"Hey Onua, wait up!" The Toa of Earth turned, looking over his shoulder and adjusting his glasses as Pohatu ran over, a grin on his face.

"Hello Brother." Onua said cheerfully. "How was today's 'lesson' for you? Toa Whenua said that Toa Onewa was in a bad mood this morning." Pohatu laughed quietly and nodded.

"Yeah, he was in a bad mood. But at least I got a bit of learning done. I still don't know how Lewa's doing with Toa Matau." He paused, glancing at his Brother's bandaged hands. "Still hurt after a year and a half, huh?" Onua grimaced and nodded faintly, looking down at his hands.

"Yeah… I can still remember the whole thing as though it were yesterday. But even with the pain in my hands, I am glad I stopped that attack." Pohatu nodded a little before grinning, having recalled something.

"Oh yeah! Did I tell you that Toa Nuju's getting hitched soon?" Onua blinked, looking surprised and delighted at the same time.

"He is? That's awesome! He's marrying that healing Toa we met last year, right?" Again the Toa of Stone nodded, still grinning broadly.

"Yep! I heard it was going to happen here at the Great Temple in a few weeks. All of us are invited!" The black haired boy smiled a bit, though he seemed mildly sad about something. "…what's wrong, Onua?"

"Mihkoro's not going to be here to see it. Kinda sad that he didn't say goodbye to us before he left. He probably didn't want a gushy farewell though, so it's kind of understandable." Pohatu nodded a bit, his own smile fading away.

"Yeah… oh yeah, do you know if Kopaka is still having nightmares or not? I heard they were getting worse." The Toa of Earth grimaced.

"No, I didn't hear about that."

"Ah. Well, apparently he's been having nightmares since we brought Teridax down last year. Lewa said he was getting some sort of disease that prevents him from sleeping because of it." Onua shook his head.

"Insomnia isn't a disease, but it is a problem. Maybe that trip Lhikan was planning to take us on will help. You allowed to go?" Pohatu smiled again, and nodded, looking excited.

"Heck yeah. I've been totally revved for the trip since we were told about it." The thirteen year old boy laughed quietly, smiling at his companion's enthusiasm.

"I have to admit I've been the same way. You guys have been family to me and spending time with you is one of my favourite hobbies." Pohatu grinned full on now. It was then that the voice of Toa Vakama came from right beside them, startling Onua and causing Pohatu to let out a yelp as he turned, trying to find the voice's source.

"You two should hurry along. Toa Lhikan is waiting for you. He wanted to discuss some things about the voyage so you knew what to bring, and what to leave behind." As he finished speaking, the Toa Metru became visible. His arms crossed loosely and his expression one of amusement, the twenty year old laughed quietly as he looked the two boys over.

"T-Toa Vakama!" Onua spluttered. "When did you get here? I didn't hear or see you come over!" The older Toa smiled.

"I've been here for a while now. But in any case, you two should get going." Pohatu nodded shakily, taking off like a bullet. Onua, on the other hand, hesitated.

"Sir… what are the chances of ever seeing Mihkoro again? Will he ever come back?" Vakama's smile faded away as he sighed, thinking over how he should answer. Finally he responded.

"I don't think he's going to come back, sadly. He believed it would be better for Metru Nui if he simply just disappeared, never to be seen again… He took the Kanohi Vahi with him. It is for the best that the mask becomes not a myth." He paused, glancing at Onua now. "You miss him already, don't you?"

"Yes sir… I know he only left a week or two ago, but all the same, he did help us a lot… Kopaka even forgave him for what happened to his sisters." The boy fell silent now, thinking a bit before saying. "Is there really no chance that he'll come back? Even when we all miss him so much?" Vakama shook his head slowly.

"No… I don't think there is a chance. But then again, Destiny has a funny way of doing unexpected things. He may yet come back. And if he does, I am sure we will all celebrate because of it." He smiled now and looked down at Onua fully, lightly ruffling the thirteen year old's already messy hair. "Run along now. Don't make Toa Lhikan wait too long." The Toa of Earth nodded.

"Yes sir." As the boy ran off, Vakama's smile faded. Too many things were on his mind to allow him to be happy. Turning around, he found himself looking at Nokama, who bore an expression of obvious worry.

"Any sign of Vhisola yet?" The Toa of Fire sighed and shook his head.

"No, and Nuhrii is still missing as well. The Matoran are vanishing, Sister. I already told Lhikan and the children's parents that this voyage is going to be longer than a few months. Lhikan is going to tell the children now that they will be gone until someone goes to that island to bring them back." Nokama nodded before asking.

"Was Ahkmou ever found?" Vakama shook his head.

"Even if he was, I doubt anyone would care. He was the one who was responsible for the statue that fell on and killed Onewa's parents after all. That and he ratted out Nuju's little brother to the Makuta to be slaughtered."

"I know." Nokama replied. "But all the same, evil or not, finding him would mean there was still hope."

"There is always hope, Nokama." He said softly, gently squeezing her right shoulder. "Even when we cannot see it, and even when it seems all but lost. Nuju said that the stars spoke of trouble, but I doubt it is anything we can't handle." The Toa of Water laughed faintly.

"We can barely handle Matau sometimes, Brother. But for now I will agree with you. In any case, we still have each other, and the other four. It would take a force like the Makuta to bring us down, and even then it would be a challenge, since Teridax remains trapped to this day." Vakama nodded, mustering a smile of his own.

"You make a good point. For now, let's just be glad that Nuju finally plucked up the courage to propose. He probably just about blew his mind when she said yes." It was then that Whenua ran over to them, looking worried.

"Vakama, Nokama! There was another attack! Come quickly!" The two Toa looked at each other briefly, both looking worried as they turned and ran after their Brother.

He lead them to the Ga-Metru entrance of the Archives, where Nuju could be seen kneeling over the limp frame of a Le-Matoran.

"What did you see, Orkahm?" He asked urgently. "What happened to you?" The pale and sickly looking young man looked up at the gathered Toa Metru blearily, unable to focus on their faces.

"Ehyre… t-they took Ehyre… came out of the Archives… moved s-so fast…" Vakama grimaced, kneeling now as well.

"What came out of the Archives, Orkahm? What took Ehyre?" The Le-Matoran shivered, coughing quietly as he tried to remember what'd happened.

"T-Tehutti called them s-something… Said th-they were s-sort of like spiders… those w-weren't like spiders… I d-don't care what he says… Spiders a-aren't that big… s-so big…" Nuju lightly shook the Matoran, trying to make him focus.

"What did Tehutti call them?" He asked, his voice quiet, but still firm. He only got one word in response.

"Visorak…"

THE END?