Thanks, Bonehead108!

The Greening of Po-Koro, Featuring MakuTa

Chapter 1: The Instigator

One day in Mangaia...

Makuta leaned back in his leather chair and put his feet on the desk. "Ahh," he smiled, "the satisfaction of a job well done." He clasped his silvery gauntlets behind his head and closed his eyes for a moment. "Everything is in place. I'm rebuilt in my new, more intimidating form… the kraata are prepared… and the Rahkshi armor is tested and ready. So what if the Matorans have discovered that silly little mask? A lot of good it’s going to do them against MY new minions!"

He put his feet on the floor again and sat up. "Stupid claws!" he exclaimed, examining four deep scratches in the mahogany surface of the desk. He leaned toward his computer and double-clicked on a red LEGO brick on the desktop. Soon he was looking at a black screen with cameo pictures of the Matorans. A sly grin spread slowly across his face. "But before I wreck their pathetic little lives, maybe I should have some fun with them."

The Spirit of Evil stood up and stalked toward one of the many tunnels leading from the main chamber of his gloomy lair. He kicked aside a black leg piece and a few purple shoulder connectors that were lying on the floor. "This place really does need a woman's touch. And I have nothing but sons," he sighed, shaking his head. "If only GaliGee had stayed. She probably would have cleaned up this--aaah!" Makuta slipped on a plus-rod and fell on his back. "Stupid parts!" He got up and hurled the plus-rod across the room. It hit the rack of home theater equipment against the opposite wall, knocking the Xbox controller to the floor.

He ducked into the passageway, which opened into a large room lined with shelves. Transparent vials were arranged in neat rows. The ones on the top shelf were empty, but those on the lower shelf contained writhing slug-like organisms of various colors. The Rahkshi stood motionless in tall glass tubes against one wall, their backs open and empty. Six canisters were clustered on a stone table next to them, with particularly lively specimens inside.

Makuta ran his finger along the containers on the bottom shelf until he came to a vial that was marked with a large black 'X'. "Here it is," he chuckled to himself. He pulled the vial off the shelf and held it up to the lone lightstone in the center of the ceiling. "The pink kraata. The one that just wasn't mean enough. Perfect for a nasty little prank." He unscrewed the lid of the tube, reached in, and gripped the slimy wriggling creature inside. "Come on out, you have a job to do," he laughed wickedly.

Makuta dropped the empty vial onto the stone floor and turned toward the exit. The broken glass crunched under his feet as he spoke to the kraata. "I'll deliver you to Ga-Koro, and put you inside a hut. You are to infect the blue creature who lives there. Got it?"

The kraata thrashed as if in answer. "Wonderf--OW!" Makuta rubbed his head and glared at the top of the doorway. "Stupid doorway!" He smashed out a chunk of stone with his fist. "I've got to get used to this new form!"

The Spirit of Evil carefully picked his way among the parts littering the floor of the main room. He stopped, opened the panel on his chest, and lay the pink kraata against his body. It clung to him and stopped moving. "Aww," he purred, "they look so sweet when they're sleeping." He patted the kraata and snapped the panel closed.

He scowled at an elevator car lying under a pile of loose cable. "Oh, and I've got to rebuild that stupid elevator to carry more weight," he grumbled, kicking it as he walked past. "Well, I suppose I could use a little exercise." Picking up his staff, which was leaning against the wall, Makuta stepped into a dank stairwell and began slowly climbing the twenty-seven flights of stairs to the surface of Mata Nui.



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Chapter 2: The Anniversary

Meanwhile, in Ga-Koro...

Maku woke up, stretched, and sat up on her bed. "Oh, joy!" she smiled to herself, clutching her Huki plush toy. "It's our anniversary!" She looked out the window. "Still dark... I'll go wake Kotu." She picked up a thick stack of leaves, tied together with a piece of blue string, that was lying on the nightstand, and she danced out the door of her hut.

Kotu groaned as Maku bounced on her bed. "Wake up, Kotu! It's our anniversary!"

"Anniversary?" muttered Kotu sleepily. "Maku, what are you talking about?"

"It's been a whole year since the day Huki gave me that poster! A cycle of seasons... a full trip around the sun..." Maku held up the leaves. "For the past month, I've been writing a book of poems for him. Come with me, and let's take it to Po-Koro before he wakes up!"

"Uhh... okay," agreed Kotu, still groggy. They left her hut and crept across the bridge to the boat dock, where they stepped carefully into Maku's canoe. Maku untied the craft and pushed off the mooring post. The moon lit their way as Maku quietly dipped her oars in the bay.

“I just love our rebuilt forms,” smiled Maku, flexing her arm. “I can paddle a lot faster now.” Kotu didn’t answer. She had nodded off in the bow of the boat. Maku sang love songs while she rowed all the way to Po-Wahi.

