Hey there all! I'm back with another chapter for your (entertainment?).
Er, anyway. First off, a big thank you again for all the wonderful
reviews. *Sniff* I feel so loved! Also, I need to thank Vulpix for their
suggestion for this chapter. I decided I liked one of the plot
suggestions, so I've added it in (Not all of it, but just a little bit
involving Karma and a guard that I thought would work well). So I guess
I'd better say that some of the credit for this chapter goes to Vulpix.
Thankies for the help, not just to Vulpix, but also to everyone who's
written such nice reviews! Well, until the next chapter.
~Keysha
Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City
Chapter Five: The Plot
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" The thunderous voice roared. "AND THIS TIME, I WANT THE TRUTH!" Jak felt like his ears were about to explode from the noise Samos was making as he scolded them. Then again, the word 'scolded' was defiantly an understatement of what they were going through. Daxter had cleverly taken cover behind Jak's back, clinging to the back of his shirt as he hid from the impact of Samos's enraged voice.
"Daddy, you don't understand. We've already TOLD you where we've been." Keira tried to explain, but Samos's skin was already a deep red. Not from embarrassment, but from pure rage.
"Oh yes Keira, how could I forget?" He said in a mocking tone. "You three have been spending time in the Great White City, where the people all have wings and live in the trees: WHICH, if my memory serves me correctly, DISSAPEARED OVER 2000 YEARS AGO!"
"I guess your memory isn't serving you very well then." Came the muffled reply from behind Jak's back. Samos glared.
"Daxter, I am THIS close to turning you into a heath rug!" Samos growled. There was a scared little whimper from behind Jak, and then there was silence.
"Now I'll ask you again. WHERE were you?" Samos questioned the two kids again. Keira turned to Jak, and Jak turned to Keira. The look on their faces clearly showed that they had no idea WHAT to say. Samos just WOULDN'T believe them.
"We had a REALLY long game of hide-and-go-seek in the Forbidden Jungle." Keira tried. Daxter climbed back onto Jak's shoulder and nodded.
"Yeah, except we all forgot about the go-seek part." Daxter put in.
"Uh huh!" Keira played along. We were there for DAYS until we realized!" She smiled, hoping her father would see the humorous side of things. He didn't.
"Get out of my sight!" Samos spat, turning away from them with disgrace. The three sighed and gratefully left Samos's presence.
***
"Boy, I thought we were DEAD for a minute!" Daxter breathed a sigh of relief as the trio stepped out of Samos's hut. Keira narrowed her eyebrows at the little fuzz ball on Jak's shoulder and pointed at him.
"Well, we weren't going to DIE, but you were VERY close to becoming a pair of furry slippers thanks to your BIG MOUTH!" Keira teased.
Daxter groaned. The mocking had started already. He missed Xema; she was one of his only friends who DIDN'T tease him day in and day out.
"I guess my father will never believe us unless we had proof that the city exists." Keira told the boys. Jak nodded his head in agreement. What they needed was a local, who could fly in front of Samos and prove him that he was wrong. After all, the wings could not lie.
Daxter was thinking more or less the same thing. Although he just wanted to use it as an excuse to see Xema again.
***
Xema didn't know where she was going. All she wanted to do was get as far away from her sister as possible. She just flew south, not keeping track of any of her surroundings. For all she knew, she could end up at the other end of the world. But she didn't care. Before, flying away from the city was an attempt to escape the city itself. Now, it was an attempt to escape her very own family.
The tired Princess landed heavily on an inviting rock. She lay down and bathed her aching limbs in the sun. How long had she been flying now? She had completely lost track of time. Probably at least four or five hours and now she felt like lying in the sun forever. A small crash made her glance up. It was a wave. She had made it to the sea. Xema sighed with content as she watched the waves beat at the sand. It was her first time anywhere near such a large body of water. It looked cool and inviting, calling to Xema to rest her sore limbs.
Xema slid off of the rock and removed her sandals, before making her way towards the water, giggling helplessly at the feel of the sand between her toes. It all would have been perfect, had her joy not been broken by a detectable rumble under her feet as the sand began to shift and part. Xema sprang in the air just as a huge dragon-like creature emerged from the sand and tried to bite her in two. The girl sighed with relief as she hovered high in the air, while the angry sand-dragon snapped at her heels.
"There's just NO comfort anywhere. IS THERE?" Xema yelled out loud. The only reply she got was her voice echoing off of the rocky cliffs bordering the beach. She groaned and began to head down the beach, hovering high above the sand incase there were any more of those dragons or other vicious creatures waiting to attack her.
