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Defeat Does Not Exist (Cobra Kai SI)

Reader mode
Book 2 - Chapter 5
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Five: Esqueletos

    …

    "Como va el karate?"

    Miguel Diaz was eating dinner with his grandmother Rosa, and his mother Carmen.

    Miguel nodded, swallowing after chewing. "Good, overall pretty good."

    "I'm still not approving of any violence, but if it's safe, then it's fine." Carmen muttered.

    Miguel smiled. "Well, no one ever really gets injured."

    "Digame cuando conseguis una novia con el karate."

    Miguel chuckled at his Yaya's question about girlfriends.

    "What Halloween costume do you want?" asked Carmen.

    "Uh, Sensei Kreese already chose one for all of us."

    "Ooh, a group costume?"

    "Sort of, we'll all be wearing the same thing and he said it might've been a tradition. He knew his old students used to wear it, so he suggested it."

    Carmen smiled. "Well tell him we appreciate it."

    After dinner, Carmen muttered under her breath.

    "Coño." She realized she forgot how overflowing her trash can was. "Miggy, sacas la basura?"

    He nodded, exiting his room, with his headphones in. "Uhh, yes ma."

    …

    Outside, Miguel was throwing away the garbage when he found Johnny doing the same.

    Before they walked past each other, Johnny spoke. "Wait. Hey kid."

    He took his headphones out. "Yeah?"

    "I saw you walking off with an old guy a few months back. Short hair, sorta tall."

    "What about him?"

    "You still keep in touch with him?"

    Miguel nodded. "Yeah. He's my karate Sensei."

    Johnny looked around the apartment complex. "We need to talk."

    …

    Since it was dark out, cars with their headlights on drove past the street nearby.

    "Wait, you're Johnny Lawrence?"

    "Yup." Johnny sipped his Coors Banquet as Miguel drank soda. "Guess we're neighbors."

    "So, you used to be Sensei's student."

    Johnny sighed. "Wish I wasn't. I gotta tell you something about your Sensei."

    "I'm getting the feeling I'm not going to want to hear this."

    "Well, you need to. I was part of the team in the 80s, and got into all sorts of trouble back in the day with my buds. They were good times."

    Miguel was now happier to listen.

    "One night out with them, I met this girl, her name was Ali Mills, we went out for a bit, madly in love. Later, we broke up, and this kid from Jersey popped up."

    Miguel kept listening.

    "To make a long story short, I end up fighting this kid at the All Valley karate tournament."

    "Cause of the girl?"

    "Cause we hated each other." Johnny shrugged and wiped the beer off his lip. "Tons of other reasons too."

    "Like?"

    "Doesn't matter. The point is, I lost, Cobra Kai held the All Valley title for two years, and I lost my final match. Now, John Kreese never liked losing of course. But he always was hard on me for losing matches in general. Very hard."

    Miguel watched him calmly.

    "After I lost that title bout, he damn near killed me."

    Johnny's eyes were almost bulging out of his head as John Kreese choked him.

    Johnny pointed slightly. "If it wasn't for that Jersey kid's Sensei."

    Miyagi freed Johnny from Kreese's grasp, pushing him aside.

    "I might've died."

    Miguel finished his soda quietly.

    "Look, guys like that don't change. He was a dirtbag then, and he probably is one now. People like him, aren't worth the risk of trusting."

    "You really think Cobra Kai can't change?"

    Johnny shrugged. "It was a shit idea to begin with. That's why I run my own karate dojo with Robby called Steel Eagle."

    "Robby Keene?"

    "He's my son."

    Miguel's eyes widened.

    "We train on our own mostly, don't have enough money to open up our own place. But Robby made it to the semis at the last All Valley. We get to enjoy the karate without any of the nasty history, and I get to train my kid."

    Miguel nodded. "Why would you get back into karate in the first place then?"

    Johnny explained. "Ali's kid got me back into it after he moved here from Denver last year."

    Miguel threw away the soda can in the nearby garbage dumpster. "Thanks. For, everything."

    Johnny merely nodded in response.

    …

    A new student, with braided corn rows and long hair, was slammed onto the mat at the Cobra Kai dojo.

    Miguel had hit him with a round kick and a back fist.

    "Fine work Mr. Diaz."

    "I appreciate it Sensei, thanks."

    Kreese could tell Miguel was off but had no idea why.

    Aisha patted the new student's shoulder when he sat down next to her, everyone sitting cross legged around the mat. "Good hustle Edwin."

    "Thanks." he muttered grumpily.

    Kreese stepped into the middle of the mat. "Does anyone else want to challenge Mr. Diaz? He only has a few more months of experience than the rest of you." Kreese sighed. "Fear does not exist here everyone." he added.

    Bert looked at Mitch, Aisha was still sore after her last spar with Miguel minutes prior.

    "Alright. I suppose a few dozen laps will clear your heads. Ais!"

    …

    After their runs, Miguel stayed after class.

    Edwin, Bert, Aisha, and Mitch all left after practicing forward strikes, and Kreese spoke to Miguel.

    "Everything alright Diaz?"

    Miguel shrugged, stuffing his dirty clothes into his gym bag.

    "Everything's fine."

    "Doesn't sound like it."

    He sighed.

    "Turns out Johnny Lawrence lives in my building." he stood up and looked Kreese in the eye. "Told me what you did the night he lost the tournament."

    Kreese was frozen for a moment.

    "How could you do that to him?"

    Kreese looked aside, and then back at Miguel. "I went overboard."

    "You think?"

    "But it's important to note." Kreese raised his voice slightly, standing on the mat in his instructor's GI. "That Cobra Kai was and still is all I'll ever have."

    "What are you talking about?"

    Kreese rubbed his face.

    "Look after I got back home from 'Nam, I didn't find anything else for work but to teach karate. That still stands today. Miyagi and LaRusso, they shot down any hope I ever had to make Cobra Kai reach superstardom."

    Miguel frowned, listening.

    "The boys deserved it, they deserved that chance. They had, a very bright future ahead of them." Kreese shook his head a bit. "What does Miyagi deserve, for shooting that future down?"

    "But Johnny Lawrence was only what. Seventeen, what did he deserve?"

    "Son you have to understand. That night was the end of Cobra Kai for me, the end of my life it felt. Without the dojo, I had nothing."

    Miguel glanced towards the backroom. "Is that why you live here?"

    Kreese nodded slightly. "For now."

    "Explain."

    "That scuffle with Kyler Park set me back a lot of money, I also owe money to someone who helped open this place. Even if I teach two full classes full time, I'll have to work for the rest of my life to pay them back."

    Miguel was surprised. "You think that's worth it?"

    "No price is too small to pay for victory."

    Miguel nodded slightly.

    Kreese approached him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I've trained the best, watched the best win. And you're better than the best son, not just when it comes to karate. You'll go farther than Johnny Lawrence or I ever did."

    "Cobra Kai changes your life. For the better, for the better." insisted Kreese. "Ask yourself kid, were you the same person you were when you first joined?"

    Miguel knew the answer.

    "No Sensei."

    "Ask yourself who you want to be based on what you know. I know you'll make the right choice."

    Miguel bowed slightly and Kreese bowed back, then, Miguel left.

    …

    At West Valley High School the next day, Counselor Blatt was holding a mandatory bullying PSA in the cafeteria that no one really cared about.

    "Remember, it's important that all our costumes at the Halloween dance, and words to our classmates, are all politically and sensitively correct. A mountain lion is always wary of another's safe space."

    Kyler smirked from his table, texting Sam at her table with Yasmine and Moon as well as other cheerleaders.

    Sam checked her phone as Counselor Blatt continued speaking into her microphone.

    You look so hot today! ;)

    Sam frowned, texting without looking back at Kyler.

    Please don't hit me up like that, it makes me uncomfortable.

    Kyler was confused at the message, texting back quickly.

    Gurl, what?

    Sam then blocked his number immediately and Kyler could even see her use her phone from a distance to see her do it.

    There was a reason for it, and the reason sat just a few tables away.

    Lucas Schwarber was sitting bored wearing a black USA Karate sweatshirt chatting very quietly with a smiling Robby Keene. Eli Moskowitz and Demetri Alexopolous sat with them, all four boys chuckling as silently as they could at their table.

    Sam caught herself looking in Lucas' direction more than once, and then Counselor Blatt spoke.

    "It's important to be courteous and kind to each other, even online. A hurtful word can be just as bad through Instagram or Snapchat, as it might be in person."

    Yasmine rolled her eyes, she and Moon were still on their phones, not listening at all.

    Lucas got a text from Sam right then and there.

    I like your sweatshirt :)

    thanks sam

    He smiled at her from afar with a thankful nod, returning to his muttered conversation with Robby without another text.

    Sam squinted at him, was that it? Where was his compliment in return?

    After the assembly, classes resumed.

    Miguel and Demetri were lab partners for Biology, and sat with Samantha as they filled out a crossword puzzle to practice for a quiz for Mr. Palmer's class.

    "Hey."

    "Hey you must be Sam, you just switched periods right?"

    "Mhm."

    Demetri was pathetically shy when talking to girls, he even rubbed the spot on his elbow when Sam brushed past his arm.

    Sam flipped through her notes, filling out the puzzle quietly. "Soo…boring assembly right?"

    "Nah. I think it's super important to know the safe spaces and trigger warnings for every single person in the entire school."

    Sam laughed quietly at this. "And your name?"

    "Miguel. It's nice to meet you."

    Sam smiled looking back down at her paper, and she knew Yasmine and her friends were right.

    Miguel had noticeably strong arms beneath his long sleeved shirt and looked better ever since starting karate. He just radiated genuine confidence, especially when sitting next to Demetri.

    "Miguel, what do you like to do in your free time?"

    "The usual. Anime, working out." Miguel shrugged. "Karate."

    "I used to love doing karate with my dad. What moves do you know?"

    "Just the basics, the roundhouse, the straight punch. My Sensei only likes teaching the fundamentals first."

    Sam chuckled. "Mine was the exact same way."

    Demetri let them chat for the entire class.

    They walked out talking to each other.

    "So, I got your Insta?"

    Miguel nodded. "Yup, I'll see you around."

    "See ya."

    Sam smiled as Miguel walked off, and saw how he and Aisha nodded to each other when they crossed paths in the hallway.

    "Hey. Haven't heard from you lately."

    Aisha hid her disappointment in seeing Sam. "Hey." she faked a smile.

    "So, you know Miguel."

    "Yeah, we've been in the same karate dojo ever since the start of the semester. You know, we could always use another girl."

    Sam nodded and cleared her throat. "Yeah, I think I'm well and truly done with karate."

    "You'd rather spend your time with Yasmine?"

    Nearby, her and Moon appeared to be exclusively taking selfies together by their lockers every given second.

    Sam frowned looking back from them to Aisha. "Why are you saying that like it's a bad thing? It's probably a better idea than hanging out and being friends with only guys."

    Aisha brushed right past Sam.

    "Wait-"

    Aisha was already well and truly gone and Sam sighed.

    She was confused why Aisha had even nudged her out of the way a little. Being physically aggressive was something that really confused Sam.

    …

    The DJ for the night at West Valley High School's Halloween dance had been slipped a five dollar bill and stopped playing electronic samples.

    He played 80s music ballads including Thriller by Michael Jackson, and the gym loved it.

    Miguel, Bert, Aisha, Edwin, and Mitch all showed up wearing skeleton onesies through the smoke machine.

    "Fuck yeah," Miguel muttered, Mitch chuckling and nodding to him with a fist bump.

    Yasmine snickered when Aisha walked past out of earshot. "Isn't she a little too fat to be a skeleton?"

    Moon laughed, she Yasmine, and Sam all wore skimpy Lakers girl's' uniforms with matching pom poms.

    Lucas walked by with Robby, Lucas had dressed up looking like an actual doctor, and Robby wore Maverick from Top Gun's outfit with an authentic pilot's helmet hanging on his shoulder.

    "Sup."

    Sam smiled as she instantly stopped frowning from what Yasmine had said. "Hey! I like your costume."

    "Thanks, authentic right?" asked Lucas.

    "Very authentic," Moon said. "Is that a real stethoscope?"

    "It is indeed. These used to be my Gramps' real scrubs too."

    Eli, wearing a surgeon's outfit and Demetri a Necromancer's costume both listened shyly to the conversation.

    "Feel free to read my heart rate anytime."

    Yasmine screeched and laughed, practically tumbling over Moon as the two giggled shrilly at Moon's joke.

    Sam's friends were making her frown more and more often it seemed to her.

    "It was a joke it was a joke, I swear." Moon saw the wide eyed and surprised expression on Lucas' face.

    "Um. Enjoy the dance ladies." Lucas nodded as Robby followed him away from the girls in Laker girls costumes.

    "Thanks!" chirped Yasmine.

    Sam held her arm shyly as Yasmine muttered lowly to Moon. "Man he is sooo yummy."

    "Damn I know." Sam watched Moon say before they kept dancing.

    Kyler shook his head, he and his friends all dressed up as pirates for the night. "This 'some bullshit man," he said after seeing all of this.

    …

    The night continued, and the songs turned from classic to modern pop.

    Eventually, Lucas made his way over to Sam and the two began to dance together.

    "Hey doc, wassup?"

    "Not much, your costume is kinda." Lucas cleared his throat. "Revealing, in a good way."

    Sam laughed behind her hand. "Thanks, I'm glad you like it."

    "Are any of your parents chaperoning tonight?"

    Sam shook her head. "No! Thank god, could you imagine."

    Lucas chuckled. "Your dad's cool honestly."

    "Not at something like tonight, I promise, he can be so embarrassing."

    Sam could see here and there as they danced that he not only stole glances at her, but the bodies of her friends, Yasmine and Moon.

    Between the dark lights and colors of the Halloween dance, it was hard to tell exactly, but she could see the feeling was reciprocated.

    Sam was feeling a bit tired of the uncertainty, and before she knew it, she grabbed Lucas by the hand and was leading him away from the dance and toward Mr. Palmer's empty classroom for Biology.

    "What are you doing?" asked Lucas.

    "I want to show you something!"

    Sam could feel her heart racing.

    Was this what he wanted? Could her friends stop flirting with or looking at him for more than five seconds!?

    Eventually, she led Lucas inside Mr. Palmer's classroom and opened a closet door.

    "Wow."

    "What do you think?"

    "It's, amazing."

    Sam had made a DNA helix out of Lego and had stored it for the weekend in Palmer's classroom.

    "Easy A right?"

    Sam chuckled at Lucas' response. "Definitely. I mean, you're talking to the biggest fan of Legos so."

    Sam brushed her hair behind her ear shyly. "Thanks."

    Lucas was curious. "Was this, really what you wanted to show me?"

    "Yeah." Sam exhaled quickly. "I just, had to get away from the dance for a second. Aisha's sorta mad at me right now, and Yas and Moon make things even harder."

    "I get the feeling."

    They could hear the muted music of the Halloween dance behind them as they stood in silence alone together.

    "Hey Sam."

    "Yeah?" she turned to him.

    "I'm gonna try something, if you don't like it. Tell me."

    She nodded.

    Lucas embraced Sam tightly and then kissed her.

    They began to make out for a moment, and then leaned slightly against the open closet door.

    …

    In the hallway outside, Mitch was drinking from a water fountain as Miguel followed him. "Man, why is it so hard to pick up chicks in a skeleton costume?"

    Miguel shrugged. "Guess you must be trying too hard."

    Mitch began to go on and then Miguel could see Sam and Lucas together through the classroom door's window.

    Mitch's voice brought him down to Earth again. "Miguel? Hey, you good man?"

    "I'm, I'm fine."

    He was not.

    …

    Sam began to breathe rapidly, feeling more nervous than she ever felt in her life when she felt the cold metal of Lucas' stethoscope brush the open patch on her chest through her Laker's girl uniform.

    Lucas then rubbed the skin of Sam's bare legs and she almost gasped for a second. The feeling was almost too much, it woke her up completely.

    Sam broke away and spoke. "Hey, Luke?"

    "Yeah?"

    "Do you do this, like," she spoke shyly. "With anyone else?"

    "No."

    "Not Moon or Yas? Or anyone else on Cheer?"

    "No one but you. I mean, you're the second person I've ever kissed."

    Sam nodded.

    "And you?"

    Sam shrugged. "You're my first kiss," she said very shyly.

    "Am I doing well?" Lucas smiled, playing with the yellow ribbon in Sam's curly hair.

    Sam pushed his hand aside lightly deflecting it and the question. "Luke, you swear you don't make out with anyone else?"

    "No. Why is that hard to believe?"

    "It just is, sorry."

    Lucas felt a bit insulted. "Hold on, you- You mean. You know what?"

    He raised his hands and moved away turning around, then walking away out of the classroom and back towards the dance.

    "Hey!" said Sam.

    The door to Mr. Palmer's classroom closed.

    Sam frowned, fixing her hair with a sad frown before she was left alone in the room.

    …

    Lucas returned to the dance to see Miguel flirting and dancing with Moon.

    Lucas knew it was him, all the other people in skeleton costumes clearly looked different even with the onesie.

    Moon was also giggling and speaking his name occasionally.

    Lucas shook his head, and Sam was also not happy at the sight when she returned from the classroom.

    "Where did you go man?" asked Robby wearing aviator shades

    "None of your business. What have you been up to?"

    "Currently failing to ask Daenerys Targaryen to dance," said Demetri quietly. "Three, times, over."

    All three girls in dragon queen costumes were dancing by themselves nearby the snack table.

    Lucas chuckled, turning to them.

    "Hey ladies!" They listened to Lucas. "Respectfully speaking. My boys need dance partners, is that okay?"

    They smiled and agreed and Eli stayed hidden behind his mask. "Wait, I don't-" he muttered shyly.

    "Well there you guys, it's that easy." Lucas chuckled before pushing Eli in their direction.

    Robby did not need any encouragement while Demetri winced and inched himself painfully in their direction.

    Lucas sighed, turning around to shake his head while Moon appeared, serving herself some punch.

    "Whoo! All that dancing sure breaks a sweat." she said.

    "I see you've met Miguel Diaz."

    "You know him?"

    Lucas shrugged. "I know of him."

    "How- What does that mean?" asked Moon blankly. "There's no need to be jealous, you could've just asked me to dance earlier."

    Lucas scoffed. "Who says I'm jealous?"

    "You clearly sound like it."

    "That's not even." Lucas shook his head, turning around. "Like-"

    A few Halloween dance members gasped, Lucas had accidentally bumped into and spilled punch right on Miguel.

    "Crap," Lucas said genuinely. "Sorry man, didn't see you there."

    "Miguel!"

    The boy in the skeleton outfit and slightly ruined makeup walked off towards the bathroom.

    "Luke." Moon said reproachfully.

    "What, it was an accident."

    A few of the Cobra Kais walked off in Miguel's direction after a short moment.

    …

    Miguel was trying to fix his makeup but it was looking completely ruined.

    He sighed, his costume was finished, and he began to take it off.

    Miguel heard Kyler's voice as he chatted with Brucks, Rory, and their other friend in the locker room nearby.

    "Can't believe Sam ghosted you like that man. You were just days away from bone city." Brucks said stupidly.

    Kyler sighed. "I know dog, all that hard work for nothing."

    "What hard work? You were gonna pull that stupid grandmother's necklace bit that got you tons of tail over in East Valley."

    "Whatever man."

    Miguel could hear his knuckles crack beneath his costume.

    Kyler heard someone walking towards them.

    "Oh shit, hey Rhea."

    "Still using that nickname huh?" he smiled. "Even though we all know what happened that night?"

    Kyler's smirk turned to a frown.

    "How's your wrist?"

    "What, you want some payback fool?" asked Kyler dumbly.

    Miguel mercilessly struck Kyler first and hard the moment he and his friends stood up from around the locker room.

    Right in the jaw, he popped him with the same reverse punch Kreese taught him.

    He was hit so hard he flew back and hit the metal red locker behind him with a BANG.

    Miguel didn't stand there frozen afterward, he took advantage of Brucks, Rory and their pal's surprise and kept striking.

    He hit Brucks with a fully powered round kick directly in his round belly, making him keel over.

    It was at that point that Rory knew he'd either be next and have to save his friends or face the same fate, so he picked up a nearby lacrosse stick and swung it directly at Miguel's head.

    It landed clean on his temple, bruising and disorienting him, knocking him against the wall.

    "Nice man!" Brucks wheezed, trying to get his wind back after it was knocked clean out of him.

    Before they could recover and gang up on Miguel, three other boys entered the bathroom.

    "Yo man what the fuck!?" Mitch saw the scene.

    Bert had no idea what he was going to do, but Edwin just had to crack his knuckles under his white gloves and skeleton onesie to announce his presence.

    "Oh shit!"

    A few seconds later, Kyler wisely decided it would be best to flee the scene, and he and his friends tussled with the Cobra Kais for a second before they ran.

    "You alright dude?"

    Miguel clapped Mitch's hand, and he nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine." he winced, rubbing the bruise on the side of his head. "That was close."

    "Anytime, what the hell happened?"

    "Just striking first."

    Miguel then realized Kreese's lessons had saved both himself and his friends from humiliation.

    "Niiice." Mitch nodded. "Why'd you run off in the first place? The dance was getting tight."

    "Aw, some nonsense. Some guy knocked punch over me, ruined my costume."

    "Well, we were only gonna wear it tonight anyways. Come on, the party's still going."

    Miguel then joined his friends back at the Halloween dance, and he even forgot he was supposed to be dancing with Moon for a second.

    He smiled and the Cobra Kais just had a good time together, as Bert realized Miguel was not in the best mood and they cheered him up.

    "So who knocked that punch over you?" asked Mitch, awkwardly doing the robot.

    Miguel shrugged. "We'll worry about it later."

    "And I saw your roundhouse on Brucks man, it was brutal. No mercy, nice!"

    "Yeah." Miguel smiled widely. "No mercy."

    ...

    ...

    ...
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Miguel Diaz hears both sides of the controversy history of Cobra Kai dojo, which Johnny Lawrence offers Miguel a spot on Steel Eagle with new friend Robby Keane from school.
    Unfortunately, Cobra Kai isn't short on volunteers for John Kresse ambitious undertaking for Terry silver debts, including a simmering pot of resentment for Aisha between Sam and mean girls. Alongside new kid Miguel Diaz at the dojo.
    Unexpectedly, At the School Halloween party Lucas and Sam Larousso get a lot more closer than they ever expected in an unexpected steamy kiss, but Sam as always puts her foot in mouth for all of 5 seconds when doubts about Lucas reaction about Sam from about him his supposed playboy reputation with him having other partners . Really screwed the pooch that Sammy girl , silly girl you had then you lost it ,but Lucss will accept your apology next time.
    While Miguel Diaz realizes he lost his shot with Sam Larousso and getting into fight in the bathroom stalls as Miguel Diaz feels better after beating those guys up but Miguel further entrenched himself in Cobra Kai teaching from John Kresse .
    Although, Lucas finds himself an new Cobra Kai rivial in Miguel Diaz with a boatload of complications with his meddling in season of Cobra Kai.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
     
    Last edited:
    Book 2 - Chapter 6
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Six: No Mercy

    …

    "Miggy this karate seems dangerous."

    Miguel rubbed the bruise on his temple with a sigh. "It was because of my karate that I didn't get beat up."

    "All I know is you shouldn't be getting in fights." said Carmen kindly, Miguel's mother.

    Carmen ignored her mother's approval of the karate in Spanish and then Miguel spoke in English.

    "Sensei Kreese helped me, I gained friends, strength, confidence."

    "And I am so happy for you mi hijo," said Carmen. "But even if you didn't get hurt, this Mr. Kreese does not seem like a safe man or a good mentor."

    "You don't know him ma. Without him, I'd be a nobody getting picked on every day at school!" Miguel left the couch.

    "Miggy!"

    Miguel walked to his bedroom and closed the door.

    Carmen turned to Rosa, her mother, who spoke.

    "Es la edad." she shrugged.

    Carmen silently agreed that it was just Miguel's age, nothing odd.

    …

    The next day at West Valley High School, Miguel chatted with Sam at her locker.

    "Hey."

    Sam smiled. "Heyy…"

    "I guess the Halloween dance was kind of weird huh?"

    "Yeah, lots of fun costumes," Sam said with a smile, closing her locker.

    Miguel cleared his throat. "Your boyfriend spilled some punch on me."

    "Luke's not my boyfriend," Sam said before she shrugged, fixing her backpack on her shoulders. "And besides, it was an accident right?"

    "Yeah totally. Can we um, hang out in the library after school?" asked Miguel. "We can go over some Bio stuff together."

    "That sounds awesome but." Sam winced. "I actually have something I needed to do later."

    "Fine."

    Sam frowned. "What happened to your face?"

    "I bumped my head on a cabinet moving boxes around for my Yaya." Miguel said.

    "Oh." Sam didn't buy it at all. "Look, we can hang out some other time."

    Miguel was hiding his disappointment. "Yeah, sure."

    "See you in class?"

    "Yeah." Miguel smiled and nodded back before Sam walked off.

    She waved at Lucas in the hall with a smile as she walked down it.

    Miguel squinted with one eye at this, balling his fists.

    "Sup man?"

    Mitch and Bert appeared, Edwin had his nose stuck in a book.

    "El Serpiente!" Mitch punched Miguel's shoulder. "You kicked Kyler's ass last Friday man!"

    Bert nudged him strongly, looking around the hall.

    Mitch cleared his throat, lowering his voice. "I mean. You kicked Kyler's ass last Friday!"

    Miguel chuckled. "Thanks Mitch. I honestly couldn't have done it without you guys."

    "Maybe you could've," said Mitch. "You had some balls to go up against all four of them, but I couldn't take that risk."

    Miguel smiled, sounding like he felt better about his day so far. "I appreciate it a ton."

    The Cobra Kai boys then left the hall.

    …

    Sam felt a little uncomfortable.

    She was wearing her clothes for PE, gym shorts and a grey West Valley Mountain Lions t-shirt.

    Moon, Yasmine, and a girl with sandy light brown hair, freckles, and glasses were all sitting behind a plastic white table on a basketball court with a mat out.

    Yasmine and Moon smiled, giving her the thumbs up.

    A young African American woman in her twenties with a tennis visor sat behind the table as well with a clipboard.

    "Usually we don't hold tryouts this late in the semester, but a spot recently opened up as Judy Rubenthal broke her ankle." the coach said, clicking her pen. "First up, Fernanda Wilson."

    The girls all tried out one by one and it was then Sam's turn.

    It was clear she had no formal training in tumbling, gymnastics, or any sort of cheer, but still possessed more than enough athleticism to learn.

    "Thank you all for your time ladies," the coach said. "After convening with my captains, we'll tell you who stayed and who did not."

    …

    "Runner up. Maisie Thomas."

    The coach smiled. "And first seed, Samantha LaRusso!"

    Everyone on the cheer squad, well over sixteen girls all cheered.

    Several girls grumpily got off the mat and left, leaving Sam to join her first practice.

    Moon and Yasmine screeched, embracing their friend.

    Sam smiled and the cheer practice began.

    Sam learned how competitive the cheer team actually was, that there was a lot of technique, timing, and in some cases, team work that was involved.

    The practice lasted about two hours, and by the end of it, Sam actually had enjoyed herself.

    She had only really done one extra curricular, which was karate with her father, and she hadn't done it since she was eight and over eight years prior, so this was new and fun for her.

    …

    Sam found that she enjoyed the company of all the girls on the cheer team.

    She was already friends with Moon and Yasmine, but the rest were fun albeit sometimes superficial and crass girls.

    Lindsay Martin was a Captain, in Sam's year, and had her locker right next to Sam's in the girl's locker room.

    Mackenzie Chu wasn't Captain but a junior, and had still competed in cheer since she was young. Her parents were wealthy tech company executives from Korea who had roots in Irvine stretching back decades.

    Sam didn't feel nervous or uncomfortable around the girls, on the contrary, the cheer team made her feel at home.

    Sighing, Yasmine took off her West Valley High School cheer uniform, put it into her locker, and slipped beneath the shower.

    Her and Lindsay chatted quietly, washing themselves down with soap and hot water.

    "What a practice," Moon muttered, rubbing her sore legs and back.

    "Wait, your dad has that car dealership, right? He, kicks the competition?" asked Mackenzie, fixing her bra before putting a clean shirt on.

    Sam nodded. "Uh huh."

    "Clever." Mackenzie chuckled.

    Yasmine walked over after drying herself off with a towel and wearing just short shorts and a bra, rummaging through her locker. "You did very well for your first day."

    Sam smiled. "Thanks!"

    "Cheer is not for the faint of heart," Moon said darkly, making Sam and Yasmine chuckled.

    Mackenzie tossed her long jet black hair back. "You know that guy who always wears karate stuff? Hangs around that kid with the lip?"

    "Luke?" asked Sam. "What about him?"

    "Are you dating him?" she asked, rubbing lip stick on using a small hand mirror to help.

    Sam froze. "Uh…why do people keep thinking that?"

    "Cause you two totally ran off together at the dance," Yasmine muttered. "You acted like I didn't notice since I was Snapping about Fuglisha."

    Moon frowned, hiding the upset look on her face when she knelt to put a jacket on out of her locker.

    "Really?" Mackenzie gasped, turning around slightly. "Spill!"

    Lindsay picked her backpack up. "It's not your business guys, just leave her alone." she said, starting to leave.

    "Let her speak for herself damn it," Yasmine said jokingly, the girls chuckling together quietly. "Seriously, how'd it go?"

    Lindsay scoffed, leaving. "Later."

    Moon waved to her as Sam shrugged. "I don't know, it went. Fine."

    "Okay then." Mackenzie put her makeup away, tucking the makeup mirror into her pocket.

    "Well I mean, he's a pretty good kisser."

    "Daaaamn!" Yasmine laughed.

    Mackenzie nodded. "Alright then." she smiled a bit.

    Sam realized that slipped out faster than she meant to.

    "Fuglisha." Sam frowned at Mackenzie's chortle. "That's pretty clever. Man, is that why everyone started calling her cheeto pig?"

    "You could tell it was her in that skeleton costume." Yasmine shrugged.

    Sam quietly walked out.

    …

    "The timing on that little bitch's story." Aisha was stretching on the mat of Cobra Kai.

    Mitch shrugged. "So then just walk up to her and break her fake ass nose."

    "I can't," said Aisha. "She made sure to post it when everyone had already left the dance. It's like she knew I couldn't do anything about it when I got back to school and all the teacher's were around."

    "Fall in."

    Kreese walked out, and everyone stood up, paying attention.

    Only a thin boy named Dieter had joined the dojo after hearing about the Halloween dance locker room fight, making Kreese's total number of students six.

    Kreese spoke quietly, looking at his line of karatekas calmly.

    "In this dojo, earning your white belt means you've proven you're a true Cobra Kai. Class, please welcome the first white belt in Cobra Kai since a very long time. Miguel Diaz."

    He walked out from the backroom quietly in a white Cobra Kai GI.

    Miguel took his spot and Aisha smiled and nodded to him.

    "He showed no mercy to a group of people who bothered him." said Kreese with pride. "Let it be known. Every single one of you holds that right."

    Mitch smiled and nodded. "If an ant gets on your food." Kreese shrugged. "Feel free to squish it. No mercy." he added, squinting at the class.

    "Begin."

    Miguel warmed everyone up with forward strikes and then got to work.

    Kreese trained everyone in sparring, grappling, and striking form.

    After an hour and a half of training, everyone was sweaty and tired, but still strong.

    "Dismissed. Ais!"

    Everyone bowed to Kreese and he nodded his head back.

    …

    Kreese was organizing paperwork on his office desk when Miguel walked in.

    "Sensei?"

    "What can I do for you Mr. Diaz?"

    "I had a question."

    "Go right ahead."

    Miguel sighed. "I like this um, person at school. She's super funny, and cute, and smart. But there's, a problem."

    Kreese looked around his office. "Do I seem like the authority on these things?"

    "No. But I didn't have anyone to ask."

    "What about your friends?"

    Miguel spoke very quietly. "None of them ever had a girlfriend before so."

    Kreese hid his smile and tiny chuckle when he spun around in his desk chair to put away some papers in a metal cabinet.

    He turned around as Miguel spoke. "Have you ever-"

    "What's your question? Speak frankly son, you're very clear on what my duties as a Sensei are to you."

    Miguel nearly gulped for a second.

    "There's someone else, someone I know this person likes. What do I do about them?"

    "Why do you ask me?"

    "You seem to know how to handle threats pretty well."

    Kreese was actually flattered, but hid it with a small wipe of his face and scratch at his stubble.

    "What did I tell you at the beginning of class today?" Kreese pointed out to the mat from his office window.

    Miguel shrugged. "No mercy."

    "Precisely. If someone threatens you, or something you want. You take care of them." Kreese then picked up a cigar, bouncing it in Miguel's direction with his elbow on his office desk. "But like always, fight smart. Not hard Mr. Diaz."

    "Thank you Sensei."

    Miguel turned around and Kreese spoke out, cutting his cigar end off.

    "If you ever ask me about romance again, I swear. I'll have you run laps around the mat until you black out."

    Miguel smiled with his back turned, chuckling quietly. "Yes Sensei."

    …

    The next day at school, Sam walked in with a newfound confidence being part of West Valley High School's cheer team.

    It was dress day, Friday, and all the football players had to wear a button up and nice jeans or slacks and in some cases a tie. And all the cheer leaders had to wear their full cheer uniform.

    Sam enjoyed the attention but could hide her shyness by always being near the other girls on cheer in the halls, Moon, Lindsay, or Yasmine.

    Maybe now Lucas would notice her instead of her friends. Maybe now she could forget about everything that happened with Aisha.

    Sam's smile on her face froze.

    Mackenzie was talking to Lucas in the hallway.

    He was sitting on a bench near a water fountain with his pals, Robby and Eli.

    Lucas was leaning back, hands in his pockets. When Mackenzie took her phone out of her jacket pocket, he took a quick glance at Mackenzie's bare thighs.

    Sam practically melted away.

