Chapter One

Just inside the tunnel gate, Takua stopped and took in his surroundings. He did not remember the last time he had visited the region of Onu-Wahi, and when he did, it certainly hadn’t been in this region. Now he marveled as the tunnels seemed to stretch down, down, down, into the gaping darkness below.

Takua walked on, nearing Onu-Koro’s village gate. He stopped when he reached the two guards posted there.

“Halt! Who goes there?” called one.

“Yeah, who goes there?” his companion reiterated.

Takua was about to answer when the first spoke again. “I already said that!” he stated sharply, turning to his comrade, annoyed.

“Said what?”

“Who goes there!?”

“Why are you asking me? I’m a guard!”

The first guard rubbed his forehead, then sighed and turned back to Takua. “My name is Damek. What is your business in Onu-Koro?”

The second guard again chimed in. “Yeah, what’s your—”

“No!” Damek cut him off, holding up a finger. “Just let him answer, Kaj.”

This time, Takua finally could. He cleared his throat. “I received word from a messenger that I was needed in Onu-Koro.”

“Hm. Maybe he’s here to help fight?” wondered Kaj.

“Ta-Koro is known for the strength of their guard,” agreed his companion. “Alright, traveler. You may enter.”

✴        ✴        ✴

As the village of earth and home of the Onu-Matoran, Onu-Koro was, suitably enough, entirely underground. Its primary cavern provided a massive, habitable dome dotted with earthen structures and landmarks. The village was located entirely underground, composed of dark tunnels, caves, and mines that plunged deep beneath the surface of the island. Here, the Matoran of Earth excavated minerals like ore and protodermis, competed in Ussal crab races, and listened closely for the terrestrial vibrations that warned of danger approaching.

The ore and protodermis mines which fueled the Onu-Koro economy possessed such a vast subterranean network that it extended underneath most of the island. When the Matoran were in harm’s way, Onu-Koro was a good place to hide. In the worst of times, Onu-Koro tunnels were used to get messages from one village to another. It was defended by the Ussalry, Matoran mounted on top of large Ussal crabs.

The earth village could be reached via a vast labyrinth of Matoran-made tunnels extending across the island, with known entrances opening at every region. One more entrance existed from which Takua had come, the nearby Papa Nihu Reef. Many of routes served as highways, allowing traders from other villages to sell their wares at Onu-Koro’s famous bazaar, which led to the village becoming a major center of commerce on Mata Nui. Other tunnels connected back to the massive mines extending deep into the earth.

Very little of Onu-Koro spilled onto the barren surface, for the Onu-Matoran eyes that could see great detail in the dark were sensitive to bright sunlight. The only sources of illumination were luminescent crystals called Lightstones embedded in the clod huts, tunnel walls and ceiling. Likewise, Matoran of the other five villages were unable to see as well as the Onu-Matoran, preventing them from setting up permanent homes and leaving Onu-Matoran as the primary residents.

✴        ✴        ✴

As he walked through the streets, Takua found himself admiring the pinpoint twinkles of Lightstones, touched as he was with a strange sense of nostalgia, unlike any he had experienced before.

Proceeding toward the central village plaza, the traveler saw the Onu-Suva, a shrine and tributary to the prophesied Toa of Earth. The villagers themselves were most commonly miners and engineers, historically guided by the individual Takua was seeking—Turaga Whenua. Oddly enough, he couldn’t seem to find him.

At a loss of where to go, Takua made his way through the village, looking for any clues for the whereabouts of the Turaga.

Strangely, the Onu-Matoran — normally a welcoming bunch — seemed too preoccupied to notice the foreigner among them. Only one took notice of him, and this one ran up to him.

“Our village is in desperate need of your help!” the anxious Matoran exclaimed. “We fear that the Vatuka Beast has Whenua and he is being held captive in the passageways to the east! You will need Vakama’s Firestaff to see your way in the dark tunnels. It can be found in the village near the suva.”

Takua agreed to help if he could, and he hurried through the village to find clues. As he made his way through the village, Takua couldn’t help overhearing worrisome snippets of conversation that sounded increasingly dire.

