A/N: This is a bit of a lengthy preface, but I hope you'll indulge me with this one. This has been a long time coming, so I have a lot of things to say!

Those Magic Changes Redux is me revisiting, revising, and expanding Those Magic Changes, a novelization of Jak II and my only other story on here. I began publishing it when still a high school junior in April of 2006, and I gave up when I was a college sophomore in December of 2008. Now I hope to finish what I started, come hell or high water.

Why am I doing this a decade later? Several reasons really, but it all starts with a friend of mine. Let's call her J, wife of Kurama. We're both artists at a game studio, and it turns out we have pretty similar artistic journeys. Adolescent engagement with fan fiction was big for both of us, and it got me thinking about Those Magic Changes in late autumn 2016. How would it hold up? Was anyone still reading?

The answer to the first question, while I had a blast rereading it, is definitely no. I view things very differently than I used to. I'm no longer a horny, cooped up adolescent, I'm an adult woman with nearly thirty years of life experience under her belt, and through my love of media analysis (especially the film variety) I have a much finer grasp on storytelling. I even make color-coded outlines now, something I used to despise! Naturally I would write very differently at this point. Hopefully even world weary millennials like myself would enjoy reading it.

As for the second question, to my surprise and delight TMC still got a review here and there. The few readers I was still reaching hoped I would pick the story back up even though my account was long dormant, and this got me thinking about (of all things) writing again. You see, I never meant to leave this story hanging. Indeed the very first passage I wrote, a juicy one shot so potent that it single-handedly inspired me to freaking novelize a video game, was a scene I never managed to reach.

This has never sat very well with me, though I've had plenty of other things to do in the intervening years. Since I stopped writing I graduated from college, moved across the country, started my career in game development, and got married to a wonderfully supportive man. Still, even a full and often stressful life hasn't been able to keep me from this project. I was bitten in late autumn 2016, and (barring a couple few month hiatuses) I've been working on it ever since.

It's been extremely difficult at times, and I've considered giving up again. Certainly adapting twenty hours of video game poses plenty of challenges. It was very important to me to streamline and cut out story that didn't serve this medium, especially because I didn't do a good job of that at all the first time around. If I achieved that goal then this should be more accessible and fun, both for those that have played the original game and those that have not. I also maintain that I would have had a much easier time if I just started over from scratch, but I couldn't bear to throw away all my old prose. If you ever feel like wasting time by reading my original unfinished opus, you'll find plenty of it (perhaps too much) survived revision. I wouldn't recommend starting there though. Those seventeen chapters have rearranged and ballooned into twenty-five, and I promise the twists and turns are far better constructed now.

I certainly never dreamed I would come back to this project, and once I did I didn't think I'd be able to post on my original account because it was tied to a long defunct email address. I tried and failed to gain access to fire-lemur for over a year, but joy of joys I recently succeeded! And so it is with great pleasure that I submit the preface and first chapter of a planned thirty-eight. I've written twenty-six and will begin by publishing every other day as content allows. With any luck I'll finish before 2018 is done!

I sincerely hope you enjoy this silly passion project of mine!

Update: After sitting with this lengthy author's note separated out from chapter one as a preface for awhile, I decided they would be best combined. You'll therefore find that reviews for the first twelve chapters are off by one number.

Sandover Village was a provincial place. Few people called it home, and those that did weren't of great ambition. Their days were concerned with the banal trials and tribulations of a small seaside existance—fishing, farming, local gossip. So long as the harvest was good and lurkers weren't conducting raids, the villagers were content to carry on with their simple lives as they had done for generations, embracing change only when it was absolutely required.

Samos didn't share their sensibilities. As the Sage of Green Eco, it wasn't enough to merely cultivate his plants, tend to the injured, and sit back on his laurels—he was driven by the pursuit of knowledge and a desire to improve the world around him. If there were green eco vents on Sentinel Beach he would find a way to harness them. If there was increased lurker activity on Misty Island he would send capable emissaries to mitigate the threat. Surely he would slide with ease into the gray gauze of senility if he waited around the way his neighbors did rather than rising to meet life's challenges.

But in a way, he couldn't blame them.

