Chapter Six: Earth Angel

…

A/N: "Land a Hit" might be the most important Cobra Kai OST I've included so far. For the love of God. Please listen to it, if the atmosphere was important before. It sure is now.

This defines it. So I won't ask for it again until the finale chapters. So again, this one OST is ridiculously crucial, please listen to it if you can.

…

Burbank, 1967

…

With a piano, saxophone, and other blues instruments, a band played locally at a sock hop.

Like many other young men and women in the 50s and 60s, there was sometimes no better way to spend a date night than dancing together at a local dance hall to all sorts of music.

And there was one song both a young John Kreese and especially Betsy enjoyed dancing slowly together to more than any other.

"Earth Angel. Earth Angel! The one I adore! Love you forever, and eeeever more!" the lead vocalist sang out into his square microphone.

Betsy gasped a laugh out quietly. "You asked them to play it?"

"No," John said quietly. "It's a popular song after all."

"It's my favorite song."

John shrugged. "Still didn't ask for anything."

They laughed quietly together.

"Is everything okay? I know with work and me getting that job with the paper I've been-"

"No. No no no it's." John sighed out. "I've been thinking of making a decision lately."

"What decision?"

The music played softly as John and Betsy kept dancing slowly together.

John explained. "I want to sign up for the Army."

"What?" Betsy was terrified. "What for?"

"What else? The war."

Betsy smiled. "You're no soldier John."

John shrugged. "The only skill I have besides being a waiter is knowing how to fight. I've been fighting my whole life. I want to fight for something that matters."

"You can fight for me." John smiled and laughed, looking down at his shoes as Betsy held his face. "Here. Not in Vietnam." Betsy said. "Here."

John frowned. "It's not just about that. You and I deserve more than what we got. The only way we're gonna earn it is if I use what the army can give me. Skills of all sorts. Discipline. Honor. Strength."

"You're already stronger than anyone I know."

"But we need more than that. You. You need more than that."

"I don't care if you and I barely make enough to find a decent place to live. I-"

"Betsy if I don't do this I don't know what I'm gonna do with my life," said John politely and quietly. "You. Are my everything." John promised. "And if we can't make more than what we got, what will we ever do with our lives? How can we make a real, respectable life?"

"But is it worth losing your life? The one you have with me, right now?"

"It's worth everything," insisted John. "A chance that you and I can finally live how we deserve. I would do anything. And so would you right?"

"What are you afraid of John? My parents don't care who you are. Who I am. They're fine people. You know that! Everyone we know. Their opinions of us aren't bad either." said Betsy. "We're doing fine right now. Together."

John shook his head. "It's not about them. Or anyone's opinions. It's about you and me finding better opportunities. Us finding what we deserve. A way to finally have what we need."

"And what's that? A life together? A house? A family? We can do that without the army."

"It's been two years and we haven't had better luck," said John. "I wish we could Betsy. But we can't."

"Then marry me," she said. "Marry me. And we can do anything. These past two years have been the very best I've known. Marry me. And we can try to move to a different city and try to find better work."

"We'll find no better luck than what we've already got," John replied as sincerely as he could. "If we marry. We need to already have a plan. I've talked to a recruiter. I swear in tomorrow."

Betsy couldn't say anything.

"What?" asked John seeing the look on her face.

"You want to go kill people? Or be killed? For what? Why? That's not you John."

"Of course it's not. I've never met a Vietnamese person in my whole life. Why would I want to go halfway across the world and stick a bayonet if one of them? I'm doing this for us Betsy. For us!" he said, holding her hands. "And when I come back, we'll do more than get married. We'll have everything any of us could ever need. You'll be important in the paper you write for, and I'll be ready to help us start a life together."

Betsy sniffled, digging her head into John's shoulder.

"Betsy-"

"No. I just. I can't imagine you gone for more than a few months. Let alone forever." Betsy tightened her grip around John's shoulders as they danced. "Promise me. Promise me you'll come back."

"Only if you promise to be right here. Right here when I come back. Right at this sock hop on your average Saturday night. Earth Angel will be playing. We'll dance and have a great time. And then. It'll be just us deciding for each other what to do and how we're going to do it. And we can plan the rest of our lives together."

Betsy was smiling again. "Yes. Yes I promise." she nodded and had her arms wrapped around the back of John's neck. "I'll always be right here for you John."

"Then I promise the same. I'll always be here for you too."