“Did you know that the Drill of Whenua has been lost? I’ve heard that the Drill of Whenua lets you quickly tunnel under the Earth…”

“I’m sure Whenua will be happy when the Drill of Whenua has been found!”

“Whenua was last seen near the mines…”

“Have you gone into the mines yet? I’ve heard a dangerous rock creature lives in the mines. They call it the ‘Vatuka.’”

“Someone told me there are infected Hoi living in the mines! Have you ever seen a Hoi? Hoi shore turtles make great stepping stones, and normally they’re pretty cute, but I tell you, you don’t want to mess with them when Makuta’s infected them!”

Takua knew he could attest to this, but he could not linger long. As he combed the village for clues, he spotted Vakama’s Firestaff resting not far from the village Suva. The glow of the Firestaff let him see more clearly in the caverns, and by flashing it he could stun opponents with night vision.

Along one of the underground rivers, one of the Onu-Matoran squinted at him. “Our village elder, Whenua, has gone deep into the mines. You will need to find him and return here afterwards.”

Takua did not appreciate the tone of this Matoran, but he understood the urgency. His patience was tried still further when the same Matoran asked, “Haven’t you found Whenua yet? Try looking some more.”

Catching himself before he did something rash, Takua left.

If he was to find Whenua, he would have to find the right path into the mines. He spotted a path branching off the village’s northernmost side. As he was getting close, a tan and black-armored Matoran with a black mask stopped him.

“Takua! Wait! I am Taipu, who stands to the right of Whenua during the Great Takara. Something terrible has happened to Whenua! He went to inspect the mines, and we haven’t seen him since. You have to find him!”

“Someone else asked me to too. But why do I have to find him? I don’t know how to navigate the mines.”

“Onepu would go, but he’s defending against an onslaught of Makuta’s forces to the south,” Taipu said. “And… Whenua left strict orders that no Onu-Matoran can pursue him until the village’s safety is assured. But, well… you’re not an Onu-Matoran. Please, Takua, I don’t want to disobey Whenua, but I don’t want Makuta to kill him!”

Takua eyed the Onu-Matoran. Although it would be easy to dismiss such a request as being one of cowardice or laziness, Takua had the strangest sense that Taipu meant every word. As the Onu-Matoran gazed pleadingly into his eyes, Takua decided that the request was truly earnest.

“Very well,” Takua inhaled. “I will find him.”

Not that he had the faintest idea how.

✴        ✴        ✴

The Firestaff gave him light along the way wherever lightstones did not, and it did an adequate job of scaring off most Rahi. Sometimes it was enough to hurl Madu fruits to knock their masks off. But every now and then, he would have to ward them off with the light of the Firestaff. Contrary to the fears of the Onu-Matoran, however, he did not encounter any infected Hoi.

To his alarm, he found himself also contending with no small amount of natural hazards as well. As he walked, boulders fell out of the wall and rolled at him, and stalactites fell from the ceiling as he passed under them. Their noise was usually enough warning for him to get away, but the further he wandered, the more this happened and the more he wondered if he’s contending with the Makuta himself.

Unfortunately, it was when there seemed to be nothing except Rahi and unsafe mining conditions that Takua started to panic. How deep was he? Had he made a wrong turn? Should he turn back? The tunnel had seemingly gone for hours — or had it been days?

Takua was on the verge of turning around when small tremors nearly shook him off his feet. Vibrations in the ground seemed to be coming from up ahead, where the tunnel branch ended in a room-like cavern. Dousing the light, Takua leaned around the entryway to get a look inside.

The room only had a couple of lightstones embedded in its ceiling, but as Takua’s eyes adjusted, his heart sank.

It was Whenua. Locked in a cage and suspended in the air.

There was no way to tell if he was alive or not, but it was definitely Whenua. His arms were draped through the bars.

Takua’s already-dim vision blackened briefly and he felt a swift breeze sweep past. A terrifying chill went up his backe. Something had passed in front of him in the room. The name spoken in hushed whispers by the Onu-Matoran returned to him.

Vatuka.

The shape moved in front of Whenua again, still indistinguishable. As it doubled back this time, though, it turned underneath the light of the other lightstone, allowing some brief illumination on its features. Part of Takua wished he’d never seen it.

