Quest for the Masks

"BIONICLE is a rare example of an original fantasy storyline. Nearly all of them have the same basis in Tolkien's writings, with elves and dwarves and orcs and artifacts of doom. For a while, BIONICLE was nothing like that. It had Matoran, Toa, and Turaga. It had Mata Nui and Makuta. Sure, it had its similarities, and later delved into the genres of Science Fantasy and Cosmic Horror Story, but, originally, it was flat out fantasy. Had this thing caught on and stayed true to its fantastic origins, BIONICLE could nearly be comparable to Lord of the Rings and Dune in sheer magnitude of story and the originality that came with it. So I'm going to keep BIONICLE true to its roots with this story. A rewrite of years 2001-2003. The story of six heroes who washed up on a beach..."

- Echo 1, on BIONICLE and Quests for the Masks.

Quest for the Masks is a novel-based rewrite of BIONICLE's first years told along the lines of a fantasy genre rather than science fantasy.

The story itself follows the Toa, six beings bestowed with elemental powers, as they fight to free the island of Mata Nui from the tyranny of Maktua.

The story is rated PG-13 for fantasy violence and romantic themes.

The Legend of the BIONICLE
Gathered friends, listen again to our legend of the Bionicle...

''In a time, before time, the Great Spirit descended from the heavens to the earth. Carrying his children, the ones called Matoran, to the paradise he had created.''

''They were numerous, separate, and without purpose. So, the Great Spirit illuminated them with the Three Virtues: Unity, Duty, and Destiny.''

They embraced these gifts from him, and name their home "Mata Nui" after the Great Spirit himself.

But their happiness was not to last.

''For Mata Nui's brother, the Makuta, was jealous of the honors that the Great Spirit had received, and betrayed him. He cast a spell over Mata Nui, enthralling him in a dark slumber.''

Without the Spirit protecting his home, Makuta was now free to unleash his shadows.

And unleash them, he did...

''But Makuta's rule was not to last. For Mata Nui had created six, legendary heroes, to protect the Matoran in case such an event happened.''

He imbued each of these Toa with a single power over the forces of nature, and gave them weapons and armor to channel their abilities.

These Toa rested in the ocean beyond the world, until such a time that they would be needed.

And with Makuta's coup successful, the Toa would awaken from their rest, to save the island from the dark brother's tyranny once and for all...

Chapter I
Dawn was breaking on the island of Mata Nui. Cool winds swept the beaches, creating marvelous patterns in the sand. Small birds fluttered on the winds, circling the beach and looking for shellfish or other small animals that could prove a good meal.

The last stars slowly began to vanish from the night sky, and the island's twin suns slowly began to illuminate the land.

A tide rolled in, carrying the usual flotsam of seaweed, driftwood, and the occasional bones of some poor fish that hadn't escaped its pursuer.

But today, the tide carried with it something else. A great silver cylinder had washed onto the beach. It's shining smooth exterior was covered with weeds and alga, signifying an extensive period at the bottom of the ocean.

The waves deposited the cylinder onto the beach, and slowly receded. Dawn further illuminated the landscape, and the sky began to turn a bright blue hue of day instead of the violet and gold of dawn.

One of the small birds floated down, it's technoorganic wings flapping as it perched itself onto the large cylinder. It eyed the cylinder's curved front end, and pecked at it, to see if it could be the remains of some great ocean creature that had died.

The sound of rapping on hollow metal responded each peck. The bird cocked its head in wonderment. Then, air began hissing out from a small, thin line that separated the curved top of the cylinder from the rest of it. The bird, startled, took to the air and observed from above.

The cylinder's hissing stopped after about ten seconds. Then, the top slowly began to rotate. It then fell off, revealing an unlit, hollow interior.

A red-armored hand reached out from the darkness, and clasped the edge of the canister.

The bird, more frightened than before, flew off.

The being slowly pulled himself out of the canister that contained him. He was large, clad in crimson armor that reflected the sunlight well. Flame-like patterns on his shoulder armor seemed to dance as he moved in the light.

The being himself was dazed however. He tried to think of where he was. Who he was. But all he could remember was sleep... and nightmares...

Tahu...

The word rolled through his head. He pondered it for a few moments. It seemed like a name. But who's?

Tahu...

The being looked around. Convinced that there was no one else nearby, there was only one being that the name could belong to: himself.

Tahu eyed the beach. It was a beautiful view. Golden sands, sapphire water, and emerald trees beyond...

Then, something glinted in the sand near the top of the canister.

Tahu walked over, and found that a blade, which had once been affixed to the canister top's inside, had fallen off. He picked up the blade. Although it was heavy, and cumbersome, Tahu descided that it was better than nothing.

He turned towards the jungle, ready to enter, but a sound from behind him stopped himself. He pivoted to face the canister top once again, and found that a hatch had opened.

Inside rested a crimson mask-- the same color as Tahu's armor. Tahu put his blade in his right hand, and retrieved the mask. It had two eye holes. below the eyes it had six slashes on either side of the face. Tahu turned the mask around, and pressed it to his face.

Immediately, he felt a surge of energy course through his body. Glorious power. So much power!

The metal object warmed as it touched his skin. He felt the mask meld with his skin and form to his features, causing it to look almost exactly like his face!

The blade of the sword burst into flames. Tahu was startled, and dropped the weapon. As soon as it left his hand, it became metal once more, dead and cold.

That's strange, Tahu thought. He picked up the sword once more. As soon as his hand grasped it, it became flame. Yet, it did not burn him.

He swung the weapon back and forth, casting a trail of sparks behind it. He then made a stabbing motion. As he did this, a stream of fire jumped forth from the sword and struck the sand, fusing it to glass.

Nice... Tahu thought. He did it again, and again, and again.

He then thrust his palm forward, and flames sprouted from it as well.

''Tahu. Master of fire! That will definitely do.''

He once again turned towards the jungle, and promptly entered it.

Chapter II
Onua clawed out another chunk of dirt and rock from the wall in front of him. There was little light, but that didn't bother him. Onua was perfectly fine with darkness. Even enveloped in shadow, he could still make out nearby objects fairly well.

He threw the dirt behind him, and continued the process again and again.

He didn't know where he was headed, but he felt compelled to go where he was going: a little further down, a little further forward.

The black-armored Toa of Earth kept moving on. While he dug, he thought about his time in the canister. Just how long had he been in that thing anyway? He paused a moment and eyed his arm. The organic tissue underneath his armor had finished regrowing. When he emerged from his canister, the tissue was very deteriorated.

He decided to turn his thoughts back to the digging. No point in pondering a past that he knew nothing about. Who knows? Maybe what was ahead would hold some answers...

Onua pushed his claw through a dirt wall, and then tried to grab a nearby rock. Something was wrong. There was no rock, dirt, or soil behind them.

He pulled his hand out, and air rushed in behind him. He shrugged, and ran through the wall in front of him.

Onua looked around. He was inside some sort of artificial cavern. It was massive, with light-emitting stones illuminated what appeared to be a village or city below. The buildings were hewn into the walls. A small stream ran through the city's center.

Onua walked across the cavern. As he neared the village, he could see smaller, humanoid beings scurrying about. They were about two masks shorter than he was, and physically weaker.

When he came to a stone arch that seemed like a ceremonial gateway, the beings took notice. They froze at the sight of the large, powerful Toa of Earth.

Onua walked through the gate, and the smaller humanoids ran into their shelters. All except for one. He was clad in purple-and-black armor, and wore a mask not all that dissimilar from Onua's: a diamond-shaped octagon, with slashes along the cheeks and forehead, with two squared eyeholes.

"Hello?" Onua said.

The little being stood silent.

Perhaps we don't speak the same language, Onua thought. "Hola?"

"I'm sorry, Toa Onua, I understand you fine," the little one said. "It's just, I didn't expect you..."

"You know who I am?"

"Yes," he said. "The Turaga said you would arrive someday."

"The Turaga?" Onua asked.

"Yes, our village leader," the purple-masked being answered. "He told us of ancient prophecies, far older than him, that foretold your coming."

"Could you take me to him?" Onua asked.

"Yes, I'm sure he'd want to see you. I'll go fetch him. You wait in the riverside plaza. He'll be there shortly."

"Thank you."

"Oh, by the way, my name is Onepu, captain of the Onu-Koro Guard. Welcome to our city." He bowed, and then ran off.

Onua walked to the river-- which was an apt name. It rushed from one side of the cavern to the other, and, if one got close enough, roared as loud as any rushing surface rapid.

The Toa of Earth sat on a bench underneath a statue. He looked up at the large carving above him, and dropped his jaw.

The claws, the armor, the green jewels underneath the eyeholes of a great mask...

The statue was him.

"Toa Onua!"

Onepu was running towards him. Another, smaller, hunched being followed him. He wore a gray mask, and dull green eyes glowed from behind it. In his right hand, he carried what appeared to be a drill-like tip mounted on a staff.

"Welcome, Toa Onua," the being said. "I am Turaga Whenua. We have much to discuss."

Chapter III
Gali observed the village that a young being named Maku had brought her to. Many of the beings (which were called "Matoran") went about on their day to day business, barely taking notice of the Toa of Water standing amongst them.

Gali had washed ashore on a reef off the coast of an island that the Matoran called Mata Nui. She had rescued a small Matoran fishing boat and its crew, Maku included. Believing Gali to be a Toa, beings that, according to legend, would defeat a powerful, dark being named Makuta, they brought her back to Ga-Koro.

Ga-Koro was a small town built on large, floating platforms. Homes were build mostly out of wood or large leaves harvested from the nearby jungles, and lit with glowing stones mined from another city called Onu-Koro.

In front of Gali, and dictating the tour of the city, was Turaga Nokama, Ga-Koro's supervisor and leader. The ancient Matoran was about a mask taller than a normal Matoran, but still smaller than Gali. Evidently, Toa were just tall.

"So," Gali asked, looking at the buildings around her (most of which she stood as tall as), "there are more like me?"

"Yes," Nokama answered. "The legends foretell of six Toa, each embodying the elements of Earth, Fire, Water, Air, Ice, and Stone."

Gali generated a sphere of water in her palm, floated it there for a moment, and then dispersed it. "I take it I represent water?" she asked sarcastically.

"Of course," said Nokama. "And this is your city. Ga-Koro. "Water Village" in our older tongues. Your home."

Gali noticed that her name contained a portion of the city's in it. 'Ga'. She wondered if that meant something. No point in pondering it now, however.

"Does my name have a connection with the village," the female Toa of Water asked.

"Most likely, yes," the ancient one answered. "Ga, as I said before, is the old Matoran word for water. You represent water. Therefore, there is some connection."

The Toa and Turaga came upon a wooden balcony resting above a large, saltwater bay.

"Our village rests in Naho bay," the Turaga said. "It sustains our village, but also protects it from invaders. Only one bridge allows anyone in, yet our boats and prowess with swimming can let anyone out."

"Naho..." Gali whispered. "Where'd you get the name?"

"Long ago, in the Time of War, a great Ga-Matoran hero named Naho lead her forces against the combined hordes of Ta-Koro, Onu-Koro, and Le-Koro," the Turaga related. "She was an amazing war hero. When I was a Matoran, I served under her authority."

"You were a Matoran?"

"Yes. When we reach a certain point in our lives, some Matoran transform into Turaga. Only one Turaga can exist at a time, and none know exactly how it happens. Only that it is the Great Spirit's will that we become one.

Gali nodded. "And this 'Time of War.' What happened? What caused it?"

Nokama closed her eyes and shook her head. "A... dispute happened between Po-Koro and Ta-Koro. The Turaga of Ta-Koro at the time, Sejanus, was planning on leading an assault on the Makuta himself. He demanded that Po-Koro provide weapons and tools to aid his city in the war effort.

"However, the Turaga in Po-Koro was not going to devote so many resources to an endeavor which could not be achieved. Of course, old Sejanus was adamant about attacking the Dark Spirit and ending his reign without relying on old prophecies.

"Sejanus rallied with the Turaga of Le and Ko Koros. Po-Koro's Turaga, fearing imminent attack, allied with Onu-Koro. Thanks to the harsh desert landscape and supplies coming from the tunnels of the Earth Village, the Earth and Stone alliance held strong.

"The Turaga of Fire then turned to Ga-Koro, asking the Turaga of the time, Oriana, to help complete an assault on Po-Koro by boxing the village in and pressing on it from all sides.

"However, Oriana wished to remain independent from the war. Sejanus would not tolerate this, and sent his forces to invade our village.

"Luckily, Naho was not only able to fend off his troops, but, at the same time, never lost a single Ga-Koran life.

"About two years later, Po-Koro went on the offensive, and attacked both Ta-Koro, Ko-Koro, and Le-Koro at Tren Krom Break, where each of their village's holds connected. The Po-Koran army marched over the Mangai Volcano, and assaulted all three legions there.

"All three sides to heavy losses. That was when Naho stepped in. After waiting for the opposing armies to weaken themselves enough, she marched into the Break, and captured Sejanus and the five other remaining Turaga. A peace meeting was held in Ga-Koro, and the time ended.

"After the war, all five remaining Turaga were executed due to their war efforts. Myself, Vakama, Onewa, Whenua, and Matau were chosen to ascend as Turaga. We brokered peace treaties, and returned our island to its original state."

Gali gasped. One Ga-Matoran had ended a war between five opposing legions. That was amazing.

"Once the meetings had been adjured and the treaties signed, I named this bay after Naho, to commemorate her role in ending the Great War."

Gali thought for a moment. "What happened to this Naho, then? Is she still alive?"

"Sadly, no," Nokama answered. "She died while defending a supply caravan from a Muaka Tiger attack. Her memorial is in the city square, and her remains are buried in the ocean beneath it."

The Toa of Water felt a pang of sadness. Such a great leader had fallen prey to a simple beast of the wilds.

"Now, though," the Turaga began, "we should focus on writing new histories. You must meet your fellow Toa. They will most likely meet at Kini Nui."

"Kini Nui?"

"The Great Temple, dedicated to Mata Nui. It sits at the base of Mangai between the Le-Wahi and Ko-Wahi holds. You should head there immediately."

"Yes, wise one. I'll be sure to return when I can." With that, Gali bowed, did a backflip, and dove gracefully into Naho Bay, swimming towards Hura Mafa River. The canal would take her further inland and closer to Kini Nui.

Chapter IV
Kopaka, Toa of Ice, master of the cold and the storm, was annoyed.

He was hiking along the frozen snowdrifts of a region that the local Matoran called "Ko-Wahi". He was searching for an artifact at the top a mountain. Ihu, was the name of the edifice, if he had heard correctly. It had been named for an ancient scholar who had mentored the current Turaga of the Ice village.

Of course, the cold didn't annoy him. If anything, he found the mountain slope's chills relaxing. The annoyance was shouting to him from a ways back.

And it had a name: Pohatu.

"SLOW DOWN!" the bronze-armored Toa of Stone yelled from behind. He was struggling to move through the large snow drifts, as he had more body mass than Kopaka, and he didn't seem to know exactly how to move in the snow.

Kopaka let out an angered sigh. "Will you be quiet?" he yelled back in a cold tone. "Do you really want to start another avalanche?

"Hey, that wasn't my fault!" Pohatu yelled back.

Kopaka rolled his eyes. He had been covered in a mass of icy rocks when Pohatu had first showed up. Of course, Kopaka was able to shatter the boulders quite easily using his powers of ice. He just didn't feel like being friendly to the man who had nearly killed him.

"So why are you going further up the mountain? Don't you want to go somewhere warmer?" Pohatu called up again, ignoring Kopaka's command.

Another angered sigh hissed from the Toa of Ice's lungs. "If you want get out of the cold, then leave me. I'm sure there are sunnier spots on this island."

Pohatu caught up with Kopaka. Unlike the light-footed Toa of Ice, Pohatu had sunk a full foot into the snow drift. "Well, I thought we could team up? You know, since we're both looking for the same items, right?"

"The Kanohi masks," Kopaka said. The Turaga had told him that, to defeat the evil known as Makuta, he and his fellow Toa would have to collect six Kanohi masks each. The masks would give them special abilities that they normally would not have access to. "Fine, you can tag along. I might need a mountain moved, or the whole island lifted..."

"Great!" Pohatu said cheerfully. "So, where are we going?"

"There." Kopaka pointed to the summit of the mountain.

A metal object glinted slightly as a ray of sunlight hit its reflective surface.

It was a good twenty minutes until the pair had reached the mountain's peak. When they did, they found a Kanohi mask, resting on a pedestal that was half-buried in a drift of snow.

"Finally," Kopaka said. He pulled the Kanohi off the pedastal, and eyed it. Kanohi Hau, mask of shielding. It could protect him from any attack save ambush. At least, that's what the Turaga, Nuju, had said.

"Nice," Pohatu said. "So what's it do?"

"Let's find out," Kopaka said, placing the mask over his own. He felt the Hau's power fill his being. A protective shield raised from the mask, and shoved Pohatu a few inches away.

"Hey, what was that for?" the Toa of Stone demanded.

"Sorry," Kopaka said. He mentally called forth his original mask, the Akaku, mask of X-ray vision. He activated its power, and he was able to peer into the island's very depths. He saw through veins of minerals, and too Mount Ihu's very roots.

He turned his attention westward. Through the mountain, he was able to see a temple, with six carved edifices. A group of beings not dissimilar from he and Pohatu had gathered at the temple's center area.

"What do you see?" Pohatu asked, looking in the same direction that Kopaka was. Of course, all Pohatu could see was a mountainside.

"It appears that the rest of the Toa have assembled at the island's main temple.

"Where? I don't see it."

Kopaka deactivated the Akaku's power and turned to Pohatu. "It's that way," he said, pointing towards the direction of the temple. "We should go."

"Okay, meet you there!" Pohatu yelled. He activated his mask, the Kakama, mask of speed, and disappeared at lightning speed. He also left a foot-deep trench in the snow that he traversed over.

Kopaka shook his head. He jumped in the air and used his power to form an ice slide beneath him. He landed on it, and directed the icy flow towards the temple...

Chapter V
Tahu looked back and forth between the other two beings that had assembled at the temple known as Kini Nui. Each seemed physically similar to him, but their armor and masks were different.

One wore a mask that was black as night, behind which dark green eyes glowed. His ebony-gray armor reflected sunlight very well, making it appear as a shade of silver. Instead of hands, he had massive claws, which, Tahu assumed, could probably break through boulders. He said that his name was Onua, and that he was the Toa of Earth.

The other Toa that had arrived was Gali, Toa of Water. She wore azure armor with sky-blue highlights. Instead of eyeholes, her mask had a simple visor. Even then, Tahu could make out bright yellow eyes. Her weapons consisted of two climbing hooks, which she had fastened to her back.

Gali and Onua were engaged in a deep conversation about what exactly was going on. They debated everything from the threat of the Makuta, to the Matoran, to their ability to trust one another-- including Tahu.

Another Toa appeared in the blink of the eye. Had he teleported in? Or was it some sort of illusion created by Makuta?

"Who are you?" Gali asked.

"Pohatu," the bronze-armored new arrival boomed, "Toa of Stone, at your service!"

An ice slide appeared. Tahu turned his gaze toward it and saw a white-and-silver armored Toa riding along its length. The Toa quit generating the slide, and landed between Pohatu and Onua. The slide disintegrated behind him.

"You must be the other Toa," the white being said. He looked around. "Wait, my Turaga said there were six of us..."

"WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOO!"

From the jungle to the south, an emerald armored being flew from the canopy. He landed on one of the temple's six spires, then back-flipped off and landed on top of the shrine in the center of the temple.

"Lewa!" he announced. "Toa-hero of Air!"

"Nice entrance," Kopaka said in a sarcastic tone that was as cold as his element.

"Thank you," Lewa said, not minding the Toa of Ice's sarcasm.

"I suppose we should introduce each other," Onua said. "Onua, Toa of Earth."

Gali spoke up next. "Gali, Toa of Water."

Pohatu smiled. "Pohatu, Toa of Stone."

"You know me!" Lewa said.

Tahu rolled his eyes. "Tahu, Toa of Fire."

Kopaka stood off from the group, and simply slouched onto one of the temple's spires. "Kopaka. Ice. Enough said."

"Well what's his problem?" Tahu asked.

"Don't need one," Kopaka answered, having listened in on Tahu's comment.

"So," Lewa said, feeling anxious from not moving for more than a few seconds. "What are we going to do? Some wind-flying? Matoran-savin'? Whatever us Toa-heroes do?"

"Actually, that's a good point," Gali said. "We should decide exactly what we are doing. Do any of us know."

"My Turaga said something about masks," Tahu answered.

"As did mine," Gali said.

"Same here!" Pohatu chimed in.

"I think it's safe to say that all of our Turaga have said something about these Kanohi masks," Onua observed.

Kopaka and Lewa nodded.

"So, does anyone know much about these masks?" Tahu asked. "Because all I know is that none of us know where they are, and we need to find them to defeat Makuta. That's what the Turaga said."

Pohatu pointed to Kopaka. "He's already found one."

Kopaka rolled his eyes.

"Have you?" Gali asked.

"Yes," Kopaka responded.

"Where?" Tahu inquired.

"Mount Ihu. Desolate. Untraveled. We should look in similar areas, as those would be the best places to conceal artifacts of power."

Gali nodded. "Agreed."

Onua added some input. "My Turaga said that most of these masks are guarded by viscous beasts called Rahi, which are under the control of Makuta. I haven't faced any of them yet, but I know that I wouldn't want to face one of Makuta's 'pets' alone."

Lewa nodded. "I wouldn't want to punch-fight a Makuta-beast alone either. Or at all, for that matter."

"Then we should split into teams," Tahu said. "That way we can easily ward off these things if we do face them."

"Wait, who made you leader?" Kopaka demanded.

"No one did," Gali said. "He's making a sound decision."

"Besides," Tahu added, "someone has to take charge. I'll volunteer that duty."

"And how do we know that you're capable of leading us?" Kopaka inquired. "We barely know his limits, or anyone else's. What if he can't make the right decisions at the right times?"

"Or what if he's just a jerk," Lewa chuckled.

Tahu unsheathed his sword and held it at his side. "Well, is anyone else willing to volunteer?" he questioned.

No one responded.

"Then I will remain leader until further notice. We'll split into teams. Onua and Pohatu, Lewa and Kopaka, and Gali and myself."

Kopaka turned and began walking towards the jungle. "I work alone he said."

Tahu felt anger rise up within him, but he decided it best to just let the fool do whatever he wanted. If Kopaka wound up dead, it wasn't Tahu's fault then.

"Okay, Lewa, you can come with us," Tahu corrected. "Let's go."

Chapter VI
One month later...

Lewa jumped out of the way as a large, reptillian fist came down where he had stood moments before.

It had been two weeks since the Toa had split into teams. So far, Lewa had gained four of his masks.

Now, while trying to retrieve his fifth, this... thing had attacked him. Of course, it attacked him in the water. Lewa hated the water.

The Matoran name for the attacking creature was Tarakava. The Tarakava were large, cunning reptiles that killed their prey with large, blunt fists. On this particular specimen's snout was a blackened, rust colored Kanohi masks.

Now, animals don't normally wear what amounted to Matoran faces on their snouts, and the poor condition of the masks was due to one cause: a plague that the Matoran called "infection." Evidently, Makuta had the power to, through the infected Kanohi, control beings. Anyone who's mask was infected was an unwilling servant to Makuta.

And infection didn't exclude this Tarakava from serving the dark lord's purposes, either.

"I could use some aid-help right now!" Lewa yelled, hoping that either Tahu or Gali would attack the creature.

Gali was the first to respond. She leaped out of the water like some sort of odd fish and landed on the Tarakava's back. The creature roared in anger and tried to shake her off.

Tahu responded next. He jumped onto the Tarakava's head, and latched tightly onto the mask.

"I've got it!" the Toa of Fire shouted.

Gali jumped off and joined Lewa in watching the struggle.

The massive reptile jarred its head left and right, trying to shake off the Toa. Tahu held on the mask for his life. When the beast paused a few seconds, to breathe, Tahu took his chance. He planted his feet firmly on the sides of the gigantic beast's head, and pushed away, all the while holding onto the mask.

The beast roared violently and jerked it's head forward, throwing Tahu off.

Tahu landed in the sand. Temper raging, he sprang to his feet and charged. The Tarakava simply swatted him to the side.

"Slag!" Tahu uttered, hitting the ground.

Lewa readied his axe. "So, firespitter," he said derogatorily, "is this all you've planned, hm?"

Tahu, while angered, called up a wall of flame around the Tarakava (instead of Lewa), sealing the creature for a few moments and allowing the Toa to regroup.

"We have to get that mask off it!" Gali said, walking back to them.

"And how do you propose we achieve-get that, water-walker?" the Toa of Air shot back.

Tahu got an idea. "Lewa, do you think you can condense a cyclone around the mask on its snout? Perhaps it could throw the Kanohi off."

"Worth a try-sh-"

The Toa of Air was cut off.

The beast charged through the flames, screeching in anger and heading right towards the Toa.

It raised it's clawed fist, and aimed for Gali. Lewa gathered his power, and the Tarakava threw a punch.

It happened extremely fast. Tahu jumped in front of Gali, taking a the full force of the Tarakava's blow. Not even a second later, a cyclone emerged around the creature's personal Kanohi, ripping it from its face and flinging it onto the beach.

For a moment, the Rahi fell still. It then moaned, and then, realizing that it was in shallows, which were not good for hunting, headed for the drop-off.

Lewa heaved a few breaths and then turned to Gali. She watched the creature leave the surface, and then remembered why could perform the action.

"Tahu!" she yelled. The Toa of Fire floated unconscious near the beach. Gali rushed over and dragged him onto the sands. Lewa followed close behind.

The armor around Tahu's midsection had been heavily cracked, and the organic tissue underneath was bleeding slightly. It wasn't a fatal wound, but it was bad.

"Good thing for armor," Lewa said, "otherwise, he'd be cold-dead."

"I'll keep him comfortable," Gali said. "You should go get your mask."

Lewa made a strange gesture at the ocean. "There?" he asked. "It's water, I'm a Toa of Air. Not good buddy-friends!"

"Listen," Gali said, "you already have a Mask of Water Breathing. You'll be fine. Besides, if what your Turaga said was true, it's a Kakama. I'm sure you could use that to get out of the ocean quickly. Besides, after that encounter with the Kane-Ra Bull, I don't trust you around anything wounded."

"Hey, I didn't think-know that it was saltwater I brought to quick-clean Onua's slash-wound," the Toa of Air reminded her.

"You're point?" she asked.

"My point is..." Lewa thought for a moment. "I'll get back to you on that."

Ending the conversation, he called upon his Kanohi Kaukau, which materialized over his face, and waded into the water.

Evidently, whoever had hidden these masks had a nasty sense of humor. He entered the drop-off, and descended into the darkness.

Lewa was glad when he felt wet sand within his palm. He padded the mud, and swam over it. He wanted to get out of the water. It was so cold, and... wet.

Something glinted to his left. He turned, and was glad to find that it was his Kanohi mask. It was the same as the mask Pohatu wore, but colored green. It's streamlined appearance already gave off an aura of speed.

Okay, he thought, now how do I use this to get out of here fast...

Then, Lewa got an idea. He took a deep breath and pressed the Kakama to his face. Concentrating, he focused the mask's power into his legs. His nether limbs moved faster than they ever could normally, propelling him at great speeds through the water.

The Toa of Air broke the surface, yelling as he flew high into the air.

Gali and a recently awakened Tahu watched the scene.

Lewa laughed. "Now this is wind-flying!"

It was at that point that he reached the apex of his flight, and began to descend.

"Crap." Lewa called upon his original mask, the Miru, mask of levitation, hoping to stop his fall. While he succeed in great reducing the speed of his descent, he still faceplanted in the sand about five feet away from Tahu and Gali.

