A/N: Since not a whole lot happens in this episode and the previous one, we will just combine the two.

Another day at the Cobra Kai dojo, Zeke, Aisha, and Miguel were surprised to see a surge of new members. The dojo was crowded, a clear result of the viral video showing Kyler getting his ass kicked. However, Zeke quickly noticed that many of the newcomers didn't seem like fighters. Demetri and Eli were among the several who stood out.

Johnny clapped his hands, calling for attention. "Quiet! Face front."

He walked over to Demetri. "Nice shirt," Johnny said.

"Thanks," Demetri replied, a hint of hope in his voice.

"I'm joking. It sucks," Johnny shot back, moving on to a kid with big glasses and large, yellow teeth.

"Word of advice: If you got shit for teeth, don't smile," Johnny advised. Zeke couldn't help but snicker.

Johnny shook his head. "My God, makes me feel like a virgin just looking at you."

Scanning the room, Johnny sighed. "When I look around this dojo, I don't see Cobra Kai material. I see losers. I see nerds. I see a fat kid with a funny hat and his tits popping out."

He paused, then nodded toward Miguel. "But in my short time as a sensei, I've seen some miracles." He then looked at Zeke. "And I've also seen some prodigies."

"So maybe there's some hope for you yet," Johnny continued. "First, I need to see where you're at. Everybody, fall in!"

The newcomers looked confused.

"That means line up," Johnny clarified. "No, not--not line up in a line. Lines. Get in lines."

"Do you mean, like, rows?" Demetri asked, clearly struggling to understand.

Zeke rolled his eyes. "Yes, he means rows!" he said, exasperated.

🐍

Johnny stood in front of the class, clapping his hands. "Fighting positions! Jab punch!" He watched the students awkwardly assume their stances. "Nope, wait till I say go."

"Hiya! Hiya! Hiya!" Johnny demonstrated, his voice booming.

The students mimicked him, their movements uncoordinated.

"Come on, you want to stand straight. Plant your feet," Johnny instructed. "Hiya!"

He walked over to a heavyset kid. "Come on, tits, you can do better than that. You got weight; use it. Ready? Hiya!"

Johnny moved his focus to Eli, who looked nervous. "Hey, Lip."

Eli flinched, his eyes darting around.

"Yeah, you. The one with the freaky lip. Who do you think I'm talking to?"

Zeke watched Eli, feeling a rare twinge of sympathy. Out of all the kids there, Eli clearly needed some self-confidence.

"Excuse me, Mr. Lawrence," Demetri interrupted.

"Sensei Lawrence," Zeke corrected, annoyed at Demetri's attitude.

"Okay," Demetri said sarcastically. "You really shouldn't make fun of someone's physical appearance."

Johnny's eyes narrowed. "Oh, is that so? So I'm not supposed to mention his lip at all?"

"Well, yeah," Demetri said. "Maybe that's what they teach you in school, but in the real world you can't expect people to do what they're supposed to do. Right? You hear that, Lip? If you can't handle someone making fun of you, how are you gonna handle an elbow to the teeth?"

"By calling the police?" Demetri retorted.

Miguel shot him a look. "Dude, knock it off."

Demetri ignored him. "What? He does realize the Nazis lost the war, right? Why should I be scared of him? Because he's got a snake on his wall? It's not like he's a teacher who can give us a bad grade. We're paying him. He works for us. It's not like he can actually hurt us."

Johnny's anger was palpable. Zeke could see the storm brewing.

"You're going to get it now," Zeke muttered under his breath.

Johnny stepped closer to Demetri. "You done?"

Demetri's bravado wavered. "What?"

"Hit me," Johnny demanded. "Go ahead, hit me. Strike me right here."

Demetri threw a hesitant punch.

"Harder," Johnny ordered. Demetri's second punch was no better.

"Is that all you got, princess?" Johnny barked before flipping Demetri onto the ground with a swift, powerful move.

Demetri lay there, stunned, as Johnny addressed the class. "Let that be a lesson to all of you."

Zeke leaned down to Demetri, his voice low and threatening. "That's what happens when you mouth off. Remember that next time, or it'll be worse."

1984

The autumn sun bathed the schoolyard of West Valley High in a warm glow as students milled about, enjoying their lunch break. Daniel LaRusso stood near the soccer field, chatting with Ali Mills. Laughter punctuated their conversation, creating a bubble of normalcy and lightness.

