Chapter One

The Beginnings of Betrayal

Darran was running for his life. What he was running from, he had no idea. All he knew was he needed to get away, and get away fast. His Turaga had warned him about the dangers of the land know as Karzaki, or The Forbidden Land, on the island of Mytha Nui. It had been entered by many Matoran before, and no living Matoran had entered it and left alive. Now Darran was about to join them.

He continued to run, leaping over rocks and fallen trees, weaving between volcanic vents that spewed hot gases, he even side stepped a dead Nui-Rama laying on the ground. He knew if he could reach the edge of Karzaki, he would be safe. For whatever reason, no beast had wandered past its borders. Matoran scholars had puzzled this question for centuries, but with no success.

A jet of flame shot past Darran, but he kept running. Another just missed as it flew inches above his head. Come on, he thought desperately, Where's the border? Another jet of flame rushed past the side of his head. He could feel the heat searing his face and shoulder, even thought they both protected by armor. Come on, where is it! Then he saw it through the dense fog. A forest of trees had appeared in the distance.

His legs were on fire, his lungs ached and he had a terrible stitch in his chest, but he continued to run at top speed. He was getting closer. Twenty feet away…Ten feet. He could hear the beast chasing him getting closer. He put on a burst of speed, and dove behind a fallen log in the dense forest ahead of him.

A jet of flame hit the log where had been seconds before. The creature chasing him gave a screech of rage. As it slowly disappeared back into the fog, Darran poked his head over the top of the log to get a good look at his pursuer. It was relatively small, around a foot over Darran. It had a massive domed head and four, short powerful limbs. It walked on two legs and on its hand it carried a kind of shield.

He watched the beast disappear into the fog. When he was sure the thing had vanished, he let out a huge sigh of relief. His side ached and his legs still felt like they were on fire, but he was alive. He sat there, breathing hard for a long time. Turaga Valmek was right. Karzaki held dangers beyond any Matoran's worst nightmare. His Turaga had never been to the Forbidden Land before, but he had never been there himself. I wonder why? Thought Darran sarcastically.

"Darran! Oh thank the Great Beings! Darran you alive!"

Darran turned to see a blue Matoran running toward him. Darran recognized her immediately as Ralara, his best friend on the island.

"What's wrong Ralara?" he asked. She grabbed him in huge bear hug. She was sobbing uncontrollably.

"They said you disappeared into Karzaki, and that you hadn't returned! I've been running all over the island looking for you and now…"

"Wait, wait, wait, who said I had disappeared?" He said, breaking apart so he could face her.

"Um, it was Redaro. He came running into Ga-Mytha screaming 'He's gone into Karzaki! Darran's gone into Karzaki!'"

"Well that's not surprising," said Darran "You know that Redaro hates me and he's always looking to cause chaos. Throwing Karzaki into the mix just completed the hat trick for him."

"Yeah, I thought that too, but I got a gut feeling that he was right, so I went to your house. When you weren't there I asked if you had checked in at work, but Tarak said you had left. So then I went to your usual surfing spot. When you weren't there, I began to panic. I was just running back to Ga-Mytha to ask Turaga Valmek if we could put together a search party when I saw you laying here."

The two sat next to the fallen tree in silence after these words. Darran was amazed at how much trouble Ralara had gone trough to try and find him. He was glad that she had cared enough about him to try and organize a search party to try and find him. He smiled at her and she gave him a quizzical look.

"What?" she asked.

Darran began to chuckle.

"What is it?"

Darran was now laughing.

"Come on, what's so funny?"

"You," managed Darran through fits of laughter, "Leading a search a party!"

Ralara took it first as an insult, but soon was laughing along with Darran. The two laughed for a while. Finally, Darran stopped and looked at her.

"Come on, I want to show you something." He said, standing up. Darran helped Ralara to her feet.

"We can go to my house, it's closest." And with that the two set of for Ga-Mytha. After a few minutes of walking, they reached a large hill on the edge of Le-Mytha. They climbed up the hill, and looked down on the city of Ga-Mytha.

Ga-Mytha was a large, sandy delta that stretched out into the Bay of Karzaki. Hundreds of small palm tree and sand houses dotted the delta. In the middle stood a large citadel, made of palms trees and coated with a thick layer of sand and mud that had hardened into rock hard stone over the years. This was the home of the Mytha's Kohli field and Turaga Valmek. A large banner displaying the Great Spirit, Mata Nui's symbol could be seen draped on the side facing into the main land.

Out in the bay, Darran could see little blue specks riding wave and swimming in the water. A large fishing boat could also be seen in the far distance. Darran strained his eyes. Out past the fishing boat he could make out the foggy landscape of Karzaki's twin peninsulas.

