(A/N): So as I implied in the author's notes last week, this chapter and the next one don't really have a canon equivalent in the first year of Bionicle, but as soon as I got the ideas I was like "...okay, I need to make this happen." So I hope you enjoy this two-chapter set piece! I really enjoyed writing it.
"So, how's the new mask feel?"
Tahu furrowed his brow as he walked alongside the human Huntress, the motion once again throwing the lenses of his brand-new Kanohi Akaku out of alignment. His vision went from depicting one whole picture of Ta-Wahi to three fractured images, like a scattered puzzle in front of his eyes. It wasn't a painful experience, but it was disorienting - and quite annoying.
"It is…difficult, for now," he reported. "While the power itself works well, the function of this scope is…strange. I have yet to grasp how to properly control it."
Yang hummed thoughtfully, her arms behind her head as she walked. "Want me to shoot Weiss a message asking to meet up? I'm sure Kopaka could give you some pointers on how to - "
"No," he growled, then shook his head. "Apologies…no, I should be able to figure this out myself. It is not debilitating, merely…disruptive."
If that pompous, arrogant fool can use a mask as complicated as this, he thought sullenly, then so can I.
"Uh huh," said the blonde brawler skeptically. "You sure it's because of that? Or because you just don't want to see him again?"
Tahu didn't dignify that with a response, but his silence was enough. Yang sighed.
"Look, I get it," she said. "Weiss was the same way when we started the team, and at first I couldn't stand her either. None of us could. But the more she got to know us, the better we got to know her…and eventually, she stopped being so frigid around us."
"You presume much to assume the same will happen here," said Tahu pointedly. "We are not humans - we are Toa. We embody the elements themselves, their traits and their power. Have you ever seen a snowflake in a land of volcanoes, or a fire in a blizzard? Our elements oppose one another…it is in our nature to do the same."
Yang hummed and tilted her head to one side. "Hmm…maybe you have a point. But just because fire and ice are enemies doesn't mean you have to be the same way. Y'know?" She smirked. "Besides, I don't hear you badmouthing Gali much. Isn't water your opposite element just as much as ice is?"
The Toa of Fire averted his gaze, narrowing his eyes. "That is…a different matter."
His smaller companion laughed. "Ohhhhh don't tell me - you got a crush on her?"
"That is not your concern."
"I'm not hearing a noooooo," she said in a singsong voice.
Tahu did his best to ignore the taunts of the human at his side, instead focusing with the lenses as he kept walking forward. He snapped all three of them towards the horizon, trying to make them align so that he could actually see what lay in the distance. To his delight, the scope on his mask finally decided to obey his will, and soon he could see the fortified walls of Ta-Koro in the distance.
Only…he didn't need the Mask of Vision to see that something was very wrong with his village.
"Hey, no judgment here," she continued. "It's perfectly normal for a young, handsome Toa like yourself to start feeling things towards - "
He raised his hand to cut her off, and she could tell that it wasn't because of embarrassment. Her head tilted in concern.
"Strange…" said Tahu as he glared at the horizon. "There is…smoke, over the hill. It seems like it is coming from Ta-Koro."
Yang shrugged. "So? It's a village of fire. There's bound to be smoke."
"Yes…but not that much smoke."
The sound of a distant roar got the attention of both warriors.
"...something's wrong, isn't it?" asked Yang warily. Her Scroll was already in hand, and her thumb hovered over an image depicting the Kanohi Kakama.
Ah, yes…the humans can channel our mask powers now, the Toa of Fire reminded himself. An oddly-timed gift…but a welcome one, all the same.
"I fear so, yes," said Tahu as he narrowed his eyes, switching from the Akaku to his Mask of Speed. "Come, we must hurry!"
And with that, the pair sped off in the direction of Ta-Koro, hoping against hope that they weren't too late.
It was hard for Ruby to believe that just a few days ago, she had been afraid of the sea.
The silver-eyed Huntress let out a bubbly giggle as she coasted through the deep waters, letting her cape and skirt flow behind her with every kick like she was some kind of crimson jellyfish. Every now and then she pulsed her Semblance for a burst of speed, scattering bubbles and rose petals in her wake as she zoomed across the sandy seabed. And when she finally got tired of pretending to be a speedy little submarine, she lay down on the edge of a cliff and stretched her bare arms with a big yawn, gulping down water with no fear of drowning or losing her breath.
Man…no wonder Gali likes swimming down here so much, she thought to herself as she blew short bursts of bubbles and watched them rise to the distant surface. I don't think I'd ever leave the ocean if I had the ability to breathe underwater, too!
She looked over at her companion with a big grin, only for her excitement to give way to concern. Gali was sitting cross-legged on the same ledge as her, with her head bowed, her eyes closed and her hands resting on her ankles. Ruby recognized this as the Toa's preferred meditation pose - something she did when she wanted to bring peace and clarity to her mind, yet right now it seemed like it was bringing the opposite.
"Gali?" she asked, raising her voice slightly in an attempt to be heard over her own bubbles. "Is everything okay?"
