A/N:: I was debating forever and a day if I should have everything thats going to happen, happen in this next chapter. cause 2 Major things happen almost at once. I've thought about it practically all last night and got hardly any typing done (lol). But I came to the conclusion that it had to be now or never, it would not fit anywhere else. A lot of stuff is going to happen, and it needs to happen (or the story will go from good to lame...)! I DON'T pull this stuff out of my butt when I write I said it before I'll say it again everything is planned. I was thinking of splitting this chapter in 2 but then they'd be to short....but these two events that happen are going to SHAPE the outcome of the story .And you wont see the effects of what happened until after the midpoint of the story! This chapter is packed with Drama (no mushy stuff). But I plan on posting chapter 11 right after 10 so you wont have a cliffhanger.
Response to Reviews:
Quick-demon: Thank you!...oh the main reason why I kept Daxter's hair long is because when I was drawing him down on my paper he looked to much like Jak when it was short. (it was probably just my drawing lol) but I just let him keep it so he's have a little difference then the other characters. (and I fancy long hair guys eheh). And one reason why I made Torn a softy early off cause I did not want people to think he is an ass later on, so instead of thinking he's a jerk try and make it even its self out. LOL! about the sap...I'm trying to keep it at bay, but there wont be much of it any more, because after the fight with the Minks the war is officially on and they don't have time to sap around. (you now but maybe a peck once in a while but we wont have repeats of the Ashelin/Torn thing not even when Kiera comes around). -dances for a moment- I have been praying ever sence I started this story that I got all the fantasy stuff around with out making the story sound really stupid. whoa and I'm happy my intro is decent also (I have a hard time getting the frist few pages down XD). Hum I was wondering what the difference between Jaks and Jak's was...I know the difference between It's and its (thought I screw that up to). Whats a beta reader? cause I'll go get it asap! Epp and it's okay read the story when ever you feel like reading! :D no rush, It just makes me fuzzy inside knowing that at least someone is reading it lol. Thanks again mucho and good luck with your stories as well!
Whiskers: LOL you know it would be funny if Samos was one, actually I never thought of it. Cause I have something more in store for Samos. ehehehehe any who, can't tell you the other two people it's a happy surprise. But in chapter 12 they get a new swords-person :D Toboe's pup: Zuk will be in the story a lot mainly as a mode of transportation and when they need him he does help them fight like you shall see in the two chapters I'm posting. weeep!
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Hours after the fight with Zuk ended, Jak and Daxter headed back towards the naughty Ottsel to get a good night sleep. They parted ways with Zuk as he said he wanted to go hunt something to eat. Jak said as long as Zuk did not kill anybody the it would be all right, and the dragon disappeared into the night as a very light snow started to fall again.
Upon reaching the Naughty Ottsel, Samos and Lucca were already sleeping on the floor by the fire. Tess was quietly walking around cleaning up some stuff and wiping off the tables. She had tossed some more wood into the fire when Jak and Daxter came back.
Tess quietly walked over and gave Daxter a hug as she put her finger to her lips warning them not to say anything. She then lead them over to where she had set up some pillows and blankets for the two guys to sleep as well. Jak quietly thanked Tess as the two guys put their swords on a table that was closet to them and laid down on the floor.
"I'm going to make sure Kiera is warm, and then I'll be back," Tess said as quietly as she could to Daxter and he nodded as she walked off towards the back room. Daxter put his hands behind his head as he looked towards the ceiling.
"Thanks Jak," Daxter whispered and Jak looked over at him.
"For what?"
"For being my friend," Daxter said and then he rolled over on his side his back facing Jak.
"Your welcome, and thank you to, good night Daxter," Jak said as he pulled his blanket over his head and closed his eyes.
Tess came back in the room and laid down next to Daxter. It was kind of weird still adjusting to him being a person and not an Ottsel. But it seamed just right when Daxter put his arm around her and the two of them fell asleep peacefully.
Morning came to soon as Samos was the first one up instantly he started walking around hitting his staff on the ground to wake the rest of the heartily crew up. Tess groaned as she took her pillow and put it over her head. Daxter yawned and stretched his arms up in the air as he gave Tess a gentle rub on the back as he stood up.
