Authoress' Notes: I promised this would be the last chapter, but unfortunately the story won't let me. The ending I had thought of before isn't feasible, and now I'm taking this roundabout way of getting there. If this story starts getting hairy, I apologize ahead of time. I may be a good writer, but this IS my first epic, and it's starting to show. Maybe for my next epic I should title it: Plot Hole City.
Will this thing ever end? I hope so. I don't want to lose any more Proto Energy. Yes, for those of you who remembered, I punished myself by draining my own proto for failing to end this thing after I promised I would...
Chapter 9 -- Second Failure
"Unngh..."
Takua sat up slowly, feeling nauseous. What just happened? And where was he? Looking around, he recognized the fiery domain of his homeland, Ta-Koro. He was floating above the Mangai volcano, which was seething as if it were angry; lava flowing in great spurts down the slopes of the Mangai. Up ahead, he saw two figures, and possibly the reason for the volcano's angry outbursts.
Both were small, yet striking in their appearance. One was pitch black, with a gold Hau, the other pure white, with a Hau of silver. Takua knew them instantly from his dreams; the spirit Matoran: Makuta and Mata Nui. Looking ever closer, he saw a small multi-colored figure spread-eagled over the volcano, his head towards the pit of lava. Takua's heart stopped as he recognized the body as his own. The gods seemed to be an intense conversation, and made furtive gestures towards his doppelganger
But what were they arguing about? He could not see their expressions, as they obviously had eyes only for each other. But why did they gesture down to his downed self? Suddenly, Mata Nui's small body began to glow with a soft white light that was both warm and comforting. But whatever he was doing though...Makuta obviously was not affected, and lifted his silver staff.
"You were always a fool Mata Nui, and weak. Why did I not see that before? But enough of your foolishness. I am tired of waiting, and now you will sleep. *I will now enact my greatest spell and send you to your grave. This spell will keep the Matoran from ever suspecting that you unwittingly would be part of the reason for their misery. Sleep forever a martyr, and forever loved by the islanders of Mata Nui."
Takua gasped, recognizing the words from one of his earliest dreams, the one he had before setting out on the journey. Was he dreaming now? Or was this reality? He wasn't sure, but he knew one thing. He couldn't leave just yet.
"Forever loved...?" stammered Mata Nui, horror suffusing his features. His voice was still soft, but the quiet strength it usually held seemed shaky. "No Makuta! You wouldn't! You wouldn't let those Matoran think that you were to blame! Makuta, I was the one who made the foolish mistake of letting that Matoran carry the souls of our feuding spirits. I thought that if he wore the scarab we made that the two extremes would be defused just enough so that they would still exist, so that a Matoran could wear it without harm. I had overlooked the possibility that they could cause the opposite. Makuta, you didn't want to do this is the first place. Why should you suffer for the misfortune I've caused?"
Makuta rolled his shadowed eyes, his body glowing with a strange light that sent chills down Mata Nui's spine. Already, the terrible, frightening persona that would be associated with Makuta for centuries to come was making its appearance. Patches of infection, the gravelly voice and bitter expression. Makuta laughed a deep sinister laugh that seemed to suit him. "I had no choice. Had the scarab experiment been a success, I could have been viewed as a god who's somewhat dangerous, and not to be trusted, but still revered all the same. A sort of Antagonist, if you will. Not necessarily evil, just someone who works against you, Mata Nui."
The dark matoran's voice wavered a bit at what he could have been, but the sweet madness had overtaken him again, and dark clouds above cast their shadow on both of them. "Alas! It didn't work." Makuta continued. "The only other choice was to just let Evil's insanity to take over my soul and corrupt me. I should have let the demons take over my mind sooner. "Ohh, but this feels good! This power is incredible! I fear nothing! Nothing at all! No, I do not blame you, Mata Nui, in fact I thank you for this gift of madness! How glorious it is to not give a ###### about anyone!"
With the suddenness of water turned off from a faucet, Makuta's deep, resonating voice softened, and he murmured a spell as dark ribbons, emanating from his staff, seamlessly wove themselves into a blanket of shadow. Mata Nui clasped both his hands together and tried to counter it, but the damage had been done. For the first time, he felt a flicker of doubt. He was done for. But Mata Nui couldn't let his brother suffer like this, and he spoke quietly, before falling into the enchanted slumber waiting for him:
"May six heroes watch over you, Makuta. I love you." The spell had been completed, and an era had ended.
The dark Matoran's smile slipped a notch, a bit of fear seeping into him. Six heroes? What on earth did the little simpleton mean? Was there another part of Mata Nui's plans that he hadn't known about? Well, he was NOT going to allow Mata Nui to summon the six heroes, whatever they were. He held up his brother's half of the destroyed scarab. With a vicious heave, he sent into the angry bowels of lava below, followed shortly by his own. The volcano screamed in protest of these foreign bodies thrown into it and Makuta sneered at the small multi-colored figure.
