//-------------------------------------------------------// Release the Makuta -by Nockamer- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// In the time before time... //-------------------------------------------------------// In the time before time... Makuta gets up from the similarly shaped black mark where he landed. Well, good to know that the Toa had their elemental powers back, right? Right? Ok maybe not. For that Roodaka would have to be dead, a shame considering the visorak were mostly loyal to her. With Sidorak gone (thanks to Roodaka) I'll have to take control over the visorak, which would be difficult without Vakama as my vassal. I really should try try that with the Rahkshi venom again- Makuta's train of thought is blasted with a collective beam of energy from the Toa just as he was hit with the very same, but less figurative, blast to his left shoulder, sending him spiraling away but landing on his feet "Oh great the Toa are back up as well" Makuta thinks as he blocks a blast from Nokama on his right and leaps to avoid spikes of earth protruding from where he once stood. "Where are my Rahkshi? The Toa couldn't have stopped them that easily-" As if on cue, Guurahk, the blue Rahkshi of disintegration, uses its staff to sweep Nokama from behind as Lerahk, the green Rahkshi of poison, injects the ground with venom, forming glowing green cracks shooting towards Onua and Whenua. Makuta dusts himself off as the Toa deal with his Rahkshi. Vakama is showing decent resolve against Kurahk, the white Rakshi of anger, and seems to be becoming increasingly more frustrated through no means of Kurahk. Nokama is retaliating against Guurahk for catching her by surprise, while Matau tries to prevent Vorahk, the black Rahkshi of hunger, from siphoning all of Nuju's energy. All the while, Panrahk, the great brown Rahkshi of shattering is taking potshots at Matau from afar with bolts of electricity. Whenua and Onua stand back to back, attempting to face off against both Lerahk and Turahk, the red Rahkshi of fear. A losing battle, it would seem when one of Panrahk stray shots takes down Turahk, and outnumbered, Onua and Whenua easily overpower Lerahk. Now free from their "obligations", they move to help their friends fend of the Rahkshi. Makuta waits beside the battle, not wanting to waste his energy when it was not absolutely needed. Though his Rahkshi were beginning to lose, he was confident that he would be able to deal with the weakened Toa afterwards. Matau, with the help from Onua, free Nuju from Vorahk, and all three move to take down Kurahk, who was overpowering Vakama. At this point, Panrahk enters the fray and is almost immediately tackled by Matau. Seeing this, Guurahk moves closer to Makuta, as do all the other, more injured Rahkshi did. Lerahk was damaged to the point that Panrahk had to carry it. Both the Toa reorganize themselves, and prepare to overrun Makuta. The Rahkshi are in no state to fight the Toa again, so Makuta makes his way forward, not wanting to lose his sons, even though they were just pawns to him. "We will free Mata Nui, Makuta! And you are standing in our way!" yelled Vakama angrily, possibly still affected by the powers of Kurahk. The Toa took a semi circle pose, facing Makuta, putting their fists together in the one of the most bad ass fist bumps of all time, join their elemental power as one. Makuta was very familiar with this move. Very familiar. This was what the Toa did to freeze in in protodermis after his attempt of taking Metru Nui. He wasn't scared, just very, very hesitant. But Makuta had a trick up his sleeve. All those potshots by Panrahk weren't all for naught. The lightning coupled with Onua's earth spikes had created large mirror-like stalagmites, one of which he and his Rakshi were standing in front of. As soon as the Toa loosed their blast of combined energy at him, he grabs his Rahkshi and with amazing speed for one of his size, evades the blast and charges the Toa. The Toa's beam bounces off the stalagmite right back at the Toa, no matter how unlikely, and right as Makuta draws his scythe to overhead slam Vakama, the beam lands at it's source, and Makuta's vision explodes. Author's Note I will try to add as much humor as I can in this without having to put the humor tag on the story. ~Sincerely, Nockamer P.S. If anyone would like to add anything about grammar, spelling, logic, etc. please let me know. I will be open to all non stupid requests/tips. (It's a broad spectrum you should be fine) //-------------------------------------------------------// First Encounters //-------------------------------------------------------// Author's Note Note: In my previous chapter, I spelled Onewa "Onua", which would be correct if I were talking about Tahu and Gali, not Vakama and Nokama. And yes, the Rahkshi only communicate in hisses and screeches, but I am happy to translate for you. You're welcome. First Encounters Turahk lifted an armored hand in front of the bright light before him. Something seems off. Really, really off. This couldn't be right. The Makuta's shadow couldn't have dissipated that fast, even if he had been beaten (which is unlikely considering I'm still