The two laughed and stood up, Tahu moving slightly slower than Gali.

Lewa pulled his head from the grains and straitened his mask. "Alright, five down, one to go. What about you guys."

"One left, too," Tahu said.

Gali held up three fingers. "Three for me," she quipped.

"I wonder how Pohatu and Onua are doing," the Toa of Air asked. "They both had one mask left when we last saw them. They're probably done and relaxing in some Onu-Koron pub right now."

"What about Kopaka?" Gali asked. "None of us have seen him since we split up back at Kini Nui."

Tahu felt a pang of concern for the Toa of Ice. While he was not the most sociable of Toa, he was needed to defeat Makuta. If he was dead, then the things just got harder for the Toa.

"Come on," Tahu said. "My last mask is in some Onu-Matoran tunnel. You said you had one in there, too, right, Gali?"

She nodded.

"Then let's leave-go!" the Toa of Air shouted.

The three walked along the beach, heading for the nearest cave that would lead them to an Onu-Matoran highway.

Chapter VII
Onua yelled as the swarm of small scorpions engulfed he and Pohatu.

"Okay," the Toa of Stone began, "this really isn't what I had in mind. I thought you said the tunnels were safe!"

Onua shrugged. "I haven't seen anything like this before."

The scorpions, known to the Matoran as Kofu Jaga, had attacked the Toa as Pohatu was heading to retrieve his final mask-- the Kanohi Kaukau, mask of Water Breathing.

Pohatu and Onua were forced to the cavern wall. Onua hit it. The stone behind him felt warm. Hm... Onua thought... maybe we could--

"Got any ideas?" Pohatu yelled, throwing one of the Kofu Jaga off his shoulder.

"How far is the mask?" Onua asked.

"According to your Turaga, it should be on a pedestal across a small, stone bridge that traverses a ravine. Of course, he's the same one who said 'You should have no trouble in getting there,' so I don't know if that's trustworthy advice."

Onua thought for a moment. They had started this journey in Onu-Koro, and had traveled in a relatively straight down path. Which would mean the underground ravine should intersect with one of the many tunnels that honeycombed the area around the subterranean Earth village.

The Toa of Earth then remembered something the Turaga had told them when he passed through the Koro about two weeks ago. According to the Turaga, Kofu Jaga enjoyed heat. The scorpions were known as "magma detectors" by Onu-Matoran mining crews, as they were known to be found near, and sometimes in, the molten rock.

Onua felt a painful sting on his leg, and grabbed the source of it. A Kofu Jaga had crawled its way onto his thigh, its tail's end buried in Onua's armor.

The Toa plucked the scorpion from his leg, and examined it. No masks, no rust, no signs of Makuta's contamination anywhere on them.

He concluded that these Kofu Jaga were not controlled by the Master of Shadows, but simply held territory that was conveniently placed to suit Makuta's needs.

But, luckily, Onua formed a plan.

"Okay," the ebony armored Toa said, "I have an idea, but it'll be hard to pull off."

"I'm open for anything!" Pohatu shouted, swiping more of the scorpions off of his legs.

"Okay, on the count of three, run like Karzahni."

"No problem," the Toa of stone said, pointing at his face/mask. "Kakama, mask of speed, remember."

Onua didn't chuckle. "One.

"Two.

"Three!"

Pohatu bolted, and Onua dug his claws into the warm chunk of rock behind him. He mentally called upon his own Kakama, which then switched out with his own Pakari, mask of strength. He then ripped the chunk of rock out of the wall, and triggered the masks power.

Molten rock poured out from the gap in the wall.

Instead of giving chase, however, the Kofu Jaga ran towards the lava, basking in its warmth. The scorpions, after all, were known for being one of Mata Nui's most durable creatures.

Onua caught up with Pohatu, who had stopped short at an opening in the cavern. The Toa of Earth halted next to him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Pohatu just pointed forward. Onua looked out the opening.

A small bridge, barely a foot wide, spanned the length of the ravine. Of course, Onua could not see the chasm, as blackness enveloped the bridge on all sides: up down, right, and left.

"Slag!" Pohatu yelled.

Onua turned around at the sound of the Toa of Stone's cursing. The magma had been more plentiful than he had anticapated, and was now gaining on the two Toa. A horde of extremely territorial scorpions charged in front of the lava.

Onua knew there was no time to act. "Move Pohatu!"

Pohatu looked back and forth, trying to decide what to do. Face his fear of the ravines height and blackness, or face off against a lava flow.

"Pohatu!"

The Toa of Stone quickly deduced that whatever was at the bottom of the chasm was not as bad as the horde of chittering, red-hot scorpions advancing upon him. He quickly jolted onto the small stone bridge. Onua quickly followed behind.

Pohatu reached a dead end on the far wall. Luckily, his mask was where Turaga Whenua said it would be, on the bridge's pedestal. He grabbed the Kaukau, and stared at it. The Mask was the same as the one Gali wore, visored, and having a somewhat smooth design to it.

He put it on, and let it fuse to his face. The mask was then quickly replaced with his own Kakama.

"Okay," he shouted back to Onua, "I've got the mask. Now what?"

The horde of Kofu Jaga was now beginning to traverse the bridge. And their territorial nature was telling them that the Toa posed a threat to their magma pool. Chitinous exoskeletons clicking loudly, the scorpions advanced on the Toa.

"Switch to your Miru!" Onua called out.

Pohatu quickly summoned the mask of levitation. "Okay, but why."

"This is why!" the Toa of Earth said, slamming Pohatu off the bridge. He then, too jumped into the darkness.

Both Toa simultaneously called upon the masks' power, causing their fall to slowly decelerate, and then become a steady ascent.

They slowly flew past the horde of scorpions, which were happily bathing in the lava that now covered the length of the bridge.

Pohatu shook his head and looked at Onua. "Never. Do. That. Again," he said.

Onua chuckled. "As long as I don't need to."

Pohatu frowned.

The two Toa quietly made their way up the ravine. They eventually reached a wider stone bridge that spanned the length between two tunnels. They landed on the bridge, and examined a sign that had been placed near the left wall.

"Onu-Koro ahead," it spelled.

Pohatu let out a sigh of relief. "Glad that that's behind me. Hey, you said that they had some bars here, right?

Onua nodded.

"Well, what do you say we go buy a few cups of ale. You know, to celebrate, since we have all of our masks now."

Onua smiled. "I'll take you up on that offer."

The two continued down the Onu-Koro tunnel. But something stopped Onua. He, in turn, grabbed Pohatu and halted him.

Onua, fashioned to be well suited for combat underground, had a fantastic sense of hearing. And right now, he thought he heard the sound of a torch.

"Be quiet," he told Pohatu. The Toa of Stone responded, properly, with silence.

Eventually, even Pohatu heard the crackling sounds of something ablaze. Footsteps soon accompanied the crackling.

Pohatu whispered, "What do you thi--"

Onua put a finger to his mouth, the universal Matoran symbol for "be quiet." Pohatu didn't finish his sentence.

Now, voices could be made out.

"... anyway, I'm probably gonna head for tha surface after seein' y'all through here," a heavily accented voice said.

Onua sighed. "Midak," he said.

A grey-armored Matoran appeared from the tunnel, a small reed in his mouth. A straw hat rested on his back, with a string holding it around his neck.

Behind Midak, Toa Tahu, Gali, and Lewa followed.

Midak caught notice of Pohatu and Onua. "Well, would you look 'ere!"

"Pohatu, Onua, brother Toa-heroes!" Lewa said. "How've you been doing, deep-delving in such dark caves?"

Onua chuckled. "We've run into some snags."

"Snags?" Pohatu asked, a hint of anger in his voice. "You call a scorpion horde a 'snag'?"

"Scorpion horde?" Gali asked. "How did you survive?"

"Oh, not Nui Jaga," Pohatu said, recalling the massive, heavily armored scorpion he and Onua had 'run into' while searching the Po-Wahi desert for masks. "Kofu Jaga, the little ones that seem to love lava."

Tahu nodded. "I saw them in Ta-Koro. Turaga Vakama said that they are often a nuisance at best."

"Yes they are," Pohatu said. "Especially when they swarm you by the thousands."

Gali shook her head. "So, how many masks have you collected?"

"Six for each of us," Onua said. "We were just heading back to Onu-Koro to celebrate."

"Could you come with us?" Lewa asked. "I'm sure we could use the help-aid with the mask-finding."

"And I'd like to get outta these here tunnels," Midak added. "You could guide 'em for me, and I can get back to my Ussal-crab pens. Sure they need feedin' by now."

Pohatu glared at Onua and then pointed at his legs, which were covered in sting markings from their encounter with the Kofu Jaga.

"We'd like to," Onua said, "but I think we could use the break. Good luck, and good hunting."

"We'll meet at Kini-Nui, then," Tahu ordered. "Goodbye, Onua. Pohatu."

The two groups split up, with Lewa, Gali, Tahu, and Midak heading north for Po-Wahi and Onua and Pohatu heading south for Onu-Koro.

Chapter VIII
Kopaka frowned. He had one mask left, and had spent a day scouring the volcanic region of Ta-Wahi for it. He hated this place. The heat, the lack of precipitation, and the dryness in the air.

And it was Tahu's home.

The journey had taken the Toa of Ice to a lava pit. In the center of the pool was a small island, on which laid his final mask, a Pakari, mask of strength.

Kopaka readied his ice sword and aimed it at the island. Using his elemental powers, he created an ice bridge that spanned over the molten rock and onto the island. After about two seconds, it promptly melted.

Okay, Kopaka thought, new strategy.

He pointed his sword at the lava itself, and blasted it with ice energy. The lava quickly cooled into hard, black rock.

The Toa of Ice smiled to himself, and tested the bridge. It was solid. He walked across it to the small lava island. He reached it, and grabbed the Kanohi mask. He put it on his face, and it quickly dissolved into his original mask.

He could finally return to the freezing temperatures of Ko-Koro.

Kopaka turned around, and prepared to walk across the bridge. But before he could take a step, a noise made him turn around.

The rocks where the mask had once sat had begun to shift and move, slowly taking form. The rocks coalesced into a vaguely humanoid form that was roughly eight feet high. Instead of legs, however, it simply steadied itself on top of a pile of rubble. Pale, green eyes glowed behind its silicate face.

What in Karzahni is this thing? the Toa of Ice thought.

The rock creature roared, and readied to pound Kopaka into the ground.

The Toa rolled, barely escaping the creature's massive fists. He shot two blasts of ice energy at the monster.

The bolts struck the creature's midsection, but barely phased it. The thing readied another blow.

Kopaka dodged this one as well, but it's fist landed on the stone bridge. The bridge cracked, and slowly sank into the lava.

The Toa of Ice cursed.

While expressionless, the creature seemed to smile at the fact that the Toa was now trapped. The beast threw a punch at Kopaka, who deflected it with his shield. He tried shoving the creature, but it stood there, solid as the material it was made out of.

The creature hit Kopaka, throwing him to the edge of the island. The Toa of Ice rolled to avoid yet another massive blow from the creature's fist.

Kopaka sent forth a stream of ice at the monster. Slowly, a layer of frost built on the creature. Once it was covered, Kopaka eased off the burst.

For a moment, the rock creature seemed frozen beneath a frosty prison. But then the ice quickly melted, freeing the brutish monster.

"Come on!" Kopaka yelled.

The monster rumbled the boulders that made it up, creating a deafening roar. It then hit Kopaka once again, forcing the Toa of Ice onto the ground. Kopaka evaded a salvo of blows that would have easily crushed his skull.

Kopaka backflipped onto his feet.

That's it, he thought. He began calling on what was left of his ice power. "JUST DIE!" He threw his palm forward, from which a massive icicle shot forth. The icy dagger hit the creature between the eyes.

It made the same rumbling sound, but this time out of agony. Kopaka continued this maneuver, throwing icicle after icicle into the creature's rocky form. The monster writhed, trying to dislodge the weapons from its body.

He then summoned as much elemental energy as he could, and then unleashed a full-force blast at the rock creature. A blizzard as cold as liquid nitrogen hit the creature.

It froze. Solid.

Kopaka took his sword and rose it above his head. He brought it down on the rock creature's head, which, along with the rest of its body, shattered.

Kopaka let out a long sigh, and turned to the lava. His energy had not replenished enough for him to cool the molten stone, which left only one alternative.

He would have to jump.

Kopaka got a running start, and leaped off of the island's edge. He soared through the air. But he started falling a little too soon.

Aww shi...

Kopaka grabbed the upper half of a rock that was embedded on the edge of the lava pool. The stone slowly began to dislodge from its position.

"Toa Kopaka!" A crimson armored hand reached out towards the Toa of Ice.

Kopaka grabbed it, and heaved himself onto the solid ground. He looked up at his savior.

A small Ta-Matoran stood in front of him with a cheerful smile on his face.

"Thank you," the Toa of Ice said.

"Anything for a Toa," the Matoran said. "I'm Kapura, Ta-Koro Guard patrol officer twelve. I saw you fighting that thing. I would have helped, but you seemed to have had the situation under control."

"I did," Kopaka said, knowing full well that, at first, he didn't. "I'll put in a good word for you with Tahu. Perhaps he'll get Turaga Vakama to get you a promotion."

"No need," Kapura said. "I'm fine with where I'm at. I have everything I could want. A house, good food, good company, and a date with a Ga-Matoran named Amaya later today." He laughed. "Well, I'm glad to have finally met you, Toa Kopaka." He slowly began to walk away.

Kopaka turned around to look at the island. He turned towards Kapura and said, "I'm glad to have met you, t--"

The Matoran had disappeared.

Chapter IX
Two days later...

Onua and Pohatu arrived at Kini Nui. It had been nearly a week since they had last seen any of the other Toa, and they decided that it was time to head for the Great Temple that now served as a meeting place for the group.

The two were astonished to find Kopaka had already arrived. He was leaning against the temple spire that faced west towards Ko-Wahi.

"Kopaka?" Pohatu asked.

The Toa of Ice nodded, barely looking up.

"How've you been?"

"Fine," the Kopaka responded coldly.

Pohatu shook his head. "I wonder where the others are."

"WATCH OUT!!!"

A green blur emerged from the forest. Onua and Pohatu ducked, just in time to see Lewa, running under the power of the mask of speed, flash by them, and run up the spire that Kopaka was resting on. He shot into the air, and the Toa lost him in the sunlight.

Tahu and Gali emerged from the forest. "Not again," Tahu muttered.

"This has happened before?" Pohatu asked.

Gali laughed. "He was trying to get one of my masks. He thought he could be 'heroic'. Instead..."

The Toa of Air fell from the sky, hit one of the temple's spires, bounced, and landed directly at Pohatu's feet. He let out a sore moan.

"...that happened," Gali finished.

Tahu walked up next to Lewa. "You really have to stop trying to kill yourself, Lewa." He offered his hand to pull the Toa of Air up.

"Maybe you should halt-stop me next time before I go speed-flying again," Lewa grunted. He then pulled himself up with Tahu's arm.

"Do we have all of our masks, then?" Onua asked.

Lewa dusted himself off and cracked his neck. "I've got them all."

Tahu nodded. "So have I. Gali retrieved her last one just before we got here."

Kopaka looked up for the first time since the Toa had arrived. "All of mine are accounted for as well."

"Then that means that we can face Makuta!" Pohatu said.

"Not so fast," Kopaka said. "We might want to check with the Turaga. They could give us some advice. That would be invaluable against an angry god, I would assume."

"And when did you make the decisions?" Tahu demanded. "I say we face him right now!"

"We're going up against something we know nothing about, Tahu! We'll need any help we can get!" the Toa of Ice argued.

"And leave the Matoran open to attack? Why would we--"

Gali shook her head. "Tahu, cool down."

"Like Karzahni I will," the Toa of Fire said. Suddenly, a small raincloud appeared over his head, and a drizzle started.

Gali chuckled, as it was her who summoned the storm. The other Toa laughed. Tahu frowned at first, but slowly joined in the with the laughter. Even Kopaka cracked a smile.

Tahu shook his head. "Fine. We'll talk with our Turaga. But then we meet back here. Got it?"

The Toa nodded.

"Thanks for listening," Kopaka said. "I hope we avoid arguments like this in the future." The Toa of Ice created an ice slide, and skated across it towards his home village.

"See you round! Besides, I want to get back to Po-Koro. A Matoran named Hafu said he was carving a statue of yours truly, and I'd like to see it." Pohatu stated. He then waved good-bye, and triggered his Kakama, bolting off towards Po-Koro.

Lewa simply threw a mock salute, and backflipped into the jungle. He disappeared into the canopy.

"I'll meet you here, then," Onua said. "Good luck, Tahu. Gali." The Toa of Earth then trudged off in the direction of his village.

Tahu and Gali stood at the temple.

"Thanks for making me shut up," Tahu said. "Mata Nui knows where that would've gone without anyone intervening."

"Well, someone has to keep the peace," Gali said, smiling. "Well, I'm going to head back to Ga-Koro. I haven't heard from them in a while, and I'm starting to get worried." She waved good-bye.

Tahu watched her turn around. "Wait!" he called. "Do you need someone to escort you?"

Gali looked back and shook her head. "Don't know why I'd need one," she said.

Tahu put his hand on the back of his neck. "Well, what if there's trouble at Ga-Koro. You could use the help."

"Fine," she said. "Just don't pull another Lewa."

Tahu recalled their last visit to Ga-Koro, during which Lewa had 'accidentally' destroyed a Ga-Matoran fruit stand.

"You won't have to worry about me," the Toa of Fire said. "I'll leave as soon as we arrive. Besides, I have to check up with the Ta-Koro guard. Jaller said he wanted me to observe some of their maneuvers."

Gali nodded, and the two Toa departed on towards Ga-Koro.

Chapter X
Pohatu was the first to arrive at his home village, the desert town of Po-Koro. He stopped just outside of the desert city's gates, and was among a field of statues. Great carvings lined the road to the town's massive portcullis.

Po-Koro itself was surrounded by a wall made of tan stone bricks, quarried from nearby mines. The wall had been built during the Time of War, and had withstood over a hundred years after. Regular maintainance was required, but it could easily withstand heavy pounding before giving way.

The Toa of Stone walked the path to Po-Koro's entrance stopped at the closed gates.

"Hey!" he shouted. "Could someone get the door?"

A gray-masked head poked out of the portcullis. The drowsy Matoran looked down and saw Pohatu, which immediately woke him up.

"Toa Pohatu!" the Matoran, whose name was Piatra, said. "Sorry, I was, uh..."

Pohatu smiled and shook his head. "Just open the gate."

Piatra saluted, and disappeared through the window. A moment later, the gates opened, and Pohatu was able to enter.

The village within the walls could easily blend in with the desert sands around it. Most of the houses were hewn from rock outcroppings, or built with adobe or sod bricks. Small merchant stands dotted the landscape. Mahi, small, goatlike Rahi, wandered the streets and grazed on whatever hardy grasses they could find.

Pohatu headed west, to see the progress that had been made on a Kolhii field that was under construction when he left.

Kolhii is a very widespread Matoran sport, played using hammers and balls. Three teams would use their hammers to try and score in another team's goal. Simple, physical, and challenging. That's why Po-Matoran were the best at it.

The particular field that Pohatu had seen when he left was now completed, and Matoran now dodged back and forth, trying to score goals. But something was wrong. For some reason, none of the designated professionals like Hewkii or Podu were on the field. Only amateurs were playing.

Pohatu found Turaga Onewa, leader of the village, sitting on a stone bleacher. The Toa of Stone sat down next to the elder.

"Practice game?" he asked.

Onewa shook his head. "If only," he said mournfully.

"What's wrong?"

"A virus, or... something," Onewa said. "We Po-Matoran have never been good pathologists."

"What do you mean a virus," Pohatu asked.

The Turaga sighed. "Some kind of disease is spreading through Po-Koro, and has infected many of the Kolhii players. Our star player, Hewkii, has even fallen ill."

"Hmm... anyone else?"

"Yes, Podu, Kivi, and even poor Hafu. Well, I guess the latter deserves it," the Turaga chuckled. "It'll teach him a lesson about narcissism."

Pohatu shook his head. "What are the symptoms?"

"Coughing, wheezing. Sometimes mild aggressiveness. Some more extreme cases exhibit rusting on armor."

"Rusting..." Pohatu whispered. Armor on Matoran and Rahi only rusted under infection. "Perhaps I could help?"

"Possibly. But what if it is some normal plague that will work itself out?"

"What kind of plague causes rust?"

The Turaga pondered this for a moment. "Right. You should visit Hewkii, since he was the first to be infected."

Pohatu nodded. He turned around and headed for Hewkii's hut.

"But don't visit too long!" the Turaga called. "If it is a real plague, we don't want it to spread!"

Pohatu walked through Po-Koro's trading district, and through some back alleys to avoid heavier traffic. He quickly arrived at Hewkii's hut, which was fairly modest for someone who was considered by many to be the best Kolhii player on Mata Nui.

Pohatu opened the door, and walked inside. The hut was arranged in Spartan habit, with only a desk, cooking area, bed, a few cabinets, a closet, trophy case, and some chests resting against the wall. Some herbs rested near the cooking area. Copper masks, trophies of Kolhii victories, were mounted on the south wall. The room was lit by a lightstone that hung overhead.

Hewkii was lying on his bed, coughing terribly. "Pohatu!" he called hoarsely. "I'm sorry I'm not in better condition."

"It's okay. I stopped by to see how you were doing."

"I've been better," the Matoran said, laying his head back on a pillow.

Pohatu walked over to the desk. On it rested several items--none of which were native to Po-Koro. An Onu-Matoran forged silver-and-amethyst ring and several Ga-Wahi water flowers rested on it, partially dried from the arid weather of the desert. A framed sketch of a female Ga-Matoran and Hewkii standing close together rested among them.

"Someone you know?" Pohatu asked as he picked up and eyed the pictue.

Hewkii blushed slightly. "Yeah. Her name's Macku."

"Did you draw this yourself?"

"No, a Le-Matoran artist named Sanso was passing through while I was visiting her. He said he needed practice, so he sketched us. He then let me keep the picture."

"Huh," the Toa of Stone said.

Hewkii entered another coughing spell.

"How do you know her?"

Hewkii coughed again. "I am sick you know."

"Just making conversation," the Toa said. He then smiled and sarcastically ordered "The Toa of Stone commands you to talk casually with him."

Hewkii shook his head. "We're good friends. Played Kolhii a couple of times. And she taught me how to swim."

"What's this ring for?"

Hewkii sank into his sheets. "I'm thinking about proposing."

Pohatu decided to stay away from Hewkii's personal life. He set the picture down. "Well, I guess I should get to the real reason as to why I visited here. When did you get sick."

"About a week after you left to hunt for the Kanohi," Hewkii moaned.

"Anything happen around then?"

"Hmm, I played a couple of matches of Kolhii. Visited Hafu, and bought that..." Hewkii cursed. "Ahkmou."

"What?"

"That treacherous vermin. He's a trader. Was selling some new type of Kolhii ball called a 'comet'. He guaranteed that it would increase my playing ability tenfold. I got sick a day after I bought the thing."

"How do you think that these are the result of the infection?"

"Check it out," Hewkii said. He reached under his bed and retrieved a Kolhii ball and tossed it to Pohatu. The sphere gave off a black aura, and crimson lines crisscrossed its surface. Rust patches covered it. It was clearly shadow-infected.

"You bought this?" Pohatu said, putting the ball into his pack.

"It was supposed to help me play better," Hewkii said. "Turns out its just Ahkmou trying to get rid of the pros. Clever bast..."

Pohatu nodded. "Well, thank you. I'll confiscate this thing."

"Take it. I don't want the thing anymore."

Pohatu waved good-bye and left the hut. He walked towards the merchant district to have a 'chat' with Ahkmou.

When he arrived at the criminals stand, a blue and red armored Ta-Matoran was already giving Ahkmou a piece of his mind.

"What in Karzahni were you thinking?" the Ta-Matoran furiously asked. "Can't you tell that these Kolhii balls are-"

"Woah, settle down," Pohatu said. "Who are you, and why are you way out here, so far from Ta-Koro?"

The Ta-Matoran sighed. "I apologize, Toa Pohatu. I'm Takua, the Chronicler, designated writer of the island's history. I get bored in Ta-Koro often, so I head off to the other villages to see if they have any interesting stories."

"Hmm," Pohatu said. "Well, I appreciate you trying to help, but I'll take it from here. " Pohatu turned to the gray-masked Ahkmou and cleared his throat. "What in Karzahni were you thinking? Can't you tell that these Kolhii balls are infected?"

Ahkmou shrugged. "Hey, I'm just an innocent merchant trying to make his way in the world."

"Fat chance," Takua muttered. "You're the one who scammed that 'Tarakava-blood cure-all' last year in Ta-Koro. You're a no-good con artist, that's all."

"I prefer to call it ingenuity," Ahkmou said proudly. "And besides, I was hoping to win a competition or two."

Pohatu sighed. "Takua, could you please inform Turaga Onewa about this little ploy. Also, tell him to remove all of the 'comet balls' from all Po-Koro homes. They're causing the plague."

"Okay, Toa." Takua saluted, and ran off.

"Now, Ahkmou," Pohatu said, turning to the Matoran. "Why in Karzahni were you selling plague spreading Kolhii balls. I would think that that might cause some hurt to your reputation."

Ahkmou just stared at the Toa. "Like I said, I just wanted to get the pros out of the way so I could win a Kolhii competition for once. Just giving myself and the other amateurs a chance."

"By making them all violently ill?"

"Okay, perhaps I did make a deal with Makuta," Ahkmou said, a twisted smile appearing on his lips. "But I... I... I need to lie down."

Ahkmou turned around and began heading towards his home. Pohatu summoned a wall of stone around the Matoran with a single opening on the top.

"Not so fast," the Toa of Stone ordered. "You do realize that the sale of purposely defective goods violates the Trade Law made after the Time of War, right?"

Ahkmou faked a surprised expression. "Oh my, I seem to have overlooked that little fact."

"Yeah, right." Pohatu said. "I believe that you're due a visit to the courts." He sealed the stone container so that only air could enter. Using his power, he levitated the rock. "And I'll take you there myself."

Pohatu slowly paraded the makeshift stone prison all the way down the main street of Po-Koro. Eventually, he arrived at the main hall of Po-Koro, where, inside, the courtrooms stood.

He threw the stone vessel and it shattered. Ahkmou rolled out of the shards. Pohatu grabbed him by the base of his neck and marched him into the courtroom. The Toa finally deposited the criminal at the feet of two guards.

"I caught this man selling contaminated and defective goods in the main yard," the Toa of Stone informed them. "He infected a large portion of the Po-Koro population, as you probably know. I'd suggest a good long stretch of service in the quarries."

The guards nodded, and grabbed Ahkmou by the shoulders. The Matoran struggled, trying to escape their grasp. As they hauled him off, he yelled insults and curses at Pohatu.

Pohatu felt strange. He didn't want to do that, but it was the law. A rush of conflicting feelings hit him. He decided that it was for the best, and headed outside to aid the Turaga with the removal of the contaminated comet balls.

Chapter XI
Tahu and Gali walked along the jungle path that lead from Kini Nui to Ga-Koro. Gali wanted to swim, but Tahu refused, claiming that fire and water just didn't work well together.

"Well, according to the Turaga, we're supposed to," the Toa of Water claimed.

Tahu shook his head. "Just because the Turaga say we're supposed to work together doesn't mean we have to like it."

Gali laughed. "And why not?"

Tahu didn't have an answer. If he did, it would probably have been something along the lines of "because I don't like Kopaka."

"So," the Toa of Fire said, "how close is your village?"

"Not far," Gali responded. "We should be there in a few minutes."

Tahu nodded, and the two elemental warriors continued their walk to the village.

After about twenty minutes of trekking along the path, the Toa cleared the great jungle and set foot on a sandy beach. Further off, one could see the floating sea village of Ga-Koro resting on the waters of Naho bay. Small houses were built on a nearby beach.

