In spite of having his doubts about ever finding the Artakha Refuge, Aodhan was glad to have something a bit more immediately practical to do. Gali's last order for him and Tiribomba to travel to Ko-Koro and warn the residents there while also asking Kopaka about the Refuge struck a good compromise, in his eyes. There was one flaw with this plan: neither he nor Tiribomba were expert navigators of Ko-Wahi's land.

They had quickly gotten lost in the drifts. Someone was to blame for this, and Aodhan knew who. "You and your bright ideas!" he snorted, shoving Tiribomba.

"Well, I thought Ko-Koro was around here someplace!" the latter replied, shivering.

Aodhan folded his arms roughly, more for heat than for his attitude. Then he unfolded them to point. "I think we've been this way already. I recognize that snow drift."

Tiribomba gave a questioning look. "How can you tell one snow drift from another?"

"It takes skill," Aodhan replied matter-of-factly, bickering with his companion.

"Okay, Ko-Koro must be somewhere nearby," Tiribomba told himself, ignoring the snow-drift-spotting skills. "I say we go right!"

"Well I say left," Aodhan replied, just to be difficult. "We have to choose—it's getting colder!"

"Fine! We'll go left," Tiribomba conceded. They had to get out of the sharp wind, and he had no reason to trust his direction over Aodhan's. The two turned left and continued down a "path." The "path" had no footprints or signs to designate it as a route, but it was a narrow flat walkway between a steep slope leading off a cliff to the left, and a steep slope leading up the mountain to their right. They continued walking until they reached a small, open area, surrounded on most sides by stretching mountain walls. Looking upward, the snow-capped peaks of the mountains were indistinguishable from the whiteout sky.

They looked around for a few minutes. "This doesn't look like Ko-Koro to me," Aodhan pointed out flatly, "or better yet this 'Great Refuge' either."

Tiribomba was about to give up as well, when he noticed a tunnel in one of the walls. "Hey, come over here," he said, moving over to the tunnel. Next to the opening there was a rock with a carved message: TO ONU-KORO. "If we can't find Ko-Koro, should we just take this to Onu-Koro, and tell the Matoran there to spread the word?" A rumble passed through the mountain. "Hey, did you hear that?"

A second later, tons of snowfall came from the cliffs overhead. "Yep! No choice—run!" Aodhan yelled, as the avalanche came down toward them. He grabbed his friend's hand and pulled the two of them into the safety of the tunnel as the tons of snow landed in and around the clearing.

X X X

A short distance away, on the shores of a frozen glacial lake, the setting sun's rays touched the end of a staff protruding out of the ice. As the last light faded and dusk fell, the staff and everything else fell into dark shadow.

For a long moment, nothing moved. Then a flicker of dark energy burst out of the end of the staff. The ice around it splintered and began to crack and melt.

X X X

Hahli had done enough waiting. After the attack on Ta-Koro, foreign Matoran had returned to their respective villages, while the population of Ta-Matoran had split into smaller groups and were offered shelter by the other villages. At first, the majority of them hadn't wanted to leave their home of Ta-Wahi, staying close to the site of Ta-Koro's descent, but the Turaga had insisted that it was in their best interest to have some manner of protection while the Toa Nuva were occupied.

This meant that Hahli had returned to Ga-Koro along with her sisters and Turaga Nokama, along with some visiting Ta-Matoran. The Ta-Matoran Guard had split up among the villages, too, disoriented without their Captain, but not incompetent. Still, she had her own mission—finding the remaining Crystals.

After journeying across the island and seeing the other settlements, trying to return to normal life felt wrong. On top of that, knowing the Rahkshi were out there hunting Jaller and Takua didn't help either. She should be out there, like them.

Hahli made her choice, preparing herself to leave again. She grabbed her satchel, ensuring that all her necessary materials were in it—especially the two crystals she had collected thusly.

"Has seeing the rest of Mata Nui's beauty diminished your love for Ga-Wahi so greatly?"

Hahli turned to see Nokama in the doorway. She knew Nokama wasn't serious about her disliking her home, but perhaps she did owe an explanation. "No. But I do have to travel to four other villages still."

Nokama entered. "Oh? And what grand errand necessitates this dangerous journey?"

Hahli held out the two crystals, each a representation of a Matoran principle. "I need the other four Crystals," she said. "Even you asked me to find them."

