Myths and Legacy
The Heart of Metru Nui
Written by Jeff Douglas
“Makuta,” Vakama breathed. “So, the Master of Shadows returns to haunt this city.”
A thick fog of silence filled over Dume’s councilroom as the Turaga considered Takanuva’s news. Metru Nui’s elders had received no shortage of bad news since the return to Metru Nui, but word that Makuta might still be alive was simply the bula berry on top.
“It is not enough that Mata Nui is in death’s throes,” Matau groaned, “or that we have sent the Toa Nuva to their doom. Now Makuta is alive and well?”
“And you are certain that it was the Makuta of Metru Nui that you saw,” Dume posited.
Almost in unison, the six Turaga of Mata Nui turned to look at the elder of Metru Nui. His words rang a bell, like something they had all once known, but which had been obscured by the mists of the past.
“Makuta… of Metru Nui?” Takanuva repeated. “Is there another?”
Dume nodded. “Indeed. It may well be that the Makuta you saw retrieving the Kraahkan from the Silver Sea was not the one you had faced in Mangaia. He was simply their leader, as well as their delegate and ambassador to the city. The Makuta of Metru Nui has overseen Metru Nui since a war fought among the Matoran here long ago.”
“Overseen?” Takanuva frowned.
“For many millennia, the Brotherhood of Makuta had guarded the will of Mata Nui, serving as his enforcers and protectors in a capacity that even the Toa could not,” Dume explained. “But about fifteen thousand years ago, I began to receive whispers from the south that the Makuta had begun acting in their own interests, going so far as to raid the stronghold of Artakha and steal your very mask,” the Turaga gestured at Takanuva’s Avohkii. “Through all this, the Brotherhood downplayed their actions and insisted they were for the best.”
Dume stood and moved to the window, “It was only when the Toa Hagah teams were massacred and our friends, the Rahaga, narrowly escaped their outpost, that I was certain of the corruption of the Makuta. Nevertheless, although I urged the universe’s other Turaga and Toa to reject alliance with the Brotherhood, most feared the Makuta too much to do so. So, the Makuta continued amassing power… until their leader, the Makuta of Metru Nui made his move, casting Mata Nui into his sleep and ordering the Visorak Hordes to march on the city.”
“So much politics to this universe I had forgotten,” Whenua murmured.
“I hadn’t missed it,” Nokama responded.
Dume nodded, “Metru Nui has always been very secluded and very far removed from much of what happens to the south. There is something about our Great Barrier and our geographical solitude that makes it all seem like a distant dream, with no relevant bearing on our lives. But now it’s finally caught up with us.”
“But… Makuta’s still dead, right?” Takanuva asked, hope building in his chest. “Our Makuta. Of Metru Nui. He’s gone, right?”
Dume frowned.
“I… I don’t know what happened in that battle, or how the Energized Protodermis might have affected him. But I’ve seen other Makuta sustain unimaginable trauma and endure. And the Rahaga who knew him best have expressed… skepticism at his passing. As you may guess, I have very personal feelings about Makuta and how he took advantage of the trust the Matoran place in me. It… is my hope that he is gone. Nevertheless, in light of this, Takanuva, I advise you to prepare for the worst. You are this city’s only defense.”
Takanuva bowed. “Yes, Turaga.”
The Toa stood and left the room, and as the door shut, Matau spoke.
“Now, what shall we do with the report of the Rahaga concerning the southern part of the Great Barrier?”
“We cannot spread word of this among the Matoran,” Vakama said. He threw a glance at Dume, who nodded.
“Panic is something we cannot afford in this city,” the Turaga of Metru Nui agreed. “The Great Disruption and the Great Cataclysm have proven that our work is necessary for the wellbeing of Mata Nui. Loathe as I am to say it, we cannot afford to throw the city into an uproar, especially with his health so dire.”
✴ ✴ ✴
As Takanuva emerged from the Coliseum gates into the chill Metru Nui night, he set out in the direction of the nearest chute station. He did not make it far before he glimpsed some movement in the shadows.
The Toa gripped his Staff of Light tightly, and peered into the darkness.
Twin shadows moved in his direction. Shouting, he hurled twin blasts of light directly at them.
“Auugh!” Macku cried. “Takua, what are you doing!”
“Takua Nuva!” Taipu shouted in pain.
“Mata Nui,” Takanuva breathed. “What are you two doing here?”
“We heard you paid a visit to Mangaia,” Macku responded, rubbing her eyes. “We wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“What were you doing there?” Taipu asked.
Takanuva frowned, his eyes darkening.
“I have seen… a shadow of the past.”
“Was it Makuta?” inquired the Onu-Matoran.
The Toa of Light stared at Taipu who returned his gaze. Frowning, he dismissed it as an innocent inquiry. He started walking in the direction of the station, and the two Matoran followed suit.
“I don’t know. Could have been. Could have been one of his servants.” A shudder ran up his spine.
Macku placed a hand on his arm. “Is that where Jaller and the others went?”
“I don’t — Jaller and the others are helping the Toa Nuva out with a mission to the island above. They’ll be back soon.”
Macku stopped. “Yeah, and Matau doesn’t wake all of Ko-Metru with his singing. First Jaller orders everyone to stop working. Then he and the others disappear — and you with him. Nobody, not even the Turaga say anything about it until Dume announces that you, as the Toa Nuva before them, have gone on ‘a mission to the island above.’ Just what exactly is this mission? And why does nobody trust the Matoran with this knowledge?”
“I would have liked to go on a mission,” Taipu added.
Takanuva wheeled on the Ga-Matoran. “Look, Macku, you think I wouldn’t tell you if I had any choice in the matter? I can’t stand the Turaga’s decision — I really can’t. If I had it my way, they would have told everyone long ago. But they haven’t. I already told Jaller, and now he’s heading south to Mata Nui knows where in a direction that may not even get him to the island.”
“Why did they go south? I thought you said they went to the island above?”
“They di — It's an island above us, but it's not — Look, I don't entirely know myself, okay? Nobody even filled me in until they were gone. I had to figure it out on my own.”
“Are they at the Three Finger Island?” asked Taipu. “I always wanted to go there, but I can't swim. And I'm afraid of the ocean.”
“Then let's go after them!” exclaimed Macku. “It will be like old times — maybe we'll even become Toa too, like you!”
“Yeah! I'll tell Onepu!” Taipu shouted.
“Just wait until Hewkii sees — ”
“No!” declared Takanuva, a little more forcefully than he'd intended. He blinked. The Matoran stared at him in shock and a little hurt. “We can't go after them,” he asserted, doubling down. “That's final. They could be in Karzahni, for all I know.”
“What's the matter with you, Takua?” Macku stared at him. “Did fighting Makuta really change you this much? Even if they were in the deepest pit of Karzahni, don’t you think it would be our job to come after them?”
“And what when Metru Nui lies abandoned yet again because all the Matoran journeyed south into the unknown and never returned?” Takanuva shot back.
