Chapter 8 — Sprouting Nerves

It was the day before the match.

I had to get my medical check-up and do an interview for the fight.

I felt ready.

Two months of training with Dani, Rosie, and Sunny had pushed me harder than ever.

I wasn’t a master of kicks yet—but was definitely more capable now.

It was still early at the Spirited Grove when I left for my checkup at the Petal Dome. As I headed out, I passed Coconut doing his usual early rounds through the neighborhood.

He meowed as he passed me, tail flicking lazily. I kept walking, already thinking about what I was supposed to say at the interview. It would be my first one—and I had no idea how I was supposed to sound.

By the time I reached the Petal Dome—which was starting to feel almost familiar—I headed for the medical wing. I checked in, went through the usual routine tests, and then waited alone in the exam room.

Then the door opened, and a tall woman stepped inside—a calm, steady presence.

Her deep-brown skin contrasted softly with the white-yellow of her eyes, and her bald head shone under the exam room lights. Faint Floral tattoos curled along her neck before disappearing beneath her light-green and white medical uniform.

“Hello,” she said with a professional nod. “My name is Daisy. I’m Pan’s assistant.”

“So, your tests all look good. Was there anything bothering you, Ms. Ironwood?” Daisy asked.

“Nope, I’m all good to go,” I replied.

“Alright. If anything comes up, let us know right away, okay?” Daisy said.

“Will do.”

She gave a small nod, then a warm smile.

“You’re good to go.”

“And hey—don’t stress too much about the interview. First ones are always a little nerve-racking.”

As I headed toward the interview, a display screen outside the recording booth caught my eye. It was streaming the current session—and there she was.

Mary. My opponent.

I suddenly felt like I was seeing my opponent for real—not a name, not a record, but the person I’d be standing across from.

She looked so professional up there, answering every question with calm confidence. I couldn’t help but watch.

“For our last question, how do you think tomorrow’s match will go, Mary?” the interviewer asked.

Mary smiled politely, posture perfect.

“I expect it to be a great match, and I hope you all get a chance to watch it,” she said.

“Thank you to all my fans for your support. I plan to bring my best, like always.”

Even through the screen, she looked ready.

Focused. Sharp.

Everything I needed to be.

As the interview wrapped up, I waited just outside the booth. A second later, Mary stepped out—calm, composed, and completely ready.

In that moment, our eyes locked. No words—just two fighters already thinking about what would happen when we faced each other again.

“You’re Lilith Ironwood, right?” Mary asked.

“Yes, that’s me.”

We didn’t look away.

“Let’s put on a good show tomorrow,” Mary said—steady, composed, completely focused.

Her tone wasn’t cocky or dismissive—it was respectful. Confident.

And it made my heart beat a little faster.

“Don’t worry. I’ll show you what I’m made of.”

Mary gave me a nod, and I returned it—an unspoken agreement between fighters to give the match everything we had.

As Mary left, I stepped into the interview room.

A man with a friendly smile looked up from his tablet.

“Hello, Lilith Ironwood. I’m Lupin Hart—I’ll be interviewing you today,” he said.

“Nice to meet you, Lupin, and, uh… just Lily is fine,” I said.

“Lily it is,” he said with an easy grin, tapping something on his tablet.

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

“Okay, I’m ready,” I said.

“Great. Then we’ll get started,” Lupin replied, tapping his tablet. “We’re about to be live.”

A flutter of nerves tightened in my chest.

“Hello! This is Lupin from the Floral Combat League, here to interview one of our fighters with a match coming up tomorrow—Lilith Ironwood,” he said.

I smiled and gave a small wave to the camera.

“Okay, Lily—since you prefer that,” Lupin said with an easy smile, “the first question the League, the fans, and honestly, all of us want to know is this: as an Ironwood, are you really related to the world-famous Cliff Ironwood? With so many well-known names in the League—Crowne, Bloomfield, Briar, and more—everyone’s curious.”

I nodded. “I am. I’m his granddaughter—the current legacy of the Ironwood name.”

“Then you’ll definitely be a fighter to watch out for,” Lupin said with a nod. “Now, for the next question—what brought you to the League? That’s another big one the fans have been curious about.”

