*sighs* well, here it is folks. After almost two NZ School terms of hard
core typing and hiring of the game, here is the final chapter.
Hey, it's been fun. I have not only had the chance to improve my creative writing, but I've met some very talented, not to mention incredibly friendly people who have reviewed my work and sent me emails/pics. I cannot begin to thank you all. This has been the most successful of all of my fics over the eight months since I arrived at fanfiction.net, but it's the people who read and enjoy the fics that have really helped this fic get to where it is today. You all deserve a pat on the back just for being the kewl people that you are! *begins to throw out Plush toys and copies of the game*
I honestly want to encourage everyone who is still in the process of writing their fics to keep at it! I love EVERY SINGLE fic in this Jak and Daxter section, and I really want more! (Yes, I'm a greedy one, just bear with it!) I have a list of thank u's, but I'll leave them till after the fic, so that I can stop blubbering, and finally let u read the last chapter.
So, without any more delay, here is the very last chapter of: 'Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City'.
~ Keysha
***
Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City
Chapter Twelve: The Departure
"Xema?" Daxter looked into her pale blue eyes, waiting for an answer. Xema sighed and closed her eyes, resting her head on the soft pillow. Her bed was so warm and inviting. That was one thing she was going to miss when she left home. Her bed, the soft, safe haven that she spent half of her life in (Xema had a thing about lying in bed in the mornings) she would have to leave it behind.
"Xema? Are you listening to me?" Daxter waved his paw in front of her closed eyes. "Are you sleeping?" Xema giggled slightly.
"No Daxter, just enjoying the morning." Came her muffled reply from beneath the blankets she was sinking into.
"How can you call this enjoying the morning? You're INSIDE and the morning is OUTSIDE!" Daxter nudged at her shoulder, and she lightly slapped his paw away from her.
"Look, I like my bed, do you have a problem with that?"
Daxter laughed and shook his head. "No, actually I like my bed too. Even though it's a bit too big for me now."
Xema peeked her head out from under the covers she had now cocooned herself in. "You don't say?" She teased. Daxter made a tiny growling sound and dived at her, wrapping his arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. She smiled to herself and looked Daxter in the eyes. "I love you." She whispered into his furry ear.
Daxter looked down at her. Xema was ever so slightly smaller than he was. Not by much, but generally, female ottsels were a bit smaller than the males. Xema had made a difficult choice to become an ottsel herself, and even though she always had the option of returning to her somewhat humanoid self, it was still a large sacrifice that she had made, simply because she cared for him.
Daxter smiled at the dusty ginger ottsel in his arms, and ran his fingers through her tiny fringe. She defiantly looked as he had imagined her in ottsel form. She had pretty much the same as appearance as he did, although with a more feminine look. Her fur was lighter than his, and her eyes bluer. What Daxter particularly liked was the small, cream-coloured 'wings' on her back. Patterned in her fur like the stripes on his arms. They were the only things that indicated she could once fly. She still wore her leather strap and purple goggles on her head, and the gold, precursor-engraved band on her left arm.
"Won't you miss the flying?" He asked the ottsel, which had now escaped his grip and was burrowing through the blankets and pillows again.
"Of course!" Xema called out from under a pile of pillows. "I've been doing it all my life, it's like how you've been walking since the day you learnt to, only I've been doing it in the air instead of on the ground."
Daxter rubbed his arm nervously. He still felt guilty for being the reason she had taken that witch doctor mumbo-jumbo. "Hey Xema, you don't have to do this ya know. You can still change back before we leave."
Xema peeked her head out again, so close to his face that their little black noses touched. "Why?" She cocked her head slightly. "I didn't just make my decision because I decided to call it a whim." Xema buried her face under the covers. "I did it because I care for you Daxter. Until the day we find a way to change you back, I'm going to stay like this."
Daxter was heartfelt. As far as he knew, NO ONE had cared for him this much. He tried to find Xema, but she had escaped into the sheets again. Daxter caught sight of the tip of her tail sticking out from one end of the blankets. He gently took hold of it and pulled her out from the warm shelter of blankets.
"Hey!" Xema half yelled, half giggled. Daxter pulled her up to her feet and held her loosely in his arms, gazing into her eyes. Xema smiled and returned the gaze. "This is so unlike you Daxter." She giggled.
"Are you SURE you don't want to change back?" He asked her. She grinned, rubbed her short ottsel muzzle beside his cheek and shook her head slightly.
"I'm sure." She insisted. Before scratching a sore spot on her arm. "I just think it's gonna take a while to get used to the fur. It really itches!"
Daxter grinned as he was suddenly reminded of the spot behind his ears that was, as usual, demanding his attention. "Trust me Xema, I've been an ottsel for a long time now, and I'm STILL not used to the fur!" He said as he began attacking the area with his claws.
***
"Are you going to be alright?" Xema looked up at her father from her perch on the table. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Yes. It will be lonely around here without you. But I've got a kingdom to run. I'll manage."