The blankets fell off him and landed on Tess making her now looking like a pile of blankets instead of a half asleep women. Yawning once again Daxter stepped over Jak who was grumbling about Samos still hitting the ground trying to get the rest of them up to their feet. Daxter walked behind the bar counter, trying to think of what they should have for breakfast. He then reached down and pulled out a crystal mug and looked at his reflection.
"Good morning handsome," Daxter said as he smiled at his reflection and put the cup down on the table. Lucca was the next one up on her feet as she found a seat at the counter as Daxter poured her a glass of milk as he had just turned off the coffee pot.
Lucca took a drink of her milk as she tried patting her hair down so it would not look to wild. Jak was the next one to get up. He rubbed his eyes as he walked over to the bar and took a seat next to Lucca. Daxter then poured him a glass of milk as well as he opened a small door behind the counter and entered the kitchen.
He walked over to the refrigerator as he looked inside to figure out what would be the best thing to feed everyone. He pulled out a carton of eggs and placed it down by the stove, why not. Tess had finally gotten up when she smelled Daxters cooking. One thing he knew how to do extremely well, was to serve up a good meal.
And finally with everyone up Samos stopped his annoying tapping on the floor and went to take a seat at one of the tables. He was thinking about going back to Onin and Pecker he had to inform them on what choice of action they all had agreed upon. And thats when he finally noticed that Torn and Ashelin were no where in sight.
When Daxter came out with everyone's breakfast Samos walked over to the counter. He was hoping nothing bad had happened to the two of them as he looked up at Daxter. It was quite odd looking up at him, and Samos though that pony tail he had was just ridicules.
"Where did Ashelin and Torn go?" Samos had asked and Tess's ears perked up, she did not even notice that they had not come back last night. As Daxter went back in the kitchen to get more food Jak was the one who was going to answer his question.
"Sence they could not pick up a sword, in the heart of Haven City, they went to learn magic at Chasmins castle, they should be back in a couple of days," Jak informed them as Daxter came back and put some food in front of him and then gave a plate to Tess who thanked him with a kiss to the cheek.
Samos was quite for a moment then he turned and started for the door. "I'm going to see Onin, I'll be back soon." Daxter looked up as Samos left and turned towards Jak, there was something unsettle about the way he had just acted.
Just as a reaction Daxter walked into the back room and turned on the lights and took a seat next to Kiera. Had something in her condition changed, was that why Samos suddenly went blank on them? Daxter took Kieras hand in his, the frist time in over six years hand he held her hand in his. A strange feeling set in Daxters stomach as he looked at her sleep.
Daxters head snapped to the side as Kiera squeezed his hand tightly. A sweat started to brake out on her face as she moved her head from side to side as if she was having some kind of nightmare. Her bottom lip started to quiver, and her body twitched.
"Kiera! Kiera!" Daxter yelled as he got up from his seat and put his other hand on her forehead. She was burning up. "Tess! Lucca! JAK!"
Lucca was the frist to come in the room and did not even ask as she ran to Kieras side. She turned to Tess and Jak who entered the room, and before they could start to panic Lucca rolled up her sleeves and took Kieras other arm.
"Tess bring me a rag and cold water, hurry! Jak gather some pillows we need to prop her up!" Lucca ordered and they went off to bring Lucca the things she asked for. Lucca looked around, this was no hospital and the supplies she needed were not in this bar. Torn had a med kit, what had he done with it? Lucca looked around the bed area but with no such luck of finding anything.
"What do you want me to do?" Daxter asked and Lucca looked at him.
"Nothing, just keep on holding her hand!"
Jak came back first handing Lucca some pillows and blankets. Lucca took the first pillow, gently lifting Kiera up she put the pillow under her. Tess came in with the cold water and handed a wet rag to Lucca as she put it on Kiera's forehead.
"Whats going on! I though Samos helped her?" Jak asked.
"She's not breathing," Lucca said after a moment as she had put her hand in the middle of Kiera's chest. "No air is getting to her lungs."
"What?!" Daxter asked. A million things ran threw his mind trying to think what could possibly be keeping Kiera from breathing. Lucca dipped the rag in the water once again as Tess put her hands to her mouth as she watched Kiera's desperate attempts to take in some air.
