Miss.Ecofreak: welcome back to anotherchapter which reveales things you already know.
Zakura: and even more.
Miss.Ecofreak: yeah... Here you, just read, and review later.
CHAPTER 36
THE NOT-SO ANCIENT HERO
Kate
The bazaar was as busy as ever.
Wherever we looked, there were elves trying to get a hold on rare items or simply locals buying food.
"So, where are we going again?" Tetra asked.
"Ashelin once told me about an old soothsayer who lives in this area" I said, "Maybe she has some answers"
"Soothsayer? Yeah right. An old hag with a crystal ball can't see the past more than she can see the future" Tanya said, "They're all just fakes"
"Come on sparrow, lighten up" Tetra said, "Don't you believe in magic?"
"To be honest, no" Tanya said, "But I do believe in cheaters. They're all around"
Just as she said that a man with large robes stepped out of a corner.
"Want to buy some jewellery? They're cheap, made out of pure eco crystal" he whispered.
"No thanks" I said, hushing the man of.
"See? Told you so" Tanya said, "If that was eco crystal I'm a crocadog".
"Wraff!" said Crocket and wagged his tail.
Soon we found the tent were the soothsayer was living.
As we entered, it was like entering another world.
Many weird items I had never seen before hang from the walls or stood around at the table.
In the middle of the tent was an old woman, a really old woman, and at her head, some strange monkey-bird.
"Ah, Kate, I was hoping you might drop by sometime" the moncaw said as he saw us.
"How do you know my name?" I asked.
"Onin knows" the moncaw said, "And she knows that you are troubled, your little brother is in brave danger"
"I know, but it's not exactly the reason I came" I said.
"Ah, but your question may have more in common with the problem that you know" said the moncaw, "You seek answers about an ancient hero, who might not me as ancient as you thought"
"Now you're talking nonsense (as expected)! Who are you?" Tanya asked.
"My name is Pecker, I am Onin's interpreter" the moncaw explained, "And I am not talking nonsense, how else would I know what you wanted before you even asked the question?"
"Well you haven't answered it yet. Now who is this "ancient hero"? And what does he have to do with little Jak being missing?" Tetra asked.
"I'll tell you, but you must promise not to tell anyone" Pecker said, "If this information falls into the wrong hands. Who knows what will happen? The secret will reveal itself soon enough and you will no longer have to keep it secret"
"Tell us already!" Tanya complained.
"Fine, I know you must have heard of the legend of the dark sages, who were defeated by a true hero. That boy was indeed a relative of Mar, and of you Kate.
He appeared in Sandover village when he was just a kid, no one back then knew where he really came from, or where he went after the metalheads first attacked.
The thing is, he never went far away, he just travelled over 200 years forward in time, before he landed in the industrial area of Haven City about two years ago".
"I knew it!" I said, "But still, you said this had something to do with my brother, what did you mean?"
"I'm getting to that" Pecker said, "I told you that Jak appeared out of nowhere back in Sandover. Where do you think he came from?"
"I don't know? Rock Village?" Tetra suggested, mentioning the neighbouring village of Sandover.
"No you stupid little rabbit! He came from Haven City" Pecker said.
I gasped, he didn't mean…?
Even Tanya seemed to be convinced now, but Tetra still didn't get it.
"Haven City wasn't built back then" she said, "He must have come from…" then it hit her, "… from the future?"
"That boy still hasn't left our time" Pecker said, "But still he has already returned. But I fear the plan will go wrong, it already has. The boy was altered with dark eco, weakening the light within which helped him defeat Gol and Maya."
"Little Jak" I whispered.
"No way" Tanya said, "That crazy lunatic… he is Kate's brother?"
Pecker nodded.
"A true heir of Mar" he said, "His eco-channelling powers is what made him a valuable weapon for Praxis. The baron has meddled with things he does not understand, if he hadn't captured Jak before, the kid could have been sent to Sandover long ago, where he would be safe. But now it is important that he stays here, so that he can unlock the powers his older self have lost".
"But the kid is gone, Praxis took him away" Tanya said.
