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The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over Devon's pristine, suburban neighborhood as Belle, Tory, and Sam walked up the neatly paved driveway toward Devon's house. The place was larger than any of them expected, with a manicured lawn, a two-story structure, and ivy creeping tastefully up the brick exterior. Tory whistled softly, taking it all in.

"Does Devon have a home dojo?" she asked, glancing around at the fancy surroundings.

"I hope so!" Belle squealed, practically bouncing with excitement.

Sam smirked, tugging her jacket closer against the cool breeze. "No idea," she admitted. "But I am wearing waterproof shoes in case Johnny throws us in a creek or quicksand."

Belle chuckled softly, shaking her head. "That's... weirdly specific."

"Not with Johnny," Sam muttered.

As they reached the door, it swung open abruptly, revealing Devon beaming with excitement. Her curly hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. "You made it!" she exclaimed, stepping aside to let them in. "We're in the basement."

The four girls made their way through the house, passing sleek furniture and family photos on the walls. Devon led the way, her enthusiasm infectious, while Belle hummed under her breath, looking around in awe.

When they reached the basement, Sam and Tory exchanged a glance before stepping inside. The room was surprisingly spacious, though a bit chaotic. The walls were lined with old posters of action movies and karate tournaments, a punching bag hung in the corner, and a couple of mismatched beanbags were scattered around.

At the center of the room, Johnny stood with his hands on his hips, radiating pride. He wore his signature Cobra Kai-style headband, though it seemed oddly out of place paired with the festive streamers hanging above him.

"Welcome to Miyagi-Do After Dark!" Johnny declared with a flourish, his grin stretching ear to ear.

Sam and Tory stopped in their tracks, exchanging confused glances.

"I don't think you should call it that," Sam said cautiously, her brow furrowing.

Johnny raised an eyebrow, looking slightly offended. "What's wrong with it?"

"It sounds... weird," Sam replied, trying to find the right words.

Johnny waved a hand dismissively. "Fine. How about Miyagi-Do Nights?"

"No," Sam said immediately, shaking her head.

"Dark Nights?" Johnny tried again, clearly determined.

Tory crossed her arms, glancing around the room with a raised brow. "Wait. Is this a slumber party?"

Before Johnny could answer, Belle clapped her hands in excitement. "Yay! I love slumber parties!"

Devon, who had been busy arranging a small tray of snacks, looked up, her expression softening. "I've never had one before," she admitted. She held up a box filled with an assortment of nail polish bottles. "I didn't know what color nail polish you guys like, so I got them all."

Sam tilted her head, her confusion giving way to a small, amused smile. Tory, however, still looked unconvinced, her eyes narrowing as she turned back to Johnny. "What is this?"

Johnny, grinning like a proud dad, spread his arms. "It's a girls' night!" he announced.

"With you?" Tory asked flatly, clearly skeptical.

Johnny nodded enthusiastically, his face lighting up. "Hell yeah! I'm a girl dad now. I brought cookies, tampons, and everything." He gestured toward a nearby table, where a plate of slightly burned cookies sat beside a pack of tampons and what appeared to be a stack of old VHS tapes.

Belle burst out laughing, clutching her sides, while Sam pinched the bridge of her nose, trying not to laugh. Tory, on the other hand, looked like she was caught between amusement and annoyance.

"Come on," Johnny urged, motioning toward a pile of sleeping bags in the corner. "Grab a sleeping bag. The Mr. T one's mine, though."

Tory gave him a long, skeptical look before turning to Sam. "Is this for real?"

Sam sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "Unfortunately, yes."

"Don't knock it till you try it!" Belle chirped, already pulling a sparkly pink sleeping bag from the pile.

Devon looked genuinely thrilled, holding up a bowl of popcorn. "We're going to do karate drills later, right?"

Johnny nodded eagerly. "Hell yeah, we are! But first, nail polish and Rocky III."

Tory groaned, rubbing her temples, while Sam gave her an apologetic shrug. Belle, however, had already settled in, excitedly sorting through the nail polish collection.

"This is going to be... interesting," Sam muttered under her breath.

Tory sighed, plopping onto one of the beanbags. "Interesting is one word for it."

Johnny clapped his hands together, clearly oblivious to their skepticism. "Alright, ladies! Let's make this the best damn slumber party ever!"

