MoL - Mask of Translation

Takua leaned out over the edge of the island. He had to get that mask!

The Kanohi mask danced and whirled just out of reach. If he could just stretch a little farther…

Got it! he thought with triumph as he finally grabbed the edge of the mask. Pushing himself back from the edge of the river, he sat and studied his prize, which seemed to glow more brightly than ever. He was barely aware that the quake was fading away as quickly as it came. He turned over the mask to reveal strange, incomprehensible writing on the other side.

“Wow,” he murmured curiously. “Never seen this language…”

“Takua!” Jaller called.

Takua had almost forgotten about his friend. Glancing up, he recognized the look of impatience on Jaller’s face. He climbed to his feet, still holding the mask.

“Hold your Rahi, I’m coming,” he called back.

[...]

The crowd was murmuring in amazement, Turaga Vakama stepped forward, his eyes filled with awe. “Come,” he said, reaching for the mask. “We must take this to the suva immediately.”

A few minutes later most of the crowd was gathered around the suva, a small, domelike shrine in the center of the village.

Nokama, the Turaga of Ga-Koro, was chanting under her breath as she stretched her hands toward the floating mask.

“Mapaku una-kanokee wehnua-hakeeta ah-keelahe hanoni rahun-ahk toa-nak panokeeta makuta-tahkee ohnah-koo,” she mumbled.

“What’s she doing?” Jaller whispered.

“Translating?” Takua guessed.

Finally Nokama reached up and pulled the mask out of the air.

“This is the Great Kanohi Mask of Light,” she said solemnly. “A mask to be worn only… by the Seventh Toa, the Toa of Light.”

The onlookers gasped. A Seventh Toa?

Turaga Vakama stepped forward. “Legends foretell the coming of a Seventh Toa, who would bring light to the shadows and awaken Mata Nui.”

Tahu leaped down from his perch on the nearby village wall. “What are we waiting for?” he cried. “We should prepare for this Toa’s arrival! When will it be? And where?”

Turaga Onewa shook his head. “Ah, this Toa will not simply appear as you and the others did,” he said. “The Seventh Toa must be found!”

The crowd murmured in amazement. The original six Toa had not needed finding — they had appeared suddenly on the island just when the Matoran needed them most.

“The Mask of Light chose who would find it,” Nokama said. “Perhaps it also chose who would deliver it to its master.”

“Wait,” Tahu exclaimed. “At the stadium, there was a sign! The mask threw all its light upon one Matoran.” He pointed. “Jaller — he must be the Herald of the Seventh Toa!”

“B-but I didn’t…” Jaller stammered. He turned to Takua. “Tell them the truth!” he whispered urgently. “Say something!”

Takua knew what his friend wanted — to tell the crowd that it had been Takua, not Jaller, who had found the mask. But Takua wasn’t about to take responsibility for this. Who knew how he would manage to mess up such an important quest! No, this was a job for someone responsible. Someone mature.

Someone like Jaller.

Takua raised his kolhii stick. “Hail Jaller!” he cried. “Herald of the Seventh Toa! All hail Jaller!”

The crowd joined in with enthusiasm. “HAIL JALLER!”


- BIONICLE: Mask of Light, Chapters 1 and 5