The Toa of Water opened her glowing yellow eyes and turned her gaze to the Huntress. "I…I do not know, little one. I celebrate with you in your newfound ability, but…the waters do not. They seem…angry, somehow. Something stirs within the seas that wash upon the island's shores, and that rage is being carried even as deep as here. I fear that a great calamity is in motion on the surface…one that threatens all of Mata Nui."
And just like that, the good feeling was gone.
Ruby tilted her head. "Hmm…if the waters feel angry, can't you ask them why?" she burbled. "You know, to find out more about what's going on? You control them, after all."
Gali nodded, then closed her eyes for a moment while her hands glowed with azure light. The silver-eyed Huntress kept an eye on her surroundings for a moment, looking away only to check her Scroll and make sure her Aura didn't drop too quickly. The field of soul energy that covered her body did more than just protect her and fuel her Semblance now - it also powered her ability to use Kanohi masks, such as the one that was currently letting her breathe underwater. If she ran out down here, this far from the surface…
Nope. Nope. Don't think about that. You're okay. Deeeeeep breaths, Ruby. Deep breaths.
After taking a moment to do just that (exhaling long strings of bubbles in the process) she looked over at Gali. "Any luck so far?"
"There is…a great disturbance along the shores," reported the Toa. "Dozens - no, hundreds - of Rahi are on the move, splashing through the coastal waters and rivers with no regard for the world around them. It seems they are gathering on the eastern side of the island, converging on the village of…"
A moment later, the Toa of Water's eyes snapped back open in alarm.
"Ta-Koro," she said gravely. "Ta-Koro is under siege by the Rahi, and it faces a force larger and stronger than any that has come before. Not even the Ta-Koronan Guard will be able to protect the village from a threat such as this."
Ruby took a deep breath of water cautiously. "Oh no…do you think Tahu and Yang are there? Could they handle it by themselves?"
"I do not know," answered Gali. "The waters say nothing about them, good or ill. I want to believe in them, and yet…you saw how aggressive and difficult a dozen Rahi had become. Soon they will be menaced by hundreds of such beasts - and though I do not doubt that they and the Ta-Matoran are fierce warriors, that alone may not be enough."
Her heart sank along with the rest of her body. "Yang…"
The Toa of Water let out a bubbly sigh of her own, falling into a moment of sorrowful silence. A pit formed in the Huntress's stomach, and suddenly swimming around seemed so...childish. Pointless. Meaningless.
I know what Yang's like, thought Ruby as she hugged her knees to her chest. She's not gonna back down from a challenge, not matter how huge or impossible. I mean, this is the same woman that punched Salem when they came face-to-face. But something like this...she can't do it alone, even with Tahu. She needs help.
Fortunately, it seemed that Gali had a similar idea.
"I…" began the Toa of Water uncertainly, "...I know that Ta-Koro is not my village nor my element, so I feel as though I have no authority in this situation. But…"
"You want to go and help," finished Ruby.
She nodded.
"But you also don't want Tahu getting mad at you."
Another slow nod.
Ruby smiled and swam over to the Toa of Water, wrapping her arms around the back of a kindred spirit.
"Well, he can't be angry at us forever, and anything's better than sitting around down here blowing bubbles and feeling sorry for ourselves. Let's get going to Ta-Koro! If we hurry, we might be able to get there in time to save the day - and our friends!"
Gali nodded resolutely, pooled the waters around herself, and shot through the sea like a speeding bullet with her Huntress in tow.
Jaller had seen many Rahi attacks in his centuries-long tenure as Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard.
But he had never seen an attack as large as this one.
He was used to fending off Hoto fire bugs or the draconic Hikaki, or even the odd Tarakava that wandered up from the beach. But there had never been hundreds of them trying to attack as one massive swarm before, nor had they been joined by the beasts from other regions. In the last hour alone he had knocked the masks off of at least four tiger-like Muaka - which were native to the cold tundras of Mount Ihu - and avoided the lunging bite and venomous stingers of Kane-Ra and Nui-Jaga - both of which were mostly desert Rahi. As if fighting the grounded beasts wasn't bad enough, he and his warriors also had to contend with insectoid Nui-Rama swooping down and slashing with claws, as well as the rodent-like Kuma-Nui burrowing underground and erupting in showers of stone.
This isn't just a random incursion, he thought as his shield buckled under the weight of another heavy blow. It's the start of a full-on invasion!
His brow furrowed under his yellow Hau as he swiped with his spear, his mind quickly forming the best plan even while he fought. There had been six checkpoints along the Tren Krom Break; the Rahi had smashed through the first five with ease, leaving every Ta-Matoran in fighting shape to hold the line at their outpost on the rim of the Lake of Fire. While the valley formed between two natural hills gave them a tactical advantage, the sheer number of mind-controlled monsters barreling down the choke point still threatened to overwhelm them. If the beasts broke through this last defensive line, then nothing would be keeping them from overrunning Ta-Koro except the village gates…and Jaller didn't know if the gates were strong enough to withstand a horde like this, nor did he want to find out.
His fellow guards fought their bravest, but even the strongest Matoran faltered in the wake of Makuta's warpath.
"There's so many of them! We can't hold the line!"
"We have to! If they get past us, the village is done for!"
"Keahi's down! Someone grab his mask and pull him back!"
