(A/N): Welcome back to Destiny's Divide! We have another chapter being told from a single unbroken POV this week, this time from Takua's perspective. Enjoy! Oh, and brace yourself - this chapter is gonna get trippy.
Also, apologies in advance if this one has more spelling/grammar errors or inconsistencies than usual. Most of my creative energy this last month has gone into expanding the backlog of future chapters, plus I've been trying (and failing) to fight off a pretty nasty head cold for most of this last week. I wanna keep the momentum going, though, so I'm doing my best to keep pushing!
Takua was surprised, relieved, and yet somehow disappointed that the trip back to Ko-Koro was completely uneventful.
It might have sounded strange in any other case. After all, how could traveling with two Toa, three otherworldly Huntresses, and a Rahi Trapper with a pet Taoniho tiger ever be considered dull? The answer, it turned out, was when there were no great battles on the way back, no valiant trek through the ice and snow, and no wild sled rides that served as a metaphor for their conversations. It was mostly just…talking and walking. Well, walking for Gali and Kopaka in any case - Weiss, Ruby, and Penny hung off the sides of Matoro's sled, while the Chronicler himself sat atop a pile of Muaka parts as Keiko pulled the sled with a constant agitated growl.
The trio of Huntresses mostly talked among themselves, eagerly recounting the events of their individual journeys up until now. Kopaka mostly kept to himself, only chiming in with occasional comments or questions directed at Matoro. Only Gali seemed willing to engage Takua in conversation, filling him in on the adventures she and her fellow Toa had been through.
"...and that is how we were able to retrieve Kopaka's Mask of Strength," she finished with a smile behind her mask. "What happened afterwards…well. It is not my story to tell, I feel."
For some reason, Ruby and Weiss both blushed.
"Interesting…thank you for sharing your story, Toa Gali," said Takua as he made some mental notes to follow up with the flustered Huntresses. "How about you, Kopaka? Anything you want to add to the official records?"
"No."
That was about what Takua figured, honestly.
"Right then." The Chronicler cleared his throat. "So, it sounds like Kopaka has one mask left to find, while Gali has three. What do you plan to do once you've finished collecting the Kanohi? Or is that on a need-to-know basis?"
The Toa of Water hummed thoughtfully. "I am…uncertain. I presume that we will be prepared to defeat Makuta, but I do not know how we will seek him out."
"Turaga Nokama might have some advice on what to do next," Ruby piped up. "Might be a good idea to head back to Ga-Koro after we get all six masks."
"An excellent suggestion, little one. Perhaps we shall do that, when the time comes. Rest assured though, Chronicler, that whatever grim Duty awaits us on the road to Makuta, we will greet it willingly and bravely."
"Never doubted that for a second, great Toa," said Takua with a small chuckle.
The walls of Ko-Koro finally came into view after a few hours of travel, but clearly for the girls they still arrived all too soon. After a farewell that involved lots of hugging and a little bit of crying, the Toa and their partnered Huntresses took their leave as Takua and Penny helped Matoro unpack his sled and free the Taoniho tiger. Keiko, glad to finally be rid of his yoke and the sled, expressed his gratitude by climbing to the top of a snowy watchtower, curling up into a ball, and promptly falling asleep in the warming sun. Matoro chuckled and rolled his eyes as he led the pair through the same passage they used to enter the Drifts, and soon enough all three were within the echoing halls of the Sanctum once more.
As soon as they walked in through the hidden tunnel, the Scribe that let them out walked forward. "Matoro! Oh…thank Mata Nui…" she intoned with relief in her voice as she touched masks with the Rahi Trapper.
"What, no yelling at me this time?" Matoro said with a soft chuckle. "You must have been really worried."
Sonya laughed and shook her head. "Oh, I stopped being angry about two hours ago. I'm just…so glad that they were able to find you…"
"He found us, actually," said Penny as she rocked back and forth on her once-again-bare feet. "For that, we are extremely grateful."
"Think nothing of it, friend." Matoro turned to face the pair of them. "I can't exactly let an esteemed guest of Remnant freeze out in the cold, and certainly not the first Chronicler we've seen in many winters. Now come. I believe you've more than earned that audience with Turaga Nuju."
After touching masks with Sonya one more time, the Rahi Trapper led them towards the back of the Sanctum. Takua felt a little uncomfortable with just how many of the Scribes and Seers paused what they were doing to look at him - not at him and Penny, but at him specifically. He didn't recognize any of the Ko-Matoran glaring at him with icy judgemental stares, and part of him was glad for that…but the rest of him grew only more anxious.
And here I thought Ta-Koro was cold towards me, he thought to himself.
Matoro took them through an icy door and led them into a room that felt twice as cold as the rest of the building. Walls stretched higher than the eye could see, every bio of its surface covered in circular writing. There was little in the way of light and warmth save for a single heatstone in the middle of the room, one that struggled to provide both to the white-robed figure that pored over a line of words.
Turaga Nuju turned to face them, and though he said nothing, the sky-blue eyes that shone through his Noble Matatu spoke volumes on their own.
"Apologies once again for my delay, Turaga," said Matoro as he knelt and bowed in reverence. "The shadow of Makuta grows longer, and I wished only to ensure we had enough protodermis to defend the village."
Takua watched as Turaga Nuju nodded once, then…whistled? Chirped? Screeched? Some combination of the three? Whatever noise came out of the village elder's mouth, it sure didn't sound like words to the Chronicler. Evidently Matoro understood, however, because he nodded without a trace of confusion.
"Yes, I know…I know…yes, I've seen Sonya…no, she wasn't mad this time…yes. I understand. I will cherish her, Turaga."
Well, I can see why we needed to find Matoro first, thought the Chronicler. This Turaga's clearly gone senile in his old age.
Nuju snapped his gaze on Takua for a split second, just long enough for him to wonder if the icy elder could read minds. Eventually he turned to look at Penny, who smiled and waved cheerfully. Finally, he looked back at Matoro and slammed the end of his pick-like staff against the ground, making more of the ice wall fall away to reveal a set of frosty stairs leading down.
…jeez, how many secret tunnels does this place even have?!
"The Turaga extends an official welcome to you, Takua and Penny," said Matoro as Nuju continued whistling. "He also wishes to begin immediately, in order to make up for…lost time. Follow him, please."
After sharing a look (and reaching over to hold hands) with Penny, Takua nodded and did just that.
The stairway that Nuju led the group down was narrow and cramped, to the point that they nearly had to move in a single-file line. Penny practically needed to crawl on her knees just to fit with the much-shorter Matoran and Turaga, not that she would have complained. Strange blue lightstones embedded in the walls were the only light they had, and even then it was so dark that Takua was sure he'd slip and miss a step. He had to wonder if the structure of the spiral tunnel was a deliberate choice, or if the Ko-Matoran just didn't care all that much about comfortable interior designs. Either way, it felt like they were marching into the bowels of Mata Nui itself, and he couldn't shake the feeling that what they might find down there was more terrifying than Makuta himself.
It didn't help that eventually, after walking down slippery stairs for what felt like hours, Nuju suddenly stopped and looked at Takua with a sharp whistle.
