*The theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey starts playing, before suddenly stopping, with the 'Sonic' part of the studio being removed and replaced by 'Rider'*
Silver: And thus, as is repeated history when the Roman Empire fell, Team Toku Sonic is no more, and in its place, like the Byzantines, there gives birth to our new team… Team Toku Riders.
Pikatwig: Uh… why are we splitting?
Silver: Because 1: We haven't done anything with Sonic yet. b: We've become so dissociated with Team Toku Sonic East, that we should just make ourselves a new team in general. And Pi: I can't stand working under Overjerk's command anymore. -_-
Pikatwig: I can kinda get where you're coming from… *tiny glare at Silvah, but then just places a piece of paper before him* FYI, Majora's Mask is being re-released for the 3DS, and, if SSB4 Wii U is anything to go by, Dark Pit has allied himself with the Forces of Nature after the final battle with Hades.
Silver: I'm still hoping on a sequel for that game! *smiles*
TB: Anyway, we got ourselves another chapter of Mataranger to do, as well as foreshadow new equipment.
Pikatwig: And… I thought up this chapter's concept. And Silvah… I'll say, I sorta have that feeling that you feel toward ON, but I know you're better. No offense to ON, but he once told me that 'I will work on a project I sorta ditched', and you agreed to our rotation concept.
Silver: Yeah, ON's an *Yay*hole. And I don't care if he throws a temper tantrum about me saying that. *YAY!* you, Overjerk!
*loud roar is heard as the others look up to see Bragigas before the Zyudenryu opened a pathway, letting KKD in, when suddenly, Bragigas had a flag reading 'Ressha Sentai ToQger vs. Kyoryuger' is announced.*
KKD: Jeez… could you guys stop talking about that? You're giving me a headache, and I was busy working on school IN THE SPIRIT BASE! ...Oh, and the new Sentai Vs. has been announced.
Pikatwig: And I'm the quiet one. I hardly ever talk… in real life anyhow. I was just sorta agreeing with Silvah.
Silver: Let's just get to the disclaimers. As a note, though, considering this project, as well as SEGA, Virtualranger, and the new Kamen Rider Dreamer fanfic is being worked on by 3 or more members, we are officially making them Team Toku Riders projects! That okay with you, Pika?
Pikatwig: I have mixed feelings about Virtualranger and Dreamer being TT...R projects, but… I guess I'll roll with it…
Silver: Hey, it'll keep those projects from being like ProtonJon's former update schedule! Anyways, let's get things started! Bragigas, if you'd be so kind…
KKD: Oi! He's technically my Zyudenryu. I'm wearing the suit, afterall. And aren't I the leader of the team?
Silver: Just have him fire off the disclaimers. -_-
KKD: Ugh… Bragigas… do what he just said. *Bragigas nodded before it called in Bakerestu Kyoryuzin to do it.*
=SAN! NI~! ICHI~~! ZU~ON~~~~!=
DISCLAIMERS: KKD does not own Bionicle, Super Sentai, or anything else involved in this story. They belong to their respective owners including the Lego Company, Greg Farshtey, Toei, Bandai, Shotaro Ishinomori, etc. KKD does, however, own the idea of the Toa Sentai along with the designs, the and almost every aspect about them. And again, props to fellow Team Toku Sonic member, Kamen Rider ZER0 for the ideas in names for the arsenal and their designs.
Silver: Seriously? Getting someone else to do your work for you? That's lazy, and feels like something Overjerk would do...
KKD: Don't blame me. He was probably getting tired of you forcing orders around. I'm the leader after all. Be glad I'm more lenient that TTS's leader.
Silver: Whatever. Bragigas is lame, anyways. *suddenly gets stomped on by Bragigas* ...Ow.
Pikatwig: SilverQuill reference?
KKD: Possibly. Probably it's just Bragigas not liking Silver is all...
Silver: ...start the video, Arceus-Damnit… X.x
*MataBlue, AJ and Kamen Rider SEGA appear outside Tomodachi Academy*
MataBlue, AJ and SEGA: SUPER HERO TIME!
*Metallic parts appear onscreen as the MataRangers blast the screen, soon showing the preview for the chapter framed by various colored and shaped Kanohi Masks*
SEGA: Looks like Karin is building something for MataRed. This could bring some unwanted attention to the team, so let's hope they can protect Karin. Game Start!
*Multiple jewels fly across the screen before surrounding the preview footage of the new chapter of Guardians.*
MataBlue: A message from AJ's father?! I hope they can reach him. Spirits Unite!
*Discs fly past before the Gaming Riders slash at the screen with their main weapons, soon showing a preview to that story with game discs surrounding it.*
AJ: We got a new Rider and... wait a new Goddess too!? What's goin' on? Tomodachi Transform!
*MataRangers, the two Toa Kaita-Oh, Eclipsia Guardians, the Gaming Riders, and the CPU Goddesses appear and pose onscreen.*
Eclipsia Guardians: Everything's set!
Matarangers: Let's Start!
Gaming Riders: SHOWTIME!
KKD Silver Presents
In association with Kamen Rider ZER0 Productions
& Silvermaxus Studios
Gathered friends… listen again to our legend… of the Bionicle. Aqua came across a blind girl from her home of Ga-Koro named Karin. She revealed to the team a unique ability of hers, being able to see other's auras, and it allowed her to see their respective Toa's auras, too. When a Takea shark Rahi wanted to steal her soul reading powers, the Toa stopped him and recruited Karin as their technical mechanic. And now, the adventure continues…
We then see Karin at the base, working hard on making something while the Toa were watching intently.
"Still can't believe how good she is at that stuff, considering she's blind," Ventus noted.
"How does she even tell what she's using?" Mason inquired.
"You know I can hear you back there, right?" Karin responded, pointing at Mason.
