Title: The Love Disaster

Author: thequietgenius

Summary: Keira plots revenge on Ashelin by concocting a potion to make Jak fall for her. What happens when it backfires? Now not only Jak, but Torn is infatuated with her too. Will this obstacle stray her judgment? JxKxT

Chapter 12

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Ashelin paced back and forth in the Palace, wondering where in the name of Mar was Jak. She hadn't heard from him for days. She tried to contact him through her communicator. Although the stupid thing was turned on, he didn't respond. She called everyone who had links to him: Daxter and Tess, Pecker and Onin, Sig, Vin, Jinx, along with so many others she couldn't even remember.

However, none of them knew where he was. She called Torn, as well, yet he didn't pick up. She assumed he was still sulking. Though, she couldn't fathom why. All she was doing was throwing an engagement party for her fiancé…

She almost had half a mind to send the Freedom Guard to scout the parameters of Haven City. The key word being almost. She thought that the population would think she was desperate or didn't trust Jak. Everyone was supposed to trust him in her mind. He was the hero of two cities, after all. Image was everything in politics.

Then again, you may be speculating, why didn't she call Samos and Keira? Actually, Ashelin had a good reason for that. Or so she believed. Firstly, why would Jak be with his ex? He is loyal to me, isn't he? Secondly, the piece of doubt in her mind made her want to believe her previous thought, even though it didn't make a lot of sense. Apparently, Ashelin hadn't heard of a friendly outing between childhood buddies.

On the other hand, Ashelin had a point. If it was just a friendly outing, why would he be avoiding contact with her? She was going to find out. And if Jak was with Keira in the way her overactive imagination believed, there would be heck to pay.

I had to postpone the engagement party for days because of her attention seeking stunts. Who does she think she is? A slum version of a damsel in distress! That wretched mechanic better keeps her gloves off Jak.

—

Keira cast a worried glance towards Jak. He had been acting weird ever since he woke up. Come to think of it, Torn had been the same way. Could daddy have really put something in their drink? If so, for what reason? Jak had been behaving as if he was in love with her. But he was supposed to be in love with Ashelin. They were having an engagement party, after all…

"Oh no! I almost forgot. The party is today! And the baroness' fiancé is in my room—hitting on me." Under normal circumstances, she would've been overjoyed. But these weren't normal circumstances. The baroness had the power to kill her. Or at least throw her in Haven prison, which wasn't any better. She had to figure out what was wrong with Jak and fast.

Suddenly, she felt Jak's arms wrap around her waist. He nuzzled her cheek. "What's wrong, honey? Why do you keep pacing?"

Reluctantly, Keira removed herself from his embrace. This wasn't right. He wasn't in his right mind at the moment. "What is wrong is you, Jak. Stop acting like you're in love with me. You. Love. Ashelin." Although, she attempted to say this firm and true, it came out uncertain and doubtful.

"Who?" Jak asked. Although, Keira knew he did know Ashelin by the smirk on his face. "You're the only woman in my life."

"You wish." Keira sidestepped his tenth advance in one minute. Nonetheless, she couldn't help but hope so too.

"Keira, what's wrong with you? Don't you love me?" Jak questioned painfully. Keira tore her eyes away from his baby blue ones.

"I—" Without warning, an image of Torn passed through her mind. What was that all about? Was her heart showing her a different truth?

"Keira, love?" Jak waved a hand in her face. "What are you daydreaming about, dear?"

"Um… nothing." Keira shook herself out of her daze.

"Stop playing hard to get, honey." Jak began making a trail of kisses down her arm. Keira groaned. At least, Torn wasn't as sappy as him. There are times like these I wonder why Jak has a low tolerance for toxic substances. With those dark eco injections and all…

"Get off me, Jak. Don't you see? You're engaging Ashelin in about an hour. Don't you realize that you're cheating on her? Not only that but if she finds us like this—"

Keira was cut off when Jak pressed his lips against hers. She let out a muffled yelp before pushing him off. "Get out!"

"But babe!" Jak protested before Keira grabbed two wrenches off the workbench and spun them around expertly.

"You don't want to mess with me, right now. Get out." Keira said. Her voice was dangerously calm and level.

Jak gulped and stepped outside with the most pitiful look on his face. Keira sighed. She could never stay mad at Jak for long, even though he was under the influence of a love potion. "Alright. Meet me at the palace. That is where your engagement party is being held at. Don't mention anything about you being here, is that clear?"

