𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄.𝖢𝖮𝖴𝖭𝖳𝖤𝖱𝖡𝖠𝖫𝖠𝖭𝖢𝖤

The day started like any other for Zhen, but the weight of her complicated past hung heavy over her. She had moved to California for a fresh start, but it seemed like trouble followed her wherever she went. Living with her strict and abusive uncle had been unbearable, and the decision to move out had been both liberating and terrifying. Now, alone in a city that felt increasingly hostile, she wondered if she’d ever find a place where she truly belonged.

At Cobra Kai, Johnny was still reeling from the resurgence of interest in the dojo after Miguel’s fight. The viral video of Miguel standing up to Kyler had sparked excitement among the local teens. Students were flooding in, eager to join. For the first time, Johnny felt like his vision for Cobra Kai was within reach.

But as the dojo buzzed with new energy, John Kreese arrived unannounced, his presence sending a chill through the room. Kreese’s eyes landed on Zhen, who was practicing in the corner.

“She reminds me of someone,” Kreese said to Johnny, a knowing smirk on his face.

Johnny frowned. “Who?”

Kreese nodded toward Zhen. “Her mother. I knew her years ago. She had the same fire, the same determination to prove herself. And the same tendency to get in her own way.”

Zhen overheard the comment and paused mid-kick, turning to face Kreese. “You knew my mother?”

Kreese’s smile widened. “Oh, yes. She was one of the best fighters I ever trained. But she let her emotions get the better of her. You’re a lot like her in that way.”

Zhen’s heart raced. She had never known her mother, and her uncle refused to speak about her. Now, here was someone who not only knew her but was drawing comparisons she didn’t understand.

“What happened to her?” Zhen asked, her voice steady but filled with an undercurrent of desperation.

Kreese shrugged, his expression neutral. “She made her choices. Some good, some bad. But if you want to know more, you’ll have to earn it.”

Zhen’s jaw tightened, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. She wanted answers, but she wasn’t sure if she could trust Kreese. Still, the lure of learning about her mother was too strong to ignore.

Meanwhile, Daniel LaRusso was becoming increasingly desperate to shut down Cobra Kai. Watching the dojo thrive felt like a personal failure. He decided to resort to underhanded tactics, using his influence with local businesses to create obstacles for Johnny. He convinced the building inspector to pay a surprise visit to Cobra Kai, knowing full well that the dojo wouldn’t pass all the necessary codes.

As Johnny dealt with the inspector’s nitpicking, Daniel felt a twinge of guilt. Amanda had warned him not to stoop to Johnny’s level, but Daniel couldn’t shake the feeling that Cobra Kai’s philosophy was dangerous.

At school, Sam was dealing with her own issues. Kyler was still spreading rumors about her, but Miguel’s defense of her honor had earned him a newfound confidence. He wasn’t the same shy kid she had met weeks ago. Now, he carried himself with pride, and it was hard not to notice.

During lunch, Kyler cornered Sam again, his taunts growing louder and more obnoxious. Before Sam could respond, Miguel stepped in, his voice firm.

“That’s enough, Kyler,” Miguel said, his eyes narrowing.

Kyler sneered. “What are you gonna do about it, Karate Kid?”

Miguel didn’t hesitate. Using the skills Johnny had taught him, he quickly disarmed Kyler’s intimidation, delivering a series of precise moves that left Kyler sprawled on the ground.

The cafeteria erupted in cheers and gasps, students pulling out their phones to record the scene. Miguel offered Sam a hand, helping her to her feet.

“You okay?” he asked.

Sam nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Yeah. Thanks.”

By the time the video hit social media, it had gone viral. Cobra Kai’s name was everywhere, and the dojo saw another surge in enrollment. But the success came with complications.

Zhen, still reeling from Kreese’s cryptic comments about her mother, felt increasingly isolated. Watching Miguel become the center of attention only deepened her insecurities. She wanted to prove herself, not just to Kreese but to everyone who doubted her.

One evening, as Zhen stayed late at the dojo, Kreese approached her again.

“You’ve got potential,” Kreese said, his tone almost fatherly. “But you’re holding back. If you want to be the best, you need to embrace who you are—good and bad.”

Zhen looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and suspicion. “And what does that mean?”

