[Co-Author @butterfly123199 ]

"More than enough to trust my own fate in her hands."

As they were heading to an old raggedy tent, Jak and El eyed each other for a moment from Trinity's statement.

They stepped off and into the soothsayer's place. Almost instantly, Elise, Jak, and Daxter were all fascinated by the oddest artifacts and tubes scattered around the interior. There were lime-green flames that illuminated every corner, a huge metal face which contained mystical purple glow within, and candles. The candles are down to their smallest wicks, the wax melting on the ground as if they've been used for a long time.

Books, bowls, and bones surrounded them.

Trinity bowed his head, "Nice to see you again." He said in a friendly tone.

As the others walked to the side in order to get a better look, they saw an elderly woman sitting in the middle of the carpet.

The quiet elder stood unmoving, sitting cross-legged, an air of mysteriousness surrounds her. Opening her eyes, they realized they were white as the moons.

Onin waved with a warm smile to Trinity.

Daxter leaned next to some piles of skulls, "Cool! Check out all the dead stuff!"

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

The moncaw on Onin's hat suddenly flew around and bit Daxter's hand! "Ow!"

"Touch the goods again, rat boy, and you'll be squaaak - counting with your toes!" The parrot monkey hybrid was just as expressive as Daxter, who waved his wing around like royalty. "I am Pecker! Yes, yes, I know, my mother, she was, very vindictive..." Jak and Dax snickered.

'Great, it's another Daxter but a flying rat.' Elise rolled her eyes.

"I am Onin's interpreter." He flew back to perch on Onin's hat.

She swirled her hands, blue energy flowed and gathered at the very ends of her long, skinny fingers. Curiously, they watched her make signs.

Pecker boredly translated, "Onin welcomes you, blah blah blah blah blah, the usual boring salutations..." The bird's poor effort made her frown and Trinity chuckled lightly. "She says it is good to see you again, Jak, Trin."

Jak raised his brow in confusion, "But we've never met before."

Trinity glanced at him in the corner of his eye, then back to Onin's blank irises. She seemed as if she smirked at him.

"Before, after; it is all the same." The moncaw then put a thoughtful feather under his chin. "And oh, what do we have here? Okasan's boy?"

Onin then dropped her arms and pinched the bridge of her nose, Trinity muttering: "She's going to have fun with you birdbrain..." Jak and Dax looked at each other waiting for El to have at it.

Elise suddenly clenched her fists together, her face flushing with both anger and embarrassment. "Keep talkin'," She squeezed her fist closed, her knuckles loudly cracking, causing Daxter to flinch. "See if I don't cook your feathered ass too!" She snapped.

Daxter widened his eyes. "FLY BIRDIE, FLY!" He screeched loudly.

*BAM!*

"OW! JAK HELP!"

"SHUT UP YOU FILTHY, ORANGE RODENT!!"

The moncaw squawked in fear, but Trinity declared that it was enough. They continued, two animals being almost skinned to death in the process...

Daxter hopped off of Jak, "Oh! Oh! Let me try! Uh, she wants a - she wants a yakow bone! A yakow bladder? No, no! I got it! For many moons... she has... waited for... a juice pop? A jewel shop? Oh! Oh! I know, she's got a hairball?! A hair lip? A hairy chest?"

"Before you try translating Onin anymore, Dax. About yakow bones and hair or something..." Daxter lowered his one finger. "We're here about this seal."

He held the emblem in his hands.

Pecker (after losing a lot of feathers from a certain someone), tried to regain his composure and cleared his throat. "Onin says you seek answers *squawks* about the Tomb of Mar."

The elder woman made the matching symbol with the azure sparkles on the palms of her hands. Despite the outraged Elise, she didn't look bothered one bit.

Jak crossed his arms, but wasn't normally as hostile as he was like with Torn. "So what do we need to know?"

Onin made voodoo gestures and horrified faces, but remained smiling as if she was having fun. Pecker waved it off, "She's going on and on about mystical energy channels, evil curses, stupid "wooh" crap. Forget all that! I'm gonna sum this up quickly, because now you're cutting into my siesta time." The woman sighed disappointedly, but proceeded playing and holding up her fingers. "Onin wants you to recover three artifacts from the Precursor Mountain Temple. Not two. Not four. Three! Use the warp gate at the northwest side of the city, and bring back the three items you find!"

