Disclaimer: I repeat, I don't own Bionicle or 'Mask of Light', but I do own Kit and Darcius.
Author's Note 1: I couldn't find the official name of the tentacled worm that Onua encountered in'Tales of the Masks', so I just made one up for the sake of the story.
"Not that I don't trust you or anything, brother," said Pohatu, "but are you sure we're going the right way?"
"Sure," Onua replied. "It's just with all of the damage the quake caused, we've had to take some detours and it's taking longer to get to the exit."
The Toa of Stone inwardly sighed but kept following the black Toa who, thanks to the fact that he could see in the dark, lead the way. Suddenly, the Toa of Earth froze, causing Pohatu to almost bump into him. "What's wrong?" he inquired.
Onua shushed him and whispered, "Do you hear that?" The Stone Toa listened for a moment, but didn't seem to hear anything.
"Hear what?"
"Something's near," the Earth Toa answered.
The Toa brandished their weapons and stood back-to-back, waiting. Then, a pair of white tentacles appeared from a side tunnel and were accompanied by a guttural growl. "What the--" Pohatu stumbled.
"It's a Subterranean Worm," Onua explained. "It's a giant tentacled worm that's suspected to eat protodermis."
Faster than the eye could see, the two tentacles struck out at the Toa and sent them flying through the tunnel wall. The Toa, stunned but unharmed, found themselves in an open cavern and standing on a ledge that overlooked an underground river far below. More of the worm's tentacles followed after them. Pohatu was about to use his climbing claws when Onua stopped him. "He's a link to the past; I don't want to harm him if we can help it."
"Any suggestions?" asked the Toa of Stone.
"That thing has sensitive hearing to make up for its lack of sight," Onua mentioned. He revved up his quakebreakers and prepared to slam them together.
This time, it was Pohatu who stopped him, afraid that the soundwave from the tools might cause the entire cavern to collapse like at Onu-Koro. Spotting a rock, he hatched an idea. Using the speed power of his Kakama to aid him, he kicked the rock into the tunnel before the Rahi could even block it. There, it loudly ricocheted, loud enough to bother the worm. The Toa of Stone continued kicking rocks as if they were kohlii balls, one after the other, making them bounce off the tunnel wall. The Rahi roared and its tentacles writhed; the cacophony of rebounding rocks was indeed bothering it. Soon, the tentacles retreated and there was no more sound from the worm. Pohatu took the moment to catch his breath, only to find out an instant later that he assumed too soon that the whole thing was over. A tremor had caused the cavern to start shaking uncontrollably. "W-w-what's happening?" the brown Toa asked as he tried to preserve his balance.
"It's the worm," a crouching Onua realized as he felt the vibrations in the earth. "It's trying to burrow its way out."
As the tremors continued, small rocks and stalactites that shook loose from the ceiling began to fall, some near the Toa. 'Tahu's Hau would really come in handy right now,' Pohatu thought to himself. Spotting a stalactite falling toward him, he narrowly dodged it before it could impale him. However, in doing so, his foot slipped off the ledge. Unable to stabilize his balance, he began to lean over the edge. "Onua! Heeelp!" he shouted. In the blink of an eye, Onua lunged, got down on the floor, and just managed to grab hold of Pohatu's hand. But, the point of the peak crumbled underneath the Toa of Earth, threatening to send them both down. Just when it looked like the two Toa were done for, Onua grabbed hold of the edge with his free hand. At that moment, the tremors stopped. Upon instinct, Pohatu looked down and found himself grateful that they didn't have to take a dip in the river below, considering they survived the fall itself. The Toas relief, Onua discovered, was short lived when he felt something happening in his hand.
He looked up and gasped as he saw the many tiny cracks. "The rock, it's going to--" the edge totally crumbled away, and the Toa of Earth lost his hold. Out of nowhere, a white hand grabbed hold of Onua's. Surprised, the two Toa looked up at their rescuer. It was Kopaka. The Toa of Ice hauled his brothers up to safety and the three sat where they were, panting.
"Thanks, brother," said Pohatu. Kopaka simply nodded.
"By the way," said Onua, "how did you know how to find us?" With a slight smirk, the Ice Toa tapped his scope, and Onua understood—using a combination of his scope and mask power, Kopaka must've located them very easily. Suddenly, like earlier, Onua stiffened as he sensed something happening in the earth. "Kopaka, see what you can see over there," he instructed as he pointed in the direction of the hole from which and Pohatu came.
Kopaka complied and summoned his x-ray vision power once more. Through the rock and the soil, he spotted them. "Rahkshi," he announced, "and they're headed toward the Kini Nui."
