Bionicle Mara's Story

Chapter 29

"You know will catch up to them right?" The voice startled Takanuva out of his train of thoughts. Jaller was glancing at him out of the corner of his eye while he steered the craft.

The Toa of Light huffed, "I know, it's just. . . I don't. . . I just have a bad feeling about this, I can't explain it."

Jaller turned back to steering, nothing else was said until, "I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry. . . about before."

"Jaller," Takanuva said, "I'm not angry."

"I attacked you. You should be angry."

"NO! Everything that's happened is because of that Shadow Toa! We need to focus on that and stop him!" Takanuva said firmly.

"I know, it's just. . . I couldn't face you when you left. . . I've been a horrible friend to you."

"What are you talking about?"

At first Jaller couldn't answer but finally he spoke, "As a Matoran I never really stood up for you till the Bohrok when I realized what a brave dependable person you were. . . though you still tried to slink some of your duties." Takanuva laughed at that. Jaller continued, "After the quest to save Mata Nui when we were teleported back to Metru Nui you disappeared, the others tried to find you but I didn't. I was too busy mourning Matoro to care."

Takaunva sighed, "You just lose Matoro, no one blames you."

"So did the other's but they still searched."

"Your here now, that's what's important," Takanuva declared, "We've always been in this together and will finish it together!"

Jaller nodded at that, "Together. And a good thing to because there's land ahead."


On another island Mara struggled against her bonds. Laughter behind her made the female Glatorian turn and glare at the Shadow Toa. He stood there with an amused look on his face. "Comfy?"

"What do you want?!" She snarled, she noticed he now had a bag she hadn't seen before.

His grin got wider, "I have what I came for." He reached into the bag and pulled a clear ball that contained several wigging creatures. Mara's eyes widened in horror, she had only heard about them but she knew what they were. Shadow Leeches. "Imagine how much fun there will be when I release these on your precious Spheres Magna."

"NO!" Mara cried, she had heard all about the trouble they had caused, she couldn't let him release those monsters. The fire Glatorian tried to charge him but he sidestepped her attack and grabbed Mara's arm while kicking her feet out from under her, Mara then found herself being slammed into the ground. To stunned to move Shadow Takanuva grabbed her and rolled Mara onto her back, before she could move he was on top of her. "GET OFF OF ME!" she cried struggling harder. He grinned as he moved his hands along her body, "NO!" The Shadow Toa pulled Mara into a hard kiss, she couldn't help it she tried to pull away and cried out, "PLEASE! NOT AGAIN!"

The Shadow Toa looked at her surprised, "Again?" After a moment he smirked, "Oh, I see." He grabbed Mara by the shoulders pulling her close till their faces almost touched, the grin on his face was not comforting, "You know I'm really not surprised, just look at you. Your useless, everyone knows how weak you are. They only keep you around because they feel sorry for you." Shadow Takanuva then threw the female Glatorian down and delivered a kick to her stomach.

With a gasps Mara rolled a few feet before stopping, as she laid there she could hear the Dark Toa approach. Suddenly he stomped his foot down on her chest causing Mara to gasp as he put more pressure on her, she tried to push his foot away but couldn't.

After what seemed like an eternity the Shadow Toa removed his foot and Mara took several deep breaths and tried to speak. "Sorry, what was that?" He laughed nudging her side with his foot.

Mara held her hands up defensively. "Stop! Please!" She sounded near tears.

With a smug look he took a step back, "Yes?"

Mara pushed herself up but stared at the ground, "Your right, I'm not the strongest or the best fighter and others always have to protect me." She seemed to curl in on herself, "Sometimes I wonder why? Why should they bother."

"I'm glad you finally see the truth," he gloated. She was finally broken.

Mara nodded still not looking at him as she dug her fingers into the sand, "It probably is. . . but, there's something else about me you should know."

"Oh, and what's that?" Shadow Takanuva couldn't help leaning closer till his mask was only a few inches from her turned away face.

"I don't. . . GIVE UP!" She flung sand into the Shadow Toa's eyes before he could react. As he cried out in pain Mara pushed herself up and ran, she knew she was on a island but the female Glatorian wanted to put as much distance between her and Dark Takanuva as she could. And maybe, just maybe it would give the others time to reach her. 'Please Takanuva Hurry.'


"And a good thing to because there's land ahead," Jaller said.

