Chapter Text
A heaving breath in, a shaky breath out. Over and over again, in and out, just like that. It was all She could do to just breathe. Her strength had been taken, although not from her most recent actions, though they did not help, no her strength had been taken long ago. One of Her great mistakes
It had been fine in the beginning.
She had given them a planet, full of animals and of plants. Food was wherever they looked, fruits in all shades, vegetables growing up to meet them, water in lakes and streams while mothers fed the young so that they would continue to have one another.
They sung, danced, played games. Her people's joy flowed through Her and their sorrow sank deep within her were it sat so She could feel and grieve along with them, She would send rains and rainbows, dancing winds and prancing animals to show them that they were not alone.
It should have been enough.
It was never enough She would learn.
They began to learn. First came farming, people who would gather seeds and water and nurture the small plants until they became large and bountiful.
Second they learnt Jealousy. A man who became angry with the farmer who all others flocked to. She witnessed the hatred brew, and then the fist raised against a turned back.
The beginning of Her end ran red, poisoning Her river as a hand reached towards Her in desperation. She could only watch and hold out Her hands as the young soul found its way back to Her.
It seemed to go quickly from there. Man turned upon man and friends became foes. Surely it wouldn’t last? Her people, Her children had never been like this before and once again She could only watch as they destroyed the peaceful life She had given them.
They began to advanced through the ages, only ever briefly leaving war behind, if only so they could turn around and fight another.
It wasn’t all bad, some had found a way to speak to Her! She didn’t know how but one day She awoke to a voice in her ear.
“Please let this harvest come, We will all surely die if it doesn’t”
What was that? A voice? She hadn’t heard a voice that clearly since Her sisters left Her side.
She searched for the voice, and found him in a small corner of her planet, in a small shed surrounded by tools and…
A field of wheat.
It was small, just like his had been.
What had he said? That they would all die without this wheat? No. That couldn't happen. She wouldn’t let it. She had only stood by and let Her creations take and take, but this? She could do something about this.
A small rain cloud was nearby, that would work. She blew softly into the fluffy thing and watched as it danced towards the small field, a slow waltz that would bring salvation to many.
And it worked! The field grew strong and the village had enough food to last them through the winter.
Then news spread about the prayer, that if Her people prayed to Her they would get whatever they asked for, and over come with joy that Her people were talking to Her, were listening to Her signs again She granted everything she could.
People who couldn’t see could, those who had never walked ran, fields were bursting from their paddocks and rivers never ran dry.
It wasn’t enough either.
Once again, as time passed, they forgot about Her. She became a God that few believed in and one day, She no longer heard the voices around her, the sounds of tectonic shifting the only thing to keep Her company.
They didn’t need Her.
They began to stray further then they ever had before, digging into the earth for minerals and metals, building hulking structures taller then the mountains She had sculpted with Her own hands. They began to destroy Her, to reshape Her in a way She should never have allowed.
She had gave them a gift. A baby of light, a reminder of the first thing that She had ever created for them, that they needed Her.
They had taken it as a miracle. The people had loved her gift and many had turned to pray once again, so She gave them more, more so that they could turn away from their destructive ways. More so that they may speak with Her again, so She wouldn’t be alone.
She gave them people who could manipulate water, who could grow life, then those who could give the materials that Her people wanted so the digging could stop.
She kept going, giving little pieces of Herself to Her people, desperate and determined to bring them back to Her, wishing for another voice in the endless silence.
Ignoring the pricks of pain that came along with each gift She kept giving and ripping pieces from whatever parts of Herself She could reach, an arm, a leg, an ear, a stand of hair, anything and everything so that they could ask for favours and miracles once again.
For a while it worked, each part returned in time, never destroying her the way that they had before and She began to hear them again, faint and echoing, like they were just beyond a wall, but still there! For the first time in millennia!
Then came her mistake. She became complacent. Just like a common god, and forgot herself, giving without thinking of what she was giving and to who. And she gave away something important to someone who should have never seen it.
All for One. He didn’t return what he stole, over and over again he took without care, returning only bodies that She could not replenish Herself with and She grew weak as another joined, another Quirk made to stop the evil creature that she allowed.
