youngest lightweight female champion ever, Shelby saw him more like a father as she never knew her biological father after he left her mother shortly after she was born..
-Just wanted to take a look at you. What do you think you're doing chica? - he said glaring at her.
-This? Oh nothing, just playing around.
-Sit. -He severely said
-Do I look like a dog to you? -Shelby replied
-You know what I mean, sit down.
Shelby lowered her head and sat as Mick checked on her knee.
-You were training. -his glare was not playful anymore but a mix of concern and severity
-No, I was only playing around, I swear.
-You have a bad knee Shelby, it's swollen... how long did you trained?
-Two hours...
-Shelby, you can't do that. You're 19, do you want to use a cane for the rest of your life?
-I'm 19... I'M 19 DAMN IT! I SHOULD BE FIGHTING! I SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT FIGHTS THAT CRAZY CHICK!
Mick placed his hands on the fighter's shoulders.
-You have nothing to prove.. you retired as the undisputed champion... see that belt on the wall? It's yours, nobody could take it from you.
Tears ran down Shelby's face.
-I just want to... to feel that thrill again Mick... just one more time...
The man hugged her. Little did he knew that the girl he was hugging had made a decision that was going to change not just her life but the lives of many close to her.
Two Days Later, at the Shay apartment...
-CARLY HURRY UP! THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS STARTING! - Sam yelled
-I'm right beside you... can you not yell? -Freddy said
-Shut up Freddork - Sam replied
Carly came down and joined her friends in the couch, Spencer did likewise beside them. Meanwhile in a sports complex in downtown Denver, the press conference to announce the match between Anika and the current champion Laureen Taylor, was about to start.
-It is a pleasure for us to be here and to have the opportunity to face your current champion. -Anika's trainer said.
-I'm honored to have been selected to fight Anika and show her the fighting style of the US and
But things were about to get hectic as a voice was heard.
-HOLD IT. HOLD IT EVERYONE!
At the Shay residence Sam, Carly, Freddy and Spencer went pale when the cameras pointed at where the voice came from. There she was, Shelby Marx, with her title belt on her shoulder. She walked to where champion and challenger sat.
-Who are you? - Anika's trainer asked in disbelief.
-I'm Shelby Marx. If you're little ballerina there wants a real challenge I'll fight her.
-Why should she even look at you? -he replied
-SEE THIS? THIS IS THE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BELT! NOBODY WAS ABLE TO TAKE IT FROM ME AND YOU KNOW IT LAUREEN! - Shelby said pointing at the current champion.
Suddenly, Anika, who until then had remained silent, got up and glared at Shelby.
-Well? Do you have anything to say to me? -Shelby said
-I'll beat you. -she coldly replied
-Beat me... GET YOUR SORRY SELF IN THE RING SO I CAN KICK YOUR BUTT RIGHT NOW! COME ON!
Shelby pushed her with little effect, Anika did likewise but to Shelby's surprise she was incredibly strong and the teenager found herself falling on top of the reporters and cameramen that had gathered to see the impromptu confrontation. Anika glared to her and spoke again.
-I'll break you.
Later that evening Shelby was in the gym putting some ice on her knee, during the altercation someone had fell on top of her and the pain was a clear remainder of the injury that had prematurely ended her career. She raised her head as the door opened and Sam, along with Freddie and Carly walked in, not wanting them to notice her injury, she quickly hid the ice pack under her clothes.
-Why did you do that for? -Sam asked
-Did what?
-Look, we saw it on TV, you challenged that Russian chick. -Carly replied.
-You're going to be on my corner right? I need you guys to be there. -Shelby replied
-What? What corner? You're not seriously thinking to do this, right? -Sam said in disbelief
-I'm doing it Sam. You don't need to worry, I'll be OK. -Shelby assured her.
-What? NO! You're retired, you can get hurt, you don't even know her! You don't know what she can do! -Sam pleaded.
Shelby stood up and her face was nearly a millimeter from Sam's.
-I may not know what she can do, but I know what I can do. And that's all that matters. Now are you going to be in my corner or not? -she asked
Carly wasn't pleased with the idea.
-Shelby please think this over, Sam's right, you can get hurt, badly.-she said
-I'm going to ask just one more time, are you with me or not?
-I can't be a part of this, I'm sorry Shelby - Carly said leaving
Freddie went after her, Sam was just glaring at Shelby.
-Well? What's your answer? Are you abandoning me or not?
-I'll be with you -Sam replied
-Thank you.
-On one condition.-Sam said
-What's that?
-We'll stop the match if something goes wrong. -Sam said
Shelby smiled.
-We'll see.
The day of the fight arrived, Shelby was in her dressing room warming up, Sam was helping her, she was amazed of the strength the girl had.
-You're amazing. -Sam said
-Thank you. Now let's go.
Sam walked beside Shelby as they made their way to the octagon, the crowd was ecstatic and any word said was barely audible, Anika was already in the ring waiting for her.
-OK, you ready? -Sam said helping her fix her mouthpiece.
Shelby nodded walking inside, the referee called for the fighters to came to the center as the door of the cage closed. Gibby stood beside Sam, both wearing the orange jacket with Shelby's name on it.
-Welcome everyone this is Stu Nahan along with Al Bandeiro and we welcome you to this special event, Shelby Marx, the youngest MMA female champion, faces Anika Wasikowska in this exhibition match live from Seattle, Washington. -he said
-I'm still trying to understand why this match was booked in the first place, the Russian chick hasn't fought anybody here and Shelby was already retired. -Al said
Shelby walked towards her opponent.
-Well, you ready to dance little ballerina?
-You will lose. -She coldly said
A whistle sounded and Shelby began to move around, studying her opponent, she tried direct punches to the face, but Anika seemed impervious to the punches, something that shocked more than scared Shelby. Her knee on the other hand began to hurt as she went from kicks after her punches seemed unable to hurt her opponent a bit, and it was then and there, where it began, her knee gave up and she slipped, this was the opportunity Anika wanted, like a hammer, her punch impacted Shelby's face, the brunette girl stumbled against the side of the cage and Anika began a merciless attack on her.
-This is incredible, I have never seen Shelby receive so much punishment! - Stu boomed in his headset
The whistle sounded indicating the end of the round, Sam and Gibby ran inside to help the bloody mess that now was Shelby Marx, the teen could barely see with her right eye, as she sat, Sam stood in front of her.
-That's it, I'm stopping this fight, there's nothing for you to do out there.
-No.. I'm here to fight... -Shelby said
-Are you crazy? She's killing you!
Shelby weakly got up and glared at Sam
-Promise me... promise me... you won't stop this fight... no matter what...
As the whistle sounded again and Shelby walked to the center of the octagon, Sam just glared scared of what she was forced to promise.
To be continued...