A/N:
. . .
DISCLAIMER!
. . .
Nope. Didn''t own Finding Nemo.
Darn.
Reflections
Chapter Two: A Friend from Afar
By Debbie (Dai-chan)
Marlin was still occupied with the Blue, in the same area he first met him, and was currently staying low near the sea floor, an instinctual response for camouflage. He remained close to an uninhabited anemone, ready to dart inside whenever. The Blue seemed untroubled; in fact, he was watching the surroundings with a sense of interest.
"So, it's your first time here," Marlin was mentioning as he gazed upon the Blue. "Where are you from?"
"I'm from the Islands of Philippines."
"Philippines?" Philippines were quite far away, probably taking a traveler a couple of months from there to here. "That's pretty far. What made you come here?"
"I'm looking for Sacred Dreaming Sites."
The Clownfish blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Sacred Sites. You know, special places guarded by Elders that guide you to Tjukurpa . . ." JC halted, noticing the growing bafflement on his new friend and quietly chuckled. "I take you haven't heard of them."
Marin shook his head. "Afraid so."
The Blue's smile became slightly concerned. "Sorry to confuse you. Sacred Sites aren't that common, anyway."
He was really polite, Marlin realized. He felt a faint sensation of helpfulness. He wanted to help the Blue find what he was looking for. "Maybe someone else knows. I can help you out."
"No, it's alright. I'm not in a hurry."
Even though that JC didn't need help at this moment, his search roused Marlin's curiosity. What were these sacred sites? Were they part of the Islander's culture or something else? He would like to know. "What's this teeg - tig - oh."
"Tjukurpa," JC helped out. "It means 'the Time before our Time'. It's a place of dreams and magic."
The Clownfish cynically grimaced at the words. He was a practical realist, and he didn't believe in those kinds of fantasies. He saw what the world really was, and he tended to be cynical whenever the world became meaner than before. Magic? Dreams? They were a kid's fantasies, words that could be taken too seriously to idealists and optimists.
"Sounds peculiar," Marlin said, guardedly.
JC noticed the cynicism in his voice and then smiled a smile that stated he knew well about realists. "Sounds bizarre to you?"
He shrugged. "I wouldn't judge that quickly if I don't know anything about it." When JC nodded in understanding, he then wondered what experiences the Blue had encountered in his travels. The Blue didn't argue back, or even regard at him with disappointment. He just accepted the results. He could be wrong, but so far, Marlin never had met anyone that unbiased. This was going to be an interesting day.
He wouldn't mind to spend some more time with the Blue, just to pass the time. "If you're just visiting, what will you do now?"
"To be frank, I don't know. I assume that I just look around and depart for the next reef."
"Oh, wait." Marlin grinned. "You wouldn't leave here without a tour, would you?"
JC eyed him. "Are you offering yourself to be the tour guide?"
"Who else but a local to ask for a tour? I'm happy to show you the sights."
"Not too busy?"
Almost involuntary, Marlin shifted his gaze toward the lavender anemone before he stopped himself. It was no use to brood over his past. Now was the time to enjoy the present. He then smiled. "I want to see if my first time being a tour guide will be a success."
JC tilted his head in puzzlement, then laughed with gentleness. "You have natural humor for a Clownfish."
Hearing the words, Marlin grimaced inwardly. He didn't like it when fishes assumed that his species name meant that he was funny. "That's a common misconception," he repeated the same words whenever he had to explain. "Clownfishes are no funnier than any other fish."
JC nodded in agreement. "And Regal Blue Tangs are expected to be aggressive and like to poke fishes with their spines."
Marlin then realized guiltily that was exactly what he was thinking when he first met Dory and JC.
A knowing smile came on JC's face; he sure smiled a lot. "See, I'm not the only guilty one here."
The Clownfish felt the usual shyness of meeting a stranger fading out. He knew he met the Blue mere moments ago, and he had the air of politeness and calmness. He doubted that the Blue would do harm to anybody. He felt at ease. Together, they went on their way, heading southward, passing busily-swimming fishes and colorful coral, paying no attention to their surroundings except to each other.
