Tatsu: Alright, I'm writing the next chapter, which has taken me far too long to begin. I can feel the icy glares and threats of deaths from readers and characters alike if I don't continue this, so I am. I'll try to make this chapter longer and better, but I can't make any promises. Here it comes!

Psst! I don't own Tales of Legendia or any of the Tales games! Otherwise there'd be a lot more sequels! I only own this storyline and my OCs.

Chapter 4: Fight

No one heard anything from Will's house after the rather prolonged gagging sound that several passersby had heard while listening at the keyhole to the Sheriff's house. Harriet complained about him trying to overwork while he was sick, still horribly unaware that it was her cooking that had caused his current condition.

Now he was lying in bed, successfully out of commission. Next to him were the two letters, written by Chloe and Senel about their prolonged journey. Will sighed. The others would no doubt chase them down as soon as they found out. This was turning into another adventure. He glanced at Senel's note first.

Dear Friends,

I know this is not the best way to explain myself but it will be easier to do so once this is done. Norma ran away because of me. I was a dense moron, and it caused this. So I'm going to fix this, no matter what it takes. I'll see you all again soon.

Senel

It was short, but it got the point across, and gave no direction of how to find him. Then he glanced at Chloe's letter, just as short, and only slightly different.

Members of the Fun Bunch,

I know that Coolidge is going to attempt something foolish and go off alone in search of Norma. I cannot divulge any details, as he asked me not to. However, I will go with him and aid him in his search. Hoping to see you all again soon,

Chloe

Will flopped his head back on the pillow, again wondering just how complicated things were about to get.

In the Crystal Forest, meanwhile, the three were facing off with a minor annoyance. "You think this is what Norma was chased by the first time Senel came here?" Shirley asked, running away as it chased her.

"Who knows!" Jay replied, before stabbing it with his dagger, and only achieving in aggravating the beast more.

Moses was in his element whenever there was a battle, and used his Wild Rain to slam multiple spears into the creature, causing it to spit out sticky fluids that stuck him and Jay in place. "Ah… well that wasn't quite what I thought would happen."

Jay sighed as he began to work his way out of the death trap, muttering over and over "Stupid bandit." This somehow gave him the strength to break free of the threads, and dodge the creature just in time, While Shirley saved Moses from being trampled by Hitting it with Fireballs.

Moses finally broke free, and charged the spider again, whooping and hollering and finally striking the creature off a cliff. He cheered wildly, throwing a couple spears at it as it fell. "And don't ya come back!"

"I guess stupidity is good for something." Jay commented, and ignored Moses's angry retort. "Let's keep going, we're close to the Everlight's location now."

Norma slowly got up, staggering slightly. "Food…" She muttered, a crazy look in her eyes as she stretched out her arms and began walking towards the exit. It couldn't be helped. She needed food to live, and that way she could keep wallowing. No one knew where she was, and she doubted very much that they would find her. They could look as much as they liked, she had found the perfect spot to stay. No one could find her.

Senel was going to find Norma. Nothing would stop him. Of course, the fact that a ship was arriving made things a little more complicated at Port-On-Range. Norma couldn't be here. There were far too many people. By checking the next ship that was leaving, he discovered that the last ship had left for the mainland over two weeks ago, and the one that had just arrived was the first one since then. Not even a cargo ship had come. Senel thanked him and waited by the exit for Chloe.

Chloe, meanwhile, checked the crowd. A quick scan told her that no Norma was seen, although she couldn't be absolutely sure with the amount of people around. Her loud voice, however, usually was noticeable wherever she was. Chloe very much doubted that had changed. She headed back to the exit, where she answered Senel's unasked question with a shake of her head, and the two began to move away.

They hadn't gone five paces, however, when a voice both recognized was heard. "Well! I didn't expect them to be right outside Port-On-Range! Hailey, we've hit the jackpot!" Both turned as one, looking as two figures approached them. "If it isn't Coolidge! And Valens as well! You two have caused quite a stir on the mainland, you know that?"

The man, spotting Chloe's drawn sword and Senel's fists raised, sighed and scratched his head. "I suppose you won't believe me if I say I'm not here to fight? You're funeral." Neither lowered their weapons, or made a move to attack. "Hailey, stand back. You're a healer, after all, you don't want to get hurt."

The girl nodded, and stepped back. Familiar background music began to play as the battle began. "Cool!" The boy shouted. "Looks like I'm classified as a Boss by the Legacy's standards!"

