Corad: I think I died...
Sharok: Ok, if you're dead, then why are you still here, uploading?
Corad: Errr...coz Jak...he er...did...
Sharok: (rolling eyes) You are a complete moron. Corad hopes you all enjoyed the last chapter. She claims she can't remember what happened in it, although she wrote it. Geez she's stupid...
Corad: Hey! (whacks Sharok across head) I heard that, stench fest! Now, I wanna thank all my reviewers and readers. To CrazyOttsel, I have attempted to lengthen the chappies, but seeing you want them longer, I'll try ok. Anything to keep my readers happy. Right now the chapters are sitting on 2000 to 2300 words each, but maybe I can get them higher? (sits silently in thought. Drool starts coming outta her mouth)
Sharok: Yuck...and all over the keyboard to. That's just disgusting Corad. Glad you liked liked Sky's and Erol's...er..."friendship" JakLover. Although, I'll probably be tracking that relationship carefully.
Corad: No you ain't Sharok. You leaveSky alone!
Sharok: Fine...lol, you're right too Salena99. Jak's having another nightmare, but this is a um, good nightmare.
Corad: Also to Happy Yaoi Lover, I'm glad you liked Erol and Sky! I like Yaoi too lol. Although, I gotta keep myself under control in this fic. And yeah, Jinxie boy is alive and well...see, give me a hug Jinx! (tackles Jinx and strangles him in a bear hug. Falls limp on ground) Whoops...we'd better scrap that last comment...(nugdes Jinx on floor with foot)
Don't own, never will. On with chapter...errr...chapter...wait, I can do this...wait, no I can't. Just read lol.
Chapter 53 – Conquering of the Mind
"You can't deny me forever…I'll consume your soul and win over your weak body," the wolf in his mind howled out, taking heavy steps towards his trembling body. He stood, drenched in cold sweat, his hands shaking in fear beside his thighs. The wolf would tear him limb from limb. He would devour his soul and use his body to harm his friends.
"N-no! Not again! I banished you to the darkened pits in my mind! Leave me alone!" Jak wailed uncontrollably, gripping the sides of his head and swaying on the spot in an attempt to get the awful voice from his head.
"Let us protect you! Get back and feel the power of light!"
"Eat the wrath of my dark hatred!"
Jak opened his eyes and lowered his hands, to see both Dark and Light standing on either side of him. Dark Jak was hunched over, his fangs bared and growling deeply. Light was standing proudly, his hands locked in a form of prayer while his eyes glowed eerily back at Jak.
"We're here to help you," Light murmured softly, holding out his hand to take Jak's. Jak gasped out, unsure whether to trust his light and dark selves. They may have joined forces with the wolfish side of his mind by now.
"Do it, or be consumed mortal!" Dark howled out, his long nails flexing dangerously near Jak's face. Jak sighed and took both his hands in Light and Dark's grips. He felt a sudden surge of power pulse through his veins, and he felt significantly stronger. He released his Dark and Light side's hands, and stepped forward, his face contorted with determination and loathing.
"Kneel to me!" Jak yelled out, his voice echoing wildly around in the dark. The wolf snarled back, bearing his teeth while growling fiercely.
"Not without a fight!"
"JAK! JAK! We have to go now! Get up!" Jak stirred at a female's hurried voice, and opened his eyes wearily to find Skytha poking his foot with her finger. "Quick, it'll be nightfall shortly, and we must get to dead town for another practice session! I plan to conquer your wolf mind tonight, so get up!" she groaned in frustration, dragging Jak's sheets of his bed and taking hold of his legs.
Jak squirmed to get out her death grip, but failed and ended up sprawled on the hard floor beside his bed. "Thanks," he snarled, lifting himself up and looking around his room for a brush. He found it beside his bedside table, and used it to untangle his golden knots.
"I figure if we can control your wolf mind, maybe I could take you out hunting one night? See how the real wolves live," Sky murmured, making her way towards the stairs. Jak grunted in return, strapping his gun to his back and picking up his sleeping pills, shoving them in his waist bag. He scanned the room in case he forgot something, before hurrying downstairs to meet Skytha.
"Jak, we're coming!" Jak heard when he first stepped into the bar, and he glanced down to his feet, seeing Daxter and Simron both smiling up at him. Jak averted his eyes uneasily and thought of the best way to tell them "no".
"Look Dax…it's dangerous out there. I think you'll be safer in here with Erol…or maybe not…" Jak said awkwardly, flicking his eyes to where Erol sat, sprawled across the booth seat in a deep sleep.
"Come on Jak. Just take them. They can keep out of distance somewhere, I'm sure. We don't have time to argue otherwise," Skytha reported, peering her head out the front door to see the sun slowly setting to the west. Jak sighed in defeat and kneeled down to the ground, letting the orange Ottsel clamber up to his shoulder.
