The gentle breeze that swept across the barren sand brushed the faces of the group, as if consoling their loss. They stood in the midst of the quiet destruction, the last of the dust finally settling. The moons were no longer falling. The threat was over, and the world had been saved. But for a certain dragon Pokémon, the world had ended. Her wings hung limply at her sides as she hovered near the others. Every pulse of her heart felt like it was tearing her apart. Somewhere deep in her forgotten memory, she had known the sting of loss… but nothing had prepared her for the pain of Marcus's absence. Staring at the empty spot beside her, where he should be, she realized just how much she had grown to care for him. She had only known him for a couple of hours, but to her, it had felt like a lifetime. And in those few moments, something inside her had resonated with him in ways she still couldn’t understand. It was like they were two pieces of a puzzle that had always belonged together from the start; as if she'd known him for years, even lifetimes… even if she couldn’t place how. She looked up to the sky, hoping that he would return, and that this was all just a bad dream. Just then, a familiar mask fell to the ground before her, partially becoming buried in the sand. It was the orange Kanohi Pakari that Marcus wore, but it was scuffed, charred… and completely devoid of life. She leaned over it, a tear wetting the mask’s dusty surface. Her chest tightened, and for a moment, Latias felt as if she couldn’t breathe. She wanted to scream, to cry out in frustration and grief… but all she could do was hover there, frozen. She was certain her connection with Marcus had been something far beyond mere random chance. And now… she was left only with mere memories. Takanuva approached cautiously, his voice barely audible as he spoke. “Latias… I’m so sorry. We’ve all lost something here today.” She nodded, unable to find any words. Cobalt and Jaclyn, looking just as drained and silent, placed a hand on her shoulders. They, too, had lost a friend today. But Latias couldn’t bear to look at them. Not when her heart was still fixated on someone who, deep down, she realized she had quickly grown to— Gali suddenly approached her. “He gave his life for us. For our entire world, and our way of life. And for that, we will honor him, as well as all the Toa who made the ultimate sacrifice this day. But you must remember, Latias…” She paused, looking into Latias’s eyes with a knowing gaze. “You are not alone. You have us. We are still here for you, just as I’m certain he would have wanted.” Latias’s claws clenched, but she didn’t have the energy to speak. Instead, she simply nodded again, feeling a hint of gratitude buried beneath her many layers of sorrow. Just then, a small golden light cut through the bleak sky, shimmering with an ethereal glow as it drifted away from the fallen titan that had once been Mata Nui’s colossal form. It pulsed brightly in the aftermath of the chaos, drawing the attention of everyone below. Latias looked to it with expectant excitement at first, though her hopes were quickly dashed. The Mask of Life, the Kanohi Ignika, floated before them. Its ancient and godlike presence filled the air with an overwhelming sense of power, and the earth itself seemed to shudder beneath its will. For a moment, the world stood still. “Makuta Teridax… is dead.” The voice boomed like the crash of thunder, shaking the ground beneath them. “The battle for Spherus Magna… has been won.” Cobalt glanced around, his expression uncertain. “Did… did that mask just talk?” Takanuva, still recovering from the battle, squinted at the golden light. His eyes widened as he finally understood. “It’s not the mask… Mata Nui is speaking directly to us,” he said quietly, almost in disbelief. The mask pulsed with a brilliant golden light that intensified with each passing second. The voice that emanated from it became even more resonant, echoing across the planet with the unmistakable force of a divine being speaking to the very core of existence. "And so, with all I have to give, let there be… life." With those words, the Mask's power reached its peak, and a wave of energy surged across the barren planet of Spherus Magna. The landscape that had been desolate, cracked, and lifeless just moments ago began to shift violently as tectonic plates were rearranging themselves. The ground trembled as the vast desert stretched out beneath them began to crack open, and with a brilliant flash of golden light, the transformation began. First, towering mountains