Bionicle Legacies: The Light's Love

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THE LIGHT’S LOVE
A BIONICLE LEGACIES SHORT STORY

Takua, matoran of light, was preparing for a journey. He lived a peaceful, dutiful life, and thus was chosen from a group of matoran for a mission to Metru-Nui. As one of the many Av-Matoran, he had special abilities that almost none of the other types of matoran had. He could change the way that others saw him, such as changing his color to be a Ta-Matoran with a blue mask, which was his favorite color scheme.

Walking through his room, the home he’d lived in for over 100 years, he spotted the one thing he was looking for, a carving of his best friend. Her name was Kornai, and she had been Takua’s friend for as long as either of them could remember. Both of them were taken from their parents as soon as they were summoned.

He put the carving in his bag as he continued to pack his belongings. He had just finished packing when there was a gentle knock at the door, and then the sound of the door opening.

“Takua?” Came a shy, female voice. “You in here?”

“Over here, Kornai!” The young boy answered. “What do you need?”

“Nothing, really.” She replied. “I made something for you.”

“Oh, I’m already packed.” Takua stated.

“Its okay, what I made is small.” She answered as she handed him a small, but thick disk.

“What is it?” He asked.

“It is a light-solid projector. You press the button on the bottom and a solid light projection appears on the top. This one is of me. I’ve already got one of you, based off of the carving that you gave me.”

“What is it for though?”

“So that you will remember me when you are gone.” She looked at her feet, her gold Calix gleaming in the sunlight that came through the room’s window. “I’m going to miss you, Takua.”

“I know.” He replied as he stepped next to her and embraced her. Tears began to drip from his eyes as he remembered their time together. They soon broke away from each other so that Takua could look at the light-solid projector. Turning it on, he was amazed at the detail that the projector had. Everything, including color, was the way it was in real life.

“Takua…” She trailed off, looking at her feet again. “I lo--"

“You don’t need to say it Kornai.” He smiled at her. “I already know.”

They came toward each other and, though they didn’t think that it would ever happen, they kissed for the first time.

“I love you Kornai.” He whispered as they pulled apart.

“I know.” She smiled. “C’mon, we need to get you to the Turaga Complex.”

Takua grabbed his bag before walking back over to Kornai and grasping her hand. As they walked out of Takua’s house and Takua locked the door, one of his neighbors, a youthful matoran of the Green, came walking up.

“So, you’re leaving today, Takua?” The young boy asked.

“Yeah.” Takua replied mournfully. “I’m leaving.”

“And…oh.” The matoran stopped himself when he saw Takua and Kornai holding hands. “You’re a couple now, aren’t you?” he frowned.

“Yes.” Kornai and Takua replied simultaneously and then giggled. As they laughed, the other matoran stormed off angerly.

The two matoran of light walked off toward the Turaga Complex. Within minutes they were there, waiting for the Turaga of Ice to summon Takua.

When Takua was finally summoned, Takua asked if he could have one more moment to say good bye to his best friend.

“Takua, I’m going to miss you. Don’t ever forget me…”

He moved toward her and kissed her for the second time. “I won’t.”

“Good bye Takua…I love you.” She burst into tears before running out of the reception room that they were in.

“Good bye, Kornai. I’ll always remember you.” Takua yelled after her, tears flowing freely down his mask. “Good bye…” He stepped silently into the Turaga’s chambers, fists clinched, ready to fight the Turaga’s decision to send him to Metru-Nui.

“Good-Morning, Takua.” The Turaga of Ice spoke calmly.

“Don’t give me your useless pleasantries!” The matoran shouted.

“Calm yourself Takua, if you ever want to see Kornai again!” The Turaga spoke as he rose from his chair.

“What?” Takua spoke softly. “What did you say!?”

“If you ever want to see Kornai again, you will calm yourself.” He smiled evilly. “To ensure the safety of this mission, I have ordered that she be captured. If you don’t do as I say, she will be put to death.”

Takua gasped at that comment. “You wouldn’t. You are a Turaga. It’s against the Order to kill a matoran.”

“The order is dying. And, I will do whatever I please.” He turned away from Takua. “Guards! Take this matoran to the Quick Travel room.”

Two Ta-Matoran entered the Turaga’s Chamber, and grabbed Takua by the arms. Takua looked up at the face of one of his captors, and found the Red Komau of his best friend from Metru-Nui looking at him. “I’ll help you, Takua.” He whispered once they were well away from the Turaga’s Chamber.

“What are you doing here, Jala?” Takua asked as they released him.

“It’s not just me here. Kapura over there is also helping.” Jala said softly, nodding over to the Pakari wearing matoran.

“Helping with what?” The matoran of light spoke with an edge.

“Getting you reunited with Kornai. Kapura and I were already here on a short vacation, until we got separated from our group, and forced into that mad Turaga’s guard. We’ll save her though. But right now, go along with the Turaga. Go to Metru-Nui. Turaga Dume will protect you., We’ll get Kornai ther too, you have our promise.” There was a pounding of footsteps in the distance. “Hurry! And turn Ta-Matoran.”

