Janus

I think you are mistaking "not very interesting" with "completely impenetrable and full of really cool sounding technical jargon that you don't understand." On the plus side it makes it sound like you have some sort of awesome job! -Janus

Chapter Four: RuinAt last the tram stopped nearest the edge of the great shaft, its legs curling once more into its silver underbelly. The shaft was in even worse condition than it had seemed: The assorted elevators and walkways that the Matoran used were now nothing but liquid metal fused to one side of the shaft’s circumference. All around us the flames still licked the air hungrily, and so I bid wanderer to stay in the tram and set out myself, focusing my powers and dissipating some of the flames nearest to me. Then I walked through the path I had for myself, my feet scraping loudly on the scorched stone.At the lip of the shaft, I gazed in. The devastation was worse than I had thought. Deep in the shaft some earth had already become destabilized, causing tunnels to collapse and the central shaft to fill with a sea of earth and steel tools. There were no signs of life in the darkened pit that had been a mining shaft.We left that place in silence, wanderer and I, the tram’s loud metallic clicking the only sound that could be heard for the entire journey. Even when we disembarked from the small vehicle we walked in silence.It was in this silence that I heard it, a deep low rumbling, as if the city itself were growling its displeasure at us. I whirled around, weapon drawn ready to combat whatever menace had come and found nothing. The rumbling continued to grow louder and louder, it’s crescendoing sound difficult to bear. Atop the din I thought I heard a cry of“Get down!” and so, scooping up wanderer with one arm I hurled myself into the nearby shadows of a deserted alley way.What I saw took my breath away.A vast bloated shadow had filled the sky, blotting out the waning sun and replacing all light in the city with darkness. It was from this gargantuan thing that the rumbling, now a full-fetched growl had come from. As it hovered in the sky it sounded like thousands of nightmare beasts were descending on us. Wanderer stood in place, transfixed with terror, I simply gazed upwards at the terrifying thing above me. Then, all at once countless lights snapped on, scouring the city intently, their bright beams wavering as they swung all about the city, illuminating dark corners and crevices. At one point it seemed they’d had something, all the lights swiveling to shine an intense light on a single location—which was fortunately empty. My breath caught in my throat—was this monolithic thing what had attacked my city? Why had it returned to Koto-Nui then? Was it tracking me? Thoughts whirled crazily in my mind as the massive thing continued to sweep the city, its blazing lights sweeping through the empty streets.Finally the enormous black object seemed content that its search was through. One by one the pillars of light ceased to be, leaving the entire city suffocated in darkness once more. The only sounds being my own erratic heartbeat and the low growling that had seemingly suffused itself into the very sediment of the city.Then that too changed, taking on a slightly higher pitch as the ship—it must have been a ship, began to move on. The sun gleaming brightly as it slowly became exposed from behind the dark carapace of the shipThen, as if it had never been here, the gargantuan ship vanished from sight. Its rumbling form disappearing into the distant skies. The city was quiet again—and somehow that was even more frightening.I turned to wanderer, who had hugged the wall closely the entire time, his golden eyes large and panicked.“Are you all right, friend?” I asked, placing a single had on his trembling shoulder.“I….I will be fine…Norik” He said, with much difficulty. “I had never seen it so…close. To imagine something that…powerful is around. It is frightening” he finished, closing his eyes tightly for a brief moment. “But nonetheless we must continue our quest. We must find a way to end that thing’s conquest!” he said, his fists clenching tightly.“Don’t expect that to be easy, little one” Came a deep voice behind us. Wanderer’s eyes grew wide with fright and I whirled around, blade at the ready…There was nothing there.A quiet laugh broke the silence“It would help if you pointed that thing in the right direction, brother.” As the words came, a body materialized out of nowhere. He stood slightly lower than myself, clad in black armor with dark steely grey undertones, a Kanohi Huna—the mask of concealment hid his face, allowing only his brilliant orange eyes to appear. Toa Bomonga, a friend.“Bomonga!” I shouted, nearly dropping my spear. “You survived! And the others…?”Bomonga’s face fell, his eyes darking as he spoke.“They…did not make it. It was only through my mask of concealment that I survived. And as you’ve seen that accursed thing hasn’t given up on finding me. It’s not content until it’s wiped us all out.” He growled, his eyes alternating between sadness, fear, and anger.It was as though I was looking into a mirror, Bomonga’s gamut of emotions so closely mimicking my own. It would have almost been funny had the circumstances not been what they were.“But tell me, brother” Bomonga said slowly, his rich voice echoing in the narrow alleyway and snapping me out of my reverie. “What brings you to the city of the source?” He almost spat the last few words, the bitterness apparent in his voice.With a heavy sigh I began.“Koto-Nui was not the first to fall, brother.” I spoke, my voice grim. “Before it, Tapa-Nui was incinerated…my team. Alea, Kyr, Levos, Pheos…Jurian….each of them fell before this monstrosity” I heard my voice crack as I finished. A heavy silence fell over the air between us. Bomonga said nothing, but placed one armored hand on my shoulder. I nodded to him, thanking him for this gesture and he returned the nod. This was communication with a fellow Toa, almost entirely nonverbal, built on the bonds of brotherhood and trust.“We should leave.” Came the small voice of Wanderer, his face calmer now than before, but an air of fright still lingering around his frame. “That thing could return any time. And while you and I are sworn to defeat it, Toa Norik…I do not think we can right now. It is…immense” as he said this he trembled, his eyes becoming a vacant stare.“While I do not know your friend,” Bomonga said, speaking loudly enough that Wanderer could hear as well. “I do agree with his choice of action. Koto-Nui has fallen, there is no sense in remaining in her grave. Instead we must warn the others about the danger that threatens us all.”I nodded again, gripping the haft of my spear tightly.“It’s agreed then. We must leave this place before that…thing comes back.”“But where to go?” Bomonga asked. There were four cities remaining, and any one could be the next target…but I had a suspicion.“Gaho-Nui.” I said determinedly. “It’s located in the very center of all the great cities. Not only is it closest to us, but it will serve as an excellent staging ground to for the other cities as well.” I left unsaid the thought that gnawed in my brain. Gaho-Nui was also the city of trade and export, every product that was made was distributed through its canals to each of the other great cities. If the scourge were to destroy Gaho-Nui then the supply of weapons, resources, energy, food—everything would slow to a crawl, and even if the black thing didn’t finish us off, the lack of supplies would.“But how do we get there?” Wanderer said quietly. I felt his fear, we had managed to get to Koto-Nui because it and the elevated island of Tapa-Nui were joined through many routes—but Gaho-Nui was separated by many Mio’s of ocean. There was no way we could simply walk there.“Let me take care of that” Bomonga said quickly, and just as quickly he simply vanished into the air, his Huna taking effect, all that could be heard were his hurried footsteps as he left the area.Wanderer and I stood there in silence, each of us unwilling to meet the other’s eyes. Each of us unwilling to deal with the frightening things that ran through our minds unchecked. What if Bomonga had simply abandoned us? What if he’d been attacked? Seconds turned to minutes and that growing feeling of trepidation peaked in a moment of near panic. Then he appeared again, materializing in front of our eyes.“I saw something when I was tracking you” He said slowly.“…Tracking us?” I inquired, my eyes flashing slightly. Bomonga was unperturbed.“Yes. Using my Huna I tracked both you and your companion from the moment you entered this city. I’ve encountered shapeshifters before, you know, Norik” he said emotionlessly.“Of course.” I said with a sigh. At least now I knew what that discomforting feeling had been, Bomonga was a skilled tracker, but not skilled enough to completely overwhelm a Toa’s sense.“You were saying, brother?” I said with a gesture for him to continue.“In the transport hub there’s an empty ship. Big enough to carry three of us. Right now it’s dry-docked, but we can get it running in no time” he stood completely still as he spoke, a familiar quirk of his. One of the main reasons Bomonga was such a skilled tracker was his near-supernatural ability to stay entirely still for long periods of time.“Well. Let’s go then.” I said quietly, watching as both Bomonga and Wanderer began to move—had they been waiting for my order? I reflected briefly…when did I become the leader of this expedition?As a unit we walked to the transport hub, both Bomonga and I casting a watchful eye around the city. We stuck the shadows and various passages that Bomonga revealed to us—in the end it took longer than it had taken Wanderer initially, but we kept hidden nearly the entire time. Night was falling as we finally reached the hub.Leaving Wanderer in a safe hollow, Bomonga and I set out to find the boat, thankful that though darkness was falling outside, the lightstones of the city ran automatically, ensuring that while dimly lit, the entire dry-dock was still lit.The vessel was of a decent size, a small courier boat, meant to ferry raw resources to various ports in Gaho-Nui and Tapa-Nui. While it was not the most sturdy of all the ocean faring craft, it was nevertheless a useful ship. Unfortunately it was clamped between two heavy docking clamps, its hull wedged tightly between them.Bomonga glanced at me, his eyes full of dark humor.“Christen it. I’ll get it out” and with that said he strode off to one of the many consoles on the side of the vast room and began to manipulate that controls. I glanced toward him, sheepishly, and then slowly raised my spear. With delicate precision I carved a name into the stern of the boat, careful to use just enough heat, just enough pressure to barely singe the metal. Making sure the entire craft stayed structurally sound.There was a loud click that reverberated through the room. The docking clamps slowly began to detach from the sides of the ship, and a loud hissing sound could be heard echoing around.“I’d get in.” Bomonga murmured quietly. “Now.” Then he crossed the room with quick strides, picking up wanderer and hurling him into the back of the tiny ship. I leapt from the steel floor just in time to see that the entire dry dock was built on an elevator that was slowly descending, and as the platform descended water was flooding in. I barely managed to make onto the small vessel before the entire area around us was flooded with water that would have easily been up to my hips.Bomonga sat at the controls of the boat, barely glancing behind him as I made my way to the co-pilot’s seat, moving slowly on the now gently rocking boat.“Nice jump.” He murmured, then without another word he activated the engine and we sped from the dead city of Koto-Nui and into the night.==============================================================================This is definitely maybe where the reviews go

