Lightfish

The Lightfish isn't a revolutionary RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. by any stretch, but it's exactly the kind of creature that makes the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. feel lived-in. These bioluminescent fish inhabited the deep waters of Ga-WahiGa-WahiGa-Wahi was a region situated to the east on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by Ga-Matoran and various Rahi. The region once fell under the domain of Teridax, though that connection did not endure. Ga-Wahi no longer existed in later records., and the Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. put them to practical work brightening their homes in Ga-KoroKoroThe Koros were the six elemental villages established by the Toa Metru on Mata Nui after the Great Rescue, each tied to one element and one Turaga..

A Practical Partnership#

The Lightfish's glow served a dual purpose in nature. In the dark ocean depths, bioluminescence attracted smaller prey straight into their mouths. The Ga-MatoranGa-MatoranThe Water-element Matoran of Ga-Metru and Ga-Koro, exclusively female, who taught the schools of Metru Nui and crewed the boats and bridges of the Mata Nui coast. recognized this design and turned it to their advantage. Instead of fighting these creatures, they captured and housed Lightfish in their huts, where the natural glow provided steady illumination. No fires needed. No crafted light sources. Just a living creature doing what it evolved to do.

It's the kind of small detail that grounds the Matoran UniverseMatoran UniverseA civilization of biomechanical beings living inside a colossal robot, destroyed when Teridax seized control. in logic. The Ga-MatoranMatoranThe most abundant species in the Matoran Universe, chosen by Mata Nui to inhabit and maintain his cosmic body. weren't magical problem-solvers who invented everything. They were pragmatists who worked with what their ocean gave them.

Game Origins, Canon Anchor#

The Lightfish debuted in the Mata NuiMata Nui (Location)An island created by accident on the Great Spirit's face, home to the Matoran for a thousand years. Online Game, one of several creatures that made the jump from interactive narrative to official lore. Its path to canon is worth noting. After appearing in the game, Lightfish entries appeared in BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands. Chronicles 4: Tales of the Masks, BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands.: RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. Beasts, and both editions of the BIONICLEBIONICLE: Matoran AdventuresA 2002 GBA platformer where you play as one of six Matoran fighting Bohrok across Mata Nui's islands. Encyclopedia.

In Tales of the Masks, NokamaNokamaNokama served as Toa Metru of Water, endured the Hordika mutation, and led Ga-Koro and later Ga-Metru as Turaga through three eras. actually encounters Lightfish in the water. She briefly mistakes the eyes of a tentacled RahiRahiThe Rahi were the biomechanical wildlife of the Matoran Universe, built largely by the Brotherhood of Makuta, ranging from background fauna to engineered war beasts. for a pair of Lightfish, a moment that suggests these creatures were common enough to be recognizable by sight. It's a passing detail, but it completes the picture of Ga-WahiGa-WahiGa-Wahi was a region situated to the east on the island of Mata Nui, inhabited by Ga-Matoran and various Rahi. The region once fell under the domain of Teridax, though that connection did not endure. Ga-Wahi no longer existed in later records.'s ecosystem. They were ordinary inhabitants, not mysterious anomalies.

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Compiled from primary sources by Lore Fortress editorial. Reviewed by Joe Garratt, Editor-in-Chief.