MoL - Healing

“This battle is lost, Tahu!” Gali insisted as the Fragmenter stepped free of the lava. “We need to regroup!”

Tahu growled. But he realized that Gali was right. “So be it.”

Suddenly a familiar voice rang out. “Back, you foul creature!” Vakama cried.

Tahu and Gali exchanged a glance, then raced toward the sound of the Turaga’s voice. They arrived to find Vakama weakly waving his firestaff, trying to hold off the Poison-Rahkshi.

“Well done, wise one!” Tahu called to him, leaping forward. “I’ll take it from here.”

Gali jumped forward to join him. She sent a blast of water toward the Poison-Rahkshi. But the creature dodged at the last moment, and the blast hit Tahu, knocking him off of his feet.

“Brother!” Gali cried out. She watched in horror as the creature loomed over the fallen Tahu, striking at him with its staff. But Tahu somersaulted away, then knocked the Rahkshi’s legs out from under it. The creature crashed to the ground and tumbled down to the base of the wall.

Tahu landed on his feet, then dropped to his knees. A faint greenish-brown scratch glowed on the surface of his mask, then faded and disappeared as if it had never been.

Gali rushed up to the Fire Toa. “Tahu, I’m sorr —” she began.

“It’s nothing,” Tahu cut her off.

He grabbed Vakama as the Poison-Rahkshi planted its staff into the wall beside him. The Toa leaped away just ahead of the poison that was already spreading outward from the wall.


Gali, Tahu, Vakama, and Hahli stood together on the shore, watching as the entire village sank into the lava. The Rahkshi hovered away, disappearing into the steam on the far side.

Tahu took a deep breath. Ta-Koro was no more. But as he glanced around at the crowds of Matoran huddled nearby, he realized that the entire population of the village had escaped.

“They could have destroyed us,” he said. “Why didn’t they?”

Turaga Vakama shook his head. “They are seekers,” he said. “Whatever they came for they did not find.”

“So what were they after?” Gali asked.

“Makuta fears for his spell of shadows,” Vakama replied.

Gali and Tahu exchanged a glance. “The Mask of Light!” Gali said, suddenly understanding.

“Then they seek the Seventh Toa,” Tahu said. Suddenly realizing what that meant, he gasped. “Jaller and Takua!”

“We’ll summon the Toa to find them,” Gali said.

Tahu stopped her. “Don’t trouble the others, sister,” he said. “I will see to their safety myself.”

Gali was surprised. “No, Tahu,” she said. “We must remain united.”

Tahu turned away from her. For an instant, a sickly yellowish-brown glow flashed through his eyes. Then it was gone. He sighed and turned back to Gali.

“If you insist,” he said.

[...]

At the main temple, Lewa glided to a landing in front of Tahu and Gali. He held up his fist, which Tahu clanked with his own in greeting.

“Ta-Koro is gone, Lewa,” Tahu said heavily. “Buried by the very lava that sustained it.”

Gali’s gaze rested on Tahu. She reached out to touch the scratch on his mask, which appeared to be spreading. “Tahu...” she began.

Tahu brushed away her hand. “You worry about scratches?” he said angrily to Gali. “My village is gone! Your power was nothing! My power was...” He sighed in defeat. “Nothing.”

Lewa put a hand on Tahu’s shoulder. “We are samehearted, brother. And that heart will quicken us to stop the evilspread.”

“But first we must be united,” Gali said. “Together we are strong.”

Without answering either of them, Tahu turned and stalked away.

[...]

Tahu, Lewa, and Gali raced through a tunnel, heading toward the main cavern of Onu-Koro. They skidded to a stop as they reached the end of the tunnel and saw the mayhem in the cavern.

Tahu’s eyes flashed with anger as he took it in. The poison taint, which had spread to cover half of his face, glowed angrily as well.

He leaped into the cavern without a word. “Tahu!” Lewa cried, grabbing at him. But it was too late.

“RAHKSHI!” Tahu bellowed furiously, racing toward the creatures. He charged at the Anger-Rahkshi first.

The Anger-Rahkshi banged its staff on the ground. A ring of dark energy rippled across the cavern floor, hitting Tahu and knocking him off of his feet.

The Fire Toa landed with a grunt on the hard ground. Gali and Lewa leaped out of the tunnel and raced toward the action. Lewa spotted a small figure huddled on the ground near the Rahkshi.

The Chronicler, he thought in surprise. And his crab friend, Pewku. Looks like they’re in badneed of a rescue.

He glided toward them, grabbing Takua in one arm and Pewku in the other.

The Rahkshi hissed in frustration as they saw their quarry fly away across the cavern. They turned and stalked after him.

Tahu’s eyes glowed dark, anger-energy flashing across them. The poison taint had spread once again and now covered his entire mask.

He leaped to his feet. Gali gasped as she saw that it wasn’t just Tahu’s mask that was poisoned now. The taint had spread across his entire body!

The Rahkshi’s anger-energy must have caused it to spread more rapidly, she thought in alarm.

She took a step toward him. “Brother!” she said with concern.

“FIRE HAS NO BROTHERS!” Tahu howled. “FIRE CONSUMES ALL!”

He slammed his swords into the ground. Jagged fissures of lava burst into life and tore across the ground in all directions. Gali balanced on a pillar of earth as fire consumed the ground on either side.

