COBRA KAI'S true intentions were to be able to make it to this major karate tournament in Japan called Sekai Taikai. If Cobra Kai was able to step foot in that tournament and possibly win, they would be able to open dojos all over the world and you can only imagine how that would be.

Of course, once word spread, Miyagi-Fang gathered everyone together and they would fight for a spot in the tournament.

That meant extra training, hard training, and probably a bloody nose or two.

Rory had driven everyone (Hawk, Miguel, and, Robby) to the dojo that day. They had gotten along pretty well considering everything that had happened to everyone, but alas, they were all pretty solid with each other. No bad blood, not bullet holes, all just... friends.

Rory had been distant from the conversation. They had been talking about videos they had seen from Sekai Taikai. It wasn't that she wasn't engaged in the conversation (she wasn't), she cared more about getting the training in and finally getting rid of Cobra Kai.

She hadn't seen anyone from Cobra Kai in a while and if she had, they hadn't seen here because she would turn and just go in the opposite direction to avoid conflict outside of the dojo.

She hadn't seen or spoken to Tory in a hot minute and she wanted to keep it that way. She didn't want to speak to her and she didn't want to see her.

She wasn't scared of Tory, but the girl had given something to Rory that would never go away and Tory wasn't even sorry. That's why she wanted to keep her distance.

"Seems like they are getting along." Sam quipped.

Rory looked up from her shoes and nodded. "Yeah." She smiled, "I'm glad. It's weird though, not seeing them wanted to instantly gouge each other's eyes out."

"For once." Sam laughed.

The two of them smiled as Mr. LaRusso called everyone over to talk about everything, mainly Sekai Taikai.

"All right, remember, Cobra Kai is gonna do everything they can to get a spot." Mr. LaRusso said. "And if they win this time, kids all over the world are gonna have to deal with the same crap you guys have gone through."

"But if we win, we can show the world how to stop them." Sam said.

"First you must prove you can compete with best." Sensei Toguchi spoke.

"But in order to do that, you have to be better than the best." Johnny added. "Which is why we're gonna kick your asses into high gear."

"Sensei Lawrence, Sensei Toguchi, Sensei Brewer, and I are gonna get you ready for the presentation. Come on. Let's get warmed up." Mr. LaRuaso stated.

"Go!" Johnny shouted. "Move those asses."

Training soon began, and just as expected, it was rough and just as intense as Jack had described it to Rory that night before. It was only that intense because it was prepping them and it was working out for them.

Various different fighting techniques had been on display for everyone and because of how well they presented themselves, Myagi-Fang was able to score a spot... but so did Cobra Kai.

And because the judges couldn't pick who should go forward for the tournament in Japan, they needed one male and one female from each team to go head-to-head in a three-point match.

And the only two girls who had made it to the semifinals (one winning their category) of the All Valley tournament were Rory and Sam.

Of course Daniel wanted his daughter to be the one to represent Myagi-Fang, but Jack also wanted the same for Rory.

Johnny suggested the two girls pull straws and whoever pulled the shortest would "be shit out of luck".

But instead, they would just talk to the two girl, to see who wanted to do it.

"We need one of you to represent Myagi-Fang in our fight against Cobra Kai." Johnny said, "The two of you are exceptional fighters and even though I suggested with pull straws, they decided it was best just to see what you two were thinking."

It would obvious for Cobra Kai to represent Tory. She had won her All Valley fight with Sam, but Rory only won her category in bo-staff, she didn't even compete in the "main event" but Jack had pulled her from it because he didn't want Rory to potentially freeze if she had to go against Tory.

Which was something Rory hadn't thought about until now. If she would go head-to-head with Tory she didn't know if she could keep a level head or not.

Of course she wanted the opportunity to represent Myagi-Fang and to prove to herself that she could do it, but if she froze or let her feelings get the better of her, she would and possibly could ruin Myagi-Fang's opportunity in competition at Sekai Taikai.

So, with a heavy sigh, Rory looked over at her dad, her face almost emotionless, but Jack knew that look. So, he took in a deep breath and nodded.

"It should be Sam."

Sam furrowed her brows and looked over at Rory. "What? No. It should be—"

"Trust me." Rory sighed. "I think you should do it. I know that you should do it. It's best for everyone if you do it."

Sam continued to look at Rory, trying to find any sign of her changing her mind, but she wasn't.

Rory wanted to do this, she really did, but her mind and her body were not there. Not there to potentially fight Tory. She wasn't ready for that and hadn't prepared herself to do so.

Sam gave the girl a small smile and nodded. "I'll do."

