Mata Nui Comics
2001 - McDonald's Comic 1: Challenge of the Rahi
Adapted by Michael Larson. Edited by Jeff Douglas.
Kopaka frowned.
The trip from Ta-Koro to the Toa rendezvous point wasn’t especially long. There were some natural barriers in the way, and some detours to avoid particularly dangerous regions of the island. But overall it was a fairly manageable trip.
The two hadn’t traveled very far yet at all. In fact, the main path into the Lava Lagoon was still within sight. And yet, it had already been many hours since he and Lewa had started for the others.
Fortunately, Kopaka could be patient if he had to, and all the more given the circumstances of their delay. He and Lewa were ringed by five Matoran, exchanging tales of heroism and woe.
Or, at least Lewa was telling tales, and the Matoran were avidly listening. They appeared to be learning something, at least, and those present with military experience looked like they were taking mental notes.
Nearly every tribe was represented. From Ta-Koro not far behind them was Jala, Captain of the Ta-Koro Guard. Beside him stood Onepu, the commander of Onu-Koro’s Ussalry corps. Maku of Ga-Koro was also present, although she seemed distracted. She kept scanning the paths to and from their clearing. Overhead all of them, sitting on the tree beside Toa Lewa, was Kongu, leader of the Le-Koro’s Gukko Force. At the base of the trunk, sitting beside Kopaka, was the Ko-Matoran, Matoro, translator for Turaga Nuju.
All told, it was a fairly prestigious assembly. Each of the five was their respective Turaga’s right-hand, and they had assembled as part of a regular meeting to convey village updates and deliver messages from their Turaga. Part of the reason Kopaka assented to waiting was because of this, and because it was his first time meeting everyone except Matoro. He knew better than to get off on a bad foot with them. And Lewa wasn’t doing all the talking. The Matoran were providing fascinating insight as well, and answering many of the questions that had been plaguing Kopaka and Lewa since their arrival.
“So that’s when I quick-smashed the mask of the Muaka and fly-scattered the Nui-Rama. They didn’t seem to be too much of a threat after that.”
Kongu nodded attentively. “Nui-Rama have been an increasing far-threat in Le-Koro of late. They operate out of a large hub-hive from which they launch repeated raids. My scouts report increased fight-flight activity on their part, although what they could be preparing for, I couldn’t say.”
Lewa shrugged. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it won’t give much hard-luck. I can fast-send the Nui-Rama packing high-speed.”
The Le-Matoran said nothing, but it was just as well, for that was when Maku shouted. “Huki!”
Everyone turned. A weary Po-Matoran was making his way up the trail, mounted atop a Mahi. He looked the worse for wear, but at the sight of Maku and the rest, he perked up.
“I heard there’s a championship,” he grinned, dismounting and letting the Mahi loose. “And no infection will stop me from participating.”
“Glad you made it!” grinned Matoro. He looked at the Toa beside him. “Will you and the other Toa be coming to our disk throwing championship today Kopaka?”
Kopaka got up. “Toa do not have time for games, Matoro. We—”
“—would be happy-glad to come!” Lewa interjected, jumping down from the branch. Kongu hopped off as well. “Not today, but another. It’s good-well to be reminded of why we’re here-present,” the Toa of Air said, shooting a glare at Kopaka. “But isn’t it now-time you and the others headed for the field to play-practice? Ice-brother and I need to get back to far-travelling.”
With that, the Matoran held out their fists, and the Toa clanked it in turn, as a salute the villagers had earlier demonstrated. Kopaka and Lewa turned to leave, and the six Matoran started off as well.
✴ ✴ ✴
Indeed, although each Matoran present had been sent by their Turaga to deliver news, all six enjoyed the sport of disk throwing and had at some point made a small custom of competing after every meeting. With their work done for the day, they made time for sport.
“I love the championship tournament. It’s the one time we can all get together!” Maku beamed. She threw a glance at Huki, who seemed to be growing healthier with every passing moment. Huki, too, had been relieved to learn that the Tarakava attack on Ga-Koro had passed with no harm to her. Or to the other Ga-Matoran, of course.
“You’re right, Maku,” Onepu agreed. “I’m so busy digging new tunnels in Onu-Koro these days…and the rest of you have duties in your own villages that you’d like to get away from, I’m sure. We’re lucky we’re able to get together like this at all, the way things have been.”
“Quiet down,” Jala said sternly from the head of the group. “We have a long, dangerous walk ahead to the field. Maku, swim ahead and make sure the way is clear. Huki, you bring up the rear.”
“Me?” the Po-Matoran asked. “But I wanted to practice my throws. I need to get back in my zone after the Epidemic. It’s making me miss a lot more! Koli is what I’m good at.”
“If we scare-run into a Rahi, you’ll have more to worry-fear about than how well you throw,” Kongu said.
Maku frowned, but seeing the river bank nearby, she waded down and plunged into the river. With long strides, she made rapid progress, and traversed incredibly fast.