He nodded before placing on his goggles and getting on a zoomer. He gave her a smile that would have made most over romantic girls faint. "Crystal clear, sugar."

Keira raised a brow as he did a wheelie in mid air. Just to impress her. Since she didn't melt into a pile of mush, she decided she must've been still sane. Then she noticed that raising a brow wasn't really her thing… it was more the FG commander's.

—

Now, for a little Q&A with daddy dearest. Keira thought, approaching her father's room. Without knocking, she swung open the door. She saw Samos hovering and meditating as if he had no other care in the world. But that'll change soon. She stood there with her hand on her hips, waiting for him to sense her presence.

When he didn't respond for several minutes, Keira went over and knocked on his log head three times. "Hello! Anyone home?"

He almost toppled over as he was rudely interrupted from his meditation. "What do you want, Keira? You know how much I hate—"

"Don't give me that crud, pops! You know exactly what I want. What in Mar's name did you put in their tea?" Keira demanded.

"Keira Tara Sage!" Samos exclaimed, affronted. He whacked the mechanic on the head with his stick. "How dare you speak to me in that tone, young lady?"

Once Keira realized what she had said, she apologized sheepishly. "I'm sorry, daddy. I think I got a little carried away with this interrogation." Yeah right, she thought, you're just as much to blame as I am.

"You're quite right, you did! Now—answer me nicely—what is it that you want?"

"What did you put in their tea?" Keira inquired politely.

"In whose tea, my dear?"

Keira almost exploded. You know exactly who I'm talking about! Don't even pretend you have Old Timers or whatever it's called. "Your guests from yesterday, Jak and Torn."

The green eco sage realized he couldn't dodge the question anymore. But he could pretend he didn't know what the substance was. "Well, I added sugar and cream to the tea. What difference does it make?"

Keira groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Anything else?"

"Now that I think about it, the creamer seemed a bit strange…"

"How so?"

"Well… it was green for a change."

This time Keira actually did explode. All the stress from the past few days had to find a way out. She balled her fists and her eyes became livid. "YOU DID WHAT?"

"Keira, what did I tell you about raising you voice—"

"YOU KNEW VERY WELL THAT WAS A LOVE POTION."

"Keira…"

"YOU KNEW FROM THE START—EVER SINCE I GOT INJURED IN THE SPARGUS STADIUM."

"Keira…"

"YOU…" Finally, Samos cast a spell on Keira to render her speechless. She silently babbled on for a moment until she realized her efforts were in vain. She settled on glaring at her father.

"Feeling better?"

Keira nodded, defeated. This whole ordeal had driven her nuts. She had never talked back to her father this way before.

When Samos believed Keira had cooled down, he continued. "I won't beat around the bush anymore. Yes, I did know about the love potion. I used it so you would know the effects of using such a powerful tonic. Love mustn't be sought after through artificial means. In the end, what will be left is a disaster. And before you say another word, I'll make an antidote for you to slip in the punch at the reception. It will cancel out the effects of the potion."

As an afterthought, he added. "Let this be a lesson to you. To use your mind before your heart."

Then he snapped his fingers, causing Keira to be released from the silence spell. He walked out the door, leaving Keira in his room. She felt guilt stab through her heart. I hate it when he does that. Images of Jak and Torn passed through her mind. But I know what I have to do.

Somewhere outside… a Freedom Guard agent stood eavesdropping on their conversation. He heard everything about the love potion and the antidote. If you could see the expression behind his helmet, he would be smirking triumphantly. "Wait till the governess hears about this."

—

The palace was adorned in lights, decorations, and… more lights. There was a parade in the street outside the fortress. The sky was covered with streamers, over sized balloons, and fireworks. It was as if the engagement was written in the stars. Everyone who was anyone had attended the party—which was most of Haven City and even a few citizens from Spargus. Mainly Sig, Kleiver, Seem, and a small band of warriors and monks.

The most exquisite catered food and drink was placed on the banquet table, where we lay our scene…

Keira took a small vial out of her belt and poured it in the punch bowl when the Freedom Guards weren't looking. Luckily, there were so many people to shield her presence. With a ladle, she stirred the punch thoroughly so that it would be fully saturated. After her job was done, she poured two glasses of punch and snuck away stealthily.

