A/N - HEEEEY! Long time no post! Before you go crazy on me, my iPod decided to take a nosedive - in other words, the OS software crashed - back in November and I lost everything.
All Chapter 4 and half of chapter 5 for this story, and several other minor story ideas are gone. I got my device fixed by early-December (it took a while to have time to take it in), and I purchased a laptop (finally!), so now I have these chapters backed up to my phone(s) and laptop, so this won't happen again. I have more info in the bottom A/N.
Oh! And Happy (late!) Holidays!
On with the story!
The only sound in the tunnel was the sound of paws and feet hitting the floor as five Hordika, one Rahaga and one human girl made their way. The silence was heavy, as the group continued to what they knew would be the final battle - one that may cost them their friend, Vakama.
Vakama… Emma thought determinedly, tightening her grip on her new spear, we will save you… somehow…
Watching the slinking form of the green Hordika in front of her, she knew what Matau was planning. And she had every intention of joining him, whether he liked it or not.
Vakama summoned a flame with his claw-weapon for what must've been the dozenth time. He had finally figured out how to make it work a long time ago, and now all that remained was for the others to arrive.
I wish they would hurry up, he thought, green slitted eyes narrowing; he was beginning to get impatient.
Suddenly, a loud booming sound was heard, but before he, Sidorak or Roodaka could determine its source, an explosion occurred in the front of the arena and six figures could be seen through the haze walking in. That could only mean one thing.
The Toa Hordika and Emma had arrived.
Nokama was quick to call out the Hordika of Fire. "Vakama!" Her voice was filled with concern.
"…Nokama…" Vakama breathed, almost as if he was unable to believe that his sister was… worried. For him. His mind began to spin.
"Remember Vakama," Roodaka murmured, drawing the red Hordika's attention towards her, "you don't need them anymore."
The Hordika shook his head, clearing his cluttered mind, before hopping down onto a spire below him. "You've made a grave mistake coming here!" He snarled.
"Nice to see you, too, scrap-head." Emma greeted sarcastically, and her sensitive ears caught the sound of an annoyed growl.
"We came here to save you!" Whenua snapped, his sail raising.
"The only ones you can save now are yourselves…" Vakama growled, "bow down, and pledged your allegiance, to me!"
"Ahem?"
Vakama looked back, before adding "And, to Sidorak."
"And when we don't?" Emma challenged, fighting the urge to just go in after the traitorous Toa herself. Trying to save him, not kill him. She reminded herself.
"I will make you!" Roared the Fire Hordika in answer. He tore off the point of a spire and threw it like a javelin. When it struck, the entire Visorak horde spilled out from the arena doors, instantly surrounding the Toa and girl.
The Toa Hordika quickly readied their spinners, and Emma grabbed hold of Matau's shoulders, much to the green Hordika's surprise. Before he could shrug her off, the girl gave him a look before whispering, "I know what you're planning, and I'm in."
He stared for a second, before grumbling in compliance. Emma grinned in triumph, before schooling her face. They didn't have time for an argument.
Far above them, Roodaka coolly observed the human girl. So, the Hordika Venom has no effect on full organics… She thought, taking note of the girl's unchanged appearance.
"Ready?" Nokama asked as the spinners powered up with orange energy.
"You think this is gonna work?" Whenua asked nervously. They only had one shot…
"Aim…" was Nokama's response.
"Ask me in a minute," Matau answered instead. Emma just tightened her grip on his shoulders.
"Uh, Nokama?" Onewa asked, tail twitching in nervousness. Though considering all the surrounding Visorak were closing in fast, it was warranted.
As he got no response, the Visorak activated their own spinners.
"Now!" The Water Hordika howled. "Let's go!"
The Toa Hordika launched their spinners, having them catch onto their arm-tools, thus carrying them into the air. Vakama also gave the spiders the order to fire and spinners zoomed through the air.
"Hey, wait for me-EEEEEEEEE!" Onewa yelped, as he was the last to launch and was now spinning out of control in mid-air. The Toa Hordika dodged all the spinners and landed on a ledge above a doorway - all except for Matau and Emma.
"Catch you guys later!" the Hordika of Air called to them as he and the girl continued their way up the tower.
