Tourney of Victory
Robby: 11
"Wait so we're actually doing this?" asked Doug. "This sounds dangerous."
The Cobras piled out of Kyler's Jeep as Robby sighed. "God do you want to be a yellow belt forever man?"
"Yeah Dickenberger, stop being such a pussy." Lucas pushed his head away.
Before they could start shoving each other Tory walked between them and held up her binoculars. "There's gotta be a million of these sinkholes, how're we supposed to find this thing?"
After she passed the binoculars to Lucas, he spoke instantly. "Found it."
"Already? Holy shit nice!" Kyler chuckled. "Pass me that."
Kyler laughed as he peered through the binoculars. "Oh yeah. We found it guys." he said offering the binoculars to Robby.
As he looked through them, he saw how the tree was buried in a very difficult position. "There's no way we can get that."
"Why not?" Tory said when it was her turn. "Looks tricky sure, but do-able."
"I agree with Robby." Lucas shook his head. "The cliff is way too steep to rappel down. We gotta be smart about this, like Sensei said."
"Smart? What'd you suggest Taco Boy?" Tory said crossing her arms.
Lucas took the binoculars from Doug ignoring his protests. "Looks like Miyagi was smart about where he put the tree. It's too far down to climb down and get it, but too high up for the tide to wash it away."
He nodded slowly. "Here's what I'm thinking. The tide cycles every thirty to sixty minutes. If we can get a boat and wait for the tide to come up. It should save us a decent climb."
"And then what do we do?" wondered Robby.
"We use climbing spikes to cover the last bit if there is any. Then take it and leave." Lucas said.
"What if the tide doesn't go down?" Tory asked. "Or if it's too low?"
Lucas passed her the binoculars. "Look at the tide right now. It's only about thirty or forty feet to reach the tree. The boat could cushion our fall at that height if we slip off. Not to mention it saves us a huge climb both up and down."
Robby nodded. "I'm with Luke. We should go find a boat."
…
On a small dock, Robby overlooked the boats with his gang. "Tell me, what kind of boat are we looking for?"
"That cave entrance to the sinkhole was tiny. We're going to need a dingy, thick, but small." Lucas said.
Doug chuckled childishly as Tory slapped his arm.
"Where do we find it?" Robby asked.
Tory pointed to the nearby shop. "We can always just steal one. We should steal a machine to inflate it while we're at it."
"Let's go." Robby said.
…
"That was fast." Lucas admitted as everyone wore life vests already on the water. "Keep going south Robby."
"Why does he get to steer?" whined Doug.
"He's the leader dipshit." Kyler said. "Have some common sense."
"I'm gonna knock you into the water man." Doug stood up.
Tory tutted. "Ladies! God stop acting like such lil' bitches!"
Lucas laughed at this while Robby merely sighed. Seeing Robby wander off in thought, Tory looked at him. "Something up?"
Robby kept steering the dinghy south. "I'm good."
"You sure don't look like it man." Lucas said.
"Well no one asked you Luke." Robby said.
"Tournament's coming up soon. Gonna be people there with a lot of experience." Lucas said.
Tory snickered. "Nothing a good Quick Silver punch can't handle. After everything we've gone through? This tournament's gonna be a joke."
"Seriously I agree with Tory." Doug said.
"Ever since I got here I've been hearing nothing about how terrible they all are. But didn't you used to be friends with all of them?" asked Lucas.
Kyler crossed his arms. "I was never friends with Rhea."
"What about Hawk? Doug was good friends with him too. Am I wrong?" Lucas pointed out.
Robby inhaled. "Definitely not. I always hated Hawk and Miguel."
"You hate everyone and everything man." Lucas said. "Except Tory."
Doug and Kyler howled and laughed loudly as Tory flicked his ear. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You guys are practically dating. I wouldn't be remiss to say that Robby joined Sensei in large part because you were already there."
"Shut up Taco Boy." Robby rolled his eyes.
"What happened to Luke?" he asked.
"You started saying some dumb things." Robby scoffed. "I don't hate everything."
The dinghy full of Cobra Kais was silent.
"Do I?" Robby asked.
Doug looked like he wanted to say something but didn't.
"You're pretty hateful man." only Lucas had the guts to say it to their leader.
"Aren't we all supposed to be?" asked Robby.
"Not really." Lucas said to him. "Doug only joined because he needed a new sport. Tory needed something new besides kickboxing. And Kyler was recruited by Sensei Kreese himself."
"So was I." Robby said. "That makes me hateful?"
"No. But out of all of us, you have the biggest beef with them." Lucas explained. "Even Tory man. You go back way longer with Miguel and Hawk."
Robby asked something. "And what about you? You don't care about this dumb rivalry we have. Why would you join?"
"I already explained this too. Boxing was too expensive." responded Lucas.
Robby said something. "If you're too blind to realize what we're doing here, maybe you don't belong."
"Robby he didn't mean it like that." Tory said.
"Then what did he mean?" asked Robby. "This isn't some kickboxing club. This is a goddamn war."
"I realize that now." Lucas splayed a hand to the ocean. "That's why I'm with you guys. One hundred and thirty percent."
"Whatever." Robby tutted.
Lucas looked around the dinghy. "I hate to be the voice of reason all the time. But we all have very personal reasons to join Cobra Kai. It's wrong to act like we don't."
"Thought you just said we didn't." Tory said. "And what're you, our therapist?"
