Destiny's Divide

by Joey245

After the battle of Atlas, Team RWBY's fall into the void brings them to a world far unlike theirs, where biomechanical beings fight to survive their own immortal lord of darkness. Will they find healing and a way back to Remnant by allying with the powerful Toa? Or will they succumb to the shadows of despair, be they Makuta's or their own? (A Bionicle/RWBY crossover. Post V8.)

32. The Journey To One

(A/N): And here's part two of the grand collect-a-thon trilogy! More adventures with Toa and Huntresses, more scenes of Takua and Penny recruiting new friends, and we'll even get to see the Chronicler's Company start making their way to Kini-Nui! Originally that last one was going to be its own separate chapter, one that took place after the chapters with the Makoki stones, but I was struggling to come up with material that linked the puzzle events for that last stretch of MNOG's gameplay, so instead I decided to sprinkle them in between the Toa and Huntress scenes. I think it flows better this way, personally - reading it back, you get the sense that all these journeys are happening at once, which was something I was really hoping to convey throughout the entire story but especially for this mini-arc.

In any case, enjoy this extra-beefy chapter!

---

Hafu stared at the odd collection of strangers that traveled down the worn desert roads of Po-Wahi, wondering if he'd spent too much time out in the sun. It was the only way he could rationalize a blue Ussal crab pulling a cart towards him, one that carried two Ta-Matoran, a Le-Matoran, an Onu-Matoran, a Ko-Matoran, a human, and a small bird. But when the convoy stopped at the crossroad markers he'd spent the last two weeks painstakingly carving, he recognized at least two of the passengers that hopped off the transport and walked towards him, and concluded that he wasn't hallucinating at all.

"I'm not giving any carving lessons today, Chronicler," he said gruffly. "Don't you know that there's Rahi about? If you want to admire my works, you should do so in Po-Koro. It's safer there, though I'm not sure how long that'll last."

The human girl from earlier, the one with long orange hair and a rod and shield slung across her back, frowned and tilted her head. "Should you not also be inside the village, if it is so dangerous?"

He scoffed. "Like I said, these statues won't carve themselves. If this is the last sunrise anyone will see on Mata Nui, then the least I can do is make sure I leave one more masterpiece behind."

"I didn't know the Rahi were such big fans of art," noted Takua.

"It's the principle of the thing, storyteller." Hafu grunted as he chipped at an errant stone edge. "If you're not here for lessons, then I can only guess that Onewa sent you to fetch me so that I can be part of some grand group of heroes. That sound about right?"

The odd duo looked at each other, then at the Ussal-pulled cart behind them, then shrugged.

"Thought as much." He sighed resolutely, stepping back and admiring his handiwork. "Well…I guess as far as final tributes go, this one isn't too bad. Who am I to deny fame and glory, even if I won't be around to see it?"

Takua blinked slowly. "So, um…is that a yes?"

The carver huffed as he slung his pick-like chisel over his shoulders, grabbing his disk from its resting spot. "It's a 'point me in the Rahi's direction and I'll bust their masks for you.' That the answer you're lookin' for?"

Penny smiled and knelt down. "It most certainly is, Hafu. Welcome aboard."

"Feh. You'd better not try to knock over my statues, like that other human did."

No one was brave enough to ask for details as the growing group made their way towards the docks.

---

"You're getting quite good at that new disk-blade of yours, sprout-leaf. I take it you bright-like it?"

Emerald grinned as she cocked her arm back and let the eighteen-inch-wide throwing weapon fly yet again, watching it soar through the jungle air. The disk bounced between towering Le-Wahi tree trunks, smacked the wolf-like Kavinika that kept doggedly stalking her right in its big triangular face, and finally soared back into her waiting hand with a satisfying thump. She flipped the disk over between her fingers for a cursory inspection as she and Lewa walked through the jungle, pleased to see that there was still barely even a scratch from the dozens of flights it had taken in the last few hours. Her gaze fell on the mint-green diamond that was painstakingly painted in the center; a dead ringer for her own personal emblem, one of the few things she'd been able to choose for herself under Cinder's thumb.

"It could use a chain just for good measure," she remarked with a smile, "but otherwise yeah, this thing's great. That Vakama guy really knows his stuff - I can easily see myself adding this to my bag of tricks back on Remnant."

The Toa of Air smirked beneath his mask and nodded in approval, seemingly oblivious to the two-legged wolf that fell out of its tree with a pained yelp. "Glad to hear. Any thought-ideas to give it a name? Word is deepwood that the other humans are doing the same."

"I've given it a few ideas, but none of them stick," answered Emerald with a shrug. "Looks like Ruby and the girls are giving their disks Matoran names, and I don't plan to be the odd one out." She furrowed her brow as their persistent predator pulled itself out of the underbrush, snarling at the pair as it crouched low. "You got any ideas?"

Lewa hummed thoughtfully as he approached a curtain of bramble blocking their path, using his Mask of Strength to peel back the sharp, heavy weave of branches with one hand and hold them in place. "Hmm…ah, I know! Madumehi!"

"Ooh, I like it," said the former thief as she nonchalantly squeezed past Lewa, passing through the thorny tangle without so much as a stray hair snagged on the taut jungle wood. "Madumehi, huh? It has a nice ring to it, and it's fun to say! Madumehi, Madumehi…what does it mean? Does it translate to something cool and edgy like 'nightshade?' Or 'dark leaf?' Or how about 'girlboss?'"

The Toa of Air smirked as he turned his gaze back to the canine Kavinika that doggedly (pun fully intended) pursued them, waiting until it howled and started running at them before letting go of the bramble curtain and allowing the branches to snap back into place.

WHAP!

YIP!

"It means…'tree-head.'"

Emerald's amusement from seeing the little Kavinika get clotheslined by the tree was matched only by the disappointment she felt from Lewa's explanation. Nevertheless, she rolled her eyes and sighed, a smile eventually spreading across her lips as she twirled the newly-christened Madumehi in her hands. Then she frowned as she saw the wolf-like stalker snarl and tear through the bramble, only to get stuck in the thick tangle of moss and sharp wood.

"Alright, smacking this little guy around was fun at first, but now it's getting old," she groused. "If this thing's one of Makuta's, let's just deworm him and get it over with. And if not…"

Her hands moved towards Thief's Respite reluctantly. Lewa noticed, and clasped her wrist to gently push it away.

"Now now…no need for that, sprout-leaf. You won't find any Kraata-slugs or dark-masks on a pup like this - he's just doing his Duty to guard his favorite hunting grounds. If this was your home-realm, surely you'd do the same. He'll quick-calm as soon as we leave…and as you can plain-see, he's not going anywhere for a good while."

The former thief couldn't exactly argue with that logic, so she stowed Madumehi and walked away at Lewa's urging. Sure enough, the Kavinika barked after them several times in quick succession, only to fall silent once they crossed some invisible threshold. Emerald smiled inwardly. The Toa of Air she'd first met wouldn't have hesitated to put down Old Yeller's cyborg cousin executioner-style, but now he seemed eager to embrace his role as a friend to all living things, even suggesting that they take a walk through the jungle instead of rushing straight to Le-Kini. Whatever lessons Onua had sought to impart were clearly taking root…even if he dodged the question whenever she asked what the Toa of Earth had talked to him about.

After a few more minutes of walking in silence, they arrived at their destination. The pyramidal Temple of Air sat before them in all its half-sunken glory, with tall walls the color of corroded copper and a sharpened peak sticking out of the murky waters at a steep angle. Aside from rows of vents near the crown - each slit big enough to fit a baby bird - there were no doorways or entrances of any kind along the surface-dwelling half of Le-Kini.

Which led both the warriors to a single conclusion on how to get inside.

"Ugh," groaned Lewa. "Water-yuck. Why is it always water-yuck?"

"Hey, you won't hear me complaining," laughed Emerald, already kicking off her shoes and stowing them in her leafy satchel. "Besides, you've got the Mask of Water-Breathing this time, remember? Shouldn't be an issue getting inside."

The Toa of Air still seemed less than enthused, but switched his beloved Miru for a green translucent mask with a triangular visor all the same. Emerald dipped her bare feet into the water to gauge its depth, then leapt in while pressing the Kaukau-shaped button on her Scroll. Once she was underwater she released her breath experimentally in a long string of bubbles, grinning when she was rewarded with a new breath that didn't immediately try to kill her. Lewa jumped in a moment later with eyes squeezed shut, which didn't open until he did the same.

"Huh," he deadpanned, his voice cutting through the bubbles spilling beneath his mask. "This is better. This is…much better. Hmm…perhaps I should've gotten this one before going to find the speed-fast mask. Perhaps you were right after all, sprout-leaf."

"Of course I was." The former thief did a delighted little backflip in the water, letting loose a bubbly giggle. "Man…Ruby wasn't kidding. This really is the coolest thing ever. We're gonna have to hit the beach at some point before we kick Makuta's ass - I can't wait to see how this feels out in the ocean."

