chapter eleven,
mercy

For the entire weekend, Mackenzie had done everything she could possibly do to avoid Eli. To avoid Aisha. To avoid Sam. To avoid everyone.

    When school resumed on Monday morning, Mackenzie entered the building. At the front yard, she saw Miguel talking to Eli and Aisha.

    Mackenzie quickly ducked her head, trying not to draw any attention to herself. She just wanted to get through the day without any drama or confrontations.

As the girl passed the ground, she could feel their stares. She didn't have to turn around to look if they were staring at her, she just knew.

Kenzie walked inside the school, her head down, still embarrassed from the other night. As she walked through the halls of the school, Mackenzie could feel the tension in the air. She could practically feel everyone's eyes on her. Even though she had done nothing wrong, she felt as if she was being judged by every person she passed.

"Mackenzie, hey!" Charlie called running up to her from behind. "Oh, Charlie." She exclaimed surprised.

Mackenzie turned around to face Charlie, relieved to see a friendly face. "Hey, uh, what's up?" she asked, trying to sound casual.

Charlie noticed her friend's tension and gave her a reassuring smile. "You okay? You look like you're about to explode," he teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Kenzie forced a weak smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just had a rough weekend, that's all," she mutters.

"What happened? Did you do anything embarrassing at that party?" Charlie inquired, raising an eyebrow.

Mackenzie laughed softly, a hint of shame in her voice. "Something like that," she admitted. "I just...I did something I shouldn't have, and now I don't know how to fix it."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Charlie asked, his face now more serious.

Mackenzie shrugged, not sure if she was ready to rehash the events of the past few days. "It's just a big mess. I was drinking and I ended up making things really complicated with some people."

"Like who?" Charlie questioned, now more intrigued.

Mackenzie took a deep breath. "Eli, Aisha, Sam..." she started, her voice trailing off.

"Oh." Charlie nodded, trying to piece together the complicated web she had created. "So, I take it you did something stupid."

"Understatement of the year," Mackenzie murmured, her voice laced with guilt.

    As they entered the laboratory, she didn't realise but Charlie had the same class as her.

    The two sat down at a bench together, as they did something had come over her to ask him the next question.

    "Hey.. do you think you'd wanna come watch my karate match to week?"

Charlie looked surprised at the question but then smiled, obviously flattered that she had asked. "Of course, I'd love to watch you kick some butt," he replied, jokingly.

Mackenzie's eyes lit up, a small smile forming on her face. "Really?" she asked, wanting to make sure he wasn't just saying it out of politeness.

     Just as the two teens were in the middle of a conversation, they heard the door to the science lab open.

    Eli, with his usual confident demeanor, walked over to the desk across from Kenzie and sat down. He glanced over at the girl, noticing her sitting with Charlie.

He raised an eyebrow, watching the two of them for a moment before speaking up. "What's going on here?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of jealousy.

Mackenzie was a tad caught off guard by Hawk's sudden interruption. "Nothing," she said, quickly. "Just talking about the karate tournament," she added, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

Charlie looked over at Eli, a sly smile playing at his lips. "Yeah, Mackenzie invited me to come watch the tournament coming up," he said, clearly enjoying making the boy jealous.

Eli's jaw muscles clenched as he processed Charlie's words.

He looked over at Mackenzie, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, you did, did you?" he said, his voice taking on a slightly confrontational tone.

Mackenzie swallowed hard, feeling a mixture of guilt and nervousness under the scrutiny of Eli's gaze. "Yeah, is that a problem?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Eli's eyes flicked over to Charlie then back to Kenzie. "No, no problem at all." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Just didn't realise you were that serious about karate."

Mackenzie bristled at his tone. "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, her patience wearing thin.

Eli leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at his lips. "Oh, nothing. Just surprised you're taking it so seriously all of a sudden."

Mackenzie clenched her jaw, her fists balling. She didn't like where this conversation was going. "What are you implying, Eli?"