That bubble burst as Michael Kreese, flanked by Bobby and Dutch, approached with a predatory glint in his eye. The trio moved with purpose, their presence casting a shadow over the scene.

"Hey, LaRusso," Michael called out, his voice dripping with contempt. "What's going on here?"

Daniel turned, his smile fading as he saw the approaching bullies. "Just talking, Kreese. Leave us alone."

Ali stepped forward, her expression firm. "Michael, this isn't right. Just go away."

Michael's eyes flicked to Ali, annoyance flaring. "Keep walking, Ali. This has nothing to do with you."

Ali opened her mouth to protest, but Michael ignored her, turning his full attention back to Daniel. He shoved Daniel hard, causing him to stumble back.

"Think you can just waltz in here and act like you're something special?" Michael taunted, his fists clenched. "You're nothing, LaRusso."

Daniel straightened, trying to maintain his composure. "I'm not looking for trouble, man."

"Too bad," Michael sneered. "Trouble found you."

With a swift, practiced motion, Michael launched a punch at Daniel, landing it squarely in his stomach. Daniel doubled over, gasping for breath. Bobby and Dutch laughed, their voices harsh and mocking.

Ali tried to intervene, stepping between Michael and Daniel. "Stop it, Michael! You're going to hurt him!"

Michael pushed Ali aside, his eyes blazing with the anger and frustration fueled by years of intense training under his father. "Stay out of it, Ali. This is between me and him."

He grabbed Daniel by the collar, yanking him upright. "You want to play tough guy with your karate? Let's see how tough you really are."

Michael unleashed a series of precise punches and kicks, each move a testament to his brutal training. Daniel tried to block, but he was outmatched, each hit landing with painful accuracy.

"Michael Kreese!" A teacher's voice rang out, sharp and authoritative. Michael paused, his breath heavy, eyes still locked on Daniel.

"This isn't over, LaRusso," Michael hissed, releasing his grip. "It's only going to get worse."

With one last act of defiance, Michael kicked a soccer ball across the yard, the force of the kick sending it flying. He turned and walked away, leaving Daniel bruised and Ali shaken.

As the teacher approached, Ali knelt beside Daniel, her concern evident. "Are you okay, Daniel?"

Daniel nodded weakly, his body aching from the beating. "Yeah. I'll be fine."

But as he watched Michael's retreating figure, he knew this was far from over.

🐍

Michael stood at the edge of the mat, his hands clenched into fists, as the roar of the crowd faded into a dull, oppressive hum in his ears. He had just lost to Daniel LaRusso in the semi-finals of the 1984 All Valley Tournament. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. His father had drilled into him the tenets of Cobra Kai—strike first, strike hard, no mercy—and yet, somehow, he had failed. The final blow from Daniel had left him on his back, gasping for air and grappling with the reality that he had underestimated the new kid from Reseda.

As he stood there, replaying the match over and over in his mind, he felt his father's presence behind him. Michael didn't need to turn around to know that John Kreese was watching him, his expression one of cold, calculated disappointment. The silence between them was suffocating, each second stretching into eternity as Kreese's expectations weighed heavily on Michael's shoulders.

Johnny Lawrence, Michael's closest friend and Cobra Kai's top student, had made it to the finals, and Michael knew that his father was now pinning all his hopes on Johnny to restore the dojo's honor. But Michael also knew that the sting of his own loss would linger, a silent testament to his failure in his father's eyes.

The final match between Johnny and Daniel played out with an intensity that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Johnny was relentless, each strike landing with the precision and power that had earned him his reputation. But Daniel, battered and bruised, was resilient, refusing to go down without a fight. Michael watched, his jaw clenched, as the match unfolded. With each exchange, his anxiety grew. He knew what was at stake—not just for Johnny, but for Cobra Kai as a whole. His own loss was already a blow to the dojo's reputation. Another loss would be catastrophic.

Then, in a moment that would be seared into Michael's memory forever, Daniel executed the crane kick. The kick landed cleanly on Johnny's face, and the crowd erupted in cheers as Daniel was declared the winner. Johnny fell to the mat, his expression a mix of pain and disbelief. The realization that Cobra Kai had lost, that *they* had lost, hit Michael like a freight train.

