A New Mission: Ash to Fire

Ash

Miles, Zu, Lyle, and Mansk were flying over the Eastern Sea on their three Ikran, dawn on the horizon, and absolutely exhausted after a long journey tracing the mainland to get back to Zu's home... well... their home now. After leaving Sully's war camp cove, they flew straight through the evening and night in mostly one shot save for some short breaks for food, leg stretching, and relieving themselves.

They had just turned from the mainland to begin their short stretch of open ocean flight to reach the archipelago. Miles yawned, Cupcake letting out a soft screech in reaction to her mutually shared exhaustion with her companion. She'd often made this flight riderless, following that big, strange, dark-colored, loud flying thing.

Miles couldn't believe all that had happened in such a short amount of time. Just two mornings ago they were in a great battle over Bridgehead City. Just two mornings ago Miles was finally victorious in capturing Jake Sully, his enemy. Just two mornings ago Miles saved the daughter of his enemy in the service of love for his son. Just two mornings ago his beloved mate was kidnapped by his enemy's wife.

Then just yesterday he and his Marines worked to free his enemy from the custody of the RDA to save Zu and just in the nick of time. And in just two days Miles went from being a SecOps Colonel with the RDA to one of their newest sworn Na'vi enemies. And Miles just left Parker, his friend, behind to reel from the devastation he caused. He could only imagine how betrayed he might feel.

And of course, there were those lost. Ta'zem, Dr. Alexis Park, Bob, Mike, some clan leaders, warriors... And then there was the loss of his son, not to death, but to distance and to closure for the foreseeable future. This 'closure' that still felt so painful. He didn't even get to hug his son, something he regretted with each passing hour on their flight back home. It was all so much. He, Zu, his Marines, and their Ikran had every reason to be exhausted.

But despite what they had gone through these last few days, they needed to pull an all-nighter to return. Miles told Ko'yeh he would only be a few hours behind them. And Miles needed to get back. He was Olo'eyktan now and his people just participated in War. He wanted to show them that all was well, that Zu, their princess, would be returning safely, and to be there for them as they cremated their dead—no doubt the greatest loss of life that these people had collectively experienced in recent memory.

As they flew over the ocean, the dawn sun giving way to the morning light and the silhouette of their archipelago emerging on the horizon, Zu, smelling the familiar air, started to tear up—elated and relieved that she survived this ordeal of war and was returning home to her village, her people, and her mother. She also shed tears for those warriors, like her beloved friend Ta'zem, who would not know this feeling.

Lyle, sensing her distress and who had been doing his best to be respectful of his Colonel's wife as he rode with her on her Ikran, sweetly put his right hand on her shoulder. Zu, slightly startled yet comforted by his touch, reached back and across her chest to grab his hand with her left and took a deep breath.

Lyle said, "We're almost home, Zu."

Miles was processing a million and one more thoughts as the archipelago came within view. The full reality of his new existence becoming real. This beautiful, sometimes hostile place was his home now. He had becomeTxepìvayo and was their leader, yet he still had so much to learn about these Ash People. He also had so much to teach and protect them from in the aftermath of this war.

Miles would like to think that indeed, Zek'arayo saw an underlying potential threat in the RDA and Miles was not only a bridge between his people and humans, but also one who could protect them in case things went awry. And they did—Bridgehead very clearly revealing where they stand even amongst their alleged Na'vi "allies."