ZOMBI3S

Sup homies. Just wanted to say thanks for being patient. I realized after Part V that the coming chapters needed massive reworks in order to fit what I've made thus far...so yeah. Between that and a move and getting licensed for jobs and just me being a trash monster in general, things are going slower than I'd hoped. But! A new chapter will be coming soon. I promise Love y'all.

Yes haha I understand, but I'm actually very glad you feel that way. The more I write the more the more I am tempted to name chapters "Takua Ruins Everything. Again." Let's just say he has some trials go through before everything is said and done. And thank you! I try to include a decent amount of Bionicle themes to keep The Herald of Darkness at least somewhat grounded in the original universe, but only so long as they fit within the story I'm trying to tell. And...well, you put it better than I probably could: now isn't the time for that. Maybe later. Just....maybe. Cheers!

Well guys, I did it. It only took me two years, but I finally finished Part V. It was definitely the hardest to write so far, and by far the longest. When I started this whole thing my chapters were about three pages long, but by the end of Part V it was hard to keep them below ten. Ugh. Maybe I've like, grown as a writer or something weird. Anyway, I hope you liked it, because yes, there's still more to come! But for now, I'm going to melt into my couch and eat nachos.

Chapter 15 - Illusions Takua sank, dazed, unmoving as the water pulled him down, trying to process what had just happened. Huge blocks of stone collapsed all around, plummeting into the dark blue abyss, trails of bubbles floating upward in their wake. He descended, lower and lower as he looked to the orange-pink sky, distorted by the surface of the water. His fingers still held the Atouri, its color now returned to black; its surface cold, as he was used to. A flash of silver caught his attention, and his mind clicked, bringing him back to reality. Takua moved his limbs, grabbing his sword as it fell beside him, and shoved it into its scabbard. He pushed for the surface, his lungs beginning to strain. Up and up he swam, muffled booms sounding all around as the Kini’s ruins collided into the sea floor, as the blurry shape of the Rahi Nui moved above. He was just a few feet from the surface when someone grabbed him, and he was pulled rapidly away from the stifled roars of the beast. Lean, but strong arms wrapped around his torso, and he looked up to see Gali, towing him through the water with the speed of a Takea shark. He held onto her as tight as he could, the water rushing around him, trusting that wherever she took him he would be safe. His lungs started to throb, desperate for air, and just as he felt he couldn’t hold his breath any longer, the Toa of Water stopped and dragged him to the surface. Takua gasped, coughing as his mask entered the ocean air. Gali released her grip, and he treaded water, only a fifty or so feet from the shore. The Rahi Nui stood in the bay, far away now, plunging its claws into the water as the other Toa fought against it. “Find the Turaga,” Gali said calmly, but quickly. She pushed him toward the beach. “Stay with your friends, and stay safe. You’ve done your duty. We’ll deal with this beast.” Takua coughed as a swell swept over his head, and he moved his arms, keeping himself afloat. He looked back at the Toa, concerned, and confused. “Did it work? Is the Seventh Toa…?” “I don’t know.” Her tone seemed worried, and he wanted to ask more questions, but then she was gone, disappeared beneath the waves. He floated there, alone, staring for a moment as the Rahi Nui swatted at the Toa in the harbor. With a huff and a splash, he turned around and headed for shore. It didn’t take him long to reach the shallows. Ga-Koro’s outskirts lay ahead, quiet and isolated from the battle that still raged near the inner city. He pushed through the waves, paddling steadily forward, and soon enough a few figures came into his vision, waiting on the beach ahead. They stood there, lit with a soft glow as the sun met the horizon behind them. Drawing closer, he let out a sigh of relief. Aya, Kokani, and Jaka. Tired and bruised perhaps, but all were alive. All were well, for the most part. His feet brushed against the sea floor, and he stood up, wading through the waist-deep water. As soon as he was within ear shot, he called out to them. “The Seventh Toa? Is he here?” No one responded at first. Jaka ran out to help as Takua stumbled, only now realizing how tired he was. His friend threw an arm around his shoulder, half carrying him until they were finally on dry land. Takua collapsed into the sand just before Kokani, his body aching, completely and totally exhausted. He took a minute to collect himself, breathing deeply as the saltwater dripped off his armor. Looking up to his friends, he repeated the question. “Did it work?” Aya and Kokani looked at each other, exchanging a glance Takua couldn’t quite figure out. The Ga-Matoran finally spoke, shrugging her shoulders. “I hope so.” Takua rose to his knees, confused, and suddenly doubtful. Aya’s response wasn’t what he’d expected. Shouldn’t they be celebrating right now? That blinding light, that explosion of power… that had to be something, right? “…You hope so? The Seventh Toa isn’t here?” “It was a summoning, Takua.” “Yeah,” Takua gestured to the space around him. “We summoned him, so where is he?” Kokani knelt down to look him in the eye. “No one ever said it would be instantaneous.” “Well, I know that! I just…” Takua trailed off, panting, still trying to catch his breath. Pausing for a few seconds, he realized that he didn’t even know what he’d expected. He’d thought that, whatever happened, it would be clear what to do now. That there would be, at the very least, some sort of direction. That he wouldn’t feel so… so… he struggled to understand his feelings. So confused. So empty-handed. So… lost. “We have to find Turaga Nokama,” Aya said. “We’ll be safe with her. And we’ll wait until we know more. We’ll wait until the Toa of Light comes.” “…Wait?” Takua summoned his strength, standing up. For some reason, the idea didn’t sit well with him. A thought entered his mind, and the uncertainness of it began to sink in He opened his mouth again, his voice beginning to quiver. “For how long? A few days? Weeks? …Months?” Placing his hands on his head, his confusion slowly began to morph into frustration. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. It was supposed to over. It was supposed to be finished. He started to fidget, waiting for Aya’s response, but nothing came. He stared at her, anxiety building in his thoughts, tightening his chest, pulling at his heart and lungs. It built as Takua looked at each of his friends, searching for some kind, any kind, of answer, until finally he snapped. “For how long, Aya!?” The Ga-Matoran took a step back, startled. “Calm down, it’s not the end of the world.” “Calm down — ?” he cut himself off, clenching his jaw as his face started to warm. “So you’re telling me that no one actually knows anything about what just happened?” “It’s a Prophesy,” Kokani added. “Not an explanation of events that are guaranteed to occur.” Takua looked at Kokani, slowly realizing just how stupid it all seemed. “So… what?” He breathed through his nose, trying to control himself, but his anger bubbling over. The Atouri dangled from its chain as he held it out for everyone to see. “I carried this thing all across the island just because… because Nuju had a hunch?” Kokani squinted, his voice calm but his body tense. “He’s wiser than you are, Takua.” “Oh, come on, what does that even mean?” Takua rolled his eyes, his passion taking over his voice. “What’s Nuju ever done besides look at the stars and speak in tongues? I’m the one that brought it here!” He pointed to his chest. “I watched over it! What if Toa of Light doesn’t even come? Am I supposed to wait forever? Illum said —” “Illum is a traitor,” Kokani retorted. “And you shouldn’t believe anything he says.” “Yeah? Well maybe he had the right idea!” Takua snapped. “At least Krosis understands the real world! The Turaga are so stuck in their old ways, they’ve forgotten about reality! We don’t live in a world of Prophesies anymore! We can’t rely on the will of Mata Nui, because… because look where that gets us!” He gestured to the burning city, spread out across the length of the bay before him. Chaos still reigned, but it was far away now, closer to the main gates. Black smoke rose here and there, contrasting the bright colors of the sunset. The clashes of steel and stone still sounded, the yelling of Matoran and Kryll piercing through it all. At the edge of the bay, the Toa continued to fight the Rahi Nui, blasting it with elemental energies as it roared and swiped at them like flies. The battle still raged, but it seemed to have waned a bit. It was hard to tell, but Ga-Koro’s forces appeared to have been able to push back the Kryll. Most of their catapults now lay broken at the edge of the valley, smashed apart by the city’s own siege engines. Takua watched as the tiring Rahi Nui fell into Naho bay, down again, but not defeated just yet. Perhaps, if given a few more hours, the city’s forces would be victorious. But Takua didn’t see any of that. All he saw was the fire and blood, the pain and suffering, the loss of life. All he saw was the darkness. No one responded to his tirade, and so he stared at everything, hands still resting atop his head, breathing deeply as his anger slowly faded. It trickled out of his chest, slowly but steadily, until he was left with without anything at all. He felt empty, and hollow. He’d done what was asked of him; he’d finally accomplished his task. He’d triumphed where the odds had seemed impossible, and yet, somehow, he still felt defeated. He still felt alone. Jaka’s hand came to a rest on his shoulder. “You just have to have faith, Takua.” But Takua shrugged him off. “Don’t talk to me about faith.” Gazing forward, looking at nothing in particular, he realized that he should’ve thought about this more. He’d left Le-Koro for this? For the empty words of Turaga Nuju? The promise that he’d be doing something great, that he’d be helping the entire island of Mata Nui? His head sank and his eyes closed. Promises. Promises, with nothing to show for them. All of it was shadows, shadows and illusions. It wasn’t real. Sighing, he turned around to apologize to his friends. None of this was their fault. They’d always shown their support, and they didn’t deserve this from him. He looked at them and opened his mouth to speak, but before the words could come out, he caught a glimpse of a figure, standing at the edge of the city. And his mind cranked to a halt. …What? It was a Le-Matoran. A girl, about his age, one he recognized instantly. But no… it couldn’t be her. Why would she be here? Why now? It couldn’t be… could it? Talim…? Takua stared, unmoving, realizing that she had to be some trick of his mind. He rubbed his eyes and squinted, questioning reality, but there she was, clear as day. She looked him in the eye from the opening of a nearby alleyway, just beyond the beach. Her dark green Huna glinted in the sunlight, and she smiled, beckoning for him to come closer. And, after a few seconds of hesitation, he followed. Without a word. “Takua?” Jaka’s voice reached his ears, but he didn’t actually hear it. His feet sank into the white sand as he walked cautiously toward the alley, captivated by her gaze. But she turned around as he drew closer, moving farther into the buildings, and quickly disappeared around a corner. “No, wait!” he stumbled, calling out as his legs picked up the pace, stepping from the beach to the abandoned street. He jogged after her, determined not to lose her trail. “Takua!?” “Where are you going?” His friend’s voices echoed, but again, he didn’t respond. All his thoughts were for her. Takua slid into the alleyway, just in time to see her at its far end, glancing at him for a second before disappearing into the shadows. Desperate to see her, desperate for some kind of purpose, he gave chase. She led him through Ga-Koro’s outskirts, weaving this way and that, always managing to lead him on for only a second before flitting out of sight. She never seemed to move faster than a casual stroll, but no matter how hard he ran, he couldn’t seem to catch up. Multiple times he’d thought he’d lost her, but then she would appear at the edge of his vision, giving him just enough direction to work off of. His friends chased after him, asking where he was going, telling him they should be finding the Turaga, but he didn’t have anything to say in return. He had to find her, to see her up close, to make sure she was real. Nothing else mattered, not the Atouri, not the battle, not even the Toa or the Rahi Nui. There was only her. The sun fell below the horizon, and darkness settled upon the narrow, empty streets. She led