"Sort of. You guys haven't given it a rest since we burnt down their dojo." Lucas said. "Robby's been cracking the whip on all of us, and while it's fun we've been taking it way too far."
"This boat was your idea man." Robby said.
"It's our last assignment before the tournament." Lucas responded.
"And what about you?" Robby asked. "What's your 'personal reason' for joining Cobra Kai. You don't owe any of us anything. Why're you here?"
"Well. If you must know. My mom took my sister away from me. My dad left me homeless. They've always been good friends with LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence. Now's my chance to get revenge."
Robby smiled. "So you are in it for revenge too."
"Maybe man." Lucas nodded. "But I see that after all these classes. It's about much more than that now. These people are scum. I've talked to them. They're as misled as Sam LaRusso."
Robby saw the entrance to the cave. "We're here."
The Cobra Kais held their heads low as they entered the sinkhole in their dinghy.
Robby looked up at the bonsai. "It's pretty high up. What do we do now?"
"We wait." Lucas said. "We wait until the tide carries us up high enough."
Robby looked at Doug. "You got along pretty well with Hawk last weekend. What happened?"
"Nothing happened. You talked to Miguel and Sam too." he said.
"So? I hate them. You're practically best friends with Hawk." responded Robby.
Doug sighed. "He'd rather be best friends with Demitri."
"You sound jealous dude." Kyler pointed out.
"That guy's weak as hell. Can't be jealous of him." Doug said as the dinghy looked like they were being quiet for a reason. "What?"
"Dude. You still follow each other on instagram. It's a huge reason why we've been so successful these last few weeks." Robby said.
"So? Luke talked to Sam!" Doug said.
He shrugged. "Didn't like her one bit. Thought she could lecture me."
"All the LaRusso's are like that." Robby said as the tide floated up slowly but surely. "Bunch of patronizing holier than thou liars."
"You seemed happy enough to lead this attack on Sam's party." Tory said.
"Yeah because. Wow, who here actually thinks I still like Sam?" said Robby.
No one said anything. Tory shrugged. "I don't."
"Wow." Robby turned to Lucas. "Seriously? Even you?"
"I thought it was odd you wanted this trophy so badly. Sensei never really asked for it." Lucas said.
"You're kidding me!" Robby said. "Even after cheating on me you'd think I still like her?"
"He did kinda brush it off when we gave it to him." Kyler shrugged. "Just a little."
The tide had just then settled at where Lucas had predicted. "This is as far as it'll take us." surmised Lucas. "Pass me the spikes Tor."
"Uh uh. You've done well enough so far Luke." Robby said. "Let me and her go."
Sitting back down, Lucas nodded after going for a Cobra Kai stack bump. "Good luck man. You'll need it."
…
The forty feet Lucas had predicted turned out to be more than fifty. Tory chuckled as she dug her metal spike out of the rock and looked down at Robby. "You staring at my ass?"
"Just trying not to die thank you." Robby yelled down below to Kyler, Doug, and Lucas. "You guys better catch us if we fall! Sensei'll kill you if we die!"
"Don't worry about it!" Lucas yelled up. "Just keep going!"
Robby sighed. "Forgot to bring his damn measuring tape." he muttered under his breath climbing higher.
After a lot of climbing, Robby and Tory finally reached the bonsai tree.
"Damn. It's actually really pretty." Tory drew a bag to put it in, hacking it off the soil with a clean swipe of her climbing spike despite her words.
"Shame about what we're gonna do to it." Robby laughed a bit hearing Lucas' voice.
"You guys get it!?"
Robby yelled back, throwing the bonsai down. "See for yourself!"
Kyler and Doug fought over the bag before drawing the bonsai from it. "Ho-ly shit." Doug breathed out at how beautiful the tree had grown.
"Guys come back down!" Kyler yelled.
"Don't have to tell me twice." muttered Tory climbing back down.
Almost seeing her slipping, Robby held Tory in place with his arm. "You all right?"
"Just fine thanks." Tory pecked him on the lips before descending, leaving Robby a bit stunned for just a second before climbing down the cliff.
When they got back in the dinghy Lucas held the bag triumphantly. "Great job guys! That's what I'm talking about. No fear!"
"No mercy man. Good planning. Almost got Tory killed but good planning still." Robby accepted the shoulder bump.
Kyler chuckled. "You totally looked at Tory's ass on the way up."
"I don't care." said Tory as she wrapped her arm around Robby as he protested. "But I didn't-"
The group of Cobras reacted differently when Tory kissed Robby deeply on the mouth. "Ugh!" Doug recoiled and looked away.
"Nice going Tor. That's my girl!" Lucas nodded and smiled with pride.
Kyler just sat there pretending nothing happened.
Tory released Robby's lips from her own. "Let's get going guys."
…
Daniel opened the door to his home after hearing the bell ring. Sam saw Daniel kneel slowly on his front doorstep. Seeing her grown father crying, Sam grew alarmed. "Dad what is it?"
"I. I can't believe it." Daniel said.
"Wait, is that?-"
"It is." Daniel's voice broke. "I. Why?"
"We already know why." Sam rubbed her father's shoulder. "And they won't stop."
Daniel wiped the tears from his eyes. "I know. Kreese won't stop until all of you are left like this poor tree. How can they not see that?"
Sam watched as Daniel left in anger. "Where are you going?"
