Dedicated to @AbbyWatson4, @Robby2Keene, @NewYorkDoll, @LOVESTODOODLE, @CamrynKissel, @@Krystal1601, M_Mazariegos and @madi658 for their amazing encouragement on my Cobra Kai stories :)

Daniel and Johnny raced up the stairs, without even the slightest thoughts of where Mike Barnes or Chozen remaining in their minds.

What was I thinking?! I should have never left the kids alone when I knew Silver was on the loose. Nothing was stopping him from hurting Sam, Anthony, or any of my other students, except for Johnny and I. And what was I doing that entire time? Freezing up because I was afraid to fight the enemies that were actively hurting the people I love tht most!

There was no way Miguel or Robby were going to be able to beat Silver in a fight considering Chozen couldn't even do so. Daniel was just hoping more than anything in the world that they could hold their own long enough for him and Johnny to rescue the two boys before something terrible happened.

No, I can't think like that right now. I have to believe that they'll be okay, even if it's just for sake of staying focused.

A few of the teenagers' fights had migrated to various levels of the tall stairs as Daniel and Johnny pushed past them with utmost urgency. Both Senseis occasionally threw a punch when they saw one of the Miyagi-Fangs losing (but Daniel was more shoving than striking) though their attention never deterred from their destination. Daniel was moving much quicker than Johnny, mostly due to his injuries from the duel with Mike Barnes. But his determination seemed to persevere past what Daniel could only assume was at the very least, a burning headache.

I should have never let this escalate in the first place. When I saw Silver enter the building with Cobra Kai, I should've just taken the kids home because no fight is more important than their safety.

As the tip of Daniel's right dress shoe touched the top step of the winding staircase, his worst fear unfolded before his eyes.

Miguel and Robby were lying on the golden streamer laden ground, Terry Silver standing over the two immobilized teens with a grin that could only be described as sinister.

Miguel was barely moving an inch, his suit sporting several tears from the prior fight. His hands looked heavily bruised, one of his arms laying limply next to his side, bringing back instant memories of the painful broken leg Daniel had received during his first tournament match back in 1984.

A steady stream of blood ran down the right side of Robby's face, his eyes shut tightly. His hands looked just as badly injured as his predecessor, only the bruises ran slightly further up his worn arms. Almost alluding to a wrongfully performed move? The only thing that brought Daniel even the slightest hint of comfort through the bleak sight that lay before him was Miguel's stirring left leg.

"You stay away from my kids!" Shouted Johnny, clocking the unexpecting Terry straight in the jaw.

He stumbled backwards, a look of expectancy covering his face.

"I take it, Barnes didn't complete his goal then?" confirmed Terry, smacking his lips together in an attempt to wipe the fresh blood away.

"No, and neither will you," answered Daniel, angrily storming over to Terry.

I made the mistake of letting him go once, I'm not doing it again.

The two Senseis simultaneously kicked outward at their enemy, the attack fueled by pure anger. Terry made quick motions with both hands, blocking their attempted assaults.

"I expected more from fighters as skilled as you two," commented Terry, shaking his head disappointedly.

The Cobra Kai Master jumped into the air, kicking both Senseis in the chest before landing gracefully back on his feet. Daniel fell backwards, his head and arms nearly pulling him towards the ground below them if not for the empty party supply boxes that lay at the feet of the railing catching his fall just in the nick of time.

Thank you, Demetri.

"Is that the best you got?" Scoffed Johnny, his feet still standing firmly in place as he looked his enemy straight in the eyes.

Johnny threw a relentless barrage of punches at Terry, each movement filling him with deeper emotion inside. Nothing was more important to Johnny than protecting his kid, both of them. Terry countered the constant attacks fairly easily, though Johnny did land a few good blows to the prior's chest.

Daniel pushed himself back onto his feet, dusting the cardboard flakes over his tux.

There should have been no reason I didn't block that punch!

Daniel turned around to see Johnny locked in hand-to-hand combat with Terry, the Miyagi-Fang Sensei holding back no punch.

Now's my chance, I need to make sure the kids are okay.

Daniel raced over to Miguel and Robby's sides, placing a hand gently on Miguel's chest to check for a heartbeat.

He felt a soft thumping beat against the palm of his hand. No, he wasn't conscious, but at least he was alive. His wrist was definitely broken, though his arm wasn't as it had seemed at first glance.

"Thank God," whispered Daniel, letting out a quiet sigh of relief before turning his attention to Robby.

His sprawled out body hadn't moved an inch since Daniel had entered the room, sending more worry pounding against the Sensei's chest as each second passed.

"Robby, can you please talk to me? Are you okay?" Asked Daniel, shaking his shoulders delicately.

He didn't have much time before needing to go back and help Johnny fight Terry, so he repeated this action two more times, hoping for a better result.

C'mon, Robby. I know you can do this, you're stronger than most of us. You're stronger than me.

"I need you to be okay," Pleaded Daniel, quietly as he rested his hand on the kid's shoulder, his eyes shut tightly with regret.

He didn't care what had happened between him and Robby or that he was working with Terry, all he cared about was making sure that the kid he cared so deeply for was okay.

