1st Installment

Disclaimer:  This is a work of fiction based off of the Lego Bionicle story.  I do not intend to make money off of this blog.  I have links to BIONICLEsector01 and The BIONICLE Wiki so that if you want to know more about the things I mention you can look them up and to also show I did not come up with the things that are linked and I do not take ownership of them.  I do not describe the things that are linked for the sake of focusing on the story behind my self MOC and trying to have those interested in learning more go to the other sources and learn about the Bionicle Universe on their own.  I have Maori words in my story and I am using them to add to the feel of the story.  I am not trying to use the words as my own or change their meaning.  As such the Maori words that are not already part of Bionicle but are in my blog should translate very closely to, if not exactly to the already established translation from Maori to English.  I do not claim ownership of the words in any fashion. I also use made up words and words that have part of Māori words or words from another language.  Again, not trying to claim any ownership or change the meaning just using them to fit the feel of the story.  I am writing this blog just for fun and I am not trying to make any kind of statement.  I hope all of my readers enjoy the story. 

Banished

Two Great Beings died while making Maruahi and he was thus put into stasis right as he was given life.  The Great Beings then argued if they should keep him alive or banish him to another dimension.  In the end, they decided to let fate decide.  They put him on a high ledge in Karda Nui and took him out of stasis.  They then opened a portal to another dimension and pushed him toward it.  They then left the ledge thinking he would either die from the fall or he would be transported to another dimension through the portal depending on the strength of the winds that day.  Maruahi however, proved to be a quick learner with his fire abilities and was able to prevent himself from falling into the portal and he was able to fly back to the top of the ledge.  Maruahi never saw those who pushed him off the ledge.  Maruahi’s mask, the Kanohi Rangahau, Legendary Mask of the Investigator also known as the Legendary Mask of Duty told him about the Great Beings indecision and the death of two of his four creators.  He told him of his special abilities and that there were initially supposed to be six Toa Whakawa who could use light, shadow and an additional element and had the mission of finding and exposing threats to the Matoran Universe.  Since Maruahi’s creation killed two of the Great Beings the other five Toa Whakawa were not created.  The Rangahau was willing to answer Maruahi’s questions but it did not tell Maruahi everything that it had learned from the Great Beings.  The Rangahau also told him how there were supposed to be six Legendary Masks.  Three for the fabric of physical being and three for the fabric of mental conscience, also known and the masks of the Three Virtues.  The first three would be Life, Creation, and Time while the next three would be Duty, Destiny and Unity.  Time, Destiny and Unity were either never created or were not linked to the other Legendary Masks since neither the masks nor any being in the Matoran Universe knew if they existed.  Maruahi wanted to see if others like him could be made or if he could find other fire Toa who he could practice with or learn from. 

The Rangahau introduced Maruahi to the Kanohi Auaha, Legendary Mask of Creation, and obtained a map to Artakha, wearer of the Auaha and the creator of the Toa Mata.  Maruahi also learned at this point that all Legendary Masks could communicate with each other and given time and practice the wearers could use the masks to communicate with each other and the Legendary Masks.  The Auaha called Maruahi “The Banished” because more Great Beings wanted to banish him than have him die.  Maruahi told the Auaha that he preferred being called Whakawa until he could find a suitable name; as the Great beings had not given him a name.  The Rangahau used the map to lead Maruahi to Artakha.  Artakha confirmed the Rangahau’s earlier statement that he did not possess the power to create another Toa Whakawa.  Artakha told Maruahi of Tahu and the other Toa Mata who were guarding Karda Nui.  At the suggestion of the Rangahau Artakha trained Maruahi in the art of forging weapons and masks.  While learning to make masks, Maruahi learned that he could make armor and other items have the same properties as Kanohi masks but masks were easier to focus the abilities and to exchange back and forth between wearers and thus masks were the preferred objects of Kanhoi abilities.  During this time Maruahi wanted to try out new masks and new abilities so he tried on a Great Kanohi Rode, given to him by Artakha, but found that the Rangahau was sapping his energy so he quickly stopped using the Rode and went back to the Rangahau.  He then took the Rangahau off and again felt it sapping his strength but this time he could see that the Rangahau was also dissolving in his hand.  He put it back on and went looking for someone who could help him find out what was happening.  He went to Artakha and asked if he would like to try out the Rangahau.  Artakha was eager to try it out since the Great Beings created Maruahi and the Rangahau instead of having Artakha create them.  The Rangahau began sapping Artakha’s strength and dissolving on his face.  Maruahi immediately wrenched the Rangahau off and put it back on his own face.  Neither Artakha nor the Rangahau, could explain what had happened and Artakha was disappointed that he was not able to use or learn from the Rangahau.  The Rangahau spoke up and said that the Great Spirits had told it that it must always have a bearer and its bearer must always be a Toa but they never mentioned the consequences of going against those rules. 

After his forging training Maruahi went to Karda Nui and assisted in the defense of the Av-Matoran.  He still wanted to try out new masks and new abilities so he exchanged masks with Tahu.  Tahu and Maruahi did not feel any effects while wearing the other’s mask.  Tahu, however, was eager to get his original mask back and took off the Rangahau.  Within seconds Tahu began to lose strength and the Rangahau began to dissolve.  Maruahi took back the Rangahau and put it on.  Then he gave Tahu back the Great Kanohi Hau that Tahu originally had.  Maruahi concluded that not only must the Rangahau be worn by a Toa but it must have a wearer or it will dissolve along with its most previous wearer.  Maruahi did not want the burden of being “The Investigator” and being indentured to the mask to fall on anyone else.  So he stopped trying to pass it on.  He did not however stop searching for and adding masks to his collection.  While working with Tahu and the other Toa Mata, Maruahi increased the frequency, variety and power control of his elemental abilities.  Continuing to test himself, he found that he could engulf himself with fire, shadow or light and he could combine his fire abilities with either light or shadow.  He could not combine light and shadow since the two cancelled each other out. 