alive) Turahk thinks. Okay, so more than just the sky is bright. Everything seems subtly brighter, the grass, the trees, even the strange pastel quadrupeds... okay hold it. What kind of rahi are these things? It is like a strange, butter yellow muaka, with a weird pink blob behind its head. The strange creature, facing away from the Rahkshi of fear, turns its head to the right, giving Turahk a good look at its face. Wow its eyes are huge. No rahi I know of have eyes like that thing. Turahk thinks. Turahk gets up to his knee, causing the the creatures ears to perk up, and to turn its head fully towards him, with a smile on its face, instantly replaced with terror as the thing freezes, locking eyes with the Rahkshi. Well it seems pretty harmless. Turahk wonders. Honestly, how could this be a threat, so why hesitate. Turahk stands to his full height and stretches. Don't want to alert any local creatures. This thing could give me away to the Toa, if not do me harm. Where are my brothers and the Makuta anyway? Maybe I should just get rid of it. Its not doing the Makuta any favors, Turahk thinks as he readies his staff and the yellow thing takes a couple steps back. It doesn't look like protodermis, Turahk wonders. "Just what are you made of, you weird blob." At his voice the thing cowers, eyes wide. He takes another two strides forward, and the thing flees, making a weird, high-pitched whine, possibly some kind of warning to other creatures. That's not a good sign. Individuals can be weak, but together some creatures can be highly dangerous. "So that's how it's going to be" Turahk mutters to himself as he hops in the air and begins to hover, legs out in front of him. "If you want to run, then I'll be happy to follow". Fluttershy was out in the Everfree forest, on an absolutely beautiful spring day. She wasn't busy with any of her animal friends (surprisingly) and had taken a stroll through the woods, admiring the scenery, picking flowers, and just enjoying herself. She turns her head to watch as a flock of birds fly from a nearby tree. Hmm. What could have startled them? Fluttershy wonders, as a crunching sound makes her turn around fully. Smiling, it sounded large, so maybe it was Mr. Bear, coming out after a late nap or maybe... Fluttershy's thoughts were abruptly halted, as she looks into the red eyes of a metallic red beast, with claws, and spines on its back. Okay not Mr. Bear. Definitely not Mr. Bear. Fluttershy freezes, and tells herself that it is probably more afraid of her than she is of it. She starts to believe it too, until a large, spiked metal rod appears in its hands, and Fluttershy takes a couple of steps back. Oh Celestia, what is this thing? What is it going to do to me? Fluttershy panics. She doesn't think it can get any worse, until the thing's face opens up, revealing a strange tentacle squirming and screeching at her. She cowers, and folds her ears back, rooted in place. The thing starts towards her, and she bolts away. Behind her, she hears another screech, followed by a strange humming noise. She doesn't dare look back, fearing that the thing would catch her all the faster. "I need to find Twilight, and fast. She'll know what to do." Fluttershy panted to herself. "I hope." Fluttershy sprinted past her home, out of the Everfree, and straight through town, towards Ponyville's resident magic expert. Panting, even through this much fear, she still has the decency to knock, if not rather aggressively. *Knockknockknockknockknockknock* "Whoa, what's with the rush-" Twilight managed out before Fluttershy's furious knocking clocked Twilight right on the muzzle. "Oh my gosh, Twilight I am so sorry, I was just so scared, and I think the thing chased me, and are you alright? Oh, I got so caught up in my fear I forgot to ask if you were okay, I'm sorry" Fluttershy spewed "No worries Fluttershy, I'm alright. Now what is this thing that that you were so afraid of?" Twilight questions as she steps aside to let Fluttershy scuttle in, still obviously disturbed by what she had seen. It could have been just Mr. Bear, awoken early from a nap. Knowing Fluttershy, it probably wasn't anything major, but I'm happy to help my friend anyway, thought Twilight. "Well, you see..." Fluttershy started. "Gah!" For something so brightly colored, Turahk had lost it surprisingly quickly. Without the Makuta's great shadow, his other powers such as his flight were severely diminished. His staff powers, however, were just as powerful as ever. "Whatever that was, it can run surprisingly fast. And now, not that I ever knew where I was, am lost. Great, just great." Turahk says to himself as he spins his staff and splits a tree with it. "Ugh, at least let me find the others. They might not know where we are, but at least there's strength in numbers." He mutters as he brushes the underbrush back. "Oh great, another clearing! I hate being this exposed. What if something slightly more dangerous that the yellow blob sees me.." Turahk's rant is cut off as he realizes that in fact, it is not another clearing, but the forest had abruptly ended, and a small town, unlike that of matoran lay before him, just down the hill. "Perhaps this is where that