A/N - Hey everyone! Chapter 2 here!

Things get a little emotional this chapter, but considering how close my OC got to certain characters, it really shouldn't be a surprise. And she is going to be herself, sooooo… yeah.

Also, in my view the Matoran villages are a lot closer than they are portrayed in the main canon. So don't be surprised by there being mentions of say, Ko-Matoran in Onu-Koro or Le-Matoran in Ga-Koro. Just giving you guys a bit of a heads up.

I was asked by the reviewer 'ss': "p,s. What part of the storie-movie is it?"

My answer: post-Bohrok Kal, pre Mask of Light.

I thought that was obvious, but I guess I was wrong. Glad I could help clear that up for you 'ss'.

To any new readers, hi! I really hope that you are enjoying this story so far. Please, leave a review and tell me what you think! (But no flames please. Those aren't nice)

And if you are from the far off future, what do you think of my OC's beginning so far? Hint hint.

Now, this chapter isn't a long one - again - but the length of the chapters may - hopefully - increase as time passes. Don't worry, as this story has become my top priority! (I hit a roadblock with the other.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle. Just my OC, and currently the plot.

A few minutes prior…

Takua yelped as both the ground and the air shook. There was a faint rumble in the distance, which made even the thick trees of Le-Wahi tremble. "What in-?! Pewku no!"

The Ta-Matoran gave chase as his rahi companion took off. He soon lost sight of the ussal crab, but thankfully he could still follow her trail.

"Pewku!" He called out, running down the freshly stomped path. "Here Pewku!"

Takua pushed his way through some bushes, ready to call out again - only to freeze in shock at the scene before him.

Pewku, his ussal crab was there all right, but with the last person he ever thought he would see again.

"Takua?!" The organic bipedal gasped.

He was equally surprised. "Emma?!"

The two stared at each other for a long moment, before the girl held out her arms with a teary smile. "Hey."

The Ta-Matoran didn't hesitate to rush into her arms with a happy cry. Emma cradled his much smaller form close to her chest, tears of joy sliding down her cheeks. Takua was no better off, holding onto her and crying.

"I-I t-thought you w-were g-g-gone!" The Matoran sobbed, fisting her jacket.

The girl just held him closer. "A-And I-I t-thought I w-would n-n-never s-s-see you a-a-again!"

The two hugged tightly, and probably wouldn't have stopped if not for a certain ussal crab. Both reunited friends were bowled over as Pewku immediately tried to get in on the snuggles.

"Pewku!" Takua cried out in dismay.

Emma laughed. "Oh dear."

The crab barked happily, giving the two each a lick before scuttling back.

The girl smiled, standing up and pulling her friend to his feet. "Is she always like this?"

"Unfortunately." The Matoran said, but smiled and patted the rahi's shell. "But I wouldn't change her for the world."

He got his mask licked and dislodged in response.

Emma laughed. Kneeling down, she gently scratched the ussal crab behind her eye stalks. Pewku let out a content purr, kneeling down and practically slumping.

Takua refitted his blue Pakari, shaking his head in amusement. "She's a special ussal. If a little annoying at times." He gave the rahi a mock glare.

Pewku ignored him, completely relaxed as the girl continued to scratch her.

Emma snickered. "I don't think she cares right now."

The girl then felt Takua's hand grab her own, and she gently squeezed it. "I know I've been gone for a while," she said, turning to face her Ta-Matoran friend, who was staring up at her with teary eyes, "and I will do my best to make up for lost time."

The two shared a second hug.

The two friends walked side by side down a path, talking and catching up with each other. Well, Takua was sitting on Pewku's back, but still.

Emma absently twirled a long branch in her hands. It wasn't perfectly straight, had a knot at one end, and the bark was rough on her glove-free hands, but it was something. Her jacket was now tied to her waist, as the jungle was rather warm. "So, you were heading to Le-Koro?" She asked curiously.

The Ta-Matoran nodded. "Yeah. I was actually just passing through when you… arrived…" He noticed that the girl had frozen, her stance tense. "Uh… Emma-"

"Shh!" Her neck was tingling with a familiar feeling. A warning sense.

"There's something wrong." Emma said, holding up the stick defensively. Her instincts were screaming danger. "Takua, Pewku, get behind me."

As the crab and her passenger skittered behind her, the girl looked around, tense. At first everything was silent. And not the good type, like the calm before a storm.

Then she heard the growl.

