Chapter IX: Epilogue

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(Haven Palace)

"Keira…" Ashelin tried to explain Jak's sacrifice to the distraught young woman as she sobbed onto Firenza's comforting shoulder. "Jak is sacrificing his life to save us all… especially you and the baby. We know this is going to be hard, but we will be here for you."

"He'll never get to see his child grow up!" Keira sobbed harder into the fabric of Firenza's shoulder.

"Jak has left us his legacy." Firenza said soothingly, silent tears also running down her face. "The baby that you carry is Jak Mar's son… or daughter. Half-Precursor! Metal-Head friend! Royalty! And it will no doubt have a warrior's spirit."

"It's not fair." Tess said. "There should've been another way."

"There is no other way." Pecker said sadly. "Onin had said, 'Someone will die today… but it will be for the greater good…"

"Greater good?" Keira demanded. "What 'greater good'? Jak's dead. My child will be fatherless! I'll be alone!" Keira broke down in more tears. "I would've married Jak… but that's not going to happen now!"

"But…" Pecker began to explain himself when a flash of light interrupted him. Once the spots dancing in front of everyone's eyes cleared, they saw… Jak standing at the window!

"Jak?" Ashelin asked, surprised.

"Jak!" Keira screamed. "You're alive!"

"What about the bomb?" Firenza asked.

"Did you get cold feet?" Torn asked. All the above comments were made at the same exact time.

"SHUT-UP!" Jak yelled, still staring out the window. Everyone looked confused as they slowly, one by one, joined Jak at the window. He was watching the purple, star-like object that was the Dark Ship. For several seconds, nothing happed, and then the ship suddenly exploded. This was caused by every ounce of Eco getting sucked out of the ship, and then the unstable molecules exploded… nothing, if anything had lived though the initial Eco sucking, could've survived.

Within seconds, it was over. Jak sank to his knees, forehead against the cold hard metal wall, he pounding the wall with his fist over and over as he sobbed loudly and uncontrollably.

"Jak, was that the Eco-Bane?" Ashelin asked. Jak nodded sadly in his misery. "But… who activated it?"

"It was… Daxter." Jak sobbed. This time Tess, who had been standing on his left sank down to her knees and gave a loud cry of anguish. "Daxter gave his life to save mine… so that I could be in Keira's and my child's life." Keira took her cue and sat on Jak's right side. The couple embraced each other, sobbing into each other's shoulders. Jak was surprised to discover that Tess was holding onto him in her grief. So, Jak took his left arm off of Keira and put it around Tess, who immediately began to sob onto his shoulder. The other's slowly joined, until it was one large group hug, everyone mourning over the loss of a friend, and each person comforting one another in their grief.

"Jak…" Ashelin finally said. "Your crowning is in two weeks… but… if you need time…"

"Thanks, Ash." Jak said, before going back to mourning.

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(One month later)

Things had been quite shaken up within the little group of friends in the month following Daxter's death. There had been a nice funeral, but the casket and the grave were both empty, a funeral without a body. Jak doubted they would ever find the body… Jak had comforted both Keira and Tess though out the whole ceremony. Jak knew that Tess had loved Daxter. She was his girlfriend and Jak was his best friend, so the two took comfort in each other. Jak had offered Tess room and board in the Palace until she got back up on her feet, which she accepted with tearful eyes.

Jak had also given most of Daxter's messages to their recipients, and he felt a little better knowing that his best friend's dying wish was mostly fulfilled.

Jak and Keira had begun to spend a lot of time together, discussing their new adventure, parenthood.

On this particular day, Jak and Keira were sitting on a small, grassy area in front of the stadium. Keira was now three months pregnant and Jak had become super protective. Almost never letting her out of his sight and growing sick with worry when she was. Even now, he had his arm wrapped protectively around her and growled at anyone who even looked at her funny.

"Jak!" Keira laughed, "If you don't like people giving us funny looks, why don't you stop acting like an over-protective Crocadogs?"

"I could never be too protective of you or the kid." Jak said. "Besides… I worry…"

"Sweetie, you can barely tell I'm pregnant." Keira said. "I've still got six months. You'll have plenty of time to worry later on."

Jak stared at Keira in a love-struck sort of way, grinning slightly. "I love you." He breathed, and then he paused for a second. "Do you love me?" Jak asked suddenly.

Keira looked at Jak as though he were stupid. "Jak, I'm carrying your child! If I didn't love you, I would've gone along with Whubvaii's 'treatment'."

"Well, the reason I ask is…" He pulled out a small, black, velvet-covered box. He opened it and showed it to Keira… it was a diamond ring! "Well… marry me?"

"Jak!" Keira said, taking the box from Jak happily. But, then she paused. "Oh Jak, are you doing this just because I'm pregnant? I know this is the right thing, but I don't want you to propose for the wrong reasons." Jak sighed and reached back into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Keira looked at it. "A receipt?"

"For the ring.I know it's not tradition." Jak said. "But I knew you'd think that. Look at the date." Keira did. "Three days before that whole mess started. I was sure then, and I'm even more sure now." Jak paused. "So?"

