Leaving the matoran Fortress, Matoro's shadow twin vanished for a few seconds, then reappeared, pointing in the direction that Analu had taken.
Picking up the pace, everyone followed him closely an joined Analu, who was crouching amongst the bushes, they listened as she talked quickly.
"All the Piraka have gone through the pass that leads towards Mount Valmai. Even at the speed they travel, they'll have to rest, so they won't reach the volcano until tomorrow."
"Well done, you'd better go and reassure Toma that you're alright." Garan smiled, while Analu had a drink from Velika's water canister, she nodded.
"Take care." Analu replied as she began making her way back to the Fortress, Balta nudged Velika, as everyone turned to follow the trail, he snapped out of gazing after Analu and glanced at Balta, who grinned.
xXx
Reaching the main exit of the Stronghold, the matoran and Kokua watched as the shadow twins tried to get the door open, but found that someone had bolted and locked it tightly.
"So close." Resha whispered sadly as Tane hugged her, Malie looked distressed as he gestured to Shenu and Ferus, in the distance they heard heavy footsteps moving around and the matoran looked at each other scared.
While Kokua hugged Anuenue, she glanced at the shadow twins, who'd gathered in a circle, they nodded and turned back to Kokua and the matoran, moving into the shadow cast by a pillar, Kokua's shadow twin beckoned to them.
Curious Kokua and the matoran moved closer to the shadow twins, who clasped their arms and linked hands with Kokua.
Resha's shadow twin then placed her hand over Resha's eyes, causing her to close them, as she did that, her shadow twin walked into the shadow, guiding Resha beside her and both vanished.
"Whoa, amazing." Shenu exclaimed as the remaining shadow twins smiled at him and the others.
"Do you wish to do the same with us?" Kokua asked softly as Resha's shadow twin returned several minutes later, grinning delighted, Kokua's nodded, as they drew closer to her and the matoran
When Malie caught hold of Kokua's shadow twins' hand, Kokua smiled. "Let's do it. I for one have no wish to return to that gilded gukko cage!"
After checking everyone's hands were tightly clasped, the shadow twins carefully led them into the shadow cast by the pillar.
"Close your eyes." Kokua called out as she did likewise, then let the shadow twins guide her through what felt like thick, warm water, several minutes later, they felt fresh air around them.
"You've made it." Resha laughed delighted, as Toma and Analu stood with her, looking amazed as Resha hugged her friends, while Kokua glanced around the main room curiously.
Malie glanced at the room, Analu and Toma, then sat down suddenly, as tears began running down his mask, Shenu gently helped him back up.
"You need to rest, brother." Shenu said, as Toma came to help him, Analu then went over to Kokua and peered at Anuenue.
"I'll show you where she can rest." she murmured as the shadow twins nodded, then Kopaka's and Onua's disappeared, while Kokua's and Resha's joined Analu.
Reaching the sleeping quarters, Kokua carried Anuenue over to one of the beds and gently placed her down before covering her with a blanket.
As she did that, Shenu sat beside Malie, who'd settled nearby and was watching Kokua as she sat on the bed beside the one she'd put Anuenue on.
Falling asleep overcome with emotion, Malie hoped that they would be able to get the key and return Kokua's sisters' mask to her.
xXx
When Kokua's spirit disappeared from sight, Anuenue glanced at Lhikan and Nahele.
"Would you like to look-see?" he asked gently as Turaga Lhikan stood up and silently walked into the mist.
"Yes please." she replied, wondering where Lhikan was going, Phira and Atinu shifted closer to her, as Nahele called up the image of where Kokua was held.
They watched Kokua waking up and murmured quietly, amazed when she realized that she'd grown wings. As Kokua took her first tentative flight, Anuenue found herself holding her breath, letting it out slowly, she watched as she landed safely, then began searching the room for something, after a while she sat on one of the seats, glaring at the bars across the window.
The group watched as Kokua jumped suddenly, then stood up, then Anuenue jumped startled, as unknown to them, Turaga Lhikan had returned, "Come with me sister, quickly!"
Scrambling to her feet, Anuenue followed Lhikan into the mist, as they hurried to wherever he was leading her, she wondered what was wrong.
The Turaga suddenly came out of the mist and Anuenue hastily stifled the gasp which threatened to come out.
Laying in the mist was Mata Nui's spirit form, his eyes were closed and the brilliant white light that made up his form was muted and pale, leading me over to him, Turaga Lhikan explained what was wrong.