"Lizards have got Agni pinned! Discs away!"
Jaller alternated between barking orders and trading strikes with the Rahi, batting away the eel-like Tarakava and the flaming Hoto bugs with impressive strength despite his size. His spear was caught in the jaws of a Kane-Ra and snapped in half, prompting him to bash the massive bull's snout with his shield. While the great horned Rahi was stunned he unslung his disk and threw it with perfect aim, watching it ricochet between two Nui-Rama overhead and shear through their wings. He caught it as it flew back into his hand and leapt just as the Kane-Ra was about to strike again, spinning in mid-air and bringing the sharpened edge down on the beast's neck. The bull roared in pain and bucked hard, throwing him off before he could deal another fatal blow and knocking him to the ground.
"Captain's down! Jaller, get back!"
Despite his shield and disc being ripped away by the impact, Jaller got back to his feet and he drew his knife. If he was going down, he was going down fighting. The Kane-Ra dragged its hoof across the ground, revved up its back motors; when it bellowed and charged at him with full speed, he closed his eyes and angled the blade, hoping to at least bring his opponent down with him…
But the expected blow never came.
Jaller slowly opened his eyes to see the Kane-Ra stopped dead in its tracks, fighting to free itself from whatever was stubborn - or strong - enough to grab it by the horns. He instantly recognized the obstacle as Yang Xiao Long, the otherworldly Huntress with glowing golden hair and rippling organic muscles that fought to keep the Rahi locked in place. The Kane-Ra huffed and growled menacingly, spinning its treads and breathing thick smoke as it pushed with all its might. Yang pushed back with just as much force, digging her boots into the ground and gritting her teeth as she grappled with the mighty metal bull.
She looked over her shoulder and flashed Jaller a wide smile, clearly confident despite the struggle. "Oh, hey Jaller! Hope you won't get mad at me for - ngh! - saving your masks again!"
Jaller let out a short laugh of relief as he lowered his knife. "You won't hear any complaints from me this time, Yang. Thank you." He looked around. "Is Toa Tahu with you?"
Yang gave an insulted look. "Oh, what, I'm not good enough for you?"
"T-that's not what I - !"
"Just teasing ya, little guy," she said with a grin and a wink. "Remind me to teach you how to talk to girls at some point. And in any case…"
The Huntress turned back to face the Kane-Ra (who was still trying and failing to shove her aside) and reared back for a moment before delivering a headbutt so strong it made Jaller wince from a bio away. While her Rahi lowed and wavered in pain she pressed the advantage, driving her knee into its jaw and twisting the horns to the left. She let out a loud yell as she flipped the entire beast onto its back, slamming it to the ground and keeping it pinned. A blur of red suddenly appeared just in time to drive a fiery sword into its exposed stomach, letting out a blast of flame that incinerated the bull from the inside-out.
"...why don't you ask him yourself?"
Tahu pulled his weapon out of the fallen Rahi, turning up his flames to burn off the blood and oil before unleashing a wave of fire against the other enemies. The other guards, in stark contrast to their initial meeting with the Toa of Fire, raised their spears with hollers and cheers. It was as if the mere presence of their guardian was enough to rekindle the spirit of the Ta-Matoran - for his part Jaller fetched his disk and threw it into the eyes of an incoming Nui-Kopen, stunning it long enough for a fiery blast to incinerate it in mid-air.
"It's good to see you, Toa Tahu," he said with a sharp salute.
"Likewise, Captain." The taller figure nodded. "Now then, report. How and when did this attack start?"
"Less than an hour ago," said Jaller as his disk flew back into his hand. "Everything was clear before the Rahi suddenly gathered at the westmost part of the Tren Krom Break, at which point they went into the frenzied charge you're seeing now and overwhelmed most of our defenses. There was no sign of them moving and congregating before now - I suspect that Makuta must have transported them to the surface through his underground tunnel network, to keep from drawing suspicion."
"Makes sense," grunted Yang as she fired rockets out of her odd wrist-mounted weapons. "Villains like him love their 'big swarm out of nowhere' surprise attacks."
The Toa of Fire nodded, then looked at the wounded guardsmen and their broken tools. "Do you have any other weapons you can use to repel the assault? Something larger than throwing disks and spears?"
"We have lava launchers and magma mortars within the village walls," reported an injured Keahi as Nuhrii helped him to his feet. "But with how quickly this attack happened, we haven't had the time nor the idle hands to set them up."
"Then we'll give you both," said Yang as she slammed her gauntlets together, releasing a shockwave that knocked back a pack of Hikaki. "Tahu and I can hold the line here while you fall back to prep the artillery. Right, big guy?"
Another nod from the red-armored titan. "Captain, do as she says. We will ensure that none of these monsters reach your village. Sound the horns when you are ready - and make haste."
Ordinarily Jaller would have protested, insisting that the Captain of the Guard never runs away from an ongoing battle. But he knew that the taller warriors were right - against a horde of this size, there was no way for them to stand their ground. So he snapped a salute, spun on his heel, and shouted orders as he ran back to the village with the rest of his Guardsmen. The stone bridge appeared for just a moment to allow them passage, then sank back under the lava once they were back inside the walls of Ta-Koro.
