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Yes, folks. That's right. Let's travel back 10 years to the good ol' days of Bionicle. I give you what I think to be the first complete set of all six members of... THE CHRONICLER'S COMPANY Now, remember, a lot of these pieces were never made in the right colors. I did what I could with what was there, including tacking down a misprint red ruru for Kapura. I spent over $50 to make these guys, and I don't regret it. Individual pics:KapuraTamaruKopekeHafuTaipu Hope you enjoy!
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(Yeah, me again. Sorry ^^") ^click the thumbnail or follow this link to view the whole pic! :3 Felt like doing something BIONICLE-themed again, but somehow I couldn't think of something serious and awe-inspiring... have Jaller and Takua wearing some fancy hats instead. In colour! ^^
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The Madu Fruit A blinding flash of golden light. Even the Toa of Light, Takanuva, had to shield his eyes. Through his squinted eyes, he could make out the reptilian forms of Rahkshi all around him, spontaneously disintegrating. Tahu had unleashed the power of the golden armor. When Takanuva had regained his vision, he determined that Tahu might have just won them the battle. He grinned broadly. All around him, Skakdi and Skrall were startled and disgruntled at the sudden loss of a third of their troops. Grinning broadly, Takanuva wheeled around, preparing to fight off the remaining Skakdi and Skrall troops to put an end to the colossal battle once and for all. Before he could do so, he felt a sharp blow on the side of his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw was a Skrall withdrawing a closed fist, knocking his mask askew. It was the last thing he saw before he blacked out. Takua’s eyes flicked open. A bright light shone from above, blinding him. He squinted until his eyes had adjusted to the light. He could make out something along the lines of a palm tree. He heard a muffled voice speaking from somewhere nearby. He shook his head violently, his mask almost falling from his face. Now, he could see and hear with relative clarity. He adjusted his mask and noticed Jaller leaning over him, but it was not quite the Toa he had come to know in recent months. No, this Jaller was a Matoran, clad in Toa Lhikan’s Noble Hau and red-yellow armor. “Are you okay?” asked Jaller, worry in his eyes. “Ugh,” groaned Takua. He sat up, and immediately his head throbbed. “What happened?” “Man, that Madu Fruit really hit you hard, didn’t it?” asked Jaller. “You were out for ten minutes!” Takua noticed a Madu Tree above him, and a lone fruit lying on the ground nearby. “What?” asked Takua, genuinely confused. He looked down at his body and, to his surprise, saw the red armor of Takua rather than the white and gold armor that he expected to see. “What’s going on here?” demanded Takua. “You’ll never believe it!” exclaimed Jaller. “Believe what?” asked Takua. “Remember those stones you found?” continued Jaller. “Well, turns out they summoned the six Toa!” “What?” asked Takua. “Didn’t this already happen?” Jaller simply stared at him, believing Takua had lost his mind. “That Madu Fruit must have really boggled your mind,” said Jaller. “Now come on. Makuta won’t defeat himself, you know. And we have a Great Spirit to awaken!” ---- Yeah, I thought that this would be a cool plot twist, so I wrote a short story about it. Also I couldn't really think of a better title. XD
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Hey... Long time? Anyway, I'll make this short, eh.he... Short... Matoran.. *Cough*Getting off track, Me and a buddy of mine have made revamped Takua and Jaller Matoran from Ta-Koro (as I'm sure you all knew that.) ---So... wanna see? Takua(Co-op build){I know that Takua needs red, but right now it sticks out to much when I try adding it}Jaller(Solo build) --- So.... yeah that's the Matoran we know and love, and your welcome to share the love with comments. (don't have to though too still love them xp) ~Zahaki
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Here is Cartoon Style of Av-matoran Takua and here is Hali. Oh... please note, I just realized that I accidentally messed up the legs of the 3d model, I'll have to fix it later and rerender everything, but I can't do that right now, so try to ignore the deformity in his legs. Questions... comments? Oh and just for fun here is "Chubby" Takua my mascot. Here's all three of them (from the other topics) rendered.