Tahu looked at her, but there was no recognition in his eyes — only anger. He slammed his swords down again, sending another fissure of lava right at Gali. She somersaulted away just in time as the ground exploded into flame.

Across the cavern, Lewa glided down and deposited Takua and Pewku beside Onua and Pohatu. “No thought-thinking,” the Toa ordered Takua breathlessly. “Quickspeed to Jaller. Warn him!”

“I… er… will,” Takua called as the Air Toa glided away, heading toward Tahu and Gali.

Takua led the way as he and Pewku raced toward an escape tunnel. But a few strides away, the Ussal veered suddenly, heading through a narrow foundry doorway instead.

[...]

In the courtyard cavern, Tahu swiped his swords at Lewa, who dodged them easily. Tahu lunged at Lewa again.

Rocks rained down on him from the ceiling, mixed with snow. Suddenly a stream of water struck Tahu from behind.

Howling with anger, he turned to find Gali behind him.

“Tahu,” she called. “Remember who you are! Remember your destiny.” She unleashed another stream of water. Tahu’s armor steamed as the cool water hit it.

“I HAVE NO DESTINY!” he roared furiously. “I — agh?”

He jumped in surprise as a shape plummeted to the ground behind him. Kopaka! The Ice Toa touched his blade to the ground. A layer of frost washed over the ground, trapping Tahu in a thick coating of ice.

Lewa stepped forward. He and Kopaka each took one of the frozen Tahu’s arms, carrying him toward an exit tunnel.

Gali looked around for the others as she raced after them. She saw Onua’s quake-breakers smash through the stone of a collapsed foundry entrance and breathed out with relief as he and Pohatu emerged into the courtyard chamber.

Lewa and Kopaka carried the unconscious Tahu into a tunnel. Gali followed. Once inside the tunnel, she turned back to check on the others’ progress. Pohatu and Onua raced across the chamber toward her. They were steps from safety when there was an ominous rumble. A split second later, the entire cavern collapsed on top of them.

Gali gasped in horror. “Our brothers!” she cried as rocks and earth rained down, burying everything in a deep layer of debris.

She tried to leap out, to go help. But Kopaka stopped her.

He gave her a somber look. Gali returned the look for a long moment, then glanced out at the caved-in courtyard area. There was no sound, no movement except the settling dust.

She bowed her head sadly and turned to follow the others.

[...]

Tahu roared, struggling to free himself from the vines that trapped him. He crashed from side to side, the large, flat stone beneath him glowing hot with the force of his fury.

“The poison is destroying him,” Gali said quietly, watching from nearby.

Lewa and Kopaka stood beside her near a tunnel entrance in the jungle.

“We must act,” Gali continued. “Let us summon all the healing powers we possess.”

The three of them gathered around Tahu. The Fire Toa hardly seemed aware of their presence as he growled and fought against his restraints.

Lewa raised Tahu’s magma swords. They burned weakly, with nothing more than a sputtering flicker.

“His flame is but an emberglow!” Lewa noted in alarm.

“Kopaka,” Gali said.

Kopaka produced his own blade. He crossed it with the magma swords in front of Tahu’s face. The energy of two Toa’s blades exploded in a blinding flash of light, then flowed down into Tahu’s body.

Tahu roared defiantly as the energy flooded him. He was soon enveloped in glowing white steam.

“Enough!” Gali cried.

Kopaka and Lewa pulled back the swords. The steam dissipated, revealing Tahu — and the poison taint still covering his body. The Fire Toa lay still, his eyes dark.

“Brother!” Lewa cried, fearing the worst.

Gali brought her hands together. Water droplets rushed together at her call, forming a liquid sphere that spun in front of her. Liquid of life, do your magic, she thought, focusing all of her energy on the water’s cleansing power.

She unleashed the water at Tahu in a gentle mist. A rainbow formed as the droplets danced over his still form.

The water bathed him, washing away the poison along with the scratch on his mask. Within seconds, healthy red armor shone out.

Gali slumped, exhausted. Kopaka caught her, carefully helping her move away to rest.

Lewa gazed down at Tahu. The Fire Toa still lay motionless, but Lewa could see that Gali’s efforts had worked. There was no sign of the poison taint.

Lewa very gently clanked his fist against Tahu’s hand. “I’m right here, Toa brother,” he murmured.

Gali was kneeling beside a jungle pond. She held her hands beneath the water, taking energy from it. Kopaka stood behind her, watching.

“Kopaka,” Gali said with a sigh as she felt herself recharged. “Do you think the Turaga were right about us? Have we lost our unity?” She paused, gazing down at the still water. When the Ice Toa didn’t answer, she turned her head. “Kopaka?”

But he was gone. Gali sighed.

Just then Lewa called out for her. “Sister, he is openeyed!”

Gali hurried back to the clearing. Tahu was sitting up, unwrapping the vines from his wrists.

“Brother,” Gali greeted him. “Are you well?”

Tahu glared at her. “No, I am not well.” Then his eyes softened. “But I am alive and in your debt… my sister.”

He tentatively lifted his fist toward her. Gali smiled and gently clanked it with her own.



- BIONICLE: Mask of Light, Chapters 8, 10, 13, 14, and 15