"Er, um…hello?" He tilted his head to one side. "Can I help you?"
"You have been appointed as the island's Chronicler," Matoro translated as more whistling echoed off the cramped walls. "Nuju wishes to know what that means to you."
Takua shrugged, then hummed thoughtfully. "I…hmm. Um…"
Even more sharp whistles interrupted his thoughts. "He says that there is no wrong answer, except for no answer at all."
Well you're not gonna get an answer if you keep whistling at me!
"Right…" He said, clearing his throat as he pushed away a biting remark. "Well, to me, being a Chronicler means…hmm."
What did being a Chronicler mean to him? Adventure? New friends? Facing down indescribable horrors and living to tell the tale? He thought back to all his experiences, from the seas of Ga-Koro to the skies of Le-Wahi, of every battle he'd witnessed and taken part in. Of every life he'd changed and saved. Eventually, he had his answer.
"…it means Unity, Duty, and Destiny."
Nuju rolled his eyes, clearly expecting a more clever response.
"Hang on, I know, that's the easy answer," Takua admitted with a soft laugh. "But I've got more to say than just reciting the Three Virtues like a Matoran youngling. History is always happening all around us, every moment of every day is being written down on time's immutable and immeasurable wall. My role as a Chronicler, to me, means that I transcribe the past, observe the present, and protect the future. Does that make sense?"
He looked back at Penny, who nodded and gave a big thumbs-up. Then he looked back at Nuju with a smile behind his mask.
"That's what I mean when I say that being a Chronicler embodies the Three Virtues. By writing down the events of the past, my stories bring Matoran together in Unity. By being part of major tales as they happen in the present, I fulfill my personal Duty. And as for Destiny…well. I believe that my Destiny is to create a record that outlives all of us, one that the future can look back on - and more importantly, my Destiny is to make sure that there is a future in the first place. For all of us."
To his surprise, the strange elder actually fell completely silent for a moment before nodding slowly. Then he continued leading the group through icy passages, whistling and chirping the whole way.
"Nuju believes that you have answered well, Chronicler," translated Matoro with a small smile. "But he also says that if you wish to tell the stories of Mata Nui…you must first be aware of your own. Your memory is fragmented and incomplete, a poor state for a record keeper's mind to be in. To prepare you for the task ahead, the Turaga wishes to correct this."
Anticipation and anxiety gripped Takua's mind all at once as the end of the stairwell finally came into sight. "Are you saying that…he thinks he can restore my memory?"
Matoro nodded as the group approached a door with three circles and two arching lines carved into the ice. "He does."
"How?"
"By undertaking the Seeking for yourself."
Nuju's staff slammed against the ground again, and the doors parted to reveal a massive underground dome with walls of solid ice. The chamber itself was sparsely decorated but rather bright, with nothing except more of those eerie blue lightstones hanging above a half-dozen smaller doorways. Some of those doors were closed and sealed with that same symbol on the doorway, while others were open and allowed a glimpse into the tiny rooms that lay beyond. The only other notable things in the room were sets of pipes that traveled from a slot in each doorway to the ceiling, as well as a very large quartz pyramid that sat squarely in the middle of the room.
Penny shivered as the air grew colder, frost forming on her breath. "Whoa…beautiful…"
"Consider yourselves honored," intoned Nuju (through Matoro's words, of course). "Few Ko-Matoran get a chance to view the Inner Sanctum with their own eyes, and fewer still outsiders even get to set foot here. In peaceful times, you would not be permitted to enter without spending at least a few centuries serving as a Scribe - but as you no doubt have noticed, these are far from peaceful times."
"That's one way to describe it," said Takua with a sharp laugh. "Is this where you come to have Visions?"
Nuju nodded. "Meditating near the Knowledge Crystal in the heart of the Sanctum is the most reliable way to catch glimpses of the future that lays ahead," Matoro explained amidst a series of sage clicks. "If they experience a Vision, they are to recite everything they see. The pipes carry their words back to the Sanctum above, where our Scribes write down their Visions first on sheets of ice, then onto the Great Wall of Prophecy itself. In this way, the words are immortalized in the glacial walls of Mount Ihu - an immutable record of what is to come, one that may be studied and pondered by the greatest minds of Mata Nui."
"Does everyone who comes here have a Vision of the future?" Penny asked.
"Only those who have learned to empty their minds and calm their souls, and even they are not guaranteed to see anything but their own reflections." Matoro sighed. "Nuju also does not believe that humans can have Visions, if that's what you were going to ask."
The freckled Huntress deflated somewhat. "Oh…ah well."
Takua gave her hand a comforting squeeze. "So how does this work? What do you need me to do?"
"Meditate," Nuju said through Matoro, "Calm your thoughts and open your mind to the higher energies of the universe, which contains a record of all that was, is, and has yet to come. This is the realm beyond our own where Visions come from - only instead of looking forward in time to witness the future, you must look backward and relive the past. Nuju says you must peer into the depths of history, find the parts of your story that you cannot remember, and embrace it. Only then will you be ready."
"Ready for what?" The uncertain Chronicler tilted his head. "You still haven't told me what this is all in preparation for."
Matoro led the group to an open chamber. "You will find out when you emerge, regardless of your success. Leave all possessions except your own mask at the door - you will not need them, and they will only serve to distract you further."
Whatever excitement Takua may have had at the prospect of fixing his amnesia, it started to fade upon seeing and entering the meditation chamber itself. It was a sparse little cave of ice and snow, barely big enough for three Matoran to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in, with almost nothing in the way of decorations or even seating. The only feature was a shallow pool of water, which despite staying liquid in the otherwise frozen floor seemed twice as cold as its surroundings. And that anxiety only spiked when Penny moved to join him inside the room, only for Nuju to cut her off with a thrust of his staff and a harsh whistle.
Matoro looked back at the elder with a tilt of his head, then nodded. "My apologies, Penny, but Turaga says that the Chronicler must undertake the Seeking alone. You won't be allowed to join - you must wait here."
Penny took a nervous breath. "I…do not think that will be wise. You see, I need to be next to him in order to -"
"Nuju is aware of your condition and connection to the Chronicler," said Matoro as the Turaga clicked and whistled, "and while he understands, he asks that you respect the customs of Ko-Koro. It may be…difficult for him to meditate and focus, if he is with company. Rest assured that you and Takua will remain within the required range for you to continue drawing breath - he will not be going anywhere, and Nuju will not take you anywhere beyond the threshold of the Inner Sanctum. He wishes to speak with you as well, for the Duty ahead requires you both, and when he emerges, you will be the one to tell him about the task. There is no telling how long Takua will spend having a Vision, if he does indeed have one…regardless, Penny, know that you will be well-cared for as an honored guest of Ko-Koro."
That seemed acceptable for Penny, who nodded tersely and reached forward to clasp Takua's hands in her own. "Good luck, my friend. I hope to see you soon."
"Likewise, Penny," he said with a nervous laugh, unslinging his rucksack and passing it and the Chronicler's Staff to her. "Use the heatstone if you get cold, and don't hesitate to bust down the door if you absolutely need me."
