The transformation had left everyone exhausted. They were out in the open in the snowy Ko-Metru forests. They sky was pitch black and the only light in miles was the camp fire the Toa had set up. Vakama used his elemental energy to light it. Every one cheered him on. It was a nice moment for him.

“I don’t think its best we go home just yet” Said Nokama. “It’s late and we’re all tired. We’ll head out early tomorrow and tell the Turaga”

“What makes you think we should tell Dume” said Vakama. “I mean we can exactly say Lhikan gave us these powers. We’ll be slaughtered on the spot.”

“Well then who do we tell?” asked Matau.

“What about the Vahki?” Nuju asked

“No, the Vahki are working with the Turaga” said Vakama. He was sitting by the camp fire, shivering.

“Maybe we could lie about it” suggested Whenua. “I mean it’s for the greater good right? The Turaga needs us. Most of the Vahki got nearly annihilated in the Dark War and I don’t think Sidorak will stay quiet for long. We don’t have the money right now to be constructing many new Vahki. We’re a free gift” The Toa group looked an Onewa who was sitting facing away from them.

“Onewa, what do you think?” asked Matau.

“Huh? Oh yeh, they’re great”. Onewa responded to them but his mind wasn’t with him. It was racing through millions of possible outcomes. That Nuju. Why did he have to make him feel like this? He should be celebrating, not worrying about what Nuju might tell the others. Matau suddenly remembered what he was going to ask Nuju.

“Hey Nuju, what did you mean when you said that thing to Onewa earlier?” Nuju wasn’t really paying attention either. He looked a little upset and was sitting looking at Onewa.

“Ah, it was nothing” he shrugged it off. Nuju got up and stood next to where Onewa was sitting.

“Nice one Nuju.” Onewa sighed. He was looking at the floor when he said it.

“Its not like you didn’t deserve it.” Nuju responded

“Deserved it? For what”. Onewa’s tone was starting to get angrier.

“How do you mean for what?” Do you not remember how you make me feel every day of my life when you punch me, trip me over or kick me. And the way you and your buddies make those snide remarks every time I walk past you.” Nuju was starting to get angry too. This got the attention of the other four Toa. “What goes around comes around Onewa”

“C’mon man? Can’t you take a joke or something? You Ko-Matoran are so strange.”

“A joke?” Nuju croaked. “You want to hear a joke guys?...” Nuju stopped. He got a hold of himself. He was being completely out of character. The thing was though, that Onewa was a bomb and he had the detonator. He could destroy Onewa with one sentence if he wanted to. He had a power he wasn’t used to and it was nothing to do with being a Toa. It was power over Onewa. It felt amazing. How the tables had turned now. But he would be Nuju if he were to be a bully.

“I’m sorry Onewa, I shouldn’t have shouted” Nuju said, lowering his head. Before Nuju could react Onewa pushed him hard.

“###### right you shouldn’t have you worthless piece of…”. Nuju’s fist went sailing into the side of Onewa’s head. Onewa was stunned for a second. Disorientated, he tried to punch him back but Nuju grabbed his fist.

“I’m not a weak little Matoran anymore” he said.

“Neither am I” Onewa used his free fist to jab into Nuju’s stomach. He grunted in pain and fell to the ground holding his stomach. As he did, he hooked his foot around Onewa’s leg, making him fall over backwards. Nuju got up to pin Onewa down. Onewa reached to the side of his leg to pull out a combat knife.

“Onewa STOP!” Vakama cried. He looked at Nuju’s face which was scared to death. Then he looked at his own hands. A knife? What was he thinking? Surely he wasn’t going to use it. He wouldn’t do that would he? Onewa dropped the knife. His face was in shock.

“WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?” shouted Whenua. Everyone was scared. They knew Onewa wasn’t the nicest guy around, but to pull a blade on a team mate? Onewa didn’t know what to do. He knew he was in the wrong but to admit it would make him retaliate in anger if he did.

“Onewa, with me.” said Nokama. Her voice was authoritative and in charge. She walked off to a tree and signalled Onewa to follow her. He did.

“What is going on?” She asked. Nokama was a teacher. Onewa could tell she was using her teaching tactics on him.

“Nothing” He didn’t mean it to but it sounded like the sort of “nothing” that was purposely trying so sound like a “something”

“Well something obviously is” She held his arm with her hand. “If you don’t tell me what’s wrong, I can’t help you”

“Who says I want your help?” he hissed. “I’ve battled this by myself and I have every intention of keeping it that way”.