"That was before I was aware Rahkshi were on Mata Nui," Nokama defended. "But still, you put me in a difficult place. I don't doubt that the crystals bear importance, but I hesitate to sacrifice your safety for them."

Hahli put the crystals back. "Nixie and I have been working on a formula that may change the history of Mata Nui," she said, reflecting, thinking, and speaking all at once. "These crystals are even more important now that Jaller and Takua are searching for a Seventh Toa. I need to help; I have to go."

Nokama's voice was equally firm and neutral, its undertone indecipherable. "Hahli, you are but a Matoran among shadows and giants," she said, causing Hahli to slump, downcast. "And yet," the Turaga of Water continued, "I have seen you prevail in ways not thought of you. I have watched you grow and change." Hahli looked back up at her elder, who put a comforting hand on her, drawing her close. "Matoran have proven themselves to be more than meets the eye. And in you, I sense a great destiny."

Hahli didn't know how to answer. Just as she opened her mouth to thank Nokama, she went on. "You know that as your guardian, I must question your safety. Will you take anyone with you—Amaya or Macku, perhaps?"

Hahli's features became stronger as she started confidently for the door. "No, Turaga. Somehow I feel like this is something I have to do alone."

"Then travel with awareness and wit," Nokama bid her. "And walk safely in the light."

Hahli paused, grinning at that. She remembered that Vakama had said something similar to Jaller on the start of his quest with Takua. She nodded her acknowledgement to Nokama, left her hut and Ga-Koro behind, and began her journey northward to Po-Koro.

X X X

Tahu wobbled back and forth, trying to get used to adapting his magma swords for water surfing instead of lava surfing. Water moved much faster than molten rock and mineral, exhibited different viscous behaviors, and as such, proved to be a very different mode of transportation. Thanks to Gali controlling the tidal wave they were riding though, he knew he really had little to fear. Once he gained balance again, his eyes scanned upward. He spotted a dot in the distant sky—Lewa, who had flown ahead to scout.

The three had left the sinking remains of Ta-Koro to pursue the Rahkshi and slow them down. On the way, Lewa told them about Jaller and Takua's journey through the jungle and into the mountains. There, they were fortunate enough to have encountered the Toa Nuva of Ice after his check-in on Ko-Koro.

It was during this meeting that Gali suggested a new meeting. "We will need a time to check on each other and plan as we fight these foes," she had said. "Let us plan to meet no later than twelve hours from now, at the Tiro Canyon pass."

It was also during this reunion that Kopaka had described his experience with the Rahkshi, Takua, and Jaller, and that Ko-Koro had similarly been attacked. To break their discussion, he had directed them to the frozen lake before leaving. Tahu, Lewa, and Gali then journeyed to the frozen lake, only to find the Rahkshi already escaped and gone. Luckily, their tracking skills from their experience with the Bohrok-Kal helped, and they found and then followed a trail.

"You were right—the Rahkshi were headed for Po-Koro," Gali said. She recalled her Tahu's comment as she surfed next to him on her bare feet. He had been the one to state that the traces seemed to lead to the northern desert. Her arms were bent but stretched in front of her, directing the fifty-foot wave across the dry expanse of Po-Wahi.

Tahu jerked his magma board back into the flow another time. "They will go no further," he assured the Toa of Water. As he spoke, she saw the scar in his mask glow brightly, its intensity increasing next to his anger. "We will stop them now!" Tahu jumped off of the wave and landed on a rock spire to catch his breath and rest his legs momentarily. "These creatures will not stop the coming of the Seventh Toa—this I swear! We will send them scurrying back to Makuta, and—"

The ground shifted beneath the Toa of Fire's board. Tahu looked down just in time to see it complete its disintegration, courtesy of Guurahk. Gali cried from up above, but Tahu barely heard. He grunted several consecutive times as he hit five pointed outcroppings before landing hard on the rocky ground. "Oof!" he couldn't help but yell, as the sound was forced from him. His swords lay scattered out of reach. He thought he heard Gali say something, but he couldn't be sure—he was too dazed.