"Where are Matau and Emma going?" asked Nokama, surprised; their departure from the group was not part of the plan at all.
However, that didn't matter at the moment; they had Visorak to take care of and, though outnumbered, the remaining four sane Hordika launched spinner after spinner at the Visorak below.
Vakama scowled as he paced the balcony's length. Roodaka and Sidorak had left to deal with Keetongu, leaving him there to pace.
"'Be ready'…" he grumbled under his breath. His claws twitched, clicking against the metal of the balcony. He was itching for a fight.
Hearing struggling sounds, he leaped over to where the five Rahaga were tied up. Raising his claws up, ready to remind them of who had the power, the Fire Hordika froze as a tingling rippled through the back of his neck. "What in-?!"
"Gangway!" A feminine voice cried.
Something slammed into his side, grabbing his torso and yanking him off the spire. His paws flailing as he was swung through the air, the startled Hordika snarled "Put! Me! DOWN!"
"You want down?" A familiar male voice asked semi-sarcastically. "You got it!"
Vakama yelped as his captor's grip loosened, sending him soaring. Scrambling, he felt his claws latch onto some of the Visorak webbing that covered the tower. As he re-established his equilibrium, the vibrations of something landing on the webbing just to his lower left grabbed his attention.
Matau panted as he clung to the webs, tail lashing. His sail would have raised… if not for the girl clinging to his back.
"Vakama!" Emma called out.
"Your place is with us!" Matau cried, "We're here to rescue the Matoran!"
That got Vakama's mind turning. "The Matoran…" he growled under his breath.
"You remember, don't you?" Emma asked semi-hopeful.
What she got for an answer was a snarl, before Vakama turned and began to climb.
"Don't worry Emma," Matau murmured as he began to pursue his once-brother, "we'll get him back, you'll see."
"Yeah…" Emma closed her arctic blue eyes briefly, before turning her attention upwards. Vakama…
The chase went further up the tower, past the balcony where the five Rahaga were held. After a near miss with Vakama's fire spinner, Matua and Emma pulled themselves up to a platform surrounded by webbing at the very top of the tower.
A very, very empty platform.
"Matau, I got a bad feeling about this…" Emma murmured, the tingling in her neck sending screams of warning into her mind.
The green Hordika made no reply, but he too felt the warning sensation. Lashing out his tail, he kept the girl back.
"Stay here." He rumbled, before prowling towards the center of the platform.
As he did so, the warning spiked into DANGER. Head whipping around, Emma quickly spotted two green slitted eyes behind her friend. The eyes then disappeared upwards.
"MATAU BEHIND YOU!"
The green Hordika's head whipped around, just as a red blur came down on top of him. He yelped, rolling to the side as a blazing claw-weapon slammed into the ground where he had just been standing.
Turning one-eighty into a defensive crouch, Matau's orange eyes went wide. "What has happened to you?!" He exclaimed, staring at his snarling once-brother.
Green slitted eyes narrowed, sail raised, stripes flushed, tail lashing and claws extended, Vakama hissed animalistically.
Emma found herself pulling back into herself as the red Hordika continued to growl. This… was not the Vakama the thirteen year old knew. This was a beast. A true Hordika.
Of course, Matau tried to lighten the situation. "Ya know, outside the obvious."
That only served to tick the Fire Hordika off, and with a roar he lunged at the Air Hordika. The red beast bowled the surprised green one over, and Vakama brought his muzzle down to tear into his brother. Acting quickly, Matau brought up his arm-blade in defence, catching the other in the jaw as he tried to bite down. Before Vakama could react, a pair of lithe legs slammed into his middle as his brother shoved him off.
Claws sent sparks flying as the Fire Hordika slid across the ground, and he snarled as he stopped before lunging. Matau ducked as his brother soared overhead, and spun, slamming his tail into the still airborne Hordika. Grunting, Vakama twisted his elongated body, barrel rolling and landing like a cat.
A roar was his only warning before a mass of green and orange slammed into his side. Yowling, Vakama twisted his head, and a pair of fangs unfolded from the roof of his mouth - a pair he then buried into Matau's right shoulder. The Air Hordika howled in pain, before back-claws raked down Vakama's side in retaliation. Screeching, Vakama loosened his grip, giving Matau a chance to break free and buck his brother in the jaw.
