Chapter XX: Ko-Wahi

 

*You see the sky, over a calm ocean. The sky is blue, beautiful clouds, and birds are flying. You see the airship wreak thing drifting through the sky. You cut to it, and you see Takanuva and Ehlek standing on the back of their ship, which would be at the top/front of the… thing.*

 

Ehlek: She won’t hold much longer.

 

Takanuva: What?

 

Ehlek: The ship, and I’m using that in the loosest sense of the word, won’t hold together much longer. She’s loosing air fast. This ship is going to crash soon, we have to find land.

 

Takanuva: You seem awfully calm about it.

 

Ehlek: I’m a water-breather. I’m native to the seas. If we crashed now, I would survive. I speak out of concern for the two of you.

 

Takanuva: Well I suppose we should tell Vakama.

 

Ehlek: Go on ahead. I’ll stay behind.

 

Takanuva: You’re not coming? It was you who noticed.

 

Ehlek: You need someone to watch for land don’t you?

 

Takanuva: Fine, suit yourself.

 

*Takanuva does a back-flip and slides down the deck of their ship, and then jumps into Vakama’s pilot cabin. Ehlek looks back after him for a little while, then looks back towards the horizon.

 

(Cut to Vakama’s cabin.)

 

Takanuva: Ehlek says he think sthe ship is going to crash soon.

 

Vakama: I’m not surprised.

 

Takanuva: So you think that it’s going to crash?

 

Vakama: If he thinks so to, yes, I do.

 

Takanuva: He’s a bit of a loner isn’t he.

 

Vakama: I suppose.

 

Takanuva: I wonder what goes through his head.

 

Ehlek: *turns around* *shouting* LAND HO! *points 2 o’clock with his claw*

 

(cut to Ko-koro shore, you see airship-thing landing.)

 

[insert level: Ko-Wahi. You can play as Takanuva, Vakama, or Ehlek. You start at the shore, by your semi-crashed ships. You proceed through the level, gradually climbing up the mountainside of Mt. Ihu. There should be a lot of puzzles here. There will also be lots of things like slippery floors. New enemies: Muaka cubs, but there should be a lot of previous enemies, New Miniboss: Muaka.

Towards the end of the Level you reach the volvano crator, and you jump in (as indicated by an arrow). You will fall in and land on a floating platform, where you will have a big fight against swarms of enemies.]

 

Cutscene: The Viceroy’s dark beast

 

*The floating Platform drifts down to the stone floor at the bottom of the Volcano crator. When it touches down Vakama, Takanuva, and Ehlek all hop off. They look around the area.*

 

(Camera pans around the area. It is full of dark grey stone, with large stone ruins. The only light should be coming from the crator way above you in pale shafts of light.)

 

(Camera Pans out looking down a HUGE tunnel, with the gang at the bottom of the screen, looking in and looking very small in proportion.)

 

*Suddenly, you hear an immense pounding coming from the depths of the tunnel, increasing in volume rapidly. You begin to see two glowing red points of light. Suddenly, Roodaka’s MASSIVE Kahgarak comes charging in. This is Roodaka’s personal one, the one from MoL that was Gigantic, had the gold, the red eyes, and smooth shell. However if we MUST make it set-realistic then it shall be the Kahgarak from the “Battle of Metru Nui” playset.*

 

[insert boss battle: Roodaka’s Kahgarak. The Boss will be on one side of the screen, go through an attack pattern, then jump up off screen, it will either A. Fire down a Darkness spinner then land on the other side of the screen or B. quickly slam down on the other side of the screen sending out shockwaves. It will then jump up again, and land in the background of the screen. It will swipe in it’s pincers, then shoot out a smaller Visorak, then Pincers, Visorak, Pincers, then it will jump up, fire the spinner or slam down on the original side of the screen, and repeat until defeated. It will have Basic swipe and slam attacks, as well as Visorak spawning, when it is on one of the sides. For Visorak Spawning, it will either fire a spinning Keehlrak at high speeds or one of the other five main breeds will crawl out. For when it is in the background, one of the six main breeds will claw out, and it will jab out with it’s pincers, which can be attacked, having weak-points on them.]

 

Cutscene: Makuta’s lair

 

*Ehlek, Takanuva, and Vakama stand in front of the defeated beast, which lay on the ground, unconscious.*

 

Vakama: What… what is it?

 

Takanuva: It seems familiar. I think that you described it in one of your stories.

 

Ehlek: What is it? I’ll tell you what it is. It is a war machine of the Brotherhood of Makuta. *scream of rage, while unleashing a huge prolonged electric blast on the beast, killing it.

 

Vakama: You… you… you killed it.

 

Ehlek: And the world will be better for it. The Visorak are evil, and cannot being anything but. Besides, do you really want a weapon like that in the hands of the Brotherhood?

 

Takanuva: I suppose not…

 

Ehlek: Good. Now come on, from the stories you told Takanuva, this must be Mangaia, or at least the entrence to it. This may be our best chance to strike at the Makuta of Metru Nui before the universe shifts again. We have to hurry.

