Turaga Dume welcomed the Toa Nuva warmly, even sparing Takanuva a lecture about deserting his post. He said there must be a celebration of the Toa Nuva's triumph and the awakening of Mata Nui. More, there must be a tribute to those Toa who lost their lives in the Brotherhood-Order War.

Before long, the celebration was called, and Tahu Nuva stood in the center of the great Coliseum of Metru Nui, listening to the cheers of over a thousand Matoran. Among them stood Tanma and the Av-Matoran. Beside him stood his teammates, and nearby were Takanuva and the surviving members of the Toa Mahri as well. All of them could not help feeling a surge of pride in this moment—even Kopaka was smiling.

After so much struggle, so many battles won and lost, at last the quest was over. It had been dangerously close, but they had been successful. The Great Spirit was awake, the core of the universe had been cleansed of the Makuta, and balance had been restored to the universe. While none of them had seen the Mask of Life since their escape, they felt sure its Countdown to destruction had stopped.

Takanuva found himself quietly enjoying the victory. He did not say too much with the rest of the Toa, but instead reflected privately. What an experience this has been, he marveled. I have been a part of many celebrations of the Toa's heroics—after they first defeated the Manas and Shadow Toa, after the Bohrok were driven off—but to be a part of one as a Toa is an amazing thing.

Takanuva looked back on some of the things he had seen in recent days—a dimension where there was no evidence of Toa at all, and another where evil Toa ruled—and he realized how fortunate he was to have adventured beside heroes like Tahu, Gali, and Kopaka. Hopefully, this day is the start of a new era of peace for our people, he thought boldly.

"Now this is what I'm speak-talking about," said Lewa. "This is being a Toa-hero!"

"I'm just glad we all survived," said Gali, glancing over at the Mahri. Somehow, their team seemed so incomplete without the presence of Toa Matoro.

"I never doubted it," said Lewa, smiling. "As soon as we got there and saw those dark-bat losers, I knew it would be as easy as taming a Gukko bird."

"Oh, really?" said Kopaka. "Funny, you didn't seem that confident when you were trying to figure out how to steer the Axalara."

"Yeah, how many stalactites did you crash into? Three? Four?" laughed Pohatu.

"Quiet," said Gali, laughing herself. "Turaga Dume is about to speak."

The wise Turaga stood in his box high above and looked out over the assembled crowd of Toa and Matoran. For a moment, he was overcome with emotion and could not speak. Then, at last, he found his voice.

"My friends, we are gathered here today for a great celebration to honor Mata Nui, who has at last returned to us from the darkness into which he was cast by the evil Makuta," he began, with his hands raised high from his leading ceremonial box. "And we honor the Toa Nuva, who awakened the Great Spirit once more, but we must do more than honor the heroes who stand before us. We must use this time to remember all who have given their lives to bring us to this point. Toa Matoro, Toa Lhikan, and hundreds of other Toa whose names we may never know fought and died to keep the Brotherhood of Makuta from victory. Without their efforts, none of us would be standing here today. Without their light, shadow would rule the land. So we honor and remember all the Toa, living and dead, who helped bring about this glorious day."

There was a long moment of silence, then Dume spoke again. "Over one thousand years ago, the Makuta struck down the Great Spirit, casting him into a deep slumber and robbing us of his protection and guidance. For this crime, they have paid the ultimate penalty. Now, at last…we are free of them, FOREVER!"

The cheers began again then, rocking the very structure of the Coliseum. Dume made no effort to quiet the crowd. He knew this was an outpouring of happiness that was long overdue.

"One year ago, a team of Toa washed ashore on a tropical island," Dume continued. "They were six heroes with one destiny—to awaken the Great Spirit Mata Nui from his slumber. Today, that destiny has been achieved. For the first time in a millennium…Mata Nui RISES!"

The cheers rang out again, louder than any before.

Yet, again, Takanuva found himself thinking alone. He wished he could remember Toa Lhikan, or that he had gotten to know Matoro better. Somehow, you expect your friends to live forever, he thought solemnly. But I guess nothing lasts forever. Who knows? Someday, all that we have done, all that we are, may be nothing more than faded carvings on some long-abandoned Wall of History. Takanuva smiled, forcing the idea from his mind. But now isn't the time for such grim thoughts…this is a celebration, after all. When he looked around at the joyous Matoran, he smiled a big smile.