him on, seemingly to nowhere in particular, until Takua found himself in what seemed to be a small shipping district. Her trail led him out of a side street and into a narrow road, or a wide alley, and… she was nowhere to be found. He looked around frantically, yearning for any hint of her. The buildings loomed above, tall and tightly packed together. The street dead-ended into a small dock at the edge of the bay, where a decent-sized schooner sat, its grey sails rustling slightly in the wind. The waning moon shone above, the only light in the dark city. Up and down the street he searched, not ready to give up. She had to be here, somewhere. She had to be! “Takua!” He whirled around as Jaka slid to a halt beside him, panting. “Where are you going?” his friend demanded. “What is going on with you? We have to get back to the Turaga. Back to safety!” “I saw her!” Takua exclaimed, excited but distressed at the same time. “She’s here, Jaka! Somewhere!” “What? Who? What are you talking about?” “Talim,” Takua said, the sound of her name ringing in his head as he said it. “She… she’s here. I know it.” “Mata Nui, Takua…” “I have to find her,” he trailed off, pushing past Jaka as he turned to continue his search. But his friend wouldn’t have it. Jaka grabbed him by the arm, forcing Takua to look into his eyes. “No, you don’t! Listen to yourself! Talim…?” Jaka’s shoulders sank, a pained look coming across his mask. “…Really?” But Takua stood his ground. “I have to do this.” There was a pause in their words, and the sounds of the far-away battle drifted to their ears. Jaka responded. “Look, I miss her too. But I know what you’re doing. And this isn’t going to end how you want it to.” “And how do you know that?” “Because I know you, Takua!” he pleaded, still holding his arm. “You’re going to keep looking for her. You’re never going to give up. And it’ll be admirable at first, but the years will pass and she’ll still be gone.” He shook his head, meeting Takua’s unapologetic gaze with worried eyes. “And you’ll still be alone.” Takua clenched his jaw, shaking his head. “I have to do this, Jaka,” he repeated, pointing to the ground, stressing his words. “Don’t try and stop me.” “I just…” Jaka stammered, taking a moment to pull his thoughts together. “I don’t want you to look at your reflection one day and realize you’ve wasted your life searching for something you’ll never find.” Letting out a desperate breath, both his hands fell on Takua’s shoulders, squeezing them tight. His voice was quiet, but firm. “They’re just shadows, Takua. Please don’t follow them. Please don’t go down this path.” Takua stared, his face stern, his eyes unyielding. Jaka’s fingers tightened around him, but he shook backwards, freeing himself. Without a word, he turned around. But only a few steps later, Jaka’s voice rang out, echoing among the quiet buildings. “Talim is dead, Takua!” Takua stopped in his tracks, the words piercing through his chest like daggers. His response came without turning around, his voice low, peppered with rage. “You don’t know that.” “You have to face it; she’s gone,” Jaka’s voice broke. “You can’t bring her back.” “Yes I can. And I will.” “Who told you that!?” Jaka let his arms hang loose at his sides, begging his friend to listen. “Illum? Saku? Do you really think they have your best interests at heart?” “She still breathes!” Takua whirled around, his anger erupting. “She says my name! Don’t tell me to give up on her, because I will never be able to do that.” “Your name? Why do you think she says that?” Jaka responded. “She wants you to help her! To be by her side, to stay close and take care of her. You keep saying you have to find her, but you forget that she’s back in Le-Koro! Right where…” he trailed off, struggling to keep going. He looked at Takua, pain spreading across his face, clearly not wanting to say what he was about to say. But he continued nonetheless. “…Right where you left her.” Takua balled his fists. “You’re wrong.” “Before we left for Ko-Wahi, when you were still unconscious… I made sure she was safe.” Jaka nodded. “Remember her friend Alani? She was going to stay, and help rebuild. She said she’d look after her. Give her food, and water, while she slept. Make sure she had a roof over her head, you know?” Takua stared, unable to calm himself, but at the same time unable to respond. The street was still, eerily so. “Don’t do this,” Jaka went on. “You have to let her go. Please, Takua.” He stared, desperate, his eyes shining in the moonlight. “For her sake… just let her rest.” Footsteps reached Takua’s ears, and a few seconds later Kokani and Aya arrived, stopping a few feet behind Jaka. They stared at him, worry and confusion on their faces. He could tell they pitied him, and he hated it. He breathed deeply, not saying anything, but refusing to accept Jaka’s words. The Atouri felt cool against his burning chest. But then his friend’s expressions changed. They looked up, staring over Takua’s shoulder, eyes widening. Aya cocked her head to the side, and Kokani’s brow furrowed, as if they were seeing something they didn’t fully understand. Jaka looked too, his mouth hanging slightly open. Takua turned to follow their gaze, and… There she was. “Talim..." Takua stumbled forward, his body moving automatically. She stood on the deck of the ship, calmly waiting for him. The schooner’s sails fluttered around her as she leaned against its railing, the moonlight glinting against her armor. She was beautiful, just as he remembered. “Takua, that’s not her…” But he knew Jaka was wrong. It was her, as real as he’d ever seen her. She was here, somehow standing before him, just a few dozen feet away. He felt his anger wash away as she smiled, and memories of Le-Koro flooded his mind. Everything was calm as he moved forward, almost in a trance. The world had disappeared. Only she existed, and that was all he needed. He stepped onto the dock, his boots clumping against the wood. “Takua that’s not her!” Jaka’s voice managed to worm its way into his head, and he paused. He looked at her, his eyes clear, and he became aware of a few details. There was… something about her, perhaps the way she carried herself, that seemed… off. Her smile wasn’t quite as he remembered it, the way her fingers rested on the ship’s railing seemed… well, not like her. There was something, something… that wasn’t right. Blood pumped through his veins, and instinctively, he reached for his sword. And then, more figures arose on the ship beside her: Kryll. “No…” Drawing his sword, he ran in the opposite direction, horrified to see more Kryll appearing out of the shadows, blocking off their escape. They spilled out of the buildings, twenty, maybe thirty of them, weapons at the ready. Takua sprinted for his friends, but two managed to block his path, preventing his escape from the dock. He swung his sword at one, his steel crashing against its scimitar as it stumbled backward. He shifted his attention to the other, readying himself, but it was already too late. The blunt end of its sword smashed into side of his head, and stars flashed before his vision as he fell. He hit the dock with a painful crash, his sword clattering out of his hands. Before he could get back up the Kryll was on top of him, pinning him down. Takua struggled, thrashing with all his strength, and just barely managed to free his right arm. Throwing it forward, his elbow smashed the Kryll’s mandibles, bloodying them, and he took the opportunity to push himself up. Crunch! The other warrior’s boot connected with his side before he’d made it to his knees, and his mask was back down against the dock. The Kryll’s claws grabbed the back of his head, pulling him back for a second before his face was slammed into the hard wood. His vision blurred, and the world spun. Stunned and unable to move, Takua looked to the street, staring as the blurry shapes of his friends fought against impossible odds. His mind stumbled, trying to right itself as fast as it could, but already the Kryll had shoved his hands together, and he could feel thick rope being wrapped around his wrists. “Takua!” Aya’s voice reached his ears. Blood sprayed the Ga-Matoran as she cut down one warrior, but there were a dozen more to replace it. “Takua, hold on! We’ll get you!” He tried to push himself back up, but was shoved down again in an instant. Both Kryll on top of him were almost twice his size. “You have to run!” Takua yelled as his vision started to clear. “Just go! Please!” The rope cut into his wrists, and the Kryll grabbed him by it, pulling him to his feet and wrenching his arms at the same time. Resisting, he kicked at his captors, wriggling against their grasp, but it was no use. They held him fast, dragging him toward the ship no matter how hard he fought. He watched as Jaka blocked an attack with his shield, retaliating with his dagger, but the Kryll had managed to separate him from Kokani and Aya. Six of them closed in, and Jaka blocked and parried as best he could, but it wasn’t long before a club to the back sent him skidding into the cobblestone. “No!” Takua cried as the Kryll dragged him onto the narrow ramp that led to the schooner. He swiveled his head, catching the Kryll’s forearm in his vision, and without hesitating he sank his teeth into it. The taste of blood filled his mouth as the Kryll howled, releasing its grip for an instant, and Takua took the opportunity to sprint for the shore. They were taking Jaka. They were taking Jaka! The thought ran through his head as he saw the Kryll push his friend down, tying rope around his wrists just as they’d done to him. He raced for his sword, laying where it had fallen earlier. He couldn’t let this happen. He had to fight — ! Takua screamed as he fell once more, white hot pain suddenly surging through the back of his leg. He swiveled around as best he could, staring at a nasty gash in the back of his thigh, and he a noticed a barbed arrow sticking into the dock beside him. Blood trickled from the wound, not deep enough to permanently injure, but hamstringing him nonetheless. He writhed against the wood planks, his mask contorted with pain, but managed to glance back at the ship. A lone Kryll archer stood near the tip of its bow, its dark grey armor glinting in the moonlight, just a shade lighter than its black war paint. It stared back at him, emotionless, and Takua noticed that it was thinner, leaner than most. Its mandibles were smaller than he was used to, and Takua realized that it was female. His thoughts left him as the two warriors pulled him to his feet. He was dragged, kicking and screaming, back to the ship. Still he tried to fight, pulling as hard as possible against them, but he could barely walk, and was no match for their strength. All he could do was stare as the Kryll surrounded Kokani and Aya, their backs to each other, tired, but refusing to surrender. The two Matoran moved in sync, twirling around as their blades flashed, already having downed three Kryll. But even they couldn’t fight the odds. One small misstep and a blade nicked Aya’s shoulder, a shallow cut, but an omen for what seemed to be the inevitable. “Jaka! Takua!” Kokani’s voice pierced the night as Jaka was dragged onto the dock. “You have to run!” Takua yelled at Kokani as he was pulled onto the ship, even though escape seemed impossible. They were surrounded. Even if they managed to break free of the Kryll’s circle, how far would they make it before the archer picked them off? There was no easy way out of the alley. He'd led them into the perfect trap. He was thrown against the deck at the feet of another Kryll, and was joined a few moments later by Jaka. His friend looked at him, bruised and bound, breathing heavy as fear and shock spread across his mask. The Kryll that stood above them was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore jet-black armor. Takua noticed a wide line on his right thigh, a recent wound that was still only partially healed. He looked up at the Kryll, and his mind brought him back to the tiny village in Ga-Wahi, where they had captured Krosis just a few days ago. Takua’s heart sank, recognizing it. The Kryll grinned at him, revealing jagged, stained teeth. “I told you we’d find you, didn’t I?” “Captain,” the warrior with bloodied mandibles spoke up. “Were there supposed to be two Le-Matoran?” The ship’s captain answered without looking up. His voice was quieter than Takua expected. Deep, but scratchy. “It’s this one that we need,” he said, nudging Takua’s shoulder with his boot. “But we’ll take the other as well. If only to ensure some form of…” he paused, his dark eyes meeting Takua’s for a moment. “…Cooperation.” The warrior grunted. “What of the other two? They’ve killed four already.” Still heaving from his injury, Takua could hear the clashes of steel behind him. Aya and Kokani yelled, fighting with every last bit of strength, taking down as many as they could. He wrenched his shoulder, trying to stand up, but an armored boot pressed into his back, pushing him down. The captain drummed his fingers against his belt, thinking for a few seconds before speaking up. “Pull everyone out. We have to leave before the Toa find us. Fighting them isn’t worth our time.” The warriors nodded, signaling for their troops to board. The sails rustled as they were pulled taut, and all around the ship was readied for departure. Takua stared as the Kryll boarded, glancing at one in particular who had taken his sword for its own. One by one their metal boots hit the deck, leaving only a handful on shore to keep Kokani and Aya at bay. Again, he struggled against his bonds, trying to wriggle his way back to the dock, but his guard growled through his bloody mouth, holding him tight. His heart raced as Jaka was pulled away, dragged to the other side of the ship. His friend looked back to him, opening his mouth to say something, but his captor grabbed him by the mask, silencing his words. The last thing Takua saw were Jaka’s terrified eyes, trembling as he was shoved through a door and into the ship’s cabin, out of sight. No…! Takua started to shake. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t let it happen! Yanked up again by his rope, Takua stumbled as his leg gave out, pain surging through him. He gritted his teeth at the Kryll, shifting his weight as it pulled him again, and he took his opportunity. Letting the momentum aid him, he charged forward, throwing his body into the Kryll, smashing his forehead into its collarbone. It let out a surprised grunt as it staggered and fell, with Takua crashing down atop its chest. Raising his bound wrists, he balled his knuckles into one mass, and brought them down with all his strength, slamming into the Kryll’s cheek. Its head jerked to the side, its bloodied jaw now limp and broken. Takua stumbled to his feet, limping as fast as he could toward the dock. He threw his weight against the ship’s railing, using it to steady himself as he pushed for the ramp, but in a second another Kryll had grabbed him around the waist. He clutched the wood, hanging onto it with an iron grip as the warrior tried to pull him back, splitting Takua’s attention between it and his friends, who still fought on the shore below. Kokani yelled as he head-butted the warrior in front of him, pushing it back. Free for a second, he sprinted onto the dock, lowering his shoulder as he slammed into another Kryll. It stumbled backward, falling into the water as Kokani whirled around, blocking an attack from behind. His steel rang out, the rage of a wild Rahi burning in his eyes. “Just run!” Takua yelled at the Ko-Matoran, still kicking at the Kryll behind him. In the corner of his vision, he saw the captain nod to the lone archer, and somehow he knew what was about to happen. He writhed against his attacker, blood dripping from his leg, desperate to break free. “Run! Please!” But Kokani wouldn’t listen. He grabbed his combatant by the shoulder and threw him toward Aya, who whirled around and caught the Kryll with the tip of her blade. Blood sprayed her armor as Kokani barreled forward, only two more warriors between him and the ship. The Ko-Matoran ran at the first, raising his staff to attack, and — An arrow embedded itself in his chest. Takua froze, letting out a stifled gasp as the ability to breathe left him. He blinked, stunned, unable to make sense of what he’d just witnessed. Everything left him as he stared, still clutching the ship’s railing, still holding onto it for dear life. It didn’t make any sense. It… it couldn’t… “Kokani!” Aya screamed his name as Kokani stumbled backward, his eyes wide with pain and shock. He held onto his blade, gripping it with white knuckles as he struggled to breathe, but he didn’t fall. Kokani pulled himself back to his full height, swinging his blade at the Kryll in front of him. It parried, but didn’t have time to retaliate before Kokani had grabbed it by the forearm, throwing it off the dock and into the water. The archer had nocked another arrow, and Takua could only watch as she pulled the string of her bow once more. Her dark armor glinted in the moonlight as she held her breath, lining up another shot. “No!” Takua’s voice returned to him, and he screamed at the top of his lungs. He kicked at his captor with renewed vigor, frantically trying to fight. “Kokani! No!” Thunk! Kokani fell to one knee as another arrow sank into his torso, just below his ribcage. He let out a stifled grunt, clutching his wound with one hand as he stared at the last Kryll on the dock. His breathing labored, he mustered his strength, legs straining as he pushed himself back to his feet, but it wasn’t nearly fast enough. The last Kryll raised its weapon, ready to finish him off. Aya slid to his side just in time, blocking the Kryll’s club before it could come crashing down. Lightning fast, she kicked it in the chest, and it faltered as Kokani cried out, whipping his blade through the air as droplets of blood flew from his wounds. His steel cut through the warrior’s armor, and in a second the Kryll had fallen, collapsed against the dock. Kokani stood above it, staring at the body as his lungs heaved, his fingers starting to shake. He looked down at himself, watching as blood oozed down his armor. The barbs stuck out of him, and he stared, as if trying to comprehend how they’d gotten there. Pain, gradually, spread across his face. With a slight shudder, his staff slipped out of his fingers, clattering to the dock as he wheezed. With an exhausted, defeated thump, Kokani fell to his knees. “No… no, Mata Nui please, no…” Aya’s mumbling barely reached Takua as she knelt down to the Ko-Matoran, pressing her hands against his chest, fumbling to do something, anything that could help, but at the same time not knowing what. She looked up, meeting Takua’s petrified gaze, and they stared at each other for only a second. But in that second he could see her mind change, her apprehensiveness replaced by a need to act, a need to keep fighting, no matter what. She took her hands off Kokani, standing up as she sprinted to the tip of the dock, but it was already too late. The Kryll had pulled back their ramp, and the ship was floating away. Her eyes burning with fire, Aya pulled out her bow, readying an arrow as she scanned the ship’s deck, looking for her target. But the Kryll archer was ready. Her black war paint winked as she let loose another barb. It sailed through the air, whistling for only a second before hitting its mark with a sickening thud. All in a matter of seconds. All before Aya could fire off a shot. She stopped, letting out a slight murmur as she took a small step back. Aya’s arms fell to her sides, her bow slipping out of her hands. She clutched her stomach, looking down at the wooden shaft sticking out of her. Blood pooled through her fingers, and there was a moment of silence before she looked back up. The fire inside her was gone now. Her eyes were wide, her face pale, and once more she met Takua’s gaze. She too, sank to her knees. And Takua could only stand there, paralyzed as she ship took him farther from the shore. He could only stare as Aya and Kokani bled, slowly succumbing to their wounds. They were too far away now, and Aya’s voice was too quiet for him to hear, but he could read her lips as she stared out across the water, clutching her wound as her strength began to fade. “I’m sorry…” Takua's hands slipped from the railing, and his voice resounded against the water as he screamed. He yelled their names, repeating them over and over as the Kryll pulled him away, the pain in his leg now nothing compared to what burned inside him. He howled at the stars, cursing everything and everyone as they dragged him below deck and into the gloom. It wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real! He kicked and clawed at his captors, fighting tooth and nail as they hauled him into the ship’s cargo hold. Multiple times he broke free, only to stumble a few steps in the opposite direction before he was overpowered once again. It took three brutes to finally subdue him, and he was thrown into a shadowy corner, surrounded by freight and ballast. His arms were wrenched above his head, tied to a metal rung in the ship’s hull, and he was left alone in the dark. But even this didn’t stop his fury. He writhed, raging, wailing, mourning, denying everything that he knew to be true. He fought, pulling his wrists until the rope rubbed them raw, screaming as his anger and sadness twisted into a dreadful, disturbed beast. Damaged and defeated, cornered and captured, bleeding and broken, he refused to accept his fate. He cursed the skies and the earth, the air and the sea, the world around him and everything in it. With every fiber of his being he fought and he fought, even as his strength began to abandon him. On and on, he raged, growing wearier and more desperate by the minute, his curses becoming wails, his wails breaking into sobs, and his sobs devolving into prayers. His voice waned and eventually broke. His arms tired, aching as his wrists bled. His lungs burned and his heart pounded, forcing him to stop as he grew light-headed. Soon, he had no choice but to sit there, his back against the wood of the hull, his body admitting defeat long before he was ready to. All of his power dulled, and he had nothing left to give. And so he stared at the dark hold, his eyes lingering on a single lantern that hung from the ceiling, swaying slightly as the ship moved through the water. It rocked back and forth with a steady rhythm, casting its yellow glow as it hypnotized him, as it pacified him. Slowly, steadily, it chipped away at his rage. Slowly, steadily, he faded. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t think. He sat there, paralyzed, unable to do anything as the Atouri rested against his chest, gleaming in the darkness as the ship pushed against the waves. He could only stare off into space, lost, his mind in too much shock to function. Takua sat there, alone, alone in every way as the minutes ticked by. How long it was, he didn’t know, but he also didn’t care. He stared at the lantern, entirely emotionless, his mask stained from blood and sweat and tears as shadows flickered all around. They moved back and forth, jumping just a little whenever the ship hit a rough patch of water. Not a thought crossed his mind; nothing reached him. Nothing at all. And that’s when she reappeared. He knew who it was before he even saw her face. She walked out of the shadows, approaching calmly, quietly. The lantern silhouetted her from behind, but her eyes seemed to glow in the darkness. He watched her, unmoving, unfeeling as she crossed the cargo hold in a few long, graceful steps. She stood above him now, silently meeting his gaze. Talim knelt to his level, staring for a moment before placing a gentle hand on the Atouri. She traced its edges with her finger, looking into its depths with awe, respect, and yearning. He didn’t move as she reached around him, unclasping it from his neck, and taking it for her own. Her eyes bored into him as she stood up without a word. She cocked her head to the side and smiled, but the expression wasn’t anything like he remembered. It was a smile that that laughed at him, like a conqueror gloating over victory, and as Takua looked into her eyes, he knew that it wasn’t her at all. The deep blue gaze that he yearned for was nowhere to be found, replaced by fiendish orbs that burned yellow, like the flames of a bonfire; ancient, dangerous, and full of madness. He knew exactly where he’d seen these eyes before: on that platform in Le-Koro. During the whirling storm, on the day when he had lost everything. He knew, without a doubt, who it really was that stood before him: Makuta. Talim's possessed form leaned over, brushing her cold fingers against his cheek. She opened her mouth, and in a voice not quite her own, spoke. “You’re such a fool, Takua.” Her gaze lingered for a moment more, but then there was a whirl of shadow, and she was gone. Disappeared in a sudden cloud. Vanished, without a trace. And so Takua stared into the dark, numb to the entire world. Only one thought managed to cross his mind: Makuta had the Atouri. He sighed, the knowledge that he’d failed slowly filling him up. Matau, his friends, the Toa; they’d trusted him to keep it safe. They’d trusted him to watch over it, to keep it out of Makuta’s hands, to keep them all free from the impending darkness. And he’d failed them. Thump-thp. He could almost hear Le-Koro’s Storyteller, his raspy voice reciting the words from The Tale of Atouri, and he knew what was coming. He knew that, soon, Makuta would release his wrath upon the world, so much that not even Mata Nui would survive. Thump-thp. With his heart pounding in his chest, he thought of his home, his friends, his people. And he realized the truth that stared him in the face: not only had he failed them, but he’d doomed them. Thump-thp. He’d doomed them all. ~End of Part V~

