Disclaimer: Here it is...no Jak, no Daxter...thank you...
(January 23, 2006: my goodness this was a horrible chapter. . . well I hope to make it at least a little better without having to rewrite it. . . )
Sushi: I realize this is a long chapter but it had to happen some time or another. It's better than saying 'with hectic preperations, Colle and Jak got married...yadda, yadda, yadda.
Chapter 3: Kings, Queens, and Fuzzy Things (part one. . . )
Colle stood staring at her boxed up little apartment. This would be the last time she ever laid eyes on the place she once called home. Her guns and a few of Zack's things along with some of her's was all that was left. Most of their things had already been taken to the newly rebuilt palace.
She had some help for a few hours of the day. Sig had dropped by to pay his respects he had called it. It was only right that the leader of Spargus welcome the new queen. When Colle thought of what she was to become. . . she was nervous to say the least. There was a lot that was going to be expected of her after today.
While their things were being moved, Colle and Zack had taken it upon themselves to become a little more adventerous. The palace was a big place and they would need to know their way around if they did not want to be wandering the halls for weeks on end.
However, as luck would have it, the became lost within minutes of beginning their self-service tour. But it seemed that luck was going in to be leniant with them on the imporant day. Two servants had been walking along the corridors.
"Your Highness, you should be getting ready for this evening. Many things are going to need your attention." One spoke.
"Mine?" Colle was not so sure if she was the right person to be asking for help on anything of the sort. She had just barely been able to keep everything together in her own world. How was she to do the same here? Of course she did not have to worry over every move she made now. . .
Zack had gone on his way also. For being the prince did require some things.
Colle followed her guide through the rest of the hallway and up two sets of stairs. Finally, they stopped in front of two large oak doors. Unlike the rest of the city, the palace had been rebuilt without using electricity in case of a power serge and the doors remained closed.
"We're here." He pushed open one of the doors revealing a beautifully elegant, yet comfortable room.
"This is my room." Colle stepped onto the finely polished stone floor. The walls were made of large chunks of granite.In the room a large coffee table stood in the middle with two sofas on either side. Two corner tables were against the wall of the door she had just entered. To her left was a glass door leading onto what looked like a balcony. Covering the two remaining walls were shelves and a potted plant; on the other was a running table. A doorway stood directly across from her leading into another room. She looked back to the elf.
"Yes, along with Master Jak's." The elf turned to leave.
"Oh yeah." She recalled once again she would be living with the warrior. Together. With him as her husband. "Um, what about our things?"
"They will be brought to your rooms imideately. Feel free to explore the grounds. You will be summoned when the ceremony is ready." The elf bowed, then made his way down the hall.
"Thanks." Colle called after him. With nothing to occupy her, she set out exploring the rest of her new acomidations.
The room she was standing in was larger than any she had ever seen. Red carpets flushed from wall to wall in what appeared to be a sitting area, Colle guessed is was for talking to guests umong other things. She noticed a thick wooded door across from her. Walking to it, she pulled it open.
A wall of light met her eyes. Windows stood to her left leaving the room open to the sunlight by day and the starlight and moon light by night. A table stood at the center of the framed window wall. There appeared to be a crystal half-sphere resting on it. Colle thought it to be a modified comm unit with all of its buttons and nobs.
Looking around a while longer, she became familiarized with her new room. . . well, her's and Jak's new room.
Maybe living in the palace wouldn't be so bad after all.
------
"Excuse me, Miss Colle?" A small voice came through the double doors. Colle wouldn't have been able to hear it if she had been any where else in the large room. She had just returned from viewing the balcony and was sitting on one of the comforatble sofas of the welcoming room as she called it. It was were one was welcomed, after all. The little girl was a fine example.
"Come in."
The door opened a crack as a little girl eased into the room. She looked to be about eight or nine. Light brown hair covered her small head to just below the ears. She looked familar, but Colle knew she had never met this child until now.
"Grandma says it's time to get ready."
"Thank you." She smiled. "What's your name?" She spoke as she would to Zack. Children weren't stupid, they were innocent...to some extent.
"Tome. My grandma's name is Sarie. She likes you. She thinks you're going to be a great queen." Tome was about the same height as Zack, maybe an inch or two taller. Her bright green eyes reflected gently in the sunlight from the balcony windows.
"I know her. She's a great person as well." Standing up, Colle headed for the door. "Let's go, shall we?"
-----
"It's about time! We're behind schedule as it is!" Sarie snapped as soon as the two opened the door. "Hurry and come in!"
"But it's only just after noon. The ceremony won't begin until dusk..." Colle started but stopped when she found the council woman ignoring her and going straight to work.
"We should've gotten started hours ago. We still have to take measurements and complete the gown. The food hasn't been cooked, and for some strange reason I have to make two animal sized garments..." Sarie continued on while taking measurements. Ocassionally she would order Tome to get different styles of fabrics.
The measuring took a total of two and a half hours with the needle finding its way into Colle's skin many times. She only moved away from it once, then learned that it was better to not move at all with old lady Sarie in control.
"Okay, this is done. You can return to whatever it is you were doing. Tome will come find you when you're needed again."
"She seems stressed." Colle was talking to the little girl as they walked to the kitchen. Colle was hungry and had not a single clue as where to go. She also had not heard a word of Zack since they first arrived.
"She's not always like this. People just don't know how to listen. She's already fired five people today. That's another reason why I'm helping her. Thing's whouldn't get done without us." Getting to their destination they found Zack eating a yakow burger.
"Hey, Tome. Hey, sis." Was his greeting with a mouthful of food. As soon as he swallowed he spoke again. "This place is awsome!"
"I have to go help grandma. I'll find you guys when we're ready. It should be twenty minutes. See ya." Tome walked off leaving the sibling to enjoy their lunch.
"Where's your room?" Colle found some sandwiches one of the cooks had left. Everyone available was busy helping to prepare for the wedding or corination.
"Second floor. It's so cool! It has to be as big as our house!" Zack stuffed the rest of his burger in his mouth. "Have you seen what they're making me wear tonight?"
"It's probably not as bad as what Daxter has to wear. I heard Sarie talking about it." She laughed at her mental image of the ottsel.
"That lady acts as if something crawled up her butt and died."
"Zack!" She stared at her little brother in suprise. Since when was he like this?
"It's true."
"That's beside the point. Since when did you start talking like that?"
"Since I made friends in this place. Things aren't all rosy out there you know. That's why when I get older, I'm joining the Freedom League. Maybe then, I'll be able to do something about it."
"You might change your mind later." Inside she hoped he would change it now. Taking on Torn's missions she had almost died twice. She didn't want it to happen to him, not when they finally had a new beginning in life.
"Colle!" Someone running down the hallway shouted. The girl turned around thinking it was someone fetching her for Sarie. She was wrong. Running at her was none other than Jak.
"Colle! You have to help." He was out of breath.
"What's wrong?" Thinking something bad had happened. "What's happened?"
"You have to hide me." He said not answering her question and moving behind her.
"Why?" Her expression changed. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything. It's what they want me to wear."
"What?" Not understanding what the big deal was. "That's what this is about? Clothes?"
"You don't understand-" Someone called his name.
"Master Jak!" Tome came running after him. "You shouldn't have run off like that. Grandma's already angry with you." The little girl noticed Colle standing next to him.
"Master Jak! You know you're not supposed to see her until tonight." She wagged her finger in front of him.
"Great. Being scolded by a kid." Jak winked at Colle and followed the eight year old mumbling to himself.
"I have a feeling tonight is going to be an interesting one." Zack spoke as the siblings walked off to see the rest of the palace.
(January 23, 2006: the end of part one)