DISCLAIMER: I do not own Tales of Legendia, or the characters, or anything except this little plot line.
Charaters: Norma, Jay, Grune, Senel, Shirley, Chloe, Will, Moses, maybe a few OC's
I've always felt like Norma thinks differently then she acts…
Chasing Despair
"Hajimari No Hi"
"Norma?" the shrill voice of Shirley Fennes said to the treasure hunter, Norma who was asleep one Will's couch for the third time today, "Will you PLEASE wake up?"
Norma stirred slightly, still in dream world as far as anyone was concerned. Everyone was waiting for Norma to wake up, Will had a mission for everyone to go on and they couldn't find out what it was until every member of the group was awake. Everyone just starred at Norma in annoyance.
"Can't she sleep during the night?" Senel sighed, rubbing his forehead. Even though he could sleep until noon, at least he was awake for the rest of the day, unlike Norma, who seemed to have not a care in the world.
"…" Jay starred at her blankly and shook his head, "She is constantly a burden to the rest of us who at least try to sound interested in something other than obscure fantasies." He rolled his eyes and sighed, "I'm beginning to feel that we should start the meeting without her."
Moses Sandor, the stupid bandit as some would say, folded his arms across his chest, "She ain't gonna wanna go on anymore adventures anyway."
Standing next to Moses was Chloe, "I have to agree with Sandor on this, "She glared at the sleeping girl, "We can continue without her."
The group concurred and began the meeting. Will pulled out a folder of files and spread them out on the table, "Well, since it appears Norma will not be joining us I will take the liberty of asking Jay to come up with a strategy that does not involve her."
Jay nodded slightly annoyed, "I will be sure not to include that stupid girl. However I cannot come up with any strategy without knowing what the situation is."
"Ah, of course," Will started and pulled out a piece of blue paper and began to explain it, "Since the demise of Schwartz, sightings of a longhaired ghost have been reported. Apparently all who have seen her have fallen lifeless. Several guards in Gadoria have been reported as to have had their souls ripped straight from their bodies."
Everyone starred in awe as Shirley fiddled with her dress and spoke up, "We can't just allow this thing to go around hurting people!"
Senel nodded in agreement, "Not after we have worked this hard to bring the world to peace."
Moses slumped over and sighed, "First a group of Ferines wantin' to cause a mass genocide amongst the Orerines, then a Goddess hell-bent on killin' us all, now a soul reaper? Y'all gotta be kiddn me…"
A look of annoyance crossed Jay's face, "Then why don't you stay here with Norma? That will be less dead weight for the rest of us to carry."
Moses scowled, "At least I'm awake for these meetings!"
Will walked over to the two arguing iron erens and bonked them over their heads with his fist. The two crouched to the ground, holding their aching heads as Will continued, "I have also heard reports that this 'soul reaper' resides in the Man-Eating ruins. I think it would be wise for us to start our search there."
"I concur," Jay nodded, "Now, if that is all you need, I would appreciate the time to begin working on a strategy for infiltrating the ruins. It seems getting in their will not be as easy as it usually has." Everyone nodded, but Will put up his hand.
"You have something you must do first," he said to Jay and pointed towards Norma, "Wake up sleeping beauty over there."
Jay scowled, "Why me?" he muttered a few choice words and went over to the couch where Norma lay. He tapped her lightly on the shoulder, "Norma?" he started. Once again, she only responded in her sleep. Jay knelt down beside her and brought his face closer to hers, "Nor-" Jay was interrupted by Norma's lips pressing up against his. As quickly as he noticed it, he pushed her away forcefully, "W-what was that?!"
Norma sat up and stretched, "Oh my dear JJ has come to awaken his princess from her slumber. It is so romantic!" She squealed and fell back down, still awake though.
Jay, wiping his lips from Norma's shocking outburst hissed, "You kissed ME!" he then stood up, "If I had the choice, I would rather leave you asleep then ever kiss you!" He stomped out f the house, angry in contrast to his usual calm and collected manner. A twinge of hurt struck Norma in the chest, but she swallowed it away and laughed, "You all know I heard your entire conversation right?"
"N-Norma!" Moses said, with his face slightly red, "Don't just go around kissin' people in front of a group!"
"Gee Red, no need for jealously. I just wanted to have some fun with JJ!" Norma lied, she had actually waited for the opportunity to kiss Jay, it just came sooner and at a bad time, "So, can I come with you guys?" she tried to change the subject, slightly embarrassed by Jay's rejection to her.
Chloe sighed and sat down, "You will have to go convince Jay to include you in the strategy."
