PART 2

Chapter 4

As Nick exited the high school through the side doors, he literally ran into a jock. It was a star linebacker, Zack Chargerson. Zack was six-foot-three and 220 pounds of sheer muscle, the perfect balance of speed and strength. Nobody dared to mess with him.

"You think you can push me, scrawny?" growled Zack.

Nick steeled himself, ready to show Zack who was boss. If there was one thing he enjoyed about his heritage, it was the utter lack of honor code in fights. He remembered combat training in his past, held in an underground arena. "Fight to win" often meant an opponent being pulled out of the arena with a trail of blood behind them, or so many major bones broken that they had to be carried out.

"Not only do I think I can." Nick thrust his hand out in a chokehold, connecting with Zack's neck and bruising the skin above the windpipe. He continued to tighten his grip, until Zack was purple in the face. Then he let go, letting the linebacker crumple to the concrete. "I know I can."

Zack staggered to his feet, like a boxer after an almost-knockout, wheezing for air. "You… you'll pay for that!" A callused fist came swinging towards Nick in a left cross, but Nick jumped aside, grabbed Zack's arm, and twisted it. A sickening CRUNCH signaled that a few bones had been broken and the shoulder dislocated.

The linebacker's left arm hung limp. But Nick knew that football players had a reputation to defend, and they'd defend it at just about any cost. This fight wasn't over yet. He moved behind Zack, pretending to walk away - then his long legs lashed out in a jumping back kick. Again, Zack fell hard. This time he didn't get up - unconscious.

Nick decided this would be a good time to get away from the scene. No witnesses, and Zack wouldn't be giving answers any time soon.

Excellent fight, Nick. Combat was always one of your strong points. A haunting alto slithered through Nick's mind.

Thanks, Mom.

Better yet, I see you have found the Toa children. Everything is going according to plan.

Nick paused. Sort of… Mom, you know I'm not good at Toa hunting.

The word is "inexperienced." You've never hunted a Toa before, so how can you know?

Mom, before we go any further, I can sense that you're nearby. You said you wouldn't come to Earth unless it was important.

I'm using a cloaking device, and this is very important. Your banishment is over.

Nick shook his head rapidly. What? How?

You're now first in line to receive the Shadow Blades. The one who banished you was caught helping a squadron of young enforcers. If he had sold trivial information at an inflated price, it might have been our strategies at no cost - that's a different story.

Nick had witnessed what happened to Dark Hunters who were caught helping the Light side. Usually, they were tied to the side of a Fire Pit and melted alive. He remembered the first time he witnessed it at 10 years of age, unable to look away as dying screams mingled with the roar of flames, At the time, the mere thought terrified him into obedience. But as a teenager, it made him wish he could have done that to every bully he encountered.

The bullies no longer mattered. He was about to receive the Shadow Blades - the sign of the next great Dark Hunter. They were enchanted blades, so they could grow and shrink to a size appropriate for the next recipient.

Come with me.

Nick could see the air rippling in front of him, opening a circular hole like a doorway to a different world. It was a Portal, the only way to travel between Earth and Metru Nui.

"Metru Nui… my home..." he breathed. He hadn't seen much of the surface, as Dark Hunters and their kin were forced far underground by six Toa and countless Vahki. But he knew home when he saw it.

His mother, Niyani, turned off the cloaking device. "Yes. You're going home, for good." revealing her form. Many would describe Niyani as terrifyingly beautiful, if it weren't for the fact she'd be the last thing they would ever see.

She was built like a bionic centaur. Four strong legs with a spike each on each heel gave way to an athletic torso, and toned arms with opposable-thumbs. Her head was like a Vahki's, swept-back and elongated, with a predator's olive-green eyes. All of her body was clad in metal armor, mostly camouflage-greens with tarnished-brass reinforcements.

"Hang on, Nikanu." said Niyani, addressing her son by his real name as she picked him up. "We're on our way." She stepped into the Portal, Nikanu cradled in her arms, and let it close behind them.

Chapter 5

Ariel whirled around. "Did you see that, Ari?!"

"See what?" Ari adjusted his glasses.

"It looked like a bionic centaur, only way bigger. And it was talking to Nick."

"Then what happened?"

"They disappeared!"

Had Ari not been the more level-headed twin, he would have told Ariel "I told you so" or something along those lines. Not that he had time to. Another Portal opened and sucked him in, with Ariel close behind.

Ari's senses went blank as his glasses flew off. Then - SPLASH, drenched, cool, showering. His eyes adjusted to the bright light of binary suns, and for the first time in his life, he could see in high definition and full color. Ariel was nowhere to be seen… and he was in a fountain, placed in a roundabout on a silvery-blue cobblestone street.

Even though Ari realized he had landed in a fountain, he felt oddly comfortable. He could stay there all day, basking in his element… he always loved the water…

"Ariel!" A cheerful male voice, somewhat higher than most, reached Ari's ears. Ari turned his head, his soaked hair whipping him in the face.

"Dad!"

Ari pushed his hair back and saw Ariel running to a tall - person - of some kind.

He was about as tall as a college basketball player, lean muscle all over, with emerald green full-body armor and sparkling green eyes. Two greenish-silver blades rested on his back, straight out like glider wings. It was Matau, and he'd recognize his daughter Ariel anywhere. Matau and Ariel were currently hugging, the aero slicers going into a small pocket dimension.

"Ari?" A flowing mezzo-soprano got Ari's attention. Ari turned away from the scene and found his leafy-green eyes meeting glowing light-orange ones. These eyes were set in a bright blue complexion, giving way to a feminine swimmer's physique in full-body sapphire armor. She held two blue-silver hydro blades - wavy-edged chevrons on flexible cables, with a triangular grip that could be found on a trapeze. It was Nokama, and she almost couldn't believe her eyes. Had the children really come back?

"Mom?" The word left Ari's mouth without thinking, as if on instinct.

"Ari!" Nokama picked him up and swung him around, showing her full height of about seven feet. "You've returned!"

Matau and Nokama, proud parents to Ari and Ariel, couldn't help but enter a group hug with the twins. Their twins. Nokama saw how Ariel looked like her, but acted like Matau. Matau saw how Ari looked like him, but acted like Nokama. It was an interesting contrast.

There were still many questions without answers. But right now, they just enjoyed the reunion, the midday light from two suns illuminating their future.