Here I am again. I have two songs which I thought would go well with this chapter. Once again, credit goes to Disney and its writers. I do not own them. And I have alternated the lyrics a bit to go with the theme. I've seen other writers do it and I thought it would be okay. Thank you reviewers for the suggestions that you offered.


A Spark of Hope

Jake took Lo'ak back to the family hut where immediately he was embraced by his tearful twin and their older siblings and also Spider. Neytiri then fell to her knees and held him to her chest, shedding tears of relief. "Thank goodness," she exploded. "I pray for the strength I will pluck the eyeballs out of my youngest son,"

"I'm sorry mum," he apologised.

"I'll go back now," said Spider. "See you guys later," he left the village for the human labs, needing to replenish his oxygen supply.

Jake requested that he'd talk along with the twins and Neytiri escorted the eldest ones away. The twins pursed their lips knowing full well how much trouble they were now in.

"Kids, what you both and Spider did was very dangerous. You shouldn't have gone off like that into the forest alone at night,"

"We're sorry, Dad," apologised Lo'ak. "We just wanted to have more fun with Spider,"

"We thought we could be brave like you," Sylwa said.

"I'm only brave when I have to be. Twins, being brave doesn't mean getting yourselves into kinds of dangers in places where you're not supposed to be,"

"But you're not scared of anything," said Lo'ak.

He was silent for a second. "I was,"

"You were?" they both said together.

"I thought I might have lost you both in that forest," he knelt before them, taking their hands. "The one thing I am most scared of losing either of you or your siblings. As a father, it's my duty to keep our family safe. And one day you both will carry that responsibility too,"

"Isn't that Neteyam's job?" Sylwa asked.

"He may be next in line for chieftainship but as you are all part of this family, you must all carry the duty of ensuring the safety of our clan and our family. It is all a part of who we are,"

"Even if we're….daemons?" Lo'ak held up his four-fingered hand. "Everyone hates us,"

"All the kids in the village bully us," lamented Sylwa who began to cry. "We're freaks,"

Jake's ears fell seeing his children so heartbroken like this. "Come here," he offered his hands and they held one other. "Where we come from or what you look like doesn't define who you are. It is the choices you make. One day you're both going to make me so proud. And when that happens, everyone will wish they were as special as you two,"

"You think?" they asked together.

"I know," he said proudly. His smile made them smile and he embraced them; they hugged him back. "I love you both two. More than anything," he said. They settled in the warmth of his arms, feeling deep love and joy. "Don't ever forget that,"


On the furthest side of the island that they swam to, Lo'ak stared into a rock pool, crestfallen, blue in spirit. Atuiko walked to him, carrying some fruit. He offered one but he wouldn't take it. "Please don't be ashamed of what you did. What you showed was true bravery,"

"More like foolishness,"

"Don't say that. There's nothing wrong with standing up for what you believe is right. The others and I wouldn't have supported you if it wasn't stupid,"

"It is if all you get in return is a scorning from your own family," Lo'ak hit the water at his own reflection and turned his back on him. "He doesn't understand anything. He doesn't even try to. I just wish he would see me. A big disappointment. That's all he sees. No matter what I do, I'll always be a screw-up,". As he lamented, he remembered everything his father had told him and his twin, the day he found him and returned him home as a child. It seemed now as if everything he had said before was just talk.

"Please don't say that," begged Atuiko, not wanting him to see him so disheartened like this.

"Neteyam was right. I really am selfish. I've brought shame to my family and got you and everyone else into trouble because all I cared about was seeing Tsu'tey again," his head fell into his hands.

"No. No. No. You are not saying that," Atu sat beside him again, bringing his face to meet his. "You are not selfish. You're talking crazy. I chose to join you because you're my best friend. You know that they're wrong about those creatures,"

Lo'ak just stood up. "I tried to do what my grandfather said but I failed. And look what's happened. I've got you into a lot of trouble because of my actions. I made things worse with you and your family. It's better if you don't see me anymore,". He walked off, Atu in tears crying out for him. He marched further up the dark beach as the algae along the tide glowed in several colours. Loneliness and agony darkened his heart. He had never felt more alone than ever.

