Shadow War

[bleedingshadows94]

Hello everyone. This is a story I have been working on for some time. I started it several years back, so forgive me when the story starts out as pretty bad. I promise you, if you keep reading, it will improve, especially if you give me your feedback. This story revolves around the 6-month period Teridax was in control of the Mata Nui robot. I hope you enjoy what you read!Chapter 1: The Whisper(((Island half a kio from Artahka, Toa Nuva ETA 20 minutes from Metru Nui)))Twelve figures sat around a strange statue of a Kanohi Hau. It was strange in the fact that no matter where you looked, no matter what angle you saw it from, you always be staring it in the face. They had sensed the storm in Karda Nui and they knew what had happened. But a stirring was troubling them. One of the figures opened his eyes from his meditation and looked at his brothers.“Is that...?” he asked slowly.“Yes. It is. Teridax...” another said. “I knew he couldn’t stay away.”“So the Plan is... complete?” the first asked.“No. Not yet. But soon...”The first figure cursed softly under his breath. “Then perhaps it’s time for some reconnaissance.” A third figure opened his eyes from his meditation, a slight smirk spreading across his face. “Ooh, I agree,” he said.“I thought you would. But no, I think we need more... finesse... send the twins.”“Understood,” two quiet voices said at the same time.“Good,” the first figure said with a slow nod. “Teleport to Stelt. Commandeer a boat and head north to Metru Nui.”“On it,” the male voice whispered.“Consider it done,” the female voice added, and the two figures were gone. The first figure then turned to the second.“Prepare the weapon cache. It’s time.”(((South of Metru Nui, Toa Nuva ETA 8 minutes)))Lewa Nuva tapped a few controls on Axalara’s dash and leaned back nonchalantly. Pohatu did the same, the words AUTOPILOT ON flashing on his mask’s HUD. However, Kopaka kept his hands on the Jetrax’s controls, face as expressionless as ever.“Is it feeling a little cold up here, or is it just me?” Pohatu joked, smiling behind the face guard. But Kopaka did not laugh and Pohatu looked down in defeat. Gali sat on the edge of Jetrax’s wing, her legs swinging back and forth as she stared at Kopaka, who was pretending not to notice her. Tahu scoffed.“Jealous much?” Takanuva said with a slight chuckle, his size already having decreased almost to normal size.“Pfft. Me? Jealous?” Tahu laughed sarcastically. “As if...”“If you say so...” the Toa of Light said with a shrug.“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand city of-“ Pohata was cut off by the sight of huge fortress walls being erected around the continent. The Toa all stared in disbelief and Gali placed her hand over her heart light.“Mata Nui protect us...”But Tahu wasn’t going to wait around. He was a leader. And he had to take action.“Pohatu, go attack the remaining ships. The ones not on fire. Lewa, Kopaka, strafe the area with fire. Everyone else, get off the ships and try and figure out what the heck is going on!” he barked, flying off towards the island. He landed and the armor shifted on his body back to its dormant state. The other three did the same and they charged towards the doors.Pohatu had already veered off, the other two craft joining him as they flew in perfect unison, drawing contour lines all across the sky as they flew. Pohatu banked slightly to get a good look at the blue Toa on the ground and smiled, waving at Hahli. But she did not wave back. He guessed she hadn’t seen him and he hit the booster on his ship, flying towards the coast.The ships began turning their cannons on him, and Pohatu flew close, low and fast, peppering the ships with fire from his vehicle’s two wing-mounted Rockslide Cannons. The heavy weapons, which were made for dealing damage to whole