Here's chapter two, Jades POV. Not much action, but it sets the stage. It's probably as dark as this story is going to get. Be warned.

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Jade had been sitting in Mike's office for about half an hour, more nervous than she'd ever been while in that office. She remembered when it was Wyatt's office. "Grandpa's office' she thought. He'd developed this style of MMA along with Mike back when Mike was fighting professionally. That was back before MMA became as popular as it was, in the 80's. Wyatt, her Fathers stepfather, had also been a big influences on her family, even if her father didn't want him to. Jade had always known about this place, this dojo, but never felt so much like an outsider as today.

Now they were all upset with her, but she could understand that. Her grandfather Wyatt, his son Kevin, and her brother Adam, they all felt that she took it too far. She let her pride get in the way, and now she had to do Mike a favor so he'd talk to them. He'd get them to see it was a one time thing, and then help her win back their approval.

Her Father had gotten over it, almost too quickly. Then again, her father never wanted anything to do with the whole MMA thing. When her grandmother married Wyatt, Her father was still a teenager, and somehow the two never got close. If Adam, Her half brother from her fathers first marriage, hadn't been having so many problems, her family would still be keeping their distance. But MMA gave Adam a focus in his life, helped him turn into the kind of son her father always wanted, and Adam wanted so desperately to have something to share with Jade.

It' wasn't that she didn't want to be on Television, Just not as Mandy Walker, but that fight carried too big a purse. How could she say no. That kind of money made a difference in peoples lives. Even the losses payout had helped her put her family into a better house and away from the neighbor she hated. She was able to tell herself she was doing this for her mother and for her baby brother. If only she'd tapped.

'It was Tori's fault.' Jade thought as the evening came back into her head. 'No, it was mine.' After she broke up with Beck the second time, she needed an outlet, if only so she didn't wind up hurting people. She'd already worked so hard at not being a normal bully, and only picked on those who were otherwise immune to bullies. Those who should have been able to take it. But to fight professionally gave her the chance to cut loose and earn some money. Jade always needed money. Her family always needed money.

Her family wasn't rich, but they were good at making sure everyone had what they needed. Jade used what she earned to help the family. It was what a good daughter should do. While her father was on wife number three, or had he moved on to number four, it fell on Jade to be the man of her family, just like Adam had been the man of his.

Jade won five matches in four months. She knew she wasn't supposed to fight that often, usually fighters were limited to once every three months, but Jade had avoided injury, not to mention she just ignored the standard recommendations. Those victories along with her ground and pound strategies made her look like a champion, so they gave her a shot at a champion. They gave her a shot at THE champion.

'She looked so much like Tori.' Jade though as she remembered the fight. Jade had the advantage. Shelby was a striker, and a good one. Jade had danced around until she could get close and execute a takedown. She was supposed to roll the girl so she'd be on her face, Jade across her back, but the goth just settled for a different hold and worked to free one of her own arms while holding the girl in place. Once that was done, she'd just pound the girl until they stopped the fight. Jade was good at all the areas of MMA, but against a striker she usually went for the submission.

It was that moment, when she should have won it all, that things all fell apart. She looked into the brown eyes of Shelby and noticed how much the girl looked like Tori. Jade found she couldn't do it. As much as she should have wanted to tear Tori's head off, as much as she claimed to hate the younger of the Vega sisters, in that moment she couldn't bring herself to mangle a face that looked like hers.

Shelby took the moment and rolled back and forth until she started to break free. As Jade shifted to stay on top, Shelby got her feet free and used them to get Jade in a triangle choke. It was all over. 'I should have tapped.' Jade thought again. Pride and shame kept her from submitting.

They were able to revive her with just a little mouth to mouth, and Jade was then banned from competing for six months. Then her family got upset. 'It's entertainment. It's never supposed to be to the death.' they told her. 'A good fighter knows when their beaten. You should have remembered that.' She was ashamed she hesitated, so she lost, and her pride would not let her tap. Jade couldn't admit it was her pride that got in her way. Her pride that got her that close to dying. It all happened just a couple of months ago.

Jade had been on bad relations with those in her family who were involved in the Dojo ever since. They'd forgive her, but that didn't change the fact that she hadn't won back their approval. Every time she was with any of them, or even Richie, she could see the disappointment in their eyes. They would remind her about how the competition is about honor, and respect, and that there was no shame in admitting when the fight was over.

She had to do something. Adam and Richie and even Kevin were always so pissed when they were around her. And she missed her private training sessions with her brother and Grandfather, the ones that helped her achieve her second degree black belt in just eight years, about as fast as it could be done. Second degree, where she would be allowed to teach. They'd never let her teach now.

Jade was about as young as allowed for her rank, Just like Adam, who was seven years older and three belts ahead of her. 'Uncle' Kevin was a seventh degree black belt, while Mike was ninth degree. Her grandfather, Wyatt, was a grand master at tenth degree. Jade had watched each of these men achieve those ranks, and knew how proud they should have been at her recent achievement. They never said a word.

Jade was focused on following in her family's tradition, participating in the Dojo. It had given her a feeling of connection with her family she didn't always get at home. Now, however, she was waiting for Mike to come and tell her what he wanted. In return, he'd help her gain back what she had lost. She once again wondered what she would have to do to win back the affection of these members of her family affiliated with the dojo. How could she make it up for not tapping, for almost dying. Jade waited for the meeting that would help her, change her life, and give her the maturity they thought she was lacking. She felt resolute, like she'd walk through hell to win their respect back. Then she saw Mike coming, and butterflies took flight in her stomach. Now was the moment she found out what it would cost her.

Mike walked into the office leading someone else, and Jade almost let her pride cost her a second time. Her first thought was 'NO'. There was no way she'd be doing whatever with that talentless hack. The one who, despite being a grade ahead in school, seemed to spend so much time trying to be a part of her social group. The girl who, despite being decent looking, was so annoying she couldn't land a decent guy. Trina Vega. Sister to the reason she was in this trouble in the first place.

Mike spoke up. "Jade, Trina and you are going to take over the training at the community center, just for the next couple of months, until Stan's had his next Championship fight." he left no room for debate, and Jade was sure this was going to be her personal hell.

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Okay, everyone knows about Adam West. I could have made it harder, I guess.

This story is slowly coming along. I hope for lighter fare once we get past the initial reactions.

And finally, review. Peter pan lied, pixies only heal when people review. Why do you think there are so few of them running around. So save a pixie.