The red Hordika was sent skidding backwards, claws again screeching against the metal floor of the platform and leaving deep gorges. Shaking his head, he was quick to spin, intercepting the green Hordika with his own tail and sending the other skidding. Matau was quick to act, activating his spinner as he skidded, before firing.
Too fast to react, the spinner slammed into the ground, stopping Vakama mid-charge. The Fire Hordika screeched as the light from the explosion seared into his eyes. Stumbling back, he hissed as he brought his right arm-leg up in an attempt to clear his now blurry vision.
A warning tingle was all he got before Matau buried his own fangs into his brother's neck. Vakama screamed in pain, and began to buck like a rodeo horse in an attempt to get his brother to loosen his grip. The Air Hordika snarled in response, and twisted his body in a way that allowed him to latch onto his bucking brother with his claws.
Still screaming, Vakama threw himself to the side, succeeding in slamming his brother into a wall of hardened web. In response, Matau tightened his grip, leading to droplets of green tinged purple blood to leak from the red Hordika's hide. Vakama's screech increased in pitch, and in a last ditch attempt to get Matau off, he rolled, slamming the green Hordika into the ground.
Matau was now the one who screeched, and his grip loosened enough for Vakama to rip himself free. Hissing, the Fire Hordika pulled back, twisting his head to sniff his wounds. His head snapped back as a scuffing sound reached his ears, and he openly snarled as Matau pulled himself up. The Air Hordika held his right hand-paw to his chest in a limp, and hissed back in response.
Emma watched as the two Hordika began to circle each other, both limping but the latter having it worse. Both had cuts that dribbled infected blood, though the former's infection was more noticeable. Red and green-orange sails flailed as dark red and orange stripes flushed with colour for the respective beasts.
She knew that she had to do something. One more collision and one or both of them would be seriously injured. But what can I do? Emma thought in panicked desperation. She was a thirteen year old human girl, and they were bio-mechanical beasts. Oh man…
The two Hordika had stopped moving, with green and orange eyes glaring into each other with a ferocity unseen till then. Their muscles tensed as they crouched.
Then, Matau collapsed.
"No!" Emma screamed as Vakama flew at his brother, claws and fangs extended.
Lightning flashed in the sky with a loud BOOM as a burst of light filled the air. It slammed into the platform between the two Hordika with an deafening bang, stopping Vakama's flight and sending him sprawling. Matau cried out as the light assaulted his eyes, and he weakly moved his uninjured arm-leg up to cover his eyes. A soft rain began to pelt his hide, and the light began to dim. When it faded to an almost black, he moved his paw, blinking rapidly. Hearing a sharp gasp, he turned his head up - and froze.
A figure stood between the two Hordika.
Almost eight feet in height, her feminine armour glimmered in the faded light from the droplets of water that cascaded off her slim form. A spear was held in her delicate yet strong hands, frame tense and defensive. Solid, arctic blue eyes with circular white pupils narrowed at the stunned red form in front of her - the only visual source of light outside of her blue heartlight.
A long moment of silence passed, in which only the figure's rough breathing could be heard, her chest rising and falling being the only visible movement. The rain suddenly tapered off, and the clouds cleared. The light from the twin moons slid onto the platform, onto the Toa-like figure… and revealed a young human girl clutching a large spear with fingerless-gloved hands in the exact same position.
Matau's mind whirled as he tried to process what he had just seen. His jaw moved liked a gaping fish, even as he forced his aching body to his feet. By Mata Nui…
Vakama was not much better off, his jaw on the ground as his sail raised in surprise. It was only the sharp sting on his left cheek that pulled him out of his shock. Raising a paw up, he grimaced as he delicately traced the bleeding but shallow cut with a bloodied claw. His green eyes landed on the blood covered spear tip, giving indication of where the injury had originated from. Anger boiled in his veins. This creature thought that she could injure him? With a growling snarl, the Fire Hordika crouched down, tail lashing as he readied his spinner.
Matau saw this, and threw himself forwards just as the spinner fired.
"NOOOO!"
