Authors Note:

A number of lines of dialogue in this chapter are lifted from Journey's End, by Greg Farshtey. Huge thanks to Greg for being the primary storytelling force for Bionicle, which has inspired me so much.


Makuta reached out to the universe. For weeks, he had been learning to use his new body and monitoring the lives of those inside. Now, on a whim, he decided to locate the Mask of Life.

The Mask had landed on a planet. Even worse, it appeared to be moving. That wasn't right. Mata Nui should be floating through the loneliness of space, not wandering around with other life forms!

Makuta knew he should have let it go. He needed to be focused on the lives of the Matoran that served him. Mata Nui had spent too much time looking outward, without a care for the beings that tirelessly served him. Makuta wouldn't make that same mistake.

And yet, Mata Nui was still out there. It bothered him.

Makuta used his sensors to pinpoint the location of the Mask of Life as he fired the thrusters in his feet to lift his enormous body off the surface of the water-covered planet. The heat caused the oceans to bubble and boil, and enormous waves crashed to fill the space he had left behind. When he reached a high enough altitude, a satellite that had been orbiting the planet latched onto his back granting even faster travel through space.

Finally, he sent a message to his forces. Any available Rahkshi in his legs, any Skakdi warbands that had yielded to his rule, would prepare for their attack.

Mata Nui has escaped from what should have been his eternal prison, he thought. I won't give him another chance.


The largest chamber of the underground character buzzed with the excitement and anticipation of dozens of Toa. It seemed as though everyone was murmuring about Teridax's plan as they tried to determine what their next goal would be. Pohatu remained suspicious of his goals, but he would give Teridax the benefit of the doubt - for now. Tahu and Onua believed strongly in Teridax's ability to bring down Makuta, and Pohatu wasn't about to try and split the team again. Perhaps Tahu was right; perhaps this was their destiny.

Teridax strode toward a map that was carved into the wall. "Makuta is now on the move. This is the time for us to strike." He used a short stick to point to Metru Nui, the Northernmost point of the map. "Most of you will travel to Metru Nui, where you will focus on pulling Makuta's forces to the beach. I don't know for sure what kind of resistance you will encounter, but we have seen evidence that suggests that they have been constructing law-enforcement robots known as 'Vahki' in the city. The Vahki have mind-altering abilities, so be sure to keep an eye on your fellow Toa. Takanuva and Kongu will give you a thirty-minute head start before providing air support with the Jetrax and Axalara."

Kongu pumped his fist into the air. He had been fawning over the T-Series vehicles ever since the Toa Nuva had first brought them back, and had been hoping for a chance to be able to ride one.

Teridax pointed to the tunnel west of the Northern Continent. "Tahu, Onua, and Pohatu will fly the Rockoh and travel to this point and break through the tunnel wall. In the chamber within is a large amount of machinery. Destroying it will hinder Makuta's movements, as well as providing a distraction for the Toa in Metru Nui. Once the machinery is destroyed, you can rejoin the rest of us in Metru Nui. Makuta will quickly become aware of your assault, so be prepared for his forces to come and investigate."

Pohatu analyzed his part of the mission while Teridax continued giving out orders. He had been vocal about his suspicions of Teridax. Was this why he was one of the only Toa not to be sent to Metru Nui? Or was he actually among those best suited for this mission? Tahu would be coming with him as well, and he was one of Teridax's strongest supporters.

Teridax continued to describe the operation to the assembled Toa, his imposing frame demanding attention. "While the rest of you distract Makuta's forces, Kopaka, Lewa and Gali will escort me to the Coliseum. There, I will make the killing blow against Makuta. Time is of the essence, so get moving!"

Everyone stood up and scrambled out of the chamber, ready to do their part in the upcoming battle. Most of the Toa ran toward the lower tunnels which fed into the ocean, but Pohatu ran towards the side chamber that held the Rockoh and its sister vehicles. Takanuva and Kongu were already there. Kongu climbed aboard the Axalara, feeling the controls for the first time.

"Make sure you bring that thing back in one piece," said Pohatu as he climbed into the cockpit of the Rockoh. "Lewa would never forgive you if you scratch it."

Kongu flicked a switch to power up the engines. "I've been flying for a lot longer than Lewa has. He doesn't have anything to worry about."

Pohatu glanced at Takanuva, who had begun whispering to the mask he had placed on the Jetrax. Takanuva and Kongu could take their time preparing, they didn't have to launch for another thirty minutes. Pohatu had somewhere to be. He hit the launch button and lights projected themselves onto his mask, displaying sensor and engine readings.