Maruahi wanted to give up wearing armor and let his forging skills fade because he had not met a being who could match his elemental abilities and he could even morph into his elements to teleport and have enemy attacks phase through him.  The Rangahau told him it was a bad idea.  He was not invulnerable.  Shadow would always cancel out light, light would always cancel out shadow and with the right amount of ice even his fire would be countered.  To ensure that he was not dependent on his elemental abilities he should keep up his forging skills for weapons making and he should keep his armor.  Maruahi challenged all of the Toa Mata to fight him at once and he would not use his armor, physical weapons or the Rangahau in the fight.  Maruahi easily dispatched Gali and Lewa.  After a half hour he dispatched of Onua and Pohatu.  Tahu and Kopaka saw that they would lose as well if they did not combine their powers and work together better.  While fighting as a team they were able to hold Maruahi off until the other four had regained their strength and rejoined the fight.  Maruahi then released a pulse of light that knocked them all off their feet.  They quickly got back up and surrounded him.  He then released a stronger pulse, but this time of shadow.  This did more damage than he intended and the six were knocked unconscious.  Maruahi used his light abilities in a healing manner to rid them of the effects of his shadow attack.  When Tahu had regained his strength he challenged Maruahi to a one on one duel where they would only use fire or no elemental abilities.  Maruahi agreed.  The two fought for over an hour, during which neither was giving the other much ground.  Eventually Maruahi brought down his right blade overhead.  Tahu put up his sword to block but Maruahi retracted his blade and then drew it out again after it had passed Tahu’s sword and the blade caught Tahu in the shoulder.   Tahu reeled in shock and pain.  Maruahi retracted both of his blades, gave Tahu two punches to the face and then a kick to the chest, knocking him on the ground.  Kopaka jumped in and said it was his turn, unless Maruahi wanted a break.  Maruahi made a dash at Kopaka.  Kopaka deflected the first blow from Maruahi’s left fire bracer blade but Maruahi carried the momentum of Kopaka’s block to his right foot which swept away Kopaka’s shield.  The two then fought for twenty minutes before Maruahi landed a blow between Kopaka’s neck and shoulder making him crumple to the ground.  Maruahi said that if he had fought Kopaka first then the fight would have lasted longer and his fight with Tahu would have been the shorter one.  He said this was due to the fact that even with different weapons and with different styles their main technique was the same.  Tahu said that probably came from all six training with Hydraxon.  Kopaka asked where Maruahi had trained before Karda Nui.  Maruahi said that he had no other fighting training but what the Toa Mata had given him on Karda Nui.  The reason he could face them all was because he had trained with them all and had practiced on his own as well.  He created his own style and technique from each of theirs.  Maruahi also added in his own intuitive leaps that he thought of while practicing and sparing with them.

While sparing with the Toa Mata he learned that if he used light he got a euphoric sensation and wanted to keep using it.  The euphoria caused him to weaken his physical attacks and try to communicate with his opponents rather than fight them.  If he used shadow then he grew short tempered and his anger became insatiable causing his attacks to be too powerful.  Seeing what the two effects did to him Maruahi preferred use his light abilities if at all so as to not harm others unnecessarily.  When the Toa Mata went into their canisters Tahu asked Maruahi what he was going to do.  Maruahi said that he would go wherever he felt there was the greatest threat and he would work with those who showed up.  He did not intend to stay with any particular Toa team or make his own for that matter.  As he was about to leave Karda Nui the Rangahau asked him to stop.  It gave him some of its ability to listen to the beings of the Matoran Universe and asked him if he heard anything.  Maruahi said he did not and asked if he was supposed to hear something.  The Rangahau continued to listen but then gave up.  Saying that if it did hear something than it was too faint and it could not understand it.  Some Av-Matoran interested in learning about the use of light abilities stopped Maruahi.  Thinking it could not hurt Maruahi taught them some basic uses and unwittingly gave them some of his own power which allowed them to actually use their new skills.  Initially the Av-Matoran were able to assist in the journey away from Karda Nui.  However, some of the trained Av-Matoran became prideful and began bullying the other Av-Matoran.  Seeing that his pupils were in the wrong Maruahi aided the untrained Av-Matoran in defeating the bullying Av-Matoran.  However, because of his involvement with teaching the bully Av-Matoran the remaining Av-Matoran banished him.  The Matoran began spreading tales of “Whakawa” the trouble making Toa. 