Gali took in the sights of her home, but then began to look worried.

"Something's wrong," she said to Tahu. "Look, some of the walkways have been severed. And I know for a fact that some of the houses are missing."

Tahu had only been to Ga-Koro once, and only for a short while to inquire Turaga Nokama on the locations of Gali's masks.

"Are you sure? Perhaps there was just a storm?" the Toa of Fire theorized.

"No," Gali stated flatly. "Something is definitely wrong. I can feel it."

The two walked closer to the village, and eventually arrived on the outskirts of the beach homes that rested on the border of the main village.

A blue-clad Ga-Matoran ran towards them. She had wore a mask similar to Gali's, and had a satchel slung on her shoulder.

"Toa Gali!" the Matoran called. "Toa Gali!"

"What happened here, Hahli," the Toa of Water inquired the Matoran.

"Rahi attack," Hahli said, wringing her fingers. "It happened so fast, we barely had time to evacuate. Luckily, most of us made it out in time, but Nokama was trapped in one of the huts. She said they'd seal it off so that water wouldn't get in, but the air has to be getting stale by now."

"Was the Turaga with anyone else?" Tahu asked.

"Yes," Hahli answered. "The building she was in also held the village council, a few of the elders, and some of our government officials. If they die, I can't imagine..." She began to sob.

"We'll save them," Gali comforted.

"Wait, what kind of Rahi attacked?" Tahu asked sternly.

Hahli looked up. Her eyes filled with fear at the memory of the assault. "A Tarakava. As big as the mountain, and as black as night."

Tahu looked at Gali. She shook her head. Tarakava were big, but not that big.

"When was it last seen?" Gali inquired.

"About an hour ag-"

A massive roar erupted from the waters surrounding Ga-Koro.

"There it is again!" Hahli ran back to the village to warn the Matoran.

Tahu unsheathed his sword. Its read hot blade ignited into flame. Gali retrieved her two tools, which were fitted on her back: two hooks, made for climbing the slick cliffs of Ga-Wahi. The pair ran to the village and stepped onto the causeway, which lead them to the wrecked town square. The ruins of fruit stands, market stalls, and discarded goods were scattered across the across the large, floating platform that this part of the village was built on.

"Do you see anything?" Gali asked.

Tahu stood behind her, his back facing hers. "Not yet," he said, scanning the waters."

The Toa didn't have to wait long, however. Within two seconds, the great beast burst from the ocean.

It was a Tarakava, but not like any either Toa had seen before. It's body was mottled black-brown, and its scaly hide gleamed poisonously in the sunlight. The claws on its fists were oversized, and made of an obsidian-colored material. On its snout was a pitted and rusted Kanohi Kakama that matched its hide exactly. The creature was under the sway of Makuta.

"Mata Nui!" Gali exclaimed. She raised her hooks above her head, and then leveled them in front of her, ejecting a blast of liquid at the monster.

The creature didn't even shrug as it charged the platform. Gali and Tahu leaped away as the infected Tarakava tore the wooden structure in two, and then it submerged. The gap left by the attack separated the two Toa.

"Gali, are you okay?" Tahu shouted from his side.

"I'm fine," she responded.

Tahu leapt from his side to hers, and stood at her back again.

"I really hate these things," Tahu muttered.

"You're telling me," Gali said.

The creature burst out of the water again, and roared violently. Tahu and Gali unleashed two streams of fire and water at the beast. It simply seemed angered by this attack, and charged once again.

Tahu switched from his usual Kanohi Hau to the Pakari, mask of strength. He then drew his free hand back and focused the mask's power into it. When the Rahi was close enough, Tahu unleashed a blow that rivaled the Tarkava's in bone-shattering ability. The Tarkava went airborne, and landed in the shallows near the beach.

Gali dived into the water. Tahu followed her along the causeway.

Meanwhile, the creature regained its bearings and readied itself for another attack. But this time, instead of assaulting the Toa, it turned towards Ga-Koro's shore village.

"Oh no you don't!" Tahu yelled.

He threw a bolt of fire at the creature, but to no avail. The beast hauled its serpentine body onto the shoreline, and slithered into the village. It thrashed around with its great fists and tail, destroying the houses of the inhabitants and refugees. Matoran ran screaming as their homes fell from the creature's attacks.

Gali flew out of the water, and landed gracefully on the beach. Tahu ran beside her. She wore an angry look on her mask.

"I've had enough," the Toa of Water exclaimed. She then raised her right hand and made a fist, which she pulled towards her body.

Tahu wondered what she was doing. But whatever it was, it was working. The Tarakava halted for a moment as a strange sensation overwhelmed it.

Tahu looked at Gali, who appeared to be concentrating extremely hard at the task she was attempting. Globules of water appeared from the Tarakava, and slowly floated towards the exasperating Toa of Water.

Tahu caught on. He began to heat the air around the beast, hoping to dry it.

The infected Tarakava screamed in rage as its body's water was slowly drained from it. The creature's hide began to wrinkle from the forced parching. It readied to charge, but was so weak from dehydration that it could barely even slither towards its attackers.

"Tahu..." Gali grunted exhaustedly, "get... the... mask..."

Tahu nodded and dropped his heat field around the Tarakava. By now, it was too weak and dry to mount any kind of counterattack. The beast collapsed as the Toa of Fire reached it.

Tahu looked at the gigantic water reptile's head, which was nearly as big as he was. He grabbed the infected Kanohi, which rested just in front of the crests over the beast's eyes. He slowly pried the mask off.

Gali slowly returned moisture to the nearly-dead Rahi. Slowly, the creature regained its strength. As the water entered its body, however, the black coloration began to fade, and was replaced with a deep blue-green.

Gali sighed and collapsed as the last drop of absorbed water left her. The Tarakava, now back to full strength--but no longer infected--rushed back to the safety of Naho bay.

Tahu sprinted back to Gali, who was lying motionless in the sand. He knelt down next to her.

"Gali..." he whispered.

The Toa of Water's eyes opened, and she looked at Tahu. "The Turaga..." she murmured.

Tahu suddenly remembered Nokama and the Ga-Koro officials trapped in the underwater hut. "I'll be back Gali," he said. "Just... stay alive. Please."

With that, he summoned his mask of water breathing, and, against his usual better judgment, waded into the bay.

While not as spiteful of water as Lewa, Tahu shared a dislike of the substance. Mostly because it made him feel weak, powerless. It was as if the water around him doused his internal fire as well. Were he to be attacked here, he'd have to rely on physical power only.

Tahu swam through the shallows and under the decimated Ga-Koro. Light was exceptional in the bay's clear waters, and he could see many varieties of coral, shallows fish, and Matoran debris that filled the area.

He spied the hut, which was made out wood that had been sealed with mortar and thatch. He made his way to it, and found a glass window that allowed him to see in.

Within the hut were several Ga-Matoran. Turaga Nokama rushed to the window, and looked at Tahu. Judging by her expression, she was wondering why it was not Gali who had come to their aid. The Turaga pointed upward. Tahu followed her gesture, and found that a rope was attached to the top of the hut.

The submersed Toa of Fire grabbed hold of the rope, and followed it to the surface. He broke through the water and discovered that it was attached to a pulley system that rested on a wooden platform that was built onto a large rock. He leaped onto the pulley's platform, and pulled a lever that should activate the apparatus. Nothing happened.

Tahu examined the machine, and cursed. An essential gear was missing from the machine. Without it, a current-powered wheel would not turn, and, likewise, the hut would not rise.

Tahu dove back into the water again, hoping to find the missing component. He rifled through the flotsam that littered the seafloor, but only found the remnants of old Matoran fishing materials and other items.

Tahu shook his head. He had to hurry, as the hut's air would be too stale to maintain the Matoran inside much longer.

He swam around, searching desperately for the object.

Come on! Tahu thought angrily.

He stopped as he saw something glint not far from the rock outcropping that the pulley was built on. He quickly neared the location, and found two Keras crabs fighting over something: the missing gear.

Tahu cursed. Keras were one of the most aggressive Rahi in the ocean. Even sharks would not attack the viscous, Toa-sized crabs. He scouted around them, trying to find a way to retrieve the gear without pushing the Rahi to attack.

Tahu then got an idea. He focused his power over heat into the water around him, slowly raising the temperature. Eventually, the water enveloping the crabs became boiling hot. The viscious crustaceans decided that being boiled alive was not worth their shiny metal find. They dropped the gear, and scurried away from the boiling zone.

Tahu quickly lowered the temperature and retrieved the gear. He swam as fast as he could to the pulley, and jumped onto its platform. He inserted the gear, and pulled the lever.

The apparatus began to creak as it slowly raised the council's hut to the surface. Within a minute, though, the hut broke the surface and its door opened.

Grateful Ga-Matoran surrounded Tahu, cheering him for his victory over the Tarakava, and saving them from asphyxiation.

Turaga Nokama finally emerged from the structure, and bowed at the Toa. "Thank you, Tahu" she said, "for saving us. Relations between fire and water have never been well, but we shall remember this service. Thank you, Toa."

Tahu nodded. "I don't deserve all the thanks, Gali-" he remembered where he left Gali. "Gali!" he exclaimed.

He rushed to where Gali laid. She was conscious though, and sitting up. Evidently, she, Hahli, and Macku had watched Tahu's efforts to save the Turaga and her council.

Tahu sat down next to Gali. "Are you okay?" he inquired.

She smiled. "I'm fine," she said. "Tired, but unharmed. I can't believe we took that thing on our own."

Tahu nodded. "But remember, it was you who took it down. I just removed the mask."

Gali shook her head. She looked out towards the western horizon. The sun had begun to set on the scene, and the ocean reflected its red-orange and violet glow into the night sky. The light then reverberated off of the clouds, creating a glorious scene.

"Thanks," she said. "For the help with the village, for saving Nokama..." "Gali, we're Toa," Tahu stated. "We're supposed to do this. You would have completed it much better instead of me."

"Oh, stop being so modest, Tahu," Gali quipped. "The fact is you did that. It's honorable to a great extent."

"Honorable..." Tahu gazed at the sunset. "That reminds me, I have to head back to Ta-Koro. I'm sure Vakama would like to hear about this." Tahu stood up and thought for a moment. "And, if you ever need anything, just send word."

Gali lifted herself from the sand. "I will."

"Hey, you might like Ta-Koro. It's got great farmland."

"But Ga-Wahi has the best scenery," Gali said. "Nokama said that the harvest moon is awe-inspiring."

"Then I'll have to see it some time," Tahu responded. The two stared at the sunset for a few moments. "Until we meet again, then?"

"Yes," Gali said. "I'll see you at Kini-Nui."

"Goodbye, Gali." Tahu switched to his Kakama and jetted off towards his home village.

Gali watched him depart, secretly hoping to see him like this again.

Chapter XII
Two days later...

The village of Le-Koro rests in the jungles of its hold, Le-Wahi. The town itself rests in the canopy of the great jungle, built on circular, timber platforms that encircle one, if not more, tree trunks. Ladders and rope-and-pulley elevators grant access to the village from the forest floor. Rope bridges span between each platform, allowing for quick transit between each area of the village. However, the more daring Matoran attempted to traverse areas using vines that hung down from the canopy.

Of course, Takua was not one to swing from vines. He safely traversed the span of a Le-Koro. Light filtered through the leaves above as he walked towards the main square, site of a large concentration of meeting and marketplaces.

Under normal circumstances, the Ta-Matoran chronicler wouldn't come to Le-Koro, as he hated the jungle. Flies bit at ones skin, and the moist heat quickly sapped one's stamina. Coupled with clinging mud and hostile Rahi, Le-Wahi could count as one of the most inhospitable places on the island.

But he had a reason. While traversing between Po-Wahi and Ta-Wahi, he met an Onu-Matoran who informed him that the Turaga of Le-Koro, Matau, had been captured during a Rahi attack on the jungle village. Evidently, a swarm of Nui-Rama--giant, wasp-like Rahi--had taken the Turaga back to their hive deep within the forest. Lewa had gone to help as soon as he returned, but hadn't been seen since.

And, being a seeker of stories, this was a perfect time for Takua to pay a visit to the village of air.

He made it to the town square, and found a few Le-Matoran quietly dozing in hammocks strung far off the platform between tree branches.

"Have any of you seen Kongu?" Takua asked, hoping to find the leader of the Le-Koro air force and surrogate leader in case of emergency.

A lime and green armored Matoran named Tamaru peeked over from his hammock, which was closest to the ground (he was one of few Le-Matoran with acrophobia). "Yeah," he called down. "He's in the meeting-hut, waiting for update-news on the Nui-Rama situation."

Takua nodded. He never understood the Le-Matoran "treespeak", the convention of doubling up two synonymic words. "Thank you."

Tamaru returned to his dozing, and Takua began the short walk towards the large meeting house of Le-Koro.

The inside of the hut was wooden, and torches burned on sconces that held them far enough away from the wall to keep the house from burning. A large, rectangular dining table was situated in the center, and chairs lined either side of it.

However, instead of food spread across the table, there were only maps and sketches of the Nui Rama hive. At the far end, a teal-green Matoran--Kongu--poured over the diagrams.

"Kongu, I presume?" Takua said.

"Chronicler," the Le-Matoran said, waving him over. "You ever fly-ride before?"

"Not that I can recall," Takua said.

Kongu scowled. "Hear-listen," he said. "I'm going to need the aid-help of a scout on a fly-mission shortly. You history-write, correct?"

Takua nodded.

"Ever-good," Kongu said. "After this mission, I'm sure you'll have plenty to scribe-write."

"What do you mean?"

"We're going to rescue-save the Turaga," Kongu said condescendingly, as if Takua should know about this. "When a Toa-hero can't retrieve our leader-Turaga, then it's up to the traditional Air Force to pick up where he left off."

"And why are you taking me?"

Kogu smiled slightly. "Because you just happen to be here, and I have slots to fill."

Takua frowned. Flying was never a fantasy he had hoped to follow through on.

Kongu gathered his maps and put them into a backpack slung on his shoulder. "We'll saddle up the birds, then." Kongu shouted. He produced a trumpet from his pack, and when they had left the hut, blew it.

Le-Matoran Air Force members scrambled to retrieve their gear--mostly consisting of bows and arrows, armor, and light provisions in case they were downed in a fight. The Matoran then headed for a large, wooden platform that spanned easily four-hundred feet over a clearing--the air strip.

Kongu lead Takua to a large dome structure. Le-Matoran carrying luminescent crystals ran around, preparing to direct air traffic that was readying for takeoff.

Kongu signaled to another Matoran who stood on a platform on the dome. The Matoran nodded, and pulled a lever, which opened two great doors on the domes front face.

A great Rahi bird emerged, with black and purple feathers covering its body. It had large, red eyes and an orange beak. It spread its giant wings, which gave off a green, bioluminescent pulse. It let out a strange caw.

Kongu walked over to the bird, and signaled to another group of Matoran. They brought up a ladder and propped against the birds hide. Kongu crawled up the ladder, and took his position on a saddle that was mounted on the birds back.

"Ready, Takua?" he called down.

Takua looked astonished. "I'm not getting on that thing," he firmly stated.

Kongu shook his head. "I thought you liked getting great history-stories. What better help-aid can you get than experiencing them first hand?"

"I can't exactly write on the fly," Takua quipped.

"We have others to get off the ground," a Le-Matoran traffic controller yelled. "Kongu, take off now."

"Takua, get on. Now."

Takua, shaking wildly, slowly climbed the ladder and mounted the back seat of the Kahu bird's saddle. He swallowed the lump in his throat, and nodded at Kongu.

Kongu kicked the ladder away, and waved a signal to the traffic director, who in turn raised his yellow and green crystals. Kongu grabbed the reigns to his bird, and leaned down. The director lowered his crystals. The bird took a running start for takeoff. Takua began to scream.

The bird sped off the runway and into the sky, heading south towards the Nui-Rama wasp hive.

"Not so terrible-bad," Kongu said mockingly at Takua.

Takua clung to the saddle as hard as he could, and tried not to look at the jungle that stood one-thousand feet below them.

Two other birds joined formation with Kongu's at the lead. Each had a pilot reigning the bird, and a gunner with a bow and arrow. The archer scanned the horizon, taking note of any threat that appeared.

"There!" Kongu called. "About twenty miles off!"

Takua opened his eyes. Off in the distance, he could see the great, beveled structure of the Nui-Rama hive. It seemed like a beehive, but much greater in scale.

An archer on another bird began to yell. "Wasps!" he screamed, readying an arrow from his quiver.

"Form tight," Kongu yelled over the wind. "Archers!"

The other archer readied his bow as well. Takua didn't have one.

The great swarm of giant wasps entered range of the weapons. They fired.

Several of the wasps fell as arrows penetrated their carapaces. Other wasps scattered, trying to break the Matoran's formation. The Matoran fired more salvos of arrows at the hornets, trying to deter the beasts from the

"Break formation!" Kongu shouted. The other two birds dove left and right, taking most of the hornets with them. Kongu and Takua screamed ahead, speeding straight for the Nui-Rama hive.

The great, recess-covered, beige structure filled their view very quickly. Kongu searched for an entrance, and found one near the northern side. He dove the bird into the passageway, and they were lost in the hive's darkness.

The two Matoran and Kahu bird flew out of the tunnel and into the large central chamber, which was walled with smaller "rooms" in honeycomb pattern. Bioluminescent sludge (the excretions of the Nui-Rama) glowed a faint, sick yellow on the ground, eerily lighting the chamber.

Kongu landed the bird and hopped off. Takua silently followed him. The bird found an excretion-free spot and lied down to avoid being sighted.

"Where are the Nui-Rama?" Takua silently inquired.

"They're out prey-hunting," Kongu said. "They'll be back by sun's-down, though. We have to hurry."

"What about the others?"

"They can help-handle themselves," Kongu stated almost coldly. "Besides, those archers could hit a gnat's wing from two-hundred yards."

Takua didn't feel much better with Kongu's modesty. He looked around the chamber, trying to get a better view of the hexagonal cells that lined the walls. More glowing feces dropped from above. Takua squinted, and found that a horde of young, flightless Nui-Rama were holding onto the ceiling

"Takua!" Kongu called. "I've found Turaga Matau!"

Takua rushed over to where he assumed Kongu's voice came from, and tried to avoid the accumulated piles of Nui-Rama guano on the floor. He entered a chamber, and found Kongu, who was cutting the light-green armored Turaga down from the wall with a combat knife. Matau was melded into the wall with the saliva and chemical material that the great wasps excrete from their mouths.

Takua rushed to help. He aided Kongu, and the two eventually freed the trapped village leader, who then thanked them both.

"Kongu, we were always ever-brave," Matau said. "It was fool-hearted of you to come here, though. You risked yourself and the life of the Chronicler as well."

Kongu shook his head. "Then why don't you tell us that story-tale about you trying to aid-help the old Turaga when he was brought into the Ta-Koro prison-jail for death-dealing?"

Matau held up an arm, signaling Kongu to be quiet.

Takua looked around. "Wait," he began, "where's Toa Lewa?"

"Looking for someone?" a dark, raspy voice sounded. The sound of a being running in the shadows could be heard.

"Who's there?" Kongu called into the darkness.

A metal object dropped in front of the Air Commander's feet. He picked it up, eyed it for a second, and gasped.

It was Lewa's Miru.

"Thanks for coming," the voice taunted. "But I'm sorry to inform you that you won't be leaving any time soon."

A being dropped down from the hive's ceiling and landed outside the entrance to the room that contained the Matoran. Yellow eyes, the same color of Nui-Rama feces glowed behind a rusted mask. The being carried a war axe in one hand, and was clad in deep, emerald armor.

"Toa Lewa?" Kongu asked, frightened.

"Good guess," Lewa said. But his voice was not his. It was the same raspy tone of the one that had taunted them just moments ago. "But Lewa isn't home right now."

"Run!" Matau yelled. But there was nowhere to go.

Lewa, infected by Makuta's taint, charged.

The ground between the dark Toa and the villagers erupted. A column of dirt and mud spattered across the room, blinding everyone in it. When they wiped the mud from their eyes, Kongu, Takua, and Matau were astonished.

Onua, Toa of Earth, stood in front of them.

"Out of my way!" the dark Lewa ordered. Using the power of his infected mask, he leaped high into the air, raising his axe, bearing down on Onua.

Onua quickly switched to his Hau, mask of shielding, which deflected the dark Toa of Air's blow. He hit the ground a few feet away, and rose to his feet.

For a moment, Lewa's eyes returned to their normal, pale green color. "What's happening to me...?" he choked. "My body... not my own! MY MIND! GET OUT OF MY MIND!" He screamed, clenching his mask. His eyes returned to the sickly yellow.

He threw another axe blow at the Toa of Earth, who dodged it with ease. The two fought for a minute, Onua's claws against Lewa's axe. The eventually moved into the darker areas of the hive. Every now and then, a flash of sparks from the metal weapons' collisions illuminated the area in a flash of yellow. Clanging echoed across the hive.

Lewa landed a solid punch on Onua's midsection, throwing him into the hive wall. Onua looked up at the infected Toa of Air, and smiled. He switched to his Miru, and, rather than levitating himself, extended the mask's effects to the area around him. A cloud of rubble surrounded the Toa of Earth. He then gave a mental push to the cloud, and it sped towards Lewa.

The dark Toa dodged, or destroyed most of the rubble that reached him. But then, a rather large beetle that had been picked up in Onua's levitative area of effect slammed into the Toa of Air's face, knocking the Makuta tainted mask off his face and onto the floor. The rusted object disintegrated into a cloud of shadowy dust.

Lewa fell to the ground, and Onua let out an exhausted sigh. "Sorry about that, friend," Onua said, offering his hand to the maskless Toa of Air.

Lewa took his hand and pulled himself up. "I'm... sorry," he said sorrowfully. "I came to save-rescue the Turaga, and those wasps... they tied me down, and then... just darkness..."

Onua put his clawed hand on Lewa's shoulder. "Don't worry," he said, "you're back to normal now."

Kongu approached, holding Lewa's mask in his hands. "Toa, you'll most likely need this."

Lewa smiled and retrieved the mask from the Matoran. He pressed it to his head, and it melded with his organic face.

"Well," Matau announced. "I guess we should quick-leave before the Rama-swarm returns."

Kongu and Takua nodded. They found the Kahu bird, which was resting anxiously in a chamber in the cavern's wall. They, along with Matau, boarded the creature, and set off skyward. Lewa and Onua followed, using their masks of levitation. After exiting the wasps' nest, they headed back to Le-Koro.

---

"Le-Matoran do know how to throw a party!" Takua yelled, raising his ale glass in the air. Four more air force pilots, Kongu, Matau, Lewa, and Onua raised their glasses as well. They then downed the glasses.

"I'm sorry to say this Lewa," the Toa of Earth began, "but Onu-Koro meaderies know how to brew much better drink."

The Toa of Air smiled. "I hate to say this, but I agree with you!"

The two broke out laughing. The group of pilots began an old Le-Koran drinking song, and Kongu joined them. Every verse, they took another drink.

Takua laughed. Unlike Onu- or Le-Matoran, he couldn't hold too much drink. He retrieved his journal from his pack, and made sure that he had recorded the journey in full. Kongu's piloting skills, the Rama hive, Lewa's infection, Onua's rescue, and their escape. It was all there.

The Chronicler decided not to stay for the party, and headed off towards another platform. On a park bench there, he found a yellow-armored Matoran writing in a book of his own. The Matoran's silver mask was different than most Takua had seen, however. It had a pattern that seemed to resemble a humanoid with his arms and legs extended on it.

"A fellow writer?" Takua asked the Matoran.

"Yes, Chronicler," the Matoran said, not even looking up from his pen and paper. "But I write fiction."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What are you writing now?"

The Matoran cocked his head. "Actually, I'm proof reading. This is the last novel in a series I've been working on for a while now."

"A series?"

"Yes."

"How many books?"

"Hmm, about seven now."

"Seven?" Takua said, shocked. "How are you getting these published."

The Matoran looked up from his work. "A publisher in Ko-Koro is working on it for me. He read the first one, and liked it. He wanted me to finish this one before the series is released."

"So what's this book titled."

The Matoran smiled. "Eternal Darkness," he said.

"Interesting title," Takua commented. "I'll have to read it when it comes out."

"All right then," the Matoran said. "Just go to any book store and look me up." He rose from his position, and put his book into a backpack. "Well, I'm off."

"Goodbye, umm..."

"Oh, right! The name's Varkanax. Again, look up my book!"

"I will. Goodbye, then, Varkanax."

"Good travels, chronicler."

The two Matoran parted on their ways.

Chapter XIII
Tahu watched from a tower as the Ta-Koro Legion marched on a parade ground below. Standing next to the Toa of Fire was Jaller, the yellow and crimson clad Matoran General of the Legion. He was very young for his position, and, at times, seemed almost too casual to be a military leader. But his knowledge of tactics was legendary, and he rarely ever lost a man when he first joined the military. Under his guidance, Ta-Koro rarely had trouble with Rahi attacks or caravan assaults.

Of course, he had his faults. It was rumored that the Ta-Matoran had a drinking problem. Nothing notable, but he would steel himself away from time to time to visit a bar or club where ale flowed. He often denied the reports and stated that it was spread by a lower-ranked officers who wanted to take his position. But they always turned out to be true. It's very hard to not recognize one of the most famous being in Ta-Koro.

Jaller barked commands at the men below, who followed them strictly. The Ta-Matoran legionnaires were clad in heavy armor, and carried both a spear and shield. Their heads were protected by a helmet, which had a large crest running across the middle from the front and tapering towards the back. The armor was colored black and gold, which shimmered in the red glow of Ta-Wahi's volcanic atmosphere.

Tahu's mind was elsewhere while the maneuvers took place. More specifically, Ga-Koro. He seemed to be having trouble getting the elegant Toa of Water out of his mind.

"All units, halt!" Jaller shouted towards the Legion's formations. The Ta-Matoran froze in place, but the sound of their boots marching still echoed off of the surrounding mountains. He turned to Tahu. "Well, what do you think?" he asked.

Tahu shook his head out of his daydream and examined the Legion. "You have one great military," Tahu said.

Jaller chuckled to himself. "And to think that this is just a remnant of the imperial military we once had."

"Imperial?" Tahu asked. "I didn't know Mata Nui ever was under control of any empires."

"Well, it wasn't," Jaller said. "But, about two millennium ago, Ta-Wahi was. An old Turaga named Tarius began to think that Ta-Wahi was too great a hold to participate in the old feudal system we once had. After inheriting the position of king from the Turaga before him, he conglomerated Ta-Wahi, and declared it a sovereign empire."

An astonished look came upon Tahu's face. "What happened after that?"

Jaller cocked his head from side to side. "Well, he began taking more fiefs, uh, land grants, from the other kingdoms. Eventually, a good chunk of Ga-Wahi and Le-Wahi also belonged to us. It was around then that he actually built the city of Ta-Koro, which became capital of the Inferno Empire, as he called it."

Soon, though, war broke out. The ice kingdoms soon performed the same action, and developed the Empire of Ice, which claimed what is now Ko-Wahi hold. They mounted an assault on us, creating the War of Fire and Ice."

Most records of that era were destroyed, so no one really knows much about what happened afterwards. All we know is that the hundreds of separate kingdoms and fiefs were soon conglomerated into the holds. Eventually, the two empires gave up their status, and began the elemental-hold system, which stands to this day."

"How long did the empire last?" Tahu inquired.

"About two generations, so five hundred years." Jaller responded. He turned back towards the Legion, which were still standing straight at attention. None had moved even an inch. "Dismissed!" the General yelled.

The Ta-Koro Legion broke ranks as they headed back to the village and their barracks. Tahu and Jaller descended the tower, and began the walk back to Ta-Koro.