Tahu and Onua climbed onto either side of the Rockoh. Pohatu slowly twisted the handle, gently urging the vehicle out through the tunnel that would lead them to the surface. A twinge of anticipation shot through his spine. They had spent far too long preparing, sitting, and waiting for something to happen.

As they approached the end of the tunnel, Onua held out a hand and the earth in front of them split apart. Harsh sunlight suddenly shone through the cave, and Pohatu had to squint as he adjusted to the brightness outside the caves. A moment later, they burst out into the fresh open air. Pohatu blinked twice as his eyes adjusted to the light, and took a moment to marvel at the valley far below. The forest seemed to stretch out forever before him, only broken by a distant mountain, and a light breeze brushed past his face. He never thought he might enjoy flying so much, but the sight of vast distances in all directions felt incredibly freeing after being cooped up underground for weeks.

"No time to take in the sights," said Tahu from the left wing. "Take us to our target."

"Just getting my bearings," Pohatu said as he banked toward the west. "One pile of mysterious machinery, coming up!" He twisted the throttle and accelerated toward the Great Barrier that surrounded the landmass, suddenly reminded of the thrill of high-speed flying.


A group of Rahkshi stalked through the forests of the Northern Continent, on the lookout for any beings wandering unchecked. They had been on the prowl for weeks, ordered by Makuta to search the area for Toa. As of yet, they had found nothing - but that suited them better than being cooped up on Metru Nui, forbidden from harming the scurrying Matoran that infested the strange buildings.

One of the Rahkshi looked overhead. Peering through the dense treetops, it watched a strange machine fly past. That would normally be enough to grab its attention, but this was special. There were Toa on that flying device.

Rahkshi were not allowed to hurt Matoran without Makuta's orders.

Rahkshi were allowed to hurt Toa.

The Rahkshi screamed a beckoning cry to its allies, as it lifted its legs and began to hover. The hunt was on.


The Mask of Life hadn't gone far, landing on a fractured planet nearby. Makuta flew down to the surface of the dry planet. Mountains littered the landscape, but the vast majority of it was covered in desert, a far cry from the watery moon he had left behind. And in the desert, looking up at him with a glare, stood Mata Nui. Somehow he had been able to procure another Great Body to inhabit. Makuta landed in front of him, feeling the ground beneath his feet crack. He looked down upon the being he had overthrown.

Mata Nui stood a head shorter than Makuta, and his new body was clearly inferior to the one Makuta now possessed. Makuta was sure Mata Nui was trying to think of some way to defeat him without harming the Matoran. He would not find one.

"Silence?" said Makuta. "No threats? No vows of revenge? You disappoint me."

"I don't need to do any of those things," Mata Nui answered. Although he was speaking quietly, the sound of his words still echoed all over the planet. "I don't need to prove myself in combat with you, either. We don't need to fight."

Makuta chuckled lightly. "No, of course we don't. You could just lie down and die right now. You would save me at least a few minutes' effort, and yourself a lot of pain." He raised his right arm. "Or do you need persuading?"

A blast of power shot from Makuta's armored gauntlet. It sizzled past Mata Nui's head and struck one of the peaks of the distant mountain, melting it in an instant. Makuta's sensors picked up the screams of faraway beings in the split second before they were consumed by lava.

"I could do that all day," said Makuta, "and into tomorrow. You would fight me, of course, and the two of us would lay waste to this planet - which gives me an idea."

Makuta lifted his arm, opening his palm. "Join me," he said. "In these bodies, we have the power to decimate entire universes. Together, we could rule all of reality."

"You know so much, and yet you understand so little," said Mata Nui. "You look at the body you stole from me and see only an engine of destruction, a weapon to be wielded against anyone you choose. Didn't you ever wonder why the Great Beings created it to be so powerful? Or why you felt compelled to seize control of it?"

"You mean your 'destiny?'" said Makuta, acid dripping from his words. "Yes, I know all about your mission – your great quest to reunite the three wandering pieces of Spherus Magna. Let me show you what I think of it."

Power lanced from Makuta's outstretched hand. It struck Mata Nui in the shoulder, staggering him and tearing a gash in his robotic shell.

"Ah, I see," Makuta said. "You must be wearing an old model. Cheap materials, cheap construction … I'm surprised you would be caught dead in that."

"Makuta, listen to me!" answered Mata Nui. "My destiny … it's yours, too. We're supposed to work together to restore Spherus Magna to what it once was. I should have come back long ago. I never thought to come back, to check on my creators. I knew they would call on me when I was needed - but I never asked why they didn't try to contact me. But now, Makuta, these people need me - they need us! And we must help them!"

