This is the final part of the battle. Hope you all enjoy it. I made it extra long for this occasion. Enjoy it.
The Ultimate Battle Part Three
Aonung and Roxto saw their fathers and tried swimming forward but as the warships activated their explosive guns, they started shooting at everyone they could see in sight. A bomb nearly finished them off.
"Grab on!" shouted a voice from behind them.
The boys turned around and to their surprise saw Lo'ak charging towards them on Tsu'tey. Seeing his hand out, Aonung grabbed Roxto's hand and once they were within range grabbed Lo'ak's hand. He heaved them onto Tsu'tey's back behind them. Tsu'tey galloped as quickly as he could, beyond more rocks until they came to another uplifted rocky platform where they dropped the boys off. The two then watched as the bonded pair rode off into battle to help their people, their eyes wide with wonder at their reckless but noble courage.
More warriors were blasted off their Skimwings. As they gasped for breath when they shot out of the surface, they saw harpoons aimed at them when all of a sudden, the massive forms of Tsu'tey and Lo'ak shot out of the water, landing on the ship. Tsu'tey shot harpoons killing the men, whilst his rider kicked one over of the rails grabbed a gun and battered the other down. The Sea Navi were amazed; help had come to him.
Tsu'tey sprinted across the water, men saw them but he dived underwater. They shot underwater but the bullets narrowly missed them. He shot again out of the water and once again like before the pair worked together to take out the soldiers but many bigger ships had to be dealt with. Spotting the small wheelhouse, Lo'ak got an idea. He rushed over and looked over the controls. "Okay. How does this work?" he saw a big lever. "Ah ha!" he pushed it forward. The engines fired up and it was shooting at high speed. He steered it left and it began charging like a torpedo towards another big ship. Quickly he mounted Tsu'tey and he leaped off the boat onto the sea again.
Aonung, Roxto and all the warriors they had rescued watched as the two ships collided with one another and boom! "Yes!" they ululated into the air. Tonowari, Ronal and Soxato on their skimwings turned their heads to the explosion and they saw Lo'ak and Tsu'tey working together, helping warriors to safety. But their moment of awestruck was interrupted by the presence of an even bigger ship firing at them.
Sylwa's tears fell onto Neteyam's face. She gently closed his eyes. "I'm sorry," She wished to tell Neteyam everything she was feeling right now. Tsireya and Atuiko did all they could to comfort her, knowing full well how Jake's words had emotionally wounded her and her twin. Their silence, minus the burning flames surrounding the daemon ship, turned into a cacophony of cranking and booming. They turned their heads and saw that it was beginning to sink faster than normal. And none of the Sullys or Spider had come back yet. She couldn't stand back. She had to do something. "Stay with him," she ordered her friends.
"No!" Tsireya grabbed her arm. "It's too dangerous!" she begged.
"I have to help," said Sylwa. "I can't lose anyone else,".
"Be careful," Atuiko begged. "Sylwa, I want you to know that you've been more than just a sister to me. You've been like a mother,". Sylwa was touched. "I've never felt that kind of motherly love from anyone but you. And Tsireya," he didn't want to leave her out too. Tsireya was tear-stricken with happiness. "Please come back,"
"I will," she kissed his head and then cupped Tsireya's cheek. "I'll be back. I promise,"
Tsireya slowly released her hand and Sylwa did an ululating click to the sky and Skeera appeared. She mounted her and together they flew to the drowning wreckage but to their alarm, they saw fire surrounding it. There weren't many men but there were some just on the far left of the ship, on the side that was sinking quicker than usual. She steered her Ikran to a blind spot.
Soxato saw men about to take out his chief and his mate. Quickly he compelled his Skimwing to leap into the air so he could take out many with his crossbow, giving Tonowari and Ronal time to escape but blast! He was shot in the stomach and plunged into the sea.
Lo'ak saw what was happening and shouted: "Hi ya!". Tsu'tey charged towards the bigger ship, the chief and sharman watching them intently. The men at the front saw them and fired but once again they missed. Tsu'tey leapt from the surface, and using his tail flipped himself and his rider who with valiant trust clung onto him tightly and slam! Slash! Punch! Kick!