Xema laughed and walked over to the edge of the table. "I'll miss you father." She admitted. He cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Really? After all those times you ran away? Now that you're ALLOWED to go, you admit that you're going to MISS me?" He looked down at the little ottsel, who had a rather sheepish look on her face. He laughed, and grabbed her.
"NO!" Xema pleaded as Draco hugged her tightly. "I'm smaller now father! You're gonna crush my ribs!" Xema gasped breathlessly. Draco loosened his grip and allowed Xema to go limp in his grasp.
"Sorry." He apologized, blushing slightly. I'm just used to giving you strong bear hugs. I haven't held anything so tiny and fragile since you were a baby."
Xema raised her head and smiled as she sat back in her father's arms. She DID feel like a little child, looking up at the large man holding her effortlessly in his arms. Xema nuzzled her cheek on his shoulder as she felt a tear roll down her furry face. Draco stroked the fur on her back gently, enjoying the last few moments with his daughter.
"I've never been more proud of you Xema." He admitted.
"Because I broke the curse on the city?" She asked curiously. Draco shook his head.
"No. Because of the decision you made. This choice you've made about going off and living your own life far away from home. How brave you are to chose to live like this." He indicated to her furry ottsel form and laughed slightly. "All I can say is, this boy better appreciate what you've done for him."
"Believe me big guy, I do!"
Draco spun around and caught sight of the small orange ottsel entering the room. "Ah, speak of the ottsel." He cocked. Daxter raised his eyebrows at the man as he jumped up onto the table beside Draco.
"What happened to 'boy' huh? I miss getting called that!" Daxter folded his arms and pouted. Xema had to try hard to keep her mouth shut. He looked just like a spoilt little kid standing there in that position. She was scared she'd insult him if she said something without thinking.
"Oh Daxter, we know you're a boy." Xema jumped down from her father's arms onto the table, and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder. Daxter returned the hug, looking up at Draco with an extremely cocky expression on his face.
"Looks like I got the girl." He teased, running a paw through Xema's fringe. Her body shook slightly as she giggled from her half-buried position on his shoulder. Draco looked down at the couple joyfully. He had never seen his daughter so happy before; such a sight warmed his heart.
"Well, of all the boys, I'm glad Xema chose you out of the lot." Draco admitted. Daxter glanced up at him with a surprised look on his face.
"Why Draco? Why, why, WHY can't Samos be more like YOU?" Daxter rolled his eyes. "You're one of the ONLY people who can fully see my potential!"
"Yeah, potential to be a real pain in the butt!" Keira teased as her and Jak entered the room.
Daxter glared at her. "Critics." He muttered, releasing Xema from his hug. "Say goodbye to daddy Xema. We're leaving soon."
The ginger ottsel turned back to the man beside her. Whatever strong stance he had taken earlier had completely vanished now. He looked like he was about to break down into a flood of tears. Draco placed a large hand on Xema's tiny shoulder and smiled through his wet eyes.
"I WILL see you in the near future." He insisted. "When your time here soon approaches."
Xema nodded. "Until then." She insisted. "I'm sticking with Daxter. I want to do everything I can to help him turn back." She reached out and took Daxter's paw in hers. The orange ottsel smiled down at their digits laced together, and Xema nuzzled her cheek on his shoulder.
"Okay you two! Break it up!" Keira insisted, stepping up to the table and putting a hand between them. Xema was rather shocked at Keira's response, but Daxter rolled his eyes, understanding what was going on. 'Revenge', the ottsel thought through clenched teeth as he growled.
"Yeah." Jak said, backing up Keira, and looking at Daxter, giving a wink that only the ottsel noticed. "Put it on ice!"
***
Jak enjoyed his final trip in the air. Granted, until they either found a way to turn Daxter back to his previous form, or if Xema's father called her for urgent matters, they wouldn't be returning to the city for quite some time.
Keira also seemed to be enjoying her last air voyage. "Maybe I should fit the A-GraV Zoomer with some silver eco and make it fly." She suggested to Jak. "I'm going to miss this feeling!" He nodded in agreement. Gazing at the last guard in their party of three. He was carrying Daxter and Xema, although it was more like carrying Xema, and letting Daxter run around on his back. The expression on the guard's face was calm, but Jak could tell he was getting sick of the ottsel's journey to and from his feet and head.
"Daxter!" Xema laughed. "Stop doing that! You'll fall off!"
Daxter grinned at her. "Baby, I'm an agile creature! My sense of balance is impeccable. There's NO WAY I'd fall!"
As if on cue, the updraft the guard had been gliding on changed, and he was forced to adjust his position. Unfortunately, this was a bit too quick for Daxter. His arms flailed, and he completely lost his balance from the guard's back, falling into the sky.
"Daxter!" Jak cried in alarm, but quickly saw that the ottsel had not fallen straight down. Rather, he had fallen a few centimeters, and was now dangling upside down in the air. Xema had shot up on the guard's back and grabbed him by the tail.
