AN: I doubt many of you noticed since it's been a year since I've updated, but I deleted the original sequel to start anew. I've had a long while to ponder the story and decided to redo these first few chapters. I have a good idea of what I wish to do. Besides, the story is not as dark as it should be considering how the events will play out. On a final note, the author inserts will not be happening because it is too much hassle to include them all while keeping the fiction clean. The five keepers and the light child will remain but that will be about it. I hope you all understand and I still appreciate your support from the original fiction. I also hope to clean that one up eventually. There's a little bit of threads fanart at my dA gallery if you're interested, though I'm sure a good amount of you have seen. Anyway, I thank you for your support and the loyal fans who have been with me since the beginning. And now I give you the revised version of Threads of the Past.

Author's Blunder: I noticed when I first introduced the Key, it was the Key of Ilth Klaire. Now, you can see that I have through time, changed it to the Key of Ilithe Klaire. My apologies, I didn't even realize my blunder until I started working on the new fanfiction page of my site. Let's just say it has two spellings, OK?

Disclaimer: I do not own nor ever will own the original characters and settings of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy or Jak II: Renegade. You no sue, I no yell.

Phoe-chan Presents

A Jak and Daxter Fiction

The Precursor Legacy: Threads of the Past

Sequel to Secrets of the White Eco

::Prologue::

The news of Lady Zoiyendra's disappearance had shocked the already dividing and war-scarred empire of the Precursors. Rumors sprang about and less and less of the men had faith in their superiors. Something needed to be done. However, Lord Aaeran's plan to crumble the empire that King Norimus ruled would be foiled by one little girl...

---

"This is mutiny, Aaeran!"

"Goodbye, Zoiyendra. Learn of your King's fall in the history books."

"No!"

From the shrubbery just out of sight, a pair of wide green eyes surveyed act of treason and swelled with unshed tears. Something had to be done.

Moving away from the scene, the small figure moved to a hidden room within the confinements of the palace, all the while reciting whispers of arcane spells.

Running thin, nimble fingers over the rim of a jewel encrusted bowl, the girl's hand waved over the rosy colored smoke billowing from it. The wisps swirled around her fingers, eliciting a smoky sketch of Precursor symbols as the lines of the spell carved its way into the magick.

"Oh, my Ancestors, hear my Plea,

Send this spell to Ilithe's Key

Wind and twist through time and space,

To find Milady, whom you embrace.

Save my people when she returns

Before the sun sets and our empire burns."

Finalizing the spell with the addition of a small cluster of White Eco, the girl watches the bowl erupt with white light, shooting up into an astrological design in the ceiling, before disappearing from that time all-together.

---

One year.

From the changing of the leaves, to the first spring thaw, had the land seen less and less of the darklings that still plagued its shadows.

One whole year of fighting, slaying and restoring the lands to their prosperity before her arrival.

Yes, her. The female warrior, Lady Zoiyendra. It was, in some essence, her fault for the events that followed her arrival. Korak's escape, the corruption of Julayla, the unleashing of a thousand-fold darklings onto the lands that once held the Precursor race, all these events were somehow tied to her.

So, was she to blame? Was it really her fault? Could she have prevented some of these events?

Granted, good things came from her return. With the help of her new friends, she found the legendary Warrior of Lights and the Key of Ilithe Klaire. She unearthed two channelers and the Master Weapon. She restored her memories and discovered herself as the White Light Keeper and she had seen the Iridescent Light that destroyed Korak and most of his spawn.

But, was it all justified? She put many at risk with her foolishness. Could one really call it 'even'?

The thoughts of the rogue Precursor were scattered when a screech from above signaled a darkling had spotted her. Tattered wings with spidery veins flapped against the wind as the creature descended down toward Zoi, mouth open to deliver a deadly bite filled with searing pain. Just feet before the creature reached her, Zoi raised her eyes, watching coolly as two arrows shot into the darkling's chest. It shrieked and dropped where it was hit, sailing down the side of the cliff into the rocky waters of Rock Village below.

Zoi slowly turned her eyes to where Tai sat on a ledge above her perch, crouched down with his bow drawn. The wet droplets of rain trailed his well-defined features and dark chocolate skin. The one eye not covered by the patch on his face bore down on Zoi as if trying to read what was going on in her head.

"You know that creature almost got you."

"You were there to shoot it down."

"What if I hadn't been?"

"Then I would have taken action."

Tai tugged one long pointed ear that hung from the side of his head as he sighed. She was always like this. Not having the closure of knowing what happened to her people left her an empty shell. Not to mention the betrayal she had endured had scarred her deeply.

Re-adjusting the hat on his head and strapping his weapon to his back, Tai stretched his lithe yet lanky form and stood, gazing down at Zoi once more before turning and walking back towards Rock Village, but stopping long enough to pop a few gummies in his mouth.

