Tahu (2001)

Tahu was the Toa Mata of Fire on the island of Mata Nui. After his transformation through Energized Protodermis, he was transformed into a more powerful being known as a Toa Nuva.

Toa Mata
Tahu's Toa Canister arrived on a beach near Ta-Wahi. When Tahu emerged, all he could remember was his name. He wandered around Ta-Wahi, eventually arriving at the Charred Forest. There, he was ambushed by four Matoran, led by Jaller. They captured Tahu in a Rahi Trap. Turaga Vakama bowing to TahuTahu, however, easily burned down the trap with his fire sword. The Matoran wouldn't give up, so they proceeded to attack him. However, Vakama, Turaga of Ta-Koro, came and expressed reverence to Tahu. The Matoran and the Turaga took Tahu to Ta-Koro where Vakama told him about Makuta. Makuta had been on Mata Nui for thousands of years, tormenting the Matoran. He informed Tahu that the only way to confront Makuta was to collect the Kanohi Masks. He then started on his journey to find them, unknowing that there were five other Toa sharing the same destiny.

Toa Nuva
With confidence that now the Toa were transformed into stronger figures, Tahu decided to quit the team, which Gali Nuva strongly disagreed. With their unity shattered came the attack of the Bohrok Kal. Now with their elemental powers gone, the Toa had to re-find their unity to defeat those monsters. Being separated, the Toa now had to to search for the Kanohi Nuva, hoping it will strengthen them. With all the masks found, the six Toa Nuva were united once more, in a cavern deep under the island, after a enormous battle with the Rahi Nui, the Toa made it out, all in one piece. Now the Toa had to search for the Bahrag, when the arrived, the Bohrok were already there. Then, using the Kanohi Vahi, the Great Mask of Time, that Vakama gave him, he managed to hold off the Bohrok-Kal for a brief moment, but the energy needed to use this mask was so powerful that Tahu nearly fainted and died. Finally, Gali came up with a plan to focus their minds on the Toa Symbols, channeling the powers of the symbols into the Bohrok, overwhelming them, and the Toa Nuva regained their elemental powers and defeated the Bohrok-Kal once and for all.

Voya Nui
Upon arrival on Metru Nui, Tahu Nuva and the other Toa Nuva were informed by Turaga Dume that Mata Nui was dying. They immediately traveled to Voya Nui by way of propelled canisters to find the Mask of Life, the only thing that could save Mata Nui. Upon arrival on the surface island of Voya Nui, the Toa encountered the Piraka. Tahu fought with Zaktan, but his armor was pierced, as Zaktan sent millions of Protodites into his body, attacking his tissues. He was later dragged toward the volcano Mount Valmai along with the other five defeated Toa Nuva. Fortunately for the Toa, Mt. Valmai suddenly erupted. Tahu and the Toa Nuva narrowly escaped, and after a minor battle with the Voya Nui Resistance Team, they became allies. The team then broke into the Piraka's Stronghold, retrieving their masks and Toa Tools and fought against Brutaka, former Guardian of the Voya Nui Matoran. Brutaka deemed to be too powerful after defeating the Toa Nuva and Resistance with one blow. Now Tahu, the Toa Nuva, and the Voya Nui Resistance Team are trapped in the Piraka's stronghold, while the resistance team is in Reidak's custody, the Toa were trapped with Brutaka. Brutaka apparently imprisoned the Toa Nuva in a room with a well that drained the Toa Nuva's energy from them. The Voya Nui Resistance Team freed them from the effects of the Antidermis and their chains. The Toa Nuva later went to the coast of Voya Nui along with Axonn, the Voya Nui Resistance Team, Botar, and the unconcious Brutaka to meet up with the Toa Inika. Tahu Nuva later had a conversation on an unknown subject with Botar; he then informed the Toa Inika (indirectly) that they must go to Mahri Nui and retrieve the Ignika from the Barraki. He also told them that The Toa Nuva would be returning to Metru Nui following their departure from Voya Nui. After the Toa Inika left, Axonn told Tahu Nuva that he "didn't have to be wearing the Mask of Truth" to know that he had lied to the Inika. Tahu simply stated that the Inika couldn't be involved with the Toa Nuva's currently unknown mission.