Welcome to the third chapter of Jak. I know the last chapter was a bit much but it was required especially since it'll have a sequel chapter that'll need those events. So… ya… Hope I didn't lose you guys and without further ado let's get started with the next one. This one is very short, and I hope you enjoy.

Jak

Chapter 3:

Daxter

~Jak~

3. The day he meet Daxter was the best day of his life

~Jak~

"Try to calm down."The sage said to the hysterical woman sobbing profusely. "Explain it to me once more."

Jak looked at the woman in wonder, she had curly auburn hair that seemed to bounce in delight (well Jak thought so despite her constant sobbing) she also had ocean blue eyes that were currently concealed by her ever flowing curtain of tears. He wondered what was wrong as he and Keira watched as he cried and cried as she arrived in the village.

"M-m-my my sssson…" The woman stammered. If the woman wasn't crying so much he would've laughed at the fact that she almost sounded like a snake when she said son.

"Yes?" Samos asked, he had both his hands clasped around her right one, he lightly patted his hand on her palm effectively calming the distraught woman enough for her to continue.

"The- the Jungle," She started her gasps and sobs almost making her sentences incoherent as she intensified her grip on Samos' two hands. "He- he was so quiet, too quiet… I-I sho-ve known."

"The Forbidden Jungle?" Samos gulped in fear.

"That's what it's called?"She asked.

Samos grimly nodded.

The woman began to sob loudly once again, wrenching her hand out of Samos' grasp so she could let the tears pool in her palms.

"Mam?" Samos asked. She looked up from her seemingly hopeless cry. "What is your son's name?"

"Daxter." She choked out.

"D-Daxter?" He gasped. The woman nodded.

"By the Precursors..." Samos inaudibly let out under his breath. Daxter? She said Daxter. She couldn't possibly mean the annoying ottsle that Jak had been carrying around on his shoulder back in Haven, could she? If she did, then that meant that had meant they had a huge problem on their hands. Daxter was just as instrumental towards Jak's destiny as the boy himself was, probably more than Samos himself. Samos regained his composure before speaking once more. "We'll get all the men in the village to form a search party in the jungle, make sure they find the child."

Jak's eyes widened in surprise. Surely Samos had a better idea than that? A search party might take too long and who knows what could happen to this 'Daxter' by then? No, Jak had to do something to help this boy. Jak sprang up and ran off, his target: the Forbidden Jungle.

"Jak?" Keira called out for the boy. "Where are you going?"

Jak ignored her and continued running off.

Samos actually looked out at Jak and lightly smiled. When he sprang up from his seat, Samos was furious with the boy for doing something so foolish and reckless. But within seconds realization had washed over the sage of what was supposed to happen. This is how the two were meant to meet.

Samos then turned to the crying woman. "I can't tell you how I know mam. But I'm certain your son will come to the village safely. For now try to recompose yourself as Keira and I gather the search party."

~Jak~

Finally Jak was able to climb over the final step that over looked the shallow beaches that bordered the jungle. He was finally in the Forbidden Jungle.

He had always been told by Samos to "never, ever come here," but here he was, trying to save a child he had never meet.

He looked around at the jungle before him, it certainly was quite different from the village. The grass seemed to take on a darker shade and was able to prickle his feet; in the village grass was soft and didn't seem to irritate him all that much. The trees were also very different than the ones in the village; here they were overgrown with vines and had haphazardly placed leaves as if they were randomly placed. Then of course there was the stream that seemed to run throughout the whole jungle, it seemed to be a lot darker than that of the beach and as he approached it he could see tiny fish running through it; the ones that intrigued the child the most were the tiny green fish that were hardly the size of his palm; the next fish were just bigger versions of the green fish, unlike their smaller counterparts they almost appeared to be chubby with their bulging cheeks and large, luminescent, lemon colored bodies; then of course there were the sinister looking eels that almost gave off malevolent grins within their bone white faces, this of course was accompanied by their long cream colored tails that seemed to glow purple with dark eco. Other things to note about the jungle were the large rickety bridge with its half broken steps made of rotting wood that overlooked a waterfall; then of course there were the large wooden constructs that had clear crystal lens that reflected a single beam of blue eco high above the jungle; finally there was the large precursor temple that stood proud and tall in the very center of the jungle.