"Maybe you can ride Sky's shoulder," the blond elf suggested, noticing Simron looking up at him expectantly. "Hang on, I'll see…SKY!" Jak shouted, his voice echoing around the room. Erol woke with a start, leaping a foot in the air and landing in a mess back on the seat. His eyes were wide in shock, frantically looking around the room for the source of noise.
"Um…sorry Erol…" Jak muttered, realizing his mistake. Erol scowled at him, and turned his back to the table, his head resting back on the leather seat for another attempt at sleep. Skytha wandered back inside to Jak's side, and glared at him.
"You didn't need to shout you know. I could hear you from out there. Now, he wants a lift, right?" she asked, pointing down to the ground at the black bundle. Jak nodded, along with Daxter and Simron. Skytha rolled her eyes, and hesitated for a moment before kneeling on the ground for Simron to reach her shoulder.
Sitting quietly, Simron grasped her hair, tugging it by accident in an attempt to stay stable. "Do you have to pull so hard!" she whined, when the four had left the bar, also leaving a now snoozing Erol. Simron shrugged in reply, and loosened his grip slightly.
A few moments of driving a zoomer like a maniac, they all arrived outside dead town. The sun was beginning to set completely, so they rushed through the gates, and the two Ottsels fled to a solid ledge of some ruins a fair distance away. Jak and Sky however, stood facing each other, as if ready for a battle.
"When the sun completely sets, concentrate Jak…gather up the strength within your mind, and conquer the wolf side. Once it's weakened, tame it. I know you can do it," Skytha whispered in a hurry, a small reassuring smile planted on her lips. Jak nodded in return, and closed his eyes, feeling the pain in his chest reside and spread along his limbs and torso.
"Garr…arrrggggghhhh! Wwwhhhhhhhooooooooooooooo!" Jak howled, his now morphed self standing waiting for a sudden movement from the other. He felt like he was alive again, his fangs lusting for the taste of blood. His stomach growled hungrily ashis eyes darted through the darkness for a source of food.
"Control it." Jak's ears pricked up, his sight searching for the female who dare spoke. "Control it Jak! Gather up your inner strength, and your mind will follow!" Jak snarled in anger as he began to trot around the ruins, searching for the girl. "Feel you mind take control! Your wolf side shall obey you, just believe!" Jak felt a burning sensation along his tail, and he spun around, finding the brown wolf, her fangs digging deeply into his flesh.
"Unhand me, fool!" wolf Jak hissed, flicking his tail with much force that Skytha let go, small droplets of blood seeping down her fangs. "So we meet again, Princess…how many times do I have to kill you?"
"You haven't killed me yet, nor will you ever! I'm here to overcome your pitiful existence, and crush your pathetic hide so the rightful mind can endure the body. You shall crumble at my attempt, and forever stay hidden beneath Jak's mask," Skytha roared, her fangs gleaming in the new moon. Wolf Jak raised his head back, and laughed menacingly.
"I hardly doubt it. I am no tame wolf. I seek the power of the strong. I yearn for warm blood trickling down my throat. I'll disembowel those who stand in my way," Jak replied in a ferocious growl, his strong paws taking a few steps towards Skytha. Skytha bowed her head low, her continuous growls scaring the two Ottsels above hidden in the ruins.
"I hope we'll be safe here…maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. I mean…I didn't bring my gun…" Simron murmured in Daxter's ear, peering down over the ledge at the two wolves circling each other. Down below Jak began sneering and laughing, his eyes wide in loathing, piercing straight through Skytha's.
"Listen to me Jak. I will fight you if I must, but the wolf will lose its dominance and you shall prevail!" Skytha yelped out, bounding at full force towards Jak. Jak spread his wings and leapt into the air, flapping them majestically. Skytha feared for his safety if he dared to leave, and spread her feathery wings in pursuit.
"Return, coward!" she shouted over her beating wings. Her front paws were tucked tightly beneath her chest as she gained distance to Jak. She saw him glance back, before diving to the ground, his wings close to his body to gather speed. "COWARD!" she yelled in anger, tucking her wings beside her and diving down to the ground after him. Jak pulled out of the dive before he collided with the earth, and soared close along the mucky water spread around the ruins.
'Let me out! Please, just hear my call and let me out!' Jak screamed inside his own mind, watching as he came dangerously close to his Ottsel friends. "No FOOL! I'm gaining more power as you slide back into the darkness. You denied me blood and flesh, and now you ask for my forgiveness. I am the wolf here, so I have the will to rule over your weak body. I should have killed that moron Jinx while I had the chance. His blood would have tasted like gold down my throat," Wolf Jak snapped back, his mind preoccupied to realize Skytha lunge forward, her claws just inches from Jak's tail.
One swift movement sent her paw heavily into his spiked tail, and she gripped her claws deeply into his flesh once more. Pulling her wings in, she fell to the water, dragging Wolf Jak into the darkened depths below. Both wolves fell with a splash, and sunk a few meters before regaining surface.
