Chapter Eleven: Welcome to Coyote Creek

…

There was a knock at Johnny's door.

It was his old high school karate rival.

"What do you want man?"

Daniel sighed. "I think. I think we need each other's help."

"With what?"

"With John Kreese."

Johnny chuckled. "You and I can barely get a drink together and we gotta team up to stop that asshole? Forget it."

"Johnny. You and I might not be able to put our differences aside. But these kids. They don't deserve to relive our mistakes."

Johnny stopped looking smug, he frowned now.

"We don't have to make it permanent. We don't have to be friends. But we can at least stop confusing these kids and remind them who the real bullies in all this are. It's not Robby. It's not Miguel. And it's certainly not you."

Johnny sighed. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Well. What kind of competitions do Cobra Kai typically have during the summer?" wondered Daniel.

Johnny began to smile slowly.

…

Kreese walked around the lines of Cobra Kais in the Lankershim dojo. Speaking calmly.

"Miyagi-Do might develop good hand speed and reflexes. In theory. But they do not know how to keep fighting when on their backs or on the ground. Today we'll be focusing on grappling."

The class listened quietly.

"In a tournament, grappling won't help you very much. You have a very limited window of time to grapple your opponents and score a hit before the ref pauses the match and returns you to your lines. But in a real fight, you have all the time in the world to grapple."

Hawk smiled.

"And no one, and I mean, no one, can out slither a Cobra Kai. Especially not a Miyagi-Do. So break off into pairs, practice your grappling. Ais!"

Tory spoke to Lucas. "Wanna pair up?"

Lucas and Shawn exchanged a glance. "Sure," Lucas said.

Lucas and Tory bowed to each other and began to practice.

"First move, close the distance," said Lucas.

As if he was throwing a jab, instead Lucas aimed for the lapel of Tory's GI on her shoulder. As he gripped her shoulder he moved.

"Hook your left leg around, slide it back-"

Lucas swept Tory's leg and exposed her ribs as she fell on the mat. He faked a reverse punch to her chest. "That's the point. Your turn," he said helping her up from the ground.

Hawk and Doug muttered to each other, trying to sweep each other's legs. "Think Sensei might as well just say they're his favorites at this point. And stop bothering with the pretenses?" asked Hawk.

Rickenberger chuckled. "Come on man. They're our best shot at winning the divisions for girl's and guy's in next year's All Valley."

"So? I've gotten way better."

"Your jab still sucks ass."

Seeing Doug chuckle, Hawk swept Doug easily off his legs and slammed him hard onto the mat. Hawk followed it up by dropping a knife hand directly to Doug's chest, making him wince in pain.

"Good job Hawk." said Kreese.

"Thank you Sensei!" Hawk snapped his hands to his sides.

"Nichols. Hawk. Pair up. Class. Pay attention."

Hawk and Tory bowed to each other.

Hawk stayed close to the ground, faking grabs before Tory reversed his direction at close range when he actually committed to an attack and threw him into the mat.

"That's it," Kreese said. "Notice how Nichols managed to stay both alert, but not too defensive. She stood her ground, while being on the edge of almost attacking. Take note."

Kreese saw Johnny walked into the dojo but didn't say anything.

"Continue," Kreese muttered, bowing off the mat.

Kreese walked over to Johnny. "Can I help you?"

"Think my students and yours should find a safe place to settle all this."

"You and I barely have any disagreements that require safety Johnny," said Kreese quietly. "In fact. My students and yours have been rather. Relaxed in terms of disagreements."

"It's time for the shit you're filling these kids with to stop. It's all messed up what they're doing. Coyote Creek. Tomorrow. 11 AM."

Kreese turned around to look at all of his students, as if he was sizing them up.

"Fine. What are the stakes?"

"None. Just want to prove you're wrong. It'll send the right message to these kids after you lose."

"How many on each team?"

"Eight."

Kreese chuckled quietly. "Eight of your best. Could never compete all out with eight of mine."

"Yeah well. Good thing I'll have some help." Johnny muttered before he turned around.

Kreese watched as Johnny walked out of the dojo's front door.

Kreese bowed back onto the mat. "Keep grappling."

"Yes Sensei!" the class more or less murmured together.

…

Johnny opened the door to Miyagi-Do. The backyard of what used to be Mr. Miyagi's home.

Daniel saw him, muttering to Sam. "There's no reason to be confused. Everything's fine."

Sam watched her father walk up to Johnny.

"How'd it go?" asked Daniel.

"He agreed."

"How exactly will it work?"

"It might sound dangerous but it'll be fine. As long as you don't fight with weapons like a stick or a rock, and you don't gang up on anyone. Anything goes."

"Whoa whoa whoa. And you thought this was a good idea for us to settle up with Kreese like this? The guy's crazy remember."

Johnny smiled. "Well we can't really sit down and have a tea party with the guy to hash this out. You want any competition with Cobra Kai this summer remotely safe? This is your only shot."

Daniel frowned. "Wow." he sighed very loudly. "Okay everyone gather around."

Frank, Abe, Sam, Demetri, Miguel, Chris, and Nate all walked close to Daniel.

"This. Is Johnny Lawrence. He used to be my-"

"We know who he is dad. We competed against him at the All Valley just a month and a half ago." said Sam.

Johnny chuckled at this and Daniel looked at him reproachfully before continuing.

"We're. Teaming up with the Eagles tomorrow morning," said Daniel.

"What for?" wondered Chris.

"It's called Coyote Creek. We've challenged Cobra Kai." Johnny said. "You're all free to join."

Demetri scoffed. "So while all the Cobras bullied us all of last year at school. You want us to team up with those same bullies?"

"You know Robby and Aisha weren't bullies," said Johnny. "Neither were any of my other students at Steel Eagle."