"Okay, I'll stop it now." Daxter whimpered, his face pale as the ice on Snowy Mountain. The group laughed as Xema hauled the ottsel back onto his feet and hugged him comfortingly.
"How did I ever get through life with out you?" Daxter asked her nervously.
"How did you ever SURVIVE life without her?" Keira asked him sarcastically, giving Jak a noticeable wink.
***
Samos was not happy about the kids return. Not because they themselves were back (Samos WAS a little Displeased when Daxter showed up and addressed him as 'old green stump'), but because they had failed to turn on any portal in the city, or anywhere NEAR it for that matter.
"Daddy, there ARE no portals in the city!" Keira tried to explain to her father. "The only way to get there is by AIR!"
"Rubbish!" The sage scoffed. "I think you were all too lazy to even LOOK!"
"And so, he begins talking about the place like he's BEEN there!" Daxter mocked. Samos's reply was a sharp whack on the ottsel's head with his stick.
"He's very insensitive isn't he?" Xema whispered in Daxter's ear as he rubbed his bruised head. Samos turned and caught sight of the new ottsel for the first time.
"What is THIS?" He asked poking at Xema's shoulder with the edge of his stick, Daxter slapped it away, possibly more insulted than Xema was.
"SHE is Xema!" The ottsel corrected the shocked sage. "SHE also happens to be my girlfriend!" Daxter said this with such pride he was almost bursting. Jak, Keira and Xema were just trying hard not to laugh. Samos cocked an eyebrow at Xema.
"You mean you actually found another furball? More than that, one that likes you?" Samos quipped. Daxter growled and tried to argue more, but Xema placed a paw over his lips and whispered in Daxter's ear.
"Don't waste your breath Dax. He's not worth it!"
Samos's face lost some of its colour. "Not WORTH it?" He echoed, spluttering. "What do you MEAN I'm not WORTH it you little rat?"
Keira laughed as Jak whispered to her: "Looks like Samos has found someone ELSE to pick on besides Daxter."
"Daddy. I think Jak and I better explain what's going on." She turned to the two ottsels. Daxter had his paws clenched, as if he was ready to fight Samos. Xema just rolled her eyes and stared on, with an expression that may have been disbelief.
"Daxter, why don't you show Xema around?" Keira suggested, as she and Jak lead Samos away. Daxter grinned.
"Great! I'll show you the bedroom!" He grinned. Xema gave him a little push, not knocking him over, but just causing him to teeter slightly.
"Don't push your luck fuzzy face!" She teased. Daxter raised his eyebrows in question.
"Fuzz face?" He echoed. "Look who's talking ya furry bird!"
This time, Xema DID push him over. Daxter lay on his back, gazing up at her as she looked down on him. "DON'T mess with me Daxter! You better watch what you say, you're a real loudmouth!"
"I thought you LIKED that in your boys?" He teased.
She smiled. "Yeah, lucky for you huh?"
***
Daxter gazed out over the ocean. In the distance, he could just make out the shadowy outline of Misty Island. He shivered slightly as bad memories of that place came back to haunt him.
"I hate this place." He admitted to Xema. She sat beside him, gazing out at the sunset.
"I like it. It's the same spot where we made up." She gazed up at the trees swaying above their heads. "It also happens to be the first place we met face to face." She gave him a nervous glance. "If you don't count the time we 'met' in the jungle."
Daxter laughed.
"Yeah, you could say I FELL head over heels for you then?" He sniggered at his pathetic joke, where as Xema just rolled her eyes.
"I just hate this place because I can see THAT!" He indicated to the island off in the distance. "That was the place where I.." He trailed off, looking down at his furry paws. Xema placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We WILL find a way to change you back Daxter." She insisted. "Perhaps this door at the Citadel that you and Jak keep talking about?"
Daxter nodded his head. "Maybe. But look at YOU! I mean, you only need to go back to your dad and he'll change you back! I wish that stuff would work on ME too!"
Xema shook her head. "So do I, but no one knows how to reverse dark eco." Daxter's head fell again, and Xema hugged him. "But I'm always here for you Daxter, and until we find a way to help you, I'm staying a 'furry bird?" She winked at him, and he cheered up somewhat, pulling her in for a tight hug.
"You know, I understand what that girl was talking about now." Daxter admitted. Xema looked confused.
"What girl?" She tensed slightly. "Daxter, is there someone else?" She asked sternly. Daxter shook his head rather violently.
"Of course not!" He laughed. He was referring to that strange dream he had once had. "Just a dream."
So THIS is what the girl meant. Maybe he hadn't been changed back into his previous form, but XEMA had chosen to become the same creature as he was. Daxter looked down and smiled. For once HE was the one holding Xema in his arms, and not vice versa. So THIS is what it felt like. Warm and comforting. She nuzzled her head into his furry chest, and Daxter felt, for the first time in ages, truly loved.