yellow thing came from. No matter how much I would love to ransack it looking for the yellow thing, I better keep looking for my brothers. If the Toa are down there, I don't want to face them alone, and for that, I need the others." Turahk sighs. "Better go keep looking, I guess." As Turahk finishes his sentence and turns to renter the forest, slamming right into Panrahk. "Brother!" Panrahk cries. "I thought I had lost you. Where are the others? Makuta? The Toa?" "I was hoping you could tell me." The red Rahkshi replies. "All I know is that I saw Nokama and Nuju walking together, seemingly just as lost as I was. It seems we were not the only ones who were separated. If they are divided, we can conquer them." Panrahk says happily "I guess, but don't get your hopes up. Just as I found you, they could have found the others, or one of our brothers." Turahk responds. "Do you feel something strange about this place?" "Now that you mention it, yeah I do. It seems as if everything is emanating love and tolerance, or something disgusting like that." Turahk looks at Panrahk quizzically. "Why so specific?" "Well, I guess it just fells specific hey look a town!" Panrahk exclaims, wanting to change the subject. "It doesn't look like any matoran village I've ever seen." "I agree, and the wildlife isn't that familiar either. From here you could probably see what I mean, if you closely, you can see these weird little... Kurahk?" Turahk exclaims. "WHAT IN THE MAKUTA IS KURAHK DOING?" "It looks like he's terrorizing the locals, by the looks of it." Panrahk says calmly. "Think we should stop him? This is a great way for the Toa to find us sooner." Turahk responds coldly "Yes, let's. I like to have a word with our brother of anger, anyway." //-------------------------------------------------------// Onward into town //-------------------------------------------------------// Author's Note Apologies for the long Hiatus. The REALLY long Hiatus. If you have any questions, ideas to further the plot, or ideas for funny moments or references, please leave a comment, and I will see if I can incorporate it. Your ideas just might be better than mine. Who knows, right? Onward into town "Get over here!" Kurahk yelled. He casually grabbed one of the quadrupeds by its throat, hefting it aloft, staff raised triumphantly in his opposite hand. "Time for you to cause some destruction, little one." The little one, was none other than Trixie Lulamoon, and she was definitely more afraid of this... thing, than she had been of the Ursa minor. WAY more afraid. Kurahk charged a pulse of energy in his staff and released it right into Trixie's face. He released her throat, and she crumpled on the ground, slightly convulsing. After a moment, she rose, her eyes searing balls of hatred, all fear lost from them. She roared. Kurahk thought it was almost cute. Almost. Leaping at him, Trixie attempted to claw his face off with her hooves. Kurahk again grabbed her casually by the neck, spun her around, and forcefully pushed her in the direction of the rest of the town. She launched away like a race horse from a starting gate. "Now THAT will be fun to see," Kurahk chuckled. He turned to the cart he had overturned and smashed, admiring his handiwork, when his brothers Turahk and Panrahk approached. "Greetings brothers! I hope you will join me in watching that wonderful display of destruction that creature will cause. It was very strange, and showed more fear than any rahi I have ever seen. Still showed immense anger though, and that's the only emotion that counts." Kurahk said happily. "Brother..." Turahk sighed, "Doing things like that is what will get us caught by the toa. We can't afford to fight them until we are at full strength, and are again united with the Makuta." "Oh but it's so much fun...." Kurahk whined, "You have to admit that was funny". Turahk sighed again. "Fine, but no more interfering unless absolutely necessary. Got it?". "Fine" "Look brothers!" Panrahk interjects, "There's Lerahk limping into the town! We need to help him; Who knows what other dangers may lie in this village." The trio hopped into the air, legs forward, beginning to hover. "After him then" said Turahk. "It's okay Fluttershy, you're safe now. Calm down." Twilight said, trying to calm the frightened pegasus, "Just tell me again what happened. Slowly...." The ponies were seated in Twilight's tree house living room, Fluttershy obviously fear-stricken. "W-well, th-there was a, a thing. A b-big, scary, tentacle, RED, th-thing. I thought it was Mr. Bear, but when I turned around, it scr-screamed at me." Fluttershy managed. "Big, scary, red, and, uh, tentacley. Okay, I'm not sure what that could be," Twilight questioned, "Would it make you feel better if I got the girls together and we all go out looking for it?" she asked. Fluttershy nodded and mumbled a "yes please". "If it will make you feel better, then let's go see what you saw!" Twilight exclaimed. She walked over to the door, and opened it. "Let's go get the girls!" Lerahk trudged through the streets as stealthily as his injured midsection would allow. The toa of earth had hit him hard. "I'll get Panrahk back for being such a lousy