Besides, he reminded himself, he wasn't running away from the fight.
He was running to finish it.
"Did you hear that?"
Blake may not have been in tune with the earth like Onua was, but her Faunus ears twitched all the same at the sound of distant rumbling far above their current tunnel. She looked over at the Toa of Earth, who had switched to his Akaku and was using it to gaze at the ceiling - and then through it altogether. With a shrug, she pulled out her Scroll and navigated to the app Ruby had told her team about, the one that let her share in the mask powers used by the Toa, and pushed a button that matched her companion's current Kanohi. Soon her vision was filled with the world that lay beyond the layers of stone around them, and she could see what was happening on the surface far above.
And what was happening was chaos.
There were so many Rahi-shaped outlines in motion, so many bodies snarling and striking and screaming, that it was almost impossible to make out individual shapes. A tall humanoid figure with a flaming sword kept them at bay while smaller figures retreated, though there was no telling how long the Toa of Fire could keep up his blazing defense. But the most concerning thing that Blake could see was a female skeleton fighting alongside the burning warrior, punching at the endless hordes of Rahi while glowing like a supernova.
"Yang…" she mewed softly - almost literally.
Onua nodded. "Indeed. And not just her, either; it seems that all of Ta-Koro is under attack. Your partner is strong and fierce, as is Tahu, but you know her better than I, Blake - will that be enough?"
She bit her lower lip, then shook her head. Not against that many of them.
The Toa of Earth hummed, then willed away the Mask of Vision to summon his usual Pakari. Then he walked over to one of the tunnel walls and began digging, tearing huge chunks of earth and stone away with each mighty sweep of his claws. He looked over to Blake and tapped his shoulder, which finally got her to look away from the carnage above and face him with a nod.
"You know that Tahu's not gonna be happy if you show up to save him," she noted with a wry smile as she ran and leapt onto her Toa's back, though her gratitude was on full display.
"He can fume and shout at me as much as he wishes," rumbled Onua as he continued tunneling upwards. "But his village will be safe all the same. Navigate for me, Blake - I will get us there."
With a tight nod the feline Faunus kept her augmented vision on the battle above, praying to the gods that Yang would be safe until they showed up.
And maybe…maybe she prayed a little bit to Mata Nui, too, if he was listening.
Bang! Wham! Crack! Ka-chunk!
Yang leapt and bounced between targets like a flaming pinball, racking up points and knocking down Rahi with each fiery punch and burning blast of shrapnel. Eel-like Tarakava had their clocks cleaned with powerful uppercuts, while the reptilian Hikaki dragons were knocked out with flurries of jabs and hooks. Hoto bugs - massive insects that resembled enormous fireflies with emphasis on "fire" - were squashed and splattered into hot sulfur and steel shrapnel, massive Nui-Jaga had their scorpion stingers torn off and plunged into their backs, and any Nui-Rama that tried to grab her from behind got their wings ripped from their sockets.
Yet no matter how many Rahi she dispatched, more kept coming.
"Jeez, where did Makuta find this many of you?!" Yang yelled in exasperation as she tossed aside another Kane-Ra. "Did he raid a zoo or something? One for freaks and weirdos?"
A feline Muaka snarled and crouched low, steam hissing out of its trapezoidal nose. While its body resembled that of the Kane-Ra - two heavily clawed forearms, an armored torso capable of extending its neck as an attack, and a set of tank treads for the back legs - there were a number of differences that set it apart. For one, it was smaller and slightly leaner, though no less heavily armored. For another, it had razor-sharp claws on its front legs instead of hooves, which were a shade of yellow that matched its triangular ears in place of horns. And finally, it gave no obvious tell before it charged to bring its jaws down on the blonde brawler - it simply did so with catlike speed and agility.
CHOMP!
Yang groaned as she reflexively blocked the bite with her arms, the position of her gauntlets giving her leverage to try and push back against the two sets of teeth that threatened to make a meal out of her. The Muaka snarled and kept trying to bite down with the full strength of its jaws, growling in annoyance as the gap slowly but surely widened as its maw was pulled apart. Her left arm trembled and the servos in her mechanical right arm whined in protest, and as much as she wanted to reach down and tap the Mask of Strength on her Scroll, she couldn't risk letting go of the tiger-like Rahi even for a moment…
FWOOOOSH!
A blast of fire came to her rescue, ending the contest of strength by slamming into the beast's flank and sending it flying. Yang nodded in thanks towards Tahu, and returned the favor by launching a salvo of Dust rockets from Ember Celica. The projectiles screamed and shrieked as they streaked through the air, before finally crashing down into the trio of Nui-Jaga that threatened to flank the lone Toa. While he nodded back and went to work hacking the explosion-weakened scorpions with his flaming sword, she dashed off to finish her own target, taking the tiger by the throat and slamming her gauntlet into its face. Repeatedly.
"How you - " WHUMP. " - holding up - " WHUMP. " - over there - " WHUMP. " - big guy?" WHUMP!
Tahu grimaced as he drove his sword through the back of the first stunned scorpion. "I am well, for the moment. My stores of elemental energy dwindle, but I can absorb the heat of Ta-Wahi to replenish it. And you? How do you fare, Yang?"
