Yagami Kumi

Wait, if Dekar will be revived as Hydraxon should he die- and the original Hydraxon is on the Red Star.... we've got a pair of twins right there.

Now, we all know the Red Star has the ability to "resurrect" beings, right, in a very loose sense of the word. Taken from BS01, "In addition, beings who died inside the Matoran Universe were transported to the Red Star where they would be placed in a new body and sent back, in order to conserve the finite resources that the Great Spirit Robot possessed." As we all know, Makuta Tridax(I think) had assembled a large collection/army/playthings/display of alternate Takanuvas, some dead, all corrupted. Is it possible that the dead ones could actually end up in the Red Star? They may be from alternate universes, however, they are still in the Matoran Universe itself. Thoughts? -矢神久美

If a Mask of Kindred worked on normal animals, maybe that'd be useful too? Depends what classifies as a power, I suppose? (Is flight considered a power?) Why so many question marks?

Or we could use one of the "use one wish for infinity wishes" kind of thing, and use the Mask of Creation to make more Masks of Creation! (not that it's possible, but one can always dream )

Lol -- but then again, the topic doesn't say anything about whether the tech we already have in this world is in or out of this hypothetical. I figured we're talking about simply adding the choice of one mask to the world we already have. And even if not, eventually we could invent things like cars, planes etc. right? Thing is, the average person wouldn't know how to do all of this Tell me, bones, do you know how to make a car right now?

I'm honestly a little surprised most people are picking travel powers over telekinesis. Sure, you can get from point A to point B but I'd rather have telekinesis to do things at point A. You could also use it to build and control vehicles too. Not like we have the expertise to put together said vehicle It'd probably fall apart within seconds unless it's a wooden plank with wheels. A Mask of Creation however, the possibilities are near endless. Create a teleporting device or create other Kanohi masks

We weren't ever discussing how he could potentially be killed. Also, the Ignika isn't on Spherus Magna and Tahu could never use it. Um, the Ignika is on SM... ...but Tahu could probably never use it, unless Mata Nui was kicked out of the Ignika somehow. That's two out of three masks. The Vahi's still missing, having been stolen by Voporak. (And I doubt a "please" is enough for it to be returned)

Actually wouldn't the Ruru's flashlight function be redundant to the Avohkii's powers? After all not only can you use it as a flashlight, you could potentially illuminate entire areas with it.

Ironically I think it'd be one of the most useful Mask powers in our world, though. nothing like being able to curse in 5,000 languages and doesn't make enough money

Oh pssh stealing's no fun And hard to get away with, versus using a Komau. "Please sign here to confirm you are giving me the money" (legally binding contracts, hooray?)

Something that doesn't yield profits In such a scenario, one has to hope for a Mask of Rahi control(or equivalent), or you're the main course.

Calix to make you the ultimate athlete. Mask of Healing to cure every disease. Kakama to turn Usain Bolt into the sportsman of yesterday. Garai to...aid scientific experiments, and save money on rockets! Olmak to obtain gold from the most secure places on earth, or take some from alternate dimensions. All these methods, however, still take too much effort. I'm just sticking to a Komau, far more straightforward. EDIT: Forgot mask of creation. Let's make money.

Profits make the world go round One can never have too much money. The "Mask of Biomechanics" is another perfect example, since it can manipulate machinery, I'm sure it can manipulate the stock market! A Mahiki for one would be useful for creating illusions of money~ I'm a little stuck with "How to use Kanohi for profits" so on another note a Suletu would be extremely useful for exams, provided the brainy kid is around. (I'm not sure if you should trust me with Kanohi masks now)

Alternatively, use a Komau and mind control everyone to hand over their money ^^

Imagine winning the lottery every week. For people you can't manipulate fully, you can then bribe them

Chapter 7's up. Had a semi hiatus due to exams (crey those evil things) A little shorter than I expected though err my motivation is kind of shot. Hopefully the rest are to come sooner or later. (the former, preferably)