"Mr. Marlin - "
Marlin flinched and said, "Please don't call me Mister. Makes me feel old." His maturity and appearance made him much older than his thirty-one years of age, often misinterpreted.
"Marlin, then. I hope I'm not intruding your privacy, but are you the Superfish who fought the entire ocean to find your son?"
Again, he felt the hardness coming on to shelter his emotions. That was one thing he didn't like, having fishes coming and visit the special father who dared to face the dangerous ocean to rescue his son from Diver demons. He was upset to hear that the story was greatly exaggerated, but he was timid and often tried to please everybody, so he chose to correct the story without any argument. Still, he was tried of the praise and honor basked upon him.
"Yes, I'm him," he replied. "But I hope you weren't here to . . . praise me. I'm nothing like the Superfish in the story. It's exaggerated. I didn't fight the ocean. The ocean fought me. Even at times, I thought about giving up and letting it win."
"But you didn't."
"How could I? I just wanted to find my son."
"It sounds fantastic. I'd like to listen to your story if you don't mind."
The Clownfish regarded him with mild interest. "You don't mind?"
"I look for stories and learn from them. If you have a story to tell, I'd love to listen to it."
That was an interesting character. The cynical smile appeared on his lips. "Even boring ones?"
JC's smile widened. "There's no such thing as boring stories when you are interested."
He was astonished to see that JC was actually paying keen attention while he told his story. It was different from his friends. When Marlin retold his story, his friends did express great astonishment and excitement, but they didn't show that they were taking it seriously. They thought the story was fantastic, exhilarating, and it was worthy to hear over again and again. They didn't see the new wisdom in his eyes. They didn't see the changes he received both mentally and emotionally. They didn't see the significance of the story.
Though, when he once again told the tales of his journey, JC expressed nothing but keen enjoyment. He listened like a kid with expectance and yet like an adult with insight. He was actually absorbing every word, every emotion, and restoring them safely inside his mind. Around JC, Marlin felt relaxed and performed his memories with ease.
After he finished his story, JC seemed at bliss, grinning. "It's a great story, Marlin. You're right. The story I heard was exaggerated and your story was detailed up to the truth. I know several stories like yours, but none as profound."
Again with the praise. The older fish simpered. "Thank you, but I don't see it as a story to tell everybody. It was just a journey that I dared took to find my son. I treasured it."
"Stories always have something to tell, Marlin."
"What does my story tell you?"
JC mused for a moment, then responded, "I believe it has some of the universal themes, which are love, friendship, and trust. You love your son very much, but you couldn't trust him to do what he can do. He is then taken away, and you have to learn to trust yourself and your friend to fight the ocean. You also learn to find friends in unexpected places and trust each of them. At the end, you succeed, not just from finding your son at last, but from trusting your son to save Dory, as well. That's what your story tells me."
"Wow, I'm impressed," Marlin said with a chuckle.
JC returned the chuckle, then fixed a curious gaze on him. "What does it tell you, then?"
Marlin was silent. He didn't know how exactly he can put his experiences in words. He was very grateful that he took up the journey. He couldn't imagine another way for him to learn through the same lessons of love, trust, and friendship. He was really grateful.
"I don't know how to explain it in words. All I can say is that I'm grateful that it happened to me."
Too bad that the journey couldn't ease the pain of my past . . .
Marlin then felt a sudden sensation of oddness, like he was being scrutinized by someone perceptive. It was odd because the sensation happened as quick as it began, and it was then gone, leaving him with a feeling that he wasn't being violated, but . . . being sympathized. He dismissed it aside with light puzzlement and turned his attention to JC.
"Stories have something to tell . . . That's why you look for stories?"
"Yes."
"Your job?"
"My gift."
"So you just tell stories and expect us to listen?"
Another smile appeared on the Blue's face, one of knowing playfulness. "No. I tell stories only when you're ready to listen."
The Clownfish decided to drop this line of conversation. The Blue may be polite and friendly, but he seemed to express his thoughts in vague, figurative words. These were too confusing for Marlin. He preferred simple, straightforward answers. Still, he had a liking to JC. He was like Nemo. Nemo really loved to listen to stories and also loved to tell them. Any kind of stories fantasized him. He enjoyed listening to his father's bedtime stories, to Dory's honest and creative tales, and his friends' not-so-honest but still creative fictions. Marlin knew that Nemo would never forgive him if he didn't bring JC along. He would love to hear JC's stories.