The First Orb

When the Kanohi Dragon attacked Metru Nui Maruahi was part of the visiting Toa team that trapped the vicious Rahi.  During the conflict Maruahi met Takadox who witnessed the capturing of the Kanohi Dragon.  Maruahi believed that it would be best if the Kanohi Dragon was killed so that it could not cause trouble in the future.  Yet he could not convince the rest of the team to agree with him.  Thus, the Kanohi Dragon survived.  He continued to practice his forging and mask making skills and once he had become proficient with these skills he turned into a pillar of flame; while keeping the Rangahau intact.  While a flame pillar he melted down the Rangahau into a chest orb and moved the orb to his chest, all the while maintaining contact so as to not dissolve the mask or be sapped by the Rangahau.  He then took his original form again.  With the Rangahau on a different part of his body he now could wear and use any Kanohi mask and he would not feel any negative effects from the Rangahau.  The Rangahau was however damaged and lost some of its power when Maruahi transferred it to his chest.  The success of transferring the Rangahau into a chest orb inspired Maruahi and he made himself armor with two Great Kanohi Hau masks as the base so that he could instinctively throw up a protective shield while still being able to use the mask on his face.  He made the armor silver and gold.  Maruahi typically wore his Rode, so as to see through opponents’ lies and tricks.  While practicing Maruahi realized that if he used Kanohi abilities from multiple objects he was more likely to break concentration with one or them all.  He continued to practice honing his focusing skills to ensure he could properly use multiple Kanohi objects at once.   

Maruahi then went to Destral, base of the Brotherhood of Makuta and learned of the Barraki, the League of the Six Kingdoms and their activities.  He sought out and turned Takadox, his previous acquaintance into a dual agent for the Makuta to inform on the Barraki’s activities.  Some say Takadox did it because Makuta Miserix was paying him but Maruahi had been the one who convinced Takadox work with Miserix in the first place.  Maruahi ensured that the Brotherhood did not start a fight with the Barraki when the Barraki wanted war Rahi to be made by the Makuta.  Maruahi also got the Barraki to make a trade treaty with Metru Nui rather than conquer it as they were with the rest of the Matoran Universe.  Maruahi did this knowing how important Metru Nui was to the survival and health of the Matoran Universe.  Maruahi wanted to have the Barraki relinquish their forced control over the lands they had conquered but all of the Barraki besides Takadox refused to listen to him.  He did not try to fight them or physically stop them since he was again under the influence of his light abilities.  Unbeknown to Maruahi, his light abilities had helped him win most of these arguments but since he was unaware of his power use the effects did not last.  Those who agreed with him while talking with him and later not understand why they had agreed regretted some their actions while under his influence. They would later call him a silver tongued individual who could convince others just by the sound of his voice.  When the Brotherhood of Makuta attacked the Barraki to prevent them from attempting to overthrow Mata Nui, Maruahi was instrumental in bringing down the Barraki’s fortress.  However, he only took part in the battle after the battle had started.

The Second Orb

After the defeat of the Barraki the Rangahau guided Maruahi back to Karda Nui.  Maruahi combined his light and fire abilities in order to control but not stop the Energy Storms that plague Karda Nui; while Mata Nui is in good health.  Maruahi made it to the Codrex and began searching for the Motuhake, Legendary Mask of Destiny which had been conversing with the Rangahau.  Maruahi was guided to fuse his shadow and fire abilities together to break through a large door that seals off half of the Codrex.  This was the first time he had used his shadow abilities since he first tried them out while sparing with the Toa Mata on Karda Nui.  Inside this half lay the Motuhake which was actually a pool of Liquid Protodermis made by the Great Beings but abandoned before completion as a Legendary Kanohi Mask.   In liquid form the Motuhake could not properly communicate with the other Legendary Masks and this is why it took so long for the Rangahau to understand what had been trying to contact it and what it was saying; since Maruahi left Karda Nui the first time.  The Motuhake told Maruahi and the Rangahau to work together to shape a mask out of the Liquid Protodermis pool.  When the mask was complete the Motuhake started to communicate with the other Legendary Masks unimpeded.  The Motuhake also searched the minds of all the beings in the Matoran Universe for their destiny just as the Rangahau would search for their duty.  The Motuhake realized that if Maruahi returned to stave off threats then the spirit of Mata Nui may never be put to sleep which is what causes him to start paying attention to his inhabitants again.  The Motuhake tells Maruahi that he must wait in the Codrex until he is needed at the universe’s direst hour.  Maruahi was incredulous and in defiance began to walk toward the opening he had made.  The Rangahau used its ability to create assistants, who will aid in the discovery and the defeat of threats, to make light and shadow elementals to guard the opening and prevent Maruahi from leaving.  Maruahi threatens to melt down both of the Rangahau and the Motuhake if he is not allowed to leave.  In response to a threat to the Legendary Masks and by default the Matoran Universe, which would suffer if the masks were lost, the light and shadow elementals attack Maruahi.  Maruahi’s fire attacks are ineffective against the light and shadow elementals and at this point he is still unable to use both light and shadow at the same time.  So he was very hard pressed to fight off the light and shadow elementals simultaneously.  While he was fighting he very slowly struggled to make his way to the opening.  The Motuhake used its ability to create physical barriers, to ensure beings follow their destiny, fashioning a new door with a force field.  Maruahi attempted to use both shadow and light at the same time by focusing his control so that as light came out of his right hand and only the right arm was engulfed in light, shadow came out of his left hand and only his left arm was engulfed in shadow.  This works and he was able to fend off his attackers much quicker and easier.  While also having the anger and euphoric effects counteract each other and keep his mind and temper balanced.  The Rangahau then created more elementals and told Maruahi that it would not stop until Maruahi was truly needed by the spirit of Mata Nui.