Jak pushed passed Lucca and bent down next to Kiera. He was trying not to freak out, there had to be some way to get her to breath, but with out a cause why, it was going to be difficult. And then somthing hit him, a feeling that was so familar, but he could not place it.
"Clam down Kiera, just one deep breath, inhale, come on," Jak said as he rubbed his hand against her cheek slowly. "Breath, breath for me."
Daxter relaxed as Kiera inhaled and exhaled slowly and her grip on his hand faded. Jak fell over backwards on the floor as Lucca placed the rag back on her forehead. Tess turned around and hit her head on the dresser, they had all been so scared.
Putting Kieras hand down slowly Daxter walked over to the door and kicked it with all his might. The door slammed shut as he turned around showing everyone how angry he was. Jak got back to his feet just as Daxter grabbed a handful of his hair on his head and tugged at it slightly. Tess turned and looked at Daxter and she knew he was about to cry.
"Why is this happening? Samos just left a moment before! She could have died!" Daxter said as he dropped down on the floor and let a few tears slip down his eyes and Tess ran over to him.
"Daxter whats the matter? She's going to be okay now!" Tess said soothingly as she pulled Daxter into a hug and Daxter got choked up in words as he just hit the ground with his fist.
"Didn't you feel it?" Daxter asked as he looked up at Jak. "Did you not feel it?"
"I did," Jak said as Tess was counting to say softly 'it's going to be okay' as she rubbed Daxters back.
"What did you feel?" Lucca asked.
"It was magic, someone deliberately tried to kill Kiera," Jak said finally finding a place for that evil feeling he had gotten, and Lucca then suddenly realized why Jak had pushed her out of the way. This was news to Tess as she stopped her soothing words as she pushed away from Daxter a little to look at his face. Thats why he had flipped out.
"Who would do that? Who even knows she's here besides us?" Tess asked and thats another reason why she figured Daxter had exploded into his fit.
"Daxter come on," Jak said as he walked towards the door.
"What?" Daxter asked.
"We have a mission to do remember?" Jak said "Get up lets go."
"Are you crazy! Whats your problem Kiera was almost murdered!"
"Daxter do you trust me or not?" Jak said getting a little angry himself.
"Jak I-"
"Do you Trust me or not? Get your ass up and lets get moving," Jak said and with out another word Jak disappeared out of the room. Daxter let his head hit on Tess's shoulder and sit there for a moment before he pushed himself up back to his feet. He walked out of the room and over towards Jak who was putting his shoes on.
"Jak whats going on! Tell me!" Daxter said loudly as he, against his better judgment went to slip on his boots as well.
"One of those assholes did it!" Jak yelled for the frist time his anger towards Daxter. He was tired of being questioned. He was tried of what had happened to Haven city, and who ever had done this to Kiera was going to pay dearly. Jak Grabbed his sword and threw Daxters at him as they started for the door of the bar. Daxter hesitated for a moment seeing Jaks rage, but he followed him out the door none the less and into the snow.
"You mean either Chasmin, or Tyon," Daxter asked and Jak looked at the Black castle then turned and looked at the Ice castle.
"Yes who else!"
"Why would Chasmin try and kill Kiera?" Daxter asked as Jak was trying to figure out a way they were going to get to the black castle.
"Who knows, but Ashelin was right, Chasmin is a liar. She can see the future Daxter! Or did you not notice that, she knew those things were going to be lining up today to leave that fucking castle! Thats why she turned you back, she knew you could pull out one of the swords," Jak said and then he looked back up at the black castle. "But then it could just as well have been him, if Chasmin can do all those fancy tricks with her magic, why not him as well. We've never met him."
"Jak you got to cool down a little," Daxter said and Jak turned towards him sharply. If looks could kill then Daxter would have been dead right now. "Just because she could see the future does not mean she did it."
"Why are you defending her?"
"I'm not!" Daxter yelled getting just as angry as Jak was. "So what if she can see the future, no one asked her if she could. All I'm saying is we agreed to help her! Why would she kill Kiera it does not seem logical."
