CHAPTER ONE – THE REVEALING

The days that followed the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains were hard for the people, especially the first one. The surviving Omatikaya na'vi had returned to Vitraya Ramunong where the rest of the clan was. For some it was a day filled with thankfulness. For others it was the beginning of a new grief. Those who had lost were heartbroken with good reason. That day when Jake and Neytiri returned to the remaining na'vi with the other surviving na'vi, they had been met by Mo'at having to tell her that Tsu'tey, the clan's Olo'eyktan had died in battle.

"What would he have wanted us to do?", Mo'at asked shocked. Jake and Neytiri looked at each other for some seconds until they turned to look at Mo'at again.

"He made a decision before he went to Eywa", Neytiri said and paused herself to not get overwhelmed by the sadness she felt, whereafter she continued: "He told Jake to lead us now", she said while looking into the eyes of her mother. Mo'at was overwhelmed by her own emotions and thoughts.

"Mo'at", Jake then said and got her attention, "we've talked this over, and… we'll let you decide what will happen. You're the tsahík and we will listen to you. The people will listen to you."

Mo'at looked at both of them for a long time, unable to speak. Neither of them knew what to expect from her.

"No, I won't. Tsu'tey made a decision", she said which surprised Jake and Neytiri whose eyes turned wide open.

"Jakesully… do you accept the role of Olo'eyktan?"

Jake sighed but got himself together and took in a deep breath.

"Yes."

Mo'at then looked at her daughter.

"Neytiri. You are to remain his mate then, yes?"

Neytiri looked at Jake and confidently took his hand in hers.

"We are mated before Eywa. It is her will."

"I know it is not my will that matters, but I want you to know that I accept you two as mates. And Neytiri; now you can become the tsahík who stands by his side."

Both Jake and Neytiri smiled at Mo'at, happy to have finally gotten her blessing although only Eywa was great enough to officially bless them. Mo'at turned away from them to help the other na'vi, and Jake and Neytiri looked at each other. As they looked into each other's eyes, the happiness of being accepted as a pair began to blend in with the sadness the loss of Tsu'tey had caused. Their eyes teared up until they both let out little sobs and embraced each other in a comforting hug. They mourned for their lost ones, but most of all they were simply happy to be together again after all the destruction that had happened during the last couple of days. They had missed each other so bad when they were separated. Jake was so happy to have her in his life, as his life, and Neytiri was extremely thankful he was safe from the Sky People who tried to kill him, to take him away from her. When they looked at each other again, both had tears in their eyes.

"I'll miss him", Jake sniffed.

"I will too", Neytiri answered and placed her hand on his cheek. He placed both his hands on her cheeks. Once again, they let their eyes talk for them. They didn't always need words.

"Do you think I can do this? Lead the people?", Jake asked her.

"I know you can. I know your spirit."

"Is all of this okay with you? Because I won't do anything that wouldn't be what you want."

"I just want you." They gave each other the most affectionate smiles that lighted each other up.

"We are ready", Neytiri said with a smile. They stood together for a while seeking comfort in each other's eyes until they decided to split up and help the clan's na'vi people. Jake spotted Mo'at and walked over to her meaning to tell her something important to him.

"Mo'at?"

The tsahík of the Omatikaya clan turned around to look at Jake.

"Neytiri means so much to me… everything. I let you all down, I know, but I've changed. Your daughter changed my perspective on everything. I never want to let you down again."

Mo'at studied his face, especially his eyes for some time and then put a hand on his shoulder.

"I know she does. I knew it all along. Therefore, I trust you."

She then gave him a confirming smile before returning to the four na'vi people that had asked for her advice.

The following night when the people went to sleep, Jake and Neytiri got together and found a place to sleep. The clan was still gathered by the Tree of Souls and would have to stay there until they went off in the search for a new home. Jake had Neytiri in his arms and they began to relax after an exhausting day. At first, they didn't speak much but instead they just enjoyed the feeling of the place and the silence that wasn't silent. They could hear distant sounds of animals, the wind tickling the plants creating little sounds as well, and they felt the presence of Vitraya Ramunong. They felt the tree itself, its roots that all breathed, they felt the purple glowing light that calmed them and eased their previous worries. They also felt all of the voices, the ancestors living within the tree. There was an encouraging sense of hope, a feeling that nothing was ever really over, but kept breathing through other forms. Eternal spirits who lived within everything and everything lived through an essence, a spirit, that again lived within every plant, every animal and within the memories of the people. An ongoing life that would always come full circle.

