Watching their new companions as they finished checking Anuenue, Resha glanced again at her shadow twin, which seemed to be talking to the silver one, "Oh, I recognise you now." she suddenly exclaimed, when the shadow twins sat back on their heels.
"You do?" Ferus murmured quizzically, as the shadow twins glanced around, "Yes, Kokua said there is a Toa of Colour, Amaya. You're her twin aren't you?" Resha asked shyly, Amaya's shadow twin nodded and shifted to hug Resha, as she did Gali'' glanced around, then after a brief nod to Amaya's and Takanuva's she vanished into the shadow.
Tane, Ferus and Shenu were still looking at Takanuva's shadow twin, while Resha, Amaya's and Resha's stayed close to Anuenue, all jumped startled as they heard an enraged roar of "VEZOK!" as one of the Piraka charged past the room.
The shadow twins nodded at the matoran as they moved to stand in the shadow, hiding just in time, as more footsteps rushed past and Thok glanced in.
Seeing the matoran sitting beside the comatose Turaga, watching the door anxiously, he snorted and headed towards the sounds of fighting.
Silently Takanuva's shadow twin tracked him, and watched as Thok and the other Piraka stood watching Avak and Vezok pounding lumps out of each other and wagering on who would win.
Swiftly Takanuva's shadow twin raced back to the others and when he reached the room, silently told the other shadow twin Toa what he'd seen, they nodded and glanced at Resha's.
She bowed and rejoined the matoran, who glanced at at each other puzzled, then watched as Amaya's, Kokua's and Gali's shadow twins left to check on Kokua.
As the matoran and Takanuva's shadow twin waited beside Anuenue, they heard someone approaching and watched as Avak walked past.
He didn't glance in, but the shadow twins slipped into the nearest shadow, Takanuva's glancing to where he could sense Amaya's, Gali's and Kokua's.
Several moments later, Gali's and Amaya's returned and glanced towards the direction of the room where Kokua was. Her shadow twin appeared a few minutes later and clutched Gali's shadow twin's arm, a look of distress on her face, as Resha, Tane, Ferus and Shenu watched, the other shadow twins gathered close to Kokua's. They then nodded to reassure the matoran, before hurrying into the shadow and disappearing from view.
Pausing as she entered the window arch shadow, Kokua's shadow twin turned and watched as Avak coaxed Kokua to drink the contents of the vial, he'd returned with.
As he replaced the empty vial back on the table, Kokua's eyes flickered briefly as she stiffened, cried out then went limp, collapsing against Avak's shoulder.
"Kokua?" he said, carefully shifting her from his shoulder and laying her down again, while her horrified shadow twin watched unseen.
Avak placed the covers back over Kokua and stood there waiting to see what would happen, Kokua's shadow twin suddenly thought she heard a distant cry of anguish, glancing around, she wondered where it had come from.
She watched Avak as he angrily crushed the vial, before leaving the room, locking the door behind him, then glanced anxiously at Kokua and was slightly relieved to see that she was still breathing, Kokua's shadow twin then hurried to rejoin the others.
It was midday when Aikane had finished explaining about the shadow twins and answering all the questions that had been asked.
While they had lunch, the conversation shifted back to the rescuing of Kokua, Anuenue and the matoran, Kongu and Ahonui choked slightly when Amaya's, Gali's, Takanuva's, Kokua's and a matoran's shadow twin suddenly appeared and hurried over to Aikane's.
While Piruk and Jaller thumped Kongu's and Ahonui's backs, everyone watched as the other shadow twin Toa gathered around Aikane's as she listened to Gali's and Kokua's, a few minutes later, Aikane's shadow twin turned to Aikane and mimed writing.
"Hahli, how many spare sheets do you have?" Kopaka murmured, as Aikane handed her shadow twin the sheets she carried. "Quite a few, I'll just get them." Hahli replied quietly as she glanced over to Aikane, who'd just been handed the first sheet, both sides of which were covered, as Aikane quietly read to herself, Tahu lent over to Garan.
"I think we'd better go somewhere else and let Aikane finish reading before we ask her what her shadow twin's said." he murmured, as everyone watched concerned, Garan nodded. "Yes, we'll go to Dalu's favourite room, she, Lewa and their shadow twins went there roughly half an hour ago."
The word was quietly passed and everyone silently filed out, Kazi glanced back and his and Garan's shadow twin watched them depart, they nodded and turned their attention back to Aikane.
"I'll wait for Hahli." Kazi murmured to Hewkii as they followed the others, he nodded. "Alright, see you soon."
Hewkii grinned and hurried to catch up with the rest, pausing to let Dalu's and Lewa's shadow twins pass.
