Disclaimer: I do not own Jak & Daxter, My Little Pony, Ed Edd n Eddy, Pokemon, Prototype, InFamous, or anything else used or referenced in this story. Please do not ask for comic commissions. I know those are scams.

It had been a year since the Kor's demise, and events had gone worse than Jak and his friends could have imagined. Despite the death of their leader, the Metal Heads continued to rampage, and about half a year later they became organized again, indicating that someone or something had reactivated the signal network that controlled them. While Baron Praxus had been completely cleansed of Dark Eco contamination and was no longer under the influence of those signals, this was the merest spark of good news in what quickly became the worst year of Haven's history.

Not long after the Metal Heads became organized again, the Krimzon Guard's special defense "K.G. Robots" went rogue, attacking civilians and Metal Heads alike, targeting anything that wasn't their own numbers indiscriminately. This divided Haven City into three sectors: the area over the underground gates, where the Metal Heads rampaged with impunity, the military districts the KG controlled, and the area around the palace where the civilians huddled and struggled to survive.

And then one last conflict destroyed the palace, even as Jak, Daxter, Ben, and the Mane 6 struggled to hold and protect it.

That was the tipping point. While the timing could not have been worse as far as Jak was concerned, Count Veger made the move they'd been planning for and made Jak the scapegoat for everything that had gone wrong in the past year. Despite wanting to stay and try to hold the city together, Jak knew this was his only chance to make it out to the city of exiles as an exile, to find his father. And so he remained silent as the charges were leveled, the farce of a trial occurred, and Jak was sentenced to be exiled into the Wasteland.

Ashelin and a hand-picked crew were flying the transport out into the arid land, to deliver Jak, Daxter, Ben, the Mane 6, and Pecker, who had insisted on coming along for some reason, to the heart of the land, where their only escape from death would be rescue by the Wastelander Exiles.

Count Veger, a steely-eyed elderly man without even a hint of nobility to his actions or appearance, had gone along with them as well, whether to gloat or ensure that no one snuck them anything Jak was uncertain. He did seem a trifle smug, however, as he read from his ledger.

"By order of the Grand Council of Haven City, for heinous acts and crimes against the people, you are hereby banished to the Wasteland for life."

Jak merely stared expressionlessly at Veger as the statesman closed his ledger, not even bothering to struggle against the brace binding his wrists together.

The Mane 6 moved to stand by their big brother faithfully, all of them holding onto their newfound Eco Necklaces for good luck. Ben moved over to Jak along with Daxter and Pecker.

"This is an outrage! I am outraged beyond words. Although I do have something to say. Not everyone agrees with this ridiculous decree!" Pecker squawked in annoyance.

Once Veger was back onboard the dropship, Ashelin walked up to Jak. Disengaging the cuffs, she slipped a bundle into his hand.

"Stay alive, Jak."

Jak smirked. "Will do."

Verger sneered from the ship. "May the Precursors have mercy on you."

Once the dropship was out of sight, Daxter looked up at Jak.

"So...there is a plan here, right? With the way you were going along so calmly, I kinda figured there was one, but I probably should have asked sooner."

"Survive," Jak replied, opening up the bundle.

Daxter frumped. "Great plan there, pal. REAL great plan."

"Here," Jak stated, holding out several bracers sized to Daxter with glowing crystals on them. "Put these on your wrists, ankles, around your neck, and on your tail."

Confused, Daxter did as instructed.

"What are they?"

"Bracers based on the training equipment used for Sages," Jak explained. "Samos taught Keira how to make them, and she broke open a Power Cell for the crystals. These should help you control the Light Eco abilities you've been demonstrating until you actually know what you're doing."

"Huh," Daxter muttered, admiring his new 'bling'. "Fashionable and functional. Don't suppose she included any pants?"

"Nope!" Pinkie said. "And Rarity just can't seem to find the right material for you either!"

Rarity sighed. "Do forgive me, darling..."

The Mane 6's Eco Necklaces seemed to act as some kind of temperature regulator similar to what Keira made for them back in Sandover. Twilight had been studying what kind of powers the newfound Eco provided but had only just learned enough to know it gave her magic a welcome boost.

"Shame I can't get something," Ben said as he created Dark Eco biomass to form a draped cloak to shield him from the sun.

"And alas, no gifts for me either." Pecker sighed lamentedly. "Isn't this such a WONDERFUL omen for the journey to come?"

"Well, we're not gonna find the Wastelanders early by standing around," Rainbow said. "Let's hoof it, people!"

"Good thing Hilda and the Eds are helping Keira, Samos, and everyone else back in the city," Applejack said. "Guess we gotta do our part now."