Makuta answered with a blast of energy that Mata Nui barely managed to dodge. The time for words was over. Mata Nui brought up his fists and took a fighter's stance, but Makuta could still see a trace of hope in his eyes.

Makuta threw a punch, and Mata Nui swerved to evade it. And the two giants hurled fists against each other in a battle that would decide the fate of a universe.


Tahu gripped onto the side of the Rockoh. Damp stones rushed past as they sped through the long tunnel, and he tried to suppress a shiver. It was always chilly in the corridors between the domes that housed the islands and continents.

The chamber they flew through suddenly lurched violently. Boulders dislodged from the ceiling, splashing water high enough to drench them. Pohatu didn't flinch and swerved to evade another falling rock, continuing to race down the tunnel.

"What was that?" asked Pohatu.

"I think it's a part of Teridax's attack on Makuta," said Onua. "Or perhaps it's why Teridax chose to attack now."

Another crunch echoed through the cave, and Tahu felt relief that he was flying through the air. That tremor would have been enough to knock an ash bear off its feet. Tahu tried to ignore his growing sense of dread and focused on the mission, ill-defined as it was. Supposedly this was Teridax's end game, but they still knew so little about his plan. What were they about to destroy? What would it mean for Makuta, and for Mata Nui? Tahu had placed his trust in Teridax, if only because of Vakama's prophecy - but was he couldn't shake his doubts completely.

Pohatu began to slow the Rockoh, bringing the Rockoh to a steady hover. Tahu hopped onto a stone jutting out of the sea, checking to make sure it would support his weight. It seemed stable, and he heard Onua land a moment later. The ground felt stable, but he kicked it just to be sure.

Pohatu found a nearby outcropping and brought the Rockoh down to rest upon it. "So, do you see a door anywhere?" he asked as he climbed out of the cockpit.

Tahu looked at the protosteel wall, half covered by rock. It looked no different to any other tunnel running between islands. He could melt it away, but that would take time. "No," he answered. "But I'm sure you could make one for us."

Pohatu walked up to the wall. "This looks like a good spot." He used his Mask of Speed to vibrate the particles in their bodies, an old trick that they had used numerous times before. After a moment, Pohatu had become a brown blur which, after a moment, sped into the metal wall and disappeared.

Tahu followed, passing through the solid wall with no resistance.

He found himself surrounded by total darkness, but there was something firm and metallic beneath his feet. He generated a flame from his magma blade to shine some light on his new surroundings. "I don't know what I expected, but this wasn't it."

They were standing on a huge pipe that snaked around the edge of the chamber. The walls were lined with enormous pistons and pumps. Towering tanks slowly fed liquid to somewhere beyond another wall.

"It's a long way down," said Onua, as he peered over the edge of the pipe they stood on.

"Sure is," said Pohatu. "Looks like there's plenty of machinery that's about to need some serious repair. Are we sure this is the right thing to do? Aren't we going to hurt Mata Nui?"

"Mata Nui is gone," said Onua. "If he returns, we can try to fix this, but for now we must do everything we can to stop Makuta." He flew over to one of the nearby pumps and grabbed tightly onto the side, causing the casing to buckle before he ripped the pump apart. Sparks flew out of the damaged machine and liquid splashed down into the deep pit below.

"Come on Pohatu," said Tahu. "We've got work to do." Tahu hovered over to another of the pumps. Summoning energy, he created a jet of flame which he fanned over the piston. The flame turned the protosteel yellow, then red. Moments later, the metal dripped away, and fluid poured out. If the fluid ever landed, he didn't hear it.


Gali kicked through the cool channel with the rest of the Toa, as well as Mazeka and Teridax. She had shared her mask power with the group, allowing them to breathe underwater. Using her powers over water, she created a current powerful enough to help speed the group to the island-city. They would finally liberate their home and protect the Matoran once again. Gali felt a pang of guilt at having ever left them, even though she knew it was the only choice they had been given.

"Water," moaned Lewa. "Why couldn't we have wind-rode to Metru Nui?"

"The rest of us have been managing just fine," said Kopaka.

"Easy-speak for you Kopaka, water is just warm ice," answered Lewa.

"I didn't complain when we went flying," snapped Gali. "Perhaps you need to be more adaptable."

"I liked swimming better when we didn't have adaptive armor," said Kopaka. "Then I didn't have to listen to the Toa of Windbags."