Maruahi stopped fighting and backed away for the opening.  The elementals stopped fighting as well and waited barring the opening.  Maruahi started to meditate as he was not complacent to just sit and do nothing but wait for the Motuhake’s permission to leave.  He began to practice his mental control and he learned how to use the Rangahau to mentally communicate with the other Legendary Masks without needing the Rangahau to guide him.  In time, he also learned with great difficulty how to see into the myriad of minds of all the beings in the Matoran Universe.  He also learned how to see what they see and experience what they do without them knowing just as the Rangahau could.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake were unaware of his advances in mental abilities.  The Rangahau could not sense it because of the damage and loss of power it had sustained when Maruahi transferred it to his chest.  The Motuhake never sensed Maruahi either, because he waited to tap into its abilities and mind until he had been able come and go with the Auaha and the Konohi Ignika, Legendary Mask of Life, unnoticed.  The Ignika and the Auaha did not tell the other two of their conversations with Maruahi because they did not see Maruahi as a threat.  Through the Ignika, the Auaha and multiple Toa of Fire, Toa of Light, and the Makuta, he connected with them best since they had similar elemental abilities; Maruahi learned about the Matoran Civil War, the fall of Miserix and rise of Teridax, the formation of the Dark Hunters, the Toa-Dark Hunter War, and the Makuta raid on the island of Artakha.  At this point he had heard enough and began to plot how to drain both of his captors of their powers while not harming the Matoran Universe. 

Within a week Maruahi believed he was ready to melt down both of his captors and drain them of their power while not completely destroying them and harming the Matoran Universe.  He blasted the light and shadow elementals simultaneously and then used his fire abilities and mask making skills to reduce the Rangahau and the Motuhake to molten pools.  Caught unawares the Rangahau and the Motuhake were not able to stop him.  The force field of the Motuhake deactivated once the Motuhake became a molten pool and Maruahi was able to destroy the new door the Motuhake had made.  Maruahi then continuously formed and reformed the two into masks slowly draining them of their powers and cancelling out their ability to stop him.  Then far away Makuta Teridax infected the spirit of Mata Nui with a virus.  The virus was supposed to kill Mata Nui quickly but when it reached the Codrex Maruahi was able to see it and sacrifice himself to decrease its power.  He wanted to take on the entire virus, or as much as he could and not deflect any of it back to the Matoran Universe so he shed all of his Kanohi and armor.  His sacrifice successfully ensured Mata Nui went into a coma instead of dying outright.  Maruahi was then sent to the Red Star.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake were both unformed molten pools when Maruahi sacrificed himself.  With the Rangahau’s reforming and its current molten form it’s need for a wearer was removed saving Maruahi and the Rangahau from fading.

Maruahi awoke on the Red Star surrounded by Kestora.  The Red Star had previously malfunctioned its return function did not work making the Kestora more willing to dissect and try to learn from the beings who came to the Red Star.  The Kestora had never worked on a Toa of multiple elements and wanted to dissect Maruahi.  He lashed out to defend himself but he no longer knew his own strength or abilities and he killed four Kestora.  Maruahi’s memories and sense of self had been affected by the regeneration process.  The remaining Kestora backed off.  Maruahi realized that his mind and memories were off somehow because he had not intended to kill anyone and he thought he could not kill. Yet he did not know why he thought that.  He transformed himself into a pillar of flame and light.  After searching his own mind for an answer and not finding one he began to search outward and he could sense all the sources of light and fire within the Matoran Universe.  He saw camp fires, torches, rays of light from the sun and the energy storms on Karda Nui.  These seemed to be the most familiar, as if he had been there recently.  He focused on them and then dematerialized from his pillar on the Red Star and rematerialized in one of the Karda Nui energy storms’ bolts.  He was not sure how he had teleported but he was glad to be away from the Kestora and no longer trapped on the Red Star.  Yet he did not feel as if he had been there long enough to see it as a true escape and wondered why a prat of him felt as if escape was the proper word to describe his leaving.   

He then heard the Rangahau calling to him.  He entered the Codrex and found the opening he had made on his previous trip to Karda Nui.  He then went inside and found the two molten pools of the Rangahau and the Motuhake; as well as his Kanohi collection and his armor.  He knew what the pools were but he did not know why and he knew what the Kanohi and armor were but he did not know why they were in a pile instead of on his person.  The Rangahau sensed his confusion and loss of memory.  The Rangahau told Maruahi to become a pillar of flame and then rematerialize with direction from the Rangahau.  With the Rangahau’s guidance Maruahi was able to fully rematerialize and then he could remember everything that had happened to him and he could also control his abilities at the level he had before sacrificing himself.  He asked Rangahau how teleporting himself was possible, why he thought he could not kill, and how the Rangahau had known just how to guide him through the re-materialization that fixed his memory and his control of his elemental abilities.  The Rangahau told him that when normal Toa are made they are seen and created to be embodiments of their element with weapons that help them to focus their abilities.  Toa Whakawa are seen and created as beings drawn from the pure elements themselves or elements that have taken physical form and can change that form and or its location at will.  The abilities of a Toa Whakawa outstrip that of any other being created by the Great Beings.  The creation process also took more resources and more Great Beings working together to create a Toa Whakawa than a normal Toa.  In reference to the question about killing, the Rangahau told Maruahi that the Rangahau would stop all attempted kills by its wearer and instead transform its opponents in a way that made them less of a threat.  The Rangahau was not sure why this was a memory of Maruahi’s since the Rangahau had never told him this before.  Maruahi then remembered that he had figured it out while searching the Rangahau’s mind.  As for the fixing of the memories and sense of abilities the Rangahau had been working with Maruahi since he first awoke on the ledge and it knew his mind inside out.  At the mention of his creation Maruahi was reminded about the two Great Beings who died and asked if the Rangahau had learned anything new from other beings in the Matoran Universe since the last time he had approached the question.  Which was back when they had first met.  The Rangahau still did not know why two of the four Great Beings who created Maruahi died.  The Rangahau had only been told the theory and the vision of the Toa Whakawa it was not present during Maruahi’s creation and was not privy to all the related information.  Maruahi then whispered the Matoran words for each element and ended on “Ahi”, which is fire.  With the new context, the words resonated within his mind and called out to his very essence.  Then he named himself Maruahi or “shadow fire” in the Matoran language.  A part of him wondered why “Maru” or “shadow” had struck him better than “Aho” or “light”.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake stayed silent when asked about his name choice.      