I first saw this when it was posted--and I've got to say it stuck with me the whole time. Now that's not to say that I remembered every piece of the composition, but I certainly remembered the overall feeling I got from it.It really is a great piece, the more 'blurry' look for Takua being a perfect way to demonstrate that he's unclear on his goals or his motivations--in fact he's more than a little lost, but he's going to keep following that light (which has a beautiful composition) meanwhile the clouds all around him serve to not only heighten the sense of his isolation, but also to show him that "every light has its shadow"Beautiful piece, thank you for making this.-Janus

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL. AAAAAAAAAAAAGH. -Janus

Chapter Two With visions of an uncertain future still reverberating through her mind, Toa Helryx awoke from an uneasy sleep. Slowly pushing her aching form into a sitting position she stared distantly at the wall, her mind slowly processing every piece of information she had just witnessed.As the leader of the Order of Mata Nui, she knew that dreams were useful—though they rarely told the future, someone who had the proper training was able to dissect the often conflicted events in a dream and uncover a truth about something close to them.In this case, the truth was not one that Toa Helryx hoped for. She had underestimated her opponent. How, she was not privy to, the dream simply told one truth—but the fact remained that Helryx had made an oversight and that could mean the death of one…or many.Maintaining her composure, the ancient Toa raised herself from the chair and strode to the far side of the room. It was there she spied the sigil that somehow managed to frighten even her.Found by one of the Order’s teams at the site of what had once been an Av-Matoran outpost, burned directly into the stone of the central structure was the symbol that now lay before her, seeming to emanate waves of darkness.A single blood red “M” * * *Elsewhere, on the Northern Continent, Jebraz found himself patrolling the perimeter of the safe house as a ‘precautionary’ measure.“Precautionary measure my rotator cuff” Jebraz grumbled to himself, savouring the sound of his own voice. “She’s just jealous of my good looks!” he finished, striking a pose that nobody could see.Hearing a sound in the distance, all good humor left him and he quickly drew his sword, inching closer to the source. Gingerly tip-toeing across the stone he came in view of the safe house and found…absolutely nothing. Relieved he sheathed his sword and was about to call out to Johmak when another voice spoke to him, sinuous and smoky it slid into his conscious.“I come as a warning, the first of many” it whispered. “I am a vanguard of what is to come.”Jebraz froze, confident that he could not be seen, and still intrigued by the voice. After a moment it spoke again.“Your confidence will be your undoing, we have sight greater than you can imagine.” It growled, seeming to have no source of origin, echoing all around and yet still staying barely above a hush.Under no false pretenses now, Jebraz realized the voice was speaking directly to him. Whispering in response“Are you friend or foe?”The voice simply laughed darkly.“I am both and neither, I am simply a messenger. Abandon your quest and submit to the coming storm. In the end it will be so much simpler.” Then with the sound of silence the voice faded into the darkness.

Team team. -Janus

If we're talking how would we edit the actual story while keeping the story beats the same...I wouldn't. I stay far away from the canon.If we're talking about our own personal canon, suffice to say it would have ended incredibly differently.-Janus

