Tourney of Victory

Hawk and Robby: 12

Mighty Wings by Cheap Trick played in Cobra Kai's backroom as both Hawk and Robby trained their hearts out.

Both trained very differently, Hawk practiced kata and focused strikes while Robby and the other Cobra Kais trained mostly physically.

As Robby led the Cobra Kais in a jog, they ran faster and faster, running as if they were in the army.

In Cobra Kai's backroom, as Robby did pushups he earned more belts in class.

Tying on a blue belt, Robby bowed to Kreese as the months went by, his comrades at Cobra Kai progressing quickly as well.

Hawk and Miguel practiced katas with Daniel, then striking with Johnny. They earned higher belts as well the more they trained.

As the months passed, so did Robby's skill in sparring, his spars with Lucas proving how much they had grown with their rising belt ranks.

Now at purple belt, Robby and Lucas included flashy but quick and effective techniques, spinning kicks and clean takedowns. They landed points that most other students could barely keep up with from how well and fast they executed their attacks.

Helping up Robby from the ground, Lucas and Robby bowed to each other to continue to spar.

Cobra Kai yelled as they struck in rows, Hawk and Miguel practicing kata on a lake much to Daniel's appreciation.

All four boys, Hawk, Miguel, Robby, and Lucas were as in sync as possible, all training better and better as time went on.

Lucas and Robby got into weightlifting competitions that went on for minutes and minutes. Their strong muscles strained under the pressure, never growing weak.

When Robby lost slightly by just one rep, Tory shrugged it off and kissed him fully on the mouth. Meanwhile, Lucas was congratulated by every Cobra watching.

Hawk and the rest of Eagle-Do struck together as Johnny yelled at them, enjoying watching their progress since the first time him and Daniel joined dojos.

Lucas carried about one hundred and fifty pounds on his shoulders for his brown belt from one end of the dojo to the other. Struggling under the weight, the dojo looked on as the sweat on his head fell onto the mat, inching forward slowly but surely.

When he reached the end, the dojo looked on as Kreese nodded in approval.

Tying the brown belt around Lucas' waist, Kreese smiled, knowing Robby and Tory were right behind him.

Hawk and Miguel weren't far behind either in their own training, learning proper technique from Daniel and Johnny in the months that followed with intense dedication as well.

Miguel managed to pull off the two legged kick lake-side as Daniel looked on in approval.

Hawk learned the perfect wheel kick from Johnny.

Both of them became more than ready for the tournament. As were Robby and Lucas in Cobra Kai.

At the end, practically every student in both dojos had reached brown belt by mid-April, more than earning it with grit, determination, and skill.

Jumping into the air with a flying kick, Cobra Kai kiai'd loudly.

...

As the class full of brown belts knelt, Kreese walked through the rows. "You have all learned well. And are ready to become Cobra Kai. But, the tournament is nearly upon us. It's time for our first black belt test."

"But the question remains. Who among you will be chosen? I have selected the student I believe warrants the most important part of killing our mascot, someone who must remove all ounce of mercy before fighting in the tournament. Mr. Schwarber. Are you ready to shed your human skin, and become a Cobra?"

Lucas leapt up from his kneeling position. "Yes Sensei."

"You know what to do. Presentation square. Aiheet!" Kreese yelled.

Everyone watched as Kreese drew the Cobra from its tank, then handing it to Lucas. The teen then walked to the center of the square, laying it on the ground for a moment. Almost as if he wanted to play with it first.

"What're you-" Robby said.

Kreese simply raised a hand. "Wait. Just watch."

Lucas smiled, petting the Cobras head. "Hey there little guy. Hey."

The Cobra moved its head slightly, seeming to enjoy Lucas' petting and kind words. It almost appeared as if the Cobra was happy with Lucas playing with it.

Still smiling, Lucas spoke. "I'm not gonna hurt you. Aren't I?"

The Cobra liked Lucas' hand with its small black tongue. "See. There."

The class watched as without warning, Lucas placed his entire body weight on the Cobras neck using his knee. Hissing loudly while it struggled, the Cobra lashed violently, the class watching as it buried its fangs into Lucas' leg.

