[SEASON FIVE: EPISODE EIGHT]

"Did you catch that video I sent you of last year's Sekai Taikai?"

"Yeah." Ethan replied.

"Who knew anyone like that could kick that high?"

"Or that hard." Robby tapped his shoulder in response.

"Dude, seriously."

"I guess that's why it's the biggest competition in the world." Sam said, before making her way over with Chris and Mitch by her side.

"I heard last year's winners did a car commercial in Taiwan."

"Imagine being in a commercial. What would you do with all that money?" He asked.

"I'd probably go to college, and maybe even become a Sensei." Williams replied.

"I think it's a great plan. Nice to plan ahead, you know?" The brunette shrugged her shoulders. At that very moment everyone started making kissing faces and making 'ooo' sounds, causing Ethan to turn red in embarrassment.

"All right, alright. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Remember, Cobra Kai is gonna do everything they can to get a spot. And if they win this time, kids all over the world are gonna have to deal with the same kind of crap you guys have gone through."

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

"Teach them the right way."

"First you must prove you can compete with best." Chozen stated.

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

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

"Go! Move those asses."

Williams began to walk off, getting ready to train for the tournament. Suddenly, Johnny stepped in front of him.

"Hey. How are you feeling?"

"Amazing. Great." He replied.

"Why, what's up?"

"I just want you to know I'm not gonna force you to compete. I made that mistake in the All Valley. Not gonna do it again."

"No worries. I'm super pumped to be participating for the Sekai Taikai. And I feel like this is me getting one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a Sensei."

"Everything okay with, uh...." Sensei started, pointing back at Sam while she was practicing her kata with Daniel.

"Yeah. I mean things were tough at first, but I'm just glad we're still friends."

"All right. That's good to hear." Johnny padded his hand on Ethan's shoulder as Keene walked over towards them.

"How sweet. Is this what fatherly advice sounds like?" He joked.

"Come on, we're just talking."

"Relax. I'm messing with you." Robby reassured him, as Williams chuckled.

"I'm glad you guys ironed out your shit." He sighed in relief.

"With you on the same team, we have a shot."

"What you say? Are you ready to show the world who's boss?"

"Hell yeah!" The two boys fist-bumped each other in excitement.

The Sekai Taikai presentation was a success, and everyone celebrated with pizza at the LaRusso house. Mitch tried to grab a slice, but Bert slapped his hand away and grabbed one for himself.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Johnny was leaning on a couch while Eli, Ethan, and Robby were sitting down. They were discussing which one of them will fight in the Sekai Taikai, tomorrow. 

"Alright, we have a choice, and it's not gonna be easy. You're all badass fighters, but only one of you can get on the mat tomorrow."

"Hawk's the current All Valley champ. But it could've gone either way. Williams is last year's champ. That could've gone either way too."

"Even though Hawk injured Robby in the semis, Hawk didn't have to fight in the semis this year. Williams booked it to Canada."

"Point being you're all deserving. LaRusso, Chozen and I are having a hard time deciding which one of you should go up against Cobra Kai."

"Maybe we should flip a coin." He suggested.

"How would that work? There's only three of us." Hawk pointed out.

"So we'll flip three coins."

"Wait, hold on. You don't need to flip anything. Me and Robby actually made up our minds." Williams said.

"Yeah. We talked about it, and there's only one choice."

"It should be Hawk."

"He beat me fair and square."

"While, I bowed out of the last tournament. So, he deserves to represents us tomorrow."

"Wow. It's an honor I don't take lightly." Eli said, looking surprised.

"I'm prepared for the challenge."

"Alright, we'll train tonight."

"But, what about Sam? Where's she?"

The next day was the Sekai Takai. It was Cobra Kai going up against Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang. Daniel, Johnny, Chozen, along with their students, stepped inside the dojo.

"Thank you, Sensei Silver for offering to host these matches in your dojo on such short notice." One of the judges said, looking towards Cobra Kais side.