Hawk chuckled, enjoying the fact that he was getting under her skin. "Just wondering if you're trying to impress someone," he said, his eyes flickering over to Charlie again.

Mackenzie's heart rate quickened. She knew what he was insinuating but she wasn't going to let him get to her. "And if I am?" she responded, her voice challenging.

Hawk smirked, leaning forward now. "Then I'd say you're trying a bit too hard."

     Just as Kenzie was about to respond, the sound of the teacher clearing his throat interrupted the conversation. "Alright, class. Settle down, everyone." Mr. Marsden called, indicating the class to order.

The teacher, a stern-looking man in his late thirties, looked around the room, his gaze lingering on Hawk and Mackenzie for a moment.

Kenzie gave Hawk one last death glare, her eyes full of anger and frustration. Hawk returned her glare with a smug smile, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her.

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Mackenzie stood in the crowded training center, her red duffel bag slung over her shoulder. It was the day of the All Valley Tournament, the tournament she had promised to win for Johnny. Usually, she wouldn't feel this nervous before a debate, but the intense atmosphere and the expectations placed upon her were getting to her.

She glanced around the room, the girl noticed people walking towards the sign-in area, and a man's voice echoed over the intercom, announcing that all teams should report to the locker room in five minutes.

As the man's voice faded, Johnny's presence suddenly took over the room. He was walking in a circle, his students surrounding him, listening intently to his every word. His voice was stern and powerful.

"We've learned to strike first, be aggressive, not to be losers," Johnny said with conviction. "I've taught you to strike hard." He stood in front of his students, his gaze darting between them.

"But I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai... no mercy," Johnny added, pausing for dramatic effect. Miguel's face portrayed a mix of emotions as he looked down, clearly taken aback by Johnny's words.

"The older you get," Johnny continued, "the more you'll learn that life isn't fair." He took a step forward, his voice growing even more intense.

    "One day, you wake up feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls."

Miguel's expression changed, now reflecting sadness and anger. It was clear that Johnny's words had struck a nerve, reminding him of a past experience.

"You get a F on your test. You get suspended. You fall in love with a girl, then some other dude comes a steals her away,"

"Your car gets set on fire," he added, his eyes scanning the room. "You think everything is going great, and then it falls apart. That's how it life goes. Life shows no mercy, neither do we."

Mackenzie stiffened, her heart pounding more rapidly in her chest while Johnny carried on with his moving diatribe. She could sense the energy of the room as a whole, the mixture of eagerness and fear coming from her fellow Cobra Kai students.

As Johnny spoke about the harsh realities of life, Mackenzie couldn't help but relate the words to her own experiences. She thought back to the times when she had been on the receiving end of life's bitter blows, and how they had made her stronger.

And as the words "Life shows no mercy, so neither do we" echoed through the room, Mackenzie felt a surge of determination rise within her. She wasn't here to simply win. She was here to prove a point, both to herself and to her opponents.

Feeling inspired, she clenched her fists, letting her fingers dig into the palm of her hands. She knew what she had to do. She couldn't afford to hold back or to show any hint of weakness.

    "We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. We do whatever it takes to win!"

    As Johnny's final words hung in the air, Mackenzie felt her own words rise in her throat. She had a purpose, a reason to fight, and she wouldn't let anything stand in her way.

    "Remember who you are. You don't give a shit. You kick ass. You're Cobra Kai!"

    The words echoed in her mind, and she felt herself standing straighter, her shoulders tense and ready to take on anything.

The students begin to early express themselves, chatting Cobra Kai, "Cobra Kai!" Miguel yells at the tops of his lungs.

Mackenzie stood amongst her Cobra Kai peers, all of them shouting the team's battle cry in unison. The energy in the room was electric.

As Miguel begin to pull out his gi, Johnny stops him. "No," he said, his eyes fixed on Miguel. "You're not wearing those."

Miguel looked up, confusion etched on his face. The room fell silent as everyone waited for Johnny's next words.

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"Welcome everyone to the 50th anniversary of the All Valley under 18 karate championship!" The announcer stood on the main mat in front of the audience, "Let's start by welcoming all the local dojos competing today."