"Right they just stood there doing nothing, being friends with actual bullies like Tory and Hawk." said Demetri as the other Miyagi-Dos nodded in agreement.

"I'm all for this." said Miguel. "Between the lesser of two evils. I go with the lesser."

"Now hold on." Johnny said. "We're not evil here-"

"That's exactly the point Miguel. We're only desperate here to let Cobra Kai have a loss for once." Daniel sid.

"That's what it's like then."

Daniel frowned. "I didn't mean-"

"How else did you mean it?" Johnny asked. "I'll see you there I guess."

Johnny quickly left the dojo.

…

"Miyagi-Do never did anything to us," Robby said as Bert and the other Eagles nodded and murmured in agreement. "Cobra Kai's the real threat, I personally don't have an issue with this. But I bet they're not too thrilled about us being Cobra Kais just a few weeks ago."

"Believe me they're not," Johnny said. "They're not thrilled at all."

"Sensei you taught us to never be pussies." Charlotte said as Aisha nodded quietly next to her. "Miyagi-Do's fighting style is as pussy as it gets. You stand there, wait to get hit. Counterattack. And then you keep walking in a circle waiting for something to happen."

Johnny nodded as well. "Look I'm no fan of Miyagi-Do. And especially not LaRusso. But Kreese actually means harm. To all of you."

"Has he?" asked Robby as the sentiment was mostly agreed with around him. "I don't like who everyone at the dojo is turning into. But it seems like they've just left us alone."

"Because that's what Kreese wants," said Johnny.

"And." Bobby stopped standing behind Johnny quietly. "That's how Kreese works. His real target is Miyagi-Do. If you refuse to comply to violently assaulting and bullying them regularly. You are the enemy. He's just trying to get us back on his side by making it seem like we're not really his enemy. It won't work."

"We'll make sure everyone gets there on time." Johnny said. "The whole class needs to be there. All of you."

…

Bobby stood in Johnny's office watching him fill out names on a white board.

"What are you thinking about?" wondered Bobby.

"How to get the best team from both dojos for tomorrow," Johnny muttered.

"Do you actually think Daniel LaRusso would ever endanger his own students by sending them against the class of that psychopath?"

"If his ego doesn't like admitting I'm man enough to face Kreese on my own without his help. Then yeah."

Bobby chuckled, looking at the names Johnny had listed.

Robby. Aisha. Samantha. Miguel. Chubby big guy!? Charlotte. Dirk. Whoever else LaRusso picks.

"Wait. What if Daniel doesn't show up tomorrow?"

Johnny shrugged. "Then we lose. It's that simple." Johnny laughed at the expression on Bobby's face. "No we won't lose. We'll just have to pick other students of ours."

"Like Bert? Or kids mostly of his size or skill level?"

Johnny frowned as Bobby continued. "You do realize you only got all of the rejects from Kreese? I respect them, they're our students. But you do in fact realize how badly you and Daniel need to just forget about the past right?"

"He needs to be the one to apologize first?"

"Why? Because he beat you in a tournament when we were teenagers Johnny? Because his student beat your son in a semi final match just a few weeks ago? Because his karate is just different?"

"It's not different. It's the opposite of mine." Johnny chuckled. "The guy's irrational, petty, and condescending. Not to mention, he can't let go of the past for one minute."

Bobby frowned. "Look who's talking."

Johnny frowned too.

"Johnny I. I didn't want to have to do this. But I'm afraid you'll have to lead the class on your own tomorrow at the Creek."

Johnny was shocked. "What? Why? They all need you man. I. I need you there."

"I truly thought it would be over by the time of the All Valley. Miguel would win the tournament, or all those kids at Cobra Kai would finally leave him alone."

"Did you ever know Kreese to be one to give up? Huh?" asked Johnny.

Bobby frowned and Johnny continued. "Did you know us to be someone to give up. I-"

"I don't care about this anymore Johnny! This rivalry has started to cost everyone! Everything!" barked Bobby. "I care about the safety of those kids. But I only got involved when you still showed competence or needed to be reminded of the right way of doing things. Leaving Kreese was a start. Now. Comes the next step, form a truce, a permanent, trusting, truce with Daniel LaRusso. And John Kreese will never be able to stop you."

Johnny laughed bitterly. "Did you ever think I might rather want to take down that ancient piece of shit with you by my side? My best bud? Instead of that smirking, smug, snotty car salesman."

"I want that too. But it's not going to happen Johnny."

"Why not?"

"I am not. A Sensei," said Bobby, starting to enunciate as well as he could. "I led a kid almost to an All Valley Golden Trophy in his first. Ever. Championship. Because I failed. The entire Valley is gonna suffer. All these kids. All of them don't need me. They need both you and LaRusso."

"How would it ever work between us?"

"You'll figure it out. You both need to start acting like grown men. Not children."

Johnny frowned. "What the hell has you so angry?"

"Johnny you and I have started to do things so poorly. That Tommy said goodbye to Kreese. John Kreese! Do you know what that means?"

Robby watched Bobby and Johnny yelling at each other in the dojo office of Steel Eagle as he walked slowly across the mat.

"Yes."

"Do you know what that means!?"

"Yes!" Johnny looked directly into Bobby's eyes.

"Maybe he didn't want there to be a funeral for reasons I'll never know. Maybe he had his reasons too for us not being there. But damn it Johnny!" Bobby pointed towards the dojo doors behind him. "He wanted to spend his last moments alive with a sixteen year old kid he never even knew! As well as Kreese, the worse person any of us have ever met."

Bobby put his hands on his hips. "That's on us. You know it is."

"It's not." muttered Johnny quietly and flatly.

"It is."

"It's not!" roared Johnny. "Tommy went out like that and it was his choice-"

"It doesn't break you up to know all that?"