Why not? It wouldn't hurt to ask.
"JC, are you planning to stay for a couple of nights?"
JC was suddenly modest, lowering his gaze. "Why do you ask?"
"My son loves stories, and I believe that you'll like to meet him. Perhaps you'd like to come over for dinner, too?"
The maroon gaze shyly returned to him. "So generous that you'd offer dinner to strangers?"
Marlin chuckled; what was so wrong to offer dinner to friends? "It's only one time. Really, I'd want you to have dinner with us."
JC thought for a moment, then sighed. "I'll have to reject your offer. Please don't be offended. I'm much honored, but . . . I'm only visiting."
Marlin didn't push him on, but he was slightly disappointed. "Are you sure?" At the nod, he tried again, "Want to meet my son before you leave?"
The Blue again smiled. "Actually, I'd like to meet your friend Dory. I want to see the lucky first Regal Blue you met."
An easy grin came on the older fish as they resumed their swim, which was now heading for the schoolyard. Dory had to be there, of course, playing around with the fry, enjoying each minute of it. But then, he was worried at how JC will approach Dory. Whenever a folk first met her, he/she was often dazed and greatly puzzled at her tendency to repeat words like she forgot them after a few seconds, before they knew about her memory loss. After that, most of the fishes were amused or expressed pity and chose to stay away from the odd Blue.
It often hurt her that some of the fishes wouldn't try to be friends or even accept her. He knew that she wouldn't want any pity or remorse toward her memory loss. She just wanted to be a friend. Marlin hoped that JC had the same sympathy and sees her as one of the fishes. He wanted to make sure that JC understood why Dory tended to behave that way.
Marlin cleared his throat to get JC's attention. "There's something about Dory you need to remember. It's about her flaw."
JC raised an eye ridge in disagreement. "I don't see how it can be a flaw."
"You'll see, but you also will overlook her flaw in time." He smiled at the recall of her outlook of life. "She's very sweet and kind. Sometimes annoyingly optimistic."
"Sounds like you two are very close friends."
Marlin solemnly nodded. "She's my first real friend beside my mate." Even Laura's friendship wasn't that close as Dory's friendship. He felt nearly the same around her as he felt around Coral: satisfied, comfortable, and truly happy. He knew that his love for Coral would never be replaced, but Dory's friendship was almost as intimate.
"Probably her only friend, considering that all the other fishes have rejected her before because of her flaw. I was the first to notice that and stayed with her long enough to accept her as a friend." He would never forget the last words she emotionally expressed moments after he thought his son assumedly dead. These words touched him and aided their friendship to grow.
"Such friendships are valuable," JC mused.
Marlin glanced at the Blue, wondering if he had an intimate. "You have the same kind?"
"I'm more of a loner."
The Clownfish was surprised. "A loner? You?"
"I mean I don't have many friends because of my travels."
Maybe that was why he admitted to be a loner because of the journeys he's taken up. But he didn't look like a loner. He seemed to be genial and polite, and Marlin felt he could talk to him about anything without having doubts against himself. It was quite odd that JC called himself a loner when he didn't act like one.
Marlin turned his attention to the surroundings; they've arrived to the schoolyard. The fry were still playing on sponge beds and chased each other through sea grass meadows while parents calmly chatted with one another. Her laughter was easily recognized, and Marlin smiled as he remarked a Regal Blue playing Hide and Seek with several other fry, their high-pitched giggles loudly heard. Dory was pretending not to hear the giggles, bellowing of the whereabouts as she peeked around with exaggerated puzzlement. Her memory was best in improvement whenever she was playing. She would easily remember what she was doing while she played, recalling the kids' names and even the game she was playing. At that, Marlin had wondered if it was the reason why she preferred playing, because it seemed to be the only way for her to remember that well.
JC was also watching Dory with mild curiosity. "This must be Dory. Looks like she's having fun."