"The Toa need to reach the Mask of Life before the Piraka. It's the only thing that can save the Great Spirit." the pair stood beside him, listening to his slow breathing, after a while Anuenue glanced at Turaga Lhikan.
"Does Aikane know?" she whispered concerned, moving closer to Mata Nui, "I do not know." Lhikan replied, watching as his sister knelt beside the Great Spirit and gently took hold of his right hand, a few moments later, Lhikan sat beside her.
"I don't know what we can do Anuenue." he murmured softly as she rubbed her mask worriedly.
"Neither do I, but I'll sit with Mata Nui and keep Him company." she replied, gazing at the Great Spirit's mask and wishing she knew of some way to help.
After a while, Turaga Lhikan went to speak with Phira, Nahele and Atinu, watching until the mist hid him from view, Anuenue turned back to watch over the Great Spirit and twitched in surprise. His eyes had slightly opened and as she watched he smiled and slowly closed his hand around her's.
Then she heard a gentle sigh as Mata Nui's eyes closed and he slept, sitting there beside him, Anuenue wondered if he'd have enough strength to appear to the others.
For some reason she had no doubt that the Toa would get the Mask of Life that Lhikan had mentioned, after a while Anuenue drifted into sleep, leaning against the Great Spirit.
As the stricken spirit of Mata Nui and the spirit of Turaga Anuenue slept, a blue/silver figure and a an orb of light of an undefinable colour watched from the mist for several moments before vanishing.
Then a while later, Anuenue stirred and awoke as Lhikan rejoined them, "Atinu, Phira, Nahele and I are going to speak with the other spirits. Will you be alright, sister?" Lhikan asked gently as the spirit Toa stood close by, quietly watching.
"Yes, I will be." Anuenue replied, showing more confidence that she felt, then blushed as they all bowed to her. Watching them as they vanished into the mist,
"May the light protect you." she whispered, brushing a tear away, she then turned my attention back to the Great Spirit and watched Him slowly breathing.
While listening to his breathing, Anuenue must have fallen asleep again, as the next thing she knew was her arm being gently shaken by Aikane's spirit as she knelt beside her.
xXx
The Resistance, Toa and matoran were roughly halfway to Mount Valmai as evening fell, and as they made camp, the shadow twins went to see where the Piraka were.
After the shadow twins returned and Aikane's had written down what they'd observed, everyone ate the dried fruit and quietly discussed what the shadow twins had seen.
"Shouldn't you rest?" Kopaka asked Pohatu's shadow twin as the matoran settled to sleep, while Garan, Velika, Takanuva and Tahu talked about what might lay ahead.
Pohatu's shadow twin glanced at Kopaka and shook his head, then Hahli's passed him some writing materials, Pohatu's wrote a short note and passed it to Kopaka.
After he'd read the note, Kopaka nodded and joined the rest of the Toa, as the shadow twins took up position around everyone else.
Settling down beside Piruk, Pohatu and Gali, Aikane quietly watched the sun dip towards the horizon, as she tried to work out what was making her feel uncomfortable.
A few minutes later everyone sat up as Kopaka's and Onua's shadow twins joined them, Aikane'' came to see what they had to tell everyone.
"Kokua, the matoran and Anuenue are safe in the Fortress. Zaktan holds the key to the chest where Anuenue's mask is held." Aikane read out what her shadow twin had written.
"That gives us double reason to stop them." Kazi murmured as twilight darkened the sky and the stars started to emerge, then Kopaka's and Onua's shadow twins joined the others on guard duty.
When everyone settled down again, Amaya quietly glanced over to where Aikane rested and watched her until she fell asleep.
xXx
Still feeling uneasy, Aikane opened her eyes and sat up, the mist that swirled around her lifted, allowing Aikane to watch Turaga Lhikan speaking with Phira, Atinu and a green spirit Toa as they walked past.
She watched them as they disappeared, then stood up and glanced around, sensing that she was needed elsewhere she walked into the mist.
…
Aikane stopped at the edge of a large mist clear area, stunned she approached the sleeping spirits.
"Father, what is wrong?" Aikane softly whispered as she knelt beside his and Anuenue's spirits, gently she touched his arm, shocked by how dull his colour was.
Then Aikane shifted around to where Anuenue's spirit slept, looking closely at her sister, Aikane knelt beside her and gently began shaking Anuenue's arm. Using her free hand to rub her eyes, Anuenue slowly focused on Aikane as she knelt beside her, then she reached to hug her.