Jak nodded and was about to head off until Trinity placed the emblem in his hands. "Just to let you know - you're not doing it alone."

"Alright then."

Elise and Trinity remained. "Onin says that when moments come, only you alone will know the right decision. As for you, Mascara - she says that not to lose your true self behind that mask."

Trin absentmindedly had his finger trace the large gash on his metallic vizard. "I know. Thank you for the reminder, Onin." He nodded.

The old woman smiled and nodded in return.

"Wait..." Elise kneeled down in front of Onin. "Is... there anything you can tell me about my father? Any small thing?" She asked calmly.

She tilted her head when Onin reached over and gently took her hand. Confused, Elise decided to hold her hand in return to which she felt a small trinquet being placed in her hand. She slowly opened her hand and gasped softly as she stared at the old item. Onin gave a little nod.

"Daddy gave this to you?" She asked, a sad smile coming to her lips. "It was mine when I was ten. I thought I lost it, but it looks like you and him had plans of your own..." she slowly stood up. "Thank you, Onin," she turned to pecker and glared at him. "You get off this time, bird." With that, she rose to her feet and glanced at Trinity.

There was a solid moment before she said or did anything at all. She hesitated before placing her hand on his shoulder. "We'll wait for you outside, Trinny." She muttered and walked out, ushering Jak & Daxter to follow her.

"No, it's okay for all of you to safely head back to the UG if you like. Be mindful of KG and bounty hunters, El." Watching as the cloth stopped wavering, he finally sat criss-crossed opposite from Onin.

"Squaak! Terrifying woman!" He settled on top of Onin, rolling his R's and shivering of terror.

He laughed, "She can be like that - sometimes." Then, with a fraction of a second in silence. His smile faded. "Do you really think that this is the right thing, Onin?"

The parrot hybrid chuckled, without needing to have Onin do any signs. "She has been wondering the same thing throughout all of her lifetime. I am sure, er, we are sure I mean...That everything will go as it should be."

"Or else it's back to square one again." He muttered darkly.

Onin frowned sadly. "Mascara, you are always so anxious and brooding. Don't you ever think that it'd correct itself despite the possibilities? Even Onin agrees that - and you need to lighten up."

"But...what if?- "

"Ah, life's greatest mysteries. The 'what if's. Listen, woman- "

*SMACK*

"You called El a boy and me a woman, that's gotta be on purpose, foolish crow."

Onin laughed. "Yes! Yes! Squaaawk!! You don't need to tell me that you saw it coming!!" Trinity shook his head and laughed along with her. "AND I AM NO CROW! Those are lesser than me, I am a much more sophisticated, majestic creature!"

"Precursors, you really are like Dax but a flying one, ah, ah! Before you quack another sentence and I stick you in a forge fire myself! I must know if...letting Elise find out this way instead of me telling her was, so to say, sufficient."

He mumbled in embarrassment, cursing himself.

"I can't even break it to her."

"Ohh, there you go again. Demeaning yourself, Mascara."

"Like you never did?"

"Ah! I don't wanna speak of that! But what she speaks is that, mmm, yes. Either way or however you take the branching path, alternate blah blah blah... In short, there's no other future that scary girl's furious with you."

Trin's ears dropped slightly.

"But you and your girlfrie- "

He took out the Dark Dagger, "What did you say, birdbrain?!"

"SQUAWK! NOTHING! I- I mean to say that you both reconcile!"

"Was that previous phrase you or Onin?!"

"B- both?"

He sheathed the weapon and eyed the elder. "Urg, really Onin?"

She only had a smile of amusement.

"Squaawk! There, it's done! Now's my siesta - out, out!"

"Peck me and I'll burn your mouth off and feed it to the Metalheads."

Trinity soon took his leave, waving a good-bye to Onin. 'Precursors, I wouldn't be ready to do that anyway!' Then quickly switched moods. 'It'd correct itself. Maybe I should be less stressful on it.'

Back at the UG, the others were waiting outside for Trinity. Probably just to prepare themselves for the scolding they were gonna get. Jak and Elise were happily chatting with each other, while Daxter took a nap on Jak's shoulder. Elise brushed her fingers over the pendent, a weak smile on her face. Jak noticed this and began to smile.

