Author's Note: what Napoleon and Pedro go through is loosely based on things I've experienced during my current martial arts training. Also my instructors are not as abusive as Rex is with them.

Heroes in Training

The next day when Napoleon and Pedro entered the dojo they found Rex sitting on the floor in front of the mirrors meditating. Pedro tapped him and Rex opened his eyes.

"Don't disturb me while I'm meditating."

"Why are you meditating," Napoleon asked.

"Go change and then I'll tell you." They did and when they came back Rex was still meditating. Pedro tapped him again. "Meditation is to relax the body and get you prepared for today's lesson."

"What are we supposed to do," Pedro asked.

"Just sit down and close your eyes. Don't concentrate on anything except your breathing. Relax and meditate for about five minutes." They sat there and tried to meditate, but they started thinking about other things, not their breathing. Rex didn't notice and after five minutes said, "Line up!"

"Yes sensei," they replied.

"Recite the Rex Kwon Do creed."

"I shall respect Rex! I shall never misuse Rex Kwon Do! I shall be a champion of freedom and justice!"

"Okay, that was good. Jog ten laps around the dojo and stretch out when you're done." Rex started hitting a punching bag as they did what they were told. Wile they stretched out Rex folded out a mat on the floor. "Okay, on the mat."

"Yes sensei." They got on the mat and Rex stood in front of Napoleon.

"Okay, I want you to hit me with your best shot." Napoleon aimed for the head, but Rex blocked it and hit him on the head. "Not bad, but you need more speed and power. Hit me again." That time Napoleon went for a slap, but surprisingly Rex blocked that too with lighting fast reflexes. "That had more power, but you won't win a fight with just a slap."

"I did one time at school. I slapped a guy and then ran away."

"Do ten pushups for interrupting me. Ok Pedro, you hit me." Pedro lifted up his leg to kick him, but Rex slapped it down. "That was good, but we need to get more strength in your legs." Napoleon finished his pushups and stood up.

"Ok, I'm going to show you how to get speed. What you need to do is concentrate on the return, not the strike." Napoleon had a confused look. "Watch me." Rex lifted his leg and kicked, but it only lasted a second. "Don't take your time bringing your leg back." Rex lifted his leg to his chest and extended it out, keeping the speed. "You need to balance the power and speed so you can really get someone who's assaulting you. Go over to the punching bag and let's see how you two do."

Napoleon went first, he kicked it thirty times and so did Pedro. As they did Rex would tell them how to improve their kick. Then Rex showed them how to use the same principle with hand strikes.

"Punch the bag Pedro." He did it fast and the bag swayed. He continued for awhile. "That was good. Do the same Napoleon." Napoleon did and the bag really swayed. "If you practice what I show you then doing it will come naturally to you."

"Yes sensei."

"Also today I'll show you how to fall."

"Fall," Pedro asked.

"Yes fall, drop and give me ten." Pedro started to do pushups and Napoleon went to the mat with Rex. "If someone pushes you down you need to land so you won't hurt yourself. There are a few things you need to remember. First off never let you head touch the ground, okay?" Napoleon nodded and Pedro joined them.

Rex fell forward on the mat and used his arms to support himself. He motioned them to follow his actions, and they tried, but Pedro didn't use his arms to support himself and Napoleon hit his head.

"Keep practicing for awhile." They did nonstop for about ten minutes and then Rex told them to line up before they were to leave. "Practice your hand strikes and kicks at home with the speed and power, meditate, and I'll see you tomorrow." They bowed and then left.

-----

When Napoleon got home he went to his room and practiced his punching and kicking. After an hour Napoleon went to the kitchen to get something to eat. His grandma was online chatting with dudes when she saw him enter the room.

"Why are you all sweaty," she asked. "Practicing more dance moves?"

"No, I've been practicing self-defense moves."

"Why?"

"'Cause Pedro and I joined Rex Kwon Do."

"Oh. Well, go feed Tina before you practice more." Napoleon sighed.

"Why can't you do it?"

"'Cause I'm chatting online. Just go do it."

"Fine!"

The next morning Grandma went to wake Napoleon up, but she found him sitting up on his bed with his eyes closed and breathing deeply.

"Napoleon, get out of bed."

"Go away, I'm meditating."

"Well, when you're done make yourself something to eat. I'm going to the sand dunes today and Uncle Rico is coming to watch you." Napoleon opened his eyes.

"He doesn't need to come. I'm not a baby." She rolled her eyes.

"He's coming weather you like it or not. See ya later."

"Fine!" Napoleon sighed and went beck to meditating.

-----

While training with Rex Napoleon and Pedro learned many new skills. They learned how to knock a gun out of someone's hand, how to go against a guy with a knife, and they learned how to block kicks and hand strikes. Rex had them lift weights a few days to get strong, they began to fall properly, their reflexes were improving, and they meditated everyday. After two weeks they moved from a white belt to a yellow belt.

One day they were practicing kicking and Napoleon asked Rex a question.

"Are we going to learn how to use weapons?"

"Drop and give me thirty." Napoleon did his pushups fast because he had become stronger, so he could. "Yes, soon I'll show you how to handle staffs and nunchucks."

"Sweet!"

That day when Napoleon got home the phone was ringing and no one was there to answer it, so he did and it was Deb.

"Napoleon, your uncle Rico tried to sell me something again."

"What was it this time?"

"It was diet pills so I can lose weight. He made me cry Napoleon."

"Don't worry Deb, I'll get him." They hung up and he went to the refrigerator and got a steak. Then he went outside and threw it at Uncle Rico's ride. Uncle Rico came out and chased Napoleon. Uncle Rico could barely keep up with him, but eventually he got Napoleon and had him in a half nelson.

"Why the heck did you throw that at my van?"

"You made Deb cry by trying to sell her crap she doesn't need."

"You're going to clean it up, right now!" Suddenly Napoleon elbowed him in the stomach and Uncle Rico let go. Napoleon watched as he squirmed on the ground then went back inside.

Napoleon got the phone and called Pedro.

"Hello."

"Hey Pedro, what's up?"

"Nothing much."

"I had to use my warrior skills."

"Why?"

"'Cause my Uncle Rico's an idiot! I think we should practice together from now on so we can have each other's back and everything."

"Okay."

"I can't wait to learn more skills."……