The dojo was just as Kaldur remembered it to be: giant, daunting, and feeling vaguely like you were more likely to make enemies than friends if your mindset were different from theirs. This time, Kaldur had to admit that the students seemed less intense than usual. They almost seemed like they wanted to be friendly. David led the group through the building until they reached students training. Another sensei was giving them instructions. Johnny's eyes widened as he watched. Their movements were even more vicious than the students of Cobra Kai had been when Kreese was teaching (if that was somehow possible). The owner noticed his expression and smiled.

"Are you impressed?" David asked.

"To put it lightly," Johnny admitted. "Good thing we're on the same side," he thought.

Miguel and Robby were also surprised by the students' skills. They could be an army for David. In their fascination, no one noticed Kaldur's demeanor.

"What is his endgame with this?" he wondered, looking around.

Some familiar faces waved at him as they walked past. He did not share their enthusiasm. These were faces of people who had aided David in his attacks against him. To Kaldur, they were surrounded by no one but enemies. A foe dressed in a smile was nevertheless a foe. Yet, the three from the other dojo were as entranced as their reptile namesake would be by a snake charmer; and David held the pungi. The group continued going past the training students until they reached a room without anyone. Suddenly, a student approached them.

"Have you two been training for a long time?" he asked.

"No," Miguel responded, "I've been going longer, but I started a few months ago."

The student was undeterred. "Let's see what you can do. I'll go easy on you."

Kaldur tensed, hearing this. Miguel looked hesitant, but Robby seemed further intrigued.

"Okay," he said, taking off his shoes to step onto the mat.

The two stood across from each other, waiting for the opponent's move. Robby acted first. He went for a leg sweep that was leapt over. This left him open for an attack and Kaldur cringed as he saw where it could go. It could have been a punch to the head, but nothing happened. Similar things occurred for the duration of the spar. When it ended, the student and Robby bowed to each other.

"Well done," the Manta student complimented.

A proud smile appeared on Robby's face and the same expression found its way to the faces of his father and Miguel for the rest of the trip. Finally, it was time for them to leave. The three could have been mistaken for kids who had just spent the entire day at an amusement park.

"Was that as terrible as you anticipated?" David asked Kaldur.

"It was different," was all he said in response.

"I suppose that is an improvement," David conceded.

Kaldur watched as his friends got in the car and he followed them. Only Johnny stayed out and went over to David.

"He'll come around," Johnny encouraged.

"One can only hope, but I trust that today was useful for your students."

"Extremely," Johnny told him. "Thanks for being up to having us come out here."

David gave a small nod before parting ways with the other sensei. As Johnny also got into the car, David's gaze went to Kaldur, then they drove away. The ride back was filled with Miguel and Robby talking about what they had seen. Johnny joined in periodically, but he could not help noticing Kaldur's silence.

The next day, Kaldur was still quieter than usual. He kept thinking about what David's plan was. These thoughts stayed in his mind until he and Robby got to Cobra Kai and the only reason was because these concerns were replaced by another. In one corner of the dojo, Kreese and Hawk were talking. As soon as Kaldur entered, he caught Hawk's attention and was consequently sent a disdainful glare.

"There will always be people who want you to be weaker than they are," Kreese whispered. "Don't give them what they want."

Eyes brightening with an idea, Kreese led Hawk back over to the others. The students lined up on the mats and the elder sensei went to Johnny.

"They should have a spar today. Maybe there will be new winners," he suggested.

Johnny made no complaints, so Kreese stood before the youths to tell them of the spar partners. Aisha versus Robby was the first pairing. Both got in good hits and it almost looked like Aisha was going to win before Robby got the upper hand. Despite this, she had a glow of confidence. Several other pairs went until only two students remained. Not having to say who was next, Kreese gestured to Hawk and Kaldur. The boys got on the mat and bowed to each other. Hawk attacked first, going for a kick to the back of the head. This was dodged and Kaldur grabbed the leg, bringing his opponent down. Hawk managed to get out of the hold, eyes blazing, and changed tactics to quick punches. They were mostly blocked, but one connected in the side. It did not hurt as much as he was used to, but Kaldur could tell that Hawk was putting everything into that punch and that fact did sting.

Kaldur went on the defensive, not really wanting to hurt Hawk. When the other charged, he side-stepped. This only made Hawk angrier, but a light bop on the forehead did as well. There seemed to be no action which did not increase the spiked-hair boy's temper. After bringing him to the mat once more, Kaldur pulled a punch that could have been to the face.

"No mercy," Kreese told him, scowling.

The victor did not listen and rose. Hawk was down. This was not a real fight (despite how much Hawk was acting like it was), so he did not need to treat him like an enemy. Kaldur went to the other side of the mat as Hawk briskly got to his feet. The taller boy bowed, but Hawk did not. He just got off the mat in a tiff. That brought the end of the class. Hawk was the first to leave and he would not listen to any attempt of Kaldur's to stall him even if just for a moment to talk.

"I don't wanna hear it," Hawk hissed behind him, slamming the door.

Kaldur sighed. If it was not one thing, it was another. For the rest of the day, he kept alternating between thinking about his father's plans and Hawk's behavior. At school the next day, he was brought to new subjects because of Miguel. The other student appeared troubled by something. Finally at lunch, Kaldur asked him.

"What's wrong, Miguel? You seem bothered."

"I was just thinking about Sensei Lawrence and Sensei Hyde," he answered.

"In what way? Are you concerned by their interactions?" Kaldur asked hopefully.

"What? No, I was just thinking about them and then you and Robby, I guess." His expression was sad. "You should give your dad a chance. He's actually here trying to fix things. Robby had to be willing to see change before things could get better, so it's probably the same for you."

"It is not so simple as just deciding to spend time together."

"But it could be. You really won't know until you give him a shot." Miguel paused to look down at his plate. "Not everyone has that option."

Kaldur sighed quietly. Between Johnny and Miguel, it seemed like the people he knew really wanted him to give David a chance to prove himself. Whether he believed in the sensei or not, Kaldur did believe in them. Maybe their distance from the situation let them see something he could not.

"Perhaps I could be open to what he has to say," Kaldur said.

Miguel's face brightened at this new development. For the rest of their time at the cafeteria, he was his cheerful self again and talking happily with Aisha. Only Kaldur was still badgered by stressful thoughts.

That evening, some miles away from the Valley, there was a dojo whose students were in the middle of training. Its sensei was watching them from one end of the mat when someone approached him.

"Sensei," he started, "I meant to tell you this earlier…there was a message for you."

Intrigued, the sensei regarded him. "What was it?"

The younger man looked nervous. "It was that Atlantis should sign up for this thing called an All-Valley Tournament. It was a sort of threat too."

"Who was it from?"

"From Manta." The sensei paused. "What do we do, Sensei Curry?"

"The students are ready. If he wants a rematch, then we'll give him one. I've got nothing against winning back-to-back."

Curry went back to the students who were completing the final parts of the exercise. He stood in front of them and crossed his arms.

"Get ready everyone," he told them. "We're going to a tournament soon and when we do, I want you to show them what Atlantis can bring!"