GaliGee

Summer 1 : 8We finally crossed the last part of the Tiro Canyon today. After a really difficult climb, we’ve made it to the top of the ridge between it and the Motara Desert, where we’re camped out right now. We can see Po-Koro from here, and the vast fields to the south where the villagers run their herds of Maha and Mukau. This ridge forms the divide between the great rivers that flow north to the sea and south toward Naho Bay.Toa Tahu was hoping to be able to see the Kal ahead of us from here. We can see their tracks heading down the far side of the ridge toward the desert, but they disappear behind some dunes. Unfortunately, even when Toa Lewa used his Miru to raise himself as high as he could, he couldn’t see our targets. “They must be hide-lurking behind some sand-hills or something,” he said.“I hope we find Pohatu out here somewhere, because we could sure use his Kakama,” remarked Toa Tahu.“Are you sure that would be smart-wise? They might ambush us with some trick-trap,” Toa Lewa pointed out.“Maybe,” replied Toa Tahu. “But staying this far behind them just gives them a chance to steal the symbols from everyone else.”Toa Lewa nodded. “You’re right, fire-brother. Should we go to the village, and ask where he is?”“No, that will just cost us more time. And as fast as he moves, he might be gone by the time we get there, anyway. Let’s just keep watching for him.”In any case, we were too tired to continue much farther, so we decided to stay here, where we can see for mios in every direction. If either Toa Pohatu or the Kal approach, we’ll have plenty of warning.The two Toa volunteered to split the watch for the entire night since they both have Ruru, so Jala and I are getting a lucky break. And it’s a good thing, because my legs are so tired I can barely stand up. But I’m awake enough to write, and to talk with Jala. We’ve been conversing really quietly while Toa Tahu sits on a lone rock outcrop a few dozen bios away, and Toa Lewa sleeps at its base.Jala is kind of worried. He’s not the kind of fellow that usually lets himself get down, either. So, I figured something must really be bothering him, for him even to mention it. He said that over time, he’s really seen morale decline among the Guard.Now, Jala’s been Captain of the Guard for as long as I can remember. Of course, that doesn’t mean much, since I had that head injury after I found the Toa stones. But he’s been Captain almost as long as he can remember, too. That’s some time after the Turaga say the Great Spirit Mata Nui brought us all to this island, and we named it after him because of his generous goodness and absolute power over our world.But it turned out that Mata Nui didn’t have absolute power over our world after all. The Turaga tell us he was deceived by his evil brother, Makuta, and cast into a deep sleep. Then Makuta became angry at us, because we wouldn’t worship him instead. He erased our memories and unleashed hundreds of infected Rahi on us. That’s when Jala became Captain of the Guard. He was working on the lava farm until the attacks began and Turaga Vakama called him to accept the duty. Maybe he was Captain before our memories were erased. No one knows, except maybe Turaga Vakama. He has said some things that make me wonder if the Turaga remember the time before that. But he won’t answer any questions about that. He just says that someday, light will reveal all.Anyway, the days of fighting the Rahi were pretty exciting. Jala said that before the Toa stones turned up, it was more of a game, since the attacks were infrequent and victory all but assured. It was as if Makuta were just teasing them. But by the time my memories start filling things in, the fighting was getting more intense. As I randomly toured the villages, running into Matoran with problems I happened to be able to help them with, the mood was getting more desperate. When I first met Jala, he asked me to join the Guard. That’s how frantically he was scraping the bottom of the barrel for troops.Everyone was working really hard back then, either serving as soldiers or working double shifts on the lava farm to make up for those who were defending the villages. Of course, I didn’t really have a duty, because I was wandering at the time. Well, I suppose if I had stuck around Ta-Koro, I would have had one. Turaga Vakama isn’t much for idle hands in the village. But Turaga Nokama says I was actually fulfilling my destiny as the Chronicler all that time, even though I didn’t know it. I think that’s why Turaga Vakama finally stopped hassling me about it. And ultimately, I did get a real job, anyway. I had finally told Jala I would join the guard, basically just so I could ride the cable car to Ko-Koro. So after the defeat of Makuta, Jala assigned me to be the official Guard reporter, and that seemed to make Turaga Vakama happy.Anyway, to get back to what Jala was saying, he said that the Toa arrived just in time to keep us from getting really discouraged with our existence of hardship and fear. He was watching the spirits of the Matoran fall, because it seemed like the struggles would never end. The Turaga cited prophecies of hope, but they couldn’t tell us when anything would happen. Everyone was walking around grim-faced, and then these big heroes just plummeted out of the sky and washed up onto the beach. Even when Rahi attacks tripled in fury, we felt safer somehow in the care of our mighty protectors.The defeat of Makuta brought joy the likes of which we had never felt before. But it didn’t last, of course. By the evening of the following day, the Toa were fending off a Bohrok attack on Ta-Koro, and the grim days of vigilance and privation were back. All during the days of the Bohrok, Jala said, he struggled to keep up the morale of the troops. We got bad news from almost every village, from the besieged Po-Koro to the flooded Onu-Koro. Then the Toa saved the day again, defeating the Bahrag and freeing us from the plague of their minions. And the people knew joy once more.We saw a pattern, of course. Toa have always been strong enough to take on the underlings of evil. But our heroes have always had to leave us to defend ourselves for a time, in order to confront the mastermind who has sent them. Then, once they defeat him or them, without direction those servants become harmless.But this time is different. The servants are robbing our heroes of the very means they use to defend us. And they have powers that seem insurmountable. Jala is worried that the members of the Guard are losing their morale, and he’s not there to do anything about it. “A unifying spirit is essential for a successful army,” he said. “Even if the battles are brutal, and the conditions are harsh, the soldiers will fight to the end if they are rallying for a cause. But when they feel total despair, it’s hard to get them to do anything.”“Do you really think there’s anything they can be doing at this point?” I asked.“Maybe not,” Jala shrugged. “But if there are more of these creatures, waiting for the Toa to leave their villages in pursuit of the symbols…”“That could be really disastrous,” I agreed. “But wouldn’t we have heard from someone by now, if that were the case? The Le-Koronans would probably have flown after their Toa on bird-back.”“Possibly. I’m trying to reassure myself with the fact that the Turaga only spoke of six of these Kal, too.”“Well, there you go,” I smiled. “The Turaga would have known if there were swarms of them, just like they knew about the regular Bohrok.” I refrained from pointing out that the Turaga never actually told us about the Bohrok until after they attacked.Jala was still twisting his blanket nervously. I don’t particularly like thinking about these dark possibilities, either, but that’s why I just put them out of my mind and think about other things. So I tried to distract him. Pretty soon we were laughing about the way we met, when he offered me a job in the Guard. He thought I was an irresponsible rebel, with my ratty backpack and informal speech, and I thought he was a stuffy conformist, with his stiff posture and crisp salute. Actually, we still feel that way about each other, but we wouldn’t have our friendship any other way.Summer 1 : 9Well, lots of exciting things happened today. The first was right at sunrise, when Toa Lewa was on watch. He woke us to tell us that a Kahu was approaching from the southwest. There aren’t any wild Kahu in the desert, so he was sure it was a messenger from Le-Wahi.He was right. As the bird got larger, we could see a Matoran riding it. With great flapping and a cloud of flying sand, Kongu and Ka skidded to a stop next to our lookout rock.Kongu jumped off, and Toa Lewa gave him a pat on the back. “What news do you bring from our treebright village, little highflyer?” he asked.“None whatsoever, great Toa,” replied Kongu. “I came to see if you had found the power-thief yet.”“Nope,” shrugged Toa Tahu dejectedly. “They walk slower than we do, and they wander around looking for krana. But they travel all night, so they’re still ahead of us.”“But it’s wonderful news that Le-Koro is safe,” added Jala.I smiled at Kongu. “Yeah, you’ve just taken a load of the old Captain’s worried mind.” Jala jabbed me with his elbow.Toa Lewa asked Kongu to fly him over the Kal tracks, so he could see where they were leading. The Kahu took off again, with both green beings on his back, and returned a few minutes later.“Yes, they’re up ahead, not more than a few hundred bios away,” said Toa Lewa excitedly. “Their foot-tracks are going in wander-circles, so they must have found more krana.”“Well, let’s get going, then,” suggested Toa Tahu. “Thank you, Kongu.”“You’re welcome, brave-heart Toa,” he replied, climbing back onto his bird. “I must straight-fly to my village, to tell them you are safe, and in near-catch pursuit. May Mata Nui protect you.” He whistled to Ka, and off they flew.With new enthusiasm, Toa Tahu led us across the sand. As the sun rose, the temperature did, too. Of course, we fire villagers didn’t mind. Toa Lewa grumbled a little, but he forgot about it when we spotted a new set of Bohrok footprints coming from the direction of Po-Koro. “Wherever he is, our fleet-foot friend is probably powerless now, too,” he said, worried.As we walked over a ridge, we heard the sound of Maha in the distance. And then we saw something that stopped us in our tracks.At first I couldn’t tell what it was—a monstrous Maha Kaita or something. It wiggled its many legs, bleating loudly. Then I noticed Toa Pohatu’s mask in the middle of it. He saw us and called out, “Little help?”Jala and I ran up to the ‘creature.’ We tugged on a couple of the goats. Mine finally came loose, but then it stuck to my arm.Toa Tahu said it was magnetism, and that it would wear off. Toa Lewa was just doing all he could not to laugh out loud. Toa Tahu explained to Toa Pohatu that we were after the Bohrok-Kal and asked if he would join us.“You know it!” replied the Toa of Stone eagerly. “It’s been too long since we went on an adventure, anyway.” Now, there’s a Toa I can definitely relate to. But he asked me to leave out the part about the goats when I write it up on the Wall of History.So it would seem that the newest addition to the Bohrok party had the power of magnetism. From Toa Pohatu’s description of the creature, it was a Gahlok-Kal. Toa Tahu said, “Pohatu, let’s use your Kakama to catch up with them. We can’t let them get the other two symbols. Onua and Gali may still have their powers at this point.”“I don’t know, Tahu,” replied Pohatu slowly. “It’s tempting, but it may not be a good idea to challenge them until we have the other Toa with us. Remember how Gali had a bad feeling about us splitting up? We should learn from our mistake. Besides, at this point, they outnumber us, and they obviously out-power us, too.”Toa Tahu frowned. “Gali is too sentimental. Time is on their side, Pohatu! We have to act before it’s too late!”“Wait,” said Toa Lewa. “What if we used the Kakama to speed-run to the Kini-Nui? The others may be waiting for us there.”“Yes, but if they are, they’re surely powerless, too, or they wouldn’t be looking for us,” grumbled Toa Tahu.“True, but it’s worth checking,” shrugged Toa Pohatu. He turned toward me and Jala. “You guys are going to love this.”Toa Tahu crossed his arms. “All right,” he said grudgingly. “But then we’d better get right back on the trail.”We stood facing the Kini-Nui. Toa Pohatu powered up his Kakama, and we started running. I can’t begin to describe how it felt to race the wind, and win! I glanced over at Jala, and his short legs were moving so fast they were a yellow blur. The Toa, of course, were used to doing this, and they focused solemnly on what was ahead, except that Toa Pohatu turned his head to grin at us once in a while. Probably the most amazing thing for me was how far I could see ahead, and how well I could hear. I think that sensory enhancement is built into the mask, so the wearer won’t just crash into things or get lost. At one point we approached a big rocky cliff. I cringed and slowed down, but Toa Pohatu shouted, “It’s all right, come on!” and just led us right through it. I expected to feel it slam into my chest, but I didn’t feel anything at all.We arrived at the temple, breathless and smiling. Well, Jala and I were smiling, anyway. That was the most incredible thing we had ever done. I don’t know how the Toa keep their minds on their work, with all the fun things they get to do.And there was Toa Onua, waiting for us. “Hello, all,” he said, slapping Toa Lewa on the back. “Reduced to mere walking, brother?”Toa Lewa grabbed him in a headlock, but Toa Onua twisted free. Toa Pohatu gave him a fist-clank and said, “You think what happened to Lewa is humiliating? Wait until you hear my story!”After some kidding around, Toa Onua explained that his symbol had been taken by a green metallic Bohrok with the power of vacuum, evidently the Lehvak-Kal. So the only one we didn’t know about yet was the Pahrak-Kal. The villagers had been propelled across the cavern when all the air was suddenly sucked out of it, and they were unable to breathe for a moment. Then the creature just walked in and took the symbol from the suva.Toa Onua had been digging a tunnel somewhere, as usual. Suddenly the ceiling, which he had been temporarily holding up with his earth powers, collapsed on him. With his Pakari, he managed to dig himself out, but it was a long, arduous task, and he said that he felt like he was suffocating the whole time. I’m sure it was intensely unpleasant, if not downright terrifying. It certainly would have been for me, anyway.“At this point the only Toa who might still have powers is Gali,” remarked Toa Tahu. “We passed through Ko-Koro, and Kopaka has lost his, but we didn’t see him.”Toa Onua got very thoughtful all of a sudden. “You know, it seemed like a limitless blessing, to be transformed into Toa Nuva. But now we know that we have a new vulnerability. Our powers are shackled to these symbols, and without them, we are a mere fraction of what we used to be.”“Should we go back to the trail of the Kal, or should we go to Ga-Koro and try to defend Gali’s symbol?” wondered Toa Pohatu.“Gali’s water powers will be trivial compared to the Kal’s, anyway,” remarked Toa Tahu. “I say we go back and attack the Kal right away. There are as many of us now as there are of them.”Toa Onua disagreed. “But they might be going to Ga-Koro, anyway. And besides, we need to find Gali and Kopaka. We’re going to need all the mask powers we’ve got, and all our wisdom and strength, before we take on these creatures. I’m guessing the best way to defeat them will be to remove their krana, if they’re anything like regular Bohrok.”“What use are a Kaukau and an Akaku going to be to us?” scowled Toa Tahu.“But Tahu,” said Toa Lewa, “there are two more Kal creep-lurking around, possibly together, one carry-hauling Onua’s symbol. If we sneak-attack them before they get to Ga-Koro, maybe the four of us can overpower one or two of them at a time.”“But where will we start looking? I say we go after the ones we know about. Besides, once we get four of the symbols back, the other two will be easy.” Toa Tahu seemed very determined to get back to the desert. So finally the others agreed with him, and off we ran to the dunes of the Motara, where we had last seen the Kal.We got back to the trail where Toa Pohatu had been stuck to the Maha. We cautiously followed the path, using the Kakama in short bursts to go only as far as we could clearly see ahead of us. But we ran into a problem we didn’t expect. The Kal had wandered back toward Onu-Wahi and disappeared into a network of tunnels.“I’m a little bit familiar with these tunnels,” commented Toa Onua.“Wonderful,” said Toa Tahu impatiently. “Then lead the way.”Toa Onua shook his head. “They’re really complex, Tahu. And without my earth powers, I won’t be able to feel vibrations telling us which way the Kal have gone. We could get hopelessly lost in there.” “So we’ll just follow their tracks,” reasoned Toa Tahu.“Too hard to see, even with a Ruru. The floor is very compact,” said Toa Onua. “What we really need is an Akaku. Then we could see them through the earth, and follow the heat signature of their tracks.”I was relieved we weren’t going in those tunnels, to tell the truth. But Toa Tahu groaned. “Great. So now we need Kopaka. Just great.”“Onua, do these tunnels daylight anywhere else around this ditch-land?” asked Toa Lewa.“Yes, there are openings all over the place.” Toa Onua gestured at the earthen cliffs, gullies, and rocky outcrops all around. The sun was going down, and the dull brown landscape had begun to glow orange in its last blaze of light.“I propose,” said Toa Pohatu, “that we camp here for the night. In the morning, I’ll go look for Kopaka, while the rest of you keep an eye out for the Kal, in case they surface again somewhere else.”So that’s where we are now. As much adventure as we’ve had in one day, I’m really tired. I’ve written what happened in my journal, but for once, I don’t feel like rambling about anything else!Summer 1 : 10Another exciting day! I’ll try to get it all down…It was no surprise that Toa Tahu was the first one to get up this morning. He woke the rest of us. Toa Onua was on watch, and he reported no sign of the Kal. He put his head to the ground to listen one last time before Toa Pohatu set off to look for Toa Kopaka. I could tell Toa Onua was kind of sad that he had to rely on ordinary hearing instead of sensing the pulse of his beloved earth.After Toa Pohatu sped off, Toa Onua suggested we split up and take positions on some of the bluffs. That way we could see farther, but we could still signal each other if one of us spotted the Kal popping up out of the tunnels. Toa Lewa lifted Jala and me to the top of a big cliff with his Miru, where we sat together while he helped Toa Onua and Toa Tahu to two other lookout posts before taking a position himself. From our cliff, Jala and I could see the fields to the southeast. The Po-Koronan herdsmen and their livestock looked like tiny dark dots on the green plain.While we sat, we watched the beautiful sunrise and talked about the strange things that had happened on the trip so far. And we wondered what the girls were doing in Ga-Koro at that moment. Jala figured that Hahli was probably gathering harakeke or sitting with Amaya making flax. Sometimes she went fishing early in the morning, since the Ruki often swam up into the marshes of the Hura-Mafa River delta to feed at that time. She told Jala that she spent as much time repairing the nets as she did fishing for those sharp-toothed creatures. As for Nixie, I imagined that she was either reporting her nightly findings to Turaga Nokama, or maybe taking a nap by now. It’s funny that as much as I like the light and hate the dark, my favorite girl is semi-nocturnal.At this moment I saw a brilliant flash of light, and then I saw a scene on the beaches of Ga-Wahi. Toa Gali stood on a big hill with her back to me, and an enormous wave was surging up from the sea. She raised her axes, apparently to send it back into the ocean, but nothing happened. I watched her stagger backwards in disbelief as the huge wall of water crashed over her. When it receded into the bay again, Toa Gali was gone.I came to, and Jala was shaking me. “Takua! Are you all right?” he asked.“Yeah, but I don’t think Toa Gali is,” I replied. I told him what I had seen.“You’re still getting those visions? Toa Gali must be in trouble!” Jala jumped up and started yelling and waving his arms at Toa Lewa, who was the closest to us. Toa Lewa immediately called to Toa Tahu at the next post, leaped off the cliff, and ran as fast as he could toward ours. He levitated to the top. “What is it?” he panted. “Did you see the power-bugs come up?”“No,” I replied, “but I just had a vision of Gali being washed away by a giant wave!”“She must have lost her water-force!” cried Toa Lewa. “Quick-speed, let’s go get the others.” He flung us off the cliff and jumped after us. Just as I was sure we would break our legs on the packed earth fifty bios below, I felt the tug of the Miru slowing us down. We still landed pretty hard. I guess Toa Lewa can control the amount of lift, and he was in a big hurry.We ran to Toa Tahu’s lookout post. He was stabbing his swords into the face of the cliff one at a time, and he was about halfway to the ground. It looked really dangerous, because of the crumbly earth. Toa Lewa yelled, “Jump!” and helped him float down to the dirt next to us.“Takua just had a mind-vision of Toa Gali being wash-carried away by a giant wave,” explained Toa Lewa.Toa Tahu looked really upset. “We must go help her!” he said urgently. “But… the Kal…”Toa Onua had half-slid and half-rolled into the ravine when he heard the commotion, and he came running up to us, all dusty and breathless. “And Pohatu won’t know where we went,” he added, putting his tracks back on his back.“Maybe one of us should wait-stay for him,” proposed Toa Lewa.“No need, brothers,” replied Toa Pohatu, who had materialized behind him as he spoke. “I just came from Ko-Koro. Nuju saved Kopaka, who was hanging by his ice blades from the face of a crevasse. He says Kopaka checked in at the village, heard that you guys had passed through following the Kal, and ran to the Kini-Nui. Nuju said if Kopaka didn’t find us there, he was planning to go to Ga-Koro.”“Why would he go there?” frowned Toa Tahu.Toa Onua shrugged. “No time to speculate. He must be on his way, though. Pohatu, did you get here in time to hear about Takua’s vision?”“I heard Lewa talking about it as I ran over here,” nodded the Toa of Stone. “The Kakama really improves my long-range hearing.”“All right, now that we have you back, Pohatu,” said Toa Tahu, “we need to go find Gali. And Kopaka. Then we’ll get back on the trail of the Kal, using the Akaku.”Everyone agreed this was a good plan, and off we ran for Ga-Wahi. As we flew along, Toa Pohatu asked me where I had seen Toa Gali in the vision. I admitted that I didn’t really know. It was a really steep, tall hill, right next to the ocean, with jungle on either side. From my travels, I remembered an area like that north of the Hura-Mafa delta. Toa Onua said that if she was practicing making big waves, it would make sense that she would do it away from the village. He worried that since she had not been able to stop the wave, the edge of it might have hit the village.Jala gave me an anxious look. But Toa Lewa tried to reassure us. “Let’s not worry-fret about that until we get there,” he said. “One disaster at a time is sorry-bad enough!”Toa Tahu didn’t say anything. He just looked really grim.We reached the area I remembered and slowed down. Toa Lewa levitated himself into a tree and looked around. “I see a hill-peak a bit like the one you described, Chronicler,” he called down. He dropped to the ground and pointed to the northeast. We ran again, but when we got to the hill, it wasn’t the same one.We looked at four or five more places before we found the right one. I gasped as I recognized the hill, exactly as it was in my vision. Past it was the vast sea, still rocking from the wave. There was no sign of Toa Gali. But down on the beach, Toa Lewa spotted Toa Kopaka.We ran over to him. He was sitting on a rock, dripping wet. “Where’s Gali?” asked Toa Tahu, without any sort of greeting.Toa Kopaka stood up and pointed along the beach. We could just see two blue figures standing together on the sand, one tall and one short. “She’s speaking with Nokama.”The Toa of Fire studied the Toa of Ice. “So, what are you doing here, Kopaka?”“I came to see if I could prevent Gali’s symbol from being stolen, but I was too late,” came the cool reply.“Then why aren’t you in Ga-Koro, where her suva is? And why are you all wet? Did you get hit by her wave?” continued Toa Tahu.Toa Kopaka gave Toa Tahu a withering look. Toa Tahu frowned. Toa Pohatu and Toa Onua looked at each other quizzically. Toa Lewa laughed. “I’m sure there’s a good story-tale here,” he said, winking at me.Toa Kopaka seemed to realize that the others wouldn’t give him any peace until he explained, so finally he did. “Kopeke said Tahu and Lewa had come through Ko-Koro, tracking some enhanced Bohrok who had stolen their Nuva symbols. I guessed that the other Kal would be after the other symbols.”“So you headed for Ga-Koro,” said Toa Pohatu.“Who wouldn’t?” I muttered under my breath. Jala prodded me with his foot.“Gali seemed to be the most vulnerable,” shrugged Toa Kopaka. “Her element extends for countless thousands of mios around the island in every direction. But her symbol was already gone when I got there, and the villagers told me she was here.”“So you jump-dove in to save her from the great-wave,” inferred Toa Lewa.“Not exactly,” replied Toa Kopaka. “I saw the wave from afar with my Akaku, but Gali was already coming out of the water when I got to the beach. Nokama was there to meet her, and they swam back out together. Nokama left Gali in an underwater cave, and when I saw what was inside, I jumped in the water. But she didn’t need my help, after all.”“So what are we waiting for?” asked Toa Tahu. “Let’s go get her, and return to our quest for the Kal!” He jumped up and began to walk rapidly along the beach.“Wait, Tahu,” called Toa Kopaka.Toa Tahu spun in his tracks, his hands on his hips. “Why?” he asked with irritation.“Let Nokama finish talking,” replied the Toa of Ice.Toa Pohatu laughed. “It’s a Turaga teaching moment.”“Yeah,” added Toa Onua. “My Turaga hauls me off for one of those every now and then.”Toa Tahu muttered, “We don’t have time for Turaga tales!” But he walked over to a boulder and sat down.Soon Turaga Nokama parted ways with Toa Gali and walked away along the beach, presumably toward Ga-Koro. Toa Gali glanced around and saw us. She vanished in a blue blur and reappeared next to Toa Onua.“Gali! You have your Kakama!” exclaimed Toa Pohatu.“Yes,” Toa Gali replied. “Nokama led me to it. She put me through a little test first, though. Have the rest of you lost your powers as well?”The other Toa nodded grimly.“You’re all wet, Kopaka!” said Toa Gali, apparently just noticing the water dripping off him. “Were you coming to help me?”Toa Kopaka looked at his feet. “Only if you needed it,” he said quietly. “That monster was huge!”“What monster?” asked Toa Tahu.“I’m grateful for the kind thought, Kopaka,” said Toa Gali gently. “But by the grace of Mata Nui, my Kaukau still works. And the Kakama is simply amazing now.”“As is the Akaku,” added Toa Kopaka. “The ranging readout showed that wave took you over five hundred bios out to sea.”Toa Gali’s eyes widened. “That far?” She gazed sadly at the vast ocean before us. “Oh, without my water powers, the sea seems so dangerous now!”Toa Tahu cleared his throat. “Well, now that we’re all safe, it’s time to do something about these vile creatures that have stolen our powers. Pohatu, will you take us back to Onu-Wahi?”I was surprised to hear Jala speak up. He suggested we check on Ga-Koro. But Toa Gali patted his shoulder reassuringly and said Nokama had told her it was fine. Jala seemed very relieved.Toa Pohatu grinned. “Unlike some of us, they don’t mind getting a little wet.”Toa Tahu and Toa Kopaka were glaring at each other. Toa Onua rolled his eyes. “I was hoping you two had gotten over your differences.”“Let’s just be joy-glad we all survived getting fall-dropped and heavy-buried,” nodded Toa Lewa.“Good point, Lewa,” sighed Toa Tahu. “Let’s fill Gali and Kopaka in on what we’ve learned about the Kal.” He explained the powers of each Kal and how we had tracked them into the tunnel system. Toa Lewa interrupted from time to time to add interesting details. Finally, Toa Tahu concluded with a wry smile, “So, as much as I hate to admit it, we really need you now, Kopaka.”Toa Kopaka thanked Toa Tahu. “It’s always good to know as much as we can about the enemy.”Toa Gali added, “It looks like the Pahrak-Kal has the power of plasma. The villagers told Nokama that it’s heading northwest.”“It’s on its way to find-join the others, I’m certain-sure,” said Toa Lewa. “Those creatures like to work together.” He flinched, perhaps at the memory of the strange communications he must have received while wearing the krana.“If those hideous things can show unity, so can we,” said Toa Tahu, his jaw set with solemn determination.Toa Gali crossed her arms. “I can’t believe I’m hearing that from you, Tahu. After splitting us up the way you did, with your petty--”“Better late than never,” commented Toa Pohatu. “Let’s let the Pahrak-Kal lead us to the others.”We ran back to the village and found the Kal’s tracks. Probably the Lehvak-Kal had already joined up with the others, since it had just been in Onu-Koro. We followed the footprints, using the Kakama in short bursts as we had before. They led us to Onu-Wahi, where eventually they disappeared into a tunnel. The Toa decided it would be unwise to use the Kakama down there, so we would have to follow them at walking speed. It was already getting dark by this time. We camped out for the night, certain that in the morning we would find these creatures and confront them. I’m not sure if that’s going to be a good thing or not. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

