Crow twirled his Eco pistol and threw up in the air before catching it. Naruto chuckled as they pushed towards the massive tree in the center of the Forest. Apparently, Metal Head eggs had been reported to be growing off the tree in the center, but no reports of Metal Heads in the area.
Naruto smiled as butterflies filled the air as they approached the colossal tree. Crow tilted his head as he stared at the tree. They circled it and soon spotted what looked like a Metal Head egg but the coloring was off. The red head ex-Krimzon Guard member climbed the tree with Naruto and looked at the 'egg' closer.
"Like, I've never seen just like, one egg before. They've like, always been in like, groups." Crow said as Naruto peered closer at it. He softly placed his hand on the beautiful orange-golden 'egg'. It quivered under his touch and for some reason the blond felt warmth bubble in his chest.
"I think it's a chrysalis." Naruto said as he traced over some of the lines. His blond eyebrows furrow and his tail twitched. Seven thick green lines all joining together at one point. He placed his hand on that point, feeling the chrysalis quiver more.
"Like, a butterfly chrysalis?" Crow asked, kneeling down next to Naruto, his Eco pistol still in his hand and ready to be used. The fox teen nodded.
"Yeah." A low whistle escaped Crow as he looked at the chrysalis.
"That's like, a totally big butterfly." The short man said in awe. Naruto closed his eyes and pressed his hand a little harder against the tough, smooth chrysalis.
"Fu what are you doing?" A young blond asked a mint haired woman as six beetle wings wrapped around her in a shell, her seventh tail, a long whip-like appendage soon joined the others. She smiled sadly at her little brother as her tails blocked his image off.
"I have to harden my armor. If I don't then it'll become weak and brake off."
"How often do you have to do this big sister?" The fox boy asked, trying to find a way to get inside and talk to his sister.
"Once every seven years. We all have to go through something similar, but for different reasons." Fu said. The blond boy pouted, never having to do something like this.
"When will you come out? What happens if someone tries to hurt you? Do you sleep while your armor hardens? Can you feel me?" He asked as he stood and placed his hand on his sister's chrysalis. The smooth, hard wings quivered under his touch. The boy could hear her smile as she spoke.
"Just like the beast you got your powers from, always seeking knowledge. I'll come out in seven days. If someone tries to hurt me I'll waken, which answers your other question. And yes, I feel you and I'll always respond to you." Fu said. There was a moment of quietness before the fox child placed a kiss to his sister's chrysalis.
"Good night."
Naruto smiled as he opened his eyes. "Or a beautiful beetle."
"What?" Crow asked, having saw Naruto's lips move but wasn't able to hear him.
"Nothing. This should be gone in a week's time." The blond said as he stood. Crow nodded, trusting his words, before jumping down from the tree. Naruto double checked to make sure the redhead was heading back before kneeling back down. "Who am I? What am I? Why do these memories appear?" His sapphire eyes looked at the chrysalis as he placed his hand back on it, watching as it quivered almost in joy at his touch. "Who is Gaara, Yagura, and Fu?" Naruto asked sadly before letting his hand fall from the chrysalis. He had all these questions, but no one to answer them. The fox teen sighed and stood, hopefully Jak and Daxter were safe on their mission.
"Like, Naruto! Come on!" Crow called. Naruto cast one last look at the chrysalis before leaving.
Jak covered his and Daxter's head as Jinx's bombs when off. As soon as the dust settled a chorus of monstrous growls filled the Sewer. All five of them looked around as Jinx asked, "You hear that?"
"Sounds like I got gas…" Mog said. Jak took a step back as he looked up. The wall looked to be alive. They were covered in Metal Heads, all crawling and hiss towards them.
"AGH! The ceilings crawling!" Grim yelled.
"Jak, Metal Heads everywhere!" Jinx cried out, fear strong in all their voices.
"It's a trap!" Mog yelled. Jak messed his teeth together, he wasn't going to let a single one of these Metal Heads touch the three bombers. The once hero pulled out the Blaster gun mod and soon the Sewers was filled with shrieks, screams, and gun fire. Once all of the Metal Heads were dead, and Jak had expelled all the built up dark Eco inside him to save the cowardly trio they pressed on towards the Statue of Mar.
"Oooo….pretty statue…" Mog said as they approached the statue.