***
"What do you mean she's GONE?" Draco felt like he was about to have a heart attack. Which wasn't to unexpected, considering his age, but how was he supposed to stay calm when Xema was gone.
"How long has she been missing?" Draco growled. The guards below him shook with fear.
"We don't know sir. About five hours." They cringed as Draco's face reddened until it looked like a lump of red eco. The king climbed to his feet and shot an angry glance around the room. Every body in the room tensed as they waited for him to explode, but he seemed to calm himself. He shook his head, and glanced up at the sky.
"Five hours would have given her plenty of time to escape. But she must have gone somewhere. Xema may be foolish running away, but she's not stupid. She would have planned her journey." Draco turned to a familiar guard who he always sent after Xema when she escaped. "You there! Where did you find my daughter the last time she ran away?" The guard ran up to Draco and bowed low.
"Your highness. We found her just outside a village, near the sea."
Draco nodded. "Was it the village those two children and their pet came from?" The guard nodded, and Draco snapped his fingers. Immediately, the party of guards that had returned with Xema last time steeped forward and bowed. Draco signaled them to follow him, and he led the group to one of the main balconies.
"We must act quickly. Xema has had a longer head start than usual. You must return to the village you found her last time and look for her. If she is not there, one of you shall return here. The rest of you keep looking. Remember, we're on a limit here. If she's gone from the city for longer than 24 hours." Draco didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to. Everyone understood the importance of returning with Xema.
***
Karma hid from sight as the guards took off, heading in a southerly direction. So, they HAD discovered her missing. Karma rubbed her temples in frustration. If they managed to find Xema, the little brat might tell their father about her threats. Of course Draco would believe her. After all, Xema WAS his 'favorite'. Karma mumbled to herself for a few moments, before retreating to her room. If the guards came back with Xema, she would NEVER claim the throne. She needed to FULLY get rid of her sister while she was outside the city. That way, she knew there would NEVER be a chance of Xema returning. Karma sighed. She didn't hate her sister to a point where she had to kill her. In truth, she knew Xema didn't even WANT the crown. But desperate times called for desperate measures, even if it required taking the life of her very own sister.
Karma was willing to do ANYTHING to get what she wanted.
***
Daxter wasn't in the mood for talking to Keira or Jak. Neither of them had anything interesting to talk about. Not that Jak ever had ANYTHING to talk about, but still, the two refused to stop teasing him. He made his way away from Samo's hut, mumbling under his breath, following the path away from the village. He had no idea anyone was following him, until a dark shadow loomed over him, and something creeped up and touched him on the shoulder.
His scream was deafening. Daxter spun around to remove the object from his shoulder, which turned out to be a hand.
"Daxter. STOP YELLING!" Xema cried, slapping a hand over his mouth. The ottsel stared up at the figure above him, and his eyes widened as he realized who it was. As soon as she was convinced he wouldn't yell any more, Xema removed her hand.
"Xema? WHAT are you DOING here?" Daxter gasped. But he laughed happily as she picked him up and hugged him for all she was worth. "Did ya miss me? That's why you came back huh?" Daxter grinned, hoping that was the answer. Xema blushed. That wasn't the REAL reason she was there. But she didn't want Daxter to feel disappointed. So she just smiled and nodded.
"I KNEW it! You missed me didn't you baby?' The furball cried, wrapping his arms around her neck and attempting to give her a seductive look, but he looked more like an ottsel with an eye problem. Xema laughed helplessly and put him back on the ground.
"I've got to tell the other's you're here!" Daxter cried in an excited voice, as if her arrival was the most anticipated thing the world had been waiting for. "Samos is going to wish he BELIVED us when we told him you and the city were real! Who knows, he might actually feel sick and turn greener than he already is!" Daxter clapped his paws together in excitement, but when he looked up at Xema, she was shaking her head, a look of worry spread across her face.
"No Daxter. You CAN'T let anyone know I'm here! If they find me." Her voice trailed off, and Daxter noticed that she was glancing around her, as if any minute someone might jump out of the bushes and grab her.
"Ah, you're playing 'fugitive?'" Daxter asked, giving her a wink. She smiled slightly and nodded, although she was still shivering slightly. Daxter quickly climbed up onto her shoulder and pressed his fur against her while wrapping his arms around her neck, trying to keep her warm. "Well, you can count on me." He assured her. "I won't tell a soul that you're here." And then he jumped off her shoulder and headed away.
