Chapter Three

The village of Po-Koro was located in the desert of the far north of the island of Mata Nui. Despite the fact Po-Wahi technically neighbored Ga-Wahi, his trip still turned out to be much longer and harder than anticipated. Deserts, it turned out, were much bigger in person.

Po-Wahi was a large, rocky expanse consisting mainly of the Motara Desert and vast, winding canyons. Its coastline marked the northernmost tip of the island, where Leva Bay was situated. Paths leading to Onu-Wahi and Po-Koro were common, since the area was generally an open one.

Located in the Motara Desert, Po-Koro was the village of stone, home to the Po-Matoran. It was the land of the greatest sculptors on the island, as evidenced by the sculptures that increased in frequency and scale the closer one came to the village. A harsh climate, featuring intense heat and sandstorms, kept most outsiders away. Village guards patrolled the area atop flightless desert birds called Dikapi.

Takua hadn’t been in the region long when he passed someone on the road, who seemed to be looking for good boulders to work with. The two exchanged courteous nods, and the traveler continued along, descending into a valley. There he found something he hadn’t expected to come across, not least in such a vast desert as this. It was a staff with the words Whenua’s Drill inscribed on the side.

He turned the tool over his his hands. How such a tool could have ended up here was beyond him. His first inclination was that someone from Po-Koro had stolen it and brought it here, but he rejected the idea - surely there was no way a Matoran would have committed something so outrageous… right? Nevertheless, he kept it for the next time he encountered the elder.

He wondered if the Po-Matoran he passed on the road might have some idea, but when he returned to the Po-Matoran, he seemed clueless. Still, he offers some helpful advice. He said, “You can use the drill to dig under some enemies and knock them over or to dig under walls like this one. Giant scorpions can be distracted with a boulder.” He gestured to a large pile of boulders beside him.

Takua thanked him for the tip and hurries on.

✴        ✴        ✴

Like Ga-Wahi, the path was swarming with Rahi. On top of the Electric Spiders and Fikou he had faced previously, he was also assailed by aggressive scorpions and birds. As he fended them off, he reflected on the Po-Matoran he met on the Papa Nihu Reef, wondering if he and other Po-Matoran became so good at throwing things because of all the Rahi they encountered in the desert.

When he neared the outskirts, he came upon two Po-Matoran outside the village limits. One was stuck under a pile of stones, leaving his Kanohi, hands, and feet the only things left visible. Spotting Takua cresting the dune, the free Matoran started waving his hands and pointing, calling, “Help! My friend is trapped under these rocks!”

Takua rushed over and began helping to remove the stones, too heavy for one Matoran, even with the enhanced strength of a Po-Matoran. “What happened? Rahi?”

The two Matoran exchanged glances, then answered at the same time.

“No…”

“Yes!”

Takua gave a confused look. The trapped Matoran shot a glare at his friend, then grinned sheepishly at Takua. The other Matoran added, “We were practicing Koli when a wild kick smashed those boulders over there… Will you help us?”

Takua nodded as he pushed another rock off. He had heard about Koli, but never seen any matches. The game had been the joint inspiration of Turaga Onewa and Turaga Whenua about 600 years ago, meant to settle a clash between Onu-Matoran miners and Po-Matoran carvers. The sport was primarily played in Po-Koro, and the players here tended to take it the most seriously.

As Takua pushed the last of the boulders off, the liberated Matoran picked himself up and dusted himself up. His friend punched him in the shoulder playfully, only for the latter to grimace. “Ow!” he shouted. “Quit it. I’m sore all over.”

“Thank you for saving Podu!” the other said, turning to Takua. “I couldn’t have done it without you!” He shot a glare at Podu who again grinned sheepishly and nodded.

“Unnh, thanks. You can take this Amana Volo. I’m not using it.”

“We’re lucky you came by!”

“No problem,” Takua returned. “Actually, I’m not just passing through. I’m sent by Turaga Onewa in Ga-Koro to help you find Onewa and deliver an important message.”

The two Po-Matoran exchanged a questioning glance. “Let me get this straight,” Podu began. “A Ta-Matoran sent from Onu-Koro to help the Po-Matoran?”

Takua simply nodded.

Podu shrugged. “Well, you’re on the wrong path. Cross over this dune, follow the canyon, and you’ll arrive at the road leading to the Path of Prophecies. That will take you the rest of the way.”

“Thanks!”

✴        ✴        ✴

As Takua set off again on one of the many paths from the desert, he not only found their instructions very accurate, but the road they’d indicated was much more direct and fast than the one he’d been following. In no time, he found himself on the Path of Prophecies, a cobblestone walkway flanked on either side by six chiseled statues of maskless Matoran heads. Takua looked up at them in awe as he approached.