Everywhere I turn, I feel lost
But there's nothing I can do to change who I am
Of all the things they see in me
I cannot hide the 'freak'
And I pray someone, something will come, to take away the pain

He felt he was a freak no matter how hard he tried.

There's no way out of this dark place
No hope, no future

After everything that had happened today, he didn't know how he could face anything at all. After being shamed, disgraced, and mistreated by these people, even his own blood.

I know I can't be free
But I can't see another way
I can't face another day

When he looked into his reflection, he saw his father's furious face, a face of dissatisfaction and a lack of acceptance. He splashed the reflection away and walked off, sitting on a rock to stare out into the sea, longing for his spirit brother whom he would never see again.

On another side of the island, Jake was walking alone, ashamed of the way he had spoken to both Sylwa and Lo'ak today. His overprotective and uncompromising nature had probably cost him their love and respect; he began to realise how much of a bad dad he had been to them these last few weeks for his inability to listen to them or try to see things from their perspective. To make matters worse he had seemed to side with the Metkayina's beliefs over his twins and didn't even give them a chance to try and explain things. Atuiko's words echoed in his head, sending a knot tying itself in his throat.

Tell me where, did I go wrong?
Every time I try, things get worse
I'd do everything so differently but I can't turn back the time
There's no shelter from the storm inside of me

As Lo'ak sat alone in front of the gloomy sea, heartbroken. He saw the bubble spirits rising from the sea as if they were coming to comfort him. They flew around like colourful fireflies around him and he felt something light up inside him. His crystal mark on his palm burnt a little and he cringed. He wished he had never had that mark. Then perhaps things would have been a whole lot different.

"Don't fight it," spooked a voice. "Let it flow,"

Lo'ak turned his head and his heart elevated when he saw his grandfather. The spirits had formed his figure. He looked so real. "Grandpa?"

"Looks like you need more help than I thought,"

"Grandpa!" Lo'ak rushed to him, sliding on his knees again, throwing his arms around his spirit who hugged him back tightly. His spirit felt soft but touchable like a warm fluffy hug. "I tried Grandpa," he sobbed, pulling back. "I couldn't do it," he shed tears. "I should have listened to you. I bonded with the crystal. You warned me not to but I did. I thought to be the bridge I had to do it but I've ruined everything,"

Showing no anger at all, Eutakyan held his cheek up wiping his tears away. "It's not your fault. I never should have put so much weight on your shoulders,"

"I don't know what to do. All I do is make things worse and everyone I care about has to pay the price for it," he couldn't bear to imagine how much trouble his friends were in for supporting his friendship with Tsu'tey and trying to defend him.

"Then do I see someone coming to you," Eytukan turned his face around and to Lo'ak's surprise he saw Atuiko rushing towards him. He hadn't given up on him at all. "Go to him," he encouraged. "He needs you,".

Seeing the tears in Atu's eyes, Lo'ak realised how wrong he was to just turn his back on him like that. He sprinted over and they collided in a big hug. "I'm sorry Atu. I never should have turned my back on you like that. After everything you've been through. Aloa told me to take care of you and that's what I'm going to do,"

"Were you hugging something?" he asked.

"Yes. I was hugging my grandfather," When Lo'ak spun around, he saw his grandfather's spirit had disappeared. He bent his eyebrows in confusion. "Was I…imagining it?"

Atu didn't have the answer but he knew exactly what he needed right now "I'm sorry for everything they put you through. But you can't give up now. You have the biggest open heart out of anyone I've ever seen," he stood up, pulling Lo'ak up with him. "You see qualities in others that they don't. That is not selfishness. That is a true kindness, a true humanity. You're more humane than any other person I know," his deliverance of encouragement seemed to make all the pain of rejection evaporate from Lo'ak's face. "Lo'ak, you are the sweetest person I've ever met,"

Lo'ak took a moment to absorb his words. And realised he was only treating himself like this because of how downtrodden his father had made him feel. He felt a spark of hope igniting in his heart. A spiritual fire fumed inside him and all that cold distress melted away and he stood tall. Sensing it, Atuiko decided to express with words of song how much their friendship meant to him.

