Half way up Mount Valmai, Kokua's shadow twin caught Aikane as she stumbled and glanced around at the others as they gathered around them.
"We should set up camp, it'll soon be getting too dark to climb." Kazi said, as he glanced around at the plateau where they'd stopped, Gali had joined Kokua's shadow twin to examine Aikane, who'd collapsed wearily.
Amaya nodded as Gali silently asked something, and she went over to Kokua, who was assisting Jaller, Shenu and Hewkii.
"Sister, could you sit with Aikane?" Amaya asked, when Jaller tapped Kokua's arm to get her attention.
"Of course." Kokua smiled, as she joined Amaya, then glanced back to where Jaller, Shenu and Hewkii were, they grinned and nodded.
On reaching Aikane, Kokua smiled at her shadow twin and sat beside her, as she shifted her wings to make room, gently Kokua placed her arm around Aikane's shoulders as her shadow twin did likewise.
As the Toa lent their help to set up camp, Takanuva watched as both Kokua and her shadow twin gently fluffed up their wings before wrapping them around themselves and Aikane, shielding her from view.
Lewa glanced over to them, then looked at Gali as she quietly watched, before glancing at him, "I think we'll have to hurry, it seems there's not much time." Gali explained, as the Toa gathered around her.
Concerned by this, the others began intently discussing what they could do to reach the outcrop sooner, Kazi joined them and listened, and made the odd suggestion.
While listening, Amaya slipped into a trance and Gali caught her before she could fall over, as she and Onua placed Amaya on the ground, they nodded at what Kazi said.
"When we reach the outcrop, we'll have to go around it to enter the tunnel it hides, and be careful as there are several puzzles to solve." He explained as the last of the daylight faded and everyone quietly listened.
"Can you tell us anything about these puzzles?" Onua enquired after a few minutes.
Kokua glanced at her shadow twin as the evening grew darker, then they both watched Aikane as she quietly sighed and fell asleep, her head resting on Kokua's shoulder.
They were soon joined by Hahli and Kongu, who'd brought some fruit and a water canister over.
"Tahu and some of the other Toa are going to try and reach the outcrop tonight, then attempt with Kazi's' help to retrieve the mask." Hahli explained, as Kokua and her shadow twin shifted their wings slightly, making sure they didn't disturb Aikane.
"So who of the Toa are going?" Kokua softly asked, as Aikane murmured inaudibly in her sleep.
"Tahu, Gali, Onua and Kopaka have volunteer-offered." Kongu said, as they watched Takanuva as he went to speak with Tahu, a few moments later Tahu nodded and they tapped fists.
"Looks like Takanuva's going too." Kokua murmured.
xXx
Turaga Lhikan turned from where he'd been watching the image Nahele'd called up and moved closer to where Mata Nui's spirit lay, while he watched over the Great Spirit, Lhikan became aware of another spirit appearing beside him.
As she opened her eyes and glanced around, Lhikan realized that the colour of Aikane's eyes and the diamond had become slightly duller.
She nodded at Lhikan silently, then turned her attention to Mata Nui, even though the mask Anuenue had given up was helping protect his spirit, Aikane was distressed when she saw how pale Mata Nui had become.
Watching him, looking for some flicker of awareness, Aikane slowly became aware that the spirit Toa had joined Turaga Lhikan, and as she glanced at them, Phire and Alani gently hugged her before helping her up, as they led her over to where Lhikan sat.
"You need to rest." Atinu murmured, worriedly as Aikane sat down, then lent against Phira's shoulder and closed her eyes.
xXx
"This is the odd-strangest fight we've ever had." Piruk muttered, as he, Dalu and Balta watched as Velika went over to where Hahli's shadow twin was noting down what Macku's had told her about the encounter they'd had with the Piraka.
Macku's shadow twin glanced up from where she was looking at the lightstones, with Tane's and Resha's and placing some in a bag, then Macku's took a sheet from Hahli's and after writing, handed it to Balta and grinned at Dalu and Piruk, before adding a small heatstone to the bag, then she hugged the shadow twins there before rejoining the others.
"But you are fighting, we're just delaying the Piraka to buy time. We'll watch and delay them for as long as possible. You will get to fight and we'll be beside you." Balta read out, as Velika, Garan and Hahli's shadow twin joined them to find out what Macku's' had written.
"That's true." Garan commented, passing the sheets he'd read to Dalu, Piruk reading over her shoulder until she elbowed him in the stomach.