The group marched out into the desert, traveling in as straight a line as they could manage if only for the hope it was the right direction.

"Are you sure you know...where you're going Jak?" Pecker gasped out.

"No," Jak replied shortly. "Keep your mouth shut. It conserves moisture."

Glaring daggers, Pecker did as instructed, although it was plain that none of them would last much longer in the heat of the waste. The only one who seemed to still be going somewhat strong was Ben thanks to the Dark Eco inside him adapting to the climate.

"There's...sand in my...everything..." Twilight wheezed tiredly.

"Saving...Haven...!" Pinkie gasped out, laughing in a deranged state before perking up as she picked up a skull. "Oh! Maybe this guy knows which way to go!"

She held the skull to her ear with a mad grin on her face as a bug crawled out of one of the eyeholes and skittered over her face.

"What's that, friend? We're lost?" She asked the skull.

"Yeah, I think we are..." Daxter groaned.

Pinkie began laughing deliriously before coughing and hacking from the dryness. Suddenly, she went straight rigid with a maniac smile before falling on her face.

Glancing around, Jak managed to spot an overhang under a massive rocky outcrop. Staggering into the offered shade, he pushed the girls as far under as he could go before collapsing, letting Daxter and Pecker arrange themselves in the shade while making sure the beacon he held was visible in the sunlight.

"Right. Good plan, Jak." Daxter coughed weakly. "A nap would be nice. Just a teensy little rest."

"Agh, this bird is overcooked!" Pecker groaned as he took as much shade as he could.

"You gonna be okay?" Jak asked Ben.

"You guys rest up. I'll make sure we're all still alive."

Jak nodded and kept as much of himself as he could in the shade, ready to sleep out the sun and walk anew with the moon if no one came. Samos did say that night travel was better in the desert.

As Jak slipped into slumber, Ben looked at his brothers, little sisters, and traveling bird companion as he looked at the sun before crouching down and concentrating. Large wings made of Dark Eco biomass formed out of his back, creating a makeshift drape of shade for everyone to rest against as he huddled up near them protectively, closing his eyes and meditating, hoping someone would find their distress beacon...

"Looks like we've found some live ones."

Ben opened his eyes a few hours later to see a trio of strangers there. Judging by their attire, he could only guess that they were Wastelanders.

"Thank god...we were hoping you'd get our distress beacon."

"Who gave you it?" The leader of the trio asked. He was a tall man, old and grizzled. What white hair that he had left hanging from the sides of his head like dreadlocks around his bald crown, and he was garbed in pieced-together, barbarian-style armor, and wielding a large double-bladed spear assembled from bits and pieces of Precursor materials bound together

"Look, I have others with me. Can you take us to wherever you live? They aren't going to survive in this heat."

The leader nodded as Ben got up, the men moving to support Jak, Daxter, the Mane 6, and Pecker.

"Let's move!" The leader ordered. "I smell a storm coming..."

Jak came aware very slowly. He found himself floating in water in a large stone chamber, open shutters letting night breeze in through large windows. Torches illuminated a chamber that was on the verge of being royal but in a more spartan manner than the lavish ones that had been in the palace of Haven before its destruction, though the basic design was similar.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty."

Jak got up to see Ben sitting nearby, his feet in the water as the Mane 6 and Daxter were also relaxing.

"Oh, so heavenly..." Rarity sighed in contentment. "These Wastelanders sure know proper spa care."

"Ahhh..." Daxter sighed as he splashed around a bit. "I love water. Oh yes, it's so good. Desert bad."

"Well, you've come back from the dead have you?" Spoke the Wastelander Leader. "And my monks were ready to pray for you. I am Damas, king of Spargus."

"Uh..." Jak began.

"This would normally be where I introduce myself, letting you recuperate before asking questions..." Damas began, glaring down at Jak with rage. "But one of the things you clutched in your hands when we found you caught my attention."

"The beacon?" Jak asked, confused.

"While the fact that it was on our frequency is of interest, it is what was clutched in your other hand that requires immediate answers," Damas replied coldly before lunging forward, grabbing Jak by the front of his shirt, and yanking him up while holding up the Seal of Mar medallion Jak had gotten from his younger self. "Where did you get this?"

"Whoa! Whoa! Easy, old man!" Ben said as he tried to placate Damas. "It was a gift from, uh...his...younger self?"

"Don't play games with me, boy!" the man snarled, his spear flying to his hand and aiming it at Ben while still holding Jak in his other hand. "I know exactly what this medallion is, and if you don't give me a straight answer for how you have hold of it, I'll carve the answer from your entrails!"

Pecker gulped nervously from his perch on the nearby throne.