Chapter 7 Akata, Toa of Stone, wandered the sandy wastelands of Po-Kohi, kicking at a stray rock as he went. It had not been long since he had awoken, and promptly kicked out of Po-Metra. Alone, he had tried bargaining with the Matoran guards, but they refused to let him enter. Out of options, he had simply barged into the village with pure force, only to get seized by a dozen guards and thrown out. A villager, unlike the rest, possessing a hunched figure and wielding a large hammer, had approached him after, and revealed himself to be Turaga Onewa, the former leader of Po-Metra. He briefly spoke to Akata, telling him of his name, the powers he possessed, and the duty he had to Mata Nui, before retreating to the safety of the village on the cliffs. Your duty is to the Matoran. Their safety is of utmost importance. These words continued to dwell on the stone warrior’s mind, as he pondered their meaning. Essentially, his task was to protect the villagers, however, why should he bother with such a group of ungrateful beings? After all, they had left him abandoned in the middle of these vast plains, with some having casted a sneer as they carried him off. With his newly discovered powers over rock, he could have easily crushed the puny village for daring to pull off such an act. Glancing around his surroundings, and noticing not a single soul walked these lands, Akata raised a pillar of stone, and with all his might, struck at it with a powerful kick. The rock shattered into hundreds of pieces, and to the Toa, it was a strangely satisfying feeling to destroy these temporary structures. He raised another such form, and it too, was destroyed by his devastating strength, as he took out his frustration on these columns. It was not out of the question for him to continue this activity all day, however, his interest was piqued by an unusual sight. In the distance, he could just make out the forms of a few figures clad in various hues of armour fly towards Po-Metra. There were seven in all, and each possessed a wicked staff and appeared to have a row of sharp spines jutting out from its back. Looks like the Po-Matoran have visitors, but what do they want? Akata’s question was answered mere moments later as one of these creatures raised its staff and shattered the town gates. Such polite house guests are a rarity. Whatever these things want, they really want it bad. The Toa sat on the cracked ground, legs crossed, and watched as the band of serpent-like humanoids marched into Po-Metra. All was silent for a few moments, as the group of entities all went their separate directions, each exploring a different section of the village. Shortly after, they gathered at the gates once more, but this time with Turaga Onewa in tow. The village elder did not look to be pleased about this in the slightest, and was seemingly held against his will. One of the creatures, clad in hues of bronze, much like Toa himself, threw the chieftain to the ground, and pointed one of the ends of its wicked staff at the aged Turaga. Akata rose to his feet, and unlimbered his weapons. He may not have felt particularly obliged to protect the Matoran, but Onewa had at least provided answers to his questions, and he needed to repay the elder for that. He had to move fast. The fearsome entity appeared to be at the limit of its patience, and the ends of its staff now crackled with energy. Gripping his weapons tightly, Akata began to channel his energies through them. His dual grappling claws now glowed with energy, and in one swift moment, he unleashed a wave of stone at the Turaga’s captor. The creature, taken by surprise, was promptly knocked off its feet, and the energies of its staff collided with two of its comrades, shattering both into piles of armour. The other four beings turned to face his direction. Their staffs, now too surged with power, and all of them simultaneously pointed their weapons at him. Every passing moment, today becomes more enjoyable. They unleashed their energies, but the Toa had anticipated their attack and raised a wall of stone to protect himself. However, even the rocks themselves could not stand up to the combined force of this many attacks, and shattered with a loud explosion, throwing Akata off balance. The four humanoids, along with the one that menaced Turaga Onewa earlier, flew towards him as the stone warrior recovered from the blast. It was indeed very clear what they were seeking- him. The Toa frowned. Not once did he recall ever facing five enemies of this power level at once, yet the thought left him unperturbed. Using his control over rock, Akata formed a large boulder, and dropped it to the ground, at his feet. He slowly drew back his right foot, and with all his might, kicked at the rock. His aim was true- this projectile struck one of these fiends dead on, and shattered its armour with a sickening crack, and it crashed to the ground mid-flight, unmoving. Its comrades continued on, almost as if oblivious to the fact one of their own had fallen. These foes could not attack while they were flying, and thus, he possessed the advantage so long as they remained airborne. Calling upon his power once more, he raised two pillars right in the midst of their paths. Two of the beings swerved, narrowly dodging the columns. The other pair, however, were not as lucky, and both crashed right into the obstacles, and dropped to the ground. Akata grinned. As a Toa of Stone, he could not only raise rocks, but bring them down, and that was exactly what he did, sending both pillars toppling right onto his fallen opponents. Both foes were soundly crushed by the weight of these columns, and neither stirred. The Toa could not help but chuckle. These creatures may have had strength in numbers, but they possessed neither brains nor Toa powers to go with it. In his brief moment of victory, Akata did not notice that his two remaining adversaries had landed, and now both had their staffs at the ready, slowly circling him. Cracking his knuckles, the Toa readied himself for a proper fight. Earlier was nothing but practice. The fiendish pair stopped in their tracks momentarily, and at once, launched bolts of energy from their weapons. The stone warrior was nothing if not prepared, as he dived at the last possible second, avoiding the attacks. He threw up a rock wall in the place where he was a mere moment ago, and the assaults struck it, obliterating it to form a cloud of dust and sand. His opponents were now temporarily blinded, and he now possessed the advantage. The two perplexed creatures stumbled around, trying to find their target. With the creatures temporarily incapacitated, the Toa did what he does best- make rocks. Using his powers, he encased the remaining entities in solid stone, trapping the pair for as long as the natural elements would allow. Akata, panting with exhaustion, being tired by the outpouring of his energies, slumped to the ground. This was the first of many battles to come- and he had won it. However, with barely a moment to catch a breather, Turaga Onewa approached him and began speaking. “You have done well, Toa, but however, these Rahkshi are mere fodder compared to the greater evils that plague this world.” There was no disguising the serious tone in the elder’s voice, and Akata raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “If these things were ‘mere fodder’, the Matoran would be able to deal with them,” the bronze hero spat. “You are young, and thus you lack wisdom. The Rahkshi are not opponents of the Matoran- they are here to hunt beings such as yourself.” There was no mincing of Onewa’s words, and this revelation stunned Akata. “Hunt me? What do they even want, I don’t even know them!” The Toa was clearly annoyed. “It’s not as if I’m out to destroy them or-“ His mutterings were soundly cut off by the wise chieftain. “That, Toa, is very well your duty. The Rahkshi have been sent by the darkness incarnate himself, and your very mission is to defeat this evil.” The warrior of stone continued to stare at the Turaga in shock, hoping to see even the smallest sign he was lying. Unfortunately, there were none, and Onewa’s expression remained steadfast and unchanged. “You said all I had to do was ensure the safety of the Matoran, not go around defeating dark entities!” Akata’s mouth was wide open, almost as if unable to comprehend the elder’s statement. “Ah, but do you not see defeating this evil and saving the Matoran go hand-in-hand? Darkness has plagued our land for centuries, and only destroying it will truly guarantee their safety.” The Toa opened his mouth and was about to protest, however, he could not deny the veracity of Turaga Onewa’s words. What he said made absolute sense. “Fine. I will stop this evil.” Akata grudgingly said. “Now tell me where it is and I will crush it with my rock powers.” Onewa chuckled. “Did you think it was all that easy? The ways of darkness are not straightforward, and are a force not to be underestimated, and your quest is a long one.” Onewa paused for breath, before continuing. “First, you have to find the six keystones, and bring them to Mata Nui’s temple, and from there, you can continue with your quest.” “Where do I find them?” came the quick response, and it was clear the Toa of Stone was eager to complete his task as soon as possible. “There is one located in each Kohi, but the way to each remains treacherous, and I suggest you do not go about it alone. Find the other Toa, and only together will your duty be accomplished.” Akata sunk into the ground with a loud groan, and muttered words incomprehensible to the Turaga, though Onewa was sure he was cursing about his situation. The aged one began slowly plodding back to the gates of Po-Metra. He had nary walked a few steps before he spun around and spoke to the Toa. “By the way, after your ‘impressive’ display of power, the Po-Matoran refuse to even spare you a chance to enter Po-Metra. They think that you are too dangerous a threat, and cannot trust you.” Akata, overcome with frustration, could only look on, speechless, and the Turaga turned around, resuming his journey back to the village. Onewa could not help but feel pity for the brave warrior, and a thought passed through his mind as he continued his stroll home. It seems that being a Toa becomes a harder task every generation. http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

