Author's Notes: Yahoo, boredom update. Cool, hun? OMG, I luv this fic. Need more reviews though. Seriously.

Disclaimer: Don't own W.I.T.C.H., don't own Bionicle, Lego does. And they've created over a zillion characters and terms, none of which I own. I can't even remember all these zillion characters and terms. Sheesh, why does the storyline have to be so complicated?

"How could you? I've never seen such stupidity before! Just why? Doesn't anyone listen to me anymore? Or do you think that as Turaga, you don't need to listen to me anymore? Do you think that I'm useless?"

Nokama endured Turaga Dume's reproaches in bitter silence, clutching her trident a bit tighter than usual. Dume didn't like her. That much was obvious enough. If it had been any of the other Turaga, Dume just might have considered the possibility that he had been wrong.

All the other Turaga, gathered in the small room, observed in silence as Dume continued his ranting. "Don't you have any respect for me? Sure, you saved Metru Nui once, I'll give you that much, but that doesn't give you the right to ignore me!" fumed the Turaga, glaring at her from behind his mask, a Kanohi Kiril. "And on top of that-"

Vakama cut in, much to everyone's relief, since the situation was becoming increasingly awkward. "Honorable Turaga…"

Dume's glare whipped to Vakama. "Yes?" he demanded, seething, "Do you have something to say, Vakama?"

Vakama frowned. "What's done is done, honorable Turaga." he said, trying to remain as polite as possible, "Please, fighting among us isn't going to help. Instead, we should find a solution to this dilemma."

Nokama glanced at Vakama gratefully. Ironic, during their short time together as the Toa Metru, she was always the one breaking up arguments. Vakama, like most Ta-Matoran. used to be hot-headed. He'd sure come a long way since then.

A series of quick whistling and clicking came from behind her, and she, along with all the other Turaga, turned their heads to a corner of the room, where Nuju was.

The Ko-Turaga raised his ice pick and waved it around, still whistling.

Matau frowned at this. "What? You want to bad-hurt someone with ice pick?"

Onewa scoffed. "What, so there's a 'good-hurt', Matau?"

Feeling six pairs of eyes on him, he shrugged sheepishly. "Never mind. Just that, if there's a 'bad-hurt', it would only be logical for… just never mind."'

Vakama cocked an eyebrow at the Po-Turaga's behavior, but shrugged it off. "Alright. Now let's not forget the reason we're here. To discuss what we should do about the remaining Matoran, who're all demanding answers to the disappearance of Jaller and the others."

"And why shouldn't they want answers?" asked Dume harshly, "Six important Matoran went missing. We've lost our Chronicler, kolhii champion, a skilled inventor, the Ta-Metru Guard and Le-Metru Gukko Force are both missing Captains, and our friend Nuju lacks the ability to communicate with the rest of us without his translator."

Whenua turned to Nuju slowly. "But you can speak Matoran flawlessly, Nuju."

Matau rolled his green eyes slowly. "Nuju can. Nuju just too stubborn-weird to give up Rahi-tongue."

At this, the Ko-Turaga turned and attacked Matau with the flat end of his ice pick sharply.

Matau, who had been expecting a violent rebuttal of the kind, had countered with his Kau-Kau staff.

"Stop this nonsense!"

They directed their attention back to Dume. Nuju and Matau both lowered their tools.

Dume slammed his fist against the wall and faced them angrily. "I expected better of you! It's hard to believe that you, at one point, saved us all, judging from the childish immaturity you've just displayed!"

Taking a moment to calm down, he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths before continuing, "Now, as I was saying, before you so politely interrupted, we've lost six important Matoran." He directed his attention back to Nokama. "Forgive my earlier behavior, Nokama, but you must understand that my anger was not directed at you blindly. I have overreacted, but I just wish you had consulted me before revealing the Toa Nuva's whereabouts to Jaller and the others. Now, they've disappeared as well, and we have a veritable uproar on our hands. So," he glanced at each of the other Turaga in turn, "what should we do?"

A long silence followed Dume's speech, each of the Turaga lost in their own personal thoughts.

Finally, Nokama stepped forward. "I may have acted out of line, honorable Turaga, but…"

Dume's eyes sparkled with interest. "Continue."

"I believe that the only option we have left is to tell the Matoran what they want to know."

Dume creased his brow at this.

Vakama stepped forwards next to her, and placed a supportive hand on Nokama's shoulder. "I agree."

Matau shrugged. "Firespitter agree, Matau agree." He nodded at Vakama.

Onewa spoke next. "Nokama's right, you know. The Matoran do have a right to know."