It was a hulking form with a head and arms, but moved on a pile of rock from the waist down. The boulders constituting its form rippled as it patrolled the cavern, and it was easily two to three times Takua’s height.

Later on, when he reflected upon the experience, Takua could not explain what happened next.

He didn’t even consider running. Lunging forward, the Matoran ran forward into the cave, prompting the Vatuka to spin and immediately engage. Its arms reached out for him and its face of rock twisted into a bellow. But before it got close enough to physically attack either of them, it raised its arms and roared. In response, lifeless rocks spontaneously rolled toward each other, forming three smaller rock creatures bearing the likeness of the large Vatuka.

Takua froze in his tracks. Now what?

The stone elemental itself wasted no time, and as it advanced, Takua desperately hurled Madu fruits, stones, and whatever he could get his hands on. Somehow they seemed to work, for the Vatuka looked weakened by the barrage.

The monster was now within arm’s length of Takua, and as it rose to its full, towering height, Takua threw one last desperate Madu fruit. The projectile struck the monster right in its core, and the Vatuka keeled backward as its rocks fragmented and separated. The smaller creatures were coming back, but Takua quickly knocked them apart temporarily. The stone elementals appeared to be defeated, though the traveler did not want to stick around to see if it would last.

As the traveler took one last cautionary look at the stone elemental, he spotted a glowing green object nestled in among the broken form. Taking tentative steps forward, he pushed the stones aside and retrieved the glowing object. The moment he made contact with it he felt a sort of shock, like a jolt of energy and strength. New power welled within him and he felt ready to take on another Vatuka.

An Amana Volo Sphere, Takua realized. He had heard of these objects, although he had never possessed any himself. Perhaps it was this sphere that gave this Vatuka its unnatural strength, beyond any others of its kind, in the task of guarding the Turaga. No doubt it was the Makuta who gave it to the elemental beast in the first place.

There was a groan within the cage, and the Matoran raced over. But the prison itself appeared sealed shut.

Deep within the cage, the Kanohi mask that adorned the Turaga’s face lit up, and light flooded the cavern. “Look.” came his hoarse voice. “There are two weight-bearing platforms over there, not far from the wall. Rolls some boulders onto them and you’ll trip the switches beneath them. If you hurry, we may just escape in time.”

Takua looked down. True enough, he spied two platforms in the ground resembling those outside the Onu-Koro gate. Rolling two large boulders over, he rested them on the platforms, triggering the mechanisms of the prison. The cage holding Whenua descended, and the doors fell open.

“Thank you for rescuing me! You’re quite the adventurer. We had better get back to Onu-Koro! There is much that I must tell you. Follow me!” Whenua shouted, hobbling out and hurrying into the tunnels Takua has emerged from.

✴        ✴        ✴

By the time the pair had arrived back on the outskirts of Onu-Koro, their pace had slowed considerably. There was no indication that the Vatuka had survived, much less pursued them. Helped as they were by Whenua’s Mask of Night Vision, they had navigated back without incident.

As Takua emerged from the tunnels, the first thing he saw was Taipu running in his direction.

“Takua!” he shouted. “There were tremors and we feared the worst. Our Turaga, did he…”

As Takua stepped into the light, the noble form of the Turaga appeared.

“It’s alright, Taipu,” he smiled. “We are both safe… although you and I need to have a word…”

✴        ✴        ✴

“I am grateful again for your aide,” Whenua said finally, once they were alone in his hut. “I am glad the Onu-Matoran heeded my command, but they should have respected the spirit of the law rather than the letter. I’ll have to explain the difference to Taipu…”

“It was no problem at all,” Takua grinned. “It was… actually kind of fun.”

“Do not be fooled. It is a time of great danger, Takua. The island of Mata Nui is under siege by the evil Makuta! Dangerous beasts wearing the infected masks of Makuta roam the land. Each of the six villages on Mata Nui are in danger!”

“Ta-Koro has resisted Makuta’s minions for centuries,” Takua nodded, sitting on a stool. “It will not fail to do so now.”

“The village of fire is not the only village on Mata Nui,” Whenua shook his head. “We have remained separate for many years, but we cannot continue to do so now. Not when Makuta strikes the hardest he’s ever struck. His designs are at work even now, and I cannot guess his motivation… or the timing.”

