Author's Note: Hello everyone & welcome to chapter 55 of the story: "Of Two Worlds"! I hope you all enjoyed last chapter, & I again apologize for how late last chapter was, but in my defense, I WAS gone for eight days without ANY access to a computer or other device that had internet (I need music while I write) I could have used to type my story. Well, with that out of the way, I'd like to thank chrisbm100 for favoriting & following this story, as well as being the first to leave a guess at the two places I hinted at in the last chapter! Anywho, on with the story!
Stuff I own: My OCs, Meldalvyna's house in the woods, & plot idea... Stuff I don't own: All Jak and Daxter & Spyro characters, the places these characters originally live in, & the music used in any & all chapters they appear in.
Jak's POV
"Jak, Meldalvyna, this is Aindreas Jayms- my husband- & Sollana Metzgyr, my mother. Mom, honey, this is Jak & Meldalvyna. Meldalvyna is why I was called to the Power Station, she's my half-sister," Carolyn introduces happily, a cheery smile on her face as she signifies each person respectfully, both the man & the older woman sitting at a wooden table in the center of the kitchen. Aindreas & Sollana both stand, walking from their seats to shake our hands with pleasant- yet forced- smiles on their face.
"Hello, I'm Aindreas, as my wife said. Why don't you take off your helmet & hood & take a seat?" the husband asks with a friendly smile as he shakes my & Meldalvyna's hands. Looking over the man quickly as we shake hands, I try to get a feel for what he does in the city. Aindreas is just a little bit taller than me, pale skinned-like he is inside a lot- with no suggestion of getting a tan or sunburn, & buzz-cut strawberry blond hair. Unable to tell anything from his dress & appearance, I remove my helmet as he turns away from me, Meldalvyna keeping her hood up. Aindreas, not noticing Meldalvyna's denial to remove her hood, sits down next to his mother-in-law, a strange expression coming over his face when he looks at me.
"What's wrong dear? There is no need to feel self-conscious, family is accepted as they are in this house, no matter what," Sollana says with a kind smile as Meldalvyna & I take our seats across from the husband & grandmother, the type of smile that I'd imagine a mother would have towards a little kid or relative, Carolyn sitting next to her husband at the head of the table.
"Actually ma'am, my appearance most definitely is something to be self-conscious about," Meldalvyna says in return, earning a confused glance from both Sollana & Aindreas before the two both look to Carolyn for explanation. It takes Carolyn about a second to realize she is being looked at by everyone in the room, swallowing nervously at the request to answer the silent question as to why Meldalvyna won't remove her hood.
"W-well, you see. Meldalyvna is... Meldalvyna is the dragon lady that's been on the news lately," Carolyn stutters out anxiously, looking at her husband & mother uneasily, awaiting their reactions.
"Really? Let me see dear," Sollana says with a hint of a mixture of excitement & disbelief, a small, nearly invisible smile on her face, setting a hand ontop of Meldalvyna's, making her jump a little with the sudden contact. Glancing over at Aindreas, I notice a shocked look spread across his face, & feel a little anger towards him, while also hoping he will accept Meldalvyna as she is. Slowly, Meldalvyna removes her hood, the shadow leaving her face revealing her downcast green eyes. Sollana & Aindreas gasp at the same time, a giddy, toothy smile ripping across Sollana's face as Aindreas's expression fades even further into the awed, untrusting look.
"You weren't kidding... So your my wife's half-sister? How is that even possible?" Aindreas says with a slightly disgusted tone & look on his face, drawing everyone's- save Orianna's, who had left the room for another a few minutes before- attention to him, asking both Meldalvyna & Carolyn questions. I clench my fists while staring at the only other man in the room, trying my best not to glare or growl at him.
"You know what you should do? You should go over there & teach him not to speak or look at her like that," Dark snarls in the back of my mind, tempting me with his suggestion.
"No Jak, do not listen to Dark. Though I too do not like the way Aindreas spoke to Meldalvyna, or the disrespectful expression on his face when he looks at her, I do not think we should start a fight, especially with their child & Carolyn's mother in the room," Light says quickly, trying to calm me down & make me think of a different way to approach the situation.