All the structures in Po-Koro were built from rock and sand and were designed to blend in with the surrounding area. Here the Po-Matoran carved stone into intricate forms, which they then traded to other villages for goods they needed.

Before he could cross the threshold, he was intercepted by two guards.

“Stop!” the first one barked. “Who are you!”

“What do you want!” barked the second.

“Why are you here!” demanded the first.

“How do we know you aren’t an ally of Makuta?” demanded the second.

“What’s the password?” shouted the first.

“There isn’t a password!” asserted the second.

“That’s right. Ok, you can pass,” shrugged the first.

“I already live here!” the second said, turning to him.

“And now, so does he!” beamed the first. “I’m Ally, this is Piatra. Enjoy your stay, traveler!”

“Thanks,” chuckled Takua. “I’ll be sure to.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Behind its high walls, the people of Po-Koro resided in multiple domed huts hewn from stone, and frequently traded and bartered for goods at the local bazaar. Toward the northwestern corner of the village was its Koli field, which went seldom unused by the athletic enthusiasts. Of course, its use had dropped as more Rahi attacked the village. Now, with Onewa gone, no one was playing Koli.

“Does anyone know where Onewa might be?” Takua asked one of the vendors.

The vendor shrugged. “The Turaga often confers with the Turaga of other villages. In fact, Onewa often meets with Whenua. I think they’re good friends.”

“How could I be sure?”

“Talk to Huki. He’s probably on the Koli field right now. Huki’s an incredible athlete. He is skilled in both disk throwing and Koli playing!” The vendor looked around and leaned in slyly. “You didn’t hear it from me,” he said, “but I’ve heard that Huki is good friends with Maku from Ga-Koro…”

“And if I can’t find Huki?”

“Then find Hafu. Hafu is a master carver. Have you seen some of his stone carvings? All those ones you saw on the road in are his.”

Takua nodded slowly. “Thanks…”

Much as at Ga-Koro, the village banter seemed relaxed. As Takua walked, he caught snippets of conversation, listening for signs that Makuta’s forces had struck. Somehow, a quiet voice seemed to rise above the louder hustle and bustle.

“All this sand and dust is making my mask itchy!” the voice was complaining. “I’m tired of all the dust and boulders here. Why couldn’t I live in Ga-Koro? I can’t take dry heat! I’d much rather live in a more humid climate…”

Takua glanced over. To his surprise, the grousing was coming from a Matoran in green and purple armor - the resident Treekeeper… who had caught Takua’s gaze.

“Traveler!” he called. “Someone has damaged the Vuata Maca Tree for our village, and we need two Vuata Maca crystals to heal the tree. Please find the Vuata Maca crystals and return them to me.”

“May as well,” Takua shrugged. “I found the ones for two of the other villages.”

“I’ve heard,” the Treekeeper said. “Keepers of the Vuata Maca Tree pass much information along the grapevine. I was hoping you would come here next.”

“Has Onewa been seen lately?”

“No. He’s been away from the village for some time.”

“I don’t have time to waste, then,” Takua frowned. Makuta’s minions have already done their work. He started off. “I’ll find the crystals,” he affirmed over his shoulder.

✴        ✴        ✴

Exiting the way he came in, Takua followed other trails through Po-Wahi, searching the surrounding canyons for signs or clues that might lead to Onewa’s whereabouts. For quite a while, there wasn’t much to see—not even many Rahi. Finally, along one path, he found his first clue. It was another abandoned tool - some kind of small staff, its head under a pile of stones. Pulling it out, he saw that it was Onewa’s Hammer staff. The Turaga carried it as his tool and badge of office. The replica tool was strong enough to break boulders about the same size as those he had used against the Makika in Ga-Wahi.

Takua frowned. On one hand, it was more clear than ever that the Turaga had been kidnapped. On the other, it meant he was on the right path. Moreover, in a rocky place such as this, the Hammer would significantly widen his search by clearing rock slides or barricades.

The region of Po-Wahi was lined by fissures and gaping chasms. More than once he found himself jumping from one narrow ledge to another, all while fending off the relentless assaults of the Rahi. The Vuata Maca Launcher was also so handy that he could not imagine how Matoran navigated the land without it.

As he traveled northward, he comes to a chasm so long and deep that there was a long bridge constructed. Crossing it and smashing open the boulders that blocked his way, he discovered the first Vuata Maca crystal. Crossing another chasm with his Volo Lutu Launcher, he arrived at a large archway. As he passed into a large canyon, he was surprised to see the second Vuata Maca crystal lying not far from the path.