Wincing through the pain, Lucas killed the Cobra without mercy. Eventually after twenty seconds or so, the Cobra stopped writhing and hissing.

"You passed. Now comes the hard part." Kreese held the black belt in his palm. "Fight through the pain. Take your new belt from my hand."

Struggling and crawling over, Lucas moved across the mat.

"We need to get him to a hospital!" Robby said.

"Not yet." Kreese said as Lucas crawled.

When he reached Kreese, using every ounce of willpower in his body, Lucas grabbed the black belt in his hand before collapsing. As Big Red and Shawn rushed him to a hospital, Kreese looked off in pride. "Can anyone tell me how Mr. Schwarber passed this test?"

No one said anything.

"Almost all of you are brown belts now. Can no one tell me?"

Still no one said nothing.

"Well." Kreese said. "To kill a Cobra. You must first become its friend. He was not afraid of it because he knew that if he showed any fear, the snake would bite him. He knew that the venom wouldn't kill him. The pain would only make him stronger. And now, he is the first among you to reach black belt."

Kreese walked through the square's center. "You are all almost ready. I will test you all one by one to see if you are ready. But if you fail this test. You will be out of Cobra Kai forever. Understood?"

"Yes Sensei!"

…

Laying in his hospital bed after having received anti-venom treatment, Lucas watched as Robby and the rest of Cobra Kai walked in.

"Congrats dude!" Robby said. "First black belt among us!"

"You killed it! No fear!" Kyler laughed.

Lucas smiled. "No problem guys. Thanks for the gifts."

Tory looked at her friend. "You feeling okay?"

"The doctors said this anti-venom should take about two days to fully cleanse my system. Whatever that means. But yeah, I'm okay."

Robby shook his head. "You crazy son of a bitch. You actually did it."

"If you all wouldn't mind, I need to talk to Tory and Robby." requested Lucas.

Everyone left as Robby spoke. "What is it?"

Lucas waited until everyone was gone. "This tournament is going to be really tough. Johnny Lawrence and LaRusso have probably trained their dojo almost as hard as we were. I need you both to promise me something."

"Sure what?" Tory said.

"You need to seek out Terry Silver with me after the tournament is done. We have to find out the truth about Cobra Kai. One way or another."

Robby crossed his arms. "Why not just you?"

"I don't know Sensei as well as either of you. I may be a black belt now, but I'm technically still a newcomer in LA. Not to mention I'm going to need your help."

Robby nodded, gripping Lucas' hand. "You got it. I promise."

"I do too." Tory said.

Lucas chuckled. "You know what I learned these past few months?"

"What?" asked Robby.

"That this Karate business is just petty shit. It's gonna lead nowhere. Violence leading to more violence." Lucas said.

Tory crossed her arms. "Then why are you still with us?"

"Because you're like my brother and sister. Everyone outside. They're not like us. Not because they're worse at fighting or anything. No, we can be smarter than them. Find peace in the middle of all this bullshit." Lucas said. "It's the only way we can win."

"First we have to keep Cobra Kai here." Robby said. "Then we can see about peace."

"Go on guys, I'm fine." Lucas nodded to dismiss them as Tory and Robby talked outside. "We're not actually going to do what he said are we?" she asked.

Robby looked around the hospital wing. "Lucas was willing to die for Cobra Kai. But he cares about us. Not the dojo. Not the tournament. We owe it to him to at least ask more questions."

"But Sensei is like our dad. Why would he lie to us?"

"I know about as much as you do Tory." Robby watched as Kyler approached him.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Kyler asked.

Robby nodded. "Yeah, he's gonna be fine guys. We should give him some air."

…

Hawk looked at his new black belt in his hands. Johnny sat on the steps of Miyagi-Do holding a beer in his hand and a soda in the other. "Congrats."

"Not the first time you gave me one of these." Hawk said holding up the black belt.

"Remember that day? You broke three boards with one kick. One kick." Johnny chuckled, passing him a soda.

"Wouldn't Mr. LaRusso be mad that you're drinking here?"