The old man stepped out onto his second-story balcony, his six-inch tree branch sandals clip-clopping along the wooden planks. From here he could easily survey the entire village, a haphazard cluster of round huts that dotted the coast's grassy islands and hugged the nearby sandstone cliffs. Their stone and plaster walls were well scrubbed, and their terra cotta tiled roofs shimmered like ripe berries in the late summer sun. Here and there were signs of technological progress. An anemometer atop the fisherman's home spun in lazy circles, indicating the slow speed of the salty breeze, and the town's power was generated by a large windmill, spurred endlessly on by a blue eco beam reflected from the long-abandoned Precursor Temple in the Forbidden Jungle. But always it was the natural world that inspired extended viewing. As the villagers went about their business so too did the omnipresent fauna—noisy gulls cawing in the sky, yakows mooing in the farmer's pasture—and the environment they all shared was nothing short of paradise, a sublime tapestry of swaying palm trees, fluffy clouds, and rolling waves.

Samos clasped his wrinkled green hands behind his back and inhaled deeply. There was so much beauty here, even a jaded cynic like him had to appreciate it.

The sound of a large crash followed by a yelp of pain shattered his reverie.

"JAK! Watch where you drop that Precursor crap! Ya wanna kill me?"

The sage growled at the unwelcome outburst. He returned to his lab's threshold and glared inside.

The source of most of the noise stood about two feet tall and was covered ear to tail in vivid orange fur. He wore fingerless gloves over his fuzzy paws, and silver-tipped chin clasps dangled from a leather cap and goggles on his head, his only clothes. Until fairly recently he was a human, but an accident involving dark eco had turned him into an ottsel. His behavior, at least, was unchanged. He gesticulated wildly as he yelled an endless stream of grievances, his voice grating enough to drive even the most patient of souls to grind their teeth.

His companion, a teenage boy, was significantly taller and much quieter. In fact, as a mute he never said a word—his only response to his friend's remonstrations was a sheepish grin. A wild spray of gravity-defying blonde hair with green roots sprouted up above the goggles resting on his forehead, and his large eyes matched a cerulean tunic robing his slightly awkward body. One would hardly guess that this gawky youth had saved the world from certain doom just days ago.

The duo had just made use of Samos' warp gate, and rather inelegantly at that. The bundle of bronze-like Precursor metal they carried had split open, spilling all over the floor and trampling the grass that grew up between the floorboards.

"This place is a mess!" Samos yelled from the doorway, his ire commanding the adolescents' complete attention, "Clean up and get out before I turn you both into ferns!"

Boy and ottsel scrambled to do as the sage commanded and gather their scattered cargo with all speed, at which point he grumpily let them pass. They hurried out of the lab, and he stepped back to the edge of the balcony to watch them travel down the rickety walkway to ground level.

They were joined by a girl who ran out from the workshop below, her shoulder-length viridian and indigo-rooted tresses blowing about her face. Petite and slender, she was dressed in striking shades of white and purple. Her emerald eyes gleamed and she clapped her hands, unable to contain her excitement at the sizeable haul of Precursor Ring parts. As soon as it was deposited, she bent to her knees and ran her fingers over the ancient metal with uncommon reverence. Like Samos, she was intellectually curious, and he smiled warmly at the sight of her.

Then a shadowy thought crossed his mind, darkening his mood, and he fiddled with his spectacles out of force of habit. Whatever contentment he had nurtured over the years was now short-lived. He would have a mere few weeks more to enjoy the peace of the village before events far beyond his control would be set into motion. He regarded the trio, still children in so many ways, and deeply regretted the trials they would face.

After the girl dealt out instructions, the boys turned to trudge up the walkway for another trip through the warp gate. It was clear by the way they dragged their feet that they were wary of disturbing Samos. That at least would always give him a good chuckle.

"How many more times do we have to climb this junk heap?" Daxter groused, "I'm gettin' sick of all this heavy lifting!"

Jak shook his head, considering as to how he was the one who really did all the work—not that he minded. He was always game for fresh air and exercise, especially if it was in service of the Green Eco Sage's beautiful daughter. The only thing that did bother him was his friend's incessant complaining.