Both crystals already, Takua thought. That was fast.

“Help!” a voice drifted over the dunes. “Help!”

Takua hurried through the sandy dunes and over the winding stone walls. His bright blue and red armor must have shown clearly against the tan realm, for the Matoran seemed to notice him immediately. “Help!” he said. “My Moa Bird is trapped behind those two boulders and neither of them will move!”

Takua scrambled over to the dunes. Raising the heavy Hammer, he brought it down hard, splitting the first, then the second boulder.

“Thanks for helping me get my Moa Bird out!” the Po-Matoran beamed. “I wish I had something I could pay you with, but unfortunately…”

“No need,” Takua frowned. “Does this happen often? Landslides and earthquakes?”

“No, it doesn’t,” the Matoran replied. “But it’s been happening a lot lately. About the same time this barrage of Rahi started. I wish I had elemental powers at my command like the Toa so we could stop them!”

Takua nodded. “I see.” Like many Matoran, he wished he could have elemental powers as well, though as he thought about it, he realized he couldn’t choose which of the six elements he would prefer. Presumably he should naturally prefer Fire given it was the element he hailed from, but he could see the appeal of the other five too. No, he decided, If I were endowed with elemental powers, I would want it to be something altogether unheard of.

“Are you heading to the village?”

“No, I’m actually searching for Turaga Onewa.”

“Oh, I saw him pass by here a while ago. He seemed headed for the far northern region.”

“Thanks!” Takua smiled. “I’m sure I’ll find him in no time.”

✴        ✴        ✴

Hours later, he was much less optimistic. The whole of the desert blended together in some combination of brown stone canyon and endless tan dunes.

It wasn’t until heard the crashing of the waves and the cries of seagulls that he found he was facing the rocky beach of Leva Bay.

“I’ve come all the way to the northern tip of the island,” he muttered, amazed. It both felt like it had been years and like it had been days since he had left Ta-Koro. So much had happened, and he had come so far.

But he still had so much to do.

✴        ✴        ✴

Takua doubled back, in the direction he hoped would lead him back to the Matoran he had encountered. As he was nearing him and ready to ask for directions, his heart almost leaped into his throat. The Matoran froze in his tracks, then crept slowly backward, behind a nearby stone wall.

What he had seen and been wise enough to avoid was a pair of kangeroo-like Fusa. Known for their powerful punching arms and walloping legs, they were a scrappy breed, frequently picking fights with each other as much as other Rahi or Matoran. Indeed, that seemed to be the case here, for the two were delivering devastating blows to each other. One of them wore an infected Kanohi mask, a tool Makuta used to maintain his grip over the Rahi, while the others seemed to have come loose and lay trampled on the ground below. The two fought directly in front of a giant pillar with a Kanohi Miru engraved on it in the rock wall. A private enclosure, he realized. But whose?

Takua frowned. He had to investigate the pillar, which had been placed there for a reason. But first he had to get past the Rahi.

He considered. His projectiles would no doubt succeed in startling the Rahi, but with the thick hides of the Fusa, they were unlikely to send them packing. The Firestaff and Trident would be about as useless, for flinging light and water would only irritate them. He could try to drill directly beneath them, but that would most likely bring their incredible bulk down on him.

That left the Hammer… and as he stared at it, an idea formed.

Running further up the path, he whipped out the Hammer and brought it down with all his strength. The crack boomed through the canyon. Though he could not see it, the Fusa immediately looked in his direction.

Takua moved a pace forward and hammered the earth again. This time, he let out his deepest growl. All told, it was a meager effort, but he put his heart into it.

Once again, he took a step up, and a third bang resounded.

He stopped, listening. So far, he hadn’t heard any noises, and the thought occurred that this could backfire very badly. But it was too late now.

Right as Takua feared his plan would fail, he heard a scuffling ruckus. Poking his head around the stone wall, he was delighted to see the kangaroo Rahi forms shrinking into the distance. Takua grinned.

That left the pillar.

There was no doorknob, nor any platform he could roll boulders on. But as he searched along the ground, he discovered two small dirt mounds. Activating his drill, he burrowed into the earth beneath them, bumping into two hidden mechanisms. When Takua activated them in quick succession, the pillar descended into the earth, presenting a narrow path in a hidden bowl-like rocky encroachment. A narrow path along its side led directly to… Turaga Onewa, imprisoned and surrounded by dozens of bug Rahi that burrowed in and out of the ground.