The Ga-Koronans hitched up the canoe and crossed the wide expanse of golden sand just as the edge of the sun began to make the horizon glow red. In the lookout post, Mokali jumped to attention at the sight of two creatures approaching the village, but Maku motioned for him to be silent. He grinned and waved back.

Maku and Kotu stopped at Huki's hut. Maku stepped inside and lay the book on Huki's pillow. She smiled lovingly at his sleeping face, resisting the urge to touch him. "There will be time for that later," she laughed to herself. Then she skipped out of the hut.

"Come on, Kotu!" she whispered, taking her friend by the hand. Quickly they left the village of stone, waving back at Mokali as they ran across the desert to the sea.

Meanwhile, in Po-Koro...

"Yesss!" yelled Huki, sitting bolt upright in his bed. "The winning goal! I'm the champion--again!" He looked around sheepishly. "Oops..." He rubbed his head and picked up the cluster of leaves. "What's this?"

Huki's eyes filled with tears as he read. "Oh, that's so sweet! I love her so mu--wait, it's TODAY?" He threw the book on the bed and raced outside in a panic. Blinking in the bright light, he stumbled into Hafu's hut.

"Help me! Help me!" he said, shaking Hafu awake.

The stone carver's eyes snapped open. "What is it, Huki?"

"Our anniversary! It's today, and I haven't finished my gift for Maku!"

Hafu rolled over to go back to sleep, mumbling, "I missed the part where that was my problem."

Huki leaned over and shook his friend again. "It's a stone carving, and you know how slow a carver I am. I can never finish it today without you."

"Oh, that thing," replied Hafu. "Sure, you can. Just finish it and give it to her tonight, at that ceremony in Kini-Nui. You know, the one that Turaga Onewa said we all have to go to." Hafu pulled up his blanket and closed his eyes.

Huki frowned, stood up, and stepped outside. He ran to Hafu's work area at the edge of town, picked up some tools, and began to chisel furiously.

An hour later, Hafu strolled up to Huki. "Say, that's coming along pretty well," he remarked through a mouthful of Mukau breakfast taco.

"No thanks to you," scowled Huki.

Hafu laughed. "I'll work on it a little for you. Here, have some breakfast." He handed Huki a taco.

Huki smiled at his friend and set down his tools. "Thanks. You're a real pal."



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Chapter 3: The Request

Meanwhile, in Ga-Koro...

Maku and Kotu rowed up to the dock and got out of the canoe. Kotu waved to her friend, then walked into Nokama's hut to begin her daily work of helping the Turaga run the village. Maku, her arms weary from so much paddling, returned to her own hut to rest for a few moments. She lay down on the bed.

"I wonder what he will give me," she sighed. "A flower? A card?" As she reveled in her daydreams, she felt something slimy touch her mask. Startled, she sat up and saw a long, pink, spineless creature on her pillow.

"Eeeeeew!" yelled Maku, jumping up. She grabbed a canoe paddle and knocked the squirming organism off the pillow. It writhed on the floor until she prodded it out of the hut and off the platform into the water.

Maku sat down on the bed. She felt queasy. There was a peculiar burning sensation on her mask. She shook her head. "I guess I'd better stop fantasizing and get to work," she muttered. But she suddenly felt overwhelmed by sadness. "Maybe he won't give me anything," she moaned. "Maybe he doesn't love me any more." She held her mask in her hands.

An hour later, Kotu almost tripped over the Huki plush toy lying in the doorway of Maku’s hut. "Where have you been all morning?" she demanded. "Turaga Nokama said--oh." She sat on the bed and put her arm around her sobbing friend. "What's wrong, Maku?"

Maku looked up. Her blue Huna was streaked with tears. "I don't think Huki loves me any more," she whispered hoarsely.

Kotu patted Maku's back. "It's only mid-morning, Maku. Maybe he just hasn't had time to get over here yet."

"He's had plenty of time. I can tell something's up." Suddenly Maku sat up straight. Her eyes blazed with a strange yellow fire. "And now he's gonna pay!"

Kotu thought she saw a greenish shine on Maku's mask and shivered. "Sometimes you scare me, Maku. Did you ever notice that your name is only two letters away from 'Makuta'? We could call you MakuTa."

"Very funny, Kotu!" snapped Maku. "Are you going to help me, or not?"

Kotu laughed. "When have I ever passed up a chance to play a joke on Huki?" But as she followed Maku out of the hut, she glanced nervously at her friend.

Maku led Kotu across the causeway to the mainland. After a few minutes of hiking in the woods, Kotu asked, "Where are we going?"

"This is going to be the best prank yet," grinned Maku, "because we are going to get professional help this time."

"From whom?" asked Kotu.

Maku gestured toward the top of a tall tree. "From him."

Kotu looked up and could barely make out the form of Lewa, camouflaged among the leaves. He was wearing his Akaku and gazing out over the bay.

"What's he doing up there?" whispered Kotu.

"Watching Gali swim," replied Maku. "Let's go up and talk to him." She grabbed a vine.