"Yes, Jak, of coarse I'll marry you." Keira said happily as she hugged Jak there on the grass, and she snuggled into his gladly returned embrace.

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(Later)

Jak and Keira had agreed on a speedy wedding, since Keira's pregnancy would show before long. So, within two weeks, Jak and Keria were man and wife.

That was not the only thing that happened that month. Ashelin decided that Jak's marriage meant that he had gotten over Daxter enough to take big responsibilities. So she asked him if he was ready to take the Throne that was rightfully his by birthright and Prophecy. But, Jak decided that it was time to face fate, which he did. In a grand ceremony, Jak took the Crown and placed it on his head to become His Royal Highness, King Jak Mar, and his four-month pregnant wife became Queen Keira Mar.

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(Five Months Later…)

"Congratulations, Your Highness!" the doctor said happily after a long delivery. "It's a young Prince!"

"A boy!" Jak cried happily as he rushed past the doctor, completely forgetting that he was suppose to act 'regal' in his rush to see his wife and his son. He rushed to the room where Keira had been the past few hours.

Jak opened the door to the room. His wife, Keira, lay on the only bed in the room, exhausted but pleased. She held a small bundle in her arms. She looked up at Jak as he approached, her eyes shining. "Jak, it's a boy!"

Jak sat on the bed beside her and saw his son for the first time ever. He was asleep and his face had that eternal calm look that only babies could achieve. A small tuft of green, exactly the same color as Jak's green streaks, was just visible. "He has my hair." Jak said, "But…he has your nose…"

"Here." Keira said, handing over her son carefully. "The father should hold him."

Jak held the little baby carefully, aware of how fragile babies are. With a pang Jak realized that, if it had not been for Daxter, he wouldn't even be there, holding his son. And, with another pang, he realized that there was still one message that he never delivered. Jak looked down at his son fondly. "Uncle Daxter says, 'Hi'."

"Your Highness?" The doctor interrupted. "We need a name for the announcement…"

Jak thought for a moment. Then, he heard his Precursor side whisper a single word… Dandin…

"Dandin?" Jak wondered out loud.

Keira looked up at Jak, and then to the baby. "Dandin?" She paused. "I think that's a wonderful name."

---

Later on, Firenza (Elvin form, of coarse.) and Samos were allowed in, since they were family.

"So, I have a grandson now?" Samos asked happily. The couple smiled that 'happy parent' smile.

Firenza laughed. "He's more like my great-great-great-great-great-great—well, you get the idea, grandson. She reached out toward the boy, Dandin, but as soon as she touched him her hand shot back like it had been burned. She stared at the little baby in shock. "He shocked me!" She breathed in amazement.

"Half-Precursor." Jak said, nodding slowly. "Someday, he'll be able to use those powers."

"May we ask the name?" Samos asked.

Jak and Keira smiled at each other. "Dandin… Dandin Mar." Jak said.

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(Eight Years Later)

"Daddy!" A young eight-year-old boy with green hair (it was not turning blonde) and blue eyes that were almost identical to his father's, ran into the Throne Room. "Daddy!" He yelled.

"What is it, Dandin?" Jak Mar got up from the Throne and walked over to his son. "Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"But, Daddy!" The young Prince whined. "I wanna story!"

Jak Mar shook his head. All Dandin wanted now a days were stories. Jak was strongly reminded of Mira, the winged girl who wanted to learn every story in the world. "Maybe tomorrow night. Daddy's busy." Jak replied.

"Please!" Dandin begged, doing the puppy-dog-pout. Jak remembered succumbing to Mira's puppy-dog-pout, and sadly, Jak still hadn't learned how to resist it. His heart melted instantly. He sometimes wondered how his wife, Keira, managed to stand firm in the face of the puppy-dog-pout. And speaking of Keira…

Keira walked into the room and spotted Dandin. "Dan!" She said, calling him by his nickname. "What are you doing out of bed?"

"Don't worry, dear." Jak said, sitting down on the steps that lead up to the Throne. "I'm just going to tell him a story." Dandin squealed with excitement and sat down in front of his father. "Okay, so what kind of story do you want to hear?" Jak asked.

"A hero's story!" Dandin shouted. Even Keira looked up in interest. "Like one of Mar… or one of your adventures, Daddy!"

Jak sighed. "Okay, I'll tell you the story of a great hero who gave up everything, even his life, for a friend. A great hero that I knew personally. The story of a person who became a hero, without being a warrior… the story of Daxter the Hero…"

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LES: (cries) Man! Killing off Daxter was almost as bad as killing off Jak! But, alas, it was necessary. Originally, I was going to name Jak's son 'Daxter' after Daxter. At the time it seemed sweet, but I didn't like it in the long run. Well, this fic is done… But… the Saga may not be over…

Fans: A sequel?

LES: Yes. A sequel is currently in the works in my crazy fangirl-ish mind. I've got an idea, but I don't have a bad guy yet. Please give me your final thoughts on this story. What is the Power of Friendship, you ask? One word: 'Sacrifice.' And, once again, I end with a quote:

"And so, he met the end of one journey, but he had many other exciting adventures. But that's… another story."

Light-Eco-Sage