Johnny waved a hand. "LaRusso. He can't strike like an eagle. Not like you. Not like me."

Hawk was still curious. "So what is going on between you two?"

"After the fight at the school. We couldn't even talk to each other." said Johnny. "We have no choice but to work together to fight Kreese. I don't think he wanted to honestly work with me."

Hawk scoffed. "But you're Johnny Lawrence!"

"I'm always gonna be that guy who made his life hell. Even now, way after highschool."

Hawk sipped his drink. "Tell me about highschool. Tell me about what Cobra Kai used to be like."

"Used to be like?" Johnny smiled a bit. "Okay. It was awesome. There was Bobby, Dutch, Jimmy, Tommy. And then me. They were like my brothers."

"Like Demitri and Miguel are to me?" Hawk asked.

Johnny nodded. "A bit. But these guys ended up being family to me, even way after highschool."

"I don't know where I'd be without Miguel. I wouldn't have ever met you." Hawk said.

Johnny considered this. "What is your deal with me? I know I'm your Sensei but. You really seemed to want to join me ASAP after everything."

Hawk explained. "Yeah. I always wanted to be like you. I was a nobody, a loser. And you turned me into Hawk."

"No. You turned you into Hawk." Johnny made Hawk smile.

His smile faltered. "Sensei. What if they. Win?"

"It's not gonna happen. You guys have been training too hard for this." Johnny said.

"Still. What if we lose?"

Johnny sipped his beer. "I have a backup plan."

"What is it?"

Johnny shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Kreese can make you strong, but he turns people into assholes. Either they realize it like I did, or they get their comeuppance. Sooner or later, what comes around goes around."

"But what if it's too late. For them? What if they never stop pushing us around?"

Johnny spoke. "It won't matter. You will never be weak, not like they are. Neither will Miguel or anyone else. This tournament is about more than keeping Kreese gone forever. It's about keeping you guys safe. And that will always be my job."

"So what're you gonna do if we win? Run...Eagle-Fang?" Hawk laughed.

Johnny sighed. "I really don't know. I suppose it doesn't matter."

"Doesn't matter? What this can all be for nothing? You go back to being a drunk and I go back to being bullied?"

Johnny spoke up quickly. "Hey. You know that's not gonna happen."

"And why not? Nothing and everything's changed at the same time." Hawk said. "These guys are actual soldiers now. Kreese has turned them into living weapons. Even if we win, they're so dedicated to Kreese they'd rather die than see him leave."

"I know. I was like them too. And so were you." answered Johnny. "But Kreese can't stay. He won't. I promise you, no matter what happens. We're gonna win one way or another."

"And then what?" Hawk put his soda down. "You're acting like Cobra Kai can actually die for once. It's been like forty years and it never has. The only way it can stay dead is if Kreese dies with it."

"What, and you want to kill him?"

"No I'm just being realistic." Hawk said. "These guys will actually give their lives if it means fighting for Kreese. Would Demitri do the same for you? Would Miguel? Would-"

"Would you?" asked Johnny.

Hawk shook his head. "No. That's not what you taught me."

"Then you've more than earned that black belt. You're my new top student. And I know how much that means to you."

"Why would you choose me over Robby? Over your own son?"

Johnny smiled. "You're like a son to me. Like Miguel is. I'd be nowhere without you guys. Still be drinking myself into a coma. Still be-"

Hawk cut Johnny off. Hugging the man as hard as he could.

Johnny patted his back. "Hey, don't get all soft on me."

"We'll always need you Sensei." Hawk said. "I can't fight without you. None of us can."

…

Kreese watched as Robby carried Shawn on his back through the stinging rain. Every Cobra Kai yelled as Robby slogged through the mud, yelling loudly through his pain.

In a large soccer field, Robby carried Shawn to his black belt held by Kreese on the other side. Roaring, Robby kept walking, ankle deep in mud.

"Come on Robby you can make it!" Lucas said, long since recovering from his snake bite.

Robby grunted. He was getting close, but every muscle in his body was aching.

Shawn spoke to the boy who carried him. "You can survive Juvie man. You can do this."

