I do not own any of the characters except for Arabella.
~Arabella's POV~
"Hey, it's almost time, change the channel." Eddie said. We were all in Falafel's Phil, watching the Tv while Jerry was. Milton changed the channel, dampening Jerry's mood.
"Yo! What are you doing, man? I was just watching my favorite cartoon, Worm With a Perm." Jerry exclaimed as I was leaning onto Jack. "You know what it's about?"
"A Worm With a Perm?" Kim guessed.
"Oh, you watch it too." Jerry assumed.
"Here we go. They're about to announce
who's gonna be in the annual, California Battle Of The Dojos." Eddie said, looking at Tv.
"Should we go get Rudy?" Milton asked.
"No, no. Every year he comes in a disguise because he can't handle the embarrassment when our dojo doesn't get in." Jerry replied.
"Trust me, he's around here somewhere." I added.
Jerry started looked around, "Ah. There he is." He smirked, standing up to walk over to an old Lady.
"Jerry, I don't think that's..." Jack tried to stop him but I interrupted him.
"No, no. Let him go."
Jerry stopped before the old lady who he thought was Rudy, "Look, I know you're ashamed, but
we both know how this is gonna end. So why don't you say we hit the mats and get our sweat on, eh?"
The old lay stood up and started hitting Jerry with a tray causing him to let out a yelp of pain while attempting to escape from the old lady, they chased him.
"No disguise this year, Rudy?" Milton asked and we turned to see Rudy walk into the restaurant in his normal clothes, "Nope. I am a grown man, and I'm going to accept the fact that my dojo is what it is." He said.
"That's great." Milton said impressed, "You don't need this tournament to feel good about yourself.
You got plenty to be proud of."
"Like what?" Rudy asked causing us all to fall silent.
The door opened to reveal the black dragons.
"Oh, great." Jack said sarcastically, "Sensei Ty and some of the Black Dragons just showed up."
"They get into this tournament every year." Kim said while Rudy stood up.
"What are you doing here, Ty? Did you just come here to gloat?"
"Little bit." Ty said, opening his jacket to reveal a dozen medals.
"Oh, they're making the announcement. Turn it up." Eddie said, getting our attention.
"Our first competitor in the Battle Of The Dojos...
Is the Black Dragons."
"Pfft, 10 years in a row, people. That's an even dozen." Ty stated proudly.
"...is The Master Oh Dojo. And the final competitor..."
"Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry." Rudy repeated.
"The Bobby Wasabi Dojo!"
We all started cheering.
"Babe, you know what this means? You're gonna be on representing our dojo!" I said excitedly.
"Let's go celebrate, guys. Come on." Jack suggested as we all shuffled out of the booth and out the door.
"We're number one!" I sang.
Don't you get all tough with me, I'm saying won't you come kick it with me? and we can have a ball, run up the wall, this is how we do, and no matter how much, I chop and punch, it's not as cool as kickin' it with you.
Here we go, let's start the party, chop it up like it's karate.
everybody, don't you get all tough with me, I'm saying won't you come kick it with me? and we can have a ball, run up the wall, this is how we do, and no matter how much I chop and punch, it's not as cool as kickin' it with you.
I was watching Jack practicing for the tournament. So far he's been doing great and hasn't missed anything to too bad. "Nailed it. Awesome! Just awesome." Rudy praised.
"Jack, you truly are the wind beneath this dojo's wings." Milton said while flopping his arms like wings.
"Of course everyone knows that I'm the wings, which are the most important part of the bird." Rudy said.
"I guess I'm kind of like a feather." Eddie said.
"You're not part of the bird at all." Rudy denied. We all looked at Rudy incredulously. "But keep trying. You're doing great, son." I rolled my eyes.
Jerry ran into the dojo looking excited, "Yo, Rudy! Guess who's back? One of the coolest guys ever to step foot in this dojo." Someone who I never wanted to see again, who came with Kim on his back. "What? I don't believe it. Carson Hunter?What are you doing? Haven't seen you in forever." Rudy smiled.
"Oh god, not him." I muttered in annoyed. Carson Hunter was an annoyance in my backside, he was constant keep on asking me out and me saying no to each confession.
