Webmaster: Lewaswingin

“Yes she is. I wish I could go too…”

“Why wouldn’t Maku let you?”

“Well, when I get angry or stressed out, strange things start to happen around me… water boiling and stuff…”

“Whoa! Maybe Maku was right!”

“What so you think I’m not ready yet too?! Right, that’s it we’re going to the Water Temple NOW!” Moana’s cry rang out around Ga-Koro. Kaiwera took him arms down from his head and looked up at Moana’s frustrated expression and rigid posture.

“Um… o-okay we’ll, um, go. But what will I do about my Duty? I said I would protect the village.”

“Ga-Koro hasn’t been attacked for weeks, besides they can take care of themselves.”

“Oh, so you don’t think I’d be much help?” said Kaiwera angrily.

“Do I look in the mood for an argument? Do I? Do I look in the sort of mood that won’t result in serious GBH to you?”

“Which way is the Temple?!”

Moana and Kaiwera hacked their way through the light forestation on the way to the Water Temple. They were silent, until Moana said,

Have you ever been inside the Fire Temple?”

“Well yeah, where’d you think I got this mask?”

“What about it? It’s just an old mask.”

“It’s Toa Tahu’s Great Kanohi Hau, actually.”

“Yeah. Right.”

“No really! It is! Look-“ Kaiwera picked up one of the cobble stones that lay on the ground to form the pathway to the Water Temple.

“Throw this at me.”

“Hard?”

“Um… well gently.”

“Like this-!” Moana hucked the stone at Kaiwera’s torso, and as she did so a faint pearly red ball enclosed Kaiwera, which the stone penetrated and continued to hit Kaiwera’s chin.

“Ow. Well, you saw the bubble didn’t you? It’s the Kanohi Hau’s power, it’s the Mask of Shielding. I just, haven’t quite learnt how to use it… yet.”

“Wow… a real Great Kanohi Mask… you got it in the Fire Temple?”

“Yeah, that’s where I fought all those Nui Rama blindfolded.”

“I meant to ask you about that, why were you blindfolded?”

“Uh… they tied me up and gagged me, they were going to feed me to Makuta, but I slipped out of their clumsy knots and killed them all!”

“Wow… you must have been either very very brave to have done that, or very very stupid. Maybe both.”

Kaiwera said nothing.

A short while later, they arrived at the entrance to the temple. The sandy blue rock that the Temple’s bricks were made of sloped down from the top of the front to the ground behind, as if the Temple had sunk into the ground. Kaiwera wished there was a lava flow leading to it, it would be the biggest ramp ever!, he thought.

“Whoa… look how big it is! It’s weird, like the ground swallowed half of it. And this lake is beautiful, look at the lilies!” said Moana.

“Yeah, lilies, great. Nice. Big Temple, bigger than the Fire Temple,” replied Kaiwera.

“Don’t you like it?”

“Well, it’s… nice. But, there’s water everywhere. I’m from Ta-Koro, we don’t have much to do with the stuff.”

“Surely you can see this is a place of outstanding natural beauty?”

“Could use a trim, if you ask me.”

“Humph,” said Moana, and started to walk at a fast pace towards the entrance. The door to the temple was open.

“Maku, she must be in there already,” said Moana, “You got your sword? We might need it.”

Kaiwera brought out his magnificent sword, and it glittered in the afternoon sunshine.

“Right, lets go in then.”

The inside of the Water Temple was much like the interior of the Fire Temple, the masonry was crumbing to dust, the carvings in need of a jet-wash and the decoration and fabrics undistinguishable. The main difference was that everything was damp, and there were puddles all over the gritty floor.

“Nice place you’ve got here, could use a bit of work though!” Kaiwera joked. His shrill voice echoed down the corridor, returning to them as something less cheerful.

“Kaiwera?” said Moana in a small voice.

“Yes Moana?”

“Please shut up, I don’t want any Rahi to hear us.”

“Good idea. I will.”