mountains, easily tore through the Makuta’s ships, each slowly beginning its descent to the bottom of the ocean. For the heavier ships, Pohatu smirked as he would fire his heavier blaster, the cannons setting fire to the Destroyers as they, too, began to sink.Meanwhile, Kopaka had flown over, firing his three cannons at the Rahkshi, which were screeching and jumping, swinging their staffs at the sky, only to be destroyed by the balls of pure light. When things were too danger-close to the Matoran, both he and Lewa would fire their lasers, which tore through the Rahkshi armor just as well. Within only twenty minutes, all the enemies had been destroyed, and the three ships were able to land near the Coliseum.Pohatu was the first to jump off his airship, armor instantly shifting back to its dormant shape, and he grabbed a large bulky guard angrily.“What’s going on here, huh?” he snapped. “Why is Metru Nui a-“ Tahu pulled the Toa of Stone off the guard, who was looking a bit shocked at the sudden attack.“It’s the Order of Mata Nui,” the Fire Toa said, “and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have come back to a home.”Pohatu did not answer. He bowed his head in apology and turned back to the Rockoh.“So what happened?” a voice shouted. They turned and saw both Hewkii and Hahli sprinting towards them. “Did it work?” they both yelled in unison.“Calm down,” Gali smiled, waving her hand at the two younger Toa. “We did it.”“So he’s awake? For real?” Hewkii asked, shaking with excitement.“For real,” Tahu answered. “Mata Nui is finally awake.”Hewkii and Hahli bumped fists, trying to contain their excitement, although failing as they both jumped up and shouted with joy.“So it’s true...” Dume said, hobbling over to the nine Toa. “That’s what that earthquake was, wasn’t it?” the Turaga smiled happily and Tahu nodded. Vakama soon joined his fellow Turaga and bowed.“It is an honor to welcome you back here,” Vakama remarked, turning to Dume. “Shall we?” Dume nodded, and the two walked towards one of the several elevators placed on the side of the Coliseum. Dume pushed a button on a control panel and the elevator rose. A large screen projected up in front of them as they reached the top, and the two Turaga of Fires’ faces appeared on viewscreen all over Metru Nui. Matoran, who had been scooping away parts of broken Rahkshi or attempting to rebuild rubbled shacks all looked up at the screens.“Fellow Matoran,” Dume began. “I ask you to lend an ear to our message. Your Toa Nuva have returned. The Great Spirit has awoken!” No one had to strain to hear the cheers from all across the massive city. “Tomorrow, you are all invited to the Coliseum. There will be a celebration, the likes of which has never been seen!”But Hahli did not feel like celebrating, even now. She could not help but remember Matoro, who had given his life that Mata Nui might live. And despite all the wounded and the dying among the defenders, she could not help but feel it had all been a little too ... easy. True, there had been some unexpected help: the airships, the Bohrok, the storm. But they had faced an army of Rahkshi. Something told her they should not have won, at least not with so much of the city still intact. She smiled. Turaga Nokama would have chided her for worrying so much. No matter how things seemed, the Great Spirit was awake for the first time in over one thousand years. Light had triumphed over darkness, hadn't it? The Toa had achieved their destiny and saved the universe, hadn't they? And that meant all was well again; nothing very bad could happen now, could it?Hahli turned to head toward Ga-Metru, humming a song Nokama had once taught her. One written long ago that spoke of hope for tomorrow. Perhaps, if not for the music, she might have heard the sound of dark laughter on the wind.[Review]

