A/N - I'm baaaaaaack! With the first true chapter of Book 2 Arc 1! This is amazing! I've never made it this far as a writer, and I get to share this with you guys!
Sorry it came out so late. My day was just heck, because last evening I had a little accident and fell down some stairs. I'm okay, but my hip was really hurt so I ended up going to the hospital and having my devices confiscated at one point. Also, my new iPhone - that I got about 11 months ago - died. As in, it will never power on again. I blew my top when that happened! I was so upset (there's more information on my profile update). At least I kept my old iPhone 5c (so old, I know), so I at least have a phone!
Everything's calm now, so I'm gonna post this quickly before something else happens. Like my cat deciding to run out in the rain and leave me to give her a bath… *sighs*
Not a lot of action really in this chapter. Just an introduction chapter… with a twist towards the end! I know it's short, but this is more of an introductory chapter and plot setter more than anything!
Any ways, onto the story!
Disclaimer: I own squat except for my OCs and the DVDs/Cassettes.
"Stupid good for nothing… why the frag does this stuff always happen to me… slaggin' Mother Nature… 'little mid-February storm' my arse… it's a fraggin' BLIZZARD…"
A young girl grumbled and snarled under her breath as she made her way to the barely visible two-story house. She was clad in a thick blue Columbia coat, boot-cut jeans, black mid-calf boots, and had her ever present blue baseball cap. A large, blue nebula themed backpack rested on her back. Of course, not a lot of her outfit was visible from the amount of snow covering her.
The girl cursed as one of her feet caught on the porch steps, nearly sending her sprawling. Thankfully, a blue mittened hand caught the railing, so she was able to stand upright.
"Grrrr… stupid ice… hate it… fraggin' excuse for water…"
The girl continued to grumble and snarl as she stomped up to the doorway, shaking off some snow as she did. Fumbling with her coat pocket, she pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door. Stepping inside, she let out a relieved sigh as she closed and locked the door behind her.
Sliding the bag off her back, she then proceeded to peel off the snow covered layers. Once all the outer clothes were off, there was only a 5' 10", blue-eyed girl with blonde and blue striped hair, wearing a light pink sweater and soaked blue jeans.
She groaned, pulling on the wet fabric with a grimace. "Aw man…"
Moving towards the stairs, she expertly avoided the white cat that tried to trip her as it rubbed against her legs. As she did, a buzzing came from her pocket. Pulling out her blue iPhone, the girl answered "Hello?"
"Hi sweetie."
She smiled. "Hi Mom," dodging the cat as she made her way up, she added "I'm home."
There was some chuckling on the other end. "Just making sure sweet pea. With the weather the way it is and all."
The girl snorted at that. "Uh huh. Called for a small storm off of Lake Ontario and we get a flippin' blizzard."
"Emma…" There was a warning in that tone.
"Sorry Mom." The girl, Emma, apologized as she got to the top of the stairs.
There was a sigh. "I know this has been a rough couple of months for you, but…"
Emma smiled, entering her room. "It's fine Mom. It's in the past, and I'm okay now. Besides," she moved towards her dresser, opening it and pulling out a pair of black track pants, "you needed the promotion. I'm fine with being home alone for a couple of days."
"If you're sure-"
"Yes Mom." Emma interrupted in semi-exasperation, taking the phone away from her ear and pressing the speaker button. "Just focus on your work. The sooner you're done the sooner you can come home, right?"
She could hear her mom chuckle on the other end. "All right all right. Just checking sweetie. Last time-"
"-Was last time, I know. But don't worry about it!" Pulling off the wet jeans, she said, "And this time, I'm keeping the cat inside."
"Okay, I just worry about you."
Emma smiled, pulling on the track pants. "I know that Mom."
"I know you do sweetie."
She smiled, looking down at her sweater and deciding to change it into something more comfortable. "Love you Mom."
"Call if you need anything. Even if-!"
"Mom…" The girl groaned.
Her mom gave an amused chuckle. "I love you to sweetie."
There was a click as her mother hung up. Emma gave a weak chuckle, sliding the phone into her pant pocket while opening the dresser a second time and pulling out a blue and white t-shirt. Pulling off her sweater, she exposed multiple scars - like large scratches - lining her back under her clothe white sports bra. The largest scar sat on her left shoulder, going from just next to her neck down to the bottom of her shoulder blade.