"Shi…" Emma gasped, watching as a massive black and yellow, tiger-like bio-mechanical creature stalked out of the ferns.

It let out a ferocious roar.

"RUN!" The girl cried out, and with an aggressive cry charged the Muaka.

The massive cat was not expecting this, and back-pedalled a bit. Emma took the opportunity, and lunged at the rahi.

"Back! Back!" She shouted, waving the stick at the cat's face.

The massive bio-mechanical feline hissed at her, and with a single swipe of its massive paw sent her stumbling back with a hiss of her own. The stick was knocked from her grip, and the girl grabbed her left arm, which now had two shallow yet wide cuts. Emma scrambled back as the Muaka closed in, red, glowing eyes narrowed at her.

"Emma!" A panicked voice called from behind her.

The girl turned, and cried out when she saw Takua standing on Pewku, not far behind her. Her heart dropped into her stomach. "Takua, no!"

A shadow dropped over her, and before she could react a massive claw slammed onto her chest, sending her to the ground. Emma gasped as the wind was knocked out of her, and she could see her own fear-filled face in its glowing eyes. Oh my God… I'm gonna die… the girl thought with terror, I FAILED. And now… Mom, Takua, everyone… I'm sorry…

The Muaka raised its other claw, and Emma closed her arctic blue eyes, a single tear trailing down her cheek…

"Not today, Muaka-beast!" A voice called out.

What felt like a massive gust of wind swept over her, and the weight on her chest vanished. A loud crash followed by something retreating sounded from somewhere to her left, and she scrambled back instinctively as she heard something land before her.

"Easy-calm, little-fighter…" The same voice said, and a mechanical hand gently touched her shoulder. Opening her eyes, Emma saw a large, lime-green and silver coloured figure kneeling before her. His bioluminescent orange-yellow eyes were filled with concern. "You are okay-safe now."

The girl took in a deep breath, nodding silently. Her breathing was heavy, and her heart was pounding a mile a minute.

The Toa - because she recognized him - gently squeezed her shoulder, and with his other hand gently picked up her injured arm. She hissed in pain.

"Sorry!" He yipped, but didn't let go. "I just wanted to quick-check your wound."

"It… It's fine." Emma said, gently pulling her arm from him. "Just a couple of scratches. No biggie."

The Toa opened his mouth, like he was going to say something, when a shout came from the bushes.

"Emma!" Takua cried, bursting out and wrapping his arms around her chest. Pewku skittered up behind him.

The girl bit her tongue, swallowing her shout from the burst of pain in her ribs. She managed a shaky smile, and patted the Matoran's head with her right hand. "I'm okay Takua." She comforted, her voice a little hoarse. "Thanks to him."

It was at that moment that the Ta-Matoran noticed the tall green form. "Toa Lewa!" He gasped. "I-I didn't see you!"

The Toa of Air smiled, and gently patted Takua's head. "It's okay-fine, little-chronicler." He looked at the two of them. "You were lucky this Toa-Hero was wind-flying by when the Muaka-cat roared. Those rahi-beasts are very bad-dangerous."

As Takua stood back, Lewa stood, helping Emma to her feet. "You were very brave, young-fighter." He said, placing a hand on her back. "It takes much strength-courage to stand up to one."

The girl gave weak smile and shrugged. "It was nothing. I protect my friends, and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Lewa simply nodded, though he looked a little puzzled. "Well, we'd best get-go to Le-Koro. No telling if the Muaka-beast comes back."

The young girl and the Matoran nodded, and the Toa offered to "wind-fly" them there. However…

"No, I… I'd rather we walk there." Emma said, looking away and holding her arm. "Takua says it isn't far, so it shouldn't be a problem. Besides, I know the way."

With that, she began to stride down the path, leaving the two behind her. Lewa looked down at Takua, but the Matoran was just staring at the girl. Neither noticed the grimace that crossed her face, or how she stumbled slightly.

What…? Emma held a hand to her chest, but felt relief when the strange felling passed. What in the world was that?

They were just meters from the base of Le-Koro when the three heard the sound of buzzing - or rather, very rapid wingbeats. Looking up, they watched as a Gukko bird came flying down, with a familiar turquoise and lime green Matoran sitting on its back.

The girl immediately recognized him. "Kongu…" Emma gasped.

The Le-Matoran made his own sound of surprise when he saw her, and quickly moved to settle his Gukko ride on the ground before them. He then half-fell half-scrambled off of the bird, and once he was on the ground he careened into the girl's legs.