What. What is with this preconceived notion that gays often have higher pitched voices? This is an offensive stereotype that I suggest you discard. There is no correlation between sexuality and pitch of voice, and there is no such thing as "sounding gay". How is there a gay in the film? Was it explicitly stated? No, you were just assuming based on your own preconceptions of that "gays often sound like that" due to your own experiences in encountering them. However, you don't have any actual substantial fact to back up this assumption since your sample size is likely to be too insignificant to make any sort of judgement. The rest of us who do have friends of this orientation can clarify that your statement is not true, and science has yet to discover that people who are gay have a genetic predisposition to have higher pitched voices, rendering your statement null and void. Furthermore, for example, in the entertainment industry, there remain many prominent gay males with voices that are not high pitched, showing that this idea of a "high pitched voice" is just a misconception and a stereotype, nor are the people who are high pitched predominantly gay. Onto the actual topic at hand, the largest disappointments I would say are the "reskins" of Bohrok into Bohrok-Kal. The pieces themselves didn't differ, colour aside and faceshield/arm shields aside. In terms of actual storyline, in my opinion, the Red Star reviving beings felt rather unnecessary. It practically reversed most of the deaths, and gave the actual sacrifices ie Lhikan less meaning, seeing how he would be brought back.

I would like to point out something. This does -not- take place in an alternate universe, but rather, set in the Main Universe albeit some time after. It does link to the original story, though I decided to take it back to its not complex roots, partially to appeal to non-fans of Bionicle.