“What’s happened?”

“I have heard that some of my fellow Turaga are missing… and their tools, like Vakama’s Firestaff, have been scattered about the island. Makuta has also stolen the sacred Toa Stones that are used to tell the legends!”

As he spoke, Whenua took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Through the darkness, legends and prophecies have aligned, showing that it is time for the Matoran to enter a new age,” he continued. “The time of helplessness and fear is about to end. It is time for the Toa to arrive—these long centuries of patient waiting are over! When the Toa come, they shall bring an end to this Dark Time of oppression and hiding.”

Takua was amazed. Every Matoran had heard the legends of the mythical beings called “Toa” and their prophesied arrival, but they had been telling those stories for so many centuries, it was hard to believe it coming true now. For a while, he was stunned. “Well…what’s going to happen?”

“The six Toa Stones hidden across the island of Mata Nui must be collected and brought to the temple of Kini-Nui, at the center of the island,” Whenua answered. The place he spoke of was long a site for meditation and contemplation - a structure dedicated to the Great Spirit Mata Nui. “There, the mystical energies of the temple will activate the stones, summoning our warriors to the island from wherever they may be in slumber.” Whenua paused before driving the point. “You, Takua, have been appointed to this task.”

Takua, who had been fidgeting on the wobbly stool, almost fell over. “What? Me?” He wasn’t sure where to start. “Turaga, I’m nobody. I’ve even lost status within my own village. I can’t do something as important as this!”

“You have already proven your courage by helping to rescue me from the Vatuka, something the Onu-Matoran either did not believe in or thought impossible,” Whenua answered. “That experience will make most other Rahi in Onu-Wahi seem less threatening by comparison.”

Takua thought for a moment. He hadn’t seen himself as heroic, just that he wanted to help.

“Takua, you have done much so far, but I must ask this of you. You must seek out the Toa Onua Stone in the passageways north of here. If the Toa Stones are not recovered, the Legend of Mata Nui cannot be told.”

Takua’s blank, distant expression hid the growing fears in his heart.

Whenua stopped and looked away, as if he were grappling with the decision to say something.

“Alas,” he finally said. “That is not the end of it. The Vuata Maca Tree that provides fruit to our village has been poisoned! Only by finding the two Vuata Maca crystals and returning them to the tree can it be healed.”

“Turaga,” Takua said, rising and bowing before the Turaga. “I will find them and return them to the city.”

“You have the heart of a Toa hero, Matoran,” Whenua smiled. “Though I wish I could send my mightiest Matoran, Taipu and Onepu, they are needed to defend the city. But take this,” he said, obtaining an object from a travel satchel and handing it to the Matoran. “You will need it.”

It was a strange mechanism with two handles and a launcher. “This will allow you to grab onto objects from a distance. The Volo Lutu ball here,” he pointed to a rounded red sphere on the front of the mechanism, “can attach to any object. When it does, you can either pull the object to you or pull yourself to the object. Whichever is heavier.”

“Oh wow! This will be so helpful!”

The Turaga of Earth smiled. “Come, my friend. Let’s go.”

✴        ✴        ✴

A copious sense of peace fell on Onu-Koro with Whenua’s return. Every Onu-Matoran around waved, gave a welcome, or expressed their relief. All were quick to spread word of their leader’s rescue. The first thing Whenua did was help Onepu direct the village’s defenses, so they wouldn’t be caught by a second Rahi attack. The second thing he did, once those forces were in place, was to publicly recognize Takua’s bravery.

Once the brief honors were done, Takua found himself again wandering the village, this time in search of the Vuata Maca Tree Whenua had spoken of. If the Vuata Maca crystals were to be sought out, that was the best place he could think to start.

By the time he found it, he was struck both by a sense of familiarity and by horror. The Matoran that guarded the tree was painted in the same bright green and purple, appearing much the same as one that held the same office in Ta-Koro. But the tree itself appeared black and withered.

As Takua was about to step forward, he felt a mighty, black-armored hand clap his shoulder. The Matoran spun and was met by the grinning expression of a black-armored Onu-Matoran in a purple mask.