Later the Motuhake spoke up and said that due to the abandonment of the other five Toa Whakawa the Motuhake and the Kotahita, Legendary Mask of Unity were never finished.  Their primary and secondary wearers were meant to be Toa Whakawa, it was to be the same with the Rangahau but with no more Toa Whakawa the project was dropped.  Maruahi asked if there was another Liquid Protodermis pool in the Matoran Universe that was supposed to be the Kotahita.  The Motuhake said that there was but it did not know where and it could not sense another pool.  Maruahi then asked them if they would try to trap him in the Codrex again if he reformed them as masks and allowed them to regain some of their powers.  The Motuhake said that what it had foreseen had come to pass and Maruahi could return to the surface.  Maruahi formed the two into chest orbs instead of masks and he worked with the Rangahau and the Motuhake to ensure that when they were finished they did not drain their most recent wearers if taken off.  He made sure that if they were destroyed nothing would happen to the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe.  They could not create other beings or barriers to ensure the destiny or duty of a being without having a wearer who agreed with them.  He also made sure that they could not affect the minds or the physical bodies of beings within the Matoran Universe without their consent.  At first the two were against it but Maruahi would not reform them unless they agreed and helped make sure these restrictions on their powers were put in place.  The Motuhake said that Maruahi was changing their purpose by disconnecting the automatic effects of them being destroyed, taking away their requirement of wearers, and their ability to influence the duty or destiny of a being without their consent.  Maruahi said that he was giving the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe a chance to be moral by choice and not as machines or slaves. 

The process of forming the two orbs to fit his restrictions took a year and the conversations that happened while the orbs were molten pools took a year as well.  The two molten pools could not communicate very easily with Maruahi or each other which greatly increased the time it took to discuss, agree and be formed.  Maruahi hated having to be stuck in the Codrex for so long talking and working with the two molten pools but he knew that if he did not make them into usable objects of power then they would get some other being to do it and that other being might not get it right or might give them more power than they should have.  

Now that the Rangahau and the Motuhake were orbs and did not require as much focus to communicate Maruahi they asked if they might show him a vision.  He agreed. The two orbs showed him the Matoran Universe traveling safely through space and its inhabitants safe and happy.  Mata Nui was dead and the Makuta were dead as well as many other beings in the universe.  Maruahi controlling the giant robot and guiding the Matoran using the three virtues and the counterpart masks.  The Rangahau ended the vision stating that now, due to his misguided actions, the Matoran would be in danger for much longer and the duty and destiny of the giant robot would be delayed.  Maruahi said that there was too much death in the vision and it no longer seemed as if the Matoran had morals they just acted as machines or those afraid that if they stepped out of line they would be punished or mutated so as to not cause further harm.  Maruahi said he wanted the Matoran free above all else and if bad things happen or if evil persists then at least the Matoran were able to choose their actions willingly.      

The two orbs were silent and then they began searching the minds of the inhabitants of the Matoran Universe.  They found that Maruahi had been trapped in the Red Star for just over 300 years and Teridax was currently facing off against Vakama for the Kanohi Vahi, Legendary Mask of Time.  Vakama was threatening to destroy the mask if Teridax did not leave the Matoran alone.  They had not noticed the time lapse earlier because Maruahi was not in full control of his mind or memories, while the Rangahau and the Motuhake were powerless molten pools.  Maruahi grabbed his armor, his Kanohi collection and the two orbs placing the Rangahau on his chest and holding the Motuhake in his hand and started to run out of the Codrex.  The Motuhake told him that the half of the Codrex that they had been in must be off limits to other beings as it contained secrets that must remain secrets.  Maruahi agreed and let the Motuhake destroy the old door and put up a new one.  Maruahi said he would go back later to see the secrets for himself.  Rangahau and Motuhake said that it was not a good idea but Maruahi was adamant that he would go back one day.  Once Maruahi hit his top speed without using his elemental powers he jumped and began propelling himself with his fire abilities.  Once his fire abilities had gotten him up to the speed of sound he added in his light abilities to further increase his speed to the speed of light.  While using his light abilities with his legs he used his shadow abilities with his arms to counteract the euphoric effects of using only light abilities.  Maruahi made it in time to see Teridax leaving.  Maruahi drew his fire bracer blades and readied for an attack.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake warned him that if he killed Teridax the destiny of the Matoran Universe would change drastically and perhaps not for the better.  Maruahi argued with the two but in the end conceded and travelled to the island of Mata Nui.  There he watched over the Matoran to ensure Teridax did not break his agreement with Vakama. 