"Where are you going?" Xema called out to him. He looked over his shoulder and grinned.
"To tell Jak of course!" He answered. Xema was at a loss for words.
"WHAT? I thought you just promised me you WOULDN'T tell ANYONE?" Xema asked rather cross. Daxter shook his head.
"I did. But I have to tell SOMEONE! Believe me Xema, when I've got news, I have to let SOMEONE know." And with that, he started to head off again. Xema sighed and sat herself down on the grass to await his return. For someone so small, he sure had a big mouth. Xema smiled. She liked that in her boys.
***
Keira and Jak had both thought they'd finally got rid of Daxter for the day. They were both relaxing in Keira's workshop, Keira resting her head on Jak's shoulder while her boyfriend's cheeks tinted pink from blush. Everything was peaceful, until they caught sight of a small orange ottsel rushing through the door. Keira groaned loudly and threw her arms up in the air in exasperation.
"Daxter, DO YOU MIND!" She cried. The ottsel looked up at her and cocked an eyebrow.
"Not at all." He grinned. "You two will never guess who's here!"
Jak stared blankly at Daxter and shrugged his shoulders. Keira folded her arms across her chest and smirked. "You mean the men in white coats have finally come to take you away?" She teased. But Daxter was too excited to notice her comment. He was bouncing up and down on the floor in a hyperactive state.
"Xema's back!" He cried. The response he got from the two was not what he expected. Jak's was a look of disbelief. Keira just shook her head and sighed.
"PUH-LEEZE Daxter! Your attempts for attention are NOT going to work on us!" Keira groaned, turning to Jak. "Maybe we should just call the men in white coats and tell them we've got a psychotic, attention seeking ottsel that needs urgent attention." Jak grinned and nodded his head in approval. Daxter's jaw dropped as he realized the outcome. He turned and headed out the door, mumbling to himself. Keira returned to Jak, and returned a high- five he was offering her. NOW maybe they could enjoy their afternoon in peace.
***
"Are you SURE you know what to do?" Karma asked sternly, circling the young man before her. He was a young guard, new to the force. Karma liked to call him: Fresh meat. He was still learning about his duties as a guard, but because he was so young, Karma knew he could be easily corrupt. On his right hand, he bared the sign of one gifted to leave the city. Karma eyed his feathered mark hungrily, as if she desired to have one herself.
The young guard stood stiff and at attention. He nodded his head slightly as Karma circled him like a vulture circling a decaying carcass.
"Find Xema." He repeated like a robot. "Kill her on sight."
"Oh. 'Kill' is such as NASTY word." Karma giggled evilly. "Why don't we just say: 'Dispose of.'" The guard nodded in understanding.
However, Karma was not fully finished with him. In one swift movement, she had pulled a long, sliver dagger from under her robes and pressed it hard against the guard's throat.
"I'm WARNING you junior! Betray me, and it will be YOUR head I send rolling! Xema's body won't be the only one lying cold and dead on the ground." From the pathetic whimper escaping the boy, Karma was convinced he UNDERSTOOD her all to well.
Karma removed the dagger and clapped her hands together in anticipation. "Good! Now, find my sister and 'DISPOSE of her!" Karma commanded. Without missing a beat, the guard leapt out onto the gentle wind currents until her was high in the air. Karma watched until he had passed through the shield of the city, then spun on her heels. Ready to spend a good half an hour watching her father fret as her awaited the return of his youngest daughter.
'How sad.' Thought Karma 'that Xema won't be coming back. EVER!'
***
Xema sat deep in thought as she hid on the outskirts of the village, awaiting Daxter's return. When she had first noticed him wandering along the beach, she had thought of nothing except how glad she was to see him. But now, while he had left her, she began to recall her conversation with Karma, and how she had realized Daxter's 'secret'. Xema felt hurt and betrayed, not to mention foolish. All this time, and Daxter had kept such an important issue hidden from her. Was he scared? Scared she wouldn't like him if she knew the truth? Xema shook her head. She liked Daxter for who he was, not WHAT he was.
"Well, Jak's not coming out! He didn't believe me when I told him you were here. I don't get it! WHY doesn't he trust ME?" Daxter stood in front of the winged girl, grinning. He had returned from his argument with Jak and Keira, and although he had lost, he was still in a good mood. "Oh well, I guess that means you get to spend the rest of the day with just ME!" Daxter emphasized this as if Xema had just won a thousand Precursor Orbs. But Xema kept her head bent low, focusing on her feet and nothing else. Daxter's smile faded, and became a look of concern.
