The Toa Nuva and Takanuva had climbed aboard the three vehicles. Their only hope of escape was that the flying crafts could somehow outdistance the storm that signaled Mata Nui's rising. Takanuva glanced around, slightly curious if this was what his Nova Blast might look like, though he could never match the magnitude. He had witnessed Mutran's death near the storm. As he watched, he didn't have it in him to feel any regret. Perhaps in some ways, what I have been through has changed me for good, he thought.
"Go!" shouted Tahu, and the three rocketed forward toward the western wall. Karda Nui and the storm that consumed it became a blur as they flew, three in cockpits, the rest clinging for dear life on the outer hulls.
"This is going to be close—way too close!" Pohatu yelled. On his craft, Onua clung tight for the ride.
"We'll make it!" Lewa answered, jerking the controls back and forth to combat the dynamic winds and energy bolts of the storm, which was still growing with no end. "Think of how terrible-bad it would look on the wall of history if we didn't!"
Pohatu spotted what he thought was the shape of the Kanohi Ignika appearing in the air…but then it was gone, and he had to wonder if it had ever been there at all. One sight he was certain of was that of the Makuta, fleeing before the storm and doomed to fail in their escape. "Tahu!" shouted Pohatu. "What about the Makuta? They won't make it! Should we try to help them escape, too?"
The Toa Nuva of Fire considered for a split second. It was against the code of Toa to knowingly kill an enemy or allow one to die if it could be prevented. But he knew in his heart that there was no way to save the Makuta now, and trying would only mean the loss of his team. "If we go back for them, all of us will die—Toa and Makuta alike," he replied. "They lit this inferno, Pohatu—let them burn in it."
Takanuva found himself agreeing. When he saw the Makuta, now in mortal danger of the storm, he felt nothing. They brought this upon themselves, he thought, justifying the Toa's actions. They had chosen to tamper with the natural order of this universe in a petty effort to seize power, and now the universe is setting itself right. And it is a universe that has no room for such as them.
The vehicles were going beyond fast now and still picking up speed. They were heading for the portal in the western wall through which the Av-Matoran had escaped. But just as the vehicles approached it, a wave of energy rocked them, knocking them off course. Suddenly, the Toa were headed for a solid wall. They thought they would surely crash.
"Hang on!" Lewa shouted.
"We're almost out, brothers and sister!" Kopaka yelled from the Jetrax.
The Axalara, Jetrax, and Rockoh shimmered out of existence, along with the Toa, just long enough to pass unharmed through the walls, escaping the domed cave of Karda Nui. The next moment, the Toa were racing through the darkness hoping to find the light.
Behind them, the storm had grown to its maximum. As it built to full strength, Karda Nui transformed into a place where no one could hope to survive. The Makuta, the Matoran villages, the swamp, and stalactites were gone, incinerated by the unleashed energies. Only the speed and power of the three vehicles gave the Toa any hope of escape. At the center, near the Codrex, its energies and radiation had reached such blinding brilliance that none but Takanuva could look back.
Even at such high speed and disoriented, they could tell that the whole universe was undergoing some kind of transformation. "Hey! What's with all the shake and shudder?" Lewa asked.
"I think it means we did our job, brother," Tahu replied with a smile. "Let's head to Metru Nui—it's time to go home."
They felt the universe jolt and tremble, as if the Great Cataclysm had happened again. But somehow they knew this was no second disaster, but a sign of renewal and hope. The seven Toa Nuva looked around at each other, seeing in everyone's eyes that they all knew the same thing. The Toa Nuva had, at last, achieved their destiny—the Karda Nui storm had completed its ignition, and after more than one thousand years of slumber…
The Great Spirit Mata Nui had awakened.
X X X
It was Hahli who found the Toa that Vakama had described, a Toa of Sonics named Krakua. When he heard Vakama's plan, he looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "Let me get this straight," he said, while blasting Rahkshi with sonic beams. "Vakama wants me to cycle through multiple frequencies until I find the one that will awaken something called the Bohrok?"