    However, it seemed like a perfectly casual conversation with an odd smile and chuckle.

    Lucas could see Sam walking in his direction but the bell rang for the first period before he could react.

    …

    Miguel Diaz found a sign up form for volunteers to help run West Valley High's soccer games.

    There, he saw Lucas Schwarber's name and phone number listed.

    Miguel looked up, thinking of something.

    …

    Sam found Lucas and Daniel talking in Daniel's dining room.

    "Hey." Daniel turned towards his daughter. "Planned on joining us earlier today?"

    "Sorry, think cheer's my new hobby. Not ready to go back to karate yet."

    Daniel smiled. "That's fine, I think Anthony needs help with his homework."

    Lucas looked touched that Daniel trusted him enough to leave him downstairs alone with his daughter.

    "Sup." Lucas threw a carrot Daniel had cut into his mouth, chewing on it quietly.

    "Hey there."

    "Everything good, with you?" Lucas asked quietly.

    "Yeah, yeah everything's fine."

    They stood there silently, looking around the kitchen.

    "I know we haven't talked since the dance. I went off kinda in a huff, and honestly that wasn't cool of me."

    "Really?"

    Lucas nodded. "You clearly thought I was lying to you, and even though you were wrong. You had a point. I do flirt a lot, maybe I should try to a little less."

    "It's fine."

    "Are you sure?"

    "You realized your mistake."

    Lucas breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you."

    He saw Amanda's car pull into the driveway.

    "I'll help your mom unload some groceries."

    Sam smiled back, the sentiment was appreciated warmly.

    She noticed Lucas had left his phone on the counter and received an odd Whatsapp text.

    MackTheKnife: Last night was so fun! ;)

    The text was followed by some very suggestive emojis.

    Sam looked up, blinking rapidly and then helping Amanda with the groceries.

    …

    At dinner, Lucas could tell Sam was off for some reason.

    Hadn't they recovered from the post Halloween dance awkwardness?

    It wasn't until he returned to his house at the Mills Manor that he realized the text on his phone.

    Someone was trolling him, the number had blocked him when he responded to it. And judging from Sam's sudden change at around the time the text was sent, she had seen it.

    Lucas began to squint in thought. Who in the world would want to make it seem like someone was messing around with him?

    Lucas shrugged, tossing his phone away.

    …

    The next week at school, Lucas found out pretty quickly who it was.

    Sam gave him the cold shoulder at every turn, and someone was chatting up Moon, doing his best to make her giggle while playing it cool.

    Lucas was nudged out of the way when leaning over at a water fountain by him.

    "No mercy man." Miguel muttered.

    Lucas was confused, and then saw him walk off to flirt with Moon again.

    She giggled loudly at what she said and he looked away.

    How could he have been lucky enough that Sam saw it at just that time? It was sheer luck.

    Lucas shook his head away and merely ignored it all, moving on through his day.

    …

    That afternoon in the girl's locker room, Sam eyed Mackenzie with a bit more scorn, but she ultimately didn't say or do anything.

    "So um." Sam cleared her throat. "How crucial are nudes when you're flirting with a guy?"

    "So crucial," Yasmine muttered.

    "They're a nightmare." Mackenzie groaned.

    Lindsay rolled her eyes, folding her sweaty clothes into her gym bag. "Sexts are everything when you're starting to know someone romantically."

    "Really?" asked Sam.

    "Definitely," Mackenzie said. "Boys will generally ask for them as soon as you show interest, and the best thing you can do is tease them."

    Sam could tell Mackenzie really knew what she was talking about.

    "Word of advice," Yasmine said. "Don't send, but keep him waiting for one to drop."

    "But what if you really like him that way?" Sam was confused.

    "Then you make him wait even more," said Moon with a chuckle. "Guys are dumb that way, they're more interested the less you show them. At first anyway."

    "Yes! You reel them in little by little, until you're sure they're genuine about you." Mackenzie shrugged. "Then you show them a little something. But almost nothing."

    The girls stopped gossiping about one topic to transition into another.

    Sam generally found herself happy with them, except with Mackenzie.

    …

    Karate Kid OST: The Pact

    …

    Lucas was practicing kata with Daniel.

    "One."

    They breathed in, moving their hands around.

    "And two."

    Lucas breathed in and out, their kata was almost like a guided meditation but with karate.

    "And one, and two."

    Lucas then began to hammer in old nails, and practiced paint the fence and wax on wax off.

    Daniel smiled, walking up to him. "Nice work."

    "Thanks Mr. L."

    "Everything alright at school?"

    "Um. School's fine, just, some stuff happened."

    Daniel and Lucas sat down on the front porch of Mr. Miyagi's house and he told him everything.

    "So. This Miguel kid, he wanted to make Sam jealous of you?"

    "Pretty much."

    "Because you spilled punch all over him?"

    Lucas nodded. "Also because I think he might be jealous."

    Daniel laughed. "Cobra Kai has not changed."

    "The thing is. I know it's not him, it's. It's-"

    "Kreese."

    Lucas was silent.

    Daniel shook his head. "That man is just awful. He turns people's pain into other's. Hatred is like a disease, it can't stop if you spread it around."

    "So what am I supposed to do? Sam doesn't care about the truth, and I don't want to give Miguel more reasons to hate me."

    Daniel sighed. "You know, the best fights are the ones that are stopped before they happen. Our karate is special, you train, so you don't have to fight."

    "Exactly."

    "Lucas you're going to find that a lot of the conflicts in your life can be resolved with proper communication and honesty. John Kreese never cared about that."

    Lucas frowned.

    "I know you thought he cared about you, but he doesn't care about anyone. He would use your weakness, your vulnerability, and add it to his own strength. He preys on what people want to become, building their trust, and then he hurts you when you don't live up to what he wanted."

    Lucas nodded. "Yeah."

    "Hey." he put a hand on his shoulder. "My advice is this. Do nothing."

    "Nothing?"

    "Nothing. Engaging with Kreese's behavior is dangerous, you're giving him what he wants by giving his student any attention."

    Lucas understood. "Alright then."

    "The philosophy of Miyagi-Do is what I need you to understand most. You already learned the actual karate very quickly, there are very few applications of the kata left for you to perfect. But the essence."

    Lucas watched Daniel pretend to hold a small seed. "The core of who you are is still growing. It's like, your future is still undecided."

    Lucas nodded.

    "But all you need to do is trust your instincts, trust what I've taught you. And you'll grow into what you were meant to be."

    Lucas smiled. "So it's like, I'm a seed. And, Miyagi-Do are my roots?"

    "And the stem and leaves will be your life and decisions." Daniel smiled. "See, you're getting the lesson already."

    "Well how do I practice the lesson?"

    "Do you want me to show you?"

    Lucas nodded.

    …

    The two spent the night trimming bonsai and talking about life.

    About Daniel's experiences in highschool, how it was like to raise a family, and his advice for Lucas growing up.

    Lucas had a lot to say, but above all, he listened.

    He was absorbing everything Daniel was telling him, about Miyagi-Do, the LaRusso Auto dealership, about everything he wanted to know.

    The core of what Lucas understood was that Miyagi-Do, or rather what Daniel wanted for him, was trust.

    Trust above all.

    …

    In his room, Lucas texted Sam.

    hey, wyd rn?

    Sam almost leaped off her computer doing homework to text Lucas, laying on her stomach on her bed to tap away on her phone.

    nothin wbu

    i was just about to heat up dino nuggets

    Lucas chuckled at the fire emojis Sam sent him.

    im sorry if I was acting weird earlier this week. School's been odd and stuff

    you were acting weird earlier?

    Sam smiled at her phone screen, relieved Lucas was fine.

    anyways, where are you rn?

    laying on my bed, texting u

    can i see?

    Sam leaned up and noticed some of her cleavage was visible in the selfie of her smiling she was about to send.

    Was that what Lucas wanted right now? She was mainly trying to go off the advice everyone on the cheer squad gave her.

    Lucas saw the selfie and loved it instantly, making Sam glow when she saw the heart on it appear.

    i love your hair! your earrings look nice as hellll

    Lucas tapped his finger on his mouth, thinking.

    can I see a bit more?

    Sam texted her response angrily, and much faster than she meant to.

    why, don't you have Mack to hit up for that?

    It was at that point that Lucas left Sam on read, and the two rubbed their faces in their own bedrooms.

    "So stupid!" Sam threw her phone into her pillow, cupping her own face.

    "Such an idiot!" Lucas grunted in frustration.

    It appeared awkwardness was a stable state for the two.

    Luckily for Sam, the messages she shared with Miguel were far sweeter and kinder and never strayed from platonic jokes through Instagram.

    …

    …

    …
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Miguel Diaz and new Cobra Kai's students take Kresse teaching like fish to water and mutual hatred of their shared enemies at school are enough motivation for theses bullied teenagers, which relationship between Sam Larousso and Lucas remains in an sliding scale awkwardness and a possible relationship with their own personal barriers to get through if they actually want to actually go anywhere. As Sam and Miguel maintain an active platonic friendship online .
    As Miguel Diaz and Lucas simmering rivalry continues to boil on the surface in school and regular life at the outset. Along with a potential love triangle trainwreck waiting to happen for Miguel ,Lucas and Sam .
    Unfortunately, Cobra Kai dojo by Kresse is suddenly experiencing an unexpected revival that no one sees coming except Lucas, but he can't do nothing except weather the potential storm coming his way with the Larousso family in the valley at the meantime.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
     
    Lillie Jones said:
    Miguel Diaz and new Cobra Kai's students take Kresse teaching like fish to water and mutual hatred of their shared enemies at school are enough motivation for theses bullied teenagers, which relationship between Sam Larousso and Lucas remains in an sliding scale awkwardness and a possible relationship with their own personal barriers to get through if they actually want to actually go anywhere. As Sam and Miguel maintain an active platonic friendship online .
    As Miguel Diaz and Lucas simmering rivalry continues to boil on the surface in school and regular life at the outset. Along with a potential love triangle trainwreck waiting to happen for Miguel ,Lucas and Sam .
    Unfortunately, Cobra Kai dojo by Kresse is suddenly experiencing an unexpected revival that no one sees coming except Lucas, but he can't do nothing except weather the potential storm coming his way with the Larousso family in the valley at the meantime.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Wait till Robby becomes more important if you think the love triangle is a trainwreck.
     
    Book Two - Chapter 7
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Seven: Miyagisms

    …

    Lucas typically found that between Encino and around Van Nuys where Mr. Miyagi lived was too far to use his bicycle to ride to.

    So, in the mean time, he learned from Daniel LaRusso how to drive.

    "You drive like your mom." Daniel chuckled.

    "Is that a compliment?" he asked, braking before a stop light.

    "It is," Daniel said. "One time, she crashed one of Mr. Miyagi's favorite cars."

    "So then how is that a compliment?"

    Daniel sighed. "Because admittedly, the brakes were shot and Ali'd been warning me for months."

    "You let my mom drive a car without brakes?"

    Daniel frowned. "I was stubborn at the time and didn't want to admit she was right. It was why we broke up at the time."

    "So if she hadn't crashed that car. I might not have even been born?"

    "You're asking me if I'd be your dad?" asked Daniel calmly.

    "Well no I'm just." Lucas pulled into the street next to Mr. Miyagi's house. "Asking a hypothetical."

    They began to leave Daniel's luxurious car when he asked. "As long as we're asking hypotheticals. Do you have feelings for my daughter?"

    Lucas froze. For a fifteen year old he was rather concise, but failed to be so at the moment.

    Daniel chuckled, patting Lucas' shoulder. "It's fine, let's get to work."

    They walked to Mr. Miyagi's backyard and he spoke. "Today's task is simple."

    Daniel waved a hand to the pond full of real koi. "Catch a fish."

    "Excuse me?"

    "Without fishing rods or any equipment of any sort." said Daniel. "Miyagi-Do karate, as per Okinawan tradition, prides itself on only needing open hands to complete tasks."

    Daniel spoke and Lucas listened. "Kara means open, and te, hand. Karate. You will use your open hand, to catch a fish by day's end."

    Lucas took a long sigh.

    "Fine."

    "I'll leave you to it."

    "Where are you going?" asked Lucas.

    "To help Amanda with paperwork. It's inventory day."

    "Shouldn't I be there?"

    Daniel shook his head with a smile. "No. Your internship is served best here, good luck."

    Daniel left Lucas alone in Mr. Miyagi's backyard, and he began to fish with his bare hands.

    After several minutes, he had no luck at all.

    Lucas glanced towards Mr. Miyagi's home with a mutter. "Hope I'm making you proud my man." he then rolled his eyes.

    …

    Yasmine muttered, her fake nail tapping Sam's phone screen. "Hm."

    "So?"

    Yasmine, Moon, and Sam were all sitting together in a cafe booth.

    "Hm," Yasmine repeated.

    Yasmine kept scrolling through Sam's texts until she reached the bottom.

    Yasmine nodded, putting Sam's phone down and sliding it to her across the table.

    "Yeah." said Yasmine quietly. "He's definitely interested. Very interested."

    "Did I mess up? He hasn't texted me in almost a week and I know he sees my dad like almost every day for karate."

    Moon shrugged. "Guys will ghost when things get awkward. I do the same, it's no big deal."

    "Look you screwed up when you brought up Mackenzie," said Yasmine. "For all you know nothing actually happened."

    "But hasn't she been flirting with him?" Sam asked.

    Moon rolled her eyes. "Yeah but it's not like you two are together."

    Yasmine was looking at her sitting directly on her left, sipping her boba.

    "What?" Moon shrunk in her seat a little.

    Sam looked at Yasmine. "What should I do?"

    "The best way to get a guy's attention is to play the flirt game." Yasmine said. "Flirt here with one person, flirt with another. And then, flirt with him."

    "You mean talk to other people?"

    Yasmine smiled. "You know who's hot? Miguel Diaz."

    Moon took a casual and quick sip of her iced tea.

    "Yeah so?" asked Sam.

    "Ask him out," Yasmine said. "Or, better yet. Hit him up, see when he asks you out."

    "Wait." Moon paused. "Miguel hasn't asked you out yet?"

    "No. Should he have?"

    Moon and Yasmine spoke over each other, saying "No!" and "Yes!" respectively.

    "Wait." Sam looked at Moon. "Why shouldn't he have yet?"

    "Because you're clearly still interested in Luke." Moon shrugged, frowning.

    "See? This is exactly what I'm talking about." Yasmine said. "Miguel's probably thinking the same thing. You show interest in just him, and Luke will come running with his tail between his legs."

    Yasmine pouted, making a frowny face.

    "But isn't that dishonest? I really want to be with Luke, Miguel's pretty cool but I just met him."

    "So?" scoffed Yasmine. "Boys are dumb like that, they'll only show maximum interest when you stop caring. Besides, guys have dated like that for ages, nothing wrong if it's your turn."

    Moon squinted, slightly rubbing the back of her head. "Um, have you ever given any thought as to if this blows up in your face? And Lucas legitimately gets sick of you flirting with both him and Miguel?"

    "Why would he? He knows Mack is just messing with him?" Yasmine said.

    "Yeah but if I knew a guy was talking to another girl just to piss me off and get me interested again," muttered Moon. "I'd just bail."

    "Luke's desperate, trust me. I bet all he can think about when he's at karate is you." Yasmine turned from Moon to look across the booth table at Sam. "Again, des, per, ate." Yasmine enunciated clearly.

    …

    "Come on!"

    Lucas splashed the water of Mr. Miyagi's pond angrily as he roared.

    He did squats, practiced kata, and trimmed the grass of Mr. Miyagi's backyard lawn a little. Anything to get his mind clear, the entire time staring at the pond trying to figure out how to catch a fish with his bare hands.

    It seemed no matter how hard he tried, the koi fish always moved around at the last second, he could barely get close.

    "This is such bullshit." he muttered with his sleeves rolled up.

    …

    Amanda sipped her coffee in the LaRusso Auto head office.

    "You left him alone at your childhood home?" asked Amanda.

    "I've done it all summer too, nothing new." Daniel shrugged while watching Anoush sell a Kia to a newly wed couple from his office window.

    Amanda raised an eyebrow. "But you knew he couldn't have done it on his own. Why torture him?"

    "That's the lesson Mr. Miyagi taught me," Daniel said. "Sometimes, you just have to ask for help."

    "Honey." Amanda winced. "Sometimes I feel like you create your problems on your own."

    "What are you talking about?"

    "This Cobra Kai nonsense." sighed out Amanda. "Don't get me wrong, John Kreese sounds like a nut case. But his students are all a bunch of kids, and can be reasoned with. Maybe talking to them all could solve things."

    "Not even Johnny Lawrence has changed since high school. Why would teenagers change?"

    "Johnny came up with his own dojo for the last All Valley." corrected Amanda. "It was just him and his son, not some deranged gang of violent psychopaths."

    Daniel frowned. "I thought we were talking about Lucas."

    "I don't think metaphorical lessons are what's meant for him. Trimming bonsai, washing cars, nailing fence boards. He's been doing chores for the past five months, you need to accept he's a very competitive person."

    Daniel listened.

    "Didn't Mr. Miyagi teach you actual karate at some point?"

    "Amanda I-" Daniel frowned. "I taught Lucas the moves. He learned pretty much all of them already."

    "In only a year?"

    "What he could've he more than learned." summarized Daniel. "But this kind of training is just as important as the rest."

    "Maybe if you'd accept his competitiveness instead of trying to squash it he'd grow more. And you could grow more as a teacher." Amanda shrugged, clicking and working on paperwork for the LaRusso Auto dealership. "I don't know. That's just me."

    Daniel nodded silently but still left the office to try the popcorn offered to customers.

    "Hey cus look at this nonsense."

    Louie walked up to Daniel and showed him a yellow paper John Kreese was using the advertise his dojo.

    Strike like a Cobra - The Real All Valley Champions

    "Can you believe this freaking guy? Acting like you're some sorta fake?"

    "I'm sure that's not what he meant," said Daniel.

    "Then what did he mean?" asked Louie.

    Daniel shrugged. "I really just don't care."

    "You don't?"

    "No."

    "Sometimes I feel like this Zen thing you got going for you, is what lets this asshole think he can get away with shit like this." Louie handed Daniel the flyer and then walked off.

    Daniel held the yellow paper in his hand, showing two pictures of John Kreese extending a fist forward and of an unknown karateka in a white Cobra Kai GI and belt breaking a board with a round kick.

    Daniel shook his head, sighing and then throwing the paper away.

    …

    Daniel returned to Miyagi-Do to see Lucas completely wet, he had gotten into the pond himself.

    He watched silently, Lucas was struggling to even get his hands or feet close to the fish.

    "You okay?"

    "Having some." Lucas splashed wildly, even trying to smack a koi out of the water to hopefully get it to land anywhere on the grass nearby. "Trouble here."

    "Need some help?"

    "Nope!" said Lucas.

    Daniel watched carefully.

    "Although, that's the lesson isn't it?" Lucas kept his back turned to Daniel. "You help me, and I trust you?"

    Daniel wasn't even that surprised Lucas had learned the lesson mostly on his own, he was just surprised at Lucas' refusal to get out of the pond water.

    Lucas turned, shaking his head. "What was the point of the lesson? Trust? Respect?"

    Daniel muttered calmly. "Humility." he glanced away.

    "Well that's the thing, humility isn't something you're supposed to try at. If it doesn't come naturally, it's not humility now is it?"

    Lucas then walked out of the pond soaked from head to toe.

    He used a towel and spoke. "I'd appreciate an awkward car ride home so I can wash up please."

    Daniel nodded in thought as Lucas walked off toward his car.

    …

    Lucas stayed completely silent on the drive between Mr. Miyagi's house and the Mills Manor in Encino.

    "You did well."

    "Thanks," Lucas said dryly.

    "No I mean, for telling me when I was wrong."

    "It honestly almost never happens so." Lucas smiled down at his lap.

    "Thanks but," Daniel chuckled. "You're right. I shouldn't have forced you to try to ask for help."

    "I honestly needed it, the only way I was gonna catch one of those damned fish was with a net of some kind or another person."

    "Lucas the reason why I tell you to learn to stand before you can fly applies to more than just the crane kick. It applies to life."

    Lucas listened.

    "You have to learn all the aspects of Miyagi-Do to make sure you're prepared. Mr. Miyagi taught me to respect him, myself, and the time it took to grow and learn. Without that, I never could've raised a family, started my own business."

    Daniel smiled and Lucas smiled back. "Or met you."

    Lucas nodded a tiny bit in thought. "Mr. Miyagi shaped you."

    "More importantly, I shaped him," said Daniel. "He never had a son before, and through that I think I made him a happier person."

    Lucas smiled again.

    "You have to realize that Luke." Daniel said. "Karate, just like anything you do. Doesn't lie in the achievements or the prizes or the titles. It lies inside of you, it starts with you, and what you do. It's faith, faith in yourself."

    "Strong roots."

    "Exactly."

    Lucas nodded to himself.

    …

    At West Valley the next day, the Lucas and his friends chatted together.

    "What do you think that all means?"

    "That you should probably find a new Karate Sensei," Robby said.

    The boys all chuckled together next to their lockers, even Lucas broke a smile.

    "I'm serious, faith in myself? How can I ever have faith in just myself when I'm not even old enough to drive a car?"

    "Dude, you have to take it with a grain of salt." said Robby. "He just wants you trust everything he teaches you. You're his only student, your dojo technically isn't open."

    Demetri shrugged. "You've spent so much time with him at this point of course he'd trust you right? I think he is worried about you and Sam though."

    Eli nudged him and Robby turned to him.

    "Can you two give us a second?'

    The Binary Brothers walked off, and Robby spoke to Lucas.

    "The offer still stands man," said Robby, leaning on his locker. "Anytime you want to train with me and my dad. Just ask."

    "I don't think I'm ready to become a, Steel Eagle just yet."

    Robby chuckled. "Luke my dad's competed for years, he helped me reach the semis of the All Valley in just my first competition. I've never seen him as excited to see anyone fight as much as he saw you fight."

    Lucas nodded and Robby scoffed. "Almost makes me jealous man."

    "Thanks dude."

    "Just train one time with us. You tell me almost every week about how weird Miyagi-Do is, I get you're tight with Sam's dad but. You can drop the charade, learn how to fight." Robby squinted. "We'd kick so much ass together."

    Lucas smiled a little at the idea and then Robby turned. "Besides."

    Dieter, Miguel, Edwin, Mitch, and the other Cobra Kai boys were all chatting nearby.

    "Someone needs to put those guys in their place. At the rate they're growing, they'll have a full team ready for the All Valley next May. It's a historic occasion, the fiftieth anniversary, we can't let them win."

    "You'll always lose a fight if you look for one."

    "That's what I'm talking about man," said Robby. "You need to look at what's right in front of you. Stop with this Dalai Lama stuff." Lucas kept listening as he watched Miguel chat with his friends. "You let him come between you and Sam, he made her think the wrong thing about you."

    Lucas glanced back at Robby. "His Sensei tried to kill my dad. These people are messed up man, they're just messed. Up."

    "So what do you want to do?"

    "Join Steel Eagle, help grow the dojo. And-"

    "Then what?" asked Lucas. "Get into a turf war with the Cobra Kais over a girl and some bullshit texts? That's literally letting them drag us down to their level."

    "Which is what I'm saying! Don't let them have an opportunity to keep messing with you."

    Lucas spoke quietly and calmly to Robby. "You're my best friend man, but against Cobra Kai? You do not Strike First."

    "Luke, you could end this whole thing with one conversation."

    Lucas sighed.

    "Tell them. Tell them you were Kreese's student, tell them you chose to train with Mr. L and my dad, and they'll realize they messed up."

    "I shouldn't have told you about any of that. But look," Lucas shook his head. "The worst they've done so far is fake a text. They wouldn't listen to me."

    "So they swoop all the hot girls around and you just take that?"

    Lucas walked off.

    "Hey!" said Robby.

    …

    Miguel sat down next to Demetri and Sam in Mr. Palmer's Biology class.

    "Afternoon guys."

    "Hey." Sam smiled while Demetri merely kept taking notes.

    Miguel spoke to Sam quietly taking a seat next to her. "You catch that Dodger's game?"

    "Not really. I'm more into basketball."

    "That's why you picked a Laker's girl outfit on Halloween?"

    Sam nodded. "Yup. I get courtside seats all season."

    "Nice. I've, I mean. My family's never really had the money to go to a basketball game so, I'm sure it's probably fun."

    Sam smiled at Miguel slightly. "Do you wanna go with me?"

    "W-What?"

    "Do you wanna go to a Laker's game with me? My dad hasn't really used the tickets in a minute so I think we'd both have fun."

    Miguel smiled brightly. "Definitely. Sounds great to me."

    Mr. Palmer began class and both Sam and Miguel had smiles on their faces doing their assignments.

    …

    Cheer practice at West Valley High School consisted mainly of stretching, followed by several minutes of practicing synchronized cheers, dances, and tumbling.

    By the end of it, the girls were all sweaty, sore, and tired after nearly an hour of a half of non stop practice.

    Sam, Lindsay, and Mackenzie all were sharing a metal shower machine that sprayed hot water in different directions as they talked happily.

    The girls all had pearly white smooth skin, and long perfect curves and hair. After rubbing hot water and soap on themselves for a few minutes they dried up put on underwear and an assortment of clean gym clothes and then chatted amongst themselves in the locker room.

    Sam fixed her hair using a mirror Mackenzie let her borrow. "Miguel and I are going to a Lakers game."

    "Very nice." Yasmine chuckled, starting to apply makeup to her face. "Taking my advice will get you very far I'm sure."

    "Remember," Mackenzie said. "No matter how cute he is, don't let him get far at all on a first date."

    Moon froze at the statement, she was already getting to leave and appeared upset at what Sam said for a moment.

    "Honestly it's weird, the two cutest guys I can think of around here both take karate." Mackenzie chuckled.

    "What's the name of Miguel's karate dojo?" wondered Sam.

    "No clue." Yasmine popped her lips, as she was done with her lipstick. "I swear, this karate trend makes no sense at all. There's a guy in every one of my classes who joined."

    "How can people like a trend sooo dumb?" Lindsay groaned.

    "Give it some time," said Mackenzie. "And people will definitely forget about it."

    "I think I have an essay I forgot to finish for English due," Moon said, putting her backpack over her shoulder.

    "You sure you're not coming to our usual spot?" Lindsay asked.

    Moon shook her head. "Sorry I can't."

    Everyone waved to her and Mackenzie muttered. "Wonder what has her in such a hurry. I'm pretty sure Moon has a C in English."

    "No idea." said Yasmine.

    Sam appeared to know, however.

    She wasn't fooled at all for a fleeting second.

    …

    Lucas and Eli were the highest scoring sophomores in their Honors World History class.

    They regularly competed for top grades on tests and projects and everyone knew were the best of friends.

    Eli wasn't chatty in class at all, and Lucas appeared to be the only person he talked to in fifth period World History class.

    The teacher was a very old man with glasses and a long beard, who spoke in the driest voice.

    "Alright class today we're gonna be learning about the Industrial Revolution."

    After the most boring lecture possible, he assigned groups of three for a project.

    "Hey." Moon smiled, walking over to the two boys.

    "Hey." Lucas nodded as Eli shrunk into his seat, sticking his nose instantly into a book.

    Lucas spoke quietly. "I think we've got it covered, no need to meet up with us or anything."

    Moon was surprised. "Don't need a top cheerleader to waste her time with icky nerds."

    Moon was shocked and almost insulted. "What?"

    "I'm saying that Eli and I can get an easy A."

    "I'm sure you two can but I want to help too." said Moon. "I actually read the textbook."

    "Really?" Lucas looked apologetic. "Sweet!"

    "Yeah." Moon frowned, glancing at her phone as the class discussed together in groups of three.

    "I mean, I didn't." Lucas cleared his throat. "Anyway. I think I'll make a group chat with you and Eli, and we can knock this out in one weekend."

    "That sounds fine but um." Moon cleared her throat. "I was actually thinking we could all go to my place to do the project."

    "That sounds fine too." said Lucas. "And I'm sorry for-"

    "Don't worry about it. Please."

    The two chuckled awkwardly and began writing down ideas for their assigned Industrial Revolution project.

    …

    Later that week on a Friday evening, Eli and Lucas went to Moon's house.

    It was a luxurious home that could easily host a back to school party at the end of a summer, but for the night it was a place where Moon, Lucas, Eli all spent hours writing, drawing, and researching.

    It had taken an entire afternoon, but they were sure they completed all the steps necessary.

    "Alright." Lucas snapped his laptop shut, rubbing eyes. "Looks good to me."

    Eli said among the few words he had all day. "I think my mom's here."

    "Well hey man, I'll see you-"

    Eli rushed out of the house and Moon's living room.

    Lucas and Moon were well aware of how shy he was around girls.

    Moon chuckled, nodding in the direction of Eli's flight. "He's pretty cute you know. Is he seeing anyone?"

    "Not really. Are you?"

    "Nope."

    "You don't have some giant super quarterback boyfriend?"

    Moon chuckled. "That's flattering but no, I'm not seeing anyone."

    Lucas checked his phone. "I should probably get going soon."

    "Great work on the project though." Moon smiled.

    She curled her hand slightly around his arm, inching closer to him on the couch. "I really appreciate all your help."

    "Thanks." Lucas noticed this but didn't say anything.

    "I got some new indica my mom gave me for my birthday. Wanna try it?"

    "Is that weed?"

    Moon smiled. "Yup!"

    Lucas nodded, looking around Moon's living room in thought.

    "Okay, sounds good to me."

    …

    Moon and Lucas spent the next two hours smoking marijuana together, watching random things on her couch, eating snacks, and making out.

    Moon snuggled with him beneath a blanket.

    "So that project was fun." said Moon.

    Lucas laughed, speaking in a slightly deeper voice now after all the weed he had smoked with her. "It really was."

    Moon giggled, rubbing her nose against her chin. "Did you have fun?" she asked.

    "I did, but I have to be back home in a bit for dinner with my grandparents."

    "There's gotta be something I can do to convince you to stay."

    Lucas sighed when Moon pecked his cheek. "That sounds fun but yeah I really do have to go soon."

    Moon climbed onto Lucas' lap, the blanket falling off them for a moment. "Hey."

    "Yeah?"

    "Sam asked out Miguel to make you jealous."

    Lucas' expression changed instantly. "I'm sorry what?" he blinked repeatedly as if slapped.

    "She did. I didn't actually think she'd be that petty but she was 'cause you ghosted her for a week." Lucas stayed frozen when Moon kissed his chin and neck for a moment, resting her head against his shoulder. "Sam sucks dude, you deserve better."

    "Thanks."

    Lucas shook his thoughts away and then he spoke.

    "Hey Moon."

    "Yeah?" she closed her eyes, nuzzling against his body.

    "Do you know what it means to have faith in yourself?"

    "Speaks for itself doesn't it?"

    Lucas shook his head. "No but actually."

    "Hm." Moon sighed. "I think I do."

    "What is it?"

    "You have to only do the first thing that comes from your heart. It's how I live my life actually." Moon picked up a blunt and lit it, then sharing it with Lucas.

    Lucas smoked it as well and nodded slightly. "So, the first thing from my heart?" he coughed quietly.

    "Definitely." said Moon.

    …

    "Promise you won't get worried?"

    Daniel nodded, crossing his arms and watching Lucas the next day. "I promise."

    Lucas removed the wooden board and the bonsai atop the pond in Mr. Miyagi's backyard.

    Daniel watched curiously and quietly.

    Lucas then stood up on the edge of the pond, turned around, and closed his eyes.

    Daniel's eyes widened when Lucas plunged back first into the pond water.

    Several water droplets flew about, a koi fish's tail even appeared to fling about for a moment, and there was an inordinate amount of splashing.

    Then there was some silence after all the aquatic chaos. Daniel was worried, the pond wasn't dangerous at all for him, but he was wondering just what in the world Lucas had planned.

    When Daniel neared the pond, a hand was raised upwards.

    A victorious fist clenching a koi within it.

    …

    A towel over his shoulder, Lucas was driven home by a very happy Daniel.

    "Even Mr. Miyagi would've been surprised." Daniel said. "You're still all wet behind the ear."

    Lucas sighed. "Thanks."

    "How'd you do it?"

    "I don't know, it sounds dumb but eh. I followed my heart."

    Daniel laughed quietly. "Sounds like you followed my lessons the right way."

    "Again, thanks."

    "I met this kid named Miguel last night, Sam introduced us, they went out to see the Laker's game."

    Lucas turned away. "Cool, good for them," he said, despite him hiding the fact he didn't feel that way at all.

    "What? You're upset?"

    "I've got dates of my own lined up Mr. L, I don't think Sam ever liked me that much."

    "Alright then." Daniel said, unconvinced on both accounts.

    For the rest of the car ride, neither said a word, Lucas too deep in thought, and Daniel unable to break the silence.

    …

    …

    …
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Come on, Luke strike back against Miguel Diaz and his Cobra Kai wannabe posse , Not that I'm liking Zen balanced Luke here, but I'm missing take charge aggressive Cobra Kai Luke here and Robby Keane is right for once don't let them walk over you Luke with their Cobra Kai teenage drama .
    While Sam and Luke play ring around the Rosie with different partners at school like Moon at her house ,which we don't know for sure yet if Miguel and Sammy are actually official relationship or Sam and Luke don't know how to identify their rather ambiguous ,vague relationship status with their complicated feelings towards each other.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
     
    Book 2 - Chapter 8
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Eight: Fear Does Not Exist

    …

    Aisha Robinson hated Yasmine on a daily basis, and it was hard not to.

    Every day at school she had to be reminded of why she was called 'cheeto pig.'

    One day she walked up to her at her lunch table and spoke to her.

    "I know this is you." Aisha showed the video making fun of her on her phone.

    Mackenzie, Sam, Moon, and the other cheerleaders stopped chatting.

    Yasmine shrugged. "You got any proof?"

    "Don't need any. I just want to say you're disgusting."

    "At least I'm not fugly."