Though who screamed would forever remain a mystery, the fire-powered spinner slammed into Matau's side, earning a pained screech. He was thrown back into a startled Emma, who gave a shriek of her own as the green Hordika's body slammed into her, knocking the spear from her grip. The two tumbled over each other, claws and fingers grabbing at the platform in desperation…
…Only for both to disappear over the edge with twin cries.
Vakama's body trembled as his spinner folded down, breaths ragged as he stared at the spot where his two foes had vanished. A part of him screamed to check on them, to-to save them…
Growling, the red Hordika shook his head. He had to focus on his task. Stalking forwards, a feral grin formed on his face as he saw that there was no sign of the two as he approached the edge. He went to turn away, ready to head back down, when he caught sight of something in his peripheral.
A green paw latched onto the very edge of the balcony.
Emma trembled as she clung onto Matau's back, crushing his sail beneath her. The arena was a speck below her, small flashes of light lighting up the area, which was foggy from the rain. Guys… Emma thought, thinking of the others still battling below.
A sharp cry of pain from Matau brought her gaze up, and she gasped when she saw Matau's paw trapped by Vakama's claws.
"You are weak," the red Hordika hissed, digging his claws in more. "Brother."
Despite the pain, Matau managed to grind out "You're right Vakama, I am weak…" he trailed off as a new wave of pain laced down his arm. He could feel Emma tighten her grip on his back with a whimper.
Vakama, meanwhile, gave a low chuckle. "So, at the end you see the truth." He purred.
However, Matau managed to get out "We all make mistakes Vakama, that's what happens when you're brave enough to make decisions." Looking back and making eye contact with Emma, he added softly, "I understand that now."
Vakama snarled. "I don't believe that coming from you!" The red Hordika activated his weapon, and a claw of fire formed in seconds, blazing white-hot as it came close to the green Hordika's muzzle.
Emma let out a scared cry, and Matau, alarmed, let out a shout. "Wait!"
Vakama snarled, raising the claw above his head. "Not for long."
Seeing as he had only one shot, Matau was quick say, "I'm sorry, for doubting you." Feeling the claws on his paw loosen slightly, he continued. "Our strength comes from our unity Vakama. Which means you can't be strong without us," he glanced back into Emma's now tear-filled eyes, "without her." and back up at his brother, just catching the girl's surprised face.
Vakama, shaken slightly from the sincerity behind his brother's words, weakly countered. "I'm better, and stronger, alone."
Matau just shook his head. "I don't believe that, and I don't think you do, either." When he got no response, he pushed on, "You're our leader Vakama. You're my leader." He almost whispered the last part, but both Vakama and Emma heard it.
"We've got a job to do!" The green Hordika proclaimed. "A-A…"
"A duty…" Emma whispered, looking up with moist eyes at the Hordika who she had begun to see as an older brother. "We have to save the Matoran ani!"
All of Vakama's thoughts froze at the last word. Eyes wide, he stared at the young girl below him. Ani… she called me…
"Remember the Matoran!" Emma cried.
That snagged and redirected his attention. "The Matoran…" he murmured. Unbeknownst to Vakama, his eyes had begun to take on a more orange shade, his pupils widening from their slits as their original look began to return.
Matau saw his chance. "Rescuing them is our destiny!" He cried. As the claws released his paw, he added, "It's your destiny!"
Vakama now stared wide-eyed as his claw deactivated, his now orange pupils with a deep red background filled with confusion.
"And if there is any of the Vakama I know left, he'll know what to do next." Matau finished, smiling up at his brother.
Emma gave a smile of her own at the red Hordika. "Even if I never say it, you always know what to do Vakama."
Then, Matau's paw slid a bit.
Vakama gave a start, and he lunged. "Matau don't-!"
It was to late, and the green Hordika's paw, sore and bleeding, lost his grip on the ledge. Vakama screamed both names as Hordika and girl fell.
Emma buried her face into Matau's chest, the Hordika having pulled her in when he slipped. The Air Hordika, despite his right front leg being practically useless, clung desperately to the girl, attempting to shield her from the fall.
Just as it seemed that they were going to crash into the quickly approaching ground, a cry came from above.
"MATAU! EMMA! I'M COMING!"