"Where else?" Daniel said wiping the remainder of his tears away.
…
In the Cobra Kai dojo, dirt splattered all over the mat as Daniel hurled the completely ruined bonsai on the floor.
"Shoes off the mat." Kreese said ignoring this.
"Why? There's no such thing as respect in this dojo." Daniel yelled as he looked out over Kreese's students. "A Sensei doesn't command annihilation! He commands construction! Building! Honor!" he roared. "How can you all be so blind?"
Before Kreese could say anything, Robby spoke. "I followed you. And I ended up embarrassed in front of everyone at the All Valley. I followed my dad, and ended up in jail. How's that for honor?"
"Kreese won't lead you anywhere better!" Daniel said.
The man in question chuckled quietly. "This isn't gonna go the way it did last time. Look at them."
Daniel watched as every Cobra Kai there was very angry and ready to fight him for throwing the bonsai and its dirt on the mat. "They're not fools like your students. Everyone here has lost something to you and people like you."
"People like me?" Daniel asked. "I'm not evil! I don't send people to beat each other! I'm not a cheat!"
"Oh you're not? Kyler here was unprepared for a fight with Miguel Diaz. He was beaten and humiliated without proper training in his school cafeteria. Under me it'll never happen again." Kreese said. "Tory here lost her greatest friend, a fellow Cobra Kai. Her very dear boyfriend to your only daughter."
"None of that was my fault." Daniel said.
"It was Johnny's. Your new partner." Kreese said. "See we have different versions of the word evil. And liar. I don't hide anything from my students."
"Oh you don't?" Daniel yelled louder. "Did you tell them how you tried to kill Johnny after the tournament!? How Mr. Miyagi spared your life after saving him!?"
No one in the dojo batted an eye at this, still glaring daggers at Daniel.
"Everyone here knows the price of failure, I already told them this. Which is why it'll never happen again. Johnny was weak, he let Miguel almost die. He landed his own son in jail. You let your daughter run roughshod over this whole town. And now you know the price for disrespecting this dojo." he nodded to the ruined bonsai on the ground.
Daniel shook his head slowly. "You won't stop ruining things like this. For me. For everyone in the valley."
"Precisely." hissed Kreese. "You see you declared war on Cobra Kai the moment you stepped into my dojo all those years ago. And you better kill every egg in the nest if you want to kill a Cobra forever."
Daniel stood tall as the man stared him down. "Bobby and Johnny already saw you for who you were. It won't be long before these poor kids do the same."
"Oh really? Class, what're the words of this dojo?" Kreese said.
"Strike first! Strike hard! No mercy sir!" The class echoed without so much as blinking.
"You are the lowest of the low you monster. Mr. Miyagi was right. You're living a fate worse than death."
Kreese smiled. "On that we can agree. Which is why after the tournament in '84. I will spend the rest of my life dedicating myself to destroying everything you hold dear. I wonder if you will actually be able to do anything about it."
"Oh you lying sack of-"
"You have five seconds before my class throws you out. Then I can't restrain them for anything that might happen to you." Kreese said.
Daniel left quickly as Kreese turned. "I hope you all understand how this man seeks to tear you apart from me. Schwarber, clean up that mess."
"Yes Sensei." Lucas bowed his head before leaving to go get a broom.
Out of the corner of his eye, while the rest of the class struck in rows loudly, Kreese saw how Lucas swept up the remains of the bonsai tree.
…
After class ended, Kreese spoke to Lucas, interrupting his conversation with Robby and Tory. "Schwarber. In my office now."
"Yes Sensei."
"Ooh, Luke's in for it now." Kyler and Doug laughed as they walked closer to Robby.
Robby slapped Kyler's arm a little. "Shut up guys, I think he might actually be in trouble."
In Kreese's office, the Sensei poured himself some liquor as he spoke to Lucas. "I heard how you planned today's assignment all by yourself. You have a sharp mind outside of combat as well."
"Thank you Sensei."
"Tell me. Why were you, off? When sweeping up that tree today in class?" Kreese asked.
"I hope I didn't offend you Sensei."
Kreese shook his head. "Oh you didn't. You did very well today. However, I still asked you a question."
Lucas explained. "My mom used to tell me how much Miyagi meant to LaRusso. That tree was all that we left to him."
"And you felt bad for him?"
"I don't know Sensei. I started all this to get back at my mom. Not LaRusso." he admitted.
Kreese began talking. "I see. Well I can't blame you, war is very different no matter the combatant. But let me tell you a story about war. Listen closely."
"Yes Sensei."
"I was in Vietnam. A friend of mine named Terry Silver was planting a bomb on a Viet Cong base. I needed to press the trigger, but because I couldn't kill my own comrades, the Viet Congs took us all prisoner."
"Did they torture you Sensei?" Lucas asked.
Kreese nodded. "Yes. However not in the manner you'd expect. They made us fight each other to the death. And every day, watching my own brothers in arms kill each other, I was reminded of my mistake."
Lucas stayed quiet as Kreese sipped his drink behind his desk. "Do you understand the lesson?"
"Yes Sensei."
"You have a soft heart underneath that Cobra exterior. But if you're not careful, it will get you and everyone you love killed. You will lose all that you hold sacred if you hesitate like I did. I understand how much your sister meant to you. What was her name again?"
Lucas spoke. "Hannah Sensei."
"Ah. Hannah. I'm sure you'd do anything to get back to her. Correct?"
