Part One

An exhausted Aodhan put down his lava farming tools to wipe away the soot from his mask. His close friend, Tiribomba, wheeled a cart over to him from where he had been working down the lava river.

“Did you hear?” Aodhan asked, leaning against the cart. “Takua and Jaller have left to search for the Seventh Toa!”

Tiribomba stretched. “Yes…but Turaga Vakama is very worried,” he replied. “He says that Makuta has returned…and you know what that means!”

Aodhan frowned, turning away to look out at the slopes of the Mangai Volcano.

“Makuta, Rahi, Bohrok and Bohrok-Kal…I wish there was some place we could get away from all this danger. Some place all Matoran could be safe.”

Tiribomba agreed. Something in Aodhan’s description reminded him of an old Matoran legend, one that had been passed down for years, dating back to the early years of the Dark Time—as far as he could remember.

Then he brightened. “Wait…there is such a place! Remember the stories?”

Aodhan gave his friend a look as if to say, ‘Which ones?’

“The Great Artakha Refuge!” Tiribomba clarified. “The land no shadow can enter!”

Aodhan laughed and shook his head. “Oh, come on…that’s just a story. Only a real kolhii-head would believe that!”

“But what if it’s true? And what if we could find it? We could save our people, and be heroes, just like Jaller!”

“I still think it’s crazy…” Aodhan said. “But I suppose we could ask Turaga Vakama about it.”

“No, the Turaga would just tell us we were being foolish,” Tiribomba said, turning away. “I think we should start looking right away!”

Aodhan’s mouth dropped open. “Have you lost your Kanohi? We can’t just go searching for a dubious legend with no direction! If you’re confident enough to convince me to go, but not brave enough to pitch the idea to Vakama, I’m not going!”

Tiribomba started to say something, but then stopped. He grinned sheepishly. “You’re right,” he conceded. “Let’s go talk to Vakama and see what we’re getting ourselves into.”

Aodhan started for Ta-Koro. “You mean what you’re getting me into…” he muttered.

✴        ✴        ✴

“Yes, I have heard the legends of the Great Refuge,” Vakama told the two Matoran. “But they may be just that…legends. Still, if you are determined to search, you should begin at the lava falls. Perhaps the resting place of the Mask of Light contains a clue. But beware—beyond the walls of the village, Mata Nui is a dangerous place.”

“Thank you. We’ll be careful,” Tiribomba assured the fire elder.

Like many Ta-Matoran, Tiribomba had been among the crowd swarming Takua after the game. No legend had ever described a Kanohi of Light, and plenty had wondered how a Matoran had found a mask that the other Toa had missed. As they made their way over, he inhaled sharply.

“Hey, look! That looks like the place Takua told me about!” Tiribomba remarked.

“You know, the legends say that there’s a map to the refuge carved in stone… maybe this is part of it! We should check out the lava falls,” mused Aodhan.

✴        ✴        ✴

The companions made short time getting to the site. They were not so lucky with their search, however, which took a while but yielded nothing.

“There’s nothing here!” Aodhan exclaimed, looking around. “I told you this was a waste of time…”

“There has to be a clue here somewhere!” his friend said, scouring their surroundings. “Keep looking!”

Aodhan was about to respond when a rumble knocked both Matoran from their feet. “What’s that noise?” he asked, worried.

Tiribomba pointed down the river. “A lava flood! Run!”

“But which way?”

The two were standing on the shore of the lava bank, within moments of being incinerated.

✴        ✴        ✴

Then Aodhan spotted a small opening in the rock. It was small, just barely large enough for them to enter, but it was elevated and would protect them from the lava. “There!” he yelled, running off, with Tiribomba behind him. The two ran up the path toward the niche, quickly crawling through to escape the heat and lava. Luckily, the opening’s interior was larger than the entrance, actually widening into a tunnel.

Tiribomba bent over onto his knees, catching his breath. “Whew! That was too close!”

“Hey! Look at this,” Aodhan said, walking over to a carving in a corner of the cave. “I know that place—it’s Kini-Nui.”

“What’s that carving doing here?”

“Not sure,” Aodhan puzzled. “But it is an important place…maybe we should check it out?”

“Sure, but how?” Tiribomba asked.

Before Aodhan could answer, the temperature dropped much colder than was ever possible in a lava chamber. “Matoran…” a voice echoed from every corner of the cave.

“Who’s that?” Tiribomba called.

The voice rumbled through the darkness, seeming to change position with each sentence. “I am Makuta. I am shadow.”

“Oh, I knew this was a bad idea!” Aodhan moaned.

“You will never find the refuge you seek,” came the dark voice again. “Return to your koro.”

“No! We’re not afraid of you!” Tiribomba called, although his voice quivered.

“We’re not?” Aodhan asked quietly.

“Turn back, and do not set foot on Kini-Nui,” Makuta commanded. “You cannot hide from the eyes of Makuta.”

“We’re sure going to try! Let’s go!” Tiribomba declared. He grabbed his friend and dashed further into the cavern tunnel.