Kreese leaned in slightly. “It means stop caring about what people think. Your mother didn’t, and neither should you. Like mother, like daughter.”

The words lingered in Zhen’s mind long after Kreese walked away. She didn’t know what he was trying to achieve, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t going to let her past define her future.

As the week came to an end, the lines between allies and enemies blurred. Miguel’s victory had brought Cobra Kai to new heights, but it also painted a target on his back. Zhen’s search for answers about her mother drew her closer to Kreese, whose motives remained unclear. And Daniel’s relentless efforts to shut down Cobra Kai only deepened the rift between him and Johnny.

For everyone involved, the stakes were higher than ever, and the path ahead was anything but clear.

---

Zhen sat on the worn bench outside the Cobra Kai dojo, the cool evening air brushing against her skin. Kreese's words echoed in her mind, gnawing at her. Like mother, like daughter. What did that mean? She had spent her whole life wondering about the woman who had given her life but had been nothing more than a shadow. Now, someone who claimed to know her mother was dangling answers in front of her like a carrot on a stick.

Inside the dojo, Miguel and Aisha were sparring under Johnny’s watchful eye. The room buzzed with energy, but Zhen felt detached, like an outsider looking in. She was usually one of the dojo's stars, but lately, her mind had been elsewhere.

As if sensing her distraction, Johnny stepped outside. “Hey, Zhen,” he called, leaning against the doorframe. “What’s going on with you? You’ve been quiet lately.”

Zhen hesitated, unsure if she should open up. Johnny wasn’t exactly the nurturing type, but he’d always been honest with her. “It’s Kreese,” she admitted finally. “He said he knew my mom. But he’s being cryptic about it, and I don’t know if I can trust him.”

Johnny’s expression hardened at the mention of Kreese. “That guy’s always been good at messing with people’s heads,” he said. “Don’t let him get to you.”

“But what if he’s telling the truth?” Zhen asked, her voice almost pleading. “What if he actually knows something about her? I’ve never met her, Johnny. I don’t even know her name.”

Johnny sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Look, I get it. You want answers. But Kreese doesn’t do anything out of the goodness of his heart. If he’s saying something, it’s because he wants something from you. Just… be careful, alright?”

Zhen nodded, appreciating the advice but still feeling restless. “Thanks, Sensei,” she said softly.

As Johnny returned to the dojo, Zhen stood and stretched, trying to shake off her unease. She couldn’t just sit around and wait for answers to fall into her lap. If Kreese wasn’t going to tell her what she wanted to know, she’d have to find another way to uncover the truth.

The next day at school, things took a turn for the worse. The video of Miguel taking down Kyler had painted a target on the backs of all Cobra Kai students. A group of Kyler’s friends cornered Zhen in the hallway, smirking as they blocked her path.

“Hey, Cobra Clown,” one of them sneered. “You think you’re so tough, huh?”

Zhen squared her shoulders, her eyes narrowing. “Get out of my way,” she said firmly.

“And what if we don’t?” another boy taunted. “You gonna do some fancy Karate moves on us too?”

The hallway seemed to close in around her as more students gathered to watch. Zhen felt the familiar surge of adrenaline, the fight-or-flight instinct kicking in. She could hear Johnny’s voice in her head: Strike first. Strike hard. No mercy.

Before she could act, Miguel appeared beside her, his expression calm but resolute. “You heard her,” he said, his tone low and dangerous. “Move.”

The boys hesitated, clearly remembering what had happened to Kyler. After a tense moment, they backed off, grumbling under their breath.

“Thanks,” Zhen said as the crowd dispersed.

Miguel shrugged. “We look out for each other, right? That’s what Cobra Kai’s all about.”

Zhen managed a small smile. For the first time in days, she felt a little less alone.

Later that evening, Zhen returned to the dojo, determined to confront Kreese. She found him in the corner, watching the new recruits with a calculating gaze.

“Kreese,” she called, her voice steady.

He turned to face her, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Zhen. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I want answers,” she said, crossing her arms. “You keep bringing up my mother, but you won’t tell me anything real. If you know something, just say it.”

Kreese studied her for a moment, as if weighing his options. Finally, he nodded. “Alright. You want to know about your mother? Meet me here tomorrow morning, before anyone else arrives. We’ll talk.”

