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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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| The Downfall | |
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| Story | |
| Series |
Ignika Universe Saga, Downfall Arc
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| Setting | |
| Date Set |
100 AGCW
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| Media Information | |
| Released |
September 2023
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| Writer | |
| Timeline | |
| Previous | |
| Next |
The Aftermath
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The Downfall is a short story taking place in the Ignika Universe Saga. It takes place soon after Order's End, following Eclipse as he leads the Order of Mata Nui into battle against Abaddon and Teridax. It is the seventh published story in the Ignika Universe saga, completing the Downfall Arc.
It is written from the perspectives of Eclipse, Suram and Crescent as the final battle for control of the Great Spirit Robot and Abaddon's ultimate downfall begins. It is followed by The Aftermath Arc.
Story[]
Prelude[]
Eclipse stood at the end of a large rectangular table. He looked at each one of his comrades. Pridak, the Selavian warlord; Helryx, the former leader of the Order of Mata Nui; Ghi, the Toa of Magnetism and leader of the new Toa; Idrih, the most intelligent Skakdi; and Suram, the Toa of Light. Each had their own vendetta against Abaddon.
“So, it is settled then,” said Eclipse. “The Order of Mata Nui will accompany the new Toa and the Matoran in the frontline attack. Solstice and I will lead the charge. We will draw out Teridax and the Internal Legion in our assault.
“Pridak, Suram, Helryx and Javyz will make a direct attack on Abaddon, using the frontline attack as a diversion. Helryx and Pridak will separate Vicoran from Abaddon while Javyz and Suram will attack the tyrant.
“Idrih will tell the frontline team when to change course and pressure Abaddon into the Core Processor room. Once Vicoran is dealt with and his army disabled, Abaddon will have no choice but to fight all of us at once, and that will be his downfall,” he finished.
Eclipse was returned with determined stares and nods. Helryx smiled and was the first to stand to leave. “Thank you, Toa Eclipse,” she said.
All but Idrih then left.
“Is the plan going to work?” Eclipse asked the Skakdi. Idrih was known for his intelligence, already proving his worth when Javyz and Decronox attacked the base camp 40 years ago.
“I’m worried we have it all wrong,” Idrih said with a dry tone.
“Wrong? How?”
“Mata Nui said that Abaddon and Teridax worked together, no? I have this feeling of doubt about that word ‘together’,” Idrih explained. “When the Brotherhood of Makuta fell, when the League of Kings dissipated, when the Skakdi warlords fought amongst themselves and betrayed each other – it was all due to greed.
“Every single member of those groups wanted the same thing: power. Power above all others. No group can function like that for long,” he continued. “Each member conspires to overthrow the leader or betray a comrade. Lust for power has never ended with a united victory.
“Abaddon and Teridax as the same in that regard. They both lust for the power to control the Great Spirit Robot. For years, you and the Order watched as Vicoran and Teridax manipulated events that lead to Abaddon’s return. How much of the plan was Abaddon’s and how much was Teridax’s?”
“Idrih,” Eclipse interrupted. “Where is this going?”
“Ah, do forgive me for dragging it on,” the Skakdi apologised. “The moment we choose to attack Abaddon will be the moment that Teridax chooses to betray him. The Varim warlord spent too much time in isolation perfecting his plan.”
“So, you’re saying he hasn’t accounted for Teridax’s own agenda and his betrayal?” said Eclipse.
“I fear that Teridax’s plan includes our involvement and our failure. He is wise enough to hide his true agenda from all but his creator for thousands of years.”
“You give him too much credit,” Eclipse scoffed. “Crescent is not that weak. He’ll be on our side.”
“Ah, of course,” said Idrih. “I apologise if I stepped on a nerve.”
“Not at all,” Eclipse said as the Skakdi left the room with a nod.
“Crescent,” he said to himself. “We believe in you.”