Edited November 1, 2012 by bleedingshadows94

[bleedingshadows94]

Just a quick reminder before you begin reading this chapter: It may seem a little confusing from time to time, due to my strange brain and writing style, but things will eventually come to light. Also, I would like to point out that, starting now, 14 OC's will appear. However, of them, only 2 are truly important, and the others are simply supporting characters. Those two important characters will be introduced in later chapters. Now, we begin with this one.Chapter 2: Hostile TakeoverDume stood upon his high perch, the other Turaga sitting in various seats behind him, broken statues of Vahki lining the wall behind them.“Today, we honor Mata Nui, who has at last returned to us from the Darkness into which he was cast by the evil Makuta!” Dume said, his voice amplified by the microphone sprouting from the panel in front of him. The Matoran all cheered. “And we honor the Toa Nuva, who awakened the Great Spirit once more... all the Toa, living and dead, who have helped bring about this glorious day!”“Today, the Matoran people are free from fear,” Tahu said into a small microphone handed to him by an attendant. “After too long... free from doubt... and free from the chains the Makuta would have placed upon them!” Again, a loud cheer filled the Coliseum. But suddenly, a chill wind cut through the assembled crowd as a shadow fell over Metru Nui. Gali shivered.“That icy gust that freezes the spirit...” she said quietly. “I have felt that before.” Kopaka turned his eyes upwards.“No... it can’t be,” he whispered. “The stars!” he shouted, pointing upwards. “Look what’s happening to the stars!” High above, the stars over Metru Nui whirled in a dance of madness. When the points of light at last came to a stop, they formed an image - the unmistakable form of the Mask of Shadows!Tahu looked up, fists clenched, glaring up at his enemy’s sparkling face. “This is impossible,” he said. “Why would the stars shift to form the image of Makuta Teridax’s mask? Unless...”“I think I know...” Kopaka cut him off. “But Great Beings protect us if I’m right.”There was silence. At first, no one dared to breathe, let alone speak. Then, the answer came as sinister laughter carried on the wind.“Makuta!” Tahu shouted, spitting fire angrily from his mouth. “I don’t know how you survived, but show yourself!”“Show myself, you insignificant flea? Look around-I am everywhere. I am everything you see,” the voice said. “The Toa Mahri brought Mata Nui back from death... but before his spirit could return to his body, mine slipped in and took its place. So when the ‘noble’ Toa Nuva awakened the Great Spirit, they awakened his body... with my mind. I am the ground you walk on. The air you breathe. No longer must I fight you to rule a Universe. I am the Universe!” There was a hushed whisper that soon turned into a low hum of fear. “Of course, Mata Nui’s true spirit might prove to be a problem someday. But fortunately, I have trapped it inside the Mask of Life... And the Mask itself has been hurled from this universe, never to return.”“We have fought you before and won,” Tahu said, pointing a finger at the sky. “The Toa Nuva, Toa Mahri, Toa Hagah - all of us will fight you to the end!”“Yeah!” the other Toa yelled in agreement.“Ah, the brave Toa of Fire... now no more than a match to be extinguished beneath my heel,” the voice hissed sinisterly. “The Plan is finished, Toa. The game is over. And with Mata Nui forever banished - the universe is mine!”Suddenly, the ground shook, and the Matoran screamed. A bolt of lightning crashed down from nowhere, and struck the Coliseum ground.“Everyone, out!” Kopaka shouted into Tahu’s microphone, before freezing it in a block of ice and throwing it to the ground. The Matoran were already scrambling for the exits by the time the mic had smashed on the ground. The Toa ran for the exits as well, already trying to come up with a way to destroy the new enemy.(((Onu-Metru docks)))They had heard it; the voice. The recon mission was now, in their minds, over. After hearing Teridax’s voice echoing over everything, they were sure they would be doomed. But they would not surrender. The male and his sister disappeared into the archives. He activated his Kanohi Akaku and scanned the surrounding areas, cradles for stasis tubes, each marked with a stone that described what would be in its contents. The mask’s eyepiece flicked over each small stone and insect, zooming as far as its abilities would allow. Finally, he shut off its search function and shook his head.“Is something wrong?” the female asked, glancing over at her partner.“Nothing, sister. Let’s continue.”She nodded, pulling up her scarf and followed him into the depths of the caverns. Their footsteps were near-silent as they traveled, hoping not to wake any mysterious Rahi that might be lurking in the dark.(((Coliseum)))Matoran scrambled in fear, bolts of electricity crashed to the ground, causing small craters to form in their wake, as the people ran. One of the bolts came and struck a small spire that rose from the edge, causing it to shatter and the spire fell. Several Matoran were underneath its direct path and looked up, shrieking in fear, knowing certain death would come and then... nothing.The group of villagers looked up and saw Toa Onua Nuva standing underneath the hunk of Protodermis, his Adaptive Shield, combined with his massive strength, had stopped it from crushing them, but they knew he couldn’t hold it for long.