"Yes," said Hahli. "We know, well, we suspect, the signal that awakens them is sonic, but we don't know what it is or how to trigger it. If we can awaken the ones under Metru Nui, and if the Rahkshi try to get in their way, well, it might buy us some time for something else we're planning."
"All right, I'll try," said Krakua. "No promises."
Hahli left. Her next move was to begin using her power to disturb the ocean to try to wreck the Makuta ships. But before she could do so, everything changed all around her. The stars brightened overhead, the breeze turned warm, the earth shook in a gentle tremor. She didn't know how, but somehow she was certain: the Great Spirit had awakened.
X X X
The journey to Metru Nui took ages, or so it seemed, despite the speed of the vehicles. The Toa Nuva were all exhausted and just longed to see their friends again. Takanuva, particularly, knew that Jaller and the other Toa Mahri would be wondering where he disappeared to. He had no idea what had been happening in the universe since he left Metru Nui and traveled through alternate dimensions to reach Karda Nui. Had the Order successfully attacked the Brotherhood? Had the Toa Mahri been pressed into service?
Was Metru Nui even standing?
X X X
Mazeka, Vultraz, and Makuta Teridax came at last to a vast fortress made completely of crystal and iron. Two more Makuta guarded the main gate. Mazeka and Vultraz recognized them as Gorast and Icarax, also in white armor. They allowed the party to pass through unchallenged. The only uncertain moment was when Vultraz glanced at Gorast and muttered, "Like the outfit." Gorast's response was to lift him in the air telekinetically and then slam him down on the ground. It was her version of a gentle warning.
The trip to the fortress had been a long one. The journey from the main gate to the central chamber took even longer. After the 100th twist and turn, Mazeka became convinced this was all on purpose. The Great Beings evidently did not welcome visitors, and didn't want those they did have to remember how to find them.
Mazeka expected to be ushered into a vast laboratory. Instead, the room Teridax brought them to looked more like a council chamber. A semi-circular stone dais sat at the far end of the room. The only illumination came from lightstones embedded high in the ceiling, and that was barely enough light to see one's hand in front of one's face. He thought he could dimly make out six figures seated at the dais, but then they were gone. Perhaps, like so many things, it had been a trick of shadows and light.
A soft voice, no more than a whisper, broke the stillness. "Who have you brought to us, Makuta, and why?"
"They say they came from another land, and seek to return there," said Teridax. "They look like Toa, but I believe looks are deceiving. And one of them…one has a spirit filled with shadow."
Mazeka cursed under his breath. He had been an idiot—Makuta were telepathic. Order of Mata Nui training meant his mind was shielded, but Vultraz had no such protection against mental intrusion. Teridax had read his mind and knew all now.
"Step forward," said another whisper. Mazeka was struck by how ancient the voice sounded.
He took a step. Vultraz hesitated until Teridax shoved him forward. There was an eternity of silence. Then more whispers came.
"Our work …but not our work. Interesting."
"And one filled with shadow? How intriguing…was there a flaw in his creation, I wonder?"
"Perhaps we should take him apart and see."
"No, no…too extreme. But there should be testing, I agree."
"Now, wait a minute," said Vultraz, backing up, hands in the air. "I'm not volunteering to be a lab Rahi."
"We simply wish to go home," said Mazeka. "We have…business to settle there. I ask that you let us leave."
"It is a lost opportunity," one of the Great Beings whispered.
"Perhaps not. Perhaps not. An exchange can be made."
"What is your name, visitor?"
"Mazeka."
"Mazeka, yes," came the response. "We have many wondrous creations, Mazeka…some even loyal Teridax does not know about. Your visit is, in truth, fascinating, but not a surprise to us. We are well aware that we have counterparts elsewhere in the vast, uncounted realities that exist. It was only a matter of time before one of their creations pierced the dimensional walls…and considering the chaotic state of their creations, not an event we anticipated with glee.
"And so, we offer an exchange. You will be allowed to return from whence you came. We will keep your companion—I feel certain you have quite enough darkness in your universe, and do not need more. And we would be interested to see just where our other selves went wrong in his creation. In return, you will be allowed to bring one being from our universe back with you, to maintain a balance between the two realities."