rose from the flat expanse, their snow-capped peaks reaching into the sky. The air around them thickened with moisture as rivers began to carve their way through the earth, rushing with fresh water. Vast forests grew from the ground in mere seconds, towering trees and thick underbrush sprouting from the once-barren land. Lush jungles and wide, flowing rivers filled the valleys as far as the eye could see. The world was alive once again, teeming with color and vitality. Oceans began to spread across the horizon from the fallen moon of Aqua Magna, waves crashing against newly-formed coastlines. The earth now hummed with vibrant biomes of lush fields, tropical islands, and even deserts now teeming with a new kind of energy. Latias, Cobalt, Jaclyn, and the Toa watched in awe as the world reshaped itself before their eyes. The sheer scale of the transformation was beyond comprehension; even the sky seemed to shift, and the sun shone warmly as it slowly began to finally set over the rejuvenated land. The Mask of Life’s power continued to reshape the environment, crafting vast ecosystems in an instant. Creatures large and small began to emerge in the jungles, forests, and oceans. The barren world of Spherus Magna had become a vibrant paradise. Amidst the awe-inspiring transformation, Latias stood still, gazing at the planet being reborn. Her heart swelled with a mix of grief and wonder. Marcus had made this victory possible, but now, with the Mask of Life’s divine power, this planet was becoming something much greater than any of them could have imagined. And in the heart of the golden light, as the final remnants of the transformation began to settle, Latias closed her eyes. “You did it, Marcus.” She felt something profound—an undeniable connection to Marcus, a feeling as if he were still a part of this new world, a part of this renewal. Even though he was no longer with them in the physical sense, his legacy had been woven into the fabric of this new world, forever shaping its future. Tahu slowly stirred as consciousness returned to him, his body still sore from the brutal battle. His vision blurred at first, but it gradually cleared, revealing the breathtaking transformation unfolding before him. Then, an imposing presence washed over him, pulling his attention away from the landscape. A golden light enveloped him, and from the heart of the light, the voice of Mata Nui resounded once more. It was both warm and commanding, a voice that echoed with the power of the very universe. “Tahu.” The Toa of Fire stiffened, his muscles tightening as he stood up slowly. The Ignika hovered before him, its glow shimmering with divine authority. He instinctively lowered his gaze, knowing that he was in the presence of the Great Spirit. “You… have failed in your duty,” the Mask of Life continued. “You have allowed pride and anger to cloud your judgment. You were entrusted with the destiny of this world, but in your lust for power, you nearly ensured its destruction.” Tahu's anger flared briefly, a spark in his heart igniting. He wanted to argue, to protest, to blame everything on Marcus’s interference. But before he could speak, the Mask of Life continued, its voice unwavering. “Unity, Duty, Destiny. These are the virtues that all must live by. But you have forsaken them. You have let your bitterness, your arrogance, and your impulsiveness blind you to the truth. This world, and the beings around you, are all interconnected. It appears you have yet to understand that strength lies not in the fire that burns within you, but in the unity of your bonds with others.” Tahu clenched his fists at his sides, a fire burning in his eyes, but he remained silent. The Mask of Life’s words struck deep, and though he wanted to fight back against the reprimand, something inside him told him to remain still. This was not a fight he could win. “Tahu, Toa of Fire” the booming voice of Mata Nui echoed once more, “You have shown great strength, but you must first learn humility before you can truly understand the weight of your own power.” Tahu’s eyes widened as the realization began to settle in, but before he could react, the Mask of Life surged forward, engulfing him in a radiant beam of light. The light seemed to pierce into his very soul, pulling at the very essence of his being. He felt an intense pull, as though something inside him was being torn away. “No— wait!” Tahu tried to shout, but his voice faltered as his strength waned. His body began to feel lighter, almost weightless, as the energy that had once defined him as a Toa started to