“Then at least we’ll have done our job as servants of Mata Nui!” Macku snapped, storming off.
Taipu threw a glance at Takanuva before scurrying after her.
With a huff, Takanuva resumed his trek through the city.
✴ ✴ ✴
Heaving, a lone Ko-Matoran tugged at a netted up bundle of mechanical parts. Somehow, during the millenium that the Matoran had been away, a Kikanalo had gotten a screw loose and undergone a terrible malfunction. The poor beast had rampaged its way through the Knowledge Towers and ended up on the fourteenth floor of one before its biological parts gave out and died. The Rahaga had meant to deal with it right away, but they and Dume had been so busy it had slipped their mind. So, Ehrye was left to haul what was left of it out to the sea and dispose of it.
With a strained grunt, the former trapper managed to build enough momentum to pull it over a final ridge. Fortunately, along Ko-Metru there really wasn’t much in the way of shore, and the bundle toppled over the ledge and fell with a splash into the Silver Sea.
Ehrye fell back and let himself relax, a wave of relief washing over his burning muscles. As he did, he couldn’t help marvelling at how he had already grown accustomed to his new strength. At the latest Naming Day, the Turaga had helped the Matoran rebuild themselves into stronger forms. Yet even this, apparently, was still shy of their natural state from when they had originally inhabited the city. Now Ehrye found himself longing for that lost strength, and the ease with which it would make this work.
Metru Nui had better be worth this, Ehrye thought. Being a scholar cooped up in the Knowledge Towers sounds horrible.
As he reclined, Ehrye’s eyes fell upon a ring of icebergs floating several kio out from the city.
Odd, he thought. The icebergs hadn’t been there the day before.
✴ ✴ ✴
“Ice sculpture. It even says it in the name. And when it comes to sculptures,”
Hafu swung his chisel hammer over his shoulders, a devilishly charming grin from ear to ear,
“I’m your Matoran.”
Kopeke simply glared at him.
“Your brashness and your irreverence for the art are charming, but it will serve you ill,” he returned, coolly.
“Nonsense,” Hafu grinned. “Or as you would say: ‘Woe betide to thee, for behold!’”
The Po-Matoran whirled and faced an ice block twice as large as he was. Putting his ear to it gently, he tapped it with his fingers. After feeling it out a bit more, he stood back, satisfied, and set aside his chisel hammer in favor of a tooth chisel.
With the concentration of a Ta-Matoran welding pieces of a mask together, Hafu began his work. The experienced sculptor did not look away, and his body blocked most of his work so Kopeke couldn’t see what he was doing. Nevertheless, he was very clearly deep in concentration.
Kopeke was patient, but after about an hour and a half of simply watching, the Po-Matoran hadn’t moved to confront any other section of the block, and Kopeke was annoyed at having his time wasted. Standing up from the table he’d been sitting on, he moved to Hafu’s side.
There, he saw what Hafu had been working on.
“Stick figures?!” Kopeke exclaimed.
Hafu pointed.
“This one’s me. You’re this one, with the big Kanohi. This triangle is the Mangai volcano, and these are the constellations of Mata Nui. We’re alone on Mount Ihu, watching the stars overhead.”
Kopeke snorted and returned to his table. Hafu stood up sharply. “Are you mocking my carving skills?”
“My disappointment is reserved for myself. I should have known that you would shy away from the challenge.”
“Shy away from —”
Unfortunately, a knock on the door chose that moment to interrupt. Hafu stared at the Ko-Matoran as he walked over to the door.
It was Macku.
“Me?! Shy away from a challenge!” Hafu exclaimed at her, indignantly.
“I wouldn’t put it past you,” Macku muttered, brushing past him.
Hafu stood stock-still in the doorframe.
“Well… So this is what I get for inviting old friends into my home. I bet you haven’t even started on the stone pillar I sent to your place.”
“You’ll get over it,” Macku grunted. “In the meantime, we have more important matters to discuss.”
Hafu stormed over to one of his stools and sat down, slack-jawed all the way.
“Try me,” he challenged.
“Kopeke, I’m glad you’re here too,” Macku ignored the Po-Matoran. “It’s — Wait, neither of you are supposed to be on duty, are you?”
Kopeke gave a rare smile. “We’re hiding from the supervisors.”
“You are the supervisor, Kopeke.”
Hafu laughed. “He knows.”
Macku grinned, but her expression straightened fast.
“Takua’s been acting weird. I don’t know if it was becoming a Toa or fusing with Makuta or Jaller dying, but it’s like he’s been in a weird funk since we came back to the city.”
“Poor guy has a lot on his mind,” Hafu said, jumping up and strolling over to the ice block. “I still remember when he was shorter than I was, racing around Mata Nui like a pack of Brakas was at his back. Kid’s been busy, nonstop since the Turaga were first kidnapped.”
“The mantle of Mata Nui rests on his shoulders,” Kopeke nodded his agreement. “He had hoped that the awakening of the Great Spirit would occur with Makuta’s defeat. But that was not so; it was only the first step.”
“Still,” Macku shook her head. “He defeated Makuta, for Mata Nui’s sake! He reunited the scattered Tohunga as the Matoran we were meant to be, he led us back to our home — and what’s more, he did the impossible and got the Turaga to finally let us in on some of their secrets. He has so much to be happy about.”
“Shadows can be found within everyone,” Kopeke remarked softly. “Even within the Toa of Light.”
Hafu nodded. “What he said.”
Macku looked from one Matoran to another. Although both seemed well aware of the gloom looming over Takua, neither seemed hard-pressed to do anything about it.
“Makuta may be defeated,” the Ga-Matoran sighed at last. “But we remain as overcast by his shadow as ever. Now, perhaps I am wrong to think that the Toa of Light, a Toa of legend must be the one to light the way as a beacon into the future. But it terrifies me that Takua, of all Matoran, who was a guiding light long before he ever became a Toa, would ever be dimmed… Goodnight, brothers.”
With that, Macku left.
Hafu and Kopeke exchanged glances.
“Do you think it’s worth worrying?” Hafu asked.
“I believe that we have cast upon Takua a heavy yoke and did not expect him to falter beneath it,” Kopeke responded. “Given time, I think he will grow accustomed to it. But for Macku’s sake, I will ask him when next our paths cross.”
He stood, and stepped over to the door.
“Of course,” he turned, with the ghost of a smile. “I expect you not to falter beneath yours. Keep that block well refrigerated, or I will win this competition by default.”
Hafu threw a horrified glance at the ice block which was already starting to melt. Panicking, he attempted to pick it up and move it to his cold cellar, but it was too slick in his hands, and slipped through his embrace. Darting over to one of a few piles of debris in his hut, he dug through it in search of a Freeze disk.
Chuckling softly, Kopeke closed the door and started for Ko-Metru.
✴ ✴ ✴
The following day, Ehrye hurried down to the shore and craned his neck northward, in the direction of Onu-Metru. Yes, there he saw it; a lone boat paddling quickly in his direction.