Robby yelled, panting and covered completely in mud. With his last effort, he reached Kreese at the end of the field.

Panting, Robby wiped the mud off his face before Kreese handed him his black belt. "You've done it Mr. Keene. Congratulations."

Everyone rushed Robby and laughed as they cheered.

Kreese spoke in the rain seeing them simmer down. "This weather is too nice to pass up. Ms. Nichols. How would you like to have your own test?"

"It would be my pleasure Sensei." Tory said.

"Good. Mr. Song here did wrestling for many years, and he's significantly more skilled than you in that regard. For your test, you must submit him." Kreese said. "Do you accept?"

Tory nodded. "Yes Sensei."

Kyler and Tory had the roll of the century, in pouring sheets of rain, in the mud.

Tory and Kyler both gave it their all, going back and forth for minutes. Everytime one of them was about to submit the other, they turned the fight around.

Robby kept holding his new blackbelt underneath his jacket. "Get him Tory!"

"You got this! You can beat him!" Doug said as Lucas cheered with him.

Tory saw her opportunity when she had Kyler in her guard. She gripped Kyler's shirt around his throat when he tried to escape, timing her move perfectly. Choking him, Kyler found no escape this time, utterly exhausted, he relented.

The whole dojo burst into cheers as Tory choked Kyler and made him tap out.

"Perfect." Kreese handed Tory her black belt. "You've done it."

…

One by one, Miguel and his dojo earned their black belts, showing off their prowess in both forms and combat.

Cobra Kai also didn't take very long to reach that level.

By the time the last person in Cobra Kai had earned the first degree of black belt, it was already early May.

Kreese tied his belt around Johnson's waist. "Congratulations."

"Thank you Sensei." he said before he joined the lines.

"Look at you all." Kreese said with pride. "You have taken your first step in mastering Cobra Kai Karate. But you're not winners yet. You may have the mental and physical ability to achieve it, but until you bring the first place trophy. None of it will matter."

Kreese walked between the lines. "Those black belts are a mark of your rank. They are personal victories." he walked between Tory and the rest. "But our enemies have been anything but idle. They believe they've countered every measure we've taken to beat them. But that's not true. Is it?"

"No Sensei!"

"Is it?"

"No Sensei!" the class echoed louder.

Kreese rubbed his chin with his thumb. "But I'm still being too harsh on you all. In only two weeks, on May 18th, Friday at 12 PM, the All Valley begins. You all remember what I have told you, it has become ingrained into the very fiber of who you all are. Defeat does not exist. You are all winners now, not losers. You have spent this past year learning."

Robby stood tall as Kreese kept speaking. "Growing stronger. Fighting. Destroying our enemies in every way you can. But until you land the winning point in the final match, none of your sacrifices, none of anything you have ever wanted in Karate will matter. Is my assessment clear?"

"Yes Sensei!" the class roared together.

"These last two weeks will be nothing but strike conditioning and point sparring. As much as I despise that form of supposed." Kreese made air quotes. "Combat. It's necessary. I made a mistake thinking Johnny Lawrence could cheat his way to victory. I see now you all do not need to do that."

Kreese began yelling. "You are all Cobra Kai! Victory at all costs does not mean degrading our good name with weak technique! It does not mean fighting unfairly. You win, only by the true strength of your fist. You have beaten our enemies several times already, but in unfair fights. I won't let you think the tournament will be the same."

Kreese looked out over his class lowering his voice. "I'm sure you're all wondering why I'd give you this order. It's because I know you're strong enough to beat our enemies properly. It's because you've already cheated before. Multiple times. You struck when your enemy was not in combat, you struck when your enemy was not prepared to be lit on fire, or hit with a bottle, or kicked in the back!" he enunciated perfectly.

Kreese looked Robby in the eye. "No mercy means victory through strength. Your own, true, strength. Not being a loser. Miguel Diaz squandered our good name in competition. He hit Mr. Keene here in his injury, he didn't score a proper point. It's time you redeemed our name on the mat. Properly. Is this clear?"

"Yes Sensei!"