    Mackenzie chuckled with a few of the others, Sam and Moon looked uncomfortable.

    Miguel turned around in his chair sitting at a table nearby with the rest of Cobra Kai. "Why don't you go fuck yourself?"

    A few people laughed and 'Ooh'd"

    Lucas smirked from nearby, munching on a french fry while watching everything with Demetri, Robby, and Eli.

    Yasmine barely glanced at Miguel. "I'm not scared of you just cause you have a little karate gang now." she turned to Aisha with a smirk. "You can try to scare me all you want and it won't change anything. None of the guys you hang out or any others would want to touch you with a ten foot pole."

    Aisha was chuckled at and embarrassed, before quickly returning to her table with Miguel.

    Robby muttered to Lucas. "Think we should do something?"

    "Nah man, this'll be interesting." Lucas kept snacking as if the entire thing was his favorite film.

    …

    "Ais!"

    Kreese watched his best students spar on his mat with crossed arms.

    Despite being his friend a girl, Miguel had to try harder than he did with anyone else when he was sparring with Aisha. Aisha was faster and stronger than everyone else in Cobra Kai, as well as the most skilled.

    Aisha and Miguel circled each other, and Aisha struck first, baiting a counter with a jab and then catching Miguel on the temple with her heel with perfect timing but extra aggression almost knocking Miguel down.

    Wearing white GIs, Dieter and Edwin raised red flags.

    Miguel was reeling, huffing quietly.

    "Point, hook kick." Kreese muttered calmly as Aisha bowed to accept the score. "Two one. Continue."

    Miguel was the one to apply pressure now, trying a spinning back kick that nearly caught Aisha but missed by two inches.

    Aisha circled Miguel, then spun underneath a round kick to the temple Miguel sent to her head to clinch hard, break while still grabbing Miguel by the lapel of his GI, and then try to punch him quite hard in the jaw.

    Miguel quickly dodged, clinching hard again.

    "Break."

    Aisha and Miguel refused to listen, still at close range.

    "Break!" Kreese said louder seeing the teens were ignoring him. "Stop."

    Miguel and Aisha returned to their lines.

    He spun a finger in the air and tapped his lips to indicate a penalty, Dieter and Edwin agreed by raising a flag upwards in front of them.

    "Warning to both of you." Kreese said quietly. "Gotta listen to my orders. Ready!? Ais!"

    Miguel faked, dodged, countered, and was first on the next score.

    He timed a round kick to Aisha's back as soon as he made her own round kick miss and countered.

    "Stop!" barked Kreese.

    Aisha clenched her jaw, silently furious, but fuming.

    "Two two. Ready!? Fight!"

    Aisha made it too obvious when she was trying to score and what she was trying to do, despite her skill, Miguel was able to time her as well as bait her into situations she had to fail in.

    Aisha roared as she missed her jabs, Miguel circled her around the ring before calmly countering with his rear hand with ease.

    "And stop!"

    Aisha was fuming again.

    "Three two. Winner, Diaz."

    Miguel was barely finished bowing to Kreese before Aisha shoulder tackled him to the ground.

    Kreese merely watched the ensuing struggle with crossed hands without a word.

    Aisha tried pummeling Miguel and he managed to pull her off him.

    When Miguel was able to stand back up without sustaining any serious damage and Aisha tried to continue to engage, then Kreese spoke.

    "Enough!"

    That was enough to get Aisha to freeze.

    "Robinson, my office."

    "Yes Sensei!" Aisha panted, rubbing her rib cage.

    Kreese waited until she was out of earshot to speak to the boys.

    "This is very important."

    Mitch, Bert, and the other Cobra Kais all listened.

    "Diaz won his sparring match, but it was clear Robinson was out for blood. This doesn't often happen at tournaments, but a very important aspect of karate is awareness. Never take your eyes off your opponent, whether bowing or anything. Until you leave the ring or a confrontation, do not leave your guard down. Understood?"

    "Yes Sensei!"

    "Dismissed."

    Miguel was still woozy from the spar. "It's not fair, if I don't hold back, I look bad since she's a girl."

    Kreese barely smirked. "It's funny."

    "What?"

    "You weren't holding back." Kreese turned to walk to his office.

    …

    "Sensei, I was-"

    "Save it." Kreese sat down at his office.

    He crossed his hands on his desk. "Diaz beating you isn't enough to set you off like that. What's going on with you today?"

    "I'm supposed to leave everything going on with me at the door when we practice." Kreese raised an eyebrow as Aisha sat in front of him.

    "But you didn't. Now tell me, is something going on with your parents? Something at school?"

    Aisha shook her head. "I um. Someone's been harassing me online, calling me fat and ugly. But I know who it is."

    Kreese nodded. "And what have you done about it?"

    "Everything." Aisha said exasperated. "Talked to teachers, her friends. But it changes nothing, why is nothing working?"

    Kreese squinted at Aisha. "Let me tell you a little story."

    "Okay."

    "When I was young, my mother was ill."

    "How sick?"

    "Gravely."

    Aisha fixed her glasses quietly.

    "She refused help, denied what everyone knew. Her condition got worse and worse, until one day. It took her life."

    Kreese sighed. "I always wondered what I could've done differently, and the answer is simple. Act. Life will always present challenges to you, the consequences may be severe if you don't act sometimes. But never as bad as if you do. Is that understood?"

    "You're telling me to kick her ass."

    Kreese scoffed. "I'm telling you to make it clear to this person either she will stop. Or you will stop her. Is that understood?"

    Aisha nodded. "Yes Sensei."

    Aisha was dismissed with a wave of Kreese's hand and she paused in his doorway of the Reseda strip mall dojo office.

    "Sensei Kreese?"

    He turned with a nod from filing a few papers.

    "I think I might hurt her pretty badly. And a friend of mine will never forgive me for it."

    Kreese looked at Aisha calmly. "And I will never forgive you if you let someone hurt you and get away with it. You're a champion Ms. Robinson, show your strength. Accept the consequences, and learn that they may fear you today. But never make fun of you tomorrow."

    Aisha nodded.

    …

    The next day at school, Lucas Schwarber was uneasy.

    He kept his eye on Aisha Robinson all day during a few of their classes together, and then before lunch in the hallway, it happened.

    "Hey Yasmine!"

    Everyone chatting in the hall stopped.

    Yasmine stopped applying makeup using her locker mirror, Mackenzie, Sam, and Moon froze.

    "Stop cyberbullying me, or I'm gonna stop you." Aisha said plainly, looking right at Yasmine's eyes.

    Yasmine froze too. "Uh. I already said I don't know what you're talking about."

    "You heard me."

    Lucas was chuckling at a joke Eli told him shyly before exiting his class, seeing the scene.

    The girls were about to start arguing before Lucas walked up inbetween them. "Yas, we all know it's you, cut the shit. Stop, it's messed up."

    "It is her." someone else in the hall said as a few muttered in agreement.

    Miguel piped up, a few Cobra Kais were watching. "Stay out of this man."

    Yasmine laughed. "Now he's right. It was me, I'm sorry, and I'm done."

    She turned away, closed her locker and began to leave before muttering under her breath.

    "Done with Fuglisha that is."

    The hallway laughed for a second and that was it for Aisha.

    In half a second, she turned her around and broke Yasmine's nose with one solid straight punch.

    She screamed, bleeding, and holding her nose.

    "Aisha what the hell!?" shrieked Sam.

    Lucas was shocked and surprised, a few others were as well.

    Demetri had only seen that and spoke. "I'm gonna go get a teacher." he patted Lucas' shoulder and ran.

    Miguel had an eyebrow raised in Lucas' direction, disturbing him a little bit.

    …

    Following Aisha's subsequent suspension for three days, West Valley High School never said the words 'Cheeto Pig' or 'Fuglisha' again.

    However, everyone looked at both Aisha and Cobra Kai with both fear and respect. Since it was known that Yasmine was a bully.

    Lucas found Yasmine sitting quietly on her phone near the gym where she was sitting out from cheer practice.

    "Doesn't look too bad."

    Yasmine sniffled, wiping her eyes still. "Liar."

    Lucas chuckled. "I'm sorry about the spaghetti thing last year and tossing it over you, I-"

    "No no. I was totally messed up for-"

    "Look. Everyone's still a little shaken up over what happened. The important thing is that I don't think anyone will be cyberbullying anyone ever again." Yasmine smiled as Lucas sat down next to her. "But, why did you do that?"

    "I don't know, because I thought it'd be funny?"

    "You don't seem like the kind of person to fuck with someone that much just for kicks."

    "Are you saying I'm messed up?"

    Lucas nodded. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

    Yasmine scoffed. "Well, I'm not."

    Lucas nodded again quietly.

    "I'm not!"

    Lucas sighed. "I'm sure it's pretty personal."

    Yasmine took a deep breath. "Yeah."

    "You look like you could use some cheering up."

    "Maybe I could."

    "What say you to mini golf?" asked Lucas.

    Yasmine scoffed. "I thought you were into Moon."

    "Nah we're just friends."

    "And Sam?"

    "We're just neighbors."

    "Awfully flirtatious neighbors."

    The two chuckled together.

    "Yas I genuinely just want to hang out as friends, not a date. It'd be good for us."

    Yasmine nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great."

    "Your nose doesn't look that great by the way."

    "Thanks." Yasmine said dryly as Lucas nodded to her and walked off.

    …

    …

    …

    A/N:

    Hey guys, month long hiatus but I'm back. Not to spoil anything, but next chapter will include a fight at Golf 'N Stuff's arcade. Besides that, I'm hoping to see some more reviews if you can spare the time to give me your guys' thoughts? I'd really appreciate it, positive or negative, I want to hear honest feedback for how I'm doing and where the fic's going.

    Anyway, stay safe out there guys and see you soon.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Well now things are heating up, which Miguel Diaz and Aisha have a decent sparring match that gets out of hand with Kresse giving some extra Cobra Kai advice for young Aisha with Aisha being the most skilled of the new Cobra Kai's students generation.
    As Kresse teaching tells her the story of his ailing mother either the bully stops or Aisha strikes back hard against her tormentor .
    Which is the situation that Kucss and everyone walks into the school hallway this morning, as Aisha knocked a solid knock out against Yasmin.
    Whilst won't be the first or last time of these incidents occurring again at School with a potential Domino effect sooner or later.
    As Yasmin has a laugh at Lucas complicated love life at high school that Isn't really defined yet on chosen partner after treating her nose and potential rivial Miguel Diaz and Cobra Kai bands growing reputation at school hits a new high
    Lucas hasn't had a chance to step in nor intervene, but Cobra Kai kids hasn't escalated to critical levels yet for the moment.
    We'll see how it goes next time for Lucas and Sam Larousso, and Cobra Kai's students makes waves at school.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
     
    The Cobra Kai kids are going to be rudely awakened when they try to mess with Lucas later on. He has more experience with their arts and would know how to counter their moves. Also when would his friend group going to learn how to fight later on?
     
    Chapter Nine: Diaz and Chu

    …

    Miguel Diaz had Mackenzie on Snapchat since the time she had added him during class.

    He received a very random message from her the evening after Aisha broke Yasmine's nose.

    heyy what r u up to?

    Miguel stopped doing his homework and checked his phone, surprised someone as attractive as Mackenzie was talking to him. He responded honestly and quickly.

    Just at home, studying

    niice, hey you wanna hang out? if you're down, i'm done with piano practice in about an hour

    Miguel stared at his phone silently in shock. He hadn't known someone as intelligent, desired, beautiful, or respected at his school like Mackenzie. She was Cheer Captain, a Junior, and the top of her class. Miguel often wondered why she had even bothered talking to him sometimes at school.

    Sure!

    kk cool, just wondering tho. are your parents home?

    Miguel breathed a sigh of relief.

    No, my mom is working an extra shift and my grandma's at bingo.

    alright, I'll be at your place by 8 send me your address

    Mackenzie added a few kissy face emojis.

    Miguel quickly sent him his apartment unit location in Reseda and Mackenzie responded with a thumbs up emoji.

    He immediately organized his room and a bit of his house, changed his clothes and put on some deodorant. This was the first time in his life he expected to have a living breathing girl in his room.

    Miguel constantly hung out with his friends from Cobra Kai, but Aisha never really connected as deeply with any of them because they were all boys. They were all still friends, but Aisha was still left out to go to Carmen Diaz's apartment.

    Miguel truly didn't know much about Mackenzie, making him wonder why all of a sudden she wanted to spend time with him. She was a very respectful and kind girl from what he'd seen, a bit flirtatious but in a friendly way, not an awkward one.

    All he knew was that she was from a very wealthy Korean family and that Miguel and her had been able to start talking about their common interests in certain sports.

    The message where Mackenzie strongly included her cleavage in a Snapchat message from her car merely added to his confusion and, a bit of his hope.

    omw ;)

    After anxiously waiting in the living room for a bit, there was a knock at the door.

    Miguel walked opened his front door and Mackenzie stood there, wearing a simple pair of jeans and a blue track suit top with West Valley High School's cheer team logo and her name, M. Chu.

    "Hey." Miguel smiled.

    "Hi." Mackenzie said calmly. "So, we doing this or what?"

    "Doing." Miguel paused. "What?"

    "What do you think?" Mackenzie shrugged. "Fucking." she added bluntly.

    Miguel froze.

    "If you're cool with that, that is." She said.

    Miguel cleared his throat. "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I am, definitely."

    "Cool." Mackenzie beamed quickly and entered his house.

    Miguel vaguely led Mackenzie to his room.

    …

    Afterward, Miguel was a bit sweaty and nude beneath the covers while Mackenzie laid next to him, her hair had barely even moved.

    "That moved quickly."

    Mackenzie nodded quietly. "Felt it was time I made it clear what I wanted from you."

    "H-How was it?" asked Miguel.

    "Fine, you're a bit inexperienced, but that's not your fault." she said in her calm voice.

    Miguel could tell that meant Mackenzie was more experienced than him. Not that he minded, he truly was grateful Mackenzie was able to even give him the time of day.

    Mackenzie checked her phone, sighing. "Damn."

    "What?"

    "I forgot I promised to meet with my parents to start talking about Berkely."

    "You're going to UC Berkely?"

    Mackenzie shrugged. "I don't know yet, I like to keep my options open." she said as if it was the most casual thing in the world meanwhile Miguel might as well have been talking to her from a different room.

    Mackenzie then slipped naked out of Miguel's bedroom and proceeded to dress herself and tie her sleek jet black hair into a ponytail. Miguel felt a bit proud of himself, albeit slightly confused at the speed Mackenzie had jumped into bed with him.

    Mackenzie was hot. Smart, applied, people knew she was going places. Mackenzie had perfect skin, eyes, a gorgeous body honed from years of sports, and at the click of her fingers Miguel was ready for her.

    The only question Miguel had asked himself was why? Why so suddenly? Not that he was complaining about the view, far from it.

    The sight still had a freezing effect on Miguel, despite the fact that he had proven to himself he could physically attract girls to a degree this serious.

    "So, you gotta go?"

    "Yup." she said. "I'll talk to you at school. Hit me up when you hang out again 'kay?"

    Miguel soaked in the full feeling of an opened mouthed kiss with Mackenzie before she left. The teen needed a nap after a full week of school, karate, and spending time with his friends non stop before he took out the garbage.

    It was there he saw Robby Keene.

    "Sup man?" he asked suddenly and awkwardly.

    His neighbor squinted at him. "Sup." Robby returned curtly.

    "How have you been?"

    "Just fine. A bit um, nevermind."

    "Nah what is it?"

    Robby put his hands in his jacket pockets. "You know you deserve what she's doing to you man."

    "What are you talking about?"

    "Mack is using you."

    Miguel still played the bewildered card.

    "Dude I saw her car, no one around here drives a freaking Mercedez." said Robby calmly. "The entire cheer squad is into you. She just wanted first dibs and to feel superior over them I bet."

    "Bullshit." Miguel said.

    "Sure man. All these Encino kids are the same, bothers me that Luke plays tricks with people he knows are bullies."

    "You're mad at your friend."

    Robby realized he was telling Miguel about this.

    "I saw his story, he's with Yas at Golf 'N Stuff right now. All I want to tell you is that if you want to end up tied up in that nonsense. Go for it." Robby shrugged. "I'm well past that petty stuff."

    Robby turned and walked towards his apartment.

    Miguel spoke a little late but still with conviction. "Dude, I was trying to help! Schwarber is just-"

    Robby barely waved a bored hand over his shoulder with a shake of his head before he walked into Johnny's apartment.

    "I was doing you a favor." Miguel scoffed. "Seriously man, I'd rather you be my friend than Schwarber's." he muttered under his breath, looking aside.

    Miguel took his phone and walked back into his apartment, quickly thinking of something before messaging Mitch through text.

    Aisha's still suspended over that bullshit. How's she holding up?

    She's okay man. The guys were gonna get together tonight. Wanna come with?

    Nah, but I suggest you go to like

    Miguel paused, smirking as he wrote his follow up message.

    Golf 'N stuff or something.

    Sounds fun, I'll let you know how the squad likes it

    …

    …

    …

    A/N:

    Sorry for the short chap but the next one should be out soon, and it will start playing into the general feeling and pace for the rest of this book and its subsequent sequels. I plan to dive full bore into yet another realistic take on the Cobra Kai series trying to rewrite its focus on the teenage characters specifically.

    Anyway, thanks for reading, feel free to DM or review your thoughts please, and I'll see you all next time. See y'all!
     
    Last edited:
    Book 2 - Chapter 10
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Ten: Golf 'N Stuff

    …

    Yasmine was playing Galaga on an old gaming cabinet at Golf 'N Stuff while Lucas leaned on it, eating Dipping Dots out of a cup with a plastic spoon.

    "I meant to ask. Why is everyone at school obsessed with karate? At least so many of the guys, I don't get it at all."

    "Not everyone can spend their free time with manicures and cheer Yas."

    She glared at him for a moment.

    Lucas was happy to see the smile on her face for a moment. "No but really, karate is about more than the actual martial arts. It's about building character."

    "Then what sort of character is your karate about?"

    Lucas shrugged. "Miyagi-Do is mostly about harmony. Peace, you learn to fight so you don't fight. It's always smarter to run than actually fight."

    He looked aside, still explaining. "It really is about finding the defensive aspect of karate, not competing, not fighting for sport. Just, making sure you need to defend yourself when the time comes. Not being there when the crowds cheer and all the hooplah surrounds."

    Yasmine began to laugh. She started to laugh and laugh and laugh.

    "What?" Lucas chuckled nervously.

    "Luke that's literally the exact opposite of you. It seems like you joined karate in the first place just for the clout. You won that big tournament just so you could get a bunch of attention right? And if not, it seems like this Miyagi-Do thing is like, the polar opposite of you as a person."

    Lucas was about to protest but froze.

    He looked like he saw a ghost.

    Doug Rickenberger, a teen with dark hair and a tough build had turned around the corner at the end of the line of video game machines at Golf 'N Stuff.

    He was walking with several Cobra Kai members.

    Mikey, as well as a few others of Kreese's top students.

    Lucas gripped Yasmine's hand, speaking calmly. "We need to go."

    "Wh-What, but we were having so much-" Yasmine yelped suddenly.

    Lucas turned and tucked her out of sight between a Galaga and Ms. Pac Man machine.

    "Why are we hiding?" Yasmine whispered.

    Yasmine's eyes grew, the close proximity between her and Lucas led to certain comfort from both of them.

    Lucas whispered back. "To avoid a fight."

    The two were looking at each other in a minute bit of privacy, their noses almost touching, before Lucas left the small spaces between all the gaming machines.

    Lucas held Yasmine's hand again and she followed him out of the arcade for a moment before Lucas bumped directly into Mitch.

    He turned, grinning.

    "Hey Schwarber, fine date you picked up."

    Lucas refused to let go of Yasmine's hand. "She's not my date."

    "Right." Mitch chuckled, the rest of Cobra Kai drew near. "You know Aisha had every right to crack your fake ass nose Yas."

    "No one has that right." Lucas said, earning a small look from Yasmine.

    "Correction. You get to decide for yourself who deserves a proper ass beating."

    Lucas laughed quietly. "That's John Kreese talking, not you Mitch."

    "That's who talking?" asked Yasmine.

    A bit surprised Lucas knew their Sensei's name, Mitch still ignored it and shrugged. "Then maybe he's right."

    "Karate isn't like, a weapon dude. That's fucked up if you think you can solve all your problems by hitting people."

    "It's better than enabling a cyber bully." Mitch stared at Yasmine angrily. "Right?"

    She looked aside shamefully before Lucas spoke up again. "I don't have time for this."

    They began to leave together and then a few Cobra Kais physically stood in their way.

    "You know we came up with our own name to give you and mess with you the same way you messed with Aisha, Yas."

    Mitch smiled. "Voldemort."

    Mikey smirked too. "No nosed bitch."

    Lucas then just shoved Rickenberger out of the way and started to run out of the arcade.

    The Cobra Kais followed, and a Golf 'N Stuff employee looked confused in their direction.

    "The heck?" Chris squinted at the scene.

    …

    At some point during the chase, Lucas and Yasmine got separated, he looked around an old laser tag room confused.

    "Yas?" he called out.

    "Fake bitch must've figured out you weren't worth it. Figures." Mitch entered the sectioned off part of the arcade with six other Cobra Kais.

    Lucas only seemed to be focused on Mikey and Rickenberger, as if they appeared to be the only real threats.

    "What do you want man?"

    "To teach you a lesson. You keep trying to swoop Miguel's chicks, you're so desperate for 'tang you take out Yasmine for a date the moment she cyberbullies someone into striking back." he said.

    Lucas sighed. "She just got her nose broken, she deserved to get cheered up. Everyone does. You all have that chance too."

    Mitch shook his head with a chuckle. "You're such a liar Schwarber. You always wear karate gear, you got first place at last year's All Valley. You claim to know everything about karate, but you don't."

    "Well maybe it's time someone taught it to you."

    Mitch smirked and cracked his knuckles, walking forward only to throw a jab punch that resulted in him getting elbowed in the jaw for.

    After a knee was thrown to his sternum, Lucas threw a groaning Mitch aside.

    Lucas raised his voice before the other boys could act. "I promise you, I know more about Cobra Kai than any of you."

    Surprised again Lucas knew this much when no one at their school had ever really talked about their karate dojo, the Cobra Kais paused.

    "It isn't right, you don't create peace by hitting people." Lucas muttered.

    Rickenberger and Mikey looked at each other for a moment.

    "This is all fucked up. You're here to prove something to Yas she already learned, trust me. Nothing good comes of violence, I've been where you're all at. I promise you, it leads nowhere."

    Lucas seemed to be getting through to them before all of a sudden Mitch had recovered and shoulder tackled Lucas to the ground.

    He fell right onto his chin on the arcade floor.

    "Yeah!" Mitch roared stupidly. "Mess with us? Yeah!?"

    "Dude I think you busted his lip."

    It looked a bit funny to the other Cobra Kais and suddenly, the look on Lucas' face changed.

    He wasn't calm anymore, he was mad.

    …

    OST: Robot Rock - Daft Punk

    …

    Lucas wiped the bit of blood off his mouth slowly, nodding a bit.

    Every Cobra Kai there could tell he was accepting their challenge out of rage.

    Mitch stupidly walked right into another counter, this time a spinning wheel kick to the jaw.

    The heel of Lucas' shoe connected right on Mitch's jaw, sending him flying to the ground.

    Mikey and his friend attacked at the same time, Lucas elbowed Mikey in the jaw while dodging the other's punch. Grabbing a wild kick from Mikey, Lucas threw them together, their heads colliding.

    Lucas rushed forward leaping off his back leg in a classic karate jab punch. His fist collided at full speed into Rickenberger's jaw, interrupting his front kick.

    Lucas instantly spun around into a leg sweep to kick a rushing Cobra Kai's leg.

    He staggered for a moment, and Lucas jumped upwards out of his spin to connect with a spinning round kick to the temple.

    Lucas had knocked him clean out.

    Before Mikey and Mitch could recover, Lucas was merciless in disabling his opponents. Through the low lights of the closed laser tag room, Lucas snapped one of their wrists, he couldn't even tell because of how mad he was.

    However, Mitch shoulder tackled Lucas again to not receive the same fate.

    Lucas was using the exact same moves as all of his opponents.

    The jab, the reverse punch, the hook kick, the round kick and back kick, as well as the leg sweep. All of them knew Cobra Kai, but Lucas knew it far better than all of them.

    The difference was that Lucas had to fight much smarter as he was outnumbered heavily. He had to move quicker, cleaner, counter more decisively.

    There was no Miyagi-Do here, no flashy hand movement, just simple dodging, punching, and kicking.

    Lucas used his elbows, his knees, he wasn't even thinking. He was just striking.

    He would strike through his opponent's attacks, interrupting their combinations, using their numbers to their disadvantage. Making them hit each other quickly and then moving away.

    Lucas should've lost this fight quickly, instead he struck first, and hard.

    Rickenberger threw a round kick leading into a spinning hook kick, both directly to the head.

    Lucas leaned back from both to dodge only to be tied up for a moment as Mitch pinned his arms behind his back.

    As Rickenberger managed to land a solid punch to Lucas' ribs and jaw, he struggled.

    Lucas managed to shake his head and regain his senses as Rickenberger panted, preparing a third strike.

    Lucas quickly shifted left and right to both dodge and squirm a bit out of Mitch's grasp.

    Rickenberger's fist and feet flew harmlessly by his head as Lucas then used hikite, or the karate fist pull back to the hip to damn near break Mitch's floating ribs.

    He gasped, walking backwards before Lucas grunted in rage.

    He struck Mitch directly in the eye as hard as he could with a back fist and then another elbow to the jaw. This time, the blow was so clean and hard, Mitch's whole head rocked up and he was out cold.

    Rickenberger socked Lucas in the back of the head, making him spin for a second.

    He dodged randomly by ducking when he hit the arcade wall. Both Rickenberger and another Cobra Kai ganged up on Lucas when he covered up.

    Lucas was able to recover from the stagger quickly enough to quickly grab Rickenberger's foot when he tried to go for a front kick to Lucas' chest.

    He rolled under his friend's punch to sweep Rickenberger's rear leg, sending him flying hard to the ground before Lucas hit his friend instantly with a jab before he could blink, much less counter.

    Lucas was just that fast. He all but teleported across the ground of the arcade with a point karate style jab so hard and so quick he punched the lights of the Cobra Kai he hit the second he hit his chin.

    The remaining three Cobra Kais were enraged with Lucas.

    Two were helping Mikey nurse a snapped wrist and could've easily left the fight but decided to stay instead.

    Mikey was able to fight through his pain and merely kicked and wildly used his other hand to fight.

    Fighting three boys his age all at once, the brawl turned bloody.

    Lucas had to fight fast and hard again, and he had bruises and blood all over his knuckles, shoes, and elbows.

    He rolled like a boxer, boxing and weaving, his hands strapped to his temples.

    Lucas checked kicks off his shins to counter with his own. He kicked knees, headbutted, again throwing his opponents together to interrupt attacks by landing his own.

    By the end of it, he had taken a few hits and almost was cornered a few times but it was over.

    A helpless Mikey was smacked at full speed directly into his pals by a round kick to the head.

    He tumbled over his friends like bowling pins and Lucas then started to knock them clean out. He kneed Mikey right in the head, Lucas threw his arm like a knife hand, using a haito, or open hand strike to one of Mikey's friend's mouth.

    All the sweat on their head flew for a moment before they fell to the ground.

    Roaring, Lucas twisted into a back kick to catch the last Cobra Kai's solar plexus at full power. The wind knocked completely out of him, he fell, wheezing.

    Lucas spun and connected with another back fist, this time upon the temple, sending the Cobra Kai flying back.

    He defeated Mikey, Rickenberger, Mitch, and four of their friends all on his own. He was bruised, bloodied, but standing.

    Lucas panted, limping out of the arcade, leaving them all there.

    …

    Kreese held Mitch's face, pushing it away in disgust.

    Mikey's wrist was in a cast, his knee was also in bad shape. Mitch's entire face had been all but rearranged from the fight he picked, and Rickenberger was suffering a shoulder, head, and neck injury from how hard Lucas had swept him to the ground.

    Their other four friends weren't in much better shape.

    Miguel merely stood there, his arms crossed wearing his Cobra Kai GI.

    Kreese shook his head. "You're all pathetic."

    "We were sure we could've won this fight." Mitch lifted his chin, almost pouting.

    "Yeah I'll bet." Kreese sighed. "Who was it?"

    "Luke Schwarber." muttered Mikey quietly.

    Kreese looked away. "I did tell you I don't respect point fighting. But that doesn't mean a point fighting champion can't handle himself. When you all recover, I'll let you come back to the team, for now, go home, rest."

    Mitch was surprised. "What're you going to do?"

    "What any good Sensei should. Protect his students."

    …

    "Hello there Daniel."

    Daniel LaRusso was quietly doing some paperwork for LaRusso Auto in his office when John Kreese walked into his office, wearing a trench coat.

    Daniel reached for the phone instantly as if he was going to call the police but Kreese chuckled. "Don't worry I'm just here to talk."

    "Never took you for the diplomatic type."

    "I'm not. I prefer good old fashioned violence to take down my enemies. As does your student."

    Daniel looked confused.

    "What? You haven't heard? He beat down seven of my students all on his own, and I heard he was just a bit scratched up and had a limp."

    Daniel shook his head. "That's not like Lucas."

    "No? Perhaps you don't know him as well as you think you did."

    "So what're you here for?"

    "What I wanted the last time we talked like this. Retribution, some sort of answer for the pain of my students."

    Daniel shrugged. "I can't give that to you."

    "I want some sort of answer. Right now. Or I promise you, things will get ugly."

    Daniel looked at the door, and then the knuckles Kreese was baring.

    Between starting a fight with John Kreese in his own dealership, probably meaning a serious loss of his reputation, or working out some sort of deal with him. The choice was clear.

    "What do you want?" asked Daniel calmly from his desk.

    Kreese leaned both of his hands on the chair opposite to where Daniel was sitting.

    "A rematch."

    "You want me to fight Johnny?" Daniel asked boredly with a snort.

    "I want your student to fight mine. Anywhere, anytime."

    "Yeah, you're known to fight a bit dirty." Daniel smirked. "Miyagi-Do is not about fighting."

    "Then how do you suggest we settle this?"

    "Same way we did last time. A tournament, I'll meet you there with bells on."

    Kreese inhaled loudly. "Gladly." he growled out.

    He then left the office in a huff.

    "Who was that guy?" Amanda brushed past Kreese.

    "Just some nutjob."

    Amanda did not believe her husband at all, but did not inquire further.

    …

    Kreese sighed loudly, sitting on his desk the next day in the office of the Reseda strip mall dojo.

    Miguel entered Kreese's office curiously. "What?"

    "Cobra Kai has been banned from competition." Kreese sighed. "It seems the only way I can ever ask to return to compete is to ask for an appeal."

    He looked over at Miguel. "How did this, Lucas Schwarber ever manage to stumble upon Rickenberger and the others at that arcade?"

    "Coincidence." Miguel shrugged.

    "No." Kreese gestured to his office door and Miguel closed it.

    Miguel approached and Kreese spoke calmly. "You're going to tell me the truth right now. I know you well enough to know when you're lying."

    Miguel frowned. "I um, wanted revenge on Schwarber."

    "For?"

    "He's the guy I've been telling you about."

    Kreese chuckled, crossing his arms. "So instead of facing him yourself. You send your friends to do your dirty work for him."

    Miguel couldn't respond.

    "You're many things Mr. Diaz." said Kreese. "But a liar and a coward aren't one of them. The future of this dojo will be decided in the next couple months. No more hiding, no more lies, no more weakness. Is that understood?"

    "Yes Sensei."

    "When you want to take down your rival. You fight him like you mean it, only this time, it won't be from afar. It'll be up close."

    "And. Where will that be?"

    Kreese nodded slightly to the poster on the wall of the dojo. The All Valley tournament, the fiftieth anniversary.

    "Go warm up the class."

    "Yes Sensei."

    …

    The members of the All Valley Karate tournament committee were Daryl, an African American man who was the announcer at tournaments, Ron, a bald man with glasses, and an Asian man named George, a woman named Sue, and a few other people sitting at a few tables.

    John Kreese entered and knocked at the open door.

    "Hello?"

    "Hi there." Ron said calmly. "How can we help you?"

    "I'm here for an appeal. My dojo has been banned from competition at the All Valley."

    "Banned?" George laughed. "Barely anyone competes anymore, why would we ban anyone?"

    "And your name?" asked Sue.

    "John Kreese." Daniel LaRusso said, entering the room, "And I assure you, he has in fact been banned."

    Kreese quietly watched Daniel take an open seat at the committe table, patting Ron on the shoulder.

    "I'm sorry um, I thought that Senseis weren't allowed to organize the tournament." said Kreese.

    "Daniel LaRusso has closed Miyagi-Do since the 1980s sir." assured Ron. "There's no funny business going on here."

    "Mm." Kreese smiled. "That's not what I heard."

    "I'm sorry?" George looked confused, glancing at both Kreese and Daniel.

    "Using karate Mr. LaRusso taught him, a student of his you all might know well named Lucas Schwarber has assualted several of my own students." Kreese said calmly. "So I am quite sure that Miyagi-Do is in fact, very open."

    "What?" Ron chuckled in surprise, looking at Daniel. "What is this, how come we're the last to know of this?"

    "I promise you, these are all lies. My karate does not lie in violence. And this man, is a liar." Daniel pointed towards Kreese.

    Kreese shrugged, sitting down in front of the committe. "I have nothing else left to offer anyone but karate. I merely wish to return my dojo to competition, as a send off for my service to this country."

    "I think we need to look up some archives." Sue muttered, the rest of the committee agreed.

    …

    After blowing the dust off some old files, Ron spoke calmly.

    "It seems that you were banned from competition by Mr. Pat Johnson, organizer of this committee, himself. After you were accused of quote, unsportsmanlike conduct completely unberefit, of the noble tradition of karate." said Ron.