"Other than that, we would be fine with your coming with us," Shirley giggled.
"But I can't guarantee Jay will want to speak to you." Senel rolled his eyes, "I can't exactly blame him either…" he added.
"He might take some convincin'," Moses spat into the conversation, "He seemed pretty happy when we decided not to bring you."
Norma laughed, "No worries! I heard the whole conversation! I'm sure I can explain!" she smiled, jumping out of her seat and rushing to the door, slamming it on her way out.
I heard the WHOLE conversation…
Finally out of that mental torture chamber, Norma dropped her smile. (They always treat me like this…) she looked up at the night sky, (Like I'm some kind of zoo animal that they can throw peanuts at during their convenience.) She stopped at the duct, stepping into the orange warp, and warping to the Oresoren village (But this is my chance to show Jay- er…everyone, that they are wrong! I'm strong too…) she stepped out the warp and entered the underground town where Jay resided.
The lights were all turned on, illuminating the dirt walls and the talking otters scurrying around the place busily. Atop of the village was the house she recognized as the one the strategist and his three Oresoren friends lived. She took a deep breath, ready to play the I'm-just-a-dumb-treasure-fanatic routine again as she walked up the path to the house.
Upon approaching the house, Norma knocked on the door three times quickly before innocently putting one foot behind the other as Quoppo came to answer the door
Ors? he tilted his head and smiled, "Welcome Norma!" The otter smiled, excited to see one of Jay's friends come to see him.
"Heya Scallop!" Norma cheered and smiled, "Is JJ home yet?"
"He just stepped out for a bit, but you can come in and wait for him." Quoppo smiled, leading Norma into the round child-like room, "Please sit down!" the otter pointed to the ground, which was the only place to sit. Norma plopped down onto the rug and closed her eyes.
"Ok, wake me when he gets here!" Of course Norma had no idea that he wouldn't be back for another hour. This gave her time to have a strange dream…
Norma was standing in a field of crystallized flowers on the night of full moon. A gentle breeze brushed by her as she waited. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but she waited…
Just then she heard the familiar singing of a lost friend. She looked around her for the source of the voice and without thinking; she called out the first name that came to her mind, "G-GIRL!!!"
Sure enough, Grune was sitting a few feet away from her singing to the flowers she was planting. Norma, overjoyed to see her friend again, ran over and embraced Grune, "G-girl!" she cried. "I thought I would never see you again!"
Grune smiled her peaceful Grune smile and spoke, "Norma? Why are you here?"
"W-where?" Norma asked, not caring where she was. She was with the only person who cared about her, Grune, The Weaver of Time.
Grune's expression changed to a sad, slightly doubting expression, "Norma, you should not be here yet. Your time has not come. If you do not go, you will be lost in the darkness forever…"
"I don't care!" Norma shouted, sobbing into Grune's shoulder, "I'm with you now. Everything is going to be ok…I don't need anyone else…no one else understands me…"
Grune returned the embrace, "What about Jay?"
The treasure fanatic sniffed, "He doesn't want me. He doesn't even like me…"
"Norma," Grune sighed, "If you think that in a place like this, you will be lost in your despair forever…"
"I AM lost in my despair back in reality!" she wiped the tears from her eyes and continued, "I know I am in a dream, so I can still wake up-"
"Norma! Run!" Grune yelled suddenly, pushing Norma away from her. Norma looked back at her, confusion written on her face. Then she looked around, sensing a dark presence.
Do you wish to run from your despair? An eerie voice hissed into the air.
Norma turned left
If you want your happiness I can grant you any wish…
"Anything?" Norma muttered, looking at Grune who was sitting hopelessly on the ground.
Come see me in the Man-Eating ruins, there we will discuss your payment and your dreams will be eternal!
"Norma!" Grune called out, "Don't listen to her! Run!"
Norma shook her head, coming back to Grune's voice. She shook violently and folded her arms across her chest, crying. Who was that? And why were they talking to her? Through her tears she managed to see a bright yellow light in the distance and heard Jay's voice:
Norma? Norma why did you fall asleep again? Wake up!
The world around Norma began to disappear as she headed towards where this voice was coming from. She looked behind her as Grune too, disappeared, and a single tear rolled down Norma's face.