"When we fall asleep you will wake up in the other body", Neytiri mumbled.

"Mhm", Jake mumbled back. They were both equally tired.

"Will you never know the feeling of sleeping next to me?"

Jake thought about her question. It suddenly struck him that she was absolutely right. Now that he thought about it, he realized how much he wanted just to fall asleep by her side and wake up next to her again, his spirit never leaving this body. He wanted that so bad.

"No, unless… unless I pass through the eye of Eywa."

Neytiri sat up and looked at him with serious eyes that now began to worry and to hope at the same time. She couldn't deny that she wanted him to stay in this body, stay with her, permanently, but considering what happened to Grace she also felt doubt.

"Are you certain it is a good idea?", she asked with a voice more compelling than any other woman could ever ask with.

"I'm tired of waking up in a dull, gray place where the feel of your touch is gone."

"What about Grace?"

"She was wounded, badly wounded."

"So are you. Your legs…", Neytiri said in a low tone, and Jake froze for a second. It hit him that he had been wounded for years. In this other body it was sometimes easy to forget. Sometimes it was also even easier to be reminded of his wounded condition.

"You're right… maybe I'm not even strong enough to do it."

When she heard him say those words, she was quick to wrap her arms around him.

"I never said that. Have you forgotten what I told you the night we met?"

Jake was looking down but looked at her before answering: "No."

"Good. If you are willing to try passing through Her eye that is what will be done."

Jake smiled at her which made her smile back.

"Alright", he said and opened his arms, "but for now you come here." Neytiri lay back in his arms while letting out a laugh. Few minutes passed before they fell asleep.

Jake opened his blue eyes to a less calming view, the lab at Hell's Gate. It had been necessary for him and Norm to return to the base since the war. They had quarantined the RDA team and made sure they were contained. Only the group of scientists involved with the Avatar program were allowed to roam around the base. When he reentered his old world that never felt like his world at all, he was met by the scientists in the lab who were also quieter and more relaxed than usual due to the exhaustion the war had led to. The day before when he returned to Hell's Gate, he had been welcomed by the team who were all impressed by him. Tonight, everyone needed silence to cope with everything that happened. Norm was there, too, sitting beside one of the machines, thinking. He hadn't talked much since the war and Jake knew that it was because his avatar was killed. Jake dragged himself into his wheelchair while some of the people around him greeted him. He wheeled over to Norm who was passively observing one of the walls with a distant look.

"Norm?", Jake asked with a low voice waiting for Norm to react.

"Jake", Norm said back.

"You should get some sleep."

"Man, we both should. When was the last time you slept?", Norm asked.

"I don't know", Jake answered not exactly sure. Most nights when he was supposed to sleep after long days of training in his avatar body, he would sit in his wheelchair awake all night staring out the window at the glowing wonderous world he was suddenly isolated from. A world in which he wandered about every day and breathed every day would become poisonous and deadly for him to enter. He never saw those days with training as exhausting. When he was breathing, living, running around in the Pandoran rainforests with Neytiri he dreamed of one thing only. To breathe, live and run there. Sometimes it really felt like he did, and when he fell asleep, he was transferred into an alien limited world where every color, every nuance, every smell, corner, ground, everything was controlled. Out there everything was free and wild to move. For months Jake had spent the nights longing for her and her world and wished that it could be his world too.

"How's the Omatikaya?", Norm then asked.

"It's been tough on them. They act a lot like everyone in here."

"Understandable… how's she?"

"Strong. She- we miss them."

"I do, too", Norm murmured and sighed. Jake looked at him for a moment before he leant forward to look him in the eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Mm, well, I just… what will happen now? We're sending almost everyone except those in this room back to Earth. The Omatikaya clan has lost their home. What do we do?"

"We continue", Jake simply said, sounding convincing to Norm who was frustrated.

"How are you so calm, Jake?"