    "That was over thirty years ago." Kreese said. "I promise, I am no longer that person."

    "Really?" asked Daniel. "Because I swear, just this past year he-"

    "I'm sorry." George said. "Is it really true that Lucas Schwarber is your karate student?"

    "I just train him on my own, Lucas hasn't officially returned to competition under Miyagi-Do." he responded.

    "Really?" asked Sue. "We need to hear that from himself." she added, as the other committee members nodded in agreement.

    Daniel bit his lip angrily as he saw Kreese smirk at him. "Otherwise." added Sue. "You technically are a competing Sensei, and you shouldn't be here."

    "I should still have a voice." Daniel insisted.

    "You should." Ron agreed. "Just not on the council."

    Daniel sighed, standing up to fix his tie. "Fine."

    He took a seat near to Kreese, across the aisle of empty chairs.

    Ron sighed, fixing his glasses and continuing. "Mr. Kreese I understand this incident was over thirty years ago, but I need to know. What exactly happened?"

    Before Daniel could say anything Kreese spoke. "I no longer associate at all with Mr. Barnes or Mr. Silver."

    "Silver and him go way back." Daniel chuckled.

    Kreese continued. "I want to give my kids a chance to prove themselves."

    "Which kids?"

    "Kids of all sorts. Kids bullied by people from the privileged lifestyle Mr. LaRusso represents." Kreese said calmly. "I want a safe and fair environment for these kids to face their bullies, and to show their strength. Their growth. I've watched my students really grow into their own. As young men and women, into the karatekas, and people I could be proud of." Daniel rolled his eyes and Kreese continued. "The All Valley could really benefit from seeing the strength Cobra Kai can give. It's an essential aspect of this town's history, especially in martial arts."

    Ron and Sue looked at each other, without words the council all appeared to be in agreement.

    George cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I speak for all of us Mr. Kreese. Regardless of your current attempt to change your dojo and return for the better. You are someone this council's founder itself decided should be removed from competition."

    "It's still a badass name for a dojo." Daryl shrugged.

    George raised his gavel, and with a clack of it, Kreese shook his head and looked aside as Daniel smiled.

    "I think I can speak for Pat Johnson when I can say a rematch is due on the mat."

    "Mr. Schwarber." Ron instantly recognized him. "It's wonderful to see you actually at the arena again."

    Daniel turned, shocked to see Kreese was right, Lucas was bruised a bit around his face.

    "Glad to be here."

    "And. Why are you here?" asked Sue.

    "To ask for Mr. Kreese's reinstatement." Lucas said.

    Ron was utterly confused. "And why would you ever do that?"

    "Because once I was Mr. Kreese's student."

    The committee was confused and muttered amongst themselves.

    "Wait." George was confused. "So, the karate you used when you won last year's All Valley. That was Mr. Kreese's karate?"

    "Precisely. As well as my own combined with Daniel LaRusso's."

    Utterly frustrated, Daniel looked aside and hid his face in his hands that Lucas was willing to tell the committe all at once this.

    Daryl said the obvious. "I think that changes everything then."

    "Well not necessarily." Ron added, nodding to Lucas. "Let's see what Mr. Schwarber has to say."

    "Yes, I became the Valley's youngest and quickest champion. And I have to side with my current Sensei, and agree that John Kreese is very much the same man he was when he was banned."

    Daniel instantly seemed to smile at a disappointed Kreese.

    "He's cruel, and a cheater, liar, and dishonest. But he can bring something that this tournament hasn't seen in a while. Some actually kickass karate."

    The smirk battle between Daniel and Kreese continued directly across from and behind Lucas.

    "Reinstate Cobra Kai please. You all need to sell tickets to make a profit, or this tournament can't even be run. Kicks sell tickets."

    Ron shook his head. "From everything you're telling us, Mr. Kreese will desecrate this tournament. Why would you even want to compete against him again?'

    "Because I want to prove again I can become this Valley's champion. No matter who wants to fight me." Lucas said calmly.

    "Yeah that's not enough." George looked around, fixing the papers of Kreese's ban on the table.

    "Nope." Sue shook her head.

    Ron sighed. "It's really not."

    "Now hold on." said Daryl, pointing a pen at Lucas. "How far are you willing to endorse Cobra Kai?"

    "I will drop out of competing at this next All Valley if John Kreese is not in it."

    "Now that really does change everything now doesn't it?" Daryl chuckled.

    "Okay then." Ron looked around a nodding All Valley tournament committe table, there was not even a need for discussion considering the amount of the public's interest in Lucas' karate. "In that case. Congratulations Mr. Kreese, welcome back to the All Valley."

    Daniel threw his hands up in the air and shook his head, clenching his jaw and looking like he wanted to swear and throw something, as Kreese smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you."

    George clacked his gavel twice and like that, Cobra Kai was back in competition.

    "And now." Ron picked up a clipboard, as Lucas', Kreese's, and Daniel's attention instantly turned to him. "On to our next and final order of business for our yearly meeting. The rule and affiliation change for our entire tournament."

    "I'm sorry what?" Daniel was shocked.

    Both Lucas and Kreese were also completely bewildered.

    …

    Cobra Kai OST: Globo-Kai

    (Last Minute of track)

    …

    "For the past fifty years, the All Valley has been Tang Soo Do affiliated, using the same outdated and inefficient rules for karate competition. Meanwhile." Ron shrugged. "The rest of the world has caught up."

    Sue sighed, checking her clipboard. "Even here in the Valley, other dojos have found a new, similar, but new way to compete in karate."

    "The USANKF, or, USA national karate-do federation." Ron fixed his glasses. "Has backing from the international olympic committee, karate might even get to the olympics. We've reached out to them, and they agreed to include us."

    Daniel and Lucas, and then even Kreese and Daniel looked confused at each other.

    "It's time for the All Valley to evolve, and more importantly, grow." Ron said. "We need more tickets, and for years, we've been excluding all sorts of dojos from competition just because we refused to reform. Well no longer."

    Sue spoke. "Mr. Schwarber, you are without a doubt the best fighter we've ever seen in All Valley Under 18 karate, but you've never seemed to test yourself against competitors from other styles. Some of which are essentially yours."

    In Santa Clarita, karatekas practicing on traditional tatami under a flag of the traditional Goju-Ryu fist were doing kata together. There were rows of karatekas all wearing white GIs and black belts moving simultaneously, young men and women between the ages of thirteen and seventeen.

    "Mr. Kreese your karate has evolved as well, far from where you began it too decades ago."

    Kreese crossed his arms and squinted as George spoke.

    "From what we understand, your karate is based heavily in traditional Shotokan."

    Wearing only red footguards and gloves, near Huntington Beach, two boys sparred under the watchful eye of a Sensei, a short man in a karategi with crossed arms.

    "Here they more or less have the same style, it's merely evolved greatly."

    They exchanged punches, kicks, sweeps, the very same techniques John Kreese had taught vigorously for decades on Lankershim avenue.

    "Whethere you're ready or not. The future is here." said Ron. "It's a big world out there for competitive karate, and it's time to step into it."

    George clacked his gavel, and All Valley history was made for the second time in only one year.

    …

    …

    …
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Lucas still got it after taking down Miguel Diaz cronies at the arcade game place , which Kresse reminded them they were shooting above their karate point after poking the dragon named Lucas. As Kresse giving advice to fighting Lucas in New All Valley tournament
    While respected enemies Kresse and Daniel Larousso are opening another tournament for All Valley Championship tournament after Kresse promised things will get ugly afterwards, but With Lucas being a studen of 2 masters and putting his Championship on the line, and competing in another All Valley Champion tournament and besides supporting his former rivial teacher Kresse in getting the ban removed by council members decisions.
    Along with council member Ron giving Daniel and Kresse a rude awakening for opening up All Valley new all around the world karate style evolution since they been in a stare of limbo since ban on Cobra Kai dojo in decades but kept on current karate style dojo over the years.
    We'll see how it goes next time for our Lucas and Sam Larousso, vs Cobra Kai Miguel Diaz rivalry gets national tournament in All Valley Champion 30th anniversary.
    Continue on
    Cheers!
     
    MiyazakiFan18 said:
    Chapter Seventeen: The Choice Is Made

    …

    When I woke up, I started getting dressed and ready.

    Today was the day.

    Today was the day where the entire past year worth of effort paid off or I failed at becoming a legend.

    I had spent the last two weeks training with Johnny and Robby lightly just to stay prepared, and now it was the day.

    Saturday May 13th, 2017. The 49th All Valley Karate Tournament.

    I had bought my uniform online, a simple sleeved white GI, exactly how Robby wore in his first tournament. No logos, nothing like it.

    Unlike in Daniel's first tournament, I didn't have to steal a black belt, it actually came with the uniform. Huh. Really made me think.

    I smiled nodding to myself.

    My grandparents were nowhere to be found. Fine, I didn't need them there when I took my chance at making history.

    At trying to become a legend.

    …

    OST: Photograph - Def Leppard

    …

    The preparations for the All Valley tournament were a very momentous occasion for the staff.

    There had been talk of changing the color of the mats due to dwindling attendance, so it was possibly the last time they'd ever place down the classic red mats with the white fists.

    They went to every part of the All Valley Sports Arena's main floor and spread out mats everywhere. They were arranged like puzzle pieces so they fit together perfectly.

    There were a dozen in a large square around the main one used for semi finals and final matches.

    After they were done putting them down, staff members of the tournament had to brush them down and make sure they were clean.

    The large canvas covering the tournament brackets were thrown off revealing the blank boxes that would hold the names of the quarter finalists, semi finalists, and finalists of the tournament.

    Snack stations were set up. Churros, hot dogs, nachos, pizza, and all sorts of food were prepared.

    Karate merch including hand wraps, punching mitts and dummies were sold at a specially marked area of the arena lobby.

    Locker room areas for each dojo were prepared.

    White signs holding names for 'Topanga Karate' or 'Krunch Karate' were spread out through each part of the locker rooms.

    The smallest area of the entire locker rooms had a sign labeled 'Unaffiliated' outside it.

    Tickets and metal boxes to hold cash were placed on plastic white tables.

    Black and red shirts commemorating the forty ninth All Valley Under 18 Karate tournament were placed on merchandise tables.

    Check in and registration sheets were placed on separate tables. Posters rolled down from the ceiling, one of them including a picture of Daniel in his crane kick stance as Johnny Lawrence was on another during the same tournament.

    Each official put on red 'Referee' shirts and wore black karate trousers, competitors tied their black belts on, and the tournament was now ready.

    And the doors to the tournament were opened.

    The All Valley tournament committee was surprised to see the crowd wasn't tiny this year. With talk of the mats changing and a few new dojos joining, attendance was significantly higher.

    Above all, because word had spread that tournament legends Johnny Lawrence was competing and Daniel LaRusso and his family were attending, attendance of the tournament was much higher.

    Karatekas various dojos all stretched and warmed up with their Senseis. They stretched on the mats, they hit punching mitts, and they jumped and stretched their legs with high kicks.

    They stretched their legs, arms, necks, and shoulders.

    Officials cleaned the lines and lines of trophies and made them all look all as shiny as possible, especially the largest All Valley Champion trophy.

    A single person stood in front of the entire arena next to the very long lines of people waiting to spectate the tournament.

    He wasn't in his simple white uniform yet, he was still wearing regular clothing.

    He was holding a sports duffel bag over his shoulder and looking up at the arena.

    Lucas Schwarber balled his fists ready to compete on his own.

    …

    I walked up to the registration table and sighed when I recognized who it was.

    It was the same girl from last year who didn't want to let Kreese get a veteran discount. She was wearing a black 'Official' shirt instead of a few of the red referee ones I saw.

    "Hi." I said quietly.

    "Hi." she appeared to not remember me or was too polite to say anything. "Can I help you?"

    "Yeah I'm here to um. Compete?"

    "Do you have a signed waiver from your Sensei?"

    "I don't have a Sensei this year. I'm competing unaffiliated with any, is that okay?"

    She smiled and nodded. "That's fine. We just have to make sure a staff member swings by your locker room and gives you the rules." She then handed me a clipboard with two different pieces of paper attached.

    "The first form is a safety form you have to fill out. The second is a rules and regulations form you have to sign too."

    I filled out both forms in about five minutes.

    When she was finished talking with two other people, another All Valley tournament staff member and a competitor who looked like he had a question, I walked over to her and handed the clipboard with the finished papers.

    She quickly stacked them into a box filled with other papers and spoke. "You're free to go get ready in the locker room. All dojos have a designated area so you basically get your own this year. A staff member will go over the tournament rules with you and then you'll be called onto the mat when the tournament's ready to begin."

    "Thank you."

    "You're welcome." she said politely with a slight smile and a nod.

    Before I walked towards the locker rooms I saw Aisha, Demetri, and Charlotte talking in the lobby with Aisha's parents nearby.

    "Hey guys you came!" I said in surprise.

    "Of course, we came. Both you and Robby are competing," said Demetri. "You'd support us too if you were in our shoes."

    Aisha sighed. "I was just hoping this tournament would be a great way to get away from all the drama for once."

    I watched her look over towards Sam talking to Eli nearby who were clearly thinking Aisha, Demetri, and Charlotte had wronged either them or at least Sam for coming to the tournament for supporting me.

    "Did I miss something or are they dating now?" I asked.

    Charlotte shrugged. "I think you got more important things to worry about. Like you know. An entire tournament to compete in."

    "Right. I gotta get going to the locker rooms. Next time you see me I'll be out on the mats."

    "Good luck." Charlotte smiled and said before I left and Aisha and Demetri waved.

    …

    I got done being dressed as the only person in the unaffiliated area of the locker rooms.

    Across the hall, I saw Robby and Johnny both wearing uniforms very similar to the Eagle-Fang GIs I remember from the fourth season of Cobra Kai's tournament. They were a light red with black outlines and the same went for their belts.

    On their backs, I saw the same logo Johnny had talked about wanting. A huge steel and shiny eagle had its wings outstretched on an American flag as a field.

    Before I could say anything to them a referee with a goatee walked into my part of the locker rooms.

    "Lucas Schwarber?"

    "Yeah, that's me."

    "Okay. First tournament right?"

    "Yup."

    He cleared his throat. "Rules are pretty simple. No elbow strikes, no knee strikes either. You can't strike your opponents when outside of combat. Any hit that lands clean above the belt to the torso or head area, except to the back of the head and is decisively first and struck properly will be a point. Three points win the match. You may use both hand and foot strikes to score only, and the only punches to the body that are allowed to score are your rear hand only."

    I already knew all this but still listened.

    "You have to watch the level of contact out there. These are in fact matches but you're all still underage so you're not allowed too much contact and will be warned or possibly disqualified if needed. Any illegal strikes or techniques, such as wrist or arm locks, or any strikes to the groin, knees, or ankles are not permitted at all. Above all, obey any and all instructions from all referees or any officials."

    "You are also not allowed to grab your opponent or their uniform for longer than about one to two seconds. And you're certainly not allowed to grab them and pin them down to start hitting them. Basic things I know, but you do have to be careful out there." He nodded. "Alright, are you ready?"

    "Yeah."

    "Good luck out there son." he offered a hand to shake which I did.

    I walked over across the hall of the locker room to Johnny and Robby. "Passing on the torch huh?"

    Johnny smiled, nodding to the headband he gave me that I wore around my forehead. "Robby's not the only one getting it passed to."

    "Yeah, I know." I looked at Robby. "You feeling okay?"

    "Yeah yeah. Um. Apparently, the first few rounds are always the easiest," he said. "So. No worries."

    "Easiest. But I didn't say easy," said Johnny.

    "Aisha and all the others are in the stands with her parents. Demetri, Charlotte's there too."

    Robby cleared his throat. "Is um. Sam there?"

    Johnny gave him a quick look after hearing this.

    "So's Eli," I said which changed the look on his face the moment he heard it. "With Sam's entire family."

    A voice was heard over the intercom. "All dojos report to staging for introduction. All dojos, report to staging for introduction."

    I began to feel a little nervous. "Wow already?"

    "I know. We're out last cause we're the smallest dojos. Or, in your case. You know what I meant." said Johnny.

    …

    Daryl walked out onto the red mat. "So folks. It's that time of year once more!"

    He smiled and spoke into his mic. "It's the forty ninth All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships!"

    The crowd cheered.

    "From Granada Hills. The defending champions! All Star Karate!"

    He began to introduce the dojos one by one and they began to exit the locker rooms.

    Daniel muttered to Amanda as he ignored what Daryl was saying. "Johnny and Kreese returning to official competition. What a joke!" he scoffed.

    "Honey you're the reason we're here and it looks like you're hating this already. Is there a problem?" wondered Amanda.

    "No. There's not." Daniel said quietly.

    Eli looked at Daniel. "Um Mr. LaRusso. I thought Lucas was competing unaffiliated. I really doubt that guy we saw at Golf 'N Stuff is his teacher anymore. They looked pretty mad at each other."

    "You don't know Kreese like I do. He'll be in his corner whether he wants him there or not."

    "And! Every year like always, new dojos appear to try to make their mark on this momentous yearly competition! Fighting out of Reseda. Steel Eagle Karate! Led by two time All Valley Champion, Sensei Johnny Lawrence, coaching his son Robby Keene!"

    Sam and Eli applauded for him as they walked out but Daniel was still upset.

    "A bully pretending to be a champion. Wow." Daniel scowled.

    "And lastly. Competing unaffiliated this year out of Encino Hills. Mister Lucas Schwarber!"

    Jogging lightly out of the locker rooms, the crowd cheered slightly for him as he joined his spot next to Robby and Johnny right in front of the tournament brackets. Demetri, Aisha, and Charlotte were the only people really cheering for him at all besides a few other polite and kind spectators.

    "Wait a minute what's he wearing?" Daniel asked quietly. "That thing on his head."

    "Looks like it's just a headband dad," said Sam.

    Daniel quickly noticed how Johnny wasn't wearing one. "No. It's not. Noo. Iiit's not."

    "And those are all our competitors fighting this year! And now! It's karate tiiime! Let's gooo!"

    The crowd cheered again and the tournament's first matches began.

    …

    Lucas was bouncing in place as Robby and Johnny and a few other Xtreme Martial Artists stood nearby on his side of the mat.

    "You got this." said Johnny as Robby nodded.

    Lucas was staring down his opponent from the Locust Valley Karate club.

    "Okay gentlemen. Three points win, listen to my instructions at all times." the referee walked out and spoke.

    They both bowed onto the mat walking towards their lines.

    "Face me. Bow. Face off. Bow. En garde!"

    Lucas got into a very stable but relaxed fighting stance. He wasn't stiff, but he wasn't loose enough to be knocked over in an instant.

    "Ready?"

    Lucas didn't so much as twitch as his opponent bounced.

    "Fight!"

    The moment they began to circle each other, Lucas stayed perfectly calm, not moving at all.

    Johnny was confused, until the second the Locust Valley fighter began to attack he got countered instantly.

    It had happened so fast Johnny was surprised.

    His opponent had thrown two straight punches to the jaw and before he could throw a round kick he had been sent reeling back slightly with a perfectly controlled reverse punch directly to the face.

    "Aiya!" roared Lucas.

    After his kiai, the crowd cheered.

    "Did you see how fast he did that?" chuckled Robby in surprise.

    Johnny muttered. "Guess Miyagi-Do still knows its counters."

    White flags had already risen from each of the corner judges as Lucas walked back to his line.

    "One point Schwarber! Ready!"

    Lucas stayed calm.

    "Ait!"

    Lucas countered his opponent's next attack so fast Johnny was still rather surprised. He moved forward just slightly without attacking to invite the Locust Valley fighter's attack when in range, moved just out of range to make it miss, and the second before his opponent could reset his guard after overextending Lucas had hit him squarely in the chest with a front kick.

    "Wow." Johnny muttered silently as the crowd in the stands nearby cheered.

    The speed and decisiveness Lucas possessed was seriously impressing him. He could measure distance and take advantage of it very quickly, it was an adaptation of Miyagi-Do Daniel couldn't believe he could see.

    He wasn't even using any Cobra Kai at all, he was just being very creative with how he applied Miyagi-Do.

    "He's fighting aggressively. This is Kreese messing with his head and bastardizing Mr. Miyagi's teachings." growled Daniel.

    Amanda again gave him a look. "Would you mind how you use your language around our children?"

    "I'm sorry honey I just can't stand to-"

    Lucas had sprung off the ground into a front snap kick directly to the head. It barely missed, and as his opponent tried to counter Lucas had already round kicked him in the head.

    …

    OST: Thunder in Your Heart - John Farnham

    …

    "Point three! Schwarber! Winner!"

    "That's what I'm talking about! Yeah!" cheered Robby as Lucas had his hand raised by the ref and he bowed to his opponent and stepped off the mat.

    Both Robby and Johnny patted Lucas on the shoulder and congratulated him.

    In the proceeding rounds, it became increasingly clear to Lucas which fighters would likely be the semi finalists and which wouldn't.

    Phineas Morrison from All Star Karate was making his best attempt to reach the quarters as quickly as he could and retain his title. Xander Stone had improved so much he was a completely different fighter, and Robby too was breaking ground in his first tournament.

    As Morrison made easy work of Cutting Edge Karate fighters and Xtreme Martial Artists three to nothing each time, Lucas, Robby, and Johnny watched.

    Against an Xtreme Martial Arts student Morrison blocked a round kick and a punch to the body, moving around the ring.

    As he dodged a punch to the head Morrison tripped his opponent and sent a controlled kick to his temple.

    Red flags rose, unimpressed, Lucas shook his head and muttered to Johnny as Robby nodded in agreement that he could be trouble but not impossible to deal with.

    Daniel watched as Robby was fighting so similar to Bobby Brown it was eerie.

    The style and finesse he used moving around the ring was just like him. The way he bounced and moved around the ring, his spinning back kicks, the crab scissor throw onto the mat followed by a chop.

    Scowling and shaking his head, Daniel watched as his old highschool bully was helping his son win another easy match.

    Facing a Yoshukai Karate student Robby jabbed, blocked and dodged two counters and landed a round kick to the body as his opponent started to attack again.

    "That's the third point! Winner Keene!" the ref said raising a hand towards Robby.

    The crowd cheered and Lucas and Robby hit their forearms together holding tight fists and laughed.

    Topanga Karate's new top fighter was using very flashy but still very effective kicks against opponents from nearly every dojo.

    Xander Stone continued to wow the crowd. He had completely evolved from the prior year and Lucas paid very close attention to every match he had, studying his technique and fighting style carefully.

    As Lucas walked onto the mat to face his next opponent, he saw Xander doing a stack fist bump with one of his Topanga Karate friends before he got onto the mat.

    The Topanga fighter smiled at Lucas, and the fellow teen did not appreciate this but didn't show it.

    "Bow to me. Bow to each other. Readyyy! Fight!"

    Lucas still refused to use any Cobra Kai karate, he still merely used very peculiar applications of Miyagi-Do, and he picked apart his Topanga opponent in seconds.

    His speed and precision with his strikes was on a completely different level than what anyone watching would've expected from a fourteen year old during his very first tournament.

    Each of his counters were perfectly timed and scored. A chop to the shoulder, a round kick to the head while changing angles, and a punch to the chest.

    There was no aggression to his technique, he was just being very unique in how he fought.

    "Stop! Point!" Lucas' hand was raised by the referee. "Winner!"

    Nearby officials were counting on the stopwatches just how fast Lucas was beating his opponents. He got the strange feeling he was setting some sort of record for how many three to nothing matches he was having from how quickly he could defeat his opponents in the first few rounds of the tournament.

    Lucas smiled, smirking Daniel and Sam's way before Johnny and Robby again patted his shoulder walking off the mat.

    Robby was driving his Krunch Karate opponent around the ring easily. When he was cornered, he threw a wild jab and a hook kick as Robby dodged both and then back kicked him so hard he went out of the ring.

    "Alriiiight!" proudly roared Lucas. "Let's goooo!"

    Xander was blocking kicks from one of Locust Valley Karate's top fighters. Moving around the ring, Xander quickly stopped moving the moment he expected to invited a jab, which he dodged and countered simultaneously by spinning into a back kick.

    Red flags rose for him, and he bowed as the bald referee waved a hand in his direction. "Winner, Stone!"

    Now entering the quarter finals, Lucas had his next match against Reid, a Yoshukai student familiar to him.

    Flipping around the mat with very random and erratic acrobatic kicks, Lucas had a bit of trouble landing on Reid.

    However, the moment Lucas found his rhythm and read his opponent's attacks it was over.

    Lucas timed a leg sweep as his opponent landed and started to throw a front kick. As Reid landed almost face first on the mat, Lucas scored a chop. A knife hand quickly hit Reid in his now exposed ribs and red flags rose up.

    As Lucas looked around the crowd that seemed to grow larger and larger by the hour and cheer more and more for him the more he won completely, he could've sworn he saw Kreese in the stands for a moment.

    However, when he looked again, he wasn't there.

    The referee had to remind Lucas to step off the mat as his match was over and he had won.

    Lucas' name was the first to be put on the brackets for the semi finals as SCHWARBER was placed on the board with an empty logo next to his name as he was fighting unaffiliated.

    Robby now had to face Garcia from Locust Valley Karate, the prior year's runner up champion. Despite almost getting scored on a few times, Robby found his footing and scored a round kick to the jaw while stepping back and expecting his opponent to throw a reverse punch over the top towards his head.

    Garcia stumbled for a second, was checked on and cleared by a ref and Robby was awarded a point. "Winner!"

    Lucas applauded quickly and cheered. "That's just another one Keene!"

    KEENE was placed in the adjacent empty bracket above SCHWARBER and the two would not face each other in the semi final round.

    Morrison was throwing fast round kicks and leg trips towards his opponent from Yoshukai Karate, nothing landed.

    Lucas watched quietly as Morrison countered a punch to the face with a back kick that landed on his opponent's elbow and staggered him back.

    Morrison then caught his opponent as he jabbed with a front kick and quickly made it to the semi finals.

    …

    "Alriiiight!" said Daryl. "We've seen some great matches today. But there are still three left."

    Daryl, two corner judges, the main referee standing behind him, and Johnny, the Senseis of All Star and Topanga Karate, Robby, Xander, Lucas, and Morrison were all standing on the main mat.

    "Who. Will be, our forty ninth Under 18 All Valley Karate champion!? Will it be, Robby Keene fighting for Steel Eagle Karate? Hoping to recapture his father's title from over thirty years prior?"

    "Will it be, Topanga Karate's PC Patriot!? The one, the only, Xander Stone!? Making his third attempt at the All Valley golden trophy?"

    "Or will it be Lucas Schwarber? The invisible and invincible fighter!?"

    More people than Lucas ever expected to were cheering for him. The crowd had swelled greatly in number, he strongly suspected that had heard of his record pace and skill in the tournament so far.

    "Or Phineas Morrison, looking to reclaim his title as last year's winner?"

    The crowd cheered and Daryl chuckled.

    "Good matches right?' the crowd roared louder before Daryl went on. "So first up! Morrison versus Schwarber! Let's go!"

    Lucas was facing someone with several times more tournament experience with him, an All Valley Championship title, and a two year age advantage and significantly more reach. Even still, he wasn't worried at all when he bumped fists with both Robby and Johnny and walked over to his line.

    To him, fear did not exist.

    …

    Cobra Kai OST: Stone vs. Diaz

    …

    Lucas and Morrison were trading very fast and powerful kicks.

    "Ais! Ais, aiiis!" kiai'd Lucas as he struck.

    Morrison dodged, Lucas switched angles, starting to jab.

    Lucas missed his shots and barely dodged two spinning kicks to the head and body.

    Lucas dodged another pair of round kicks but managed to counter in time. Using Miyagi-Do, Lucas used the spinning hands kata and froze Morrison in place to grapple him at close range.

    Lucas quickly pinned Morrison to the mat and chopped him on the chest.

    "Yeah!" roared Johnny and Robby cheered and applauded in approval.

    "That is. So amazing." sighed out Charlotte from the stands.

    "How. Does this work?" Demetri muttered.

    Lucas got back on his line. "Score's one to nothing! Ready! Aits!"

    Morrison went on offense and Lucas slipped away quickly.

    Lucas closed the distance between him and Morrison with a back kick that missed, at close range, Lucas threw a back fist and a pair of punches. Morrison blocked all, and on the last strike he managed to block Lucas' punch with a crescent kick, and almost connected on Lucas' chin with a hook kick.

    Lucas dodged just in time and started to circle Morrison, again preparing to use Miyagi-Do.

    He invited an attack by feinting a jab and moving into range of Morrison's strikes.

    His own counter meant to counter Morrison's missing counters missed, and they traded punches and kicks at close range and nothing landed from either of them.

    Still in a stable yet relaxed stance, Lucas' Miyagi-Do was stopping everything Morrison threw at him.

    On the last exchange, before they moved away and started to circle each other again, Lucas scored decisively with very unique application of Miyagi-Do karate.

    He dodged before catching his opponent's fist and slipped Morrison's leg out from under him.

    As Morrison fell, Lucas did not give him the chance to slip away in time as he struck. Lucas scored directly on the chest with a quick punch.

    "Aiii!" Lucas roared as he scored.

    The crowd was off their feet.

    Morrison and Lucas moved back onto their lines.

    "Score's two nothing, Schwarber! Ready!"

    Lucas took a deep breath, tightened Johnny's headband around his forehead, and his hands balled into fists.

    "And fight!"

    Lucas and Morrison started circling each other right off the line. Having been trained in Miyagi-Do for over a year, Lucas was best at circling and countering from long range he could do it all match.

    But instead, he just went for the point in a blitz attack.

    He threw a jab to raise Morrison's guard, threw a round kick that missed as Morrison countered and missed his own shot too.

    Then Lucas spun around and landed a back fist that scored as Morrison's punch was too late.

    White flags rose and the crowd cheered.

    "Three points Schwarber! Winner!"

    Lucas bowed to Morrison as he rubbed his nose and he bowed back.

    "Lucas Schwarber just earned his spot in the finals! Now, it's Keene! Versus Stone!"

    …

    Robby and Xander were tied up one to one in a very tight match.

    "Come on Robby get 'im!" said Johnny.

    "Get him dude so we can face off in the finals! Just you and me, let's go!"

    Robby landed a leg sweep on Xander, and he had the reflexes to dodge the follow up attack and start to strike back against Robby.

    Xander used multiple crescent kicks and more acrobatics to push Robby back and then Johnny spoke. "You don't have anything to worry about just go for it!"

    Robby threw a reverse punch to the body leading into a round kick that split Xander's guard and still scored on his head despite him blocking.

    "That's it!" said Johnny. "You gotta stay on offense!"

    "Two one! Keene! Ready! Fight!"

    Xander got the better footing right off the line and started trading shots with Robby.

    As Robby missed two snap front kicks and threw a jab punch they grappled at close range.

    Xander managed to successfully use a hip throw on Robby and he was spun onto the mat.

    As Robby caught Xander's foot on the ground he pushed him away, bouncing where he stood after he got up quickly.

    Xander circled Robby for a bit and they started to trade kicks again.

    Robby threw a round kick, Xander blocked it and returned his own right to the body, Robby blocked and threw one back and Xander did the same.

    Now Xander stayed as far from Robby as he could. With a spinning leg sweep, Robby missed as Xander timed a back kick spinning into a head kick to stagger Robby first and then score before he had the chance to recover.

    Lucas groaned and punched his palm as Johnny winced.

    "That's two to two, the next point wins! Readyyy! And fight!"

    Johnny watched as his son gave a top class fighter a real run for his money. They went back and forth, both of them taking their time before fighting very aggressively.

    And then Xander scored a round kick to the body as Robby missed a reverse punch to the body and then head.

    "Point!"

    "Ach." growled Johnny quietly as Lucas shook his head.

    "Point! Winner!" the referee said raising Xander's hand.

    "Good fight." Xander said respectfully.

    Robby nodded, shaking Xander's hand and bowing to each other.

    "We have our finalists! We'll be right back, after this quick break," said Daryl.

    …

    In the locker rooms, Johnny knelt in front of Robby as he sat on a bench. "Hey. You did good kid. You made it to the semis and nearly won. In your first tournament. He's been on that mat competing for way longer than you."

    "I know." Robby said. "Thank you."

    "I agree. He did do well."

    Johnny turned around, seeing John Kreese.

    They were both silent.

    "Give us a second Robby."

    "But dad who's that-"

    "Please."

    Robby left them alone.

    Johnny cleared his throat. "I have to coach Schwarber on his final match I-"

    "This'll only take a second. I know we have a lot to talk about." Kreese said.

    "I don't want to talk to you." Johnny said.

    Kreese sighed. "I know. And I know why. I understand what defeat means now. And what you meant to me."

    "Bullshit. If I meant so much to you, you never would've tried to kill me."

    "I realize now what that cost me with you. But Cobra Kai was the only family I had-"

    "Then why weren't you coaching Schwarber today? He's a good kid.-"

    "Who's wearing your headband." Daniel said, entering the locker room. "I remember that thing. You wore it almost every day of senior year."

    Kreese and Johnny turned to look at Daniel.

    Daniel sighed. "Hey Johnny."

    He nodded slightly. "LaRusso. Been a while."

    "Yup." Daniel shifted where he stood. "This has all gotten a little out of hand don't you think? These kids getting mixed up in nonsense we all failed to settle thirty years ago?"

    "No," Kreese said. "They're making a legacy for themselves. We're just there to guide them."

    "Is that why both of you turned your backs on Luke huh?" asked Johnny spitefully. "Now that he's on the verge of breaking almost every All Valley record in the book. You both show up for him? You should be disgusted with yourselves."

    "No. This is about him. Not us." Kreese muttered. "Which is why I stepped away when LaRusso got involved. No need to needlessly toss his head around before this tournament."

    "Is that why you tried to choke me out and kill me? Huh?" asked Johnny. "Real compassionate and necessary."

    Kreese's lips tightened. "That's ancient history, Johnny. Not who I am anymore."

