Jak IV: The Avenging Angels
DOUBLE UPDATE MOFOS!
I haven't done that in forever. :D
Sorry for yet another delay in my updating. I've been getting some personal stuff out of the way, and getting ready for new school as I enter my third semester in college. That said, I should be able to continue to update both this and Apocalypse within my usual update frequency for both stories, which is 2-3 weeks for both of them.
Also, this chapter was much shorter than I thought it'd be, and I just don't know how to extend it any more. It was a very, very hard chapter to write, and I hope it turned out good. If it didn't then I'm sorry, and will make up for that eventually.
That said, this chapter was delayed partly because I have a TV again, and wanted to catch up on some gaming, and I didn't get it done this week because of other issues. Plus some writer's block…and me going on a vacation for a week and a half. Mainly severe writer's block.
Anyway, next chapter is actually going very well, and will probably be up soon. Seriously, I mean it this time.
Shoutout to those who reviewed last chapter which included Ravens of Blood, StaticBomb324, AlphaHowler, doubledamn, monkey face, evilanimegenious, .1656, a new guest reviewer named brendon mentock,FanGirl1320, Oblique Strategies, The Dark Warrior (who's reviewed multiple times), a guest reviewer, a guest reviewer known as Me, doubledamn, FanGirl1320, evilanimegenious, another guest reviewer, JakXter724 (WELCOME BACK!), another guest reviewer, a new guest reviewer known as mcderpsenxx3, and two new reviewers known as MooMan176 and Sage Nightwing. Thank you so much for the support, I love your feedback and it keeps this thing going. :D
This is the official halfway point in the story.
PREPARE YOURSELVES. THE END IS NIGH! NIGH!
Enjoy.
Chapter 25: Awakening
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within"- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
The Precursor Robot swung a fist at Nightingale, who soared around it landed on top of its face, causing the Robot to swipe at her. Nightingale kicked off of its face, flipping in midair, and took aim with the Morph Gun. The Precursor Robot had time to glare before Nightingale shot it in its green eye with the Piercer Rifle, causing the Robot to stumble backwards at the force of the shot.
"Come on Night! Show this assclown whose boss!" Chill yelled.
Nightingale landed on the ground and the Precursor Robot aimed its palm at her. A blue ball of energy shot from its hand, soaring towards Nightingale.
Nightingale rolled to the side to avoid it, but was sent flying several feet from the impact of the explosion. Nightingale got to her feet and managed to avoid another energy blast by flying into the air briefly and landing back on the ground.
Nightingale took aim and fired three shots at the Precursor Robot, which seemed to be more annoyed than injured at the shots going into its face. The Precursor Robot flung out its hands, and two flaming red rods of energy formed in its hands. Nightingale gripped her Morph Gun as the Precursor Robot raised its arm high and slammed the rod on the ground, sending a crimson shockwave towards Nightingale who kicked off the ground, arching her back in the air and firing another shot with the Piercer Rifle.
"Damn it" Blade muttered.
"Calm down Russal. She's doing fine" Chill said with a grin as Nightingale took to the air, swerving around the Robot's swings and shooting it with the Piercer Rifle.
"No. I won't. We have to find some way to help her" Blade growled, drawing his Galvasword.
Blade held his sword above his head and swung downwards, slashing the light barrier as hard as he could. Chill ignored his efforts and continued watching the fight going on.
Nightingale looked up at the Robot as it aimed its arm cannon to the sky and fired several times. Blackish-blue blobs slammed onto the ground from above, turning into powerful-looking monsters with razor sharp claws.
Nightingale fumbled around for the mechanism that switched the mods on the Morph Gun, settling on the 2nd Green Eco shotgun Mod. Nightingale ducked under a slash from one of the creatures and quickly shot it in the back, sending it crashing onto the ground and exploding in a shower of Dark Eco. She made quick work of them with a series of shots from the powerful gun, and as Nightingale cocked the gun, discharging the spent Eco Cartridges, she turned around to see the Precursor Robot floating over her.
Nightingale kicked off of the ground just in time to avoid being crushed as the Robot dropped in from above. Nightingale landed on the ground, ducking underneath another Eco Creature and shooting it through the chest. The Precursor Robot aimed a laser cannon at her and fired, and she elegantly jumped into the air and dodged it. Nightingale landed lightly on the ground and hurled another Disc Grenade, but the explosion that ensued did nothing to the Robot. Nightingale eyed the thick veil of smoke around the Robot with distaste. She then heard a strange whirring sound, and gasped as a series of blue laser beams shot from the smoke and rocketed towards her.
Nightingale crashed onto the ground with a scream as the beams slammed into her again and again. Blade and Chill yelled out to her, but Nightingale was already getting to her feet, albeit shakily. Nightingale snatched a Disc Grenade off of her leg and hurled it at the Precursor Robot, which caught the explosive in the face. The explosion went off in the Robot's face, causing it to whir around in pain and land on the large stone platform. Nightingale dropped Jak's Morph Gun to the ground and pulled out her Eco-Whip, flicking out the crimson Red Eco whip with a swift wrist movement. As she sprinted towards the robot, she kicked off the ground and lashed out at the Robot causing it to whir and groan at her in pain.