"Trust me, I'm not", Jake said with a little smirk not wanting to admit that he was rather worried about what to come. He was going to take over as the leader of the clan – if the transmission even worked. If not, well… then it probably wouldn't worry him anymore. He worried about what to do in the future. Was he supposed to keep switching between two bodies? No, but there was a risk that he wouldn't make it trying to switch to his blue body permanently. As leader he would have to find the clan a new home. Where could that be? And what about all the destruction he and the RDA had caused? The sorrow? Maybe the na'vi were better off without him. Maybe they'd do much better if he removed himself entirely from their world and went back to a dying world, a hell. But Neytiri. He could never bring himself to leave her. He remembered how afraid he had been of Quaritch sending him home from Pandora. He would never have seen her again. But now he had an opportunity to make sure he would never have to leave her. Ever. He had to take care of Norm, too. He knew his friend was upset but didn't know how to make him feel better.

"Norm. We'll find a way. A way to make it work. Okay?"

"Right. You're right. I-I gotta get some sleep", Norm said with a little smile of hope and got on his feet. He started walking towards one of the other rooms to get a blanket. After the events of the war the people on the Avatar program had gathered in the lab and slept there as well. They used the machines as beds. It wasn't that uncomfortable and when sleeping in the lab they weren't alone. After a war no one wanted to be left alone.

"You have an extra mask, is it okay if I follow you to get one?"

"Sure."

Jake turned his wheelchair around to follow Norm. Since what happened in the battle, he had been careful and made sure there was a mask in sight at all times. He wheeled a few meters forward when he suddenly stopped to think. All of a sudden, his worries came flooding over him and made him freeze. He had to do something, had to get the cold chills out of his body. When Norm noticed that Jake wasn't following him, he stopped in confusion.

"Jake? Are you coming?"

"Norm, I… I gotta do something", Jake said and quickly turned back. Norm was confused and began walking back towards Jake.

"What are you doing?", he asked while he caught up with him.

"There's something I have to talk to her about", Jake said while dragging himself back onto the machine.

"Right now? She's asleep, isn't she?"

"Yes, she is, but it's important."

Norm had to think for a second not knowing what to say.

"Will you be back soon?", was the only thing he could ask.

"Yes, I won't bother her for long, I just have to talk to her", Jake repeated.

"Okay… I'll see you later, then."

"See you, Norm."

When he opened his yellow glowing eyes, he was with her again. He was now lying with an arm around her, his other arm had fallen flat onto the soft ground. He could hear her calm breath, feel her braids roll gently down her shoulder, the pearls in the braids tickling his arm. He mildly stroke her upper arm and her shoulder, honestly not wanting to wake her up. But it was like he had to talk to someone and right now she was the only one he could imagine talking to about his worries. He gently grabbed her arm as he whispered: "Neytiri?" She slowly began to move and opened her big, glowing eyes.

"Jake? You are still here?", she whispered while still lying in his arms.

"I've just come back."

"To stay silent?", she asked. He loved her for knowing him so well, for being so bright.

"No. Can we just take a walk?"

The two found an easy way to climb the cliffside around the Tree of Souls and walked around on the cliffside where they could talk undisturbed and also without disturbing the sleeping na'vi. There were some light sources around them, but the night was not as glowing as it could have been due to the destructions caused by the RDA. Vitraya Ramunong was their main light source and it was absolutely beautiful. The bioluminescent dots all over Jake and Neytiri glowed in their own unique patterns. Neytiri waited for Jake to say something now that it was him who wanted to take a walk, but it seemed he would remain silent unless she reminded him that there was something he wanted to talk about.

"Jake?"

"What?"

"You wanted to talk."

"Yeah…", Jake said and took in a breath, "Well, I… I've been back with the Sky People and talked with them when I just thought of something. What if I can't be Olo'eyktan? What if the people were better off without me? Norm got me thinking that maybe we should go with the Sky People so that you won't ever be disturbed by us again-"

"Do you want to leave?!", Neytiri suddenly interjected, "To go away?!"

"No! No, I don't want to leave but what if that's the best thing to do for all of you?"

"We are sending the bad Sky People home, there's no reason for you to go with them."

"Look, I want the best for you and the people. To do what's right. But even though I'm doubting whether I should be here there's something holding me back. Holding on to me."

They had stopped walking and were now facing each other.