"Can we stop time?" Xema asked him. He sighed, wishing he had that ability.
"Maybe gold eco could do that?" He suggested, Xema pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes.
"You think it COULD?" She asked, but then smiled and shook her head. "No, it wouldn't be able to."
"Why not?" Daxter asked.
"Because." Xema whispered. "I want it to reverse dark eco effects! And when I WANT something, I GET it!" She nuzzled her face against his. "Any objections?"
Daxter laughed.
"Nah, just as long as I get what I want." He thought back to the time where Xema had kissed him on the cheek. "Have I behaved myself?"
Xema smiled. "Yeah, more than I ever though you could."
Daxter didn't say much after that. He leant in towards Xema and placed his furry lips against hers. Maybe he may never find a way to reverse the dark eco effect, but he really didn't care as much any more. He had Xema now, and if kissing her at every opportunity was going to be as good as it was right now, then he knew his life would be satisfactory.
"I love you." He whispered to her as they pulled away, and she smiled, nuzzling her cheek on his shoulder. She didn't need to reply.
He already knew the answer.
***
THE END!
***
Well, now that it's FINALLY out of my system, I think I need to explain a few things.
First, YES that potion-type thing Xema took is reversible. I was actually going to explain this in the last chapter, but I wanted to keep the final story twist until the last chapter. I thought I was being cunning (after the silver eco thing - man I fooled you guys! ;) ) But most of you guessed the plot at the end of the last chapter anyway (LOL). But anyways, by the time I finished typing this chapter, I realized there was no place where I could really fit it into the plot properly anymore (originally: Xema, Draco and Daxter had a big talk about it). Why did I decide this? Maybe I want to use it as part of the new story plot, maybe for another reason. I'm not telling.
Second, Yes, I've decided to do a sequel. It's what nearly all of you want. A lot of you said you really wanted to see Xema again and *sniff* I'm honored. I'll be bringing her back again, along with Draco for a short amount of time, plus a new character or two. What about Karma? Well, Draco never really DID explain what happened to her, so who knows? Xema certainly doesn't! And what about GOLD eco? (Laughs evilly) We shall see.
By the way, was that ending fluffy enough? I know SOMEONE requested it to end like that? ;)
So, WHY didn't I turn Daxter back into his humanoid form? Lord knows I could have with that potion, and then there were the mysteries of gold eco. But there were two main reasons why.
a) Because I LOVE the little furry guy. Both in his humanoid state, AND his ottsel form. A lot of my friends plus myself agree that he is one cute little geek-burger (err, that's Nga Tawa *my boarding school* slang for dorky), but he's just so lovable in his ottsel form too. He is my current cartoon crush and is also VERY similar to my first cartoon crush (which I developed when I was ten) Gemma knows what I'm talking about, we've discussed it on Disneysites before.
It was hard to decide, but I thought it would prove that Xema loved him to a point where she was willing to change her lifestyle so that they could be together without either of them feeling uncomfortable.
And b) Because I didn't want to mess around with Naughty Dog's plot. There HAD to be a reason they left Daxter as an ottsel, other than the whole 'save-the-world' plot. And that 'secret ending' is just SCREAMING: 'Sequel!'. But, *sighs* until Naughty Dog reveals anything to do with a sequel (believe me I've heard a fair share of rumors spreading around the net), I decided to leave him the way he was. He is Naughty Dog's character after all; I'm just 'borrowing' the little guy for my fics.
Oh, and to answer someone's question that they emailed me with, YES, I DO have a Max Casella obsession. Go watch his movies people! Listen to 'Tip' on The Little Mermaid 2, or 'Zini' on Dinosaur. It's quite funny hearing Daxter's voice come out of different animal's mouths. Or better yet, get out one of his movies. Sgt. Bilko is my fave. You can see little Max in action! He is SUCH a cutey! I'm a sucker for Italian actors (cue in Dominic Armato of the Monkey Island fame)
Well, this note at the end is becoming almost as long as the fic, so I think now is a good time to shut my mouth, and give out my thank u's.
First of all, to the wonderful Jak and Daxter authors other than myself, who have taken the time out from writing their own stories and commented on my own, several times in fact! Sandy87 and Phoe-chan especially. As well as Fumetsu Hono'o and more than that! Go reads the other fics people! They're really worth your time!
Then, there's the people who have done something special for me - and again reviewed constantly. This includes Gemma, Vulpix, Mandy and Leah (again, but you've done so much for me in such a short amount of time *hugs*)
And then there's others who just review constantly and help the fic continue. Big Thankies to Michelle, Unknowner, HPDigiPokefan, Duke and many more. I'm sorry for any names not mentioned, but there's just so many of you, it would be impossible to mention everyone. In any case, you all rock and your support has really helped one shy Kiwi who just wanted to type something for the slowly growing community of Jak and Daxter fics. This fic would not have been possible without everyone's support, and I greatly acknowledge you all for it. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Thank you.