"Well? How's that even possible Meldalvyna?" Aindreas says, small hints of repulsed venom in his voice, the smallest, barely even noticeable tinge of a appalled frown visible on his face. Unable to hold back all of my anger any more, I glare at Aindreas with hell to pay in my balled fists- only for Carolyn to take care of it for me.
"Aindreas, be nice," Carolyn hisses venomously at her husband, punching him lightly in the arm before turning her attention to her mother, "mom, please brace yourself, the news isn't light."
Sollana nods, a curious & cautious look to her eyes as she shifts in her seat, unknowingly readying herself for Carolyn's news of terrible infidelity upon her mother by her father in his last hours, though he was delusional.
"The last day that dad was alive he... he cheated on you with Meldalvyna's mother- raped her mother actually- but he was delusional from what would be a fatal concussion, & died a few hours later," Carolyn says quietly, giving Meldalyvna a guilty looking glance that clearly said that she is sorry for having to tell someone Mel didn't know. Sollana's eyes seem to immediately cloud over as she looks at Meldalvyna, a slight expression of betrayal in her eyes, while a look of disbelief washes onto Aindreas's face.
"How does an mortally wounded, delusional man rape a dragon?!" Aindreas asks, anger & stubborn incredulity flaming in his form & expression. Unable to hold back my anger any more, I snap at the man, standing so quickly & angrily I knock the chair over behind me.
"The same way someone rapes a normal girl, how the fuck else?! Meldalvyna's mother was around the same size as Meldalvyna is now when it happened, & wasn't even half as strong as Meldalvyna is currently. It's not like it's Meldalvyna's or Cynder's fault Jackson decided to have his way with Mel's mother, you ass. And just because someone's head hurts, doesn't mean it stops them from doing anything else," I snarl viciously at Aindreas, looking him dead in the eyes as I allow some of my Dark Eco to spark lightly across my skin, giving him the message that I didn't like the way he had been talking, "miss Sollana, I appologize for my rude language & behavior just now, but I will not stand for someone talking down to Meldalvyna like that. For one, she is royalty in the Dracon society, & for another, I am with her, both as a co-worker in the Freedom League, & in love."
Sollana, Aindreas, & Carolyn visibly tense, their eyes wide with barely hidden fear, looking between each other, Aindreas giving me the same strange look that he had when he first saw my face ghosting across his mug.
"Hey, you're that guy that got that Baron Praxis guy & the Metalhead Leader out of the city! I can't believe I met you! Jak, I'm sorry for disrespecting you & your... girlfriend, honest!" Aindreas exclaims, recognizing me with a fit of excitement so sudden it catches me completely off guard & makes me lose my train of thought to the point where all I can do is nod in agreement.
"Precursors, you're right, I didn't realize that until you said it! And here I was, thinking this entire time that you looked a bit more familiar than you should have been," Carolyn concurs, a huge smile on her face & an ecstatic look in her eyes.
"Jak, I understand how you feel, dear. Though I do feel like I've been betrayed by that old dog Jackson, I will not let it affect my opinions of you two. Jak, you mentioned the name Cynder. Is that Meldalvyna's mother?" Sollana asks me, a kind- yet oddly empty- smile on her face as she looks between Meldalvyna & I, I picking up my seat before answering her.
"Yes, Cynder is Meldalvyna's mother's name. Carolyn asked us earlier you & she could come to meet Meldalvyna's family, & I just wanted to know if you would want to go. The only thing Meldalvyna & I'd have to do is ask Cynder & Spyro- Meldalvyna's step father- if it is alright with them," I say, suggesting to Sollana the question Carolyn asked us earlier. Sollana's eyes widen in excitement, looking between Meldalvyna, Carolyn, & I with an ecstatic smile on her face, nearly bouncing in her seat with joy.