In the center of the Coliseum, Tahu stood amidst his allies, his family. "Today, the Matoran people are free from fear, after far too long…free from doubt…and free from the chains the Makuta would have placed upon them!" Toa salutes and even embraces of victory were shared among the team of comrades, backdropped by the ambient celebration of the Matoran.

When the noise had finally subsided, Turaga Dume raised his staff of office and gestured toward the Toa Nuva. "We have emerged from the darkness and into the light. And we have the heroes who stand before us to thank on this great—"

His words were cut off suddenly by a fleeting shadow that passed over the twin moons and an ice-cold breeze that cut through the Coliseum. Metru Nui fell once again into shadow, and the wind cut through the assembled crowd. Tahu glanced at Gali, confused and troubled. They had all felt something like this before, but never expected to feel it again…

X X X

A few moments ago…

The dark depths below the city of Metru Nui were a "place of death," Toa Gaaki had warned. She had been right, at least for the Piraka named Zaktan, who had just been killed by Makuta Teridax. That was bad enough—worse was that it was impossible to tell just where Teridax was, as his voice came from everywhere. But of his body, there was no sign.

A formidable amount of power was arrayed against him in this chamber. Toa Helryx, leader of the Order of Mata Nui; Keetongu, powerful Rahi beast; the six Toa Hagah; Makuta Miserix; and Axonn and Brutaka, agents of the Order. Of them all, Brutaka was the strangest, glowing green as he was and floating several inches off the floor. Even with his Kanohi mask shattered by Teridax, he seemed frighteningly powerful.

"Show yourself, you traitorous vermin!" bellowed Makuta Miserix. "Let us settle once and for all who rules the Brotherhood!"

There came the sound of soft laughter from every corner of the room. "The Brotherhood? There is no more Brotherhood, Miserix. In a very short time, the Makuta of Karda Nui will be dead. Makuta Tridax has died already, as have Spiriah and others. The Order of Mata Nui has been most helpful in that regard."

"And you seem unconcerned that your allies are perishing," said Helryx. "Why?"

"I have no allies," Teridax replied, "for I have no equals."

A hum rose in the room, growing louder and louder until it drowned out all thought. All that existed was that head-splitting sound, which drove even Axonn to his knees. Only Brutaka stood. He lashed out with a bolt of power from his sword, shouting, "Enough!" The energy struck the machinery on the far wall and the sound stopped.

Teridax laughed. "A mere…sample…of what is to come."

"I know all that you have forgotten," Brutaka said. "I know that you put millions of lives at risk with your foolish grab at power. This is not what you were meant to do. This is not why you were created."

"He is in the machines," Miserix muttered. "Of course. So if we destroy the machines…"

The exiled Makuta hurled a bolt of gravitic power at the banks of machinery. Where it struck, metal began to crumple, folding in on itself as its gravity increased 100 times. But it was not Teridax who struck back at him—it was Brutaka! A blow from his sword sent Miserix sprawling.

"No! You do not understand!" shouted Brutaka.

"Then enlighten them," said Teridax. "Please."

Brutaka nodded. "We…we stand in as close to the mind of Mata Nui as it is possible to be. If we destroy this place, we destroy that mind, and doom the universe."

"I don't understand," said Toa Norik. "If this is Mata Nui's mind…then where is his body?"

Brutaka gestured broadly, indicating everything around them. "It is our universe, Toa. We live inside the Great Spirit. But now Teridax has taken root and controls it…controls all. As soon as the Toa Nuva awaken Mata Nui, Teridax will be unleashed to rain darkness on all who live."

"How do we stop him? There must be a way!" said Toa Iruini.

"I will show you how!" Miserix roared. He reared back and hurled attack after attack at the machinery, the chamber walls, the ceiling, doing untold damage. Axonn, the Toa and Keetongu tried to stop him, only to be batted aside. "Let us all die," Miserix continued. "Let the universe burn! I only want Teridax dead!"

"How…one-dimensional of you," Teridax replied.

Before the horrified eyes of the party, Miserix's body began to change. It wavered, grew blurry, the colors seeming to run into each other. There was an explosive release of energy, blinding in its intensity. When the heroes could see again, a picture of Miserix existed on the wall of the chamber, but he himself was gone. Or was he?