“Go!” he shouted, straining under the huge block. The eldest of the group nodded and ushered his companions away as quickly as possible as Onua turned and threw the block up into the air, swinging his fist up at it as it came down. His immense strength was more than enough to put a large hole in it, as it shattered into hundreds of pieces. He charged out one of the exits, which was collapsing. Diving and rolling when he hit the ground, tumbling across the dirt-ridden floor as the tunnel exit collapsed, Onua was blocked off from the others. He considered removing the rubble, but knew that the unstable tunnel would collapse completely if he removed its only support. The other Toa would have to wait.“Slag...” he muttered to himself as he ran out of the other side, breaking away from the Coliseum. Quickly, the black-armored Toa turned and began heading East/North-East, towards Onu-Metru. He knew that if he could get there, he would be able to hide from Teridax’s eyes, the tunnels being far too dark for even his new powers to penetrate.“I hope...” he said to himself as he ran.(((Ko-Metru entrance)))Kopaka was frantic. He didn’t think there was much he could do to protect his people from an enemy he could not see, feel, or sense. Even his Mask of X-Ray Vision was going to fail him. The Toa of Ice cursed under his breath as the Matoran were even now running past him into the snowy mountains, hoping the blizzards would hide them. But Kopaka knew it wouldn’t. The Master of Shadows was now the Master of the Universe. Even Kopaka got a cold chill from the thought of losing. But he couldn’t... not yet.His armor blended well against the snow, a few Matoran did the same, but the others were still quite easily seen. Ta-Matoran tried their best to burrow under the snow, only to get stuck and need assistance, usually which Kopaka provided.There was a soft crunching of snow underfoot. A strange sound, as it moved calmly towards Kopaka, whereas every other crunch he heard came from Matoran who were running. But these footsteps... calm walking, as if the owner of those feet could wait all day and not be affected by any of the cataclysmic events. Kopaka stopped. So did the footsteps. He started again, and so did they. Kopaka turned, pulling out one of his two blades and scanned the area. Nothing. He saw footsteps that didn’t look like his, but...Quickly, he activated the heat-vision clip in his mask and saw what appeared to be a tall, slender figure amongst the snow. And yet, he could not see anything else. There was no features, no body, no nothing, really. He turned it off, looking through the basic eyepiece at where there should’ve been someone. He was about to shout at the nonexistent figure, but before he could open his mouth, a hand was placed firmly over it and he blacked out.When Kopaka was finally able to open his eyes, he was in a large round room with lightstones imbedded in the walls and some torches placed variously between stones around him. Even in this light, Kopaka could make out a few figures, although their features were still obscured. After his eyes had adjusted to the light, he saw he was in a place that was either underground or in a warehouse. He figured it was the former, but he couldn’t be sure.“Ah, good, he’s awake,” said a voice, and Kopaka looked around. He sat up, wincing slightly in pain as his side seemed to tear. “Be careful,” the voice said, and Kopaka stared around the room, trying to figure out who was talking. But the sound seemed to be coming from an empty space. “We were wondering when you’d get up.”“Ugh... we?...” Kopaka groaned, rubbing his aching head.“Yes, I accidentally knocked you out with more gas than I intended to,” the voice laughed, and it felt as though Lewa was trying to play a prank. But there wasn’t time for pranks. Not after what had just happened.“Who are you?” the Toa of Ice hissed.“I think I can explain that,” a female voice said. Kopaka was approached by a broad-shouldered woman clad in blue armor, which was covered in scars in pits. She looked ancient yet...“My name is Helryx, and I’m the leader of the Order of Mata Nui. My companion, the one who gassed you, is Jerbraz. Wave to Kopaka, Jerbraz,” Helryx smirked.But there was only an empty space. Kopaka activated the heat-vision clip once more and saw that there was, indeed, someone sitting there, waving his hand.“But you’re-““Invisible, I know,” Jerbraz said. “But if you could see me, you’d see how handsome I am.”“Can it, Jerbraz,” another figure said. “You haven’t even seen yourself in a few thousand years.”“Aw, ruining my fun again, Tobduk. You really must stop.”“If I could find your neck, I’d stop you from breathing,” Tobduk growled.“Enough!” Helryx said, raising her hand. “We have more pressing issues,” she turned back to Kopaka. “Before you ask, because you’re obviously a very curious boy, we’re in a Knowledge Tower that’s almost completely covered. We can’t be seen. Secondly, I’m sure you’ve heard of us, haven’t you?” Kopaka nodded. “Good. That’s why I, as leader of this Organization, get to introduce you to the people who are going to save us.”Helryx smiled and nodded towards one of the figures who were sitting quietly, both hands placed on a Protosteel cane, and a frail body covered in black and various other dark colored armour.“No...” Kopaka whispered his eyes widening. “It can’t be. You guys are-““Makuta.” Helryx said.[Review]