You're the one who understands
The things that made me who I am
Through the drifting seas of time
I got your back and you got mine

If you bear a heavy load
I'll be right there, I'll share that load
I'll see you through the thick and thin
For love and loss until the end

No matter how much trouble Lo'ak would get into, he would always have his back and defend him just as he had done this very night. As the boys smiled, the light spirits reappeared and flew around them doing aerial dances.

'Cause you carried me with you
From the highest of the cliffs, to the deep depths of the sea
I can finally now see,
Like the bright stars in the sky
You were always guiding me
Yeah, it's true
You carried me with you

From the day it all began
Yeah, you were there
You shook my hand
And when I hurt a bit too deep
You watched me as I fell asleep

Since the day they met, Lo'ak had always had his back, defending him, helping him conquer his fears, watching over him whenever he. Felt alone.

And when my head was in the clouds
You found a way to pull me out
You picked my heart up off the ground
And showed me love was all around

He truly had come to consider Lo'ak as a dear brother and nothing that happened was ever going to change that.

Yeah, you carried me with you
From the highest of the cliffs to the deep depths of the sea
I can finally now see
Like the bright stars in the sky
You were always guiding me
Yeah, it's true
You carried me with you

Lo'ak was truly touched by every message he was expressing with his words. And now he felt like he wanted to sing as well.

Oh, we'll be sitting on this world together
(Ooh-ooh)
Watching as the days turn into night
(Ooh-ooh)
We know how to brave the stormy weather
(Ooh-ooh)
And we're never giving up without a fight

If you should ever bear a heavy load
I'll be right there to share that load,
I'll see us through the thick and thin
For love and loss until the end.

He would always be there to carry whatever troubles Atuiko had just like he would with him. They decided they would sing the final part together.

'Cause you carried me with you
From the highest of the cliffs to the deep depths of the sea

They danced around as the spirits joined in with them.

I can finally now see
Like the bright stars in the sky
You were always guiding me
Yeah, it's true
You carried me with you

Oh, you carried me with you

They finished with uplifted hearts as spirits zoomed around them, soaring high into the sky like stars.

"I am very proud of you," said Atuiko admirably. His words did little effort to ease Lo'ak's deep dejection. He gently clasped his hand making his best friend look at him. "I see you,". The words 'I see you' made Lo'ak open his eyes and look at him. "You are a good man. You have a good heart, an acceptance of others who are different. You are a brother of the Taquamares, you are a true Navi, truer than any other I have ever seen,"

His words warmed Lo'ak, who smiled a little. "I see you Atu. I see you…brother,". The word 'brother' made Atuiko's eyes glisten and he felt more expressive words coming up. "

I can't believe the words I hear
It's like an answer to a prayer
When I look around I see
This place, this time, this friend of mine

I know its hard but you
found somehow
To look into your heart and
to see yourself somehow

When he finished singing, he said, "You are the bridge between our people and those spiritual creatures. I can see that now. The only question is…can you?"

Lo'ak knew that he could always count on Atuiko to be there for him. He closed his eyes, looked inside himself and remembered his grandfather and best Navi friend's words. He opened them again and the spirits were around them again, reacting to his happier emotions.

You've given me the strength to see
just where my journey ends
You've given me the strength
to carry on

I see the path from this dark place
I see the future

That was when he saw the spirits forming a path far out to sea in flashes of different colours.

Your brotherhood has set me free
On and I can see another way
I can face another day!

I see the path, I can see the path
I see the future

I see the path from this dark place
I see the future

I see the path, I can see the path
I see the future

The spirits flew around along the beach, trying to lead them somewhere. With eager faces, they grabbed each other hands and jogged off, wondering where they were taking them.


