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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 Rising | |
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| Story | |
| Series |
Ignika Universe Saga, Rising Arc
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| Setting | |
| Date Set |
20 AGCW
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| Media Information | |
| Released |
February 2022 (Part 1)
August 2022 (Part 2) March 2023 (Part 3) |
| Writer | |
| Timeline | |
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| Next | |
The Rising is a short story taking place in the Ignika Universe Saga. It follows the events of The Seeking, where the Infernal Legion kidnaps Artakha. It is the fourth published story in the Ignika Universe Saga, completing the Rising Arc. It is followed by the first story in the Downfall Arc, Darkest Reign.
The story is written from the perspective of Wira as the Order of Mata Nui attempt to prevent the Infernal Legion freeing Abaddon.
Story[]
Part One[]
“You are stationed with the Order of Mata Nui at all times. You will sleep, train, and breathe with the Order. We do not know when, but we will need your powers in the upcoming war. Do you understand the importance of your mission?”
Helryx gave clear instructions to Wira, Toa of Life. He nodded at the time, proud of be part of something bigger. He now scoffed at the very idea of the Order of Mata Nui needing him.
Wira walked with his best friend, Suram, Toa of Light. Although they were friends since the beginning, Wira noticed they spent a lot of time apart in the last 5 years.
“Want to watch the Aklini game tonight, Suram?” he asked his friend, tapping him on the shoulder.
Suram was silent, his head down. Wira was awful at reading his friends emotions in the past, but this time he knew something bothered Suram. After he brought Wira back from the Infernal Legion, Suram hadn’t said much.
“Brother,” Wira said, stopping short of the gate out of Kehidupan. He figured that Helryx would notice they weren’t following eventually.
“Sorry,” Suram apologised, looking up with a serious expression. “What were you saying, Wira?”
“Nothing really,” he lied. “I’m worried about you.”
Suram took his friend’s concern with wide eyes. “You are worried about me? It should be the other way around.”
“Don’t be like that, Suram.” Wira could tolerate it when Helryx and the Order looked at him like he was a fragile Matoran, but he loathed it when his best friend did the same.
“I’m sorry, Wira. I am just not…” Suram trailed off, tilting his head downwards, placing a hand on Wira’s shoulder. “It’s different this time.”
“Different?”
“We can fight together, Wira. We will be stronger together, I know it, brother.”
Wira gave him a smile, hoping it would boost Suram’s confidence enough. Ever since that moment, when the lime green Makuta announced Abaddon’s return, Suram hadn’t been the same.
“You two! Get a move on!” Helryx called out, not 5 bio away.
“Let’s go,” Wira smiled, brushing his shoulder, and approaching the impatient Toa. “After this, we will watch an Aklini game!”
Suram nodded and the two followed Helryx down the winding path to the shore of Zivot, to the coastal settlement of Lautan.
They boarded a wooden boat, ushered on by two Ga-Matoran. One Matoran held a lamp at the front of the boat while the second tended to the steel motor at the back.
Helryx often opted for Matoran-crafted transport. As a Toa of Water, she could very easily part the sea, walk over the sea, make an intricate path of water or even push the boat along the water to the island. Instead, she said “The Matoran need us. They shouldn’t have to fight alongside us again, that is too much of a burden on them. We must support their industry, their creativity and their livelihoods.”
“Can you take us to Aratakhas, Tema?” Helryx said, handing a map to the Matoran at the motor.
The Matoran examined the map for a moment before chirping, “Of course we can! We will leave right away Toa Helryx!”
Wira couldn’t hold back a smile upon seeing the joy on the Matoran’s face. They started the engine and began to steer with a stick, facing the Matoran at the front.
He admired the respect Helryx had. She earnt it, fighting for the Matoran during the Great Cataclysm War and protecting them from harm now. The looks the Matoran gave Wira were always ones of disgust or anger, hushing their conversations and moving away when he neared them.
The Ga-Matoran driver noticed Wira’s gaze and actually smiled.
“Don’t worry, Toa Wira,” she said. “Toa Helryx and Toa Suram are here with you. Nothing can stop you three! I know the spirit of Mata Nui–”
“Tema,” the other Matoran warned. “You’re boring them.”
“Oh,” she quietened, looking back at the map in her lap.
“Thank you,” Wira managed to say. The other Ga-Matoran furrowed her brow, no doubt whispering or thinking something rude about the Toa of Life. Wira had grown accustomed to it.