Sniggering, Velika helped a winded Piruk to to sit beside Hahli's shadow twin, who silently laughed and passed them a water canister.
After Dalu'd finished reading, she joined them and handed the sheets to Piruk. By the time he'd finished reading, twilight had fallen and the others had sorted out the watch rota.
Hahli's shadow twin handed Dalu a note which read, 'We'll sit with those on watch.'
Dalu passed it to Garan, who nodded smiling, and as the others settled to rest, they sat beside Hahli's shadow twin, as the rest stood around the camp, and watched as the stars slowly began to appear.
"They are definitely fainter than last night." Dalu whispered, after several minutes passed, Hahli's' shadow twin shifted closer and hugged both of them.
xXx
Turning back from the window as Lari and Toma came into the sleeping quarters, Malie smiled at them, checked on Anuenue, then joined Lari and Toma on the bed nearest to her.
"That's quite a pile you've written." Toma commented while they ate, Malie grinned, swallowed the piece of fruit he had, then wrote a brief note which he passed to Lari.
After reading it, she hugged Malie, then passed it to Toma, 'Yes, I hope Turaga Anuenue doesn't mind. Once I started, it just flow-spilled out.' the note read.
"I don't think she'll mind." Toma chuckled, as they finished eating and glanced at where Anuenue rested, watching as she stirred and slowly awoke.
Malie jumped off the bed they were sat on and went to her side, as Anuenue blinked, then accepted the bowl of fruit he offered her.
"How are you feeling, Turaga?" Lari asked, as she finished eating and Malie insisted on taking the bowl.
"Well rested Lari, thank you." Anuenue smiled, then Malie carried over the sheets, he'd filled while she'd slept, as she began reading, he went to sit on another bed, but Anuenue caught his hand and when Malie glanced around, patted the bed she was sitting on.
As he got comfy, Malie glanced at Toma and Lari, who nodded, then everyone glanced around, Anuenue waved absently, totally engrossed in reading, as Kewe and Analu came to rest.
Everyone but Malie and Anuenue were asleep, when Malie felt Anuenue's shoulders begin shaking.
"Oh Malie..." she murmured, on reading how the Piraka had kept him as a servant by threatening to use a Zamor Sphere on Shenu. Then telling Malie that they'd send Shenu to work in the deepest tunnel being dug in Mount Valmai's flank.
As Anuenue brushed tears from her mask, Malie wrapped his arms around her, several minutes later he let go so that she could place the sheets on the floor, before hugging Malie back, as they slowly drifted into sleep.
xXx
Sensing where she was, as Malie cuddled closer, Anuenue opened her eyes and glanced around at Lhikan and the spirit Toa. Phira was hugging Aikane's sleeping spirit, while Turaga Lhikan was quietly talking with Amaya, while the other spirit Toa listened.
Malie's spirit awoke and smiled, as Nahele glanced over and winked at him before nodding to Anuenue. The pair then walked over to join them and when Malie sat beside Nahele, Anuenue watched curiously as he took out a small sphere of green light and offered it to Nahele.
"Not yet, little one." Nahele grinned, as Anuenue sat beside Atinu, Malie chuckled silently, and spun the light sphere between his hands before placing it away.
They watched as Lhikan and Amaya continued talking, then a few moments later, Anuenue went over to where Phira sat with Aikane, she nodded as the rainbow hued Turaga joined her.
"Aikane is being slowly affected by her Father's condition." Phira murmured sadly, when she saw Anuenue looking anxiously at her sister's pale mask.
While Anuenue looked at Phira concerned, Amaya joined them and hugged Anuenue, "Sister, it's good to see you again." Amaya whispered, before they turned their attention to Aikane.
"Phira, could you rest Aikane down please?"
"Of course, Turaga." she murmured, as Anuenue moved to sit on one side of Aikane, while Amaya sat the other.
"What are you going to do?" Alani asked as everyone came to see what we were doing, Amaya and Anuenue glanced at each other for several moments, then smiled quietly.
"Try and help Aikane." Amaya murmured, as they joined hands over Aikane's heartlight, for a while everything was still, then slowly the mist around the pair and Aikane began to glow in soft rainbow colours.
This glow lasted for several minutes, growing and hiding them all from view, then faded away to reveal all three were laying there, sound asleep. Gently the spirit Toa checked them, as Malie moved to where Anuenue lay.