The Precursor Robot managed to get to its feet and threw a punch at Nightingale, who kicked off of the ground and into the air and struck the Precursor Robot in the face with her whip, causing it to stagger backwards in response.
The Precursor Robot regained its balance and aimed its hand at Nightingale, who took aim with the Morph Gun once again and fired a shot with the Piercer Rifle. The shot slammed into the Precursor Robot's head, but it nevertheless fired a huge beam of energy at Nightingale, who jumped to the side and fired another powerful shot at the Robot's head.
"This thing's barely taking any damage from the Morph Gun, and explosives don't seem to be doing a huge amount of damage either" Nightingale muttered.
Nightingale jumped to the side as the Precursor Robot's laser tentacles shot from its back and fired at her. As Nightingale rolled out of the jump, she noticed a nearby orb of Dark Eco. Nightingale glanced over at the Robot and then back at the orb, a hidden smile spreading across her face.
The Precursor Robot drew closer, with two rods of energy in its hands. As it raised on of the rods of energy above Nightingale's head, the black-haired woman spun around and hurled a purple orb at the Robot's face.
"Ouch!" Chill said in a grin as the Dark Eco exploded in a massive burst in the Precursor Robot's face. The Robot fell to one knee; marks of damage were easily visible on its face.
"Nightingale that's it! Keep throwing the Eco Orbs!" Blade yelled.
Nightingale was already ahead of him, sprinting towards the closest orb, which was filled with Light Eco. The Precursor Robot aimed a tentacle laser and fired it at Nightingale, who rolled underneath the laser and looked up at the Robot, which was swinging its arm at her. Nightingale flew into the air, but the Robot shifted its arm and the laser rod slammed into her back, sending her flying across the platform.
"Nightingale!" Chill yelled worriedly as she slowly got up.
"Come on…" Blade whispered.
"Wha…what happened?" Jak asked as his eyes flickered open.
"What did I do last night?" Daxter asked, sitting up with a dazed look.
"Chill…Blade…what happened? I recall a Precursor Ahcivenach Robot…" Disten said as he came to his senses.
"Yeah, Nightingale's fighting it now" Blade said as he helped the Chief up.
"What!?" Jak and Chief said loudly.
Chill pointed past the light gate and the group watched in horror as Nightingale managed to avoid a series of lethal attacks from the giant Precursor Robot. Nightingale looked around in alarm as the Precursor Robot swung both arms as her, slashing at her from both sides with its laser rods. Nightingale simply kicked off of the ground and flipped in the air, activating her jet-boots as she did so. The Precursor Robot's eyes narrowed and it swatted her out of the air, sending her crashing onto the ground with a yell of pain.
"Iris! We have to help her" Disten said frantically.
"No. We don't" Jak said to the AA Leader.
"What are you talking about? Of course we do" Blade said angrily.
"This is HER fight. She needs to do this by herself" Jak said seriously, watching the fight intently.
Nightingale stumbled to her feet and managed to avoid another slash of the Precursor Robot. Nightingale jumped over another slash and lashed out with her Eco-Whip, causing the Precursor Robot to back off.
Nightingale soared towards the closest Eco-Orb, flinging out her whip and wrapped it around and the orb. The Precursor Robot eyed her with anger and raised its arm high into the air and brought it down above her. Nightingale flicked her wrist; flinging the Light Eco Orb at the Precursor Robot. The ball smashed against its chest, causing it stagger backwards and whir in pain. Nightingale laughed as she kicked off of the small platform and soared across the arena.
"YOU GO NIGHT!" Daxter cheered loudly as Nightingale landed on the ground in front of the Robot.
Nightingale raised her whip and lashed out at the Robot, leaving long scorch marks on the ancient metal of its body. The Precursor Robot's tentacles shot from its back and fired at her, and Nightingale quickly ducked, dodged, and avoided every one of the shots fired. Any of the shots that hit the ground created a hot chunk of earth that shot from the ground. Nightingale quickly took cover behind them as the Precursor Robot aimed its arm cannon at her and fired several blue bursts of energy at her.
"I just need to get to those orbs" Nightingale murmured as the pillar shook from the force of the blasts fired at her. Nightingale jumped from her cover, rolling into a crouch and hurled a Disc Grenade at the Robot. The explosive latched onto its arm cannon and exploded violently as it fired a shot at her, creating a massive explosion that caused the Robot to clutch its hand in pain.
Nightingale grinned and pressed her advantage, making her way to the closest Eco Orb. She flung her whip at the orb, making the red whip wrap around the orb. Nightingale spun around and flung the ball of Eco towards the Precursor Robot, causing it to slam into its face again. The Robot crashed onto the ground in pain, giving Nightingale a look of loathing as it got to its feet again. Nightingale realized she had only had one more of those things left.