“I’ve come to prove myself as a fighter,” I replied, “and to help my family’s gym, the Iron Garden.”

“Very interesting,” Lupin said, smiling. “I’m looking forward to seeing how you fight.”

The interview went on as he asked me general questions, and I answered them as best I could until he reached the final one.

“Thank you for your time, Lily,” Lupin said. “This will be our last question for today. How do you feel tomorrow’s match will go?”

“I expect it to be like any other match,” I replied. “We’ll both bring our best.”

“A humble answer,” Lupin said with a small grin. “And that will conclude our interview. Hopefully all of you watching will tune in for tomorrow’s match—trust me, it won’t be one to miss.”

“It’s finally over,” Lupin said with a light chuckle. “And thank you again, Lily. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of fans—and curious spectators—interested in you and tomorrow’s match now.”

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Thank goodness,” I said. “And… great. Now I’m even more nervous.”

“There are always some nerves,” Lupin said. “But once you start, they’ll vanish.”

“I hope so,” I replied, heading out the door.

Before heading back to the Spirited Grove, I stopped by the training area and worked the heavy bag for a bit—light jabs, soft crosses—just enough to steady my nerves and clear my thoughts.

I kept asking myself the same questions over and over… but in the end, I had to trust my training.

Trust my coach.

And trust myself as a fighter.

I thought back to everything from the last month—the hard spars with Rosie and Sunny, the endless drills Dani pushed me through, the spar with Venus… and the promise I made to myself afterward to come back stronger.

With my nerves steadied again, I headed back toward the Spirited Grove to see everyone.

As I walked in, they all looked up immediately—obviously waiting to talk about the interview.

“Good job, Lily,” Rosie said with a proud smile.

“So professional,” Sunny teased.

“Now the whole League knows who you are,” Dani added with a smirk.

I felt a little flustered, my face warming with embarrassment.

“Thanks, guys,” I said, rubbing the back of my neck.

We all shared a small chuckle.

“Ready for tomorrow, Lily?” Dani asked.

“Of course she is,” Sunny said confidently. “With all the training we’ve done, she’s more than ready.”

“I’m sure she is,” Rosie added with a smile.

“Yeah… just been a little nervous today,” I admitted.

“That’s normal,” Dani said. “All fighters get a bit nervous—especially when it’s their debut match.”

“You’re gonna win, Lily. I know it,” Sunny said with her usual confidence.

Rosie nodded. “We all get nervous sometimes. Even I still do before a fight.”

“I know… and thank you, all of you,” I said. “I’m stronger because everything we’ve done, and I’m going to show it tomorrow."

“That’s the heart I want to see,” Dani said with a nod. “And I’ve got a strategy ready for tomorrow’s match.”

“What is it, Coach?” I asked.

“Here’s what you’re going to do in tomorrow’s match,” Dani said.

He walked us through the plan step by step, and the more he explained, the more impressed we were. Rosie, Sunny, and I listened closely—but honestly, we expected nothing less from our coach.

We talked for a little more after, going over the plan and sharing a few last laughs before finally calling it a night. All any of us could do was rest and get ready for tomorrow.

Before bed I stepped outside the Spirited Grove and called Pops.

The phone rang once—twice—then clicked on.

“Hello, Lily,” Pops said.

“Hi, Pops. I just... wanted to call about tomorrow. It’s my first match.”

“Okay,” he said gently. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, Pops. I’m ready.”

“That’s my girl,” he replied. “Show them what Ironwoods are made of.”

“I will, Pops.”

“Oh—Sunny told me Jack will be there tomorrow to help set up a stream so you two can watch.”

“He will,” Pops said, the relief in his sigh mixing with excitement. “Good. I want to see what you’ve learned out there. Been a while since I’ve watched a match.”

“I’ll make it a match worth watching,” I said.

“I know you will. Now get some rest—you’ll need it for tomorrow.”

“You’re right, Pops. Fighters need their rest. You taught me that.”

“I love you, Lily.”

“Love you too Pops.”

“Bye, kiddo.”

“Bye,” I said softly, ending the call before heading back inside to sleep.

And just like that, the next day arrived.