"Yes Sensei." Lucas said.
Kreese explained. "I understand as well how much your friends rely on you for that heart of yours. But remember. A Cobra shows no pity for who it bites. Your venom stings like no others Lucas Schwarber. But don't ever mistake your compassion as strength."
"Yes Sensei." Lucas said as his Sensei dismissed him.
Robby looked at the look on Lucas' face. "What's wrong man?"
"Nothing. Let's go get some burgers."
…
At the diner, Kyler smiled. "Glad we stole this place from Rhea." he watched Yasmine walk off. "Hope we can steal his friend's girl while we're at it."
While Tory reprimanded Kyler in disgust, Robby looked at Lucas. "What's wrong man?"
"Sensei told me not to be as compassionate anymore. Just made me feel weird." Lucas said.
"Well why?" Robby asked. "Think about it this way. If one of us loses in the tournament, he'd want you to focus on the match. Not the scoreboard."
"I know but he said it goes just beyond fighting. He told me a story."
Tory grew interested. "Could you tell us?"
Robby just looked at her, making it clear he wanted only him and Lucas to talk. "What's really bothering you Luke?"
He sighed. "This war we have. These people we're fighting. I know I don't know them as well as you guys but. Do you ever have doubts? Any of you?"
Robby spoke up first. "Of course I do. I'm facing my own dad and my old Sensei. But even though you might be a bit new here, you have history of your own with LaRusso. Your mom and him, and my dad go all way back."
"I only know stories about all that." Lucas said.
"They're more than stories Luke." Robby said. "Hey. Look at me." Lucas turned to his friend as he spoke. "I know how confusing this can get. But Sensei Kreese was there for me when no one else was. He might be tough, but he cares about us I'm sure of it."
"Then how come he tells us so little about his war in Vietnam? How come he only tells us stories as lessons?" asked Lucas.
"It must be hard for anyone to talk about." Robby responded.
Lucas nodded. "I guess you're right. Thanks man."
"No problem." Robby said.
Demitri, Miguel, Hawk, Chris, and Mitch entered the diner.
"Ah shit look who it is." Kyler said. "Rhea and his posse of pussies."
The group chuckled as Miguel approached Robby. "I want my trophy back."
"We already took it from you remember?" Robby asked.
"Uh uh." Miguel said. "Not that one. The one from last year."
"It's the dojo's. Not yours. I suppose these things can get confusing when you cheat so often." Robby said making the table laugh.
Miguel was about to say something but Tory spoke up. "Just get out of here Miguel. We can't help you."
"You guys can't help anyone. About anything." Miguel balled his fists. "You destroyed that tree."
"Your Sensei's rich. He can replace it." Robby said.
"I'm not talking about money. That tree's irreplaceable. It's the only one of its kind in the whole state." Miguel said.
Robby mocked him. "Then why weren't you guys there to protect it? Oh right you were too busy practicing that genius crane kick." He raised his hands in the air. "Hiyaaa!" Doug and the others laughed.
Hawk moved forward. "You guys are worse than bullies. You're destroying everything no matter what it is. You guys are turning into Kreese."
"I'd rather be Sensei Kreese than any of you guys." Robby said. "Let's see here. Rhea. Lip. Fairy Queen. And the tubby idiots TweedleDumb and TweedleDumber."
Seeing the Cobras laugh at them loudly, Miguel left with his group.
"Hey good luck at the tournament!" Robby said after them before they left. "Losers!"
"Wow, I think they were pretty out of line. We're not that bad bullies are we?" Lucas wondered.
"Hell yeah we are." Tory said with pride. "But they started all this first. Only right to strike back."
Robby chuckled. "My dad pushed people down hills before. We never hurt people that bad."
"We broke Demitri's arm." Tory said.
"That was Hawk. We don't break bones." Robby pointed to her. "Makes the tournament too easy."
Doug chuckled. "We probably could though."
…
Robby walked around with his arm over Tory's shoulder as a postman stood out in front of the dojo.
"Hi a letter for Robby Keene?" he said. "This was mailed to this address. Don't seem to have a mailbox of any sort."
"Thank you." Robby said, taking the letter.
Tory looked at her boyfriend. "Who's it from?"
Robby shook his head. "No one. I'll see you tomorrow guys."
…
On his sleeping pad inside the dojo Robby opened Sam's letter.
Hi. You didn't seem to respond to any texts or emails, so I wrote this the old fashioned way. I wanted to ask you how you were doing, and I also wanted to talk to you. In a way. I felt like I was doing the right thing by letting you into my party last week, and I think you already know why.
You're still a good friend and an honest person. At least most of the time. Which is why I was wondering why'd you side with Kreese. After what he did to your dad too. He wants to destroy the Valley, and that's not you at all. I forgive you Robby, come back to being my friend. I am really really sad to see that you hate being my friend.
I honestly don't have anyone that I can get along with as well as you. Hawk and Miguel are still on shaky terms with me since this whole Eagle Miyagi alliance seems a bit temporary. Guess your dad drinks and yells too much and my dad meditates and his Karate is all sorts of different.
This made Robby chuckle as he kept reading.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you're the only person in Cobra Kai who I seemed to trust. You never seemed like Kyler, or Tory, or even Doug for that matter. I want there to be peace between us, even after the tournament. I want what's best for everyone. I just hope I can trust you again.
