Zaekura sat at the bow of Pridak's flagship, watching Ga-Koro come into view. Construction crews bustled all around the edges of the seafaring city: the Nynrahns, as well as the Rahkshi Bitil had sent there, were working to expand the sanctuary's borders, an offer they had been sure to make before presenting Kojol with the idea of evacuating all of Artidax there. (Zaekura dearly hoped they had all made it there.) More people needed its protection now than ever before, so Zaekura and Kojol both wanted to be certain there would be room for them in their time of need.

She winced. The splitting headache that had struck earlier had ended, but every few minutes she still felt a sharp pinch—an aftershock, she supposed. It made it quite difficult to think of anything else.

I really am becoming more like a Great Being. But, even the Great Beings aren't exactly sure why. These bad headaches have only been happening recently...what's changed?

She snorted.

Yeah, everything, stupid question. If I want to figure out what's causing this, I need to narrow down my options somehow…

Zaekura shivered. She turned to see Pridak approaching, the Makuta greeting, "How fare you, Lady Zaekura? Still weary from your conquest?"

"It wasn't a conquest for me," Zaekura said. "...I am worn out, though…"

"A fierce battle and intense negotiations will do that to anyone. You fought well."

"Yeah...thanks…"

"Once we deliver you to Kojol, my forces and I will head back for Mahri-Nui for the time being. Do let us know when we can next be of assistance."

"Of course. Thank you again for everything."

Pridak shook his head, chuckling. "Oh, I should be thanking you. This was just the sort of excursion I've been aching for, and I've come away with quite the reward."

Zaekura's head throbbed.

"Ah, before I forget: Toa Hahli requested permission to remain with you and your main forces."

"Huh? She did?"

"Indeed. I'll leave the details of why for her to explain, but I've granted my approval, if you'll have her. If not, feel free to send her back to Mahri-Nui at your leisure."

"Okay. I mean, I'm sure we'll take her, but I'll keep that in mind."

A member of the crew called Pridak away. Zaekura spent the next few minutes lost in thought, emerging only when the vessel finally docked. Several more of Pridak's ships made their landing nearby, each depositing a group of Rahkshi before returning to the sea, though Pridak himself remained until all of Zaekura's forces had regrouped. Giving them a final wave, he turned and set his sights on Mahri-Nui.

"Your orders, Lady Zaekura?" Krika asked.

She glanced over the Rahkshi crowding the dock. "I think we've all earned a rest. We'll head back to Xia first thing in the morning."

"In that case," Bitil said, "I think I'll go see how Ga-Koro is treating the Rahkshi I sent ahead. If you'll excuse me."

He departed, leaving Zaekura and Krika to make their way towards the opposite end of the crowd. Zaekura practically collapsed onto the first bench she spotted.

"Shall I fetch anyone for you, Lady Zaekura?" Krika asked. "Perhaps Charla, or your mother?"

She shook her head. "I just need a second."

Krika stepped behind the bench to wait. Just as Zaekura felt she was getting her strength back, she saw Hahli emerge from the crowd not far away.

"Oh, Lady Zaekura!" Hahli said. "I'm glad I found you. Are you alright?"

"More or less," Zaekura said. "Pridak mentioned something about you wanting to stay with us?"

Hahli nodded, looking down and wringing her hands around the strap of her satchel. "Yes. You see...when we were escaping the Skull Spiders, I met some reporters from the Civitas Chronicle."

Krika inclined his head. "Ah, so it was them! Trustworthy bunch, those."

She chuckled. "I thought so, too. They, uh, offered me a job before I left. I've always considered being a reporter, but it never seemed there was a real need for me to do so. But now…" Her expression gradually darkened as she continued. "I think, maybe that was naive. I trusted that we were already being told everything we needed to know. But this whole time, the Great Beings...well, there's at least a few things they weren't willing to tell us. We supported and celebrated them without ever realizing how cruel they truly are. If we allow the Great Beings to stay in control of what the people know, then the people will continue to celebrate them, even as this easily avoidable war rages on."

Hahli tightened her grip on her satchel.

"It's despicable. We can fight as hard as we like, pull the Great Beings from their thrones, but if their lies are all the world knows, then we'll never truly free it from their grasp. We have to make sure the truth is available for all to see. The whole truth. So…"

She stood tall, staring Zaekura straight in the eye.

