#cosmic and assigned destiny being distinct things is a theory I saw on bzp ages ago

[northmarch]

In light of Herora-nuva’s most recent deep dive videos, I figured now was a good time to write out and share my own thoughts regarding the concept of Destiny in Bionicle. Specifically Destiny as a cosmic force and how it might tie into time travel and the multiverse.

First off, the term Destiny in Bionicle seems to refer to multiple distinct things.

- Destiny as a philosophical ideal.

- Destiny as a pre-programmed ‘mission’ or purpose set by the GBs or MN.

- and Destiny as a cosmic force.

The first has already been covered in greater detail than I could have given by Herora-nuva.

The functionality of the second is fairly explicitly explained in canon (through word of Greg) though I do want to add my interpretation that ‘programmed’ or ‘assigned’ destiny is more, circumstantial. Destiny responds to and can be altered by different situations. For example there were likely dozens of Matoran in Metru Nui with the potential to become Toa, but the Toa Metru, that specific team, were the best suited for the particular scenario they found themselves in. Similarly, it was the Toa Mata’s assigned destiny to awaken the great spirit, but if everything had gone according to plan, they never would have been needed.

The main thing I want to talk about now though is the third kind of destiny.

My personal interpretation of Cosmic Scale Destiny, is that this is the universe’s way of dealing with temporal paradoxes and maintaining a stable timeline.

It has been said before that the Bionicle story team didn’t want to include time travel in the Bionicle lore/story because it was just, too messy. However the concept obviously did make its way into canon, most obviously in the form of the Kanohi Mohtrek. The mask of Time Duplication worn by Makuta Bitil in 2008, which allowed the bearer to summon versions of themselves from the past. BA10 Time Trap also featured examples of time travel in the Krattana vision and potentially the damaged Vahi itself.

Specifically regarding the Mohtrek and how it sidesteps the issue of creating a paradox with each use;

(I’ll address Greg’s implication of an infinite multiverse later.)

If a grandfather paradox is created, the bearer (source of the paradox) is simply removed from the timeline… while a new timeline is created where they never existed. It seems a bit redundant but ok.

Yellow - Original timeline.

Green - Bitil stops existing.

Red - Bitil never existed.

This could also address the other major talking point of the Mohtrek: ‘If physical injures are retained when a duplicate is sent back, could a message be sent back in time by carving it into your own armour?’ I believe the answer to that would depend on whether or not you’d be creating a grandfather paradox. If the message is inconsequential, then yes, absolutely. If the message would actually alter the course of history or your personal timeline (ie; you never send the message in the first place) then the universes respond would be the same as if you’d died. Both scenarios create the same paradox.

One universe where the paradox occurred.

One self constant universe where the Paradox never occurred.

Which is the main timeline is a matter of perspective, though I am inclined to see the more consistent timeline as the primary one.

Cycling back to the infinite multiverse issue. In the above QaA Greg suggests that any decision (or chance outcome) would result in multiple new timelines, collectively realising every possibility. An infinite and infinitely expanding multiverse. This is both incredibly depressing and inconsistent with some of the core themes and ideas of Bionicle by rendering both Destiny and Free Will utterly meaningless.

Thankfully Greg has also explicitly dismissed the idea of an ‘Infinite Bionicle Multiverse’ by dismissing the idea that the Bionicle Multiverse could contain any version of the; Transformers, Hero Factory, Earth arg etc. franchises. As an infinite multiverse would logically have to contain.

(Unless the Bionicle Multiverse actively culls timelines which diverge too far, similar to the Nasuverse)

My conclusion therefore is that the universe must require a particular catalyst in order to split the timeline. Thankfully the Mohtrek gives us the perfect catalyst. Temporal Paradoxes. Specifically a Grandfather Paradox.

Now, I’m not suggesting that the Toa Empire exists because someone traveled back in time to help Tuyet. But ‘something’ happened to alter the course of history in such a way that a paradox was created. Actually that ties into another, significantly more speculative headcanon I have regarding the Vahi that I’ll really have to write down one day. To sum up, my theory is that the Vahi’s very existence is one massive, unstable Bootstrap Paradox.

A causal loop wherein the mask has no true beginning or end as it effectively causes its own existence.

The Vahi;

- Arrives from future - exists - breaks - reforged as disks - reforged as mask - exists - sent to past -

Yellow - Vahi timeline.

Green - main timeline.

Red - divergent timelines.

(Please forgive the inconsistent colour keys on these diagrams).

Destiny is effectively the force which ensures causal loops (aka bootstrap paradox) remain stable and consistent. But Because some of these loops aren’t stable, we get slight differences and inconsistencies which could have cascading effects. If an event occurs which would break that loop, those events are shuffled off into their own timeline while the ‘main’ timeline remains constant or is nudged back on course.

I’m going to leave it there for tonight cuz it’s late and I have to work tomorrow.