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Belle hummed softly to herself as she carefully combed through Eli's Mohawk, her gloved hands coated with the vibrant blue dye. The familiar sight of the color made her heart warm. It reminded her of earlier days when things were simpler—when the battles weren't so messy and the lines between right and wrong weren't so blurred.

"There," she declared with a grin, stepping back to admire her work. "Hawk is officially back!"

Eli tilted his head, examining himself in the mirror. The blue shimmered under the apartment's warm lighting, a striking contrast to the natural brown that had replaced it for so long. He smirked, running a hand through the stiffened strands. "Not bad, Wu. Not bad at all."

"Not bad?" Belle huffed in mock offense, hands on her hips. "You look amazing. Admit it—you missed the blue just as much as I did."

Eli gave her a small grin but didn't argue. The blue had always been part of his identity, and in a way, it felt good to bring it back. Before either could say more, the simultaneous buzz of their phones interrupted the moment.

Belle grabbed hers from the counter, glancing at the screen. The notification was from their group chat, a message from Sam standing out in bold letters:

"Meet at Belle and Miguel's apartment courtyard ASAP."

Belle raised an eyebrow and turned her phone to show Eli. "Looks like something's going down."

Eli leaned in, squinting at the screen. "Huh. Think it's another Miyagi-Do team meeting? Or is this Sam unleashing some LaRusso-level drama?"

Belle shrugged, tossing her gloves in the trash and washing her hands quickly. "Guess we'll find out. Come on."

The two made their way outside, Belle still buzzing from their impromptu hair session. The familiar sound of voices carried through the courtyard as they approached the apartment's front door. Sure enough, Miguel, Robby, and Demetri were already there, huddled near the entrance.

Miguel, leaning casually against the wall, straightened the moment he spotted them. "Did you guys get the text too?" he asked.

"Yep!" Belle responded with her usual cheery tone, giving him a small wave. Her heart fluttered slightly at the sight of him, as it always did, though she pushed the feeling down. Now wasn't the time to get distracted.

"So, uh, what's the emergency? Why'd you have me bring all my gear?" Demetri asked, adjusting the straps of the backpack he was carrying. His expression was more curious than concerned, though the weight of whatever was happening hadn't quite set in.

Miguel shrugged, his gaze shifting briefly to Robby before returning to the group. "You know as much as we do. Sam told us to meet here."

At the mention of Sam, Belle's stomach twisted into a familiar knot. Sam had given her the green light to ask Miguel out, but Belle couldn't help but feel awkward every time Sam's name came up. It wasn't that she didn't like Sam—far from it. They were friends. But there was a tension she couldn't quite shake, and it only seemed to grow the more time passed.

Before she could dwell on it, the sound of footsteps approaching drew her attention. She turned her head, her eyes widening at the sight of two figures walking toward them. Belle's breath caught in her throat. It wasn't just Sam—it was Tory. And they were walking together.

"Holy moly," Belle whispered, unable to hide her shock. She blinked rapidly, as if trying to make sure what she was seeing was real. Her body instinctively leaned closer to Eli. "Am I dreaming?" she muttered under her breath.

Eli smirked, clearly amused by her reaction. Without warning, he raised a hand and gave her arm a firm pinch.

"Yowch!" Belle yelped, glaring at him and rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"

"Not dreaming," Eli said with a smug grin.

The rest of the group turned their heads toward the approaching duo, their reactions mirroring Belle's. Wide eyes, open mouths—no one had expected this. Miguel looked especially stunned, his gaze flickering between Sam and Tory as if trying to process what he was seeing.

"Tory?" Belle finally managed to say, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Tory hesitated, her usual confidence faltering under the weight of their stares. She glanced down at her hand, which was wrapped in a bloodied bandage, before looking back up.

"What happened to your hand?" Robby asked, his voice tinged with concern as he stepped forward slightly.

Tory hesitated again, her expression a mix of embarrassment and discomfort. "Uh, training accident. I'm okay," she lied quickly, brushing it off.