Edited November 1, 2012 by bleedingshadows94

[bleedingshadows94]

Chapter 3: The League of Twelve Shadows(((Submerged Knowledge Tower, Ko-Metru; 50 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))Kopaka stared in disbelief. What was he seeing? The Order of Mata Nui, an organization sworn to secrecy and to do everything in its power to save Mata Nui, was now sitting with him, the Toa of Ice destined with awakening the sleeping Mata Nui, and several Makuta, sworn enemy of Mata Nui. It was, in all manner of speaking, a room full of contradictions.Nevermind that... Kopaka thought. Whatever’s going on, I’m sure it’s some sort of trick. Without thinking, he drew his Ice Sword and went to charge the nearest Makuta, only to have a blade pressed to his throat. He couldn’t see the blade, nor the wielder, and realized it must be the invisible Jerbraz.“You’re not thinking,” Helryx said, leaning back into a makeshift chair made of several burlap sacks against the wall. “So try it.”Kopaka did, but didn’t realize anything new. The blank look on his face told all. Helryx sighed heavily. “You really don’t see it? All of the Brotherhood is dead. You saw the Storm, and those killed the most dangerous Makuta left in the Brotherhood, and after what you now know what Teridax did, do you really think he has any reason to keep it alive?”It took a few moments for him to process it, but then it dawned on him. These Makuta were not members of the Brotherhood.“They’ve severed all ties with those monsters. They’re called the League of Twelve Shadows. Kinda neat, huh?” Helryx smiled, her outer figure seemingly unaffected by the apocalypse that surrounded them.“So what’re they here for?” Kopaka growled softly.“Weren’t you listening?” Helryx said, glaring up at Kopaka. “They’re the only ones who can stop this. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.”“You’re hoping?” Kopaka said, unconvinced. His eyes wandered to the shadowy figures sitting around the tower. Each one had a dark Krataa-like shape on their armor, on both shoulders and the right side of their breast-plate.“Is there a problem?” the first figure Kopaka had seen asked. It was the first time he had heard them, and the voice was strangely calming. It was a frail voice that matched its owner’s physical form.“No... nothing,” Kopaka lied.“Let me introduce the eldest of the League,” Helryx said, gesturing to the Makuta. “Appropriately named Eldra.” a small smile crossed her face as Eldra nodded his head in Kopaka’s direction, a friendly greeting.“I’m guessing you’re the leader?” Kopaka asked, his curiosity now piqued enough to force him to talk. Eldra laughed and shook his head. The laugh was unlike Teridax’s, it was soft and calm, but it was a very dark one, nonetheless.“No, no,” Eldra said, his mouthplates moving to reveal a smile. The mask looked like the elongated version of the Kanohi Kraahkan he had seen in a carving, but it had several large, oval-shaped bumps on the forehead, tell-tale signs of a Great Rau. “I’m the Number 1.”“Wait... if you’re the Number 1 but you’re not the leader... who is?” Kopaka asked, slightly confused.“That would be me...” a soft voice said from a corner. Kopaka looked over to where it had come from and could barely make out the figure sitting on the floor, the only one not sitting on a bench or chair of some kind. Only one eye glowed brightly from behind his mask, and Kopaka raised an eyebrow in confusion.“And what number are you?” Kopaka asked, trying not to shout, as instinct wanted him to, in order to communicate with the Makuta farther back in the room. But the figure did not answer. Instead, his forefinger glowed with electricity and he raised his hand, tracing a large “0" in the air, then drew a line directly through the middle of it. Kopaka stared at the lightning shape that crackled and illuminated its forger’s face for a moment, but it died down before he had a chance to see the Makuta’s face.“Number 0,” Eldra said, looking back at Kopaka.“Seerup,” the voice said.“Seerup?” Kopaka asked quizzically, looking at the figure. He could hear Tobduk scoffing at the thought of all the attention to the Makuta.“That’s right; the original member, and the only one who spent more time alone than Spiriah,” Seerup stood up and slowly walked into the dimly lit portion of the room, and Kopaka got a clear look at him. He was thin and frail, and not much taller than Kopaka himself. He had a body that looked much like a miniature version of Teridax’s form when they had encountered him in the Mangai. His mask was the only thing that was different. It was mostly featureless, being only oval in shape and fitting directly over his face. There was no mouth piece and only one eye hole, which situated over his right eye. The mask was black with a few red lines that sprouted from the eye hole in a swirlish pattern, but they faded as they swirled away. When Kopaka looked closely, he could even see that the red swirls looked as though someone had merely taken molten Protodermis, formed that shape, and stuck a mixer in where the right eye hole was, the mask seeming to literally swirl inward to the eyehole.