AN7 - Prologue/Epilogue - Flare

Turaga Vakama and Toa Nuva Tahu looked down on the former site of their home village. Ta-Koro had been a mighty fortress whose walls had never been breached by a foe. But that was before the terrible night when the Rahkshi came, raining destruction down and leaving the village to sink into the lava.

“Why have you brought me here?” asked Tahu. “Surely there was some other secluded spot in which you could tell me your tale of Metru Nui.”

“There are many such spots,” Vakama agreed. “But none that will serve as well as this one. You see, Tahu, this was your home on the island, and now it is gone. When Ta-Koro fell, you felt loss, grief, guilt, rage... isn’t that so?”

(...)

Vakama rose, using his staff to support himself. “Meaning you are Toa, not children who need to be protected from the truth. We knew all that went on in those years, and Makuta knew, but you did not. That ignorance might have cost you your lives. Hiding all this from you was as great an error as any we committed as Toa Metru.”

Tahu raised his sword and shot a bolt of flame high into the sky. “The other Toa must hear this tale, Vakama. It is a one of triumph, after all.”

The Turaga shook his head, confused. Triumph? Had Tahu not been listening at all? “I do not understand you, Toa Tahu.”

“Well, you overcame, didn’t you? You saved the Matoran, you became Turaga... you were victorious.”

Turaga Vakama laughed. It was a sad and hollow sound. “Victorious, were we? Perhaps, in your eyes, that might be so. But we paid a price for that victory, Tahu, and so did every Matoran... Makuta’s bones, what a price we paid.”

No more words would be spoken until the other Toa Nuva arrived. When they were all assembled, Vakama resumed his tale...