Sam cleared her throat, stepping forward to draw attention away from Tory's injury. Her expression was serious, her tone firm. "We think we have a way to prove Silver assaulted Stingray," she announced, cutting straight to the point.

The courtyard fell silent as the weight of her words sank in. All eyes turned to Sam and Tory, the shock of their unlikely partnership momentarily forgotten in the face of the revelation.

"If the attack happened at the old dojo, Silver installed security cameras," Tory explained, nodding toward Belle. "That's how they caught Belle vandalizing the dojo."

Belle shifted uncomfortably at the reminder, her cheeks flushing slightly. It wasn't something she was proud of, but at the time, she'd felt justified. After all, Cobra Kai had ruined prom for her and so many others. She had wanted to make a statement, and she had. But hearing it brought up still-raw memories.

"But that place was cleaned out," Robby pointed out, his brows furrowing.

"That might not matter," Demetri said quickly, his voice rising with excitement. He straightened up, his usual tech-savvy enthusiasm kicking in. "The systems that we sell at TechTown all save the footage to a central server. Silver probably took the whole system."

Tory's eyes lit up with a flicker of hope, and she nodded. "I think he did. There's a server in his office at the flagship dojo."

"If we access it, we can find that footage," Eli chimed in, his tone determined. "We could post that Stingray clip to their YouTube channel. Let everyone see the truth."

Demetri nodded furiously, his hands gesturing animatedly as he added, "Exactly! It would blow up, no way Silver could talk his way out of it."

Sam stepped forward, her expression hardening as her voice took on a commanding edge. "Get ahold of everyone else. Let them know that we're taking down Cobra Kai tonight."

The group exchanged glances, their initial surprise giving way to a collective determination. One by one, they nodded, smirks and resolute expressions spreading across their faces. It was time. Cobra Kai's reign was about to end.

The seven of them walked silently toward the looming Cobra Kai dojo, the moonlight glinting off the darkened windows. The streets were eerily quiet, amplifying the sound of their footsteps on the pavement. As they reached the steps leading up to the front doors, Robby, who was leading the group, turned on his heel to face everyone else. His expression was calm, but there was a spark of determination in his eyes.

"If it's the same alarm system, I should be able to bypass it," Robby said confidently, his voice low to avoid drawing any unwanted attention.

Demetri chuckled, his amusement breaking the tension slightly. "Spoken like a man that's done this before," he joked, raising an eyebrow.

Robby smirked, shrugging nonchalantly. "Karate wasn't my first hobby," he admitted. "I fractured a law or two before we met."

Tory, who had been standing silently beside Belle, rolled her eyes and pulled a key card out of her pocket, holding it up for everyone to see. "Or," she said with a hint of sarcasm, "we could just scan my key card. You know, so those of us on probation don't, oh, I don't know, violate it." Her gaze flicked to Robby, a teasing but pointed look in her eyes.

"You guys are still on probation?" Belle whispered, leaning closer to Tory, her curiosity evident.

Before Tory could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps and voices broke through the quiet. The rest of the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang students were hurrying toward them, their faces a mix of determination and nervous energy.

"Sorry we're late," Chris said, slightly out of breath. He glanced at Mitch beside him and glared. "Someone took forever to get ready."

The group turned their attention to Mitch, who looked thoroughly unimpressed with the sudden scrutiny. He shoved his hands into his pockets defensively, rolling his eyes. "It's the middle of the night," he muttered.

Belle squinted at him, unimpressed by the excuse. "It's just barely midnight," she countered, her tone light but laced with playful irritation.

Nate, who had been quietly observing the group, suddenly froze when his eyes landed on Tory standing beside Belle. His expression quickly turned to one of shock, and he elbowed Bert, who was standing beside him.

"What is she doing here?" Bert blurted, his voice a mix of confusion and suspicion.

Belle rolled her eyes at the younger boy's reaction, stepping forward slightly and sticking her arm out protectively in front of Tory. "It's fine," she said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument. "She's with us."

Bert frowned, but Belle ignored him, turning back to Tory with a reassuring smile. Tory, to Belle's relief, smiled back, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. Belle felt a warmth in her chest—it felt good to have Tory on their side.