While koro means "village" in an ancient Matoran language, many of the villages could amount to towns or cities. Ta-Koro was a metropolis. Built on an island in a lake of lava, the city of fire was impenetrable. Its walls towered fifty feet in the air, and were twelve feet thick. Inside were parade grounds, marketplaces, homes, galleries, museums, and the building that was once the imperial palace. The way in or out of the city was via a stone bridge that rested in the Lake of Lava. The bridge was made of a series of great stone columns, which, at a moment's notice, could be lowered back into the lake. Coupled with the Legion and the hostility of the surrounding environment, Ta-Koro had never once been invaded.

Tahu and Jaller walked across the bridge, and through the towns massive portcullis. They entered the city, whose buildings loomed like great monoliths above them.

"Well, I'm heading back to the barracks," Jaller said. "I have business to attend to. The recent influx of Rahi attacks is calling my attention." The Matoran bowed, and headed off.

Tahu, however, headed for the Imperial Palace, which now served as the living quarters for Vakama, the current Turaga. The building itself was actually rather small, and only had a total of twenty rooms. The Turaga, more often than not, could be found in the library, where he would study Matoran prophecy and legend, hoping to discern the future (or past), and interpret events.

Tahu entered the Palace, and strolled through the great marble halls. He admired the architecture, but ignored the statuary. The images of armor-lacking female Matoran did not amuse him.

The Toa of Fire eventually entered the library chamber. Bookshelves about a foot taller than Tahu were stacked with large tomes and scrolls. Ta-Koro's library often boasted about having the largest collection on the island, even though Ko-Koro's Tower of Thought was easily fifteen times as large.

He found the orange-clad Turaga reading from a mountain of books on a desk at the back of the library. Vakama was furiously researching... something.

"Slag," the Turaga said. "It's times like this when I really wish I had Nokama's mask of translation..."

Tahu moved in closer. "Turaga?"

Vakama jumped back. "Oh, Tahu. Don't sneak up on me like that. I don't need a heart attack at my age."

"Forgive me Turaga," Tahu said. He picked up one of the books on Vakama's desk, and eyed it. The cover was an ebony black with crimson trim. As the torchlight reflected off of it, a blood-red shine was given off. Across the front cover was one word scrawled in gold ink: Rahkshi.

"What's 'Rahkshi'?" Tahu inquired.

Vakama shrugged. "An old legend really. The word either means 'Demon of the Shadowed Night' or 'Sons of Darkness'. I'm not entirely sure. But the first translation seems accurate, because that's what they are, really. Demons. Creatures of immense power over destruction. The book states that they are the embodiments of physical and emotional pain."

Tahu set the book on the table. "Why were you looking up horrifying stuff like this?"

Vakama sighed. "Well, usually just to learn. But, being an old legend, and how many of the legends are recently coming true..."

"I highly doubt anything like this exists," Tahu said.

Vakama nodded. "Indeed. But, I must inquire. Why are you here? Shouldn't you be meeting with the other Toa to challenge Makuta. You do have all your masks, correct?"

Tahu nodded. "I do, Turaga. But we were hoping for advice on Makuta. We're going up against a god. We need all the help we can get."

"Hmm, let me see," Vakama got up from his chair and hobbled off, disappearing around a bookshelf. A few moments later, he then reappeared from another, carrying a large, purple and black book. "Here it is!" he exclaimed, setting the book on the table. "The Tome of Makuta."

Tahu took up the book, which felt wrong in his hands. He opened it. The book was hand-written, possibly by a madman judging by the script. He began to read.

''Father of darkness, brother of light. Chaos' balance, reality's blight. That is Makuta. He is all. He sees all. He knows all. His domain is all. After Mata Nui's fall, the great god that is the Master of Shadows took his place as ruler of the earth, water, air, and sky. But he is not just shadow. Makuta is power. He's strength, and dominance. But most of all, he is the Void.''

The book descended into a blaze of gibberish that was impossible to read coherently. Tahu closed the book.

"This offers no help!" the Toa of Fire exclaimed.

Vakama shook his head. "I'm sorry, but there's not much on the Makuta. It's hard to gain knowledge on a being that drives those who experience his presence insane. That's the only tome that is legible."

Tahu let out an angry sigh. "Sorry, Turaga. Well, I thank you for your time. I'm going to get some sleep."

"You're welcome, Tahu," the Turaga said, bowing. "And remember, walk in the light."

Tahu left the room.

"Safely, in the light..."

___________________________________________

Tahu ran, leaping over great rifts in the ground. Oily, black shadows loomed around him as he sprinted across the grey, ash-covered terrain. Behind him, large, insectoid beings chased. They had blazing blue eyes and visible organs on their heads that resembled brains.

Tahu noticed something to his left. Onua and Pohatu stood, as if they were watching the events. Tahu rushed over to them. He put his hand on the Toa of Earth's shoulder, who promptly disintegrated into a cloud of dust. Pohatu also collapsed.

Tahu stepped back, into a puddle of .. something. He looked down, and found a pool of blood with Lewa's mask resting in it. Tahu leaped back. He wanted to scream, but nothing came out.

Tahu ran more, hoping to escape his fellow Toa's corpses. He tripped over something, and found the dead body of Kopaka. A wound induced by a spear pierced through the Toa of Ice's chest. His eyes were still glowing slightly, even though the Toa was clearly dead.

Tahu turned around. He could see the creatures bearing down on him. He ran forward, but stopped suddenly.

Gali stood in front of him. She was frozen in place, but seemed to be calling out to the Toa of Fire. Tahu tried to run towards her, but couldn't, as his feet refused to move.

A being arose from behind the Toa of Water, and a glowing, red hot weapon stabbed through her midsection.

"No!" Tahu screamed allowed. His feet unfroze, and he ran towards her. Gali fell into his arms. He wanted to do something, but what? He had no knowledge of medicine.

Then, Gali began to melt. Slowly at first, but then she passed through Tahu's hands. Tahu gasped, and stood up.

A noise caused him to turn around. A great being stood in front of him, clad in blood-red armor. It's helmet concealed a serpentine head. Orange, reptillian eyes glared at the Toa of Fire. The creature retrieved a spear, and stabbed it through Tahu.

Tahu felt his midsection open, and air rushed into the wound as the creature removed its weapon. Tahu fell to his knees, still looking at the monster. It smiled, and hissed out a word that the Toa of Fire was all too familiar with now: Makuta.

Tahu woke up. Beads of sweat formed along his skin. He wanted to scream, but refrained from it. He looked at his hands, which were still material.

Just a dream, he thought. Like so many of the dreams he had before awaking on Mata Nui's beach, it was a terrible nightmare.

Tahu got out of his bed and walked down the halls. So shaken was he that he failed to notice the being leaning on the column that stood beyond his room.

"Tahu!"

Tahu jumped and looked at the being. It was Kopaka, propped up against the pillar in a casual position.

"We're supposed to meet at Kini Nui today, correct?" the Toa of Ice inquired.

Tahu nodded. "Yes."

"Good. I've taken the liberty of notifying the others already. They'll be there shortly."

Kopaka was surprised that his action was met with gratitude.

"Thank you, Kopaka," Tahu said. "I'll be there shortly..."

Kopaka nodded, and switched to his Kanohi Kakama. The Toa of Ice disappeared through the exit doorway.

A Matoran approached Tahu. "Toa Tahu," he said.

Tahu turned around, and found Takua standing next to him. "Yes, Chronicler."

"I was wondering if I could accompany you to Kini Nui? I record history, as you know, and I'm definitely going to record the fight with Makuta."

Tahu sighed. "You can come along, but you can't witness the fight. You'd probably become collateral damage."

"But-"

Tahu shot Takua a glare.

"Yes, Tahu," he resigned.

"Good. Then let's depart. We have a great deal of work to do."

Chapter XIV
Tahu and Takua made their way along the path to Kini Nui, the Great Temple that rested near the exact center of the island (the true center lay within the extinct Mangai volcano). Along the way, Takua made many inquiries about the Toa, ranging from their personalities to favorite drinks and past times.

Tahu tried to keep his temper as low as possible while dealing with the Matoran, who had begun to annoy him. The tow passed through the Charred Forest, a large wood that covered a great portion of Ta-Wahi’s land. Once a beautiful, lush, green forest like those on the rest of the island, it was now a burnt husk, as a lava flow had wiped the original forest out ages ago. What few trees left after the flows decimation caught fire, and all their leaves burnt off and their bark was seared black. But, a strange force preserved the trees, and left them as a petrified reminder of what Ta-Wahi once was.

The two then left the forest, and entered the Great Ash Wastes, which was not an apt name at all. The “Wastes” were in fact dotted with Ta-Matoran farm steads. The soil of the Great Ash Wastes was the most fertile on Mata Nui, and was perfect for growing vegetables like beans and corn, and grains like wheat.

Farmers scurried to and fro across the plains, bringing with them equipment for harvesting the year’s wheat crop. Some stopped and bowed at the Toa. Tahu didn’t enjoy the reverence, however, as it made him feel too superior to the Matoran. He was not a god. Just a being imbued with power; nothing more than a Matoran that could heat his food without having to build a fire…

The two eventually left the Great Ash Waste and entered into a grassland that rimmed the Mangai Volcano. The black mountain raised high into the air, and cast a shadow over a portion of Ta-Wahi. Tahu contemplated the edifice. He felt that there was something terrible lurking at the mountain’s roots.

After yet another hour or so of travel, the pair arrived at Kini Nui. The rest of the Toa had already assembled, and waited around the central shrine. Pohatu, Lewa, and Kopaka were all propped up against the temple’s spires, and seemed to be dosing.

Tahu walked up the steps of the temple, and nodded to his fellow Toa. He then shot a smile at Gali. She returned it, and then quickly turned her gaze away from him, probably trying to avoid suspicion. Tahu laughed on the inside.

Pohatu stood up from his leaning position and turned towards Tahu. “Well, are we ready to face the Master of Shadows once and for all?”

’’Not once, and certainly not for all…’’ a voice chimed in Tahu’s mind.

Lewa jumped up excitedly. “I’m sure-ready,” the Toa of Air said, reading his axe. “Let’s show the shadow-master what we Toa can do!” With that, Lewa summoned a gust that rushed around the temple and blew skyward, carrying a slight amount of dust with it.

Kopaka looked at the emerald-clad Toa and nodded. “For once, I agree with you Lewa. We should deal with the Makuta before he decides to wipe us out.”

“Agreed,” Gali said.

Tahu was about to agree with the rest of them when Onua spoke up.

“Wait just a moment,” the Toa of Earth said, holding up his clawed index finger. “What if Makuta sends Rahi after us? My Turaga says that the entry to Makuta’s lair is below the central shrine. If we are attacked in a tunnel, our odds of making it to him are greatly decreased.”

Tahu put his hand to his chin. “You have a point. If we don’t have some sort of defense against Rahi, we’ll be fighting a two-fronted battle between the god and his pets…”

“What if we quick-seal off the entrance?” Lewa suggested.

“No good,” Onua countered, “unless you wish to be sealed down there forever.”

“I have an idea!” Takua said, catching the Toa’s attention. All six turned towards the red-and-blue clad Matoran. “What if I gathered a group of Matoran to hold off any Rahi that try and attack you from behind?”

“Could you hold this area?” Gali asked in a worried tone. She hated any situation that put Matoran in jeopardy.

Takua nodded. “If you remember, we’ve fended off Rahi invasions for millennia before you arrived. I think a few of us could hold the temple while you take on their master.”

“How long would it take to ready a group?” Tahu inquired. “We need to set off as soon as we can.”

“Give me until tomorrow morning,” the Ta-Matoran said. “I can get at least six of us together by then.

“Then off with you!” the Toa of Fire commanded. “And good luck!”

The Chronicler bowed, and ran down a path that lead to an Onu-Koro tunnel.

“What if he’s not back by morning?” Kopaka asked in his usual, cold voice.

“Trust me,” Tahu responded, “he’ll be back. Ta-Matoran always keep their word.”

“I’d hope so,” the Toa of Ice said, turning in the direction of his Koro.

“Worried?” Tahu asked.

“No. I’m content knowing that I may not be alive in the next few days,” Kopaka said. “It’s the Matoran I leave that I’m concerned about.”

Tahu shook his head. “Listen, Kopaka there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”

Kopaka raised an eyebrow, the only one his mask allowed. “And what would that be?”

“If ‘I  die,” Tahu said.

Kopaka sighed. “Tahu, I highly doubt you’ll be the one to perish on this mission.”

“But if I do,” the Toa of Fire continued, “I want you to replace me as leader of our group.”

An astonished look overwhelmed Kopaka’s features. “Why me?” he asked. “What can I do for us? I’m no better than you!”

Tahu let out a long, drawn out sigh. “Because you can make tough decisions quickly. Because you can keep calm under the harshest of circumstances. And because I know how much you care for the team, even if you try to mask it.”

Kopaka looked skyward, and pondered what Tahu had said. He then turned back to the Toa of Fire. “I am honored to accept the position of surrogate commander,” he said. “But, personally, I never want to fill it.”

Tahu bumped his fist with Kopaka, and said, “For my sake, I’m glad you don’t.”

The Toa of Ice cracked a smile.

_______________________________________

Hours passed as the Toa waited for Takua to return with his own group of defenders. Many found their ways of passing the time.

Onua and Pohatu discussed their travels while searching for the masks, and their adventures afterwards. The conversation eventually devolved into a rating of which was better: watching Kolhii or drinking Onu-Matoran mead and ale.

In the meantime, Lewa practiced a backflip. He vaulted into the air, and spun while retrieving his axe. He landed on the ground in a fighting position with his axe ready. He practiced it over and over as the hours passed, and eventually perfected the motion. He then added the power of his Miru to it, and began performing higher and higher vaults. Finally, he jumped, flipped and spun, retrieved his axe, and landed on a spire. He laughed, and jumped down, landing softly on his feet.

Gali had traveled down to a nearby lake, and was enjoying the cool, relaxing water. Her thoughts wandered to the Toa, and what they might face when they reached Makuta. Eventually, however, her thoughts turned to the Toa of Fire, and how she might feel if he didn’t make it. What would he feel if she didn’t make it? Questions she might never have the answer to…

Back at the temple, Tahu contemplated the shrine, under which the tunnel leading to Makuta’s lair descended. He ran his fingers along the altar’s smooth surface, and contemplated the temple itself. He walked over to a spire, and leaned against it, trying to figure out how to open the seal.

The spire behind him rumbled, making Tahu jolt away from it. He turned in time to see an ovular slot appear in the stone edifice’s surface. The slot opened, and revealed a carving of a Toa’s face. The carving moved forward, and replaced the area where the cover had once been. All five of the other spires responded in a similar fashion, each revealing a carving.

Tahu eyed the sculpture in front of him. All the carvings were similar in design, and this one in particular caught his eye. The slant of the chin, the slightly wide jaw…

It was his face.

Tahu called for the other Toa, who gathered at the temple and eyed the stone carvings that now stood on the spires. Each of them found their effigies, and then began to inquire Tahu.

“What do you think this means?” Onua asked. A sign? A warning?”

Lewa admired his carving. “Whoever etched-carved these was good, but not good enough!” he boasted.

Gali looked at the carving of herself. She ran her fingers along the face’s edge, and then along her mask. While the other Toa argued, she did something she never thought she would do.

She removed her mask, which carried the essences of her other Kanohi with it.

Tahu saw the gesture. “Gali!” he called.

The Toa of Water didn’t listen, and placed her mask on the carving. The mask turned to liquid and disappeared into the stone.”

“Gali!” Tahu yelled. “You just destroyed your mask!”

Gali let out a short laugh and shook her head. “No I haven’t,” she claimed.

A moment later, a new mask appeared. It was her default mask, a sapphire-colored Kaukau, mask of water breathing. But something had changed. The mask gave off a golden aura, and, as sunlight reflected along its surface, gave off a golden hue.

Onua eyed the phenomena for a moment, and then placed his mask on the corresponding carving. Within moments, an gold-glowing ebony Parkari appeared on the effigy. Onua removed the mask, and placed it back on his face, feeling it mingle with his skin.

Then, energy surged into him. More power than his original mask had. “I can feel it!” he exclaimed. “These golden Kanohi... they have the power of all six masks!”

Each of the Toa stared at Onua for a minute, and then placed their masks on their carvings. Each received a gold-auraed Kanohi.

The Toa of Earth turned to Gali. “How did you know that this would happen?”

Gali smiled. “It was something Turaga Nokama said. ‘Like you, your masks shall fight as one.’ I didn’t think she meant literally until now.”

Tahu smiled as he placed his new Kanohi on his face. He admired Gali for many things, and her wisdom and cleverness definitely topped the list.

Night came a little while after the Toa retrieved their new masks. The stars began to peek out from the blue sky as it faded to the blackness of light. Some of the Toa made beds in the grass, and others contemplated the night’s shadow.

Tahu, however, found Gali, who was standing on a cliff edge that provided a clear view of the ocean and stars. Gali was eyeing the scene, which amazed her.

“Nice location,” Tahu said, walking up next to the Toa of Water.

Gali nodded. “I know. I like the stars especially,” she said, looking up. She pointed at a group of stars that were nearly overhead. “Do you see that group? They form a constellation that represents us. The Toa.”

Tahu looked up. Sure enough, there was a group of six stars arranged in a distinct pattern. Even more astounding was that each star burned the color of a single Toa. Tahu smiled.

Gali turned back towards the ground. “I did have something I wanted to talk about,” she said, wringing her hands.

“What is it,” Tahu asked.

“What if we don’t make it back?”

That was the question on all the Toa’s minds.

“We’ll make it back, Gali,” Tahu said, but a whisp of uncertainty rendered the comment void.

“But what if one of us doesn’t?” Gali said. “What if ‘’you’’ don’t make it?”

“Then I don’t make it,” Tahu said, looking back at the stars that hovered above the horizon.

Gali shook her head. “And what will you have to show for it? What can you say that you’ve experienced in your life. We’ve only been here such a short time!”

Tahu sighed. “Well, I can say I’ve seen the Ta-Koro legion practice maneuvers. I can say that I’ve fought beasts controlled by an angry god. I can say that I’ve watched a Toa of Air destroy fruit stands that evidently had offended him in some way.”

Gali let out a laugh, looking back at the ocean.

Tahu decided that he should tell her what he thought of her now, while he still could. He mustered all the courage he had in him, as feelings weren’t something he liked to exhibit.

He placed a hand on Gali’s shoulder. She turned back to him.

“And I can say that I fell in love.”

Gali looked at Tahu for a moment, trying to figure out if what he said was true. The two stared at each other for a long moment. Gali then looked down at her feet, and whispered “I… I love you too.”

Tahu smiled, and put his arm around Gali. If this was the last moment he’d get to spend privately with her, this is how he wanted it to be…

___________________________________________

Morning broke on the island of Mata Nui, and the sun’s first rays awoke the Toa. Well, the sun, among other things. Takua had arrived with a group of five other Matoran: Hafu, a Po-Matoran carver; Tamaru, a Le-Matoran archer and pilot; Macku, a Ga-Matoran fisherwoman; and Kopeke, a Ko-Matoran guard; and Taipu, an Onu-Matoran blacksmith.

“This is it?” Tahu asked, looking at the small group.

Takua nodded. “They may not look like much, but they can hold their own against much greater odds.”

Kopeke walked up next to him and agreed. “We’re Matoran,” he said. “We know how to fight.”

The Toa nodded.

“Mata Nui bless you, then,” Pohatu said.

Hafu bowed. “I’ll be honored to carve monuments to you after your return, Toa.”

“And our headstones if we don’t,” Lewa quipped.

The Toa glared at him.

“That’s me!” the Toa of Air announced. “Always ever-cheerful!”

Tahu sighed. “Then now we strike at Maktua! Once and for all!”

Again, the voice appeared in his head. ’’You know that’s not true…’’

The Toa approached the shrine at the temple’s center. Tahu raised his sword above his head. “Makuta, we’re coming in!” he shouted.

But before he could bring the weapon down to shatter the altar, it slid apart into two halves. An opening was revealed, and inside was a darkness that avoided description. It appeared that it radiated in waves, like heat.

Then, the world around them boomed with a voice. The voice of Makuta himself greeted them.

“I welcome you, then, Toa.”

Tahu stepped back, and looked at Gali. He then turned defiantly towards the tunnel, and took the first step in.

Chapter XV
Darkness. Unimaginable darkness. The tunnel was filled with it. The pure blackness that suffocated one as they walked, that threatened to crush one with every step. Worse yet, the darkness encroached on one’s very soul, and seemed to break any notion of hope or victory that the Toa felt.

The only light that the Toa could follow was provided by Tahu’s glowing blade, which currently functioned as a makeshift torch.

It had been easily twenty minutes since the last ray of light from the surface had vanished in the darkness. Tahu felt strange in the tunnel. He eyed his flickering sword, which only lit the tiniest portion of the tunnel. He could barely make out his fellow Toa’s faces.

Except Gali’s. He had made sure to stay near her and save her from any danger that presented itself. Nothing would happen to her.

Tahu looked behind him and was able to make out the faint outline of the rest of the Toa. They all walked forward, filled with resolute. Except Onua. Rather than paying attention to what lay ahead (as if any could see it), the Toa of Earth was eyeing the tunnel walls. He ran one of his fingers along the surface of the stone, and a strange expression came across his face.

“Onua,” Tahu called. “What’s wrong?”

The Toa of Earth did not take his eyes off the wall. “The entire tunnel is,” he said worrisomely. “I’ve seen dozens of tunnel makes during my time on Mata Nui, and I know for a fact that no machine, shovel, or pick can carve a tunnel this smooth.”

“What are you suggesting?” Kopaka asked as he began his own observation of the walls.

“Simple,” Onua stated. “This place is not Matoran made.”

Tahu’s sword dimmed slightly, and the pressure in the tunnel heightened. Makuta then spoke. “Of course it’s not!” he exclaimed. “Why would I inhabit such mortal filth? I live in lairs fit for kings, not peasants like ’’you’’!”

Tahu felt rage build up in him. “Yes! You hide like a Kinloka rat, and then cower, hoping that ‘peasants’ like us don’t reach you!”

The darkness around them pulsed with Makuta’s speech. “Hide? Kings do not hide, Tahu. They wait for the enemy to reach them. Then the enemy has proved itself worthy, and can thus engage in combat with the king himself. I fear, however, that you shall never reach me.”

“And how do you think-know that?” Lewa asked in an insulting tone. “What if we have some more trick-traps that you don’t know about.”

The darkness retreated from Tahu’s blade slightly, but then returned. “You? Surprise me? I suppose you have no idea who you are truly dealing with!”

“We know full well, Makuta!” Gali shouted.

“So you know that I am every shadow, every bit of shade on this island? That I alone defeated Mata Nui in combat? That I have seen ages and eras pass like grains of sand in a simple hourglass? That I can see into your hearts?”

The last question seemed to pierce into the Toa harder than any weapon.

“I know every dark thought you have,” Makuta continued. “Every shadowy impulse, every foul notion that went through your head. Fools! I do not control simple, physical darkness like the Matoran have had you believe! I ‘’am’’ darkness! The shadow that sits in your very soul! The one you shall never be rid of, no matter what you would believe!”

“For instance, I have broken into Lewa’s mind, and seen his thoughts about a certain female that is now amongst you!”

The Toa turned to Lewa.

“I have pierced into Tahu’s heart and seen similar thoughts there as well!”

Gali glared at Tahu.

“Gali…” Tahu whispered, shaking his head.

Makuta continued. “I have witnessed the emotional stirring within Kopaka, who I have found to be one of the darkest of you all! I have seen Gali’s thoughts on Tahu!”

Now it was Tahu’s turn to glare at the Toa of Water.

“Even the ones who appear pure and virtuous are covered in shadowy filth as well!” the Master of Shadows shouted. “Onua constantly philosophizes about death and destruction, and has once contemplated what would happen if he brought down Onu-Koro’s pillars!”

“Onua?” Gali asked.

Onua shook his head. “I… I was just think about structural integrity… I wouldn’t actually do it!”

“Or would you?” Makuta boomed. “And Pohatu! You think yourself everyone’s friend! Do you happen to know why? It is because you feel insecure and alone! That you are unlovable, no matter what you try to do!”

Pohatu put a hand on his face.

Tahu had heard enough of the Dark Lord’s spouting. “In the name of Mata Nui, shut up!” he screamed.

If Makuta’s expression was visible, he would have been smiling. “But, I can sense the light amongst you. Your… ‘’virtues’’… So, I will give you a chance to prove yourself to me, so that you can face me in combat.”

Lewa looked defiantly into the darkness, and yelled “And what would you have us do?”

“Defeat my guards!” Makuta boomed. “If you can, then you are worthy to ‘’die’’ in my presence!”

The shadow around Tahu’s blade retreated, and the pressure eased.

Tahu looked around. Some of the Toa stared deeper into the tunnel defiantly. Others, like Pohatu and Gali, sobbed. Kopaka simply stood with his eyes closed, letting out heavy sighs. Tahu could see that a barely contained rage was appearing under the Toa of Ice’s usual cold collectiveness.

Tahu approached Gali, who was on her knees at the moment. Tahu couldn’t tell if she was praying or crying at the moment.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Gali, I’m sorry…”

She looked up at him, her yellow eyes staring into his. “I know,” she said quietly. “And I am too.”

Tahu swallowed and stood up. Gali rose quickly after him.

“Toa!” Tahu called out. None of them responded. ‘’Okay, that didn’t work,’’ he thought. “Guys!”

The Toa raised their heads and looked at him.

“I guess now we have some idea of what Makuta is capable of,” the Toa of Fire said. “But remember, it is our destiny to defeat him. He may not act afraid, but he ‘’is’’ afraid. I know we’re all shaken about his revelations of our most secret of thoughts, but if you wallow in your shame, then he’s wielded them correctly as a weapon. And that is what he wants!

“So do you wish to give Makuta the advantage, or will you stand and fight against him?”

The Toa all sat silent for a moment. Then, Pohatu stepped forward.

“I’m ready,” he said, cracking his knuckles.

Onua stepped forward next, and nodded.

Gali looked at Tahu and raised her head and smiled.

Lewa backflipped. “I’m ready too!” he yelled.

Kopaka walked forward, and snapped his fingers in his armored hands. “Let’s kill the bastard,” he said coldly.

Tahu raised his sword, and the Toa cheered. And then, they fell.

Tahu never remembered leaving the floor in the cavern, but he felt like he had. He spun end over end in a freefall spiral in darkness. He then hit the ground. Hard.

The Toa of Fire got up and shook his head. He grudgingly looked around. Instead of the dark tunnel they were in before, this dome-shaped cavern was lit with a faint, dark, sickly green light. The circular floor of the cave made the Toa of Fire feel like he was in some sort of arena.

“Where are we,” Lewa groaned, shaking his head side to side.

“Another cavern,” Onua stated. “With no way in or out. Not even above. Makuta sent us here.”

Gali, Kopaka, and Pohatu rejoined the group.

“What just happened?” the Toa of Stone demanded.

“We were teleported,” Gali observed. “But for what purpose?”

Tahu reexamined the arena-like architecture of the cavern. Then, he began to realize the exact purpose of the cave.

“This must be where we face his guards!” he exclaimed.

Not even a moment after the sentence left his mouth, a great, circular door opened on the far side of the “arena”. The noise of clinking chitin and grinding teeth could be heard echoing from it. Suddenly, two great Rahi beasts emerged from the entrance. They were crabs, but unlike the small Ussal or Keras, these creatures were ‘’massive’’. Each one was easily height of a Toa, and the span between their arms was great. Their gigantic pincers could quite easily grasp an unlucky Toa.

“What in Karzahni are those?” Tahu shouted.

“Manas!” Gali shouted. “My Turaga told me about these! They’re extremely powerful, and can quickly dispatch an unlucky being with ease. Their name is the old Matoran word for Monster! She said that no Toa could possibly defeat them alone!”