"Nothing that has been going on lately is logical but its still going on! Dragons, moving rugs, magic! And what are these damn vines!" Jak yelled as one part of the vine was not covered in snow. Jak drew his sword up and then slashed it across the vine. Daxter then turned sharply and covered his face as blood went splashing out of the vine and towards him.
The anger between the two friends faded away just as quickly as it had come. The vine moved violently as if it was in pain but it was still pumping the blood and it was spilling all over the white snow. Daxter wiped off his shirt the best as he could as the vine was still spitting up blood.
Then they turned towards the door of the Naughty Ottsel as the door came open and Tess walked out. With her was the butterfly. Tess followed the butterfly over to the guys as she looked disgusted down at the bloody mess that was now in front of her bar. The butterfly started to dance in the air as its dust drifted off its wings and landed on the wound of the vine. Then all around the three of them butterflies started dancing over their heads as more then the vine was being covered in their dust.
Daxter shook out his hair out as the vine was now completely back to normal. Tess reached out her hand towards her butterfly, it was about to land down on her hand when one of the other butterflies hit it out of the air. Tess let out a little scream as more butterflies started to attack hers.
Jak and Daxter started waving their hands in the air trying to get the butterflies away from them.
"Their different colors!" Jak said loudly and Daxter then took quick notice to that as well. The butterflies had originally been red when it was raining. But when the snow came they turned blue, however the one that had went with Tess never had been out in the snow until now, never changing its color.
"Stop it!" Tess screamed as the blue butterflies continued to attack her red one. "Leave her alone!"
However as most people know, the butterflies did not understand what Tess was saying and went on attacking it. Tess then started swinging her arms threw the air as well, hitting every blue butterfly that she could possibly hit. But this only made the butterflies more violent. While most were still attacking the red butterfly the others started hitting Tess as well.
Daxter gripped his sword and swung it down threw the air chopping a few butterflies in half. It was one thing to attack the red bug, but when they started getting violent towards Tess thats where he had to step in. Daxter swung again and more butterflies fell to the ground dead.
The ground under their feet started to move, but it was not an earthquake this time, it was the vines moving. The butterflies gave life to the vines, and the vines gave life to the butterflies. They had the same feelings towards the butterflies as Daxter had towards Tess. Jak fell down on the ground towards the door of the Naughty Ottsel as Tess was still being bombarded with butterflies. The air was so full of them he had lost sight of Daxter in all this commotion.
Jak got to his feet as he watched the butterflies all move in the same motion, they were all starting to spiral around. The dust was dropping more quickly and the vines were getting more violent. Jak had to help Daxter and Tess. He started to run towards the wall of butterflies when a vine shot up from the ground causing him to trip and fall.
To Jaks utmost horror he heard Daxter scream and he got to his feet and watched the butterflies start to flutter up in the air. They started to spread out and fly off towards the city. Jak ran over to the snow that was covered in butterfly dust but all he saw was Tess who was laying out in the snow.
"Tess," Jak said as he put a hand on her back. She was breathing but not moving. Jak then looked around frantically for Daxter. Why is it that something always bad happened to the people he cared about most. And if he did not feel guilty enough, he thought about the fight they had before the butterfly attack.
Jak ran over to the side of the docks and he looked over the edge. The water had receded about ten feet sence this whole ordeal started. Like someone was draining the water, but there was a thick layer of ice over it as well. But thats not what Jak was looking at, it was Daxter laying down on the ice, with all those butterflies it must have clouded his vision and he fell off the edge.
"Daxter!" Jak called out as he tossed his sword to the side. Jak was about to jump over the side to go down to him when he felt something grab his shirt and pull him away from the edge.
"Your going to kill your self fool!" At first Jak and thought it was Tess, but as he turned around, another shock hit him as Zuk was standing there and pulling his wings back towards his sides.
"Daxters down there!" Jak said and started running off towards the side again but Zuk grabbed him one more time.
"I swear your kind is the stupidest to exist!" Zuk roared at Jak. "And what happens if you jump down there and brake the ice? Then you and Daxter would both be dead, I saw the butterfly swarm so I came this way to see who had disturbed them. I should have figured it was you two."
