Mata Nui Saga
Mata Nui Saga is an illustrated blog on the main page of BIONICLE.com, introduced during the first half of 2010. The Saga is narrated by Michael Dorn, who provided the voice of Mata Nui in BIONICLE: The Legend Reborn, and drawn by Brian Ellis, who had previously contributed to BIONICLE. New chapters were posted every Monday and Thursday throughout the first half of 2010 on BIONICLE.com.
Chapter 1
Released on January 14, 2010
I am Mata Nui. My original form was built on the world of Spherus Magna more than one hundred thousand years ago. I was built to bring order back to my world and its people, but I lost my way. With the help of new and old friends, I have one final chance to fulfill my duty and my destiny.
Chapter 2
Released on January 14, 2010
I found myself on the largest chunk of Spherus Magna, which the survivors called Bara Magna. Using the Mask of Life, I created a new, smaller body for myself, and learned more about duty and friendship than I had in all the thousands of years of being a robot. Along the way, I discovered clues of how I might free my people, who remained enslaved by Makuta inside my old body.
Chapter 3
Released on January 14, 2010
Long Ago... Long ago, the world of Spherus Magna was prosperous and serene. But the discovery of a powerful energy source at the core of the planet turned its people against one another. Warriors fought for different sides, until the stresses of battle nearly tore the planet apart.
Chapter 4
Released on January 14, 2010
Long Ago... Wise but fallible Great Beings constructed a giant robot. But the power source was unstable, and an explosion scattered parts of the metal giant across the face of the planet.
Chapter 5
Released on January 18, 2010
Spherus Magna's past could be my future. Only two things stand in the way of freeing my people: finding a way of fixing and powering the old robot, and getting permission to use it. I have a feeling neither will be an easy task.
Chapter 6
Released on January 21, 2010
Following an Agori villager into the far north, I find him as well as the object of my search: a massively energetic object that could power up the Bara Magna robot. It's ancient and unstable, but it's also my only chance to redeem my people's suffering.
Chapter 7
Released on January 25, 2010
Now for the hard part: convincing the Glatorian and Agori to allow me to use their new mega-village, made from the failed robot that exploded eons ago. After all they have suffered, the last thing I want to do is take away their newfound security. But I must ask - the fate of my people rests on their answer, and I also suspect their own well-being depends on this broken-down robot shell.
Chapter 8
Released on January 28, 2010
100,000 Years Ago... Learning from their mistakes, the Great Beings desperately constructed a new, larger robot. This machine was infused with an intelligence and mission to learn about the universe, and thus I awoke as the intellect of a giant robot. Smaller beings were placed inside me to maintain the inner workings. My earliest memories are of being activated on Spherus Magna.
Chapter 9
Released on February 1, 2010
100,000 Years Ago... Safety measures in the form of six Toa warriors were put into place, just in case of unforeseen disaster. Little did anyone realize how vital these six beings would be in saving countless lives.
Chapter 10
Released on February 4, 2010
100,000 Years Ago... My construction was completed just in time. As I left my home planet, energized protodermis leaked from the world's core and triggered a massive explosion that flung two huge chunks into orbit. These became the jungle moon of Bota Magna and the ocean world of Aqua Magna. The desert world that remained was renamed Bara Magna by the survivors.
Chapter 11
Released on February 8, 2010
The village elder has granted me use of the robot. My new-found power supply lets me take control, but I must constantly monitor and adjust the ancient systems. I have no Matoran to regulate this body. The Mask of Life helps me master it, but it is still desperately hard to control. Nevertheless, it feels good to once again control a powerful robotic body.
Chapter 12
Released on February 11, 2010
Dimly, I can sense my old body standing on the water moon. Although I no longer control it, I know that battles rage throughout the robot that Makuta Teridax now controls. The Toa and Matoran I ignored for so long fight in vain to free themselves from an evil I allowed to flourish. I must help them! But how?
Chapter 13
Released on February 15, 2010
Makuta feels my attention, and I know he is bringing the fight to me. I must prepare quickly. First, I must send the tiny forms at my feet to safety. Then I must do the job I was built for: reuniting three worlds back into one. I can only hope this robot form and its power supply are up to the task.
Chapter 14
Released on February 18, 2010
95,000 Years Ago... I spent most of my existence exploring other worlds, watching cultures evolve, measuring and analyzing the dance of stars and planets. After a time, I took the beings inside my metal body for granted, ignoring them and their constant squabbles to focus on the outside universe. This neglect would cost me - and my small workers - endless misery and pain.
Chapter 15
Released on February 22, 2010
95,000 Years Ago... Inside my body, workers maintained machinery and repaired the damage and fatigue caused over tens of thousands of years. Most, like the Toa and Matoran, were content with their roles. But the Makuta dreamed of glory and power. My inattention gave them numerous opportunities to scheme and plot.
Chapter 16
Released on February 25, 2010
Power surges through my body, out through my metal fingertips, and I begin the process of reuniting both moons with Bara Magna. It is a tricky process, one that requires close attention. Even as I nudge the two moons onto their new paths, I feel Makuta racing closer. Time grows short.
Chapter 17
Released on March 1, 2010
Desperately, I try to convince Makuta that we must work together, that we can save everyone and everything if we join forces. But as I feared, his insane lust for power overrides all logic. We both know we'll come to blows, and I'm not certain if my new body can take the punishment. My old body is powerful, this new one unstable. But I must try.
Chapter 18
Released on March 4, 2010
Before blows are struck, I sense familiar beings escaping from Makuta. Sparing a small bit of my attention, I watch brave Tahu and a strange Toa of Light fight their way free. They are followed by new yellow Rahkshi. Makuta has been busy.