"I want to watch what happens as it happens! If I stay on the front lines with you, then I can communicate everything I see back to the Chronicle, so they can share it with everyone in Civitas Magna. Even now that Yarion has allied with you, the Great Beings could still find a way to influence the city—it's home to most of the planet's population, so it's hard to believe they'd just let it go. Making sure everyone there knows what's really happening could be a deciding factor in this war! So, if you'll allow me, I want to do what I can to affect that decision!"

Zaekura smiled. Sitting forward, she said, "Hahli, I wouldn't dream of trying to stop you. We'll make sure to let you know before we leave tomorrow."

A bright grin lit up Hahli's face. "Th...thank you! Thank you, I promise you won't regret it!"

She scampered off into the city, and Zaekura finally got back to her feet. It was a short walk to Kojol's cathedral; there she found Carna, Charla, and the Guardian herself, as well as a pew to sink into just as her energy again ran out.

"Zae!" Carna said, rushing forward to hug her. "You're alright! Ah, I'm so relieved…"

"I'm fine, Mom," Zaekura said. "A little worn out, but I'll be back in top shape in no time."

"Take the time you need—it won't do any good to rush yourself."

Carna released her hold on Zaekura, and Charla immediately stepped in for another embrace. "Welcome back, Lady Zaekura. I'm glad to see you in one piece."

"Thanks, Charla," Zaekura said.

As she pulled away, Charla squinted slightly, saying, "Strange...your mind feels very different from when you departed Artidax. What exactly happened in Civitas Magna?"

Zaekura frowned. Before she could respond, however, Kojol said, "Yes, I too wish to be informed of the details of this most recent skirmish. Our borders are filling faster than our structure can adapt, and I require reassurance that the reason why is a just one."

"Right, right." Zaekura paused as her head throbbed once again. "First off, did everyone from Artidax make it here alright?"

"Yes, all accounted for," Charla said. "The evacuation was a complete success."

Zaekura let out a long breath. "Good. Well...we found a way to run Ekimu out of Civitas Magna, and he took Vamprah with him. Now that they don't have those two breathing down their neck, Yarion's officially allied with us."

"That's great!" Carna said. "So you control the whole city now, right?"

"Yarion's still in charge, but it's our territory...mostly."

Charla tilted her head. "Mostly…?"

"It's Pridak. A condition of him helping was letting him keep control over whatever districts he was able to stake his claim on during the battle, and he grabbed as many as he could. A decent chunk of the city answers to him now."

Kojol hummed. "I hope you know what you've done, Lady Zaekura. Pridak has always yearned for greater power—now that that flame is being stoked, there is no telling how vast it will grow."

"I know, but I don't really have a lot of options right now. Things would've gone way worse if we didn't have him there: he stopped backup from reaching the districts we were working in, and took care of an Odinan—"

Carna started. "The Odinans were there?!"

Zaekura winced. "Ah...yeah, two of 'em. But we handled it!"

"They aren't going to give up, though, are they?"

"Hard to say with certainty, but it's a safe assumption," Krika said. "The Odinans have never failed the same mission twice before today. We have no idea how the Keeper will react."

Carna pinched the bridge of her nose. Charla set a hand on her shoulder.

"They must have come through Stelt just before Chloae and Marlget got there," Zaekura said. "Look, it doesn't really change anything. We were watching out for them before, and we're still watching out for them now."

"That's right," Charla said. "This was a victory! You rescued the kolhii team, didn't you?"

Zaekura's gaze fell. "...Mostly…"


Leaping down from the scaffolding, Onewa said, "Hewkii! There you are!"

The other Toa waved, calling, "Hey, take it easy old-timer! I'm not going anywhere!"

"You're the one who should be careful!" Onewa said. "Listen, Hewkii: I'm really sorry I wasn't any help. The pellets didn't work, and I was too far away to do anything else—"

"Onewa, there's nothing to apologize for! You had a solid plan, and the only reason it didn't work out was because a Great Being foiled it. I can't exactly expect you to match wits with one of them!"

"Hmm...not sure how I should take that."

Hewkii laughed.

"Well, no harm done, I suppose. You all made it out, right?"

The conversation paused briefly. Hewkii said, "Well...the truth is...Dekar's still unaccounted for."

Onewa scratched his chin. "The hunter from Mahri-Nui? The one you replaced on the team?"

"Yes. When the Skull Spiders overran the arena, he stayed behind to ensure the rest of us escaped. Zaekura dealt with the spiders, but...we still haven't managed to locate Dekar."

"I see…"

Hewkii put on a grin. "But, I'm sure he's fine. He said he planned to lay low and wait for a chance to make it back to us. If he doesn't know that Yarion joined us, I imagine he's still doing that."