Emma pulled the shirt on, wincing a little as she moved her still-sore left shoulder. She adjusted the tee, before walking over and grabbing her blue and white zipper hoodie. Slipping it on, she made her way back downstairs.
"Time to get started on my homework…" she muttered, already dreading the history essay that lay ahead of her. I hate weekend homework…
Emma leaned back into the couch with a sigh, staring at the time. Six already? No wonder I'm hungry.
Standing up, she stretched her arms above her head, letting out a loud yawn as she did so. Trudging into the kitchen, she opened the fridge - and yelped when a white form materialized between her legs. "Sparks!"
The white cat meowed, looking up at her with big, blue eyes.
Emma just rolled her eyes, pushing the cat back with her foot. "No."
Looking in the fridge, she grinned at the sight of a blue-topped clear container filled with a brown liquid. Inside the liquid were different sized chunks of potato, meat and carrots. "Ah… nothing like Mom's homemade turkey soup after a long day."
Pulling the soup out of the fridge, Emma set it on the counter before moving to the cupboard. Within minutes she had a bowl in the microwave, and was placing the container back in the fridge. Standing up, she checked that there was no cat around her before closing the fridge door. However, as she turned the girl yelped as she was promptly tripped by a certain feline.
"Damn it-!"
Emma cursed as she chased the cat off, scowling as Sparks vanished down the basement stairs in a white streak. Giving off a huff, the girl turned to the cupboard, pulling out a tin of cat food. "And here I was getting her food…" she muttered irritatedly, "blasted fuzzball…"
As she finished dishing out a portion of the tin, the timer on the microwave went off. Rolling her eyes, Emma placed the can in a circular container made for this purpose, before sticking it in the fridge. She then gathered up her cutlery with one hand while opening the microwave and pulling out the now-steaming soup with the other.
Making her way into the living room, the girl set the soup and cutlery down on a TV tray. Standing up, she looked over at the Flatscreen TV as a thought made its way into her head.
Well… it wouldn't hurt to take a break as I eat… She rationalized with herself.
Emma turned to a low, wide bookshelf that sat below the TV. Crouching before it, she skimmed through the different DVDs and cassettes that lined the shelves. Hmm… let's see…
Her finger paused over a DVD. I can watch Pacific Rim…
The finger then moved over to a cassette. Or I could watch The Seventh Brother… no…
Scowling, she continued to skim through the different movies. …2012… The Lion King… Mary Poppins… Pokemon: The Power of One…
The list went on, until her finger froze over one. Web of Shadows? She stared for a moment, before shaking her head. "Even if I watch it, it would still be inaccurate." Emma muttered to herself. "Not to mention I lived it!"
Moving past the DVD, she bypassed The Legend Reborn and Legends of Metru Nui. However, her finger stopped over the fourth movie in the set. Mask of Light? Eh. Why not?
With that, she pulled out the DVD and placed it in the player.
"Ta-Koro's gone, Lewa." The red form kneeling at the edge of the lava lake said, sadness in his tone. "Buried by the very lava that sustained it."
The Toa of Fire had turned his head enough to face his green brother, but exposed the nasty, green scratch on the left side of his mask. Gali gasped at the sight, and the Toa of Water kneeled next to her fiery brother.
"Tahu…" She gently placed her hand on the injured side of his face, only to have it slapped away.
"You worry about scratches?" The red Toa scowled. "My village is gone!" The anger in him faded from his voice as he added "Your power was nothing. My power… was nothing." His mask took on a solemn look - one of defeat.
Tahu looked down for a moment, before moving to stand. Once he had, Lewa placed a hand on his shoulder.
"We are same hearted brother," the Toa of Air said, "and that heart will-"
~I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter… Dancing through the fire~
Emma jumped at the unexpected ringtone, cursing as she scrambled to grab her phone. She caught it before the fourth verse, quickly answering it even as she paused the movie.
"Hello?"
"Emmy! I need your help!"
Emma leaned back with a groan at the nickname. "What is it Emily?"
There was a fair amount of panic in the answer. "I'm stuck on my chemistry homework!"
"And you didn't call Rebecca?" The girl asked, standing up to bring her half-eaten soup to the microwave.
"I got her voicemail. Three times."
The dual haired girl resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. Of all the blasted times… "And you can't call Jack or Caitlin."
"Nope!" Emily chirped.