My phone rang yesterday, and I was pleasantly surprised to see Lewa’s number on the Caller ID box. But when I answered, I was surprised again, and not pleasantly.Interview with the Bohrok-KalGaliGee: Hi, Lewa! What’s going on?Voice: I’m not Lewa. I’m Lehvak-Kal. But you can call me “Sir.”GaliGee: Come on, Lewa, I know it’s you. I see “LEWA TOA OF AIR” on my Caller ID. And I recognize your number.Voice: It’s Lewa’s phone, all right. But your powerless green friend is indisposed at the moment.GaliGee: Well… your voice doesn’t sound like Lewa’s. What have you done with Lewa? Are you really Lehvak-Kal? [suddenly all the air in the room is sucked out the door] Aack… gasp…Lehvak-Kal: NOW do you believe me?GaliGee [as air rushes back into room, slamming me into opposite wall] Ouch! OK, I believe you! But what have you done with Lewa?Lehvak-Kal: We spanked him. Him and his puny feeble buddies. Muah hah hah.GaliGee: If you called me just to do your evil laugh thing, I’m going to hang up.Lehvak-Kal: No, I called to let you know your pathetic little friends are going to suffer a humiliating and painful defeat at our hand-shields. But you already knew that.GaliGee: I don’t believe it.Lehvak-Kal: Then maybe you’ll believe it from my brother. Here, you talk to her.Tahnok-Kal [as arcs of electricity jump out of every appliance in the room]: Hello, GaliGee. You might want to ground yourself. [arcs join into one huge bolt of lightning, which sets fire to my couch]GaliGee: Aargh! You don’t have to prove how powerful you are. THAT I do believe. I just don’t think the Toa are going to knuckle under. They are far too dedicated and intelligent to do that. [grabs fire extinguisher and douses couch]Nuhvok-Kal: Oh, they’re going down, all right.GaliGee [crumpling to the floor under what feels like a thousand pounds of gravity]: I… still… don’t… ungh…Nuhvok-Kal: Oh, why are we wasting our time on her? She’s just an imitation of a Toa. She doesn’t even have any powers. [releases gravity field]Kohrak-Kal: Neither do the real Toa! Ha, ha!Gahlok-Kal: I almost wish they did. It would make the fight more fun.Kohrak-Kal: Blasphemy! Remember our mission, Gahlok-Kal. We are not here to have fun.Gahlok-Kal: But we can still have a little fun, if the mission is proceeding according to plan. [suddenly all the metal objects in the room, including me, fly out the window, shattering the glass]GaliGee [crawling back through the window]: You guys have proven your point. I know you are formidable creatures. But why are you bent on destroying Mata Nui?Pahrak-Kal: We aren’t destroying it. We are restoring it.GaliGee: To what? A bare rock in the middle of the ocean?Pahrak-Kal: That would be nice.GaliGee: Why?Gahlok-Kal: Because our mommies said so.GaliGee: Your – oh, the Bahrag. But why do they want that?Tahnok-Kal: Because things were great before you pesky creatures came along. Besides, we don’t question our mommies.GaliGee: Maybe I’m a little old-fashioned, and not very politically correct, but I don’t think it’s good for children to be raised by two mothers. Especially boys. Who’s your father figure? Makuta?Lehvak-Kal: Oh, please.Nuhvok-Kal: Don’t make me laugh.Tahnok-Kal: What a poser. I can’t believe how easily he was defeated. After all that big talk, too.GaliGee: But you must be aware that he’s going to return.Gahlok-Kal: Oh, no! I’m SO scared!Lehvak-Kal: Oh, big bad Makuta’s coming back! He’s gonna give us a cold! Ha, ha, ha!GaliGee: You don’t seem to be afraid of anything.Kohrak-Kal: Fear is for the weak. You forget who you’re dealing with here. [A strange high-pitched whine fills the air, builds to a scream, and ends in a loud “boom.” The drywall crumbles from the wall studs in a big cloud of gypsum dust.]GaliGee [coughing and rubbing head]: As I said before, I know you’re powerful. That’s not the issue here. Of course you have the advantage when it comes to elemental powers, since the Toa’s are gone.Tahnok-Kal: Did you figure that out all by yourself, GaliGee?Lehvak-Kal: Maybe the “Gee” is short for “Genius.”GaliGee: But I still think the Toa will find a way to get them back.Gahlok-Kal: Ha! Are they going to come pull the symbols off our backs? I’d like to see them try!GaliGee: Well, you must have SOME weakness. Otherwise, you would be in charge, not the Bahrag.Pahrak-Kal: They’re only in charge because we let them be.Lehvak-Kal: Oh, you know that’s not true. It’s because they are our mommies, and they know best.GaliGee: So it’s superior wisdom on their part.Tahnok-Kal: No! They are no wiser than us. They just know the legends better. But now that we have hatched –Kohrak-Kal: You’re not going to say what I think you’re going to say, are you?Tahnok-Kal: -- we have had a chance to learn. And now WE are wise enough to rule.Kohrak-Kal: You impulsive hot-head! Have you learned nothing? [sonic boom and explosions in the distance]GaliGee: This sounds somehow familiar.Gahlok-Kal: Enough! We have learned what we set out to learn. As Bohrok-Kal, we have more powers, and more control over those powers, than ever before.GaliGee: It is a shame you cannot control your tempers as well.Gahlok-Kal: How did you know what I was going to say?GaliGee: Just a hunch.Nuhvok-Kal: But the point is, we have no weaknesses.Tahnok-Kal: Except for Kohrak-Kal. His weakness is that he has no guts.Kohrak-Kal: And Tahnok-Kal’s weakness is that he has no brains.Lehvak-Kal: Will you two cut it out? I’m about to s uck you both back into your canisters, if this keeps up.Nuhvok-Kal: You would endanger the mission, just because you don’t like a little arguing? You fool! [loud thud]Lehvak-Kal: Let… me… up… you… [sound of rushing air]Nuhvok-Kal [voice receding]: Hey, cut that ouuuuuuuut!Pahrak-Kal: Such imbeciles. Why are we stuck working with them, Gahlok-Kal?Gahlok-Kal: Because they’re our brothers. Duh.Pahrak-Kal: Don’t “duh” me, magnet-head! [blasting sound]Gahlok-Kal: Oh, yeah? Well, take that! [buzzing noise]GaliGee [relieved they are busy fighting each other, and Pahrak-Kal hasn’t melted anything in my house]: Well, I’ve got to go now. Bye.Pahrak-Kal: Oh, but you haven’t tasted the power of plasma yet. Shall I vaporize your computer, or your TV?GaliGee [nervously]: Uh, neither one, if you don’t mind.Pahrak-Kal: Suit yourself. [refrigerator starts to glow red, then explodes, hurling bits of molten steel all over the kitchen]GaliGee [picking bits of red-hot metal out of my shoulder joint, and wishing I had worn my armor today]: Maybe I should go out for dinner. Well, it’s been real. Unfortunately.Bohrok-Kal: Goodbye, you powerless little punk! We’ll say hi to your pathetic weakling friends for you before we reduce them to twisted bits of protodermis! [click]Unfortunately, there won’t be any more interviews for a while, because I have a bit of remodeling to do. But the Toa will have bigger problems than that, I’m afraid. Thanks to Goeyoshi for story ideas! This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Summer 1 : 4This morning, a breathless Toa Lewa woke us all up early. He was on guard duty and he heard a noise. While the rest of us were still asleep, he crept away and spotted the Kal. It seems they had come back toward us. They were looking for something, apparently. He said the Nuhvok-Kal picked up a small metallic object out of the bushes and put it inside the Tahnok-Kal’s headplate. Toa Tahu said it must have been a krana, and Toa Lewa agreed. The new krana went in over the old one, like the Toa masks. Toa Lewa described the way the Kal had leaped away really fast, flying in short bursts, so it probably was a Vu. The Nuhvok-Kal must already have had that one. Toa Lewa figured it might have used that, along with its gravity power, to get up the tree to the village. Toa Lewa said (after telling us all about the longest Kuna he had ever seen, which he tripped over in his haste to get back to the camp) that he wanted to attack the Kal, but they were too fast, and without his air powers or a Kakama, he couldn’t keep up with them. Toa Tahu said that was just as well, and Toa Lewa should have learned his lesson by now about jumping in and assailing enemies alone. Toa Lewa reminded him that he had also fallen victim to a krana once, and Toa Tahu just grumbled a little and fell silent. I remembered how, when we set out, Toa Tahu had said he didn’t need any help from anyone, but I held my tongue.Instead, I asked if they thought there would be Kanohi Nuva around to find now, too, since the Toa’s extra mask powers had disappeared after their Nuva transformations. Toa Tahu said, “I certainly hope so, because I don’t want to have to go find Kopaka every time I want to look through a rock.” But he also said they shouldn’t get distracted searching for them, until they had their elemental powers back.I handed out some breakfast to everyone while Jala buried the embers of the campfire. Then we started walking. The Kal are obviously moving faster now, with their new powers. Toa Tahu insisted we hurry, but the tracks have gotten a lot harder to follow, so we got a lot of extra exercise doubling back and retracing our own steps. I wish Toa Tahu would let Toa Lewa lead us, but I can’t blame Toa Lewa for not wanting to start an argument about it. And at least Toa Tahu is listening to him whenever he has an idea. Every now and then Toa Lewa climbs up a tree to look, and that helps, too. But I can’t wait to get out of this jungle. Le-Wahi is huge. And as carefully as Tamaru explained to me his wayfinding tricks, I still don’t know how the Le-Koronans keep from getting lost.Well, while I’m on the subject of getting confused in the woods, I might as well tell about the liberation of Le-Koro from the Bohrok. When I went to find Nuparu and his Boxor squad in Le-Wahi, I must have gotten lost a dozen times. From Jala’s scouts, I had heard that Toa Onua had brought them along when he went to find Toa Lewa, and Toa Lewa told them the entire village was wearing krana. The Boxor drivers took the krana from a few of the Lehvak that were there. So I went to find them and see what was happening. There was bound to be a good story in the making.I finally found their camp one night from the glow of the lightstones shining through the leaf tent. What a relief that was, to step into the light and hear friendly voices instead of creepy jungle noises! They had seen a few Nuhvok breaking down trees after they defeated the Lehvak, so they were trying to figure out how to get past them and save the villagers.Then Kongu and Tamaru showed up. As everyone knows, they were the only ones who had escaped the Lehvak attack on the village. They were really discouraged, because they didn’t even know Toa Lewa had been saved. After I told them the good news, we came up with a plan. Of course, I had to translate it to Nuparu, to whom treespeak is total gibberish. For once, my pointless wanderings turned out to be useful, because I can understand that stuff.So, Kongu and Tamaru crept over to where most of the Nuhvok were, while Nuparu and his squad dug holes in a field with the Boxors for us to hide in. The free Le-Koronans taunted the Nuhvok and lured them into the clearing, where the Boxors could fight effectively. If it weren’t for their leafrunning skills, they never would have been able to do that. We were lucky, because the villagers, who were following the instructions of the swarm, came along, too, so we didn’t even have to go find them. And we ambushed them all and ripped off their krana. I got to save Turaga Matau! That was really great. I hope he told Turaga Vakama all about it.The hardest part about the whole thing (besides resisting the urge just to stay hidden in my hole when the Nuhvok showed up) was finding the villagers’ masks after the fight. After we tore off the krana, they were free again, but without anything on their faces, they all started to feel weak and dizzy. So we started frantically searching near the village, where the Lehvak had overcome them. The Lehvak had stashed them all away in a hole under a big rock. Tamaru was the one who found them. He noticed marks from digging that didn’t match any animals he knew. The Boxors were able to lift the rock pretty easily. I think the villagers would have lapsed into unconsciousness if they had had to wait for Toa Kopaka to come back from the Bahrag battle and use his Akaku to find them. They were so grateful to get their masks back! Even though the village was partly wrecked, Turaga Matau managed to put together a party for us. The Le-Koronans scrounged up some food and a few instruments, and it was almost like old times. But we had to leave right after that, because we didn’t know if the other villages were still in danger. So we headed for Ga-Koro, as I wrote about a couple of days ago.I’m really thankful to Turaga Vakama for giving me this journal. It gives me something to do in the evening, if it’s not my turn for watch duty. I chat with Jala a little, and then I sit and write until I’m tired. I put the pen, ink pot, book, and lightstone in my backpack, and go right to sleep. Otherwise, I would lie awake in my bedroll in the dark, listening to all the noises and imagining scary things. I hate the dark. It’s not that I’m afraid of it, exactly, but I really don’t like it. When I can’t see, I feel totally defenseless.Not that I would stay awake too long, anyway, as tired as I am from trying to keep up with Toa Tahu’s pace. But still, I’m glad for something to do in the evening. Jala goes right to sleep as soon as he lies down, if he’s not on watch. I suppose it’s his guard training that gives him that kind of discipline.It’s been a long day. My writing is starting to get really sloppy now, so I’ll stop here.Summer 1 : 5We finally got out of Le-Wahi today, and crossed into Ko-Wahi. Now it’s a lot easier to follow the Kal’s tracks, because they are really obvious in the snow, even with the pine trees in the way. But it’s so cold here! I hope the Kal lead us somewhere else soon. Or better yet, I hope the Toa just knock them out and take their symbols back. But that doesn’t seem likely at this point. They are still staying way ahead of us.We are camped out not too far from Ko-Koro, by the edge of the tree line at the base of Mount Ihu. Toa Tahu wanted to keep going, but Jala pointed out that this was about as far as we could go and still have a campfire, unless we wanted to haul the firewood with us. And we really need a fire tonight. Now that the sun has gone down, it’s gotten bitterly cold.Toa Tahu grumbled that if he had his fire powers, we wouldn’t need firewood. He could just heat up some rocks for us to gather around. And Toa Lewa said if he had his air powers, he could summon a balmy breeze from Le-Koro. Instead, we’re relying on Jala’s guard skills to keep warm. It’s funny that my little buddy is more useful than the mighty Toa are right now.But everyone seems to feel better now that we’re sitting next to the campfire, looking into the flames. A fire is always fascinating to watch, and it seems to invite camaraderie and storytelling. Toa Tahu and Toa Lewa have been reminiscing about the time they combined their powers to burn out a big Nui-Rama hive in Le-Wahi. They described the way the flames shot out the top, and then the giant mud tower started to lean and finally collapse with a huge crash. Mad bugs were buzzing everywhere, and an enormous cloud of dust and burning debris rolled toward them. The Toa seem to like big, dramatic explosions. It’s something in their nature, maybe so they won’t be intimidated by the intensity of their own powers. Their laughter has made them forget that they were cold and miserable. I can’t really complain, myself. Except for my hands and mask, which are outside the bedroll so I can write, I’m nice and warm. Hey, I’m the Chronicler. If I don’t write this stuff down, no one will.But at least it’s summer, so it’s as warm as it gets in Ko-Wahi. Nixie, the astrologer from Ga-Koro, told me that if our island were much farther north, the seasons would be a lot more pronounced. In winter it would be like Ko-Wahi all over, and in summer, it would be like Ta-Wahi. But since we are pretty close to the middle of the planet—she called it the ‘equator’—we have almost the same temperatures year round. I like it that way. I don’t think I could face winter if the whole island froze. I suppose I wouldn’t know any different, though.The thing I notice most about the seasons is the length of the days. I love the summer, when it’s light until late in the evening. And the sun rises and floods the sky and earth with beautiful light before I even wake up. I think that’s why I like traveling so much. In Ta-Koro, inside the big volcano, it’s never dark because of the glow of the lava. But on the other hand, it never gets very bright, either, because the sun doesn’t shine directly into the village.Nixie explained the seasons to me at the victory party after the defeat of Makuta. I first met her when she helped me figure out how to open the mysterious underground sundial in Onu-Koro using a gnomon she had found years before. That turned out to be the way I was able to get to Makuta’s lair to see the Toa fight him.And since no one else is going to read this, I can write about Nixie. When I stepped into her hut to ask about the sundial, I had no idea what was about to happen to me. It’s always fun to have an excuse to be in Ga-Koro, because every one of the villagers is lovely. But Nixie is even more so. She turned around and spoke, and I completely forgot what I was going to say.Well, she looked at me expectantly, and I handed her the miner’s sketch, and somehow I managed to stammer some words. She smiled at me, and it was like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, all light and joy. She told me it was probably a sundial, and said some stuff about the markings, and handed me the gnomon. Then she said she had a lot of work to do and politely shooed me out of her hut. I almost walked off the lily pad into the water, but somehow I got across to land. She was right about the sundial.After that, I started to wonder about what else Nixie did, and what she could tell from the stars. I’ve always liked stars, anyway. Those little shining points of light seem to offer some kind of hope in the night, as if to say, “All is not dark.” And I guess that’s what they’ve been to us Matoran, their prophecies giving us hope during the dark time of Makuta’s reign of terror.So, at the victory party, I finally got up my courage and walked over to Nixie. I made some silly comment about new hope and springtime, and that’s when she explained about the seasons. Then she stopped talking and looked at me. Maybe she had just noticed that like her, I have a blue Pakari, which is really weird for a Ta-Koronan. Or maybe she was wondering if I really understood what she had just said. I said it was amazing that she knew so much about the world from looking away from it, and she smiled at me. Then she invited me to come up to the telescope and look at the stars with her some night. I just about passed out.But before I could make a complete fool of myself, Turaga Nokama walked up. She was gathering her villagers for the trip home. Turaga Nokama likes me, I think. She patted me on the back and said some flattering things about my role in the defense of the Kini-Nui. Thank goodness for Turaga Nokama!Of course, later that day the Bohrok showed up, and there was no question of traveling unless it was absolutely necessary. I had an extra reason to curse those horrid bugs.After the defeat of the Bahrag, I got to see Nixie again. We played games in the water with Jala and Hahli. The girls got on our shoulders, and we waded out into the shallow water, where they tried to knock each other off of us. Even though Jala and I both hate water, we had the time of our lives. Then we sat down by the bonfire on the beach, dried ourselves off, and told stories. None of them could top the story we had just lived ourselves, though. That was the rescue of Ga-Koro from the Pahrak.Even though I’m feeling all warm inside from thinking about Nixie, my hands are almost too numb to write now. So I’m calling it a night.Summer 1 : 6We made it to Ko-Koro late this morning. The guards waved us through the various gates and tunnels until we reached the Sanctum, and there we faced a big dilemma. First of all, we got really confused about the tracks. They went in circles, and there were several sets coming and going as we approached the village. We decided to go into the Sanctum and see what Turaga Nuju could tell us. Or, rather, what Matoro could tell us Turaga Nuju was telling us.When we got inside, I was happy to see Kopeke there, because he’s a great guy. We fought the Rahi together at the Kini-Nui way back when the Toa were battling Makuta, and not only is he a great shot with a disc, he’s also a genius when it comes to sculpting useful things out of ice. But I wasn’t very happy that he was the only one there, because getting him to talk is like getting a Po-Koronan to swim. It takes a lot of coaxing. The conversation went like this:Me: Hi, Kopeke! How are you?Kopeke: Hello.Toa Tahu: Hello, Kopeke. Is Nuju here?Kopeke: No.Toa Lewa: Is Kopaka here?Kopeke: No.Jala: Are you the only one here?Kopeke: Yes.Toa Tahu: Have there been any intruders here recently?Kopeke: Yes.Toa Lewa: What did they look-seem like? What did they do?Kopeke: Bohrok.Toa Tahu: And?Kopeke: They took Toa Kopaka’s symbol.After a lot of one-word answers, we finally got him to start talking in sentences. The story was starting to sound really familiar. This thing that looked like a metallic Nuhvok had approached the suva, which Matoro was guarding. He stepped in front of the Bohrok, but suddenly he cried out that he was too heavy to stand up. He was crushed into the snow under some advanced power of gravity. Then a Kohrak-looking creature took Kopaka’s symbol out of the suva. Then the two Bohrok walked away, joining a third one that looked like a Tahnok who was waiting for them at the edge of the village.The Kohrak creature then took off one way across the ice, while the other two went the other direction. Kopeke helped Matoro up, and Turaga Nuju came over and declared that these were some kind of enhanced Bohrok. After he went into the Sanctum to consult some prophetic texts, he came back out to talk to the villagers, just in time for everyone to hear a high-pitched noise and then a big boom.Turaga Nuju grabbed his pickaxe, and he and Matoro and a couple of others headed off in the direction of the sound. The other villagers went to various guard and lookout posts. I was a little surprised to hear this, because I had the impression Turaga Nuju rarely left the Sanctum. He must have had a hunch that something really bad was happening.While Kopeke was talking, Toa Lewa had finally made sense of the tracks. A recent light snowfall had softened the edges of all but the freshest ones, and there were three sets of clear Bohrok footprints heading out of the village together, toward the north. Toa Lewa’s theory was that the Kohrak-Kal had taken off and caused the big boom, then rejoined the other two, who were perhaps searching for more krana. Now they were all going north, toward Onu-Wahi. He suggested he follow the Kohrak tracks to make sure Toa Kopaka was all right, while the rest of us continued after the Kal. Toa Tahu agreed with Toa Lewa’s explanation, but he didn’t think we should split up. “Nuju will look after Kopaka,” he said. “Besides, these Kal don’t seem to want to really hurt anyone, just take our powers and intimidate us.”Toa Lewa insisted we should help Toa Kopaka. “What if he’s in trouble? Nuju and the Matoran are brave-hearted, but Ko-Wahi is full of risk-danger. If he’s fallen or something, I could lift-carry him with my Miru.”“Well, so could Nuju. He has a Matatu.”Toa Lewa frowned at Toa Tahu. “Just because you and Kopaka had harsh-bitter words--” Toa Tahu interrupted, “Kopaka and I have our differences. But that’s not why I don’t want to go find him. The best way for us to help him is to get his symbol back.”Toa Lewa agreed with this, and we set out after the Kal again. But now they outnumbered the Toa. And we had wasted a lot of time in Ko-Koro, figuring out what to do next. If there’s anything worse than being in the dark, it’s being in the dark and cold. “Unless we get down to the tree line again before nightfall, we’re going to get stuck without a fire,” I said to Jala as we trudged through the snow.Kopeke came running after us. “Here,” he said, handing me a heatstone. “You might need this.”I thanked him profusely. He looked kind of embarrassed. He bowed to the Toa and nodded quickly to me and Jala, and then he went back into the Sanctum. It was a really kind thing he did for us, because we didn’t make it back below the tree line by nightfall. Traveling across glaciers is really dangerous even in the daytime, and the going got even tougher in the twilight. At one point, I slipped and twisted my ankle, and I was limping badly and falling behind until Toa Tahu picked me up and carried me on his back for a little while. Jala, of course, started speculating that I had done it on purpose, but then he fell down a crevasse, and Toa Lewa had to retrieve him with his Miru. That shut him up.So now we’re clustered around a heatstone. It’s not as warm as a big roaring campfire, but at least we can share something to eat and get some rest. The Toa are talking about the Kal again while I write. Toa Lewa thinks maybe the Kohrak-Kal’s power is sound, and he asked Toa Tahu if sound could be powerful enough to actually destroy something. Toa Tahu said if it was intense enough, it probably could. It’s just another form of energy.Oh, wait, now the Toa have decided we should go on. Since they can see in the dark with their Ruru, they are going to keep walking, very carefully, and just carry us. So we’re packing up again, and I’ve got to stop writing. It’s going to be an interesting ride, seeing the world of ice pass by from two bios high in the almost pitch black night. Jala’s saying if I hang on tight to Toa Tahu’s shoulders, maybe I won’t be so scared of the dark. Excuse me while I go smack him.Summer 1 : 7Last night we finally stopped at about two hours past midnight, according to Jala. He can tell the time from looking at the sun or the stars, because he needs to estimate things like what time a guard unit can reach a certain place. He picks out certain stars and approximates their angle with the horizon. Then, using the time of year, he figures out the time. Maybe he should be the one who fancies Nixie. But I’m glad he isn’t, because then I’d never stand a chance with her. Not that I probably do, anyway. But at least she seems to like talking to me.Since I met Nixie, I’ve been looking at the stars a little more closely. They all used to look alike to me, but now I see that there are patterns. Some of them move relative to the others, and Jala tells me those are really planets or comets. I don’t know what the official constellations are, but I see a group that always reminds me of a fish. And there’s another one that looks like a Hau, sort of. If you stare at them long enough, you can see just about anything, like you can with clouds. Say, there’s a cluster that looks a bit like my journal.Anyway, we stopped and slept for half a night. This morning I was really tired, but I’m sure the Toa are feeling even worse, because they did all the walking over that treacherous ice. I feel especially sorry for Toa Tahu, because he hates the cold. I’m really grateful to them for getting us out of there.Today we’ve been crossing Onu-Wahi. It’s a really barren, rugged place, with lots of dry canyons and hardened mud cliffs, formed by eons of erosion. It’s actually a bit like walking through Ko-Wahi, except that you can’t freeze to death. Even though I hate tunnels, I can sort of see why the Onu-Koronans decided to put their village underground. With the landscape in their region, they aren’t missing out on much.Toa Lewa has saved us countless times with his Miru. Every one of us has slipped and fallen into a crack at one point or another and had to be hauled out. There’s just no way to get a foothold in this crumbly earth in some places. If Toa Lewa weren’t here, we wouldn’t be able to cross the bigger, steeper canyons at all. We would just have to follow them uphill until it they were shallow enough to climb out of. From the tracks, it would seem that the Kal just fly over those ravines with their Vu. I suppose the other two are carrying the Kohrak-Kal between them. I don’t think it has a Vu, because the rest of the time they’re just walking. The going is really slow and tedious, and there’s nothing to look at. I almost wish the Kal had taken the tunnels. Almost.The Kal cut northeast across Onu-Wahi, so we didn’t walk past the entrance to Onu-Koro. Toa Lewa wondered aloud if Toa Onua was all right. Toa Tahu replied, “We would probably have seen Kal tracks coming from or going toward Onu-Koro if he was in danger, so we should assume he’s safe for the time being. And besides, he’ll hear us walking up here and come find us, if he needs us.”“But if he’s lost his earth-sense, he might not be able to,” Toa Lewa protested. “And there are many tunnel-mouths to Onu-Koro that we probably don’t know about.”“True,” agreed Toa Tahu. “But we can’t afford to lose time finding out. Those Kal are moving faster than we are, with their ability to fly.”Toa Lewa frowned at this and was silent. I think he really misses his power of flight. I know I would, if I had ever had it and lost it. One of the nicest things about making friends with the Le-Koronans, besides their fun personalities, was the flutesong Turaga Matau taught me so I could summon the Kewa.When I first saw Le-Koro, I was really amazed. I couldn’t believe anyone would go to the trouble to haul the stuff to build a village all the way up that huge tree. Then I realized that they had gotten all the materials from the tree itself. In fact, they spend as much time as possible up there. All trees are living creatures, but they talk about that one like it’s a member of the family. And it basically is. They call it Zotoluma, which means ‘life tree’ in the ancient tongue. It gives them shelter, wood, fruit, and safety. In return, they prune dead branches so more light gets through to the living leaves, and they defend it against plant diseases and animal damage. There’s one Matoran whose only job is to take care of it, and whenever he sees a neighboring tree with a fungus or leaf wilt or something, that tree is gone faster than you can say ‘tree-fall.’ Turaga Vakama told me that Toa Lewa and Toa Onua had once saved the big tree from being cut down by the Lehvak’s acid streams. Losing Zotoluma would have been absolutely devastating to the villagers.Hanging around in Le-Koro really helped me get over my fear of heights. I’d never been all that afraid of being high up, because in Ta-Wahi there are plenty of lava falls, and being the lunatic I am, I love to surf over them. Well, the smaller ones, anyway. I leave the big ones for Toa Tahu to explore. He’s even more nuts than I am, but of course he has the power and technique to back up his boldness. But back to Le-Koro, the big tree was so much higher than anything I was used to that I got really queasy looking over the edge of the platform. Tamaru was the only one who understood that. He’s actually too scared to fly on bird-back. He told me that I should just stop ‘down-looking.’When I went to Le-Koro during the time of the infected Rahi, and Kongu invited me to ride on the back of his Kahu, I agreed, just because it seemed like the right thing to do. And I’ve never been one to turn down an adventure. If I had known what we were about to do, I probably would have said ‘No, thanks,’ but then I would have missed out on seeing Toa Lewa fight Toa Onua in the hive. That was incredible.Well, I climbed onto the back of that bird and tested out the disc rack to see how it worked. Kongu whistled a signal to Ka, and off we flew. My stomach felt like it had been turned inside out. Fortunately, I hadn’t eaten in a while. But I soon forgot about that because we were surrounded by hostile insects as big as the Kahu, and I started flinging disks as fast as I could. At first I kept missing, because I wasn’t used to throwing them while I was flying through the air myself. The Nui-Rama were hitting us hard, and Ka took a blow to the wing that made him lose control. We plummeted into the jungle. Just when I was sure we were done for, Kongu yelled at me to grab a vine, and we swung around a big branch and landed on the ground. Fortunately, Ka was all right, and we got back on him and took off again. This time I finally figured out how to hit those bugs. Even though I’ll never be as good a shot as Jala or Hafu, I was holding my own, and Ka only got a couple of scratches on his wings. I got really scared when we got close to the big mud hive, but by then it was too late to get off. Ka flew straight up into the sun and then straight down into the spire. I grabbed onto Kongu and squeezed him so hard he probably had trouble breathing. We skidded to a stop on the floor of the hive. The odor was indescribable in there. And of course it was dark. Did I mention that I hate the dark?The hive was full of Matoran, including Taipu, who had come with me out of Onu-Koro, only to be snatched away by a Rama. I was so glad to see him again, because he’s a really nice guy and I felt like it was my fault he was captured. I had no idea how we could help him, though. Turaga Matau was down there, too. He was trying to keep everyone’s spirits up. If anyone can cheer you up, it’s Turaga Matau, but he was having a hard time getting his tree-dwelling, fresh-air-loving people to stay encouraged in that dank hole.So, just as I was wondering if Toa Lewa would come down here to save his Turaga and his villagers, he appeared. But it wasn’t a good thing. I looked up and saw perhaps the most frightening sight I’ve ever seen. It was Toa Lewa, infected. He leaned over and leered at me. I glanced at his axe and figured in a few minutes he would be cleaning what was left of me off of the blade.As luck would have it, that was the very moment Toa Onua busted out of the floor. The ground shook, dirt flew everywhere, and he stood puffing dust out of his mask and looking around. I think he was the best Toa to fight Toa Lewa in there, because he can see in the dark. That, and he’s really smart. Because it turned out to be his brain that defeated Toa Lewa, even though he’s also really strong, of course.Well, at first it was looking bad. Toa Lewa jumped up in the air and sprang onto Toa Onua, and they grappled with each other. Toa Lewa is extremely agile, and Makuta had fitted him with a Miru, which he was very adept at using. And Toa Onua just seemed to be going for the infected mask, whereas Toa Lewa had murder in his eyes. He beat Toa Onua up one side and down the other. I was afraid Toa Onua would leave and find someone else to help him, and we would be stuck in here with Toa Lewa again. But Toa Onua isn’t a quitter. When he gets started on something, he doesn’t give up.And it’s not like Toa Onua was losing the whole time. Once he saw how nasty Toa Lewa was fighting, he started hitting harder. When he did connect with Toa Lewa, the sound made us all cringe. It would have knocked anyone else out instantly. But the insanity brought on by Toa Lewa’s infection seemed to render him almost immune to pain.I could tell Toa Onua was hurting bad, though. At one point he tried to make an earthquake, but Toa Lewa hit him in the back with his axe just then, and all it did was bring down a big chunk of the hive. We got showered with dirt clods. Toa Lewa kicked him in the back of the head, and I think Toa Onua must have lost consciousness, because he just lay there for a few seconds. I glanced at Turaga Matau, and that’s the only time I’ve ever seen despair on the face of a Turaga. We Matoran were huddled around him, and Taipu was covering his mask in fear. And Taipu’s no coward.Toa Lewa was about to finish off Toa Onua, but he rolled over and switched to his Hau. That’s ultimately what saved the Toa of Earth. He had all the masks except the Kakama at that point, I learned later. And he used them well. Toa Lewa slammed him into the honeycomb, and one of those lightning bugs landed on his shoulder. Toa Onua changed to his Matatu and hurled it with all his strength. It hit Toa Lewa’s infected mask and knocked it off. Turaga Matau yelled at him to get the Miru, and Toa Onua made it drop from a Nui-Kopen’s claws into Toa Lewa’s hand. When he put it on and the hive was flooded with green light, Kongu and I hugged each other with joy, even though we had just met each other. Then Toa Lewa got control of the Nui-Kopen’s mind with his Komau. He loaded Ka and that giant bug with us Matoran, and we all flew out of the hive.Seeing Toa Lewa get his golden Kanohi was another amazing sight. As he rose out of the suva, it shone like the sun, sending rays of light and hope all over the jungle. And of course the party afterwards was awesome. Turaga Matau called for the very best foods to be prepared and set out, and the band played well into the night. Taipu stayed for the party, too. After putting up with the dangers of Le-Wahi, he was ready to enjoy some of the pleasures. I heard later that the Le-Koronans taught him to play the drums.I listened to the music for a little while, but then I left. Even though it was a lot of fun, at the time I felt out of place everywhere. Now that I’ve figured out who I am again, I would stay all night at a party like that. Turaga Matau let me keep the flute I found when I came to the village, and he taught me a song that would call a Kewa whenever I needed one. I sure wish I could call him up now, but he couldn’t carry all of us, and it wouldn’t be fair to the others. For that matter, I sure miss Puku, too. But it would be the same thing. I would feel kind of guilty, riding in comfort while the others trudge through this wasteland on foot. And I wouldn’t want to put her in danger, anyway. Who knows what will happen when we actually catch up with the Kal? If we ever do.Seeing Toa Lewa now, it’s hard to imagine he ever wanted to hurt his own people. He seems so gentle and funny now. Of course, when he’s facing enemies, I’m sure he can look quite fierce, like he did in the hive. Toa Onua saved him again later on from the bondage of a krana, and now I hear they’re really close because of what they went through together. Toa Lewa seems very thoughtful and quiet tonight. I wonder if he’s worried about his friend. For all we know, Toa Onua could be below us right now. I hope he’s not buried by his own element or something. Now I’m worried, too! But there’s no point in dwelling on the negative. His villagers are perceptive and strong, and they can dig him out better than any of us could.No campfire tonight, because there’s no wood out here. Fortunately, it’s not cold. I’m so tired I’m starting to see double, so I’m going to sleep now. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Summer 2 : 6Now, today was just about the strangest day I’ve ever lived through. It began with Turaga Vakama waking me up in the dark. In my sleepy confusion I asked him if there was some kind of emergency, even though his calm demeanor should have tipped me off that nothing was wrong.Silently he prodded Jala awake, and we followed our Turaga out of the tent into the night. He led us into the woods to the cave where we got Kopeke’s mask yesterday. But instead of going into the Kanohi room, Turaga Vakama changed to his Ruru and turned down a long, dark passageway. He used his key to open another door.Jala and I walked into the chamber, and I held up my lightstone. We gasped in awe. The room was stacked from floor to ceiling with parts. But these were not machine parts. These were the kind of pieces that normally make up living creatures.“What—what happened to these Rahi?” asked Jala uneasily. “How did so many of them die all together like this?”