Tahu readied his sword. “Toa!” he called. “Form a circle, and ready your weapons! Let’s take these beasts out!”

The Toa quickly entered a circular formation. The gigantic crabs then walked around them, looking for a weak spot.

Then, one of them lunged and grabbed Pohatu. The Toa of Stone yelled, and then summoned his mask of strength. Gathering all the might the Kanohi could muster, he slowly pried the crustacean’s claw apart. He rejoined the Toa.

“I don’t think this will work, Tahu!” he yelled.

Tahu frowned and tried to formulate another plan. “Okay, how about this?” he began. “We take them on in threes. Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka will attack one, and Onua, Pohatu and myself shall take the other. Got it?”

The Toa nodded.

“On the count of three then! One, two—“

The other crab grasped Tahu in its claw and held the Toa high in the air, considering him for a meal.

“Three!” the Toa of Fire shouted. The Toa broke the circle and surrounded their respective crabs.

Tahu summoned his power of heat and quickly raised his body temperature to a point that would melt nearly any creature. The chitinous claw of the Manas began to soften, and it hissed in pain. Tahu worked his way out of the molten area of the crab claw and landed between Onua and Pohatu.

“All right,” he said. “Any ideas?”

“I thought that was your job?” Pohatu shouted. The crab swiped its pincer and threw the Toa of Stone across the room.

“Okay, beast,” Onua said flatly. “Let’s brawl!” The Toa of Earth raised his hands above his head and then slammed them into the ground. The floor shook, and a fault appeared underneath the Manas. Suddenly, an explosion of Earth hit the creature and sent it skyward. It hit the dome, and then fell back to the floor, landing with a solid ‘’thud’’.

The creature lay stunned for a moment, but then lifted its bulk off the cave floor and growled.

“Come on!” Pohatu yelled. “Do these things know how to give up?”

Across the cave, Gali, Lewa, and Kopaka had succeeded in freezing the creature to the floor, but its massive claws made it impossible for any of them from landing a final blow.

“Kopaka!” Gali called. “Circle around and see if you can—“

The creature wailed and slammed its fists on the ground, throwing the Toa off their feet. The creature than lifted its legs out of the ice and was free to move again.

“Oh, so happy-great,” Lewa muttered. “Now what do we do.”

Gali sent a burst of water at the creature. The blast hit the Manas, and threw it against the wall. Kopaka froze the water solid, encasing the creature in a thick mold of ice.

“That should hold it a little while,” he said.

In response, the Manas kicked its legs through the ice and began to flail. Eventually, the creature’s movement’s compromised the substance’s integrity, and it was free again.

Kopaka’s eyes widened. “Never mind!” he shouted.

Gali looked at the Toa of Air. “Lewa, I have an idea! Let’s see what happens when we force two elements together on this creature!”

Lewa nodded and raised his axe. Elemental Air energy flew forth from it. Gali fired a burst of Water energy from her hooks, which intercepted Lewa’s stream. The resulting combination quickly formed a thick haze of clouds in the cavern. Then, rain fell, and lightning lanced across the cave. A bolt hit the beast, stunning it.

The Toa cheered, but their happiness was short-lived. The creature’s eyes opened, and it let out a rageful roar.

“Okay,” Kopaka said. “What’s plan B?”

_______________________________

Back above on the island’s surface, Takua and his group, which had nicknamed themselves “The Chronicler’s Company”, sat waiting. The sounds of the Toa had long since disappeared into the tunnel, and they wondered whether or not they’d ever see the heroes again.

Kopeke sat atop the altar, sharpening the spear he had brought with him. The spear was given to him by Turaga Nuju. It had been used in countless counterattacks against the Rahi, and the Turaga felt that the weapon was much needed at the battle, due to its history of luck against the beasts.

Tamaru sat in a tree with a crossbow that he kept with him. The Le-Matoran, while afraid of heights, had been designated as a watchman to keep an eye out for Rahi. He scanned the treetops, looking for signs of any attack force.

Macku had only brought a fishing spear with her. Nothing special about it, but it could be useful against any creature that threatened the temple’s entrance.

Taipu had brought along a multitude of Onu-Koro forged weapons, including several swords for the Matoran in case they’d need spare weapons. Taipu had forged many of them himself, and wanted to see his work be used first hand in the field of battle.

With him, Hafu had retrieved his carving tools. Every Matoran wondered why one would bring tools of creation to battle, but Hafu had the answer. “What I use to make, I can always use to unmake,” the Po-Matoran had boasted.

Takua simply had a bow and a quiver of arrows on him. He been given the items by Kongu while he visited Le-Koro prior to returning to Kini-Nui. He watched the jungle, and readied himself psychologically for battle. He used multiple tactics he’d learned while doing his mandatory service in the legion, one of them being imagining himself dead, with nothing to fear at all.

‘’Yes,’’ Takua thought. ‘’Nothing to fear…’’

Tamaru leaped and nearly fell out of the tree. He turned back to the group and yelled “Incoming! Rahi! Hundreds of them!”

The Matoran readied their weapons and stared into the jungle. Eventually, the sound of legs with four to eight feet was heard, and buzzing wings soon joined them.

The first beast to emerge was a Nui Jaga, a gigantic scorpion native to Po-Wahi. The creature roared and charged the temple grounds. Takua loosed two arrows, which punctured its hide. The scorpion growled and ran even harder.

Kopeke leaped and landed on the creature’s back. He readied his spear and stabbed the monster’s chitinous exoskeleton multiple times. The scorpion screeched in rage and tried to stab the Ko-Matoran with its stinger tail. But, Kopeke was nimble and dodged every last blow. All the scorpion succeeded in was stabbing itself to death.

Kopeke hopped off the creature’s back and smiled. “Easy enough,” he gloated.

A swarm of Nui Rama appeared over the hills, and two great Kanae-Ra bulls appeared from the bush, nostrils flaring. Five Nui-Jaga followed, and a growling Muaka cat leapt over them all, and slowly prowled around the Matoran.

Takua heaved out a sigh. “All right,” he said, “let’s do this.”

_____________________________

Meanwhile, back in the caverns of Mangaia, the Toa had circled up once more. The Manas hissed and waved their claws at the Toa, but they were able to fend the beasts off.

“Any ideas, fearless leader?” Lewa asked insultingly.

Tahu thought for a moment. Every individual attack they made at the Manas had been waved off by the beasts like a bite from a gnat. Not a single attack had been effective against the massive crabs’ onslaught.

Except for Gali and Lewa’s combination attack, which had stunned the beasts.

‘’”No Toa can hope to defeat them alone,”’’ Gali’s words echoed in his head.

“I do,” the Toa of Fire said. “Separate into the same groups we had earlier, and surround them! Then, simultaneously unleash your elemental powers on the monsters!”

The Toa nodded, and once again broke their circular formation. It took a few minutes of fighting, but eventually, both groups were able to surround their prey.

“Now!” Gali shouted.

The Toa blasted each crab with their elements. Tahu, Onua, and Pohatu’s powers became a ball of magma that slammed into the crab, which covered the creature and knocked it against the wall. The molten rock and earth slowly oozed off the creature, revealing an intact, but unconscious Manas.

Kopaka, Gali, and Lewa’s powers had merged into a violent rain and hailstorm, which quickly pelted the beast into submission. Hail welted the massive crab’s exoskeleton, and chilling winds and rain slowly shoved it into an unconscious darkness.

With both Manas unconscious, the Toa collapsed victorious.

“Very nice,” Makuta’s voice boomed. Ethereal gates appeared around the Manas, and drew the creatures’ into their darkness and back to wherever they came from. “But, it’s not over yet,” the Master of Shadows said. “Begin round two!”

The same door that the Manas had appeared from opened again, and from it, six beings emerged. They were humanoid in shape, and were about the size and shape of the Toa. They each wore masks, and carried weapons similar to the Toa.

No, not similar to the Toa. Exactly the same.

“Brace yourselves!” Makuta exclaimed. “Because you’re about to face yourselves.” He then chuckled and added, “You have no idea how many ages I’ve waited to say that.”

The dark facsimiles of the Toa hissed and charged. The Toa readied themselves for another round of combat with Makuta’s creatures.

_______________________________

The Chronicler’s company had fought against overwhelming odds, and won. Around them, lifeless bodies of multiple raw were strewn. The beasts had been waging makeshift war against them, and they had all fallen to spear, sword, or arrow.

The Matoran sat on the temple’s stairs, heaving exhaustedly after a long fight.

“I guess,” Taipu breathed, “I guess that’s it.”

Macku sighed. “It can’t be,” she heaved. “The Toa aren’t back yet.”

Of course, she was right. More noise emerged from the jungle, and another swarm of Nui Rama appeared. This time, though, the force was much larger, and with them they brought great Nui Kopen, wasps that were easily twice the size of a standard Nui Rama. The beasts served as commanders within the insects’ hives.

Oversized Nui Jaga emerged from the underbrush and waved their pincers in the air, threatening the Matoran. More Kanae-Ra and Muaka also emerged. A swarm of other creatures that Takua had never seen before also followed.

Taipu looked at the Chronicler with horrified eyes. “I guess we won’t be going back home,” he said mournfully.

Takua lowered his head, and then glared at the Rahi. All of the beasts hissed and growled. They readied a charge.

Then, the sound of a horn bellowed across the valley that contained Kini Nui. Across the ridge of a mountain, appeared an awe-inspiring sight.

A company from the Ta-Koro Legion, led by Jaller, appeared over the ridge. They were fully armed and armored, and they stood at attention.

A trumpet sounded, and the Le-Koro Air Force emerged above the forest, and circled above the Legion.

Finally, the sound of war drums boomed across the basin, and the Onu-Koro Ussalry, a military force made up of Ussal Crab riders, joined with the Legion.

Jaller saluted Takua and called down to him. “Need any help?” the general asked.

Takua smiled. “Give them all you’ve got,” he yelled back.

Now Jaller smiled. He raised his arm, and then quickly lowered it. “Charge!”

The Air Force engaged with the Nui Rama and Nui Kopen swarm, downing hundreds of the insects with arrows. The Legion and Ussalry charged the land Rahi, spears and swords ready, and attacked. The forces of Matoran and Makuta what many hoped to be their final clash.

Chapter XVI
“Tahu! Look out!” Gali called.

Tahu ducked just in time to evade the smoke-billowing blade of his attacker. The being, who greatly resembled Tahu, wore a blackened mass, and looked like a charred hulk after the passing of a forest fire or lava flow.

“Come on!” it hissed angrily at the Toa of Fire. “Fight me like a true warrior, you ‘’whelp’’!”

Tahu felt anger build up within him. He blasted the ground beneath the attacker with flames. The dark Toa smiled, and waded through the fire unscathed. “Pitiful,” it spat.

Now Tahu was beyond enraged. He mustered as much power as he could, and threw a stream of fire at the rock below the attacker. It melted into a pool of lava. But the dark Toa leaped away before the substance had fully converted, and smiled at Tahu from the other side.

“You amuse me, Toa of Warmth,” the thing laughed. It jumped into and ‘’surfed’’ across the lava, smiling the whole way.

Onua shouted at Tahu while dealing with his own attacker. “Tahu! Make sure you don’t roast us as well!”

The dark Toa brought its sword against Tahu’s own. “Come on,” it said. “Give into the hate that I know froths within in you! Let your fire consume me and all around you!”

Tahu fought the creature off, and gasped. This thing was wielding Tahu’s own anger against him?

‘’Clever…’’ Tahu thought. He looked around at his fellow Toa, who were all fighting their own dark effigies.

Gali faced off against a being that was a mirror image of her. Except in the way of color. Instead of Gali’s serene, ocean blues, the shadow creature was the color of a muddy-black oil slick.

The two fought with their hooks, which, at first glance, appeared to be exact replicas. However, further examination showed that the shadow Toa’s were much more sharp and wicked looking than Gali’s own.

Gali blocked another one of the creature’s blows. “Who in Karzahni are you?” the Toa of Water shouted at her attacker.

“Ooh, vulgarity!” the creature chided. “That’s not like us!”

“Like us? What do you mean?”

The being smiled as it repelled one of Gali’s swings. “Gali? Wise and all-knowing can’t understand one simple fact? Gali, I ‘’am’’ you!”

Gali’s eyes widened and she swung her hooks at the monster once again. She then mustered enough power to send a flood at the monster…

Pohatu dodged a flurry of rocky debris that his shadow-self had fired at him. He then yelped and leaped out of the way of a flood that had been fired by Gali.

“Watch it, Gali!” he yelled at her. “I’m fighting as well!”

The creature he was fighting jumped and landed a blow square in Pohatu’s chest, throwing him across the room. Pohatu impacted into the far wall, and rose up from it. He grunted.

The shadow Toa cracked its knuckles as it walked over to him. “So much for your pathetic little team of yours,” it said in a tone that sounded like grating gravel. “And to think you called them friends!”

“I still do!” Pohatu yelled. The Toa of Stone sent a flurry of sharpened rock at the shadow Toa.

The projectiles passed straight through his dark effigy, but Onua was not so lucky. The Toa of Earth shouted as a mass of sharp stones landed on his back. “What in Karzahni was that, Pohatu!” he yelled, deflecting the claws of his attacker.

At another end of the room, Lewa fought his own attacker. The being’s armor was the color of dead or diseased foliage, and it gave off the smell of recent defecation. It swung its axe at Lewa, who quickly dodged the weapon.

“Friend,” the creature hissed like one of the jungle’s pit vipers, “surely you know of Makuta’s power. You’ve experienced it firsthand!”

Lewa was taken back as he remembered his incident with the infected Kanohi. So much power. So much dominating power. Something that Lewa could use right now…

“Listen,” his dark self said. “If you join with us, then we can defeat your pathetic allies, and you will have all the power your frail form can hold.”

Lewa landed another blow against the creature’s axe.

“I would quick-think about that,” Lewa said, mustering his elemental power. “Because I think I already have enough power.”

The Toa of Air unleashed a hurricane in the cavern, which lifted all the Toa and their facsimiles off the ground and into the air. They spun around in the winds until Lewa regained himself and called off the stormy onslaught.

All twelve beings hit the ground. But the shadow Toa were on their feet much faster than the originals.

Kopaka looked up and glared at his opponent, who was the color of snow after a battle: liquid crimson mixed with the purest white. He charged the thing, who met his sword with its own. As their swords clashed, Kopaka sent his elemental power through the blade and into his foe, who froze solid.

Kopaka was ready to call it a job well done, when the creature began to laugh. The ice that encased it was slowly absorbed into the thing’s body.

“Oh so calm Toa of Ice,” the dark being said in an insulting tone, “don’t you realize that only your rage can defeat me?”

Kopaka yelled, and charged the monster again.

Gali deflected another blow from her attacker, and switched to her Kanohi Hau. She then used its force-field power to push her opponent away. After succeeding the feat, which momentarily stunned her attacker, she sprinted towards Tahu. The Toa of Fire had recently succeed in stalling his opponent by punching it into a wall with the mask of strength.

“Tahu,” Gali called.

“What is it?” he asked, heaving out an angered sigh.

Gali breathed heavily. “Don’t you realize that we can’t hope to beat our own selves? They’re using our own psychological faults and elemental powers against us!”

Tahu flared his nostrils. “Then what do you suggest we do?”

Gali was about to begin her sentence, but was cut short. Her dark self used its hooks to slash at her back. Gali fell to the ground.

“So much for her,” the creature chuckled.

Tahu felt anger rise up within him. He let to white-hot jets of flames blast the dark Gali. Instead of simply taking the hit, the creature began to screech. Its body began to evaporate as the fire enveloped its form. Eventually, nothing was left of the shadow Toa except a wisp of steam.

Tahu watched as the remnants of the creature disappeared into the air, and formulated an idea. “Lewa!” he called. “Stop fighting your shadow and create a typhoon around Onua’s opponent.

Lewa clanged his axe against his attacker’s and shouted back, “This isn’t the best time! I’m a little busy at the moment!”

“Just do it!”

Lewa repelled the monster’s weapon and conjured a tornado around the shadow Onua. The being screamed in hate as it turned to dust and was swept away by the winds. Eventually, not even a grain of the creature was left to fight.

Lewa smiled for a moment, and then remembered his own attacker. He turned just in time to deflect the blow of its axe. “Tahu!” Lewa called. “Could you help me out a bit?”

Instead, Onua responded to Lewa’s request, and created a wall of Earth above the shadow Lewa. He then dropped the load, suffocating the creature.

The real Lewa jumped onto the pile and dug in to confirm the casualty, but was unable to find a sign of the creature’s body. “He’s done!” he called out.

Tahu summoned a shield around him and Gali and knelt down by the Toa of Water.

“Gali, are you okay?” he whispered. He ran is finger along the gash on Gali’s back.

Gali coughed. “I… I… I hope so,” she coughed out.

Tahu wished he could help, but his power could not heal wounds. But he and the other Toa needed her help, now more than ever.

“Can you at least muster your power?” Tahu asked. “We figured out how to defeat the shadow Toa, but only your power will work against Pohatu’s foe.”

“I’ll… I’ll try,” she said. Gali then begrudgingly mustered another flood, which impacted Pohatu’s foe.

The shadow Toa wailed as it was caught in the flood. Eventually, the being was weathered away into nothing but a swarm of harmless pebbles.

“Thanks, Gali!” the Toa of Stone called out. He then saw the shadow Tahu ready an ambush blow against the true Tahu. He conjured up a boulder, and threw it at the shadow being. While it didn’t injure it, the attack certainly caught the shadow Toa’s attention. The being charged Pohatu, who was helpless against a fire attack.

A blast of ice froze the shadow Toa of Fire solid. The being, who was caught in a running position, and it fell into the pool of lava Tahu had created earlier, melting it into oblivion.

Pohatu turned towards the Toa of Ice, who had fired the blast. He was still engaged in combat with his shadowy foe. Pohatu smiled, and conjured up another boulder, and threw it at the shadow Kopaka.

The last of the dark Toa turned just in time to scream as the boulder hit it. The thing shattered into thousands of shards. Each shard, however, gained its own intelligence. Kopaka backed up as the army of tiny warriors advanced on him.

Luckily, Tahu watched the scene, and ran over. He stabbed his sword into the micro-army, and superheated the air around them. Each ice-shard soldier quickly evaporated into nothing.

Kopaka looked at Tahu and smiled. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

Tahu didn’t listen and ran back over to Gali. She was still on the ground, wincing from the pain of her wound.

Tahu shook his head, and picked up the injured Toa of Water.

“Tahu…” she moaned. “Just leave me, please. Come back for me if you win.”

Tahu held back a tear and shook his head. “We need you Gali. Especially against Makuta. Unity, remember?”

Gali smiled painfully. “Then I’ll fight as best I can.” A new resolution appeared in Gali’s eyes. “Put me down.”

Tahu set Gali onto the ground. She stumbled on her feet, but could still walk.

Makuta’s voice interrupted all their thoughts. “Alright then!” he boomed through the arena. “You’ve defeated by guardians! I suppose this shows that you might just have the strength to face off against me. Enter!”

The door that all of Makuta’s guardians had entered through opened. Nothing emerged, and the entrance seemed to beckon the Toa to enter.

Tahu nodded to his friends, and they slowly passed through the doorway.

Chapter XVII
The room the Toa entered next was a long hall, built similar to a dining and throne room that castles sometimes had. It was light by torches that were few and far between, and by another source that hovered far above the center of the room.

Tahu was horrified by what he saw. Hovering in the air was a mass of the organic and inorganic parts of the Matoran anatomy.

Tahu looked about the room, which was empty save for the swirling mass above their heads. No doors, no windows, no furniture. Just torches burning on their sconces.

The Toa of Fire raised his sword into the air. “We have come, Makuta!” he yelled.

“Good,” Makuta responded. “For I have been waiting.”

Another door at the far end of the room opened, and out of the entrance walked something none of the Toa expected: a Matoran. Rusted and pitted, but still a Matoran.

Lewa looked astounded. “’’You’re’’ Makuta?”

“Indeed I am,” the Matoran responded, smiling wickedly behind a battered and rusted Kanohi Hau.

Tahu stuttered. “But you’re a—“

Makuta laughed. “I am that which you have sworn to protect.”

Kopaka bumped Tahu. “You know it’s a trick, Tahu,” he whispered. “We have to destroy him!”

“Destroy me?” Makuta asked as if he had been insulted. “You cannot destroy me. No more than you can destroy the sea, or the wind, or the void.”

“You are like the sea?” Gali inquired fiercely. “The sea bears life!” she then shouted. “The sea bore us!”

“I bore you, for I am nothing,” Makuta stated darkly. “And out of nothing you came, and into nothing you shall go.

“I stand by Mata Nui, side by side. I am his brother. The people of this world are builders, but look into their hearts, and you will find the power to destroy. I ``am’’ that power. I am destruction.

“And I will destroy you.”

“Destroy us?” Pohatu laughed. “You’re nothing but a Matoran!”

Makuta leaned back and smiled. “Were you expecting something else?” he asked. “Something like ’’’’’THIS’’’’’!”

A tentacle of shadow came out of the swirling mass of Matoran anatomy and slammed into Makuta. All of his Matoran body dissolved except for the Kanohi Hau, which was lifted high into the air.

Tendrils of shadow energy flew everywhere, threatening all of the Toa.

Tahu jumped from side to side, dodging each tendril. He used his sword to slice one of the tentacles in half, but it only reformed with another tendril.

He looked over at Gali, who was dodging the appendages as best she could. But the injury on her back was threatening to leave her to the tendrils.

Tahu jumped over to the Toa of Water and threw up a shield with his Kanohi Hau.

“Tahu, I’m fine, really,” Gali claimed.

“I’ll believe that once you stop limping,” Tahu said, focusing his entire will into the shield.

Gali admired Tahu’s chivalry, but she could very easily hold off the onslaught if she tried.

Further off, Onua threw up a shield to deflect a tendril that was sent after him. The tentacle slammed into the Hau’s protective case and dispersed, but another tendril entered the mask’s vulnerable spot and landed a blow on Onua, knocking him off his feet.

Pohatu dodged shadow coils left and right. His mask of speed gave him the advantage, and his high-speed evasions made it impossible for Makuta to land a decent hit.

Lewa used his Miru to dodge Makuta’s attacks. At first, it seemed to be going well, but the Master of Shadows’ efforts had become increasingly tougher. He eventually smashed the Toa of Air into the ground.

Kopaka threw up ice barriers to deflect the tendrils. While energy consuming, they proved effective enough to keep Makuta’s shadows at bay.

The Dark Lord, seeing as how his original stratagem was not working, forced his shadow appendages back into his central mass, which reduced to a sphere of pure shadow energy.

Tahu glared at Makuta, who seemed to be building up power.

“Toa!” he called. “We have to fight together, or else we have no hope of defeating him! Now, together! Hit him with all you’ve got!”

Tahu sent a stream of fire energy from his sword at Makuta’s central mass. The fire intermingled with the shadow, and the god began to laugh.

Gali painfully readied her weapons and released a jet of water at Makuta’s form. The water, too, entered the mass that made up the Dark Lord.

Kopaka and Lewa both fired torrents of their elements into the beings mass. Makuta’s laughter stopped as their powers entered his being.

Onua and Pohatu added their powers to the mix. Stone and Earth both filled the mass of swirling shadow too.

Then, a hideous sound emerged from the island. It pierced into the Toa’s skulls and their very hearts. It was the unmistakable sound of a creature in pain. Makuta was screaming in pain.

“Keep it up!” Gali called. “We’re beating him!”

Makuta’s form began to shrink in on itself. The Dark Lord realized that he had underestimated his foes, and that this manifestation of himself was not enough to overwhelm them.

“ENOUGH!” Makuta yelled. Six massive tendrils emerged from his form. All of them smashed into the Toa, and pinned them against the hall’s partitions.

“Fine, Toa. This time, you win. As I told your fiery little leader, this would not be the last time we face each other. Now, out of honor, I’m obligated to grant you a request within my power. What shall it be?

Tahu looked at the other Toa, who were all weary from battle. He looked at Gali, and gasped. She was unconscious.

Tahu decided that he would request what they had fought for all along.

“You will retreat from this universe!” Tahu shouted at the Master of Shadows. “And you’ll never return. You shall never harm the Matoran again!”

Makuta laughed. “I did say ‘in my power,’ didn’t I?” he asked patronizingly. “That is not in my power. I can only promise a year of peace. A peace from my power, and only a year. After that time has passed, I will return with more power than you can imagine.”

Tahu looked at the unconscious form of Gali, of the friend he loved. “Fine!” he agreed. “One year of peace! No less!”

“Then it is settled, my worthy opponents,” Makuta chided. “Then back to the mortal realm with you!”

Tahu’s vision blurred, and the world around him disappeared. He felt as if he were falling…

Chapter XVIII
Jaller watched in wonder as the Rahi turned and dispersed back into the jungle. Even more astonishing was the fact that their infected Kanohi disappeared into clouds of rust.

“They’ve done it!” Onepu, leader of the Ussalry, shouted. “The Toa have defeated Makuta!”

Jaller looked around him. Matoran dropped their weapons and cheered.

A gleam of light appeared from the temple. Finally, the blaze faded away. The split altar had reformed itself, and six Toa, in gleaming, polished armor, stood.

“The Toa!” Takua shouted. Every last Matoran bowed at their return.

________________________

Gali watched as all the Matoran around the temple fell to their knees. She felt triumphant, and then realized that she could feel at all.

Gali put her hand on her back, and discovered that the gash from her battle with the shadow Toa had disappeared.

I guess Makuta has a sense of honor after all, she thought.

Tahu looked at the Matoran as well. “Yes, my friends,” he announced, “we have returned. But we bring a warning: Makuta is still alive. We have won us a year of peace for rebuilding, but too few of the prophecies are complete to bring about the Dark Lord’s death! So bring this message to your villages. Prepare for anything!”

The Matoran arose. “Yes, Tahu!” Jaller called from somewhere in the crowd. “I’ll inform Turaga Vakama immediately. Legion, mount up!”

The Matoran began to depart the temple area, except for Takua, who rushed up to Toa Gali.

“Toa Gali,” he exclaimed, bowing low in front of her.

“Takua,” she said.

Takua arose. “I was hoping that you could relate to me what happened down there. Everything! Every battle, every wound, every enemy. That way, I can put it down in the histories of our island.”

Gali nodded. “I will,” she approved. “But, right now, I have other matters to attend to.”

“I understand Toa.” Takua bowed, and then ran off.

Gali watched Takua depart, and then turned back towards the Toa, who were cheering wildly. Lewa was performing flips and energetically celebrating their victory.

Gali found Tahu, and approached him. He had his back turned to her, so she put her hand on his shoulder.

Tahu turned around, and looked into her eyes. Gali didn’t wait for a response. She pressed her lips to his.

The other Toa all stood silent for a moment.

Pohatu laughed. “Would you look at that,” he exclaimed as he watched the two embrace. “Who would’ve thought that fire and water would work together like this?”

Gali and Tahu smiled at each other.

“Harvest moon’s coming soon, right?” Tahu asked.

Gali let out a quiet laugh. “Yes it is.”

“Then I’ll be in Ga-Koro soon,” Tahu finished, letting her go.

“I’ll be expecting you,” Gali said, heading off in the direction of her village.

Tahu turned to the other Toa, who were staring at him.

“What?” he asked.

The Toa all began to laugh loudly. Tahu joined them. Makuta was gone, for now.

In the meantime, they could rejoice. A break in darkness that had not relented in eons had finally come to pass.

Chapter XIX
One year after the defeat of Makuta…

A tremor erupted from the depths of the island of Mata Nui. It was too weak to be felt by the surface, but it rocked the ancient caverns below to the core. But this was no normal tremor caused by tectonic upheaval. It was a message, carried along by the vibrations of the groundquake.