They were in a long entrance foyer, with curving walls in the shape of waves.

“Hey look there’s a signpost, over there.” Moana pointed to a mouldering wooden stick in the middle of the floor, behind which was a big puddle.

“Hmm… it says something here… “Obstacles lie ahead. To pass the waves of the Sacred Water Temple, you must be pure of heart and head, and carry the Sea Hooks of Ga-Wahi.” Well, guess those hooks are a little further on then. Come on, lets go find them.” Kaiwera began to walk towards the puddle.

Moana stood rooted to the spot.

“Uh… Kaiwera…”

“Yes?”

“I really don’t think you should walk into the puddle…”

“Why ever no-“ Kaiwera’s sentence was cut short as he disappeared under the water of the puddle.

“KAIWERA!” Moana screamed, running up to the edge of the deceptive puddle. As she looked into it, she could see the floor a centimetre beneath the water, but she could sense it was far deeper, as deep as the ocean.

“KAIWERA!” she shouted again. A faint rumbling filled the air, and ripples spread across the puddle. They became bigger, until the sound of crashing waves was unbearable. Though squinted eyes, her hands pushed tight against her ears, Moana saw a patch of red…

“Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!” Kaiwera rocketed out of the water, slamming into Moana and sending them tumbling together head over heals out of the Water Temple. Kaiwera coughed up water.

“You could have warned me!” He shouted at her, and then spurted water into her face.

“Eww get offa me! I did warn you, you just kept walking you moron!”

“Well, *hack*, that seems to be the waves part of what the sign said, I guess we need the Sea Hooks before we, *ehem*, cross that “puddle”. Know where they are?”

“No, I don’t, and I thank you to get off me, you’re really heavy!”

They walked back into the Water Temple and read the sign again. Kaiwera sat down against the trunk of a tree.

“Wonder where they are…?”

“Kaiwera? What’s a tree doing in here?”

“Huh?” He got up, and stared up at the tree. “Good question. There’s hardly any light in here but it looks healthy enough…”

“Hey! There’s something up there, a bag or something!” Moana shinnied up the tree and grabbed the bag, throwing it back down to Kaiwera. She jumped down next to him as he opened the bag, to reveal two vivid blue hooks.

“Wow… the Sea Hooks of Ga-Wahi…” said Moana in awe.

“Yeah, they’re cool. Let’s try the puddle again. Here, take ‘em.” Kaiwera handed the hooks to Moana. Neither of them noticed, but two sparks ran round the blades of each.

Cautiously, they dipped their toes in the water, but it had resumed it’s normal depth and they crossed it easily.

They walked on a little further, until Kaiwera stopped to get out his lightstone. It was an expensive one, bought from Onu-Koro, and had a selection of grills on the front that could be slid up or down to increase or decrease the brightness of the glow. There was also a lens on the top, which could be used when a torch-like beam was needed.

“Ooo… that’s a nice one. Only Okoth has anything like that in Ga-Koro.” Moana whispered.

As they walked further, the floor began to slope downwards. Fikou, pale for never seeing sunlight winced as the light of the lantern touched them, their red eyes reduced to slits in their domed heads.

“Freaky… I didn’t know these lived down here,” whispered Moana, “Hey… can you see something shiny up ahead? Or, down, ahead, or whatever.”

Kaiwera strained to see it. If he looked out of the corner of his eye he could just see a shimmering shadow…

“Mata Nui…”

“What?” asked Moana.

“I think it’s a lake.”

“Wow. Lets hurry up and take a look.”

The blue and red Tohunga made their way down under the earth, until they arrived at an archway, half masoned, half covered with stalactites.

“Take a few of the grills off, I want to see how big the lake goes.”

Kaiwera took all the grills off, leaving the lightstone naked to the air.

“Wow,” they said in unison, their mouths dropping open.

As far as the eye could see, still, silent water stretched into the distance, in a cavern big enough to fit at least three Ta-Koros in, Kaiwera guessed. Stalactites littered the ceiling, and giant stalagmites rose out of the water like the wrecks of ships.

