Heroes And Halflings – Chapter 1
A beautiful sunrise shone over the island-city of Metru Nui. On the balcony of the Coliseum, a lone Toa of Fire stood vigil. He scanned the horizon, but the object his eyes longed to see was nowhere to be found.
Nearly four weeks before, a call from another island had summoned his brothers and sister – Matau, Whenua, and Nokama – away from home. Though they'd assured him and the others that they would soon return, no one had seen nor heard from the three Toa Metru since they had flown off in their airship. He couldn't help feeling worried about them, although they were more than capable of taking care of themselves.
"Still waiting, Vakama?"
Turning at the sound of that familiar voice, Vakama smiled sadly at the speaker. "I'm worried for them, Jaller - although they're probably all right."
"Yeah, well - something's come up. Two Toa turned up in a ship – only them – last night, and they told Hahli that they needed to see Turaga Dume, you, Nuju, and Onewa as soon as possible," said the Toa Mahri of Fire.
Vakama frowned. "Did they explain why?"
"No – that's all they said," replied Jaller, who looked as perplexed as Vakama felt. "But Turaga Dume let them have their way – though I think part of it was because the female got a bit impatient and began sparking all over her," he tacked on.
"Well," the Toa Metru of Fire said, starting to move back within the Coliseum, "if they want an audience, I shouldn't keep them waiting. Where are we meeting them?"
"The main council chamber."
"Alright, then . . ."
XxX
In most respects, the main council chamber looked the same as usual. Same large, oval table; same windowless walls; same elaborately carved ceiling. The only different aspect was that instead of seven Turaga, there were five Toa and a Turaga situated within the room.
The two newcomers had a weary expression on their faces: tiredness from lack of sleep and hope. Behind that exhaustion, though, there was a steely determination, a desire to make it through anything the universe could throw at them, bolstered by their well-muscled physique. The male half of the duo had purple and black armor, and wore an Iden that made him look much older than he probably was. The female had a powerful air to her, with piercing green eyes that made even the veteran Toa Metru feel smaller. Her mask was one that even Vakama couldn't identify: something that looked like a hybrid of a Kaukau, a Faxon, and an Arthron, and all blended together to look rather nice.
No sooner did the door close behind Jaller did they start to speak. "I am gladdened to hear that you that you are willing to hear what we have to say," spoke the female half of the duo. "Our hopes are not in vain, it seems." There was something about her voice that made them pay very close attention, something that suggested she had suffered thousands of moral disasters, and she had come out different; but that seemed to make her voice all the more pleasing to the ear.
"Our mission has called us far from home," said the male Toa quietly, without real emotion behind his words. Something about his tone made their hearts go out to him, like he had lost everything that was dear to him, and it was all his fault.
Nuju opened his mouth to introduce himself and the others, but the female raised her hand to cut him off. "Don't bother – we already know your names. My name is Stara, Toa of Lightning. My quiet companion here," she said, casting an irritated glance at said companion, "is Kronus, Toa of Gravity."
''We are well met, Stara.'' responded Vakama. ''Where do you hail from, and what brings you to Metru-Nui?''
"We come from the island Rohaya, not far south of Metru Nui," replied Kronus, shooting an annoyed glare at Stara, who pretended to not notice. Something about their actions made Onewa think of Muaka cats locked in the same cage – Muaka cats who had a mutual tension and mistrust around each other. "And our duty calls for our paths to meet with yours, because it not only may hold danger for your home, but it involves the Toa Metru personally."
"Well, don't keep us in suspense," Onewa said impatiently. "What's the deal?"
"We ought to start at the root of the matter," Stara said heavily, pulling out several tablets from the pack she wore over her shoulder. "Tell us this, my friends...
"Have you ever heard of halflings?"