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This article was written by Dregran. Please do not add to it without the writer's permission.
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| Darkest Reign | |
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| Story | |
| Series |
Ignika Universe Saga, Downfall Arc
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| Setting | |
| Date Set |
20 AGCW
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| Media Information | |
| Released |
March 2023
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| Writer | |
| Timeline | |
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Darkest Reign is a short story taking place in the Ignika Universe Saga. It follows the events of The Rising, where the Vicoran releases Abaddon from imprisonment. It is the fifth published story in the Ignika Universe Saga, beginning the Downfall Arc. It is followed by Order's End, which takes place 80 years later.
It is written from the perspective of Eclipse as Abaddon fights the Order of Mata Nui and Toa Neirae in his attempt to take control of the Great Spirit Robot. The prelude takes place during Part 2 of The Rising.
Story[]
Prelude[]
Crescent grunted as he rose, shadows leaking from his mask and swirling at his feet.
This is it...
Eclipse readied his Gravity Axe, his Magnetism power making the axe much lighter in his grasp.
The Toa threw his axe, aiming for Crescent’s chest.
With this distraction, Solstice can…!
Shadowy tendrils deflected the axe, and it clattered on the ground. Crescent blurred forward, shadows in his wake, impaling Solstice in the stomach.
“Nice try, Toa,” he grunted, withdrawing his blade and throwing it at a defenceless Eclipse.
Eclipse put his hands up to catch the sword as it flew, focussing to reduce its movement. Shadows wormed all around the blade, condensed around the hilt.
The Toa of Magnetism felt a punch connect on the back of his head, and Crescent’s words echoed as the blade pushed itself into his chest.
“You die as well,” Crescent said from behind the Toa.
Eclipse could only scream in pain as he fell at the hands of his former friend.
Crescent threw both Toa into the gate, their bodies nothing but ragdolls to his increased strength.
Eclipse rolled to the side as the gate burst open, Helryx tumbling through.
Helryx grunted in pain but got to her feet.
“I’ve killed you before, Makuta,” she declared to the lime green Makuta Vicoran. “I can do it again!”
Solstice helped Eclipse to his feet and his Gravity Axe returned to his hand with a magnetic clink.
Crescent laughed, shadows swirling around his wounded torso. “It’s too late,” he mumbled, disappearing.
“You lose!” screeched Vicoran, appearing behind Wira, the Toa of Life, Crescent with a hand on his shoulder and pained look on his face.
Helryx screamed as the Makuta impaled Wira. The three then disappeared.
We… lost…
Part One[]
“The will of Mata Nui flows through us. This is our duty. The Order will not fall here. Gather your weapons and muster all of the strength you have left – we will unite and defeat that tyrant once and for all! It is our destiny to be victorious here!
“Let’s go!” shouted Helryx, as she raised her spear and charged towards the tunnel to the Core Processor room.
Eclipse glanced at Solstice, who nodded and adjusted his grip on his Protosteel sword.
“We won’t fail, brother,” Solstice said. Eclipse agreed, but doubted they stood a chance against Abaddon when their former ally Crescent so bested them a moment before.
“Fear not, young Toa,” said someone from behind Eclipse, Yunak. “We will defeat him.”
Eclipse knew that Yunak was transformed into a Toa at the same time Helryx was. They defeated the Brotherhood of Makuta together with the original Order of Mata Nui.
“Thanks,” was all Eclipse said, turning towards the tunnel.
Helryx stepped up to the tunnel and pulled a lever next to the door.
Eclipse tightened his grip on his axe.
The doors broke off their hinges and a purple blast of energy erupted from the tunnel. Helryx flew back and landed on her feet a few steps back.
“Helryx…” a hoarse voice rattled from the depths of the tunnel. “At last…”
Eclipse felt the dread flow through the air.
“It… can’t be…” Helryx’s eyes were wide and she dropped her spear. “No…”
Abaddon stepped out of the tunnel, a golden mask in hand, a powerful bladed weapons strapped to his arms.
“Oh yes, my feeble Toa,” Abaddon said, Helryx shaking with every word. “It is I, Abaddon.”
He placed the golden mask overtop of his own. Gold and white energy flowed around the tyrant, wrapping around his body and weapons.
Abaddon lifted one arm and aimed a blade at Helryx. “I have so looked forward to this moment,” he sneered.
“No!” shouted Yunak, rushing past Eclipse, reaching for his sister.
White energy pulsed from the blade, and Helryx was encapsulated with energy. She made no noise as she was devolved back into a Matoran, falling to her knees without a word.