By the time the Ga-Matoran arrived, Ehrye had only grown more antsy.
“What took you so long? I’ve been waiting all morning!”
“In case you didn’t notice, we’re from opposite sides of the island,” Vhisola snapped, stepping out and walking over to him. “No matter which direction I sail, I have an entire cape to get past. Besides, I’m earlier than we agreed.”
“Mmm, sorry,” the Ko-Matoran rubbed his eyes. “I couldn’t sleep all night.”
“I can tell. What’s the matter, Ehrye? What’s so important you couldn’t relay it by Gukko?”
The Ko-Matoran pointed at the icebergs. “See those? They’ve been getting closer with each passing hour. Yesterday, they were twice as far.”
“Ice mountains?” Vhisola cocked her head. “What about them?”
“They’re called icebergs,” Ehrye corrected. “And according to the tablets, they aren’t even a natural phenomenon in the Silver Sea. Which begs the question: what are they doing here?”
Vhisola eyed him skeptically. “And you care for purely scientific reasons, I’m sure.”
“Of course!”
The Ga-Matoran snorted. “That’s exactly what you said when the Venom Eels started swarming from the south.”
“You have such little faith, Vhisola. Still… think of how we’ll be lauded when we discover the secret behind these mysterious icebergs,” he said as he walked past her to the boat.
Vhisola snorted again. Throwing a glance at the Knowledge Towers, she sighed. They were no Mount Ihu, that was for certain.
✴ ✴ ✴
“Do you ever think about the tales of the Turaga? What they said about us from before we went to Metru Nui?”
“Not really. I don’t consider myself the same Matoran as the Vhisola of their stories.”
“So if there were a really cool artifact in the city, you wouldn’t go looking for it.”
“I might. I might not. But my relationship to Nokama evolved quite differently on Mata Nui than on Metru Nui, wouldn’t you say?”
Ehrye shrugged and nodded. “I probably still would, to be honest.”
Vhisola chuckled.
“After all,” Ehrye added, more to himself, “How many of us have started using the Metru Nui spellings of our names again? Even those of us whose names the Turaga didn’t already switch back with Naming Day. Maybe the old names will shake some old memories loose.”
“Maybe that’s why they changed our names to begin with. So we wouldn’t remember.”
As the icebergs drew nearer, the Ko-Matoran looked up from his note-carving to marvel at how much larger they had been than he’d thought. Not to mention concealing incredible bulk beneath the surface of the ocean.
“By my estimation, they must have come from a northerly direction, unless something caused them to switch directions. But that is strange,” Ehrye remarked. “The maps we have found don’t mention anything of consequence to our city’s north.”
Vhisola said nothing as she navigated the boat into the first group of icebergs.
“The winds haven’t been particularly high, or I’d dismiss it as that,” Ehrye added. “Nor have the tides changed in any notable measure.”
The boat drifted slowly past the first row of icebergs. Ehrye hushed as he perceived the natural wonders in awe.
“Beautiful,” the Ko-Matoran whispered. “Almost reminds me of Ko-Wahi.”
A movement in the corner of her eye caused Vhisola to turn her head sharply.
“Still, I worry,” Ehrye added. “We may have to destroy these before they collide with the city.”
He furrowed his brow at the sight of some brown patches along the ice.
“What a curious phenomenon,” he remarked.
Without warning, the boat bucked to the left. Ehrye looked around for interference, before glancing behind him to see his companion had shoved the rudder hard portside. “What are you doing?!” demanded the Ko-Matoran.
“Turning around,” Vhisola responded in a harsh whisper. “I just saw a face staring at me from the ice.”
“A face?” Ehrye laughed uncomfortably. “Why would a face — ”
An explosion from behind them caused both Matoran to jump, and Ehrye shouted in surprise. Vhisola whirled, terrified, to see several blue, white, and brown forms detaching themselves from the ice and leaping from one iceberg to another in pursuit of the fleeing boat.
Panicking, Vhisola pumped her rows as hard as she could to escape, and the Ko-Matoran clutched the boat, helpless.
From the side, one Rahi leaped off a nearby iceberg and just missed the boat, landing in the waters right behind the water, splashing Vhisola. No sooner had he resurfaced than he swam after the boat and grabbed hold on the stern.
“Ehrye!” Vhisola inhaled.
Ehrye scrambled past her and scanned the Rahi which was attempting to climb aboard. Seeing no other option, he slammed his carving hard again and again to get its claws to break grip.
“Knock its mask off!” Vhisola shrieked.
“It’s not wearing a mask!”
Screaming, the Ko-Matoran slammed his carving down on the Rahi’s clawed hand, forcing it to lose its clutch. The beast fell back as the boat lurched forward, but now the others had almost caught up.
“Vhisola!”
“I know!”
Seeing that the Matoran were almost out of the icebergs, the closest Rahi in pursuit flung itself at the boat, narrowly missing. Right behind him, another of the pursuers landed on the iceberg to the side and flung himself sideways into the boat. Ehrye lunged forward, slamming into the beast and sending it tumbling over the side, nearly flipping the vessel over in the process.
As the boat careened past the edge of the iceberg field, the Rahi landed on the last of the ice formations and halted their pursuit, watching in silence as the Matoran retreated to the city.
The boat did not slow until they reached the shore.
✴ ✴ ✴
“Attack! We’re under attack!”
As Ko-Matoran scrambled down from the Knowledge Towers to see what the fuss was about, Kopeke shoved to the front of the crowd. There it seemed Ehrye and Vhisola were trying to explain their panic to the gathering Matoran.
“Those icebergs have Rahi that are trying to attack us!” Ehrye was shouting at the top of his lungs.
“ — there are beasts that are riding in them and they’re brown and blue and tried to capsize us — ” Vhisola explained, her words a string of seeming nonsense.
Throughout the crowd, people were murmuring and asking questions, but there was nobody taking charge. Kopeke glanced around for the Turaga, but Nuju was nowhere to be seen. Not even so much as a Rahaga.
Ah, of course, Kopeke thought grimly. Another meeting at the Coliseum, no doubt.
As if he was reading Kopeke’s mind, someone in the crowd blurted out, “Where are the Turaga’s right and left hand Matoran?”
Again, Kopeke craned his neck, to look for Matoro. But as he was doing so, he realized everyone in the crowd… was looking at him.
Oh joy.
“Mmm, yes,” Kopeke grunted. “Yes, ah… Rahi, you say, Ehrye?”
“Giant Rahi. Swarms jumping after us.”
“Did you try knocking off their masks?”
“We thought of that,” Vhisola cut in. “They weren’t wearing any masks.”
“Is anyone in the crowd an expert on biology? Or living things?” Kopeke asked, rubbing his hands uncomfortably.
Nobody answered.
Oh right. Matoro was the resident biologist. Thanks, Jaller.
“I may be able to help,” shouted somebody from behind him. Kopeke whirled. An Onu-Matoran was making his way through the crowd. “You said the Rahi were blue and brown, yes? And riding icebergs?”