"Don't fret Malie, they're only resting." Phira murmured reassuringly, as he watched Anuenue, concerned, Malie nodded, glanced curiously over at Aikane's sleeping spirit, then took out the feather Kokua's shadow twin had given him.
Everyone watched intrigued, as Malie went over to Aikane, gently turned her right hand, palm upwards, and brushed the feather lightly over the symbol.
Slowly Aikane's eyes began to open and focused on Malie as he watched her, the spirit Toa smiled, as Aikane slowly sat up and gently caught Malie's hand before she hugged him and glanced around at Amaya's and Anuenue's sleeping spirits.
"What's happened?" Aikane whispered softly, watching Malie as he put the feather away before sitting beside Anuenue, while Turaga Lhikan explained, Atinu and Alani gently propped Amaya up, while Phira and Nahele did the same for Anuenue.
When they woke up and smiled at Aikane, Malie hugged Anuenue, delighted to see her awake again.
Yawning, Anuenue hugged Malie and glanced at Aikane, Amaya, Lhikan and the spirit Toa, then smiled as her eyes closed and she drifted back to sleep.
"You should return to sleep as well, little one." Turaga Lhikan said to Malie, as he watched fascinated when Aikane's and Amaya's spirits vanished, Malie looked up at Lhikan and nodded quietly, before settling beside Anuenue and hugged her, slowly his eyes grew heavy and he felt something brush over his mask.
Nahele smiled and glanced at Turaga Lhikan, as he passed his hand lightly over Malie's mask.
"I'm still stun-suprised that he's mute." Nahele commented softly, as Malie's and Anuenue's sleeping spirits disappeared, Lhikan nodded.
"I think the word you're looking for brother, is unique." Alani commented as they rejoined Phira and Atinu, Nahele then cleared the mist and they watched as the Toa and Kazi entered the tunnel.
xXx
Watching the Piraka, Matoro's shadow twin relayed what they were doing and their watch rota to the other shadow twins.
"It's impossible. No-one can resist after they've been hit by a Zamor Sphere." Reidak growled, as Vezok slowly thawed out and caught the food Thok chucked at him, Zaktan watched Avak as he stared in the direction of the shadow twins.
"Well?" He demanded as Avak blinked and turned back to the small fire on which several unfortunate Rahi were being cooked.
"Some of them are sitting around lightstones while the others are on watch." Avak said picking up a roasted lizard, Matoro's shadow twin shuddered, as Avak ate it, then glanced at Zaktan, he was staring at Mount Valmai.
While he ate, Avak glanced back to where he thought Kokua's shadow twin was imprisoned and grinned darkly.
Noticing Avak was distracted, Thok nicked his second portion of roast lizard, but didn't have time to eat it, as Avak caught Thok's hand and retrieved it.
"Knock it off!" Zaktan snarled, as they began wrestling over the roasted rahi, Hakann snickered, as grudgingly Thok and Avak broke apart and sat down some distance apart.
Eventually those not on watch settled down and drifted off to sleep, Matoro's shadow twin watched a while longer and cracked up with silent laughter, when Avak started trying to chat up Kokua in his sleep, only to get rudely awoken by Reidak, stomping over from where he was on guard duty and emptying a water canister over Avak's head.
Still grinning Matoro's shadow twin returned to the others and they planned how best to confuse and distract the Piraka when daylight returned.
xXx
When Tahu and the others followed Kazi, the remaining matoran and Toa gathered close to Kokua, her shadow twin and Aikane, Kokua yawned and glanced sleepily at Amaya, who recently awoken, as she sat beside her.
"If you want to rest sister, I'll watch both of you, with your shadow twin." Amaya murmured gently, Kokua smiled, as her shadow twin carefully rested Aikane down.
"Thank you." She murmured, hugging Amaya, before settling down beside Aikane, covering them both with her wings.
When Kokua fell asleep, her shadow twin glanced at Amaya, then around at the others as they quietly talked, frequently glancing over to where Aikane and Kokua slept, then she fluffed out her wings and placed one around Amaya's shoulders.
Several minutes later, Hahli, Shenu and Ferus joined them, after a while everyone was watching the path, that the others had taken.
As everyone reached the outcrop, the Toa listened intently as Kazi explained the first part.
"This bit is the easiest to pass, but I've read that it will activate the rest of the puzzles. We can get through by walking in this formation." Kazi explained, as he drew a pentagon with a dot in the centre, Kopaka activated his Akaku and scanned the tunnel. "Tight, but manageable." He said after several moments.
