*I just wanted to personally thank Xeal II for his invaluable advice and help throughout this writing process. This is the first fanfiction that I have ever published and without him I likely would not have ever had the nerve to post it. I welcome all comments both positive and negative. Thank you for reading!*

*Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar and its characters nor claim to.

Lifestone: Chapter 1 - History

Earth has a lot more in common with Pandora than we realize.

I lie beneath the Tree of Souls, half in my human body and half out of consciousness. The Exopack mask was lifted off of my face and my lungs strained with the toxic Pandoran atmosphere. Everything went silent and I panicked at the thought of death and my final destination. Instead of cold darkness, I felt rays of light warm my face convincing me to open my eyes. I watched time pass. Stars, galaxies, the universe was all condensed into a single grain of sand. I crossed into a dimension of purity, untouched by the spoils of warfare and desecration.

I saw history. History not unlike the terrestrial history of Earth, but this wasn't Earth. The images of the past flashed through my eyes like an antique film reel, black and white, dull, grey. Smoke filled the projected sky, unfamiliar buildings cut through the poisonous skyline. People shuffled around on the dark and lifeless ground. Cars of sorts, transportation devices filled the empty spaces of the sky and on the ground. The familiar smell of smog, smoke, and rotten eggs* filled my nose and my eyes watered with the harsh chemicals of the atmosphere.

What is all this? I managed to think, unable to speak, my voice frozen like a nightmare in which you scream for help and yet no one hears your faint cries. I was caught in the confusion of dark and light, past and present, life and death.

I show you because you understand them child. You have lived these images on your Mother, your Gaia, your Earth. Yet, we have seen these days long past.

Mother Eywa, her voice soothed my frustrations, calmed my eyes and nose from the torturous smells and chemicals of what is apparently Pandora's past. Wait..

Are you saying Pandora had.. umm.. advanced civilizations in the past?

I stuttered at what Eywa would have considered an advanced civilization. It seems that the more advanced a civilization gets the more damage it does to the world around them.

We had a dire past. My children destroyed everything I gave them. They left me weak, but fortunately our Greater Master had given me something that Gaia does not have.

What else could it be? Unobtanium. My mind stumbled over the word like a curse. The one thing that saved this world is the very thing the humans tried stripping away from it.

Lifestone. Came the angelic response. It is my voice. It is my blood. Without it, I will die. And without it, Gaia may die as well.

The grey world that was laid out before me faded and the lush valleys and mountains of Pandora started to appear. Life abounded in the form of beautiful plants, glowing with the all too familiar bioluminescence of the forest. The skies brightened to blue and fluffy clouds lazily floated through the atmosphere towards the mysterious floating mountains. Ikran took the skies and waterfalls flowed majestically over statuesque cliffs. I looked down and in my hand I held a single grain of sand. The blue-green oceans that Earth once knew rushed and receded on the shoreline. My toes wiggled into the white sand, untouched by humans and pollution. Pure. It was Pandora, now.

Slowly the light started to fade and the beauty of the forest turned transparent then disappeared. I fought to stay near the comfort and wisdom of Eywa. I needed answers.

Wait.. what do you mean? How will I..? I don't understand..

In time my child. Go. It's time for you to go. The People need you. Gaia needs you.

GAH, no, I can't.. Dammit what am I supposed to do?! Frustration. Anger. Confusion. Everything was dark. My soul was without a vessel and I floated in an abyss of nothingness waiting, wondering if everything was for naught. What did she mean Gaia needed me? How could I possibly…?

My thoughts were interrupted by a muffled sound in the distance. A familiar sound, a musical voice, slowly it became more and more audible. I could feel my heart beating and forcing blood through my body. My fingers tingled and my chest rose and fell with every breath of the dense air. I could feel my legs. My legs! I heard the symphonic voice again, clearly, close, concerned, loving and at that moment, I was alive.

"My Jake?"

I opened my eyes. A rush of adrenaline coursed through my veins, from my head to my toes, goose bumps, life and purpose. Life and love. There she was, the most beautiful creature to grace the entire galaxy, as I knew it. My lifemate, my soulmate, my lover, my best friend, my bride. She held my head in her hands and stroked my cheek waiting for me to regain full awareness of my surroundings.

"My Jake!"

I managed a weak smile, the kind she likes, the mischievous smirk. Her beautiful aureate eyes blinked and rid themselves of any apprehension. I was with her now, the one that made everything worth all the pain of Pandora and Earth.

Earth. Gaia. The words fell like hammers on an anvil that was my consciousness. What Eywa had told me must not go forgotten. Feeling the difference in my emotions Neytiri stroked my hair lightly.

"I am with you My Jake."

How does she do that? All my concerns and fears vanished for the moment. Just the sound of her voice soothed my soul. I felt the weight of many eyes on me as I drew her closer and finally tasted her lips with my new natural form. The essence of this raw sensation was unlike I had ever felt. The conscious within the Avatar form didn't have anything on this.

I sat up and looked around, my new eyes focused in on the Na'vi surrounding me, their faces filled with hope and admiration. For a moment I felt unworthy of their praise and reverence, remembering when I helped Quatrich destroy Hometree. I slumped back down, nauseous at the thought.

"It is okay to go slow My Jake." Neytiri was never one to pamper me in any way shape or form. During training, I had to keep up with her or die trying. However, this change, this almost idyllic and obsessive form of attention from her was something I could definitely get used to.

As I slowly rose to my feet, Mo'at's smile and look of approval caught my attention. This woman took a chance on me, trusted me to help save her People. Thankfully I didn't let her down. She then turned her gaze on to the anxious waiting Na'vi.

"My People, Jakesully has returned from the Eye of Eywa. Eywa has blessed the Omaticaya with the return of Toruk Makto to protect what is now, HIS People."

Her voice rose as she finished the sentence. She emphasized "HIS" in such a way that it sent chills up my spine and set the entire tribe into an eruption of shouts and cheers. Mo'at waved them down.

"With the death of Eytukan and Tsu'tey, Eywa's will has been granted. Jakesully is now Olo'eyktan."

Whoa. Okay hold on just a second. I'm not ready for this. A dozen excuses popped up in my head for why I didn't need this, didn't deserve this. Just 3 months ago I was an outsider, "Stupid. Ignorant like a child," as Neytiri lovinglydescribed me at our first encounter. Now I am Olo'eyktan, leader of The People, Toruk Makto, savior of the Na'vi. Letting it sink in, I accepted my fate and new title. Finally, mustering up what little strength I had, I pushed my chest out with pride, confidently took hold of Neytiri's and Mo'at's hands and raised them to The People.

*The smell of rotten eggs is frequently used to describe the smell of hydrogen sulfide a by product of petroleum refineries and paper processing plants.