Jak and Daxter
Legends of the Forgotten

Chapter Four – Forest Junction

"Good morning, boys."

Samos stood at the entrance to Haven Forest, the Life Seed resting in his arm. Daxter glanced up at the sky, his ears tilting back.

"Not much of a morning, if you ask me..."

The sky was cast with streaks of pink and orange as the sun rose over the horizon, but a feeling of dread hung in the air. Just as the night sky was missing stars, black holes created fractures in the morning light, the affects of the Evil now clearly visible. A chill ran up Jak's spine as the gate unlocked and spun open in front of them.

"We have to hurry," the warrior stated, a tinge of worry audible in his voice.

"To the Tree of Life, Jak," Samos instructed as he stepped through the gate.

"Hey, look!" Daxter exclaimed as the Life Seed began to glow, illuminating the tunnel.

As they reached the end of the tunnel, the Tree of Life came into view. Its trunk twisted into the sky while its branches reaching out in all directions. Samos took in a deep breath of forest air as he moved towards the stone pillars surrounding its base.

"Take the seed, Jak. If the Precursors are correct, then the only one who can awaken the Keepers is you."

Jak took the seed into his hands, the glow suddenly intensifying. He took a few cautious steps towards the tree, unsure of what would transpire. As soon as he walked passed the stone pillars, a surge of power ran through Jak's body. His skin began to glow white with light eco until his entire being changed into his alternate form of Light Jak.

Daxter quickly jumped from Jak's shoulder and rushed back towards Samos as a miraculous event took place in front of them.

(Green Keeper's Point-of-View)

I felt a strange warmness flow through my body that was unlike anything I had experienced sense I was sealed away. My dreaming ceased as I opened my eyes and saw a faint light in the distance. As the warmth increased, I found myself able to move once more as I raised my hand towards the light and leaned forward. I wanted nothing more than to run towards it as the familiar texture of green eco began to move along my skin.

Everything around me turned white, the light engulfing me as I heard the terrible sounds of creaking...and then shattering.

I felt something soft brush up against my skin as the light slowly faded, blades of grass appearing in my vision.

(End Point-of-View)

"By the Precursors..."

Samos looked on in shock as the Tree of Life's twisted trunk split along its seams and unwound, the harsh sounds of cracking and splintering filling the air. Its great branches bowed to the earth in a series of mighty crashes around them.

Daxter peered from behind one of the stone pillars as a sphere of green eco lifted from inside the mangled trunk, the form of a person inside. Light Jak took a step back as the sphere moved forward and touched the grass, the eco beginning to drift away towards the sky. The Keeper's foot touched the grass, followed by the other as the last trace of eco lifted from her dark skin. A faint whimper left her lips as she collapsed forward to the earth, her long, silver hair falling around her face.

Light Jak stood in awe for a moment before the footsteps of Daxter and Samos came up behind him, snapping him back to reality as his he reverted to his regular persona.

"Jak!" Daxter yelled as he returned to the warrior's shoulder, "You killed the tree!"

"…S-Samos, I…" Jak stammered.

"…What's done is done, my boy," the old Sage replied solemnly, "Nature will heal its wounds with time…"

A soft groan was heard as they looked upon the Keeper, her eyes slowly opening.

"It's strange," the sage continued, "The Precursors said the Keeper's were young, but I didn't expect to find an adolescent..."

After a moment of silence, the Keeper began to stir.

"Easy now," Samos said gently as he stepped forward.

The girl's eyes shifted upwards towards the voice and came to a stop on the old man's face. Their eyes connected for a moment before she moved back against the tree. She gripped the bark and stood, her legs stiff from mild atrophy.

"…W…What is this…?" she whispered, an underlying tone of confusion and fear coiled in her voice.

Jak took a step forward, Daxter peering over his shoulder.

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the tree, kid?" Daxter exclaimed, the girl looking up at him now.

"Dax..." Jak sighed.

She stared at Daxter for a long moment, the ottsel soon averting his eyes. She lifted her back from the mangled tree, her expression morphing into one of rage.

"Where were you?!" she shouted, pointing accusingly at the ottsel, "You Precursors abandoned us! You left us to die!"

Daxter ducked behind Jak's shoulder, his eyes wide. He found it hard to remember a female ever being this upset at him. Jak raised his hands in defense, glancing over at Samos in concern.

"Now, now, child," Samos stated in a relaxed tone, "Calm down. You've been asleep for a long time."

The Keeper's gaze snapped towards the sage, a frantic shade in her green eyes. Her eyes then moved across the scenery around them.

The grass...the trees...the flowers...

These things were not present when she fell in battle. Her eyes widened as she ran through the scenario in her mind, over and over.

The darkness had come...

The Blue Eco Keeper's gaze looked through her as the shadows approached. His hand had held hers tightly and then...

She snapped back to reality when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She felt the urge to lurch away from the old, green man, but became aware of a calm washing over her. It was oddly familiar...

...Green Eco.

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