Then they spent the rest of the night dancing slowly together until the very end of the night.

…

I saw my mother for the first time in over a year, out by the pool staring.

Donnie Junior sat quietly by her side and I could tell she was going through something.

If she was here to bring me back home to Denver. There was more to it.

"Mom?"

"Sweetie. Come here." Ali Mills hugged me.

She kissed me on the head. "I heard about. Everything."

"And?"

"Other than joining you know. One of the craziest people I ever knew personally here in the Valley. I couldn't be prouder."

I smiled.

Mom brushed my hair back. "I was sitting at the kitchen table going over some lab work. And Ava was." Mom laughed. "You were on TV interviewed by one of the heads of Black Belt magazine. You became some sort of superstar. Martial arts. Athlete." she laughed out.

"I uh. I did."

"You found what I was hoping you would out here. Not fame or all this. Insanity with the karate. You've found friends. And you've found a good home." Ali said. "But there's a problem."

"What?"

She seemed to struggle to speak.

"Lucas, I'm. I'm divorcing your father. The papers will be signed next week, and I will receive almost full custody over both of you. Only during the holidays, if you wish. Will a judge allow you to fly back home to Denver and visit him."

I technically never knew the man but I understood this.

"Yeah."

"Honey I don't know anything about any of this karate. But what I care about, is that you're happy here right?"

"Happier than I've ever been I think."

"Good then um. With your father and I separated. It's time, more than ever really. For you, Ava, and I to be a family again."

I nodded. "So you want to move here?"

"Or you can come back home to Denver. It's up to you. Whichever you decide."

"But mom. You'll never really understand what I've gone through."

Mom smiled as we sat down on the lawn chairs. "And what have you gone through baby?"

"Um. I still don't get why we wrote letters to each other."

"I find it more personal than e-mail even if it takes longer."

I smiled at this. "I feel the same way."

Mom put a hand on my wrist, reaching between the pool "Talk to me. Please Luke. I only want what's best for you here."

"You've only John Kreese to be. Sadistic and horrible."

Mom shrugged. "I barely knew him at all and he was basically the worst person I've ever met."

"I look up to him like a grandfather." Almost like a father. "And he did all of it out of pride. Everything he taught me. And not once did he seriously threaten or hurt me. I feel safe with him mom. With what he teaches. It feels like I'm a family member every time we talk outside of class."

"Luke I haven't seen the man in over thirty years. But regardless if he's changed or not. You need to ask yourself if a grown man can genuinely threaten the lives of innocents casually three decades in the past or not. Johnny and I were just kids when all this happened. And it was terrible. And you want this man to become. From what you're telling me. A lifelong mentor."

"But what do you really mean here?"

"That you're only fifteen honey. Barely younger than Johnny and I when all this was going on. Now that you know exactly what it's like? Don't you think it's best if your mother is there with you? Instead of just your karate teacher?"

I didn't know how to say this to her.

I'm sure Ali Mills, not Ali Mills Schwarber anymore, was a great woman. Honorable. Kind. From the memories I inherited when I became this person a year ago, an incredible mother and doctor.

But I had connected more to John Kreese as a parent than her, because I was technically only alive in this world for about a year. Because at first, I thought I could use Kreese. And found I actually needed him as much as he needed me.

"I think I have to think about it."

"Well alright. But um. Your grandparents." Mom smiled. "Are not happy with either of us. Divorcing a man like your father is rather unheard of in our family."

"I'm sure Gregory Schwarber was not the best husband or partner in the world."

"No comment." Mom nodded slowly. "I will always want what's best for you honey. Whether you want to live here. In Denver. With either your father or myself. Or here with Mom and Dad. I'll let you decide. Because you've done so well so far. Whatever you decide, I will support."

She smiled. "Come here honey. I've missed you."

We hugged.

Mom looked at me after we stopped hugging. "I hear you've got a girlfriend now."

"I don't have a girlfriend," I said honestly.

"Then who's Charlotte?"

I had the feeling that the only way she couldn't tell that I wasn't technically the Lucas Schwarber she was a mother to for fourteen years was because I had done so well in concealing it. Otherwise, she could find anything about me.

"A good friend of mine at the dojo. Who. Is special to me." I said very awkwardly.

Who I actually really liked.

"Glad to hear you found. A special friend then." Mom chuckled quietly. "Summer ends at the end of next month for you. I plan on catching up with everyone I know around here. And while I'd like to get to know your teachers. Ava really needs my help back home when the school semester starts for you. You have until then to decide."