This made me go 'aww' but I also feel a little sad too

NO LIKE! NO BUY! YOU WORK FOR NOTHING! jk jk these are pretty solid. Also curious about what head it is for...?

Thank you so much for the review!! It's always great to hear what people think about your writing, especially if they enjoy it! You make a lot of good points, and looking back on some of my earlier chapters there are a lot of things I'd like to fix, but in the interest of finishing this story before I turn 90, I might have to put that on the back burner for now. But I really want to say that I am so glad you like my antagonists!! I really think having strong bad guys is one of the most important aspects a story can have, and to be honest I was a bit worried I hadn't portrayed them as well as I wanted to. I basically had Aya sum up my thoughts in Part V, when she says "There's no such thing as villains, only heroes on the other side." I just can't do one-dimensional villains. They all have to be fighting for something, and you have to be able to relate to them, at least on some level. Otherwise, (at least for me) the whole thing feels...'meh.' I'm almost finished with the last chapter of Part V (finally!!), and I think its safe to say that big things are coming. It's great to have you aboard, and I hope you enjoy the ride! As always, thanks for reading

"""""The drama?""""" If you call a bunch of sjw 16 year olds arguing over nothing """drama""" then maybe You have a good point. Real drama is more like what you get when trying to reason with people who use the term "SJW" unironically. EDIT: Actually, the more I think about this the more inaccurate it seems. Like, the majority of the people in the Bionicle community whose Bionicle-related activity is shaped at least in part by social justice—the people I see on Tumblr who create headcanons about Bionicle characters' gender and sexuality, or who are unafraid to critique problematic aspects of Bionicle's story or marketing, are from my experience more likely to be older fans in their 20s and 30s. If anything, the ones I notice who are resistant to social justice ideas (or at least, to applying them to Bionicle) tend to be the younger ones who haven't yet weathered over a decade of debates, discussions, and controversies associated with the theme and its fandom. Perhaps it's just the company I keep as an older fan, but if these hypothetical "sjw 16 year olds" exist in the Bionicle tag they haven't exactly caught my attention. loooool this sounds stupid and fun. Any recommendations for good Bionicle accounts to follow? I've been thinking about getting a tumblr. Aside from that, I've been mostly just working on my epic. And also farting a lot. Ever tried Fiber One bars? Don't. Your roommates will hate you.

I too am very interested in this

Idk why but I find this hilarious When I was a kid my mom had these decorative floor lamps, with vines carved into them and everything. I'd hang my bionicles from them, like they were desperately trying to make it to the top. It was pretty popular at parties. And by that I mean my mom made me take them down before anyone saw it.

