Chapter 1: Dark Tomb

Tahu crouched behind a fallen tree with a pair of binoculars against the eye slots of his New Hau. He sat in one of the deepest parts of Le-Wahi Nuva where he had tracked a pair of Rahkshi; a Guurahk and a Lerahk. He'd been following them for nearly a week upon the request of Turaga Vakama and Turaga Nuju, they led him to a place far beyond Ta-Nui where he received his assignment. The Rahkshi didn't seem like they would be moving anytime soon because one of them actually retrieved its staff in the case of an attack, that must have meant it was ready to defend this area from intruders.

Tahu narrowed his eyes in perplexity at the Rahkshi, they'd led him to a small clearing in the shape of a diamond within the trees. He glanced beyond them and noticed a peculiar stone. The stone was black and looked to have engravings in the Matoran language, perhaps it was a shrine, but to Tahu's knowledge it went unmapped. The Guurahk paced along the border of the stone, swinging its head from left to right like a sentinel.

"What are you doing?" Tahu whispered to himself with a wondering tone.

Kopaka twisted the largest eyepiece on his New Akaku to focus on the stone behind the Guurahk. "It seems that they're guarding it." He noted, trying to scan the symbols embellished within the dark stone, however the shadows cast over it made it difficult to locate each individual symbol.

"But why?" Tahu said, pulling the binoculars away from his face. "There must be something about that stone that drew them here." Tahu looked over to Kopaka, he expected some kind of response, although his brother had always been the quiet sort. Tahu must have forgotten how silent Kopaka was over the past century to expect an immediate answer.

Kopaka took a moment before he made any kind of gesture that suggested he was about to speak. "Perhaps we should go find out for ourselves." He said, pulling his ice sword and shield from their place on his back, he pulled back his eye pieces and he rose off of his knees slightly.

"No Kopaka!" Tahu whispered reprehensively, "We are not to engage them."

"I don't know what Turaga Vakama told you, but I was assigned to destroy these things." Kopaka scowled and leapt out from behind the fallen tree. He landed on his feet, rolled on the ground and jumped back onto his feet in front of the Lerahk. It roared at him with its strange, parting jaws and rose its staff at him. Kopaka quickly dived to avoid the blade of the staff and slammed his shield against the Rahkshi's head to disorient it. While the Rahkshi shook its head dazed, Kopaka put his sword to its shoulder and spread a layer of ice over its armour. It screeched as its body froze until it eventually went still.

Kopaka swung his head over his shoulder when he heard the screech of the Guurahk and jumped out of the way when it swung its staff at him. Kopaka slashed his sword at the Rahkshi's head but it countered with the rod of its staff. The blue Rahkshi hissed and kicked Kopaka in his stomach, sending him back slightly, it spun its staff and drove it toward his sternum. Kopaka blocked it with his shield and pushed the Rahkshi away. After stumbling for a moment, the Guurahk aimed its staff end at Kopaka who held his shield in front of his face. A blue flash of light shot from the end of the Rahkshi staff in a cone shape and crashed against Kopaka's shield. Kopaka almost thought he was protected when he remembered the Guurahk's Rahkshi power; disintegration. Kopaka released his shield as it crumbled to dust and jumped out of the way of the Rahkshi's beam, it hit a tree and turned it into a pile of dust that drifted away in the wind. Kopaka ran at the Rahkshi with his sword dragging along the ground, subsequently creating a trail of ice. He pulled the blade of the sword up in the air and sent it down toward the Rahkshi's head. The Guurahk pushed the blade of its staff up at Kopaka's sword, it twisted the staff and pulled away Kopaka's sword. It lunged at the Toa of ice, but he was able to grab hold of the rod shaft and jerk the Rahkshi about as it roared it his face. Kopaka sent his knee into the Rahkshi's chest and kicked it away from its staff as it was distracted by the pain. The Guurahk staggered back and slipped over the trail of ice Kopaka had made. Kopaka retrieved his sword and stabbed it through the Rahkshi's stomach armour, pinning it to the ground. As the Rahkshi screeched and stumbled, Kopaka nonchalantly stepped around it and ripped the Kraata out from the armour covering the spine of the Rahkshi. The armour stopped moving while the Kraata continued those actions between Kopaka's fingers. Then Kopaka used his ice powers to freeze the Kraata, he dropped it to the ground and smashed it to pieces with his foot.

