Chapter Five

Takua returned to the tunnel of the Le-Koro Highway to see what progress had been made. On seeing Taipu again, the tunneler greeted him wearily but eagerly.

“Onepu told me you found a way to the lightstones,” he said warmly. “Thank you, adventurer. We can dig much more quickly now. I am sure the highway will reach Le-Koro soon!”

And with that, he took another swing at the rock in front of him. Suddenly, light shone through where once was rock.

The tunnel was complete.

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“We did it! We’ve made it through!” exclaimed Taipu jubilantly. “Onepu was right. It is so beautiful here. Whenua said I should make camp when we break through, but I want to go to see Le-Koro and the tree-Matoran… Le-Koro is right through those trees, I bet. Won’t you take me with you to see it?”

“No,” Takua frowned. “It’s safer if you stay here.”

To the Chronicler’s surprise, Taipu looked devastated. The crestfallen Matoran looked at him, then nodded obediently. “Okay… if you say so. I hope Whenua lets me visit it soon, though.”

He picked himself up and turned to the other miners, organizing them. “We have to work hard to make the tunnel entrance big enough for freight crabs.” Under his breath, he added mournfully, “I wish I could visit Le-Koro, though!”

Takua sighed. It was clear that Taipu had his heart set on exploring, and as someone who delighted in wandering the island, how could he not sympathize? Taipu had carved out so much of the highway to try and see the village, and after all, Taipu had been willing to protect the traveler through the tunnel. The others could make camp.

Takua walked up to Taipu who looked at him hopefully. “Yes, I will take you, Taipu,” he conceded.

Taipu cheered. “Thank you! I bet it is more beautiful even than the Great Mine! Let’s go!”

The Matoran was so excited he was practically dancing as he ran ahead into the trees. As Takua hurried to catch up, he paused and looked around. “I’ve never seen so many plants!”

He ran along some roots and peered into the trees. “I wonder where the people of Le-Koro are?” he mused.

Further up the path, he scrambled atop a rock. “IT’S HERE! LE-KORO! I’VE FOUND IT! IT’S BEAUTIFUL!” he shouts. No sooner did the words escape his mouth than a large creature swooped down from the treetops, picked up Taipu, and flew away with him!

Takua’s heart sank. What have I done!?

He rushed ahead. Perhaps the inhabitants of Le-Koro could help him save Taipu. But where was Le-Koro? All he saw was a large tree in the swamp.

A closer look at the base of the tree revealed what appeared to be some sort of elevator, carved out of large pods and attached to long vines. Takua climbed in the nearest pod.The controls resemble the three wavy lines I saw on the map back in Onu-Koro. A few presses of the buttons, and he was soon ascending up into the high branches of the tree.

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As he stepped out of the elevator, he was amazed to discover an entire village in the treetops. But all of the huts appeared to have been closed up and abandoned. Where were the inhabitants? Was there anyone who could help save Taipu? Takua decided to search the village to see if there was anyone, or anything, that could help.

He didn’t go far before he discovered an abandoned flute outside one of the huts. He picked it up and pressed a large, blue key on the instrument. As he did, the other keys of the flute lit up in sequence. He decided to try his hand at playing the flute using the same sequence of keys. When he did, a short, hauntingly beautiful melody issued forth.

Before the last note had died away, the village suddenly sprang to life. Windows popped open and inhabitants peeked out. Other villagers appeared from higher up in the trees. They eagerly jumped down to greet the traveler, some more skillfully than others. One began to speak to me.

“Forgive but village attacked by Makuta’s evil beasts! Feared you were Rahi but no Rama plays Flute like that, so downtree we come and greet!”

“What attack?” Takua asked.

“In last rainfall Kongu on patrol saw Rama-hive growing topleaf-high, far in dark forest. Lateknowing Matoran, Rama infected by Makuta! One drift ago, cloudsneaking Nui-Rama fly on Le-Koro to destroy all. Quicksoaring Kahu-riders treelaunch, and great battles fought! Village still stands, but many lost!”

The dialect was unlike anything he’d heard in his trip so far, and trying to keep up was almost enough to make his head hurt. “What is a Rama?” Takua wondered aloud.

“Nui-Rama, buzzflying Rahi!” the green-armored villager answered. “Hundred-eye, allseeing, fright and fury! Makuta-Madness makes even worse! Wings mash, pincers grab! No chance for Matoran alone, only Toa bold enough to stand against it, yet cunning Rama sneak-swoop-smash and fly out of reach!”

“Who are you?” Takua inquired.

“Tamaru of Le-Koro!” he replied. “Highfly Vinesman, deepwood Wayfinder! Chief Kahu-tamer! Matau’s best! You are the brave wanderer that some speak of! Braver still, for coming to Le-Koro! Amnesia accompanies the repute throughout the villages, although your highcourage was clearly not lost.”

Takua was startled and a little embarrassed that his reputation had preceded him, especially since it was fear of the Nui-Rama and his failure to protect Taipu that had brought him here, not bravery.

“Traveler beware — darktime come,” interrupted the villager next to Tamaru. “Matau stolen, Lewa gone! Le-Matoran prepare for battleflight!”