"Thanks mom."

"Your father doesn't like her little switch from ballerina into punk rocker. The same way he didn't like your switch from writer and soccer player to national karate star."

I laughed a lot at this. "I can imagine."

"Unlike him. I have enough faith you'll make the right decisions. Regardless of how young you are. And how stupid the mistakes you can make when karate's involved. I'm sure you'll do well Luke."

"Again. Thanks mom. Um. That's why I invited someone to show up. About right now to help make my case for why I should stay. And you can stay in Denver with Ava if you want too."

"And who's that?"

"You might already know him?"

Mom was completely shocked. "You invited John Kreese here? To our home?"

"No." I laughed. "It's someone who you might've invited here yourself for dinner one time or another."

When he entered through the side door to the backyard of the manor as I asked. The air was rather awkward.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence they spoke.

Johnny smiled. "Hi," he said weakly.

Mom smiled back. "H-Hi Johnny."

They tried shaking hands at first, it looked too awkward for both of them so they hugged awkwardly instead.

I saw it in his face for a split second as they pulled apart and Mom started to talk to him.

Johnny Lawrence was still completely in love with my mother. It was clear as day.

…

Later that summer in the Cobra Kai dojo, wearing his Cobra Kai uniform, blue belt with a black tape line on its fringes, and Johnny's headband, Lucas Schwarber practiced kata before any of his other classmates walked in. He always warmed up that way in front of the mirrors to perfect his form and brush up on his counters.

"What? Look at this." Shawn scoffed.

All the Cobras one by one took their shoes or flip flops off in the waiting area before walking onto the mat. A few weren't in uniform yet and instead wore jackets or shirts and the GI trousers only.

Lucas continued to do his kata quietly.

"You doing karate or dancing man?"

Lucas took a deep breath and turned to him.

"He's the champ man, and you know how well he knows how to fight. Why trash talk him?" asked Robby.

"I'm not talking any trash. I'm just wondering." Shawn said.

"This is karate."

"Didn't look like it," said Shawn. "At least not the karate we know."

Lucas sighed. "You've learned to strike first and how to strike hard. That's good. But um, kata gives you other things. Like counters and patience. How to fight when someone else has already struck first. Good reflexes and sparring fundamentals."

"Really?" Hawk asked. "Is that why you dance around the mirrors. Because that doesn't look like it'll do much more than being a warm up."

"It's a fundamental part of how I fight," said Lucas.

Tory had the courage to laugh.

A few of the other Cobras except for Robby shared her sentiment.

"What?"

Tory sighed. "You became a karate champ. So you beat every major karate fighter in the Valley without losing a single point. And you did it all practicing kata? Which is basically just really static forms and dancing?"

"Okay." Lucas began to nod. "I'm not insulted. Because you all just don't understand its application. So let me show you."

"Excuse me?" asked Hawk.

"Let's try this. I'm going to use only Miyagi-Do, at least, the Miyagi-Do I find to be useful. That teaches you how to strike and move with a balanced and powerful stance. I will not be attacking unless I'm being attacked. And if any one of you. Any. One. Can land one single hit on me."

Lucas smiled. "I'll never practice nor mention kata in this dojo ever again."

Shawn smiled.

…

Cobra Kai OST: Land a Hit

…

Rushing forward to attack, Shawn walked right into the easiest leg sweep possible and was thrown right off his legs as he tried to attack.

All ten Cobras were too shocked to engage. A person as physically large as Shawn had no reason to be swept off his feet so quickly or so easily.

Lucas spoke calmly to his friends. "Well now. Are you all afraid to fight?" He kept speaking. "Or does fear not exist in this dojo?"

Then one by one the Cobras attacked the dojo's top student.

Lucas showed a degree of skill and speed that it was clear to Robby as he watched he wasn't holding anything back at all.

Trying as hard as he could, he countered everything that was thrown at him.

His guard was so tight and his stance so structured, nothing threw him off balance.

As Lucas blocked a roundhouse from Edwin, punched him in the face, and sent a snap front kick so strongly to Dieter's jaw after he missed his jab punch he went flying backward, Robby watched silently in awe at what happened next.

Lucas stood directly in front of Shawn when he got back up and blocked each of his punches individually. One by one, replicating the kata perfectly. He replicated Daniel's training perfectly.

