Chapter Twelve

Little more than a week had passed since the worlds of the Matoran and the Agori came to be one.

There had been little time for ceremony. The birth of this new world was not peaceful, but filled with chaos and strife. Factions and warriors from both worlds exploded out onto the surface of the restored planet, eager to make their mark. For every Toa that returned home, more scattered to the wind, chasing new adventures. For every villain that was felled, two more took their place, more deadly and vicious than the last.

But finally, in the midst of the calamity, Metru Nui was finally laid to rest.

Whenua silently looked upon the ruins of his old home, a hollow shell of what it used to be. Only the husks of buildings still hung down from the ceiling, looming over the remnant of what was once a great sea. The city had been cleansed in fire, leaving its charred remains behind.

Any sadness that this sight brought him was vastly overshadowed by his relief that the Matoran were safe.

Whenua looked up, and caught a glimpse of the Red Star sailing towards the north, leaving a trail of crimson light in its path. It descended on the horizon, the trees of Bota Magna swallowing it up. As Whenua’s gaze rested on the jungle, his hearing became attuned to the sounds of the native creatures in the distance, a chorus of biomechanical roars echoing in the wind.

For a moment, he wondered what Mavrah would have thought of these strange new creatures. He and his fellow archivist could have spent hours cataloguing the fauna of this new planet, logging them into the depths of the seemingly endless Archives.

Then, he shook his head. Before we can go back, he reminded himself, we must go forward.

With that, he turned to walk back towards the camp, but came to face a familiar figure, clad in red and orange. Standing above him was Ackar, his armor shining brightly in the morning sun.

“I’m glad to see that you’re holding up well,” the Turaga chuckled.

Ackar smiled faintly. He had woken up to a Steltian salvage team helping him up, as they recovered him and his companions from the wreckage of the airship. He was much worse for wear in the wake of the crash, but he was back on his feet before long.

“I was sent to bring you back to camp. You’re needed by the other Turaga.”

Whenua nodded. “Of course. I’ll be there shortly. You go on ahead.”

The Glatorian nodded, but did not leave. His gaze lingered on the Turaga for a moment, but no words came out. He looked up, resting his eyes on the ruins of the city. The memory of the energized protodermis spilling out of the Coliseum still sent a shiver down his spine, but he took solace in knowing that it was no longer a threat. He had saved his world.

Ackar let out a long exhale. “I’m grateful that the rescue went well, of course. But, Turaga… You went down alone to face that thing. You were ready to–”

“I was,” Whenua finished. “I knew when I went to face that entity, that I might not leave. In fact, I was expecting not to.”

Ackar nodded slowly. “Were… were you afraid?”

“Of course,” Whenua said plainly. “It is normal to fear death.”

“That’s not what I mean,” Ackar replied. “You wouldn’t have known that we were going to make it out. I would… I know that if I were in your armor, I would’ve been terrified for what I was leaving behind. How do you move past that?”

“It’s called faith, Ackar,” Whenua hummed. “One day, the time will come when you must place your faith in the next generation. But that day is not today.” He turned, looking Ackar in the eyes. “I don’t have Vakama’s visions, but I can still see the future. Do you know what I see?”

Ackar looked blankly. “What?”

“I see the next generation of warriors, trained by a very wise Glatorian. The lessons you taught to Mata Nui are embraced by Spherus Magna, and passed on to the next generation after them. I see a world that embraces the teachings of our two worlds, and builds something strong upon that foundation.”

Ackar was quiet for a moment, taking in the Turaga’s words. The world he spoke of was one he swore he would fight to protect, one he hoped he could help build with the Matoran. It was a daunting task, undoubtedly. But it was the only task he had.

“Thank you, Turaga,” he said quietly.

Whenua smiled. “Come, now. There’s a celebration to be had.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Ackar returned to the refugee camp just as the ceremony had begun. Despite the chaos and confusion of the past few days, there was much to celebrate. The Toa Nuva were still out on a mission, but many more Toa teams had at last returned home, united at last to defend the camp. Matoran and Agori alike had convened to celebrate the return of the Toa Mahri, and they were unafraid to let the whole planet know their glee.