Chapter 6 Kotraka, Toa of Ice, stood on a ledge overlooking the village of Ko-Metra, his white armour blending in with the surroundings. There he was, outcast by the very Matoran he sought to protect. This was a fate the warrior did not deserve. Found mere hours ago in an icy cavern by several of the villagers, led by Turaga Nuju, they did not believe the elder’s claims that he was one of the legendary heroes. Subsequently, he was paraded through the village, dragged past the shrine of Omorta, a deceased Matoran, and finally brought before the council of Ko-Metra, which had long since deposed of Nuju as leader, having decided that it was not in their best interests to retain him. All four members had unanimously ruled that the inexperienced Toa be given a chance to prove his status, and sent him out into the frigid conditions to deal with the raging tempest of Ko-Kohi. His task was simple- rid Ko-Metra of these weather conditions, and they would recognise his legitimacy. However, this was no mere natural phenomena that he was dealing with. This violent snowstorm had been ongoing for centuries, never ceasing in intensity, filling Ko-Matoran lives with an eternity of chilling cold. Kotraka was no stranger to using his power over ice, however he remained a novice. Raw and untested, he faced the council’s challenge but failed by a huge margin, with the strong winds and endless sleet showing no signs of abating. To the Matoran, he was as good as useless. Mercilessly, the Frost Guardians, protectors of the village, had seized him and thrown him out, bolting the gates shut, denying him of any chance to protest his case. The usually cold Toa of Ice, nonetheless, had refused to blame the people, viewing them as merely “misguided”. He had to find a way back into Ko-Metra somehow, but it would not be through the tough Matoran standing guard. After undergoing millennia of hardships, filled with countless pains and struggles for survival, they were likely to be unrelenting. He gazed all around the land, covered in a blanket of frost, with not a single sign of life present beyond the barrier. It was snow as far as the eye could see, an endless sea of dreary white. Closing his eyes, and shutting his ears out to the sounds of the howling wind that haunted Ko-Kohi, he began to compose his thoughts. His powers were insufficient for him to resolve this predicament, and the best option was to use his mind. The storm…it never ceases, it has no end. My abilities of the cold…useless, unable to control the storm, but why? He considered every possibility in his mind, reviewing them and eliminating them one by one. The natural elements answer my call- but this weather remained unaffected. Even one as inexperienced as I should be able to reduce the strength of this frosty barrage. A realisation struck him, and his expression turned grim, brows furrowing. What if this storm is not natural, but artificial, a creation? All other options had been considered impossible by this point, but where would he begin? He was out in the piercing frosty wind, with no one to assist him. Abandoned, left only with my weapons, wits, and mask, what can I do? Pondering the hopelessness of it all, an idea presented itself to him in the vaguest of forms, almost as if they were words whispered to him by Mata Nui himself. The mask…use it. Upon meeting him, Turaga Nuju had told the Toa the full extent of his abilities, including that the Kanohi mask bore powers of its own, though the elder was rather vague, merely describing it as “everything you do not wish to see nor know”. This came with a stern warning that using the Kanohi would be both physically and psychologically draining. Nevertheless, the hero was devoid of choice. Summoning forth his willpower, he activated the energies of the mask, and the icy wasteland before him faded away, replaced by a dark cavern illuminated only by the glow of a few weak lightstones. Where am I? Have I been teleported? Reaching out to touch the rocky walls of the underground, his hand passed straight through. It was an illusion, and he realised what it was- A vision. In the blackness of the subterranean, Kotraka could vaguely make out the form of two figures, deep in conversation. Both stood tall, and were beings that would dwarf any Toa, one clad in armour shades of the darkest of nights, the other in a suit coloured the hue of rusted copper. Both had the same insignia carved on their right shoulder, of a black Kanohi mask, though one the Toa did not recognise. The plan, it has been set in motion? Whispered the bronze entity. All shall go as planned. The Matoran- they will suffer. Pain shall be dealt until it can be withstood no more. The hopes of the people must be crushed. We cannot risk anyone learning of the past, the legends gone before, of the Great World. But the Turaga- they possess the knowledge, the very knowledge toxic to our existence. Those bumbling foolish elders? They continue to repeat the same mistakes throughout history. For all their wisdom, they have not learnt that their desire for secrecy will be their ultimate undoing. I shall take your word for it, however, do not underestimate the Matoran, they are strong. The Ko-Matoran have resisted our swarms of corrupted Rahi beasts and are yet to show any signs of crumbling. Perhaps they deserve some…special treatment and grant them the slow, torturous death they deserve. The chill of Ko-Kohi has served them well, protecting them from the worst of creatures we can dispatch. But what if these very elements were to be turned on them, unyielding, unrelenting, unceasing? I take it that you possess a plan, and that you require me to carry it out. You have learnt well, Kraavu. Years of being my subordinate have taught you the role you serve. The being named Kraavu was presented with a gemstone that glowed a sickly olive, and cloaked in a small cloud of toxic green. It must be concealed, but in what location? We must not let it be found. The villagers, in their hunt for supplies, might stumble upon it by accident and destroy it. Where better than beneath their very masks? There is a place no Matoran dare enter, a place that is sacred to them. What exactly is this place? The Toa of Ice steadied himself in anticipation. He himself genuinely did not have a clue as to where this mysterious object was hidden. Once found, he would finally find acceptance from the people. A shrine. Kotraka realised only one such place existed in all of Ko-Metra. He had seen it earlier, passing by it, albeit only momentarily. Shrine of the fallen Toa. Those were words the warrior never expected to hear. As abruptly as it began, his vision ended, and he was back standing on the cold cliffs of Ko-Kohi. He had no idea how long it had been since his vision started, all that he knew was it left him with more questions than answers. The shrine of Omorta… why did they refer to it as shrine of the fallen Toa? This was a vision from the past, and no Toa existed before us. Deep in thought, eyes becoming slits, mouth upturned, one could see that the icy hero’s expression was bleak. What is it the Turaga know, and why have they sworn to secrecy? Many more burning questions remained in his mind, but he pushed those concerns aside. There would be sufficient time to question Nuju after he ended the storm. As the Toa clambered down the side of the cliff, braving the stinging winds, he contemplated the elder’s words to him about his Kanohi- indeed, the powers of the mask were strong, and to an extent, true. It had altered his perceptions, and had left a lasting mark. Kotraka now knew of the most important of life lessons. Trust no one. Review Topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