"Yarion did what? Sounds like this game was a lot more than you bargained for."

"Heh, you can say that again."

Onewa waited a moment as Hewkii looked out over the ocean. He grabbed him by the arm, gently but firmly, and said, "Hewkii. Are you really alright?"

"Of course!" he answered without hesitation. "Anyway, how's the construction coming along? I'm surprised you've finished so much in such a short time."

"Bitil's Rahkshi have been a huge help," Onewa said. "These special abilities of theirs have let us blow right past our original timetable."

"Ah, I see. They are pretty spectacular." He craned his neck. "Say, isn't that Makuta Bitil now?"

Onewa followed his gaze: sure enough, Bitil was holding a girder in place with his magnetic powers as a group of Agori bolted it into place. "Huh, what do you know."

The two Toa of Stone walked over to where Bitil was, waiting a few steps away as he finished securing the beam. He spotted them as he turned, saying, "Oh, hello Hewkii. Shouldn't you be resting after all that commotion?"

"Ah, I'd rather keep myself busy," Hewkii said. "What about you?"

"I don't plan to do anything too strenuous, just checking in on my children is all."

"We were just talking about them," Onewa said. "They've been an enormous help, each and every one. I can't thank you enough for sending them our way."

Bitil straightened his shoulders and smiled. "I'm delighted to hear it! And I am likewise unable to overstate my thanks to you all for being so welcoming. My Rahkshi have never seemed happier."

Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He turned, but couldn't quite be sure from this distance.

"Is that…?" he muttered. "Ah, my apologies—please excuse me."

The Toa said farewell, and Bitil crossed the site to a small cluster of benches where the workers could rest. A Rahkshi wove between them handing out refreshments—a Panrahk wearing a gray cloak. When her tray was empty, she turned and noticed Bitil standing there, and at once she froze.

"Clera! I didn't expect to see you here," Bitil greeted. "I thought you were just taking the escort to the outpost? Did something come up?"

Clera fidgeted, averting her gaze as she mumbled something.

"...Are you alright? You seem upset."

She hissed once.

"Angry? Why would I be angry with you?"

Clera stepped aside to clear a path for a Glatorian. Hesitantly, she came closer to Bitil, still not looking him in the eye.

Bitil took a seat. "Clera. What's wrong?"

She breathed deeply. Clutching the tray close to her chest, she shut her eyes tight and gave her answer: she didn't want to take part in the war any longer.

"I see...and that's why you came here?"

Clera nodded.

"Why were you so reluctant to tell me?"

Clera went back to mumbling. She knew how serious the situation was: she wanted Zaekura to be safe and the Great Beings to be stopped. She knew that this could be a momentous turning point for her and her siblings, and she wanted that too. But for whatever reason, to her, fighting just felt so incredibly wrong. She had tried to force herself, but without Faith in what she was doing, her powers wouldn't even work, rendering her dead weight on the battlefield. Clera kept repeating that she understood why they were fighting, that she wasn't against the war—it was so important to her that she communicated that, because she didn't want it to seem like she didn't care what happened to her siblings or Zaekura or anyone. But still, try as she might, she just couldn't bring herself to fight in it.

Bitil remained silent until she was done. Nodding slowly, he said, "You were worried how we might take it? That we might be angry or disappointed in you?"

Clera hung her head. Bitil stood up, stepped forward, and hugged her.

"I'm sorry for making you feel that. You don't have to fight if you don't want to—that's a decision you deserve to make yourself. I know it's not coming from a place of malice or apathy. You're a kind soul, Clera. I should've known this was a bad fit for you."

Clera buried her face in Bitil's shoulder.

"Remember that you can talk to me about anything. Maybe I can't be sure of my immediate reaction, but whatever the case, I'll support you always. Please don't think my love for you is conditional."


"Are you certain, Lady Zaekura?" Charla said, following the Glatorian down the steps of the cathedral.

"I need some fresh air," Zaekura said. "If I stay here I'm going to end up working on something, and my head…"

Another burst of pain eliminated her willingness to finish the sentence. Charla nodded, saying, "I see. It is quite a shock to think your mutation is progressing so rapidly...how are you handling it?"

Zaekura grunted, waving her hand back and forth.

"Perhaps I didn't notice the shift because of how much time we spend together—you weren't especially different one day to the next."

"Until now." Zaekura sighed. "This headache was definitely in a league of its own...but I do feel a lot...I don't know, smarter? Like, I can remember more things than I usually do, and I'm thinking of new ways to use the things that I know. It's scary to change so much so fast, but at the same time...seeing these new possibilities is kind of...exciting." She shuddered.