You guys are weird. -Janus

Little short story I wrote about a year or two ago about a Toa's fall to the dark side. This all takes place in my canon universe so there will be discrepancies. Oh well.-Janus Fallen Footsteps echoed loudly down the dimly lit corridor, causing the inhabitants of the adjacent cells to shy away from the doors from which they had clamored loudly but minutes before. With the heavy tread of an executioner the footsteps descended, each time the metal clod boot filling the air with fragments of stone and dust. Wary eyes watched from either side as the imposing figure made his way down the line, each breathing a sigh of relief as their cell was passed. Finally the footsteps ceased and there hung an uneasy silence in the air. It was this silence that at last awoke the prisoner from his reverie.Rubbing his bleary eyes to clear his mind of dreams that were not dreams and a reality that didn’t seem entirely real, the prisoner gazed around futilely. He knew as he always had that his cell was kept in perfect darkness, but he was keenly aware of a change. Something had happened and he wanted to know exactly what it was…and so he strained his eyes to pierce the veil of the darkness, seeking something that he did not know.“Toa.” A rough voice growled from beyond the shadows. The prisoner paused, his eyes flickering with confusion; was it talking to him? As if to affirm his suspicion the voice spoke again.“Toa, you’re going to get a little present today.” It muttered with dark humor, and as he blinked the prisoner saw a vision of a brutish and hunched form, covered in chains and jagged pieces of metal. He knew the voice who spoke to him, he just…didn’t. His memories were things of ether, constantly swimming in and out of his grasp. At times they were strong and solid, then all at once they would turn formless and he would be lost in a sea of fog. A barking laugh interrupted his thoughts.“Pathetic, really” The voice said smugly. “To think that you once caused us such problems…now you can’t even speak!” The prisoner stayed silent, knowing that he was being goaded. He’d been here long enough to know how the guards worked.There was a heavy grinding sound as the guard turned on his heel, the stones beneath his feet cracking loudly. Then the heavy footsteps began again, this time leaving the prisoner in his darkness. Fear momentarily flooded his body, piercing his limbs with a cold fire. Then as though a wave had washed over it, the flame faltered and died. This was his life now, he held no fear of death…they’d already made it apparent that he was not going to die.The steps ceased midway through their stride and he heard the grinding of the guard pivoting to face the isolated cell where he remained.“Oh. I almost forgot.” The guard growled with a malicious eagerness. “Your present.”The prisoner remained still as he waited. His mind and body had been tortured so many times that it no longer surprised him. In his minds eye he could still see the scars and burns that had been inflicted on him.“You get a very special visit from our leader himself…” the voice said. The prisoner paused, his entire body going rigid with shock as the words entered his ears.“The Shadowed One.” The guard whispered with reverence and fear. “I hope you’re up to it, Toa.The guard said nothing after that, instead continuing his trek from the bowels of the prison, but even if he had the prisoner wouldn’t have heard it. The Shadowed One. He knew that name, he knew that name in a way he couldn’t describe. As though all of his memories up until this point had been cleared away simply so that one name could be etched, imprinted…carved into the very fabric of his mind. For the first time in a long while the prisoner felt afraid.A heavy slam filled the corridor signaling the exit of the guard and almost instantly the screaming began. Some pleaded for help, others vowed revenge, still others simply cried with great wracking sobs that shook their frames. The prisoner took no notice of any of this. Long ago he had, long ago his heart had wept for each individual in the prison, long ago he had vowed to save them. He remembered that, or perhaps they let him remember that to punish him further, to make him suffer.The prisoner closed his eyes and leaned back against the cold stone wall, the dull ache of his muscles barely noticeable as cloudy visions filled his mind. He vaguely remembered life before he was imprisoned…he had brothers. Fellow Toa? His mind swam as strange distorted images appeared. He could only see dim outlines of his team in his mind, shadowy figures with nothing to define them…all except him. Though his name still danced out of reach the prisoner knew his face well. A golden Kanohi that rested upon his face and smug, condemning eyes: The Toa of fire who led them all to ruin. The Toa of fire who had abandoned him and left him to rot in this prison.The prisoner felt rage seeping through his body, igniting his blood and whirling through his already chaotic mind. He remembered him, and he would not forget the vow he had made so long ago.The prisoner rubbed his eyes wearily, his mind struggling to regain its focus, but it was too late: Fuzzy images of days long past appeared, as though conjured by some invisible sorcerer, and danced in the darkness of his mind.“Brother!” the prisoner looked around the confines of his cell, his wild eyes roving the ever-present darkness.“Brother! What you are suggesting is unacceptable!” the prisoner closed his eyes and found himself looking at a strange sight. The Toa of fire was arguing with another Toa, this one clad in dark armor that seemed to soak up the blackness of the night sky.“And why is that, brother?” The second Toa retorted, his sharp mask thrust before the face of the Toa of fire. “Whatever it takes to defeat the Dark Hunters, we should do.” He hissed. The golden armored Toa glanced downward at his fellow, his eyes calm.“Toa do not take lives, brother.” Was all that he said. Then, as though a heavy fog had descended, the figures of the two Toa vanished into darkness.Remaining still, the prisoner waited, breathing deeply. He knew that it wasn’t yet complete, that these things, whether they were memories or hallucinations did not simply appear and vanish…and so he waited.He didn’t have to wait long. Almost as soon as he had opened his eyes he realized something was wrong. No longer was he in the comforting confines of his dark cell. No, he stood amidst the walls of a tall canyon, its rough stone jutting high into the air and allowing only a scant amount of light to shine. Before him stood the same two Toa as before, somehow no more clear in the light of day than they had been in the shadows of night.“I cannot accept this plan, brother. If you choose this undertaking, you will be alone. I will not support you in this.” The Toa of fire spoke, his infuriatingly calm voice igniting the prisoner’s blood.“Fine.” The second Toa spat, his angled mask barely concealing the hate-filled look he shot toward his leader. “Then I’ll do it myself. I’ll end the threat myself.” Then, turning his back on the crimson Toa he unholstered his weapon and threw it to the ground.“You can keep this, brother.” He said angrily. “I don’t need it anymore.”Suddenly a blinding white light pierced through the vision, washing away the images of the two Toa’s argument and causing the prisoner to thrash in agony. The prisoner screamed as his hands clutched his mask, desperately trying to conceal his eyes from the painful light. He was so wrapped up in his pain that he didn’t even notice a voice was speaking to him.“Reminiscing, were you?” came a low gravelly voice, which while calm, held an edge like that of a knife. The prisoner slowly allowed his hands to fall from his mask as he opened his eyes. Blinking back tears he raised his head to look at his tormentor and found himself looking deep into the baleful eyes of the leader of the Dark Hunters: The Shadowed One.An unreadable look on his face, The Shadowed One stood just outside of the prisoner’s cell, only a small square opening revealing him. It was at this time that the prisoner realized just how small his cell had become—he remembered how expansive it had seemed when he first arrived, a massive catacomb that dwarfed him in size…he only imagined it was used for psychological tactics. But now it seemed so small, almost claustrophobic. Perhaps he was just too used to it?“I am talking to you, Toa. Why don’t you respond?” Came the voice of the Dark Hunter leader, and for once the prisoner relished the chance to see the face of who was speaking to him. To watch with rapt attention as the muscles moved beneath the surface of the skin, to see the way the eyes glowed as different syllables were pronounced. It was something he hadn’t seen for quite some time.“Come now, Toa, you haven’t broken. I know you.” The imposing figure said, his voice calm. “You’re stronger than that.” He said simply, his eyes boring into the prisoner’s own. Where once the prisoner had stared in captivation at his movements, he now found himself shrinking from the figure, his eyes flickering as his gaze darted about the room, desperate not to meet eyes with the towering figure.