By the time Turaga Nokama had finished translating the runes, Jaller and Pohatu had both drifted off to sleep, the latter of the pair snoring quietly and seeming to have a small bead of spit threatening to slide down his cheek. Takua normally would've laughed at the pair, particularly the island protector and his less-than-classy situation, but at the present the Chronicler was having trouble finding it in himself to smile. That crown had caused a lot of grief so far, simply due to being mentioned. Was it really valuable enough to deal with arguing Toa, a tournament game he utterly botched up, a creepy figure who only spoke in vague riddles, and – the biggest point – nearly burning to death in a river of lava? Was any accessory really worth that much stress?

'At least it's over now.' He thought with a faint sigh, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his messy blond hair. 'Everything will be back to normal soon, and I can leave it all behind me.'

But what if it wasn't all over? What if there was more that had to be done? That mysterious stranger had made the crown out to be a really big deal; what if this was only the beginning of the problem?

'I did my part.' He concluded. 'That creepy person only told me to get the relic, not what to do with it once I had it. The Toa can deal with it now, like they always do.' A tiny smile formed on his face. Yes, that was how it would be. He only had to start things, and the Toa could handle the rest. Just like it always happened.

"I see your friends drifted off on you, Takua."

The teenager blinked and looked up, finding himself watching as Turaga Vakama walked closer and sat down on the arm of the couch beside his adopted nephew. "Oh, hey Uncle Vakama." Takua said quietly, smiling a little more. "How's the translating going?"

"Nokama just finished." The thirty-nine year old replied with a small chuckle. "Thank you for being more patient than our resident Toa was. And not as noisy."

"It's a miracle, I know." Takua commented, offering a faint and half-hearted laugh. "I'm usually as quiet as an upset kane-ra. But after seeing you run Toa Tahu and Toa Gali out of the house, I decided that I rather enjoyed not having a headache."

Vakama smiled fondly at this, chuckling again as he remarked. "You always were a fast learner. But something seems to be troubling you. Is it the kolhii match? Or is it everything that happened before that?"

The teenager grimaced and looked at the floor. "Both, and more." He confessed. "I can't shake what that figure said before I found the blasted crown. About the doom of the island unless that relic was found... Do you think he was exaggerating? Sure the crown is flashy, but is it really such a big deal? And why single out me to find it? Why would having the Toa get it be so bad?"

"We will discuss the relic once Pohatu and Jaller are awake." The Turaga soothed. "As for the rest of your concerns, it is likely that he singled you out because of your knack for finding things other people might miss. And, perhaps, the fact you don't mind breaking rules to get where you want or need to go. Those are traits that make excellent Chroniclers and treasure seekers; it makes them willing to go that much further in order to find the truth."

Takua mulled that over in silence for a little while. It made sense now that it had been explained, and as he considered it more he came to the conclusion that a Toa simply just wouldn't have done the job right. But it also made him wonder something else. "Was Jaller's dad a Chronicler? Jaller doesn't talk about him much, but Toa Pohatu said it was traits like those that he prized."

Vakama hesitated a moment before sighing quietly, his smile fading as he replied. "He wasn't, no. Mihkoro was a different kind of person. A truth-seeker, yes, but not a Chronicler. He focused more on the future than what led up to it. He always had some question or another that he was trying to figure out, and often times he would question his own life's purpose. I never found out if he got his answers in the end. I can only hope he had some sort of self satisfaction before he passed... He didn't have a happy life."

"Were you close?" Takua asked. "You don't talk about him much either but you were brothers."

"Our relationship was... complicated." The Turaga replied. "I didn't get to know him as deeply as I wanted to, but we had a reasonable connection in spite of it. You probably would have liked him, actually. I know you two would have gotten into a lot of adventures together if he were still alive. In fact, I'm fairly certain he would have been very intrigued by your latest find."

Pohatu gave a sudden snort and mumbled a barely coherent 'whuzzat?' as he slowly blinked awake, wiping his mouth absently as he sat up a bit. "Did I miss anything?" Even as he slurred out his question, he was giving Jaller a small shake so he roused as well.

Vakama chuckled at the state of his nephew and the Toa. "Not entirely, no. But I was starting to wonder if you would actually come back on your own. Nokama has finished the translation; she and Onewa are just giving it one last look over before they share it. I was about to call the other Toa so they could hear as well."

"Aw, do you have to?" The Stone Toa asked jokingly. "I like it when they're gone."

"You and many others, I'm sure." Vakama replied as he got up. "But I Stand by what I said, and now I am making good on it.

