Takanuva barely managed to escape the ball of shadow. The effort of dodging it sent him flying off a pillar into space. He adjusted in midair, swinging his feet around until he was running straight down the pillar. The momentum carried him over to the mercury pool just as another ball rose from it.
He grabbed it in his Kolhii net. As soon as it transformed into a ball of light, he turned and hurled it toward Makuta.
But the dark one was ready. He swung his own Kolhii stick, catching the ball of light in his net and transforming it into darkness.
Takanuva gasped in shock. Then he leaped to the side as the ball came hurtling back toward him, shattering another pillar and sending it collapsing into the floor. Once again, the Toa of Light barely dodged in time, jumping over to another pillar—one of only two left standing in the cavern. He was growing tired. How much longer could he continue this game?
Makuta grabbed the next mercury ball and transformed it. Then he walked toward the two pillars, searching for his quarry. Then he heard the faraway sounds of Matoran and Turaga. "An audience gathers for your final failure, Toa of Light," Makuta said.
Takanuva leaped high up the pillar, staying just out of his opponent's sight. "Maybe they will not see me win today," he said. "But the Matoran will go on, and someday they will triumph."
"You actually believe I would let them return?" Makuta said. "After all the trouble they have been?"
Just outside the cavern, Hahli rode Pewku toward the door, leading the six Toa, the six Turaga, and the Matoran crowd behind her. The Toa gathered around the crack in the doorway, looking through into Makuta's cavern.
There was only one pillar left standing now. Takanuva clung to it, while Makuta stood at the base, a ball of darkness quivering in his net. The dark one turned, glancing toward the doorway. "Now that I have them," he said with malicious satisfaction, "they will not leave."
With a sudden horror, Takanuva realized the truth—he had led his people into a trap! "NO!" he cried.
Makuta launched the ball of darkness toward the voice overhead. Takanuva ducked it. The ball struck the pillar, which started to collapse. Takanuva landed on the ground on one side of the mercury pool. Makuta stood on the other. Without hesitating, the Toa of Light flipped himself over the mercury toward his enemy.
A ball of mercury rose out of the pool, and Takanuva grabbed it in mid-flip, transforming it into a ball of light. He immediately rolled into his special Kolhii move, somersaulting and throwing the ball at the same time. This time it worked—the ball of light flew right into Makuta's chest!
The force of the impact knocked Makuta backward across the chamber. He staggered, then dropped to his knees with a mighty crash. Light energy flashed through his body. Makuta roared in pain as the light energy weakened him. "Well played, Toa," he croaked.
Takanuva stepped forward. He had done it! He had finally defeated his enemy!
But Makuta wasn't quite finished yet. As the Toa approached, the dark one suddenly flung out his hand, shoving Takanuva backward with surprising force. Takanuva grunted, startled. He fell back hard, landing near the pool of mercury.
Makuta climbed to his feet. "Now I will protect Mata Nui from you," he snarled, marching toward the Toa of Light.
"Protect him?" Confused, Takanuva lowered his staff.
"Sleep spares him pain!" Makuta said. "Awake, he suffers."
He continued stalking toward Takanuva, who found himself backing closer and closer to the pool of silvery substance. The Toa of Light wasn't sure what to think of the dark one's words. How could he think that Mata Nui was better off remaining asleep? How could he think that was best for the island?
"But he does not live," Takanuva protested, still perplexed.
Makuta raised his Kolhii staff. Utter determination danced in his red eyes. "My duty remains to the Kanohi Kraahkan, the Mask of Shadows."
Suddenly Takanuva smiled. The light had dawned in his mind—he knew what he had to do. "Then let's take a closer look behind that mask, and expose those shadows," he said.
He dropped his Kolhii staff and leaped toward Makuta, landing on his chest so that the two of them were face-to-face. With one hand Takanuva grabbed the Mask of Shadows, yanking it off of Makuta's head. His other hand pulled his own mask free. Before Makuta could react, the Toa had switched the masks, shoving the Mask of Light onto the dark one's face and placing the Mask of Shadows over his own face.