"One thing at a time, sprout-leaf," said Lewa with a small chuckle. "We have a Duty-job first. You're more of a sure-swimmer than me…will you lead the way?"

She snapped a salute and toggled the flashlight on her Scroll, kicking down into the murky depths with a big bubbly smile. The Toa of Air followed with his usual clumsy strokes, doing his best to keep up with the former thief as she swam. Soon enough the sunken entrance to Le-Kini came into view, its doorway left wide open and guarded only by a school of silver-finned fish that scattered at her approach. Emerald waved and blew bubbles towards them like a snorkeling tourist before pulling herself inside ahead of Lewa, trailing her fingers along the limestone floor as she ascended in parallel with its slope.

All too soon she found herself inside the part of the Temple of Air that wasn't flooded.

Her lessons in hiding kicked in as the very top of her head poked out of the still surface, crimson eyes carefully scanning the surroundings while her mouth and nose remained underwater. She found herself in a massive stone antechamber, one that was surprisingly well-lit and covered in vegetation that saw every rocky surface as a new place to grow and take root. Algae and moss clung to the slanted floor, vines hung from marble buttresses and beams that ran across the ceiling, and flowering plants crowded along the rafters as they fought for rays of sunlight shining from the small square openings. Spores and seeds hung in the air against the glow from the outside light, casting serene shadows against the walls and filling the place with a feeling Emerald couldn't quite describe.

This was a tranquil, peaceful place that had sat undisturbed for hundreds of years, perfectly preserved.

And maybe it would have been more welcoming if it wasn't for the huge Ash Bear sleeping in the corner.

Emerald narrowed her eyes at the sight of the large ursine creature curled up next to an altar of some kind, its burnt-orange armor contrasting sharply with the mottled green of its surroundings. Each of its four muscular limbs was as long as she was tall, and each one was capped with a claw sharp enough to cleave through the toughest trees in the jungle with a single slash. And though it looked cute from a distance with its pointed little ears and angular face, the Huntress knew from experience that those ears could hear an archive mole scurrying out of its nest from dozens of yards away, and that its face contained a set of jaws that could shatter protodermis in one bite.

A sleeping Ash Bear was just as dangerous as any other of its kind - which is to say, it was something that Emerald really didn't want to deal with.

Fortunately, it seemed that their prize - a bronze stone with two jagged edges and a third curved face - was nowhere near the resting Rahi, instead lashed to one of the rafters in a thick knot of vines.

This'll be difficult, but if we do this right we might be able to avoid a fight altogether, she thought to herself. We'll have to move slowly, and quietly, and not make any sudden sounds…

Naturally, Lewa chose that exact moment to emerge from the water, pushing his mask into the air with a loud splash. "Pheh! Well, at least the hard-part's done. What's next, sprout-leaf?"

…aw crap.

Much to her dismay, a low growling sound filled the air. The Ash Bear's ears twitched as it rose to its paws, smashing the altar with a backhanded swipe and snarling at the newcomers. Lewa's eyes widened once he realized his predicament - then they narrowed behind his Kaukau as it shifted to the Kakama, allowing him to scoop up Emerald and rush out of the water in a green blur just as the bear lunged and leapt.

Emerald groaned as she and her armored ally came to a stop behind the bear. "Lewa…we gotta talk about your stealth skills at some point."

The Toa of Air tilted his head. "What stealth skills?"

"Exactly." Emerald drew both copies of Thief's Respite with a grimace. "The stone's up in the rafters - go cut it free and grab it. I'll keep our new friend distracted for as long as I can."

Though he looked uncertain, Lewa eventually switched to his Miru and leapt to the overhead beams to do just that. The former thief swung the revolvers outward to deploy the sickle-blades as the Ash Bear turned back to face her, glaring daggers at the snarling Rahi as it lumbered out of the water.

"Alright then…" she muttered under her breath. "Time to boogie with the bear."

The ursine beast made the first move, bounding towards with incredible speed and standing on its hind legs to deliver a pair of opening swipes with its front paws. At the last possible moment Emerald leapt and backflipped to evade the attack; the moment her feet made contact with the ground again she surged forward and lashed out with her blades, dancing around the Ash Bear and leaving a whirlwind of sharp cuts in her wake. While the blows barely left scratches against the bear's armor, it kept the Rahi off balance just long enough for her to release the chains in her weapon, whip the sickle-like hooks in complex patterns, and unleash a flurry of sweeping slashes as her weapons sailed and arced through the air and armor alike.

If this were a one-on-one fight with an Ursa Major, the assault would have floored the beast.

But this was an Ash Bear, and it refused to go down so easily.

After growling in dismay it swatted one of the flying blades away with a backhanded blow, then sunk its teeth into the other chain and pulled forcefully. Emerald's eyes widened as the bear yanked her in by her own weapon, bracing herself for the powerful shoulder check that followed once she flew close enough. The impact still knocked the wind out of her and sent her sprawling across the floor; by some miracle, she was able to roll out of the way just before the Rahi brought down its front paws with enough power to shatter the stone tiling. She scrambled to her feet and leaned to avoid the furious chain of sweeping forelegs, ducking under a lateral swipe at her head and sidestepping a rising uppercut.

"Any luck - whoa! - up there?" she called to the rafters.

"Almost have it free, sprout-leaf! Keep up the bear-fighting - you're doing quite-well!"

"Yeah?" Emerald scoffed as she rolled out of the way of a lunging bite, retracting the chains of Thief's Respite in the process. "Well it sure doesn't feel like it! There's a reason we tried to avoid fighting these things whenever we - OOF!"

The breath was knocked out of her lungs as the Ash Bear dropped all pretenses and tackled her, pinning her to the floor with two meaty armored paws and bearing down on her with close to a ton of muscle and protodermis. She desperately lunged out with one sickle. The bear batted it away. It opened its maw to bite her jugular. Emerald jammed the handle of her remaining weapon between its teeth. Both the Huntress and the Rahi fought and grappled for control - snarls escaped both combatants as one fought for domination, while the other fought for survival…

"Got it! Hold on, sprout-leaf!"

Two green blurs suddenly entered her fading field of vision, each wrapping around a pair of paws and forming instant knots. The former thief wondered for a moment how the Toa of Air had managed to clone himself, before she noticed that the Ash Bear's main weapons were bound in thick, tight vines. Before it could move to free itself she saw Lewa leap down from the rafter holding the other end of the sinewy rope; as soon as he touched down he yanked with all his usual might, pulling on the makeshift pulley he'd created by looping the vine around the overhead stone beam. Instantly the ursine Rahi was yanked backwards with surprising force and dragged away, suspended by the verdant cable and hanging upside-down with a roar and a snarl.

"Sorry, sister-bear," quipped the Toa of Air as he pulled tighter on the vine, securing the loop and lifting the Rahi to eye level. "You can't eat this human-friend. She's quite special to me, you see."

Predictably, the Ash Bear did its best to struggle and thrash against its bindings, its hunger and rage turned to the green-armored giant. But Lewa's improvised restraints held firm and taut, and no matter how much it swayed and lurched the verdant cable never buckled or broke. Eventually it stopped its attempts to break free, settling instead for passive-aggressively (and active-aggressively) growling at the Toa of Air.

"You certainly seem to growl a lot," said Lewa with a soft laugh as the inverted bear read him the riot act. "Say…I think that's what I'll call you! Graalok!"

"Can we maybe not get into the habit of naming things that try to kill us?" Emerald groused as she tested to make sure her ribs weren't broken. "Unless this is just another animal 'defending its territory,' like that wolf from earlier."

"It is, but…" The Toa of Air frowned suddenly, as if he was realizing something. "There's no reason a mother-bear like Graalok would call this place home, especially with no way in or out. Makuta must have lured her here before sink-flooding the temple, trapping her inside and isolating her from her bear-cubs. Ash bears are too dense to swim-float, you see - if she tried leaving the same way we came in, she'd never reach the surface above. So with a lonely, angry bear stuck in the temple, Makuta would be able to use her instincts against any intruders…or any small-Rahi who wandered in looking for food, through holes to the world beyond that Graalok herself could not use."

A small frown overtook her face as she holstered her weapons, looking at the Rahi hanging upside-down with the slightest measure of pity. "So, what do we do? Her only way out is blocked."

Lewa narrowed his eyes, his Miru shifting to the wedge-shaped Pakari as he gestured to the vine.

"Easy, sprout-leaf. We make our own. Hold the other end of this for me, please - I won't take long, heart-promise."

Despite apprehension building in her chest, she nonetheless stepped over and channeled her own Mask of Strength and did as he asked. The Toa of Air unslung his axe and threw it against the far wall in a single smooth motion, channeling his element into its head as it soared end-over-end. It struck the wall with enough force to shatter the limestone weakened by time and vegetation, leaving a web of growing cracks in its aged surface. He rushed over and began pounding his fists against the fragmented stone in a flurry of blows, each rapid-fire punch breaking a little more of the temple each time. After a moment of pummeling Le-Kini's walls to dust he leapt back and unleashed a blast of air so strong it tore through the cracks and detonated within the weakened stone, creating an opening to the jungle beyond.