“Nice mask. What is it?” Kopaka asked, slightly intrigued.“Oh, this?” Seerup asked, pretending to be surprised, though he had already noticed Kopaka studying the mask and anticipated the question. “It’s a Faxon, Mask of Kindred.”“Mask of Kindred... is that any good?”“Only for when things are too tough to handle with any other powers,” Seerup said, obviously smiling behind his mask. It was strange, actually, because even though his mouth wasn’t visible, Kopaka could tell he was smiling. It made Kopaka’s flesh crawl, but he decided to ignore that for now.“Well, enough chit-chatm” Helryx said, laughing as she stood up, breaking the quiet tension between the two. “A quick introduction, since you’ve already met Seerup and Eldra, the others are Melek, Held, Grom, Alon, Trag, Gulf, Gematria, Gehenna, Whipt, Spirito, and Exom. The League of Twelve Shadows. See?”Kopaka nodded. He took mental note of their names and would make sure to study them more later on.“I suppose it’s time we go,” Helryx said, her face far more serious.“About time,” Tobduk grunted as he stood up, using his staff as a support and watched Held support Eldra as he stood up, doing the same with his cane, a very odd cane, Kopaka thought, as it’s Protosteel form rose just above Eldra’s hip, before it’s tip blew up in a round ball covered in small spikes that did not seem to bother the old Makuta in the least.“Let’s go.”(((Ga-Metru, 48 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))Gali and Hahli both floated just under the water surface of the canal, which raged by overhead, kept in place only by their control over water and superior swimming ability, and kept from suffocating thanks to Gali’s Kanohi Kaukau Nuva. The elder Toa of Water supported Turaga Nokama in her arms to keep her from being dragged away from the current.“What are we going to do?” Hahli asked, looking quite worried.“I wish I knew...” Gali said, staring up through the water at the darkened sky.“There is not much we can do, but pray that the Great Beings will guide us,” Nokama said, looking down and shaking her head.“Not to insult you, Turaga,” Hahli said, “but I don’t think the Great Beings can do much right now.”Hahli expected a scolding from her old teacher, but the Turaga nodded in agreement.“I just hope we can survive... with the Great Spirit gone, will the Three Virtues really help?” Gali asked. Then she shook her head. “No, what am I saying? They must work! But under the current circumstances, I think that it’s possible that... we can bend the rules a little bit. In light of the situation.”Hahli smiled. “Now you’re thinking more like the new generation,” she giggled and winked. Gali nodded.“Perhaps it’s time we seek some help from your friend, the Toa of Air,” Nokama said, looking at Hahli.“I agree. Lesovikk.”(((Po-Metru, Assembly Village, 57 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))Pohatu stopped and entered a small abandoned hut. He was sure the owner wouldn’t mind. He was only staying for a little bit of time to rest. He sat down on the small couch, which was only feet from a table with designs and a few small components for some invention or other, which had been dropped when the assembly had been called. It was strange how things were turning. It was like a horror novel, when the main character finds out that the person that he always saw but never paid attention to turned out to be the main bad guy all along.Then he realized that it was exactly what it was. After Teridax’s defeat, no one paid attention to him until they found out he had taken over the Maxilos robot that was destroyed in the Pit. And he had once again disappeared. They had figured he was done on more than one occasion, everyone had, and when they weren’t looking, he turned around and took control of the Universe.Try explaining that to the Great Beings, Pohatu thought. ‘Oh, sorry, we lost your most precious creation to a madman who was put in there as a way to prevent things like this from happening.’The Toa of Stone sighed and shook his head, looking out the window at the blackening sky. His heart was pounding, and he wished he could do something, but he knew the truth: there was nothing he could do. Pohatu was usually an optimist, but this was different. There was no bright side to this.He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, trying to make sense of the situation when there was a loud sound, like an explosion. His eyes snapped open and he flipped his arms, producing his Climbing Claws, readying for a fight when part of the wall collapsed.No way! Pohatu thought. There’s no way he would target me like that! Then he heard the familiar sound that was like a Doom Viper’s hiss combined with the growl of an Ash Bear.“No...” Pohatu said, his eyes widening as he looked up at the creature, its brown armor glinting in the low light conditions, and the vision horrified him. “Another Rahkshi... and it’s one of his sons! Pahnrahk!”[Review]