Tahu pushed himself up, looking down at the dry desert rock. Then a tall shadow wielding a staff overtook him. Tahu flipped over to see Lerahk towering over him, raising its staff high. If he remained there moment more, his troubles would be over—the Rahkshi would see to that. But this day—like every other day—Tahu had no intention of choosing defeat. He pushed himself all the way over onto his back, moving closer to one of his swords in the process. Then he reached out and grabbed it, just as he back-rolled away from the Rahkshi's stab into the ground.

"Close, monster…but your aim is as poor as your breath, it seems," Tahu muttered. He charged at the green armored reptile, jumping toward it. When it defensively raised its staff, Tahu jumped off the center bar to propel himself over the creature. When he landed on the other side, he immediately curled into a roll, picking up his other sword. Once he had it, he spun both and turned back to face his opponent. Angrily, he dashed back at it again.

X X X

Gali surveyed Tahu's fight from her watery perch, commanding the flow to lower her to the ground. She drew her axes and started toward the Toa of Fire and poison-Rahkshi, but was halted by the blue-armored Rahkshi, Guurahk. It was tall—taller even than the Toa—with an arched back and spine with a line of fins protruding down it. It carried in its hands a long staff with two double-pronged forks on the ends. It slowly stalked toward her, the head opening up to reveal a screeching worm inside.

What are you, creature? Gali thought to herself in shock, seeing nothing like this anywhere else in the natural world. The very sight of it chilled her soul as nothing had since her fight with Makuta himself.

The Rahkshi suddenly changed its movement, switching from slowly approaching to jamming one end of the staff into the ground. From the puncture, an angle of energy expanded on the ground outward, encompassing Gali. Then the ground suddenly disintegrated into a fissure, dropping Gali into a newly-made chasm.

"The ground—!" the Toa Nuva of Water cried as she just barely caught onto the nearest edge. She cried in pain as her own weight damaged her right shoulder, wrenching it. Her hand and arm were starting to go tingly and numb, the nerves having been damaged. With her left arm, she drew an axe and hooked its blade on the edge of the chasm. It looks like the Rahkshi is coming to finish the job! Gali told herself, as the Rahkshi came over to her. Casually, it moved one end of its staff to the side, as if to simply brush her remaining supports off the ledge.

Suddenly, it was swooped off its feet by a fast-moving flash of green and silver. "Hard-luck, Rahkshi—Lewa Nuva is too ever-quick for you!" Lewa shouted, having swung from a mountain tree's vine and caught the Rahkshi between his legs, taking the creature with him.

It turned out that though the Rahkshi could fly, they did not enjoy being passengers. The Guurahk screeched in irritation, looking up at Lewa. It charged its staff with power before swinging its long reach overhead, easily severing Lewa's vine.

"Hey!" Lewa cried, as the two began to tumble through the air, the momentum changed at an awkward position. Lewa tried to get a view of their destination, but only got a few glimpses.

Even so, he didn't like it.

X X X

Tahu landed two more consecutive blows on the Lerahk. It didn't seem to have an appreciable effect, but he taunted just the same, "You're weakening, Rahkshi!" The Lerahk responded with a screech from its headplate that was so foul in appearance and scent that Tahu had to back off for just a moment.

"Tahu, move!"

Tahu turned to look in the direction of where he had heard Gali's voice cry out. He saw her kneeling by a large fissure in the ground, pointing with one hand behind him. Spinning that way, he was just in time to see Lewa and Guurahk smash into him at high speed. That didn't ease any of the creature's frustration. As the three lay in a heap, it lifted its staff to skewer Tahu there on the ground. Lewa made a quick Kanohi change to his Pakari Nuva. Still on the ground, he grabbed the Rahkshi's arm, halting the blow. Then, pushing against the ground with his free hand, he threw the Rahkshi away from him and Tahu.

Gali joined the other two, now cornered against a stone cliff. The Guurahk landed not far from the Panrahk and Lerahk, and the three then surrounded the Toa against the wall. The Rahkshi were not able to speak, but they were perceptive, seeing that though the Toa fought well, they did not work together. That was a weakness they could use.

Lerahk stabbed the end of its staff into the ground, causing a sickly green poison to crawl along, surrounding the Toa. Lewa started to levitate higher, but energy blasts from Guurahk caused him to duck lower.

Gali watched the ground dissolve in sadness. "The earth is screaming, Lewa…we have to stop this poison!" She began firing water blasts at the substance in an attempt to mitigate and contain it.