Gali stopped herself from engaging, choosing to focus instead on the moment of relative calm before the upcoming storm. Kopaka and Lewa continued to trade verbal jabs, but if she tuned them out she could focus on the calming sounds of the ocean currents. Other than the three Toa Nuva present, no-one else in the group had armor that allowed them to communicate. She took a deep breath of filtered air, reaching out to feel the way the water brushed over herself. She became one with the silver sea, gentle and far-reaching.

It wasn't long until they reached Metru Nui. Almost thirty Toa gathered below the ocean waves, beneath the wall that protected the city. Hidden under the sea, it seemed that they had been able to remain completely undetected.

Kopaka looked up at the island city above them, using the power of his Mask of Vision. "Two Vahki are patrolling this section of the wall," he said calmly.

"How will we quiet-fight them?" asked Lewa.

"Just watch." Kopaka kicked up to the surface, flying out into the air. As he exited the water, he pointed his sword towards one of the law-enforcement robots. His beam of ice froze the Vahki instantly. Even as Kopaka's adaptive armor changed into flight mode, he aimed at the second Vahki, freezing it as before it had time to respond.

With the sentries taken out, the Toa rose to the surface. Lewa activated his mask, sharing its powers with the rest of the group. They hovered out of the sea and over the defensive wall. Matoran going about their daily business stopped to stare at the force of floating Toa. As the group landed within the city walls, one Matoran shouted. "Toa! The Toa have returned!"

Gali looked up toward the frozen Vahki. "You made it look easy," she said to Kopaka.

Kopaka's eye gave a hint of a smile. "If this is the best defense Makuta can summon, none of us will have a problem."

The sound of engines whirred around them, and the Jetrax and Axalara sped overhead into the city before banking back around. That would grab the attention of any Vahki and Rahkshi in the city.

Another earthquake rumbled through the island, and Kopaka almost toppled over. Gali felt water spray over her as enormous waves crashed against the outer city wall.

"The earthquakes are nothing to worry about," Teridax announced to the assembled group of Toa. "They are only proof of the force that attacks Makuta! While he is distracted, we will continue our assault. We will split up here. Keep Makuta's forces off our backs!" Teridax turned to charge toward the center of the city.

"Stay bright-alert, and watch out for each other!" added Lewa, turning to chase after him. Gali and Kopaka followed closely behind.

Gali found that she could suddenly see through walls, a sign that Kopaka had shared his mask power with her.

"Keep an eye out for any approaching Vahki," said Kopaka. "We'll be able to take them out before they know what's hit them."


Gavla knew something was happening. Perched near the Coliseum, she'd been able to catch a glimpse of the flying vehicles. The Toa were more clever than to attack the city directly - they would be attempting a strike at the heart of the city. Ahkmou had stationed her at the Coliseum to keep it protected. She remained hidden on an outcropping, using her powers to cloak herself in the shadow cast by the huge building. They'd be here soon - but they wouldn't spot her until it was too late.


Makuta refused to let it show, but he had begun to feel a pain in his shoulder. It was the Toa, it must have been. Somehow, they knew the right moment to harm him. But if he tried to look inside himself now, Mata Nui would be able to beat him to a pulp. Instead, he commanded a squadron of Rahkshi to go to the location of his ache. Even this split his attention almost too much, and Mata Nui threw a quick punch into the larger ruler's body. Makuta stumbled backward as Mata Nui followed with another punch. Makuta knocked it out of the way before backhanding his smaller foe.

The two exchanged blow after blow. Makuta could tell that Mata Nui was probing Makuta's defenses, trying to find an unguarded point to attack, a chink in his armor. That was fine. Mata Nui was far too afraid of hurting the beings inside Makuta to do any real damage. Makuta twisted to dodge a punch aimed at his head, and countered with two swift blows to Mata Nui's chest. Mata Nui recoiled, pulling out of reach of his foe.

"You rely too much on the bravery and spirit of your followers, brother," Makuta said, his voice heavy with menace. "Even here, on your adopted world, you gather starry-eyed fools around you who think you can save them." He lowered his right arm, palm pointed toward the site of the battle below. He began gathering huge amounts of power in his hand. This wasn't like the small blasts he had been hurling up until now, instead, this would be something incredibly destructive. "You know, don't you? A single blast of gravitic power and this planet will fold on itself, destroying everything and everyone on it. I will survive… perhaps you will as well… but everyone else will be a memory."

"You can't do that! The consequences-"

"I stopped caring about consequences long ago," Makuta answered. "Those sort of worries are for the weak, and I am strong, Mata Nui. By right of power, I claimed your universe - and now I claim this one, starting here and now!"