The blonde brawler hummed thoughtfully as she finished her Muaka off with a snap of its neck. "Aura's running a little low, but I'm alright for now. Just gotta watch how often I use those mask powers - they drain the tank pretty fast."
"An unfortunate development, for this new power to carry so high a cost," mused the Toa of Fire as he reduced another Nui-Jaga to molten slag. "Let us hope that the Ta-Matoran can bring their heavy weapons to bear soon. Until then, we must remain - AAAAAUGH!"
"TAHU!"
Yang's eyes widened as she watched the third Nui-Jaga recover more quickly from the shell shock than its two brothers, driving the tip of its tail into the Toa's shoulder and knocking him off his feet. While the blow didn't penetrate his armor, it did send him sprawling across the ground - and the nearby Rahi were quick to swarm on the prone Toa and strike while he was down. Tahu roared in pain and activated his Mask of Shielding in a last-ditch effort to protect himself, but there were so many claws and fangs and stingers and fists bearing down on him that it became impossible to protect himself from all of them.
"Hang on buddy, I'm coming!"
The blonde brawler darted over and started blasting and punching and pulling the beasts off her Toa, but more kept crawling over to continue the beatdown. Some retaliated and fought back, and Yang felt her Aura flag more and more with each backhanded Tarakava punch and every snap of a Nui-Jaga's pincher. And just when she was about to brawl her way to the heart of the horde a pair of Nui-Rama swooped down and dug their claws into her arms, buzzing their wings as they carried her far, far above the battlefield.
Yang thrashed and struggled in the grip of the giant bugs, trying and failing to wrench her arms free. The Nui-Rama wisely kept their bodies away from the business ends of Ember Celica, making the shotgun shells spray uselessly into empty air as they rolled along with the recoil. No matter how much she pulled or kicked, no matter how much she growled and grit her teeth, she could only watch as Tahu's shield finally fizzled out down below.
"Dammit, no!" she growled. "Let go of me, you oversized fruit flies!"
WHOOOSH.
Surprisingly, the Nui-Rama heeded her request.
As she looked back in freefall, Yang realized the real reason why the bugs had let her go - they were falling alongside her in finely chopped pieces.
What the…
She fired her gauntlets to slow her fall before landing in a roll, narrowly avoiding the shower of metal parts and splattered bug juices that followed her down. Yang cast her red-tinted eyes back to Tahu…only to watch in amazement as a blur of crimson passed over the fallen Toa several times, removing more and more Rahi with each sweep. When only a dozen or so creatures remained the speedy savior zoomed off just as the Toa's armor started glowing red like a newborn star, at which point Tahu let out a roar of power as he unleashed the energy he'd been storing up.
BOOOM!
A pillar of fire engulfed the Toa and everything nearby, turning any Rahi foolish enough to hold him down into ash and molten protodermis. The blonde brawler quickly moved to start throwing beasts into the burning blaze, watching the red-clad newcomer bounce between targets and leaving massive gashes in their wake. Yang had a pretty good idea of who had come to their rescue, which was confirmed when she caught sight of a massive mechanical scythe underneath the cloak and the waves of rose petals.
Yep, that's her alright.
Sure enough, after driving Crescent Rose through the neck of a Kane-Ra, Ruby threw back her hood to reveal silver eyes full of light and hope. She looked back at her fellow Huntress, her older sister, and waved eagerly.
"Hi sis!" shouted the little red reaper with a grin as she pulled her scythe out of her latest victim's back. "You're not having too much fun without me, are you?!"
Yang's face erupted into a smile. "Ruby!"
The blonde brawler launched herself into the air with a backwards shotgun blast, giving her the leverage to leap up to greet her sister - and slam her fists against a Nui-Rama that flew in to rudely interrupt the reunion. Ruby grinned and collapsed her scythe into a rifle with one hand, taking Yang's offered palm with the other and locking it tightly in her grip. The pair then started to spin and dance around each other until they became a whirlwind of red rose petals and yellow flames, firing bullets from Crescent Rose and shells from Ember Celica into anything that got too close.
When they finally stopped their blazing tornado of death the pair separated and stood back-to-back, firing at distant Rahi and punishing melee attackers with scythe slashes and powerful punches.
"You picked - hah! - one hell of a time to show up!" said Yang as she kicked away a Hoto bug. "What are you doing here?"
The silver-eyed girl spun her scythe to build up momentum before lashing out to bisect a Muaka. "We were nearby when Gali said that the waters felt angry - yah! - so we thought we'd stop by and see if everything - on your left! - was okay!"
Yang cocked her fist back almost without looking, clocking an approaching Hikaki right in the jaw. "Appreciated! Glad you're here to help - these things just keep coming, and knocking their masks off isn't doing much anymore."
Ruby frowned as she watched a distant Nui-Rama fall back down to earth, its wings sheared off by a well-placed bullet. "Yeah…Makuta's done something else to the Rahi to make them obey him even without their infected masks. Gali and I found that out the hard way."
"Speaking of Gali, where is she?"