Nuhrii stood tall once more with his fellow members of the Ta-Koro guard, containing his pride behind a stoic expression. The Toa team they celebrated now was led by one of their own, Jaller. As he watched the leader of the Toa Mahri be christened with a yellow Kanohi Hau, he found himself grateful that the traditions of his island home had made their way to this new world. He himself now wore his new mask, the imperfect one he had forged in Metru Nui. It had brought him shame when he crafted it, but now, he wore it with a smile.

As the ceremony concluded, the Matoran and Glatorian alike moved through the crowd, conversing with the Toa Mahri and congratulating them on their return. Berix and Tehutti eagerly approached Toa Nuparu with crudely drawn blueprints of a new Boxor model. Upon seeing them, Nuparu instantly lit up with excitement. Ackar conversed with the Turaga for some time, before being begrudgingly dragged away into the party by Kiina.

A bit further out from the bustling celebration, Gresh was trading tales with Toa Iruini, each of them having a story for every scrape on their respective armors.

“This one?” Iruini was explaining, gesturing to a gash in his shoulder. “Skakdi pickaxe. Would’ve pierced my heartlight if I was a little slower.”

Gresh scoffed. “That’s nothing. Check out this one;” he said, pointing to a dent in his helmet. “Hit my head when we were flying through the tunnels.”

“Ah yes, a Toa’s two greatest enemies. Barbaric warlords and heights.”

“Oh hush,” Gresh shot back. “You’re lucky I missed our sparring session. Not sure that you could’ve handled these moves.” He whirled his twin blades around for effect, startling a pair of Agori walking past him.

Iruini chuckled. He had half a mind to humble him, but the young Glatorian’s excitement was infectious. He chose to let him have this one. “Very impressive,” he mused. “Anyone who makes an escape that daring is alright in my book. Even if you didn’t even have to deal with Roodaka.” He smirked, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’d be honored to fight beside you.”

“Thank you, but the honor’s all mine,” Gresh replied. “I’m looking forward to defending the camp with you.”

“Me too,” Iruini chuckled. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done in making Spherus Magna safe for the Matoran. It might be a while until we’re all together like this again.”

Gresh balked. “What do you mean? Are the Matoran going to be left with no Toa to protect them?”

“Of course not,” Iruini replied. “They’ll have you.”

✴        ✴        ✴

After hours of celebrating with the others, Kiina hung back on the outskirts of the camp, holding Click in her right hand as she watched from afar. She saw a mix of Agori and Matoran customs combined into one giant festivity. She smiled warmly. This was her home, and these were her people.

“We did it, Click,” she laughed. “This right here? This is what Mata Nui wanted.”

Looking to her left, she saw Ackar walk up beside her, looking visibily exhausted. She cocked her head to the side. “Too much partying for you, old man?”

Ackar chuckled. “I needed a breather.”

She smirked, and took a seat on the sand beneath her, gesturing for Ackar to sit beside her. He obliged, lowering himself down to the sand with a grunt.

“So much changed in so little time,” Ackar remarked. “It feels like just yesterday Mata Nui crashed my arena match.”

Kiina nodded. “Good thing he did. Strakk wasn’t exactly fighting fair.” She laid back on the hot sand, and looked up at the bright blue morning sky. “And now, we’re sharing this world with his people. His universe.”

“One people,” Ackar said. “If yesterday proved anything, it’s that we’re responsible for the Matoran just as much as we are for the Agori.” He paused for a moment, basking in the warmth of the sun. “So, this is the kind of world that the Great Beings will return to find.”

“It is,” Kiina nodded, and slowly sat up. “But… That voice… Energized protodermis, or whatever it calls itself… It said something earlier that I keep thinking about,” she said.

Ackar looked over inquisitively.

“That our paths don’t end the same way,” she continued. “Mata Nui brought us together, and I’m so thankful for that… But when we find the Great Beings, I can’t just stand with you and welcome them.”

Ackar nodded silently. “I understand. I know you have a lot of anger for them, and you’re hardly the only one on Spherus Magna who does.”

“But I’m not going to let that get in my way,” she declared. “My destiny is alongside you and Gresh. Whatever happens after… We’ll figure it out when we get there.”

Ackar gave her a warm smile, silently comforting her.

The two stood in silence for a moment, looking over the festivities from afar. For just a moment, everything was right. Ackar was where he belonged. He had kept his teammates safe. He had protected them.

For the first time in millennia, he felt safe enough to tell her about the family he lost.