"It tears me apart man," Johnny said. "But this karate. This dojo. It's the only connection I had left to my son after I didn't talk to him for almost fourteen years! It's special to me. I will never. Let Daniel LaRusso sink his claws into that like he ruined karate for me decades ago."

"The thing is Johnny. You're so afraid of letting the past repeat itself. That it might just do it anyway." Bobby said as Johnny opened his mouth to speak again but Bobby cut him off. "I'm done."

Johnny was shocked. "Really."

"Yeah. You won't see me near any of this nonsense ever again. If the kids, or you. Ever need my advice, I'll be at my church. But I'm done with karate. Today. Is the day I completely return to retirement." Bobby straightened his GI. "Goodbye."

Johnny nodded. "See ya man," he said in a tiny voice.

Bobby saw Robby on the mat.

Neither of them said a word to each other.

"Good luck tomorrow at Coyote Creek," Bobby said. "You'll need it. Thanks for. Taking inspiration from how I used to fight. You were amazing at the All Valley."

Robby nodded and spoke bitterly. "If you never cared about the rivalry and only wanted to help us. Why leave?"

"So your father can finally find someone who belongs in this nonsense. Daniel LaRusso and your dad forgiving each other. Is the key to all of this. To ending all of this."

Bobby left Steel Eagle Karate without another word.

…

Coyote Creek's challenge was the biggest form of competition in karate I'd had since the All Valley.

Everyone in the dojo quietly knew how much I'd win, there was even talk of Sensei making me sit out the challenge just to not guarantee a win for whichever team I was picked for, red or black. Sensei filled me in on what happened, Johnny Lawrence had challenged the dojo.

And he was very likely to lose.

The morning of, I carpooled with Hawk, Shawn, Doug, and Mikey, and drove to the location Sensei mentioned.

"Man. Who has a karate training exercise out in the wilderness?" wondered Shawn.

"Karate was literally invented in the woods and rural places to fight Japanese invaders on Okinawan soil," I said.

"I'm guaranteed to win this I swear," Hawk muttered next to me. "Sensei might as well just have you coach the other team anyway but I am feeling good today man. Good!"

"Yeah, you'll get 'em for sure."

Sensei Kreese arrived soon after us, we all paid our respects to him when we arrived by bowing to him.

Then Tory, a few of the girls and then the entire class arrived by ten thirty.

We spent half an hour discussing the rules and such by the time we saw the first hint of Steel Eagle Karate.

Johnny Lawrence and his dojo arrived.

I smiled, most of the class as sure as I was that Robby could give me a decent fight but the rest wouldn't stand a chance against us.

We weren't so confident when about five minutes later the familiar vans of Daniel LaRusso's family car and Sam's car also appeared.

Miyagi-Do had teamed up against Sensei Kreese and I for the second time this summer.

"Isn't this interesting?" Sensei Kreese said. "I was sure that. Miyagi-Do stood against violence."

"Violence is never the answer. But forgiveness might just be the answer instead." Daniel smiled and then nodded to Johnny Lawrence, a sentiment he returned.

I didn't know whether to be shocked, horrified, or annoyed that this was happening. They were telling us to our face that we were so evil. That even a rivalry as old as Daniel's and Johnny's needed to be put aside, at least for today.

Everyone more or less lined up.

"Welcome to Coyote Creek," said Sensei Kreese to the Eagles and Miyagi-Dos. "Where I assume both of you wish to challenge me to."

"Yup." Johnny managed to say.

"Shall I lay out the rules?"

Johnny nodded quietly.

"There will be two teams. Team Red, and Team Black," said Sensei. "We will be Team Black. Mr. Lawrence's dojo, will be Team Red."

"The rules are simple. You are not allowed to leave the boundaries of Coyote Creek, which are from here, to the creek itself, the main highway overpass, and the old wooden bridge down that way. If you are caught leaving the boundaries, ganging up on an opponent, or using anything but your bare hands, feet, elbows, and knees to attack, you are disqualified."

Sensei Kreese continued to explain. "If you lose your headband. In combat or otherwise, meaning an opponent had the capacity to force you to give it to them, or to take it from you. You are disqualified."

Everyone watched as Sensei continued. "If you are disqualified. In theory. You're dead. Your headband is your life, and guard it so. The last team standing wins. For a fight, the only rule is. You can't use weapons, dirt, anything. Except your body to attack. Now we pick teams of eight, toss a coin to decide who enters the forest first. And the match will begin."

…

Samantha LaRusso, Miguel, Chris, Robby, Aisha, Charlotte, Dirk, and a very uncomfortable looking Demetri all stared down a line of eight Cobra Kais. Each wore a red headband.

Shawn Payne, Lucas, Mia, Tory, Hawk, Mikey, Doug, and Big Red. Each wore a black headband.

"Alright. We're going to call tails," said Johnny.

He flipped the coin and spoke. "Our call. You can go first."

"Are you sure?" asked Kreese.

"Definitely."

Kreese gave Shawn a nod and all the Cobra Kais went running into the forest. About five minutes later, everyone Johnny and Daniel chose to compete against Kreese's dojo in Coyote Creek ran in.

And the matches began.

…

Sam muttered quietly to Miguel as they walked around the forest together.

"This seems kinda. Dangerous. Do you really trust these people to play by the rules?" wondered Sam.

"They might be the absolute worst kind of people we know. But if there's one thing they're known for for some odd reason. It's playing by the rules."

Sam snorted. "Is that why they harassed us all summer?"

"Still not known to cheat when a fair fight's on the table generally speaking," Miguel said as Sam looked at him. "What? I still don't like them."

A nearby twig snapped.

Miguel and Sam instantly turned to see Robby leading Aisha and Dirk around the forest.

"Hey. Guys." Miguel said quietly.

