Takanuva grit his teeth. As he walked with the rest of the matoran delegation, he began to prepare himself. All of the matoran koro's and agori tribe representatives were going to be there focusing on matters and issues that made his poor head spin. Most importantly Turaga Dume would be there, the top brass of the matoran hierarchy, if one could call it that. Where the Turaga, Vakama, Nokama, Matau, and so forth looked after the Koros, it was Turaga Dumes duty to look after the Turagas.
He was the overseer and final word on things regarding peace and justice in the land, and that haden't sat well with the Av-matoran people. Dume was many things, tactful, sharp, and above all intelligent, but at times he seemed to lack empathy when it came to the overall welfare of the being he governed. At the circle of Turage, when the Turaga were coming up with a plan on how to split up territory amongst the new agori inhabitants it had been Turaga Dume who had insisted that since there was no Turaga to govern the Av-matoran it should be his duty. He would be their voice in the upcoming conversations.
Kirop, Tanma, and the rest of the Av-matoran present did not agree to these terms in the slightest. From their point of view they were not getting a wise and knowledgeable leader who cared for their people, they were getting some Ta-Turaga who had no business in the matters of the matoran of light! Didn't know their views, their way of life, even the simplest matters of ceremonies and celebrations.
But when Dume had decided something it was decided. He claimed that only for this meeting would he represent the matoran, then at the next meeting the matoran could elect a representative or ambassador to stand in a turagas place with him when they conducted business.
Takanuva vividly remembered what happened next, what had created the tension between the Av-matoran and the Ta-matoran, Kirop had slammed his fist on the table, demanding his people be properly be represented and furthermore not be trodden over by some know it all Turaga who is too used to getting his own way.
Things had only regressed from there, and if Takanuva had not used his mask to calm the parties at the table, he was sure things would have turned into an all out brawl.
The meeting ended with Kirop threatening to secede should this progress any further. Needless to say after Turaga had gone behind Kirops back and claimed land for them near the Ta-koro border without their permission, Kirop made good on his promise.
And there was Takanuva, caught in the middle, his true Av-koro people on one hand, and his loyal Ta-friends on the other. Both the Toa Nuva, Turaga made their cases for him to stay. Pleading that if he did the Av-matoran would have another reason and an ambassador back into the fold. A starting point to work back their relationship with the other koros.
The Av-matoran on the other hand pleaded with him to stay with them as well, they had known him when he was Takua, treated him well, and mourned when he had gone missing all those years ago. They needed his protection now more than ever given their current situation. They had less, and he knew that. Not to mention, he personally didn't agree with Turaga Dume's way of going about things. Turaga were supposed to be leaders of matoran and in his lifetime there had never been a koro that hadn't had the support of a Turaga. They were in uncharted territory here. But he was a Toa, so when wasn't he in uncharted territory. He had agreed to stay with and support the Av-matoran in the end.
A choice that had not gone over well with the Toa Nuva, Turaga, or those closest to him.
...
As they entered the main hall where everyone was gathering to be seated, Takanuva spotted the Toa Nuva all standing at the other end of the hall, having some sort of serious discussion. He gulped, Technically he was still a Nuva, I mean it was in his name afterall, but terms weren't great on either side still and both sides still had some open wounds when it came down to who was loyal to whom. But maybe he would get lucky. Time does heal all wounds after all.
Tahu was the first to notice him. He and Kopaka scowled, with the others a mix of contempt and possibly longing. Looks like luck wasn't on his side just yet.
Suddenly finding their seats was top priority for them as they took their places in the Great Hall. Takanuva took his place next to Kirop, with Kirop being in the middle and Tanma on the other side. Every Koro was represented by a Turaga, his right hand matoran, and a Toa. In their case it was Kirop, Tanma, and Takanuva, respectively. Takanuva was really only there as a figurehead position and had no real intention of adding much to the matters being attended to. He really only wanted to ensure that things didn't go any more off the rail than they had the last time they were all together.
With Turaga Dume reaching the front of the hall followed by the other Turaga, the meeting could begin.
...
Things started off very smoothly, building and construction was discussed. Forges and what models were to be built, the Ga-koro wanted to establish a sanctuary for matoran and agori alike to view rahi otherwise hidden by the waters depth. A sort of above ground archives if you will. Le-koro was getting chutes up and running across their koro, but it would take time before the technology progressed to other koros and how long it would take was anyone's guess. The Onu-matorans mining operations were going well and apart from the occasional new Rahi they had to deal with, progress on special ores and minerals were keeping on track. Ko-koro had found a place atop the Norin mountains and had taken to shepherding local mountain goat rahi the agori called Lohi sheep, good wool for warmth and good at keeping predators away. and Po-koro had been working with local agori to establish trade and teach them the sport of Kohli.