Whenua followed suit. "Besides, what other choice do we have?" he added.

Nuju didn't say anything. He merely clicked once and nodded.

Dume glanced uncertainly at the six other Turaga. Finally, he sighed. "Ganging up on me, eh?" Shaking his head, he consented, "Fine. I guess you do know what you're doing after all. Tell them. Tell the Matoran."

Vakama beamed triumphantly at him. "Don't worry, honorable Turaga. We won't mess this up."

&&&

Takanuva, Toa of Light, stood at his place behind the six Turaga. They were on a large stage, and the entire population of Metru Nui was before them, gazing at the Turaga expectantly. Dume was not present.

The Toa of Light held his staff loosely in one arm. The other was hanging limp by his side. He gave an encouraging wink to Vakama, who was about to speak.

The Ta-Turaga banged the end of his firestaff against the stage twice. At once, the Matoran ceased their murmuring.

Vakama sighed. "These past few days, many of you have been asking us for the whereabouts of the Toa Nuva."

A lone Ga-Matoran in the crowd raised her hand. It was Macku. "So are you going to tell us now? And where has Hahli disappeared to?"

Nokama answered. "Yes, Macku. All will be revealed. Please, just take the time to listen."

Takanuva shuffled his feet awkwardly.

Vakama continued, "When we descended back to Metru Nui, Dume told me, the other Turaga, and the Toa Nuva some… troubling news." He took a deep breath before announcing, "Mata Nui is dieing."

The clamor that followed was that of terrified, shocked Matoran, each speaking over the other. Some were outraged, others sank back and stared at the ground uncertainly. Many panicked and began bombarding the Turaga with questions. Some turned to their neighbors, uncertain of just how to react.

Takanuva understood this. It was perfectly reasonable. After all, when you hear that the Great Spirit that has been protecting you for about forever is endangered, panic is the only logical reaction.

One of the Matoran shouted out over the other voices, "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"

Onewa scanned the crowd for the speaker. He didn't find him, so he answered without making eye-contact with the Matoran. "We were afraid that you would react like this. We didn't want you to worry."

A Le-Matoran started jumping up and down. "But we should knowledge-have! How we do anything if no knowledge-have?"

Vakama glanced at him sadly. "Yes, you should know. But ignorance is bliss. How does this knowledge help you?"

A bold Ta-Matoran standing in the front row of the assembly ran forwards and, with some effort, heaved himself onto the stage, much to the surprise of everyone present. He stood in front of Vakama and confronted him. "I get why you didn't tell us earlier! You didn't think that we would have been able to do anything about it even if we knew! Is that it?"

Takanuva frowned when Vakama didn't answer. The Matoran was right.

Not receiving an answer only made the Ta-Matoran angrier. "Don't you trust us? We can make a difference, if only a small one! Besides, even if we do fail, then we'll die knowing we tried!"

Nokama startled him by smiling at him. "That's exactly what Jaller said."

The Ta-Matoran lowered his head. "Hmm. Well, I mean, there is a way to save Mata Nui, isn't there? Because… if there isn't, then everything I said would be null and void and you have my humble apologies, honorable Turaga."

"There is."

The Ta-Matoran lifted his head and his eyes met Vakama's.

Vakama smiled at him as well, then turned away form his to address the entire population of Metru Nui. "There is a way to save Metru Nui. Now, everything depends on the Ignika, Kanohi Mask of Life."

The Matoran widened their eyes in awe at the mention of the legendary Kanohi.

"The Toa Nuva have left to the island of Voya Nui in search of this Kanohi."

Macku's hand shot up into the air once again. "And Hahli, Hewkii, and the other Matoran? Have they gone there as well?"

Nokama nodded at her. "Yes, Macku. They found out about Mata Nui before you, and Jaller, feeling they were obliged to aid the Toa Nuva, rounded them all up and they left for Voya Nui."

Hafu, a Po-Matoran raised his hand. "But… if they feel they can help Mata Nui, then so can we."

Matau answered, "Yes. Carver have good think-logic."

Nuju clicked in agreement.

Hafu lowered his hand and blended back into the crowd.

The Ta-Matoran, still on the stage with the Turaga and Takanuva, said, "The Po-Matoran's right. I agree with him one hundred percent. Can't we help find this mask? I'm sure we can do something useful."

Vakama smiled. "Indeed. That's why we're telling you this now. Not because you pressured us to, but because we've decided that it's time you knew the truth, and made your own decisions concerning it. And I have to admit, I'm proud of your decisions thus far."

