Hey readers. I apologise for not updating for a long while. I'm currently on a long trip in New Zealand like the long trip I had in Australia last year. And don't worry the next chapter of Wish should be up soon. I just wanted to start my Alternate Avatar 2 book so that the first chapter can spread out and receive reviews before I continue. In the meantime, hope you all enjoy this first chapter.

An Ultimate Decision:

On the furthest side of the island, Sylwa had been alone on the tree staring into the distance, thinking about Payaka, praying she was alright. She couldn't bear to imagine how lonely was she feeling right now. "I'm sorry Paya. I tried,". Shifting sand disturbed her thoughts, and she twisted her head to see her twin. His head hung low; arms crossed with his hands grasping his forearms; one of them was bandaged. "Lo'ak?"

Her twin raised his head slightly and saw her. He walked to the tree and slumped beside her, avoiding eye contact again. Sylwa's voice squeezed in her throat when she saw three massive strike marks marring his back. She froze. "Lo'ak…" she tried to touch his scars but he shifted away, ashamed of them. "Brother, what happened?"

He wouldn't turn to her. "Tsu'tey and I were attacked. He was injured protecting me. I brought him here to save his life. Dad attacked him just for being what he was,". Keeping his eyes fixed ahead of him, he ripped off the arm bandage revealing long thinner claw marks which shocked Sylwa. They were Tsu'tey's. "They chased him away like he was a daemon. I tried to stand up for him but the chief tried to force me into swearing I would never see him again. I refused. 'You've brought shame to this family,'. That's what Dad said right in my face,"

Sylwa blinked her watery eyes. First her and Payaka, now her twin and Tsu'tey. "They just like being right. They think just because we're different, they know better than us. Now our father thinks that way. Face it Lo'ak. We'll never be more than a pair of freaks in their eyes. Now I know exactly how Spider feels when Mum is so mean to him. For no reason,"

"Tus'tey was so scared when he scratched me by accident. Even though I told him it wasn't his fault, he looked so shaken. Like he was everything they said about him,"

"What if we never see him or Payaka again?"

Lo'ak twisted his face, saw her crying again, and pulled her close. He stroked her hair as her head rested against his feeble shoulder. "Atu and the others tried to stick up for me. But all it did was get them into trouble. We never should have dragged them into this,"

"It was their choice to support us,"

"But look what happened to Atu? I've never seen his father madder at him than ever,"

"We should go and check on him,"

"You can,"

"No, Lo'ak," she released herself from his arm and pulled him up. "You're coming too,". Her stubborn brother wouldn't move. "He needs you too."

Lo'ak wanted to refuse, but the image of Atu's disheartened face as he walked away from him flashed in his mind. He felt ashamed of treating him that way. He nodded and allowed his sister to pull him off the tree and along the beach.

While cooking some fish, Roxto's eyes remained fixed on his heartbroken brother, whose feet rotated in circles in the water. He came to sit next to him. "Atu…"

"I wish it was our mother who was still alive and not our father,"

"Brother don't say that" Roxto begged. "Dad loves us,"

"If he loved he wouldn't neglect us so much. If he loved us, he'd trust us. And he wouldn't be so ruthless to our friends who have never wronged him. I know if Mother was here, she see Payaka and Tsu'tey as the loyal friends they are to us and the twins,"

"Atu…" Atuiko slipped into the water and swam away. Roxto was tempted to follow him but decided he needed some time alone.

The little brother swam under the village, passing by glowing fish. As he gazed up, he saw Jake Sully and Neteyam walking along the platform when Tonowari, Ronal and Soxato approached them. He saw straight faces exchanged between the four narrow-minded parents. He raised his head slightly out of the water. "Jakesully, we need to talk," Tonowari said seriously. They walked away.

Atu swam quietly under the surface making no splashes or ripples with his feet. With quiet strokes, he pursued the four grown-ups and eldest Sully siblings till they stopped at the chief's hut. Flipping his tail very slowly, he pushed his head above the surface making no ripples. The platform squeaked above his head.