Chapter 5 Toa Vahrik swung through the forest on jungle vines, carrying the exhausted Turaga Matau on his back, who was hanging on for dear life. The Toa had politely offered to bring him to Le-Metra, and the out-of-breath elder had readily agreed to it. He now regretted his decision. On the back of a crazed novice Toa, swinging through the trees like a rock monkey. Matau, you’ve made stupider choices. The elder gritted his teeth as the Toa of Air increased his pace of swinging, who seemed to be not in the least bothered by the weight on his back. In fact, the Toa seemed to even enjoy it, savouring every moment his face met the cool breeze of Le-Kohi. He was not in the least worried about the threats that his village faced, wearing a big grin across his mask as he leaped from vine to vine with enthusiasm. Mata Nui, what have I done to deserve this fate? thought the village leader. Only ten minutes had passed since they first met, and in those ten minutes, Matau told the hero all he needed to know, from his name, his Toa duties and of Le-Metra being ravaged by monstrosities. The Toa took it all in his stride and carried on as jovial as he they first met, seemingly unbothered by the pressures that faced him and surprisingly, did not question how the elder knew his name. Matau was glad he did not ask, not fancying Vahrik finding out about what the aged man concealed. Past experiences had taught him many a valuable lesson about the need for secrecy until the time is right. Vahrik remained oblivious to the thoughts of his Turaga, choosing to stay silent and observe the wonderful sights and sounds of the forest as the pair continued their journey. If he did not have a duty to fulfil, there would be nothing stopping him from spending a day among the unusual fauna or the wild Gukko birds that soared above. After swinging through the trees for what seemed like an eternity, the warrior of wind, growing impatient, let go of the vine, some fifty feet in the air, and dropped to the ground, unsheathing his twin jagged swords as he landed. Turaga Matau, stunned at this turn of events, momentarily loosened his grip and dropped to the ground like a stone. The elder was quick to berate him for pulling such a ridiculous stunt and wasting precious time. Vahrik, ignoring the cross chieftain’s complaints and focusing on his control over the element of air, began swinging his blades in a circle, drawing upon the energies that radiated within. Slowly, the wind answered his call, whipping up the ground into a frenzy as leaves and twigs blew into the horizon and miniature dust-storms were born. The elder, realising what the Toa was doing, could not help but break into a smile witnessing Vahrik’s idea take fruition, and hopped onto his back. The warrior of wind may have been a novice but he from the way he handled his powers, he could easily be mistaken for an experienced veteran. With one final burst of elemental energy, a large gust lifted up both Toa and Turaga, sweeping both off their feet, and carried them towards Le-Metra. A large cloud of smoke remained over the village, smothering and choking the city. Vahrik’s face contorted into a frown. It was hard to see in these conditions, with visibility being no more than a few feet, and if he wasn’t careful, the pair might end up right on top of some unfortunate Matoran and crush them. Drawing upon his energies, he focused them, concentrating them into a sphere of air. After gathering his strength for a few seconds, he unleashed a gust of wind onto the village of Le-Metra. It was more than a gentle breeze, yet insufficient to cause lasting damage, and most importantly, it revealed the locations of the very Rahkshi, serpent-like Kraata controlling a lifeless suit of armour, bearing wicked staffs that crackled with energy at each end and with a row of razor-sharp spines that lined its back. Seeing the damage caused to the village by just a few of these fearsome creatures, the fearsome warrior gritted his teeth, his expression grim. These Rahkshi- they would pay for what they had done to Le-Metra, the village he swore to protect, once beautiful, but now half-destroyed with homes of the Matoran ruined and billowing smoke. His jovial mood had long since faded and his face now bore the appearance of a battle-hardened warrior. These beasts, servants of shadows, harbingers of death, the walking omens- they would not be allowed to taint his beloved village for any longer than necessary. Striking with speed and grace, Toa Vahrik sunk one of his barbed weapons right into the back of one of these fearsome creatures, piercing through the armour and sinking right into the Kraata underneath. The entity screeched in pain, as Vahrik slowly twisted his blade, ripping apart the creature’s insides, killing it. The now soulless armour shell crashed to the ground in a heap, unable to continue menacing the Matoran. One Rahkshi had been disabled with ease by the rampaging Toa, would the other two be able to halt his devastating power? The answer was a resounding no. Despite the fallen being’s comrades noticing one of their number was gone and having their attention fully drawn on the Toa, they stood little chance against his mastery over the elements. In one swift movement, Vahrik created a vacuum around the Rahkshi, suffocating the Kraata inside. Unfortunately, due to relative inexperience, he was unable to sustain it for long, but it left his opponents sufficiently weakened and unable to retaliate. Unwilling to allow Le-Metra come to any more harm, he decided the only choice he had was to end these ferocious death-bringers. Calling upon his powers once more, the Toa readied himself for a decisive strike. The Rahkshi, now on their knees, were too weakened to use their powers to combat him, and were there for the taking. Tossing his twin swords right in the air, he directed every ounce of his summoned energies at them, creating a powerful burst of wind that send them hurtling towards the beasts at blinding speed. The weapons struck the brutes with lethal force, cracking their armour right open, sending metal splinters cluttering the air, and cleaving the Kraata inside cleanly into pieces. The Toa, exhausted from the outpouring of effort, collapsed to the ground, unmoving. Heavily drained from the fight, it would take him time to recover, but that was of little consequence. Only one thing mattered. The Matoran had a saviour once more. Review topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