Tahu came out from behind the fallen tree into the clearing and stomped toward Kopaka as he pulled his sword out of the Rahkshi armour. "That was a very foolish thing Kopaka!" He exclaimed, sending his hand into Kopaka's shoulder in an intimidating fashion.

"Look, we can find out why they were here now right?" He replied angrily as he thought Tahu should be appreciating what he'd just done. When Tahu didn't reply, but only turn his head over to the black rock with his arms over his chest Kopaka knew Tahu though he was right, but he was just too proud to admit it.

"Let's go." Tahu said and started toward the black rock.

The two Toa walked over to the large black rock. It was smooth into almost a dome-like shape. Cracks and moss obscured the circular letters of the Matoran language that lined the stone. Kopaka scanned the letters with his eyepiece, creating a diagram of all the symbols in his head so that he could read them fluently. "There's a door here." Kopaka said to Tahu.

Tahu glanced at Kopaka with an arched brow to display his disdain. "Where?"

Kopaka scanned the text that swayed about in his head. "Apparently, only those who can illuminate darkness may enter the tomb." Kopaka tilted his head into his hand to consider his options. "Should we summon Takanuva?" He asked Tahu.

Tahu took a moment to think, if they left to get Takanuva, they may never be able to find this location again. "No," He tried to think of a solution to their dilemma and soon came to one, "I have a different idea." Tahu reached into the pack slung over his shoulder and retrieved two, small, cylindrical objects about the size of Tahu's thumb. "Here." He said, handing one of the objects to Kopaka.

Kopaka inspected the pill-like object, "What is this?"

"One of the Matoran in Ta-Nui created it. He believed it would be useful to us. Just attach it to the side of your Akaku." Tahu explained. He then lifted the cylinder to his mask and pushed it against the red metal, he dropped his hand and the cylinder stuck there.

Koapaka dropped his eyes to the cylinder skeptically and scanned it with the eyepiece closest to his eye. After checking to assure that it wasn't dangerous, Kopaka lifted the cylinder up to his mask and stuck it to its left side, he pulled his hand away and it stayed there due to some kind of adhesive.

Tahu rose a finger to the cylinder on his mask and pressed it against a small blue button. The lens of the cylinder lit up and expelled a beam of light. Kopaka mimicked the action and his own cylinder then shot a beam of light over the stone that was in front of them; a portable light.

Hm, the people of Onu-Nui could use these. Kopaka said to himself.

To the Toa's surprise, moments after they activated their lights, a sound like an explosion shot through the forest, scaring off any nearby Rahi. The stone in front of them began to shift, shaking the earth below their feet. The shape of a door appeared, the shaking became more intense, the Toa recoiled as the ground around the black stone began to crack. The door slid to the side and the shaking stopped.

The Toa stood dazed for a moment, gazing at the new opening in the large black stone. Kopaka scanned the dark hallway that the entrance led into, there were no signs of life or any other thing that would deter him. "Good work brother." Kopaka said, stepping closer to the tomb's entrance.

"Hm?" Tahu winced at the odd phrase.

Kopaka looked to Tahu, "What?"

"You must have changed a lot these past few decades, I don't remember you ever appreciating my quick thinking, or anything else I did." Tahu smirked, walking up to the entrance. He leaned his head in and inspected the passageway, his light illuminated only a small distance of the tomb. Dust drifted about and clung to broken cobwebs, vines seeped in through cracks and hung from the ceiling.

"We all change, I don't like it either." Kopaka said begrudgingly, ducking into the tomb.

Tahu followed closely after and the two started down the passageway. "To be honest, I wasn't expecting that. You attacking the Rahkshi on a whim like that." Tahu said as he inspected the surroundings he passed, however Kopaka didn't respond. "I must say, I am quite happy that you agreed to work with me on this." Tahu looked at a broken cobweb, its edges were singed, like he had cut through them with his fire sword. "Gali's been worried about you."

Kopaka stopped in his tracks. "Well she shouldn't, if anyone it's Lewa she should care about." Kopaka said lowly, as if saddened and continued along the path.

The passageway seemed to slope underground, but still one long path that fell into deeper darkness. A terrible cold fell over the Toa, but of course, neither cared much. Dust became more and more prominent, sometimes even clouding the Toa's vision, webs became larger, stretching from wall to wall and even ceiling to floor. Soon the Toa came to a small circular room with a hole above them, letting in the sun's light to expose a golden kanohi mask.