“You’ve taken everything I’ve had and more.” The Shadowed One said slowly, punctuating every word as he spoke. “You’ve taken tortures both mental and physical. Tortures beyond belief. And yet still you stand strong.” Tentatively the prisoner brought his head up, his eyes still unable to remain in one spot. He could not bring himself to look into those flaming eyes that had seen so much, but there was something about his voice, something sinuous and smoky, that crept into his hear and made him want to listen and hear what it was that was said.”Where has that proud spirit gone now?” The Shadowed One mused, his voice nearly a whisper. “When we first met you were full of righteous fury, bringing a whirlwind down upon this very island. Now you sit here in darkness and silence.” As he spoke the Shadowed One leaned in closer to the door, his voice turning to a hiss.“Surely you can do better.”At this the prisoner cocked his head to the side, his eyes taking on a far away look as he wrestled with his memories. In his minds eye he saw the Dark Hunter fortress jutting upward from the rock as the stormy sea raged all about it. He saw the small craft that he was on—and more importantly he saw that the maelstrom that was forming was about to break on the island.“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?” The Shadowed One said his face once again unreadable and his voice barely above a hush. “It was just you and your whirlwinds, Toa.” The Dark Hunter spoke slowly, cocking his head to the side in remembrance. “You came to this very island fortress and unleashed power beyond our imagining. You stripped the land bare and shattered my compound” The prisoner turned his gaze to the figure outside of his cell, his eyes staring intently at his oppressor as if to say “Then why can’t I remember?”The Shadowed One narrowed his eyes and allowed the full power of his gaze to wash into the prisoner before him. “Because your mind is deteriorating. You’ve been alone in your own darkness for so long that reality and fantasy have merged. If I’d left you for one more day you would have snapped. ” The prisoner continued to stare into his captor’s eyes, his own eyes glowing brightly. ”That is no threat, Toa. Simply the truth, I’ve come to you for a reason.” The Shadowed One said smoothly, and the prisoner knew that his eyes held no word of a lie.“You see, Toa. I know all about you now. I’ve known for quite some time, but there was one thing I never understood.” The prisoner’s eyes flickered and he cocked his head to the side questioningly. The Shadowed One continued.“Revenge, Toa. I’ve been attacked by Toa many times in the past…but only once has it been a single Toa….Toa are supposed to work in teams, are they not? They’re supposed to support their own, are they not?” The Shadowed One let the silence fall heavy between the two of them, allowing the words he wasn’t saying to sink in.“In the rare times that I’ve dealt with a single Toa, his team would undoubtedly rescue him…or attempt it.” The Dark Hunter leader trailed off into silence, his perceptive eyes studying the prisoner for any change. The prisoner watched him with equal attention, betraying none of his thoughts.“And yet you’ve been here for over one thousand years, Toa. How is it that you sit here rotting and your leader is still glorified by Metru Nui?”The prisoner’s eyes narrowed to slits as he stared at The Shadowed One and he felt his entire body begin to tremble. For the briefest moment he wondered how The Shadowed One could possibly knew about him but soon the rage overtook him. The betrayer still lived?“I see that got a rise out of you. Good.” The Shadowed One said with a small smile. “However I’m not here to gloat. I’m here to extend an offer to you. Renounce the Toa and begin life anew as one of us.”The prisoner made a guttural sound reminiscent of a laugh, his vocal chords raw from disuse. With an unintelligible sound he looked toward the leader of the Dark Hunters.“It’s been ages since you’ve spoken, Toa. Try again..”“No.” The prisoner repeated, his voice harsh.“No?” The Shadowed One questioned, his eyes thoughtful. “Why not?”With a raw voice the prisoner responded, his weary face resolute.“I’m a Toa.”The Shadowed One’s face became unreadable and in a strangely sorrowful voice he spoke “Are you really, Nidhiki?” and with a single heaving pull he threw the door to the cell open, allowing the light of the prison to shine in. Now the prisoner saw why his cell had seemed so small…he had become….something. He couldn’t describe what exactly, but he looked in disgust at four bladed appendages that jutted from where his legs were supposed to be. Where once his hands had been there were now two large scissor-like blades that gleamed in the dim light. His entire body was twisted, contorted…whatever he may have been once, he was no Toa, not anymore.“The moment you renounced Lhikan, the moment that he in turn renounced you, you ceased to be a Toa. You only confirmed that with your next actions” In his mind Nidhiki saw the maelstrom descending on the Dark Hunter compound and saw himself at its head, directing the furious wind to tear into the heavily armored building…and those who defended it. He saw masks and weapons soaring through the air along with limp bodies.“You killed them, Nidhiki. When you came to this fortress all those many years ago you killed Dark Hunters…and if there’s one thing that I know about Toa it is this: They do not kill.” The beast that Nidhiki had become stared fiercely at The Shadowed One, its hateful eyes narrowed.“I do not know what you are, but you are no Toa. You made that choice long ago…I simply helped you.”“How?” the creature croaked, still acclimating itself to its new form.“The cell was specifically chosen for you, Nidhiki. Your own hate, your own loathing, and of course your incredibly powerful elemental control have all been being channeled back into you. Over the many years you’ve been here you’ve been in a chrysalis, only now emerging. You stand on the precipice of two lives.”The creature stared at the leader of the Dark Hunters, its face unreadable as memories of what it was once flashed through its head. It remembered Lhikan, and Naho, and Kualus. It remembered its brothers and sisters, it remembered fighting alongside them…but it also remembered that constant feeling of knowing that it…that he was different: That there was something that divided him from the rest of the Toa.He finally discovered what that was when Lhikan had captured a Dark Hunter who had been attacking Metru Nui. He remembered the rage running through him, remembered drawing his scythe and placing it across the Hunter’s throat…Unconsciously the creature raised one of its massive claws to its chest, still remembering where Lhikan had struck its former self, forcing it from the body of the Hunter. Inside of the beast, Nidhiki could still hear Lhikan’s words that day.“Are you mad, brother? We Toa have sworn an oath to never take the life of another!”The creature lowered its gaze to the ground, its mind whirling as it remembered its past life.“You said two lives?” it hissed, eyes still averted downward.“Yes.” Returned The Shadowed One “You have the potential for greatness, Nidhiki. The potential to be so much more than just a Toa—but you cannot become that until you let go of what you never were.”The creature that had been Nidhiki raised itself, looked into the face of the Shadowed One with baleful eyes. The leader of the Dark Hunters didn’t flinch, instead speaking softly.“It gives me no pleasure to do this, Nidhiki. This is but a means to an end…but it is a necessary end.”“What do you mean?” The creature shrieked“Just think, Nidhiki. Now you’re no longer bound by the code of a Toa, no longer constrained by their petty rules. If you let go of what was in your past you can grasp the future and use this newfound power.”“Power?” The creature spat. “I was a Toa!”“No, Nidhiki.” The Shadowed One said solemnly. “You never were, you always hungered for something greater, and while this may not have been the way you would have chosen it…” The Dark Hunter let his words linger in the air, allowing the creature to absorb them fully.The monster that Nidhiki had become raised its body high, its muscles rippling as it stepped out into the wide corridor of the prison. Smiling a cruel smile it emerged from its chrysalis and into a new life.“Become a Dark Hunter…?” it hissed thoughtfully. Deep inside the creature the prisoner saw memories of his past life merging into one. Fighting alongside Lhikan and Naho, defending Metru Nui from enemies, facing Dark Hunters in battle after battle after battle… he saw this all through the lense of another life, a life that could see the pointless nobility and foolish struggle--and it was with this that he saw that he had always been different, always had a different destiny.Inside the creature, the Toa that once was struggled briefly, trying to deny it, trying to say that he had been righteous. Hadn't he always defended the Matoran? Hadn't he always fought for Metru Nui? Hadn't he always upheld the code of the Toa? However all too soon these arguments evaporated like mist, and the Toa that never was ceased to be. Nidhiki finally understood that while he had played a part and acted the role of the noble protecter, he was never some shining beacon of light like the other Toa… and now he was somehow changed, something darker, something fallen.The creature that was Nidhiki smiled cruelly as it looked into the eyes of The Shadowed One.“Gladly.”