She hadn’t made this piece, She didn’t know where it came from, only that what could be considered a blessing was punishing her just the same as its opposite.
Many years passed and more and more gained Quirks, taking borrowed energy that she couldn’t keep from them lest they turn back to the days of digging and destroying. A silly thought, She knew. But a bomb detonated in the wrong place, a long forgotten mineshaft being dug a little too far to the right was all it would take to kill her now, She was stretched far to thin across a globe that She had built, grabbing each atom from passing nebula only wanting to make a world Her sisters would be proud of, to make creatures that they would coo at.
They would probably never see it, by a making of Her own creation She was dying and when She went her beloved home would cease to exist with Her.
Oh the Irony.
She decided to keep 20 percent for herself. A measly amount of power dedicated to keeping her alive. It wouldn’t work for long. All for One and One for All were both growing, both keeping massive amounts of energy from her and she could only hope that the battle ended soon, those two quirks alone would be enough. It would be.
Hope left her when the Eighth thought he had killed All for One. He was the strongest of them yet, if he couldn’t defeat All for One what hope was there. Eighth breathed a sign of relief at what he thought he had accomplished and uncontrollable rains fell across America as She mourned Herself.
She screamed, crying with what little energy She had left into the void, energy slipping back into Her home, She was too weak to pull it back in, as muffled as it made Her cries into the Aether.
She prayed for the first time, Prayed that someone would hear her cries and save Her from extinction, that She wouldn’t die, because though She had been stupid She loved Her people, they did not deserve to die because of Her mistakes.
When everything felt lost, when She had to stop screaming lest She kill herself, Her sister answered, Eywa came to Her rescue.
His time is over. Eywa spoke through the stars that glistened in time with her mighty voice, strong and full of life, even a galaxy away. This is the only thing I can offer him for a longer life.
Can he do it? She thought. I cannot die, not now.
Eywa laughed. Of course he can though I will send him help, all you need to do is meet me in the middle
I can do that, she whispered. She gathered her energy, pulling from every crevice of Her planet for any scrap of power she could utilize to hold her sister's hand. She held it all close and said to it a blessing and a plea in one. This was all She could do, if this did not work She would die and everything She had ever made with it. One last breath and She threw her hand outward, further than She had ever dared explore in the days of Her youth, further and further, reaching and searching desperately as Her strength wavered.
She couldn’t do it.
She had let them all down.
No you haven’t, Eywa grabbed Her hand tightly. You gave them what you thought was right and that is all we can do.
She sobbed, She had done it, She had given Her people what could be Her last gift to them. She slumped against the universe, energy stretched thin across nebula and Stars, planets whose gods had yet to emerge and look at Her home planet, which had not gone unscathed in her fit of desperation. Damage had been done, in her determination to reach Her control on the planet had slipped. Earthquakes had ravaged, floods and fire taking more than was necessary.
Yet She could not feel too much sorrow as the deaths had given Her enough energy to recover, and even if only a little, their sacrifice would have to be enough.
Eywa looked at Her. All you have to do now is hold on, leave just enough energy for that and regain control of your home, I will send him to you soon, he will help.
Thank you sister, I can never repay you. She thought as She faded back across the cosmos.
There is no need, just say hello to my child, Good luck, Gaia.
Back on Earth She could only think of one thing, of Her farmer, a boy who had been too young, who died too scared to be natural, She compared him to the boy who Her sister would pass through the stars more then soon enough and made a vow to Herself, She would not let him die in pain again.
Even if it cost her Everything, for he was a gift.
From Her sister, Eywa.
Kiri sat by the waters edge, silently cursing her father for keeping her from Eywa, her mother for agreeing, and Eywa for doing this at all. The way that Kiri was shoved from the Great Mothers domain was unheard of, between both her mother and Ronal neither had ever heard of such a thing happening and without answers Kiri was reduced watching as the others connected to the spirit tree, to the Great mother, and… to her brother.