"Hey, man. I'm Jack." Jack introduced himself. "Jack is like the new version of you." Milton told him.
"Jack Brewer. I've heard a lot about you." Carson said while shaking Jack's hand. I don't like the tone he had for that.
"Darn right you have." Rudy boasted.
"Jack is a second degree black belt with a foundation of Tae Kwon Do and Jiu-jitsu." I added. "Arabella, I haven't seen you since middle school." Carson said with a smirked. I smiled sarcastically at him, "I hope that it stayed that way while you are still here."
Jack looked at me in confusion and I gave him a look that said I'd explain later. After everyone got done reminiscing they all left to go to Phil's except Jack and I. "So, what's up with you and Carson?" Jack asked. 'I met in 8th grade and he was a new girl every week. He would try and flirt with me and would try to make moves on me but that ended up with me punching him in the stomach. He always cheats to make sure things go his way." I explained.
I walked over and sat next to Jack on one of the dojo benches and Jack wrapped his arm around me "Good, now I don't have to worry about him stealing you away from me," He kissed the top of my head. I laughed, "No one could take me away from you, well maybe Drake Bell, he could steal me any day." I joked. "He'd have to fight me first," Jack acted jealous. We laughed and then grabbed our stuff and headed to his house.
... (ﾉヮ)ﾉ:･ﾟ
At school the next day, passing period was interesting. While Carson, Jerry, Kim, Milton, and Eddie were using lockers, brooms, water jugs, and drumsticks to make music Jack joined in crashing two trashcan lids together. It made the others stop and everyone left,
"Belle... I can't go to Rockchella with you.
I gotta practice for the tournament." Jack explained. "It's ok, Babe, I'll give them to Kim. I don't want to go with anyone that's isn't you." I said. As I was heading to class when I saw Kim, "Oh Kim, I'm giving tickets to you, because Jack couldn't come with me. You can go with a friend." I handed them to her. "Thanks Bella." She smiled and we sat in our seats.
...(ﾉヮ)ﾉ:･ﾟ
I was watching Jack practiced his bo-staff routine while Rudy coached him from the sidelines, "Pivot on your hip. It'll give you more torque. More torque."
Jack and I looked at him in confusion, "What do you mean by torque?"
"I'm so confused by that statement?"
"Well, torque's that thing where you... See, it's when the ratio of the... Just start torquing!" Rudy said, unable to explain it.
When Kim and Carson come walking in, "Hey, Kim. How was Rockchella?" I asked as I walked over to stand next to Jack. "Oh, it was awesome." Kim gushed.
"Yeah, thanks so much for the tickets, Arabella." Carson said.
"Oh. You guys went... Together." I gritted my teeth in annoyance.
"Yeah, we were on our feet the whole night dancing and tearing it up!" Kim exclaimed.
"Uh-huh, you dance together..."
"Yeah. He is such a great dancer. He's actually the one who taught me." Kim continues.
"So he's the one, who taught her." I whispered to Jack. "That's explained, her ways with dancing." Jack whispered back.
"Check it."
"Oh yeah. That's our jam!" Kim and Carson said together as they both started dancing horribly as I tilted my head in disbelief.
Jack turned off the music, "All right, guys. I hate to stop your little dance party, but I really should get back to practice."
"Jack's right. We should probably do something... Anything other than what you two were just doing." Rudy said, pushing the two off the mat while Jack went back into position, "Torque. Torque. Torque."
Jack started performing the routine again. "Looking good, Jack." Carson complimented, "You're probably the best man for the job."
"Oh no." I muttered in shock.
"What do you mean by "probably"?" Jack asked, "I'm the only one at this dojo that works the Bo Staff."
"Actually, I do too. But you know what?" Carson said smugly, "You've already put the work in, so you take this tournament and I'll take the next one."
"No, no, no, no. If you can use a Bo Staff, then we should see what you've got." Jack said.
"What are you saying, Jack?" Rudy asked.
"I'm saying this tournament isn't about me." Jack said, "It's about finding the best student to represent this dojo. So, if your old friend here uses a Bo Staff, then we should spar."
"Jack, I don't know if that'd be fair." Kim intervened, "I mean, you've been practicing with a Bo Staff for months."