Despite her sorrowful thoughts, the corners of Zoi's mouth quirked at seeing the colorful treats pass the dark-skinned elf's lips.

---

Daxter's beady black eyes darted back down to the cards in his hand. His brow twitched slightly as he debated his next play. His opponent and best friend, Jak, smirked smugly across the table and ran his fingers absently across the blade of his Master weapon.

"Damnit, Jak! Will you stop doing that? It's driving me crazy!" Daxter snapped, almost flinging his cards up in the air. Jak snorted in reply, trying his best to keep up a poker face without dying in laughter.

"Sorry, Dax, but this blade's so sharp and shiny; I just can't help myself!" Jak joked, pushing the buttons even further. Over the past year, Daxter's attitude had slightly rubbed off on the Warrior of Lights. But, his heart remained pure.

His attention tuned out of the game and into the familiar figure walking in. Rugged clothes, hat slung backwards on his head, eye patch over his right eye and a very large bow across his back, Tai fitted nicely with his friends as the rogue group they had become. His boots clunking against the wood flooring, Tai spun a wooden chair around and sat on it backwards, eyeing the two's poker game. A few orbs were on the table and it looked like Jak was winning, again.

"Getting your butt kicked again, Dax?" Tai inquired, dark brow raised in question as Daxter cursed silently, tempted to give an unfriendly gesture to his very friendly friend. Raking a hand through his tousled locks of fiery red hair, Daxter contemplated whether to take a chance or fold. He really took his games seriously.

Jak, on the other hand, was just as cool as ever, perched on his chair with both legs spread out, knees bent, in a typical masculine position. He had lost the blue leather and khakis for a pair of tan shorts that had seen better days and more leather belts than one could begin to imagine. His boots were heavy and gave him protection when he needed it. When it was cold, he had a jacket to wear, but he normally went shirtless for the weather was relentless this time of the year. His hair was long now, never bothering to cut it even though a few pieces hung over his face, accenting the stone embeded in his forehead. Occasionally he would pull it into a loose ponytail to keep it out of the way but today he had it down. He also had a goatee for about two weeks, but shaved it back off once Keira found out.

Jak's attention turned to the green-haired beauty as she sat on a bench not too far away, polishing the blades of her glaive. She'd dropped the cute Sandover look and went with a more flexible, yet sexy attire. A tight white tank top that showed off her midriff and some tight purple shorts with some boots. She had turned her curves into hard muscle with a whole year of training to fight. Her hair was longer now, portions falling over her face to hide those wide green eyes that seemed to analyze everything within her peripheral vision. She was definitely keen to rest eyes upon.

Daxter finally scoffed and tossed his hand down, muttering something about cheating blondes. Jak just grinned and took his prize of Precursor Orbs. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

Turning his attention back to Tai, Daxter propped his feet up on the table, glancing around the square where quite commonly the Gambler or the Hero could be seen in their own poker match. "Where's Zoi, man?"

Tai tilted his head before replying, "Where she usually is, on that cliff, under the tree. I had to shoot down a darkling before it plowed itself into her, kamikaze style."

Daxter frowned, but said no more. She was usually mellow, but it was getting worse. She was never so apathetic as to ignore a darkling attack. "She didn't even see it?" Jak inquired.

Tai shrugged, "She said she knew I was above her on another ledge. I didn't question it. We all know she's good enough to do that."

Jak nodded, rubbing his chin in thought. "Go talk to her, Dax."

"Why me?"

"Cuz you're in love with her, you dolt." Tai muttered, popping more candy into his mouth.

"I'm not a dolt. And stop eating that stuff; you'll be bouncing off the walls before nightfall." Daxter scolded. Tai shrugged and continued to eat while Jak snickered at Daxter's "motherly" moment.

Keira stood up and walked up to the three boys. "If you three are done chatting, the rain's let up enough that we can patrol now."

Jak nodded in confirmation and stood up, re-adjusting the gauntlets on his hands. Daxter, too, stood up and brushed off his jacket, which now went down to his knees. "Man, it's times like these I wish this thing had sleeves, I'm still gonna get my white shirt wet."

Jak shrugged. "You could just not wear anything, I'm sure all the girls would just love that."

Daxter made a face in mockery of Jak. "I may not have your 6-pack, Jak, but I am almost as tall as you are, now."

Jak nodded, for he was right. Daxter had grown a lot since the fight with Korak. He was still very skinny but his body was trim, traveling across the country had given him well-toned muscles for his small figure.

Keira giggled and winked at Daxter. "I know someone who wouldn't mind you dropping your under-shirt, Daxter."

Daxter, despite being one to throw out jokes himself, turned a faint shade of pink. Keira just laughed and slung an arm around his shoulders. "I think she likes you just the way you are, Dax."