Chapter Three: The SourceBy the first light of the suns we had set off, my companion still sleepily rubbing his eyes. Though at times he questioned where we were going he was mostly content to follow in silence. I appreciated this, for my mind was a whirlwind of thought and action. Perhaps Koto-Nui had been spared from the blaze completely? A full team of Toa would be there to aid us in our quest!By midday we took our first break, basking in the shade of a grove of Madu trees. Finally my companion could stand it no longer and in a flurry of words he began.“Great Toa, while I am eternally grateful for your pledge to help me in my quest. I do not have the stamina to keep up with a hero such as yourself—and for that matter have no idea where it is that we’re going!” I smiled calmly at him. Attempting to slow the flow of thought in my head.“We are going to Koto-Nui. The city of the source” I said slowly. “As for keeping up with me, if need be I will carry you, my friend” The Matoran looked aghast at the very idea and quickly looked at the ground. Then, with a trembling hesitancy he gazed into my eyes.“Great Toa, I would not want to burden you further.” He mumbled. I sighed, shaking my head.“Firstly, my name is Norik. Just Toa Norik.” I said, exasperated. “And secondly you would not be burdening me any further, my friend”The Matoran looked at me with a small smile.“I thank you, Toa Norik. For all that you have done for me.” He said quickly, and then was silent.I paused, lost in thought for a moment, thinking of the possibility of being reunited with my people in the resource satellite that was Koto-Nui.“And what of you, my friend?” I asked gently “What am I to call you?”The Matoran looked at me sadly.“I wish I knew great Toa.” he sighed “As I said last night, if I had a name to give you, it would be yours. But since the attack of my city I cannot seem to recall a single detail of my life before…” he trailed of into silence.I didn’t know what to say. I who had lost everything he had loved, and yet retained his life, his memories—what could I say to this Matoran who had lost everything I had and more? How was I to understand the pain that he bore?“call me wanderer for now” The Matoran said with finality. “Perhaps in the future my memories will return.”Then, without a second of hesitation I found myself on a knee in front of my companion. My spear raised high in the air.“I, Toa Norik, last remaining Toa of the city of the forge and its sworn avenger, pledge myself to end the threat that faces our cities. I lend you my spear, the fire that burns within me. Together we will see the will of Mata-Nui done” I presented my spear to wanderer, my eyes locked to the ground.The Matoran seemed taken aback, barely managing to stutter out“I accept your pledge, Toa Norik….I thank you”With that I rose and we left the safety and shade of the grove behind. Now more than companions, now bound as brothers in a quest.We came upon the entrance to the resource island of Koto-Nui while the suns were still high, their intense heat washing over as we exited the concealing shade of the forest. We entered the small gondola slowly and with a smoothly oiled mechanical whir we were on our way.I gazed intently at the silhouette of the island in the sea mists, desperate to keep my eyes from wandering to the jutting spire of rock that thrust out of the sea no more than 200 Kio from the smaller island—my home of Tapa-Nui.As we came closer to the island, I could see the series of freight elevators that had bound Koto-Nui and Tapa-Nui for many years. The resources of the former being used extensively by the latter. It was for this reason that the small gondola that I and my companion were in even existed. Once used for the Turaga of each city as a form of easy transport, it gradually fell to the wayside as technology marched on. Soon airships dominated the skies of both cities and the Turaga felt more comfortable in those. Luckily for us the small open-air box in which we rode had received careful maintenance from both cities, as part of a backup plan.The gondola dipped, bringing us so close to the water’s surface that we could practically touch it, and the thick smell of sea breeze and oil washed over us. It was at this point that I noticed there were no airships in the skies above Koto-Nui. And the many refining towers stood strangely still. Where they had once belched flame and smoke they now simply watched as silent guardians. I felt my stomach turn.At last we came to a halt, the gears that powered the craft slowly grinding to a stop. With a smooth electronic click the door that held us in swung open, and we entered the eerily silent city of Koto-Nui.I held my weapon at the ready, unconsciously pushing wanderer behind me. This was odd, while we were on the outer ring of the city, this was meant to be a transport hub. Both personnel and shipments should have been flooding through here.I felt my eyes narrow as I glanced around the bare room. Almost immediately I was on the lookout for signs of something similar to what had attacked Tapa-Nui, but could find nothing. The metal plates that made up the brunt of the outer city were untouched by heat, and the various systems that ran throughout the walls seemed perfectly operational. It was as if the entire city’s population had ceased to be.We left the transportation hub quickly, unnerved by the disturbing silence. From there we entered into one of the many refineries scattered around the city. Keeping my weapons at the ready I scanned the area for any threats and found nothing. Yet something still prickled at the edge of my conscious mind, an ominous feeling just beyond the veil of logical thought.With growing trepidation I prowled through the various machines in the refinery. Though normally the air here would be thick with the smell of acrid smoke and filled to the brim with a near-overwhelming cacophony of sound, yet instead the machines were perched in their docks, ever-ready for use—but ultimately silent. It made me uncomfortable.We left the refinery going up a small passage to a main walkway in the city proper. From here we had left behind the industrial sector with its various machines and subterranean systems, and entered what should have been the homes of many Matoran. Instead it was as silent as the previous sector had been. My stomach knotted painfully as I glanced around at the empty streets—surely there had to be a logical explanation for this seeming mass exodus.Unbidden my mind conjured images of a cloaked army descending upon the city. Snatching away Matoran en masse and leaving the city a gleaming metal testament to their deed. Still, I needed to understand what had truly happened. So I reluctantly pressed on, eschewing the rest of the civilian sector and entering a passage to the central mine.All of Koto-Nui was built around various different mine shafts, the largest being in the approximate center of the landmass. From there on the city was constructed, moving from the mines, to processing, to living quarters, to refining, and finally shipping. Luckily for us the city had been constructed in such a way that the central mine shaft was made for quick access from almost anywhere within the civilian sector.At the end of the passage was what seemed to be a platform with a docked tram, it’s legs curled underneath it. Almost as soon as we had seated ourselves it activated, scuttling quickly through the tunnel system, its legs clacking loudly on the track.With a bright flash we emerged from the dimly lit tunnel and into the blinding light of day. I saw then that I had been wrong. Though still some distance away from the central shaft, I could see from the higher altitude that it had undergone an attack. A sea of flames had engulfed all of the machinery and various work stations of the Matoran, and a billowing acrid smoke was thick in the air.The tram scuttled closer and closer to the shaft, and as it did so I recognized the telltale signs of the attackers. The ground all around was distended and warped from the heat, and those few areas that hadn’t changed shape were scorched black. The central shaft itself had almost collapsed, one half of it having almost broken away and driven itself into the other. The smaller shafts all around were in no better shape, several of them having collapsed completely.I turned to say something to wanderer and saw a vacant horror in his eyes. I’m sure I held the same expression…and so we rode on in silence.==============================================================================Reviews are something that might happen