"Pathetic worthless excuse for a creature. What did my fool of a brother see in you?" He picked up Takua as if to throw him into the volcano, but as if by magic, a soft white light enveloped the small figure, and Takua's otherself disappeared from his grip, Makuta's scream of rage echoing through the abyss...
-*-*-
Takua blinked, and for a moment just lay there, the soft jungle floor a pillow for his tired body. Wiping away the remaining sleep crystals from eyes, he pushed himself up. His recent outburst resulted in a great deal of his energy being sapped; every little movement cost him an effort.
So that was the failure. It wasn't just himself that had failed, or made a mistake, but Mata Nui also. A devastating one it was. He was shocked to learn that Mata Nui and Makuta really were brothers. He had originally thought (like most everyone else on Mata Nui) that they were brothers in more of a spiritual sense, as they were opposites of each other.
He now had an understanding of what the prophecy declared regarding his destiny, but wasn't sure anymore as to whether or not he could scrounge up the remaining scraps of his courage to do it. He didn't even think it was right. Fingering Makuta's scarab, he scowled at it and looked for Kapura.
But where did Kapura go?
Takua looked around for his odd buddy, and saw him sitting against a tree, fiddling with something dark and shiny. Making his way over to Kapura, Takua noticed that it was the scarab. Kapura didn't look up at him, but kept his head tucked down. Much to Takua's surprise, Kapura held out the jewel towards him.
"I suppose you should have this now. I'm sorry to have done that to you." Kapura said simply. Takua noticed that he was shaking slightly, as if he would completely lose it if he held it any longer. "Please take it."
Takua stared at the gem hesitantly, but then took it. A strange feeling came over him, despite the fact that he hadn't even fused the two pieces together. A warm, soft glow emanated from it, soothing the wild, feral anger that had very nearly taken over his soul. With Makuta's scarab in his left hand, and Mata Nui's in his right, he felt a sort of balance. It felt right somehow!
He started to remember everything in his past life. How he was almost thrown into the volcano by an exceptionally mad Makuta, but saved by the love of Mata Nui. How he showed up on the beach with no memory whatsoever, yet managed to find Vakama's staff. The trials of his company at the Kini-Nui. Maku, Hafu, Taipu, Tamaru, Kopeke. His loyal friend Kapura. The Book of Chronicles. The Six Heroes. The astrologer, the prophecies...
He was Takua, Chronicler of Mata Nui.
A vision came into Takua's head then...a disturbing vision of Ga-Koro being attacked by a vicious swarm of Pahrak. He then knew what he was going to do. It would not fail. He would go to Ga-Koro, and help fight the Bohrok. And he would destroy the scarab...in a special way.
With a contented smile on his face, Takua offered his hand to Kapura. "Come with me. I want you to see what I think of destiny."
Will this thing ever end? I hope so. I don't want to lose any more Proto Energy. Yes, for those of you who remembered, I punished myself by draining my own proto for failing to end this thing after I promised I would...
Chapter 9 -- Second Failure
"Unngh..."
Takua sat up slowly, feeling nauseous. What just happened? And where was he? Looking around, he recognized the fiery domain of his homeland, Ta-Koro. He was floating above the Mangai volcano, which was seething as if it were angry; lava flowing in great spurts down the slopes of the Mangai. Up ahead, he saw two figures, and possibly the reason for the volcano's angry outbursts.
Both were small, yet striking in their appearance. One was pitch black, with a gold Hau, the other pure white, with a Hau of silver. Takua knew them instantly from his dreams; the spirit Matoran: Makuta and Mata Nui. Looking ever closer, he saw a small multi-colored figure spread-eagled over the volcano, his head towards the pit of lava. Takua's heart stopped as he recognized the body as his own. The gods seemed to be an intense conversation, and made furtive gestures towards his doppelganger
But what were they arguing about? He could not see their expressions, as they obviously had eyes only for each other. But why did they gesture down to his downed self? Suddenly, Mata Nui's small body began to glow with a soft white light that was both warm and comforting. But whatever he was doing though...Makuta obviously was not affected, and lifted his silver staff.
"You were always a fool Mata Nui, and weak. Why did I not see that before? But enough of your foolishness. I am tired of waiting, and now you will sleep. *I will now enact my greatest spell and send you to your grave. This spell will keep the Matoran from ever suspecting that you unwittingly would be part of the reason for their misery. Sleep forever a martyr, and forever loved by the islanders of Mata Nui."
Takua gasped, recognizing the words from one of his earliest dreams, the one he had before setting out on the journey. Was he dreaming now? Or was this reality? He wasn't sure, but he knew one thing. He couldn't leave just yet.
"Forever loved...?" stammered Mata Nui, horror suffusing his features. His voice was still soft, but the quiet strength it usually held seemed shaky. "No Makuta! You wouldn't! You wouldn't let those Matoran think that you were to blame! Makuta, I was the one who made the foolish mistake of letting that Matoran carry the souls of our feuding spirits. I thought that if he wore the scarab we made that the two extremes would be defused just enough so that they would still exist, so that a Matoran could wear it without harm. I had overlooked the possibility that they could cause the opposite. Makuta, you didn't want to do this is the first place. Why should you suffer for the misfortune I've caused?"
