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Chapter Text

Narmoto sat and tended to his fire, its embers danced as he gazed out into the growing expanse, its subtle waves bringing a melancholy to his ears. He nudged the fire with his hands, its embers dancing across his body in angry protest. Slowly he slid in new pieces to keep the fire going. The slight sound of old fabric rustling, alerted the protector to another’s presence.

“Turaga Vakama what do I owe the pleasure?” He turned his head to meet the wise elder, nodding in reverence.

Peeking out from under the Turaga’s robe was a group of small Ta-Matoran, the Turaga chuckled before returning his attention to the protector. Wise old eyes analyzing him with ease.

“Lonesome nights are good for no one.” The Turaga took a seat on the other side of the fire, the Okotans surrounding the fire. “And the young Okotans could not sleep either.”

Narmoto nodded before returning his gaze to the vast sea, lost in thought. The slight whispering of children filled the air, but it didn't seem to reach the protector's ears.

The Turaga followed Narmoto’s gaze analyzing the dancing shadows of the horizon. “What a beautiful sight,” he smiled. “How about a story to keep the thoughts off your mind?” He tapped his staff twice, getting the protector’s attention.

“Tell me about the first Toa,” Narmoto replied.

“Ah I see,” he hummed. “Thoughts weigh heavy on you, but very well I have been meaning to tell this one to the young ones.”

Vakama cleared his voice synthesizer, and he spoke steadily to everyone with their eyes upon him.

“Long ago, before time had been given a name, Rahi ran loose, their superior bodies modeled to hunt us perfectly, and they did,” He clawed his hand. “However where there is danger there is also hope, heroes arose, masks of powers created, and the three truths were revealed to us. Unity! Duty! And Destiny!”

[-]

Ekimu ducked under a piece of brush, and hid behind a tree listening to the rampaging Rahi trample pass him. Holding his breath he waited for the rumbling slowly lessening, finally leaving him alone. He sighed letting the tension escape his frame and slumping against the tree.

The Av-Matoran pressed his face into his hand, his metallic hands scratching against his mask, as he silently screamed into them. “Hey Ekimu, I have an easy job for you!” he grumbled standing. “There is a quaint Bo-Village just a little bit away, they really need help. Some matorans broke their masks!” 

He looked around the trees and seemed to have notches wide enough to step in leading up to the canopies.

“Oh for the love of the first spirit,” he grumbled.

Carefully he stepped on the notches and climbed his way up, his frame creaking with each pull. When he finally reached the top he collapsed onto the floor out of breath. Standing up he looked around, it was eerily quiet. Withdrawing his hammer he crept through the village.

His eyes darted left and right, but nothing was ever there. He finally arrived at the chief’s house, but it was deserted, everything was thrown around, it looked like a stampede of Rahi had trampled inside. As he checked the other houses they looked the exact same.

“What happened here?” he whispered to himself, running a hand along the edges of the building. 

This was clearly a Bo-Village, so where are the matorans? Other than the inside being a mess, the actual buildings were fine. Ekimu felt like there were hundreds of eyes all over him and he didn't like it, then there was an echo of silent taps. He knew that sound and immediately ran back from where he came from, in the distance a matoran had just arrived, he seemed puzzled as to why Ekimu was running.

“Sir, is everything okay?” It was a Kra-Matoran wielding a spear.

Then it dawned on him as he saw the wave of Skull spiders that had taken over the village chasing the Av-Matoran. Ekimu grabbed the Kra-Matoran and jumped off the side of the canopy. The matoran screamed in his ear as they landed in a pool of water.

The two climbed out and began to run once more the sound of angry skull spiders behind them. The Skull spiders soon gave up their chase leaving the two matorans heaving in the forest.

Ekimu looked at the Kra-Matoran, their eyes wide. “First time huh?” he brought his hand out to shake. “Ekimu.”

The matoran nodded and shook the Av-Matorans hand. “Makuta.”

The two collected their breaths, their chests heaving from exertion. The two began to inspect their tools making sure they had everything, not that they could go back for it.

“Do you hear that?” Ekimu rasped, perking his head up and looking north.

It sounded like a soft whisper floating through the air, tranquility and peace.

“Yeah I do.” Makuta stood up looking south.

For Makuta it was strength and a vow of power.

Something churned in their core they could feel themselves drawn to it. Ekimu and Makuta desperately wanted to turn away to run back to civilized society where they could rest.

“Do you think,” Makuta whispered before changing his words. “Is this Mata Nui trying to guide us?”

Ekimu pondered for a moment, this was certainly different and the presence he felt didn't feel like a Rahi mind trying to press into his mind.