“These were never part of any beast,” replied the Turaga solemnly. “These are new parts. Extra parts. You are about to see how wonderfully we have been created. Because I am going to rebuild you.”Well, at this our jaws dropped. Rebuild us? I didn’t even know that was possible. But then I started thinking about the Toa Kaita. They had rebuilt three of themselves into one mighty being. So, yes, it was obviously possible.The village elder picked up an oddly shaped piece and turned it over in his hands. “This will be an extension of your torso, Takua. And these,” he continued, gesturing at a few smaller parts, “will make your legs longer.”As my eyes finally adjusted to the dim light, I realized that there were parts of different colors, presumably to match the Matoran from all six villages. “Where did these come from?” I asked.Turaga Vakama waved his hand as if to dismiss my question. “Don’t worry about that. What’s important is that we Turaga have finally had time to design an upgrade for everyone and make sure there are enough parts to do it. You and Jala will be the first, but by the end of today, the Great Spirit willing, every Matoran on Mata Nui will have a taller, stronger body.”Jala’s grinned broadly. “I like the sound of that! Stronger soldiers!”“And longer strides,” I added, imagining that it would be easier to cover distances with extended legs.“Yes, larger size brings many advantages,” sighed the Turaga. “Well, let’s get started. Takua, have a seat.”He tugged on my left leg as I gripped the boulder I was sitting on. I clenched my jaw as discomfort turned to pain and then sudden relief as the joint popped apart. Then he pulled off my right leg. I looked down at my truncated self with horror. But immediately Turaga Vakama snapped on the torso part and leaned over me to make sure it was properly connected. Then he snapped my legs back on.Jala watched, worried, until I had legs again. Then he laughed. “You look like a Dikapi bird, with that long body and those stubby legs!”“Hey, he’s not finished with me yet!” I protested. “At least, I hope not.” Turaga Vakama was removing my lower legs and splicing in a longer section. Then he put my feet back on. Now I looked really strange, with my arms too short for both my body and my legs.“Oh, that’s much better. Now you’re a Husi,” snickered my friend. I couldn’t help but laugh, too.After my arms were replaced by new ones, Turaga Vakama helped me to stand up. For the first time I was eye-to-eye with him. I cautiously moved my limbs. Everything felt great!Jala was admiring my new form. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”I loomed over him. “You talking to me, shorty?” I asked with mock gruffness.Jala turned to Turaga Vakama. “Turaga, please hurry up and rebuild me, too, so I’ll be able to stand Takua.”The village elder laughed. He went through the same drill with Jala while I tested my new body, jumping over the piles of parts and lifting a big rock over my head. I was quite a bit stronger than before. Soon Jala joined me, exploring his new capabilities, too.“All right, that’s enough,” smiled our Turaga. “Let’s not make a big mess in here.” He led us out of the room, locking the door behind us.“So, Turaga Vakama,” I asked as we approached the end of the tunnel, “how did you know how to rebuild us?”“Simple,” he answered. “We’ve always kept extra parts around, in case of serious injury. In the past, part replacements were fairly common because of industrial accidents and the like. But here, we’ve never really needed them, so they’ve remained in storage. Then—”“Industrial accidents?” I interrupted, puzzled.“Then something strange happened,” the Turaga continued, ignoring my question. “Long ago you were about the size you are now. But Makuta became angry at the Matoran for refusing to worship him, and he reduced you all to smaller forms. I just restored you to the size you were before by adding some pieces.”“Makuta did that to us?” Jala was incredulous. “But why don’t we remember it?”“Because he also erased your memories.”We emerged into the dark forest in silence, stunned at the magnitude of the revealed truth. Makuta seemed even more sinister than ever to me. How could a being expect to be worshipped if he treated lesser creatures like that? The most he could possibly hope for now was to be feared. “Were you Turaga bigger before, too?” I finally ventured.“We were able to resist Makuta’s repression through sheer force of will,” he explained. Suddenly I understood why the Turaga seemed to have all these distant memories that we didn’t. And I had new admiration for the Turaga. It must have been terrible to see the entire population shrink by one-third of their height and then forget everything that had ever happened to them. As we reached the camp, the other Turaga were the only ones awake. They came to look at us, nodding approvingly. The sun began to surge over the horizon, bringing the splendor of a glorious day. Turaga Vakama told Jala and me to go up onto the platform of the temple while they woke everyone else. We stood behind one of the pillars to stay out of sight.Soon the entire group was assembled. Turaga Matau blew on a large horn to get everyone’s attention. Then Turaga Vakama called the other Turaga to join him in the center of the platform as he gave a short speech. “Brave Matoran,” he began, “you have shown your valor time and again despite your small stature. Taking up disk and spear, you have defended yourselves courageously against foraging Rahi. And then, when the enemy of our Great Spirit began to infect the wild creatures, causing them to turn savage and destructive, you rose to the challenge, defeating beasts many times your own size with determination and clever planning. You have proven beyond a doubt that the valor of your hearts belies the small size of the bodies that contain them.”He paused. The crowd murmured curiously, and everyone looked at each other.“But now, my friends, the time has come for a change. By the generosity of the Great Spirit Mata Nui, we have the means to rebuild you larger. Witness the new form of the Matoran!” He gestured at us to come out, and we did.The Matoran gasped and rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing. The Turaga of Fire explained that the Matoran would accompany their elders in small groups to be rebuilt. Those with new forms would help others obtain theirs. He asked for everyone’s patience, because it would take all day to reassemble a thousand villagers. But by dinnertime, we would all be reconstructed. The Juma-Juvo tournament would be unaffected, but the koli matches would be arranged so that no one would play until he was rebuilt. He dismissed the excited group.“Well,” said Jala, “that puts us in the first koli match.”I wouldn’t really have cared about that, anyway, but just then I was mobbed by excited Matoran wanting to get a closer look. Chattering excitedly, they touched my arms, legs, and body, asking me if it hurt, how fast I could run now, and a million other questions. I glanced over, and Jala was being subjected to the same happy onslaught of attention. I saw him hoist an unsuspecting Hahli onto his shoulders. She gave a squeal of surprise and held out her arms to steady herself.Then the crowd around me parted and became silent. Raku and Lito were dragging Tupako toward me. He was struggling and kicking to get free, but they were relentless.“Here you go, Takua,” announced Raku. “Now that you’re big, it’s your chance to get even with this scum!”They hurled Tupako to the ground at my feet. He looked up at me in fear.I gazed down at the cowering Matoran, now two-thirds my size, who had decked me the day before and humiliated me in front of my friends and the girl I was trying so hard to impress. My new muscles tensed with anticipation. Now I could teach him not to mess with me. But for some reason, I hesitated.Jala had set Hahli down and come over to see what was happening. “Go ahead, Takua. Give him what he deserves,” he urged.I shook my head. “No. It’s pointless. He’ll be rebuilt in a couple of hours, and then he’ll come after me again.” I reached down to help him up. Glaring at me, he ignored my hand, sprang up of his own accord, and hurried away into the crowd.“Wow, Takua,” mused Raku. “Are you sure you’re really a Ta-Koronan?”Suddenly feeling like an outsider again, I started to stammer an answer. But just then Nixie walked up to me. “I think you did the right thing,” she smiled.“Oh, I get it,” laughed Lito, nodding knowingly in Nixie’s direction. “Girls hate fights. Except for Kai, of course.” Kai playfully locked her arm around his neck and rubbed her fist on his head.But I hadn’t done it to please Nixie. It just felt wrong to hit one of my fellow villagers. Tupako wasn’t my enemy. What he had done was really stupid, and I would have been no better if I had retaliated in kind. And in retrospect, he was probably more offended by my restraint than he would have been by my aggression.“Thanks, anyway, guys,” I said to Raku and Lito. “I think we proved something to him.”Raku looked at me quizzically. “If you say so.”Lito’s answer was muffled because his face was in the grass. Kai was sitting on his back, tickling his ribs.Jala slapped me on the back. “You know, I think Nixie may be right, after all. Well, let’s go help everyone else get rebuilt, and then we’ll give them a hard time on the koli field.”For a little while I helped Jala and the guard lieutenants lead Matoran back and forth between the campsite and the spare parts cave. It was really hilarious to watch their reactions to their new forms. Some were overjoyed, others careful. The lawn around the Kini-Nui saw more gymnastics than ever before in history, I’m sure. And to think this was the place where seven of us held off a horde of infection-crazed Rahi not so long ago. Now that the master of those beasts has been defeated, the joyful Matoran were exploring the capabilities of the bodies that he had once stunted.As soon as a few more Matoran were rebuilt, the koli games began. Jala and I were in the first match, against Maku and Kotu, and Huki and Hafu. I guess they rebuilt the Turaga’s right and left hand Matoran first—I’m not sure how I got so lucky, because Kapura should have been done before me. The first team to score three points would be the winner. It was the first time I had tried the new koli, and I’ve never been all that good at the old koli, so my expectations of playing well were pretty low. But it turned out to be quite a fun game.We all played a little bit wild, because we didn’t have very good control over our new bodies yet. As soon as the first ball was launched, Maku whacked it so hard it flew out of the arena and bounced off one of the temple pillars, and she cringed in dread until she heard Turaga Nokama laughing. Then she stood up straight and laughed, too.Huki retrieved the ball, snickering about girls’ lack of aim, and tossed it back into play. Kotu snagged it with the cup end of her stick and sprinted for our goal. Jala jumped in front of her and blocked her stick, and the ball flew out. Hafu and Maku scrambled for it, and Hafu came up with the prize. He drove on toward our goal.Jala threw himself desperately in front of the shot, knocking it out of the way. It bounced out of the arena across the grass, and I went to fetch it. I threw it back onto the field. Huki caught it and spun around, flinging the ball to his teammate. But Maku intercepted it and tipped it to Kotu, who slammed it hard with the hammer end—right into our goal.The ball shot up out of the launcher, and I dove for it. I captured it in the cup of my stick, but Hafu and I fell on top of each other. Kotu casually leaned over, scooped it out, and ran for the Po-Koronan goal. Huki jostled her toward one side of the field. “Hey!” she protested. She elbowed him, and the ball fell out of her stick. Jala beat both of them to it, and he wove around Maku to score a point. “Way to go!” I yelled.Excited by his goal, Jala got the next launch. He flipped the ball behind him to me. Startled, I managed to snag it with my stick somehow, and I ran for the Ga-Koronan goal. As Kotu rushed me, I twisted to one side and passed it back to Jala. But Hafu stepped in and picked it off, then pivoted and flung it halfway across the field into our goal.“Nice pass, Takua,” remarked Jala. “Too bad it was to the other team.”“Well, I’ll get theirs next time,” I promised. And soon I had the chance. As Maku lunged at Huki, he passed to Hafu. But I jumped in front of it, turned a somersault in mid-air, and caught the ball in my stick. As I flipped over, the ball flew out, straight up in the air. I landed flat on my back and watched Jala and Kotu jump up to get it. I rolled out of the way just as they landed. Huki hit his stick against Jala’s, and the ball was loose again. He scooped it up, dodged me, and scored easily on our goal.Jala could have berated me for my poor goalie work, but instead he talked about my flip. “Whoa, Takua!” he panted. “That was great! You should work on that move.”I glanced over at the wide-eyed onlookers and laughed. “It seems to be a crowd-pleaser.” Even Puku was bouncing up and down on her six legs and waving her eye stalks.In between points, I had been watching the path to the woods to see when Nixie would come back rebuilt. She finally emerged from the underbrush, tall and lovely in her new form, a huge smile on her blue Pakari. She was walking with Amaya, and they were laughing and joking together. I caught her eye, and she grinned at me. Then I heard Jala yell, “Takua! We’re playing again!” right before the ball bounced off my head.Once again I had managed to make myself look like a fool in front of Nixie. But at least she hadn’t seen my wacky somersault! I quickly got my head back into the game. Soon I was diving for a shot from Kotu. I knocked it away with my foot, and Jala cheered. But Huki got the rebound and sent it flying at me again, and this time I missed. Point and game for Po-Koro.Jala slapped me on the back. “Well played, Takua,” he smiled, even though he had been the only one on our team to accomplish anything. Jala’s not as skillful player as the Po-Koronans, but he never stops running. He’s always after the ball, and he never lets up. All the players gathered to exchange compliments, masks radiant with excitement. Then we ceded the field to the next group. Huki and Hafu would play in the next round, but the rest of us were free to try something else.Naturally Jala headed for the Juma-Juvo tables. I watched him vanquish Mokali in short order. Mokali was in a great mood anyway, though. After Jala beat him, he got up and danced away from the table. When Jala gave me a funny look, I explained, because I had heard his story when I traveled to Po-Koro a while back. His leg had been injured in a fight against a Nui-Jaga, and he had been limping ever since. Toa Pohatu claimed it was his fault, because he had kicked a big rock at the creature and hit the Matoran instead, but Mokali held no grudge. He credited the Toa with saving his life. At any rate, he was probably the happiest one of us all to get new legs. I think Turaga Onewa must have chosen him to be in the first group with that in mind.Jala started a new game against Taipu, but since it was obvious how that would turn out, I wandered off to look for Nixie. She was playing Juma-Juvo against Jaatiko—and winning! After she took his last piece, he shook her hand solemnly. Nixie thanked him for a good game.The band started up again, the flute and horn players blasting louder than ever with the improved lung capacity that came from a larger chest cavity, and the drummers pounding enthusiastically with enhanced arm strength. Matoran from every Koro began to dance.Nixie was finally bested at Juma-Juvo by Kapura, who’s apparently smarter than he seems. After she congratulated him, she stood and asked me if she could ride Puku, and I led them around the entire field, watching all the activity. We walked to the river together to watch the canoe races, and then we celebrated Maku’s victory by dancing to a few songs. As I watched Nixie dancing across from me, I felt like the luckiest Matoran on Mata Nui. Maku and Kotu held hands and spun around until they were too dizzy to stand up.The Toa were very subdued today. They seemed to understand that it was our day, and they let us bask in the glory of our new forms. They strolled among the games, cheering for their villagers, congratulating winners, and consoling losers. From time to time I would see one of them sitting in the midst of a group of Matoran, conversing quietly. The Turaga, of course, were in the cave all day.The afternoon flew by. To no one’s surprise, Huki and Hafu won the koli championship, and Maku ran over to Huki and hugged him so enthusiastically that they both fell over. Soon the cooks were setting up spits and lighting fires. The sweet aroma of roasting meat and vegetables filled the air and wafted on the breeze over to the Juma-Juvo tables, where Jala was locked in a close battle with Kopeke. Nixie and I joined the large crowd that had gathered to watch this last, championship match. The inscrutable Ko-Koronan took a painfully long time for each move, and it was obvious Jala was losing patience. He drummed his fingers on his leg, shifted his weight from side to side, and rearranged his legs underneath him. Finally Jala cornered most of Kopeke’s pieces. But Kopeke outflanked him using an obscure technicality and gained the upper hand again. Jala clutched his mask in agony as the snow villager captured his last piece.“Great job, Kopeke,” said the Captain of the Guard with a reluctant smile.“You honor me, Jala,” replied his opponent with a little bow.“At least the Ko-Koronans don’t gloat,” Jala chuckled as we were surrounded by Matoran wanting to congratulate him on second place.A shout of triumph came from the path to the woods, and everyone turned to look. The six Turaga were returning with the last group of rebuilt Matoran. The entire crowd began to cheer. The tumult was incredible.But soon the sound of our joyful shouts was drowned out by thunder. Inexplicably, the beautiful clear blue sky had all of a sudden become obscured by heavy clouds. Lightning surged from the dark masses of water vapor, and several trees near the cave burst into flame. Another bolt hit the Kini-Nui, shearing off one of the columns about halfway up. Toa Gali raced to the temple platform and aimed her axes upward. The strain of her effort was evident on her mask as her arms trembled. The black clouds roiled and frothed. Toa Kopaka and Toa Lewa sprinted up the steps and stood beside her. Together, they drove back the storm front. Meanwhile, Toa Tahu had run into the woods and extinguished the fire.Even though the sun came back out right away, everyone’s mood had turned somber. The Turaga gathered around the felled pillar and were joined by a large group of Matoran.Jala and I looked at each other. “Could that have been… Makuta?” he whispered, almost too afraid to utter the dreaded name.I nodded. “Who else could have done it?”Toa Pohatu’s cheerful voice shattered the gloom. “I can fix that,” he assured us. “Lewa, please give me a lift. Onua, help me pick it up.” The two dark Toa each took an end of the broken piece, counted to three together, and jumped. Toa Lewa activated his mask, and up they floated. Toa Kopaka, Tahu, and Gali changed to their Miru and added their energies to the effort.Toa Pohatu and Toa Onua positioned the pillar, and then the Toa of Earth held it steady while the Toa of Stone put his hands on the rock. He closed his eyes in concentration. Everyone gasped in awe as we watched the fissure between the two pieces slowly vanish. Toa Gali waited until he had pushed himself away from it before she blasted away the burn marks with a powerful jet of water.As the two Toa dropped to the ground, Turaga Onewa slapped Toa Pohatu on the back. “Well done, Toa of Stone,” he declared. Everyone applauded.Dinner was served, and the conversations were lively. The other Matoran were still under the impression Makuta was dead, and Jala and I kept our mouths shut about it. The thought of a random natural catastrophe was much less unnerving than the truth, so we let it ride.Hafu and Lili came and sat with Jala, Hahli, Nixie, and me. The stone carver told us how Toa Pohatu had repaired the fractured statues along the Path of Prophecy as soon as he had turned Nuva. We all had a good laugh about the koli game. I was hoping no one would say anything about my goofy somersault, but then Hafu said, “Takua, that play where you did the flip was really funny! Are you going to work on that move some more?”“Naw, that was just a whim. I was just testing out my new form,” I said quickly. “Say, did you see how well Jala did in the Juma-Juvo tournament? And Nixie did well, too.”“I saw that!” exclaimed Lili. “Too bad Nixie didn’t get to play Jala.” I wondered who I would root for if they did.After supper, everyone sat around the largest campfire and listened to the Turaga take turns telling the story of the Bohrok war. Turaga Vakama began with an account of that first Kohrak and Pahrak attack on Ta-Koro, eloquently describing the frozen lava flows, the shattered basalt formations, and the combined elemental blast by Toa Gali and Toa Lewa that dispersed them. Then Turaga Onewa described the Tahnok assault on the village of stone, and we could almost feel the searing heat as the fire creatures blasted the great gates and brave Hafu jumped in front of them, to be saved in a daring rescue by Toa Pohatu and Huki. Turaga Whenua picked up the history as the Gahlok flooded Onu-Koro and the residents fled for their lives as the suffocating fluid filled their underground village, recounting in great detail Nuparu’s brilliant invention of the Boxor.Turaga Nuju hummed and clicked, and Matoro told us of the ruthless Lehvak attack on the icy Koro and Toa Gali, who was dying of a wound to her neck until Toa Kopaka and Toa Tahu worked together to save her. (As he told this part, Toa Tahu, who was sitting with us, sighed and looked at the ground.) Turaga Matau, with much drama and suspense, recounted the enslavement of his entire village to the Lehvak and later the Nuhvok. He explained how Toa Onua had put his life on the line to persuade Toa Lewa to tear off the krana, and how the Boxor squad had liberated the Koro. He paused to wink at me. And finally Turaga Nokama, with a twinkle in her eye, told of the unexpected arrival of the entire village of Po-Koro by sea, just as the Pahrak were preparing to destroy her floating huts. She recounted Huki’s bravery, Kotu and Maku’s rescue of the Boxor drivers, and my insane leap in front of the creatures just before the triumph of the Toa.Then Turaga Vakama invited the entire population of Mata Nui to Ta-Koro in two weeks for the reading of the story of the Kal saga from the Wall of History. I sat up with alarm. That means I have two weeks to carve the entire contents of this journal onto the Wall! Well, at least most of the contents. I groaned as I did the math in my head. Twelve days… over a month of entries… I’ll have to do almost two per day. And I was hoping to take a vacation!Finally, Turaga Vakama stood and thanked the Great Spirit for the gift of peace, and the enhancement of the Toa into Toa Nuva. Then he dismissed us.I noticed that during the story, Toa Kopaka left the group to sit alone on a rock. When we got up to go to our tents, I saw that Toa Gali was next to him, talking quietly. Then Toa Kopaka stood, nodded to Toa Gali, and walked away toward the Ko-Koro tents. She left for her village’s camp.Toa Tahu scowled and crossed his arms as he watched them. Fuming, he stalked off toward Turaga Vakama’s tent. I don’t know what he was thinking, but I didn’t like to see him so mad. I was hoping he and Toa Gali were finally going to get along, after they had worked together so well to defeat the Kal.I said good night to Nixie, and Jala and I headed off to our tent. It’s been a long day to live through and to write about, and I’m looking forward to some sleep. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

After seeing the daring rescue of Le-Koro from the Bohrok, I called the two vine-swinging heroes, Kongu and Tamaru, to hear all the details.Interview with Kongu and TamaruGaliGee: Gentlemen, we’re honored that you would come speak with us. We at BZP were certainly impressed by your recent liberation of Le-Koro.Kongu: Thanks, GaliGee. But without the helpgiving Boxors, we would still be leafhiding from those evildark Nuhvok.Tamaru: Yes, those fightmachines are breathtaking. Thank the Great Beings for the smartbrain of that geeknerd Nuparu.GaliGee: They are ingenious! But without your bravery, they never could have defeated the Nuhvok. Like Nuparu said, the Boxors don’t maneuver well in the trees.Kongu: Yes, colorbright Takua had a good plan.Tamaru: Always the cleverthink adventurer, he is.GaliGee: Come on, you guys! Aren’t you going to take ANY credit for this rescue?Tamaru: Well, Kongu deserves some. He freeswung from a vine to shove me out of the way of a fastlaunch krana, when the Lehvak were attacking.GaliGee: Wow, that’s impressive, Kongu.Kongu: And Tamaru, he saved me from plungefalling when my Kahu was hit with acid from the vileswamp Bohrok.GaliGee: Your Kahu was hit with Lehvak acid? Oh, no!Kongu: Oh, he’s healed now.GaliGee: Well, I’m glad he’s safe. What else can you tell us about the Lehvak attack?Kongu: It was a darktime horrorsight. The Lehvak surrounded the treebase of the village, and shot acid at the neargrowing trees. They fell halfleaning against the bigtree. This way the Lehvak made a ramp up to the treebright village.GaliGee: That must have been horrible! You were in the tree, watching them construct a ramp up to your village?Tamaru: Yes. Those of us who birdsoar were getting airborne, but the rest of us were ready with our discs.Kongu: But some of the Lehvak sunsoar as well, so the Kahu Force and Kewa Flyer Matoran were knocked off before they could highlift away. Soon the whole village was kranaed.Tamaru: Kongu and I were trying to be breathstill, and not be discovered. We could see the others pulling at their faces for a few moments, trying to riptear off the krana. But then they stopped, and they crowded around the Lehvak, like they were waiting for orders.Kongu: We were leafhiding from Turaga Matau, since we could see he was wearing a krana. He had told us the legendstory of the krana and how they can gripgrab the mind. And we saw him telling the Lehvak where to start dissolving through the bigtree to destroy the treebright village! We were so horrorstruck!GaliGee: Tell me what happened when Lewa showed up.Tamaru: Oh, we had such high hopes when we heard Mighty Toa Lewa coming! But he is a much faster leaf-runner than I, so he got to the village before I could warn him. And they swarmed all over him -- the Le-Koronans held him down so the Lehvak could do their evil work. It was so sad, because he didn’t dare use his airpowers or his axeblade on them, for fear of hurting them.Kongu: When I saw Lewa stand up facewearing the krana, it was just like in the Rama hive, when the fouldark Rahi put the infected Miru on him.GaliGee: Did you feel like your hero had let you down?Tamaru: Never! In his heart we knew Toa Lewa would be whole again, and would save us somehow.Kongu: But it did give us a fearfright to see him hacking down trees, and laughing like he was insane.GaliGee: Then what did you do?Kongu: We decided to go to Onu-Koro to ask for help. Mighty Toa Onua saved Lewa once. We thought he might be able to do it again.Tamaru: So we took the groundpath to the tunnel entrance, and we scrambled overrock to get inside. But the tunnel was caved in, probably by the Lehvak.Kongu [laughs]: And we can dig about as well as the Onu-Koronans can fly.GaliGee: That sounds hopeless!Kongu: Le-Koronans never give up hope. We sang a joysong to encourage ourselves, then we traveled deepwood toward Ta-Koro. Maybe Mighty Toa Tahu could help. But then we felt the earth trembleshake, and Toa Onua was there, with some Matoran in these strange contraptions!Tamaru: We lowducked and followed them, to see what they would do.Kongu: Sure enough, Toa Onua found Toa Lewa, and we heard what he said. And Toa Lewa pulled off the krana! We were so proud of our mighty Toa. We began to jump and joysing. But then the Lehvak showed up, so we leafhid again. And the Toa disappeared.Tamaru: Those Boxors beat back the Lehvak, and then they went back to Onu-Koro.GaliGee: But they returned later, to free Le-Koro?Kongu: Yep. We figured they would be back, because they knew what had happened. So we camped out and waited. It was good that there were two of us, so one could watchkeep while the other slept.GaliGee: Luckily you knew how survive in the woods.Tamaru: Oh, yes, we are good at that. Everquick Kongu sneaked into the village and took a lightstone and some tools, so we built a leaftent. It was fun!Kongu: It was great! Except for Tamaru’s cooking. A clod of dirt in every bite.Tamaru: Like YOUR cooking was any better. You kept dropping the food into the campfire.Kongu: Well, I kept falling asleep. How could I stay awake through your long-wind storytelling?Tamaru: Then you should have played the flute for yourself. No one could sleep through that screechhonking!Kongu: I was just trying to cheer you up! At least the flute covered up the noise of your snoring.GaliGee: So… you got a little cabin fever.Kongu: Yes. But our hopesong kept us from going crazy and killing each other.Tamaru: We’re like brothers now!GaliGee: Then Takua and Nuparu found you?Kongu: Yes. They brought the Boxors back, and we talked about strategy. Since Tamaru and I are good topleaf wayfinders, we lured the Bohrok and kranaed villagers into their baldland trap.GaliGee: Tamaru, we liked your trick for getting the Nuhvok’s attention.Tamaru [laughs]: Yes, I got in trouble with Turaga Matau for doing that to Kongu once. But I remembered the look on Kongu’s face, so I decided to try it on the evildark Bohrok!GaliGee: Do your friends seem different, after wearing the krana?Kongu: Some of them say they have nightmares. But they are all themselves again.GaliGee: Well, your heroism will long be remembered on Mata Nui, and on BZPower. What are you going to do, now that the Bohrok have been defeated?Tamaru: Help Turaga Matau repair the village. And sleep in my own bed!Kongu: Yeah, now he can loudsnore in peace.Tamaru: And close the windows when I hear Kongu shriekblasting on his flute.Kongu: You’re just jealous of my songtalent.Tamaru: Maybe you could use your music to repel the gnatflies from the village.GaliGee: Well, I’ll let you get back to your repair work. Thanks for talking with us!Kongu: You’re welcome, GaliGee. May your heart be ever sunsoaring!Tamaru: Just like Kongu’s flute will be, if I ever get hold of it. Bye, GaliGee!Kongu: Hey, get away from my flute! Bye! [click]Well, once again adversity strengthens the bonds of friendship. The little green men of Le-Koro were right to have faith in the Toa and their fellow Matorans. This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Greetings, Readers. I had a pleasant surprise today. I called Po-Koro to talk to Huki, and Maku was there, too! So here is the conversation with the two Tohunga whose love is now legendary.Interview with Huki and MakuGaliGee: Thanks for agreeing to talk with us, Huki. Everyone on BZ is really looking forward to hearing about your latest adventure.Huki: No problem, GaliGee. We -- haha -- love to -- hehehe -- stop tickling me, Maku!GaliGee: Maku is there, too?Huki: Unfortunately. Haha -- stop it -- haha --GaliGee: Do you have a speaker phone?Huki: Yep. I'll turn it on. [click]Maku: Hi, GaliGee!GaliGee: Hi, Maku! What are you doing there? Aren't you supposed to be in Ga-Koro, with all the Bohrok out there?Maku: Don't tell Nokama I'm here, OK?GaliGee: Well, I can't guarantee she won't read this on BZ. Do you want me to leave you out of the interview, and just talk to Huki?Maku: No, that's OK. I'll be back by the time she reads it. At least she won’t worry about me.GaliGee: OK. Well, of course, the first thing we want to know about is Huki's role in Hafu's rescue by Pohatu. Would you describe that to us, please, Huki?Huki: Well, we figured out pretty quick that the only solution was for Hafu to knock down the statues and block the entrance to Po-Koro from the Tahnok swarm. Of course, they could have blasted through that, too, eventually, but we were hoping they would lose interest and go somewhere else when they perceived how much stone was in front of them. And that rascal jumped down there and started doing it before I could even gather a team to protect him. I was just sick at heart, watching him from the lookout post.GaliGee: Hafu says you two are really close friends.Huki: He’s my best friend. And I promised to protect him. But then I saw I couldn’t. Until Pohatu showed up and grabbed him. We didn’t even see him coming, he was so fast. But suddenly he was there, scooping up Hafu like a lost puppy.GaliGee: How did you know Pohatu was trying to get you to kick that rock?Huki: I didn’t. I just felt this overwhelming drive to do it. Later Hafu told me he had used the Komau on me.GaliGee: That was an outstanding shot! Everyone at BZ was really impressed.Huki: Thanks. Pohatu said so, too, and that made me feel five Bios tall. And when I hugged Hafu, I never wanted to let him go!GaliGee: Hafu says he made your back crack.Huki: Yep! But Maku gave me a backrub, and I felt better after that.Maku: He just made that up so he could get a backrub outta me.Huki: It was real! Ask Hafu!Maku: Hafu was in on it, too.GaliGee: So how often do you come over here, Maku? Or do you want to skip that one?Maku: Uh, whenever I can. Nokama, if you’re reading this, don’t ground me! I do my patrolling, too!Huki: She worries me sick, GaliGee. She keeps showing up, and I’m always scared she’ll get attacked by a Rahi. Or a Gahlok. One time she was knocked out of her boat by a Tarakava, and she hid in a coral reef until it passed by. When I heard about that, I wanted to start going with her to protect her. But then I would have had to ride in that dang boat.GaliGee: I see why you’re worried, Huki. But it’s a good thing Maku is strong and a good fighter.Huki: Not a strong as me!Maku: Put me down, Huki!GaliGee: You don’t like boat rides much, Huki? I hear Po-Koronans don’t like water.Huki: Ugh. It’s wet! Maku keeps trying to give me swimming lessons.Maku: On the subject, when ARE we going to do a swimming lesson?Huki: Next week.Maku: You said that LAST week!Huki: Just as soon as you let me give you a rock-busting lesson.Maku: Next week.Huki [laughs]: You said that last week. Well, at least she plays Koli with me.Maku: It makes my feet hurt! But I do it, just for him.Huki: Awwww.GaliGee: You two are rather different. Everyone at BZ wants to know how you got together.Huki: It was at one of the Mata Nui sports tournaments. After the Koli championship, a bunch of my teammates lifted me onto their shoulders, and I spotted Maku across the crowd. I remembered seeing her win the canoe races, and I wanted to meet her.Maku: He wouldn’t stop following me around until I agreed to have dinner with him.Huki: And from that moment on, I knew she would be MINE. All mine!Maku: In your DREAMS, Huki.Huki: If you only knew about my dreams, Maku. Hey! Give me my mask back!Maku: Come and get it, slowpoke.GaliGee: On that subject, we at BZ have been wondering. The Great Masks grant great powers, and the Noble Masks somewhat less. What do masks do for Tohunga?Maku: They give us extra abilities, but not like the Toa, obviously. Like Huki is extra fast with his mask.Huki: And Maku is really good at hide and seek. She blends in, like camouflage. Give that back to me! Hey, where did you go?GaliGee: Amazing. What did you think, Huki, when you first saw that Pohatu had the same mask as you?Huki: Great! I was feeling second-rate, since my mask didn’t match any of the Turaga. But when Pohatu showed up, I was so proud! Gotcha, Maku! Finally, my mask.Maku: Hey! Stop it with the noogies! You promised no more noogies!Huki: Hehe.GaliGee: Another experience we’d like to hear about is when you were infected, Huki.Huki: What a nightmare. I’d just gotten my new Comet, and it handled like a dream. But then, I started feeling funny. Pretty soon I was confined to my hut, babbling deliriously. Felt like I was on fire. I dimly remember someone coming and marking my hut with black paint. And then this funny-colored guy showed up and talked to me. I thought I was hallucinating! He promised to help, but I thought he was some kind of angel of death or something. Then, Onewa came in and took my Comet away, and I began to feel better.GaliGee: At BZ, we were impressed that even though you were so sick, you were still concerned about Maku. And that Maku was so worried about you. We also noticed that autographed poster of Huki in your hut, Maku. “With lots of love, Huki.”Maku: Oh, man, I WAS worried! I had heard about it from Jala’s guard. They come around and check on things in all the villages.Huki: Thank the Great Beings, and Pohatu, and Takua, that we were saved.GaliGee: Maku, did you bring Lili with you this time?Maku: Yes. She’s out at the quarry with Hafu. He’s carving a statue of her.Huki: Again.Huki and Maku: Another Hafu original.Maku: This must be the fifth one.Huki: Yes, if you count the tiny one he keeps on his night stand. It’s only about a quarter of a Bio tall, but man, the detail! Hafu’s really good.GaliGee: He sure is.Huki: Good thing, too, because he’s really full of himself. But he should be, with all that talent.Maku: So what’s YOUR excuse, for being full of yourself?Huki: Hey, I’m talented, too! Have you seen my trophies?GaliGee: We have! So, what does Lili look like?Huki: Blue Kakama. Really cute. OW! But not as cute as Maku.GaliGee: Well, I’ll let you guys go. Thanks so much for talking to us!Maku: We enjoyed it, GaliGee. Hey, Huki! Stop that! I’m not that kind of girl!Huki: Oh, yes you are! Bye, GaliGee! [click]So there’s the perspective from Mata Nui’s most famous couple. And their love is apparently as strong as their disc-arms. This is GaliGee reporting. Thanks to pohatu jr for many ideas, and to TheBlindMan2 for letting me use his mask idea (well, technically, I stole it, but he was out of town, and maybe he would have let me). If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