Emma let out a defeated sigh, setting the soup in the microwave and then sat against the counter. "Alright, what's the problem?"
"Well… I'm confused on how the different elements need a certain number of protons…"
The thirteen year old leaned back, listening as Emily described her problem.
Emma trudged back into the living room, now reheated soup in hand. After setting the bowl down, she promptly allowed herself to collapse onto the couch. Running a hand down her face, she muttered "If I ever hear or see another problem having to do with scientific elements, I'm chucking my phone out the nearest window."
After a minute, she sat upright, moving behind the TV tray and grabbing the remote. Maybe this time I can get to the good parts… before being interrupted.
The girl leaned forwards in her seat, watching with wide eyes as the on-screen Matoran stood their ground against the Rahkshi.
"We're trapped," Takua gasped.
"But not helpless," Jaller pointed out as he readied his blade, moving to stand back to back with his friend.
Suddenly three torches from above began to light up one by one, blinding the Rahkshi. The two Matoran looked up and saw three figures standing atop the Kini.
"Toa!" Takua cried out. "Great! You can get us out of here."
But when the Toa jumped down onto the platform, they did something unexpected. Instead of grabbing the Matoran and making a break for it, the three circled them protectively.
"We are done running." Tahu growled as he, Gali, and Lewa readied their respective weapons.
Just then, the ground began to shake a little.
"What's that?!" Takua yipped.
His answer came when a hand popped out from the sand beneath them. Soon, a massive hole had formed and out came three more Toa, also ready for battle.
"Brothers, we thought we lost you." Gali greeted, relieved that Pohatu and Onua were alive.
"And you might've," Onua grinned, "if it weren't for our icy friend."
The mentioned Toa, Kopaka, gave a small smile at that.
"Now! As one!" The Toa of Stone proclaimed.
The Toa connected their tools and Tahu activated his mask power, willing a force field to form around the entire group. In time as well, as the Rahkshi fired a combined blast of energy at them.
"We will not be broken."
Emma grinned as she watched Toa Lewa and Toa Tahu combine their powers to turn a twister of sand into a prison of glass. But as she watched the on-screen Toa of Water tell the two Rahkshi off, she jumped as a loud crash came from the kitchen.
"What the frag-!"
Pausing the movie - again! - and leaping to her feet, the girl darted into the dining room. When she entered, she promptly froze as she took in the scene.
Her blue eyed, white cat was perched atop the table, fluffy tail twitching as she cocked her head at the human girl. Around her paws were bits of dirt. And on the floor, shattered to pieces, was the remains of a brightly painted clay pot. The aloe vera that had lived in it now lay in a nearby pile of dirt.
"Oh no…" Emma gasped, covering her mouth with her hands in shock. Shock that then quickly turned to anger. "SPARKS!" She roared.
The cat booked it, leaping off the table seconds before the girl's hands could grab her. "Get back here you stinkin' little-!"
Emma cursed as she chased Sparks through the dining room and into the living room. The cat attempted to dart towards the stairs, but that failed when a slipper landed in front of her. Sparks' claws scratched against the wood floor as she swerved, before darting up and onto the back of the couch.
The girl lunged at her cat, only to face-plant as the cat leaped again. Emma yelped as claws partially dug into her back, Sparks using her as a ramp. "Oy-!"
She twisted around, sending the cat tumbling. The girl lunged again, only to slip and lose her balance. She crashed to the ground with a yelp, rolling a bit from the momentum. Emma lay there for a moment, dazed, before she pushed herself up and looked around for the now-vanished cat.
"When I get my hands on you…" She grumbled, snarling some nasty words under her breath, and stomped into the dining room.
There was no sign of Sparks, but Emma could see the remains of the pot. She took a deep breath in, before letting out a sigh. "Well, better get this cleaned up…"
Emma wiped her brow as she finished placing the - thankfully - still living plant on a high self. It now sat in a bowl, with the surviving dirt packed around it.
"Okay," she mumbled to the plant, standing back, "that should keep you safe while I get a new pot."
Trudging to the front door, she - after glancing at her still soaked boots - slipped on her running shoes. She also put on her cap, to try to keep any snowflakes from getting in her eyes. Emma made her way back into the kitchen, glancing left and right. When she saw no sign of a certain cat, she strode up to the back door.
But just as she opened it, shivering at the blast of chilly air, something white shot between her legs.