"So, what are we doing?" Bert asked, his confusion still evident. He held up his phone, pointing to the vague text from Sam. "All your text says is that we're gonna take down Cobra Kai. But how exactly?"

Belle turned to Bert, her lips curling into a mischievous smirk. She shrugged casually, but her eyes gleamed with excitement. "Gonna show them who their sensei really is. We might have proof he's a criminal."

"We're going upstairs to Silver's office," Eli cut in, his voice firm. "We need you guys to stay downstairs as lookouts. Make sure no one gets the jump on us."

The younger students nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and nervousness. There was a weight to Eli's words that underscored the importance of their roles, and none of them wanted to let the group down.

Tory stepped forward and scanned her key card, the small beep and click of the lock echoing in the stillness. With a soft creak, the doors of Cobra Kai opened, revealing the dark, empty dojo beyond. The group exchanged brief glances, a silent agreement passing between them. This was it—there was no turning back now.

Without hesitation, Tory, Belle, Demetri, Eli, Robby, Miguel, and Sam slipped inside, their footsteps quiet against the polished floor. The rest of the group remained near the entrance, their eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. The air inside felt heavy, charged with anticipation as the seven headed toward the stairs leading to Silver's office.

The mission had begun.

Eli leaned over the keyboard, his fingers dancing across the keys as the screen filled with lines of code and surveillance logs. "Pulling the clip off the server is first-day-of-computer-camp shit," he said with a smirk, his confidence unshakable. Beside him, Demetri settled into the chair at the desk, muttering something under his breath as he focused on the screen.

Robby, Sam, Miguel, Tory, and Belle stood behind them, watching intently as the duo worked. "Got it?" Eli asked Demetri without looking up.

Belle tilted her head, her face scrunched in confusion. "What are you even doing?" she whispered, leaning closer to try and make sense of the chaotic mess of files and numbers on the screen.

Demetri ignored her, knowing she didn't really want a deep dive into the technical details. Instead, he glanced at Eli and gave him a sharp nod. "Yeah."

With a few more keystrokes, the surveillance logs popped up on the screen, revealing a page full of dates, timestamps, and camera feeds. Demetri sat back for a moment, triumphant. "We're in."

Eli leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk as he scrolled through the logs. "We upload the clip to the YouTube channel, and Cobra Kai is out of business," he declared. Turning his head slightly, he glanced at the others standing behind him. "Anybody know what day we're looking for?"

Belle stepped forward, leaning down so her mouth was close to Eli's ear as she placed a hand on his shoulder for balance. "Stingray's assault happened the morning after prom," she said confidently.

Eli nodded quickly. "Got it," he replied, his fingers flying over the keyboard again as he and Demetri began their search.

Behind them, Tory let out a relieved laugh, her voice breaking the tension. "I can't believe it's happening. We're really gonna take Silver down," she said, almost to herself.

Belle turned to Tory and smiled at her friend, feeling a swell of pride. Her grin only grew when she caught Robby sneaking a glance at Tory. Belle could practically see the hearts in his eyes. She resisted the urge to tease him, but a warm feeling spread through her chest—she loved seeing them happy, especially knowing she had a hand in bringing them together.

"Yeah. What could go wrong?" Robby joked with a light laugh, though there was an edge of unease in his tone.

Before anyone could respond, Eli's voice rang out. "I got it!" he exclaimed. Everyone leaned in closer as the screen displayed a grainy video feed.

They watched as Silver appeared on the screen, clearly intoxicated, his movements unsteady. His voice slurred as he sneered at Stingray. "You wanna be Cobra Kai. Oh. So you wanna be Cobra Kai, huh?" Silver laughed, swaying slightly as he turned as if preparing to throw a punch.

But just as the tension in the video reached its peak, the screen froze.

"Sh—Shit," Demetri stammered, frantically shaking the computer as if that would make it work again. A new window popped up over the surveillance footage in glaring red letters: ERROR: FILE DELETED. The footage disappeared entirely.

