Theo gently tapped to the beat as 'I Want It All' by Queen played in the AirPod of his left ear as he stood near the entrance to wear the All Valley tournament would take place. Ever since he punched Miguel he had been avoiding him like the plague, not to mention he had been trying to tell the class for a week that he was already a two-time All Valley champion, but no one seemed to listen.

"Yo, Miguel, calm down, man," Hawk tried to calm the boy down, who was busy punching the air.v"Save some for the tournament."

"Hey, don't even bother," Theo said, standing between Hawk and Aisha. "If he wants to have his ass handed to him because he blew himself up before the tournament, let him."

"He's been super aggro ever since the breakup," Aisha told him.

"Well, where's sensei?" Hawk asked, looking at both of them. "The tournament's gonna start soon."

"He'll be here," Theo and Aisha nodded.

"I don't know about that," Bert spoke up.

"What are you talking about?" Theo asked, putting his AirPod back in the case.

"I saw him last night at the mini mall. I was buying... a carton of milk," Hawk and Theo shared a look. "When I heard him in the parking lot, yelling.

"Well, why didn't you tell us this earlier?" Aisha asked him.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just so used to seeing him drunk, it didn't seem like that big a deal.{

"Well, we're here, and he's not. So it's officially a big deal," Hawk shook his head. "What if something happened to him?"

"Like what?" Aisha and Theo asked at the same time.

"I don't know," Hawk shrugged. "Like he drove his car off a cliff, or he bought a gun and blew his brains out."

"Don't be stupid," Theo shook his head, a small laugh escaping his lips.

"No, sensei would never kill himself," Aisha agreed. "It's too pussy a move."

"Whatever. I mean, we're here. We're gonna have to do it without him," Hawk sighed.

"Do what without me?" Johnny said from behind them.

"Sensei," Aisha said in shock.

"We didn't think you were gonna show up," Hawk added.

"I may not always win, but I never back out of a fight," said Johnny, fist-bumping Theo.

"Great," said Miguel, shrugging. "Let's sign up."

"Not yet," said Johnny, motioning for them to follow him into the building. "There's one more lesson I have to teach you," they gathered in a circle with Johnny walking in the middle of them. "You've all learned to strike first, to be aggressive, not be losers. I've taught you to strike hard, put every ounce of your power behind everything you do. But I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai..." said Johnny, looking mainly at Theo as he said this next part. "No mercy. The older you get, the more you're gonna learn that life isn't fair. You wake up one morning feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls. Takes a big steaming shit in your mouth. You get an F on a test. You get suspended. You fall in love with a girl, and some other dude comes and steals her away."

Theo smirked, covering his mouth to hide the laugh escaping his lips.

"Your car gets set on fire. Just when you think things are going good, everything falls apart. That's how it goes. Life shows no mercy, so neither do we. We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water. We do whatever it takes to keep moving forward. We do whatever it takes to win!" Theo nodded. "Remember who you are. You're badass. You don't give a shit. You kick ass. You're Cobra Kai!"

"Cobra Kai!"

"All right, guys, let's get down there and kick the shit out of everybody," Johnny said, and the others start pulling out their gi's.

"No, you're not wearing those," Johnny smirked.

—————

"Welcome, everyone, to the 50th annual All Valley Under-18 Karate Championship!" Daryl, the announcer kicked things off, getting a cheer from the gathering crowd. "You love the new mats. All right, let's start by welcoming all the local dojos competing today," he looked down at his card. "From Granada Hills, All-Star Karate..." Theo scanned the crowd, spotting a few people from school, his father, stepmother and half siblings, and even Tory sat with Brandon on her lap near the front.

He smiled at them both and waved, getting a wave from Brandon and a kiss blown from Tory. His eyes wandered up the stands, and his blood froze. John Kreese sat in the furthest corner of the stands, and next to him was someone he believed to be dead. His mother. Elise Kreese. His mother waved at him, causing Theo to take a deep breath. Their turn was up next.