"Let's go," Pohatu said as he got to feet, mask glowing.
Onua and Kopaka got up, nodded to their brother and they were all off in a flash.
"Kini Nui, thegreat temple," Jaller quietly exclaimed in awe.
Takua, on the other hand, couldn't believe it. "We've been all over the island just to wind up here!"
"Why not?" Jaller asked. "It's a special place."
Takua snatched away the mask as he asked, "Are you sure this thing's working right?"
When nothing happened, he gave it a little shake. The mask's reaction was a bright flash that erupted into a beam that blasted off a chunk of the statue just before them. "This is it," said Jaller, "the Seventh Toa must be here." Three shadows blocked some of the setting sunlight—the Rahkshi had arrived. Jaller quickly grabbed the mask back, ready to protect it, but Takua stopped him.
"We both know the mask chose me," he explained. "I'm the true herald."
"Are you sure? Even now?" asked Jaller, surprised that his friend was just now accepting his responsibility. Takua assured him he was, grabbed back the mask, and they ran toward the Amaja Circle. Only, the first three Rahkshi they met were there, too.
"We're trapped," Takua gasped.
"But not helpless," Jaller pointed out as he readied his blade. True it was no Toa tool, but he wasn't going down without giving it all he had.
Suddenly three torches from above began to light up one by one, blinding the Rahkshi. The two Matoran looked up and saw them. "Toa! Kit!" said Takua. "Great, you can get us out of here." But, instead of grabbing the Matoran and making a break for it, the Toa circled them while Kit, standing ready in her Toa armor suit, stayed near them.
"We are done running," said Tahu as he, Gali, and Lewa readied their weapons.
Just then, the ground began to shake a little. A hand popped out from the sand and out came the missing three Toa, also ready for battle. "Brothers, we thought we lost you," Gali greeted, relieved that Pohatu and Onua were alright.
"And you might've if it weren't for our icy friend," said Onua, earning him a small, appreciative smile from the mentioned Toa.
"Now! As one!" proclaimed the Toa of Stone.
The Toa connected their tools and Tahu commanded a force shield to form around the entire group. Lewa then jumped into action and summoned a twister of sand while Gali kept the other three busy. With an addition of Tahu's fire, the sand in the twister hardened into a giant glass structure with three Rahkshi infused in it. The battle continued as according to the story: Pohatu linked Kurahk's and Vorahk's hands together with his climbing claws; Onua used his earth powers to lift some boulders into the air; Tahu heated the boulders until they were melted into lava, which were then dropped onto the trapped Rahkshi; Gali blasted them with a stream of water, and Kopaka finally froze them and the lava pool with ice. Kit was so into the fight, even she didn't notice Turahk until it was too late. She prepared an attack, but the red Rahkshi knocked her away and went after the fleeing Matoran. Shaking it off, the girl got up and jumped onto the monster's back. After a little struggle, the Rahkshi gave a hard elbow, stunning her. Turahk fired his staff and Takua was hit, hearing Makuta's voice. He was so frightened, he couldn't even move, giving the Rahkshi ample opportunity to strike the finishing blow. Jaller, however, jumped in and held onto the staff. Immediately, he could feel the power coursing through him, making him see his worst fears. Still he wouldn't let go; he forced himself to hold on, despite the fact that he could feel the intense fear was causing him to have a heart attack. The Rahkshi threw him aside, then found itself under attack by Pohatu and Gali. Realizing what his friend had done for him, Takua managed to shake off the Rahkshi's power and joined a revived Kit at Jaller's side. Jaller breathed hard, his chest hurt like it was going to burst, he felt so weak, and his heartlight was flashing. And, he was aware that two other people were with him. "I'm supposed to make the sacrifice," Takua said as he cradled his friend's head.
"No," Jaller said weakly, "the duty was mine."
"Jaller, I'm so sorry," Kit apologized, her voice heavy with sorrow.
"It's ok, I have no regrets," the dying Matoran replied as bravely as he could. He reached for the Mask of Light and said to Takua, "You know who you are." Using the last of his strength, he handed it to him and concluded with, "You were always different." And, dropping his hand and with a final burst of light from his heartlight, he died.
