Sydney was tired and all she wanted was to get home and to bed. That day's training had been unusually hard. But as she opened the door she was frozen on her feet. In the couch Grandma J was placing a bag of ice on Olive's forehead while the latter was holding a piece of meat on one of her eyes.
-w… what happened?
-nothing… I… fell from my bike on my way here…
Sydney went to check on her best friend and started to notice things, she pointed to the kitchen and Judy followed her moments later.
-She didn't fall from a bike that I don't remember her having, right?
Judy sighed
-You didn't fall for it either huh?… I think it has to do with this karate thing…
Enraged Sydney threw her backpack to the floor and was about to storm out when Judy held her
-Wait… remember what Sam has been telling you?
The brunette closed her eyes.
-yes… never act on impulse and or rage… always think with a clear mind… but grandma, look what they did to her…
-I'm as mad as you are… but going there and getting into a fight will fix nothing…
Silently Sydney walked out of the kitchen and covered Olive, who had fallen asleep, with a blanket.
-I'll fix this Olive, I promise…
The following afternoon Sam noticed that Sydney was training with more intensity
-OK stop. What 's wrong?
Sam listened as Sydney told her what had transpired the previous night.
-And are you sure the Cobra's had something to do with it?
Sydney nod
-They laughed at her during lunch…
-Look, they are getting in your head… I know because they did the same to me, they don't want you to be clear minded when the tournament comes.
-what do I do?
-You may not like this but… don't let anything they say or do provoke you… it's the only way…
Sydney sat on the grass as she remembered a talk she had with Olive
-Olive… this is all my fault and I'm so sorry…
-no… I shouldn't have been there snooping around…
-why is all of this happening Olive? Is it really what Emmy said? That we treat her like a baby and never let her do anything?
-I don't know… I really don't…
Back to the present.
Sydney, Olive and Sophia walked into the kitchen and were startled to hear a discussion between Max and Grandma Judy
-HOW COULD YOU DO THIS BEHIND MY BACK!?
-SHE 'S 14! SHE 'S NOT A LITTLE GIRL!
Scared Sydney ran to the living room
-Dad, Grandma!
-Sydney go to your room, I'll decide your punishment later - Max demanded
-w… what?
-I SAID GO TO YOUR ROOM!
On the verge of crying the teenager ran to her room, Sophia and Olive arrived a few moments later.
-what 's going on…
Olive held her hands
-Syd… the tournament is tomorrow, you need to keep a clear mind, please
The brunette stood up
-HOW OLIVE!? MY DAD AND MY GRANDMA ARE YELLING AT EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF ME!
-It will be fine, you'll see - Sophia said
The following morning Sydney woke up, there was already a message on her phone from Sam telling her that she was ready for the tournament. The brunette sat on her bed and closed her eyes, was she going to be able to go to the tournament at all? The previous night she never went back down when her dad and grandmother were in the middle of a discussion and simply fell asleep. Slowly she walked to the bathroom, showered and dressed. Taking a deep breath she went downstairs. It was silent, as she entered the kitchen she saw a plate with scrambled eggs and bacon as well as a glass of orange juice with a note.
"Went to the store, left you breakfast. Dad"
Closing her eyes she sat and began to eat. Moments later Judy entered the kitchen as well.
-Hey noodle
-Dad is really mad at me right?
-He just doesn't understand what this means to you.
-Grandma… I will go to the tournament… I have to…
Judy handed her a piece of paper.
-I know, that's why I signed the authorization sheet Sam brought me the other day. Here.
-Thank you Grandma.
Later that day Sydney arrived at Portland's Expo Center where the tournament was to take place, she was amazed to see all the schools arriving to participate, Olive and Sophia, who were accompanying her, were also amazed.
-Wait… this is a national tournament? - Olive asked
-Yeah I think so - Sydney replied
As they entered Sam was already waiting for them, she hugged the brunette
-You ready?
-Yeah… I guess…
-We'll go find seats - Sophia said
Sam smiled
-No need, here, you're with us - she said handling them STAFF id's
As she changed into her karate gi Sydney realized something
-Uh Sam… what belt am I?
-I was waiting for you to ask that.
Opening her bag she extracted a black belt
-b… black belt?
-You earned it. Here, let me help you put it on.
As they walked out the tournament was already underway, Sydney stopped with Sophia literally crashing against her as she saw Cami preparing to fight another girl. She could see how fierce the blonde was. What she didn't expect was her reaction when her opponent managed to kick her on the chest and score a point, what was supposed to be a sports match turned into an all out fight until two referees were able to separate them.
-I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! - Cami yelled completely enraged
-ENOUGH! Another display like this and you'll both be disqualified! - The main referee sentenced
What followed scared more than it amazed Sydney, as the match resumed the girl tried a high kick but Cami held her leg on her shoulder, used her own leg to pull the other making her fall to the mat where, in a swift move, punched her three times winning the match. As she got up she looked at Sydney.
-Hey, don't go far pretty flower, I'll take care of you soon
Sydney was petrified until Olive pulled her by the arm
-Come on! They are waiting!
Moments later the brunette found herself in a mat, in front of her, another brunette girl. Olive held her hands.