"NO!" Makuta howled. He staggered in a circle, the mask pulsing on his face. Then he toppled backward into the mercury pool, pulling Takanuva along with him.
The other six Toa rushed into the room, followed by the Turaga and the others. They all gathered around the pool. The still, silvery surface remained unbroken for a long, long moment. The Toa exchanged glances, not sure what to think.
Suddenly arcs of dark and light energy shot out of the mercury and danced across the surface. The Matoran took a wary step back.
Then a huge head rose from the steaming mercury. Makuta? No, it wasn't the dark one—at least not completely. It was the merged face of Takanuva and Makuta—half Mask of Light, half Mask of Shadow. An enormous merged figure continued to rise slowly out of the pool, half light and half shadow.
Takutanuva.
The light side of the mask spoke. "Light has revealed the will of Mata Nui," Takanuva's voice said.
"Our brother must be awakened," the Makuta side added.
The Toa, Turaga, and Matoran glanced at one another. None of them knew what to do or think now.
Takutanuva stepped out of the pool and walked toward the huge door set into the wall on the far side of the cavern. He crouched down, his fingers gouging the metal of the door as he tried to lift it. The door creaked and groaned, then slowly began to rise.
As Takutanuva struggled under the weight of the giant door, the Toa and the others stepped forward uncertainly and walked through into the chamber beyond. Hahli was still carrying Jaller's mask as she stepped past the giant two-sided figure.
"Hold, little one," Takutanuva's voice stopped her. "That mask needs life."
The shadowy side of Takutanuva reached out a hand. A powerful pulse of dark and light energy shot out from his fingertip, blasting into Jaller's mask.
Hahli stepped back as the mask took on a life of its own. As she watched in amazement, Jaller's body quickly regenerated from the mask—his head, his body, his legs bursting into existence out of nothing. A dim glow lit up the eyes behind the mask, and a moment later Jaller fell backward.
Hahli caught him, stunned by what she had just seen. Could it really be? Could her friend have been brought back? "Jaller!" she cried.
Jaller merely groaned in response, trying to take in what was happening.
But the energy of re-creating the brave Matoran had taken too much out of Takutanuva. He strained against the weight of the door, but it was no use. The metal door smashed down on him, sending up a thick cloud of dust that obscured the onlookers' view.
Too late, Jaller shouted, "Get out of there!"
The Toa and Matoran bowed their heads sadly. Jaller stepped forward, heartbroken. "Takua!" he cried as Pewku whined sorrowfully nearby.
The cloud of dust swirled vigorously. Suddenly, a figure stepped out of it—Takanuva! Behind him, the broken, utterly destroyed remains of Makuta's armor could be seen underneath the large gate. As Hahli gasped in surprise, Jaller raced toward his friend. Pewku ran even faster, leaping onto Takanuva with joyful cries.
"You're alive!" Jaller exclaimed gleefully, hardly seeming to notice his friend's new form. Then he frowned. "Kolhii-head! You could've been Makuta bones!"
Takanuva grinned. "Could've been, but I'm not."
Turaga Vakama raised his staff, interrupting the friends' moment. "Let us awaken the Great Spirit."
Hahli, Jaller, and Takanuva followed the Turaga to the far end of the new chamber. There, a ledge plunged away into dark nothingness.
"Unity!" Turaga Vakama said solemnly. "Duty! Destiny!"
As he spoke, Takanuva's power illuminated his companions and himself. Their light shone down into the abyss, revealing what lay below. The Matoran gasped in amazement as they saw a strange new world stretching out below them. The world at the bottom of the cliff was indescribably huge—it stretched farther than the eye could see. At the center of a vast sea, the skyline of what appeared to be an abandoned city laid. Strange structures dotted the landscape, and flashes of energy danced here and there.
Takanuva nodded as he surveyed. This is it, he thought as a feeling of certainty settled through him. Soon we will understand everything. Who we are. Where we come from. Who sent us.