"That makes sense. It's only natural to…" Charla stopped dead in her tracks, staring wide-eyed down the street. "Oh no…"

Zaekura turned, and then she too went still. Making her way steadily up the street, eyes fixed right on them, was Gorast. Charla moved to step in front of Zaekura, but Zaekura stopped her. Gorast came within a stone's throw of them before she halted, glaring at them both in silence for one very, very long minute.

"So," the Makuta finally said. "You're the one who's been causing so much trouble."

Zaekura swallowed hard. "I don't believe we've met."

"You know who I am." She paused. "I hear you actually managed to get Lord Ekimu to leave Civitas Magna. How?"

"Just turned the problem he created for us into an even bigger problem for him."

Gorast's eyes narrowed further. "Hmph. You got lucky. The only reason you've survived this long is because you've been able to brainwash a few Makuta."

"It isn't brainwashing, but aside from that I can't disagree."

Gorast stepped closer. "Just remember. It doesn't matter how many Makuta you turn to your side: as long as the Great Beings have me, you'll never win. And I refuse to let a selfish, arrogant, undercooked substitute sway me."

Zaekura nodded, attempting to hide the fact she was trembling. "Alright. I'll remember."

Gorast glanced to the side. She walked around Zaekura and Charla, saying, "Your luck's holding. I was given specific instructions not to cause a scene here, plus I've got urgent summons from Lord Ekimu. Next time we meet, though...I'll make sure your luck runs out."

Zaekura didn't dare move until she could no longer hear Gorast's footsteps. When she finally released her breath, she slouched, only saved from hitting the ground by a quick-moving Charla.

"A-Are you alright, Lady Zaekura?"

"Uh...that might be a bit of a stretch…"

From the surrounding crowds emerged Krika, Bitil, and Kojol. When Zaekura looked to them, Krika said, "Charla alerted us telepathically. We thought it wise not to step in immediately, but we were prepared to stop Gorast if necessary."

"Why was she here?" Bitil asked, glaring daggers at Kojol. "Why did none of us know she was here?!"

"Ga-Koro welcomes all," Kojol said. "Need I remind you that I am on neither side of this fight? So long as Gorast obeyed the rules, I saw no need to turn her away, nor inform you and see what sort of commotion you would cause."

"I trusted you to protect my children!"

"And they are protected."

Krika stepped between them. "If you're going to have it out, at least head indoors. Hearing you two shout will only amplify whatever anxiety these people already have."

Bitil whirled around in a huff. Kojol said, "Quite. But first, Lady Zaekura: a message for you has come through on the radio you left with Lady Carna. I do not know the details, but I believe it was from an 'Emsar' in Xia?"

"Oh, I guess she made it back already." Zaekura took a moment to be sure she had caught her breath. "Thanks, I'll be right there."

Kojol headed off with Bitil in hot pursuit. Krika headed in the direction Gorast had gone, leaving Zaekura and Charla to retrace their steps back into the cathedral to find Carna waiting for them.

"There you are," Carna said. "I don't know this code you're using, but here's the message—I wrote it down exactly."

Zaekura took the note she was offered. "Weather was a bit harsh, so I didn't have the chance to find a souvenir for you. The director says he's only interested in face-to-face conversation."

"It seems her mission wasn't as successful as we'd hoped," Charla said.

Carna raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Their leader will only negotiate directly with me," Zaekura said. "I guess once we make it back to Xia, we need to head straight to Valwahi."

Carna ground her teeth. "...I'll just...pretend I didn't hear that…"

"It'll be okay, mom."

Turning to Charla, Carna said, "Please watch her back."

"As always," Charla said with a nod.

Zaekura looked out the window, staring at the eastern horizon. She expected to feel nervous, maybe even afraid. But she was still excited. And in the back of her mind, that was what finally terrified her.


ADDENDUM:

-The next step in the Rahkshi's narrative should be showing them gain more independence, really showing that they have free will of their own and aren't just here to be drones under Bitil's control. The most dramatic way to do this would be having some of them change sides, but given their situation and the Great Beings' viewpoint on them, I don't think there's a way I can really justify that; instead, we're starting with a Rahkshi who isn't entirely behind the war and doesn't want to fight in it. Since Zaekura's already trying to avoid violence wherever possible this doesn't spawn any real conflict, so I do want to see if there's another direction I can take it, but we'll see if anything comes of that.

-Still trying to figure out how best to write a conversation with a nonverbal Rahkshi.