Chapter 1: The Quest Begins
-Four Years Later-
"I ever-wonder why Her Leadership call-summoned us." Matau asked. He had been driving the other Toa nuts with his near constant yammering. In his characteristic chute-speak, which only made it more annoying. He and the other five Toa had met Keika and her squad at the gate of the palace.
"Same reason she called us, I guess." Keika glared at Matau. Her emerald eyes told him one thing: shut up.
"Still, it's not like her to call both Vahki and Toa at the same time." pointed Cairos. "Whatever it is, it probably can't be good."
"An astute observation, my friend." Termina more or less appeared beside Cairos, who jumped back in shock. Once he got his breathing regulated, he looked down. "Your Leadership, please don't scare me like that."
Termina's aqua-green eyes looked over the Toa, then the six-now-seven person squadron of young Vahki.
"My apologies, Cairos. And please - call me Termina."
In one of the private foyers, Termina explained why she had summoned the Toa along with seven of Metru Nui's finest public defenders.
"I'm sure you all know the Legend of the Celestial Kerai." began Termina. "However, there is a part of the story that few people know."
"Say-tell more!"
"Shut up, Matau…" Nokama elbowed the talkative Air Toa. Keika glanced over at the two and shook her head. Just another stupid lovers' quarrel… not that Nokama would call it that.
"I'm about to, Matau." Termina took a deep breath to collect her thoughts. "After she passed from Metru Nui to the Celestial Realms, her hearts became a cluster of gems."
"Then what happened?" asked Laney, intrigued by the story.
"Aislina kept them safe, but one day, a shadow-spawn broke into the Chase household. His intention was to steal the firstborn Star-Child - yes, Keika, that was you."
Termina continued, once Keika had removed herself from the shock.
"But a golden light surrounded Keika like a shield, preventing this from happening. Instead, the shadow-spawn went after the gems. But when he held the gems, they crumbled like sand, and reassembled in hidden places throughout the city."
"Lemme guess," snarked Keyok, "we're supposed to play hide and seek with these magical gems so the bad guys can't find it."
It took every ounce of self-control for Termina not to roll her eyes.
"I'd be more polite, fire-spitter." Shane grumbled.
"Who are you calling fire-spitter - Pretty Boy?" Vakama looked annoyed.
"Hey, only Laney can call me that!" Shane snapped.
"Stop it!" Termina warned. Everyone went silent for a few. But there was always that one person who had to be a smart alec.
"Oh the irony… two fire-spitters got burned." Onewa got smug.
"What part of 'stop it' do you not understand…" Cairos was getting sick of the bickering, and could tell that Termina wasn't having it either.
"If you succeed, Metru Nui will be safe for centuries to come. If you fail…" Termina looked over the group, "our island city will face certain destruction. You must set aside your differences and work together."