Merry Christmas everyone
Gaaki, Iruini and Pouks quietly watched Ahkmou's' sleeping form, as the sunlight inched across the room, before softly talking about how things would be troubling everyone.
"Except him." Pouks muttered, gesturing at Ahkmou who was beginning to awaken, they watched the matoran as he rubbed his eye, then glared at them before pulling the bowl of fruit closer to him.
When he'd finished eating, Ahkmou stood up and began walking around the room, Gaaki lent against the door blocking it, while Iruini and Pouks watched Ahkmou's movements intently.
Returning to where he'd woken, Ahkmou sat back down, "You can't keep me here forever." he growled after several minutes passed, "You are staying here until the Toa return." Gaaki replied as she sat back beside Iruini.
xXx
By midday Pewku had perked up and followed Nokama as she went to rouse the sleeping Rahaga, waiting outside Nokama's Pewku chirped quietly as Nireta, Kai and Wotzit came back through the main square.
"Is Turaga Nokama in?" Kai asked Pewku, as Wotzit flopped down in the shade, Pewku chirped bobbing and watched Kai as she tapped the door, then entered when a response came from inside.
Nireta gave Wotzit some water and giggled as Wotzit lapped at it while she tipped the canister, half of it went in the bowl, while Wotzit got wet and shook the excess over Pewku and Nireta.
Spluttering, Nireta brushed herself dry, after Pewku had a shake, then grinned at the Rahaga, Kai and Turaga Nokama as they joined her.
...
"I'd better head for the coliseum." Nokama commented, as Norik, Bomonga and Kualus joined her outside her home, "Let your brothers know we'll keep Ahkmou under control." Kualus replied, carefully brushing a finger over his black eye, Nokama nodded as Pewku nudged her and Kai offered to feed the butterflies.
"I haven't seen them yet." she added looking anxiously at Turaga Nokama, "It's alright, " she replied, nodding again, "Nireta, will you look after Wotzit?" "Of course, he's no trouble to keep amused, Turaga," Nireta chuckled, "But what about Pewku?"
"She wants to come with me." Nokama smiled, gently patting Pewku's shell, then she crouched to let Nokama climb on, while Nireta bowed then sat beside Wotzit, and Kai went with the Rahaga to the Great Temple.
xXx
Kaike glanced up from watching her sleeping sister, as Rahal returned to see how they were, I've arranged for Tanami to give Kela a lift to the coliseum tomorrow." he quietly explained, as Kela shifted slightly but didn't wake, Kaike smiled, "Thank you. It's a shame about Kela's butterfly, she couldn't wait to show me."
They both glanced at the broken carving sitting on the cabinet beside the bed, when the early afternoon light began shining through the window Rahal excused himself and went to fix something for everyone.
When he returned to the bedroom, he could hear Kaike and Kela quietly chatting about various things, including what would happen to Ahkmou, "I'm sure the Toa will know what to do." Rahal commented, as he placed the tray on the end of the bed and passed Kela a bowl of fruit, while Kaike helped herself.
xXx
Entering the kolhii arena with Pewku, Nokama smiled as the others glanced around from looking at the crystal orb, after dismounting from Pewku Nokama walked over to them, "How are the other metru?" Nokama enquired as she joined Dume, Nuju and Whenua, while Vakama, Matau and Onewa returned to finish examining the crystal orb.
"The matoran are staying calm and everyone knows about the vigil tomorrow." Dume replied, as they started over to the tower, Pewku following closely, while they discussed what signs the matoran had observed.
"It's best that we return-go back to the metru." Matau commented when they had finished talking and had returned outside, Pewku chirped softly then nudged each of them in turn before letting Nokama settle on her back, as everyone left the coliseum the evening light slowly faded towards dusk.
xXx
On returning to their respective metru, the Turaga were met by the matoran and after talking with them, all accepted invitations to rest at some of the matoran's homes.
xXx
In Ga-metru, Nixie and Suna were preparing for a night of watching and mapping the sky, when Pelagia and Nireta came past with Wotzit, after chatting for a while they headed off to rest, then Nixie and Suna finished sorting their materials out before climbing up to the roof of Nixie's home.