Emerald, still holding onto the vine, just watched the whole thing unfold with her jaw hanging loosely from the rest of her face. The Ash Bear by her side seemed just as shocked.

Satisfied, Lewa went back over with his usual mask, slashed through the vines with his axe, and faced Graalok as she lumbered to her feet.

"Go now, sister-bear," he intoned gently. "Leave this dark-place, and be free."

The Ash Bear growled once again, and for a moment Emerald was afraid she'd express gratitude by mauling Lewa's mask off. Her fears proved unfounded, however, when Graalok indeed turned away and lumbered through the newly-created entrance. Neither Huntress nor Toa knew what she might find, nor if her cubs were still out there looking for their mother - either way, another life had been liberated from Makuta's shadow, and the pair stood quietly for a moment longer before the growling faded into the other noises of the jungle.

That silence persisted for a few more moments before Lewa found his voice first, switching back to his Miru with a small sigh.

"I…understand her plight," he admitted quietly. "Being forced into a dark-place, driven to do things you wouldn't…having your own thoughts and instincts turned against you. Getting trapped, with seemingly no out-way. I know that hurt-pain a little too well."

Crimson eyes tracked up to the vulnerable Toa of Air, who sighed as he looked down at his armored hand. "I still have dark-dreams about that, you know," he said. "There are times when I wake up from deep-sleep with the fear that I'm still wearing that mask…his mask. I know that it's gone, that Makuta has no hold over me now…yet still the fear remains that I might hurt someone again. That I might hurt my Toa-brothers. That I might hurt my Matoran-people. That I might hurt you."

Emerald bit her lower lip as she sighed, instinctively rubbing her neck. "Look, I…I get it. I know what you mean, but…you don't need to worry about that. You served your bad guy against your will for a few days, while I willingly followed mine for years. You can't do anything to me that'll really hurt me - not when Cinder, Salem, or the world have already beaten me down so hard and so often. Even with Makuta pulling your strings like he did…I've still felt worse."

"Maybe, but that's still no excuse to pain-hurt you all the same." He shuffled closer and rested a hand on her shoulder, and the thought of pulling away or fighting it didn't even cross her mind.

"Emerald, I…I am so sorry for how I've treated you. Even before getting stuck with the dark-mask, I didn't listen to your ideas about meeting the other Toa. I pushed you away and took your trust-faith in me for granted. I treated you like a sidekick, instead of a partner…a tool, instead of a friend. I wish to do better. I wish to be better. If there is anything I can do to ease your hurt-scars, please tell me. Tell me, and I will move the island itself to make that happen. Because you deserve so much better than that. Better than…me."

And there it was - the real Lewa. Her Lewa. The Lewa that could have easily left her to die so many times, but didn't. The Lewa that pushed her away, but never abandoned her completely. The Lewa that was slowly learning to put others above himself, to become the Toa of Air that the island needed. That she needed.

She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh as she leaned her head against the green-armored figure, using her hands to guide his armored gauntlet from a bare shoulder to a cheek that desperately needed cradling.

"You're already doing it," she mumbled quietly, a warm smile reaching her lips. "And like I said, please don't beat yourself up too much over this. I wouldn't have survived this long without you, Lewa. We're looking out for each other now…that's how it's supposed to work, right?"

Lewa chuckled softly, instinctively stroking her hair as she leaned into his touch. "Thank you for the kind-words, but…I want to see you do more than just survive, my dear little sprout-leaf. I want to see you live. I want to see you live without pain, without fear, without sorrow. I want to see you fall in love, as your Huntress-friends have, and not worry about how they might hurt you. You are stronger and better than you give yourself credit for, and that will carry you far if you continue to believe in yourself…so long as you believe that you deserve a happy-good life, as I do."

The Toa's voice wavered slightly as he squeezed his eyes shut. "Will you…will you do that for me, when you return to your own home-realm? Will you live the life you want, and not just survive? Heart-promise?"

Blinking back tears, the former thief nodded with a small sob as she gripped Lewa's hand in her own, steeling herself for the last leg of their journey.

"Yeah…heart-promise."

---

Penny's eyes sparkled like emeralds as the waves splashed against the surging boat, feeling the salt-laden wind whip through her hair. Though their craft was burdened with the weight of six Matoran, one human, an Ussal crab (with accompanying cart) and a Taku bird, it still managed to reach impressive speeds as it raced across the surface of the sea, guided by her Semblance towards the oceanic village of Ga-Koro. Taipu stood next to her at the bow with wonder in his eyes, while Hafu curled up into a ball and grumbled to anyone close enough to listen. Though their elements were similar, the Matoran of Earth and Stone had polar opposite reactions to their new environment.

"The ocean is incredible!" exclaimed the excited little tunneler. "It's like…an entire cave filled with liquid protodermis! But above the ground! I love it!"

"Urgggghhh…" groaned the queasy carver. "I hate it. No one in their right mind should be out here…always shifting, always moving…not to mention what it does to stone…"

Pewku seemed to share in the Po-Matoran's discomfort, because she tucked her legs into her shell and pulled her eyestalks down until only a beady pair of black orbs looked skittishly out at the sea. Despite having her Chronicler sitting next to her, she chittered and wailed in alarm with each gentle ripple and wave of the boat. In stark contrast to the more extreme reactions of their peers, Kapura and Kopeke were calm and collected as they watched the waves pass them by, and even Tamaru did not seem particularly frightened of the sea.

"Hang in there, old girl," said Takua as he laid a hand on Pewku's shell. "We'll be back on dry land soon enough. We just have one more person to pick up, and unfortunately this is the quickest way to reach her."

Sensing the discomfort of her friends, Penny reduced their speed to smoothen out the journey, and to better navigate the currents that flowed from the ocean into Lake Naho. After a few more moments of sailing, the familiar floating network of seaweed huts soon came into view…though it did not escape Penny's notice that the Ga-Matoran were working to set up a perimeter of sturdy, sharpened bamboo rods around the village itself. The water-dwelling islanders had clearly learned from their near-fatal encounter with the Tarakava earlier that week, and were not about to take any chances with an even greater assault.

Kapura echoed her thoughts with a nod. "The fortifications have increased since I came here to pass off Ruby's disk. That is good. They will need every bit of protection from the Rahi waiting in the sea."

"Like Le-Koro, they're very open-free with their element," noted Tamaru as he stroked Aki's crest. "But we have the Gukko-birds and the Kahu-hawks to aid in our defense; a pity that our water-sisters do not have something similar."

"The Ga-Matoran have always valued a defensive strategy over an offensive one," explained Hafu. "Let's just hope that it's enough to help them endure the storm headed their way."

Kopeke said nothing as he looked out across the water.

Takua frowned as he looked over the newest addition to the village of water. "Yeah…here's hoping it's enough. But we've got another problem in the meantime. That wall's keeping out more than just the Rahi - it's keeping us from pulling in and docking, too. Doesn't look like they added anything like a gate or a door for incoming ships, which makes sense…but this means we'll have to dock at the beach and go around by land, if we want to recruit Macku."

Penny hummed thoughtfully, then grinned as she withdrew her Semblance from the motors. "Hmm…we could do that, Takua…" she said as she pulled the lightstone off her belt. "But I believe I have a better idea. A quicker idea. Please bring the boat around to my side, once I am past the wall."

The Chronicler looked at his human ally. "Penny…don't you dare."

But the freckled Huntress was already pulling off her dress and blouse to reveal the pale green tank top and small black shorts she wore underneath. "It will be okay, Takua. I know how to swim now! And the lightstone can sustain me for a full fifteen minutes now! I will have plenty of time to find Macku!"

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can just -"

"Cannonball!"

SPLASHHHH!

"- do that…" finished Takua meekly.

The protests of Penny's friend went unheard as she jumped off the boat and into Lake Naho, pinching her nose and squeezing her eyes shut as she cut through the surface and sank slowly downward. Her long hair flowed and rippled around her like angelic wings, wrapping around her curled-up form while she allowed herself to be suspended in the sea for a brief moment. When she finally dared to open her eyes she was rewarded with a serenely beautiful world of blue all around her, as silver fish swam in front of her face and mechanical anemone danced in the depths.

Unable to contain the bubbly giggle that escaped her pursed lips, she kicked with long bare legs and made her way back to the surface, pushing her face out of the water with a deep and delighted gasp.

"Penny! You get back here right now, young lady!"

She treaded water as she turned to face Takua, waving at him while bobbing in the ocean's embrace. "Do not worry! I shall be right back!"