They soon arrived at the island of Aratakhas, greeted by a thick smell of rain, damp wood and tall trees. Wira left the after Suram and Helryx, smiling to the Ga-Matoran. He waded through the water and onto the grass while Helrxy instructed the sailors to wait for them.
Wira closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he could not recall the last time he felt so calm and at peace.
“Wira,” Suram interfered with his silence. “Can you feel that?”
He opened his eyes and saw Suram clutching his sword with two hands.
“Feel what?” he asked, still quite relaxed.
“I can’t sense anything either. What do you feel, Suram?” Helryx said, pulling out her spear.
“I–I’m not sure,” Suram replied. “I think the Shadow Toa–”
“Crescent,” Helryx reminded him.
“Sorry, Crescent, was here,” he continued. “And he used a lot of Shadow. So much that some still lingers.”
“Yunak’s report mentioned they fought,” Helryx nodded, moving ahead of the younger Toa.
“Is that all it is?” she asked, eyes scanning the dense forest for threats.
“I think –”
“Don’t tell me what you think. Is that all?”
“Yes,” Suram whispered, after a moment of silence.
Helryx kept her spear out and marched forward. “Keep on guard all the same, Suram, Wira.”
The trio headed for the clearing near the centre of the island. Wira knew the Av-Matoran Artakha lived here, in solitude. He was an expert crafter, said to be as skilled as the Vortixx. Wira knew him before the Great Cataclysm War, though not in detail.
Many Rahi lived on the island, from a few small insect-like Nui Rama to monstrous bear-like Kralj. Wira hoped they didn’t encounter any on their way to the clearing. He thought he heard a few footsteps behind them, but nothing approached them.
They reached the clearing and Artakha’s hut with no trouble at all. Helryx ventured first, gesturing for Wira and Suram to follow close. There was no one here, like they expected.
In odd silence, they investigated the hut. A small firepit was in the middle of the dirt floor, a single chair nearby. There were tools for harvesting against one wall and crafting against the other.
“I see the tools, but no… use for them,” Helryx scanned the room as she spoke, looking for something.
“Surely Artakha kept his creations close by,” she said.
The hut was simple. Wira envied the life Artakha must have had here, though grieved for the same reason. They both spent their lives alone. Perhaps that was the curse of being an Av-Matoran: always ending up alone.
The trio of Toa went outside and Helryx held up her hand to signal danger. Wira drew his sword and Suram his shield.
The Toa’s backs faced each other, forming a tight triangle as walked away from the hut.
“We are being watched,” Helryx whispered as they rotated. “I cannot the direction. Suram?”
Suram was quiet for a moment. “It’s not the Shado–Crescent. It’s something else.”
Wira closed his eyes. He had no powers as a Toa of Light, his element being muddled with that of the Ignika. There were sometimes when Wira swore he could sense the life-force of other beings.
The Ignika felt heavy on his face and then:
There!
“Three Kralj. Scared. Lonely. Melancholy.”
Wira broke formation and dropped his sword into the ground. He ignored Helryx’s angry whispers about danger and recklessness and approached the closest of the Kralj.
They were documented as aggressive Rahi, fiercely territorial and violent. Wira figured he would be the same if someone tried to live invade his home.
We are friends of Artakha, he spoke through the Mask of Life, the Kralj keeping their stance. We do not mean harm.
“Wira! Back down!” Helryx pulled him away from the Kralj, which prompted the Rahi to attack. Wira landed hard on the ground.
Helryx used her spear to slice the beast, then hitting it with the other end of the spear to drive it away.
The other two Kralj roared but left with their injured brethren.
“Are you insane? Why would you do such a thing!”
“I could talk to them,” Wira said, his mask no longer feeling heavy.
“What? That’s not possible,” Helryx frowned in disbelief.
Suram held out his hand and pulled Wira to his feet. “Brother,” he said, sorrow in his tone.
Wira brushed himself off. “I didn’t know either, Suram.”
“Beneath you,” he said, helping Wira move out of the way. There was Matoran lettering carved into the ground, forming a square.
Wira’s mask began to glow, and a hum filed the air. A building erupted between the letters and the hum stopped. There was a rusted metal storage shed where Wira was just standing.
The doors drooped from the hinges. Helryx pushed the Toa aside with her axe, careful not to damage the doors. She sighed when she saw what was inside.
“There’s nothing left,” she said. “They took them all. The Masks of Creation, Dimensional Travel and Time are gone.”