Energy erupted in waves from Makuta's gauntlet, a planet-killing force that could not be stopped…


"Alright, we're here," said Lewa, as they crossed the bridge that led overwater to the enormous Coliseum. "What now? Shut down the protosteel plant? Or is there a hidden power-treasure in the vault?"

"No," said Teridax, as the group stepped off the bridge. He took one hand off his heavy warhammer and pointed to the ground below the entrance to the building. "We will teleport in here, and strike at Makuta's brain."

"Even better!" replied Lewa with mock enthusiasm as a biting wind whipped past his head. Secretly, he was still concerned about what Teridax might be leading them into, but he was struggling to spend too much energy focusing on that. His arms ached and it was beginning to feel like his muscles had turned to water. He took one more step before his legs buckled and he went sprawling on the ground.

"Lewa!" Gali knelt down next to him. "Are you alright?"

"Hold off the attack!" shouted Teridax. "I will destroy Makuta!"

"Wait!" shouted Kopaka, but Teridax had already vanished into nothingness.

Gali crumpled to the ground beside Lewa. Where was this mysterious foe? Kopaka stood above the two fallen Toa, covering them with his shield as his head turned in every direction as he tried to locate their attacker. Suddenly, he stopped, his neck craning up to look at something on the Coliseum. Lewa struggled to look in the same direction as Kopaka. Above the archway, there was a shadow darker than the rest. Kopaka's feet gave out and he landed on his knees, but he managed to fire a beam of ice toward the shadow. The archway froze solid, and an oily blue figure leaped out towards them.

"Too late, Toa Nuva!" she cried, as she landed. "It's a shame Takanuva isn't here as well. I would have loved to turn him against you."

Lewa struggled to summon any strength at all, desperate to stop their attacker harming his friends. "G-Gavla?" She had changed, but he thought he recognized the voice of one of the Shadow Matoran he had faced in Karda Nui. But she had been brought back to the light, hadn't she? Lewa slowly began to pull himself back to his feet, feeling the smallest amount of energy return to him.

Then the strange Toa fired another beam from her mask at him and Lewa felt the goodness in his heartlight, the righteousness of his mind, and the love for his brothers and sister draining away.

"Now, be quiet and relax," urged Gavla. "Soon you will be reborn as a Shadow Toa, and you will feel for yourself just how wonderful darkness is."

The more the light was drained from him, the less he fought back. It did feel good. Why was he fighting so hard against a ruler he could not defeat? Why work so hard for anything? Why not just join the Shadow Toa and reap the benefits of a life lording over the Matoran? He could almost taste the delight in pain, the glee that Gali and Kopaka would soon join him in this sadistic form.

Gali. Kopaka. Despite the darkness creeping into his soul, the thought of his friends was enough to set free some half-forgotten feeling of warmth, companionship, and love. He had fought this shadow before, and he could do it again. No, he thought with desperate resolve, they will not join me in this dark-fate, not if I can do anything about it. He looked toward Gali, trying to force herself up on her hands. Suddenly, Lewa found the will to summon a gale, knocking Gavla back just long enough for her feeding to stop.

Lewa could feel the light slowly return to him. "No, Gavla. I will not let you turn us into shadow-agents of Makuta!" He threw out his hands, creating a powerful updraft that sent Gavla flying.


Six Rahkshi raced through the tunnels, chasing the Toa they had spotted before. The Toa had long since left them behind, but the commanding-voice in their heads had told them where they would go. They stopped at the place they had been directed to, yet could see no intruders. The Rahkshi hissed in frustration, eager to fight, eager to kill. Makuta had kept them as a security force in Metru Nui so long, and they had very rarely been allowed to even hurt the Matoran.

A blue-green Rahkshi listened intently, hearing the sounds of destruction coming from the other side of the cave wall. It stepped into the center of the group of Rahkshi, then used its power of teleportation to transport the group to where it could hear the strange sounds coming from.

A moment later, the six Rahkshi found themselves in a dark chamber, falling down a deep abyss. Not a problem. Each one pulled up its legs, switching to hover mode. Now, they had the ability to fly and deep pits wouldn't bother them anymore. In the distance above, a bright, powerful flame lit the chamber. At its center, there was a Red Toa. Intruder. The everywhere-voice had told them to eliminate intruders.

The rest of the group found places to land and fire at the intruders, but the Teleport-Rahkshi charged into battle.


Tahu heard a crash from behind him, and turned to see Onua swinging his hammer into a Rahkshi. The Rahkshi went spinning, working to regain control of its flight. Onua followed up by creating a barrier of earth to block a series of energy blasts from above. "Watch your back, Tahu!" said Onua, as the blasts exploded against his barrier. "Makuta's sent his friends to crash our party!"

