This is the last thing of Mata Nui Hauntings I will put out here, then I am done!
Last but not least, I want to thank @ghost-mantis for all the help they have been in making the Mata Nui Hauntings Anthology. From the initial discussions we had in spring/summer of 2019 to all of the beta reading I asked for assistance on, you have been a huge help in the making of the series. You have always been open to helping, never saying no to any question or request I have had. Your knowledge of Bionicle and insights into everything we have talked about, from lore to writing to wildlife has been insanely insightful, and it is never unnoticed or unthought of. Without our conversations I would not have been able to get the stories of Mata Nui from abstract to paper. Thank you so much for your help on this, and please know that you are a great addition to the #bionicle fandom here and on all forums :)
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Unfortunately, this was finished three hours late past the deadline for Ghost-Mantis’s contest, so I don’t know if it will be accepted. Even if it doesn’t I’m just happy to share this all with you and to have it finally done.
Originally this was going this idea was planned as an off handily mentioned side incident for my Toa Hahli ask blog. The contest gave me an opportunity to expand the idea quite a bit.
“Is this the last of it?”
“Yeah, that oughta- Ah, careful! Don’t spill!…” Okoth replied while directing the Toa and reminding mindfully once again.
Hahli loaded the large barrel with the others on the cart, making sure nothing splashed out despite the trader’s concerns. Sounds of movement could be heard in behind the wooden casing. “Now, are you guys sure about setting up in Tajun?” She asked while turning back to the Matoran.
Okoth’s gaze was fixated on the cart’s luggage, as she recounted the stock of everything. “…Ah-huh yeah.”
The Toa was unmoved by the response, she went on even if the Matorans focus was on something else. “You know know you three could just stay here and help think of other ideas with everyone else. You don’t have to go-”
“Not go?” The last part caught back the traders attention.
“I’m just worried you’ll run into some difficulties…” Hahli said.
“With what? We’ve traded with Agori on occasion before.”
“That’s not what I meant-”
“I’ve set up and sold hundreds and hundreds of fish before, Hahli. So has Kailani and many other Ga-Matoran. Well, you were always too shy-”
“Yes. I get the point.” The Toa interjected flatly. “It’s just…we normally don’t sell Makuta Fish…”
It had been going on for quite some time now, and they still hadn’t figured out why yet. For some reason, despite what they tried to do, the Makuta fish seemed to be the majority of things to get reeled in their nets and lines. The population seemed to have swelled up in the water around. With the fish’s aggression and their sharp serrated teeth, the girls hated messing with them and risking injury. If those weren’t enough, it wasn’t helped that the fish was also known to be bland and almost flavorless. Ga-Matoran, many sick and fed up with having to endure the food for weeks, were refusing to eat them; the other Matoran villages had no desire for them either. Which left the girls stuck with copious amounts of unwanted, uneaten, and unsold angry fish.
Of course, it didn’t take too long for their resident trader to get her own idea and see an opportunity to fully branch out to the local Agori. Even if a few here had some hesitation about it.
“Big fish, small fish, weird fish…it doesn’t matter. Unlike us Hahli, they’re all the same thing to most people. What matters to them is if they’re convinced enough to buy it.”
“Are we going or just sitting?” Vhisola jutted in sourly from the seat up front in the cart. Kailani sighed next to her, silently reminding herself that they really needed Vhisola’s assistance to even bring her along.
“I still think you should have waited to get Nokama’s full input,” Hahli continued.
“Well she’s still helping with New Atero and we need to do something.” The Matoran was starting to get impatient herself. “Look, we’re going to fine. We’ll go there, sell product, and come straight back. No issue.”
To that, Hahli could only sigh. “Well, best of luck to you”, she said before leaving them be.
Kailani gave a wave to Hahli, as Okoth climbed up onto the front seat squeezing right between the other Matoran and took the reigns of the two borrowed Ussel crabs. Anxious to set off, she gave a command; with an abrupt pull, the rahi scuttled forward pulling the cart onward.