 

*Ehlek starts chargin down the tunnel, using a ball of electricity for some dim light (he lived in the pit, so he can see in dim light). Vakama and Takanuva give each other concerned glances, then runn of down the corridor after Ehlek, using a fireball and, well, light, respectively to light their ways.*

 

STAGE CLEAR: Rewards: Trophy of Kahgrarak, Kahgarak Boss fight challange

Chapter 16: Shadows and Ice

 

Cutscene: Doomed Ship

 

"She's going to crash."

 

"What?" Takanuva asked, having not been really paying attention.

 

"The ship - and I'm using that in the loosest sense of the word - won't hold together much longer," Ehlek explained. "We're losing altitude, fast. We'd better find some land before we fall."

 

Takanuva peered down below. There was an ocean, calm and quite picturesque… but also deeper than an Onu-Koro mining shaft and full of treacherous currents and savage beasts.

 

"You seem awfully calm about that," the Toa of Light said, nervousness creeping into his voice.

 

"I'm a water-breather. Well, technically, I'm an amphibian now, for reasons I don't understand," Ehlek said. "I'd be fine in the ocean. Provided I survived the crash, that is. I speak mainly out of concern for you Toa."

 

"Ah. Well, I suppose we should tell Vakama," Takanuva said.

 

"Go on. I'll stay behind and see if there's anywhere safe to land," Ehlek ordered.

 

"Suit yourself," Takanuva shrugged, and backflipped down to the deck of the ship. Ehlek watched him go, then turned back to the windows.

 

Vakama jumped as Takanuva burst through the door of his pilot's cabin. "Ehlek says the ship will crash, and soon," the Toa of Light revealed.

 

"I'm not surprised," Vakama said, rolling his eyes. "After all, I'm the one with the instruments."

 

"So it will crash?" Takanuva asked.

 

"Majority says it will," Vakama shrugged.

 

"You're pretty calm about this, too," Takanuva noticed.

 

"The Great Spirit's chosen me to craft the Vahi," Vakama explained, "and I'm hoping he still needs me for something."

 

"Um… okay," Takanuva said.

 

"LAND HO!" Ehlek called from the window.

 

The two Toa dashed to the window, staring at the land fast approaching. After a few minutes, they could make out the details… such as the climate.

 

"Ice-cold," Vakama grimaced. Ehlek didn't seem too happy about that, either.

 

"Ko-Wahi," Takanuva grinned. "Maybe Kopaka's there."

 

Vakama eased the failing airship into a not-so-graceful landing in a gigantic snow drift. Immediately, Ehlek yanked on three of the four warmth jackets provided in the survival kit. Slightly frustrated and not just a bit cold, the Toa followed him out into the ice region.

 

*insert level: Ko-Wahi. Playable characters: Takanuva, Vakama, Ehlek. New enemies: Muaka cubs, Muaka (minibus). Level ends in the volcano, with a multilman brawl against the ice-affiliated and robotic enemies.*

 

Cutscene: The Viceroy's Pet

 

The platform landed lightly on the floor of the volcanic crater. The three looked around, ready for an attack.

 

They were in a massive cave, a wide tunnel opened before them.

 

"That's just beckoning to be explored," Takanuva remarked.

 

A distant boom echoed around the chamber. "What was that?" Vakama asked, slightly perturbed.

 

Another booming came. "Can't be good," Ehlek shrugged.

 

More pounding, becoming quicker in pace. In the distant end of the tunnel, the keen eyes of Takanuva could see two red points of light, growing quickly larger…

 

"Oh, Mata Nui," the Toa whispered, and dove aside. Seconds later, an absolutely massive Rahi blasted past.

 

Its skin tone was dark blue, with a golden shell. With four spiderlike legs and drooling mandibles, it was a creature straight out of a nightmare.

 

The monster gave a shrieking hiss. Takanuva's staff began to glow, while Vakama loaded his disk launcher. Ehlek stepped forwards into a battle pose, electricity crackling along his limbs.

 

*insert boss battle: Kahgarak. The Boss will be on one side of the screen, go through an attack pattern, then jump up off screen, it will either A. Fire down a Darkness spinner then land on the other side of the screen or B. quickly slam down on the other side of the screen sending out shockwaves. It will then jump up again, and land in the background of the screen. It will swipe in it’s pincers, then shoot out a smaller Visorak, then Pincers, Visorak, Pincers, then it will jump up, fire the spinner or slam down on the original side of the screen, and repeat until defeated. It will have Basic swipe and slam attacks, as well as Visorak spawning, when it is on one of the sides. For Visorak Spawning, it will either fire a spinning Keehlrak at high speeds or one of the other five main breeds will crawl out. For when it is in the background, one of the six main breeds will claw out, and it will jab out with it’s pincers, which can be attacked, having weak-points on them.*

 

Cutscene: The Tunnel

 

The three stood in front of the defeated beast. It wasn't dead, merely stunned… but stunned would have to do.

 

"What… what is it?" Vakama asked.

 

"It seems familiar," Takanuva said. "I think you described it in one of your tales: the Kahgarak, a monstrous Visorak with a connection to the Field of Shadows…"

 

"What is it?" Ehlek said, seething. "I'll tell you what it is. It is a war machine of the Brotherhood. And I won't allow it to live."