Yunak stopped, and it felt as it time itself froze.
Abaddon walked up to the Ga-Matoran who was the leader of the Order of Mata Nui.
“The darkest reign is here,” he said as he drove his blade through Helryx’s chest.
Yunak darted to the side, another blast of purple energy hitting the ground where he was standing.
The tyrant spun and kicked Yunak in the stomach, and the Toa of Plasma crashed into the wall beside the tunnel.
Solstice fell to the ground beside Eclipse, whispering “Now…”
The Ga-Matoran faded away, nothing more than an illusion created by Solstice using his Psionics power. Helryx stood tall next to Abaddon, her spear at his throat.
“It’s over,” she said.
Eclipse threw his Gravity axe at the Varim tyrant, using his Mask of Accuracy to ensure it met its mark.
Crescent appeared between the axe and Abaddon and parried the projectile away with a flick of his sword.
“We haven’t finished,” he grunted as he lunged forward.
Eclipse propelled himself at the Toa of Shadow, clenching a fist. His punch connected on Crescent’s jaw, though it did nothing to stop his sword from finding its mark.
“I’ve got you,” Eclipse said. He squeezed Crescent with both of his arms, turning to his allies.
“Remove the Mask of Creation!” he said before Crescent teleported them away.
“Get off!” shouted Crescent, but Eclipse kept his grip.
The Gravity axe zoomed back into Eclipse’s hand.
We must not have teleported that far away.
Suram appeared beside Eclipse.
“I’ll take it from here,” he said. A different look of determination was in his eyes.
Crescent roared and shadows erupted from his chest, pushing Eclipse to the ground.
The Toa of Light blurred into Eclipse’s view, knocking Crescent off balance before he teleported a few steps back.
Eclipse got to his feet and lifted his axe. He focussed the Gravity powers on Crescent. He lowered the axe, increasing the gravity around his friend.
Suram parried Crescent’s blows as he lowered to the ground, eventually crouching.
“Two against one doesn’t seem very Toa-like,” a scathing voice said. Eclipse had no choice but to release the effect of the axe and turn to face his opponent.
Antroz gloated a sinister grin.
“Though three-on-one feels more my style,” he said. Before Eclipse could make sense of the Makuta’s words, Antroz leapt over his head, gliding to the battle between Crescent and Suram.
Eclipse anticipated a surprise attack, so he swung his axe around.
“You don’t realise who this is, do you, Toa?” Antroz laughed. He had Crescent pinned down under his clawed foot.
Crescent swiped at the Makuta and he backed off, two blades materialising in his hands.
“You dare…” Crescent threatened, his attention on the Makuta.
Suram attacked from behind and Crescent teleported in front of Antroz. He drove his blade forward, which the Makuta parried.
Eclipse wasn’t sure what Antroz meant, but he knew this was the perfect time to defeat the Shadow inside Crescent and get his friend back.
He ran forward, behind Antroz. Eclipse jumped into the air and he threw his axe down at Crescent, releasing his magnet grip. The Gravity axe weighed over a tonne.
Crescent caught the axe and his eyes widened. He fell beneath its weight, his hand pinned to the ground.
“Excellent,” said Antroz as he lifted his sword.
Eclipse landed beside the Makuta.
“No!” he shouted as Antroz plunged his sword at Crescent’s mask.
Suram’s light blade intercepted the sword and it buried into the ground next Crescent. The sword left a large graze on the Shadow Toa’s mask. Crescent then disappeared.
“You will fall too,” Antroz said, his other sword had already pierced Suram’s shoulder.
“Suram!” Eclipse swung his blade at the Makuta but was blocked by Suram’s light shield.
“This is not your battle, Eclipse,” he said, the same determination still there.
“Alright,” Eclipse nodded.
Eclipse wanted to find his friend but now was not the time. Abaddon had returned and that was his mission.
Eclipse made his way back to the battle. He stopped when he saw his fallen comrades.
Abaddon held Helryx above his head, his blade through her chest. Yunak, Jovan, Nadati and Solstice at his feet, not moving.
He shouted but no noise left his lips. And then purple energy blasted through Helryx’s body, and the Order of Mata Nui leader fell at the hand of Abaddon.
Part Two[]
Eclipse charged at Abaddon. He focussed the Gravity power of the axe and flung it forwards at the Varim.
“Pathetic,” Eclipse heard Abaddon’s retort rattle through his core.
The axe stopped mid-flight, then fell to the ground.
