Dark Mirror: everyone’s worst nightmare. The Toa as dictators, violent oppressors, terrifying and strict and the source of the universe’s brokenness…
Or was it? Mata Nui still lived, awake and continuing on his way. Tuyet’s take over ensured this, ensured that things would continue as they had within the Matoran Universe. She prevented Teridax take over from Miserex, she crushed the Matoran Civil War before it could begin, she kept the universe as it should be. She didn’t just seek to awaken Mata Nui: she kept him going.
The Toa Mata, the backup reboot. They never would have awoken, in this land, but that she manually triggered their awakening. How different that must have been, awakening in a city, greeted by fellow Toa, inducted into an order and purpose by one’s fellows instead of awed Matoran and cryptic Turaga. Definite missions to protect and defend, go here, defeat this, maintain order in this sector, here’s your team they’ll explain what you need, not Kanohi hide and seek across the wilds of the island, with vague directions and vaguer warnings.
They have no memory of another life, another way to be, so this is what being a Toa is, isn’t it? Some of them, like Tahu… He feels steady, powerful. He’s respected and feared, and the flush of heady power does well to quench the discomfort deep inside. Gali works hard to protect the Matoran as best she can—by teaching them how to act, protecting them from themselves. Kopaka thrives under the protocol and order; he knows each and every duty he must undertake, no riddles or puzzles or room for uncertainty. Lewa doesn’t even think to question it, either, not in this environment. Onua… chooses not to question, he questions deep inside. Any of them who do wonder or worry see each others’ certainty, or the certainty of the other Toa around them (why would they even be kept together, after all? They have no solid memory of each other, and any that came back wouldn’t be helpful keeping them in line), and that certainty convinces them it’s their own problem, their own moral crisis.
And Pohatu? Personable, practical, kindly, thoughtful Pohatu… he’s the one who sees this all and says ‘no’. Not at first, no, not for a long time… and in little ways, when he starts. Refusal to use lethal force. Disapproving of harsh punishment. Getting to know a Matoran. He’d slip up a lot, be too friendly, too kind—he’d have an edge to him in this world, a knowledge of what can be done. But with the connections to the resistance movement, that would give him the confidence, the structure to really fight back.
And with no real connection to his team, aside from maybe knowing he woke up with them… he wouldn’t think of them as anything but more corrupt Toa, too harsh and loyal toward Tuyet.