 

The Barraki screamed, the sound of pure rage and fury, and a lethal bolt of lightning lanced from his claws to the Kahgarak. The spider was turned to dust in an instant. Only its golden shell remained.

 

"You… you killed it," Vakama said, and it was his turn to sound furious.

 

"The world will be better for it," Ehlek hissed. "The Visorak are evil, and cannot be anything but. They were created to kill, to slay, to overrun, to mutate… Makuta can't be allowed reign over them."

 

The two Toa didn't say anything, just glared at the Barraki.

 

"Well, let's get back to our travels," Ehlek said hastily. "Takanuva, does anyone know what's under Mount Ihu?"

 

"No," Takanuva admitted. "Never been explored. Well, it has, but the Matoran never returned."

 

"Yet this is a dead volcano," Ehlek said. "So there must be dangers beyond lava. I suspect Makuta. Perhaps this is an entrance to the fabled Mangaia."

 

"That's possible," Takanuva nodded.

 

"Then let's go," Ehlek grinned, and charged down the tunnel. The lightning in his palms seemed to provide ample light. Takanuva turned to Vakama, who was still seething, shrugged, and followed him, his mask lighting the way.

 

*STAGE CLEAR reward: None (as far as Adventure Mode is concerned).*

Cutscene: A Simple Escape

Smiley walked down the hallway slowly, even though he could create portals, he still had to find a good place to come back to if he needed to return to this lab. He found a good place and threw the orange tipped metal rod towards the ground. This was a primitive way to do it, but Smiley didn’t have much time. If he needed to return, he could just focus on this marker. Then he opened a purple-black portal, not really focusing on where he wanted to go. All he knew was that he wanted to go somewhere more…alive. He walked through the portal and quickly appeared on the other side of the tube. He landed right on his feet and looked around. He was in a forest, but the forest was surprisingly quiet. The place looked normal, except for the giant space-time gap slowly engulfing the forest. Smiley walked on a path in an area that looked like others passed through.

*Insert Level: A Silent Stroll, walking through a forest setting occasional wildlife based enemies. New Enemies: ?*

Cutscene: Not Taking Chances

Smiley walked into a clearing, it looked like eras were being mixed here. Smiley recognized both the people walking in talking. On the left was Toa Kualus, on the right, Gresh. Smiley jogged up to them carefully, hoping that they would be friendly to him, but not guaranteeing anything. Gresh spoke first, “There is something behind us, should we attack?”

“Not until I can see him.”

“He is a little shorter than us and has a yellow smiling face.”

“I would say his smile meant he was nice, but I’ve met too many Skakdi to believe that. I’m not taking any chances. Turn on three, 1...2...3”

They both turned and attacked.

*Insert 1 v 2 Brawl: Smiley vs. Rahi Trainer and Gresh. Single Stock Brawl*

Cuscene: Starting the Rahi Hunt

Smiley held back, he didn’t want to hurt the two any worse than necessary. They were tough, but nothing that he couldn’t handle. He offered his hand and smiled. Maybe this would end better than his encounter with Roodaka.

“Just let me help you up.” Smiley said, helping them both up.

“Who are you?” said Gresh, “You haven’t even broken a sweat!”

“My name is Smiley, I am a minifigure from the Lego Universe. In your defense though, I can’t sweat.”

“See, he seems friendly, “said Kualus to Gresh.

“You’re the one that said he wasn’t friendly!”

“Dang, he didn’t knock that memory out of your head, cause I knew that.”

“Okay, so where were you guys headed?” Smiley asked, trying to change the subject.

“We were searching for Rahi, “ said Kualus. “Since all of mine were killed”, he said under his breath.

“Mind if I join?” asked Smiley, trying to look hopeful (of course he couldn’t because he can’t change his face at all).

Gresh and Kualus looked at each other, “I don’t mind”, they both said at once.

“Good,” Smiley said, “Because I probably would’ve followed you anyway.”

*Insert Level: Running through the forest, which is getting dryer and dryer. At the edge of the forest, you find the Nui Rama. Choose between Smiley and Gresh.*

*Insert 1 v 1 Brawl: Smiley or Gresh vs. Nui Rama. Single Stock Brawl*

*Insert Level: Going across a desert, getting rockier and rockier. At the base of a mountain, you find a pond with a Tarakava in it. Choose between Smiley, Gresh, and Rahi Trainer (with only Nui Rama).*

*Insert 1 v 1 Brawl: Same characters as above vs. Tarakava. Single Stock Brawl*

*Insert Level: Going up a mountain, getting colder and colder. Near the summit is a Muaka. Same characters as above.*

*Insert 1 v 1 Brawl: Same characters vs. Muaka. Single Stock Brawl*

Cutscene: Portal to the Ultimate Prize

The three avoided the summit of the mountain. Kualus looked happy with their catches, but still looked like he was missing something.

“I wish I could catch the Rahi Nui. I wonder if I even could,” said Kualus.

“Where is it?” asked Smiley.

“Why?”

“Just tell me.”

“I am not sure.”