    "Maybe. But it's not my problem."

    Johnny quickly left the locker room before Daniel did so as well.

    Leaving Kreese to his own thoughts.

    Kreese looked over at a familiar duffel bag that he knew was Lucas' as it contained sparring gear they trained with.

    Kreese walked to the open side pocket of the duffel bag and saw a familiar picture. Lucas had taken a picture of Kim Sun-Yung from his bedroom at the homeless shelter and printed it out into a polaroid.

    For the first time in months, Kreese smiled widely and happily as he picked up the picture.

    Then he frowned when the woman on the intercom spoke. "Both competitors have five more minutes before the final match. Five minutes until the finals."

    Kreese put the picture back in Lucas' duffel bag.

    …

    Johnny was speaking to Lucas. "Hey kid. Um. I wanted to wish you good luck out there."

    "Thanks."

    "After all the final matches Ali was cheering on during. I never would've imagined her son would one day be getting ready for his own."

    "I could imagine." Lucas said.

    "Look uh. This match is probably yours. But you need to know that there's more to life than winning and trophies."

    Lucas was very surprised. "Really?"

    "These dumb rivalries started over trophies and sometimes girls. They don't end well. For anyone. I figured that out the hard way, so I didn't want to pass that on to Robby. So whatever happens out there. Make this yours. This other kid you're about to face. He never stole your girlfriend or dumped water on your head at a Halloween dance."

    Lucas smiled.

    "He's just another fighter. Another guy in a GI. Win or lose. It's literally just a tournament. And you've done incredibly well."

    Lucas knew it was time to go. "I'm a bit nervous but. You're right. Considering how well I've done up until now. Yeah."

    "See you out there." Johnny left him alone with a nod.

    …

    I realized who my biggest opponent out there was.

    This world, or rather this world without me in it.

    Xander Stone was supposed to win this tournament. He was the champion Miguel faced a year from today in the first season of the Cobra Kai show.

    Robby and I were not supposed to be out there competing today. Kreese was not supposed to have interacted with Daniel or Johnny this early on. And I was not supposed to be in the finals.

    So whatever was about to happen. Was going to change the events of this world so much it would be completely different to what I was used to.

    My knowledge of everything, could only get me so far.

    But I knew I would win this match and all the records that came with it so long as I went all out in the first thirty seconds. The first thirty seconds, and I didn't let Stone score one point on me.

    And I would become the most famous karate fighter who ever lived in the history of the Valley.

    …

    Daryl spoke. "This! Is it folks. The final match, of the entire tournament."

    The crowd cheered.

    "We have quite the battle here folks! Lucas Schwarber, fighting unaffiliated, at only fourteen! Is the first person to do so reaching the finals since 1993. And! The first person to reach the finals without being scored on a single time, since 1987. Not to mention!"

    Daryl said. "He completed all of his matches so far except for one in under an average thirty nine seconds! An All Valley all time record! Should he complete this match without conceding a single point, and win in at least under a minute! He will have broken almost every record in All Valley history there is to beat but one."

    "Which is, the all time record for All Valley championship titles. At two! So gentlemen, let's go!"

    Xander and Lucas bowed as they stepped onto the mat and approached each other by walking towards their lines.

    White faced off against blue as a hundreds cheered.

    The referee fixed his red shirt and walked towards both of them as they stared off. "This might be the final match. But you must still obey all the rules and my orders. Watch the control gentlemen, and do not strike outside of the clash."

    "Face me! Bow. Face each other! Bow. En garde!"

    Xander and Lucas got into their stances.

    For the first time in the entire tournament, Lucas started to bounce in his stance.

    He bounced forward and backward, not up and down.

    "Fight!"

    Lucas fought aggressively for the first time since he stepped onto the mat and had his first match.

    He didn't fight with Miyagi-Do or Cobra Kai, he fought with an explosive combination of both.

    He drove Xander backward, almost connecting on his chin with the first kick, a front kick to the jaw.

    Xander dodged, starting to counter with leg sweeps and spinning roundhouses, but suddenly, Lucas used the catch and sweep technique combined with spinning hands kata.

    He tied up Xander while he threw a side kick and threw him to the mat, instantly scoring a point with his fist on Xander's chest.

    Xander was slightly used to Cobra Kai having beaten Robby a few minutes earlier but combined so creatively with Miyagi-Do and Lucas' own style, Xander had no reference for the kind of karate he was facing.

    "Point Schwarber!" the referee announced.

    Red flags were in the air for each corner judge and Demetri and Charlotte cheered.

    "That's it! That's right!" cheered Robby as Johnny nodded and applauded.

    "Lucas Schwarber with the first point!" announced Daryl.

    "One zero, Schwarber! Back on your lines!"

    Lucas was back on his line as Xander rubbed his chest and walked back over to his spot.

    "Ready! And fight!"

    Lucas moved away blocking easily as Xander tried to get an easy point with a jab punch the moment combat resumed.

    Xander telegraphed a front kick and Lucas easily blocked. On the next attack, Lucas struck first and interrupted Xander's attempt at a grab on his front arm by throwing a jab and a reverse punch towards Xander's chin first.

    Xander raised his arms and blocked both, but Lucas didn't give him a second to react a split second later.

    He instantly dove in and kicked Xander as quickly as he could in the stomach, but he blocked just in time.

    Xander and Lucas circled each other for a bit and then Lucas had struck first and lunged perfectly into a reverse punch right on Xander's chest as his rear leg had started to rise off the ground to throw a kick. The speed, power, and technique Lucas had, hadn't changed, he had just started to fight more aggressively.

    Xander staggered back for a second under the power of the blow, and red flags rose again once more.

    They walked back to their lines and the referee spoke. "Schwarber two! Stone nothing! Ready? And fight!"

    The referee's hand had barely moved away as Lucas had already lowered himself onto one hand and used the two legged kick to score on Xander.

    Lucas had kicked Xander on the chest and face at the exact same time and he fell to the ground.

    "Point! Winner!" the referee said raising a right hand quickly towards Lucas.

    Daniel sighed, groaning quietly and kicking the ground in silent frustration.

    "Winner!? Oh my god!" Charlotte yelled in surprise and cheered as Aisha and the crowd roared.

    The crowd was off their feet in a tornado of cheers.

    Lucas rubbed his nose for a second in awed silence as hundreds cheered for him as dozens of karatekas flooded the mat.

    Fighters from almost every dojo except Topanga Karate had started to hoist Lucas into the air like he was Daniel LaRusso a moment after beating Johnny Lawrence.

    "Let's gooo!" roared Robby, his arm muscles flexing beneath his red GI as he and Cutting Edge Karate fighters lifted Lucas into the air.

    "Your winner! And the new! Youngest All Valley Under 18 Karate Champion in history! Lucas, the Flash Schwarber!"

    The crowd cheered and cheered as the All Valley golden trophy was handed to him by Daryl.

    Lucas was laughing and smiling lifting the trophy into the air.

    "That's right!" Robby was bouncing up and down as Lucas was hoisted up. "That's right let's go! That's right! There we go baby! There we go!"

    Johnny was speechless but still smiled. Daniel was hanging his head in shame.

    And Kreese was watching from a corner of the stands far away from all the other spectators.

    He smiled, shaking his head in amazement.

    When Lucas was let back down onto the mat, Daryl spoke. "You have anything you want to say son?"

    Gripping his new first place trophy, Lucas spoke into the mic Daryl had used all tournament.

    "I know what my victory means! And it's something I need to share with all of you today. That there is no greater step to take than the next step forward! And the future is bright for karate! Let me tell you!"

    The crowd cheered for this. Only Daniel and his family seemed confused or quiet at all.

    Lucas smiled as he continued to speak. "All of you are wondering how I got here today. Who trained me!? What karate I used!? Well let me tell you, all these questions and more will be answered soon! Because what comes next is better than anything any of you could ever imagine!"

    "Whatever it may be. Keep your eyes peeled. Cause it will be huge! And it's happening very very soon! It's time for karate to move into a new age! A better age! The classic ways! The ways of either Johnny Lawrence or Daniel LaRusso, the All Valley's greatest champions!"

    Lucas smiled and raised a fist into the air. "Thank you all so much! Thank you all! Thank you!"

    The crowd couldn't stop applauding and cheering.

    The several Senseis were watching Johnny curiously. He had to have an instructor, Lucas' technique couldn't be self taught. And if Johnny wasn't teaching him technically. Then, who could be his teacher? They could ask him right?

    Regardless, Lucas couldn't focus on that, merely basking in the glory of being the first person to win the All Valley in ages without needing a formal dojo.

    ...

    I had lied during my short acceptance speech of the 49th All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships golden trophy.

    I had no idea what I was going to do next.

    I carpooled with Johnny and Robby back to my home in Encino. It was a bit surreal to be honest, holding it in the seats of Johnny's Pontiac firebird. This car didn't feel like it was going to scrapped very soon at all actually, despite what I knew Sam and her friends did to it.

    It was odd too seeing Robby with a third place trophy, he was better than Xander Stone, for sure. It made me wonder if Robby just happened to have a bad day when I happened to have a very good one. It happened in tournaments all the time.

    I smiled, remembering who taught me that. John Kreese.

    I frowned, realizing what had happened now.

    "Tell your grandparents I said hey." Johnny smiled through the window at me.

    Robby was wearing a white tanktop and still in his red Steel Eagle GI pants. "We should train together sometime this summer! Tournament or not, we can kick ass together."

    It was odd, again, seeing Robby Keene as a much more cheerful, Johnny Lawrence-esque, version of his original snarky, brooding, and closed off self I knew him otherwise. Even now after all that happened.

    Johnny grinned at this, looking back slightly at his son in the passenger seat next to him.

    ...

    For all the respect I wanted to gain, for all the glory I expected to win in a tournament like this:

    Barely anyone cared.

    My grandparents when I told them were glad to hear Johnny said hi, but ultimately just saw my achievement at the All Valley, all the records I had broken as just another soccer medal or writing trophy basically. At school, I didn't get showered in adoration during the last weeks of class.

    Charlotte actually started kind of ghosting me after how awkwardly our last date had ended. I think she just wanted to be friends despite her being at the tournament to support me.

    No other girls showed up with romantic potential after the All Valley.

    Right now, despite the trophy in my hand, and knowing Robby and Johnny supported me all the way, it felt like I had nothing else.

    Daniel LaRusso wouldn't speak to me, nor his family, even if I knew Anthony liked me. John Kreese wouldn't either, after all we'd been through.

    I had made friends, Eli, Aisha, Demetri, and a few others, but ultimately I was awaiting for a groundbreaking, Instagram famous pop off that never came. Being on the cover of Black Belt magazine, having banners at the All Valley arena. All of it.

    But the truth was, I understood why practically none of that happened now:

    Until the events of the Second Season of the Netflix show, no one outside of the small and tightly-nit karate community knew jack about karate. Much less cared. As odd as this world was sometimes, it at least had that in common with the real world.

    It was 7th of June, 2017. Technically speaking, Miguel would be moving in from Riverside to meet Johnny Lawrence any day now.

    He would be disconnected from Robby, leading to conflict with his old rival Daniel LaRusso, and Miguel would follow a dark path leading to the revival of John Kreese from the grave.

    But...none of that could ever happen I realized now.

    Johnny and Robby were actually getting along fine. The only way I could jeopardize that would be furthering this karate conflict until potentially, there could inevitable disagreement between Robby and Johnny. As for John Kreese.

    I looked at the trophy I'd gotten, the 49th All Valley golden trophy sitting at the foot of my bedroom.

    I saw something of myself in John, someone lost without purpose. Mr. Miyagi, but deciding to project his emotions outward instead of holding them in. In a way, his philosophy worked, for me, combined with Miyagi-Do, I reached a level of balance, skill, and strength that outshined kids as old as 17 going on 18 with years of experience competing in the Valley, when I was 14 barely turning 15 competing in my first tournament ever.

    I reviewed some of my footage collected by my friends throughout the tournament, they only caught my very first rounds and my last.

    It was clear in the earlier and later parts of the tournament as Charlotte had recorded, I was applying both Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do, just, blending it into the same thing. I was applying the precise blocks and counters of Miyagi-Do in a very aggressive fashion, and allowing parts of the leg sweeps and round kick combinations of Cobra Kai to come out in ideal countering moments.

    This...had never been done before.

    But there was something more important to me now than this trophy.

    The people around me.

    Daniel and his family would never view mine the same again, and that was a connection my mother, Ali Mills, and Daniel had shared for decades. If I wasn't careful, that could only be the beginning.

    I knew a truth others didn't, that left unchecked, Cobra Kai could change the fate of the Valley forever. Combined, Terry Silver and John Kreese offered teenagers pretty much free reign to do whatever they wanted at the cost of the suffering and pain of their enemies.

    John Kreese had helped build all of my insecurities, about my over achieving family, my lack of identity and friendship and connection to anything around me when I arrived here. All of it. And he helped me develop it into my greatest strength:

    My karate.

    And for it, while my peers didn't really view me any differently, that wasn't the point. It was about how I viewed myself differently.

    John Kreese didn't understand forgiveness, it was as foreign to him as mercy. I learned the hard way what it meant to come to him weak, my bones cracked, and my muscles damn near broke. I had learned the way of the fist from him, at least as much one can at their greatest dedication to it for a year.

    And for it, I didn't feel like I was this Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy sort of guy. I didn't want to hurt anyone.

    'And there's the problem.' Kreese would say.

    You're supposed to want to hurt people even if that's not the point. You're supposed to view the entire world as a stable place, until the second someone wrongs you. When that happens, you're supposed to use your karate, all of your anger, to just make them regret that moment for the rest of their lives.

    And for that simple fact, Daniel LaRusso suffered. For basically an entire year during the events of the Karate Kid. And what I realized now too.

    The entire Valley would suffer. He left the fates of everyone in the hands of someone like Terry Silver, otherwise his best friend until he betrayed him.

    The true victory I learned from his trophy was that I had made a mistake.

    There was such a thing as good and evil, the simple fact was, that John Kreese was evil. He taught me to abuse my power if it brought me more respect, while the issue with Kyler blew over easily due to my at the time, friendship with Daniel and the other parents of the school. Kreese's message was supposed to apply to my entire life:

    There was no such thing as mercy. By extension, good and evil didn't mean shit. You were either weak or strong, and weakness did not exist at Cobra Kai.

    I remembered how intense how some of Kreese's lessons were. How hard he made me hit all those damn pallets and shit, I think there might've even been a brick at some point. Not that surprising considering what they made Daniel and Mike Barnes go through in the third film.

    All of that pain, I had to lie about it. I had to deny what the purpose of it was.

    John Kreese never went easy on me because I was fourteen, because he knew my mother from the past, because I came to him looking for help. Going easy on anyone, in any aspect of your life, was wrong, it was weakness.

    I was stronger for it, but I had to leave a peace of myself with him: My mercy.

    The roles reversed during the first scenes of Karate Kid Part Two, and Kreese wouldn't have quoted Miyagi back to himself and jokingly honked him on the nose. It was very damn likely he would've just killed him. And if not, he would've passed the same lessons on to his students you didn't forgive nor forget anything.

    If I wasn't careful, the entire Valley would suffer.

    I deeply regretted seeking John Kreese, if enough time passed. I could become like him.

    I decided to go on my laptop and submit an application to get my internship at LaRusso auto reinstated. As much as I wanted to remove myself from this karate rivalry, before it spiraled out of control to the point a ponytailed Bond Villain held the fate of the world in his Cobra Kai hands, I wanted one more thing before I left the Valley or stopped practicing karate for good. Or at least, prevented this from getting any worse:

    Daniel's forgiveness.

    I wasn't going to the LaRusso house begging, he needed to come to me on fair terms. If he never realized I made a mistake and I was sorry for it, that was on him.

    Personally, I wasn't going to stay in the Valley much longer waiting for the shit storm of love triangle, square, whatever drama to unfold. Miguel almost died, Robby could've gone to jail for a very long time for manslaughter if that was the case. Johnny and Daniel had even set their shit aside and that still happened. About a year later, Terry Silver might as well have said 'fuck you' to everyone who struggled before him because he swooped in and won.

    He was worse than Kreese, as I realized just now, somehow.

    However, I did in fact make friends here. I would enjoy seeing their highschool experience grow alongside mine.

    But it all started with forgiveness. And I wasn't going to smile if Mr. LaRusso came around.

    ...

    John Kreese didn't have two pennies to scratch together.

    He had spent his days going back and forth between a homeless shelter as a spot he was narrowly losing, and living on the street itself. Then, he realized that even for a moment, something of value had returned to his life.

    One evening, he walked to Encino, remembering Lucas' address for where the Mills lived and Ali's girlhood home from the 80s. There, he began to walk up the steps towards his house, and prepared to knock on the door.

    He even considered ringing the doorbell.

    After a moment's hesitation, he relented.

    Kreese shook his head and trudged off. Having no idea what to do next, or where he'd go.

    By the Greyhound pamphlets Kreese had in his hands, looking them over as he walked aimlessly through the streets of the Valley, he was considering leaving by going out east. By the look on his face, probably forever.

    ...

    Johnny saw his old enemy, Daniel LaRusso sitting at the bar by himself at a place in the middle of Van Nuys.

    He pulled up a stool with snark. "Coors Banquet for me, Shirley Temple for the lady."

    "I'm good with my Fresca, thanks." Daniel grinned painfully at the middle aged bartender who then walked off.

    "You had something you wanted to say to me? Could've written me a letter instead of sending my co-workers whatever the hell an email is."

    Daniel snorted. "Never heard of text?"

    "Not sure that part of my phone works anymore. Robby tried to get me figure out smartphones but, I couldn't."

    "Let me see it."

    Johnny proceeded to pull a early 2000s flip phone from his pocket and showed it to him.

    "What?"

    Daniel hid the look unsurprise from his face. "Nothing."

    "Spit it out Danielle, the hell did you invite me for a drink for?"

    He ignored the slight and spoke calmly. "Just, wanted to catch up with you." he muttered the next part while sipping from a green glass bottle. "And to know if you've heard anything from Lucas."

    "I'm not a damn messenger bird, you want to see him talk to him yourself."

    "I can't do that."

    "And why not?"

    Daniel sighed. "Because I wanted to know the truth first."

    "Ask him yourself," Johnny looked around the bar. "I don't have time for this."

    "You and I have never gotten along, but right now I trust your word over his."

    Johnny didn't feel praised nor happy, but instead he was just curious. "Really? Why's that?"

    "Because he was the one who trudged up your old Sensei, brought back Kreese from the local cementery."

    "Yeah he told me."

    Daniel shook his head. "Did he mention why he did any of what he did?"

    "Shouldn't you know? You were his Sensei for this entire past year."

    "Yeah but-" Daniel tutted. "You were the only one he seemed to trust at the All Valley Johnny."

    "Because I was the only one in his corner." said Johnny. "I know you two just fought, but you couldn't have put that bullshit aside just to stick up for him?"

    "He became a friend of the family, specifically under the guise of Kreese, just for the sake of gainining more fame in karate. I've seen that before, so it's very hard to forgive."

    Johnny nodded his thanks to the bartender who passed him his Coors Banquet. "Wait really?'

    "Doesn't matter." Daniel swallowed his drink and put the bottle back down on the bar's counter. "Point is, I need to know what you knew. Has he mentioned anything about what happened between him and Kreese?"

    "All I know is he and Robby haven't talked that much since the tournament. Other than that, the most he mentioned was that he wanted to combined Cobra Kai and Miyagi-Do so he could win the All Valley like no one ever did."

    "That's not much more than I could gather at this point." admitted Daniel. "This begs the question, if he wanted that so badly, why didn't he train with you the whole time? Would've made some sense since there's no way he didn't realize Kreese was responsible for everything back in the day."

    Johnny almost looked offended. "Are you saying I'm easier to manipulate?" he snapped his fingers together to spike the beer cap into a nearby trashcan.

    "Well no, all I'm saying is that you would've been a better teacher than he was."

    "Low bar to set," Johnny grinned and spoke sarcastically. "Wow I'm dying of thanks over here LaRusso, what a compliment."

    "Look we have to admit our faults Johnny. But acting so oddly and dangerously at that age? Where were his parents? What was going on?"

    "It doesn't matter." Johnny took a deep sip of his Coors. "Point is, he sought you as a teacher."

    "And Kreese!"

    "So did I."

    Johnny lowered his voice, seeing the look on Daniel's face. "The fact that he's a kid who didn't know better doesn't matter. What does, is that he figured his shit out."

    "How?" Daniel was incredulous.

    "He spent a year managing all the history and bad blood between all three of us just to develop his own style. And then not only that, he went out and did it. He won. You can do whatever you like, it's not my place to get involved. But as a father, and a Sensei. There's no such thing as a bad student, even though he lied, that wasn't Luke."

    Daniel almost seemed to smile at this. "But he knew what a bad teacher Kreese was, I told him. I'm sure Ali told him."

    "I'm not saying we should applaud how manipulative it was. But he definitely wasn't the same person I met when he flew in from Denver last summer. Any other kid in his shoes would've been scared shitless, and he went out and confronted the bastard. He found the baddest man in the Valley, made him his teacher, and cut him off."

    "For all I knew, they could still be in this together."

    "Then you don't know the same person I do." muttered Johnny.

    "But why would he do that?"

    "Because he wasn't afraid!"

    The bartender raised an eyebrow from nearby.

    "You and I have been at each other's throats since highschool," Johnny said, quieter. "A part of me probably wishes we'd never have to see each other ever again."

    "Same here." Daniel finished his fresca.

    "The way I see it. This wasn't a keep your enemies closer type of deal, he wanted to know what Kreese's style was."

    "And he learned it."

    "He did," admitted Johnny. "But that's over now, he's smart enough to want nothing to do with Kreese or any of this shit. As long as you and I have fought, these kids are just learning. They're like fifteen. The hell is it our place to tell them what to do and what to learn, if we're not their Senseis?"

    "It is our place, at least when Kreese is involved. You know firsthand how dangerous he is."

    "Was."

    Daniel was surprised. "Excuse me?"

    "I get you and the memory of your teacher were hurt by what he did." Johnny said calmly. "But you gotta move on man, we all do. Either go and talk to him yourself and find the whole story, or don't and just move on."

    "You weren't bothered by any of this?"

    Johnny shrugged. "Not really. Robby's living half and half between me and Shannon. The kid's in school and doing karate, staying out of trouble. Considering where he was when we started talking again, I can lead well enough alone. And you should too before your own family gets more messed up by this old history, you have standards you have morals. Kreese has neither."

    "Maybe you should worry about your own family."

    Johnny finished his beer. "Yeah well, maybe I should."

    He tossed some cash on the counter and left, Daniel was in deep thought when Johnny left.

    The man had genuinely no idea what to do next in regards to Miyagi-Do.

    ...

    "Dad, are you okay?"

    He was putting dishes away after dinner with his family.

    "Just fine, thanks for asking."

    Sam didn't appear to be convinced. "You don't seem like it."

    "Well I'm not fine." Daniel sighed and closed the cabinet door, turning around to speak to his daughter. "What happened this past year with Lucas, was just."

    He trailed.

    "But what's on your mind? All of that's over now, I haven't seen him want to train anywhere. In fact, since the tournament, no one I knew has even mentioned karate until you. Just now."

    "Karate or not. I was trying to make a difference in his life. The same way I'd want to make a difference in yours, what Mr. Miyagi taught, it went beyond fighting or martial arts. It was about balance."

    "But, you brought balance."

    Daniel was confused. "What're you talking about?"

    "I know things got messed up because of that other guy he was learning from but." Sam shrugged. "He won, he got what he wanted. No one got hurt, not even anyone at the tournament. Are you afraid he'll hurt people, himself? Us?"

    "No I'm just-" he put his hands on the table leaning on to them. "I spoke to Johnny lately."

    "Robby's dad? I think I saw him help Robby compete at the All Valley."

    Daniel snorted, realizing that was probably the fullest extent of Sam's knowledge of him. "Yes. He said I should forget everything, or at least move on. When I started karate again, it was to pass on Mr. Miyagi's lessons. And after an entire year of teaching Luke the physical aspects of karate. I'm not sure he grasped the mental aspects at all."

    "Who cares?"

    Daniel was surprised. "What?"

    "Who cares what he learned or not? It's over. Stop feeling so guilty about it. If Luke was a better person, if he didn't lie to you about what he was doing. About how he only respected what you taught this whole time, then yeah. Maybe should feel guilty."

    "Wait- Sam."

    She had stormed off towards her room and out of the kitchen.

    ...

    "Still upset you lost your mini me?"

    Daniel was sitting in bed with his wife. "He was never my mini me." he scoffed.

    He saw the smug look on Amanda's face as she wore a nightgown and read a book.

    "What?"

    "Nothing, I just find it funny seeing a grown man get so upset over karate he taught to a teenager."

    "It goes beyond that. You met him he was just, he was becoming a friend of the family. Anthony started to look up to him and he had to go off and-"

    Amanda turned to him. "Seeing you at the tournament, it was like unveiling a whole different side of you. You were mad about what a highschool kid was doing competing on a mat. It's fine if you get upset but. Maybe realize not all of what you're hurting over is completely worth it."

    "Sam is upset with him. She's even upset with me over him."

    "What did she say?"

    "That if he lied, then feeling guilty is wrong."

    Amanda put her book down on the nightstand. "Look, I know nothing about this karate nonsense but I know our kids. You were there for a new friend both of our children made, you both fought because of this tournament. And then you're acting like a compeltely different person. If you're so distressed over what happened between you and Lucas go and talk to him. I've never seen you like this, clueless and helpless over what to do."

    "I don't." Daniel trailed.

    "Are you confused because of what Mr. Miyagi would want you to do?"

    "Partially. I'm just, truthfully wondering what would be best for me. For this family, if I decided to talk to him again."

    "Well whatever you decide. Know, I'm behind you, a hundred percent."

    The two kissed. Amanda shut off the lights, and Daniel turned over to rest.

    ...

    ...

    ...

    Author's Note:

    That concludes Book 1. The next book would cover everything that happened in what would be Season 1 of the Cobra Kai Netflix series in the scenario I created. Needless to say, but the plot and character dynamics are of course completely different.

    It will lightly follow the structure of the first Season but barely in plot points. The way each person learns their karate, develops it, and or passes it on will be completely different. Everyone has students they otherwise wouldn't.

    Johnny has Robby for the first season, and I won't spoil who ends up with Daniel or Kreese if they still decide to teach after Luke.

    Thank you all for reading and supporting!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    So dramatic lmao
     
    MiyazakiFan18 said:
    Chapter Ten: Golf 'N Stuff

    …

    Yasmine was playing Galaga on an old gaming cabinet at Golf 'N Stuff while Lucas leaned on it, eating Dipping Dots out of a cup with a plastic spoon.

    "I meant to ask. Why is everyone at school obsessed with karate? At least so many of the guys, I don't get it at all."

    "Not everyone can spend their free time with manicures and cheer Yas."

    She glared at him for a moment.

    Lucas was happy to see the smile on her face for a moment. "No but really, karate is about more than the actual martial arts. It's about building character."

    "Then what sort of character is your karate about?"

    Lucas shrugged. "Miyagi-Do is mostly about harmony. Peace, you learn to fight so you don't fight. It's always smarter to run than actually fight."

    He looked aside, still explaining. "It really is about finding the defensive aspect of karate, not competing, not fighting for sport. Just, making sure you need to defend yourself when the time comes. Not being there when the crowds cheer and all the hooplah surrounds."

    Yasmine began to laugh. She started to laugh and laugh and laugh.

    "What?" Lucas chuckled nervously.

    "Luke that's literally the exact opposite of you. It seems like you joined karate in the first place just for the clout. You won that big tournament just so you could get a bunch of attention right? And if not, it seems like this Miyagi-Do thing is like, the polar opposite of you as a person."

    Lucas was about to protest but froze.

    He looked like he saw a ghost.

    Doug Rickenberger, a teen with dark hair and a tough build had turned around the corner at the end of the line of video game machines at Golf 'N Stuff.

    He was walking with several Cobra Kai members.

    Mikey, as well as a few others of Kreese's top students.

    Lucas gripped Yasmine's hand, speaking calmly. "We need to go."

    "Wh-What, but we were having so much-" Yasmine yelped suddenly.

    Lucas turned and tucked her out of sight between a Galaga and Ms. Pac Man machine.

    "Why are we hiding?" Yasmine whispered.

    Yasmine's eyes grew, the close proximity between her and Lucas led to certain comfort from both of them.

    Lucas whispered back. "To avoid a fight."

    The two were looking at each other in a minute bit of privacy, their noses almost touching, before Lucas left the small spaces between all the gaming machines.

    Lucas held Yasmine's hand again and she followed him out of the arcade for a moment before Lucas bumped directly into Mitch.

    He turned, grinning.

    "Hey Schwarber, fine date you picked up."

    Lucas refused to let go of Yasmine's hand. "She's not my date."

    "Right." Mitch chuckled, the rest of Cobra Kai drew near. "You know Aisha had every right to crack your fake ass nose Yas."

    "No one has that right." Lucas said, earning a small look from Yasmine.

    "Correction. You get to decide for yourself who deserves a proper ass beating."

    Lucas laughed quietly. "That's John Kreese talking, not you Mitch."

    "That's who talking?" asked Yasmine.

    A bit surprised Lucas knew their Sensei's name, Mitch still ignored it and shrugged. "Then maybe he's right."

    "Karate isn't like, a weapon dude. That's fucked up if you think you can solve all your problems by hitting people."

    "It's better than enabling a cyber bully." Mitch stared at Yasmine angrily. "Right?"

    She looked aside shamefully before Lucas spoke up again. "I don't have time for this."

    They began to leave together and then a few Cobra Kais physically stood in their way.

    "You know we came up with our own name to give you and mess with you the same way you messed with Aisha, Yas."

    Mitch smiled. "Voldemort."

    Mikey smirked too. "No nosed bitch."

    Lucas then just shoved Rickenberger out of the way and started to run out of the arcade.

    The Cobra Kais followed, and a Golf 'N Stuff employee looked confused in their direction.

    "The heck?" Chris squinted at the scene.

    …

    At some point during the chase, Lucas and Yasmine got separated, he looked around an old laser tag room confused.

    "Yas?" he called out.

    "Fake bitch must've figured out you weren't worth it. Figures." Mitch entered the sectioned off part of the arcade with six other Cobra Kais.

    Lucas only seemed to be focused on Mikey and Rickenberger, as if they appeared to be the only real threats.

    "What do you want man?"

    "To teach you a lesson. You keep trying to swoop Miguel's chicks, you're so desperate for 'tang you take out Yasmine for a date the moment she cyberbullies someone into striking back." he said.

    Lucas sighed. "She just got her nose broken, she deserved to get cheered up. Everyone does. You all have that chance too."

    Mitch shook his head with a chuckle. "You're such a liar Schwarber. You always wear karate gear, you got first place at last year's All Valley. You claim to know everything about karate, but you don't."

    "Well maybe it's time someone taught it to you."

    Mitch smirked and cracked his knuckles, walking forward only to throw a jab punch that resulted in him getting elbowed in the jaw for.

    After a knee was thrown to his sternum, Lucas threw a groaning Mitch aside.

    Lucas raised his voice before the other boys could act. "I promise you, I know more about Cobra Kai than any of you."

    Surprised again Lucas knew this much when no one at their school had ever really talked about their karate dojo, the Cobra Kais paused.

    "It isn't right, you don't create peace by hitting people." Lucas muttered.

    Rickenberger and Mikey looked at each other for a moment.

    "This is all fucked up. You're here to prove something to Yas she already learned, trust me. Nothing good comes of violence, I've been where you're all at. I promise you, it leads nowhere."

    Lucas seemed to be getting through to them before all of a sudden Mitch had recovered and shoulder tackled Lucas to the ground.

    He fell right onto his chin on the arcade floor.

    "Yeah!" Mitch roared stupidly. "Mess with us? Yeah!?"

    "Dude I think you busted his lip."

    It looked a bit funny to the other Cobra Kais and suddenly, the look on Lucas' face changed.

    He wasn't calm anymore, he was mad.

    …

    OST: Robot Rock - Daft Punk

    …

    Lucas wiped the bit of blood off his mouth slowly, nodding a bit.

    Every Cobra Kai there could tell he was accepting their challenge out of rage.

    Mitch stupidly walked right into another counter, this time a spinning wheel kick to the jaw.

    The heel of Lucas' shoe connected right on Mitch's jaw, sending him flying to the ground.

    Mikey and his friend attacked at the same time, Lucas elbowed Mikey in the jaw while dodging the other's punch. Grabbing a wild kick from Mikey, Lucas threw them together, their heads colliding.

    Lucas rushed forward leaping off his back leg in a classic karate jab punch. His fist collided at full speed into Rickenberger's jaw, interrupting his front kick.

    Lucas instantly spun around into a leg sweep to kick a rushing Cobra Kai's leg.

    He staggered for a moment, and Lucas jumped upwards out of his spin to connect with a spinning round kick to the temple.

    Lucas had knocked him clean out.

    Before Mikey and Mitch could recover, Lucas was merciless in disabling his opponents. Through the low lights of the closed laser tag room, Lucas snapped one of their wrists, he couldn't even tell because of how mad he was.

    However, Mitch shoulder tackled Lucas again to not receive the same fate.

    Lucas was using the exact same moves as all of his opponents.

    The jab, the reverse punch, the hook kick, the round kick and back kick, as well as the leg sweep. All of them knew Cobra Kai, but Lucas knew it far better than all of them.

    The difference was that Lucas had to fight much smarter as he was outnumbered heavily. He had to move quicker, cleaner, counter more decisively.

    There was no Miyagi-Do here, no flashy hand movement, just simple dodging, punching, and kicking.

    Lucas used his elbows, his knees, he wasn't even thinking. He was just striking.

    He would strike through his opponent's attacks, interrupting their combinations, using their numbers to their disadvantage. Making them hit each other quickly and then moving away.

    Lucas should've lost this fight quickly, instead he struck first, and hard.