…..
They come into Tajun, “New Tajun” as it was known officially. The large Agori settlement was located mainland, clustered around a massive waterfall and the river it fed into. After traversing through, passing various market venders selling other foods and goods, they found the empty patch on the street.
Okoth right away jumped down and went to work setting up the stand, as Kailani and Vhisola were left to unload the cart.
The trader had the table halfway up, when a rough looking Agori approached them. “Excuse me, but I don’t think you’ve fully rented that nice little space yet.”
“Huh?” Okoth looked up. “I came here not too long ago, and I was told we could use it.” The Ga-Matoran tried to push a leg in place. “Ah they didn’t say anything about having to pay.”
“I don’t think you get it, metal breath.” The Agori said cracking his knuckles, “but you will have to pay me.”
“Oh for Mata Nui…” Giving a curse as she was having a difficult time with a peg. She called back over her shoulder “Hey, can one of you try to sort things out with him? I’m busy.”
“Gladly!” Vhisola let go of her side of the barrel, the weight nearly knocking Kailani over as the other hopped over to the Agori.
After several proddings, attempted hammerings, coming to the realization that it wasn’t even the right peg for the hole and finally finding the exact one in the bag with other parts. Okoth nearly had the thing in, that was till the Agori suddenly snatched her hand.
“I’m so s-sorry, t-terribly terribly sorry,” he kept saying while shaking her hand frantically. “Huge mix up- that’s what it was! A simple misunderstanding, won’t bother you ladies again, promise!”
“Um…Okay” She was confused, before she could say anything else the Agori sprinted off as fast as he could. The trader glanced back at Vhisola; who idly hummed a tune to herself while opening the lid on a barrel. A moment passed before Okoth decided to just let things be and returned to setting the last piece in place.
With the stand now actually up, Vhisola started snatching out the toothed fish wiggling in the enclosed water barrel. Her skill at managing to handle them without being bitten or scratched was the main reason she towed along here. One at a time the rahi were plopped on the tabletop, they flopped in place, jaws chomping visibly in open air.
Kailani placed a bucket right next to the wooden structure along with a small sign that advertised the Makuta fish teeth in it the crafter was selling.
Okoth took a slow breath, they had everything out…It was go time!
“FISH, FISH, RIGHT HERE!” The trader’s voice joined in with the chorus of peddlers.
“YOU WANT FISH? WE GOT FISH!”
Several people walked past without even looking in the Matorans direction. Some took a quick glance without much thought as they did with everything else on the street out of habit, but were looking for something specific to take notice of everything else. A few others turned their heads, saw that the fish were actually moving and walked faster.
“FRESH FISH RIGHT HERE! YOU CAN’T GET ANY FRESHER THAN THIS!”
Off-handed comments and murmurs were barely audible with passersby. There was a wonder about what kind of fish even looked like that, though no direct comments were made about or to the standing Matoran.
Okoth didn’t worry. They had just settled in and were only starting, business would pick up.
…..
Over two hours went by as the Ga-Matoran stayed by the stand, the trader kept up her chant along side with the ongoing sellers.
“STRAIGHT FROM GA-KORO, RIGHT FROM THE WATER TO YOUR TABLE! GET IT RIGHT HERE!”
“Clearly, no one wants to buy ugly fish.” Vhisola snided aloud behind the table.
“We won’t with that attitude, Vhisola.” Okoth said through clenched teeth, not even bothering to turn to the Komau wearer.
“Well, at least it’s a nice day,” Kailani commented mildly while splashing sea water onto the fish set out. It was per Okoth’s instructions; not to necessarily keep them alive, most had ceased moving, but to keep the look of “fresh, out of the water”.
A curious child wandering without purpose, came up to look at the weird creatures displayed. He poked one in it’s wet scaley side and giggled as it sluggishly wiggled slightly.
“Don’t touch.” Vhisola snapped.
“Um, excuse me?” A tall Glatorain walked over. “Are you selling fish?”