As Nightingale jumped down from the pedestal, the Precursor Robot aimed its arm cannon at her and fired. Nightingale jumped to the side, but the Robot fired again at the spot where she had just landed, causing her to go crashing into the ground as the explosion's force smashed into her. Nightingale got to her feet in time for a pillar of red energy to slam into her chest, sending her flying across the platform.
"Nightingale!" Blade yelled, pounding on the barrier. Jak winced at the hit she took and murmured "Come on Night. You can do this…I know you can"
Nightingale gasped as blood seeped through her armor, and she managed to clamp a GED on the wound, injecting an ample amount of Green Eco into it. As Nightingale removed the device, the Precursor Robot was bringing its arm down again for another attack. Nightingale quickly lashed out upwards with her whip, intercepting the attack and deflecting it.
Nightingale leapt to the side as the robot came smashing downwards where she had been just seconds before and activated her jet-boots in time to barely avoid the wicked shockwave of energy from the attack. Nightingale spun in midair and landed on her feet, skidding to a stop. She glanced behind her, smiling as she regarded the Dark Eco Orb. Nightingale made a sharp motion with her wrist, snatching the Orb of Eco, and waited for the Robot to get closer. The Precursor Robot flew around the large gap in the arena, eyeing Iris closely.
"Come on big guy. You're not scared of me, are you?" Nightingale asked teasingly as she hid the Dark Eco Orb behind her back.
The Precursor held out both hands and its two laser rods appeared in its hands. It swung it's rods in a crisscross pattern, but Nightingale jumped into the air and lashed out with her whip, smashing the Dark Eco Orb into the Robot's face with a triumphant yell.
This time it seemed to do the job, as the Precursor Robot staggered backwards and crashed onto the ground, marks of heavy damage done to it. It tried to get back to its feet, but its eyes suddenly went red again and it collapsed onto the ground with a tremendous crash, and then went still. Nightingale landed lightly on the ground and glanced back at the Robot before it exploded violently. Nightingale removed her helmet and brushed the hair out of her face with a faint smile.
The light barrier vanished and the group ran through the gateway, running towards the black haired agent. She looked over at the Agents and said "Well, that was fun"
"Hero…"
Nightingale turned around and saw the Precursor figure floating in front of her.
"You have shown your true power in the face of a powerful enemy, and displayed the sort of unmovable will that is needed to save us all…proceed"
With that, the Precursor Robot vanished in a flash of light, as well as the Precursor Hologram.
"Come on. We should keep moving" Nightingale said calmly as she tossed Jak his Morph Gun.
"Nightingale, are you OK?" Disten asked worriedly, causing Nightingale to look at him oddly.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Nightingale asked.
"You just fought a giant robot by yourself. You sure you're OK?" Blade asked.
Nightingale starred at the two men with something that looked like anger, and she shook her head at them.
"You didn't think I could do it…did you?" Nightingale asked harshly.
Disten and Blade frowned, not meeting her gaze.
Disten finally turned to her and said "Nightingale, don't take that tone with-"
"You DIDN'T think I could win…" Nightingale said her voice laced with anger and disbelief, as well as hurt.
"Iris…"
"I'm not some little kid anymore Chief…you have to believe in me. If you guys can't believe in me…then how am I going to believe in myself?" Nightingale asked softly.
"Night" Jak said quietly.
Nightingale ignored her crush and turned around, walking through the new opening in the wall.
Nightingale found herself in a room with rising platforms, and effortlessly flew herself above them, condemning the others to jump their way up after her. Jak went into his Light Jak form and flew after her, and managed to catch up with her as she blasted a few more of the Dark Creatures with her shotgun.
"Iris, are you OK?" Jak asked.
"I'm fine!" Nightingale snapped, sounding angry.
"What's with you?" Jak asked, sounding hurt at her tone.
Nightingale sighed and said "Jak…it's complicated"
"We've got about ten minutes before they get up here-" Jak said.
"OH MY GOD!"
Thud.
"Chill! Are you OK?"
"Owwww…Blade, can you kiss me and make it all better?"
"C'mon, let's go back and get her" Blade said, sounding amused rather than annoyed.
"Come on you two! Get a move on" Disten called to them, sounding rather exasperated.
"Make that fifteen minutes" Jak said.
"Well…it's just…all my life, Disten has always seen me as just a little girl with a fragile heart…someone who can't protect herself from her own demons…and for a while, that was true…" Nightingale said quietly.
"But then I met you, Jak" Nightingale said softly.
"What about me!?" Daxter asked loudly.
"You too Dax" Nightingale said with a smile. Nightingale got serious again and she continued.
"Things have changed though Jak…when I'm with you…I feel so much stronger, and confident...it's like you bring out the best in me…you make me feel…special. You showed me what it was like to have a friend. You showed me that it's OK to let people in and…that they won't all hurt you…you showed me what it was like to be strong. I became stronger, through you." Nightingale said softly. Jak remained silent, waiting for her to go on.