They took the men by surprise. Grabbing a rifle gun, ignoring that gut feeling in his stomach from his first gun-kill, Lo'ak shot many down, his heart burning with rage as he remembered his brother's death. He suddenly remembered Soxato and looked over the railing. He hadn't surfaced. "Keep them at bay!" he ordered Tsu'tey. He inhaled deeply and dived into the water; swimming down as fast as he could towards the sinking general whose body was emitting blood constantly every second. He reached him, hooked his arms underneath his armpits, and heaved to the surface. They both gasped for breath but the general was too weak to move. He was wounded. His rescuer peered a little closely and saw that it wasn't as severe as Neteyam's. He could be saved. He whistled and Tsu'tey swam over. He grabbed him and pulled both him and the general to shore where Aonung and the horrible Roxto awaited.
"Dad!" Roxto cried out. Quickly he and Aonung stumbled into the water and helped Lo'ak heave the hefty general out of the water, gently placing him down. They saw blood. "Put pressure on it!" instructed Lo'ak. Quickly Roxto pressed his hands over his father's wound, tears falling from his eyes. He couldn't bear to lose him too. Tsu'tey found some fresh seaweed and passed it to his spirit brother. Lo'ak gently moved Roxto's hands and started to use the seaweed like a bandage but it wouldn't be very effective. "Make sure to keep it pressed down," he instructed. "I'll find something on one of those ships to help him,". He mounted Tsu'tey again and they took off. But the battle still wasn't over. There was one final ship but he remembered the other big ship of which they had taken out all the men and instantly the same idea from before clicked in his mind. Quickly he mounted him again and started charging towards the big ship which suddenly blasted Ronal off her mount. And when her mate tried to help her, he was forced back by exploding harpoons which fatally wounded his mount. He had to act fast. They heard the loud clicks of Payaka and saw her swimming beside them. Lo'ak found another element to his plan. "Paya! When I give you the signal, ram your head into that ship towards that one!" he instructed.
You got it. She squeaked back.
Quickly the boy and his steed leapt back onto the ship and he stirred the ship towards the big one another. The men saw him and desperate to not lose this battle shot at them but quickly Tsu'tey covered Lo'ak and they ducked. Lo'ak managed to crawl over and push the lever activating the engines. He then raised his hand and Payaka saw his signal. She narrowed her eyes. For you, mother. She charged and with a slam of her head crest against the steel combined with the exploding engines, the ship was reared into the final main ship, killing many men, and causing severe damage that caused it to sink.
Aonung saw his dad swimming to them, bleeding slightly. "Dad!" he pulled him out. "Where's mum?". Tonowari looked out and saw her mate diving underwater trying to take cover from the battle between the sky people and Lo'ak and his friends.
Lo'ak and Tsu'tey dived into the sea and the pair and Payaka watched as the final warships sunk to their watery graves, taking many cruel men with them. They roared with victory. The boy high-fived the Tulkun who squeaked, eying him proudly for his courage.
"Go to your calf," encouraged Lo'ak. Payaka was touched by the way he said 'your', he could 'see' that this calf had grown an attachment to her and wanted to be with her. She dived underwater. He faced his brotherly soul mate. "We did it, bro," he hugged Tsu'tey and he purred.
The warriors were stunned by what they had seen. Together as a team, Lo'ak and Tsu'tey, with assistance from Payakan, had saved them all. All but one who was still drifting in the water. The victory was cut short by the presence of small ships. Some men from the final ship had managed to escape and they were racing towards Ronal. She gasped. Her family and people became horrified but she heard loud neighing and turned her head to see Lo'ak holding his hand to her. "Grab on!`'
She felt the instinct to refuse but hearing the small boats charging towards them, grabbed his hand and he heaved her onto Tsu'tey's back behind him. And the Taquamare charged. "Thank you," panted she, beginning to realise that Tsu'tey was never a danger to her people.
"Don't thank us yet," Lo'ak strained. Tsu'tey sprinted as fast as his legs could carry them. They heard loud shooting behind them but thanks to Tsu'tey's enhanced hearing, he managed to dodge them effectively. He couldn't fight back, not with a pregnant woman on his back and too many bullets firing at once. They began to swerve around them, almost catching up to him but he wouldn't let them. Unfortunately, they were ramming them toward the wreckage of a giant burning ship. The shaman's family and people became horrified.
"Hang on!" Lo'ak commanded. With no choice, Ronal clung on tight to him and Tsu'tey leapt and dived underwater, taking them with him.