"Sorry," Mason apologized.
"It's alright, and by the way, I can tell what I have to use simply by feeling what that something is," Karin answered and explained.
"Oh, that makes sense," Ventus replied.
"What are you making anyway, Karin-san?" Terra asked.
"I'm making a special new mask for Ig-san," Karin answered, "The Makuta will be tough to beat, even with your Nuva Powers, so the armor this mask will make for you should enhance your powers and help you take them down easily."
"Wow… I never actually thought of that," Ignatius admitted, "But… why should I use this mask? What about the others? I'll admit, I'm not the kind of person who would use this power wisely…"
"You forget that Tahu was once the same way as you were, Ig," Terra noted, "He was a hothead, like you, but he had the true qualities of a leader that shone as true as day."
"I know you won't let us down, Ig," Aqua assured.
"You may be a hothead of a fire-spitter, but I'll follow you into battle anyday," Ventus told Ignatius.
"We all believe in you brother. I know you have what it takes to handle anything," Mason added.
"See, brother? You have our full support. There is not one challenge we cannot overcome if we fight together!" Hikaru assured, placing his hand on Ig's shoulder, "And trust me, that's one thing I've had to learn over and over again during my years as a Toa, both in my old life, and in this modern world."
"Arigatou, my brothers," Ignatius thanked, "...I really owe you for this."
"Think nothing of it, brother," Hikaru insisted when the alarms went off, forcing Karin to cover her ears.
"GAH! Another Rahi attack?" she asked.
"Is there a volume button on that thing?" Ventus responded, trying to find such a thing.
"No time to complain about that! We have to move! NOW!" Yuki responded before the seven Matarangers ran out.
(Insert Intro Theme: Move Along by All-American Rejects)
*As the instrumental piece at the beginning plays, we see the 7 Matarangers walk out of the darkness in civilian form, before they change into their Senshi forms before the title appears onscreen*
Toa Sentai Mataranger
Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking
*The scene then shows MataRed/Ignatius standing at the Ta-Koro shrine in Hawaii, looking out into the sunset before his senshi form appears as an illusion.*
When you fall everyone stand
*He then turns, before the scene shifts to show MataBlue/Aqua, looking out on the beach, showing a similar sunset.*
Another day and you've had your fill of sinking
*We then see MataGreen/Ventus as he glides over the forest before shifting to MataWhite/Yuki snowboarding down a mountain *
With the Life held in your
*Scene then shifts briefly to MataBrown/Mason and MataBlack/Terra fighting off Vahki before the scene fades suddenly.*
Hands are shaking cold
*The six rangers stand, surrounded by Vakhi around them before MataGold/Hikaru appears, his Avokanexus ready for action*
These hands are meant to hold
*The original six pull out their Metranexuses, all seven preparing to henshin.*
Speak to me!
*Shoots the blaster morphers, changing into Mataranger form.*
When all you gotta keep is strong
*The seven Senshi fight alongside each other, attacking all the enemies around them*
Move along, move along, like I know ya do
*The Matarangers then look to see the Rahi Kaijin of the week, before they all nod and attack it.*
And even when your hope is gone
*The scene then shifts repeatedly, one by one showing the Matarangers attack with their signature weapon in both Mata and Nuva modes.*
Move along, move along, just to make it through
*The seven then appear with the Midak Skycannon, which blasts through the Kaijin.*
(Go on! Go on! Go on! Go on!) When everything is wrong, we move along!
*The group then appear in their MataMachines, which form into the two Toa Kaita-Oh and Avoka-Oh, with Toa Nui-Oh as an image in the background*
(Go on! Go on! Go on! Go on!) Right back what is wrong, we move along!
*The seven senshi turn, and slash away at the screen, shattering it, as they appeared in front of their logo*
Chronicle 21: Twilight of Hope and Love
It wasn't long before the seven Toa arrived near a fountain in town and they saw Vahki accompanying a large silver and black hound-like Rahi, sniffing around for something in particular.
"...what in the world?" MataBrown asked in confusion.
"It's an Energy Hound Rahi, the most well known of a species known as Spindax. They have a unique ability to track anything with their sense of smell being strong enough to sense a unique energy signature. I doubt the Makuta would summon this thing unless he was looking for something in particular."
"Ah yes… the Toa Sentai…" one of the Energy Hound Rahis chuckled, "Give us the girl from the Blue one's homeland…"
"Oh great. He's still after Karin," MataBlue groaned.
"Even if you gave us anything in the world, we would never give you our friend!" MataGold shouted, as he and MataBlue charged in.
"Uh… go?" MataRed shrugged as he and the others charged in.
Back over with Karin, she was looking at some archives to see if there was any sort of metal that would be strong enough for the mask's creation.
"There's gotta be something…" she muttered, not seeing she had just set aside a page of information about where they could get such a thing, "Come on… the others need you… Toa of the past… give me a sign or… something,"
As she said this, a particular folder was blown open by the wind, and with a strange glow, the text gained a braille text for her to read, which she was shocked to find when she felt it.
"What the?! I… I can read this… Protodermis? The strongest known metal in the world, used to build the form of the great Mata Nui himself?! And combined with a special Energized Protodermis, can form an unbelievable armor. ...oh great. There's only one known spot where it's been since our world changed… Shroudwood Forest? I've gotta get this info to the others!"
(Insert Song: Combat by Ron Wassermen)
MataWhite and MataGreen were freezing and blowing away some Vahki while MataBlack, Blue, and Gold were charging at the Energy Hound at full power, with Black and Blue in Nuva Mode, while MataBrown and Red were keeping some civilians safe from the combat.
"You will never take Karin! Not as long as I have something to say about it!" MataBlue shouted, charging up a water punch at the Energy Hound.
"Minna!" Karin's voice shouted, as she was attempting to get to the team to tell them what she learned.
