Hahli makes her way back to the crossroads at the center of the island. She heads down the path to Le-Koro, but notices that a suspension bridge has been placed at the cliff’s edge. Hahli crosses the bridge and enters Ta-Wahi. She continues across a natural bridge in front of a lavafall until she encounters a Ta-Matoran guarding a stone doorway.

“What can I do for you?” he asks.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Guard Nuri,” he replies.

They say goodbye to one another and Hahli passes through the doorway into the north end of the Ta-Koro Town Square. Two Ta-Matoran are walking in the courtyard. Hahli approaches one of the Matoran.

“Pardon me, I am busy with my work,” he says.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Tiribomba, the Lava Farmer,” he replies.

They say goodbye to one another and Hahli approaches the other Matoran.

“Surf’s up!” he exclaims.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Maglya, the surfer,” he replies.

The two Matoran say goodbye to one another. Hahli notices a large structure with a meandering staircase at the end of the courtyard. Entering it, she sees a staff propped up against a wall and a Matoran that she recognizes.

“Hello, Hahli!” Takua the Chronicler greets her. “Are you excited about the Championship?”

“What are you doing?” Hahli asks.

“I am helping Vakama build the Wall of History,” he replies. “Since the Turaga made me the Chronicler, I haven’t been able to do much of anything else! Except for practice kolhii, sometimes.”

“Goodbye,” Hahli says.

“So long! Give my regards to Macku and Turaga Nokama,” he says, returning to work.

Hahli continues down the vast chamber, where two figures are gazing into a large ceremonial fire. She approaches the taller of the two, who turns to speak with her.

“I have been watching for your arrival, Hahli of Ga-Koro,” he says. “I confess, however, that I was expecting Kotu. Welcome to Ta-Koro. When you are rested and ready, inform me and I will call the match against our champions.”

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Vakama, Turaga of Ta-Koro,” he replies.

“Ta-Koro?” she questions.

“Ta-Koro, city of fire, home of lava-farmers, and keepers of the great Mangai fire-mountain in whose shadow we dwell,” Vakama answers. “Look into the flames and know the Virtue proclaimed to us by the Great Spirit, and the skill it brings.”

“Virtue?” Hahli enquires.

“Know that the Great Spirit imparted to all Matoran the three Virtues, and from them we Ta-Matoran have derived our Principle,” the Turaga states. “The farmer Aft and guardsman Kalama ponder these things more than most.”

“Skill?” she asks.

“The guardsman Keahi is the master. He will tell you of it, if you find him on patrol,” counsels Vakama.

“Champions?” Hahli asks.

“Takua the Chronicler, and Jaller the Captain, are the two kolhii champions I have chosen from my village,” Vakama replies.

“Goodbye,” Hahli says.

“Farewell,” Vakama responds, turning back to the fire.

Hahli turns to speak to the other figure near the fire, a Matoran.

“I am practicing,” he says.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am not here, yet I am all places. I am getting faster,” he answers.

“Faster?” she asks.

“Courage is the soul of movement. You must have courage or you will be frozen. Fear stops all. Courage defeats Fear,” he replies.

“Uh, okay,” Hahli responds, confused.

“Hello again,” he says as she leaves.

Back outside, Hahli notices more Ta-Matoran walking in the south end of the Town Square. There are three Ta-Matoran pacing here. Two of the Matoran, Aodhan the Lava Farmer, and Brander the Crafter are too busy with their work to talk to Hahli. The third Matoran stops to talk to her.

“Hello, Ga-Matoran,” he greets her cheerfully. “Are you here for the kolhii match?”

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Aft, the Lava Farmer,” he replies.

“Lava Farmer?” she asks.

“Farming lava is one way we keep Mata Nui green and healthy,” Aft explains. “When lava cools, it makes the best soil. With our farming, Le-Koro grows green, Ga-Koro’s waters bountiful, and Onu-Koro’s mines rich. But like the two brothers, the fire of the Mangai is both a force of creation, and a force of destruction. To farm lava takes great Courage.”

“Courage?” Hahli enquires.

“Courage is the Principle of Ta-Koro!” says Aft. “It derives from the Virtue Mata Nui bestowed on us.”

The two Matoran say goodbye to one another. There are three stone doorways in this area of the Town Square. Hahli decides to investigate the one opposite the Ta-Suva first. Inside, a Ta-Matoran Trader named Vohon is selling his wares. Through the doorway to the left of Vohon’s shop is a Guard barracks with an armory of spears and a simple ladder leading to the city’s ramparts. Hahli climbs the ladder and discovers two Guards on duty.