Now, I have to find Jak and Torn. Where would I be if I was them? It didn't take her long to find out. Keira managed to make her way through the crowd without spilling the mixture in her grasp. She went into the Naughty Ottsel and searched for the two dangerous men—dangerously in love. Concocted love, Keira added dryly. At last, she found Torn sitting on the barstools, drinking. Not surprisingly.

"Why don't you drink this, instead, Torn?" She asked. Without waiting for a response, she forcibly opened his mouth and poured the punch down his throat. She watched as he choked slightly and passed out. When he woke up, the antidote would counteract the love potion and he would be normal again. Or so Keira hoped. Her main target was up next.

—

The mechanic knew that Jak would most likely be in his room, which was in the top floor of the palace. However, with the presence of so many guards, it was going to be difficult to administer the antidote personally. Therefore, she would have to use a disguise.

Keira took out a scroll with the palace layout that she 'borrowed' from the FG headquarters while she was in the Naughty Ottsel. She pinpointed the location of the laundry room. From there, she would obtain a servant's attire and sneak up the elevator, pretending to serve drinks.

When she successfully managed to get upstairs, she knocked on Jak's door. "Room service." She called out.

"Room service?" She heard a muffled, questioning voice from the other side. "I didn't ask for room service."

"Uh…" Keira racked her brain for an excuse. "The baroness had all the servants give out punch for the occasion." Is that the best you could come up with?

"Couldn't I just take it from the banquet table in the main hall?" He inquired.

"Um… that's a question you'll have to save for the baroness, sir. Now, if you please…" Before Keira could continue, Jak opened the door. He was decked out in a tuxedo with a corsage in his pocket. His long, blonde mane was tamed. He looked absolutely stunning. Keira felt butterflies in her stomach and heat rush to her cheeks.

He took a glass and stared at her suspiciously. "Hmm… you look familiar. Do I know you?" He asked. Keira shook her head and squirmed under his intense gaze. Then he shrugged, downing the liquid in one gulp. Promptly, he fell to the floor, knocked out.

Keira groaned and dragged the renegade back to his room and hoisted him on the bed. Looks like my job here is done. I just hope he wakes up before the reception begins…

—

Just as Keira left Jak's room, two Freedom Guards and Ashelin stepped out of the elevator. They strode in her direction. Oh crap! She hoped dearly that the baroness didn't recognize her.

"You, servant, what were you doing in Jak's room?" Ashelin questioned icily.

"I—I was just doing his laundry, ma'am." Keira stuttered back.

"Is that so? Well, it appears that someone hasn't been listening to orders." Ashelin's voice dripped with venom.

"H—how so, ma'am?" Keira asked in her best imitation of a frightened young girl. Her fear of discovery didn't make this hard to do.

"Are you deaf? I ordered all servants to keep away from the top two floors. Additionally, the laundry was to be done yesterday. Besides, where's your basket?"

"Um... um…" Keira berated herself for being unprepared. "You see, I'm new here and I don't know the—"

"Seize her." Ashelin commanded her guards. The burly men stepped forward and grabbed Keira by the biceps and brought her forward.

"Don't play games with me, you stupid mechanic." Ashelin snarled. Keira gasped in astonishment. How did she—?

"One of my guards caught you and your father speaking of a love potion. That must be why Jak has been so distant from me lately. It's because of you, witch." Ashelin slapped her hard, causing her to wince.

"For messing with me and my man, you'll have to pay dearly." Ashelin hissed. Keira gulped. Things sure weren't going according to plan.

—

The guards roughly brought her downstairs and deposited her on the floor of the stage. After fetching the blonde, Ashelin accompanied them with a malicious smirk on her face. She adjusted her microphone and waited for everyone to quiet down. Hundreds of eyes turned to her. Keira gulped again.

What more could Ashelin do? Is she trying to embarrass me in front of the whole world? She noticed that Jak must've awoken. Seeing as he was standing on the stage next to Ashelin with the most bewildered look on his face.

Torn, being a guest of honor, was sitting in the front row along with the citizens of Spargus. It was apparent that the both of them were not bewitched. Given the confused looks that they were giving her as to why she was on stage.

"Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for coming to our—meaning Jak and I—engagement reception. Unfortunately, there is someone who was trying to get in the way of our relationship by using…" Ashelin paused for effect. "… a love potion."