"Karin, NO!" MataBrown responded, causing the Energy Hound to look at Karin and smirk before it charged forward to grab her.
"Get away from her! Nuva Transform!" MataRed shouted out, charging in to protect Karin.
=KANOHI HAU NUVA! TO PROTECT ALL!=
(End Insert Song)
Despite the energy of his Nuva Mode, MataRed struggled to keep the Energy Hound back, before he was clawed at the stomach and forced out of his henshin.
"Ignatius!" they all shouted in worry.
"Heh. Weak, weak and pathetic. You aren't even worth my time! Come back when you get some strong power!" the leader scoffed before all of the Energy Hounds disappeared.
"Karin, what were you thinking?!" Yuki shouted at her, "You can't just barge out onto the battlefield! You're a target for the Makuta! And even if they weren't, you're blind, and they won't take any prisoners! You could've-!"
"Yuki, she's just a kid…" Ventus responded, with Yuki rolling his eyes, when suddenly, water splashed onto him.
"Don't. Talk. About. Karin. Like. That!" Aqua growled, as she and Terra were trying to heal Ignatius from his injuries from the Energy Hound.
"Why'd you yell at me?" Karin whimpered, with Hikaru going over to comfort her.
"It's just that we're concerned for your safety, Karin-chan. But don't worry… we'll be here for you," Hikaru assured, making Karin giggle a little bit, with Aqua turning to the two, a smile and small blush.
'Hikaru-kun…' Aqua giggled internally.
"So… what did you find, that was so important you ran off to tell us and couldn't wait for us to come back?" Yuki asked.
"Something that can help make the new Mask!" Karin informed, "And given what happened earlier… we should find the material, soon,"
"Alright. So, where do we look?" Ignatius asked, trying to get up.
"You, are staying here!" Terra told him.
"Uh… someplace called the Shroudwood Forest," Karin informed, with the others getting a bit pale at that, "What?"
"...B-But… that place is super dangerous! There's all sorts of creatures roaming around in there, an enchantress and-" Ventus started when...
"Okay, you've been talking to Momo way too much, dude," Mason told him.
"But… if we have to go there, we have to go there!" Aqua stated.
Thus, later that evening, Yuki, Aqua, Mason, Hikaru and Karin arrived at the forest's entrance.
"So… Terra-san is making sure Ig-san stays, and Ven was too much of a chicken to come with us?" Karin asked.
"What 'we'? You're staying with them," Yuki told her.
"But I wanna help! I know where to look… I just know!" Karin responded.
"...vote?" Mason shrugged.
"It's no use arguing with her, Karin's coming with us," Aqua told them, taking Karin's hand, "If she knows where it is, then she can guide us."
"Arigatou Aqua," Karin smiled, as they walked on in, "Hey, did you know that there was a mask that the Rahi made, but was sealed away by the Toa Metru, due to it being too powerful? It's actually somewhere in this forest,"
"Really?" Yuki asked.
"Yes. It was said to contain incredible darkness… yet, at the same time, there was an equally strong light within it," Karin noted, making Hikaru freeze.
'Oh no. Don't tell me they recreated that mask. From the time half my light was sucked by a Shadow Leech?!' Hikaru panicked internally.
"Wow… she knows as much as Terra," Yuki chuckled as they walked.
After a while, Karin thought she had heard something move and started to shake a bit. She heard a stick crack and screamed in fear, when it was just some squirrel passing through.
"Karin… are you okay?" Aqua asked.
"I… thought I heard something," Karin informed.
"Just a squirrel," Yuki informed.
"Oh…" Karin sighed, with Hikaru walking by her and Aqua. Karin then reached up and took Hikaru's hand as well, smiling. Aqua looked and tried to fight a blush about to appear on her face.
"Heh… we sorta look like a family," Hikaru commented, making Aqua blush deeper.
"W-Well… I guess…"
As the group kept walking around, searching for the material needed, they heard something moving, with Yuki seeing a shadow moving.
"Karin, stay back," Aqua told her, readying her Metranexus and approaching the shadow when… she saw it was a girl with violet hair that had a purple and pink streak in it, that the group recognized, "...Mitsuko-san? What are you doing here?"
"Aqua? It's good to see you," the girl, Mitsuko, smiled. "Aww… and who's this little girl with you?"
"Oh, this is Karin. Karin, this is a friend of ours, Pikari Mitsuko, leader of another hero group in our world, the Guardians of Eclipsia," Aqua informed.
"Konichiwa," Karin smiled.
"Uh… h-hi," Mitsuko waved, "Um… if I may ask… what're you guys doing here?"
"Long story, what about you guys… assuming your team is here with you,"
"Long story," Mitsuko responded, before walking off, "Well, I'll catch you guys later."
"Okay then," Yuki responded, "Oh… tell AJ I said hi."
Later, the Toa continued their search, still not finding anything due to how dark the forest happened to be, when suddenly, there was an explosion caused by the Vahki, forcing the Toa on the defensive when the Energy Hound emerged.
"Give me the girl and MataGold!" the Energy Hound demanded.
"Me?! What the heck would you want with me?!" Hikaru responded in shock.
"You won't lay a finger on him!" Aqua shouted in anger.
"We'll see about that," the Energy Hound said as he vanished into the shadows of the forest, the Vahki just standing by to keep the Toa from escaping.
Then, with Karin screaming in fear as something grabbed her.
"Leave Karin-chan alone!" Hikaru shouted out, "TOA TRANSFORM!"
=KANOHI AVOHKII! LIGHT EM UP!=
MataGold rushed in and punched the Energy Hound off of Karin, with it attempting to use a chain to wrap up Karin, but Gold was caught in the attack instead. A Vahki blasted a tree with an energy disc from its mouth, causing a branch to fall right onto one of Karin's arms.