It was Vakama! The red Hordika was falling towards them, with what looked like a line of web tied to his torso like a bungee cord.
Emma and Matau both let out cries of the others name, both in relief and joy, respectively. "VAKAMA!"
The fire Hordika was quick to catch up with them, and wrapped his arms around the two of them.
"Hang on," he said, "I've got a plan."
Any joy that Emma felt towards the statement was halted as the ground continued to come up fast. Closing her eyes, she buried her face into the closest chest - Vakama's if the amount of heat she felt was an indicator - and waited for impact. Instead, she felt the force of gravity against her slow until it stopped for a brief moment. Then, she was moving upwards, crying out with the two Hordika as they were yanked upwards via the web.
As the trio reached the height of their ascent, Vakama activated his blazing claw, severing the web around his middle. Matau was quick to act, reaching out a claw and snagging another, anchored, web, swinging the three around. All three, human and Hordika, landed on the web line, Emma having to grab Vakama's shoulders to steady herself. In response, Vakama wrapped his tail around her waist, pulling her closer and digging his claws into the web much like his green brother.
"So…" Emma asked after the three steadied themselves, "what's the plan you have in mind?"
Vakama gave a fanged grin.
Down in the arena, the battle raged on.
Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, the four Toa Hordika, Norik, and the five freed Rahaga soon found themselves surrounded by the horde. Then, all of sudden, the spiders dispersed into a large circle around them for seemingly no reason.
"Oh… I don't like this," Whenua thought aloud, tail twitching nervously.
A tingle making its way through her neck, Nokama gasped just as a green Rhotuka spinner came from nowhere, slamming into the ground before them, sending the ten of them to the ground. Winded, but not hurt, the heroes quickly discovered a gigantic Visorak coming toward them. A tall, dark, and feminine figure then sauntered off of its head, and approached them with a casual yet predatory grace. Though, none of the Toa had personally met her, they guessed from the Rahaga's description that this had to be only one being: Roodaka.
"You have something I want," the villainess said, her blue eyes narrowed, "your elemental powers. Earth. Stone. Ice. Water." She grinned. "Fire already belongs to me." Then, a thought crossed her mind: she only named five elements, and there were supposed to be six Toa in the group. "One's missing…" she mused as she tapped her chin in thought. Now who was she missing?
"That would be air." A voice answered. It was Vakama, and he was stalking forwards with a faint limp, two figures being pushed in front of him. "And, I caught this one sneaking around in the tower." He then shoved both Matau and Emma hard toward the others, the former near-collapsing from his injuries. Though Vakama was not much better off. "They're all yours, my queen." He hissed.
Onewa and Whenua looked at each other in disbelief while the two joined the line, Emma helping to support the injured Hordika of Air.
"Thank you, Vakama." Roodaka purred. "Now, about those powers…"
The green Hordika snarled. "You want them so bad, take them!" Matau challenged, and he launched a green elemental spinner. The other Hordika, though unsure, were quick to follow suit, and all of the elemental launchers hit their mark.
However, when the smoke cleared, not only was Roodaka still standing with a strange red energy dancing all over her body, she also began to laugh evilly.
"Alright, who fired the tickle spinner?" asked Matau in annoyance, tail twitching.
"Fools!" Roodaka proclaimed. "You, like your powers, are nothing if you are not united!" She smirked. "And as Vakama stands with me-"
"Actually," a voice interrupted, "I wanted to talk to you about that." Vakama snarled as he readied his own elemental Rhotuka spinner; which was aimed right at her.
Though she didn't count on this, Roodaka still saw a loophole. "You can defeat me, Vakama, but not all of them." She pointed to the Visorak horde with triumph. "Strike me down and they will surely destroy you and your friends." She chuckled. "Think about it."
Unfortunately for her, Vakama had. "And, seeing as you convinced Sidorak to put me in charge of them…" Then, he turned to the horde, "Get of out of here, all of you! You're free!" After a momentary pause, he added with a chuckle, "That's an order."
To almost everyone's astonishment, the entire horde obeyed Vakama, and quickly began to clear out of the arena. "Traitors!" Roodaka called to them, staring as even her own mount turned and left.