"Chief, I can assure you, Lo'ak and Sylwa will never see that Tulkun or that Taquamare again. They should have known better and it will not happen again," Jake assured.

"They are still learning. My children should have known better as well," Tonowari said. "Try not to be so hard on them. But I want your son especially watched over at all times. He cannot endanger our people by interacting with that daemon creature again. He must never leave this village again,"

"That's it?" Soxato retorted. "He deserves to be cast out for his actions,". Neteyam fumed. "For a great warrior such as yourself, you lack control," he spat in disgust at Toruk Makto. "Your twins are an absolute disgrace! Your son especially,"

"Peace general," Tonowari hissed but the strict warrior would not stop.

"You kept yourself ignorant of their activities and they drag our children into their whole charades with the outcast and that daemon and bring shame to our families,"

"General, I can assure you…" Jake was interrupted by the red-faced pregnant Tsahik.

"Your children need more than just controlling," Ronal demanded. She faced her mate. "I do not want them interacting with our children or Soxato's any longer,"

Neteyam tried to speak up. "Isn't that a bit harsh?"

"See?" Ronal spoke again to Jake. "Even your twins are being a bad influence on your more disciplined children,".

Neteyam tried to speak up again but he stayed silent, lest he face scolding from the chief's mate. Atu below them fell anger boiling in the pit of his stomach. How dare Ronal speak like that about them. Before Tonowari could argue any further, a warrior scout came rushing to him and he rushed over to see what the fuss was about. Ronal however did not join for she wanted to have the last word with Soxato.

"Face it, Jake Sully. Your twins are screwups. They will never be one of the People," Soxato declared unfeelingly, without a second thought. "At least your other children look like us and your daughter Kiri has a strong way with animals from what Ronal has told me and her mate about,". Atu breathed heavily but he managed to remain unheard.

"Surely, you cannot disagree with him on this?" Ronal's rhetorical question made Atu all the more resentful. He kept his ears above the water waiting for what would come next, not realising Atu was doing the same thing too.

"You know? You're both right," Jake said straightly. "They will never be one of the People,". His words shook Neteyam. Even Tonowari nearby was quite appalled by his choice of words. He ignored the warrior scout's concerned expression and stepped up to rejoin the conversation. n.

Appalled by such discourse, Atu sank underwater. Neteyam's ears flicked to a gentle but audible splash; he looked over the platform's edge. He saw nothing. "Jakesully…" Tonowari tried speaking up again only for his smug general to interrupt him again.

"You see, chief. Even Toruk Makto sees sense," Soxato said proudly.

"Or so you think," Jake said suddenly, making everyone's heads twitch. And all at once, Neteyam felt relieved. "Lo'ak and Sylwa will never be your kind of people. And that's fine. They weren't born like you two. They didn't choose to have four fingers like me," he held up his hand. "They have tried their hardest to adapt to your ways, but you can't expect them to be like you two. They have been good to your kids, especially your youngest son Soxato. I see a bond between him and my twins beyond anything and if you can't accept their friendship, then screw you. If your mate were alive, I know she would be ashamed of how you have treated your sons,".

Before the general could retort with anger, Tonowari grasped his shoulders and shook his head. "Enough," he said. He eyed his wife tensely, facially demanding she'd say no more and she bowed her head. "Jakesully's twins are young arequire of learning. Let us put this matter behind us. There are more pressing matters at hand. The Sky People are threatening more villages; I do not want this to continue. Go and make peace with your twins Jakesully,"

The three watched Toruk Makto as he walked away, escorted by his proud eldest son. "Dad for a moment I thought…"

"The twins and I have our differences but I would never say they would never be one of us,". He assured his son; his face was full of utmost devotion. His voice however was broken.

Neteyam knew why. Sylwa's disownment and Lo'ak's accusation had hurt him terribly. "Say that to them," he begged. "Please,"

"I don't know how," his father remorsefully answered. "I don't even know if they'd want to talk to me after how I treated them," he walked off.

"Where are you going?" Neteyam asked.

"To ask someone for advice," Jake dove into the water, summoning a Skimwing to take him to the Cove of the Ancestors.