Chapter 19
Released on March 8, 2010
Makuta attacks me! Dragging up strength from both the Mask of Life and my unstable power supply, I am able to hold off this evil, but I cannot defeat it without damaging my people inside. This battle distracts me from reuniting Spherus Magna but unless I can defeat Makuta, it will all be for nothing. I only wonder how long my strength will last...
Chapter 20
Released on March 11, 2010
As if there wasn't enough to worry about, now Makuta is attacking my Glatorian and Agori friends. I can't concentrate on that right now, no matter how desperate they are. But perhaps I can steer Makuta away from my friends scurrying at our feet.
Chapter 21
Released on March 15, 2010
1,000 Years Ago... Finally, my journey drew to its close. As I traveled back to the planet of my construction to fulfill my final destiny, one ambitious Makuta attacked. Teridax crashed my systems and sent my robotic body plummeting into the ocean moon of Aqua Magna. There, I slept for a thousand years.
Chapter 22
Released on March 18, 2010
1,000 Years Ago... Automatic systems camouflaged my face, one of the only parts of my body above the waterline. A fake volcano was created, along with lush jungles, icy mountains, deep lakes, deserts and caverns. Toa brought Matoran workers to this island paradise and then transformed into Turaga leaders to guide the Matoran. Memories of being inside a robotic universe were erased from all but the Turaga.
Chapter 23
Released on March 22, 2010
1 Year Ago... Makuta Teridax had yet more plans. Not content with putting me to sleep, he schemed to eliminate his fellow Makuta and take over my massive robotic body. The sacrifice of brave Toa Matoro brought my body to life, but Teridax stole my robot form before my consciousness awoke. I was flung out of my own body, imprisoned in the Mask of Life.
Chapter 24
Released on March 25, 2010
I feel a strange tickle from within - it's the Mask of Life. I knew it had a mind of its own, and now it's doing something on the ground. I spare a moment of attention to see what is happening, and I see Tahu transformed. Six pieces of golden armor materialize around him, and I recall this particular contingency plan. It's a brilliant strategy, and I hope Tahu will be able to make it work.
Chapter 25
Released on March 29, 2010
My moment of distraction allowed Makuta to scatter the armor, and I see enemies picking them up. It's all I can do to fend off Makuta's attack, there's nothing I can do to help Tahu. Reluctantly, I focus back on Makuta and I am forced to ignore the battle raging at my feet.
Chapter 26
Released on April 1, 2010
Makuta Teridax feels no hesitation in using all the power at his disposal. I, on the other hand, am limited in my concern for those on the ground below me. I dare not unleash my full power and risk their harm. My restraint is costing me, however, and Teridax senses it. I cannot hold off defeat much longer.
Chapter 27
Released on April 5, 2010
Despite my own near defeat, I spare enough time to see what Tahu has accomplished. Fortunately, he and his comrades have recovered the golden armor and he is even now putting it on. Every bit of thought and hope I can give are focused on Tahu. He MUST succeed!
Chapter 28
Released on April 8, 2010
No! My distraction is nearly fatal to everyone. Makuta raises his foot and prepares to grind his foes and even his own Rahkshi into the ground! There's just one chance to save everyone...
Chapter 29
Released on April 12, 2010
Even bent over and near defeat, I can feel a ripple of power as Tahu uses his golden armor to blast the Rahkshi into oblivion. The kraata slugs driving Rahkshi armor are turned into dust, and the empty warrior shells fall to the ground.
Chapter 30
Released on April 15, 2010
Makuta senses the fate of his Rahkshi, and pauses in mid-stomp. That provides me just enough time for a final move. Summoning every bit of power I have left, I force my battered body up in a massive surge, and hit Makuta in the chest. The timing is perfect: from behind him, unseen, the jungle moon brushes against Makuta's head with a crunch. Holding on, I swing his collapsing form away from my people. I watch, tired but content, as his lights fade. Makuta is gone.
Chapter 31
Released on April 19, 2010
Exhausted, my sensors follow the path of both moons as they spiral in to a crash exactly on course. Bara Magna shakes with the twin impacts, and dust and water and vegetation cover the sky. Spherus Magna is whole once more. But I have one final task to complete.
Chapter 32
Released on April 22, 2010
With the Rahkshi and the threat of Makuta both gone, I watch the remaining Piraka and Skrall surrender. Matoran climbing out of my old robot body join the Agori, Toa, and Glatorian in looking at their new home. They have much to learn from one another, and already I can see groups coming together to help one another.
Chapter 33
Released on April 26, 2010
With a final burst of power, I complete my destiny. The Mask of Life draws from the last of the power supply, causing vegetation to flourish, water seep to the surface, mountains rise, sand turn to fertile soil. The splendor that was Spherus Magna blossoms once again, and I feel myself fading...
Chapter 34
Released on April 29, 2010
The last chapter is not narrated. We will honor Mata Nui, and all those who fought for him, in our memories. But the time has come to move on. His destiny is fulfilled, and for many of us, it has yet to be written. My friends, it is time to go.
Trivia
- When Kelly McKiernan, the Bionicle.com webmaster, was developing and directing the Mata Nui Saga, he had hoped to get Scott McNeil, Tahu's voice actor in BIONICLE: Mask of Light, to read Tahu's final statement. This fell through, however, and the line remained unspoken.
- Years later, on an interview with Brent Miller, Scott would read the line at the request of a fan.
- Brian Ellis released high resolution versions of his Mata Nui Saga art on his personal website.[1] The high resolution images for Chapters 8, 14, and 21 erroneously feature the Prototype Robot instead of the Mata Nui Robot. The original, lower resolution copies of those images from BIONICLE.com feature the correct robot.
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High-resolution Chapter 8 image -
High-resolution Chapter 14 image -
High-resolution Chapter 21 image
References
See also
External links
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