Kreese's face was a mask of fury as he marched onto the mat, his eyes locked onto Johnny. The disappointment in his gaze was unmistakable, and Michael knew that his father would not let this go easily. Kreese had always been a harsh taskmaster, but this loss was different—it was personal. It wasn't just about the dojo's reputation; it was about Kreese's legacy, the philosophy he had spent years instilling in his students.

As they left the arena and made their way to the parking lot, the tension among the Cobra Kai students was palpable. No one spoke, the silence only broken by the sound of their footsteps on the asphalt. Michael walked beside Johnny, both of them struggling with the weight of their respective losses.

In the dimly lit parking lot, the storm finally broke. Kreese turned on Johnny, grabbing him by the collar and shoving him against a car. "You're off the team!" Kreese snarled, his voice laced with venom.

Johnny, still reeling from the match, looked at his sensei in shock. "That sucks! I did my best!"

Kreese's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What did you say?"

Johnny, mustering what little courage he had left, repeated himself. "I said I did my best!"

"You're nothing!" Kreese hissed, his grip tightening on Johnny's collar. "You lost! You're a loser!"

Johnny, his fear turning to anger, pushed back. "No, you're the loser, man!"

Kreese's face twisted into a snarl. "Oh, I'm the loser?"

"Yeah," Johnny shot back, his voice trembling with a mix of defiance and fear.

Without warning, Kreese grabbed Johnny's trophy and smashed it against the pavement, the golden figure shattering into pieces. "Now who's the loser?" Kreese growled, his voice dripping with contempt.

Johnny stared at the broken trophy, disbelief and betrayal written all over his face. "You're sick, man," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

The words were a trigger. Kreese's anger erupted as he grabbed Johnny by the throat, pulling him into a chokehold. Johnny's eyes widened in panic as he struggled to breathe, his hands clawing at Kreese's iron grip. Michael, horrified, rushed forward, trying to pry his father's hands off Johnny, but Kreese was too strong, too consumed by his rage.

"Dad, stop!" Michael pleaded, his voice frantic, but Kreese didn't listen. The other Cobra Kai students, including Bobby and Dutch, joined in, desperately trying to pull Kreese off Johnny, but it was no use. Kreese was lost in his fury, blind to everything but his own anger and frustration.

"Let him go!" a calm, authoritative voice suddenly cut through the chaos. It was Mr. Miyagi, Daniel's sensei, who had witnessed the scene unfolding.

Kreese ignored him, his grip on Johnny's throat tightening. Johnny's face was turning red, his struggles growing weaker with each passing second.

"I said, let him go!" Miyagi repeated, stepping closer, his voice firm and unyielding.

Kreese sneered, his anger now directed at the elderly man standing before him. "Beat it, slope, or you're next," he spat, his voice dripping with menace.

Miyagi's expression didn't change. With a swift, decisive movement, he reached out and grabbed Kreese's arm, forcing him to release Johnny. In a fluid motion, Miyagi twisted Kreese's arm behind his back, immobilizing him. Kreese struggled, but Miyagi's grip was unbreakable, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Kreese's wild fury.

Miyagi then dodged each of Kreese's strikes, causing him to hit a car windows, making his knuckles bleed.

Kreese dropped to his knees, gasping for breath, his eyes wide with shock. The Cobra Kai students watched in stunned silence as Miyagi, with minimal effort, had overpowered their fearsome sensei.

For a moment, it looked like Miyagi was going to strike Kreese again, but instead, he simply released him and honked his nose, his calm expression never wavering. "No more fighting," Miyagi said quietly, his words carrying a weight that resonated with everyone present.

Kreese, humiliated and beaten, scrambled to his feet, his eyes burning with a mixture of rage and humiliation. He glared at Miyagi, but the fight had gone out of him. With a final, hateful look at Johnny, he turned and stormed off into the night, leaving his students and his pride shattered in the parking lot.

Johnny, still gasping for air, leaned against the car, his body trembling with a mix of fear and relief. Michael moved to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder, both of them too shaken to speak. They watched as Mr. Miyagi walked over to Daniel, who had been watching the entire scene unfold with wide eyes.

"Come," Miyagi said softly to Daniel, leading him away from the chaos. Daniel, still processing what had just happened, followed his sensei, casting one last glance back at Johnny and Michael.

