Just one more chapter to do and that's the whole main story done.

Tearful Farewells and Amends

Payaka carried them towards the small rock island where Tsireya and Atuiko awaited them with Neteyam's body. They dismounted the Tulkun and in an instant, Tsireya hugged Sylwa, relieved that she was safe. Atuiko hugged Lo'ak tightly too.

"Thank goodness," Tsireya was so relieved that they had all returned home.

"What about our families?" Atuiko asked as he was hugging Sylwa. Hearing all those booms and explosions, he feared for the lives of their people.

"Don't worry. They're all right," Lo'ak assured. "Tsu'tey saved them all," he turned to his best animal friend. He stroked him but Tsu'tey brayed.

No. We saved them together. Tsu'tey corrected.

"You both saved them all," acknowledged Tsireya.

Lo'ak didn't want to call himself a hero. He only did it because he knew it wasn't right to stand back and do nothing. His father patted his back, proudly smiling at him for his selflessness. "You saved all those people out there,". His son tearfully pursed his lips.

Whilst the twins hugged Tsireya and Atu, Neytiri cradled Neteyam's lifeless body whilst Tuk held his hand and sobbed. The grief-stricken Jake sat down silently and cut the bindings from Kiri's wrists. They heard a loud splash and turned to see Spider climbing onto the rocks.

"Monkey boy," cheered Kiri; he approached her. And she touched his chest, overjoyed with relief.

"Spider," Lo'ak walked over and gave him a hug.

"What you did underwater…" Spider breathed. "I've never seen anything like it,". The family were intrigued to know more about how Lo'ak was capable of what he had done.

"It's so good to have you back," Sylwa walked over and hugged him tightly. "We're never letting you go again," she promised.

Jake approached him and pulled him into a hug. "Come here," he pulled the twins into a hug which they accepted. A son for a son. Spider was now officially part of their family, no matter what.

A few hours passed. The sea warriors were still recovering from the battle, tending to the injured who had managed to swim ashore and the Skimwings. Roxto helped his father sit up slowly. He was all patched up and Ronal managed to get the bullet out of his abdomen. He breathed and his tearful son hugged his side. He patted his back. "Where…where's your brother?" he asked.

His eldest son didn't know. But they heard water shifting and everyone turned around to see Payaka sailing towards them, the Sully parents, Tuk, Kiri, Sylwa and Tsireya on her back whilst Lo'ak, Atu and Spider were on Tsu'tey beside her. The Navis' hearts sank when they saw Neteyam's lifeless body in his mother's arms. His eyes closed and dried blood. The boys were horrified as well. Once they were close enough, Lo'ak helped Atu ashore and he ran into his brother's arms. Then Tsireya leapt off Payaka and ran into her brother's arms. Then they were engulfed by their parents, overjoyed that they were all safe.

"Dad," Atu fell to his knees and saw his bandaged wound. He couldn't believe how close he had come to losing him like his mother. They had fought with one another for months but now that they were here, all they felt for one another was love and forgiveness. He sobbed loudly and embraced him whilst his brother hugged both of them.

"I'm alright son," The weak general breathed. "I'm alright,"

Lo'ak dismounted Tsu'tey and approached the general; he was relieved he had survived that shot and that he hadn't failed to save him as he did his brother with his friends. The moment the general's eyes were on Lo'ak's, his saviour didn't see bigotry or resentment; they were full of softness and gratitude.

"Thank you," he said gratefully. Roxto smiled at Lo'ak.

"You saved us," acknowledged Ronal, holding her belly bump. "Thank you,". Tonowari was silent but his soft eyes expressed deep gratitude to Lo'ak for saving his mate.

"Don't thank just me," the boy turned his head and Tsu'tey's head appeared from the water. He beckoned his head. It's alright buddy. He spoke telepathically. We're in this together.

Tsu'tey slowly walked out of the water. The agitated warriors reached for their weapons but Aonung, his face still wet with tears, shook his head. What they saw in front of them was not a daemon beast who had sneaked into their shores but an intelligent creature. What they saw in front of them was a true bond unlike any other.

"That creature saved us," a soldier murmured.

"Why would it care?" another asked.

