A/N: Ok, I'm REALLY new at this so please R/R and let me know if I forgot ANYTHING!!!! (PS, I don't own bionicle, ok? WAAAHHH!!!!! There, I'm done. I'm not bringing it back up. Oh! BTW, Shalri is mine!!!!! Can't have her. And the Matoa concept I use later on? Yeah, that's mine too. No touchy! (without asking anyway:) ) Ok, thank you very much. On with the show:) )

Chapter 1

"There!"

Takanuva sat back to view his handiwork with pride. Peering over his shoulder, his best friend Jaller gave a long low whistle.

"Awesome, Taku…I mean, Takanuva!" He said, still stumbling over his friend's new name.

Beside him, Hahli congratulated the Toa of Light with a hug. "It's wonderful! I don't know if I'll ever be able to do this well!"

Flushing with embarrassment, the Toa coughed "Erm…It's nothing really…I used to do this all the time, remember?"

"Well," said Jaller "The point is you have finally completed your story."

"Yes, and quite the amazing tale it is, is it not?" said a voice somewhere behind them, quickly interrupted by a series of clicking and whistling.

Takanuva tried to stand up in greeting as Turaga Vakama entered the Hall of History accompanied by Nuju and Matoro(who was never far from the Turaga), but his legs were still numb from hours of remaining unused and they gave way beneath him. He settled for bowing his head respectfully.

"Thanks, Vakama. It means a lot to me."

"Yes," said the Turaga of Fire with a smile, "I know."

Another series of whistling clicks sounded somewhere just by Jaller's elbow and he jumped in surprise before realizing it was just Turaga Nuju, who was gazing at the carvings on the wall with awe. After a moment of listening, Matoro nodded and announced, "Turaga Nuju thinks you did a wonderful job as well, Takanuva." He paused as Nuju said something else and added "He's wondering if you're sure you weren't born in Ko-Koro".

Everyone laughed at that.

"Anyway," Takanuva said, still grinning, "What brings you to Ta-Koro, Turaga Nuju?"

Nuju's face became more solemn than ever and he did not respond. Baffled, Takanuva, Jaller, and Hahli turned to look questioningly at Matoro, who shrugged weakly. "He's been like that the whole trip." He said with a sigh, "Keeps muttering about Vakama being a pain in th…ouch!" Matoro stopped short and glanced at Nuju, rubbing the back of his mask where Nuju's staff had hit him.

"Well it's true…" the Ko-Matoran muttered sullenly. Then he fled to hide behind Takanuva as Nuju took a threatening step toward him.

Hahli was forced stifled her giggle as Nuju turned toward her with a raised eyebrow, as though daring her to make a comment. She suddenly became fascinated by a picture of a Gukko on the wall, keeping a wary eye on Nuju's staff.

The Toa of Light grinned. The two Turaga were well known for their wisdom…and their tempers. Sometimes Takanuva could swear he saw bits of Toa in them. They reminded him of Kopaka and Tahu.

Vakama sighed, smiling. "Ah, yes. I had a feeling this had something to do with me. What have I done this time?"

The Turaga suddenly found himself under attack by a burst of angry clicks, whistles, and all manner of similar sounds as Nuju advanced on him in a very aggressive, un-Turaga like way. Matoro just gaped. Vakama backed down under the onslaught, eyes wide. After a few minutes of this, (in which Takanuva and the three matoran made private wagers as to the outcome) Nuju finally stopped, out of breath and glaring. Then Vakama began laughing.

"You mean to say…that you came all the way down here…to complain about the time I spilled juice on your telescope?" The Turaga nearly collapsed with laughter.

Nuju said something else, almost too fast to catch. Almost. Matoro gasped.

"Hey! That's not very nice, Turaga Nuju! Oops." He covered his head protectively as Nuju advanced menacingly with his staff in hand.

A short time afterwards found Takanuva and Vakama walking side by side through the bustling streets of New Ta-Koro. A few matoran waved at the Toa and Turaga before hurrying on. Jaller had to leave so he could check on the patrols around the outer rim of the volcano, something everyone took seriously ever since the Rahkshi (Vakama flinched when he thought about it) had destroyed the first Ta-Koro. Hahli had gone too, saying something about an interesting mural she'd found just south of the city. And of course Nuju and Matoro had begun the long journey back to Ko-Koro with an escort of Ussal riders. Normally a Toa would go with them, but they had all been called away to deal with a Rahi problem in Po-Koro. Something Takanuva dearly wanted to help out with, but was refused.

"You're still too young Takanuva," Tahu said as the Toa Nuva moved out.

Gali looked at him for a moment then whispered on her way past "We all worry about you Takanuva. Don't mind Tahu, to him you'll always be his little Takua"

Somehow, this didn't make Takanuva feel any better.

He was startled out of his reverie by Turaga Vakama's hand on his elbow. "Takanuva, what's wrong?" The old bionicle's mask was creased with worry and the wisdom only a Turaga could gain.

"It's nothing, Turaga." Takanuva said quietly, turning away.

Vakama chuckled sadly. "The last time you said that you were at the beginning of an adventure that would forever change the destiny of Mata Nui. Now tell me," the Turaga's voice became suddenly stern, "What troubles your mind on such a fair day?"

Takanuva sighed, knowing the Ta-Turaga would not back down until he was answered.

"It's just…" his gaze swept the Matoran scattered throughout the street, "It's just that… I don't think I'll ever be a real Toa."

Vakama looked at him solemnly. "Explain yourself."

"Well, I…I'm just not like the other Toa, I'm different. Jaller's treating me like a grown-up! And…" he paused, wistfully recalling Gali's words, "The others still don't trust me. Even though I beat the Makuta, I still feel…"

"Like you don't belong? Like maybe Mata Nui messed up?" Turaga Vakama interrupted suddenly.

Takanuva looked at him in surprise. "Have you heard this story before?"

Vakama smiled grimly "No, just one very, very similar to it." His eyes looked Takanuva up and down for a moment, and then he suddenly began leading him toward the main gate. Takanuva followed him, surprised.

"Where are we going, Turaga?"

Vakama glanced back and up at him. "I'm not going anywhere, Takanuva. You are going to Kini Nui." Then he added something to himself, something Takanuva could scarcely make out.

"It's about time you found your destiny."

A/N: Ok, in case anyone gets confused. This is after Makuta dies, but before the Toa find Metru Nui and the Turaga spill the secrets of their past. :) Read and Review please:)