You're a pretty awesome dude. Hope you've had an amazing birthday, and look forward to talking to more sometime.Happy birthday, Andrew. You rule.-Janus

I'm down with taking advantage of this offer. I'd really appreciate a read and review of my epic (Sorry) Brotherhood. Thanks a bunch for opening this up to people, I think it's all kinds of cool. -Janus

Name: Janus (AKA Sir Fancypants of the Highest Degree)Writing Sample:My breath caught in my throat—was this monolithic thing what had attacked my city? Why had it returned to Koto-Nui then? Was it tracking me? Thoughts whirled crazily in my mind as the massive thing continued to sweep the city, its blazing lights sweeping through the empty streets.-Janus

Story: I QUIT!Member name: JANUSBased on (loosely): BIONICLE comic 1-Janus

Story. I write it. Maybe comedy? I dunno, you decide.-JanusAttn: Principle Joanna WenfordCare of: Maple Oak Elementary School.Mrs. Wenford,I’m writing this letter to announce my resignation as the drama teacher for the Maple Oak Elementary school—effective immediately. I should hope that this would come as no surprise for you; I’m sure the rumors of the incident have already drifted your way. However, I felt it was my moral obligation to inform you exactly what happened.You’ll recall previous conversations we’ve had, in regards to allowing the fifth graders to run their own play at the end of the year. You may also recall my objections towards this, mainly based around the fact that they are, in fact, in the fifth grade, and therefore should not be acting by themselves, let alone designing sets. Yet you always insisted that it was encouraging creativity and it allowed the kids to enjoy themselves. Well, not to put the blame on you, ma’am, but no one enjoyed themselves last week.First of all, if you’ve heard of the content of the play, I’m fairly certain you must’ve raised eyebrow. In fact I can almost hear you now: “Wait, robots that live on a tropical island? And there are big robots and little robots? And giant robot animals?” Well, to put it as simply as possible: yes! Apparently this Byonacle thing is a LEGO property—though I’ve never heard about a LEGO property with its own comic book.Oh right, the comic book. Sorry, I got side-tracked. Nervous habit, specifically after last week. After I announced this year’s play, the room was instantly abuzz with excitement. Joel Simmons (you know him, shrimpy kid with the bad eye who constantly looks like he’s on the edge of a sneeze) ran up with a badly tattered comic book, stained with what appeared to be chocolate. In my defense, it looked much safer and more interesting than “Sleeping Beauty But They’re All Robot Sharks in Space”. Heck, it even seemed to be a step above that year they decided to hang themselves upside down and attempt to quote Shakespeare. I still recall little Susan Elan passing out in the middle of a poorly-enunciated passage of Measure for Measure; that poor girl. By the way, I’m still not sure how they got their hands on a copy of that particular play.Naturally, I was able to deem it appropriate. I mean heck, could you imagine a LEGO property that wasn’t? I mean I can’t imagine LEGO using things like big guns, or gangsters, or wanton destruction of property. So I left them to their devices, confident that this year would be the end to a string of seemingly horrific incidents on stage.From hereon I’ll be providing you with the layout, per usual since that one year half the kids ended up in neck braces and I was barraged with nasty letters from home. Also included are my thoughts on the actual “play” (put in quotations because I don’t think anyone would consider that art.)On the night of the play, we had all been seated in the auditorium and had our seats. All of the other teachers and their students were invited; in hindsight I would not be surprised if other teacher resignation letters are stacked below mine. The curtain opened and the crowd fell silent as Joel Simmons took the stage, and opened his mouth. He croaked.“T..he Le..le…le…leeeeegend of Mata…..N…ui.” then squeaked, turned white as a ghost, and promptly passed out on the stage. I’d say he was spared the further horrors, but unfortunately he recovered soon after.The curtains closed and re-opened revealing---oh my lord no. No. They did NOT just empty their own personal sandboxes onto my stage. I wish I could explain to you how unsanitary this was. In the middle of the sand pile there was a big cardboard box painted silver with a trashcan lid on top. I have to admit I was somewhat impressed at how impressively they had managed to convey the scene.Then I noticed the crabs.I don’t know who did it, or how they did it, or especially why they did it, but one of our brave enterprising young souls managed to get live crabs for this performance. Except instead of two like in the comic, it was probably about ten. And I’m not talking tiny beach crabs you find under the rocks. I’m sure these were nabbed live from the freshwater tanks at Wal-Mart.I was already preparing for the worst, but nothing could have prepared me for the small explosions that blew the box apart—and sent about three crabs hurtling into the audience. I do believe Mrs. Johnson got one right on the face. That poor woman just kept shrieking as she fled out the door.Little Sammy Po then took the stage, dressed all in white, with an adorable cardboard sword and shield held together with duct tape. He puffed out his chest and tried to deepen his voice as much as possible. Then he promptly tripped and went face-first into a crab. Another crab decided that it liked his legs. A lot.Total elapsed time: less than one minuteTotal number of crab-induced injuries: twoAt this point I was considering putting a stop to it, but then I realized: thus far, it was a large improvement upon last year’s play.You have no idea how wrong I was.Sammy stood up, the crab still stubbornly clinging to his leg, and screamed in the most high-pitched, girlish voice I have ever heard. I think I even heard Mr. Ladds, the choir teacher, whispering, “What a great soprano!”According to the comic I held in my hands, he was supposed to meet with another character, who I could only assume was to be played by Jenna Alger, who was standing idly by.What happened instead was Sammy ran screaming directly into Jenna and knocked both of them over the edge of the stage and into the audience—or more specifically, directly onto Mrs. Oleg’s lap. I think she had been napping up until that point. Lucky woman.Of course, the crab from Sammy’s leg decided to then climb up and pinch Mrs. Oleg’s nose. Total time elapsed: 2 minutesTotal number of crab-induced injuries: threeAfter the in-house paramedics (which, you’ll recall, are mandatory after last year’s debacle) had tended to Sammy and Jenna’s injuries, and both of them had returned to the stage it seemed like things would get better. I mean, sure, Sammy was staring blankly into the audience looking more petrified than I have ever seen any child look ever, and Jenna was texting someone on her cellphone—but hey, no more injuries!At this point I think the ‘consensus behind the curtain’ was to wrap this scene up and get on with it, so someone hissed at Sammy to speak his last line and get off stage. Sammy, bless him, tried to perform his deep voice again and came out sounding like Mickey Mouse with a head cold. With the words “I hate riddles”, the scene was ended and the curtains closed again.I took a moment to check the reactions, and the other teachers were surprisingly alert and awake. Now, whether or not this was because they were on the watch for any more crabs or children falling was anyone’s guess. But yeah, that’s probably why.As the curtain opened this time there was an odd buzzing sound. I guess these children really like live creatures, because like with the crabs (some of which were still skittering around on the sand—that was now covered in craft glue and blue and white glitter, you know, to resemble ice) they managed to round up some ACTUAL BEES to put inside their fake insect prop. Why? I have no idea.I do know, however, that Joel was probably not supposed to throw said prop. I also know that Jenna is allergic to bees, because that girl went into anaphylactic shock quickly. Thank goodness the paramedics hadn’t left yet!Jenna’s understudy came out from the back curtain, whimpering and trying to gingerly step over the crabs. Unfortunately they liked her even more than Sammy’s legs, and in a matter of seconds the little girl had become the crab queen. She managed to hold it together like a pro, though, she only screamed for … oh, I’d say, five minutes straight.Hobie Brown stepped onto the stage wearing the most hilariously oversized paper mache mask I have ever seen. In fact, it was so oversized that once he had got on the stage (and his helpers had left him) he promptly tipped over into the sand, sending the poor crabs into a tizzy and causing them to abandon the queen and seek out the comforting dark spaces under the audience’s chairs. We had about eight teachers and several more of their own students scream in unison; the harmony was pitch perfect. That is, until Mr Smithers’ kindergarten class decided it was high time to evacuate the auditorium.We also had about 20 more injuries.Total elapsed time: 7 minutesTotal crab-induced injuries: 23(+?)Total falling injuries: 4Total insect injuries: 1I was now ready to end the entire play when—well, the play ended itself. Sammy, playing the role of heroic Kopaka was supposed to set out and find a mask or something. Instead, everything fell apart. And I do mean everything.The little girl playing Pohatu ran, screeching, trying in vain to get away from a crab that had apparently managed to get into her hair. Thinking that this was their cue, the ‘effects’ team started dumping ‘paper’ rocks filled with sand and mud to emulate a rockslide. Sammy took one right on the noggin and dropped out like a light. Joel (still standing there for some reason) ran for cover and fell over Hobie, dropping on him so hard that Hobie’s mask flew off his face and sailed directly into Mrs. Oleg’s face. At this point I think she took another nap, this one wasn’t by choice.The other children also took this to be their cue and ran onto the stage dressed in different colours: red, green, blue, and black. And---wait. How did that child get hold of real fire?Honestly, at this point my memory gets kind of hazy. I remember screaming, lots of screaming. Also there may have been smoke—and have you ever seen a crab crawling up someone’s leg while on fire? I have. I don’t think I want that memory anymore.So to sum it all up:Total elapsed time: 10 minutesTotal crab injuries: 150+Total falling injuries: 6 (likely more)Total insect injuries: 1Total fire related damages: 5Total cost of repairs: $10,000 give or take.So, suffice it to say that this letter is my terms of…Y’know what? Forget it.I quit!