In the island forests, Tsireya and Sylwanin were sitting together in front of a sea-water lagoon of beautiful sea lilies that glowed in a spectrum of different colours. The sea princess was so happy that the forest twin's face had brightened up. And to their further delight, little otters were swimming around everywhere, squeaking for fun. They petted the little pups and stroked them.

"They're so adorable," cooed Sylwa.

Tsireya's face was licked much to her humorous disgust and she laughed even more. She let the pup back into the lagoon. Once they let the pups go, some colourful fish came back. Sylwa dragged her hand underwater and the little fishes came over to nibble on her fingers with their soft lips. She giggled and they held their heads up. Tsireya watched intently as the glances between the little creatures and her dear friend. The fish then swam away and began doing a synchronised swimming show, also adding in the element of coordinated water spitting.

"Thought I might ask them to perform a show for you," she said. "Least I could do," Tsireya enjoyed the show and she side-smiled at her. "Thank you for this. It really helped. I have something for you,". She pulled out one of the treasures she had found on her adventure with Payaka and Tsireya marvelled at the golden flash of the shell.

"It…it's beautiful,"

"I found it with Payaka. And now I'm giving it to you,"

"Thank you," Tsireya gently took it from her and glanced at it carefully. "That's not just any shell headpiece. It is the Metkayina's Tsahik's headpiece. It's been lost for centuries,"

Sylwa couldn't believe it at all. She had found a hidden treasure. "Then it truly belongs to you. Let me put on you,". She offered. She gently took it and back and then tied it over the scalp of Tsireya's hair. "There. It suits you,"

"Thank you,". They became lost in each other's eyes for a moment, not realising that the rainbow bubble spirits were floating around them, the crystal flowers inside them glow.

Up above, Lo'ak and Atu watched them intently, large smiles on their faces. They leaned a little more forward, leaning on some palm trees for support.

They looked like they were about to lean forward. Lo'ak held up a cheesy grin. Suddenly he leaned too far and he went tumbling down the nearby hill, dragging Atu accidently with him. The girls were stunned by the loud tumbles and then the loud splash! The fish and the otters swam away in fright and the boys heads emerged from the water. They both chuckled nervously, ducking half their faces underwater again seeing their scowls.

They marched up to the cliffs. "Were you two watching us?" Sylwa was outraged.

"No! No!" Lo'ak tried to deny but their glares made him tingle.

"We didn't mean to spook you two," Atu tried to ease them. "We were just following where the bubble spirits were floating and they led us to you two,".

"What happened to your arm?" Reya pointed at Lo'ak bandaged arm.

Lo'ak sighed. "I took Tsu'tey to shore. Dad scared him and he scratched me,"

"What were you thinking?" Sylwanin berated, knowing he had been harshly reprimanded for it.

"I had to. He was wounded,"

"You should have heard what your dad said to him earlier," said Atuiko angrily. "How could a dad be so despicable like that?" Sylwa could tell how heartbroken her twin was, remembering what their father had said to him. She embraced him, both of them mourning over how estranged they were becoming from him.

"What attacked you?" asked Tsireya as they pulled apart.

"I don't know. But…" the boy twin slowly turned around. The girls pressed her hands over her mouth as they saw his scars. "They tried to capture me. He fought them to protect me…"

"What did they look like?" asked Tsireya.

"They looked like giant lizard things but in black with the ugliest faces I had even seen. And they were black with evil eyes,"

Sylwa realised something. They looked exactly like the scratches on Tsireya's back. She turned her head to the sea princess who looked just as pale as her. "Were those the things that attacked you?"

Tsireya fretfully nodded. "Yes.." she was broken with tears. "They took my twin from me,". Seeing how heartbroken she was, Sylwa embraced her, comforting her. Lo'ak then joined in and so did Atuiko, comforting her over her loss.

"Why would it try to capture Lo'ak?" wondered Atuiko as they broke apart.

"I don't know," Reya wished she had an answer.

"That's not the only thing that happened," said Lo'ak. "When Tsu'tey was injured and he couldn't keep us above the water, the spirits…somehow carried us both to shore,"

His twin and their two friends were astounded. "The ocean truly has blessed you with a gift brother," said Sylwa proudly.