It rested on a pedestal with sunlight jumping over it like a prism to create a kaleidoscope like effect. The mask was the shape of an upside-down egg with fang-like protrusions below the angular eye slots.

"Mata Nui!" Tahu whispered to Kopaka. "What is that doing down here?" He rubbed his head.

Koapaka scanned the mask, "I can't identify it." He said as he stepped closer to the kanohi.

"What?" Tahu asked, surprised.

"As far as the Ko-Nui archives are concerned, this mask does not exist." Kopaka said grimly, scowling at the mask as if it were some sort of disgusting creature. Kopaka reached out his hands, he put them at the mask's sides and was about to lift it from its pedestal when he felt Tahu's hand on his shoulder.

"Wait brother, it might be dangerous." Tahu said urgently.

"Why do you say that?" Kopaka asked, dropping his hands back to his sides.

Tahu tilted his head to the hole above the kanohi, "Something doesn't feel right, there's something dark here."

Kopaka groaned. "We cannot keep basing our decisions upon feelings brother, it is just a kanohi, there's isn't anything wrong with it." Kopaka replied, returning to the mask. He outstretched his hands to it again and Tahu rolled his eyes at Kopaka's inconsiderate behavior.

"Fine, do what you will." He said, starting to sound irritated. "Go ahead." He added, walking back toward the passageway. He didn't think it was a wise decision to touch an undocumented mask that gave off such a foreboding feeling. If anything, it didn't matter much to Tahu in the end, all he was supposed to do was track those two Rahkshi and report back to Turaga Vakama.

Kopaka ignored Tahu and wrapped his hands around the mask. In that instant, the most intense pain Kopaka had ever experienced shot up his arms and into his chest. His vision underwent an onslaught of surreal images that stung his brain with powerful emotions of pain, anger, hatred and sorrow. Kopaka could see a fire consuming a city and a field, bodies of the Matoran and Agori were scattered across the streets of the City-Nui as creatures shrouded in shadows ripped apart the buildings and attacked the citizens. The feeling of blades sunk into Kopaka's neck, he released the kanohi and fell to the floor.

"Kopaka!" Tahu exclaimed, rushing to his brother's shaking body after hearing the slam of his head on the stone floor.

Tahu tried to hold Kopaka still as he grunted and cried out in agony while Kopaka clenched his head in his hands as tormenting thoughts and emotions stabbed into it. Kopaka pushed Tahu away and struggled to his feet breathing heavily while still holding his head with one of his hands. Kopaka tried to keep himself up, but he found himself falling and put out his hand and leaned against the wall.

Tahu gaped at Koapaka, he felt frightened for his brother and couldn't imagine what had happened in the moments since he turned away. He glanced at the mask, it seemed empty of that dark feeling it emitted earlier, like it had transferred that presence into Kopaka. Tahu slowly looked back over to his brother in realization, "Kopaka." He said worriedly, but Kopaka didn't respond, only heavy, wavering breaths escaped his mouth. Tahu walked hesitantly over to Kopaka, "Brother." He said resting his hand on his brother's shoulder.

Immediately, Kopaka forced Tahu's arm away while yelling, "No!" Tahu recoiled as Kopaka turned to him. Shock paralyzed Tahu when his eyes met with Kopaka's, for they were not his. They were full of anger and fear and they were the color of blood. "No, we are not brothers anymore. Not for a long time now." Kopaka's eyes returned to their natural, icey blue color and he stormed out of the chamber.

The flash of the Onu-Matoran's camera made Tahu flinch, he had not yet grown used to the new piece of technology. A square of white photo paper slid from the camera and the matoran inspected it, it would take a few minutes before the photo he took of the kanohi would appear.

After what had happened with Kopaka, Tahu contacted Turaga Dume over a telecommunication device given to him by Turaga Nuju. Turaga Dume then sent a group of Onu-Matoran to document the Toa's findings and get statements from them. Once the Matoran got their statement from Tahu they turned their attention to the kanohi. With thick rubber gloves on, one of the Matoran, Aledec lifted the mask off the stone floor in a huff and carried it over to a large metal tube. He dropped the mask inside and tightly sealed it, it latched shut with a magnetic lock that could only be opened by a special combination only he and his associates knew.