Having just scaled Gol and Maia's Citadel for the fifth time that day, Daxter was more than a little irritated. Even making use of the warp gates, it still took a good hour to make a single trip. As they rode an elevator up to their final destination, the ottsel ranted about the injustice of their task and blamed it all on Samos. Jak tuned him out, years of practice under his belt.

They disembarked on top of the citadel's highest tower and counted the remaining pieces of the Precursor Ring. The mute happily noted that this would be their last haul. He was sore and exhausted, and the low angle of the sun urged him toward the comforts of home. Removing a rough-hewn net from his satchel, he spread it on the ground in one fluid motion and proceeding to pile the remaining pieces in the center. Having made multiple trips a day for several days, he had become well practiced at loading and tying off the net. It had proved effective insurance against further chastisement from Samos, but if he wasn't discreet about it Uncle Kornelious might try and take advantage of his newfound skill and conscript him as a porter for an expedition.

Daxter walked over to the last small section and bodily dragged it over. "Don't worry, buddy. I got this one covered!" However, since the diminutive animal always rode on his much larger friend's shoulder, Jak would still be saddled with the weight. Tightly gripping the hunk of metal with furry fingers, Daxter jumped up, and the unprepared boy fell to his knees with a grunt.

"You're lucky to have such a dependable pal like me, huh, big guy?"

He raised a skeptical green eyebrow at his companion and hoisted his bulky net, but a moment later his silent gripes were forgotten. Something glinted as it bounced out from a piece of Precursor Ring, a tiny but bright flicker that caught his eye. He dropped his burden with a loud ka-clang and lurched forward, causing a cursing Daxter to fall to the ground in the process. Just before the glowing object soared over the tower's edge down to the forest far below, Jak caught it. He brought his closed fist up close to his face before carefully opening it, and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Jak!"

At the sound of Daxter's irritated voice, he speedily tucked the item into a weathered pouch hanging from his belt.

"What the hell are ya tryin' to do?! Are you an' Big Green plotting against me, or something?"

Jak turned back to his glaring friend and grinned an apology.

"What, like you smilin' is gonna make me feel better?" the ottsel demanded, rubbing the back of his head.

Kneeling so as to be nearer the same height, Jak made the most imploring crocapuppy eyes he could manage.

Daxter leaned away, miffed. "Hey, stop that! Don't give me that look!"

Going for the kill, Jak puffed out his lower lip. His expression was now as uncomfortably pitiful as possible.

"Fine then!" Daxter relinquished, "I'll forgive you if you stop making that face!"

The mute nodded triumphantly and did as he was asked.

"The things I put up with," the ottsel grumbled as he got to his feet and dusted himself off, "At least, I'm the still stud of the duo." Licking his paw, he slicked back his ears and struck a pose fit for a randy flut flut.

Jak rolled his eyes even as a quiet chuckle escaped his lips. Daxter was always good for a laugh. Helping his small friend onto his shoulder and once again lifting the bundle of Precursor Ring parts, he stepped back onto the elevator and the two were on their way.

Keira turned off her blowtorch and lifted her welding mask, exhaling as she wiped the sweat off her brow. After painstakingly disassembling, cataloging, blueprinting, and moving every individual piece back to Sandover Village, the large, zoomer-like machine they had found atop Gol and Maia's Citadel was nearly complete. The odd thing about it was that it wasn't Precursor technology. Some of its instruments were Precursor in origin, but on the whole, it was made of materials she had never seen before. Stranger yet, there was something familiar about its design, as though she inherently understood the logic of the engineer responsible. This had the advantage of speeding up its reconstruction considerably, and she could hardly wait to learn exactly what the vehicle could do. It sat outside her workshop, next to a growing pile of similarly carted parts from the far larger Precursor Ring.

Her thoughts briefly turned to the ones tasked with all the moving. Really just the one though. Not only was Jak responsible for the grunt work, he was also the object of her affection.

Despite how obviously she flirted with him, Keira was still unsure of his real feelings. That was the trouble with having a crush who couldn't speak—she had to rely almost entirely on his body language, and he had an unfortunate propensity for blowing hot and cold. Sometimes she would catch him stealing furtive glances at her, and other times he would be as slippery and evasive as a fish. He had always been shy, but that seemed a poor excuse given that they grew up together.