Part One[]
Suram’s rage had already consumed him. He stood with Pridak, Helryx and Javyz behind the group of Toa and Matoran, armed with blades and staffs. Suram closed his eyes.
Abaddon, you will die today…
“Now!” Eclipse’s roar into battle awoke Suram from his bloodlust. The Matoran screamed into battle as the barricade made of iron and earth was dissolved by the Toa.
The Toa of Light knew he had to keep his composure against Abaddon else he would lose his life. The last 100 years only added to his anger for the tyrant and his thirst for revenge.
“Suram, Helryx, Javyz,” said Pridak, his voice was stern and soft. “This isn’t going to work out how Eclipse planned.”
“What do you mean?” Helryx asked as she raised her spear at the Selavian’s neck.
“Look ahead…” he gestured to the battlefield.
The Matoran and the Toa had marched through to the clearing and up to the beach. No army was in sight.
In the distance, a piece of wood drifted towards the waiting group, a single yellow and gold figure stood with countless blades on it’s back, arms and legs.
“Mach,” Helryx murmured as she lowered her spear.
“Does he think he take on the army?” Javyz laughed. She almost fell back as she held her stomach and covered her mouth. Suram did not find the comment funny at all.
“Worse,” Pridak said. “I prepped all of the Matoran and Toa with combat against Skakdi and Makuta, beings with some semblance of sense,” he looked a Javyz, who did not notice his jibe at her race.
“But that Rekidor… or what’s left of a Rekidor, has no pattern. No rhythm. No fighting-style.”
“So? That doesn’t mean it’s all over,” Helryx countered.
“It means either Abaddon’s army is planning an ambush or that Abaddon himself is powerful enough to forsake the Skakdi army entirely,” Suram said, the anger clear in his voice when he mentioned the Varim’s name.
“Actually,” Javyz’s tone shifted to one that was far more serious. “He has underestimated the Skakdi before. I bet he’s done it again.”
As Mach drifted closer to the sand, the roar of the Matoran matched his Rahi-like grunts in loudness.
“There!” Pridak pointed to a silhouette in the fog behind the Rekidor on the driftwood.
“Is that… a pirate ship?” Javyz scratched her head.
“You’re kidding…” Helryx said.
As the silhouette came into view, Suram realised what it was.
“It’s not a ship,” he said. “It’s the castle in Kehidupan.”
The great island came into view, a castle with gold towers approached the beach. Skakdi crawled at the base of the castle and a figure stood on top of the tallest peak. It pointed at the Matoran army.
“Abaddon…” seethed Suram. Gold light solidified to form his sword and shield.
“No! Wait for th–” Helryx’s warning met deaf ears as Suram teleported forward using his Kuasli.
Light burst from the clash of his sword against Abaddon’s forearm.
“Greetings,” he smirked. He raised his free hand and pointed his bladed gun at the Toa of Light.
Suram teleported again. The Toa stabbed at the Varim from behind, only for his attack to be blocked by a bolt of shadow.
“You…” grunted a shadowy figure from behind Suram. He spun and swung his sword to create a wave of light energy.
Shadow blurred and countered the light and Suram fell backwards. He felt a punch connect in his right side and another to his opposite shoulder.
“Abaddon!” called out a familiar voice. “You–”
A bolt of lightning covered the Varim tyrant and Suram jumped out of the way.
In his anger, he drew out Teridax and began to lose against both him and Abaddon.
When the smoke from the attack cleared, Suram heard steel clash against steel. Pridak laughed as his blows were parried by Abaddon, who only used one arm. The other was pointed at…!
Suram teleported again, to the other side of the battle. A dark purple blast of energy hit the ground where he stood moments before.
Could he really take on all four of us at once? Suram pondered as Javyz flashed forward with an attempted stab, only to have her blow dodged and body thrown into Pridak.
Water whirled around Abaddon as he readied a counter strike with one of his guns. Javyz leapt to the top of the whirlpool and a lightning bolt emanated from her body and struck the centre.
