Kai had always favored strength and size. He had both, after all. He had never met an animal larger than him and his strength was only rivaled by one person, Oogway. The tortoise was his brother in arms. They had known and fought alongside each other for years. And they would for years to come, they had both agreed on that. They would die together.

Well, maybe not at the same time, but Kai would like to think Oogway wouldn't take too long after him. Just the thought of being alone after death was paralyzing. He shuddered quickly before fixing his gaze back on Oogway.

Even from a distance he heard Oogway make a small grunt as he flipped over his staff. He must be getting tired. Kai had noticed that Oogway changed his weaponry and attire to be less . . . intimidating. They were warlords and his brother choose to wield a staff and wear smooth silk. Sure, it looked good, but it was impractical for Oogway's position.

Oogway swung his staff forward and flipped backwards.

Kai had confronted him about it, but Oogway had insisted that it felt right. And boy, was he better than ever. The skill, speed, and agility that Oogway possessed was seriously over the top. Kai had never seen anything like it. Something about the way he fought. He couldn't just get over it, but he knew he could never fight like Oogway. He was too big.

And so, the respect he once held for his own fighting capabilities gave way for the fascination of Oogway's skills. Kai had even resorted to watching him train everyday, as if he could apply something to his own style. It hadn't worked. Oogway fought with finesse, something Kai could never have. He would blink at times and Oogway would have taken down a squad of soldier, sometimes a dozen. It was amazing.

"Kai!"

Kai nodded towards Oogway. The turtle had seemed to spot him, tearing himself from his training. "Yes, brother?"

Even at the distance he was Oogway seemed to hear him perfectly, something that had been driven into his behavior when he talked to him. Kai always was quieter around the tortoise. "Again? Sitting up there alone?" Kai nodded. "Just come down here."

Kai grunted and stood to his feet. He jumped off the ledge he had been standing on and landed a few feet away from Oogway. He stood to his full height, towering over his friend. "Yes?"

"You don't have to be alone. Why don't you train with me?"

Kai chuckled. "Train with you? Ha! I would just be slowing you down!"

"Kai . . ." Oogway's face dropped. He had been hoping for a while that he could get Kai into his fighting style. That was the only reason he had let the yak watch from a distance and why he tried his hardest to show off in front of Kai. "You can't slow me down. In fact, if I had a sparring partner I would only get better!"

"Sparring partner?"

"Yeah. Y'know, spar, a fake fight. To test your skills and identify your weaknesses."

"We've sparred before, Oogway. Besides, the way I fight doesn't even compare to yours." Kai sighed and turned around. "I shouldn't have watched, i'm just a distraction. I'll see you at camp later."

"I can teach you."

Kai froze. "What?"

Oogway stepped forward. "I can teach you, Kai. How I fight. You can do it! It will take work, but I know you can. I believe in you."

Kai turned around and looked Oogway in the eye. "I could never be like you."

"That's just the thing." Oogway smiled and gestured towards the mountains in the distance. "We are who we are. I'm Oogway, a tortoise. You're Kai, a yak. I'm not a pig and you're no sheep. We can't change what we are, but we can improve ourselves and mold the ones around us into better individuals. Same applies with technique. We just need to make yours better." He placed the end of his staff on Kai's chest. "I never said you would be like me. But, you will be you, a better you." Oogway held up a hand defensively. "Not that there's anything wrong with you! Just, anyone could improve!"

Kai looked down at Oogway's staff. "Don't worry, I know what you mean."

"So? What do you say?"

Kai grabbed the end of Oogway's staff that was on his chest and lifted it. "Let's begin."