"AH! Help… I can't move my arm!" she screamed in fear, unable to get the branch off.
"Move now!" Yuki told Mason and Aqua, "Toa Transform!"
=KANOHI KAUKAU! FEEL THE FLOW!=
=KANOHI KAKAMA! ACCELERATION!=
=KANOHI AKAKU! SEE BEYOND THE LIMITS!=
"Minna, get Karin-chan and get somewhere safe, now!" Gold shouted.
"We're not leaving without you Hikaru!" Blue shouted.
"I'll be fine! Just go, NOW!" he screamed at them, with Brown getting the branch off of Karin, and the three left, the Vahki about to give chase.
"No. Leave them for now… we'll use a new weapon to attack them," the Energy Hound chuckled.
"We need to go back and save Hikaru-kun!" Aqua said in worry, as she was dressing up the wound on Karin, but she was so distracted and worry, she was making the cast to tight.
"Ow! Ow! OW! Too tight!" Karin shouted in pain, with Mason shushing her.
"Gomen Karin… I'm just… really worried about Karu-kun…" Aqua stated.
"...huh?" Yuki and Mason said in confusion.
"Uh… I… I mean Hikaru-san," Aqua responded, blushing. Karin looked at her and began to think.
"Hey boys… can you two turn around and not listen. I want to ask Aqua something privately," Karin requested.
The two gave a small shrug and turned around.
"That warmth I sensed in you when we first met… it's for Hikaru, isn't it?" Karin asked.
"Uh… w-well… uh… if I answer that, will you promise not to tell anyone?"
"Hai," Karin nodded.
"Okay… yes… I like Hikaru that way…" Aqua admitted with a blush.
"I see… well… I know what a crush on someone… different is like. One time, me and my family went to Onu-Koro, and… I met this boy… his name was Midnight… and I hold a crush on him. But… I don't know if he survived the attacks on our homes," Karin responded.
"Oh… I-I see… and I'm sorry for almost hurting your arm worse. I just got really scared…" Aqua sighed, with Karin smiling at her, calming her down.
"Let's get the Protodermis, and then save Hikaru-san," Karin smiled.
"Hai!"
Meanwhile, the Vahki held tightly to Hikaru's arms as the Energy Hound led them deeper and deeper into the forest. They arrived at a cave, with the Japanese kanji for 'darkness' written on it.
"Ah yes… the Cave of Darkness. Do you know how Shroudwood got it's name? A mask's energy admitting from this cave…" the Energy Hound began, "As you can see, this forest is often pitch black when there is no opening in the trees, even in broad daylight. That's because of this mask's potential power for everlasting darkness. A force that the Toa Metru sealed away."
Hikaru was dragged into the cave, where they saw a dark gemstone that, while it gave off a dark aura, clearly hid a minor golden shimmer to it.
"So, why do you want me here?" Hikaru asked, 'I had enough brushes with the darkness in one lifetime. If I were to go through it again, who knows what could happen to me...'
"You are the Toa of Light, Hikaru… or should I say, Takanuva. When this mask was sealed, the Toa Metru set up a defense system… only a Toa's hand can free this mask, the Karahanhkii." the Energy Hound informed, as the Vahki moved Hikaru's hand to the locking mechanism shaped like a hand, "And once this mask is freed… you will be our slave, and destroy the Matarangers!"
"Never…" Hikaru said, trying to move, but the Vahki's grip was too strong, and it forced his hand onto the lock mechanism, causing the gem to begin to crack open with dark energy, "IGNATIUS, TERRA, VENTUS, YUKI, MASON… AQUA, HELP! PLEASE!"
"So… do you think this mask will truly be helpful?" Mason asked.
"I hope so… if I'm able to make this mask right, it will give Ig-san enough power to defeat the Makuta once and for all," Karin informed, when suddenly, blasts of dark energy came from nowhere, with Aqua getting Karin out of the way. They looked to see the Vahki and the Energy Hound.
"Hello Matarangers… welcome, to the last day of your lives!" the Energy Hound shouted, "Come forth! Slave of the Twilight!"
Everyone looked on in confusion as someone walked forward, wearing a mostly black and red version of his usual outfit, except there were minor hints of gold on it, his hair pitch black with golden and violet streaks, and his eyes gave off some kind of black and red mist.
"Hi... Hikaru-kun?" Aqua gasped in worry and fear.
"Wha-What happened to him?" Mason gawked as Yuki got up.
"What did you do to our brother?!" Yuki demanded.
"I suppose you should know before you die. Have any of you ever heard of the Karahanhkii? It's a powerful mask, originally a corrupted version of the Avohkii when the Toa of Light himself was attacked by a Shadow Leech. You know what those things do?" the Energy Hound inquired.
"It… it sucks the light out of anyone it attacks," Karin realized.
"Oh no…" Aqua gulped.
"Correct. As such, for a short time, anyways, the Toa of Light became the Toa of Twilight, a being torn between both light and darkness. With this fact in hand before the Great Spirit purified him, the Makuta's forces attempted to recreate this so it could be used against the Toa. We increased the power of darkness within the corrupted Avohkii by adding in the essence of the great Mask of Shadow, the Kraahkan, and as such the Mask of Twilight was created. However… when the world was changed, your Toa Metru had captured the mask and sealed it away. We have spent years trying to get the mask, but they had a lock mechanism on the gem it was held in, only a Toa could free it. So… who better to do it then Takanuva himself?"
"...uh… you kinda lost me…" Karin informed, as Aqua turned to her.
"Basically, they combined a Mask of Shadows with a replica of the Mask of Light, creating this mask, but the Metruman team sealed it away. And they used Hikaru-kun to free it," Aqua summarized, before turning to Hikaru, "Hikaru-kun! This isn't you! Snap out of it!"
