BC2 - Shielding

“Nooo!” Lewa cried, but the word froze in his throat as Gahdok turned her icy gaze on him, freezing him in place.

Meanwhile, the others were calling upon all of their powers to battle the sisters. Tahu blasted Gahdok with fire, but she retaliated with a barrage of hurtling stones.

“Tahu!” Lewa cried in horror, his half-frozen mouth barely forming the name. With an effort, Lewa turned his ice-encrusted eyes toward Onua and Pohatu, hoping they would come to Tahu’s rescue. To his surprise, he saw both were busy fighting — but neither appeared to have an opponent!

More of the sisters’ illusions, Lewa thought desperately.

Just in time, the Toa of Fire used the power of the Mask of Shielding to block the stones. But Lewa could see that he was struggling to maintain the protective shield.

Nearby, Gali was fighting to stay upright as wave after wave of nauseating heat rolled over her. She didn’t understand what was happening. Somehow, her elemental power had deserted her — she couldn’t even manage to call forth a trickle, let alone a flood, to fight the two queens. She could see that Tahu was having similar troubles — and the sisters were closing in on him.

“Onua! Pohatu!” Gali shouted. “You are fighting shadows! Tahu needs you!”

Luckily her words got through to Pohatu. Shadows? He stared at the hulking metallic monster before him. It reared up, preparing a devastating strike with its hooked claw.

“Forget it, brother shadow,” Pohatu spat out, disgusted with himself for falling for the sisters’ tricks.

He stood firm as the shadow creature struck. The claw passed right through him and disappeared in a whiff of smoke.

Pohatu whirled around, knocking Onua on the shoulder. “Brother!” he cried. “Leave that shadow alone — we have to help Tahu!”

Without waiting for an answer, he rushed forward and flung the largest rock he could find toward the queens. But they deflected it easily, tossing it aside. Pohatu growled in frustration, looking around for another boulder.

“All of you!” Tahu shouted suddenly. “Shed your armor! It hinders our elemental powers — and they are our only hope!”

Of course! Pohatu ripped off the Exo-Toa armor. Though he immediately felt power seeping away, he also felt his own natural strength swell to replace it.

Tahu was still struggling against the queens.

It’s no use, the Fire Toa thought desperately. They’re too strong! How can we hope to fight them?

The knowing will come.

The words filled his mind. Suddenly he knew what to do.

“Toa!” Tahu shouted. “Surround them! We must combine our powers.”

Lewa leaped forward with the others. But he couldn’t help worrying — what if this was another trap? What if the queens had tricked them into attacking without the protection of their powerful armor? If the Toa perished, who would be left to protect their people?

“But — the danger,” he cried as the others moved toward the hissing, screeching queens.

Gali glanced at him in surprise. “The safety of our people is worth any risk,” she said. “If power is all these creatures understand, then we will show them power.”

Tahu nodded tersely. “Let’s go,” he said. “Lewa, either join us or get out of the way.”

Lewa stared at the Fire Toa, seeing a question in his eyes. Could Lewa give the right answer to that question? Did he know the right answer? Suddenly he was certain that he did.

“Yes,” Lewa said at last. “You are true-right. It’s worth the risk.”

Tahu smiled at him for a second, looking relieved. For the first time since Lewa had been overtaken by the krana, there was no suspicion or doubt in the Fire Toa’s eyes.

Then Lewa joined the others in forming a ring around Cahdok and Gahdok. He closed his eyes, summoning all the power he could find within himself. Just when he’s reached the bottom, he felt Gali’s hand grasp his shoulder. A new wave of power swept through him.


- BIONICLE Chronicles 2: Beware the Bohrok, Chapter 15