Daxter nodded. But she still doesn't love me…

"Dax, you stay out of patrol tonight. I'm taking just Keira and Tai with me. There are few darklings left anyway, so I doubt we'll find any tonight."

Daxter was about to protest but Jak's voice filled his thoughts. 'Take this time to talk to Zoi. We'll stay clear of the area.'

'Man, I hate it when you do that. It makes me wonder if you use the White Eco to spy on all our thoughts. And anyways, I hope you aren't trying to suggest anything, Jak. That'd be a real trip coming from you.'

'That's not funny. Just do it.'

Daxter shrugged and sauntered off, grabbing a grass umbrella on the way out.

---

Zoi sighed once again as she felt the droplets of rain seep through her hair and clothes, touching her skin with a cold tingle. The tree gave her some shelter, but ever so often those drops of water would break through and land on her billowy lavender hair. Her pale gray eyes surveyed the waters out in the distance as her arms instinctively pulled tighter around her small frame. She shivered slightly and closed her eyes to relish in the feeling of solitude.

Her moment was brought to a crashing halt when she felt someone's arms wrap around her. As she turned to find out who the intruder was, she was stilled when she felt gentle lips on her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eye, she recognized the vertical red hair as Daxter's and relaxed into his hold, letting him continue his feathery caress.

Daxter's lips trailed softly up Zoi's shoulder blade and the column of her alabaster neck as she let out a sigh of pleasure, leaning back into his chest. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, content to have Daxter soothe her with such gentle yet daring motions.

Over the year, their relationship had not progressed very much due to so much time being given to wipe out the population of darklings. However, the other reason was that Zoi kept herself at a distance from Daxter. He would attempt to make a move up and she would step back down. It was a continuous bout and the others wondered just what exactly was going on between the two.

Daxter was madly in love with Zoi.

But, Zoi…?

He wondered if she didn't think the Key, himself, and a warrior, herself, could be together. Or, perhaps she thought she might hurt him, like when she died. Or, the worst possible scenario…

She just didn't love him.

He was just something she used as a sanctuary whenever times got rough.

But, Daxter was so obsessed with her that he would wait an eternity. He didn't care if she used him. He was determined to find out exactly what she felt, though.

Below them, over the sound of the water crashing against the rocky cliff, was one boat, three elves, and one anger, hungry lurker shark.

"Damnit, Tai! Why'd you grab its tail?"

"I was trying to keep it from biting your ass off, Jak!"

"Will you BOTH be QUIET!"

Both men were silenced by the woman. Ah, the power of a high-pitched voice.

"My ears hurt."

"Mine, too."

Zoi chuckled; despite having her senses tingled by Daxter's lips teasing her skin. He grinned, liking the way she relaxed in his arms and nipped softly at her skin, as he had accidentally seen Jak do to Keira, when walking in on the two.

Zoi drew a sharp intake of breath and reality came crashing back down to her. No! You can't do this! This is Daxter! It's not right!

Zoi blinked twice before pulling out of Daxter's arms, but he held firm. Since when had he gotten so strong? "Let go, Daxter."

"Why are you pushing me away when you enjoy how I make you feel?"

"Because it's not right."

Daxter frowned. "But at least it's keeping you from being so depressed."

Zoi narrowed her eyes and turned to Daxter. Her brow furrowed as she struggled for a reply. "That doesn't matter. I'm not going to use you just so I can feel better. Just because you're a Key doesn't mean I'm going to use you like an object of pleasure, Daxter."

Daxter swallowed the lump that was forming. "We need to talk about our relationship…"

"We have no relationship, Daxter," Zoi scowled, not looking at his face.

And Daxter's heart shattered.

Suddenly the sky turned dark as earth began to shake around them. "What in all of the Precursors—!" Keira exclaimed, grabbing onto Jak and Tai to keep from falling.

Just then a loud crackle was heard like thunder after a strike of lightning. Then a streak of white light erupted and engulfed the five rogue warriors.

When the light dissipated they were gone.

---

Jak stood up and looked around. Nothing was familiar to him. Tai soon followed, muttering that his gummies spilled and he'd have to buy more. Keira sat up and pulled herself to her feet with the aide of Daxter.

They stood atop a rocky mountain range that seemed to circle around. The then noticed Zoi staring past them into the valley surrounded by the mountains.

In the center of the vale was a beautiful sparkling city donned in what looked like the style of the Precursor Ruins surrounding the villages. Several villages surrounded the towering city and foliage and varying landscapes spread out around the valley. But what Zoi said next shocked them all beyond belief.

"Ember Pinnacles, the Precursorian Capital City… My home…"

To be continued…

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AN: Just a few changes here and there in this prologue. There will be more drastic changes in the next chapter that was posted. I hope you enjoyed and I look forward to your feedback. Thanks for your time.

Phoe-chan