Secret of the Mask
Part I (of III)
Author's Note: I borrowed some of the dialogue and scenes from the Bionicle: Mask of Light movie/book. When I used scenes from the book/movie, I used most of the same quotes, but I phrased the action in my own words. I also got some background information from Answers. com. Merry Christmas!
A blast of dark energy shot at Takua. The Matoran was paralyzed with fear, unable to escape as the Fear-Rahkshi moved in on its prey.
Jaller looked back over his shoulder. There was no second thinking or hesitation as he leaped forward, wrapping his arms and legs around the Rahkshi's staff.
The Matoran barely heard his friend call his name as he hung as though lifeless from the staff, his energy taken from him. Then, the Rahkshi threw him off of it, preparing to counter the attacks of the oncoming Toa.
Takua rushed toward the fallen Matoran, dropping the mask that had fallen into his life against his will. He cradled the Captain of the Guard in his arms, fighting the grief that threatened to overtake him.
"I'm supposed to make the sacrifice!" Takua cried, watching his friend's life slipping away. He shakily held Jaller's hand in his own, fearing that his friend would not heed his protest and be all right again.
"No," Jaller replied with a feeble smile, "the duty was mine." Gathering what strength he could, he picked up the mask that he had so long carried. The mask had been entrusted into his care to deliver it to its master, whose identity Jaller now was keenly aware of.
"You know…" Jaller breathed weakly, "…who you are."
Takua's heart fell at the thought of having such a weighty responsibility without the most stable person in his life to lean on.
Jaller then repeated back the words that Takua had said in jest with so much more meaning now than Takua had ever intended them to have…
"You were always different."
Everything went dark…
And then light again.
Jaller found himself flying through what looked like a tunnel. On the tunnel's bright walls showed pictures of people and events from his life, which all seemed to almost blend together as he quickly passed by. As he flew, he heard voices that he recognized.
"You owe me a rematch on the kolhii field…"
"Trust in the mask. Let it be your guide…"
"You're a natural, brave firespitter…"
"I'm…"
"Running away and leaving me!"
At this last one, Jaller felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.
"You know who you are…"
Much to his surprise, Jaller suddenly found himself standing in a bright white place. He looked around him slowly, allowing his thoughts to register. The last thing he remembered was that he had been talking to his friend Takua and then, all of a sudden, he was here.
Jaller gasped as he noticed a tall figure approaching him.
The figure wore a golden mask, which startled Jaller. He had only seen one other golden mask before besides his own, which was the Mask of Light. Jaller also noticed that the being was about the same height and build as Tahu.
"Uh…" Jaller stumbled as he tried to find his words, "Are you a…Toa?"
"Yes," the Toa said.
This surprised Jaller even more. "I never knew that there were other Toa besides the ones on Mata Nui. Are you a Fire Toa?" he asked, noticing that most of the Toa's body, besides his mask, was red.
"Yes," the Toa said with a chuckle. With a grin, he continued, "And I know who you are, Jaller, Captain of the Guard and Herald of the Seventh Toa." The Toa said the last part with a voice filled with respect that Jaller immediately felt that he didn't deserve.
"Not exactly…" Jaller said, feeling awkward at contradicting a Toa.
"No," the stranger corrected gently, "you were the true Herald. It was your duty to help your friend find the Seventh Toa within himself, and then to deliver the mask to him when he was ready to take it." The Toa bent down on one knee, and put a hand on the Matoran's shoulder.
In a lower, solemn voice, the Toa said, "That was a brave thing you did, saving your friend."
"Thank you," Jaller said, his eyes lowered. He then gazed up into the Toa's eyes, and felt a strange sense of familiarity about this Toa. He searched into the back of his mind, trying to think of who this stranger could possibly be.
"I'm sorry, sir," Jaller said, "but I'm trying to figure out who you are. You seem so familiar… The only Matoran that I knew of that died was Lhii." The Toa lifted his hand off of Jaller's shoulder.
Assuming that this stranger had no idea who Lhii was, the Captain of the Guard explained, "Turaga Vakama once told me about a Matoran named Lhii who was the best lava surfer the island had ever known – next to Toa Tahu, that is," he added with pride. Then, more somberly, he continued, "However, one day he died in a lava surfing accident. Turaga Vakama told me that Lhii had been a member of my clan... Do you happen to know him?"
The Matoran gazed up to find the Toa standing with his arms crossed and smiling broadly.
"Why, yes, of course I know him."
Jaller waited in great earnest, desirous to find the person whom he had always wanted to meet. "Well?" he asked excitedly. "Where is he?"
"He's right here." Chuckling at Jaller's look of confusion, he said, "He's me."
Jaller's jaw almost fell to the floor. "Y-You're Lhii!" he exclaimed in awe.
Still smiling, the Toa replied, "Well, not exactly… My name is Lhikan."
Author's Note: Thank you to all of you who reviewed my last story. I enjoy getting feedback from readers.