"Baby? What's wrong?"
Xema didn't really want to talk to Daxter now. Every time she thought about how he had hidden his past from her, she became more and more hurt deep inside. She turned her face away to avoid looking at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, not daring to look at him. Daxter was taken aback. He padded up to her and placed a paw on her shoulder.
"Tell you what?" He asked, trying to look her in the eyes, but she kept her head turned away, refusing to let him see her.
"About your past. Everything that happened to you before you came to my city."
"Xema, I didn't think that was worth talking about."
"WHAT!" Xema spun her head around, and Daxter was shocked to find there were tears in her eyes.
"Daxter, you weren't always an ottsel, were you?" Xema looked him dead in the eyes, although this was slightly difficult, seen, as her eyes were very blurry from all of her tears. Daxter's heart raced. Somehow, Xema had worked out the ONE thing he was too scared to tell her. And because of that, she now hated him. He bowed his head low, feeling incredibly ashamed and stupid.
"No." He admitted in a barley decipherable whisper. Xema made a small, quick sound that reminded Daxter of someone chocking. He didn't blame her; she was probably going to be sick.
"All this time, you never even TOLD me?" Xema chocked on her words while her tears flowed down her face. Daxter wanted to wipe them away, but he was too scared to touch her. He didn't want to damage the wound he had already made incredibly deep.
"Daxter, I don't know WHY you wouldn't tell me." Xema sighed tearfully, wiping at her wet cheeks with her arm. Daxter looked up at her with regretful eyes.
"I was scared." He admitted. Never before had he felt or acted so serious. Before this moment, life had been one big joke to him. True, he had experienced pain before, especially when he had lost his identity and become an ottsel. But even then, that pain was nothing to what he was feeling now. It was like his heart had been broken in two, and only Xema had the ability to heal it. Although he was sure she never would.
"Xema, I was scared you wouldn't like me for who I really was." Daxter tried to consider every word he said. No joking around this time. If he put one word out of place, he could mess up everything, and his friendship with Xema would be over in a matter of seconds. "Xema, I never wanted to hurt you. But I thought you would never like the real me. You just seemed to like me because I was all furry and cuddly. I was just scared that if you knew I was really a boy, you wouldn't like me anymore."
There was a long pause as Xema took in what Daxter had said. His heart raced as she shook her head and looked him in the eyes, her tears slowly drying.
"Daxter, you could be a Lurker for all I care. I like you for who you are, not WHAT you are." She sighed and flopped down onto the sand. Daxter stood beside her still, waiting to hear if she had anything else to say. His heart was racing like crazy as he realized that for the first time, someone actually liked his personality. Xema actually like HIM for who he was! Xema gave a small, breathy laugh.
"You know, before I first met you Daxter, I barely EVER laughed." Daxter looked up at her with an expression of utter astonishment.
"Really?" He asked, she glanced at him, smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, life's not very humorous when your father is serious full time and your sister thinks she's the almighty Queen of evil." Daxter smiled.
"More like the Queen of creepiness." He suggested, and Xema laughed. Daxter grinned. He felt good when he made Xema smile. "I'm glad you came back." He told her, blushing under his fur.
"Yeah, me too." Xema picked up the orange furball, and pulled him in close so that their faces were almost touching.
"Am, am I forgiven?" Daxter stuttered slightly. Xema smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, you're forgiven." Xema smiled, and Daxter felt his heart leap with joy. That moment could have not been any more perfect for Daxter. But before he could even begin to enjoy her company, Xema bent her head slightly and kissed him on the cheek.
Daxter would have been a deep red had it not been for his fur. He gently touched his cheek with the tips of his fingers, as if it were a delicate wound. He was stunned into full silence, something that no one had EVER been able to do to Daxter. He glanced up at Xema, who seemed to be replaying the situation in her head and wondering if she had just made a wrong more. He grinned and then laughed.
"Hey! That's my first one!" He admitted, trying to help Xema loosen up. It worked. She smiled, and then began to laugh too, hugging him close to her. "Can I have another one?" Daxter asked eagerly. Xema raised an eyebrow and put a finger to her lips, as if in deep thought.
"We'll see. Maybe if you behave yourself." Daxter grinned and nuzzled his cheek against hers.