    Rickenberger threw a round kick leading into a spinning hook kick, both directly to the head.

    Lucas leaned back from both to dodge only to be tied up for a moment as Mitch pinned his arms behind his back.

    As Rickenberger managed to land a solid punch to Lucas' ribs and jaw, he struggled.

    Lucas managed to shake his head and regain his senses as Rickenberger panted, preparing a third strike.

    Lucas quickly shifted left and right to both dodge and squirm a bit out of Mitch's grasp.

    Rickenberger's fist and feet flew harmlessly by his head as Lucas then used hikite, or the karate fist pull back to the hip to damn near break Mitch's floating ribs.

    He gasped, walking backwards before Lucas grunted in rage.

    He struck Mitch directly in the eye as hard as he could with a back fist and then another elbow to the jaw. This time, the blow was so clean and hard, Mitch's whole head rocked up and he was out cold.

    Rickenberger socked Lucas in the back of the head, making him spin for a second.

    He dodged randomly by ducking when he hit the arcade wall. Both Rickenberger and another Cobra Kai ganged up on Lucas when he covered up.

    Lucas was able to recover from the stagger quickly enough to quickly grab Rickenberger's foot when he tried to go for a front kick to Lucas' chest.

    He rolled under his friend's punch to sweep Rickenberger's rear leg, sending him flying hard to the ground before Lucas hit his friend instantly with a jab before he could blink, much less counter.

    Lucas was just that fast. He all but teleported across the ground of the arcade with a point karate style jab so hard and so quick he punched the lights of the Cobra Kai he hit the second he hit his chin.

    The remaining three Cobra Kais were enraged with Lucas.

    Two were helping Mikey nurse a snapped wrist and could've easily left the fight but decided to stay instead.

    Mikey was able to fight through his pain and merely kicked and wildly used his other hand to fight.

    Fighting three boys his age all at once, the brawl turned bloody.

    Lucas had to fight fast and hard again, and he had bruises and blood all over his knuckles, shoes, and elbows.

    He rolled like a boxer, boxing and weaving, his hands strapped to his temples.

    Lucas checked kicks off his shins to counter with his own. He kicked knees, headbutted, again throwing his opponents together to interrupt attacks by landing his own.

    By the end of it, he had taken a few hits and almost was cornered a few times but it was over.

    A helpless Mikey was smacked at full speed directly into his pals by a round kick to the head.

    He tumbled over his friends like bowling pins and Lucas then started to knock them clean out. He kneed Mikey right in the head, Lucas threw his arm like a knife hand, using a haito, or open hand strike to one of Mikey's friend's mouth.

    All the sweat on their head flew for a moment before they fell to the ground.

    Roaring, Lucas twisted into a back kick to catch the last Cobra Kai's solar plexus at full power. The wind knocked completely out of him, he fell, wheezing.

    Lucas spun and connected with another back fist, this time upon the temple, sending the Cobra Kai flying back.

    He defeated Mikey, Rickenberger, Mitch, and four of their friends all on his own. He was bruised, bloodied, but standing.

    Lucas panted, limping out of the arcade, leaving them all there.

    …

    Kreese held Mitch's face, pushing it away in disgust.

    Mikey's wrist was in a cast, his knee was also in bad shape. Mitch's entire face had been all but rearranged from the fight he picked, and Rickenberger was suffering a shoulder, head, and neck injury from how hard Lucas had swept him to the ground.

    Their other four friends weren't in much better shape.

    Miguel merely stood there, his arms crossed wearing his Cobra Kai GI.

    Kreese shook his head. "You're all pathetic."

    "We were sure we could've won this fight." Mitch lifted his chin, almost pouting.

    "Yeah I'll bet." Kreese sighed. "Who was it?"

    "Luke Schwarber." muttered Mikey quietly.

    Kreese looked away. "I did tell you I don't respect point fighting. But that doesn't mean a point fighting champion can't handle himself. When you all recover, I'll let you come back to the team, for now, go home, rest."

    Mitch was surprised. "What're you going to do?"

    "What any good Sensei should. Protect his students."

    …

    "Hello there Daniel."

    Daniel LaRusso was quietly doing some paperwork for LaRusso Auto in his office when John Kreese walked into his office, wearing a trench coat.

    Daniel reached for the phone instantly as if he was going to call the police but Kreese chuckled. "Don't worry I'm just here to talk."

    "Never took you for the diplomatic type."

    "I'm not. I prefer good old fashioned violence to take down my enemies. As does your student."

    Daniel looked confused.

    "What? You haven't heard? He beat down seven of my students all on his own, and I heard he was just a bit scratched up and had a limp."

    Daniel shook his head. "That's not like Lucas."

    "No? Perhaps you don't know him as well as you think you did."

    "So what're you here for?"

    "What I wanted the last time we talked like this. Retribution, some sort of answer for the pain of my students."

    Daniel shrugged. "I can't give that to you."

    "I want some sort of answer. Right now. Or I promise you, things will get ugly."

    Daniel looked at the door, and then the knuckles Kreese was baring.

    Between starting a fight with John Kreese in his own dealership, probably meaning a serious loss of his reputation, or working out some sort of deal with him. The choice was clear.

    "What do you want?" asked Daniel calmly from his desk.

    Kreese leaned both of his hands on the chair opposite to where Daniel was sitting.

    "A rematch."

    "You want me to fight Johnny?" Daniel asked boredly with a snort.

    "I want your student to fight mine. Anywhere, anytime."

    "Yeah, you're known to fight a bit dirty." Daniel smirked. "Miyagi-Do is not about fighting."

    "Then how do you suggest we settle this?"

    "Same way we did last time. A tournament, I'll meet you there with bells on."

    Kreese inhaled loudly. "Gladly." he growled out.

    He then left the office in a huff.

    "Who was that guy?" Amanda brushed past Kreese.

    "Just some nutjob."

    Amanda did not believe her husband at all, but did not inquire further.

    …

    Kreese sighed loudly, sitting on his desk the next day in the office of the Reseda strip mall dojo.

    Miguel entered Kreese's office curiously. "What?"

    "Cobra Kai has been banned from competition." Kreese sighed. "It seems the only way I can ever ask to return to compete is to ask for an appeal."

    He looked over at Miguel. "How did this, Lucas Schwarber ever manage to stumble upon Rickenberger and the others at that arcade?"

    "Coincidence." Miguel shrugged.

    "No." Kreese gestured to his office door and Miguel closed it.

    Miguel approached and Kreese spoke calmly. "You're going to tell me the truth right now. I know you well enough to know when you're lying."

    Miguel frowned. "I um, wanted revenge on Schwarber."

    "For?"

    "He's the guy I've been telling you about."

    Kreese chuckled, crossing his arms. "So instead of facing him yourself. You send your friends to do your dirty work for him."

    Miguel couldn't respond.

    "You're many things Mr. Diaz." said Kreese. "But a liar and a coward aren't one of them. The future of this dojo will be decided in the next couple months. No more hiding, no more lies, no more weakness. Is that understood?"

    "Yes Sensei."

    "When you want to take down your rival. You fight him like you mean it, only this time, it won't be from afar. It'll be up close."

    "And. Where will that be?"

    Kreese nodded slightly to the poster on the wall of the dojo. The All Valley tournament, the fiftieth anniversary.

    "Go warm up the class."

    "Yes Sensei."

    …

    The members of the All Valley Karate tournament committee were Daryl, an African American man who was the announcer at tournaments, Ron, a bald man with glasses, and an Asian man named George, a woman named Sue, and a few other people sitting at a few tables.

    John Kreese entered and knocked at the open door.

    "Hello?"

    "Hi there." Ron said calmly. "How can we help you?"

    "I'm here for an appeal. My dojo has been banned from competition at the All Valley."

    "Banned?" George laughed. "Barely anyone competes anymore, why would we ban anyone?"

    "And your name?" asked Sue.

    "John Kreese." Daniel LaRusso said, entering the room, "And I assure you, he has in fact been banned."

    Kreese quietly watched Daniel take an open seat at the committe table, patting Ron on the shoulder.

    "I'm sorry um, I thought that Senseis weren't allowed to organize the tournament." said Kreese.

    "Daniel LaRusso has closed Miyagi-Do since the 1980s sir." assured Ron. "There's no funny business going on here."

    "Mm." Kreese smiled. "That's not what I heard."

    "I'm sorry?" George looked confused, glancing at both Kreese and Daniel.

    "Using karate Mr. LaRusso taught him, a student of his you all might know well named Lucas Schwarber has assualted several of my own students." Kreese said calmly. "So I am quite sure that Miyagi-Do is in fact, very open."

    "What?" Ron chuckled in surprise, looking at Daniel. "What is this, how come we're the last to know of this?"

    "I promise you, these are all lies. My karate does not lie in violence. And this man, is a liar." Daniel pointed towards Kreese.

    Kreese shrugged, sitting down in front of the committe. "I have nothing else left to offer anyone but karate. I merely wish to return my dojo to competition, as a send off for my service to this country."

    "I think we need to look up some archives." Sue muttered, the rest of the committee agreed.

    …

    After blowing the dust off some old files, Ron spoke calmly.

    "It seems that you were banned from competition by Mr. Pat Johnson, organizer of this committee, himself. After you were accused of quote, unsportsmanlike conduct completely unberefit, of the noble tradition of karate." said Ron.

    "That was over thirty years ago." Kreese said. "I promise, I am no longer that person."

    "Really?" asked Daniel. "Because I swear, just this past year he-"

    "I'm sorry." George said. "Is it really true that Lucas Schwarber is your karate student?"

    "I just train him on my own, Lucas hasn't officially returned to competition under Miyagi-Do." he responded.

    "Really?" asked Sue. "We need to hear that from himself." she added, as the other committee members nodded in agreement.

    Daniel bit his lip angrily as he saw Kreese smirk at him. "Otherwise." added Sue. "You technically are a competing Sensei, and you shouldn't be here."

    "I should still have a voice." Daniel insisted.

    "You should." Ron agreed. "Just not on the council."

    Daniel sighed, standing up to fix his tie. "Fine."

    He took a seat near to Kreese, across the aisle of empty chairs.

    Ron sighed, fixing his glasses and continuing. "Mr. Kreese I understand this incident was over thirty years ago, but I need to know. What exactly happened?"

    Before Daniel could say anything Kreese spoke. "I no longer associate at all with Mr. Barnes or Mr. Silver."

    "Silver and him go way back." Daniel chuckled.

    Kreese continued. "I want to give my kids a chance to prove themselves."

    "Which kids?"

    "Kids of all sorts. Kids bullied by people from the privileged lifestyle Mr. LaRusso represents." Kreese said calmly. "I want a safe and fair environment for these kids to face their bullies, and to show their strength. Their growth. I've watched my students really grow into their own. As young men and women, into the karatekas, and people I could be proud of." Daniel rolled his eyes and Kreese continued. "The All Valley could really benefit from seeing the strength Cobra Kai can give. It's an essential aspect of this town's history, especially in martial arts."

    Ron and Sue looked at each other, without words the council all appeared to be in agreement.

    George cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I speak for all of us Mr. Kreese. Regardless of your current attempt to change your dojo and return for the better. You are someone this council's founder itself decided should be removed from competition."

    "It's still a badass name for a dojo." Daryl shrugged.

    George raised his gavel, and with a clack of it, Kreese shook his head and looked aside as Daniel smiled.

    "I think I can speak for Pat Johnson when I can say a rematch is due on the mat."

    "Mr. Schwarber." Ron instantly recognized him. "It's wonderful to see you actually at the arena again."

    Daniel turned, shocked to see Kreese was right, Lucas was bruised a bit around his face.

    "Glad to be here."

    "And. Why are you here?" asked Sue.

    "To ask for Mr. Kreese's reinstatement." Lucas said.

    Ron was utterly confused. "And why would you ever do that?"

    "Because once I was Mr. Kreese's student."

    The committee was confused and muttered amongst themselves.

    "Wait." George was confused. "So, the karate you used when you won last year's All Valley. That was Mr. Kreese's karate?"

    "Precisely. As well as my own combined with Daniel LaRusso's."

    Utterly frustrated, Daniel looked aside and hid his face in his hands that Lucas was willing to tell the committe all at once this.

    Daryl said the obvious. "I think that changes everything then."

    "Well not necessarily." Ron added, nodding to Lucas. "Let's see what Mr. Schwarber has to say."

    "Yes, I became the Valley's youngest and quickest champion. And I have to side with my current Sensei, and agree that John Kreese is very much the same man he was when he was banned."

    Daniel instantly seemed to smile at a disappointed Kreese.

    "He's cruel, and a cheater, liar, and dishonest. But he can bring something that this tournament hasn't seen in a while. Some actually kickass karate."

    The smirk battle between Daniel and Kreese continued directly across from and behind Lucas.

    "Reinstate Cobra Kai please. You all need to sell tickets to make a profit, or this tournament can't even be run. Kicks sell tickets."

    Ron shook his head. "From everything you're telling us, Mr. Kreese will desecrate this tournament. Why would you even want to compete against him again?'

    "Because I want to prove again I can become this Valley's champion. No matter who wants to fight me." Lucas said calmly.

    "Yeah that's not enough." George looked around, fixing the papers of Kreese's ban on the table.

    "Nope." Sue shook her head.

    Ron sighed. "It's really not."

    "Now hold on." said Daryl, pointing a pen at Lucas. "How far are you willing to endorse Cobra Kai?"

    "I will drop out of competing at this next All Valley if John Kreese is not in it."

    "Now that really does change everything now doesn't it?" Daryl chuckled.

    "Okay then." Ron looked around a nodding All Valley tournament committe table, there was not even a need for discussion considering the amount of the public's interest in Lucas' karate. "In that case. Congratulations Mr. Kreese, welcome back to the All Valley."

    Daniel threw his hands up in the air and shook his head, clenching his jaw and looking like he wanted to swear and throw something, as Kreese smiled and bowed his head. "Thank you."

    George clacked his gavel twice and like that, Cobra Kai was back in competition.

    "And now." Ron picked up a clipboard, as Lucas', Kreese's, and Daniel's attention instantly turned to him. "On to our next and final order of business for our yearly meeting. The rule and affiliation change for our entire tournament."

    "I'm sorry what?" Daniel was shocked.

    Both Lucas and Kreese were also completely bewildered.

    …

    Cobra Kai OST: Globo-Kai

    (Last Minute of track)

    …

    "For the past fifty years, the All Valley has been Tang Soo Do affiliated, using the same outdated and inefficient rules for karate competition. Meanwhile." Ron shrugged. "The rest of the world has caught up."

    Sue sighed, checking her clipboard. "Even here in the Valley, other dojos have found a new, similar, but new way to compete in karate."

    "The USANKF, or, USA national karate-do federation." Ron fixed his glasses. "Has backing from the international olympic committee, karate might even get to the olympics. We've reached out to them, and they agreed to include us."

    Daniel and Lucas, and then even Kreese and Daniel looked confused at each other.

    "It's time for the All Valley to evolve, and more importantly, grow." Ron said. "We need more tickets, and for years, we've been excluding all sorts of dojos from competition just because we refused to reform. Well no longer."

    Sue spoke. "Mr. Schwarber, you are without a doubt the best fighter we've ever seen in All Valley Under 18 karate, but you've never seemed to test yourself against competitors from other styles. Some of which are essentially yours."

    In Santa Clarita, karatekas practicing on traditional tatami under a flag of the traditional Goju-Ryu fist were doing kata together. There were rows of karatekas all wearing white GIs and black belts moving simultaneously, young men and women between the ages of thirteen and seventeen.

    "Mr. Kreese your karate has evolved as well, far from where you began it too decades ago."

    Kreese crossed his arms and squinted as George spoke.

    "From what we understand, your karate is based heavily in traditional Shotokan."

    Wearing only red footguards and gloves, near Huntington Beach, two boys sparred under the watchful eye of a Sensei, a short man in a karategi with crossed arms.

    "Here they more or less have the same style, it's merely evolved greatly."

    They exchanged punches, kicks, sweeps, the very same techniques John Kreese had taught vigorously for decades on Lankershim avenue.

    "Whethere you're ready or not. The future is here." said Ron. "It's a big world out there for competitive karate, and it's time to step into it."

    George clacked his gavel, and All Valley history was made for the second time in only one year.

    …

    …

    …
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Okay so looks like things are really heating up now
     
    Chapter Eleven
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Eleven: The Steps to the All Valley

    …

    Daniel respectfully protested against the rule change and the reinclusion of Cobra Kai into the All Valley as Lucas stood outside the council chamber.

    Kreese walked outside, looking at Lucas up and down for a moment.

    The teen ignored him and Kreese almost left before he said something.

    "You have a moment?"

    "I got nothin' to say to you." Lucas shrugged.

    Kreese shook his head. "That wouldn't be true if you drove here to try to get the dojo reinstated."

    "I did it so I could find a safer way to resolve all the nonsense with said dojo." Lucas waved a hand towards his bruised face.

    Kreese chuckled, shaking his head. "You're so much like your mother. Ali was just the same way, prideful, stubborn, and never gave up."

    "Don't talk about my mom."

    Kreese sighed, looking aside. "This needs to be said, son. With the All Valley becoming bigger and better than ever for the upcoming fiftieth anniversary next May. I have to know. Is Miyagi-Do really your best choice?"

    "Beyond any shadow of a doubt."

    "Really?" said Kreese. "I get your family has rooted for Miyagi-Do all the back since the 80s."

    Lucas frowned, meeting Kreese's aged, calm, and dark eyes. "But I know you Lucas. You're not a tranquil, meditative, defensive person. You're competitive, driven, strong, fierce."

    Kreese squinted at Lucas slightly. "You're the kind of person who's held back by tradition and the kind of karate Miyagi wanted. Before this escalates to a point where the rest of your highschool life is altered forever. I need you to know, there will always be a place for you at Cobra Kai."

    Lucas scoffed. "I'm pretty sure fighting over half a dozen people I know from West Valley High would've already changed that. Why would I ever join them?"

    "We can go back to the way we started this." Kreese gestured towards posters of photographs taken of Daniel and Johnny's 1980s title bout. "That? Is history. You're the future kid. You and Diaz, Robby Keene, as well as any friends you have with genuine fighting skills."

    "Miguel Diaz? You know he hates my guts right?"

    Kreese shrugged. "You're boys now. But I can help turn you into men, in just a couple years. With Johnny onboard, you, his son, and Miguel Diaz could become the ultimate team. We could spend the next few years becoming the karate team we always needed, bringing home all sorts of awards. We don't need a full class, just the right students."

    Lucas frowned. "Quantity, is always beaten by quality." said Kreese.

    Kreese placed a hand on Lucas' shoulder. "I can kick everyone who attacked you at the arcade off the team. We can start over, and within a couple years. Your mentorship with LaRusso will be nothing but a bad memory, and you'll be a karate champion everyone knows everywhere."

    "And that's something I know you want." said Kreese. "It's what you asked me for last summer. And I'm giving you a second chance, something we both know I almost never give."

    There was silence for a moment, as if Lucas seemed to be genuinely considering the offer.

    Lucas quietly pushed off Kreese's hand. "No."

    "No?"

    "Absolutely no way. You were so mad that I betrayed your trust, you enabled Miguel's pettiness by sending his friends after me."

    Kreese shrugged. "I had nothing to do with that."

    "Right." Lucas laughed a bit. "Any good Sensei- No. Any sane individual would instantly kick their students out of their dojo if they tried to use their karate to beat someone up. And where are Rickenberger and the others now?"

    "You're not one to talk about starting fights. You've done it yourself." said Kreese.

    "Beating up Kyler was messed up, I'm past all that now. I helped bring back your dojo to competition so we could fight properly with rules. Not in the streets. It's the deal you worked out before."

    "So. Your drive to fight, to excel. You're going to let LaRusso hold you back?"

    "I'd rather do nothing but kata for the rest of my life than spend one more second being your student, and letting your lies and your abuse threaten anyone ever again. After I beat Miguel at the All Valley, I want him to stop bothering me for good. Otherwise I'll talk to the board, and I'll try everything I can to make sure you never compete anywhere ever again."

    Lucas crossed his arms. "Now get out of here."

    Kreese smiled widely, chuckling, nodding and giving him a toothy grin. "For someone past all this pettiness. You really do want to go out of your way to show me just how little you care about me."

    "When you have your chance, ask your grandfather how little he cares too. And his bailouts and deals. Then I'm sure you'll want to train with me again in no time."

    Lucas ignored him as Kreese walked past, not even looking at him a little.

    Then, he walked in the other direction as soon as Daniel exited a nearby corridor, having listened to most of the conversation.

    …

    Lucas was on his desktop in his bedroom, trying to find WKF and USA karate affiliated dojos in Southern California. There were so many to choose from he was having trouble picking one.

    He found a webpage for a Goju-Ryu style dojo in Santa Clarita, called Garcia Karate Academy.

    Lucas was genuinely interested for a moment, looking up videos of their students doing both forms and sparring before the doorbell rang.

    Donnie Junior was barking loudly for a few moments before Lucas opened the sliding glass door to his backyard.

    "Outside boy."

    The golden retriever panted, smiling and sitting as his tail wagged looking through the glass panel.

    Lucas answered the door and wasn't surprised to see Daniel there.

    "Hey Mr. LaRusso."

    "I saw you talk to Kreese."

    Lucas nodded a little bit. "Yeah um. About the tournament." he cleared his throat. "You don't have to be my instructor for it."

    Daniel was shocked. "What?"

    "I can handle Kreese and his maniacs on my own. Dragging you and Sam into this, it, it isn't right. I started this Mr. LaRusso. It's only right that I be the one to finish it."

    "Lucas." Daniel said exhaustively, and sighed. "You don't have to, you shouldn't-"

    "No, I should." Lucas said. "Kreese might've even quit karate if I hadn't talked to him. This is all my fault, Aisha broke someone's nose. I had to fight a bunch of people from school at an arcade? This is getting crazy, I need to finish this myself."

    "We need to talk about this, do you have a moment?"

    Lucas nodded, accepting.

    The two walked to the backyard together, and Frank Mills poked his head out of his study, silently judging both of them before closing the door to it again.

    …

    Donnie Junior was trained so well, all Lucas had to do was click his tongue in his mouth and the dog instantly stopped running around, and laid down next to his pool chair he sat upon opposite to Daniel.

    "I get why you want to finish this on your own. But this isn't the right way, you need my help Lucas."

    "What you don't think I can't learn enough to beat Miguel next year with another Sensei?"

    "That's not what I said." Daniel sighed. "You made a promise to me."

    "A promise to trust you. You need to trust me too otherwise this is never going to work."

    "I do trust you. But this is about more than winning a trophy Lucas, about beating these kids at a tournament. This is about instilling the right kind of values in you for the rest of your life."

    Lucas was going to protest again but Daniel respectfully interrupted. "I'm sure there are truly good Senseis here in the valley. But you don't have to do this alone, you will never be alone so long as you live here in LA."

    Lucas stayed silent for a moment and Daniel smiled.

    "How about this? The All Valley just instructed all previous dojos to affiliate with an official USA karate association in order to register. Ron told me told me today after your little um, performance."

    The two smiled quietly.

    "We can find one of these dojos to partner with or talk to in order to get ready. After a few months of both of us going to one of these dojos, you can choose to stay with Miyagi-Do or not."

    "That sounds pretty good. How about we drive up to one right now?"

    "Right now?"

    "Yes, now."

    …

    After a decently long drive to Santa Clarita, Lucas and Daniel entered Garcia Karate Academy for the very first time.

    It was located in a strip mall, but not one like John Kreese's Cobra Kai, in a very run down area.

    This was across the street from a fencing academy and a science museum, the dojo wasn't in the richest part of town, but it was not run down at all.

    The dojo itself was very large, the entrance was a simple door, and the mat was traditional tatami, white, red, and blue puzzle mats.

    It was a very humble but professional dojo. There weren't too many trophies or medals near it, but it was clearly a karate dojo nonetheless.

    There were two instructors, clearly partners of some sort, one was a Caucasian, rotund, calm, and serious looking bald man with a belt with a red, white, and black line around it as well as a neatly trimmed white beard, the other an elderly Filipino man with eyeglasses with completely circular lenses.

    The mats were so large there were two separate full sized rings for sparring, as well as a long mirror with what appeared to be a wooden bar for stretching similar to those used for ballet on the other end of the wall.

    After Lucas and Daniel bowed upon their entrance to the dojo, they sat down in the wooden benches next to a single parent to start watching the class.

    Those on the mat paid them no attention, not that they wished for any.

    The class was only forms, or kata.

    The energy in the dojo was respectful, traditional, calm, but a bit friendly. The Filipino Sensei had all the brown and black belts to teach kata to, and the rotund Sensei had everyone else.

    Above the mirrors, was a black and white picture of someone Lucas found online on his phone was named Kanryo Higaonna, as well as two white poster hanging on the wall.

    One was labeled 'USANKF' with a large circular emblem of the American flag in a triangular shape. The other was of a black circle with a red outline a red triangle in the center, labeled IOGKA.

    The class lasted about an hour, and then everyone knelt in order of rank.

    The ranking for the belts went white, yellow, orange, blue, purple, green, and then brown. Each belt had three belts within it, being white, then full, then black of that color.

    Lucas was seriously impressed with the dojo while Daniel merely nodded in acknowledgment at Lucas' smile.

    After the class concluded and everyone bowed out, the Filipino Sensei walked up to Daniel and Lucas.

    "Hello, can I help you?" he asked.

    "Hi. My name is Daniel LaRusso, this is my student Lucas Schwarber."

    "I'm Harry Garcia." he said shaking both of their hands. "What can I do for you two today?"

    "Our karate tournament changed affiliations to your style." explained Daniel.

    "Ah." Sensei Garcia smiled, nodding. "Well you need to register with USA karate I believe."

    "We don't know these rules and, you know."

    He kept smiling, completely understanding. "Well, what do you need exactly?"

    Daniel sighed. "To affiliate with your style, at least learn, become registered for the tournament under the new guidelines and rules."

    "Alright." he said. "Step into my office."

    The entrance to the dojo, had two directions, left towards the bathrooms and changing rooms for males and females on either end, and the office.

    …

    Sensei Garcia sat down in a very simple office with just an island of Okinawa in it, a few newspaper clippings, and spoke. "So." he crossed his hands. "Who was your Sensei?"

    "His name was Nariyoshi Keisuke Miyagi, he passed away a couple years ago."

    "My condolensces." Garcia nodded.

    Daniel nodded back. "Thank you. He came from a village called Tomi on Okinawa."

    "I've never heard of that village." said Garcia. "But I have heard of the Miyagis."

    "Really?"

    "Oh yes. Very good karatekas, very honorable, respectful, excellent instructors. The Sensei of my Sensei learned under one of them."

    Daniel was extremely intrigued. "But, are we talking about the same Miyagis?"

    "Possibly." Garcia said calmly. "The best way for me to find out for sure is to see what your karate is like. Its forms, its basics, its sparring if possible. Are you genuinely interested in an evaluation? If you want, I can have you come down to the combine."

    "Combine?"

    "Oh yes. A few Goju-Ryu dojos from around the Valley will be there, it's a little seminar or dojo collaboration. Even a Shotokan dojo might show up, we don't know yet. Here."

    Sensei Garcia passed Daniel a flyer for the combine and then spoke. "If you want, I have some time right now, I can watch you do some forms maybe. And I can tell you what I think."

    "Sure."

    …

    Lucas and Daniel got into their GIs and got onto the mat.

    They gave Garcia a slight bow who bowed back and then they presented their forms.

    Both of them did the exact katas Mr. Miyagi taught to Daniel decades prior, just the spinning hands and the breathing and essentially meditation.

    Lucas was expecting Sensei Garcia to laugh at them and kindly ask them to leave their dojo but instead he just nodded and spoke calmly.

    "That is Goju-Ryu." he pointed to both Lucas and Daniel when they were done with their kata.

    "Really?" Daniel asked. "Sorry, I don't mean to keep asking that."

    "It's fine." Garcia crossed his hands and shrugged, his assistant Sensei and a few other students were done talking in the waiting area and were watching. "I'm sure you have different names for them. And a few of the steps in the forms were slightly different, but our kata is almost identical."

    Lucas and Daniel were surprised, looking at each other.

    "Thank you." Lucas bowed as did Daniel.

    "What belt are you?" Garcia asked Lucas.

    "Um. I technically don't have one. I'm technically a black belt but I literally bought it online to compete at the All Valley. I've been training with Sensei LaRusso for over a year now."

    "Hm." Garcia nodded. "I see, and you? What dan are you?"

    "What dan?" Daniel was confused.

    "What degree black belt do you have?"

    Daniel looked a little nervous. "Mr. Miyagi technically didn't even have a belt either." he nodded towards Lucas.

    "So then." Garcia sighed. "In terms of actual evaluations, that means despite the years of experience you both have between you, you're both white belts. However, your forms clearly display the opposite."

    "Right." Lucas nodded. Daniel did not disagree.

    "To register for this new tournament of yours, which, I still haven't decided if I want to participate in yet." Garcia shrugged. "You need to be USA karate affiliated. Honestly from what I saw today I could do it right now."

    "Oh my gosh." Lucas smiled. "Really?"

    Garcia laughed. "Third time today." Daniel laughed as well. "Yes, really. You both don't have the very best kata I've ever seen in my life, but it is most definitely extremely refined Goju-Ryu which is my style."

    "However." said Garcia. "I could print out the forms, have you two sign them in my office right now. Mail those forms over to our headquarters in Naha, and in about a week I can have you fully affiliated with my organization."

    Lucas and Daniel looked like they were fully ready to agree on the spot.

    "But."

    Harry Garcia paced for a little bit. "Your style, is a little different still. It's not bad, but it's, intriguing to me. I want to see a bit more of it before I commit to anything. The combine is next Saturday, however I want you to swing by here again at least once more before then."

    "When should we come here?" asked Daniel.

    "Um, any Wednesday or Friday at 6 o'clock. We have forms for forty five minutes, and sparring practice for forty five minutes as well."

    "Looking forward to it, can I have your phone number to keep in touch?"

    Garcia nodded. "Absolutely."

    …

    Lucas and Daniel stayed around for a moment before they left.

    Garcia had to leave, so after he shook hands with Daniel and Lucas again, the assistant sensei stayed.

    He locked the door with his own key, his six year old daughter, one of the black belts and his younger sister stayed as well right outside the dojo to talk.

    The assistant Sensei gave Daniel a very firm but not crushing handshake and introduced himself as Sensei Michael Rush. Both siblings next to him were black belts named Donovan and Cindy Voon.

    After some light chatting about the class they were going to attend, and the combine, they all said farewell.

    Lucas even managed to get Donovan's Instagram before they left and they followed each other.

    Lucas sat in the passenger seat of Daniel's car as he drove them back to Encino, looking at his phone. "That kid had multiple gold medals in both forms and sparring from several tournaments. I think this dojo could be great for us."

    "This karate, our karate." Daniel tutted. "Mr. Miyagi, wouldn't, I don't know if he'd completely approve."

    "Well it seemed fine to me. And it's not like we're becoming Sensei Harry's students, he was cool with us more or less just dipping our toes for the All Valley a bit."

    "I know but still."

    Lucas smiled. "Look, was Mr. Miyagi ever ok with you making your own style?"

    "He wasn't at first. But later on he was, but Lucas, I just started training you again. Are you sure jumping into a different dojo is a good idea?"

    "I mean, we're not jumping into anything. I already won the All Valley using mostly your karate, we can still keep our style. Just, you know, modernize it a little."

    Daniel shook his head. "I still don't know, the good news is. I didn't see a single thing wrong with their dojo."

    "Me neither."

    …

    "USA karate affiliation for the new All Valley. What a joke."

    Kreese drove Miguel personally to a nearby Shotokan karate dojo to put him to spar. There was no discussion, with any other students or even Miguel, that he was taking him to fight other dojos in order to register for the new tournament.

    Kreese googled what karate gear to buy, found it affordable and locally sold online, received it within days, and then took Miguel to fight.

    Kreese was driving a used and old Nissan Saturn pulling up to the run down strip mall similar to his own dojo location as they exited the car.

    "Do you think we're moving a little too fast here? Shouldn't Mitch and the others know we're doing this?"

    "Oh please. Schwarber took care of them all on his own all at once. You're the only one I think's worth training like this."

    Miguel smiled in pride of himself as Kreese and Miguel walked into the dojo.

    The introductions were respectful but quick. The man in charge of the dojo with a single mat, was a Cuban man from Florida who was a bit more relaxed but still clearly a karate Sensei.

    It was a Friday afternoon, at five thirty PM, when the sparring class started.

    Kreese told the man his style was Tang Soo Do, and while the Sensei of the dojo didn't remotely know Kim Sun-Yung's name, he knew Tang Soo Do was legitimate.

    Everyone drilled, and Kreese noticed how informal the class was.

    There was clear respect to the Sensei as the instructor, but everyone smiled and laughed a bit more frequently then Kreese thought they should've. Only one or two students were wearing a full karategi, Miguel included.

    Miguel was wearing red SMAI gloves, and his white Cobra Kai karategi and white belt.

    After stretching, warming up, practicing strikes and a few sweeps, actual sparring began.

    Kreese beckoned Miguel over to his seat in the waiting area next to a couple parents. "Don't worry about their style being new to you or different than yours. Just use all your training, you'll be fine."

    "Yes Sensei."

    A few of the teen students there almost chuckled before sparring began. They did not look impressed at all by seeing Miguel line up to spar.

    A bell rang and everyone began sparring.

    It took a minute for Miguel to warm up, but even with only five months or so training under Kreese, he outfought every single person he sparred.

    Miguel used the jab, the reverse punch, the round kick, the back kick, and the side kick, as well as combinations and the occasional hook kick.

    Miguel hadn't learned the front sweep yet, but used elements off it by disrupting his opponents rhythm and stability by tapping ankles and shins lightly.

    Miguel could fake and feint, control the distance to his opponents, the rhythm, he was dominant in the ring.

