Secret of the Mask 2
Chapter 3
Author's Note: I want to start off this chapter by saying that this chapter wasn't written with anyone on this website in mind. I just wrote a part in this because it seemed like a natural consequence that would follow defeating an arch villain like Makuta. Anyway, enjoy and have a cookie. :)
A pair of figures strode down a street in Ga-Koro – or, actually, one strode and the other scuttled.
Takanuva had a sense of unease as he walked through the streets of Ga-Koro. Pairs of eyes stared at him as he went, and he couldn't help but wish that he were Takua again. He used to go about wherever he desired, blissfully ignored by the inhabitants of whatever village he was traveling through. Now, everyone noticed him.
For the umpteenth time that day, the smaller figure chirped angrily at her companion.
The Toa of Light stopped and sighed, gesturing to his companion. "I told you, Pewku," he said apologetically, "I'm too big to ride you!"
The Ussal Crab glared at him scornfully. He rolled his eyes and sighed. It saddened the Toa that he was making his dear pet upset. She had been everything that a friend could be.
He raised his gaze to meet the pair of eyes that sat on twin stalks. "If I ride you," he said, "would that make you happy?"
The Ussal Crab chirped loudly in response. Takanuva didn't need Nokama's Mask of Translation to figure out what that meant.
With a resigned smile, Takanuva sat on the Ussal Crab's shell. Whereas he used to only take up half of her shell, he now took up all of it. Takanuva held his legs against his chest as Pewku set off again toward their chosen destination.
Though Pewku had once been a racing crab from Onu-Koro, it was still a task to carry a Toa any sort of distance. However, Pewku saw it as her duty and would not deter from it.
With Pewku's tongue hanging out tiredly and Takanuva hugging his legs, the pair looked like they had just come from out of an avalanche in Ko-Wahi.
After some time, the Ussal Crab's pace began to slow down from sheer exhaustion. Pewku chirped and Takanuva chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry, girl," he said, "I guess I've gained a little weight…"
Pewku chirped again and Takanuva said, "Okay, a lot of weight." He began to grow a little concerned as he heard his crab huff and puff. "Would you like me to get off?"
The twin pair of stalks turned around and he was met with two threatening eyes. Takanuva gulped. "Nevermind," he said hurriedly.
Finally, just outside the Ga-Koro Kolhii Field, the Toa found just who he was looking for. He slid off on Pewku's shell and approached a pair of Ga-Matoran.
"See you later, Macku," a small blue figure said to her kolhii partner. The latter blinked up at the Toa before leaving.
"Hello, Takanuva," the Ga-Matoran said warmly.
"Hello, Hahli," the Toa said with a smile. The movement seemed to make his mask stretch, like his smiling muscles were out-of-shape and needed a good workout.
Hahli looked around the Toa curiously. "Where's Jaller?"
Takanuva said in a disappointed tone, "He's busy building the ships for going to Metru Nui…" The Toa knew that his friend was busy, so he had decided not to bother him. However, Takanuva was beginning to feel weary of the responsibility that came along with duty.
"Oh."
An awkward pause followed that only Hahli had the courage to break.
"So…" she said, "what brings you to Ga-Koro?"
Before the Toa could answer, the ground began to shake.
"Bioquake?" Hahli cried out to the Toa.
The Toa's eyes widened in horror. "Worse!" he said, fear creeping into his voice.
A cloud of dust rose from the other end of the road and seemed to be headed straight for the pair.
"Fan girls!" Takanuva screamed.
"C'mon," Hahli said, pulling the Toa and the Ussal Crab after her. The trio ran into the Matoran's hut and Hahli slammed the door behind them.
Seconds later, the trio could hear the whole population of Ga-Koro trying to break down the door.
"We know he's in there!" they could hear female voices shouting. "Open up!"
Takanuva bent down on one knee, stroking the worried Ussal Crab's shell. He looked at Hahli with pleading eyes. "If I don't make it, will you take Pewku?"
"Don't talk like that!" Hahli snapped. "Of course you're going to make it." She glanced at the door, an idea forming in her mind. Turning back to the frightened pair, she whispered, "Hide!"
Takanuva threw a tablecloth over Pewku and then dove behind her.
Hahli checked to make sure that she couldn't see the pair, and then rotated her shoulders backward in an effort to remain calm. Casually, she opened the front door.
What she found looked more like a parade than an angry mob. There were dozens of Ga-Matoran, some holding musical instruments, kolhii staffs, posters with Takanuva's mask on them and banners with the Toa's name written on them.
One of the Ga-Matoran stepped forward who was obviously the leader of this group.
"Where's Takanuva?" she demanded.
"Taka-who?" Hahli asked innocently.
If Ga-Matoran could gawk, these would have. They looked at the new Chronicler in disbelief.
"You don't know…who the great Toa of Light is!" the leader practically shouted.
"Uh…" Hahli said. "Should I?"
The leader put a hand to her mask and shook her head as though she were getting a headache. "He is only the greatest Toa that ever lived!" She then added dreamily, "And the best-looking one too…"
"Really?" Hahli asked sheepishly. "I've always been partial to the green one." Hahli felt like rolling on the ground laughing when she saw the looks of her fellow Ga-Matoran. Hahli really wasn't "partial" to the Toa of Air, but she found it amusing to see their reactions nevertheless.
The leader made a gesture to her companions that indicated that Hahli was probably insane. The Ga-Matoran then cleared her throat and turned back to Hahli. "Now – did you see where a tall gold Matoran went?" She assumed that since this Ga-Matoran was so uninformed as to not know who Takanuva was, she couldn't possibly know what a Toa was.
"Um, yes, actually," Hahli said, pressing a finger to her cheek thoughtfully. "I think he went…that way!"
Immediately, the group took off at a run in the direction she had indicated. Hahli chuckled to herself as she went back into her house and closed the door behind her.
Takanuva popped his head up from behind Pewku. "Thanks, Hahli! I could've been fan girl-bones."
"Could've been," Hahli said with a grin, "but you're not."
The Toa of Light smiled.