CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: TA-ARA BATTLE

The blistering heat of Ta-Ara washed over the pair of Toa as they walked toward the gates. Kopaka knew it wasn't going to be easy – a figure was already waiting for him at the gates.

"Malak…" he muttered, "…do I need to hurt you again?"

The figure stepped away from the gate, revealing itself as Malak. "You are perceptive, as always, even with a false mask. Now, are we going to get down to business? Hand over your HeartStone, Kopaka."

Kopaka instinctively placed a skeletally-thin hand over the small pulsing light that resided in his chest. "Get stuffed, Malak."

Malak folded his black arms across his chest, just beneath his own HeartStone; pulsing a lime green. "Kopaka, you don't understand how important this is, do you?"

Kopaka motioned Gali backwards in case Malak was trying to trick him. "Explain, and make it quick."

The black Toa Geni shrugged his shoulders, "Your HeartStone, like the rest I've collected, will fuel my Master's rebirth. I need him, Kopaka, and you are not going to stand in my way!"

Kopaka's shield came up in time to deflect a scimitar blow from cleaving his head in half. He pushed the blade away, bulling into his old friend and knocking him to the ground. Weapons forgotten, the pair of Toa rolled around on the ground like fighting Matoran, each trying to throttle the other with his bare hands.

Gali was sorely tempted to aim a kick at Malak, but she knew she would hit Kopaka because of the clumsy way they were rolling around. Kopaka finally managed to gain the upper hand and kicked Malak away, knocking him into the side of the Ta-Ara gateway.

"Bastard," snarled Malak, picking up his onyx scimitar from the ground. Kopaka recognized it in the glowing light of the Ta-Ara lava lake.

"Where did you find that sword, Malak," he asked conversationally.

Malak pointed the object of discussion at his rival. "Master showed me where to find it."

Kopaka's spear pointed itself at Malak, directly at his HeartStone. "Your Master, Malak, is corrupt. You are wielding the Blade of Darkness!"

Malak laughed, brandishing his sword for effect. "I know – is it not wonderful? A blade that was supposed to exist only in fairy tales now rests comfortably in my palm. A mystery remains, however. How on Ara-Nui are you able to dodge it?"

"A blade is only as powerful as the one who wields it," countered Kopaka, dodging a swing that would have split his torso in half. He parried a second slice, rolling away from Malak before his enemy could regain his footing.

"Then yours should be as weak as your so-called villagers were."

Kopaka's eye flashed red before returning to blue. "I almost forgot; I have to 'thank' you for that little stunt. Did you steal their HeartStones as well?"

Malak nodded, "Of course, Kopaka. I told you, my Master needs them to return from his prison."

"Then go tell your Master he can take the HeartStones he's gathered and eat them for all I care, but he won't have mine. As a matter of fact, he can forget his dream of returning from his prison at all."

Malak snickered at Kopaka, "A bold speech, Toa Kopaka, but what are you going to do when you are a Toa Nuva, and I am a Toa Geni?"

"I've fared just fine up until this point, Malak. Now make yourself scarce before Vilak decides your protodermic blood is too delicious to resist.

Malak instantly fled, leaving behind no trace of his existence. Kopaka shrugged, motioning toward the gates. "Shall we?"