So this is the Forbidden Jungle? Jak thought to himself as he continued to survey the new land, picking out all the flora and fauna that seemed to be everywhere. He didn't really understand what was so dangerous about it though.

Ignoring the task at hand the six year old had one thing in mind: exploring the gigantic Precursor temple before him. So over the river and through the wood to gran- I mean the Precursor temple he went.

Within minutes the young boy had been able to reach the temple and that's when he was able to take in all that stood before him. It stood proud and tall with its gleaming precursor metal, in fact Jak could see his reflection clearly in it. He reached out and touched the metal only to immediately retract his hand. The metal had been baking in the sun all day, of course it was hot. But of course the child had been overcome with his childish curiosity when he had done this.

Maybe this Daxter is lost in the temple? Jak thought to himself, but he knew he just wanted an excuse to explore it some more, maybe even find a way inside.

So Jak began to round the massive temple. Within seconds he found a small pathway made of the same metal that rose to a large doorway. Wanting to try anything he began to ascend to the doorway on the tiny incline. He avoided the ball of sparkling blue energy that sat in front of the doorway.

Looking at this door he learned that it was circular in shape and made up of several pieces of Precursor metal, varying in age as you could tell by how dark they were, that spiraled into each other. Above the spiraling pieces of metal was a tiny pendant with a dark blue lightning bolt. It looked as if it needed to be activated.

"Help…" A small voice whimpered.

Jak looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.

"Help… Somebody, please, help me…" The voice pleaded, getting slightly louder.

It was a much higher pitch than anything Jak had heard in the entirety of his time in the village. Though for some odd reason it was oddly familiar, he wasn't sure where he'd heard it though.

"Please…" The voice whimpered once more. "I'll do anything I don't wanna die in here. I'm just a kid."

Finally he found the source of the voice. He turned to look at the large doorway he had been observing mere seconds ago. How'd he get in there? Jak wondered.

Jak pounded on the door, trying to get it open.

"Is someone there?" The voice asked.

Jak continued to try to pound on the door but nothing happens.

"Come on, you can do it!" The voice shouts, cheering him on.

Jak decides to change tactics and tries pulling apart two of the spiraling pieces of Precursor metal. But nothing comes out of his efforts.

"Come on!" The voice shouts causing Jak to jump back and fall into the blue ball of energy he had previously avoided. Immediately the blue energy jumps off of him and into the pendant above the door. The symbol then glows a brighter hue and immediately the pieces of metal retract and out falls a boy who lets out an "ah!" in surprise.

Jak looked down at himself, he had no idea what had just happened but in a way, he liked it. It was for a split second really and just as quickly as the energy was taken into his body it was gone.

As much as he would've liked to think about it some more he looked down at the child before him.

The child before him had a red outfit, not very dissimilar to Jak's own childhood outfit, and had red hair that reminded Jak of a flame. Along with this, he had ocean blue eyes and buck teeth.

The kid stood up and brushed himself off. "Phew, that was close."

Jak nodded.

"Thanks, by the way." The boy smiled. "What's your name?"

Jak nodded in response.

"Ok 'Yes,'" The other young boy replied, clearly mocking Jak. "I'm Daxter!"

Jak nodded in acknowledgement, he did a little wave to finish the greeting.

"You don't talk much do ya'?" Daxter asked the young child before him.

Jak shrugged.

"I kinda like it." Daxter commented with a smile, he then playfully poked the other child's stomach earning a laugh from Jak. "You're from Sandover Village right?"

Jak nodded in response.