The Ta-Matoran scratched the back of his head sheepishly. All of his previous anger had long since evaporated.

"What did you say your name was again?"

"Oh, erm…" he stammered, "I'm Keahi."

Vakama shifted his firestaff to his left hand, so he was free to pat Keahi on the back amiably with his right hand. Finally resting his hand on the Ta-Matoran's shoulder, he raised his staff with his other hand, and declared, "Keahi has made his decision clear! He wishes to aid in the search for the Ignika! Now, what will the rest of you do?"

The Matoran started murmuring among themselves again.

Whenua stepped forwards, and for the first time during that assembly, spoke. "Don't worry; you have plenty of time to think it over. Just make sure that whatever you choose, it's a decision you made yourselves. We're not forcing this on you. We're not pressuring you. Do what you believe to be right."

Next to him, Nuju clicked.

&&&

Macku sighed. Lying in her boat, which was drifting in a lake of liquid protodermis, she thought of the assembly the Turaga had just called, and wondered why Dume didn't attend. She quickly forgot about that though. "Don't worry; you have plenty of time to think it over. Just make sure that whatever you choose, it's a decision you made yourselves. We're not forcing this on you. We're not pressuring you. Do what you believe to be right," he says. Hen, great.

Just what was she going to do? The Ignika… and what would they do with it if they did manage to retrieve it? Would it really save Mata Nui? Or was it all just a waste of time? No… I can't think like that.

Hahli, her best friend and fellow kolhii player had gone. And so had Hewkii. A wave of anger came across her as she thought, Hey! Both Hahli and Hewkii left without me. They didn't even bother to leave a note. I mean, I understand that the Turaga had them sworn to secrecy or whatever, but still! Hahli and I never hid things from each other. And to think that Hewkii…

Macku had been hanging out with Hewkii for what seemed like forever. Over time, they had grown to be quite fond of each other.

Her anger dissipated. Oh well. They had me worried sick, but I suppose that the top priority here is Mata Nui.

She moved to a sitting position, and noted that she had drifted farther away from solid ground than she had thought. Must have lost track of time. Her hand moved to her right in search of… oh no.

"I forgot my paddle!"

Great. This day couldn't get any better. Now, she stood up and looked around her frantically, weighing her options.

She could always abandon ship and swim back. But then she might never see her boat again. Not to mention that this was the boat that Hewkii, despite not being the best crafter in Po-Metru, had made for her with his bare hands.

"No, no, no, no, no… I'm so stupid! How could I forget my paddle? What kind of idiot forgets her paddle?" Waving her arms around in exasperation, she almost fell off the boat, but grabbed onto it just in time to retrieve her balance.

"Need help, Macku?"

Macku turned to find Kotu, a fellow Ga-Matoran, in a boat approaching her.

She grinned. "Hey Kotu. Um… I am a bit stranded here…"

"Oh, yeah? How so?"

"I forgot my paddle." she said lamely.

Kotu giggled a bit, before bending down and handed Macku a spare paddle. "It's not the best quality, but it'll work."

Macku took the paddle from Kotu's outstretch hand, a tad embarrassed. "Um, thanks a lot. You're a real lifesaver."

Kotu winked. "No prob, Macku. Well, I'll be seeing you!" She turned her boat and started to leave, but Macku stopped her.

"Wait!" Seeing Kotu turn back and look at her curiously, she asked, "Um, about that assembly today… what are you going to do?"

Kotu stopped smiling and looked up. "You see the clear blue sky today? All that will be no more if Mata Nui dies." She shrugged. "I'm going to prevent that the best I can. I might no be able to do much, but if the Toa Nuva call upon me for help, I'll help." She looked back at Macku and smirked wryly. "Keahi's right. And most of the other Matoran whom I've talked to say the same thing."

She turned her boat around and left, avoiding any further questions form Macku, who stared at her retreating figure pensively. So Kotu's supporting this cause too. Seems all my friends are leaving for this Mask of Life… I'd be a fool to not go.

Author's Notes: …So you're probably lost now. Cool. So am I. XD LOL, k, k, but really. I know what you're wondering: 'WTH does this chapter have to do with the overall fic?' The answer is: Not much. I just needed to update. And no, this chappie isn't completely pointless, gawd no. Bear with me here. I know what I'm doing. Kinda.

And yes, the Guardians are once again absent from the friggen chappie. I know, I know. Calm down. I need these fillers; since Bionicle created so many characters it's hard for me to fit everything in here. So yeah. Plus I'm having trouble writing the next chappie, so boo.

Right, that's just about all I have to say. you can leave a review now. Or not. Whatever.