TRATI: Chapter 1

"Time: A power so great, so influential, that nothing can truly have control over it and yet there is the Vahi; the Legendary mask that allows for the user to bend and travel through the very membrane of Time itself.  Yet how can this be so? A mere piece of metal, imbued with the very essence of the fabric of Time? It seems ridiculous, and rightfully so. For it is, itself, a Paradox…"  

The Fourth reminisced of the First's words when he was able to. In the Time between Time, there's only so much one can do, but enough can be done, and only so much space to be taken, but enough to be used.  

He looked out into the Halls of Time, a sprawling area of Temporal Energy where the Aridike's of the Temporal Multiverse could convene in a place between places, a time between time.  The First had constructed this domain, which was now being maintained by the Staff of Time.

He stroked the Staff of Time in his hands; one of the last remaining Great Artifacts of Time, one of two left, the other being the Vahi, currently existing in 229's Root.  The Fourth was installed in deep thought, as one often does when remembering the lost.  The Staff of Time was created as the First latched the Temporal Trunk in place, keeping the balance of the Tree of Time intact.  It was meant as a permanent  solution to the unweaving of the Tree.  

While it worked at its job, the First had to give up all of his Time Energy, his very life force, to an object that could do a job for eternity that he could not; an artificial Atlas, of sorts.  With only his powers over Spatial Gravity intact, the First melted into the Omniverse itself, leaving the Second to watch over the Staff of Time.

The Second was a completely neutral figure, having literally no opinion on any subject, and a completely unbiased view on the world, making for a very disturbed individual. It wasn't the fact that he was insane, but more like that he had a complete lack thereof.  His inability to sway his views to make any action made for a need for change. The Staff of Time was a badge of office in the League, and a leader must physically lead, or be a figurehead of anarchy.

The Third was no one better. He was also quite neutral, but swayed more to the side of Evil at times. No, evil isn't the word.  Simple indolence was his flaw.  He was the kind to manipulate others to do his work, whether it was to lead as a fearless but cowardly king, or to start the coup that overthrew one.  His tendencies made him attempt to lift the curse of guarding the Staff of Time by handing the job off to another.  The very act killed both the Third and his potential mark, the Fifth, who would have probably been the best suited for the job.

Then the job fell onto the Fourth.  

"A thousand times a thousand years I've held this burden."

The Fourth went back to his thoughts.

"What exactly did he mean by that? A paradox itself…"

The Fourth was suddenly interrupted by a distorted shrieking noise that sent a ripple through the Halls of Time.  He stood from his seat abruptly, sensing the source of the disturbance very nearby.  

*What could have caused a tremor as strong as that?!*

Another shriek and another wrinkle overtook the Fourth, causing his balance to falter. A deep, black void slowly crept into existence from one of the endless halls in front of him.  

He readied the Staff of Time and grabbed his blade in case of danger, and tensed as he saw a very familiar figure step out of the void...

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The setting sun gave a faint glow to the sand and rocks of Onu-Maras.  The usually black and dull rocks were tinged with a faint bronzed hue and the few mineral deposits exposed to the surface glittered with varying degrees of color and beauty.  But from all the objects upon the painted landscape of the mesa, one stood out in particular.

A small piece of metal, gold in color and orange in aura, sat beside a large Toa, sitting with his legs over the edge of the plateau.  The Toa was in deep thought.  The bit of metal had caused a lot of problems in the recent past, and the Toa reminisced of them.

A friend lost, a path clouded and muddied, a reality reversed as if all things were going wrong. But so was the way of things. It could not be helped, only guided. And the only one able to guide it was he: Aridike, Toa of Gravity, Baron of Time.

He cast his glance down to the bit of metal; the mask known as the Vahi, the Legendary Mask of Time. His hands reached down to examine it further. It's craftsmanship was of no other, it's power unmatched by any other mask.  Yet there was further mystery involved with this mask.

Aridike set the mask down. It was a bridge to be crossed or burned for another day, for today was already ending, and tomorrow had barely begun.