Nuju whistled as he and his translator nodded in unison. "Should an emergency occur, we will get her to you at once."
"Sounds good. Thank you, Turaga." To Penny, he offered a smile behind his mask. "Don't go wandering off, now."
She chuckled as one hand squeezed his own, her other arm hugging the bag to her chest. "I will try not to."
And with that, after a long silent goodbye that felt all too short, the chamber doors closed with a heavy slam.
For the first time since waking up on the beach, Takua found himself utterly alone.
It was hard to put into words just how deafening the silence was. The audio receptors beneath his mask buzzed and hummed faintly, desperately trying to fill the void with some kind of sound even if it was only imagined. Even his slow, steady breathing felt as loud as the roar of an avalanche; he didn't want to find out what speaking sounded like in these circumstances.
So instead he did everything he could think of to settle down his racing heartlight. He slowly worked through the exercises Penny had taught him. He stretched his arms and legs. He sat cross-legged. He knelt by the door. He laid down on his back. He laid down on his front. He even laid down on his side. Nothing worked. Takua's mind kept speeding through millions of thoughts per minute, and his heartstone vibrated almost as fast no matter how much he willed himself to calm down.
Finally, after what felt like hours of dancing around the Kikanalo in the room, he glanced tepidly at the pool of water in the center of his little chamber.
I hope I live long enough to regret this, he thought to himself.
He started by experimentally sticking a finger into the pool. As he expected, it was cold - so cold, in fact, it almost felt like fire. He kept doing that until he was used to the temperature, and when that felt tolerable he pushed a little more of his fingers in and repeated the process. Then a little more. Then he stuck his hand in. Then he ventured up to his elbow. Then his bicep. He was about to reach his shoulder when fate conspired against him - his reach exceeded his balance, and he fell in with a deafening splash.
"AIIIEEEEE!"
The good news was that the pool wasn't that deep, only reaching up to about his chest when he stood up. Not only that, his muscles clearly remembered how to swim even if his mind didn't - he almost immediately started letting himself float on his back, facing the ceiling with shuddering, mist-laced breaths. But these facts were cold comfort to the little Matoran, who was mentally cursing just how freezing the water felt when taken all at once.
Whoever said it's better to just take the plunge into a chilly pool deserves to have their name slandered and their mask destroyed, thought a very sullen Takua.
Still…he could already feel the cold water working its wonders. The tension in his muscles loosened with each minute he spent soaking, the racing pulse of his heartlight slowed considerably, and even the biting cold started to lose its edge. Takua let out a long icy sigh and surrendered control of his body, letting himself float peacefully as he tried to clear his mind.
Right, so…I just sit here and take an ice bath, he thought to himself. And hope I see something that the Turaga expects me to see. No pressure. Just…gotta sit here.
Nothing filled his mind except his own thoughts.
Any minute now.
Still nothing.
…aaaaaaaaany minute now.
Unsurprisingly, nothing continued to happen.
…oh who am I kidding? This is ridiculous…then again, what did I expect? I'm a Ta-Matoran trying to be a Ko-Matoran, floating here like a Ga-Matoran with all the patience and grace of a swimming Po-Matoran. I don't belong in any of the villages. I don't belong anywhere. And I definitely don't belong in the middle of a freezing pool that's probably gonna kill me if I stay too long.
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. He was so sorely tempted to just give up, to write this entire exercise off as a waste of time that they didn't have. What was even the point of this? Why even bother?
Takua blinked slowly, furrowed his brow behind his mask, and mentally counted to ten. He told himself that if he reached the end and nothing happened, he'd climb out of the water and move on with his life.
He managed to make it to seven before the world fell away.
A cry of shock escaped his lips - or maybe his mind? - as the icy pool suddenly enveloped him. He plunged deeper into an ocean of dark blue, plummeting down into the depths of an unknown world. Takua knew he was in no danger of drowning, because he found he could still breathe without taking mouthfuls of water. He could only guess that this was the form his "Vision" was taking, to better help his mind understand what he was seeing.
Not that it helped much. To a Ta-Matoran like him, the ocean was just as terrifying and incomprehensible as…whatever normal Ko-Matoran saw when they had Visions.
An overwhelming array of images flooded into his mind as he plunged ever downwards, too quick for him to parse. A group of figures in colored armor like the Toa, but with weapons and masks he didn't recognize. Strange insectoid creatures that rolled around in swarms. Monsters of living shadow. A lantern, a staff, a sword, and a crown spiraling around a Kanohi Hau. A tall golden warrior shining with light. Humans banding together in a strange city. None of them made any sense, and Takua felt like he could stare for a thousand years and still not understand anything he saw.
I must be looking into the future, like most people who have visions here, he realized. Well, I'm not interested in setting a bunch of weird prophecies down in stone, so let's try looking the other way. Maybe I can control the flow of what I see, somehow…?
Without many other tangible ideas, he pictured himself in the middle of a sundial and turned so that he faced in the direction of dusk instead of dawn. Immediately the images began to play out in reverse, both confirming his theory about controlling what he saw while also confusing him even more. Then he saw waves lapping against the island in reverse, lava being sucked back into an active volcano which became an ice-capped mountain, a giant robot falling back into the sky, three separate planets reforming to become whole, a ball of rocks spinning faster and faster and getting hotter and hotter -
Ack! Too far back! Too far back!
The images faded as soon as he squeezed his eyes shut, and he stopped sinking in the mental ocean when only darkness surrounded him.
Takua mentally groaned as he clutched his mask, rubbing his brow in a vain attempt to ease the mounting tension. There had to be a way to focus, there had to be a way to make sense of all this.
…I wish Penny was here, he lamented. I wish she could tell me what I need to do, and how to do it. Things always seemed so much easier with her by my side…
"Salutations!"
A voice echoed within his mind, as if he was hearing them with his own audio receptors. Takua used it as an anchor in a storm, following it through the overwhelming flow of images to its source. His diligence was rewarded when he found what his mindscape perceived as a chain of memories, a thread of moving pictures floating inside orbs of light all connected by wavering threads.
Now that he had something to latch onto, he imagined himself swimming through the mental ocean, pulling himself through water that didn't exist to come closer to the chain of memories contained in the bubbles. Feeling called to one of the mnemonic orbs, he touched it - and immediately felt himself get transported to a sandy beach on a sunny day. Before he could even recognize how strange this felt he saw a confused little multicolored Matoran stumble around for a bit, struggling with a rucksack and getting startled by something being dropped off by the waves. It took Takua a moment to realize that he was watching his first meeting with Penny, which played out before him as he stared with the eyes of an outside observer.
So this is what having an out-of-body experience feels like… mused the Chronicler. Well, if this is the first thing I remember, then let's find out what I was doing before this.