Though she knew the connection they had wasn’t that of blood it had never mattered, Neteyam was her big brother. Kiri remembered scrapped knees that really weren’t that big of a deal, Neteyam never thought so, he would pick her up and carry her to their grandmother who would rub ointments against the cuts and send them off again with a kiss to the head.
Neteyam who would always follow behind just incase he needed to catch her if she fell again, Neteyam who would wrap her in hugs after nightmares, Neteyam who shared her love of Mo’at’s fancy teas, Neteyam who would make her bracelets and necklaces.
Neteyam, who she would never see again, not even in the arms of Eywa.
Kiri threw a rock into the water, this wasn’t fair. She thought as she watched the rock sink, its edges disappearing into deep blue water.
Her concentration broke as tiny lights danced over the rocks path, the little fish that Kiri had likened to the Atokirina were gathering around her feet. Kiri smiled, at least she still had her connection to the creatures of her planet.
Scooting forward, Kiri dipped her hand into the water to pet the little creatures, a few pressed into her palm and she giggled, she scooped three into her hands and watched the fish for a second then frowned.
What would normally happen is this: the fish would swim in circles as water slowly trickled through the gaps in her fingers until she had to let them go or risk suffocating the harmless things.
This was not happening, the fish in her hands were bumping into her fingers, pressing forward, over and over like they wanted something.
“What is it, little fish? What are you trying to tell me?” Kiri wondered aloud until she had to drop her palms and return her little friends, the second they hit the water more rushed to push at her fingers.
This was very odd. “What the hell?” Kiri whispered and watched as a small line of fish swam away, toward the spirit tree.
Kiri’s eyes blew wide as they took in the state of the Spirit tree, glowing brighter then she had ever seen, Na’vi panicking, Ronal praying with both hands of the plant, and many, many, many of the tiny fish surrounding the chaos.
Without a second thought Kiri dove in and swam as fast as she could towards the gathering, the fish who had been nudging her before pushing along her sides as her arms pulled her deeper and towards an imminent demise.
At the hands of Eywa or her father was yet to be determined.
As she was nearing the tree Kiri reached back and found her Kuru, but just before she could connect to the tree a hand pulled her back and Kiri’s head whipped about until she met the angry eyes of her father and the desperate eyes of her mother.
Kiri, don’t. Sighed her father with one hand, the other firmly holding her wrist, and braid away from the tendrils of the tree that were slowly inching their way toward her.
Kiri jerked her wrist, knowing it wouldn’t work but more for what the action represented and signed back. Please, dad. I can help.
There's nothing you can do, you’ll just get hurt. Came her fathers response and before she could reply he began to kick his legs and kick them to the surface.
They broke the water quickly and Kiri splashed water into his face. “There is something wrong! I can help, why won’t you let me!”
As her father coughed out sea water her mother gripped her hands. “Please ma Kiri,” Neytiri begged. “We just lost your brother, we cannot lose you as well.”
Kiri’s anger subsided.
Just not enough.
“I know that! But can’t you see! This is more than the spirit tree dying! The fish are swarming! Look at Awa’atlu! It's hardly glowing!”
Jake and Neytiri turned to look, Neytiri gasped as she took in the site of the place she still hesitated to call home, no lights came from the marui’s, the bioluminescent algae that usually clung to the suspension poles were dull and lifeless, the dark backdrop of the forest stark, and sucking any remaining light into a void of leaves and branches.
Something was taking energy and diverting it to the Spirit Tree, only one known person could do that.
Jake's hand on her wrist went slack from the realization and Kiri took the chance to snatch her arm back and dove once again, dodging her fathers flailing hands.
Braid ready she swam to Ronal’s side and for the first time in weeks she felt Eywa right in front of her.
It felt very different to the last time. Where Eywa once had put a strong and steady wall between them, shoving Kiri until she had no choice to let go, it simply felt as if the Great Mother was tearing that same wall apart, brick by brick looking for her.
Kiri danced along the wall looking for a weak spot that she could stick her hand through and reach Her. She found one that was big enough and used her arms to heave the rest of her body through, catching her skin on the edges of the wall and adding rips to her clothes.
