Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle.
Goodbye Ihar... For Real?
"We did find something..."
Gali hung her head and let the words echo through her brain. Why had she even imagined that Tahu would've kept her secret?
"It was some sort of riddle..." continued Tahu. "It was written by the thief... and it probably leads to her... and to the rest of her gang..."
"So she did have a gang," said Lhikan, eyes twinkling. "Continue."
"It said that, she knew that we were looking for her, but that she, the thief of the sea, was gone, and that we couldn't catch her, just like we couldn't catch the wind, so we should stop looking for her. And it ended with: 'Don't forget who you are'."
"Interesting," muttered Nokama. "Go on."
Gali closed her eyes. Now it was going to come.
"But we... we didn't solve it," said Tahu. "We... we don't know who the thief is."
Gali opened her eyes and raised her head. She wanted to look at Tahu, but then maybe the Turaga would've noticed. She forced herself to stare at the Turaga and keep an embarrassed expression.
Matau sighed and shook his head. "So we still don't know the name of this water-thief. Well, at least the Leehar-impostors are gone."
"Yes," muttered Tahu. "At least that."
Vakama smiled, "You don't have to be sorry with yourself. It wasn't your fault the Leehar escaped. What really matters, is that the Matoran are safe now."
Then, the old Turaga turned to the Ihar, that had been sitting quietly in a corner for the whole time.
"So, what should we do with you?" he asked them. Thaukon raised his head.
-Sirkul and I have to go back to Miko Nui, we have duties as Ashras there- he looked towards the others. -As for my friends, it's their choice.-
Nairof looked at Onua with his green cat eyes, -I'd love to stay with you, but I couldn't live here, none of us could. We aren't Kida.-
"We could come and visit you," proposed Takua. "Just tell us the code and..."
"No," said Lhikan with a firm voice. "The transporter is too dangerous. Just think of how many Matoran could activate it by mistake! And the Leehar could come back through it one day. We must destroy it."
Immediately, an explosion of protests from the Toa and the Ihar followed. None of them wanted the Tikohl to be destroyed, and they started saying that they could keep it a secret, hide it in a safer place. Lhikan waited until everyone was quiet before speaking on.
"There is no place where the transporter will be safe enough. Any curious Matoran could find it. It must be destroyed." Then he turned to the Toa. "Besides, I think it's best if you forget your little friends. After all, it was one of them that sent you on that island."
The Toa looked at each other. How could they explain that Kida had only done it so that they could remember who they were? They would've had to explain how they had found that out, and then it was bound to come out that Gali was the thief. Still, they made one last try.
"But if it hadn't been for Kida, we would've never found out the truth!" protested Pohatu.
"I believe, that there might be some Ihar that want you dead," continued Lhikan calmly.
-Kida was my sister!- protested Kal loudly. -She didn't want any of them dead!-
-And don't forget that we all hate Makuta!- continued Hoti. -He destroyed our island!-
"These Ihar," said Whenua quietly. "They are wild Rahi, and they are smart. If they got too hungry, they could decide to take a trip to Metru Nui and have a Matoran for lunch."
Onua and Takua had to think of their first meeting with Nairof. But he had just been joking, right? Onua looked over at the Ihar, but none of them tried to defend themselves. Whenua had spotted something that the Toa still hadn't realized. No matter how hard the Toa protested, they were forced to give up. Not another word was spoken that night.
XXXXX
The next day, short before the sun set, Takua went to Ga-Metru to find Gali, there was something he really wanted to talk with her about, and he wanted to talk about it now. But first, he had to find Gali. After wandering around throughout the Metru, he found her sitting on a stone, looking at the protodermis sea, Kal was sitting next to her. He walked over to her and cleared his throat. Gali and Kal turned around.
"Oh, it's you." she said, smiling. "I thought you had gone back to Ta-Metru."
"Yeah, I had..." he said. He gave Kal a short glance, and the Ihar, understanding, trotted away.
Gali stared after her for a while, then her smile faded away.
"I'll miss her," she said.
"Yeah, me too," agreed Takua. And for some time, they were both silent. But after a while, Gali turned to him.
"Takua, about what happened on Metru Nui..." she started.
"Gali, it wasn't your fault!" he interrupted.
"You know it was, I should have gone myself."
"They wouldn't have listened to you! You know that better than me."
"I know that they all thought you were haywire," answered Gali. "Why should they have listened to you? No, I was just afraid of the Vahki."
"You had... no hang on," said Takua. "Okay, it's all your fault, you're the meanest thief of the world, without counting selfish and ugly. All this because you did me a favor and let me have my adventure that I had been asking you for. Is that what you wanted to hear?"