"I'm a stronger person than I was a year ago, because a year ago I didn't know you...I'm not some little girl anymore…I'm going to help you save this world Jak, using the gifts you gave me. Trust, courage, and…well" Nightingale blushed pink for a moment and went on.
"I won't let you fall to the darkness. And if I'm going to help you, I have to get even stronger…and I have to let go of who I was before" Nightingale said.
Jak pulled Night close to him and embraced her.
"You're strong Night. You don't have to prove it to anyone, because we all know it. Disten worries about you, because you're a daughter to him, and he worries you the most because you're special. You're always going to be the little girl he saved from that Fortress to him" Jak said softly to her.
"He didn't really save me…I did most of the work for them" Nightingale admitted softly.
"Really?" Jak and Daxter said in surprise as Jak broke the embrace.
"I killed at least half of the Marauder's myself. Disten found me just before I killed Leader and decapitated him" Nightingale said softly.
"Don't you mean the Leader?" Daxter asked.
"No. We called him Leader in the Fortress. You lose your name when you become Leader of the Marauders. All that matters is strength and control after that, and we just called him Leader" Nightingale said softly.
"That proves my point though. You're not weak, and you're not a little girl. You're so much more than that" Jak said quietly to her.
Daxter rolled his eyes, but Nightingale looked at Jak with surprise.
"You really think that Jak?" Nightingale asked.
Jak nodded, and Nightingale threw her arms around him this time.
"What would I do without you?" Nightingale whispered with a wide smile on her face.
Jak laughed and said "I don't know Night. But that's not important"
Nightingale nodded and said "We'll save them all, won't we?"
Jak nodded and said "We'll save Havoc from Arranst, and we'll save this world together"
"Whelp, good to know I'm important in this Prophecy" Daxter said dryly.
"You have to come along too Dax! We couldn't do it without you!" Nightingale laughed.
"Dax, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to get through half of the stuff that I did"
Jak said with a laugh.
"Really?" Daxter asked, sounding amazed that Jak and Nightingale had said that about him.
Jak nodded and Daxter said rather loudly "Yeah well, someone's got to bail you outta trouble, am I right?"
Nightingale grinned and said "Come on, we should keep moving"
"Well, we have to wait for them to catch up" Jak said with a laugh, sitting down on the ground. Nightingale smiled and sat down next to him, and found herself wrapping her fingers around Jak's. For a moment, she thought he'd say something, but she was surprised when his hand closed around hers.
"Hey Jak…" Nightingale said softly.
"Yeah?"
"I have a…personal question for you"
Jak looked at Nightingale and said "What?"
"When you were little…what as your dream?" Nightingale asked.
"My what?" Jak asked.
"Dream. You know, like…what did you dream of yourself doing when you were older. A warrior? A scholar? The Chosen One of the Precursors. Dreams?" Nightingale said with a grin.
Jak blinked in surprise and said "I don't know…I've always been in the present sort of guy"
"Funny, considering we've been thrown back in forth through time, you'd think you'd think ahead" Daxter said drily. Jak and Nightingale laughed a little at that, and Jak continued to think about it.
"I don't know…I guess I figured I'd be fighting monsters or something. That's all I've got" Jak relented after a few moments of thoughts.
"What about you?" Daxter asked.
"I…wait, what did you want to be?" Nightingale asked Daxter.
"Well…certainly not THIS!" Daxter said, gesturing to his body.
"Touché" Nightingale said with a laugh.
"Well…I don't know either. I'm kind of a God…and I got an awesome girlfriend…and I own my own bar…tons of adventure and tons of other cool stuff happen regularly…I think I'm already living the dream" Daxter said with a content sigh.
"What about you Night?" Jak asked.
"Well…it's a little silly" Nightingale admitted with a blush.
"Come on. I won't laugh" Jak said with a grin.
"I wanted to be a singer when I was little" Nightingale said with a smile.
"A singer?" Daxter asked.
"A famous one…one that the gods themselves would shower with praise…someone people would come from miles around to see…I discovered a little later that I wanted to be a fighter as well" Nightingale said to Jak.
"A fighter?" Jak asked.
"More specifically…a hero" Nightingale whispered with a smile.
"Looks like this is a dream come true for you, huh?" Daxter remarked.
"Yeah...I mean, I can help people with whatever gifts the Precursor's will give me to awaken my powers, whatever they are...I can help you save them…I can avenge everyone who's died at the hands of the Metal Heads…but after this is all over, I want to be a singer…is it weird to sort of want to do both…can you be a singer and a hero?" Nightingale asked Jak nervously, worried at his answer.
"Why not? Your Precursor singing is part of the prophecy, so you're already a singing hero" Jak laughed. Nightingale punched him on the arm, and the trio had a long laugh.
"A hero and a singer huh?" Jak said finally to Nightingale after a few minutes, who nodded.