"You're back you're back you're here you're okay-fine we great-missed you…!" Kongu rambled tearily into her black track pants.

Emma smiled sadly, and gently laid her right hand on the top of his head. "I'm back Kongu. It's okay."

That seemed to calm him down somewhat, as the Le-Matoran stepped back. But his mask was alit with happiness, and he began to ramble again, only this time in excitement. "This is great-amazing everyone is going to be so happy-excited and-!"

"Alright!" The girl laughed, and gently removed her hand from where she had placed it over his mouth to stop him. "I get it! You're happy and I know the others are going to be." Then, she knelt down and pulled the Le-Matoran into a hug. "And I missed you too."

He hugged her back, and after a moment, Emma pulled away, smiling. "Now, let's go let everyone know."

Kongu nodded excitedly, grabbing her right hand and dragging her towards where the village elevators were. His Gukko eagerly followed behind, as did an excited Takua and Pewku. The two Matoran and girl chattered excitedly the rest of the way, leaving a very confused Lewa to follow behind.

When they arrived at the village base, the two Le-Matoran guards at first tensed, but the second they saw Emma they started chattering excitedly.

The words "Emma's back!" and "She's back!" began to echo around, and looking up into the trees brought the village's base bridges - and the Matoran peeking over - into view. The Le-Matoran guards who stood there looked very excited to see her again. The girl raised her hand in a wave, hiding her wince, and they excitedly waved back, making her chuckle.

Looking back, Emma noticed Lewa's very confused look. She gave the Toa a sheepish smile, asking "Are you going to head up?"

That seemed to jolt him out of his thoughts, and he nodded quickly. "I will, once you all get-go safely."

The girl chuckled and nodded back, understanding his reasoning. "Good thinking." She commented. Lewa grinned back.

Takua and Pewku were quickly escorted over to one of the seed elevators, while Kongu guided Emma over to his Gukko. They both knew that the pods were too small for her, and trying to climb the tree trunks would be tricky for her. The girl climbed on the bird, looking a little nervous.

The Le-Matoran took notice. "You okay-fine Emma-friend?" He asked in concern.

The girl looked away for a moment, before looking back at him with a small smile. "Just… a little nervous Kongu, since it's been so long." She reassured. "But it's no big deal." However, there was no hiding the spark of fear in her eyes.

As much as he wanted to say something, the Gukko rider knew that Emma had acted similarly when he first encountered her, after they were brought to the island. Though last he remembered, she had gotten better over the time she had spent with them… before vanishing in such a horrible way. Even as he nodded, and signalled his Gukko to rise, the Le-Matoran wondered if something had happened to her after she returned to her home.

I great-hope nothing nasty-bad happened to her, Kongu thought as they rose above the base bridges and closer towards where the main village was, she's a good close-friend, and our great-honorary Toa-hero.

As they rose higher, Emma fought down her fear as she refused to look down. I forgot how much I hate heights. Doesn't help that the village is now much HIGHER than it used to be! She kept her gaze upwards, and felt a little relief as the main area fo the village came into view. Le-Koro sat high in the treetops, mostly hidden from view by branches and large leaves - which now hid the very far down ground from sight, like a second floor. At least I'll soon have my feet on something solid.

As Kongu guided his Gukko over to what appeared to be stalls on a higher platform, the girl took the time to glance around. She could see many Matoran - mainly Le-Matoran, as well as some Ga-Matoran and even a handful of Po-Matoran - had very excited looks on their faces when they spotted her, though the younger ones looked confused. The young human couldn't blame them, as she knew instinctively that she had left long before they had come.

Emma hid her joyous relief as the Gukko landed on the platform, and she tried not to look rushed as she slid off. Solid ground at last!

Almost instantly, several Matoran, many who she recognized from her time with them, swarmed her, all talking excitedly. She noticed some who had been only children when she had last seen them, and they had wide, curious/excited eyes. The girl laughed, and greeted as many as she could - though not all by name. However, there was one familiar face the girl did not see in the crowd.

"Kongu, where's Glidre?" She asked, not seeing the Le-Matoran who had led the Gukko Air Force when she had lived here.

The Gukko rider looked down, as did many of the other Matoran. Emma didn't have to be a physic to know what that meant.

"He brave-perished fighting a swarm of ever-bad Nui Rama." A very familiar aged voice answered sadly. "He left the Gukko Force in Kongu's good-great hands."