LATER THAT, night, everyone gathered at the LaRusso's for pizza. And while everyone sat with each other, Rory stood by the back door and watched as her father and Mr. LaRusso trained with Sam for a moment before they all headed out for the night.

"Are you sure you didn't want to do it?"

Rory turned her head to see Robby on the other side of her. She pressed her lips together, her arms crossed over her chest as she went back to watching the three.

"I wanted to do it."

Robby furrowed his brows in confusion. "Then why didn't you?"

Rory sighed. "I don't want to let anyone down."

It was a fear at this point. Rory never, ever, wanted to let Jack down. She would rather lose her first fight with Tory over and over again than let her dad down.

She continued. "I don't want to freeze or... lose control. If anyone can do this, it's Sam."

Robby knew he couldn't change Rory's mind, hell, Jack couldn't change Rory's mind.

It sucked for her to feel this way and she didn't really know what to do, but she did know that if she didn't want to hurt herself or others, it was best to just step back.

Robby pushed himself off of the doorframe and wrapped his arms around Rory, his chin gently resting on top of her head.

She sighed, leaving back into his touch and shut her eyes.

Maybe if she was told that she was just... good enough, she'd start to believe it.

THE DAY finally came.

Rory hadn't stepped foot in Cobra Kai since she fought with Robby that night and it had been relocated and was in a bigger and dare I say, nicer space than the parking lot of an almost abandoned strip.

Anyway, Myagi-Fang made their way into the Cobra Kai dojo. They all stood on one said as Cobra Kai stood opposite of them.

Rory wore a white gi with her black belt tied around her waist. She held her hands behind her back and kept her eyes on the floor.

If she looked up, she would see her. If she continued to look down that would only continue to prove to herself that she was scared of Tory, but she knew deep down that she wasn't... so she looked up and Tory was already looking her way, but the blonde's expression didn't read in anger... in fact, they were soft, her face almost reading as an apology in itself.

"Thank you, Sensei Silver, for offering to host these matches in your dojo on such short notice." One of the judges smiled.

Mr. LaRusso scoffed. "Offering or demanding?"

"We do have actual tournament regulation mats here, so it really was the only option." Sliver said.

"We'll begin with the boys." The judges continued. "We have invited a local referee to ensure impartiality. First to three points wins. Time to begin. Eli Moskowitz and Kenny Payne, please take the mat."

It was going well for so far. And though Hawk had received no point when he should've, it was all going well... until it wasn't.

Kenny pulled some move, punching Hawk right in his chest causing him to fall to the ground. And he struggled to get up.

Rory fell down to her knees in front of him as Hawk rolled over onto his side, clutching his stomach and gasping for air.

"What's wrong?" Rory asked.

"I can't... Can't... Can't breathe." He sputtered out.

Rory looked over her shoulder, Jack quickly joining their side.

"Can you continue?" The referee asked.

"Does it look like he can fucking continue?" Jack asked the referee, seeing Hawk struggling to stand. "We need a medic."

"That's a forfeit." The referee called. "Winner, Payne."

"That's bullshit." Rory said, standing.

"Can you breathe?" The medic asked Hawk and the boy only nodded. "I think he's okay. Just got the wind knocked out of him."

"Looks like you got a new name." Kenny taunted. "Faux-Hawk."

Next was the fight between Sam and Tory, but was nowhere to be found. She wasn't in the building and she wasn't outside the dojo, so she was replaced we Devon.

In the end, Sam won her fight and it was up to the judges to see what would happen next.

"We have reached an agreement." One judge spoke. "As expected, we were impressed with the skills, precision and discipline of the new Sekai Taikai qualifier... Cobra Kai." He paused. "As for our other dojo, we admired your unusual mix of styles and underdog spirit and we think you could be a unique addition to the competition. Therefore, we've decided that your dojo has also qualified."

So, both dojos would be competing in Japan at Sekai Taikai... what could possibly go wrong?

But there was no need to worry about that. Right now, it was time to party... and nothing could ruin the party, right?

— lucy has something to say !!

one or two chapters left until the story is done (until season six) but because of the actors strike i have no idea when that's coming lol they were legit doing table reads when the strike happened for the writers so....

anyway, someone made a comment on my jack brewer fic about how "something aged poorly" and i got so scared but it was about how jack said he didn't want kids and ended up with twins 🧍 i was so fucking scared 😭

LAST THING: i hate seeing kenny in these fuck ass mcdonald's ads and cobra kai adds the most UNNECESSARY slow motions scenes my GOD

bye :))))