Over the burning wreckages, Tonowari couldn't see his pregnant wife or the Sully Twin or the Taquamare anymore. He became scared. Suddenly he heard a loud splash and then watched the daemon creature, doing a spiralling turn through the air, with Lo'ak and Ronal clinging tight to him. They went flying over twenty feet in the air, soaring over the raging fires of the burning boats.
Splash. They disappeared under the water. The chief stayed where he was with his son, the general and his son, petrified. A moment passed. Then all of a sudden, Tsu'tey erupted out of the water, his riders still on him. Behind them, some of the small ships clashed with one another, having reacted too late to stop themselves from colliding. Then the last ones were effectively taken out by the swipe of Payaka's tail. She had returned to give them some final aid. It was finally over now.
"Mom!" cried out Aonung. Tsu'tey swam to the shore, Ronal panting heavily behind him, Lo'ak keeping her upright and balanced. Tonowari held out his hand and she took it stepping off the taquamare. He looked down, glimpsing stunningly at the pair that had saved her life. Lo'ak mounted off Tsu'tey who disappeared under the water again and rushed towards the dying general with the medicine in a green first aid kid box, he had managed to grab from the ship. He opened it taking out fresh bandages and special antibiotics. "Use these," he instructed. Soxato's eyes opened barely and he faintly caught a glimpse of him as the boys tended to him.
Sylwa snuck swiftly over the high deck, grabbing a Navi spear from a dead Recom. She looked up and saw her Ikran flying overhead out of sight. He saw some men pointing their guns downward. It meant her family were down there. As she crept closer, she could hear voices.
"Just kill him, Dad!" It was the voice of Kiri. Quaritch was threatening her. Sylwa was horrified. She had to do something.
"Weapons down," Quaritch ordered. His words were most certainly aimed at Jake.
"No. Don't! Don't do it!"
"Down!"
Sylwa heard audible clattering. Jake was surrendering to Quaritch. She wasn't going to let that monster win like that. She had to act first. With anger and grief burning in her heart, she swiftly knocked out the men who were hiding on the top deck and no one could hear them. She then grabbed a nearby knife. She gently leapt down to the lower deck, seeing Quaritch still keeping her older sister captive whilst her younger sister was behind Jake. But she noticed a Recoms was slowly creeping up on them without knowing. He was gonna kill all of them. The trade was a trap.
Spider suddenly came bursting onto the scene. "Wait! Stop!"
"Stop! Don't move!" Quaritch shouted at him. "Not a step! Cuffs again!" he ordered again to Jake. Sylwa saw Neytiri sneaking around, holding out her knife.
"Wait. Don't hurt her," begged Spider. He suddenly jumped in fright when Neytiri grabbed him and pointed her knife in front of his throat.
"Release….or I cut," she threatened. Sylwa was appalled by what she was doing. How dare she threaten Spider like that when he was clearly on their side.
Quaritch scoffed. "You think I care about some kid? He's not mine," he denied. "We're not even the same species,"
"Just don't…don't hurt her!" begged Spider, caring more for Kiri's life than his own. "Just please let her go! Please!"
"Mum don't kill him!" begged Kiri, horrified by her mother threatening him as much as her hiding sister. As the tension grew, the stealthy Recom was marching up closing, holding up his gun to shoot Neytiri and Tuk. Sylwa knew she needed to act now.
"A son for a son," sneered Neytiri desperate for blood. She wanted Quaritch to suffer the same way she had. She cut Spider across the chest, drawing blood, and horrifying all of her daughters. "I cut,".
The Recom was about to shoot when Sylwa leapt into the light, killing him with the spear into his back, then as he fell down, she rolled across the floor and swiftly threw her knife right into Quaritch's right eye causing him to cry out in pain. She then jumped and grabbing a nearby dangling chain, swung right into Quaritch knocking him back, freeing her sister. She flipped backwards and landed elegantly on her feet like a Navi ninja. Her skills of stealth and fighting had paid off.
"Sylwa!" cried Tuk, running into her arms. She was amazed by her heroic act. Kiri stood up and rushed to her, relieved.
Jake stood still, stunned by what she had done. But when she caught glimpses with him, he saw anger and rejection and realised how fully wrong he was to blame both her and Lo'ak for Neteyam's death. She saw that their mother still had Spider captive. "Mum! Let him go! He's one of us! Just let him go!"
