BL11 - Thrown by Ignika

“If we build up the power through the lightstones, yes,” Tahu said. “But what if we had another source? Something so incredible it could feed all the energy we need into this system, all at once?”

“Sure,” said Onua. “But where are we going to find something like… that…” Onua’s voice trailed off. He turned to look at Toa Ignika. Tahu and Gali were already doing the same.

“Come here, brother,” Tahu said to Ignika. “We need to have a little talk.”

[...]

Tahu’s heartlight was flashing wildly. His breath was coming in ragged gasps. Pinned against the wall by Toa Ignika, he knew he was about to die from an overdose of the power of Life.

The Toa of Fire had been trying to explain his plan. Using the Mask of Life, the Toa would try to accomplish all at once what it would otherwise take hours to do. The mask’s power, delivered in one great jolt, would awaken Mata Nui abruptly. Tahu couldn’t be sure it would work, because the mask might not be able to feed into the lightstones. But the only way to find out would be for the Ignika to give up its body and its attempts to be a real living being, and go back to being just a mask.

Toa Ignika hadn’t taken this well.

Onua and Gali had rushed up and were trying to pull Ignika away from Tahu. “Let go!” yelled Onua. “You’re killing him!”

Tahu had no choice. Summoning his control of heat and flame, he drove the temperature of his armor up 1,000 degrees in a split second. Crying out in pain, Ignika let go. Tahu staggered, trying to catch his breath.

“That’s… that’s the problem with being alive,” the Toa of Fire said. “You can feel pain. You can die. Just like everyone in this universe is going to die if we don’t awaken Mata Nui and bring balance back to the universe. We need you to do that!”

Ignika flung Onua and Gali off of him with such force they slammed against the walls. He began to advance on Tahu again. Bracing for the attack, flames crackled around Tahu’s hands.

Gali got to her feet and got in between the two. “Ignika, stop and think! Think! Why did you want to become a Toa? Why did you want to become like us? There had to be a reason!”

Toa Ignika stopped in midstride and frowned. Searching his memory, he came up with a name. “Matoro…”

Gali glanced at Onua, who nodded. “That’s right, Ignika, Matoro,” she said. “We know he died a hero. He sacrificed everything so a universe could live. And if he inspired you to be a hero too, then can you do less than he? If Matoro were here in your place, what do you think his answer would be?”

There was a long moment of silence. Each of the Toa waited, their eyes searching Ignika’s features for some sign of what his answer would be. This one single instant would decide the fate of an entire universe and all its people.

“He would say…” Ignika began. “He would say yes.”

Toa Ignika stood straight and looked at Tahu. Gesturing toward the mask he wore, Ignika said, “I will do what must be done. Then I will be like Matoro. I will be a hero.”


- BIONICLE Legends 11: The Final Battle, Chapters 5 and 6