"Stupid," said Gali, trying not to smile.
"Thanks," answered Takua. Gali smiled at him.
"I think best thing is if we both forget about it," she said.
"Yeah," agreed Takua. "Especially because no one remembers it anyway."
"Right," said Gali.
Smiling, Takua closed his hand into a fist and banged it against one of Gali's hooks.
XXXXX
Two weeks later, Sirkul was strong enough to go back to Miko Nui. It was a nice day, the twin suns were shining brightly in the sky. A party was due for that night, but none of the Toa felt like celebrating. They were all thinking how unfair it was that their friends couldn't participate. It just wasn't right. The Ihar told them not to worry.
It just means we'll have a party-night on Miko Nui- said Kishro. But it was clear that he wished he could stay.
"Turaga," said Lewa. "Can't they comestay just for this evening?"
Matau shook his head. "Lhikan wants them away a fast-soon as possible. He seems worried the Leehar could return with the Tikohl-transporter."
Gali bent down to stroke Kal with her hooks. They hadn't tried to turn back to Toa Nuva.
"I'm sorry for all that happened." she whispered. "Your family is gone, and it's just because of me."
-It's not your fault,- said Kal in private telepathy. -You didn't force us to do what we did. It was our choice.-
"You know this isn't true," said Gali. "I just wish I could do something for you."
-Let me think... hmmm, if you see Utahop, say hello to him from me- she said. Gali laughed, understanding what she meant.
"I will, don't worry," she said. Then she gave Kal a short hug before the Ihar turned around and joined the others.
Oh!- said Hoti suddenly. -Before I forget, a small tip to Takua. Don't go hopping across lava to look at totems, because you never know what they might be.-
Takua laughed. Then, the Ihar ran down the stairs to the once-secret room. The door was closed, and after a short flash of light, they were gone. Then, Pohatu placed his Ilsao at the base of the Tikohl and concentrated. It took only a few seconds. The Ilsao started to glow and Pohatu ran up the stairs to safety. The was the sound of an explosion, and the Tikohla was gone for ever.
XXXXX
The whole island was celebrating the arrival of the new Toa and the disappearance of the Leehar. But for the first time in his life, Tahu didn't feel like joining the party. He just stood aside and took out of that bag the Kanohi Nuva, studying them. It didn't feel right, celebrating without their friends, besides, they still hadn't found out how to turn back to Toa Nuva. They had forgotten to ask the Ihar that morning. All they knew was that they needed the six Ilsao, or else the Suva. And unfortunately what was left of it was still on Miko Nui.
"Hey, Tahu," said a voice. Tahu looked away from the dancing and turned to Pohatu. He wasn't alone, the others were there too.
"Let's go," muttered Pohatu "There's nothing to do here."
Tahu laid back the Akaku Nuva he had been holding and followed.
They had been walking for a while, in silence, when Gali took word.
"I still didn't thank you for covering up for me," she said.
"What?" asked Tahu, his mind had been on Miko Nui, with Thaukon.
"You didn't tell the Turaga that I'm the thief of Ga-Metru."
"No, I said we didn't solve the riddle," corrected her Tahu. "If the Turaga would've asked me 'Who's the thief of Ga-Metru?' then I would've told them: 'Oh, that's Gali. Yeah, my sister. Take her and close in the prison, she'll get out anyway'."
They all laughed. It felt good to be together, without any problems standing in front of you.
"You said 'my sister'," Lewa pointed out. "Are you sure you didn't mean: the Toa of water?"
Tahu looked over to Gali.
"No," he said firmly. "I meant: my sister."
Gali looked at him for a couple of seconds before jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck. Tahu stiffened in surprise, he wasn't used to it anymore. Takua laughed.
"I was asking myself where this part had gone."
In that moment, all the Ilsao started to glow. Gali stepped away from Tahu and looked at the glowing stones.
"Now what?" mumbled Kopaka.
Seven electric bolts started from the Ilsao, running up the string and diving into the Toas' heartlights. It felt as if someone had punched all the air out of their lungs. The seven Toa staggered backwards, gasping for breath. But it wasn't over. Another electric bolt started from Onua's, Gali's, Lewa's, Kopaka's and Takua's Ilsao and ran into the bag Tahu had let fall on the ground. They seemed to search for something, and a second later, their Nuva masks were being pulled out of the bag and towards their owners. Then, they stopped in midair just in front of them, glowing slightly.
The five Toa looked at each other, then, they reached out and grabbed the shining masks in front of them, placing them on their faces. As soon as they did this, they were surrounded with light, and turned back to Toa Nuva. Then, it was over. The light disappeared like it had been turned off, and the Toa were left standing in the dark.
