Chapter Four

Hahli returned to the central crossroads of the island of Mata Nui. This time, she took the path to the right of the Onu-Ga-Koro Pathway, heading toward the snow-capped mountains of Ko-Wahi. Beside the path, a sparkling lake reflected the tall mountains in the distance. The path started to climb into the mountain itself, carved into the uneven rocky terrain. Vegetation became more and more sparse and a cold wind started to pick up as Hahli reached the end of the path. A rope ladder appeared to be the only way up, so Hahli climbed it to the top. The ladder led her up to a snowy ledge where the path continued. Finally, Hahli arrived at an icy plateau with a gate guarded by two Ko-Matoran. When she approached the two of them, neither spoke. “…”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am a temple guard,” one, named Talvi, replied. The other, Pakastaa, gave the same response.

The Matoran did not return her “Goodbye,” and instead looked at her blankly. “…” They certainly didn’t stop her, however, so she passed through the gate.

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She entered onto an icy courtyard with several rope ladders dangling from upper levels and doorways and windows carved into its walls. Directly ahead, a large temple-like ice structure loomed.

One Matoran was hurrying between buildings.

“Too many messages to deliver!” he exclaimed.

“Who are you?” asked Hahli.

“I am Erye,” he replied. “I’d love to stay and chat, but the others want me to hurry up and deliver these messages to each other.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli said, pitying him.

“Goodbye!” the other hurried off.

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Hahli made her way along the narrow icy path and entered the temple. Inside, three Matoran were studying writings on the many pillars supporting the structure. Ignoring them for the moment, she continued to the end of the hall, where two figures stood in quiet contemplation. Hahli approached the taller of the two first.

“Clack cleek?” he asked.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“Click woot Nuju,” he replied. “Toot click?”

“I don’t understand,” she admitted.

“Clack click Matoro. Toot whir clack clack!” he gestured to the other figure, a Matoran. Hahli turned to him next.

“Welcome, Hahli, to Ko-Koro and Mount Ihu,” he said. “I am Matoro. You are here to defeat us in Kolhii. Nuju bids you take comfort here.”

“Nuju?” Hahli asked.

“Turaga of Ko-Koro,” Matoro explained. “He has transcended our speech, so I speak for him. Is there something I may ask him for you?”

“Ko-Koro?” she asked.

“In Ko-Koro we contemplate the Destiny of Mata Nui and all its people,” he explained.

“Destiny?” Hahli repeated.

“The Architect spends much time meditating on the Virtue of Destiny,” Matoro suggested.

“Mount Ihu?” she asked.

“Ko-Koro is cradled in the slopes of Mount Ihu, highest of Mata Nui’s peaks,” Matoro said. “On Mount Ihu nothing grows and nothing changes. The mountain is perfectly at Peace.”

“Peace?” Hahli inquired.

“All Ko-Matoran strive to reach a sublime state of Peace,” he elaborated. “The Trapper has attained the greatest level of this discipline. He may speak of it, if you ask.”

“Who do I play against?” Hahli asked.

“He says you shall face Kopeke and myself,” he translated. “He says you shall learn to match our Will, and prevail. This saddens him, but he knows that it must be, if we are to survive.”

“Survive?” she questioned.

“I am sorry, but his language has become too difficult for me to comprehend. I do not know what he means by this,” admitted Matoro.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said as she turned to leave.

“Be at peace, Ga-Matoran,” the Ko-Matoran said as he and the Turaga returned to their contemplation.

✴        ✴        ✴

Before Hahli left the Sanctum, she spoke to each of the Ko-Matoran studying the Wall of Prophesy. All of them contemplated in total silence. “…”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked the first, whose name was Jaa.

“I am the Scribe,” he replied. “I copy Nuju’s translations of the Wall of Prophesy.”

The scribe did not return her “Goodbye,” as he resumed his work. “…”

Hahli turned to the next Matoran, Lumi.

“Who are you?” she asked him.

“I am an Acolyte,” the Matoran replied. “I meditate on Mount Ihu’s Anger.”

“Anger?” Hahli repeated.