dissipate. His power began to fade, leaving him exposed and vulnerable. The energy of a Toa, the very essence of his elemental power, was drawn from him, swirling into the Mask of Life. In an instant, he shrank down, his towering frame now a mere fraction of its former size. His limbs trembled, and he fell to his knees, disoriented and weak. The weight of his transformation was overwhelming; he could feel it deep within his bones, the very core of his being changed forever. His body was no longer that of a Toa, but of a Matoran—a lesser being with no elemental powers and no connection to the energy that had once made him so special. The voice of Mata Nui continued, but it was softer now, tinged with both sorrow and hope. “You have hereby been stripped of your title as a Toa, Tahu. Your elemental power is revoked… for now. Now, you shall walk among the Matoran, to learn the lessons you have failed to learn before.” But Mata Nui’s voice, despite the severity of the judgment, was not cruel. It was as if the Great Spirit had still seen a light of redemption in Tahu, despite his flaws. “Perhaps in this form, you will learn humility. You will experience the world as the Matoran do, and in time, you will understand that power is not a gift to be wielded for glory, but a responsibility to be borne with care and selflessness. Your journey is far from over, Tahu. It is only beginning.” Tahu’s eyes stung as he looked down at his small, unremarkable form. His flame powers were gone—there was no fire in his hands now, no raw energy to command. His heart felt heavy, burdened by the loss. Latias hovered, her gaze quietly fixed on the sky where Marcus had vanished, as if willing him to return while Cobalt and Jaclyn stood beside her. “And as for you,” Mata Nui’s voice broke the stillness as he addressed the three aliens. “Your deeds will not be forgotten, other-worlders. Nor will the noble sacrifice of your friend.” Then, the Mask of Life pulsed once more, its golden light flickering as it suddenly emitted a strange distorted tone. Mata Nui hesitated before continuing, “I have spent nearly all my power to restore this planet… but there is just enough left for one final act.” Latias, Cobalt, and Jaclyn exchanged wide-eyed glances, daring to hope. Mata Nui’s gaze fell upon them. The Mask pulsed again, drawing in the last remnants of its strength, golden energy swirling around it like the final embers of a dying fire. Latias leaned forward, barely able to whisper. “Marcus…?” * * * Marcus drifted in the endless void, weightless and formless, yet strangely aware of himself. It was neither cold nor warm, neither dark nor light—just an infinite nothingness stretching in all directions. He looked down and saw a pale, ethereal outline of his own hands. His own body. A human body. A presence stirred beside him. No words were spoken at first, yet Marcus knew Delta was there. The ever-present voice in his head was no longer just a whisper or a force tethered to his being. Delta was standing before him, the small matoran whose body Marcus had been inhabiting for the last few hours. His entire body was nothing but pure, glittering gold, like he had become the golden armor itself. Marcus let out a breathless chuckle. “So… this is it, huh?” “It would seem so.” Delta folded his arms. Silence stretched between them before Delta finally asked, “But it was all worth it in the end, I think.” Marcus smiled, gazing at the vast nothingness around them. “Yeah. It was.” He turned his head, picturing Latias, Cobalt, Jaclyn—all of them, alive. He could still hear her voice, the way she’d called out to him, the way she’d never left his side. “I got to be a hero. I saved them. That’s all that matters.” Delta studied him. “But, you wish you could have stayed with her.” Marcus’s expression faltered for a moment, then softened into something bittersweet. “Yeah… I do.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s funny, isn’t it? We barely even knew each other, but it really felt like…” He shook his head. “I dunno. Maybe it’s stupid.” “Perhaps some connections transcend time and space.” Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. “Well… maybe my past is gone forever, but… I’m glad I got to do something that mattered, at least. That we got to do something that mattered.” For the first time since they met, they shared the quiet—no conflict, no struggle, just a moment of peace between two souls who had been forced into one existence. Delta then closed his eyes, a kind of computerized binary tone emitting from him that Marcus could not audibly decipher.
