Author's Notes: Here it is my lovelies, the sequel to "The Greatest Love!" It took a while, but I finally have something for you all to see, granted it's just a prologue. It takes place way after the current Bionicle storyline, which I have morphed to fit my needs. You'll most likely be confused, but it'll all eventually be revealed. So enough talk, onto the fic! X3
Disclaimer: I actually do own the characters that appear in this first chapter. They all belong to me and may not be used by anyone without my explicit permission. This fic also contains yaoi, slash, and/or shounen-ai, which all mean boyxboy love. If you don't like that sort of thing, I suggest turning back before your eyes are burned out of their sockets. Enjoy! XD
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"Still the One"
By: Green Devil
Prologue: "In a Dream"
"Captain, this is madness! We should turn back while we still can!"
The suggestion might as well have fallen on deaf ears for all the Captain of the vessel cared. "We will stay the course." He replied to his First Mate, otherwise known as his second-in-command. The ship gave a violent lurch, forcing the four men within the cabin to cling to the nearest secured surface if they didn't want to become better acquainted with the floorboards. "She'll make it."
A large, powerful wave could be seen crashing against the starboard side of the craft from the vantage point they had in the bridge. Salt water spilled onto the deck along with the rain that fell in sheets for miles around. It was empty aside from the drenched wood, deckhands taking refuge within the confines of the hull until the storm passed.
It was out there, he just knew it. If the clouds weren't so dark and the rain so heavy, maybe he'd have been able to see it. The Captain had set off on this voyage to find just that and he wouldn't rest until he did. The paradise from his dreams was real damn it! It had to be . . .
"Captain! There's something up ahead!" His second mate's—navigator's—call pulled him from his thoughts. "It looks like a land mass, but we shouldn't be seeing land for another fourteen-hundred miles." He met the Captain's lime green eyes with his own orbs of jade, realization shining in both sets. "This island is nowhere on our maps."
"Verde—I mean, Captain—do you think this is it? Is this what you've been looking for?" the First Mate questioned, moving closer and placing a hand on his superior's shoulder, supporting. Before he could get an answer, the ship gave another rock, this time so strong their medium-sized craft was almost flipped over into the raging sea. The crimson-eyed second-in-command quickly caught the Captain around the waist before he could slam into the console at his side, the subordinate taking the hit instead. The cold, sharp corner of the metal jabbed into his abdomen, causing him to grit his teeth with the sharp pain.
A bright streak of lightning tore through the blackened sky followed closely by a boom of thunder before they were thrown to the other side, the Captain once again saved by his Second.
"You didn't have to do that Solano." The ship master grunted, getting to his feet and helping the other up.
The taller man winked a crimson eye. "I can't have my Captain getting hurt when I can do something about it you know."
"Enough!" A cold voice called from the helm, belonging to the ship's icy-eyed pilot. He fought with the wheel to keep the vessel on course through the storm that so desperately wanted to lead them elsewhere. "Can't you see we're about to capsize here? I need an order. Are we heading for that silhouette or not?"
The Captain, Verde, didn't allow himself a blush of embarrassment, choosing instead to don an emotionless mask. "Indeed, Hielo, and the sooner you get us there, the better."
Ice blue orbs gleamed with approval and Hielo set his sights back on the angry ocean. "Yes Captain."
"Terreno, how far away are we from that island?"
"Not much further now Sir," the navigator replied. "Just a few more miles and we can let down the anchor, so long as nothing's blocking the surrounding area and provided the sea lets us get that far anyway."
'Could this really be the island from my dreams? Have I truly found it?' the Captain felt a shiver run through his frame as he stepped closer to the large viewport, drinking in the sight that was gradually becoming clearer. A sandy beach leading to a forest? No, a jungle, and a large one at that. Mountains off in the distance, one with a sprinkle of white atop its peak.
This was it, he just knew it. The island called to him, but the ocean continued to push at his craft. He wouldn't give up, however, not when he was so close to victory.
It took a while, but they finally made it, the sea more forgiving further inland. A quick tour around the landmass found a very old and very run down port that could barely accommodate their vessel. It looked to have mostly been used for small fishing boats. Its very presence had everyone confused though. If this island wasn't on the maps it should have been uninhabited.
Regardless, they made port and as soon as he could, Verde took off down the worn dock to the beach—sand nothing but mud,—Solano running after and shouting for him to stop. The Captain's white uniform was soaked through almost immediately, long emerald locks matted up to his mid-back and framing his strikingly beautiful, albeit tired, face. He cared not, but came to a stop as soon as his boots left the rotted planks—he was lucky he hadn't fallen through any of them.
"This is really it," he whispered once his Second was by his side, voice barely registering over the roar of the wind, rain and crashing waves.