We were at the Petal Dome early, fully prepared for the match. As we walked inside, Dani explained that the official matches were held in the main arena—deep in the heart of the Dome—where the cameras, fans, and spectators packed in to watch every bout.

Rosie led me toward the locker rooms by the main arena, with Sunny walking beside us.

I changed into my personal gear—the one I’d been waiting to use in an actual match.

The top was a lightweight Petal-Tech weave, black with a faint silver shimmer when the light hit it. The sides and lower back were exposed so I could move freely. Thin Petal-Tech lines were embedded along the fabric almost invisible unless you looked closely—tiny sensors ready to track impact and movement.

My shorts matched the top: black, flexible, just above the knee with silver trim along the edge. My foot guards struck a balance between protection and mobility, matte red with reinforced padding across the bridge of each foot.

Then I wrapped my hands—the same way Pops taught me years ago—before sliding on my gloves. Nothing fancy, just clean red with Iron Garden’s black logo printed on the back.

Dani let me choose the colors myself—black with silver accents, simple but sharp.

Simple. Practical. Mine.

For the first time, I was wearing it not for practice—but to step into an official match.

“Looking sharp,” Sunny said with a thumbs-up.

“Like a real fighter,” Rosie added with a warm smile.

With a quick pump of my fist, I said, “Let’s go.”

We left the locker room together, heading down the hall to meet Dani before entering the main arena.

As we met up with Dani, I could already hear the announcer’s voice and the roar of the crowd echoing through the hallway.

“Gear looks good, Lily. Are you ready?” Dani asked, giving me a confident look.

“I am, Coach,” I said.

“Good,” Dani replied. “You’re here to show them what you’re made of today. Stick to the plan… and show them you deserve to be here.”

We started walking toward the main stage while Sunny split off towards the stands. She turned back once more, cupping her hands around her mouth.

“Go win this, Lily!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

As we neared the arena entrance, the sounds grew louder and louder—the announcer’s voice, the pounding music, the roar of the crowd all blending together.

With every step, it felt like I was entering a new world.

The light hit me first—a flash of white and gold as the arena opened up before me.

Then came the sound.

The roar of thousands of voices rolled over me at once, a wave of energy that vibrated in my chest.

I stepped forward, out of the tunnel and into the arena lights, feeling the warmth on my skin and the force of the crowd around me.

For a moment, everything felt bigger—louder—more real than anything I’d ever experienced.

This was it.

This was the Floral Combat League.

And I was standing at the center of it.

As we took it all in for a moment, we began our descent down the steps toward the arena floor.

“Hello, ladies and gentlemen!” the voice boomed through the dome. “Welcome to the Floral Combat League! I am your announcer today, Peter Sterling!”

The crowd erupted with cheers.

“We’ve got an incredible lineup of matches ahead—and our next bout is one you definitely won’t want to miss!”

As I settled into my corner, I glanced across the arena. Mary was in her corner, adjusting her mouthguard and rolling out her shoulders—dressed in her gold gear with silver trim, maroon gloves snug around her hands, all of it gleaming under the arena lights.

As Mary and I finished getting ready and the referee took his place between us, everything settled into position.

“Looks like we’re about ready to start the match of the day!” Peter announced, his voice booming through the arena.

I glanced back at Dani one more time before walking out. He gave me a confident nod—steady, reassuring.

I stepped forward toward the center of the arena, and Mary did the same.

Our eyes locked once more.

“Today’s match will be Lilith Ironwood from Thornfield—granddaughter of the legendary Cliff Ironwood—versus Mary Goldington from Thorn Haven, The Marigold Showstopper!” Peter announced.

The crowd exploded with cheers.

We met in the center of the arena, the referee stepping between us. He gave each of us a quick look, checking our stance, our gloves, our focus.

“Are you both ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” we answered in unison.

He nodded. “Touch gloves, then take your positions.”

Mary and I stepped forward and bumped our gloves together. The touch was brief, firm—charged with all the tension of what was about to come.

In just a moment, we’d be facing each other for real.

Mary and I settled into our positions. I tightened my stance, my heartbeat steadying as I drew in a deep breath.

For a moment, everything felt still—the lights, the crowd, the world.

Then the horn ripped through the arena.

The match had begun.