"Sire, I think perchance you might be being a bit hasty-"

"While your wisdom is valuable, creature, you will offer it only when requested or you will be added to the food stock!" the man snapped. Pecker immediately fell silent. "Now answer me boy-"

"Dad, it's ME!" Jak said. "Your son...MAR!"

"You talk nonsense!" Damas countered. "Just a few years ago, Mar was-"

"Hey, GRAMPS!" Rainbow snapped as she flew over. "Look at the hair! The eyes! Who else has hair like that?!"

Daxter blinked. "Wait, you're Damas? Exiled king of Haven?"

"That is I," Damas replied, but his voice was less certain. "But-"

"Precursor Rift Ring Time Travel bootstrap paradoxes!" Pecker blurted out before covering his mouth. "Sorry my liege, but they're my friends and I used to translate for a seer, please don't kill and eat me I taste terrible!"

"That...actually answers all of my questions..." Damas said after a brief pause before staring into Jak's eyes, finally setting him down gently. "Mar? My son? Is...is it truly you?"

Jak managed a smile as he steadied himself.

"I...I found you, Dad-"

Jak was cut off as Damas pulled him into a tight hug.

"My sons," he murmured softly. "I...I thought I'd never see you ever again...I didn't even know if you survived..."

"Hugs! Hugs are always good!" Pinkie cheered. "Can we join in?"

"I think we should let 'em have this moment, Pinkie," Applejack said softly.

Jak just smiled and returned his father's embrace, feeling a hole that had been in his heart for so long starting to fill.

After a time, Damas pulled back to look at him. "Look at how much you have grown..."

Jak chuckled. "Yeah, you could say that."

"Hi, Dad!" Pinkie chimed as she bounced in. "We're your adopted daughters that you never knew about because we were found by Jak while he was in the past and now we're here in the future, or I guess it could be called the present? Wow, time travel is so-"

Twilight slapped a hand over Pinkie's mouth to shut her up while giving Damas an apologetic look.

"We're so sorry, sir...but yeah, we're Jak's adopted sisters...and those are Daxter and Ben, his adopted brothers."

Ben shrugged. "Time travel. Don't ask."

"I see...you all look like you know your way around a fight," Damas said.

"Oh, we can kick tons of butt!" Rainbow smirked.

"Good!" Damas proclaimed. "You will do well in the arena then."

"Arena?" Daxter asked, confused.

"Yes," Damas confirmed. "All who are brought out of the desert to Spargus compete in the arena, to prove their strength and ability to survive. Only the victors remain. All others are tossed back into the desert as dead weight."

"What?" Fluttershy and Daxter demanded, shocked and more than a little appalled.

"Makes sense," Ben admitted. "With how hard resources are to come by out here, you probably can't waste any on anyone who can't contribute."

"Your friend knows well," Damas complimented to Jak. "I hope you will perform well. Even if you are my son, I cannot show you any favoritism."

"Wouldn't want you to, anyway," Jak agreed. "If I'm going to earn the respect of the entire city so they'll hear me out when I suggest uniting with Haven City to fight any new threats against the whole world, and then put you back on a united throne over the whole Wasteland, I'm going to need to work from the bottom up and show just how strong I truly am."

Damas stared at Jak for a time, then chuckled. "Yes...you're my son alright. Not sure how you'll manage to influence Haven from out here, though."

"Well, it'll be easier if you can convince Sig to carry messages from us to our friends in the city," Twilight suggested. "He's one of yours, right? I figured because of the armor, I mean."

Damas laughed. "You are a truly observant one, child! Yes, Sig is one of us."

"And you wanna know something funny?" Rainbow spoke up. "We actually managed to get Baron Praxus on our side!"

"You're joking," Damas countered bluntly.

Jak, Daxter, Ben, and the Mane 6 were all just grinning smugly before Damas sighed, realizing that they were very much NOT joking.

"You have an hour more of recuperation time before you start training for the arena. In that time, you're going to give me the WHOLE story."

Jak chuckled as he lay back in the water. "Well, it starts out in Sandover Village...I'm not sure how long ago..."

"I wasn't always like this. I was actually like Jak and Ben here, except more handsome." Daxter said. "And while we were doing some surfing, we came across this weird basket that was carrying these six little bundles of joy!"

"We raised him as our little sisters for the next eight years and then, everything truly began when we went to an island and Daxter fell into a vat of Dark Eco and became an Ottsel..." Ben continued.

And from that, everyone took turns regaling Damas with the tales of their previous two adventures.

Unlike in canon, Damas is now aware Jak is his son. Yeah, read Sons of Damas because it handled everything much better, I'm just throwing the entire Mane 6 into this to try and make something stick.