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When i saw the Flash Fire contest, i said 'By golly, i'll enter this thing if it's the last thing i do'.So i did.Deep linked for your convenienceThe reason it's so small, is because it had to be. This is the size you will see now, later, at brickfest and probably for the rest of its time as a BZP topic.I intentionally went for the "focused on a couple of bits but completely ignoring other ones" look.You see, it's all about the expression.In this scene in MoL, takua is excited, curious, perhaps even a little bit clumsy.Now imagine takua with a different personality.In this case, he's a little bit cautious.Having picked up the totem, he stops. He thinks about what he has done (not the takua we know, then).He realises that this could be an object of importance, and that it could have the potential to be life-changing.For brief moments, doubt flickers in his mind.This is those few moments.Enjoy.-Dwanny
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Okay, here's my Flash Fire entries:I started off with Takua, which is my first finished drawing in a long time. I'm thinking about calling it Decisions, because it is set at the time Jaller just died, and Takua is considering putting on the Mask of Light and fulfilling his destiny, while also giving up his carefree life of a Matoran and most of his adventures. So, I present: Decisions: Takua Flash Fire Entry Completely hand drawn, and it probably took about 2-3 hours. I'm not sure because I finished it, and then kept coming back and adding some minor shading detail or filling in a new color. Anyways, I hope you like it, and it's worthy of your approval! (I just saw that Uncle K just entered his Jaller, so it's going to be a tough competition!)Next off, Vakama! I gave him a contemplating pose as he stands over a fire, thinking about the past. His design is based on the set with elements of MoL and my style. I also thought his legs needed a bit of detail, so I gave him a bit of a reminder of his Toa Metru days. I really tried to make his pose look humanlike, so comments on that would be nice. Memories: Vakama Flash Fire Contest Entry It took about 1-2 hours this time, as I didn't make it as clean as Takua and had to do some clean-up in Photoshop afterwards anyways. The pose took the longest time, because for some reason, the legs wouldn't turn out right. I just settled with a stiff pose that actually turned out nice. I've also been working hard on my glow effects, so I added in two light sources and tried lighting him up from there. How's it look?Okay, and now to finish off the contest, my entry of Tahu, which I unfortunately finished about an hour after the contest ended, and was just able to scan it now.Tahu glances around, wary through the smooth cave. He didn't know rocks like Pohatu, but he could tell that this is not a natural cave. It seems small, clawed hands carved its smooth face.As he rounds another corner, he finds the answer he was looking for, but wishing he wouldn't find. The Bohrok Nest, a massive round complex filled with the cylindrical sleeping chambers of the Swarms. Just as he notices this, a quick blow knocks off his mask, and he reels backwards into a wall, looking for the opponent that dared to attack to Toa of Fire.A soft, wet mass follows the blow, and attaches itself to his face. Its soothing voice gently directs him to see his foe, a now empty Tahnok, and Tahu realized what's on his face. He feels something he thought he never would... Fear A Tahu Flash Fire Entry I took a little more interesting approach to this one, but with the same style I've been using. I wanted a memorable moment in Tahu's history, like I've done for the rest, but at the time he was a Mata. After looking through the comics, I found one pose that looked cool, and I've been wanting to try for a while, the moment he's captured by the Tahnok temporarily. I've been wanting to try out my Krana interpretation for a while, but I forgot to add the little tentacles that reach off the sides into the face. Ah well.So it took about two hours, and it was going to be a last minute entry, except I forgot the time zone change. So, I missed the contest, but I still thought I'd post it for your opinions, so post away!
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This is a simple painting I made. I'm certainly not a good painter, and I didn't take this all that seriously, but it was fun to make.LinkI know it isn't very good, it was just for fun. I hope you like it!
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Hey, this is my entry for the 'Flash Fire' contest that I have worked on and finished in the last hour That is hereI wanted it to resemble a mix between 'Bionicle: The Game' and the normal version. Surprisingly enough, the arms took me the longest to do, I kept on drawing and erasing them over and over again to get the right size/look.Also the staff is dented and rusty, this is to show that it is old and has been used a lot. Besides, Takua was the first Matoran to be created. He is slightly smaller since I did some changes to the torso to make the arms fit in better.Here is my second topic for the 'Flash Fire' contest. It is Toa Tahu. Like my Takua, it is meant to be a mix between the set, Bionicle: The Game and some of my own design.Unlike my Takua, this one has a stand type thing. It turned out much better than I had anticipated.Last of all, here is my Turaga Vakama. This one took me a couple of hours, on and off. He was the most annoying to do in terms of his mask and how to do his arms and legs. The mask took the longest to do, erasing it about 5 or 6 times in order to get it to be like the actual mask.Yet again like the Tahu and Takua, the design is a mixture of the set, Bionicle: The Game and of my own design. I got the fiery cloth from the game. The most detailed prt of the image is the staff, it is near impossible to see but I have put Vakamas name in the Bionicle language somewhere on it, also the UDD symbol. Also note the kanohi mask that Vakama is holding
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I wanted to draw Takua but I got carried away with the clouds.Here's a nice small version for those of you who don't want to load 2.2 MB images, and here's the original full-size image.Done with a Wacom Bamboo Create tablet using Autodesk Sketchbook Express. I'm still relatively new to this, so any C&C is greatly appreciated. Thanks for viewing!this took way longer than I'd care to admit and it still looks horrid :c
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Hello guys! I can't believe its finally finished, but here it is: THE TA-KORO SCHOOL.Heck, everybody's got the right to be educated, so why not matoran? Link As always, I shall include a brief explanation of how i got to work on this project. 1. First i drew the basic skeleton of each character. 2. Then i drew the matoran. 3. Tahu was the hard part. first i drew him in full detail, but my style requires simplicity. I went through a lot of different Tahu's, but i think he came out rather well in the end. 4. then i drew the blackboard; it was rather fun thinking up what would go on there. 5. SHADING! shading is what makes a drawing. Without it, the drawing just seems like a dull, flat piece of work, but once shaded, it's like it becomes real. Hope you enjoy it -Dwanny
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Early comic making will be sluggish due to the need to create new poses for the kit.New redstar:Comic 37: BZZZZZTComic 36: Lowblood eyes(homestuck refrance)Comic 35: PriceyComic 34: FocusOld redstar:Comic 33: ProcrastinatingComic 32: Follow the arrowsComic 31: InspectionsComic 30: PainsComic 29: UpdatesComic 28: never againComic 27: Poll to the trollComic 26: VakamaComic 25: srsly?Comic 24: 2011Comic 23: A Redstar christmasComic 22: UndercoverComic 19: Gah!Comic 18: HewkiiComic 17 1/2: Draw like redstarComic 17: LulzComic 16: CameramanComic 15: LookComic 14: RAGEComic 13: The BombComic 12: What!?Comic 11: The DoorComic 10: The RoomComic 9: TollComic 8: Great Comic 7: Spice Comic 6: Trolls Comic 5: The time machineComic 4: SenseComic 3: ColdComic 2: KonguComic 1: Chase Fan Redstar:Fan comics are accepted.