Belle placed her hand on Demetri's shoulder and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing at the screen. "What happened?" she asked, her voice sharp with urgency.

Demetri threw his hands up in exasperation, gesturing at the now-blank screen. "That's all there is! The rest of it's been erased," he practically shrieked.

"Silver covered his tracks," Tory muttered, her voice heavy with frustration.

Belle frowned deeply, her jaw clenching as she turned to Robby, who avoided her gaze. "Okay, so—so what now?" Robby stammered, his voice uncertain as he finally risked a glance at Belle.

Belle's glare was icy as she leaned closer to him. "I'm gonna kill you," she whispered matter-of-factly, her tone dripping with irritation.

Tory interjected, her mind racing. "There might be other footage we can use," she suggested.

Eli sighed, swiveling his chair to face her. "You wouldn't happen to know the date and time, would you?" he asked, his tone skeptical but hopeful.

Tory quickly rattled off the details of another event, and Demetri and Eli turned back to the computer, their fingers moving in sync. Belle crossed her arms and stood silently, still glaring at Robby, who wisely avoided provoking her further.

"I think I got it!" Demetri yelled after a tense few moments. He pointed at the screen, his voice rising with excitement. "Is this the clip?"

Tory leaned down, studying the footage closely. When she recognized the moment she was looking for, she nodded eagerly. "Yeah, that's the one," she confirmed.

Before anyone could celebrate, a voice echoed up the stairs, sharp and angry. "What are you doing here?"

The group froze, a chill running down Belle's spine. They whipped their heads toward the staircase, where Kyler's unmistakable voice carried through the dojo.

Miguel's jaw tightened as he glanced at Eli and Demetri. "We'll check it out. Stay here. We need that footage," he said firmly.

Eli and Demetri nodded without hesitation, turning their attention back to the computer as the rest of the group moved toward the stairs. The tension in the air was palpable, and Belle's heart raced as Miguel reached for her hand. She blinked in surprise at the unexpected gesture, but the warmth of his hand in hers gave her a small sense of reassurance as they prepared to face whatever—or whoever—was waiting below.

As Devon's accusatory voice rang out, "So you're with them now?" Tory stood firm, staring back at the Cobra Kai students with a mixture of defiance and resolve. Just as Devon spoke, Belle and Miguel made their way down the stairs, joining the scene unfolding in the main room where Cobra Kai faced off against Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang.

Belle pushed through the crowd, her determined presence positioning her between Miguel and Robby at the forefront of the group. Arms crossed, she locked her eyes on Devon, eyebrows raised in challenge.

"You're one to talk," Belle shot back sharply, her voice cutting through the tension. Devon faltered under Belle's unwavering gaze, her initial confidence giving way as she looked down at the floor. Belle turned her attention to Miguel, her brows furrowed in confusion. Leaning toward him slightly, she whispered, "How'd they know we were here?"

Miguel shook his head, just as baffled. "I don't know," he whispered back, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Kyler smirking at them.

Kyler took a step forward, his smirk growing wider as he called out, "Mitch, come on, get your ass over here where you belong."

The room collectively froze, all eyes turning toward Mitch. Belle immediately spun around to face him, disbelief flashing across her face. A wave of murmurs rippled through the group as Mitch stepped forward.

"Mitch..." Belle's voice was barely above a whisper, her tone laced with shock and disappointment. But Mitch didn't look at her, didn't even acknowledge her presence. He pushed past her without hesitation, heading straight for Kyler and Kenny.

"Penis Breath, how could you?" Nate's voice broke through the hushed murmurs, his words tinged with betrayal. Belle narrowed her eyes at Mitch, her expression hardening.

"I never liked you, Penis Breath," she muttered bitterly, crossing her arms again.

Mitch scoffed, finally turning to address them. "I don't know, maybe 'cause they don't call me Penis Breath," he snapped. His voice grew louder, frustration pouring out as he gestured toward Cobra Kai. "You guys have been so dead set on taking down Cobra Kai. I didn't even wanna leave in the first place."