He relaxed his focus and let himself withdraw from the scene around him, finding himself once again in the endless sea of memories. Takua kept himself close to that chain of bubbles, scanning the images on display and selecting one that sat just above the memory of his meeting with Penny. Once again he found himself pulled into the beach of Ta-Wahi, though this time his focus seemed to orbit around the familiar telescope on a nearby cliff. His past self stared hopefully through the telescope at the fading night sky, before shouting in triumph. The present Chronicler wasn't sure if he could use the device himself, but then again, he didn't need to - he could plainly see thirteen falling stars rocketing towards Mata Nui, orbs of light which he now knew contained both the Toa and the Huntresses from another world.
But there was something else he noticed falling out of the sky that he didn't notice before.
A giant red scythe, one as long as a Toa was tall, spinning end-over-end and heading right for his blissfully-unaware past self.
Watch out!
Of course, his warning came too late - not that the timing would have mattered. Crescent Rose plunged into the side of the cliff resting on the telescope, just barely grazing the edge of Takua's mask. While it wasn't close enough to damage him, it was close enough to startle him…and despite his past self's valiant attempt to fly, it wasn't enough to keep him from toppling over the edge and falling to the sandy ground far, far down below.
Takua watched in abject horror as he hit the beach back-first with a sickening crunch, bounced and tumbled several times, then came to a dead stop in the sand.
…well, that definitely explains how I lost my memories, he noted with a sympathetic wince for his past self. And why I had such a bad feeling for Ruby's gun. And why I'm so afraid of heights…
Of course, with these answers came even more questions. Why did he seem so excited about the arrival of the Toa? What was he doing up at the telescope in the first place? And why was he all alone?
There's gotta be more to the story…Takua thought resolutely…and I think I know how to find out.
Relaxing his focus once again, he left the beach and scanned the upper parts of the chain for more memories. He quickly swam as far up the cord as he could, seeing the moving pictures grow more and more faded with each stroke he made - only to see that the bubbles stopped displaying images entirely at a certain point or so. The rest were darkened and muted, showing nothing but shadows within.
Guess this is as far back as I get to go, he reasoned. Well…I suppose here's as good a place to start as any.
He touched the topmost bubble and watched as his past self emerged on that same beach, crawling out of some kind of sphere-like capsule and flopping onto the sand. A half-dozen taller figures in long flowing robes were there to greet him and others like him, which he recognized as Vakama and the other Turaga. One by one they gathered up villagers of their respective elements and led them in different directions, taking them on paths throughout the island. Takua found himself amidst a throng of Ta-Matoran, carrying a sickly-looking villager wearing a yellow Hau by the arm for most of the journey.
"Hang in there, Vakama says we're almost there," said the Takua of the past. "Just a little farther to…what'd he call it again? Ta-Wahi?"
"Ta…Ta-Koro…" said the other Matoran with a cough.
"Oh, gotcha. Glad one of us was paying attention." He chuckled and smiled behind his mask. "You got a name? Mine's Takua."
His yellow-masked friend let out another cough. "J…Jaller…"
"Jaller, huh? Nice to meet you." He laughed again. "Here's to the start of a beautiful friendship, Jaller."
Though Jaller didn't say much, he nodded with a small smile all the same - an act that left the Takua of the present extremely confused.
…this can't be right. Jaller and I? Friends?! You're telling me I was friends with that stick-in-the-mud? What's next, you're telling me that I used to go and pet wild Tarakava?!
Hundreds of years seemed to flash before his eyes in the space of mere minutes, and while he didn't see himself offering friendship to the punch-happy eels, he did see himself doing many equally strange things. He saw himself patrolling with the shield and disk of a Ta-Koro Guardsman, attempting to march with his fellow Ta-Matoran only to fall behind and loudly grouse about how much the gear was chafing his parts. He saw himself attempting to reel in a fish in Ga-Koro, only to pull up and battle a single Ruki fish - and lose badly. He saw himself stumble in the dark of Onu-Wahi, knock Turaga Onewa's mask off with a badly-kicked Koli ball, set fire to the Gukko stables in Le-Koro, and somehow set fire to the snow itself in Ko-Koro. The Takua of the present cringed as his past self stood before each Turaga in shame, all of them pointing to the village gate with one clear, unspoken message.
Get out.
(Oddly enough, for each snapshot of his life in the villages, he saw himself in different colors to match his peers. He chalked this up to just being a trick of his imagination, a sort of mental filter he was subconsciously applying, and thought nothing of it.)
Finally, he found himself back in Ta-Koro, marching angrily along the wall with Jaller trailing behind him. Against his better judgment he allowed his consciousness to drift closer, hearing the words being said as though they were clear as day. Judging by the tones and the volumes of those words, however, he began to wonder if he'd made a mistake by eavesdropping.
"You can't do this, Takua!" Jaller said harshly. "You can't go against Turaga Vakama! You know what he'll do to you when he finds out - "
"If he finds out," corrected the familiar-looking Matoran. "I know it's a risk, but it's better than sitting around and waiting to die."
"You really think that's all we're doing? That all we've done for hundreds of years is delay the inevitable?"
"Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it," snapped Takua. "Besides, getting banished doesn't sound like the worst thing in the world. Who here would even miss me? You certainly won't."
Jaller's angry gaze softened. "Takua…that…that's not…"
"I'm doing this, Jaller. And you're not stopping me."
The two angry Ta-Matoran went their separate ways, and Takua's gaze followed one of them as it stealthily dropped down the wall, and -
A sharp pain drove itself into his mind, threatening to disrupt the Vision. He clenched his muscles and squeezed his eyes shut, doing his best to focus and ride out the wave of pain. While he eventually managed to pull himself back into the mindscape, it came at a price - he failed to see what his past self was trying to do, as well as whether or not he succeeded.
Based on the fact that the next thing he saw was himself standing outside the gates of Ta-Koro, he had a pretty good guess for both unknowns.
Dozens of Ta-Matoran stared down at him from the walls with a variety of expressions, ranging from mild judgment to absolute scorn. A villager his present self didn't recognize stood on one side of Vakama with more confusion than anger behind his crimson Pakari, while Jaller stood on the Turaga's other side with the most angry look of all. As for the elder himself, he did his best to keep his gaze even and emotionless, though even Takua could see that his eyes held nothing but disappointment and a rare fury.
"Takua of Ta-Koro," intoned Vakama harshly. "You stand accused of conspiring against your fellow Matoran and plotting to steal one of our most sacred relics, as well as insubordination and dereliction of Duty under Captain Jaller…"
…hang on, I did what?!
The Takua of the present almost lost focus as his mind reeled from the new information, and it took every bit of mental energy to keep his panic in check. He sighed as the Vision grew in clarity once again, though instead of relief at being able to pay attention he felt dread at what came next.
"…do you deny these allegations?"
The words of his past self were delivered through grit teeth. "No, Turaga."
"Have you any evidence to exonerate yourself?"
"No, Turaga."
"And do you have any words to say in defense of yourself?"
He scoffed. "Oh I have plenty of words, Turaga. But no one will listen to them anyway, so why bother?"
His comment caused some among the crowd to bristle, if they weren't already outraged by his flippant words. Vakama called order along the gate by raising his firestaff, then let out a slow, regretful sigh as he shook his head.
