A/N: Last chapter I stated that I believe that Nameks are asexual and sexual (such a thing is possible one example is monoreans). But this chapter...I HAVE PROOF! *Triumphant look*

There's a male sex hormone called testosterone. This regulates the maturation of sperm and the development of secondary sex characteristics, such as beard development, muscle structure, and the lower voice pitch. And of course, we all know Piccolo has an excellent male build and that deep voice (I think he's a baritone, but he just may be a bass). Piccolo could not have these features unless he had testosterone, which also produces sperm and is held in the testes. Therefore, Piccolo is fully capable of sexual reproduction. *Whew!* Biology is useful after all.

Special note for Chosen 1 I meant to put that in my story but forgot. Thanks for brining me back from... where ever my mind was.

Also, I'm sorry about the wait. I had an idea I had to incorporate in to the story. If it didn't work, and I had already posted this chap, it would have screwed up my whole story. Well, here goes!

Chapter 13- Trigger

Trista was in the kitchen, washing dishes with a pot of river water on the boil. She had a feeling that Piccolo would be dropping by and she wanted to be ready. She smiled to herself; everything had been so perfect the last few months. No big battles, no Sailor Scout work. Just a simple life and training herself in her new post cognitive abilities. Trista looked out the window at the beautiful May day and sighed. She had started looking for her keys again in March and still hadn't found them. Wherever they were, they were well hidden. Oh well. She was too happy to let that spoil her day.

Groob walked in slowly, not wanting to disturb Trista's quite singing. It was just as Laci had told him; barely a whisper but it soared all the same. And poor Trista was never aware of it. He didn't like to interrupt her unconscious talent. However, what he had to say was important. So he sucked in his gut and walked up to her.

"Tris, I gotta talk to ya."

Trista turned around, her usual sad smile on her face. But her eyes defied the melancholy expression. Pure happiness and child like anticipation gleamed in them.

Groob took a breath and simply blurted out what he needed to say. "Ya gotta stop seen' Piccolo."

Trista's look never wavered. "Groob, I would rather not."

"Tris look, I know ya t'ink he's nice but he's not lak ev'ryone else."

"I know Groob. Now I have to do the dishes." Trista said, turning back to her work.

She's jus' not gettin' it. Groob thought. Don't she realize he's a green freak as evil as sin? He took a step closer and continued to implore her. "Trista, I tried to let this thang ride itself out but you've be'n here fo' mo' den half a year now an' ya stil hang wit 'em. He's not lak us Trista. Stop hangn' 'round hiem."

"No." Trista said firmly. She turned to him, her eyes stern. "You may have your own opinions of Piccolo but I have mine. And to be quite honest, I don't really care for your opinion on this matter. So if you'll excuse me." Her words dripped venom as she turned back to her task.

Groob backed away for a moment, surprised by the suppressed anger in her voice. He just couldn't believe his Tris could be so rude or cold. Then anger emerged in him. She's defendin' 'em?! That monster? Does she ev'n know wha he is?! Wha he's done?! This's all his fault. She was nevah lak dis befo' she met 'em.

(A/N: Like he knows *rolling eyes*)

"Trista ya just c'aint be 'round heim! He's a demon danmmit!"

"I KNOW THAT!" Trista whirled back to face him, breaking a dish. "You Think Rumors Don't Spread? That I Didn't Hear The People Call Me Evil Or 'Piccolo's Witch' When I 1st Came Here? I Know He's Done Cruel Things But THERE'S MORE TO HIM THAN THAT SO BACK OFF!"

Groob was stunned into silence. He watched Trista heave with anger, and he grew sympathetic. He walked up to her and held her face much like a father would a daughter.

"Oh dear child," He said softly. "Wat's he done to ya? Brainwashing? Hypnosis? He's evil Tris. As evil as th' night."

Trista grabbed his wrist and nearly broke it, but she stopped herself. She looked at him, her eyes blazing and stated in a hushed, but callous voice: "The night is not evil. It's just dark, and cold."

The two stared each other down, waiting for the next remark, when Laci burst in.

"FIRE! FIRE!"

The anger within Trista quickly turned to fear. Her eyes grew wide and she started to hyperventilate as memories flooded to the front of her mind. No. No... She thought as she struggled to hear Laci.

"Anov an' Nasi wanted ta play wit som' matches we foun' an' I said no so they left wit'out me. They started the fire"

Groob bent to his daughter's level and began to pep talk her. But Laci wouldn't hear it. "But Anov an' Nasi are stil' in there!" That's when they noticed Trista was gone.