"He makes a very unique decoration, does he not?" commented Teridax.

"We'll fight you," said Toa Norik. "We'll find some way."

"You were the first Toa to do so," said Teridax, contempt in his commentary. "No doubt you would find a way to fight…maybe even a way to win, if I allowed it."

A wave of mental energy struck the six Toa Hagah, but did not seem to harm them. In fact, they seemed quite energized by it, even happy. They turned as a team and headed back out of the chamber, laughing and talking with each other as if this were the best day of their lives.

Helryx watched them go, shocked. "What…what did you do to them?"

"Call it…mercy," said Teridax. "In their minds, the battle is over—and the forces of 'good' have won. They remember seeing me defeated at their hands, and in the reality they will perceive from now on, there is no Teridax, no rule by Makuta, no Toa and Matoran in peril. All they will see will be peace and happiness wherever they look."

"That's monstrous!" said Axonn. "Toying with their minds—were you afraid to face them in battle?"

Teridax ignored him. "Unfortunately, I cannot do the same to Axonn, or Brutaka, or you, Helryx—your minds are too well shielded. Given time, I could break those shields…but why waste the energy? And as for Keetongu…I am on the verge of becoming a Great Spirit. I have no time for pets."

"You are tampering with fate," Brutaka warned. "And you will be punished."

"But not by you, and not today," Teridax replied.

Brutaka winked out of existence, followed by Axonn, then Keetongu. "Do not fear, they are not dead," Teridax said. "Merely teleported to the southern edge of this universe, to lands so dangerous even Makuta never dared travel to them. Axonn, Brutaka, Keetongu—you will see them again, I am sure…if they survive."

"And what of me?" said Helryx. "Will you banish me, too?"

"No," said Teridax. "You see, Mata Nui's great failing is that he had no one to share his thoughts with, no one with whom he could communicate. He did not have a 'friend,' for want of a better term. I will not make that mistake. You will remain here, Helryx, where all your needs will be met…and you will share in the brilliant darkness that is my mind. My plans, my dreams, my hopes, I will share with you…for at least as long as your sanity remains intact."

Anyone else would have been filled with dread at Teridax's words, but not Toa Helryx. She saw an opportunity. She would be alive, her memories would be her own, and she would be in the center of Teridax's thoughts. Right then, she made a vow—she would not break. She would not crumble before the weight of his darkness. No matter what, she would defy him, and somehow find a way to help others do the same.

X X X

"That icy gust that freezes the spirit," whispered Gali. "I have felt that before."

Kopaka recognized it, too—they all did—and he tried to remember where they last encountered this sensation, when it came to him: Mangaia. "No…it can't be." He gasped and pointed upward, ordering, "Look! The stars! Look what's happening to the stars!"

High above, the stars of Metru Nui were darting across the sky, spinning wildly in a whirling dance of madness. It looked as if the universe itself was being undone and remade at the same time. Slowly, the stars began to realign, coming to rest in a pattern both bizarre and horribly familiar. From random stars in the skies, the points of light had come to a stop, arranging themselves to form the shape of an image—and it was the unmistakable shape of the Kanohi Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows.

"This is impossible," said Tahu, unbelieving. "Why would the stars shift to look like Makuta Teridax's mask? Unless…"

"No," breathed Onua. "It couldn't be."

"What does it mean? What can it mean?" asked Gali.

"I think I know…but Great Beings protect us if I am right," Kopaka answered. "Radiak said the Makuta wanted Mata Nui awakened, but we could not guess why. Only someone with the power of the Great Spirit would have the ability to alter the stars themselves."

"Great Beings protect us…" Pohatu said, not liking where this was going. "What have we done…?"

The reply came from everywhere at once. A dark and sinister, humorless laugh boomed from every stone, every star, from the ground, the sky, the ocean. Matoran huddled together in fear at the sound even as the Toa drew their weapons.

Tahu knew that voice; they all did. "Makuta!" he shouted. "We thought you were destroyed, but if we were mistaken, we are ready to correct that mistake! I don't know how you survived, but show yourself!"