“The Mountain knows rage,” he explained. “When it is angry the snows hurl from its peaks, and crash down in a terrible display. That is why we meditate on Peace in Ko-Koro.”

“Peace?” she inquired.

“Peace opposes Anger,” the Acolyte stated. “If we are at peace, the Mountain is at peace. If we anger, the mountain angers.”

Then, the Ko-Matoran was silent, similarly not bothering to return her “Goodbye.” Instead he regarded her stoically. “…”

Hahli turned to Kylma, the third Matoran.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I am an Adept,” he answered. “We decipher the Prophesies from the Wall.”

“The Wall?” Hahli repeated.

“The Wall of Prophesy,” the Adept replied.

“Prophesies?” she inquired.

“Do you wish to know the future?” he asked her.

“Future?” Hahli asked.

“Think carefully,” the Ko-Matoran cautioned. “Your future holds happiness and pain. Do you really wish to look into it?”

“Tell me of Happiness,” she told him.

“You shall unite Mata Nui and bring light to its darkest hour,” the Adept declared.

“Tell me of Pain,” she said.

“The one you love shall be destroyed!” he exclaimed.

The Adept actually said, “Goodbye,” when she did. He turned away to continue his work.

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Hahli left the Sanctum and returned to the Ko-Koro courtyard. In a small ice chamber off the courtyard, a Ko-Matoran Trader named Kokkan was selling and buying wares. He did not say much, but compared to the others so far, he greeted her warmly.

“Welcome to my shop!” he said. “If you see anything you like, let me know. Also, I buy Bamboo Poles, Rope, Sailcloth, Nets, Rigging, and Bladders, if you have any.”

Presently she did not need anything, so Hahli headed out.

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The Ga-Matoran quickly climbed the ladder to the right of the village gate and arrived at an upper level with entrances to two dwellings: one at ground level, the other up a short ladder. She entered the dwelling at ground level first. Inside was a Ko-Matoran known as Kopeke. He regarded her blankly. “…”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

Kopeke tilted his head. “… …”

Hahli shifted on her feet. “Goodbye,” she said awkwardly, as she stepped out of the cave.

“…”

She climbed the short ladder to the other ice cave, in which another Matoran named Jaatikko was quietly standing. “…”

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I am the Architect,” he replied.

“Architect?” Hahli inquired.

“I look at a snowflake, I see a monastery,” the Ko-Matoran said. “I look at the snow, I see Destiny.”

“Destiny?” she repeated.

“You shall unite Duty and Destiny,” the Architect told her. “You are the bringer. You are the Snowflake on the Mountain. Here is Destiny’s Charm, symbolizing all that will be, as comes from all that was.” As he says this, he hands Hahli a small object, the Charm of Destiny. She placed it in her satchel.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said.

Like many of the other Ko-Matoran she had met, the Architect remained silent. “…”

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Hahli left the cave and traveled across a precariously thin ice bridge over to the other area of Ko-Koro’s upper levels. Here, like before, two more entrances were carved into the wall, with one on ground level and the other up a short ladder. Hahli entered the cave on ground level first. Inside, she met a Ko-Matoran named Arktinen. “…”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am the Icesmith,” the Matoran replied.

“Can you make something for me?” she asked.

“If you bring me two Nails, a Bamboo Pole and some seaweed, I can make a flag,” the Icesmith told her.

The Ga-Matoran traded the required items, and the Icesmith fashioned several flags for her, saying, “Alright, just give me a second… There you go!”

“Goodbye,” Hahli said brightly as she took the items and headed out.

The trader bowed his head politely. “…”

Climbing up the ladder into the last ice cave, Hahli met yet another Ko-Matoran, this one named Toudo. He looked at her. “…”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am the Trapper,” he replied.

“Trapper?” she repeated.

“…”

She resisted the urge to break the silence. “…”

“… …”

“…”

“… … …”

“…”

“I wait,” he said finally.

“Wait?” Hahli inquired.

“…”

“…”

“… …”

“…”

“I am at Peace,” the Trapper answered.

“Peace?” she asked.

“From Destiny comes Peace,” the Matoran explained. “To know Destiny, you must know Peace. To be at Peace, you must control your Will.”

“Will?” Hahli questioned.

