Mata Nui Comics

2002 - McDonald's Comic 2 & 4: Tale of the Toa/Into the Nest

Adapted by Michael Larson. Edited by Jeff Douglas.

The night that came in was colder than most. A thick fog rolled in, only adding to the already somber mood. Matoran of Water, Stone, Fire, and Earth crowded around campfires lit carefully atop the lily pads to not light them aflame.

Turaga Nokama gazed about her. It was easy to feel alone and helpless during such a time as this. No sooner had the Rahi been repelled than a new menace had emerged to destroy the villages. And now they were on the cusp of victory.

The Water Turaga shook her head. Though she could do nothing to change their current situation, she could certainly raise their spirits.

Moving past the rows of Matoran by the fire, she took the sight in a moment before turning.

“Once the island of Mata Nui was a paradise, a place of peace and happiness,” she declared. “Then Makuta came, bringing darkness to the land. It seemed all was lost.”

She swept her arm. “Until six mighty heroes of legend — the Toa — appeared. Tahu, Toa of Fire! Kopaka, Toa of Ice! Gali, Toa of Water! Lewa, Toa of Air! Onua, Toa of Earth! Pohatu, Toa of Stone! To save the island, each Toa had to collect six Kanohi masks of power. Their quest took them beneath the ocean and to rivers of molten lava. The Toa even dared to challenge the might of Makuta’s powerful beasts, the Rahi — risking all to save us.”

Nokama paced, regarding each Matoran in turn. “Finally, the Toa combined their bodies, their minds, and their powers to defeat Makuta’s monstrous guardians, the Manas. Then they dared to confront the Master of Shadows himself.”

She exhaled.

“Yes, with Makuta defeated, it seemed all would be well on Mata Nui. How could we know that, even as the Toa won their victory, deep in a hidden cavern, mysterious and powerful creatures had begun to awaken? Creatures unlike anything we’d seen before? The Toa were about to face their greatest challenge. The day of the Bohrok had come.”

The Matoran stirred and trembled. Even the most hardened of them looked uneasy at the Turaga’s dark words. Among the shadows, Onewa stared at her, convinced she had lost her mind. But she ignored him.

“Bohrok. For years their names have been spoken only in whispers on Mata Nui. The Lehvak whose acid mist can dissolve any substance. The Gahlok who bring the flood tide. The Tahnok whose heat can melt solid rock. The Kohrak who can freeze even molten lava. The Pahrak who can turn mountains into rubble. And the Nuhvok who dwell in tunnels beneath the surface. Swarms of Bohrok appeared everywhere on Mata nui, bringing chaos to the island… until it seemed they might succeed where all the might of Makuta had failed.”

Nokama’s countenance changed. Her voice softened.

“To save Mata Nui, the Toa challenged the power of the Bohrok, setting traps to capture the beasts and gathering their krana — strange and powerful creatures who control the Bohrok. Even when all the krana were gathered the Toa’s quest was just beginning.

“In times of darkness, we turn to the ancient prophecies to give us hope. These prophecies tell us the Toa will face a great challenge as they approach the nests of those called Bohrok. For the Bohrok have eyes everywhere: the Bohrok Va — scouts and couriers for the swarm.

“But the Toa will not fear these creatures. Rather, they will use their wisdom and their power to ensure that the Bohrok Va cannot share what they have seen. The Toa will brave any danger to save Mata Nui and its people… and even dare to journey to the very heart of the swarm.”

Nokama glided to the Boxors and rested her hand upon it.

“Six mighty Exo-Skeletons that will increase the power of the Toa. Deep in the darkness, the Toa will use the Bohrok krana they have gathered to unlock a great secret so they may challenge the queens of the swarm and win. The Toa will confront the Bohrok Queens in a titanic struggle that will shake the very island itself!

“Yes, the ancient prophecies say the Toa will prevail. And by combining their powers, they will create a cell from which even the mightiest of Bohrok cannot escape!”

The fire crackled, casting dark shadows across Jala’s Kanohi. He glanced at Turaga Onewa who appeared unsurprised, if unhappy. The Turaga knows more than they let on, he thought darkly. They allow the Toa to travel to a place of darkness and prevent the Matoran from knowing until it’s too late. Do they think we’re little Rahi to be looked after? No. Their secrets will be our undoing — Matoran and Toa alike.

From the opposite side of the fire, Maku stirred.

“What do the prophecies say will happen then, Nokama?”

“They are silent, Maku…” the Turaga of Water said softly. “Silent except for a few haunting words that warn. The merging of their forces, the unleashing of so great a power… who knows what it might do? When it is all over… who can say what the Toa will become?”