"But I still don't understand. Why would it do that?" he wondered.

"It was because you found it in your heart to see through the eyes of a spirit creature and find empathy within it. Eywa has rewarded you for your good deed, brother," said Atuiko proudly, acknowledging the Sully twin as a brother. Tsireya couldn't help but agree with everything the kid was saying. Even Sylwa was so amazed too. She embraced Lo'ak tightly, proud of him that his compassion for the Taquamare, and his good deed had been rewarded. Her twin didn't know what to say, or how to feel.

"It's better if we sleep outside the village. The clan hates us now more than ever," lamented Sylwa.

"We're so sorry you got into trouble because of us," Lo'ak apologised to Atuiko.

"No. It's they who should be sorry. You two were willing to stand up for two innocent creatures who saved your lives. That's nothing to be ashamed of. And you two are not screw-ups. If it's anyone's a screw-up it's Chief for being so stubborn for not listening to you two. No offence Tsireya,". The young princess was quite surprised by the way the boy spoke about her father but somehow she couldn't help but agree a bit about the part of him being too stubborn to listen. "And your dad for not having your back or listening,"

Sylwa sniffled. "The truth is…we're just too different,"

"Don't say that," comforted Reya, clasping her shoulder. "You both are one of us no matter what others think,"

"You guys have got knocked down so many times before and every single time you get up again. That's real strength," Atuiko said proudly. "We'll go get some food and a hammock,". He and Tsireya walked off, leaving the twins alone.

The twins stared into the distance. "I wish once...just once…we could be heroes," Sylwa wished. Lo'ak wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close and they stayed where they were together.


Jake had swum to the Spirit Tree alone. He took a deep breath and dove underwater. When he was facing the Spirit Tree branches, he pulled out his queue and the moment its golden tendrils connected to the end, he closed his eyes and his mind flashed like lightning.

He was inside the Avatar Room. He walked towards one of the Avatar link beds and to his surprise one opened, he saw his human self. Sometimes he missed being human. He had made a lot of sacrifices but what he had done, he did to have a life with Neytiri and have a family with her.

"Still miss being human num-nuts?" spooked a voice. He turned around and saw it was Grace, his old mentor.

"Grace…" he breathed. He had missed her deeply.

"It's good to see you, Jake. How is Kiri?"

"She is well," he pursed his lips, not wanting to tell her that her daughter couldn't connect to the tree again, but he held back. "She is so much better now,"

"I can tell you're conflicted, Jake. Sit," she sat on a chair and patted a bed which he sat on.

"I feel like I'm letting my family. I've tried so hard to protect them. But the twins…I've let them down,"

"Hard to control those num-nuts isn't it,"

"Like you wouldn't believe. They're always getting into trouble all the time. Because they don't do what everyone has to do. They're just…different. They're just…"

Grace offered a finish. "Trying to make their own choices and be their own people?". He turned his head in surprise. "Sometimes you've got to let the younger ones experience. Even if it means defying what you expect them to be. Don't be so controlling. Like Kiri, they will always feel so conflicted because of who they're descended from. Try to see them,"

"How am I supposed to?"

Grace smacked his head. "Just understand them num-nuts. Is it that hard?"

"It is…because I'm scared! I'm always scared if that none of my children do what's expected, they will get hurt or worse. I can't take that chance,"

"Well, you need to. Cause you will lose your twins forever if you don't try to understand them,"

"If you were with us, you'd realise how many times I've come close to losing them. And I couldn't bear it,"

Grace shuffled over and placed a hand on his own, silently encouraging him to continue doing what was right to protect his family but also to try and see things from a new perspective.


That's this chapter done. Less than six and I've finished the story. Once again the songs I have used do not belong to me. Credit goes to Disney and its writers. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you Bailey for the warning. If you don't mind, please can you ask your friend if it is alright to use spoilers from what we know so far from Avatar 3? If you could that would be most helpful.