"I promise to be a good little ottsel." He said in an honest voice. Xema kept her arms wrapped around his furry little body. She was happy beyond all measure that they were friends again. She felt as if her love for him had just grown ten fold since they had made up. Xema wondered if now was the best time to reveal HER secret to Daxter. How she well and truly had feelings for him. But when she glanced down at the ball of fuzz in her arms, grinning form ear to ear, she decided to stay silent. She didn't want to ruin the moment with the wrong words. And besides, she wanted this moment to last forever.
~Keysha
Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City
Chapter Five: The Plot
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" The thunderous voice roared. "AND THIS TIME, I WANT THE TRUTH!" Jak felt like his ears were about to explode from the noise Samos was making as he scolded them. Then again, the word 'scolded' was defiantly an understatement of what they were going through. Daxter had cleverly taken cover behind Jak's back, clinging to the back of his shirt as he hid from the impact of Samos's enraged voice.
"Daddy, you don't understand. We've already TOLD you where we've been." Keira tried to explain, but Samos's skin was already a deep red. Not from embarrassment, but from pure rage.
"Oh yes Keira, how could I forget?" He said in a mocking tone. "You three have been spending time in the Great White City, where the people all have wings and live in the trees: WHICH, if my memory serves me correctly, DISSAPEARED OVER 2000 YEARS AGO!"
"I guess your memory isn't serving you very well then." Came the muffled reply from behind Jak's back. Samos glared.
"Daxter, I am THIS close to turning you into a heath rug!" Samos growled. There was a scared little whimper from behind Jak, and then there was silence.
"Now I'll ask you again. WHERE were you?" Samos questioned the two kids again. Keira turned to Jak, and Jak turned to Keira. The look on their faces clearly showed that they had no idea WHAT to say. Samos just WOULDN'T believe them.
"We had a REALLY long game of hide-and-go-seek in the Forbidden Jungle." Keira tried. Daxter climbed back onto Jak's shoulder and nodded.
"Yeah, except we all forgot about the go-seek part." Daxter put in.
"Uh huh!" Keira played along. We were there for DAYS until we realized!" She smiled, hoping her father would see the humorous side of things. He didn't.
"Get out of my sight!" Samos spat, turning away from them with disgrace. The three sighed and gratefully left Samos's presence.
***
"Boy, I thought we were DEAD for a minute!" Daxter breathed a sigh of relief as the trio stepped out of Samos's hut. Keira narrowed her eyebrows at the little fuzz ball on Jak's shoulder and pointed at him.
"Well, we weren't going to DIE, but you were VERY close to becoming a pair of furry slippers thanks to your BIG MOUTH!" Keira teased.
Daxter groaned. The mocking had started already. He missed Xema; she was one of his only friends who DIDN'T tease him day in and day out.
"I guess my father will never believe us unless we had proof that the city exists." Keira told the boys. Jak nodded his head in agreement. What they needed was a local, who could fly in front of Samos and prove him that he was wrong. After all, the wings could not lie.
Daxter was thinking more or less the same thing. Although he just wanted to use it as an excuse to see Xema again.
***
Xema didn't know where she was going. All she wanted to do was get as far away from her sister as possible. She just flew south, not keeping track of any of her surroundings. For all she knew, she could end up at the other end of the world. But she didn't care. Before, flying away from the city was an attempt to escape the city itself. Now, it was an attempt to escape her very own family.
The tired Princess landed heavily on an inviting rock. She lay down and bathed her aching limbs in the sun. How long had she been flying now? She had completely lost track of time. Probably at least four or five hours and now she felt like lying in the sun forever. A small crash made her glance up. It was a wave. She had made it to the sea. Xema sighed with content as she watched the waves beat at the sand. It was her first time anywhere near such a large body of water. It looked cool and inviting, calling to Xema to rest her sore limbs.
Xema slid off of the rock and removed her sandals, before making her way towards the water, giggling helplessly at the feel of the sand between her toes. It all would have been perfect, had her joy not been broken by a detectable rumble under her feet as the sand began to shift and part. Xema sprang in the air just as a huge dragon-like creature emerged from the sand and tried to bite her in two. The girl sighed with relief as she hovered high in the air, while the angry sand-dragon snapped at her heels.
"There's just NO comfort anywhere. IS THERE?" Xema yelled out loud. The only reply she got was her voice echoing off of the rocky cliffs bordering the beach. She groaned and began to head down the beach, hovering high above the sand incase there were any more of those dragons or other vicious creatures waiting to attack her.
***
"What do you mean she's GONE?" Draco felt like he was about to have a heart attack. Which wasn't to unexpected, considering his age, but how was he supposed to stay calm when Xema was gone.
"How long has she been missing?" Draco growled. The guards below him shook with fear.