And with that, she took another breath and slipped under the surface, partly to deafen herself to the Chronicler's shouts but mostly to get another glimpse of the world below. The further she swam towards the shore, the more was revealed to her; she burbled in delight at the sight of every new and incredible aquatic creature she saw occupying the sloping seafloor. Fish of all shapes and sizes darted between forests of blue-green kelp, a lone shark with big bulbous eyes prowled the reefs in search of its next meal, and rows of tube-like eels poked their heads cautiously out of the sand before darting back underground as the freckled Huntress came closer. Bubbles escaped her lips and nose as she grinned, and she twirled as she danced in the open waters, feeling her hair flow around her with each gentle kick and each deliberate breaststroke she took through the clear blue waters.

The ocean is so beautiful, she thought to herself with a bubbly grin. There is so much life, unlike the seas of Remnant…those contain almost nothing but dull meaty fish and Grimm that can grow to be as large as continents. Here on Mata Nui, there are so many different creatures…so much biodiversity…I wish to see all of it for myself.

A tightness in her chest and a gurgle of bubbles reminded her both of her own newfound limits, and of the fact that she had a job to do. After kicking back up for another quick breath, she dipped back underwater and surged towards the submerged half of Ga-Koro's new perimeter defenses. It did not take her very long to find a gap that was big enough for her to slip through, and even though she needed to exhale and empty her lungs to pass between the bamboo poles, it was still easy enough for her to surface once again and gasp sharply inside the village.

"Salutations!" she panted to the nearby Ga-Matoran as she paddled her way to a leafy walkway, pulling herself out of the water with a small laugh and a slight cough. "It is good to see you all again!"

One of the villagers - one wearing a navy-blue Hau - dropped her basket of supplies with a frustrated scoff. "Dangit Okoth, I told you half-a-bio between each pole base was too wide! We should've gone with quarter-bio spacing! If a human can slip through the cracks like that, so can a Tarakava!"

The nearby Miru-clad Ga-Matoran seemed equally offended. "Oh, I'm sorry Marka, do you know where we can find about double the bamboo we currently have? Because if you do, I'd love to know where - Kotu can use it to make more disks and staves."

"We wouldn't need that many weapons if we had a strong enough wall to keep them from getting inside in the first place…"

Sensing that an argument was brewing, Penny cleared her throat. "Excuse me? Please, I do not have much time. Do you know where Macku is? Takua and I need her for a very important mission."

"Hmm? Macku?" Okoth huffed. "Yeah, she's over by her hut. Second path down, to the right of the Tidebreaker. Can't miss it. Now, you listen here you old seadog…"

"Thank you! Goodbye!"

Leaving the two bickering villagers behind, Penny sprinted down the paths with her lightstone still in hand. She knew that she had plenty of time thanks to the glowing crystal extending her connection to Takua, but she still did not wish to dawdle. It would not last forever, and if her heart stopped beating this far away from the Chronicler…

She shook the thought out of her head. No use worrying about that now. She needed to find Macku, so that was exactly what she was going to do.

After a few more minutes of navigating the pathways as directed, she finally found the Huna-clad Ga-Matoran. Macku was indeed sitting just outside of her home, her feet in the water as she heaved a sigh. Penny grinned as she sidled up next to the glum little villager, doing the same as she bumped Macku's shoulder with her own.

"Salutations, Macku," she said sweetly.

"Hmm? Oh, hello Penny…" mumbled Macku. Then her glowing yellow eyes widened as she recoiled in shock. "Penny?! What are you doing here? Where's Takua?"

"He is over there," explained the freckled Huntress with a small giggle, pointing to the company-laden boat that rowed its way closer to their end of Ga-Koro. "You seem troubled…is everything okay? What is wrong?"

"You mean besides the fact that the Rahi are massing to attack every village at the same time?" Macku laughed humorlessly as she shook her head. "Turaga Nokama basically sidelined me. I tried sneaking off to Po-Koro before the walls went up, just to make sure that Hewkii was doing okay, but…she caught me, and she was furious. Like, even more than usual. I've never seen her that angry before…or that angry at me."

Despite the fact that she had an almost-literal timer ticking over her head, Penny sat in silence and allowed the Ga-Matoran to vent. A stressful sigh escaped Macku as she idly kicked at the waves, mentally searching for the words for what bothered her. A few minutes later, she spoke once more.

"I just…I'm worried about him, you know? We finally pair-bonded with each other when I stayed behind in Po-Koro, after you and Takua set off for Onu-Koro. For more than an entire week I was there, living among the Po-Matoran, spending time with my Hewkii, playing Koli alongside the others…I was finally happy, for once. And then Makuta had to start attacking the villages, and massing his Rahi for one final assault, I was basically forced to return by Turaga Onewa. Said he'd banish me from his village forever if I didn't leave immediately." She chuckled darkly. "Leave it to the Master of Shadows to ruin everything, huh? What else is new on this forsaken island?"

The grounded sailor heaved another sigh. "And to add insult to injury…because I tried sneaking off again, Nokama's not even letting me fight in the coming defense. Every other Ga-Matoran is gearing up to do her Duty - even Hahli, who's never even held a disk in her life. And yet the Turaga expects me to just sit here and stay out of everyone's way while everyone else - my sisters of the sea, the other Matoran, my beloved Hewkii - fights tooth and nail for survival. How is that even remotely fair?!"

Penny chose that time to interject. "Well…you are going to fight. Not just for Ga-Koro, but for all the villages. For Hewkii, too."

Macku scoffed. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because that is why Takua and I have come here," she explained with a smile. "We are building a team of Matoran from all the villages, and we are going to Kini Nui to protect the Toa while they enter Mangaia. The Turaga have selected the warriors they deemed most fit for this very important Duty - and Nokama chose you."

Yellow eyes widened in shock, then narrowed pensively, before finally squeezing shut as the Ga-Matoran buried her mask into her hands.

"So that's why she got so mad at me for trying to sneak off…" groaned Macku. "Mata Nui, I'm such an idiot."

Laying a hand on her friend's back, Penny watched as the lightstone lost a little bit of its luster - the first warning sign that her time was running out.

"Um…" she hummed awkwardly, "I do not wish to rush you, but I will die again if I do not return to Takua's side before this stops glowing. So…"

Macku's eyes widened, then she cursed in a language that Penny did not recognize. "Right, right. Jeez, look at me, sitting here feeling sorry for myself while you risk literal death just to make me feel better…I'm sorry, Penny. You're a good person. Let's get you back to Takua, so you can keep being one."

One quick swim later, the two breathless women found themselves back on the boat in the midst of the Chronicler's Company. Penny hugged Takua for warmth and life, gasping for breath. Macku looked apologetically to the paler-than-usual Huntress before she mingled with the rest of the party, greeting the Matoran she knew and introducing herself to those she did not know. Once all of the passengers had grown properly acquainted, the Chronicler cleared his throat and stood up, looking over the half-dozen assembled warriors as Penny moved to get dressed.

"Alright, so that's everyone we set out to recruit," he said with as much authority as he could muster. "Next stop: Kini-Nui. Kapura, can you get there before us and find the best way there?"

"My ability does not work like that," said the Ta-Matoran Guardsman with a slow shake of his head. "I need to know where I wish to travel. I need to be sure that nothing stands in my way to stop me. And I need to know what it will feel like when I get there. I have no such answers to those questions when it comes to the Great Temple. I may be able to travel quickly to and from Kini-Nui once we get there, but for now it eludes me."

"So what I'm hearing is that there's no shortcuts or easy solutions for us," grumbled Hafu. "What else is new with Makuta…?"

Kopeke's silence spoke volumes all on its own.

"In old-times, the Turaga each had a preferred way-path to Kini-Nui for ceremonies and rituals," offered Tamaru. "One that the Makuta's dark-beasts quickly claimed. Perhaps we could use one of those and brave the dangers?"

"You wouldn't be able to use Onu-Koro's," said Taipu. "Blake and Onua collapsed it on their own journey. Not like we'd have time to go back underground, anyways…"

"But we can use Ga-Koro's."

Everyone looked to Macku, who had determination in her eyes as she stepped up to the boat's controls.

"Turaga Nokama makes a pilgrimage to the Great Temple every three moons to offer prayers to the Great Spirit," she explained as she fired up the engines. "Most of Ga-Wahi's dangerous Rahi live in the sea, not on land, so her preferred path was never claimed by Makuta's monsters. We can use that well-traveled road to get to Kini Nui - if we go now, we might even be able to get there before the sun reaches the horizon."

Penny's eyes lit up. "Sensational! What do we do first?"

"We start by sailing through the Great Naho Falls."

Takua raised an eyebrow behind his mask at the Ga-Matoran taking the helm. "I thought waterfalls were one of the things you were supposed to avoid with boats."

"For common sailors, sure." Macku looked up with a piercing yellow glint in her gaze as she grabbed the throttle. "Luckily for you, I am not a common sailor. Hold on, everyone!"

Tamaru gulped, clearly no longer comfortable with being on a boat. "Wait! Hold on? Hold on to whaaaaAAAAAAAAAAA!"