Tsireya had walked along the shoreline trying to find Sylwa but had yet to find anything. "Tsireya!" cried a voice.

She spun around and saw Atu rushing to her, his swollen eyes wet with tears. "Atu?". He panted for dear life, falling onto his knees. She fell before him, seeing his wet face meet hers. "What's wrong? Tell me what has happened.

Lo'ak and Sylwa, still silent yet holding hands searched for their closest friends. The former's ears flicked to the sound of Atu's voice. "Lo'ak brought Tsu'tey to shore. He was injured. But their dad caught them and the people tried to kill Tsu'tey,". They followed the source of the voice until they came to a group of trees and saw Tsireya and Atuiko talking to each other by the sand. "Lo'ak got into so much trouble with your father and their dad just said he brought shame to their family right in his face. And just now I heard our parents say the most awful things about him and Sylwa,".

The twins froze. They eyed each other with wet eyes, too shaken to step out.

"They said they would never be one of the People and your father wants Lo'ak detained in our village. And that's not the worst part," he didn't want to say it but Tsireya's concerned eyes made his lips release the words. "Their dad actually agreed with them. And Neteyam said nothing to defend them,"

Tsireya's lips parted in horror. "No," she shook her head. "No. Their father would never…"

"He's just like them. Thinking he knows better. Being unjust to everyone is different. Even his own children, who he's supposed to support and understand. I can't even bear to imagine how heartbroken Lo'ak and Sylwa would be if they had been there,"

The twins fled back to their tree, this time sitting on the sand as the tide moved to and fro. Sylwa cried as her tearful twin held her, comforted her, and caressed her hair. "Why? Why?"

Lo'ak held her tighter, scrunching his eyes in anger and grief. "We're just too different. They will never see us,"

"I can't believe Dad would agree that we would never…. And Neteyam…"

"Don't," Lo'ak begged angrily. "Just don't. He will always love him more than us because he's perfect and looks exactly like everyone else,"

"I always knew they hated us the moment we arrived, but…" she choked on her tears. "I never thought they would say such things. Just because we're so loyal to our friends, just because we're different from them,". They had never felt more alone and heartbroken than ever.

Lo'ak stared out to sea, wishing that Tsu'tey and Payaka were with them, to comfort them, to let them know they were not alone, that they would always have them to turn to. But sadly, this was not to be true. He wished he was out there in the open sea like they had been these last few months on their secret trips, free, away from angry parents and mean bullies. All that pain he was feeling now turned to determination.

Sylwa saw his facial stare and stared out too, thinking of her spirit sister and dear friend. "You want us to leave,". She did not need an answer from him at all. They exchanged glances and a certain feeling brewed in their eyes.

Neytiri was sharpening her knife, fuming softly. She was so disappointed in her mate for the way he spoke to their son but at the same time felt deeply concerned that their daughter's disowning words had driven a mental knife through his heart. "Mum?" It was the voice of Neteyam. Her eldest son entered the tent huthut and saw her troubled posture. He sighed, knowing exactly why she was like this. "Mum, I know you're upset with Dad with the way he spoke to Lo'ak but what can you expect? He endangered the village by bringing that daemon creature here. And Sylwa broke the rules too. She knew Payaka was an outcast and she shamed the chief and his mate by talking back to them with disrespect,"

"Your brother and sister have always been different. They don't see things the way we do. Life here has been much harder for them than for you. And the last thing I ever want is for them and your father to fall so far apart that nothing can ever be fixed between them,"

"You know they didn't mean what they said. They're just upset," Neteyam sighed. "And not just with dad. Do you think I'm a bad brother?"

Neytiri cupped his face. "No, you're not. You're doing your best,"

"I can't help but think that maybe Kiri is right. Maybe I have been jealous. Those creatures saved the twins' lives and I only saw them as the daemons and killers these sea people perceived them to be. Perhaps if I had been a better brother they wouldn't have acted so rebelliously,"

Neytiri would not see her eldest child feel guilty like this. "You're not a bad brother, Neteyam. You're a devoted one. You love your siblings and the twins know you would do anything for them. I know that together you three can make it all right,"

Neteyam nodded. "You think I should go and speak to them?"