Back in reality, Jay was working to wake Norma up, who was in a deep, serious slumber. He had her head on his lap, and he was calling her name. After a few tries, he took a deep breath. This was unlike even Norma, who slept like a log, except this time she was cold. Was she dead? Jay shook the thought from his mind and began to shake the young girl. Finally, the heat returned to Norma's body and she jolted awake, "WHAT THE HELL TO YOU TAKE ME AWAY FROM THERE FOR?" she yelled at the ex-ninja. Jay's eyes widened in shock and he scowled. Norma though, at last realized what she had done, "J-just kidding…" she smiled and blushed. She couldn't tell him about that dream. That would just be too weird for him to hear.
"Why are you here anyway?" Jay asked, slight annoyance in his voice.
Norma looked up at him from her position on his lap and jumped up blushing, "I-I want to come with you guys on this mission!" She cheered, "Count me in!"
Jay hesitated, but shook his head, "Out of the question."
Norma's jaw dropped, "And why not?" she flapped her arms up and down like a bird, "Haven't I always known what to do?"
Jay looked at her and replied simply, "No, no you don't." Then he stood up, the fire from the fireplace in the dimly lit room causing shadows to cross his face, making him look even more cryptic, "Today, you weren't even awake during the entire conversation. No absolutely not! You cannot come with us Norma, so please leave and return to whatever it is that you were doing!"
Norma stood up in fear, tears coming to her eyes, "Alright! Alright! Sheesh!" she turned around and stomped over to the door. But before she left she looked behind her at the strategist, "Would it hurt to be a little less cold to me every once and a while? You could at least not have scared me half to death!" with that she slammed the door shut. Jay looked behind him at the door and sighed, (Why did it have to go like that?) he looked at the fire as Pippo came waddling into the room.
"Jay? What's the matter? Why did Norma leave after you yelled at her?"
Jay closed his eyes in anger, "Would you have stayed around after that?"
Pippo, shocked by Jay's response, took a few steps away from him. It was unlike him to get mad the Oresoren. It must be Norma, and Pippo was going to get to the bottom of it, "Jay, Why did you really make her leave?"
Jay looked apologetically at the otter and gestured for him to come over and sit with him, "I have a feeling, if she comes, I won't be able to protect her and something terrible would happen," he sighed, "As much as I hate to admit it, Norma is my friend now. And no matter how stupid she is, she is entitled to her own life. Don't you think?"
"In other words…you're worried about her?"
"…" Jay lay down on the floor and closed his eyes, trying to ignore Pippo's remark and get some rest for the coming day.
Meanwhile, Norma was walking out of the Oresoren village and onto the path way home. (Stupid JJ!) She thought to herself, letting off the steam in her mind, (Doesn't think I can do anything!) Then, she stopped and looked at the empty sky. Dawn was about to break through the dark clouds and start a new day. But everyday was the same for Norma's empty heart. She felt where her heart should be and slowly the gentle beats thumped against her hand as the wind whisked itself around her body. (Is this how loneliness feels? It is how I feel everyday. Is this how JJ feels too?) She shook her head and walked down the now vacant paths.
All they want to do is hurt me
Never once have they taken me seriously
Even though 'family' is supposed to know how you feel
Sometimes I feel like
They aren't there at all.
Norma sat down on a rock and began to write a letter to Jay. She didn't care if he didn't read it, but it was something she had to get off of her chest, just to write it down. But she didn't want it to be straightforward, so she wrote a poem. She smiled to herself and giggled slightly, not wanting to lose herself in her mood. She smirked, "I'll bet this will take that little smarty-pants YEARS to figure out…"
So she sat there and wrote the words to the poem, "Day of the Beginning":
The cold air gently wraps itself around my body
Soon the faraway sky will start to grow light
Every day, in the mornings when no one's there, I stand in the street
I try breathing deeply for a bit
The empty sky resembles me greatly
Why does the night make people lonely?
Nobody understands
Lost, I don't have a destination today either
But still, I start moving down the street
Leaving myself behind
That time, were you also lonely?
Thinking of my small self, I can't sleep today either
If we could at least meet in dreams...
Nobody will grant my wish
I don't even know how to tell you
I'm stopping today too
Nobody understands
Lost, I don't have a destination today either
Nobody will make my dreams come true
I can't even walk
But still, I start to move through the morning
Dawn is breaking
She looked somewhat pleased with her word as she sealed it into an envelope. (I won't sign it.) She decided and let the letter lose in the wind. (Hopefully, it gets to him.)
Because there is something I must do…
CHAPTER 1 COMPLETE! I HOPE EVERYONE LIKED IT! I'LL UDPATE SOON!
THE POEM NORMA WROTE IS ACTUALLY THE SONG "HAJIMARU NO HI" FROM D N ANGEL