“I had no idea this was here… it’s amazing! Look at the size of the cave!”

“I know, and the waters so still, look.” Moana picked up a tiny pebble, and rolled it into the water. The ripples spread out from it like they were being sucked from the pebble, until the two Tohunga couldn’t see where they ended.

“Amazing, anyway, where’s Maku?” asked Kaiwera.

“Good question, see any doorways marked, “Nokama’s Cell”?”

“No, but there is a trail leading away from us into those stalagmites.”

“Great, lets follow it.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

The trail was small and grimy, with seaweed laying over some parts, their roots disappearing into the lake. The lantern threw shadows from the stalagmites onto the walls of the great cavern, making them appear to shift and move.

“Can you turn the lantern down?! It’s creeping me out,” complained Moana.

“OK.” He put the lowest light-allowing grill on the lantern, and they were contained in a bubble of light on their own, in the pitch black cavern.

“Well… I guess it’s better that we don’t know what’s out there… let’s just get to that opening,” said Moana.

“Which openin- oh.”

A small black hole could be seen in the dim light of the lantern, and grew to doorway size as they neared it.

“Hey look, footprints!” hissed Moana, who dashed over to a patch of dirt by the entrance to the opening.

Kaiwera’s head came up with a snap. He clipped the lantern to his rucksack, drew out his sword and ran after her, calling,

“Moana, watch out!”

Moana looked up in surprise and turned round to see Maku complete an arc with her disc that would take Moana’s head off… And it would have done, had there not been a light swishing noise, and Kaiwera’s sword sliced through the disc and pinned it into the stone wall. Maku looked surprised, her pitted brown infected mask cocked to one side, sizing them up.

“Get behind me!” commanded Kaiwera, wrenching his sword out of the wall, “Here, have this,” he handed Moana Maku’s disc.

“B-b-but it’s Maku! We can’t fight her!”

“She has been infected by Makuta, aim for her mask only!”

“O-ok I’ll try…”

Maku started to walk towards them, her sickly green eyes glowing in the darkness.

“Hello Moana, and yes, the brave Ta-Koronan. I thought I told you to ssstay at Ga-Koro?!”

“I don’t take orders from you, Makuta.”

“Hehehe,” Maku’s voice became deeper, not her own, a low, hissing sound, “hahaha. Ssso you know that I am behind infection… clever little Tohunga. But even is thisss puny body I will defeat you…” Maku reached behind her and brought out a long and dark sword, rusted with a surface like sandpaper.

“You couldn’t cut through hot Vaku butter with that sword,” rallied Kaiwera.

“We ssshal sssee…”

Maku leapt forward, bringing her sword down on Kaiwera, who blocked it with his own, sending a clanging sound into the void of the cavern and making Moana scream. He rolled, and spun back round with his sword scratching a deep groove into Maku’s infected cheek.

“Ha! Missed.”

“Oh, I didn’t miss,” said Kaiwera. Maku whipped round to see the large black shape of the butt-end of a disc heading towards her…

KLANK!

The infected Huna flew away from the skirmish, and landed in the lake.

“Oh… oh dear, I hit her didn’t I.”

“Yes, nice hit. You’re the healing expert, will she be alright?”

“Huh! Just because I’m from Ga-Koro you expect me to know healing?”

“Well all Ga-Koronans have to take a trial in it to achieve adulthood…”

“Yes yes alright, you’ve heard of that have you? Very useful ritual it is too. You have to bring a sick fish back to full health. I passed with extinction you might like to know, Nokama said she’d never seen a fish so shiny in her life.” Moana nodded smartly.

“… Maku?”

“Oh, yes.” Moana bent down and examined Maku’s face. “Well, she’ll be ok. What will the effects of her wearing an infected mask be?”

“Now Makuta has entered her mind once, she should know how to block him out next time.”

“How do you know all this?”

