The sun dipped low over the Valley, painting Miyagi-Do in gold and shadow. The courtyard had never been this crowded — dozens of students from Topanga, Iron Dragons, and smaller dojos filled the space, some stretching, some whispering, others stealing nervous glances at Chozen as he paced like a panther.
Daniel clapped his hands. "Alright! Everyone listen up."
The murmurs quieted, though Zara leaned against the wooden fence with that infuriating smirk, her eyes scanning the crowd like she was measuring prey.
Daniel continued, "I know we come from different dojos. Different teachings. Different philosophies. But starting today, we train together. Because if we don't…" His eyes flicked across their faces, voice heavy. "…we won't survive Cobra Kai."
Chozen's voice followed, calm but sharp. "No excuses. No mercy. If you cannot keep up, leave now."
No one moved.
"Good," Chozen said, his arms folding. "Then we begin."
The first drills were chaos.
Topanga's students moved with slow, measured precision, their stances defensive, deliberate. Iron Dragons exploded with aggression, snapping punches so hard that dust lifted from the mats. Miyagi-Do tried to hold the center, but the clash was obvious.
Chris muttered to Nate as they blocked together, "Feels like we're babysitting two different worlds."
"Yeah," Nate grunted, stumbling back as an Iron Dragon nearly slammed into him. "And both worlds hate each other."
Sam pushed through her pain, her movements stiff but determined. Every strike was a silent rebellion against her body's protests. Kate hovered nearby, sharp-eyed, as if guarding Sam's every step.
Zara strolled past, smirking. "Careful, LaRusso," she drawled. "Wouldn't want to break before Cobra Kai even touches you."
Sam shot her a glare. "Don't you have someone else to annoy?"
"Maybe." Zara's smirk widened. "But watching you limp is fun."
Meanwhile, Chozen barked orders.
"Faster! Strike, recover, balance! You fight like children. Cobra Kai will eat you alive."
Kwon smirked as he launched into a series of flawless spinning kicks, landing with a thud. "Children, huh?" He glanced at Chozen. "Maybe some of us are already killers."
Chozen's expression didn't change, but his eyes were steel. "Killers die fast. Warriors endure."
The students murmured, tension thick.
During a sparring rotation, Kate ended up paired against an Iron Dragon boy twice her size. He swung hard, brutal, but she ducked and countered with a swift elbow to his ribs, sending him stumbling.
"Nice," Chris whispered, impressed.
Kate only nodded, but her eyes darted toward Zara, who was circling the edge like a predator.
Later, Daniel tried to calm the growing storm. He gathered the groups, voice steady.
"Look, I know this isn't easy. But Cobra Kai wants us divided. That's their strength. If we keep snapping at each other, we've already lost."
Master Lee from Topanga stepped forward. "We cannot abandon our values, LaRusso. Defense, discipline — this is who we are."
Wu from Iron Dragons snorted. "And while you're busy 'defending,' Cobra Kai will carve through your students like butter. That's not values. That's suicide."
Zara chimed in, smirk never fading. "Honestly? I vote we let Cobra Kai finish off the weak ones. Makes my job easier when I'm dealing with Andrea."
Kate's jaw tightened. "You talk about her like she's a trophy. She's not. She's dangerous."
Zara tilted her head, eyes glinting. "Dangerous makes it fun."
Chozen finally stepped in, his voice cutting like a blade. "Enough. You argue like fools. Cobra Kai prepares while you waste breath. Train, or die."
Silence.
By sundown, the students were drenched in sweat, their movements sharper but still jagged from clashing philosophies. Some collapsed against the porch, panting. Others whispered about what Cobra Kai might already be planning.
Sam sat on the steps, nursing her side. Kate lowered herself beside her. "You shouldn't push so hard."
Sam shot her a look. "And sit out while Cobra Kai tears through my family? Not happening."
Across the yard, Zara lounged with Kwon, her eyes still scanning. When she caught sight of Robby stepping into the dojo's edge — quiet, hands in pockets — her smirk grew wider.
"Well, well," she murmured to Kwon. "The prodigal Cobra. Think he's here to spy… or to break?"
Kwon shrugged. "Either way, he'll be ours soon enough."
Zara's gaze lingered on Robby, hunger in her eyes. "Not 'ours.' Mine."
Daniel ended the session with a speech, voice strained but steady.
"This isn't perfect. We're not perfect. But we're together now. And together… we can stop Cobra Kai. We have to."
The students, bruised and exhausted, nodded slowly. But the doubts still lingered.
And as the stars crept over the Valley, one truth settled into every heart:
This was no longer training.
This was war.