The first half of this epic: Journey into the Light -- Part I: The Bohrok-Kal.Reply topic here. Journey Into The Light Takua’s Journal Part II: Peacetime Summer 2 : 4 (again)My nap was cut short this afternoon, but it turned out to be a good thing. As I was dreaming about the defeat of the Bohrok-Kal, and reliving the vision Toa Gali had sent to me from the Bahrag lair the day before, I heard voices. “Hey, leave him alone, he’s sleeping,” said one.“Yeah, maybe we can catch him later,” agreed the other voice, closer to my head. I heard the unmistakable sound of a lava board scraping the stone floor of my hut, and my eyes snapped open.“Aww, you woke him up!”I sat up and looked around. My surfing buddies, Raku and Lito, were tiptoeing out of the room.“It’s all right,” I smiled.“Takua!” they yelled, running over to me. They piled onto my bed and started bouncing on it. “Come on! We have time to catch a few waves before it’s time to go to the party!”And so we did. Puku, who had been snoozing in the adjacent cubicle, raised her eye stalks and chittered contentedly at me as we walked by with our boards. We crossed the bridge and hiked up the river bank above the village, then climbed the long staircase chiseled into the side of a cliff so we could surf the Maabu tributary that cascades into the main lava river fifty bios below.I had all but forgotten the pure joy of riding a current of magma, the heat waves caressing my mask and the lava casting a reddish-gold glow on the stark stone channel banks. We zoomed down the river of fire, reveling in the sting of tiny droplets spattering our legs, glorying in the sensation of going airborne over the rapids and the thrill of grounding our boards mere bios away from the edge of the Maabu Falls. Then we would run back uphill and do it again.Eventually Toa Tahu sailed wordlessly past us and disappeared over the Falls. We ran to the overlook and watched him plummet over the cliff, twisting gracefully around his magma-blade board and righting himself just before he landed with a splat in the hot fluid. He waved to us as he ran his board onto the rocks. Then he raced back up the jagged staircase with his Kakama and announced to us that it was time to leave.We watched him go over the Falls again. Then we descended the stairs and headed for the village. Jala was just inside the gate, organizing his troops for the long march to the Kini-Nui. It’s going to take a whole day to get there. Since we’re bringing a lot of food, Koli staffs, gifts for the Toa, and so on, he’s organized the Guard regiments so they can carry everything. There are four Matoran assigned to carry the Suva, too. After what happened with the Kal, Turaga Vakama doesn’t want to leave it here, even with a group of guardsmen. He says we can’t afford to take any chances. And besides, this way we can all go to the party.Turaga Vakama turned and glared at us as we came in. “You’re late,” he said sternly.Raku and Lito hung their heads. “I’m sorry, Turaga,” I stammered, dreading another responsibility lecture. “We were just—”“Skip the excuses, Takua. I know exactly what you were doing.” Then a smile spread across his mask. “You were enjoying what you love most, which your faithful attention to your duty has kept you from doing for over a month.”I grinned sheepishly. “Yes, sir.”“I think your friends really missed you,” he added, patting my back. Then he turned to the crowd and announced triumphantly, “Ta-Koronans, let us go celebrate the victory of the Toa over the Bohrok-Kal!”Everyone broke out into a big, loud cheer. Then I remembered Puku. “Turaga, I’ve got to run upstairs and get—“ Then I saw my crab scurrying down the steps to meet me. “Never mind.”Raku and Lito took their places among the ranks. Jala gestured for Puku and me to come walk next to him at the head of the column. He started singing a brisk military song, and the joyous procession strode out of the village, over the bridge, and onto the road, the guardsmen’s feet moving in rhythm to the music. I’m really glad we aren’t going to use the tunnel route, even though it’s a bit shorter because it goes under the volcano instead of around it. Those who aren’t in the Guard, about half of the villagers, walked in an unstructured group behind them. Toa Tahu and Turaga Vakama brought up the rear. Every now and then, above the sound of footsteps, the singing, and the low chatter of the Matoran, I could hear the Turaga’s chuckle or the Toa’s throaty laugh. It was a welcome sound after seeing our Toa experience so much rage and frustration of late.The river of red, yellow, and orange villagers flowed over the foothills of the Mangai like a current of lava. I’m sure it would look about the same to a sunsoaring Le-Koronan, except that lava doesn’t go sideways. After a few marching songs, everyone got tired of singing, and the guardsmen broke ranks and just began to walk normally. Their training keeps them in good condition, so they maintained a good pace. The other villagers, mostly lava farmers, have good arm strength from turning winch cranks and pushing carts and so on, but they’re not used to so much walking. They didn’t mind, though, because it was a happy journey. I’m not much of an athlete, but after spending the last few years traveling all over the island, walking long distances has just become second nature, and I’ve got Puku if I do get tired. So keeping the pace is no problem for me.When we got to the jungle, the going got tougher, obviously. Toa Tahu took the lead and started using his swords to clear the foliage and widen the path, which has become overgrown with brambles and vines during the time of the Rahi, Bohrok, and Bohrok-Kal. One of the things I’m really looking forward to, now that there is peace, is better road maintenance. Until now the only Matoran who traveled regularly were the Guard, and me. The Turaga kept telling everyone else it was too dangerous to travel unless it was really necessary. But now there is no reason why we can’t go visit other villages. Besides, it’ll reinforce the Unity that the Turaga hold so dear. (That’s personally my favorite virtue, because it’s the most fun.) In my own wanderings, I’ve heard a lot of Matoran—Taipu for example—express the wish that they could see the rest of the island. Now we’ll finally have the chance.There’s just one thing I’m wondering about. If Makuta is still alive… is he going to try some new nasty trick? When I started to describe the Rahi Nui vision at the village fire last night, Turaga Vakama motioned for me to hush and took over the storytelling. He left out Makuta’s appearance altogether, and only mentioned himself in passing. He made it sound like his desperate last-second dive to get out of the creature’s way wasn’t really planned, and that the Toa’s efforts had so weakened the horrible beast that it was unable to pull its horns from the wall. But if Turaga Vakama is confident enough in our safety to leave our impenetrable fortress village and bring us halfway across the island for a party, that’s good enough for me.Toa Tahu is obviously really glad to have his powers back. Whenever the brush resists his blades, he just hits it with fire, then extinguishes the blaze by drawing the flames back into himself. I think he’s overdoing it just a little, just because he can. But no one has any problem with it. Needless to say, no Rahi are going to challenge such a big crowd, especially with our Toa using fiery blasts to scour a wide swath in front of us.We got to a big clearing by nightfall, and Turaga Vakama declared that we would camp for the night. Then we’ll continue to the Kini-Nui in the morning. We should get there right at midday.Everyone was glad to set down his load and rest his feet for a few minutes. But soon the campsite was bustling with activity as we gathered firewood and prepared the food for cooking. Toa Tahu went from one group to the next, lighting fires. As he blasted our pile of branches, hitting it so hard that chips and sparks flew in all directions, he smiled broadly at me and Jala. “Now it’s my turn to do this for you.”“That’s as it should be, Toa Tahu,” said Jala, his face bright with reflected firelight.Raku, Lito, Agni, and Kalama—those last two are a couple of Jala’s guard friends—were also in our group. I was glad to let Kalama do the cooking. He grilled some meat and roasted some nuts, and we ate hungrily after our long march. Soon we were reclining by the fire, joking and telling stories. Finally Turaga Vakama came around and gently urged everyone to go to sleep, so we could get up early in the morning to continue our journey. But of course I pulled out my book and pen instead. Turaga Vakama nodded at me and moved on to the next campfire.I can’t wait for tomorrow. It’s going to be wonderful to see my friends from the other Koros. The Le-Koronans are probably going to bring their birds and musical instruments, and the Po-Koronans will no doubt try to beat everyone at the new koli. The Onu-Koronans always bring their crabs to race, and the Ko-Koronans rule at the Juma-Juvo tables. And the Ga-Koronans will have beautiful linens and flower garlands to decorate the temple—as if their very presence didn’t add beauty enough.Summer 2 : 5This morning dawned clear and bright, and we lost no time packing up our camp and hitting the road. We soon reached the pass between the Mangai and Mount Ihu, and we followed it to the great temple. As the majestic pillars loomed into view above the treetops, Jala announced, “The Kini-Nui!”A great cheer arose from the villagers, and we quickened our pace. We reached the clearing, the breathtaking stone structure standing proudly in the center to remind us of the enduring strength of our beloved protector, Mata Nui. As I craned my neck to admire the massive columns erected in his honor, I wished he could be as present to us as his temple is.The Ko-Koronans were already there, setting up five giant sailcloth tents on the western side of the clearing. Turaga Vakama and Toa Tahu walked across to greet their counterparts from the village of ice. After we had set down our loads, we Matoran followed. As reserved as the Ko-Koronans usually are, their quiet smiles and spare greetings seemed positively effusive.Jala organized teams to put up our tents on the southeast side and store the supplies in one of them. We’ll be here for two nights, so it’s worth investing a bit of time to get comfortable. Of course, with the Toa here, we won’t have to worry about bad weather. I suspect the tents are intended to make it easier for the Turaga to keep track of us all rather than to provide actual shelter. The Ga-Koronans wove and stitched them long ago for everyone to use during island-wide games, but because of all the Rahi and Bohrok trouble, they’ve been in storage for many years. In fact, we’ve all but forgotten how to set them up, and it took us a couple of tries to figure out the water girls’ clever system of bamboo poles, ropes, and stakes all over again. If the Ko-Koronans noticed our struggle, they ignored it. They probably didn’t want to insult us by offering to help with something so obvious.As Jala and I tightened the last of the ropes holding up the supply tent and began to drag the food and equipment inside, the earth erupted on the northwest side of the field. Toa Onua popped up out of the ground. Toa Tahu ambled over, and they clanked their fists together. Soon dark Matoran, and a few Ussal crabs, were streaming out of the hole like ants from an anthill. And then we heard a shout. The Po-Koronans were coming over the hill, singing a loud Koli song. After hailing everyone enthusiastically, they set about preparing their camp to the northeast. Toa Pohatu and Toa Onua’s resonant laugher rang out over the happy chatter of the mingled villagers.The stone and earth villagers helped each other set up camp, taking their places, as we had done, according to the geography of the island. Naturally the Po-Koronans were in a hurry to set up a Koli field. While the Onu-Koronans paced off the dimensions in the grass, their lighter-colored brothers hauled stones to mark the corners and goals. Toa Pohatu and Toa Onua, wearing their Pakari, picked up three huge rocks and carried them to the field. The bounce in their step made it obvious that to them, the boulders were about as heavy as Gukko feathers. Toa Pohatu gave two of the rocks a few strategically placed kicks, and the inside crumbled away to form a goal. Toa Onua carved out the other with his saws. Puku joined the Onu-Koronan crabs in helping to haul away the rubble. Then the group set about marking off an oval race track around the entire clearing. Onepu set colorful banners onto poles at the start and finish lines.Meanwhile, the ice villagers were busily arranging flat stones into a series of tables on which to play Juma-Juvo. Jala glanced over at them as he walked out of the supply tent. “Kopeke’s always been the guy to beat,” he told me. “And Jaatikko’s no slouch, either.” The ice architect was putting a small rock under one edge of a bigger one to keep it level. He looked up, met the eyes of his rival, and saluted him. Jala waved back.Raku and Lito had finished with their tent, and they came over to help us lay out a selection of food for everyone to snack on. Since we Ta-Koronans like to hunt, we had a variety of cold roasted Rahi meats. The Po-Koronans were serving up choice cuts of Maha, and the Onu-Koronans had crisp fried mushrooms in abundance. The Ko-Koronans shared their usual fare of fowl boiled in melted glacier water. They eat birds a lot, because the only edible animals in their region are the ones flying over on their way somewhere else.We all milled around, sampling exotic foods we don’t usually get to try. There was a lot of joking around. I heard Raku ask Tehutti, “You guys eat fungus on purpose?” He picked up a mushroom, looked suspiciously at it, then crunched into it. “Say... this is really good!”Faint strains of a lovely melody floated over the hills to the northeast, and a loud splash confirmed that it was the voices of the Ga-Koronans, coming up the Hura-Mafa River in a fleet of large and small boats. Everyone dropped his food and rushed over to the edge of the water. Maku led the procession in her canoe, with Turaga Nokama standing proudly in the bow. As the blue villagers docked and secured their watercraft, the rest of us scrambled to help them unload their cargo.I looked around nervously for Nixie. I spotted her in the stern of Kai’s skiff, but she was looking down at an object in the boat. I started walking over, hoping to carry it for her, but she lifted it herself and handed it to Hahli on the shore. At this moment I slammed heavily into someone. It was a Ta-Koronan lava farmer named Tapuko, or at least, that’s what I thought his name was at the time. “Watch where you’re going,” he grunted.“Sorry,” I stammered. I looked back at Kai’s boat, and it was already empty. With so much help, the Ga-Koronans were already setting up their tents on the northeast side of the clearing, between us and the Po-Koronans. Thank Mata Nui for the thoughtful way he put the bay next to the volcano when he laid out the island.A flock of wild Kewa had taken advantage of the distraction to forage on our abandoned snacks, and several Matoran were driving them away with a flurry of disks. Turaga Nokama, trying vainly to hide her amusement, called for some fish to be brought out, and once the water villagers’ tents were up, everyone returned to the buffet tables. Once again I searched for Nixie. She was sitting in the grass with Kai, Amaya, Hahli, and Jala, and I headed in their direction.A savage shriek split the air, and immediately the skies were full of Le-Koronans on birdback. Flapping and whirring, they began to dive-bomb the assembly, releasing melons at the nadir of their trajectories. The ripe fruits exploded as they struck, covering the tents, Juma-Juvo tables, and quite a few Matoran with pulp and juice. Everyone scrambled for the cover of the trees. Shouting and laugher followed as the pranksters landed and the remaining Le-Koronans sprinted into the clearing. Leave it to the jungle dwellers to make a dramatic entrance!And bringing up the rear was Toa Lewa with Turaga Matau riding on his back. Their triumphant yells rose above the whooshing of air under his katanas as they surveyed the impact of their prank. I paused to chuckle at the sight of a Turaga swooping down from the sky astride the fastest airborne creature on the island. Who knew Turaga Matau was such a thrill-seeker? But I didn’t think about it long, because I had to dive into the bushes to avoid the last of the melons. Just as I jumped, a sphere of sweet, juicy goodness burst into pieces right where I had been standing.Not everyone was taking the joke well. Tapuko pulled a large chunk of melon rind off his shoulder and strode up to Kongu, who was patting his Gukko at the edge of the clearing. “I believe this is yours,” he growled, smashing the rind over Kongu’s head.Kongu burst out laughing, but this was apparently not the response Tapuko had been hoping for. The Ta-Koronan gave him a provocative shove. It would seem that Kongu isn’t used to grumpy Ta-Koronans, because his eyes got really wide.Now, I really hate to get involved in this sort of thing, but I could tell trouble was brewing, and no one else was paying attention. So I decided to step in between my fellow villager and my highflying friend before things got out of hand. “Tapuko, it’s all right, it was just a joke. They didn’t mean to hurt anyone.”“My name is Tupako,” he snapped. “And what business is it of yours, anyway?”“Well, none, really, but there’s no point in fighting. We’re here to celebrate a great victory! Why don’t you just let it go, and come join the fun?”Out of the corner of my eye I could see a crowd gathering to watch as Tupako clenched his fists. “I’m not going to take orders from a blue-masked freak who just wanders the island instead of doing his job,” he hissed.I stepped back. “Come on, let’s not start any trouble.” Just as I finished talking, I saw his fist dart out. Then I felt a blow to the side of my head, and there was a bright flash of light.I woke up on the ground, stunned and dizzy. I felt my head with my hands and realized my Pakari was missing. I groaned, rolled over, and got onto all fours to look for it. Then I saw a blurry blue shape hovering in front of me. My mask! I quickly took it and put it on. I breathed a sigh of relief as my strength was restored. Then I looked up and saw Nixie standing over me.Well, I just about passed out again from embarrassment. Nixie sat in the grass next to me and asked gently, “Are you all right, Takua?” I smiled weakly and nodded.Next to us, Kai had grappled Tupako to the ground. Kongu was trying to pull them apart. Then Turaga Nokama showed up, and after a few stern words from her, everyone stood up and apologized.Once the Le-Koronans were settled, and Toa Gali had lined up all the sticky Matoran and washed them off, the Turaga gathered on the platform of the temple and announced the schedule of activities. After we cleaned up the mess from the Le-Koronans’ prank, we Matoran were free to play informal games and visit with each other for the rest of the afternoon. A committee of Matoran from each village, led by Turaga Onewa, would work out the rules for the new type of koli pioneered by Huki after the defeat of the Bohrok. Then at sundown we would eat a meal together and get some rest. Tomorrow there will be a ceremony before the tournaments begin.As soon as the meeting broke up, everyone pitched in to pick up melon scraps, tighten tent ropes, and otherwise straighten up. The Ga-Koronans draped everyone’s tents with garlands of water lilies and put bamboo poles everywhere. We Ta-Koronans put torches on top of the poles to light as soon as the sun went down. Some of the Le-Koronans and Ga-Koronans pulled out musical instruments and began to fill the air with music. The ethereal sound floated over the buzz of happy activity. Jala tried to get me to come help with the koli rules committee, but I couldn’t care less about that. Koli is fun, but since I’m not particularly good at it, I’d just as soon let someone else come up with the details.So I wandered over to watch the band, because Nixie was playing a fishbone xylophone. Fascinated, I stared at her hands, moving so skillfully over the notes. Then I realized she was looking at me. “Do you play an instrument, Takua?” she asked.I went back to the tent and pulled my flute out of my pack. I’m not very talented, but with this many musicians, mistakes weren’t very obvious, so I joined the band. Basically, I just wanted to stand next to Nixie.When we took a break, she invited me to look at her portable telescope. She led me into one of the Ga-Koronan tents. The apparatus she had unloaded from the boat was sitting on a wooden table. The protodermis frame held a blue crystal, and various gears and dials allowed the user to calculate angles and positions. As she talked about it, I nodded, and my mask slipped loose. I caught it with my hand before she noticed.“They’re making you work?” I asked incredulously. “That doesn’t seem fair.”“Since the Toa’s victory over the Bohrok-Kal, so much has been happening in the sky,” she said. “I can’t afford to lose three days of study, even for a celebration. But I don’t mind, because I love my duty.”I smiled at her, because I understood exactly what she meant. Well, sort of. Work is intolerably boring, unless it involves traveling or writing or both. I’ve been lucky that my Turaga lets me do something I like, and yet I can still call it my duty.I adjusted my Pakari again, because it felt strangely loose, and she looked at me inquiringly. “Takua, why is it that you have a blue mask?”“Uh, well, I don’t know. I suppose I was just built this way,” I said awkwardly. I’ve always felt like an oddball with my blue mask, and at that moment I would have given just about anything to have a red, orange, or yellow one.“Well, I think it’s fun that we match,” she grinned. Suddenly I decided I liked my blue Pakari, after all.Someone tapped my shoulder, and I turned to see Turaga Nokama standing behind me. My heart started pounding. She was undoubtedly mad at me for being in the Ga-Koronans’ tent! Or perhaps I was about to get a lecture about starting fights. But she just smiled and escorted me out of the tent. “Takua,” she said kindly, “Nixie will bring the telescope outside tonight, and then you will be welcome to look at it.”I nodded sheepishly. My Pakari slipped again, and I steadied it. After Turaga Nokama walked away, I found Jala at the koli field and pulled him aside. “Take a look at my mask,” I urged him. “See if you can find anything wrong with it. It keeps slipping.”I sat down so I wouldn’t fall from vertigo while my friend examined my Kanohi. He put it back on my face. “The attachment rod is bent,” he explained. “You should ask Turaga Vakama for a new mask.”So I did. Turaga Vakama smiled wryly. “Indeed. Let this be a lesson to you not to start fights!”At that moment a terrible cracking noise came from the field. We both turned to look. Kopeke was on the ground, his broken Kanohi lying next to him. “Well,” said the Turaga, “it looks like we’ll need to get two new masks.”Jaa helped Kopeke get up and put the fragments back on his face. He held them there as we walked behind Turaga Vakama, Turaga Nuju and Matoro. From time to time Kopeke stumbled and his friend caught him. The Turaga led us into the woods. After a brief walk we reached a cluster of boulders. Turaga Nuju produced a stone key and inserted it into a crack in the rock. A door slid open to reveal a vast cave.A side passageway led to a chamber with rows of gray masks lining the walls. Turaga Nuju clicked and squeaked, and Matoro told Kopeke to choose a mask. He selected a Matatu and put it on. The mask immediately changed to his sand-blue color, and Kopeke took a deep breath and stood up straight again.Turaga Vakama looked at me and gestured at the wall. “Takua?”I scanned the rows, but I didn’t see any Pakari. “Maybe I don’t really need a new mask,” I said.“Well, let me see your old one. I might be able to repair it,” suggested the Turaga of Fire. He studied it while I leaned against the wall. Then he applied his firestaff to it for a few seconds. Just as I was starting to feel really woozy, I felt the warm mask being shoved back onto my face. I shook my head, and even though it still felt a little bit loose, at least it stayed on.Turaga Nuju was whistling and snickering, but Matoro wasn’t translating anything. “Click all you want to, brother, but my old skills do come in handy once in a while,” said Turaga Vakama, rolling his eyes.I guess it must be another Turaga inside joke. But I’m just happy my mask stays on, and I still get to match Nixie. We returned to the party. The koli committee had just unanimously decided to add a rule making it illegal to throw a koli stick during a game. Various Matoran had started a big fire and were grilling fresh meat, and others were putting out vegetables and fruits. The Le-Koronans always set a colorful table.All of us, including the cooks as they worked, were soon watching the Toa, who decided to entertain everyone with displays of their elemental powers. Since they lost them almost as soon as they became Nuva, most of us hadn’t seen what they could do. Toa Tahu was making fiery circles in the sky with his blades, and Toa Gali shot arcs of water through them. Toa Kopaka raised majestic hollow pillars of ice, and Toa Lewa was sending wind whistling through them to make a sublime music. Toa Pohatu was kicking big rocks at an immense earthen wall Toa Onua had erected at one edge of the field. Compared to accounts of the last time the Toa had tested their powers against each other, this was very good-natured and playful.Soon we were silent for a blessing by Turaga Whenua, and then we ate a sumptuous feast of everything good the island had to offer. It was the first really good meal I’ve had in a long, long time. It seems good cooking is one of the first things to be sacrificed in wartime. But I think meals are a great way to promote unity. The Toa and Turaga sat among us, and somehow it felt like we were all really one big village. We ate until we couldn’t manage another bite.Then Nixie set up her telescope. Unfortunately, I was just one of a big throng crowding around her to look, but it was still fun listening her tell about how it worked. Then the Turaga herded us all into our tents for the night. Jala is making the rounds checking on everyone, and Raku and Lito are arm wrestling. I’m just writing in my journal as usual, peeking out of a gap in the tent every now and then to study the one who’s out there studying the stars. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

The second half of this epic, Journey into the Light -- Part II: Peacetime, is in progress.Review topic here. Journey Into The Light Takua’s Journal Part I: The Bohrok-Kal Summer 1 : 1There, I wrote in this thing. The first page is no longer blank.I guess I should explain what this thing is. I’m Takua the Chronicler, from Ta-Koro, the village of fire, and this is my journal. Turaga Vakama gave it to me, along with a nice fancy ink pen, to carry with me as I travel and document the events unfolding on Mata Nui. Whenever I get back to Ta-Koro, I’ll transcribe them onto the Wall of History. He said to fill it with lots of detail, since I can always shorten it later when I transcribe it. Besides, it’s easier to write in a paper book than to carve into stone. So I’m going to write about everything, even the things I’m not going to tell Turaga Vakama. I’m going to be the only one reading it, anyway.I wish I had had this book a long time ago. I lost my memory at one point, and it would have been helpful to have written some things down. My friends tell me I had quite a few adventures back then. I traveled all over the island, eventually finding and gathering the Toa stones that brought the legendary heroes to Mata Nui. The whole thing is still rather foggy to me, but occasionally something happens that triggers a memory. When that happens, I’ll write it down here, too.And then there was the last moon of the infected Rahi. Anyone who has studied Mata Nui history knows how that went. My memory is intact from the time I woke on the beach in Ta-Wahi, my head throbbing and my mask lying next to me in the sand. Maku was yelling and waving her arms, and I went to talk to her. From that moment on, I re-learned who and what everyone was on Mata Nui. I traveled to all the villages, wondering who I was. Everyone was having problems, and they treated me like a hero for helping. Turaga Nokama started calling me ‘Chronicler’ and said I had an important destiny. Turaga Nuju asked me to carry a message to the other village elders. And Turaga Vakama talked me into gathering a company to help the Toa, like I was some kind of leader. Hey, I was just in the right place at the right time. Finally, the Toa gathered at the Kini-Nui to confront Makuta, and we went there to defend their backs. And then something amazing happened. Toa Gali sent me visions from deep in Mangaia, so I could tell the tale of the defeat of Makuta. Her transmission was interrupted once things heated up, though, so I had to go down there myself to witness the final battle. It was unforgettable.Turaga Vakama was there on the beach to greet me when it was over. I had gathered, from some things he had said while I was wandering, that I had left my village on less than friendly terms. The memory of his warm, welcoming words, after my long exile, will be with me forever.Of course, Makuta wasn’t finished with us yet. In his death throes, he triggered the release of the Bohrok. I saw the first of them hatching, right after he went down. They did their best to devastate the entire island, but of course the Toa defeated their queens and came back more powerful than ever, and we were safe again. While the Toa were gone, I traveled with Jala and Nuparu, helping the Matoran defend themselves against those nasty mechanical bugs, and that’s when Jala and I became best friends. We stayed in Ga-Koro for a little while after the Toa’s victory, because a certain pretty Ga-Koronan came up to Jala and put a flower in his mask. He still blushes when I remind him of that.Now Jala and I have the opportunity to travel again. It’s not a pleasure trip, though. Apparently the Bahrag had six weapons in reserve, the Bohrok-Kal. The one we saw looked like a Bohrok, but it possessed strange and terrifying powers. It came and electrocuted Jala on the way to stealing Toa Tahu’s Nuva symbol from his Suva. So Toa Tahu is tracking it down to regain his elemental powers, which disappeared with the symbol. The first good look we got of Toa Tahu with his Nuva form and mask was right before the Tahnok-Kal made the stone doorway collapse on his head. Turaga Vakama says Tahu’s new powers are really impressive. I wish we had gotten to see them. But even though Tahu has lost his fire, his temper is still plenty hot.Turaga Vakama let us go with Toa Tahu, to offer assistance and of course to record his story. I doubt if we can really help him, because even without his elemental powers, he’s many times stronger and smarter than we are, and he still has his noble masks and the Mask of Shielding. In the old days, before he went Nuva, he would have gone by himself using his Kakama, but now apparently Toa Pohatu is the only one who has one. But it’s probably good for Toa Tahu that we’re here, because it never hurts to have a couple of extra pairs of eyes, and a couple of extra heads. I think maybe Turaga Vakama wants us to be there just to keep Toa Tahu from going crazy with rage.So, here we three sit, warming ourselves by the campfire. We’ve walked a long ways today, and I think Toa Tahu stopped only because Jala and I were starting to lag behind. I really miss my Ussal crab, Puku. She would definitely make this a lot easier, but as we were getting ready to leave, she took one look at Toa Tahu’s scowl and scurried back into my hut.We’re somewhere between Ta-Wahi and Le-Wahi, judging from the terrain. It’s still barren volcanic rock for the most part, but the jungle has crept closer and taken a foothold in the rich soil it turns into when it decays. Every now and then some glowing eyes appear out of the patchy underbrush to check us out. Except for a few birds and insects, it’s pretty quiet.Toa Tahu hasn’t said three words since we started out. He’s just staring morosely