They sat there silently for several minutes, then the rainbow hued Turaga told Aikane what Turaga Lhikan had told her.
"The Mask of Life, that's what the Piraka are after." Aikane murmured, wiping tears from her mask, hugging Anuenue again, she then told her sister what her shadow twin had learnt from Onua's.
Anuenue nodded quietly and then they talked about what had happened to Kokua, slowly Aikane began to fall asleep with Anuenue's arm around her shoulders and when her eyes closed, Anuenue whispered, "Take care." Before watching as her spirit disappeared, as it returned to her body.
Sitting in the mist, the Turaga of Colour began thinking about what Mata Nui had said about the song-made mask her spirit wore, as she brushed her free hand over the mask. "If it's protecting my spirit..."
Managing to remove her mask with one hand, Turaga Anuenue then placed it over Mata Nui's, then as the unnatural sleep overwhelmed her, Anuenue felt the Great Spirit's hand tighten around hers
xXx
When Malie had fallen asleep, Shenu and Kokua left the sleeping quarters to get something to eat.
Roughly half an hour after they left, Malie awoke from a nightmare and sat there shivering, needing some form of reassurance, he went over to where Anuenue lay.
Kokua had placed her in her favourite sleeping position, on her right side, so Malie gently lifted her left arm and rested it over his shoulders, feeling safer, Malie snuggled closer and drifted back to sleep.
Anuenue's staff had been placed against the wall beside the bed she was on, the lightstone shards were still glowing softly, then they brightened for several seconds, before fading back to the normal soft glow they emitted.
When Kokua and Shenu returned with the others to rest, he was surprise to see Malie had moved, then he and Kokua took the beds either side of the one Anuenue now shared.
"I'll go after the others at first light," Kokua said as she failed to stifle a yawn, "Would you watch over Anuenue?" she added, as her eyes began to close, Shenu, Ferus, Resha, Tane, Lehua and Haki glanced at each other and nodded.
"Yes, we will, I don't think Malie will want to be alone either." Shenu replied, as Kokua blinked drowsily at him, then she smiled and fell asleep, Shenu beckoned the others to join him in the middle of the room.
"Resha, do you think your shadow twin can awake-rouse ours? I've got a feeling we have to reach-join Garan and the others." Shenu whispered, casting glances at where Kokua slept, her wings covering her like a blanket.
"I'm not sure where she is." Resha murmured, then felt a tap on her arm, turning around, everyone saw Kokua's and Resha's shadow twins standing beside her, both grinning.
Kokua's and Resha's shadow twins listened, glanced at each other and after a few moments nodded, Resha's then pointed to Malie.
When the matoran glanced at each other, puzzled, Kokua's went over to where he rested and gently roused him, Malie awoke with a start, then blinked and gently moved Anuenue's arm, before following Kokua's shadow twin over to where the others stood.
Quickly Shenu told Malie what he and the others planned to do, when Malie looked unhappy, Resha's shadow twin smiled at him as Shenu hugged Malie.
"Our shadow twins will keep you company, you won't be left alone." he softly explained, everyone watched Malie as he glanced at them, then nodded and stood beside Resha's shadow twin, Resha joined them and they watched the others who gathered around Kokua's.
Carefully Kokua's shadow twin bent down and touched Shenu's shadow, as it awoke and smiled at him, the others shadow twins also awoke and smiled at everyone else.
The shadow twins then went and sat on the beds, while Malie hugged Shenu, before glancing at his friends.
"Good luck, brother." Malie thought before settling back beside Anuenue, watching as they joined hands and Shenu clasped Kokua's shadow twin's hand firmly.
Then as they walked into the shadow cast by the lightstones and vanished from sight, Malie glanced at the shadow twins as they waited to hear from Kokua's.
Tane's shadow twin after a few minutes, nodded reassuringly at him, as Malie smiled, the others indicated that he should rest.
Resting his head on his arm, Malie glanced up at Anuenue's staff and watched the lightstone shards until his eyes grew heavy and he fell asleep.
Aikane's and Dalu's shadow twins watched as Kokua's appeared leading Shenu and the others behind her, the shadow twins nodded at each other quietly, then Dalu's and Kokua's led the matoran over to where Kopaka, Balta and Garan were sitting.