Marlin nodded, his heart warming at the sight of her. "She loves children and she'd play with them all day. She's like a kid."
"Marlin!" He looked up just in time to see the bright grin of Dory speeding toward him before she grasped her fins around him. Even though her hugs were friendly and comfortable, she didn't know her strength, and her hold was often like stone.
"Oh, Dory . . ." Marlin recovered and wiggled out from her embrace. "Be gentle next time."
"Sorry, Marlin," she apologized, then beamed. "Wanna play a game with me?"
Tempting, but there was a friend to be introduced. "Later, Dory. First, I want you to meet a new friend."
Her eyes glowed at the mention of a friend. "A friend! Where?"
He pointed toward JC, who was straying a bit away. "Over there."
Dory came up to JC and held up a flimsy fin. "Hi! I'm Dory."
The older Blue smiled and shook her fin. "I'm JC."
"Are you Marlin's friend?"
It was a honest question, but JC seemed uncertain. Marlin assumed that JC didn't see himself as a friend even after minutes of talking with a stranger. Nevertheless, when JC looked over to him questioningly, Marlin gave him a warm smile.
She still beamed. "Because if you are, then you're very lucky! I'm lucky, too, to have him as my friend."
JC turned to her. "Lucky?"
Dory nodded, then drifted closer, eying him with deep curiosity that JC awkwardly backward. "You know, you're the first Blue I've met. Are you a Natural Blue?"
That took him a double glance. "What? I'm-m - Natural Blue? Uh - "
"Uh?" Dory worriedly patted his fin. "You okay? A sea frog in your throat?"
"Err . . ."
"Hey, a new friend! I'm Dory. What's your name?"
Marlin shook his head sympathetically; he felt the same as the male Blue - confused and disbelieved. He swam to them, 'rescuing' poor JC, and again introduced, "Dory, this's JC, a new friend."
"Oh, how nice!" Dory then held on JC's fin like a child warming up to a stranger. "I hope I can be your friend, too."
"Dory! C'mon and play!"
She waved over to the waiting fry. "Okay! See you later, Marlin and . . ." She stared at JC blankly, then a flash of remembrance came in her eyes. "Marlin's friend! Bye!"
Marlin glanced at JC's face. He was still staring at the leaving Dory, but without any disbelief. He seemed concerned, a little frown on his face. JC questioned, "She was always like that since you met her?"
"Yes. I was surprised, too, when I met her, but I assumed it was genetic." The Clownfish slightly shrugged, watching her starting another game with the fry. "After all, she said it ran in her family."
Concern altered into thoughtfulness and JC shook his head. "No, it can't be right."
A twitch of apprehension came in Marlin and he looked over to JC. The frown was so pensive that it perplexed Marlin. What was he thinking about?
JC continued, "Short-term memory loss isn't genetic. Usually, long-term or short-term memory loss is a result of a tragic event, which forces the mind to forget it." The Blue then nodded, like he was concluding something. " It must to be amnesia. Perhaps, her memory is damaged. She must've -"
Fraternal protection sped within and Marlin frowned defensively. "She's not damaged, JC. That's how she is."
JC blinked and became ashamed. "I don't mean to sound that way . . . "
"Listen," Marlin firmly continued, "Even if she has amnesia, I wouldn't try changing her. She's happy with the way she is."
"I apologize. I shouldn't have intruded in her affairs."
Marlin watched his face, again astonished to see that there was Dory's face in JC. The exaggerated eye ridges of honest worry and the awkward grimace. Dory wasn't often worried, but when she was, she did look like him. Somehow, seeing that on JC made Marlin smile. JC was really embarrassed, saying such things about a stranger, and he was probably feeling guilty.
"Hey, that's okay," Marlin reassured his new pal, and then squealed in surprise as a quick slap on his back turned his attention around.
Floating behind him, Dory grinned mischievously. "Tag! You're it!" She darted off, joining the laughing fry.
Marlin grinned, but before he joined in the game, he turned to JC. "See how happy she is? Dory is Dory. I wouldn't dream to change that."
JC nodded, a slight smile on his face.
His grin widened. "And you know what? This's a part of the tour!" With quickness, Marlin brushed his fin across JC's side. "Tag!"