"You'll regret…that…" Jak growled in aggravation, struggling to keep afloat as he wings became soaked through. "I'll teach you to…drown…me…" Jak spluttered, failing his attempts at keeping his head in the air. Skytha saw the problem, and grabbed hold of his neck flab (lack of better term)in her muzzle, and began to drag him towards a nearby shore.
"Jak, fight him…you can…you can do it…" she said in a muffled voice, panting heavily as she laid her wet wings to her side. Jak lay on the ground, groaning for air and energy.
"I told you…Jak is worthless and is not coming out…" Wolf Jak hissed in a slight whisper, his voice breaking as he began to get shakily to his feet. Skytha narrowed her eyes, and took another leap towards Jak, shoving him back into the mud.
"JAK!" Jak's eyes opened up inside his mind, and he felt Skytha struggling to keep control of his wolf body. If only he had some help…some form of aid, then maybe with a bit of luck he'd be able to overcome this.
'Jak, use our power…together we can conquer it,' Light said softly beside him, his white hand outstretched to Jak. Jak remembered his dream from before, and took hold of Light's quivering hand. His touch was soothing and almost powering, but beforehe could dwell on it, his Dark side appeared and grabbed his other hand forcefully.
'When we stand united, our power will exchange to you. You must dominate our new presence Jak, and win your internal battle,' Light whispered, gripping Jak's right hand. Dark growled out threateningly, gripping Jak's other hand so tightly he felt as though it would drop off due to lack of blood circulation.
'I…I can feel…it gathering inside,' Jak said, the power circulating his veins. He closed his eyes, Light and Dark standing beside him as his guardians. 'Wolf…seize the control and allow me to take the upper hand!' he roared, his eyes shooting open and burning in a sudden, murderous desire towards his wolf mind's form.
'Ha! Never…you shall wish you'd have kept hidden, for I will…Umph…' Wolf Jak hit the floor of the mind, his head spinning on the impact. Jak stood broadly over him, leering down in hatred. Wolf Jak made a move to get up, but Jak kicked him hard in the ribs, winding him.
"Jak! Jak, take control!" Skytha kept shouting, shaking Jak as she looked into the fazed eyes of her comrade, his head knocking on the ground numbly. Inside, Jak kept fighting the wolf ego, although the grey wolf was beginning to weaken, Jak just felt the power growing.
"JAK! Please, I know you're in there! I can see you there!" Sky groaned, taking a few steps back from Jak and glancing nervously up at the ledge where Daxter and Simron sat, both opened mouthed and speechless. Before either of them could say anything, Jak sat up, his eyes softer and his growling quieting down.
"Jak? Is that you?" Skytha asked in a hushed voice, leaningtowards him and staring directly into his focusing eyes. Jak groaned out, twisting his body around to get to his feet. Skytha sighed in relief, and wandered slowly up to him.
"I…I think I've beaten…darrrrrggghhhh…I…" Jak hissed, feeling his wolf mind trying to force itself back into the spotlight. Jak's inner self along with his two guardians pushed the wolf down again, and he regained his composure.
Skytha placed a paw over Jak's, and gave a softened form of laugh. "I knew you could overcome it. I know it'll take some practice to keep him down within you, but at least you can speak and move freely now, on your own will. I'm proud of you Jak," she stated, turning around and walking to where Daxter and Simron sat above.
"You two can come down now. I think it's safe…Jak has overcome his wolf mind temporarily, so…" Skytha began, but was cut short at the sound of beating wings. Spinning around, she turned to glare at Jak, to find him still standing by her side, searching his eyes through the darkness for the other individual.
"Skytha! I found you at last! Your brother, he's…he's going too far! He's crossed the boundary and put us all in danger. You must find him and sort him out!" the white wolf standing on a far ledge shouted, her shadow stretching across the earth before Jak and Skytha. Skytha bowed her head in thought, before answering.
"Thank you Lenna…it is…good to see you again."
Corad: Hughes? Hughes? HUGHES! (starts crying)
Sharok: Um, are you ok, Corad?
Corad: I kill you Envy! I kill you to hell! I...awww, but how can I stay mad at you? (gives Envy a bear hug before he joins Jinx, dead-like on the ground) Damnit, why does that keep happening!
Sharok: I think either your BO stench is too much for them, or your fat likes to keep it's personal space.
Corad: Aww, give me a hug Sharok! (tackles Sharok and gives him a bear hug)
Sharok: (choking) I regret nothing! ("dies" on ground)
Corad: Ok, well maybe, just maybe...I can blame all this on Bijoux...
Bijoux: (from distance) You ain't blaming me, fatty!
Corad: Awww...well guys, if you wanna review, then by all means. I'll give you a bear hug...wait, you probably don't wanna suffer the same fate as these guys...fate? Fayt? FAYT! ALBEL! I need my Star Ocean! (runs out of room crying again)