Solano smiled down at the other, happy that he had found what he was looking for. It didn't bother him a bit that his Captain could be emotionless one minute and like a kid in a candy store the next. He loved that naïveté about him actually. He pulled the younger one close and nuzzled the spot just behind his ear. "I'm happy for you, but we'll have to wait until morning before we can go exploring. Come, let's head back."
Verde allowed himself to be led back to the ship without a fuss where he promptly passed out from exhaustion. He hadn't slept more than three hours a day in the two weeks they'd been at sea, too worried about finding the island to give in to his weariness. Now that he had actually accomplished his goal, however, his body decided it was time to succumb to his needs and forced him into darkness. The sandman would be his only companion until his strength was regained.
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This will soon be paradise.
It will thrive and flourish, setting the stage for the final test of their bond. They must succeed where they once failed. The darkness must not be allowed to prevail.
Settle this wild land and bring about their return, but whether it'll be a triumphant one remains to be seen.
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"Captain. Verde! Get up! There's something you should see," Solano called, rousing the aforementioned from his slumber. Eyelids fluttered open revealing spheres of lime, traces of the haze of sleep quickly rubbed away.
"What is it?" the Captain questioned, sitting up to find his second-in-command smiling over him. He was very handsome in his black uniform, tresses of the same color, though streaked with red, pulled into a neat low ponytail to reach just below his shoulders. From behind his back he produced a stone tablet, broken in places, scorched in others. An odd type of hieroglyphic covered its surface, circles with lines and dots within. He'd never seen a language like it. He met the other's crimson eyes; query so clear it didn't have to leave his lips.
The elder grinned. "One of the men found it while he was scouting the area, but so far, nothing similar. Someone lived here before; this tablet and the dock can attest to that. The question is: what happened to them?"
Verde reached a hand out, gently running his fingertips across the charred stone. "Something bad," he murmured, almost too low to hear over the sound on the waves crashing against and swaying the ship. A soothing breeze flew in through the room's open window, playing with emerald tresses. He sighed, thoughts of death and destruction melting away as soon as they came. "Any idea what it says?"
"Well, not really, but some of the symbols look like they allude to normal letters. I'll take it to Hielo and get him working on it." Solano replied with a smile. "So, you finally up for some exploring? You're gonna love it." He received a nod and helped his superior out of bed with his free arm, the other clutching the tablet to his side.
Beautiful was the only word to describe the sight that awaited the Captain once out on the dilapidated dock, after divulging in a proper meal to fill his empty stomach. The beach was stunning in its afternoon light, waters so crystal clear you could see the colors of tropical fish swimming around coral and seaweed. A lush jungle set the background with mountains off in the distance, one a snow-capped behemoth—the one he'd noticed before.
"The climate varies greatly in each region, six in all." Solano spoke up at the younger one's side. "There's an extinct volcano south of here and a really dense jungle we haven't really gone into. The men are afraid they'll get lost. To the north there's a desert surrounded by cliffs and in the far west that snow-covered mountain rules with entrances to what look to be old mine shafts in the north-west."
Lime green eyes grew large with disbelief. "The whole island's already been explored? How long was I out for?"
"Well, it hasn't been explored completely; more like we drove by it all and noted things down." The ebony-haired man chuckled, amused with the other's expression. "Besides, you were only out for a day at most. You haven't missed much."
A faint blush stained Verde's cheeks as he turned his face back to that of the scenery. "Oh. Well then, where's the jeep? I'd like to get as much done before sundown as we can."
"Where would you like to go first?" Solano questioned, leading his Captain to where the only vehicle they had been able to fit on the ship was parked on the beach.
"That jungle seems interesting. Let's start there."
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Something was wrong. Why were there no sounds? The jungle was always buzzing with activity; you couldn't go a step without running into some form of bug or animal. Where were they all?
A dark aura seemed to hang about the vicinity, but he refused to acknowledge it, stepping in further. If he allowed himself to believe it was there, then it would have the upper hand. He couldn't have that. Someone was waiting for him in there; therefore he wouldn't give up on going in.
Another step and something knocked him to the floor, ridding his lungs of the breath they'd been holding. Claws tore into his right forearm, pinning it beside his head while another took hold of his throat, tightly. His free arm grasped at the offending limb crushing his windpipe while trying to buck the larger form off. Orbs of the deepest scarlet gleamed with murderous intent in the moonlight hanging overhead.
"You're the one he wants and that's what makes him weak. Once you're dead, I can take over and he'll have nothing to say about it."
The captive held out his unrestrained arm and a blade appeared in his grip. His vision was beginning to go black. If he didn't do something now . . .The silver weapon bit into the attacker's abdomen and he reeled backward in obvious pain. The smaller one gasped for breath, backing away as the other hugged the bleeding gash.
There was a roar, "You'll pay for that cursed Toa!" and a long-ranged weapon was leveled at him.
Caught like a deer in the headlights, he didn't have time to dodge.