Chapter 14 - Unity Takua knelt on the wooden balcony, his body shaking as he squeezed the Atouri, holding it close to his chest. He stared as the Rahi Nui bellowed, its deep, powerful roar echoing throughout the city, burrowing into his bones. His body still tingling from his spurt of burning pain, images flew into his head, images from his past. Le-Koro burning, Matau falling off that platform, Talim crumpling to the ground. He could see her now, her eyes listless, her lips twitching, muttering his name. Takua… He couldn’t be here. Takua watched as the massive Rahi trudged toward the city, wading through Naho bay as if it were a shallow stream, but in his mind he saw Makuta. He saw the shimmering form of the Infected Matoran, and his rusted, pitted Hau. His yellow eyes bored into him, taunting him, calmly relishing in the destruction of everything he loved. He couldn’t be here! Takua shook, staring at the Rahi Nui as it advanced, rising taller as the water at its feet thinned. He heard someone calling his name, but he didn’t respond. His breathing grew quick and shallow, fear overtaking him, his horrible memories filling him up. He’d thought he’d moved past this. He’d thought he’d been stronger. His heart pounded against the Atouri, his mind racing, panicking. Makuta can’t be here! Hands on his shoulders. They pulled him to his feet, shaking him, trying to get his attention, but still he stared, paralyzed. The Rahi Nui’s footsteps pounded in his ears, shaking the earth, and he watched as it approached the shore, as it approached him. It towered over the buildings, silhouetted against the sun, casting its shadow upon the city. He couldn’t do this. Not against Makuta. He didn’t have the strength; he was too weak. Smack! Takua’s head turned to the side as Jaka’s hand crashed into his cheek, forcing him back to reality. The beast loomed at the city’s edge. The Kryll’s boulders crashed into the buildings behind them. Sounds of battle all around reached him, and Takua looked at Jaka, shocked. He’d hit him.... “Get a hold of yourself!” Jaka shook him. His friend grabbed him by the mask, forcing Takua to look into his eyes. Then, quieter, kinder, he went on. “You can do this, Takua.” Takua slowed his breathing, lowering one hand to feel the pommel of his sword. Jaka was right. He had to do this. No matter what, he had to finish it. Slowly, he nodded, not breaking eye contact. “Yeah,” he swallowed. “Yeah. I have to.” “Let’s go!” Aya yelled, drawing her bow, and sprinting down the stairs. Takua followed her and the rest of his friends, down from the tower, back into the broken streets, back into the madness. The sunlight hit him as he pushed his way through the tower’s doors, the previously quiet streets filling with Matoran as they abandoned their homes, trying to put as much distance between themselves and the Rahi Nui as possible. Here, Takua could see the true scale of the behemoth. At more than five stories tall, it lumbered its way into the city, just a few blocks away. Crushing smaller houses with a single step, it moved its way into Ga-Koro’s streets, squeezing its mass through the buildings, and making more room where it needed with a single swipe of its claws. Rubble and debris flew through the air as it carelessly shattered people’s homes, and it trudged forward, roaring as it made its way to the battle. Takua’s eyes widened as a boulder sailed through the air, sent flying toward the monster by one of Ga-Koro’s catapults. It roared, lifting its massive claws, and, almost effortlessly, swatted it out of the sky. “Get down!” Kokani yelled. Takua hit the ground as the boulder came crashing in their direction, bouncing down the street like a great and deadly Kohlii ball. People screamed as it careened forward, smashing through homes, crushing any unlucky enough to get in its path. Takua winced as it hit the ground in front of him, its momentum carrying it up and over his head by just a few feet. Taking no time to rest, he popped back up, eyes on the Rahi Nui. Arrows flew at it now, and Takua was pushed to the side of the street as a squad of Ga-Matoran soldiers rushed past him, firing everything they had at the monster. But it didn’t seem to care. It turned onto a wider avenue that ran from the shore to one of Ga-Koro’s smaller gates, ignoring the soldier’s feeble attacks. Half of their projectiles bounced off its iron-like hide, and the few that managed to stick into the beast only seemed to annoy it. With a growl it smashed its arms into the ground, obliterating an unseen group of Matoran. Takua watched in horror as the beast raised one arm, revealing a struggling soldier trapped between its claws. Not stopping its thundering advance, it threw him to the side, sending the poor Matoran flailing through the air. There was a sickening crunch as he landed in the middle of the street. His mask, dislodged from his broken body, slid to Takua’s feet. It was a Pakari, just like his. The world seemed to go silent as the Rahi Nui’s shadow fell over him, and he froze. Its pounding footsteps flooded his head as the beast lumbered onward, crossing between Takua’s party and the direction they needed to go. He looked at his friends, who had all managed to stay relatively close, but no one dared move. They stood, their backs pressed against the buildings, or hiding behind overturned market stalls, their eyes watching the avenue in front of them, praying the beast would pass them by. Boom! Takua winced as its immense clawed foot smashed into the cobblestone beside him. He chanced a glance up, seeing the monster’s full mass towering above, blotting out the sun. It took another step, shaking Takua’s body and cracking the street beneath it, but then… it paused. Takua could hear its heavy, ragged breathing. It snorted through its bull-like nostrils, gazing forward, focusing on the battle that still raged in front of it. It hadn’t noticed him… yet. Takua pressed his body into the building at his back, trying to make himself as small as possible, trying to melt into its patterned stonework. The Rahi Nui stood there, its horns silhouetted against the blue sky, unmoving, as if… as if contemplating something. Takua’s heart pounded, and he held his breath. Crash! The Rahi Nui roared, stumbling backward as a boulder smashed into its side, its claws cutting through the tower beside it as it struggled to stay upright. It swiveled its head in the direction of the attack, eyes full of rage. Bellowing, it righted itself and barreled down the avenue, rushing for Ga-Koro’s wall, leaving Takua and his friends untouched. Takua closed his eyes and exhaled, silently thanking Mata Nui. He spared a moment to look over at his friends, who began to come out of their hiding places, their shoulders slumped, relieved. “Man,” Aya placed her hands atop her head and took a deep breath. “I really don’t need that thing in my life.” Takua nodded, a half-smile forming on his face. But their relief couldn’t last. There was a crash from another boulder, slamming into the street behind them, and they covered their heads, moving forward once again. Takua followed Kokani as they entered the broken intersection the Rahi Nui had crossed through, and instantly they were assaulted with more turmoil. Rubble and smoke and trembling Matoran peppered the wide avenue, and Takua chanced a glance toward the battlefront. The monster raged a ways off now, smashing its way through Ga-Koro’s structures and defenses. “Move, citizens!” Takua whirled around, the clomping of armored boots reaching his ears. Scores of soldiers sprinted for him, following the Rahi Nui’s destruction, moving as fast as they could. Takua braced himself as they enveloped him, a few clipping his shoulder as they hastily squeezed their way through the rubble. Surrounded by their armored helmets, he looked around for his friends, caught in their mad rush. “Jaka? Kokani?” He whirled around, only managing to spot a few of Nokama’s guards across the street. Another soldier pushed past him, and he stumbled forward, suddenly afraid of being trampled by his own allies. “Aya!?” Someone grabbed his arm, pulling him sideways through the moving crowd. He bumped against shields and armor, before the hand shoved him to the side of the street. Takua stumbled atop a small pile of broken stones, finally free of the battalion’s stampede. Slightly elevated above street level, Takua looked down to see one of the soldiers meeting his gaze. “Get to safety! You shouldn’t be here!” The warrior was gone before Takua could respond. He watched them run, bravely, courageously, to what could very likely be their deaths. Trapped on his island of rubble, he managed to spot his friends, split on either side of the street by the moving soldiers. He looked in the direction they were headed, nervously waiting for them to pass. The Rahi Nui pushed forward, its claws tearing through Ga-Koro’s barricades, debris flying through the air all around it. Ga-Koro’s archers continued to fire their arrows, doing their best to stop the beast, but still not managing much. It plowed onward, splintering catapults and battlements, bellowing as it approached the gate. Two of the Kryll’s siege towers had attached themselves to the parapet nearby, and the warriors spilled out of them, roaring as the monster approached, cheering it on. Takua watched as the beast drew closer to the wall, praying for something that would stop it. He searched the scene for any sign of the Toa, for a sudden stream or ice, wind, or stone that could stop the beast, but nothing came. They were protecting the main gate, on the other side of the city. Even with Pohatu’s Mask of Speed, would they be able to make it in time, with all the rubble and detours to wind through? How could the Matoran alone hope to — ? It had arrived. Ignoring the soldiers as they pelted it with arrows and boulders, the Rahi Nui stood over the gate, raising its powerful arms to the sky, drawing its body as tall as possible. Its colossal claws balled into one mass above its head, it brought down all the brute force it could muster, all while letting out a deafening, triumphant roar. Takua gasped, clamping a hand over his mouth. The beast smashed the gate, shattering stone and timber with a deafening boom that echoed throughout the city. A plume of dust erupted as the broken doors came crashing down, and the Rahi Nui stood there, hunched over, its bulk heaving slightly as bricks on either side of the wall crumbled to the ground. The battle grew quiet for few seconds, as everyone seemed to be frozen. But then, the dust began to clear, and the gaping hole in Ga-Koro’s wall revealed itself. Takua watched as the behemoth rose to its full height once more, and a gradual rumble began to sound. It grew, louder and louder, until it transformed into a deafening roar, the roar of hundreds, thousands of Kryll, packed outside the city’s walls. And then, like a tidal wave of steel and fire, they spilled into Ga-Koro. The Rahi Nui raised its jaws to the sky, proclaiming its might to the world as the hoard rushed past its feet, meeting Ga-Koro’s forces in the open streets. Steel rang against steel, and the beast lowered its head, turning around, facing back down the avenue from which it’d come. Its eyes glowed, its great head looking past the battle below it, past the stream of marching soldiers, past the rubble and ruin, past all