Disclaimer: Bionicle is not mine. However: Miko Nui, the Ilsao, the Ihar, the Leehar and many many names, though part of Bionicle in this fanfic, are.
Nightfall
Nightfall.
The sun had disappeared behind the trees and the sounds of the air had changed form the chirping of the birds to the humming of the insects. Some of the Ihar had fallen asleep, and even Pohatu had dozed off, if just for a short while.
Dusk had come, and still nothing happened. Kishro was growing restless, as were the other Ihar, and Pohatu once again began to fear for his life, though he was much more worried about Gali's fate. If he wasn't wrong, the original Ta-Kavi volcano was much faster to reach than the Mihallala river. The more he waited, the more the chances to rescue Gali thinned, and the more the chances that she had already been thrown into the lava pit grew. Pohatu scanned the forest continuously, hoping to see Sirkul, or Hoti, appear to tell them that they were safe, and so were many other Ihar and kups, and that the Toa Nuva had nothing to do with this story.
But Hoti and Sirkul did not appear, and Pohatu's heart fell.
-Are you sure Makuta said nightfall?- Kishro asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm sure," Pohatu confirmed.
-Nightfall has come and still nothing happens- the usual Ta-Ihar – he said to be called Inamo – said.
"Five more minutes!" Pohatu pleaded. "I'm sure..."
A sound from the tops of the trees attracted the Ihar's attention, and those who could scrambled up to see what was happening. All the others waited on the ground or hurried to the edge of the jungle. To Pohatu's surprise, Kishro was with them.
The green Ihar exchanged some 'words' with the other Ihar, then turned towards him.
-Come- he said with a smiled. Pohatu was about to point out that he was still tied up, but the Ihar who had bound him was already releasing his bonds.
-You're under my responsibility,- Kishro explained. -And we have three other Ihar with the power of telekinesis, ready to trapsnare you if you decide to quickrun.- He added with a smile.
It was only now, seeing Kishro limp before him, that Pohatu realized what had really been done to him. The limp might be an illusion, but the scar on the eye and the jagged breathing was not, and it was that, that stopped him from climbing up trees or running.
"Who did this to you?" Pohatu asked.
-You- the Ihar answered. Pohatu stopped dead on his tracks, feeling as if he had just been dumped a bucket of icy water on. Kishro noticed. -No, not you. The one who posedplayed as you. And brotherfriend Lewa.-
"Utahop and Awel?"
-I don't know- Kishro admitted.
"What? But --"
-You can never knowtell when one is hidden by a figureillusion- Kishro stated, smiling.
"That's what you think that happened?" Pohatu asked. "How they played that trick?"
-I don't have any other smartidea- Kishro said. -Ah! There's the jungle limitend. I knew there was a near one around here. Now we'll be able to see...-
A breathtaking sight med them as they walked out of the jungle.
The 'dead' part of the island, the one that Pohatu knew had been contaminated by Makuta, was covered by a dome of swirling black clouds, with ridges of red and purple that cast an eerie glow on the landscape before them, making it appear as if the dead tree stumps, the thorny bushes, and even the ground itself was covered in blood. Thunder rolled through the air, and a hot, dry wind blew across the island.
"Mata Nui..." Pohatu whispered. The Ihar seemed to have forgotten him. They were running up and down the place, exchanging whispers and news. An excited buzz filled the air, and many of them looked like Naming Day had come for them, instead of wearing expressions of terror and fear.
When the news finally reached Kishro, his face lit up, and he burst into laugher, jumping up and down the area.
"What's happening?" Pohatu asked. "Kishro, what's going on?"
-The ocean!- he explained. -Voices traveljourney from one side of the island to the other! The ocean has awakened! She's thrashing and gurgling on our shores! She is coming to rinsewash away the evilbad that for so long has been the curse of this island!-
And he broke into a laugh again, dancing and jumping on the ground and meaowing at the storm.