As the Rahaga swapped guard duty, Kualus went to speak with Kai as she tried yet again to coax the butterfly flock to feed, "They won't eat, the only time they moved was when the green flecked yellow one returned." Kai murmured anxiously, then Kualus firmly insisted she should go and rest, "You've been here all day."
xXx
Gaaki and Pouks watched Iruini as he went over to Ahkmou and held out a bag with food and water in it, glowering silently, Ahkmou snatched the bag then turned his back on the Rahaga.
Returning to sit beside Pouks, Iruini shook his head, "He has become dark-hearted." Gaaki and Pouks nodded tightening their grips on their staffs.
When evening faded to night, Ahkmou gave the watching Rahaga a cold look, then lay down and hid under the blanket he'd been given, the Rahaga glanced at each other, then softly talked about what Norik, Kualus and Bomonga had told them.
Deep in the former dark hunters prison, Makuta's dark spirit silently laughed as the light sparks gave a final flicker before fading away, after carefully probing for several minutes, his spirit found a minute gap, slipped out of the prison and vanished.
xXx
While most of Metru Nui slept, Nixie and Suna watched the sky anxiously as the stars of medium luminosity faded before their eyes, writing quickly both shivered as a cold feeling shot up their spines, but never realized that Makuta's spirit had flown past them heading for the Great Temple.
In Nireta's, she was woken by Wotzit nudging her, half asleep Nireta made her way to the door to let him out, then snapped awake seeing Wotzit racing off towards the Temple, "Wotzit come back!" Nireta called out, hurrying after him, she wondered what he was doing, on reaching Nokama's, Nireta knocked on the door until Norik appeared.
"What's going on?" Kualus grumbled as he and Bomonga joined them, when Nireta finished explaining, Norik told her to wake Nokama, who was at Akara's, Nireta bowed and hurried to awaken Turaga Nokama, she passed by Nixie's and told them, Suna said that she'd carry on mapping, so Nixie went to help.
xXx
Ahkmou opened his eyes and looked around, puzzled at the dark area where he stood, "Now what." he muttered annoyed, then started as part of the area shifted and a pair of cold red eyes appeared.
"Ready for the final strike against those who deserted you?" Makuta's spirit hissed, watching Ahkmou's spirit closely, Ahkmou nodded smiling viciously.
"Too right!" he replied, as Makuta's spirit drew closer to him, then before Ahkmou knew what was happening, the dark spirit surrounded him, enveloping and consuming Ahkmou's spirit, destroying it completely.
xXx
The Rahaga watched anxiously, seeing a dark glow suddenly appear around Ahkmou's sleeping form, "Gaaki, get the others." Kualus said urgently, as they watched Ahkmou twitching and growling in his sleep.
xXx
When Akara let Nireta and Nixie in, Nokama listened to them as she woke fully, then asked Nixie to see if Pewku would take her to alert the other Turaga, bowing to her, Nixie hurried off to Pewku's pen, then Nokama turned to Akara and thanked her for sharing her home.
"My door is always open, Turaga." Akara replied bowing, then watched as Turaga Nokama and Nireta hurried towards the Great Temple, before she headed for the chute station.
After Pewku had agreed, she and Nixie raced towards Ta-metru, meeting Kapura as he came out to see who was there, while Pewku caught her breath and had a drink, Kapura and Nixie roused the Turaga and gave them Nokama's message.
"If you wake Vira, he'll help pass the message on, Shiori is a good night flyer." Vakama said as Turaga Dume started towards the chute station, "Just as well Roclas lives near the station." he commented as Vakama caught up with him.
By the time Kapura, Nixie and Pewku had finished alerting the Turaga, they had been joined by Tamaru, Kopeke, Onepu and Hafu, "What now?" Tamaru wondered, glancing at the others curiously, they looked at each other.
"I'm not sure why, but I think we should go to the kolhii arena." Kapura replied quietly, the others looked puzzled but after thinking about it nodded in agreement.
"Say Nix, any idea how close dawn is?" Hafu asked as they reached the causeway between Po-metru and the coliseum, she moved to stand where there were no lightstones and silently scanned the sky for several minutes.
"It's hard to say, but I think it's roughly half an hour away." Nixie shivered slightly as she glanced at her friends, they nodded and as one quietly began heading to the coliseum.
...
When Norik, Bomonga, Kualus and Wotzit, who wouldn't leave their sides, reached the causeway to the Great Temple, they were met by Gaaki who swiftly explained why she'd left her post.