He took a list he had and began to read them. "From Reseda, returning to the tournament we have..." He fell quiet to the sound of Cobra Kai being chanted. from the side. The students of Cobra Kai jogged out in a single line.

Mackenzie joined in as the Cobra Kai students ran out in unison, proudly wearing their black, sleeveless gis. The cheers from the audience were deafening, adding to the energy emanating from the dojo.

"Now that's what I call an entrance! And a badass name for a dojo. Let's hear it for Cobra Kai!"

The announcer called over the microphone. "And now fighting unaffiliated from the North Hills we have Mr. Robby Keene."

She watched as Robby walked out, a determined look in his eyes as he glanced at Miguel and Johnny. She could feel the tension in the air, the electricity flowing through the stadium.

The announcer's voice echoed through the speakers again, announcing the beginning of the tournament. "All right! Get ready, it's karate time!" he exclaimed, before walking off the floor.

Kenzie took a deep breath, her heart racing with anticipation. This was it. The moment she had been training for what felt like ages. The moment that would determine if she could keep her promise to Johnny.

As the man walked away from the floor, he announced to everyone, "All right! Get ready it's karate time!"

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The first fights went by in a whirlwind. Miguel dominated his opponents, showcasing the skills he had learned under Johnny's tutelage. Mackenzie watched with a mix of pride and envy, anxious for her turn to fight.

It was her fight that was up next and the nerves had finally taken over her. She could feel her heartbeat beating out of her chest and was sure everyone else could hear it.

She was up against a girl named Ayla Mason, a girl who had done karate since she was in the womb.

    Mackenzie stood at the edge of the mat, her eyes fixed on her opponents. She could feel the weight of the situation, the pressure weighing down on her shoulders. The other student, Ayla Mason, glanced over at her, a confident smirk on her face. Mackenzie took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, but she knew this was going to be an intense fight.

    As the referee signaled for them to start. Mackenzie and Ayla approached each other, both focused and determined. Mackenzie tried to shake off the nerves, but her heart continued to thump loudly in her chest.

    The match began and Mackenzie quickly went on the offensive, throwing punches and kicks in quick succession. Ayla easily dodged and blocked each of Mackenzie's attacks, her experience and skill on full display.

    The fight continued, the sounds of the crowd and the impacts of each blow fading into the background as Mackenzie focused solely on the girl in front of her. She knew she had to think strategically, but the adrenaline coursing through her made it difficult to think clearly.

    As the fight progressed, Mackenzie could feel her energy waning. She knew she had to find a way to turn the tide in her favor, but Ayla was relentless. She seemed to anticipate every move that Mackenzie made, countering it with a swift and skillful attack.

    Mackenzie stumbled backwards after a particularly hard strike, her breathing becoming labored. She knew she was running out of gas, and she could see the satisfaction in Ayla's eyes as her opponent realized she was winning.

    Mackenzie steadied herself, taking a moment to assess the situation. She knew she couldn't let Ayla get the upper hand. Summoning what energy she had left, she launched a flurry of blows at the girl, trying to catch her off guard.

    Mackenzie's attack caught Ayla off guard, and she staggered backwards, clearly not expecting such a strong response. Mackenzie pressed the advantage, using what she had learned from Johnny and the other Senseis to land a series of successful blows on her opponent. Finally, with a well-placed kick, Ayla lost her balance and fell to the mat, signaling Mackenzie's victory. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Mackenzie felt a wave of relief washing over her.

    She was breathing heavily. She looked towards Johnny and her friends, their cheers of encouragement ringing in her ears. She saw the pride on Johnny's face and felt a renewed sense of confidence. The fight had been tough, but she had won. All those months of training had paid off.

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It had gotten down to the last finals and the only people left from Cobra Kai was Miguel, Hawk and Mackenzie.

The fight continued for a few more minutes, with both students landing blows and defending against attacks. However, Johnny observed the match intently, his face tense with worry.

