BC4 - Mask of Shielding

The climb down was slow and treacherous. Once one of Pohatu’s claws slipped, and only fast action by Kopaka kept the Toa of Stone from plummeting to the floor far below. By the time they reached the bottom, both Toa were exhausted.

The gray Mask of Shielding, the Kanohi Hau Nuva, was wedged in a far corner, perhaps a hundred kio away. Its power could protect a Toa from any physical attack, provided it was not unexpected. Of all the Great Masks, it was perhaps the most valuable to possess now, when the Toa were without their elemental energies.

Kopaka took a step toward the mask, but Pohatu grabbed his arm. “Hold it, brother! Do you feel that?”

“What?”

“I am not one with the earth like Onua, but something is wrong… very wrong.”

Suddenly a violent earth tremor struck the mountain, shaking it like it was a toy in the hands of the Matoran. Pohatu looked up in time to see the roof of the cavern far above collapsing, sending tons of rock and ice plunging toward them.

Pohatu didn’t hesitate. He rammed Kopaka hard with his shoulder, sending the Toa of Ice flying across the icy floor toward the Kanohi. Kopaka slid to a stop against the wall, an arm’s length from the mask. Stunned, he looked up to see half the mountain about to crush Pohatu.

Kopaka scrambled and grabbed the mask, slamming it into his face. The Hau Nuva mask had the power to protect those near the wearer as well. If he was in time, the shield might extend to Pohatu. If not…

The shield flared to life around Kopaka. Stone rained down upon it and shattered to harmless fragments, while the ancient energies of the Kanohi kept the Toa of Ice safe. But there was no sign of Pohatu.

It felt like an eternity before the quake ceased. Kopaka scrambled over the rubble toward where Pohatu had last been standing and began to dig with his hands. “Pohatu! Pohatu!” he shouted, but the only answer was the echo in the cave.

In the end, he was forced to give up. Nothing stirred beneath the rock.

“Goodbye, my brother,” Kopaka said. “Perhaps we were too different to truly be friends. But a noble heart beat within that body of stone.”

Grimly, he turned from Pohatu’s final resting place and began the long journey back to the surface.


A full day passed before Kopaka reached the village of Po-Koro. Matoran lined its newly constructed walls, on the alert for any appearance of the Bohrok-Kal. The approach of the Toa of Ice sent a stir through the guards, for all knew he rarely ventured out of Ko-Wahi these days.

Turaga Onewa met him at the gate. “You journey alone, Kopaka, in this dangerous land?”

“No,” replied Kopaka. “I journey with the memory of a fallen brother.” He handed Onewa the Kanohi Hau Nuva. “This belongs here. Without Pohatu, it would never have been found… nor would I be alive to carry it. He died as he lived, a true hero.”

“I thank you for that, brother!” The booming voice came from behind Kopaka. All who saw him that day would later say that the Toa of Ice was not so cold as some believed. For he turned with a smile to see the approach of Pohatu, battered and weary but very much alive.

“Pohatu! It is good to see you once more,” Kopaka began. Then he slowly added, “I mean, it is good to know that Po-Koro will not be left undefended in this time of danger.”

“Thanks to you,” said Pohatu. “The power of the Mask of Shielding protected me, but not before I was stunned by the falling rubble. Still, it enabled me to survive the quake and your efforts made it easier for me to dig myself out. Too tired to climb, I walked until I found a tunnel that led to another, and so on. I emerged in Onu-Koro and made my way here.”

Kopaka took the Hau Nuva from Onewa and handed it to Pohatu. “This is yours. Although I believe your courage is a greater shield than this mask could ever be, Toa of Stone.”

“I will take the mask anyway, brother, with gratitude,” replied Pohatu. “For I believe we will need every bit of power — and all of our courage — to make it through the days to come.”



- BIONICLE Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks, Chapter 1