"You're sure about this?" Garan asked, after they'd listened to Shenu's reasons for joining them, Resha nodded and Shenu had a drink. "Alright, you'd better get some rest. We'll be starting off before dawn."
"Just as well Velika brought spare weapons." Balta commented, as Shenu and the others followed him, settling on some spare blankets close to where Pohatu was quietly talking with Lewa, Gali and Tahu.
Tane looked up at the dim stars and wondered what lay ahead of them, eventually everyone slept, while the shadow twins stood guard.
xXx
"Aikane, sister. Please wake up!" Phira's worried voice roused her out of a troubled sleep. Sitting up, Aikane found herself surrounded by Turaga Lhikan and nine spirit Toa, she recognised Phira, Atinu and the malachite Toa, they looked at her concerned as Atinu helped her up.
"What's wrong, is it Father?" Aikane whispered as she glanced at them, Turaga Lhikan said nothing, just took her hand and walked into the mist, the spirit Toa following silently.
As he led Aikane through the mist, Turaga Lhikan glanced at the spirit Toa, who nodded and waited, on reaching the clearing in the mist, Lhikan glanced up at Aikane, then stepped back, gesturing that she should go on alone.
Concerned by his actions, Aikane went swiftly over to where Anuenue was sitting beside Mata Nui.
Kneeling beside them, Aikane realized that Anuenue was sleeping and gently shook her shoulder.
"Sis..." Aikane started to say, when she noticed the mask she'd seen on Anuenue's spirit had been placed on Mata Nui.
Shocked, Aikane gently raised her sister's head and rested it against her shoulder, then hugged Anuenue, as she watched the Great Spirit.
After a while she felt Anuenue stir and watched as she sleepily blinked at her, slowly Anuenue smiled, then whispered, "I had to do something and Mata Nui said that mask would protect my spirit."
"So, you gave it to Father." Aikane murmured as Anuenue gazed at her, "Yes." came the barely audible whisper, Aikane hugged Anuenue tighter, as she slipped back into unconsciousness, then glanced at the Great Spirit again, before carefully resting Anuenue against his side.
Standing up, Aikane was turning to go back to where Lhikan had stopped, when she heard another whisper.
"Daughter."
Swiftly Aikane knelt back beside Mata Nui and watched as his eyes opened and focused on her, a gentle smile crossed his mask as he slowly raised his hand and brushed his fingers across the diamond on Aikane's mask.
She caught Mata Nui's hand as his eyes closed and gently placed it on his chest, getting up Aikane glanced around, brushing tears from her mask, realizing that Turaga Lhikan had been joined by the spirit Toa.
Walking over to them, Aikane didn't know that her eyes were now intense blue or that the diamond on her mask shone brilliant white.
Reaching them, Aikane suddenly felt exhausted and found herself swaying, as she stumbled, Phira and Nahele swiftly caught her and lowered Aikane to the ground.
"Rest sister, we'll watch over you." Was the last thing Aikane heard as sleep claimed her.
xXx
Kokua awoke to find she was being watched by Malie and the others, he grinned, then came over as she sat up and hugged her.
While Kokua stretched, Lari came in and glanced around at everyone, "We did try and wake you earlier But you were deeply asleep." She explained, as they left the sleeping quarters and headed up to the ramparts.
Toma, Analu and Kewe were watching the stars in the pre-dawn light, while the other matoran watched the surrounding landscape.
Sitting beside Kewe, Kokua and Malie quietly ate the fruit passed to them, after a while Kokua glanced at Shenu's shadow twin curiously, then smiled.
"When did Shenu's and the others leave?" Kokua asked, as Kewe and Lari blinked puzzled, the other shadow twins nudged each other, silently laughing, as Shenu's wrote down their explanation.
"We didn't think we'd fool you for long, Shenu, the others and your shadow twin joined the Toa and Resistance last night." Kokua read out, then glanced curiously at the shadow twins who were sitting with Malie, Resha's shadow twin smiled then added a bit to the sheet.
"She guided them there, shall I seek her?" when Kokua nodded, Resha's shadow twin got up and walked into the shadow cast by the rampart, several minutes later, both shadow twins returned and as Kokua stood up, she felt someone patting her wing.
Glancing around, Kokua saw Malie gazing up at her, impulsively, she knelt and hugged him, then carefully plucked one of the longer wing feathers and placed in his hand.
Closing his hand firmly around it, Malie hugged Kokua again, then watched as Kokua and her shadow twin linked hands and walked into the shadow.