Pridak gestured to Suram. Attack all at once. Distract him from the rest of the battle.
The signals the Selavian taught Suram and the Order helped them communicate mid-battle. Suram jumped next to Helryx.
The whirlpool stopped and Abaddon stood with Javyz’s neck in his right hand. Suram flashed forward. For only one second, he could transform his body into light. He blurred and sliced through the tyrant’s arm and grasped the Skakdi of Lightning.
Suram rematerialized on the opposite side of Helryx. Javyz rolled to her feet and drew her sword.
Abaddon turned and lunged at Suram with his right hand outstretched. No damage?!
Javyz appeared above his head and sliced her sword into his chest and a bolt of lightning followed her movements.
Helryx and Pridak leapt in opposite directions to surround the tyrant. Helryx threw her spear and Pridak threw three daggers.
Abaddon’s hand touched Suram’s chest and the Toa of Light jumped back on instinct.
Death… death… death!!
Suram felt dread approach from behind.
He teleported to Helryx’s and Pridak’s initial position. The feeling of dread followed. Crescent stood in front of the Toa. His eyes were glazed over, and shadows seeped from his mask.
“Crescent…” Suram said. “Are you… there?”
Crescent swiped and Suram parried. The Shadow Toa swiped again and again. Each blow was met with a quick response from the Toa of Light.
“You…” he grumbled between blows. “You… are my… counterbalance.”
Suram backed up as the force behind the swings gained from strength and malice.
Is this Teridax talking? Or Crescent?
“Crescent,” he said as he looked into the Toa’s glazed eyes. “I know you’re stronger than this.”
The Shadow Toa said nothing. This moment distracted Suram from his anger. The feeling of dread was mixed in with a sense of loneliness – a feeling Suram knew very well.
Part Two[]
For 1000 years, Crescent watched his friends clash against him. There were moments when he felt they understood his pain and suffering, but there were more moments when he could tell they did not see their friend behind the mask.
Under the control of Makuta Teridax, Crescent joined the Infernal Legion and worked with vile creatures to sacrifice an Av-Matoran and free Abaddon. He knew Abaddon’s plan was to take over the Great Spirit Robot and enslave its inhabitants.
In the years he spent recruiting for the Legion, Crescent grew distant from those inhabitants. He became feared, even to those he once knew. He killed innocent Matoran and threatened their freedom.
Did the Matoran even deserve freedom? They were built to be part of a machine. They had no free-will from the beginning.
The Av-Matoran existed to protect their creator – the Great Spirit Mata Nui. Was it so bad that an Av-Matoran was given another purpose?
Crescent learned that the Matoran Universe thrived on balance. For every good deed there was a selfish action. Every time a Matoran was saved from death, another Matoran cursed his friend to suffer.
He was chosen by Teridax to be a pawn in his plan. This action needed something positive to balance it.
Years past and Crescent could not fathom what would be equal to his mind behind eroded by negative thoughts and his soul darkened. But when he clashed with Suram, the Toa of Light, protector of the Core Processor, he found it.
Suram failed to the protect the Core Processor from the Makuta. That was his “destiny” bestowed unto him by his creator. How much did destiny mean if he failed? Crescent knew this was not his destiny at all.
He was counterbalance to Crescent’s corruption. A soul so pure and full of light, that no matter how much despair of pain he goes through, Suram remains the same.
In the final battle for control of the Great Spirit Robot, Crescent knew he needed to confront Suram.
As the Shadow Toa clashed with the Toa of Light, and Abaddon fought off the other three warriors, Crescent could feel the presence of Teridax in his mind grow weaker.
The Toa poured more and more of his energy into the blows. Each parry delivered by Suram shook Crescent to his core, and Teridax’s grip loosened little by little.
“Crescent…” Suram said. His voice was sombre. He was sad. He did not want this fight. Crescent knew Suram understood it was his destiny to cut down the Shadow Toa. Doing so would free him from the clutches of the Makuta Teridax. The other words he said faded away.