"I've always wanted to sing for others…but I want to help save others as well…" Nightingale murmured.
"We'll, you're doing a great job already" Jak replied, causing Nightingale to grin at him.
"Jak! Daxter! Nightingale!"
The trio looked up and saw Disten, Chill, and Blade, finally making their way to them. Disten walked over to Nightingale as they got back to their feet and said "Night…"
"Chief" Nightingale said quietly.
"I've always believed in you Nightingale. I knew that you would win…but that was not why I was worried about you back there" Disten said.
"Then what was it then?" Nightingale asked softly.
"Because…I can't lose you Nightingale. This war has destroyed so many people. Each one of you young ones are an extension of the family that I lost to the Metal Heads…" Disten said softly.
Disten took off his helmet, and Jak noted how tired and drawn his face was. For once, Jak realized that Disten was getting on years, and wasn't really an active agent anymore.
"My mother was killed by the Metal Heads, as were my grandparents, and even my father and Gallus fell to them. I don't want anyone else to die...least of all you" Disten said quietly.
Nightingale flung her arms around her adoptive father and said something quietly. It sounded like a verse of a song in another language, mysterious and beautiful, yet calming as well. Nightingale then broke the embrace and said "Once I see the Precursors and open the Door to Light, they will help me get stronger. Then together, we can destroy the Meal Head's and Lady Arranst, and avenge those we've lost at the Metal Head's hands"
Disten smiled and said "Yes, you're right"
"We should keep moving" Blade said, and Chill nodded.
The group continued to make their way through the ruin, with Nightingale and Jak leading and Disten, Chill, and Blade close behind. Disten would make comments about the ruin, pointing out interesting pieces of architecture and the like.
"Nightingale, can you read Precursor as easily as you can speak it?" Blade asked curiously.
"I don't normally read it, but I can give it a go" Nightingale said as she walked over to a nearby pillar, inscribed with a line of Precursor.
"OK…let's see…Light and Dark are two sides, one cannot survive without the other. Without darkness there is no light, but without light there is no darkness…" Nightingale murmured.
"Incredible! When we get back to the Sanctuary, we may finally be able to translate Gallus's journal" Disten said excitedly.
"Sure Chief. Sounds fun" Nightingale said with a laugh.
"AHEM"
Everyone looked at Blade, who said "Back to the Mission?"
"Ahem! Of course" Disten said rather embarrassedly.
The group continued to delve into the ruin, taking out whatever traps and devices that they found as they went. Jak was pretty much at home, while Daxter made snide comments on how this ruin was pretty much nothing to them. Meanwhile, Disten rattled off interesting facts about the devices that they encountered along the way. After fighting their way through the ruin for roughly an hour, they eventually made their way to a large archway with several markings on them. A symbol of two birds flying in a circle was in a large seal on the archway, and Nightingale blinked in surprise and said "That symbol…it looks familiar"
"It's probably the symbol of your ancestors" Disten said with a smile, and Nightingale nodded.
"This might be the next trial" Jak said to her, and she nodded and walked forward. She stepped through the archway and a large stone door slid downwards, separating her from the others and trapping her in a large room of pure darkness. She then heard the Precursor voice speak to her.
"Hero…to save this world, you must be able to overcome your darkest fears, and rise above them. Our second test…oh Champion of Light"
Nightingale's vision flashed and suddenly she found herself standing in the middle of a forest clearing. She recognized it as Haven Forest, and then realized she had undergone a strange transformation. She now had the appearance of an 11 year-old little girl, dressed in a long white shirt that went to her knees.
"What's going on?" Nightingale asked, her voice sounding just as it did when she was younger.
All of a sudden a huge mirror shot up in front of her. She screamed at the sight inside of the mirror. It was Rush, screaming in agony as the lightning bolt struck him in the middle of the pouring rain. Nightingale took a step back, gasping in terror, and turned around, only for another mirror to shoot from the ground and appear before her.
It was the Chief, impaled on a large black pike with a spiked tip. Blood ran down the length of the pike while the Chief's still beating heart pumped at the end of the spike. Nightingale was hyperventilating from sheer horror at this point. Two more mirrors, shot up around here, showing Chill lying dead in a lonely hallway, her wrists slit, while Blade was in the other, his own sword in his chest.
Nightingale looked to her right and saw Tech and Beast, their bodies slashed open with their insides exposed. Nightingale fought the urge to hurl as she turned away from the horror, only to see the twins, Rune and Phoenix, lying side by side next to each other, their bodies utterly lifeless.
Nightingale let out a scream of fear and whirled around…
Only to find an image of Jak facing her, as he was being blown to pieces by a massive beam of Dark Eco. Jak's silent scream of agony as his body evaporated into nothingness tore Nightingale's heart like nothing else could.
"No…NO!" the young girl screamed as she looked around her, seeing reflections of those precious to her dead.
"Hahaha…it's just like I said little Iris…" a familiar voice whispered.