“Yes,” Vhisola said, nodding.
Tehutti turned and looked at Kopeke. “These are Frostelus. I was just reading up on them a few days ago.”
Good, Kopeke thought, his mind racing. That’s something. Now… what?
Kopeke looked around for something, anything that could be used to stop the icebergs.
“Very well. Ehrye, you’re a fast runner — go send word to Takanuva, the Turaga, their right and left hands, the Rahaga — anyone who can help. The rest of you — does anyone know where we can find these ‘Kanoka’ disks?”
“Not many. We only just got those facilities operational again.”
Kopeke sighed. This was going to be a long day.
✴ ✴ ✴
“Takanuva.”
Kapura’s words resonated through the Toa’s dwelling. He repeated,
“Takanuva!”
A brief search (or a slow one, depending on one’s perspective) revealed that the house was, in fact, empty. The Ta-Matoran stepped outside the building to a waiting Matoran.
“Takanuva is not here,” Kapura said. “The Toa need not have travelled very fast. He has not been seen for some time.”
“Deep-hiding is he — but why so long?” Tamaru asked.
Behind him, Orkham ran up panting.
“I long-pulled the vines. Down-chute operators long-seen him go west-wind by the last two moons.”
“By Mata Nui,” Tamaru glanced at Kapura. “Godspeed to us, let us chute-fly Archive-bound.”
Kapura nodded, rubbing his head. Put two Le-Matoran next to each other and they would sink deeper and deeper into their own slang.
“I will meet you there.”
✴ ✴ ✴
The Archives were silent.
For kio all around, the halls of the underground museum were eerily calm. No one around as far as one could shout.
In a way Takanuva couldn’t help but feel at home in the underground chamber. Unusual for a Ta-Matoran? Certainly. But for a while even the Ta-Matoran had not seen him as one of them, and now it seemed the very element of Fire was no longer his to claim. Granted, it made sense; Takua had never been particularly heat-resistant.
He had long-since lost track of the time or day. Not that it mattered to him anymore — after all, he was the day. But, by his estimate, it had at least been a few cycles, wandering the exhibits of Rahi, suspended in animation. He did not rely on any guides, nor did he have any grasp on the layout of the catacombs. So perhaps it was remarkable that he found his way to an exhibit that seemed to suit him perfectly.
Takanuva sighed… and the Rahkshi stared back at him with empty eyes.
✴ ✴ ✴
Kapura pressed on through the Archives, scanning every length of the labyrinth for signs of life. He had beaten Tamaru to Onu-Metru, to the Le-Matoran’s bewilderment, but by the time both arrived, they agreed that it was best for them to split up and go in different directions. Both would scan their halves of the floor before meeting up by the elevator shaft that would take them to the next level.
Unfortunately, even Kapura was having a hard time navigating in the dark, and with so many Onu-Matoran gone, having ridden off with Onepu to ward off the Rahi, navigators weren’t readily available. Not that they would do much good — even they were still relearning the Archives labyrinth. To make matters worse, the Ussalry had their hands full, cleaning up sections of the Archives where exhibits had broken free.
Kapura caught a glimpse of flickering light in the distance. In a thrill, he picked up his pace, moving quickly to where it emanated.
“Toa Takanuva,” he called ahead of him. “We have been looking for you. It is a matter of great urgency. Ko-Metru is a great distance, and we will have to travel far — ”
Kapura rounded the corner and was entangled in a sticky web. Shouting in surprise, he saw small figures moving toward him along the floor.
The flickering light wasn’t Takanuva. It was a colony of Electric Spiders.
✴ ✴ ✴
Takanuva heard the shout resounding through the Archives, stood up, and ran in the direction of the commotion, illuminating the passage as he went. But where the peaceful Archives had once been a source of calm and peaceful reflection, now they were a horrible maze, and Kapura’s panicked shouts resounded all around, seeming to come from every direction.
The Toa of Light was feeling his anger building when he saw a faint flicker and a buzzing noise coming from a corner in the distance. He was starting to pick up his pace when he felt something slam into him from below.
Instinctively, Takanuva hurled a beam of light at his attacker. But Tamaru reeled.
“Takanuva! It’s me!”
“Tamaru! Are you okay?”
“Yes,” the Le-Matoran rubbed his eyes, temporarily blinded. “But I think Kapura’s in life-trouble.”
Takanuva stood and hurried the rest of the way. He needed not round the corner, however, because Kapura’s quivering orange and red body provided a large warning-sign where the web was.
“Takanuva! I have been ensnared by these spiders!” Kapura grunted.
Takanuva peered in the direction he was trying to gesture and frowned. They were Electric Spiders, by the looks of it. The Toa shuddered at the sight; the Makuta had deployed hordes of Electric Spiders in the Rahi armies that abducted the Turaga during his quest for the Toa stones. Electric bolts were jumping out of the Rahi to the walls and lingering before vanishing, giving the appearance of the spiders having dozens of legs as they moved closer to their victim.
The Toa of Light tugged at Kapura, trying to get him free, but the web was too thick. He reached to his back to retrieve his Staff of Light, only to remember he’d left it near the Rahkshi exhibit. Grunting, he pulled with all his strength at the Ta-Matoran, but to no avail.
A jolt from behind caused him to jump, and he narrowly avoided falling into the web. The Toa whirled, kicking the spider and sending it flying down the passage. Returning to Kapura, he saw that the spiders behind him were reaching out to zap the web, a move that would almost certainly electrocute the Matoran. In a rage, Takanuva channeled lasers directly into the spiders’ sensitive eyes, almost certainly blinding them.
As they were reeling, Takanuva shouted and gave Kapura a final yank, pulling him free of the webbing and sending them both tumbling backwards. Takanuva stood up at once.
“What are you both doing here? This level hasn’t been cleared by the Ussalry!” he snapped.
“What are you doing here? You are a guardian of the city, and needed in this very hour,” Kapura responded.
Takanuva stared at the Ta-Matoran, before starting off toward Tamaru, who had regained most of his sight.
“Takua — er, Takanuva. We must quick-fly! Ko-Metru under Rahi-siege. Toa-help is of the essence!”
“So that’s what the fuss is about,” Takanuva responded, striding past him. “Let me retrieve my staff and I will be on my way.”
As Kapura walked up to Tamaru, the two Matoran exchanged glances and hurried after him.
But as the Toa of Light rounded the corner into the Rahkshi exhibit, somebody was already there.
“Takuanuva! What a joy to see you!” Taipu was standing above the Staff of Light, grinning from ear to ear. “Only… what are you doing in such an exhibit so grim?” He gestured to the long columns of Rahkshi, and the Bohrok just beyond them.
“Have you counted them since you got back?” Takanuva responded, scooping up the Staff. “Forty-two breeds. One for each Kraata type I suppose. And the Bohrok too. And look — detailed descriptions of Kraata and Krana.”