But suddenly, his laugh turned into a coughing fit, and he was forced to stop, coughing and wheezing like an old Ihar, because he had danced for barely more than half a minute. Pohatu stared at him, awe-struck. This couldn't... this could not... this could not be happening to Kishro! Kishro who sped up and down from trees and still managed to keep up with those who walked on the ground. Kishro, who didn't care if a way was more dangerous, as long as it was fun. Kishro... could not be pinned to the ground like any old Ihar!
It was like taking a windglider away from Lewa and tying him to the ground with a chain and saying: there, now fly... if you can. These are your limits.
Pohatu rushed up to the green Ihar.
"Kishro? Kishro, are you alright?"
-Hey! Stay away from him!- Before he could protest, Pohatu was dragged away from the green Ihar and under control again. Kishro coughed on for a while, and then looked up at Pohatu and gave him a sad smile.
-It's ok... It's been like this for a while, I've gotten used to it-
But his tone said clearly that he was not getting used to it.
"Kishro," Pohatu said, changing tone. "My friends are in there, and so are Hoti, Sirkul, and a lot of other Ihar. I understand how you can feel, this building having oppressed you for years and so, but there are living beings in there! And many of them can't breath underwater.
Kishro's smile faded away. Pohatu hated to blast his joy away like that, but they had to be realistic. What was happening here was not a gift from heavens, it was much closer to the end of the world.
And his friends were right in the middle of it.
XXXXX
Beneath the surface, the room was shaking under the power of the earthquake. Walls were cracking, rocks were rolling down the mounds of earth that had appeared during the battle. All around them, the place was menacing to fall and bury the Toa beneath itself.
Makuta turned to the Toa. "Well well well, little Toa, it seems as if your time is over. This place will collapse in a matter of minutes, and with you inside it."
"Yes..." Kopaka said, straining to raise his head. "But with you inside it as well."
Makuta roared with laugher. He pulled back his tendrils until Lhikan's body was back to normal, and he was still laughing when a dark glow surrounded him, hiding him from view. He looked up to the ceiling above and, still laughing, left his body. Like a dark cloud that gradually lifted itself in the air before shooting through the roof of the cavern, leaving the Toa beaten and helpless to their fate.
"Mata Nui damn you, Makuta," Kopaka whispered.
At that moment, Tahu came running towards them.
"Come here! I found Lewa but..." he stopped dead seeing his teammates and Turaga slumped on the floor, barely conscious, apparently unaware that the building was about to collapse on them. His team had just been brutally defeated. How could this had happened? He had heard what was going on, they had been on the winning side! Kopaka's plan – even if he was never going to admit it, was foolproof. There was no way Makuta could resist to the power of the six and those of a Toa of Light! But then, why were his teammates on the floor?
Pushing those questions aside for the moment, Tahu rushed at his teammate's sides, trying to pull them back to their feet. The room was still falling on them, if they didn't get out soon, they would all die.
"Come on, you great icicle, stand up," he growled at Kopaka, shaking him angrily. Kopaka answered with a groan and a feeble attempt to push himself up. Tahu left him, frustrated, and sped on to Takanuva, literally dragging him to his feet. "Stand up, Takua, there is no time to sleep! Heck, the place is about to fall on us, in case you haven't noticed!"
"Afraid, Toa of Fire?" a cool voice asked him. Tahu looked up to see Akapok standing slightly aside, staring calmly at the scene. The fact that, with all his team and friends beaten, Akapok was the only one standing, flared Tahu's anger, and the completely uninterested – even arrogant -- expression with which Akapok was observing the scene gave him the rest. Akapok resembled Kopaka too much to not spark Tahu's nerves, but unlike his teammate, Akapok didn't have any excuse for which Tahu couldn't wipe that look off his face.
"I'm going to show you if I'm afraid," Tahu snarled, charging at the Leehar of Ice and punching him right across his face with his left arm. Akapok tried to defend himself, but the recent events had left him just as drained as Kopaka, and he slumped to the ground. Tahu stared at him scathingly, saying. "That's for the first day I saw you face."