The three Steel Eagle Karatekas all nodded awkwardly to Sam and Miguel.

Robby then spoke quickly. "We should all probably split up."

"Good idea." said Sam.

…

Mikey, Tory, and Lucas were all speaking quietly on a small ridge in the forest.

Making sure Tory couldn't hear him, making her confused, Lucas took Mikey aside and whispered quickly in his ear.

Lucas patted Mikey on the back and he started running uphill.

"What was that?" wondered Tory.

Lucas shrugged. "Don't worry about it."

He began to walk through the forest and Tory seemed to follow him.

"Do you want to talk about what we talked about. At Valley Fest?" wondered Tory.

"Not really."

"Why's that?"

"Because we're in a simulated fight to the death against Miyagi-Do with our bare hands that's why."

Tory spoke. "Still think it might be a good opportunity to talk."

She listened to Lucas chuckling.

"In a forest surrounded by people who can attack us and take our headbands at any moment? I don't think so."

"Look we're gonna have to. Review what happened between us at the start of this summer at one point."

Lucas was looking off into the distance of the forest around Coyote Creek.

"I wasn't ready to talk about it before but now-"

"Sh."

"Luke are you listening to me." Tory raised her voice. "Luke!-"

He quickly spoke inches in front of her face. Oddly, Tory didn't react to having someone speak so closely to her.

"Remember," Lucas whispered. "If we get caught. We die. That's how this is supposed to work for training purposes. Got it?"

Tory nodded and Lucas nodded in return.

"What are we supposed to be killed by exactly. Right now?" Tory whispered in return.

"Them," Lucas muttered, their noses practically touching. He threw his nose over his shoulder.

Tory looked and the faint voices of two people nearby could be heard.

Demetri and Chris were walking and talking quietly through the forest.

Suddenly, Chris had caught a roundhouse kick directly to the nose. He stumbled and then Lucas walked out from behind a tree and dropped him with an elbow to the jaw.

Demetri looked too stunned to react as Chris groaned quietly on the ground.

"Word of advice. Your voice carries, especially yours. Travel alone, you cover more distance even if you're more exposed with less people."

Demetri still was completely quiet.

"You're welcome," Lucas said, walking by Chris without so much as looking at him. As if he wasn't even there lying on the forest floor completely dazed.

Demetri began to walk away backwards, still facing Lucas.

"Go on. Go ahead. Good luck."

Demetri was still too confused at Lucas' behavior to say or do anything except walk away slowly.

However, his sudden reaction training with Daniel in a meat locker and in the summer sun payed off when he shocked both himself and Tory in blocking Tory's punch.

Tory didn't seem to care at how quickly she was blocked, and Demetri was overwhelmed in seconds.

He was grappled at close range, took multiple knees to the chest and was sent spinning directly into a tree.

Both Demetri and Chris laid on the ground, mostly knocked out.

Tory smiled, swiping the red headbands off Demetri's head and Chris'. "No mercy. That's right."

Tory looked at Chris' headband and Demetri's with a grin, rubbing her thumb over the red fabric. "I wasn't expecting you to offer me a." She looked around in confusion. "Gift."

"Luke. Luke?"

He was nowhere to be seen.

Tory kicked Demetri directly in the ribs. "Stay away. From Cobra Kai. Again. No mercy." she said as Demetri panted for air.

She walked off and Daniel watched in shock in the forest nearby.

…

Robby was fighting Doug Rickenberger, and winning very easily.

Doug was fast and strong, had good reflexes and defense, but could not overcome the sheer disadvantage in skill and experience Robby had over him.

Doug nearly landed a kick to the head Robby dodged and then countered. Doug ate a fully powered side kick to the chest, knocking the wind out of him as he continued to attack with punches and then took a backfist to the jaw, sending him spinning into the forest floor.

Robby quickly ripped the black headband off Doug's head and muttered. "Giving karate a bad name dude."

"Look who's talking." Doug groaned and winced on the ground.

Tucking one of two other black headbands into his pocket, Robby started to jog lightly into the forest.

Soon he heard a familiar voice speak calmly.

"You could've been one of us Robby. That's what bothers me the most about this," said Hawk, putting both of his hands into his pocket leaning onto the tree behind him.

"I couldn't let you mess up and repeat my dad's mistakes," Robby said.

"To do what Robby? Spend your time with people you barely like? Choose a side in all this with friends you basically don't have. Charlotte. Aisha. They're cool. But they're just two people in your whole dojo. And Miyagi-Do? Forget about it. We both know if Sensei Kreese wasn't involved. They wouldn't be your friends."

Robby smiled. "And neither would you."

"Bullshit! We hung out for the past two years man. We really know each other. This isn't the way things were meant to be man."

Robby lowered himself into his fighting stance. "Then you can only blame yourself for what happened."

"We don't have to do this," said Hawk. "Just come back. We miss you man. Don't tell me you don't miss us." Hawk sighed. "Please."

"We can call a truce for today. Go our separate paths and pretend we never had this conversation."

"Fine."

In the blink of an eye, Robby attacked Hawk.

He didn't punch him or kick him or even hit him with a backfist or a knife hand. Robby slapped Hawk cleanly across the face as hard as he possibly could with his open palm.

Hawk leaned over, clutching his face. "What's wrong with you!?"

"You guys are always talking about No Mercy. You would've attacked me the minute I turned my back."

"Is that why I announced that I saw you and didn't try to take you down?"

Robby now looked conflicted.

Before Robby could say anything, Hawk headbutted him as hard as he could in the nose.

Robby went reeling back and Hawk smiled. "It's on now."

Hawk struck first and made Robby constantly move back.

Robby blocked and dodged a kick, a pair of punches and then a low kick.

Hawk then struck Robby's shin with his foot and before he gave him the chance to recover Hawk popped Robby in the chin with a jab punch.