into the fire. His mask is gray now, the color of undifferentiated protodermis, since the Bohrok-Kal stole his fire. I feel really sorry for him. It must be awful, losing the very core of his identity, his reason for being on this island. Of course, if I expressed any sympathy, he would probably explode at me. So Jala and I have been keeping quiet, too.I suppose this is enough writing for now. Jala has just returned from hunting, and I’d better start cooking the meat he hauled back. It’ll be enough to last us several days. We’ve gotten the camping routine down pretty well by now, me and Jala. He hunts while I gather, I cook while he keeps watch. Toa Tahu refused my trail mix while we were walking, but he actually ate some of the nuts I roasted while Jala was gone. Maybe he’s starting to calm down a little. I sure hope so, because it’s pretty dreary to travel with someone unless you can make conversation.Summer 1 : 2This morning, we made it into the thick of the jungle. I love it there, except for one thing: the bugs. Well, I don’t much care for the humidity, either. And the poisonous plants. Okay, so there are a lot of things not to like about Le-Wahi. But the sunlight streaming down through the tree canopy, and the colorful flowers and birds, make it all worthwhile.Toa Tahu seems to have cheered up a bit. His frown is gone, anyway. I wandered off the trail to look at a really weird flower, and I stepped into a swampy spot up to my waist. Tahu heard my yell and came back for me. I was struggling in the muck, and he extended his sword to me. I caught a hint of a smile as he pulled me out. And then he tossed me in the air, spinning, to fling off the mud. He used his Hau to keep himself from getting splattered. Jala ducked behind a bush. He wrinkled his nose and complained about the smell. Jala walked on the other side of Toa Tahu after that.The next time we got to a stream, Toa Tahu shoved me in. I hate getting wet, but at least I was clean again. Jala was laughing at me, so I got back at him by standing next to him and shaking the water off. Then Toa Tahu started laughing. No one can stay grumpy in Le-Wahi for very long. The jungle always has a way of reminding you of how crazy life really is.When we took a break at mid-day, a bear came sniffing around to see what we were snacking on. Jala immediately jumped up, disc at the ready. Toa Tahu was a bit more complacent. He just sat there and watched the bear bounce off the shield of his Hau. It was incredible how his Kanohi protected all of us! It seems the protodermis made the Great Masks capable of that. Jala says maybe it’s a big hint from the spirit Mata Nui that the Toa are supposed to work together, but I’m not going to be the one to break the news to Toa Tahu. Before we left, Jala told him Hahli had overheard that Toa Gali was really mad at our Toa for splitting up the group. Apparently they were all testing their new powers against one another, and he and Toa Kopaka got pretty nasty with each other. Anyway, when Jala said that, Toa Tahu started grumbling that he didn’t need Toa Gali’s help, or anyone else’s. That’s when Turaga Vakama gave us the nod to go with him.The bear kept coming back at us, so Toa Tahu stood up and jumped on its back the next time it lunged. Jala and I cowered behind a rock, watching with fascination as it thrashed and bucked, trying to throw him off. Toa Tahu changed to his Komau, and the animal let him ride it to a stop. Finally he let go and jumped to the side. Toa Tahu had a big grin on his face as the exasperated bear scrambled into the woods.But soon we resumed the trail of the symbol thief, and he became serious again. It looked like the thing was speeding up. Toa Tahu kept stooping down and examining the crushed leaves and footprints in the moist ground. He didn’t tell us anything about what he was thinking, so we just trotted along behind him. It was a long day of nothing, except for the adventures with the mud and the bear.So, since I don’t have anything interesting to write about, and I’m not sleepy yet, I might as well tell the tale of the defense of Ga-Koro against the Pahrak. Even though the basic description of the action is already on the Wall of History, in here I can add the funny parts. Now I’m really going to have to make sure Turaga Vakama never sees this!Well, Jala had been sent by Turaga Vakama to check on Ga-Koro. Our Turaga is always very solicitous and protective of Ga-Koro, because let’s face it, girls are not as strong as we are. But they’ve never really needed our help, because they are really clever and resourceful. Sometimes I think not being as strong has caused them to be smarter than we are. So maybe Turaga Vakama was just being a gentleman, or maybe there’s more to it than that. I have my own theory. But enough about Turaga Vakama.I had been with Nuparu and Moki in Le-Wahi. Say, that’s another story I need to write, but not today. We had just freed the Le-Koronans from the Nuhvok, and Nuparu told me that Onu-Koro had been evacuated already because of the Gahlok. He had actually invented the Boxor during their attack, originally as a tool to dig them out because he and Taipu and Onepu were trapped by a cave-in. Then he noticed that the Boxor could be used against the Bohrok. All right, I’m really getting off the subject here.So, we knew that Onu-Koro was beyond hope, but the people were safe. Le-Koro was all right. Jala’s scouts had told us Ta-Koro was holding against the Kohrak, and we had no idea what was happening in the other three villages. So we decided to head for Ga-Koro first. Who wouldn’t?We met Jala on the way there. He told us there had been reports of Pahrak in the area. We all crossed the causeway, Nuparu and Moki in their Boxors. I already had my doubts about those things when I saw them walking on the lily pads, because it was obviously tricky to maneuver them on a piece of floating plant. But I figured maybe they would intimidate the Bohrok, if nothing else. We got across, and immediately a swarm of Pahrak showed up at the gate of the village. So we had the most unlikely combatants you could imagine in the water village: a couple of bulky machines really designed for tunneling, and a bunch of heavy creatures whose element was stone.Turaga Nokama seemed relieved to see us. She was about to tell us what to do, but then Kotu came running in and interrupted her. And then we saw something even more unexpected: boats full of Po-Koronans. I pinched myself just to make sure it wasn’t some wacky dream. It turns out the Po-Koronans had been driven out of their fortress village by the creatures best suited for destroying stone: the Tahnok. So they headed for Ga-Koro. Who wouldn’t?Anyway, everyone knows the story about how Huki saved Maku from a flying rock as she dismantled the causeway to prevent the Pahrak from reaching the village. That was really amazing. He just grabbed Hahli’s net staff and swung it. I guess he’s really coordinated from all that koli playing. I never would have made that shot.So, the Pahrak were held off for a little while. Everyone got a rest for their jangled nerves that night. But we knew the Pahrak hadn’t really given up. Jala and I were walking around and talking, and to my surprise Hahli, who’s kind of shy, joined us. We walked out to the lily pad where Huki and Maku were sitting. As soon as I saw them, I realized they wanted to be alone, but Jala was totally clueless. He just jumped right into the conversation. Poor Huki and Maku moved apart on the lily pad. With more than two villages of Matoran spending the night on a dozen lily pads, I suppose privacy was pretty much impossible.The next morning, the Pahrak made a path to the village from the other side by smashing that beautiful Kaukau statue at the waterfall. Those nasty bugs dumped Nuparu and Moki right into the water with their Boxors. And Maku and Kotu swam down and pulled them out. Onu-Koronans aren’t bad swimmers, but it took them a while to get out of the Boxors, and they were running out of air. So much for the fragile girls needing help from us!So, there we were, facing off the Bohrok, when the goat-dogs showed up. The Turaga immediately realized that the Va were swapping the Pahrak’s krana with Vu so the Pahrak could fly. They zoomed at us and smashed some of the huts, then regrouped for another attack. The Matoran and Turaga were all huddled together on one big pad, but Jala and I had been split off from the group, and we felt really helpless. Then I saw the poles and tested one, and they were nice and springy. I looked at Jala, and he understood what I wanted to do. I climbed one, and he launched me. I made my stand, and the Pahrak stopped. Probably because they were curious as to what kind of fool would actually do a stupid thing like that.Later Jala said, “That was crazy, Takua! What were you thinking when you jumped out there in front of those things?” So I asked him, “What were YOU thinking when you launched me?” He just laughed.I don’t even remember what I was thinking. I just knew I couldn’t stand by and let those people get hurt by those monsters. And by some miracle, the Toa defeated the Bahrag at just that moment, and the Bohrok just shut down. Turaga Nokama said if I hadn’t jumped in front of the Pahrak, the Toa’s victory might have come too late to save the Matoran on that lily pad. But I don’t think I was a hero. All I know is, I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Again.Summer 1 : 3This afternoon we found Toa Lewa. Actually, he almost fell on us. We were picking our way through a wetland when he crashed through the tree canopy and landed right in front of Toa Tahu. He just missed a big patch of swamp.He groaned and gave us a half-smile when he saw us. He wanted to just lie there, tangled in the briars, but Toa Tahu snapped, “On your feet, Toa of Air!”Toa Lewa explained that he was chasing a Bohrok when he suddenly felt too heavy to fly, and he realized he no longer had power over the wind. When Toa Tahu told him it was a Bohrok-Kal, Toa Lewa seemed relieved to be able to blame it on the Bohrok.Toa Tahu resumed the pace. Toa Lewa stumbled along behind us, looking rather dejected. It occurred to me that maybe he didn’t really feel at home walking on the ground, since he’d always traveled in the treetops whenever he could. Even though it was his jungle, he let Toa Tahu lead the way.The forest got really dense, and Toa Tahu started hacking the vines out of the way with one of his swords. He glanced behind him to make sure we were still following him. Jala and I were right there, but Toa Lewa had lagged behind. “Lewa!” he yelled. “Get your lazy rear in gear! This is not a sightseeing tour!”Toa Lewa shouted back, “The bug-tracks are heading this way, Tahu. And I think the one I was fly-chasing has joined yours, because there are two sets now.”Toa Tahu turned around and followed his voice. We found him a few dozen bios away, pointing to a trail cut through the thicket. I was really relieved to see it. At least the Bohrok-Kal had enough sense to take the easy way. Toa Tahu stepped into the lead again, and we started following the path.Toa Lewa asked, “Is your Toa always this full of joy-cheer?”We could see Toa Tahu's back stiffen as he walked a couple bios ahead of us along the trail. Jala, who's always really good at being diplomatic in this sort of situation, answered. “Well, Toa Lewa, I think you probably know him as well as we do. After all, you Toa have been through some really dire situations together.”Toa Lewa nodded. “Yes, we have, little fire-soldier.”Jala must have been feeling plucky, because he kept the conversation going. “But aren’t you angry that your powers have been stolen, too?”“Of course I am. But I’m not going to make my true-friends miserable over it. No one’s been hurt, and we have to keep each other brave-hearted.”Toa Tahu stopped and pivoted on his heels to look at Toa Lewa. Jala and I were trapped between them, with impenetrable jungle on each side. We glanced uneasily from one gray mask to the other as they faced off over our heads.“Just what are you saying, Lewa?” challenged Toa Tahu.“I’m saying that you should lighten up, Tahu, and stop spreading your deep-gloom to the rest of us.”They stared at one another, neither flinching. Their eyes blazed intensely. Toa Lewa was shifting his weight from one foot to the other like he was starting to feel uncomfortable, but he stood his ground.Finally Toa Tahu cracked a smile. “You’re right, you insufferable airhead,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I’m doing just what you accuse me of.” He clapped Toa Lewa on the shoulder. “Let’s save our anger for those vile creatures we’re tracking.”Jala and I decided it was probably safe to breathe again. Toa Lewa grinned back at Toa Tahu. “You may have lost the fire-spark in your swords, but it’s still there in your heart.”Toa Tahu muttered something about how the morale speeches were better left to the Turaga. Then he turned and led the way again.We had already covered a lot of ground today when we found Toa Lewa, and I was really happy when Toa Tahu finally announced that it was time to make camp. As I built the fire, Jala started asking Toa Lewa a bunch of questions about the Bohrok-Kal. Jala’s always telling me how important information is in planning war strategy. I’m glad he’s interested in that stuff, because it helps him do a good job defending the island. But personally, I find it really boring. Whenever he gets started on his military theories, I usually just daydream about lava surfing, or traveling, or Nixie.But anyway, Toa Lewa told us that the Bohrok he was chasing had taken the symbol from his Suva in the village. He was sitting in a tree playing his horn and wondering why he was suddenly unable to make it sound right. He figured something had gotten stuck inside it, and he was holding it upside down and shaking it, when Kongu flew over on Ka and landed next to him. Kongu told him this really shiny Bohrok had swiped the symbol and jumped out of the big tree, floating to the ground. Then Kongu took off toward Le-Koro again. Toa Lewa jumped up and spotted the creature on the ground below. It was carrying the symbol on its back. He swung away after it, and that’s when he realized he had lost his air powers. The Bohrok looked up at him, waved its hand shields, and immediately he plummeted to the ground. That’s when we found him. So we must have just missed the thing.Of course Toa Lewa told it a lot longer than that, with all sorts of irrelevant details about what kind of tree he was sitting in, how Ka landed on the branch without knocking off any of the flowers, and so on. Toa Tahu got a little impatient with the storytelling style, but he was very interested in the part about the Kal itself. He concluded that the black one that took Toa Lewa’s powers must have control over gravity, like the red one does over electricity. He started referring to them as the Tahnok-Kal and the Nuhvok-Kal. Toa Lewa asked what he planned to do whenever we caught up with them, and Toa Tahu just smiled grimly and swung his sword through the air. I couldn’t help but remember how the Tahnok-Kal had frozen Jala in an electric field and brought down all those rocks on Toa Tahu’s head. And apparently the Nuhvok-Kal was stronger than Toa Lewa’s Miru, too. But I decided I’d better let the Toa worry about all that. I’m just here to write about it.After we ate and cleaned up, I offered to keep the first watch of the night. Everyone else is lying down, and from the sound of his breathing, Toa Lewa is already asleep. So, I’d better stop writing and put away this journal. Jala always says when you’re keeping watch, you’re actually supposed to be watching out for danger. So, since he’s lying over there glaring at me, that’s all for today. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Welcome back. After Pohatu's daring rescue of Hafu, I just had to talk to the brave Tohunga who sacrificed his masterful statues, and almost his life, to protect his village of Po-Koro. So here is our conversation. Interview with Hafu the Stone-Carver GaliGee: Thanks for this interview, Hafu. It's an honor to speak with such a brave hero.Hafu: If you say so.GaliGee: Please describe for the BZ members what the Po-Koro Tahnok attack was like.Hafu: It was awful. We heard rumbling, and saw smoke on the horizon. Everything was glowing red. We couldn't figure out what would be on fire, out in the desert. Then we realized it was the SAND that was on fire. That's when we got really scared.GaliGee: Yikes!Hafu: My reaction exactly. Then, when the Tahnok blasted through the barricades, we were sure we were goners.GaliGee: Then you realized how you could stop them.Hafu: Yes. Onewa can be very persuasive, having the Komau and all. I really didn't want to knock down my own statues, but it had to be done.GaliGee: It was very courageous of you to go out there alone.Hafu: Courageous, or stupid. I'm not sure which. But fortunately, with the Toa around, we're never really alone.GaliGee: What did you think when Pohatu showed up?Hafu: Well, I saw one of the Tahnok launch this gummy blue thing at me. Later I found out how narrowly I had missed being enslaved by the swarm. It's funny, because I felt Pohatu before I saw him. I thought one of the Tahnok had grabbed me from behind. There was this blur, and then I was lifted up. I was expecting to feel searing heat, then I looked and saw it was Pohatu's hand holding me. I just about fainted with relief. But we were still there, in the middle of the swarm. Still, when he winked at me I suddenly felt that, somehow, everything would be OK.GaliGee: How about the catapult ride?Hafu: Whee! I was really impressed with Pohatu's quick thinking, using the Komau, and with Huki's skill. What a kick! Then up we went. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to panic. And when we landed, I was so relieved. I hugged Huki so hard it made his back crack.GaliGee: That's funny! You and Huki are pretty good friends, I take it?Hafu: Very good friends. We didn't used to be. We were rivals. I thought he was a show-off sports star, and he thought I was a show-off artist. And we both wanted to be Onewa's second-in-command. But then, we got to be friends, in kind of a weird way. You know, sometimes when you get to know someone, you can really change your mind about him.GaliGee: How's that?Hafu: Well, Maku has this friend, Lili, that she brought over in the canoe one time to watch a Koli match with her. All of a sudden I found myself wanting to watch Koli, too. After the game, we all hung out together for a while, and I found out that Huki was actually a cool guy. So we became best friends.GaliGee: What about Lili?Hafu: I haven't seen her in a long time, because of the Bohrok. [expletive deleted] Bohrok!GaliGee: Yes, everyone I've talked to feels that way. So how did you get to be such a good carver?Hafu: Practice, practice, practice. I just messed around with a chisel constantly, and eventually I got good. But you know, I look at it really differently now. I used to think it was all me, look at me, I'm really hot. But now I see that the Great Beings gave me this gift, of skill in carving, so that I could help defend Po-Koro. Really humbling, actually, to realize I'm just a cog in history. But really flattering, that they selected me.GaliGee: Your carvings ARE really amazing. How long do they take?Hafu: Well, the Path of Prophesy ones took a couple of months each, because I did them all myself. The Toa Kanohi in the Quarry went faster, since I had a whole team working for me. But I was putting in 16-hour days. It was grueling.GaliGee: Those statues are beautiful. What are they for? Are they all hollow inside, like the one where the Nui-Jaga made its nest with the infected Koli balls?Hafu: Thanks. Yes, they are all hollow. They are emergency shelters. The Turaga hold the keys. Except when the Koli salesman stole one key. They say he made a deal with Makuta. Sold out his own people! Maybe he didn't know at the time, but he's lucky no one has found him.GaliGee: Say, tell us about the first time you were a hero! When Takua took you to Kini-Nui to defend the Toa's backs.Hafu: That was great. Well, I kept seeing this rainbow dude while I was working on the road signs. Back and forth, back and forth. He was always friendly, but I had no idea what he was up to. Finally he stopped me again, and I figured he wanted to learn to carve, since he didn't seem to have a job. But he told me he had gotten Onewa's permission to take me to Kini Nui for a defense mission. I said, OK. He turned out to be terrific. Brave, cheerful, humble, all that, you know, like your Boy Scouts.GaliGee: What did you think of your companions?Hafu: I already knew Maku, like I said, and she's good company. And I also knew Taipu. He and I are like night and day in terms of personality, but we've always liked each other. He's really funny. And strong, too. And he's got this almost ridiculous enthusiasm.GaliGee: How about Kopeke?Hafu: ...GaliGee: Excuse me?Hafu [laughs]: He doesn't say much. Nice enough guy, when he does open his mouth. Great with a disc, too. He really waylaid those Rahi. Also, I like the way he can carve ice.GaliGee: Kapura?Hafu: Weird dude. I don't know what the heck he is talking about half the time. But he is really loyal, and covers your back. I'd like him to teach me his relocating trick sometime. Then I could go see Lili without having to get in a boat!GaliGee: And Tamaru?Hafu: Tamaru is great fun. And the wacky way they talk in Le-Koro! Taipu has told me about the party they had when they got back from the Rama hive. I'd like to go there after the Toa get rid of these Bohrok.GaliGee: So what was the Rahi battle like?Hafu: Alternating hope and despair. Here would come a couple of them, and we'd recoil in fear, then we'd rally and let 'em have it. Eventually we beat them back, after getting our masks knocked off a few times. Then came the big wave.GaliGee: That must have been terrifying.Hafu: You have NO idea. But then, Kongu, and Onepu, and Jala, and all the brave Matoran in their armies, all showed up at once. Just like a Hollywood ending!GaliGee: What are you going to do next?Hafu: Lay low, until the Bohrok are gone. Then we see whether the Great Beings will grant us peace again. I sure hope so.GaliGee: Me too, but I have my doubts. Anyway, it's been wonderful talking to you, and all of us at BZ are really in awe of all you have done for Mata Nui.Hafu: Just doing my job. I'm just lucky I could help. Give my regards to BZ.GaliGee: Thanks again. I will. [click]Hafu, carver of stone, has etched a place for himself in the history of Mata Nui. We will never forget his brave deeds. This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Hi, everybody, and thanks for stopping by, especially Peach, Tolkien, Hahli Historian, and AZBlue. (Familiar names, yay!)I just re-posted the last of the damaged Makuta short bits. I just have a half-dozen interviews to go, and Journey Into the Light. Woot!Thanks for your encouraging words about my new work (see sig, and visit my site!). It's now in the hands of a professional editor. I'm so excited!

Dear Readers, we will now hear from one of the most famous Tohunga on Mata Nui, one whose destiny is much larger than his stature would suggest.Interview with Takua the ChroniclerGaliGee: Thanks for agreeing to the interview. It's an honor to speak with the Tohunga who, in Turaga Vakama's words, stands among the Toa as one of Mata Nui's greatest heroes.Takua: Aw, shucks.GaliGee: How did it all begin? Please tell the BZ members how you came to be wandering the island, and ended up helping to save it.Takua: Sure. I woke up on the beach with a REALLY big headache. Couldn't remember who I was, or what I was doing there. I found my mask in the sand next to me, and an empty backpack. Then I saw Maku waving to me. She looked familiar, but I didn't recognize her. Of course, everyone on Mata Nui knows Maku -- she's the best canoe racer on the island. But I didn't remember any of that.GaliGee: What did you do?Takua: I walked up to her, and she began to babble excitedly about her village being attacked. I didn't recall what a Rahi even was!GaliGee: But you agreed to help her.Takua: Yep. Figured I had nothing to lose, so I might as well try.GaliGee: So you found the gear, and restarted the pump to save Nokama and the trapped villagers.Takua: Well, sure. Man, I hate to swim, but what was I going to do, walk away?GaliGee: You seem reluctant to claim any glory for yourself.Takua: I don't really deserve any. I was just in the right place at the right time. When the Tarakava showed up, I just about passed out. I think that I had probably been waylaid by a sand Tarakava on the beach, you see, and I began to remember it when I saw the blue one rear up out of the water.GaliGee: That might explain how you lost your memory!Takua: Yeah. So Gali jumped in, and it seemed like a dream. She tackled that big creature with her bare hooks! I learned a lot that day -- what a Toa is, how the infected masks work. And the Ga-Koronans were so grateful. As if I had been the one to wrestle that thing.GaliGee: How did you come to save Po-Koro?Takua: I didn't! Pohatu did. Even after Gali's victory, Maku was so sad. She was worried about this Huki fellow in Po-Koro. Of course, everyone knows Huki, too, but I had forgotten him, too. So I went to see what was going on.GaliGee: It was pretty clever of you to figure out that the Koli ball salesman's key would unlock one of the statues in the Quarry.Takua: Clever? I only figured it out after wandering back and forth about five times. The Po-Koronans would no doubt have thought me insane, if they hadn't been so preoccupied with their illness. The very air in that village was heavy with despair. And talking with Huki, here he was sick almost to death, and he was more concerned about Maku than himself. I just had to try something!GaliGee: What was it like to meet Pohatu?Takua: I was shaking like a leaf after I saw the Nui-Jaga, and here comes this enormous guy that made the ground tremble. I thought, Great Beings willing, this guy better be a Toa, too. From what Onewa said, I was pretty sure he was. It was awesome to watch him blast those rocks at the nest. I would almost like to thank that Nui-Jaga for giving me a chance to help Pohatu a little!GaliGee: He seemed very grateful.Takua: Pohatu is very gracious. And very reassuring. It's so sad that Hafu is missing. Pohatu is very attached to his villagers. He must be heartbroken that he has to fight the Bohrok instead of looking for his Tohunga.GaliGee: Actually, I think Pohatu is on his way to save him. Yes, Hafu is a real hero, too.Takua: Far more that I am! He put himself right in harm's way. Hafu was a great companion on the Kini Nui trip, too. He's a little cocky sometimes, but with all that talent, strength, and bravery, he's got a right to be.GaliGee: What about Onu-Koro?Takua: I didn't go there right away. After the Po-Koronans were safe, I went back to the beach of Ta-Koro to look at that telescope. I had noticed it before, but I wanted a closer look. Then I wandered into Ta-Koro. That looked REALLY familiar, since I used to live there.GaliGee: Why did you leave Ta-Koro, anyway?Takua: I don't remember all of it, but my old friends have filled me in. It seems I used to be pretty arrogant. With my weird color scheme, I grew up kind of defensive about everything. To avoid being teased, I thought I had to be the best at everything. That's why I learned to lava surf so well. I was obsessed. But anyway, I alienated a lot of the villagers -- they didn't like my attitude. Can't say I blame them. One day, I picked a fight with someone, and it just blew up into a huge mess, and finally I just grabbed my backpack and disc and left. I wandered around for a while, fighting Rahi and brooding a lot. And then a Tarakava got me pretty bad, after which I woke up on the beach, like I said before.GaliGee: Wow. But it all turned out for the best, because you never would have helped to save Mata Nui if you had stayed in Ta-Koro. So tell us about your adventures in Onu-Koro.Takua: I wandered around some more before straying into Whenua's hut and hearing about all the problems they were having with the lightstone mine and the mysterious rock layer in the great mine. So I got out my board and surfed across the lava flow. Easy! For me, anyway. But again, they were really grateful. I was finding this kind of work to be really rewarding!GaliGee: You helped them with some really big problems that only you were in a position to handle.Takua: Yes, it was that "right place at the right time" thing again. Then, when I saw the sundial, I remembered vaguely that Nokama had spoken of her astrologer. So I took that miner's picture to her. I still remember that like it was yesterday!GaliGee: Why was that so memorable?Takua: When I showed the picture to Nixie, she figured out what to do right away, and gave me the gnomon to do it. I was really looking for an excuse to stick around, but she practically kicked me out of her hut. Turns out she was working on the Bohrok prophesy, and she really WAS busy.GaliGee: You wanted to spend more time with her?Takua: Of course! She's so pretty, and smart, too.GaliGee: Pretty? She looks like you!Takua: Oh, you mean our blue Pakari! [laughs] Well, that's not the only thing that makes her pretty. The way she moves, and talks, and smells, the sparkle in her eyes... [sighs]GaliGee: Are you going to see her again?Takua: I hope so. At the victory party she asked me to come over and look at the stars with her sometime. Oh, man! But then the Bohrok showed up. [expletive deleted] Bohrok!GaliGee: I see that you have an extra reason to hope the Toa defeat the Bohrok soon.Takua: You bet.GaliGee: How about your Le-Koro adventure?Takua: That was such a blast! Kongu is a great guy. And what a wild ride. I just about had a heart attack when we crashed, but Kongu grabbed me just in time and somehow wrapped a vine around me. And then he was ready to go again! I'll never forget seeing Lewa in the infected mask, looming above us with that evil look in his eye. That was absolutely terrifying.GaliGee: How did you feel when you saw Onua?Takua: Very relieved, once I figured out what was going on. What a spectacular battle that was! One that will live in Mata Nui history. We Tohunga, and Matau, just tried to stay the heck out of the way.GaliGee: How about the Kini Nui trip?Takua: It was amazing. Everyone helped out in some way to get us there. Of course, I was really hoping Nokama would let me bring Nixie, but when Maku came instead, that was cool. I would have been too worried about Nixie getting hurt to concentrate anyway. And Maku is a real tomboy -- she can sling a disc like nobody's business with that arm of hers, really strong from all that paddling.GaliGee: Were you afraid when the Rahi attacked?Takua: What do you think? Definitely. But we all tried to encourage each other. And when Kongu with his Kahu-force, and Onepu's Ussalry, and Jala's guard showed up, we were so impressed! Finally, the whole island had learned to fight together. And we had those Rahi on the run!GaliGee: And then you got to see all the Toa together.Takua: Gali made me feel so welcome. Wow. And we got to watch them drop down into Makuta's lair. Our hearts were in our throats! After we said a prayer for them, I started seeing those visions Gali sent me. And I knew I had to follow them down there. The evil and the horror -- you could almost taste it in the air.GaliGee: What did you think when you first saw Makuta?Takua: I was puzzled, just like Tahu. But Kopaka was right, of course. That's Makuta's stock-in-trade, lies and deceit. I can't possibly describe the roller coaster of feelings I went through as the Toa were first chased and struck, and then struck back with their powers. The roar was deafening.GaliGee: You were the first on Mata Nui to see the Bohrok.Takua: Yeah, lucky me. Those are the biggest, ugliest bugs I've ever seen. And they are even meaner than they look.GaliGee: Vakama certainly had some words of praise for you when you came out.Takua: Yes, Vakama had been really mad at me for stirring up so much trouble in Ta-Koro. But he forgave me for everything, and let me know I would be very welcome to return. I almost cried with joy, after going through so much anger and fear and excitement -- the thought of spending time with friends again was really great.GaliGee: What's your next adventure going to be?Takua: I'm gonna take it easy for a while. I hope.GaliGee: Have you played the Mata Nui Online Game?Takua: Of course! Templar was calling me about once a week, asking me questions and getting me to try out the different parts. Luckily Nuju let me use the Ko-Koro computer, which is connected directly to the satellite dish. Everyone else on Mata Nui still has dial-up, and that would have been really slow.GaliGee: Did Templar do a good job?Takua: Definitely. Playing the game gave me goosebumps! I felt like I was there again, going through the same adventure.GaliGee: Do you have anything else to add for the BZ members?Takua: Yeah. You guys spend way too much time trying to figure out whether we are robots or not! We're alive!GaliGee: I never doubted it for a minute. Thanks so much for your time, Takua. You are as noble as your reputation, and resourceful.Takua: I'm sooooo sick of hearing that! Just kidding. Thanks for calling. Give my best to BZ. [click]Takua, the Chronicler, the traveler, the hero. All of Mata Nui owes their lives to this brave but humble Matoran. Thanks for tuning in -- this is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