"...The shadows… they are my masters" Hikaru responded, his voice getting deeper and darker as he spoke, his golden eyes turning blood red.
"Now then, Slave of Twilight… destroy them, but leave the blind girl alive!" the Energy Hound ordered.
"Gladly," Hikaru answered, pulling out the Karahanhkii, which looked like a corroded and enlarged version of the Avohkii, before he smirked.
"Don't do it!" Aqua shouted.
But he simply inserted the mask into his Avokanexus, causing the normally golden device to "corrode" as a dark red and black aura surrounded it.
=KANOHI KARAHANKII! LIGHT AND DARKNESS AS ONE!=
"Twilight Transform," Hikaru announced, as he transformed the Kanohi flew around a bunch of times before colliding with Hikaru's face, forming his normal Mataranger form at first, but it quickly corroded, the white remaining behind, but the gold quickly turning black with red accents in them, "MataGold… Twilight."
"Aqua, you take Karin and go!" Mason told Aqua.
"I'm not leaving you two!" Aqua shouted.
"Don't worry. We'll hold him off for as long as we can! Because we're a team, a Sentai! And if we all die here… then the world's done for!" Yuki told Aqua.
"...Mou… be careful… and don't kill him," Aqua responded before taking Karin and running off.
"You sure that we can beat him?" Mason asked Yuki.
"We're just a diversion… if this Mask of Twilight thing is close by… then maybe they can find the Protodermis." Yuki responded, as they got their Nuva Masks ready.
=KANOHI KAKAMA NUVA! SPEED DEMON!=
=KANOHI AKAKU NUVA! LOOK PAST DECEPTION!=
"Nuva Transform!" they both shouted as they turned into their Nuva modes to try and hold off Hikaru.
Aqua and Karin managed to hide out, before Aqua broke down crying.
"Aqua, i-it's going to be alright. H-Hikaru-san got out of that Twilight state before… he can do it again," Karin tried to comfort, before she began to cry herself, getting Aqua's attention.
"Why are you crying?" Aqua inquired.
"This is what my Kaa-san did to get me to stop crying," Karin informed, hugging Aqua, "Hey… you know… you and Hikaru-san… you remind me of my Kaa-san and Tou-san… I know they didn't make it… not sure how… but I just know."
"Just know what?" Aqua asked.
"My Kaa-san and Tou-san are dead," Karin sighed.
"...Hey… if it'll make you feel any better… would you like to call me your 'Kaa-san'?"
Karin smiled, and gave a nod, hugging Aqua, when she noticed a golden glow from nearby. "But… maybe Onee-chan would suit you better... Hey… I think we found the… the… the uh…"
"Protodermis" Aqua reminded.
"Hai," Karin nodded, as they walked to a cave, and they headed into it, seeing there was gems all around, and a golden crystal by a wall.
"Who dares come before me?!" a booming voice shouted, with Karin hiding behind Aqua.
"I am the Toa of Water of the Toa Sentai Mataranger, MataBlue, Aqua!" Aqua shouted, with a golden dragon flying down.
"Ah… it's been a many millennia since I have seen the Toa…" the dragon smiled, "Aqua, who have you brought with you?"
"This is Karin. A young Matoran from my village of Ga-Koro. We came here seeking the special Protodermis needed to create a new mask for our leader, which will help us fight the Makuta."
"An honorable request…" the dragon nodded, as Karin looked around, trying to picture the area around her, "I shall give you the Protodermis."
He then reached over to the golden gem and broke a small part off, handing it to Aqua, before the dragon took a scale off and handed it to Karin.
"For the Mask to access the mode," the dragon informed, when suddenly, Hikaru appeared and shot a blast of dark energy, "Takanuva… you have let the darkness overcome you again?"
"Shut your mouth, Kanohi Dragon! The darkness has not overtaken me!" Hikaru roared, pulling out his staff, which had become corrupted, and his suit revealed his gloves now had claws on them, "The darkness empowers me… and I will be rid of the Matarangers! Starting with you MataBlue!"
Aqua got teary-eyed, and handed the piece of Protodermis to Karin, which, despite having a cast, was able to balance.
"I won't fight you Hikaru-kun…" Aqua told him.
"Silence! You're not going to stop me!" Hikaru shouted, slamming the Karahanhkii into his Avokanexus.
=KANOHI KARAHANKII! LIGHT AND DARKNESS AS ONE!=
"Twilight Transform!"
The Toa transformed, revealing the darkened form of the Toa, preparing to attack, but then Aqua stood her ground and pulled him into a hug.
"Hikaru-kun… this isn't you. You're not some pawn of evil… you're my friend. You're the greatest person I ever met, when I'm scared or sad… you're the light that shines in the darkness, and I… I love you. You're the person I love with all my heart… please Hikaru-kun… come back to me."
Hearing this made Hikaru's eyes widened, the darkness dissipating from his suit, with the golden color remaining, losing the corroded form on his right side, with the red vanishing altogether, and the black migrating to his left, and his mask his mask looking like the original's more purified form with the gold, but it still had plenty of the black corroded parts on the top and sides to make the spike look more menacing and yet the mask overall had a sort of… balance to it.
"Hikaru-kun? Are you okay?" Aqua asked in worry.
"Ugh… my head… A… Aqua? Where are we? Wait… are we in the Dravohkii Cave?" Hikaru asked.
"Indeed we are Takanuva. It has been a long time since I have last seen you," the gold dragon informed, causing Hikaru to look at the dragon and gasp before he dropped his henshin and held his normal Avohkii in hand.
With that, something happened that surprised the others, even Karin as her blindness was removed when Hikaru's Kanohi grew to a size that could cover Hikaru's face. Hikaru placed on the mask, and he transformed, not into his Mataranger form, but his original, biomechanical, white and golden Toa form.