Mazeka wasn't sure what to say. He hated Vultraz, had for years, but he wanted to beat him fairly and see him brought to justice. Instead, this would mean stranding him in an alien reality and facing who knew what future. "I'm sorry," Mazeka said. "I cannot agree to your request."
"That would pain us greatly," the Great Being answered, "if it had been a request. It was not."
Chirox and Vamprah appeared out of the darkness and seized Vultraz. Mazeka moved to stop them, only to find his way blocked by Teridax. "I have seen the rot in his spirit," the Makuta said. "And much more…things that shame me. I have peered into a distorted mirror and seen another world, one I wish I could smash to bits. He will get no more and no less than he deserves."
"You don't understand," said Mazeka, as Vultraz was dragged away. "He's my responsibility."
"He is no one's responsibility but his own," said Teridax. "If you learn nothing else from your time here, learn that."
"Make your choice," said one of the Great Beings. "It is time for you to go."
X X X
Beyond the city walls, Hahli saw a violent storm rise, tossing the Makuta fleet about like toys. Yet that did nothing to deter the Rahkshi, who kept on coming. They had broken through the walls in four places and were rampaging through Ta-Metru. Nothing could stop them, it seemed. At least until the ground erupted in front of them and a horde of Bohrok emerged—Krakua had been successful in awakening the swarms.
It was not a large number, only those specimens that were asleep in the Archives and the small nest below it, but it was enough. The Rahkshi attacked immediately, and the Bohrok responded. The two sides were locked in combat, and as they fought, the Mahri and the Order agents picked off Rahkshi at will. The battle seesawed back and forth, with the Rahkshi never realizing that all the Bohrok wanted was to get to the island of Mata Nui. Had the Rahkshi just gotten out of their way, the fight would have been over.
The city slowly shook from a series of explosions. An Order agent from atop the walls yelled, "Fliers! Incoming!" Hahli looked up to see three incredibly fast aircraft soar over the city, bank as one, and head back to where the ships waited. One slowed and dipped its wing to her, and she recognized Pohatu in the pilot's seat.
The Toa Nuva had come home.
X X X
Pohatu flew his vessel back out of the city to finish off the ships. Meanwhile, Lewa and Kopaka dove, peppering the Rahkshi with blasts of light. The sight seemed to rally the city's defenders, who surged back toward the gaps in the walls. Led by Jaller and Hewkii, they drove the Rahkshi back.
Finally, the storm was over. The Brotherhood ships had gone to the bottom of the Silver Sea, the walls around the city had been battered down, but the rubble was littered with dead Kraata and shattered Rahkshi armor. Those of the invaders that were intact had flown away, provided they could escape the blasters of the Jetrax, Rockoh, and Axalara. Metru Nui was safe, and as the Toa Nuva confirmed, the Great Spirit had awakened. The power of the Brotherhood of Makuta was broken for all time. Turaga Dume and Turaga Vakama appeared side-by-side to announce that tomorrow would be a city-wide day of celebration in the Coliseum.
But Hahli did not feel like celebrating, even now. She could not help but remember Matoro, who had given his life that Mata Nui might live. And despite all the wounded and the dying among the defenders, she could not help but feel it had all been a little too…easy. True, there had been some unexpected help: the airships, the Bohrok, the storm. But they had faced an army of Rahkshi. Something told her they should not have won, at least not with so much of the city still intact.
She smiled. Turaga Nokama would have chided her for worrying so much. No matter how things seemed, the Great Spirit was awake for the first time in over one thousand years. Light had triumphed over darkness, hadn't it? The Toa had achieved their destiny and saved the universe, hadn't they? And that meant all was well again. Nothing very bad could happen now…could it?
Hahli turned to head toward Ga-Metru, humming a song Nokama had once taught her. One written long ago that spoke of hope for tomorrow. Perhaps, if not for the music, she might have heard the sound of dark laughter on the wind.