A/N: EXTREMELY sorry about how late this chapter is! Didn't realize I'd already gotten one written down that I just needed to type up!

Chapter Six: Flight at last

Two months had passed since Matoro had made the Amulet. During that time, Zephyr had grown to adulthood. He was still working on his flight, sadly… Matoro was watching this "progress" quite earnestly, often unable to contain his laughter. This was often rewarded by Zephyr giving him a sharp slap to the head with one wing, by which time the laughter had subsided.

Matoro hadn't flown once yet, truth be told; he simply didn't have a reason. However, that was about to change.

••••••••

"HELP!"

Matoro's head snapped back to face the sky at the sound of the scream, his gaze scanning the heavens and his senses heightened by adrenaline as he searched for the source of the sound. What he saw was by no means a good omen.

Kotu, Vhisola, and Macku were caught in the clutches of a Nui-Rama swarm, miles above the ground. And the ENTIRE SWARM had infected masks.

"Kongu, how long would it take the Gukko Force to gear up and reach downtown Atero?" he asked via his comlink.

"About-around fifteen minutes. Why?"

"Dangit - that's too long." he said, and disconnected, leaving a very confused Toa Inika of Air on the other end of the line.

Matoro's mind raced, trying to think of any possible way to stop the swarm. Only one option was left standing.

He would have to engage in a mid-flight battle.

His wings spread, the feathers rustling in even the slightest breeze. He felt almost as if the gate to a new realm was opening. Every movement of the breeze through his wings could be felt, and he could sense a strong force whirling towards him. The thermal raced beneath his wings as he ran forward, then… jumped!

He was flying.

He.

Was.

FLYING.

It was entirely new to him, yet, at the same time, it felt like he was born to fly! Every thermal, every downdraft, every gale… NOTHING went unnoticed. Now he truly knew the meaning of freedom.

He pivoted to catch an updraft and rushed forward towards the Rama swarm, occasionally flapping to keep himself steady, then banked, beginning with a swift approach towards the first Nui-Rama. As he made a knife-edge turn around it, he flung his arm outwards and yanked away the infected Kanohi. He snapped it in two and dropped the pieces into the sea as he flew towards his next target.

One of the Rama decided to attack him back. As he yanked out its Kanohi, it bit into his arm. Out came his sword as he hit the Rahi over the head with the hilt of said sword. It had the desired effect; the Rama was stunned, and he was able to yank both his arm and the Kanohi out of its jaws.

The third Rama tried to fly away, but Matoro saw this and dove after it. His wings were flattened to his back, the wind whistling in his ears; then they sprung open at the last moment, lifting him to zoom past the Rama, yanking off its Kanohi as he passed.

Hahli ran towards the scene in an effort to help. When she got there, she could only stare in open-mouthed awe at what, at first glance, would appear to be an angel descended from the heavens. It proved to be Matoro, the golden rays of the midday suns setting him aglow as he de-masked the rest of the Nui-Rama one by one. As the Rama flew off, they let go of the three Ga-Tohunga they'd been carrying, causing a moment of panic for the aforementioned trio - but the panic swiftly ended as Matoro swooped underneath them and caught them. He allowed them to gently jump off a few feet above the ground, while his own landing consisted of one of his wings sagging and catching on the ground, flipping him into a high-speed, bouncing barrel roll that sent him into the brambles nearby.

Hahli winced. That's gotta hurt.

She jogged over to him and began pushing aside the were several muffled "Ow"s as the untangling went on, as well as several discarded feathers that were forced to part ways with Matoro's wings. Zephyr and Aurora both flew over to watch about halfway through, Zephyr extremely hyper from watching his "Daddy" fly and Aurora simply wishing the albino beside her would calm down.

Just as Matoro was finally untangled, Zephyr began to do the oddest thing. He grabbed a shiny pebble that lay nearby and began bobbing his head, flaring his feathers and emitting an odd trilling sound. His talons stamped the ground rhythmically as he shook his plumage, completely focused on Aurora.

It took a few moments for Matoro to realize exactly what the Kewa was doing. When he did, embarrassment flooded him and he covered his face with one hand. Zephyr was courting Aurora.

Aurora, in all respects, looked rather impressed, even bending in for a closer look at the pebble.

Things were going to get a lot more complicated…

••••••••

The cyber-vulture watched and waited, his eyes fixated on the entrance to the cave.

At last he was rewarded - the female Muaka left her lair to hunt, and he snuck inside to steal a meal. He snatched the youngest cub and flew off with it, ignoring its yowling and kicking. He landed on a sandy dune and prepared to take the fatal bite…

A rasp from above caught his attention.

Rival vultures were circling overhead, sensing a meal. The vulture's ruby eyes widened in annoyance and it screeched its anger to the skies, still keeping one talon firmly planted over the Muaka cub. The cub in question yowled in a high-pitched tone from fear, already sensing the vultures' intention.

Suddenly all the vultures converged at once upon the cub, tugging it every which way, biting and clawing. The cub just wanted to be safe in the cave again with Mama, to cuddle up with Brother and Sister, to be saved from this nightmare!

Then it happened - if one had blinked they would've missed it - a flash of white swirled with gold leapt into the swirl of black. It was a lightning bolt among the stormy vultures, its cry ringing on the air like a clap of thunder as it leapt from one to the next, unstoppable in its might.

In under a minute it was over - the vultures lay unconscious on the ground, the gold-and-white Kewa standing over them, victorious. Its gaze turned to the still-cowering cub, and it gently picked the small bundle of black up by the scruff in its beak, then flapped, carefully minding its delicate cargo, to an oasis not far off. Leaving the cub in the shade of a broad-leafed palm, it turned towards the setting sun and flew to the Toa waiting upon the dune's ridge, the Toa with a glowing Iden.

It shall be found by one of good heart, the Kewa thought to his superior. I already can foresee it.

Indeed, the Toa thought back, there shall be quite some confusion, but all shall pass in peace, in the end