Our destiny.
X X X
One week later…
Turaga Nokama approached Hahli on the Ga-Wahi beachfront. The last days had been filled with more manual labor than the island of Mata Nui had ever seen before. Matoran were either constructing boats for the journey to the city they had seen or carving the tunnels wider for travel. Though Makuta no longer stood personal guard to the gate, it still had produced a few problems of its own. With Takutanuva no longer able to raise the immense door, the Toa Nuva had to use the combined powers of their Kanohi Pakari Nuva in unison to raise it, just to build equipment that would hold it open. By and by, the population had made it back to Mata Nui's surface, only to never return.
Now, Nokama and Hahli sat for the last time on Ga-Koro's shores. "Yours has been a hard road Hahli, but you have persevered," Nokama told the Ga-Matoran. "Not all Matoran thought you were worthy of the challenges set before you. But I saw what is in your heart and believed in you. Your virtue unlocked the mystery of the crystals—they were meant for you. Takua now walks among the great Toa. His role as Chronicler is forfeit. It is time for that honor to pass on to another special Matoran. It is your honor, Hahli, from this day forth. You did well to assume that role for Takanuva on your own. Now, continue that role."
Hahli bowed in manner of both acceptance and gratitude. "Thank you, Turaga Nokama. I will record the legends of the Matoran dutifully."
Nokama turned back out to the beach's shipyard, where construction was occurring in many different steps. "Look now! The boats are being crafted, Chronicler. Soon we will depart for the forgotten city of Metru Nui. Ready yourself, for there many adventures to come! Your first task as Chronicler will be to record what has gone before as we prepare for our journey."
Hahli nodded solemnly and then turned to stare out across the ocean, reflecting on all that had happened and all that was happening. One last glance at the Red Star concluded her thoughts; she got up and joined the Turaga of Water to meet with the council of Toa and elders, to uncover the mysteries about just what was to come next. It was a time for remembering…and a time for goodbyes.
X X X
Kopaka was thinking much the same later that evening as he surveyed the Ko-Wahi beach just before twilight. The large sun set over the waters, which themselves created a horizon embraced by two cliff-like peninsulas stretching out into the waters. He looked into the sight, reflecting. Not far away, Tahu calmly walked the beach alone. Toa Gali and Turaga Nokama came next to Kopaka, enjoying the view. Being from Ga-Wahi, Gali was much more familiar with seeing the sun rise in the early morning over Ga-Koro. This reversed sight brought her a peaceful sense that was both familiar and backward at the same time. She waited for Kopaka to speak—she had grown to know when he would.
Kopaka glanced over slightly, sensing that she knew some comment was on his mind, waiting to be spoken out loud. He looked out to the sunset once more. "This is where I first walked the sands of Mata Nui," he told her.
"And now a new adventure is about to begin," Nokama stated.
Tahu approached now, too, at the back of the group. "Yes, a return to the city you call Metru Nui, Turaga. Are the Matoran prepared to leave this island and make the journey?"
Gali looked over. "They are building boats even now to carry us all across the Silver Sea, Tahu." She turned to the water elder. "I could not see very much of the city from the shore of the tunnel. Is it very beautiful, Turaga?"
Now Nokama closed her eyes peacefully, letting memories and experiences of the past rush forward, unblocked. "Once, long ago, it was the most beautiful place in all of Mata Nui's creation. But before we travel there, you must remember—appearances can be deceiving."
X X X
Back in the underground tunnels of Mangaia leading to Metru Nui, Turaga Vakama was recounting a similar lesson with Jaller and Takanuva.
"I still can't believe that Ta-Koro is…gone," Jaller said sadly, thinking about the village which he had called home for hundreds of years.
Next to him, the Toa of Light stood tall, planting his staff and clenching a fist. "But our friends are safe, Jaller…you're safe. That is what matters, friend. Now our destiny leads us to a new island, a new city."