"Good. But no cheating doesn't mean weakness. It means you can hit your opponent as hard, but cleanly, as you need. But if you go for excess contact to the face, make sure your opponent does not. Get. Back. Up." Kreese emphasized his words more as he went on. "Class dismissed."

…

Doug sighed in their booth at the diner. "No cheating? Bullshit, like we even needed cheating to win."

Robby spoke. "We really don't. That's what his lesson was about." he saw Lucas' face. "You're doing it again man. What's wrong?"

"I'm remembering that letter you got a few months back."

"What about it?" Robby asked.

Lucas explained to the group. "If Sensei needed a letter. Or if someone in the dojo got a letter. Wouldn't he be the first to know about it?"

"So? It's his business." Tory said. "It's his dojo."

"Still. It's strange that that letter Robby got was the only one we've ever seen like it." Lucas said.

Robby chuckled. "That happened forever ago. Why bring it up now?"

"My sister Hannah's school semester ends soon. I want to go see her in Denver for the summer." Lucas said.

"Leaving us already Schwarber? Even after getting your black belt?" asked Robby.

Lucas explained. "I can party with you guys for the summer for a bit. The beaches here in LA are really nice. But I can't stay, not for the whole summer."

"The summers here are terrible," Tory said. "They're full of cheating and fights."

"Don't listen to her." Doug tutted. "The beaches here are filled with sun and babes in bikinis."

Robby saw Lucas' face had barely changed. "What's really bothering you man?"

"This tournament. I'm worried." he said.

Robby tutted. "We're ready for it. Sensei made that clear. Didn't you win a ton of boxing tournaments? Why're you nervous?"

"This will be my first Karate tournament. I might be a black belt, but I'm new to the sport." admitted Lucas.

"Hey." Robby said. "We'll win. I know we will."

His girlfriend coughed. "Telegraphing."

Robby rolled his eyes.

…

Hawk sat down, very sweaty after a class with Johnny.

"Your kicks are coming along great. Nice job." his Sensei sat down.

Hawk sipped from his water bottle. "So why have you and Mr. LaRusso grown all buddy buddy all of a sudden? Thought you hated each other."

Johnny sighed. "It's complicated."

"Can't be. Tell me."

Johnny sat down next to Hawk. "Guess I never explained to you how this all started. There was this girl. Gorgeous, smart, quirky, funny. Her name was Ali Mills."

Hawk kept listening.

"One day we broke up. And when summer came around, Daniel LaRusso showed up. We started fighting, ended at the All Valley. We fought, I lost."

"That's it? Tell me more about Ali."

Johnny nodded. "Okay. I went out on a date with her before Christmas. When you all went to LaRusso's house and started a fight. Then she left back to Denver. Before that htough. Her son got in a fight with her at this dinner party after I left."

"Her son?" asked Hawk.

"Luke Schwarber." Johnny said. "He's the one who follows Robby around."

Hawk looked at his Sensei. "So wait. Your ex girlfriend's kid is the reason I got my ass kicked. He's Lucas?"

Johnny nodded. "Never made sense to me why he'd join Kreese."

"Me neither." Hawk said leaving the steps to Miyagi-Do.

Johnny spoke out after him. "Where are you going?"

"If you liked this girl so much, there has to be good in him." Hawk said as he left.

...

Hawk sat down in Taco Bell's lobby. Lucas ignored him while sweeping up garbage. "You on your break?"

"Does it look like I am?" Lucas said.

"I'm a customer. You can't talk to me like that." Hawk said.

"Why're you even here by yourself?" asked Lucas.

Hawk explained. "The tournament's next week. Sensei Johnny told me about your mom."

"Probably lied to you." Lucas said as he swept.

"How could you join Kreese after all your mom and Johnny have been through?"

Lucas shrugged. "My mom always hated Cobra Kai. And now she hates me."

"You don't know that. When was the last time you talked to her?"

"Why do you even care?"

Hawk sighed. "I don't. I care about my friends. And you'd try and hurt them because why? Someone you owe nothing to told you to?"

Lucas shook his head slowly. "I don't have any other options."