"Because that creature had more humanity than most of us," acknowledged Jake. He reached up a hand to stroke Tsu'tey again, thanking him once again without words for saving his son and aiding them. "And so did that Tulkun,"

Sylwa twisted her head to Payaka and encouraged her too. The Tulkun rose gently out of the water and so did her adopted son. Ronal gasped; she recognised him instantly. She was brought to tears. "She saved him, mum," Tsireya informed. Ronal was stunned by the revelation. This Tulkun was indeed as kind and protective as Sylwa had stated. "She saved all of us,"

The warriors remained apprehensive. Lo'ak moved to Tsu'tey's side and patted him gently, holding his face. Atu and Spider joined him in defending their nervous friend. Sylwa stood in front of Payaka and her new son, her sisters beside her too. Though wet they were with grief, they were all ready to defend her by any means necessary.

The twins decided they needed to take a stand. "Everyone," Sylwa annouced. "You all may hate us for being different but you're going to listen very clearly. "Payakan and Tsu'tey are not daemons or killers. They're the sweetest, most wonderful creatures in the whole world,"

"They're dangerous!" shouted one of the mean girl's parents who eyed Sylwa bitterly.

"Shut up!" Aonung ordered, coming to their defence again.

"They're not dangerous!" defended Lo'ak. "They're just different! That's all! We know how they feel because...we know what it's like to not fit in," he confessed wholeheartedly, trying to avoid crying out-loud for their brother's death.

"Just because you're different or you do things no one else likes, it doesn't mean that it's okay to be bullied or treated like you're someone's enemy," Sylwa's defence made Soxato hang his head in shame. "And none of you know how much that hurts,". In her words, she was pouring in all the emotional rejection, she and Lo'ak had felt for a long time. Their father hearing their words felt ashamed for not doing something sooner to make them feel less alone.

"Someone once told me that it's the one who are different who make the biggest differences," Lo'ak eyed Atu as he remembered his mother's advice that he shared with him and Atu was touched. "If they weren't who they were, we wouldn't even be here. Without them, we wouldn't even have won this battle. We owe them both for that,". The leaders and warriors into consideration their words and not a single person could deny that they could have won against the Sky People.

"It's not right to treat them like our enemies when the real enemy are the people we battled today. Payaka is not a killer but a saviour! Even though her kind unjustly rejected, she still saved them and this calf!" Ronal saw the affection, Roa's baby held for Payaka. "And Tsu'tey had just proven how years of bigotry and blaming his kind have made us just like our enemies,". Rather than feeling insulted by her words, the Navi in a way could see how they simply saw these creatures as savages who deserved hating and killing much like our the Sky people treated them and Pandora. "If we're to make a stand against them again, we have to do it all together," Sylwa added in. "And they wouldn't hesitate to aid our family if we needed it,".

Jake, though grief-stricken from Neteyam's death, eyed the leaders with integrity. " If my children support them, so do I. I owe that Taquamare and Tulkun everything for protecting them and our family," The twins were touched by his support; he now understood them and most importantly he could finally 'see' why their spiritual siblings meant so much to them. Even Payaka and Tsu'tey were moved by his act of defence.

The chief didn't say anything but a moment. He raised his hand. The tension died down and the twins breathed in relief. Nothing seemed like anything was going to happen to their friends. "The battle is over as Toruk Makto has said," he glimpsed at the twins, their faces wet but fierce to defend their friends by any means necessary. "They will be welcomed to our shores," Lo'ak and Sylwa almost felt like crying again when he heard them say that. "We must mourn our losses. And be prepared more than ever,".

And all was silent.

Night came. And no one spoke a word at all. The Sea Navi stood in the shallow sea waters of their island home holding shell torches, their leaders wearing their holy robes, the Tsahik performing the ritual. Jake rode an ilu across the water as it gently pulled Neteyam's washed body, covered in pink petals into a carrier. His biological siblings and mother all painted with white stripes held on tightly to it. Kiri and Spider rode on an ilu beside them. Soxato held his sons as they mourned for Neteyam's and Aonung close by held his sister. Neteyam was a dear friend to them and they would always remember him.

The Sully family floated above a bed of golden sea grass. Jake dismounted his ilu and swam to them. They gently unloaded their fallen loved one from the carrier. Still consumed with guilt, Lo'ak and Sylwa's wet eyes leaked as they both touched his pale, cold head.

Neytiri looked tearfully at her twins. "It's time,". They shared tearful glances at one another; it was time to say goodbye to their brother. Their parents inhaled deeply before submerging their fallen child's body under the water and gently pushing him to the sea floor. Their children both biological and adoptive ducked their heads under the water as watched as their brother was about to be buried by the sea. The twins held hands and so did Kiri and Spider; they reached their hands out to him.