“I am Onepu,” the newcomer declared, “the greatest of all Ussal Crab riders in Onu-Koro. The sacred Toa Onua Stone has been stolen from Kini-Nui, the largest temple on Mata Nui! With our Toa Stone stolen, we need a champion to retrieve it. Do you think you are good enough to search for the Toa Stone?”

“Whenua already told me of the situation,” Takua explained. “I’ll do my best.”

“Very good,” Onepu nodded, directing him to the tree. “The Vuata Maca fruit scattered around in every village will help you recharge your energy. Make as much use of them as you need.”

This caught the attention of the Treekeeper not far away. “But we’re running low, Onepu! Without the tree to sustain us, we will run out soon.”

He looked at Takua. “Our village is in desperate need of your help! The nearby Vuata Maca Tree that is the source of our food and energy to our people has been poisoned. In order to restore this tree to health, you must find two Vuata Maca crystals and bring them to me. And as Onepu said, someone has also stolen our sacred Toa Onua Stone! Please help us, Takua.”

Takua grimaced. Never before had the hopes of so many Matoran rested on him. But could he deny them?”

He swallowed hard.

“I will find them.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Takua was no miner when it came to underground networks, but even he could tell that these paths were not as regulated as those in the east from which he had rescued Whenua. Cracks were wide and ledges were as tall as he was; he had to climb up and down facets as much as walk the trail to progress. The result was a more time-consuming and arduous endeavor.

He came across one chasm that was larger than the others, with no way around and too long to jump. A flare from the Firestaff allowed him to see across the fissure. The flash of light revealed one prominent stalagmite on the other side. That stalagmite might work well as an anchor point for the Lutu, he thought.

He fumbled his equipment in his hands, producing the launcher and taking aim where he had seen the rock spike. A pull of the trigger gave a sound and sent the red sphere flying from the tool straight forward, where it disappeared into the darkness. A second sound meant that the projectile stuck to the stalagmite.

“Alright, so now I just retract and hold on tight…” Takua mumbled nervously. He took a step closer to the edge and slung the Firestaff to his back. Closing his eyes tightly, he triggered the retraction control. The launcher — carrying a terrified Matoran — flew to the unmovable point of contact across the gap. When the launcher came close to the target, the sphere returned to it.

“Haha! Whoo!” Takua exclaimed, exhilarated. “That was…surprisingly fun!” After that first experience, reusing the Volo Lutu wasn’t so daunting, and Takua quickly began making faster pace through the caves.

As he traveled, he grew increasingly adept with his Madu fruit. Nor was there any shortage of target practice. The mines were crawling with the treacherous Fikou spiders, a large breed of spider with a knack for ambush. To make matters worse, the spiders had a powerful bite and could tunnel through soft earth. It was only their habit of chirping when excited that warned the Matoran of their approach.

Accompanying the Fikou were wild Ussal crabs that had fallen under Makuta’s influence. Identifiable by their powerful legs, long claws, and large beady eyes, these crabs could tunnel through any kind of earth and rock. Although domestic Ussal frequently trilled and warbled, their wild cousins were silent and menacing.

✴        ✴        ✴

Soon, Takua reached the inner bowls of the mines, evident by the slight increase in lightstones. Takua approached one of the walls, running his hand over the rock. Using his powered Firestaff to help provide closer light, he searched for the distinctive Vuata Maca crystals. Thankfully, it didn’t take a miner to identify them—not only were there Vuata Maca Trees in every village, and so all Matoran were familiar with their crystals, but they had a distinguishable size and green color. It wasn’t long before he’d found the first. Not far beyond it was an abandoned, yet still-functional mining elevator which he rode up. But if he was hoping for a change in scenery as he arrived on the upper level, he was to be sorely disappointed.

“Nice,” he muttered. “More tunnels.”

As he stepped out of the elevator, he was surprised to see some explosive projectiles called Madu Cabolo, which he bagged for later. Yet even this useful find wasn’t enough to dampen his disappointment. Even as a wanderer, Takua was starting to get tired of this scenery. It was so enclosed, so dark. This new tunnel had very little light and was barely wide enough for him to fit.

