Zhen and Monroe were sparring. Rhea was training with Piccolo.
"Piccolo, may I ask you a question?" she asked.
Piccolo looked at her. "Yeah, why not?"
She hesitated for a moment. "Well, it's about Zhen. Will he ever forgive me for what I did to him?"
"Well, it's hard for me to say, Rhea." Piccolo replied. "I haven't known Zhen for that long."
She looked upset about his answer. Piccolo noticed and asked, "Do you have feelings for him?"
She nodded. "I didn't expect this. It wasn't supposed to be this way. He was supposed to be nothing to me, just an assignment Marron gave me. But ever since I saw him..."
Piccolo nodded. "He just feels betrayed. You have to earn his trust back. Give him some time. He'll come around."
She smiled and Piccolo said, "Now, let's continue."
That night they sat around the fire. It was Monroe's turn to hunt and he managed to get a big grizzly bear that should last for at least 2 weeks under good care.
"You guys are coming along very well, even you Marron. You're fast learners, you're talented and dedicated. You will become very powerful in no time."
The three smiled proudly. "But," Piccolo continued, "you also have you're weaknesses." He looked toward Zhen. "Zhen, I've noticed you have a very short temper. It's not necessarily a bad thing, I know I have one too, but anger can make you blind and therefore sloppy if you let it get to you. Feed yourself on your anger and use that energy against your opponent."
Zhen nodded respectfully, taking his advice to heart. "What about me, Piccolo?" asked Rhea.
"Well, while Zhen goes all out in all his fights, you seem to do the opposite. You hold back and never work up to your full potential. Reminds me of a certain student of mine long ago." He paused for a moment, remembering his first student, Gohan. "You must learn to never hold back."
"Aye, girl, what's the matter? Afraid you might break a nail?" Monroe teased in a sarcastic baby voice.
"SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!" Piccolo yelled in a loud, deep and resounding voice that seemed to shake all the earth. Zhen and Rhea covered their ears. Monroe sat stunned, eyes wide open.
"You're the worst of the three!" Piccolo continued. "You do more dancing and playing around than fighting! I even wonder sometimes if I should call you a clown instead of a warrior! Shit, you don't know how much it sickens me to see somebody waste so much potential!"
Piccolo then stood up and walked to his cave, leaving the three young students alone. They were speechless. Piccolo just snapped. They couldn't believe how Piccolo made such a big deal out of it. Zhen turned to look at his friends face to see a very serious expression. Monroe seemed very hurt. Zhen felt sorry for him.
"Well," Monroe said, in a almost cracking voice, "I guess I'm going to bed." It sounded like he wanted to cry. He turned to walk away.
Zhen called, "Monroe, wait-"
"Let him go, Zhen," Rhea stopped him, "let him be by himself."
Zhen watched his friend walk in the woods. He turned around to find Rhea staring at him. She looks so beautiful in the firelight, Zhen thought. Then he snapped himself out that thought.
"Hey, I never said thanks for helping me and Monroe in the fight against Marron." Zhen said.
"Oh, well you're welcome. Thank you for helping me recuperate. Monroe told me you were the one to convince everybody to help me. Guess we're even."
Zhen nodded. "Why did you help us, anyway?"
Rhea became serious. "Well, I finally realized how evil Marron really was. I'm not that way, and I didn't want to be part of any of her deeds." she paused. "And also, when I saw that she was about to kill you..." she paused again. "I just had to do something."
Zhen eyes narrowed. "You mean you were protecting me?" She nodded. Zhen thought for a second. Can she really have feelings for me? "Listen, I thank you again for saving my life."
Rhea's eyes brightened. "Does this mean you forgive me?"
"Yes." Zhen replied. "But you must promise not to betray me again."
"I promise." she said.