Meldalvyna's POV
"Yes, Cynder is Meldalvyna's mother's name. Carolyn asked us earlier you & she could come to meet Meldalvyna's family, & I just wanted to know if you would want to go. The only thing Meldalvyna & I'd have to do is ask Cynder & Spyro- Meldalvyna's step father- if it is alright with them," Jak says, looking at Sollana as he paraphrases what Carolyn asked Jak & me earlier. The scent of excited joy rips off of the old woman in waves & a wide grin graces her face as she looks between Jak, Carolyn, & I, almost seeming to bounce in her seat.
"Of course, I would love to go! Meldalvyna dear, do you mind if I ask a few things, about dragon history & other things of the like? I was a mythology major & teacher in my younger years, before Baron Praxis came to power that is," Sollana inquires, a hopeful tone to her voice as she looks at me with an encouraging smile on her face.
"Funny, your daughter asked me the same thing. I will, but it'd probably be better if my mother Cynder told you about Dracon history," I reply with a nod & a smile of my own, knowing that my mother has more knowledge about Dracan history, folklore, & legends than I could ever hope to know.
"Dracon? Is that what your kind is really called?" Aindreas asks, his choice of words & tone a little harsh, but I shrug it off. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Jak warily as he tenses slightly & a barely visible frown sets on his face.
"Well, I am a hybrid so I don't have a 'kind', but yes. Males are called Draco, females Draca- well, adults are called those anyway- and the general term for both genders is Dracon. But, saying 'dragon' is just as acceptable, well I think it is anyhow," I answer quickly, Sollana nodding as she takes in all the information, a curious look on Carolyn's face.
"You never told me this," Jak says with a quirked brow- unknowingly stopping Sollana from saying something- looking at me with an almost bored seeming expression on his face.
"Well, you never asked," I say in return, giving him a smug smirk before returning my attention to my & Jak's hosts.
"Dear, I don't mean to intrude on your privacy towards your own body, but do you have wings & a tail?" Sollana asks quickly, so as to not be interrupted again.
"Of course. Jak, please help me again with my false trench jacket," I say with a smile, deciding to show Sollana & Aindreas the limbs. Jak obliges & stands from his seat as soon as I do, walking behind me & undoing the magnetic snaps with ease as I begin to shrug my wings repeatedly in order to wiggle them out of the slips that make up the false trench coat.
"Oh my, what a clever disguise for your wings & tail! What is that thing on the end of your tail dear?" Sollana asks- immediately noticing my tailblade's sheath- a gleeful smile on the old woman's face as she looks me over, Aindreas's eyes widening in surprise.
"It is a tailblade sheath, ma'am. I put it on earlier so Orianna could play with my tail safely. Here, I'll take it off to show you after I get off my jacket," I answer as I take off my gloves- putting them in my hip pouch with my comm. unit- & jacket. Reaching my tail up towards my hands, I quickly remove my tailblade's sheath & put it with my gloves. Sollana stands from her seat- with some help from both Carolyn & Aindreas- and walks towards me, walking around me to get a good look at me, I moving my arms & tail around while flexing my fingers a little to show off the sharp natural blades attatched to them.
"My, aren't you a force to be reckoned with? She must be one you MAKE SURE you keep happy, ey Jak?" Aindreas chuckles teasingly at both Jak & I, a smile on his face as he looks at the now seated Jak. Jak's eyes widen before he smiles at what Aindreas said, chuckling lightly.
"Yeah, you see those little spikes on her elbows? Well, there's more on the back of her neck & on the backs of her heels, & you can see the ones on her wings, tail, & head. I swear I can barely get close to her without the chance of being cut or stabbed, not to mention her claws," Jak jokes back at him, I shaking my head in amused disbelief at the two, who seemed to be deeming eachother enemies just seconds before. Aindreas laughs hard, going far enouh to slam his hand on the table.
"You have claws dear? Let me see," Sollana says softly, an excited & curious look on her face, obviously having not seen my claws yet. Obligingly, I set my hand in hers & extend a claw on each finger until all five are in full view, Carolyn even observing them from her seat, though she isn't sitting, leaning over the corner of the table to get a good look.
"Amazing, their even serrated, in two different direction no less!" Carolyn says ecstatically before asking; "what are your teeth like if you don't mind me asking?"