The trio hurried back to the boat. Wira felt uneasy. Maybe it was because they were about to face the Council with bad news, or maybe it was the sinking feeling he had that something bad was coming.
Part Two[]
Helryx was silent for the boat ride to Lautan, the Ga-Matoran sailors avoiding eye contact. When they reached the dock and departed, a single nod from the Toa of Water left a smile on Tema’s face.
“Thank you,” Wira said as he stepped out of the vessel. Helryx marched on without so much as a word.
Wira gave a weak smile as they left the dock. Tema grinned from ear to ear, the captain looking down.
Suram brushed Wira as he went on ahead with Helryx. He didn’t feel like calling out to his best friend. He had been acting strange. Since the Kralj attack Wira felt like he was being ignored.
The march up and along the coast of Zivot did not seem the same as the walk down to Lautan. Wira almost had to jog to keep up with Helryx and Suram.
“Not possible…” “Disaster…”
Wira could only pick up a few of the words that Helryx was mumbling. He wasn’t sure that Suram could hear her either. Her pace was fast, no doubt wanting to tell the Council of their bad news. If only they had a Mask of Teleportation.
As the group arrived at the gates of Kehidupan, greeted by a Ta-Matoran guard, Wira let out a sigh. He did not like letting anyone down. Given the news they had to deliver, he could only hope that his ability to use his mask power would be seen as a positive.
The guard nodded at Helryx and gestured for them to pass through. Although the Matoran were smaller and had less elemental control than Toa, they were high-spirited, believing their destiny was chosen by Mata Nui.
Kill… kill… kill!
Wira spun, as did Suram. The lime green and black Makuta lunged at them from behind. Suram’s blade of light clashed against the Makuta’s scythe. Wira drew his sword and readied himself for a counterattack.
“Suram, Wira, get down!” called Helryx.
The Order of Mata Nui leader attacked over their heads, clashing with force against the Makuta’s scythe. Wira could not keep up with the speed he used to parry her axe.
Helryx drove the Makuta away from Kehidupan, the Ta-Matoran guard ushering the other Toa inside. He had already alerted the other guards, so by now the Council will know of their return.
The gate closed with a clunk. Helryx fighting the Makuta on her own didn’t seem like a good idea to Wira. He glanced at Suram, who was wide-eyed and short of breath.
“Wira,” he whispered. “Behind you.”
“Surprise,” a course voice said from the gate. Wira knew it was Crescent, the Shadow Toa and former member of the Order of Mata Nui.
“Toa… Suram…” struggled the Ta-Matoran, Crescent’s hand around his neck. He let out a strained sigh as Crescent pulled his chest into his blade, killing the guard.
Suram clashed with Crescent and the Ta-Matoran landed on the ground. Wira ducked over to the Matoran and closed his eyes. If he had the powers of the Mask of Life, Wira was sure he could bring the guard back to life. The Ta-Matoran died believing he was serving the will of Mata Nui, that it was his destiny to die right now and duty to die to this way.
Personally, Wira didn’t believe Mata Nui wanted any suffering. That’s only what he could speculate, since unlike Helryx he had not met his creator.
Wira laid the Ta-Matoran down, ignoring the clinking of swords as his friend fought the Shadow Toa.
Rest well, dear Matoran.
“Wira!”
Suram dived between Crescent and the Toa of Life, the shadow-lightning blade cutting deep into his shoulder.
“Wira…” Suram puffed. “What are you…”
Crescent pulled the blade out and kicked Suram into Wira, the two Toa falling beside the Ta-Matoran.
“This is just pathetic,” said Crescent, a grating sound ringing through the air as he dragged his sword on the ground. “A Toa of Light is useless against my Shadow power, and the Toa of Life cannot do a thing to stop a weak Matoran from dying.”
He was only trying to provoke them, Wira knew it, but he still felt responsible for the Ta-Matoran guard’s death. If he could control the Life elemental power inside the mask, would the Matoran still be dead?
Suram’s armour started to glow white, his body lifting into the air as he twisted to face Crescent.
“You will regret that!” he spat, light bursting his sword and shield.
In a fraction of a second, Crescent was blocking Suram’s advance. Again, and again the Toa of Light struck, each time Crescent backed up little by little. This was not how Suram usually battled.
“I haven’t yet regretted it, Toa!” Crescent taunted between blows.