"You can't betray someone you're enslaved to." the Fire Hordika corrected smugly.
Roodaka growled, fists clenching. "And, to think I thought you could be king."
The red Hordika snorted. "I lead only those that choose to follow. That's the difference between being a leader and a tyrant like you." He then grinned, looking at the group behind him. "A certain Toa and girl taught me that."
Seeing Vakama looking toward Matau and Emma, who grinned, the Toa Hordika looked at them, puzzled. What was he talking about?
It was then that power flowed from Roodaka's heartstone and her eyes changed from blue to red. It almost looked like she had become possessed. Only, Norik knew exactly what it meant.
"No, Vakama, don't!" he called out, but he was too late. Vakama had already fired his spinner, which then hit Roodaka square in the chest - right on her heartlight.
At the Great Barrier, the form of Makuta remained perfectly still, trapped in his protodermis cage. Suddenly, his consciousness became aware of something different, and he soon discovered that he could move his fingers a little. The red hue in his eyes returned as he began to free himself.
The Toa Seal on his prison had finally been broken.
Back at the Coliseum, Roodaka collapsed, out of exhaustion from the hits she willingly took, or from the power surge, nobody could tell. Then, to everyones horror, a giant red and black, and too-familiar-for-comfort, shadowy hand sprouted out from her chest, picked her up, and the two disappeared with a flash. There was nothing left of Roodaka, except a small piece of stone, which hit the ground with a small clink. Curious, Vakama went to take a closer look and Norik trailed after him.
The Fire Hordika just picked up the stone with his right hand-paw when Norik said sorrowfully, "Oh Vakama. You have no idea what you've just done."
"Her heartstone…" Vakama realized. "It's Makuta's."
"Yes! Carved from the same protodermis you sealed the Makuta with!" Norik cried. "In destroying it, you've broken that seal."
"I know," he rumbled, "and set Makuta free."
Vakama took a brief moment to gaze upon the stone, and said, "For some reason, he doesn't scare me anymore." He let the stone slide off of his paw as he looked upon his fellow Toa and friends. They were all alive and safe, that was what mattered.
But when his eyes landed on Emma, he froze. "Emma, I-"
"You're a jerk for betraying us like that, Vakama," the girl said with a stern tone, walking up with her left hand on her hip, her right held close to her middle, rips in the glove revealing multiple small cuts. A downcast expression formed on the Fire Hordika's face, knowing she was right, just the moment before the girl started rubbing her uninjured hand against his head affectionately and smiled. "But, I forgive you," she smiled, "and, sorry about that cut." She gently laid her left hand just below the slice on his left cheek.
Vakama rubbed against her hand in response with a purr, assuring her that it was ok.
Then, the sound of rusted clanking gears was heard and Keetongu showed up. He looked like he had been stomped on by a Tahtorak before he collapsed, his arms straining to hold him up.
"Keetongu!" Norik panicked. "Quick! Help him up!"
The Toa Hordika were quick to rush to the ancient being's aid, sliding under him and supporting him with their sore bodies.
"In light of all you've given," Vakama grunted with effort as he helped the giant to his feet, "you owe us nothing. But, my duty requires I ask; will you change back?"
Keetongu spoke, and Norik translated, "He wants to know why you would want that, being as you've made peace with the beast within; that you might even be the better for it."
"It's our destiny to be Toa," Vakama answered with a smile, "and to keep our promise to the Matoran."
"Duty." nodded Keetongu, understanding.
"Then, so will you be," Norik proclaimed.
The Toa gathered in a circle around the giant Rahi and joined paws, balancing on their hind legs. Keetongu then stretched out his arms, and a light from within him illuminated his entire being and washed over them. The six all felt a sensation like they were being cleansed, of the Hordika venom in their veins being rinsed and purged out of their bodies, as they returned to normal.
Emma stood back with the Rahaga, watching the transformation with wide eyes. No one noticed her blue eyes briefly flash a sickly green colour.
Down inside the Coliseum, the Toa Metru and Emma approached the Matoran spheres. It was time to begin the long awaited rescue.
"Now then, let's get all of you to safety," said Vakama as he stopped by a pod. He touched the door panel, which opened to reveal a Ga-Matoran with a Komau. Whenua then came up holding a screen board, checking the small Bionicle's vitals.