Suram teleported behind Crescent and drove his light sword through the back of his chest.
Is this the end?
No…! a voice growled inside Crescents mind. It echoed through his skull and bounced around his body. He was paralysed.
Crescent sank through a sea of darkness. A small light at the top of the never-ending abyss of blackness moved further away as he drifted down into the depths.
A giant clawed hand covered the light and reached for Crescent. It clutched onto his body and lifted him from the ocean.
You will die, feeble Toa… This was a voice he recognised and one that he feared. It belonged to Makuta Teridax.
I can lend you more power… Power enough to crush those former friends of yours… Power enough to kill this Toa of Light who battles you…
Is this what I want? Crescent pondered. A long time ago, he accepted power from the Makuta and it led him down this dark path. Should he make the same mistake?
A mistake? Oh, no… This time you will have your revenge…!
Crescent’s eyes opened and Suram panted on his knees in front of him.
“How…” he spoke between heavy breathes. “Are you able… to fight like that…”
“Simple,” said Crescent.
No, this is not me. I did not do this.
“The Toa has given in to his darker side,” Teridax continued. "A side that you do not possess. In desperation, he thought you were his salvation as his opposite.”
“The counterbalance,” Suram replied. He got to his feet and readied his sword.
“Exactly!” Teridax lunged forward and stabbed at Suram, who parried the blow and twisted around to deliver a kick.
Teridax blocked the kick with his arm and laughed. “What nonsense! Nothing in this world is balanced!”
Teridax advanced on Suram, heavy blow after heavy blow pushed the Toa of Light back.
“This universe is a lie!” the Makuta roared. “We rode here on an island! We are fighting on top of a castle made from Matoran slavery!”
Suram was silent.
Is he falling for Teridax’s ruse?
Crescent had shared memories with Teridax. The Makuta remembered when he was created and that he was tasked with creating and maintaining the Rahi in the Great Spirit Robot. The Brotherhood of Makuta rejected their destiny and became a force of evil.
At first, Teridax planned to overthrow his leader, Miserix, the most powerful of all Makuta. But then the League of Kings attempted to takeover, which gave Teridax an idea.
He met with Abaddon in secret to create Vicoran and influence the Brotherhood of Makuta to attempt their own takeover. With Miserix as the leader, the blame would fall onto him.
Teridax’s plan didn’t account for the Toa Neirae destroying his body or the Brotherhood of Makuta being successful. In the end, Miserix was incinerated by the Core Processor and the Infernal Legion rose from the ashes.
The Makuta knew this universe had a meaning. Crescent knew he still believed that Mata Nui has a plan for all inhabitants of the universe.
“NO!” roared Teridax as his blade struck the castle. Shadow exploded from his blade and seeped through the bricks. Cracks crawled down the building as it began to crumble.
Crescent took a moment to look at the state of the battlefield as the castle disintegrated.
Abaddon stood over the body of Javyz. He held Helryx’s spear in his hand and had a dagger stuck in his back. Helryx held her right arm. Eclipse, Yunak and Nadati were at her side.
“You… do not know me…” Teridax boomed as he fell through the dust and rubble. “You are a lowly Toa…”
“Crescent,” said a soothing voice. Suram immerged from the dust without his sword of shield. He walked towards the Shadow Toa with open hands. “I know you’re in there. I can feel your spirit.”
The Toa of Light chuckled. “I guess I picked up that trick from Wira.”
“Wira…,” said Crescent. His arms and legs were numb.
“Crescent, come back to us,” Suram smiled.
Then Crescent fell to his knees.
He felt his insides squirm.
His throat irrupted in pain.
Claws dug themselves into his neck as something inched its way out of his stomach.
Redness covered the sides of his vision of Suram, who looked on in shock.
A demonic growl filled the Great Spirit Robot as Makuta Teridax was expelled from the Toa of Sonics.
A blast of light ignited the shadowy wisp and Crescent fell face first into the ground.