He motioned to his new team, a wide grin spreading across his face. "I mean, look around. They got snacks, swag, smoothies. Our dojo doesn't even have a roof. Or like... any single chicks."

"All right, Penis Breath, shut up," Kyler interrupted, sticking his arm out to stop Mitch from saying more. Mitch's smile faltered, but Kyler ignored him, turning his attention to Belle. His gaze lingered on her as he tilted his head.

"We got a traitor, y'all got a traitor, so that cancels out. Are we gonna throw down or what?" Kyler challenged, his tone dripping with arrogance.

"I'm not a traitor!" Tory snapped, stepping forward and pointing to herself. Her voice was firm, her resolve unwavering. "I'm just not buying what Silver is selling. And neither should any of you."

Robby nodded in agreement, stepping closer to Tory, though his eyes stayed locked on Kenny. "Silver lied. To all of us," he said, his voice steady but tinged with regret.

Kenny chuckled darkly, shaking his head as he stepped forward. "Us?" he repeated, his tone mocking. His steps brought him closer to Robby. "What us? Only person who lied to me is you." His voice grew more threatening as he spoke, his anger palpable.

Before Kenny could get too close, Belle moved swiftly, stepping directly in front of Robby. Her presence was commanding, and her glare cut through Kenny's confidence like a blade.

"Back the hell up," Belle warned, her voice low and dangerous, meant only for Kenny to hear.

The younger boy's bravado wavered, his eyes widening as he took an instinctive step back. Miguel, standing nearby, smirked at Belle's effortless intimidation.

Kenny's retreat was short-lived, though, as Kyler caught his eye and gave him a subtle nod, silently urging him to press on. Kenny straightened his posture, his determination hardening as he turned back to Belle.

"Yeah, I do," Kenny said, his voice steady despite the earlier hesitation.

Belle's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but it didn't take long for her expression to shift into a look of sheer determination.

He threw a punch at Belle, but Belle grabbed onto the boy's fist, blocking it. She wasn't really thinking about how Kenny was younger than her and probably not as strong as her. All she knew was that this kid was attacking her, so she tightened her grip on his hand and lifted her leg, kicking him in the chest.

Kenny stumbled back into Kyler, and all hell broke loose, Cobra Kai running at the Miyagi-Fangs.

Mitch ran at Belle, which caught the girl off guard. She had always tried her hardest to be nice to the boy; she rarely called him Penis Breath.

Belle blocked every punch the boy tried to send her way. She found a way to grab onto the boy's fist and took a step towards him. Belle used her other arm to press it against the boy's shoulder, trapping him.

Belle spun the boy around, and once his back was to her, she kicked him. Mitch stumbled right toward Miguel, who was a couple of feet away. Miguel swung his fist back before bringing it forward, punching Mitch straight in the face.

"You just don't know when to quit, do you?" Belle muttered, but Kyler heard her. He smirked, a small chuckle leaving his lips as he tilted his head in a taunting manner. "Nah,"

Belle felt her stomach churn in anger. She shot up off the ground, and almost immediately, Kyler attempted to punch her. Belle caught the boy by his wrist and lifted her knee, hitting him in the gut.

While Kyler doubled over in pain, a voice screamed from behind her. "Miguel, we got it!" Demetri yelled.

Belle dropped to the floor and swept Kyler's feet out from under him, sending him to the ground so she had time to turn to the stairwell. She watched Demetri and Eli run down the stairs, and just as they reached ground level, Kyler and a couple of Cobra Kais came up behind them from the top of the stairs and pushed the two of them to the ground.

The iPad flew out of Eli's hands and slid across the floor. Being the closest to it, Anthony LaRusso ran to it and grabbed it. When Kenny noticed the LaRusso's hold on the iPad, he pointed at him, making almost every Cobra Kai kid look his way.

"Get him!" Kenny yelled, and as Cobra Kai started to circle Anthony LaRusso, Belle's eyes widened.

"Protect the egg!" Belle screamed. Her team immediately started following what she said.

