Ta-Koro, 3rd POV
When Kopaka entered Turaga Vakama's hut, everyone could tell something was wrong. They remained silent, watching as the white Toa slowly went to sit on free surface area.
"He was crying blood."
The Turaga and Toa's eyes all snapped up in alarm, staring at the ice Toa.
"Wh-what...?" Gali murmured, her eyes wide in disbelief, sadness and fear. Kopaka sighed, then nodded.
"Last night. I woke to a strange sound, it was Takanuva, he was whimpering. When I turned him over onto his back, he was crying...crying blood. He insists it was just a nightmare."
Gali sat down, pressing a hand over her eyes as her heart felt like it broke in half. What suffering was Takua going through? The Toa of water looked over to Turaga Nokama, eyes begging for an answer as to what made Takua cry blood instead of tears, but the Turaga simply shook her head sadly.
"I do not know of any reason that would cause Takanuva to cry blood. I have never heard or seen such a thing before." She said alloud.
Tahu went over to Gali, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to try and comfort her. But the blue Toa mearly looked away in sorrow.
Depsite most of the Toa and Turaga had not known much of Takua, they all knew he was suffering a pain that no one should bear, especially one so kind and young as Takua.
Takua(Takanuva's) POV
When I'd woken up, Kopaka was gone, and my face was stained with tears of blood.
I had quickly washed them off, and now walked around Ta-Koro, praying Kopaka hadn't seen the blood.
My left eye ached, as it did every now and again. Everyday I thanked any higher being that my eye had not turned to the pale, silvery white of a blind Matoran, but rather healed, only a slightly lighter hue than my other eye.
"Takua!"
I paused, turning to look behind me. Jaller ran up, panting slightly as he stopped by my side.
"Holy kaholi, your fast!" He said as he bent over to regain his breath. I laughed, kneeling down.
"No, I can just get a lot farther with each step. Anyway, what's up?"
He grinned up at me.
"Are you kidding me? You forgot again? Lavaboarding! We've been waiting forever!"
I blinked, then my eyes widend in realization. Lavaboarding! Or course! Jaller, some of the others and I would always meet at the same time for lavaboarding.
I forgot.
Again!
"Oh! I am so sorry, lets get going now!"
Jaller sighed.
"Kohli head." He muttered.
I gave him a half-hearted glare as we ran off.
When we reached the lava river, the others waved at Jaller and I. They taunted me on how I had the memory of a rahi.
"Yeah, laugh it up." I muttered, frowning as I shifted my lavaboard under my arm. "Are we gonna talk or are we gonna lavaboard?" I asked with a scowl.
Jaller laughed.
"Oh come on, Takua, lighten up!"
I sighed, but smiled, nodding. I watched as the others went ahead, soon cruising at a leasurly pace on the river, waiting for a wave. I quickly blinked away the pain in my left eye before taking off after them.
I smiled as a small wave came, lifting us up. I shifted my feet slightly, enjoying the now familiar feel of my new lavaboard.
Tahu had helped me craft it after everything had returned to a normal pace, even Turaga Vakama helped a bit.
I grinned, looking at my side and lower on the wave (which had grown considerably by now). Jaller and the others kept close to each other, chatting animatedly. But then Jaller looked at me.
"Takua, these guys don't believe that you're not a fulfledged adult yet." He said, rising to surf at my side, the others following.
I laughed, looking at them.
"It's true. Back on...on Metru Nui, I was just a little kid, I'll be coming of age soon, though." I confirmed, earning surprised looks from the other Matoran. I laughed.
"Hey, just because I'm tall and a Toa, doesn't mean that I'm of age." I stated, shrugging.
"Brother!"
I jumped slightly in surprise, but was able to keep my balance. I smiled as Tahu rose up along the wave next to me.
"Hey, I thought you and the others were still in the meeting in Turaga Vakama's hut?" I asked as I shifted slightly, careful not to splash lava on him. He chuckled.
