Y.Kanis: ok. I'm back (-.- surprise, surprise) and with a new chapter. This one's going to delve a bit deeper into Aira's past. It's also going to clear some fog up. I got this inspiration cause I was thinking about how I was writing this and I just said "Kanis, you're plot is totally unoriginal. Work some clay here!" and yeah… this kind of came up. Hope ya all enjoy!

Lunar: -.- yeah… wow… I think we lost all our reviewers… ^-^ Thanks to Amandaxter and Shark for reviewing! Just a warning that the chapters will be much shorter now though.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Is she going to be alright?" Keira asked as Zano and Samos came out of the room Aira was placed in. Jak, who had been sitting at the table with Daxter, sat up and rushed to the two plant lovers.

Zano gave a ragged sigh. "She appears to be fine… but the wound will take time to heal. The weapon was laced with dark eco and we couldn't heal the would and get the nasty stuff out at the same time. It's all up to her strength… and will."

Keira looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not even sure my self but…," He paused, "but I think… that she doesn't want to be here. She was sealed away for so long… and then brought back to fight her old enemy. She might not want to stay…"

"No!…" Keira gave a frightened looked towards the room. "She wouldn't die! Not like that! Would she Jak?" She looked towards the blonde haired elf.

"I don't doubt her strength." He said softly with confidence. "But I do doubt her will. She's been through a lot. We just… we just have to pray."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"You can't be serious!? Trusting a Banished one with such a responsibility!"

"I do not doubt her strength. I believe that she will guide the chosen one to the light."

"But she is a Banished! She is foul and tainted and will not-"

"She will guide the chosen one to the White Light. And draw us away from the Darkness"

"But High Elder! Salcoran grows stronger with each passing moment! We cannot wait for some pathetic girl to seek the Chosen One!"

"I do not doubt her. I have chosen. Aira will lead the One to the light, and Salcoran will be vanquished."

Aira, who had been standing in the halls and peering into a crack in the doors stepped away from the room of the Elders and walked silently down the hall. 'So they don't trust me…" she thought bitterly. How was she to find the One indeed. She walked slowly into the lounging room and to the balcony. Aira sighed and leaned on the railing.

"You should be careful. If we loose the only hope to the land, we're done for."

Aira turned around, shocked to see a boy with blonde hair and striking blue eyes. He smiled softly and walked over to where she stood. He continued. "I don't think the people will be too happy if we loose you."

Aira laughed bitterly, a frown forming on her face. "Honestly. I think they would be rather pleased if I hung from a tree, a rope around my neck!"

The boy turned to look at her seriously. "Don't say that. It's not true. You are the hope of our people."

She turned angry eyes at him. "They hope I will find the Chosen One! Nothing more! Once that is completed I will be useless and cast back into the Banished Lands! That is all nothing more!" She was about to walk away angrily, but a hand grasped her wrist.

The boy looked at her with a serious but soft look. "That's not true. You mean a lot to everyone." He whispered.

Aira raised an eyebrow at him. She scoffed. "Oh really? Then tell me one person other then the High Elder who cares about me."

The boy reached out and grasped her other hand and then cupped his own around hers, holding them high. He leaned in so his forehead was touching hers. Aira stared with shock and confused. He smiled softly. "Me."

"Jalen…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aira's eyes flew open. She tried to sit up but a burning pain shot through her. Looking down she saw that she was covered in bandages. She looked around and noticed several jars and plants. 'Healing herbs… probably retrieved by Zano and Samos…' She thought to herself. She smiled softly, thinking about Zano's passion for plants.

"You're awake."

She looked up to see Jak, standing at the doorway. He looked back at her with an expressionless face. She gave him one of her own. "Yes."

He shut the door behind himself, turning around to make sure no one was around. He turned back to her and his expression was angry. "Why did you do that!?"

Aira gave him a puzzled look. "Do what?"

"Get in front of the attack like that! You could've died!"

" I was saving Keira! Or are you too blinded by your anger to see that right now?"

"There could've been other ways!"

"Yes, but none came to me! I had no other choice!"

Jak gave a frustrated groan. "But why did something that insane come into your mind!? Why the heck would you do that!?"