The group sat huddled in Devon's dimly lit basement, the Ouija board resting ominously in the center of the table. Lamps cast flickering shadows on the walls, giving the space a spooky, almost otherworldly feel. Devon's shelves, lined with eclectic trinkets-crystals, vintage dolls, and an assortment of jars filled with mysterious substances-added to the atmosphere.

Everyone had their fingers lightly on the planchette, their expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement. Belle, however, was visibly struggling to hold back laughter, her shoulders shaking with suppressed giggles.

Devon leaned forward, grinning wickedly. "Okay, I've got one," she said, her tone dripping with playful suspense. "Will Mitch ever win the All Valley?"

Belle winced, momentarily forgetting herself. "Probably not," she muttered, then immediately froze, her cheeks flushing. "I mean, no offense or anything, but... he's kinda weak."

Johnny, seated across from them with his arms crossed, frowned deeply. "Wait. Who the hell is Mitch?" His face twisted in genuine confusion as he looked at the teens one by one, clearly trying to figure out who they were talking about.

Tory glanced at him, her expression deadpan. "Penis Breath."

The realization hit Johnny like a truck. "Oh, him," he muttered, shaking his head. Without hesitation, he leaned forward and shoved the planchette with force, dragging everyone's fingers with it. It landed squarely on no.

"Nope," Johnny declared loudly, his arms crossing again with a sense of finality. His tone left no room for debate.

The room exploded with laughter.

Belle laughed so hard she nearly slid out of her chair, clutching her stomach. "Johnny! You can't just do that!" she said between gasps, tears forming in her eyes.

Tory, leaning back in her chair with a sly smile, shrugged. "Johnny's got a point."

Johnny, thoroughly pleased with himself, gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sorry, but facts are facts."

Belle wiped her eyes, still chuckling. "I'm pretty sure that's not how Ouija boards work."

Johnny waved her off. "Hey, I'm just speeding things up. No point wasting time pretending the answer's anything other than that."

Devon, catching her breath, straightened up. "Okay, okay. Let's move on before we accidentally summon Mitch's ghost while he's still alive."

The group dissolved into laughter again, but as it quieted down, they leaned forward once more, fingers poised on the planchette. The mood was much lighter now, thanks to Johnny's antics.

Devon glanced around, her grin returning. "Alright, who's got the next question?"

Before anyone else could answer, Johnny leaned in, his grin widening. "Does Tory want Belle to fall down a flight of stairs and break every single bone in her little body?"

Belle shot him a disapproving look before kicking his ankle sharply under the table.

"Hey!" Johnny yelped, rubbing his shin. "What? I'm just asking." He grabbed the planchette and began moving it himself, dragging it across the board. It slowly but surely spelled out: Y-E-S.

Johnny sat back, shaking his head dramatically. "Well, there it is. That's ugly."

Tory's jaw dropped, her face a mix of shock and outrage. "Johnny, what the hell?!"

Belle glared at him, her hands on her hips. "Why would you even ask that?"

Johnny raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, don't shoot the messenger! It's the board saying it, not me."

Devon groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Maybe we should just-"

Johnny interrupted, clearly on a roll. "Fine, fine. How about this? If Sam could describe Tory in one word, what would it be?" He grinned mischievously as he began moving the planchette again.

Belle crossed her arms. "Why are we even letting him ask questions? This was supposed to be a fun girls' night!"

Johnny shot her a defiant look. "Because I'm your Sensei and a girl dad now," he said, puffing out his chest proudly.

Belle rolled her eyes, glancing at Devon, who couldn't help but chuckle at Johnny's over-the-top antics.

Meanwhile, Johnny dragged the planchette with exaggerated slowness, spelling out: B... I... T...

"Johnny, don't," Sam warned, her tone sharp.

"...C... H...," he finished loudly, sitting back with a triumphant look. "See? It could've been-"

"Bitching," Tory cut in, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she yanked her hands off the board. "Real classy, Johnny."

Sam stood abruptly, her face a mix of hurt and frustration. "You're unbelievable," she muttered, walking away from the table.

Tory followed, shaking her head. "I'm done with this."

Johnny looked after them, confused. "What? It could've said 'bitching!' Like, cool, badass, you know?"

Belle shook her head, sighing as she stood up as well. "Johnny, maybe stick to teaching karate. Ouija boards clearly aren't your thing."

Johnny frowned, looking at Devon for backup.

Devon smirked, patting him on the shoulder as she grabbed the board. "Okay, Sensei. Time to retire from the supernatural."

