CHAPTER TEN
"By the Great Spirit," Norik murmured in wonder as he watched dozens of Rahi beasts, led by Krahka, converged on Makuta's position. "I would never think an event such as this could happen."
"It helps that Makuta forcibly removed them from their territories," Bomonga said. "Now they can reclaim their lost homes."
Iruini chuckled. "It's like the Matoran say: 'Payback bites worse than a Muaka.'"
Just as the Rahaga prepared to watch the brewing action, Kualus said, "Where's the Toa of Fire?"
The others frowned as they looked. Toa Nuhrii was nowhere to be seen.
* * *
"I have ended wars," Teridax growled as he zapped a bolt of lightning at a charging Kane-Ra bull. "I have topple warlords and empires."
A Nui-Jaga lashed out its stinger tail, which the Makuta grabbed and used to heave the scorpion around, crashing it into a Nui-Rama.
"Many a Toa have trembled in my presence." A Power Scream shattered the ears of a flock of Gukko birds and they came crashing to the ground. "I dwell in the nightmares of Matoran villagers. My name is whispered in fear when Turaga elders tell of my accomplishments."
A chain of lightning burnt a pair of Stone Apes. A blast of plasma saw to the end of a Manas crab. Poison began to corrode a Kraawa's systems.
"The Barraki couldn't stop me. Makuta Miserix couldn't stop me. Even Mata Nui couldn't stop me." Teridax spread his arms widely. "What makes you think you mere animals can stop me?"
Now in the form of a multi-armed warrior, Krahka brandished a multitude of weapons as she glared at the Makuta. "Because, unlike you, we don't have a thousand-strong army at our disposal, or a wide range of powers that we can use with a mere flick of the wrist."
She took a step forward. "Unlike you, we actually work. We toil away to feed ourselves, to scare away unwanted visitors, and to make ourselves comfortable. We don't crave power; we crave to live."
And with that, she attacked.
* * *
"Wow," Ehrye murmured, watching the Rahi's battle with Makuta from the sidelines. "I would never think a Rahi could come up with a powerful speech."
"They're buying us time," Vhisola said. "Quick, we need a plan to finish off Makuta."
"Well, I am the tactical leader," Nuhrii said, suddenly joining them. "Maybe I can cook something up."
Ahkmou sneered at him. "Had a nice nap, fire-spitter?"
"Shut it, rock-head," Tehutti snapped. "What do you suggest, Nuhrii?"
"I heard what those creatures were saying," the Toa of Fire said. "About unity. What if we used our powers together against him?"
"It's worth a shot," Orkahm said. "At this point, it's got to work."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Ehrye asked. "Let's-"
The Toa of Ice was cut off when Krahka's battered form went flying over their heads. The six Toa Metru then turned to see Makuta storming towards them, his mask contorted in rage.
"This is your last chance," he growled. "Surrender or be destroyed."
Nuhrii was the first to respond, sending out a jet of flame at the Makuta of Metru Nui. The attack did little more than scorch his armor, but the Toa of Fire pressed on.
Ehrye and Vhisola joined him, sending out their Ice and Water powers respectively. While the Makuta had been able to endure the fire, the additional two assaults made him stagger. When Tehutti made the earth shake with his Elemental Power, it was enough to bring Makuta to his knees, as he struggled to muster a counter-attack.
A boulder courtesy of Ahkmou, propelled by a gust of wind from Orkahm, ensured that he did not.
The Toa Metru ceased their attack. Cautiously, Nuhrii approached the defeated Makuta. The dethroned ruler was still alive, his red eyes flaring through his Mask of Shadows. However, his armor was cracked and dented in various places. Nuhrii unsheathed one of his two blades and aimed it at Makuta's neck.
"Concede," the Toa of Fire said sternly. "At least while you still have some dignity."
Makuta snorted. "I shall admit defeat. But if you think I'm going to give you the satisfaction of imprisoning me...."
The former ruler of Metru Nui did not finish his sentence, for in an instance, he had vanished from the Toa's sights.
Nuhrii put away his blade. "Whatever works."
* * *
In the few days that followed Makuta's defeat and departure from Metru Nui, Nuparu would have thought that things would be more lively and peaceful like they were before the Great Cataclysm. While he was correct on the latter part, the former had not changed. Matoran still worked and moved about with glum expressions like before.
He knew that this was because Mata Nui was still asleep, but he had thought that everyone would be filled with new found hope. Then again, even he was struggling to feel such an emotion.
As he tinkered with abandoned Vahki and Rahkshi parts to create something that would help in the repair of the Coliseum and the rest of the city, he noticed someone standing in the corner of his eye. He turned around to see Macku.