Tahu looked with annoyance at Gali, the scar on his Kanohi glowing the same green as the poison on the ground. "We have bigger problems, sister! Look!"

The Toa turned to the last Rahkshi, the brown-armored variant, Panrahk. It charged its staff and aimed over head.

"It's aiming at the cliffside!" Tahu finished, as the fragmenting blast blew the monolithic tip to rubble, raining down on the Toa Nuva. "It's coming down! There's no time to dodge! I—unnngh!"

The last part of Tahu's phrase was cut off but the showering of tons of rock. The avalanche continued on for several long seconds before finally subsiding. The Rahkshi stayed and watched for only a moment or two, before deciding that they would not see those Toa again.

X X X

When Hahli arrived at Onewa's home in Po-Koro, the first thing he did was give Hahli attention for her victory in Ta-Koro. "It was an unforgettable match," the Turaga exclaimed, trying to cheer the mood despite the hard times. "You are strong and quick, Hahli of Ga-Koro. You will always be welcome in our village. May safety be with you in these times, Hahli. What brings you to Pohatu Nuva's region?"

Hahli got right to the point. "I'm here to ask you about the Crystal of Creation," she said. "I know that Vakama and Nokama found crystals relating to their people's principles not long after they were made. Did you receive a note and crystal like that?"

Onewa shook his head, surprised, but believing. "Yes. I had a similar experience to them—we all found something like that. And with Rahkshi on the loose, there can be no delay. I stowed it in a place along the Path of Prophecies. I had Hafu build in a hiding place into one of the statues there, just in case. When this crystal appeared, I chose to use it then. As I hid it for later, it became to me the Temple of Creation."

Hahli thanked Onewa and left for the front of the village, where its main road was lined on both sides with statues constituting the Path of Prophecies. Scanning over them, she found side-by-side slots acting as the locks. These read: 'One for All' and 'Strategy's Designs', 'The Map to Victory', and 'Pride of Sculptors', which took the Charms of Unity and Destiny, Strategy, and Creation. When all of the locks opened, a slot in the statue opened, giving Hahli the bright, tan-glowing Crystal of Creation.

X X X

Takua, Jaller, and Pewku stopped beside a small tunnel entrance dug out of an icy mountainside. Takua leaned closer to read the writing on a battered old totem that marked the entrance. "Onu-Koro Highway," he read. He glanced at Jaller. "It doesn't look like it's been used in a while. And we don't have a lightstone."

Jaller held up the faintly glowing mask. "Ha! Who needs lightstones?" He led the way into the tunnel. Pewku followed.

Takua hesitated, then stamped his foot and climbed down into the darkness after them. "Tunnels…" he muttered.

The tunnels were too low to allow the Matoran to ride Pewku, so all three of them walked along on foot. Takua was lagging behind. He didn't want to admit it, but being underground made him nervous. It was too still. Too close. And much, much too dark.

Maybe that was why he found himself subconsciously drawn to a strange bioluminescent plant. He glanced at a note inscribed above where it was growing. "Hm…hey." Putting the shape to another use, he plucked two leaves and held them up to his mask, making it look like he had long ears growing out of the top of his head. Feeling them sway in his hands as he moved, he chuckled, "Hey, Jaller, look!"

There was no answer.

"Jaller?"

Takua….

Takua stopped short, dropping the leaves out of fright, where their light faded on the ground. Was he hearing things? He peered into the darkness behind him, but there was no sign of life or movement. Not even the glow from the Mask of Light could be seen. "Uh, guys?" Takua called. "Where'd you go?"

Takua….

Takua gulped. That time he'd definitely heard it. But who? Where? Why? He wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. "Jaller?" he called, racing forward. "JALLER! Oof—"

In the blinding dark, he crashed into a wall and fell. An eerie red glow lit up the tunnel. A pair red eyes appeared in the dimness. "Shadows are everywhere," a voice hissed. "And wherever they are, so am l."

Takua backed away from the eyes. His heart was pounding. The Makuta. It had to be. "l know who you are," he said, trying to keep his voice from quavering. "l—I'm not afraid."

"Even my shadow's cannot hide your fear," Makuta said. "Or the truth."

"What truth?" Takua asked.

"That you will not find the Seventh Toa. And deep down, you know it."