There was no dodging or countering. Lucas used 'Paint the Fence' and 'Wax on Wax off' perfectly, not being hit by all of Shawn's furious punches to the face.

Then Lucas spun instantly into a back kick and Shawn went flying back onto the mat again.

Hawk and Tory ran up to Lucas next and he fought smart.

While he dodged Hawk's attack he was able to counter and interrupt Tory's attack. Her front kick missed as Lucas spun Hawk into her direction and they collided together, falling onto the mat.

He always fought by moving in a circle to avoid attacks and land his own better.

As they turned to face and strike Lucas he hit them both at the same time with a spinning roundhouse kick and an all out backfist thrown as hard as he could to the jaw to make sure Hawk stayed down.

The other Cobras too fell like flies onto the mat from how fast Lucas could counter everything.

If they struck, Lucas was either dodging both attacks from two directions in front of him at the same time or countering them at the same time or being able to block them.

He used his speed and strength to his advantage, despite being outnumbered, he was a far better fighter with his aggressive application of Miyagi-Do hybridized with Cobra Kai.

He was faster than all his classmates, stronger, more skilled. A far better fighter by every degree.

Lucas targeted the chin, the chest, and the legs. He swept, punched, or kicked everything he could land quickly and precisely, and soon only Robby remained.

"Come on dude! No mercy." Lucas said as Robby still hadn't attacked him.

Robby rushed forward except he jumped into a roundhouse kick to leap over the leg sweep Lucas threw.

Like always, Lucas kept his guard tight when in combat and the roundhouse missed as Robby planted his leg in front of Lucas and his foot hit his forearm.

Lucas stood up by twisting his whole body into a throw and hurtling Robby aside. He rolled out of the throw in a somersault and landed back onto his fight, throwing kicks.

Robby and Lucas traded shots evenly for a bit but then Lucas was able to fire a reverse punch to Robby's chest at close range as he missed a spin kick and his knuckles collided strongly with Robby's ribs by his kidneys.

Robby reeled slightly from the blow, was able to block Lucas' round kick to the head that followed and dodged under a reverse punch to the chin as well.

Lucas quickly blocked the round kick to the body Robby threw as a counter and then as the two started to trade blows again, Lucas' defense soon became clear to Robby.

They were his counters. And often they were so well timed and cleanly thrown that if they landed the fight was over. That's how strong the balance and structure of Lucas' counters were.

And a front kick made Robby keel over to catch his breath and then Lucas swept him off his legs to land hard on his back.

With all of his friends now on their backs, Lucas panted quietly. Even though it had taken two minutes, it had taken a great degree of effort to defeat them all. Even if they only had under two months of training and he had far more experience.

He had gone all out. And defeated every Cobra Kai in his dojo except for Aisha, Charlotte, Mia, Bert, Nate, and Frank.

Robby winced and panted as Lucas helped him up from the ground, speaking to him seriously, but sincerely.

"Everything in a fight is based solely on your stance and how you move around the ring. How good your guard is. Because none of your strikes will land or even matter, and you will get hit a lot. If you don't. Have. Balance. Because nothing matters unless you have balance. That is kata." said Lucas holding Robby's arm tightly as he helped him up. "You got it?"

"Yeah man. I got it."

Lucas bowed to him, and Robby bowed back.

Robby realized that the points he scored on him in training weren't lucky by any means, they were well scored. But it was his balance, and his structure that needed to change.

Kreese walked into the dojo as did Johnny.

"What happened here?" asked Johnny. "Are you all alright?"

"Pain does not exist in this dojo Sensei." said Lucas quickly. "I believe I've secured plenty of votes for Sensei Kreese to join as your co Sensei as well. Even with a few students missing, I think we should give Sensei Kreese a chance. What do you say?"

Johnny frowned. "What was the disagreement about?"

"Oh just. About my karate. I issued a challenge. The class accepted. I didn't take it too far."

Dieter groaned on the ground, he winced on the ground rolling over.

Lucas smiled weakly, raising a finger pressed to his thumb. "Okay, just a liiittle far. But I'm fourth gup now, this is my fifteenth month of training in Cobra Kai. I have to make that known when everyone else insults me and my fighting. That's what the two of you taught me."

Slightly apprehensive but still respecting the respect and rank Lucas had to pull Johnny gave a slight nod to Kreese and then Lucas.

"All right then Mr. Schwarber. I think it's time for Sensei Kreese and I to work together to lead this dojo now." Johnny said as Kreese smiled after Johnny walked past him.