“Could be worse,” Takua muttered. This journey had already seen him ward off dozens of such bugs without much thought. Charging in, he threw rocks and Madu at the Rahi when they surfaced. They screeched in irritation at the newcomer in their midst and charged at him.

“Watch out!” Onewa shouted. Takua turned just in time to see one surfacing behind him and threw his disk at it. The projectile hit it so hard the creature was thrown into the canyon wall where it fell motionless. The Matoran turned back to the other Rahi, which fled in fear.

Stowing his weapons, Takua approached the elder. “Turaga, are you alright?”

“Better now,” Onewa responded. “But how to escape? This cage is too confined. If you try breaking the bars, well…”

He didn’t need to finish his statement — if Takua tried smashing the bars with his Hammer, it could seriously injure the Turaga. The cage was not suspended as Whenua’s had been, but it was surrounded by five pillars like the ones he’d just seen earlier.

Looking around, he noticed more dirt mounds like the ones he’d seen in front of the original pillar. Activating his drill, he burrowed into the earth and triggered the mechanisms beneath the five mounds, causing each column to lower in succession. As the last pillar fell, the cage doors fell open.

“Bright move!” Onewa complimented, even as Takua resurfaced and brushed the sand off his armor. “I had my doubts when my brothers and sister said a firespitter would be the one to repel this attack, yet here you are.”

He started walking to the path Takua had been following, adding over his shoulder, “It was so hot in that cage! Let’s go back to the village, it’s much cooler there.”

✴        ✴        ✴

The duo returned to Po-Koro without much trouble. Onewa followed suit of the other Turaga, giving Takua an Amana Volo before sending him out again.With Onewa’s Hammer in hand, he could now proceed along the southern path. Wielding the powerful tool, he made short work of rubble blocking the path. As he was collecting throwable stones out of the remnants, he spotted something that almost made him drop them. Bagging the stones, he hurried up the path slightly where he spied a Matoran bamboo disc.

The disc was buried in dirt and apparently forgotten. But as he pulled it out and dusted it off, he tested the balance. He threw it, and per its design, it flew out and returned to his hand. It’s as good as new.

The bamboo disc was an incredible find, and Takua wielded it expertly, bouncing it off of multiple Rahi at a time and defeating them skillfully. The Madu fruits were old news. This was what he needed.

His increased skill helped him to breeze past more Fikou, scorpions, and Electric Spiders — giant Rahi emitting stabbing forks of electricity from their bodies.

Along this path, he was pleased to find far less chasms, but it wound around in a long spiral. Takua was so distracted by the easy path and the scenery that when the trail bottomed out he found himself face to face with something that sent chills up his spine.

Kofo-Jaga.

Already among the most fearsome Rahi, Kofo-Jaga were diminutive fire-scorpions that in tandem could fell beasts or Matoran many times their size. Resembling a cross between a scorpion and a giant wingless firefly, the bites and stings of the scorpion seared like the heat they commonly basked in. Most commonly, the scorpion had a long gray body with orange and red extremities.

Kofo-Jaga were normally swarm creatures, but here Takua was faced with only one. That alone would have been a relief if not for one simple fact: the scorpion had been enlarged to ten or twenty times its natural size. The Kofo-Jaga was about as large as the Matoran was, and while it would be far more deadly, its movements appeared awkward and ungainly, as if it were still getting used to its unnatural growth.

Dimly, Takua seemed to recall hearing about such an enlarged Kofo-Jaga. At the time, the scorpion had been described fearfully: The King Scorpion.

Now, the Rahi noticed Takua and charged. The six-legged creature snapped its pincers and screeched in aggression. Reflexively, Takua opened by throwing rocks, Madu, and his disk at it, but none seemed to have an effect on the Rahi. He tried the Firestaff and Hammer next, but still no effect. That left the Drill.

But that’s not a weapon, Takua thought, jumping behind a large stone column as he evaded another strike from the creature’s stinger tail. He scrambled away as the blow smashed the column to fragments.

But maybe it still can be…

Takua backed up against a wall of the valley, readying the Drill. The Kofo-Jaga advanced slowly, then lashed out with its stinger. Takua burrowed out of the way and underground, causing the stinger to hit the rock wall with full force like the boulder, damaging its tip. The creature reared back in pain.

Every little bit counts… Takua encouraged himself. As he waited underground, he heard the footsteps of its insectoid legs. He positioned himself under the center of its body and sprang up from under the rock and sand. The force of his exit combined with the creature’s already lowered guard was enough to flip the creature onto its back, leaving its legs waving in the air. With the scorpion lying in too much pain to right itself, Takua knew he'd earned himself some time.