What is Normal

When Teridax did come to the island he brought an army of Rahkshi with him.  Maruahi killed off the entire army and fought Teridax.  Maruahi let Teridax live but greatly diminished his powers.  For three thousand years Maruahi kept Teridax at bay by protecting both the island of Mata Nui and Metru Nui.  After the first thousand years Maruahi began branching out and protecting more than just the island of Mata Nui and Metru Nui.  He slowly began defending every area that had Matoran living there.  After two thousand years Maruahi had successfully beaten the Makuta back to Destral, the Dark Hunters back to Odina; after evacuating the non-Rahi and non-Dark Hunter residents,  and had returned all of the escaped prisoners from The Pit back into their prison cells.  Maruahi had sealed all the holes and cracks that were created by the Great Cataclysm, which happened when the giant robot crashed onto Aqua Magna.  Once all the prison cells were sealed and refortified with some of Maruahi’s own Protosteel cages and lock mechanisms he began rounding up the escaped prisoners; to include the Barraki.  Some of his allies asked him how he had made the Protosteel cages since it was a very difficult metal to work with.  Maruahi said practice and determination were perfect with the right amount of time.  They asked him how he had time when fighting so many foes.  Maruahi said that he delegated the fighting to Toa and others who could hold their own at different times to ensure that if anything were to happen to him the universe would still have defenders who knew how to fight.  After three thousand years, the Rangahau and the Motuhake said it was time to find the Kotahita and make it into a mask.  Maruahi was furious that the two thought he would leave and let the Dark Hunters and the Makuta roam free again.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake said that certain events had to transpire in order for there to be true peace and one of those things was the creation of the Kotahita and no other being in the Matoran Universe had as much experience or skill at making Legendary Masks or artifacts as Maruahi.  They mentioned that there were many other Toa that Maruahi had posted at each Matoran inhabited area and they would defend their areas till their death.  Maruahi said that without him the other Toa would be spread thin protecting all of the different locations.  To protect the Matoran and ensure their survival they should all be moved to Metru Nui and all other sites should be abandoned.  However, if all other sites were abandoned then the giant robot and the spirit Mata Nui would fail and die.  If the Makuta or the Dark Hunters were moved to The Pit then they would surely join forces with the current prisoners and overwhelm the guards making the universe less safe than it already was.  Maruahi could start executing the Makuta and the Dark Hunters or he could have other Toa do it while he stood guard.  Yet killing them would make Toa no better than their enemies.  Within the three thousand years he had not been able to convince the Makuta or the Dark Hunters to stop assaulting the Matoran or trying to take over the sleeping giant robot.  So changing their minds and getting a truce was also unfeasible. 

Maruahi finally conceded but was adamant that he would restrict the Kotahita’s powers and make it an orb and not a mask.  Back on Destral Makuta Tridax found a Kanohi Olmak and used it to transport himself to the lair of the Bahrag and awaken the Bohrok swarms, the Bohrok-Kal swarms and poison the minds of the Bahrag with a virus.  Maruahi was saying his last farewells to Ta-Koro when the Bohrok swarms began storming through the city. 

The Rangahau and the Motuhake told Maruahi to leave and let the island fend for itself for it was more important to create the Kotahita and it was the destiny of the island to face the Bohrok on their own.  Maruahi notified the rest of the Toa and told them to stand their ground and keep the Makuta and Dark Hunters at bay rather than come and aid him in saving Mata Nui, he told the Rangahau and the Motuhake that he was not going anywhere until the island of Mata Nui was safe.  When Maruahi realized that not only had the regular Bohrok been awakened but so had the Bohrok-Kal he used a Kanohi Suletu to contact the Bahrag.  He asked them why they were awake and why were the Bohrok-Kal awake if the Bahrag were in full control of the swarms?  The Bahrag lashed out with their telepathic powers and began egging away his elemental powers.  Maruahi broke the telepathic link and stumbled to the ground.  Then two Tahnok-Kal and two Nuhvok began attacking him.  Maruahi used his Hau armor to throw up a shield protecting himself from the onslaught.  He reached out and telepathically told the Turaga to gather up the Matoran, hold up in their cities and to wait for him to take care of the swarms.  He then emitted a shadow blast and knocked the surrounding Bohrok off their feet.  The Bahrag, due to the virus were now in the control of Tridax, and sent all of the swarms to eliminate Maruahi.  Maruahi stood his ground in Ta-Koro fighting off thousands of Bohrok and Bohrok-Kal.  After two days of fighting and not gaining any ground Maruahi realized that he had to weaken the Bohrok-Kal ranks by actually destroying their shells and the Krana-Kal inside them to gain ground and get to the Bahrag.  He could not just teleport for fear that the Bohrok would blaze through the Matoran cities on their way to defend the Bahrag.  On the third day Maruahi destroyed every Bohrok-Kal except for two of each breed.  While fighting them he learned how to fully create and control electricity or lightning by combining his light and fire abilities.  He then set about destroying all of the Tahnok and began moving toward the lair of the Bahrag.  As he went along he would melt the place holder of each non-Tahnok he defeated ensuring that they could not receive another Krana and rejoin the fight.  Once Maruahi was in sight of the Bahrag the swarms intensified their attacks.  The Bahrag also began assaulting him telepathically.  To save himself Maruahi destroyed one of each of the Bohrok-Kal breeds except for Tahnok-Kal and gave himself space to teleport next to the Bahrag.  Once next to them he could sense the virus and used his light abilities to draw the virus out of them.  Once the Bahrag were free of the virus Maruahi used his shadow abilities to put them back to sleep.  Once they fell asleep the swarms stopped attacking.  Maruahi kept the Bahrag physically asleep but telepathically he had them tell the Bohrok-Kal to return to their nests except for one Tahnok-Kal and one Tahnok who Maruahi wanted to work with.  Then Maruahi reached out with his fire abilities and ensured that every non-Tahnok could receive Krana again and he used a Kanohi Matatu to put all of the Bohrok back into their nests.  The Tahnok were put back into their nests reassembled except for one that Maruahi also wanted to work with, but Maruahi knew that he would have to impart some of his elemental abilities on them to make sure they would awaken properly when actually needed by the giant robot.  He could not however fix the Bohrok-Kal shells he had destroyed, and this is why he did not destroy all of them and why he did not destroy the non-Tahnok breeds. 