Zhen’s heart raced, a mix of excitement and apprehension flooding her chest. “Fine,” she said. “But no more games.”

Kreese chuckled, his eyes gleaming with something she couldn’t quite place. “No games, Zhen. Just the truth.”

As she walked home that night, Zhen couldn’t shake the feeling that she was stepping into dangerous territory. But she had to know. Whatever the truth was, she was ready to face it. Or so she hoped.

---

The next morning, Zhen arrived at the Cobra Kai dojo before dawn. The streets were quiet, the air crisp and still. She had barely slept, her mind spinning with questions about her mother and what Kreese might reveal.

When she entered the dojo, Kreese was already there, standing in the center of the mat with his arms crossed. His presence was commanding, almost suffocating.

“You’re early,” Kreese said, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I like that. Shows commitment.”

“I’m here for answers, not compliments,” Zhen said, her voice sharp.

Kreese chuckled. “Fair enough. Sit down.”

Zhen hesitated, then lowered herself onto the mat, her legs crossed beneath her. Kreese remained standing, towering over her as he began to speak.

“Your mother was one of the most talented fighters I’ve ever trained,” he said, his tone reverent. “She had a fire in her—a hunger to prove herself, just like you. But she wasn’t from around here. She came from China, like you, carrying a lot of baggage. She never talked about her past, but I could see it in her eyes. She was running from something.”

Zhen’s breath hitched. This was more than she had ever known about her mother. “What happened to her?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kreese’s expression darkened. “She was good—better than good. But she let her emotions get in the way. She got too close to someone she shouldn’t have, and it distracted her. She made mistakes. In our world, mistakes can be fatal.”

“What do you mean, fatal?” Zhen pressed, her heart pounding.

Kreese waved a hand dismissively. “Not literal. But she fell apart. She left Cobra Kai, disappeared without a trace. I heard rumors, but nothing concrete. She was gone, just like that.”

Zhen felt a lump forming in her throat. “And you’re saying I’m like her?”

“In some ways, yes,” Kreese said. “You have her talent, her drive. But you’re stronger than she was. Smarter, too. You have the potential to go further than she ever did, as long as you don’t let yourself get distracted.”

Zhen stared at him, her mind racing. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not, but one thing was clear—Kreese saw something in her, and it wasn’t just a resemblance to her mother.

“What’s the catch?” Zhen asked, narrowing her eyes.

Kreese smiled, a glint of something dangerous in his expression. “No catch. I’m offering you guidance, Zhen. A chance to rise above your circumstances and become the fighter you were meant to be. But that means no weakness. No hesitation. Are you ready for that?”

Zhen hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to be cautious. But the promise of uncovering more about her mother—and the chance to finally prove herself—was too tempting to resist.

“I’m ready,” she said, her voice steady.

Kreese’s smile widened. “Good. Then let’s get to work.”

Later that day, Zhen returned to school, her mind still buzzing with everything Kreese had told her. She didn’t know if she could trust him, but she couldn’t deny that his words had lit a fire within her.

As she walked down the hall, she spotted Miguel and Aisha talking by the lockers. Miguel waved her over, his face lighting up.

“Hey, Zhen! You okay? You’ve been kind of quiet lately.”

Zhen forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... a lot on my mind.”

Miguel nodded, his expression understanding. “Well, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find us.”

Zhen appreciated his support, but she couldn’t bring herself to confide in him—not yet. “Thanks, Miguel,” she said.

Before she could say more, Sam walked by, her eyes meeting Zhen’s for a brief moment. The tension between them was palpable, still raw from their recent fight.

“Guess some things never change,” Aisha muttered under her breath, watching Sam disappear into the crowd.

Zhen sighed. “She’s not worth it,” she said, though her clenched fists betrayed her lingering anger.

“She’ll get what’s coming to her,” Aisha said confidently. “People like her always do.”

Zhen nodded, but her thoughts drifted back to Kreese’s words. She was stronger than her mother, smarter. She wasn’t going to let anyone hold her back—not Sam, not Yasmin, not even herself.

The fire inside her was burning brighter than ever, and for the first time, she felt like she was truly in control of her destiny.