A huge wave rushed into the battlefield, answering Yang's question even as it swept up the beasts in its path. The Toa of Water stood atop the waters for a moment before leaping off, switching to her Miru to float above the battlefield. Her hands reached out to grab the water and shape it into spears and other such sharpened weapons, which she used to pelt the Rahi from above like the world's deadliest rainstorm. When she ran out of water she changed back to her usual mask, shifting her hands into hooks as she fell and driving them into the back of a Kane-Ra. The creature reared back and roared in pain; Tahu was quick to capitalize on this moment of vulnerability, using his Mask of Speed to surge across the battlefield and plunge his blade into its exposed throat.
Well, guess that answers that.
Tahu pulled his sword back out from the fallen Rahi, turning to face the Toa of Water as she leapt off.
"...pleasure to see you again, Gali," he said through gritted teeth, though his tone of voice made it clear the experience was anything but.
Gali, likewise, was uncharacteristically cold in her reply. "The feeling is mutual...Tahu," she said simply, narrowing her eyes even as she nodded tightly.
Ouch. Yang cringed internally. This is...oh gods this is embarrassing. It's like watching Uncle Qrow try and flirt. While sober.
A narrowly-avoided punch from a Tarakava reminded her that they still had other problems.
"Say hello later, you two!" Ruby called as she slashed the offending eel. "We're not done yet!"
The blonde brawler fired another salvo of rockets into the horde. "Yeah, fight now, hug it out afterwards!"
Tahu and Gali shared another frustrated glance, then nodded before summoning their elements to do just that.
With two Toa and the Rose-Xiao Long sisters joining the fray, the fight slowly began to turn. No longer was it a desperate struggle for survival - now, with Ruby's speed and Gali's crowd-controlling waves, it became slightly easier to stand their ground and hold their position. Even so, the sheer number of Rahi kept pressing against them, and as they were forced back further and further, the heat of the Lake of Fire grew more and more intense on their backs.
At this rate, we might end up going for a nice lava swim, thought Yang to herself. Unless Mata Nui has another miracle up his butt for us?
The earth suddenly began to rumble.
…huh, okay, I guess he does!
Yang watched as the ground suddenly erupted into a shower of stone and rock, scattering everything from Hoto bugs to even the imposing Kuma-Nui. A figure clad in ebon black armor started swinging his massive claws left and right, sending creatures flying with each mighty blow. Another figure leapt off his back and started slashing with twin blades, jumping from target to target with precision and grace as the pair fought their way to the others.
Blake landed in front of them just before the Toa of Earth burst through the crowd of Rahi. "Miss me?"
Ruby squealed in delight. Yang laughed and ran up to hug her girlfriend, who returned it warmly. Gali smiled behind her mask.
Tahu was less enthused, greeting the newcomer with a grimace. "And now you are here as well," he groaned. "How many more Toa will arrive to humiliate me today?"
"As many as it takes to protect your people," answered Onua in a deep rumble. "For that is why we all have come to Mata Nui, brother." He looked down at Yang. "I assume we are to hold this position?"
"Until the Ta-Matoran set up their heavy weapons, yeah," answered the blonde as she pulled away from Blake. "They were caught off-guard by the initial attack, and didn't have time to deploy them. We've gotta protect the entrance until they're ready."
"Then defend it we shall," said Gali as she readied her hooks. "Together, brothers."
Onua nodded and crouched low with his claws outstretched. "Let us show Makuta that neither we, nor the Matoran, will bow or break before him."
Tahu narrowed his eyes in annoyance, but raised his sword all the same. "None have breached Ta-Koro's gates before…and none shall this day!"
Blake shot a glance to her girlfriend as she readied Gambol Shroud. "You ready, partner?"
Yang grinned as she pumped her gauntlets, loading fresh rounds into Ember Celica. "Always, babe."
Ruby slotted a new magazine into Crescent Rose, smiling with determination as she pulled back on the charging handle. "No time for big speeches today! Let's do this!"
And with that, the heroes lunged into the fray.
With three Toa and Huntresses each, the battle for Ta-Koro reached its fiercest point yet. Yang led the charge in a storm of furious punches, backed on both sides by the cleaving blades of Ruby and Blake. Her teammates tore through the Rahi like whirling blenders, the long shaft of Crescent Rose and the ribbon of Gambol Shroud giving their sweeping slashes plenty of reach. Gali and Onua hung back and focused on controlling the crowd with their elements, disrupting the horde with waves of water and eruptions of earth. And Tahu concentrated his power into flaming fireballs that surged forward, incinerating anything in the immediate impact point and scattering whatever survived.
Over time, the six of them fell into sync, even finding ways to combine their powers and further thin the swarm. Tahu melted the earth and rubble that Onua lifted, creating waves of lava that burned anything it touched. Gali created pillars of water that trapped Rahi in their depths, which were frozen by Blake's Dust bullets and shattered by Yang's fiery punches. And whenever a flying bug like a Nui-Rama or a Nui-Kopen swooped down for a grab, Ruby was there in a flash of rose petals to intercept the blow and slice them apart.
"You seem quite adept in attacking from above, Ruby," noted Onua during one such save. "Do you wish to fly?"
Silver eyes practically sparkled in delight. "That would be the coolest thing ever!"
"Then brace yourself!"