"No, no, no, no. I may be a little rusty, but I can handle a Bo Staff." Carson answered, gently pushing Kim out of the way between him and Jack. The others walked in right as the tension grew. "If Jack wants to see what I've got... Let's do it."
"Great. Winner represents the dojo in the tournament." Jack responded. Carson grabbed his bow staff which look a bit off.
"Hajamay!" Rudy started the match. The boys had it out with Carson winning by snapping Jack's bow staff like a toothpick. That's not normal.
"Holy shit!"
"Holy Christmas nuts! Jack lost." Milton exclaimed. I looked at my boyfriend worriedly.
"Looks like I'll be representing the dojo." Carson spoke.
...(ﾉヮ)ﾉ:･ﾟ
"Guys, I've been doing martial arts for years, and Bo Staffs don't just snap like that, I mean, he shattered it." Jack recalled. We were at Falafel's Phil discussing Jack's bo-staff match against Carson.
"Yeah, he did!" Milton laughed, "I mean, a dang shame is what it is."
"Ugh, I've just been thinking about it over and over again." Jack said, "Something just wasn't right."
"Look, Jack, I know you're embarrassed about losing." Jerry said, but he didn't continue.
"Go on." Jack urged him.
"Oh, no. That was it." Jerry said, leaning back in his seat.
"Wow, great pep talk, Jer." I sarcastically commented.
"I know you guys know Carson better than I do but... Is it possible that he cheated?" Jack asked, "I mean, think about it. He didn't use one of our Bo Staffs. Maybe his was, I don't know, weighted or something?"
"Weighted Bo Staff?" Jerry asked before adding, "Okay." In a high pitched tone.
"Come on, Jack." Eddie said, "I know it's hard not being top dog anymore, but there's no shame in being number two."
Jerry started laughing like a child he is, "Number two."
"I agree with you, Jack. That's bo-staff was off and very fishy." I said, everyone except Jack at us in confusion.
"You know what? I'm sure he didn't cheat. Forget I said anything." Jack dismissed the conversation.
"Hey, we should go. It's time for practice." Milton told us.
"Yeah, let's go." Kim agreed, standing up and joining the others to head out.
"I'll catch up with you guys." Jack promised, I was about to follow the others but stays behind after seeing Jack's troubled expression. I sat back down next to him, concern evident in her eyes.
"Hey, Jack, are you okay? You seem really bothered by what happened with Carson." I said softly, placing a hand on his arm gently.
Jack sighs, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I don't know, Belle. It's just...Why do I feel he didn't beat me fair and square? There's just something not right here."
I did find it bit suspicious. I had known Carson was a good fighter, and I could see he was very skilled with a bo staff. I had a feeling that how he was able to snap Jack's bo staff in half like that. Jack was right, Carson did shatter the bo staff in half.
"Yeah, that's really suspicious. I agree, I think something was going on. I've never seen someone snap a bo staff like that before." I admits. "But maybe it was just a lucky hit?" I suggested, trying to offer a rational explanation.
Jack shakes his head with a sigh, placing his hand over mine to intertwine our hands together and rest them on his leg. "I don't know, I mean I know he's skilled. But...I don't know. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I have a feeling he's hiding something."
"It is weird. If you're being paranoid then so am I. We'll figure it out together, okay?" I assured him. I squeezes his hand gently, offering him a reassuring smile.
Jack looks at me gratefully, feeling a wave of comfort wash over him. "Thanks, Belle. I don't know what I'd do without you." He said softly as he leaned over to kiss me. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."
"Hey, lovebirds." The couple looks over, surprised to see Ty slide into the booth across from them. We share a look before glancing back at the sensei of Black Dragons. "Spare a baba ghanoush popper?"
"If you like them extra spicy." I said.
"Be careful with those." Jack warned, but Ty only laughed, not seeming to be fazed.
"Black belt, black dragon... dragons breathe fire. Check it." Ty picks one up and takes a bit of it. "Mmm. You know, Jack. With the... Wow! My face is on fire!" He interrupted himself as the spice kicked in. He grabbed his drink and immediately began drinking it.
"What do you want, Ty?" Jack questioned.
