PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!!!
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PLEASE STOP BEING FREAKIN A GHOST READER!!! PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE!!!!! stop being ghost readers!!!! its really annoying!!!

the reason i keep unpublishing and republishing is chapters is because when i see views go up and votes aren't... its really annoying. cause its not hard to vote and show support on fanfics.

can you guys please stop being ghost reader and just freaking vote please. this is so annoying

THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SEE VIEWS GO UP BUT NOT VOTES. its annoying for us writers. so please just vote and comment!! its not that hard!!!!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! i dont how many times i have to say this. i am so sorry for the notifications but this is really annoying to see views go up when the votes aren't. PLEASE JUST FREAKIN VOTE!!!

The arena buzzed with restless energy, the crowd murmuring as they waited for the next fight to begin. Belle sat in the stands, surrounded by spectators, but her focus was elsewhere. She scanned the competitors gathered near the mats, her sharp eyes searching for a familiar face.

Miguel was there, standing with the team, his expression serious as he watched the matches. But someone was missing.

Tory.

Belle frowned, sitting up straighter. Tory was supposed to be here. She had trained relentlessly for this, fought tooth and nail to prove herself. There was no way she would just disappear.

Her unease deepened when Gunther strode onto the mat, microphone in hand. His voice boomed through the arena, demanding attention.

"Tory Nichols, report to the mat immediately."

Silence. No movement.

Belle's stomach twisted. Where is she?

Gunther's brow furrowed slightly, but he didn't lose his authoritative composure. "Tory Nichols, this is your final call. If you do not report to the mat in thirty seconds, you will forfeit your match."

The tension in the crowd thickened. Belle's pulse pounded in her ears. Something's wrong.

Without another thought, she pushed herself up from her seat and slipped through the rows of spectators, making her way toward the competitors' area. She ignored the questioning glances thrown her way as she rushed past coaches, fighters, and tournament officials. She had to find Tory.

The locker room was dim, the fluorescent lights overhead flickering slightly. It was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the roaring crowd just beyond the walls.

And there, sitting on a bench, was Tory.

But something was off.

She wasn't wearing her gi.

Belle slowed to a stop, confusion twisting in her chest. "Tory?"

Tory looked up, her expression unreadable. But there was something in her eyes-something raw, something distant.

"What's going on?" Belle stepped closer, her voice careful. "Gunther just called your name. You're supposed to be out there."

Tory inhaled sharply, then exhaled as if trying to steady herself. Then, she stood up and faced Belle fully.

"You're going out to fight for me."

Belle froze. "What?"

Tory's gaze was unwavering. "I'm not fighting. You are."

Belle's heart slammed against her ribs. "That doesn't make any sense. This is your fight. Your spot. You earned this."

Tory crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "No. You deserve this more than I do."

Belle shook her head, taking a step back. "I-Tory, I don't even know if I want this."

Tory let out a sharp breath, her voice softer now, but no less firm. "Come on, Belle. You've been training just as hard as anyone else. You belong out there."

Belle hesitated, uncertainty gripping her. She hadn't prepared for this. She hadn't planned for this. But there was something about the way Tory was looking at her-like she believed in her, like she needed her to do this.

Belle swallowed hard, her pulse pounding.

Then, after a moment, she exhaled slowly.

"Okay."

Belle stepped onto the mat, her heart hammering in her chest. The black and yellow gi felt stiff, unfamiliar, like she was wearing someone else's skin. The Cobra Kai emblem sat on her back like a weight, but she squared her shoulders and kept her head high. There was no turning back now.

The crowd's reaction was a mixture of confusion and intrigue, murmurs spreading through the arena like wildfire. She could feel the eyes of the entire stadium on her, but none of them burned quite as much as the ones belonging to Miguel and Johnny.

Miguel took a step forward, his expression riddled with disbelief. "Belle?"

She tightened her belt, exhaling sharply. "Tory's not fighting," she explained, keeping her voice even. "I'm taking her place."

Miguel blinked, his gaze flickering between her gi and her face as if trying to process what she had just said. "You're serious?"

Johnny scoffed beside him, arms crossed. "And Nichols just handed this over to you? Didn't take you for the type to take handouts, Wu."

Belle turned to face him, meeting his sharp gaze with one of her own. "She thinks I deserve it more," she said simply.

Johnny studied her for a beat before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle. "Well, shit. Guess I shouldn't be surprised."