"It's best if you give them some space. Where is your father?"

"He went to the Cove of the Ancestors,"

Neytiri thought for a moment why he would go there and she realised an answer. "He means to talk to your sister's mother,"

"How can Grace help him?"

"She was more than just our friend. She was a guide to both of us. She taught me about humans whilst she taught your father about our world. Losing her broke him deeply bat in times he has always turned to her within Eywa for advice. Perhaps he seeks wisdom from her on how to make things right with your siblings,"

"You really sure she can help him?"

"She can give him advice but how he chooses to reconcile with your siblings is entirely up to him,"

"Please talk to him when he returns. And don't be mad at him. I know he's trying his best as well and things haven't been easy for him as well,"

Hours passed and Tsireya and Atuiko searched and searched the island for them. It was so dark now and much of the village was now asleep. "You think we should tell them what I heard?" the kid asked.

"No," Tsireya shook her head. "It will only hurt them more. And after everything they've been through with their dad, it will affect the whole family too,"

"I can't believe he would say that about them. And Neteyam would agree with him,"

"How can you know for sure?" Tsireya didn't want to believe Neteyam would do that to his siblings. Even though she and Aonung argue a lot, he'd never say something mean about her.

"Because he didn't say anything to defend them. As usual, he kept his mouth shut and let their words walk over him instead of speaking up for what should be more important. He will never support his own brother and sister the way we do. What did they ever do to deserve this?"

Tsireya wished she could give a simple answer but her mind was only set on finding their friends. They came to the cliffs above the cave hideout when they saw a shocking sight. Skeera and Betze were saddled and supplies had been strapped. And their riders, wrapped in shawls with sullen faces, were about to mount them. Atu's eyes enlarged. "Wait! Guys!"

Lo'ak and Sylwa felt their hearts jump. They spun around and saw their tearful best friends rushing towards them. "Guys…" the boy twin tried to say.

"You're both leaving?" Tsireya was heart-struck.

Sylwa felt her heart squeeze like it was being clenched with an iron grip. "We heard you guys talking about what your parents said about us," she struggled to hide her wet face. The two sea Navi were downtrodden. They wouldn't have said anything if they had known they were being eavesdropped.

"I'm so sorry," Atu cried, as he hugged Lo'ak who knelt to hug him back with tear-leaking eyes. Tsireya embraced Sylwa who cried into her shoulder. "I didn't mean to hurt you both,"

Lo'ak patted his back. "It's not your fault,"

"Please, please don't leave you two," The kid begged in tears.

Lo'ak looked with rejected eyes at him. "We can't stay here anymore Atu. Everyone hates us. And we've got you, Tsireya, and the others into so much trouble because of our choices,"

"We need time away from everything," Sylwa said dejectedly.

"But how long?" Tsireya asked. "You can't possibly be thinking of leaving forever,"

The twins shared uncertain glances. They wouldn't actually leave forever, would they? "We don't know," was all Sylwa could say as an answer. "Guys, we will never forget how good you both have been to us. But we can't repay that by getting you both into any more trouble with your families,"

Atu pulled on a determined face. "Then that's just why I'm coming with you,"

"What? No!" Sylwa shook his head. "We will not be responsible for taking you away from your home and family,"

"You guys are my family,"

"But what about your brother? And your dad?" Lo'ak hated Soxato to the core but not enough to want to take his son away.

The kid's eyes boiled with anger. "He's not my dad. Not anymore. Not after everything he said without a second thought. And Roxto will still have Aonung and his friends,"

Sylva approached a tearful Tsireya, whose eyes were turned away. "Reya, the only reason I would stay is because…"

"I'm coming with you guys too," she announced.

"No. You're the chief's daughter. You have to stay here,"

"After what our parents just said, I can't. And you guys don't know the outer oceans like we do. You both don't honestly think we're going to let you go alone like this after all that we've been through together," she slipped her fingers between Sylwa's and they exchanged affectionate glances. "You both need us,". Sylwa felt her heart beating in her chest and the boys saw a spark between them.