Then, from somewhere beyond the void, something stirred. A faint glow. A voice. And Marcus felt something slowly pulling him downwards, like gravity. He looked down, sensing something familiar in the light, something warm. But before he could move, Delta spoke. “Marcus… Mata Nui is calling. Destiny is not finished with you yet.” Marcus looked overjoyed at first, but stopped. He turned to Delta, frowning. “You mean, “us”... right?” Delta folded his arms, his expression unreadable. “My body was never yours, you were just a stranger who woke up in it. But now…” He exhaled slowly, looking down at his hands. “I surrender.” Marcus blinked. “What are you—?” “I’ve come to accept that,” Delta interrupted with a resigned smile, “when Matoro said he saw the heart of a Toa… he was looking at your heart, Marcus.” “But…” Marcus clenched his fists, a tear forming in his eye. “We said we’d get our bodies back together. If you won’t go back, I won’t—” “Stop it, I don’t want your pity.” Delta waved him off dismissively. “Instead, let’s make a deal.” “What kind of deal?” Marcus asked. As the void pulsed with light, Marcus felt the pull even stronger, a fog flooding his vision. But before he could surrender to it, Delta stepped forward, his golden form glowing through the thick mist. “I had already died once today, before your possession revived me. You gave me a second chance at life,” Delta said calmly.” And for that, I can’t thank you enough. We’re one now, but one is all we can ever be from now on. I’ll always remain within you. In other words, I swear to be the armor that protects you… and the sword that protects the ones you care for most.” “Delta… what are you saying?” “In exchange,” Delta continued, “I want you… to show me.” “Show you?” Marcus frowned, confused. “What?” Delta let out a small breath, something between a sigh and a chuckle. “Show me… the unity you will forge… the duty you will serve… and the destiny that you will create for us.” He met Marcus’s eyes with unwavering trust. “Will you do that for me… Toa Marcus?” Marcus felt his throat tighten. He didn’t know what lay ahead, didn’t know what would become of him—or of Delta—but he knew this: He would not waste the chance he’d been given. With a steady nod, he answered as he reached his hand out. “I will. I’ll take us both to our true destiny… Delta.” As Delta’s finger touched his, the light surged, and the void shattered into brilliance. * * * The orange Pakari, resting lifelessly on the ground, began to tremble. A soft golden glow pulsed from within, faint at first, then growing brighter, washing over the gathered warriors like the first light of dawn. Latias and the others turned, eyes widening as the mask lifted into the air, suffused with the divine power of the Mask of Life. The glow intensified, golden energy swirling around the mask in intricate, weaving patterns. Then, matter began to take shape—flesh, blood, and bone materializing from nothingness in an instant, reconstituted from atoms like the smallest building blocks in the universe. The radiant energy molded and sculpted, reforging not the small Matoran they once knew, but into something greater. Metals fused seamlessly over the newly formed body, vibrant orange and deep crimson plating locking into place with the unmistakable look of Toa armor. His frame was strong, powerful, alive. The Kanohi Pakari, still glowing, changed shape as it pressed onto his obscured face. “That mask…” Hewkii muttered, looking at his fellow Mahri. “He almost looks just like…” “Jaller,” Hahli concluded somberly. And then, with a final pulse of golden light, Marcus opened his eyes, covered under the glowing green visor of the mask’s eyeholes. The moment Marcus landed on the ground and stood tall in this new Toa form, Latias, Cobalt, and Jaclyn could no longer hold themselves back. They rushed toward him, their joy overwhelming any sense of restraint. Cobalt grabbed Marcus’s shoulder with a firm, brotherly grip, breaking into a relieved grin. Jaclyn threw her arms around his other arm, clinging to him as well. But it was Latias who nearly knocked him off balance, wrapping her arms around his waist, her soft, warm presence enveloping him completely. She pulled back just slightly, her face hovering mere inches from his mask. Her golden eyes flickered with something deeper—something she almost gave in to. For a fleeting second, she nearly pressed her lips to the cold metal of his faceplate. But she stopped herself, exhaling softly. Instead, she rested her forehead against his, wings trembling as she held him close. “Don’t…” she whispered, “don’t ever leave me again. Promise me, Marcus.” Marcus pulled her off him just a little, taking a moment to look into those large, beautiful golden eyes that he never thought he’d see again. “...I promise.” Meanwhile, all across the vast, newly reborn land, voices rose in triumphant celebration. Toa and Matoran alike cheered, their cries of victory echoing across the plains, through the forests, and over the distant mountains. The shadow of Makuta had lifted at last. The remaining Rahkshi, leaderless and directionless, skulked away into the depths of the forest, vanishing into the undergrowth like phantoms retreating from the dawn. The few surviving Skrall, seeing their vengeful cause lost, retreated to the jagged peaks of the distant mountains where they would