Tahu kept firing his elemental power at the machinery they had been commanded to destroy. "Sounds like Makuta wants to slow us down, which means whatever we're doing is hurting him. Hold off those Rahkshi for me!"

Onua rushed off, creating heavy spheres of dirt to hurl at his opponents. Tahu hovered above the next piston, heated it beyond its capacity until it cracked and shattered. Without its casing, the piston knocked itself apart, sending superheated metal and steam tumbling into the dark abyss. One more down, just dozens left to go.

As he turned to find his next target, Tahu saw that Pohatu was in trouble. The Toa of Stone drilled into a Rahkshi with his Kodan Claw, grappling with it furiously as he bored through its shell. But Pohatu hadn't noticed a second Rahkshi perched atop one of the protosteel columns, aiming its staff at him.

Tahu had noticed. As the Rahkshi fired, Tahu used his Mask of Shielding to protect his friend. The laser blast was absorbed harmlessly.

Tahu felt his fists clench around the hilts of his blades, and his eyes narrowed. He refused to allow his teammates be used as target practice any longer. He charged at the Rahkshi, peppering it with fireballs. The Rahkshi screamed as the flames struck its armor and vaulted off the column, changing to its flight mode. Tahu rammed into it, knocking it off course. The Rahkshi regained control, veered away, then turned back to face him. In flight, with no nearby columns to land on, it fought back the only way it could. It charged at Tahu.

The Fire Toa swung his blade, catching the Rahkshi as it charged. His blade sliced through the shell, cutting the beast in two. Its remains fell down into the deep abyss.

A deep scream drew Tahu's attention, and he looked up toward the source. Another Rahkshi was firing electricity at Onua, and Tahu quickly used his mask to shield his friend. Onua's screams subsided, and he scrambled away from the Rahkshi before diving off the pipe.

Only two Rahkshi remained, and they gave chase to Onua, trying to cut him off. Onua swerved and banked, throwing off their aim and evading their blasts, before flipping and inverting back towards Tahu and Pohatu.

Pohatu drifted close towards Tahu.

"Attack as one!" commanded Tahu.

Onua was close to reaching them, followed closely by the two Rahkshi. There was neither rock nor stone in this vast chamber, but Pohatu wouldn't need any. He held out his weapon, creating a shower of stone in front of him. Tahu superheated the boulders, transforming them into a wave of lava.

Onua dived down, and Pohatu thrust the lava wave at the Rahkshi. The slag splashed over the two Rahkshi, and they hissed and writhed. Struggling against the molten rock that engulfed them, they fell helplessly into the darkness.

"We could have handled it, Tahu," said Onua as he came to a hover. "You should have focused on destroying the machinery."

Tahu looked toward the pistons beneath him, a dozen of them already twisted from his flames. "I wasn't going to risk you getting hurt. Come on, we've got a job to finish."


At that moment, Mata Nui threw himself at Makuta, grabbing his arm and jerking it up into the air, sending the gravitic power surging into the sky. Makuta realized what an act of genius this was, as the gravity beam struck the moons of Bara Magna. Combined with the power Mata Nui had already sent into space, the moons began heading on a course - straight toward their original placements.

Makuta roared and pushed Mata Nui away, but the shorter giant kept coming. Makuta could see Mata Nui's robot body was damaged, but Mata Nui threw blow after blow at Makuta, forcing him back. The pain in Makuta's shoulder was getting worse, and he was struggling to keep up with Mata Nui's blows. Mata Nui threw one last punch at Makuta, sending him back into the Northernmost reaches of Bara Magna. But Mata Nui was exhausted, his power drained.

"You made an excellent effort," Makuta said, "but they don't remember who tried the hardest… only those who won. Today, that is I."

Mata Nui leaped at Makuta to shove him backward. Makuta grabbed Mata Nui's arm, twisted, and threw Mata Nui to the ground. Mountains turned to dust as Mata Nui landed. The shadow of the moon of Bota Magna passed overhead, as it returned to its rightful place.

Makuta laughed as he mounted Mata Nui's body. The two moons collided with Bara Magna, and the entire planet shuddered. The other beings on the surface would no doubt be thrown by the enormous earthquake, but to the giant, it was a light tremor. Spherus Magna was whole again.

Makuta pulled his right arm back, and Mata Nui shut his eyes, surely knowing he had failed everyone who relied on him. Makuta's fists rained down on Mata Nui's face.