"Ouch," complained Tahu. "Why did I have to get that treatment too? I already had my powers back!"
"So that was all?" asked Lewa. "All we had to do was make Gali and Tahu tight-hug? Not that that's easy but... and since we're at it, why couldn't Gali tight-hug me?"
Everyone laughed.
"That wasn't a 'tight-hug', Lewa" said Gali. "That was a 'friend-hug'."
"Then you can give me one too!" protested Lewa. Gali laughed and hugged him.
"I think the Ilsao wanted us to learn something," murmured Onua, staring at the small black stone that was the Ringlu.
"Like what? Tight-hugging is nice?" commented Lewa, pulling away from Gali's hug.
"No, more like..."
"Don't you ever understand when I just don't want to know?" screamed Lewa. "Because I don't!"
"Why not?" Takanuva wanted to know.
"Because I'm afraid that next thing we discoverfind is that the Turaga are the Leehars' cousins!"
More laughs.
"This could be even better if I didn't know that there are still five psycho false-Toa running free somewhere out there," said Pohatu.
"Yes," said Tahu. "This time they escaped. But there'll be a next time, and then, it'll be the last!"
Takanuva smiled again. Then he looked upwards to the night sky. Or better, the roof of the huge cavern they were in.
"You know," he said. "Hoti was right, you never know what a totem can be. It can be just a pole, but maybe it's actually a lever that moves a secret door, or a mask's hiding place. Or maybe, even a Tikohl."
"What are you talking about?" asked Onua.
"Maybe I understand," said Kopaka. "But didn't Hoti say should not hop across lava?"
"Yeah," said Takanuva. "But if someone doesn't want you to go somewhere, isn't it one more reason to go there?"
He turned back to his friends. "Mata Nui isn't far, and I have the feeling we'll be seeing the Ihar again very, very soon."
END
That was the last chapter. In case it isn't clear: if the Ihar know how takua found the maks of light, then they had to be there. and to be there, they must have reached mata nui somehow. so there has to be a tikohl an mata nui. i think that should clear up everything. and yes, I changed the riddle. i didn't like the old one. For those who want to read the new riddle, go back to chapter 15: a message from the thief. how gali solved it, why lhikan is still alive and what gali did to takua will be revealed in another story.
Voting ended at 5 for a sequel and at 1, for the thief, as you can see down here:
Voting:
Sequel: 5
Thief: 1
BUT! Yesterday i realized voting is completely pointless. The sequel picks so much op on the thief's story that i have to write it first to have something to base myself on.
Thank to all my reviewers and especially to ToaMaster who has been reviewing from the first chapter of this story!
Nova of the Khalai: I hope my next story will be just as good. i have the bad habit to put everything into one and then leave the rest.
Regrem Erutaerc: doesn't work, because of
something i wrote in one of the previous chapter. (i think it was 'A
known face', ch 12) one of the Ihar, (Thaukon i think) says that they
need all seven ilsao. even though it isnt explained in this story
it's because they had to find out who they were and accept it (i
think i just got this from a book i just read). they could've used
the masks and the suva, but then, they wouldn't have really been toa
(not to mention nuva) anymore. it would've faded off after some time,
and they would've become turaga. and the ilsao dont return power
slowly. every release goes KA-BOOOM! (and hurts)
Another thing, in
the last chapter you said you didn't expect that question from Gali.
actually, that wasnt planned at all. when i wrote that stuff with the
thief, i really wasnt thinking of it. i had the idea about... two
chapter before. most of the story is made like this. it just came to
be so. in other words: i lost completely control of it. (And before i
forget, that hug is NOT a clue to a Gali/Tahu. sorry)
ceestar: yeah. i hope that too. normally, my first story is the best. then... hmmm, i think you might be asking for a sequel...
ToaMaster: my idea is to start a story, but not
finish it. to leave it uncompleted. like if i was writing the first
comic of the bionicle saga. then, i ask ifsomeone's interested in
continuing. if someone is, good. he or she starts from the point
where we last left our heroes and writes another 'comic'. then, this
author asks again etc. (of course, only one can get the permission,
otherwise, we'd get two or three completely different stories). the
problem is, that this means there will be different parts of the
story throughout the category. which mean that i'd have to start a C2
group just for this story. which means that someone has tu
subscribe.
okay, other topic. before i check out your other
profiles, i bet its the guardian (what they have in common). nada
boy/girl, you don't get my e-mail. now its ME leaving you reviews.
(hehe)
Star 101: Gali? In trouble? she's been in trouble ever since she ran away from school! this must be the first time she's NOT in trouble. youre right, everything turns out right. at least for now... (and gali is my fave toa too, so i couldn't put her in prison)