Several minutes later Hahli rejoined Kazi and listened quietly, then she re-entered the main room and approached the shadow twins and Aikane.
Hahli tapped her shadow twin's arm, then held out the bag of spare sheets, her shadow twin nodded, her mask solemn, as she took the bag, they heard a sigh from Aikane.
Glancing at her, Hahli was concerned by the look on Aikane's mask, but Hahli's shadow twin gently nudged her and gestured that Hahli should rejoin the others.
Joining Kazi, Hahli quietly walked with him to the training room, where everyone else had gone, they had just reached the doorway, when Gali suddenly rushed past, closely followed by Amaya.
Entering the room, Kazi and Hahli glanced around at the others who looked equally puzzled, they then headed over to where Takanuva, Onua and Balta stood.
"What's happened?" Onua quietly asked, as those who'd been sparring placed their weapons away, Hahli looked up at his and the others concerned masks.
"I'm not sure." Hahli said, then explained what had taken place when she'd given the bag to her shadow twin, as Hahli finished speaking, Garan and the others began selecting weapons.
Jaller, Macku, Matoro and the others listened intently as Dalu, Piruk and Balta instructed them on how to use the weapons they'd been given.
While Garan watched them practice, he glanced up at the Toa. "I know you've told us about your abilities with the elements and how your masks have different powers. But I think you should have a back up, just in case."
As Garan finished speaking, Velika handed them what looked like small shields, each a different shape, placing the shields away, the Toa nodded.
"Thank you, Velika." Pohatu commented, as they slowly left the training room and made their way back to the main room, everyone paused outside it, then Lewa and Kopaka glanced around the corner.
xXx
"Dangerous, how?" Anuenue exclaimed, looking at Turaga Lhikan as a sense of panic gripped her, he sighed, then caught his sister's hand and gently squeezed it.
"I've only seen that kind of vial once before, years before I came to Metru Nui. The healing draught it contained mainly consisted of energized protodermis." he quietly explained, as they anxiously watched Kokua's reaction to the draught.
"SISTER!"
The cry of anguish that suddenly ripped from Anuenue startled everyone with its power, Nahele dismissed the image and held Anuenue tightly as she stared helplessly at where the image had been.
Phira and Atinu quietly spoke with Turaga Lhikan, while they glanced at Anuenue concerned, Nahele was now gently hugging her, as he hummed softly.
Turaga Lhikan glanced into the mist, then got up and headed in the direction he'd been looking towards, Phira and Atinu blinked puzzled, then shifted to sit with Nahele and Anuenue.
Walking through the mist, Turaga Lhikan sensed that someone was nearby and as he entered a space in the mist, saw a spirit curled up beside the Great Spirit's spirit form.
Mata Nui nodded to Lhikan, who watched as he merged into the mist after gently shaking the sleeping spirit's arm, she stirred and glanced around confused.
A portion of the mist drifted in front of Turaga Lhikan just as Kokua spotted him, she blinked, then sat up.
"Sister, is that you?" Kokua called out softly as Lhikan came towards her, when she realized the one coming towards her wasn't Anuenue, Kokua blushed and looked at the ground.
"No, but I'll take you to her." Turaga Lhikan said, as Kokua's spirit glanced at him curiously.
"I'm not sure if I can walk far." she murmured quietly as she shifted to resting on her knees before managing to stand up, as Turaga Lhikan took her hand.
"We'll get there." he reassured Kokua as she swayed a little, before letting him slowly lead her in the direction from which he'd arrived. Making their way back to where Lhikan had left the others, Kokua had to stop and rest several times.
"We're nearly there." Lhikan gently commented when they paused again, Kokua's eyes brightened and she forced herself to to follow him as the mist swirled around them, then pulled back to reveal the spirit Toa and Anuenue, too tired to walk any more, Kokua sank to the ground.
"Sister." she whispered as Turaga Lhikan supported her, Anuenue who'd been leaning against the malachite Toa, suddenly sat up and glanced around, her eyes widened and she got up quickly.
"Kokua!" Anuenue cried softly as she hurried to where Lhikan and Kokua were, followed by Phira, Atinu and Nahele, who hung back and checked on Kokua's body.
While Anuenue and Kokua hugged and stemmed each others tears, Lhikan and the spirit Toa walked a short distance away, then Nahele showed the others what he'd seen. They murmured quietly, then glanced over to where Anuenue and Kokua sat, Kokua was asleep in Anuenue's arms and she was gently hugging her sleeping sister.
"Let's not say anything yet." Turaga Lhikan commented softly as Anuenue glanced up and smiled, then turned her attention back to Kokua, while they watched, Anuenue's eyes closed and she also slept.
