Bionicle: Renewal [Wattys 2017]

Prologue

Many years ago, the island of Okoto was a place of peace, with amazing landscapes and creatures. The island was separated into many villages. The residents of these villages were protected by the village leaders, know as the Protectors. They lead the villagers using the six elements, fire, ice, water, stone, earth, and jungle. The elements were controlled by the two Masks of Power, the Mask of Control, and the Mask of Creation. These masks were owned by the Mask Makers, two brothers who created other masks for the villagers and their Protectors, which allowed them limited control over the elements. The two brothers were named Ekimu and Makuta. The Mask Makers created many amazing masks, but due to the creative powers of Ekimu's mask, his were the most treasured and admired. Makuta grew jealous of his brother, and forged a plan. Angry and hungry for power, he believed that if he created the most powerful mask of all time, Ekimu and the other villagers would respect and obey him above all. However, he and Ekimu had vowed to never forge more than one element into a mask, because it would become too powerful, and the results would be catastrophic. Makuta disregarded this rule, and decided to forge every element into a single mask. The result was the Mask of Ultimate Power. The mask had a mind of its own, and latched itself on Makuta's face, taking control of him. The power could not be contained in Makuta's body, and the island began to shake and crumble. Ekimu quickly realized what his brother had done, and war began. The massive battle pitting Ekimu and his army of Protectors against the twisted creations of Makuta and the mask raged on for years. With great effort, Ekimu finally managed to reach Makuta, and used his forging hammer to knock the mask from Makuta's face. Unfortunately, the power contained within the mask erupted out, creating a shockwave that threw Ekimu and Makuta back, and plunged them into a deep sleep. The Protectors arrived too late. By the time they got to the mask maker's temple, Makuta was somehow gone. Ekimu was still there, and he began to whisper a prophecy in his slumber.
"My brother's spirit will return, and a great evil will arise. He has already found evil warriors to fight for him." He whispered. "Dark creatures will roam the island. But do not despair. Many years from now, six heroes, the Toa, will fall from the sky, each bearing the power of the elements. With the help of the Protectors, they will uncover the six secret Golden Masks and save the island."
And with that, Ekimu went cold. The Protectors placed him in a golden sarcophagus inside the temple, which became his tomb. After that, darkness fell over the island, as Ekimu had predicted. The villages fell apart into separate regions. Finally, an evil being rose up from the ground. He called himself Kulta, though most called him the Skull Grinder. He was once the general of Makuta's army, and one of his six warriors of darkness. His resurrection and powers were the result of the Mask of Ultimate power bringing Makuta's army back from the dead. He and Makuta's other undead soldiers released a plague of spider-like creatures onto the island. The Skull Spiders were vile creatures which latched onto the faces of the villagers and took over their bodies and minds. They were lead by a massive creature known as the Lord of Skull Spiders, a giant arachnid with the ability to control the hordes of spiders. He was granted this power by a golden mask, endowed with elemental power by Kulta himself. Within the next few years, the entire island was ravaged by the spiders. Those who were taken over by the spiders became soldiers in Kulta's army. Hope was lost.

Many Years Later...

Narmoto placed his hand on the massive stone door. The carvings glowed a bright red, coinciding with his element of fire. The door opened, and he saw the other protectors inside, all sitting around a stone table. In the middle of the table, a golden mask sat. This was the Mask of Time, a sacred artifact that had never been used before. But their situation was dire. Sitting down and greeting the other Protectors, Narmoto stuck his hands out and lowered his head, closing his eyes. The other protectors did so as well. Each of their hands glowed in a colour corresponding to their element. Narmoto's glow was red, due to his role as the Protector of Fire. The other Protectors glows hit the mask, illuminating it with each of their colours.The light now emanating from the mask shot into the air, illuminating the sky in a spectrum of red, white, green, purple, blue, and orange. After a split second, the colours disappeared from the night sky, and the moon shone bright once more. Narmoto looked up to see six stars glowing much brighter than the others. Izotor, the Protector of Ice, looked over at him.
"Are you sure this will work, Narmoto?" He asked.
"It must work." Narmoto replied. "Otherwise, the island will fall into Makuta's hands."