Then he rushed back to his teammates.
XXXXX
Outside, an outcry of wonder and surprised traveled through the Ihar groups. Something black, dense, was coming out of a mountain far away. The mountain had a flat top, so for a few moments, the Ihar thought that an old volcano was erupting. But then someone recognized the place, and whispers started traveling as the question formed. "What is that?"
An Ihar, old and battle-scarred, stared out at it for a few seconds, then turned to a figure besides him. -Makuta?-
"I fear so... yes, I can feel the darkness emanated from it."
The cloud hovered in the air for a few seconds, then seemed to choose a direction and dashed eastwards, disappearing from sight in a matter of seconds.
At the same time, the ground that covered the maze began to crack.
-Then your brothers...-
The figure shook her head, not wanting to believe, not knowing what to answer. Although, deep inside, she knew that that cloud could mean only one thing...
The Ihar turned back to the cloud, not needing for her to answer.
After all, he did have the Power of the Suletu, the Great Mask of Telepathy.
XXXXX
"Come on! Come on! There's no time to sleep! We have to get out!" Tahu urged Nuju, who was waking up from his unconsciousness but was still a bit hazy. Leaving him to himself, Tahu moved up to Onua, who was already half-standing and struggling to get back on his feet.
"Onua, I need your help. I found Lewa, but he's in certain condition. And with only one arm..."
Onua nodded. "Show me where he is."
Tahu darted off, showing him the way through two mounds of earth and to a small, protected area behind them. When Onua got there, a surprising scene met his eyes. Lewa was lying on one side, a Rahkshi staff planted through his shoulder, still oozing a green liquid. On the other, was Awel, two windgliders going through his chest and coming out on the other side. Both Toa were covered in blood. Onua realized that only one person could've done that.
"Lewa..." Onua started.
"Was still clutching those windgliders when I found him," Tahu said impatiently. "Now do it!"
"What?" for a second, Onua didn't understand what Tahu meant.
"Get out the Rahkshi staff! Why did you think I called you?" Tahu said, exasperated. "And Lewa's gliders too... I can't pull them out..."
Onua approached Lewa, but suddenly stopped. "Tahu, if that's the Lerahk's staff..."
"I know!" Tahu snapped, suddenly angered at the black Toa. "You don't have to tell me that! But if you think I'm leaving him here..."
Onua raised his hands as if to ward off the Toa of Fire, then he bent over Lewa and ripped the staff out of his shoulder. What he saw didn't cheer him up. The hole was large and jagged, and the edges were covered in green liquid. Shooting a glance at Lewa's motionless face and at his dim heartlight, he suddenly had to face the fact that their brother might not make it this time. He felt as if something had gotten stuck in his throat.
"Onua, the gliders!" Tahu insisted, seeing that the black Toa was hesitating. Onua nodded and moved over to Awel, while Tahu did his best to hail Lewa on his shoulders despite his frozen arm, doing so, he caught a glimpse of the ceiling, spotting the falling rock just in time to raise a shield to protect himself and his brothers.
"Oh frell!" he swore, as the rock shattered and fell to their side. "Onua..."
"I'm done," Onua said, bringing back the two katana. "Give him to me."
Tahu handed over Lewa, taking the two swords instead, and the two Toa hurried back to their brothers.
"Come on!" Tahu yelled at them, waving them towards the exit. "It's that way!"
"Onewa... where's Onewa?" Vakama shouted, not seeing his friend anywhere.
"He must've fallen to the bottom of that mound when Makuta struck us," Nuju said. "I'll go for him."
"Let's hope-pray that he's still unconscious," Matau commented as Nuju sped off. "Otherwise I don't envy-fancy the one that's going to drag-pull him out of here."
"And that would be you, Matau, " Vakama retorted. The green Turaga/Hordika made a face.
"Nokama can help you if you need it, » Tahu added. « I'd rather have four pairs of eyes on him than just two."