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HANGING BY A THREADA Vignette In Which Chronicler Takua Holds On For Dear Life Things were looking up for the Chronicler - which was good, as he had little energy to do so himself, and looking down wasn't an option. It didn't help that he could still feel the chilled winds of Ko-Wahi raking across the soles of his feet, taunting him. His breath came ragged and erratically, and when it did, icy crystals scraped along his throat, torturing him from the inside. Not that they needed to, as the burning in his muscles was providing pain enough, straining against the unrelenting tug of gravity. 'At least the storm has passed,' he thought to himself as he stared up at the blue sky beyond the stony precipice. With vision blurring from the brightness, his thoughts turned to an altogether different blue expanse, where he had begun his present journey what seemed a lifetime ago. The gentle waves of the ocean lapping the edge of the beaches south of Ga-Koro, the serene stillness of the waters as they stretched to the horizon. Warm sand underfoot, cool breezes off the sea, and vast possibilities before him. Had he known where he would end up, perhaps he would have stayed on that beach, embrace that tranquility, if only for a short while longer. 'No,' he decided, 'even then I would have taken up this mantle. Besides, any peace I could find there would have been fleeting. No sense in fighting my Duty for the sake of false security.' Even before he began his present journey, darkness had been spreading across the island, insinuating itself through the forgotten corners of the wilderness and, slowly, almost imperceptibly, into the homes and hearts of the Tohunga. The Chronicler's travels served only to cement that notion in his mind, as he bore witness to the many ways in which Rahi, Tohunga, even Toa, could be corrupted - a testament to the imperative for action. Now all he bore witness to were empty, blue skies, bitterly chilled winds, and taught hemp rope, straining against a snow-worn cliff edge. Nothing to hear but the high pitched whistle of winds pressed between jagged mountain faces, and his own hoarse breath. Wait. On the edge of hearing, a faint roar, carried from Mata Nui knew where. Up here, an echo could carry for several kio just as well as it could a few bio. Then again, it could just be an illusion, his mind playing tricks on him after so long in the thin, mountain air. A paranoid manifestation of Ko-Wahi's desire to swallow him alive. 'Paranoia.' He had seen much of it during his travels, perhaps nowhere as much as his first destination - the city of Ta-Koro. So distrustful were they that they had even attacked their own Toa Tahu on sight. They had little love for travelers such as he, suspicious perhaps of the corruption he had seen during his journey. Maybe they were victims of that very corruption, seated at the foot of the dark Mangai volcano, at the heart of the island. He hoped that same force hadn't come upon him here in this mountain chasm. How had he even gotten here? The blizzard from the night before had been blinding, but why did he take the risk in the first place? Perhaps he thought fortune on his side, and it may have been. After all, despite his inauspicious step over the cliff's edge, he lashed out and grabbed this tattered rope, perhaps part of a rope bridge that once spanned this gulch. Surely, if fortune did not favor him, he would have plunged to his death on the jagged rocks below. 'Last thing I need on my mind are those rocks,' he quickly thought, trying to turn his mind to more pleasant memories. Fortune and misfortune - ever had the two gone hand in hand during his voyage. How fortunate had his friend Maku been to escape the beleaguered village of Ga-Koro, and how fortunate had she been to meet him there on that tranquil shore. But these had only served to make up for the misfortune of the Tarakava attack, of the people of Ga-Koro finding themselves trapped beneath the waves. But with his help and that of the Toa Gali, their plight had turned around. 'I wish I could get a bit of that help now.' The ache came back into focus, burning his arms and lungs, freezing his feet and face. Second, minutes, perhaps hours passed before the worst of the pain subsided and he could think again. Now he thought of pain, but not his own - the pain of the people of Po-Koro, struck ill by virulent plague. Their village had seemed a ghost town when he entered, save for the wracking coughs of the afflicted. Even their Toa Pohatu was stricken with blindness, but with the Chronicler’s help, he had been able to put an end to the corrupt source of the villagers’ infection. There was no malicious entity behind the Chronicler’s present pain, however. No great beast that exhaled this frozen air, that tricked him over a deadly precipice towards its waiting jaws. This was simply the apathetic cruelty of nature, the other side of the widget that bore the bountiful splendor of natural harmony. The only blame he could place here was on himself – that was reason enough to endure it. It wasn’t the first time he had witnessed the vagaries of nature. The miners of Onu-Koro placed no blame for the lava flow which had blocked their work – an outstretched hand seeking to bring community with the people of Le-Koro. They simply persevered, and even without his help in diverting the flow, they would have persevered still. It may have taken longer, but they would have found a way around their obstacles. ‘I suppose I should do the same,’ his conscience chided. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold on, and with the burning in his arms, climbing wasn’t an option. His neck creaked stiffly as he diverted his gaze to the side, looking for some foothold – anything that might provide a way out of this predicament. He scanned the cliff face to his right for any protrusions, when the urge struck him. Look down. He wished that he hadn’t. The surface of the cliff slipped away below him, leaving nothing but open air and sharp, snow-covered stones far below. The slowly drifting silhouette of a cloud cast its afterimage on his retinas, and he closed his eyes in disbelief. It hadn’t been that long ago when he had flown through the open air with Kongu on the back of his Kahu bird, but that was an entirely different experience. He forced himself back through the memories of that flight, soaring over the treetops of Le-Wahi, trying to free the villagers of Le-Koro from the Nui-Rama. Slowly, visions of the clouds below him were replaced with those of leafy canopies, terror ebbing away to be replaced with thrill. Calm came to the Chronicler again, until he recalled the crash landing in the hive. Cold sweat ran down the inside of his mask, as he recalled the hive floor rushing up to greet them, but now the jagged canyon floor came up in his mind’s eye to swallow them. By the Great Spirits, he wished Toa Lewa were here to pluck him from his perch and put him back on solid firmament. But after receiving the Golden Kanohi, the once-tainted Toa was needed elsewhere, and certainly wouldn’t visit this part of the island just to save a foolish Chronicler. ‘Come on, Takua,’ he urged himself, ‘keep looking. You’ve only got yourself to blame, but you’ve also got yourself to save.’ Slowly, he opened his eyes, his gaze glued to the surface of the cliff. With his breath coming in even shallower rasps, he turned his attention to his left. The winds in this ravine had long ago worn the mountain’s face smooth, as featureless as the snows that had enveloped him the night before. But even then, much had been there that had been unseen – the frozen Kopeke, who the Chronicler had tended to, for instance. ‘As well as this blasted pit,’ he added to himself, eyes darting about in search of any hint of a foothold. And there was one, half a bio to his side. It might not be much, but it would be a start. The only obstacle was getting to it. ‘Guess I’ve got to swing.’ The Chronicler pitched his body to the right, gently, to avoid tearing his sole lifeline. Back to the left he swung, slowly gaining momentum. Soon he had become a precarious pendulum, straining to gain precious height. It would all be worth it, though, as he could almost reach that foothold and the hope that it brought. ‘Just a little more,’ he pleaded, stretching his leg to catch the stubby protrusion. Arms crying out with pain, he let out a yell and grasped the tiny platform with his toes, for just an instant, before he heard the sharp report of snapping rope. He looked up to see the frayed rope splitting against the edge of the cliff, dropping him into freefall. His voyage flashed again before his eyes, and it surprised him to find that he feared more for the loss of the Chronicle than of his own life. He braced himself for impact as the smooth cliff slipped away from him. For just an instant. His hands nearly slipped from the rope as it jerked to a halt, pulling his gaze back to the cliff’s edge and the sky beyond. A pair of white hands firmly grasped the rope’s end, slowly lifting it back on to the plateau. As the Chronicler rounded the edge, the faded blue of his rescuer’s Kanohi came into view, locking eyes with him as he crawled up onto the solid ground. “Thanks for the save,” he whispered to the Ko-Koronan, before a wave of relief and exhaustion took hold of him. The last thing he felt was the stranger lifting him up and carrying him towards safety, before sliding into the undisturbed darkness of sleep. The End
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Ok, this short (or long ) story needs a little explanation. I do not follow canon very closely, particularly with regards to BIONICLE anatomy. I have them about 60% biological (blood, organs, muscles, even hair) and 40% mechanical. They also have familial relationships, children and females and males in all villages. Sorry to anyone who doesn't like it that way, but I think it makes it more fun. This story is rated PG, because of mild romance between Kongu and Sashaya. Chroniclers' Spirit: Takua and Hahli The young girl picked one last cowrie shell out of the white sand, placed it in her pack, and headed for the surface of the sea. She climbed onto a floating platform formed by a living niipa plant, and shook herself dry. A nineteen-year-old native of Ga-koro, she wore a translucent blue Mask of Water Breathing over her face, and plain, undyed clothes under her armor. Her golden-brown hair was neatly braided and her eyes looked by turns green or blue, or a mix of both. “Hahli!” a sweet, clear voice called. “Oh, Haaaaaahliiii!” The