Before anyone else could say another word, Gunther's voice boomed across the arena.

"We have a change in competitors," he announced, and the murmurs in the crowd grew louder. "Taking the place of Tory Nichols in this match will be Isabelle Wu of Cobra Kai!"

A collective gasp rippled through the audience. Even on the other side of the mat, Belle caught glimpses of shock-coaches whispering to each other, fighters looking between one another in disbelief.

But the reaction she felt the most was the one from Axel.

Her stomach twisted when she spotted him in the crowd, his expression unreadable as he stared at her. His arms were crossed, his jaw clenched, but he wasn't saying anything. Not calling out to her, not shaking his head, just watching.

She didn't know if that was better or worse.

But before she could dwell on it, a slow, taunting clap echoed from across the mat.

Belle turned just as Zara Malik approached, her smirk dripping with amusement.

"Well, well, well," Zara drawled, tilting her head. "Look who decided to play dress-up." She let her eyes drag down Belle's gi before meeting her gaze again. "Didn't take you long to turn your back on your team, huh?"

Belle didn't flinch. "I didn't turn my back on anyone."

Zara let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, sweetie. That's exactly what you did."

Belle said nothing, keeping her stance firm.

Zara took another step closer, lowering her voice so only Belle could hear. "You really think this is your moment? That you actually belong here?"

Belle clenched her fists, but she didn't take the bait.

Zara's smirk deepened as she leaned in just a little more. "You might be able to fool them, but you can't fool me." She hummed, letting the words linger before delivering the final blow. "Axel's just gonna break your heart, you know that, right?"

Belle's breath hitched, but she refused to let it show.

Zara grinned, sensing the hit. "He's just like every other guy. He's gonna get bored, get tired of you, and move on to someone else."

Belle's grip on her belt tightened.

"You should thank me," Zara continued, voice dripping with faux sympathy. "I'm just preparing you for the inevitable."

Belle inhaled sharply, steadying herself.

She wouldn't let Zara see her crack.

Instead, she met her gaze with quiet, unwavering determination.

"We'll see about that," Belle said evenly.

For the first time, Zara's smirk wavered. Just a little.

Gunther stepped between them, signaling for them to take their positions.

"This match will follow standard tournament rules," he announced. "Competitors, bow to each other."

Zara gave a mocking bow, eyes never leaving Belle's. Belle, however, remained still, her stance firm, refusing to entertain the gesture.

Gunther didn't press it. He simply raised his hand.

Belle inhaled sharply, centering herself as she walked back onto the mat. The roar of the crowd was deafening, but she tuned it out, focusing only on the girl standing across from her. Zara was still smirking, standing loose and relaxed, exuding the same arrogant confidence that had been pissing Belle off since the moment she first stepped onto the mat.

Gunther lifted his hand between them. "Fighters, ready?"

Belle nodded, her muscles coiled and tense. Zara's smirk widened.

"Begin!"

Zara was quick-quicker than Belle expected. She lunged forward with a feint, baiting Belle into blocking high before shifting into a low sweep. Belle barely managed to hop back, but Zara was already moving again, closing the gap. A sharp front kick connected with Belle's ribs, forcing her to stumble backward.

The crowd erupted.

Belle gritted her teeth, her hands shaking as she readjusted her stance. Stay on defense. Use your training. Don't let her in your head.

But Zara was relentless. She pressed forward, throwing a series of quick jabs and kicks that kept Belle moving backward. Every time Belle tried to counter, Zara was already a step ahead, slipping away effortlessly.

"You're hesitating," Zara taunted, dodging a punch with a flick of her head. "I thought you were supposed to be better than this."

Belle clenched her jaw.

Axel's going to break your heart, just like everyone else.

The words played in her head again, tightening her chest. She swung forward with a high kick, but it was sloppy-Zara easily dodged and punished her with a brutal spinning back kick to the shoulder. Belle hit the mat hard, her breath leaving her in a sharp gasp.

The audience roared again, chanting Zara's name.

Belle forced herself back up, but her limbs felt sluggish, her mind fogged with doubt. Zara was right there, waiting for her, looking completely unbothered.

"You're not even here, are you?" Zara mocked.

Belle's fingers curled into fists.

"Time out!" she called abruptly.

Gunther stepped forward, nodding. "Time out granted. Thirty seconds."

Belle quickly turned on her heel, striding toward the sidelines where Johnny and Miguel were waiting.