Walking over to them, Phira and Atinu carefully moved them, so that Anuenue and Kokua rested beside each other. Sitting down beside their sleeping spirits, Lhikan, Phira, Atinu and Nahele watched the image that Nahele had formed, taking turns checking on Anuenue and Kokua before turning back to watch the unfolding scene before them.
xXx
Long after Avak's footsteps had faded away and the early afternoon light shone in, a silver glow began to form around Kokua's unconscious body, it was faint at first, but slowly grew in strength.
As the glow brightened, Kokua's body was lifted from the bed and floated in mid air, then the glow began to flow around her, the brightness pulsating as it moved and when the glow passed over her hand, the rainbow spark there shone incandescently.
Several minutes passed, then the glow began to slowly fade as it merged into Kokua, while this happened, her breathing grew stronger and regular, her arm mended, the fever broke and she was gently lowered back onto the bed.
As the covers were mysteriously replaced back over Kokua, they hid the remaining glow, which covered the areas behind her shoulders.
xXx
When Hahli and Kazi were out of earshot, Aikane sat on the floor and continued reading, tears dotting the sheet as she read it.
"Oh Kokua." she whispered, while the nearest shadow twins hugged her, several minutes passed as they watched Aikane re-reading what her shadow twin had written, as Gali and Amaya silently joined her.
Kokua's shadow twin suddenly began to shiver, Resha's hugged her, while glancing towards Aikane's, who gently shook her real self's shoulder and gestured to Kokua's shadow twin as she glanced up.
To everyone's surprise, there was a silver glow growing around Kokua's shadow twin and she was looking around herself puzzled by what was happening.
Just then Lewa and Kopaka glanced around the doorway, then entered the room, as everyone else followed them and sat round the edge of the room watching curiously, as the shadow twins gathered close around Kokua's.
Gali helped Aikane up, Amaya gathered up the written sheets and Hahli's shadow twin handed Hahli her bag back, then rejoined the other shadow twins.
Sitting beside Velika, Dalu, Kopaka and Onua, Aikane let the others read what her shadow twin had written, while she watched the shadow twins.
Suddenly there was a flash of silver light, which dazzled everyone, as their sight returned, they gasped amazed, Kokua's shadow twin was glancing curiously over one shoulder, while running her hands gently over the feathers that shone softly in the afternoon light.
"Wings! But how?" Hewkii murmured, breaking the silence as they watched Kokua's shadow twin carefully flexing her newly formed wings.
"I think we'll find the answer to this mystery when we've rescued our friends from the Piraka'' stronghold." Tahu said as Garan agreed.
xXx
The Piraka glowered at each other, while Zaktan laid out the latest plan to cow the matoran into submission. Noticing Avak was distracted, Vezok couldn't resist winding him up, and Reidak, Thok and Hakann had to pull them apart.
"You'll sort this out, after we've got the mask." Zaktan growled as Vezok wrenched his arm out of Hakann's grip, Avak nodded, glaring at Vezok before turning his attention back to Zaktan, as he began to explain the plan again.
"You'll never beat me, you moron." Vezok snorted, as they eventually left the room and headed past where the matoran and Anuenue were imprisoned, glancing into the room, Zaktan smiled darkly, as the matoran silently watched the Piraka march past.
Shenu hurried over to the door as the sound of the Piraka faded into the distance and thumped it in frustration.
"I wish we knew what has happened to Kokua." Ferus murmured, as Shenu came back over and sat beside Resha, while Tane peered through the barred window in an attempt to see which way the Piraka were going.
"I didn't see them, they must be trying for the mask again." Tane muttered as he slumped back beside Ferus, Shenu glanced at Anuenue, as the afternoon light slowly moved across the room.
"Look at that!" he murmured amazed, the others glanced to see what he was looking at, the lightstones on Anuenue's staff sparkled in the light and refracted it into four shafts of light, which shone over Shenu and the others for several minutes.
xXx
Turaga Lhikan and the spirit Toa glanced at each other amazed, as Nahele dismissed the image. Getting up they went and sat beside Anuenue's and Kokua's sleeping spirits, while watching them they quietly discussed what they'd seen.
A while later, Anuenue stirred and awoke, sitting up she smiled as she took Kokua's hand.
"Sorry I didn't mean to fall asleep." she murmured, as Atinu shifted closer to her, Lhikan smiled as Kokua's spirit slowly awoke and calmly glanced around as she sat up and hugged me.
"Sister, I think I'm going to be alright." Kokua said as a blue glow surrounded her and her spirit began to disappear from view.
"We'll get your mask." the group heard her murmur as the glow faded away, returning Kokua's spirit to her body.
xXx
Kokua slowly opened her eyes and cautiously glanced around the room she was now in, hearing footsteps approaching, Kokua closed her eyes and listened intently.