"Wait a minute," protested Kotu. "I don't know how to--"

"Oh, it's easy. Tamaru taught me how. Just hop up and let your weight swing you up. Like this." Maku swung up into the tree and climbed toward Lewa. She stopped to look down at Kotu. "Try it!" she urged.

"All right." Kotu gripped the vine and jumped, landing in a clump of bushes with a crash.

Lewa leaned over and looked at her, laughing. "Come on up," he invited her. Kotu felt herself being levitated out of the bushes into the top of the tree. The Ga-Koronans sat down on the branch next to him.

"Thanks, Toa Lewa," smiled Kotu.

Maku patted her friend's arm. "Kotu's new at this."

"I guessed that," he replied. "So what brings you two to my treetop today?"

"We need your help with a little joke," Maku began.

Lewa grinned. "Go on."

"Huki forgot our anniversary. He was probably out all night with his teammates again, while I was sitting alone, writing him love poems. So I want revenge. Can you make flowering vines grow all over his hut?"

"Oh, he'll hate that!" Lewa laughed. "No problem."

Maku smiled deviously. "That'll teach that no-good Koli bum!"

Lewa inclined his head and studied Maku's mask. "I just noticed your name is only two letters away from 'Makuta’."

"Yes, it's been mentioned to me before," she replied, glaring at Kotu.

"Good thing he's dead," shrugged Lewa. "Watching his ugly head spin off into oblivion was one of the highlights of my life."

"So, what do you need us to do?" asked Maku.

"Just leave everything to me," he smiled, with a twinkle in his light-green eyes. "And show up in Po-Koro right after nap time to watch the fun." He stood on the branch. "Want a ride back down?"

Kotu looked at Maku. "Uh, sure," she replied. Lewa picked them up and put them on his back, then gripped his katanas. He leaped off the branch and soared down to the beach. The giggling Ga-Koronans rolled off into the sand.

"Thanks, Lewa," called Maku as he jumped up and sailed away on a gust of wind.

The Toa of Air wiggled his wings in answer. "But why cover just ONE hut with vines?" he snickered to himself. "I'm going to do the whole village! Let's see... First, I'll need some seeds. But nothing is going to sprout in Po-Koro without water. I'll have to talk Gali into this, too." He swung around and flew back toward the village of water. "Even though she'll give me that darn tree lecture. Again."



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Chapter 4: The Plan

Meanwhile, in Ga-Koro...

"Ah, there you are, Maku," said Nokama. "What have you been doing all morning? We've got a lot of work to do before the ceremony tonight. And you, especially, had better be on time." The blue Turaga winked at her villager.

"I wonder why she said that," thought Maku. "But I'd better get my work done fast, so I can sneak out of town by noon." Aloud, she replied, "Yes, Turaga." She turned to go.

"Wait, Maku," Nokama added. "Are you feeling all right? You look a little--green."

"I'm fine," shrugged the Matoran.

Nokama narrowed her eyes. "I just now realized that your name is only two letters away from 'Makuta’."

"Strange coincidence," Maku muttered. She ran across the bridge.

Nokama gestured at Kotu to come over. The Ga-Koronan walked across the lily pad and waited for further instructions.

"When Gali gets here, we will discuss the program for tonight's ceremony," said the Turaga. "Look, there she is." A blue form breached the waves and swam rapidly to the pad. The Toa of Water climbed out and stood next to Nokama.

"Toa Gali," Nokama began, "you know that we are meeting in Kini-Nui tonight to--"

"Incoming!" yelled Kai from the bridge. Gali, Nokama, and Kotu heard a loud whistling noise and looked up to see Lewa diving toward them from a high altitude, his katanas folded back behind him. They scrambled out of the way and plunged into the water. Lewa swooped low over the pad and caught Gali in mid-flip. He locked his legs around her, picked her up, and flew away.

Nokama and Kotu surfaced and looked at each other. "He's as bad as his Turaga!" grumbled Nokama.

Kotu laughed. "Oh, Turaga Nokama, what's wrong with a little joke?"

"Nothing. As long as no one gets hurt, and no one's property gets damaged," snapped the Turaga. "Like, say, the Turaga's hut."

Kotu swallowed hard. "We didn't mean for it to actually SINK…"

Meanwhile, in Le-Wahi...

Lewa and Gali were sitting in a tree. Lewa rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, Gali, I KNOW there would be no trees or plants without water. That's exactly why I need your help."

"So how do I know the Po-Koronans are going to react well to this prank?"

"Oh, come on. Pohatu is the most mellow Toa around. His villagers are becoming more like him every day. They can take a joke!"

Gali wrinkled her nose. "Well, I guess so, then. What's the plan?"

Lewa smiled broadly. "We'll go over there at nap time. While they sleep, I'll plant the seeds, and you'll water them. Then I'll separate the air, increasing the concentration of oxygen inside the huts and carbon dioxide outside the huts. That'll get the plants to grow really fast. Then we just sit back and watch the fun!"

"You can separate air?" asked Gali skeptically.