Nokama nodded, and Vakama nearly expected Matau to make one of his comments about the two working together, but all he said was. "Good, because I'm still hurt-aching from the hard-beating you guys gave me, and it'd be a pity that Nokama didn't get her part-share of it."
"Got him" Nuju called, climbing back up the mound again, dragging a – fortunately – unconscious Onewa with him. Tahu nodded and they made for the exit again.
A groan stopped them half a bio from it.
"What was that?" Vakama asked.
"Is someone still inside?" Nokama added.
"No," Tahu answered, mentally counting his friends. "No, we're all here."
"Then who... Akapok?" Onua suggested.
"He's still alive but it doesn't sound like him," Kopaka answered, scanning the area with his mask as another groan could be heard. Suddenly, his lens fixed on something, and a glint of surprise briefly passed his other eye.
"What is it?" Vakama asked urgently. "Who is it?"
"Nothing, we were just imagining it," Kopaka lied, but Vakama wouldn't let it pass that easily.
"Who is it? Share your mask if you don't want to tell us!"
"Turaga, we don't have time!" Tahu said, scanning the ceiling for rocks that might suddenly fall on them. "We're all here and there's no one left! Let's..."
"No! If there's still someone in the room we must know who it is!" Vakama snapped back. "Share that mask!"
Kopaka sighed and shared his Mask Power with the others. When they saw what it was, they all started with surprise.
"It's Lhikan!" Vakama yelled. "He's still alive!"
"But it can't be..." Nokama whispered. "Lhikan is dead and the one in his body..."
"But Makuta's gone, isn't he?" Vakama replied. "So the only person who can be inside it is him! Come on!" He yelled to the Toa, dashing towards the moving figure behind the debris. "We must get him out of there!"
"Turaga no!"
Tahu lunged and caught Vakama just in time. Before them, a rock of gigantic size crashed to the ground. Hadn't Tahu stopped him, it would've crushed Vakama.
The Toa Metru looked at the figure again. It wasn't moving anymore.
"No! No! Damn it..." he cursed, clenching his fists. "Damn it..."
"Come on, let's go!" Tahu insisted, dragging the Toa back up and out of the room, while rocks rained behind them. The hallway in front of them wasn't in a better situation, but at least the ceiling still held. "That way!" he shouted, pointing at the only exit. "Onua, you came from here, right? Do you still remember the way?"
"Sure," Onua answered.
"Okay, then lead the way," Tahu ordered, counting his friends again to make sure that nobody had been left behind. One was missing. "Kopaka? Where's that idiot of Kopaka?" He looked around, looking for the Toa of Ice. He was still standing in the room, gazing at a spot behind him. What the heck was he doing? He would get all of them killed! Tahu rushed up to the limit of the door, calling for his ice brother.
"Kopaka! Kopaka what the heck are you doing there? Come here!" The Toa of Ice looked at him for a moment, then turned back to the spot he had been staring at. Tahu craned his neck to see Akapok, standing again, gazing up at the Toa of Ice with his usual, mocking expression. "Kopaka forget about him! Let's get out!"
Kopaka turned back and stared at the wall, doing something with his lens. Then he marched up to Tahu, untangling the Ilsao around his neck and pulling the green, the red and the black one over his head. Tahu merely stared, wondering what the ice Toa had in mind.
"Take these," Kopaka said, handing over the Kosnero, the Ringlu and the Jinoka to Tahu. Tahu blinked.
"Kopaka, what is this?" he asked quietly. Kopaka stepped back and walked up to the wall besides the door.
"Something necessary," he said. Then he hit a spot on the wall.
"NO!" Tahu's shout was cut short when a heavy metal door fell close in front of him. Seeing what had happened, Tahu let out a shout of frustration and started slamming his fist on the door.
"Kopaka! Kopaka, Mata Nui damn you! Come back here!" he roared, still slamming his fist against the door. He looked around for a way to open it, but found none. "Open the friggin' door! KOPAKAAAA!"