If you want to talk we can meet at the old library over on 35th and Pioneer Street this Friday at 7. You can still become a good person and do good things, it's not too late.
Robby truly was curious about this after everything that had happened. He knew Sam was patient and forgiving, but for him? After all this?
'She's worth talking to at least.'
…
In the library, Robby watched as Sam flipped a page in her book. "History aisle huh? You always one were one for history."
"Hey, you came."
"I'm more surprised you wrote that letter."
Sam put the book away. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yeah, why did you do that?"
"How could you break that bonsai tree? You know that's all we have left of Mr. Miyagi."
Robby frowned. "It was Sensei's idea. Not mine."
"But you followed it anyway?" Sam crossed her arms. "Don't you still care about me at all? Even as a friend?"
"I do. It tore me up to see you and Miguel had gotten back together instantly." Robby admitted. "But like I said, I don't just follow Sensei Kreese just because. I had nothing left after I left Juvie. You had gone off with Miguel, my dad was being a deadbeat like always."
"Robby, you don't know any of these people." Sam said. "You don't know Kyler. You don't know Kreese. Or Tory? Doug Rickenberger? Why would you leave your own friends and family?"
"Because it really didn't feel like that to me anymore. Like I needed a new one."
Sam gasped. "Out of anger? Pure anger?"
"No, not out of anger. The only person who visited me in jail was Sensei Kreese. The only person who really seemed to care or do anything for me was him. Call him a liar, call him whatever you want. But he's been more honest to me than anyone else I've known."
"Even more than me?"
"Sam it took you three seconds to get back together with Miguel. The same guy who started that fight. Who started all of this."
Sam held her elbows. "He never started anything. Kyler made Miguel's life hell."
"Yeah before Miguel did the same for him."
Sam laughed a bit. "You don't know these people!" she exasperated. "You don't know Kreese like I do."
"What from what your dad told you?"
"He tried to kill your dad."
"For losing the easiest win ever. That kick could not be any more telegraphed. Not gonna happen again this year."
Sam held her head. "I'm still confused. Did you lose part of your head in Juvie?"
"Maybe. I got my head kicked in, had to fight my way out. And I'll tell you something, something I've never told anyone. This will definitely clear up why I joined Cobra Kai. The only way I won a fight in jail, the only way I stopped getting my head beaten in. Was using what Sensei Kreese told me. I struck first, I slithered, I caught them by surprise."
Sam said nothing as Robby kept talking. "Yeah. See? I don't know what happened between your dad and Sensei Kreese. I wasn't there. But I was there when his words saved my neck. And no one else wanted to help."
"What about your dad? Or mine?"
Robby scoffed. "The most helpful people in the world. They're the reason we're in the middle of all of this. There'd be no Cobra Kai, no Miyagi-Do, no tournament, nothing. All our lives would be back to normal."
"Things weren't better without them. Your dad saved Miguel from bullying. My dad-"
"Did what exactly? He kept fighting this pointless war against mine that lead to all of this."
"I see it now." Sam shook her head as she walked past him. "Thanks for clearing everything up."
Across the street from the library, Lucas swept up bags of eaten food and empty cups off the parking lot. He saw Sam leave up in her white car which seemed odd, but it only got more strange when Robby appeared on his skateboard too about half a minute later.
…
In the skate park, Lucas appeared as Robby practiced his tricks. "Hey dude." Robby's headband fluttered in the air as he pulled up. "What's up?"
"Don't hey dude me." Lucas said. "I know that you met with Sam today."
"That was nothing. She just wanted to know what was going on."
"Going on?" Lucas asked.
Robby put his hands in the pockets of his jean jacket. "She still didn't understand why I joined Cobra Kai. Have to say, I made it clear to her."
"Well not to me."
Robby was confused by this. "What? How?"
"You told me Cobra Kai was for life. That it never died. It's more than a dojo. It's a family. But you went behind all of our backs. And you met with her."
Robby sighed. "It was nothing. I promise."
"Imagine how that'd look to Sensei. To your girlfriend. Tory. Do you still have feelings for Sam?"
"No!" Robby said.
"Then what's going on?"
"Look she just had a few questions for me that's all."
Lucas crossed his arms. "Sam LaRusso is the enemy. She's our enemy."
"I know. I just had to clear up why we wrecked that bonsai that's all."
"It should've been obvious."
Robby explained. "It wasn't. They don't know the way Sensei plans. They don't know that he wanted to destroy something LaRusso could never rebuild."
"Dude this looks really really suspicious." Lucas put his hands on his hips. "You met with your ex girlfriend behind our backs, someone who very clearly is the biggest enemy of the dojo."
"I promise nothing happened."
Lucas still didn't believe him. "Fine. Let's see what Tory has to say about this."
He grabbed the sleeve of Lucas' jacket. "It was nothing man. You have to believe me."
Throwing his hand off, Lucas turned. "Yeah we'll see."
"I said it's nothing." Robby stood in front of him.
"Then why're you stopping me?"
"Tory wouldn't understand. I thought you'd get why! You being all, understanding about everything!"
Lucas scoffed. "Me? Understanding? You were the one who erased any doubts I had about Cobra Kai. You're the one convincing me there's something to win at the end of all this craziness. All this fighting, all this rivalry, all this bullshit! That there was something to gain."
"There still is, I promise. Just trust me."
"I can't. Not while you're pulling stuff like this." Lucas turned around.