"We don't know sir. About five hours." They cringed as Draco's face reddened until it looked like a lump of red eco. The king climbed to his feet and shot an angry glance around the room. Every body in the room tensed as they waited for him to explode, but he seemed to calm himself. He shook his head, and glanced up at the sky.
"Five hours would have given her plenty of time to escape. But she must have gone somewhere. Xema may be foolish running away, but she's not stupid. She would have planned her journey." Draco turned to a familiar guard who he always sent after Xema when she escaped. "You there! Where did you find my daughter the last time she ran away?" The guard ran up to Draco and bowed low.
"Your highness. We found her just outside a village, near the sea."
Draco nodded. "Was it the village those two children and their pet came from?" The guard nodded, and Draco snapped his fingers. Immediately, the party of guards that had returned with Xema last time steeped forward and bowed. Draco signaled them to follow him, and he led the group to one of the main balconies.
"We must act quickly. Xema has had a longer head start than usual. You must return to the village you found her last time and look for her. If she is not there, one of you shall return here. The rest of you keep looking. Remember, we're on a limit here. If she's gone from the city for longer than 24 hours." Draco didn't finish his sentence. He didn't need to. Everyone understood the importance of returning with Xema.
***
Karma hid from sight as the guards took off, heading in a southerly direction. So, they HAD discovered her missing. Karma rubbed her temples in frustration. If they managed to find Xema, the little brat might tell their father about her threats. Of course Draco would believe her. After all, Xema WAS his 'favorite'. Karma mumbled to herself for a few moments, before retreating to her room. If the guards came back with Xema, she would NEVER claim the throne. She needed to FULLY get rid of her sister while she was outside the city. That way, she knew there would NEVER be a chance of Xema returning. Karma sighed. She didn't hate her sister to a point where she had to kill her. In truth, she knew Xema didn't even WANT the crown. But desperate times called for desperate measures, even if it required taking the life of her very own sister.
Karma was willing to do ANYTHING to get what she wanted.
***
Daxter wasn't in the mood for talking to Keira or Jak. Neither of them had anything interesting to talk about. Not that Jak ever had ANYTHING to talk about, but still, the two refused to stop teasing him. He made his way away from Samo's hut, mumbling under his breath, following the path away from the village. He had no idea anyone was following him, until a dark shadow loomed over him, and something creeped up and touched him on the shoulder.
His scream was deafening. Daxter spun around to remove the object from his shoulder, which turned out to be a hand.
"Daxter. STOP YELLING!" Xema cried, slapping a hand over his mouth. The ottsel stared up at the figure above him, and his eyes widened as he realized who it was. As soon as she was convinced he wouldn't yell any more, Xema removed her hand.
"Xema? WHAT are you DOING here?" Daxter gasped. But he laughed happily as she picked him up and hugged him for all she was worth. "Did ya miss me? That's why you came back huh?" Daxter grinned, hoping that was the answer. Xema blushed. That wasn't the REAL reason she was there. But she didn't want Daxter to feel disappointed. So she just smiled and nodded.
"I KNEW it! You missed me didn't you baby?' The furball cried, wrapping his arms around her neck and attempting to give her a seductive look, but he looked more like an ottsel with an eye problem. Xema laughed helplessly and put him back on the ground.
"I've got to tell the other's you're here!" Daxter cried in an excited voice, as if her arrival was the most anticipated thing the world had been waiting for. "Samos is going to wish he BELIVED us when we told him you and the city were real! Who knows, he might actually feel sick and turn greener than he already is!" Daxter clapped his paws together in excitement, but when he looked up at Xema, she was shaking her head, a look of worry spread across her face.
"No Daxter. You CAN'T let anyone know I'm here! If they find me." Her voice trailed off, and Daxter noticed that she was glancing around her, as if any minute someone might jump out of the bushes and grab her.
"Ah, you're playing 'fugitive?'" Daxter asked, giving her a wink. She smiled slightly and nodded, although she was still shivering slightly. Daxter quickly climbed up onto her shoulder and pressed his fur against her while wrapping his arms around her neck, trying to keep her warm. "Well, you can count on me." He assured her. "I won't tell a soul that you're here." And then he jumped off her shoulder and headed away.
"Where are you going?" Xema called out to him. He looked over his shoulder and grinned.
"To tell Jak of course!" He answered. Xema was at a loss for words.
"WHAT? I thought you just promised me you WOULDN'T tell ANYONE?" Xema asked rather cross. Daxter shook his head.