Chapter 4 The village of Le-Metra was under attack, and Kahua was helpless to stop it. Mere moments ago the member of the Le-Matoran guard had spotted several unidentified beings approach from the eastern part of the forest, apparently attempting to attack the village in broad daylight, making no attempt to be concealed. Normally, few creatures were ever of any danger to Le-Metra, with the village being situated on a plateau that stood centre of the jungle. Any threats not deterred by the thick undergrowth were usually quickly taken care of by an ambush led by the Guard. However, these strange creatures, all bearing a wicked staff with ends that crackled with energy, and a row of sharp spines on their back, had simply cut through trees and Matoran alike with ease, sending them fleeing from the might of these powerful serpent-like beings. Only Turaga Matau would have had any inkling of what these strange invaders were. As insane as the elder appeared to be, he still possessed many years of wisdom and knowledge beyond that of any Le-Matoran. However the crazed chieftain had wandered off into the dense foliage unaccompanied over an hour ago, babbling something incomprehensible about the ancient legends. One of the few times in the thousands of millennia that Le-Metra required his services and he had vanished from under their masks, and it was easy to see why Kahua would be annoyed by this unusual behaviour. Having had no time to dispatch a search team for Matau, the people of air focused their resources on repelling these fearsome brutes for as long as they could. No doubt the village defence force was prepared and well-equipped, but these beings they faced were no ordinary threats. One of them, clad in various hues of crimson and ochre had reduced several trees to ashes with the intensity of its eye-emitted lasers. Le-Metra, in its current state, was doomed to fall before dusk. *** Turaga Matau calmly walked through the forest, though with a hint of urgency. He knew that with several stars emerging in the sky last night, it could only mean one thing. The legends were possibly true, and perhaps salvation awaited them. However, he knew that not only he and the five Turaga would have noticed such an occurrence, and sooner or later, they would come under attack. After all, once the villages were razed to the ground, what would the heroes have left to protect? Bearing that in mind, the elder had set off from Le-Metra early in the morning undetected to search for the legendary warriors himself. Nevertheless, it had been hours and his search so far had bore no fruit. He knew he had to find the heroes- and quickly. Despite being many kilometres away from Le-Metra, he could hear the sounds of battle in the village, see the cloud of smoke that hung over the village, smothering it, and sounds of many trees crashing to the ground helplessly as the fearsome beasts attacking Le-Metra levelled the forest around them. He did not need to see them to know what they were- the trail of destruction they left behind was more than enough for the experienced Turaga to know what kind of dangers his village was dealing with. Rahkshi. Their name had many different meanings in the Matoran language, but none of them held any positive connotations, with the most common one being “harbinger of death”. Time was running short as the screams from the village grew louder, and the cloud of smoke had now swelled to a giant blanket of haze that enveloped half of the forest and the plateau itself. Matau knew he needed to speed up, and he continued hacking frantically through the trees with increased energy and urgency. His people were in danger, and needed saving. If there are any left by the time I return. The grim thought made him even more determined the find them and despite his arms tiring, he continued to cut away at the forest at the same pace. The Turaga’s advanced age did not help with his quest, and his body struggled under the strain of navigating through the dense forest. Both his mind and physical form drained and completely exhausted, the elder collapsed to his knees, clutching his buzzsaw staff for support. I would have never thought that I could fail my people more than once. Slumping against the base of a tree, the chieftain sighed, his head in his hands, near breaking down at the hopelessness of it all. A Toa is what we need, and a Toa is what we do not have. I had one duty, and I have failed miserably. Mata Nui, why have you abandoned us so? “Some evercheer, use, could you. Sun-bright day is time not to sad-frown!” That treespeak accent. No one uses that anymore, it died many millennia ago…this could only mean one thing. The tired Turaga looked up, and before his eyes, was a sight he never expected to see in his thousands of years on the island. It seemed that day Mata Nui had smiled upon him, as before him stood a figure leaning against a tree, clad in armour as bright as the leaves themselves, and possessing a sleek mask of ancient design. Beneath it, he could see a pair of eyes radiating the energy of youth and enthusiasm. In each hand was a sharp blade, with a jagged edge on one side. This being broke into a sheepish grin. “Gaze-long at me, very like, old one,” he quipped, before casually spinning one of his barbed blades and causing a breeze to blow through the forest, sending leaves flying. This display of power more than confirmed Matau’s suspicions, and he had no doubt about the identity of the stranger, and he could not help but break into a small smile. Salvation had wandered long and far but had finally reached the doorstep of the Matoran. After thousands of years, the Toa had been found. Review topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

Chapter 3 She was trapped, with no visible way of escaping. Breaking the walls of this prison seemed a task beyond her abilities and strength, and her weapons had been removed from her possession. She did not know who her name, let alone where she was. Calmly collecting her thoughts she began to meditate and slowly recall the events of the past few hours, all of which had passed by like a dream. First, she had awoken to find herself drifting in the midst of a vast ocean, stretching as far as the eye could see. After finding herself in this unusual predicament, she explored the region, searching for signs of land. After an hour or two had passed, she was unable to locate land but spotted several huts floating on giant leaves. Upon closer inspection, the huts, too, were made out of these large plant structures. Climbing on top of one, she was surprised by how sturdy the base was, and anyone could be fooled into thinking this was solid rock and stone beneath their feet. As she explored the village, taking in its wondrous and unusual sights, she could not help but feel that this was home to her. The surroundings seemed so familiar, almost as if she had visited it at one point or another. However, before she could ponder the veracity of her thoughts, a group of villagers had emerged from a most enormous hut, located right in the centre of this curious city. They stood no more than four and a half feet tall, all clad in various shades of blue armour, and all with masks of varying shapes and sizes adorning their faces. They seemed rather friendly from afar, chattering among themselves with excitement, and sharing jokes with one another. How wrong she was. As soon as the crowd had spotted her, various weapons ranging from primitive spears to slightly-more advanced crossbows were drawn, and all pointed at her. With a frame standing nearly six foot tall, she contemplated fighting back against these little people, but resisted. Somehow, inside, it felt wrong to be harming these innocents, and could not bring herself to raise a weapon against them, even if in self-defence. She may not have known them in person, but as she glanced around the mass, a wave of familiarity washed over her. It seemed that she knew these people…yet she did not. There was a connection between her and them, but it was a mystery to her as to its true nature. She let herself be captured by these villagers, without a single attempt at resisting as they took hold of her and locked her in one of these green hut structures, without muttering so much as a word as they went along. Having recalled the incidents of the past few hours, she resumed pondering the questions which bothered her. As much as she did not like being encaged in this small hut, the questions on her mind were of far greater importance. Why am I here? Who am I? What is it I have to- A knock on the door shattered her concentration. A few moments later, the door swung open, revealing a short figure, hunched over, but nevertheless still slightly taller than the villagers, bearing a trident made out of the bones of a fish. She could see this person was different from the rest, and of far greater age, as the being slowly hobbled into the hut. Behind the large simple design of her cerulean mask were gentle eyes that radiated wisdom. Upon seeing her, this being broke into a smile, and plodding towards her, embraced her in a hug. She was stunned and taken aback by the suddenness of these actions. The locals had been so hostile, yet this elder was embracing her like a long-lost friend. This turn of events was too much for her to bear, and she gently pushed away her visitor. Too shocked to speak, she could only mouth a “Why?” Her guest continued to wear a smile across her face, and spoke a few short words that left her momentarily left her stupefied. “Welcome home.” Review Topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