A black wraith flickered into existence before her, forming into a woman. Lady Arranst sneered at her and said "Mirror Mirror, on the wall, who's the loneliest of them all?"
Nightingale shook her head as horror and pain coursed through her body. This couldn't be happening. This COULDN'T BE HAPPENING.
"STOP! JUST STOP IT!" Nightingale screamed.
"No…you're all alone now…no one can save you…you're truly alone…now and forever…" the evil voice crooned in her ears.
Nightingale squeezed her eyes shut and jammed her hands against her ears, trying to drown out the woman, but to no avail. She had no choice but to see those she cared most for die in front of her again and again and again. Nightingale felt despair flood her heart.
"I'm…I'm all alone…" Nightingale whispered.
Why was she even here? She tried to remember, but the horror of the images she had seen had destroyed her train of thought completely. She couldn't think over the mantra of Arranst in her head. The little girl curled up in a ball whispered "I don't want to be all alone again…please…anything but that…"
"I promise you Nightingale. You'll never be alone again"
Nightingale's eyes snapped open. The environment around her shuddered, and the wraith of Lady Arranst flickered.
"W-what!? What just happened?" Lady Arranst said, sounding nervous.
"That's right…" Nightingale whispered.
One of the mirror's cracked down the middle, and Lady Arranst gasped and said "What!? What's going on!?"
"Jak promised me something, Arranst. It was a promise that was broken to me once before" Nightingale said as she wiped a tear from her eyes, standing up tall.
Jak's voice spoke louder this time.
"I will never…leave you alone. You will never be alone again, Iris"
Nightingale smiled and said "No matter what happens. No matter what you throw my way. I'll never be alone"
All of the mirror's cracked at once, and Lady Arranst's wraith took a step back in shock.
Nightingale grabbed the wraith by the neck, pulling it down to face level. Nightingale glared in its face and said "Get out"
Lady Arranst suddenly vanished, as did everything else in the room, leaving Nightingale standing alone in the forest.
"Well done, Hero. You conquered your fears and are one step closer to embracing your true powers. The final test remains…" the voice spoke to her.
Nightingale's eyes closed and then reopened. She looked down at herself and found her back to normal, and wearing her armor again. She was standing in the center of an empty chamber. The others burst into the room through the door, and Nightingale let out a sigh of relief.
"Nightingale, what happened?" Jak asked.
Nightingale practically flung herself at Jak and whispered "Thank goodness…I…I…"
Nightingale's words failed and she hugged Jak tighter, unable to put the words into being. She turned around and embraced the Chief in a similar fashion before embracing both Blade and Chill, who returned the affectionate gesture.
"What happened in there?" Jak asked.
"And why didn't I get a hug?" Daxter asked hotly.
Nightingale stood on her toes and hugged Daxter tightly, and Blade laughed.
"I'm guessing that the test of courage made you see some really bad visions?" Blade deduced.
"You have no idea…I wouldn't have made it through without Jak's help" Nightingale admitted softly.
"How did I help?" Jak asked, sounding confused.
"Remember what you promised me?" Nightingale asked, and Jak thought for a moment and then nodded. It was his promise to her in Haven Forest. It was a promise he meant to keep. He would always stand by her, no matter what. She'd never be alone if he could help it.
"I remembered that promise, and I knew that no matter what, you'd never break that promise" Nightingale said with a smile.
Disten, Daxter, Chill, and Blade looked at each other for a moment before Jak said "So, what's next?"
"The final obstacle is straight ahead" Disten said, pointing to a large ornate door at the end of the passage. The group began to walk towards a massive door that seemed radiate with energy. Jak felt the Eco Extractor in his armor shudder at its presence.
"It's…beautiful" Disten whispered as he beheld the door of legend.
It was very large door, with the bird seal from before in the center of the door. The Door itself seemed to be decorated with Light Eco Crystals and was lined with Precursor Metal, while the rest of the door was made of a snow white sort of metal. Power radiated from the Door, as did mystery. What lay beyond it? It had a strange beauty to it Jak admitted to himself.
"The final test is the Door to Light itself. You have the physical keys to open the scared door, but the true key, lies within...A heart that is pure and innocent…that what is required to pass the third and final test, Hero" the mystic voice said deeply to Nightingale.
Several devices rose from the ground, including a massive contraption that had a hoop-shaped device that was attached to a long metal arm. There were several indentations in the ground, and Nightingale glanced back at the others, who were setting down the artifacts on the ground before her. The Precursor Lens, the Precursor Rod, her Precursor Amulet (which around her neck at the moment) and the Precursor Key. Nightingale eyed the contraption before her and walked around it, muttering "Interesting"
"There are all just pieces to this device…" Nightingale said with a laugh as she walked over to it.
"One massive unlocking mechanism to the Door to Light…" Disten breathed as he slowly walked towards it.
"Got to admit, that's a shiny door" Chill said with a grin, propping her shoulder up on Blade's shoulder. Blade looked at her and Chill said "Come on, I'm tired. You could carry me the entire way through this ruin and still be able to fight with no problem"
"That's because I exercise every day" Blade remarked, not moving from his spot.
