Chapter 9: Trouble at the Wedding
The Island of Mata Nui
Ga-Koro
"Ooh! Turaga Nokama, you look so beautiful!" Vhisola squealed. Eighteen hundred years had passed, and countless memories were blurred, but some things never changed. Like how much Vhisola loved spending time with Nokama. Nokama, trying to appease the excited (and occasionally clingy) Ga-Matoran, decided to let Vhisola be a bridesmaid. Currently Vhisola was draping Nokama in a light-blue-almost-white robe.
"Well, she is getting married, Vhisola." Macku chimed in as she decked Nokama in shell jewelry.
"The new Toa and their children will be here to bless it!" Vhisola pinned a silver and sapphire wave-shaped clasp on the robe. "I haven't met Toa Shang yet, but I heard he's really handsome."
Macku elbowed Vhisola. "Hey, he's married! Besides, the new Toa have to go back to Qiina Nui soon. Toa Mulan was talking about a really important festival..."
Meanwhile, Hahli was keeping an eye on Aroha-Nui. Hahli loved children and was definitely one of the more responsible Matoran on the island.
"Oh, who's a cute little baby..." she cooed as she held Aroha-Nui. "You are. Yes you are."
Nokama smiled. She was happy that she didn't have to hide her feelings for Matau anymore. No more "private meetings" with a high risk of getting caught.
"I think I'm ready…"
Matau took Nokama's hands in his, both of them beaming. Gali wrapped a bond of water around their joined hands.
"To have and to hold, from dawn until dusk, we join your hearts together," Kara intoned.
"You came into this place as two lives," Mulan followed.
"Now go forth as one life to be…" Shang began, but before he could finish, the waves began to act… strangely. They stopped, the water unusually placid. Then a gigantic wave began to swell, moving towards the beach.
"Oh no," breathed Gali. "Everyone, evacuate!"
The island of Mata Nui
Le-Koro
"OK, looks like everyone's here." Shang finished counting the people who had evacuated the wedding. What was supposed to be a joyous event had turned into a disaster, with a series of massive tidal waves almost drowning everyone in attendance. They had all rushed inland to Le-Koro.
"No, it's not everyone." Nokama's voice shook, tears streaming down.
"What?" Matau looked confused.
"Aroha-Nui…" whispered Nokama, her voice choked by grief. "Our great love…"
Matau was unusually quiet. He took Nokama's hand and they walked in the direction of the trees. "Who would do this… who would take an innocent baby?"
"I don't know, but we have to find out." Len swung down from a vine, with all the athletic grace that usually marked air types. "Kara, Mulan, and Shang are making a plan. They're going to work with the six original Toa of this island, and we'll find out what happened to Aroha-Nui."