-You can do this Syd, I believe in you.
Sydney took a deep breath, bowed to her opponent and to the referee and prepared to fight… sorta. As the other girl launched herself to attack the brunette literally ran out of the Mat crashing against Sam.
-Sydney, listen to me! You can do this. It's in you, you can do it. Go!
-COME ON SYD! - Olive yelled
Fixing her karategi the brunette got to the mat again, closing her eyes she concentrated, and, as the girl once more launched against her, Sydney moved to the side and without even thinking it she kicked her on the stomach making her fall to her knees.
-POINT REYNOLDS! - the referee yelled
The brunette was ecstatic, it took her a couple of minutes to score two more points and advance to the next round of the tournament. More confident she was able to beat her next opponent, a girl named Harley Diaz, from a place called Marshport, although the girl was good and the match went to a 2-2 Sydney was able to move around and punch her on the side getting the match. Harley went to her.
-That was awesome. Well done Sydney.
But her joy was short lived as, as she turned to the board she saw that her next opponent was none other than Camile Rather.
-Sydney, look at me, you can beat her. Look how far you have gone!
At that moment Olive arrived.
-Emmy knocked down her latest opponent and advanced to the semifinals - the blonde announced
-Is that even allowed? - a scared Sydney asked
Sam sighed
-Yeah… it can happen…
Tori saw Sydney getting on the mat. She walked to Cami
-Take care of this clown right now so we can end this.
Cami smiled devilishly
-She's going to wish she never learned karate or whatever it is that she learned.
As Sydney walked to the mat she saw Cami smiling and waiting for her.
-Come on little princess, time to go to school
The referee asked them to bow at him and then at each other, after that he gave them the signal to fight, Cami launched herself against Sydney who could only block the onslaught, as she threw a quick to her head the brunette was able to duck but as she raised herself, the blonde reversed her previous move and hit her square in the face, Sydney just saw an explosion in front of her eyes and fell to her knees
-What? Did I hurt you princess? - Cami said
-COME ON SYDNEY GET UP! - Olive screamed
The brunette got up and regained her composure
-You OK? - the referee asked
She nodded and as the fight resumed Cami tried to launch herself again but this time Sydney moved to the side, tripped her and made her fall to the mat, where she hit her on the back in a fast succession of three times.
-WINNER! REYNOLDS!
Cami was perplexed and had to be restrained.
-NO! LET ME GET HER!
Sam hugged her
-I knew you could do it!
-I… don't believe it…
At the same time Tori was concerned, she realized that maybe Sydney could reach the final match, she remembered what her sensei taught her and called Tiffany who was known for her fierceness.
-Hurt her arm
-Why? I can beat her, I'm sure
-I want her out of the tournament, not beaten, do I have to ask again?
-No Sensei.
Emmy, who was near, just glared in silence.
-OK Syd, this it, one step and you'll get to the final.
Sydney nodded and walked into the mat for her match, what she didn't expect was for Tiffany to have a more passive way of fighting than her previous opponents, suddenly when the brunette tried a punch, she pulled her and brutally slammed her against the mat to then drop her elbow on her left arm. As she screamed Sam rushed to help her while the referee in charge called for a disqualification for excess of violence. Sydney woke up three hours later, there was no more crowd noises, no mat, she was in a silent room, in a comfy bed and her left arm on a sling. But if that surprised her, seeing her dad half-asleep on the couch surprised her even more.
-¿Dad?
Max woke up and went to his daughter.
-How are you feeling?
-My arm hurts…
-Look… I'm sorry for the way I acted… it's just that… I…
Sydney smiled
-It's OK dad… really…
Max caressed her hair as she laid back
-I just wish I could have done something about Emmy…
-Hey… perhaps there's something that can be done…
At that moment the door opened and Olive walked in
-Syd! You're awake, how are you feeling?
-good I guess… So what happened after… you know…
-well… since you were unconscious and sent to the hospital you forfeited the final and Emmy was crowned champ of the tournament… though she didn't seem happy… oh and Sam and Tori yelled at each other and if it wasn't for the referees they would have fought each other…
-wow…
Later that afternoon Sydney was finishing her lunch when someone knocked.
-Come in!
The door opened slowly and to her surprise it was Emmy, her head low
-Emmy?
-look… I can leave if you want me to…
-No, come on in…
Slowly the latina came in and sat beside the bed
-Look… I know this wasn't your fault and
-yes… it was… you went into that tournament because of me….
-It was my decision and my decision only
-I… quit Cobra Kai…
-Excuse me, what?
-At… at first I thought I was learning to defend myself… but in the end… she was using me… she didn't care about me… or anyone else…
-Emmy…
-I'm sorry for all I did to you and the amigas… and don't worry… I'll never get close to you guys ever again…
-Yeah no, you're one of the amigas, and we want you back. - a voice said from the door
-Sophia? - Emmy said in shock
The teenager ran and hugged her friend
-I have missed you a lot
-I'm sorry… I really am…
From her bed Sydney smiled, it had cost her a broken arm, a lot of pain, sweat and tears, but once again she was able to fix what seemed unfixable and the Reynolds reputation remained intact.
THE END… for now.