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Leaving the jeep on the outskirts of the jungle, for it wouldn't do them any good with the tightly packed trees, the two made their way in, packs filled with supplies on both their backs. The extra weight would make the trek harder, but would ultimately be needed, especially if they did end up lost. A knife mark on every other tree would be their guide back out, but sometimes that didn't always help.
Chirping birds and bugs of various forms surrounded them every step of the way, sometimes buzzing against their ears where they were annoyingly swatted away or crashing into their limbs in erratic flight patterns. The animal species was very diverse and the birds quite beautiful to look at, but the air was humid and sticky, complicating their exploration. Navy uniforms certainly weren't something to go hiking in, as they soon learned.
"Damn this air." Solano complained, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I'd take the dry heat of the desert over this any day." He'd already unbuttoned his shirt and would've taken it off if not for the fear of the many bugs that wanted to suck his blood.
Verde smiled, laughing. Truth was the climate didn't bother him as much as it did the other. It was what he was use to. "Don't worry. There's a lake just a little ways further. We can cool off there." He replied, gesturing with the set of binoculars he just been looking through.
"Good. Let's hurry." The elder grabbed the other's hand and pulled him forward through the greenery, not noticing the light blush the contact provoked on the emerald-haired man's face. They reached the lake's edge in record time.
A pristine, blemish-free pool of crystalline water awaited their arrival, surrounded on all sides by plants that flourished beside the constant nourishment. A gorgeous variety of flowers dotted the landscape. Solano couldn't have stripped down any faster and rippled the lake's surface with a large splash. It was fairly deep in areas.
Verde was a little more subtle, undressing like one normally would before sauntering into the water. Both kept their boxers on for decency's sake. Sighs of relief were exchanged as their sweat-soaked bodies were cleansed of grim and cooled by the refreshing liquid. As they floated about, they allowed their minds to wander and talked of times past.
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His attacker suddenly let out a roar and was tackled to the ground by another. The sound of something cracking snapped him out of his daze. The darkness didn't allow for him to see very well, but the clawed one was thrown into a tree, wood splintering from the impact, and groaned before glaring hatefully and limping off. His rescuer didn't bother chasing after the retreating figure.
"You shouldn't be here. I told you I had to do this on my own." He growled, getting to his feet.
"I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you died doing this, therefore I'm helping you whether you like it or not. Besides, how do you know he'll keep his word?"
He was silent as the rescuer advanced, clearly concerned for his safety. He turned away and finally mumbled, "But I don't want you getting hurt," before dashing further into the jungle, hoping to outrun the other and get him off his tail. He wouldn't risk the other's life as well as the one that had already been captured.
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The jungle took a few more days than originally planned to fully explore, but the rest of the island was traveled by the others of their crew as they did so. In each region there seemed to be the remains of a settlement, though all that was left were impressions and ruins so corroded by the elements that they had most likely been there for centuries. What they found wasn't much though.
All-in-all, however, it did indeed seem like an ideal place to start up a civilization. Once they got back to the mainland with their pictures and info, they'd spread the word and people would flock to it like wildfire. It was beautiful, clean, and the varying regions would make for great tourist attractions—the beaches especially. It would flourish and thrive, a city for each area as well as the very center, where the most important things would go; names seemed to pop into their heads from nowhere for each.
There was a great mystery surrounding the island and the previous inhabitants, but Verde didn't plan to dwell on it. All he wanted was to live there in peace now that he had finally found it, and that's what he would do in the new city of the jungle—Lekoro.
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A loud, high-pitched cry announced to all the world that a new life had been ushered in successfully, mother panting in exhaustion, father holding her, saying everything was all right—their baby boy was as healthy as can be. When she was finally able to hold the child in her arms, a tuft of ruby hair stuck out from the blue blanket he was wrapped in, eyes of the same hue peaking out from behind tired lids. He cooed, tiny hands reaching out for her larger finger, waving in front of his face.
The father smiled proudly down at his son and placed a kiss on his wife's temple. "Have you decided on a name?"
She nodded, giggling as the child closed his eyes and snuggled closer to the warmth his mother provided. "Tahu," she whispered. "His name . . .is Tahu."
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A/N: Confused? Good! As you should be. Tis the way prologues are meant to be. Bwahaha! XD Anyway, I hope I have you interested in finding out the rest of the story. Please review! I really, really want to know what you think of this one and whether I should even bother continuing it. Much love for anyone that lets me know what they think! X3
Also, I've created a Yahoo!Group called Bionicle Slash. Can you guess what it's for? Yes, it's for archiving Bionicle fan fiction featuring yaoi, slash, and/or shounen-ai. If you're interested, come join. I'll have my fics up there as well, even the unedited versions of some, meaning there's lemons there that cannot be viewed here because of new (Or should I now say old?) policy. Want to see? The link's in my profile since it won't show up here.