*****

Trista grabbed her coat, dowsed it in water and recklessly ran into the burning house. The place was an inferno. Trista kept low to the ground as she looked for the children. Thanking God that the fire was evaporating the water on the coat and not her skin she prayed that she would find the kids before it was to late. Then she heard screaming upstairs. Typical. In their fear, the kids ran up the stairs. Trista mentally groaned as she looked for a way to reach them.

*****

Piccolo was squeezing the life out of some worthless fool who had mistreated him.

"Please! Don't kill me!" The man squealed as his wind pipe was being closed. "It won't happen again! *Choke* Please!"

"I know." Picccolo stated, a sadistic smile playing on his lips. "There won't be a next time." Just before he collapsed the man's esophagus and neck artery he felt and unusual ki waver. "Trista." He dropped the moron and sped off.

*****

Far away, in another dimension, little Rini doubled over, clutching her chest.

"Rini! What's wrong?" Her mother asked, rushing to her side.

"...Trista." She wheezed, as if having an asthma attack. "Trista's hurt." The scouts looked shocked at this statement. They were all leaning towards the conclusion (though they would never admit it to Rini) that Trista was dead, or at least permanently lost to them. She had been gone for so long, it was hard to believe.

"Rini, do you know where she is? Can you find her some how?" Serenity asked, hoping to find her MIA comrade.

"No. But she's hurt. No here." She said, indicating her body. "Here. And here." She said, pointing to her head and heart. The Scouts could only stare in confusion. They weren't sure what to do, but they didn't really have a choice. All they could do was wait until Rini's pain subsided.

*****

Trista finally found the terrified children but as she reached out to them, they backed away. They did not see Trista, the kind barmaid that lived with their friend. They only saw a white hooded figure.

Trista reached out for them again. "Please *cough*cough* I'm trying to help you."

Still, the children backed away. Though she tried to concentrate on her task, but in her mind she was seeing 2 different people, in a different place and time. It wasn't her post-cognitive abilities; it was her own mind playing tricks on her. Forcing her to remember and relive the event the fire had triggered.

"Please." Trista continued to implore the people in her vision, which in reality were Anov and Nasi. "Let me help you. Don't *cough* Don't do this. Let me help you. *Cough* LET ME STILL BE YOUR SISTER!"

The children backed off, truly afraid of the figure now. But the floor they were standing on was weak and collapsed beneath them.

"NOOOOOOO!" Trista screamed as the figures in vision fell to their deaths. But just as the children fell a green and white blur caught them.

Piccolo was just as surprised as the kids that he had saved them. He had gone in there looking for Trista when they just fell into his arms. It was a complete accident as far as he was concerned, but the crowd outside did not see it the same.

"You saved my baby!" 1 mother screamed, smothering him with kisses. Piccolo looked at the woman in surprise. It wasn't how he was expecting to receive his 1st kiss, but it gave him an unexpected pleasure to know the gratitude attached to it. He turned away from the woman, hiding his cheeks, blushing with embarrassment.

Then he turned his attention back to Trista, who was still inside. When he found her, she was on her knees, her eyes vacant, staring into her own mind and memories.

"Why?" She whispered to on one, using the foreign tongue. It fell from her lips as naturally as water off a duck. "Why June? Lartho, why wouldn't let me help you? Why did you... Why did you..."

Her state was unsettling to say the least, but Piccolo had no time to worry about that. He knelt down beside her, urging her to stand. Trista came out of her state to realize she was far from where her mind led her to believe. She looked into his eyes and suddenly remembered. She rose to her feet and with Piccolo's help exited the building. There were people outside to meet them.

"Trista!" Groob yelled as he scooped her into a backbreaking bear hug. "I'm so glad you're safe! I was so worried..." Trista heard none of his words, or the sounds around her. She was focused on the memory she still couldn't expel from her mind. But she was still a princess and buried her feelings deep, her father's voice echoing through her mind: 'Stop your crying! You are a princess! You can't show your feelings like that! Princess' don't cry!'

"I'm terribly tired Groob." She said, desperately trying to control her wavering voice. "So if you'll excuse me-" She ran off into the Black Dragon, before she had a breakdown in front of the crowd.

A/N: Better than the last two right? I know that was a little out of character (OOC) for Trista, but everyone has their bad days.