Lo'ak, nevertheless, still attempted at least one more time. "Is this really what you both want? If you both come with us, we may not come back for a long time,"

"We know," Atu sniffled. "But our lives would mean nothing without you guys in it. You changed everything for us since the moment you arrived and we couldn't ask for anything more,".

Lo'ak and Sylwa were touched and they shared a massive group hug with the bestest friends they ever had in the world.

Tonowari was polishing his spear whilst his pregnant mate sewed nets. He eyed her tensely. "What is it?" she asked.

"You shouldn't agree with Soxato like that. The twins are just children. In was, as they remind me of our daughter and Tousal. They will learn,"

"I am worried Tonowari. You've always been soft on them,"

"I am giving them chances to adapt to our ways of life. The family have sought Uturu and we must be patient with them,"

"How can we even trust Toruk Makto? He hides in this village whilst out there Sky People search for him, destroying villages. He cannot expect us to shelter him forever,"

Before Tonowari could argue, Aonung came running into the hut. Roxto as well. "Father! Mother!"

"What is wrong?" the chief stood up at once.

"I've searched everywhere for Tsireya but I can't find her,"

"And I can't find Atuiko either," Roxto panicked.

"What do you mean you can't find your brother?" the outraged general appeared out of nowhere. He towered darkly over his eldest son. "Your job was to keep an eye on him,".

"That is enough," Tonowari ordered of his ruthless nature. "I have tolerated your nature long enough. This must now stop,". Soxato held his tongue. "Find them at once," he ordered his son and friend.

Inside the Sully hut, Neytiri became frantic with worry. "Where are your siblings?"

"We don't know, mum," Kiri said sadly. "They're gone,"

"What do you mean they're gone?!"

"We've been looking and looking. There's no sign of them anywhere. They're not in these waters,"

"Then look again. Search the outer seas if you have to," she turned her back on them and stared out at the sea.

Neteyam growled. "How could they be such skxwings? Venturing out so late like this,"

"Enough Neteyam," Kiri hissed. "You have no right to speak like that after how you treated them earlier,"

Jake had dismounted his Skimwing and was just about to enter the hut when he heard his youngest daughter's heartbroken voice. "It doesn't make sense," she began to cry. "Why would they leave?".

His heart dropped and instantly he entered. "Tell me it isn't true,". He begged. But the distressed look in his other children's eyes sent a knife through his heart. Before he could speak a word, Roxto and Aonung came rushing into the hut.

"Have any of you seen Atu or Tsireya?" the former begged. But no answers came from the stunned Sullys mouths.

Far out at sea on their banshees, the four fliers looked back slightly at the far distant island far, far behind them. Atu in front of Lo'ak wrapped up warmly, snuggled against his chest. Tsireya wiped a tear away before looking forward again. She leaned her against Sylwa's back and the forest girl hoped her choice to leave with them wouldn't be too unbearable. She exchanged glances with her twin and he looked at her with the same feelings of heartbreak and anxiety. Devastating as it was to leave those who loved and accepted them, how could they stay somewhere where they weren't respected, wanted or acknowledged? How could they be who they were without being scorned for the simple crime of difference?

The stars guided them far north across the sea, far away from the safety of Awa'atlu. And with all their hearts, they prayed they would find their Spiritual friends and a place they could call home. At least until they were ready to return to the safety of the Metkayina people, should they choose to.

The entire village had been informed that the twins and the chief and general's children had gone missing; the news was unsettling. Skimwings were sent out at once and Neytiri desperately mounted her Ikran to aid them. Jake however stayed behind. He knelt on the platform and stared down into his reflection shining up at him in the bright moonlight. "What have I done?"

And that's my first official chapter done for my Alternate Avatar 2 story. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. So Lo'ak and Sylwa are heartbroken by everything Atu heard but to make matters worse Atu didn't hear everything. Oh dear this is not good at all. Please send reviews and let me know what you all think. I won't do the next chapter until July. See you all soon.

Bye for now.