“Who are you?” Takua asked.

“Kongu, fastest Leaf-Runner!” he replied. “Everquick pilot! Weaver, mapmaker! Le-Koro Matoran!”

“Who is Matau?” Takua continued.

“Matau the Singer!” replied Kongu. “Down talk, up singing! Friend and laughter! In lifedawn years past, was known Matau Kewa Champion! Matau, great Turaga of Le-Koro and soul of the forest people! Gone! Gone! Taken by Makuta’s Rahi!”

The villagers here spoke in an odd manner, but the more he listened, the more Takua thought he understood what they meant. “Who is Lewa?” Takua pressed on, already suspecting the answer.

“Lewa, great Toa of Air!” said Kongu. “Hero of Le-Koro! Gone away in quest for the Great Kanohi. If he were here, he would save us, for he has faced greater dangers than this, and survived! Are you here to help in the defense, traveler? Le-Koro needs brave windriders to face the Rama!”

Takua was not certain, and started to say, “Goodbye,” to each. Kongu sensed his hesitation.

“Uptree battle, downtree peace! You choose, but if Rama come, try to stay under cover!” he said simply.

“The forest can protect you, traveler, if you heed it!” added Tamaru.

There would be no saving Taipu if he headed back down. Perhaps if he helped the villagers, then they could help him retrieve Taipu. With no other options, he headed “uptree”. As he did so, he noticed a dark cloud growing in the distance.

“Rama-swarm! Scramble!” someone shouted.

Large birds appeared on one of the platforms, a long strip of platform. Fearlessly, the villagers mounted the birds and then flew off into the sky toward the dark cloud of Rama. Kongu climbed atop a bird close by and motioned for Takua to come over.

“Traveler, will you be my second?” Kongu asked when Takua arrived. “My Kahu stays treebound without a Disc-thrower!”

Again, Takua almost balked. A second to the captain of the force? Takua had no experience throwing discs off a bird’s back. Kongu sat back in his saddle. “Then downtree go! Safe there from Rama-swarm! I will find another!”

“Downtree?”

“Tamaru longwaits there,” Kongu added. “Sidelined because he is afraid of flying and cannot highfight. But I will have to summon him if I can find no other.”

That dispelled any lingering question. Takua immediately agreed and mounted the Kahu bird.

“I hope your Disc-arm is as strong as your nerve!” murmured Kongu, passing the Chronicler a set of bamboo discs. “Lewa protect us! Let’s go!”

One of the Le-Matoran villagers held up lights to direct the air traffic as the birds shot into the air. When Kongu and Takua’s turn came, their Kahu raced forward and Takua felt the force of momentum and gravity pulling him down and back as they gained speed. In no time at all, they were off into the skies to face the Rama swarm.

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Kongu barked orders as the birds ascended the canopy. “Break formation, but back up your wingman!” he shouted. “May the wind be ever under your wings!”

Then they came. Rama after Rama came at them, eager to swat the riders out of the sky. Takua launched his discs as fast and as hard as he could, aiming carefully to knock the Rama down. He was able to hit many. Others retreated.

As each Rama came, they peppered the Kewa with attacks, and as Takua fought to keep up with each attack. To his horror, several slipped through the defenses and damaged the Kewa’s wing. Kongu gave a grim look as the bird fell from the air. With hardened resolve, he directed the bird into a glide as they plunged to the canopy.

Terrified, Takua clutched the bird with all his strength. As trees and vines whipped past, Kongu suddenly shouted, “Jump!”

Both Matoran threw themselves from the Kewa, and as they did, Takua flew into a long, strong vine. By some miracle he was able to catch it, even as Kongu caught one of his own, and the two landed on a long branch.

Takua looked at Kongu, expecting anger that they had been shot down, but Kongu was calm. “Are you okay traveler?” he asked. “Honor the forest, and it carries us safely earthward every time. Let’s not pause. Rama-swarm rages, help needed uptree!”

Without another word, Kongu bounced off, bounding from branch to branch and along vines. He seemed to be taking a path Takua could follow, for the traveler managed to keep up.

They had not landed far from Le-Koro, and Takua was surprised at how quickly they returned to the platform. There was one more Kewa waiting for them, replete with discs, and they wasted no time in mounting it.

As Takua was climbing on, Kongu asked, “Had enough windriding, traveler? Or liking the taste of it, now? The Rama-swarm rages!”

Takua nodded, and Kongu returned the gesture grimly. “Hope the trees deliver us gently if we are knocked down! Let’s go!”

This time Kongu flew like a determined madman, resolved to catch up to the battle. This time they took no shortcuts, and first they were up in the clouds. Then they dove down into the trees. At every turn, the Rama still came.

This time Takua was able to keep up with the assault. Emboldened by their successes, Kongu pushed on, taking the fight to the Rama. What at first appeared to be a small mountain in the distance soon became clearer. With a gasp, Takua realized what it was: the Rama hive. Incredibly, Kongu flew up along its wall, then plunged into its very mouth!