It’s over…
Part Three[]
Eclipse watched as his friend fell to the ground and a shadowy wisp was doused in light from Suram.
“Finally,” he exhaled. “You can be free of that burden, my friend.”
The sky then turned black. Eclipse focused on Abaddon, who stood tall and aimed one of his wrist blades to the sky.
“This is the end,” the tyrant declared. He swept his arm down, so it pointed at the two armies below.
Purple flames erupted from his blade and engulfed the battlefield in an instant. Screams and screeches filled the air, the roar of battle now gone. Matoran and Skakdi alike perished in the flames.
“Abaddon…” Helryx readied her stance. “You… killed them…”
The next second sent by in slow motion. Helryx fell to the ground, her own spear embedded in her gut. Yunak toppled back, pieces of his weapon in the air around him. Nadati crouched on the ground. Abaddon’s was an inch from Eclipse’s face.
A burst of light flooded the Toa’s vision. He found his footing as he stepped backward in anticipation of the strike.
Suram stood where Abaddon was, light sword in hand, fierce gaze fixed on the tyrant.
“I’m done with you toying with my friends,” the Toa of Light said.
“Funny that,” Abaddon replied as smoke rose from his write blade. “I’m not even close to finishing!”
Abaddon clashed with Suram. Eclipse could not follow his movement, so the two seemed to teleport as they clashed swords.
Eclipse took this moment to retreat and regather his strength. He moved back to the side of the roof with Helryx, Yunak and Nadati.
The Toa of Water looked over the battlefield, dread in her voice. “It’s… over…”
Eclipse saw only a few Toa standing on the scorched beach before them. Maybe only ten or twenty Matoran survived, those lucky enough to be around one of the Toa down below.
“Next,” a cold growl interrupted their dread. Abaddon walked towards the trio as he dragged the corpse of a gold and white Toa.
“Suram!” Helryx yelled. She held onto her stomach and winced in pain.
Pridak appeared behind Abaddon, three blades swinging down at his head. Eclipse expected that there were more blades unseen. The Selavian planned this attack for centuries. It was nothing short of perfect.
But that would not be enough, Eclipse realised.
Abaddon spun and sliced across Pridak’s body with his wrist blade. The Selavian clumped on the ground, motionless.
Yunak was next to attack, with Nadati close behind. The Toa of Plasma cloaked his fist in a ball of plasma energy and threw a punch at Abaddon while Nadati circled around to the tyrant’s side.
Just as Yunak’s punch was about to connect, Nadati moved to drive her blade into Abaddon’s neck.
But that again, was not enough.
Eclipse could not comprehend what happened. Abaddon caught the punch and sliced off Nadati’s arm in a single movement.
“Playtime is over,” he grunted, and Yunak fell in a pool of blood.
The Toa of Magnetism took a step back. “There’s no way…” he said. “He was right…”
Abaddon stopped and stared. His face was blank while his weapons were soaked.
“Who was right?” he demanded to know.
Eclipse respect the most intelligent Skakdi alive, Idrih. He predicted this moment. Somehow, the Skakdi knew things would unfold this way.
“Right or wrong…” a whisper crept through the air. “You were the pawn being played.”
Shadows appeared around Abaddon and formed into long spikes. They pierced his body and he screamed.
“Eclipse,” Helryx’s voice faded. Without another word, he lifted his former leader onto his shoulders and marched past the violent assault.
As the Toa found a way down through the destroyed castle and onto the beach, Abaddon’s screams finally ceased.
“Finally,” boomed a voice that sounded nothing like the former tyrant’s or the diabolical Makuta’s.
Abaddon appeared in front of Eclipse and the Toa pushed Helryx behind himself on instinct.
Fall…
Abaddon’s eyes glowed red and Eclipse felt his body explode. He fell onto his knees. This level of pain was incredible. Every piece of his body felt like it broke apart. Eclipse felt unconsciousness creep up.