As you know, yesterday was Mother's Day. (I hope you all gave your moms a big hug. ) I got a very strange e-mail message I thought I'd share with my readers:DEAR GALIGEE, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! WE HOPE U R HAVING A GREAT NITE. WAIT, I WAS CONFUSED, U R USUALLY AWAKE DURING THE DAY. O, WHATEVER. U ROCK! TURAHK, KURAHK, & CONFUSIRAHKHi Mistress. Hope you’re feeling well. I’ve been really busy healing my brothers, with all the sports and village-wrecking. They all make me feel really useful! Come see us soon, you’re the best. Therahkhi Mistress! we were going to make you a really cool picture but then we decided to take a nap instead. sweet dreams from Lentirahk and Somnorahk…love, TacirahkDear Mistress, I think Master misses you. He asked us to make a big sculpture of a Kaukau Nuva in the lair. It’s the prettiest thing we’ve ever carved. But we want the real you back! You rahk. Thermorahk, Laserahk, Guurahk, and SonirahkStay cool! Later, Frigirahk.No wonder dad wants you back, you’re really hot. Love, Pyrorahk & PlasmarahkMistress, I grew you a flower garden, but Lerahk tripped and fell into it. Oh, well, I’ll start over. Grr. You are more lovelier than my flowers anyway, Florahk.HEY SORRY MAN I DIDNT MEAN TO! WE MISS U NO JOKE! WUB, LERAHKWe get a charge out of you! Come back soon, Electrorahk and Fulgorahkmistress ill shout 4 joy when u come back luv xefonirahkHe better not if he doesn’t want to end up in stasis. We keep having to pick gravel out of our Cocoa Puffs because of him. We miss you! StatirahkOur hearts are heavy since you left. Come back and see us! Gravirahk & DensirahkYo Mistress! Sup? You’ve been missing all the action. We had a major martial arts tournament. Thanks to you, we’ve all learned to focus. Keep your center! Love, VorahkI love you this much! *stretches arms out* Elastorahk.(He just held his arms out 5.43 bios, by the way.) Thanks for teaching us so much! I scored 7 goals in the last hockey game. We would still just be breaking stuff if it weren’t for you. Love, Accurahk.DEAR GALIGEE WE HAD A BIG DEMOLITION SHOW IN YOUR HONOR. WISH YOU COULD BE HERE. WE LOVE U, PANRAHK & DISRUPTIRAHKhey mistress dad is really attracted to you if you like I can make you attracted to him too just say the word. love, magnerahkWE'RE WILD ABOUT YOU! COME SEE US. ENTORAHK & RAHIRAHKMistress, you wouldn’t believe what’s going through Master’s mind right now… or maybe you don’t want to know. Let’s just say he wants you back, and so do we. Love, Mentorahk.You’ve left a void in our hearts, Mistress. Come back soon! VacuurahkStormy weather, since you and dad aren’t together. He keeps playing that song. But we try to keep the skies clear around here anyway. Cyclorahk & MeteorahkWe’ve gotten used to you being gone, but we don’t like it. Come back soon! from Adaptarahk and InvulnerahkHi GaliGee Come see us soon Master is always much nicer when you are around but we just avoid him when he’s grumpy Happy Mother’s Day! Evitarahk and TelerahkHi Mom! Come back to Makuta Island soon. We miss you a lot. Besides, as Dad is always telling us, you can run but you can’t hide. Hugs from Pinky, Illusorahk, and ChamelerahkMistress:I hope you’re having a great day. You’ve taught me so much, and I am very thankful. We all miss you, especially Master. The games aren’t the same without you. We’re getting ready for the Bohrok war now. Wish us luck!Faithfully,ShadrahkP.S. You’ve probably figured out by now that Master put us up to this… but we really mean everything we said. oops gotta go :kaukaunu:In case you're wondering who all these Rahkshi are, there's a list of their names and powers in the "Makuta Island" review topic.If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

That Annoying GaliGee Mask Of Light Sig CountdownThe astute observer (or the person with way too much time on his hands) may have noticed that for the past 40 days or so, I've been putting a countdown to the long-awaited release of The Mask of Light in my signature. Here is the complete list:__ days until...Takanuva turns Makuta into protodermis curly friesMakuta gets blinded by the lightTakanuva says, "Just Say No to Evil!"Takanuva blasts Makuta into 199 piecesTakanuva says, "I'm not scared of the dark!"I lay a dead rose on Makuta's graveTakanuva shows Makuta the business end of a light staffMakuta grumbles, “Of all the days to forget my sunglasses...”Takanuva says, “Makuta, pick on someone your own size! Or at least... someone closer to it!”Makuta says, "Will you Toa keep it down? My brother is trying to take a nap!"Mangaia gets halogen lightingTakanuva says, "Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." (John 3:20)Makuta trades his Coupe de Ville convertible for a hearseTakanuva asks, “How many evil megalomaniacs does it take to screw in a light bulb?”Makuta turns a whiter shade of palethe Rahkshi become orphansMakuta sees the light at the end of the tunnelMakuta never darkens my doorway againTakanuva shows Makuta he’s no lightweightMakuta punches Takanuva's lights out (Hey! That one was hacked!)Makuta freezes like a deer in the headlightsTakanuva says, “Makuta! We have come--OW! Dude, doesn’t your mom ever make you clean your lair?”Makuta plays light-ball tennis with TakanuvaTakanuva knocks Makuta back to the Dark AgesMakuta has three nanoseconds to admire the tread on the bottom of Takanuva’s Nike Bionicle sneakersTakanuva says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." (James 1:17)Takua says to Jaller, “Get on, sit down, hold on, and shut up!”Makuta turns into Sleeping BeautyTakanuva says to Makuta, “Whoa! In real life, you’re even uglier than your LEGO set!”Takanuva lights up Mangaia like it was the Fourth of JulyMakuta tiptoes in and hits the ‘snooze’ button on Mata Nui’s Bionicle alarm clock one last timeTakanuva says, "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." (John 1:5)Takanuva says to Makuta, “Um, excuse me, but your mask is on upside down.”Makuta realizes that he forgot to write his willTakanuva takes apart some Rahshki sets and builds himself a really cool MOCMakuta says "Mata Nui, my dear brother… is it too late to work out our differences?"Gali says to Makuta, “Ooh, you’re so tall, dark, and… well, tall and dark.”Takanuva says "Shhh! Be vewwy, vewwy quiet. I’m hunting dewanged megawomaniacs!"Turahk whispers as Panrahk enters stage left, “Break a leg!”Takanuva tells Makuta to lighten upMakuta says, “Hey! I thought I was supposed to WIN in this lousy movie! WHERE’S MY AGENT?!?”Takanuva says, “Hey! I thought I got to SING in this lousy movie! WHERE’S MY AGENT?!?”the kraata start complaining about inheritance taxesTakanuva says, “Take THAT, you evil--oh, dang! Anybody got four D-size batteries?"Takanuva says to Makuta, “Wow, our staffs have the same top! Can yours do this?” *WHACK!*Makuta says, "I see the light! Wait--that's not good..."Kurahk goes mad, Turahk runs for cover, Lehrahk gets food poisoning, Guurahk disintregates, Vohrahk loses power, and Panrahk explodesMakuta gets voted off the island... but who’s counting?So, while you are waiting to see everyone's favorite new hero confront everyone's favorite old villain in widescreen Technicolor Dolby Digital Surround Sound (or whatever it is), you can read these and salivate.Actually, I never thought I would say this, but since Makuta has apparently been preparing for the big showdown, he hasn’t come around to harass me lately, and I’ve started to miss him. *blinks back tears* Sure, he was big and scary-looking, but he always made me feel so special. *Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata begins to play softly* He used to call me his angel... sing Nat ‘King’ Cole songs to me... take me for long rides in his convertible... buy me dinners in elegant restaurants with other people’s money... smash down my deadbolted front door... forcibly abduct me from parking lots... threaten to torture and dismember me so he could train his vile spawn to kill my friends *sound of phonograph needle skidding across vinyl record* OK, so maybe I’m better off without that ill-tempered demon. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM EAT LIGHTBALLS!Thanks to Koolsnowball, Galikat, Awhina, Groucho Marx, pucateamskater, Vashi, pohatu jr, and TOL for ideas. And I got the Makuta-sees-the-light one from someone's sig, and I can't remember whose. Thanks. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

With the imminent release of The Mask of Light, I was hoping the Spirit of Evil would be too busy preparing for the showdown with his new nemesis to bother with small fry like me. Alas, my supernatural stalker did return again in an attempt to lure me to the dark side. But this time he won’t be back, because I stumbled onto what turned out to be his deepest fear.Makuta’s Last TryI rolled the cart out of the grocery store, humming to myself as I approached my truck. I pulled the keys out of my bag and pushed the ‘unlock’ button on the remote. The locks clicked, and I reached for the door handle. Suddenly I heard heavy footsteps. I turned around to see the Spirit of Evil looming over me.“Darling! Fancy meeting you here.”“I’m sure it’s a complete coincidence,” I groaned, looking at him warily. “What do you want, Makuta?”“I just want some company,” he smiled.“Then go hang out with the Rahkshi, and leave me alone.”“The Rahkshi are busy, my sweet. They are defending themselves against the Toa. I only hope the strength I gave them is enough to resist those violent creatures that insist on calling themselves heroes.”I rolled my eyes. “I’m not stupid, Makuta. I know what the Rahkshi are doing. They’re terrorizing the island. I read the comics, you know.” When I turned around to load my groceries, I noticed Makuta’s car parked next to mine.He stepped between me and my truck. “Come for a drive with me, GaliGee. I just want someone to talk to.”“You drove two thousand miles just to find someone to talk to? That’s definitely a sign you need to be nicer to the people around you.”Makuta sighed. “Time and distance are of no consequence to me. Just come along.”“And if I say ‘no’?”“Then you’ll come anyway,” he replied, picking me up. He lifted me over the door of his Coupe de Ville convertible and set me in the seat. My instinct was to jump back out and run, but experience told me this would be futile, and possibly dangerous. “What about my groceries?” I asked as he buckled my seat belt.Makuta picked up the grocery cart and dumped the contents into the back seat. I watched with annoyance as the bread was crushed under the potatoes. “But, my ice cream--”“Don’t worry about your ice cream,” he grinned, waving his hand. The entire pile of food was instantly encased in a large block of ice. He gave the empty basket a push, and it zoomed across the pavement and crashed into a Mercedes. I frowned and slid lower in the seat. Smiling, Makuta got in on the driver’s side. I locked my truck with the remote as he revved the engine and screeched out of the parking lot.“Did you get the Makuta set I sent you?” he asked.“Yes, I did, thanks. It looks almost as menacing as the real you, except that it’s not eight feet tall.”Makuta laughed. “LEGO did do a good job with my set, I think. Did you figure out it was from me?”“Well, obviously. Even before I read your note, the return address of ‘Mangaia’ was a dead giveaway. That, and the musty smell of the air in the box.”Soon we were driving down a wide road, the wind in our faces. The sunlight glinted off all the brightly polished chrome on the Cadillac. “Before the boys went off to battle, they did a really good job of detailing my car,” Makuta remarked proudly.“Well, it’s good they know how to do something constructive,” I muttered. “So, what’s on your mind, Makuta?”“I just wanted to spend a little time with you before the war begins in earnest, my love,” he said solemnly. “I won’t get to see you for a while, once things start getting intense on Mata Nui. Now that the Matorans have their little mask and are getting closer to finding you-know-who, it’s going to be hard to get away and travel.”“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”“Of course it is! I’ll miss you terribly. Won’t you miss me?”I sighed and looked at the scenery.“Anyway, it’s not too late to come with me. I could really use your help in zeroing in on the Toa’s weaknesses. I’m like any father. I’m so worried for my children.”“Then why did you send them against the Toa? Why not encourage your Rahkshi to live in peace on Mata Nui?”“Because the Toa think it’s their destiny to wake up that no-good brother of mine. I can’t have that happening.” Makuta steered with his knee as he opened a jewel case and slid an Etta James CD into the player in the dashboard.“Well, I’m not going to help you. As if I could even make any difference. You’re far more powerful than I am, anyway. Would you please take me back to the grocery store?”“Power is not what I’m looking for. It’s information. And what I need is inside your little transparent yellow brain, my beloved.”I studied Makuta’s face for a moment. “You’re afraid, aren’t you?” I said boldly. “You know LEGO is never going to let the bad guy win. You’ve finally realized you’re going to lose, and now you’re getting scared!”“Me, scared?” Makuta roared with laughter. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten, my lovely, that fear is my stock-in-trade. I’m afraid of nothing.”“Not even of Takanu--” I stopped when I saw his blue eyes turn red and begin to blaze with rage. He reached across the seat and grabbed my throat.“Now, I know I’ve warned you about that before,” he growled. He removed his hand from my neck.“Yes,” I coughed, “you have. Sorry.”We rode for a few miles in silence. Then Makuta spoke again. “I’m not afraid of him, darling. He’s merely a Toa, and I’m so much more.”“So go fight him, then, and leave me out of it,” I suggested.“Oh, I don’t need your help with him. It’s my boys that need your help. I’ve heard a horrible rumor that the Toa want to take them apart, and build some kind of vehicle with their pieces. It’s the worst thing a parent can hear, believe me.”“I’m sure it is. Except that the Rahkshi armor is not really alive.”“How dare you say that! After all the affection they showed you when you were in my lair.” He fixed his eyes grimly on the road ahead. “You know, we are all simply shells for our spirits, anyway. Even you. I’m just lucky because I can choose which shell to inhabit.”I shuddered as I remembered my creepy experiences with the Rahkshi. “Since I’m not going to help you anyway,” I ventured timidly, “will you please take me back to the store now?”“No. I’m going to take you home with me to Mangaia. That way your fate will be tied to mine. After I win, you’ll be there to celebrate with me and my sons, and to stand by my side while I rule Mata Nui. Oh, that reminds me. I have to think of a new name for the island. Do you have any ideas?”“This is LEGO, Makuta. You’re not going to win.”“Then you’ll die with me,” he said with a sinister grin.“That’s not fair!” I protested. “You got yourself into this. It has nothing to do with me. Besides, you’re immortal, and I’m not. After you get defeated, you can just come back!”“Then you’ll have to do your very best to help me succeed, won’t you?” he smirked, turning onto the highway.“You’re despicable,” I muttered. This was terrifying. Every other time Makuta had tried to recruit me to the dark side, he had always accepted a ‘no’ answer and eventually let me go, albeit with various injuries. Now he clearly intended to keep me prisoner.The Spirit of Evil set the cruise control and took his foot off the accelerator. “But actually, cupcake, I’m not so sure I’ll be able to come back. What if LEGO doesn’t renew my contract? We’re still in negotiations, you see.”“Oh,” I replied. “But can’t you just get another job?”“That’s easier said than done, precious. The job market is really tight for villains these days. And besides, LEGO is the best place to work, by far. Just ask Ogel. They gave him that awesome undersea base, a bunch of cool vehicles, and all those skeleton drones. And all he has to do is show up in the LEGO Magazine comic once in a while, and pose for some online game graphics.”I suppressed a laugh as I pictured Makuta and Ogel swapping stories at a dark corner table in a smoky café. Makuta continued his tirade, the brow of his Kraahkan furrowed with worry. “And it would really chap my hide if my low-life brother was still working for LEGO, while I was sending my résumé to the likes of Mega Bloks. You just don’t understand how humiliating that would be.”“So it comes down to jealousy again.” I shook my head. “Why can’t you just learn to be happy for your brother’s success? Maybe he would share some of it with you if you stopped tormenting his people.”“You wouldn’t say that if you knew my brother,” he groaned. “LEGO makes him sound like a great guy. But really, he’s a conceited j erk. He’s never shared anything in his life. Besides, I think I’ve burned too many bridges with him already. If he ever wakes up, he’s going to be hopping mad.”“You can’t blame him for that. You’ve done some really awful things to the Matorans.”“It’s their own fault, my dove. If they would just bow to me, I wouldn’t have to frighten them anymore.”A man was standing by the side of the road next to his car, which was up on a jack with one wheel removed. He was reaching into the trunk for the spare tire. Makuta swerved toward the man and laughed as the poor fellow scrambled behind his vehicle.“Haven’t you figured out by now that terror will never make them worship you? And it will never make me love you, either.”Makuta sighed. “If you weren’t so lovely, I would have lost patience with you long ago, and crushed you to dust.” He stretched his arm across the back of the seat.The miles rolled by. I glanced behind me. Inexplicably, the groceries were still frozen solid.“So, sweetheart, you might as well start telling me the Toa’s secrets, so we can get to work right away as soon as we get home. Why don’t you begin with Tahu?”I considered my options. Outright refusal could be perilous, but I was determined not to reveal anything that might be useful to this monster and his evil spawn. It occurred to me that flattery had great potential to distract him, given his considerable ego. “Well, Makuta, you’ve read my epic about him. That’s all I really know. And as cunning a villain as you are, you’ve probably picked up on things about him that I would never have noticed.”“I don’t believe that for a second,” said Makuta, giving me a sideways glance. “You little sneak. You’re trying to distract me with flattery, aren’t you?”I swallowed hard. “Maybe just a little… but it’s true. I don’t like what you do, but you’re definitely good at it. The best in the business, in my opinion. I hope LEGO does give you a new contract.”“Why, thank you,” Makuta laughed. “But if you aren’t going to entertain me with talk about the Toa, my kitten, perhaps I should just freeze you until we get home, like the groceries. Besides, I don’t have the Rahkshi here this time to keep an eye on you when I go inside to pay for gas and so on.”“All right, I’ll talk about Tahu,” I agreed reluctantly. My mind raced. What could I say to appease Makuta, without putting the Toa in danger? “Well,” I began slowly, “he does have a bit of a temper.”“Yeah. I’ve read his bio on bionicle.com. Got any real information for me?”“And he’s rather afraid of being wrong. That’s one reason he doesn’t get along well with Kopaka, who is usually the one to point out his errors.”“Duh, GaliGee.”“And he has a fondness for danger, a strange attraction to it,” I continued.“Now we’re getting somewhere. We could use that to lure him to his downfall. Tell me more.”I cringed as I imagined Tahu being caught in some kind of evil trap because of my big mouth. Fearful of saying too much, I stopped talking all together.“Oh, now, darling, don’t be shy. This little discussion might just save your life, you know.”“But then my life wouldn’t be worth living, anyway,” I mumbled, mostly to myself.“You poor dear. You feel like you’re betraying your friends.” He patted me on the head. “The thing you need to remember is that they aren’t really your friends at all. They just like your beautiful yellow eyes, because they look like Gali’s.”This got my attention. “Yes, they are my friends, Makuta. Much more than you are. And I’m not going to talk about them any more. You can’t make me inform against them.” I crossed my arms.“Oh, but I can, my sweet. You, like everyone else, have a pain threshold beyond which you will turn into a babbling fool.”I remained silent. Now I was really scared. But I was still resolved not to yield. Makuta smiled at me. “But I do so hope it won’t come down to that. I would hate to see your pretty face all twisted with agony.”He reached over and took my chin in his hand. “I can take you places, show you things, and bestow gifts upon you that no one else can. To think that you have the most powerful being on Mata Nui wrapped around your little blue finger, and yet you refuse to take advantage of that. All I want is a little information.” He let go of my chin and shook his head.“Wrapped around my finger? I doubt it!” I scoffed. “Besides, I don’t want to work for someone who enjoys torturing people.”“Torture is so crude, darling,” he remarked. “I do it only when I have to.”“Look, Makuta, I don’t know why you’re wasting your time with me. I don’t know anything that you could really use. If you bring me to Mangaia again and keep me there, everyone will soon find out. After all, Ta--I mean, the Toa of Light is going to illuminate the inside of your lair, whether you win or not. And if I disappear, it won’t take long for the people who read ‘Road Trip with Makuta’ to figure out what’s happened.”Makuta shrugged. “So perhaps you don’t know anything very helpful. But you will still be useful to me. Since you are a Toa prototype, I can learn how the Toa were constructed, and where they are vulnerable to attack, just by taking you apart and rebuilding you.” He looked at me and grinned. “And so what if everyone knows I have you? Most of your readers voted for my ending to your story, anyway--the one where you find happiness in my arms.”Makuta seemed to have an answer to everything. I was beginning to feel very desperate. Was I really doomed to remain in his evil clutches? I shivered at the thought that he was planning to take me apart and use my anatomy to plot against my friends.Then I remembered something. Makuta’s greatest fear.I cleared my throat and spoke slowly. “But, Makuta, when LEGO finds out you’ve brought in an unauthorized extra character, they definitely won’t renew your contract.”Makuta hit the brakes, hard. The convertible skidded on the pavement with an ear-splitting screech. Then it spun out of control and slid all over the road. The car lurched to a stop in the ditch in the center of the grassy median, facing sideways. The air bag exploded into my face, knocking off my mask. An instant later I felt a heavy blow to the back of my head, and everything went black.When I returned to consciousness, Makuta was saying. “Thank you so much, beloved! I was about to jeopardize my whole career!” He put my mask back on my face, ripped the airbags from the dashboard, and threw them out of the car. I sat up, groggy. There were skid marks all over the road and deep gouges in the turf from the wheels. The block of frozen groceries was lying on the ground, smashed into pieces. “That must be what hit me,” I moaned, rubbing the back of my head. But as bad as I felt, I said a silent prayer of thanks that Makuta had stopped.At least one of the motorists who had been behind us had lost control as well, and now there was a multiple-vehicle pileup. I cringed as I watched a semi slam into the growing tangle of wrecked cars.Makuta put the car in reverse and gunned the motor. The wheels spun, spraying mud everywhere. Then he shifted into first gear and drove out of the median. He slammed the transmission into ‘Drive’ and pulled onto the road again, heading back toward the city. As we reached cruising speed, the thumping sounds of the mud chunks hitting the fenders finally died down.Makuta was talking excitedly. “Oh, sweetheart, I really do need to learn some patience. You’re so right. If I bring you to Mangaia now, I could ruin my chances to be in the 2004 storyline and beyond.” He reached across the seat and squeezed my hand. “After I win, and LEGO signs the new contract, then I’ll come fetch you.”Thank goodness Takanuva is going to defeat him, I thought. I didn’t understand why he planned to come back for me if he was so confident he would prevail against the Toa, but I decided I didn’t want to know.The traffic in the opposite direction had slowed to a crawl because of the enormous accident Makuta had just caused. In the distance, a highway patrol car and a fire truck were racing along the shoulder toward the scene.“But it’s too bad I won’t get to take you apart. I was rather looking forward to that,” he said regretfully, scanning me with his eyes.“Makuta, look out!” I warned. He swerved sharply to avoid the car in front of him. At twice the speed limit, he was weaving in and out of the other vehicles on the highway as if they were standing still.“Now you see why I need you by my side. Your cool thinking will lend balance to my impulsiveness. And taking over Mata Nui is just the beginning of my scheme.”Behind us, I could hear sirens. I twisted around in my seat and saw flashing lights. “Makuta, I think they’re after you.”He grinned. “Yes, it seems they are. This is going to be fun.” He waved his hand, and the pavement behind us erupted into jagged chunks of asphalt. Two of the police vehicles lost control and slid off the road. But soon more were in pursuit.An electronic beeping sound came from the glove compartment. “Dearest, would you please hand me the phone?” asked Makuta. I complied, and he flipped it open. “Hello? Oh, hi, Turahk. Yes, I have her here, but there’s been a slight change of plan. Are you boys behaving yourselves?”Makuta chatted gaily as he dodged a gravel hauler. He saw me looking nervously at the road ahead and covered the mouthpiece. “I know, princess, I should get a hands-free kit. I ordered one online, but I just haven’t had time to install it yet.” He resumed the conversation with his minion. “Well, she pointed out to me that LEGO might not renew my contract if they discovered her at our place. So I’m going to leave her here until after we defeat the Toa.”I could hear hissing sounds, and Makuta leaned toward me. “They’re really disappointed you’re not coming, but they understand that it’s for the best.”“Right, Makuta. I think you’re just making that up.”The sirens seemed to get louder. I saw another police car waiting for us on the median. As it pulled out onto the road, Makuta swerved toward it, and I watched it drive back off the pavement into the ditch.“Son, I’m going to put GaliGee on the line. Use that ‘text message’ feature on your phone, and type to her.” He studied the telephone for a second and then handed it to me. “Talk to him yourself, angel.”I took the phone, glad that Makuta was paying attention to the road again. I looked at the display. It read, “HI GALIGEE WE MISS U!”“Go ahead, say something,” urged the Spirit of Evil. “They can understand speech.”I looked at him warily. “Hello, um, Turahk,” I said hesitantly into the phone.The response came back. “R U HAVING A NICE DRIVE?”Conversing with a disembodied piece of Makuta—this was too creepy for words. “Uh, yes, thanks. Except for all the police cars chasing us,” I replied.More text appeared. “DAD WILL KEEP U SAFE.”Now, this sounded like something Makuta would want his offspring to say. I looked over at him. He was wearing a half-smile as he maneuvered the car around a flatbed truck loaded with quarried stone blocks. Was he using some kind of telekinesis or mind control trick?“So, I’ve been wondering about something. How do you six expect to defeat the Toa, when entire swarms of Bohrok failed?” I asked.“WE USE BOHROK AS KOLHII BALLS.”I had to chuckle at this. But I flinched when I remembered what kind of damage the Rahkshi were capable of doing, even while just amusing themselves. “I enjoyed the tour of the island you gave me when I was there,” I continued. “But why did you torment those poor Matorans?”“BECAUSE WE CAN,” read the display. “AND ITS FUN. BESIDES IF WE DIDN’T, DAD WOULD KILL US.”I glanced at Makuta again. He grabbed the phone, read the text, and scowled. Then he yelled into the mouthpiece. “You rotten little brat! I can make another one just like you, you know!” He snapped the phone closed and handed it back to me, narrowly avoiding a school bus. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. Of course he didn’t really mean that.”“Why are you acting surprised, Makuta? Aren’t the Rahkshi under your control, anyway? Because--” I stopped talking when I saw the police roadblock in front of us. Several cars with flashing lights were waiting next to a double row of yellow and black striped barricades.Makuta put his hand on my head and pushed me down onto the seat. I heard a loud crash as we sailed through the roadblock. Splintered boards, orange highway cones, and the front grille of a police cruiser flew overhead. I sat up again and knocked off a piece of wood that was hanging from the rear view mirror.“Sort of. The process of separating the kraata from myself interfered with our communication considerably.” Makuta grimaced. “Not enough to keep me from feeling the anguish as all those kraata were captured, though. You can’t blame me for having an axe to grind with the Turaga.”“So you can’t see through the Rahkshi’s eyes, or anything like that?”“No. But I don’t need to, anyway. I have very good eyesight, my pet. I even have eyes in the back of my head.” His head swiveled around, and two more blue eyes were looking at me out of the back of his mask, which vaguely resembled the Mask of Light. Then he spun his head the rest of the way around and glanced at my bag. “You have a green and black ball point pen that says ‘Horizon Bank’ on it, and twenty-seven dollars and eighty-two cents in your wallet.”I fished inside my bag and found the pen, exactly as he had described. Then I opened my wallet and counted my money. He was correct. I had a hard time imagining how Makuta could get any creepier. But at least he was taking me home--if I survived the ride.As we approached the city again, more patrol cars joined the chase. Makuta ran a red light, veering between a gasoline tanker truck and a pickup pulling a trailer full of landscaping equipment. I pressed myself back into the seat and gripped the door handle tightly.The Spirit of Evil glanced over at me. “Darling, relax! You’re safe with me.” He put his arm around my shoulders. Somehow I didn’t feel any safer.Steering with one hand, he cut off a cement truck that was pulling into the next lane, and then he drove onto the sidewalk to get around the cars waiting for a red light. Honking horns joined the cacophony of sirens. I looked up to see a police helicopter. Some distance behind it was another one with the logo of the local television station. Makuta looked up and waved his hand again, and a vortex of swirling air sent the helicopters spinning thousands of feet higher into the atmosphere.“So, here we are at the grocery store,” he smiled. “It pains me to let you go, dearest, but I’ll see you again soon. I’ve made you invisible to the police for a few minutes, so they won’t follow you. After all, it’s me they really want.” He careened into the parking lot on two wheels, snaking between shopping carts and terrified pedestrians, and screeched to a stop in front of the automatic doors.I jumped out of the car with great relief. “Thanks for bringing me back, Makuta,” I sighed. “I hope you get your new contract. But please don’t come back for me. I’m happy living right here where--”“Wait, my lovely,” he said, stepping out of the convertible. “I don’t want you to forget me.” He took my head between his hands. I felt a strange rushing sensation. My vision went black for an instant, and I lost my balance. I opened my eyes again, and Makuta was holding me in his arms. “Now, GaliGee, whenever you look in the mirror, you’ll think of me,” he grinned, kissing my forehead. “Farewell, my angel!”Dazed, I stumbled backwards toward the store. Police cruisers poured into the parking lot with sirens wailing. Makuta leaped onto the seat of his car, shook his fist, and yelled, “You’ll never catch me, coppers!” Then he sat down, put the car in gear, and floored it. As he zigzagged between the patrol cars into the street, I could hear his maniacal laughter over the roar of the engine and the squealing tires.“I guess I need to get some more groceries,” I mumbled to myself. But first, I ducked into the restroom to glance in the mirror. Sure enough, I looked different. Staring back at me out of my mask was a pair of blue eyes. I took off my Kaukau Nuva, blinked, and rubbed my eyes, but they were still blue, as was the back of my head. I replaced my Kanohi, left the bathroom, and headed toward the pharmacy aisle for some aspirin.As if I could ever forget Makuta.THE END If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Readers of my interviews may be wondering how I get pictures of my subjects, since I’ve never been to Mata Nui. But I am lucky enough to I have a local photographer working for me. Her name is Kimi, and she is from Ga-Koro. So read on, if you want to hear about the exciting life of a photo journalist on Mata Nui. Interview with Kimi the PhotographerGaliGee: Hello, Kimi. Thanks for agreeing to an interview, and for all your loyal service as my Mata Nui photographer!Kimi: You’re welcome, GaliGee. It’s been really fun. And I get to hang out with the Toa more than your average Matoran does.GaliGee: Would you please tell us how you got your start in photography?Kimi: Well, Nuju showed up in Ga-Koro one day with this little contraption, he called it a “camera.” He had been reading blueprints online, and he managed to make one, with the help of some Onu-Koronan materials engineers and a Ta-Koronan welder. He asked Nokama if anyone in Ga-Koro would be interested in learning how to use it. The Ko-Koronans don’t like to travel much, and he figured since we like boating, we could get some good pictures. He gave one to the Le-Koronans, too, so they could get aerial pictures of the island. It was a big help during the time of the Bohrok attacks.GaliGee: Did you ever do any photography for the military?Kimi: Oh, yes. I traveled all over, with Jala and his guard, mostly. Nokama always says, “Safety first,” so I never went alone We got pictures of the Bohrok so we could study their strategy, their tactics, and their movements.GaliGee: Were you ever in danger?Kimi: A couple of times we were in danger, but Jala always protected me. Once we were ambushed by some Pahrak in Ta-Koro, their scouts had seen us, and Jala yanked us into a cavern full of molten lava. The Pahrak wouldn’t follow us in there, because it was so hot. We were standing on this itty bitty ledge above the lava. I thought I was going to melt. Jala kept saying, “Hang in there! This is better than a landslide!” When they went away, we crawled back out. Nuju had to fix my camera after that, the lens was all warped.GaliGee: And when I asked Nokama if someone could get some digital pictures of my interview subjects, she volunteered you.Kimi: Yep. And the rest is history. It’s a lot more fun than shooting pictures of Bohrok, believe me.GaliGee: I believe you! Who has been your favorite subject to photograph?Kimi: That’s a tough one! Um… well, of course Gali is my hero, so I loved doing that one. All of the Toa are really funny and nice, and I got to listen to you talk to them. Kopaka, he’s so dreamy… Probably the funniest one was Lewa and Onua, they wouldn’t stop kidding around. You should see the out-takes. And the one with Lewa by himself, hanging upside down in the tree, that was great. [laughs] Huki and Maku were a riot… Oh, I can’t pick a favorite.GaliGee: Well, you do a good job of bringing out your subjects’ personalities.Kimi: I don’t have to try very hard, they all have lots of personality. The weirdest photo shoot was the interview with all the Toa, I thought they were going to have a big ugly fight right there in front of me. I was a little scared by that one.GaliGee: Me, too. I was starting to think I would be responsible for the demise of Mata Nui.Kimi: Actually, I do have a favorite. It was that group picture of all the Toa with Takua for your “GaliGee’s Stories” topic. Getting them all to line up and behave themselves was a real challenge! Onua wouldn’t look at the camera, I had to keep yelling, “Over here!” I think he can’t see very well. Lewa kept tickling Gali and making Takua fall off her shoulders. Until Tahu whacked the back of Lewa’s legs with his fire sword. Then Onua changed to his Matatu and made a bunch of nuts fall on Tahu’s head. Meanwhile, Pohatu and Kopaka were getting bored, so they started doing the Can-Can. Tahu yelled at them, and then Kopaka threw his arm around Pohatu so that his ice blade was right on Tahu’s neck -- it looked like he was tempted to use it. Finally, Gali threatened to start a rainstorm, and they quieted down. Then Lewa told a joke, and I snapped a picture of them all laughing.GaliGee: I had no idea I was making you work so hard!Kimi: Work hard? It was hilarious! I’ve had to travel a lot, but I love to travel, and you never asked me to do anything hard. You didn’t ask me to take pictures of the Bahrag or Makuta!GaliGee: I didn’t even talk to the Bahrag, you know. My friend FallenTurtles volunteered for that one, bless his heart. And Makuta, well, that wasn’t even my idea. I was just trying to order a pizza!Kimi: Yeah, and besides, how would I have taken a picture of a spirit?GaliGee: He gets more publicity than he deserves, anyway. So, Kimi, do you have a boyfriend?Kimi [sighs]: No. All the Tohunga you have sent me to photograph are already seeing someone. And Nokama keeps a pretty close eye on us, you know.GaliGee: What about Jala? It sounds like you’ve spent a lot of time with him.Kimi: He’s not interested. I can tell.GaliGee: Well, I don’t know what’s wrong with that boy!Kimi [laughs]: He’s awfully handsome, but he’s too wrapped up in his work anyway. I’d rather be with someone who likes to have fun.GaliGee: You’ll find him soon, I’m sure. You Ga-Koronans sure have the odds in your favor.Kimi: Everyone says that! But we’ve had lots of trouble on Mata Nui. As long as I can remember it’s been too dangerous to travel much. Maybe that will change, now that the Bohrok aren’t on a rampage anymore.GaliGee: I certainly hope so. Get out and have a good time while you can, I hear there may be new enemies soon.Kimi: May the Toa protect us. But please, don’t ask me to photograph the new bad guys!GaliGee: I won’t. Safety first, remember?Kimi: I remember!GaliGee: Well, thanks again for everything! Say hi to everyone in Ga-Koro for us. And tell your friend Lili there is a category 4 hurricane named after her that just hit our Gulf Coast. No fatalities, fortunately.Kimi: I will. Hafu will get a big laugh out of that. Later, GaliGee! [click]That Kimi is a brave girl. Of course, she used the auto-timer and sent me a picture of herself. I invite all of you to check out my interviews again. I have finally finished putting Kimi’s pictures in all of them. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Welcome, readers, to an interview with Fatoro, the Matoran who has turned an ecological disaster into a military advantage. And based on the recent topic by TheBlindMan2, there is considerable interest on BZ in how those turtles fly! (Inspired by FallenTurtles, who graciously included my Tohunga in his epic, Paradise Lost.)Interview with Fatoro the Hoi-TrainerGaliGee: Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed, Fatoro. The members of BZ are very interested in learning more about you.Fatoro: Sure. They are?GaliGee: Yes. We’d love to hear about how you came to be a Hoi trainer.Fatoro: A bit of luckchance. Poor groundbound Hoi were feardriven from the swamp by the foulslime Lehvak. The hardluck Hoi moved into Ga-Wahi.GaliGee: We had heard that Gali was trying to protect the Hoi.Fatoro: Yes, Gali was looking for vinesmen to protect them. She didn’t mind them in her waterlovely Ga-Wahi, but she knew they would be happier if they could be deepwood.GaliGee: Uh, you mean if they could return to their native jungle?Fatoro [laughs]: Yes. Sorry, you grounddwellers are not used to our songspeech, are you?GaliGee: No, but we’ll figure it out. Please go on.Fatoro: So, since it was Gali’s idea, and we knew we would be worksharing with the bluebeauty Ga-Koronans, fivescore of us Le-Koronans volunteered.GaliGee: That’s a lot! How many of these turtles ARE there?Fatoro: Only a few dozen. So Kongu said only one could do it, because he needed the others to be windriders for the Kahu-Force and to be uptree defenders. He drew straws. I got the shortlength one!GaliGee: Do you like your new job?Fatoro: It’s even more joyrich than I imagined. The Ga-Koronans bring the wanderlost Hoi to me, and I flighttrain them to protect Le-Koro.GaliGee: The turtles already know how to fly, right? We at BZ are wondering how that works, a flying turtle. Our turtles are heavy, earthbound, armored creatures.Fatoro: The Hoi are naturally buzzflying creatures. I just train them to be useful. They are very gentlemeek, but they are lovebound to those who feed and caretend them. So I have trained them to be quicksoaring attackstones that can smackpop a krana from a lateknowing Bohrok.GaliGee: Do you mean they will dive-bomb a Bohrok and knock its krana out?Fatoro: Yes! And they are shellstrong and quickdodge, so the Bohrok seldom hurt them.GaliGee: That’s impressive.Fatoro: They fly with the windriders, ahead of the disc-throwing leaf-runners, and prepare the way.GaliGee: So how do the turtles actually fly?Fatoro: Beautifully! They are everquick flyers, and can fly highbranch or sunsoaring.GaliGee: I’m sure they can. But what I meant was, how do they get in the air and stay there?Fatoro: They climb a little ways uptree, and then they launch. Or they birdlaunch with the Kahu-Force.GaliGee: I must not be making myself clear. How do they fly? Do they have wings, or what?Fatoro [laughs]: Winged turtles? That’s laughcrazy! I have no idea how they fly. But don’t stand downwind from one when it is highlifting, or you will have to lowduck to keep from getting overblown.GaliGee: I see. Now, do you ride alongside them?Fatoro: Yes, I have a Kewa so I can staypace with them. After a battleflight I gather any injured Hoi and liftcarry them back to Le-Koro. We have a Ga-Koronan who stays in Le-Koro to nursetend them. You know, the girl Tohunga are much better at caretaking the battlestruck.GaliGee: A Ga-Koronan lives in Le-Koro?Fatoro: Yes, she is lodgestaying with us until we are ridfree of the Bohrok.GaliGee: What’s her name? Do you work well together?Fatoro: Kaluki. She’s a sweetdream! A lightray in this darktime. If Nokama lets me, I want to everkeep her with me. But first, we must overcome the Bohrok. [expletive deleted] Bohrok!GaliGee: Hmm. Have you ever flown with Kongu?Fatoro: Yes, before I was Hoi-Trainer, I was in the Kahu-Force. I have ridden Kahu, Kewa, and Nui-Rama. And for a shortwhile I was Kongu’s second.GaliGee: You’ve had a long and varied career! What’s your favorite ride?Fatoro: The Kahu are the best. Steadysmooth ride, everquick, agile. The Rama are quickdodge but hardbalance. If you don’t everwatch you will find yourself quickly earthbound. But the Kewa is best for flying with Hoi, since they are wingsmall they can dodgeweave between the trees like the Hoi. And they are easy to watchtrack, when the Kewa are groundbound, all they want to do is huntsearch for mudbugs. They are always hungry!GaliGee: How is Matau as a leader? We at BZ hear he has quite a fun personality.Fatoro: He’s great! He is battlebrave and wise, and he always has a heartsong to cheerlift the discouraged. He throws a wildjoy party, too. There are fullheavy tables of fruit and bread, dancing and music until sundawn…GaliGee: No wonder you Le-Koronans are so homeloyal to your treebright village.Fatoro: Now YOU'RE songspeaking, too!GaliGee: I am? How funny! Well, there is something fevercatching about your joysong way of storytalking.Fatoro [laughs]: You should come staylodge in Le-Koro sometime. In leafdawn, it is very prettygreen.GaliGee: I wish I could. Well, thank you for talksharing with us. The BZ members will be very joylifted to hear of your work with the Hoi.Fatoro: My pleasure, GaliGee. May your heart stay sunsoaring! [click]So that is the songstory from Fatoro, the Hoi-Trainer, the Tohunga who found a highlifting calling in saving the Hoi from fearflight and putting them to battlework for his treegreen village. This is GaliGee reportfiling. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

After BZPower member silentlunchbag34 made a perfectly accurate MOC of my tiny new form, a few of you have asked why I was suddenly smaller than usual. Naturally, it has something to do with my nemesis and would-be suitor, Makuta. I guess I shouldn't have provoked him...Makuta Makes Me MiniI was walking out to my mailbox when I heard tires screeching on the pavement down the street. Makuta, Spirit of Evil, roared up to my house in his long, black Coupe de Ville convertible. As I ran for the front door, I was suddenly frozen in my tracks, overcome by fear. Makuta got out of the car and sauntered up to me."Hello, precious. Have you packed your bags yet? I’m ready to take you to Paradise.""No, and I never will," I retorted, as my fear dissipated and was replaced by anger. I began to transform into my Omega form. "Get away from me.""So spirited, for one so small," he grinned."Yeah, I'll show you spirited," I said through clenched jaws, flexing my knees and gripping my ice blades tightly.Makuta laughed. "And I'll show you small!" He raised his staff, and there was a puff of smoke. I found myself sitting on the ground. I stood up--and I was tiny!"Call me anytime, my angel," he smiled, patting me on the head. He got into the car and zoomed away down the street. I noticed that he had gotten the bumper and trunk repaired since the last time I had seen him, when he took me on a mind-bending road trip to Mangaia and back by way of the LEGO headquarters in Enfield, Connecticut.I looked down at myself. I was about half my former height, with short little arms and legs to match. I felt my mask, and it was apparently the same size as before. I sighed deeply. “Now I’m going to have to rummage around in the garage and find some spare parts to rebuild myself,” I thought. I stood on tiptoe, but I was unable to reach the mailbox. I dragged the recycle bin into the street, turned it over, and stood on it to retrieve my mail.I tossed the letters and magazines on the table as I headed for the garage, where I found plenty of extra pieces. I lay four Nuva legs, a Toa body, and some shoulder connectors on the floor next to me. But when I tried to pull off my undersized legs to replace them, they wouldn’t come off. I tugged and tugged to no avail. “What kind of horrible curse did he put on me, anyway?” I squeaked angrily. My voice, unfortunately, matched my new look.My chest armor no longer fit, but I put my shoulder armor on and picked up my axes, which seemed much heavier to me now. I looked at myself in the mirror and groaned. “I don’t exactly look very fierce anymore.”I put the extra parts back in the box and considered what to do next. Should I ask him to come back and change me to my normal form? I really didn't want to see him again. But I knew my life would be very difficult, being less than three feet tall. I could barely reach the sink! And driving my truck would definitely be a problem. I could build some step stools and extensions with LEGO bricks, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.Two days later, after calling LEGO and being told they couldn’t help me, I was resigned to the inevitable. I picked up the phone and called the Mata Nui operator. “Can you connect me to Makuta, please?”The Ga-Koronan on the other end of the line was silent for a moment. “Excuse me, Miss, did you say... Makuta?”“Well, yes, I did,” I replied. “You probably don’t get many calls for him, but...”“We don’t get ANY calls for him. You’re the first ever to ask. We don’t even have his number listed here.”“Didn’t you assign him a number when you set up his phone service?”“We didn’t set up his phone service. If he has a phone, he must have done it himself somehow.”“I see. Well, thanks any--” I was interrupted by a clicking sound.“Hello, my dove,” said Makuta. “It’s so wonderful to hear from you.”“AAAHH!” screamed the operator. There was another click.“Hello, Makuta,” I replied quietly. “I was hoping you would have mercy on me and change me back to my regular form. I don’t seem to be able to rebuild myself.”“Ah, yes.” There was a long pause. I waited breathlessly.“So, would you please change me back?”“Well, that depends. It’s an awfully long drive, darling. What are you going to do for me?” he asked, his voice smooth as oil.“Um... well...”“Don’t fret, sweetheart. You don’t have to decide that yet. Why don’t I pick you up and we can discuss it in my lair?”“I’d rather not, if you don’t mind. How about somewhere local? It would save you a round trip, anyway.”“Your house?”“NO! I mean, how about someplace a little more... neutral?” I stammered. “Like a restaurant?”“That nice hotel downtown, overlooking the river... what’s it called, the Four Seasons?”“All right,” I agreed, wondering what I had just gotten myself into. “When can you meet me there?”“The day after tomorrow. Seven o’clock.”“I’ll see you then,” I replied, and I hung up.Now I had two days to pace in a tiny circle and wonder how much worse off I would be after meeting with Makuta. I went about my daily routine as best I could, sitting on a phone book to work on the computer and standing on a chair to cook dinner. I looked wistfully at my bicycle, hoping someday soon I could ride it again.Finally the time arrived. I snapped a stack of LEGO bricks onto each foot so I could drive and headed downtown. The valet gave me a very strange look as I hopped out of the truck and handed him the keys.I walked through the hotel lobby and into the restaurant. I glanced around and didn’t see Makuta anywhere. The hostess was talking to one of the waiters. She didn’t notice me at all. Finally I reached up and tapped on the side of her podium. “Excuse me, but I need a table for two, please.”Startled, the hostess looked down. “Oh, I’m sorry, er, miss. Sure.” She picked up two menus. “Follow me, please.” She led me to a table next to a window, overlooking the river.“May I have a booster seat, please?” I asked.“Certainly,” she smiled. She returned in a moment with a plastic seat and helped me into it. I sighed and nervously twisted my napkin while I waited.Fifteen minutes later, a hush fell over the restaurant, and I knew Makuta had arrived. I saw him speaking to the terrified hostess. As she led him to our table, he suddenly leaned over toward one of the other diners. “What are YOU looking at?” he growled. The man fainted, and I saw his companion rush around the table and fan him with her napkin.Smiling, he approached his seat. “GaliGee! It’s so good to see you.” He nodded to the hostess, and she scurried away. He reached across the table and took my hand. “How are you, my cupcake?”I yanked my hand away. “Fine, except that I’m the size of a human three-year-old.”Makuta laughed. “But you’re so cute like that. Let me look at you.” He leaned back in his chair, which creaked ominously.“Yeah, I keep hearing that. But I can’t reach anything in my house, and it’s really hard to drive.”“Well, now you know how I feel, changing size and all. It takes some getting used to.”“I don’t want to get used to it. I want to be big again!” I realized it might not be a good idea to annoy him, so I added quickly, “That is, if you don’t mind... please.”“Well. This is interesting. I have something you want, and you have something I want.”“Um, yeah.”The waitress appeared and brought us menus. Makuta ordered two vodka Martinis. The waitress gestured toward me. “But sir... she’s only a child. I can’t serve--”Makuta’s eyes began to glow fiercely. “Right away, sir,” she said quickly, and fled toward the kitchen.“Makuta, I don’t drink. Even when I’m big,” I said, rolling my eyes.The Spirit of Evil chuckled. “You need to learn to relax, my pet.” He opened his menu.“How can I relax,” I thought, “when I’m at the mercy of an evil madman who has reduced me to half my size?” But I held my tongue and looked at the child’s menu in front of me. I picked up the red crayon and distractedly colored the cartoon ducks.The waitress brought two cocktails and took our order. Makuta held up his drink. “Cheers, darling.”I raised my glass and clinked it against his. “So... about my size...”“You’re in such a hurry,” he smiled, taking a sip.I set down my glass. “Wouldn’t you be, if someone had shrunk you?”“I’ve never really thought about it,” he admitted.“Well, that’s the problem with being evil. You can’t empathize with anyone. If you had the ability to put yourself in someone else’s place, you probably wouldn’t be so mean.”“Mean?” Makuta scoffed. “I just like to have fun. And I want you to come with me, so you can have fun, too. Life’s a blast, when you don’t have to stick to all those silly rules people keep trying to impose on each other.”“So, will you please make me my normal size again?”Makuta sighed. “Patience, my kitten. I was just getting to that. If you agree to return with me to Mangaia, I’ll be happy to change you back.”“You already know my answer to that,” I frowned. “Of course I won’t go with you.”“I have half a mind to pick you up, put you in my pocket, and just take you home with me, anyway,” he grinned, leaning across the table to tweak my mask.“You can’t make me go!” I squeaked. “Well, actually, you can... but I’m hoping you won’t, because I don’t want to!”Makuta laughed. “So, you want to stay small?”“Well, if it comes down to trading my soul for my original size, yes,” I replied. “I can learn to get along, being small like this. My real friends know it’s what’s inside that counts, not how you look.”“As a spirit, no one knows that better than I,” he agreed. He looked at me and sighed. “Such a strong-willed little thing.”The waitress arrived with Makuta’s steak and my grilled cheese sandwich. We ate in silence. I thought about what I could offer Makuta in exchange for making me normal, something that wouldn’t involve betraying my friends on Mata Nui. Finally, Makuta pushed back his chair. “Well, that was delicious. Now, how about I take you out for an ice cream cone, beloved?”“All right. But then can you make me big again? Maybe I could post a flattering story about you or something.”“That would be nice, for a change,” he chuckled. “But that’s not what I want.” He signaled the waitress, who brought the check.“Watch this,” he grinned. He waved his hand at the man that he had terrorized on the way to the table. The man’s wallet floated out of his back pocket toward Makuta, who caught it and opened it. He removed all the paper currency and waved his hand again. The wallet floated back to its owner and dropped into his pocket.The Spirit of Evil counted out five twenty-dollar bills onto the table. “That should cover it,” he smiled. He stood and helped me out of my booster seat. “Come along, dear.”I glanced anxiously at the man, who was eating his dinner and apparently hadn’t noticed anything. I sighed and followed Makuta out of the restaurant. We walked down the street until we came to an ice cream shop. Makuta bought us two cones, and we walked down the hike-and-bike trail along the river as we ate.“Nice night,” he remarked.My tiny feet were moving fast to keep up with his long strides. I was anxious to get to the point. “Yes, it is. So, can you make me big now?” I asked, for what seemed like the twentieth time.“In due time, my lovely. Enjoy your ice cream.”I frowned and kept walking. He sure seemed to enjoy making me wait.We walked up the ramp from the trail back to the hotel parking garage. Makuta tossed his crumpled napkin over his shoulder and turned to me. “So, will you be coming with me to Mangaia?”“No, Makuta,” I replied. I picked up his napkin and threw it, and what was left of my ice cream, into a nearby trash can. “I can’t live with evil. You know that.”“I grow impatient, darling. I really miss having you there with me. The Rahkshi were absolutely despondent when I told them you refused to come back. And The Mask of Light will be coming out soon, and I really need your help.”“My help? Look, I don’t even know how I could help you, anyway. I think you’re doomed. And I seriously doubt that the Rahkshi miss me, unless they need someone for target practice or something. As for you, I still don’t think you are capable of love.”Makuta waved his staff. I gasped in fear as I was enveloped in a cloud of smoke. But when it cleared, I looked down to see my normal body again. Could it be that Makuta really had a heart?“Thanks, Makuta,” I said gratefully. “But that’s not like you. Having mercy on someone, without getting anything in return. Why did you do it?”Makuta smiled. “Think about it, sweetheart. How could I dream about someone who’s not even three feet tall? I may be evil, but I’m not THAT creepy.”I shrugged. “Well, I’m glad you changed me back.”“Does this mean you’ll come with me, then?” he asked hopefully.“No, but you’re making me wonder about you,” I smiled. “Maybe you have some good in you, after all.”“And you’re just the one to help bring it out in me,” he said, putting his arms around me.“Sorry, Makuta, you’re on your own,” I retorted, pushing him away.Makuta scowled and raised his staff. The armor on my chest and shoulders melted to liquid protodermis and dripped off my body. I yelped as I shook off the searing hot fluid.“Just call LEGO,” he suggested with a nasty laugh. “They’ll send you some replacement parts.”“Yes, they’re very nice about that,” I replied as the valet brought my truck around the corner and accepted my tip.“You know where to find me, my lovely.” Makuta kissed my hand.“Same old Makuta,” I said, shaking my head. I got in and tossed the stacks of LEGO bricks into the back seat, with immense relief.THE END :kaukaunu:Thanks to:silentlunchbag34pohatu jrIf you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here is the one and only interview I am going to do for a non-standard Bionicle character. So please, don't ask. I encourage you, if you have a cool MOC, to write your own interview! Here is a glimpse into the life of the Toa who was too powerful to include in the official storyline.BZ member Yotanua, Toa of Time has posted a picture of his namesake, and his semi-Toa Tuhapo, on Brickshelf. To see it, click here.Interview with Yotanua, Toa of TimeGaliGee: Yotanua, thanks for taking the time to speak to me on behalf of the BZ members.Yotanua: No problem. I have all the time in the world.GaliGee: Oh, yeah. I guess so. You are the Toa of Time, after all. What powers does the Vahi give you, exactly?Yotanua: I can slow down or speed up time for myself, and I can also move backward and forward through time.GaliGee: Amazing! Why was such a powerful Toa as yourself excluded from the LEGO Bionicle storyline?Yotanua: Well, the truth is, I was late for the audition.GaliGee: LATE? How could you be late? You're --Yotanua: Just kidding, GaliGee.GaliGee: See, you would fit right in with the other Toa. They are always trying to play tricks on me like that!Yotanua: So I heard. Just wait until you see the next one they are going to pull.GaliGee: What? Are you in on this, too?Yotanua: No, but I know what's going to happen.GaliGee: Oh, yeah. Uh, oh. But back to my question. Why aren't you in the story?Yotanua: I was supposed to be in the PC game. You know, the one that was canceled.GaliGee: I heard about that. But didn't you know it was going to be canceled?Yotanua: Of course. But I still posed for all the 3D rendering and all, you know, just to beef up my portfolio.GaliGee: I bet it's impressive. Do you have a village?Yotanua: I do, Yo-Koro. It has one Tohunga named Hufu, and a sidekick named Tuhapo. He's a semi-Toa. No Turaga, though.GaliGee: What's a semi-Toa?Yotanua: He's more powerful than a Turaga, but not quite a Toa. He's a big help to me, though. Quite a fighter, and an all-around good friend.GaliGee: How do you manage with no Turaga?Yotanua: Gimme a break. Why would I need a Turaga, with only one villager?GaliGee: I see.Yotanua: And the answer to your next question is, Yo-Koro is located on a small island, not far from Mata Nui.GaliGee: How did you know... oh, never mind.Yotanua: Go ahead, ask your question. Otherwise, I have to go back in time and change my answer.GaliGee [getting confused]: OK, where is your village?Yotanua: I just told you.GaliGee: For crying out loud.Yotanua: Sorry, I guess that wasn't playing fair. But I'll go ahead and tell you how I get to Mata Nui.GaliGee: Please do.Yotanua: It's a really long boat ride. But I don't care, since I can speed up time. No one can come to my village, though, because they would die of old age first.GaliGee: Wow. So do you visit Mata Nui often?Yotanua: Yes, I'm pretty good friends with Tahu. We lava-surf together.GaliGee: That's great. So you aren't lonely, even though they left you out of the story.Yotanua: I find lots to do. You know, the real reason I'm not in the story is that I would really throw things out of balance.GaliGee: What do you mean?Yotanua: Well, the other Toa would be able to know the future, and that would mess up the story in a big way.GaliGee: I see. That makes sense. Tell us about your weapons.Yotanua: I have four blades, like Tahu Nuva is going to have, to cut through rock. And I like to tunnel around in Yo-Koro, or on Mata Nui.GaliGee: Those weapons might throw the story out of balance, too! The Nuva aren't even out yet!Yotanua: Yep. Whenever I practice with them, I have to go back in time to fix everything back up. You know, to cover my tracks.GaliGee: Amazing. That's why we never hear about you!Yotanua: And I know if anyone is going to come looking for me, so I can make myself scarce if need be.GaliGee: Does only Tahu know about you?Yotanua: No, the others know me, too, but Tahu's my best buddy among the real Toa.GaliGee: Does he really have a crush on Gali?Yotanua: Yeah, like a ton of lava! But I'll go back in time and change the answer, because I heard about your house.GaliGee: Thanks, I was just going to ask that. But -- you knew I would say I was just going to ask -- oh, never mind.Yotanua: Now, try it again.GaliGee: Does he really have a crush on Gali?'Yotanua: Of course not! He's too busy fighting evil to worry about that stuff.GaliGee: I SEE. Now, are you going to reveal any new stuff from the storyline for our readers?Yotanua: Are you crazy? Then I would NEVER get to be in it. But wait, I never will be, anyway. But wait --GaliGee: Have I confused you now?Yotanua [laughing]: No, I'm just kidding. But if I want to be friends with the Toa, I have to keep all that to myself. It wouldn't be fair to anyone.GaliGee: Well, we're out of time for now, or at least I am. Thanks so much for talking with me!Yotanua: It was fun. Say hi to BZ for me. [click]A few words from a little-known but powerful Toa, whose time will never come, because it always has been! This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Thanks, Huriko! Girlfriends, the CREEPIEST guy just asked me out. You are not gonna believe--oops, sorry, I was talking to Nova Nuhvok and T-Hybrid, I didn’t see the rest of you there. Oh, that’s right, T-Hybrid has gone back to being a boy. Silly me. Anyway, read on to see what the Spirit of Evil is up to now.Interview with Makuta, Spirit of Evil (again)GaliGee: Sure, I’ll hold. [elevator music]Makuta: Hello, my angel.GaliGee: Makuta?!? What are you doing on my phone line again? And I'm not your angel.Makuta: Oh, joy. She recognized my voice! Maybe there’s still hope.GaliGee: Hope for what, you vile, repugnant--IRS lady: [music stops] Ma’am, you’ll need to fill out a W-3c correction form. You can pick those up at our office.Makuta: I’m just calling to see if you’re willing to give our love another chance.IRS lady: Excuse me?GaliGee: What the—you lousy son-of-a—get off my phone line!IRS lady: The United States Government does not appreciate prank calls on its official business lines. [click]Makuta: That’s better. Now we can be alone. So, how do you like the buff new me?GaliGee: Despicable as ever.Makuta: Why, thank you. I worked hard on my new look. I was hoping you would like it, and fall for me all over again. Because I still have feelings for you, you know.GaliGee: Yeah. I have feelings for you, too. Like loathing and revulsion.Makuta: I’m so hurt! I mean, if you think Onua is good-looking, for crying out loud, you’ve gotta love MY new form. I’m TALL, dark, and handsome!GaliGee: Onua has a heart of gold. You, on the other hand, have a heart of maggot-ridden carrion.Makuta: [sighs] Oh, that’s so harsh.GaliGee: What do you want, Makuta?Makuta: I just want to be loved. Is that so wrong?GaliGee: Still a pathological liar, I see.Makuta: Again with the name-calling. Well, I guess can accept that you no longer care for me. I mean, you served me for a time, with your gossipy stories about the Toa, and now I guess it’s over. [sniff] But can you give me some advice? I just don’t understand it. Even my minions don’t love me. Sure, they obey, and they serve me well. But I can see it in their eyes, there’s no real devotion there. How can I get them to adore me?GaliGee: Makuta, everyone hates and fears you because you are hateful and fearsome. Change your ways, and you will get plenty of love.Makuta: Come on, GaliGee! If I were to be nice, LEGO would fire me. Ooooh... but you just gave me a diabolical idea. I’ll re-write all my lines for the Mask of Light so that I’m a good guy! Then the movie will be big flop. The kids will be SO disappointed. Just think of the financial disaster for LEGO!GaliGee: I thought the movie was already in post-production now. Didn’t you already wrap up the filming?Makuta: Oh, yeah. Dang. I’ll have to come up with something else.GaliGee: You do that. Listen, I have to go finish my taxes.Makuta: Wait! Before you go, I just wanted to thank you for writing those epics. Now that you’ve revealed what the Toa were really thinking all this time, I’ll have some leverage to use against them. If I can just get Tahu and Kopaka to fight over Gali again...GaliGee: I seriously doubt that will happen. They all learned something from that, you know.Makuta: Darn! Well, then I’ll work on the pride angle. You showed me how vulnerable Tahu is to attacks on his pride.GaliGee: Tahu is going to forget his pride and remember his magma swords next time he sees you. And it sounds like he may have some help from a new Toa.Makuta: [laughs] As if Tahu’s little butter knives will make any difference. Now, Takua... I knew that kid was trouble. I should have snuffed out his little multicolored--oh, there's a lady present—er, self long ago, back in the MNOLG. That Nui-Jaga coulda gotten him, if it had shot at him after Pohatu was blinded. Instead, it wasted time defending its nest. [sighs] You just can't depend on an arachnid to carry out the simplest task.GaliGee: Well, what did you expect? It’s a big bug.Makuta: Hey, I’m the evil mastermind here, I’ll be the judge of what makes a good minion. But anyway, I'm so glad the Rahkshi turned out smart. Those old Bahrag biddies are really clueless, but at least they held the Toa off long enough for me to build my Rahkshi right. How do you like them?GaliGee: They’re almost as creepy as you are.Makuta: Yes, they ARE darling, aren’t they? My boys, my very own sons. I taught them everything they know. Every time I hear them hiss “Daddy,” my heart swells with pride and joy.GaliGee: Why don’t you take them and go find a new, uninhabited island to live on?Makuta: Because I still hold some hope that the Matorans will relent, and start worshipping me. I mean, of course the Rahkshi worship me, because I made them. But the Matorans... their worship will mean so much more, because I will have stolen it from my brother.GaliGee: I don’t understand that.Makuta: You don’t have a big brother, do you? I mean, besides Onua, because he’s not your real brother.GaliGee: No, I don’t.Makuta: Imagine, then, if you did. A taller, stronger, dashingly handsome brother who was always perfect. Always pleasant. Always forgiving. And always taking the good stuff, and leaving you with mere scraps. Wouldn’t you want what was his?GaliGee: Sure. It’s natural to envy your siblings. But you don’t have to go wrecking worlds because of it. THAT’s what makes you evil.Makuta: But I DO have to take over Mata Nui. Or at least try. It’s in my contract.GaliGee: Why did you take this job, anyway? Didn’t you know LEGO would never let the bad guys win?Makuta: Maybe the people at LEGO are planning for me to lose. But just between you and me, they’re in for a big surprise.GaliGee: What do you mean?Makuta: They think they control me. But they have unleashed the power of evil into the world, and it’s mightier than they know. I’m going to get my way, after all.GaliGee: You’re planning to outsmart LEGO and prevail against the Toa?Makuta: In a word, yes.GaliGee: That’s preposterous.Makuta: Think small, if you like. But I’m going to do it. You can try to stop me and get crushed. Or you can return to my loving arms and share in the spoils of my victory. Just think... I’ll make you the Princess of Darkness.GaliGee: Your loving arms? Puh-leeeeez! I’d rather do my taxes. And speaking of which...Makuta: Listen, if you won’t do it for my sake, think of the poor little motherless Rahkshi. They need love, too. They’re very affectionate little creatures. And you have so much love in your heart. You could bring joy to their dark little world, like Maria did for the von Trapp children.GaliGee: I think I’m going to be sick. Affectionate? I’d feel safer with a nest of cobras. You must be out of your mind. And it’s YOUR fault, not mine, that they have no mother.Makuta: [sigh] I guess I was wrong about you. I thought you were compassionate.GaliGee: Look, last time you tried to offer me money, and I said ‘no.’ Now you’re trying to make me feel loved and needed. That’s not working, either. What’s next? Fame?Makuta: Say... now there’s an idea. How about I get you a job as a writer for LEGO? You said that would be your dream job!GaliGee: Yes, but not if it means I have to work for you.Makuta: You could make me win in the official storyline. And then we could rule together! Muah hah hah hahaaack [cough] [cough]GaliGee: You’re insane, Makuta.Makuta: I’ll take that as a compliment. No, wait! I have an even better idea! I’ll make one of the Toa fall in love with YOU. Just pick one! I could probably pull that off. Even though I would be a little jealous, it would be worth it to have you on my side.GaliGee: Yeah, right. You would never be able to do that. Love is way out of your league, Makuta. Besides, I’m not interested.Makuta: Sheesh. What will it take to win you over? I can’t do puppy-dog eyes over the phone line... and I’m trying to make my voice sound as honey-like as possible...GaliGee: Your voice sounds just as sinister and nasty as it does in the Mask of Light trailer. Face it, Makuta. I’m not falling for your lies.Makuta: Fine. Spurn me. Discard my love like yesterday’s rose. You’ll come to regret the coldness of your little blue plastic heart. [click] [ceiling collapses around me in a huge cloud of dust]Gaaah! Good thing I have that drywall contractor on speed-dial. This interview is dedicated to Baihumon, in appreciation for his outstanding MOC, GaliGee Omega, which is exactly how I look after I’ve seen someone spamming or flaming. (I’m almost as big as Makuta, ha ha!). If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Hi, y'all. I just reposted the Interview with Takanuva and Jaller, and the first Interview with Makuta, in case anyone is feeling nostalgic. (Personally, it made my protodermis crawl.)Have a great day!