"Jake, this is not like you. So careful in your thinking. You are feeling bad and want a reason to stay here, yes?", she asked nailing exactly how he felt. She looked expectantly at him while his eyes were focusing on the ground. After a few seconds of silence, he nodded.

"Don't get me wrong, you are the reason why I want to stay", he added and looked at her with a little smile. Neytiri didn't give him an answer but smiled back at him. She smiled for a long time and kept looking into his eyes as if she were holding back a laugh. Jake soon noticed that her face expression had changed and was now more delightful, but at the same time she looked like she was about to cry.

"What?", he asked unsure if he should smile or not.

"I think it may be time to tell you something, ma Jake. I would have waited a little longer, but you seem to need to hear a good thing. A good thing I hope."

"What's that?"

Neytiri got a little shy and couldn't stop smiling and her heart was beating uncontrollably. She reached out for him and took his hands in hers, her eyes never leaving his. What she was about to tell him overwhelmed her indescribably. She looked down on their hands for a couple of seconds before turning her attention back on his eyes. Her eyes slowly began to turn even more expressive with upcoming tears making her eyes look bigger and beautiful as they had always been, and her pupils were now much bigger as well. The light that shone purple from Vitraya Ramunong gave her yellow eyes a glowing touch of light purple making them look extraordinary stunning. Her smile broke out into an even bigger smile revealing her sharp teeth.

"I carry new life that we will be bringing to the flow of energy", she finally said, and a tear rolled down her cheek. Jake froze for a moment before his eyes became wide and his pupils expanded and became larger. He didn't realize that his mouth was open in pure shock as he stood unable to form words before his mate. He breathed out heavily while Neytiri's words repeated themselves in his mind. He felt like everything had suddenly changed and would change from this moment forward.

"You… we…?", he whispered still overwhelmed. It felt so unbelievable and yet so miraculous.

"Srane", Neytiri answered beginning to speak na'vi. She was so overwhelmed that her native tongue automatically took over. They were both overly stunned. Jake saw how she was starting to cry unable to contain her emotions and reached for her.

"Oh, come here", he said while placing his hands on her cheeks. They looked into each other's eyes with tears streaming down their cheeks and with the biggest smiles they'd ever smiled, breaking out in sobbing laughter. They kissed each other shortly before their excited smiles broke out again separating their mouths.

"Neytiri, I… does this mean you've been pregnant this whole time?", Jake asked suddenly thinking about what had happened these last few days. Guiltily, she rolled her shoulders while offering nothing but an admitting smile with her ears shyly adjusting themselves to fit her expressiveness.

"Yes."

"And?!"

"I became aware of it when you were not here. When you came back, Toruk Makto, I could have cried. I had been afraid I would have to raise our child on my own."

While explaining she had placed her arms on his shoulders.

"Are we ready?", she asked. Jake felt every emotion and thought inside of him melting together bringing such warmth to his heart. An ikran roared in the distance. A sound of freedom. Of life. Of fresh wind under its four wings that took it far above the ground letting it fly among the many floating mountains of Pandora.

"We have to be now. We are going to raise a little… Sky People-na'vi hybrid."

"A little us", Neytiri suggested.

"Exactly!"

They embraced each other in a long-lasting hug. They both held each other tight as if they were never going to let go again. With his hand Jake gently stroke Neytiri's braids and closed his eyes as he breathed out. There it was. There she was. His reason to stay in this world for the rest of his life. He felt like he had found the place where he belonged. While he stood there holding onto her, he felt like belonging just like the day Neytiri and him flew across the sky together all day until the sun began to set on a world full of wonder and danger, and her. He once again took his time to think about how she had captured his heart. He wanted to do anything at all for her. She carried a new life that they had created. For the first time in his life Jake felt that he had helped providing a lush world with new life, new energy, rather than causing the loss of it. Now he had the chance to be something more beautiful than he ever thought he deserved to be. He was to become someone more important than any other role he could possibly possess besides being Neytiri's mate. He was going to be given the role of both her mate and be the father of their child. He had never experienced nor would he ever experience something greater in life than Neytiri.