Ruby did just that as the Toa of Earth grabbed her and triggered his mask power, throwing her with all his strength and sending her soaring straight up into the sky. Yang watched as the little rose became more and more distant, her delighted giggle growing further away before the echoing shots of Crescent Rose rang out. Rahi down on the ground immediately started dropping like flies as piercing sniper bullets struck their weak points; Tarakava flopped as their necks were perforated, Kane-Ra toppled over with exit wounds between the eyes, and Hoto bugs exploded into bursts of phosphor.
"Pfft, showoff," said the blonde brawler with a smirk and a roll of her eyes.
"Wonder where she gets it from," quipped Blake as she cut down a Nui-Rama. "Any idea how much longer it'll take the Matoran to set up those weapons?"
"What, you want to end the date already?" Yang punched out the lights of a Tarakava.
"...you consider this a date?"
"You don't?"
Blake scoffed, but smiled anyway. "You're weird, Yang."
"You know it, you love it. Now come on, babe! Let's do this, Bumblebee style!"
With that, the pair fought with renewed efforts, slashing and punching while standing back to back. Yang grabbed Blake and swung her around on a long solid ribbon, giving her a chance to kick at any Rahi that moved in to surround them. This flowed into the black-haired Faunus launching the blonde at a Kane-Ra, who brought two blazing fists down onto its head and shattered the bony plating of its skull. Another tug on Gambol Shroud pulled Blake up and overhead, who used a Shadow as a springboard to bring her cleaver down on the weakened bull's crown. Then Yang leapt with the ribbon gripped tightly in one hand while her partner anchored herself, swinging the brawler around like a flaming wrecking ball. Every other punch on the beasts in her path left a bright red proximity mine in her wake; when Blake finally yanked to bring Yang back into her arms, a pump of the latter's fist detonated the grenades in explosions of fire just as the former caught and dipped her partner in one smooth motion.
"...I love you," they said almost at the same time, their kiss highlighted by the fireworks around them.
The sound of a loud horn echoing across the battlefield cut the moment short.
"The signal of the Guardsmen!" shouted Tahu as he loosed one more fiery blast. "Everyone, to the walls! Now!"
Yang took Blake's hand in her own as she made a mad dash back to the village, punching a path through the crowd ahead as her partner fired her pistol behind them. Ruby crashed back to earth and hit the ground sprinting, running normally for a moment before dashing and scooping up her teammates in a burst of her Semblance. The mass of red, yellow, and black rose petals surged across the battlefield, landing on top of Ta-Koro's walls just as the Toa leapt across the bridgeless gap.
"We're clear!" declared Ruby, still standing at the ready. "Do the thing!"
"Ready!" shouted Jaller, standing in front of several dozen Ta-Matoran all armed with giant crimson tubes. "Aim! Fire!"
The air was filled with the sound of heavy thumping and whistling projectiles, as rockets made of pure lava flew into the sky like fireworks before careening down into the charging horde. Each projectile detonated with the force and fury of a thousand suns, creating blinding flashes of gold and orange across the battlefield. Rahi that were "lucky" enough to survive the heat and explosive impact found themselves thrown backwards and smashed into each other...or worse, they found themselves launched into the puddles of magma that formed with every mortar round. Anything that wasn't done in by the artillery was instead pelted with rods of molten glass, which hardened into obsidian moments before striking and tearing through armor, flesh, and bone.
Realizing that nothing - not even serving the will of Makuta - was worth navigating literal hellfire, the Rahi lowed and screeched in defeat before running away in a disorganized crowd.
The Matoran in the village walls waited with bated breath for a moment, before they all erupted into cheers. Yang whooped and hollered right along with them, scooping up Ruby and Blake in both arms and spinning them around. And even though Tahu was clearly annoyed that others had come to share in the glory, he still looked pleased with himself as he vaulted over the barricades to join the Huntresses and his people atop the wall.
"Thank you for your valor today, Captain," said the Toa of Fire to his yellow-masked counterpart. "History will remember you and your Guards as the true victors of this battle."
Jaller snapped a salute to Tahu. "Perhaps it will, but let it never be forgotten how you, along with the others, are what truly delivered us from the claws of Makuta."
Tahu's brow furrowed as he looked at Gali and Onua, both of whom had finished their climb up the village walls to meet him. "Yes…others…"
The cheering and celebrating quieted as a pair of soft footsteps approached. Yang stopped spinning just in time to see Vakama walking up to them, with eyes that glowed as bright as his firestaff and a smile that outshone them both. He approached the Huntresses and bowed in reverence, then turned and did the same for the Toa. Ruby curtseyed with a small giggle, Blake gave a small nod and smile, Yang flashed a thumbs-up with a smirk, while Onua and Gali returned the gesture with deep bows of their own.
"On behalf of Ta-Koro, I thank you for your aid," intoned the Turaga. "Ruby and Blake, Yang spoke highly of you when she first arrived…I see now why her first thoughts were of you and you alone. You are every bit as noble and she implied you were in her stories, and the flames of courage burn bright within your souls. This village will never forget you or what you have done for us, and neither shall I."