The screams of the Chronicler's Company were drowned out by the roar of the boat's engines, as Macku bid their craft to accelerate rapidly towards the shores of Ga-Wahi. Pewku trilled in fear, Aki shrieked as he dug his talons into Tamaru's shoulder, and Kapura and Kopeke remained stone-faced behind their masks as they held on for dear life. The only ones who did not panic were Penny and Taipu, who crowded the bow and smiled as the scenery rushed past them.

Eventually the village of Ga-Koro fell far behind their craft, and the cliffs surrounding Lake Naho came rushing closer. Macku kept the boat pointed towards a very large waterfall that cut through the vertical walls of stone, one that flowed from the mouth of a massive Kanohi Kaukau carved into the cliff face. If there was a cave on the other side, Penny could not see it - but she trusted the Ga-Matoran to steer them true all the same.

"It's beautiful!" Taipu exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "There's so much light! It's like a thousand lightstones being thrown into the air all at once!"

"To think that my own existence would be cut short by a statue!" wailed Hafu. "Oh, the irony!"

"Relax, carver!" cackled Macku. "And here I thought you'd want a closer look at our most revered monuments!"

"I can live without this close of a view!"

"Then you haven't lived at all, I'd say! Hang on, here comes the jump!"

"Here comes the what?!"

Takua's protest was barely heard above the sound of splashing as the bow of the boat cut through the veil of water, splitting the falling fountain like a knife through soft cheese. The rest of their craft - and its passengers, panicked or otherwise - followed suit and surged beyond the edge of the sea, hanging in mid-air for just a moment before splashing down into a shallow pool beyond the barrier. Penny felt her stomach rise into her chest as gravity lost its grip on her, only to yank her and Takua and the entire Company back down with a vengeful slam against the deck.

Macku chuckled as she turned off the engines once again, looking back at the wall of water that they'd just crossed. "There, see? That wasn't so bad, now was it?"

"A straightforward path indeed," said Kapura. "Often the best course."

"Mata Nui, that was incredible!" exclaimed an upside-down Taipu with a grin behind his Ruru. "The waterfall looks even prettier from this angle!"

Kopeke said nothing, merely nodding to Macku in recognition of her skill.

Hafu groaned as he sat up, shifting his misaligned mask back into its proper place. "If Makuta doesn't kill us all, I swear I'll do his work for him."

"Don't make a heart-promise you can't keep, stone-crafter," said Tamaru with a chuckle, hugging a panicked Taku close to his chest. "That was…fun! I actually enjoyed that! Aki would rather not do that again, though…we'll have to leave him on the dry-shore next time."

Takua looked around at the cavernous tunnel they now found themselves in. "Okay…so what, we just take this river to Kini-Nui?"

"It doesn't go all the way," clarified Macku as she fetched a pair of oars. "We'll take the boat westward for another kio or so, at which point we'll leave it behind and proceed on foot. Your Ussal should get us there quickly once we disembark…but in the meantime, who wants to help me row?"

For some reason, nobody except Penny and Taipu seemed eager to volunteer.

---

"So, Big Red…what are we looking at?"

Tahu hummed as he swept the lenses of his Akaku over the side of the volcano, swapping between filters afforded by the Mask of Vision to get a detailed view of Ta-Kini's interior. Though the pyramid of crimson stone and steel sat in the valley of lava kios away, he could see every crack and carving as though the temple were right in front of him. He saw a jagged stone fragment sitting in an offering bowl along the rafters of the central chamber, carvings that depicted stories from his past that he could not remember…

And, of course, a blanket of molten magma that stretched over the entire central hall, as deep as the Toa of Fire was tall.

"It is as Turaga Vakama said," he intoned, shifting his weight on the edge of the cliff overlooking the fiery lake. "The floor of the temple is buried in the very lava that once flowed around it, as if the volcano were in the process of reclaiming it for itself. The Makoki stone lies out in the open, so claiming it will be easy enough, but we will need to be cautious in how we approach. One wrong move, and we both risk being incinerated by the magma - and I doubt either of us would survive even a second of contact with the lifeblood of Mangai itself."

"So, a quick round of 'the floor is lava,' then." Yang grinned as she stood up. "Nice, that shouldn't be too hard. Ruby used to love this game when we were kids…and back when we were at Beacon…come to think of it, she might still not have grown out of it."

Tahu raised a brow behind his mask. "Are all games on Remnant so…strange?"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it. Wait till I introduce you to a little thing called 'video games.'" She untied the bit of orange fabric around her neck and secured it over her mouth and nose, then pulled her long golden hair back and bound much of its volume in a strange elastic loop. "But that can come after we get this Makoki stone and give Makuta the boot."

The Toa of Fire nodded. "And you are certain that you will be fine this close to the lava? I must warn you that its fumes are extremely toxic and its temperature is quite dangerous, even to the Ta-Matoran. You do not need to touch the lava itself to burn; the air around it will burn you first."

"Well, I don't plan on going for a swim anytime soon," said Yang with a soft chuckle. "But yeah, I'm sure. The scarf should filter out the stuff I can breathe from the stuff I can't, and my Aura'll keep me from getting roasted alive. Don't worry about me, big guy. If you can take the heat, then so can I."

With one more resolute nod, he aimed his sword at the unsteady ground below them. "Then climb on my shoulders, and whatever you do, do not let go."

"Oh cool, that was my plan anyways," chuckled the blonde brawler as she did just that. "Ready when you are, Tahu."

He furrowed his brow as he channeled elemental energy into his blade, raising it above his head before cleaving through the black stone underfoot. The edge of the cliff fractured and split apart as soon as his sword made contact, and an instant later he, his Huntress, and several large chunks of obsidian were in freefall towards the lake of lava. If Yang was worried about their current course of action, she certainly didn't show it - he could tell from the way her arms curled around his shoulders that she trusted him, and he wasn't about to let that faith be misplaced.

Tahu said nothing as he fell feet-first with Yang in tow, keeping his gaze locked on a smooth piece of glassy stone that fell several bios below him. Data pouring in from the lenses of his Akaku told him that this chunk of obsidian was the perfect size, shape, and density to float on the lava's surface - and that it could support the weight of both its potential passengers. Sure enough, once it hit the fiery lake it bobbed up and down as if it waited for the Toa's arrival. He landed and perched on the obsidian fragment with expert agility and precision, letting out an inward sigh of relief.

So far so good, he thought to himself. Now we wait for…

SPLOOOSH! SPLOSHHHHH! FWOOOOSH!

…that.

The rest of the rubble rained down and landed in the lava lake with fiery splashes, sending ripples across the surface of the burning fluid. But that was what Tahu was counting on - the force of the waves propelled his makeshift lavaboard across the flooded field, leaning in one direction to bank left and tilting the other way to go right. Despite the dangers that came with riding on the lifeblood of Mangai itself, a small smile crept up behind his mask. He was enjoying himself, and he'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't.

A head of golden hair peered over his shoulder, as his companion finally dared to open her eyes only to give a sharp laugh. "Well, hot damn! You didn't tell me you could surf on the lava!"

"Because I was not aware that I could, at least at first," answered the Toa of Fire as he switched back to his preferred Hau. "However, in the celebration following the Kanohi Dragon's defeat, I bore witness to a midnight Ignalu match between Ta-Koro's finest lavasurfers. Seeing their speed, their skill, and their bravery on display…it served as the realization that as their guardian Toa, surely I could do the same."

"And you didn't invite me?"

"…you were sleeping, Yang."

"Well, that's no excuse to leave me out of it!" The fiery Huntress gave a mock pout behind her scarf. "Maaaan…you never let me do anything fun."

"Ah, so it is fun you seek, then?" Tahu allowed a fraction of a smile to form behind his mask. "Then perhaps this will be more to your liking!"

With that he held his sword behind his back and channeled his elemental power, summoning a flame that burned the nearby air and forced it to rapidly expand. He could feel Yang's arms tighten around his armor as the thrust kicked in, but it wasn't out of fear - in fact, her mad cackle only spurred him on, encouraging him to go even faster. Soon their little stone chunk was cutting through the lava like a rocket in flight, propelled by the Toa of Fire and his (possibly insane) human passenger.

"YEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

Eventually the half-flooded entrance to Ta-Kini came into view as they banked around a fiery riverbend, its dark crimson archway sitting open like a maw that accepted fresh lava. Toa and Huntress raced inside without a trace of fear in their souls, weaving their way through spurts of flame that danced across the magma's surface. When the back wall of the antechamber rushed to meet them, Tahu leapt off and triggered his Mask of Levitation, letting the makeshift lavaboard crash into the temple interior while he and Yang floated to an overhead beam and landed safely.

"Hah…hah…" panted Yang, her hidden grin audible in her voice. "Now that was fun."

The Toa of Fire let out a rare chuckle of his own, nodding as he reached for the Makoki stone sitting in its offering bowl. "Indeed. And now that we have our prize, we can leave this place in a similar -"

A low rumble echoed through the temple as soon as he grabbed his prize, and suddenly Tahu wasn't so sure.

"- manner…" he finished tersely, furrowing his brow behind his mask.