"I'm the Toa of Air, dear. Remember? Yes, I can separate air."

Gali bristled slightly, but she let it slide. "All right. Let's go. But let's use our Kakamas this time. Your piloting skills make me airsick."

They dropped from the tree using their Mirus. Lewa gathered some seeds from the flowering vines at the base of the tree, and then they ran toward Po-Koro. In a flash they were standing on the cliff overlooking the village, hidden from view by a large boulder.

"Lewa," said Gali, bending over to pick up a handful of sand, "are you sure anything is going to grow in this stuff?"

"Oh, you're right," groaned Lewa. "We need Onua to help us, too."

"This is turning into quite a project," remarked Gali. "Well, then, off to Onu-Koro!"

They streaked away across the desert, and soon they were underground, standing next to Whenua's hut, talking to the Toa of Earth.

"You need a bunch of dirt? What for?" asked Onua.

"We're going to do a little gardening in Po-Koro," smiled Lewa.

"But the Po-Koronans don't like to garden."

"Exactly. That's why we're doing it," replied Gali.

"I don't get it." Onua shook his head.

Lewa rolled his eyes. "We're playing a joke on them, Onua."

"Ohhh..." replied the dark Toa. "I see. Sure, I'll just roll a big ball of earth over there."

"Great!" exclaimed Gali. "Let's go. We don't have much time."

Lewa and Gali ran back to Po-Koro. Presently they saw Onua pushing a large dirt ball in front of him. They ran down to meet him. "Just leave it here, behind this big rock, so they won't see it,” said Lewa. “As soon as they go to sleep, can you help us spread it around their huts?"

"Sure," replied Onua. The three Toa climbed the cliffs again to watch the village. As the sun climbed high in the sky, the Po-Koronans began to leave their daily chores to seek the cool shade of their stone huts. Finally only one Po-Koronan remained outside. It was Huki, still chipping feverishly at his statue.

"Man, I wish he would go take his nap," muttered Lewa impatiently. "This could ruin the whole plan."

Hafu walked over to Huki. "Hot enough for ya?"

Huki glared at him and kept carving. Sweat dripped off his mask.

"Huki, you've been working for seven hours straight. Why don't you take a break?"

"I can't," replied Huki. "I have to finish this."

"Really, now. Your hands are shaking, and your tools are getting dull. Why don't you take a nap? Then you can wake refreshed, and finish it this afternoon."

"No way," replied Huki, hammering even harder. Suddenly he dropped his tools and began to march toward his hut. "Must sleep... must sleep..."

Hafu shrugged and followed him. "Glad you finally listened to reason." They disappeared into their huts.

Gali glanced at Lewa's Komau. "Nice work. Now, how about the watchman?"

The Matoran at the lookout post suddenly yawned and lay down. Lewa changed back to his Miru. "Let's go, team!"



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Chapter 5: The Herald

Meanwhile, in Ko-Wahi…

Tahu watched Kopaka zip past him on his skates. The Toa of Ice circled around and came to a stop. “What are you doing here, Tahu?”

“Just killing time,” replied the Toa of Fire. “It’s so boring around here, now that the Bohrok-Kal have been defeated. Say, I bet I could snowboard with these things!” He took his magma swords off his back.

“Yeah, right,” scoffed Kopaka.

Tahu frowned at the white Toa. “Watch me.” He put the blades on his feet and gave himself a push with his hands. The blades heated up, steam hissing off their edges. As Tahu slid downhill, he sank deeper and deeper into the snow pack.

“Works great!” Kopaka laughed.

“Well, of course your lousy snow is too weak to hold me up,” sneered Tahu. He tried vainly to climb out of the icy well he had dug himself into. “Hey, can you help me get out of here?”

“Sure,” sang Kopaka, skating rapidly toward the hole. He launched himself into a flip as he flew over the top of it. “As soon as you admit that you can’t handle yourself on the ice.” He landed on the other side and kept skating.

Tahu growled. He took his swords off his feet and melted the snow around him into a ramp. He walked out of the hole himself.

“I bet you do just as badly on lava,” he called after the receding white form.

Kopaka swerved around and skidded to a stop. “Let’s go.”

Blades on their backs, they raced for Ta-Wahi. They stood next to the main lava flow. The Toa of Fire slid his swords into the sides of his feet and jumped in, spraying red sparks behind him. “Catch me if you can!”

Kopaka smiled and formed a board with his blades as well. He pushed off the rocks and followed the red Toa. As Kopaka moved, the lava in front of his board hardened into a big wedge of rock. Soon he was stuck fast in the middle of the flow.

“I told you!” laughed Tahu, glancing back at him. “So, do you need any help?”

“I never need help from you,” grumbled the Toa of Ice. He decreased the temperature of the rock until it was brittle, then used his Pakari to smash it with his fist. As he began to sink in the lava, he jumped free and landed on the bank, wincing.