Neytiri felt the first night of peaceful beauty that had returned to her beloved people and spiritual presence around her. In a world invaded by chaos for too long, everything had finally settled, and she had been ensured that the future would work out. Shortly after the Omatikaya had left the ruins of their Kelutral, she found out that she was expecting. She had felt so unprepared, which was something she hadn't been used to experiencing before Jake entered her life. She had always wanted to become a mother someday, but her pregnancy was so certain it surprised her and confused her at first. When she knew she was pregnant she began to miss him. She missed his presence, his voice, his touch, his support that gave her the confidence she needed but hadn't been able to maintain without him since the horrible incident at the school. When standing without him but with the energy made connectedly by them, she had missed Jake unbearably much and thanked Eywa he had come back. He was now Toruk Makto and it made her extremely happy. Not because it made him great enough to claim a future with her but because it made it possible for her to reenter a life of balance and harmony. He made it possible for her to keep both him and her people. She loved and needed both to be completed, to be her, and with him being the sixth rider of the Last Shadow she was able to fulfil her future role as tsahík and keep him in her life, as her bringer of life and love, as well. For that she held him tight in her arms, deeply moved and thankful, and filled with the courage to continue her life with the strength and motivation to help her world by bringing another energy-providing life to it. She could never ask for a greater gift than that. It finally seemed clear that a future with Jake and the family they began to shape awaited her.

When Jake opened his blue eyes, who were met by darkness caused by the machine that kept him, all he could think of was Neytiri and that she had been impregnated by him. He was to become a father. He had been chosen as Olo'eyktan of the Omatikaya clan. But he was still a human – physically at least. A big part of him would always be human although he felt ready to leave that side of himself. He had been enchanted by Pandora and was ready to embrace what amazed him and made his eyes turn wide open every time. Now he had not one but two reasons that convinced him to get transferred into his avatar body permanently. Jake pushed the upper part of the machine open, and the light from the lab was revealed. It wasn't as sharp as it was at other times; someone had lowered the sharpness so that the team could get some sleep. He dragged himself back onto the wheelchair beside the machine and sighed. He looked to his side to find that Norm had fallen asleep leaning on one of the machines. Jake saw Norm in front of him, but he barely truly sensed anything in the lab. Although Norm was asleep, Jake decided to talk to him.

"Norm?"

No answer. Jake knew he wouldn't answer but waited a few seconds anyway.

"I know what I need to do now. There's more responsibility to be taken. We, uh… we're having a-"

"Who are you talking to?", a voice asked. Jake turned around to see Max approaching. When he was close enough, he sat down on the machine beside Jake.

"I'm just pretending that Norm isn't sleeping."

"Okay? What are you pretending he can hear you tell him?"

Jake couldn't help it but smile.

"Neytiri and I… we're having a child."

He looked at Max whose face showed pure surprise. A smile broke out on his face.

"No way! You as a father?!"

"And her as a mother", Jake reminded him, still overwhelmed.

"How are you going to take care of the child?"

"I'll transfer into the avatar. Permanently."

"Congrats, Jake!", Max exclaimed and shook Jake's hand excitedly.

"Thanks, man. There's a few things we gotta do now."

"Sure, what?"

"First of all, we want the RDA to get outta here, and then we can start figuring out a solution for the clan, they need a new home. As far as Norm goes, I still need to find out what to do."

"His avatar was shot."

"Exactly, but he deserves to walk among them. He loves the na'vi and their culture like Grace did."

"Jake? Pause for a minute. You seem, I don't know, dreamy? You good?", Max said making Jake stay silent for a moment. He thought about Max's question.

"I'm going to be a father", he then said in a lower voice and started smiling. He couldn't think deeply of anything but that. His upcoming life was already calling for him to take care of his child which he and Neytiri would eventually raise together, and the clan itself called for him to lead them and to ensure they found what was necessary for them to heal again. Jake thought to himself that there was something he had to finish up before leaving the place for the last time, but he wasn't sure what he had forgotten at the moment. Therefore, he strode off towards the far side of the lab by himself to think. What he did know was that they would send the Sky People on their way back to Earth when the sun reemerged.

The aliens went back to their dying world. Only a few were chosen to stay.