JC didn't halt in confusion. He darted right in, joining the game like an eager kid. He seemed to be like Dory; he had a lot of energy, especially around children, and he seemed to be a natural with them. He looked like he was missing this childhood game and played it like it was no tomorrow. Dory somehow was able to remember him even after minutes, and Marlin was impressed. Usually, it took days for her to remember the reef residents, and yet she was able to recognize JC like she remembered Nemo; she remembered all but his name.
Finally, several parents had called their children back for home, and soon, Marlin, Dory, and JC remained at the empty schoolyard. Of course, Dory was disappointed at that, but then she beamed, tagging close to JC, seeing him as a new friend. JC was bashful, not used to that much attention.
She tugged at his fin. "Wanna play another game, Gus?"
"It's JC, Dory."
"Dory is my name, silly!"
He sighed. "Yes, I know. I am JC."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Dory."
"Oy . . ." Turning to Marlin, he then said, "This's really fun, but I have to go."
"Awww . . ." Dory hung her head, pouting.
Marlin was also disappointed. "I see. Sure you can't come for dinner?"
"Salamat. Thanks, but maybe another day." After he removed her fin from his, JC waved farewell and departed.
Dory stared toward the Regal Blue, even after he vanished. She seemed mesmerized over something, her scarlet eyes somewhat dimmed. Marlin shifted closer and waved a fin in front of her eyes. "Dory?"
The Blue blinked out of her thoughts and beamed. "Hi! How you doing?"
The Clownfish smiled. "Just fine. How about we go home?"
Dory stayed at his side, start humming a little song she was making up by the minute. Marlin watched her curiously. She was obviously happy, but often, he did wonder if it was because of her memory loss. She saw everything as something new to do, even that the thing she was doing minutes ago was the same thing. She had the innocence of a child and the wisdom of an adult altogether, a rarity in the harsh ocean. It was an amaze with how she managed to survive out there.
How old was she, exactly? It was difficult to tell from her childlike attitude, but she looked like she was just out of her teenage years, regarded from her bright scales. Her Namebirth was unknown, even to her, so it was difficult to tell her age. It seemed odd that Dory had her flaw for that long, because while her memory was still damaged -
Whoa, wait a minute, since when I think her memory as damaged? Marlin frowned. He then recalled the words of the Islander. He shook his head to himself. It was silly to assume that she had amnesia. She was fine and he was pretty sure she was sane enough. Probably more sane than anybody else here. But he had to admit that he was curious about how she got her flaw. She said she got it from her family, but was that common for an entire family to have short-term memory loss? If not, then . . .
Again, Marlin stopped himself, realizing that he was acting just like his old self. He was asking questions without trying to experience it firsthand (or first-fin, if you must). He needed to do something about the thoughts before they overwhelmed him. Maybe it wouldn't hurt if he could ask Dory some questions to see how far she could remember. She wouldn't mind. She always didn't mind.
"Dory." Marlin halted as she turned around, grinning expectantly. "Did you remember JC?"
Dory brightened, then looked worried. "Erm, is that a trick question?"
Marlin chuckled. "No, not a trick question. He's the Regal Blue you recently met."
"Oh!" she then looked around. "Where is he?"
"He left."
She formed a pout. "Why? I want to talk with him. He reminds me of someone."
"You know him before?" Can she really remember that far back?
"Uh . . . He looks like someone I know."
Marlin smiled. "Well, for a start, he does look like you."
Dory was puzzled at his comment, then shook her head. "Nah, that can't be it. He looks a lot like . . ." For a moment, she appeared to seriously think of something, perhaps a memory. "He likes to sing."
His eye ridges rose. "JC likes to sing?"
Dory closed her eyes, her face surprisingly smooth, as she mused, her voice soft. "He's sweet and very close to me. He loves to sing to me . . ." Strange words came out from her mouth, outlandish and yet oddly beautiful. "Levu gane . . ."