Miguel was already watching her with concern, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "Belle, what's going on?"

Belle exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "She's in my head," she admitted, her voice tight.

Johnny scoffed. "Well, no shit. That's the game." He stepped closer, jabbing a finger toward her. "Right now, you're fighting her fight. She's setting the pace, keeping you on defense. That's why you're losing."

Miguel nodded. "You're letting her dictate every move. She's reading you like a book."

Belle swallowed, looking away.

Johnny's voice lowered. "You gotta flip the script."

Belle blinked at him.

Johnny leaned in. "You wanna win this? You stop reacting, and start attacking."

Miguel took a step closer, his voice softer but just as firm. "Zara thrives on control. The second you take that away from her, she crumbles."

Belle inhaled deeply, her heartbeat slowing. Take back control. Set the pace. Fight your fight.

Johnny smirked. "And one more thing-she loves to show off. You see her go airborne? That's your moment." He pointed at her chest. "You make her pay for it."

Miguel met her gaze. "You can do this, Belle."

Something in Belle shifted.

She squared her shoulders, nodding.

Gunther called out, "Time's up! Fighters, back on the mat!"

Belle turned, stepping onto the mat with newfound determination.

This time, she was in control.

Belle exhaled slowly as she stepped back onto the mat. This time, her stance was different-stronger, more solid. Zara still had that cocky smirk on her face, but Belle could see the slightest flicker of uncertainty behind her eyes.

Gunther raised his hand. "Fight!"

Zara moved first, exactly as Belle expected. She threw a quick jab, trying to push Belle back, but Belle didn't budge. Instead, she sidestepped effortlessly, letting Zara's fist slice through the air.

Belle saw her opening. She faked left, then spun into a hard roundhouse kick aimed at Zara's ribs. The impact was solid, sending Zara stumbling to the side. The crowd gasped, their cheers shifting.

Belle didn't let up. She advanced, her strikes coming faster, sharper. Zara was no longer in control-Belle had taken it from her. She combined Miyagi-Do's fluid counters, Eagle Fang's aggression, and Cobra Kai's ruthlessness, striking with precision and power.

Zara tried to regain the upper hand, pivoting into a high kick, but Belle caught her leg mid-air.

Johnny's words echoed in her head. When she's airborne, she's vulnerable. Make her pay for it.

Belle yanked Zara's leg forward and twisted, sending her crashing to the mat. The crowd roared, but Belle didn't stop. She stepped forward and, with a final, brutal spinning heel kick, struck Zara across the jaw.

Zara's head snapped back as she crumpled onto the mat, her body going limp. The ref rushed in, kneeling beside her as the entire arena seemed to hold its breath.

A second later, Gunther raised his hand. "Winner by knockout-Isabelle Wu!"

The arena exploded in cheers.

Belle stood there, chest rising and falling as she stared down at Zara. Blood dripped from Zara's mouth, and as her head lolled to the side, Belle caught sight of a few teeth scattered on the mat.

Belle smirked. "Welcome to the Valley, bitch."

The crowd lost it.

Before she could even step off the mat, her team was rushing toward her. Sam, Demetri, Miguel, and Hawk were cheering, but it was Robby who reached her first. Despite his crutches, he pulled her into a tight embrace, burying his face into her shoulder.

"You did it," he murmured against her ear.

Belle pulled back, breathless. "I did it."

The female world champion.

She had won.

ASH SPEAKS!!!

sorry that i keep splitting the chapters up for episode 14! next chapter will be miguels fight:)

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

PLEASE STOP BEING FREAKIN A GHOST READER!!! PLEASE VOTE! PLEASE!!!!! stop being ghost readers!!!! its really annoying!!!

the reason i keep unpublishing and republishing is chapters is because when i see views go up and votes aren't... its really annoying. cause its not hard to vote and show support on fanfics.

can you guys please stop being ghost reader and just freaking vote please. this is so annoying

THIS IS VERY ANNOYING TO SEE VIEWS GO UP BUT NOT VOTES. its annoying for us writers. so please just vote and comment!! its not that hard!!!!!!

STOP BEING A GHOST READER!!
im so sorry for all the notifications but please stop being a ghost reader!!!! i dont how many times i have to say this. i am so sorry for the notifications but this is really annoying to see views go up when the votes aren't. PLEASE JUST FREAKIN VOTE!!!