✴        ✴        ✴

“Hey,” Aodhan remarked suddenly, as the pair wandered through. “Do you hear that? Sounds like… scratching coming underground. Like something making its way to the surface.”

“Could be Onu-Matoran digging new tunnels…” shrugged Tiribomba. “Or… do you think we should check it out?”

“Look!” Aodhan interjected. “An exit!”

As they two Matoran hurried along their path, a powerful figure crossed between shadows behind them.

✴        ✴        ✴

The pair soon emerged from the tunnels, when they realized to their surprise that their tunnel led to an exit not far from a location they knew quite well.

“Kini-Nui.” Aodhan remarked, “But what are those strange creatures near it?”

“I don’t know — but I guess we are going to find out, right?”

The temple’s entrance was small enough it had been hard to spot, and its exit was the same way, forcing them to squeeze through a small opening covered in neighboring flora. Following a path, they continued to the Temple’s Amaja Nui sandpit.

There, the Ta-Matoran realized to their surprise that the strange movement they had spotted was none other than Toa Gali Nuva, still meditating in the Amaja Circle, as the sun was coming up. She was gazing outward toward the surface of the temple pond.

“Toa Gali!” Tiribomba exclaimed. He turned to Aodhan. “She is wise and knows the legends told by the Turaga—maybe she knows something!”

“Toa Gali!” Aodhan called, as the two came closer.

Gali opened her eyes and looked at the two Matoran. “Ta-Matoran? So far from Ta-Koro—what are you doing here, at Kini-Nui?”

“With the Seventh Toa on its way, Vakama is worried the Evil One will return,” Tiribomba said. “We are trying to prove the existence of the Great Refuge!”

“Yes, Vakama is wise to be wary. I feel this mask will create much change on Mata Nui,” Gali agreed. “Yes, of course I have heard of the Refuge. It is a tale first told long before the Toa ever arrived on Mata Nui, in a time when the Matoran had little hope. Some believe the Seventh Toa waits there.”

“Do you know where it is, Toa Gali?” Aodhan asked.

Gali shook her head. “No…but I believe Kopaka has learned of the legend from Turaga Nuju. Perhaps you could journey to Ko-Wahi and ask the Toa of Ice.”

Suddenly the bright sunlight was cut by a dark shadow. Thick gray clouds were rolling across the sky, turning ordinary day to eerie twilight.

Gali made her way to a plateau overlooking the entire temple, while the Matoran followed. What was happening? As she gazed down at the Suva Kaita dome, there was a sizzle of energy. An instant later, the Suva exploded into a million shards. A claw reached out of the smoky hole where the Suva dome had stood. A moment later three horrifying figures climbed out of the hole and stood surveying the destruction. Each one was easily taller than a Toa, had a wicked looking staff, spikes protruding along its angled back, and a pointed head.

“Mata Nui!” Gali gasped.

“What’s that?” Tiribomba exclaimed, as the Ta-Matoran and Toa of Water broke into a run.

“I don’t want to know! If things like those are appearing, we need to find the Artakha Refuge more than ever!” Aodhan called.

Gali gestured for the Matoran to take cover, even as she warily approached the newcomers.

The group came to the edge of the plateau. One of the new figures swiveled its head in their direction. It banged its staff on the ground, sending sparks of dark energy arcing up. A zigzag lightning bolt shot into the air.

Gali summoned a jet of water which knocked the two Matoran off the edge, then somersaulted backward off the plateau. A split second later, the energy bolt struck the spot where they had stood, completely fragmenting the structure.

The three creatures climbed higher, seeking their targets. But neither Gali nor either of the Matoran were seen. Hissing with frustration, the trio gave up. Moving a small distance away, they jumped into a sitting position hovering off the ground by dark energy.

Beneath the surface of the temple pond, a group of Ruki fish swam, disturbing the surface. Aodhan had scared them away when his foot moved, earning him a look from Tiribomba. Gali, sharing the powers of the Kaukau Nuva, watched from beneath the water as the creatures flew away, disappearing from the temple area.

A moment later the still surface of the temple pond rippled, and Gali and the Matoran emerged. Gali had no idea what sort of creatures they were, but one thing was obvious—they did not come in peace. She glanced down the mountain. Her eyes widened as she spotted them in the distance, flying purposefully along.

“They are headed for Ta-Koro!” Gali realized in alarm.

“We need to warn the villages!” Tiribomba exclaimed, as the Matoran emerged from cover.

“I will warn Ta-Koro! You two go to Ko-Koro and find Kopaka!” Gali ordered, leaving the Matoran on land.

Diving back beneath the water, she swam in the direction of Tahu's village, determined to warn him in time. As the river she was following flowed around the base of the Mangai Volcano, she took to the land, her wet feet leaving steaming footprints in her wake as she dashed toward the fire village. Calling upon her Kanohi Kakama Nuva, she raced even faster; she couldn’t arrive too soon.