"Mackenzie!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the din of the arena.

Mackenzie turned towards Johnny, her attention momentarily distracted from the fight. "What?" she said between pants, still maintaining her guard.

"You have to forfeit." Johnny's voice was firm, but there was an edge of concern in his tone. Mackenzie's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Why?" she asked, bewildered by the unexpected command.

"Just trust me." Johnny said, his gaze fixed intently on her.

Mackenzie hesitated for a moment, torn between obeying Johnny's command and wanting to continue the fight. But she knew that Johnny wouldn't ask her to forfeit unless he had a good reason.

She took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping in resignation. "Okay," she said, reluctantly. "I'll forfeit."

The referee announced the forfeiture, and the crowd let out a collective gasp. Some were surprised, others confused, but the only thing that mattered to Mackenzie was the look on Johnny's face.

He gave her a small nod of approval, mixed with a hint of regret. She understood the gravity of the situation. By forfeiting, she was giving up her own chances at winning, all for the sake of the dojo.

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The semifinal showdown between Miguel and Xander was intense, both students giving it their all. Miguel pulled out a jaw-dropping move, flipping his opponent completely over with a spinning back kick. The audience erupted in cheers, and Mackenzie felt a surge of adrenaline.

As the fight between Eli and Robby began, Mackenzie watched intently, her heart racing with excitement and anticipation. She saw the intense concentration on Robby's face and the aggressive moves of her opponent.

Then, it happened. Eli kicked Robby in the back, sending him sprawling to the floor. Mackenzie gasped, feeling a pang of anger and concern. She watched as Johnny rushed to Robby's side, and as the ref disqualified Eli for illegal contact.

"That's enough! Illegal contact. You're disqualified."

Eli looked angry. "Bullshit!" he fumed.

Mackenzie couldn't believe what she had just witnessed. It wasn't fair that Eli had used such a cheap shot to get the upper hand. She felt a flash of anger towards Eli and a wave of sympathy for Robby.

The crowd erupted in boos and jeers as Eli stormed off the mat. Robby slowly rose to his feet, wincing in pain from the illegal hit he had just taken. Mackenzie watched as Johnny helped him up, concern etched on his face.

    The referee's announcement of Eli's disqualification echoed through the arena, sending the crowd into a clatter of boos and jeers. Mackenzie couldn't believe the dirty play she had just witnessed. She watched as Johnny rushed over to Robby, concern etched on his face.

    "Are you okay?" Johnny asked, but Robby's response was cold and dismissive.

    "Get away from me," he said, wincing in pain from the hit he had just endured. Robby quickly stood up with the help of the ref and ran off.

"With that disqualification. Keene has earned a trip to the finals. We will see him back here after a short break." The announcer said.

Even though she never really liked Robby, she still felt bad for him. But, at least it was decided that he was going onto the finals.

The crowd around Mackenzie seemed to be buzzing with eagerness, as the tournament was getting down to its endgame. The announcer's words echoed through the arena, and it was clear that people were invested in what would happen next.

    As Eli walked off the mat and back onto the rest of the team, Mackenzie spat at him, "What the hell was that?"

    "What was I supposed to do, be a pussy?" He growled, giving her a look.

    "I can't believe you." Mackenzie says walking away from him with disbelief and disgust.
   
    Mackenzie couldn't believe Eli's remarks. She knew he had a tendency to play dirty, but she had never witnessed him go to such extreme lengths. He had really changed.

    The atmosphere in the arena had shifted after Eli's disqualification. The crowd was still buzzing with energy, but the mood was a bit more charged, as people reacted to Eli's dirty play.

    As Mackenzie walked away from Eli, she suddenly collided with someone. Startled, she looked up to see that it was Charlie.

    "Oh! Sorry," Mackenzie exclaimed, rubbing her shoulder where she had collided with Charlie.

    Charlie chuckled, "Hey, it's no problem. Didn't expect to run into you so soon." He said with a smile.