Once they were deep enough, the grief-stricken parents allowed Neteyam's body to sink into seagrass. The tendrils of pure gold consumed him, taking him to the next life. The sea glowed gold beneath them and it was done. He was with Eywa now. The twins sobbed underwater and they felt the presence of Payaka, her son and Tsu'tey close by. As Lo'ak's hand was reached out, bubble spirits appeared out of the sea grass and Jake and Neytiri watched miserably as they floated around Neteyam's resting place. Then all of a sudden, they popped into little crystal flowers that sank to grow on the sea grass. And when they did, the energy of various colours floated under the seabed and the Sully children could see that it was Lo'ak who had done that. These spirits were going to accompany Neteyam to the next life. Just as they had done for Navi during the times of the first songs.

In the deeper waters, the Taquamare and the Tulkuns watched as the Sully Family buried their loved one. The calf purred miserably and Payaka hugged him close. Both she and Tsu'tey felt guilty. They felt their love for the twins had strained their relationship with their brother by blood and it had led to them arguing all the time and now they couldn't make amends because he was gone from this life.

The Sullys swam feebly to shallower water and stood together huddling with one another as Ronal chanted an ancient prayer to send Neteyam to the next life. The twins were wrapped in their aunt's wrap together, holding one another as they cried. They all just stayed that way for several moments, total silence again as they reflected on how Neteyam was too young to die, how he should have lived a full life.

Tsu'tey and the Tulkuns had remained where they were too, wishing to at least be close to the twins to comfort them for their losses. They shed tears as well, reflecting on their losses and that until this very day, it was a gash in their hearts that they couldn't heal. The changing colour of the glowing seabed made their eyes enlarge slowly. The Navi were slowly elevated as they saw bubble spirits rising from the ocean. And they glowed bright with the crystal flowers inside turning purple and red and pink. Everyone became startled as they flew around them in a slow swarm like fireflies or floating lanterns.

Then they watched intently as they floated towards the Sully Family and formed into a spiritual form of Neteyam. But he was looking at one member only. Lo'ak. With his glowing palm, he reached up to try and touch his stretched-out hand but his soul dissolved once again and the glowing spirits elevated into the dark night sky. It was at that moment that Lo'ak realised that those spirits were not bubble spirits; they were sacred star spirits. And aside from being transferred into Eywa, his brother's spirit had now been transferred to the heavens as well so that he would always watch over them. The night remained dark and silent once again. And the funeral was no more.

It was a late sunrise the next day. The village remained asleep at first asleep. Everyone had remained broken and puzzled by the great battle they had fought just the other day. They were tried and desperate to rest. Jake was the first Sully to wake up. He couldn't sleep much last night.

Sylwa was at the rockpools, Skeera watching over her with her wing sheltering her. She sobbed into her knees unable to open her eyes to see the first light.

"Sylwa….." spoke a gentle voice. It was Jake. Skeera saw him but didn't growl. She saw her wet eyes and allowed him to crouch a metre away from her.

She raised her head slightly but didn't look at him. "I'm sorry," she cried. "I didn't mean to hurt us,"

Jake's ears dropped seeing her so hurt like this. "About what I said before…"

"You were right. He came back for us because I called him a coward for not wanting to help us rescue Spider. It's my fault he's dead. It should have been me. Say whatever it is that you want now that you know. I don't care," Her head fell onto her knees again and he closed his eyes. He sat down beside her staring into the sea.

"I thought I was keeping us all safe. But instead, I brought this fight here and upon all of us. You were right before. Running was never the answer. It never is. I just wanted our family to live a life without fear, threat or conflict,"

His daughter raised her head and twisted her head to him. "Was this how you felt? When Grandpa died and Grace died too?"

He nodded. "Yes. Pain and loss are so terrible instead. No matter how hard we try to avoid it, it will always be a part of life,"

"Was it tough?"

"What was?"

"Turning against the RDA?"

Jake shook his head. "No. But what was hard was knowing that betraying them would mean betraying all humans. Even the good ones,"

"They're still a part of who you are,"

He nodded. "For years, I've tried to deny it. And then I tried to deny that you and your siblings were part human too so you all would never have to suffer seclusion. But you can't hide from it. Sylwa…" she lowered her knees as his wet eyes looked into hers. "I am so proud that you being part human makes you a better person than me. None of this is your fault. It's mine," he cupped her cheeks and wiped her tears away before giving her a tight hug which she returned affectionately.