Neytiri released him and instantly the girls rushed to him as Quaritch got back up again, his knife now permanently scarred by the wound Sylwa had inflicted on him. Jake urged everyone behind him. "Spider, get them out of here!"
"You'll pay for that missy," Quaritch threatened Sylwa who roared at him, desperate for his death in recompense for her brother's. "And I owe you a death," he threatened Neytiri who roared back with the same ferocity. The family backed up into the water. "You're not leaving, are you Jake?" the cruel Recom gloated. "Knowing I'm out there? Knowing I'll never stop? I'm coming for you and when I do, I'll kill your whole family," he swore, snarling his teeth bitterly.
Jake stood still where he was. Quaritch would never give up on his revenge. And he was not going to let anyone kill any more of his family. "Then let's it done,". He charged and they fought, their fight moving them further away from the others.
"Jake!" cried Neytiri. They tried to swim away but the flames were coming towards them.
Sylwa called Skeera the flame rose so high that they forced the Ikran to retreat into the sky. They went back the way they came onto the sinking ship, hoping to find a way off quickly but Tuk and Kiri were suddenly pulled by water into a hole in which the sea was flooding in. Kiri grabbed Tuk's hand. Neytiri grabbed Kiri's hand. "Mum! Take my hand!" Sylwa grabbed her hand and Spider grabbed hers. "Hold on!" But to their alarm, Kiri's grip on her mother's hand slipped and both she and Tuk fell down the hatch.
"No!" Neytiri dived in after them, not wanting to lose another child.
"Mum!" cried Sylwa. She tried to follow her but Spider pulled her away, knowing it would do no good if they were all stuck down there. The boat was turning over and they headed to get to the top fast. They climbed up the bars but began losing their grip a bit, but they managed to reach the top and climbed up onto the ship's hull as it came flipping over them, trapping everyone inside or underneath. Now that they were standing on the kneel of the ship it was sinking very fast.
Lo'ak had managed to help the boys tend to Soxato when he heard the ostentatious sinking of the daemon ship. He looked into the distance and so it was nearly engulfed by the flames and the sea. "No," he breathed.
Sylwa called Skeera and she flew over, she and Spider mounted her and she flapped her wings just before the water could wash over them and drag them to the depths of the sea. It sunk fast. And by the looks of the lights fading away, so quickly it seemed like it was going so deep, more than a dozen metres.
"Sylwa…it's so deep. You won't make it. They won't make it," said Spider worriedly.
Sylwa sniffled. "We have to try. We're not losing anyone else today,". He nodded. They couldn't let them drown without trying. She patted Skeera's neck and her Ikran knew what she had to do. She soared higher than 100 feet into the dark sky and then drew her wings into a falcon dive, her riders clinging on tightly, the front one inhaling deeply and splash!
Lo'ak had seen them from afar. "Sylwa!". He feared for her life and Spider's as they disappeared under the surface.
"Go," encouraged Aonung. "Go! We'll be fine,"
Lo'ak nodded and held out his glowing palm again. And everyone watched as he jumped and Tsu'tey leapt out of the sea. He landed gracefully on his back and they dived underwater again. Tonowari and Ronal remained where they were, dumbfounded by what they had seen.
"Now do you both see?" Aonung asked rhetorically. His parents didn't answer but there was a certain change in their faces which meant something.
Skeera dived as far as she could, taking Spider and Sylwa with her as they dived down after the daemon ship crashing slowly onto the sea floor and destroying patches of coral. Once they were one-hundred metres down, her riders left her back and swam the rest of the way whilst she started swimming back up again. Managing to equalise ear pressure and master the freezing temperatures, they managed to reach the ship at last but Sylwa would run out of air soon. She hoped there was an air pocket somewhere. She pointed in one direction and Spider nodded, swimming in that direction. She swam slowly into the ship, reserving energy. And by some bars, she saw her dad, drowning. She swam over, heaved her arms under his armpits and pulled him towards a source of electric light. To her relief, there was an air pocket. She gasped deeply for breath and then lifted her father's face into the pocket of oxygen. And he awoke.
Kiri, Tuk and Neytiri huddled in a deep dark tunnel that was flooding with water. "Mum, Kiri…I'm scared," the child whimpered.
"Stay close to me you two," Neytiri held them close.
"Great Mother help us," prayed Kiri. "Great Mother help us,"
Jake coughed out the last gallon of water, hearing a voice calling into his ears. A female's voice. "Neytiri," he coughed.