He worked telepathically with the Bahrag and figured out how to make Krana and Krana-Kal out of Energized Protodermis and he learned how to de-animate Krana and Krana-Kal so that a Bohrok-Kal could use the abilities of the Krana or Krana-Kal while not being animated.  Maruahi wanted to try and get the second Tahnok-Kal and the last Tahnok to have their own independent consciousness and be able to work with him completely separate from the swarms but still able to communicate with the swarms and the Bahrag.  He also learned that if the two went through Energized Protodermis vats it could animate them and allow them to gain more elemental abilities.  Maruahi fused his light abilities with one of the vats and he fused his fire abilities mixed in with electricity to a second vat of the Energized Protodermis and telekinetically put the two through them.  Once the two made it through both vats and with guidance from the Rangahau he used his shadow abilities to draw out the light within them until they had shadow abilities that matched their light abilities.  He then used his shadow abilities to put them to sleep and telekinetically put them into nests.  He put these nests in a chamber he found below the Bahrag lair next to the Krana and Krana-Kal that he had made especially for them.  He then named the new Krana and Krana-Kal; Krana-Whakawa and he named the Tahnok-Kal and Tahnok; Tahnok-Whakawa.  He seared the names into the ground next to the nests.  He decided that later on he would give them proper names but for now he would leave them as they were.  He then noticed a Liquid Protodermis pool near the nest that seemed to be conversing with the Rangahau and the Motuhake.  Maruahi blocked out the conversation even though the two orbs and the pool tried to talk to him.  He left the chamber and then telepathically asked the Bahrag how to impart his fire abilities to ensure the Tahnok would work when needed in the future.  The Bahrag told him that he would also need to give up some of his life force and that since the Bahrag had already sucked some of his abilities away he might not survive if he healed all of the Tahnok.  Maruahi said that the Tahnok must be healed for the sake of the giant robot and its inhabitants.  He was willing to give up his life if that is what it meant.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake again tried to communicate with him and change his mind but he shut them out and began releasing his abilities to the Tahnok swarms.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake then conversed with the Bahrag and got them to put some of their own elemental powers to help Maruahi so that he would not die or lose his fire abilities completely.  Maruahi had raised himself off the floor by a few feet, shed his armor, masks, weapons, and the orbs so as to channel his abilities better and not get distracted.  When he was done he crumpled and plummeted to the floor.  He hit two pillars on the way down making him fall in a corner away from his belongings.  The Tahnok were again able to take up their mission when needed and the Bahrag went back to sleep completely.  If one asked them about Maruahi they would only be able to recall what had happened before they went to sleep.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake began searching the beings above the surface looking for someone who could find Maruahi and bring him back to the surface so that he could continue his mission. 

Maruahi lost all of his memories, his connection to his light and shadow abilities.  His fire abilities now matched those of a regular Toa of Fire and his size and physical appearance had also changed.  He was discovered by Onua and brought to the surface and revived.  His armor, his weapons, the Rangahau and the Motuhake were left behind and did not reach out to be found when Maruahi was uncovered.  He assisted the Toa Mata in their fights against the Rahi with infected masks, Makuta the first time, the Bohrok and Bohrok-Kal awakening a second time, and the attack of the Rahkshi.  He learned from these experiences and gained knowledge about Gold and Silver Kanohi as well as Krana, Krana-Kal and Kanohi Nuva. 

When the Toa Mata earned their Golden Kanohi Masks Maruahi decided he wanted a mask that would combine other mask powers and worked with Vakama on learning how to make masks.  He became a mask collector and even had multiples of masks that no one else on the island had.  He also learned how to fuse masks with Protosteel.  He felt out of place at times because he was not one of the six Toa Mata and yet he could remember no other life so he took to wondering and traveling all over the island.  He melded the abilities of a Great Rode, Hau, Suletu, and Pakari.  Due to its Protosteel content and Rode likeness he called it the Protosteel Rode.  This mask allowed him to use the abilities of the Great Rode, Hau, Suletu, and Pakari separately and together.  After he finished his Protosteel Rode he forged bracer blades that were Protosteel but could combine with his fire abilities to be more effective.