"So I won't," Takua said uncertainly. "Maybe Jaller will."

"And if he doesn't?" Makuta's voice was more ominous than ever. "My Rahkshi will not stop hunting the herald. Without the Seventh Toa, you cannot stop them. He will die, because of you. Bring me the mask, Takua. Bring it to me, and you won't lose your friend."

Takua was horrified. Was this his choice? Betray all of Mata Nui—or allow Jaller to die? Makuta is said to be the master of lies, he thought. Maybe this choice is a lie, too…. "N-no!" he cried, trying to sound bold and sure. "l won't let everyone down."

"You fail them more if you refuse," Makuta said. "For the mask, your villages and Jaller will be spared. Don't be a fool."

"N-no," Takua stammered, confused. "l can't…"

Suddenly a flash of light flooded the tunnel. "Hey!" Jaller's voice called from behind the bright Kanohi Avohkii. A second later he and Pewku appeared. "Keep up, Kolhii-head," Jaller chided. "The mask is pointing this way. l found some better tunnels!"

Takua stared around wildly. But there was no sign of Makuta. Unable to speak, he merely nodded and followed as Jaller and Pewku turned and headed down the tunnel again.

"So where'd you wander off to?" Jaller asked over his shoulder as they walked.

"Jaller," Takua said. "Um, about the mask…."

"What about it?" Jaller asked. Then he smiled. "Are you ready to take it? Finally?"

Takua paused, struggling to make up his mind. "I can't…" He took a deep breath. "…go with you."

"What?" Jaller exclaimed, clutching the mask, which faded slightly. "Why?"

Takua could only shake his head hopelessly. "l…I can't explain," he croaked.

Jaller frowned. "Oh, that's just great," he said angrily. "First you stick me with your duty and then you ditch me?"

Takua couldn't meet his friend's eyes. "My duty is to myself," he muttered, turning away. "l quit! Just…take the mask and go!"

At that moment, the last of the mask's light faded. "Fine," Jaller said. At his words, the mask's glow returned—at least a little. "But I won't give up. I will find the Seventh Toa, whether you're true Herald or not!"

Pewku stood still, staring first after Takua and then Jaller. After some consideration, she turned and followed Takua, while Jaller went down another path.

X X X

Makuta watched Takua's retreat from his lair deep beneath the tunnels, his red eyes glowing with anger. "My fairness spurned…my good will refused," he hissed, turning toward the giant Kanohi Hau, the symbol of Mata Nui, on the wall. "My gentle sons bound in ice." He glared at the mask. "Still, the Toa have learned not to consider them so swiftly defeated; and I learned much from their following victory over the Toa of Fire, Water, and Air. Brute force may win a battle, but it will not bring me the Mask of Light, or force the Matoran to obey." He let out a sigh—one of resignation and hopelessness…for his enemies. "So, my hand is cast."

He turned to face three stone pillars, nearly identical to the ones from which the previous Rahkshi had emerged. As Makuta walked by them, three shadowy forms burst out of them. "Now I must pierce that which the Toa hold dear," Makuta said. "I must strike both physically and mystically. My other sons have yet to walk the surface of Mata Nui."

He stopped in front of one of the new figures—another Rahkshi, this one white in color. Its name was Kurahk—the Anger-Rahkshi. Kurahk, whose mind-bending anger will disturb their peace and willpower. "Anger amongst them will threaten their precious unity."

Makuta walked on to another Rahkshi. This time he paused before a Rahkshi that was as black as night. Vorahk—the Hunger-Rahkshi. Vorahk, whose hunger will rob them of their prosperity and stamina. "Hunger will consume their duty," Makuta said as the creature's staff quivered with energy.

Finally, the third Rahkshi was colored in fearful shades of red. It came out of the shadows from its generation tube, screeching at the other two. This was Turahk, the Fear-Rahkshi. If Makuta had to pick a favorite son, this one was it…though it was hard to be decisive. And Turahk, whose mastery of overwhelming, mind-numbing fear will steal their courage and strength. "And the power of fear will keep them from their destiny."

"Go, my children," Makuta ordered, as the new nightmares left the area. "Turn the light to shadow!" Makuta turned away from the three new Rahkshi, once again facing the still mask of Mata Nui. "They will not disturb your sleep."