"From Reseda, returning to the tournament, we have..." Daryl began, before being cut off by the dojo jogging onto the mat, lead by Theo. Theo got into the zone, taking a deep breath as they finished their chanting.

"Now that's what I call an entrance! And a badass name for a dojo!" Daryl said excitedly. "Fighting for them this year is Theodore LaRusso, two-time All Valley champion, looking to break his father's record!" Daryl yelled, and the crowd cheered loudly as Theo looked Daniel dead in the eye, smirking. "Let's hear it for Cobra Kai!"

"And finally, fighting unaffiliated from North Hills, we have Mr. Robby Keene," Theo looked to the side as the boy in question walked out, his eyes holding realisation that this was the boy who showed up to the party with Sam.

—————

The All Valley tournament was in full swing, with competitors from different dojos vying for victory. As Theo stepped onto the mat for his match against an opponent from the All-Star Karate, he exuded confidence, his eyes focused and his body poised for action.

"Ready? Face me, bow," Theo and his opponent bowed to the referee before bowing to each other. "Fight!"

The match began, and Theo wasted no time in showcasing his agility and defensive prowess. His opponent launched a series of strikes, but Theo effortlessly dodged and blocked each one, frustrating his opponent. With each evasion, Theo taunted his opponent, his smirk growing wider with every failed attempt to land a strike.

"Come on, man!" Theo taunted him when he won the first point by striking him with a spinning kick that sent his opponent to the mat. "Is that all you got?"

In the next round, his opponent's frustration grew, and desperation set in. In an attempt to break through Theo's defenses, he launched a powerful roundhouse kick. But Theo was ready. With a combination of quick reflexes and precise footwork, he sidestepped the kick, leaving his opponent off-balance.

Seizing the opportunity, Theo swiftly countered with a barrage of punches and kicks, each executed with precision and power. His opponent struggled to defend against the onslaught, unable to match Theo's speed and technique. The crowd erupted in cheers as they witnessed Theo's display of skill and dominance.

Theo's opponent desperately went for a kick to Theo's midsection, but the crowd held their breaths as Theo rolled over it, landing on his right hand and using his momentum to spring back, kicking his opponent in the face.

With the points 2-0 in Theo's favour, he walked back towards his side of the mat with a smirk on his face, fist-bumping Johnny, Miguel, Hawk and the rest of Cobra Kai. He then looked up at the far corner of the stands, seeing Elise smirking down at him with pride filled eyes as she clapped her hands, whispering to Theo's grandfather.

"Show that loser of a father that kick of his, yeah?" Johnny whispered in his ear, while Theo nodded, staring at his father who was staring back at him, looking ashamed. Theo took a deep breath, raising his left leg and balancing on his right as he lifted his arms. He took another deep breath and closed his eyes as the referee shouted for the next round to begin.

At the last second as his opponent began to charge at him, Theo's eyes opened as he sprang from his right leg to his left, kicking up his right leg and hitting his opponent square in the nose. Unlike thirty years ago when Daniel used the move on Johnny, Theo had knocked his opponent out cold. The crowd cheered as the referee raised Theo's hand in victory while two medical staff rushed on.

Theo looked at his father with a smug smile, raising his closed fist and raising three fingers, signalling he was here to break Daniel's record.

—————

It was going well for Theo, he had gotten into the semi-finals without losing a single point, which meant if he wins the final without losing a point he would've gone three years without losing.

As he stood on the stage in between Johnny and Robby, Daryl came back on to announce the semi-finals, "there can only be one true winner, and he is standing on this stage right now," said Daryl, smirking as he looked out to the crowd. "Will it be two-time champion, Theo LaRusso, from Cobra Kai Karate?" The crowd cheered loudly, no one more than his mom, Tory and Brandon. Theo even let out a chuckle as Daniel scolded Amanda and Anthony for cheering.