The ground shook, and both Toa were surprised to see Onua bursting from the rocky ground. “Hi guys,” he said, blowing dust out of his mask. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, the usual,” replied Tahu.

“Picking senseless fights with each other,” smiled Kopaka.

“So what’s up with you, Onua? Or should I say, what’s going down?”

Onua laughed. “You guys have to come see this. Lewa and Gali talked me into helping them with a prank on Po-Koro. They just planted vines all over the village while the Po-Koronans were taking their nap!”

Kopaka grinned. “How funny!”

“Wait,” said Tahu. “You left Lewa alone with Gali?”

“Well, yes,” replied Onua. “What's wrong with that?”

“That can’t be good.” Kopaka shook his head.

“Why?” asked the Toa of Earth.

“He doesn't get it, does he?”

“Are you going to explain it, or should I?”

“WHAT are you talking about?” groaned Onua.

Kopaka said, “We should definitely go see what’s going on.”

Onua shrugged and began to walk between them toward Po-Koro.

Tahu leaned behind Onua and whispered to Kopaka. "Why do you suppose they call him the wise one?"

Kopaka scratched his head. "I think it's because he says very little."

Tahu thought for a moment. "So, if you don't say much, others would tend to assume you know a lot, but if you talk a lot, then they will have a chance to see that you really DON'T know much about the subject in question, but in fact you are talking a lot about something you know nothing about?"

"Well spoken, Tahu," replied Kopaka.

Onua rolled his eyes. "The reason I'm considered wise is that I only speak if I know that I know. That way I'm always right."

Tahu and Kopaka looked at each other. "Dude," said Tahu.

"Whoa," said Kopaka.

"He IS wise," they said in unison.

"Let's use our Kakamas," suggested Onua. The three Toa changed to their Kakamas and ran for Po-Koro.



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Chapter 6: The Altar

Meanwhile, in Mangaia…

Makuta reached for the high shelf and took down a vial. He removed the pink kraata and tossed the glass canister aside. It smashed to pieces on the stone floor as he ducked cautiously through the doorway. Then he walked to his computer and sat down.

“Come, my pet, let’s see whether your antics have made the news yet,” he said, putting the kraata on his knee. He stroked it gently as he double-clicked on the red LEGO brick. While the web page loaded, he picked up his BZPower mug and took a sip of coffee.

“Oh, wonderful, a new update! Just look at that picture--Po-Koro looks like a greenhouse!” Makuta roared with laughter as he clicked the ‘Read More’ link.

“Listen to this! ‘The Greening of Po-Koro, Strange Botanical Fluke Affects Village of Stone, by Takua. This afternoon, residents of the stone village of Po-Koro were startled to wake from their naps and find that the usually barren landscape around their stone huts was completely covered with tropical flowering foliage. A collective wail went up from the villagers as they realized the scope of the mysterious biological anomaly.

“‘Turaga Onewa confirmed that no such event has been foretold by prophecy. “This must be a punishment of some sort,” he explained. “We have offended the Great Spirit Mata Nui somehow. And whatever our offense, we must petition him to forgive us and give us another chance. That’s why we’re building a giant stone altar in the center of the village.”

“‘This altar will be giant, indeed, if the size of the base is any indication. The Po-Koronans are erecting a pyramid-shaped mountain of stone on a square foundation, each side about twenty bios long. At the time this report was filed, the fourth course of massive boulders was being laid.

“‘Hafu, the master stone carver, was too busy to comment, but one of his assistants, Kufa, remarked that after each block of stone was roughed out, Hafu was personally finishing it to ensure that exact measurements were maintained.

“‘When asked about the projected completion time, a weary but hopeful Onewa smiled. “We’ll have it constructed by this evening, so the island-wide assembly at the Kini-Nui can still proceed as scheduled.” He added that the vines have not been removed from the village, as that would likely further offend the Great Beings.’”

Makuta leaned back in his chair, convulsed with laughter. “This is even better than I had hoped!” he gasped. “They’ve gone completely insane!”

With the last spasm of laughter, his chair tipped over backwards, and Makuta found himself sprawled on the floor, maskless. “Stupid chair!” He stood, picked up the chair, and slammed it onto the floor on its wheels. Then he bent over for his mask and put it back on his face.

“Oops, it’s upside down,” he muttered. He removed his mask and replaced it. Then he flipped it over again. He leaned toward the computer to look at his dim reflection in the monitor. “Say, it looks pretty cool upside down. But where’s that kraata?”

He glanced at his cup and groaned. The tail end of the pink creature was sticking out of the coffee, wiggling.

Meanwhile, in Po-Koro…

“On your feet, Huki!” barked Onewa. “This is no time for slacking off!”

Huki slowly got up and staggered toward the massive block of stone in front of him. “I’m never going to finish Maku’s gift,” he moaned to himself. He braced his weary arms against the block and resumed pushing it up the sand ramp to its place in the colossal pyramid.

Pohatu sighed. “Turaga Onewa, I’m still not convinced this is really a curse. It has all the signs of a Lewa prank to me.”