of it, only to fall directly… directly on Takua. Time stopped, and suddenly Takua couldn’t breathe. His chest felt like it had collapsed in on itself as the behemoth looked him directly in the eye, picking him out from all the disorder like a hawk eyeing its prey. Instinctively, he clutched the Atouri. And the beast ran for him. Takua whirled around, fleeing for his life. Not stopping to wait for the last of the soldiers to pass, he pushed through, yelling for his friends, heading roughly in the direction of the Kini, but taking whatever path was available. He crossed the avenue, passing a few of his guards. They stood motionless for a second, shock on their faces as they stared at the approaching beast, but in an instant they, too, turned and ran. Takua’s breath was ragged as he pushed his body as fast as it would move, the Rahi Nui’s thundering footsteps approaching. He reeled around a corner and slid to a halt, the sight of Kryll terrorizing the street in front of him. They spotted him and yelled, but his guards leapt into action, engaging them as Takua stumbled backward. “This way!” Aya tugged at his arm, pulling him toward a nearby alleyway. He followed her, dipping into the shadows as he chanced a look over his shoulder. The beast was far off, but gaining fast. It crashed its way through the city, stopping only occasionally to swat at a boulder or some group of soldiers that pestered it. Its eyes met Takua’s for just a second before he turned around again, focusing on moving his legs as fast as he could. The shadowy alley forced them into a single file line, and they hurried forward, always conscious of the beast’s pounding footsteps. Kokani and Aya exited back into the daylight, and Takua heard the Ga-Matoran curse as she readied her bow. She fired an arrow out of sight as he moved into the next street, his heart sinking as more Kryll came into view. Once again, Takua’s remaining guards did their part, running at the invaders, keeping him safe, but they were outnumbered, and needed all the help they could get. Kokani ran at one of them, his blade flashing, and Aya fired another arrow, downing a warrior before it could charge. His blood pumping, Takua wrapped his fingers around his sword, ready to join in, but Jaka’s hand clamped over his own. “No!” his friend said, pointing over the buildings in front of them. The spires of Ga-Kini rose above their roofs, closer now. “We don’t have the time!” Takua turned his head to look at the temple, then to the Rahi Nui, and then back to Kokani and Aya. His friends held their own for now, but the beast drew closer, only five or six blocks away. It let out an ear-piercing roar. Takua tugged at his sword, only to have Jaka stop him again. “But —” “For Mata Nui’s sake, Takua!” Aya yelled at him as she dodged a swinging blade. “Just go!” “You want to help them?” Jaka pulled Takua by the arm, running for the rocky spires. The beast’s footsteps thundered, drowning out his voice. “Draw it away!” Takua hated it, but Jaka had a point. Chancing one last look, he caught a nod from Kokani, which somehow managed to reassure him. The two Le-Matoran ran down the street, sprinting as fast as they could, trying to escape the Rahi Nui’s stampede. Takua’s legs burned as the monster’s footsteps pounded nearer and nearer, shaking the earth behind them, each thundering step closer than the last. Boom! Boom! He could hear it closing in as they rushed through another narrow alley, and he knew they’d never make it. The spires were still too far off, and as he exited onto a wide, dirt courtyard, he looked over his shoulder once more. His skin prickled as the Rahi Nui towered above the houses, just one street over. “Jaka, move!” Takua pulled his friend out of the alley and threw him to the side of the street as the beast plowed into the buildings behind them, obliterating the small space they had just ran through. Rubble and dust spilled into the courtyard as Takua stumbled backward, his eyes staring at the monster that rose before him. He turned and ran, pushing his legs as fast as they would carry him, an earsplitting bellow filling his head as the beast raised its claws. They came crashing down, sinking into the earth just to Takua’s left, the shockwave forcing him to the ground. His mask hit the earth, and he slid for a few feet before stopping in the middle of dirt square. Its shadow fell over him, dust obscuring everything but its towering outline. He scrambled backward, desperately trying to escape, even though he knew it was no use. The monster’s colossal head moved toward him, its claws reaching out, each one as thick as his torso, and Takua’s mind froze. He stared at it, petrified, the Atouri calmly resting against his chest. And then… crack. Takua diverted his attention to the ground below, and saw a tiny fissure, slowly making its way to the Rahi Nui. It spread from directly beneath him, multiplying, branching out into a tree of little breaks in the dirt. The beast froze, perhaps trying to process the widening lines, staring as they spread underneath it, until they seemed to cover the entire square. For a few moments it stood there, unmoving, but then it turned back to Takua, and opened its mouth to roar. But it was too late. The earth cracked open, and both the Rahi Nui and Takua fell as the courtyard collapsed upon its self. Takua let out a cry as rock and dirt and dust careened downward, falling into the sudden abyss. He flailed his arms, trying to grab into something, but nothing was stable. He fell into the earth, confused and terrified, until, quite suddenly, he landed with a gentle thud. Takua opened his eyes, realizing that at some point he must’ve squeezed them shut. They revealed a giant of a being, tall, thick, and stocky, clad in dark grey and black armor. Corded, muscular arms held him like baby, and he looked up to see powerful, broad shoulders supporting them. The being’s thick neck was a bit hunched over, but his eyes were dark green, calm, and kind. They gazed at him through a black Pakari, as black as the depths of the earth itself. And slowly, the being smiled. “I like your mask, Takua.” His voice was deep and slow. He shrugged his massive shoulders, smoothly lowering Takua to the ground. “I’m partial to it myself, as I’m sure you can tell.” Takua stared, a bit in shock, as the being towered over him. “Toa… Onua…” was all he could manage. A deafening roar sounded, drawing their attention to the other side of the gigantic sinkhole. The Rahi Nui writhed, a dark shape moving through the dust, down, but definitely not out. “Excuse me.” The Toa of Earth’s voice was uncannily calm as he clenched his fists and moved into the dust toward the writhing monster, revealing the slender form of Gali standing behind him. The Toa of Water smiled at seeing Takua, and she held out her hand to the Le-Matoran. “This way, little one.” Terrified and awe-struck at the same time, Takua took it, and the Toa led him from rock to collapsed rock, helping him to climb out of Onua’s fissure. Soon enough they neared the street level, and Takua once again heard the sounds of battle. Steel clashed between the yells of Matoran and Kryll alike, and the deafening booms of boulders crashing into buildings hadn’t stopped. With an agile leap, Gali landed gracefully at the lip of the sinkhole, and pulled Takua up behind her. The dust had begun to clear, revealing pure anarchy all around. “Now go!” Gali ushered Takua in the direction of the Kini, before turning around at the sound of the Rahi Nui’s roar. “Get to the Kini! We’ll meet you there!” she shouted over her shoulder. Takua watched as the outline of the beast appeared above the dust on the other side of the courtyard, and in an instant Gali was gone, vanishing into the chaos. All around him Kryll fought Matoran, buildings crumbled, fires spread, and the battle raged in full force. Takua ran to the edge of the street, searching the scene for his friends, for Jaka, Kokani, Aya, for Nokama’s guards, for anyone, but he was alone. His head swiveled to the spires of Ga-Kini, looming high just a few blocks away now. He took a deep breath, summoning his strength. This was his task, and his alone now. He drew his sword, it steel glimmering in the waning daylight, and again, he ran. He exited the broken courtyard, running into a street riddled with Matoran and Kryll, each fighting their own miniature battle. He weaved his way through them, ignoring the yelling, the screaming, the clanging of blades against armor, the sprays of blood as steel met flesh. A large Kryll ran at him, sword raised high, but Takua was faster. He dropped and slid on the ground, cutting at its ankles as he evaded its attack. He heard howling as he popped to his feet, but he didn’t stop to look back at his handiwork. The Rahi Nui roared as he turned another corner, and he whirled around to see it barreling after him, trying its best to ignore the gigantic stream of water that crashed into it from the side, but Takua could tell it was straining. He ran as a gigantic boulder flew through the air, pummeling the beast from behind. It growled and stumbled forward, but did not fall. He slid into a side street as a squad of Kryll came into view, but immediately had to duck as the Rahi Nui’s claws clipped the roof of the building above him. Tile and mortar rained from above, and he noticed spikes of ice slicing through the air, smashing into a thousand pieces as they collided with the beast’s hide. It bellowed, swatting at the Toa of Ice as he hopped from rooftop to rooftop above Takua, but not managing a hit on the icy white figure. Crash! The beast fell into the street before Takua as the earth gave way beneath its feet, taking out an inn and a blacksmith’s shop with it. With a snarl the downed behemoth swiped its claws through the air, connecting with a sickening thud against a black figure, and Takua dove to the side as Onua careened past him, skidding on the cobblestone like a rock thrown atop still water. Takua stared, knowing that such an assault would’ve killed any Matoran, but as soon as the Toa of Earth slid to a halt, he got to his feet and charged at the beast again, as if it were nothing more than a slight punch in the chest. “Le-Matoran! Fly!” Takua looked up at the words, startled to see the Rahi Nui already on its feet, its claws hurtling through the air towards him. He closed his eyes, knowing there was no way he could dodge, but there was a sudden gust of wind, and something hit Takua from behind, sending him flying to the other side of the street. The beast’s claws whiffed into empty air, and it growled in frustration. Before he knew what was happening, Takua was set down gently, slightly out of the beast’s range. Lewa unwrapped his arms and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, his Miru smiling before he turned around and flew away, racing back again to fight the monster. Takua took the chance to keep moving. He dashed away, still hearing the inconsistent, thundering footsteps as the beast tried to chase him and fight the Toa at the same time. He ran for the spires, now towering above, their black faces contrasted against the early evening light. Slowly, he made progress, but was brought up short as he heard yelling just ahead. Two soldiers exited a side street before him, chased by a squad of ten Kryll. Takua slid to a halt, watching as the Kryll cut