Yang confirmed his suspicion a second later. "Hey, uh…does the lava look like it's getting closer to you? Or is that just the hypoxia talking?"

He cast a glance at the surface of the lava, grimacing as the churning sea of fire rose above the archway. Then it consumed the bottom half of the murals. Then the top half…and soon, it would fill the entire temple.

"The mountain itself seeks to flood Ta-Kini!" he declared, pointing his sword at the rising lava level. "I will push the magma back as far as I can, for as long as I am able! It falls to you to secure our escape, Yang! Find another exit, or make one!"

His partner snapped back into focus with a nod. "On it! Those vents along the top look like they lead to the outside world - my grenades should be able to bust them open if…if I use enough of them…"

The blonde brawler leapt from her perch and drew Akuavo, digging the metal disk into the wall and using it to aid her climb. Tahu watched her with a single crimson eye as she made her way to the square holes along the top of the wall, the rest of his attention focused on bending the molten rock and metal pooling towards them. He didn't know if his power over heat and flame extended to lava itself, but he was going to find out here and now - one way or another.

I am the Toa of Fire, he mentally intoned. I command the flames of this region. And I refuse to be consumed by the fury of the mountain! Not when I am so close to finishing my Duty and fulfilling my Destiny!

To his relief, the magma did indeed slow its advance as he enforced his will over it.

But to his dismay, it did not slow nearly enough.

"Hurry, Yang!"

"Working on it!" The human grunted as she leapt the remaining distance, slamming her golden gauntlet into the vent over and over again. At first Tahu wondered why she was attempting to punch the stonework - perhaps she was channeling the Mask of Strength? - before he realized that each blow left a blinking red orb in its wake. He remembered how she had left behind similar devices on his barrier during their first fight, and how they had exploded after a moment. Sure enough, Yang put as much distance between herself and the orbs as she could, pumping her fist and plugging her ears as the lights within flashed more rapidly.

BOOOOOM!

Crimson brick and mortar crumbled away in the force of the detonation, revealing a Toa-sized hole to the outside world.

"Tahu!" Relief and urgency flooded into the Huntress's voice. "Up here!"

The Toa of Fire nodded and switched to his Kakama, tearing his gaze away from the rising lava as he triggered the power of his Mask of Speed. He moved in a blur of red armor and fire, scooping up Yang in his arms as he rushed across the rafters and out of the temple itself. By the time the magma reached up to envelop his former perch, he and his otherworldly ally were long gone; seconds later they were standing on the opposite cliffside, overlooking Ta-Kini as orange liquid poured out of their exit.

Yang fell to her knees and pulled the cloth off her face, gasping for air with wide lavender eyes and violent-sounding coughs. Tahu let out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding, kneeling to help her back to her feet as he switched back to his usual Hau. She took the offered hand with a thankful nod, taking the Makoki stone piece out of his left gauntlet and turning it over in her own mechanical hand to examine it.

"Are you well, Yang?"

"Yeah, yeah…I'm alright," rasped the blonde brawler. "Just…need a sec to catch my breath. Man…you weren't kidding about the air being all hot and toxic down there…whoof…"

Tahu bit back the urge to tell her that he'd warned her about this, opting to merely shake his head. "Yet you still chose to join me anyways. Why?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Yang let out a choking laugh. "I wanted to spend a little more time with just the two of us before…well. You know."

Rather than berate or interrogate further, the Toa of Fire merely nodded in understanding, which earned him a bittersweet smile in return.

An all-too-familiar hissing sound from behind cut the moment short.

Toa and Huntress alike turned to see two dozen red-armored lizards snarling and approaching them, tails flicking in anticipation and beady yellow eyes locking onto their next meal. Beyond them, even more Hikaki fire dragons clung to the side of the mountain with their clawed hind legs, salivating at the chance to tear apart their prey with needle-like teeth. Tahu grimaced as he realized why the east cliff overlooking Ta-Kini had signs of Matoran settlement while the west did not - clearly, this side of Mangai belonged to the flaming lizards.

Not that he was concerned in the least. He knew how to fight beasts like these. And judging by the grin on his mentor's face as she slipped the Makoki stone into one of her pockets, she was more than ready to battle by his side once more.

"Well, well, well…" said Yang as she raised her hands, cracking knuckles of both bone and steel. "Look who's come back for round two. How about it, big guy? Ready to show 'em what we've learned?"

Tahu preemptively stowed his sword and readied his fists, switching to the Mask of Strength.

"I will follow your lead, Yang Xiao Long."

The two fiery brawlers shared a nod of understanding, then leapt towards the fire lizards.

I have endured far hotter flames in my quest, Makuta, he mentally thought as he let loose punches against the crowds of lizards. This will not be a problem for long.

---

"Well…this is a problem," groaned Takua.

It had only been an hour since he and his Company had left the boat behind on the path to Kini-Nui, and in the Chronicler's opinion it had been going very well. Things had calmed down after Macku's stunt at the Naho Falls; after a languid ride as far as the river could carry them they'd docked the boat on the shore, hitched Pewku to the cart, and set off down the well-worn road from Ga-Koro to the Great Temple. Once they were in the daylight and the verdant grasslands of inner Ga-Wahi, things had started looking up. The sun shone bright with golden beams, the sky was clear and as blue as his own mask, and best of all, no Rahi had appeared to menace them.

Which made their first obstacle since that morning - a massive ravine that cleaved the road in half - sting that much more.

"That's odd," said Macku as she raised an eyebrow under her mask. "There used to be a bridge here, one that crossed the chasm and allowed passage to the road beyond. Nokama often used it on her pilgrimages to the Great Temple…what could have happened to it?"

Penny gulped, looking over the edge at the rushing river far, far below. "…I have a hypothesis, but you may not like it."

Kopeke, of course, said nothing as he stared into the abyss.

"Our taller friend is correct," said Hafu. "Whether by storm or some darker force, the bridge that stood here is gone for good. Why, not even I can craft a new one! Anyone have any ideas on how to proceed?"

"When I stand at the edge and look down, it makes me dizzy," groaned Taipu.

"…very insightful, thanks." The carver sighed. "If we had a Le-Matoran who wasn't afraid of heights, maybe we'd have a chance."

"Do not disparage your fellow warrior," warned Kapura. "Did we mock you earlier for your fear of the ocean?"

Hafu frowned. "Well, no. But still -"

"AAAAAIIIIIIYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYYAYA!"

Takua (along with everyone else) turned to see a green blur emerge from the trees, tightly gripping a vine in both fearful hands. Tamaru swung across the chasm with soaring grace and skill, clearing the ravine with his momentum alone as the verdant cable trailed and tightened behind him. Everyone watched in awe as the Le-Matoran moved with all the agility his people were renowned and famous for…

WHUMP.

…before he collided mask-first into a tree on the other side and dropped into the undergrowth.

Penny ran to the edge with concern in her face. "Tamaru! Are you okay over there? Say something!"

A pale-green Rau poked out of the bushes, eyes blinking in shock before its owner laughed in relief. "Friends!" he called out. "I did it! I actually wind-flew across the canyon!"

"You certainly did!" Penny giggled as she called back. "We are all very proud of you!"

Tamaru emerged from his bush in a cloak of leaves and quickly tied down his end of the vine to a sturdy low-hanging branch, a Taku bird singing as it flew behind him. "Use the vine-rope to cross! It should be tight-strong enough for all of you - but come one at a time, just to be safe-sure!"

Macku grinned as she ran up to the makeshift zip line, hopping up and using the flat of her throwing disk to slide down. Once she was safely across, Taipu eagerly stepped up to do the same, followed wordlessly by Kopeke and his icy gaze. Kapura shot Hafu a knowing glance before he slid down the cable himself; the carver groused and grumbled under his breath before he followed suit, leaving the Chronicler and Penny behind.

Takua went over to the disappointed-looking Pewku, patting her shell gently. "Well…looks like we'll need to leave you behind again, old girl. Sorry…"

The Ussal chittered sadly.

"I know, but I don't know if the vine can hold you…or the cart…"

"Then we will not use the vine to get them across."

At Penny's words he looked up and was greeted with the sight of the Huntress kneeling next to him. Her hands pulsed with green light as she activated her Semblance, spooling ephemeral threads through both Pewku and her cart. He raised an eyebrow behind his mask as she gave a few solid tugs on the strings, before nodding and drawing Luce off her back. The tonfa extended into a hooked spear at her touch, which she inspected for another moment before standing up with a smile.

The Chronicler tilted his head. "Penny…?"

Her grin brightened as she scooped up Takua with one arm, using her other hand to hook the vine with her weapon of choice. "Hold on Takua. I have a plan!"

"Penny I'd really appreciate it if you started telling me your plans in advaaaaaaaAAAANCE!"