lick their wounds. From the ruined body of the fallen Great Spirit Robot, more survivors quickly emerged—Toa, Turaga, Matoran, Rahi, Skakdi, and many others—all battered, but alive. Some stumbled in exhaustion, others clung to one another in relief, their gazes turning skyward to the brave new world that had taken shape around them. They had won. And although their world they had once known was gone, the universe had only gotten bigger for them all. Tahu stood motionless for a moment, his fists clenched so tightly that his stubby Matoran fingers trembled. His once-mighty frame, now diminished, felt foreign—wrong. His glare burned into Marcus, who was now a Toa, seething with an anger he couldn’t voice. Without another word, he turned sharply, storming away from them all. His steps barely made a sound in the soft earth as he disappeared into the dense forest. “...This isn’t over,” he muttered bitterly under his breath, his voice a low growl. His pride was shattered, his destiny stolen. And for that, he would make Marcus pay… someday. Mata Nui, residing within the glowing Mask of Life, floated higher into the air, his immense presence still commanding the attention of all those gathered below. "My destiny is now fulfilled," he declared for all to hear, his words echoing across the planet. "This world has been reborn. My energy is spent. And now... it is time for me to rest." Takanuva stepped forward. "But what if we're ever in need again? How will we reach you?" Mata Nui's form shimmered, the Mask of Life pulsing with a soft golden light. "I will not abandon my people. I will be here, dormant within this mask. Should you truly need me again, I will awaken. But until then, I trust that you, residents of my Matoran Universe, will carry the torch of this world." A heavy silence fell over the group as they all gazed upward. The land had changed, but so had they. It was a new beginning, one they would face without the guidance of their great spirit, but with newfound strength in themselves. The Mask of Life glowed one final time, and with a gentle burst of light, drifted higher into the sky. Marcus, now fully transformed into a Toa, smiled as he wrapped his arms around Latias, Cobalt, and Jaclyn, the warmth of their embrace filling him with a sense of peace. The battle had been won, the world reborn, and for the first time since his awakening, Marcus felt like he truly belonged—like he had found his place, alongside those who had fought so hard to bring about this new beginning. But just as the air seemed to settle, a strange shift rippled through the atmosphere. The light around them began to flicker, as if something was disturbing the very fabric of reality itself. Without warning, a small, red portal flickered open behind the floating Mask of Life, its edges crackling with a sinister energy. And from the depths of that portal, an armored black arm reached out, its gauntlet gleaming with malicious intent. Another matching arm followed, and with terrifying precision, the arms latched onto the Mask of Life, their grip tightening. “What the—?” Marcus blurted out under his breath. The world came to a standstill as the dark portal expanded, its edges writhing and pulsating with a deep, malevolent energy. A figure stepped through, its silhouette clad in pitch-black armor that seemed to absorb the very light around it. Its face was masked, but its presence alone was enough to strike fear into the hearts of those who stood before it. The red portal closed behind it, sealing off any escape or retreat. Marcus's heart sank, his breath catching in his chest. With a horrifying, resonating CRACK, the dark being tore the Mask of Life in half down the middle. The sacred artifact split in two, and the soul that had been contained within it flickered out as if a light had been snuffed in an instant. The silence that followed was deafening. No one spoke. No one moved. The act was so simple, so final, that it left them all stunned, frozen in place, their minds scrambling to process what had just occurred. Just like that, the Great Spirit, Mata Nui… was dead. The figure hovered in place with the broken halves of the Mask of Life in its hands. It made no move to speak or act further, allowing the grim reality of the situation to settle in. The only sound was the eerie crackle of the fractured mask as it dissolved. Marcus, his stomach churning, stepped forward, his golden armor glowing faintly as his mind raced. "What the hell have you done?! Who are you?!" he demanded, his voice shaking with a mixture of anger and disbelief. The figure’s head tilted slightly. It said nothing, but the air around it seemed to pulse with a dark, oppressive energy, as though the very essence of death and destruction was bound to this being. Marcus’s fury surged through him, his body crackling with golden energy as he launched himself toward the dark figure. His mask gleamed as he barreled forward, fueled by the need to understand, to fight back against this terrible new enemy. “I SAID, WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!” he demanded again. Before Marcus could even get close, the dark figure raised his hand. The air around him warped, and in an instant, the very forces of gravity seemed to shift. Marcus felt himself lifted from the ground with crushing force, as if an invisible hand had wrapped around him and suspended him in the air. His body twisted, locked in place, unable to move. The weight of the power that held him was unbearable, every muscle in his body straining in an attempt to break free, but to no avail. He was helpless, suspended before the figure as if he were no more than a toy in its grasp. Without warning, the figure lifted his other hand, pointing a palm at Marcus’s chest. The air around them grew dense with a pressure that made Marcus's blood run cold. A split second later, a super-condensed red beam of plasma shot out with blinding speed, and Marcus felt a searing heat tear through his chest. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt before. His vision blurred as he felt the burning sensation spread through his body, but he looked down to find a 6-inch hole had been cleaved straight through the center of his chest. The figure slowly lowered his hand, watching Marcus with cold indifference. The Matoran-turned-Toa was left gasping, his body aching, barely able to cling to consciousness as the world around him spun in dizzying disarray. The black figure’s deep voice broke the silence, shuttered and warbling like someone on the verge of tears. “Grim… dark… kill… cure…” As blood trickled down Marcus’s orange-and-red armor, he could hear the distant, familiar voices calling to him. Latias. Cobalt. Jaclyn. They all stood in shock, watching as the dark figure held Marcus in his grasp. “Go… back…” With a wave of his hand, the dark figure twisted the forces of gravity around Marcus. The air crackled with unseen energy, and his body was instantly shot backwards into the distant horizon. Latias gasped, her heart sinking in her chest as she watched Marcus being torn away from her again. Her wings instinctively flared, her body trembling with the impulse to fly after him, to reach him, but she couldn't. The sheer force of the blast sent him careening across the nearby ocean, disappearing into the vast expanse of the depths below. “Marcus!” Jaclyn screamed, her voice cracking with anguish, but it was no use. The darkness had already claimed him, throwing him further than any of them could hope to follow. Cobalt’s fists clenched, his face twisted with helpless rage. “No... no, this can’t be happening! We just got him back!” The figure didn’t even look back. He stood there as he hovered in midair, his dark armor glistening like an eclipse in the daylight. There was no satisfaction in his actions, only a cold certainty, as if Marcus was little more than an obstacle to be removed. Latias couldn’t tear her eyes away from the spot where Marcus had vanished, her heart shattering into a thousand pieces. She wanted to believe that Marcus would rise again, that he would survive this, that he would find his way back to them—just as he always had. But in the pit of her stomach, she feared that this time, they might have just lost him for good. Latias bowed her head, tears falling. In that moment, it seemed like everything they had fought for, everything they had sacrificed, had been rendered meaningless in an instant. “...I’LL KILL YOU!” Latias surged forward with a powerful cry, her wings slicing through the air as she soared toward the dark figure. Her body moved at top speed like a streak of lightning, her form a blur against the sky. With every ounce of energy, she gathered a mighty Outrage in her throat, the crackling power of raw energy building in her chest. But just as she opened her mouth to release the devastating blast, the dark figure raised a hand toward her, his expression still unreadable. A wave of invisible force slammed into her, and she gasped as her body was suddenly crushed under an overwhelming weight. The air itself seemed to bend against her, her body struggling against the immense pressure. The power of Gravity twisted and unleashed, breaking her momentum entirely like a brick wall. Her body was forced to the ground, hitting the earth with a thud. The wind was knocked from her lungs as she coughed and gasped for air, and despite her struggle, the force kept her pinned, unable to move. The Outrage in her mouth faltered, and she felt the power drain from her, replaced by a crushing exhaustion. Latias’s body trembled as she struggled against the weight pressing her down, but the more she fought, the more it seemed to intensify. “Latias!” Cobalt screamed, reaching for her, but he too was helpless in the face of this overwhelming force. His paws clenched into fists, but even he knew he couldn’t fight the force of gravity with nothing but his own strength. The dark figure remained calm,and as it spread out its arms, a pillar of jagged obsidian rose from the earth beneath Latias and lifted her up to him, twisting and turning like a living thing. His eyes never left Latias as he effortlessly neutralized her attempts to fight. The force pressing down on her became unbearable, and her vision blurred at the edges as she struggled to stay conscious. She could feel herself slipping away, her body giving in to the immense pressure. The last thing she saw before everything went black was a black mask, eyes gleaming with cruel purpose. And then, she was unconscious, her body a mere plaything in the hands of this powerful new enemy. Cobalt and Jaclyn could barely comprehend what was happening as the obsidian tower continued to expand and rise, marking the beginning of something