It was then that Emma noticed something on the left side of Vakama's mask - a faint cut-like scar. Evidently, Keetongu's power healed the wound, but not completely. When he spotted her looking at him, she quickly looked away. The Toa of Fire, however, gestured for her attention and winked. Emma smiled, feeling a little relieved, and observed the Earth Toa checking off names.
A thought suddenly crossed her mind and she looked at her lightly bandaged hand and mused, "It's kind of weird, in a way."
"What is?" asked Nuju curiously as he walked up.
"It was so weird with you guys being half animal, now it feels weird being around you now that you're back to normal," the girl answered sheepishly. The Toa of Ice smiled while everyone else chuckled. Emma stuck her tongue out at them, but a grin twitched at her lips.
It was good to be a part of a family again.
Soon after, everyone, the Toa, Emma, the Rahaga, and Keetongu were loading the spheres onto the only six airships that, amazingly, survived the fall of Metru Nui. Or as it was now called, the Great Cataclysm.
"Put your back into it, brothers!" encouraged Matau, who was riding one the spheres that was being loaded via a conveyer belt. He then hopped off and admired the aircraft ahead. "Nice ship."
"Hey, Matau." Onewa grinned as he knocked on the Air Toa's shoulder hard, earning himself a glare. "Let's not crash it this time."
The Toa of Stone then picked up a sphere, placed it in Matau's arms, and casually walked away. "Hey…!" Matau called to him, but when he heard the others sniggering, he rolled his eyes and carried the sphere to the airship. Though not without mumbling curses under breath.
Off to the side, Vakama and Emma talked with Norik.
"Well, my friend, I guess this is it." Vakama smiled. "Thank you."
Emma nodded, fingering another new spear. "Yeah Norik, thanks for everything."
"You are most welcome, Vakama, Emma." Norik chuckled. "But, it's me that should be thanking you."
The Toa and human exchanged surprised looks. "I don't understand." Vakama said slowly.
The aged Rahaga smiled. "It's not everyday I get to see a legend come true, you know."
Hearing some laughing, they turned to find Keetongu carrying two spheres on his shoulders, Gaaki and Bomonga flying on either side of him with spheres of their own.
Vakama nodded. "Oh, yes, Norik. He is quite a sight."
The Rahaga shook his head in amusement. "Indeed, but I wasn't talking about Keetongu."
"The Great Rescue." Emma realized with a small smile, as Vakama's eyes went wide.
"Yes," Norik confirmed, smiling back at the girl. "And, now we know that the Matoran are in most capable hands." He gave the two a knowing look. "Your hands."
Emma smiled, before bidding farewell, turning and jogging towards the massive ships. Both fire elements shared a chuckle as the girl, accidentally, bumped into Onewa, knocking him off balance with a cry. She laughed as the Toa of Stone shouted at her, and he made an indignant sound as Emma blew him a raspberry.
Vakama shook his head, turning back to his fellow fire-elemental and ignoring the chase going on behind him. "I believe it would be best if I go deal with that." He chuckled.
Norik smiled and nodded in understanding, but as the Toa turned, the Rahaga yelped. "I almost forgot!"
The Fire Toa turned back in worry. "Norik…? He trailed off in shock as the elder pulled out a familiar golden mask from his subspace. "Is that…?"
The Rahaga nodded. "The Kanohi Avokhii, yes." He then handed the mask over to Vakama, who then held it as if it was the most breakable object in the universe.
"How?" Vakama asked, staring at one of the many Kanohi of Legend.
Norik chucked pointing with his cane to something behind the Toa. Turning, Vakama followed the line to a familiar figure. "Emma?" He questioned with surprise.
Said girl was laughing, holding onto a bemused Pouks as the Stone Rahaga hovered above. Below them, Onewa fumed, fruitlessly jumping up and trying to grab the girl. Everyone around him was laughing or shaking their heads in amusement.
Norik chuckled. "Indeed. And it is quite the story." He smiled. "A story she will happily share if you get Onewa off her back."