Tsu'tey was allowed to stay on the beach near the village. Some villagers remained unsettled about it but with Lo'ak promising, he'd watch over him every day, the doubts died down though an indecent number remained apprehensive. Lo'ak's Navi friends and family vowed that they wouldn't let anyone bug or harm Tsu'tey. The young kid was kneeling on a platform, stroking his head as he poked it out of the water. He fed him fruit and some fish with Atuiko, keeping him company. He was very quiet. The kid shuffled closer to him. "It wasn't your fault you know,"

Lo'ak wouldn't respond at all. He had blacked out, his mind stuck in an endless void of total depression. Tsu'tey raised his head a bit higher and nuzzled his snout into Lo'ak's hands but he wouldn't respond. His death was not on your behalf. He tried to sympathise.

"That's not how it feels," he said glumly. He wouldn't move any muscle apart from his mouth.

Footsteps approached them but Lo'ak wouldn't turn. Spider sighed and sat down beside him. "You couldn't have known what was going to happen,".

"I'll never be able to make things with him. All he ever wanted was to protect me but I pushed him away. And now he's gone," he sniffled, wiping his tears again. "He's really gone,". He cried into his hands and Tsu'tey placed his head on his knees. Then Spider and Atu also crying shuffled over and wrapped their arms around him into a big group hug.

Lo'ak felt safe and sound inside all this warmth. "I love this,". He sniffled. As they let go he suddenly remembered that Spider and Atu didn't know each other's names and to distract himself said, "You guys don't really know each other. Spider, this is Atuiko. And Atu, this is Spider,"

"The twins have told me so much about you," Atu said to Spider. "And I have to say you're the sweetest human I've ever met,"

"I like this kid," said Spider, reaching a hand in front of his adoptive brother to ruffle Atuiko's hair making him giggle and even Lo'ak giggle a bit too. They were becoming fast friends already. He focused back on his adoptive brother. "You saved many people here bro. Neteyam would be so proud of you,"

"And you saved my father," Atu added. "I know he's proud of you. But he will always be watching over you. Mum once told me that death is not the end but the beginning of a life where you are always surrounded by those you love,"

Spider admired his sayings and Lo'ak's heart lifted slightly as he felt the love of his brothers' words flowing into him: spiritual, adoptive and surrogate.

Soxato walked slowly into their presence. Roxto was with him. The boys stood up.

"I'm here to offer my condolence for your loss," the general said kindly to Lo'ak. "Your brother died a noble death. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you and your family,"

Lo'ak was quite surprised by the offer. He was not expecting it all. He thought a simple 'thank you' was all he would receive from this cold-faced general. "Thank you,"

"But I ask you one thing first. Why save me? Even though I've hated you since the moment we met,"

Lo'ak wasn't sure how to answer. Back there, a part of him wanted the general to drown for how he treated him and his family. But he also remembered that despite his cold nature, he was still Roxto and Atuiko's father, an important member of the clan. And it wasn't right to just leave someone to die like that.

"It's because Lo'ak is a hero," Atuiko said, making his surrogate brother blink and say: "What?"

"Lo'ak saves people. He's brave. He does what's right even if it's reckless and it puts his life in danger. And even he knows he might not be appreciated or those in danger are mean or treat him like crap…" he eyed his dad with a soft but serious face as he said that, reminding him of how cold he was towards him despite his kindness, "….he still does it because he knows it's not right to just stand back and do nothing. Lo'ak is selfless, strong, and caring. That's what makes him a hero," Lo'ak gazed down at him in surprise. He never realised till now how much Atuiko looked up to him. "That's what makes him…Lo'ak,"

He smiled up at the teens whose heart was elevated by his speech. Then Spider gave Lo'ak an applauding pat on the back.

Close by, Jake and Sylwa, particularly the father smiled hearing Atuiko call Lo'ak a hero. Jake was so proud of his son. Even though he and the Metkayina had rejected his claims about Tsu'tey with many sea Navi also despising him just for having four fingers, he still risked his life to save them. He had now come to realise how much he needed to understand that his kids needed to be their own people and to be more independent because sometimes when one is risking their life or choosing to defy traditional rules, something extraordinary can come out of it.

