Chapter Two
This is the Line
Fire surround, in cleansing repose,
Letting the filth, like venom it flows.
Scar, the mark, remind us the pain,
Breaking the bones that will reach out again.
And now we will rise to conquer them all,
Many will challenge, many will fall.
Bring us your vile, malicious of mind,
We will bring their neck to the line.
Scum of the earth!
Power of air!
You wanted the world?
We'll bury you there!
This is a battle.
We are the blade.
And this is the line, this is the line.
All that they build we will break.
This is the line.
Demon Hunter
The World is a Thorn
Copyright 2010
"What are you talking about, Tahu? How can Teridax still be alive?" exclaimed Hahli. It was just moments ago that Tahu had told his fellow Toa, the Matoran, Turaga and other former members of the Matoran Universe of Teridax's appearance. He cringed as more outbursts erupted from the crowd.
"What are we going to do?" cried an Av-Matoran named Tamaru.
"We cannot allow Makuta to attempt to rebuild his brotherhood! We need to strike him now!" called Brutaka, waving his swords high in the air.
There was a loud gasp and then the crowd became silent as a powerful, ancient voice boomed over the crowd. The Toa turned to see a massive, red armored figure appear next to them, flanked by several Rahkshi and a white and gold figure who carried a war hammer. Using its massive sword as like a staff, the red being walked over to Tahu, eyeing him with a trained eye only thousands of years could produce.
"Is it true, Toa Tahu? Has Teridax returned to the universe?"
"Yes Miserix, it is true," said Tahu, meeting him eye to eye. "Teridax is back."
"Then you know what this means, right?"
"Yes, I do," said Tahu. "It means we are going to war." Miserix turned towards the crowd.
"Helryx! Gather your generals. We meet at the center of this city in half an hour. The rest of you, gather what supplies you can and begin to take record of it. We will need everything we can for this war! Now move!"
The crowd burst into activity, and the Toa quickly began to congregate towards the center of the Matoran settlement. Miserix started to make his way as well, conversing with Toa Helryx as he walked. As the Toa Hagah approached, they were stopped by the white and gold armored being. They talked animatedly for several minutes and then departed for the south end of the settlement. Before Tahu could ask where they were going, the Mahri were approached by the Turaga, who sent them to with the Matoran population to oversee the documentation of their resources. Finally, the Toa Nuva, as well as the remaining, non-teamed Toa, were stopped by Axxon, who addresses them briefly before they took of towards the Matoran settlement's vehicle storage building and took off in various directions away from the settlement. It left just Tahu and his team to meet Miserix and Helryx in the town's central fortress, along with the Turaga.
"Where are the other Toa going?"
"They will have their own missions to attend to until the final battle arrives," said Helryx." Right now, we have our own goals that must be met before we can start this final war."
"It is best you are not aware of their missions, Tahu," said Axxon, placing his massive battle-axe's head on the ground like a staff. "Only Miserix and the Turaga know of them, because they are the one's who devised them."
"But then how are we going to initiate my plan? It requires all of the Toa to be present."
Miserix and the Turaga looked at each other, then Miserix spoke to Tahu.
"You already have a strategy to defeat Teridax, Tahu?"
"Well, not exactly. I would need the full cooperation of the rest of my fellow Toa, and it is something that would not be quickly gained."
"What were you going to suggest, spirit of fire?" asked Turaga Dume.
"That we create an army of Toa." A small gasp escaped a few of the Turaga, while the rest of the assembly seemed to avoid eye contact with him. "I know it's a crazy thought, but it's the only solution I can think of that will at least give us a chance on our own. The Agori and Glatorian have suffered enough with their own struggles, let alone the war among our peoples. Without an ally that will significantly add to our defenses, I fear it may be the only chance we have to beat Teridax, the Dark Hunters and Skakdi."
"Wait, the Dark Hunters and Skakdi? The Dark Hunters allied with us last time, why wouldn't they this time? They hate Teridax as much as any of us," said Helryx.
"Because we have let their existence go on long enough. I am sick of the evils that have plagued the Matoran for millennia upon millennia. I want to wipe them all out." With his final words, Tahu looked directly at Turaga Vakama, speaking barely more than a whisper.
"That is crazy! Even with that many Toa we cannot fight three wars!" said Turaga Matau. "Do you realize what you are proposing, Tahu?"
"Yes, I do Turaga. I am proposing something that will require every warrior, Toa, Matoran and ally of our people to risk everything for finally bringing peace to our world. I am proposing that we finally eliminate evil from our world."
"You know you cannot rid our world of evil. As long as there is life, there will be those to will give into evil's temptations. You are proposing to do the impossible. Even if we capture or kill all of the Dark Hunters and Teridax, there will be those will attempt to take up their positions, or seek to avenge them. And then there are those who just simply will never be able to do the right thing," said the white and gold figure. In spite of his recent confrontation with Teridax, and to avoid confusion, the Matoran began to call him "Avidax," meaning "Teridax of Light." Tahu understood him to be a Teridax from an alternate universe, one who had erased all inner shadow and been filled with light, making his armor bright white and gold. He was both wise and cunning, but in Tahu's eyes, he was a reminder of the Makuta who had betrayed the Great Spirit, and constantly made Tahu question what life would have been like if Teridax would have not walked the path he had; If he, and the other Makuta had chosen to do good, instead of give into evil.
"I understand, Avidax," said Tahu. "I would expect that answer from you, and I appreciate your wisdom. I know we cannot destroy evil, but we can suppress it, and we can start by riding ourselves and our people from those who embrace it."
"Wait, you give me an idea, Avidax," said Axxon. "You said you rid yourself of the darkness inside of you, and embraced the light along with your other Makuta, right?"
"Yes, though it took many years of meditation and training, and it did not come without consequences. Some were not able to complete the transformation, and dissipated into the atmosphere."
"But of those one hundred Makuta in your universe, how many succeeded?" asked Axxon.
"About seventy, maybe a few more. What are you getting at?"
"Would they fight with us?" asked Axxon.
Avidax took a long pause to think, holding the tip of his Golden Kanohi Kraahkan with his right hand.
"If we could get there, and return them after we completed our conquest, then yes. They would help us. I am still their leader after all," said Avidax, making eye contact with the other assembled members as he answered.
"But how are we going to get there? Brutaka lost his Olmak in the war, and there are no others in the universe, let alone anyone who can create one. Not even Artakha knows how, as the instructions were destroyed centuries ago."
"There is one being who could assist us," said Axxon. The other's looked at him puzzled, then Axxon picked up his axe and hoisted it over his shoulder. "And I know exactly where he would be right now."