Suram attacked even faster, his incredible speed making him appear as a blur to Wira. He cared about his friends and the community of Matoran here in Kehidupan, even those he had not met all over Zivot. Suram was well-liked by the Matoran.
Wira knew the Matoran envied or hated him. He didn’t know himself why he was chosen to be a Toa; why it was his destiny to wear the Mask of Life and put Mata Nui in peril.
Suram’s scream interrupt his thoughts. Musting all his strength, Wira forces himself to his feet, grabbing his sword from the ground and focusing on the battle.
Crescent slices at Suram’s chest, parries a strike and swipes again. Suram is no match for his advanced swordsmanship. Wira stood no chance.
Suram falls to his knees just as Crescent teleports in front of Wira.
Time seemed to slow down as the Shadow Toa swung his sword downwards. Wira’s hand was sluggish in comparison, not even above his chest before the blade was touching his shoulder.
Crescent then blurred to block a blow from his left, a loud crash sending him flying out of sight.
“Wira, back down!” called out Eclipse, Toa of Magnetism, his Gravity Axe flying back to his hand.
“Take Suram to safety,” Solstice said, now standing between Crescent and Wira. “We can handle this.”
Crescent grunted as he rose, shadows leaking from his mask and swirling at his feet.
“Leave, now,” Solstice encouraged, pointing his Protosteel sword towards Crescent and adjusting his footing.
“You cannot win,” Crescent mumbled, shadow now surrounding his torso, tightening around his body. “You cannot defeat me…”
As his voice trailed off, Crescent’s armour darkened, shadows radiating into the air around him. Eclipse’s Gravity Axe flew past again, but this time shadow tendrils deflected the axe, and it clattered on the ground.
Wira scurried over to his fallen friend.
“Suram,” he whispered as he put his hand over the Toa’s chest. “Stay with me, brother.”
Closing his eyes, Wira focused his attention on his mask.
Please… Let me heal him…
His mask remained cold. Wira opened his eyes, Suram looking at him with concern.
“Let’s go,” he said, helping Suram to sit.
Eclipse and Solstice yelled out in pain, both Toa launched into the gate of Kehidupan. Crescent’s murderous scream echoing after them. Wira held his sword to protect Suram, not sure of what he could accomplish.
The Toa remained motionless near the gate. Suram was on the verge of unconsciousness. Wira was the who had to protect them this time.
The Toa of Life stood, hesitating, reading Crescent’s movement. As the Shadow Toa turned his head to glare at Wira, the Toa of Life pushed Suram away.
“You…” he gasped, short of breath.
Wira stood his ground, concentrating on Crescent’s sword.
Crescent coughed and fell, the shadows disappearing as he dropped his weapon. Wira knew now would be good time to attack…
The gate burst open, Helryx crashing into where Crescent was just standing. Eclipse and Solstice were no longer on the ground.
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!”
Death…
A cold hand grabbed Wira on the shoulder. He spun to see the clawed hand of Vicoran, with Crescent standing behind him.
“Die, Toa,” said Vicoran as he impaled Wira with his sword. There was no pain.
Wira felt like he was floating. Time seemed to slow down again. The Makuta and Crescent said something. Helryx screamed.
Then they were somewhere else. The Council Sanctuary, Wira recognised it.
“In here,” a voice echoed. Wira knew this voice.
Was that Karzahni?
Vicoran threw the Toa of Life to the floor and the feeling in Wira’s body came back to him. His chest was aching, his head spinning.
“The mask… healed him…” said Karzahni, a member of the Council.
“That does not matter,” Vicoran sliced through a Protosteel door. The Makuta grabbed Wira’s hand and dragged him through the corridor to the Core Processor room.
“Crescent, be a good servant and guard the entrance,” barked Vicoran. “Kill the vat of liquid, too.”
“But… our deal…!” Karzahni sounded desperate. He betrayed the Council of Kehidupan, the Matoran of the Great Spirit Robot and Mata Nui himself to strike a deal with the Infernal Legion. Wira found that he didn’t care what happened to him.
The sound of glass shattering, a pool of liquid hitting the floor and distorted screaming echoed as Vicoran dragged Wira down the corridor. The Makuta hit a button on the wall to open the next door and close one behind the duo.
“Many thanks for your cooperation, Toa,” he said. “Abaddon promises your death will be painless. Well, assuming that your sacrifice results in a painless death.”
Part Three[]
Wira woke in a cold sweat. He remembered the night the Makuta attacked and killed his friends, the Av-Matoran. It wasn’t easy being the last Av-Matoran alive.