far darker than they had ever faced. Takanuva furiously raised his staff high, a brilliant beam of light shooting from its tip, before slicing through the air toward the new villain. The other Toa aided him with their own elements as well, their hearts burning with fury, knowing that the lives of not only their friends, but their world and their future were at stake. The beam of pure light collided with the obsidian pillar, illuminating the sky in a blinding flash. But instead of vanquishing the darkness, the obelisk seemed to react and fight back, as though it were alive. The darkness writhed from the base of the tower like roots creeping rapidly across the land, spreading like a plague. It reached the base of Takanuva’s feet, and then, with horrifying speed, it began to crawl up the Toa of Light’s body. The light from his staff flickered, dimming as the stone-like substance wrapped around his limbs. His silver armor turned gray, and the yellow light seemed to drain from his eyes. “No…” Takanuva gasped, trying to move, trying to escape the cold, suffocating grip of the jagged black stone, but it was no use. The stone spread relentlessly, coating his body until he was completely frozen from the neck down, unable to resist. “Everyone… save… yourselves…” The once vibrant Toa now stood as nothing more than a lifeless black statue, his light completely extinguished. The same dark power continued to spread, now flowing over Gali and the Mahri. One by one, the sharp rocks crept up their bodies, coating them with the crystalline darkness and sealing them in an unbreakable grip. They tried to fight back, but the relentless onslaught of the darkness drained their strength in seconds. Soon, the whole battlefield was dotted with figures, encased like statues in a horrific memorial graveyard. But the obsidian did not stop there. It slithered outward, eating away at the thriving landscape that Mata Nui had just created, turning fields to barren rock and trees to husks. The land itself seemed to mourn as the corruption spread, slowly but surely swallowing the world whole. Latias, still unconscious and unable to see what was happening, lay helpless as the darkness engulfed everything around them. Cobalt and Jaclyn could only watch horrified as their allies all turned to stone, frozen in time. And all the while, the dark figure remained at the center of the chaos, his ominous presence unchanged. His arms lowered, and his eyes glowed with a cold, calculated intensity. The obsidian continued to spread, consuming everything in its path and heralding the arrival of a new era. They exchanged a glance, and without speaking, they knew there was no point in fighting. The dark figure, whoever this was, had proven too powerful—as they were now, they were no match for it. Everyone they had fought so hard to protect was now either lost to stone or fading beneath the weight of the malevolent power that had overtaken them. A cold sense of desperation settled in their chests. With Latias captured, the Toa frozen, and Marcus’s fate uncertain, they were completely alone in this. Without a word, Jaclyn extended a hand to Cobalt. Her large red eyes were tired, her expression defiant. They needed to escape, to survive to see tomorrow. Cobalt grasped her hand in his paw, and with a swift motion, they headed toward the newly-formed jungle. The thick, green canopy seemed a world away from the devastation that had just occurred, offering a sliver of hope—a refuge, perhaps, or at least a place to regroup and find some semblance of safety. They could feel the warmth of the jungle air contrasting against the coldness of the obsidian slowly consuming their world. As they ran, Cobalt’s eyes briefly flicked over his shoulder, catching a glimpse of Takanuva’s frozen, lifeless form. The statue of the Toa of Light was a stark reminder of how much had been lost in these last few minutes. “We’ll find a way,” Jaci said quietly, as though sensing his thoughts. “We can’t just let this be the end. The future is not written in stone.” Cobalt nodded, though it didn’t make the hopelessness any less real. They continued moving forward, the dark jungle stretching before them like a vast, uncharted world full of both danger and uncertainty. And yet, a quiet resolve began to build within him. They might be alone for now, but he was hopeful that they wouldn’t be for long. Somewhere out there, there were others to help put a stop to this. And together, they would rebuild — or at the very least, they would fight until there was no fight left to be had. * * * The cold of the ocean surrounded Marcus like a vice, the water cutting through the suit of armor that had once been his salvation. He sank, the weight of his body too much for the shallow breaths he could manage. His chest was on fire, the hole where his heart had been pierced by the blast now filling with salty seawater. Each breath he took, desperate but failing, pulled more water into his lungs. The pressure of the depths was suffocating, every second heavier than the last. He could barely feel his limbs as they grew numb, his vision darkening at the edges. His thoughts drifted, memories flashing by like fleeting dreams. Latias’s smile. The bond they shared. Delta’s words, the deal he’d made, the promise to show him the unity, duty, and destiny he was supposed to create. But now... it was