His monotonous journey gave rise to carelessness. A Jaga shrieked and jumped out at him from a crack in the side wall, ready to drive the stinger on its tail through his armor. “Ahh!” Takua yelled, jumping back, frightened. Reflexively, he threw one of the Madu Cabolo in his hands at the Rahi creature.

The result, as could be expected, was explosive.

The accidental detonation rocked the entire tunnel, raining rocks down all around Takua. He covered his head with his arms and tried to avoid the falling hazards. When the barrage stopped, got up and brushed the dust off his armor.

“Stupid!” he spat. “By Mata Nui, this is the last time I’ll—”

He stopped. Something had been revealed by the Cabolo’s explosion. The crack from which the bug had crawled was now blown open, revealing not only a Vuata Maca hidden in a cache in the wall, but also another chamber inside.

Takua entered and, as he did, the ever-present light from his Firestaff lit up a pedestal. On the structure was a slightly conical object resting on its base with a rounded-off tip at the top. A small indentation bisected the stone vertically, and at half its height a symbol had been engraved: three dots created a diagonal line, with the center bigger than the other two, and a double-rounded curve on each side surrounded that line, completing and framing the image. The object’s material and surface were inexplicably smoother than any carved stone he had seen before. It also glowed with a soft blackish-purple aura.

“The Earth Toa Stone,” Takua guessed. It had to be—this sacred of an item, in this hidden of a place? Takua took the stone, noting how light yet durable it felt. Putting it away, he turned from the chamber and carefully retraced his steps back to Onu-Koro.

✴        ✴        ✴

“Onua be praised!” the Treekeeper exclaimed. “You’ve recovered both of the Vuata Maca Tree crystals. Please do the honors — place them in the tree to return it to health.” As Takua inserted the crystals into niches in the tree’s trunk, the gardener backed away. The crystals glowed brighter to the point where they were no longer visible. The color of the tree’s trunk changed from withered red-orange back to a lively green once more. The crystals’ niches pulsated with energy, and the ends of the branches curled around spheres of energy that would eventually mature into Vuata Maca fruit.

“You have done well, Takua.” The voice came from Whenua, observing the Vuata Maca’s restoration of power. “Thank you for getting our Toa Stone back! You are now free to go to the next village.”

“Must he leave so soon?”

Takua and Turaga Whenua whirled. Striding up to them, his grin broader than ever, was Onepu.

“You have done well, Takua. But to continue, you must first race me, Onepu, the greatest of all Ussal crab riders! Join me and the other racers and collect all eight buried crystals to win. Each crystal will give you special abilities.” He threw a glance at Whenua. “With your permission…”

The Turaga considered this, then smiled.

“Makuta’s onslaught has receded… for now. We can take this brief moment of respite.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The game, as Takua quickly learned, was straightforward enough. Titled “The Great Ussal Race,” it tasked Matoran mounted on Ussal Crabs with navigating a small labyrinth of tunnels and retrieving crystals. Takua had had his fill of this sort of job already, but the Onu-Matoran were honoring him by letting him compete. To sweeten the deal and even the odds, Onepu even generously lent Takua his personal Ussal crab, Puku.

The game was over fast, and to Takua’s shock, Puku had carried the day. Yet even without his Ussal, Onepu had performed exceptionally, and Taipu had demonstrated his raw might. As the teams shuffled back into the village, Takua overheard some commentators remarking on the game.

“I think Onepu cheats. How else can he be so good?”

“Hah! Just pay up.”

“Well, have you raced Ussal crabs against Onepu yet?”

“Don’t be a sore loser. Onepu is an awesome Ussal Crab rider. Taipu too. Taipu and Onepu are the best of friends, but that won’t stop either in competition.”

“Sure, but Taipu is the strongest villager in all of Onu-Koro. I’ve actually heard that Taipu can lift many times his own weight…”

As the Matoran villagers basked in the excitement, Whenua pulled Takua aside.

“All of Onu-Koro is filled with pride. We celebrate your success, but my heart is also filled with sadness… For the news from the other villages is not good. All breeds of Rahi under Makuta’s control have scattered throughout the land, awaiting his command to descend. You must go to the other villages and help them! Go to the northwest passage and make your way to Ga-Koro.”