“Yes, it is a rather chilling exhibit given what we’ve been through,” Taipu shrugged.
“Chilling?” Takanuva responded. “This says that the Turaga knew all along! They knew about the swarms, knew about the Rahkshi. The Rahi too, no doubt — at least Whenua. But why wouldn’t they tell us?”
“We already know, Toa of Light,” Kapura said, as he approached from behind. “The Turaga kept their secrets for our protection. They viewed it as their burden, and so wanted us to live in peace, free of worry, without the impending fear of what Makuta could send at us. They imagined they would be able to take care of us when the time came.”
Takanuva shook his head.
“But they could have at least gotten us ready for the assaults. Maybe then… maybe then Ta-Koro would not have fallen.”
Kapura lowered his head at the memory, his eyes clouding.
As Takanuva rubbed his head somberly, he felt a hand on his mid-back. He turned.
Taipu was staring up at him.
“The Turaga just want us to be happy,” he said softly.
As Takanuva gazed upon the kind-hearted Matoran, and his expression softened. Realizing the truth in the Onu-Matoran’s words, he nodded.
“Yes… yes, you’re right. As you always are, Taipu.”
He strapped his staff to his back.
“I’m sorry, my friends. Let us go defend our city.”
✴ ✴ ✴
By the time the three Matoran and the Toa had resurfaced, word reached them that under the command of Kopeke, the Ko-Matoran had toppled old, abandoned Knowledge Towers at the icebergs, driving them away temporarily. But the icebergs had shifted their approach and now seemed bound for Le-Metru.
As Takanuva and the Matoran arrived at the coast, the six Turaga and six Rahaga were standing above the Matoran, busily directing the defense. Dume, however, awkwardly to the side, watching the efforts.
Dume turned as Takanuva ran up behind him. “You arrived just in time, Takanuva. The Rahi are about to make landfall again.”
“What’s going on?” panted the Toa, as the three Matoran hurried past him.
“After Kopeke single-handedly repelled the Frostelus from Ko-Metru, it afforded us enough time to cobble together a defense. Onepu mustered a Ussalry and Kotu collected some Razor Whale Riders and a water fleet, and both swept south fast. So many Matoran from the other Metru have been flooding in to help, and it’s all the Rahaga can do to hold them back and prevent them from overcrowding the battlefield. The Turaga and the defenses have enough chaos on their hands as it is.”
He added something under his breath, but Takanuva couldn’t hear it.
“How can I help?”
The Turaga of Metru Nui gestured to the shore. “The Ussalry and Razorbacks are fully deployed and braced for battle. The Gukko Force and Ta-Matoran Guard have arrived as well, but without the leadership of Kongu and Jaller, there is unease among their ranks. From Po-Metru some long-range artillery has been rolled in and the Ko-Matoran are hastily strategizing and coordinating the efforts, but against the Frostelus… I fear the worst. Frostelus once besieged a renowned fortress of Toa, and many valiant warriors lost their lives that day — many of whom I counted as friends. Only a lone Toa escaped, and he fled to this very city.”
“What are you doing over here?”
Dume chuckled softly. “I have no Vahki to deploy, and the Matoran react differently when I try to lead them than when the other Turaga do.”
“Goodbye.”
Dume raised an eyebrow, but nodded. “You’d best go, Toa, those icebergs are sweeping toward us pretty fast.”
Takanuva nodded and started for the beach.
As it happened, Kapura, Tamaru, and Taipu had already met up with the rest of their team waiting on the shore. Macku and Kopeke were pouring through carvings and battle plans. Hafu was standing before a pile of Kanoka with two in his hands.
“So these are the only disks they were able to salvage, huh?” He picked up a disk launcher. “How pathetic we must have been, to need launchers to hurl disks for us.”
“I wonder what our old selves would think of that statement,” Kopeke mused. “Primitive, perhaps?”
“Some more primitive than others,” Macku threw a glance at Hafu. “By the way, Hafu, don’t throw these like you normally throw disks. You throw Kanoka like a boomerang, but you won’t want to be on the other end of these when they return.”
Behind them, Kapura quietly picked up a launcher that was lying to the side of the Kanoka pile and loaded a disk into it. Eying it for a launch mechanism, his hand brushed the trigger while it was pointed downward, and instead of shooting a Kanoka, the force shot Kapura into the air. The Ta-Matoran tumbled to a stop some distance away.
“That’s one way-path to get where you are not,” Tamaru winced.
Takanuva covered his mouth at the sight. Are we truly ready for these Rahi?
A trumpet blasted from where the Ko-Matoran and the Turaga were convening, and as Kapura hurried back, all six Matoran and Takanuva gazed with horror at the icebergs that were silently banking along the Le-Metru shore. At the proper signal, the Gukko Force and Razorbacks under the leadership of Kotu pushed down from the north, attempting to drive the icebergs south. At the center of the Matoran line on land, Onepu’s Ussalry, the Ta-Metru Guard, and Po-Matoran artillery bombarded the Frostelus, coordinated as they were by the Ko-Matoran.
The Chronicler’s Company and Takanuva found themselves stationed on the leftmost flank of the line. With a howl, Takanuva ran closer to the center, intercepting several of the Frostelus and throwing them back.
“Ready guys?” Macku asked, exchanging glances with the other Matoran.
“Let’s give these Rahi the Kini-Nui treatment,” Taipu said, visibly thrilled. “Guys, I just want to say that I’m so happy to be a part of this team. I love all o — ”
“Shh,” Kopeke cut him off. “Not now.”
With the center and north parts of the line holding thanks in large part to Takanuva, the Frostelus attack was now spilling south toward them. Seeing his chance, Onepu ordered part of his Ussal cavalry underground, hoping to burrow beneath the shore and push the icebergs back to sea.
“They’re fast-coming!” Tamaru shouted.
In unison, the six Matoran started seizing disks and hurling them at the Frostelus. Many of them took effect instantly, shrinking or removing the poison from the Frostelus. But a sixth of the Kanoka were flying toward the creatures only to whirl suddenly and fly back in their direction. When one flew back and hit Taipu, freezing him instantly, Macku whirled at the Po-Matoran.
“Hafu!” she snapped.
Hafu glanced at the frozen Onu-Matoran.
“Whoops.”
Kopeke rolled his eyes. “He’ll thaw. Stay focused.”
The Frostelus kept bounding further and further forward, and while most of the Kanoka were enough to ward them off, there was one that dodged and jumped over all the disks flying in its direction. Tamaru shouted in surprise as he was right in its path, and he threw disk after disk. But the creature skidded through them and hurled himself at the Le-Matoran, toppling him to the ground. Leaning back, the creature’s back buzzed with energy as it charged a Rhotuka launcher.
A flash of blinding light leaped forward, right in the creature’s face. It reeled back, and a whack to the head sent it tumbling away. Takanuva advanced, hitting it again in the face with his staff. That was enough, it seemed, to send it scrambling backward, struggling to see.