"Oh… Dravohkii, the great Kanohi Dragon of Light. It is great to see you again old friend," Takanuva smiled.
"Indeed it has. I am sad to say you nearly gave into your darkness once again as you had the same trials with it in the time before time, young Toa," the Dravohkii dragon informed as Hikaru, now Takanuva, bowed in apology.
"...my memory's really fogged… after they forced me to use the powers of the Karahanhkii, and I first turned into MataGold Twilight… my memory's just a blurred up mess," Takanuva confessed.
"I completely understand, Takanuva. Yet, I believe you have this young lady to thank for restoring you to your normal self," the dragon informed, causing Takanuva to look at Aqua, the young Toa of Water thinking he looked even more majestic and handsome in his robotic form.
"Hikaru-kun… you look so… amazing," Aqua giggled, before realizing how she was before and bowed before him, "Gomen for the disrespect Takanuva-sama."
Karin then put the two items they were given by Dravohkii down and then bowed.
"...Aqua… Karin-chan... please, there is no need for such formalities in front of me. This is who I really am, true, however, I am still the same young man you met that day. And I'm still your friend," Takanuva informed, walking over to Aqua and gently placing his robotic hand on her shoulder, despite him being a bit taller than his human form.
'His touch… I-I know it's metallic, but… there's a strange… warmth to it. Maybe… that's why they chose these human forms for us?' Aqua realized, a tiny giggle.
"You are my friend, Aqua. Remember that. But… I'm scared… that mask almost made me kill you… and I care for you too much to let you be hurt… and if I was the one who let you go to heaven… I would go and join you…" Takanuva admitted, holding the Karahanhkii.
"Takanuva… you have done so much for this world throughout the years, far more than any single Toa was able to do regardless of incarnation. As I have aided you and your friends by providing them with the Protodermis required to aid your friends in the construction of the mask, I shall aid you with this case," the Dravohkii informed, taking one of his scales and handing it to the Toa, "Use your power of light on my scale and merge it with the Kanohi… it will purge the mask of its corruptive nature and bring a true permanent balance to its powers, allowing it to be safe enough for you to wield."
Takanuva smiled before he turned back into his human form, and Karin's blindness came back. The scale was now glowing brightly before he held it up to the Karahanhkii and the two items merged, erasing any corruptive powers of the mask, with Hikaru smiling.
"Now, I have a power-up too," he smiled, as he saw Karin attempting to hold the golden scale and Protodermis, having trouble doing so, before he put them in her hand.
"...A-Arigatou… Takanuva-sama… o-or… or is it Hikaru-san?"
"It's Hikaru," the man informed.
"Toa Sentai… whenever you need my help, don't hesitate to come and get it," the Dravohkii told them.
"Thank you very much… Dravohkii-ryuu-san," Aqua bowed.
-So you got the material needed?- Mason asked over the Metranexus.
"Hai. Hikaru-san even got a new Kanohi," Karin said.
-Then I suggest you tell them to suit up. Yuki and I are bringing the party to you,- Mason responded, before they sent the Energy Hound flying over towards the group, with him and Yuki following.
"Ah… my slave! Destroy them!" the Energy Hound demanded of Hikaru.
"...Perhaps you didn't notice something here Energy Hound. Take a whiff of my aura, and the aura of the Kanohi. Do you notice anything?" Hikaru responded, causing the Hound to look confused and take a whiff before gasping in fear.
"And because you gave me a new power… I'm going to use it to destroy you!" Hikaru smirked, readying his new mask, as Aqua readied her Nuva mask.
=KANOHI KAUKAU NUVA! DEEP BELOW!=
=KANOHI KARAHANKII! LIGHT AND DARKNESS AS ONE!=
"Toa-Nuva Transform!"
"Toa-Twilight Transform!"
With that, the two Toa transformed, MataGold's form now still had it's gold, but now had the symbol of the chest looking black and white while being in front of the images of the sun and the moon, before his form managed to light up the area of the forest they were in, revealing the balance of both powers he wielded.
"Sugee!" MataBlue giggled, dreamily looking at MataGold.
'Light… and Shadow… have become one...'
"I agree," MataGold responded before posing, "MataGold... TWILIGHT MODE! And I will bestow heaven's wrath upon thee!"
"Grrrr… VAHKI! ATTACK!" the Energy Hound roared, causing a whole horde of them to appear.
"Bring them all on! I can take out 100, no… scratch that. I can take on one THOUSAND of them, and not even break a sweat," MataGold scoffed, causing the Hound to growl, "Stand back for now, Aqua. This could get more intense than you've ever seen before."
"Okay. I'll keep count for you, 1000," MataBlue noted, having managed to count all the Vahki.
"Perfect. Make sure you keep count of how many are left, because the light and dark might… shall fight!" MataGold responded before bringing out his staff in his clawed hands before charging in, and swinging the staff.
"Okay, 983 remain!"
Some tried to pounce on Gold from behind, but he blinded them in light before slashing them, doing something similar to another horde, but blinding them with the darkness and slicing them up with ease.
"Make that 899!"
Then, he dove into the crowd and slashed more with his staff before throwing it like a boomerang, and then slashing up a dozen or two with his claws, beating them with ease.
"655! Wait… 500!"
"Halfway there," Gold smirked jumping into the air and then divebombing down with his staff and claws, sending 185 flying and destroying them as well as the ten that were under his feet.
"That leaves 350 left!" Blue smiled.
Gold then held his staff, sending some energy, both light and dark, into the tip, causing the staff to separate into two blades, which he used to slash several as he dashed forward.
"250! No wait… 150! 55! 43! 12!"
"Go Gold Go!" Karin cheered as Gold combined his blades and slammed them down on the last dozen Vahki, causing a HUGE explosion before he combined his blades back into one.