one down, spraying his blood on the cobblestone. They shot an arrow at the other, who managed to dodge, but he was bleeding from a wound in his leg and it wasn’t long before they caught him as well. A few Kryll turned to Takua, who froze, trapped between them and the Rahi Nui, rampaging behind. The earth shook as the beast’s feet lumbered forward, not stalled by the Toa’s attacks. Takua turned his head, readying his sword, not sure which threat to direct his attention to. His body began to shake, and then rumble, and Takua looked down at the street, quickly realizing that it wasn’t because of his nerves. The cobblestone beneath his feet vibrated, and he stared for a moment before realizing what was happening, and jumped backward. The stones in the street erupted from the ground, blasting the Kryll mercilessly, over and over, the tiny squares of rock smashing into their armor until all fell to the ground. Takua whirled around to see Pohatu standing between him and the Rahi Nui, channeling his power, twisting the stone at the beast’s feet, forming shackles around its ankles. The monster fought, charging forward, its brute strength breaking Pohatu’s bonds faster than he could create them. But the Toa dug his heels down, focusing his power with all his might. He pulled stone from the street, from the buildings, changing it, shifting it to his will. He wrapped it around the beast’s legs, hardening it, pulling it together with everything he had. The Rahi Nui raised its leg to keep up its charge, but suddenly… couldn’t. Its ankles trapped by the stone, the massive creature clawed at the air. It hung there for a second, hovering as it tried to regain balance, but finally, stumbling forward, it fell. Takua heard the deafening boom as it smashed into the ground, but he pushed forward, not wasting any time. Reaching the end of the street, he found it emptied into a large square, and suddenly, there were no more buildings. The wide, paved courtyard sat at the edge of Naho bay, the waves calmly lapping the beach that formed its far edge. And there, just beyond the shore, stood the great stone pillars of Ga-Kini, rising out of the water. It was a simple, elegant, yet massive stone structure. The rocky pillars rose into the sky supporting a wide circular disk near their bases, just a dozen or so feet above the waves. A long, narrow, stone bridge connected the ancient temple to the shore, and its entrance sat there, open, waiting for Takua. Takua felt the Atouri thump against his chest, and he turned around to look at the Rahi Nui. It roared behind him, clawing at the ground, trapped by its bonds as the other Toa pelted it with their energies of earth, air, water, and ice. It bellowed, struggling to right itself, but Pohatu held it down fast. Takua watched, the moment dragging on as the beast writhed. Its horns and teeth flashed, growling, snarling, smashing its tail into the buildings behind it, raging as it tried to free itself from its tormentors. It snapped its jaws at Pohatu, who stood just out of range, but then its glowing eyes caught sight of Takua, standing far beyond the Toa. It was still for a second. It ignored the Toa’s attacks as it locked eyes with the little Le-Matoran, as if it was waiting, saving its strength. Takua’s spine prickled, and somehow, he knew what was coming. He turned around and ran, heading straight for the Kini. And the Rahi Nui released an earth-shattering roar, unleashing all the strength it had. Its claws slammed against the ground, pushing itself up, somehow managing to find the strength to break its bonds. The stone around its ankles shattered, and it swatted the Toa of Stone out of its way as its tail whipped against the Toa beside it, knocking them off their rooftop perches. Its feet pounded against the ground as it sprinted for Takua, gaining with every massive, deafening step. Takua heaved, straining as the earth shook around him, the pounding of the beast growing closer with every second. And then, with a deafening thud, the beast’s legs slammed into the square behind him, propelling it clear over his head. Its shadow flew over Takua and he stumbled to a halt, staring with his mouth agape as the monster landed with a resounding crash in front of him. It swiveled around, glaring down, standing directly between Takua and the Kini. Its teeth shone bright white in the dying light. He grasped the Atouri, and he heard its heartbeat, pounding in his mind. Thump-thp. He could feel his face tingling, his fingers twitching. The world around him seemed to halt as he stared up at the beast, suddenly hyper-aware of his surroundings. He saw the monster’s every detail, from its bloodstained claws to the muscles rippling beneath its armored hide. He smelled a subtle wisp of smoke as the ocean breeze brushed against his cheeks. He felt the broken stones beneath his feet, the vibrations of the battle. But through it all he felt the voice, the voice of Makuta, pounding within his mind as the Rahi Nui loomed above. So here you are, Takua. At the cusp of your destiny… He clutched the Atouri, squeezing it as tight as he could between his rattled fingers. The voice was a tiny whisper and a hammering reverberation at the same time. He could both hear it and feel it, and it froze him in place. Or did it freeze the world around him? …But ask yourself, is this the destiny that you choose? Nothing moved. Everything was still as the Rahi Nui leaned closer and closer to him, its heavy breathing blotting out all other noise. Takua’s mind ran, but his thoughts were scrambled. Nothing seemed to make sense. You’ve held the Atouri for so long… you need it, don’t you? Images flew before Takua’s eyes. The Spring Solstice, Matau giving him the stone, his visions, his dreams, Saku tormenting him, the attack on Le-Koro. Talim crumpled to the ground. His mind flew through his memories, racing, but to nowhere in particular. He couldn’t seem to stop it. After all, what would you be without it? He’d gotten lost in Ko-Wahi; Matoran had died trying to save him. He’d alienated Raipu in the desert, and taken away his humanity. He’d led his friends into the Underworld; it was his fault Nika was dead. He’d stolen Saku’s spirit. What kind of Matoran could do that? What was he!? Just another soul, doomed to be forgotten. The Atouri thudded against his chest, pounding him into the ground. It was all his fault. Le-Koro was attacked because of him. He’d killed Matau, he’d stolen Talim’s spirit. It was all his fault. It was all his fault! He couldn’t move. Visions of the Madness erupted before his eyes, and he saw the Void opening before him. Invisible fiends, demons, and deities clawed at him, scratching at his mask, tearing at his flesh, pulling him down, down into the blackness below. His eyes stared, unmoving as the Rahi Nui towered above, pitying him like the pathetic, weak Matoran that he was. His doubt, his fear, taunted him. All he’d ever done was run. Run away Takua, run just like you always have. You’re nothing. You’re worthless, you’re weak. Your friends are the only reason you’ve made it this far. You’ll kill them all if you keep going. His mind ran and ran and ran, filling him with dread and fear and terror, with doubt and anxiety, with anguish and torment. He collapsed, breaking down. He was no match for the darkness. He could not stand before the Void. His mind cracking, he prayed for a way out. He gazed up at the Rahi Nui, the only god he knew, patterns flashing before his eyes. He fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness. He had to get out. I have to get out! Everything stopped. The black was calm. It wrapped around him, consuming his flesh, his unseeing eyes still as his body disintegrated. And then… a whisper. “Hey, you can do it.” Talim stood before him, smiling as she held out her hand. “I know you can!” And his strength returned. He clasped her palm and she pulled him up, up, out of the dark, back to a place where he could fight. Back to Ga-Koro, back to his friends, back to the setting sun, and back to the world that he knew. Takua stood tall as he stared up at the Rahi Nui, his eyes narrowing. He took a deep breath and exhaled, gripping his sword. His voice was calm as he gazed up at the towering monster. “Let’s finish this.” He charged at the beast, and suddenly, there was fire. His feet pounded forward as an inferno erupted around him, white hot flames appearing out of thin air, whirling about, lashing out at the Rahi Nui. The beast roared, stepping back from the searing heat as the Toa of Fire revealed himself, his crimson armor reflecting the light of his blaze. His mighty fire sword flashed as Takua sprinted underneath the monster’s legs, making his way onto the stone bridge. The Rahi Nui swiveled around to grab him, its claws skidding above the water, but Tahu’s flames flew once more, driving the beast back. Takua ran for the stone platform, closing in on it as elements flew through the air. All six Toa now pummeled the beast with their power, driving away from the Kini. It swatted at them, stumbling into Naho bay, water splashing around its ankles. Takua entered the circle of spires, sliding to a halt as he reached the center of the temple. There was a great flash as Tahu unleashed another whirling firestorm, and the Rahi Nui fell backwards, collapsing into the waves. A plume of water erupted into the sky, raining down on Takua as he pulled the Atouri from his neck. The water subsided, and suddenly, they were ready. The Toa stood in a circle at the center of the Kini, and all eyes fell on Takua. He stared at these six legendary beings, feeling their powerful aura course through him. He looked to each of them, ready to perform this final task, this final step in his journey. His eyes met Gali’s, and she nodded. Takua stretched out his arm, holding the Atouri in front of him. All six Toa reached out to it, and channeled their power at the same time. Their elements flowed from their palms, connecting with the black stone, combining into a stream of bright white energy. The Atouri vibrated between Takua’s fingers, growing warm to the touch. It began to glow, brighter and brighter. He squinted as the Atouri’s light grew, burning as if he stared into the sun itself. It blinded him, filling his vision. The stone was hot now — no, it was scalding — and his fingers screamed at him, but he didn’t dare let go. The Toa pushed their energy into the stone, digging their heels into the Kini as the white light pulsated, humming all around them, their combined power growing stronger and stronger. Takua held on, his mind and body shouting as he squeezed his eyes shut, his hand burning. And then, with a deafening crack, it was over. Takua covered his face as the light exploded, releasing a shockwave that moved even Onua. Takua fell backward, bringing the Atouri close to his chest, sliding to a halt at the edge of the platform. He looked to the Toa, meeting their gazes, questions instantly running through his head. The Prophesy… was that it? Was it over? Had they summoned the Seventh Toa? But he didn’t have time to ask the question. A shadow fell over the Kini, and Takua looked up to see the Rahi Nui once more, towering above them all. Before anyone had the chance to move, its arms came hurtling down, smashing into the platform, obliterating the ancient temple, and plunging Takua into the dark waters below.