Makuta rolled his shadowed eyes, his body glowing with a strange light that sent chills down Mata Nui's spine. Already, the terrible, frightening persona that would be associated with Makuta for centuries to come was making its appearance. Patches of infection, the gravelly voice and bitter expression. Makuta laughed a deep sinister laugh that seemed to suit him. "I had no choice. Had the scarab experiment been a success, I could have been viewed as a god who's somewhat dangerous, and not to be trusted, but still revered all the same. A sort of Antagonist, if you will. Not necessarily evil, just someone who works against you, Mata Nui."
The dark matoran's voice wavered a bit at what he could have been, but the sweet madness had overtaken him again, and dark clouds above cast their shadow on both of them. "Alas! It didn't work." Makuta continued. "The only other choice was to just let Evil's insanity to take over my soul and corrupt me. I should have let the demons take over my mind sooner. "Ohh, but this feels good! This power is incredible! I fear nothing! Nothing at all! No, I do not blame you, Mata Nui, in fact I thank you for this gift of madness! How glorious it is to not give a ###### about anyone!"
With the suddenness of water turned off from a faucet, Makuta's deep, resonating voice softened, and he murmured a spell as dark ribbons, emanating from his staff, seamlessly wove themselves into a blanket of shadow. Mata Nui clasped both his hands together and tried to counter it, but the damage had been done. For the first time, he felt a flicker of doubt. He was done for. But Mata Nui couldn't let his brother suffer like this, and he spoke quietly, before falling into the enchanted slumber waiting for him:
"May six heroes watch over you, Makuta. I love you." The spell had been completed, and an era had ended.
The dark Matoran's smile slipped a notch, a bit of fear seeping into him. Six heroes? What on earth did the little simpleton mean? Was there another part of Mata Nui's plans that he hadn't known about? Well, he was NOT going to allow Mata Nui to summon the six heroes, whatever they were. He held up his brother's half of the destroyed scarab. With a vicious heave, he sent into the angry bowels of lava below, followed shortly by his own. The volcano screamed in protest of these foreign bodies thrown into it and Makuta sneered at the small multi-colored figure.
"Pathetic worthless excuse for a creature. What did my fool of a brother see in you?" He picked up Takua as if to throw him into the volcano, but as if by magic, a soft white light enveloped the small figure, and Takua's otherself disappeared from his grip, Makuta's scream of rage echoing through the abyss...
-*-*-
Takua blinked, and for a moment just lay there, the soft jungle floor a pillow for his tired body. Wiping away the remaining sleep crystals from eyes, he pushed himself up. His recent outburst resulted in a great deal of his energy being sapped; every little movement cost him an effort.
So that was the failure. It wasn't just himself that had failed, or made a mistake, but Mata Nui also. A devastating one it was. He was shocked to learn that Mata Nui and Makuta really were brothers. He had originally thought (like most everyone else on Mata Nui) that they were brothers in more of a spiritual sense, as they were opposites of each other.
He now had an understanding of what the prophecy declared regarding his destiny, but wasn't sure anymore as to whether or not he could scrounge up the remaining scraps of his courage to do it. He didn't even think it was right. Fingering Makuta's scarab, he scowled at it and looked for Kapura.
But where did Kapura go?
Takua looked around for his odd buddy, and saw him sitting against a tree, fiddling with something dark and shiny. Making his way over to Kapura, Takua noticed that it was the scarab. Kapura didn't look up at him, but kept his head tucked down. Much to Takua's surprise, Kapura held out the jewel towards him.
"I suppose you should have this now. I'm sorry to have done that to you." Kapura said simply. Takua noticed that he was shaking slightly, as if he would completely lose it if he held it any longer. "Please take it."
Takua stared at the gem hesitantly, but then took it. A strange feeling came over him, despite the fact that he hadn't even fused the two pieces together. A warm, soft glow emanated from it, soothing the wild, feral anger that had very nearly taken over his soul. With Makuta's scarab in his left hand, and Mata Nui's in his right, he felt a sort of balance. It felt right somehow!
He started to remember everything in his past life. How he was almost thrown into the volcano by an exceptionally mad Makuta, but saved by the love of Mata Nui. How he showed up on the beach with no memory whatsoever, yet managed to find Vakama's staff. The trials of his company at the Kini-Nui. Maku, Hafu, Taipu, Tamaru, Kopeke. His loyal friend Kapura. The Book of Chronicles. The Six Heroes. The astrologer, the prophecies...
He was Takua, Chronicler of Mata Nui.
A vision came into Takua's head then...a disturbing vision of Ga-Koro being attacked by a vicious swarm of Pahrak. He then knew what he was going to do. It would not fail. He would go to Ga-Koro, and help fight the Bohrok. And he would destroy the scarab...in a special way.
With a contented smile on his face, Takua offered his hand to Kapura. "Come with me. I want you to see what I think of destiny."