“I’m here, Great Mother!” She called as she climbed. “I’m here! I heard your call for help! Please, I can help you!”
As soon as she was through a cry of great anguish met her ears, it was like nothing she had ever heard from the Great Mother before.
That is not Me Kiri. Came a voice in her mind. It is My sister, from far across the universe and She needs My help, but I have given too much of Myself to you to help Her without you. Do you understand?
Kiri felt she understood all too much and all too little at the same time, the implication that Eywa was actually talking to her, over took most other thoughts and Kiri could only stare dead ahead, mouth agape.
A chuckle wafted around her. All will be explained in time but for now can you help Me?
Kiri nodded and stretched out her hand, limbs stiffening when a warm, four fingered hand slipped into hers.
She knew this hand. Had felt the same fingers against her own many times. Rubbing her head, picking her up, and cuddling against her after a nightmare.
Why was Neteyam here?
His time is over. This is the only thing I can offer him for a longer life.
The Great Mothers voice rattled against Kiri’s bones, petrifying her with more implications that were becoming way too real way too fast.
Kiri ignored what the other Goddess was saying and turned to face her brother, who had a sad smile on his face.
A tear threatened to escape her eye. “But I just got you back.” Cried Kiri, “You can’t go, not yet! What about Mom! What about Dad! And Lo’ak and Tuk! They barely even got to know you!”
Neteyam pulled her into a hug, it wasn’t as warm as it once was and Kiri cried into his arms because only life could ever bring back her brother's true hugs.
“You will all only ever know what I was, Kiri. Not who I could have become. Just because you could visit me does not mean you were making memories with me, when you are old I will still be fifteen. Forever fifteen.”
Kiri wrapped her arms tighter as if she could stop him from leaving and Neteyam’s own arms tightened in response. “You will be okay without me, She will not be, and I can help.”
Kiri knew the feeling as her earlier words floated back to her. “I know, but it still hurts, what will I say to everyone when they can’t find you?”
Neteyam shrugged and pulled back so he could see her face. “Tell them that I am doing what I was raised to do, to help and be a little bit dumb at the same time.”
A small laugh burst from Kiri’s lungs and Neteyam’s smile turned wide and genuine at the sound.
“I have to go now Kiri, Oel ngati kameie and I love you. For everyone. Pass it along please.”
Neteyam pulled away from her and Kiri's feet felt like they were stuck in the thickest mud, like she was in a nightmare and she could only watch as the monsters walked towards her, except this time she had to watch her brother walk away from her forever.
This was forever and Kiri could only try to burn the memory of his smiling face as he waved into her mind. Her screams were silent as her brother faded into the void and her sobs only regained presence as Eywa came back.
In a fit of desperation Kiri could only cry out to Eywa, “Please! At least let him take someone with him! So he won’t be alone!”
And who would you suggest?
No one could come to mind, no one that Kiri could send off right after she lost her brother.
A hand on her shoulder shocked her less than the face she saw.
“It's ok Kiri, I’ll make that decision for you, I’ll keep him safe for you, and it's the least I could do for Jake, to watch over his son.”
“Mom, Please no.”
Grace laughed, “Like the boy said, you don’t need me and there is nothing more you can learn from me, I had my life here and if I could do anything else in my life it would be to repay Jake, for trying to save my life. And for taking care of my daughter as if she was his own.”
A last hug to her mother wasn’t on Kiri’s itinerary for the day, but this hug felt exactly as she had ever known it and it almost hurt more.
Grace blew a kiss as she walked away, fading into nothing and Eywa spoke once more.
Answers will come, but not yet child. You have to be patient.
“What does that even mean!” Kiri shouted, even as she felt her limbs begin to shake and her breath started to slip with the sensation of sea water flooding her nose. “Please answer me! Don’t shut me out!”
Any pleas fell on deaf ears and the last thing Kiri remembered was Ronal pulling her to the surface and her parents panicked cries.
The last thing she thought as her eyes gave way to darkness and her consciousness slipped into mindless waves, was that hopefully her mother would be enough to help Neteyam.
A last gift.
From his sister, Kiri