New headcannon: all sea squids are barraki snot rockets

I've always been a sucker for 2001, so that's obviously what I'd want for a movie. I think only one film would be needed, but something long and epic, like Lord of the Rings, or Avatar, with sweeping scores and long landscape shots. Something that really captured the ancient beauty and mystery of the island of Mata Nui, contrasting the natural world with the robotic beings that inhabit it. I'd want it to be a grounded, personal, and emotional story, that weaves its way though the giant set pieces that are so plentiful in MNOG. Something that isn't afraid to show the horror of Makuta's infection, to touch on themes of madness and mortality, but can still be light enough to feature that one Po-Matoran kohlii fan who was asking "who ate all the pies??" Yeah...one can dream lol

I don't justify it because I don't have to. I'm a 24 year old dude who is confident with his life choices, and I can do what I want. I think everyone should feel that way about their hobbies. Don't be embarrassed by what you love. Also, your face is a children's site. #savage

You stay away from my baby Mukau. lmaoooo wow I had never actually said 'Mukau' aloud until this very moment. And now I can't stop laughing But aside from that, the whole nuva symbols thing seemed a little weird. As Toa Mata they had full control over their elements? But all of a sudden they're reliant on some random symbols?? The Nuva Symbols sort of made sense. The analogy Greg used was that the Toa had such a power increase as Nuva that they couldn't store it all in their bodies, and so the Symbols acted as batteries of sorts for them. Yeah I guess that makes sense. But I'd still think that they'd be able to revert to their Mata level of power after the Kal took them.

Sweet dude! I went to the Florida Keys to get certified back in the day, it was easily one of the best experiences I've ever had. Its not the cheapest of hobbies though! I really like the first one of Ehlek, it just screams "the creature from the black lagoon." Also, its been ten years since the Mahri storyline??? How did that happen. I'm old.

Survey taken. Got your back fam. Also (controversial opinion incoming), your avatar makes me want to say that I appreciate Jar Jar Binks for what he is.

You stay away from my baby Mukau. lmaoooo wow I had never actually said 'Mukau' aloud until this very moment. And now I can't stop laughing But aside from that, the whole nuva symbols thing seemed a little weird. As Toa Mata they had full control over their elements? But all of a sudden they're reliant on some random symbols??

Say no more, I got this. *patiently waits for MOC/artwork/short story*

Tries to save his village - gets infected kanohi'd Tries to save his people - gets krana'd Tries to save mata nui - gets tren krom'd Any more that I'm missing?

10/10 the thought of trying to date Tahu's daughter terrifies me

I am now picturing the Toa Mata in an Irish pub: Pohatu and Onua sit at the bar, both a few drinks deep, laughing heartily at their own jokes. Gali is with them, sober, but enjoying herself. Tahu holds a bottle of firewhiskey and is threatening to fight someone who bumped into him on accident. Kopaka is in the corner, simply wishing he wasn't in an Irish pub. And Lewa is wandering around, out of his mind, pinching everyone for not wearing green armor (of course).