The living room buzzed with faint giggles and the upbeat soundtrack of TikTok videos as Belle, Sam, and Tory sat cross-legged on the plush couch. Sam held her phone up, scrolling through a series of trending clips. Every so often, a particularly ridiculous one would make them burst into laughter. Tory nearly choked on her soda when a video of a clumsy dog slipping on ice came up, while Belle clutched her sides at a perfectly-timed lip-sync fail.

Amid the laughter, Tory's phone chimed, its notification cutting through the cozy ambiance. She leaned over to check, her expression shifting from relaxed to puzzled.

Sam craned her neck, curiosity piqued. "What is it?"

"It's a text from Miguel," Tory said, squinting at the screen as she read aloud. "'Hola, mamacita. How about you drop the zero and get with the hero?'"

The words hung in the air like a grenade waiting to go off. Belle's laughter evaporated, her chest tightening as her mind raced. Why is Miguel texting Tory? Belle thought, her heart pounding uncomfortably. The fact that Miguel and Tory used to date didn't make it any easier to swallow. She tried to tell herself it was a joke, but jealousy crept in like a shadow.

Before she could react, Belle's own phone lit up with an incoming call. She glanced at the screen: Robby.

"Why is Robby calling you?" Tory asked, her tone tinged with suspicion.

Belle shrugged stiffly, forcing nonchalance. "I don't know..." she muttered, her voice trailing off as she declined the call.

Then, Sam's phone buzzed. Her brow furrowed as she unlocked it and read the message aloud: "'Hola, Samantha. Wanna take me for a ride?'"

The three girls exchanged incredulous looks, piecing the situation together in an instant. Their suspicion quickly turned to certainty as they realized exactly who was behind this: Johnny Lawrence.

Without a word, the trio stormed toward the kitchen, where Johnny was attempting to look inconspicuous. His body stiffened as he saw their expressions, quickly shoving two phones-clearly Miguel's and Robby's-behind his back.

"Johnny," Sam said sternly, her arms crossed. "What's behind your back?"

Johnny feigned ignorance, his eyes darting between them. "Uh, my hands. Nothing. Just my hands."

Tory wasn't buying it for a second. She pulled out her phone and began typing. Within seconds, Miguel's phone vibrated audibly in Johnny's grasp.

Johnny panicked. "Uh, Devon! Your phone's ringing!" he said, doubling down on the obvious lie as he gripped Miguel's phone tighter.

Sam gave him a deadpan glare and held up her own phone. Just then, Robby's phone started ringing for real, confirming the girls' suspicions.

Johnny threw his hands up defensively. "Wow, multiple lines!" he said, as if that would somehow explain everything.

Tory narrowed her eyes, exasperated. "You're catfishing us."

Johnny blinked, genuinely confused. "I don't know what that is, but catfish is gross."

Sam groaned, running a hand through her hair. "You've been messing with us all night, and now you're trying to get us to fight again."

Devon, who had been watching sheepishly from the corner, finally spoke up. "We just... wanted to help you get your edge back. So things could go back to the way they used to be."

Belle glared at Devon, her voice tight. "Tonight was supposed to be fun. But it hasn't been."

Tory folded her arms, glaring at both Johnny and Devon. "You think things were better when we hated each other?"

Johnny jumped in, trying to smooth things over. "Not hated, exactly. Just, like, strong dislike! The kind that keeps things spicy, you know?" He gestured vaguely. "Frenemies. A little competition never hurt anyone."

Sam rolled her eyes, clearly done with his antics. "I thought you were Miyagi-Do now?"

Johnny pointed around the room defensively. "I am Miyagi-Do! Look at this! We're indoors, with pillows and chocolates and air conditioning. Very Miyagi-Do." He paused, searching for the right words. "I just want you to hate each other... in a friendly way. Like fun, productive hating!"

Sam groaned in frustration. "I'm calling an Uber."

"Same," Tory said, already grabbing her bag.

Belle stood, shaking her head in disappointment. "I'll go with one of you. This is ridiculous."

As the three girls walked off to collect their things, Johnny stood frozen, watching them leave. He scratched the back of his head, bewildered. "I can't believe that didn't work."

Devon, still sitting awkwardly in the corner, sighed. "You really suck at this."