"You do. You always have a choice." Hawk spoke honestly. "You can still join us. Kreese's wrong, he's a liar."

"What and your Sensei's any better?" Lucas put his broom down. "He's the one who started this whole mess. Both of them. Sensei Kreese is trying to end this, once and for all."

"How can you be this blind?" Hawk asked. "It's not gonna stop at this tournament. He wants you to torment us. For fun. How is that fun for you?"

"Seemed to work just fine when we did it." said Lucas. "You guys took everything that mattered away from Robby and Sensei Kreese. From Tory. From Kyler, even from Doug. We have every right to take it back."

Hawk squinted at Lucas. "We never took anything away from you. This isn't your fight. You don't belong in LA, Denver is your home."

"I have a family here. Robby is my brother, and Tory, my sister. Until I get my actual sister back?" Lucas said. "My mom is gonna have to watch me beat up on her exes students and win the tournament. You deserve it."

"How can you hate us this much when you don't even know us?"

"You don't even know me!" Lucas said.

Hawk explained. "I know Sensei Johnny. He loved your mom, more than anything. She was special to him. And you'd betray her, betray him, just out of spite?"

"Robby and Tory mean everything to me. They're the best friends I've ever had. I don't know you. I don't know your Senseis. I don't like them and I'll never forgive my mom for what she did to me."

"Kreese really has brainwashed you hasn't he? Kyler, Tory, and Robby always hated us, even before they joined Cobra Kai. But you? You were in Denver this whole time. You have nothing to do with us."

Lucas laughed. "You really do like starting pointless conversations don't you?"

"Sensei Johnny and Sensei Dan turned me into a whole new person. Kreese has done the same to you only for the worse. He never cared about me, he doesn't even care about you! All he wants is violence."

"A small price to pay for justice." Lucas said as he left.

Hawk threw his soda cup away. He had no idea what he was trying to do, he was just hopeful for no reason.

…

Miguel watched Hawk observe Demitri and Chris spar in Miyagi-Do. "Hey I heard what you tried to do."

"It was stupid."

"Anyone who can still follow Kreese is basically a Nazi." agreed Miguel. "How could you do that?"

"I followed Kreese once. Thought he could be changed."

"By you? He hates you. He hates everything. Cobra Kai needs to die. It's evil in every way."

Hawk sighed. "Look man. This has gone on for too long. Too many people have gotten hurt, and if we can't win off the mat, we sure as hell can't win on it."

"You don't know that. How could you just give up?"

"I'm not giving up. I want to stop them just as much as you." Hawk said. "Miguel, these people have good in them. Just like we do."

"No they don't. Look what they did when Sam trusted them. When anyone trusted them. They destroy everything. And if we can't stop them, this entire valley is going to be destroyed by them." said Miguel. "It's too late for them."

"It's never too late for anyone. It wasn't too late for me." Hawk said. "It wasn't for you either. If we can just-"

"Just what? They go beyond bullying. They enable pain. They enable suffering!" Miguel said. "They hate you Hawk. They hate me. They hate anything that isn't them. They want to hurt you man. As much as deep down you want to believe they have a heart, they lost it. The moment they accepted Kreese they lost whatever humanity they had left."

Hawk shook his head. "I didn't. Mitch didn't. There's a little good in everyone."

"Not in Kreese. We're the only ones who aren't drunk enough on power to see he's wrong. How could you go to them to ask them to change?"

"Because I'm tired of fighting! Of being pushed around, bullied. We don't deserve it, no one deserves it. This needs to end!" Hawk said.

"It's going to." Miguel said. "But they won't stop."

"We need to have a plan. We can't just bank everything on the tournament."

"Why not?"

Hawk took a second. "Sensei Johnny might always come through for us. But Cobra Kai is damn strong."

Miguel sighed. "They can't win."

"But what if they do."

Miguel explained. "I was no one before Sensei Lawrence. You were too. He let us change. He can fix this."

"Dude if we beat them at the tournament it won't stop them from fighting. Kreese has turned his students into actual robots." Hawk said. "They would die for him."

"So then why have you gone out to talk to them?"

"Because I used to be like them too. I was hoping I could change things before next week."