Surely if the appropriate setting presented itself—one where they were alone—she could suss him out. But no matter if that "sussing" was verbal or otherwise, interruptions never failed to occur. When the two had tried to kiss after he defeated Gol and Maia, Daxter told them to put it on ice.

Keira wistfully sighed, remembering every detail of the occasion. They were intoxicated with the flush of victory and turned to one another all congratulatory smiles. Then there was a blaze of intensity in Jak's gaze, and she knew exactly what they would do next. The nearby talk of the Sages and Daxter melted into white noise, and she felt as though they were the only two people in the world. They leaned toward each other, his hand tentatively rising to cup her cheek.

But the moment had been broken, and since then Jak had been nothing but diffident. Keira wondered if it was possible to ever get it back before she lowered her welding mask into place and returned to her work. This was no time for taking a break, not even for daydreaming about romance. Whenever Precursor technology was involved the engineer in her wouldn't be denied.

An hour or so later, she heard Daxter's distinct voice floating down from the lab above. Craning around for a better look, she saw the duo wearily trudging down the walkway, burden in hand. Carefully placing her tools so she could easily pick up where she left off, she hopped down from the machine, eager to inspect the last sections of the Precursor Ring.

No sooner did she walk up than the ottsel composed himself and said, "Hey, baby! Whaddya say to givin' Orange Lightning a big smackaroo?"

He puckered up his fuzzy lips, and Keira obligingly smacked him.

"HEY!" he yelled, indignant.

Ignoring him, the green-haired girl walked over to Jak's bundle and happily exclaimed, "I can't believe you got the whole ring moved in just four days!" She knelt to open the net but found herself fumbling with the knots. They had become increasingly difficult to undo, and her brow furrowed as she realized today was no different.

She froze when Jak's fingers clasped hers. A giddy shock coursed up her arm and through her body, weakening her knees. After lingering for one glorious moment, he gently pulled her hands off the net and set about untying it himself.

Keira studied the guarded expression on his face, searching for any semblance of what she felt. He remained determinedly focused on his task. She stood and left him to finish unloading the parts, frustrated.

Once labor on the vehicle wrapped a couple days later, it was time for the mother lode—reassembling the Precursor Ring.

Keira worked furiously for several weeks, possessed by a total obsession with her project. A small work table had been moved outside for her, and after only the first day it was littered with sketches, blueprints, tools, and remnants of the day's meals. It was not uncommon for her to forget to eat or stay up too late, at which point she would be very grumpy. Samos worried over her health, Jak tried to get her to rest more, and even Daxter was thoughtful enough to bring her snacks, but she would not slow her pace. The forces of creation were pulsing in her mechanic's veins, and she was compelled to continue.

Each stage of construction presented its own challenges. Right off the bat was the matter of where the Precursor Ring would go, and between how little extra space the tiny island upon which her father's hut stood had to offer, the probability that the vehicle would require some runway, and the potential hazards of something going wrong with the test, it was deemed best for the Ring to not be on the island at all. And so scaffolding and a long ramp were erected, sloping gently out and up to where the mammoth structure would be suspended over the ocean.

This made for a dangerous construction site, and it only grew more tenuous as the Ring loomed higher and higher. More scaffolding became necessary, providing ever more opportunities to fall into the rocky water below, and there were some close calls. In one such incident, Daxter slipped and Jak caught him by the tail, losing his own balance in the process. Both came crashing down on the rough planks of the ramp, narrowly missing the edge.

After one arduous month, on a rare cloudy day, Keira deemed the Precursor Ring complete at last. She was making some minor adjustments when Jak arrived. So engrossed was she in the task at hand that she didn't hear him walk up, and when he tapped her on the back she screeched in surprise.

"Oh, Jak! It's you!" She mentally slapped herself for sounding so lame as she stammered, "No Daxter I see… um, what are you doing here?"

He gestured to the Precursor Ring towering over them with a questioning look, and she read his meaning easily.

"Yep, It's finally done! We'll be able to test it out tomorrow."

Keira bounced on her sandaled heels in anticipation, but when Jak quietly laughed she planted her feet and asked, "What? What's so funny?"

He raised a large index finger and tapped her forehead.

"No, you're the one who's funny," she retorted as she rubbed the spot he touched, blushing, "acting so weird."

