Bionicle: Renewal [Wattys 2017]

Chapter 10: Ekimu Awakens

The Toa grunted as they lifted the lid off of Ekimu's stone coffin, setting it down next to it. As they predicted, Ekimu lay inside. He looked as if he was sleeping, as his body had not decayed whatsoever. A ceremonial mask made of gold had been placed over his face, and his arms were folded over his armoured chest. His once gold armour had been eroded and rusted over time.
"So this is him. This is Ekimu." Gali said.
"I guess it is." Tahu nodded. "So... how do we wake him up?"
"Like everything else we've done on this journey." Kopaka said. "We do it together."
"Okay, but... how?" Tahu asked.
"I... don't really know." Kopaka shrugged.
They then noticed the hand markings on each side of the coffin. There were six of them, one where each of them was standing. Tahu raised an eyebrow and cautiously placed his hand on one of them. It began to glow red, and the light flowed from the marking and into the coffin itself. Gali and Kopaka placed their hands on as well, and the same thing happened, though with blue and white respectively. Lewa's light was green, Pohatu's was yellow, and Onua's was purple. The light flowed around Ekimu, turning from a rainbow of colours into a blinding golden light. When the light stopped, the Toa removed their hands. Everything was quiet for a moment, until Ekimu opened his eyes. The Toa gasped as he began to raise from the coffin and step out to face them all. They had done it. Ekimu was alive.
"Brave Toa..." He began to say. "You are all.... late."
"I... what?" Tahu asked.
"You heard me!" Ekimu accused. "I expected you days ago. Didn't your protectors tell you how important your mission was?"
"Yes, but we..." Gali began. Ekimu stopped her.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter now." He interrupted. "Now, where's my cane? Ah, there it is."
Ekimu rummaged around in his coffin until he pulled out a long wooden cane. It was then that Tahu noticed that Ekimu was not what he expected. He was short, only slightly taller than the protectors. When he took off his eroded mask, he could see that his hair was long and grey, along with the long beard on his chin.
"Wait... you're an old man?" Tahu asked. Ekimu looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course I am! I've been asleep for 1000 years!" He said.
"Right, that makes sense, it's just... you're not really what I expected." Tahu said. Kopaka punched his shoulder.
"Don't be rude." He snapped. He turned to back to Ekimu. "Now, Ekimu, how are we to defeat Kulta?"
"Kulta? He's back again?" Ekimu asked. "It seems my brother's influence is still around. That means his Mask of Control is still intact, somewhere."
"Kulta's planning on destroying your Mask of Creation." Gali explained. Ekimu nodded and looked at the ground.
"I see. If he does this, I will be powerless to stop Makuta." He said. "We don't have long to stop him."
"But we have no idea where he is." Lewa said. Ekimu nodded and turned towards the exit, telling the Toa to follow him. He exited the tomb, and pointed towards his old castle.
"He's there, at the castle where my brother and I used to live." He said. "He's planning on using the forge to melt down my mask, and the elements within. If he does this, there will be nothing to stop him from bringing Makuta back."
"Well then we'd better get going." Tahu smirked.
The Toa all agreed, and made their way to the castle, lead by Ekimu himself.