"Tahu?" Onua had come back to see what was happening. Tahu slammed two of the Ilsao on his chest.
"Take these!" he growled. "I'm bringing him back whether he likes it or not. KOPAKA I HAD PROMISED I WOULD KILL YOU IF YOU HAD DONE SOMETHING 'NECESSARY' AND I INTEND TO KEEP THAT PROMISE!"
"You go!" he added, turning to the back Toa. Onua took a step back, hesitantly, then turned around and ran off. Tahu went back to hitting the door as if it had committed an unspeakable crime and needed to be punished. "KOPAKA YOU CAN BARELY STAND! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO?"
Kopaka nearly smiled at the last comment. It sounded like the sort of thing one of the other Toa would yell to Tahu, and here Tahu was yelling it at him. But he was wrong, he did have the energy to stand, and to fight even. He had gotten in from an outside source.
The Ilsao around his neck glowed a bright white.
Akapok sneered at him. "You should better listen to your friend, Toa. Whatever you're planning to do, it's not a good idea."
"Not for you, that's for sure," Kopaka retorted, pulling out his swords. Akapok looked at them with an amused expression on his face.
"Are we going to finish this deal with a sword fight, Toa?" he asked. Kopaka pointed the tip of his blade at Akapok's neck.
"Believe me, if there was another way, I would've already done it," he answered. Akapok shrugged.
"You can always crush my head with a stone," he said calmly.
"Yes, but stabbing you will be a greater pleasure,"
Akapok smiled. "When it is that way..." he said, unsheathing his own sword. "...let this begin."
And he brought down his sword. A loud clang! resounded through the collapsing room as the two blades came together.
"KOPAKA! KOPAKAAAA!" Tahu had nearly yelled his lungs out, and still no sign of Kopaka. Damn it, what was the idiot thinking of doing? Why hadn't he left Akapok to his destiny? Even if he wasn't dead yet, the collapsing building would do a short work of him!
A wall cracked, and half of the ceiling came down on him, bringing down a great amount of earth as well. Caught unprepared, Tahu could only raise his arm over his head to protect himself. Luckily, the falling debris only scraped him, but a great load of dust rose in the room, temporarily blocking his view.
When it cleared, he saw that the room was now invaded by torn pieces of metal, columns, and other debris, though luckily not blocking his way out. The door, however, was still intact, just slightly dented.
And through the cracks of the wall, water was already leaking in.
XXXXX
"What's happening?" Pohatu wanted to know, seeing the Ihar run up and down nervously. Some were trying to scan the horizon, looking for something that they could obviously not see.
-Rumors say that a huge tidal wave, a tsunami, has risen around the horizon,- Kishro answered. -It appears like a wall of water!-
"How do they know?" Pohatu wanted to know.
-There are some Ihar near the coast-beach, observing the ocean- Kishro answered. -I pray-hope that they quickleave while they still can.-
Pohatu stared in direction of the coast, hoping for the same thing.
XXXXX
On the other end of the island, Sirkul emerged from the maze, followed by a large group of Ihar. He was still carrying Norik. The other Rahaga were hovering over them.
The situation wasn't of the best. The sea level had already risen so much that the water was literally at their feet, waves taller than Toa crashing into the rocks and rolling on the sand. The wind had also grown in intensity, spraying water and salt at their faces. And far away, in the distance, something could be seen moving.
"Sirkul, what is that?" Nairof meowed, pointing at what seemed a small wave at the horizon's level. Sirkul frowned and stared at it, calling his powers in aid. What he saw did not improve his mood. His eyes went wide turned to the other Ihar, barking and pushing them on their way.
"GO! Quick!" he growled. "Go go go! Don't stop, don't look behind! That thing is a tidal wave, it'll swallow us all if we don't move!"
Fear spread through the Ihar lines, and the cats and wolves started pushing and running to get away as fast as they could. Mothers and volunteers picked up the youngest, while those who were a bit older had to take care on their own. Sirkul went on barking frantic orders.