“They’re fast-retreating!” Tamaru whooped, as the Frostelus scrambled for their icebergs. A cheer erupted from the crowds of the city’s Matoran as the icebergs pushed off from the shore and started north.
“No!” Takanuva realized as he stared into Ko-Metru. “They’re heading for an abandoned part of the city!”
With most of the city’s forces now helpless to stop them, the icebergs barreled through and broke the line of Kotu’s Razorback force. With the Ga-Matoran launching fire from the sides and the Gukko force swooping down and attacking from above, the Frostelus seemed intent on their destination.
“Takanuva!”
A hand from below grabbed Takanuva’s, and he jumped in surprise. Beneath him was Norik, the Rahaga of Fire.
“Takanuva, this is important. I need you to suck all the light away from Metru Nui except that surrounding the Frostelus. Fire a series of red lasers down at that patch of the Great Barrier,” he pointed. “Do it now.”
“Wait, why — ”
“Just do it.”
Concentrating hard, Takanuva focused all his mental energy on the world around him. The Matoran whirled in shock as, in an astoundingly short period of time, daylight dimmed to dusk, which in turn dimmed almost to night. The Toa fell to his knees, and although he felt like something inside him was about to burst, the light descending from the Twin Suns narrowed like a waterfall of light. The icebergs glowed with the effort, and rainbows illuminated the entire city and the Great Barrier as if from a ball of mirrors.
“This better be worth it,” Takanuva grunted. With all his might, he shoved only the red frequency of light in the direction Norik had indicated. There was a yelp, followed by flashes of flame jets and a fit of barks. Against the glow of the fires, strange silhouettes could be seen leaping down from the Great Barrier and racing in the direction of the battle. The Frostelus, for their part, being largely both blinded and unable to see past the spotlight, were in disarray.
“Pouks and Kualus had spotted them on their scouting trips a few days ago preparing for another attack on the city,” Norik explained. “We feared the havoc they would wreak — the last time they were here, apparently they destroyed a whole section of Ga-Metru.”
Tamaru tilted his head. “The Frostelus?”
“No,” Norik smiled grimly. “The Protocairns.”
As he was saying this, they could vaguely be seen in the reflection of the light. Colored black, red, and emerald, the column of beasts ran on the waters with their wide feet. As if guided by the red light, they slammed into the Frostelus icebergs and began demolishing them. Enraged, the Frostelus retaliated, using the ice structures to their advantage. The ocean was ablaze with Rhotuka spinners, and as the two sides fought, they drifted further and further from the city.
“Protocairns are drawn to the color red,” Norik explained. “In fact, their sense of vision is practically colorblind to everything except red. I learned this, to my horror, when I tangled with them as a Toa. The two species are bitter rivals, and the two colonies will batter each other into insignificance.”
At the direction of Kotu, several Razor Whales submerged and gently nudged the icebergs, increasing their momentum. Soon they were out of view even of the range of the spotlights, as they were lost among the Great Barrier. Takanuva exhaled, and released his control over the light of the suns, and daylight flooded back above the Silver Sea.
“You knew they were there?” Macku demanded. Takanuva’s eyes narrowed at her, and he knew at once the reason for her tension.
“Indeed,” Norik nodded, oblivious. “The Turaga had been discussing what to do about that, and the icebergs as well. We Rahaga were hoping to handle the Protocairns while the Turaga dispatched a force to the north, but the Frostelus attacked before we could do so.”
In a rage, Macku hurled a glare at Takanuva and stormed off. The Toa of Light frowned as well. Enough is enough.
✴ ✴ ✴
“Taipu! Taipu, answer me!” shouted Hafu, desperately scraping at the Onu-Matoran ice block.
Kapura appeared behind him with a Firestaff. “Stand aside, Hafu.”
“Where’d you get that? Did Vakama lend it to you?”
“No. Ta-Metru is littered with staves such as this. Firestaves are quite common here, it seems.”
“Hmm,” Hafu mused, stepping away. “I should see if I can find anything like Onewa’s fancy hammer… I’ve long wanted to add something like that to my collection.”
Some distance away, the Rahaga could no longer hold back the tide of eager Matoran, and the citizens of all six Metru flooded forward, eager to join their friends in Metru Nui’s defense. As the villagers mingled, Le-Metru was quickly overrun in a veritable sea of six colors.
“Astounding,” Dume marvelled to the other Turaga at the display of unity and kinship. “Truly… the Matoran have come an incredible distance since the Civil War. There can be no doubt that they have redeemed themselves for that price in the sight of Mata Nui.”
He stepped forward. “Attention Metru Nui!” he called at the top of his lungs. At once the Matoran hushed. “In celebration of this day, and when the Toa and our six absent Matoran return to us, we will hold a special Naming Day in honor of their heroism, as well as your own.”
A cheer erupted from the crowds, and Dume beamed, adding more to himself, “Then I will show you how Matoran really celebrate Naming Day.”
“The threat from the north has been averted,” Vakama added. “We can rest easy, at long last.”
✴ ✴ ✴
Some distance away, Kotu was looking on, enjoying the spectacle. Some herders were guiding the Razor Whales and the Ga-Matoran fleet back to Ga-Metru, but thankfully she was not needed to that end.
“Hail, Kotu!”
Kotu whirled to see Onepu approaching.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” the Ga-Matoran smirked. “Thought you’d make Taipu do your work for you or something.”
Onepu’s mood soured.
“Oh, not you too. That was just one time. Now that’s all everyone talks about.” He smiled devilishly. “After all, why focus on that when I have so many other qualities worth talking about?”
Kotu raised an eyebrow, but even she had to concede a laugh at that. Onepu at least appeared to be poking fun at himself, and the air was too electrical to continue teasing him. After all, Onepu had repeatedly set others before himself in the heat of battle, and there were few Onu-Matoran she would sooner have on her side. For a moment, she considered that his egotism was all a big, self-aware act.
She grinned lopsidedly.
“Never thought an Onu-Matoran could get so lost in the clouds.”
✴ ✴ ✴
Some distance away, Takanuva pushed through the crowds with some effort, stormed up to the Turaga, and pulled Vakama aside.
“So you knew of the threats to the city? That the icebergs were waiting to the north of us, and the Protocairns to the south? What they represented?”
Vakama gazed into his eyes for a moment before sighing.
“The Rahaga told us, yes. We kept it secret because we didn’t want to send the city into a panic. We figured we would handle it before it became a problem.”
“Turaga, with all due respect, the Matoran have proven again and again that we are not youths to be coddled. We are all veterans of the Rahi wars. See — once Jaller finally knew what the situation was, he found a way that even he could serve Mata Nui.Yet for all we know, he wouldn’t have reacted so strongly, shutting work down in the city and then heading south, if you’d been honest with him all along.”