He crossed his arms and continued smiling at her, softly shaking his head. His spiky hair and long ears swayed with the motion.

Keira indignantly straightened up. "Stop making fun of me. You know how I am when it comes to stuff like this." She tossed her hand at the Precursor Ring and zoomer in illustration. "Anyway, what do you want?"

In answer, Jak gestured at the sun and lowered his arm until it was pointing below the horizon. Then he indicated Keira, himself, and the ground beneath their feet.

"You want me to meet you here after sunset?"

He nodded.

"What for?"

Jak replied with a bashful shrug, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. After pointing at the ground again to emphasize his request, he waved goodbye and turned to trot back down the bridge to the village.

Keira placed her hands on her hips and stared after him. Her eyes traveled down his body, taking in his slim yet strong torso and lingering on his backside. A tremor rippled through her, and she abruptly resumed her work.

Later that evening, the clouds cleared, allowing the stars to wink into view above the pink horizon. She was still tinkering when Jak returned. Noticing his approach, she quickly dropped her tools and reached for a cloth to wipe up the grime. She turned to welcome him, but as soon as he stepped off the bridge he halted and stared at her. He pressed his lips together tightly, and soon he was bent over, shaking, trying to keep himself from laughing.

Utterly confused, Keira was about to demand what was wrong when she looked down at herself. To her horror, she was even dirtier than before. Her attention snapped back to her work table, and she saw that the cloth she had mopped herself with wasn't a clean one but a filthy rag she had been using on the Precursor Ring.

At the flabbergasted expression on her face, Jak was barely able to contain his laughter.

She stared at him, stung. "Very funny!"

Hearing the stern tone in her voice, the boy straightened up and crossed his arms in an attempt to sober up, but he was betrayed by quivering lips and flaring nostrils. His failure to keep himself in check was now so ridiculous that Keira couldn't help but crack a smile. He nodded at her, futilely pressing a tight fist against his screwy mouth.

"I'm not laughing," she insisted as she unsuccessfully bit back a snicker, and the jig was up. Both of them exploded into an uncontrollable fit of mirth.

"Alright, you win," she conceded as she brushed tears off her cheeks, "I'll be right back."

She ran inside to wash up and change into fresh clothes, still laughing to herself. She would have liked a proper bath, but she wasn't about to leave Jak waiting that long. With a cursory glance in the mirror, she decided she looked good enough and stepped back outside.

Jak stood at the base of the Precursor Ring, deep in thought. He quickly turned around when he heard her approach. Flashing an inviting grin, he walked toward the bridge and cocked his head for her to follow. They descended into the village in single file, their path demarcated by small lanterns and the windows cheerily glowing from lamps and fires within.

"Where are we going?" Keira asked.

She almost ran into Jak when he stopped and faced her. He smiled as if to promise her she would like it and shyly took her hand in his. Again, she felt his touch rocket through her system like an electric shock. Somehow remaining composed, Keira returned the smile and allowed him to lead her forward.

The pair walked on in silence under the star-peppered sky. Turning inland after the farmer's hut, the two headed up to the entrance to Fire Canyon. Pulling her to the left of the small pass, Jak released her hand and began climbing up through a narrow and easily overlooked crevasse in the sandstone. Now even more interested in their destination, Keira eagerly scrambled after him. After thirty feet or so, the crevasse expanded into a small ledge. Stepping up onto it, Keira looked around and saw Jak scaling a stair-like formation that hugged the cliff face. She followed, and just when she wondered how much longer the climb could possibly go on, she found herself standing at the top of the cliffs overlooking Sandover Village.

The round roofs below stood in silhouette to the glow cast by the lights indoors, and Samos' lab shone above it all like a beacon. Sentinel Beach, the Forbidden Jungle, and even Misty Island far in the distance were all visible, bathed in starlight. Soft waves endlessly undulated over blue sand, whispering a rhythmic lullaby.

The view took Keira's breath away. "How have I never heard of this spot before?"

The mute beamed with pride, clearly pleased by her reaction.

"It's absolutely beautiful," she affirmed as she sat down to lean against an accommodating rock.

Jak joined her and indicated the village below, an excited glimmer in his eyes.