"Does it mean something special to you?"

"Hm?"

"The pendant. Is it special?" He asked.

She smiled and nodded, "Okasan gave it to me for my tenth birthday. He told me to give it to someone special, or someone I fall in love with."

Jak tilted his head. "Why did Onin have it?"

"Guess it was a sign Okasan left for me to go to her." Elise shifted and scratched the wound on her arm. It clotted, But was still an open wound. She didn't seem to mind it much at all–but it was itchy as hell.

It was silent between them yet again. Peaceful. Jak brushed his fingers through his blonde hair (Elise assumed it was because he was nervous) before he spoke again.

"Have you ever been in love?"

She tensed. Her brown eyes quickly locked onto his blue ones. 'Why would he...?' Clearing her throat, she stood up straight rather than leaning against the wall. 'Oh boy.'

"Once. But I was just a child, then. I didn't know what love was." She said, tapping her foot. "Why ask?"

"No reason in particula—"

"Jak. Let me remind you that I'm a lot older than you. So if you're referring your question to me, the answer is get a younger love interest." She grinned.

He flushed brightly and growled. "It's not you! Wait, how even old are you?!"

"A lot older than I look," Elise let out a hearty laugh. "Ever heard of 'don't ask a woman for her age'?"

"Off the topic of me.." He scratched the back of his neck, "Who was it?"

"Hm?"

"Who you were in love with."

She smiled softly and raised an eyebrow. "I'd rather not say. Besides, I'm more than sure they'd like to keep it a secret."

"Well..." He gazed at her. "Are you in love with anyone now?"

"I– " she looked down at the pendant. A sudden rush of confusion bloomed over her. The feeling was overwhelming, taunting, and more so hurtful. "I don't know..."

"You don't know?" Jak softly placed a hand on her shoulder. "Let me rephrase that, are you interested in anyone right now?"

Elise glanced at his hand, then up at him. "Why are you so interested in my love life?"

"Maybe I can help."

"You can't," El chuckled and sadly looked down at the pendant. "Trust me, Jak. You can't." She put the pendant in her pocket and leaned over, pecking the top of his head. "But thank you for being sweet."

He gave her a toothy grin. They both turned their gaze towards a zoomer coming closer. Elise smiled softly and crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, Well, Well, someone's fashionably late." She grinned sheepishly. "How was your talk with Onin?"

"I wanted to make 'Pecker Delights' and murder him for being too loud." Then he snickered, "But good."

Trinity skidded the Zoomer sideways, making it slide, and grinded the ground up with his metal boot to stop. Unlike how Zoomers were usually battered when they drive, this one still had its small wings.

"You waiting for me, or has Torn not chewed you all out yet?"

"Waitin' for you to take all the heat." Jak smirked, gently tapping Daxter awake. The ottsel was sound asleep though, guess he was going to have his poor partner be rudely awakened by Torn soon.

"Mmn..." Trinity grumbled. "No point in avoiding it, c'mon."

The moment they had stepped in Trinity saw the child sitting on the table with a terrified expression, he found the old man Kor and a very furious Torn. "The city's on high alert. What the hell did you all do?!" He slammed his fists on the table, prompting the child to turn his head and look.

Daxter nervously flinched every time Torn spoke, he hopped on the table. "U- Us? Nothing. We've been uh, sightseeing, right guys?"

Trinity shook his head at Dax.

"That's the best excuse you can come up with?" Elise walked around the table.

"Really?" The tattooed man seethed. "Then why are the Krimzon Guard looking for 'a dangerous young man with light hair, blue tunic, and a rabid orange rat on his shoulder'?"

Daxter fiddled his fingers. "Uh, could be anyone. Orange is the new black this season." The kid pointed at Daxter with an innocent grin, but both Kor and Torn don't look very amused.

Trinity leaned on the wall, while they were discussing, the child wandered over to him in curiosity. "Heya, kid. How you doing?" He knelt down.

But the child backed away slightly and wordlessly, staring at Trinity's scarred and painted mask. Unknowingly to the kid, he didn't realize how much it had stung Trin to see fear in those light blue eyes. He wandered back to the old man's blue robes, clutching on them.

"Hm..." Trinity leaned back on the wall again.

"What?! I didn't authorize a strike on the– "

"Well, I did."