Onewa looked up at his Toa. “The destiny of an entire village is at stake here, Toa Pohatu. I, for one, am not going to take any foolish chances.” He turned back to the work crew. “Hurry up, you carvers, Hafu’s waiting for the next block!”

“Well, I’ve already brought you more than enough stone to finish this thing, and I’ve built you those ramps. So with your leave, Turaga, I’m going to go look for Lewa.” Pohatu raced up to the lookout post and switched to his Akaku. “If I know Lewa, he’s hanging around here somewhere in his Huna.”

As Pohatu scanned the horizon, something caught his eye. Lewa and Gali were standing on a cliff, wearing, as expected, their Hunas. Pohatu zoomed down the steps, out the village, and toward the cliffs.

“Uh, oh,” said Lewa. “Pohatu just spotted us. Let’s get out of here!” He changed to his Kakama.

Gali laughed. “Weren’t you just trying to tell me how mellow Pohatu is?” She put her hands on her hips. “Besides, do you really believe we’re going to outrun him? We’d better start thinking up a good story, because--”

“Come on!” yelled Lewa, grabbing her wrist. They fled into the desert.



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Chapter 7: The Confession

Onua, Tahu, and Kopaka arrived at the gates of Po-Koro and decelerated. They walked through the stone passageway into the village and gasped at what they saw. An enormous, almost completed stone structure stood in the middle of a thick jungle of creeping vines. The air was heavy with the scent of flowers. Some Po-Koronans were chiseling blocks of stone, while others shoved them up long sand ramps to the top of the monument.

“What the…” murmured Kopaka.

“Son of a…” began Tahu.

“Holy…” Onua’s voice trailed off.

“Wait a minute, weren’t you part of this plot, Onua?”

“Yes, Kopaka, but it didn’t look like this when I left. The vines were here, but not that big pyramid!”

Onewa walked up and bowed to the three Toa. “As you can see,” he said solemnly, “our village has been cursed. We must have committed some unknown offense against the Great Spirit Mata Nui. Can you help us finish the altar?”

The Toa exchanged glances. “Go ahead and tell him, Onua,” said Tahu, nudging the black Toa.

“Uhh…” said Onua.

“Now would be a good time, Onua,” urged Kopaka.

“Uhh…” said Onua.

“What are you WAITING for, Onua?” Tahu tapped his foot impatiently.

“Uhh… sure, I’ll help!” smiled Onua. He jumped up onto one of the ramps. “Allow me,” he offered. The Po-Koronan pushing the huge stone stepped back, and Onua slid it quickly up the ramp and shoved it into place.

Kopaka groaned. “That was not what I was hoping he would say.”

Onewa looked at Kopaka, then at Tahu. “Well, at least he’s helping,” he growled, and he turned back to the work site.

Onua finished the pyramid in a few minutes. He stood at the top and grinned as the Po-Koronans cheered. He jumped down using his Miru and landed next to the Turaga.

“Thank you so much,” said Onewa gratefully. “I’ve been preparing a speech--”

“You’re welcome. But I have something to tell you, Onewa,” said Onua quietly.

“What is it?” asked the Turaga.

“Well, you see, your village isn’t really cursed. Lewa, Gali and I--”

Just then Pohatu entered the gate, gripping Lewa and Gali firmly by the arms. “Onewa! It’s true! Lewa and Gali are behind this whole thing!” He shoved Lewa onto the ground.

The Toa of Air slid to a stop against the base of the pyramid. He looked up, his Miru covered with sand. “And Onua,” he added. Onua smiled meekly.

Onewa looked from Lewa to Gali to Onua, whom Pohatu was holding in a headlock, and crossed his arms. “And who is going to explain this to me?” he demanded angrily.

Lewa grinned sheepishly as he stood up and dusted himself off. “Well, you see, we just thought Po-Koro would look nice with a little greenery…”

Suddenly a small blue figure ran in through the gate, followed closely by another. “No, it’s all my fault,” cried Maku. “You see, I asked Toa Lewa to do it. I suppose he talked the other Toa into helping him.” She burst into tears. Kotu put her arms around her friend.

“Maku?” said Huki, stepping forward.

Maku looked up and saw Huki. She turned and ran as fast as she could into the desert. Kotu followed her out of the village.

“Well, anyway,” said Onua, “we’d be glad to take this pyramid down now.”

“Would you, please?” snapped Onewa. He turned to speak to his villagers. They groaned and looked at each other, confused. Onua raced to the top of the pyramid and began to throw rocks down, and Pohatu kicked them out the front gate like he was shooting at a Koli goal. The villagers scrambled out of the way.

Tahu pulled his magma swords off his back. “I’ll get rid of these vines for you,” he offered. He fired a beam of heat into the nearest clump of vegetation, and it burst into flames.

Kopaka looked at him warily. “Just be careful,” he warned. “Their huts are under all that stuff.”