"…very well, Takua," said the Turaga sternly, yet with remorse and disappointment lacing his words. "From this day forth, you are banished from the proud village of Ta-Koro. No longer shall you set foot in the shadows of Mangai, for however long you walk the face of Mata Nui. In your travels, I urge you to examine yourself and reflect upon your actions, so that you may one day become someone for us to welcome back with open arms."
Vakama paced as he continued speaking. "You may take only what you carry now - under our laws, they will be your sole possessions as you live your new life. Go now, while there is still light to guide you. And may the Great Spirit protect you in your exile, Takua…may he someday guide you safely back to us."
Past Takua bowed, turned around, and after tightening his rucksack strap he walked down the trail that led out of Ta-Wahi. The trek was made in slow silence, his head hung low and his arms drooped to the sides. Takua almost felt sorry for himself…until he saw his past self pull something out of the blue bag.
A glowing red stone with the symbol of a Hau carved into it.
"One down, and five to go," he muttered to himself with a duplicitous smile. "I appreciate the sentiment, Turaga, but that's all it is - sentiment. We need more than just the Great Spirit's protection and guidance. For both of those…we're gonna need the Toa."
…huh? What was that stone? And why did he have a very bad feeling that it was related to his exile?
Spellbound and not at all liking the implications of what he was seeing, the Chronicler could only watch as his doppelganger stuffed the stone back into the bag, slung it over his shoulder, and marched towards the setting sun.
And so began a perilous journey that took him all across Mata Nui. Takua watched as his past self navigated the island swiftly and carefully, avoiding dangerous Rahi in his trek to each village and employing morally-questionable actions when he arrived at each one. The moon waxed to full and waned away more times than he could count in his vision, indicating a very lengthy passage of time, yet it all played out in what felt like minutes to the Matoran witnessing it all through the mindscape.
In each village, he took a different approach to steal a glowing stone from the Turaga's hut. He paraded as a visiting Guardsman in Ga-Koro, scoping out the village on "patrol" by day only to slip into Nokama's office under cover of darkness and make off with his prize on an ill-gotten boat. He hid his mask as he consulted with Hafu to get a statue made to commemorate Po-Koro's greatest Koli champions, one large enough for him to hide in and emerge from once it was moved into Onewa's gallery for finishing details. He used the natural foliage of Fau swamp to disguise himself as a prop monster in a ceremonial Le-Koro dance, which allowed him to visit Matau's residence once everyone was passed out from drinking too much Bula wine. He befriended an old blue-shelled Ussal Crab in Onu-Koro and coached her on how to properly dig, allowing him to tunnel under Whenua's home and crack into his treasure vault. And finally, he presented himself in Ko-Koro as a Guardsman seeking enlightenment, where he spent many moons under a false name meditating with the Scribes all while planning (and pulling off) a complicated heist to enter Nuju's dwellings using two heatstones, four lengths of wire rope, seven metal disks, and Pewku.
…I still don't know how I pulled that last one off, he admitted to himself. And I was there!
He had no time to dwell on the absurdity of his antics, because his story didn't end there. Another memory of his journey played out before his eyes, one taking place in dark forested wetlands. His past self sat between a meager campfire and an old crab having her supper, staring into his rucksack beneath the light of dying embers. Not that he needed a roaring flame to see the bag's contents - the interior glowed with six vibrant colors, blues and greens mixing with reds and violets and contrasted with silver and bronze. That light came from the collection of stones sitting at the bottom…and given how each stone had a carving of a different Great Mask inscribed into its surface, the Chronicler was starting to piece together what they were and why they mattered.
"All six Toa Stones…" muttered the Takua of the past, as if to confirm the Chronicler's crystallizing theory. "Sitting together in one place after hundreds of years apart from each other, right there in my pack. Figured this moment would be more exciting. Are you excited, Pewku?"
The blue-shelled Ussal Crab looked up from her current pile of berries and chittered softly. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Heh…of course you are." He closed up his sack and set it down next to his log with a tired sigh. "Well hey, at least the hard part's over. Now we've just gotta get to Kini-Nui, do the ritual, wait for results…and hope to Mata Nui himself that I'm right about all this, because I'm gonna be in so much trouble if I'm not. I got exiled just for stealing one of these. I don't wanna think about what all the Turaga are gonna do to me after taking all six of them."
A distant growl got the attention of both Matoran and Ussal, making them both cower slightly at the dancing shadows.
"Then again…" he muttered, "I'm pretty sure that whatever the Turaga might do, Makuta will do something even worse if he catches me."
Pewku chittered nervously, pulling her limbs closer to her shell.
"Don't worry, old girl." Takua gave the crab some loving scratches behind the eyestalks. "I don't plan on getting caught by him anytime soon. We'll get this done together, promise."
The Ussal chirped and perked up, licking his past self with a long metallic tongue.
"Hah, yeah, yeah, I know. Come on, let's try to get some sleep. We've got a big day ahead of us tomorrow - we're gonna see if these Toa Stones actually work."
Tried as he might, the Takua of the past got very little rest. Morning came all too soon and yet not soon enough, and before long the tired Ta-Matoran and his trusty crab were on the move yet again. They evaded prowling Muaka, gave the roaming Nui-Jaga a wide berth, strayed away from watering holes where Tarakava lurked below the surface, and hid under trees to avoid being spotted by the flying Nui-Rama. After several stressful hours, the pair finally arrived at a massive sandstone temple, one that towered over them in four magnificent spires surrounding a mighty carved dais.
But Takua wasn't interested in the magnificence and wonder of Kini-Nui.
Instead, he dismounted Pewku and made his way over to a patch of sand in the courtyard, pulling his rucksack off his shoulders as he did so. The Ussal Crab followed behind him, walking backwards to make sure nothing tried to sneak up on them while her master did what was hopefully the final step of their great journey. Growls of Rahi echoed through the forests and crept through the trees; the Takua of the past did his best to ignore the looming danger as he stepped into the ring and let out a deep sigh as he consulted writing scrawled into a nearby slab of stone.
"Alright…" he said tersely as he read as quickly as possible. "It just says here to 'offer the Toa Stones to the Amaja-Nui sandpit, while also offering a message to the Great Spirit.' Doesn't say what order to put them in, or what I should say…think any order and words are fine, Pewku?"
The Ussal Crab chittered warily.
"Yeah…probably. Not like we have a lot of time for trial and error here." He took a deep breath. "Okay…here goes everything."
Takua stood in the center of the Amaja-Nui, sighed, and cleared his mind. He reached down and drew a circle around him, putting himself in the center before stepping out to walk around it.
"Mata Nui," he began, "Great Spirit and giver of life, please hear my humble request. A darkness threatens our island, the very same darkness that betrayed you and sealed you away. We have waited a long time for promised saviors to liberate us…but things are only getting more dangerous with each passing year. If you can hear me, even in your slumber, then please. Send them to our shores. We need them now, more than we ever have before."
He started setting the stones down inside the circle he'd drawn, beginning with the violet one that bore a Pakari on its face. "Send us the mighty Onua, enduring Toa of Earth. May his patience and insight extend throughout all the land, and may he bring prosperity to those who suffer in hunger."