“Ta-Koronan have to pass a test on Infected Rahi and proper Guard Code to achieve adulthood.”

“Really? Wow.”

“We should be able to leave her now, she’ll be safe. C’mon, let’s look for Nokama.”

They entered the opening, and found themselves in a passageway. They walked down it for a little way, and then came across a chest.

“Oh look, a chest,” said Kaiwera, and he broke the lock open with his spade.

“…”

“…”

“… you open it.”

“Why me?! You’re the brave fighter.”

“I don’t like spooky unexplained chests… they scare me.”

“Fine!” Moana lifted the lid of the chest and pulled out a blue Kaukau mask.
“Wow… hey, you don’t think this is Gali’s Great Mask do you?”
“Could be. Lets you breath under water doesn’t it? Not that anyone would ever want to do that.”

“…”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“Well you got to wear Tahu’s mask, so I’m putting Gali’s on.”
There was a blinding flash of light and Moana was wearing the Great Kanohi Kaukau.

“Ooo… I can feel all the water in the Temple, there’s LOADS of it, it’s everywhere!”

“Well it is the water temple…”

“Wait, there’s a ripple somewhere… something big is moving around.”

“I don’t like the sound of that, what is it?”

“I don’t know… it’s headed this way.”

They both turned to the passage, and presently there was a huge “SLOSH” noise, and then what sounded like a motor bike.

“Mata Nui…”

“What is it?” asked Kaiwera.

“TaraKAVA!” squealed Maku, as the huge blue Rahi rounded the corner of the passage. It’s orange eye’s were two spheres of light on it’s head, it’s huge punching arms moved forwards and backwards slightly, and the huge motorised wheel it moved around on shifted down a gear.

“Remember what I said about Maku?”

“Aim for the mask?”

“Right.”

“Watch it’s punches, I got winded by a tame one of these when I was a kid…” warned Moana.

The Tarakava leaned forwards and struck out at Kaiwera, who leapt out of the way. He was amazed by the Tarakava’s range, it was at least 2 bios. The Tarakava struck out at him again, and he parried and brought his sword up to block another blow…

The Tarakava screamed in pain, Kaiwera’s sword was so sharp it had cleaved off one side of the Tarakava’s arm. Wailing in pain, it pummelled at him blindly, but he dodged the onslaught easily. As a huge blow came from the Tarakava’s good arm, Kaiwera jumped onto it and was taken back to the Tarakava’s body, which he flipped round, landing behind the beast. It tried to turn to face him, but the passage was too narrow. Kaiwera ran up it’s bucking, scaly back and began to wrench at the creatures mask. Infuriated, the Rahi bucked it’s head, sending Kaiwera sprawling onto it’s face, his arm searching for a purchase in something warm and slimy… oh no. The Tarakava clamped it’s jaw shut on Kaiwera’s arm and then waved him about like a rag doll. His sword flew away from him madly, landing quivering in front of a frozen Moana.

“Hel-p mee-eee!” Kaiwera moaned, he could feel the bones in his arm splintering.

“Don’t… move!” Moana threw the sword with all her might at the Rahi’s face. It spun slowly, and eventually hit the Tarakava’s mask with it’s hilt, knocking it free. The Rahi dropped Kaiwera, and changed to reverse gear and rocketed backwards away from them.

Kaiwera fell, and landed with a faint “squish” sound. Moana ran over to him.

“Don’t move, I can heal you.”

“Great, hurry up!” screamed Kaiwera, his face screwed up, rocking with the pain shooting like red hot needles up and down his arm, consuming all his thoughts, turning everything fuzzy and black…

Kaiwera woke up with a start, sending an array of finely carved figures flying, which smashed on the floor.

“Oh dear, they were from Huki…” said a feminine voice.

“Moana?” Kaiwera groaned.

“No, it’s Maku. Moana’s in Nokama’s hut, probably being told off again.”

“Have I asked where I am yet?”

“No.”

“Where am I?”

“Your in my hut, and you’ve just broken some very fine carvings from my boyfriend.”