“Have you ever been to the Wastes?” he asked her.

“Wastes?” she repeated.

“There is a Hermit who dwells there. He knows of Willpower,” the Trapper explained.

“Hermit?” Hahli asked.

“He dwells by the Ice Floe,” he told her. “To find your way in the Wastes, you must use Flags, or you will be lost forever. Plant one in the snow wherever you go, so that you may find your way back again. But beware, for the Mountain will keep them, and snow upon them, and they will be lost. So do not tarry.” The Ko-Matoran handed Hahli a Charm, the Charm of Peace. “Take also this Symbol,” he says. “It represents Peace. Meditate on it often.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli said. The Matoran did not answer, perhaps having already re-entered a meditative state. “…”

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Hahli climbed down a nearby rope ladder and found herself back at the Ko-Koro courtyard. With the flags that she had acquired, Hahli returned to Nuju’s Chamber of Prophesy. To the left of Nuju and Matoro, there was a small section of the wall that resembles a doorway. Pressing a button in the middle of the panel, Hahli discovered a portal to a long icy tunnel.

She followed the tunnel until it led out into a snowy plain, the Wastes. As she moved further and further away from the tunnel entrance, the storms increased in intensity. At each new area of the Wastes that Hahli traveled to, she placed a flag in the snow so that she would be able to find her way back. After wandering in the Drifts for some time, the storms abated a bit and Hahli found herself at the edge of an icy precipice. Nestled in a pile of snow near the very edge was a small object, which Hahli discovered to be the Charm of Willpower. She placed it in her satchel.

She continued to explore the Drifts until she discovered a small clearing where the storm was less intense. In the middle of the clearing, there was a small ice hut surrounded by large spiky ice formations. Hahli entered the hut and discovered a Ko-Matoran inside.

“Hello, Hahli,” he greeted her unexpectedly.

“How do you know my name?” she asked.

“I have been expecting you,” the hermit Kantai replied.

“Expecting me?” Hahli repeated.

“If I am at peace, I can know Mata Nui’s Will,” he explained.

“Will?” she inquired.

“The Will is the greatest power you can master,” he stated.

“Power?” Hahli asked.

“To possess great Willpower is to be always aware,” the hermit said. “I can help you understand Willpower, if you wish.”

“I wish to know Willpower,” she told him.

“Very well,” he nodded. “I shall set you upon the Ice Pole. If your mind is clear and you are at peace with the world, your Willpower shall hold you steady. Let Anger fade from your mind. Let Peace fill your thoughts.”

“I am ready,” Hahli said.

“Good.”

The Hermit placed Hahli on the Ice Pole where she found she had to balance her weight so that the pole remained perpendicular to the ground. If Hahli leaned too much to one side, she had to flail to steady herself. But she overcompensated and lost her balance. She asked the hermit to try again.

“Very well. Take your stance on the Ice Pole. Let Anger fade from your mind. Let Peace fill your thoughts.”

Slowly but surely she mastered the skill and maintains almost perfect balance. In time she became skilled and mastered her Will.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said to him as she re-entered the Wastes.

“Goodbye, Champion,” the hermit called after her, uncharacteristically for a Ko-Matoran.

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Using the flags that she had planted, Hahli navigated her way back to the tunnel leading to the Chamber of Prophesy. There, she approached Matoro.

“I am ready to face the team from Ko-Koro,” she told him. After a quick word with Turaga Nuju, Matoro turned to Hahli.

“He says he shall call the match,” the Ko-Matoran said. “We will arrange for your teammate to meet you. Go to the Kolhii field, and all will be resolved.”

Hahli traveled to the Ko-Koro Kolhii Field, which could be reached by climbing down the ladder on the edge of the courtyard and heading toward the field located at the base of the Sanctum. There, she challenged the Ko-Koro Kolhii Team. She and Macku were victorious.

Most of the Ko-Matoran were silent after the match’s outcome. “…” Only Turaga Nuju, translated by Matoro, spoke to her: “As it is written on the Wall of Prophesy, so it is echoed in Mount Ihu’s drifts. Your victory over Ko-Koro was prophesied. Nuju says you have done well, Hahli.”