"Ah, wise one let us end early since nothing interesting has come along lately."
I smiled, nodding.
Despite how kind all the Toa were, I could still feel a rift between them and I. Then again I only talked to a sparce few, and even when I followed the Toa as the chronicler, I'd rarely talked to them.
I only felt comfortable talking with those I trusted, like Jaller. While I only talked with others to be polite. Even my friends weren't really MY friends, more like friends of Jaller, and aquantences with me.
But I didn't mind.
I shook my head to clear it, shifting my feet to rise higher on the wave. Tahu soon followed suit, gliding next to me on the lava.
"Is something wrong, Takanuva?"
I looked at him, startled, then quickly looked away again.
"N-no, brother! Nothings wrong!" I quickly replied, slightly stumbling over my own words.
He gave me an odd look, but brushed it off.
I slowly glided to shore as the wave died away. Jaller and the other matoran kept going along, picking up another wave, as did Tahu, who gave a parting wave of his hand, which I returned before heading off back towards my hut.
My left eye burned, but I easily ignored it, jumping over a small group of matoran, making them yelp slightly. I gave a hasty apology, continuing towards my hut.
Once in the shelter of my home, I went and fell onto the bed, enjoying the familiar scent and warmth it gave off.
After a few more moments, I sighed, standing once again. I went and stared out at Ta-Koro, watching Matoran go about their daily routines.
How many of them had a good life, not only on Mata-nui, but on Metru-nui as well? How many of them had felt the wrath of their own caretaker, and never known happiness until Mata-Nui?
I knew I was likely the only one, most others would die if what happend to I, happend to them.
I shook the thoughts out of my head, deciding to think of happier things. The thing that immediately came to mind was when I'd first awoken on Mata-Nui, and first met Jaller as well.
Flashback (gotta love 'em), 3rd POV
Takua groaned as he slowly crawled out and onto the sandy beach.
His memory was a bit fuzzy. He remembered that he'd snuck out of the hut, only to be swept up in a crowd of Matoran. He'd been placed into a pod of sorts, then...nothing.
Takua shook his head to clear it, then looked around slightly fearful, wondering if his caretaker was on the beach as well.
But all he saw were other Matoran, not only Ta-matoran but others as well, ranging from Ga-matoran to Ko-matoran.
Takua perked up slightly when he heard someone groan in pain, and he quickly wove around the other pods, moving towards the sound.
A Ta-matoran sat, back resting agaist one pod and his hands grasping at his face. His mask lay broken at his feet.
Takua moved forward and kneeled down in front of the other Matoran, gently reaching forward to move the others hands away.
"Hey, are you okay?" Takua asked, albeit a bit hesitant. The other Matoran grimaced, looking at his broken mask in dismay.
"I'm fine...I guess. But my pakari...it broke."
Takua looked down at the broken mask, then back to the Matoran. He then smiled brightly.
"Don't worry, I'll find someone who can help!"
Takua then released the others hands, standing. The blue masked Matoran pushed back through the crowds of Matoran and found a Turaga.
Takua gently grabbed the Turaga's hand and pulled him towards the other Matoran.
The Turaga quickly replaced the other's pakari, and after he had left the two, Takua hesitantly moved forward to the now golden masked Matoran.
"See? What did I tell ya? I'm Takua, by the way."
The other Matoran grinned, offering a fist.
"I'm Jaller."
Takua smiled brightly, happy to meet someone at long last (having been isolated most of the time), and bumped fists with his new friend.
Flashback end, 3rd POV
Takua grinned as he remembered how much time he and Jaller had spent together, and how he soon found a place within society, no matter how invisible he seemed to be.
He'd found a way to hide the fact he was blind in one eye, and had painted over most of his scars, hiding them from sight (also touching up the red and blue, and the gold when he became a Toa).
Takua sighed. He knew that no matter how hard he tried, he'd always have something of Metru Nui.
The nightmarish memories that haunted him.