A/N - …well, this took a while. The first "real" chapters will still take a while though, so hopefully this will suffice for now.
Apologies for the delay. First it was all homework and mainly studying calculus. Then… it was getting sick for almost the ENTIRE month of December! The entire month! Gah!
That… was not fun. At all.
Anyways. Now to note, this chapter is set long before the events of the current storyline. It also has a slightly different structure due to the nature of it. It's kinda of a… clips of the past sorta thing.
Thought I'd give it a try!
Anyways, onto the chapter! Oh and a late Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you all and a Happy New Year!
Disclaimer: I don't own Bionicle, only my OC Emma and little portions of the plot. Credit to MakutaMutran for letting me use his novelizations of the overall canon as the basis for my plot (as in what's going on canonically). Please note that I have added some creative liberty to this chapter, so if it isn't in the canon in any way (ie. pretty much the majority if not all of this chapter), it's MINE. No stealy.
It is said that long ago, before civilization, wild beasts roamed the land. Packs of reptilian beasts dominated the landscape, apex predators of intelligence unseen in other rahi.
But then they began to decline, their population plummeting to near extinction. It was then that the Great Spirit descended from above, and granted them the gift of evolution. Soon the rahi were transformed from beasts to Bionicle, and in gratitude for this gift they worshiped the Great Spirit…
"Got your head in a tablet again brother?"
The Toa of Fire looked up at the voice, and rolled his eyes. "I am merely reading an old legend. It's-"
The Toa of Air wrapped his arm around his brother. "It's 'boring' you mean." He snorted. "And our brothers call me the grumpy one." He teased seeing the glare on the Toa of Fire's golden Kanohi. "You know, that mask looks good on you."
The Fire Toa sighed, setting the tablet down. "I didn't exactly have a choice in it, did I?"
The Air Toa frowned, sitting beside his brother Toa. "I get it. Being uprooted from your home and brought to this place to defeat a dragon and then made to stay here doesn't exactly make life easy. And you're not the only one that beast scarred." The Toa of Air lifted his arm, revealing a large scar that was still healing on his side. "At least you got a better Kanohi out of it."
The Toa of Fire didn't answer, staring at the ground.
The Air Toa grimaced. "Sorry. I didn't realize…"
"It's fine." The Fire Toa murmured. "It's not like I need to be recognized… not anymore." I just wish I had been given the chance to meet my child… see my love one last time… if only…
The Toa of Air looked at his brother worriedly, before pulling him to his feet. "Come on brother. Tuyet said she was setting up some training sets in the arena while it's not in use. Let's get some training in…"
"Alright…"
The Toa of Fire walked through the halls, the light of the twin moons illuminating the hallway with a pale white light. He was heading to the one place he wanted to get some answers from, whether the occupant of said office wanted it or not.
The Turaga inside looked up as the doors slid open for the Toa. "Lhikan." He greeted.
The leader of the Toa Mangai didn't respond in kind, instead walking right up to the large desk with an unreadable expression on his Kanohi.
Dume jumped when Lhikan slammed his hands on the desk. "I need answers Turaga!"
Regarding the usually calm Toa of Fire, the Turaga took a moment to answer. "Regarding what exactly?"
"My family."
Dume raised a brow. "Your family?"
Lhikan narrowed his eyes. "I need to know if they're alive!"
The Turaga remained silent for a moment, before letting out a long sigh and pushing his chair back. "Do you know why Toa tend to not have lifemates?" He asked instead, leaning back and gesturing for the other to sit.
The Toa scowled at the obvious dodge, but still sat down. "No. I never finished my training at the Fortress." You know that, so why are you asking?
Dume remained silent for a moment, regarding his city's new Toa. "It's because Toa make enemies. Enemies that would use said family against them." The Turaga of Fire closed his eyes, absently tracing a scar on his arm. "It has been a sight I have seen far too many times in my life."
Lhikan frowned as he regarded the elder… before it dawned on him. "You're keeping me from them so I don't lose them again…" like you have…
"…yes." Dume answered softly, meeting the Toa's gaze.
The Toa of Fire was quiet, before another realization settled on him as his eyes widened. "They…They're alive…" he whispered, tears pooling at the edges of his eyes.
The Fire Turaga nodded. "They are safe in Metru Nui. That I can assure you." He reached over and patted the Toa's hand as the other slumped in relief. "But I can't tell you where they are. Not yet."
Lhikan looked up, suddenly hopeful. "You mean…?"
"Yes. One day I will tell you where they are. But only once things have calmed down."
The Toa of Fire slowly nodded, hating this but having to accept it. Rationally, keeping his lifemate and child at a distance would be for the best, to protect them. But his heart still ached at the thought of being away from them… and of never seeing his son grow up.
The Toa of Fire sat in his darkened room, staring blankly at the wall. The news Dume had brought him was not what he had wanted to hear.
He should've been reuniting with his family. He should've finally been meeting his child.
Instead, he was left with his heart broken.
His lifemate was… gone. Taken from him.
His chance to see her again… cruelly ripped away.
Dume stood by the closed door, his eyes sad as he regarded the depressed Toa. "Lhikan… I am so sorry."
The Toa didn't answer him, continuing to stare at the wall.
The Turaga regarded his Toa sadly, before pulling out a data pad and setting it on the floor. "Here… you can go to your son." He said softly, before leaving.
Lhikan didn't react until the door closed, his golden eyes going to the tablet. Carefully, he picked it up, turning it on and revealing it as identification papers. Including his son's name and address…
He gently traced the picture on it, of his child… My little flame…
Slowly he stood up. It was time to meet his boy.
Lhikan sat at his desk, the tablet beside him. He couldn't risk it. Not after the War. Not after the betrayals.
Slowly, the Toa pushed the pad into a drawer, hiding it away from him. He couldn't do it. No matter how much it hurt.
I can't have my son taken from me again…
Lhikan then stood, heading out for patrol. He had gone almost four thousand years without seeing him… they were… strangers…
A tear fell as he took off from the Coliseum on his Skyboard. If only things were different…
He stood on the shore, watching the raging storm. It was hard to just stand there, unable to do anything…
Looking up at the clouds as the rain pelted the ground beneath him, he wondered what kind of destiny this was. To have their Great Spirit left in slumber, the universe in turmoil…
Helpless before it all…
Slowly, he turned away, walking past his memorial as the world faded from gloomy grey to white. If only things had been so different…
A/N - So once again a look into the past! And wow, quite a few little plot-bombs dropped as well…
Hehe. If anyone can figure it out, I might just reward with a gift or two.
While short, it certainly is something to start this new arc off with! Until next time!
Next Chapter: Ruins