You might remember The Blade of Valor, a short story I wrote a while back testing out an idea about a world where humans and Bionicle characters co-existed. I’ll admit it didn’t get the response I was hoping for, but I just ended up liking the idea too much. So, now I’m working on turning it into a full-length fanfiction.

However, while the Sword of Akamai and its bearer will be in the story (though all names are tentative), I will also be including a second protagonist to carry the Shield of Wairuha, so “The Blade of Valor” probably wouldn’t work as well as a title any more. For now, the working title for this story will be “The Kaita Legacy”.

Bionicle characters in this world take the role of spirits, and the humans follow and look up to them as protectors. When a new threat arises to put the world in jeopardy, a priestess is given the power of three of the Great Spirits of the Elements and tasked with saving the world.

Now, work schedule. I can’t really come up with a proper schedule, with school, work, and the other projects I want to work on, so I can’t guarantee when this story will be done. I’d like to finish it before posting it so that I can go over the whole thing and make edits, but I also like to have people look at my work as I go along. What I’m thinking is that I will post the chapters to Tumblr as I finish them, so whoever’s got an account over there can keep up with it. When I finish the story and make my edits, I will post the improved version here on BZP over the span of a few weeks.

I don’t plan on it being a very long piece, though each chapter might seem rather lengthy on its own. Chapter 1 is currently about 14 pages long in Word, and I’m currently planning on eight chapters. I guess it’s like a special mini-series or something.

The first chapter is on Tumblr now if you want to read it, but I won’t make a post here every time I finish a chapter. I’ll try to finish this in the near-ish future, which should get easier as the ball gets rolling, though with all the distractions I’d say expect the BZP version sometime in 2015 (hopefully early 2015). For now, I’ll leave you with this tiny snippet to try to draw you in!

The creatures had reached the entryway. A few stepped into the temple while a few remained in the tunnel, and then they abruptly came to a halt. After a few seconds of eerie silence, they all spoke…all in unison.

“We are Rahkshi.”

Dozens of coarse voices spoke the same words, all with the same timing, the same inflection. The experience was too unsettling for Tahra to put into words.

“We claim this temple in the name of Nothingness. Tahu shall fall. Fire shall be gone from this world, but that shall be only the beginning. All will end. All will become Nothing. Those who stand in our way will be the first to embrace Nothing.”

“Nothing,” Vakahu said under his breath. “Do they mean to destroy us?”

“…No,” Tahra said. She took a step forward. “This is not Destruction. Destruction is a part of balance, but these creatures seek to do away with balance. They do not come in the name of Makuta. They come in the name of Nothing.”

She held the sword out and looked at it once more. “My name is Tahra. I am a Priestess of Tahu…and it is my Duty to protect this temple!”

Gripping the hilt with both hands, she pointed the sword upward and thrust. Mustering all her strength, she screamed, “Spirits of Valor, I Will You to Blaze!”

At her words, a golden aura burst out from the blade, forming a dome around Tahra. Plates of metal appeared out of thin air along the edge of the aura, orbiting around her for a moment, and then, one by one, they all flew onto her body. Gold armor placed itself on her forearms, chest, knees, and the front of her feet, while her heels, legs, and torso became adorned by red armor. Last was a curved plate made to resemble Tahu’s mask, which attached firmly to Tahra’s left shoulder. Power unimaginable rushed into her, but she paused, took a deep breath, and steadied herself.

The aura faded away and Tahra looked at the Rahkshi. They showed no reaction whatsoever.

“We come in the name of Nothing,” the Rahkshi repeated, still speaking all in unison. “If you stand in our way, you shall be the first to embrace Nothing.”

“You have defiled this temple!” Tahra said. “That alone is unforgivable, and I expect your sins go well beyond even that! The Great Spirits have granted me their Power…so, in their stead, I will condemn your blasphemy myself!”