“Takanuva — ”
“Time and again you do this. In recent memory alone, you have withheld to even me, a Toa, the whereabouts of the Toa and Matoran, the fact that Mata Nui is dying, the fact that Makuta could still be alive, that there is a brotherhood of Makuta, that there were icebergs to the north that could hold Frostelus, the truths of the Rahi, Bohrok, Rahkshi, and Makuta — yes I’ve been to the Archives. No, I refuse to accept that the Matoran do not deserve to know the very dangers that threaten their lives!”
Vakama stared at Takanuva for a hard minute before turning to look at the other Turaga who were all looking at him. Nuju and Onewa were shaking their heads at Vakama, but the rest were nodding or waiting to see what he would say. Turning back to the Toa, he finally relented.
“Very well,” he said. “Perhaps you are right. We would fail the Matoran as leaders to withhold any more trust from them. Let the age of secrets end, for good. The Turaga will no longer hide the truth from the Matoran, and they will learn everything — the whereabouts of the teams of Tahu and Jaller, the current predicament of the universe… even the truth of the stories of Lhikan and his team, which we had originally taught to you as the exploits of Lhii the Surfer. You will learn the truth of everything.”
He looked over his shoulder, straight at Turaga. “And I will even tell you of the final battle of Metru Nui, and the struggle for the Vahi that I was swept up in.”
“Oh Vakama… I had long wondered, yet I feared to ask,” Nokama breathed.
“Yes, all these and more will be revealed the day after tomorrow. But not before. The Matoran deserve a day of rest from their sorrows.”
Takanuva bowed his head, in relief. “You are wise, Turaga, and I thank you. But… may I at least tell the Chronicler’s Company of the location of Jaller and the others? I feel they were the closest of anyone to them, and would above all want to know.”
“If you feel that is necessary, then I will not stop you. But do not tell them yet of Mata Nui’s impending doom. I would rather explain this to them myself, but only if they ask me.”
“Thank you, Vakama!” Excitedly, Takanuva turned and started to run off.
“And Toa,”
The Toa of Light whirled.
“When you are done, bring Kopeke here. I wish to speak to both of you.”
✴ ✴ ✴
By the time the Toa found the Company through the crowd, Taipu had been fully thawed, and the six were alternating between chatting with each other and soaking in the admiration of everyone else. Takanuva caught their attention and, amidst the noise, directed the six of them to duck inside an empty nearby store.
When all of them had pushed through the crowds and squeezed in the relative quiet, Macku at once turned to Takanuva. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” Takanuva smiled at them. “But I think you’ll be relieved to hear that the Turaga have resolved to keep no more secrets.”
Macku’s eyes widened. “Takanuva, that’s extraordinary! At last, they will end the silly condescension!”
“Impressive,” nodded Kopeke.
“Once again, you achieve the impossible,” chuckled Hafu, shaking his head.
“So, where are Jaller and the others?” asked Kapura.
All six Matoran stopped talking at once and looked at the Toa.
Takanuva breathed in… and then out.
“The Toa Nuva, Jaller, Matoro, Hewkii, Nuparu, Hahli, and Kongu… They did indeed go to an island in the ocean above, as the Turaga said. But it is an island to the south of ours, one that should not exist but does. The Toa were originally sent by the Turaga to hunt down one more mask, a Kanohi with the power of Life itself. The Matoran followed to lend them their aid.”
Tamaru shook his head, snorting, “Will the mask-searching never end for the Toa?”
“Why would Hewkii leave without telling me?” Macku murmured.
“…Yeah, actually,” Hafu agreed. “Why wouldn’t they tell us we were going? Or give us the chance to come along? Don’t we have a right to decide whether we go or not as well? And what about Onepu or Kotu, for that matter?”
“I want to go on an adventure!” Taipu posited.
“No,” Takanuva shook his head. “Nothing short of Destiny has chosen these six. Even I was not permitted to go south with them, for I was forced to turn back along the way. These Matoran have been set aside by Mata Nui for this task.”
“The Toa of Light is correct,” Kapura nodded. “For were not we Matoran also set aside to defend the city today in lieu of the Toa?”
Taipu considered this and shrugged. “I guess this was a pretty fun adventure. Just wait until the Toa and Matoran return home and see what we Toa and Matoran have accomplished!”
Macku grumbled something under her breath, but said nothing. The others looked at Hafu who shrugged.
“Well,” he said finally. “I guess I know what I’m going to make your ice block into, Kopeke. Assuming I can fit all six of them.”
“Agreed,” the Ko-Matoran added. “Only my sculpture will not just feature those six, but Takanuva, us, the Toa, and all the heroes of Mata Nui.”
“Sorry, brother, but that’s something only elite carvers can pull off,” Hafu shook his head and placed a hand on his chest. “Even the other Po-Matoran have difficulty doing multiple characters out of a single stone block.”
“Then it is a good thing I am not a Po-Matoran.”
“I fear-shudder to think we have not built the city large-strong enough yet to sustain the weight of Hafu’s head,” Tamaru grinned. “Much less his collection of portrait-carvings of himself.”
Macku snorted. “Let’s not forget how many boats Hafu capsized in his attempt to bring all his ‘originals’ back to the city.”
“Oh, those were nothing,” Hafu laughed. “You should have seen all the Hafu Originals that were awaiting me here. I should have known better than to worry I wouldn’t be able to tell which house was mine.”
At Hafu’s cheesy grin, the Matoran couldn’t help but burst out laughing loudly and heartily, and for a moment, even Takua forgot himself. In his mind, he was a Matoran again.
✴ ✴ ✴
Vakama watched from a distance as the Toa of Light emerged from the shop, and the Matoran were lost among the throng. But the Toa leaned over to the white form of Kopeke beside him, pointing at the Turaga and starting in his direction.
The lone Turaga awaited some distance away from the larger masses, but his expression was one of relief, as if a large mantle had been lifted from his shoulder. Seeing them approach, the Turaga of Fire at once moved to intercept the Toa and Matoran, hiding one hand behind his back.
“Thank you, Takanuva. Kopeke, although I would normally announce something like this in front of the crowds, I didn't want to embarrass you, or put you in an uncomfortable position.
Kopeke said nothing, but tilted his head, intrigued.
“As you know, Takanuva has his hands full defending the city, and Hahli accompanied Jaller to the south. But the tales worth telling have only piled up, and there has been nobody to record them. Kopeke, you have committed great heroism, not only as a member of the Chronicler's Company, but in your quick-thinking and defense of Ko-Metru and stalling the Rahi. For your courage, I and the other Turaga have been talking, and we have decided we would like to extend to you the privilege of the role of Chronicler.”
“…”
The Turaga pulled his hidden hand from behind his back, revealing the Chronicler’s Staff. “You were always the greatest scholar of the social studies, Kopeke. And all this time you have spent observing the world around you. Would you desire such a role? It is a heavy mantle, but few have proven themselves worthy of that responsibility, and I know of no more suitable a candidate than you.”
Kopeke stared at the ground for a while, and for a moment, Vakama was certain he had made a mistake. But the Ko-Matoran raised his head.
