SVTFOE: Gender Bend AU

The Karate Prince

45 days until I go mad.

Marcie and I walk down the street towards Marcie's dojo as the sun shines down on us, and the air is fresh and warm.

"You really don't have to walk with me," Marcie smiles, "I mean, wouldn't you rather be hanging out with Tiffany or Johnson?"

"I've been doing that since I came back from... the place," I smile, "I wanna hang out with you for a bit. Besides, this karate thing sounds fun."

"It's about discipline Comet," Marcie explains, "that and pratice."

"Yeah yeah," I shrug, "still kinda worried about Henious. Heard he's building a new school. Chances are he's coming for me."

"You're much to paranoid," Marcie chuckles, "besides, we can take his goons."

"Yeah yeah. Come on, its just around this corner right?"

We turn the corner, only to be greeted by two of Henious's goons emerging from a portal. Marcie and I excange a look, and I grab my wand as Marcie wraps her belt around her waist.

One of them lunges at me. I blast the goon with a basic blast, but he keeps moving and tackles me, knocking the wand out of my hand. The goon opens a portal to who knows where and grabs me by the legs. I am unable to escape the goon's grasp, which is tight as a machine's.

"Marcie!" I call out to her, desperate to avoid the fire. She turns around, and flips the other goon over her head, slaming it into the one who's carrying me to the portal. The goon drops me and is sent flying. They get up and flee.

My hands shake and my knees feel weak.

"Calm down," Marcie puts her hand on my shoulder, "they're gone now."

"They almost took me back," my voice shakes, "back to the fire."

"You OK?" Marcie asks as my cheeks glow green.

I pick up my wand, and I look at my reflection in the star at the top. I need to defend myself without magic. If this happens again, and Marcie isn't here...

"Can I learn karate?" I ask.

"Why?" Marcie gets a confused expression, "you have your wand."

"I know," I sigh, "but I need to be able to fight without it. If I drop my wand in a fight..."

"Alright," Marcie smiles, "I'll introduce you to Sensei. Come on."

We enter enter the dojo. A woman in a black karate outfit with a black belt greets us.

"Ah," she smiles, "Marcie! My top student! How are you?"

"I'm good," Marcie smiles, "but I need a favor. This is my friend Comet. He wants to learn self defense."

"Ah," Sensei approaches me, "always happy to welcome a new student. How much do you already know?"

"I hunted for survival in my youth," I explain, "go ahead. Show me what you got, and we'll work from there."

"You sure kid?" Sensei asks, "I mean, I am a black belt."

"Could you just do it?"

"Suit yourself."

Sensei attacks with an open palmed strike. My instincts kick in as I recall the time I had to face a bear for some fish I caught. Without mercy or hesitation, I grab Sensei's arm, and stop her attack. I don't stop there. I also go for an open palm on her elbow. However, Sensei catches my wrist with her other arm and smiles.

"Not bad kid," she looks at me with a grin, "not bad at all. You have potential, but you act rashly. You strike first, and strike hard. That can leave you open to attack."

"Told you," Marcie explains, "this is hard stuff. Maybe you should-"

"However," Sensei extends her palm, silencing Marcie, "the promise you show if you can overcome your aggression is immense. Let us start with the basics Comet."

"OK," I shrug.

"What about my red belt test?" Marcie interjects.

"Later," Sensei smiles, "come on Comet, let's begin."

Sensei proceeds to teach me many things. She teaches me about footing, momentum, using my foe's strength against me. I use my knowledge from fighting wild animals to skip the basics, and breeze through the requirements to earn up to a green belt that I wear as a bandana, just for fun.

"There," Marcie sighs, "he's green belt. He's caught up, now can we please-"

"Well," Sensei sighs, "I can only give out one red belt right now, and it seems like a fair test to me so, you two fight it out. Best of three hits."

Marcie glares at me, "listen good Comet. I've been at this dojo for a year, and I only have my green belt. I'm not missing this chance to move forward. Do you understand?"

"Hey," I shrug, "I don't make the rules, and if I learned one thing from my childhood, it's that might makes right. So, if you have the might-"

Marcie hits me with a roundhouse kick without warning. There is an intense rage in her eyes as I call to the ground.

"So that's how it is," I glare.

"One point Diaz!" Sensei yells.

I get to my feet glaring at Marcie. "What in the world is your problem?" I demand.

"It doesn't matter," Marcie glares, "cause I'm going to win."

Marcie leaps at me with a downward kick. I grab her leg and slam her down from mid air.

"Point Comet!" Sensei yells.

Marcie gets back up, her expression one of pure wrath.

"What's wrong with you?" I ask, "are you OK? Was I to rough? It was all instincts, I swear."

"You don't get it," she gets up in my face, "do you? I've been trying to get my red belt for six months, and then you come in and get it in a day!?! I've been stuck on green for to long! It's not fair how you waltz in and walk all over me!"

"Not fair?" I glare, "I'll tell you what's not fair. Spending a year of my life fending for myself in the wild, teaching myself to kill with my bare hands! If you think I'm just talented and are jealous, don't be. This is just years of experience. I had to find my own food Marcie."

The look on Marcie's face softens, "Comet I-"

"It's fine," I smile, "I just needed the confidence boost. Look, we're here, and we can both fight well. Let's just shake hands, forgive eachother, and let this end with a fair fight."

I extend my arm. Marcie takes it. We shake hands, but she doesn't let go for a moment. I find my hearts glowing pink again.

"You can let go now," I explain.

"Right," Marcie blushes, "sorry."

We turn to each other, the tension gone. This is no longer a fight for a title, but a friendly spar between two best buds.

Marcie opens with a chop, which I side step. I proceed with a sweeping kick, that she jumps over before going in for a leaping punch. I roll backwards out of the way. She lands, leaving herself seemingly open. I take the opportunity to lunge with an open palmed strike. I notice her smirking and realize it's a trap as she grabs my wrist and flips me over. I lose.

Marcie looks at me, with a smile. We both start laughing, realizing how ridiculous our argument was as she helps me up. Sensei hands her the red belt that she wraps around her waist with a smile.

"Well," she smiles, "we should go. Mom and dad are gonna wonder where we are."

We leave the dojo, waving to Sensei. We begin to head home, playfully throwing punches and kicks that we stop short, laughing as we enjoy the welcoming Earth sun. I smile at Marcie, who smiles back. For some reason...

I find my cheeks faintly glowing pink again...