Takua looked upon his friend with a sad look on his mask when he spotted two drop marks in the sand. Another followed and he looked up at the sky, but there was no raincloud in sight. Hearing Kit make some strange noises, he looked to her and found what appeared to be water leaking from her eyes. His curiosity didn't last though, and he got up and looked at the mask, Jaller's last words echoing in his mind. He moved to place on the mask, hesitated, then, with determination in his eyes, he put it on. Kit suddenly found herself blinded by a flash of light and carefully slid down from the platform. When the light disappeared, there stood Takua. Only, he wasn't exactly Takua anymore. "I am Takanuva, Toa of Light," the newly-found Seventh Toa introduced himself. His first order of business was doing away with the last Rahkshi. Then, using a beam of light, the outer layer of the statue was dispersed, revealing a Pakari. He retracted his light, subspaced his staff, and carried his friend's body down the steps and the 'aisle' Kit and the Toa created. Despite the fact she knew this was only temporary, Kit just couldn't hold back the tears; this wasn't the DVD, this was real.
Meanwhile, down in the Mangaia, Makuta sensed and saw everything, as he always had. "So, it has begun, my brother," he mused. "But soon, it will also end."
The next day, shortly after sunrise, Kit and the Toa were busy gathering Rahkshi parts. Earlier, Takanuva explained his plan to build a machine he called an Ussanui and confront Makuta. Gathering up all of the Rahkshi parts they could find, they put it together according to the Light Toa's plans. Finally, all it needed was a Shadow Kraata, and, luckily, Takanuva found one and placed it inside as he explained that the kraata would guide the vehicle to Makuta's lair. Then, Hahli approached with Jaller's hau in hand. "Jaller was your Herald," she said with a sad tone to Takanuva as she placed the mask on the Ussanui's front. "Let him continue to lead to victory."
"Well said, Hahli," said the new Toa.
Pohatu took a moment to observe the new machine, came to a conclusion, and said, "Not much room in this transport. Where will we all sit, brother?"
"You won't," Takanuva answered. "You shall not join me."
While the Toa debated, Hahli carefully opened a hatch to a compartment just big enough for her to slip in. When she looked around one more time, she saw that Kit had spotted her and she froze. Instead of the warning the Toa that she was expecting, her human friend just gave a slight smile and winked as if saying, 'Go for it.' Deciding to save her questions 'til later, Hahli slipped in as quietly as a stone rat and closed the hatch. And just in time too, for just at that moment, Takanuva hopped on, activated the Ussanui, and disappeared into the tunnel, unaware that he had a stowaway. 'Now the fun part,' Kit thought to herself sarcastically, 'the waiting.'
The bad part about riding in a compartment with no windows whatsoever, Hahli discovered, was that there was no telling what you could expect. The sudden movement of the Ussanui leveling itself came as a surprise, just when she got used to the weightlessness of going down. Then, without warning, it turned, righted itself, and flipped completely over, forcing the Ga-Matoran to brace herself against the walls as best as she could. The vehicle kept going straight and, just when she was beginning to wonder if she should be worried, she found herself slamming with the door of the compartment as a loud crash echoed in her ears. For a moment, she lay dazed, but not hurt. 'Something tells me it was good thing I couldn't see where this thing was going,' she said to herself as she rubbed her head. She worked on the latch of the door, and popped her head out, to the surprise of Takanuva. "It's time someone was your Chronicler," she proclaimed as she grabbed Jaller's mask. The Toa of Light simply looked upon her with pride. Hearing a hissing sound, the two spotted the stunned Shadow Kraata.
As swiftly as a coiled snake, Takanuva grasped it in his hand before it could regain enough of its bearings to get away. "Let's go," he said to the new Ga-Matoran Chronicler, and they walked through the doors.
Hahli followed as close to the Toa as she could, not wanting to get lost in this place. There was a dank and foul smelling aroma about the cavern, and the shadows and green mist obscured everything—just as Kit told her. However, in the very middle of the cavern lay a good-sized pool of energized protodermis that illuminated the four green pillars that circled it. Finally, Takanuva raised a hand, signaling for her to stay put, and continued on. Hahli simply watched with concern as the new Toa walked toward the pillars. She saw him throw down the kraata and heard it slither away into the darkness. "You can no longer hide in shadow," the Light Toa announced, knowing that his enemy was in there somewhere.
Hahli nearly jumped when she heard the reply, "I am shadow—the shadow that guards the gate. Now run along, or accept your doom."
"I am done running. Mata Nui will be awakened this day," Takanuva declared defiantly. "Hahli, summon the Matoran!"
"It's done," the Ga-Matoran nodded and ran back through the doors, into the tunnel. She was feeling rather grateful that the Toa of Light gave her something to do that required leaving that dreadful place.
Running as fast as her legs could carry her, she soon saw the beam of daylight from where they entered and climbed up. When she got to the top, she saw all of the Toa had done as their new brother asked—the Matoran and Turaga were gathered around. Needless to say, everyone except Kit, was surprised to see her. Before anyone could say anything, she announced, "I bring word from Takanuva: he wants us to follow. We are to awaken Mata Nui today."