"Oh. Hey," Nuparu muttered. "Do you need anything?"
Macku shook her head. "No, it's just... I've been worried about you."
"About me? Why?"
"Well...." The Ga-Matoran shifted her feet. "When Makuta... absorbed your Kralik, I looked at you and... you were in complete distraught. You wanted to redeem yourself for the Vahki and the Kralhi, and your third attempt had just failed."
Nuparu returned to his work, not facing her. "And? Come on, Macku, where are you going with this?"
Macku sighed. "Honestly, I was afraid you were going to snap."
Nuparu turned around again and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "To be honest with you, Macku, I thought so, too. I thought I was going to lose it. But then I realized...."
The Onu-Matoran paused for a moment, considering his next words. "I realized that everyone makes mistakes, sometimes several ones. But in the end, you either just give up and move on or figure what it was you did wrong."
"And in your case?" Macku asked.
Nuparu turned back to his project. "Right now, I'm staring from a clean slate. Instead of making something like a Vahki- a brutal enforcer- I'm making the opposite."
"Which would be...?"
He showed her his work-in-progress: a small robot that was as high as a Matoran's knee. "I call it the Auxium. If things go right, it'll be able to fix the Coliseum faster than those Po-Matoran out there."
Macku shushed him before giggling. "Don't let Hewkii hear that."
Nuparu snorted. "What's the worst he can do, chuck a rock at me?" He then blanched. "Though it would depend on the size of the rock, wouldn't it?"
The two Matoran's laughter went well into the night.
EPILOGUE
Very little light lived in the Makuta Fortress of Destral. The only sources of light were torches lined up on the stone walls, but even those burned faintly. Water dripped from unattended pipes, the sound amplified by the hollowness of the fortress. Sound rarely traveled through here; on some days, one could hear the rattling of chains and the cries of prisoners, but those were usually silenced in short order.
Makuta Icarax was used to all of these things on a daily basis. As he rested comfortably on the obsidian throne of the Brotherhood, the Makuta of Karzahni admired the several Kanohi masks, Toa Tools, and Rahi heads that adorned the throne room's walls. But what gave him the most pleasure whenever he laid his eyes on it was the large container placed in a corner near the entrance. Sculpted by Po-Matoran prisoners, it was made to serve a very special purpose, which Icarax anticipated the day for with bated breath.
That day had finally arrived.
Barging through the doors, staggering with each step, was Makuta Teridax. His armor was cracked and dented, Antidermis energies threatening to leak out. Icarax quickly stood up from the throne just as the leader of the Makuta crumpled to the ground.
"Lord Teridax, what happened?" Icarax asked, rushing to his fellow Makuta's side.
Teridax groaned as he struggled to get up. "Toa... defeated me. Metru Nui... is lost."
Icarax frowned, though on the inside he was grinning like the arrogant maniac he was. "Dear me, what an upsetting setback."
"A setback, yes," Teridax muttered. "But one we shall prevail over."
Icarax nodded. "Indeed. Would you like me to find you a new body to transfer your essence to?"
"No. Just get some Nynrah Ghosts over here to fix mine."
"I'm afraid that won't do you much good. If mere Toa were able to do this to you, then someone stronger than them would be able to do much worse."
Teridax scowled. "What would you have me do then? Inhabit some weak Exo-Toa suit?"
"Of course not." Icarax hefted the Makuta of Metru Nui to his feet and slowly led him to the container in the corner of the room. "I'll have the Nynrah Ghosts build you a better, stronger suit of armor."
"That will take too long," Teridax growled. "By then my body will fail me and my essence will leak out."
Icarax grinned. "Don't worry. I've made the necessary precautions."
Moving swiftly, he grabbed each side of Teridax's Kanohi Kraahkan and tore the Mask of Shadows from his face. He then shoved the Makuta of Metru Nui towards an open hatch in the container, letting his Antidermis pour out into it. Too weak to move, Teridax remained where he was.
While the container filled up, Icarax admired the mask in his hands. "Do not worry," he said nonchalantly. "This vat will keep your essence alive for at least a few months. That should be more than enough time for the Ghosts to make you a new body."
He grinned as he replaced his own Mask of Scavenging with the Kraahkan. "In the meantime, I shall oversee our empire's further conquest of the universe. And who knows... I just might prove myself to be a better ruler."
As the Makuta of Karzahni let out a harsh cackle, the essence of Makuta Teridax let out a silent scream of rage, though it fell upon deaf ears.
TO BE CONTINUED
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