Kapura led the matoran of light the rest of the way to the quick travel room. Immediately after they arrived, there were shouts in the corridor they had just come from. Kapura stepped out to see what was going on. Leading a mob of matoran was Jala and Kornai, who was holding her arm. The two matoran hurried into the room and locked the door shut.

“Kornai!” Takua yelled as he ran over to and embraced his friend. “You escaped!” He cried through tears of joy.

“Only with Jala’s--“ She suddenly stopped, her teeth clinched tightly.

“Kornai?” Takua asked nervously. “You okay?”

“No.” She spoke softly. “The Turaga tried to have me beheaded. I moved when the axe fell, but I wasn’t fast enough. My arm got cut pretty bad.” That’s when Takua noticed the large amounts of her gold Av-Matoran blood dripping onto the floor from her arm. “We need to get to Metru-Nui.” She said painfully as she and Takua stepped onto the Quick-Travel platform.

Jala activated the timed quick travel setting, before stepping onto the platform with Kapura. The last thing they saw before blacking out was the door being blasted in, and a matoran throwing a spear at Kornai.

As suddenly as they disappeared from the ‘World that feeds the World’, they appeared in Metru-Nui’s less grand Quick-Travel room. Takua quickly looked around the room, and when he saw no one but his group in there, he changed his color scheme to his Ta-Matoran version.

Sensing that something was wrong, he turned slowly to his friends. His heart stopped. Kornai was clutching a wooden pole sticking out of her unarmored belly. She looked at Takua with shocked, then pleading eyes before beginning to collapse. Jala and Kapura caught her then laid her gently on the floor.

“Kornai…” Takua whimpered as he hurried over to her and knelt down. “Kornai! Stay awake.” He pleaded with her. “Jala, find Toa Tuyet. Hurry!”

“Takua…Is that you…?” She smiled painfully. “Takua…”

“Don’t go, Kornai.” He paused. “Mata-Nui.” He cursed, her heartlight was beating erratically. “Stay with me, Kornai. I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t.” A strong, female voice said from the door.

“Tuyet!” Takua exclaimed. “Please hurry!”

The Toa of Water hurried over to the Gold and white matoran. Pulling moisture from the air, Tuyet enveloped Kornai in water. The wood slowly dissolved, but left a gaping hole where it was. Toa Tuyet poured more of her energy into Kornai, but nothing else happened to the wound. The Toa slowly released the water into the air, as a single tear slipped from one of her eyes. Takua saw this and his heart sank. He knew why Tuyet was beginning to cry, his best friend was doomed.

“No…” He whispered.

“I-I’m sorry…”Tuyet stumbled over the words that revealed the truth to Jala and Kapura.

Kornai came to as the last of the water surrounding her disappeared. She sat up weakly and looked around calmly, but the others could tell that she was still in pain. Takua moved closer to her and put his arm around her.

“Takua…” Kornai spoke weakly. “This is the end for me isn’t it?” He nodded, tears beginning to streak down his own mask. She looked at Tuyet then back to Takua. “Takua, I know the laws and traditions, but with your permission Toa Tuyet, I’d like to be wed to Takua, and, also with your permission, have a child summoned for us.”

Tuyet and Takua looked at each other, Takua’s pleading, tear filled eyes won her over, before she nodded. “I think that would be all right to happen.” Kornai, for the first time since she stormed off at the Turaga Complex smiled as did the other matoran. Takua carefully helped his soon to be wife to her feet, then turned to the Toa of Water.

“Takua, matoran of Light,” Tuyet began, “Do you promise to serve Kornai, always?”

“Yes.” He replied quickly.

Tuyet, sensing that Kornai’s time left was only a little while longer, shortened the traditional ceremony. “Kornai, will you do the same?” Kornai nodded weaker than before. “Then, by the Great Spirit Mata-Nui, I wed you.” The two matoran of light began to glow dimly as they looked at each other.

“Do you still want a child, Kornai?” Takua asked, noting that the color was beginning to leave her mask.

“Of course…I want you to have a living memory of me…” She spoke softly, but stronger than before.

“Lead us there.” He said as he turned to the Toa. Tuyet opened the door as Takua lifted his wife into his arms. It took only a couple of minutes to get to the summoning room, but to Takua and Kornai, it took the lifetime they weren’t going to get to share. They entered the summoning chamber slowly, Takua and Kornai taking in the room that would hold their last minutes of being alive together. Takua sat Kornai in a chair that Tuyet had placed in front of the female hand scanner. He hurried over to the male hand scanner. They both placed their hands on the scanners and waited until a bright light appeared on the center of the platform in the center of the room. Takua walked back over to Kornai. As the light disappeared, Takua walked slowly to the platform on which was laying a baby matoran. It was gold and white like its parents, and wore a Kaukau, mask of underwater breathing. Around the baby’s neck was a necklace with a tiny Avohkii charm that faintly glowed. Takua knew that his and Kornai’s child was a female, for she had the blue eyes of the female matoran of light. He gently picked their daughter up, and walked back to Kornai, who was sitting down again.