"Offering or demanding?" Daniel asked.

"Well we do have actual tournament regulation mats here, so it really was the only option." Silver said.

"We'll begin with the boys fight. We have invited a local referee to ensure impartiality. First to three points wins. Time to begin."

The Miyagi-Dos and Eagle Fangs cheered for Eli as he made his way onto the mat.

"Eli Moskowitz and Kenny Payne, please take the mat." The judge called out, as the two boys approached, bowing to the ref while their respective sides cheered for them.

"Fight!"

Kenny yelled as he swiftly kicked toward Hawk, nimble on his feet as he swung around and attempted to strike him. Eli managed to block him a few times before his opponent's feet collided with his side, sending him staggering.

"Point! 1-0, Payne."

The boy launched another kick towards him, but his enemy countered with a kick of his own. They exchanged blocks, matching each other's pace. He then propelled himself off the ground and delivered a swift kick to Kenny's face.

"Yes!" Johnny cheered.

"Out of bounds. No point."

"What? What, are you serious?" Eli asked in disbelief.

"Come on, ref. That's horseshit. He made contact in bounds!" Sensei shouted, loudly.

"No point. Back on the line." The referee declared, instructing the boys to step back once more.

"Fight!"

Kenny kicked at Eli, both strikes blocked before he swung again. Hawk deftly blocked every kick, but Payne's elbow came down, catching him in the back of the leg. He cried out in pain before landing flat on hit the mat.

"Illegal strike. That's a warning."

"Warning? He should be disqualified." Daniel pointed out.

"It's fine, he just caught me off guard."

"Are you sure, Eli?" LaRusso asked.

"No more Eli. It's time to uncage the Hawk."

"Fight!"

Hawk attempted to block his punch but Kenny struck him squarely in the chest, causing everyone in Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang to cringe, feeling his pain.

"Point. 2-0. Payne."

"Hawk!" Williams yelled in fear, as Eli lay on the ground, whispering and gasping for air. He didn't even moved a muscle; now he lay there as if he was dead.

"Hawk." Johnny said, kneeling down beside him.

"What's wrong?"

"I can't.... Can't.... Can't breath." The boy managed to say, clutching his chest in pain.

"Can you continue?"

"That's a forfeit." The referee stated, lifting Kenny's arm in victory.

"Winner, Payne."

"Can you breathe?" The medic asked, looking down at Eli, who nodded in response.

"I think he's okay. Just got the wind knocked out of him."

"Looks like you got a new name." Kenny called out mockingly to Hawk.

"Faux-Hawk."

"You asshole!" Ethan shouted, sounding really angry. He started walking across the mat, but before he could make it over to Cobra Kai, Robby grabbed him by the shoulders, halting him in his traces.

"Ethan, clam down."

"He mocked my friend!" He growled angrily.

"We know, but you need to clam down." Sam immediately approached them, placing her hand on his cheek in an attempt to soothe him.

"For me?"

"Okay." The boy sighed as they returned to their side of the mat.

"We begin our girl's fight. Samantha LaRusso and Tory Nichols, please take the mat."

Suddenly, Tory was nowhere to be seen in the building. The judge glanced over at Sliver and Cobra Kai.

"Tory Nichols?"

After searching around, she was surprisingly nowhere to be found.

Terry approached the judges, informing them of an unexpected turn of events, while the new female Sensei sent Devon onto the mat to fight for Nichols's place.

"Face me. Bow. Face each other. Bow." The man said, then nodded to the girls.

"Ready? Fight!"

Devon swung first, her fist heading towards Sam as the girl backed away, blocking her hits and kicks. The brunette countered with a kick, which her opponent blocked, but she spun around and kicked her in the ribs.

"No point. That's shoulder. No point." The referee stated.

"Keep fighting!"

Sam grunted as she landed a series of hard kicks toward Devon, who skillfully block each one before retaliating with a kick to her enemy's arm.