“Stay out of trouble, Ga-Matoran,” cautions one of the Matoran.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Guard Agni,” he replies.

Agni has nothing more to say but goodbye, so Hahli approaches the other Guard.

“Who goes there?” he asks.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Kalama,” he replies. “I’m on duty.”

“Duty?” Hahli repeats.

“Duty is one of the three Virtues described to us by the Great Spirit,” Kalama explains. “All Matoran have a Duty to perform, and the Guard most of all! From Duty comes the Principle.”

“Principle?” she enquires.

“The farmer Aft contemplates the Principle of Ta-Koro often,” Kalama advises her.

The two Matoran say goodbye to one another, and Hahli returns to the Ta-Koro Town Square to investigate the third doorway. Inside, she can see Jaller, the Captain of the Guard, working over a strategic map of the island of Mata Nui. As she enters, he turns to speak to her.

“Hahli!” Jaller exclaims. “What are you doing here?”

“I intend to be in the Championship!” she answers.

“Well, so do I!” he admits. “That means we’ll be playing each other. It is my duty to win… but you are my friend, so I will tell you: seek out Keahi. He is my strongest guardsman, and can teach you Strength!”

“Goodbye, Jaller,” Hahli says as she leaves.

“Maybe you can stay in Ta-Koro a while!” Jaller calls after her.

Journeying back to the north end of the Town Square, Hahli notices a doorway besides Vakama’s Chamber of History. Walking through it, Hahli sees the Ta-Koro Kolhii Stadium. Approaching its entrance, she notices a ladder leading down to the lava banks. At the bottom of the ladder, Hahli finds a Ta-Koro Guard on patrol.

“Ho, Ga-Matoran!” he greets her.

“Who are you?” Hahli asks.

“I am Guard Keahi,” he says. “To be a Ta-Koro Guard, one must be Courageous. From Courage comes Strength!”

“Strength?” she repeats.

“To get stronger, we train by throwing kolhii balls at a column of targets,” Keahi explains. “It takes great Strength to knock it down! I can show you, if you wish. But you will need kolhii balls.”

“Kolhii balls?” Hahli asks.

“You can buy them in Po-Koro,” Keahi tells her.

After exchanging goodbyes with Keahi, Hahli travels back to Po-Koro and purchases several kolhii balls from Ahkmou, the Po-Koro Trader. Traveling back to Ta-Koro, she visits Keahi once more.

“I would like to train,” Hahli tells him.

“Very well! Get ready!” Keahi responds.

Hahli practices her Strength. She learns that she must throw the kolhii ball at the column when her strength is at its peak. Each time she knocks down a column, her Strength increases.

Her training complete, Hahli travels to Vakama’s Chamber of History, where the Turaga is waiting.

“I am ready to face the team from Ta-Koro,” Hahli tells him.

“As you wish,” Vakama replies. “Go to the kolhii field and I will call the match.”

Hahli travels to the Ta-Koro Kolhii Stadium and challenges the Ta-Koro Kolhii Team. She and Macku are victorious.

After the match, Hahli hears the Ta-Matoran congratulating her and commenting on the match:

“By Tahu’s Hau! We lost!” Maglya exclaims.

“Well played, Hahli,” Jaller says. “I did not expect you to be so skilled. You have learned a lot since I saw you last!”

“Well, you won…” Takua concedes. “I bet if I could learn some better moves, then we could beat you. Maybe we’ll all get to play in the Championship together!”

“By Tahu, that was a fine game you played, Hahli!” Aft congratulates. “I am sad that we lost but it was a very exciting kolhii match.”

“You have been practicing,” the strange Matoran from earlier, who Hahli realizes must be Kapura, comments.

“Not bad, Ga-Matoran! I was sure we would win,” various members of the Guard admit.

Other Ta-Matoran are less gracious: “Tahu’s Firesword! I can’t believe you beat us!”

Turaga Vakama approaches Hahli last. “So,” he says. “You have bested the champions of Ta-Koro. Nokama must have labored hard to hide you from me all this time. Your victory was hard won, and you deserve all the admiration it brings. We are preparing now for the Championship, which will be held here in Ta-Koro. You may practice with Takua and Jaller until such time.”