Okoth shot a look straight at Vhisola. See.
She coughed and straightened herself. “Why yes sir. Only the finest quality available.”
The male saw the sharp toothed specimens laid out, “Huh, never seen these kind before…What do they taste like?”
Both Kailani and Vhisola eyed each other in silence.
It was a second of hesitation from Okoth. “…Why…it’s good with any spice or oils. Really absorbent, takes to anything you want to put on it.”
“Hmmm…” He touched his chin, thinking hard. “…I might be back…” At that he walked away as abruptly as he had stopped by.
Okoth didn’t move, she could feel Vhisola’s smugness behind her. “He’ll be back.”
“Last I checked, might means no.” Vhisola retorted nearly singing her words.
“That’s with maybe and possibly, might is just…I think it just means might.” Corrected Kailani, right before she was startled by an Agori she didn’t notice going through her bucket.
“Oh…hi…” He gave an awkward greeting when the Ga-Matoran finally took actual note of him. His blue armor looked to have been patched together multiple times by himself, at his hip was worn scavenger bag. “…I…was just wondering what these are there…”
“Oh, those are Makuta fish teeth,” the crafter explained as she shifted out of her sudden jollt.
“Neat, neat…” Fiddling with one of the fangs in his hands, he kept feeling its sharp tip. “Are they for weapons or something?”
“Well, we’ve made our Turaga’s trident with them, but they can used for tools for small detailed work and I’m sure something could be made from them for decoration…”
Kailani stopped herself before she went on tangent of every possibility, it was in her nature to think with the uses of objects and was why she made things. “Would you like to buy some?”
“Ah…I’m just looking around…” Dropping the fang back, he got up slowly striding way. instead of leaving out of sight, he stopped at a corner and stayed there, pacing a bit and occasionally glancing back at the Matoran sellers. The scene made the crafter feel odd and slightly uneasy, she wanted to immediately mention it to Okoth. Unfortunately the other was already busy trying to sway another potential customer.
“So these are fish?”
“Yes, they’re fish.”
“Are they from where all you guys come from?”
“Yep.”
“Oh, so are they safe to eat?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Do they taste like fish?”
“Yeah, whatever you want. Do you want to buy some?”
“No thanks, I actually don’t like fish.”
Her right eye began to twitch behind her Miru as the Agori went on his way. “Doesn’t like fish.”
The child proceeded to prod the same fish again in its slimy fin, though no movement came from its stilled body.
“I said, don’t touch.” Vhisola responded belligerently, trying to swat at him.
“Hey, don’t touch my kid!” Yelled his mother from the stall across the street before switching right back to arguing with the same vender over prices as she had been for hours now. The child stuck his tongue out at the disgruntled Ga-Matoran.
Okoth breathed quickly; it wasn’t like rough sales days don’t happen…it’s a busy street, things were bound to pick up. Appearances had to be kept up, half of sales was appearence, she just needed to stay confident. You can’t sell anything if you don’t believe in the product.
“Okoth,” Kailani tried grabbing her attention. “I think-”
“What? You don’t think we’re doing well here? Is that what you were going to say?” Okoth cut off with fire, taking the other water Matoran aback.
“Actually no…” She replied slowly. “There’s just someone that’s-”
She was given no time for an explanation as she was just as quickly interrupted again by the fast approach of someone else.
“I don’t have time for any spiel or to go back all the way across the market.” A brusque female Agori started off, barely looking at what was even for sale, half talking to herself and the Matoran. She appeared tired, rubbing a temple under her helmet. “Just as long as it’s food, give me whatever you got and I’ll figure something do with it at home.”
This brightened Okoth, who had to restrain herself from showing too much excitement or even jumping up. “Of course, of course! Let me just wrap some of these up for you and that will all be-”
A loud chop against wood sound silenced the transaction. The noise gained the full attention from the Agori; Okoth watched her face became pale as her eyes traced the sound to what was behind the stand.
Okoth was frozen, almost afraid to see what was even going on behind her, but her head eventually turned.