Robby reeled back and Hawk grinned. "Come on. Come on come on." he muttered quietly.

Robby caught Hawk's high kick, elbowed him in the chest and began to trade punches at full speed.

Hawk covered up at close range, and blocked each punch on his forearms and hands before spinning into a kick to Robby's leg and head.

Both landed and Robby went staggering back.

Robby rubbed the bruise on his chin and was shocked.

Hawk was never weak, Miguel was only way past a very skilled fighter to win three to one at the tournament. Hawk began running forward to strike Robby again but Robby was able to literally catch Hawk mid air during his signature flying punch with a hook kick to the jaw. Hawk dropped with a groan and then Robby mounted his chest within seconds.

Robby gripped Hawk by his shirt and then began punching him directly in the face.

Hawk only took two entire punches before being able to catch Robby's right fist and then completely spin Robby off his body with grappling technique.

Robby and Hawk flew back into their stances and right back into the fight at full tilt.

Hawk checked a snap kick to the chest with his shin so hard that Robby almost winced but kept fighting.

Robby lunged into a reverse punch to the chest and threw a round kick to Hawk's head.

Hawk blocked both and then the two started to do nothing except throw strikes right in each other's faces.

Uppercuts, backfists, even a sudden headbutt that sent Hawk spinning back.

He gripped a tree, panting and rubbed the blood off his lip with a low chuckle.

Hawk dodged a side kick, making Robby kick a tree, and then punched him directly in the chest as hard as he could.

Robby staggered back across the forest floor and then blocked a pair of kicks Hawk snapped at him.

They were both fast, strong, fierce, and skilled. However, when placed on the backfoot the other came back quickly.

Hawk was winning for a moment, then Robby was winning.

Robby was making Hawk give ground, then Hawk was making Robby give ground.

The two continued to fight evenly for almost four straight minutes until one blow too many finished Robby. A reverse punch to the eye that caught Robby as he was walking forward.

Surprised, the next thing Robby knew Hawk had pinned him to the forest floor and removed his headband in an instant.

Hawk panted, wiping the blood off his lip and rubbing the many bruises on his face and beneath his shirt.

He chuckled. "You know. When you started beating on me after you caught me. You should've taken my headband." Hawk looked at Robby's headband as if someone had handed him a stack of pure cash.

"Maybe I just wanted to kick your ass," Robby said angrily.

"Yeah well so did I. But I actually knew how to win. Take some advice from Sensei Kreese and Cobra Kai." said Hawk. "Fight smart for once."

Robby rubbed his chin, knowing there was a very strong bruise there from where Hawk struck him with his fist.

…

"I'm sure you did well Ms. Robinson." Johnny patted Aisha's shoulder as she walked past him.

"Thank you Sensei."

Aisha and Tory looked at each other quietly from across the parking lot where Miyagi-Do and Steel-Eagle awkwardly were standing nearby to Cobra Kai.

"Who got you?" wondered Rickenberger.

Tory muttered quietly. "That bitch Sam LaRusso."

Doug smiled. "I thought you finally learned how to counter her stuff."

"Not that it matters. She's not gonna stay in there much longer. Has anyone seen Mikey?"

All the other Cobra Kais shrugged and shook their heads.

Shawn was seen walking towards the rest of the group.

"Who?" asked Tory quickly upon seeing him.

"Diaz." Shawn muttered.

"Impossible. He's half your size."

Shawn shook his head. "He got stronger. He was pretty quick at the tournament, now it looks like he added some serious muscle or something."

"In under two months? Please." Doug chuckled.

Tory didn't seem to comment.

"Who's left then?" Shawn wondered.

"Considering who's standing here right now," muttered Tory. "I'd say Diaz. Luke. LaRusso. And Hawk. And probably Mikey, but still, no one has seen him."

"Maybe he just tried to find the bathroom," Doug said.

"For well over two hours?" Tory scoffed. "No. He's kind of pathetic sometimes. I think he might've just quit."

"Quit what? The challenge? That means he just walked from Coyote Creek and the dojo in a way." Shawn said.

"Alright now that you say it out loud I might be wrong," admitted Tory. "But I still have no clue where he is."

…

Several headbands hanging from their pockets, black in Sam's case and red in Lucas' the two began to walk towards each other from afar through Coyote Creek.

Lucas watched where he stepped walking downhill, and Sam was walking uphill.

Soon they walked into view of each other.

Neither said a word, a bird chirped quietly in the forest of Coyote Creek for a moment as Lucas and Sam looked blankly at each other.

"None of what you did makes any sense. For no reason at all you train under my dad for a full year. Just to stab him in the back over nothing?"

"His views on karate are flawed Sam. Miyagi-Do. Is deeply flawed. And that's fine. No one said it had to be perfect. Except for your dad. For that reason, he blames everyone but himself for it."

Sam balled her fists. "After Miguel and I are done with you and Hawk. We'll see whose karate is flawed."

"Still yours regardless of the results." Lucas chuckled quietly seeing Sam get into her fighting stance. "Who are you kidding? Think you can really take me on? On better ground?"

Sam shrugged. "I managed to beat Tory."

Lucas smiled, noting how tired and slightly hurt Sam appeared after that fight.

"Right."

Lucas patiently stood in front of Sam on a higher part of the hill in the forest, waiting for her to attack.

He didn't care if Sam had a chance to catch her breath. Lucas had all the time in the world while he waited for Sam to attack, circling each other in their fighting stance.

Lucas timed a leg sweep right as Sam began to attack and then instantly followed up with a very precise attack as Sam tried to stand back up onto her feet.

Lucas instantly tied his legs around Sam's head using a triangle choke, but instead of waiting for Sam to tap out, Lucas swiped her red headband off her head.