suddenly all slipping away. Marcus’s mind was clouded, the dull roar of the ocean currents ringing in his ears. His body, once so full of purpose, felt nothing but pain and emptiness. He couldn’t help but wonder: Was this truly how it would end? He had fought for so long, for everyone, for something greater than himself. But now, in the crushing silence of the deep, he felt... lost. He called out to Delta, but… there was only silence. Delta was truly gone, it seemed. The figure of darkness, that monstrous force, had done what it achieved without even breaking a sweat. It had stripped him of everything. He hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye. And now he was drowning, sinking further into the abyss. Even if his Kraata power of healing could mend his brutal injury in time, healing alone couldn't stop him from drowning in about about two minutes. Was this it? He tried to move, but his limbs were sluggish, and each attempt was met with more resistance. The water rushed into his throat and his organs from his wound, his vision blurring as darkness overtook him. The cold of the ocean seeped deeper into his bones, spreading numbness to his very core. He could feel the end of everything he had fought for, the end of his story. And then, through the murky darkness, something stirred. A faint silhouette appeared above him, moving with an effortless grace through the water. It was small and orange, its form distorted by the ocean’s oppressive weight. Marcus’s tired eyes struggled to focus on it, the figure appearing to swim in slow, deliberate motions as if aware of his presence. Was it a curious fish? A hungry shark Rahi? He couldn’t tell. The figure was too distant, its outline too blurry and vague to make out any defining features. It could have been anything, from the salvation he so desperately needed or the bringer of his gruesome end. Marcus’s thoughts were a tangled mess as the threat of death slowly took him once again, and he could no longer find the energy to make sense of it. Whether the figure was there to help or to finish him off didn’t matter anymore. The ocean’s coldness, the suffocating weight of his body, and the wound that still burned at his chest—all of it was closing in on him. He couldn’t escape. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t fight anymore. And yet, as his eyes fluttered closed and his body began to give in, the silhouette above him remained. It circled, as if it was waiting for something, waiting for him to make a choice. But Marcus had no choice. He was slipping into the void, his consciousness fading into the murk of the ocean. Whatever his destiny became, he thought, it was no longer up to him. And so, as he slipped away into the abyss of unconsciousness, further down into the water’s desolate depths he sank.
* * *
As Cobalt and Jaclyn moved through the thick jungle, the air dense with the scent of rain and earth, Cobalt suddenly stopped in his tracks. His ears flicked, and his head tilted slightly to the side, as if he'd heard something or sensed something unusual in the air. He closed his eyes, concentrating, his senses stretching outward like tendrils, reaching for any hint of presence in the surrounding area. His nose twitched as a strange aura brushed against his mind, a subtle, unfamiliar energy, not quite like anything he'd felt before. There was a spiritual presence, like something... otherworldly. He inhaled deeply, catching a peculiar scent on the wind. As he focused, he caught the faintest outline of a figure invisible to the naked eye—something stocky, blue, and canine like himself. Then, a faint and ethereal voice cut through Cobalt’s sensitive ears with a smooth and low southern drawl. "Can you... see me?" Cobalt’s hackles raised on the back of his neck, letting out an instinctual growl as he sniffed the air. He could feel the figure’s aura undeniably, but no matter how hard he searched, the stranger’s identity remained hidden from his sight. "What is it? What do you see, Cobalt?" Jaclyn said as she noticed his hesitation, looking at him with concern. A chill ran down his spine as he blinked, losing the connection. The spectre, or whatever it was, vanished as quickly as it had appeared before him, leaving behind only the feeling of its lingering gaze. He shook his head, his senses returning to normal, but the weight of the encounter hung heavily in the air. Could it have been a ghost? An echo of the future? Something between the two?
The end of the beginning... and the beginning of the end. How many roads must a man walk down? (Also on AO3)
I'll keep updating this fic on AO3, but I'm not sure yet if I'll post anymore of this story here on IB since engagement is so low. This isn't that I'm not appreciative of the few likes this story's gotten, but I'm considering that it just might not be worth the effort it takes to upload these chapters to Inkbunny if barely anyone reads it. But if you've been keeping up with this fic and still want me to keep posting chapters here, let me know.
I'm still reading here of course, but if you just start posting it on AO3 only then I'll just migrate over there for this fic, it doesn't matter so much to me where it's posted! (Clever use of the delta symbol for the code sections btw)
I'm still reading here of course, but if you just start posting it on AO3 only then I'll just migrat