The tremor reached its intended destination: a great cavern, resting far below the hold of Po-Wahi. It awoke to massive beings, one clad in blue, the other, in red.

Both of the reptilian beings rose from the ground. They looked around, their scaly, immortal bodies creaking from a slumber spanning eons.

“It is time!” they yelled in unison. “To cleanse the surface of the blight! To end of the threat of Mata Nui’s light!”

The creatures then screeched loudly, bearing a message to their “children”. Six chambers beyond the creatures’ own began to hum with life.

The adjacent chambers contained large, spherical structures, each studded with large, circular reliefs that were made of a thin, organic membrane. Beneath each membrane rested a body, curled into a sphere. The creatures within had not awoken since their creation.

But, as soon as the two “dragons’” message reached them, they began to stir. The screech had awoken the Swarm.

Of course, the Swarm, heard a different message. Not a screech, but a simple, seven-word phrase.

''Clean it all. It must be cleaned.''

The large, spherical nests’ reliefs exploded as the Swarm emerged, readying themselves for war.

The two great dragons that lead the army screeched and poetically sang chants of oncoming victory as the Swarm began its march through the tunnels to the surface. The Matoran would now see Makuta’s might. And now, they would pay for their peaceful year.

Chapter XX
Tahu awoke with a start. Beads of sweat oozed down the side of his face. He could feel the salted remains of tears on his cheeks.

The Toa of Fire clutched his chest, making sure he was still material. Still alive.

He scanned the room. Its stone ceiling and walls were the same as they were when he had fallen asleep. No creatures were peering in through the window, just rays of moonlight that peeked through the clouds over Ta-Koro. No blood splattered the walls, just shadows cast by the moonbeams.

He then turned over and looked at his nightstand. The sketch of Gali still rested on it. She was okay. Not a melted puddle resting somewhere on Mata Nui.

Tahu put his feet on the floor and arose from his bed.

Just another nightmare,  he thought to himself. The Toa of Fire paced the floor for a few moments, thinking about the terror he had just experienced.

It had been a year since he had had a dream such as this.

Tahu stopped and his eyes widened. One year,  he thought, horrified. ''My peace ends with Makuta’s. ''

He rushed out from his room and into the halls of the old Imperial Palace. He walked into an old carving room, where the effigies of ancient heroes rested as memorials to their deeds.

To his surprise, Tahu found Turaga Vakama in the room. The Turaga’s staff was resting against the wall, and he himself was sitting in a chair. A mounted magnifier was set in front of him, and he was at work carving gemstones.

Tahu approached the Turaga. “Turaga,” he began.

Vakama jumped, dropping his gemstone and throwing the magnifier off the table. Luckily, it did not break.

“Tahu!” he exclaimed. “Don’t do that! The last thing I need at my age is a heart attack!”

“I’m sorry, wise one,” Tahu said, holding his palm to his head. “But I am glad I found you. I have something I wish to discuss with you.”

Vakama reset the magnifier, and began to work on the gemstone again. “More nightmares?” he asked, carefully carving edges into a shining ruby.

Tahu stepped back astonished. “How did you know?”

Vakama sighed. “You were screaming,” he stated flatly.

“I was screaming?”

“Yes, you were.”

Tahu sighed. He was pitiful.

“I was wondering,” Vakama started to ask, “what are these nightmares about. They must be powerful, as they can break you in your own sleep.”

Tahu shrugged. “Death,” he whispered. “Destruction. Pain. All that I fear.”

Vakama shook his head. “When I was a Matoran, I used to have visions. These were possibly granted by Mata Nui, or I was as the others said: a ‘crosswired freak’. But some of these visions proved to be all to true. Please, give me details. Perhaps I can possibly discern some form of prophecy from these terrors you have.”

Tahu didn’t want to talk about this, but what Vakama asked, he would receive. “Fine,” Tahu said. “I’m… I’m running from some insectoid creatures. They have narrow, glowing eyes and clear skulls. The carry shields of some type, and act intensely hostile.

“Then, I find the Toa. They’re all dead in horribly gruesome ways. Some turned to ash, some stark dead, and others just remains in pools of blood. Only Gali is left. One of those things is approaching her from behind. It try to save her, but I can’t move. Then, the creature stabs a white-hot shield into her. After she falls, I can move again.

“When I take her into my arms, she melts.” Tahu prevented a tear from leaving his eye. “And then, another creature appears. It’s tall—much taller than me. The thing is carrying a spear, which he slays me with.”

Vakama turned from his project and stroked the long chin of his Kanohi. He then closed his eyes and thought.

“Turaga?” Tahu asked.

“These dreams are premonitions,” the Turaga said, not opening his eyes. He was in a state of deep thought. “From Makuta, judging by the fear they induce, but I can discern parts of it.

“The creatures you see, they’re a force you’ll encounter. Possibly soon. They are a threat that will bring you and your fellow Toa to your limits. Your unity and duty shall all be tested.

“But the last spear-wielding one. It represents a darker threat in the future. Something that will shatter all of you, not long before your final fight with Makuta.

Tahu said. “And my death? Will this come to pass as well?”

Vakama remained silent.

“Turaga?” Tahu beckoned angrily.

Vakama let out a long, deep sigh. “Not just yours,” Vakama said. “All of you will fall.”

“What should I do, then?” Tahu asked, sitting down.

The Turaga opened his eyes and looked at Tahu. “You’ll have to be strong, and try not to remain too attached to the Toa.”

“What?” Tahu inquired angrily.

“Especially with Gali,” Vakama continued. “I know how you feel about her, but the legends state nothing of your bond.”

“What of the legends?” Tahu shouted. “Are we to live exactly by what they dictate?”

“I don’t know, but this coupling between you two could cause tension that could break you, making your nightmares truer than they are now!”

Tahu stood up and walked to the window. He gazed at the Lava Lake, and then shut his eyes. “Are we not free?” he asked quietly.

Vakama did not answer.

Tahu shot an angered glare at the Turaga, and then quickly stormed out of the room.

“Tahu!” Vakama called, grabbing his staff and following the Toa. “Where are you going?”

Tahu grabbed a cloak off the wall and put it over his armor. “I’m going to Ga-Koro,” he said coldly. The Toa then called upon one of his mask’s multiple powers, and sped out the door.

Vakama put his wait on his staff, watched the Toa depart, and sighed. The Toa of Fire was stubborn, and his stubbornness could ruin the Toa in more ways than they knew how.

Chapter XXI
Pohatu and Onua were walking through the plains of Po-Wahi. The two had been hiking the desert on patrol, as it had been a full year since Makuta’s “defeat”. If they found anything, they’d have to immediately report to Tahu and gather the others.

But, in true Onu and Po-Koran spirit, the two were debating about sports and drink.

“Okay,” Pohatu said, “I’ll agree that Onu-Koro brews the best mead, as I know this from personal experience. But Kolhii is much better than any drink.”

Onua let out a deep laugh. “Then you, my friend, have never truly drunk good, earth-brewed mead!”

The two walked through the hold’s sandy plains and rocky outcroppings. They continued the debate, which slowly began to delve into the depths of choices of women within their villages.

Luckily (depending on how one views luck), their debate was cut short.

“What’s that?” Onua inquired, cutting Pohatu’s opinion of Ga-Koro short.

“What’s what?” Pohatu asked.

Onua stood there silently. “That sound. It seems like… marching…”

Pohatu put his ear to the wind. Over the hot, desert winds, he could make out the distant noise of boots marching. Hundreds of armored, metallic boots. An army was on the move.

“How can that be?” the Toa of Stone inquired. “The Ta-Koro Legion isn’t doing any parades. And if they were, they’d stick to the roads.”

“I know,” Onua responded. “That’s why I’m worried.”

Onua switched to his Kanohi’s speed ability, and ran over the ridge ahead of them. Pohatu followed as well, but he didn’t have to go far, as Onua had stopped atop another nearby ridge.

Pohatu paused alongside the Toa of Earth. The sound of marching was deafening. Pohatu looked in the direction of Onua’s gaze, and was astonished.

Below the ridge’s sheer edge was an army. One much larger than the Legion, or any Matoran army in existence. Thousands of tan, metallic, insectoid centurions marched, chattering like great locusts as they moved. Towering over the “standard” soldiers were several great colossi, moving slowly over the army’s bulk.

“What in Karzahni are those?” Pohatu asked.

Onua just stared at the army. “I don’t know…” he whispered.

The army entered a field of rocks that impeded their progress. The colossi let out a terrifying screech, signaling that they could not move through the boulders.

The smaller creatures responded, sending forth multiple vanguards into the field. The metal soldiers raised their shield-like weapons, and aimed at the rocks. The weapons unleashed a burst of seismic energy, and the boulders were reduced to dust. The army continued its march.

Pohatu’s eyes widened. “They’re headed for Po-Koro!” he exclaimed.

The Toa of Stone’s voice echoed through the canyon, but only one colossus turned to look at the Toa. It eyed them for a moment, and then continued the march with the rest of its horde.

Pohatu turned to Onua. “Get the Toa,” he said. “I’m going back to Po-Koro.”

“Pohatu, wait!” Onua called, but it was too late. The Toa of Stone had already sped off towards his village under the power of his mask.

The Toa of Earth sighed, and sped towards Ko-Koro, the nearest village. The desert terrain blurred and slowly transitioned to the cold, mountainous crags of Ko-Wahi. Only a few minutes time passed before the Toa of Earth arrived in the city of ice.

He ran through the gates, startling the white armored Ko-Matoran guards.

Snow was falling on the village, as usual, and Matoran ran about with shovels, clearing the stone paths to allow travel between buildings.

The Toa of Earth headed for the Tower of Thought, where Kopaka and Nuju, the village’s Turaga, could be found.

He entered, and sure enough, they were inside, conversing.

Well, conversing in the way that only Nuju could. The Turaga, years ago, had decided to communicate in the language of bird Rahi, and thus always required his translator, Matoro, to be with him. The Turaga’s habit had eventually lead to the belief that he was senile or just flat out mad.

But the truth was quite simple really: Nuju believed that if you wanted to have a conversation with him, one would have to work for it.

The Turaga whistled thrice, and made a slashing gesture with his staff.

Matoro, a young, blue-and-white clad Matoran, nodded and turned to Kopaka. “The Toa of Earth approaches,” he said.

Kopaka turned and eyed Onua, who was breathing heavily after his run.

“Onua,” Kopaka announced. “What are you doing here?”

Onua took a moment to catch his breath, and then returned to the conversation. “An army has entered Po-Wahi.”

“What?” Kopaka exclaimed.

Nuju made several sharp clicks.

“I can’t say that,” Matoro said, shaking his head.

“Is this true?” Kopaka inquired.

“Yes,” Onua responded. “Pohatu and I saw it with our own eyes. Metallic creatures. They destroyed boulders as if they were stale cakes. Worse yet, the creatures are now making their way to Po-Koro!”

Kopaka’s eyes widened. “Then that is where I shall head!” he exclaimed, walking towards the door.

“No,” Onua ordered. “You need to get Lewa. I’m going to find Gali. Meet me in Ta-Koro. Vakama might be able to discern what exactly this army is, and why they are here.”

Kopaka nodded, and disappeared through the doorway. Onua followed him.

Nuju and Matoro stood silently in the halls. Matoro turned towards the Turaga.

“Turaga,” he began, “what kind of creatures were they talking about.”

The Turaga sighed, and, for the first time in years, muttered a word in Matoran. It was short, yet carried an inherent sense of disaster with it.

“Bohrok,” he said.

Chapter XXII
Tahu walked along the wooden causeway into Ga-Koro. Clouds had gathered in the sky above, and a cool drizzle had begun to fall on the village. For a day in the early summer, the air was quite chilly.

Tahu walked through the village. He pulled his cloak’s hood over his head to block out some of the rain. He felt cold enough after the long night.

The Ga-Matoran didn’t mind the rain. They walked to-and-fro from their huts to their places of work. Some did have some cloaks or hats, but many didn’t have anything on but their usual armor.

Tahu walked onto the docks and admired one of the newer ships. It was a rather large galleon. It had three masts and was sturdy compared to some of the other boats resting in Ga-Koro’s small harbor. The boat wasn’t finished however, and construction of internal rooms and bays was still ongoing.

At the end of one of the piers, he found Gali. She was staring out across the ocean’s great expanse. She, too, was not wearing any coat or cloak, and was only clad in her armor.

Tahu approached her, but she didn’t take notice. “Gali,” he said.

She turned, slightly startled. “Tahu!” she exclaimed. “Sorry, I- I was just thinking…” Her gaze wandered back to the ocean.

“About what?” Tahu inquired.

“About the fact that it’s been a full year since Makuta made his promise,” she said. “His threat returns today. He said he would.”

Tahu put his cloak on Gali. She accepted it.

“I know,” he said. “We go back to fulfilling our destiny today as well…” Tahu remembered Vakama’s prophecy. Their destiny might well involve their deaths.

“Destiny…” Gali whispered. “All we know is that it is to defeat Makuta. How do we get there? What more challenges must we face before we finally are able to achieve it? The legends leave many more questions than answers.”

Tahu chuckled. “You’re telling me,” he muttered.

Gali looked out at the ocean once more. A streak of lighting flashed across the sky. A thunderclap sounded moments later, breaking Ga-Koro’s silence for a minute. The final echo of the explosion passed.

Gali turned back to Tahu. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” Tahu responded, sternly.

The Toa of Water cocked her head. “I’ve known you for over a year, Tahu. Something is most definitely wrong.”

Tahu closed his eyes and rolled them under their protective lids. “Vakama thinks that the prophecies forbade us from being together.”

Gali shook her head. “He should have said that a year ago, then,” she said, taking Tahu’s hand.

Tahu accepted her grasp. The two stood silently for a few moments, until the Toa of Earth came speeding into view, bringing an end to the pair’s “moment”.

“Gali!” Onua called. He then saw Tahu, and added, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything important.”

Tahu shook his head. “Not at all,” he said.

Onua nodded. “Well then, meet me at Ta-Koro. We have much to discuss.”

“What’s happened?” Gali asked worriedly.

Onua sighed. “We have to hurry. Po-Koro’s going to be under siege soon. Vakama may have some idea as to what is happening.”

“A siege?” Gali and Tahu exclaimed at the same time. “What—“

“I’ll explain on the way. Just use your masks, and let’s get to your village as fast as possible.” Onua ran off under his mask’s power, quickly carrying him across the bay and to the nearby hills.

Tahu looked at Gali. “We’ll talk later then?” he asked.

Gali nodded. “Fine,” she said.

Both Toa summoned their mask’s power over speed, and followed Onua’s path. ________________________

Within minutes, the three had finished their speedy trek between the two villages and had arrived back in the fiery city of Ta-Koro.

The bridge across the Lava Lakehad been lowered into the molten fluid, and it appeared that the city had readied itself for attack. Guards lined the walls, weapons ready. Something bad was about to happen.

“The Toa approach!” a guard announced.

The bridge raised out of the Lava, and the Toa ran across it. As soon as the Toa had passed through the gate, the bridge was quickly lowered.

The Toa entered the Imperial Palace. Inside the main hall, Lewa and Kopaka had already assembled with Vakama.

“Where’s Pohatu?” Gali inquired.

“He’s in Po-Koro to help ready for the siege,” Onua informed her.

Gali shot him a look that asked “Why did you leave him?”

Onua added, “He insisted.”

Tahu greeted the Lewa and Kopaka. “Lewa, Kopaka, it’s been awhile,” he said.

Kopaka nodded.

“I wish we were meeting under happy-kind circumstances,” Lewa stated.

“Agreed,” Gali said. “Now, why have you gathered us here, Onua?”

“Because an army is heading for Po-Koro,” he said.

Vakama pondered this for a moment. “What kind of army?” the Turaga asked.

Onua shrugged. “A large one. Some kind of horde consisting of metal creatures. They’re insectoid in shape, but larger than Toa in size. Gigantic colossi travel with them.”

Vakama closed his eyes. “Then it is as I feared,” he said. “Follow me.”

The Turaga lead the Toa to the Imperial Palace’s library. He then disappeared in between two large bookshelves. The Toa waited for the Turaga, who was muttering something to himself. Then came the sound of many books falling off the shelves.

Vakama cursed. “Oh, well, Soren can pick it up later...” he whispered.

The Turaga reappeared from the shelves, carrying with him an old, tattered book. He opened the book, which shuttered with a loud creak.

“Here we are,” Vakama said. “If I’m correct, this army you saw is just one of the hordes of a legion known as the Bohrok, an ancient term that translates directly into ‘the Swarm’. They are powerful creatures consisting of six breeds.” He flipped though the book some more. “The Tahnok, which control fire and magma. The Kohrak, who wield the power of ice. The Gahlok, which can flood basin’s and weather mountains. The Pahrak, who can turn the very rivers to dust. The Nuhvok, which burrow deep to collapse the surface and cause great earthquakes. And, worst of all, the Lehvak, which burn through all materials with their powerful acid.

“Now, the colossi. They appear to be called Kaita, an old term meaning ‘of many wills’. The colossi consist of three or more Bohrok merged into a single, giant entity.”

Vakama furiously flipped through several more pages. “Now, within each Bohrok is an organic creature, a Krana. The Krana are the true force behind the Bohrok, as they control the bodies of the creatures, and are directly controlled by the swarm’s two queens. But beware,” Vakama held up a finger, “if a Krana attaches to your face, it shall sap you of all will, making you a loyal servant to the Swarm.”

“Wait?” Kopaka interrupted. “You said something about ‘queens’. What are those?”

Vakama flipped through the book some more. “The queens, yes. They’re called the ‘Bahrag’. Hmm, interesting…”

“What is?” Gali asked.

“Bahrag is the ancient Matoran term for ‘dragon’. They control the swarms directly. If you defeat them first, I assume that you’d defeat the swarm in its entirety!”

“Then where do we begin?” Tahu asked, resting his hand on his sword.

“It’s not that easy, Tahu. The Bahrag’s chamber was sealed off by Mata Nui. After Makuta created them. The only way one could open the way into their chamber is by use of something called the ‘Makoki Stone.’”

“And what is that?” Kopaka asked.

Vakama sighed angrily and set his current tome on a nearby table. He then walked back into a path between bookshelves, and disappeared into the stacks of old books and scrolls, searching for a manuscript on the ancient stone.

Between five and ten minutes after entering the aisle, Vakama emerged, carrying a small book and a map.

“Alright,” Vakama said, opening the volume. “This tome says that the Makoki was separated into three fragments to prevent anyone from disturbing the Bahrag. Sadly, Makuta did not need to enter their chamber.”

“But now we need to,” Tahu interrupted.

“Yes…” Vakama sighed. “So, to enter, you’ll need to retrieve the three fragments.”

“Great,” Lewa muttered. “Another look-hunt for some silly artifact. Why are we always seek-looking for stuff?”

“Because the Great Spirit wills it,” Gali said. “Now calm down, Lewa.”

“So where are these fragments?” Tahu asked.

Vakama smiled. “Normally, I’d have to translate and decipher the text within this book as to the whereabouts of the Makoki fragments. Luckily, I found this map.” Vakama held up the old, paper chart. “It shows the assumed location of all the fragments.

“One appears to be hidden within an underground chamber resting at the roots of Mount Ihu.

“Another is located in an old temple that is located in the great dunes of Po-Wahi.

“And the last, in a shrine underneath the waves of Naho Bay.”

Tahu pondered for a moment. “Then we best split into teams,” he announced.

Kopaka began to speak. “I work al—“

“But each fragment is protected by some kind of Guardian Spirit,” Vakama interrupted.

“Guardian spirit?” Onua asked. “What kind of spirit?”

“Creatures, meant to deter any who cannot prove themselves worthy of the stones,” the Turaga answered.

“And how do we prove ourselves worthy?” Gali inquired.

“By defeating the spirits, of course!” Vakama exclaimed.

“So then, group-teams?” Lewa asked.

“Right,” Tahu said. “Gali and I will retrieve the fragment in the water temple. Lewa and Onua, you two can search for the one in Po-Wahi. And Kopaka and Pohatu will take care of the fragment beneath Ihu.”

“One problem with that, Tahu,” Kopaka said. “We’re short one Pohatu.”

“Of course! He’s defending his village!” Gali exclaimed. “We have to leave soon, or else Po-Koro will fall.”

“Turaga Vakama!” a voice called out. Jaller emerged from the entrance to the library.

“What is it, General?” Vakama asked.

“Forgive me, Turaga, but I was listening to your tales of these ‘Bohrok’.” Jaller said. “They sound like a great threat to the villages. I’ve already taken the liberty to dispatch messengers to warn the other holds, and detachments of the Legion are already en-route to every village, save Po-Koro.”

“Why not Po-Koro?” Gali asked, anger creeping within her voice. “They’re the ones who need it most!”

Jaller sighed mournfully. “The Legion can’t march fast enough. By the time we arrive, Po-Koro will be a smoking ruin.”

“Tahu, we have to go help Pohatu!” Gali said, turning towards the Toa of Fire.

Tahu sighed. “Gali, we need to get those fragments. Pohatu can help evacuate his village, hopefully. And then he can rejoin us and—“

“No, Tahu!” Gali shouted. Tahu had never seen her this angry before. “I will not stand by while our friend loses his village. I’ll go there myself!”

Tahu looked at her eyes, which were full of a angered fire. “Fine. Gali and I will assist in defending Po-Koro if we can make it in time. The rest of you, head for the chamber under Mount Ihu. Hopefully, we can meet up and get the other fragments.”

The Toa nodded, and separated into their teams. They exchanged a few short goodbyes, and then summoned their masks’ power of speed, and headed off towards their respective destinations.

Chapter XXIII
Turaga Onewa stood next to two of his village’s Matoran, Hewkii and Hafu. They were standing on top of one of Po-Koro’s many wall walks and observed the horizon. Far off, black clouds of smoke were billowing, and a reddish glow blazed in the distance in the early dusk light.

“They come,” Onewa said, his eyes locked on the oncoming destruction.

“Who is ‘they’,” Hewkii asked cautiously.

Onewa rested on his staff. “They are the Bohrok. A swarm of ancient creatures bent on the destruction of our way of life.”

“That’s encouraging…” Hafu grumbled.

Hewkii observed the fires on the horizon.

“Those are the Tahnok,” Onewa explained. “They use fire as their primary weapon.”

“And they’re advancing,” Hewkii observed. “Fast.”

Onewa sighed. “Then there is no choice. We must evacuate the village.

Hewkii nodded. “Toa Pohatu already began helping the others load their carts for escape.”

“There’s one problem,” Hafu said, looking at the advancing horde. “They’ll be at the main gate in no time.”

“Then we must block it,” Onewa said flatly.

“How?” the grey and tan armored Matoran asked.

Hewkii and Onewa both looked at Hafu. Hafu in turn looked at the path to Po-Koro, which was lined with his finest statuary: carved effigies of the six Toa.

He jumped, astonished. “I will not bring down my greatest creations!” he shouted furiously.

Onewa shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we need more time to exit through the back entrance.” The Turaga began heading down a ladder and back into the town.

Hafu crossed his arms.

“I’m sorry, old friend,” Hewkii said, putting his hand on Hafu’s shoulder. “I’ll assemble a team to keep you safe while you bring down the statues. Meet me at the gate shortly.” Hewkii followed the Turaga’s path.

Hafu turned back to the road and let out a heavy sigh.

_______________________________________

Pohatu heaved the pack of bricklaying gear on Bour’s cart. Bour was an old, crotchety Matoran that was known for his witty, cranky attitude.

“There you go,” Pohatu said, turning towards the orange and tan Matoran. “Anything else?”

“Oh, no,” Bour said in his loud, gravelly voice. “I’ll just finish hooking up these Mahi to the cart and be off to the docks for departure.” He began pulling ropes to the large, ox-like Rahi that stood patiently in front of the overstuffed wagon.

Pohatu wiped some sweat off his forehead. “Okay then, good luck. I’ll see you on the other side.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Bour said. He waved off Pohatu.

Pohatu walked across the road. All around him, Po-Matoran of all ages began piling whatever form of transportation full of their valuables, whether it be carving tools, favored discs, or heirlooms from long passed mothers and fathers.

Then, a rumble came from the portcullis. The gate was open, as they would be using it to evacuate the city.

A guard stationed on the wall began to yell. “Ambush!” he announced. “The Bohrok are at the gates now!”

Pohatu turned to the entrance. Distant flames lit it a bright red-yellow. The silhouettes of Bohrok slowly emerged from the fire.

Suddenly, a great, stone object slammed down in front of the advancing army. Another fell from the opposite direction, blocking off their attack.

“Mata Nui!” Hekii called, running towards the gates. “Hafu! He’s still out there! He’s bringing down the statues!”

Pohatu’s eyes widened. “I’ll get him!” he yelled. He triggered his mask’s power, and ran towards the gate. He jumped over the wall, and landed on top of one of the felled statues.

Hafu stood in front of one of the carvings. Five Tahnok surrounded the poor Matoran. One of the creatures raised its razor-sharp, shield-like weapon, preparing to execute the shivering Matoran.

Pohatu ran as fast as he could to Hafu. Within a few seconds, he had swept Hafu up and carried him to the edge of the village wall. He threw the Matoran to the top of the wall. Hafu landed safely, and looked down at Pohatu.

“Get to the rest of the village!” Pohatu called up to him. “I’ll hold them off!”

Hafu nodded wide-eyed and ran off. Pohatu turned to face the oncoming Bohrok, which were now angered that their ‘prey’ had been stolen from them.

Pohatu pounded his fists together. “All right!” he yelled. “Bring it!”

The Bohrok readied a charge. Then, two massive streams of fire and water slammed into the oncoming creatures, throwing them out of Pohatu’s way. As the jets died down, Pohatu could make out two figures: the armored, powerful form of Tahu and the slight, graceful body of Gali.

“Am I glad to see you two!” the Toa of Stone called, smiling at his fellow heroes.

Gali nodded. “Sorry we’re late,” she said, glaring at Tahu.

Tahu shrugged. “We have a lot of stuff to go over.”

“Well, tell me later,” Pohatu said, “because we have more problems on the way!”

More Bohrok had arrived, and were beginning to surround the Toa. Soon, they had been herded into the heart of the attacking swarm. Tahu, Gali, and Pohatu were now standing with their backs facing each other.

“Well, this should be fun,” Gali said.

“Just like old times, huh?” Tahu quipped back.

“Impossible odds against advancing armies of Makuta’s creatures? I like this,” Pohatu chimed.

The Bohrok slowly began to tighten in around the Toa.

Tahu exchanged glances with his friends. They both nodded back at him.

The mechanical insects began to raise their weapons.

“NOW!!!” Tahu shouted.

The Toa unleashed three, conical jets of elemental energy from their hands at the Bohrok. The creatures were pelted with barrages of fire, water, and stone.

After about a minute of sustaining such a demanding onslaught, the Toa lowered the hands and dispelled their powers.

Dead Bohrok and their battered Krana were scattered across the field. The Krana within the Bohrok husks revealed two sets of long, spider-like legs and crawled out of their former bodies, heading south and away from Po-Koro.

The Toa collapsed, falling into sitting positions.

“That,” Gali heaved, “was fun.”

Tahu smiled. “Hot, sweaty, physically exerting, and fun? Reminds me of that one night we spent to—“

“Shut up, Tahu,” Gali ordered, shaking her head and restraining a laugh.

Pohatu stood up and examined the horizon. “You guys might want to get ready for round two,” he said. “There’s more.”

“What?” Tahu exclaimed. He looked at the edge of the horizon, and saw Pohatu’s find. Hundreds more Bohrok were advancing upon them.

“Mata Nui protect us,” Gali whispered.

Pohatu looked at Tahu. “By now, they’ve cleared the village,” he explained. “I think we should attack this swarm at its heart. Onua and I saw a large group of Tahnok and some black-armored ones in Tiro canyon. We can trap and destroy them there.”