Chapter Two: The WandererThe wilderness welcomed me like an old friend; even in the darkness its foliage concealed no secrets from me. I sighed deeply, breathing in the thick scent of the jungle—it had been here that I’d lurked for the past months. Tracking dangerous Rahi and ensuring they were no threat to my city—of course it seemed the true threat was something far more than a mere Rahi.I plunged myself deeper and deeper into the wood, my weapons held at the ready in case anything was lurking there. Nothing ever came, not even a stray Rahi beast ever crossed my path. Had I been of mind I would have thought something of this—but instead I merely soldiered on.I came across my last campsite, the clearing still held in the state it had been when I left. But something was off, something almost imperceptible tugged at the corner of my awareness and caused me to be hesitant as I entered what I thought to be a safe haven. Weapon at the ready I glared about the silent clearing.“Who’s there?” I demanded, an edge in my voice that even I didn’t know was there.After a few agonizingly long moments there was a soft, panicked reply.“Please, don’t hurt me!” “Show yourself!” I barked, the edge in my voice like a blade that cut through the crisp night air. I felt my anger flare again and barely held it back. I was tired, overreacting would do me no good.There was a rustling amidst the brush, finally a pitch Black Matoran with a charcoal grey Hau emerged. His shining golden eyes wide and fearful.“I’m sorry, great Toa!” He said quickly, almost tripping as he ran towards me. I growled. “Sorry for what?” Had this Matoran known about the attack? Or been involved somehow? Almost as soon as these thoughts came to my mind they dissipated just as quickly, blowing out like a candle in a fierce storm.The Matoran froze“Sorry for disturbing you, great Toa. It was not my intent.” His eyes seemed calmer now, his body stiller. Though his breathing was still erratic he had begun to realize I was no threat.“Fine.” I muttered. Seating myself next to a log and beckoning the petrified fool to sit next to me.“What brings you to the woods of Tapa-Nui” I asked, watching his mask and his eyes carefully. I was still wary around this mysterious figure.“I bring a warning, great Toa.” The Matoran said grimly. “Of a scourge that burns cities and leaves nothing in its wake, of a threat greater than any that has yet faced our world...” The dark figure trailed off into silence.“But it is said It is said that each great city holds many Toa guardians, who defend the will of Mata-Nui. I…had hoped to ask these great Toa to endure against the darkness with me!” He spoke hopefully, full of will and passion.I felt a stab of pain in my heart, unconsciously turning to look in the direction I knew Tapa-Nui still burned.“Then your quest is in vain, little one” I said sadly, looking deep into his golden eyes. “For I am the last Toa of the once shining city of the forge.” The Matoran said nothing, his eyes speaking for him instead. They told of terror and fear, of a hopelessness beyond imagination. I was sure my eyes relayed the same story to him. At last he broke the silence.“Then…will you aid me on my quest, great Toa?” he whispered, his voice barely above a hush.I sighed, leaning my spear over my shoulder and shifting Toa Kyr’s shield to my back. “I have sworn an oath, little one. The scourge that burned my city will suffer the wrath of my blade. If you too seek this end then I will join you in your quest.” The Matoran said nothing, his shining eyes simply studying me. Then he nodded his head, bending down on one knee and holding a single hand over his heartlight. A position of binding.“If I had a name to give you, great Toa, you would have it now. But know that you have lifted a great sorrow from my heart.” He said softly.I merely nodded, bidding him rise from that demeaning position. For now more pressing concerns filled me. How would we fight against an opponent that could incinerate an entire city? These thoughts whirled around in my mind like an angry whirlwind. At last I could take it no more and shut my eyes, leaning against the rough bark of the log. Sleep. I needed sleep. With he morning’s dawn I could worry about how to take on such a fearsome foe—in the meantime I needed to rest.The Matoran seemed to understand and rose from his seat, smiling at me.“Surely it has been a long day, great Toa. Sleep for now. I will keep watch.” I thanked him and closed my eyes, drifting off into blessed darkness.My respite was not to last long, in what felt like moments I was cast into a chaotic vision of my city being overwhelmed by a mysterious force. Fire split the land, causing metal and stone to run molten hot, and the screams of a thousand Matoran could be heard in the air.And in the centre of this maelstrom was my home, gloriously restored and resplendent it stood in the heart of the city, a bastion of security and strength. My brothers, led by Toa Alea fended off the mysterious menace. But all too soon my dream imitated life.Alea was the first to fall, her broadsword shattering in mid strike. Her eyes widened in terror but it was too late. A stream of vicious fire seared through the air, tearing through her armor as if it was nothing. Then she lay still.One by one my brothers Fell, with Alea’s water powers now silent, only Kyr had any respite against the brutal fire that raged against them. First fell Pheos, then Levos, finally only Kyr and Jurian remained—then only Jurian.She fought magnificently, her twin blades flashing and her elemental powers being used to swallow the deadly flames in the heart of the earth. But I knew that soon enough it would end for her as it had for everyone else. Horrified I watched as the scene continued to play out.“Why are you doing this?” Jurian screamed, her back pressed against the stone wall of our tower and her powers beginning to wane. Silence was the only response she received.“At least tell me what you’ve done to the Matoran!” She shouted, her eyes flashing hate at her unseen foe. I didn’t understand, surely the Matoran had all perished in the blaze?Jurian didn’t wait for an answer this time. Running forward with a primal scream she slashed in a brutal downwards arc with one of her kama blades. As if in slow motion I saw her wrist be caught by a crimson-gloved hand, then with a deft motion she was hurled to the side. Her eyes blazed hatred at her attacker as she lay in a crumpled heap, but there was nothing she could do. Her injuries were too severe.“Pitiful” came the voice from her attacker, and with a single sinuous motion he stepped out of the shadows that concealed him. I saw his fire-red armor. Saw his Mahiki, saw his deadly tipped spear. I saw myself.I awoke to the heavy pressing darkness of the woods. Barely suppressing a scream at what my own conscious had shown me.And yet…something remained hidden back in my brain, something that had been dislodged by my terrible dream but would not emerge into the light. I sighed and glanced around the clearing for my newfound companion.I found him a few yards away, tiredly scanning the trees for any sign of a threat. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder I showed him that I was fully awake now and more than able to take the second shift. “Sleep, friend” I said softly. He was more than willing to acquiesce. I don’t know how long I sat there, my mind half on the task of guard duty and half lost in thought. Though my dreams had indeed tormented me they had also flushed new feelings to the surface. While I was guilty for my perceived abandonment of my allies, there was also a burning rage. Retribution needed to be exacted, not just for my fellow Toa, but for the Turaga—for the Matoran!As though a spark had been ignited in my very mind, my head snapped up. Suddenly I was entirely awake and the last piece fell into place. The Matoran!I mentally replayed my voyage through my desolate home in my mind. Desecrated homes and desiccated streets, shattered columns and singed steel. The bodies of my compatriots---but no bodies of any Matoran….where then had they all gone?My mind was suddenly alight with thought and a newfound hope burned in my chest. Perhaps they had escaped from the torching of the city? Perhaps even found their way to the neighboring island of Koto-Nui? Even if they had been captured by the scourge that razed out city that meant they were still alive.Suddenly I could not wait for my diminutive companion to awake.==============================================================================Reviews go here maybe?

HOLY BOOTS IT'S SHIOI. How's it going? I haven't talked to you in forever. Honestly, I think I can say anything better than this, or even anywhere this. So I'm just going to let this speak for me.Matt, you were one of the most amazing people I've ever met. I can only pray you're continuing to bring the good out of everyone you meet.See you on the flip side, bud.-Janus

Vancouver is in like everything ever. I live in White Rock. White Rock is nothing. At all. -Janus

Kakaru, you've become patient zero of an epidemic. We have to cut you open and experiment on you to figure out to stop this. -Janus

I hate you all. -Janus

Truer words couldn't be spoken. Thank you anyone who has ever reviewed my works. You've helped me become the writer I am (or rather, am not) today -Janus

There's only one Makuta in my opinion.Granted, he died in 2003, but there's still only one.The Makuta.-Janus

