[Co-Author: @Butterfly123199 ]

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"Smack that box, baby!"

"Daxter, I swear, I'll make a floss out of your spine!"

They crossed over the huge lake of pure dark eco liquid, the gang curious of all these Precurian temples, puzzles, and amount of eco here.

"Do you really think the Baron wouldn't need any of this? They needed to give Dark Eco shipments to the Metalhead Leader, if I remembered right." The pool was so deeply purple that it almost looked like corrupted tar, Daxter shivering slightly upon recalling the time when he accidentally went in one.

Trinity hopped over one of the floors made by the ancient cubes they had to 'unfold' as part of the puzzles. "Mm... Maybe he's starting to realize how thinly spread his KG units really are because of this war. When planning for attacks farther than the Palace and the Ports, their numbers usually dwindled. Hence why riots were common and small patrols had to report there."

Elise hummed in agreement as usual along with the others when it came to Trin's thoughts. He's a high-ranking UG member after all; for all they know, he could have plans and maps of Torn's table and room but stored in his mind.

They blasted away the Metalheads, then jumped across normal water, and entered one of the small shrines holding the artifact.

They awed at the display, one lone light casted down in the middle of the room. The closer they got to it, the more they felt the intensity of the light. "That's some peeper, huh?"

El mumbled, "Oh, it definitely is."

The source of the rays was so bright, it's as if there was a star in their very presence. Trinity watched Daxter as he waddled forward, trying to hide a secret smirk. Jak on the other hand, was admiring the gems lining each metal, glistening pillar.

Daxter sniffed the air, "Something's cooking." Elise and her other inner counterparts wanted to laugh, Beth felt bad. "Hmm, kinda smells like..." The poor animal flinched in surprise and his eyes darted behind him-

"BURNT OTTSEL?!"

"AAAAAAGHHHHHHHH!!!"

Jak just stood there watching his friend's antics, unsurprised.

That is, until Daxter's panic sprinting accidentally made the floor gears turn!

"WOAAAAHH AHHH!!"

Elise quickly hopped away. "Woah no, no, I DON'T want to spin with a hangover!"

"OOOOGGHH!"

Trinny laughed hysterically at the ottsel, not caring about the old rusted gears suddenly turning. The ceiling causing the light began to drip away and open up as something shiny and mystical floated down, Daxter still yelling his tail off and making smoke trails all over the place.

"Jak, you... Go take it, please, I'm too busy over this!" Trin laughed, "You really are the Orange Lightning haha!"

Dax literally was stomping on his own tail and running, all while Jak grabbed a huge piece of lens that glittered like gems. "Wooahh, hoot hot hot hotto oo to hot hootto hot woagh, oh! OHHHghh..." He finally sighed in relief as he slumped into the floor.

Trinity composed himself, "Oh, there's just no way we can't punish you enough for, really, this is all on yourself haha." Dax sent a small glare. "I'll have no problems carrying that if you want."

Jak handed it, "Yeah, I'd probably break it."

El rolled her eyes, "That's because you both are a little too good at breaking things."

"I second that."

Afterwards, Trinity pointed out that their next target or relic was actually right next to the shrine, only problem was that a great drop divided them from getting to it.

[They went the long way around, having to avoid the oncoming boulders when climbing upwards for an intriguing Precurian machine. . .]

"I can't believe my fingers almost got crushed just for hanging off of a jutting ledge..." El was in a cold sweat.

"Maybe I should've dug out my old gear, uh, pun not intended. Really." The masked man shrugged.

Dawn: "Was that an attempt to make fun of us?"

Elise meekly shrugged. Hell, she couldn't even see his expression. How would she know?

Beth: "This trip is so much fun!"

"It is, isn't it?" Elise's voice blossomed into something more smooth, calm, and happy. She didn't pay attention to her partners for a bit, now focused on the scenery yet again. For once... the ravenette was at peace. That was, until she heard metal clinking and clunking and clanking ahead of her.

"Like candy from a baby!"

Dawn: "Rat's really that oblivious."

Elise agreed.

"They'll never know we were here!" He hopped away before anyone could even retort, El swearing she could imagine the other two within her just facepalm.

Dawn: "What an idiot!"

Beth: "Ugh, could he get any sloppier with his work?"

Dawn: "Could you even call this work?"

"I suppose so?" Elise raised an eyebrow in curiosity at the strange question, but it definitely was a good one. She decided not to answer Dawn for the sake of questioning it herself. "What were these artifacts for again?" She wondered absentmindedly while fiddling with Okasan's pendant.

Trinity took out his Communicator to report to Onin (assuming they have something that lets them connect with), "For Mar's Tomb. We're gonna try and beat them to it before Baron and any of his KG's have the chance." Realization hit him, "You weren't there when we got something rather...interesting."

He handed the Seal of Mar to Elise, then tried to contact Onin and Pecker.

But it seemed they were faster-

The Communicator brimmed to life and Trinity stumbled backwards in surprise!

Pecker (Communicator) : [Squwwaak! I can't believe you actually did this thing. Onin says she will search the timelines for answers about these sacred relics. I will find you here.]

Trinity let out a sigh of relief as the flying device shrank into his hands, "Just how- wait..."

Elise stared at the rust colored object in her hand, ignoring what Trin was blabbering in confusion about. Jak had almost forgotten that Trinny was holding the seal (to be fair it felt like a long while ago since their encounter with Ash). "Oddly looks like Precursor stuff." El muttered, her nail clinking on the metallic item.

The man in the mask shrugged, "Oh well. Onin always had odd ways to get in touch. I'll store these at the hideout when we get there."

Blinking in shock, both Elise and Jak turned to face Trinity. Jak was positive Trinity could feel their eyes, because he looked back up at the two of them. It was almost a little staring contest before one spoke up.

"That's it?" Jak asked, disbelief lacing his voice.

Trinity was at a loss for words for a moment. "What's it?"

"That." Jak enunciated his words. "No.. bad guys? No krimzon guards? Just an easy mission?"

"That was easy for you?!?" Daxter cried, earning a scolding glare from Elise. She flicked his ear.

"We're used to getting shot up along the way. Something this peaceful ain't all too reassuring." Elise added in, placing a hand on her hip.

Dawn: "Ooo, sassy stance! Get it girl, show that little rat who's boss!"

Elise held back from laughing at Dawn's remark. Jack nodded in agreement with Elise. The scenery, the easy missions (with the exception of the metalheads) and the peacefulness of it all was just a bit unbelievable. Like Elise said; they were used to being chased down and almost murdered almost every day. Something this easy was a mere blessing in disguise. Maybe the precursors finally saw how hard they all worked?

They returned carefully with the artifacts in hand, "I wouldn't be lying if I said I wanted to stay here a little longer. But we could always visit some time."

"Yeah..." Elise thought of a possibility, how everything would be over, how they 'd each get their happy endings like in children's books.

...How they'd get a sense of bliss.

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JV007 A/N: Took a while, but we both finally got around to finishing this chapter! I've got some fanarts coming later! I was drawing a ton on Krita and got art commissions, hence why I had to move this story down on the priority list a bit. At least I'm getting comfortable on the Krita program, might draw/doodle some badass snippets and arts here and there!

I bet that ending word hit Butterfly in the feels lmfao. BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY HIT ME! QAQ

Butterfly A/N: YOU AINT HAD TO PLAY WITH MY FEELINGS LIKE THAT. S C R E E E E E E E E E