When her eyes opened, he saw something familiar in them. There was a clearness. That meant she was remembering. When she tried so hard to remember but couldn't, her eyes seemed to dim and clouded , like she was trying to brush away cloudy silt that blocked the memories from her. But now the clearness there in the scarlet eyes were so clear that it was like crystal. She did remember a memory, but somehow she was pulled back into it, not just recalling it, but actually there.
Then the clearness was gone almost immediately, replaced with the cloudiness.
"Dory?" Marlin whispered, not wanting to break through her concentration.
She blinked and beamed. "Why, hi!"
"Oh . . ." He'd never seen this kind of clearness in Dory before. Only a bit of clearness in which it was like she was able to peer through the fog to grasp a sight of a memory. Not as that clear as this one. Did the mention of this Blue Islander spark a new memory that spoke someone who loved singing and emerged foreign words from her? Maybe Dory did know JC from her past, but then JC didn't recognize her at all. What did her foreign words mean, anyway? He didn't recognize any language of this. He knew she can speak many languages; she never ceased to amaze him whenever she spoke a new language.
These words didn't sound like a fish language.
Marlin grimaced. Why all of a sudden he felt like this wasn't a coincidence?
A flimsy fin touched his side and he nearly jumped before he realized it was only Dory. She looked concerned. "Hey, what's the matter?"
Marlin shook his head, partly from denial. "Nothing, Dory. Let's go."
He didn't want to push her to remember any more. Not yet.
He felt much better by the time his class returned.
Thanks to his new mommy - he was so excited to call her mom again just to hear the word from his mouth! - Nemo felt better, his nightmare no longer bothering him. It was still there, of course, somewhere inside his mind and reminding him of his disability, but Mom's words were keeping it at bay. He didn't feel bad or frightened anymore. It was a relief.
Nemo spotted his dad and Dory at the schoolyard, watching the incoming Manta Ray. Not waiting for Mr. Ray to land safely, Nemo leaped off and darted right in Dad's waiting fins. He wasn't surprised to feel that happy. It was something about seeing Dad and now Mom that always excited him every time. Maybe it was the swell of pride of being his family.
Dad was chuckling after he righted himself from his son's speed. "You're cheerful today, Nemo. The dream didn't bother you anymore?"
His grin widened as much as he could. "Not anymore! The Hope Fin helped me."
The Clownfish looked puzzled. "Hope Fin?"
"Yeah! Mom gave it so I can feel better."
There was a bit of uncertainty in the dark orange eyes. Maybe it was because it was the first time he heard Nemo saying the word 'mom' so openly. Nemo already knew about his mother. Sometimes, at night, Dad would quietly speak of her with emotions in his voice and Nemo would remain silent, trying to paint a face that was his late mother in his mind. He rarely spoke of her at other times.
Nemo's grin didn't waver this time. He simply pointed at the beaming Dory and said, "Dory is Mom now."
Dad looked bewildered, but upset or uneasy. He looked simply surprised. "Why do you call her Mom?"
"He wants me to be his mommy," Dory said before Nemo explained.
He gawked at her. "You remember!"
She again grinned with a twinkle in her eyes. "Of course, I do!" She then 'attacked' him with tickles. Nemo giggled, not quite trying to escape her. He already loved her and he really wanted to stay content in her fins, just like he was content with Dad. He knew that feeling. It was exactly what he thought a mother's touch should be. Full of love and gentleness. Dory may be scatterbrained, but she knew just what kids wanted and she knew how to give it. Right now, Nemo wanted to be hugged, and somehow, Dory knew it. He felt her fins gently embracing him. Nemo felt warmth pulsating through his body, and his throat nearly contracted with emotions.
He had a mommy. He finally had one.
Nemo then glanced over to Dad. He didn't move from his spot, his eyes fixing on them. He appeared to be thinking. There was no confusion, but a sort of understanding mixed with an emotion he didn't recognize. He wondered if it was alright for him to have a mommy.
Apparently, Mom was thinking the same. "Is it okay, Marlin?"
Dad started, blinking. "Huh, what?"
Mom giggled. "Is it okay if Bubba calls me Mom?"
"Nemo," the Clownfishes automatically corrected.
Dad then smiled and it was so warm and knowing that Nemo began to grin. He knew the answer already.
"I don't see why not."