That only left Av-koro. And once attention was brought to them, all Karzahni seemed to break loose.
Dume began politely inviting the representative of Av-koro to take the stand, an insult as Kirop was their leader, not some representative. Takanuva closed his eyes and sucked in his breath, things were off to a rough start, but maybe they would turn out better than he expected.
...
Tanma stood up at once "This is the problem with all your proposals Turaga Dume, you wish to preside over us, not offer guidance"! Kirop beckoned him to stand down but if he saw it, he clearly ignored it. "The beings of Av-Koro are their own Koro, and Turaga or no Turaga will stay that way, not have some Turaga from a foreign land dictate our future'.
Takanuva winced, while he and Turaga Dume often butted heads when it came to, well, almost everything really; fully rejecting the inclusion of the other tribes was ill advised and frankly downright stupid. The matoran of Le-koro could help them with materials to build shelters, the Ga-korians could help them to purifying water and learning about the other koros, being the teachers they were, Ta-koros masterful forges, Onu-koros mining reserves, all of it! Kirop had to see that. Surly.
"I agree with Tanma" Kirop finally said.
'Karzahni' through Takanuva.
"Then nothing changes," Dume scoffed. You remain outside the protection and unity of New Metru Nui still." "With nothing further to discuss, this meeting will be adjourned."
...
Takanuva stayed seated watching everyone leave the hall. Tanma bumped his shoulder, ushering him to come along, but Takanuva shook his head. He needed some time to himself. How could things go so badly yet again, and more importantly why didn't he say anything? Both sides had valid concerns; he couldn't deny it. He didn't want Av-koro to lose its culture and dominion over itself, but at the same time without the help of the other koros would be infinitely more difficult to survive.
He had been so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he had failed to notice the approach of a certain Toa of Fire. "Takanuva", he said, breaking the younger Toa out of his trance. "Toa Tahu" Takanuva said, startled. "I um..." he truly was at a loss for words. Tahu signaled to the other Toa to go on without him and turned his attention back to the younger toa. "You sure did a lot of talking in there" his voice thick with sarcasm. Takanuva gulped "yeah I...I don't always feel it's my place to..." he fumbled trying to find the words. "Its what, not your place to stand up for your people and say 'hey here's a thought let's all not die alone on an island'"? he mocked. Takanuva shrunk in his seat.
Tahu never hid his words behind pleasantries or half truths, Tahu said what he meant, no matter how harsh it might come off. Takanuva had admired that about the Toa of Fire, his blatant honesty, to him it showed a sort of respect to the other person. In this case however, it was humiliating. "Tahu I -" he started " - both sides have good points I don't want to risk, I mean tensions are high right now and Dume keeps pushing, and Kirop and Tanma keep pushing back, I just think if they could come together and make an exception, I mean Kirop has the potential to be a Turaga stand in - we made an exception for the agori so surly-". Takanuva was rambling, he had a lot of thoughts in his head right now and at the moment it seemed like it was a race to see who could get to his mouth the fastest.
Tahu held up a hand to stop him "Ok- ok easy there, your going to have a heart light attack if you keep that up". Takanuva chuckled a little. "We're worried about you Takanuva, you need to be a united force. The Skrall are still out there, the Brotherhood of Makuta may have disbanded but the Dark Hunters haven't. Being one toa on an island filled with nothing but matoran of light seems like a pretty easy target, don't you".
Takanuva couldn't deny his words. "And more importantly there comes a question of loyalty, Takanuva". Takanuva raised his head to look his mentor directly in the eyes. "Are you still with us?" "Of course," Takanuva answered automatically! Tahu grimace "because from where I'm standing you are choosing to continue urging on a behavior that will ultimately lead to more harm than good, you have to see that, right"?
"And what if something were to happen to them while I wasn't there? What if something were to happen that caused irreparable damage and caused a rift bigger than the one we have now"? Takanuva clenched his fists, he would never be able to forgive himself if something were to happen and he wasn't there to protect his people.
Tahu sighed deeply and drew back, staring angrily to one side deep in thought. "You can make the right choice Takanuva, and right now, you are not making the right one". He pushed back on the platform in front of him and began to stride away only to turn back and mutter "Ta-koro was your village first you know. Where lies your loyalty to them.