As they walked through the village, Matoran around them began to whisper and point at them. Ralara noticed that some of them were giving them rude and hateful looks. Darran was also looking at the Matoran, but could care less about what faces they were making at them. They walked on passing by market stalls and Ga-Matoran houses.

Where is he? Thought Darran. He was beginning to think that maybe Redaro had gone back to Onu-Mytha. Then he spotted him. A lone Onu-Matoran standing with a bunch excited looking Ga-Matoran. He appeared to have just gotten their attention and was waiting for others to join the spectacle.

"Ok, here's what I'm going to show you." He whispered to Ralara. She gave him a confused look. They were still blocks away from her house, why would he show her something in the middle of the town square? He continued to whisper to. Her face went form being confused, to interest and finally a mischievous smile. When Darran was done he crouched behind a barrel of sea weed the Matoran used for paper and rope. Ralara waited next to him. Although Darran was a good ten feet away, Redaro's voice carried so well, he might as well have been standing right next to him.

"I saw him, standing there on the edge of Karzaki. My first reaction was to go up and say hi…"

Darran muffled a snort of disgusted. Redaro wanting to say "Hi" to him. What a joke. Unfortunately, the Ga-Matoran made no reaction at all.

"But then he looked around as if he was making sure no body was watching him. I immediately ducked behind a tree and watched from there. He stood there for a moment then started to walk into the fog. I ran after him, but I was too late. He had disappeared into Karzaki. I called out to him, but he didn't respond. So I ran here to inform the Turaga, but he dismissed me. So I guess we will never see Darran again." Finished Redaro, rather weakly. Darran muffled another snort of disgust. At this Ralara left and began walking up to Redaro's group.

Redaro was still talking about Darran to the other Ga-Matoran when he heard someone crying. He looked around and saw Ralara coming towards their group. Immediately forgetting about the other Ga-Matoran, he strode up to Ralara.

"What's wrong Ralara?" he asked her.

"Turaga Valmek just …told me…"she sobbed.

"Told you what?" he asked, trying to make eye contact.

"Told me that…" she choked, "That Darran's…. he's …dead." She burst into a fresh wave of sobs.

"Ralara, it's ok. I am sure Darran just got lost, he'll be back an minute now. Come on, I'll take you home." He began to lead Ralara away when Darran stepped out from behind the barrel.

"Guess what Redaro? I'm back!" he called out to him. Redaro froze. His whole body had become ridged. If someone would have nudged him, he would have fallen over, stiff as a statue. Ralara on the other hand, turned quickly around. She ran at Darran crying, "Darran your alive!"

Redaro slowly turned around. Darran smiled as the expression on Redaro's face seemed to be eternally fixed on his mask, like it was craved from stone rather than protodermis.

"Funny you would tell Ralara that I am ok. Just a few seconds ago I heard you telling them," he motioned to the other Ga-Matoran, "That I was dead."

Redaro was still unable to speak. His face was frozen in amazement. He finally regained the ability to speak. Also like the rock his face appeared to be made out of, his face moved slowly and ruggedly.

"How did you survive?" he asked slowly.

"I ran for my life." Said Darran plainly, "But that's not important. What is important is why you feel the need to spread rumors to the whole island about me, Redaro."

Redaro stood motionless for a while. He couldn't think of a comeback.

"Because," he said slowly, "I watched you enter Karzaki. I heard you scream! What else was I supposed to think?" he began to speak quicker and with more anger.

"Well then, can you tell me why you told Ralara that I was going to be ok?"

"Because…because," he stammered. "Because she was distressed. I didn't want to upset her anymore. That's all."

"Well, if you wouldn't have told people I was dead in the first place, she wouldn't have gotten upset, now would have she?" he said as if he was talking to a particularly dumb Rahi.

"Well I am sorry for alerting the island of your disappearance. Next time, I will wait until I am sure you're dead to tell everyone." He replied sarcastically.

"You know what I think, Redaro?" Darran asked.

"What do you think, Darran? Oh wait I forgot. You don't think. That's why you wondered into Karzaki in the first place." There were a few chuckles at his remark. Darran took no notice of this and plowed on.

"I think that you wanted me to be dead. And another thing, if your really care about me, wouldn't have you stopped me from entering the Forbidden Land in the first place?"

He had said it. Redaro opened his mouth to retort, but could come up with nothing. He closed his mouth, a grim expression spreading over his face.

"You know what, I don't care anymore. I am going home, and both of you are forbidden to enter Onu-Mytha ever again." And with these final words stormed away.

"What's all the noise about?" called an elderly voice from behind them. Turaga Valmek was walking up the street towards the spectacle. He stopped and looked into Darran's eyes.

"Redaro's been spreading falsetruths, Turaga." Piped up a Le-Matoran.

"Really?" said Valmek, looking at the Le-Matoran. He nodded and motioned to Darran and Ralara.