Turning her head, Emma's breath caught in her throat when she spotted who spoke. A hunched green figure, over a foot taller than the surrounding Matoran, hobbled forwards. His robe, faded and a little torn with age, still had faint coloured stains from a long ago prank. "M…Matau…" Tears pricked her arctic blue eyes.

The Turaga of Air smiled, his own orange eyes misted. "It's good-wonderful to see you again, little Emma-sister."

The girl let out a choked cry, rushing forwards, falling on her knees and fiercely embracing her brother. The green Turaga hugged back with as much force as the girl, holding back his own choked cry. The two just held onto each other, tears sliding down their faces, silently basking in the other's presence. The world around them became meaningless, as though it was just them for that moment of time.

Of course, it had to end. When they pulled back, both were smiling sadly, but also happily. Matau gently reached up to her faintly scarred cheek, and wiped away some tears with his thumb. "We great-missed you, little gi."

Emma placed her hand on top of his, holding it to her cheek. "I missed you too." She whispered, letting her forehead rest on top of his mask for a brief moment.

Then when the girl pulled back, the Turaga chuckled. "I see you have quick-grown a bit."

The girl flushed, making a small sound. "I only grew an inch…" she muttered.

He raised a brow, and Emma sighed. "Okay, maybe a bit more than that." She admitted. It was true, as where she had once stood at 5'9, she now stood another inch and a half, almost three quarters, taller. She now stood just over 5 feet 10 1/2 inches.

The girl then took his hand away from her cheek, holding it between them. "I think you have a lot to tell me about, don't you brother?" She asked, diverting the subject.

Matau nodded.

Emma sat back on her mat, trying not to drop the tea in her hands. "One thousand years…?!" She half-cried, biting back a groan.

Matau nodded, looking down from where he sat on his mat. "Yes. That was how long-gone you were."

The girl let her head lightly hit the wooden wall behind her with a faint thump. "And to think that for me it was only six months…"

The two reunited siblings sat on separate mats in the Turaga's hut. It was a room carved into one of the village's massive tree trunks, with holes carved for two small windows and a door. All three were covered with colourfully decorated cloth, which still let in lots of light. The hut wasn't too big, or too small, though if Emma stood she would have to duck her head. There was a small cot towards the back, with a desk beside it and shelving carved into the walls. Little nicknacks such as small rocks and carvings sat on the shelves, along with some stone tablets and a few other things.

The Turaga of Air sighed, but reached forwards with his free hand, resting it on her knee. "All that good-matters is that you're here-back now. Nothing else."

Emma weakly smiled back, taking a sip of the tea her brother had made. It was warm, bridging on hot, but not unpleasant. The taste was not overly sweet, but not bland either. It reminded her of a warm glass of sugary water, with a bit of a fruity taste. Her brother had made it just the way she liked it. "Thank you, brother. For the tea…" she grinned sheepishly "and for not whacking me in the head for the stunt I pulled."

Matau laughed, having to set his tea down so he didn't drop it. "Now why would I do that?" He grinned, picking up his staff and winking at her. "Though I may have a sneak-prank in mind, for that bad-scare."

However, the green elder got no response. "Emma?" He asked with concern, noticing how the girl held her head with her free hand.

"I…" Her head felt funny, as did her heart. "I… I don…" Whatever she was going to say was left unknown, as the girl's eyes suddenly rolled back. Matau cried out in a panic, scrambling to his feet as his sister collapsed, the tea falling from her limp hand and spilling across the floor.

"Emma! EMMA!"

The world went black.

Deep underground, the dark form stood, red eyes glinting. "So, after one thousand years not only does the organic return, but she lives…" Turning, the monstrous form looked down at the kneeling form below him. "What else have you seen, my servant?"

The form wreathed in shadows bowed his head. "As I have said master, she attempted to stop the Muaka you sent, but before it could kill her the Toa of Air intervened."

A rusted, clawed hand rested on a pillar-like canister, which glowed with a sickly green light. "Was she at least scratched?"

The servant nodded. "Yes, master. On her left arm."

The dark being chuckled darkly. "Excellent…"

Inside the canister, a worm-like form squirmed.

A/N - And here we go! Cliffhanger, I know, but what better way to end a chapter?

So, something really crazy just happened in this chapter, a dark form is plotting, and now you'll have to wait until next week to see what happens next!

Until next time!

Next Chapter - The Same, Yet Not