    Kreese looked genuinely impressed from the waiting area after Miguel beat every single boy there and he barely got tired.

    Kreese noticed how the Sensei of the dojo sparred with his students personally. He was controlled, and held back a decent bit, but made sure to give his students a decent fight.

    The dojo was only big enough for one ring in a real sparring competition, but there were four different people sparring in pairs of two at any given time.

    Eventually, the Sensei of the dojo sparred Miguel, and both Kreese and the Sensei himself were impressed.

    Using the scoring system Kreese researched, he found that the Sensei would've easily scored five or six points on Miguel. However, Miguel was able to actually score three.

    He landed a very clean reverse punch to the midsection when Miguel was able to time the Sensei's round kick. As well as hit the Sensei directly in the gut after checking a round kick with the Sensei's front leg off his right shin.

    At that point, the Sensei began to take the fight much more seriously. Not enough to injure Miguel, but enough to make it clear he was the Sensei in the dojo, and he was the superior fighter which he genuinely was.

    The Cuban man was into his thirties, well built, and with years of tournament experience. He had no desire to injure Miguel, but was impressed with the bravery and tenacity he had to show up to his dojo on his first day to fight.

    And how genuinely well he fought.

    The class bowed out, and the Sensei shook Kreese's hand.

    "He's no white belt." he said, still sweaty from all the sparring.

    Kreese chuckled. "We're a bit strict on grading policy at my dojo."

    "I can tell." he said. "We're going to a combine next weekend. You said you were trying to get USA karate registered for your tournament? What was it called again?"

    "The All Valley Under 18. I don't know if they'll change the name or something."

    The Shotokan Sensei smiled. "Well, if you're this into sparring. I'll get you registered with my affiliation if you spar just like that at the upcoming combine."

    "What's it called?"

    "ISKA. The International Shotokan Karate Association. From what I can tell you don't do any kata, but that's fine, honestly, your kumite is good enough for me to get you an ISKA passport."

    Kreese was impressed. "Um. Are you sure?"

    The man chuckled. "Completely. I'll send you the information as soon as you give me your email, you fill out everything online. Pay a small fee, and you're ISKA affiliated."

    "Just like that?"

    "Yep. Just like that."

    …

    Kreese patted Miguel's shoulder walking away from the dojo.

    "It's that easy?"

    "It's that easy." said Kreese. "See, all you got to do is strike first Diaz. That's what we did today, we had a new challenge needing to get registered for the All Valley. The rules changed, so we found a place, fought clean and hard, and now we're ready to begin training. You ready?"

    "Yes Sensei."

    …

    Kreese was in the dojo office during early class the next day, where he literally lived since he could not afford rent anywhere in Los Angeles.

    He was on his computer getting his students signed up for the combine online when he saw a list of participants.

    Curious, as well as a bit bored, Kreese scrolled through his cheap laptop reading the list.

    He stopped when he saw Daniel's name listed, as well as Lucas'.

    "Line up!"

    Kreese exited his office and everyone instantly stopped practicing, listening in ready stance, Junbi.

    Mitch and Rickenberger were already back after a doctor cleared them from their injuries fighting Lucas.

    Aisha watched as Kreese paced in front of his students, all in full Cobra Kai karategis. "Never underestimate your opponents. Weakness does not exist in this dojo, but that does never mean you should assume your opponent is weaker than you."

    "They might appear weaker. Their karate style wrong, but never assume they've just given up, or that they're done. I've just learned that this karate combine in Santa Clarita next Saturday isn't going to be cheap."

    Miguel and Aisha exchanged looks, still in ready stance.

    "Nor will it be easy. This dojo's main opponent, Miyagi-Do will be there, I believe all of you know them quite well already."

    "They already beat several of you up." Mitch looked down shamefully. "Lucas Schwarber is there just like we are. Trying to get accustomed to these new rules, to get registered for the new All Valley."

    Kreese paused, easily picking the best fighters in his dojo to take with him to the combine. "Robinson. Diaz. Rickenberger. You three will attend, will you train your hardest this next week to get ready?"

    "Yes Sensei!" Aisha, Miguel, and Doug shouted.

    He pushed Mitch onto his rear.

    "And you. Do you want to redeem yourself? Stay on the team and give your best at this combine? Or leave this dojo for good?"

    Mitch stood up, nodding. "Yes Sensei."

    "I said do you want to redeem yourself?"

    "Yes Sensei!" he roared.

    "I can't hear you! All of you! Do you want to redeem yourself from the pathetic loss you suffered at the hands of a single person!?"

    The entire dojo shouted as one, as if there was a giant person twenty feet tall in the Cobra Kai dojo's Reseda strip mall.

    "Yes Sensei!"

    Kreese looked around the mat.

    He glanced at Bert and a few others. "Weak people, sometimes have weak voices. I have identified a few."

    Kreese began pointing at his students. "All of you. Leave, you're off the team. For good."

    They left the mat quickly, Bert the first among them.

    Only Edwin, Dieter, Doug Rickenberger, Mikey, Mitch, Miguel, and Aisha remained.

    "As soon as you show your skills." said Kreese quietly. "This class will grow with students who actually have merit, not the kind of fighters I have dismissed. For now, this is our team."

    Kreese looked between Rickenberger, Miguel, and Aisha. "You three will be this entire dojo's sparring team for now. That I take to these competitions and other events. Try your very best, because otherwise, this dojo will never grow to its full potential. Class size wise, or otherwise." Kreese enunciated perfectly.

    "Yes Sensei!" Aisha, Miguel, and Doug shouted.

    "And you." Kreese looked over at Mitch. "Are very lucky to be here."

    After a very rigorous sparring class where everyone at least wore gloves, Miguel was the only one using footguards and shin protectors, everyone was dismissed.

    John Kreese was proud of how exhausted the class was after they were done.

    From the look on his face, Miguel could tell he wanted to sharpen the class into an absolutely indestructible force for sparring specifically in the kumite competitions .

    They had the tools, and they had the time.

    All Kreese had to do now, was prepare.

    …
     
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    Chapter Twelve
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Twelve: The Mills Legacy

    …

    Author's Note: I've kinda reconsidered, Ed Begley Jr. might be a better fit for Ali Mills' dad than his original actor from the first Karate Kid film in this fanfic.

    …

    Sensei Garcia's Combine went by rather well.

    Johnny was surprised to find out that just by attending the karate seminar both him and his son qualified to compete in karate in southern california.

    Daniel, Kreese, and Johnny were all surprised too, that they found out their best students were decently ahead of most kids their own age in sparring.

    Miguel was the newest to the sport of karate, but he did great. He sparred with confidence, agility, speed, and ferocity. Unlike Aisha, he knew when not to be aggressive, and also, when to be aggressive.

    It was clear however, that out of the dozens and dozens of karatekas aged between six and fifty six more or less, the best male fighters were two teenage boys.

    Robby Keene and Lucas Schwarber, ironically newcomers to karate who had only been competing for over a year.

    Robby was a noticeably tiny step behind Lucas, the two didn't spar for the entire seminar, but it was clear during the formal sparring matches, that Lucas was incredibly skilled.

    Several black belt boys aged anywhere from fourteen to as old as seventeen sparred with Lucas.

    Kicks were two points if they were to the torso, or three if they were to the head, all straight punches except the jab to the body were a single point, and the sweep followed up by any sort of clean strike was three points.

    The boys Lucas, Miguel, and Robby sparred at the combine had years of experience competing in karate both in Southern California and abroad. None of them came remotely close to any of them, especially Lucas and Robby.

    Every Sensei there noticed this, and was a bit shocked but still pleasantly surprised.

    It got to the point where a female fighter out of Santa Ana California, a young woman mostly visiting while finishing her last semesters of nursing school in Nevada, by the name of Amy Song, part of an extremely prestigious Shito-Ryu karate school, had to get her gloves on.

    Amy had retired from formal sparring competitions for years and had won international medals in the highest level of competition in tournaments, starting to compete since the age of thirteen, until she retired over a decade later at twenty four already about to receive a degree in nursing and formally aid her school in building new karatekas.

    She was known widely, as the Sensei Song.

    While Sensei Garcia and even Johnny Lawrence a little bit had already known who she was, the whole dojo, the entire karate combine, over seventy people visiting from several different dojos to practice forms and sparring, stood completely silent when Amy challenged Lucas to a formal point sparring match.

    She politely requested that Daniel not participate in any coaching.

    Robby, Miguel, Aisha, and everyone there watched as a Pan American, or Karate Olympic medalist fought Lucas.

    To his credit, he actually gave her a much better fight than he was expecting.

    Sensei Garcia presided over the match with aid from four judges sitting with blue and red flags.

    The match was not filmed out of respect to Lucas, as Amy insisted.

    Amy sent a message to all the teens watching about what it took to be a real competitor in karate. That it took effort, skill, and years and years and years of practice to perfect.

    Lucas lost 7 points to nothing, and in Daniel's opinion, the judging was completely fine.

    Lucas had no chance from the second the match began but still tried his best.

    Amy only scored three times. She was able to time Lucas' head movement and ring positioning so well, that within a split second she convinced Lucas he had to move in one direction just to move in a different one to avoid one kick.

    To be hit in the head with another, all within a single second.

    The kick was perfectly controlled, but it was so snappy that her footguard smacked Lucas' head slightly back for a moment.

    Down three points to nothing, Lucas stayed calm but remained outmatched.

    Lucas had no idea how a Vietnamese girl a full head shorter than him moved like some sort of superhuman.

    No matter what Lucas did, he was countered, blocked, or dodged.

    Amy's attacks were so precise and well timed that Lucas barely had a split second to avoid being struck, and that was even if Amy felt like attacking.

    She got Lucas anxious enough to land his own, and first point, that he spun himself out of the ring to get a warning.

    Amy somehow had some sort of instinct that could predict Lucas would jab, and she hit him with a reverse punch to the kidneys so powerful and so well timed that it instantly winded him.

    The match continued four points to nothing, and eventually Amy managed to tie up Lucas easily at close range to sweep him later on in the fight to score another three points.

    Amy had been watching Miguel, Robby, Lucas, and another kid sparring the entire day, and after it was more or less shown to them with their own eyes just who she was, she told them.

    "Every new day, is a chance to grow. You all have potential, just listen to your Senseis, work hard, never let one medal or one day determine the rest of your journey in karate."

    Instantly, the boys bowed their heads, said 'Oss' and shook Amy's hand.

    And like that, Amy returned to Nevada the next day, and Johnny knew, driving his son home, Robby wanted to be just like that girl.

    …

    Months passed, Lucas flirted with several girls, more or less tugging the heartstrings of Lindsay Martin, Moon, Yasmine, and Samantha LaRusso when she and Miguel had a falling out. He had begun leading them on with the promise of becoming their boyfriend, while having cute dates and sexy flirts on the side with all of them.

    Despite joining Miyagi-Do, little had changed besides his karate allegiance in Lucas.

    Shortly after Thanksgiving break, Lucas was studying for his AP Physics exam when his grandfather knocked on his door.

    "You got a minute?"

    "Yeah Pops, one second." he closed his laptop quickly.

    Frank Anthony 'Pops' Mills did not have a study like Lucas' room.

    No karate posters and gear about, no printed out picture of his day at Sensei Garcia's historic combine, nothing but some photos, of the most important medical professionals in the country shaking Frank's hand.

    Lucas sat down in the chair opposite Frank's desk.

    It was cold out already, so Frank fixed some logs in the fireplace as Donnie Junior panted.

    "So what's up?"

    "I wanted to talk to you." the old man fixed his glasses. "About your karate obsession. And that incident that happened in the arcade a while ago."

    "What about it?"

    "I think it's time I talked to you seriously about your future son."

    Frank crossed his hands and sat down in his chair, Lucas listened quietly.

    "I need to tell you something neither of your parents had neither the time nor the interest to do so."

    Lucas shrugged, rubbing his nose.

    "You are an incredibly gifted kid. You're at the top of your class, you have a good sport, good friends that I more than approve of. But-"

    "But what?"

    Frank sighed.

    "Your mother was in the middle of this karate obsession, this, this weird phase back in the day. It wasn't healthy. Both the boys she dated basically ruined her last year of highschool with it."

    Lucas scoffed. "So? The eighties had karate fights over girls, that was stupid. I'm not that dumb."

    "No son, you're much stupider."

    "What are you talking about?"

    "You beat up your classmates in an arcade over a karate feud. Over a dojo feud. You're repeating the same mistakes kids your age were making years ago. Over nothing, mistakes that could poorly affect the rest of your entire life."

    Lucas sighed and Frank continued. "I've known John Kreese, your karate teacher Dan LaRusso, and Johnny Lawrence, for decades before you were born. Karate, is just one giant waste of time."

    "Is it?" Lucas shifted angrily in his chair. "Is that why you gave that loan to Kreese?"

    "Who told you that?" Frank scratched his stubble.

    "He did. Quite honestly Gramps, the fuck's wrong with you?"

    "Watch your tone."

    "You're talking to me about stupidity? Why would you even give him any money?"

    Frank explained. "To end this nonsense once and for all. He'd get out of everyone's hair if he did as I asked."

    "You spent thousands of dollars of our families money to open that absolute mess of a place. That place responsible for like, nothing! Nothing but suffering." Lucas said. "That place is the only reason why I had to fight anyone at the arcade in the first place."

    "Luke John Kreese has handled our agreement fairly from what I understand. You're the one who needs to make peace."

    "I'm not apologizing for defending myself from a group of douchebags wanting to beat me up."

    Frank raised a finger and an eyebrow. "One day, you need to be the one sitting in this chair. You have to make the right decisions Lucas. You quit karate, actually take your hopes for medical school seriously someday. And I guarantee that John Kreese will be an issue of tomorrow for you."

    Lucas chuckled. "And here you are, you reached your point."

    "Son." Frank scoffed, fixing his glasses again. "Your sister is smart, and talented, and kind. But she has no real interest or skill in science. Ava's great, but she'll never be a doctor."

    "And I need to be one?"

    "You have the financial and intellectual capacity to actually do some good in your community. To become a better person, to live up to the name Mills."

    Lucas shook his head. "I came to LA to do karate. Not to be your puppet Gramps."

    "What else are you going to do with your life then huh? Tell me. Are you going to do karate professionally?"

    "I don't know yet. I can't, I literally am halfway through sophomore year at West Valley."

    Frank smiled. "That's okay. I get that, I promise you, there's no rush to decide anything now. I just need you to do one thing. Part ways with Daniel LaRusso, say goodbye to karate. And you'll be safer."

    "What?"

    "Kreese and those hooligans will give up on going after you the second you leave this karate nonsense behind. With that out of the way, you can actually become who have to be. Who you were destined to be."

    Frank stood up and so did Lucas.

    Frank put a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

    "Medicine is just a part of your journey in life. But karate is useless. It's a martial art that only caused pointless fights and trouble when your mother was a girl, and now that you're in highschool too. It's doing the same."

    Lucas was quiet.

    "Isn't it?"

    The look on Lucas' face agreed almost completely with everything Frank was saying, but was still conflicted.

    "You can become the man you were meant to be son. It will take years, and I'll give you all the advice you need. My father was the personal physician to LA's most popular mayor in history, and everyone we know told me I was always the better doctor, same you can be someday. I was asked to help be on medical advisory boards from San Diego to Palm Springs even after my retirement."

    Frank gripped Lucas' shoulder slightly harder, smiling to him, nodding.

    "I only want to help you Luke. You're a responsible kid, smart, applied, good natured. Why ruin that with fights? And nonsense that's really gonna get you nowhere? That's all karate is, or can be?"

    "You don't approve of Daniel LaRusso. When we're practically neighbors with him."

    "Daniel LaRusso got to where he is because of karate. It was a brand, a gimmick." said Frank. "Medicine doesn't need gimmicks. You don't need gimmicks either, that's not who you are."

    Lucas nodded for a little bit.

    "If you can't see what Mr. LaRusso is trying to do for me then there's no point in explaining it to you."

    "Lucas."

    Frank paused and Lucas kept listening.

    "A day might come when this house, or our safety might be threatened because of John Kreese. I gave him that loan under the assumption you too would leave this behind and let Kreese conduct his business in peace."

    "You were the only way he could teach that crap."

    "Crap you enable by still doing karate. Quit son, quit karate and then-"

    "And then what? I still go to school with all of Kreese's students. My friends are gonna be harassed every day if I don't know how to defend myself. It's hard to put a leash on a rabid dog if you keep feeding it, and that's what you did by giving him that money."

    Lucas sighed, shaking his head and walking towards the door.

    Frank called out. "It tears me apart to see you waste your teenage years like this. Your mother didn't do this, she knew exactly where she wanted to go and what she wanted to do."

    Lucas firmly let go of the doorknob.

    "I'll let you compete in this tournament you said you had next May. Let this be your last one ever. Because you'll never live under my roof again after that Lucas while you still do karate. I've seen what it does to people, and what it did to John Lawrence? What John Kreese did to this town?"

    Lucas sighed, knowing the point his grandfather was making.

    "Was sacrilige."

    Frank sighed as well, shaking his head. "What kind of hobby or sport takes this much? Needs you to fight, and lie. Do basketball players brawl by the half dozen in mini golf courses? That's…"

    Frank trailed.

    "Literally insane. A sport is simple, even those in combat sports like the martial arts." Frank shook his head. "You pay a fee, you have a coach. You compete. Here, it's as if." Frank put his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

    "It's as if you're literally at war with these people to compete against them. In karate. War, like John Kreese might as well send his kids to Dan LaRusso's house to set things on fire over a karate based disagreement."

    Lucas looked at his grandfather for a moment as if he might have been completely right.

    "Lucas. I'm not asking you to drop sports, or even stop doing martial arts if that's what you and all your friends are into. Just to stay away from LaRusso, Lawrence, and Kreese. They're just bad news son. And I think you know they are."

    Lucas said nothing, and then he left.

    Frank watched him leave, and when he did, he pulled his iPhone out of his desk drawer.

    When he did so, he opened it, and then called his daughter.

    "We need to talk."

    Ali's voice wasn't heard over the phone.

    "Yup, the kid's trouble. He's been in two fights in as many school semesters. My guess is." Frank turned in his desk chair, rubbing the top of a smiling Donnie Junior's head. "That number is bound to go up."

    …

    …

    …
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Thirteen
  • Threadmarks
    • Chapter Thirteen: Robby Keene

    …

    Robby Swayze Keene lived a very simple life in Reseda, California.

    His father was a recovering alcoholic, very out of touch with the times Sensei, and full time handyman who had work from Burbank all the way to West Hollywood.

    Robby couldn't ride his skateboard to school, simply because it was too far.

    He woke up on an old mattress directly on the floor next to some old cardboard boxes filled with dusty old yearbooks and karate trophies.

    Robby was fed a breakfast almost every morning consisting solely of beef, beans, and some dry bread.

    Johnny Lawrence dropped off Robby at West Valley High School every morning at around 7:45 AM as his classes always started at 8 AM.

    His friends were Demetri Alexopolous, someone who loved complaining and references to old films.

    Robby noticed how he was always whining about something, quietly and calmly, and mostly to Eli Moskowitz, the shyest kid at West Valley High, typically over his lip.

    Lucas Schwarber had a typical look about him, almost always wearing some sort of sweatshirt or shirt about karate. All three of these boys were at their lockers at around 7:50 AM sharp because that's typically how long it took Lucas, Eli, and Demetri to finish discussing their nightly chats and dungeon raids on their online games. To then go to classes.

    Robby didn't even know how to comment on this because he barely owned a computer with a functioning graphics card, he was pretty sure his father barely got it because it could only run a very old version of Windows to better find handyman work and places to train in karate.

    Classes were very boring for Robby, and they were all rather same-y.

    Robby ignored a few kids, all of them boys, talking about Cobra Kai starting up in Reseda. He had his own karate, and had no interest whatever his father told him was 'some old sick bastard's way of torture.'

    Robby didn't exactly live life the way his father had envisioned West Valley to be like.

    He couldn't strike someone's notebook out of his hand without getting a detention, he couldn't flirt with cheerleaders the way Johnny used to, but the main why Robby Keene could kick and sweep legs like Johnny used to in his old tournaments.

    Was during training.

    Because Robby spent a decent bit of his time at lunch hearing everyone in the cafeteria muttering about how Lucas had beaten up a bunch of Cobra Kais on his own while on a date with Yasmine.

    Even months after, and the week before winter break started, it still continued here and there.

    But Robby was quiet about his karate prowess, he didn't talk about his third place finish at the All Valley the year prior.

    No, Robby was heavily observant, calm and patient.

    He had his days where he'd gab loudly and proudly about karate with Lucas to Eli and Demetri who were very hesitant about the topic.

    But during training, he'd kiai.

    …

    OST: Xavier Wulf - First Light

    …

    If there was one word to describe the way Johnny Lawrence trained his only son for almost a year and a half it was:

    Masculine.

    Robby's karate style had grown from mostly being used to street fights he got into with other kids with beef Trey and Cruz had started with him, to being combined with Johnny's sleek and powerful kicks, sweeps, jabs, and reverse punches.

    Johnny and Robby trained in an old abandoned factory that looked like it had been infected with asbestos. But Robby didn't care.

    He didn't care how hard his father pushed him, he didn't care how tiring it was.

    Shirtless wearing gym shorts, soaked in sweat across his toned muscles, Robby pulled left and right, his hands attached to chains raising metal pallets that Johnny had repurposed from dragging old factory machinery.

    He grunted quietly, Johnny audibly counting his reps like they were in a Rocky movie training montage.

    That was just his warm up.

    Robby wore Hayashi karate gloves and kicked a bag Johnny held, hard, repeatedly with roundhouse kicks.

    Back kicks, side kicks, even hook kicks to the face Johnny could raise.

    If there was one thing Robby could do, it was kick hard. Robby could kick so hard and so fast he foot would collide so loudly with the mitts and pads Johnny held would echo across the entire factory.

    Again, and again, Robby knew this was the closest he'd ever felt to his father, that this was the main way they could truly connect.

    So he gave their training his all.

    But the truth was, this was the only place Robby best expressed himself.

    He came across as a very well put together person, but truthfully deep down, Robby wanted to earn his father's respect, they'd only lived together for a year and Robby had recently turned sixteen.

    Robby pushed himself beyond his limits almost every day they trained.

    He trained his muscles, his cardio, and above all, his strikes.

    Johnny would hang watermelons from chains clung to the rooftop of the abandoned building and had Robby smash them open.

    Robby had a decent bit of anger stored inside him, and Johnny had found the perfect outlet for him.

    Robby almost had boundless energy, smashing everything apart that Johnny could find in front of him with either kicks or punches.

    Watermelons, old wooden pallets, ruined garbage that could remotely resemble a punching bag.

    Robby ripped it apart.

    Then, Robby sparred his father.

    Johnny took it pretty easy on his son, but it was clear with only a year of training that even Johnny had to stay on his toes.

    Robby was naturally agile in the ring, smart, calm, relaxed, and poised when he needed to be.

    But at the drop of a hat Robby would strike, and very accurately too.

    Johnny and Robby placed down puzzle mats onto the floor of the metal works factory and sparred with karate gloves, as well foot and shin protectors.

    They bowed to one another and began.

    Robby had gotten so used to sparring his father, that Johnny could only really time counters. Robby was so quick, and so precise, that unless Johnny was catching Robby already exposed after slipping an attack with his front leg, he wasn't landing a point.

    Robby barely caught his father, Johnny would score something almost four times for every time Robby did but it didn't matter.

    Johnny merely wanted Robby to keep up, to keep fighting.

    And keep up and fight he did.

    Robby would struggle to score anything at all on his father for a few minutes straight.

    But it was clear that the precision and strength behind his attacks made Johnny both keep his distance and his hands up.

    Johnny didn't really critique or attempt to improve his son's sparring, it was just clear to him after every round Robby improved.

    It was an experience both Robby and Johnny needed for one another, one they both enjoyed.

    They threw round kicks, double kicks, starting with the rear leg and then front leg to first the body and then the head level after they were done sparring just to practice together.

    Every new day, Robby remembered what Amy Song had told him about karate, and it served as good motivation to trust his father's admittedly dangerous teachings.

    …

    His best friend, living in Encino instead of Reseda, was not as truly calm on the surface as he appeared either.

    Upon being told he couldn't pursue karate, Lucas didn't really knew who he was anymore.

    He would stare at his historic 49th All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships 1st Place trophy wondering who he would be without it.

    Lucas really did wonder about himself and his parents and his current path in life.

    Was he really just using karate as an excuse to not end up like them? To work regularly above fifty five hours a week on a light workload in a hospital until you could barely ever see your wife or husband or two children?

    Lucas highly doubted that was how most doctors could balance work and family, but it was how he felt his life had went.

    Lucas looked across the hall from his bedroom.

    Both Frank and Olivia, his two grandparents, were widely respected in Encino. Olivia mostly had been a stay at home mother for the majority of Ali's upbringing, and Frank of course an extremely prestigious doctor.

    But now it seemed that wherever Lucas went in Encino, if the employees or staff of a facility were older than forty, they recognized his grandparents.

    Those who ran his country club, any sort of book or social club, they instantly asked.

    "Mills? As in Frank Mills?"

    That was followed by a shake of the hand and how many years they'd probably known his grandparents.

    These memories only served to stress Lucas.

    Unlike Sam and Robby, the accomplishments of their parents in karate decades ago was only limited to the respect of the karate community alone.

    For Lucas, the accomplishments of his parents and their parents stretched everywhere.

    As if a few senior citizens as part of the Encino Oaks Country Club were keeping tabs on him when Lucas returned from being a huge part of his interning class at the same med school Ali and Frank went to, to be added to the cliques.

    The amount of pressure Lucas felt in his head made him sigh and rub his temples, put down his trophy he stared endlessly at in thought and despair, and stress to no end about being forced to quit his favorite hobby in the world.

    How would he tell Daniel LaRusso? Despite having a wife and children, as well as a very successful business selling cars, Daniel had come so far with Lucas.

    There were times Lucas had even forgotten about everything he'd gone through with John Kreese.

    Lucas leaned back onto his bed with a sigh, closing his eyes.

    He received a text on his phone, one he instantly jumped to read.

    Mackenzie: Party tomorrow night?

    Lucas only had one final mid term for his fall semester during his first semester of sophomore year already studied for remaining, so he texted Mackenzie back very quickly.

    Bet.

    Mackenzie Chu responded with two thumbs up emojis.

    Lucas' decision was not taken lightly, his teachers had been kind enough to mostly schedule their finals for the semester to not pack it all during finals week. In fact he only technically had two that week.

    His Art history exam mostly taken as a elective to look extra shiny on his college applications, and a test he was already more than ready for.

    …

    Lucas had three two hours class periods back to back for the remainder of his second to last day of the semester before winter break.

    His first class at 8 AM was his exam for AP World History, one that he was sure he walked out of feeling he aced.

    At 10 AM it was PE, and the teacher literally had the class just watch a movie in the basketball gym as a final.

    At midday before everyone broke for lunch, Lucas and Robby were allowed to leave their finals week two hour PE period early and walk together towards Robby's locker.

    "So I haven't seen you outside of school much lately." said Robby. "Any reason why?"

    Lucas hid how stressed this question made him by glancing at a few people walking past in the hall.

    Robby opened his locker as Lucas sighed. "Uumm. I have no idea, just life and stuff."

    "Okay." Robby shrugged with a smile. "Dude you can tell me if there's something going on. You have not missed a chance once to come to my place and play Atari."

    "Every day I have to get that reminder don't I?"

    "What dude?" asked Robby.

    "Our parents used to go out at this school back in the eighties." Lucas said painfully.

    Robby nodded, not really knowing how to register that before he saw Miguel exiting a class.

    Lucas casually walked away before Robby spoke to him after closing his locker.

    "Hey man."

    Miguel boredly looked at him. "Hey." he shrugged.

    "You got a minute?"

    …

    Miguel quietly chewed on a granola bar while he talked with Robby. "Yeah man, I, still hang out with Mackenzie. What's the big deal?"

    "I don't think she's a great influence on you. I think the only thing that can happen from that relationship is from very rough sex." Robby lowered his voice with a shrug.

    "Why should I care what you think? We're not friends." chuckled Miguel.

    "But we're neighbors."

    Miguel tossed his granola bar away with a chuckle. "Then send our incredible landlords a noise complaint. I don't give a shit Keene."

    Robby's face appeared a bit insulted but wasn't allowed to react properly.

    And then like that, Mackenzie appeared wearing a blue sweater.

    "Hi."

    Mackenzie was speaking directly to Robby, as if Miguel wasn't even there.

    "Hi?" Robby responded in confusion.

    "Robby right?"

    "Yeah?"

    Mackenzie smiled. "So, I don't know if you heard, but cheer team won state championships this past weekend."

    "Oh my god no way." Robby smiled and said kindly. "Congratulations."

    "Thank you."

    Miguel couldn't know how to feel that Mackenzie was completely ignoring him.

    Mackenzie spoke quietly. "To celebrate, the girls and I are throwing a rager at my place. You're invited."

    Robby was confused for many reasons, but his first question was.

    "The night before the last day of finals?"

    "It's not finals for most of the people I'm inviting. Aren't you best friends with Luke? He should've told you that most teachers here were kinda nicer, or, probably lazier." Mackenzie said. "Real finals day was today."

    "He did not actually tell me that." Robby chuckled, nodding to Mackenzie. "I'll let him know I'm going."

    "Thanks."

    Mackenzie left with a smile.

    By the time Robby turned around, he was disappointed.

    He sighed, knowing the very rude and passive agressive way Miguel had spoken to him wasn't him. It was his father's old karate Sensei.

    …

    After school, Lucas was walking towards the small semi circle students and parents were picked up and dropped off at near West Valley High School's parking lot.

    "Dude."

    Robby caught up to Lucas, barely brushing past a few people.

    "Hey man." Lucas smiled. "Sup?"

    Robby spoke to Lucas. "So Mackenzie Chu, spoke to me for the first time in my life just now."

    "And?"

    "She invited me to her party."

    "Nice, we can carpool." Lucas responded casually, making a quick peer around to check for teachers.

    Robby looked at Lucas weirdly. "You don't think that's." Robby paused. "Weird?"

    "No? She probably just wants you to hang out with her friends. They're good company man, trust me."

    "Luke. Miguel was standing literally right next to me." Robby gripped his backpack thrown over one shoulder. "She invited me and pretended he wasn't even there."

    Lucas threw his hands off his forehead in confusion. "Dude, I am, so lost right now."

    "Look," Robby sighed quietly. "I gotta tell you something. You have somewhere to be before the party tonight?"

    "Not really since we should go together anyway."

    …

    In the same backyard where two of their parents swam together as teenagers dating during highschool, Robby and Lucas talked in Frank Mills' backyard.

    "So let me get this straight." Lucas muttered, playing fetch with Donnie Junior. "Mackenzie pretty much just swooped Miguel's virginity just to feel a little better about herself in the cheer locker room?"

    "Yeah."

    Lucas chuckled quietly. "Lucky ass. I think that was pretty much how I lost my virginity."

    "What?"

    "Moon and I got high together after studying together one time at her house. We watched some stuff made out for a bit, and one thing led to another. It's not that big a deal, like at all."

    Robby looked confused, sighing. "You don't think it should be a big deal?"

    "Why should it be? We're guys. Virginity is like something, you're supposed to lose in highschool. And if you're a girl, you're not supposed to."

    Robby was still confused. "Dude, I haven't lost mine yet."

    "Then tonight's gonna fix that." Lucas smiled, patting Robby's shoulder with a chuckle while Donnie returned to his dog house.

    Robby turned and watched Lucas begin to walk into his Mills Manor from its backyard. "You're missing the point. Mackenzie Chu is like, just messed up. Miguel doesn't seem like that messed up of a person either."

    "Really? He is a dick dude."

    "I mean maybe? Since Mackenzie started hooking up with him at his house, ironically Miguel's gotten more aggressive. It shouldn't be that way, should be the opposite."

    "Whatever." Lucas sighed. "I don't care about Mackenzie or Miguel tonight, I really don't."

    "You don't?" Robby asked. "Mackenzie's literally hosting this party!"

    "So. You don't go to these things for the host."

    "Then why go?"

    Lucas laughed, turning around. "To get laid man, why else?"

    …

    Both boys got dressed and began to drive over to Mackenzie's party near the Sunset Strip.

    Lucas drove and the two talked on the drive over.

    "So you're here tonight, just to get laid."

    "And also to get a little bit turnt." Lucas admitted with a smile.

    Robby sighed. "Luke there's nothing wrong with wanting to get laid." he said. "But you do realize the entire cheer team will be there."

    "That's, why I'm here." Lucas chuckled.

    "No but. The same group of girls you've been flirting with and dating separately all semester will be there right?"

    He shrugged. "Man, what's the worst that can happen?"

    "Lots, but not that I care it's highschool, I'll never see anyone after we graduate." Lucas said. "I brought you a swimsuit."

    "Why would I need a swimsuit? It's December."

    …

    An answer was quickly given.

    Mackenzie Chu made Lucas wonder why his house was even called Mills 'Manor'

    Because Mills Manor was still a nice, large, luxurious, but old house in Encino, while the Chus were living in a modern mansion. That was exactly what Mackenzie's house was like.

    It was so large there were cars parked in the entire driveway on either side leading up to her house, which was merely part of the property.

    Lucas and Robby parked and then walked in.

    Robby noted that everyone there knew who Lucas was, a few people even recognized Robby.

    They were all mostly rich and social teens from across the Valley, from East Valley, West Valley, and every highschool Robby knew in LA.

    Lucas muttered to Robby as he nodded to a few girls smiling and waving to him.

    "East Valley chicks man, make sure to wear a condom with 'em." Lucas whispered. "They get down quite quite easily, might have HPV at best."

    "Really?" asked Robby.

    "Yeah." Lucas said, as if he knew what he was talking about.

    "Yo yo yo Schwarber."

    Kyler Park gripped hands with Lucas and bumped chests, Brucks clapped Lucas' hand twice and bumped shoulders.