“Kiina,” he began, “there’s something I should–”

“Can you believe it?!” came Berix’s voice, as he and Tehutti exited the crowd and made their way over to the two Glatorian. “He said we could have a platoon of these guys patrolling the camp! A platoon!”

“After we make some modifications,” Tehutti added with a chuckle. “Your Boxor was impressive given the circumstances, but Nuparu’s standards are a bit higher than that.”

Kiina chuckled as the Agori and Matoran joined them. “Brainstorming session going well then, I take it?”

A smirk spread across Berix’s face. “You have no idea. I think I’ve got a bright future as a collecting inventor. Or an inventing collector, I’m not particular.”

Next to exit the was Nuhrii, having finished his duties with the Guard and retreating to check on his friends. Next were Vhisola and Orkah, accompanied by Turaga Whenua, and before long, the group that escaped Metru Nui had reunited, checking in on one another once more.

Last to appear was Gresh, who was undergoing an extensive research process from Ehrye.

“I’d really love to further study your abilities,” the Ko-Matoran was saying, exiting the crowd alongside Gresh. “What you accomplished in the airship was comparable to a nova blast, something that I didn’t even know you were capable of doing.”

Gresh rubbed the back of his head. “I just knew that I had to do something,” he said. “As soon as I thought of it, it started happening.”

“Fascinating. There may be much more to you new Toa than I thought.”

Gresh began to reply, but suddenly stopped in his tracks. “You… called us Toa,” he muttered.

Whenua smiled. “It’s a fitting title, no?”

“Mata Nui called us that,” Ackar said. “I’m not sure-”

“Save it,” Nuhrii interrupted. “Today, you protected us.” He nodded in thanks to Gresh, then turned his gaze to Kiina. “You brought us to a new home.” He looked at Ackar. “You made us your friends.”

“Metru Nui may be long-gone,” Orkahm added, “but this new world is happy-bright. And we have new Toa who brought us here.”

“You’ve more than earned the title,” Vhisola said. “The question is, do you want it?”

Ackar was speechless for a moment, before quietly nodding. “I do.”

“Me too,” Gresh said. “I’ve been a fighter for a long time. I think being a protector fits me better.”

The Matoran turned to each other, and nodded with a smile. Click excitedly scurried around the feet of the three warriors.

“Well,” Tehutti chuckled. “I guess we’ll need to find a name for your team.”

“Of course!” said Vhisola. “If the Turaga get to rename things, so do we.”

“Ooh! Ooh!” Berix jumped up excitedly. “How about ‘Toa Metru’?” He looked back and forth. “You know, because you were there for Metru Nui’s last battle?”

“I’m afraid that’s already been taken,” Whenua snickered. “Besides, Metru Nui is the past. Their title should focus on the present.”

“Good point,” Berix muttered. “What about ‘Glatoa’? No, that's stupid...”

“‘Toa Bara’?” Orkahm suggested.

Kiina stood up. “We fought today to bring you all to Spherus Magna,” she said softly, her eyes misty. “To make it a home for Matoran and Agori alike. So if we’re going to keep doing that… We’ll be–”

“The Toa Magna,” Ackar finished. Something about the name felt right, even as it escaped his lips.

“Aw, I wanted to say it!” Kiina whined, playfully punching him in the shoulder.

“I like it,” Vhisola smiled. “It suits you.”

Walking forward, Turaga Whenua tapped his Drill Staff onto the ground beneath him. “The Toa Metru of old once delivered the Matoran to their new home, on the island of Mata Nui. Years later, the Toa Nuva took them back to the home that had once been taken from them. But now, the time has come to take the Matoran to a new home once again. And what's more, they will not be alone this time.

“Mata Nui has chosen you three to lead our two peoples into a new era,” the Turaga continued. “Together, may we come to share one world.”

“Thank you, Turaga,” Ackar said. “We’ll do our best to be worthy of the title.”

“You already are,” said Nuhrii.

Kiina nodded, a slight smile coming to her face. The name of Toa was a responsibility, she knew, but it was one she would take with pride. Looking to her left, and to her right, she stood side by side with the warriors Mata Nui had chosen. But more importantly, the three stood together as Mata Nui’s friends.

She re-entered the celebration not as a Glatorian, but as a Toa Magna, with a renewed sense of purpose to make this world into a home, and to protect Matoran and Agori alike.

And she vowed that she would, even if the world turned upside down.