“Oh,” Kaiwera looked at the shattered rock on the green floor, “sorry, I didn’t mean to-“

“Don’t worry, I’m sure he’ll make me better ones. Let me have a look at your arm.”

“My arm? MY ARM! It was – wha? I don’t…” Kaiwera looked at his perfectly normal arm, shiny and red. But… the Tarakava had chewed it to pieces…

“Let me explain. After you and Moana saved me, I woke up to a scream. I followed that passageway to find you unconscious on the floor, and Moana leaning over you, performing a healing charm. We dragged you a little further to the cell Nokama was in, and then we helped carry you back. There was a big flood of water that blocked our path, but Moana swam through it somehow, and then held up some blue things and the water disappeared. Then we brought you back to Ga-Koro, Nokama fixed your arm up good, and then you woke up and broke my stuff.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. You OK?”

“Well, can’t complain. Makuta in my head was kinda freaky, but, ya know. Nokama wanted to see you as soon as you woke up, you must go to her now. Come, I’ll take you there.”

Maku led Kaiwera to Nokama’s hut, where Moana and Nokama were staring out of the large window at the setting sun.

“Our brave warrior awakens. Join us Kaiwera, I have much to tell you.” Nokama gestured to him an extra chair.

“Thank you Maku, that will be all for now.”

“Yes priest,” said Maku, and left the hut.

“What are 'Chosen', Turaga Nokama?” asked Moana.

“Vakama mentioned them to me. He insinuated that I was the Chosen of Fire.”

“Well, you are wearing the Kanohi Hau of Tahu. No normal Tohunga can wear such a mask, which strongly suggests that you are. There is a Ga-Koran who is the Chosen of Water. I was not certain of it until now, but it appears that it is you, Moana. Vakama has most of the ancient texts that speak of the Chosen, but I have had the opportunity to study them too. This is what they have told us.
The story dates back for more than two thousand years, which is why so many Turaga and Tohunga are sceptical about it... Mata Nui is not a young place... This is not the first time it has been endangered by evil... There have been two major events, the current one, Makuta, and the other, The Four… The Dark Ones came without warning, and began a reign of terror. The Toa were summoned by Mata Nui, and the masks were in their possession. They did not need to collect, they just needed to fight. The six heroes searched over the island, looking for their dark enemies... After a time, the Toa came into contact, and searched together. It was not long before the Dark Toa were found, and a war began between Good and Evil. But the dark ones were powerful. Perhaps more so than the Toa, but when the forces of good began to work together...
There was an enormous final battle near Ko-Koro. The Toa fought together, but still found themselves fighting a losing battle. Then they arrived. The Dark Ones found it pathetic, but it was a pure sign of hope. Six Tohunga, one from each village, came to assist the Toa. Each of the Tohunga died bravely, but their valiant deeds inspired the Toa to victory. But, as the final Dark Toa fell, the golden Kanohi that the Toa wore faded into the basic element colour. They had used so much energy, that they lost their Kanohi- except for one each. As a last act before they returned to the heavens, the Toa begged Mata Nui to bless the Tohunga who had perished whilst defending their home. And so, Mata Nui took their souls of the six brave Tohunga, and put them into new bodies for when the Toa would be needed again. The Chosen were born, ready to fight along side the Toa... The Chosen became part of the Toa. They shared the same masks, the same element, and the same soul. And we shall honour them all… as they shall save us again.
So two have now been found. There are four more, and to succeed, you must find them and all of the masks. There will be another in Ko-Koro- I suggest that you go there next. Go and see Turaga Nuju in the morning, but bear in mind that he does not believe in the Chosen at all- you are unlikely to get much help from him. There is a transportation system to the summit near Ta-Koro, use that- it is the fastest and safest route. You can always come and talk to me, Kaiwera and Moana, and I shall help you in any way that I can. Good luck, and may your path lead you to victory. But for now, I advise you to get some rest, you’ve had a busy day!”