Miguel put a hand on his friends shoulder. "What're you afraid of?"

"Of being bullied again. Worse than before." admitted Hawk. "Of having my life be hell again."

"You can beat them. We can beat them." Miguel smiled. "We can do this."

Hawk hugged him. "Thanks man."

Miguel was surprised by this. "Oh! Oh um, thanks."

Hawk pulled away from him looking at Sam. "We were just. Having a bro moment. Do you want to talk to Miguel?"

"You actually." Sam pointed to Hawk.

Miguel nodded. "I'll be right back then."

Sam walked forward to talk to Hawk. "I already tried talking to Robby. What you're trying? It won't work."

"Why not? Lucas is different."

"How? He's as bad as Robby."

Hawk shook his head. "He's not from here. He has no reason to fight."

"He has every reason to fight. Kreese has brainwashed him like everyone else. Made him obsessed with strength and winning."

Hawk spoke to her honestly. "Tell me this all ends at the tournament. Tell me we can win this and ride off into the sunset all happy."

Sam sighed. "I don't know how this ends. But you made a big decision leaving Kreese behind."

"The biggest decision in my life. And I did it for them." he flicked his nose at Mitch and Demitri.

Sam brushed her hair back. "You've changed Hawk. For the better I think. But Cobra Kai is evil. It will always be evil."

Hawk nodded. "I know."

…

Robby and Tory shared a small picnic in the park. "Tournament's next week. You excited?" she asked.

"Totally." Robby said. "We can definitely win this."

Tory laughed. "Yeah. I think so too."

Robby looked back at the clouds. "I see. A tree."

"I see. A cloud."

Robby laughed. "I see. A train."

"I still just see clouds."

Robby and Tory laughed together. "I'm thinking. Where are we going?" Robby wondered.

"Victory."

Robby smiled. "I didn't mean that. I mean us."

"Oh. Well, we're going pretty well I think."

"I mean after the tournament. What's our plan?" Robby asked.

Tory looked back at him. "We've been going out for months. Think we should stay together."

"I agree. But what're we going to do. For life, I mean."

"Well I have to finish my GED. What about you?"

Robby sighed. "I have no clue. Think I only cared about training all this time so much that I kind of just forgot about everything else."

"Same here." Tory leaned back on her picnic blanket with Robby.

The two sort of just looked up at the passing clouds together. It was relaxing to both of them.

"Things used to be so different." Tory said with her hair sprawled out behind her. "You and I hated each other. We dated Miguel and Sam. And, we weren't training under Sensei Kreese."

"Things changed. I'm just wondering how they're gonna change." Robby said.

Tory laced her fingers with Robby's. "I think they're going to change for the better. Don't you?"

Robby smiled up at the sky. "Yeah. So do I."

"I hope so too." Tory said as they shared a kiss.

…

Later that same day, Hawk was practicing some katas by himself.

"Still nail that last part." Daniel said. "I heard you talked to Johnny."

"Yeah we talked about his ex. Ali."

Daniel smiled. "She was some girl. Saw her again recently."

"You dated her too? What was it like?" wondered Hawk.

Daniel answered quickly. "Wonderful. I liked her a whole lot."

Hawk nodded. "I used to be mad. That I lost Moon, Miguel, and then Demitri. It's why I kept training under Kreese."

"You've changed Hawk, you've become a better person."

"I miss Moon. I really liked her." Hawk said. "Even if we're ancient history."

"You're still young." Daniel patted his shoulder. "What else did you talk about?"

"Her son. Luke."

Daniel scoffed. "Some kid he turned out to be. You found out the hard way who Kreese really was. I just hope it isn't too late for the rest of them."

"We'll figure out next week."

"Are you nervous?" asked Daniel.

Hawk nodded. "I've never been more nervous in my whole life. I can't stop training to get my head off it."

"Has it worked?"

Hawk shrugged. "A bit. I can't stop thinking about what'll happen if I lose."

"Punch me." Daniel said suddenly.

"What?" Hawk said. "I'm getting pretty tired of you just saying that randomly."

"You heard me, punch me." Daniel said.