“What should we name her, Kornai?” Takua asked his wife.

“Tamarisk.” Kornai replied softly “The name of my mother, according to our old Turaga, before he lost his mind.” She laughed weakly.

“What’s so funny?” Takua questioned.

“Just this morning we were only friends, now we’re married, have a daughter, and I--" Her heart light flickered. “No…” she whispered.

“Kornai?” Takua spoke worriedly. “No Kornai, stay with me.”

“Takua, Tamarisk…Tama…I…Love…You…”Her heart light began to dim and flicker.

“Kornai!” He yelled, tears streaming down his glowing Pakari. “I can’t lose you again.”

“I’m…sorry…Takua…Tama…” Her heart light pulsed once brightly, and then dimmed, never to light up again.

“No…” Takua wept mournfully, his mask gleaming in the light from the lightstones. Jala came over and took Tamarisk from Takua so that he could mourn for his late wife and friend, Kornai. The matoran lifted Kornai’s body, and carried her to the chambers of Turaga Dume. Tuyet, Kapura, and Jala, who was carrying Tamarisk, followed him into the room.

Jala wore a look of complete hatred as he and the others walked in. No one else was in the room except for Turaga Dume.

“Toa Tuyet, what is the--" Dume stopped speaking as he turned toward the small group. “No…” He gasped when he saw Kornai’s gold and white body. “A matoran of light! Dead in my city! Who did this?!”

Tuyet was the first to speak as Jala and Takua were in no state to recount their tale. “Your brother in the ‘World that feeds the world’ is who to blame, Turaga.”

“He couldn’t have! He was here just a few minutes ago. Where did that child come from? I didn’t approve any summonings for this week.”

“I approved it, Turaga Dume. She,” Tuyet motioned toward the body, “Requested it. The child was summoned less than half an hour ago! It was the Av-matoran’s last request.”

“So am I correct in assuming that you married them too?” Dume glaring at Takua.

“Yes.” Takua finally spoke. “Tuyet married us. Only because my friend was gravely wounded, otherwise I would’ve waited.” Fresh tears streamed down his watermarked mask.

“What are yours and hers names?” Dume asked more kindly.

“Takua, is my name, Kornai was her name, and our daughter is Tamarisk.” The young matoran answered.

“What? Kornai, and Tamarisk? Impossible! Kornai was Lhikan’s daughter who disappeared one-hundred-twenty-five years ago! Tamarisk was his wife’s name, a Toa of Water that was killed a month ago.”

“That’s about when we both appeared at the Universe Core.” He replied.

“I am greatful that you are allright, Takua, but Kornai’s death is a dangerous blow to the universe, as is the problem caused by my brother. If what you have told me about him is true, Botar will not be long in arriving here.” The red and black Turaga of Fire turned to the window that looked out over Ta-Metru.

“Takua,” Jala whispered, “Come take Tamarisk.”

The matoran gently laid Kornai’s body on the ground then walked quickly over to Jala. He lifted Tamarisk into his arms and walked over to a chair and sat down. Tears ran down his mask as he remembered Kornai. His daughter looked up at him lovingly, not knowing that her mother had died just under a half hour before.

“Takua,” Turaga Dume began again, “I do have news that will sadden you more. Do you fell like you can handle it right now?”

“Just tell it to me.” Takua replied.

“The order is still in place as to what happens to a matoran of Light in its first year.” He sighed. “You only have a year with your daughter, Takua.”

The matoran gasped. “That was supposed to expire!”

“It was renewed early this morning. I’m sorry, Takua.” He saw the tears pouring down the matoran’s mask. “I will try to get a special case for you. An exception, if you will, because of your circumstances.”

“Th-thank you, Turaga Dume. I would appreciate it very much.” Tears were still flowing from his eyes, but they were transitioning to tears of gratefulness.

“You need some temporary housing, don’t you?” The Turaga asked as Takua nodded. “You aren’t returning to your old home for a while, I know that much.” He turned to the Toa. “Are there any vacant homes in the Ga-Metru residential district?”

“Yes, there are a handful of homes near a large children’s park. They aren’t that far from the border to Ta-Metru, so you can get a job there. I’m sure that my brother Lhikan can help with that.”

Takua and Tamarisk were then led to their new home. Takua taught her, in secret, everything that he knew about the limited powers of an Av-matoran. They lived together until the passages to the various environs began to be sealed. Takua, fearing that Dume had gone mad, sent Tamarisk away to the Mainland. He didn’t see her again until after he was the Toa of Light and married to the matoran named Nixie and had another daughter named Nikana. Tamarisk had returned to Metru-Nui around the same time that Takanuva returned from escorting Jaller and the others to the enterance to Karzahni. Her reappearance triggered his memories of Kornai, and their final, fateful day together.

THE END

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