"Stand back. We're professionals." Jinx said as Daxter started to walk towards them. Jak shook his head and crossed his arms. "Alright boys, let's blow this sucker sky high!" Jinx said as they started to place the explosives. Jak's face went from confused to horrified at what the trio planned to do.
"Wait!" Jak said as the trio started to book it away from the Statue of Mar. "Who told you too…NO!" His yelled was drowned out by the massive amounts of explosives going off, blasting the statue to bits. There was loud 'crack!' as Jak's head hit the Sewer wall harshly. He could barely hear anything with the ringing in his ears and his pounding skull. The once Eco Hero held his head as Mar's head slid past him.
"There's what we're looking for, the Heart of Mar gem!" Jinx said as he picked up a beautiful, bright red ruby in the vague shape of a heart set in polished Precursor metal. "Thanks for the escort buddy. We'll take it back to Krew!"
"Jak? Jak can you hear me? Jak!" Daxter cried to his fallen friend. A moan escaped the green-blond's lips as he lifted a hand to touch the back of his head. There was no blood, which was a good sign. Shaking, Jak stood, Daxter pushing on his leg to keep him up. He flinched at hearing Krew's voice come on the com-link.
"Seems the bedtime stories were true. To think such a gem was hidden inside such an ugly statue. Good work boys, there's a reward for you in a crate at the Gun Crouse." At the moment Jak could careless about a stupid reward, he just wanted to get out of the Sewers without passing out.
Naruto looked up seeing Jak and Daxter walking toward him and Crow. He frowned seeing Jak take small, unsure steps. Before he could ask what happened Jak spoke. "Mind if we stop by the Gun Crouse, Krew said there was a reward for helping his…mission." Crow shrugged.
"That's like, totally fine with me." Jak gave a grateful nod and the four entered the Gun Crouse. Naruto watched as Jak and Daxter opened the crate. Daxter grinned and jumped in the crate, jumping back out with a Peace Maker gun mod. He threw it to Jak, who quickly attached it to his gun and cocked it. Crow let out a low, appreciative whistle.
"A Peace Maker? Like, those things are totally rare and like, really expensive." Daxter's grin grew as Jak lined up the new gun mod.
"Alright!" He yelled jumping into the air. "Our own Peace Maker! Now we're rockin'!"
The restaurant was nice, well, more than nice. Naruto almost fell asleep because it was so warm and the music was soothing. When their food arrived Crow seemed to grow fidgety, which never happened before.
"Is like, something totally like, in like, your like-" Naruto pushed Daxter's face into the onion and Yakow soup the ottsel ordered to get him to stop mocking the way the redhead talked. Crow sighed and started to play with the silver spoon and fork before talking.
"I like, got news from Jewell. Tess like, totally went back to working for Krew." He said gaining the attention of the other Underground members. "I understand we like, need a spy but, it's like, totally dangerous. Jak, you can like, totally fight even without a weapon but Tess…" Crow trailed off as the waitress came back to ask if everything was okay. A quick nod was all they need to send her away.
"Don't worry about Tess!" Daxter said. "Orange Lighting will be there to save the damsel in distress!" Naruto chuckled at the ottsel, but for some reason he felt as if this war was getting close to an end, and it left an uneasy feeling in his stomach.
Naruto stared out into the darkness. He couldn't sleep at all. Even counting Yakows jumping a fence didn't help. The blond sighed as he got out of his bunk and walked towards a familiar bunk, his fox tail brushing over his legs.
"Jak?" The fox teen asked into the darkness. There was a rustle of cloth before the body in the bed answered him.
"Naruto? What is it?" Jak asked, his sleepy blue eyes taking in the blond's form. He fidgeted and a blush of embarrassment touched his cheeks.
"I can't sleep. Could I sleep with you?" There was a moment's pause before the sound of shifting cloth filled the room. Jak lifted the blanket to show room for the blond. Naruto shyly slid in, the once hero's arms wrapping around his waist and pulling his head onto the green-blond's bare chest.
"Now sleep." Jak said with a yawn before burying his nose into Naruto's golden locks. The fox teen smiled and let his body to take in the seventeen year old's warmth. He allowed the warmth to slowly ebb him into a deep, dreamless slumber.