Chapter 14 — Lily vs Catalina

It was the night before the fight.

I sat outside the Spirited Grove with Coconut, just back from another day of him roaming the neighborhood.

Catalina’s strong.

I’ve grown—but it might take everything I have just to beat her.

Maybe even just to stand against her.

Coconut meowed and bumped his head against me, soft and familiar.

“Silly, lazy cat,” I said, scratching behind his ear.

It didn’t matter who I faced.

I’d face them for the Iron Garden.

And because I was an Ironwood.

I went inside and called Pops.

I told him what kind of opponent Catalina was. Powerful. Relentless.

He listened, then said, “For this fight—never show them your hurt.”

“I won’t,” I told him.

He said he’d be watching the match tomorrow.

Just hearing that was comforting. It always had been.

We talked a little longer, about nothing important.

Before we hung up, I told him I loved him.

Then the call ended.

I woke up bright and early, my body already moving.

I stepped out of bed and snapped a few jabs into the air.

I went downstairs to eat something, then laid out my gear.

I paused when I picked up my gloves.

I’d be wearing them again—for an official match.

I met up with everyone once I was ready.

“You’re gonna grab another win today,” Sunny said.

“You’re stronger than last time,” Rosie added. “Go show it, Lily.”

Dani just gave me a nod.

“Let’s show them what you’re made of, Ironwood,” he said.

“Thank you, guys,” I said, giving them a confident look.

“And I will.”

Then we headed to the Petal Dome—always surging with energy, but different when you know you’re about to stand at the center of it.

As we entered, a few fighters and staff spotted me right away.

They wished me luck, told me how excited they were for the match.

I listened to Dani’s advice, thanked them, and promised it would be a great fight—smiling as we kept moving.

I reached the locker room and got into my gear, the noise of the Dome humming beyond the walls.

Before we split up, Sunny grinned at me.

“Go win, Lily.”

Then she disappeared back toward the crowd.

Dani, Rosie, and I headed down the hall—the tunnel leading straight to center stage, just like last time.

The lights grew brighter with each step, the roar of the crowd swelling around me.

When I stepped through, they recognized me—and for a moment, the Dome erupted.

I lifted a hand in acknowledgment and kept walking toward the arena.

We reached the arena first.

“And here comes Lilith Ironwood—back in the Petal Dome, and stepping into her toughest test yet,” Peter announced.

I did a light warm-up.

“We know she hits hard,” Dani said. “Stay light on your feet. Don’t commit unless you feel it’ll sink. Reduce unnecessary risks.”

“Okay, Coach,” I said, nodding.

Finally, she showed up.

The crowd started chanting—“Sav-age! Sav-age!”

Catalina pumped a fist into the air, a confident grin on her face as she walked toward the arena with her coach. Her gear was dark green and red, dark pink gloves strapped tight around her hands—worn, aggressive, and fitting for The Savage Cacti.

“The Savage Cacti—looking eager for more as she clashes with the Ironwood legacy!” Peter boomed as Catalina reached the arena.

The moment we were both ready, our eyes locked.

You could feel the storm building between us.

We both stepped into the arena.

Dani slowed when he spotted Sage nearby.

“Your fighter’s strong,” he said. “She’d be dangerous on her own.”

Sage followed his gaze to Catalina. “She is.”

“But your guidance makes the difference,” Dani added.

Sage looked at him. “Experience only matters if you know how to use it.”

She glanced toward Lily.

“You’ve done well with her,” Sage said. “She has something special.”

Dani exhaled. “Still doesn’t tell me how this ends.”

“No. It doesn't.”

They went their separate ways.

“Today’s match—Lilith Ironwood from Thornfield, the Ironwood legacy, versus Catalina Reyes from Tangleweed, The Savage Cacti!” Peter announced.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation.

We met the referee at center.

“Are you both ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” we answered.

“Alright. Touch gloves.”

We did.

Catalina pressed into it with a little extra force, a grin on her face.

Then we stepped back to our corners.

I took a breath and locked my focus on Catalina.

The horn tore through the arena.

In the same instant, Catalina charged straight at me.

I bounced on my feet, ready.

The moment she stepped into range, her fists were flying—left, right, left.

I weaved past them, the air from the last punch brushing my face.

She didn’t stop.

Pivoting with me, she threw another.

I had to block.

The impact slammed into my guard. Power surged through my arms, forcing me back as I stepped away fast to create distance.

The moment I made distance, she closed it again.

She opened with a kick—I slipped past it—then a punch.

As she loaded up for another, I saw the opening and snapped a jab.

It landed clean.

It didn’t slow her.

She followed through anyway.

I barely got out, pivoting around her as the punch tore past where my head had been.

She spun into a kick.

I raised my shin to check it—

the impact stung all the way up my leg.

Her kick was just as powerful.

I stepped back, resetting my stance.

She looked thrilled—like the pain only fed her grin.

I thought I’d find my opening.

She drove forward again, fists relentless.

After the second punch, I committed.

I was ready to fire a straight—

Impact.

Pain exploded across my face, hot and blinding, like my vision had cracked.

The Dome erupted—shouts crashing over each other as the sound washed over me.

“Headbutt from Catalina!” Peter shouted.

Instinct took over. I shoved her back with a push kick.