Then Gresh piped in, “We could check the Place of Shadow that Mata Nui mentioned once. After all, time seems to be colliding here, so it may be there.”

“Sounds like a good place to look,” Smiley said, opening a portal to that area. “Come on.”

They all jumped into the portal, Smiley first, the other two hesitating.

*Stage Clear Reward: None*

Chapter XX: Matoro’s discovery

 

 

*Matoro is crouched on the floor, as seen last time. Staying in a crouched position, he moves towards the chair, Cordak blaster at the ready. You can hear typing noises from the chair. Matoro approaches the chair. He is at the chair, prepares himself, and grabs the chair and spins it around. There is no one in the chair. Matoro instantly backs off and prepares both his Cordak Blaster and Ice claw (with elemental energy) and paces around the room, searching for the person in the chair. While he is looking at the computer screen, Matoro hears a voice behind him.*

 

Voice: Heh heh heh… It’s funny you know…

 

*He whirls around and sees a terrible monstrosity. It has a black body with a white chest. It’s head had a slightly long Neck, and it’s mask was disturbingly stretched out, jagged, and insect like. It had arms and legs like a normal person, but they were incredibly short with large blades that matched the Mask attached to them. It also had 2 normal arms extending from it’s shoulders, one of which was carrying a strange projectile weapon. (This is of course Krika, although he doesn’t recognize him for obvious reasons, like never meeting him, and Krika also has one extra arm.). Matoro instantly dives and rolls forward, coming out of his roll with his Blaster and Ice Dart trained on where Krika was standing, but Krika is not there.*

 

Krika: You come in here… invade my base and destroying the robots that were so kindly donated to me and I don’t even plan on keeping…

 

*Matoro swivels around to face Krika, but there is no one there.*

 

Krika: Only to come and try to defeat me…

 

*Matoro swivels again*

 

Krika: And you can’t even hit me…

 

Matoro: *still moving around* I don’t know who you are… *swivels around at an empty vial that fell over* Or what you’re doing… *turns sharply* *muttering* but I can hit you…

 

*begins to materialize behind Matoro, Matoro swivels around and fires an ice dart into Krika as he is forming, hurting Krika.*

 

Krika: Perhaps you can…

 

[insert Boss Battle: Krika. You are in the laboratory, which has the walk-off edges like Green-Hill zone. You are playing as Matoro, fighting Krika. Not much to it.]

 

Cutscene: Krika’s assistance.

 

Krika: You are a… determined Toa, aren’t you?

 

Matoro: I do my best.

 

Krika: It is a shame that it is me you tried to kill. There are a few of my… comrades who would be much easier or much more profitable to kill.

 

Matoro: What comrades? Are there more of you?

 

Krika: *showing some surprise* But of course.

 

Matoro: SO DO YOU OR DO YOU NOT HAVE THE MASK!?!?!

 

 

Krika: Mask? What Mask?

 

Matoro: THE MASK OF LIFE YOU FILTHY PIRAKA!

 

Krika: *quite confused now* What? I… I.. no…

 

Matoro: *scream of rage* *fires Corak at wall, blowing a good sized hole in it.

 

Krika: What is so important about the mask… well I suppose that that’s a bit obvious, but, why do YOU need it so badly.

 

Matoro: *who has now somewhat lost it* MATA NUI IS DIEING! AND NOW I HAVE TO GET THE BLASTED MASK, TO SAVE HIS BLASTED LIFE! I HAD TO LEAVE MY HOME IN SEARCH OF MY HEROS, LEAVING MY DUTIES WHICH I SERVED OUT LOYALY FOR YEARS, LITTERALLY GONE THROUGH KARZAHINI, FACED MY WORST NIGHTMARES, GOTTEN INTO A TOA CANISTER WITH NO IDEA IF I COULD EVEN SURVIVE IT, GOT TURNED INTO A BLASTED FREAK TOA FROM A BLASTED LIGHTNING BOLT, FOUGHT A BAND OF DERANGED SKAKDI, AN EVEN MORE DERRANGED SKAKDI WHO HAD A GIANT PET SPIDER AND PET DRAGON, SACRIFICED MY LIFE ONLY TO BE RESURECTED, PUTATED INTO WHAT I AM NOW, FORCED TO TRAVEL TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN WITH MY ABILITY TO BREATH AIR TAKEN AWAY, AND MY MASK REPLACED WITH THIS IMORAL ONE, ATTACKED BY VICIOUS MUTATED WARLORDS, SHOT AT BY MATORAN WHO I’M TRYING TO PROTECT, FORCED TO COMMAND AN ARMY OF UNDEAD SHARKS TO FIGHT AN ARMY OF LIVING ONES, I HAD TO REANIMATED ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUR BEINGS IN EXISTANCE, WORK WITH THE MAKUTA, FIND THE BLASTED MASK OF LIFE MORE TIMES THAN I CAN REMEMBER, OUT SWIM A BLASTED ISLAND, AND THEN GO AND TRY TO SACRIFICE MYSELF ONE FINAL TIME TO SAVE THE BLASTED GREAT SPIRIT, ONLY TO BE TELEPORTED INTO THE MIDDLE OF SOME BLASTED MOUNTAINS THAT I DON’T RECOGNIZE WHERE I CAN BREATH FOR SOME REASON, FIGHTING THE WHOLE WAY, JUMP INTO SOME BLASTED PORTAL, WIND UP HERE, HAVE TO FIGHT MY WAY BACK THROUGH MAHRI NUI WHERE I JUST WAS, BUT NOW THERE ARE NO MATORAN AND THERE’S THIS WEIRD TECHNO STUFF, FINALLY FINDING A PLACE WHERE IT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE MASK TO BE, SNEAK IN, FIGHT HIM, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT HE DOESN’T HAVE THE BLASTED MASK, ALL BECAUSE I’M THE BLASTED CHOSEN ONE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