"Uh, well, most of my teeth are like other Dracons', but the ones closest to the back are flatter than a Dracon's should be, so I guess they are a bit more human-like than Dracon," I answer, unsure of how I should word my reply properly. Both Sollana & Carolyn begin to nod, their eyes travelling from my face to my neck, Sollana going far enough to walk around me & move my hair, so she could see my neck spikes.
"My word, Jak wasn't joking, those ARE sharp looking. There are three of them, all in descending length as it goes down your neck. You are truely a magnificent... would it be rude to say creature?" Sollana asks, concerned whether or not it would be bad manners or politically incorrect to say what she was starting to.
"No, I don't find it rude at all. I'm not a full blood Dracon or a full blood human, to be honest I wouldn't know what to say in that scenario either," I respond with a kind smile, trying to think of ways to say what Sollana had wanted to without using her choice of words, only to come up blank just as she did.
"Well, that is a predicament. I guess I could have said woman, silly me!" Sollana laughs, just now realizing something she could have said instead of 'creature'. I can't help but laugh along with her, feeling dumb in account that I couldn't think of that simple & obvious word myself.
"Hey Mel, Torn wants us to get back to patrol," Jak says, a little disappointment in his voice, holding his communicator in his hand, a message on the screen. Feeling a little disappointed myself at having to leave my newly discovered family members.
"Well, I guess I will see you all around. Make sure to call me if you want to come visit & see true Dracons," I say with a smile, taking out my comm. unit & scrolling through it until I see my own number, having Jak help me with translating it over to his writing system, he too giving them his number. Everyone stands, saying to each other goodbye, even little Orianna coming into the room, waddling over & hugging my legs as I put on my jacket. Saying our final goodbyes after I put back on my false trench coat, gloves & hood, Carolyn gives me a quick hug, her explaination being that we are now sisters- even if only half- & that I deserved the hug she is giving me. Returning the hug, I have Jak lead me back to the Hellcat cruiser after we part, everyone waiving us goodbye as we lift off & leave, headed back for our patrol route.
"I liked that family a lot. I hope Sollana gets to see mom & dad & Sparx... maybe even Aindreas, if he wants," I think to myself with a smile on my face as we approach our ordered path.
"I figured out what Carolyn & Aindreas do for work... They both work at the Palace as bodyguards for the Council Members. Who would have thought that for Carolyn, huh?" Jak asks pleasantly, having apparently made a happy conversation with Aindreas while Sollana, Carolyn, & I were talking to eachother.
"Really? Huh. I guess we're going to have to make more visits to the Palace then if we want to see them more often," I say, looking at Jak from underneath my hood, a smile on my face he couldn't see, seeing a peaceful smile on his own, nodding in agreement to my suggestion of visiting them when they're on break or something to that effect. Turning my attention back to the world outside the Hellcat cruiser, I wonder how much more human family I have through my half-sister Carolyn.
"Hey, would you like it if they came to your birthday, since we're going to the Naughty Ottsel for it?" Jak asks a few minutes later, turning his head to me for a little bit, a curious & sincere look on his face.
"Yeah, that would be nice... but only if they want to, because I'm pretty sure the first half of it will be at my house, you know how Cynder is," I reply, thinking about how my mother will probably demand that I spend at least an hour & a half with family on my birthday. Jak shakes his head with an amused look on his face, silently agreeing with my prediction & terms.
Author's Note: I'm so sorry it took so long to get this chapter out! I've been very busy lately, & I've been in a weird funk lately (can't sleep well, sick at random times throughout the day, ect.). Anyhow, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, because I honestly thought it was a bit boring... I guess it was a bit more about what someone new to a family might experience, twisted so it would fit with my story? I honestly winged that chapter, though I guess I did introduce some key things about my newest characters... again, I only guess. Same challenge as with last chapter, the first person to answer with the two correct places that I had in my last chapter that are only mentioned ONCE in the entire "The Legend of Spyro" game series to ONE specific character will get mentioned at the beginning of my next chapter! Best wishes, & again I am so sorry for being so late in my posting, this is tigerdj98 signing off until next chapter!