Vakama chuckled and nodded, then went towards the others, letting out a laugh as Onewa jumped, missed, and yelped as his feet went out under him upon landing. Everyone around the Stone Toa dissolved into laughter.
This, Vakama thought with a smile, is what a Toa truly protects.
Their family.
"How are we coming, Whenua?" Vakama asked, making his way over to the ship with a grinning but chastised Emma besides him.
"Once the rest get their spheres loaded along with the ones on the conveyer belt, we'll be all set to go." Answered the Toa of Earth, smiling at his brother and younger friend.
"Good." Vakama nodded, and leaned against the floating floor of the cargo hold. Emma found a perch along a railing beside him.
"Hey, Vakama, what were you, Emma and Norik talking about back there?" Onewa asked as he and Matau walked up, eyeing the suddenly innocent girl beside him.
"The Great Rescue." Vakama simply answered, giving a look at the human, who grinned.
The Toa of Stone and Air looked at each other, then at the Toa of Fire, then back at each other, and Onewa finally said, "Get 'im!" The two grabbed a surprised Vakama and pulled him in.
The next thing the poor Fire Toa knew, his back was flat on the floor. Matau had pinned his wrists down, and Onewa quickly got on top of his waist and tickled his ribs.
"Oh dear," Emma giggled, watching the scene. Whenua chuckled from beside her.
Vakama, meanwhile, tried to plead to Onewa to stop, but found it practically impossible to talk and laugh at the same time and he couldn't wrestle himself out of Matau's grip. And so, he was at the mercy of his brothers.
At least, until Emma tackled Matau, tickling him mercilessly. It soon dissolved into a four-way free-for-all tickle fight, which left the four laughing happily.
It was sometime later when all of the spheres were loaded into all of the airships. In the lead ship, Matau took a seat at the pilot's chair in the cockpit, stretched out his intertwined fingers, and got the aircraft going. "Next stop, Mata Nui!" He announced with a grin.
On the deck below, the rest of the Toa and Emma met eyes with Norik and Keetongu. As Emma waved farewell, Norik extended his staff and Keetongu spread out his arms with a slight bow, with the rest of the Rahaga hovering around the two, giving their own waves of farewell. The group looked on longingly at the City of Legends as the ships continued on their course, the city slowly shrinking as they left the only home the six Toa had known.
When they neared the Great Barrier, Onewa leaned on the railing with a start. The protodermis cage where they left Makuta was empty. "The Makuta!" The Stone Toa gasped. "He is gone."
"Not for long," said Vakama in a low tone. "I imagine we'll be seeing him again very soon."
"And, when we do?" Nokama asked worriedly.
"We'll find a way to defeat him," replied the Toa of Fire, "because that's what Toa do." Everyone gave either approving smiles or nods, looking towards the yawning hole that led to the outside world, and, to their new home.
A/N - Hey, just hope I did some justice for this chapter (considering that it came to me at two in the morning…) with the fight between Vakama and Matau. My thinking is that since I see the Hordika as literal animals, that when they fight that they would act as such. Especially with all that stress…
Either way, it probably also make up for the fact that I cut out most of the coliseum battle. I hope.
Holy smokes! over 6,600 words?! Longest Chapter yet!
Ahem… anyways, I wanted to focus this chapter on Emma's involvement, and I took the liberty to change a few things in this rewrite. Such as the effect of the venom and the effects of what happened in Chapter 2 of the first Arc…
Bet you didn't see THAT coming, huh AllSpark Princess? Told you I have plans for my main OC, and they are GLORIOUS… yessssssssss…
Anyways, another two chapters (maybe!) and this Arc (and Book!) will be done! And for those wondering, THE CONTEST IS STILL ON. Once I finish posting the last chapter, the contest will be finished! For those who don't know, info is in Arc 1 Chapter 6… or 7, heh. I'm not sure of when that will be, but I'm thinking end of January (maybe, I have FIVE courses now… 3 at 9 in the morning, and the ride there is 1hr, which means 6 AM wake up… grrrrr…).
Before anyone asks, THIS IS ONLY THE END OF BOOK ONE COMING UP. There will be more adventures of Emma's after.
And after the final chapter on the main series... heheheee...
Next Chapter: Rebirth of an Island Nation.