Edited November 28, 2012 by bleedingshadows94

[bleedingshadows94]

Chapter 4: Dark Thoughts

(((Le-Metru, Moto Hub, 56 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))

Lewa slowly glided to the ground amongst the tangle of cables and broken tubes and sighed. This was not good. Already, his breath was shaky from fear. Le-Matoran passed him, screaming loudly, only to go into fits of insane laughter.

Is this just a dream? Is everyone just... crazy? Lewa thought to himself, looking up. He was shocked to see Toa Hagah Iruini standing and smiling up at a broken chute. Okay, now I know I’m dreaming. He couldn’t be here. He shouldn’t be here... why is he here?!

While Lewa rocked his brain trying to figure out why Iruini was here, he noticed the elite Toa was waving at... nothing.

“Good-bye, Matau!” Iruini called. “Have fun at work!” he shook his head. “What a little daredevil.” Lewa tilted his head in confusion.

“Um... excuse me...” Lewa asked, reaching his hand up to tap Iruini on the shoulder. The older Toa felt something, but when he looked down, he brushed Lewa’s hand off.

“Bugs. Yuck.” Iruini said.

“W-what?” Lewa asked, taking a step back out of confusion as the Hagah walked past him. “You’ve got to be joke-kidding me. You really don’t eye-see me?” Lewa asked, staring, but Iruini just walked off.

What in the world... Lewa thought, as he bit his lip. He made a decision, though it was a bit brash, and raised his Air Katana, preparing to shoot a blast of air.

(((Po-Metru, Assembler’s Hut, 58 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))

Pohatu scrambled backwards, trying to put as much distance between him and the metallic Rahkshi, which was slowly crawling in through the hole it had produced in the wall, as he could, while it struggled to fit through the gap. Its faceplate opened and it screeched, the Kraata inside writhing. Pohatu had to end this battle before it even began.

Calling upon his Adaptive Launcher, he forced the energy into his climbing claw, and it changed form into a small 2-barreled launcher ((A/N: I am basing this off of the “Po-Koro” weapon, found in the game “BIONICLE: Heroes” for the Toa of Stone)), which he held up and pointed it at the creature. When the Rahkshi saw the weapon, it quickly began clawing its way through the hole, but its efforts failed it. Pohatu pulled the trigger and the weapon pulled back as it released two simultaneous balls of super-heated stone, both of which clashed and turned into a single, spiraling, ball of heat and rock. The blast, however, was inaccurate, and it only succeeded in enlarging the hole the Rahkshi was trying to get through.

“Slag...” Pohatu muttered as he turn to run through the door, but before he could run out, he was faced with another Pahnrahk, whose staff blocked the door. “Great...” he mumbled. “Stuck between some rocks and a few sets of ugly.” Pohatu thought for a moment, then he slapped himself in the forehead. Rock!

Extending his hands, Pohatu focused on the stone hut around him and pulled, crossing his arms as he used his power to destroy the building, the shards crashing down onto the Rahkshi and himself. Luckily, he was quick. Pohatu leaped out of the hole he had enlarged and tumbled. Once he had come to a stop, he turned and saw that the Rahkshi had been crushed. Sadly, however, these huts were not very large, nor very heavy, and in only accomplished ticking the Rahkshi off even more.

“Frag it...” Pohatu said, calling upon his power again and thrust both of his arms forward, able to control both the sand (to a degree) and the stone set underneath it, and the wall of rock crashed into the two creatures. Again, they were able to get up and dust themselves off, before beginning another approach, and Pohatu lifted a large nearby boulder with his power, crashing it down on the Rahkshi, but again they got up.

“You guys are resilient, ain’t ya?” Pohatu said, a slight smirk on his face. The only response was a loud screech from one of the creatures as it charged at him.

Pohatu smiled and swung his foot directly up, connecting the Addition to the chestplate of the Rahkshi as it flew up into the air. Pohatu back flipped and spun, once more connecting his foot with the armor shell. Pohatu used this momentum to his advantage and reversed his spin, swinging his powerful leg down on the Rahkshi and slammed it down to the ground. He then fell and landed next to its companion, uppercutting the armored Kraata and kicked it as it came down from its perch only a few feet off the ground, sending it flying into a pile of rubble.

“That about does it,” Pohatu said with a smile. But the first Rahkshi still moved. He frowned as he looked at the monster, its pitiful form struggling to get up and reach for its staff. Pohatu used his Mask power to speed up to the staff and kicked it away. The creature looked up at him with its yellow eyes, struggling to get up on its shattered legs. When this failed, it looked up and screeched at Pohatu, who took advantage of this moment and grabbed the slug by its neck, yanking it out of its armor and held its squirming form in one hand. The repulsing creature hissed and gargled and thrashed about, and it made Pohatu want to upchuck. He placed it down and held it by the neck as he picked up a nearby stone, raising it high above his head, and prepared to bring it down on the creature’s head.

(((Onu-Metru Archives, Level 2, 67 minutes after Mata Nui’s banishment)))

Gematria sat quietly amongst the stasis cradles, his eyes slowly shifting across the room, every now and then catching a glance of his sister, but he didn’t pay much attention to what she was doing. He was trying to find a secret tunnel. His Kanohi Akaku could not see anything, but, according to Helryx’s reports, the tunnel was around here. She had said something about Blade Burrowers building it, but this did not seem likely, because he could not see them.

Gehenna was not paying any attention to her brother’s task. It was nothing important to her. All she had to do was wait and, when needed, use her powers in conjunction with her brother, and open the path. But until then, all she was going to do, she figured, was sharpen her blade with her claws. The Protosteel weapon seemed to shiver in her hands, and she brushed her palm across the flat side of the blade.