teenager smiled to herself, recognizing her cousin’s voice. Then, she heard another familiar voice and her smile vanished. Kongu had come, too. Suppressing a sigh, she reluctantly walked towards the sound. “There you are!” Sashaya, her cousin, cried. Her face was shining with happiness, a look that all but broke Hahli’s heart. “We quicksped to bring you some fresh fruit, now that Kal darktime is pastgone.” Kongu added, holding an enormous basket loaded with the produce of Le-koro, “And Sashaya has some talenews for you, and mother.” “What news?” Hahli asked, understanding only the general idea of Kongu’s treespeak. Sashaya smiled, a little shyly. “I’d like to tell you and mom at the same time. Where is she?” “In the hut, working, I think.” Hahli indicated the family home. “Then quickspeed!” Kongu laughed. “It’s such happygood, I can’t patientwait much longer!” The village flaxmaker, Amaya, appeared at the door of her hut, hearing her daughter’s voice. “Sashaya?” “Hi, mom.” The pretty young woman hurried over to give her parent a hug. “And Kongu, welcome back.” Amaya added, looking past Sashaya to her son-in-law. “It’s been a while.” “Well, with the Kal-bugs on the looserun, I wanted to safekeep my lovely bride.” Kongu explained, giving Amaya a hug as well. “As well you should.” the older woman smiled. “Oh, mom, I have to tell you,” Sashaya burst in impatiently. “I’m going to have a baby!” Tears started to Amaya’s eyes. “I guess my little baby isn’t so little anymore. I’m so happy for you, sweetie.” “That’s great, Sashaya.” Hahli added, genuine joy in her face. “Isn’t it?” Kongu nodded. “I’m gonna be the happyproudest dad on the whole island.” Amaya wiped her happy tears away. “Well, come inside, and we’ll talk about it, and have some tea. Hahli, will you get some oysters, please?” “Sure, Aunt Amaya.” She gave her cousin a quick, gentle hug, then ran off, determined that Sashaya would have everything she wanted while she was here. * * * Hahli sat on the edge of a platform, dangling her legs in the sea. It was eight... no, nine months, since her cousin had married Kongu, the Captain of the Le-koro Gukko Force. Nine long months. They had met when Kongu had been delivering messages for the Turaga during the Siege of the Tren Krom Pass, and Sashaya instantly fell head-over-heels in love. Hahli, however, had remained shy and silent, disliking Kongu’s noisy, boisterous, though good-natured manners. In less than three months, the two were happily married, just a few short weeks after the Toa’s arrival. When Sashaya moved to Le-koro with her husband, visits had been few and far between, since the Bohrok swarms and the Bohrok-Kal had threatened the island soon after Makuta’s death. But the Toa had just defeated the Kal, and peace had at last come to stay on an island that had been at war for far too long. A single tear trickled down Hahli’s cheek. The pain of Sashaya leaving her had not healed. He had so many girls he could’ve picked, she thought unhappily, but I only had Sashaya. It’s not fair. “It’s hard for you, isn’t it, sweetheart?” Amaya asked gently, sitting down next to her niece. “Very.” Hahli glanced at her aunt. “Why did this have to happen? Why couldn’t Sashaya and I stayed with you forever? Or why couldn’t we have been boys?” “Well, I for one prefer that you are you, not a boy.” the Komau-clad woman smiled. “and for another, Sashaya is happy as Kongu’s wife. Do you really not want her to have that? If you could, would you have kept her here?” Hahli sighed. “No.” “Your turn may come too, little ruki fish.” Amaya said after a moment. “When you find that you are willing to leave everything behind to be with someone. Sashaya knew her moment, and now she’s going to have her own family. Just like the tides, you can only stay on the beach for so long. Someday, you have to go out into the open sea.” “But what if my turn doesn’t come?” Hahli protested, kicking at the water. “Will I just have to be lonely and hurt forever?” Amaya frowned, concerned. “No. First of all, you’ve been like a second daughter to me since you were little. I’ll always be here for you, as long as I live. And second, you choose whether or not Sashaya's happiness makes you feel hurt. It can only hurt you as long as you, in your secret heart, say to yourself, ‘I won’t forgive her for leaving me’.” Hahli started. “I’m not mad at her! I’m mad at Kongu!” “Are you? Really?” Amaya answered, standing up. “I’ll see you at suppertime.” Hahli angrily splashed the water with her feet. I’m not mad at Sashaya. I’m can’t be. * * * Over the next few days, Hahli turned the conversation over in her mind. At last, she had to admit, it was Sashaya she was angry with. Angry for leaving her alone... angry for finding a new best friend so quickly... and angry for simply being happy, while she was sad. And that’s not fair of me, Hahli told herself. Why should I be upset, if I really care about her? If I want what’s best for her, not for me, I should be happy she and Kongu ever found each other. On the island of Mata-Nui, marriages between villages were rare, because of the dangers of traveling. Or at least, they had been rare, until the Toa had come. There were six of them - Tahu, Lewa, Gali, Onua, Pohatu, and Kopaka. The Turaga said that they had been sent by the Great Spirit Mata Nui