"Trinity- "

Jak stepped in. "Hey, we kicked the Baron's ass. Unfortunately, he escaped."

Daxter joined in, "And we overheard a secret meeting with the leader of the Metal Heads!"

Kor, the old man, had finally spoken up. "You saw the Metal Head leader?" It was almost a statement rather than a question, Trinity eyed him as Kor stroked his beard in thought.

Trinity spoke in Jak's place. "No, he was on some communicator, but we heard him talking with Baron Praxis."

"The Baron is bribing the Metal Heads with eco!" The orange ottsel jumped.

The old man scoffed. "It will never be enough."

"But the big ol' Baron's gonna double-cross him!"

Kor hummed. "Is that so? Well, our good Baron's wonderful charm must have angered someone, because there's word from the wasteland that Metal Head armies are on the move again."

Jak boldly blurted. "Why didn't you tell me Ashelin was Praxis' daughter? What's your connection with her?"

Torn suddenly seemed as if Jak had pressed his buttons."That's none of your business! Since you've all stirred up the wumpbee's nest, you, El, Trin, and whiskers here get to move four of our people to new safe houses.Tomorrow." Torn traced his fingers on a detailed map of Haven. "Shuttle each agent to a location they specify. Move all of them without any casualties. Don't screw this up, all of you."

They went to their bunkers, while Elise whispered to Trin. "Whose kid is that?"

"No one. Not anymore." Trinity eyed the rusty colored pendant the child wore, "Believe that he's important or connected to Mar. He's got the necklace and you've heard it yourself - The Baron wants him."

"He looks confused, poor kid probably doesn't even know what's going on." She huffed softly.

"Sometimes he's terrified of me." Trin looked to the side. "Like everyone else is..."

"Hmph. Go on, I need to discuss further matters." Kor grabbed his staff and watched the child wander around the main room as he and Torn were muttering other plans.

Elise slowly knelt down and smiled softly. "Hey," She said, catching the attention of the child. "My name's Elise." He glanced between her and Trin, who still looked a little nervous of him. She tilted her head and held her hand out to him.

"He won't hurt you, I promise." She smiled and hesitantly held open her arms. "Come on, I think I have some stuff you can play with in the bunkers. I'll be with you the whole time."

Trinity crossed his arms in embarrassment. 'I can't be good with kids...' He watched from the corner of his eye that the child approached slowly, his hands tugging and holding onto parts of his brown leather headcap.

Elise slowly lifted the kid into her arms, standing to her feet with a bright smile. "See? He's not gonna hurt ya," she cooed softly. "I wouldn't let him hurt a cutie like you. What kinda gal would I be, huh?" She playfully poked his nose. The affection she was showing was shocking to anyone else, but it wasn't new for her. She was very caring when it came to children.

The kid giggled at her action, a playful and kind smile was painted on his lips. He found himself eventually playing with Trinity's black cloak.

She watched him and grinned at Trinity. "Looks like he's into your cloak." She hummed softly and rested the kid against her hip so she could hold him properly. "Let's head into the bunkers before Torn blows another fuse, yeah?" She asked, wiggling her nose when she felt the kid put his hand on it.

He laughed then reached out for Trinity's headgear. "Hm? You, er, wanna try these on?" The child pointed. Trin chuckled, "Here...you go." The kid placed it on top of his own and began fiddling around with it, wearing the goggles. Trinity then giggled himself.

"Ooo, was that a giggle I heard?" Elise grinned widely, "Awww you sound just as cute as him~" She used her other hand to flick a finger over his chin. "You want me to kiss your boo boos better too?" She taunted.

Trinny interrupted and waved her off, "Sh- shut up!" He hissed at her. His face felt uncomfortable under his mask and he humphed, suddenly finding the ground to look interesting. The kid removed the goggles, "Thanks..."

Trinity didn't like the teasing one bit, but he certainly hadn't regretted taking Onin's advice. He couldn't always be in self-pity.

Elise rolled her eyes playfully and pressed a small kiss to the kid's cheek, smiling when she saw his cheeks light up red. "Aw, you're lookin' like Trinny now." She smirked deviously and glanced at him with the corner of her eyes. "Only he's too much of a big baby to admit he wants a kiss too." She smothered the child.