Aira stood up in anger, ignoring the pain that soared through her body. "Because you care for her!"

Jak froze and stared at the Precursor girl. She just stood staring back at him. Her expression softened lightly.

"You love her, Jak. And I've seen what comes of hiding it for too long. And I've seen what comes from the death of one you loved. I could not allow you to go through that." She whispered softly.

Jak instantly crumbled. Tears formed at his eyes. "I was scared… I didn't know what to do… and I was… I was afraid to loose you all…" He started to fall to his knees but Aira caught him and sat back down on the bed.

She rubbed his back softly as he cried into her shoulder. "So aren't all people who face times like these. But you must understand… to let this fear control you will not help. You must be strong. Good shall overcome Evil. And Darkness will fall…"

Jak couldn't believe what was happening. Here was Aira, injured and in pain, comforting him while he was crying. He pulled away wiping his eyes. "I'm sorry… I must've looked like a baby." He looked down.

Aira smiled. "I think you were rather smart. Holding up your emotions will do no good. You must be strong. I will help you." She held out her hand.

Jak looked up. He once again saw a look in her eyes that he had seen before… and not just in her eyes… but in Keira's when she looked at him as well… 'love…' But as he searched deeper he saw that it wasn't for him… but someone… that was reflected by Jak. "Who do I remind you of?" He asked suddenly.

Aira stared at him. She paused and closed her eyes. " A care. The one only care I had in the world…"

~~~~~ 3 months later ~~~~~~

"Welcome back!" Keira chirped happily as Jak, Daxter, And Aira walked through the door. All three of them gave tired smiles. They had all been training hard, even Daxter (though not as hard as Jak and Aira, considering he's only a poor ottsel). Aira had decided that she would train as well. Whatever Jak did, Aira did.

"Good to be back…" Jak replied.

Daxter sniffed the air. "I smell FOOD!" He yelled as he leaped off of Jak's shoulder. Aira laughed and walked over to the table where Zano was trying to solve a puzzle. He growled and tried to shove a piece into a certain spot. Frowning he placed the piece down. Then he started to repeatedly smash his fist into the piece, trying to jam it into place.

Aira rolled her eyes and walked over to the poor elf. She grabbed his wrist and stopped him from beating the puzzle even more. He looked up at her and blinked. Smiling sweetly she picked up the piece… and placed it on the totally opposite side of the puzzle in it's proper place.

Zano stared. "I knew that… I was just… testing you…" He then proceeded in putting the rest of the puzzle together.

Jak rolled his eyes but smiled. He then walked into the kitchen, taking in a deep breath. His smile grew. As they all got their food and sat down at the table (Zano reluctantly moving his puzzle) he stared at Aira. "So… what else do I have to learn?" He asked cautiously.

Aira looked up at him. "You cannot simply learn to wield the Light. It must come to you. All you must do and toughen your strength- both mind and body- and even spirit." Daxter looked up at her. He knew that even though Salcoran had laid off of them for a bit that he would come back. They were only using this time to an advantage. 'But no doubt that crack head is using time to his advantage too…' He thought wearily.

After finishing their meal they all walked to their beds (or in Jak and Daxter's case, the floor). Sleep came slowly to Jak, as though trying to tell him something. But, sure enough, he was fast asleep in time.

~~~~~~~ Jak's dream ~~~~~~~

Jak looked around. As far as the eye could see was a vast plain. It was suddenly cut off by a cliff edge that hung off over the ocean. As Jak walked closer to the edge he saw to people there. One was a boy with slightly long blonde hair. The other…

…was Aira.

He stared at the two. They seemed so happy together…

"Na laie sou, Aira." The boy whispered. He handed her a small white flower which Aira took wordlessly.

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She smiled softly to him. "Na laie sou, Jalen."

Jak stared in shock as the two embraced. This was the boy that he reminded Aira of? As he was about to get closer to hear their whispered talk the world suddenly turned dark. Jak looked around panicked.

"You can no longer wait for Salcoran to come to you." A voice, Jalen's, echoed in the dark.