Following this utterly random pronouncement, the battle began. Chloe and Senel immediately unleashed their Fang attacks in a combo that had worked several times before. However, Wil simply flipped over them, landing in front of the two. Before he knew it, Senel had received a sharp blow from the side of Wil's weapon. It had been strapped to his back.

It was a lance. Very similar to what Moses used, except this was good for closer range combat that Moses's style, which was longer range. Senel flew back a few feet, his feet crunching as he clutched his stomach in pain. He's gotten a lot stronger… and he was already dangerous before.

Chloe swept her sword at him, only to find herself bent over, her hands firmly held behind her back. Wil had won the fight; one hand holding Chloe down, the other had his lance held close to her back. "Do I win? Can we stop fighting now?" He asked, apparently curious to the response.

Senel sighed, and then nodded. For a moment, there was silence, and then Wil released Chloe and stepped back. Hailey rushed forward and held her staff high, and in a moment Senel's bruised stomach was cured. "What I don't get," He began, "Is why you're here. And how do you know him, Chloe?"

Chloe glanced at Senel. "I was about to asked you the same thing, actually."

Wil raised his hand. "I can answer all your questions, yes? Does that mean I can explain?" They nodded. "Yes! I do get lucky sometimes!"

He calls this luck? Chloe and Senel thought at the same time, and Hailey sighed.

"Alright, well, since you seem to be on a quest, I'll make this quick. I met Valens first. I was a knight. At least, for a little while. I was too brutal in some of my missions, and too compassionate in others, so they threw me out. But it was during that time I met Valens. I did a couple of missions with her."

Chloe nodded at this, knowing it was true. If I remember correctly, I saw the most brutal mission, as well as the most compassionate. That had to have been right before he stopped following orders. After that he never really was the same. The higher ups thought he was a bit… loopy. Well he is, but not in a crazy sense.

"After a while," Wil continued "I needed work. Vaclav offered it. That's why you attacked, isn't it Coolidge?" He nodded in response. "Well, I met Hailey, but after the attack on the Ferines Village, I stopped following Vaclav's orders as well. I don't do mass murders anymore." This implied that he had been involved in one before, but the others ignored this. "So Hailey and I traveled for a while."

So far this made sense. Senel remembered that he hadn't seen Wil during the attack. He'd ask more later if he had the chance. Of course, it wasn't something he especially liked to remember. Neither, apparently, did Wil.

"Anyways, we needed new work, and there was an advertisement about the Legacy defense force. We decided to give it a shot. Of course, I thought it would be very entertaining to see you both again. I heard about how you guys defeated Vaclav… and that Ferines guy that had kinda lost it… and that weird mist stuff." Despite his strange and confusing response, both understood the gist of it.

"Well, you'll want to go to Weritas Beacon for that. Talk to Will the Sheriff. Shouldn't be too hard, he has your name. Tell him you know us and we recommended you." Senel said, waving his hand.

"That's nice and all, but you two don't appear to be going back. You know I'm too curious for my own good." Wil said. Hailey sighed again. He always got them into other people's business.

"Yes we are, but I don't think that's any of your business." Chloe said.

"Oh, come on. I'll just cause you both more grief if I shadow you rather than travel with you."

It was obvious they weren't going to win this battle. With another shrug, Senel said "Suit yourself." And began walking.

"Alright!" Wil said, punching the air.

"Where are we headed next, Coolidge? Wait, why are you—" Chloe trailed off, realizing she was smiling as well. Having another fighter and a healer along rounded out their party, and would make it much easier to get through monster infested areas with fewer injuries.

"So, Senel's looking for his lover?" Hailey asked unexpectedly, as though she had read the other's minds.

"How did you know that?" Chloe asked, making Senel turn completely red.

"She's not my lover! It's Norma!" He yelled.

"Oh-ho! Coolidge has got a thing for the girl with a lot of pep, huh?" Wil asked Chloe.

"Stop saying that! We're just looking for her! It's nothing like that!"

"Well, Hailey obviously read your mind, so it's no use denying it."

Senel stopped. "Wait, she can read minds? Really?"

Wil laughed. "Of course not! She just guesses really accurately! And the look on your face gives it all away!"

"He's right, Coolidge." Chloe said, looking at Senel's blushing face.

"You're all conspiring against me!" He shouted, and continued walking, leaving the other three laughing, following in his wake.

Tatsu: Still short. I'm trying, I really am. I think this one is a little better and a little longer, but I can't really tell. Well, I hope you all read and review this, and I'll try and update again sooner. I will do better! I will! I won't lose to my laziness!