Chapter Seven

Hahli made her way back to the crossroads at the center of the island. She headed down the path to Le-Koro, but noticed that a suspension bridge had been placed at the cliff’s edge. Hahli crossed the bridge and entered Ta-Wahi. She continued across a natural bridge in front of a lavafall until she encountered a Ta-Matoran guarding a stone doorway.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Guard Nuri,” he replied.

They said, “Goodbye,” to one another and Hahli passed through the doorway into the north end of the Ta-Koro Town Square.

Two Ta-Matoran were walking in the courtyard. Hahli approached one of the Matoran.

“Pardon me, I am busy with my work,” he said.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

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“I am Tiribomba, the Lava Farmer,” he replied.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said, prompting Tiribomba to respond, “Goodbye!” Hahli approached the other Matoran.

“Surf’s up!” he exclaimed.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Maglya, the surfer,” he replied.

The two Matoran said, “Goodbye,” to one another.

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Hahli noticed a large structure with a meandering staircase at the end of the courtyard. Entering it, she saw a staff propped up against a wall and a Matoran that she recognized.

“Hello, Hahli!” Takua the Chronicler greeted her. “Are you excited about the Championship?”

“What are you doing?” Hahli asked.

“I am helping Vakama build the Wall of History,” he replied. “Since the Turaga made me the Chronicler, I haven’t been able to do much of anything else! Except for practice Kolhii, sometimes.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli said.

“So long! Give my regards to Macku and Turaga Nokama,” he said, returning to work.

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Hahli continued down the vast chamber, where two figures were gazing into a large ceremonial fire. She approached the taller of the two, who turned to speak with her.

“I have been watching for your arrival, Hahli of Ga-Koro,” he said. “I confess, however, that I was expecting Kotu. Welcome to Ta-Koro. When you are rested and ready, inform me and I will call the match against our champions.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Vakama, Turaga of Ta-Koro,” he replied.

“Ta-Koro?” she questioned.

“Ta-Koro, city of fire, home of lava-farmers, and keepers of the great Mangai fire-mountain in whose shadow we dwell,” Vakama answered. “Look into the flames and know the Virtue proclaimed to us by the Great Spirit, and the skill it brings.”

“Virtue?” Hahli enquired.

“Know that the Great Spirit imparted to all Matoran the three Virtues, and from them we Ta-Matoran have derived our Principle,” the Turaga stated. “The farmer Aft and guard Kalama ponder these things more than most.”

“Skill?” she asked.

“The guardsman Keahi is the master. He will tell you of it, if you find him on patrol,” counseled Vakama.

“Champions?” Hahli asked.

“Takua the Chronicler, and Jaller the Captain, are the two Kolhii champions I have chosen from my village,” Vakama replied.

“Goodbye,” Hahli said.

“Farewell,” Vakama responded, turning back to the fire.

Hahli turned to speak to the other figure near the fire, a Matoran.

“I am practicing,” he said.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am not here, yet I am all places. I am getting faster,” he answered.

“Faster?” she asked.

“Courage is the soul of movement. You must have courage or you will be frozen. Fear stops all. Courage defeats Fear,” he replied.

“Uh, okay,” Hahli responded, confused.

“Hello again,” he said as she turned to leave.

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Back outside, Hahli noticed more Ta-Matoran walking in the south end of the Town Square. There were three Ta-Matoran pacing here. When she tried to talk to the first, he hurried past. “Pardon me, I am busy with my work,” he said.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked, hurrying to keep up.

“I am Aodhan, the Lava Farmer,” came the reply. He turned and looked at her. “The fields are heating up. The Mangai boils like it hasn’t since the Bohrok swarms swept through.”

“Lava Farming?”

“Can’t talk right now,” Aodhan hurried off. “If you want to know more, talk to Aft!”

Hahli stopped. “Goodbye,” she said.

“Goodbye!” Aodhan called over his shoulder.

She tried approaching the second, but he looked at her and also said, “We just got new supplies from the other Koro!”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked, hurrying to keep up.

“I am Brander, the Crafter,” came the reply. “I’m making the last few decorations for our new stadium.”

“Decorations?”

“Captain Jala says they’re too ornate, but I don’t believe that’s possible.”

“Ornate?”

“You should see it! I’ve included flourishes and architecture inspired by all the other Koro. By the time I’m done, this will be the Kolhii stadium to end all Kolhii stadiums! Towering above the Lake of Fire for centuries to come!”

Hahli nodded. “Goodbye,” she said.

“Goodbye!” he replied.

The third Matoran stopped to talk to her.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran,” he greeted her cheerfully. “Are you here for the Kolhii match?”

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Aft, the Lava Farmer,” he replied.

“Lava Farmer?” she asked.

“Farming lava is one way we keep Mata Nui green and healthy,” Aft explained. “When lava cools, it makes the best soil. With our farming, Le-Koro grows green, Ga-Koro’s waters bountiful, and Onu-Koro’s mines rich. But like the two brothers, the fire of the Mangai is both a force of creation, and a force of destruction. To farm lava takes great Courage.”

“Courage?” Hahli enquired.

“Courage is the Principle of Ta-Koro!” said Aft. “It derives from the Virtue Mata Nui bestowed on us.”

Hahli says, “Goodbye,” and Aft responded, “Goodbye!”

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There were three stone doorways in this area of the Town Square. Hahli decided to investigate the one opposite the Ta-Suva first. Inside, a Ta-Matoran Trader named Vohon was selling his wares.