"I don't care! Daxter could be hurt I have to help him!" Jak yelled and Zuk shot smoke out his noes at Jak.
"And when you get down there, how are you going to get back up?" Zuk said as he then bit down on Jaks shirt and tossed him in the air. Jak landed on Zuks back as Zuk extend his wings out and jumped into the air. "You can't fly fool!"
Zuk dropped down to the Icy lake below, but before he touched the Ice Jak jumped off him and ran over to Daxter. Jak picked Daxters head up and laid it on his lap as he patted Daxters face. When he got no movement out of Daxter, Jak put his head down so his forehead touched Daxters and exploded into tears.
The Dragon looked up at the top of the Docks, this had been quite a drop to fall from. And then he looked at the ice he was standing on. He felt the water move under his feet, the thing that was living under there was moving. Zuk turned back towards Jak, they had to get off this ice before what ever it was broke through.
"Move it or lose it!" Zuk yelled at Jak. "Cry when we are on safe grounds!"
"No where is safe!" Jak yelled back and Zuk, being a dragon Zuk had little to no paicents and he did not feel like dealing with Jak at this moment. He leaned over and grabbed Jak again throwing him back into the air and onto him. Zuk however picked Daxter up more gently so not to hurt him any more then he was. Jumping back into the air, the Dragon took flight just as the water creature hit the ice were they were standing.
The ice cracked slightly, but seeing that they left the monster relaxed a little and went back to the depths, watching and waiting. Zuk landed on the snow covered vines as he put Daxter down gently and shook Jak off of him. Jak got up from the snow and went back over to Daxter. Zuk turned his head away as Jak dropped down to his knees once again.
"Daxter...Daxter it's on wake up..." Jak said as he shook Daxter lightly.
Tess started to move from where she lay in the snow. She coughed once as she got to her knees. The extra dust falling off her and onto the ground as she looked in front of her. The red butterfly she had became friends with was laying dead and smashed into the snow. A weird feeling came to Tess's throat as she turned away from the sight towards Zuk, Jak and Daxter. She was in such a state of shock that she really did not even notice that Zuk was a dragon.
"He's dead Jak," Zuk said what Jak feared the most. Jak got to his feet and looked at the Dragon.
"NO! Daxter can't be dead!" Jak felt like screaming again as he got to his feet and stood defensively in front of Daxter as if Zuk was the one who killed him.
"I understand that you two were friends, but a fact is a fact, Daxter is dead," Zuk said as he started backing away from Jak. He did not have a hard time understanding that Daxter was dead, he just could not except it. They had fought in the past and only knew either other for less then a day. But the strange little ottsel person had greatly affect Zuk.
"No no no!" Jak screamed as he fell into the snow as Tess finally reached Jak and Daxter. She fell down next to Jak as she looked at Daxter. His skin was now so pale and as she reached out to touch him, he was as could as the snow.
As clear as day Tess heard Jak and Zuks voice ringing in her ears. Daxters dead, Daxters dead, Daxters dead. She fell over on Daxters unmoving chest as she felt her insides go numb. As she lay there she thought about everything she and Daxter had shared. Then she thought about this morning, how much Daxter cared for his friends, the worry in his eyes when Kiera had almost been killed. If any one had to die, why did it have to be Daxter? The most caring person she knew.
"NO!" Tess screamed, and her scream rang higher and louder then Jaks. Her scream sent a vibe down threw the moving vines and down to the monster living in the water. Her scream was so loud it made the spirits of the afterward quake. And even where Ashelin and Torn were sitting in a room lighted by candles, they turned their heads as they heard Tess's heart braking scream.
A/N::: I almost cried writing that last part. Heh, don't kill me just yet XD if you kill me you'll never know how the story ends! -brushes off shirt- Ahem, okay! also don't kill me for making Jak so angry, lets not forget he's half pumped full of dark eco! I was not intending for Daxter to die right after him and Jaks fight (saying Kiera was almost killed right after her and Jaks fight...). Its just I needed to because I needed that reason for Jak to hit the vine. Any ways I'm posting Chapter 11 right now!!! -hides- stick around for chapter 11: The gift from the Red winged Butterfly is coming your way!