Chapter 2
Toa of Fire

A beach. He was standing on a sweeping expanse of land,sloping gently down to the sea. As he gazed out at the ocean, he saw waves breaking over a coral reef. Beyond that, there was nothing but water stretchng to an unbroken horizon.
Where am I?"he thought,his mind a haze of memories and dreams. Who am I?
....Tahu....
The word-a name-floated through his mind.
Tahu shook his head in frustration. Why couldn't he remember more? How had he come to this place-and why?
He glanced towards the polished canister that had brought him here. Near it he saw several red components,lying in the sand. Two turned out to be blades,shaped in the form of leaping red flames. They fitted together into a sword,the hadnles sitting comfortably in his clawed hand.
But when he swung the sword,it felt awkward and heavy.
He scowled,"useless hunk of metal,"he muttered,jabbing it into the sand.
Then he noticed the mask. It stared at him with gaping eyeholes, its surface catching the sunlight so that it appeared to come alive in his hands. He was just lifting it to place it on his face when he heard a scream-
"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"Tawny screamed and landed hard in the sand,"oof!"
Tahu whirled around,"what the-"
Tawny was hoisting herself out of the sand and dusting herself off when she noticed Tahu.
"Who are you?"she jumped back,in a fighting stance.
"Better question is who are you?what are you?"Tahu shot back.
Tawny glared at him,"Tawny,I'm a human being,Garbage Can."
Tahu growled,"my names Tahu."
"Wait a second,"Tawny relaxed,then shook her head,remembering what her friends had been spekaing about,"oooohhh,no. Uh-uh! No way! It can't be-I can't be-you can't be-"
"What are you babbling about?"
Tawny took a deep breath and thought,okay....obviously its all real...but thats crazy....isn't it? Alright,don't tell him about Earth,not yet.She looked at Tahu,"nothing,but you might want to put on that mask."
Tahu didn't know why he listened to her but he took a deep breath and lifted the mask to his face. A surge of power went through them both,like a fire was kindled to life in both of them. Tawny stumbled backwards with a gasp as the power erupted within her. She felt a light weight around her waist and looked down to see not her black belt but a red belt,looking like metal. It sat on her hips comfortably,three slashes on each sid eof a circle.
"Holy...."Tawny murmured.
She felt heat on her fingertips and raised her hands to see small flames sprouting from her palms.
"What the?!"she asked quickly,her eyes still wide. She closed he rhands and the fire extinguished.
Tahu grabbed the flame sword and lifted it. To his surprise,the blade was glowing with crymson fire. When he swung it,it sizzled through the air,trailing sparks in its wake.
"Yes!"Tahu said with grim satisfaction,"now we're getting somewhere!"
"Ya right,"Tawny crossed her arms over her chest,eyes narrowed,"we-I still have alot of unanswered questions."
"Surprisingly....your right...."Tahu let the sword fall to his side,realization making despair overwhelm him.
"Hey-"Tawny began to snap but then she saw the look in Tahu's red eyes and stopped,"you okay?"
Tahu didn't reply or give any indication he had heard her. Why was he here?Why was Tawny here?What were they supposed to do?
"Why-can't-I-REMEMBER!"he howled swinging his sword over his head.
A bolt of fiery energy shot forth,erupting in the sky like a volcano. Sparks showered down onto the beach.
Tawny yelped,"watch it!"she snapped,pissed off,"wait a second....they don't burn...."
"Power....I have such power...."Tahu spoke aloud,"the power of fire,of heat and flame. But where does it come from?What is it for?"
"Hey!You,buddy!"Tawny waved to get his attention,"hate to interupt your little realization but, are you ignoring me? Why do I suddenly have flames jumping out of my hands?"she opened them to demonstrate,"where are my friends? And where the hell is here?!"
Tahu turned to the teenager,she acted somewhat like him in ways.
"No,for some reason you have the power of fire,like me,"Tahu answered her questions in order," don't know and i'm not really sure. your guess is as good as mine. But....why are we here?"
More questions-and still they had no answers. Not knowing made them both shake with frustration and rage.It made Tahu want to turn his sword against the Earth,the sky,the beach-the very world itself. It was tempting-so tempting. To lose himself in chaos,to strike out with no thought for past,future, or anyhting else.
Tawny took a deep breath,pulling in air slowly. She began to calm after the first initial wave of anger passed.
"Tahu,calm down,"she reasoned,placing a hand on his arm.
Tahu relaxed....slowly.
"You can't allow youself to give in,"Tawny told him and yet she knew he knew that.
"okay,okay,"Tahu said looking into Tawny's brown eyes,"the knowing will come."
"At least...."Tawny looked away,lowering her voice,"I hope it does...."