Chapter 4: Lover's Cove

The Island of Mata Nui

Ga-Koro

Before sunrise, Nokama snuck from her hut to the beach. It didn't take long to find the tent that Kara, Mulan, and Shang were sharing. She knocked on the tentpost. Kara stood up, wrapped a blanket around herself, and answered it.

"I'm sorry to wake you three at this hour," said Nokama. "But you have to come with me. It's urgent."

"It better be urgent…" grumbled Mulan.

"Hate to break it to you, love, but you're not very intimidating when you're drowsy." Shang kissed Mulan on the top of her head and buried his face in her hair. Mulan muttered something along the lines of "I'll show you intimidating," but got up anyway.

"Admit it, Mulan. Shang's right." said Kara, who was an early riser. "You're an adorable sleepyhead."

"Come ON…" Nokama's voice held even more urgency this time. The trio decided to listen. They got in the boat Nokama had taken to the beach and set sail.

"Wait, what about Len?" asked Kara as she looked back towards the beach. "What about our kids?"

"Len knows, and will tell your children." said Nokama. "I've asked some of the more responsible Matoran to keep an eye on your children."

"I don't like this," Kara looked around at the bay, "I don't like this at all." The boat was approaching the sea cliffs. One cliff appeared to glow in the moonlight.

"Heroes have to do things they don't like." said Nokama. "Now, we're almost there, so stay quiet." They had come very close to the glowing cliff. She came to the front of the boat and took a deep breath, then started chanting...

"Before the suns light up the skies

We come, unseen by Shadow's eyes.

Three heroes for your wisdom wait

Now part and let us through the gate."

Suddenly, the cliff began to shake from within. The rocks in front began to move aside, revealing a tunnel with peacock-blue waters. The water seemed to have a life of its own, sparkling without reflecting any light source. As they rowed the boat through the opening, it got brighter. Wildflowers spilled down the rocky walls, living rainbows gracing the white stone. When they found land, it looked like a clearing in part of Le-Koro.

"It's the best of two villages," said Nokama, "Ga-Koro and Le-Koro. Matau found this place with me a few hundred years ago."

"Lemme guess, you were trying to make a baby without anyone finding out." Kara pointed.

Nokama blushed, all but confirming Kara's answer.

"But why did you bring us here?" asked Mulan. She was fully awake now.

Nokama took a deep breath. "To discover your power."

Everyone went silent as Nokama explained:

"Mulan, Kara, Shang, this is important. Some of the Matoran have become skeptical that you three are Toa. So you must master your respective elements within six days' time. Mulan, fire. Kara, air. Shang, earth. By the seventh sunrise, you must return with the ability to influence and summon the elements."

"What happens if we don't?" asked Shang.

The look on Nokama's face made him immediately regret asking that question.

"Let's just say that impostors are not received kindly."

The island of Mata Nui

Le-Koro

Lewa awoke to the sound of birds taking off. Something had startled them. Scanning the jungle with his light green eyes, he saw… nothing? He decided to investigate further. Leaping from the vines he had woven into a hammock, Lewa took to the air. Still nothing.

"They're sea-flyers," he realized. Sea-flyers lived between Ga-Koro and Le-Koro - nesting in the jungle, mating by the water, and feeding in both places. These birds were mostly drab gray in color, making it hard to tell them apart. During mating season, they would get crests on their heads - the females had blue and silver and the males had green and gold.

Lewa spotted the flock that had taken off in a hurry, and followed them in the direction of Ga-Koro.

The island of Mata Nui

Ga-Koro

It was late spring, when the sea-flyers usually started mating. This wasn't unusual…

...except for two old birds, a male and a female, who peeled off from the group and flew towards the beach. Lewa chuckled as he followed them; he always thought the two old birds were like the Turaga couple. Not that Nokama would ever admit she loved Matau in front of anyone. But it was fun to speculate!

The male bird tried to do a mating dance, but was trying too hard. Bobbing his head to show off the crest, strutting on the sand, opening and closing its wings. The female bird turned around to show the male bird her tail feathers. Was that rejection?

"Will they or won't they?" wondered Lewa aloud.

Just then, the two old birds stopped their odd courtship. They flapped around Lewa before making a call that he recognized as "follow us."

Lewa followed them to the chalk cliffs at the edge of the bay. He had heard the tale of three new Toa - air, earth, and fire - in a different sort of team. Brought together by marriage rather than sibling-like bonds. But he didn't have a chance to meet them.

That was when he noticed a small sailboat. He decided the new Toa would have to wait.

—-

Len had woken up to the Li-Fa children asking where Kara, Mulan, and Shang were. Nokama had given Len a brief summary but not much more than that. Unsatisfied with the answer but not about to pry, Mai went to Po-Koro for kohlii practice and Rong went swimming. That just left Heliu and Ruhuo. Macku offered to take Heliu, Ruhuo, and Len for a ride in her boat.

"This boat is a modern marvel!" said Macku, patting the side railing of her boat. "If the wind dies down or the currents aren't favorable… watch this!" She turned a glass panel towards the sun, and the boat gradually gained speed. Len looked off the back and saw a propeller surrounded by a cage. They gestured to the twins. "Wow!" Heliu and Ruhuo exclaimed at the same time.

"Solar power!" Macku grinned. "My friend Hewkii helped me build it! Too bad he'll never get to see it in action."

"Why not?" asked Heliu.

"Po-Matoran hate water," Macku said flatly, "which is fine because Po-Koro is in the middle of a desert."

Just then, Len saw a shadow hovering above them. They looked up and saw…

"Toa Lewa!" exclaimed Macku, waving excitedly to the green-armored Air Toa. Lewa descended from his altitude, but continued to hover. "What brings you here to Ga-Koro?"

"Happy-news from Turaga Matau!" Lewa grinned. "Three Toa have quick-traveled to our island!"

Len was not as versed in the lore as Kara was. They tried to deflect the question. "Well, they're doing… new Toa things. Learning to properly harness their powers. Especially Mulan, she lost control of her powers once and lit someone's butt on fire."

"The matchmaker deserved it!" Ruhuo chimed in.

"Huh?" Lewa tilted his head. "What's a matchmaker?"

"Someone who tries to get people married." said Len, trying to keep it simple. Heliu and Ruhuo, however, weren't satisfied with keeping it simple.

"You have to get all dressed up to meet her." said Ruhuo, trying not to gag.

"And you have to put on a bunch of makeup!" Heliu shuddered.

"Mama says she's really mean and ugly," Ruhuo continued, "like a dragon who didn't get enough sleep… hey Macku, what does this do?"

Macku pulled Ruhuo back from a knob on the side rail. "That keeps you from falling in." Macku said.

Just then, the sea-flyers Lewa had been following squawked at him - almost impatiently.

"Sorry-oops, gotta quick-soar!" Lewa summoned an air current and followed the birds again.

"Does everyone from Le-Koro talk like that?" asked Len. Lewa's rapid-fire Treespeak was hard to follow.

"Yes. But a few shots of palm-leaf liquor can get them to speak like everyone else…" Macku paused briefly to pull Ruhuo and Heliu back to the center of the boat, "...most of the time."