Hawk tried to strike Daniel in the face but the man moved aside, holding his fist. "There. Now when you attacked. Did you think about me? Your fist? Or anything else?"

"Just focused on punching you," Hawk said.

"Perfect. That's what Miyagi-Do is all about. Focus." Daniel said. "And you've nailed it perfectly these last few months."

"I have?"

Daniel nodded. "You've cleared your head. You were just there in the moment. No distractions. No emotions. Just clarity." Hawk kept listening. "Hawk you've managed to get rid of your anger and replace it with something valuable. Balance. You have learned Johnny's karate as well as Miyagi-Do. That's how you get rid of nervousness."

Hawk watched as Daniel shrugged. "I've been nervous almost my whole life. When I fought Cobra Kai. When I had Sam. When I opened up Miyagi-Do again. Being patient, and waiting with clarity. That is the true way of Karate, and I'm amazed that you of all people have learned it."

Hawk spoke up. "I get it. I don't think I'm as nervous now."

"Good." Daniel smiled. "Don't worry about the tournament when you're fighting. Forget Kyler, forget the bullying. It's just you, and your strike. Don't let anything cloud your head, you can really focus when you want to."

"Thank you Mr. LaRusso."

…

The next day in class, Johnny walked amongst his students. "Today will be your final lesson before the tournament this week. You've learned valuable lessons. How to stop flinching, how to punch, how to block. But you haven't learned one key thing as black belts."

Johnny crossed his arms. "And that's-"

"No mercy. Absolutely none." Kreese spoke in his own dojo. "Victory through strength. Your enemies deserve no mercy on that mat. You are all-"

"Stronger than they are. In every way." Johnny explained. "Don't get nervous. Forget all they've done to you. And use it-"

"As a weapon." Kreese held his GIs lapel. "Drive it through them like a knife. And I promise you-"

"That forgiveness is the key to victory." Daniel said as Johnny allowed him to speak. "You all have forgiven each other for everything that's happened this past year. You've allowed it to let you grow as better students of karate and better people. You must know that you are-"

"Better than they ever wish to be." Kreese said walking between the rows of kneeling black belts. "Crush them. Sink your fangs into those mice and release-"

"Honor." Johnny said.

"Tact." Daniel nodded, agreeing with him.

"Raw discipline. And that brutal strength you all carry like our ultimate weapon." Kreese said. "This tournament is all about victory. Our victory. About-"

"Clearing your head." Daniel said. "Letting the ways of both of our dojos guide you not to victory no matter what. But to have fun. Remember what you learned. And fight fairly. Because-"

"We have no option." Kreese kept holding his lapel. "There will be referees. And rules. And points. True Cobra Kai might be held back, but we can still win. I know we can. No fear. No mercy. No-"

"Anger." Johnny said nodding pridefully to Hawk and Miguel. "All that bullshit started this whole mess. But now we're going to end it. The right way. The-"

"Only way that matters. These men, Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence are more than traitors to this dojo. They're more than enemies. They embody everything wrong with our society as well as Karate. Everything that is the opposite of what I have taught you."

"Don't lose your heads." Johnny said. "You're all better than that. Instead, let your desire to win guide you. Like uh,"

"A beacon." Daniel said. "A beacon that can teach you all to fight honorably. To protect each other and defend yourselves."

Kreese turned around at the front of the class. "If you follow what I have taught you this week at the tournament. Then, and only then."

Kreese, Daniel, and Johnny spoke almost together. "I promise you. You'll win."

...

That Friday at 7 AM, every Karateka in the San Fernando Valley got ready, hitting their alarms. The day had come.

…

...

…

A/N: During the first season's tournament scene, they played 'I want it all' by Queen as the set up song.

I cannot emphasize this more, but the way you can enjoy this fanfic can be heavily changed if you play the song I choose to replace it instead during the 2019 tournament set up.

It's 'Too Late for Love' by Def Leppard. Please, please listen to it while the tournament set up scene goes on. I promise you the atmosphere will change.

I will finish this fanfic in the next two chapters. And I hope you've all enjoyed it so far.