Next came the bronze stone, the one with a Kakama carved into its surface. "Send us the swift Pohatu, stalwart Toa of Stone. May his charisma and reliability form a strong foundation for others to build upon, and may he bring the spark of creation to restore a broken world."
The silver stone was placed next, this one bearing an Akaku. "Send us the watchful Kopaka, indomitable Toa of Ice. May his independence and vigilance afflict the forces of darkness with his bitter chill, and may he bring peace to our conflicts fueled by anger."
He added the green stone to the growing circle, the one marked with a Miru. "Send us the high-flying Lewa, agile Toa of Air. May his freedom and cheer carry on every billowing wind, and may he bring faith to hopes that have been shattered by despair."
After that he laid down the blue stone, making its carved Kaukau stare at the nearly-finished collection. "Send us the sea-faring Gali, warm Toa of Water. May her wisdom and compassion wash over us like waves of the ocean, and may she purify the lives poisoned by the shadow of Makuta."
And finally, the red stone was set down to complete the circle with its Hau facing into the ring. "Lastly, send us the invincible Tahu, fierce Toa of Fire. May his valor and determination light the way for him and his fellow heroes, and may he bring courage to the fearful people of Mata Nui once again."
Takua finished the ritual by kneeling in front of the circle of glowing stones, placing his hand palm-down in the center.
"In their Unity, may they find strength. In their Duty, may they find purpose. And in their Destiny…may we all find salvation in your return. This, Mata Nui…is my plea to you. Save us."
At first, nothing happened as silence fell over the courtyard. Then the earth began to rumble, making the Ta-Matoran nearly fall over as he lost his balance. Rocks began to tumble from the top of Kini-Nui's spires, landing with heavy thuds at the base of the temple. Strong winds whipped up around him and billowed through the forest, carrying snowflakes in their grasp that tumbled around in flight. The river began to come alive in mighty waves, washing against the shore as burning torches around the Amaja-Nui flared up and burned hotter than usual for a brief moment.
After ten seconds that felt like an eternity, all fell silent and still.
Takua - both past and present - let out a sigh of relief.
"Well…" said his past self, looking over to Pewku. "…either that was several freak accidents all at once, or something definitely happened. Come on, old girl, let's head for Ta-Wahi. There's a telescope there along the beach - it should help us watch the stars. With luck, we'll be able to see the Toa as they come down from the heavens!"
And so, after mounting his loyal crustacean companion, Takua made his way across the island one final time. Even with the speed of an Ussal moving with hope in her heart, it took the rest of the day and a good part of the night just to complete the journey - the moon was already sinking back towards the horizon by the time they arrived at that fateful beach. The Takua of the present wanted desperately to look away, to do something to escape the fate that waited for him at that cliff, but he couldn't do either of those things.
Once he arrived at his destination, he dismounted from Pewku and patted her twice. "Thank you for everything, old girl. Go on. It's time for you to head back to Onu-Koro now. You've done everything you can for me."
The old crab chittered in protest.
"I know you don't want to go," he said sadly. "I don't want you to go either…but there's no telling how long I'll be up there, and I don't want you to starve yourself waiting for me. I'll come find you after I see the Toa arrive with my own eyes. I promise. Wait for me there, okay Pewku?"
Pewku seemed to accept these terms, and after giving him a few more gentle licks, she turned around and scuttled away. Takua watched her leave for a moment longer before turning back to face the mountain ahead of him. Dawn was creeping closer, and it was his hope at the time that this day would be unlike any other on Mata Nui. He couldn't have known back then just how right he would end up being, in ways he could never have predicted.
He took a breath, made his way up the uneven stone steps, and approached the telescope and its pedestal.
The rest, as they say, was history.
Familiar memories played out in rapid succession. Falling. Waking up on the beach. Meeting Penny. Returning to Ta-Koro. Meeting Tahu. Going back to the telescope. Meeting Ruby. Saving Ga-Koro. Meeting Gali. Watching Penny learn to swim. Meeting Macku. Investigating Po-Koro. Meeting Hafu. Saving Penny from Makuta's messenger. Meeting Pohatu and Neopolitan. Helping Onu-Koro. Meeting Taipu. Making lightstone deliveries with Penny. Meeting Emerald and Tamaru. Flying with the people of Le-Koro. Meeting Lewa, Onua, and Blake. Dancing with Penny. Traveling to the North March. Meeting Kopeke. Wandering into the Drifts with Penny. Meeting Kopaka and Weiss.
As the events of the past week played out quickly enough to overwhelm him, a single thought echoed through his mind.
I…remember…everything.
It all finally began to make sense. The reason for his exile. The arrival of the Toa. The reactions of Turaga and Jaller and so many others. He had stolen the sacred Toa Stones from each village, lied and cheated and deceived everyone, and brought them to the temple in a desperate plea for salvation. He had been the one who summoned and brought the mighty elemental warriors to Mata Nui, and he had broken every written law and every heartstone that ever cared about him in order to do so.
I'm not a hero, he realized mournfully. I'm just…me.
His own spirits seemed to sink as the Vision finally, mercifully, came to an end.
The next time Takua opened his eyes, he found himself back in his own body, still floating in that icy pool in the meditation chamber. With a dejected sigh he pulled himself out of the water, groaning as his cold stiff muscles warmed back up with movement. After flopping onto the frozen floor like an injured fish he stretched, got to his feet, and pounded on the door as hard as he could. After a moment's pause, the wall opened back up to reveal the Inner Sanctum in all its glory.
And Penny was already standing just outside the threshold, smiling as bright as the sun.
"Takua!"
"Not so loud, please…" he said, his voice sounding way more hoarse than it usually did. "Still getting used to sounds and stuff like that…"
"Oh, sorry!"
The Huntress lowered her voice to a whisper, then quietly giggled and pulled the Chronicler into a tight embrace as she kneeled. He did his best to return it, sighing as he leaned against her and let her warmth and affection flow into him. While Penny clearly got more out of these hugs than he did, the action itself seemed to make her feel better…plus any kind of warm body after soaking in an ice bath felt nice.
"Did it work?" she whispered excitedly. "Did you have a Vision? Is your memory restored?"
Takua limply nodded in response to each question, not quite comfortable talking yet.
"Sensational! What did you see? What kind of adventures did you get up to before we met? Did you have a lot of friends? What was your job? What happened to make you lose your memory? How often did you - ?"
A pit formed in his heartstone at each question. "Penny…please. It's…a lot to talk about. I…need some time to process it. Sorry…"
If the human girl was disappointed or disheartened, she did an excellent job of hiding it. As she usually did.
"That is okay, Takua," she said quietly as she withdrew, keeping her hands on his shoulders as her gaze met his own. "I understand if you do not wish to tell me. I am just…so happy that you have your memory back!"
Good, that makes one of us.