Yelling, Robby roared at the top of his lungs. "Just listen to me you idiot!" Robby pushed him into the skate park out of anger.
Lucas rubbed the scratch on his chin as Robby's eyes widened. "Luke I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"
Lucas ran up the side of the skate park dugout and pulled Robby's leg to get him to reach his level. The two Cobra Kais raised their fists, Robby speaking first. "We're really doing this?"
"We're really doing this." Lucas said striking first.
The fight got underway, the two landing very clean shots that other skate park members winced at. Having properly bruised each other, throwing each other around, a police car siren echoed loudly.
"Shit! Come on." Lucas helped Robby up to run out of the skate park.
…
Both of them panting in an alleyway, Lucas looked at Robby.
"I think we lost them." Robby said.
Lucas pushed Robby. "Excuse my language but what the fuck is going on!? You risk your life for the dojo one day, and turn your back on it the next. You date Tory one minute and then you sneak off with your ex the next!"
"Look man I'm confused."
"Yeah no shit!" Lucas said, the two teenagers beginning to yell at each other. "Don't you think the rest of us are confused!? I don't know if I'm ever gonna see my six year old sister again! Tory's basically a single parent to her little brother! This whole year has been nothing but confusion!"
"It's not my fault!" Robby shoved Lucas back.
Lucas shoved him back. "It's not mine either! So stop blaming me!"
"I'm not blaming you!" Robby roared back. "Thought you were supposed to be patient."
"Not when you drive me crazy!" Lucas said. "How am I supposed to be patient when you guys do nothing but break things all the time? We can't have one week, one actual day without pissing off the people we're supposed to be in a truce with."
"You really don't know all of us don't you?"
"I really don't." Lucas admitted, the argument simmering down. He sighed. "Look I miss Hannah more than life itself. I miss Denver. I miss when you and me were just a couple of dudes sparring it out."
Robby chuckled. "We'll always have that man. Don't you want that?"
Lucas nodded. "Hell yeah."
"You wanna hug it out?"
"Robby, don't do those puppy eyes-"
"Come on. Cobra Kai for life man let's hug it out."
Lucas hugged him reluctantly. "Cobra Kai for life."
The two walked out of the alleyway as Lucas sighed. "This goddamn year man."
"I know." Robby said to him. "I know."
"Don't you have a date with Tory in an hour?"
"I do, but let's hang out a bit first."
…
The two sat on the roof of an abandoned building drinking soda together.
"Tell me what's really going on. Why're you so confused?" asked Lucas.
"Weren't you confused too?" Robby said.
"I am, but we'll get to me in a minute. You first."
Robby sighed, drinking his soda while looking out over LA quietly in thought. "You want to hear the truth?"
"Yeah dude. Always."
Robby put his arms up. "I honestly don't know what I'm doing."
"Think that was a bit obvious." Lucas sipped his soda.
"I mean about everything. Everyone I've ever known is either in jail or currently in this stupid war against me. I don't know Kyler, I barely knew Hawk, I just now know Tory, and I barely know Sensei Kreese as well. Mr. LaRusso trusted me. My dad trusted me. And I let them both down."
"I thought you hated them." Lucas blinked.
Robby nodded. "They were the only dads I ever had. And I'm just now starting to get to know this new one. And everyone, everywhere tells me I shouldn't."
Lucas sighed. "Yeah dude. This karate stuff is crazy. It's hard to know who to trust and who not to."
"Exactly!" exasperated Robby. "I thought I could trust Mr. LaRusso. But I was wrong. I thought I could trust my dad but I was wrong. I thought I could trust Sam but I was wrong. I just once want to feel like I can really trust someone and be right about it."
Lucas chuckled a little. "No matter what you do in life, someone's gonna doubt you. Whether it's you. Or a friend."
"Friends." Robby chuckled. "Doug. Kyler. I can't be friends with people that dumb."
"I'll always be your friend dude. Forever."
"Cause Cobra Kai never dies?" Robby scoffed.
Lucas shook his head. "No. Cause you're more than just this ripped karate god who gets all the ladies. You're a real one man. You're honest, you're down to earth, you're cool about everything."
"I feel like I can really talk to you man. About. Shit. Everything." Robby smiled.
"Me too Robby."
Robby asked something. "Now it's my turn. How do you think this is all gonna end?" he saw the sun begin to set. "Where is Cobra Kai going?"
"Nowhere good I think." Lucas admitted. "Even if we win the tournament, I'm sure someone somewhere is pulling the strings. Keeping us safe. From the cops, from LaRusso. And we can't do anything about it."
"But who would do that?"
Lucas spoke up after thinking for a bit. "Sensei mentioned someone named Terry Silver to me the other day. He's a pretty secluded businessman my dad used to mention occasionally. He runs every chain martial arts school across the country, there isn't a stock trader alive who hasn't at least heard of him. Maybe, if he owns a portion of the Cobra Kai dojo, it'd be in his best interest to keep us out of jail."
"That all sounds way too crazy to be true." Robby said.
"Is it? Think about the shit we pulled. Arson. Theft. Vandalism. Destruction of like over half a million dollars worth of priceless cars. Someone has something to gain if we can get away with it, and it sure as shit isn't just Sensei Kreese."
"Always the voice of reason huh?"
Lucas nodded. "Always. I'm here man. Come to me, not. Freaking Sam. If you got issues."