But it wasn't her. "No. It's Sylwa,", her saviour spoke. Jake couldn't believe that she had saved him, even though he had blamed her and her twin before. "I'm sorry about Neteyam, Dad. It's all my fault. Not Lo'ak's. We just couldn't leave Spider behind,"
"Focus," he coughed. "Focus on now,".
Sylwa noticed that the water was rising quickly. "We have to move to. We're losing the air pocket,".
Her dad leaned against some bars, his breathing low from the awful fighting he had been through with Quaritch. "You know the way out?"
"Yes...but it's gonna be a long breath hold. We have to try,"
"I can't make it. You can," he was giving up. "You can. You gotta go right now,"
"No! That's not gonna happen,"
"Go," he begged. "Just go. You can make it," he cried, not wanting another child to join him and Neteyam in death.
"No! You didn't leave me in that burning forest to die so I'm not leaving you behind. No matter how much we've fallen apart, no matter how mad Lo'ak and I are at you for not 'seeing' us, no matter how much you're mad at us for not being what you or everyone else wants, you're still our dad. I'm not leaving you. And neither would he," she said. Jake looked into her wet eyes and saw how deeply she regretted all the hurtful she had said to him as well all those days ago. And he could tell by her tone of voice, Lo'ak would feel that in a way too. She had fully understood the meaning of what Neytiri had told her and her twin about family, nothing should ever get in the way of that. "Just be calm," she ushered. "Slow your heart down. Be real calm,"
Covered in a bubble suit again, Lo'ak dived underwater again with Tsu'tey towards the ship. It was over seventy metres deep. It would take more than one long breath for all of them to get out. And it was so dark underwater as well with electric lights dimming out quickly. Just then, he saw the crystal-flower-in-a-bubble spirits swimming towards them, coming to them in their need of aid as they did before. He got an idea. They dived further underwater, then swaying his hands they surrounded him and then when he waved his arm towards the ship, they swarmed into the sunken vessel, turning darkness to light.
Where they were, Neytiri hugged Kiri and Tuk close to her chest. If they were going to drown, they would do it together. But as darkness was about to consume them, light illuminated them from underwater. They saw the crystal-flower-in-a-bubbles flowing towards them, forming a trail. Kiri became stunned. She wondered if it was the Great Mother doing it. But something inside her told her, it was something else.
As Sylwa ushered Jake to slow down his heartbeat, they saw the spirits underneath them, lighting up the air pocket. Sylwa knew it only meant one thing, "Lo'ak,". Jake raised his head in bewilderment.
Spider was still searching for them when he saw the bubble spirits appearing everywhere. When he looked up, he saw it was Lo'ak who was doing it. "Oh. My. God," he breathed in wonder. This was unlike anything Kiri had ever done before.
Though the ship was lit up, Lo'ak knew that it was still quite deep. But just then he saw crystals embedded in the sea floor. As he did, he heard the voices of the past within his head again. Focus on the rocks. The spooky voice haunted his thoughts again. And they will do what you tell them.
He turned to his spirit brother. You know what to do. Encouraged Tsu'tey. We both do.
Together they landed on the sea floor. Lo'ak dismounted him before connecting his queue to a crystal, causing many gems embedded in the sea-earth to glow. He closed his eyes, relaxed his mind, and held out his hands. The crystal etch glowed red on his palm.
Four giant crystals started growing out of the sea floor, one at each corner of the ship. As the tips dug up into them, as Lo'ak elevated his hands, the crystals heaved the ship off the seabed, raising it higher so everyone inside could swim out safely with less height to reach the surface. After about forty metres, the crystals stopped sprouting, the ship only about sixty metres below the surface. They couldn't grow anymore. And Lo'ak had to keep his concentration. Still, he knew there was a way to save everyone who was trapped inside. He twisted his head to his spiritual brother.
Just close your eyes and our minds will be one.
Lo'ak closed his eyes and a bond of deep embodiment engulfed them.