Finally, the blows stopped. Mata Nui looked dazed and confused. Makuta smiled as Mata Nui opened his eyes, only to see that Makuta was readying one last punch.


Tahu hovered next to the largest cylinder, firing a powerful flame at it. This device was easily thirty times his own height, reinforced with strong metals. Surrounded by the heat, the metals began to melt and crack. But Tahu was tiring, having already expended his elemental energy on the rest of the machinery - and the Rahkshi. The piston sounded as if it was pumping even more erratically as Tahu's flame ate into it, inch by inch. How much more could it take before cracking? Tahu willed his flames to even higher temperatures.


Makuta's fist came down, crushing Mata Nui's head. Metal twisted, crumbled, and flew through the desert. Electricity discharged from the robot body like lightning strikes hitting the ground. The Mask of Life, inside the head of Mata Nui, was crushed instantly. "Goodbye, brother," whispered Makuta.


The piston continued to deform, shards of metal cracking off the section Tahu had set aflame. It twisted violently - and snapped itself in two. One half of the cylinder shattered off, smashing the pipes below it open. At last, the sounds of pumping machinery ended.

"Whatever that was, I hope Makuta felt it," said Tahu.

"This better have been worth it," said Pohatu, turning back toward the metal wall they had passed through earlier.

"Come on," said Tahu. "Let's get back to Metru Nui."

Pohatu shared the power of his Mask of Speed, and the trio flew through the wall.


Makuta tried to pull his fist out of Mata Nui's face, but somehow he found that he couldn't move his arm. He stood up over the remains of Mata Nui's head, and awkwardly rotated his body to wrest his hand free. He had won this battle - but what of the battle going on within himself? His right arm had been completely disabled despite the Rahkshi he had sent in to stop the intruders. He would look inside and find the intruders in his shoulder - no.

The damage to his arm was done. He would need to check on Metru Nui first. Standing awkwardly over the world, one arm hanging limp, he looked inward to his old domain…


Gavla struggled to regain control of her flight, but Lewa's mastery of air prevented her from being able to escape his attacks. Lewa summoned another gale, slamming her against the wall of the Coliseum, and scraping her armor against the stone. Before she could recover, Lewa swooped in, swinging his blades.

Gavla knocked the attack away and kicked him in the chest. "You'll pay for what you did to me, Lewa!" She charged toward him, swinging her swords ferociously. Lewa dived, ducked and flipped out of the way of each of her strikes.

"You can't defeat us in a fair fight, so you have to resort to shadow-stealth!" He thrust out his hand, blowing her back.

"And it worked, didn't it? I'd never be able to keep up with a single Toa Nuva in one-on-one combat, but now I'm going to get the better of you!" Gavla peppered shadow blasts at Lewa.

Lewa rolled to evade them, but one bit into his shoulder, the distraction sending him spiraling toward the ground. The steel surface rushed up to meet him, but Lewa stopped himself using the Mask of Levitation. He felt ragged. His power was returning to him, but too slowly, and his reflexes were dulled.

"Now, Lewa," said Gavla. "Relax, and give in to the comforting embrace of darkness."

Lewa found himself struck with another beam and felt the too-familiar sensation of the light being drained from him again.


Gali felt drained, and simply moving her arms felt like a challenge. She could barely make out the aerial movements of Gavla and Lewa, each looking like a blur as they darted around above her. She heard Kopaka pull himself to his knees nearby.

Gali closed her eyes and reached out to the water around her. The moisture in the air, the splashes of water against the bridge - and the enormous river that lay below. She felt it's ebb and flow, the ripples on the water. Lewa was in trouble - and it was up to her to rescue him.

Gali looked toward Kopaka. He gave her a small nod, and she understood. They'd combine their powers to protect Lewa.

She gathered all of her energy and hurled a stream of water at Gavla, knocking her back and breaking her attack on Lewa. Just as quickly, the water froze, sealing Gavla in an enormous spire of ice. The ringing of swords gave way to the crashing of waves.

Gali sat down on the cold metal, allowing herself to finally relax. "Are you hurt, Lewa?" she shouted.

Lewa began floating down toward her. "I'm fine, sister, and I'm glad you are such a true-shot."

"Kopaka's mask is good for more than simply seeing through walls," Gali replied.

Lewa landed, and a look of concern crossed his eyes. "I guess Teridax was sneak-ready to ditch us the first moment he could."

"He's focused on defeating Makuta," insisted Gali. "He wouldn't allow anything to interfere with his mission."

"We've got a more pressing question to ask," cut in Kopaka, as he looked toward the empty maw of the Coliseum. "How are we going to follow Teridax now?"