"I did. But I have to tell SOMEONE! Believe me Xema, when I've got news, I have to let SOMEONE know." And with that, he started to head off again. Xema sighed and sat herself down on the grass to await his return. For someone so small, he sure had a big mouth. Xema smiled. She liked that in her boys.
***
Keira and Jak had both thought they'd finally got rid of Daxter for the day. They were both relaxing in Keira's workshop, Keira resting her head on Jak's shoulder while her boyfriend's cheeks tinted pink from blush. Everything was peaceful, until they caught sight of a small orange ottsel rushing through the door. Keira groaned loudly and threw her arms up in the air in exasperation.
"Daxter, DO YOU MIND!" She cried. The ottsel looked up at her and cocked an eyebrow.
"Not at all." He grinned. "You two will never guess who's here!"
Jak stared blankly at Daxter and shrugged his shoulders. Keira folded her arms across her chest and smirked. "You mean the men in white coats have finally come to take you away?" She teased. But Daxter was too excited to notice her comment. He was bouncing up and down on the floor in a hyperactive state.
"Xema's back!" He cried. The response he got from the two was not what he expected. Jak's was a look of disbelief. Keira just shook her head and sighed.
"PUH-LEEZE Daxter! Your attempts for attention are NOT going to work on us!" Keira groaned, turning to Jak. "Maybe we should just call the men in white coats and tell them we've got a psychotic, attention seeking ottsel that needs urgent attention." Jak grinned and nodded his head in approval. Daxter's jaw dropped as he realized the outcome. He turned and headed out the door, mumbling to himself. Keira returned to Jak, and returned a high- five he was offering her. NOW maybe they could enjoy their afternoon in peace.
***
"Are you SURE you know what to do?" Karma asked sternly, circling the young man before her. He was a young guard, new to the force. Karma liked to call him: Fresh meat. He was still learning about his duties as a guard, but because he was so young, Karma knew he could be easily corrupt. On his right hand, he bared the sign of one gifted to leave the city. Karma eyed his feathered mark hungrily, as if she desired to have one herself.
The young guard stood stiff and at attention. He nodded his head slightly as Karma circled him like a vulture circling a decaying carcass.
"Find Xema." He repeated like a robot. "Kill her on sight."
"Oh. 'Kill' is such as NASTY word." Karma giggled evilly. "Why don't we just say: 'Dispose of.'" The guard nodded in understanding.
However, Karma was not fully finished with him. In one swift movement, she had pulled a long, sliver dagger from under her robes and pressed it hard against the guard's throat.
"I'm WARNING you junior! Betray me, and it will be YOUR head I send rolling! Xema's body won't be the only one lying cold and dead on the ground." From the pathetic whimper escaping the boy, Karma was convinced he UNDERSTOOD her all to well.
Karma removed the dagger and clapped her hands together in anticipation. "Good! Now, find my sister and 'DISPOSE of her!" Karma commanded. Without missing a beat, the guard leapt out onto the gentle wind currents until her was high in the air. Karma watched until he had passed through the shield of the city, then spun on her heels. Ready to spend a good half an hour watching her father fret as her awaited the return of his youngest daughter.
'How sad.' Thought Karma 'that Xema won't be coming back. EVER!'
***
Xema sat deep in thought as she hid on the outskirts of the village, awaiting Daxter's return. When she had first noticed him wandering along the beach, she had thought of nothing except how glad she was to see him. But now, while he had left her, she began to recall her conversation with Karma, and how she had realized Daxter's 'secret'. Xema felt hurt and betrayed, not to mention foolish. All this time, and Daxter had kept such an important issue hidden from her. Was he scared? Scared she wouldn't like him if she knew the truth? Xema shook her head. She liked Daxter for who he was, not WHAT he was.
"Well, Jak's not coming out! He didn't believe me when I told him you were here. I don't get it! WHY doesn't he trust ME?" Daxter stood in front of the winged girl, grinning. He had returned from his argument with Jak and Keira, and although he had lost, he was still in a good mood. "Oh well, I guess that means you get to spend the rest of the day with just ME!" Daxter emphasized this as if Xema had just won a thousand Precursor Orbs. But Xema kept her head bent low, focusing on her feet and nothing else. Daxter's smile faded, and became a look of concern.
"Baby? What's wrong?"
Xema didn't really want to talk to Daxter now. Every time she thought about how he had hidden his past from her, she became more and more hurt deep inside. She turned her face away to avoid looking at him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, not daring to look at him. Daxter was taken aback. He padded up to her and placed a paw on her shoulder.