    AJ and Rory, the two other jocks who bullied Miguel until he beat them up on his own on Halloween also acknowledged Lucas quietly.

    "Surprised to see you tonight." Kyler sipped his Whiteclaw. "Thought you'd be studying or some shit."

    "Not that kinda semester am I right?"

    Kyler and Lucas nodded slowly to each other.

    "Word." Kyler smiled. "Hey I'll see you at the pool."

    "Sure thing my dude."

    Robby followed Lucas, still in Mackenzie's living room filled with people everywhere.

    "You two hate each other right?"

    "Not tonight." Lucas muttered.

    "Well why not? Kyler sucks."

    Lucas sighed. "Because it ruins the vibe dude, don't question it. Don't question anything alright?"

    Robby squinted at Lucas, almost not recognizing his best friend for a moment.

    "Okay dude." Robby managed to smile and say.

    …

    Robby found out why he and Lucas brought swim trunks.

    Mackenzie's family was so wealthy that they had an indoor heated pool and sauna installed in a large facility complete with a gym.

    It was there where Lucas greeted Mackenzie.

    Lucas and Robby found a bathroom, and first Lucas changed and then Robby went.

    Robby never would've imagined that in his whole life he'd be at a pool party right at the beginning of December.

    Shortly after the sun went down, Mackenzie's house, as large as it was, had people everywhere, all of them doing the same thing.

    Drinking, talking, and when Mackenzie began to blast some music, dancing.

    Robby would've felt very out of place but Lucas was in his element.

    He played water volleyball in Mackenzie's pool with two random boys the party had against Rory, Brucks, Kyler, and AJ.

    They got increasingly drunker until finally Lucas lost.

    "Whooo!"

    Kyler high fived and chest bumped Brucks and then Lucas calmly accepted defeat and left the pool.

    "I got you a beer."

    Robby was drying himself off as Sam appeared with a towel and a drink in hand for Lucas.

    "You didn't have to do that, I could get it myself."

    "I know it's just." Sam cleared her throat, glancing around. "My friends are all looking at you. Hard to start a conversation without a reason to if that makes sense."

    "I'd say that's very awkward but quite honestly I'd do the same."

    Sam and Lucas chuckled.

    "I'm glad the semester went well for you Samantha." Lucas muttered. "The summer got off to a rough start."

    "God, and don't even remind me about Halloween."

    They began laughing together until they actually remembered. Which killed the air instantly.

    "Hi, sorry, had something to show her." Moon appeared in an equally revealing bikini as Sam, and the two ran off giggling together.

    Moon managed to sneak a wink at Lucas before they ran off.

    "You weren't joking dude." Robby muttered.

    "Fuuuuuuuuck." Kyler leaned his head back sitting in a chair by a table in the large pool house, two of his friends checking their phones behind him while he had a towel slung over his shoulders and sighed. "You gotta tell me your secret man."

    "Secret for what?"

    "Pussy duuuuude." Brucks laughed, leaning out and playfully punching Lucas' hip harmlessly.

    Lucas shrugged, being genuinely clueless. "I really don't know what to say."

    "Cause I heard that bitch Rhea tried to run in on your action with both Sam and Moon."

    Robby was curious to see how Lucas would react to this.

    "I think you mean Miguel, but yeah, so?"

    "Why not just kick his ass?" asked Brucks in his big dumb voice. "Show him you own the school?"

    "Because then I'd get suspended."

    Brucks and Kyler laughed together.

    "Fuck the rules. If I owned the school?" Kyler pointed at himself. "I'd fuck with Rhea like daily."

    "You know what? Yeah. Fuck the rules."

    "Fuck the rules?" Kyler asked.

    "Yeah fuck 'em." Lucas laughed. "Pass me that shit bro."

    "That's wassup."

    Kyler smiled, tossing Lucas an ice cold beer out of a nearby cooler.

    Lucas cracked it open and took a deep sip, resulting in a very loud belch.

    Both Kyler and Brucks proceeded to die of laughter. Brucks was laughing so hard he leaned his head on Kyler's shoulder.

    Lucas smiled, continuing to drink.

    …

    "So you think you need to drink beer to look cool?"

    "Not drinking for Park man, he's an asshole. I'm drinking to just chill out and match the vibe of the entire room."

    "It's not the case? Because it sure seems that way to me."

    Lucas sighed, tossing away what seemed like his sixth can or bottle of beer.

    "Fucking hell man, partying isn't something you can't question. You just gotta go with the flow."

    Lucas drunkenly stumbled into the pool but no one found it funny.

    Instead, everyone just joined in.

    "No no no no!"

    Kyler's friends dragged him into the pool and literally tossed him near the deep end.

    Yasmine spat out a lime and finished her martini. "Dunk me bitches."

    Her friends carried her with ease and she screeched when she got tossed.

    Everyone else then more or less splashing in, leaving Robby mostly…

    Alone.

    For the rest of the night, Robby wasn't remotely rude to anyone or even questioned anything like he was with Lucas.

    He mostly just looked or felt completely out of place.

    Robby didn't know anyone.

    He knew Sam and Kyler a little bit from attending the same highschool as them since day one when he was fourteen a year a and a half ago, but not well enough to speak to either of them.

    He knew Lucas, he was his best friend, but he was completely occupied with flirting with Moon, Sam, Lindsay, or Yasmine for the remainder of the entire party.

    But Robby knew no one else.

    And the fact that he didn't smoke or drink a single thing, but only sipped soda out of a plastic red cup to avoid anymore eyes, said a lot about the previous fact.

    Robby Keene wanted to leave already.

    He was sick of trying to keep his best friend from likely having sex with any of the cheerleaders, likely leading to some damaged friendships, which was explicitly what he was there to do besides get drunk with other kids like him.

    For the first time in the two years Robby and Lucas had been friends, he couldn't recognize him. He wondered why he was doing this to himself.

    Which made Robby really wonder what Lucas said.

    Was highschool really meaningless?

    Robby concluded that it mostly was, but the ongoing rivalries between his father, John Kreese, and Daniel LaRusso were living proof that highschool had potentially lifelong consequences.

    Robby then witnessed something interesting.

    Lucas would whisper something in Moon's ear, make her giggle and laugh shrilly, mostly to get a reaction out of three other girls.

    Sam would shyly freeze up and stop talking as much to the group of girls she was with, Lindsay Martin also would freeze up, still wearing her glasses for the night, and Yasmine actually took it like a challenge.

    She stood up, smiled, and got herself another drink.

    Robby for a moment couldn't see Lucas in the same light ever again.

    Sam was the daughter of Lucas' mentor and in a way, adoptive father. Daniel LaRusso had spent more time with Lucas, and Robby knew this to be a fact, more than Lucas had with his actual grandfather here in the Valley.

    Training him in karate, being there for him, mentoring him.

    And Robby was amazed that Lucas was treating his family this way. Even as part of hormonal fun just to, in what Lucas claimed, was getting the most fun out of highschool.

    Moon was the person who Lucas had sex with for the first time, and from what Robby could tell, was Moon's first time too. And it barely seemed like a special moment for either of them. Maybe they were both a little too tipsy to care at that moment, but Robby was just sickened.

    Not that marijuana was involved, but that Lucas and Moon should've acknowledged the fact a little more. Not exactly only to each other, but to those they cared about around them.

    Maybe they were embarrassed about it to tell their best friends so soon, like how Robby knew Lucas told him, but this was an important moment in Lucas' life, and instead of remotely unwinding their semester as best friends, in a sober and sensible manner.

    Lucas was blocking literally all out of it out.

    He wanted to inebriate himself down to the last cell in his body. With mostly alcohol and sex, and the noise of the party.

    Robby was disgusted, he wanted to ask Lucas just why exactly he was doing this.

    However, Lucas left the edge of the pool where he was sitting next to Moon and he was nowhere to be found.

    Conveniently, so was Yasmine.

    Robby sighed, checking his phone, knowing how long that was going to take. Admittedly, not that long, but long enough if steps weren't taken that he wouldn't be taken back home to Reseda until dawn.

    Which Robby did not want to do at all.

    …

    Yasmine and Lucas somehow ended up making out in one of Mackenzie's many bathrooms.

    It was admittedly the best both had ever felt kissing, until suddenly, Lucas stopped.

    "What?"

    "I kinda, left, my best friend alone out there." Lucas sighed.

    "This will only take a second."

    Lucas swelled with pride and a deep breath as Yasmine sat directly in front of him on the marble bathroom counter.

    "To be honest I'm hoping we'll be here for more than a second."

    Yasmine laughed leading to Lucas laughing, the two still very much caught in the buzz of the party and an entire semester's worth of flirtations.

    However, she was sober enough to speak from the heart.

    "Luke I'm not bothered at all that you're flirting with all my friends." she said calmly and honestly.

    Lucas blanked. "I'm sorry, what?"

    Yasmine shrugged. "You think us four are blind to this? Sam and Lindsay are too shy and new at this to do anything. Moon too chill. I honestly just like you too much to care."

    "I'm taking that as a compliment."

    "Please do." Yasmine whispered before kissing him.

    The few gold bangles on Yasmine's wrist jingled a little bit before she reached up to cup Lucas' face.

    "How do you like it?"

    "A lot?"

    "Me too." Yasmine bit Lucas' lip a little bit. "Wanna like it a bit more?"

    "I didn't bring protection."

    "Do you wanna stop then?"

    Lucas shook his head.

    Yasmine gasped and panted quietly as Lucas kissed and nipped lightly at her neck.

    "I don't wanna stop either." Yasmine tightened her bare legs around Lucas' waist. "Girls get horny when they're tired too by the way. I've barely gotten a wink of sleep with finals and state championships."

    "Mm." Lucas hugged Yasmine's body tighter to him. "I'm always tired."

    Yasmine began to slip her tight black bikini off of her, and Robby began walking down to hall, he knocked on the door.

    "Dude! Luke!"

    Lucas could audibly hear his best friend on the other side.

    Yasmine whispered in his ear, the two halfway through hooking up.

    "I will kill you if we stop."

    "Trust me I don't want to either."

    Robby repeated himself. "Dude! Luke, you in there!? I gotta get home in a sec. My dad's gonna kill me!"

    Lucas winced as Yasmine practically yelled through his ear.

    "I'm taking a shit in here Keene!" Yasmine yelled back. "You mind!?"

    Robby hid his face in embarrassment on the other side.

    "Sorry Yas."

    …

    Robby walked upstairs and found Mackenzie chatting with a few friends of hers before Mackenzie turned to him.

    "Hey, you seem bummed."

    Robby sighed to Mackenzie. "Yeah honestly I'm gonna need a ride home."

    "The party only started three hours ago."

    "I have a uh, math final to get up early for so." Robby was clearly lying but didn't care. "Gotta get to it, I'm just looking for Lucas."

    "Well sure. Before you go though?"

    "Yeah."

    Robby heard the next few words as if they were from some sort of dream or nightmare.

    "Do you have molly?"

    Robby paused.

    He turned around slowly for a second.

    "What?" he said clearly.

    "I said, do you have any ex?" Mackenzie asked casually, the other people chatting and drinking quietly in her room not blinking an eye at the question.

    The entire party made a whole lot more sense now to Robby.

    He suddenly felt so mad that if Mackenzie wasn't a girl, he'd have hit her.

    Robby took a deep breath. "No, I don't have any. Sorry."

    He tried to leave again but Mackenzie appeared in front of him. "I just, heard you did so-"

    "I don't have any." Robby repeated, much firmer this time.

    "Look, I'll even pay you in the way guys like to be paid." a casual tug at her own bikini strings was made beneath her shawl. "You're cute, I'd be down."

    Robby drew a bit closer to Mackenzie and spoke. "I'd never sleep with you. It doesn't matter who you are Mack, I know what you've done to Miguel. If a guy was in your place, they'd never get away with it."

    "How is that any of your business?"

    "It became my business when you only invited me here to buy some ex," Robby shook his head. "Which by the way. I don't even do anymore."

    "Um. Okay, whatever."

    "You're disgusting Mack." Robby muttered. "Don't talk to me ever again."

    "Whoa, disgusting?"

    Robby nodded. "You heard me, you can fill this house with as many people as you want. Won't change the fact you're fake as hell." he laughed to himself before leaving the room.

    Robby sighed under his breath, whispering to himself. "Absolute bitch." he said in the hallway outside.

    Robby eventually came to the conclusion Lucas was either hiding from him somewhere, or had left the party without him. Both unkind enough for Robby to pull his phone out, and Uber home, quickly texting the bill to Lucas.

    …

    Lucas and Yasmine were finished in the bathroom together.

    Lucas got a text from Robby and sighed.

    "Fuck."

    Yasmine read his phone, putting her bikini straps back on. "Huh? Oh, oh my god I didn't mean to-"

    "Well I'll have to deal with that tomorrow."

    Lucas leaned over the sink towards a mostly still naked Yasmine, the two still smiling. "I guess I'll see you for the last day of the semester tomorrow?"

    They kissed.

    "Mm. Hell yeah."

    They chuckled together.

    Lucas drew up his swim trunks and began to leave the bathroom first, before there was already someone standing in the doorway.

    He half expected it to be Robby, but instead it was a very irate Mackenzie Chu.

    "Your friend's a dick by the way."

    Lucas sighed. "Well I dragged him here and he didn't have any fun so."

    Mackenzie quickly realized something. "How come I haven't seen Yas since we got some shots together a few hours ago?"

    "Um, I have no idea-" Lucas cleared his throat. "I just-"

    "Right."

    "Hey!"

    Lucas was more than strong enough to keep Mackenzie out of the room until she burst past without warning.

    Seeing Yasmine mostly nude or still dressing herself wasn't anything new for Mackenzie, they'd shared a locker room for over a year. But it was the embarrassment that plummeted Yasmine.

    "Look I-" Lucas said.

    "Out."

    Mackenzie guided Yasmine out of the room and then closed the door behind her, speaking to Lucas quietly.

    "You can do whatever you want to my best friends."

    "Really?" Lucas was amazed.

    "Yeah. Cause now that you've fucked two of mine."

    Lucas sighed, realizing he knew about Moon too.

    "I'm gonna fuck Robby."

    "You, wanna have sex with Robby as revenge against me? Ok, good luck-"

    Mackenzie hissed. "No, you idiot. Tell me about him."

    "Tell you what?"

    "Tell me everything you possibly know about him. Tell me, or I tell everyone about your game."

    Lucas chuckled. "My game?"

    "Your game of russian roulette with the hearts of my entire cheer team yeah."

    Lucas looked around the empty bathroom.

    "I'd never be able to forgive myself if I stabbed Robby in the back. Especially if all it meant was being cancelled or whatever at school."

    "What about Sam? How'd she feel if she knew you wanted to go out with her and all this happened? I'm sure she knows about you flirting but not going this far."

    Lucas winced, thinking for a moment.

    "You're fucking insane Chu."

    He left Mackenzie there after she muttered something quickly.

    "Offer still stands, by tomorrow Robby will regret pissing me off."

    …

    Robby didn't see Lucas the next day, as a matter of fact, he didn't see anyone.

    He only had three friends at West Valley, but everyone seemed to avoid him like he carrying the flu.

    It took about a single two hour class period for him to realize people were spreading rumors about him over social media, everywhere.

    They knew.

    West Valley High School's student faculty had no idea about Trey and Cruz, but they did know that Robby had sold pills when he was younger.

    That his parents were alcoholics and had even abused tougher drugs possibly. And especially about Shannon Keene's past as a dancer and the situation with Robby's father Johnny Lawrence.

    He had no defence against this.

    The guys said nothing, it was pretty obvious Robby could handle himself in a fight and didn't want to get challenged to anything. Even the jocks on the swim team or football team would only keep their mutters and laughter to themselves when he drew nearby.

    But the girls were pretty vocal.

    "Man he's hot for a bad boy." someone said while walking past him down the hall.

    Robby was in the same situation he was the night before with Mackenzie.

    But now, everyone would go home to winter break knowing:

    Robby Keene was a mistake in the eyes of Mackenzie Chu, and her clique of girls possibly. He had a troubled past, and his parents probably didn't care about him.

    Robby knew this wasn't the case, his friends knew it. But there was no way to prove it, because rumors spread that fast online, and Mackenzie's control and influence on social media was that strong.

    Robby waited until lunch, walking past Lucas, Demetri, and Eli who started to change seats when he walked in their direction to not be caught in Mackenzie's crossfire.

    He walked immediately up to the cheer table.

    Sam, Mackenzie, Lindsay, Yasmine, and Moon were all sitting their talking.

    "What did you?" asked Robby. "Do!? What did you do?"

    "Nothing today honestly." Mackenzie said cluelessly.

    "Really? Gonna act aloof when people are calling me some sorta bad boy. I just had a teacher need to see my bag for some reason."

    Sam instantly looked mortified. "What is he talking about?" she asked Moon who shrugged.

    A few people nearby stopped eating and talking, paying attention.

    "You don't know anything about that?"

    "I really don't." Mackenzie crossed her arms, shrugging.

    "Fuck, I knew you and Kyler were the same person. And that's not racist by the way cause you're Asian, you're both just the same type of cunt."

    "Ooooh." Nate and Chris nearby laughed.

    Chris' chuckle was a deep guffaw.

    Mackenzie shrugged. "I guess I'll tell Blatt you called me a cunt."

    Robby smiled, nodding slowly. "So you're gonna play that game? Okay, okay."

    Robby was so infuriated he started acting and talking very much unlike the Robby Keene everyone knew.

    He walked out towards the middle of the cafeteria and spoke. "Hey guys! Yeah, everyone!"

    "Robby. Stop." Sam said. "Calm down, we can figure this out."

    Robby got everyone's attention within seconds, everyone had more or less been talking about him.

    "So Mack Chu ruined my reputation here at this school overnight. But she deserves the same." Robby turned towards Mackenzie. "Because she's a worse person than me."

    "Before you ruin it further dude, I suggest you sit down." Yasmine chimed in.

    Robby sighed. "You know, everything that was said about me today. Was, probably true let's be honest."

    Everyone muttered quietly, there were even a few murmurs and chuckles of surprise.

    Demetri and Eli frowned, Lucas didn't know how to respond.

    Miguel and Cobra Kai was deeply attentive, pensive, Miguel almost seemed to look at Robby with newfound respect and pity for what he said.

    Robby smirked at Mackenzie, nodding. "But you know what?"

    He laughed. "Mack Chu fucks Miguel Diaz."

    "Oh shit." Brucks laughed.

    Kyler snorted out a lot of his soda.

    The entire cafeteria had a very shocked reaction.

    Mackenzie was thoroughly embarrassed and Robby explained further.

    "That guy." Robby pointed to Miguel. "She drives over to his house, weekly. And from what I can tell, she likes it rough."

    At this point Lucas began to intervene. "Dude."

    "Miguel's tough now ain't he?"

    Miguel actually nodded silently.

    "Someone bringing back the true bad boyishness of karate. Well guess what? From what I can tell, I can start filing noise complaints."

    The entire cafeteria began to laugh at the one and only Mackenzie Chu, all but named Valedictorian for the class of 2019.

    "Yeah!" Robby smiled. "They're into some pretty sick shit over there across the hall-"

    "Hey!"

    Lucas appeared in front of Robby who was intentionally turning away to ignore him.

    "That's enough."

    Robby paused, the entire cafeteria watched in total silence.

    "Man." Robby shook his head. "What's worse, is that even though Mackenzie's a complete bitch and everyone knows it but the cheer team. At least she never stabbed her own best friends in the back."

    "You know that's not true dude, you and Mackenzie can shake hands over this. You both fucked up and everyone laughed at both of you. It's over, end this, now."

    Robby shook his head calmly. "Quite frankly man this wasn't even about her to me. This was about you and I."

    Sam squinted at Robby quietly.

    "You want to know the truth about this guy?" Robby glanced at Aisha who silently nodded from the Cobra Kai table.

    "I used to like Sam, Demetri likes Yas, and Eli likes Moon. You know this dude, you've known this for ages. And you know, you like to flirt with all three of them."

    Robby chuckled, looking around the lunch room. "As a matter of fact, those four do a little more than flirt possibly."

    Now Lucas shoved Robby back, earning a surprised response from the crowd.

    "Dude, get to your point. Why the fuck would you do something so unlike yourself? So publicly? So suddenly on the last day of the semester?"

    "Because I wanted to tell you something face to face in front of everyone."

    Robby walked closer to Lucas.

    His footsteps could be heard in a room of almost over a hundred West Valley High students.

    Robby muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear as he muttered inches from Lucas' face.

    "You're the only person in the world who knows this much about me and could tell anyone to lead to what happened today. Eli and Demetri wouldn't do it, they haven't known me as long as you have."

    "I didn't tell a soul." Lucas raised his voice, backing away slightly. "Mack asked me last night for dirt on you. I said nothing! Ever!"

    "You know what Luke, I know that's a lie."

    Robby pointed to Sam slowly, everyone looked at her for a moment. "She! Is the only other person who might know me or my family as well as you do. Just because of her parents." Robby smiled bitterly, shaking his head. "And I know she didn't do this, I know it was you Luke."

    "It wasn't."

    "Say it!" roared Robby.

    Lucas sighed, speaking slowly. "It wasn't me."

    "Say it man!"

    Lucas squinted at Robby angrily, moving closer to him. "I said, it wasn't me. Or do you need to have your ears cleaned you pathetic-"

    Lucas walked directly into a reverse punch to the face.

    The crowd ooh'd and then Eli spoke to Demetri. "Get a teacher."

    "Don't have to tell me twice." Demetri all but sprinted off.

    Lucas was reeling and Robby didn't even rub his knuckles, he was just that tough, the bruise there might as well have been nothing.

    Lucas rubbed a bit of blood off the side of his mouth. "I'm not gonna fight you man."

    "Then get ready for the beatdown of your life."

    Lucas tried to break through the circle of students watching everything unfold, but then Cobra Kai stepped in.

    "Where do you think you're going?" Mitch smiled.

    He threw him back towards Robby and right into a round kick to the face.

    …

    OST: The First Fight - Nick Keller

    …

    Lucas dodged so narrowly he saw Robby's foot fly right past his nose.

    Then he took an elbow to the jaw before trying to grab Robby and attempting to wrestle him to the ground.

    Lucas shrugged it off faster than the first hit. Lucas muttered as Robby got into his fighting stance.

    "Okay then."

    Lucas and Robby moved like karatekas, hands up, bouncing on their heels, throwing kicks, jabs, but there was something else to the fight:

    Desperation, to end the fight before the other one could.

    A strike, or a takedown resulting in a technique that could finish their opponents, it's what Johnny, Kreese, and Daniel had trained both of them to do.

    Robby slipped a straight punch and a jab, and as he started to roll back up and counter, he took a round kick straight to the stomach so loudly he almost keeled over for a second.

    Lucas was able to stagger Robby after that and tied him up at close range, trying to sweep him to the floor.

    Sam didn't do anything, shaking her head in disappointment at both of them.

    About ten seconds after being hit with a palm heel strike to the jaw, Lucas had so much adrenaline pumping through him it was barely enough to set him off balance.

    Lucas began to fight very dirty, as in, he was trying to kick Robby's legs, karate chop him in the neck, bite him, use his nails.

    Robby had the grit to fight back but Lucas began fighting so clever and so cruel that Miguel began to smile in respect.

    He used Cobra Kai karate.

    Lucas would headbutt Robby in the jaw, throw him around everywhere using his slight height advantage.

    His low kicks were devastating, interrupting every punch combination Robby tried.

    And the fact was that Lucas was winning.

    He could fight dirty sure, but the clean techniques Robby most certainly had he slipped, countered, or outright blocked like they were nothing combining Miyagi-Do into his own style like they were nothing.

    Robby fought a losing match before just outright giving up and merely giving up grappling Lucas.

    The two struggled and struggled and struggled before eventually Robby won out strength wise and managed to pull out of the clinch with a very powerful punch on the temple that almost dropped Lucas.

    However, Robby carelessly slipped on someone's backpack left underneath one of the cafeteria tables when moving forward to hit Lucas again. He didn't trip, but it did let Lucas reel back and start to regain his focus after being rocked in the jaw.

    "Stop!" a woman with glasses appeared in front of Robby's face, hands raised.

    …

    It was then and there that Counselor Blatt and Mr. Palmer were able to pry Lucas and Robby apart.

    They were merely waiting for an opportunity where both of them were far away enough from each other for teachers to intervene.

    Both of them were strong and fast enough that if they'd tried at the wrong time, they might've gotten hurt.

    …

    Lucas and Robby sat down angrily in Counselor Blatt's office.

    "You're both suspended."

    Lucas was about to protest, moving the icepack on his face, as Robby chuckled. "Ridiculous." he said, very bruised from the fight as well.

    "However. I know the two of you are the best of friends." Blatt sighed. "It is in the school's best interest to remove this from your records as soon as you promise other incidents like this won't spread throughout the school."

    "Why would it be?" Lucas was confused.

    "It's image Mr. Schwarber." Blatt said calmly. "We want to create a safe space, you two make nice, no more karate fights in the cafeteria or anywhere. And everyone's parents are happier as their kids are safer."

    "Almost like you're afraid of us." Robby said calmly in return.

    "Dude. Not the right thing to say to a teacher."

    Robby angrily slapped his knee and Lucas slapped his back. The two were about to start slap fighting but Blatt broke it up by raising her voice.

    "I am not afraid of either of you!" Blatt said. "I can call your parents in two seconds and you will be suspended for a week permanently. You both however need to set a better example for your peers. I am going to make special arrangements for you two to finish your finals tomorrow instead of today. When you return to regular classes in the spring, you will start a few days later."

    Lucas listened, Robby barely paid any attention to what Blatt was saying.

    "You two can make me proud, the school proud if you put today behind you."

    "Thank you counselor Blatt."

    "Yeah, thanks." Robby muttered, bitterly and sarcastically.

    "I am going to give you two a couple minutes alone while you talk this out. Your parents," Blatt knew Lucas lived with his grandparents. "Or guardians, will be here in a moment to take you home."

    "I can't just walk to my car?" asked Lucas respectfully. "After I sign something?"

    "You don't own a car Mr. Schwarber, I don't even think you're old enough to own a permit yet."

    "I am but." Lucas cleared his throat. "Just haven't gotten the paperwork yet exactly."

    Robby snorted at this.

    Blatt excused herself to the hallway to make calls and was a bit shocked at what she saw after calling Johnny and Frank.

    Robby and Lucas, best friends for nearly two years, could not say a single word to one another for almost twenty minutes straight.

    They simply had no way to prove to the other person the fault wasn't their fault. They couldn't apologize, they couldn't do anything.

    The fight had affected each other that drastically. It had barely lasted a minute, the worst injuries they had were some bruises on their faces, knuckles, and shins, and nothing.

    Not one word.

    …

    Frank sighed, fixing his glasses when seeing Johnny.

    "I'm so sorry for the behavior of my grandson Johnny."

    The two knew each other from years past, sorry to have to meet each other under such circumstances.

    Johnny shook Frank's hand calmly. "They'll get over this Mr. Mills, I promise."

    "Mr. Mills." Frank said smiling. "You're not taking my Ali to the dance floor to get punched by her anymore now are you?"

    Johnny and Frank laughed casually about this, while Lucas and Robby stared death into each other's eyes.

    "Why don't you two boys sit out here, we'll talk to your teacher now." Frank said.

    ….

    Robby and Lucas sat in complete silence for a moment.

    "Wanna settle this at the All Valley in a few months?" was all Lucas could say after thirty minutes of nonstop awkward completely muted conversation.

    Robby nodded quietly. "Yup." he said, smiling.

    Lucas was smiled too they found a remotely feasible solution.

    "Is it cool if we're like. Not friends until then, and afterward?"

    "Cool with me dude." Robby shrugged, hands in his pockets.

    …

    Frank was speaking to Blatt as if he was trying to win a court case.

    "Karate is a plague here Sharon." Frank muttered, sitting up slightly and nodding to the man to his right. "He's been starting fights at this school since my daughter and him would date. Thirty years ago."

    Blatt was interrupted by Johnny. "Robby wanted to kick Luke's ass." Johnny said. "They fought it out, now let them pay the consequences for it."

    "Mr. Mills." Blatt cleared her throat. "There is no permanent mark on either of these boys' records. Because we actually want their friendship to show that different karate dojos, can in fact be friends here."

    "No I actually hate LaRusso." Johnny shrugged.

    "I'm sorry?" asked Blatt.

    "Yeah, Luke's great. As smart and funny as his mom was, but LaRusso benefits so much by having a kid as talented as him do Miyagi-Do."

    "You see what I mean?" asked Frank, leaning forward. "Lucas, and not a single kid here should be allowed to do karate. At least not with John Lawrence, Daniel LaRusso, or John Kreese."

    He leaned back and patted his hands on his arm rests. "Their dojo's have barely been open for a year and my grandson's been in three different fights."

    "All of which, he won okay?" said Johnny. "Because karate teaches you honor, discipline, respect."

    Frank turned to slowly to Johnny. "What respect was there when your son, and then Kreese and his hooligans decided to jump the future of my family like this was West Side Story? The only thing missing here is the knives they decided to shove into his body."

    Johnny scoffed. "Pssh!" he squinted at Frank. "What are you on? Robby doesn't train with Kreese! He trains with me!"

    "Makes all the more sense."

    "Okay okay okay, gentlemen!"

    Blatt raised her voice slightly. "The boys sitting outside, fractions of your ages. Have shown more maturity than either of you today."

    "How so?" Frank was curious.

    "Because they can't even talk to each other anymore."

    Even Frank lifted his vision up from the ground instantly, rubbing his eyes from beneath his glasses.

    Karate was one thing, even he knew his grandson's friendship with Robby meant something to both of them.

    Frank nodded slowly. "I'll talk to Lucas. This will be over in only a month Sharon, I promise."

    "It better be." Sharon pointed between Frank and Johnny. "From what I hear, this third dojo isn't nearly as violent."

    "No they just prefer to gang up on you during the fight instead." Frank said to Johnny, raising an eyebrow before fixing his tie and leaving.

    …

    Robby and Lucas stood up, looking up from their phones as Blatt spoke to Frank, Johnny, Lucas, and Robby.

    "Let's help make West Valley a safer space okay?" Blatt smiled. "Everyone graduates on time, no one gets suspended or hurt from a fight, and we're all friends again okay?"

    "Absolutely."

    Everyone more or less muttered in agreement.

    In the hallway outside Sharon Blatt's office, Frank waited for the door to close before addressing Johnny, Lucas, and Robby seriously.

    "I cannot believe all three of you."

    "Frank-"

    "It's Mr. Mills by the way Johnny. If you're gonna act like you're still a kid Johnny, who does karate and feuds with Dan LaRusso, then address me like one."

    It was hard for Johnny to argue with that.

    "Here's what's going to happen. You two will compete against each other at this tournament in May."

    Lucas shrugged. "We just agreed to it."

    "Good. Settle this nonsense there, same way it was done before. After that, no more karate."

    "Hold on Mr. Mills you can't-"

    "For you Luke." Frank then pointed to Robby. "Or you, or you." he pointed to Johnny as well.

    "You can't tell me to stop doing karate. I might act stupid but I'm a grown man."

    "Oh you are a grown man Johnny, and so am I." said Frank. "But these two? Aren't."

    Robby and Lucas shifted awkwardly as Frank spoke from the bottom of his heart to Johnny. "I can't be the only person in this town with enough sense to realize you three shouldn't teach karate to anyone. It's pointless, not to mention dangerous."

    "I'm sorry? Three?"

    "You, Kreese, and LaRusso create problems wherever you go. It's almost magnetic, you attract and generate chaos. You three have done this nonsense for way too long, it ruined senior year of highschool for my only daughter. And now, it probably stands to ruin highschool for my grandson too. Look of what just one year of karate did to these boys."

    Both Robby and Lucas saw the point he was making.

    Frank shook his head. "If this isn't settled by next May. Everyone figured out who won, who lost, and who was the best karate fighter here." Frank raised his hands as if the whole thing was absurd. "Then I will do everything in my power to make sure you, your old karate teacher and Dan LaRusso can no longer teach karate. Anywhere, not even from a cardboard box."

    "Wait, you're gonna Footloose karate?" Johnny laughed.

    "I can Footloose whatever I want Johnny," Frank said chuckling too. "When other parents see how many fights have been started meaninglessly. Over absolutely nothing, but a sport, I can move the Encino Oaks country club into a legal weapon."

    Robby grew wide eyed.

    "Within weeks I can present a very genuine case that the safety of children everywhere are threatened because you, Kreese, and LaRusso are letting kids get into karate brawls in the streets, and now in schools."

    "Why not just ban Kreese?" asked Lucas.

    "You're not getting it." said Frank. "Karate, like any sport, that's what it should be, a sport. Doesn't need to have rivalries that turn out like this. Look at your face, look at what it's doing to this town."

    Lucas touched his bruised temple and jaw slowly.

    "Either everyone resolves this by next May. Or I'm going to resolve it for everyone. Muhammad Ali would start fights on talk shows with his rivals, sure. But he wasn't a teenager, he wasn't in school. And also, Ali more or less found a way to resolve his issues for good. In the ring where he competed."

    "Karate's different than boxing," Johnny stated.

    "You pay a fee to fight someone in a ring with rules. Why should it be different?" asked Frank. "Why let rivalries escalate to this degree?"

    Johnny sighed. "We shouldn't ban karate for anyone, these things can take years to resolve. To talk them out, to fight, to learn, to-"

    "Years?" Frank scoffed again. "Don't you see that, that's the issue here? To solve problems in years that could easily be solved with a conversation and within a day?"

    Again, Johnny, Lucas, and Robby couldn't argue with Frank's logic.

    "I feel like a broken record here." said Frank fixing his glasses. "Luke, let's go home."

    "Yes sir."

    Lucas couldn't bring himself to say anything to either Johnny or Robby before he left.

    They didn't even wave to each other. If they wanted to at all, they couldn't.

    …
     
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