“Did the mighty Helryx not tell you who made that Gravity Axe, Toa?” Abaddon loomed closer to Eclipse, who was now frozen in fear.
“Now that she is not around to tell you,” Abaddon said as he towered over the Toa. “Let me know show you how to use this weapon.”
When did he pick up the axe?!
Eclipse had little time to think before he was crushed beneath its power.
This… is… intensity…
“Feel the true power of the axe?” Abaddon taunted.
I can’t… breathe…
Eclipse felt like his mind was being split in two by the enormous gravitational pressure.
Then, the feeling stopped. He looked upward at his attacker and for a moment, he felt hope.
Eclipse pushed himself out of the way, getting a clear view of the Toa Neirae surrounding Abaddon, weapons pointed at his vitals.
“It’s been 500 years and you have nothing witty to say, eh?” said Uragan, the Toa Neirae of Air.
“Don’t,” warned Kisa, the leader of the group.
Abaddon’s frown turned into a grin.
“I am going to enjoy this,” he said.
A blast of purple energy made the Toa Neirae jump back. Abaddon followed Uragan and hit his chest with the Gravity Axe.
Eclipse held out his hand and gripped the air. He pulled the axe toward him with his Magnetism powers.
Abaddon grunted as he parried a blow from behind by Pozar.
Uragan chuckled and appeared behind the tyrant. He went to plunge his blade into the back of Abaddon, who spun around and caught the tip.
“Not enough,” he grinned, shattering the blade with his fist.
Kisa blocked Abaddon’s blade, preventing it from impaling Uragan.
Eclipse readied his axe.
I have to time this perfectly. If I focus…
Eclipse held out his axe horizontally and moved it downward, increasing the gravity on Abaddon.
Another blast of purple energy pushed the three Toa Neirae back.
“I see,” said Mecava, who stood next to Eclipse.
“Three seconds between each blast. He needs to recharge,” said the Toa of Ice.
Zemljotres nodded. He held his Crusher Shields in a defensive stance.
“Impressive analysis,” Abaddon said, now from behind.
Eclipse turned but he was too late.
Abaddon held Mecava by the back of the neck, his blade through his throat.
“But so very wrong!” the Varim shouted, a blast of purple energy disintegrating Mecava from the chest upward.
Zemljotres hit Abaddon on the side, the tyrant stepping back and pushing the Toa of Earth into Eclipse.
“Mecava!” Kisa screamed from the other side of the battlefield.
Eclipse held Zemljotres up. He had a gash across his chest.
I didn’t even see him get attacked!
“I’ll be taking this,” Abaddon whispered, ripping Eclipse’s arm from his body along with the Gravity Axe.
The pain was unbearable but it allowed Eclipse to focus.
He creased his brow and made a fist with his hand. Abaddon’s weapons clinked together in front of him, drawn by a powerful magnetic force.
A large blade erupted from Abaddon’s chest. Kisa growled from behind the tyrant, transformed into her Makuta-like self from her mask power.
Stone began to clump around Abaddon’s legs and lower body. Odron had his eyes closed just out of Eclipse’s view.
“This won’t work,” Abaddon chuckled, unphased by the attacks.
“Move!” Zemljotres pushed Eclipse to the side as a blast of purple energy covered his body.
Kisa roared and drove the blade further forward.
Abaddon coughed.
Uragan pushed his blade against his throat.
“Tell us, Abaddon,” he spat. His voice was deeper. “Where is the Toa of Life?”
Abaddon coughed again and again but the Toa Neirae didn’t flinch.
“Eclipse,” a faint voice said. Eclipse turned to see Solstice on the ground, his mask glowing and his head being held by Abaddon.
What?!
Eclipse turned and saw the truth.
Kisa had impaled Odron, the Toa Neirae of Stone. Uragan was the first to pull his blade back, darting towards Abaddon and Solstice.
“Too slow,” Abaddon said, decapitating Kisa. The figure behind Solstice faded into smoke as Uragan sliced it down.
“NO!!”
Flames burst around Odron. Eclipse was blasted back by the heat.
He found himself kneeled next to Zemljotres and Mecava.
What was real? What was an illusion?
Eclipse ran over to Solstice, who was motionless.
“Solstice,” he said. “Are you hurt?”
The Toa of Psionics opened his eyes. He was fatigued, near his limit.
“He used me,” he said.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“The mask,” Solstice mumbled. “The Mask of Creation. We must take it from him.”
“Leave that to me, my dear comrade,” said a familiar voice, Mersery the Mersion.