"I want you, Jack." Ty tells him. He glanced at me and pointed at me. "You too. Both of you." He admits, looking between us. "I couldn't help but overhear you're unhappy with the Bobby Wasabis. We could really use someone with both of your skills to represent the Black Dragons. And unlike Rudy, when it comes to my students, I am loyal till the end."
"Really? Where's your number one student, Frank?" Jack inquired.
"You two are so much better than Frank." Ty responded in an obvious tone.
"We're not switching dojos. There's no way we ever fight for the Black Dragons." I replied in disbelief of this man.
"Oh, that's too bad. Because if you fought for us, you could exact your revenge on the kid who replaced you. Restore your reputation, and most importantly, our Gis would really make your eyes pop." Ty adds, smirking at us.
"We gotta go." I said as Jack and I walked out.
...(ﾉヮ)ﾉ:･ﾟ
I went to the locker room to get something that I left, Jack walked out first and I was about to follow but stop saw Carson saw Jack walking.
"Hey, Jack. No hard feelings? I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of all your friends." Carson said to him.
Jack looked at him with annoyance, and dropped his bag, "Listen, Carson. I've been watching you, and you're good, but you're not that good."
"Really?" Carson laughed mockingly, "I was good enough to take back my dojo, my friends, and even Arabella." I scoffed at his statement. "Like ever, Hunter."
"And all I had to do was use a weighted Bo Staff."
"I knew it. I'm gonna tell everybody you cheated." Jack glared at him.
"Go ahead." Carson mocked him, "You'll just look like a sore loser."
The door to Rudy's office opened and Rudy stepped outside, I walked over slowly behind them, Jack saw me on the corner of his eye, giving me a look of surprise, so he could see that I heard what Carson said. "There are my two favorite guys. The Carsonator, El Carson Grande, Carsonova!" He gave Carson an high five, "And Jack."
"Wow, I see, so I'm not your favorite kid." I had a faked offense. Rudy gave me look and silently laughed, "Rudy, Carson's a cheater."
"Yeah, he is." Rudy said, "He's a great big cat, and you never know when he'll pounce. Meows"
"No, he said cheater not a Cheetah, you dobe." I facepalmed.
"He just admitted he used a weighted Bo Staff, that's why mine shattered." Jack accused, "This is his. Check it out. It won't break."
Jack snapped the bo-staff in half. "Dude! Not cool." Carson said.
"But... but... but he..." Jack stammered.
"Jack, I know you're taking this hard, but... Remember true character is revealed in defeat, not victory." Rudy said.
"Unbelievable." I muttered. Jack stormed out of the dojo and I went after him, "Jack!" I yelled jogging up to him, "Can you slow down, I have short legs." Jack stopped so I can catch up to him, I cupped his face, "Come on talk to me." He sighed at my contact of my hands, "I'm very pissed off and frustrated at our sensei." Jack said. "Me too. But sometimes you have a right to be pissed off." I kissed his cheek and went back to the dojo to get my bag.
...(ﾉヮ)ﾉ:･ﾟ
After going home and changing, I headed down to the Black Dragon's dojo where the tournament was being held. When I arrived, I couldn't find Jack anywhere, "Hey, Kim, have you seen Jack anywhere." I asked.
"No, I can't find him either. And he hasn't returned any of my calls." Kim said.
"Funny, like everyone but me, believed Carson over Jack about the cheating during their sparring match." I said to myself.
"Now representing the Black Dragons...Jack Brewer!" The announcer said. I looked over to Where Ty was and saw my boyfriend in Black dragons.
Everyone except me said, "What?!"
"Jack?" Rudy exclaimed, walking up to him, "What's going on? What are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Rudy? He's competing for the Black Dragons. I've been waiting a long time to be able to say this. I'm gonna need a second." Ty started to tearing up, "Keep it together, keep it together. What I'm trying to... I can't get it out. I'm gonna lose it. But it was really clever, funny, and mean. Now stretch it out, Jack. I'm gonna strut around the mat and check the crowd for honeys."
"I don't believe this." Kim scoffed, "Why would you join the Black Dragons?"
"I know, it's because that Gi really makes your eyes pop." Jerry guessed.