    "Me neither," Mackenzie replied, a slight blush tinging her cheeks. She remembered that she had invited him to the tournament to watch her compete.

Charlie's eyes filled with curiosity as he noticed the slight blush on her cheeks. He knew he had an effect on her, and it amused him. He raised an eyebrow and said, "So, how's the tournament going?"

"Um, it's... definitely going," Mackenzie replied evasively, feeling a little flustered. She wasn't sure how to talk to him now that they had seen each other again.

Charlie picked up on her evasiveness and decided to press a little further. "That doesn't sound like it's going too well," he said, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Mackenzie sighed, she knew she couldn't hide it from Charlie. "Well, it's not exactly going great," she admitted. "I had to forfeit my fight in the semifinals."

Charlie's smirk faded, replaced with a look of surprise and concern. "You had to forfeit? Why?" he asked, stepping closer to her.

Mackenzie looked down at the ground, feeling a mix of disappointment and sadness. "My sensei told me to do it. He said it was necessary for our team to win the tournament." She paused, then added, "I didn't want to do it, but I guess I didn't have much of a choice."

"That sucks." Charlie sympathized with her as he heard the disappointment in her voice. He remarked in a compassionate tone, "I know how much you were looking forward to fighting in the tournament."

    Mackenzie's gaze met Charlie's, touched by his understanding. "Yeah, it does suck," she admitted, sighing. "I was really hoping to make it to the finals. But I guess it just wasn't meant to be."

    As Mackenzie and Charlie were discussing her fight, they were suddenly interrupted by the sudden appearance of Eli. With a smug smirk on his face, Eli chimed in, "Well, look who it is, Charlie. You must really like Kenzie here if you showed up to the tournament."

    Mackenzie frowned slowly turning to the boy, "What? Just leave us alone, Eli."

    Eli's grin widened, clearly enjoying getting under Mackenzie's skin. "What's the matter? Not happy to see me?" he teased.

    "No. Literally just minutes ago you were being a dick and hurt Robby."

"Whatever, Sensei told me to come and get you. He needs everyone back."

    Mackenzie's shoulders slumped at Eli's words. She didn't want to go back yet, not when she was enjoying the conversation with Charlie. "Fine, I'm coming," she said reluctantly. She glanced at Charlie apologetically, silently wishing she could stay a little longer.

    Seeing her reluctant expression, Charlie tried to reassure her by saying, "It's okay. We can catch up later, right?"

    Mackenzie nodded, grateful for his understanding. "Yeah, I'll find you after the tournament," she said, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

    Eli, who had been impatiently watching the two of them, interrupted again, "Can you two hurry up? We don't have all day." Charlie raised an eyebrow at Eli's impatient tone, but didn't say anything, sensing that it would only provoke the boy further.

    "All right, I'm coming," Mackenzie snapped, feeling frustrated by Eli's attitude. She gave Charlie one last look, silently wishing they could spend more time together, before she started to follow Eli back to the group.

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    The final match of the tournament had begun, "This is it folks. The moment we have been waiting for. The final match to see who will be victor and champion. Will it be Miguel Diaz from Cobra Kai karate?"

    "Or will it be Robby Keene-" A woman rushed on the mat and whispered in his ear, stopping him from finishing his sentence

    "Daniel Larusso is going to coach?" He repeated with shock then looking back at the crowd.

    "Daniel Larusso is going to coach, change of plans folks. Robby Keene is now fighting for Miyagi-Do karate. With former champion Daniel Larusso as his Sensei. How about that?" The crowd cheered louder than ever.

    She knew Mr Larusso was a quite popular figure but she didn't realise how popular he was.

    Mackenzie stood with her team with anticipation, she watched the fight unfold between Robby and Miguel, noticing Robby's injured shoulder.

    As the rounds progressed, Mackenzie noticed Daniel's coaching from the sidelines, trying to get Robby to focus. She watched as Miguel landed a few decisive blows on Robby's injured arm, causing him to hold his arm and breathe heavily.

