Epilogue: There are no Goodbyes
Well. I suppose you're wondering what happened next; but, a gentleman never tells. Oh, not that but after that? Well sure, life went on. Hell's Gate was left in the care of a few humans who were allowed to stay, mainly as a place for the Avatar drivers to continue their work. Earth wasn't shut out, not entirely. Research needed to be completed, complied, so the humans that will inevitably return would know where they stood: under the watchful eye of the Na'vi. All the clans returned to their homes, Ni'win and Txon'taw among them; he had stayed beside her the entire year it had taken for her to recover, they had grown very close in that time and became a mated pair soon after. Ni'win was not as swift on her horribly scarred legs, but, she became the stealthiest Na'vi of the entire Ikran Clan of the Eastern Sea… I wonder where she learned her moves? Anyway, all returned home, well, all except the Omaticaya. A new home needed to be found for them, but they are slowly recovering from the time of great sorrow.
As for Jake and Neytiri, they couldn't be happier. Now that Jake has a permanent Na'vi body I'm sure they'll be trying to have children which will grow up to be strong and proud Omaticaya warriors. I can see it now, Neytiri will run up to Jake: "Ma Jake!" She'll shout, "What is Neytiri, my darling!" He'll say alarmed and lovingly. "Babies!" She'll squeal, thrusting out her flat belly and with both hands on it, then she'll do a sort of running in place dance with her eyes closed while humming happily. Well okay, maybe that wouldn't happen; but if it did I hope I'd be there to see it. Honestly, I don't know if it's even possible for the Avatars to have children… it wasn't really discussed, I mean, we never expected that level of intermingling with the natives. …or if it was I must have missed it. I'm not a geneticist remember, I'm just an artist slash gamer slash tester.
Actually, after all that's happened I suppose I'm kind of a warrior now. A warrior named love. At the very least I'm a pretty good hunter; Peyral is still better, but I'm stronger. I'm sure she'll keep it that way by making me carry whatever she catches. We'll try for a family too though, oh boy will we try. We live with the Omaticaya, but I make it a point to try and visit the humans at the base. They still need guides after all, for their science missions. I think I'll get to know Jake better, I'm sure it will be nice to have a friend who doesn't look at him in awe and who can hunt with him while telling each other earth jokes… I know I'd really like that. I understand how hard it is, having a great story over your head.
It's hard enough looking like I do, not that the Na'vi give me or him a lot of special treatment, they just give us both a kind of respectful space or ask us to retell our stories, which isn't so bad, but there is still a kind of culture shock and neither of us are willing to leave everything from earth behind. He treats me like any other person and I do the same to him, we just get to make cat references to each other and laugh without any of the other Na'vi knowing. All and all, I think this new life of mine is going to be pretty exciting. Everything is beautiful here, and so, clean. Fresh, new, and at the same time life is old here. I can't go back to Earth as I am; well, maybe some day. The ships and communications are still bouncing back and forth, and who knows what will happen in the future? Eywa guides and protects us, gives and takes from each of us, and I really don't have any complaints. Well. Okay, I don't' get any more of the special treatment from the animals anymore.
Ean'taw likes me, but the rest of the Na'vi Ikran and Pa'li still have to warm up to me. Wild animals treat me like anything else; though… I could swear I get recognized every now and again. The storms don't bother as much, emotional turmoil, post traumatic whatever… it gets bad sometimes, but Peyral is there for me. We get through it. It's getting easier and it will get better. For now though, I'm happy. We are happy. And that's all that really matters; in this life, or any, on this world, or any world. But, what do I know? I'm just an Avatard who gave his life for what he believed in and somehow got it back. I still scare myself when I see my reflection sometimes or blush when I hear the songs they sing about me. All I really know is, for some reason, I'm needed, wanted, and loved here; by the peoples, by Eywa, and especially by Peyral. It must be that good brain chemistry they were talking about, but I still don't know what that even means.