"You do seem pretty smart about everything."
"I'm just an idiot who can box and do Calc." Lucas shrugged. "You on the other hand. You're gonna rock man. I'm sure of it."
"Thanks." Robby smiled. "You'll find your sister again. I promise."
Lucas waved a hand. "You're angry Robby. At Sam, at everyone. I think I'm the only person you're not mad at."
"What do you mean?"
Lucas snickered. "You are pissed. Off. You are willing to die if it means beating Hawk and Miguel. I don't even hate my mom that badly."
"Not everyone can be as peace and love like you."
"Tell me. What're you so angry about?"
Robby shook his head. "You wouldn't understand."
"I would. I promise."
"I'm mad at myself I think. This is all my fault."
Lucas chuckled. "It can't all be."
"If I had just talked honestly to my dad when he started training Miguel. There'd be no war. Nothing to fight over."
"It's not too late." Lucas said. "You can still talk to him."
"What?" Robby put his soda down.
"If we can get your dad to back down, we would have already won. There'd be no reason to have a tournament. There'd be no reason for Hawk and Miguel and all of them to follow LaRusso without their own Sensei even fighting."
"Seriously? Just like that?"
"Hey it'd be a start. It would cripple them."
Robby tutted. "My dad can't trust Sensei Kreese. He already gave him his chance."
"We can avoid all the fighting. We can avoid all these messes we've gotten ourselves into this year. It can all stop."
Robby still disagreed. "It's still too late. If you think Cobra Kai is going nowhere, why're you still here?"
"Sensei Kreese is more of a dad to me than my real one ever was. He might be vague sometimes, but it's for the best."
"Didn't you just say he was probably hiding something huge from us?"
"Ah, it's probably for the best too. I don't wanna go to jail either. What do you think LaRusso and your dad are saints too? Besides, like you, it's not all about him for me."
"What's it about?"
"You man." Lucas made Robby chuckle. "Like you said, Doug and Kyler might be hard to get along with, but you and Tory are like my siblings."
"Really?"
Lucas laughed. "Of course you are. Look at today, one minute we're beating the crap outta each other the next we're laughing over some soda."
Robby smiled. "I prefer hanging out with you guys instead of Miyagi-Do to be honest. Better than Trey and Cruz for sure."
Lucas checked his phone. "You're gonna be late man, let's go."
"Oh crap, I'm so late."
…
Tory waited outside a restaurant in her best clothes. "Where have you two idiots been?" she saw Robby and Lucas approach. "And what happened to your faces?"
"We got into a fight. Don't worry." Lucas whispered a bit. "I won!"
"You did not get outta here." Robby said.
Tory opened the door to the restaurant. "Well we're late so thanks Taco Boy bye!"
"Bye guys have fun." Lucas said as he left.
Inside the restaurant, Tory spoke to Robby. "So. How'd it go with Luke? What'd you talk about?"
"A lot." Robby said holding his menu. "You look great."
Tory smiled. "Thanks. Hoping Hawk doesn't show up like he did last time."
"Probably not." Robby said. "Everything okay at home?"
"Yeah. My landlord still hasn't evicted me so I imagine everything's cool."
Robby thought about something Lucas had mentioned earlier. "What exactly happened?"
"I owed him rent. The next day he just avoided me." Tory shrugged. "Why?"
"Do you think everything at Cobra Kai is the way it seems?"
"Totally. Why do you ask?"
Robby sniffed. "You know anything about a guy named Terry Silver?"
"Doesn't ring a bell."
"He. Nevermind."
Tory shook her head. "Tell me."
Robby explained. "He might have a financial stake in Cobra Kai."
"What? But we've never even heard about him."
"He owns basically every dojo in the country. Sounded really rich."
Tory shrugged. "I bet he is. What does that have to do with us?"
"I don't know. It just doesn't add up that we've gotten away with literally everything."
"You didn't." Tory said. "The LaRussos got you thrown in jail."
Robby shook his head. "That was before I joined Cobra Kai. It just doesn't make sense to ignore. Wouldn't someone who needs Cobra Kai to succeed also invest money into keeping us safe?"
Tory put down her menu. "If that's the case, then bravo to this oh-so mysterious rich man in the shadows. Saves us a headache." she said picking the menu back up.
"Why would someone go to that much trouble for us?"
"What bribing the police? We're not sure this person even exists, much less is helping us."
"It wouldn't be too out of the ordinary."
Tory put her hand on Robby's. "Hey. Stop worrying. Everything's gonna be fine."
Robby then smiled. "Thanks."
"Besides, Sensei always comes through for us. He gave you a place to stay, he trains you for free. He's awesome."
Robby wanted to drop his apprehensions but Lucas had made an excellent point about money.
'What if Sensei Kreese strong-armed Tory's landlord into letting her off the hook? Wouldn't that mean he gets to keep her as a student? And why wouldn't he tell her?'
Robby shook his head. "Sorry. Long day. Lots of training."
"I know right?" Tory said. "God it's like we're in the army or something."
"We basically are. Looking forward to the tournament."
"Yes!" sighed Tory. "It cannot come quick enough."
"I think we're gonna win."
"So do I. As long as you don't telegraph that jab."
Robby laughed. "Me. Telegraph?"
"Please. You're as predictable as it gets."
"Not everyone can be as fast as you."
Tory shook her head. "You're being stupid."
"I'm not. Tell me I'm wrong."