Makuta had gone quiet.

He did this often. Seeking out ways to watch over his universe, he watched carefully over its inhabitants. He'd killed multiple Dark Hunters as revenge for ever daring to resist him. He was slowly invading more islands and had easily convinced numerous Skakdi warlords and Vortixx warriors to pledge their loyalty to him.

Multiple times now, he had located a member of the Order of Mata Nui, quickly overwhelming them with Rahkshi, Exo-Toa, and once, Skakdi. Every time he located one, he would gloat with pride, relaying the exciting games of cat-and-mouse he would play with them until they were finally struck down. If there was one thing Makuta enjoyed doing, it was watching Helryx squirm in her prison as he slowly picked apart the Order she had built and led for millennia. His Core Processor was right in front of her, taunting her. She could save every surviving member of the order if she could just break free of her chains and strike the blow into Makuta's brain, killing him instantly while he was distracted.

But something was different. Makuta had left her alone for long periods, but never had he been this quiet before. The machinery in the room lit up rapidly, the Core Processor working overtime as it flourished and glowed. Makuta was distracted.

Helryx worked idly at her chains. She'd spent hours each day carefully working at them, trying to find an escape. A part of her knew by now that it was pointless, but the energy field they emitted on her body restricted the use of her Toa powers. If she could just get one arm free, she might be able to draw enough water to slice the other chain apart.

And then it would be a simple matter to end Makuta's life.

The sound of heavy footsteps drew her attention. A large armored body strode into the room with the force of a torrent, radiating light from his body. He was another Makuta, near identical in appearance to Makuta Teridax except for his shining white armor and golden mask. Before she had time to say anything, he drew his hammer back, preparing to smash the Core Processor to bits.

Gratitude to this savior, regardless of his species, washed over her. She had sworn to find a way to end Makuta, but she held no power in this place and had not been able to deceive him. But she would keep quiet, lest Makuta could hear her.

Before the white Makuta struck, a spark of electricity lanced out at him from one of the machines. It struck the white Makuta, knocking him forward. He turned to face his opponent, only to scream as another bolt of lightning blasted his chestplate apart. He dropped his warhammer, and his essence began to leak out of his body.

"I will end you." The white Makuta struggled to say the words, but managed to pull himself up. His hand ignited with plasma energy.

Makuta's whispery voice echoed throughout the room. "You may try."


Takanuva kicked his Jetrax around for another pass at a group of Vahki, and blasts of light from his Skyblasters destroyed them with ease. The battle had started frenzied and frantic, but the Toa had soon learned to hold their lines and protect each other from the mind-altering attacks from the Vahki. A group of Matoran fighters even joined in the battle. Between elemental attacks on the ground and energy blasts fired by Takanuva and Kongu, the Vahki hadn't stood a chance.

Takanuva flipped around, preparing for another pass at the Vahki when he saw something speeding into view from the Great Barrier. The sensors on the Jetrax identified it as the Rockoh. Takanuva sped over to greet the riders.

"Glad to see you've made it!" said Takanuva as he got close.

"How is the battle going?" asked Tahu, looking over the city.

"The Vahki really don't stand a chance against us," Takanuva replied with a note of pride. "We're wiping the floor with them. The Rahkshi make them look as tough as Bula Berries."

"So we waited all this time when we could have taken Metru Nui ourselves," said Pohatu.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," said Onua. "We might have been able to retake Metru Nui, but the Rahkshi would return. There's a bigger picture here. In any case, we should check on Teridax and the others."

Then, Takanuva felt it. A shift in the universe. Nothing visibly changed in Metru Nui. It was as if there was a change in how the air tasted, how the waves of the ocean sounded. The look on everyone's eyes indicated that they had felt it as well.

A feeling that, somehow, the Great Spirit had died.

Again.

The suns went out, and the entire city was plunged into darkness - although the display the Jetrax projected into Takanuva's mask allowed him to see clearly. Tahu summoned a flame to his hand, giving the riders a source of light.

An enormous earthquake shook the world, rumbling all throughout the Metru Nui dome. Towers trembled before crumbling apart. Roofs of buildings caved in, transit tubes fell apart, and the sounds of destruction reached the Toa even this high above the city of Metru Nui.

No-one needed to say anything. Takanuva didn't know what had happened, nor did he care to think of it. Instead, he looked over the metropolis as the rumbling gave way to distant panicked shouts, and his chest burned with worry as he wondered if the city would ever see daylight again.

"I certainly hope this was worth it," muttered Pohatu.