"Oh no. Praxis does not know where the kid is" Pecker said shaking his head, "Sirius Quenya Sindari told you he never saw his attacker, so how could he know it was a KG? My guesses are that was a metalhead in disguise, some metalheads have the power to change into an elf at will. I bet your brother is in the nest now".
"Then we're all doomed" Tanya said, "There is no way they are going to keep him alive."
"Ah, but that's where you're wrong my fellow feathered friend" Pecker said, "The metal head leader wants him alive, so that he can open the precursor stone for them"
"The stone Jak and Praxis went to find?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid Praxis has already taken it" Pecker said, "Another downfall. Onin can't see what he wants with it, even psychics have their limitations. But I'm sure Jak and his rat-friend are the right ones to get it back, they haven't failed on a mission yet"
"Will they save my brother?" I asked.
"Are you even listening? Jak, the guy with the anger issues is your brother, I bet the mere fact that he is here, proves he succeeded. Right Pecker?" Tanya asked.
"Nothing is certain" Pecker said, "But you might as well make a bomb shelter ready because if he fails it won't be a pretty sight"
He flew back onto Onin's hat, "Stay out of trouble Kate, when all this is over you can see your brother again, even though he's not exactly your "little" brother anymore. And when you do, you better stay clear of his dark side".
He went back to his siesta-time and we figured we might as well leave him alone.
"Well that explains a lot" Tetra said as we got out, "Sounds unbelievable, but since we've already seen the ottsel it has to be true"
"Yeah" I said, Tetra must have noticed I didn't sound exactly happy.
"What's wrong? You've got proof your brother lives so why the long face?" she asked.
"It's just something Pecker said, about the light within" I said.
"Oh yeah, what does that mean? He said something about the light within being weakened" Tetra said.
"The light within, or the pure gift as someone calls it, is a power that has been passed down from generation to generation in Mar's lineage" I explained.
"So what is it? And how do you know so much about it?" Tetra asked.
"Duh, I'm an heir of Mar myself remember? My mother told me about it when I was young. She told me that some elves, more precisely those of Mar's lineage are born with light eco within them. The light gives them the power to endure more eco than other people can. It doesn't matter if it's green, blue, red or yellow" I said.
"Or Dark?" Tanya asked.
"Mom didn't know much about that, but most scientists who have done some research on this subject mean that dark eco won't hurt your channelling abilities much, but the pure gift can't possibly be called pure anymore" I said.
"Do you mean that if someone with the light within is exposed to dark eco the light within would disappear?" Tetra asked.
"I don't know, dark eco certainly can't just kick the light eco out of your body, but Pecker said it was weakened. That's what's bothering me. The light within is an important part of an elf's personality, if that is weakened, he might get a bit… grumpy" I said.
"Sounds reasonable, from what I've heard I've never seen Jak as a happy guy" Tanya said, "But that's to be expected when you've spent two years in Ugly's prison"
"So what you're saying is that you think Jak's personality could have changed during that period?" Tetra asked.
"Precisely. Another thing is I fear he won't be able to remember me. Not because of the eco-treatment, but because he hasn't seen me in like 15 years or so" I said.
"Which sounds rather silly since he wasn't even born 15 years ago." Tetra said and giggled, "But I'm sure he remembers you. After all you are his only sister. I bet if you only go to see him he'll remember… eventually"
"I hope you are right, but maybe it's best if we wait. At least till he's figured out who he really is himself" I said.
One day my brother, we will see each other again I thought as I looked up at the sky.
Miss.Ecofreak: Yes! Hey Zak, guess how many chapters I have written of Light Within?
Zakura: not even one?
Miss.Ecofreak: er... a bit more than zero. this is the second last chapter of Growing up in Haven City, you may note like the ending but if you think it ended a bit to quickly, it's because it was not originally supposed to be story of its own, it's the prologue to the Light Within that will be uploaded as soon as I have managed to write chapter one.
Zakura: and the last chapter of Growing up. it's not over yet!
Miss.Ecofreak: review, and the last chapter will be up shortly.