Lucas smiled for a moment as Sam brushed the leaves out of her hair and he tucked her headband into his pocket.

"Later." Lucas nodded to Sam as he walked past her nonchalantly.

Sam looked confused at how quickly she lost but returned towards the parking lot where the rest of her dojo and her father were waiting.

…

"I can't believe Robby picked you over his actual squad. His brothers."

Miguel turned to see Hawk standing with his hands on his hips. "It's bullshit," Hawk said.

"When are you going to learn that acting like a complete piece of shit means no one reasonable will actually like you?"

"Robby was one of us. He Rode!" Hawk pointed to his chest. "With us!" he roared at the top of his lungs.

"Right. The same way you guys rode down to the beach last year to embarrass me. Just for talking to Sam. If this isn't about Sam at this point, and I already proved. Everything that needed to be proved. Why do you still hate me? What is wrong with you?"

"This is about Robby now. About taking one of my best friends from me. And betraying Cobra Kai and our friendship. Our brotherhood. You'll never understand."

"I understand he was probably the one that gave you that assbeating."

Hawk rubbed one of his many bruises for a moment.

"I didn't lose to Robby. Otherwise I wouldn't be standing here."

Miguel nodded slowly.

Without warning he threw a round kick to Hawk's head to close the distance. He knew Hawk would block or dodge but immediately struck him in the chest with a reverse punch.

Hawk did far better against Miguel than he did during the tournament.

But the strength in Miguel's legs, his arms, and the muscles all over his body were far better than Hawk remembered at the tournament.

He wasn't a changed fighter at all, just with far more raw muscle strength.

Hawk tried his best, even landed two hits cleanly, but Miguel brushed them both off like they were nothing and quickly beat him down.

Miguel back kicked Hawk in the chest, and then knocked him down with a backfist.

Hawk gasped in pain for a moment and winced on the ground.

Then Miguel ripped his headband clean off his head.

"You still enjoying your time with Sam?" Hawk coughed on the forest floor. "Hope you appreciate the massive loss you took at the tournament to be with her, hundreds of people know now about that. Hope it was worth it."

Miguel spoke with Hawk's black headband still in his hand. "You wanna still be hateful after a whole year of this? Fine. But I don't care anymore about this. And you! And Robby's not my friend. So for once in your life. Chill for crying out loud. Just chill, you are so petty after all this time it's just pathetic."

Miguel tutted and walked away, sounding and looking so sick of Hawk that he threw his own headband on top of his chest, too disgusted to claim it as a trophy to keep it as a badge of honor in his pocket.

Hawk spoke as Miguel walked away. "Even if you beat Luke today! And whoever's left. You'll never stop Cobra Kai. We'll never be done!"

"We'll never. Be done." Hawk began to pant, realizing how exhausting having both Robby and Miguel beat him up while fighting back for almost a dozen minutes was. "Okay. Okay I'm done."

…

Inevitably, Lucas and Miguel walked into eyesight of each other near the very center of Coyote Creek.

Lucas and Miguel stood on purely even ground. Neither was on a higher part of the many leaf covered hills of the forest.

Lucas was still taller, but beneath his jacket, Miguel noticeably looked far more muscular, not as much.

"How about we cut the nonsense and say the obvious," said Miguel. "You. Are out of line for what you've done so far. Did I deserve any of what I got?"

"You kicked Hawk and stuff the night of Halloween. So for all that before the tournament. I'd actually say no." Lucas admitted quietly. "But man. You really lost my respect the moment you called me evil."

"When did I call you evil?"

"Yesterday," Lucas said. "You walked into the dojo. Declared your loyalty to Daniel LaRusso right in front of me. Someone who legitimately has started to think I'm evil."

"Before I disagreed. Now. I might be right."

"Why's that?"

"You remember what I asked you the night of the tournament. To just. For god's sake. Just leave people alone Lucas. It's not that hard." Miguel repeated himself from that very night. "For crying out loud."

"It's not that hard!" Miguel's voice was so loud it almost echoed across Coyote Creek's forest. "To just. Leave people alone for once."

Miguel sighed. "We're attacked all summer. Ask for it to stop and are called pathetic, weak, and whiny for just. Wanting the madness to end." Miguel pointed slowly at Lucas. "All this. For a trophy? For a dojo. For your friends!?"

"You'd never understand. You're too soft to get what I'm really fighting for."

Miguel scoffed loudly and then he slowly pointed at Lucas. "I've never said this. And I think it might be the first time I legitimately mean it. But. You are actually terrible." said Miguel. "Horrible, horrible person. Call this off. Call it off. Call it off like any reasonable person would but no." Miguel chuckled bitterly and looked aside. "Part of me actually wanted to be you once. But you went from a relatively neutral person. To a complete piece of shit!"

Miguel couldn't keep talking as Lucas had already punched him as hard as he could in the face.

Miguel wobbled and fell for a moment.

Miguel rubbed the bruise on his eye as it was clear Lucas was angry. But it was just what Miguel wanted.

…

OST: Caffeine - Jeff and Casey Williams

…

The fastest paced and highest contact fight Miguel and Lucas ever had in their entire lives began.

It heavily resembled the MMA style match that decided the 50th All Valley tournament final. Except there wasn't a referee, they held nothing back at striking at full power.

Lucas kept his chin pointed down, his hands high, and started to kickbox Miguel in the very middle of Coyote Creek.

He faked multiple kicks moving forward while actually snapping others, making Miguel uncertain of what actually would be a real strike. Lucas threw low kicks, high kicks, and kicks to the body, round kicks, front snap kicks, and side kicks.

On the last, Lucas put so much power behind the blow, Miguel slid across the forest floor behind him crossing his arms tightly to block.

Miguel stumbled when Lucas kicked his shin and then hit him over the head with a backfist.