"Will it be Hawk... well I guess it's just "Hawk" from Cobra Kai Karate?" The crowd cheered again. "Will it be Robby Keene, unaffiliated?" The crowd cheered, not as loudly as they did for Theo and Hawk. "And last but certainly not least, runner up two years in a row, fighting out of Topanga Karate, Xander Stone!" Theo rolled his eyes as Xander flipped onto the mat, getting loud cheers from the crowd.

Two years in a row they had met in the final, and two years in a row Theo had beat him.

"I just wanted to say," Xander began after taking the microphone from Daryl, "even though I love to fight, we all need to stand together against hatred..." Theo rolled his eyes and shook his head as he toned out his words. After a moments silence, Theo took the mat and stood opposite Xander.

"You won't win this time," Xander said confidently, smirking arrogantly. Theo just smiled sarcastically.

As the match began, Xander wasted no time in launching an aggressive assault. He threw a flurry of kicks and strikes, aiming to overwhelm Theo. However, Theo's keen observation skills allowed him to easily read Xander's telegraphed moves. With precise timing and impeccable defense, Theo blocked each strike effortlessly, frustrating his opponent.

Spotting an opening in Xander's offense, Theo seized the opportunity. As Xander went for a jumping spinning kick, Theo swiftly caught his leg and expertly swept his other leg, causing Xander to lose his balance and fall to the ground. Taking advantage of the situation, Theo gracefully landed on top of Xander and delivered a powerful elbow strike, leaving his opponent momentarily stunned.

As the first round came to a close, Theo's smile remained, his confidence unshaken. He knew that the battle was far from over, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Entering the second round, Theo decided to take a different approach. Instead of relying solely on his defensive skills, he chose to go on the offensive. With a renewed focus, he launched a series of calculated strikes, aiming to capitalize on Xander's frustrations.

Xander, now feeling the pressure, began to lose his composure. His movements became sloppy, his timing off-kilter. Sensing his opponent's vulnerability, Theo capitalized on the opportunity. With a swift and well-placed strike, he scored a point, leaving Xander momentarily stunned and the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Theo's offensive onslaught continued, his strikes landing with precision and power. Xander struggled to regain his focus, his frustration evident in his every move. The pressure mounted as the clock ticked away, and Theo's lead began to widen.

Just as the bell was about to ring for sudden death, Theo jumped in the air, the crowd holding its breath as he twisted, landing a spinning hook kick to finish off the match.

"Point! Winner!" The referee announced as he raised Theo's hand.

"Three times," he mouthed to Xander's mother arrogantly as she shouted angry curses at him.

Theo thanked Miguel as he handed Theo a water bottle as they prepared to watch Hawk versus Robby. However, the fight didn't last too long after Robby made it 1-1, Hawk kicked Robby in the shoulder before the third round could begin, ultimately disqualifying him.

"Enough!" Theo yelled in Hawk's face as he rushed to shove him back from attacking Robby again, while Johnny went to check on him.

—————

"This is it, folks! The moment we've all been waiting for, the final match to determine who will be victor and champion!" Daryl announced as Theo stood on the mat beside Johnny. "Will it be two-time winner, Theo LaRusso, from Cobra Kai Karate?" The crowd cheered loudly. "Will it be Robby Keene, unaffili-" Daryl paused as a woman on the committee rushed up to him. "Daniel LaRusso is going to coach? Daniel LaRusso is going to coach!"

Theo looked angrily towards where his father was walking out, rolling up his sleeves.

"I'm sorry, folks, there's been a change! Robby Keene will now be fighting for Miyagi-Do Karate!" Daryl announced as the crowd clapped and cheered. "With former champion Daniel LaRusso as his Sensei!"

"You alright?" Johnny asked when they reached their side of the mat.

"I'm going to make Daniel wish he never coached," Theo said coldly. Johnny looked between Robby, who was nursing his injured shoulder, and Theo worriedly.

The match began, and both fighters wasted no time in showcasing their skills. Robby, determined to overcome his injury, launched a powerful punch towards Theo. However, his aim was off, leaving his chest exposed. Seizing the opportunity, Theo swiftly struck Robby, scoring the first point of the match. The crowd gasped in awe at the speed and precision of Theo's counterattack.