…

Daniel laughed. "Hold on. For weeks you've waited to tell me this? You want to learn karate from Bobby Brown?"

"With school starting soon and after practicing so much kata together I thought I could. Branch out?"

Daniel looked at Miguel. "Those Cobra Kais hassling you again? Is that it?"

"I haven't seen much of them all summer really after that incident with some Pepto last month. But I'm gonna see them in school soon so. I need to learn some strikes, some counterattacks if they try to fight me. I can paint the fence, I can sand the floor. But can I fight yet?"

"That all takes time." Daniel walked down the ladder from removing an old wind chime from Mr. Miyagi's front porch. "Can you balance on the bow of the boat?"

"Uh no."

"Well. Because that's for our fishing trip. Have you learned the circle kata?"

"No?" Miguel trailed.

Daniel put the wind chimes down in a box of old things Mr. Miyagi owned that he was storing in his house. "I can teach you how to punch. And how to kick with balance. But you're still not ready yet."

"Mr. LaRusso I've done everything you've taught me. I've learned everything you've taught me. Without question like I promised. But can I try what Mr. Brown offers. One time. Please? It's up to you. If you want, I'll never bring it up again."

Daniel sighed quietly.

"Well out of all of them I guess he was the least. Bad." Daniel said. "Although there was this one time at soccer tryouts that."

Miguel was looking at him blankly.

"You want to learn how horrible Cobra Kai is? Be my guest. I bet you'll come running back after you try it."

"You're actually letting me go?"

"Of course I am. The only way you're going to learn about how awful it treats you is if you learn from someone who knows it. So go ahead."

Miguel smiled. "You won't regret this-"

"I already am. So. Go ahead. You've done enough of Teisho and the spinning hands."

…

After waiting outside his house for about twenty minutes, Miguel had his bicycle leaning against the ground near the alleyway between garages Bobby Brown had.

Bobby's garage rolled upwards.

The bald pastor was wearing a white Cobra Kai uniform and black belt. He looked calm and serious.

"You ready?"

"Uh." Miguel put his phone away in his pocket. "Sure."

"No." Bobby shook his head. "No you're not."

Miguel stood on a long set of square fold-out mats Bobby apparently had in storage in his garage had to practice wrestling with a few of his neighbors.

The garage was closed, Miguel felt confused as Bobby paced in front of him for a few minutes.

Miguel looked at Bobby pace and then spoke. "So do I wear your thing too?"

"No!" Bobby barked as Miguel jumped. "This is called a GI. You don't get one until you prove you have what it takes to become Cobra Kai. So. Are you ready to test yourself and try to learn?"

"Uh. I guess."

"Do you. Or do you not?"

"I do, yeah."

"What I'm looking for. Is Yes. Sensei. You have to call me Sensei. Try it."

"Yes Sensei."

"Strongly now."

Miguel said proudly. "Yes, Sensei."

"Perfect."

Bobby instantly grabbed Miguel by the wrist and threw him over his shoulder directly onto the mat in a classic throw.

Miguel groaned loudly on the ground, unable to move from how quickly he was thrown.

Bobby spoke as Miguel winced. "That's the first part of Cobra Kai. You don't hesitate, sitting there, waiting to attack. You strike first!"

Miguel was having trouble standing up from the mat. "Yes."

"What was that!?"

"Yes Sensei!" Miguel wheezed, muttering under his breath. "I thought you were a holy man-"

"Listen!"

Miguel froze, continuing to pant with the wind knocked out of him quietly as Bobby spoke. "I might follow the Bible. But in here. The only word you follow is mine. That's the way of the fist, and if you want to beat Cobra Kai. You fight like a Cobra Kai, you fight like me."

Miguel nodded, drawing his inhaler. "Yes Sensei."

"Good." Bobby turned around and started to pace as he spoke. "Now John Kreese and his so called way of the fist might disgust me. But you gotta show your toughness if you want to stand up to those bullies of yours at his dojo."

Miguel nodded, drawing a breath from his inhaler as Bobby turned back. "You gotta always be tough. Otherwise you're. What are you doing?"

"I've got asthma. I need this when I get hit sometimes and-"

Bobby swiped the inhaler from Miguel's hands.

"Oh you need this huh?" he had the same crazed violent look in his eyes he remembered John Kreese had when he ever complained or showed weakness as a student.