himself, for whom the island was named. They had arrived with no knowledge of the past, or each other; only their names, and questions. Ga-koro’s protector, Gali, was the only female Toa, and the matoran of her village had loved her from the start. She was kind and gentle, ready to help with even their smallest problems. She made a point of learning her people’s names and families, which made her seem not so much a great heroine as a friend. One of the few Toa who pitied even Makuta’s slaves, she still did not hesitate to risk her life to stop them. Makuta. Hahli thought, shuddering. If the Toa hadn’t come, we might all be his slaves now. The Great Spirit’s own brother, Makuta was as evil as Mata Nui was good. When Mata Nui had guided the matoran to the island and given it to them for their home, Makuta’s jealousy finally came to light. He betrayed his brother, throwing him into a deep slumber from which only the Toa could awaken him. He had then plagued the island with his Rahi - wild creatures under his control, because of the infected masks they wore. For nearly a thousand years, they had attacked the villages and killed matoran, keeping communication between villages risky and travel downright deadly. But that dark time was over; the Toa had defeated him. Killed him, really; who could live, after being blasted into a thousand fragments? And now, we get to celebrate another victory, Hahli smiled. And I’ll finally get to see the other Toa, and talk to Sashaya's friends from Le-koro. And maybe the Chronicler will tell some of the stories of the Kal. “Hahli! Snap out of it!” a young man laughed. She shook herself and turned to her friend. “Sorry, Pelagia. I was just... remembering.” “Well, can you remember while we load the boats?” he grinned. “This stuff won’t get to Kini-Nui on it’s own, ya know!” “Right.” she smiled, tossing another sack into the hold. In honor of the Toa’s latest deeds, the Turaga had declared a celebration would be held at Kini-Nui, the great memorial to Mata-Nui in the very center of the island. All the villages would come for the two days of games, food and parties. The Ga-matoran planned to sail from their floating village in the Naho Bay, up the Kaligi River to the lush valley of Kini-Nui. All the matoran were busily packing a few last supplies into the boats, and she was supposed to be helping, not reminiscing. As soon as the last bags were thrown onboard, the Ga-matoran all leaped easily into their canoes. The long boats made of Wakiki palm wood had tall masts in the center, covered by flaxen sails, but the wind would not serve their course today, so all those who could took an oar. “Pull out!” came the command from the helmsman in the back of the canoe. Accordingly, the rows of canoes pulled away from the docks and began sweeping into the open water. While the wind might not be suitable for the larger craft, it worked well for Hahli and a few other young matoran who were on sailboards - small, light wooden surfboards with swingable sails attached - darting in and out of the bigger boats, and riding the waves. In the lead boat, Toa Gali sat talking to Turaga Nokama, the leader of Ga-koro. Without warning, the Toa used her Mask of Levitation to rise up out of the boat, then dove into the water, easily keeping pace with the canoes, and returning a few splashes from her more daring villagers. Using her elemental powers, she summoned a current to help the rowers. Hahli glanced around. Everyone was laughing and happy, talking and singing. Peace, at long last, reigned in her home. * * * She tied her sailboard down and stretched her arms. Four straight hours of sailing was something she enjoyed with her whole heart. But the sight before her was more than enough to make her glad that it was over. In front of the huge stone temple was a large clearing, covered in grass as soft as the finest feathers. A stream ran off the nearby slopes of Mount Ihu, flowing through the temple, and down through the field before joining the river on its journey to the sea. Huge trees surrounded the meadow, giving shade and fruit. Several dozen tents were already set up on the other side of the field; from the pale blue snowflakes embroidered on the white cloth, Hahli knew them to belong to the Ko-matoran, the people of ice. The Ga-matoran moored their boats and scrambled up the bank of the river, which was somewhat steep. Some passed bundles of food and supplies to those on shore, and others began setting up their own camp. A few of the Ko-matoran came over, and after brief greetings, began helping the blue-armored matoran of Ga-koro unpack. As they began setting up bamboo poles for tents and huts, the sound of briskly marching feet was heard from the south. A spurt of flames above the trees confirmed that the Ta-matoran had arrived, and Toa Tahu was with them. Hahli glanced over at the line of red, yellow and fire-orange villagers emerging from the trees. Even at this distance, she easily spotted the blue-masked Chronicler walking in the front. Takua never seemed to quite fit into any of the six villages. He was always accepted, yes, even welcomed, but somehow always different. His blue mask was like the Ga-matoran, but his red body, arm and leg armor matched the fire village. Mentally, he took parts from all six of the elements: he was