Recovering almost instantly from his stagger, Miguel checked a front kick on his shin and then managed to headbutt Lucas at close range.

Lucas barely stumbled back, caught Miguel's fist, punched him in the chest and then had his round kick to the body blocked.

Miguel ran up the side of a nearby tree to drop all of the weight in his body and the momentum of his run to round kick Lucas in the head.

He blocked but there was so much power behind the blow Lucas stumbled back.

As he rolled across the forest floor so quickly leaves flew about Miguel threw a knife hand right on Lucas' chest, landing cleanly.

Miguel had so much technique and now strength, that Lucas seriously had to toughen it out to withstand his blows.

Both of them had strike combinations that were extremely creative.

They never targeted the same area more than twice in a row.

The head, the chest, the legs, with either their front or back hand or leg.

Miguel and Lucas were moving so fast at each other they dragged wells in the mud of Coyote Creek, practically flying at each other with how much distance they crossed with attacks.

Lucas blocked a punch to the chest, punch to the head and failed to counter in time as Miguel caught him in the chin with a roundhouse.

Lucas completely staggered back, hit a tree and dodged in time as Miguel threw a front kick.

Lucas covered up and Miguel pelted him up and down his chest and face with punches.

On the last, Miguel missed his jab and Lucas flicked his head back with a front kick to the jaw.

Miguel ignored the pain felt all across his chin and then began to put Lucas on the back foot.

He spun into a leg sweep leading instantly into a back kick to the chest that landed cleanly. Lucas covered up in time but Miguel was smart enough to target the legs instead of the torso and head to be more effective.

Lucas took a fully powered low kick to the bottom of his shin and then stumbled, temporarily lowering his hands as Miguel faked a punch to the chest to catch him with a vicious hook kick to cheek.

A loud smack echoed in Coyote Creek as Lucas was knocked cleanly off his feet.

Miguel ran forward to try to grab Lucas' headband but he caught his hand and spun around off the ground, able to fight despite how hard a hit to the face he took.

Lucas pinned Miguel's chest to a tree and started to knee him in the kidneys.

By the time Miguel took the second knee, he broke Lucas' grip by spinning around and hitting him in the nose with a back fist.

Lucas staggered, blocked an elbow, a punch, and a kick in time before catching Miguel in the chest with a round kick that landed so strongly the wind was knocked cleanly out of Miguel.

He grunted, ignoring all the pain in his body to fake a punch with his rear hand to pop Lucas in the jaw with a jab punch. Miguel's front hand snapped Lucas' head back as he launched forward putting all of his weight onto his front leg and then landing cleanly.

Lucas rubbed the blood quickly off his nose to dodge a reverse punch to his head from Miguel to grab him and spin him away.

Having fought each other twice already and for well over ten minutes total both began to adapt perfectly to each fighting each other.

Miguel could predict Lucas' attacks better as they battled across Coyote Creek and Lucas could deal with Miguel's counter attacks better.

Lucas' stamina and strength and especially his skill was unmatched, except by Miguel.

Miguel's timing and how well he read his range was almost on the same level of Lucas. He could move him where he wanted and make him strike or take a strike when he wanted.

Miguel was flying with the same burst attacks launching forward to throw combinations to the head, legs, and body with punches, elbows, kicks, and even knife hands and backfists, spinning launching forward, all of it.

Lucas would take a hit, stumble, recover, dodge, counter, or block, and then quickly land a hit of his own in return.

Miguel was starting to seriously get bruised on his face and on his chest beneath his jacket.

Lucas was as well, the power, the speed, and the technique and timing behind each blow from both of them were staggering.

Being countered at close or even mid range was a serious danger considering how much strength both of them had.

Lucas threw a pair of punches towards Miguel's chin, dodged a round kick leading into a wheel kick, and then failed to sweep Miguel's leg.

As Miguel counter attacked, Lucas successfully used the 'catch and sweep' combined with the classic spinning hands kata to completely throw Miguel over his leg in a hip throw and make him land hard on the forest floor of Coyote Creek.

Sprawled out quickly, Lucas began to land multiple punches on a completely open Miguel repeatedly, as hard as he could.

Miguel gripped Lucas' hand gripping his own shoulder spinning his right leg counterclockwise and his left clockwise off Lucas' front leg, successfully sweeping him onto the ground despite being on the ground himself.

Even with how much energy the fight was costing them, the blows they took, neither Miguel nor Lucas were tired like they were a little during the final of the All Valley tournament.

Grinning with his own blood right on his teeth, Lucas began to back up onto a giant fallen tree log.

"Let's see how much balance our kata gave you."

Miguel spat out a decent bit of blood and grunted. "It's not your kata goddamnit," he growled sounding so angry he wanted to rip Lucas' teeth out. "It's Miyagi-Do's."

"Prove it." Lucas shrugged, still smiling widely at Miguel.

As he backed up onto the log, Miguel and Lucas started to fake attacks at each other, neither reacted.

And then when they started to completely commit to attacking each other Miguel was able to quickly get the upper hand.

Despite landing two hits on Miguel's chest and face, Lucas was kicked right off the log with a sidekick to the chest when rushing forward to punch Miguel in the jaw.

Lucas flew off the log into the forest floor below, landing hard.

Panting quietly, Lucas winced and began to lift himself off the ground slowly and try to roll away.

Miguel gave him no chance to move, he had already jumped off the log above and landed directly on the mud of Coyote Creek right next to Lucas' chest, placing his knee right on the back of Lucas' right arm.

Miguel shoved Lucas' face directly into the mud with his left hand, and used his right hand to tear Lucas' black headband off his head.

Lucas turned over and Miguel panted, holding his headband in front of him.

"Like I said. My kata. Mr. Miyagi's kata. Not yours." panted Miguel.