 

Krika: *ponders for a moment* Perhaps we could… *turns back to his computers and starts typing again* Assist each other…

 

*Matoro lowers blaster slightly*

 

Krika: My… superiors have ordered me to design an army for them. Weapons, robotic soldiers, technology… you name it. At first I went along with it. Over

time though, I discovered more and more of the master plan of my masters, and I did not like what I saw. So I stayed here, in my customized laboratory, building robots, doing research, all of which is funded by them, in order to bring them down. Leeching away at their resources, and just when they are weak, but believe they are strong, and I have power, I will strike, and bring them down. If we work together and find the mask, and to bring down my masters, we may in fact be able to save everything.

 

 

Matoro: I don’t get it, what does the mask have to do with… whatever it is that your superiors are planning?

 

Krika: The Mask of Life is an artifact of great power. It could be used to destroy a universe, or control one. My employers are seeking to do just that. Besides, what good is saving the universe from them if the Mask of Life destroys it anyway.

 

Matoro: I suppose… *lowers Cordak*

 

Krika: *hits some keys on the computers, then turns to Matoro* Here, come with me. *picks up teleportation device off of lab counter* Take my hand. *Holds out hand*

 

*Matoro tenitively reaches out hand, grabs Krika’s hand, then in a flash of light they are gone*

 

Cutscene: The World between Worlds

 

*Matoro and Krika appear from a flash of light in inter-dimensional space. Different portals leading to different places swirl around in the background. *

 

Matoro: Where, where are we?

 

Krika: We are in inter-dimensional space. The world between worlds.

 

Matoro: But, what are we doing here?

 

Krika: We don’t know where the Mask, OR my employers actually are. However, especially in these conditions, they would both be very important things.

Therefore, more people, or things, will be traveling into and from the locations that they are via inter-dimensional space. Due to all of the traffic to those portals, the flow of inter-space will be flowing towards them, like with the Mahri Nui portal. Therefore, we must go where the tides take us.

 

Matoro: So that’s it? Just, go with the flow? The path of least resistance?

 

Krika: *dry laughter* Go with the flow yes, but path of least resistance? No. The path that we are taking is going to be filled with all of the minions of my employers. This will not be an easy road to travel. This journey will not be easy. Do I make myself clear?

 

Matoro: Very. Let’s go.

 

[insert Level: Inter-space. Level should be played with Matoro and Krika. You are going through interspace, fighting baddies until you go into a blindingly bright white portal. Pretty standard. No gimmicks. ]

 

*Matoro and Krika are descending though blindingly bright light, falling*

 

Matoro: Where are we?!

 

Krika: I… I don’t know…

 

*short silence.*

 

Matoro: You know, I was thinking about what our meeting,

 

Krika: …Yes?

 

Matoro: And well, I have a few questions.

 

Krika: …okay…

 

Matoro: Well first off, most importantly, What’s your name?

 

Krika: I am Krika, Makuta of the Northern Continent.

 

Matoro:… okay… now, somethings, where were all of the Mahri Nui Matoran.

 

Krika: They had all gone to the island of Voya Nui during the time period of the Mahri Nui I was inhabiting.

 

Matoro: Okay, yeah, that makes sense. But now, who exactly ARE your employers?

 

Krika: *sighs* My… employers are varied. They are a band of different rulers, with beings such as Roodaka. The group however, is not fully volunteer. I fear that they may be being controlled to some extent by Teridax, the Makuta of Metru Nui.

 

*Matoro takes in the news of what they are up against.*

 

Krika: Now, as I said before, I suspect Teridax of using some level of mind control or something of the sort on the others. The only reason he did not on me, is because he already believes that he has my undying loyalty.

 

Matoro: But he’s wrong, right?

 

Krika: Yes. He is indeed wrong…

 

 

LEVEL COMPLETE! Rewards: Krika has joined your team!

Chapter 17: The Cross-Country Trek

 

Cutscene: A Simple Escape

 

Smiley walked down the hallway slowly. Even though he could create interdimensional portals, he still had to find a good place to come back to if he needed to return to this lab. He found a good place and threw an orange-tipped metal rod towards the ground. This was a primitive way to do it, but Smiley didn’t have much time. If he needed to return, he could just focus on this marker.

 

Then he opened a purple-black portal, not really focusing on where he wanted to go. All he knew was that he wanted to go somewhere more…alive. He walked through the portal and quickly appeared on the other side of the time-space continuum.