Miguel laughed. "Yeah Sensei I-"

Bobby showed off the level of strength he still had left in his hands, tearing apart the plastic canister from its tiny metal oxygen bottle in one rip from his hands.

"You can't let a tiny plastic can do your breathing for you. The kids at your school will eat that up. Think you're a pussy!"

"Sensei Bobby I thought we were trying to be better than Cobra Kai not-"

"Listen!"

Miguel froze again and Bobby spoke.

"A man confronts you. He is the enemy. Your enemies already confronted you. And guess what? They beat the shit out of you! Twice. I don't like talking like this, I have to study the Bible for a living. But in here. We study the karate I was taught. So for the last time. Why can't you use that thing?"

"It's weak."

"Close."

"It makes me look weak."

"Yes. And weakness does not exist in this dojo. You strike first. Then you strike hard. Which is why we have to build your toughness. Because right now you're just pathetic. A pathetic asthmatic kid who gets bullied by toughest guys in town and doesn't have a chance in hell at fighting back."

Miguel pushed the bottom of his lip against his upper lip, realizing now what Daniel meant by what Bobby would have to teach him despite how nice a person he might've become.

"So. Do you want to keep using your inhalers? Keep getting called names and never standing up for yourself? Turning the other cheek hoping that one day they'll get tired of it? Fine. But you don't do that in here. In here, you're trying to become Cobra Kai. So leave and don't. Or stay. And try! Give me thirty pushups on your knuckles."

Miguel began to do so and Bobby shook his head. "Uh uh uh. Not that way."

Bobby threw away the mat Miguel was standing on to reveal the floor of his garage.

"You want me to do pushups on my knuckles on cement?"

"No I want you to eat ice cream until you get hit a magical truckload of toughness. Yes! Do your pushups Diaz!" barked Bobby. "Now, while we're still young!"

"Yes Sensei."

Miguel was starting to envy the metaphorical lessons, chores, and kata of Miyagi-Do under Daniel LaRusso more and more by the minute.

"Keep going! Weakness is for those who quit."

Miguel panted, made to run laps up and down the driveway of the line of garages between the cul-de-sac where Bobby lived.

Miguel was very sweaty already. "Sensei. Aren't you supposed to be training me?"

Bobby was reading from the Bible and writing down in a notebook drinking lemonade. "I am training you. What do you want me to teach you how to strike first again!? Because I can do that!"

After Miguel cooled off in the shade after Bobby made him run and do knuckle pushups for over twenty minutes, Bobby spoke. "Okay so. Time to teach you how to strike first."

Miguel nodded, wiping the last bit of sweat off his forehead. "I'm ready."

Bobby stood in front of a punching bag he had hanging in his garage.

"So. This is called the Cobra bite, or Cobra strike. Standard reverse punch with your rear hand really. There are only two steps. The lunge, closing the distance to begin to strike."

Bobby inched closer to the bag. "And the bite. The punch itself. Aiya!"

The bag whipped backward from how well Bobby delivered the blow.

"Now you try."

Miguel took his turn and Bobby sighed seeing how Miguel prepared to hit the bag. "Have you really never thrown a punch before?"

"Uh."

Exhaling loudly, Bobby spoke. "Okay! Roll your fingers into a ball, and close your thumb over the bottom. The bottom, not the top very important. Then just make sure you land with your two knuckles, not anything else."

Miguel nodded and did so.

He hit the bag weakly.

"What was that?"

"Um. What you taught me Sensei."

"That's not what I taught you." Bobby placed his hand on the part of the punching bag Miguel had to target. "This is your enemy. The guy hitting you, humiliating you. All that. Hit him. Hit him so hard that the guy behind him is too afraid to fight you too."

"Doesn't that sound a little too angry?"

Bobby glared right into Miguel's face. "This isn't Miyagi-Do where you sit and meditate and hope someone hits you just in the way you trained so you can block them. You have to strike first. You're in the real world now. You have to hit him so hard, you break this guy's nose. Do you want all those guys from your school to keep thinking you're too weak to do anything?"

"No."

"I'm sorry what was that?"

"No Sensei!"

"Then show me!"

Miguel twisted his body into the blow.

"Try to stay a bit more lowered in your stance. Try it again." The chain holding up the punching bag rang as Miguel hit it. "Keep going."

Bobby taught Miguel how to throw the front kick, and that finished the hour of training Bobby and Miguel agreed to.

"You did okay for your first day." admitted Bobby.