"Shh! This is where the magic happens" Daxter said hopping off from Jak's shoulder.
"Daxter, what are you doing?" Disten said sharply.
"Hold on. Don't stop him" Jak said to Disten.
Daxter scoffed and said "You got to have the magic touch"
Daxter examined the devices, even going so far as to casually kick it with his foot, before he walked over to a strange pedestal and said "Huh, wonder what this does"
Nightingale walked over to the pedestal , pointing to an inscription on the rim of it, and said "It says only the blood of the ancient ones can unlock the mechanism"
Jak blinked and said "So…Precursor Blood?"
"Looks like it. Here ya go Daxter" Blade said as he tossed the Precursor a knife, which he caught in his hand.
"…so…I have to…?" Daxter began to say before trailing off.
"Yup" Chill replied, still leaning on Blade.
Daxter gulped and said "I…do I have to?"
Disten nodded and Daxter looked at the knife skeptically and said "Just so you all know…you're all useless without me"
Daxter pricked his finger and one single drop of blood fell from his hand and dropped on the strange platform. As the blood hit the platform, it flashed bright orange and suddenly turned white. A powerful ray of light struck down from above onto the center platform in the room, just in front of the Door to Light.
"Hero…you have arrived at the final trial, with the blood of legend to activate the door…the test of heart must be undertaken to unlock the Door to Light…your purity of soul and heart will be tested, so that you can protect those with the light of justice…place the keys into their locks, and be judged for what lies within…" the Precursor voice rumbled before fading into nothingness.
Nightingale placed the Lens in the frame and smiled as the lens flashed white before sinking into place. Nightingale scooped the Rod off of the ground and inserted it into the slot. The Lens shuddered in its holder and the arm of the machine slowly moved upwards, into the column of the light. The light shining down in the ring was now shimmering blue as well now. Nightingale took off her amulet and placed it in the third and final slot in the device.
All three of the relics flashed white and a line of runes appeared along the edge of each of the artifacts. Nightingale looked at each of the artifacts before saying "OK…I'm guessing I step into the center then"
Nightingale picked up the Precursor Key and walked into the beam of light. The Precursor Key flashed white and Nightingale's arm was suddenly rising upwards until the key was level with the Door to Light. The Key flew from her grip and flew into the lock in the center of the door, rotating ninety degrees. A massive clunk sound echoed through the ruin, and the entire room shook. The entire room went dark, and the only source of light in the room was the light shining down on Nightingale.
Jak could only smile as Nightingale closed her eyes, looking peaceful, and by some unknown instinct, began to sing. Her words caused her to slowly float into the air as the Door to Light slowly began to flash white. Large rings popped out of the Door to Light, flashed bright white as well, and then began to rotate.
"She's something else" Chill said with a smile on her face.
"My little Iris…" Disten murmured with a smile of pride on his face.
"She's beautiful" Jak said quietly as he watched Nightingale sing, his eyes on her and only her. She was the light in the darkness, and one of mankind's last hopes for survival. Jak smiled as he felt some unknown feeling in him grow at the sight of one of his closest friends opening the legendary Door with her incredible voice.
The room suddenly lit up again and the door suddenly turned completely white. The Door's rings rolled to the side and one by one, the pathway to the next room was revealed. Nightingale was slowly lowered to the ground and as she opened her eyes, she murmured "What…what was that?"
"Night…that was…awesome!" Daxter said excitedly.
"Was it?" Nightingale asked softly.
"Yeah, that was incredible!" Blade said as he clapped her on the shoulder. Disten just smiled proudly at her and said "Somehow…I always knew you'd be the one to open this door…I thought it'd be me to unlock the secrets of this place all these years…but I'm so glad it was you instead…if my father and Gallus could see us now…"
Nightingale turned around and faced Jak, who just smiled and threw his arms around her. Nightingale grinned and said "What did you think?"
"Incredible" Jak replied as Nightingale wrapped her arms around his waist. The two held the embrace for a moment before separating.
"So…now what?" Daxter asked.
"Nightingale goes through the door...and…well, that's for her to find out" Disten said with a mysterious smile.
Nightingale walked over to the Door to Light and glanced back at the others. Jak nodded encouragingly and Nightingale took a deep breath and took stepped through the door, which closed behind her.
"Night!" Jak yelled, running over to the door.
Nightingale continued to walk forward, into a room that was as pale as snow. It resembled a throne room of sorts, with Light Eco crystals serving as the bright room's light source. Usano, Elis, and Gud stood at the far end of the room, smiling at her. Usano beckoned Nightingale closer, and so she continued to walk forward.
"We have waited a very, very long time for this day Iris…" Usano said quietly.
"Yup!" Gud said, shaking his head enthusiastically.
"It is time Iris…for your true powers to be awoken. There will be no going back Iris" Usano said to the black-haired woman.