“Be still, Mal...” she whispered. Gematria looked up.

“Did you say something, sister?” he asked.

“Just talking to Mal... he’s scared... I think he senses we’re near the entrance.”

“Well then, let us hope he can point us in the direction,” Gematria said coldly, pulling the vision clip on his mask to the side as the eyepieces closed up. “Please, enlighten us, Mal. Show us where to go.”

Gehenna glared at her brother for a moment and then looked down at her sword, nodding softly. She took hold of the handle with both hands and extended her arms so that the blade was extended fully in front of her, turning in a full 360 degrees very slowly. She did it again, and on the point that was just beyond the quarter turn, the sword in her hands jerked slightly forward.

“That way, then,” Gehenna said, slipping the sword into the sheath on her back. Gematria scoffed softly at his sister. “You’re just jealous because you never talk to Vit, brother. You might enjoy it sometime.”

“Talk to an inanimate object like the rest of the crazies? I think not.”

“You know as well as I do, Vit is not inanimate. None of them are.”

Gehenna was right. All of the League’s weapons were remnants of Nynrah Ghosts. Even some were made of rogue Toa who lived in solitude on Nynrah with the Ghosts, becoming Ghosts themselves. It was the least they could, one of the Ghosts had told them, that they could do as thanks for eliminating a fearful force that had overcome their island. The force was, in fact, a large horde of Visorak that had appeared on the island after Vakama had disbanded the primary force of the horde on Metru Nui a thousand years ago.

Gematria did not reply, only walking in the direction that Mal had pointed. Gehenna looked sadly at her brother and then adjusted her tattered scarf on her face, following suit.

A little while later, when they came to a wall that looked like it was comprised poorly of stones, they figured that they had arrived where they were meant to. But before they could push open the hole, a voice gasped behind them. Both Makuta turned around to see a Matoran who was standing there, silently watching them.

“Wh-who are you?” he asked softly, his eyes traveling over their strange attire. Were it not for the twins’ scarves, the Matoran would instantly identify them, because no warrior wearing an Akaku would ever accompany a Makuta wearing a Shelek. The two looked at each other. At least they weren’t compromised.

“We’re...” Gehenna began, before Gematria cut her off.

“We’re Dark Hunters. And we’re looking for a secret passage to a place that will defeat the enemy. We were called here by your own Toa, and we’re planning on completing our mission. Now, either leave or get out. Take your pick.”

The Onu-Matoran stared for a moment and nodded.

“O-okay...” he said and scurried off. Gematria nodded.

“Now, let’s bust open this wall.”

(((Ga-Metru, Great Temple)))

It had only been just over an hour, but everyone in Ga-Metru had accepted the fact that they couldn’t do much. It was simply time to sit and hope. Hope. It was the only thing they had left, it seemed. They were powerless. Teridax had long ago stopped his assault on Metru Nui and was probably focusing his attention on other islands, revealing himself and making them all his helpless slaves. Nokama handed each Matoran present a small tablet carved with an ancient scripture and motioned for them all to sit.

“My children, let me tell you a story of a time long ago, in the time before time,” she said. Gali and Hahli both sat in the back of the room, listening to Nokama’s story. It was a story they had all heard many times before, but, for some reason, being told in the ancient temple, it just felt... right.

The calm water lapped against the edge of the island, and it seemed to sway, the Matoran swaying with it as they heard the tale of the Toa Mata, coming to Mata Nui to defeat the evil creatures and free them from terror. Gali reflected on this and thought it was funny how it was only just over 2 years ago that she and her companions had arrived on the island paradise. Those were the simpler days, when they had nothing to fear but fear itself. But now Teridax was the form of fear itself, and he wasn’t the only thing they had to fear. It was obvious that Makuta was still in control of most of his powers, and he could undoubtedly make Rahkshi, which we would send against them. He would probably bribe others to join him in enslaving the Matoran. It was already plain for everyone to see that no Matoran would ever bow down to a tyrant. Once, this had been a kingdom, and now it was a place of suffering.

At the same time, Hahli recalled when she and the other five Matoran had arrived on Karzahni, where everything was dark and thunder rolled across the sky endlessly. There were damaged Matoran with faces like zombies wandering the coastlines. They built various useless machines and labored without end. They were, quite literally, slaves. But Hahli would take that maniac over the one that now looked down on them from a place unknown. He was everywhere, inside everything, yet he could not be attacked.

But I pray, she thought, that a way will soon reveal itself.

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