The mechanic understood his gesture with ease. "I know. I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight knowing tomorrow's the big test. Can you believe how fast the time has flown?"

He shook his head in answer and was still.

The pair sat side by side in companionable silence for a time, watching the stars in the sky and listening to the ocean. Yet even with all the abundant splendor around them, Keira felt herself grow more and more antsy with each passing moment. One reason was her proximity to Jak. She was close enough to hear him breathing and, though they weren't touching, feel the heat of his body next to hers. There was no Daxter, no father, no urgent world-saving task to get in the way. Just her and him. She wanted to reach out and touch him as she had yearned for so long, but now that they were well and truly alone she was too nervous to do anything bold.

She decided to discuss the other issue bugging her. "What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?"

He shrugged.

"To be honest, I'm a little bit scared to find out. Maybe it'll be something incredible. Maybe our names will go down in history for what we discover… or maybe not. Maybe it'll be awful, and we'll be to blame for some terrible disaster." She paused long enough to heave a mighty sigh. "Anything can happen if the Precursors are involved."

Jak waved a hand to get her attention, and he shook his head, his brow knit with concern.

"You think I'm worrying too much?"

He nodded.

She sighed again. "You're right. I'm being silly, and I really do want to go through with tomorrow. It's just…" I'm afraid.

Keira truly did want to start the vehicle and see what the Precursor Ring would do. She had far too curious of a mind not to. But now, after weeks of hard work, she had begun to doubt the test. After all, this was Precursor technology, the most powerful and potentially dangerous force their planet had ever known, even more so than dark eco. What if something bad did happen? What if she was hurt in the process? What if her father or Daxter or Jak was? What if she couldn't do anything to help them?

Despite herself, Keira rested her head on Jak's shoulder. He immediately stiffened but soon relaxed enough to wrap his arm around her. Closing her eyes, she felt every finger slide over her shoulder.

"Tell me a secret," she whispered.

Ever since they were children, it was something they said to each other. Gestured or wrote in Jak's case. They would share simple things, like silly preferences and quirks. It was like a special conversation between just the two of them, always ongoing, always comforting.

Jak responded by rummaging around in a pouch on his belt. Keira picked her head back up, curious. He withdrew a closed fist and held it out in front of her. She obligingly raised an open hand beneath his and was astonished by what he dropped into it.

A small, round object no bigger than her pinky fingernail fell into her palm. It glowed brightly, emitting a pure white light that illuminated their faces and pushed back the darkness beyond. A delicious warmth instantly radiated through her entire body, and she felt all her anxieties wash away.

"Is that… light eco?"

He gently closed her fingers around the shining gift.

She stared at him, totally floored. "But… I can't take this! For all we know this is the only light eco crystal in the entire world!"

Indeed, Jak was incredibly lucky to have obtained a substance as precious and rare as light eco a second time, much less a permanent crystallized version. The fact that he would choose to give it to her rather than keep it for himself… The enormity of such a gift was staggering.

"Jak, I…"

Something about the way he gazed at her stole the words from her tongue. She felt as though he peered into her innermost thoughts, searching for an answer to an unspoken question.

He tapped his lower lip with the tip of his finger. Tell me a secret.

Keira hesitated, mesmerized by Jak's magnetic presence, his deep blue eyes, his enticing mouth. His hand, still hovering below his chin, trembled ever so slightly, a mirror to her own nerves. Her pulse quickened, and she swallowed in anticipation of what she was about to admit.

"I really want to kiss you," she declared in a breathless tumble of words, and she pressed her lips against his. Just as quickly she broke away, her head light and spinning.

Jak stared at her, dumbfounded, then cracked a joyous smile. He caressed her cheek and tenderly pulled her back for more.

A/N: As you will see in subsequent author's notes I've been making various illustrations for this fic, and I went back to make one for this chapter! In keeping with the title illustration it's like a panel straight out of a manga. You can check it (along with a version of it from a whole twelve years ago) out at the growing imgur album for TMC. Just remove the stars from the following url (htt*ps:/*/*im*gur.c*om*/*a/Hopu6dr), and feel free to bookmark it for ease of access to future updates. Be careful scrolling too far though! There may be illustrations of some pivotal moments down the road that could be considered spoilers. ;)