Soxato saw the deep care they held for one another and realised how wrong he was to try and ruin their friendship. "You saved my life. Even though I was impertinent to you and your family the moment we met. You showed exceptional admiration on that battlefield. I am in your debt, young honourable warrior," He looked into the water at Tsu'tey. "You've made a worthy spirit brother. Whatever connection you have to him, always treasure it. And I want you to know that my mate would have been happy to know her spirit sister chose an open-hearted forest boy. I hope that someday you can find it in your heart to forgive me for doing you wrong,"

All Lo'ak did was simply hold up a hand with a forgiving face. And the recovering general shook it. The bad blood between them was over at last. And it made Atu and Roxto so relieved as well. Sylwa and Jake were glad to see the feud between them over. They made their way to join the group and when the general saw Sylwa too, he remembered the swipe of his hand against her face. "I owe you Sylwa a sincere apology too. It was wrong of me to treat you like you were one of our enemies. But you and your brother have taught many of us the importance of truly 'seeing',". Jake couldn't help but smile at his words too. Being different didn't mean being dangerous. It meant being the best of yourself and using those qualities to teach and influence others.

"There's something I believe belongs to you and your family," Sylwa pulled out the engraved pearly treasure she had found in the ocean and Soxato's eyes became wet. "Was this your mates?"

Lo'ak recognised it too. Aloa's memories came flashing back into his head.

"It was," he breathed. "My gift to her. How did you.."

"Payaka helped me find it. She gave her life defending her from the Sky people,". She offered it. "It belongs to you and your family,"

Soxato took it and allowed his sons to touch the item that belonged to their mother. "Thank you. Both of you. You were there for my sons when I wasn't. I've spent too long yearning for what was taken from us and not what we still had,"

His sons could clearly see that he had changed. He was letting go of his grief and finally choosing to focus on what he still had in life. Them. And he was never going to let anything get in the way of that again. They were brought to tears. Before Lo'ak and Sylwa could even react, they were pulled into a big tight hug much to the others' surprise. They felt awkward but didn't say anything.

"Why don't we leave these three alone?" insisted Jake. "There's something I need to talk about with you two if that's okay,". They nodded and then walked off, leaving the father to be with his sons who were now hugging him, giving him joy and hope again. Tsu'tey offered Spider a rider and he gladly accepted before he was pulled under the water with him.

Jake and the twins walked out of the village and they stood at a secluded cliff spot together.

"I know this isn't the best time twins…but I know if I don't say it now, I'll never be able to again,". Exchanging glances at one another, they nodded, wishing to hear him much to his emotional relief. "I wanted to apologise for giving you both such a hard time. And for not understanding your friendship with Payaka and Tsu'tey. The truth is…you both remind me too much of myself that I wanted to shape you two into better people. And I was stricter with you two because of what happened that night when you both were kids and what happened last year. I was willing to go to great lengths to prevent that from happening again. But I see now that it's only drifted us apart and I don't want that to happen again,"

The twins were touched. "And…we're sorry for getting into trouble all the time, disobeying you all the time and for what we said as well," Sylwa felt they had been too far with their words.

"We've never been disappointed in you," said Lo'ak. "You made a lot of sacrifices for us and we've been neglecting them. We should have told you the truth earlier. We just didn't want you to think we were disappointments,"

"No. The only disappointment was me. As the father I thought I knew what was best for both of you but instead, I let you all down. I never meant to make you both feel that way,"

"You could never let any of us down," said Sylwa. "We understand now more than ever. This is a war we're facing and when you're in a family, you'd do anything for them,"

"Come here," he pressed his palms against their forearms. "Something I've always known is that everyone is special, everyone is blessed by Eywa for a reason. And I fully 'see' now that you two are special in your unique, distinctive ways. Your friendships with Payaka and Tsu'tey mean something and whatever it is, I know you both will make fine heroes. I'm so proud you're both my twins," he pulled them to his chest and they shared a big bear hug. They had finally made amends and they were going to make it through this war together.

And that's this chapter done. What did you all think of Lo'ak and Sylwa finally standing up for their spirit siblings and Jake standing with them? Please send reviews and let me know what you all thought.

To answer some of your questions everyone is asking, here are some answers.

Lo'ak is going to be hunted by the bad guys because:

1. They believe he is a threat to their power

2. He is the only one who can save all the Navi who disappeared at sea

3. He is the only one who can pull the mystical sword that belonged to his ancestor.

4. As his bond to Tsu'tey is based on trust and not abuse, his bond to the crystals is stronger and he can control them.

5. As Tsu'tey, he too will be a threat to their plans and they have massacred many of his kind. However, spoiler alert, he will reunite with his father (/and his mother) and the rest of his herd.

Also to someone who asked if they could use Sylwa and Atuiko in their fanfiction story, they can. When you use them in your story, please will you make a reference that they come from this story. I look forward to reading your story one day. I hope you enjoy using these OC characters.

In the meantime everyone, see you all at the weekend. Ta ta! -