None of those who passed stopped or entered the room and when the noise faded, she waited several more minutes before carefully sitting up.
Pushing the covers back, something tickled the back of her hand, Kokua glanced down wondering what it was and gasped softly as she realized she'd undergone a transformation, stroking the feathers Kokua watched them sparkle as the sunlight hit them.
Smiling, Kokua shot a venomous look at the door, then began to flex her wings, slowly at first, then with growing confidence until she found she was hovering roughly a bio off the floor.
Landing softly, still wondering how it had happened, Kokua started examining the windows, finding the bars here were purely ornamental, she looked for something to pull them away from the windows.
Several minutes later, Kokua sat on one of the seats, frustrated at not finding anything strong enough to use.
She was so deep in thoughts of escape, that she never heard someone approaching the door and jumped startled as the lock clicked, standing up, Kokua watched warily as the door slowly opened.
Then blinked surprise as a bedraggled Le-matoran entered with some fruit and water, as he moved over to the table, Kokua gasped shocked when she saw that he wore manacles around his ankles, they looked at each other for a minute, then Kokua moved closer to him.
"Have you seen my friends?" she asked urgently, moving to crouch beside him, the matoran paused, nervously glancing around, before nodding and taking her hand, tugged it.
Standing up again, Kokua followed the silent matoran as he left the room, then locked the door behind them.
xXx
The Resistance, Toa and matoran were making final preparations, when Toma raced in.
"Garan, the Piraka are trying to find the mask again!" He gasped, catching his breath, while Lari offered him some water, as he managed to explain what he and Analu had seen.
"Where's Analu now?" Velika asked concerned, not bothering to disguise his question.
"She said she'd track them." Toma replied worriedly, as everyone hurried to the ramparts of the Resistance Fortress, Kopaka and Tahu whistled stunned as they got their first look at the distant peak of Mount Valmai.
"I think it's taller than Mount Ihu." Pohatu murmured softly, while Garan pointed out the direction and everyone formed into groups, as they headed back inside and towards the door.
Kokua's shadow twin tapped Aikane's arm, as Resha's joined her, Aikane nodded, "Be careful." she commented as they, Onua's and Kopaka's shadow twins departed.
xXx
As Kokua walked beside the Le-matoran, she glanced at the manacles he wore.
"Would you like me to remove them?" she quietly asked when he paused and rubbed a raw spot on his ankle, Kokua was surprise by the spark of hope that lit his eyes as he nodded.
Kneeling for a better look, she realized that they were partly rusted, so carefully she rubbed her fingers across them until she'd found the weakest part, "This might hurt, you'd better brace yourself against the wall." Kokua commented, he nodded and watched as she grasped the weak part and began to pull.
Slowly the metal began to bend away from his ankle, then snapped suddenly, causing Kokua to sit down quickly.
The second wasn't so tough, but did cut both of them as Kokua removed it, silently the Le-matoran threw his arms around Kokua's neck, hugging her joyfully.
After a few minutes he glanced up at Kokua and tugged her hand, indicating to where they would find the others.
When they reached the corridor, the Le-matoran tapped Kokua's arm and pointed to where the key hung, as it was out of her reach, Kokua spread her wings to fly up and get it.
Landing back beside him, Kokua smiled at his stunned expression, as her wings folded back, "I know, I was a bit stunned myself when I awoke. Now let's get my sister and friends and get out of here." Kokua grinned as he nodded enthusiastically, reaching the door, Kokua glanced in, just as the shadow twins returned.
"Wow, when did you get wings?" Tane exclaimed, to Kokua's as the shadow twins joined them, "I'm not too sure." Kokua said as she unlocked the door and entered with her silent companion.
As they whirled around surprise, Shenu's mask lit up. "Brother, you're alive!" he exclaimed delighted, running over to hug the Le-matoran who limped towards him.
Letting them have some time alone, Kokua joined Resha, Tane and Ferus and knelt beside Anuenue, as she gently wrapped a blanket around Anuenue, Kokua glanced at Tane.
"What's his name?" she asked quietly, Tane smiled as they stood up, Kokua carrying Anuenue's unconscious form.
"That's Malie, he's never spoken, but in happier times, he can be worse than the nosiest Le-matoran." he grinned, while he, Ferus and Resha followed Kokua over to her shadow twin, Onua's and Kopaka's, as they reached them, they heard Shenu ask Malie if he knew where Anuenue's mask was, Malie nodded, then pointed to the key that was in the door and shook his head sadly.
"If the key's not here, who has it?" Resha asked concerned, as Malie began to lead them out of the Piraka's Stronghold, he glanced back, then put his hands behind his mask and formed them into the shape of Kazakh's spines.