"And that makes…" Gold started as he stared at the Hound.
"Zero!" he and Blue said in unison, allowing the Toa of Water to jump in, Aqua Axes ready, and she smirked.
"Hikaru-kun… let's finish this!" Blue smirked, as Gold looked to his weapon and he smirked under his helmet.
"Let do it together," he nodded, as he charged up light and dark energy in his staff, splitting part of it for Aqua to hold. They then formed the energy into a heart shape and sent it flying to the Energy Hound.
"KUSO~!" the hound screamed out as the heart collided with his body, before it blew up on him, White and Brown approaching as the explosion ended.
"Nice! Wow! Hikaru, when'd you get that new form?" MataBrown asked, when they heard some people running up. They all dropped their henshin, and saw that it was Mitsuko, AJ and Momo, "Oh, hey guys."
"Hi Mata-tachi!" Momo shouted rushing over to them smiling.
"So… what are you all doing here?" Mason asked.
"Not that… I don't mind seeing you, AJ-chan," Yuki smiled.
"Well… we were just… looking around, it's a long story," AJ responded.
"But it doesn't matter, does it Itoko-chan (cousin)?" Momo said, making Yuki gasp.
"Itoko-chan? You two are cousins?" Yuki gawked.
"Well… it's kinda complicated," Mitsuko admitted, "They technically aren't cousins… Momo's a second-cousin-twice-removed… we don't know all of the details just yet."
"And here's something. I got a new mode, Twilight Mode!" Hikaru informed, showing off the Kanohi.
"Oooh! Nifty! It looks like a corroded version of your main mask, but I feel it's back to normal, like there's a perfect balance between light and darkness," Momo noticed, "But… I dunno why… but whenever I think 'Twilight' I think that can be a nickname for Mitzy-chan."
"Uh… why do I get a strange feeling about that?" Mitsuko muttered, before they saw a Kraata show up and get on the remains of the Hound, "Hey. What's that?"
With that, the Toa looked over at the remains of the Energy Hound and gasped.
"Get back!" Hikaru responded as they all backed up, the Energy Hound growing in size until it was a giant.
"Oh yea! It's payback time!"
"This is bad… without Ven here we can't form Wairuha," Aqua commented.
"And without Ignatius and Terra, Akamai can't be formed," Mason added.
"Why is Ven such a coward of this place?" Yuki wondered.
"Oh yea… that might be my fault… I… kinda told him about the superstitions surrounding Shroudwood," Momo admitted, making Yuki growl in irritation.
"But I still have my mech!" Hikaru realized, "Toa Transform!"
=KANOHI AVOHKII! LIGHT EM UP!=
"Alright… You girls get going, I'll handle this," Gold told the three Guardians as they rushed off.
"Hikaru-kun… good luck," Aqua told him, as Gold summoned the Av-GoriRessha before it transformed into Gorilla mode to fight the Hound.
The Gorilla started by punching the Hound before the Rahi entered a canine-four-legged position and began to leap around trying to confuse the mecha and its pilot.
"Oh-ho. I've seen this before," Gold muttered under his breath, waiting for the right moment, and then, when it leapt at him… "NOW!"
The Av-GoriRessha leapt up as well before slamming its fist into the back of the Energy Hound, knocking it down.
"Now then... for the real fight to start. Hikari Henkei!" Gold exclaimed as the Av-GoriRessha changed from its Gorilla form to its humanoid form, "Avoka-Oh! Kenzan!"
The Rahi struggled back to its two feet before Gold's mecha just charged at it and continued throwing punches before picking it up and throwing it a few feet away.
"Hikari Rocket Punch!" Gold announced, sending out one of Avoka-Oh's fists like a missile before it hit the Energy Hound, "Finale daa!"
With that, Avoka-Oh regained its fist before holding out its staff, and then charging it up with energy. The mask that MataGold used to power it, though, was the Karahanhkii. Thus, the staff powered up with both light and dark energy.
"Hikari-Midnight Saber Slash!"
While the gathering energy quickly grew in power faster than it would for Avoka-Oh and its powers of light alone, the Mecha held the staff before slashing the Energy Hound, with a moon seemingly eclipsing the sun before it exploded.
"Your destiny... is done!" Gold shouted as he gave the thumbs down, "Duty… Kanyou!"
"Hikaru-kun was so amazing! Wasn't he Onee-chan?" Karin asked Aqua, making Hikaru give a very confused look.
"Onee-chan?" Hikaru asked.
"It's, um… because Aqua reminds me of my Kaa-san… sorta like you remind me of my Tou-san, but… I sorta think 'Onee-chan' would suit her better," Karin informed.
"And I let her start calling me that. Though seriously, you were very cool with that new mask." Aqua complimented.
"All in a day's work. So… how'd you free me from the spell I was placed under?" Hikaru inquired.
"Secret," Karin and Aqua said in unison.
"You're just some great people," Hikaru smiled, as Karin took Aqua's hand, and then reached up for Hikaru's.
"...Hikaru-san… can I… call you Onii-chan?" Karin asked, smiling.
"...Sure why not?" Hikaru answered, before Karin gave him a hug.
"Arigatou… Onii-chan!"
"Uh… you kinda don't have to blindfold me… I already can't see," Karin told them, as the group was now at the base again.
"But it's a surprise," Aqua told Karin.
Karin gave a shrug as she was lead into a room, and the lights came on, and in the room were the other Matarangers.
"Surprise!" Ventus smiled.
"Karin… welcome to your room," Ignatius informed.
"What's in it?" Karin asked.
"It's got a soft bed, a nice table where you can tinker with your tools, we even put in some toys too." Hikaru answered.
"This is so sweet," Karin smiled, looking like she was going to cry, "Onee-chan… Onii-chan… thank you."
