Chapter 14: Spirit of the Chase
It was before sunrise when the team neared the palace. They checked one last time to make sure they had all the gems. "OK, now for the moment we've all been waiting for." Keika knelt on the ground, and the rest followed her lead.
Keika moved her clusters, emerald and gold, into Matau's matching clusters, and the pieces locked together. Nokama and Haidie went second, bringing sapphire and silver into one. Keyok, Cairos, and Vakama went third and combined bronze and ruby. Nuju and Laney slid together the platinum and moonstone. Whenua and Ronin worked with black opal and pewter. Shane and Onewa united copper and citrine.
"What happens now?" asked Keyok.
As if his words were a magic spell, the separate clusters began to glow. They moved to each other without being directed, and a light rushed out of them. It turned blue, silver, and light orange, and took a new form…
"Vahkya…" breathed Keika. She dropped into a bow, and the others did the same.
"Only my soul." Vahkya laughed, a beautiful sound. "Now, all of you, please stand up."
"Keikarah, my Star-Child… you have done very well." The soul of Vahkya lifted Keika's chin. "That includes your siblings, Haidiaque and Keyok. As have your friends - Laney, Shane, Ronin, and Cairos."
Meanwhile, the Toa were speechless.
"You six Toa have performed mighty deeds, especially when you work with each other and this fine young squadron." Vahkya picked up the now-united hearts from the ground, mumbling something about how they were finally found and saved the city. The gems disappeared into her chest. "To all of you - remember the three central virtues. You are stronger with your Unity… more determined when you focus on your Duty… unstoppable as you march towards your glorious Destiny."
"I will always be with you." With those final words, the binary suns began to shine from the horizon. Vahkya's soul lost its form and swirled around the team as a glowing mist - one last embrace before she disappeared into the sunrise.
"So," asked Termina, "did you find all the gems?"
"Yeah, about that…" said Keyok, shifting from one foot to the other. "Vahkya took them back."
Termina laughed. "That wouldn't be the strangest thing I've heard in my centuries of ruling this city… not even close." Keyok got nervous, and so did the others. Had they actually failed?
"What I'm trying to say is, I believe you, Keyok."
Keyok sighed in relief.
"Please give Vahkya my regards. She was among the best..." Termina's tone got wistful, falling into a memory.
"She disappeared into the sunrise." said Keika. "You just missed her."
Termina smiled through the tears. "I will always miss her. She had big foot armor to fill… but you managed to do that, and more."
The six Toa and the seven young Vahki said their goodbyes in the hall. Then they went their separate ways - "until the next time we have to share a quest," as Vakama said.
Meanwhile, Termina sat down with a sigh. She had just missed seeing Vahkya, the first Vahki and her personal guard. Vahkya was the reason that Keika and her siblings had come into existence in the first place, and the rest of the humanoids as well.
"Your Leadership, moping does not become a queen."
Termina turned around at the familiar voice. Vahkya's soul hovered next to the throne.
"Please, call me Termina."
"You always say that," joked Vahkya, "and let me tell you, those young Vahki are really something else. They proudly carry my name and purpose - for they, too, are the Spirit of the Chase."
THE END