playful and impulsive, like the Le-matoran; the same wistful curiosity as the water-villagers; direct and friendly, like the Po-matoran; a truth-seeker, like the Onu-matoran; fearless as any Ta-matoran, and thoughtful, like the people of ice. Of course, he also carried some of the faults of the villagers, too: he was somewhat lazy and talkative, a little too blunt sometimes, and perhaps too curious for his own good. But he was most noted for his ability to tell stories. Even the most stoic of the Ko-matoran seemed bewitched by his vivid tales, and he never tired of telling them. Even now, he was probably telling a story, as the Ta-matoran all set up their tents in picture-perfect rows, under the supervision of Jala, the Right Hand of Turaga Vakama, and Captain of the Ta-koro Guard. The Le-matoran arrived later in the morning, flying in on their huge gukko birds and playfully pelting each other and the camp below with over-ripe fruit. The Onu-matoran came marching out of their tunnels near midday, humming a low song of the mines. Just in time for the last meal of the day, Pohatu, Toa Nuva of Stone, sped into the clearing, carrying two Po-matoran on his shoulders. The rest of the Po-koro caravan trotted behind him on maha; the goat-like animals bleated loudly and seemed to think that the party was all in their honor. Hahli and Sashaya, who had never been apart since the Le-matoran had landed, finished cooking the food they would share with everyone, and went to try some of the dishes from the other villages. Some seemed quite odd, and others, downright disgusting. “Yuck!” Hahli whispered, spitting a mushroom into the safety of a bush. “Tastes a a sea sponge rolled in dirt.” “Here, try this. No way mangoes taste like dirty sponges.” Sashaya laughed, placing one on her cousin’s wooden plate. “And don’t try any of the Ta-matoran food. I found out the hard way they like things really spicy.” “This isn’t bad.” Hahli commented, indicating a juicy piece of meat on her plate. “What is it?” “I think it’s volo deer.” She tried a tiny bite and made a face. “Ugh; definitely volo.” “You don’t like it?” a merry voice asked from behind them. Both girls jumped in surprise and turned to see Kongu and Takua, grins on their faces. “I don’t like to think about cute deer getting killed.” Sashaya replied, a little loftily. “I’ll gladly eat your share for you.” Takua laughed. “So you must be--” “My wife, Sashaya. My sister, Hahli.” Kongu finished. “Sashaya, at longlast, you get to seemeet my brotherfriend, Takua.” The Ta-matoran bowed playfully. “You see, Takua was supposed to be childborn a Le-matoran, but he got swapmixed with someone else. Stopended up in Ta-koro, poor guy.” Kongu joked. He handed his wife an orange, knowing it to be her favorite fruit. She rewarded him with a smile that would have melted a takea shark’s heart, if such a thing were possible. Hahli felt her heart sink again. No, no, she told herself. I promised I would learn to be happy for her. To mask her feelings, she forced herself to do something entirely out of character: she turned to Takua and began a conversation. “I heard your story about the trap the Toa made for the Tahnok-Kal. It was really great.” Takua smiled. “Thanks, but I can’t really take any credit for it. First of all, the Toa did all the work, and second, I don’t write the stories; they write themselves.” “Huh?” Hahli frowned. “Well, I mean...” he bit his lip, thinking. “I’ve tried explaining it to other people, but they don’t get it. Do you understand what I mean when I say that words aren’t just words? People don’t always have to talk for words to be there; they just are... they exist, and always will.” She looked down shyly. “I kinda get it.” He shook his head impatiently. “Words, written and spoken, are what set matoran apart from rahi. They communicate in grunts and growls and squeaks, and they only have instinct. But we have emotion and logic, and the words to express them. But we didn’t create words; we were given them by Mata Nui. They exist outside of us. Get it?” Hahli considered. “Yeah; it's like they have a life of their own?” "Exactly." Takua smiled. “Words are a tool and a weapon, just as much as swords and spears are. But words cut more deeply, and heal better than anything else can. They’re metaphysical.” He saw the confusion on her face and added, “They’re not something you can touch, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.” “Yes.” Her Kaukau now wore a smile, too. “I think I get it. But it sounds kind of silly when I say it.” He laughed. “Just because no one else understands it? That doesn't make it silly; it’s just what is. Catch my drift?” “I think I do.” She cocked her head to one side thoughtfully. “Then maybe you’re a storyteller, too.” he commented, glancing around at all the assembled matoran. Some had already finished eating and were back to playing games and sports. Several couples had begun a lively dance, to the tune of a band of matoran from all six villages. “Hey, do you like dancing?” he asked suddenly. Taken by surprise, she answered honestly. “Yeah.” “Then come on.” He took her hand and led her into the cleared lawn. “I asked Nixie to save one for me, but she’s so tired from all the nights she’s been stargazing recently, she’s just going to go to sleep early. Pity; she’ll