"They were having a loudshout match just now." He explained.

"Thank you, Jakuta." He said turning back to Darran. "Is this true Darran, or is this more falsetruths?" he joked. Darran nodded.

"Dear me," said Valmek. "How will you ever learn about the other virtues if you can't learn the most important one, Darran? Unity! All things begin with Unity!"

"I have tried, Turaga, but Redaro also needs to try as well." He pointed out.

"You're quite right." Laughed Valmek. "I will see to him personally, now go on. All of you, it's getting late." And with that he headed back to the citadel.

Darran and Ralara turned and headed for Ralara's house, discussing the argument along the way.

Redaro, on the other hand was not heading home. He was instead heading for a hill that overlooked Ralara's house. He was going to wait until Darran would leave, and then attack him on his way home. His mind was burning with questions as he walked towards his destination. How had Darran survived Karzaki, when so many others had fallen? Had he just crossed the border and waited for Redaro to leave? Or had he really been attacked, and by the will of the Great Sprit, been able to get away? Or was this all just some sick payback joke for when Redaro had flipped out at Darran for destroying his prized Ussal barn?

While he had been asking all these questions, he had some up with one answer. Whatever the reason, Darran was trying to get back at him getting mad at him.

Well, two can play at that game. Redaro thought as he settled on the hill over looking Ralara's house.

Darran and Ralara had arrived at Ralara's house a while before sunset. Ralara's house was made of sand, and was built by drying large blocks of sand and mud and stacking them on top of each other, using more mud to keep them together. He remembered helping her build this house after her old one had been destroyed by a hurricane that had stuck Mytha Nui just last year. The two entered the house and closed the palm tree door behind them. Darran walked over to the couch and spread himself out on it. Ralara meanwhile, waked over to the hearth and lit a fire. After a few seconds, she had a roaring fire in the hearth.

"So," she said, grabbing a chair from her small table and placing it in front of Darran and sitting down in it, "What's this thing you wanted to show me?"

"Well I didn't really wander into Karzaki by accident." He began sitting up and turning to face her. "I found this," he said, pulling out an ancient looking tablet from his pack, "In a cave by Mount Sekamu. It took ages to translate, but I finally managed to get the whole thing translated." He pointed at his own writing below the actual writing. Ralara took it and began to read out loud.

"In Karzaki's heart,

A treasure waits.

One that will save the island,

From a terrible fate.

It sits alone,

Among the beasts.

It waits for rescue,

By only a hero's feats."

At this she gave Darran a smile.

"So you're a hero, now are you?" she said.

"Just finished reading." He told her, somewhat embarrassed.

She continued to read.

"The only hope,

Comes from Him.

Call upon the heroes

From deep within.

"They hold the key,

That can defeat evil.

Find them and you'll have,

Protection that won't leave you."

She finished and looked at Darran. He looked back, as if looking for reassurance.

"Well, what do you think?" he asked her hopefully.

"Well," she said putting down the tablet and looking at Darran in a very business like way, "It appears that there is some kind of treasure here that will call upon hero's from Mata Nui. That must be why "Him" is written different." She pointed to the original script on the tablet.

"Yeah I figured that much." He told her. "What I don't get is the part about calling the heroes from deep within."

"Yes that confused me a little as well she said, picking up the tablet again and looking at the translation. "Deep from within where? The mountains? The Bay of Glass? The sea?"

"I think that it might be more metaphorical." He said. "Not from deep within the ground, but from deep within ourselves."

"Really?" asked Ralara.

"Yeah." he said.

"Darran, you think that someone will tell us about a threat if we were going to just protect ourselves anyway? Besides the scripture refers to heroes form Mata Nui, so it must mean that other beings would be coming."

"Yeah I guess your right." He said lamely.

"Well, did you find this treasure when you went into Karzaki?" she asked, trying to boost his spirit.

"Well, I don't know about a treasure, but I did find this in a cave guarded by a weird creature." He said pulling out a cylindrical object wrapped in parchment. He handed it to her. She found that it was very light, despite its somewhat large size.

"Do you know what it is?" she asked, holding it up above her head to get a better look at it.

"No, I haven't had a chance yet. That's why I wanted to show you first."

"Do you think we should try and take off this parchment?" she asked.

"Yeah, just be really careful. Try and find a seam if you can." Said Darran.

Ralara looked over the object carefully. From what she could see, there was no seam at all. After several minutes, she placed it on her hand and began rotating it slowly. When she didn't find anything, she flipped it and began rolling it the other way. About ¾ of the way, she stopped, grabbing a small seam. She took it over to her table. Darran got up and followed her. Very carefully, Ralara began sliding both her hands down the sides of the cylinder. When she reached the end, she gave a gentle tug and the parchment fell away.

Sitting in the middle of the parchment was a large, glowing, golden stone.