Saga Guides/The Dark Time

The Dark Time Part of a series on: BIONICLE Chronology ⬢ Events ⬢ Saga Guides      ⬡ History of Spherus Magna      ⬡ History of Bara Magna      ⬡ History of the Matoran Universe      ⬡ Legends of Metru Nui      ⬡ The Great Rescue      ⬡ The Dark Time      ⬡ Quest for the Masks      ⬡ The Bohrok Swarms      ⬡ The Bohrok-Kal Strike      ⬡ The Mask of Light      ⬡ Voya Nui      ⬡ Mahri Nui      ⬡ Karda Nui      ⬡ Bara Magna      ⬡ Journey's End      ⬡ Spherus Magna      ⬡ Okoto ⬢ Timeline      ⬡ History of Spherus Magna      ⬡ History of Bara Magna      ⬡ History of the Matoran Universe      ⬡ Coming of the Toa      ⬡ Quest for the Mask of Life      ⬡ Teridax's Reign      ⬡ Spherus Magna indicates the article pertains to Generation 2

The following saga guide details the events occurring following the Great Cataclysm prior the the coming of the Toa Mata.

Effects of the Great Cataclysm

Jealous of Mata Nui's adoration by the Matoran, Makuta Teridax unleashed a virus that sent Mata Nui into a deep sleep. The Mata Nui Robot fell from the sky and collided with Aqua Magna in an event called the Great Cataclysm. In Karda Nui, vast stalactites fell from the ceiling into the swamp below, upon which the Av-Matoran later made their homes. Energy leaked from the Codrex into the waters of the swamp and the ocean outside, creating a horrid mutagen.

The quake broke a small landmass off from the Southern Continent and sent it spiraling upwards to the surface of Aqua Magna, where it floated until a thin lava cord tethered it to the seabed. Turaga Jovan was killed in the quake, but several Matoran survived, and renamed their village "Voya Nui", meaning "great voyage". Order of Mata Nui member Brutaka was shaken by the event, and believed the Great Spirit had either perished or abandoned the universe. His friend Axonn did not agree. Both continued to perform their duties, secretly guarding the Kanohi Ignika.

The Great Cataclysm also ravaged the Pit, flooding it with the Black Waters outside and setting many of the inmates loose, such as the Barraki. Hydraxon was wounded in the quake, and Takadox seized the chance to kill him before escaping. However, when the Pit's prisoners escaped, they were mutated by the Codrex's corrupted energy into freakish aquatic forms, unable to breathe air.

The island of Mata Nui

A mass Energized Protodermis leak created the island of Mata Nui on the surface of Aqua Magna, populating it with lush flora. Many Rahi emigrated from Metru Nui to this new island, and would later be followed by the Matoran of Metru Nui. The Toa Mata were launched in Toa Canisters from the Codrex into the waters around Mata Nui, but their canisters malfunctioned, and they floated in the waters for 1,000 years. As a result, their organic components withered and they lost their memories.

Mutran, Chirox, and the Makuta of Stelt observed the effects of the quake on Destral. The lattermost's armor was damaged, but he was able to keep his antidermis in an Exo-Toa until the Nynrah Ghosts repaired his armor. After learning of Teridax's defeat on Metru Nui, Makuta Icarax became disgruntled with the pace of the plan. He amassed an army of Manas and began conquering the Northern Continent, until he was confronted by Teridax, who turned his armies against each other and defeated Icarax in combat, putting a stop to the conquest.

Sparked by Teridax's murder of Nidhiki and Krekka, and his conflict with the Shadowed One, the Dark Hunter-Brotherhood of Makuta War saw the Dark Hunters take up arms against the Brotherhood of Makuta. The war lasted for the entirety of the Dark Time and for some time thereafter. Guardian was appointed to dispose of any captured Dark Hunters before they could reveal any intelligence. Roodaka worked as an informant for both sides; some time after her defeat in Metru Nui, the Dark Hunter Tracker located her and dragged her to Odina for a discussion with the Shadowed One about her allegiance.

At some point, minor tremors awoke Turaga Dume from his Matoran Sphere, and he joined forces with the Rahaga and Keetongu in repairing Metru Nui.

Teridax's Arrival and the Great War

The Makuta Stone, used by the Turaga to depict Teridax in their tales

Each of the villages of Mata Nui were successfully built during the earlier moments of the Dark Time, and the Matoran established mandatory patrol forces.

One year into the Dark Time, Teridax rescued the Po-Matoran Ahkmou from the labyrinths beneath Mata Nui and deceived him with an elaborate tale of how the Toa Metru had cheated Ahkmou out of his destiny to be Toa. Now loyal to Teridax, Ahkmou was sent to Mata Nui to infiltrate Matoran society. Teridax also captured many of the island's Rahi and fitted them with Infected Kanohi. For the duration of the 1,000 year period, he would torment, isolate, and provoke fear in the Turaga's settlements in an event called the Great War.

Over a period of fifty to a hundred years, the Matoran's memories of Metru Nui dwindled and eventually vanished completely due to the effect of the Matoran Spheres.

One hundred years into the Dark Time, the Matoran villagers of Voya Nui built a village on a newly formed portion of their island from a molten Protodermis leak. It was named Mahri Nui, and it brought joy into the tough life of the island's inhabitants.