“What are you battling, Onewa?” He knew he had let too much slip. He had always known there was something “wrong” with him. When his friends would start talking about Female Matoran he couldn’t understand it. He thought they were just over exaggerating at first so he kept quiet and played along. Then he realised he wasn’t attracted to female Matoran. He was attracted to male Matoran. How that lanky Icicle found out was beyond him although, they were known for being good observers. No one else knew, at least that he was aware of.

“Listen Onewa I actually don’t care what’s wrong if you’re not going to man up and tell me. All I care about is that you don’t EVER use a knife on a team member again”. He wanted to say he was sorry, and that he felt awful for what he had done, but he just couldn’t get the words to come out of his mouth.

“I suggest you apologise to Nuju and sort things out between you. We’re a team now Onewa!” She said. Ugh apologising. That had to be one of the top things Onewa hated to do. They both walked back to the camp fire. Every one glared at him. He didn’t really care. They could think what they liked. He went up to Nuju.

“A word?” he asked. Nuju reluctantly got up and walked a small distance away from the rest of the Toa.

“Listen… about the knife. I shouldn’t have done that. I guess … I’m sorry” Onewa couldn’t look Nuju in the eye.

“Wow Onewa” Nuju said sarcastically. “That makes up for everything. Let’s put all those years of you making me feel like a waste of space behind us hey? Good buddy”

“Listen you sarcastic piece of…” Onewa regained control of his anger. “Look I know we haven’t had the greatest of pasts, but Nokama raised a good point. We’re a team now and we’ve got to work as one. That doesn’t mean me or you have to be best friends but can we at least have a professional working relationship?”

“I think that’s the first intelligent thing that’s ever come out of your mouth” Nuju sighed. “Okay he said, but nothing more”

“C’mon Nuju it’s not like I fancy you.” Onewa laughed.

“You think this is what it’s about?” Nuju hissed on a whisper “This is about the way you treated me, not about if you’re attracted to me. Personally I really don’t care who you are and who you are not attracted to.”

“Okay Nuju, calm down it was just a joke man”. Nuju calmed down and walked back to the camp fire. It was getting light now and Onewa hadn’t had any sleep. There was no use in having any now. They would be traveling to the coliseum soon and sleep would only make him more tired. He waited for the sun to awake from its slumber.

Vakama sat by the camp fire. Watching the tiny sparks fly off it. Every one of them looked so hopeful to stay alit, only to be extinguished. That was the story of his life. Every time he would feel independent and free, something would knock him back down again. He felt more like a dying spark than he did the fire. He knew he had to lead the Toa. It was tradition. A Toa team looked unworthy if its leader wasn’t fire-born. It was stupid, but it was important. All the responsibility of the team was on him. Nokama sat down next to him. She was even more beautiful now she was Toa.

“Thanks for taking care of Onewa” he said.

“It’s okay Vakama, but seriously, he’s part of your team, it shouldn’t be my job to tell him off” she said

“Well you are a teacher”

“That’s not the point. We are your team. We will obey your every orders”

“Well then I order you to get off my back” He yelled. Nokama looked like she was going to burst into tears.

“I’m sorry.” He said regretfully.

“It’s fine” she said and she got up and started to walk away.

“Nokama wait!” He said. She stopped for a moment before walking away.

“Real smooth Vakama” It was Matau.

“Do you have anything and I mean anything important to say or are you just a complete waste of space Matau?” Vakama shouted

“What?” Said Matau. A little hurt.

“Because it seems to me that you’re the odd ball in the group. I’m the leader, Nokama is a good negotiator, Nuju is intelligent, Onewa is one ###### of a good fighter and Whenua is extremely wise. But what are you? In what way do you benefit the team? Because right now it seems to me that you were just thrown in here by Lhikan for the sake of having a Le-Toa!”

“You? A leader? Since when?” Matau spat. “The only thing you’re leading is your head up your ######”

“Get out of my sight.” said Vakama, shaking with anger. Matau stood there for a moment unsure of what to do.

“I SAID GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK!”

“Fine” Matau got up and walked away a few metres. He turned round to face the other four Toa who were watching in horror.

“Thanks for having my back guys” His tone was sarcastic and bitter. He turned back and travelled off into the early hours of the morning, disappearing from sight.

“Anyone else want to try talking back to me?” He croaked. No one said a word.

“This whole teams falling apart” Whenua whispered to himself.