Chapter 2 Onepu wandered through the dark tunnels of Onu-Kohi, carefully eyeing his surroundings, lightstone torch in hand. Even though he was an Onu-Matoran, and possessed a limited degree of night vision, it was unsafe to wander the twisting and winding caverns of the region without any form of light, or for that matter, without any form of company. However the circumstances differed tonight. He had heard rumours of a well of energised protodermis deep within the maze of caves. This silvery translucent liquid material could be harnessed for many purposes, including defending the village of Onu-Metra from intrusions by the strange creatures that roamed the depths, some driven mad and possessed by the evils that enslaved the island. He shuddered at the thought that these fiends could be at every turn and every corner, watching his every movement, waiting for the right opportunity to strike him down and turn him into the next grand feast. Onepu thought back to the times millennia ago, when these vast network of tunnels were safe to roam alone, and he would spend many a day wandering through them, exploring and mapping out each and every crevice of these tunnels. Nevertheless that had changed as unknown immoral forces slowly extended their influence over the island, and as millennia passed it reached the extent that only the six villages remained untouched, and it might only be a matter of time before they fell too. He recalled his first few days spent on this island paradise of Metra Nui, where in every sense of the word the place could be called heaven. He still remembers his first memory-waking up on the sandy shores of the island, looking up to see the bright sun illuminating the vast blue horizon above, and looking around to see hundreds of Matoran lying around him in a similar state. He had no memory of what had happened before, and all he knew was his identity, with every trace of his past seemingly wiped and stolen, leaving a massive gap in place, and he was not the only one. Not a single villager possessed any of their memories, but together, the population pushed aside the concerns of the past and moved forward, guided by the Turaga. This day later came to be termed as “The Conclusion”, where they would start a new life, and leave their history behind for good. For years the Matoran enjoyed a lifestyle of peace and solitude, and they were eternally grateful to the Great Spirit for having blessed them with this utopia. Time was not on their side as mysteriously, villagers began to disappear, abducted to never be seen again. Once, a group of brave people led by the then-incumbent Chronicler, Tamaru, had embarked on a brave search for these missing people, who numbered in the dozens, only to never be heard of again. After the disappearance of so many of the islanders, the Turaga had convened together and decided that the villages had to shut their gates to the outside world, only exiting out of necessity. Since then, it seemed the elders had only gone increasingly insane as it seemed that day after day they continued their never-ending rambling about the legends of the “Toa”, who Mata Nui would supposedly send in their greatest time of need. As millennia passed, like many other Matoran, Onepu’s faith in the old “tales” of the Turaga waned and eventually was lost in entirety. The six respective chiefs had observed that the people no longer cared about these perceived myths, and eventually abandoned trying to convince them, and becoming increasingly secretive as a consequence. They rarely wandered out of their dwellings and interacted with villagers even less so. Turaga Whenua, the head of the Onu-Matoran, was now seen these days spending his time in the library, poring over dozens of books and tablets, in a determined search for unknown information. Not that Onepu cared, anyway. Turaga Whenua was clearly less than sane now and it was better that he spent his time in the library than being out and around ranting about the ancient stories to any passers-by. Buried deep in his thoughts, the Onu-Matoran did not observe carefully where he was going, and tripped over a boulder, dropping his lightstone torch with a large crash and breaking it. Onepu could still see in the dark, but however, that was not the biggest issue at hand. The beasts that roamed these tunnels were mostly deterred by the torch, but however he no longer possessed one. Of all ways to die, this has to go down in history as the most foolish. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the cavern. Glancing back as he walked back to whence he came from, he spotted a few pairs of vicious eyes and various loud hissing noises followed. The Onu-Matoran broke into a sprint as the creatures approached him. Perhaps if he was fast enough, he could reach a lighted section of tunnel before they claimed him. The footsteps behind him increased in speed, and Onepu ran, knowing that his life was in his own hands, and no one could save him. As the thundering sounds of steps behind him increased in intensity, he picked up speed, knowing that he had almost reached the section of illuminated tunnels leading to Onu-Metra. Looking up ahead, he saw only a mere few yards remaining, and with one last burst of pace, entered the lighted cavern, and slowly came to a stop. His breathing was ragged and shallow, having evaded the fiendish creatures by the slimmest of margins. I’m safe now. No Rahi beasts other than Kane-Ra bulls inhabit this close to Onu-Metra, and they’re scared of light. The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the cavern. Onepu turned around and glanced back only to come face to face with multiple humanoid hunched reptilian beings, standing over seven feet tall, clad in various shades of armour, each holding a wicked staff with blades at each end, and a row of menacing spikes protruding from their backs. He had never seen anything like these creatures before, and they eyed him with a gaze so intense he crumbled before it. He knew that there was no hope of running, and after the few times he escaped getting killed, it seemed death had finally caught up to him. He steeled himself for the final blow as one of the humanoids approached him, staff at the ready, prepared to strike at a moment’s notice. It was a moment it would never get. The walls of the tunnel shook and trembled as the cavern started to visibly collapse on itself, and watched dumbstruck as the creatures were slowly buried under the falling ceiling. Onepu would not make it back, but at least these terrible fiends would not be able to harm Onu-Metra. As boulders tumbled down and he sat there stunned by the sheer sight of it all, a strong pair of arms suddenly seized him and before he knew it he was being carried by some unknown person, and they were heading to Onu-Metra. He looked up at his saviour to see that on his face bore a jet-black mask of unknown origin and of a design well ancient, so old that it might have been lost to time. Onepu, near fainting of shock, could muster only a few thoughts before passing out. Who…who are you? Are you a…hero? Review topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/