And then, a true miracle occurred.

Robby slowly opened his eyes, a look of worry covering his face.

"What, what happened? Where's Silver?" Asked Robby, shakily as he jolted himself into an upright position.

Daniel could tell from just his facial expression that even a movement as simple as sitting up was painful.

That should have been me, not him.

"It's okay, Robby. You're going to be fine," reassured Daniel, pulling him into a tight hug.

There was a tinge of awkwardness that shifted down Daniel's back as he hugged his former student, but it felt right to have him back in his arms again. Knowing he would soon be safe from Terry Silver's corruption.

These kids are the reason I have to keep fighting, no matter how afraid I am.

Wham! Roared a sudden noise that shook both Daniel and Robby out of their hug. The sound had been Johnny being slammed into the back ledge's pillar, Terry pressing his right arm against his throat.

"Don't like it when it's in reverse, do you?" Remarked Terry, panting.

Yeah, he could definitely use some help now...

"We need to help him," urged Robby, weakly pushing himself to his feet.

He held his lower chest, the pain of several of his broken ribs almost immediately forcing him back onto the ground.

"I appreciate that, but it would be best if you stay here," reasoned Daniel, softly.

I understand why he wants to help his dad, but the last thing any of us need is him getting even more hurt than he already is.

Robby stared at him, contemplatively for a few seconds before nodding in agreement.

Daniel half-smiled back at him before rushing over to help Johnny.

"What are you talking about?! LaRusso was the one who was fighting you earlier," argued Johnny, gritting his teeth angrily as he tried to force his opponent off of him.

"Haven't you heard the saying, "you're only as good as the company you keep?" Commented Terry, tauntingly.

"Leave the stupid metaphors to LaRusso, would you?" Breathed Johnny, struggling for breath against his enemy's immense pressure.

Daniel push-kicked Terry directly in the back before grabbing him by the shoulder and yanking him around, allowing Johnny to break free of his grasp.

"You never should have touched those kids!" Shouted Daniel, his voice ringing with his newfound bravery.

He forcefully threw a punch at his enemy's face, but Terry moved much quicker. He grabbed the prior's right fist, crushing his knuckles in his bare hand.

Daniel felt his bandaged hand breaking as each bone in his hand started to snap, sending a sharp pain shooting up his right arm.

"The kids didn't have to be involved, you chose to drag them into this," stated Terry, forcefully throwing Daniel's throbbing hand back down to the latter's side.

He swiftly jerked his body around, blocking Johnny's attempt at a reverse punch.

Where's Chozen when you need him...

Daniel swung his right leg out, hoping to sweep Terry's legs but was met with only another failure.

"Don't you get it? I know all your moves, Danny Boy!" Declared Terry, throwing his arms out, laughingly.

"Not all of them," corrected Daniel, readying his flat hands (though, he doubted his right hand could do very much).

Johnny smirked, taking a few steps back so as to give his ally room to perform his next attack.

He's probably a lot happier that I'm not using this move on him, this time.

Terry raised an eyebrow, intrigued to see what worthless attack his enemy was attempting to use.

"Okay, I'll give you one free punch," scoffed Terry, throwing his hands up in fake surrender.

Daniel and Johnny both knew it was a trick, but it was their only choice.

Hopefully, this will at least throw him off long enough for us to get off a few good hits.

Daniel clenched his left hand once, breathing slowly before releasing it back into a flat hand and whacking Terry's right leg with as much force as he could manage.

He immediately felt that familiar sensation of raw strength course through his body upon the impact. A fighter didn't have to be physically strong to perform this move because all of the energy required came from their mental state of mind. Something which Chozen had carefully taught Daniel during his trip to Okinawa.

Terry's smirk suddenly changed into a look of bewilderment as he felt his leg go completely numb.

"What did you do?" Questioned Terry in disbelief as he tried with all his might to lift his immovable leg without success.

"Took away your ability to fight," answered Daniel, determinedly.

Johnny charged forward, throwing continuous punch after punch at Terry. He blocked many of the blows, though a few landed roughly on his other leg.

"Mind helping me out, LaRusso?" Panted Johnny, gesturing towards Terry.

Daniel spin-kicked Terry in the face, making him slightly reel from the painful attack.

"You lost, Silver," stated Daniel, standing in front of Terry, a look of triumph hanging on his face.

"A cobra never loses," retorted Terry, dropping his right hand to the ground in desperation.

"Are you really just going to whine now?" Asked Johnny, rolling his eyes in agitation.

Daniel felt a cold chill down his spine, just as it had when Terry entered the ballroom earlier that evening.

I don't like this...

"Dad, look out!" Called Robby, throwing himself in front of the two Senseis.

There was a sudden sound of a blade sheathing underneath the folded sleeve of Terry's black dress shirt.

"No, Robby!" Cried both Johnny and Daniel, but it was too late.

Robby felt something cold touch his skin, its impact stronger than anything he'd felt before. Only it wasn't the feeling of a knife piercing through skin.

"Don't you dare hurt my student," growled an old man's voice as he gripped the knife firmly in his firm, calloused hand.

John Kreese.