The Chronicler blinked at the sudden bitter thought. He wasn't ungrateful that he'd finally solved some of the long-standing mysteries of his life before that beach, but at the same time he wasn't sure how to feel about who he was or what he'd done. Sure, he finally remembered how he'd been the one to summon the Toa to Mata Nui, and set in motion the events that would hopefully save them all…but he also remembered the dubious things he'd had to do to make it happen, the ways he'd acted against the Three Virtues and every sense of decency and morality on the entire island. But more than even that, he remembered the loneliness and the isolation he felt even before being banished, how he'd failed at just about everything he tried to do and letting down every friend he ever made. He and Jaller had once been close companions in the distant past, as close as two Matoran could be without being pair-bonded, and yet in the last year alone he had so thoroughly burnt that bridge that he wasn't sure things could ever go back to the way they were.
Was this the life he was doomed to lead as a Chronicler? A lifetime of being alone, of being able to go anywhere but belonging nowhere? Was he cursed to live out a nomadic existence for the rest of his days, with only an alien Huntress as his constant companion? He was certainly glad that the human traveled with him - she was a ray of sunshine on his darkest days, even if she wasn't of this world - but not even a friend like Penny was a replacement for the sense of belonging that every Matoran except him seemed to feel.
Despite having his memories back, Takua couldn't ever remember a time where he felt so…empty.
His mood managed to sink even lower when he noticed that he and Penny were completely alone in the Inner Sanctum.
"Where's Nuju?" he asked, still getting used to talking out loud. "And Matoro?"
Penny withdrew and guided him by the hand after returning his rucksack, helping the dazed and confused little Matoran stand up and walk properly. "They returned to the Sanctum above after they finished talking to me. I am supposed to take you back to the North March after you are finished. We should go now."
He groaned. "…I don't think I'm in any shape to handle stairs right now, Penny…and I'd really prefer if you didn't mask-handle me right now."
She smiled sweetly. "Oh, do not worry about that - I built an elevator while you were having a Vision!"
Takua blinked, did a double-take, and finally noticed a boxy cage sitting in the corner of the chamber suspended on cables. Penny looked between her friend and her creation with her usual smile, clearly waiting for his reaction.
"…you built an elevator."
"Yes."
"While you were waiting for me to finish my 'Vision quest,' you just…built an entire elevator." The Chronicler felt a smile rise behind his mask, despite his best attempts to stay moody. "Do I want to know where you got the parts? Or how Nuju reacted?"
Penny giggled as she led Takua to her contraption. "Matoro gave me some of the leftover Muaka parts he brought back from the Drifts, although I needed to use your heatstone as a power source. And Nuju was more than accommodating of the modifications - in fact, Matoro told me that he actually prefers using my elevator now, and wishes that I had arrived a few hundred years ago. It would have saved him so much wear and tear on his joints if he had this sooner."
The Chronicler finally laughed when he and his friend stepped inside. "You are…you're something else, you know that Penny? Next you're gonna tell me you built a Toa-sized suit of armor out of scrap metal and a water wheel."
Again, the Huntress giggled. "Oh, there was not enough time for that," she said as she pulled the lever. "I only had two days to work, after all."
"Ah, I'm sure you would've figured it out sooner or - wait."
The counterweight of the elevator hitting the frozen floor of the Sanctum mirrored the realization hitting Takua right in the mask.
"Two days?!" His eyes shot wide. "I was out of it for two entire days and nights? What happened? Is everyone okay? What did I miss?!"
The elevator pulled to a stop inside the Sanctum, giving Penny a chance to explain as she guided the discombobulated Chronicler out of the building, then out of Ko-Koro, and finally out of Ko-Wahi altogether. Takua tried to pay attention to what she was saying, but it was hard to focus over the sight and sound of the stoic icy villagers gearing up for war.
"Thankfully, nothing major happened while you were having your Vision. Makuta has not launched any major attacks on the villages lately…Turaga Nuju agrees with Captain Jaller's belief that they are simply waiting."
Takua tilted his head and hummed in curiosity as the great bridge of ice came into view. "Waiting? Waiting for what?"
"The Toa and my friends are almost done with their quest," said Penny as she walked across the chasm hand-in-hand with the very confused Matoran. "I have been keeping an eye on the progress of Team RWBY, Emerald, and Neo - they are now sending regular updates to each other through the group chat on the Scrolls. They have nearly found all the masks of power, and will soon begin preparations to confront Makuta in his lair."
The Chronicler did his best to not look over the edge at the icy ravine far below them. "Oh. That's uh…that's good, right?"
"In some ways, yes," she answered with a nod. "But in other ways, no. You see, in order to enter Makuta's lair, they must descend into the depths of the island through an entrance hidden in Kini-Nui, the great temple at the center of Mata Nui. Makuta also knows this, and he plans to have his Rahi mount an attack on the temple, sealing them inside his domain. This will coincide with his attack on all the villages, to keep the Matoran from interfering or aiding the Toa."
Takua scratched the back of his head. "Oh…so it's about to get very dangerous, very quickly? Even for the Toa?"
Penny bit her lip and nodded tightly. "And even for Ruby…and Weiss…and everyone."
"I see."
The pair walked in silence for a moment longer, making their way through the icy tunnels that led through Mount Ihu. Penny quieted down and focused solely on navigating, reading the directions on a map from her Scroll as it hung from threads of her Semblance. That suited Takua well enough - he didn't feel much like talking, and he felt like he'd had enough of frozen corridors to last a lifetime. Or seven.
Still…there was one more thing that he needed to talk about, and even if he was in a slightly sour mood, Takua knew it was important.
"So…" he finally said as they exited to the surface. "Where do we fit into all of this? Did it have something to do with what Nuju wanted to talk to you about?"
His friend smiled down at him. "Yes…in fact, it has everything to do with what he talked to me about. While you were having your Vision, Nuju was in contact with the other Turaga. They all agreed that a detachment of Matoran should be assembled from all the villages and sent to guard Kini-Nui during the Toa's battle in Mangaia - Makuta's lair. And they all unanimously believe that we should be the ones to spearhead the coalition; they want us to gather and lead the so-called 'Chronicler's Company.'"
Takua looked down at his feet. "A Chronicler's…Company?"
"It sounds like a strange team name, I will admit. It does not sound like a color - "
"No, it's not that." He shook his head. "It's just…are we sure I'm the best person to lead that kind of thing?"
Penny looked down with concern in her eyes. "I am certain. Nuju is certain. Do you…remember a reason why you would not be the best person to lead?"
The Chronicler let out a long, beleaguered sigh. "Yeah…I remember several reasons. Starting with the fact that I was banished for stealing a Toa Stone…"
And so, as they crossed fields of ice and snow, he told Penny an abridged version of what he'd seen in the vision. He left out all the details he didn't understand about the past and the future he'd glimpsed, and focused just on his crimes and his isolation - both voluntary and involuntary. The Huntress listened carefully with rapt attention, only asking occasional questions but staying quiet through the entire story. He fully expected her to be shocked and horrified by the story's end, yet she still looked at him exactly the same way when he started winding down.
"…so yeah, I'm just not sure I'm cut out for this," he finished with a misty sigh. "I'm not a soldier. I'm not a leader. I'm not even that great of a Chronicler. I'm just…a lonely little Matoran who doesn't matter to anyone. That's all I'll ever be."