"Tell you what?" He asked, trying to look her in the eyes, but she kept her head turned away, refusing to let him see her.
"About your past. Everything that happened to you before you came to my city."
"Xema, I didn't think that was worth talking about."
"WHAT!" Xema spun her head around, and Daxter was shocked to find there were tears in her eyes.
"Daxter, you weren't always an ottsel, were you?" Xema looked him dead in the eyes, although this was slightly difficult, seen, as her eyes were very blurry from all of her tears. Daxter's heart raced. Somehow, Xema had worked out the ONE thing he was too scared to tell her. And because of that, she now hated him. He bowed his head low, feeling incredibly ashamed and stupid.
"No." He admitted in a barley decipherable whisper. Xema made a small, quick sound that reminded Daxter of someone chocking. He didn't blame her; she was probably going to be sick.
"All this time, you never even TOLD me?" Xema chocked on her words while her tears flowed down her face. Daxter wanted to wipe them away, but he was too scared to touch her. He didn't want to damage the wound he had already made incredibly deep.
"Daxter, I don't know WHY you wouldn't tell me." Xema sighed tearfully, wiping at her wet cheeks with her arm. Daxter looked up at her with regretful eyes.
"I was scared." He admitted. Never before had he felt or acted so serious. Before this moment, life had been one big joke to him. True, he had experienced pain before, especially when he had lost his identity and become an ottsel. But even then, that pain was nothing to what he was feeling now. It was like his heart had been broken in two, and only Xema had the ability to heal it. Although he was sure she never would.
"Xema, I was scared you wouldn't like me for who I really was." Daxter tried to consider every word he said. No joking around this time. If he put one word out of place, he could mess up everything, and his friendship with Xema would be over in a matter of seconds. "Xema, I never wanted to hurt you. But I thought you would never like the real me. You just seemed to like me because I was all furry and cuddly. I was just scared that if you knew I was really a boy, you wouldn't like me anymore."
There was a long pause as Xema took in what Daxter had said. His heart raced as she shook her head and looked him in the eyes, her tears slowly drying.
"Daxter, you could be a Lurker for all I care. I like you for who you are, not WHAT you are." She sighed and flopped down onto the sand. Daxter stood beside her still, waiting to hear if she had anything else to say. His heart was racing like crazy as he realized that for the first time, someone actually liked his personality. Xema actually like HIM for who he was! Xema gave a small, breathy laugh.
"You know, before I first met you Daxter, I barely EVER laughed." Daxter looked up at her with an expression of utter astonishment.
"Really?" He asked, she glanced at him, smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, life's not very humorous when your father is serious full time and your sister thinks she's the almighty Queen of evil." Daxter smiled.
"More like the Queen of creepiness." He suggested, and Xema laughed. Daxter grinned. He felt good when he made Xema smile. "I'm glad you came back." He told her, blushing under his fur.
"Yeah, me too." Xema picked up the orange furball, and pulled him in close so that their faces were almost touching.
"Am, am I forgiven?" Daxter stuttered slightly. Xema smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, you're forgiven." Xema smiled, and Daxter felt his heart leap with joy. That moment could have not been any more perfect for Daxter. But before he could even begin to enjoy her company, Xema bent her head slightly and kissed him on the cheek.
Daxter would have been a deep red had it not been for his fur. He gently touched his cheek with the tips of his fingers, as if it were a delicate wound. He was stunned into full silence, something that no one had EVER been able to do to Daxter. He glanced up at Xema, who seemed to be replaying the situation in her head and wondering if she had just made a wrong more. He grinned and then laughed.
"Hey! That's my first one!" He admitted, trying to help Xema loosen up. It worked. She smiled, and then began to laugh too, hugging him close to her. "Can I have another one?" Daxter asked eagerly. Xema raised an eyebrow and put a finger to her lips, as if in deep thought.
"We'll see. Maybe if you behave yourself." Daxter grinned and nuzzled his cheek against hers.
"I promise to be a good little ottsel." He said in an honest voice. Xema kept her arms wrapped around his furry little body. She was happy beyond all measure that they were friends again. She felt as if her love for him had just grown ten fold since they had made up. Xema wondered if now was the best time to reveal HER secret to Daxter. How she well and truly had feelings for him. But when she glanced down at the ball of fuzz in her arms, grinning form ear to ear, she decided to stay silent. She didn't want to ruin the moment with the wrong words. And besides, she wanted this moment to last forever.