“Agreed,” Tahu said, watching the oncoming swarm. “How do we get there?”

“Follow me!” Pohatu shouted. He sped off under his mask’s power. Gali and Tahu followed him.

______________________________________

The Toa stopped at the edge of Tiro Canyon, which was one of the largest gorges in Po-Wahi. Eroded in between two massive rock edifices, the canyon once held a great river and a small lake that supported all kinds of life.

Of course, that was years ago. Now the canyon was a dry, desolate waste filled with sand that had blown in from the nearby dunes.

Now, though, a legion of Bohrok had made their home in the canyon. Tahnok and Nuhvok roamed around, preparing for what appeared to be another march.

Pohatu turned to Tahu. “Any ideas?” he asked.

Tahu observed the Bohrok, and then the canyon walls. “There’s only one way out of it, right?”

“Unless they climb up the sides of the canyon, then yes,” Pohatu answered.

Tahu nodded. “Gali,” he called, “do you think you can flood the canyon?”

“I can try, but it will just stun them,” she responded.

“That’s good enough for our purposes,” the Toa of Fire said back. “We can attack while they’re recovering from your assault.”

Gali shrugged and raised her arms, aiming for the far side of the canyon. She began to concentrate. Hard.

It started slowly at first. A trickle of water materialized at the end of the canyon, and slowly dripped down the walls. Many Bohrok did not notice the event, and those that did disregarded it without the least bit of concern.

But soon, the trickle began to turn into a stream, and that stream, into a geyser. Within moments, Tiro Canyon’s old river was running again.

Gali concentrated even harder. The river exploded, sending forth a flood that filled the gorge to its rims. All the Bohrok were swept up against the watery onslaught.

Gali released her control. While the spout she created had stopped, the flood was still draining out of the canyon. The Bohrok writhed as they tried to stabilize themselves in the tempestuous waters. The Toa watched as the flood slowly carried the creatures to the canyon entrance.

After the waters subsided, the Toa slid down the now slippery edges of the canyon walls and landed inside the gorge. Puddles were scattered all over, and some of the sand had been carried off as well, leaving behind jagged, rocky outcroppings that had been buried for years.

“Good work, Gali,” Tahu said.

Gali let out an exhausted sigh. “No problem,” she replied.

Pohatu scanned the canyon entrance. Already, the Bohrok were beginning to re-mobilize and march back into the canyon.

Soon came a sound that ground through their ears and into the Toa’s minds.

The Bohrok were speaking.

“''Chikiira, shiiiraan aruum tas vahiin! ''” The phrase was repeated over and over. It was about to drive the Toa insane.

After about a minute, the mechanical insectoids were marching towards the Toa, weapons drawn. The Toa raised their weapons as well.

“Ready?” Tahu asked.

“Oh yeah,” Pohatu laughed.

Gali nodded.

“Go!” the Toa of Fire shouted.

The three Toa charged the oncoming Bohrok. Tahu collided with an angry Nuhvok, which hissed as he slammed his sword into the metal beast’s shield/weapon. The Nuhvok threw Tahu’s sword off its shield and head-butted the Toa, sending Tahu reeling into the soggy sand. Two more Bohrok marched towards him.

Nearby, Pohatu had engaged two Tahnok. He used his mask’s power of strength to slam one of the insect-like mechanoids in into the wet ground. The creature writhed as it tried to escape the sand, but Pohatu had buried the being too deep. The hatch on its head popped open, and the Krana scurried out.

The other Tahnok landed a harsh sideswipe on the Toa of Stone’s midsection, tossing him off his feet. The Bohrok stomped towards the Toa. When it was near enough, Pohatu kicked it with his mighty legs. The head components cracked and shattered. Pohatu threw himself back on his feet, and turned to find two more Tahnok readying their elemental powers.

Gali leapt over a Nuhvok and landed on the creature’s back. She pulled her hook weapons off their mounts on her back, and latched them under the head compartment’s hatch. She then heaved with all her might, and pulled the metallic flap apart. The Toa of Water reached into the compartment and grasped onto the Krana within. The creature was warm to the touch, and writhed in her grasp.

She tore it from its position within the head. As soon as it left the Bohrok, the machine collapsed. Gali held the Krana up. It’s long, spindly legs grasped at the air near Gali’s face, as if it wanted to attach to her mask.

Gali recalled Vakama’s warnings, and threw the writhing creature on the ground. She then promptly stomped on the Krana’s center mass.

Tahu fired twin streams of fire at two charging Nuhvok. The two creatures’ headpieces melted as the flames engulfed them. The Krana within screeched as they were melted inside their metallic encasements.

The Toa of Fire pivoted around and shot three fireballs at a trio of Tahnok that had begun to advance upon him. Unlike the Nuhvok, the fire-Bohrok rushed through the blazing orbs and tackled Tahu.

He kicked the insectoid machinations off of him and tried to melt them like he did the Nuhvok. The Tahnok shrugged off his inferno. Their bodies must have been made of a stronger material.

Tahu flipped onto the nearest Tahnok. It tried to shake him off, but he grabbed on. The Toa of Fire then focused his elemental power into his sword, which began to glow white-hot. Tahu then slammed the weapon into the Bohrok’s headplate and into the Krana within.

The Bohrok fell limp, and the smell of burning flesh arose from the pseudo-corpse.

Pohatu landed several harsh blows on the nearest Nuhvok and then focused his mask’s strength power into his fists. He then punched the mechanical warrior into the air, and lost it in the sun.

He turned around, but was quickly blindsided by a Nuhvok’s shield-weapon. He hit the ground, unconscious.

Tahu retrieved Pohatu’s unmoving body and threw the Toa of Stone over his shoulder. He threw several bolts of flame at the Nuhvok, which hissed as the fire slammed into their armor, softening it slightly.

Gali was slowly pushed closer and closer to the back end of the canyon. Tahu, carrying the unconscious body of the Toa of Stone, soon joined her. They were confronted by a legion of nearly a hundred Bohrok.

Gali unleashed jets of water, which threw the Bohrok off their feet. Sadly, the creatures always got back up, and continued to push towards the Toa.

Tahu laid Pohatu on the ground and summoned more firebolts to ward off the Bohrok. But they kept coming, each one more tenacious than the one before.

Gali yelled as she punched the Tahnok that had made its way to her. The creature stumbled back, but quickly regained its position. The beast drew its sharp, pointed shield back, and slammed it into the Toa of Water.

“NO! ” Tahu yelled as he watched the blade enter Gali’s stomach.

She fell limp as the blade went a solid inch through her armor, piercing the skin of her abdomen. The Tahnok then threw Gali’s body off its blade and turned to Tahu. Through the creature’s semi-transparent headpiece, Tahu swore that he could see the Krana smiling.

Filled with rage and hate for the creatures that had just injured the one closest to him, Tahu summoned all the elemental power he could muster. In one final, awe-inspiring blow, Tahu sent forth a blazing inferno that filled Tiro Canyon with white fire.

Tahu called off the firestorm. He collapsed to his knees, and gazed at the sight in front of him. The gorge was dotted with the charred, melted corpses that were once Bohrok. Tahu blacked out, and fell into the heat-dried sand.

_________________________________________

Pohatu awoke to find Tahu lying unconscious next to him. Gali was awake, but she was groaning in pain. The Toa of Stone rolled over to find her clutching a wound on her abdomen.

“Gali,” he called, “are you okay?”

Gali shook her head. “No,” she moaned, removing her blood-soaked hand from her chest. She placed it back on the wound and winced. “Not at all.”

Pohatu pulled off his small backpack and went through it. The only medical supplies he could find were a roll of gauze, some adhesive materials to hold the bandages on, and aloe to ease pain.

“Gali, lie down,” he commanded.

She did as he said, but her face showed the pain the action caused.

Pohatu tore some of the bandaging material from the roll and used it to clean away some of the wound’s blood. He examined the now semi-clean gash.

The Tahnok’s blade had melted away part of Gali’s armor, and punctured deep into her skin. Luckily, the beast had missed her internal organs, and had simply opened a hole in her skin—albeit a big one.

Blood began too ooze from the wound once again.

Pohatu smeared some aloe on his finger. “Here,” he said, “this’ll help ease the pain.” He rubbed the thick, white lotion on her skin.

Gali winced once more. “Are you sure that’s what it does?” she asked, forcing her eyes shut.

Pohatu finished applying the painkiller and began to adhere the gauze to her wound, forming a makeshift bandage.

Pohatu watched as the gauze quickly turned from a silvery white color to a dark black-red. Gali would bleed out soon if they didn’t get her medical attention.

Tahu had awoken during the process. He waited for Pohatu to finish cleaning the wound before actually rising (he didn’t like the sight of blood). Tahu knelt down by Gali.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” he muttered, shaking his head. “This is my fault. I shouldn’t have let you fend off those Bohrok by yourself.

Gali painfully smiled. “I’m not that helpless, Tahu,” she muttered.

Pohatu turned to the Toa of Fire. “Tahu, we need to get her to a doctor, fast,” he ordered. “The nearest healer would be in Ga-Koro, but—“

“Then let’s get moving!” Tahu yelled, readying his mask’s speed power.

“But,” Pohatu considered, “using our mask’s power would jar her around, which could worsen the gash. We’ll have to walk.”

Tahu looked at Gali, who was now sitting upright with her hands and arms supporting her torso. She shook her head. Tahu knelt down and put his forehead to hers.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do…” Tahu whispered to her.

She sighed.

Tahu gingerly took Gali up in his arms. Pohatu frowned and watched as they began the long trek to Ga-Koro.

Chapter XXIV
Kapura, former patrol officer and now lead messenger of the Ta-Koro Legion, slowly moved across the rocky terrain on his way to Ko-Koro. He focused on nothing but his two feet and his destination.

The concept was an ancient art, really. Turaga Vakama had taught him the practice many years ago. The idea was simple yet ironic: if one moved slowly enough, they would reach their destination much more quickly than a runner.

Strangely enough, the practice worked. Kapura had used it to his advantage many times, and became the leader of the Legion’s messengers within a year. Not a high ranking position, but Kapura was content with it.

The Ta-Matoran found himself at the icy gates of Ko-Koro in little time at all. The cold then caught up with him, and he felt freezing.

“Hello!” he called up the icy edifice, behind which the village stood.

No one responded.

“Hello?” he called again.

A head sporting a grey Kanohi mask peeked over the ledge. “Ta-Matoran? You must be lost! Leave us to our peace.”

“I bring tidings from the General of the Legion, Jaller,” Kapura responded. “He bids your village prepare for war at once. A team of Legionaires are on their way to support your defense as we speak!”

The Ko-Matoran guard shook his head. “War? Against what?”

“Bohrok,” Kapura shouted back.

“Bohrok? What are these Bohrok?” the guard inquired, a tone of arrogance in his voice.

A shrill whistle followed by a sharp chirp stopped the guard before he could continue his sentence. The village’s Turaga and Matoran translator appeared next to the sentinel.

“Turaga Nuju bids that you let the honorable messenger Kapura into the village,” Matoro translated.

Nuju gave an affirming nod

The guard, obviously prejudice against other Matoran, sighed angrily and moved to the gate controls. A minute later, two icy doors, camouflaged perfectly with the mountain, split apart. The entrance into Ko-Koro was now open.

“Thank you.” Kapura bowed and entered.

The Turaga and his translator had already descended the guard posts to meet Kapura there.

Nuju made a set of slashing motions and gave off a few short clicks. He then whistled harshly and waved an arm.

Matoro nodded. “Nuju welcomes you to Ko-Koro. He has already heard of the Bohrok threat from the Toa, but he’ll take any help he can from the Legion.”

Kapura nodded. “Then I best be heading off,” he said.

“Turaga!”

The shout came from atop one of the guard towers. A grey-blue Ko-Matoran was waving down at them.

Nuju gave an acknowledging whistle.

“Turaga! There’s creatures heading for the village main gate!” the guard shouted. “I’ve never seen any Rahi like them.”

Nuju turned to Matoro and nodded.

“Sound the alarm!” the translator yelled at the guard.

The guard nodded and went into his tower. He found a trumpet carved from the horn of a Kanae-Ra bull. He brought the instrument to his lips and blew.

The blaring of the horn echoed throughout the mountains of Ko-Wahi, especially within the valley that Ko-Koro was built in.

Once the last echo of the trumpet faded, guards came pouring out of their barracks with spears, swords, and bows. Many rushed to the main walls of the city, while smaller groups made their way outside to fight the assault head-on.

After the last group made it out of Ko-Koro’s massive doors, the entrance was shut and sealed. Guards began piling snow, ice, and rock in front to barricade the gate.

Kapura watched as Matoran within the city began sealing up their own homes in case the Bohrok breached the gates. His gaze slowly returned to the guards, who were staring directly ahead, waiting for the advancing army to enter the range of their weapons.

“Guards!” Kapura yelled, “can you tell what color their armor is?”

One guard, a commander, judging by his armor, delivered the response. “Green, sir! But there are some white support groups as well!”

“What do those do?” Matoro asked. Nuju’s glare followed his translator’s.

Kapura sighed. “The green ones are Lehvak, which can deliver acidic streams from their weapons. The white ones, the Kohrok, are able to manipulate ice.”

“They’re using our own element against us…” Matoro whispered.

Nuju clicked shrilly and made a cutting gesture across his throat.

Matoro nodded. “The Turaga says that many will die unless your legionaries arrive. When will they be here?”

Kapura shrugged. “Within a few more hours, if we’re lucky. Messengers are always sent ahead.”

Nuju nodded and frowned. He turned away from the messenger and slowly made his way to a nearby hut. The Turaga disappeared through the entrance, and remained in the hovel for a long five minutes.

Kapura looked at Matoro, who shrugged.

Nuju emerged from the small house. He was carrying multiple items in his hands. As he neared, Kapura could see that it was a suit of Ko-Matoran guard armor and a sword.

The Turaga clicked and whistled. Matoro nodded.

“’Until then,’ the Turaga says,” Matoro translated, ”’we will need all who can fight to fight.’”

Nuju set the armor and weapon in Kapura’s hands. Kapura looked at the Turaga, who gazed sternly at him. He sighed, and began to don the armor.

_____________________________________

Lieutenant Pakastaa, leader of Ko-Koro’s archer regiment, slowly walked behind the troops lining the pathways along the village’s walls. Far off, the advancing green horde slowly moved closer to the village.

Pakastaa inspected each troop from behind, and made sure that they each carried a decent amount of arrows and were well armored enough for close up combat.

The enemy slowly came into range.

“Don’t fire until you can see their eyes!” Pakastaa yelled. It was an old Le-Koro tactic actually. He wasn’t entirely sure if it was true, but the Le-Matoran believed that the bow could strike a target much more accurately once one could see their eyes.

The Bohrok slowly marched forward. Eventually, their footfalls began to drown out the wailing Ko-Wahi winds. Pakastaa drew in a long breath and held it.

The Lehvak swarm approached the village. Flanked on either side by two sheer-cliff faces, the creatures would be trapped as soon as the archers opened fire.

Pakastaa saw the red glint of the lead Lehvak’s eye.

“Archers!” he yelled. “Ready!”

The Ko-Koro bowman retrieved arrows from their quivers and positioned them onto their bows.

“Aim!”

The archers raised their bows. After release, the projectiles would rain down upon the horde, killing nearly anything they came down on.

“Fire!”

Every archer released their arrows. The sharp projectiles flew into the air and arced over the heads of the Bohrok. The weapons then fell onto the oncoming army. Arrows impacted the hard, glass casing of the Bohrok’s heads and killed the Krana within, causing many units to drop.

Down below, leading regiments guarding the gate, was Mazeka, the captain of Ko-Koro’s guard.

“Ready your arms!” he yelled to the twenty men that stood with him.

Each soldier unsheathed his or her sword and raised their shields.

Arrows rained upon the advancing Lehvak, but many survived, and began to charge Mazeka’s regiment.

“'''ATTACK!!! '''” the captain yelled.

His troops, each some of the best swordsmen in the village, ran at the oncoming swarm. Bohrok screeched and raised their shields, only to be cut down by Ko-Koro claymores and rapiers.

Mazeka hopped on top of a Bohrok and brought his sword down on the creature’s head. It screeched as the weapon pierced the Krana within. He retrieved his weapon, which was now stained in crimson blood. He turned and cut the metallic arm off the nearest Bohrok, and let out a war cry.

Pakastaa released another arrow, which sailed into the headplate of yet another Lehvak. The creatures had yet to relent. It was as if they had an endless supply of troops, which could not be said for his division’s arrows. Soon, they would have to run out.

Pakastaa thought he saw something crawling along the side of the mountain. He wasn’t sure whether it was a trick of light or some new kind of threat.

The mass moved along the cliff face again, a telltale flash of white-on white.

Suddenly, a white-clad Bohrok burst out of a camouflaged invisibility and leapt onto the nearest Matoran. He screamed as the creature slammed its buzzsaw-like shield blade into the Matoran’s face, tearing it into a bloody mess.

“Archers, three o’clock!” a soldier yelled. The Kohrok moved quickly from soldier to soldier, disemboweling each one it could. Two more of its companions burst from the snowy cliffside and joined the fight.

One archer was able to work his sword inbetween the teeth-like protrusions on the Kohrok’s head and into its Krana, which shrieked violently as it died.

Blood ran across the wall. Pakastaa drew his sword and charged a Kohrok. It tackled him, but he was able to flip the beast over and work his blade into its skullcase. The transparent headplate opened, and the Krana launched out, landing three feet from Pakastaa on its long, spiderlike legs.

Pakastaa chased after the beast with his sword, but it dodged nearly all of his blows. Luckily, an archer, running from another Kohrok, stepped on the large, rubbery insect by accident.

Pakastaa silently thanked Mata Nui and turned around to find that many of his archers were running from a new threat. A strange version of the Kohrok had appeared, its white armor traced with streaks of glowing silver. It’s headplate was covered in gleaming silver-and-white metallic scales. The weapons it carried were shields, but seemed more like five pointed stars. At the end of each point was a small buzzsaw.

The creature regarded Pakastaa with cold, remorseless eyes. It raised its shield, and let out a blast of sonic energy that knocked the general flat on his back and sent archers all around him flying.

The silver Kohrok marched over Pakastaa’s prone body and kept heading across the wall, unleashing deafening sonic blasts at the archers. But it left the general alive.

Below, Mazeka, who had lost half of his unit to the Bohrok, heard the sonic blasts and turned upward to see stunned archers being thrown off the edifice.

He wanted to fall back, but he couldn’t. There was nowhere to run.

Ko-Koro was doomed.

“Fire!”

The command echoed from the other end of the valley. A second later, dozens of flaming arrows rained down upon the Lehvak swarm. The creatures fled up the mountainsides, as the Lehvak particularly feared fire.

Mazeka wondered what had fired the arrows, but then he saw the banner of the Ta-Koro legion appear at the other end of the valley.

“Fire!”

Another volley of arrows rained upon the swarm.

_________________________________

Kohrok-Kal, leader of the Kohrok swarm, was confused. A moment ago, his troops, joint groups of both his and Lehvak-Kal’s swarms, had begun to decimate this pathetic Matoran village. And now his brother’s troops were deserting him from a few flaming arrows.

The silver-armored Bohrok saw an archer prepare to fire an arrow at him. He raised his shield and blasted the pitiful soldier off the wall and to his doom.

Kohrok-Kal let out a shivering, reptilian growl. His troops took the order to retreat and disappeared into the edifaces of the snowy mountain. He wouldn’t fight without Lehvak-Kal’s cannon fodder to draw attention from his stealth warriors.

The beast slowly made his way across the wall walk, but felt his ankle get seized by a pair of Matoran hands.

He fell to the ground, but quickly regained stance and pivoted to see his attacker.

An armored grey and white Matoran stood in front of the Kal, his defiant, sky-blue eyes meeting the beasts.

“Pitiful Matoran,” Kohrok uttered in the little creature’s pathetic language. “You think you can best me? Kohrok-Kal? Leader of the Swarm of Ice!”

The Matoran, while looking slightly surprised at the fact that a Bohrok had spoken, still remained defiant as ever. “Yes,” the morsel said.

Kohrok-Kal hissed at the creature’s remark. He pointed his shield at the Matoran. “Then die,” he finished, in his cold, metallic tone.

He was about to unleash a sonic blast when three flaming arrows penetrated the metal armor on his arm. The Kal reeled around to find that a group of Ta-Matoran were taking aim with their arrows.

“Sorry we’re late!” a red and black armored Matoran called from below.

Kohrok-Kal hissed and triggered his power of invisibility, vanishing into thin air. He’d live to fight another day.

________________________________________

Kapura gasped at the voice that had called on the other side of the gate. He immediately rushed to the guards and told them to open the great doors.

They obliged, as the sounds of battle had ceased minutes ago. The great entrance opened, and a company of Ta-Matoran were waiting on the other side.

“Captain Dezalk!” Kapura called, rushing to meet the commander of the soldiers. “Perfect timing!”

Dezalk smiled. “Thank you, Kapura. Also, thank you for getting the message to the village, or else they may not have been prepared.”

“We were plenty prepared,” Matoro said, approaching the Ta-Matoran with Turaga Nuju following slightly behind him. “Turaga Nuju thanks you greatly for your intervention.”

“Thank you, Turaga.” Dezalk bowed.

Nuju clicked and whistled numerous times. Matoro nodded.

“But he wishes to discuss the village’s safety with you in private. Follow us.”

Dezalk nodded. “I shall,” he said. He then turned to Kapura. “Head back to Ta-Koro and tell Vakama about the battle. He’ll want to know.” The captain headed off with the Turaga.

Kapura nodded. He had a long journey ahead of him.

Chapter XXV
“I hate the cold,” Lewa muttered to himself for the fifteenth time. The temple that he, Kopaka, and Onua had found was at the bottom of Mount Ihu, and never seemed to ascend at all. The Toa of Air’s light, jungle-combat oriented armor was not meant for the cold, frigid stillness of underground ice temples. Glowing stones set in sconces along the walls at identical intervals lit the hall.

“We get it,” Kopaka said. “Now stop complaining.”

“Alright,” Lewa chided, “I ever-love these dark-cold corridors, don’t you?”

“Shut up, Lewa,” Kopaka and Onua said at the simultaneously.

“Fine,” the Toa of Air grumbled. “So when do you think we’ll find the main temple chamber?”

“Soon, I hope,” Onua said. He examined the hieroglyphs on the wall as they walked by. A curious, ancient language.

“Vakama would love to see this stuff, I bet,” he whispered to himself.

“Probably,” Kopaka responded. “Any idea’s what it says?”

“Most likely a warning,” Onua observed. “I can’t translate… anything.”

“I’m surprised there aren’t any traps down here,” Lewa said, looking around. “Aren’t old ruins always supposed to have traps?”

“You’ve read too many adventure stories,” Kopaka muttered. “I highly doubt any of those authors have been in a temple built into a mountain, created to contain an object that could open the doors to the lair of the rulers of a massive army.”

“Well,” Lewa said, “they could have.”

“Look, up ahead!” Onua called out.

Ahead stood a great, stone door, its face carved with many hieroglyphs and symbols. Three, concentric rings were situated near the center of the monolith.

The Toa reached the door and began to examine it.

“What is this?” Kopaka asked, running his finger along the outer ring.

“I’ve seen stuff like this in Onu-Koro,” Onua said. “It’s a combination mechanism. If you align the three rings correctly, the door will open.

“Great, and how do we act-do that?” Lewa groaned.

Onua stepped forward. “Like this, he stated matter-of-factly.

The Toa of Earth grabbed the outside ring and slowly spun it right. A loud click indicated that he had moved it into place.

He did the same with the second ring, which soon rewarded him with a click as well. He moved the third and final ring, which clicked into place.

Onua stepped back and waited for the door to open.

Nothing happened.

“I’ll have to try again,” Onua said, shaking his head.

“Or we can do this,” Kopaka said. He blasted the stone door with a burst of cold that froze the object solid. The Toa of ice then walked up to the gate, and hit it with his sword.

The gate shattered apart. Kopaka walked in, with Lewa following him.

“Oh,” the Toa of Earth mumbled. “I didn’t think of that.” He joined them inside.

The chamber they entered had no visible way out. It was lit by the same glowing stones, but the room was adorned in hieroglyphs and symbols. Ancient urns were positioned in the corners of the room nearest the door. At the other end were two ancient suits of armor.

But the most striking feature was the pedestal in the center of the hall. It was made of a carved, black stone, and on it rested a portion of a tablet: the first half of the Makoki Stone.

“Well, that was quick-easy,” Lewa said cheerfully. “Let’s get the stone.”

Kopaka held his blade in front of the hasty Toa of Air. “Wait…” he said. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

A cold wisp of air passed through the room, chilling even Kopaka to the bone.

Onua watched the floor as the breeze swept through, and noticed a peculiar phenomenon. Wisps of a strange, dark-green gas streamed across the floor, heading for the suits of armor.

“Anyone else seeing this?” Onua called.

Kopaka looked down, and he too saw the gaseous substance moving along the ground. The patterns of movement reminded him of ink in a phial of water.

“What is it?” the Toa of Ice asked.

The wisps slowly retreated completely into the armor. A moment later, the armor’s faded grey coloration turned to bright colors. The one on the left had taken on a yellow and black hue, while the suit on the right had changed to a mix of blue and silver.

“Okay,” Lewa said, “this is rather weird-strange.”

Kopaka watched the armor. Something didn’t feel right to him. The Toa of Ice drew his sword, and retrieved his shield from its resting position on his back.

“Kopaka?” Onua asked.

Kopaka didn’t answer. He just kept his vision focused on the armor.

Lewa shrugged. “Well, let’s get the stone piece-fragment and quick-leave this dungeon!”

The Toa of Air walked towards the stone’s pedestal. He raised his hands over the stone, and prepared to pick it up.

Two deep, crimson eyes opened under the yellow armor’s eyeholes. Before Lewa could even lay a finger on the fragment of the Makoki Stone, the armor had leapt on him.

“What the?” Lewa yelled, grappling with the armor.

The blue suit became animate as well, and jumped onto Onua. Instead of claws like the other armor, it had large, wing-like blades.

Kopaka slashed his blade across the blue armor’s midsection, throwing the ‘creature’ across the room.

Onua stood up. “I take it that these are the guardian spirits?” he rhetorically asked.

“I would think so!” Lewa yelled from across the room, summoning a cyclone around his yellow-armored attacker.

The spirit hissed and escaped the Toa of Air’s attack. It lunged and tackled him.

Onua ran to Lewa and rapped his claws around the phantom armor’s throat. The ghost, however, was unfazed by this attack, and only became more angered. It seized his hands, and threw the Toa of Earth across the room. He hit the wall, and landed with a loud grunt.

Kopaka, meanwhile, was fending off the quick attacks from the blue phantom’s wing-blades. Luckily, his shield could take most of the blows, freeing up Kopaka’s mind for strategy.

Alright,  he thought, ''this thing relies on speed. Now how could I slow it down? ''

Kopaka smiled. He slowly lowered the temperature on the bat-like blue spirit’s armor. Slowly, a fine layer of frost condensed on it. The creature attacked, but Kopaka dodged it. The strike was about a half second slower than the earlier ones.

He continued to decrease the armor’s temperature. Eventually, a layer of ice encased each segment of armor. A could fog now dropped from the spirit’s body. Through the grey-white condensation, Kopaka easily made out the greenish gas that held the armor together.

Kopaka flipped over the spirit and threw his sword into its back. The creature let out a high-pitched scream, and through the Toa of Ice off. Kopaka landed on his feet and charged again.

Meanwhile, Lewa faced off against the yellow-armored ghost, which was slowly walking towards him. The Toa of Air had a plan, but it required his total concentration. As the monster marched forward, Lewa had begun to create an area of intense air pressure around it. Hopefully, the pressure would shatter the phantom armor.