 

Looking around, he saw he was in a forest. It seemed normal enough, besides the giant space-time gap slowly engulfing it (heck, that was everywhere nowadays).

 

Smiley found a path. Apparently, there had been civilization here. Maybe there still was. He set off down the wooded path, humming quietly to himself.

 

*insert level: The Forest. Playable characters: Smiley. New enemies: Brakas?*

 

Cutscene: Not Taking Chances

 

Smiley strolled into a clearing. It appeared that eras were being missed here - before him were two beings that had never met, not in the costumes they wore. Toa Hagah Kualus he recognized, outfitted in all glory from his time as Makuta's servant. Then there was Gresh, garbed in the simple but classy outfit he'd worn to Raanu's crowning ceremony in the short-lived mega-city the Agori built in the prototype Mata Nui robot.

 

Smiley jogged up to them carefully. They were good people, he knew that, but he couldn't guarantee they wouldn't attack him. In this chaos, no one knew who to trust - besides Smiley, of course. He trusted everyone until proven wrong.

 

Meanwhile, Gresh whispered to Kualus. "There's something behind us."

 

"What kind of thing?" Kualus asked.

 

"Something about our height. Brightly-colored. In my book, that means it's either looking for a mate or highly toxic. Should we attack?"

 

"Not until I can see him."

 

Gresh snuck a quick glance out of the corner of his eye. He gasped.

 

"What?"

 

"It's… slightly disturbing. A bit shorter than me. It seems to be made out of geometric shapes… and that smile… I don't trust it."

 

"Not the strangest thing I've seen today," Kualus smiled.

 

"Name a stranger thing," Gresh challenged.

 

Kualus was caught. "Um… okay, maybe the strangest thing I've seen today. Now, normally a smile would mean good intentions, but I've met too many Skakdi to believe that. I'm not taking any chances. Turn on three."

 

Gresh tensed, waiting for the word.

 

"One… two… three," Kualus hissed. They both whirled and attacked.

 

*insert standard brawl: Smiley vs. Rahi Trainer and Gresh. Single-stock.*

 

Cutscene: Starting the Rahi Hunt

 

Smiley held back - he didn't want to hurt these two any more than necessary. After all, he ought to pick on people his own power level. He offered his hand, smiling more broadly.

 

"Just let me help you up," Smiley said, but Gresh glared at him.

 

"What - kind - of - thing - ARE you?" he panted. "You haven't even broken a sweat!"

 

"My name is Smiley," Smiley began. A snort from Kualus caught his attention, but the Toa quickly silenced himself. Smiley continued, "I'm a minifigure from the LEGO universe. And for your information, I can't sweat."

 

"Minifigure?" Gresh snorted. "How big do the other figures get?"

 

"I don't know what you're talking about," Smiley smiled.

 

"See, he seems friendly. What were you thinking, attacking him?" Kualus told Gresh off.

 

"What-? You were the one who suggested that!" Gresh replied indignantly.

 

"Caught me," Kualus admitted.

 

"So, um, where were you guys headed? I can help you," Smiley said, trying to change the subject.

 

"We were searching for Rahi," Kualas explained. Unheard by Gresh (but not by Smiley's extra-sensitive ears), he added, "since all of mine were killed."

 

"Mind if I join you?" Smiley asked, trying to look pleading. In this he failed, for his expression was fixed.

 

Gresh and Kualus looked at each other. With someone of such power on their team…

 

"I don't mind," said both in unison.

 

"Good," Smiley smiled, "because I probably would have followed you anyway."

 

*insert level: The Forest. Playable characters: Rahi Trainer, Gresh, Smiley. The forest in the background gets drier and drier. New enemies: None.*

 

*insert standard brawl: Smiley, Gresh, and Rahi Trainer vs. Nui-Rama. Single-stock.*

 

*insert level: The Desert. Playable characters: Rahi Trainer, Gresh, Smiley. New enemies: Rock entities? Level ends near a pool...

 

*insert standard brawl: Smiley, Gresh, and Rahi Trainer vs. Tarakava. Single-stock.*

 

Cutscene: Portal to the Ultimate Prize

 

The three walked through the desert, exhausted. (With the obvious exception of Smiley.) Kualus seemed happy with their catch, but still looked like he was missing something.

 

"I still wish I could catch the Rahi Nui," he eventually admitted. "I wonder if we even could."

 

"Where is it?" Smiley immediately asked.

 

"Why?" Kualus asked, slightly apprehensive.

 

"Just tell me."

 

"I'm not sure," the Toa admitted. "I only said I wished I could."

 

Gresh piped up, "It's a creation of Makuta, am I right? If so, we could check the Place of Shadow that Mata Nui mentioned once."

 

Smiley and Kualus looked at Gresh, then at each other.

 

"Bit of a wild guess," Kualus eventually said. Gresh's ego deflated a little.

 

"Not the worst," Smiley replied. "Sounds reasonable. Come on."

 

With a wave of his hand, a portal opened before them. The minifigure strode in, beaming. Behind him, Gresh and Kualus hesitated before following him.