"Point. 1-0, Lee."

"There was no contact!" Daniel called out, tossing his hands up in disbelief.

She called a time out and rushed to her side of the mat, running to over her Dad.

"I blocked that! And I got her below the shoulder."

"All right, look. Not every point is gonna go our way." LaRusso reassured her.

"Those calls put me down a point. I should be up one! If I lose the match because of it—"

"Sammy." Ethan called out, getting her attention.

"You're the better fighter. Everyone knows it. Even I know it. And the ref might not be doing you any favors, but who the hell cares? You've got all of us in your corner, we're right behind you."

"Referee is moron. Must not leave room for error."

"He's right. You make every point undeniable."

Sam bowed at them both before making her way back to the mat.

"Fight!"

She blocked each of Devon's punches, then swiftly ducked down to spin on the floor and knock her feet out from under her, landing a punch to the enemy's chest. The crowd erupted in cheers as she was granted the point, and it was clear the referee couldn't cheat them out of that victory.

"Fight!"

Devon attempted a swift kick, but Sam dodged it with agility, countering with a powerful kick to her chest.

"Fight!"

The two girls got close for this one, both preforming admirably as they blocked each other's movements.

Sam caught her leg and shoved it away before expertly blocking every punch thrown her way. Then, she jumped up and delivered a decisive kick, sending her opponent crashing down to the ground one final time.

"Point. Winner, LaRusso!"

The brunette immediately ran to him as Williams squeezed her tightly.

"You're amazing. I knew you could do it."

As the girls' match was over, the judges made a decision in under two minutes.

"We have reached an agreement. As expected, we were impressed with the skills, precision and discipline of the new Sekai Taikai qualifier.... Cobra Kai."

Ethan frowned in disbelief as the judges turned their attention to the two combined dojo.

"As for our other dojo, we admired your unusual mix of styles and underdog spirit.... and we think you could be quite an addition to the competition. Therefore, we've decided that your dojo has also qualified."

Later in the day, after the Miyagi-Fangs were welcomed to the Sekai Taikai, they decided to throw a big house party to celebrate their big win. There was drinks, music, and almost everyone in the whole Valley there.

Ethan grabbed a couple of plastic cups, from the living room and made his way over to the kitchen counter. He placed them in the sink while Robby and Hawk, were leaning up against the counter.

"What, uh, happened to the green?" Keene pointed out, looking up at the boy's different hair color.

"Uh, didn't really work for me, so, still, uh, figuring it out." He replied.

"Dude, this is insane. How did everyone find out about all of this?"

"Moon invited a ton of people from East Valley. Guess the word got out."

"Hey. Came to party with us cause we got into the Sekai Taikai?" Mitch asked as three girls walked in the party.

"I have no idea what you just said. We came to drunk." One of the girls replied.

"The Sekai Taikai—"

"Penis breath, grab the girl a cup." Hawk interrupted him. He wrapped his arm around Ethan, as he kept staring over at the three girls.

"Anyways, let me introduce you to the baddest badass at the party."

"Sorry ladies, but I'm waiting for someone." Williams said as the three walked away. And not a second later, Sam walked inside the party, and it was like everything just stopped. Then, the two made eye contact.

"Hey, Sammy. Wow, you look...." He paused, suddenly noticing the beautiful dress she was wearing.

"Beautiful."

Suddenly, the brunette remembered she had forgotten her bag.

"Oh, I forgot my bag." She stated before turning around and making her way back outside.

"That's okay. I'll wait for you!" The boy called out.

As the brunette stepped out of the apartment and neared a dumpster, she pulled out her phone, only to find a familiar blonde girl standing behind her.

"LaRusso."

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm not here to fight. I came to talk." Tory reassured her.

"About what?"

"You didn't lose the All Valley."

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SEE ALL YOU GUYS IN THE NEXT ONE!!!!

EDITED; 3/23/2024

EIGHT DOWN TWO MORE TO GO!!!!

PEACE