Chapter 8, The End of the Beginning
“Begin what?” Sandstorm asked. “The battle for Metru Nui. Within moments, Metru Nui will fall into a deep sleep. And I will be the new ruler. Metru Nui will be reduced to ashes, true. But I will reconstruct it, make it better.” The Phantom Terror replied. “Better how? Endless nightmares, endless chaos? If you win you will rule Metru Nui, but not for very long.” Sandstorm said. “Very well.” The Phantom Terror said. “Let us duel.” And with that, he vanished. Only to reappear to the left of Sandstorm. The Phantom Terror raised his left hand, and the knives and swords in the room all floated off the walls in unison. “Goodbye Sandstorm.” The Phantom Terror said.
Planachar was running as fast as he could, what he had seen and heard back there scared, no, terrified him. He needed to get out of here as fast as possible. Then, the phantom appeared. “Sleep…” It said. Planachar had activated his Hau, but the attack was not physical, it was mental. All of Planachar’s greatest fears seemed to come to life in front of him. He saw a Kanohi Dragon
in front of him, fire spewing from its mouth, and everything went dark.
Metalicus was casually walking through a dark corridor, looking for a light of some sort “Come on, did Kirana forget to pay the power bill again?” He said to himself. Then he saw a light up ahead. He rushed up to the infirmary to find twelve Matoran, as well as Kirana, hospitalized. “What happened?” He said, readying his halberd. He then heard a yell from behind him and saw Nukovac right before he got tackled. Nukovac couldn’t stop, he fell on his face and slid into a wall. “What are you doing?” Metalicus asked. “I take it you’re not terrified.” Nukovac said, letting out a moan of discomfort. “What do you mean terrified? It’s just a little dark and shadow.” Metalicus said. “Someone’s taken control of the tower. Sandstorm told me to get Kirana and the Matoran stabilized while Rivera and Xirax went to get the Vahki.” Nukovac replied. “So, I guess Muhaki and Planachar are with Sandstorm.” Metalicus said. “No. Muhaki is dead.” Nukovac said grimly. “Dead?” Metalicus echoed. “Yeah, fell 300 feet to the ground.” Nukovac said. “Muhaki has wings; he knows how to use them. This is all just a big prank, isn’t it.” Metalicus said. “No. Muhaki is dead; you can see him all over the pavement.” Nukovac said. “Okay, then we need to help Sandstorm, whatever caused Muhaki
to commit suicide must be strong.” Metalicus said.
Sandstorm managed to dodge most of the knives and swords, but he couldn’t keep it up forever. He was already cut in multiple places, and he had a knife stuck in his houlder, but he kept fighting. “Yes… Die!” The Phantom Terror said. “Not today.” Sandstorm said as he shot a disc at The Phantom Terror. “We will meet again. Soon.” The Phantom Terror said. As the disc hit him, he dissipated. The knives and swords then fell to the ground, and Metalicus and Nukovac came rushing in. “Hi guys.” Sandstorm said. “Uh, you’ve got something in your arm.” Metalicus said. “Yeah, but that’s the least of our problems right now, did you guys see Planachar on your way here?” Sandstorm asked. “Yeah, he’s okay; we’ve got him locked up for now.” Nukovac replied. “So, it’s just us three against a phantom that can appear and disappear at will.” Sandstorm said. “Great.” Metalicus said. “Let’s make the hunter become the hunted.”
Kirana was just waking up from stasis when The Phantom Terror appeared in the middle of the room. She quickly recognized him and pretended to be having nightmares. “I know that you’re awake.” The Phantom Terror said. “Do not fear me, child, for I have not come to harm you.” “Then why have you come?” Kirana inquired. “Join me; I know your true heritage, that you hail from my island.” The Phantom Terror answered. “So what if I do, I made my choice. You made yours.” Kirana replied. “Yes, but you are not a Toa of Sonics, you and I both know that.” Kirana needed to keep him talking, if she could just reach her shield, she could escape. “So, if you know that, why haven’t you told anyone else?” She coaxed. “Because, if they knew how much of a rarity you are, they would come running to protect you as soon as possible.” The Phantom Terror said. Kirana had reached her shield now. “Stop.” The Phantom Terror said. Kirana slumped back into her bed. “Clever trick, keeping me talking like that. But it won’t happen again.” “If you can really read my mind, you’d know that I’ll never join you.” Kirana said. “True, it would be a shame to kill you, but I have no choice.” The Phantom Terror said “Now, prepare for dissection.”
“Metalicus, find Planachar and knock some sense into him. Nukovac, you’re with me.” Sandstorm said. “Where are we going?” Nukovac asked. “The infirmary. That’s the most likely place that The Phantom Terror will be.” Sandstorm replied.
Metalicus was halfway to Planachar’s cell now. When he got there, it was hard to believe that any part of Planachar’s mind was still there. He had been reduced to primitive grunts and yells, banging on the cell door. “Hi buddy, sorry in advance.” Metalicus said as he blasted the cell door open with his halberd. Planachar came barreling out at Metalicus. He used the same strategy that he used with Nukovac. He sidestepped, let Planachar slip and slide. Then Metalicus added something new, he whacked Planachar on the head with the flat of his blade. “When you wake up, please don’t kill me.” Metalicus said as he left a note with Planachar. And with that, Metalicus rushed to the infirmary.
Sandstorm had almost gotten to the infirmary when he heard Kirana scream out in pain. “Come on.” He said to Nukovac, but he wasn’t there anymore. Sandstorm drew his spear and charged into the door, tackling The Phantom Terror. They grappled with each other for a few moments until Sandstorm knocked The Phantom Terror out. “Are you okay Kirana?” Sandstorm asked. “I’m fine.” Kirana said. “No you’re not.” Sandstorm said, “Just give me a minute to figure this out.” Then Vahki came bursting up the levels of the building, led by Xirax and Rivera. “We’re back.” Rivera said. “It looks like you took care of things.” As if on cue, The Phantom Terror let out a yell and sent lightning all throughout the building, paralyzing the Vahki. “You will not defeat me so easily.” The Phantom Terror said. He shot red orbs out of his staff, hitting Rivera and Nukovac who had just arrived. They crumpled to the ground and succumbed to the nightmares. Metalicus burst through the door next, followed by Planachar, weapons at the ready, Metalicus threw his halberd and pierced The Phantom Terror’s chest, but he wasn’t even fazed. Metalicus was then hit by one of the nightmare orbs. Xirax and Planachar covered Sandstorm as he got close to The Phantom Terror, but they both fell. “While I may have shown mercy to them, I will not show it to you!” The Phantom Terror yelled as he jumped on top of Sandstorm. “This time, you will not get lucky.” Sandstorm was about to be stabbed when a beam of light shot through The Phantom Terror. He let out a howl of pain and crumpled to the ground, assuming a solid form once he dropped his staff. Sandstorm didn’t know what had happened, Kirana had been in stasis, everyone else was down for the count, but for now, he needed to get The Phantom Terror locked up, before he could do any more damage. Lights were flickering back on, clouds were being pierced by sunlight, and the city of legends was awakened. “The beginning has ended.” Sandstorm said to himself. “So that’s what Ornika meant."
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Thank you for reading Part 1! Please leave any C&C you have in the Review topic! 