~ Keysha
Hey, it's been fun. I have not only had the chance to improve my creative writing, but I've met some very talented, not to mention incredibly friendly people who have reviewed my work and sent me emails/pics. I cannot begin to thank you all. This has been the most successful of all of my fics over the eight months since I arrived at fanfiction.net, but it's the people who read and enjoy the fics that have really helped this fic get to where it is today. You all deserve a pat on the back just for being the kewl people that you are! *begins to throw out Plush toys and copies of the game*
I honestly want to encourage everyone who is still in the process of writing their fics to keep at it! I love EVERY SINGLE fic in this Jak and Daxter section, and I really want more! (Yes, I'm a greedy one, just bear with it!) I have a list of thank u's, but I'll leave them till after the fic, so that I can stop blubbering, and finally let u read the last chapter.
So, without any more delay, here is the very last chapter of: 'Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City'.
~ Keysha
***
Jak and Daxter: Legend of the Lost White City
Chapter Twelve: The Departure
"Xema?" Daxter looked into her pale blue eyes, waiting for an answer. Xema sighed and closed her eyes, resting her head on the soft pillow. Her bed was so warm and inviting. That was one thing she was going to miss when she left home. Her bed, the soft, safe haven that she spent half of her life in (Xema had a thing about lying in bed in the mornings) she would have to leave it behind.
"Xema? Are you listening to me?" Daxter waved his paw in front of her closed eyes. "Are you sleeping?" Xema giggled slightly.
"No Daxter, just enjoying the morning." Came her muffled reply from beneath the blankets she was sinking into.
"How can you call this enjoying the morning? You're INSIDE and the morning is OUTSIDE!" Daxter nudged at her shoulder, and she lightly slapped his paw away from her.
"Look, I like my bed, do you have a problem with that?"
Daxter laughed and shook his head. "No, actually I like my bed too. Even though it's a bit too big for me now."
Xema peeked her head out from under the covers she had now cocooned herself in. "You don't say?" She teased. Daxter made a tiny growling sound and dived at her, wrapping his arms around her neck and hugging her tightly. She smiled to herself and looked Daxter in the eyes. "I love you." She whispered into his furry ear.
Daxter looked down at her. Xema was ever so slightly smaller than he was. Not by much, but generally, female ottsels were a bit smaller than the males. Xema had made a difficult choice to become an ottsel herself, and even though she always had the option of returning to her somewhat humanoid self, it was still a large sacrifice that she had made, simply because she cared for him.
Daxter smiled at the dusty ginger ottsel in his arms, and ran his fingers through her tiny fringe. She defiantly looked as he had imagined her in ottsel form. She had pretty much the same as appearance as he did, although with a more feminine look. Her fur was lighter than his, and her eyes bluer. What Daxter particularly liked was the small, cream-coloured 'wings' on her back. Patterned in her fur like the stripes on his arms. They were the only things that indicated she could once fly. She still wore her leather strap and purple goggles on her head, and the gold, precursor-engraved band on her left arm.
"Won't you miss the flying?" He asked the ottsel, which had now escaped his grip and was burrowing through the blankets and pillows again.
"Of course!" Xema called out from under a pile of pillows. "I've been doing it all my life, it's like how you've been walking since the day you learnt to, only I've been doing it in the air instead of on the ground."
Daxter rubbed his arm nervously. He still felt guilty for being the reason she had taken that witch doctor mumbo-jumbo. "Hey Xema, you don't have to do this ya know. You can still change back before we leave."
Xema peeked her head out again, so close to his face that their little black noses touched. "Why?" She cocked her head slightly. "I didn't just make my decision because I decided to call it a whim." Xema buried her face under the covers. "I did it because I care for you Daxter. Until the day we find a way to change you back, I'm going to stay like this."
Daxter was heartfelt. As far as he knew, NO ONE had cared for him this much. He tried to find Xema, but she had escaped into the sheets again. Daxter caught sight of the tip of her tail sticking out from one end of the blankets. He gently took hold of it and pulled her out from the warm shelter of blankets.
"Hey!" Xema half yelled, half giggled. Daxter pulled her up to her feet and held her loosely in his arms, gazing into her eyes. Xema smiled and returned the gaze. "This is so unlike you Daxter." She giggled.
"Are you SURE you don't want to change back?" He asked her. She grinned, rubbed her short ottsel muzzle beside his cheek and shook her head slightly.
"I'm sure." She insisted. Before scratching a sore spot on her arm. "I just think it's gonna take a while to get used to the fur. It really itches!"
Daxter grinned as he was suddenly reminded of the spot behind his ears that was, as usual, demanding his attention. "Trust me Xema, I've been an ottsel for a long time now, and I'm STILL not used to the fur!" He said as he began attacking the area with his claws.
***
"Are you going to be alright?" Xema looked up at her father from her perch on the table. He looked down at her and smiled.
"Yes. It will be lonely around here without you. But I've got a kingdom to run. I'll manage."