"Aw, shucks..." Ruby said with a blush, scratching a nonexistent itch on her neck. Blake merely nodded and hummed in appreciation, leaning her head against Yang's shoulder and letting the blonde brawler kiss her crown.
"Furthermore, I also wish to extend my gratitude to the Toa of Earth and Water, for I know our lands can be inhospitable to those not of Fire...yet you came to help regardless, all of your own accord. I cannot possibly thank you enough, great ones."
"There is no need for thanks," rumbled Onua. "We are sworn to the safety of all Matoran, not just those in our own villages."
"It is our Duty and our Destiny to stand in Unity," agreed Gali as she cast a glance to the one between them. "I hope that you can now see that, brother."
Tahu began to fume, but instead took a deep calming breath. "My intention was never to disrupt the team. I…"
He looked to Yang, who nodded, and continued.
"I…apologize, for what I said and how I acted at Kini-Nui," he said with a slow sigh. "I was rash and presumptuous, and merely wished to decide on a plan to save Mata Nui quickly, rather than correctly. The Matoran have suffered in our absence for a thousand years; I had my heart set on not letting them suffer one day more. It does not excuse my behavior, I realize…and I hope you can find it in yourselves to forgive my temper and my actions."
Gali's gaze softened somewhat, while Onua simply chuckled and laid a claw on his fiery brother's shoulder. Tahu stiffened up at the touch, but eventually he relaxed and found the courage to look the black-armored figure in the eye.
"If forgiveness is what you seek, you already have mine," rumbled the Toa of Earth. "We all acted poorly at the temple, possibly due to my impatience to meet you all. So eager was I to reunite Blake with her people, I did not consider that we would all need space to adjust to these new and unusual circumstances. Yet I can see that your time since then has been spent growing and learning…as have I. If you would have me, I would be glad to save this island by your side, under your leadership."
The Toa of Water finally smiled beneath her mask and stepped closer. "We all have been shaped and molded by our friends from Remnant. Though we still have much to learn and accomplish, I would be glad to do so in the company of my brothers. Perhaps you are ready to lead us, Tahu…or perhaps there is more for my little one to teach you. Either way, I will be there to navigate the waters ahead, should that be your desire."
The Toa of Fire nodded, then held out his fist to bump knuckles with his brother and sister. After some confusion, they returned the gesture with smiles under their masks.
Ruby squealed in delight as she hugged Yang's arm. "They're doing it!" she whispered excitedly. "They're bonding! This! Is! Happening!"
Blake chuckled as she leaned against her partner. "...I think you owe Nora royalties when we get back."
"Eh, I'll just get Weiss to write her a check. She's still rich, right?"
Yang just laughed, putting her arms around her teammates and watching the Toa begin to form their team for the first -
THUD.
A distant rumble echoed through the air, making the blonde brawler's blood freeze in her veins.
THUD.
The Matoran ran to the wall and started looking around, wary of any potential threats as the sound came closer.
THUD.
"What is this?" Tahu snarled as he whipped around. "I thought the attack was finished."
THUD.
"Do not underestimate the machinations of Makuta," said Vakama warily. "Though the horde has passed...I fear he may have simply called them back to make room for something worse."
THUD.
"Something worse than every Rahi on the island attacking us all at once?!" wailed Ruby as she held tighter to Yang (more to keep herself steady). "Like what?!"
THUD.
"I fear we will find out soon, little one!" exclaimed Gali. "Brothers, be ready for anything!"
THUD. THUD. THUD… KRA-BOOM!
The source of the disturbance emerged with an ear splitting roar as the surface of the lava erupted, waves of burning protodermis flying in all directions to make way for a new creature. Yang's breath hitched in her chest as she caught sight of a massive dragon taking flight around the village, slithering like an oily snake across the sky and scattering ash and cinder from its obsidian-like scales. Four sets of claws on the end of powerful muscular legs glowed like ingots in a furnace, tearing out chunks of the surrounding mountain with the most gentle of grazes. Dozens of blank, dead-eyed masks adorned its neck and upper body, each one displayed proudly like a grisly trophy by the long-whiskered reptile that gazed hungrily upon the village of Ta-Koro.
Fear gripped the eye of every Matoran, Toa, and Huntress, followed by confusion and chaos. What was this thing? Where did it come from? And why was it wearing so many masks?
Only Turaga Vakama had a reaction unlike the others - a look of sheer abject terror.
"No...it cannot be," gasped the elder, nearly dropping his firestaff. "I thought...it should not be here...should have been driven off…this…this should not be possible…"
Blake looked down at the trembling Turaga. "You know what this is?"
He nodded. "Indeed…though I wish to Mata Nui himself that I did not…"
"So what is it, then?" Onua tilted his head. "Some new breed of Rahi?"
"Oh…it is so much more than that," intoned Vakama in a fearful whisper. "This creature, this terror of the skies…it is the most fearsome Rahi to ever plague our world. It is a beast so powerful that it shapes mountains and valleys with its breath alone. It is a monster so foul that it needs no infected mask to serve Makuta - for it does so not only willingly, but gladly."
The oily dragon let out another guttural roar as it coiled up in the ash-laden sky, nearly drowning out the Turaga's words.
"Our worst nightmare. The Kanohi Dragon."