The Great War included several battles and skirmishes between the Rahi and Matoran of Mata Nui. At one point, a large battle saw a Ta-Wahi forest ravaged and destroyed. A Muaka attacked Ta-Koro, and the Ta-Koro Guard took two days to drive it off. Teridax also unleashed the ineffectual Shadow Plague, but discontinued the effort when it dissatisfied him. During the war, the Turaga of Mata Nui caught and imprisoned hundreds of Teridax's Kraata, placing them in Stasis Tubes in the Kraata Cave.

Five Hundred Years Ago

A rogue band of Visorak arrived on the shores of Metru Nui, hoping to complete what Roodaka and Sidorak had failed to do, but were defeated by Turaga Dume, the Rahaga, and Keetongu. Dweller observed the incident, and tormented Norik with nightmares before and after the encounter.

Kai established a fishing club in Ga-Koro, and invited Amaya, Maku, and Marka aboard her canoe. Some distance out to sea, they were attacked by a Great Temple Squid, which then moved towards Ga-Koro. Bravely, Amaya fought the Rahi and tangled it in a rope, but was knocked unconscious in the struggle. The other Ga-Matoran and Turaga Nokama rescued her and watched the squid leave.

On Voya Nui, a Ta-Matoran predicted the approach of a hurricane, and the Matoran began to take shelter. At the last moment, Dalu departed to watch the storm from outside. Kazi went after her to bring her to shelter, but the storm hit and both were knocked out. Axonn saved the Matoran, and Kazi caught a glimpse of him as he was departing.

Descent of Mahri Nui

300 years ago, the landmass containing Mahri Nui sank beneath the waves. The city collided with the Barraki fortress built by Ehlek and destroyed it. As a result, Ehlek developed a wrathful grudge against the Matoran of Mahri Nui.

Mahri Nui on the seabed of Aqua Magna

The massive impact released air bubbles from the nearby airweed fields and encased the city, allowing the Matoran of Mahri Nui to survive beneath the sea. During the brief time that the Matoran were exposed to the mutagen in the waters, their bodies became bigger and stronger, undoing much of Karzahni's works. After the catastrophe, the Mahri Nui Matoran soon forgot their life on the surface and began their new life underwater, taming hydruka beasts for air harvesting. They also built the Mahri Nui Fortress and formed their first Matoran Council. The Matoran began to be preyed on by the creatures led by the Barraki, though they did not learn the nature of their enemies.

Siege of the Makuta Fortress

The Dark Hunter-Brotherhood of Makuta War continued to rage. At one point, the Dark Hunters captured a Makuta Fortress.

250 years ago, the Brotherhood sent Visorak to overrun and reclaim the fortress. Dark Hunters Zaktan, Reidak, and Thok were among those sent to guard the fortress. Roodaka informed Zaktan that the base once belonged to the Brotherhood, and while the battle raged, he found an encrypted record of Teridax's plan. Zaktan learned the intricate details of Teridax's evil plot, and vowed to make use of that information. The three of them then fled the fortress.

Mazeka's Rivalry

Mazeka, nemesis of Vultraz

The Ko-Matoran Mazeka and his mentor worked as scholars on the Tren Krom Peninsula, studying many fundamental questions about the universe. Among their discoveries was the location and nature of the Makuta's creation (out of a pool of antidermis on one of the Southern Islands). Vultraz killed Mazeka's mentor and stole the tablets, inspiring a desire for revenge in Mazeka.

5 years ago, Mazeka confronted Vultraz over a canyon of razor-sharp crystals. In the ensuing scuffle, Vultraz fell, and Mazeka presumed him dead. Makuta Gorast, in the guise of a blue-armored warrior, congratulated Mazeka and sent him back to his village to spread word of Vultraz's death. Meanwhile, her Rahi servitors retrieved Vultraz and rebuilt him. Gorast then assigned Vultraz to kill a De-Matoran named Krakua.

In his home, Mazeka was approached by the Order of Mata Nui member Jerbraz, who offered him a job protecting Matoran from those like Vultraz. Mazeka agreed, and the two traveled to De-Koro and recovered Krakua just before Vultraz arrived, incapacitating the De-Matoran with a sonic explosive. Vultraz and Mazeka dueled, and Vultraz gained the upper hand. Mazeka recognized the Ta-Matoran from his style of fighting, and Vultraz decided to let him live, taunting Mazeka that he would always be in Vultraz's debt. Mazeka then requested Order of Mata Nui training from Jerbraz.

Mazeka was later inducted into the Order and given mental shielding, as with all Order agents. He sparred occasionally with Tobduk, but always became frustrated, which only served to increase Tobduk's power and lose him the match.

The Dark Times End

The beginning of the end of this dark period came shortly after Takua was exiled from Ta-Koro. Makuta had deployed his Rahi in an onslaught to steal the Toa Stones and Vuata Maca Crystals and kidnap the Turaga. Takua's efforts at reversing this attack would culminate in Kini-Nui, when he brought the six Toa Stones to the temple and placed them in the suva. Although he did not realize it at the time, this action would summon the Toa Canisters of the Toa Mata.

The arrival of the Toa Mata would see the Toa grow in skill and wisdom, slowly undoing the efforts of Makuta's forces who were again attacking each village. Makuta himself would ultimately be defeated in Mangaia, concluding the Great War of the Rahi against the Matoran and marking the end of the Dark Time.

Makuta would continue to levy attacks on the Matoran through other means, only to later be dealt a second defeat by Takua himself. This would open the path for the Matoran to return to Metru Nui, for the damage of the Great Cataclysm to be repaired, and for Mata Nui to be reawakened.

See also

• Great War