Tahu ignited the vines over the entire village. The roaring fire began to rage furiously. Gali and Kopaka ran to opposite ends of the blazing inferno and countered it with water and ice. Soon the steaming, blackened huts were standing in about half a bio of water.

“Why do you always have to lose control?” snapped Kopaka angrily at Tahu. “It’s a good thing Gali and I were here.”

“I was about to stop the fire myself,” said Tahu with a weak smile.

“Don’t lecture anyone about control, Kopaka,” retorted Gali, dousing some frozen Mukau. “I’m thawing these with water so that no one will get the idiotic idea to do it by fire.” She glared at Tahu.

Pohatu surveyed his damaged village. “This was a pretty costly prank,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s a good thing most of our belongings are made of stone. At least the fire didn’t get hot enough to melt that! I’m hoping the Ga-Koronans won’t mind weaving us some fresh linens?”

“Sure,” replied Gali. “We owe it to you.”

“The Le-Koronans will be happy to restock your food supplies,” Lewa volunteered. “Listen, Onewa, we’re really sorry we wrecked your village.” Gali and Onua nodded.

“We are, too,” added Tahu and Kopaka.

“Apologies accepted. Let’s do what we can to clean up before the ceremony tonight,” suggested Onewa. “Then we can take a break and go celebrate. We’ll certainly survive the loss of our possessions. But we should thank the Great Beings that no one got hurt.” As everyone set about clearing, cleaning, and hauling, the Turaga pulled Huki aside. “I don’t know what’s up with you and Maku, but you’d better figure out how to make her happy.”

“Thank you, Turaga,” sighed the exhausted Po-Koronan. “Good thing I put her poems up in the lookout post for safekeeping.” He stumbled toward the stone-carving work area, cleared the charred foliage from his statue, and began to chip off the black surface.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Po-Wahi...

Kotu finally caught up with Maku. She tackled her friend, throwing her down in the sand and sitting on her until Maku stopped struggling.

“Are you ready to listen to reason?” asked Kotu.

“I suppose so,” moaned Maku. Kotu helped her up. They sat together on a rock.

“It’s going to be all right, Maku. The Toa will fix things in Po-Koro. You have a little while to pull yourself together before the ceremony.” She glanced behind them towards Po-Koro and saw huge blocks of stone flying out of the main gate.

“I’m not going,” said Maku stubbornly.

“What do you mean, you’re not going? Of course you’re going. Turaga Nokama needs you at her left hand.”

“I can’t face everyone, Kotu. Huki doesn’t love me, and now all of Po-Koro wants me dead.”

“You didn’t really do anything, Maku. All you did was ask Toa Lewa to cover one hut with vines. He and the others got carried away.” Kotu looked at the flames shooting into the sky behind the cliffs of Po-Koro and quickly turned back to her friend.

“Well, that’s bad enough. I’m not going.” Maku crossed her arms defiantly.

“You have to go,” urged Kotu. Now ice and water were flying into the sky above the village.

“You can’t make me,” retorted Maku.

Kotu sighed with frustration. “Listen, MakuTa, we need you there.”

“I’m evil! I can’t mingle with those good Matorans!” Maku started sobbing.

Kotu held her friend again. “I’m sorry, Maku. Of course you’re not evil. And you have to come. Please?”

Maku shook her head.

Kotu held Maku’s mask between her hands. “Do it for me. Kotu. Your friend.”

Maku looked at Kotu through her tears. “Oh, all right,” she agreed in a quiet voice.



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Chapter 8: The Ceremony

Later, at the Kini-Nui…

The villagers from the entire island of Mata Nui were gathered around the giant stone temple as the setting sun painted the eastern sky with bold red and purple colors. A hush fell over the crowd as the six Turaga, flanked by their right and left hand Matorans, took their places on the platform in the center of the temple.

Huki leaned behind Onewa’s back and whispered to Maku. “I can’t believe you did that, Maku! Add two letters to the end of your name, and it becomes ‘Makuta’!”

“Shut up, Huki,” Maku hissed back. “After a whole year together, I thought you loved me!”

Nokama glowered at Maku and held her finger in front of her mask. “Shhhh.” Nuju squeaked disapprovingly.

Huki whispered again. “Is THAT what this is about?”

Onewa pounded the top of Huki’s head with his fist as Vakama rapped his firestaff on a rock. “This meeting will now come to order.”

“Brave Matoran,” began Nokama. “You have weathered a time of challenges with courage, spirit and unity. We wish especially to recognize those who stood against the Bohrok in the final battle against the swarms. In the face of darkness, you were a beacon of light for us all.”

Vakama raised his staff. “The defenders of Ga-Koro shall receive a special honor. Even as the Toa became the Toa Nuva, so too will these heroes have new names when their tale is carved in the chronicles.”

Jala was the first to be called. “Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard,” Vakama declared with pride. “Your valor and dedication to duty are an example to all. When your name is inscribed upon the Wall of History, you shall be known as Jaller.” He held up a stone plaque inscribed with the new name.