As the dust settled, Michael felt a heavy weight in his chest. The image of his father, once a figure of strength and invincibility, was now shattered. The man who had been his mentor, his guide, was nothing more than a broken, angry man whose own hatred had led to his downfall. Michael watched Kreese disappear into the night, the man he had once admired now a stranger, a shadow of what he used to be.

The parking lot was eerily quiet as the Cobra Kai students slowly dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts. Michael remained by Johnny's side, both of them silently grappling with the realization that nothing would ever be the same again.

And it wouldn't be.

🐍

Michael Kreese stood at the entrance of the All Valley Tournament boardroom, his hand hovering just above the doorknob. It had been years since he'd last set foot in a place that had anything to do with karate, let alone the All Valley. He took a deep breath, straightened his tie, and pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was much as he'd expected—plain, functional, and filled with a few familiar faces. The All Valley Tournament committee was gathered around a long table, and all eyes turned toward him as he entered. Ron, Sue, and George, the long-standing members of the committee, looked up with expressions ranging from curiosity to mild surprise. It wasn't every day that a well-known lawyer, someone with a solid reputation in the community, expressed interest in joining their ranks.

"Michael Kreese," Ron said, rising to shake his hand. "Good to meet you in person. We've heard a lot about you."

"Likewise," Michael replied, accepting the handshake and giving a firm squeeze. "Thank you for having me here today."

They all took their seats, and the meeting began. The usual formalities were exchanged, with Ron leading the introductions and laying out the agenda. But Michael could sense the unspoken tension in the room. His name carried a weight, a legacy that he knew couldn't be ignored, no matter how much time had passed.

After the initial pleasantries, Sue, the most direct of the group, leaned forward, her gaze steady. "We're impressed that someone of your stature wants to join the committee, Michael. But given your history with Cobra Kai, we have to ask—why now? What's your motivation for wanting to be part of this?"

Michael nodded, having expected this question. "I understand your concerns," he began, his voice calm and measured. "Yes, I was involved with Cobra Kai when I was younger, but that was a long time ago. I'm a different person now than I was in high school. My interest in joining the board is rooted in wanting to give back to the community and to ensure that the All Valley remains a positive influence on young people. I believe my background as a lawyer can bring a valuable perspective to the committee."

George, the quietest of the group, cleared his throat and spoke next. "Your relationship with your father, John Kreese, is something we can't ignore, either. He's been... a controversial figure, to say the least, especially after the events of the 1985 tournament."

Michael tensed slightly but kept his composure. "I understand," he said carefully. "At the time of the 1985 tournament, I was in law school, and I was as shocked as anyone by what happened. My father made mistakes, and I won't defend those actions. However, that was over three decades ago, and I believe he's learned from them. He's not the same man he was back then."

Sue leaned back in her chair, considering his words. "And what about your relationship with Mike Barnes?" she asked, mentioning the name with a slight edge.

Michael shook his head. "I don't know Mike Barnes personally. I've heard the stories, but I never crossed paths with him. My focus back then was on my studies, and I wasn't involved in the dojo during that time."

"What about Terry Silver?" Ron interjected, his tone more neutral but still probing. "He was close to your father, wasn't he?"

Michael hesitated, but only for a moment. "Terry Silver is an old friend of my dad's. He's also my godfather, but we haven't spoken in quite a long time. Our lives went in different directions, and I haven't kept up with him. My focus has been on my career and my family."

The room grew quiet as the committee members absorbed his responses. Michael could see them weighing his words, trying to reconcile the man before them with the legacy of the name he carried.

George spoke again, his voice softening. "And your father now? What's your relationship like with him?"

Michael looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he answered. "My father is currently living with us," he said, his voice betraying a hint of the uncertainty he usually kept hidden. "He's older now, and while he can be set in his ways, he's also been a presence for my daughter and especially my son. He's trying, in his own way, to be a better person. He made some questionable choices in the past, but I believe he's learning from those mistakes."

He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "But if I'm being completely honest with you, I don't fully know how much he's changed. We've had our ups and downs, and there are still things about him that I struggle to understand. But I want to believe that people can change, that they can learn from their past, no matter how hard that may be."

The room was silent for a moment, each member of the committee processing what