Xema laughed and walked over to the edge of the table. "I'll miss you father." She admitted. He cocked an eyebrow at her.
"Really? After all those times you ran away? Now that you're ALLOWED to go, you admit that you're going to MISS me?" He looked down at the little ottsel, who had a rather sheepish look on her face. He laughed, and grabbed her.
"NO!" Xema pleaded as Draco hugged her tightly. "I'm smaller now father! You're gonna crush my ribs!" Xema gasped breathlessly. Draco loosened his grip and allowed Xema to go limp in his grasp.
"Sorry." He apologized, blushing slightly. I'm just used to giving you strong bear hugs. I haven't held anything so tiny and fragile since you were a baby."
Xema raised her head and smiled as she sat back in her father's arms. She DID feel like a little child, looking up at the large man holding her effortlessly in his arms. Xema nuzzled her cheek on his shoulder as she felt a tear roll down her furry face. Draco stroked the fur on her back gently, enjoying the last few moments with his daughter.
"I've never been more proud of you Xema." He admitted.
"Because I broke the curse on the city?" She asked curiously. Draco shook his head.
"No. Because of the decision you made. This choice you've made about going off and living your own life far away from home. How brave you are to chose to live like this." He indicated to her furry ottsel form and laughed slightly. "All I can say is, this boy better appreciate what you've done for him."
"Believe me big guy, I do!"
Draco spun around and caught sight of the small orange ottsel entering the room. "Ah, speak of the ottsel." He cocked. Daxter raised his eyebrows at the man as he jumped up onto the table beside Draco.
"What happened to 'boy' huh? I miss getting called that!" Daxter folded his arms and pouted. Xema had to try hard to keep her mouth shut. He looked just like a spoilt little kid standing there in that position. She was scared she'd insult him if she said something without thinking.
"Oh Daxter, we know you're a boy." Xema jumped down from her father's arms onto the table, and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder. Daxter returned the hug, looking up at Draco with an extremely cocky expression on his face.
"Looks like I got the girl." He teased, running a paw through Xema's fringe. Her body shook slightly as she giggled from her half-buried position on his shoulder. Draco looked down at the couple joyfully. He had never seen his daughter so happy before; such a sight warmed his heart.
"Well, of all the boys, I'm glad Xema chose you out of the lot." Draco admitted. Daxter glanced up at him with a surprised look on his face.
"Why Draco? Why, why, WHY can't Samos be more like YOU?" Daxter rolled his eyes. "You're one of the ONLY people who can fully see my potential!"
"Yeah, potential to be a real pain in the butt!" Keira teased as her and Jak entered the room.
Daxter glared at her. "Critics." He muttered, releasing Xema from his hug. "Say goodbye to daddy Xema. We're leaving soon."
The ginger ottsel turned back to the man beside her. Whatever strong stance he had taken earlier had completely vanished now. He looked like he was about to break down into a flood of tears. Draco placed a large hand on Xema's tiny shoulder and smiled through his wet eyes.
"I WILL see you in the near future." He insisted. "When your time here soon approaches."
Xema nodded. "Until then." She insisted. "I'm sticking with Daxter. I want to do everything I can to help him turn back." She reached out and took Daxter's paw in hers. The orange ottsel smiled down at their digits laced together, and Xema nuzzled her cheek on his shoulder.
"Okay you two! Break it up!" Keira insisted, stepping up to the table and putting a hand between them. Xema was rather shocked at Keira's response, but Daxter rolled his eyes, understanding what was going on. 'Revenge', the ottsel thought through clenched teeth as he growled.
"Yeah." Jak said, backing up Keira, and looking at Daxter, giving a wink that only the ottsel noticed. "Put it on ice!"
***
Jak enjoyed his final trip in the air. Granted, until they either found a way to turn Daxter back to his previous form, or if Xema's father called her for urgent matters, they wouldn't be returning to the city for quite some time.
Keira also seemed to be enjoying her last air voyage. "Maybe I should fit the A-GraV Zoomer with some silver eco and make it fly." She suggested to Jak. "I'm going to miss this feeling!" He nodded in agreement. Gazing at the last guard in their party of three. He was carrying Daxter and Xema, although it was more like carrying Xema, and letting Daxter run around on his back. The expression on the guard's face was calm, but Jak could tell he was getting sick of the ottsel's journey to and from his feet and head.
"Daxter!" Xema laughed. "Stop doing that! You'll fall off!"
Daxter grinned at her. "Baby, I'm an agile creature! My sense of balance is impeccable. There's NO WAY I'd fall!"
As if on cue, the updraft the guard had been gliding on changed, and he was forced to adjust his position. Unfortunately, this was a bit too quick for Daxter. His arms flailed, and he completely lost his balance from the guard's back, falling into the sky.
"Daxter!" Jak cried in alarm, but quickly saw that the ottsel had not fallen straight down. Rather, he had fallen a few centimeters, and was now dangling upside down in the air. Xema had shot up on the guard's back and grabbed him by the tail.