The Matorans cheered. Jaller took a modest bow, his mask radiant with excitement. Then Onewa stepped forward. “And for his brave deeds in Ga-Koro, Huki of Po-Koro will be known henceforth as Hewkii,” he pronounced. Hewkii’s teammates hooted loudly from the back of the crowd. Maku rolled her eyes.

“And for her courage in defending her village from the enemy,” smiled Nokama, “Maku of Ga-Koro will now be known as Macku, forevermore.”

Macku almost fainted with relief as she saw the new spelling on her sign. “Now no one will call me MakuTa ever again!” she sighed.

The Ga-Koronan barely paid attention to the closing comments by Whenua, who explained that given the condition of Po-Koro, the feast and games would instead be held on the lawn next to the Kini-Nui. In a daze, Macku stumbled off the platform. Hewkii caught her by the elbow.

“Oh, it’s you again.” She pulled her arm away.

“Macku, please come with me. I have something for you,” he smiled.

“What do you have for me, Hewkii? A lame excuse?”

Hewkii led the reluctant Macku to an object draped with a piece of cloth. He pulled off the cover, revealing a carved stone flower almost as tall as himself. “Happy anniversary, Macku!”

"Oh, Hewkii, it's beautiful!" cried Macku, throwing her arms around him. "Thank you so much! I’m so sorry I got mad at you." Fresh tears rolled down her mask.

Hewkii hugged her back. "It’s all right, Macku. And you're welcome.” He winked at Hafu, who was standing behind her. “But even Hafu could never carve anything as lovely as you."

They held each other tightly for a moment. “Thanks for the wonderful poems,” said Hewkii. Then he released her and put his hand on her forehead. "Macku, you're burning up! It feels like you have a fever."

"Yeah… I haven't been feeling too well today. Ever since I saw that icky slug thing in my hut this morning…"

"Slug thing?” Nokama stepped between them. “I’m sorry, Hewkii, she's coming with me. She needs some rest. I'm sure you understand." She smiled at the Po-Koronan as she led Macku away.

Hewkii grinned. "Yes, I've been sick before. Get well soon, Macku!"

“Well, Hewkii, I guess that would explain why your tough, fearless little Macku has been squalling like a Maha separated from its herd,” remarked Pohatu. He picked up the stone flower. "I'll deliver this to Ga-Koro for you, if you like."

"Thanks, Toa Pohatu," said the Matoran. "I just hope it doesn't sink her hut."

Their laughter, and the clang of Hafu’s and Kotu’s high-five, rang across the valley, reaching a being that lurked in the shadows. "Gaaaah! I hate happy endings!" Makuta hurled a rock at the temple. It hit one of the pillars and shattered.

He petted the pink kraata perched on his shoulder armor. “Well, you did your best, anyway,” he smiled. “And I’m proud of you for wrecking a village. Let’s go home.” He put the creature inside his chest compartment and ducked inside a cave.

The Spirit of Evil arrived at his lair, panting from the long descent. "I suppose I should get things started," he muttered to himself, stepping into his storage room. He put the pink kraata into a vial on the top shelf. He lifted the lids off the glass tubes housing the Rahkshi armor and unscrewed the tops of the kraata vials on the table. "So again the prophecies of the Matoran oppose my will. I set the Rahi against them… I unleashed the Bohrok swarms… but still they refused to break." He carefully placed each kraata inside the proper Rahkshi and snapped the spiky cover shut. Then he stepped back and proudly watched his newest minions come to life.

A green fist smashed through the glass. "Now their unity will be poisoned… their duty broken… their destiny shattered,” Makuta said with a grim smile.

As the sixth Rahkshi burst out, Makuta took a deep breath and gestured grandly toward the doorway. "Go, my sons, my--OW!" He bent over, clutching the hand he had just slammed into the corner of the shelf. "Stupid shelf!" he yelled. He kicked the bottom edge of the shelf, sending several kraata vials crashing to the floor.

The Spirit of Evil dropped to his hands and knees, grabbing the creatures as they tried to slither away. He crammed them into the empty canisters on the table and quickly screwed on the lids. Then he looked up and realized that the Rahkshi were watching him. "What are YOU staring at?" he roared. "Go, my sons, my Rahkshi! Use the shadows, and keep my brother asleep!"

Makuta rubbed his hand while he watched them go. He walked over to the desk and picked up his digital camera. "There are definitely going to be some Kodak moments coming up," he chuckled as he sat down. He removed the data storage card from the camera and put it in a slot in the computer. "Aww, pictures of GaliGee and the boys." He moved the photos onto the hard drive, and then he replaced the card in the camera. "Say… I think I'll order a couple of Makuta sets, and have one of them sent to her," he grinned. "But should I use her credit card number, or mine? Hmm... Oh, I'll be a gentleman." He double-clicked on the red LEGO brick.


THE END



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Thanks, Bonehead108!