Gasps and mutterings were heard. Keira could feel the intense gazes of several hundred people on her—especially Jak and Torn. "Since she feels oh so guilty, she decided to apologize in front of all of Haven City and Spargus."

Keira knew that this was the time to confess her wrongdoing. But she was going to do it firmly and humbly. Although, she lost the battle, she wouldn't let Ashelin strip her of her dignity.

The mechanic took a deep breath and spoke into the microphone. "What I did is by no means the right thing to do. I was jealous of her and Jak's relationship. So, I stooped low enough to use a potion. Now, I know that love mustn't be sought after through artificial means. In the end, what will be left is a disaster." Her father smiled at her from the crowd, unbeknownst to her.

"Still, it was wrong of me, and all of you here have every right to be upset at me. However, I have corrected my misdeed by using an antidote to cancel out the effects of the potion. I'm sorry for those of you who got caught in the crossfire." Torn knew she clearly meant him.

"And I'm sorry to you, Jak. Being your childhood friend, I should've been happy and supportive of your relationship. I hope you have a happy live with Ashelin. Now, I must go…" Keira's voice was beginning to break up and she left without another word.

—

The green-haired mechanic was currently sitting on a ledge in Haven Forest. It's ironic. This was the place where I started out; now, it's the place where I end. The FG commander and the heroic renegade blonde probably hated her right now. Or… at least, were seriously ticked off at her. She didn't blame them. What she did was stupid and childish. She let this whole love potion ordeal go to her head.

Her tears had long since been dried out. She washed she stricken face in the river and tried to smile. Crying wasn't going to help her out in any way. She hoped someone would find it in their heart to forgive her. She wasn't that bad of a person, was she? At least, she had no regrets. Although, she was the one who caused the problems, she fixed them. And she practically poured out her confessions and apologies to the city.

Suddenly, she heard someone approach her. She looked back in surprise. It was none other than Jak. "What are you doing here?" She asked, appalled.

"I thought I'd find you down here. I never got a chance to speak with you after you ran off."

"But… but aren't you mad at me?"

"Over the potion thing? Not really. I have just as much of a reason to be guilty as you." Jak said, sitting down next to her.

"Why?"

"You see, I kinda sorta… dumped Ashelin." Jak finished sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"YOU DID WHAT? WHY?" Keira couldn't explain why, but she felt ecstatic when he said those seven words.

"It's because I don't feel the same for Ashelin as she does me. Sure, she's a good friend, but nothing more. Besides, it was pretty mean of her to embarrass you in front of everyone. Nobody messes with you, unless it's me." Jak ruffled her hair.

"Hey!" Keira laughed, pushing his hands away playfully. "So, who do you feel for then, Jak?" She asked shyly.

"I was hoping you'd ask that question. Because I think—" Jak took her hands in his. Her heart began beating faster and faster. Is he going to say… what I think he's going to say?

For the millionth time, Daxter popped out of nowhere and interrupted Jak's heartfelt confession. "Hey there, lover boy, you didn't think you could just leave without your best friend, did you?"

"Daxter!" The two yelled in annoyance.

Apparently, Daxter and Tess were escorted by Torn to Haven Forest. They were riding on either side of his shoulder. Torn placed a hand on Keira's shoulder. "I just wanted to let you know that it's cool between us, Keira. I felt bad letting Ashelin force you to confess in front of the crowd like that. Next time she does that, I'll set her straight for you."

"No, it's okay. Thanks, anyway, Torn. I have everything I want right here." Keira smiled, obviously meaning Jak. Maybe if things had turned out differently... maybe if I told her my feelings for her... I would be the one with her—not Jak, Torn mused. You're a very lucky man, Jak. Take care of her.

"Alright, I'm out." Tess grabbed Daxter by the ear and dragged him back to Torn's shoulder. Then the threesome left, leaving Jak and Keira to themselves.

"What I meant to say was—" Jak began, but was interrupted by Keira who placed a finger on his lips.

"Don't. I already know." Then Keira pulled Jak into a passionate kiss, which he replied to willingly.

.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
THE END¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ -:¦:-
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´ ×

A/N: Finally, The Love Disaster is FINISHED. Sorry for those of you who wanted TK. You were outvoted. But if any fan wishes to write an alternate ending, be my guest. Just give credit where credit is due. I had to cut the ending short, because the chapter itself was becoming too long. Anyway, thanks to all my readers and reviewers for their support:

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