The dojo fell eerily silent the moment the television flickered to life. All eyes turned toward the screen mounted in the corner of the room. Belle's heart pounded as she looked up, her attention drawn to the footage playing before them. On the screen, Tory Nichols stepped forward, her voice steady as she addressed Terry Silver.

"I need to talk to you," Tory said, her words cutting through the tension like a blade.

Belle took a small step back, moving away from Kyler and edging closer to her teammates for a better view. Her pulse quickened as she heard Silver's sinister chuckle echo from the speakers, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine. Even though he was just on a screen, his presence felt oppressive.

"Nichols," Silver said, his tone dripping with condescension. "What's on your mind? Excited to take things to the next level?"

Tory shrugged, her expression unreadable. "What's the point? You'll just pay to make me champion again."

The weight of Tory's words sank into the room like a stone, and Belle accidentally backed into someone behind her. Startled, she spun around, her breath catching in her throat—until she saw Miguel.

"Sorry," she murmured, her voice barely audible over the dialogue on the screen.

Miguel smiled softly, his arm gently wrapping around her waist in a reassuring gesture. Belle leaned into his touch, her nerves slightly eased as they turned back to the TV.

Silver's amused expression shifted at Tory's accusation. He straightened, his tone unflinching. "So you know about the ref," he stated plainly.

Tory's silence spoke volumes.

Silver smirked. "Have you told anyone else?"

"So you don't deny it?" Tory countered.

Silver's response was instant and unapologetic. "Not at all. I paid him off to make sure Cobra Kai won. It was an insurance policy. You still won the fight. You think that Wu girl was gonna win against you?"

Belle's jaw clenched at the audacity of his words. As much as she cared for Tory, anyone who had seen that fight knew the truth—Tory shouldn't have won. Even now, on screen, Tory nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I do."

Before Belle could fully process the weight of what she had just seen, the screen abruptly went dark. A collective breath seemed to release from the group, though Belle's was tinged with relief and disbelief. The whispers she'd heard over the past few days about the rigged tournament had finally been confirmed. She had resisted believing them until now, but this was irrefutable proof.

A small, almost involuntary smile tugged at her lips, and she raised her hand to cover it.

"That's it?"

The voice, sharp and venomous, cut through the air like a whip.

Belle's smile vanished as her head snapped in the direction of the sound. It wasn't coming from the television. Terry Silver's voice echoed from the room itself.

Her blood ran cold as she turned to see him standing there. His normally pristine appearance was disheveled—his shirt untucked, his hair falling messily from its usual ponytail, loose strands framing his face. The wildness in his eyes was unnerving.

Silver laughed, a hollow, malevolent sound that sent shivers down the spines of everyone in the room. He addressed Daniel LaRusso with mocking disdain. "That was your big plan, LaRusso? Breaking into my dojo to steal some footage that changes nothing?"

Robby and Tory stepped forward before Daniel could respond.

"It wasn't his plan," Tory announced, her voice strong and unwavering.

Silver turned to face her, his eyes narrowing as his face fell into a mask of surprise.

"It was ours," Robby said, his voice equally resolute. "And it changes everything."

Silver stared at them, his expression unreadable for a long moment before his gaze shifted to the gathered students.

"Our enemies..." he began, his voice growing louder and more intense, "think they can keep attacking us with no repercussions." He stepped forward, and the Cobra Kai students parted, giving him space as he strode into the middle of the room.

"And what does the enemy deserve?" he demanded.

The room remained silent. None of the students responded with the mantra Silver expected to hear—No mercy.

Belle had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh, though the tension in the air made her chest feel tight.

Silver's expression darkened at the lack of response. "You think I'm the only one willing to go to these lengths?" he challenged, his voice rising. He pointed accusingly at the Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang students. "Their senseis broke into my home tonight."

He gestured wildly, his voice reaching a fever pitch. "My home!" he roared, the sound reverberating off the walls. Several students flinched at the sheer force of his anger.

"But here I am," Silver continued, a sinister smirk returning to his face. "The only one left standing."

His gaze shifted, locking onto Belle for a brief moment. The smirk widened.