"Okay, I'll stop it now." Daxter whimpered, his face pale as the ice on Snowy Mountain. The group laughed as Xema hauled the ottsel back onto his feet and hugged him comfortingly.
"How did I ever get through life with out you?" Daxter asked her nervously.
"How did you ever SURVIVE life without her?" Keira asked him sarcastically, giving Jak a noticeable wink.
***
Samos was not happy about the kids return. Not because they themselves were back (Samos WAS a little Displeased when Daxter showed up and addressed him as 'old green stump'), but because they had failed to turn on any portal in the city, or anywhere NEAR it for that matter.
"Daddy, there ARE no portals in the city!" Keira tried to explain to her father. "The only way to get there is by AIR!"
"Rubbish!" The sage scoffed. "I think you were all too lazy to even LOOK!"
"And so, he begins talking about the place like he's BEEN there!" Daxter mocked. Samos's reply was a sharp whack on the ottsel's head with his stick.
"He's very insensitive isn't he?" Xema whispered in Daxter's ear as he rubbed his bruised head. Samos turned and caught sight of the new ottsel for the first time.
"What is THIS?" He asked poking at Xema's shoulder with the edge of his stick, Daxter slapped it away, possibly more insulted than Xema was.
"SHE is Xema!" The ottsel corrected the shocked sage. "SHE also happens to be my girlfriend!" Daxter said this with such pride he was almost bursting. Jak, Keira and Xema were just trying hard not to laugh. Samos cocked an eyebrow at Xema.
"You mean you actually found another furball? More than that, one that likes you?" Samos quipped. Daxter growled and tried to argue more, but Xema placed a paw over his lips and whispered in Daxter's ear.
"Don't waste your breath Dax. He's not worth it!"
Samos's face lost some of its colour. "Not WORTH it?" He echoed, spluttering. "What do you MEAN I'm not WORTH it you little rat?"
Keira laughed as Jak whispered to her: "Looks like Samos has found someone ELSE to pick on besides Daxter."
"Daddy. I think Jak and I better explain what's going on." She turned to the two ottsels. Daxter had his paws clenched, as if he was ready to fight Samos. Xema just rolled her eyes and stared on, with an expression that may have been disbelief.
"Daxter, why don't you show Xema around?" Keira suggested, as she and Jak lead Samos away. Daxter grinned.
"Great! I'll show you the bedroom!" He grinned. Xema gave him a little push, not knocking him over, but just causing him to teeter slightly.
"Don't push your luck fuzzy face!" She teased. Daxter raised his eyebrows in question.
"Fuzz face?" He echoed. "Look who's talking ya furry bird!"
This time, Xema DID push him over. Daxter lay on his back, gazing up at her as she looked down on him. "DON'T mess with me Daxter! You better watch what you say, you're a real loudmouth!"
"I thought you LIKED that in your boys?" He teased.
She smiled. "Yeah, lucky for you huh?"
***
Daxter gazed out over the ocean. In the distance, he could just make out the shadowy outline of Misty Island. He shivered slightly as bad memories of that place came back to haunt him.
"I hate this place." He admitted to Xema. She sat beside him, gazing out at the sunset.
"I like it. It's the same spot where we made up." She gazed up at the trees swaying above their heads. "It also happens to be the first place we met face to face." She gave him a nervous glance. "If you don't count the time we 'met' in the jungle."
Daxter laughed.
"Yeah, you could say I FELL head over heels for you then?" He sniggered at his pathetic joke, where as Xema just rolled her eyes.
"I just hate this place because I can see THAT!" He indicated to the island off in the distance. "That was the place where I.." He trailed off, looking down at his furry paws. Xema placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We WILL find a way to change you back Daxter." She insisted. "Perhaps this door at the Citadel that you and Jak keep talking about?"
Daxter nodded his head. "Maybe. But look at YOU! I mean, you only need to go back to your dad and he'll change you back! I wish that stuff would work on ME too!"
Xema shook her head. "So do I, but no one knows how to reverse dark eco." Daxter's head fell again, and Xema hugged him. "But I'm always here for you Daxter, and until we find a way to help you, I'm staying a 'furry bird?" She winked at him, and he cheered up somewhat, pulling her in for a tight hug.
"You know, I understand what that girl was talking about now." Daxter admitted. Xema looked confused.
"What girl?" She tensed slightly. "Daxter, is there someone else?" She asked sternly. Daxter shook his head rather violently.
"Of course not!" He laughed. He was referring to that strange dream he had once had. "Just a dream."
So THIS is what the girl meant. Maybe he hadn't been changed back into his previous form, but XEMA had chosen to become the same creature as he was. Daxter looked down and smiled. For once HE was the one holding Xema in his arms, and not vice versa. So THIS is what it felt like. Warm and comforting. She nuzzled her head into his furry chest, and Daxter felt, for the first time in ages, truly loved.