Instantly everyone started conversing among themselves. "The light among the shadows," Vakama thought, and came to a conclusion. "The prophecy is fulfilled. We must go."
"If we descend into those tunnels, we may never return," Onewa pointed out. This created more discussion among the group, this time about actions and consequences.
Hahli watched and listened with anxiety. While they were deciding what was to be done, Takanuva was, more than likely, fighting the Makuta all on his own and there was no telling how he was faring. She climbed onto a rock and tried to get everybody's attention, but her voice was lost amongst the voices. Luckily, Vakama took care of it by calling for silence. Once everyone's voices were quiet and with all eyes on her, Hahli started, "This island is a great and wondrous place. Never have any been as blessed as we are to live in such a paradise." Everyone nodded in agreement. "I love my home, and Jaller loved it too," Hahli continued as she gazed at the lost Captain's mask. "But above all Jaller respected duty. Let us repay him by doing our duty. Let us remember him by fulfilling our destiny. Let us go forward together. Let us awaken the Great Spirit." She raised Jaller's mask into the air, a ray of sunlight catching it, causing it to shine.
The crowd cheered enthusiastically and, within moments, they were following Hahli down the tunnel. Soon, they could hear the sounds of something crashing and Makuta's voice. For a brief moment, Kit shuddered slightly, remembering the first time she met Makuta face-to-face. Finally, they reached the doors and found Makuta and Takanuva engaged what seemed to be a round of kohlii. "An audience gathers for your final failure, Toa of Light," the Shadow Spirit mocked.
"Maybe they will not see me win today," Takanuva countered, "but the Matoran will go on. And someday, they will triumph."
"You actually believe I would let them return?" Makuta asked before launching a darkened ball of protodermis at the arch above the entrance. With nowhere else to run, the crowd ran into the chamber as rocks and debris cut them off from the tunnel. "They will not leave," Makuta declared.
The Toa of Light, angry at what the fiend had done, launched himself at him. Makuta threw another kohlii ball of protodermis at the golden Toa, but Takanuva was ready for him. As he tucked himself into a ball, everyone recognized that it was the special move he tried earlier, now perfected. Once he had the ball, he threw it right at Makuta, who was taken by surprise and thrown into the wall behind him with a crash. Takanuva approached cautiously. For a while, it seemed as if he had won; Makuta wasn't moving. "Well played, Toa," the behemoth spoke as he stirred. "Now I will protect Mata Nui from you."
Confused, the Toa of Light asked, "Protect him?"
"Sleep spares him pain," Makuta explained. "Awake, he suffers."
"You are not protecting him," Takanuva said defiantly.
"You got that right," Kit whispered to Vakama. "That's gotta be the biggest load of crap I've ever heard him come up with."
If Makuta heard the girl's comment, he gave no indication as he declared, "My duty is to the Mask of Shadows."
"Then let's take a closer look behind that mask," Takanuva decided and he leapt onto Makuta.
With all of his might, he strained to hold onto the mask as Makuta struggled to get him off. Finally, he managed to disengage the artifact from the giant's face, a beam of energy sheltering his face from view. Suddenly, both of them fell into the pool of energized protodermis. Everyone stared and gathered around the pool; they all knew that the Toa Nuva came into being when they were exposed to the substance. But, what would it do to the Toa of Light and the Master of Shadows? Then, a light started to form from within the pool. "It's happening," Kit whispered in awe and wonder so quietly no one could hear her. First, the light began to form the Bionicle logo, then it began to expand. Everyone ran for cover and a muted explosion occurred.
Then, something rose from the liquid and everyone stared and a few gasps were heard. Its mask, its entire form seemed to be an amalgamation of both Takanuva and Makuta. "Light and Shadow have become one," Vakama mused at the sight.
"Light has revealed the will of Mata Nui," the creature, Takutanuva, proclaimed in a booming voice as he pointed to the gate that was carved in the likeness of the Great Spirit. "Our brother must be awakened."
Takutanuva, with heavy footsteps, approached the gate and, mustering all of his strength, lifted it to allow his friends passage, and they ran in. "Go!" he encouraged them; he couldn't hold the gate up much longer, "Run!" That's when he noticed Hahli. "Halt, little one," he called to the Ga-Matoran. "That mask needs life." He held out his hand and she handed it to him. Setting it down on the floor, a light shone from his palm and he hovered it over the mask. Soon, a heartbeat could be heard, and Jaller was reborn.