“I don't know, but here.” he pulled out a second hammer from his bag. “I have the feeling you should have this.”

Makuta hesitantly took it, the grip feeling perfect to him.

Before Makuta could say anything Ekimu was already walking towards the sound of his voice. The leaves crunching every step he took.

“Perhaps we will meet again, Ekimu.” Makuta yelled out before walking his own path.

Chapter Text

Ekimu stumbled across the frozen landscape, the voice pulling him deeper and deeper into the frigid storm. Ice cracked, snow crunched at his feet, and snow pummelled into him from all sides. The various items in his bag jostled around with each step he took.

He needed to reach the top of the mountain, and he wished he knew why. But every time he begged the voice to explain itself, he was only met with silence and a stronger pull.

When he finally reached the mountain base, he saw a small hole in which to hide. Collapsing into it, he rested his weary joints. His body felt cold, weak, and lethargic. Pushing into the icy wind had used up a good chunk of his energy. Weakly, he ignited a small oil lamp, the flame only giving a slight comfort to the Av-Matoran as he shivered. 

He fell asleep, his dreams taking him to the beaches of the northern continent, the warm sand dancing across his fingers. But when he opened his eyes once more all he was met with was the cold landscape.

Thankfully, the snow had died down, and he could continue on his journey. The fresh snow clung to his feet, and with each step, his body began to feel colder. The ascent up the mountain was rougher than anything he had experienced before. It was trial after trial, evading violent Rahi and using pure strength to climb the cliff faces. More than once, he nearly slipped, but he clung as hard as he could, knowing that if he fell, that was it.

By the time he reached the top, his joints were creaking and his energy had dipped dangerously low. Gathering his breath he looked out at the surrounding area, the sun was shining down gently on him almost as if it was caressing him.

“I am here, Mata Nui, please give me your guidance. Why am I up here?” There was a shudder in his voice as he screamed out to the vast expanse.

Images flashed through his head forcibly reverberating against every fiber of his mind, forcing him to learn every detail of it, burning it into him. He collapsed to the ground, holding his head as the last image of a mask filled his head much softer now.

Rising he grabbed his hammer and set up his anvil, he knew what he had to do. He hammered and hammered the piece of metal he was carrying, for hours he toiled away, the sun shining on him the mystic energy of Mata Nui surely standing with him. Delicately he laid his hammer to the side eyeing the finished product. Removing his mask he let it fall to the ground, tenderly he picked up his newly finished mask and placed it on his face.

A stoic voice rippled through Ekimu once he did. “Arise, Ekimu, Toa of Light!”

A beam of blue light surrounded Ekimu, his body was beginning to feel different, and he gasped as his arms and legs were growing in size and length. When the light dissipated he was double his original size. Even his hammer was different, it was no longer just the tool of a mask maker it was a tool of a warrior.

Ekimu walked to the edge, his body stronger than before, a realization dawned on him this was the beginning of a heavy responsibility but one he knew he had no choice but to accept.

Chapter Text

Makuta walked through the etched out cavern, his hand rubbing against the walls. He was no Onu-Matoran, but even he could tell there was something unnatural about the Cavern. As he traveled deeper and deeper, the air grew hotter, like walking through thick invisible steam.

The hammer Ekimu had given him, clanked on his back with each step, was the only weapon he was able to truly use in the tunnel. There was chittering ahead of him and he drew the hammer, rushing forward he charged whatever lay ahead of him, his hammer slamming into the rahi, easily smashing into its plates. 

He felt powerful, this was the first weapon that truly fit into his hands. Sure he could use swords, bows, and axes, but this hammer felt far more natural. Any all rahi he faced fell just as easily, their oiled blood, slowly coating him with each strike.

After what felt like hours he finally reached the bottom of the cavern, its cracked ground illuminated red, lava slowly flowing through the cracks. The area was illuminated red, almost as if it was coated in a deep anger. Images were reverberated into the Kra-Matorans head, like a liquid slowly pouring itself into a container. 

“This was ordained.” he said in awe holding the hammer up high, the great spirit had planned him to have this. 

Smiling underneath his mask he began to gather material from around the room, hammering and slowly forming a golden mask. Its horns drooped down and power oozed out of the mask.

Taking off his powerless mask he replaced it with his newly made mask.

“Arise, Makuta! My Toa of darkness!”

A purple light filled the cavern, the lava turning a deep purple as Makuta grew. He grew twice his size, the hammer he was wielding grew as well, taking on a more purple look.

Makuta patted his new body, along the edges of his armor. Pure energy was flowing through him, and this excited him beyond measure.