Lost Head
Origin of the Rahaga
Created by Lost Head
The two Toa crouched down behind a large rock formation, evading the flurry of projectiles coming from the Brotherhood of Makuta’s fortress. Outnumbered, countless to one. The situation was desparate.
“Well,” remarked Iruini, “this worked out well.”
“I know,” replied Norik, “I’m thinking.”
Iruini raised his shield as a blast of green energy tore apart a boulder, exposing their cover. “Can you think a bit faster?”
Norik tossed his satchel to Iruini, then raised up his spear and shield. “Go!” he shouted, getting into a battle position, “Take the bag, find the others, and get as far away from here as you can!” He shot a spew of magma from the tip of his spear, sinking a dozen Visorak. “Hurry! My lava may slow them down, but it won’t stop them!”
Before Iruini could reply, a large being clad in dark blue armor crashed through the rock wall. “You two!” the Dark Hunter known as Krekka demanded, “Shiny mask! Give it back!”
“Think,” Iruini said as he readied his cyclone spear, “I’ll be busy for the next few minutes.” He countered the Dark Hunter’s charging attack, and flipped him on his head. Without missing a beat, the Dark Hunter got back on his feet, and charged once more. “Are you always this annoying?” Iruini mocked.
As the magma dried up, Norik found himself surrounded by a horde of Visorak. “Iruini, when your done…” he called.
Iruini found himself busy. Krekka had gained the upper hand, keeping the Toa in a chokehold. Grabbing onto the Dark Hunter’s arms, he kicked up against the wall and flipped over his opponent, kicking him to the ground. Now free, he aided Norik with a gust of wind, sending all but one of the Visorak flying.
Norik pointed his spear tip at the head of the Vohtarak. “You’re going to help us find a way out of here, right?” he said with poorly hidden malice. “I do hate the smell of burnt Visorak.”
✴ ✴ ✴
The duo followed the lead of the Visorak, now a good distance away from the battlefield. “Still no sign of the others,” Iruini lamented, as he held up the satchel. “I know you fire types like good mask work, but is this worth it?” He peered into the satchel. Inside, rested the Kanohi Avohkii, the Mask of Light.
“You know it is,” Norik replied, “you were there.”
✴ ✴ ✴
The Toa Hagah were sworn to protect the Makuta. Norik, Iruini, Pouks, Gaaki, Bomonga, and Kualus lived to protect all Matoran, and belived that the Makuta did as well. That is, until the day they learned a horrible truth.
Makuta and his Brotherhood had amassed an army. A legion of Visorak, Dark Hunters, and Exo-Toa were prepared to strike at other lands, enacting the will of the Brotherhood. By the time the Toa had found out, the Brotherhood had already captured the Mask of Light, in hopes that it could not be used against them. The Toa Hagah raided the fortress, fought through hordes of the automated defenses, and escaped. Now, they found themselves on the run, the Avohkii in hand. Unfortunately, the team was separated after the raid, leaving Norik and Iruini to find their fellow Toa.
✴ ✴ ✴
“We were sworn to protect Makuta,” the Toa of Air reminisced, “I used to believe he lived to serve us all.”
“We all did,” the silver clad Toa of Fire replied in a comforting tone, “No one imagined the Brotherhood would be capable of building up such an army. We’ll need all the help we can get.” He made one last gesture to the bag Iruini held.
Suddenly, a shadow emerged from behind a mound of dirt. “Hold it,” warned Iruini, as the two ducked out of sight.
✴ ✴ ✴
The Dark Hunter Nidhiki marched past, leading a herd of Visorak behind him. “Four captured Toa to ‘question’, how delicious…”
“I don’t suppose he could be talking about the others?” The green Toa whispered to his compatriot.
“If you believed that, you wouldn’t be here,” Norik shot back, “you said you were leaving after we raided the fortress, right?”
“And I will,” Iruini maintained, “just as soon as they’re safe.”
“Then again,” he continued, as the two came to a cliff overlooking a massive encampment of Visorak, “now might be a good time to quit.”
The Toa of Fire scanned the area. Two Exo-Toa guarding the area, countless Visorak waiting inside, the Dark Hunter coming through the entrance, and sure enough, a cage containing four beings of a small stature. But these, he didn’t recognize. “Those certainly aren’t Toa,” he whispered, “can you get in?”
Iruini nodded. “Can I get in? I was sneaking into worse places than this when you were still making sparks.”
He activated his Kanohi Kualsi, the great mask of teleportation, and found himself immediately right outside the cage the prisoners were being kept in. A look of confusion ran across his face. Sure enough, these four creatures were armored in blue, white, black, and brown, but they were shorter than even Matoran, with heads resembling Rahkshi. Still, there was no time to ponder. “Not sure who you are,” he began, “but I’m here to get you out. Have you seen four other Toa?”
“Iruini,” the blue one muttered, “it’s us. We are the Toa Hagah.”
Baffled, the Toa of Air opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the sound of vicious laughter. Turning his head, he found himself face to face with the Viceroy of the Visorak horde, Roodaka.
“I think your little friends look much better this way, don’t you?” Roodaka laughed. “No longer Toa Hagah, no. A monstrous blend of what they were, and vile Rahkshi. They are… Rahaga, if you will.”
“Roodaka,” Iruini said, containing his anger, “you miserable-“
Before he could finish, Roodaka had been thrown off of her feet already. Norik’s mask of shrinking deactivated, returning him to normal size next to his fellow Toa. “Allow me, brother.”
No time to think, Iruini threw open the cage, commanding the Rahaga to run.
The ebony figure rose to her feet. “You dare lay hands on me?!” she spat.
“We’re Toa,” Iruini taunted, “we dare a lot of things.”
“Whatever it is Makuta has planned for the Matoran, it won’t work!” Iruini added. “This ends today!
“A bold statement,” Roodaka returned, her Visorak crowding behind her, awaiting her command, “but I can think of a few hundred reasons you’re wrong.”
Iruini turned to whisper to his brother. “The others got away. Remember what we did against the Frostelus?”
“Your call,” Norik replied.
“NOW!” Iruini shouted, as the two placed their spears together and shot out a cyclone of combined elemental energy. A towering wall of magma and air divided the opposing forces. The Toa immediately took off running, but just as soon collapsed to the ground, finding themselves struck in the back.
The Toa of Air looked to his brother, only to see a middling Rahagah where he once stood. Before long, he felt his own body shifting, shrinking. His weapon and shield clattered to the ground as he felt the transformation set in.
✴ ✴ ✴
By the time the wall of elemental power had gone, the Rahagah had vanished from sight. Roodaka smirked. “Good,” she said, “let them suffer.”
✴ ✴ ✴
Norik clambered to his feet, his team having finally found a safe space to rest. He was diminished of his power, his body now alien to him, and his team was on the run from an unstoppable army.
A smile came to Norik’s now mutated face, as he removed the Kanohi Avohkii, the mask of light, from the bag. This would begin to make things right.
Somehow, no matter how dark things seemed, hope had survived.