PROLOGUE
"Has the Mask of Life been hidden?"
One of the two Great Beings standing together nodded, glancing warily around them. "Yes, along with the guardian. I've been hearing... things about the Hand of Artakha."
The other Great Being scowled underneath the hood of his cloak. "Its members lack discipline. Their methods of carrying out justice are unconventional. And we have yet to construct a functional and effective prison."
The first Great Being nodded again. "What do you propose we do?"
The other sighed. "Arctur is constructing something he calls 'the Pit.' I'll have to inquire him further, but it might be the prison we need."
"But what about the more... unhinged? I fear that Karzahni may be prone to...." She did not finish her sentence, instead directing her gaze elsewhere.
Noticing this, the other Great Being frowned. "What troubles you, Xera?"
"It's him, Ilrion," Xera said quietly. "He's up to something, I just know it. He's always murmuring to himself and won't let anyone into his lab. I'm worried about him."
Ilrion placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Worry not, my sister. Angonce and I shall deal with him. If he is up to something- something that will make this catastrophic time even worse- then we shall have no choice but to stop him."
"I hope it will be possible, brother," Xera murmured. "Our world depends on it."
BIONICLE DESTINY
Volume II: The Lost World
CHAPTER ONE
Toa Takanuva awoke to find himself laying on his back atop a bed of sand, a bright moon shining over him. Sitting up, he cleared his bleary vision and tried to recall what had just happen.
He had embarked on a journey with seven Matoran to Bota Magna to find three missing Toa Nuva, among others. Upon arriving there, a large explosion occurred of unknown means. In the midst of the confusion, he had caught sight of two figures entering a portal. He immediately took pursuit and entered the portal. After that, he remembered nothing.
Rising to his feet, Takanuva observed his surroundings. The beach was not unlike the one in Ga-Wahi on his island home of Mata Nui. Across from him, opposite the body of water which surrounded the beach, was a cliff side. Carved into it was the shape of a strange face, water pouring out from its mouth. The Toa of Light found it similarity to the Naho Falls of Ga-Wahi to be surreal.
In fact, this entire place felt like a warped version of the island of Mata Nui. The way the sand felt between his fingers, the sound of the water emptying into "Naho Bay"... he felt as if he had been here before.
Takanuva rubbed his hand across his mask... and froze. He had been expecting to feel the rough ridges of his Mask of Light but instead felt the smooth surface of the Kanohi Pakari he wore as a Matoran.
He then looked down at his hand. Instead of being white, it was blue. Just like when he was a Matoran.
He hung his head as cold realization crept over him. Toa Takanuva was no more. He was once again Takua.
* * *
Iruini groaned as consciousness returned to him. I really hate Skakdi, he thought as he reached for his Cyclone Spear and Rhotuka Launching Shield. He could not find the latter, and the former felt shorter than usual, but the Toa Hagah of Air decided not to dwell on that subject.
Rising to his feet, he instead wondered where in the Great Spirit's name he was. Trees towered over him and a river flowed before him. He could also hear the crunching of leaves and twigs, as if something- or someone- was approaching him from behind.
"Iruini?"
The Toa of Air spun around, raising his Cyclone Spear, to see the hideous visage of a Rahkshi Guurahk. Iruini scowled at the azure-colored spawn of Makuta.
"You guys sure are persistent even without old Teridax bossing you around."
"Iruini, it's me!" the Guurahk said. "Gaaki!"
The Toa of Air blinked. "Gaaki? What happened to...?"
Dread pumped into his heart. Turning around to face the river, he bent down to see his reflection.
The face he saw was that of a green Rahkshi's.
Turning back to fellow former Toa Hagah, Iruini frowned. "Do the Great Beings hate us or something?"
Gaaki sighed. "Someone clearly has something against us. Come on. Let's find Norik and the others."
As the two of them set off, the only solace Iruini found in being a Rahaga again was that he had the limited ability to fly again.
* * *
The sudden weight of piled-up snow was what awoke Toa Kopaka from his slumber. Quickly rising to his feet, the Toa of Air brushed himself off... and stopped when he realized that he was no longer wearing his Toa Nuva armor, nor his adaptive armor.
Great, he thought bitterly. It's another one of those days.
As he began to search for his fellow Toa Pohatu, as well as their companions on the Red Star- Mavrah, Gaardus, and Kodan- Kopaka soon realized where exactly he was.
He was in Ko-Wahi, the region of Ice on the island of Mata Nui. The only place he could think of as home. While he should have been comforted by the familiar surroundings, there was one problem with the scenario.
Ko-Wahi, along with the rest of Mata Nui, was destroyed when the Great Spirit robot- possessed by Makuta Teridax- was reawakened. How could he be standing here?
Before he could wonder further, the sound of feet moving through snow made him turn around. Through the blizzard, he could make out a Toa-sized figure approaching him, accompanied by an Energy Hound. When the veil of snow finally cleared, a female Toa in blue and white armor stood before him, a trident in one hand and a chain connected to the Rahi in the other. Staring at Kopaka with cold blue eyes, the stranger raised her tool at Kopaka.
"State your name and purpose," she commanded.
Hesitating only briefly, Kopaka said, "I am Kopaka, Toa of Ice. To be honest, I don't exactly know why I'm here or how I even got here in the first place."
Keeping her icy stare on him, the other Toa nonetheless lowered her trident. "If you do not know why you're here, then your story must be the same as mine."
Turning around, she beckoned for Kopaka to follow her. "Come. I shall take you to the Tribe."
Left with little other choice, the Toa of Ice did as told. Yes, it's definitely one of those days.
No comments:
Post a Comment