“Turaga Vakama, I would take no greater delight than to assume this responsibility.”
Vakama exhaled, and he looked at Takanuva in a thrill, the latter of whom was grinning proudly.
“Excellent. Then the line of Chroniclers continues in you, Kopeke. By the name of Kodan, chronicler of the exploits of Metru Nui and the Toa Mangai. By the name of Takua, chronicler of the many many varying accounts of the tales of Mata Nui and the Toa Mata. By the name of Hahli, chronicler of the tales of the Toa Metru and the evils of Makuta. By their names, I charge you, Kopeke, that your carving tool may not falter as legends are weaved — and until our friends to the south are carried back to us, there will be a great many to tell. Thank you, Kopeke. I will announce this publicly very soon.”
“Congratulations, brother,” Takanuva squeezed Kopeke's shoulder.
Silently, Kopeke took the Chronicler’s Staff from the Turaga’s hands, bowed and hurried away. If Takanuva and Vakama didn’t know him so well, they might almost have missed the new spring in his step.
Takanuva beamed as he looked again at Vakama. “A wise decision, Turaga. I do miss the days of being a Chronicler.”
“Understandable. You had many heroic accounts to chronicle — Tales of the Toa, Tales of the Masks — tales of your adventures and those of the other Matoran. Yet I can’t help but feel deep down that the poor Ko-Matoran may have to record some of the darkest stories yet. Makuta and his designs are still a terrifying threat, whether he is dead or alive, and Mata Nui will not so easily be saved or awakened. I see now that it was nothing short of destiny that Jaller and the others should descend after the Toa.”
“Perhaps they will accomplish their destinies where I could not.”
Vakama threw a glare at the Toa. “Come now, Takanuva. You defeated Makuta himself, as I recall. Don’t tell me you’ve developed amnesia again.”
“No, Vakama. I failed to awaken Mata Nui, I failed to defeat Makuta, and the Master of Shadows is a menace to us to this very day. That was… that was the only thing I ever did as a Toa.”
The Turaga turned away and sighed. “Toa, you led us back to the land Mata Nui had promised us. Is that not enough? Do not forget all your accomplishments and all you did on Mata Nui, even prior to becoming a Toa. Look at what you did today — nothing short of a miracle from Mata Nui himself. You repelled the Frostelus twice, they and the Protocairns defeated each other, and not a single Matoran was killed. Mind you, dozens of Toa have fallen before these creatures.”
“I suppose.”
There was a moment of silence. Then Takanuva turned again to Vakama. “Turaga, did you mean what you said earlier? That the age of secrets is over?”
Vakama nodded. “Secret-keeping will be a hard habit to break… But yes. It was arrogant of us to withhold so much information from you — our very siblings. It was a lesson we should have learned from Dume, actually, for if he’d kept fresh in our mind the horrors of the Matoran Civil War and Great Disruption, or if he’d told us of his battles on the Tren Krom Peninsula or Lhikan’s struggles against the Dark Hunters, then the story of the Great Cataclysm would have certainly been different. But he can hardly be blamed for such mistakes, and destiny had other plans anyway. Nevertheless, I meant what I said.”
Takanuva lowered his head, smiling softly. Vakama placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I know what you saw in the Archives. I once told you before that our Prophesies said the Makuta’s defeat would end our troubles. But I also said the Prophesies have changed. Although I spoke as honestly as I could of my visions, the premonitions of the flames, I often withheld meanings of these prophecies — meanings that I feared would spread needless terror among the Matoran.”
A splash of exploding color in the sky before them caught the Toa’s attention. It seemed that a bunch of Le-Matoran had found a stash of fireworks and were firing them in every direction. Dume looked like he was urging them to be mindful of the surrounding skyscrapers and buildings, but when one of them accidentally set one rocket firing in the direction of the Great Barrier, the weary Turaga gave up trying to enforce the rules on the unruly Matoran. Begrudgingly, he joined with the city’s Matoran in the festivities. Seeing the Turaga of Metru Nui dancing awkwardly, Matau ran over to teach him the Great Takara.
Vakama smiled sadly.
“I also told you that something far darker lies in store for us. Of all the prophecies, that one seems to have come true. Indeed, now you stand as one of the Toa themselves, and Mata Nui’s greatest heroes, yet your heart is burdened as it never has been before. The people have seen the shadows lingering in your heart, and they fear it. And in a time where you are more loved than ever before, you make yourself an outcast.”
Takanuva sighed.
“When I was a Matoran,” the Toa said, “I thought Toa could do no wrong. They were the embodiments of the forces of light, after all. Certainly they butted heads… I have even chronicled the story of their fight with the Shadow Toa, and how, even as they united and fought each other’s opponent, they recognized that the darkness was a part of them. But I am so young as a Toa, and I fear that where they are strong, I will be weak. What if, where the other Toa controlled their shadows, I cannot? What if I cannot live up to the mantle of the Toa of Light and the darkness consumes me?”
Vakama chuckled softly. “You were there for my stories, Takua. In those days, I succumbed to the very fear that now frightens you. I let the beast within me take control, but even then, the will of Mata Nui prevailed. I am sure that if that were to happen to you, you would find the strength to overcome it, as the Toa Mata and the Toa Metru did. Sure there is light and shadow within all of us, but there is also fire, no? Light and shadow are just elements, and one of them was corrupted by Makuta due to no fault of its own. It is evil itself, not mere shadows, that you must fear.”
Takanuva shook his head. “I do not understand.”
The Turaga patted his back. “I recognize that you do not, and that is fine. But the time will come when you will have to realize that the world is not mere shades of black and white… and that you cannot judge a carving by its title. But that is a lesson for another day.”
The Toa nodded. “I eagerly look forward to your instruction.”
“I eagerly look forward to teaching you. But come, Takanuva,” he gestured to Macku and Taipu who were calling for Takanuva to join them, “Your friends await you.”
✴ ✴ ✴
The partying in Metru Nui went late into the night, and the realm of the Silver Sea resounded with the rambunctious, joyful noise of the Matoran — the likes of which it had never heard as long as the city had stood. But even the most enthusiastic of Matoran tired, and with the exceptions of the city’s watchmen and guards, most crawled in time to bed and slept a hearty sleep.
So few remained awake. Yet even those few who were awake could not see deep into the shadowy night surrounding the city. If they could, perhaps they would have seen six Toa Canisters burrowing out from the very rim of the Great Barrier from the south. Falling as if from the sky, they splashed into the sea below.
With a silent urgency, the pods floated northward and drifted to a rest on the tip of Po-Metru. With a hiss, the lids of the Canisters unsealed… and six mighty warriors emerged.
“It is of the utmost importance that nobody detects our arrival,” the leader whispered. “Leave the Canisters on stealth.”
“This better-must be worth all the trouble.”
A few of them smiled softly, and as the Canisters resealed themselves and submerged beneath the surface of the sea, they began their trek into the city’s darkened streets.
The Toa Nuva had returned.