She then hugged Aqua and Hikaru, Hikaru just smiling as he hugged her back while Aqua started blushing again.
'...we're almost like a family. Me… Hikaru-kun, and Karin...' Aqua giggled internally.
'This is actually… kinda sweet. Heh… me and Aqua… I can see us… as a pair' Hikaru smiled.
'Aqua and Hikaru-san… my new Onee-chan and Onii-chan...'
"I love you guys," Karin smiled.
"...We love you too, Karin-chan." they both said in unison.
A little while later, Karin was hard at work on the new mask. However, not everything was matching up like she'd hoped.
"Mou… it's not working… why?" Karin sighed, feeling the work that she'd completed so far to try and find out what was missing.
"You doing alright, Karin?" Ignatius asked, sticking his head into the room.
"I don't know. Everything should be working just fine… but it isn't!"
"That does seem like a predicament... but there must be a way…" Ignatius replied, trying to think before he heard a knock at the door, "Huh? Who could that be?"
As he opened the front door, he looked to see a young man, looking about a year or two older than him, with glistening silver hair and wearing sunglasses.
"Um… hello?" Ignatius asked allowed.
"Toa Ignatius, I presume…" the silver-haired teen stated allowed.
"Wait… how do you know of the Toa?! Who ARE you?!"
"I am Axonn, young Toa… and we have much to talk about. The fate of the world lies in the coming times…"
(Insert Ending theme: Hero by All Insane Kids)
*As the song starts, we see the 7 main Kanohi masks appear onscreen, flickering before they show us the 7 Matarangers*
As you're on your way back home. Something catch your eyes untold
*As the seven Matarangers walk around in their civilian forms, they don't notice a dark shadow looming behind them.*
Fear of darkness lingers here, You tremble as you get the fear!
*The seven then prepare their Metranexuses and Avokanexus, changing into their Toa form, before they find themselves surrounded by Vahki.*
Now you on the corner stone, Fearing you'd be left alone
*The screen shows MataRed holding his Fire Sword, before shifting to MataBlue wielding her Aqua Hooks*
Who will lose who will prevail? Who will tell the final tale?
*We then see MataGreen with his Aero Axe, before the scene shifts to MataBrown doing a dive kick with his Leg Smashers equipped to his boots*
*As the instrumental plays, we also see MataBlack with his Earth Claws as well as MataWhite with his Ice Blade*
There it goes again
*Shows an image of the Makuta, with their leader Teridax in the center, before zooming out to show an army of Rahi.*
There it goes again
*We then see the Matarangers pointing both their Metranexuses and Mata-Busters in gun mode, as well as MataGold holding back the trigger on his AvokaNexus, straight at the enemies surrounding them*
*As the instrumental plays, they fire their blasters rapidly at the enemies in question before taking out their individual weapons and charging in.*
Do you know what it take's to be a hero?
*Shows MataRed slashing in slow motion, before showing MataBlue and MataGreen teaming up to attack a group of Vahki together.*
When you lost, a piece of love, a piece of you.
*Then, we see MataBrown and MataBlack using their kick attacks and claws to hit a Rahi Kaijin, before showing MataWhite shattering a frozen enemy with his sword and MataGold blinding another foe.*
Do you have what it takes to beat the fear that's
*The screen then shows the two Toa Kaita-Oh fighting before forming into the Toa Nui-Oh, standing next to Avoka-Oh.*
In your heart, to grow up strong, and undo wrong.
*The main six Matarangers then stand together, all unhenshined, and side by side.*
To grow up strong, and undo wrong.
*The six rush into the sunset, all looking forward to the the bright new day, before Hikaru rushed over to join his new team.*
After meeting with the mysterious Axonn, the Toa start to become a bit wary as Roodaka's forces begin to attack again. Mason doesn't want this to slow him down, so he begins avoiding Axonn and attacking Visorak, but he gets careless and injures himself, nearly getting bitten by the Visorak. Will Hikaru be able to snap him out of it, and get life back on track?
Jikai, Enter Mata-Justice!
Spirits Unite!
TB: Mata-Justice?
KKD: At least it's better than simply Mata-Silver. Kinda redundant since Nuva Mode is essentially Silver armor.
Silver: Plus, there's another person who is "joining" the team, and we don't want to confuse his gold armor with MataGold.
KKD: Exactly.
TB: Who's joining?
Silver: You'll see. Anyways, looks like there's a new mask being worked on. Wonder what it'll be. ;)
TB: We won't tell you! Because... *snaps fingers*
Momo: SPOILERS!
TB: I love it when I do that. ^^ Anyway, favorite parts?
KKD: I'd definitely would have to say… Hikaru being able to access the Twilight powers. *shows image of the Twilight movie* Uh… wrong Twilight. *Image of Twilight Sparkle appears* No. *Twilight Zone?* No. *Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess* NO! This Twilight! *holds up a picture of the 2008 Takanuva set* Sheesh! And I thought that was bad when it happened in my videos!
Silver: I personally liked the battle between Avoka-Oh and the Energy Hound. That looked awesome.
TB: I liked Hikaru's first fight with the Twilight powers while there was an actual counter. Reminds you of a certain scene, doesn't it? *poster of Power Rangers SPD peeks out the corner*
KKD: Is that all you wanted to bring up? In any case, I think we'd better move on.
Silver: And you're forgetting that that scene was also in Dekaranger. Still, American or Japanese, Doggie Kruger is still a badass.
KKD: Uh… right… *starts walking away* Anyway, we'll meet you at Guardians. I'm KKD Silver…
Silver: I'm the Maxx that's also called Silver...
TB: That sounds badass. Also, I'm TokuBrony...
KKD: And we'll see you all next time. Jaa ne! *Zooms out, leaving a dust clone of himself.*
TB: SEIYAA!
Silver: Stand up the Vanguard!