BC4 - Mask of Strength

The cave mouth was not a pleasant sight. The entrance was blocked by massive boulders that had fallen sometime during the night. Even Onua Nuva, Toa of Earth, helped by his Mask of Strength, would have had a difficult time clearing them all away.

Kopaka set to work trying to pry the stones free with his ice blade. But the tool was not designed for that type of work and he soon gave up in frustration. Pohatu, meanwhile, had done little but stand to one side, observing.

“Difficult,” Kopaka said.

“No, no,” answered Pohatu. “Simple. Watch me.”

Pohatu approached the pile of stone and gently laid his hands upon it, first on one spot, then another. He almost seemed to be listening to the rock, though how he could hear anything above the howl of the winds, Kopaka had no idea.

“It’s a puzzle, brother,” said Pohatu. “Each stone supports another. Alone, they are powerful. Together, even a Toa cannot budge them. But the key to the puzzle is there, if you know how to look.”

“Where did you learn this?” asked Kopaka.

Seeing that his brother Toa was genuinely interested, Pohatu smiled. “Onewa taught me. He said that his knowledge of rock is older than the rocks themselves. Not quite sure what he meant by that, but it certainly sounds impressive. Ah! Here we are.”

Pohatu drew back his leg and slammed a center stone with a mighty kick. The rock splintered and flew apart. Robbed of their support, the other stones collapsed, revealing the cavern entrance.

“See? When they can’t work together and share the burden, they can’t perform their task.”

For just the briefest instant, Kopaka almost smiled. “Yes, brother. Perhaps I do see.”


- BIONICLE Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks, Chapter 1