Lewa watched as the creature took notice of what was happening around it. It howled as dents and crevices appeared in its shell. Soon, the armor was barely recognizable from its original state.

The Toa of Air released his vacuum, and the phantom collapsed to the ground. It slowly rose back to its feet, but its movement was impaired by the extensive damage to its carapace.

Onua tackled the creature, throwing it back on the ground. He wrestled with it until he won a firm grasp on the spirit’s arm. He then tore the specter’s gauntlet free and threw the piece of armor across the room.

The yellow being screeched as the green gas quickly left through the hole where the missing extremity had once been. The phantom’s strength soon left it, and all that was left was a dilapidated husk.

Onua and Lewa both smiled and bumped their fists.

On the other side of the room, Kopaka was easily avoiding his near-frozen enemy’s slow strikes.

He shook his head. All too easy,  the Toa of Ice thought.

Kopaka flash-froze the phantom, sealing it in a thick casing of solid ice. He then raised his sword, and smashed the spirit’s armor into thousands of cold shards.

The green, gaseous substance quickly left from the area where the armor had once stood.

“Well,” Kopaka heaved, “that was fun.”

Lewa smiled. “Now we can easy-take the fragment-stone,” he said.

Onua nodded. He walked up to the Makoki fragment, and placed both his hands on the object. He lifted it off the pedestal.

“We might want to reach Tahu, Gali, and Pohatu,” the Toa of Earth said.

Kopaka nodded. “Right,” he agreed. “With any luck, they may have retrieved another fragment.”

The group turned towards the chamber’s entrance, and began the journey back to the surface.

_____________________________________________

Across the island in one of the large, sandy portions of the Po-Wahi desert, Pohatu and Tahu slowly walked across the great dunes. Tahu still carried an unconscious Gali in his arms.

“How is she?” Pohatu asked.

Tahu frowned. “Not good,” he responded. He placed two fingers on her forehead. “She’s burning with a fever. If we don’t get her to a healer soon, she’s not going to make it.”

Pohatu shook his head. “The sun’s going to be setting soon. We’ll have to find a place to camp.”

“No,” the Toa of Fire stated angrily. “We’ll keep going. She needs treatment fast, and I shall not deny her it!”

Pohatu sighed. “Tahu,” he said, “you realize that there are some things you just can’t change no matter what you do?”

“But if we reach civilization soon, I can get her treatment!”

“And what if we don’t?” Pohatu asked. “What do we do then?”

Tahu shot him a rage-filled glare. “We will find someone. I guarantee it.” He looked back to Gali’s unconscious form. “At least, I hope…”

The pair hiked across the dunes of Po-Wahi for miles, with no sign of civilization in sight. The sun slowly dipped below the horizon, and the stars came out. The air also began to cool as well.

Then, as they reached the crest of another dune, Pohatu spotted something.

“Tahu, look!” he called.

Tahu scanned the sandy plain below. In the basin, he could make out five tents, with light shining throughout them. A fire in the middle of the camp illuminated it with a ghostly red-yellow glow.

“A trading caravan!” Tahu exclaimed.

The two moved as quickly as they could down the slope, and entered the encampment.

“Someone!” Tahu called. “Anyone, help!”

An orange-armored Po-Matoran wearing an oddly-shaped Kakama poked his head out the door. His eyes widened when he saw the Toa.

“Toa!” he shouted. “What is it that you need?”

Tahu nodded to Gali. “Our friend needs medical treatment for a wound at once!”

“I’ll clear a tent out for you at once,” the Matoran said. He then trotted over to a nearby tent. Shouts could be heard, and three Matoran hurriedly left the tent.

“Alright,” the orange Matoran said, emerging from the tent. You can set her down in here. The others are fetching our healer.”

“Thank you,” Pohatu said.

Tahu carried Gali into the tent and laid her on a fur bead that was spread out on the floor.

“Hang on, Gali,” he whispered. He clasped her hand. “They’re getting you help.”

The orange Matoran entered the tent, carrying a skin of water with him. He pressed it’s opening to Gali’s lips, and poured a small amount of the liquid in.

“How long has she been like this?” he asked.

“A little over a day,” Pohatu said, entering the tent. “She was injured during a battle.”

Another Matoran entered the tent. She was a Ga-Matoran, carrying a sack of medical supplies with her.

“Could you please leave,” she asked the others. “I need room to work.” She slowly began to remove the blackened gauze from Gali’s midsection.

The orange Matoran nodded, and lead the Toa to the central fire.

“I can fetch you some food, if you’d like,” he said.

“I’ll have some, thank you,” Pohatu responded.

“And you?” the Matoran asked, turning to Tahu.

The Toa of Fire nodded.

The orange Matoran entered another tent. A few moments later, he emerged with some eggs and a frying pan. He cracked the eggs into the pan, and began to fry them over the fire.

“I’m sorry about your friend,” he said.

Sat down on a bench and rested his hands on his palms. His elbows were supported on his knees. He didn’t bother to look up at the Matoran’s lament.

The Matoran raised an eyebrow. “What’s his problem?”

Pohatu sighed. “Well, he and Gali… they’re close, if you know what I mean.”

“Ah,” the Matoran said, turning the eggs with a spatula.

“Sorry, but I didn’t ask your name,” Pohatu said. “I don’t think we’ve met before.”

“No we haven’t,” the Matoran responded. “Anyway, my name’s Ganon. I carve miniatures for this caravan to sell.”

“I think I might’ve seen some of your work, then,” Pohatu said.

“Possibly,” Ganon shrugged. He looked at the eggs once more. “Eggs are ready,” he said. He retrieved two plates from a backpack and placed the fried eggs on them. He handed the plates to the Toa, along with some forks.

Pohatu quickly ate his eggs. It’d been nearly a day and a half since he’d last eaten, a sensation he rarely experienced.

Tahu, however, only picked at the eggs with his fork, now and then taking a bite.

Pohatu turned to his friend. “Tahu, she’ll be fine,” he comforted.

The Toa of Fire simply shook his head. “If she dies, I’ll never forgive myself,” he muttered.

Pohatu turned back to Ganon. “Any news on the war?” he asked.

Ganon gave the Toa a curious look. “War?” he inquired. “What war?”

“You haven’t heard?” Pohatu exclaimed. “A swarm of automatons is raging across the island. They’ve- they’ve taken Po-Koro.”

“What?” Ganon asked worriedly. “That’s where we were headed, damn it.” He shook his head. “No matter. We’ll just have to head for Ga-Koro instead.”

Tahu finished his meal and stood up. He walked to the edge of the camp and looked up at the stars. The same constellation’s that Gali had shown him still burned as bright as ever in the night sky.

He flashed back to the day when Gali had first shown him the Constellation of the Toa, and cracked a slight smile.

She’ll be fine,  he thought. ''She’ll be fine. ''

Chapter XXVI
Tahnok-Kal stood atop the inactive volcano Mangai. Starlight reflected off his armor, giving the general of the Tahnok Swarm an ethereal appearance.

From his vantage point, he gazed across nearly all of Matoa Nui. To the north, smoke billowed from the ruins of Po-Koro, which had recently been taken by a joint attack from his and Pahrak-Kal and Nuhvok-Kal’s swarms.

To the south, a green, acidic cloud slowly rose from Le-Koro, which had recently been taken by Lehvak-Kal’s swarm.

Which reminded Tahnok-Kal as to why he was here. He turned around to meet his gaze with that of Kohrok and Lehvak-Kal’s.

”I suppose you’re proud of yourselves?” Tahnok hissed in metallic Bohrok speech. ”You’re failure at Ko-Koro has not pleased the queens.”

Kohrok-Kal blew air out from his headplate. ”Had our brother’s troops not abandoned me, we would have the city in our grasp, and its Matoran would be our servants.”

Lehvak-Kal hissed. ''”Perhaps if they didn’t receive reinforcements you would have it. Remember, I was attack two cities at the time!”''

Kohrak hissed out a curse, to which Lehvak raised his fist and began to make obscene threats. The two were about to go for each other’s’ throats when Tahnok-Kal put himself between them.

”No matter,” the leader of the fire swarm said. ''”Gahlok moves her legions on Onu-Koro today. Nuhvok is already assisting in the destruction of Le-Koro. Soon, only three free cities will remain.”'' ”And then we crush them!” Lehvak-Kal shouted.

Tahnok nodded. ''”Yes. But for now,” he began, ”We’ll wait for Gahlok’s invasion to finish. Then, Nuhvok will retake Ko-Koro”''

The other two Kal nodded. For them, victory would soon be at hand.

_______________________________________

Onepu helped funnel the hundreds of civilians into the evacuation tunnels from Onu-Koro. Not moments ago, they had learned that the Bohrok were on the march to their city. Now, the Gahlok, the water Swarm, were heading to destroy the marvelous, underground metropolis.

The purple and black clad Matoran waved several more civilians into the tunnel. Being a head officer in the Ussalry gave him authority over the evacuation.

“Go! Go!” he ordered two Matoran, carrying their child and bag of possessions with them. Onepu didn’t want to be harsh, but the entire population was at stake.

He gazed out. A silver and black armored Matoran, Mersery, scrambled out of his hut, carrying a backpack crammed full of designs and story plans. He was a famous designer and writer.

“Mersery! Get out of here!” Onepu yelled.

The architect stopped at Onepu. “Have you seen Nuparu?” Mersery asked in his slightly-accented voice. “I finished the designs he wanted, and I need to get them to him!”

“He’ll be coming soon!” the Ussalry captain shouted. “Meet him in the tunnels!”

Mersery seemed a little too casual in the evacuation and upcoming assault. “I’ll just wait for him,” the inventor quietly said, leaning against a wall near Onepu.

Onepu knew that Mersery was excentric (in fact, he was a good friend of Midak), but this was ridiculous. “Mata Nui, get out of here!” Onepu commanded.

“Not until my coworker gets here,” Mersery calmly responded.

Onepu shrugged, grimaced, and turned to continue directing Matoran into the evacuation tunnel.

Eventually, the orange Pakari of Nuparu emerged from his hut. The Onu-Matoran inventor carried a load of tools in his backpack, and was sprinting quickly towards the entrance.

“You’re late!” Mesery shouted, walking to meet Nuparu.

“Sorry, I needed to get my tools,” Nuparu said, chuckling quietly. “Without those, I’d be out of a job. I made most of them myself.”

“I have the designs you wanted,” Mersery said, handing a scroll to Nuparu.

“Thanks,” the inventor said, tucking the scroll into his backpack. “Hopefully we can put this to use soon.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Onepu began angrily, “but we have to leave! You’re the last two left!”

Just as Onepu finished his sentence, there came a terrifying sound. A terrible noise that shook the Matoran to their cores.

It was the noise of water rushing through the cave.

“Move!” Onepu yelled.

The three turned to the evacuation cave and ran in. But the flood caught up with them.

Onepu was caught up in the flow, and hit his head on a rock. Everything went black.

___________________________________________

One hour later…

Onepu woke up. Well, he thought he woke up. He was sure that he was awake, but everything around him was pitch black. He sat up, and found that he was seven inches deep in ice cold water.

“Hello?” he called. “I anyone there?”

“Augh… my head…” someone muttered.

“Who’s there?” Onepu inquired. “Is that you Nuparu?”

“Yes,” the voice said back. “Where are you?”

“Over here,” Onepu said. “Follow my voice.”

He heard the inventor get up and make his way through the water to Onepu’s location.

“Were’s Mersery?” the inventor inquired.

“I don’t know,” Onepu whispered, looking around the blackness.

“Hello?” another voice called. Judging by the accent, it was Mersery.

“Mersery! You okay?” Nuparu asked.

“I’m fine,” the designer said. “You have any light?”

“Oh, right,” Nuparu exclaimed. “I have a lightstone with me somewhere.”

The sound of Nuparu shuffling through his bag echoed throughout the tunnel. Eventually, he produced a glowing stone that illuminated the area.

The tunnel had caved in on the way out, meaning that their only way out was to go through Onu-Koro.

Nuparu and the other two turned around, and found a Gaholk staring right at them.

Mersery and Nuparu jumped back, startled. Nuparu simply poked the creature with his spear.

“Don’t worry,” he said, “its dead, see? The Krana was pierced by a falling stone.” He gestured towards the congealed blood around the damaged headplate.

“Well, at least we don’t have to worry about that,” Mersery mumbled. “Now what?”

Nuparu eyed the corpse. It was completely mechanical. Slowly, he began to form an idea within his head.

“Mersery, what do you say we put those designs to use,” the inventor said, rolling over a large, flat stone. He produced Mersery’s blueprints, and laid them out on the rock’s dry face.

Onepu leaned over him. “What is it?” he asked, looking at the design in wonder.

“Armor” the inventor said, a smile forming across his face. “But not just any set. Mersery and I have been working on this for quite some time. It amplifies Matoran abilities. See here? The arms can extend, and their force is amplified.” Nuparu turned his gaze to the Bohrok. “I think, with enough improvising, I can use parts from this thing to build this.”

Nuparu turned around and fumbled through his bag, producing a crowbar, some wrenches, and a screwdriver.

“Start dismantling this thing,” he said. “I’ll begin adapting.”

Hours passed. The Matoran slowly pulled apart the Gahlok, and Nuparu began welding new parts together. Using some of the clockwork mechanisms in the Bohrok, he was able to assemble the cogs that would allow his armor’s mighty limbs to move. Slowly, the creation came together.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity of work, Nuparu smiled at his finished work.

With the help of Mersery and Onepu, he was able to push himself into the armor’s cockpit. They strapped his arms and legs into the machine’s, which would give him full range of movement.

It was time to take back the city.

______________________________________

Gahok-Kal, leader of the Gahlok swarms, used her power of magnetism to lift the corpse of a drowned Onu-Matoran to the surface of the water.

The entire city was flooded in a foot of water. The entrances had caved in, and all who had survived had been executed by her troops.

She regarded the corpse with disgust, and threw it across the city.

Then, a pounding noise came from the collapsed entrance nearest her. She turned, and watched as the rock was slowly pounded away from the entrance. Finally, the last boulder was thrown from the doorway.

Many Gahlok had joined their leader to see exactly what was coming for them.

In the doorway stood three Matoran, one of which was clad in a great suit of armor. The armor’s long arms ended in massive hooks, that looked as if they had been retrieved from the ‘teeth’ of a fallen Bohrok.

“I am an engineer, not a poet,” the heavily armored Matoran said. “Besides, a practical name will be easiest for you monsters to remember. I’ll call it,” he paused for a moment, “BOXOR!”

The Matoran slammed the armor’s hooked fist into the nearest Bohrok, throwing it across the cavern.

The silver armored Matoran held the shield of a fallen Gahlok Kal, and he let out a high-pressure burst of water from it, throwing several Bohrok off their feet.

The other, purple armored Matoran, held a spear, which he used to dispatch several Gahlok with ease.

Gahlok-Kal, ashamed at seeing her legion bested by three pathetic creatures marched towards the armored one. She threw a strong magnetic field around the Matoran, threatening to crush him and his armor.

The orange-masked Matoran smiled. “Should’ve picked a better alloy for your troops,” he said. “This stuff’s non-magnetic.”

With that, he slammed a hook into Gahlok’s face, and through her across the city. The Bohrok leader crashed into the far wall, burying herself deep into the stone.

_________________________________________

Tahu couldn’t sleep. The Matoran healer had done her best on Gali, but it would be weeks before she could fight again.

Weeks that we just don’t have, the Toa of Fire thought.

He sat up in his bed. The Po-Wahi desert was surprisingly cold at night, which Tahu hated. Cold was nearly as bad as its scorching heat. But at least the heat he could get used to.

A cold breeze blew in through the tent’s doorway, throwing the bed’s blanket a little further back.

Tahu stood up and walked outside, hoping to clear his mind and hopefully fall asleep within the hour.

The air outside was slightly crisper than that of the tent’s. The fire in the center of the camp had died, and only a few embers still burned. The Matoran were all asleep in their own tent.

He turned out towards the great dunes which he and Pohatu had hiked over not so long ago. A heavy wind passed over the hills, throwing sand into the air, and settling it not far off.

Tahu swore he saw someone walking towards the camp. The being was a shadow moving across shadows, though, and he couldn’t make out the figure.

The Toa of Fire ran to the edge of the camp. “Who goes there?” he shouted towards the dunes.

He heard armored feet stepping across the sand, muffling their sound slightly. A being was approaching.

Soon, Tahu could make out the silhouette of the being. He was clad in heavy armor, and wore a helmet with two large horns that curved up and back. In his right hand, he carried a great staff.

“Who are you?” Tahu demanded.

The being regarded Tahu coldly, and lifted up his staff. Tahu braced himself for an attack.

But instead of attacking Tahu, the being slammed the long rod into the ground. A crystal on its end flooded with a bright, yellow light that illuminated the area around him. On his back, two long, blue wings of light came into existence. The being then rested them on the ground like a cape.

“A friend,” the being said in a voice that sounded as old as the mountains, yet as young as the snow on Mount Ihu.

Tahu didn’t back down. “I need to know who you are exactly. Do not play games with me!”

The being’s golden armor reflected his staff’s light. “I am Artakha, Archangel of Creation, and ruler of the realm that bears my name.”

Tahu’s eyes widened. “Artakha!” he exclaimed. The Toa bowed low to the ground.

“I am no god,” Artakha said, waiving for Tahu to stand up. “Where is Gali?”

“In that tent, over there,” Tahu said, pointing towards the tent where Gali was sleeping.

“Thank you,” Artakha said. He walked to the tent, and disappeared through it.

Tahu followed the great being through the tent. Inside, Artakha was kneeling down over Gali.

Gali’s wound had been bandaged more professionally, but the wound’s bleeding had still blackened the fabric gauze. She was asleep, but anyone could tell that she was still in pain.

Artakha shook his head. “Mata Nui,” he whispered quietly, “your daughter calls for your aid. Let me answer in your absence…”

With that, Artakha slowly undid the bandage around the wound. Tahu watched as he revealed the hole in the Water Toa’s armor.

Artakha held his hand over the wound. The hand filled with a faint, glowing light that illuminated the wound. As the light touched the gash, the armor and skin around it began to glow with a pale, lime-green light.

Before Tahu’s eyes, the wound slowly began to heal up. Armor, flesh, and muscle slowly regrew over the cut. The blood that had framed the wound evaporated without a trace. Gali’s expression even eased into a more relaxed state.

Artakha let out a breath, stood up. “There,” he said, “she’ll be fine.”

Artakha walked out of the tent, his staff illuminating his path. Tahu chased after him.

“Wait!” the Toa of Fire called. “You’re just going to leave?”

“Yes,” Artakha said, not even looking back.

“But what if worse happens? We’re alone here!”

“Tahu…” Artakha muttered. The being slowly turned around. “You’ve overestimated Makuta’s power, I think.”

“What do you mean?” the Toa of Fire asked.

Artakha looked to the stars, and then to the thin, crescent moon. “You think that he has dominion over this world, which is what he wants to believe.”

“But isn’t that true?” Tahu demanded. “Ever since we awoke here, all we’ve seen is Makuta’s power. Mata Nui has been absent!”

Artakha nearly winced at this statement. “Tahu, you were always one of the most interesting of Mata Nui’s creations. But you must understand that there are other forces at work in this world, and not just those of evil.”

“How can I believe that?”

Artakha turned once again to the stars. “Look around you,” he said. “The Matoran who’ve helped you, myself,” he said. “And then there’s you. You’re Mata Nui’s finest creations, his most powerful. You exist to defeat Makuta, and you shall.”

Tahu shook his head. “Forgive me,” he said.

Artakha waived off Tahu’s anger. It was part of who he was. “You need none, for I can sense all the turmoil within you.” The archangel paused a moment. “There’s something else you wish to ask, isn’t there?”

Tahu nodded. “I… I was wondering about, well…”

“You and Gali?” Artakha finished.

“Yes,” the Toa of Fire said. “Vakama has said that it is not our destiny to be together. I was wondering if that was true.”

Artakha shook his head. “None of us chose our destiny, and none of us can defy it,” he said, “all we can do, is decide what to do with the time we are given.”

With that, the archangel turned around, and headed off towards the desert.

“Wait!” Tahu called, but it was too late. Artakha had already faded away.

_____________________________________

Tahu stayed up for most of the night, contemplating what Artakha had said.

Slowly, the stars in the east began to fade, giving way to a pink and blue haze that spanned most of the horizon. Far off clouds reflected the orange light of the slowly rising sun.

Tahu walked into the supply tent and confiscated some cold sausage, a flask of water, and some cheese. He returned to the bench that rested next to the ashes of the fire, and began to eat.

The orange sun slowly emerged from the horizon, basking the Po-Wahi desert in warmth and light. A cool breeze whisked along the edge of the dune.

Pohatu emerged from a tent, rubbing his eyes and scratching his back. He, too, retrieved some food from the supply tent, and then sat down next to Tahu.

“So?” he asked, yawning. “Anything interesting happen?”

Tahu contemplated the question for a moment. “No,” he lied.

Pohatu nodded and took another bite of the cold bacon he was eating.

“You’re supposed to fry that, you know,” Tahu said.

Pohatu shrugged and continued eating. Tahu sighed and shook his head.

Ganon emerged from the Matoran’s tent. He sat down next to the Toa.

“I hope you slept well,” the Matoran said. “I could’ve sworn I heard someone walking around in the camp.”

Tahu nodded. “It was probably me,” he informed. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went for a stroll.”

“Ah…” Ganon responded, still half asleep. He stretched his arms. “I’m going to fetch some breakfast for the others.”

Pohatu nodded in his direction, still chewing some bacon. Ganon got up and left for the supply tent.

The Toa of Stone turned to Tahu. “How’s Gali?” he asked.

Tahu was about to say something, but was cut off before the first word could leave his mouth.

“Better,” someone said.

Both Toa turned to see Gali walking towards them. Her wounds were fully healed. Her blue armor reflected the shining rays of the sun.

“You look no worse for wear,” Pohatu said, smiling.

Gali smiled. “Whatever that healer did, she did well,” the Toa of Water said.

Tahu smiled and returned to his meal.

“Are you okay,” she asked, taking a seat to Tahu’s left.

“I’m fine,” he stated, looking off towards the west.

Gali shook her head. She turned to Pohatu, and engaged in a conversation with him.

Eventually, the other Matoran began to run about the camp, retrieving items and packing large bags. Two even began dismantling the camp.

Ganon approached the group. “Sorry to say this, but we’re heading out. We’re hoping to reach Ga-Koro by night fall, so—“ He looked at Gali. “You recovered quickly,” he observed, an inquisitive look overwhelming his features.

“I can thank your healer for that,” Gali responded. “I hope you’re caravan can reach Ga-Koro safely.

“As do I,” Ganon said. “I’m going to get my carvings together now. I’ll be back in a few moments.” The Po-Matoran turned and headed for another tent that was still standing.

Gali turned to Tahu. “I’m going to see if I can’t get any supplies. The Matoran should probably be more than generous.” She hugged Tahu. “I’ll be back soon.” The Toa of Water got up, and headed off towards the supply tent.

A cacophony of noise rose up nearby. A group of penned Mahi—no doubt used to transport the caravan’s wagons—had begun bleating for no apparent reason.

Tahu turned to Pohatu.

“Bohrok?” the Toa of Fire asked, worriedly.

The two jumped up and ran towards the source of the sound. Luckily, the Mahi were fine, and there were no signs of Bohrok. But, there was something else…

“Friends!” Pohatu announced, rushing to greet Kopaka, Lewa, and Onua. The Toa of Stone bumped his fist against Onua’s, and greeted the others.

Tahu smiled. “How’d the mission go?” he asked.

“Fine,” Kopaka said. He reached into a grey, leather pouch that rested on his side, and pulled out a fragment of a stone tablet.

“One of the Makoki fragments, I take it?” Pohatu asked, eyeing the stone.

Kopaka nodded. “It actually wasn’t that hard to get,” he said.

“Except for the nasty armor-spirits!” Lewa announced. “But they were no match for us Toa-heroes!”

Tahu raised an eyebrow. “Armor-spirits?” he inquired. “Are those the guardians?”

Onua nodded. “Yes,” he explained. “There were two suits of armor in the fragment’s chamber. When we approached the stone’s pedestal, the suits came alive and attacked us. Luckily we were able to beat them.”

Kopaka nodded. “And now there are only two more fragments left to retrieve.”

Tahu nodded. “Excellent.”

“So how’d Po-Koro go?” Onua asked.

Pohatu sighed. “By the time the others showed up, we were already evacuating the city.” He sighed. “But, we were able to keep them from destroying the village entirely.”

“We also wiped out a large portion of a swarm in Tiro Canyon,” Tahu added. “But Gali was injured, so we came here.”

Kopaka nodded.

Gali left the camp and came to the group. “Welcome back,” she said, smiling.

Kopaka nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

“Well,” Onua began, “I suggest we separate into groups once more and retrieve the final fragments of the stone. We need to deal with the Bohrok threat once and for all.

Tahu nodded in acknowledgement. “Yes, so—“

“I do wish-hope that I can return to my village,” Lewa interjected. “I have caught word of sorry-bad news that my village has fallen prey to the swarm-Bohrok. I want to look-see what happened me self.”

“I also want to investigate the extent of the damage in Onu-Koro,” Onua said. “The Bohrok flooded it, and I’d like to aid in the repairs.”

“Alright, that leaves Gali, Pohatu, Kopaka, and myself,” Tahu said. “Gali and I will retrieve the fragment in Ga-Wahi.” He pointed to Kopaka. “You and Pohatu shall get the fragment in this hold.”

Kopaka nodded. “Sound’s well thought out enough.”

Pohatu also agreed.

“Then it’s settled,” Gali said. “We best be off soon, or else we give the swarm the advantage it so desperately longs for.”

“Right,” Tahu said.

The Toa exchanged several brief good-byes, and then headed off on their own ways. Soon, they would be able to confront the swarm’s queens head-to-head…

Book Three: Maze of Makuta
Coming Soon, Around Fall/Winter 2012

Music
Pretty much all the music is by Two Steps From Hell, user Echo 1’s favorite band. You can find the music on YouTube and listen to it while reading for added effect.
 * Toa Theme: “Protectors of the Earth”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Toa Theme 2: “Strength of a Thousand Men”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Tahu and Gali’s theme: “Fill my Heart”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Ta-Koro Legion’s Theme: “Freedom Fighters”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Makuta’s Theme: “Master of Shadows”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Bohrok Swarm Theme: “Breath of Ran Gor”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Bahrag Theme: “Velocitron”, by Two Steps From Hell
 * Rahkshi Theme: “1,000 Ships of the Underworld”, by Two Steps From Hell

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Trivia
 Spoiler warning! Click show if you want to see the spoiler. 
 * The Prologue is based on the opening narration of BIONICLE: Mask of Light by Christopher Haze.
 * The novel itself was inspired by the 2001-2003 years of BIONICLE. Each book within the novel represents a story year.
 * The line Hahli uses in Book I chapter X is a direct reference to The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
 * Chapter XII has a reference to user Varkanax39 and his novel, Eternal Darkness.
 * The spirits that guard the Makoki stone fragments are the Makuta from Karda Nui.
 * Ta-Koro was inspired by the Roman Empire.
 * The orange Matoran Ganon is a direct reference to user Ids5621’s Self MOC. His miniature-carving practice is a reference to Ids’ MOCing abilities.
 * In chapter 26, the Matoran Mersery is a direct reference to user Chicken Bond’s Mersion self-MOC, and his abilities in designs and writing reflect his creator’s MOCing and writing abilities.
 * Artakha’s appearance was inspired by his official appearance, the appearance of the Artakha Bull, and Loki from The Avengers and Thor movies. His personality and behavior (and even some of his quotes) were inspired by Gandalf from Lord of the Rings.