The hive was narrow, and here in their home the Nui-Rama fought most viciously, and this Kewa too was badly injured in the skirmish. How Kongu guided the bird to a landing, Takua would never know. But they soon arrived safely on the floor of the hive, as safely as one could in this place.

As Takua looked around, he realized there were other villagers here. Even Taipu was hard at work nearby! All were watched closely by small blue Electric Bugs. Kongu hurried over to the tallest of the prisoners. Takua stepped over, and now the tall prisoner turned his attention to him.

“It is an honor that you sought to save me, traveler, but I am sorry that you made the attempt. But with song we will know hope, and hope brings freedom! Keep your voice down, traveler, and sing as you work. And hope Lewa comes to save us.”

“Who are you?” Takua asked.

“I am Matau, called the Singer by the people of Le-Koro,” he replied. “I am their Turaga. I have been imprisoned here since leafdawn.”

“Will Lewa come to save us?” Takua inquired.

Matau’s expression fell. Fixing the Chronicler with a hard expression, he replied, “You are not of this tribe, so I will tell you of Lewa, but you must swear not to reveal what I am about to say to anyone. Lewa is here. But he will not save us.”

Matau looked around, making extra certain that no one except Kongu could hear. “The great Toa is the same in body, in strength, and in speed. But his mind is gone. He has been attacked by the Makuta and enslaved by evil. His Great Mask of Power has been replaced with an infected mask, and the only way to bring him back is to take it off. And I know of nothing with the strength to overcome him. He has become more fearsome and horrible than any Rahi. We shall never escape this place. All that is left to us is song, and what small comfort it brings.”

The Turaga directed Takua to some tools. “Take care, and do your work without resistance. Nui-Rama are not clever, but they see much. They know when we are plotting.”

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Takua was about to begin his work when he saw him. He was just a speck, high up the walls of the hive. But then he came closer, accompanied by his Nui-Rama handler. Takua knew instantly from his infected mask that this had to be the once-great Toa Lewa.

Everything about him seemed dark. Takua could see within the claws of the Nui-Rama beside him what must have been Lewa’s original mask. As the Le-Matoran picked up on the fate of their heroic Toa, their shock was palpable.

Suddenly, another tall, black-armored stranger sprang from the very ground beneath their feet, hurling himself into battle with Lewa, who raised his battle axe and charged at the stranger.

The mask of the black-armored stranger changed shape and appeared to power up. Lewa’s attack was thwarted by some sort of shield emanating from the mask. Lewa was thrown backward into the wall of the hive. The jolt appeared to have changed him.

“What… what’s happening to me?” he howled. “My body… not my own… My mind… get out of MY MIND!” he screamed. And then the darkness returned to him.

Lewa and the stranger launch into battle again. The fight moved quickly all over the hive. Lewa scored a frightening blow, and the stranger was thrown into the wall of the hive. As one of the blue Electric Bugs crawled out to survey the damage, the stranger’s mask changed once again.

Small bits and pieces of debris suddenly floated up into the air around the stranger. And then, the Electric Bug joined the floating cloud of debris. Before Lewa realized what is happening, the cloud was hurtling toward him, bug and all. Lewa tried to react, but the bug struck him a blow to the head, knocking the infected mask off of his face and onto the floor.

“His mask! Get his mask!” exclaimed Matau.

The stranger looked to the Nui-Rama that was hovering nearby. The beast could no longer hold onto Lewa’s uninfected mask. Instead, the mask floated down to the seemingly confused Lewa, who put it on.

Instantly, a change came over the Toa. He leaped high into the air and onto the back of the Nui-Rama. It was Lewa’s mask that changed now. As it did, the Nui-Rama ceased its struggling. The beast appeared to be fully under Lewa’s control.

Victorious, Lewa and the tall stranger, who must be Toa Onua of Onu-Koro, collected the prisoners. As Kongu’s reinforcements arrived, the prisoners escaped the hive aboard the Nui-Rama and the faithful Kahu bird. There would be much rejoicing back at Le-Koro with the return of the prisoners and, especially, Matau.

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In Le-Koro, Lewa approached the Kini of Le-Koro. The shrine opened, and he descended into it. When he emerged again, his green mask had become gold. The achievement was yet one more reason to celebrate in Le-Koro, and even Taipu was dancing!

“Traveler, it is good to see you again after all our adventures!” Matau said, approaching Takua during the festivities. “Return to treebright Le-Koro was so long hoped for in the darkwet Rama Hive! Take this Flutesong; it fits in the Flute you found. Whenever you need help from sunsoaring Le-Koro, playsong and you will have it!”

“What of Lewa and the Golden Kanohi?” Takua asked.

“By bringing all the Great Masks of Power to the Suva, it has given to Lewa a Golden Kanohi,” Matau replied. “Some legends say that after the Golden Kanohi are found, there will come the Toa Kaita – but I do not know what this is.”

As much as Takua enjoyed a good party, he felt that perhaps it was time to find the next village. Takua told Matau, “Goodbye.”

“Many thanks to you, adventurer, for helping us to highbranch home!” he said as Takua departed. “Goodbye, traveler, and fare well!”