"That sounds bad." Norik muttered anxiously as they hurried back over the causeway, several attempts to get Wotzit to stay outside failed, so the Rahaga let him go with them.
They were just entering the corridor leading to where Ahkmou was held when suddenly Wotzit growled, moving to stand in front of the Rahaga, they glanced at each other worried about Iruini and Pouks.
Several thuds were heard, then the door burst open and the unconscious forms of their brothers came flying out, landing not far from them.
When Gaaki left, Iruini and Pouks stood side by side, blocking the door still watching Ahkmou's body as it thrashed around, "This isn't good." Pouks murmured when Ahkmou stopped moving and the dark glow vanished.
Iruini nodded, "Our sister had better be quick-fast." Pouks agreed, then both watched silently as Ahkmou began to awaken, for several minutes he just lay there looking at the ceiling, then sitting up he glanced coldly at those guarding him.
"You can't stop me, my brother's strength has nearly gone." Makuta growled as he stood up and stretched, "He won't see another sunrise." he laughed malevolently, watching amused as the Rahaga readied themselves to stop him leaving.
Before Iruini and Pouks could do anything, Makuta launched himself at them, striking with more strength and speed than Ahkmou had ever possessed, knocking them out cold and smashing the door into rubble.
xXx
Entering the kolhii arena, Nixie and the others glanced around quietly, before making their way over to look at the crystal orb, standing there wondering what they should do, Nixie found that everyone was now facing each other as their eyes locked, a gentle glow surrounded them.
Pewku watched fascinated as her friends were hidden by the glow which slowly faded away to reveal a single figure, glancing down at itself, the Matoran Nui then smiled as Pewku chirped curiously.
"We had a duty to undertake." it explained to her before turning back to where the crystal orb sat, its light dim but still glowing slightly, climbing the stairs the Matoran Nui stood gazing at the crystal orb for a few minutes before gently lifting it up.
Returning to Pewku, the matoran Nui smiled gently, "You should rest, we'll get there in time." it softly commented, Pewku chirped in reply, then watched as the matoran Nui raced out the the arena at a speed to rival Toa Pohatu.
Glancing around, Pewku shivered slightly then left the arena and headed for Po-metru, dawn was trying to lighten the sky as she reached the main square and went over to Olcas and Tirari who were glancing at the sky as they ate breakfast.
"Hello Pewku, you come to help carry those who got hurt over to the coliseum?" Tirari asked, as she stopped beside them, Pewku chirped and bobbed in agreement, then ate the fruit Tirari and Olcas offered her, as the suns struggled to brighten the day, Pewku followed them as they headed to where most of the injured were.
xXx
Watching the broken doorway carefully, Gaaki and Kualus pulled their unconscious brothers to safety, "Gaaki, we came as fast as we could." Vakama called to the Rahaga, as they joined them.
While the Turaga helped Gaaki and Kualus tend to Iruini and Pouks, Norik, Bomonga and Wotzit watched the corridor leading to the room where the Rahaga and Ahkmou had been.
"Ooh! That hurt-aches." Iruini muttered as he regained consciousness and slowly sat up, rubbing his neck and shoulder, "Brother what happened?" Kualus asked anxiously. everyone listened then glanced at each other concerned.
Unnoticed by them, Wotzit had gone down the corridor, moving closer to the door, growling softly he cautiously poked his nose close to the door frame, a few seconds later his hackles still raised, Wotzit drew back and returned to guard his friends.
xXx
When the Matoran Nui raced through Ga-metru without slowing, Akara and Kai glanced at each other amazed, "Did a part of it remind you of Nixie?" Akara murmured as they followed, wondering where the matoran Nui was headed.
Kai nodded then looked up at the sky, "Let's go to Nixie's, I think Suna will be there." she replied, Akara also looked at the dulled light then tried not to shiver, silently they hurried to Nixie's home.
When they reached there, Suna was climbing down the ladder and turned to them, "We'd better let Turaga Nokama know about this." Suna murmured looking worried.
Akara and Kai agreed and they made their way to the Great Temple, keeping quiet so as not to disturb those still asleep, crossing the causeway all three paused to watched the suns, as they struggled to bring daylight to Metru Nui.
...
When they reached the Great Temple, Akara, Kai and Suna were met by Nireta who glanced around from peering anxiously into the Temple, "The Matoran Nui went in several minutes ago," she whispered, still looking surprise, "It said we were to wait here."