Belle's breath hitched as she turned to Robby, whose expression mirrored her fear.

Silver addressed his students again, his voice dripping with venom. "They think they're entitled to victory because their way is right and our way is wrong. But that's not how the world works. There are no morals to the story, no happy endings. Life isn't a fairy tale. It's a competitive sport."

He glanced at Kyler, still groaning on the ground, and smirked. "I mean... look what their prized possession did to Mr. Park."

Silver's words sent a ripple of unease through the Cobra Kai crowd.

He shook his head slowly, his voice growing softer but no less menacing. "Right and wrong—there's no such thing. There are only winners... and losers. Cobra Kai builds winners because we're willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top."

His attention turned back to Daniel. "Everything you did to try and stop me amounted to nothing but pain. You got your ass kicked, Danny-boy. Now, you can either accept that... or I can kick it again right now."

Amanda stepped forward, her voice steady and filled with resolve. "We're all with you, Daniel. Do what you have to do."

Daniel nodded, stepping forward to face Silver.

Silver grinned, rolling up his sleeves. The students instinctively moved aside, creating a wide circle for the impending fight.

"First, I took care of Chozen. Now you. This is where Miyagi-Do ends," Silver declared, beginning to circle Daniel.

But Daniel's reply was calm and firm. "Miyagi-Do existed before any of us. It'll be around long after we're gone. The roots are strong, so the tree will survive."

The fight began, with Silver attempting to land blow after blow, only for Daniel to block or dodge every attack. The room erupted into gasps and cheers as Daniel's skill and precision outmatched Silver's aggression.

When Silver grabbed a trophy, intending to use it as a weapon, Daniel executed the crane kick with perfect form, sending Silver crashing into the glass Cobra Kai logo.

The shattered remnants of the dojo's symbol mirrored the end of Cobra Kai itself. The Cobra Kai students, one by one, discarded their gear and threw it at Silver's feet, turning their backs on him.

It was finally over. Cobra Kai was finished.

The harsh sound of sirens and flashing red and blue lights lit up the entire Cobra Kai dojo parking lot. The chaos of the night had settled into a surreal calm now that the police had arrived. Officers were speaking with witnesses, and paramedics were checking over those injured in the fight. Belle sat on the edge of an ambulance, her legs hanging over the side, swaying slightly with the movement of the cool evening breeze. Her body was sore, but she was more worried about the emotional aftermath. It had been a long, stressful night, but the adrenaline had started to wear off, leaving her with a dull, throbbing pain in her head.

An EMT stood beside her, pressing a cold compress against her temple, trying to ease the sharp ache. "Just keep pressure on it," the paramedic advised, his voice calm. "You took quite the hit, but you should be alright."

Eli and Demetri were sitting on the ground nearby, their eyes never leaving her for long, checking in on her every few minutes. They were visibly concerned, but Belle tried to smile at them, even though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You sure you're good, Belle?" Eli asked for what felt like the tenth time, his voice strained with worry. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes scanning her carefully for any signs of pain.

"I'm fine," Belle responded quietly, offering him a small nod. Her hand absently touched the bandage on her side, though it wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. "Just a little banged up."

Demetri let out a soft exhale and then glanced toward the parking lot, where the scene was unfolding. Several Cobra Kai students had been arrested, including Kyler, who was now being loaded into an ambulance, his face pale and contorted in pain. He wasn't saying anything, which felt like a small victory to Belle. Her eyes narrowed slightly, watching the EMTs work quickly to stabilize him. She couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. After everything Kyler had put her through—everything he'd tried to do to her and to Sam—he was finally getting a taste of his own medicine. Belle had made sure of that.

"Good riddance," Eli muttered under his breath, his face hard. "I hope he stays down for a while."

Belle didn't respond. She just nodded quietly, still unable to shake the feeling of the anger that had built up inside her over the past few months. The confrontation with Kyler had been inevitable, but now that it was over, a small part of her felt hollow, like a weight had been lifted, but also like there was still so much more to deal with.