"What the-?! SPARKS! No!" Emma cried in dismay, watching as the cat unintentionally blended into the blizzard. Of all the blasted times-!
Now with a much higher priority than getting a new pot, the girl growled as she began to trudge through the snow. She shivered violently as a string gust nearly blew her over, and she pulled her jacket tighter around her. "Sparks! SPARKS! Here kitty kitty kitty!" She called to no avail.
Staring into the white abyss that covered her backyard, she scowled. "Fine! You wanna play it this way, then game on."
Emma turned to go back to the house, with every intent on waiting for the cat to come back on her own - only to find the she couldn't see her house.
"What the heck?!" The girl gawked, taking a few steps forwards. But as she kept moving, she came across no house, tree, or even the blasted fence.
Emma turned again, but all she could see was the blinding white of the blizzard. Even shielding her eyes from the storm did nothing.
"SPARKS!" She called again, more out of desperation than anything. Could she have she somehow have inadvertently left the yard?
The girl took another step forwards, ready to call out again… when the ground vanished from beneath her feet. "Holy-!"
The world around her vanished into black.
In a dark cavern, a black form stirred. At first, the massive being was confused by the wave of energy that passed through him. But after a moment, a savage grin crossed his rusted face. "So… after all this time, you finally return…"
He chuckled darkly, his claw-like hand curling into a fist. "This time, little organic, you and the accursed Toa will be unable to stop me…"
His evil laughter echoed throughout the cavern.
Emma could feel the sensation of falling, and yet it seemed as though she barely moved at all in the near-familiar black abyss that surrounded her. Then, out of nowhere, there was a bright burst of colour, and the girl found herself tumbling onto a soft green ground.
"Ow…" she groaned as she laid there. Soft green ground… grass?! She shot up with a gasp - and stared at her surroundings.
Trees, many stories tall, stretched above her into a green canopy of leaves and vines encircling a bright blue sky. All around her was a grassy plain - a break in the trees. She could hear birds chirping, along with a faint breeze in the leaves above her.
"W…Where am I?" She asked in shock more than anything. Could I really be back? Or is this a dream?
Her answer came when a form, who had been watching her from the bushes, suddenly sprung out at her. Emma yelped as she was bowled over by something mechanical in a flash of light brown and grey. Just as she moved her arms up in defence, something metallic and distinctly wet ran up the side of her face. What in-?!
With a grunt, she was able to push her 'attacker' off of her, and the girl gawked at the large, crab-like bio-mechanical creature. The crab barked at her, clicking its claws excitedly as its tongue lolled. Before Emma could protest, she got another 'lick attack' from the crab.
Only this time, she laughed. "Okay, okay!" The thirteen year old gently pushed the crab back, snickering, "You like me, I get it!" Emma gently stroked the side of the crab's face, chuckling as her hand got licked. "Awe… aren't you sweet? I wonder," the girl looked around, "do you have an owner?"
Emma then looked up as she heard a shout in the distance.
"Pewku! Here Pewku!"
The girl stiffened in shock, looking in the direction of the voice - and stared as a red coloured figure just over two feet tall with a blue masked face burst from the bushes.
"Takua?!" She gasped.
The Ta-Matoran stared back with equal surprise. "Emma?!"
A/N - And there you go! The first (true) chapter of my second book. Not a long one, no, but enough of an enticing introduction, eh?
I had SOOOOO many people calling for Emma's return to the island. Luckily for them, I was already planning on bringing her back. I mean, I did say there was going to be a second book and all…
So Emma is reunited with Takua - after meeting Pewku. I just love that ussal crab, so I figured, why not?
As for why Emma chased Sparks… let's just say what happened in the house was based on true events. The aloe vera was a birthday gift for my Mom, and I painted the pot myself. Then my cat had to go and knock it off the table five months later. Like, come on!
…The cat was lucky the plant survived, because if it hadn't, I would have chucked her into the nearest snowbank.
And we have a dark form plotting against Emma! I bet you all know who it is~ ;D
Also, I HIGHLY recommend checking out my one-shot series! Called A Series of Moments: Bionicle Edition, it actually holds some key points about Emma and her past, and her future! The third Shot actually is very emotional, and gives some insight into her psyche.
For those who don't know, I have a poll posted on my profile page. It's for later on, but feel free to check it out!
Next Chapter: Reunions and Panic