"Wait," Takanuva muttered as it came into view, "That's Odina, the Dark Hunters base."

"Great, what do you want to bet their here."

Odina was as dreary as always Takanuva thought as they landed. The Dark Hunters base was pretty much destroyed but he knew there were secret tunnels under the fortress.

"A real nice place isn't it," Jaller said looking around.

"Be careful," Takanuva warned, "When we raided this place we concentrated on the prisons, there's no telling what could still be here." He then pointed his staff up and fired a blast to let the others know where they were.


Mara ran and ran before she decided to glance back briefly, as she looked she didn't notice the rock before her. "NO!" she cried as she tripped and landed on the ground roughly.

Mara tried to push herself up when she heard footsteps behind her, glancing up she saw Shadow Takanuva approaching her. He had a cocky smirk that made her anger rise. He knelled down, "You're a sneaky one aren't you." Before Mara could respond he rose and kicked her in the side knocking her down and causing Mara to cry out, she guessed she probably had a few broken ribs. Suddenly the Shadow Toa was on top of her.

"GET OFF ME!" Mara cried.

"Now why would I do that?" He mocked her.

Mara grinded her teeth together, for a moment it wasn't Shadow Takanuva she saw, it was Cryrax. That arrogant evil Elite Skrall, they were both alike.

"Just stay still." The Shadow Toa said as he started to undo her armor

"STOP IT!" Mara cried, she tried to push him away but he was to strong. She grabbed his arm but he wouldn't stop, but she was no longer scared. She was angry.

Shadow Takanuva laughed at her attempts, did she really think she could stop him did she. "You know you can't stop me," he taunted her, "I wonder how your precious Light Toa will feel when I tell him before I kill him."

THAT'S IT! Mara though as she grabbed his arm. Suddenly the Shadow Toa's eyes widen in surprise and pain and he pulled away with a cry, confused Mara looked at his arm and was shocked to see a hand print burned into his armor where she had grabbed him. Her hand print.

Both stared blankly for a long moment before he glared at her, "Well aren't you the surprising thing."

Mara was to shocked to answer, had she done that?

Suddenly there was an explosion of light above them. Shadow Takanuva cursed, they had arrived sooner than he had expected.

'Takanuva,' Mara thought in relief, but before she could shout the Dark Toa grabbed her by the throat and slammed the female Glatorian's head into the ground. Dazed Mara couldn't move as he picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. Shadow Takanuva frowned as he heard them getting closer, that could be a problem.


"I hope they saw the flare," Jaller muttered as they hid his vehicle. No need for the Shadow Toa to find it.

"We can't wait for them," Takanuva declared, "Mara and that Shadow Toa are here and we need to find them."

"Wait!" Jaller grabbed Takanuva's arm before he could take off, "We need to stay together and use are heads." The Toa of Light looked at him. "I'm tired of playing his game, think about it. He wants us separated, that's when he's strongest."

Takanuva nodded, "Your right. He always gets us by surprise, trying to cripple us." The two nodded to each other and took off heading for the fortress, not much still stood but it was as good a spot to start then any. But before they reach it something caught their attention. It was the Shadow Toa. . . and he had Mara slung over his shoulder. She looked unconscious. "MARA!"

Shadow Takanuva grinned at them, "Catch me if you can."

The two Toa took off after him but Jaller was surprised when Takanuva suddenly stopped. "Something's not right?" The Toa of Light said.

"What do you mean?"

"He had every chance to escape here but instead he lead us on a chase through half the Spirit Robot. Why would he come here?"

Jaller didn't have an answer.


"The flare came from there!" Gresh pointed to the island.

"I hope they found her," Kiina said as she and Lewa used their elemental powers to steer the ship closer.

"Will find out soon enough," Nuparu said as he brought the ship to dock. Everyone jumped onto land and looked around.

"Where are we?" Gresh asked.

"Odina, base of the Dark Hunters," Lewa said bitterly.

"Yeah, this is the kind of place that Shadow Toa would come to," Kiina muttered.

Marethyu looked around before turning to face the others, "I'm going to go ahead."

"Go," Lewa said, "Will quick-catch up." Marethyu nodded and took off, he was soon out of sight.

Now Lewa, Gresh, Kiina, Nuparu and Mazeka were left. "Now what?" Nuparu asked.

"We search for them," Gresh declared.