"Go! Those of you who have the Power of Speed, grab a kups and go! Those who can teleport themselves do it, for Mata Nui's sake! And if you know how, also teleport someone else with you! Those with the Power of Strength, pick up a kups, they will not slow you down! Those who have the Power of the Kanohi Calix, use it to do the impossible and get away from here faster than you ever have! Those who can Fly... fly! USE YOU DAMNED POWERS SINCE YOU HAVE THEM!"
Sirkul stopped a second to catch his breath, but already his words were taking effect. Ihar were zooming away, taking off, or simply disappearing, someone carrying someone else with them. Hoti popped up out of nowhere.
"Smart talk," he commented, smiling despite the situation. "Now, I have one question, if I had the power of Astral Projection, would I be allowed to use it to save my spirit?"
"Those who have the power of Astral Projection, DO NOT USE IT!" Sirkul bellowed. Hoti chuckled.
Those who had the Power of the Faxon had found a new use for it: mimicking the Powers of those who could teleport themselves, they were disappearing one by one. Someone had summoned some flying Rahi to carry them away, and soon there were just few Ihar who weren't gone. Another pack of Rahi, fast swimmers of the sea this time, made the affair.
"How come we can escape a gigantic tidal wave," Nairof asked, clutching tightly to his Rahi. "But can't defeat the Leehar?"
"Because we're part Toa, and Toa, if they don't work together, never accomplish anything" Sirkul said tiredly.
"I hate Toa," another Ihar said. "Why did they have to be part of me?"
"Because: Hiei ihar semit. 'You were damned with intelligence'," a third Ihar answered.
"Hey, the sea is retreating, is that normal?" Hoti asked.
"Swim faster!" the summoning Ihar ordered her animals.
XXXXX
Kopaka brought his blade down on Akapok, just to have it blocked by the Leehar of Ice. With a swift move, Kopaka pushed Akapok away, hoping to make him stumble on some debris, but he was disappointed. Akapok held his balance well and attacked again, forcing the Toa Nuva of Ice on the defensive.The two swords clashed. Blade on blade, shield on shield, shield on blade. Akapok had hoped to have on his side the fact that Kopaka might be tired, exhausted even, but the Toa Nuva of Ice seemed to have endless energy supplies. Akapok didn't understand that. A minute ago, the Toa had been slumped to the ground, practically unable to stand!
Akapok lunged again, trying to put pressure on the Toa Nuva, but his icy double countered all his moves, one by one. And those blows he couldn't deviate with his sword, he blocked with his shield, and then inverted the situation, thrusting his sword through gaps in his defence and gaining the overhand again.
Both Toa had a sword and a shield. They both attacked coolly and methodically, not letting themselves be driven by emotion, but by sheer technique, countering blow with blow, using their shields when needed. The tip of Kopaka's blade came at inches from Akapok, just to find it driven away by a well placed blow, which turned into a lunge with the same movement, that Kopaka could barely dodge, but left Akapok exposed. Kopaka brought down his sword, and Akapok raised his shield, slashing with his sword at the same time, but missing.
And again Kopaka pressed on him for an advantage.
Both Toa were cold, calculating, and determined to not let anything pass. They would both take advantage of any minimal mistake of their opponent, and they both knew that their lives depended on the outcome of that battle, and so they fought for their lives.
And as if it wasn't enough, they were the only Toa Nuva and Leehar to have the same physique.
Powerless as they were, they were perfectly, evenly matched.
No, not perfectly, Akapok though, fending off yet another blow. I can still play dirty.
He crossed sword and shield and pushed Kopaka away, making him stumble several feet back. Pressing on the advantage, he ran up to the Toa of Ice, feinting a blow from below. Kopaka reacted how he thought, crouching to counter it, and Akapok was quick to kick a load of dust in his face. The Toa raised his arms to cover his face, and Akapok rammed his shoulder into him, sending him tumbling to the ground. He raised his sword to strike a final blow.