    During a pause in the match, Mackenzie watched as Daniel kneeled in front of Robby, trying to get him to focus and stay balanced.

    As the match continued, Kenzie watched as Robby continued to use his one good arm to block Miguel's attacks. She noticed Miguel's illegal move of grabbing Robby's injured shoulder, but the ref seemingly didn't see it.

    Robby continued to fight, seemingly determined to win the match himself. He threw a few kicks and managed to score a point, tying the match at two a piece.

    During the final round, Mackenzie watched as Miguel took advantage of Robby's injured shoulder again, causing him to stumble. She saw Daniel, clearly upset by Miguel's actions, call Robby over to tell him to end the match, but Robby refused, insisting on finishing the fight himself.

"Robby come here." Daniel called him, the boy walked over holding his arm. "I'm going to tell him to end it." she watched the boys eyes went wide.

    "No, let me finish." He said. Daniel sighed. "Just.. be careful."

    Miguel walked over to Johnny. "I found his weakness Sensei. It's his shoulder." He told Johnny.

    Johnny spoke in a low voice, "Listen, I know we want to win, but it has to be the right way. We don't have to fight dirty."

    "Dirty? There's nothing dirty about winning. You taught me that. Don't worry, I got this. No mercy." Miguel frowned at the quickness of his Sensei's changed demeanour.

    Just weeks before the tournament, Sensei Lawrence had always taught them No Mercy and was now going back on his word.

    As the announcer gathered the two back, Miguel shook it off and walked back onto the mat.

    Robby attempted a leg kick, but Miguel caught him. Miguel kicked up and struck his shoulder with his raised leg. Retaining his grip on Robby's leg, he fired a stomach kick. Robby stumbled to the floor, Mackenzie's breath hitched.

    This meant Miguel had won.

    Cobra Kai had won the championship. Mackenzie and the other students ran up hugging Miguel, the crowd erupted in cheers.

    "Oh my god, you did it!" Mackenzie exclaimed with joy, jumping up and down, "You won!"

It was final. Cobra Kai was the winner of the tournament and all the hard work they had done paid off.

    "Who saw that coming? Because I sure didn't. Let me present the trophy to this year's new champion, Miguel Diaz and Cobra Kai dojo! Is there anything you want to say to the people son?" He handed Miguel the microphone, and he took it.

    Miguel spoke excitedly, "I just wanted to say that I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for my Sensei. This is for my Sensei Johnny Lawrence and Cobra Kai!"

Mackenzie couldn't help but chuckle at his announcement. As everyone kept chanting, Mackenzie couldn't help but notice that Johnny didn't seem as happy as the rest of Cobra Kai. Despite his win, he had a serious look on his face that seemed to contradict the celebrations around him.

"Sensei, aren't you happy that we won?" Kenzie asked with a small smile. Johnny's expression didn't change, his eyes fixed on Robby as the limped off with Daniel.

"Of course I'm happy we won," he replied gruffly, but it sounded almost automatic, like he was repeating the words because he was supposed to. The usual spark of pride and excitement he showed after a victory was noticeably missing.

Mackenzie observed Johnny's reaction, sensing that something was off. She knew him well enough to know that something was bothering him, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.

"Dirty? But the ref didn't say anything," Mackenzie pointed out, a confused look on her face. Johnny shook his head, his frustration evident in his voice.

"Just because it's legal doesn't make it right. I didn't teach Miguel to fight like that. I taught him honor and integrity. Winning is important, but not if you have to sacrifice your values."

Johnny was silent for a moment, his eyes shifting away from Mackenzie. He seemed reluctant to say more, but she could see the tension in his shoulders. "It's Robby," he finally said, sighing deeply.

The older man looked down at Mackenzie. "Robby... he's my son," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of regret.

Mackenzie felt her eyes widen in shock. "Your... your son?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Taking in the unexpected information.

— leila's notes !

and we have officially finished season one ✔️ i wanted to leave this chapter on kinda a cliff hanger but it will still link up to chapter twelve !!

DON'T BE A GHOST READER 👻