A decapitated head of one of the fish laid on one of the countertops, it’s headless body right next to it giving its last muscle spasms. Not far, humming a different tune, Vhisola pulled out another live Makuta fish from a barrel. Bringing it over and holding it down in the same place, the rahi still writhing. She swiftly brought done a knife, cutting its head off with one hard chop.
“You know what, I think I’m okay…” The Agori said while backing away before hurrying off.
That was the last break to Okoth’s demeanor. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?” She shouted nearly leaping over the counter to get at the Matoran.
Vhisola cocked her head to side, seemingly not grasping the traders sudden shift. “I’m helping, obviously.”
“HOW! How, how, how is THAT helping?” Okoth went around, going behind the stall to face Vhisola right up front.
“When we first came in, I noticed a lot people were selling just sections of meat.” Vhisola started in her usual chided tone. “And what’s the ugliest part of these fish? The head. So we just get the heads off and we can just sell the rest. Pretty simple really.”
“FISH GO BAD QUICKER WHEN THEY’RE IN PIECES!” Okoth didn’t stop shouting. “IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE FRESH FISH! YOU’RE RUINING MY WHOLE PITCH!”
“Okay, that’s enough now,” Kailani moved right in the middle of the two, pushing Okoth back before she could grab Vhisola.
“Remember, calm tides calm minds.” The replied saying came off more nervously than Kailani intended, but she was getting worried over the tension. Okoth may have wanted to strangle Vhisola right then and there, but Vhisola was still holding the knife. “We’ve all just had a big misunderstanding…let’s just sort ourselves out real quick, everything is still salvageable.”
The undeterred child gave another hard poke to same fish, this time in its round eye. Maybe it was a final reaction of it’s nerves before succumbing to final death, maybe it still had a spark of life that still wished to live. Its final note, as its eye was jabbed; an abrupt turn of its head, jaws snapped, its long sharp teeth biting down on the boy’s finger.
Screaming. Lots of screaming.
Everyone turned their heads, an instant crowd formed around adding to the screams and shrieks. Panic followed with ease.
Kailani wasn’t sure what to even do, the crafter tried moving over to help, but was immediately shoved to the ground. There, she saw a familiar looking scavenger bag, and the person swiping her bucket of fangs. “Hey!”
Okoth was distraught, this was bad for business, this was really bad for all of them here. She looked back and forth, from Kailani on the ground to Vhisola just standing there. “One of you, just do something!”
“Oh, so now my help is good enough?” Vhisola replied jadedly, rolling her eyes, still she guessed that she might as well do something. Slinking over to the all the open barrels she pushed each one over, water and carnivorous fish going all over. With the Matoran Crafter barely getting up in time before any of it spilled over onto her.
People jumped back, getting away from the flailing fish trying to bite their feet and ankles, dispersing the gathered crowd around the part of the street. Not needing any other motivational sign; the girls frantically jumped up in the cart, not even bothering to dismantle the stand and pack it.
Scurrying much faster than when they traveled in, their Ussal crabs pulled them away. Leaving behind a street of angry people and angry fish.
…..
“This is all your fault!” Okoth insisted when they were far enough from Tajun and were at a more comfortable pace.
Vhisola huffed, “I told him not to touch it and I was the one to get us out of there. While making sure we didn’t come home with any fish.”
“You’re also the reason we’re not coming home with any money!” Spat back Okoth.
Kailani adjusted her Ruru. “Stop…just stop…”
“You know what?” Okoth dropped her voice to a threatening tone. “I have half a mind to go ahead and tell Nokama everything you did today.”
Vhisola crossed her arms, keeping her head high. “Yeah that doesn’t scare me.”
Silence fell between all three of them, it was minute in before Vhisola looked back over to Okoth. “You’re not really going to tell Nokama, right?”
The trader kept quiet as she adjusted the reins.
“Right?” She asked Okoth again, but the other Matoran said nothing.
“Right?” Desperation laced in her voice as she started to shake Okoth.