Penny was quiet for a long time, staring at him with emotions he didn't know how to read. They simply kept walking for a little while, crossing fields of ice and cutting through a snowy hill until they finally entered the North March. When she finally spoke as they approached the cable car station, her tone was full of meaning and emotion as she poured her heart into two simple words.
"I…disagree."
Takua looked up and tilted his head. "Hm?"
"You say that you are just a lonely little Matoran who does not matter to anyone. I disagree."
He sighed yet again. "Yes, I know I matter to you, Penny, but - "
"No, Takua." Penny paused and knelt to meet Takua at eye level, taking his hands in both of hers as emerald stared into glowing yellow. "You matter to so many people - you matter to every life that you have saved. You matter to the Ga-Matoran, who would be at the bottom of the sea if you had not held the lever. You matter to the Po-Matoran, who would still be sick if you did not aid their Toa in a moment of blindness. You matter to the Onu-Matoran, who would not have their lightstones if you did not surf across the lava spill. You matter to the Le-Matoran, who would not have been able to free their people if you had not fought alongside them."
"Yeah, but it was mostly you and the other Huntresses doing the real hard work during all that…" countered the Ta-Matoran.
"Perhaps, but we are not of this world," said Penny with a nod. "We cannot inspire the Matoran to be like us, because we are so different on a fundamental level. But in your travels, you can inspire other Matoran to be like you, because you are just like them. You may see yourself as 'just' a Matoran…but there is no 'just' about you. You are the Chronicler. You are the one who called the Toa. And most importantly, you are no longer alone. This Duty, this Company…this is your chance to prove that. To everyone, and to yourself. Will you take it, Takua?"
Takua looked at Penny, eyes trembling behind his mask as words failed him. Every doubt he'd had about who he was, she dispelled in an instant. Every dark thought that entered his mind, she was there to chase it away. And every instance of sadness and sorrow that weighed down his heartstone, she was there to lift it back up. Surely he must not have been that bad in the past, if he had a friend like this by his side for the rest of their future together.
The Chronicler stared at her for a few unsteady seconds, before finally throwing himself at her and wrapping his arms around her waist.
She grinned and laughed softly as she returned the embrace, bringing him in close and rocking him back and forth. He squeezed his eyes shut and focused on every sensation he could feel - the pounding of her fleshy heart, the softness of her skin, the gentleness of the fingers squeezing his shoulders. After all this time, after almost a week of traveling with the human Huntress, Takua finally understood what she meant about hugs making you feel warm on the inside.
"Thanks, Penny…" he mumbled into the nape of her neck. "I'm…really glad you're here…"
"So am I, Takua," she whispered with a soft laugh. "So am I."
The pair held their embrace for a moment longer, before…
"Hello…oh, sorry. I hope I did not interrupt."
Takua looked over the shoulder of his friend to see a red figure suddenly standing by the cable car station, his red armor contrasting harshly with the surrounding white snow. The mask he wore mirrored the shape of his own, but there was an odd familiarity about the Matoran that had somehow joined them…despite the fact that the cable car was still on their side of the North March.
"Oh! Salutations!" said Penny with a salute and a smile as she and Takua separated, returning to her full height. "What brings you all the way out here? And…how did you get here?"
The Pakari-wearing Ta-Matoran looked up at Penny slowly. Too slowly. Something flickered on the edge of Takua's mind, and he blinked several times. The pieces started to fit together, until he recognized the strange newcomer as…
"…Kapura."
Penny looked down at the Chronicler with a mix of bewilderment and pride. "Oh! You know each other?"
Takua nodded. "Yeah…I'm pretty sure we do." Locking eyes with the Ta-Matoran, he smiled behind his mask. "It is Kapura, right? You're the one who was always practicing out in the Charred Forest. We…we were friends, weren't we?"
Kapura blinked and looked back at Takua, his own eyes lighting up with curiosity. If it was possible for a Matoran to blush like the humans often did, he no doubt would have done so by now.
"…you remembered," he said in awe. Then he met the Chronicler's smile with one of his own. "l am glad to see that you have regained your memories. We were close, before you were banished. Others would say I was being silly for practicing so diligently, but you always spoke in my defense. You always told me that it was only a matter of time before I became skilled enough to travel great distances by moving very slowly."
"And it looks like all that practicing finally paid off," said Takua with a small chuckle. "If only Jaller could see you now, huh?"
Kapura smiled behind his mask. "Actually, he has. And he sent me to join you on your adventure, along with a list of others that the Turaga have selected for your company. Here."
Takua took the slab of stone from his fellow Ta-Matoran's hands, reading over the list quickly. "Hmm. I think I know exactly where to find most of these. In fact, if we map out our route carefully, I'm pretty sure we can get everyone on this list in one pass of the island." Then he hummed thoughtfully. "...hey, Kapura? Would you be willing to go to Onu-Koro ahead of me and get an old friend of mine? She's not on this list, but…I think she might still be good to have for this adventure."
Penny's eyes brightened as she gasped in delight.
"It will not be an issue," answered Kapura with a nod. "What would you have me do?"
The Chronicler removed the Codex from his rucksack and clipped it to his hip, then dumped out the rest of its contents into a tidy little pile next to the cable car station. Once he was sure it had been completely cleaned out, he handed the newly-emptied bag over to Kapura while keeping the list in his own hands.
"Take this and go down the highway that extends from Onu-Koro to Po-Koro," he instructed. "When you exit the tunnels you'll find an Onu-Matoran named Midak next to the cave entrance, tending a bunch of Ussal Crabs. Show this bag to his crabs, and watch and see which one recognizes it. It should be one of the older Rahi, a female Ussal with a blue shell and golden legs. If she gets all excited, you'll know it's Pewku; ride her back the way you came, then take her and a cart with you down to Ta-Koro. Penny and I will get Kopeke from his outpost and ride the cable car back to meet you there, at which point we'll regroup and hit up the rest of the villages for the others on the list."
Takua paused to let his orders sink in. "Did you get all that?"
Kapura saluted the Chronicler with the rucksack slung over his shoulder. "It will be done, my friend."
He saluted back. The unusual Guardsman may have been slow of body, but he was hardly slow of mind. "Perfect. I'm counting on you, buddy."
The Ta-Matoran bowed and turned on his heel, moving slowly and deliberately to the edge of the mountain. His crimson frame flickered briefly for a split second…and the next, he was gone.
Penny cooed in fascination. "Whoa…I did not know that Matoran could do that."
"Not all of us can," said Takua with a proud smile. "Just very special ones…and the ones who are willing to put in the practice. Now come on. Let's find our talkative friend at his station and convince him to join our little Chronicler's Company."
The Huntress giggled and took her friend's hand in her own once more.
"Lead on, Takua. I will follow you anywhere."
And so the pair walked the all-too-familiar path once again, taking the first steps to a brighter tomorrow.
(A/N): If I had a nickel for every time a character in my story went on a funky dream quest near the end, I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice now.