These are my Makuta short stories from the old forum that were lost or damaged. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.Thanks for your interest! Now, before you praise me for my courage, this was NOT my idea. This is how it happened.Interview with Makuta, Spirit of EvilGaliGee: I'd like an extra large, with sausage, black olives, and extra cheese --Makuta: MUAHAHAHAHAHA!GaliGee: Makuta?Pizza guy: Excuse me, ma'am?Makuta: It's me!GaliGee: Makuta! Get off my phone line!Pizza guy: Ma'am?GaliGee: I'm sorry, I'll call back about the pizza in a minute.Pizza guy: Whatever. [click]Makuta: Now that I have you all to myself, let's talk!GaliGee: I don't like the sound of that.Makuta: Well, everyone acts all afraid of me when they first find out about me. But you'll see that I'm really just a regular guy. I'm just misunderstood.GaliGee: I don't think so. You're responsible for so much anger, destruction, sorrow, and death. How can you call yourself a regular guy?Makuta: You see, the Toa just THOUGHT I was responsible for those infected masks and landslides and lava flows and whatnot. They were really just looking to beat up on someone. I mean, how would you feel if you showed up on an island, bristling with cool weapons and elemental powers, and all there was to fight was a bunch of little people that only have seven pieces each? So they started picking on the poor dumb animals. It wasn't their fault the Rahi were sick. It just happened.GaliGee: Just HAPPENED? I know more Mata Nui history than that, Makuta. YOU were behind the infection.Makuta: What proof do you have?GaliGee: Well, among other things, after the Toa blasted you to bits, the infection all stopped. You're just trying to confuse me with your lies.Makuta: Heh, heh. No Akaku this time!GaliGee: What?Makuta: Oh, nothing. But really, LEGO had to have a bad guy. It's not MY fault they made me evil.GaliGee: Maybe not, but we still don't have to be nice to you. Because we were created to hate evil.Makuta: Say, why don't you ask me some questions? You know, give me an interview, like you did for the Toa? I'm sure the BZ members would love to hear my side of the story.GaliGee: I only interview characters that tell the truth. Otherwise, what's the point?Makuta: Clever, she is. But not clever enough. Did you know that you have been a minion in my latest scheme all along?GaliGee: What are you talking about?Makuta: Well, you see, since you last talked to the Toa, they have gone down into the Bohrok nest. There they will find the exos, fight the Bahrag, get transformed, yada, yada, yada. But in the meantime, until Comic #7 is out, they are stuck in this nest, Tahu in the egg chamber and the rest in a cave, with molten lava falling on them.GaliGee: How dreadful.Makuta: So I want them to be stuck there for a long time, so they will suffer in fear and misery and become weakened while I can work on my new evil scheme. You know, for the Mask of Light. I'm running kind of behind on it.GaliGee: So what does this have to do with me?Makuta: Ah! Well, the more we can distract LEGO, the longer it will take to get Comic #7 finished. Hence the Tahu-Gali relationship hoax.GaliGee: I remember. You claim that you wrote that comment in the margin of the Comic #8 script.Makuta: I did write that. And it got all of BZ talking! But I've been doing it all along. I log on as you guys, and post all kinds of racy stuff. Let's see... theBlindMan2's story about Tahu and Gali alone on the big volcano... FallenTurtles' post about a fight between Tahu and Lewa... your thing with Tahu Nuva, Gali Nuva, and that awful Mangai joke...GaliGee: What thing about Tahu Nuva... hey! [grabs for mouse]Makuta: Just enough to get you guys started. Not that THAT was very hard. Do you know how much time the people at LEGO waste reading BZ?GaliGee: Actually, no.Makuta: A lot! And now they are arguing, too. It's great fun!GaliGee: This sounds like the evil plan I was joking about in the Tahu-Gali topic in Storyline & Theories. The LEGO staffers get in such a big fistfight over the supposed romance that productivity is gone for a whole day. I was calling it theBlindMan2's plan, just as a joke!Makuta: Oh, yes, I saw that. Pretty funny.GaliGee: If you're such a hot shot, why didn't you go back and edit that stuff out so no one would suspect anything?Makuta: Say, you'd make a good minion of evil, GaliGee. Want to come work for me? The pay's good. That's actually why I cut into your pizza order, anyway.GaliGee: NEVER! I'd rather die.Makuta: That can be arranged. But really, I'm a nice guy to work for. I'm important in the story, too. Think of the fame and fortune!GaliGee: You represent all that we despise. You lie and destroy for your own pleasure. The Toa have sworn to defend their island against you, and they won't rest until you are dead. REALLY dead. And LEGO is a good company that cares for kids. So you know you are doomed. Good will prevail! [at this moment the telephone exploded in my hand, and the call was cut off.]You have heard from the Spirit of Evil, folks, so beware what you believe. Congratulations to Madcat II for winning the contest, and happy early birthday. And happy late birthday to Shadow. I would have posted it yesterday, but the bandages made it hard to type. This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

These are my Interviews from the old forum that were lost or damaged. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.Thanks for your interest! Like many of you, I’ve been wondering how Takanuva felt about his dramatic transformations, his defeat of the powerfully evil Makuta, and his new life as a Toa. So I gave him a call. And his loyal friend Jaller popped in to make a few comments, too. Thanks to Pewe Toa of the Void and pohatu jr for ideas.Interview with Takanuva and JallerGaliGee: Takanuva, it’s really nice of you to take the time for an interview. All of us at BZPower are really looking forward to hearing what it was like for you to transform from Takua the Chronicler into Takanuva, Toa of Light, and courageously save Mata Nui from eternal darkness.Takanuva: Aww, shucks. It was nothing. But it’s nice of you to say so.GaliGee: Nothing? It was the showdown Bionicle fans had been anticipating for months! You risked unimaginable danger to protect your people.Takanuva: I was just doing my job, for a change. But yeah, it was a mind-bending experience merging with the bad guy.GaliGee: I’m sure it was. But before we get to that part, would you mind answering a few questions about your quest for the Toa of Light?Takanuva: [laughs] Boy, did I feel sheepish when I figured out who he was! It was quite a journey. Me and Jaller, you know, we go way back, to the days when we were fighting Bohrok.GaliGee: You two did seem pretty comfortable with each other.Takanuva: We’ve traveled all over together, and we know each other’s quirks. Like Jaller is really scared of Fikou. At one point, one dropped out of the trees when we were in Le-Wahi, and Jaller flipped backwards off Pewku’s back.GaliGee: [laughs] Well, I’d be pretty scared of them, too.Jaller: Yeah, GaliGee, and Takua—I mean Takanuva—is scared of the dark.Takanuva: I am not!GaliGee: Hello, Jaller.Jaller: Hi, GaliGee. Are too!Takanuva: Don’t you have some guard duty rounds to make or something, pipsqueak? And that’s Toa Takanuva to you.Jaller: Yeah. But I’ll be back, kolhii-head. Later.GaliGee: It sounds like you two are still really at ease with each other, even though you have changed.Takanuva: He still gets on my case for being irresponsible, and I still tell him he’s too much of a conformist.GaliGee: So I take it that wasn’t just a plot device to add, er, human interest to the movie.Takanuva: Plot device? We were fighting for our lives, girl!GaliGee: Oh, I’m sorry, of course you were. BZPower is really grateful to you for standing up for good against evil. And I’d like to add my personal thanks for defeating Makuta.Takanuva: Personal thanks? What, has Makuta been bugging you, too?GaliGee: It’s a long story. But anyhow, are you sure you don’t mind that I’m posting your journal on BZPower?Takanuva: No problem, GaliGee. I’ll e-mail you the rest of the entries as soon as I can get them typed up. Or I’ll just use the OCR program, if Turaga Nuju ever gets that scanner fixed. Stupid Rahkshi.GaliGee: Thank you so much, Takanuva. A lot of members have said they’ve been enjoying it so far.Takanuva: Wait, are you going to put in the part about Nixie?GaliGee: Well, yes, unless you don’t want me to.Takanuva: Oh, go ahead. After all, it’s my new policy to bring everything into the light.GaliGee: I see. Well, that’s logical.Takanuva: Besides, it’s not embarrassing to her… only me.Jaller: Is there anything embarrassing about me in there?Takanuva: You bet! You said a bunch of stuff in your sleep about Hahli.GaliGee: Hello again, Jaller.Jaller: Hi again, GaliGee. I did not!Takanuva: Did too!Jaller: Don’t you have some lightstones to switch out or something?GaliGee: Say, Jaller, since you’re here, can I ask you what it was like to die and be revived?Jaller: Sure, GaliGee. It was incredibly strange. I felt my whole body shake like my heart was about to stop, and then I saw my life flash before my eyes. The guard training… the Rahi battles… finding Toa Tahu… the Bohrok wars… covering for Takua so he could shirk his duties…Takanuva: Hey! That only happened once or twice.Jaller: Three times. But who’s counting? And then there was Hahli… I felt so sad. I really regretted not ever telling her I loved her.GaliGee: So, after you were revived, I bet that was the first thing you said to her.Jaller: Are you crazy? I could never tell her that! That’s too scary! I’m not planning on dying again anytime soon, anyway.GaliGee: I don’t think people usually plan on it.Jaller: Anyway, I saw my whole life flash by. And I was in a tunnel, with a bright light at the end. As I drew closer, the light started to take shape, and I could read some letters.GaliGee: Letters?Jaller: Yeah. It was like a message from the Great Spirit Mata Nui.GaliGee: Really? What did it say?Jaller: It said, “Game Over.”Takanuva: No way!Jaller: Way!GaliGee: You’re kidding, aren’t you, Jaller?Jaller: Yeah. But I did see a bright light. Then I was lying on the ground, and this big, scary dude was leaning over me. He was half really ugly and half, um, less ugly.Takanuva: Hey!Jaller: Anyway, I realized that he had saved my life, just in time to see him get smashed by this huge door he was trying to hold up.GaliGee: Oh, my.Jaller: Yeah, it made a sickening sound, kind of a wet crunching noise, with chunks of metal flying and hydraulic fluid spraying everywhere.GaliGee: Aaah! That was more information than I needed, Jaller.Jaller: I was really sad, because I could tell that Takua was in there. And his mask came spinning out. Or rather, Takanuva’s mask. But I knew it was Takua, obviously.Takanuva: You did?Jaller: Duh! There was a spoiler on that Purple Dave guy’s website, like, a year ago!Takanuva: You knew? Why didn’t you say something?Jaller: Because you would have gotten a head the size of Toa Tahu’s Suva.Takanuva: Oh.Jaller: Anyway, I was really happy to see that kolhii-head revive when Turaga Vakama put the Avokhii onto the big dot.GaliGee: I bet it was wonderful to see him again. And speaking of kolhii, did anyone describe to you Takanuva’s big match with Makuta?Jaller: Well, I saw it in the movie. Turaga Vakama took us all up to Mount Ihu, and we got to watch the DVD on Turaga Nuju’s home theater system. He’s even got surround sound. But Toa Lewa kept grabbing the remote and doing the frame-by-frame thing whenever Toa Gali showed up onscreen. Turaga Nuju was hopping up and down and squeaking, until finally Toa Kopaka wrestled Toa Lewa to the floor and sat on him.GaliGee: That’s Lewa for you. Were you surprised at how well your friend played?Jaller: Yeah. I was really proud of him. He did really well, for being such a lousy player. Hey! Put me down!Takanuva: Heh, heh. Sometimes I just gotta pull rank on him.Jaller: Just you wait. Someday LEGO will do a flashback, and they’ll turn you back into a Matoran for it!Takanuva: Oh, I hope not. You’d never let me hear the end of it.Jaller: Well, I gotta go. Unlike the Lightheaded One here, I have a real job. See you!GaliGee: Thanks, Jaller!Takanuva: He’s a real pal, that guy.GaliGee: He is. So, how have you been getting along with the other Toa? Have they fully accepted you as one of their number yet?Takanuva: Oh, yes, they’ve been very kind and welcoming. They really made me feel like a Toa right away. Since I don’t really have my own village to defend, they let me help out with their villages. Take Toa Tahu, for example. I mean, Tahu! I’m not used to that yet.GaliGee: I imagine there have been a lot of adjustments to make.Takanuva: Yes, there have. Well, Tahu gave me a really important task that no Matoran could accomplish.GaliGee: What was it?Takanuva: He showed me how to haul a week’s worth of trash from the village out into the middle of the lava river so it would burn up.GaliGee: But I thought Ta-Koro was flooded with magma by the Rahkshi.Takanuva: True. But all the trash was in a big bin, and the lava didn’t reach it. And then Lewa got me to weed the vegetable garden in Le-Wahi. The weeds were so tall, they were over the Matoran’s heads. So they needed a Toa to do it. And my staff is just the right shape for that kind of work.GaliGee: I see.Takanuva: And Kopaka had me scrape the frost off the windows of the Sanctum. Good thing I’m not afraid of heights. But man, it’s cold up there! I couldn’t even feel my fingers by the time I was done.GaliGee: It sounds like you’ve been working really hard for everyone.Takanuva: Yeah. Onua got me to bail water out of the bottom of the Great Mine. The fight with the Rahkshi caused a big cave-in, and the groundwater flooded the shaft about five bios deep.GaliGee: And you bailed all that water out?Takanuva: It took quite a while. Then Pohatu got me to clean the stables in Po-Koro.GaliGee: I thought that was the comet ball traitor’s job.Takanuva: It was, but the muck was so deep, he couldn’t get the door open any more. So I had to help out.GaliGee: Wait a minute. Aren’t you all going to leave Mata Nui anyway? Why are you even bothering with these jobs?Takanuva: Hey! You’re right! Who cares if the garden needs weeding? We’re going to be gone in a few weeks!GaliGee: It sounds to me like the other Toa are taking advantage of the new guy.Takanuva: You think so? Yeah… it does, doesn’t it?GaliGee: Did Gali put you to work, too?Takanuva: No, she didn’t. Just the guys.GaliGee: Do you still have a special bond with her?Takanuva: Well, no, since I’m not the Chronicler any more. I guess she’ll be sending visions to Hahli now. But it’s just as well, because Tahu and Kopaka would probably start fighting over which one would get to kill me. Gali would try to break it up, Lewa would start selling tickets to the Matoran, and Pohatu and Onua would have a bet going on the outcome.GaliGee: It sounds like you’ve figured out the group dynamics of the Toa pretty well.Takanuva: Yeah, I got to know them as we traveled with them, while they were hunting the Kal. I used to think they were all noble and pure at heart. But when I got to see them bicker over the last piece of roast Maha, I realized they’re just like the rest of us.GaliGee: I think so, too. So, I’ve saved the biggest question for last. What was it like to merge with Makuta?Takanuva: Oh, man. That was unforgettable. I got a glimpse into the darkest, most twisted mind I’ve ever encountered.GaliGee: There’s one thing all of us on BZPower are dying to know, Takanuva. Why is Makuta claiming to protect his brother from pain?Takanuva: Uh, actually, I didn’t understand that part, either.GaliGee: Aww, man!Takanuva: I did find out why he really put him to sleep, though.GaliGee: Really? Why?Takanuva: If I told you, I’d have to kill you.GaliGee: No way!Takanuva: Way! LEGO won’t let any of us talk about it yet.GaliGee: Oh, well, I suppose we’ll find out eventually.Takanuva: Yeah, someday. Like the Turaga’s story. Those guys are so mysterious. It turns out they were once Toa.GaliGee: I’ve heard that, too.Takanuva: So, I’m definitely not going to leak any secrets to you. LEGO might turn me into a Turaga, too. I have no desire to look like an old guy, and sit around and discuss prophecies all day.GaliGee: OK, I can understand that. So, how did it feel to transform from a small Matoran to a larger Matoran to a Toa to a combined being of darkness and light that’s the most powerful creature ever to walk the surface of Mata Nui?Takanuva: Great! I got kind of used to not being used to myself. The first time was cool, because we got to rebuild ourselves, just like you guys play with LEGO s. The second time, it was in the middle of a really intense moment, with the Toa and Rahkshi fighting behind me and my best friend dead, so I was completely overwhelmed by everything. And the last time, well, it was just too weird for words.GaliGee: When did you realize you were going to merge with Makuta?Takanuva: I was just trying to pull off his mask, and it occurred to me that maybe he wouldn’t be so grumpy if he was wearing mine, so I put the Avokhii on him. But I needed a mask, too, so I put his Krakhaan on myself. Man, it was creepy looking out of his eyeholes. His mask smelled like charcoal and motor oil.GaliGee: And once you were in the protodermis, you merged?Takanuva: Yeah, I wanted to light up the inside of his mind, and see what was really driving him to be so cruel. And somehow we got all tangled up, and then I heard his voice inside my head, and then suddenly we were one being. And he agreed with me that we should raise the door, and I agreed with him that we should revive Jaller. Then I felt his strength being sapped, and I couldn’t hold the door anymore.GaliGee: I don’t want to hear about that part again!Takanuva: Uh, yeah, it was kind of gross.Gali: Oh, Takanuuuuuuuva!Takanuva: In here, Toa Gali. I mean, Gali.Gali: Oh, there you are. I was wondering if you would mind helping out in Ga-Koro. Nokama has trained three of the villagers to give therapeutic massages, and they need someone to practice on.Takanuva: No way, Gali! I’m not going to let you push me around just because I’m the new guy! I have my dignity, too, you know.Gali: Suit yourself. I’ll find someone else. Oh, Taaaaaahu! [voice recedes]Takanuva: I sure told her off, eh?GaliGee: Actually, what she was suggesting sounded rather pleasant. A massage by three Ga-Koronans… all you’d have to do is lie there and relax…Takanuva: You think so? Yeah… it did, didn’t it? Hey, Gali! I’ve changed my mind! Wait for me! Gaaaaaali! [voice recedes]GaliGee: Takanuva? Takanuva? Well, I guess this interview is over. [click]So, now Mata Nui’s reluctant hero actually looks like one. But at heart, he’s still just Takua. And Jaller won’t let him forget it. This is GaliGee reporting. If you would like to post comments, please do so in my GaliGee's Stories topic.

Welcome, friends! Great Beings, what a mess. Due to the latest BZP database hit, some of these stories (marked with a *) have screwy formatting. (They're still readable, if you don't mind that all the page breaks have disappeared.) The rest are missing from BZP. The GOOD NEWS: 1. Most of my stories can be found in readable form at this web archive: http://web.archive.org/web/20061112142242/http://www.bzpower.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17030 2. My Brickshelf still exists, www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?m=GaliGee. 3. I've uploaded everything in PDF form to my website, www.lilygee.com/galigees-archive. Please come back here to comment on anything. Thanks for your patience! GaliGee's Stories Interviews Toa: Gali, Toa of Water Onua & Lewa Tahu, Toa of Fire Lewa, Toa of Air (again) Onua, Toa of Earth (again) Kopaka, Toa of Ice Pohatu, Toa of Stone All the Toa Wairuha Nuva, Toa Kaita of Wisdom Akamai Nuva, Toa Kaita of Valor *Takanuva, Toa of Light, and Jaller MOCs: *Yotanua, Toa of Time *Fatoro the Hoi Trainer *Kimi the Photographer Matoran: *Takua the Chronicler *Hafu the Stone-Carver *Huki and Maku Nuparu and Taipu *Kongu and Tamaru Jala and Takua Hahli Villains: The Bahrag (interview by FallenTurtles, because I was chicken) *The Bohrok-Kal Updates: *Gali interviews GaliGee *The Turaga The Powerless Toa Nuva (ghost-written for MataNuiHero) Outlandish Stories "Cockroaches the size of Great Danes! Eeeew!" --Sugar Plum Fairy Barbie Barbies Invade Mata Nui, Looking for Eligible Bachelors After the only Ken is married off, the Barbies come to Mata Nui looking for husbands. The Toa are looking for a weapons technology transfer. What will they learn from each other? (screenplay-style comedy, five chapters) Lewa, wearing his Huna and leaning on a palm tree, laughed to himself. "This is gonna be good," he thought. Gali Loses Her Head, Lewa switches it with Pohatu's After the victory party for Makuta's defeat, Lewa plays a little prank. How will the other Toa react? (epic-style comedy, seven chapters) “San Diego, CALIFORNIA?" I asked incredulously. "But that's fifteen hundred miles away!"Onua grinned. "I live to ride, baby." Road Trip with Onua, Three Thousand Miles on Cajun’s Harley A grocery trip turns into a cross-country adventure, especially when we run into a gang of Nuhvok with a bad attitude. (epic, eight chapters) "Someone might get hurt," I said to Onua and Pohatu. "Aren't you going to do something?""Ten bars of protodermis says she'll take him," said Pohatu. The Toa Nuva at Kennedy International Airport, ... there's gonna be a rumble! The Toa Nuva are on their way back to Mata Nui after their vacation. But they don't seem very rested and relaxed... someone is spoiling for a fight! (comedy, three parts) Kotu laughed. "When have I ever passed up a chance to play a joke on Huki?" But as she followed Maku out of the hut, she glanced nervously at her friend. The Greening Of Po- Koro, Featuring MakuTa What's gotten into Maku? When she thinks Huki has forgotten their anniversary, she decides to get revenge. (comedy, eight chapters) Makuta Stories *Interview with Makuta, Spirit of Evil *Interview with Makuta, Spirit of Evil, again I watched the door being wrenched off its hinges and slammed to the ground. The Spirit of Evil ducked through the doorway and walked over the door. “Don’t be shy, my love!” he said cheerfully. “I’m here to take you for a little ride!” Road Trip with Makuta, in his black Coupe de Ville convertible Makuta, in his relentless effort to recruit me to the dark side, takes me to Mata Nui in his Cadillac, with the Rahkshi jumping around in the back seat. (dark comedy, posted in Epics, five chapters) Smiling, Makuta approached his seat. “GaliGee! It’s so good to see you.” He reached across the table and took my hand. “How are you, my cupcake?”I yanked my hand away. “Fine, except that I’m the size of a human three-year-old.” *Makuta Makes Me Mini Never mouth off at an evil megalomaniac. (short story) "Oh, that reminds me. I have to think of a new name for the island. Do you have any ideas?”“This is LEGO, Makuta. You’re not going to win.”“Then you’ll die with me,” he said with a sinister grin. *Makuta's Last Try My supernatural stalker returned, but he'll never darken my doorway again--because I stumbled onto what turned out to be his deepest fear. (short story) *That Annoying Gali Gee Mask Of Light Sig Countdown Just a wacky little list to kill time while I looked forward to watching Makuta's demise. “Yes, it’s me, darling,” he smiled weakly. “Say, those blue eyes do look good on you, if I might say so myself. Why don’t we go somewhere we can talk?” *Makuta Explains As much as I dreaded another encounter with Makuta, I was curious about some things that he had done in the Mask of Light. Naturally, he had a few surprises in store for me. (short story) Makuta's Business Card Makuta used my account to post his card on BZPower in hopes of getting some work, just in case LEGO decided not to renew his contract. Makuta started the motor and pulled into the street. “Remember how I promised you that one day we would rule Mata Nui together?”“Uh, yeah,” I muttered uneasily.“Well, now that everyone has left for Metru Nui, we will!” he smiled. Makuta Island Just when I thought it was safe to order a pizza again, Makuta showed up holding the box. The Master of Shadows recruited me to supervise the Rahkshi while they rebuilt the Matoran villages, on the newly vacated island he’d been trying to take over for years. It was a job offer I couldn’t refuse. (Dark comedy, posted in epics, 30 chapters.) *Happy Mother's Day, GaliGee gets a weird e-mail from Mangaia A bizarre yet heartfelt message from Makuta's sons. The maître-d’ scanned the reservation page on his podium. “Sir, I’m afraid you’re not on the list,” he replied curtly. He glanced at Makuta’s staff and added, “And we don’t allow weapons in here.”Makuta leaned over him and grabbed his pen. He scrawled a large in the middle of the page. His Mask of Shadow glowing darkly, he snarled, “Check again.” Makuta Gets a Blast from the Past Wondering if Makuta has a heart? Read the story of my dinner with Makuta, and judge for yourself. (Dark comedy, posted in epics, 5 chapters plus brief epilogue.) “You didn’t think I was just looking for a traveling companion, did you?” sneered the shapeshifter. “I’ve seen road kill on this trip I’d rather spend time with.”I wondered what kind of sinister plan I was to be involved in this time as I fumbled with the complicated seat belt. “I suppose you’re going to use me as bait?”“Bingo,” she replied. Road Trip With Krahka Krahka is on the warpath to get revenge against Makuta, her former sweetheart. And naturally I get caught in the web of intrigue. (Dark comedy, posted in epics, 18 chapters) Makuta looked at me for thoughtfully for a moment. “My poor little sweetheart. Fear is rising off you like heat waves off the Great Furnace right now.” A gentle smile crossed his Kraahkan. “If it makes you feel better, my beauty, we’ll keep our love secret until Roodaka goes back to Metru Nui. I’m certainly not averse to participating in the occasional conspiracy.”“Makuta, our ‘love’ is a figment of your twisted imagination,” I scowled, making quotation marks in the air with my fingers. Tangled Web The filming of Web of Shadows has begun, and everything should go smoothly. After all, it's a flashback. But some of the characters have plans to make it end differently this time. (Dark comedy, posted in epics, 51 chapters) Toa Biographies Onua gasped. "No wonder you sensed power, Whenua. There are four Pakari in there!” Onua's Golden Kanohi Onua puts own his quest for the masks on hold to help the other Toa. But will Makuta get to him before he gets his Golden Kanohi? (epic, ten chapters) "Wait!" Gali heard a voice call out. "Hold your discs! This is the one we have been expecting!" Gali's Heart Gali recalls how each of the other Toa, and Turaga Nokama, came to have a special place in her heart. (epic, seven chapters) Tahu yelled in pain and leaped out, flinging molten rock everywhere. His whole body writhed with the searing heat. As he stood on the bank gasping, the lava hardened into a solid casing of stone. Tahu, Master of Fire From the moment Tahu arrives on Mata Nui, he wields the power of fire. Can he learn to harness it for the good of all? (epic, six chapters plus epilogue) "You're going a little too fast for me, Huki," grinned Pohatu. "So I'm I one of these 'Toa'?" Pohatu, Solid as Stone Even though he is constantly using his incredible stone powers to defend his people, Pohatu is never too busy to encourage a friend. (epic, five chapters) The tall green being held the mask at arm’s length and studied its smooth curves. “I’m going to be wearing a big metal grin, all the time,” he laughed. Lewa Defies Gravity Light-hearted and light-footed, Lewa enters a world weighed down by evil. But he is determined not to let it get him down. (epic, seven chapters) Kopaka had had high hopes for the Rau, but so far Nuju had told him nothing. "I guess I'll have to go read the answers for myself." He took a lightstone from one of the sconces on the wall, walked behind the statue, and descended the stairs to the Wall of Destiny. Kopaka: Icy Visionary With his amazingly sharp eyes and mind, Kopaka sees things on Mata Nui in a very different way than everyone else--he even has visions of the future. But as he uses his increasing knowledge and skill to win peace for his people, will he ever find inner peace for himself? (epic, six chapters) Turaga Vakama said to fill my journal with lots of detail, since I can always shorten it later when I transcribe it. Besides, it’s easier to write in a paper book than to carve into stone. So I’m going to write about everything, even the things I’m not going to tell Turaga Vakama. I’m going to be the only one reading it, anyway. *Journey Into The Light, Part I: The Bohrok-Kal (completed epic, re-posted in the new forum) *Journey Into The Light, Part II: Peacetime (epic in progress, re-posted in the new forum) Takua fills his journal with the adventures of his heroes, the Toa, while they track down the Bohrok-Kal and oversee the newfound peace. Neither he nor his his loyal friend Jaller have a glimmer that his own story will become so important. Toa Dreams Kopaka woke with a start, panting. He was lying face down on a large rock at the bottom of a deep, icy canyon. Gali's last cry was still echoing in his head. Kopaka's Nightmare After Kopaka loses his ice powers, he is tormented by a strange dream. (short story, one post)The Toa all had a similar dream -- but each saw things a little differently. (comedy interviews, one post each) Kopaka Suspended Gali Pensive *Onua Embarrassed *Tahu Incensed *Lewa Jesting Pohatu Amused It's only fair, after prying into the Toa's dreams, to let you read about one of mine. (comedy story, one post) Seven Heroes, One Destiny by Israeli Toa Comic "As they jump this trench, I'll knock the krana out. My Hau will protect me from -- AAAAH!" Tahu Enslaved, a 2-page comic LEGO would never do. When Tahu gets kranaed, what will Gali do to save him? Animations Onua's Lucky Day Onua's looking out for his friends, as usual... and this time, he gets a nice surprise. Snow Day: A Dream of Kopaka Kopaka's recurring dream about playing in the snow with Gali never ends the way he would like, but at least they have fun. MOCs Makuta's Makeshift New Form After getting smashed by the big door, Makuta scraped this scrap heap of a form together. GaliGee Remix Makuta finally indulged his creepy fantasy and rebuilt me so I wouldn't look like a Toa. Credits Written by GaliGee, unless otherwise noted. With massive amounts of help and ideas from the following friends: AlexanderRM, artemisfowl, Baihumon, Binkmeister, Blue Cajun, chip-e, CISCAS V of the Gamemasters, coldanddeadly, Comet Ball Traitor, Compka Toa of Electricity, Creator of Lava Lord of Vahi, CrypticIdentity, Deadly Kanohi Master, dhik nuva, dragalcat, Elf Toa, FallenTurtles, Galikat, Gali Nuva 91, GregF, Groucho Marx, Goeyoshi, Haine, C.A. Hapka, Huriko, Huta, Israeli Toa, Jaraki, Jasaga, Kaiapu, kairos (Xirahk), Kikua, Kitty-Chan, Kopaka's Ice Engineering, Kopaka Toa of Ice, Kopaka_Toa_of_Ice, Kopaka and Gali's Child, KopakaX, Lewa Nuva, Lewa The Jester, Lewa_The_Punk! Lewaswingin, Maslego, Master of Purity, MataNuiHero, Matthias the Warrior, Natha, Noremac, Nova Nuhvok, nuhvok11, Nuva Kaita, NuvaWarrior, Of Doom, pocamu, pohatu jr, Prohatu910, pucateamskater, Purple Pohatu, Rahi Zaku, real small guy, Shioi, silentlunchbag34, tahu3220, Toa Nuva vs Makuta, Toa of Plastic, Toomai, Torhu, Tovnu, TheBlindMan2, The Eighth Horse, TuragaVakama, Vashi, wairuhaNuva, xccj, Yotanua, Toa of Time, Zerpeth You are welcome to post comments/compliments/expletives here for the old stories. (OK, maybe not expletives...) Thanks for your support! GaliGee In case you're feeling nostalgic for the crazy banter of yesteryear, here are my Stories topics from the old forums: *GaliGee's Stories (a web archive of the original, from 2002 through 2005) GaliGee's Stories Redux (the short-lived second edition, started in 2009)