The rest of his complaint was lost to the wind as the Huntress leapt and slid down the cable, threads of her Semblance trailing behind her. Takua held onto her for dear life and screamed at the top of his lungs, and he didn't stop doing either until Penny's disgusting feet were once more on solid ground. She set him down and then yanked upwards on the strings connecting her to the abandoned Ussal and her cart, making Pewku and her chariot levitate a bio above the ground; with another flick of her wrist, the Rahi and the vehicle zoomed over the chasm at incredible speed, rushing towards the technopathic woman before she "caught" them both with little more than her mind.

Penny grinned as she set a rattled-looking Pewku down, letting her power fade as she scratched the nervous crab behind the eyestalks. "Good girl, Pewku. Good girl."

The Ussal chittered softly out of shock, then started licking her maskless face in gratitude. Penny giggled and let herself be tackled by the eager little crustacean, rewarding her with pets and scratches. Takua sighed and shook his head with a bemused smile, then turned to look at the coalition regrouping nearby. Each Matoran was out of breath, and some struggled to stand, but all of them were here and ready to continue their journey.

"That was so much fun!" Taipu exclaimed. "Let's do that again!"

"Let's not," groaned Hafu. "Po-Matoran weren't meant to fly, and neither are giant crabs." Then he sighed as Kapura nudged his arm. "Still…good work, Tamaru. I imagine that can't have been easy for you."

"Oh it was absolutely harrowing, and I'd very much wish-like to never do something like that again," panted the Le-Matoran. "But I'll do whatever I can to make sure we reach Kini-Nui safely…and that Makuta stops giving us reasons to be afraid."

"That is why we are all here," said Kapura with an affirming nod. "Let us continue."

And so, after all eight passengers loaded up on the cart, the Chronicler's Company set off once again.

So long as they worked together, they knew they had nothing to fear.

---

Gali hated to admit it, but the deepest depths of the sea unnerved even her.

Gone was the light and life of the sun filtered into shallow waters, nourishing a thousand forms of life both organic and biomechanical in perfect harmony. Instead, at the depth she traveled now there was only an endless expanse of shadows, turning the waters a shade of blue as dark as the sunless sky. So little light reached this layer that even the Mask of Water-Breathing struggled to help her see, to say nothing of the ever-growing pressure squeezing against her armored frame. It was only thanks to Ruby, who shone her Scroll's flashlight ahead of her with one hand while clutching her shoulders with the other, that she was able to navigate at all - Gali didn't want to think of how difficult and anxious the dive would have been without her.

And to think, there are parts of the ocean that are even deeper than this, she mused. We are diving in pursuit of Gaaki's Ravine, which still exists within the borders of Mata Nui's coast…if only just.

But of course, she wasn't afraid for herself.

"How are you back there, little one?" she asked, her words cutting through the dark blue waters on compressed bubbles. "What is your current Aura level?"

"Still in the green," answered Ruby tersely, looking at her Scroll. "Should have enough for the rest of the dive, assuming we don't run into anything that hits me too hard. Good thing channeling your mask power doesn't drain it as quickly as some of the others do…"

The Toa of Water nodded. "And the pressure? It is not too much for you?"

"I can keep going if you can, Gali. We're not going deep enough for me to worry about stuff like decompression sickness, so I'll be okay…I think."

Despite her attempts at reassurance, the little Huntress didn't sound all that confident herself. Rather than confront the issue at their current depth (and waste Aura on her companion's part), Gali opted to simply dive deeper into the ever-darkening seas, propelling herself downwards with another powerful kick. She trusted Ruby to be brave and strong, just like she trusted her Toa to be the same.

Instead, she changed the subject as she kept swimming.

"So, Ruby…what do you think of your new disk?"

As soon as the topic changed to something she was familiar with, the girl's demeanor shifted.

"Oh, I love it!" she squealed in delight as she cast a glance over her shoulder. "It's perfectly balanced and it's so light yet so strong and the rose in the middle is perfect and it looks just like my emblem and even though it doesn't transform there's such a neat elegance to the design that it doesn't really need to form-shift into anything else! It's a knife, a projectile, and a shield all in one tidy little package! It's genius! Aaagh it's so cool!"

"I am glad that you appreciate Vakama's craftsmanship," said Gali with a soft chuckle. "Have you had any luck on deciding a name?"

"Ah…um…not yet," admitted Ruby. "At first I was gonna call her 'Crescent Thorn,' so she'd fit in with my main weapon…but the rest of my team is naming their disks in the Matoran language, and I can't think of anything that sounds right. You don't exactly have roses here on Mata Nui…now that I think about it, you really don't have any flowers on the island itself…"

The Toa of Water hummed thoughtfully. "I shall ponder a suitable name for your disk as we work. For now, be ready. We are coming upon Gaaki's Ravine, which serves as the final resting site for the sunken temple…and as the hunting grounds of the Tarakava Nui."

A loud and bubbly squeak escaped the little rose's lips at the sight of the underwater ravine that awaited them far below. "R-right. That big scary thing Nokama warned us about. Let's uh…let's not try to find that."

"An excellent idea. Hold on, I am going to speed up."

Ruby's bare arms tightened their grip around Gali's neck as she kicked with both legs once more, channeling her elemental power to amplify the force of her strokes. The pair surged through the darkening sea in a blue-and-red streak, with the Huntress's crimson cloak fluttering behind them like a comet's tail. They passed a pack of steel-finned aquatic Rahi that circled in formation above the undersea canyon, which proved to be the only forms of life at this depth; nothing else in the seas surrounding Mata Nui saw any reason to dive this far down.

"Whoa, Gali, check it out!" burbled the little rose excitedly. "More of those, uh…those shark things! I didn't know they swam together like that!"

The Toa of Water laughed softly as her human pointed. "Ah yes…the Takea are often solitary predators, but they have been known to congregate into packs to hunt larger prey like the Tarakava. Despite their killing prowess and surprising intelligence, they are quite docile unless provoked - they are harmless towards Matoran, and even Makuta has failed to add them to his growing army of darkness. Legends even say that if you give chase and manage to catch one, it will recognize you as an equal…and you will have found a lifelong friend and hunting partner that will follow you at any depth."

"Coooool…" breathed Ruby, silver eyes sparkling with awe. Then she blinked. "Wait. You're telling me that these little guys hunt Tarakava? As in, the giant, angry, punch-your-face-off Tarakava?"

"Size is not everything, little one," intoned Gali with another sage chuckle. "There is strength and safety in numbers, just as it is with us."

Ruby paused, then nodded. "Oh…right. Of course. That's why we're gonna beat Makuta. We literally have the power of friendship on our side."

Gali wasn't sure if her little passenger was reassuring her, or herself. Either way, they left the Takea hunting party behind and entered Gaaki's Ravine, plunging into greater depths than either of them had ever experienced. The water seemed to squeeze like a vice grip as they approached the silt-laden floor of the canyon, but they swam undeterred towards the cobalt-blue pyramid laying undisturbed in a sandy corner. According to Nokama, Ga-Kini had once rested on the edge of this underwater trench as a place of worship, before an earthquake knocked it down into this chasm. So great was the distance and pressure at this point that even the most skilled Ga-Matoran diver would drown trying to reach it.

But it was not beyond the reach of a Toa of Water and her silver-eyed Huntress, both empowered by the Kanohi Kaukau.

Said Toa of Water drifted towards the lost temple and righted herself, tilting her head as she peered at the metallic walls and ran her hands over the studded surface. Ruby shone the light from her Scroll over the ruins of Ga-Kini with one hand, keeping the other near Crescent Rose just in case. While the Huntress kept her head on a swivel as she watched for the guardian Rahi, Gali used the waters inside and outside the temple to search for hidden secrets, forming a mental map of the structure using the shape of the sea.

"Okay, I think we're in the clear for now," burbled Ruby. "No sign of the Tarakava Nui…yet. Any luck with the temple? How are we getting in?"

"There are no entrances save for this door," reported Gali with a sigh, "and it has been sealed shut by centuries of corrosion. We will need to use the Mask of Strength to pry it open - and we will need to do so together."

Another bubbly gulp escaped her partner's throat. "Um…doesn't that mean we'd have to switch mask powers? As in, we'd both have to stop breathing underwater?"

"Unfortunately, yes." The Toa of Water furrowed her brow. "So take a deep breath and hold it, little one. We may only have one chance at this."

The silver-eyed Huntress whimpered slightly, but nevertheless started puffing out her chest as she did just that. Gali followed suit, and as she counted down on her fingers, the pair simultaneously switched from the Kaukau to the power of the Pakari.

Immediately it felt like the entire ocean was bearing down on her, threatening to squeeze her torso and expel every bit of air she had in her lungs. Based on the strained expression that Ruby bore, she felt a similar sensation - one amplified by the lack of mechanical parts and mastery over the element of water. But Gali pushed past it and shifted her hands into hooks, digging the sharpened points into the edge of the door and pulling with the power of the Mask of Strength. Her partner retrieved Crescent Rose and did the same with the blade of her scythe, planting her boots against the wall and straining with a gurgling growl.