As Sylwa saw the crystal-flower-in-a-bubble spirits glow below them, she knew that it meant there was a hope of getting out. They could do it. "Dad, you can do this. Just be real calm,". Jake took a moment to relax. He calmed down his heartbeat, listening to his daughter intently as she spoke with the wisdom of the way of water. "The way of water has no beginning and no end. The sea is around you and in you. The sea is your home. Before your birth and after your death. Our hearts beat in the womb of the world. Our breath burs in the shadows of the deep. The sea gives and the sea takes. Water connects all things. Life to death. Darkness to light,"
Neytiri and the two girls still didn't know what to do. Even if they could follow this trail, they couldn't hold their breath for that long. That's when they felt movement coming towards them. The mother pushed her daughters behind them. And out of the water rose the head of Tsu'tey.
"Tsu'tey!" cried out Tuk, swimming towards him pulling on his nostrils.
"Easy Tuk," spoke a spooky voice. The three were stunned. "Don't be afraid. It's me,"
Neytiri knew instantly whose voice it was. "Lo'ak,"
"It's me talking through him," Lo'ak's ghostly voice spoke through his bond to his spirit brother like the connection of an avatar. "Grab onto him. Trust me,". Neytiri still didn't know what to do.
"Trust him," Kiri implored her mother. She trusted this creature deeply and if it was Lo'ak talking to them through him then they needed to listen to him.
"Last breath," encouraged Sylwa to her father as the water was just under their chins and the air pocket was now less than 20 cm tall. Jake's lips pulled a gallon of air into his lungs and then together they submerged under the water.
"Duck your heads underwater," Lo'ak instructed. "He will give you breath,". Trusting him at once, the three ducked their heads underwater and Tsu'tey blew bubbles over their heads and they felt themselves breathing normally. "Hold onto my tail," Lo'ak's voice commanded. And the Taquamare turned around offering his tail. Kiri was the first to clasp it. Then with Neytiri holding onto Tuk tightly, she grabbed her hand and Tsu'tey began swimming slowly through the flooded ship using the bubble spirits as lights.
Sylwa pulled Jake through the bars and then started assisting him the rest of the way. They made it out of the wreckage. They saw fire-light above the surface but they still had quite a distance to swim. A chorus of clicks echoed through the water. Sylwa recognised them. It was Payaka. She turned her head and saw her spirit sister swimming towards her. Roa's baby, her new adopted son swam over to them too, squeaking. She held out her fin and she grabbed it. Jake did too.
Hold on. Said Payaka, flipping her tail. She carried them the last length upwards and then….Spew! The father and daughter coughed out loudly, sucking in much as oxygen as their lungs could.
"Just breathe," Sylwa soothed. "Just breathe,". As they lay against the fin, she reached up and cupped the side of her spirit sister's face. "Thank you," If it hadn't been for her, they wouldn't be where they were right now. She had saved her father's life by giving him and all the Metikyena warriors a chance to fight against the daemon ship's forces. She took down numbers of evil soldiers, safeguarding future Tulkun and Sea Navi generations. And she helped her save her father from drowning.
I'd do anything for you. And your family. Whistled the Tulkun as she smiled with her face. She hugged her face tightly, shedding tears of relief. Roa's baby then squeaked and Sylwa reached a worn-out hand to stroke him. He purred. She smiled proudly at Payaka, admirable of her courage.
It was at that moment that Jake truly realised how truly extraordinary the bond between his daughter and the Tulkun was. They had formed a powerful friendship that not only aided him and the Metkayina in this battle today but saved them from drowning. She had been right all along. Payaka was not a killer. She was a compassionate creature who was willing to go to great lengths to protect her loved ones. And her spirit sister Sylwa was one of them. It was at that moment he realised as well that Sylwa was a girl who was capable of doing anything. She had saved their family from Quaritch and his trap and saved him from drowning despite everything he had said to both her and her twin, everything that had happened between them. He regretted everything that had damaged their relationship. There was so much he wanted to say to them.
Sylwa felt his hand touch her cheek. She twisted his face expecting a scolding but all she saw in his eyes was joy and love. "I see you, daughter,". And on his face was the biggest smile, she had ever seen. All that anger and disappoint she felt in him faded away. She felt tears leaving her eyes and he wiped one away.
The girls were now clinging their arms around Tsu'tey's neck as he swam upwards. As they did, Kiri peered down and saw her brother, his hands held out. Eyes and his crystal mark glowing. Neytiri and Tuk looked down too. They were amazed. But as they resurfaced, the bubbles around the girls' heads popped and they gasped for surface air. Tsu'tey then started carrying them towards Payaka.
"MaJake!" cried out Neytiri.
"Dad!" Tuk screamed out joyfully.