Eclipse let his friend rest and stood.
Mersery held an orange V-shaped mask in his hand.
“This is the Mask of Time,” he explained. “When I return to this spot, promise me something, Toa Eclipse.”
Eclipse couldn’t follow what was happening.
“Promise me, dear Toa, that you will throw the mask into the Core Processor room.”
Eclipse nodded and Mersery donned the mask. The Mersion blurred and his image swirled into a spiral shape before he disappeared.
Eclipse readied himself, placing his axe on his back. This was his duty, his destiny. This was why he had the Mask of Accuracy.
Part Three[]
Eclipse was in disbelief. Abaddon had killed the leader of the Order of Mata Nui and the leader of the Toa Neirae in seconds. There was no way they were winning this battle.
Mersery trusted the Toa. His plan was their last hope. Eclipse didn’t understand the Mersion’s motives but he had proven himself to be an ally many times.
Mersery reappeared with a swirl. He collapsed and dropped the Mask of Creation and the Mask of Life, his body covered with blood.
“Now,” he whimpered.
Eclipse grabbed the Mask of Creation and threw it into the Core Processor room with perfect accuracy. The mask bounced around the tunnels and the doors slammed shut.
Abaddon spun and grinned.
“Get… down…” Mersery panted.
The Varim tyrant held Eclipse by the throat. He moved faster than the Toa could comprehend.
“Have you realised yet, Mersion?” he turned to face the time traveller.
“You… You did all of this without the Mask of Creation?” Eclipse managed to speak despite the pressure on his throat.
“Your feeble attempt to stop me has failed,” Abaddon said as he tossed Eclipse aside, a large gash now across his stomach.
“No…” Mersery said as he leaned against his staff and stood himself up. “This is what I was after.”
He held the Mask of Life, in his hand. It glowed yellow but was silver all over.
The Mersion placed the Mask of Life over top of his own and blinding light shone from the mask.
Once the light dimmed and Eclipse’s eyes adjusted, he saw Abaddon standing behind Mersery who was on his knees. The Varim’s frown and Mersery’s faint smile confused Eclipse.
“What did you do?!” screeched Abaddon.
Mersery said nothing as he fell.
Helryx’s spear impaled Abaddon from the side. The tyrant managed to catch the axe-head with his hand but was still launched away from the impact.
“Eclipse, cover me,” the leader of the Order of Mata Nui said.
What is happening?! Helryx was killed!
Eclipse pulled his Gravity Axe from his back and focussed on Abaddon.
The tyrant lunged forward and Helryx parried his blow. He was more aggressive than before and much slower.
Eclipse held his axe and lowered it down as he increased the gravity on Abaddon.
The Varim grunted, parried Helryx’s swing and made for her chest with an open hand.
Then a blast of Light enveloped Abaddon’s hand and he screamed. He somehow moved back a few bio away from Helryx.
Suram walked toward the group. His mask glowed gold and his weapons gleamed with white energy.
“Where is Wira?” he demanded as he appeared in front of Abaddon. The tip of his sword was pressed against the tyrant’s mask.
Abaddon chuckled.
“The Av-Matoran is gone,” he said as he pushed Suram away with his bare hands.
Eclipse lowered his Gravity Axe to the ground and Abaddon fell to his knees, braced against his wrist blades. He glared at Eclipse as Suram stood in silence.
“I see now,” Abaddon gloated.
“Eclipse! Behind you!” shouted Mecava from his flank.
The Toa rose and managed to block a scythe inches from his face.
“No, you’re not the one,” said a black and red Makuta, one Eclipse had not seen before.
“Gematria,” said Helryx as she tightened her grip on her spear.
“You!” the Makuta shouted as they spun and threw their scythe at Helryx, able to flip and land behind Eclipse in one motion.
Gematria’s claws dug into Eclipse’s back just as he watched Abaddon close in on Helryx. He blacked out from the pain.
No! I will not fall here!
The Toa of Magnetism rose. Helryx was on the ground, bloodied. Gematria loomed over her body and shook her head.
“It’s not you either,” she spat.
Gematria glanced at Eclipse and smiled.
Abaddon’s blade then pierced his chest from behind.
“You will fall, Toa. My reign is here,” said the Varim.
Eclipse began to black out again.
The last thing he saw was a gold blur.
Epilogue[]
Eclipse woke to the cracking of a campfire.
“You survived, great job,” said Yunak, the usual spark of joy in his voice was gone.
Eclipse sat up and winced in pain.