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice, soft and warm, cutting through the quiet noise around them.

"Hey there, Bee."

Belle's heart skipped a beat. She turned her head to see Miguel walking toward her, his face a mix of concern and tenderness. His eyes immediately found hers, and despite the chaos, there was an undeniable warmth in his gaze. She felt a small flutter in her chest, though it wasn't because of the fight that had just happened. It was because of him.

"Hi, Mig," Belle said softly, offering him a smile that felt like a breath of fresh air in the otherwise tense atmosphere.

Eli and Demetri, sensing the moment, exchanged a look and then stood up, quietly moving away to give them some space. Demetri patted Miguel's shoulder as he passed. "You got this," he said before walking off with Eli.

Miguel climbed into the ambulance beside Belle, standing for a moment before sitting down next to her. The two were silent for a few seconds, their eyes locked, as if neither knew where to start. Finally, Miguel broke the silence, his voice soft but filled with genuine concern.

"So," he started slowly, his hand hovering near hers, but not quite touching yet. "How are you holding up? After... you know, after Kyler?"

Belle sighed, rubbing her face with one hand before answering. "I don't like violence, Miguel. I never have." Her voice was low, almost reflective. "But there's only so much you can take before you have to stand up for yourself, you know? Kyler deserved what he got." Her eyes drifted to the scene in the parking lot, her thoughts trailing back to the movie theater, to that night that had haunted her for so long. "He assaulted me back in the theater, and then he tried to do the same with Sam a few months later. I couldn't just sit there and let him hurt anyone else."

Miguel's face darkened as she spoke, his expression hardening at the mention of Kyler's past actions. He clenched his fists in his lap, clearly disturbed by the thought of what Kyler had done. "I would never do that to you, Belle," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "Not ever."

Belle met his gaze, her heart stirring at the sincerity in his eyes. She smiled slightly, a mixture of relief and gratitude washing over her. "I know," she said softly. "I trust you, Miguel."

Miguel shifted closer, his knee brushing hers as he leaned in a little. "You know," he began, his voice almost shy. "I've liked you for a while, since the first day of school, actually."

Belle blinked, a little taken aback by his confession. "Really?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "But... what about Sam? I mean, you obviously liked her too."

Miguel chuckled, but it wasn't his usual playful laugh. There was an edge of vulnerability to it. "Yeah, I did. But that was because I thought you and Eli were a thing. I didn't want to step on anyone's toes."

Belle blinked again, laughing softly at the thought. "You thought me and Eli? Oh my god, no! We've been friends forever, Miguel. Nothing like that."

Miguel's face lit up at that, his posture relaxing as if a weight had been lifted. "Well, that's a relief." He leaned in a little closer, his eyes lingering on hers. "I'm glad you feel the same way."

Belle's smile grew, her heart racing faster as the intensity between them seemed to build. Without thinking, she leaned in, closing the gap between them until their lips met. The kiss was soft at first, tentative, as if they were both testing the waters. But as it deepened, Belle's body relaxed into the moment, feeling a wave of emotion she hadn't expected—joy, relief, and something else she couldn't quite name.

When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, both of them breathing slightly heavier than usual. Belle smiled, her cheeks flushed. "I like you too, Miguel," she whispered, her voice full of quiet certainty.

Miguel grinned, a wide, genuine smile that lit up his face. "I'm glad you do," he said softly, his fingers brushing against hers.

Belle laughed, the sound light and carefree for the first time all night. "You know, you probably already knew that."

Miguel shrugged, still smiling. "I guess, but it's always nice to hear it."

They both leaned back, their hands gently intertwined, content to stay in the moment for as long as they could. And in that fleeting moment, amidst the wreckage of the fight, the chaos of the night, and the broken remnants of Cobra Kai, Belle felt something she hadn't felt in a long time: peace.

ASH SPEAKS!

i hope you guys are excited for this fic as much as i am :)

if you guys want a prologue book of belle wu in s1-6 let me know!!

im super excited to write belle. axel IS endgame! they just wont officially get together until s6 part 3:)

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