A couple minutes found them all in Vakama's living room, the three Toa all on the couch – Onewa also insisted on having Tahu and Gali sit beside each other, much to their discomfort as well as Pohatu's glee – with Jaller and Takua squished into one armchair – also to Pohatu's unending amusement simply due to how tight the fit was – while Nokama comfortably reclined in the other, leaving the remaining Turaga on their feet. Vakama left the talking to Onewa, positioning himself near the couch rather than the center of the room, likely to make sure bickering did not ensue.

Needless to say, Pohatu was grinning.

"So," Turaga Onewa began. "now that we're all settled and comfortable," he glanced at the Toa with mild satisfaction as he said this. "we can actually discuss what it is Takua uncovered." He held up the mildly glowing crown. "And believe me when I say that it is going to change a lot of things. As I'm sure everyone remembers, Vakama had a vision shortly after we arrived and got settled on the island. One about a Seventh Toa. It seems the time has come." He gestured to the crown in his hand. "This is the Kanohi Avohkii; the Great Mask of Light. As such, it seems clear that the Seventh Toa will be truly one of a kind; a Toa of Light."

Predictably, the Toa and Matoran were surprised – if not startled – by the news. "A Seventh Toa?" Tahu repeated. "Here? Now? Where are they going to show up? And why now of all times? Everything is at peace, and the Makuta's threats are long gone."

Onewa rolled his eyes. "If this new Toa was just going to arrive out of nowhere, I doubt we would have found their Kanohi. No, the Seventh Toa is going to be the biggest treasure hunt that our island has ever endured; someone has to find them."

"Great!" Pohatu said eagerly. "Where should we start? Any ideas?"

"It won't be your hunt to make, actually." Nokama put in. "The Avohkii chose a herald already, and it is up to him to find the mask's rightful bearer."

All eyes turned to Takua and Jaller at once. The Chronicler panicked. What if they thought it was him? He was the one who'd found it after all! Thinking fast, he said quickly. "You mean that blaring light it shone on Jaller was it choosing him? Wow Jaller, that's awesome! Lucky you!"

"Wh-what?" Jaller spluttered. "Me? No way, I wasn't the one who found it!"

"But shiny lights, Jaller!" Takua piped hastily. "It was shining at you!"

"You pushed it!"

The Chronicler looked to the Turaga that were present. "Does this mean Jaller's going on an adventure of his own? I hope he keeps a journal because I want to read all about this later."

Jaller spluttered indignant and frustrated noises for a moment before pausing and giving his best friend the sort of smirk that told all too plainly that revenge was nigh. "But Takua, isn't that YOUR job? You are the Chronicler. Since when do you hide from history in the making?"

Pohatu watched the bickering pair with a raised eyebrow, not seeming entirely sure if he should be amused or merely intrigued. "Sheesh, never thought I'd see the day where a guard wanted to avoid his duty, and the Chronicler wanted to avoid recording it. What next? Tahu and Gali miraculously getting along for longer than ten minutes?"

Before either of the other Toa could retort, Onewa remarked loudly. "Excellent idea, Jaller. You follow the mask, and Takua follows you in the name of accurate historical records. Besides, you two will probably need to rely on each other to find the Seventh Toa; I doubt it will be easy."

"I suggest you start to prepare for your expedition as quickly as possible." Vakama added, further denying Tahu and Gali their chance to retaliate on Pohatu. "You will want to head out as soon as possible."

"We'll leave tomorrow morning." Takua mumbled dejectedly, only to drop further into poutdom as Jaller boldly declared.

"No, we leave tonight. Uncle Vakama said as soon as possible, so that's what we'll do. Come on Takua!" He pried himself out of the armchair after that, accepting the Avohkii from Onewa before heading to his room – which he shared with Takua whenever he wasn't off on a gallivant – to begin preparations.

Takua stayed seated, hardly even hearing the Turaga as they turned their attention to whatever the Toa needed to be told. This wasn't what he wanted; he'd done his part already! Finding the Seventh Toa wasn't something he wanted to do, not after the dark figure had scared him so badly about the Avohkii! What if he failed?!

'Breathe, Takua.' He thought shakily. 'Jaller's the herald, I'm the sidekick. Jaller's got it covered.' But even as he got up and slowly headed for Jaller's room, he couldn't help but feel a sinking sensation in the pit of his stomach. One that left him wondering...

Was Jaller really the herald? Or had Takua just saddled his best friend with his own destiny?