Chapter 1 The vast barren volcanic lands of Ta-Kohi. A raging inferno, with temperatures that soared beyond comfort for the vast majority of the island’s wildlife, with the few exceptions miniscule insects and the occasional giant lava scorpion. Only the Ta-Matoran, villagers native to the element, had any sort of tolerance to the suffocating heat that encompassed the entire land. These villagers were known for being courageous, but even then there was a place that none dared set foot in- the Hatu volcano. This dreary place simultaneously chilled the very depths of the bravest of hearts while enveloping physical forms in asphyxiating heat, with this place emanating an unearthly aura from its very core. It was no surprise that nary a Matoran dared wander within a mile radius of this Mata Nui-forsaken place. This night, much like the many nights of the millennia gone by, was dead silent with the exception of the chattering of roaches as they scurried across the bare landscape, always seemingly in a rush to escape the lethal scorpions. These roamed around menacingly, fangs bared and stingers drawn, ready to inflict agony on prey or any foolish Matoran who encountered one unarmed. These fiendish creatures, measuring approximately three feet in length, as their names suggest, were drawn towards the fiery nightmare of the volcano, unfazed by the mysterious atmosphere that clothed it. As devastating as these creatures were, they were highly lacking in the intelligence department, and when hunting was poor, they would prey on the rocks themselves out of desperation. Tonight was one such occasion for an unfortunate scorpion. Smaller and significantly weaker than its compatriots, it struggled for sustenance and was near its breaking point. The creature stumbled along pathetically, until it spotted an unusual, metallic chrome object right in the base of the mountain. If an arachnid could feel joy, this scorpion would be dancing and celebrating like it won the Kolhii championship. The dim-witted critter hurried towards the enormous silver mass and hurriedly clawed at it, frantically trying to obtain a chunk for consumption. Perhaps a more intelligent lifeform would come to the realisation that this sterling object shaped like a canister, measuring eight feet high and five feet in diameter, and made out of impenetrable steel, was as much prey as the lava that resided in the volcano. The dull creature continued pounding on the exterior of this alien object, and it was clear the scorpion was causing more damage to itself than the metallic body. With one last frenzied effort, the arachnid threw itself at the canister with all its might, only to bounce off the silvery frame. However, within the canister, it stirred. A pair of eyes burst open and slowly, from within, the being opened the bulky metal door, and from it emerged a sight the scorpion had never seen before. This new presence was in some ways similar to the Matoran the scorpion had seen pass through this realm, clad in armour in varying shades of blood crimson, with a pair of steel swords that gleamed faintly with a scarlet glow, and a mask covering its entire face. Unlike the commoners, it stood six feet tall, with an imposing muscled yet lean frame. It was slightly unsteady on its feet but power could be felt radiating from every pore of this unusual entity. It was the power of the flames, the raging fires that encompassed the entire of Ta-Wahi, and behind its flaming gaze of its glowing eyes a blazing storm raged within. This being, a he, had many questions unanswered. Who was he? Where was he? How did he get here? These questions haunted his conscious for a few moments as he stood staring at his surroundings, aggrieved by his situation, with half a mind to strike out at the environment enclosing him, and destroy the place, enveloping it with the intense flame that reigned deep in his soul. The scorpion could sense every inch of his fury, and humbled in his wake, timidly retreated into a crevice, wishing to prolong its existence by a few more mere moments and not end up prey to this powerful humanoid that emitted a godlike presence. Eventually, he slowly gathered his thoughts and regained his composure. There was little use in being furious at his situation, and for the time being, the answers to these questions were of little significance. In the back of his mind, a thought drifted through its very edges, comforting him and calming him. The knowing will come. He advanced into distance, aware a great journey lay before him, and many tasks and trials that he had to overcome, vaguely knowing of what he needed to do. He had a purpose. He had a responsibility. He had a duty. A duty to Mata Nui. Review topic: http://www.bzpower.com/board/topic/12375-review-the-stars-above/