Vakama put his staff against Takanuva's chest as a caution. "New, and yet very old, Toa of Light. We return to Metru Nui, our home, but be warned…there are many dangers there, some familiar, some you have never seen before."
Takanuva looked down at the fire elder, knowing a short anecdote was coming. Vakama continued, "Do not assume you can take the measure of an enemy based on its appearance. Remember the tale of the Toa Nuva and the Rahkshi Kaita…"
"I heard the battle, Turaga, but to what lesson are you referring?" the new Toa asked.
Vakama looked up to meet eyes with the legendary Toa of Light. "In that battle, Tahu made a promise: the end of the Rahkshi. And his promise was met—the Rahkshi were defeated. But the Toa Nuva's ignorance of their foes almost cost them dearly."
"And that is why these secrets are being revealed now?" Jaller asked.
Vakama nodded. "Yes. With the discovery of the island, we can no longer leave it secret even if we desired. But, before the Kolhii Tournament, the Turaga had decided to spread knowledge of Metru Nui. We could never know it would be so perfectly timed with your rediscovery of the land, Toa of Light. The Toa need to know the truth…about everything. Just as your abilities spread wide and revealed Metru Nui, so must identical illumination flood the minds of the Toa with knowledge."
The Turaga of Fire beckoned for the two close friends to follow him as he exited the chamber overlooking the sea, going back to Mata Nui's surface. "Come. We must gather the Toa. There are more tales yet to be told."
X X X
An hour later, when twilight had given way to night, the six Turaga elders, Matoro, Hahli, and the seven Toa stood assembled on the beach. The six elders stood on an elevated precipice, raising them to the Toa's height. Both sides had looked forward to this meeting, though for different amounts of time and for different reasons. The Toa knew the Turaga still had much to reveal and were anxious to learn all, especially the details and history of this city, Metru Nui. And the Turaga had been waiting to share what only they knew with other beings for hundreds of years.
Vakama spoke first of the assembled attendees. "Soon, we begin the long journey to Metru Nui—the land from which the Matoran came, the home we left to come to these shores," he began. "You will unlock many secrets there, Toa. You will learn about the past, for only that can prepare you for the future."
Onewa spoke next, his tone one of regret. "There are many things you should have been told before now. We had resolved to tell you after the Kolhii Tournament, but…"
"The appearance of the Mask of Light banished all other plans from our minds," the Turaga of Water finished for him. "The mask forced Makuta's hand against us, which wrought the Rahkshi and their danger."
"You will discover Metru Nui is filled with mystery…dark secrets that have been buried there since the Time Before Time," Whenua continued.
Tahu stepped forward out of the group of Toa. "Surely there could not have been anything so terrible there," he said. He received a questioning look from Turaga Nuju, causing him to carefully word his point again. "Not if you Turaga and the Matoran were able to travel safely from there to here."
Matau chuckled, laughing enough that he looked down and shook his head. Looking back at the Toa, he smiled a smile that conveyed a hint—Tahu didn't know what he was talking about. It wasn't an arrogant gesture, just one of honest understanding and even sorrow.
Vakama looked back at the assembled heroes as well. He went on, "You have all faced many great dangers—Rahi, Rahkshi, Bohrok, and more. But others walked the path before you…others witnessed the birth of true darkness." The Turaga of Fire leaned on his firestaff with both hands as the other Turaga drew in closer, as if bracing for the truth. "Heroes of Mata Nui…brothers and sisters…it is time you knew the truth—you are not the first Toa…"
To be continued in "Bionicle - Phase 03: Provenance - Part I: Utopian Mystery"...
(Mask of Light was compiled from the move Bionicle: Mask of Light; the book Chronicles 5: Mask of Light; the video games The Legend Continues, and Mata Nui Online Game II: The Final Chronicle; and Graphic Novel 2: Challenge of the Rahkshi, containing Comics 13-15: Rise of the Rahkshi, At Last - Takanuva!, and Secrets and Shadows)
Editor's Note: Congratulations on making it this far! You're about a quarter through the canonical story!