The night air carried a faint chill as Sam, Tory, and Belle waited by the curb, their phones glowing in their hands. The faint hum of passing cars and the occasional bark of a dog filled the silence between them. Despite their earlier laughter over TikToks, the atmosphere now felt charged and uneasy, each of them hyperaware of the tension that had resurfaced.

Sam glanced down at her phone, the light casting a soft glow over her face. "Belle and I's Uber is five minutes away," she announced, breaking the stillness.

"Yeah, mine too," Tory replied, her voice neutral but her posture stiff. She shifted on her feet, folding her arms as if bracing herself for something more.

Belle stood between them, acutely aware of how awkward things felt. She cleared her throat, hoping to break the ice. "My driver has a 4.99 rating," Sam said suddenly, holding up her phone. "That's gotta be double Sensei Lawrence's rating, right?"

Belle smirked at the joke. "And three times his rating for hosting a slumber party."

Tory allowed herself a faint laugh, the corner of her mouth twitching up for a split second. "Yeah, no argument there," she muttered. But just as quickly as the levity came, it faded, replaced once more by the thick, unspoken weight hanging between them.

For a moment, no one spoke. The tension seemed to grow heavier with each passing second. Finally, Sam sighed, her arms crossing tightly over her chest. "I still can't believe he stole their phones," she muttered, shaking her head.

"For real," Belle agreed with a soft laugh. "Like, did he really think we'd fall for that?"

Tory shifted her weight, her gaze fixed on the pavement. "I don't know," she said, her tone sharper now. "It's not like Sam's never tried to steal my boyfriend before."

The comment landed like a slap, cutting through the fragile camaraderie. Belle's eyebrows shot up, and she bit her lip, unsure of how to respond.

Sam's face hardened, though a flicker of guilt crossed her features. "I was drinking," she said defensively, her voice low. "And regardless, I know that was a huge mistake." She hesitated, then added softly, "But that was over a year ago."

Tory snorted, folding her arms across her chest. "Oh, so what? That makes it okay?"

Belle, standing awkwardly between them, shifted her weight and glared at Sam. "It doesn't," she said, her voice edged with frustration. "You knew Tory was dating Miguel."

Sam tilted her head, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. "The shit Tory pulled after that wasn't okay either!"

Belle frowned, the memories rushing back-Tory slashing Sam's arm with her spike bracelet, and worse, the accident that had left Belle with broken ribs during the school fight.

"Oh, here we go," Tory said, rolling her eyes. "Little Miss Perfect LaRusso, back at it again."

Sam's patience snapped. "You attacked Belle and me at school!" she shot back, her voice rising.

Belle nodded, stepping in. "You broke my ribs, Tory! All I did was try to defend Sam in that fight, and you-"

"And Sam attacked me at prom!" Tory interrupted, her voice climbing to match Sam's.

"You broke into my house!" Sam countered.

"And you stole my mom's necklace off me!" Belle chimed in, her eyes flashing with anger as she stared directly at Tory.

Tory threw her hands in the air, exasperated. "I gave it back, didn't I?"

"Only after putting Sam and me in the hospital!" Belle yelled, her voice trembling with emotion.

Tory looked genuinely hurt now, her voice cracking. "I tried to make things right, and then Sam attacked me again!"

Sam shook her head fiercely. "No, you started this whole thing!"

Tory stepped forward, her voice firm and her expression resolute. "Did I? Because the first time we ever met, you accused me of stealing your mom's wallet. Belle defended me, but you got pissed and pushed her into the pool. And even after you found out it wasn't me, you never apologized! I was the new kid, with no friends, and the first time I connected with someone, you just had to come in and ruin it."

Her words hung in the air like a challenge, the silence deafening as Belle and Sam both froze, the weight of Tory's truth crashing over them.

"You're right," they said in unison, their voices barely audible.

Sam's face softened, guilt flashing in her eyes. She took a deep breath, her tone quieter now. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice steady but filled with remorse. "I was jealous and distrustful. I made a really shitty call, and I should have apologized a long time ago."

She turned to Belle, her voice breaking slightly. "And I'm sorry to you too. For pushing you into the pool. For yelling at you during the school fight when you defended me. And..." She hesitated, swallowing hard. "For you catching Miguel and me at Miyagi-Do."

Belle blinked in shock, her mouth opening slightly as if to say something, but no words came out.

Tory's shoulders slumped, her walls finally coming down. She let out a shaky breath, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry too. Things went way too far. And if I'm being honest, it was my fault. I can't believe what I did to your arm, Sam, and to your ribs, Belle. I was so angry, and I let it get the best of me."