The matoran glanced at each other, then silently sat on the bench nearest to the entrance, after several minutes Nireta picked up her bag, digging out the dried fruit she passed it to the others.
"Thanks." Akara grinned as she accepted her share, then Kai glanced up to where the butterfly flock roosted, "Oh no, they're paler than ever." she whispered sadly, Suna hugged her while Akara and Nireta looked anxiously at the flock.
Suddenly everyone looked towards the door, hearing the faint sound of someone shouting.
Gaaki, Matau, Norik and Nuju had shifted Iruini and Pouks to the main chamber, in spite of their protests, "Just rest for a while longer." Norik insisted firmly, gently stopping Iruini from getting up.
Iruini was about to argue some more when a figure raced down the stairs, paused to smile at them then headed down the corridor to where the rest of the Turaga, Rahaga and Wotzit had returned.
Nuju and Matau quickly followed the Matoran Nui, while the Rahaga glanced at each other intrigued, "A Matoran Nui, never thought I'd ever see one." Gaaki murmured as they looked towards the corridor.
Several moments later they were joined by Kualus and Bomonga, then watched as a glow appeared and vanished, "Shouldn't we get Wotzit out of there?" Pouks asked as a shout of outrage and disbelief reached them.
xXx
Makuta listened, amused by the Turaga and Rahaga as they aided their injured friends, then looked down at his stolen form, "So naive." he chuckled, silently moving closer to the smashed door.
Makuta was contemplating overwhelming the Turaga and Rahaga with their darkest nightmares when he heard someone arriving, "Matoran Nui!" Dume's murmured exclamation reached him clearly.
"What does that freak think it can do?" Makuta thought contemptuously, as he focused his energy, ready to lash out at all who opposed him, a sudden flash of light sent Makuta reeling back from the door, angering him.
Concentrating, Makuta tried to shift to a larger form as he lent against the wall, but found he could not change,"WHAT IS GOING ON?!" he roared enraged.
The Matoran Nui reached the Turaga and Rahaga, Nuju and Matau close behind, "Rahaga this is not your fight." it quietly explained, as Dume stunned, murmured "Matoran Nui!" Wotzit sniffed the figure, curious as to who this new friend was, to him, this new friend reminded him of several, so Wotzit nudged the Matoran Nui affectionately.
Kualus and Bomonga nodded and went to join their brothers and sister, when they were out of sight, Dume caught hold of Wotzit and tugged him over to one side as the rest of the Turaga moved closer to each other.
A bright flash of light surrounded them, then vanished to reveal the Turaga Nui, quietly the Matoran Nui bowed then took out the dimmed crystal orb and was about to pass it to the Turaga Nui when Makuta's enraged roar echoed through the corridor.
Watching amazed, Dume didn't realize his grip on Wotzit had slipped until he joined the Turaga and matoran Nui as they glanced at the room then at the crystal orb.
"To drive the dark spirit back to the prison will take all of our energy." the Turaga Nui quietly explained, Turaga Dume glanced up at them concerned, "What about Ahkmou?" he enquired as Wotzit returned to his side.
"He is no more," the matoran Nui whispered sadly, "We sensed his spirit was gone when we lifted the crystal orb."
Turaga Dume sighed, then caught hold of Wotzit again, as the Turaga and Matoran Nui held the orb between them while they moved into position, as they appeared in the doorway, Makuta growled, his eyes narrowing as he drew and concentrated his power to attack.
For a few seconds none of them moved, then Makuta snarled, launching a sphere of darkness at the Turaga and Matoran Nui, which grew as it flew towards them.
Turaga Dume held Wotzit tightly as he barked, trying to break free and protect his friends from the evil one.
The Turaga and Matoran Nui concentrated, sending all their energy and strength into the crystal orb, which began glowing softly at first, then grew brighter.
The sphere of darkness was nearly upon them when the Turaga and Matoran Nui locked their gaze on Makuta and yelled together, "UNITY! DUTY! DESTINY!"
The crystal orb turned incandescent, the outpouring of light engulfed and destroyed the sphere of darkness, before surrounding Makuta and forcing him back to the protodermis prison, leaving only a broken Rau behind.
When Turaga Dume was able to see again, he'd been joined by the Rahaga who were carefully examining the unconscious Turaga and matoran, Wotzit was sitting beside Nixie looking puzzled as to why she and his other friends wouldn't wake up.