Chapter 28: A place in my dreams
Chapter 28: A place in my dreams
They said the two were the creators of the world and of all living beings. Thinking about that could make him smile. He didn’t know who really did this but even the gods first started to exist on this planet when the first Matoran did so. And still the two brothers were chosen to be protectors of the world, rulers over life and death.
They had been really great brothers once but then Makuta started to grow more and more jealous. The people admired a god of life and birth, of light and the day rather than a god of death, night and darkness.
They started their battle hundreds of years ago. Makuta didn’t even spare the world he had sworn to protect. He sent out his own creatures of darkness while Mata Nui had to choose heroes of his own to protect the lands.
Once the brothers also had created their very own cities deep down in their residence in Karda Nui. A city of light and a city of shadow. Home for Matoran of light and shadow. Now everything was lying shattered into pieces. Mata Nui was only able to get part of the Matoran out and to other cities on the surface.
After years of fighting Makuta had become stronger while Mata Nui was spending his strength on protecting the lands. Makuta had inflicted so many wounds on Mata Nui’s body and soul that it could have killed him if he hadn’t been a god. The pain was too much to continue his fight. But instead of killing his brother Makuta put him into a deep sleep. A sleep that protected him from his pain. He could see what was going on in his dreams but he wasn’t able to do anything against it. He wasn’t even able to wake up. All he could do was watching how Makuta slowly destroyed the world and killed the people. He couldn’t even create new Toa.
But after years of healing he at least was able to use his telekinetic ability again. The first Toa he contacted was the Toa of fire, Lhikan, the only survivor of the battles. He knew that the Toa didn’t have much time anymore so he gave him the instructions how to chose the next generation of Toa and lead them to the Kini Nui, the former entrance to Karda Nui. It was the only way to send out the power that made Toa out of them.
And then after some further years of sleep he was finally able to break out of it with a kind of astral body. His real body was still wounded too much. But it was enough to create nine heroes with his own hands. One for each of the six villages, one should be a mix form and then for the first time there should be Toa from the two former cities of the gods.
The should be born and grow-up as Matoran so they could learn more about life than just the duties of a Toa, then they should become Toa on their own when the right time had come. He wanted to explain them everything when this time had come, wanted to be their teacher for the first few fights.
His other Toa were able to push Makuta’s attacks back but they would never have the chance to defeat him. These Toa should have it, with the help of Mata Nui. Even if it was tearing up his heart whenever he thought about defeating his own brother.
After each one of his future Toa he had to wait some months to regain his strength so it took him nearly eight years until he saw the birth of the last of them.
But not even the half of them got the chance to grow up before something completely went wrong. It seemed like Makuta had noticed what he was planning and attacked their homelands Aro Nui and the isle of Mata Nui. The Great Spirit had raised most of his Toa on Aro Nui because Makuta had nearly ignored the little flying island. The only threat on there had been the Ikuta so far.
Now only one or two of them would even get the chance to become a Toa on his own like planned so Mata Nui had to make them to Toa immediately the same way he had done it with the others. As soon as the last Toa on Aro Nui had died they should get together at an ancient temple. The only soon-to-be Toa on Mata Nui should go to the Kini Nui and meet with the others later on.
He felt sorrow in his heart. They were still too young for this. The youngest had just reached the age of twelve. There had been no time for explanations or training. The god of light couldn’t show himself any more without his brother seeing him. But he made the promise to protect them as good as possible.
But when this important day finally came something went wrong again. Only seven of them changed. The other two hadn’t even gotten the message that they were chosen o be Toa. One of them got the strength; the other one was a Toa at heart but nothing more changed on them. His experiment with a Toa of light and a Toa of shadow had completely failed.
He had to focus on the others. They had beaten their first few enemies. Even his little one had done his job better than he had awaited. They were able to defeat the Ikuta and beat back Makuta’s creature again.
Then there was this call from the isle of Mata Nui. Makuta now focused more on it again and the Great Spirit wanted to send six of his heroes. At the same time the Ikuta returned. They had somehow learned the attacks of Makuta’s sons. Mata Nui was able to protect his Toa but unfortunately it led them to a loss of memory.
When the six of them were on the island, closer to him than ever before, something strange happened. The wounds his body had for so many years, those wounds that never could heal, suddenly started healing.
Lewa’s deep friendship to Onua, Tahu’s beginning feelings for Lewa; it all was like Mata Nui was feeling with them. He could feel friendship and love rushing through his body, making him heal even faster. During that time he could think of another possibility to get his last two Toa. He had to drive his power directly through them. For one he had to create a new Kanohi, for the other he could use an old and long protected energy storage. This storage had kept him alive for a very long time because it was providing him with energy as his wounds couldn’t heal. It might have sounded strange but it was made by his brother. It was like he wanted him out of his way but something in him still prevented him from killing Mata Nui.
His wounds had healed up now enough that the six Toa could really awaken him but he just showed up in his astral body. His real body still remained in his prison in Karda Nui.
But then there was this pain again. His old wounds were breaking open. His old energy storage was in danger. He sent the six back to Aro Nui not just to let them find out the truth about themselves, more to protect his storage and get one of the two remaining soon-to-be Toa close enough to it.
While the others had been on Aro Nui Takua finally had discovered the new Kanohi and found out that he should be a Toa.
Mata Nui now finally knew that even if his body had healed fully he just would have been able to send out his astral body. His real body couldn’t break out of the Vortex Makuta had created around him. He would have needed his old Kanohi of life that had sunken down into the ocean decades ago so he sent out the next generation of Toa and Takua to find it.
Meanwhile his pain was growing stronger. He heard Makuta speaking in his mind. No, not Makuta himself, just the part in him that wasn’t filled with hate. He asked him if he should put him back into his healing sleep. Mata Nui didn’t want to.
Even if the Toa had found the Kanohi of life there wouldn’t be enough time to get it to him. His body was dying and he needed a new one just to keep his soul alive. Matoro was the one he had chosen. The Toa needed to die but he wasn’t really dead. He was caught together with Mata Nui’s body in the Vortex, carrying the Great Spirit’s soul.
Nearly the same time he felt that his storage was in safety. His plan had worked. The last Toa had come to him. And Mata Nui’s body started healing again.
After some time when he had regained most of his strength he could switch into his old body and bring the Toa of ice back to life. The only thing he still needed was his Kanohi. His Toa team should bring it to him before Makuta could find out again that his brother was planning something.
~~~***~~~
His crimson eyes wandered through the darkness, his cold voice was speaking to someone who was standing hidden in the shadows.
“Only one day left until the Toa will come into my lair. You will get the green one and kill him immediately.”
“Why just him?” the one in the shadows asked.
“I feel it, there’s a special bond between him and my brother. He has this special kind of protection around him. Killing him will harm Mata Nui more than anything else. I know how deep he feels for that black and that red Toa so just follow them and they will lead you to him in no time. You can kill them too if you want to but concentrate on Lewa.”
Tahu’s eyes snapped open. He was shivering although it was warm around him. This dream again. It always was like he was in Makuta’s body. He wanted to kill Lewa and he would follow Tahu and Onua because they would lead him to the one he wanted.
Ruby eyes wandered to the figure at his side. His green angel was still sleeping not knowing what would await him in Karda Nui. Tahu hadn’t told him about his dreams. He didn’t want him to hear it at all. The Toa of fire sighed deeply. He never wanted this to happen. They had to split up again as soon as they reached Karda Nui. He had to prevent Lewa from going with him or Onua.