Groaning and feeling a little woozy, he struggled to his feet and Hahli helped him up. "Jaller," she said as she embraced him in a hug, overcome with joy. Jaller, meanwhile, blushed a little. Takutanuva smiled fondly at the sight. Then, the gate began to feel heavier than ever.
"My duty is done," he said to himself as he watched the two Matoran run to get out of the way. The giant groaned and strained, but his strength gave out, the gate falling on top of him.
Jaller turned at the sound of what he suspected was the gate slamming shut. "Get out of there!" he shouted. As if in response, the Kanohi Avohkii slid into view.
Everyone looked on, wondering if their latest guardian just sacrificed himself. Vakama walked over, picked up the mask, and led the group into the chamber at the end. Almost immediately, Kit found herself staring in wonder at the vast room. She could hardly believe it; while the darkness in the Mangaia was foreboding and evil, the darkness in this cavern seemed to have a good and welcoming feeling to it, as if it had been patiently waiting for the right people to arrive. Just like that night at Ta-Koro's courtyard, Vakama's words were lost to Kit until a pillar of light riveted her eyes and attention to it. In the middle of the light stood Hahli. 'This is it,' she thought as she noticed all of the Toa lined up and stood fist to fist in a chain-like formation.
The Turaga then placed Jaller on another part of the Bionicle symbol that decorated the floor where the Matoran also became encased in a pillar of light. "Destiny," Vakama finished as he placed the golden mask in the center, the largest circle in the symbol.
A stream of light wound itself around and around, all the way up to the ceiling. Kit could swear, just for a brief moment, she saw a small red blue-masked form in the axis of the light. Finally, the pillars dimmed away, and in the center stood Takanuva, revived. "You're alive," Jaller cried. His old friend, now twice his height, patted his head, but Jaller wasn't quite finished. "Kohliihead," he scolded as he elbowed the Toa's knee, "you could've been Makuta-bones."
"Could've been," the Toa of Light paused, as if in thought, then said, "but I'm not."
"That's our Takua," Kit chuckled, and, turning to her, Takanuva smiled almost sheepishly. The girl and Makuta were right after all; he may be a Toa now, but, deep inside, he was still the Matoran everyone knew.
Suddenly, Takanuva's, Hahli's, and Jaller's masks began to glow. Three beams of light shot from them, converged, and everyone could just barely see what appeared to be a land mass in a large ocean. "Light has illuminated our destiny," Vakama mused quietly, mostly to himself. "It has been refound."
"What has?" Kit took the question out of, mostly, everyone's mouths. "What is that, Vakama?"
The Turaga of Fire looked the girl in the eye and replied, "The city of the Great Spirit—my island home."
Kit, taken aback by this news, looked to the Toa and Matoran for an explanation. The answers she found, however, were shrugs and looks of shock, surprise, and disbelief that matched her own.
Meanwhile, in his dark realm, Darcius sat on his throne, pondering. His plans to kill the Matoran, Takua, before he became Takanuva had failed. True, he could still come up with a way to get rid of him, but he wouldn't be quite as vulnerable as he was as a Matoran. Reflexively, he clenched his hand and his expression changed to anger. Every time he made a move, she was, somehow, always there to stop him. However, that angry frown soon changed into a wicked smile. He was already preparing a new plan, one that involved changing everything every creature in this realm knew. And, he was certain that annoying human child wouldn't be able to anything about it except watch, as the very world she had sworn to protect rotted and withered away before her very eyes. He then let a quiet chuckle escape from his lips; he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when that came to pass, a look that he was certain would be one of ultimate despair and failure.
About two days had come and gone since that fateful day in the cavern and most of the Toa, some Matoran, and Kit were enjoying a friendly round of Huai Snowball Sling, upon the girl's insistence that they could all use some 'down-time'. Kit threw a snowball, only to have one splatter all over her face. Kit wiped the snow off, paused, and said to Takanuva with a smile, "Well, I don't care," and collected more snow to make another ball. As the human, Toa, and Matoran laughed and enjoyed their game, Turaga Nuju watched from a ledge above. Despite the cheerful scene before him, he couldn't help but feel a great weight on his shoulders, knowing what all of those people down there and all over the island were about to learn.
Author's Note 2: Sorry people, but I'm afraid this is all the farther this story goes (they're just not turning out to be as long as I think they will). But don't worry, there's still more to come in this series. It's just going to be a matter of finding time to work on them, get them edited, formatted, and posted (especially with work and all other sorts of things going on in my life right now). But, I'll try to get them up as soon as possible.