"It felt like hell. So I don't think so."

Bobby shrugged. "I've seen worse back when I trained. You did well."

"I don't get it. A few minutes ago you were yelling my ear off. What's going on now?"

"Well I had to be your Sensei. Now I'm back to being Bobby Brown. Your local pastor."

"You can't be both?"

"No. I can't." Bobby sighed and shook his head. "I have to make you tough Miguel. Because Daniel, as great a teacher as he may be. Can never be able to teach you how. And you need toughness to beat toughness."

"Last I checked though," Daniel said, walking up to the open garage Bobby had as he spoke. "Miyagi-Do was enough."

Bobby smiled. "How have you been Dan?"

"Just fine. I actually thought this training Miguel thing was a joke at first Bobby. You've opened up a church?"

"It's over in Glendale," said Bobby. "Good families. Good people. But I think Miguel needs this. Nothing can go wrong with a little offense."

"Defense scores points."

"Last I checked though. You need to land a strike to score a point."

"And you can't throw a proper strike without balance."

Bobby raised his hands up. "Look I don't like making Miguel choose between us but. If you object. I won't interfere."

"Thank you Bobby."

Bobby cleared his throat. "With that out of the way. I'm afraid I never apologized."

Daniel shifted where he stood. Miguel could tell what it was about.

"It's fine Bobby. Just try not to bring it up."

"Will do."

Bobby nodded to Miguel. "I made it clear what my kind of training is like and what kind of karate I teach. Whatever you decide. I will respect. Always." Bobby motioned to his garage door before he closed it. "My door is open to you."

After Miguel and Bobby bowed to each other, Daniel led Miguel to his car.

"I told your mom I'd pick you up. Bought you a Gatorade."

Miguel smiled. "Thanks," he said as Daniel passed it to him before he opened the driver's side door to his car.

"So. Now that you know what he'll be like as a teacher. Do you want to keep training with him?" Daniel said as he began to drive to Miguel's house in Reseda.

Miguel sipped his Gatorade. "No. The training was horrible. He yelled at me. Hit me. And just wanted me to yell and hit things until he told me stop."

"See?"

"But that was the point. To make me want to quit," said Miguel. "No pain no gain I guess."

Daniel was confused. "I thought you just wanted to train in Miyagi-Do."

"Why can't I combine your styles and training?"

"Because that'd never work."

Miguel looked at Daniel.

"Just because it's been done. Doesn't mean it's the right way."

"So you can forgive Mr. Brown for what he's done."

Daniel nodded. "Yes."

"And you would agree that he's a changed man."

"I just barely spoke to him. But I think so."

"Then why is this a problem? It's not like I'm training with actual Cobra Kais. Just someone trustworthy in their garage."

"Karate is for defense only. You promised me you'd only do that."

"Then why let me train with Mr. Brown today?"

Daniel sighed. "So you could learn how wrong striking first was. You're never supposed to do that. Violence is the last resort. Always."

"I understand."

Miguel looked out the window quietly and thoughtfully.

…

When they reached Miguel's house and Daniel parked the car, Miguel spoke.

"Mr. LaRusso um. I can't let those guys push me around anymore. And I don't want to be like them to beat them. But if I can't beat them at all. With karate being for defense only or otherwise. Then it'll be like. They always got the best of me. And I couldn't do anything about that. You know right?"

Daniel froze and he remembered saying those very words to his own mentor.

"Do you think I had a chance at winning?" Daniel laid on a table in the locker room of the 1984 All Valley Under 18 Karate Championships. His knee was in no condition for him to walk at all, let alone fight.

"Win lose no matter." assured Mr. Miyagi.

Daniel groaned. "That's not what I mean."

Miyagi smiled. "Hai! Had good chance." he said.

"Well can you fix my leg? With that thing you do."

Miyagi nodded with pride. "No need fight anymore. You prove point!"

"What point!?" sighed out Daniel. "That I can take a beating? I mean every time I see those guys they're gonna know they got the best of me."

His own words echoed in Daniel's mind.

"The best of me. The best of me. The best of me. The best of me."

Daniel sighed loudly. "All this mess with the rivalry with Johnny. And Kreese and his dojo. It's history that's holding me back from allowing me to help you to the best of my ability. But. All I know is that Bobby's karate, regardless okay. Regardless of how good a person he may be now. Is the wrong way karate should be taught."

"Then what are you so afraid of?"