Kopaka's feet came out of nowhere, tangling between his legs and kicking them from beneath him. Akapok crashed to the ground. Not waiting for Kopaka to be on him, he rolled backwards and rose on his feet. His Nuva counterpart was up as well and ready for him.
Akapok couldn't help but smile. This is ridiculous. He thought. « Playing dirty, are we Toa? » he asked Kopaka « That's against the rules! »
« Then I must've missed something, because I thought you had just invited me to do it, » Kopaka retorted.
Akapok laughed and lunged at the Toa again weapons at ready, Kopaka raised his own.
Blade clanged against shield, shield clanged against blade. The two Toa found themselves locked in a massive struggle, each pushing on the other to win the overhand. But the more Kopaka forced on Akapok, the more this one pushed. It seemed like the struggle could go on forever.
Akapok's foot came in contact with Kopaka's groin. The Toa of Ice doubled over and stumbled back.
Akapok threw himself on the Toa with all his force...
And a massive piece of wall came crashing between them, cutting the way of both Toa and making them stumble and fall. Dust rose, but not enough to block the two Toa frome each other's view.
Akapok jumped to his feet and dove in the cloud, using his mask to see through it. Kopaka hadn't thought of that. Akapok's attack caught him by surprise, and he raised his shield clumsily, exposing his arm behind it.
Something flashed red as Akapok slashed at it, and the white Leehar pressed on, trying to wound the Toa even further. But Kopaka was ready now and countered it easily. Again the two blades met each other, eager to draw blood.
The two Toa encircled each other, trying to get their opponent from the side, but each time their attacks were blocked. They feinted up to strike down, but there was always the shield in the way. They seemed to have forgotten that the world around them was crashing down, that the walls were cracking, and that water was starting to flow inside the room, counting the time they had left.
Akapok suddenly feinted an attack towards Kopaka's left, aiming over the shield. Kopaka raised his sword to hit him from the top, and Akapok slipped beneath it, going for the right. But Kopaka had foreseen his move, and dodged it easily.
Fiendly sword flashed; blade came down.
Akapok clenched his teeth as the sword sliced through his side, cutting deep through his armor and flesh. Blood trickled from the wound and onto the floor. Kopaka lunged again, sword thirsty for more, and met his shield. Akapok slashed at the Toa's exposed chest, cutting the laces that held the Heerole but only managing to scratch the Toa Nuva's armor.
The white stone fell to the floor, the light it had been emitting till that moment died out.
Kopaka stumbled.
Akapok looked first at the stone, then at the Toa Nuva, and smiled.
« I see, » he said. Kopaka didn't answer, just stared back.
Akapok attacked, redoubling his efforts to bring down the Toa of Ice.
XXXXX
Tahu slammed the metal post against the door, only managing to make a tiny dent in it. Enraged, he slammed it again, then again and again, each time making barely more than a scratch in the wall.
He had already tried melting it away, sending flames at it, punching it, kicking it – and nearly breaking his foot while at it – and even ordering it around, but without success. And the fact that he only had one arm to use – his weaker one, what was more -- did not help.
In fact, the dents he had just made were his greatest accomplishment up to now.
He finally succeeded in breaking the post, and returned to slamming his fist against the door, calling for Kopaka again, until finally his hand hurt too much to keep on pounding. Frustrated, he pushed himself away and treaded through the now knee-deep water to sit on a post, frowning at the metal door.
That total Rahi brain of Kopaka. Why did he always have to complicate things like that? If Akapok didn't kill him in battle, Tahu would make sure to strangle him with his own hands once he got out. And who the heck had built these doors anyway? They were impossibleto break! Not attackable by elemental powers, and couldn't be opened unless you found just the right switch, in just the right place.
Pissed at it, Tahu picked up a stone nearby and threw it at the door. It bounced off as if mocking him. Tahu made a face back at it.
He was acting like a spoiled child, he knew it. But there was nothing much he could do otherwise, and besides, there was no one there to see him.