"Can we stop time?" Xema asked him. He sighed, wishing he had that ability.
"Maybe gold eco could do that?" He suggested, Xema pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes.
"You think it COULD?" She asked, but then smiled and shook her head. "No, it wouldn't be able to."
"Why not?" Daxter asked.
"Because." Xema whispered. "I want it to reverse dark eco effects! And when I WANT something, I GET it!" She nuzzled her face against his. "Any objections?"
Daxter laughed.
"Nah, just as long as I get what I want." He thought back to the time where Xema had kissed him on the cheek. "Have I behaved myself?"
Xema smiled. "Yeah, more than I ever though you could."
Daxter didn't say much after that. He leant in towards Xema and placed his furry lips against hers. Maybe he may never find a way to reverse the dark eco effect, but he really didn't care as much any more. He had Xema now, and if kissing her at every opportunity was going to be as good as it was right now, then he knew his life would be satisfactory.
"I love you." He whispered to her as they pulled away, and she smiled, nuzzling her cheek on his shoulder. She didn't need to reply.
He already knew the answer.
***
THE END!
***
Well, now that it's FINALLY out of my system, I think I need to explain a few things.
First, YES that potion-type thing Xema took is reversible. I was actually going to explain this in the last chapter, but I wanted to keep the final story twist until the last chapter. I thought I was being cunning (after the silver eco thing - man I fooled you guys! ;) ) But most of you guessed the plot at the end of the last chapter anyway (LOL). But anyways, by the time I finished typing this chapter, I realized there was no place where I could really fit it into the plot properly anymore (originally: Xema, Draco and Daxter had a big talk about it). Why did I decide this? Maybe I want to use it as part of the new story plot, maybe for another reason. I'm not telling.
Second, Yes, I've decided to do a sequel. It's what nearly all of you want. A lot of you said you really wanted to see Xema again and *sniff* I'm honored. I'll be bringing her back again, along with Draco for a short amount of time, plus a new character or two. What about Karma? Well, Draco never really DID explain what happened to her, so who knows? Xema certainly doesn't! And what about GOLD eco? (Laughs evilly) We shall see.
By the way, was that ending fluffy enough? I know SOMEONE requested it to end like that? ;)
So, WHY didn't I turn Daxter back into his humanoid form? Lord knows I could have with that potion, and then there were the mysteries of gold eco. But there were two main reasons why.
a) Because I LOVE the little furry guy. Both in his humanoid state, AND his ottsel form. A lot of my friends plus myself agree that he is one cute little geek-burger (err, that's Nga Tawa *my boarding school* slang for dorky), but he's just so lovable in his ottsel form too. He is my current cartoon crush and is also VERY similar to my first cartoon crush (which I developed when I was ten) Gemma knows what I'm talking about, we've discussed it on Disneysites before.
It was hard to decide, but I thought it would prove that Xema loved him to a point where she was willing to change her lifestyle so that they could be together without either of them feeling uncomfortable.
And b) Because I didn't want to mess around with Naughty Dog's plot. There HAD to be a reason they left Daxter as an ottsel, other than the whole 'save-the-world' plot. And that 'secret ending' is just SCREAMING: 'Sequel!'. But, *sighs* until Naughty Dog reveals anything to do with a sequel (believe me I've heard a fair share of rumors spreading around the net), I decided to leave him the way he was. He is Naughty Dog's character after all; I'm just 'borrowing' the little guy for my fics.
Oh, and to answer someone's question that they emailed me with, YES, I DO have a Max Casella obsession. Go watch his movies people! Listen to 'Tip' on The Little Mermaid 2, or 'Zini' on Dinosaur. It's quite funny hearing Daxter's voice come out of different animal's mouths. Or better yet, get out one of his movies. Sgt. Bilko is my fave. You can see little Max in action! He is SUCH a cutey! I'm a sucker for Italian actors (cue in Dominic Armato of the Monkey Island fame)
Well, this note at the end is becoming almost as long as the fic, so I think now is a good time to shut my mouth, and give out my thank u's.
First of all, to the wonderful Jak and Daxter authors other than myself, who have taken the time out from writing their own stories and commented on my own, several times in fact! Sandy87 and Phoe-chan especially. As well as Fumetsu Hono'o and more than that! Go reads the other fics people! They're really worth your time!
Then, there's the people who have done something special for me - and again reviewed constantly. This includes Gemma, Vulpix, Mandy and Leah (again, but you've done so much for me in such a short amount of time *hugs*)
And then there's others who just review constantly and help the fic continue. Big Thankies to Michelle, Unknowner, HPDigiPokefan, Duke and many more. I'm sorry for any names not mentioned, but there's just so many of you, it would be impossible to mention everyone. In any case, you all rock and your support has really helped one shy Kiwi who just wanted to type something for the slowly growing community of Jak and Daxter fics. This fic would not have been possible without everyone's support, and I greatly acknowledge you all for it. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Thank you.
~ Keysha