"Sylwa!" cried out Kiri. Jake pulled his hand from Sylwa's cheek and they turned to see them swimming towards them.
"Mum!" cried out Sylwa for joy.
"Sylwa noticed someone was missing. "Where's Lo'ak?"
Lo'ak couldn't take it anymore. His control was wavering. When he looked up to the surface and saw Payaka's massive body high above, he experienced a hallucination of uncanny images in his head. Screams. Echoes. Taquamares. Evil-looking people. The bubble around his face popped. Up above, Tsu'tey felt the connection lost and brayed loudly. Sylwa gasped. It meant Lo'ak was in trouble. The Sullys watched intently as he dived underwater, their hearts now pounding more with worry.
Spider trying to drag someone behind him saw Lo'ak's unresponsive body lying down on the sea ground. He let go of the person he was dragging and tried to swim to him but he saw Tsu'tey swim at high speed, hook his front paw around his chest and shoot up like a rocket.
Splashing up at the surface again, Lo'ak was pulled onto Payaka's back and Tsu'tey nudged him gently. But his eyes remained shut tight. Come on. He begged. Please. Don't leave me.
The horrified Sylwa and the others climbed up. She gasped and rushed over to him. "Oh no Lo'ak," her tears started falling. He couldn't die. Not as well. "Please breathe. Please breathe," she begged. She started pressing on his chest to force water out whilst the worried others watched, being brought to tears again at the thought of losing Lo'ak as well.
Jake felt ashamed of everything he had said to Lo'ak. If he died, he would never forgive himself. "Come on,". He tried taking over but nothing seemed to work. He was brought to tears. His ears dropped to the whimpering of Tsu'tey and he moved aside so he could try and wake him again.
Come on. Begged Tsu'tey. He licked the boy again and again and then suddenly Lo'ak's eyes flashed open and he coughed out gallons of water.
Hey. Not on my back. Complained Payaka. She didn't like being puked on.
Lo'ak coughed the final mouthful out and inhaled heavily. He saw Tsu'tey's face and stroked him. "Thanks, buddy," he panted. He earned more licks making everyone around them giggle, much to his embarrassment.
"You're alive!" Sylwa gave him a big hug which he was too weak to respond to, crying out loud. Once she let go, she punched him in the shoulder. "Don't ever scare me like that a third time,"
"Don't you scare me like that," he answered back before they chuckled.
Neytiri and the other sisters pulled him into a big tight hug as well. The mother made sure her only living son was alright and wasn't too injured.
"What you did…how did you do that?" Kiri asked breathlessly. Their younger sister glimpsed at him with the same astonished glee.
Lo'ak breathed in and out deeply. "I don't know," was all he could say. "I just knew,"
"You saved us," breathed Tuki.
"Can't take all the credit," he looked at his spirit brother who brayed and his twin whom he had seen, pulling their father out of the ship. He then patted Payaka, giving her the credit as well. His mother and twin helped him stand and when he saw Jake standing right in front of him, seemingly unamused. "I don't care what you think of me…but if you thought I was gonna stand back and do nothing…".
Jake's arms flew around him, pulling him to his chest. His dad wasn't furious with him at all; he was proud. He felt warm and safe. The mother and sisters were so happy seeing them interact like this. The boy returned the affection and when they parted, Jake held the same feelings of love and joy that he had for Sylwa. "I see you, son". Lo'ak's heart fluttered to the feel of his father's hand against his cheeks.
The tearful father with a smile turned his head to look at Tsu'tey, who was overjoyed to see the family together again. "Thank you…for saving our family. And my son," he was deeply indebted to Tsu'tey for everything he had done for them, especially for Lo'ak.
It was nothing. And I forgive you. Jake didn't need his son to translate for him at all. He could tell by the Taquamare's kind eyes that he had forgiven him from their first encounter. He reached up a hand and Tsu'tey allowed him to stroke him. He purred forgivingly. Payaka squeaked, loving the love of the family on her back. Jake gave her a pat too, giving her a 'thank you' too. The Sully family embraced one another in a big group hug, falling to their knees, soaking into each other's warm love. If only the entire Sully family were here with them.
And that's the final battle done. What did you all think? Sylwa and Lo'ak saved everyone. And Jake finally 'sees' him. What did you all think? Please let me know what you all thought of the twins' heroic actions. See you all soon in the next chapter.