“Careful,” the Toa of Plasma said.
He looked around the fire at the defeated faces of his allies: Yunak, Helryx, Jovan, Mecava, Zemljotres, Nadati and Suram.
“I am sorry, my dear Toa Eclipse,” said Suram. His voice was like chimes on the wind. “I failed you again.”
“Don’t beat yourself up, Mata Nui,” said Jovan as stared into the fire.
“Mata Nui?” said Eclipse.
“I have some explaining to do now, I think,” said Suram. “Listen closely.”
Eclipse sat up straight despite the sharp pain in his chest.
“Years ago, I granted you all power in the hopes this universe could find peace. But… I was arrogant. I refused to believe that my creations would turn against each other. I believed in balance. The right amount of good; the right amount of evil.
“I wanted my creations to find peace and yet…” his voice trailed off.
Eclipse noticed the silver Ignika on Suram’s face.
“Suram welcomed me into his mind,” said Mata Nui as he noticed Eclipse’s look. “This is not like your dear friend Toa Crescent. I have to apologise about that too.”
“What are you saying about Crescent?” Eclipse asked.
“The Makuta each have unique powers, something to keep the peace amongst them. I never thought it was drive them mad for power let alone cause so much grief.
“Toa Crescent is possessed by the spirit of Makuta Teridax, a powerful general from the Brotherhood of Makuta. I realise the irony in that name now. After he fell, Makuta Teridax latched onto the weakest mind he could find – that of your friend Toa Crescent.
“His evil intent has eroded Toa Crescent’s consciousness, slowly justifying his actions. Makuta Teridax has worked with the Varim Abaddon for a long time.”
“So, they were allies before the war?” Helryx interrupted.
“I am afraid so,” said Mata Nui. He looked up at the black sky.
“We don’t blame you,” said Jovan.
“Yet you have every right to,” Mata Nui continued. “Makuta Teridax and Abaddon planned this takeover from the very start. They created artificial life with the purpose of controlling the Great Spirit Robot and driving me out. I apologise that the Av-Matoran Wira was collateral to their plan.”
“How does he play into this?” said Nadati.
“I… tried to make another hero to fight this battle for me. I gave him a vision and naively believed the Ignika would share my interest in peace.”
There was silence as the group mourned Wira.
“He is alive, I can tell you that much,” said Mata Nui. “We are what is left of the ‘good’ I tried to create.”
“Don’t say that!” reassured Yunak. “There’s still Axonn, Brutaka and Karzahni.”
“They were taken by Abaddon,” replied Helryx.
“They’re alive,” said Mata Nui. “When we are healed, we will defeat Abaddon.”
“Not likely,” pouted Nadati as she rubbed her bloodied left arm.
“This time… it will be different,” said Mata Nui. “This time, I will stand by you. Until the end.”
Events[]
- Abaddon attacks the Order of Mata Nui after being freed from his prison
- Crescent battles Eclipse and Suram, being overpowered when Antroz teams up with the Toa
- Crescent is defeated and disappears
- Abaddon defeats the Order of Mata Nui and allies and kills Helryx
- The Toa Neirae attack Abaddon and corner the tyrant
- Abaddon overwhelms the Toa Neirae and kills Kisa
- Mersery dons the Mask of Time and asks Eclipse to assist him in removing the Mask of Creation from Abaddon
- Mersery returns, revealing that he was after the Mask of Life to revive Helryx, unknowingly reviving Gematria as well
- Abaddon is cornered by the combined efforts of Helryx, Eclipse and Suram
- Gematria intervenes and defeats Helryx while Abaddon attacks Eclipse
- Mata Nui saves the fallen Order of Mata Nui, Toa Neirae and allies and takes them to the Lost Continents to recover
- Mata Nui reveals the truth about Abaddon and Teridax working together to take control of the Great Spirit Robot
Characters[]
| Ignika Universe Saga v:e | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matoran Universe | History | Rise and Fall — The Malia Chronicles — Sworn to Duty | |||
| Rising Arc | The Unveiling — The Seeking — The Rising | ||||
| Downfall Arc | Darkest Reign — Order's End — The Downfall | ||||
| Side stories | Memoirs of the Wicked — Skakdi Days — Builder's Duty — Guard Duty — Somewhere I Belong | ||||
| Spherus Magna | |||||
| Discovery Arc | The Aftermath — The Matoran Hunter — Journey to the Edge | ||||
| Side stories | The Nightwatcher | ||||
| Related | Stuck in Time | ||||