I do not own the song in this chapter. The whole song is included so you may as well check it out and listen to it while you read:

Try-Patrick Brasca and Jay Chou

Or you could just skip the song part XD

...

The next day, Sylvia's black eye was still there. It didn't hurt anymore and she could see out of it but it still felt swollen and uncomfortable.

When Sylvia got into OWCA the next morning, she went straight to the gym without waiting for Perry. She put Nicky in his playpen. The little platypus was fast asleep but in case he woke up, Sylvia placed Moofie and the rattle down beside him. Then she dragged out the dummy and started practising her hitting and kicking moves on it.

When Perry arrived ten minutes later, Sylvia was so into her practising that she didn't notice him sit down and watch her until five minutes after he arrived. Truth be told, he was impressed. Not only was she remembering all the moves that he had taught her two days ago, but she hadn't called in sick to recover, like other trainees might have. Perry betted that her limbs were still very stiff and that her eye was uncomfortable but he grudgingly admired the way that she was here today, putting her all into training.

When Sylvia finally noticed him, she awkwardly stopped. "I…sorry, I didn't see you come in."

"It's fine. You were doing well."

Sylvia stared at him. That was the first compliment she had ever received from him about her fighting.

"Do you remember the move I taught you yesterday evening?"

She nodded.

"Do it now."

She obeyed, though her mind was still on the incident yesterday when Perry had accidentally hit her, and her foot slipped, making her fall over. She got up quickly and looked back at Perry. "S-sorry. I'm not in the right frame of mind. Can I quickly sing myself a song to get myself inspired?"

Perry rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine."

Sylvia smiled briefly. "Thank you."

She headed over to the other side of the gym and began to sing:

(Verse 1)

You always have to do something

Just to show the world that you exist

So you try

You hope they'll see

If on this brand new day you'll look

On the bright side of the same old street

You will see

What you deserve

(Chorus)

You just have to try, try, try, try

Try to be who you are

And you ought to fly, fly, fly, fly

Step into the light

And soon you will find

(Be yourself)

Somewhere deep inside

There's a universe right there waiting to be unlocked

The key lies in looking into yourself

Oh try, try, try, try

Just do what is right

You'll fly so high, high, high, high

Let go of the brakes

Be who you are

Be yourself 'cause your power is on

When you believe in what you've got

You know you're perfect just be who you are

(Verse 2)

So they don't see what you're made of

But I like you and I know they are wrong

Now it's time

To show them what you got

Let the blue skies cheer you on

Embrace the wind you'll ride along

You're perfect when you're who you are

(Chorus)

You just have to try, try, try, try

To be who you are

And you ought to fly, fly, fly, fly

Step into the light

And soon you'll find

(Be yourself)

Somewhere deep inside

There's a universe right there waiting to be unlocked

The key lies in looking into yourself

Oh try, try, try, try

Just do what is right

You'll fly so high, high, high, high

Let go of the brakes

Be who you are

Be yourself 'cause your power is on

When you believe in what you've got

You know you're perfect just be who you are

(Chorus again)

You just have to try

To be who you are

And you ought to fly, fly, fly, fly

Step into the light

And soon you will find

(Be yourself)

Somewhere deep inside

There's a universe right there waiting to be unlocked

The key lies in looking into yourself

Oh try, try, try, try

Just do what is right

You'll fly so high, high, high, high

Let go of the brakes

Be who you are

Be yourself 'cause your power is on

When you believe in what you've got

You know you're perfect just be who you are

When Sylvia finished, she took a deep breath and went back over to Perry, who had obviously been listening. He nodded stiffly. "Nice song."

"It sounds better with the backing track, believe me."

"I'll take your word for it. Now, do that move again."

Sylvia did so. She felt herself stumble a little at the end, a fact that Perry picked up on. He made her repeat the move three times more before Sylvia finally got it right.

"Yes!" she said triumphantly.

"No," snapped Perry. "Far from perfect."

"What was wrong with it?" demanded Sylvia angrily.

Nicky suddenly began crying. Sylvia went over to him and picked him up, trying to calm him down by rocking him but it didn't work. Over the noise, Perry snapped at her, "Your posture was off, your right arm was more than three inches above where it should have been, and-."

He suddenly broke off and yelled, "WILL YOU PLEASE SHUT JIMMY UP!"

Sylvia stared at him and clutched Nicky closer to her. The baby platypus seemed to pick up on her fear and confusion but he stopped crying and clutched Sylvia's fur with his little fists.

Perry only realised what he had said about three seconds after he had said it.

"I-I mean…Nicky. Shut…Nicky…" He sighed. "Never mind."

He went over to the other side of the room and sat down on a pile of gym mats. He looked incredibly sad. Sylvia went over to him and sat next to him on the pile of mats. She looked sideways at him and found him gazing at the floor.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

"Fine." His tone was not snappy this time; it was just sad.

"Maybe it will help to talk about whatever's on your mind," suggested Sylvia.

"I'm fine."

Sylvia decided to approach the situation differently. "Is Jimmy your and Edith's son?"

Perry looked sharply at her, and for a moment she was terrified that he was going to hit her. Then he sighed and said, "You know about Edith?"

"Pinky told me on the way up to your office yesterday," Sylvia replied. "I asked him why you hated me and he said I look like your mate, Edith."

Perry stared back down at the floor. "Did he tell you what happened to her?"

"No. Nobody did."

Perry was silent for a moment. Sylvia could almost see the gears turning in his head. "Then perhaps it would be best if it comes straight from me," he said quietly. "I'll tell you what happened to Edith."

…

FINALLY! But since I'm cruel, you're going to have to wait until next chapter to find out I:}