 

*STAGE CLEAR reward: Rahi Trainer adds Tarakava to array of Rahi.*

Chapter 18: The Ghost

 

Cutscene: Matoro's Discovery

 

As the owner of the throne tapped away at a keyboard with sharp, swift jabs, Matoro crept quietly towards him, Cordak blaster at the ready. Taking a deep breath, Matoro stood up… and yanked the chair and its inhabitant to face him.

 

It was empty.

 

The Toa of Ice spun, looking for an escaped enemy. From behind him, he heard a voice, like the scraping of a blade on a frozen surface.

 

"It's funny, you know…" it hissed. Matoro whirled, but there was no one there.

 

"You Toa think you can get away with anything," it snarled from the other end of the room. Matoro trained his Cordak blaster on empty air.

 

"As long as it's 'for the safety of the Matoran'…" the voice said hatefully, "you can just bust in anywhere, wreck anything, and not be prosecuted. Well, no more… not while we're in charge."

 

Matoro turned a three-sixty - and to his astonishment, he saw the owner of the voice. He immediately decided he'd rather not have.

 

It was a monstrosity, insectoid in appearance, like something that would lurk in the shadows of the farthest-away isle. Its black exoskeleton sported white colorings in spots, and its elongated neck ended in a snakelike, fanged face. Red eyes gleamed from each side of its head. Four of its limbs (the other two were sprouting from its back) sprouted long, razor-sharp blades that it walked on. Each was stained with a blue substance Matoro didn't want to identify.

 

"You come in here, invading my home and destroying my loyal robots..." the thing hissed, and all of a sudden it wasn't there. Matoro whirled, but it wasn't anywhere.

 

"…only to come face-to-face with me."

 

Matoro turned again, but saw nothing.

 

"And you can't even hit me," it hissed, a trace of arrogance in its voice.

 

"I don't know who or what you are, foul ghost," Matoro called, turning rapidly around, "or what you're doing…"

 

After a false alarm that was really a vial falling out of its holder, Matoro continued his thread with one simple, muttered sentence:

 

"…but I can hit you."

 

Matoro felt a chill race up his spine. He whirled and fired a Cordak missile into the thing's chest just as it materialized. Coughing, it staggered back.

 

"Perhaps you can, little Toa," the thing hissed. "Perhaps you can."

 

*insert standard brawl: Matoro vs. Krika. Single-stock.*

 

Cutscene: Krika's Assistance

 

The thing snarled as he materialized once more, an ice dagger sticking out of his back. "You are a determined Toa, aren't you?" he hissed.

 

"I do my best," Matoro replied.

 

"It's a shame you chose me to try and kill," it continued. "A few of my comrades would be a much better choice. I'm not very high on the political ladder," he chuckled.

 

"What comrades? Are there more of you?" Matoro asked sharply.

 

The thing looked surprised. "But of course, little Toa."

 

"So do you or do you not have the Mask?" Matoro demanded.

 

The thing was even more bewildered. "Mask? What Mask?"

 

Matoro was furious. "THE MASK OF LIFE, YOU FILTHY PIRAKA!" he bellowed.

 

"What? I? The Mask of Life? Of course not… no…" the thing said, shaking its head vigorously. The ghostly being looked a little scared.

 

Matoro yelled in rage and blew a large, messy hole in the wall with a Cordak missile.

 

"What's so important about that Mask?" the insect asked, regaining its confidence. "Well, I suppose that's a bit obvious… to clarify, why do YOU need it so badly?"

 

Matoro had lost it. He took a deep breath before beginning:

 

"MATA NUI IS DYING!" he screamed. "AND ONLY I CAN SAVE HIM, WITH THAT BLASTED MASK, FOR WHATEVER REASON! I HAD TO LEAVE MY HOME IN SEARCH OF MY HEROES, LEAVING THE JOB I SERVED OUT LOYALLY FOR MILLENNIA, LITERALLY GONE THROUGH KARZAHNI AND FOUGHT A BAND OF DERANGED SKAKDI, SACRIFICED MY LIFE ONLY TO BE RESURRECTED, MUTATED INTO THIS FORM, FORCED TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN, WORK WITH MAKUTA HIMSELF, AND THEN GO AND SACRIFICE MYSELF FOR THE GREAT SPIRIT ONCE MORE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE WORKED! I SHOULD BE DEAD! BUT NO… I WAS TELEPORTED INTO THIS BIZARRE WORLD, WHERE I WAS TURNED INTO AN AMPHIBIAN AND FORCED TO BATTLE THROUGH MAHRI NUI JUST LIKE BEFORE, ALL TO FIND THE MASK… ONLY TO FIND THAT ITS BLASTED MASTER ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE THE MASK - BARELY CARES THAT IT EXISTS!"

 

The ghostly thing was visibly shaking. So was Matoro, but the Toa was shaking with fury.

 

Eventually, he calmed down. "Sorry about that," he said through gritted teeth. "It's been a tough couple of weeks."

 

"I gathered that," the insectoid thing said cautiously. "But perhaps we could…"

 

The ghostly creature turned back to his computers and began typing once more.

 

"…assist each other," he offered.