"Okay. I'm going." He zoomed off, completely flustered.

She snorted and laughed. "No! Trinny, I'm sorry!" She laughed and rushed after him with the kid in her arms. "Nooo! I'm sorry! I'll behave, I promise." She grinned.

"Oh, uh, could you please have him over here? Miss? I need to get going." Kor called out.

Elise jumped, "Oh! Yeah, sorry." She chuckled and sat the kid back down. "Be careful." She pecked his cheek and poked his nose playfully. "I'll see you again soon. I promise."

She waved with a bright smile, watching the kid go and his feet paddling across the ground. She stood up again and trotted into the bunkers. "If you're done being a baby, I wanna ask you some questions about my father." She smiled, crossing her arms over her chest. She was surprisingly more contempt about the situation than when she was back at the palace.

Jak was lying on the bed while Trin was pacing around. "I should've seen it coming when I began connecting the two. But yeah, sure - go ahead."

She raised an eyebrow, deciding to push the previous comment aside. "Have you ever met him in person?" She asked.

"A flat no. Me and Erol only discovered his works in an abandoned house at the outerwall years ago."

"Was- " She paused for a moment before looking up at him again. "Was I ever mentioned in his notes?"

"No, not directly. It stated that there were a few...subjects." He felt uncomfortable at the thought. "The notes I found didn't contain names."

Elise went to step up to him, but recoiled. She looked afraid, but it was a mystery of what she was afraid of. Her demeanor changed so quickly— it was strange. She dug through her pocket and took out a few folded up pieces of paper. "Trin."

Slowly but surely both his and Jak's eyes widened. "Is, is this?" He murmured, staring at the parchments.

"There was a list..." She unfolded the paper and handed it to him. "I found it when I went out on that 'mission' that I told you about." She huffed. "I thought you would know why, but I'm assuming you don't."

"You were right on that one..." He thought as he paced a little. "The moment you gave me the dagger was the moment I began trying to make connections." Trinity glanced at the paper, within the next moment the paper became valuable. His fingers trembled slightly.

Elise feared, 'Is he mad?'

"You know - names on paper wouldn't mean much to anyone. But when you know every single person in that Prison..."

Jak curiously stood up to see the ancient parchment, only to blurt out. "Th- that's us."

It reads:

Nyx

Elise

Moria

Erin

Jak

Anxious of Trinity's tense shoulders and silence, she jumped the gun then asked. "Are... you mad at me or at Okasan?"

He let his hand gripping the paper fall to his side. "No. I'm not mad, El. Despite seeing your name - his own daughter. No. From Onin, she told me of him. His character specifically. He was never an ill-mannered man, his reasons for it, they were for good." A sour taste came to his mouth, bitterness bit at his heart. "Just like Erol - Erol meant to do good, but the Dark Eco didn't kill him. It poisoned his mind instead." Trin let out a heavy sigh. "You've never seen old Erol."

"No one is born evil-" She brushed her fingers through her own hair. "I've always assumed the worst about Erol, but you make me second guess." She shook her head and forced a smile on her face. "How about we... move onto something else?" She suggested.

Trinny nodded. "Yeah, sure. Sure. If you have any questions about his notes, just ask me. I've looked deep into the nature of Dark Eco along with Erol once before. Tomorrow, we need to escort people because of our little - theatrics at Baron's Palace."

He 'plopped' down on the bed after he took off his cape and gun. Trin returned the note, eyeing the dagger that sat idly.

"I'll be sure to ask later," El stretched her arms upwards, grunting when she heard a loud 'pop'. She began removing her holsters and setting them on her bed. "I'm gonna shower then manage somethin' to eat." She suddenly grinned widely and turned to Trinity. "Wanna join, cutie?" She joked.

"I am not cute..." He stated rather tiredly.

"So if I stop calling you cute, will you join?"

Snores erupted from the mask.

"Guess not."

_______________

JV007 A/N: Chapter's too adorable, I think my heart melted and Trin's face melted from embarrassment.

Butterfly A/N: It was his own fault for being a weenie.

JV007: No you're just evil lol!

Butterfly: That too. :D dONT YOU STEVEN UNIVERSE ME YOU WEENIE

JV007: Big fat meanie zucchini -definitely not Steven Universe LOL BEANIE!