Tahu stood in one corner of the room, watching the Onu-Matoran work as he thought about the mask. It had done something to Kopaka, he knew it did, but he didn't know how, or what exactly it did to him. However, his attention was deterred when a long missed voice fell across his ears.

"Brother!" Pohatu exclaimed from the entrance of the chamber. He walked over to Tahu, who looked at him with joy and surprise.

"Pohatu, it has been too long." Tahu responded, holding out his hand as Pohatu approached so that he may shake it.

To Tahu's discomfort however, Pohatu wrapped his arms around Tahu's shoulders and lifted him off the ground. "Ha ha, too long for handshakes brother!" He laughed and dropped Tahu, who struggled to regain his composure.

Tahu rubbed his shoulder to relieve the slight pain Pohatu had left and struggled to hold back a gleeful laugh. "You look so different Pohatu." Tahu noted.

Indeed Pohatu did appear different. Tahu had not seen the Toa of Stone with his New Kakama and shatter resistant leg armour to keep up with his speed.

"What are you doing here?" Tahu asked Pohatu.

Pohatu shrugged laxly and glanced around the chamber. "Turaga Dume sent me with the Matoran, I only arrived later because I had to cancel and move around a few meetings." He explained with a wide smile. Pohatu threw his arm over Tahu's shoulder and pulled him close, however this made Tahu very uncomfortable. "So, what have you been up to brother?"

"Well, as you can see," Tahu began, pulling out of Pohatu's arm to appease his discomfort, "there's been a global catastrophe." Tahu said sarcastically, making Pohatu laugh at the fact that the Toa of fire had just made any sort of joke.

"You've improved since our last seeing each other Tahu!" Pohatu exclaimed happily.

"So then, what have you been up to Pohatu?" Tahu asked.

"Well, I've recently become quite the figure among the people of City-Nui." Pohatu answered casually.

"Ah yes, I have tuned in to your Kohlii tournaments over the radio." Tahu said.

"You have now?" Pohatu said surprised.

"Indeed, it is fascinating how popular you've become in Ta-Nui as well."

"Ta-Nui, really?" Pohatu asked with a look of absolute astonishment.

"Well, not for your Kohlii broadcasting, but for your political work."

"Now now, let's not dull the conversation." Pohatu chuckled.

"Of course." Tahu complied and readied to continue the conversation when a Matoran approached the Toa.

"Toa Tahu, Toa Kopaka has been checked, he's perfectly healthy." The Ko-Matoran said, looking over a notepad that probably detailed the Toa of ice's condition.

"Thank you." Tahu nodded to the Matoran and he walked off.

"What's happened with Kopaka?" Pohatu asked.

Tahu pondered the question. "I'm not sure, let's go talk to him."

Tahu and Pohatu exited the chamber back out into the clearing where the Matoran were removing the Rahkshi that Kopaka had defeated. Kopaka stood in the middle of the clearing, looking off into the darkening sky.

"Brother." Pohatu called and Kopaka turned to them surprised, and to Tahu's concern, he seemed normal again.

"Pohatu." Kopaka said, almost showing a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, now that isn't important Kopaka, how are you?" Pohatu asked.

"I'm fine." Kopaka responded, however he sounded like he was anything but fine. He sounded like he was lying, but that was something Tahu felt like he could only hear.

"Are you sure?" Tahu interjected with the sense of disdain in his voice.

"Yes." Kopaka said simply, starting toward the forest.

"Where are you going?" Tahu asked urgently.

"Back to Ko-Nui."

"No, you can't." Pohatu said crucially, running to Kopaka's side (without using his mask power).

"Why?" Tahu and Kopaka asked at once, both curious about what Pohatu was referring to.

"The Turaga not only sent me here, but they also requested the three of us as well." Pohatu explained.

"Really, why?" Tahu asked.

"Because of this whole unregistered kanohi situation."

"Then we should go if the Turaga summoned us Kopaka." Tahu said in a commanding tone.

Kopaka stood silent for a moment and thought. He looked up to the stars, his thoughts were a labyrinth. Nearly a week ago he was living peacefully in Ko-Nui, now the Toa were being brought back together. At least that was what he hoped. "Will Gali be there?" He asked, barely bringing his head over his shoulder. His voice was almost concerned, or scared, it unnerved his Toa brothers.

"Turaga Vakama did say he would summon everyone, so most likely." Pohatu reassured.

Kopaka turned back toward the forest and continued walking without any more words.