Nemo made a backflip. "Yay! I've got a mommy!"
Together, they headed for home, Nemo telling what he had learned in class. This time, he was learning about coral and algae, which he was amazed to find out that algae actually lived in coral. Mom was astonished, too, and didn't believe that until Marlin had to explain the reasons of the symbiosis.
Mom then paused in her tracks, seeming to recall something. She looked concerned. "Marlin, what about Jack?"
Dad eyed her with faint puzzlement. " . . . Oh, you mean JC."
"Oh, JC, right!"
"Who is JC?" Nemo was curious.
"A new friend!"
"He's a Regal Blue I met up north. He's visiting and looking for stories."
Nemo's eyes widened with excitement. "Stories!"
Dad nodded. "He likes to tell stories, just like you. I did ask him to come over for dinner, but he had to leave."
Excitement deflated. "Aw, I wanna meet him."
"Me, too."
"You did meet him, Dory."
"I did? Oh, yeah, I did!"
Dad shook his head at the blushing Mom as Nemo giggled. He then turned to his son. "JC might come back someday, and when he does, I'll make sure to have him meet you. You two would be good friends."
"Great!" Nemo nodded. He would like to meet this JC and listen to his stories. But this time . . . He quickly darted off, shouting back, "Dad, Mom, race ya home!"
He heard their laughter and knew, as always, that Dad and Mom wouldn't resist a good race.
The colorful swirls were no longer bright. They were dark and dim, like twilight, and that worried her. The colors were also changed, from the rainbow hues to now bleak grey and dark blue shades flowing against her psyche weakly. The apprehension was back and it was very heavy that it affected her Dreaming. She was frightened. She didn't want to experience the bleakness again, wanted to be back in the bright colorfulness and bliss, but she couldn't. The apprehension was getting worse.
"I can't remember anything," she whimpered, trying desperately to find an opening out of the bleakness. "I can't find them."
"Dear, you must. It's important."
The feminine voice sounded so familiar and she knew she had heard it before, but it seemed so far and almost disembodied that she wasn't sure if she was hearing things. But the voice was always there, always in her dreams. She only appeared when it was necessary to remind the Dreamer once again of the problem. The voice sounded like she wasn't wanting to hurt her, but she was being firm.
I'm afraid, tina. I don't want to go back.
"Don't be afraid. Keep looking and you'll find them."
. . . And then I have to go back.
" . . . I know it hurts."
The apprehension began to hurt her, pushing unwanted memories back in her sub-consciousness, but something was fiercely blocking them. She was grateful, but at the same time, she wanted to know why she can't recall any of those memories. Why were those memories so terrible that she couldn't willingly remember them?
She then felt a familiar touch, two long, delicate fins touching upon her cheeks, very gently and dreamy. She knew that only the voice had done that all the time, a special secret between them. She knew it were only touches from an escaped memory, and still the touches were very real. She almost cried.
Please, tina, don't leave me again . . .
"Find the beads."
Memories began to flow backward, from her current moments to the earliest moments.
Blackness and a fierce, blinding light from a monster fish . . .
Explosions of beautiful orange and grinning sharks who tried so hard to be friends . . .
Rocks and coral became blurs as she tried to escape from someone . . .
A face, orange-scaled and alarmed, just before he crashed into her . . .
"Keep the beads safe . . ."
Dory woke with a small gasp. The fright occupied her for moments as she wildly darted her gaze around, expecting something horrible to happen to her. Dark blue coral walls innocently met her gaze, and slowly, her mind cleared up. She wasn't in her dreams anymore. She was awake.
Not again . . . She rubbed her thin face. She was so confused. Why can't the dreams go away? It was so easy to forget things, but the dreams were too stubborn. She did want to remember everything, and the dreams were too scared for her to enjoy. But they won't go away. She rubbed her eyes, didn't realize that she was so tired, and swam up to the cave's entrance.
Somehow, something drew her gaze toward the south. Something had happened there, she recalled. But what? And why there? Maybe she should go there and find out - No. She didn't want to. She was too scared.
Dory shook her head sadly. "I can't." She then swam back in, but she didn't go back to sleep. She couldn't.
To be continued.