Lucas turned over, leaning against a nearby tree with a chuckle. "Well fought." he chuckled.

"Wish I could say the same."

"No need." Lucas winced, knowing how badly he was bruised and a bit bloodied in the face. "No need to be sore about it. You won."

"You left me no choice." Miguel shook his head. "I guess defeat does exist for Cobra Kai."

Miguel turned around and left, but if he had kept looking at Lucas, he would have seen him smiling.

…

Miguel limped back to the parking lot.

Sam saw the red headband still worn proudly on his head, and then, Miguel lifted all of the black headbands he had collected during the Coyote Creek challenge high into the air.

"Team Reeeeed!" roared Miguel.

Before both Miyagi-Do and Steel Eagle could rush forward to congratulate him, Miguel was attacked.

Camouflaged by mud and leaves, short and forgotten Mikey Miller burst forward from behind a tree and then put Miguel in a rear choke hold.

Under normal circumstances Miguel still would've had no issues outfighting Mikey purely from grappling even at his regular disadvantage. Bobby had taught Miguel some Cobra Kai style wrestling and rolling techniques, but not nearly enough compared to how much Kreese focused on it.

But heavily bruised, a bit bloodied and tired, Miguel was quickly pinned to the forest floor and started to gasp for air.

Mikey felt the tap on his arm, as if he didn't care that he could've pulled Miguel's headband off his head moments earlier anyway.

Then, Mikey pulled Miguel's headband off his head and held it in the air.

"Team Blaaaaack!" roared Mikey.

"Let's gooooo!" Hawk yelled as he ran forward and lifted Mikey into the air hugging him.

Cobra Kai rushed forward and laughed, thanked, and congratulated Mikey for winning the Coyote Creek challenge.

Kreese seemed to genuinely smile for a rare moment, even when Lucas emerged from the forest looking like a bear had attacked him.

Lucas panted nursing several cuts on his face, and Kreese walked forward to speak to him.

"You did well Schwarber."

"I lost," Lucas muttered.

"The dojo won. Because you listened to me, and fought smart." Kreese nodded.

Lucas muttered to himself. "Is the whole summer gonna be Cobra Kai winning. But me losing?"

Johnny turned to Daniel. "We gave it our best shot. But we lost this time."

"Eight kids bruised and hurt over what? What did we prove today?" wondered Daniel.

"You were the one who wanted to be here man." Johnny said.

Daniel sighed. "I don't know what I was thinking agreeing to this. Miguel, we're leaving."

Johnny was surprised. "What? Look man-"

"Mr. LaRusso. Sensei Lawrence was trying to help us. He brought his son and his whole dojo he-"

"He endangered you. Unfortunately so did I. And it was wrong of me to put you in harm's way just to prove a point to Cobra Kai." Daniel muttered. "This isn't an attack on Johnny's philosophy or life style. Or his karate. This was just a bad idea, and it's not your fault Miguel. I'm sorry."

Miguel gave Johnny and Robby a small sad look, and then Miyagi-Do joined Daniel as well and left with them.

Kreese walked over towards Johnny. "Our champ really knocked it out of the park today didn't he?"

"First off he's not ours. I never taught him any of that no mercy bullshit."

"Sure you did. You were the first official Sensei of the dojo."

Johnny nodded. "Right. But I never tried to turn him into a prick. About your so called win. You know that was bullshit."

"Not at all. Schwarber knew there was a decent chance Diaz might actually be able to beat him. There's nothing wrong with fighting smart. Take a note from the kid Johnny. One day, you might be able to get back into my good graces and we can move past all this."

Johnny watched with very angry eyes as Kreese walked back to his dojo.

…

Miguel looked completely blank as he stared into the pond with the wooden board atop it in Mr. Miyagi's backyard.

"Everything alright?" Sam walked towards him.

Miguel glanced up at the night's sky for a moment. "Can't say it is. I won. And then, we lost."

"Winning isn't everything."

"I wish I could agree. Coming in second place to Cobra Kai. Again and again. It's exhausting. Especially since it's been the case since I met them last summer."

Sam shrugged and sat down on the bench in Miyagi-Do next to him.

Miguel kept looking blankly into the pond as Sam looked at Miguel's face quietly for a moment.

"Miguel I think I. I think I like you."

"Same here."

Sam smiled. "No I. I like you like you."

Miguel nodded. "I mean. The day we met I liked you so much I fought your ex with a mohawk and a leather jacket. Dumb thing to do. But, I would've done it again."

Sam laughed. "I would've done the same for you."

"Sam the only reason I wanted that trophy was to prove I was better than Cobra Kai. That they were wrong. I never joined Miyagi-Do and started all this nonsense. Just to get with you. I mean, I like you sure, that pissed off Hawk, but that was never the reason why-"

Sam was already kissing Miguel which interrupted him.

Sam nodded and spoke to Miguel quietly. "I know. I always knew, that's why I like you."

She interlocked her fingers into his hand and leaned her head onto his shoulder.

Miguel muttered while continuing to look into the pond. "I know I shouldn't but. I think I hate Cobra Kai."

Sam blinked, listening.

"I hate how they think they can push everyone around and get away with it. I hate how they gloat, call people names, beat people up, spray paint cars, all of it. I hate that. Again, I know I shouldn't. But I hate them. And I don't like that I hate them."

Miguel's hand curled tighter around Sam's. "I hate that. I hate that so much. That they smile at me. They smile around at everyone. Like they're incredible."

"They're not." Sam shook her head and turned Miguel's face towards her. "Hey. We're better than them. We always will be. And we don't have to prove that to anyone. It's not just the Miyagi-Do way. It's fact."

Miguel smiled and nodded. "Yup."

Sam and Miguel then sat there, leaning their heads on each other's shoulders, and holding hands.