Jake stood outside on the hard cement ground of Hell's Gate along with Neytiri who was standing by his side, and a number of na'vi from the clan who had come along as well to make sure no problems occurred as they escorted the Sky People onboard on their mysterious machines that would take them away from there. Jake watched the smaller yet invasive and careless aliens carefully as they walked by, not feeling responsible for being one of them anymore. He never belonged with them, that he had always known. It just felt different now because he knew who he belonged to unlike his past self. He wore the necklace of Tsu'tey te Rongloa Ateyo'itan to honor and remember him, letting the clan know that he accepted the role of Olo'eyktan, that had been passed on to him by Tsu'tey. From now on, they were finally his true people. He felt ready to take on a new chapter of his life. Parker Selfridge walked by him, and he simply signalized him to keep moving, not wanting anything to do with him ever again. He may not have approved all the killing committed by Quaritch, but he was greedy enough to not stop him from destroying the clan's home, killing families. Parker never saw what the na'vi saw. He only saw money. He saw nothing. He saw something worthless in the presence of great wealth and worthiness, and therefore he saw nothing.

The time of great sorrow was ending. Toruk Makto was no longer needed.

During the day Jake had spoken to the people to let them know that everything would be alright, and he promised them he would lead them to a new home. When the sun began to set upon the land, he set Toruk free. The mighty king of the sky had served the na'vi well, had once again proved himself to be a savior despite him also being a deadly bird. As the mighty Toruk flew across the orange sky with the whole Omatikaya clan watching in awe, Neytiri told Jake, the sixth Toruk Makto, that if he would ever be needed again, Toruk would find his way back to Jake.

That night Neytiri sat down among the many roots that came from Vitraya Ramunong. She was happy that this night was her last night without the presence of Jake's spirit. As she sat down in silence, she looked down at her belly and placed her hands on it. A smile grew on her face as she gently stroke it while picturing herself in half a year. The purple light that came from the beautiful tree calmed her even more and made her feel certain that she was about to enter the best part of her life. She wanted to share her gratefulness with Eywa, so she connected her queue to the living, breathing tree.

"Ma Eywa. I think I am the happiest I've ever been… and I want to share it with you to make you happy as well. Do you feel it? I faintly remember those hints you placed in my dreams when you approved us as mates. They are distant to me, but they mean so much to me. I am not entirely sure of what you were showing me, Sa'nok. The Sky People awoke me too soon. But I never forgot the feeling your hints gave me. They are valuable to me and I can't wait to feel them when they happen. I think those strong feelings of emotions were the reason I got angry with Tsu'tey that day. He enraged me because he wanted to hurt Jake, but… also because he was threatening those feelings that I really want us to have one day. Irayo, ma Eywa. I have faith in you. I trust that you will allow Jake to pass through your eye. I trust that you will let him live with me. Txon lefpom, ulte oel ngati kameie."

The sound of fresh, splashing water could be heard as another na'vi child jumped into the water. The sound of lively water blended in with the sound of children's laughter.

The forest will heal. So will the hearts of the people.

On land several grown na'vi were hunting for fish on the other side of the large lake while the younger clan members played in the water. Those who hunted were gathering supplies for the upcoming travel. A female carried an infant with her while hunting, another female na'vi was pregnant but still able to hunt with bow and arrow. The na'vi baby was steady and close to its mother, and its eyes were big and golden and busy observing the world that seemed even newer than for Jake, who wasn't the newest one to witness the wonders anymore. A precious baby had taken over his gig, and it stared at its new home with huge interest and a strong feeling of being connected to what the eyes were looking at.

New life keeps the energy flowing. Like the breath of the world.

Neytiri delightfully smiled at Jake as he got the fish she caught with an arrow. He stepped forward and put it down to the other fish they had caught. He then turned his attention to her. She was standing on a thick root that made her taller than him as he stood in the water. With a smile he placed his hand on her belly and turned his eyes towards hers. Their eyes met and enchanted each other as Neytiri put her hand on his hand.

Back inside of Hell's Gate, Jake had remembered what he needed to finish off before leaving. There was one last report to be made for him to have completed a duty.

Well, uh… I guess this is my last video log. 'Cause whatever happens tonight… eighter way, I'm… I'm not gonna be coming back to this place. Well, I guess I'd better go. Yeah, I don't want to be late for my own party… it's my birthday, after all. This is Jake Sully signing off.