"Good, 'Yes'" Daxter smiled, although Jak was slightly annoyed with the new nickname although he didn't show it. "You'll lead me to the village, then."

Jak nodded in agreement before walking off, Daxter in tow.

"Y'know maybe you could be my sidekick!" Daxter suggested to his new friend, to which Jak rolled his eyes and laughed. The two then continued their trek back to the village.

And from this day forth, one of the strongest friendships in history began to blossom. A friendship that was so great that it would save the world on several occasions and can survive even after a two year separation. Neither of them at this point could tell what they liked about the other but one thing was for sure that they seemed to like each other. As time will move on and they'll begin to change it won't matter because their friendship will last forever.

~Jak~

"And then I shot the metal head right in the kisseer!" A 33 year old Daxter announced from atop the living room table.

"Wow, Uncle Daxter!" The older child announced from the right side Jak's lap.

"Yeah, that's amazing!" The younger child agreed.

"Yep." Daxter nodded. "Finally, your dad who was so scared of the metal heads came out of where he was hiding and that's how we became best friends."

A clearly amused Jak chuckled. "That is not what happened, Daxter…"

"Then what did happen, daddy?" The older child asked him.

"Yeah, if that's not the story then what was it?" The younger one asked.

"Maybe Uncle Daxter will tell you next time he tells a story." Jak answered, clearly trying to avoid the question.

"Awww…" The two kids sighed in response.

"Alright, you two time for bed." Jak said. He then hauled up the two children under his arms, swinging them around, making the six and five year olds laugh with joy.

"Night, kiddies!" Daxter called to the two children.

"Good night, Uncle Daxter!" The two children called out as Jak carried them up the stairs.

~Jak~

"Do you really remember that day?" Jak asked the ottsle as they shared drinks late that night in Jak's dining room.

Daxter hiccupped in response before downing yet another drink. I think that's his sixth wine glass? Jak wondered, but he wasn't too sure.

"Daxter!" Jak shouted, trying to get the ottsle's attention.

Daxter chuckled. "You're kidding, right? Of course I remember that day!"

"You're not just saying that to get me to change the subject, are you?" Jak asked.

"Of course not!" Daxter shouted in response. "You think I'm that stupid?"

"Where was it then?" The hero snorted.

"The Forbidden Jungle, you saved me from the blue eco door that I found myself in somehow." Daxter answered, spot on as if he wasn't drunk.

"I'm impressed." Jak smirked.

"Hey!" Daxter shouted. "How could I forget the day that I meet my best bud ever? That's like asking me if I forgot the day that I turned into an ottsle!"

Jak smirked even as he took another sip of his wine. "I'm your best friend? I thought it was Tess."

"Nah…" Daxter sighed. "I can do all kinds of things with you that I can't with Tess. Like I can scope out all the hot chicks, drink to my heart's content and of course I can climb on your shoulder and look all badass during adventures. I can't do any of that fun stuff with her."

"True." Jak agreed holding up his wine glass before taking another swig, only finishing his second wine glass.

"But still…" Daxter hiccupped once again. "I wouldn't change that day, no matter what."

"Yeah me neither." Jak looked down into his wine glass trying to hide his wide smile.

Yep, true friendship. Really does last for a long time. Of course Jak and Daxter aren't finished yet, as they'll take their friendship with them, to the day they die.

I wasn't sure whether or not to end it at the jungle scene or not. But then I decided that with last chapters ending, I decided to have a nice, happy ending. Also with Jak's kids, all I really revealed was that he had two that one is older than the other by a year, I didn't mention names, physical appearances, genders or who their mother is. That'll all come as we go along. So how'd you like that short chapter? 8 pages on word is pretty new for this fic. I'm thinking there may be 3 more chapters that'll be short, you can guess which ones. So… next chapter will be all about eco. Y'know red eco, blue eco, yellow eco, green eco, dark eco, light eco, maybe even some orange and pink ecos! Yeah I doubt those last two… But read and review!