I know Jala leads the Guard in Ta-Koro, she thought as she swam, but he doesn’t need to treat us like we’re his warriors. We’re all just as smart and strong as—
Maku’s head broke the water’s surface.
Out of nowhere, a scorpion tail flashed down at her, and she narrowly ducked back under in time. Under the cover of the water, the scorpion could not reach her, but she was frozen as reality processed.
Oh no! she realized, backflipping and starting upstream. I’ve got to warn the others!
✴ ✴ ✴
There is an old Mata Nui saying: ‘Even storm clouds run from a Rahi.’
The Matoran were just about to start down the path again when Maku exploded out of the river. “Jala! Everyone! There’s a Nui-Jaga up ahead—coming this way!”
The five Matoran tensed. Years of conflict with the Rahi had given each of them their share of experience, but Makuta’s forces had extracted such a heavy price that they nevertheless feared such an encounter. Fortunately, three present were commanders of their village defenses, and were each worth ten Matoran in a fight.
“Shall I run back and get the Toa?” Matoro asked.
Jala shook his head. “No, the Toa have the whole island to worry about. We’ll handle this ourselves.”
“But how?” Onepu asked, folding his arms. “The Nui-Jaga is much bigger and stronger than any of us! We don’t have Ussals or Gukkos and our best weapons are at home. I don’t know if you’ve ever tried grappling a Nui-Jaga, but these scorpions are far bigger and stronger than your average Matoran. It’s a losing strategy to take them head-on.”
“Size and strength aren’t everything, Onepu,” Kongu said, rushing along the path in search of resources. “I think…I have an idea. I’ll form a net out of vines, and Huki can find whatever stones he can. We’ll move-haul the net up high-fly and suspend it from a branch-tree with a vine. When the Nui-Jaga comes close, one of us throws a disk, slash-cuts the vine, and wham! Down-fall it comes! Who wants to make the move-throw?”
“Huki will,” Jala stated.
Huki looked at him, agast. “What? Jala, what if I miss!?”
“Lewa, the Toa of Air, wouldn’t miss…so neither will you—I’m sure of it,” Jala replied.
“I will alter the path so it walks right under the net,” Onepu stated.
“And I can lure it forward with the right bait,” Matoro offered.
“I will prepare weapons in case we need to fight,” Jala nodded. “And Maku—”
“—Will track its progress from the river,” Maku replied, jumping back into the water.
✴ ✴ ✴
No sooner was the net was finished and hauled into place than the monstrous Nui-Jaga scuttled into their jungle clearing. “He’s coming!” Jala alerted the others. “Throw your disk, Huki!”
“Please…please let me make this one shot!” Huki muttered to himself. Then he hurled his disk.
The flying bamboo flew through the air cleanly. For a moment, the disk seemed to curve off its course, and Huki’s heart sank.
But then it curved back around, slicing through the trap. The vine net collapsed, raining debris on the scorpion and pinning it.
“Yes!” Huki exclaimed. “Got him!”
“You did it, Huki!” Kongu cheered.
“Careful,” Maku interjected, bringing the air back to a serious tone. “The net won’t hold him for long!”
“Long enough,” Matoro said, “if we work together! Everyone grab hands and concentrate. Focus on our Unity!”
The six Matoran grasped hands and locked eyes as they poured energy into those next to each other. Their very powers seemed to mix and merge, and to their astonishment, their very consciousnesses seemed to blur.
The next moment, the six villagers fused and became one being.
The Matoran Nui opened his eyes. It looked at itself in awe and wonder. Where six Matoran had stood before, their very bodies seemed to have been merged in a towering amalgamation.
Now to give this Nui-Jaga a lesson in power! the new being thought excitedly. First, I grab the net…and then I take this Rahi for a ride!
Thought became deed. The Matoran Nui ripped the remaining vines off the Nui-Jaga before grabbing the creature’s center and hurling it through the jungle canopy, flying into the far away Lake Pala. The helpless Rahi tumbled out of sight, disappearing beneath the tops of the trees.
But I—we—better split apart again, the Matoran Nui told itself. Even as it thought this, it seemed to lose control of its consciousness as the elements that constituted it separated.
Before long, the giant was replaced once again by the six Matoran.
Jala breathed heavily, catching his breath. “It was so exhausting to merge…but it was worth it!”
“How did you know that would work?” Kongu asked, helping Matoro up. “I’ve never heard of that before.”
“Ko-Matoran records described such a being, called a Matoran Nui,” the Ko-Matoran explained. “When I asked Turaga Nuju, he said that one was formed similar to what we did in a time long past. I could barely believe that, but seeing all of us gathered there… something told me to try. Perhaps there is truth to the legend after all.”
“I don’t remember hearing anything about it,” Maku said, “and we know the island pretty well. If none of us remember it, it must have been a long time ago. Perhaps as old as the Legend of Lhii.”
“We won because we’re each unique,” Onepu said, “We each supplement each other well.”
Huki added, “And because we worked together.”
Maku grinned. “Let’s get going, my friends. Now we have a tale to tell the Toa!”