A rumbling behind him. Tahu turned around to see what was happening, annoyed at this new interruption. He didn't even get a chance to figure it out, because in that moment, the wall behind him exploded, and a jet of water so powerful it could've blasted a Muaka away burst into the room, sending him and good part of the debris crashing against the metal door. A sudden pain shot up his right arms as the ice around it cracked at some points, and his arm bent slightly. He screamed, water gushing in his mouth. Something hit the side of his head, and Tahu found himself submerged from one moment to the other, a huge metal column pinning him to the ground.
XXXXX
Kopaka stumbled back, clutching at the wound on his side. He couldn't keep up with Akapok anymore. With the Heerole, all his new founded energy had left him. He felt so tired that he had problems staying on his feet, let alone dodge Akapok's attacks.
The blade came down on him, precise and deadly. Kopaka raised his own sword just in time to block it, but couldn't make up with the force of the attack and he toppled to the ground, breathing heavily.
Akapok walked up to him, sword hanging limply at his side. The usual, mocking smile had disappeared from his face, replaced by a deadly serious expression.
Somewhere behind them, the walls cracked open, and water gushed in. Akapok looked at it for a split second and turned back to Kopaka.
« It seems that we have finished this just in time, » he said, still not smiling. Kopaka didn't answer, he merely stared back, a cold, unreadable expression written on his face. Akapok sighed and readied his sword for the final blow.
XXXXX
Tahu emerged from the water with a gasp, throwing away the column that was oppressing him. His broken arm throbbed madly. The water was now waist deep, and kept gushing in. It didn't take a genius to realize that he didn't have much time left.
Brushing the water off his mask, he looked around for something that could help him.
And spotted the crack in the door.
XXXXX
Something cracked loudly beneath Akapok's feet as he approached the Toa of Ice. Puzzled, the Leehar dropped his guard to look down at the thing he had stepped on. Red shards that looked like frozen blood clung to his foot, but Akapok clearly couldn't make anything out of them.
Kopaka knew it would be his last chance. Gathering all his remaining energy, he grasped his sword and threw himself on Akapok, thrusting the deadly tip at the Leehar's body.
XXXXX
Tahu studied the crack. It was large and the metal around it looked weakened, it would take little to enlarge it enough to pass through. A new hope blazed inside him. He pulled out one of his magma sword and made it glow red hot. Then, he slammed the blade against the cracks around the gap.
Whatever had made the protodermis fireproof, its effects had vanished once the metal had been cracked. His sword sliced neatly through the steel, and it took him only two or three blows to create a passage large enough for him to crawl through and the water to gush out.
Without wasting more time, he clambered through the opening and jumped into the room.
"Kopaka!"
Just in time to see one of the two Toa of Ice stab the other one in his stomach.
About the tsunami part: for those who don't know, water retreats for several... i don't know for how much, but far enough to notice, when a huge tidal wave comes. then it comes back suddenly. The 2005 tsunami disaster is where I get this from.
And it's also inspiring me some parts of this, come to it.
And, I have VERY good news for you. This story WILL be finished.
Yes, I know that that's what I been saying since the beginning of this fanfic, but now I can affirm it.
Why? Because yesterday, at 10 o'clock, I just finished typing the last word of the last chapter.
And no, I'm not telling you what it is. Just that I had the chapter planned for a very, very long time. Want proof that I really did type it? Well, let's see, it's 10 pages, 4943 words, 26626 characters long. The first word is Tahu, and a word that's very near to the end is Miko Nui.
As for WHEN it'll be posted... well, I'll be in boarding school since tomorrow. We're at chapter 26, which means I can post the last three on friday, saturday, and sunday this week. Perhaps I can post one on Wednesday, I can't promise anything. Or do you prefer me to post one each week? Up to you, tell me what you prefer in a review.
You might have noticed that I stopped answering in chapters, but my reviewers have become so few that I can contact them all per PM. That's something good that comes with it.