Chapter 1: The New Normal

Location: Wasteland

Light from the new morning sun began to stretch along the land across Gaia, from the scorched land of the wastes to the jungles in the north and even to the lowest of the lands across the sea to the brink. The sun brought forth a new day with new life within it, but with life comes the harsh reality of death. As the rays of the suns light crossed the wastes to the dessert city of Spargus it suddenly hit the back of a young blonde green haired man, in his hands was his blaster modded pee-shooter, his blue tunic was ripped and stain with blood of his enemies; his feet spread as he readied himself for another attack. Suddenly he opened his bright blue eyes and a smirk spread across his face as he felt another's back brush up against his, turning his head slightly he saw red/orange/yellow hair that belonged to his best friend in the entire world that had followed him from one adventure after another. The same young man that had once been an ottsel because he'd fallen into a vat of dark eco, but because of light eco was once again an Elf like himself. This young man had his eco arrows ready and pointed at his next victim, who currently was a marauder who was eying the red-head while his other six companions were eying the green-blonde with equal hatred.

A single yell was heard from the marauder as he began to charge the duo known far and wide as the Demolition Duo. "Ya know." The red-head began as he spoke to the blonde, who just hummed to tell his friend he was listening. "You'd think these guys would learn after we'd killed half of 'em at their fortress last week 'cause they'd attacked Spargus." He pulled the string of his bow and let loose the blue arrow that flew faster than the marauder could move and hit him squarely in the middle of his forehead.

"Some people never learn Dax." The blonde replied as he let loose a barrage of bullets that hit their targets each time.

"Yeah, but Jak…" Daxter began as he turned as saw one of the marauders running away. "Awe, one's tryin' ta escape." He turned towards the blonde who smirked. "Flip ya for him." He said as he brought out a coin he'd found a few days ago.

"Nah, you can have him." He said as he shot one that was trying to get up in the head, brain matter splattering everywhere on the sand and on Jak's clothes.

"Keira's not gonna like those stains." Daxter laughed as he shot one of his dark arrows at the runaway marauder and got him in the center of his back, a few seconds later the man screams ended as the dark eco poison killed him.

"Like Tess'll like yours?" his friend countered as he placed his gun back into the Sand Shark he then looked at the vehicle for any dents or bullet holes, not finding any he got into the driver's seat. He then started the engine and zoomed off after Daxter who'd run off to get his arrow out of the runaway marauder. "Get in." he said after Daxter had pulled the arrow out of the masked man.

"Ya know," Daxter began as he put the arrows back into his quiver. "Yer Dad is cool and all; but the dude is always sending us off on these gigs and it's…"

"Boring?" Jak asked, "Yeah, he and I had a talk about that. He says it's because we haven't proven ourselves as wastelanders yet; but Sig says it's because Dad doesn't want to lose me again."

Daxter chuckled. "Daddy Damas is protective, eh?" Daxter wiggled his eyebrows at Jak who began to laugh. "Yer eighteen, ya can whatever ya want without adult supervision."

"Tell that to him," Jak paused and chuckled. "Or Torn. Or Ashelin."

"Or Sig." Daxter pointed to the big vehicle parked o the large hill that had overlooked the battlefield. "Think yer Dad sent him out here ta watch us?"

Jak groaned. "Okay, that's enough." He narrowed his eyes as he came to a stop next to Sig vehicle, the bulky wastelander inside of it smirked. "Sig."

"Now Chillipepper, I'm just followin' orders." The bulky wastelander looked at the irate young men; both seemed a bit annoyed with having a babysitter and truth be told Sig didn't like doing it. "Listen," he began which caused Jak to raise an eyebrow and hoped the king didn't find out about this. "There are some metal heads in a cavern nearby. I was suppose to take care of it after you two went back to the city, but since yer both itchin' for a fight." He said this pointing at the dead marauders. "You two can help me."

Both young men smiled at each other before turning towards Sig. "Wanna raise some stakes?" Daxter asked with a mischievous gleam in his eyes. Jak chuckled as Sig's good eye sparked with interest.

"What do you boys have in mind?" the bulky wastelander saw both boy's faces light up like a child's does on Yuletide and knew he was in trouble, but when did trouble not follow these two around?

Location: Sandover

The sun raised itself slowly over the small sleep village of Sandover, birds were giving off their morning songs, flowers were beginning to open, and slowly the villagers began to get out of their beds, though some tried to block off the sun's rays by either throwing a pillow over their heads or closing a curtain to get a few more winks of sleep; which would evade them as suddenly the peace of the morning was broken by children's laughter.

Running through the village were a half dozen or children who were chasing a young boy with green hair. Once caught the boy gave a whimper as he was lifted up into the air by one of the older children. "Come on! Talk boy!" the youth yelled at the young child and laughed as the boy remained quiet.

It was then that a rock came hurtling through the air and hit the older boy right in the side of his head. The young man gasped and grabbed his head. Spinning around he looked at the other children. "Who did that?" His eyes dared for the one to come forward.