This wasn’t Abaddon’s doing. Despite the tyrant’s power, mental attacks like this were the working of the Makuta Teridax.
A hand lifted the Toa of Magnetism to his feet. Eclipse was pulled away from the way, only able to watch and listen as Crescent saved his life.
“I am here, brother,” the Toa of Sonics said. “This is the last time we will see each other… Sorry.”
With that said, Crescent teleported in front of Teridax.
Eclipse watched the Toa and the Varim’s body clash blades. Crescent was able to keep up with the incredible speed that Teridax used.
Throughout their exchange, he could hear some of the words Teridax roared in laughter: “No longer a puppet” “Free” “The true balance”.
He could not tell who had the upper hand. At least his friend was finally fighting for himself against his oppressor.
In his last moment before rest, Eclipse pondered the words his best friend said to him.
Is this the last time I’ll see you, brother?
Crescent never spoke like that before. Even when he disappeared from the battlefield over 150 years ago, he was adamant he wasn’t gone forever.
That means this is goodbye…
Eclipse realised that this battle was Crescent’s last as a Toa and as a servant of Abaddon. He did not know where his friend would end up next, but he smiled knowing that it was finally his choice.
Eclipse closed his eyes with the thought that his friend was saving his life and saving the universe.
Postlude[]
“Finally awake, Toa-brother?” a joyful voice chimed.
Eclipse’s eyes had not adjusted to light before someone put their hand over his face.
“Sleep more, Eclipse,” said Solstice. “At least let your eyes rest.”
Eclipse’s body was heavy, and his throat was dry.
“I’ll fill you in on the aftermath,” his friend said. “Crescent was only able to hold Abaddon off for a few minutes before he was overpowered.”
It was Teridax, not Abaddon, Eclipse tried to speak but no words came out.
“Just wait,” continued Solstice. “Vicoran then landed the Great Spirit Robot in Spherus Magna. It was like the Great Cataclysm happened again. I tell you. Then Abaddon cut down Crescent and the sky opened.
“Brilliant light shown threw and like that, the tyrant and his creation were gone. The few of us that were left rescued those held captive in the castle of Kehidupan, and those defeated on the battlefield like yourself and Yunak over there.
“We made a camp on the land outside the Great Spirit Robot as our systems adjusted to this atmosphere, with the help of Mata Nui himself, of course.”
“Teri… dax…” Eclipse managed to claw out of his mouth.
“He’s dead,” said Solstice. “What’s worse is that we found pieces of Vicoran’s body scattered in the area surrounding the robot. There was something else going on with Abaddon’s plan, something that we couldn’t have done anything about.
“Anyway, we have made a few trips back into the Great Spirit Robot for supplies and survivors – it’s been two days – before you say anything, Yunak.”
“I’m just about over all of his snoring and complaining,” the Toa of Plasma joked. At least his sense of humour survived the downfall of the Matoran Universe.
Events[]
- Eclipse, Pridak, Helryx, Ghi, Idrih and Suram meet to discuss their strategy against Abaddon and Teridax
- Idrih explains to Eclipse in private that there had to be something more to Teridax's plan
- The Order of Mata Nui team up with the Matoran and new Toa to fight "Mach" and Abaddon's Skakdi army
- Suram clashes with Abaddon and Crescent, eventually fighting the former one-on-one
- Javyz, Yunak, Nadati, Eclipse, Helryx and Pridak fight Abaddon
- Crescent manages to expel Teridax's spirit from his body and Suram seemingly defeats him
- Abaddon defeats Javyz and then decimates the battlefield, killing most Skakdi, Matoran and "Mach"
- Abaddon defeats Helryx and Yunak before killing Suram
- Eclipse retreats with Helryx as Teridax possesses Abaddon
- Teridax attacks Eclipse but is interrupted by Crescent, who holds him back
- Vicoran lands the Great Spirit Robot and leaves with Teridax, and the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe soon follow
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 | ||||