Sam glanced at the faint scar on her arm, the edges barely visible now. "It's not that bad anymore," she said softly. "It's pretty much faded. Kind of like this... thing between us. Right?" She offered a tentative smile.

Belle, struggling to hold back a grin, nodded in agreement.

Tory sniffled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "I really am sorry," she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Me too," Sam said, her smile growing a little steadier.

"Me three," Belle added, her tone soft but sincere.

Without hesitation, Sam and Belle exchanged a look, then stepped forward and pulled Tory into a tight hug. Tory stiffened for a moment, as though unsure of what to do, but then she melted into the embrace, her own arms wrapping around them.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the air between them felt lighter. The grudges, the pain, and the betrayals seemed to fade, leaving only the shared understanding of how far they'd come-and how far they could go together.

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Miyagi-Do courtyard as Belle sprinted through the gate, her sneakers skidding slightly on the smooth stone. She cursed under her breath for being late, her heart pounding as she pushed the double doors open and rushed into the dojo. The buzz of excited chatter hit her ears just as Eli's voice carried over the noise.

"The announcement just came out!" Eli said, his excitement practically vibrating through the room.

Belle caught her breath, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her face as she joined the crowd of her teammates huddled around Eli. His phone was propped up on a small stand, the screen glowing with the paused frame of an official-looking video.

"Sorry I'm late," Belle muttered, squeezing in between Miguel and Demetri.

"No worries, you're just in time," Miguel said with a grin, giving her a light nudge.

Eli pressed play, and the video began. The sleek intro featured the Sekai Taikai logo spinning dramatically before cutting to the familiar face of the host, Gunther, who stood before an impressive backdrop of world flags.

"Congratulations on your admission to the Sekai Taikai," Gunther began, his voice smooth and confident. "We're excited to finally announce the host city for this year's competition. Martial arts has always had a rich history in the East, and the Sekai Taikai has held many tournaments throughout Asia. But in recent years, European teams have shaken up the competitive landscape, bringing a whole new style to the event. Within that region, there's one nation that has continued to stand tall amongst the pack for its growth and dominance in both junior and senior competitions. It gives me great pleasure to announce this year's Sekai Taikai will be held in Barcelona, Spain."

The room erupted with gasps and exclamations. "Spain?!" Chris blurted out, his eyes wide.

"No way!" Demetri said, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

Belle couldn't help but grin as Miguel turned to her, his eyes sparkling with excitement. They exchanged a high-five, their laughter mingling with the buzz of the group.

"Barcelona," Miguel said, shaking his head in disbelief. "This is insane."

The video continued, and the mood shifted slightly as Gunther's tone grew more serious.

"As you prepare for your journey, we'll also present the rules of registration. We intend to test your dojo's quality, not quantity, and each dojo must select seven fighters to compete," Gunther explained.

Belle's smile faltered. She glanced around at the others, noticing the same uneasy expressions mirrored on their faces. "Wait, seven?" she asked aloud, her voice tinged with disbelief.

Gunther's image nodded on the screen as though answering her directly. "Yes, seven fighters. These seven fighters will participate in team events, with one boy and one girl serving as captains to enter into individual competitions, which will be televised around the world. We wish a hearty bona sort to all competitors, and we look forward to seeing you in Barcelona."

The video faded to black, leaving the room in a stunned silence. The initial excitement gave way to a palpable tension. Everyone looked at each other, the weight of the announcement sinking in.

Belle turned to Miguel, her brows knitting together in concern. "Miguel..." she began, her voice soft but worried.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as if searching for the right words. Finally, he placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It means..." he said carefully, "we don't all get to go."

Belle's heart sank. She looked around the room at her teammates, her friends, the people she'd trained alongside day after day. The realization hit hard-this wasn't just about the honor of competing; it was about who would make the cut.

"What do we do now?" Demetri asked, breaking the silence.

Miguel shook his head slowly. "We fight for our spots. And we make sure whoever goes represents Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang the best we can."

Belle nodded, but the knot in her stomach remained. The journey to Barcelona had just become a lot more complicated.

ASH SPEAKS!

JUST 2 MORE CHAPTERS UNTIL AXEL IS INTRODUCED!!!

sam, tory and belle lore!! i wanna make a prequel so badly nowww!!! it will be after im finished with this fic for sure (after part 3)

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)