When the Toa Mata defeated the Bahrag and were changed by the Energized Protodermis into Toa Nuva with Nuva Masks Maruahi was beside them and was also changed by Energized Protodermis.  Maruahi however, noticed the ground moving and jumped away from the falling floor.  This caused the other Toa to be changed before him and he realized that they lost their masks to the vats of Energized Protodermis.  He shed all of his masks except for his Protosteel Rode and then jumped into a vat.  Artahka had not made a Toa Nuva Symbol for Maruahi since Artakha was not his creator which meant that Maruahi’s elemental abilities were not tied to an object as were those of the Toa Nuva.  The Energized Protodermis allowed Maruahi to wear Kanohi Nuva and it doubled his fire abilities just as the abilities of the other Toa Nuva doubled their powers as Toa Mata.  Maruahi emerged from his Energized Protodermis vat with his Protosteel Rode now a Rode Nuva that allowed him to share its abilities with anyone he chose no matter the distance, or the physical or mental barriers.  He used Energized Protodermis and a second Rode to make a second Rode Nuva, which had slightly inferior powers to the original Rode Nuva, for his collection.  Then he set about making another combination mask.  He combined his original Rode Nuva, a Noble Matatu, a Hau Nuva, a Pakari Nuva, a Krana-Su and a Suletu.  This Kanohi he called the Protosteel Rode Nuva.  This mask also allowed him to use each of its contributing objects powers simultaneously.  After he finished the Protosteel Rode Nuva he began practicing with his new bracer blades and found they could withstand fire and lava.  He took the new blades and fused them with Protosteel to strengthen them and increase their power.  He also forged Protosteel knives that he wore on his ankles.        

  Maruahi aided the Toa Nuva in their fight against the Rahkshi but was hit by the attacks of Kurahk and Vorahk.  The two attacks triggered a memory of the anger he used to feel when using just his shadow abilities.  Kopaka helped get the two Rahkshi away from Maruahi as he slumped to the ground his memories flashing before his eyes.  He also regained his connection to the Rangahau.  The rest of the Toa defeated the Rahkshi and Takanuva began searching for Teridax.  After Takanuva returned and after Vakama told the Toa of Metru Nui, Maruahi excused himself and went to the lair of the Bahrag to find the Rangahau.  The Rangahau and the Motuhake helped Maruahi sort through his jumbled memories, they explained the destiny they saw and why they made sure the Turaga did not reveal his true identity or their location and they introduced him to the first Liquid Protodermis pool of the Kotahita.  The pool communicated that it was one of three pools that would need to be fused together to make the Kotahita.  Maruahi brought all of his previous possessions and the orbs to the surface.  He put up his weapons from before the memory loss.  Melded his Nuva armor with the Hau armor, donned two of each of his masks and then traded in his chest armor for the Rangahau orb.  Then he picked up a flask and a satchel.  He used the satchel to carry the flask and the Motuhake and then he returned to retrieve the first pool of the Kotahita.  The pool knew that one other Kotahita pool was beneath the Codrex but it did not know where the last pool was and could not sense either of them.  Maruahi also found the Tahnok-Whakawa he had created and woke them.  He brought the two Tahnok-Whakawa with him.   Maruahi said his goodbyes and set off for the Codrex just as the Toa Nuva left for Metru Nui.  Before parting ways Maruahi asked Takanuva to hit him with a beam of light that he would try to absorb it.  Takanuva hit him with a light beam and Maruahi collapsed in pain both from the beam and from the resurgence of his light abilities coursing through his body.  Takanuva rushed over in alarm but Maruahi recovered quickly and thanked him for helping him to recover his light abilities.     

On the way through the Northern Continent, on the way to the Codrex, Maruahi ran into Toa Helryx.  Who recognized him and attacked.  The two fought and while exchanging blows Helryx told Maruahi that he must pay for what he had done.  Maruahi could have ended the fight quickly by summoning more of his elemental abilities but he did not understand Helryx’s accusation.  He began toying with her.  Asking earnestly what she meant.  She told him that he had slaughtered her Toa team, the first ever Toa team.  Maruahi denied it saying that he had never heard of her Toa team and had no memory of killing them.  Helyrx called him a liar.  When Maruahi realized she would not be swayed he disarmed her.  He told her that he had no reason to kill her and she should leave while she still could.  Helryx started using her water attacks declaring that she would never stop till “the Murderous Whakawa” was dead.  Maruahi blocked the attacks with the Hau armor and prepared to knock Helryx unconscious with a lightning bolt.  He had regained the use of lightning and electricity by combining light and fire but his attacks were not as strong as before his memory loss and even though he could morph his appearance again he could only do it for a limited time.  Thinking that Maruahi would actually kill Helryx, the Motuhake stopped him telling him that Helryx was instrumental in taking down Teridax.  Maruahi told the Motuhake to show him Helryx’s destiny to prove that she needed to be spared.  The Motuhake showed him while Maruahi was still fending off Helryx’s attacks.  Once satisfied Maruahi surrounded Helryx with his flames and shot weakened lightning bolts at her to sap her energy.  Once she could no longer fight Maruahi stopped attacking.  He told Helryx that he could kill her but he was going to let her live. Helryx said that she would never stop trying to kill him.  She wanted vengeance for her team and besides Artakha had ordered the Order of Mata Nui, which was headed by Helryx, to kill all beings who knew the location of the island of Artakha; so that it would not be threatened again.  Maruahi created a maelstrom of lightning and fire surrounding her, morphed into a giant made completely of fire and said in a booming voice “Good Luck.”  He then morphed back to his regular form and continued to the Codrex, not looking back.

Maruahi promised himself he would use the Vahi to find out more about the event Helryx had mentioned.  He asked the two orbs but they could not foresee it in his destiny and they could not find the reason in Helryx’s mind.  It was as if something had removed the specific event details from her memory but not its result or her anger.  Maruahi decided that he would look into the mystery behind Helryx’s anger and finishing the Kotahita before looking into the secrets of the Codrex.  He had the Tahnok-Whakawa remain behind and guard the Codrex and the entrances to its secret chamber.