Nightingale nodded and said "I'm ready"
"Then step onto the dais, and receive our blessing" Usano said softly.
Nightingale began to walk up a small flight of stairs in the center of the room and stood on top of a white ring that was on the ground, made of white Precursor Metal. Nightingale watched as the Precursor's lifted up their hands as one and chanted in their language, which Nightingale understood perfectly.
"Let her become what she must, to save us" was what they had said.
A series of large white rings suddenly rose from the ground and broke apart, so she was completely surrounded by the large rings, and unable to escape the circle of Light enveloping her. The rings all had ancient inscriptions written on them, all written in the ancient language of the Precursors. Nightingale also saw that the rings were decorated with White Eco crystals.
The rings spun and whirred around Nightingale, who looked at the device with wonder and awe. All of the Light Eco crystals on the device began to glow bright white, and Usano said "Accept our gift, Hero…"
White beams shot from the device and into Nightingale, who let out a yell and flung her arms out. She was slowly lifted into the air, her long hair billowing behind her as though being touched by a strong breeze.
The others stood outside the Door, waiting for Nightingale. Light Jak watched the proceedings in his mind, using his Light Sight, while the others huddled around him, anxious for any news on the top-ranked agent.
"She's…she's…I don't know what's happening" Light Jak muttered to the others.
"Iris...please be safe" Disten murmured.
"We are not perfect gods Iris…we could not protect all of our creations…we lost against the Dark Goddess, and for that our race was all but destroyed…you, Mar, and Jazon, are our last hope for survival…" Usano said softly
Nightingale let out a scream as she relived everything in her life that led up to this day. All of her life's experiences flashed by in her mind with vivid clarity, showing her triumphs and failures respectively. Everything that led up to this day.
Her awakening.
"Champion of Light…be awakened…" Usano whispered as all three Precursors closed their fists at the same time.
The rings on the device let out a blinding wave of a light, causing Nightingale see nothing but white as her insides became electrified with some sort of energy. Nightingale's scream intensified, and Jak felt a wave of worry run through him.
"IRIS!" Light Jak yelled, pounding on the Door to Light and reverting to his normal form.
"What's happening!?" Chill asked, wincing at the pitch of Nightingale's scream.
Nightingale's screams suddenly stopped, and the Door to Light opened. Jak burst inside of it and saw the Precursor's standing before Nightingale, who was kneeling on the ground.
"It will take some time to adjust…but make no mistake. You are the chosen one. And your power is indeed great" Usano said softly as he pulled out an amulet from within his robe and draped it over Nightingale's neck.
"Yeah man. You've got like, crazy skills now" Elis said with a grin.
Jak and the other agents ran over to Nightingale. Nightingale turned around and smiled weakly at Jak, who helped her to her feet.
"How do you feel?" Jak asked her.
Nightingale seemed dazed, as it took her a few moments to respond as she blinked her eyes repeatedly.
"Better…like…like everything will be alright" Nightingale said in her musical voice.
Jak smiled and said "Come on. It's going to be a long drive back to the Sanctuary"
"Iris…"
Nightingale turned around faced the Precursors, who looked at her in admiration and approval.
"You are our Champion of Light. You must help Mar in his quest to save us all…with the strength of light, and the strength of your heart, you will cleanse this realm of all darkness with songs of peace and light…" Usano said softly.
"We will meet again, Mar and Iris. Until then, remember this warning…" Usano said to the two heroes, who nodded.
"You must not let the Hunters reclaim the Gate Fragments. The Gate to Darkness must not be completed, for if it is, then Lady Arranst will bypass our defenses and destroy us from the inside. We will continue to hold her off and keep the wards to this planet strong from within the Planet's Core. Stay strong, and do not give up hope…even when all seems lost" Usano said softly.
"Farewell!" the three Precursors said as one as they vanished in a flash of light, leaving the Avenging Angel Agents alone.
"So…do you feel…any, different?" Blade asked Nightingale.
"Yeah, come on Night. We need details!" Chill said excitedly.
"Maybe…I feel something stirring in me…something…strange…" Nightingale said softly. Jak noted that her green eyes were slowly turning bright blue.
"Nightingale?" Jak managed to say before she let out a yell.
An incredible burst of light shot from Nightingale, sending everyone crashing onto the ground, and she closed her eyes and held her arms out to her side. Pure white angel wings shot from her back, through her armor, and flared out gracefully. The entire length of her hair shivered and white ball of light ran down the length of it, turning her long mane of black hair to a majestic white. A mystical bluish white aura, the very same one that Jak had around him when he invoked his light powers, now enveloped Nightingale.
She fell to the ground slowly, opening her now crystal blue glowing eyes, and looked at herself in a bemused way. She flexed her fingers and moved her wings, which made her look like some sort of beautiful angel.
"So…this is…different" Nightingale said with a laugh as the other watched on in awe.
End of Chapter:
There we go. Nightingale's true powers have been awakened! And with that, the first half of the story is finished!
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