"Leave Jak alone you bully!" came a yell from a red haired child around the same age as the green haired boy.

"Runt." The boy growled at the red haired child who readied another rock in his slingshot.

"You let him go, or yer gonna have another bruise!" the youth yelled at the older boy.

The older boy looked at the green haired child that he had a hold of and suddenly threw him into the air and kicked the child in mid-air. The boy landed in a heap on the ground groaning. "Keep the freak." He growled and took off with the other children following him.

The red head ran over to Jak, the little boy groaned as he felt his friend's hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Jak, I'll take ya ta Mama; she'll know what ta do ta make ya feel better."

Jak felt himself being picked up by the red head and his arm was thrown around the other boy's shoulder. "Dax-ter." He mumbled.

"Yeah?" the youth asked looking into his buddy's eyes which said more than anything the green haired boy ever said. "Don't worry about it. Yer my buddy. I know you'd do the same fer me." Jak smiled as he and Daxter made their way over to the hut near the fisherman's home.

Daxter sat Jak on the porch and ran into the hut. "Mama, Papa!" he yelled causing his parents to turn from their quiet breakfast and look at their son. "Jak, he's hurt." He said this pointing out the door.

Daxter's mother was already on her feet before her husband followed suit. Once both adults saw the condition the normally quiet boy was in, which included him sobbing quietly from the pain of being kicked, Daxter's father pulled his son to the side. "Who did this son?" his father's normally bright blue eyes were now a darker color. Daxter looked over towards Jak who was being held by his mother, Jak had his face obscured by the woman's long red hair. "Daxter?" his father snapped his son's attention back to him.

"Matt and his friends from Rock Village." He said as he twiddled with his fingers and continued to look between his parents and Jak. "Is he goona be okay Mama?" Daxter felt tears starting to form at the thought of losing his best friend because of that jerk face.

"Oh, he'll be okay." she said as she continued to sooth Jak by rocking the boy back and forth and rubbing his back in a soothing manner. Looking up at her husband she continued to speak. "Those children need to be punished for this. He could've gotten hurt and it's so early in the day and already they're picking on him."

Daxter looked up at his father who nodded. "Daxter," his father began, "I want you and Jak to play up near the farmer's place for awhile, while I talk to those miscreants for what they've done to Jak. Okay son?"

Daxter nodded. "Yes Papa." He said as he sat down next to his mother on the porch and looked at Jak. He still remembered when last week Jak and the green guy came to live in the village. The green man was currently building a hut on the island that was connected to the village by those little bridges. The hut was only a quarter of the way done, his Papa was helping the man build it, and with help from his uncle when he wasn't traveling ta weird and unknown places. Until the place was fully done Jak was staying with him and his family. The green guy, Samos, had told them that he and Jak came from a big village that wasn't a village; but a city! He'd also said that neither could return because of the dangers that place had for them both and that Jak was an orphan; which his parents explained meant that Jak didn't have any family. Continuing to stare at him Mama and Jak, Daxter spoke up. "Mama, ya remember when ya told me that Jak has nobody?" his mother hummed that she remembered. "Ya think we could be Jak's family?" that caused Jak to look at Daxter with wide eyes and then looked up at Daxter's mama.

Daxter's mom turned her head towards her son and smiled. "Your Papa and I have been talking about that very thing son." She smiled with caused her eyes to glisten with emotion. "Are you certain you wouldn't mind having an older brother?"

"Jak's older than me?" Daxter looked at his friend.

"Yes." his Mama replied. "The green sage says he's almost eight. You won't be eight for another six months."

Daxter scratched his chin. "Sure. I don't mind." He shrugged his shoulders. "Jak's my best friend; he'll be an even cooler brother!"

"Then it's settled." She said as she pulled away from Jak. "Do you want that Jak?" Jak cocked his head and looked between Daxter and the red haired woman who was smiling at him. "Do you want to be Daxter's brother and my husband and my son? Do you want to be a part of our family?"

Daxter leaned forward. "That means my Mama would be yer Mama."

Jak felt his chest tighten and emotion overflowed as tears began falling down his pudgy little cheeks. "Y-Yes." he stuttered and sniffled as he wiped his eyes just as Daxter's Papa came back from Sentinel Beach with bully being pulled by his ear and up to the mayor's hut.

"Oh boy!" Daxter giggled. "We've gotta see this!" Daxter started to get up only to be grabbed by his Mama.

"Let yer father deal with this." she said as she stood up. Looking down at the two boys she smiled. "Who's hungry?" with that both boys seemed to forget about the bully and headed into the hut for some breakfast.

Jak smiled as he looked at Daxter, who snorted. "No getting weird on me Jakie boy." He said as he slung his arm around Jak's neck and the two entered the hut together.

M-Angel: Okay, so originally I wasn't going to begin posting this until after Halloween, but I kinda wanted to write it and post it because; come on, who doesn't like a little Jak and Daxter story.