It was an agonizing process. While Gali's lungs were larger and better suited to diving than those of her brothers, even a Toa of Water had her limits - and based on how darkness tinted the edges of her vision and how her chest burned for breath, she was quickly approaching them. And Ruby…poor little Ruby. Her face was furrowed in concentration as she grit her teeth, her arms and legs trembled with each ripple of bubbles that abandoned her, and she was powerless to stop the strangled grunts and muffled shrieks that accompanied each tug on the makeshift lever. Yet with the two women pulling with all their might, empowered by the Pakari, there were clear results as the metal of the door began to warp and break away from the centuries-old seals; it just wasn't happening quickly enough for the nearly-breathless pair.

Perhaps this is the reason my Makoki stone was hidden so deep in such a way, mused the Toa of Water, that I may appreciate the gift with which I began my journey.

Eventually, after what felt like a lifetime of straining against the door and the urge to breathe, the former finally relented.

The rusted bonds denying entry into Ga-Kini split apart all at once, and the door swung open forcefully to reveal the darkened flooded temple interior. Ruby shrieked in shock, surprise, and relief all at once, fumbling with her Scroll to once again switch her channeled mask power before her last breath left her puffed cheeks. It took all of Gali's mental willpower to switch her own Kanohi without blacking out, but eventually the familiar form of the Kaukau once again sat on her face, giving her a much-needed breath and clarity of mind.

After several seconds of panting and gasping, the Toa and her Huntress looked at each other with a silent, relieved sigh.

"…let's please never do that again," wailed Ruby.

"Agreed," affirmed Gali. "At least the way is open. Will you do the honors in retrieving the Makoki stone? It should be just inside; I will keep watch out here."

The silver-eyed Huntress nodded tersely, collapsing her Scroll and tucking the light-giving device between her lips as she swam into the temple. Gali watched as Ruby entered Ga-Kini with timid little kicks, then turned her glowing yellow gaze across the floor of the flooded trench. There was little in the way of scenery, beyond a gigantic hill of sand and silt to their left - the walls were barren and rocky, the floor was flat and desolate, and every creature in the sea knew not to venture down here. Despite knowing that she was in her element, that she could wave her hand and bring down the entire ocean on anything that dared oppose her, she couldn't remember another time where she ever felt so…small and vulnerable. Like she was just another Ruki fish in a very large pond, and where there were other fish several times her own size seeking to devour her.

I believe I am beginning to understand Ruby's initial fear of the sea, she thought to herself morosely.

"Gffmi! I gff tfff - bleh! I got the stone! Sorry, forgot that my Scroll was still in my mouth…"

Her thoughts were interrupted by Ruby sheepishly swimming back out of Ga-Kini, with her light in one hand and a three-sided stone in the other. Two of its edges were jagged and angular, while the third was smooth and spherical. Gali nodded in approval, then switched one of her hooks into a hand to give her little friend some appreciative pats on the head. It was hard to be afraid when the silver-eyed Huntress was by her side, and she knew that the feeling of comfort was mutual.

"Well done, Ruby," said Gali with a smile behind her Kaukau. "I was right to put my faith in you."

The little rose wilted under the praise, turning as red as her namesake with a bubbly giggle. "Nooooo Galiii stooooop you're making me blush."

After whining in mock protest of the affection for a little longer, Ruby finally tucked the Makoki stone into the leafy satchel that hung from her shoulder with a determined gaze. "We've got what we came for, and I've still got plenty of Aura for the return swim. Let's start heading back up, before anything goes -"

KRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

"- wrong…" she finished in a small squeak, all confidence instantly oozing away.

A low rumble echoed through the water as something beneath the mound of silt and sand stirred. Gali realized too late that it wasn't a hill overlooking the ruins of Ga-Kini at all; it was in fact an enormous serpentine Rahi lying in wait. The creature boasted mottled blue and teal armor along its massive serpentine frame, two powerful arms bearing claws that folded naturally into piston-augmented fists, and four glowing red eyes that swiveled in their sockets before finally spearing the swimmers with sharp glares. Bubbles and steam hissed into the water, translucent tubes along its crest shuddered as they pumped huge quantities of unknown fluids through its system, and a jaw filled with hundreds - if not thousands - of teeth parted to let the beast salivate greedily.

"Let me guess," wailed Ruby in a stream of bubbles. "The Tarakava Nui?"

Gali nodded tepidly. "It appears we have found it, yes…or, more accurately, it has found us."

The twenty-bio-long sea serpent glowered at them for a long moment, before letting out a deafening roar that shook the waters themselves.

KRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Every instinct in Gali's mind told her to swim away, but the sea rippling around her in the wake of the scream kept her and Ruby paralyzed for just a moment. It was all the opportunity that the Tarakava Nui needed to surge toward its stunned prey, hydraulics hissing in its forearms as it prepared to slam fists the size of a regular Tarakava into them. Gali managed to take a breath and switch to the Hau just before impact, forming an azure barrier that absorbed most of the blow's force. Ruby pulsed her Semblance and vanished into a cloud of floating petals, reforming over the mighty Rahi's head with Crescent Rose fully deployed.

The fight that ensued was as brief as it was fierce.

Toa and Huntress alike surged and dashed in perfect sync across the beast's flanks, slashing and digging with sharpened scythes and hooks. But the armor of the Tarakava Nui was far thicker than that of its smaller cousins; and like the eel-like Rahi, it moved far faster in the water than it did on land. The so-called king of lizards was content to simply endure the strikes against its metallic skin, waiting for the attackers to pause before lunging towards them with either an open maw or a powerful punch. A single bite nearly cost Gali an entire arm, and it was only a sharp blast of water in one eye that made it release her. A grazing blow from its knuckles sent Ruby flying with enough force to slam her against the ravine wall, her crimson Aura flaring up in a dangerous warning.

Rather than rejoin the fight, the silver-eyed Huntress clutched her throat and kicked uselessly with a stream of bubbles and a panicked expression.

"Ruby!"

Gali summoned the strongest vortex she could muster, trapping the leviathan in a storm of rapidly-shifting currents that not even it could navigate. Rather than press the advantage, she swam to check on the drowning Huntress, who was once more fumbling with the Scroll with a desperate look in her eyes. Realizing what she was trying to do, the Toa of Water used her non-hook hand to swipe down and pull up the menu of the mask powers, tapping the picture of her own Kanohi and being rewarded with the sound of Ruby taking a sharp gasp.

"Thanks," she panted, coughing slightly. "Guess this mask-channeling app has some kind of auto-shutoff feature, where if your Aura drops too low in a single hit it turns itself off. Probably to conserve whatever's left, to make sure that you're not wasting energy you'd need to keep yourself safe…except it ended up doing the opposite here." Ruby chuckled darkly. "Do you think Mata Nui accepts bug reports? Because that sounds like a bad time just waiting to happen…"

The Toa of Water didn't respond, merely staring at the blinking red display on the screen. She looked from Ruby to the Tarakava Nui, who was already worming its way out of her most complex trap. Her mind raced furiously, her brow furrowed beneath her mask, and though it made her heartstone ache…a single thought crossed her mind.

"…Ruby. You need to go."

Silver eyes widened with an expression that would have broken Gali's spirit. "What? But I -"

"Your Aura is too low for you to stay here," she intoned. "When it runs out, you will drown again - and that would be a merciful fate, compared to what this beast can do to you. I cannot - I will not - be responsible for your death, little one. Take the Makoki stone and return to the surface while you still can. I will hold off the Tarakava Nui for as long as I am able…with luck, you will have enough time to reach the others and end Makuta in my stead."

Ruby shook her head frantically, tears spilling out of her eyes. "No. Gali, no! You know you can't take this thing on by yourself! Y-you're always saying how we're stronger when we work together, and how we need to stand in Unity! You can't just send me away!"

"Forgive me, Ruby. But that is precisely what I must do." Gali reached out and ruffled her friend's crimson hair one final time. "Be brave, little one, and remember me fondly."

Then, after steeling herself for what she was about to do, she swept her hooked hand upward and sent Ruby Rose barreling out of the ravine in a powerful undersea current.

"GALIIIIIIIII!"

Doing her best to ignore the piercing wail of the Huntress as it grew more distant, she turned to face the Tarakava Nui as it loomed over her.

"My people call you the 'king of the lizards,'" growled the lone Toa of Water as she deployed both hooks from her hands, energy pooling into her weapons. "But you will yield to me, the queen of the ocean!"

The Tarakava Nui growled at the little Toa that dared - dared! - to challenge it in its own domain, and lunged with a piercing shriek.

---

(A/N): Aw maaaaaan…don't you just hate cliffhangers? Me too! Sorry to end on a note like that - this chapter in particular iended up being over 15k words, and I wanted to cut it off before it got too big and long and unruly to edit. Don't worry - we'll dive right back into it next week! (Heh...literally! Cause, y'know, Ruby and Gali are underwater and...okayI'llstopnowI'msorry)

Anyways, see you next time, where we finish gathering up the Makoki stone pieces, and continue the journey to Kini-Nui!