"Kazi, you have a rough idea of what lays ahead, so we'll watch your back and sides." Tahu commented, glancing at the others, who nodded, then glanced at Kazi to see what he thought.
When Kazi agreed, Gali quickly told Amaya and enquired as to how Aikane was, after telling the others, she stood between Takanuva and Onua, with Tahu and Kopaka behind them, then they entered the tunnel, watching over Kazi, cautiously as he led the way.
xXx
Back at the matoran Fortress, Anuenue stirred in her sleep, then with out waking, got up, picked up her staff, walked over to the window and gazed towards Mount Valmai.
Turning over, Malie patted the area where Anuenue had been and slowly woke up, wondering where she was, he glanced around as he sat up.
Moving to stand beside her, Malie gently shook Anuenue's arm, when she didn't respond, he went to where Lari slept and carefully woke her.
'What's going on?' Malie wrote, after Lari had checked Turaga Anuenue and rejoined him, as he watched from the side of the bed.
"I'm not sure, she's not sleepwalking." Lari whispered softly, as she sat beside him, they watched over Turaga Anuenue as the night quietly passed, slowly first Lari, then Malie fell asleep.
Several minutes after they had returned to sleep, a nimbus of violet light began to form around Anuenue, she then raised her symbol marked hand and the light winked out.
"Sister, I won't let you go." a whisper broke the silence, then Anuenue sank to the floor, still gazing towards Mount Salami, there was a quiet chime as she placed her staff down, then her eyes slowly closed.
As Anuenue's sleeping form sat in the dim starlight, the glow returned, almost invisible this time and had anyone been awake, they would have heard the faint sound of chiming.
Halfway through what remained of the night, Lari and Malie woke up, not sure what had awoken them and glanced over to the window, silently they went over to Anuenue and managed to get her up and back over to her bed.
After covering Anuenue with a blanket, Malie went and picked up her staff, then placed it beside the bed, Lari smiled at him as they settled on the beds nearest to the sleeping Turaga and drifted back to sleep.
xXx
Aikane opened her eyes and found herself laying in multi coloured mist, she glanced around woozily as the sound of chiming drew closer, until it surrounded her.
"Father?" Aikane murmured, as she remembered how Mata Nui had whispered to her when she'd first awoken, there was no response, but the chiming slowly faded away, as it did Aikane tried to raise herself up on her elbows, but found she had no strength.
Aikane's eyes slowly began to close, as her head spun, then she managed to open them as she caught a glimpse of violet light.
Watching bemused, as the violet glow surrounded and merged into her, Aikane then heard Anuenue's voice whispering. "Sister, I won't let you go."
"Anuenue." Aikane murmured, as she tried again to sit up, but was overcome by sleep and curled up in the mist, unaware that she was being watched over.
xXx
Amaya and Kokua's shadow twin were watching the few stars they could see, "They are so faint." Amaya murmured, shivering uneasily, as she stifled a yawn, Kokua's shadow twin nodded, shifting closer to hug Amaya, she then passed her a note. 'I'll keep watch if you wish to rest.'
"Thank you, I do feel tired." Amaya smiled, as she lent against Kokua's shadow twin's shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
Watching over everyone, Kokua's shadow twin was intrigued to see a violet glow around Aikane for several minutes and as it faded, she heard Aikane whisper her sisters' name.
Kokua's' shadow twin told Aikane's what she'd just witnessed as she glanced to where Kazi and the rest of the Toa had gone. To her surprise, it seemed like a faint star was shining on the mountain side.
Watching it curiously, she never realized that the being who'd been watching all that had taken place from his vantage point, was slowly making his way towards where everyone rested.
xXx
Avak snarled, as someone prodded him awake, then glared at Zaktan. "What!" He growled angrily.
"Return to the Stronghold and locate Brutaka," Zaktan snapped "And be quick. I want him here before dawn."
Chuckling viciously at Zaktan's order, Avak raced towards the Piraka's Stronghold, not even pausing to check the area where the prison he'd conjured up was.
On reaching the factory and dig site, where enslaved matoran laboured to drain the lava from Mount Valmai and made Zamor Spheres, Avak was jogging past, when he spotted Brutaka, brutalizing a fallen matoran, who'd dropped the materials he'd been struggling under.
"Oi! Big guy, hate to spoil your fun, but Zaktan wants you to join us." Dropping the semi-conscious matoran to the ground, Brutaka glanced at Avak coldly, then nodded as he joined him, "Tell me on the way."