The world tilted.

Dazed, I went down.

I’d taken damage—but not enough.

“One.”

I pulled in a deep breath.

“Two.”

I planted my foot, forcing myself steady.

“Three.”

I brought a knee under me and pushed up, standing tall again.

Don’t show them your hurt.

I locked eyes with Catalina.

She was already waiting.

This time, I wouldn’t wait.

As she surged forward again, I met her.

We both stepped in, loading up—

The horn blasted.

End of Round One.

We were here to prove something.

This round was proof.

The crowd erupted as we headed to our corners, the noise crashing in from all sides.

“What a start to this match!” Peter’s voice cut through the chaos.

I sat down, my head still ringing faintly as I focused on steadying my breath.

Dani let out a breath. “Didn’t expect something like that—but I knew you’d bounce back fast. Good job staying in it.”

“Yeah, Coach,” I said, nodding.

“This round, you need to hit her hard,” Dani said. “We’ll use your new weapons—she likes to stay close and power through.”

He tapped his elbow for emphasis.

“Okay, Coach,” I said.

Rosie finished wiping the sweat from my face.

The horn blared for the next round.

I stood, rolled my shoulders once, and headed back toward the center.

She tapped her fists together as she closed the distance.

The moment we set our stances, it was like we’d never left—she came straight at me, kicks flying.

I circled, slipping and dodging around her as she went for body blows.

Little by little, I started to catch her rhythm.

I still wanted to wear her down.

I stepped in with a jab during a break in her strikes—

But I misread her rhythm.

I pulled back just in time as she fired an elbow, grazing my shoulder.

It stung—even for a graze.

A little more, I told myself. I can’t misread her again.

She threw a kick.

This time, I timed it.

I chopped into her leg with a low kick of my own.

I moved quickly, knowing it wouldn’t slow her down.

Her rhythm was becoming predictable.

I slipped, waited, then snapped out a jab.

Another clean hit.

She powered through it anyway, shaking it off as she pressed forward.

I stepped in to do real damage.

She charged again, and the moment I saw it, I launched a rear cross.

It landed clean.

Now.

I stepped in and drove a knee—

I missed.

Pain detonated across my cheek, sinking deep into my face—

my legs gave out in the same instant.

I crumpled to the mat.

The crowd dipped—just for a breath—before roaring again.

“The Savage Cacti with a spinning back fist!” Peter boomed.

The count blurred together as I fought through the burn in my face and forced myself upright.

I swallowed the pain and locked it behind my guard.

I had to make my move now—there wouldn’t be another chance.

Before she could charge, I dove in.

She swung on instinct as I closed the distance.

I shifted inside the arc and committed.

I drove an uppercut up the center, snapped her head back just enough.

For a half second, I wondered if I was already too slow.

Then I stepped in anyway, shoulder tight—

And before she could recover, I cut through with an elbow.

Don’t swing. Cut through.

The crowd rumbled with excitement.

“Ironwood with the elbow—this fight isn’t over!” Peter thundered.

Catalina took a step back—for the first time in the match.

Her leg wobbled, balance unsteady for a moment.

Then she steadied herself—ready for more.

We were both breathing hard, coiled and ready to step in.

We charged at the same time—

The horn sounded.

End of Round Two.

We stared at each other for a moment before breaking away and heading back to our corners.

I dropped onto the stool, fighting to control my breathing.

Rosie moved in, quickly cleaning me up.

“You hurt her, Lily,” Dani said. “You can beat her. This round—give her everything you’ve got.”

“I will, Coach,” I said.

I focused on conserving what energy and breath I had left.

The horn ripped through the Dome for the final round.

Dani gave me a nod as I stepped back out.

As we closed the distance, Catalina’s grin still hadn’t faded—like she was having the time of her life.

I was ready to finish this.

“The round to end it all!” Peter shouted.

The crowd leaned in, waiting to see how it would end.

We met at center and slipped back into our stances.

We sprang at each other immediately.

Burning through whatever reserves we had left, we committed—full force, no hesitation—circling and pivoting as we swung.

The air snapped as our fists tore past, close enough to feel.

The next clean hit could put either of us down for good.

Then I saw it.

After our swings crossed, an opening—one that could only lead to an exchange.

She would never back down.

Neither would I.

We stepped in at the same time, throwing everything we had left—fists flying on a collision course as she stepped into me without hesitation, hungry for the impact.

I drove my fist into her face at the same moment she buried hers into mine.

Pain flared—white and overwhelming.

We stayed upright for a split second.

Then we both collapsed.

The Dome exploded.

“Both fighters are down!” Peter shouted.

The noise and pain blurred together, drowning my senses.

“One.”

Pain surged.

“Two.”

Get up.

“Three.”

I planted my palms against the mat.

“Four.”

I saw Catalina struggling too.

“Five.”

I started to lift myself.

“Six.”

My body screamed as I forced it to move.

“Seven.”

I dragged a knee under me.

“Eight.”

Catalina was still fighting to rise.

“Nine.”

One more second.

I got up before the count.

Catalina didn’t.

The referee waved it off—decision before Catalina could rise.

My body gave out a moment later, and I slammed back onto the mat.

A second after that, Catalina collapsed too.

The match was over.