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

Once she finished her business with him, Hahli noticed that, through the doorway to the left of Vohon’s shop was a Guard barracks with an armory of spears and a simple ladder leading to the city’s ramparts.

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Hahli climbed the ladder and discovered two Guards on duty.

“Stay out of trouble, Ga-Matoran,” cautioned one of the Matoran.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Guard Agni,” he replied.

Agni had nothing more to say but “Goodbye,” after Hahli said the same. Hahli approached the other Guard.

“Who goes there?” he asked.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Kalama, the Guard,” he replied. “I’m on duty.”

“Duty?” Hahli repeated.

“Duty is one of the three Virtues described to us by the Great Spirit,” Kalama explained. “All Matoran have a Duty to perform, and the Guard most of all! From Duty comes the Principle.”

“Principle?” she enquired.

“The farmer Aft contemplates the Principle of Ta-Koro often,” Kalama advised her.

The two Matoran said, “Goodbye,” to one another.

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Hahli returned to the Ta-Koro Town Square to investigate the third doorway. Inside, she could see Jaller, the Captain of the Guard, working over a strategic map of the island of Mata Nui. Despite his experience as a guardsman, the appearance of Hahli seemed to startle him.

“Hahli!” Jaller exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

“I intend to be in the Championship!” she answered.

“Well, so do I!” he admitted. “That means we’ll be playing each other. It is my duty to win… but you are my friend, so I will tell you: seek out Keahi. He is my strongest guardsman, and can teach you Strength!”

“Goodbye, Jaller,” Hahli winked as she was leaving.

“Maybe you can stay in Ta-Koro a while!” Jaller called after her.

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Journeying back to the north end of the Town Square, Hahli noticed a doorway beside Vakama’s Chamber of History. Walking through it, Hahli saw the Ta-Koro Kolhii Stadium.

Outside the arena, along the path, was a Ta-Koro Guard. As she approached, he saluted. “Evening!” he remarked.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Guard Tapui,” he replied. “I’m off-duty though, so I wanted to check out the new stadium. It’s something else, isn’t it?”

“New stadium?” Hahli asked.

“I think it’s the biggest in Mata Nui! They’ve been working on it for a while,” Tapui stated.

“Off-duty?” Hahli questioned.

“Something like that,” the guard grinned sheepishly.

“Something like that?” the Ga-Matoran pressed.

“Well, I also came to throw Kolhii balls at the targets below. It’s good practice for a guard, but also a lot of fun,” Tapui admitted.

“Goodbye,” Hahli smiled.

“Goodbye!” Tapui laughed.

Approaching the entrance of the stadium, she noticed a ladder leading down to the lava banks. At the bottom of the ladder, Hahli found a Ta-Koro Guard on patrol.

“Ho, Ga-Matoran!” he greeted her.

“Who are you?” Hahli asked.

“I am Guard Keahi,” he said. “To be a Ta-Koro Guard, one must be Courageous. From Courage comes Strength!”

“Strength?” she repeated.

“To get stronger, we train by throwing Kolhii balls at a column of targets,” Keahi explained. “It takes great Strength to knock it down! I can show you, if you wish. But you will need Kolhii balls.”

“Kolhii balls?” Hahli asked.

“You can buy them in Po-Koro,” Keahi told her.

After exchanging a “Goodbye,” with Keahi, Hahli traveled back to Po-Koro and purchases several Kolhii Balls from Ahkmou, the Po-Koro Trader. Traveling back to Ta-Koro, she visits Keahi once more.

“I would like to train,” Hahli told him.

“Very well! Get ready!” Keahi responded.

Hahli spent several hours practicing her Strength by throwing the Kolhii Ball at the column when her might was at its peak. Each time she knocked down a column, her Strength increased.

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Her training complete, Hahli traveled to Vakama’s Chamber of History, where the Turaga was waiting.

“I am ready to face the team from Ta-Koro,” Hahli told him.

“As you wish,” Vakama replied. “Go to the Kolhii field and I will call the match.”

Hahli traveled to the Ta-Koro Kolhii Stadium and challenged the Ta-Koro Kolhii team. She and Macku were victorious.

After the match, Hahli heard the Ta-Matoran congratulating her and commenting on the match:

“By Tahu’s Hau! We lost!” Maglya exclaimed.

“Well played, Hahli,” Jaller said. “I did not expect you to be so skilled. You have learned a lot since I saw you last!”

“Well, you won…” Takua conceded. “I bet if I could learn some better moves, then we could beat you. Maybe we’ll all get to play in the Championship together!”

“By Tahu, that was a fine game you played, Hahli!” Aft congratulated. “I am sad that we lost but it was a very exciting Kolhii match.”

“You have been practicing,” Kapura commented.

“Not bad, Ga-Matoran! I was sure we would win,” various members of the Guard, such as Nuri, Agni, Kalama, and Keahi admitted.

Other Ta-Matoran, such as Tiribomba, Aodhan, and Brander were less gracious: “Tahu’s Firesword! I can’t believe you beat us!”

Turaga Vakama approached Hahli last. “So,” he said. “You have bested the champions of Ta-Koro. Nokama must have labored hard to hide you from me all this time. Your victory was hard won, and you deserve all the admiration it brings. We are preparing now for the Championship, which will be held here in Ta-Koro. You may practice with Takua and Jaller until such time.”