 

Matoro lowered his blaster slightly, eyeing the twisted creature with a curious look.

 

"My superiors have ordered me to design them an army," it explained. "Weapons, robotic soldiers, technology such as our wormhole devices - those are handheld devices that can teleport you through time and space, you see? I have one here…

 

"At first, I went along with it. Over time, though, I discovered more and more of the master plan of my master, and I did not like what I saw. So I've been here, in my own custom laboratory, with the Brotherhood funding my efforts to bring them down. Curious how life works, is it not?

 

"I am leeching away at their resources, though not nearly as much as their other laboratory - the larger one, the very important one. That's probably where they'd keep the Mask, incidentally. When they are weak, I can strike…"

 

The ghostly creature turned to Matoro with dead seriousness in his crimson eyes. "If we work together, 'chosen Toa', and find the Mask that you say is here… we might be the two to save existence."

 

"I don't get it," Matoro said after a stunned silence. "What does the Mask have to do with… whatever Makuta is planning?"

 

"I should think it would be obvious," the ghost thing scoffed. "The Mask of Life is an artifact of great power. It can control… or destroy a universe of living creatures. My employers are seeking to do just that."

 

"I suppose," Matoro said, lowering his Cordak blaster further.

 

The insect furiously jabbed some more keys, then turned to Matoro. "Here, come with me," he instructed, clutching his wormhole device. "Take hold of my arm."

 

Matoro tentatively reached out a hand, then clutched the insect's thin limb. In a flash of light, they were gone.

 

Cutscene: The World Between Worlds

 

Matoro found himself once again in inter-dimensional space. Different portals, leading to different places, swirled around in the background.

 

"Why are we back here?" Matoro asked his new companion (he decided to call him Ghostly for the time being).

 

"Anytime a being teleports, he travels through inter-dimensional space," Ghostly explained. "Depending on what method of teleportation he uses, the trip might go by in no time at all, leaving him with no recollection of it… or he hurtles through it without control, dragged by the pull of his destined portal. And… I don't actually know where the Mask OR my employers actually are-"

 

"Fine time to tell me that," Matoro muttered.

 

"--however, in these conditions, those both must be known," Ghostly continued, with a glare at Matoro. "Now, each of Makuta's servants has a wormhole device in his possession. And though most of them do not know it, they travel through inter-dimensional space too."

 

"So we just follow the traffic?" Matoro interrupted. "Seems pretty simple."

 

"Not to an ordinary being," Ghostly snorted. "That's where my talent comes in. You see, the hordes travel through space in the blink of an eye. You can't even see them. Which is why we need… these."

 

Ghostly removed two pairs of goggles from his satchel. Matoro eyed them with some distaste.

 

"Won't go with my mask," he argued, but Ghostly slipped them on. And staring through their purple lenses, Matoro saw… everything.

 

Nektann robots, Skakdi, and all Makuta's other servants hurtled past the pair at breakneck speeds… and almost all were headed for one particular portal, one far-off and distant.

 

"Do you see?" Ghostly asked, grinning. Awestruck, Matoro could only nod.

 

"That is the portal we must get to," Ghostly explained. "Let's go."

 

*insert level: Inter-dimensional Space. Playable characters: Matoro, Krika. New enemies: Inter-dimensional entities?*

 

Cutscene: Explanations

 

Matoro and Ghostly fell through blindingly bright light, which never seemed to cease. No ground appeared to catch them, though for that Matoro was slightly glad.

 

"Where are we?" the Toa asked.

 

"I… I don't know," Ghostly admitted.

 

There was a short silence.

 

"You know, I have a few questions for you," Matoro said at last.

 

"Ask away," Ghostly shrugged.

 

"First and foremost, 'Ghostly': what's your name?"

 

Ghostly smirked. "'Ghostly', I like that. In any case, I am Krika, Makuta of the Northern Continent and Zakaz."

 

"Well… okay," Matoro said. "Now, what have you done with the Mahri Nui Matoran?"

 

Krika explained it swiftly. "The Mahri Nui I 'redecorated' is from your time - the time shortly before its destruction, when all the Matoran hid in the Nui Caves to avoid impending disaster."

 

"Okay, that makes sense. But now… who exactly ARE your employers?" Matoro asked.

 

"For the most part, it is the Brotherhood of Makuta," Krika said, "but it consists of many different factions. For example, Tuma and his Skrall legions from the planet of Bara Magna were some of the first to sign up. But not all are… volunteers."

 

"The Makuta's using mind control, isn't he?" Matoro asked. Krika gave him an odd look.

 

"A shrewd Toa, aren't you?" he said. "Disturbingly shrewd… but yes. The supreme leader of the Brotherhood, Maktua Teridax, would resort to all means to sway powerful factions to his side. And mind control is not left out."

 

Matoro took in the news of what they were up against.

 

"Now, of course, Teridax would have no reason to hypnotize me," Krika said quickly. "He believes to have my undying loyalty already."

 

"He's wrong, though," Matoro said immediately.

 

Krika paused before saying, "Yes. He is indeed wrong…"

 

*STAGE CLEAR reward: Krika joins team.*