He looked around, trying to find the stone. He turned back to where the Kofo-Jaga lay, and already, it was starting to right itself. That was when he spotted something tucked in the armor of the scorpion.

Fearfully, he approached the scorpion, careful to avoid its swinging legs and tail. Pulling the object out of its armor, he revealed the Toa Pohatu Stone. It glowed with a soft bronze color.

Smiling, Takua quickly left the area to return to the village of stone.

✴        ✴        ✴

Twilight brought Takua back to Onewa’s village, where he handed over the second Vuata Maca crystals. The tree lit up with coils of energy, allowing a liveliness to return to the village’s daily activities. The Treekeeper, for his part, was ecstatic.

“Long live Pohatu! You’ve recovered both of the Vuata Maca Tree crystals that we need to survive!”

Onewa smiled warmly. “You’re the best, Takua! The desert just won’t be the same when you’re gone.”

“Oh, he doesn’t have to leave just yet, does he?” came a hearty voice from behind him.

Takua turned. Standing behind him, his arms folded and a smirk on his face, was the leanest, most athletic looking Matoran Takua had laid eyes on. As he spoke, he spun a large rock on one finger.

“Besides, you won’t want to travel by night,” the Matoran added, gesturing with his hand. “The desert gets too dangerous. Tougher Rahi come out for nocturnal hunting.”

“Huki is right,” Onewa said. “Takua, stay here for the night. Here we will also express our appreciation for your services. Your work can wait until dawn. But now that we have torch and the light of the Vuata Maca Tree again, darkness will not confine us to our beds.” He smiled wryly. “It’s time for a Koli match!”

The whole Po-Matoran crowd erupted in cheers.

“I am the village Koli champion!” Huki shouted to Takua, as the mob of eager Matoran swelled forward, sweeping them to the field. “Let’s play the first game! Kick as many rocks into your opponents’ goals as possible, while defending your own. The player that makes the most goals wins! If you win all the village games, you get the Copper Mask!”

Looks like I don’t have much choice… thought Takua. “I can’t wait! But I’ll, uh…need a refresher on the rules.”

Podu approached and began walking Takua to the Koli field. “You’ll learn fast,” he said. “On the face of it, it’s a simple game. Just a very strategic one. Teams number anywhere from two to six players, but they all have the same number of members. Everyone agrees on the number of goals to win, and the first team to reach that many goals, wins. Or there can just be a time limit and who has more goals wins. Each team has a defender that guards the goal while the others go after the ball.”

“And what if I’m no good?” Takua asked.

Podu smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry. If you knock it into your own goal, it doesn’t count. And, if you’re the defender you get a shield. All offensive players can use hands, feet, and heads to try to move the ball to the goal. And that’s when it gets fun!”

“What does? Making goals?” Takua asked, as they neared the field.

“Well, yes, that, too,” Podu said. “I meant playing with multiple Koli balls!”

“Excuse me…?”

“Oh! Any number of Koli balls may be played, but balls in play must number less than either the number of teams, or the number of players per team—whichever is smaller. Just try not to strike another player and play well, for you are representing your village! Our Turaga will oversee the match — Did you know that Turaga Onewa is known as The Referee? Just be careful when playing against Huki. Huki likes to crush boulders with his feet and his head. Ouch!”

The two Matoran (along with a large portion of the village) had reached the Koli field now. Takua followed the crowd’s example, placing some extra athletic padding over his gauntlets and shins. “Wait,” he said, “so how many teams and players are playing tonight?”

“Four teams, and four on each team,” Podu said excited.

Takua gulped.

✴        ✴        ✴

The first round, Takua held his own better than he’d expected, although he and his teammate took third place. Huki immediately met him after the game, saying, “I love Koli Football. Let’s play another match!”

The second round saw Huki paired with Takua, and together they managed to squeeze out a win. Takua wasn’t the best at the sport, but found that he still enjoyed himself, perhaps the most out of any village game he had ever played. By the end of the night, he was exhausted, almost as equally from Koli as from his exploits in helping the villages and fighting Rahi. The stone bed wasn’t what he would have preferred, but as fatigued as he was, it barely made a difference.

✴        ✴        ✴

At sunrise, Takua awoke to find the village bustling again, as carvers and merchants hurried about their business. Huki was in his home, but when Takua went to bid him farewell, he seemed a little ill. The Ta-Koro native wondered if the athlete had come down with something in the excitement of the prior night.

Onewa met him at the gates of the village.

“Thank you again, Takua, for getting our Toa Stone back! The desert is safe once more. You are now free to go to the next village!”

With those words and soreness all over, he resumed his journey, moving south to begin the next part of his mission.