"But let's keep our heads," Mazeka said, "We don't need the Shadow Toa getting another drop on us."

"True," Lewa agreed, "Let's quick-go."


"This place is a maze," Gresh declared after they entered one of the areas that hadn't completely collapsed.

"This place took a lot of damage," Lewa said.

"Why did that Shadow Toa want to come here?" Kiina asked.

"If they're here," Nuparu pointed out, "We haven't found Takanuva or Jaller yet."

Gresh who was in the back with Mazeka kept looking around, "Hard to believe this was the Dark Hunter's base."

"Knowing the Dark Hunter's we need to stay alert," the Ko-Matoran said.

Gresh kept looking around when he suddenly stopped, "Wait, did you hear something?"

"Hear wha-" Mazeka didn't have time to finish before then two found themselves falling through the floor.


Takanuva continued to run, he wasn't going to let the Shadow Toa get away. "MARA!"

Mara's head cleared as soon as she heard that voice. "Takanuva!" Quickly she shifted her weight and drove her knees into Shadow Takanuva's chest, while he didn't fall the Shadow Toa still stumbled losing his grip and Mara twisted causing him to drop her. Quickly jumping to her feet she screamed "TAKANUVA!" She tried to dodge the Shadow Toa's attempts to grab her but the tunnel was to full of debris he caught her arm. She tried to punch him, "LET GO OF ME!"

"Sorry but you're not going anywhere."

He roughly yanked her down the tunnel. . . almost causing the two to collide with a tall figure.

"Marethyu!" Mara cried.

Before he could move Shadow Takanuva yanked the female Glatorian against him and held something up, "Come any closer and we find out what happens when you expose a Glatorian to shadow leeches." He held the sphere so close Mara could see the leeches moving inside.

Marethyu froze and his eyes widened when he saw the sphere. "No!"

The Shadow Toa grinned in triumph only to jerked back in surprise when the sphere explored. "You won't be using those against anyone."

"Takanuva!" Mara cried.

"Well, look who decided to join the party," Shadow Takanuva sneered at the two Toa. "Jaller good to see you again. How's Hahli?" Jaller ground his teeth together but kept from saying anything as he glared.

"You got nowhere to go," Takanuva said, "Now let her go!"

Everyone took a step towards them but Shadow Takanuva tightened his grip on Mara's neck. "Come any closer and dear Mara will pay the price." She tried to struggle but his hold was to strong. The others stood where they were unsure what to do, even Marethyu didn't move. "You hero types, you're so sickeningly predicable. This is why in the end you'll always lose."

"Unity, duty and destiny." It was uttered so softly everyone was unsure if Mara had actually spoken.

"What?" Shadow Takanuva said baffled.

Mara spoke again, this time everyone could hear her, "Unity Duty and DESTINY!"

Gresh slammed into them from behind and the dark Toa was so startled he lost his grip on Mara who pulled away. Takaunva was quick to pull her to safety. It was the moment Marethyu needed as he grabbed the Shadow Toa and before he could react slammed him into the wall with enough force to crack the stone. Shadow Takanuva dropped to the ground, the group gathered around but he didn't move.

Jaller sighed, "Glad that's over with."

"Yeah," Gresh agreed.

Takanuva glanced at Mara, "How did you know Gresh was there?"

Mara gave him a sly smile, "I saw his reflection in some broken glass." She looked at her fellow Glatorian, "Glad you got my hint."

The Jungle Glatorian placed his arm around her shoulders, "I'm glad I could make it?"

"Where are the others?" Marethyu asked.

"They'll catch up. You're not going to believe what happened to me."

As Gresh began his tale something made Mara glance at the Shadow Toa, she turned just in time to witness Shadow Takanuva aiming his weapon at his Light counterpart. "TAKANUVA!" She drove in front of the startled Toa as Shadow Takanuva took his shoot, the shadow bolt striking Mara.

"MARA!" She collapsed into Light Takanuva's arms. "Mara? MARA!" She didn't move. Jaller, Marethyu and Gresh gathered around them, no one could speak.

"Well," Shadow Takanuva said, "That was a foolish thing-"

He was cut off as it suddenly grew brighter. Everyone looked at Light Takanuva as his armor started glowing and an intense energy could be felt gathering. Takanuva turned to the dark Toa and the blazing look in his eyes made even the Toa of Shadows take a step back. "You want to find out why the Makuta FEARED ME!"