The reply came in a rumble of thunder. Onua's head turned back and forth as an answer came from…everywhere: "Show myself, you insignificant flea? Look around, Toa Tahu—I am everywhere. I am everything you see."

"What new crime have you dared commit?" yelled Turaga Dume.

"No crime, wise one," answered Makuta, his voice as soft as the breeze that heralds a storm. "Your heroes, the Toa Mahri, brought Mata Nui back from death…and then the Toa Nuva awakened him…but before his spirit could return to his body, mine slipped in and took its place. And so when the Toa Nuva awakened the Great Spirit, they awoke his body…with my mind."

"We have fought you before," said Kopaka, "and we will do so again!"

Makuta chuckled, sending a tremor through the Coliseum. "Will you fight the air you breathe, Toa? The ground you walk on? I am these things; I command these things. Your way of life is a product of the judiciary portions of my mind. Understand—I no longer need to battle and fight you in hopes of ruling the universe. I am the universe."

"Of course, you do have one hope," continued the Master of Shadows. "Mata Nui himself. His true spirit might prove to be a problem someday. Too bad for you that I have banished his consciousness into the Mask of Life, trapping him as a prisoner to the mere object, and now…" The ground shook violently as a surge of energy flowed through all existence. "Now I have banished the mask from this universe, hurled into the emptiness beyond, never to return."

"We will find a way to win, as we have before," Tahu defied. "The Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Toa Hagah—all of us will fight you to the end!"

"Ah, the brave Toa of Fire," Makuta chuckled, rocking the Coliseum, as if he were tired of this conversation. "Now no more than a match waiting to be extinguished beneath my heel or by a simple whim. The Plan is finished, Toa. The game is over. And with Mata Nui forever banished—the universe is mine! I hope you have enjoyed your fleeting moments of happiness, Toa…they are the last you will know for an eternity to come. I bid you the grandest greetings to the Reign of Shadows."

X X X

Mazeka considered. Did he want to bring someone back with him, and if so, who? A second Macku? A double Kapura? Another Helryx? A Great Being? Was there anyone who could help in the struggle back home?

And then the answer suddenly came to him. He turned to Makuta Teridax and simply said, "You."

Teridax nodded, readying his war hammer as his gleaming white-and-gold armor glinted in the dim lighting of the room. "Through the mirror, then…"

"And your chance to smash it," said Mazeka.

"Then make ready," said the Great Being. "We do not envy you, your journey, or your destination. But it is a journey that must be made all the same…and a destination perhaps only you can save."

X X X

Deep underneath Metru Nui, under the Coliseum, Helryx watched as the machines continued to activate while Teridax's consciousness filled Mata Nui's body—the entire known universe. She breathed heavily as she had felt him launch the Kanohi Ignika, the Mask of Life, banishing it. A tracer on a screen showed its location as the mask went out of the Codrex, protected through the storm in Karda Nui, and then off all charts, into the unknown…carrying the Great Spirit with it.

Helryx tried to think of something to say—the right thing to say. Then she spoke. "This is not the end," she said quietly. "You know that, don't you, Teridax? No matter what your power, no matter what you can do to us all…this isn't over."

A rumble went through the universe, coming from the land and sky themselves. It took a moment for Helryx to realize that it was once again Teridax laughing. "Of course it isn't," he answered. "How boring it would be if it was."

X X X

And somewhere in the endless void between here and there, forced from the cosmos of the Matoran, the Mask of Life flew. Free of the bounds of the Matoran Universe, it had turned from dull gray to silver, and then from silver back to gold once more, abolishing its Countdown to destruction. It carried within it the mind and spirit of Mata Nui, once the ruler of a universe, now in exile, on a journey whose final destination no one could know. But if anyone were present who was able to hear the thoughts of the being as they echoed within the mask, one statement—one phrase—would have been clear, ringing through the dark emptiness like the tolling of a bell, repeating again and again:

I…will…return…

To be continued in "BIONICLE - Phase 08: Revolution - Part I: A Perfect World"...

(Endgame was compiled from the story serials Destiny War, Dwellers in Darkness, Brothers in Arms, and Takanuva's Blog; the book Legends #11: The Final Battle; and the decanonized series Memoirs of the Dead, containing The First Hunter by Conway, and Certainty by Baron Von Nebula)