shot," He grimaced. Where was he anyway? There are no matoran villages that look like this, and the strange, bright colored landscape was very out of tune with what Mata Nui had looked like just earlier that day. Where WAS he? Where were his brothers, and the Makuta? And more importantly, where were the toa. He would be no match for them alone and injured. "I need to attract as little attention as possible," He thought as he knocked over a second barrel of water. This will be difficult. As he limped further through the alleys of the town, he began to notice the inhabitants. They were strange, to say the least. They were smooth, more brightly colored than even the flashiest toa, and had EYES AS BIG AS HIS HAND. "Why would anything need eyes that big, and be out in the middle of the day?" He questioned to himself. Stuck in though, he nearly walked into the third set of barrels, when he realized the alleyway ended. He'd have to move out into the light to get any further. cautiously peeking out into the street, he noticed another alley entrance a little way away from him down the street. The road lead back out into the forest, but he thought it would be safer to hide among the buildings. Checking for any locals, and seeing none, he quickly limped towards the next entrance. Down the road, he could see three of his brothers hovering towards him. They called to him. He was relieved, but his relief turned sour as he counted six of the colorful locals appear from a side street, cutting him off from the others. "Oh no" he thought with a panic. One of them made a harsh shriek. HE couldn't tell which.Then the yellow one with pink details pointed a limb at him, before they all turned to see the other three rahkshi alight before them. "I've got to get out of here" he thought. Twilight and Fluttershy left on their excursion, and gathered their friends. Rarity was in her boutique, doing absolutely nothing of importance, even though she would speak to the contrary, Applejack was bucking apples, Rainbow Dash was clearing the skies, and Pinkie Pie was annoying Rainbow Dash. Of course they agreed to help their friend in her time of need, so together they cut across town, making their way to the road leading to the Everfree forest and Fluttershy's cottage. Though, when they were nearing the road, a screech echoed over them. "What in tarnation was that?" Applejack said, a hint of fear creeping into her voice. "That's like what I heard earlier," Fluttershy squeaked, trying to hide in her mane. "Maybe I could try and translate it..." Twilight said, "I do have a spell that can do that." "You're such an egg-head" Dash quipped. Their conversation was cut short as the entered the road. On their left, was a green creature pulled from a nightmare. It looked injured, but that didn't change it's fearsomeness. Rarity let out a blood curdling scream. Fluttershy lifted a hoof to point at it. "That's what it was, b-but it was red." "L-like th-that...." Rainbow said quivering. The six turned to see three more of the demons approaching them, white, red, and brown. "Maybe they're friendly?" Twilight suggested. She casted her spell over both groups of creatures. "Ugh. More of these creatures. Do you think they're a threat Turahk?" spoke the brown one. The red one responded "Individually, probably not, but in large numbers they could be dangerous. We better destroy them before they summon others, or other more powerful creatures" "Or worse, the toa" the white one chimed in. "This was bad. Really, really bad. They were surrounded by creatures who had just openly stated they wanted to destroy them. The green was was weak, maybe we could over power it." Twilight thought. "Listen girls," she said, "If we charge the green one, we can probably get away and warn Celestia of the danger." She didn't realize that the spell was a two way street. Lerahk was preparing to escape when the the purple thing began to glow. An attack! He turned to move away, when suddenly the strange squeaks and grunts they were making became coherent. "Great! Now I can reason with them!" His thoughts were cut short as he heard them say they were going to charge him. He opened his staff and readied himself. He would not go down without a fight. He froze. They said they were going to warn something. They need ed to be stopped here before they summoned a greater power. All three parties thoughts were cut short as a thunderous explosion shook the ground, a column of smoke and fire rising nearby. Looking above the buildings, they could see the Makuta battling the solar princess, each identified by their respective party, but not vice versa. "WHAT IS THAT!" Pinkie screamed. "That creature is obviously more powerful than these weaklings, we must help the Makuta!" Turahk yelled over the din of battle. "If anything is going to attract the toa, this will be it." "What in Mata Nui was that?" Matau asked Vakama "Probably the Makuta causing trouble with the local rahi." Vakama answered, Nokama's arm over his shoulder, supporting her. "We need to recuperate first. We're no good if we're not at our best." said Nuju "Let's make shelter here," Onewa said "We'll deal with the Makuta as soon as we're able."