Actually, as I recall. Vader was luke's mother. -Janus

Trufax. I don't sleep on no couches. -Janus

This is a story I wrote like---three years ago for NaNoWriMo. I figure I should finally post it. Enjoy or something.-JanusChapter One: The ForgeSteam billowed out from the many forges that dotted the island city, nearly obscuring the twin suns from the inhabitants' view. For their part, busy Matoran filled narrow streets and stoked blazing furnaces, each of them either selling their wares or desperately crafting more to trade off. The smell of oil and fire and the sharp sound of metal on metal filled the great city, becoming a nearly overwhelming cacophony of sight, sound, and smell all in one. It was a workman’s utopia, a haven for weapon smiths, and the home of the best armor in the world. And yet, amidst all this commotion there was a simple and efficient structure that belied the rather crude displays.The city itself was structured in three concentric rings, each ring with its own barrier wall, and each wall slowly moving inwards towards the central great forge. The rings were what separated the quality of the goods for sale; while most visitors to the city stayed within the outermost rings, those who were truly connoisseurs could be found next to the central forge, where only the finest of wares were found. The weapons and armor crafted there were forged by only the most skilled of smiths - "Toa Grade", as they liked to say.It was one of the six great cities of the great spirit Mata Nui. The city of the Forge: Tapa-Nui. It was from here that flowed the finest craftswork—not simply weapons, but elegant shields, armor, and even small trinkets made from molten slag peddled by street vendors.It was a hectic, grimy, mad dash city that was beloved by its citizens and loathed by its visitors. It was and always had been, my home.Or that’s what it was supposed to be.Instead my city lay open like a gaping wound, the streets devoid of any sign of Matoran—gone were the bustling crowds, gone was the smell of grime and heat, gone was the sounds of metal singing as it was forged anew. Now the city lay desecrated,still, and silent.I walked through the entrance gate, hardly believing what I was seeing, my mind still reeling in shock. Laying my spear beside me I crouched down upon the twisted cobblestones of one of the empty streets. Gently tracing a finger over them I felt an intense heat emanate from the stone—not a residue of the heat of the forges. No, this was something greater. Even the ceramic covering of the stone had melted away slightly.All around me I saw the signs of devastation, as my walkabout took me through the twisted paths of my once-home. All the while, thoughts whirled noisily in my mind: Had a forge malfunctioned? Had there been an attack? And most importantly of all,was anyone still alive?I continued my walk down those dead, empty streets, wandering down darkened corridors and through the shattered remnants of homes where my people once lived. It soon became apparent that an immense heat had washed across the entire city, blackening stone and turning metal into slag. The city of crafters was now nothing more than scorched earth.Still I continued to wander, hardly knowing where I was going, and yet somehow dreading what I would find.I finally came upon it, the sight that I had hoped to never see: The great forge of the city had become nothing more than a warped metal basin. Its covering was stripped from it by the blast leaving it a gaping pit. The many cranes that once dotted the workstations hung above like skeletal arms, their metal fused and twisted.And still some spark of hope yet burned in my chest. Standing proudly amidst the ruined cityscape was a tall spiraling tower. Though located close to the forge, it had not shattered—the Tower of Toa still stood and surely inside I would find my brothers.Gingerly stepping around the great chasm of the ruined forge I walked towards my home. The tower in which I lived, trained, and watched over the Matoran from. Once I was reunited with my brothers we would find the scourge that had attacked our city—and it would pay.I was almost upon the entrance of the tower when I saw it, the light of the fading sun just happening to glance across its once pristine surface. It was a mask, a jade green Kakama to be exact, or at least that was the colour it was meant to be. Heat had stripped the once brilliant colours from its form, leaving it a dull brown. A single great crack ran through the mask, splitting from the eye. I knew then that my brothers were dead.A cry like no other erupted from me, burning my throat as I screamed. My eyes flamed as I whirled around, desperately hoping that some of the invaders yet remained, praying that one of them would attack me, wishing that I could cause them one tenth of the pain they had caused me…but none came, and I was left alone in my sorrow.It was with this discovery that I truly realized my city was dead, and I was its sole keeper—the last in the once proud lineage of Tapa-Nui. With a heavy sigh I began my work, shifting heat scorched stone out of the way and slowly making my way to the tower.I found them all, my compatriots, they had clearly put up a valiant fight but were overcome. I took each in their own turn. Descending the staircase with one and then ascending again for another. With a grim finality I laid them down in front of our once-home. Clothing them in shattered masks and fractured weapons I laid them side by side.Unity, Duty, Destiny. The three virtues that we lived by, lifting my spear high above my head I let flow my element. Fire, like the fire that had so ravaged my land. It pierced the already weakened stone and allowed me to carve the symbol of those three virtues. It now stood as a monument to my land and my people, emblazoned forever in the stone of the tower. It was under the this symbol that I laboured, gathering any undamaged material from the various homes and workplaces. These I placed in the shattered gulf of the great forge. Letting them fall into the ruined pit. When I had enough material I went to the bodies of each of my fellows, showing them the honor and respect they were owed I lifted each in turn, walking slowly and surely down into the pit of the forge.Around the lip of forge I placed their weapons and masks, a marker for anyone who came to this dead place. I took one last look at the eyes of my brothers, now cold and grey, the spark of life having long since passed. Then I left to search through the city, following the winding snaking paths to different juncture points. It was here where the coolant tubes were located, here where the underground tunnels that connected the many forges of Tapa-Nui intersected. Here where my next task was.I knelt on the rough slag of what was once stone, my armor scraping noisily against the pitted material. Placing a hand on the path I felt the remnants of the heat that had scourged the city—but pushing below that, pushing deeper I felt the ghost of the heat that had once filled the canals beneath. It was this heat I tapped into, causing to warp the tunnels and seal shut the openings to the coolant tubes. This I did all across the city, through the many different junctures located in what was once my home.Exhausted and spent I returned by twilight to the place I had left my compatriots, my brothers in arms. Walking into their impromptu burial pit I gazed at each of them, their once strong bodies now limp and cold. I felt the familiar rage return, threatening to burn through my very skin—and yet I resisted, feeling something much deeper moving within me.Brotherhood.I knelt by each of them, my family, my friends, my world. From each of them I took a gift, something that I would carry with me at all times—something I would hold as I stared into the face of whoever had burned out city. I held these items as gifts—and as reminders of my failure. From my gentle sister, and stern leader, Alea I took her gemstone necklace -- A good luck charm that she wore into every battle—unfortunately it had done her no good. The sight of her shattered Hau rest atop her broadsword on the outer lip of the forge made me feel sick inside.From noble Pheos, Toa of Stone I took a piece of clay he always carried. Pheos was a jokester and a lighthearted spirit who refused to ever sculpt that single of piece of clay—because “then the possibilities were limited” I smiled sadly at his limp form and moved on.Toa Kyr was next. The sharp-tongued Toa of ice, his pure white armor shattered and split in a thousand places. Kyr was a brave Toa, and an intelligent fighter—whatever had attacked our city must have truly been a force to reckon with for him to fall in combat. From him I took his shield, nearly burnt to slag it was a symbolic gesture. Just as he had shielded us in life, I would now shield all of them in death.The dead eyes of Toa Levos unnerved me. In life he had been the Toa of air, a wise and auspicious fighter. The deadliest shot amongst us Toa—to see that spark of life so easily extinguished broke my heart. From him I took a single arrow from his quiver, removing the beautiful feather that adorned the shaft and attaching to my mask. Kneeling next to the body of Toa Jurian, the beautiful Toa of Earth I felt my heart leap into my throat. Jurian had always supported our small group, always helped us in every endeavor—and had always been there for all of us. I loved her more than any other. I felt the rage threatening to overcome me…and instead wept for the loss of such a kind soul. From her I took her gauntlets—a reminder of her to carry always.Still holding Levos’ arrow I walked out of the pit, glancing at the masks at weapons of my fellows. The crushing mace and Pakari of Pheos, the stern Hau and deadly broadsword of Alea, the cracked bow and Kakama of Levos, the now-blackened Hau and Rapier of Kyr, and of course the elegant twin blades and piercing Akaku of Jurian.I ignited the arrow, sending all my rage and sorrow through the flame. Then without turning I dropped the arrow into the pit.The blaze ignited immediately, the raw material feeding the hungry flames as they eagerly devoured everything in their path. I walked away, the sound of the crackling fire giving me some solace in the cold darkness of night. Turning my back on everything that was, I left the broken city of the forge—the fallen city of the Great Spirit and walked once more into the wilderness. At the gate I turned, affording myself one final glance. I saw the explosion tear through the city—followed by the secondary and tertiary detonations. I smiled a grim smile, my work had been successful, my flames would purge the city of the taint it had suffered. My brothers would be proud to have seen that the entire city was alight as their funeral pyre.I shed no tears at the sight of that blaze, only staring deeply into the distant flames. My city had fallen, my brothers were dead…I would avenge them. A grim resolve grew in me and I hoisted Toa Kyr’s shield high in the air, letting out a bellowing scream of anguish and commitment. Whatever had done this to my people would pay!==============================================================================Review Topic or something