"I know what you're feeling. Trust me I do. I promise that I do." Daniel winced. "But when I was there I sought an easier path. The one that felt better but did worse. It did nothing but make me feel worse in the end."

"I get that but. You said it yourself though. Balance is everything. How can I be a Miyagi-Do if I can't balance karate taught by two good people? Was this easy path you mentioned taught by a person like Bobby?"

"Not at all."

"Then what are you afraid of? He leads a church. He's the leader of a whole community of people. How can he be bad?"

"If you apply his lessons improperly. The consequences can be disastrous. I've been there, and they weren't pretty. At one point, you won't even know what you're doing. Or who you are anymore." Daniel sighed. "I'll get back to you on this alright."

"Alright."

"Miguel-"

"I said alright," Miguel repeated as he hurriedly walked towards his house.

Daniel leaned back in his car and sighed.

He started to call someone on his phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Bobby it's me. I know we sort of got off on the wrong foot. Miguel gave me your number."

"What you want to sit down for a meeting with the pastor?"

Daniel and Bobby chuckled over the phone. "No um. I uh. I wanted to say that this thing we're trying to do with Miguel. Does it all sound. A bit odd? A bit crazy to you? You and I haven't talked since um. Since you tried to break my knee."

"Yeah I mean. This does all sound absolutely crazy. We could do it for a time then end it. Or maybe keep it going who knows. Whatever's best for the kid."

"Hold on. You didn't hit him right?"

"I mean. That's how you teach the kids to strike first. Kreese was brutal in how he taught us but I just threw him onto the mat. Then I made him pretty exhausted, taught him a few basic strikes."

"So you taught him how to be aggressive?"

"I might despise John Kreese and how cruel his methods can be. But yes, that is the karate you have to use. I might be a pastor now but that doesn't mean I'm gonna invent a new form of my karate."

Daniel sighed. "Look we have a lot to work out. Can I interest you in getting a beer or something and then we hash this all out?"

"Um. I mean. Are you sure you want that? Again I'm interested in helping as long as I'm not stepping on any toes."

"Well. We can talk about that too. My daughter starts school next Thursday. How about next Friday on that bar on Seventh and Palomita at 7 PM?"

"Sounds nice. See ya then."

"Bye."

Daniel chuckled putting his phone away. "What is this? What are we doing?"

…

…

…

Author's Note:

Didn't Ask G just said:

I'm reading this fic because like I said, you're a talented writer and I'm genuinely interested in this story. However I'm allowed to give my own opinion and criticize if I want to. The whole "don't like it, then don't read it" argument is dumb because how else is the audience supposed to give their opinions? By all means, write whatever you want but don't get defensive when someone questions you about it.

Speaking of which, you still didn't answer my question. I just want to know why this Lucas character is so important when the summary of this story said this was about Miguel in Miyagi-Do and Robby in Cobra Kai.

Okay. First off, "Don't like Don't read" doesn't mean you can't give criticism, but what you said isn't even a criticism it's a matter of preference. Criticism is related to you know. Things that actually matter in a story like the pacing, or the faithfulness to the adapted characters, or the plot, tension, realism, stakes, believability, etc.

Me saying "Yeah this character ain't canon I don't care ha" isn't a criticism at all.

Also "this Lucas character" is critical in this story because it is a sequel to another fanfic that explains why he's so important in this Cobra Kai fic. Just as much as Miguel being in Miyagi-Do and Robby being in Cobra Kai is in the description and summary of the story so is the following; Direct Sequel to Defeat Does Not Exist.

You have absolutely every right to criticize the fic, but saying you don't care about a character just because they're not canon does not feel like a criticism at all. That's a preference.

If you feel he's written poorly or he's unbelievable as a character that's a step in the right direction towards criticism. He's not a character that naturally exists in Cobra Kai either, he's a self insert, someone who watched the show is put into Ali's offscreen son. The first fic explained this, not my problem if you didn't read that fic of course I'm gonna get defensive as that's not my problem.

I'd explain more but I just get the feeling you haven't read the first book and that's fine. I think I've made my point by now and probably won't explain it any further.

Moving on the fic is moving into act 2 of sorts and the second third of the book. Anon, how are you doing, are you still reading? Everything good? Just haven't heard from you in a second and your reviews are absolutely awesome really miss them not going to lie. Regardless, hope all is well.

Hope everything is good with the rest of you all as well. I will post soon too. And I will see you all in the next chapter.