miss the fireworks.” A moment later, to her own astonishment, Takua pulled her into the line of dancers. As an added surprise, she remembered the lessons her aunt had given her and managed to perform the right steps. As they whirled around with the other matoran, she gathered her courage and spoke. “So, you like Nixie?” Takua’s blue mask flushed red. “Um, well, it’s kinda... ok, yeah, I like her. Just don’t tell Kongu. I’ll never live it down.” Hahli laughed. “She’s really nice. I wish you luck.” “Thanks.” He was silent for a moment. “You know, if I told most of the girls in Ta-koro I liked someone else while I was dancing with them, they wouldn’t take it so well. How come you do?” She frowned. “Why would I be upset? I like Nixie, and you’re a hero. I think you’d be great together.” He laughed. “Ok, we’re going to be pals.” Hahli focused her energies on the dance, feeling the movements and trying to remember all the steps. It’s like a river, she remembered her aunt saying. There are strong currents and soft eddies, but they always keep flowing towards the same place. A dance is just another stream to be traveled. Keeping that in mind, she found she was actually having fun. Takua was such an easy, friendly person, that it seemed impossible to be shy around him. When the dance ended, she was breathless, but happy. “Thanks, Chronicler. That was fun.” He grinned. “Hey, if we’re going to be friends, you have to call me Takua. And thanks for being so nice while stepping on my feet.”Before she could even blush, a horn sounded, signaling the beginning of a kohlii game somewhere in the field. As the call ceased, a voice could be heard yelling, “Taaaaaakuuuuuaaaa!” “Oops.” The Ta-matoran smacked his forehead. “I was supposed to play in one of the matches!” “The field isn’t far; maybe you can still make it.” she suggested. “I’d better, or Jala will throw me into the Mangai.” he groaned. “Come on!” They ran across the green swath to the stone kohlii field Toa Pohatu had made. Since these games were just for fun, and not the serious tournament, amateurs and veterans alike teamed up and competed. Although there was still some betting done, even on these small games, the atmosphere was much less intense than the Great Games, which were played every six years. At least, every six until the last seventy years, Hahli thought. When the rahi attacks became really intense, the tournaments were canceled. This is the first year they’ll be played since before I was born. While the games may not have been serious, the Ta-matoran standing at the south entrance with his arms crossed certainly was. “We’re up next. I figured you’d be late, so I gave you a few minutes to get here.” Takua rolled his eyes. “Thanks for yelling my name all over the camp, like I’m a lost maha.” The other Ta-matoran frowned. “You act like one, so it’s appropriate.” He noticed Hahli and nodded to her politely. “I don’t think we’ve met.” Hahli flushed and hoped desperately her mask wouldn’t show it. She had instantly recognized him as the great Captain Jala himself, the hero of countless battles all across the island. Her mouth felt dry and her tongue wouldn’t obey her brain. She managed a slight curtsy. “Hahli, meet my bossy friend, Jala.” Takua grinned. “Jala, my non-bossy-actually-nice friend, Hahli.” Jala tapped his fingers impatiently. “Nice to meet you, Miss Hahli. Takua, let’s go; we have to be ready when the match starts.” “You act like it’s a Naming Day ceremony.” Takua grumbled. “Hahli, you wanna wait in the stands until after the game? Me and a couple friends are gonna climb to the top of the temple to watch the fireworks. Kongu said he and Sashaya were coming, too.” She smiled. “I’d like that. Thanks.” Jala was practically dragging the Chronicler away, but he managed to tap his fist against hers in the Toa’s gesture of unity and comradeship. I wonder how he does that, she thought. It's almost like Takua... Understands me. * * * Another rocket flew into the air, giving off a high scream as it burst into a million stars, which floated gently back to the ground. Hahli felt her muscles tense as the bang went off and the sparkles rained over the field. “It’s so beautiful.” Sashaya murmured, sitting in between her cousin and her husband. “I’ve never seen fireworks before.” “That makes two of us.” Kongu nodded. “The firespitters must be too hardworking to craftmake them often.” “Yeah.” Takua laughed, giving Kongu a friendly punch in the arm. “I was surprised they even knew how to make something just for fun.” “Oh, grow up, will you?” Jaller shook his head. Takua grinned. “So not happening, dude.” The Captain rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the new wave of rockets that were rising through the air. “I wish I knew how they make them.” Hahli whispered to Sashaya. “Then I’d make them for all our birthdays.” The young woman laughed. “I’ll be happy if you just bring me some fresh oysters for my birthday. All the fruit and plants the Le-matoran eat are delicious, but once in a while, I just want fish again.” “You’re not happy in Le-koro?” Kongu asked, faking sorrow. Sashaya only laughed again and kissed him. “You know better.” Takua whistled sharply. “Too much romance on the field! One-point penalty!” Hahli laughed. Takua was right - somehow, they were already friends.