Jak turned around frantically. "Where are you!? WHO are you!?"

"I'm right here." Came Jalen's voice. Jak turned around and came face to face with Jalen. The other was smiling softly, his hands in his pants pocket. " You can no longer wait. He will destroy you if you delay the inevitable battle. You must go to him."

Jak looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"

Jalen smiled. " Many years ago our people were attacked by the Dark creature Salcoran. He slaughtered and destroyed everything and everyone in sight. The people feared him. Even with the strength of Aira they were still doubtful." He paused. " We held back, never daring to go forth into Salcoran's domain. It proved to be our downfall. We had held back and prolonged the fight for so long, that he ended up attacking us with a force that could not be stopped."

"So how is it that he was sealed?"

Jalen's eyes flickered and he frowned a bit, remembering the harsh past. "While the High Elder believed Aira could destroy Salcoran, even without the power of the Chosen One at her side, the other Elders did not. They slaughtered the High Elder. Then they sacrificed Aira's spirit and soul, to seal Salcoran." He looked up, a grave expression on his face. "But what they did had upset the balance of light and dark. This caused their souls, and all of our people's souls, so come out of their bodies. They were placed into metal objects, which I believe you now call Power Cells. The power in them is the souls of the people. That was the only way to open the Chamber of Salcoran."

Jak stared in shock. He had a feeling Daxter wouldn't like power cells as much now… " So tell me, what must we do to destroy Salcoran and release the souls?"

Jalen gave him a serious stare. "The Light must be revealed and used against Salcoran, just as he used the Darkness against you."

"But how do we do that?"

"The answer will come when it is needed, not before. You will know when the time comes. But you cannot wait. Head back to the Citadel. That is where Salcoran is. Go there and destroy him!"

Jak nodded at him. The edges of the dark world around him were lighting up and he knew what was happening. He was waking up. He looked at Jalen and smiled softly. "Any thing you want me to tell Aira?"

Jalen stared at him, shocked, but then smiled. "Tell her I said 'Na laie sou'." And with that The world became too bright for him to see anything.

~~~~~ Real World ~~~~~

Jak awoke with a start. He flung the covers off and rushed down to where Aira's room was. He banged on the door loudly. "AIRA!! GET UP!! PLEASE!!"

After two minutes of yelling and banging not only was Aira up, but everyone else in the Green Sage's hut as well. Aira flung the door open, looking very agitated. "What!?"

"We have to go to the Citadel where Salcoran is sealed! That's where he is!"

Aira stared at him. "Are you insane? We are not strong enough yet! We must-"

"Yes we are!" Jak cut in. He gave her a sharp look. " Jalen says so. He said we must head towards the Citadel now!"

Aira was about to snap back when the name registered in her mind. "Jalen…"

"He came to me. In a dream. He told me about what happened." Jak paused. "Jalen said that we couldn't hold back any longer. We have to attack the Citadel!"

"Yes… alright…" She mumbled. She couldn't believe it. Jalen had actually contacted Jak, just to help her… 'he always said he would help me no matter what…' Aira gave Jak a stern look. " Jak, go get ready. We leave for the Citadel as soon as sun rise." She turned to walk back into her room.

Jak stopped her door before she could shut it. "Oh and Aira…" She looked up at him. He gave her a confused look. "He also wanted me to tell you he says 'Na laie sou'."

Aira stared at him. Tears welled up in her eyes. "Na laie sou…" She whispered softly.

Jak gave her a concerned look. Daxter stared up at her and then asked, "What does that mean?"

Aira looked down at the little ottsel. She smiled. "It means… 'I love you'…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Y.Kanis: yup… I got rid all my readers by now… but I had to get that in. ::grins:: ^_^ I GOT ANOTHER CHAPPIE UP!! Now it's 11:31 PM, I got school tomorrow, and if my mom sees I'm up I'll be in so much trouble… but I had to do this.

Lunar: Yami… you REALLY suck at writing. -.- hurry this up so you don't embarrass yourself anymore.

Y.Kanis: ::glares at Lunar:: shut up you mutant fur ball! PLEASE REVIEW!!! (why am I saying that? No one listens…)