The Matoran got out of his hammock. It was this morning, no birds chirping, no villagers chattering. Unusual for Kehidupan to be this quiet.
Wira walked outside. It was dark, still night. Shadowy wisps of smoke blurred around him, murmuring words he could not comprehend. Was this still a dream?
No!
What if this was another attack by the Brotherhood of Makuta? He had to hurry. His best friend, Suram, transformed into a Toa to protect him and the Av-Matoran before. It was now Wira’s turn to do the protecting.
He raced to the Core Processor room, whispers crawling at the heels. Wira found the Ignika on the ground near the Core Processor. A golden mask, usually shining like the sun. Wira picked up the Ignika and placed it back into the column that was the Core Processor.
Wear the mask, save your friends…
A thought rattled through his head. That was it! Mata Nui had fallen, the Mask of Life was not glowing. Wira had to protect his friends and the universe.
Without hesitation, Wira replaced his mask with the Ignika, passing out from the surge of energy that coursed through his body.
He awoke, body sore, his mask very heavy.
“Wira…” a voice whispered into his ear. “You were too late…”
Wira opened his eyes and looked to his left. Karza was impaled from behind, a large blade sticking out of his chest. The Ignika was at his feet.
Karza melted into the ground, a lime green and black Makuta standing behind him with glowing yellow eyes.
Behind the Makuta was something more devastating.
Suram was on the ground, his body mangled and bleeding. “Wira…” he mouthed. “You’ve killed us all…”
The Makuta slashed at Wira and he fell backwards, falling down into the ground.
He was too late to save his friends. The Makuta had possession of the Ignika. This was the end. Wira closed his eyes.
“Still conscious after that?”
Wira opened his eyes to the glowing mask of Vicoran, Abaddon’s loyal servant.
“Just needed something to crush your feelings of escape, nothing personal,” it said, turning away and dragging Wira behind by the arm.
Had Wira doomed the entire Matoran Universe by taking the Ignika from the pedestal? If he hesitated, his friends would die. If he wore the Ignika, his friends would die. What was his purpose? What was his destiny? Should he have existed at all?
A loud clunk interrupted his turmoil.
“Here we are, Toa,” Vicoran spat as he threw Wira through the doorway. “This room should feel familiar to you.”
This was the Core Processor Room, where Wira and the Av-Matoran once lived. This was where Wira doomed his friends.
Vicoran kicked Wira in the stomach, rolling him over so he tumbled towards the pedestal that once held the Ignika.
“Today is the day…” Vicoran taunted, pulling out a golden mask. “That Abaddon returns!”
The Makuta lifted Wira up with one hand, placing his head on the pedestal. Wira’s mask glowed.
It does not end here…
Wira fell to the ground. He could feel the Life energy draining from his body, falling into unconscious. Maybe this was his destiny.
Vicoran removed his own mask and placed on the Olmak, the golden Mask of Dimensional Travel.
The Makuta placed one hand on the Ignika and the Olmak shone brighter than anything Wira had ever seen.
This would be the last thing he saw. The culmination of his failure; Abaddon’s return.
Wira felt his body fall through the floor, the light dissolving into pitch black.
The ground rushed from above to meet him. Wira landed hard on his maskless face.
Someone grabbed Wira’s hand, lifting him to his feet.
Come back to us…
Wira’s vision was too blurry to make out who the figure was before they faded out of view, a black mask in his hand.
When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Wira shuddered at the jagged rocks and rusted weapons around him.
This was Abaddon’s prison, a desolate landscape without any sign of Life. Wira stood tall, now realising he was his Av-Matoran self.
Here, there was no one he could disappoint; no one he could let down; no one he could let die. This was his destiny.
Events[]
- Wira, Suram and Helryx travel to Aratakhas to see if the Infernal Legion stole any of Artakha's creations.
- The group encounter three Kralj and discover Artakha's storage shed has been emptied.
- The group head back to tell the Council of Kehidupan with the news.
- Helryx, Wira and Suram are attacked by Vicoran, who separates the Toa.
- Suram is defeated by Crescent and nearly loses his life.
- Eclipse and Solstice briefly battle Crescent but are defeated.
- Vicoran and Crescent escape with Wira, infiltrating the tunnels to the Core Processor with the help of Karzahni.
- Vicoran uses the Olmak to free Abaddon from his pocket-dimension prison, leaving Wira in his place.
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 | ||||