Tory spoke. "You're best out of all of us."
"We're even in sparring," Robby said.
The date went very well, the two dancing in the restaurant after finishing dinner. By the end, Robby was glad to be dating her.
Outside, Robby had his coat over Tory's shoulders as they spoke. "So. Are we an item now?" he asked.
"I don't know. Are we?" Tory smiled.
"I think we are. No reason to not make it official."
"Fully agreed." Tory kissed him on the mouth. "Good night."
"Night." Robby said.
…
Kreese left his office seeing Robby enter the dojo. "How was the date?"
"It went fine, thank you Sensei."
Kreese held up Samantha's letter. "When were you gonna tell me about this?"
"I'm the only one keeping secrets?" Robby said. "Who's Terry Silver?"
Kreese chuckled, looking aside. "Schwarber. Have to remember to make him train extra hard tomorrow."
"Who is he?" Robby repeated.
"He's an old friend of mine from the war. Called him just the other night."
"What for?"
Kreese handed Robby back the letter. "Wanted to catch up with him. Haven't seen each other in years."
"Then what does he have to do with Cobra Kai?"
Kreese explained. "He is Cobra Kai. Without him, I never would've been able to open the dojo when I returned from Vietnam."
"So he is funding the dojo."
Kreese looked aside again. "Robby Terry Silver is an old friend. Nothing more."
"Then who's making sure all our money is in order? Just you? Who's paying the cops to look the other way?"
"The police here have always been incompetent."
"But never this negligent," Robby said. "Something's going on."
"I agree. Something is going on. Between you and Samantha LaRusso. What do you not trust me?"
"No I do. You just never told me why you want me here." said Robby. "I know I can fight but you don't owe me anything."
"I do. Your family is Cobra Kai, which makes it mine. You went to the enemy behind my back? What if it was an ambush?"
Robby shook his head. "Sam would never do that. Neither would Miguel or Hawk."
"You don't know that. You burned down their dojo, you ruined their party, stole their trophy, and now you've crushed the only thing keeping Miyagi's memory tethered to this world. They have every right to seek vengeance."
"They're not like us."
"Oh they're not I agree. But still." Kreese walked forward. "If you can't trust me, then this all means nothing. This war means nothing. This tournament, means nothing."
"You're clearly hiding something. Why only tell Luke about Terry Silver?"
"Lucas Schwarber." laughed out Kreese under breath. "He's weak of mind. The apex of his training will be removing that weakness."
"How? He has a heart."
"A heart can get you killed. Believe me. It will. This is the first time you've made me doubt the trust I put in you. I gave you that headband not as a medal, but as a symbol of respect here."
"This is the first time I've doubted you too." Robby said. "You told Luke that the one trait he had that separated him from everyone else. That made him special to me. His compassion. Was a weakness?"
"Of course it was. He's dedicated to this dojo fully, but consequently he cares too much for you all. Terry understood that, he left me to my own devices after 1985."
Robby crossed his arms. "Then how are you still friends with him?"
"That's what I called him to talk about. He hasn't left that mansion of his in over a decade. No one's seen or heard from him until recently."
"What did you ask of him?"
"How he was doing. And no, he hasn't bribed the police. And no, he is not helping me straighten out Cobra Kai's finances. Now it's your turn. What were you doing going out to talk to Samantha LaRusso?"
"She wanted to know why I joined Cobra Kai."
"And why did you?"
"She didn't understand why I did all these things these past few weeks. I told her that you were the only person I've been able to trust."
Kreese uncrossed his arms. "Then why did you go behind my back?"
"Because this is confusing. I don't know you. I don't know anyone in this dojo. And you pop up out of nowhere, claiming you're family, that Cobra Kai is my family, when I've never even heard of you. Why?"
"Because your father lied to you about me. I needed to right that wrong, to correct his mistake." Kreese said approaching Robby. "You want to hear the truth, the honest truth about Cobra Kai?"
"Absolutely."
Kreese explained. "It's a family, built on trust and commitment. And honesty. I have done nothing but tell you the cold hard truth since you've walked through those doors. Or haven't I?"
"What about Terry Silver?"
"What, one phone call? That I didn't even ask a favor during? That's a secret? A biting secret?"
Robby looked down at his shoes. "I guess not."
"Son you may not realize this but Cobra Kai is all I have. I was homeless before the students here chose me over Johnny. I teach you these lessons, these hard, painful lessons because they're lessons no one else can teach you."
"Like removing Luke's compassion."
"Yes. Like that. What do you think I should let him be happy around our enemies all the time?"
"No. But at least to us, he's like a brother to me. To Tory. You told me just the other day he was supposed to be my friend."
"Exactly. A friend." Kreese explained. "If you get too attached to a comrade and he falls, you will fall as well. He, as well as you need to learn that now."
"I understand now." Robby bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry."
"There's no need. You might be experienced in Karate, but you're barely even seventeen. This upcoming tournament will test you in every way imaginable. It will be nothing like the year before."
"Then how can we win? My dad and LaRusso know every trick in the book, they both were Cobra Kai at one point."
"Yes. But we can adapt too." Kreese said. "Learn, grow. Not every technique in Karate must be applied robotically, there is always room for improvisation."
Robby looked up at Kreese. "I trust you. Now and always. Promise me you won't make me or anyone else here regret it."
"I promise it," Kreese said. "Now and always."
...