"Your friend Carson is a cheater, and none of you expect Belle, believed me, not even Rudy." Jack said, "Well, if that's the guy you want in your dojo, I'm out. But I want a fair fight. It's personal. It's between me and Carson."
I walked over to him, "So this is where you went off after the argument with Rudy?" I asked. "Basically, yes." He said.
I sighed and then I looked him up and down. "You know you do look very attractive in red and black," I teased. I slid my hands down his arms checking him out, "Oh yeah?" He questioned. "Definitely. You should come find me after you win your match against the lying cheat," I smiled. Jack's eye darkens at that statement, "Don't start something you can't finish baby," Jack had his hands on my waist. I walked back to the others.
"This is a two round competition. First round is hand-to-hand. It will be followed by the Bo Staff."
Jack and Carson put on their helmets and stepped onto the mat where the referee stood, "Let's have a good, clean fight, obey my commands. And... Hajamay!"
"Go Carson. Oh! Go Jack! Yes, Carson. You got it. You got it! Block!"
"Dude!" Eddie interrupted him, "Pick a side, already."
"I can't. I love them both so much." Jerry said emotionally.
Carson tried to flip Jack over but Jack landed on his feet and turned it into his advantage flipping him over and sending him falling to the ground.
I saw Carson looked alert with his equipment in his hands. "Judge?"
"Equipment time out." The judge said and Carson moved over to sit on the bench.
"Carson, are you..." I started but then my eyes landed on a small bag in his hands, "Wait. What are you doing?"
"I'm wrapping my hands, Arabella." Carson said almost defensively.
"But what are those?"
"It's nothing! I'll see you after the fight." Carson snapped.
I looked at him in disbelief and I quickly ran over to Jack, "Jack. Look, Carson, he's hiding something in his wraps. You have to stop the fight."
"Kim, I got this." Jack said confidently, glaring at Carson.
"You could get hurt." I argued, "It's not a fair fight."
"Belle." Jack interrupted me, "I got this."
"Of course you do." I gave him a smiled, "Just do me one favor. Go kick that cheater's butt."
The fight began again but this time Carson's punches was much harder due to the thing he had put in his wrappings and I could see the painful expression on Jack's with every punch. Carson managed to get Jack to the floor, but he didn't stop there, choosing to stamp on the already lying boy.
"Come on. Get up!"
"Illegal strike." The judge pulled back Carson, "Wasabi Dojo, you are disqualified."
"No!" Jack protected, standing up, "I don't want to win like this. Let's keep going."
"But we had it." Ty protested, "It was a win for the Black Dragons, right?"
"I'm not doing this for the Black Dragons. I'm doing this for me." Jack said, taking off his gi jacket, leaving him in a black t-shirt and the gi pants.
"Oh, really?" Ty exclaimed, "A public Gi return?"he turned to see that the camera was behind him, "On TV?! My mother is watching this!"
The judge led a sobbing Ty out of the room while Jack and Carson prepared to start fighting again. "Should the judge really leave?" I asked, "That seems like a great way for people to get hurt."
And if the fight had been intense before it was far worse now. Both Jack and Carson gave it everything they had which eventually ended with the two punching each other's fists.
When that happened a sort of dust exploded out of Carson's wrappings and Jack took the boy's momentarily distraction to kick him in the stomach, sending him flying to the floor.
The crowd cheered as Jack took off his helmet and I ran over to hug him and he picked her up by the waist and spun me around while Rudy ran over to Carson to look at his wrappings.
"Carson, I don't know what happened to you, but you are no longer welcome in my dojo." Rudy said.
"Rudy, it's not how it looked." Carson protested.
"Actually, it's exactly how it looked." I said to him walking away.
"Jack, I should have seen it sooner. What can I say? I'm sorry for not having your back." Kim apologized.
"Well, except me, thought, I know he was shady to begin with." I exclaimed, "I bet you guys were bad now."
"Yeah, we all are." Milton said, "None of us expected Bella, should have doubted you."
"Remember when I told you that true character is revealed in defeat not victory?" Rudy wondered, "Well, Carson just revealed his true colors. And so did you. Is there any way we could convince
you to come back to the dojo?"
"Look, I only have one thing to say to you guys." Jack said seriously before smiling and holding out his hand, "Wasabi?"
"Wasabi!"