Undeterred by the setback, Robby gathered his focus and fought back with unwavering determination. As Theo attempted a kick, Robby displayed his agility and skill by catching his opponent's leg. In a calculated move, Robby applied pressure to Theo's knee, damaging some of the ligaments. A cry of pain and anger escaped Theo's lips, signaling the end of his streak of not losing a single point in three years.

With the score tied at 1-1,Daniel, grabbed Robby's uninjured shoulder as he looked towards Theo.

"Sweep the leg," Daniel told Robby, staring coldly at Theo. Robby nodded, believing Daniel meant well. So when in the next round Theo went for another kick, Robby dodged, grabbed it and stamped on it, getting a loud cry of pain from Theo and angry boo's and jeers from the crowd.

Tensions had been brewing between Johnny and Daniel for quite some time, and now the moment of confrontation had arrived. They both rushed to the mat, Johnny driven by anger. The crowd watched in anticipation as the two senseis stood face-to-face in the center of the arena.

Johnny, fueled by his frustration, couldn't hold back his words any longer. He pointed an accusing finger at Daniel and exclaimed, "You're such a fucking hypocrite! You told Robby to sweep Theo's injured leg, after everything Miyagi taught you? After what happened in 84'?"

Daniel's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing at his words. With a calm yet stern voice, he responded, "Johnny, this is not the time or place for this argument. Let's focus on the tournament."

"Nah, fuck that," Johnny growled. "You just caused an injury to your own son."

"After one of your students dislocated your son's shoulder," Daniel whispered.

But Johnny wasn't willing to let it go. His anger simmered beneath the surface, ignited by a deep-seated rivalry that had plagued them for years. He took a step forward, his voice filled with resentment, "You always act like you're the saint, preaching about honor and respect. But when it comes to winning, you're no better than the rest of us."

The tension in the arena reached its peak as the crowd held their breath, waiting to see how Daniel would respond. Before the situation could escalate further, the referee intervened, placing himself between the two senseis. He raised his arms, signaling for calm.

"Enough! This is not the time for personal grievances," the referee declared firmly. "The focus should be on the match and the fair play of the competitors."

Reluctantly, Johnny and Daniel stepped back, their eyes locked in a silent battle of pride and resentment. The referee turned his attention to Robby, who had been given a warning for his actions against Theo. With a stern look, he reminded Robby of the importance of sportsmanship and fair play.

Theo, despite the pain coursing through his injured leg, refused to back down. Summoning all of his strength, he pushed through the agony and launched a relentless assault. With lightning-fast punches, Theo landed a quick flurry of blows to Robby's chest, tying the score at 2-2. The intensity in the arena reached its peak as the crowd witnessed the indomitable spirit of both fighters.

With the match hanging in the balance, every move became crucial. The final point would determine the champion. The tension was palpable as Robby and Theo engaged in a fierce back-and-forth exchange. The crowd held their breath, their eyes fixed on the action unfolding before them.

In a moment of heart-stopping drama, Theo delivered a devastating punch directly to Robby's injured shoulder. The pain overwhelmed Robby, causing him to drop to his knees. Sensing victory within reach, Theo swiftly followed up with a roundhouse kick to Robby's face, securing the decisive point. The crowd erupted in a mix of astonishment and admiration.

The C0bra Kai's rushed onto the mat, lifting Theo onto their shoulders as the referee passed Theo the first placed trophy. He lifted it above his head as the crowd cheered for him. He could see his mom and grandpa clapping from the far corner, Amanda standing up and cheering and then he looked at Tory, who smiled at him widely.

Tory rushed onto the mat when the Cobra Kai's put him down and she rushed into his arms, peppering kisses along his face.

"You did it!" Tory laughed in shock, feeling Brandon crash into the pair of them.

"Told you I would," Theo smirked, looking at his father who was staring back at him.