The Journey Has Begun

Chapter 1 *-Motunui Island-*

Moana has been home for four months and life has returned to normal for the island of Motunui. A group of thirty village men and women are out on a small island hopping voyage to a newly discovered island and the energy in the village is soaring.

Moana is taking a break from her lessons to go down and rest and eat on the beach at her grandmother's favorite spot. As she steps out of the foliage into the sunlight she stops cold in her tracks and drops the lunch of pulled pork, a pair of taro buns and a banana she had wrapped up in a banana leaf.

Laying on his back with his arms crossed behind his head in the midday sun is none other than Maui. The giant carved bone hook at his side is unmistakable.

Moana's eyes widen in shock. Her heart is suddenly pounding. He hasn't seemed to notice she is there yet. She is frozen as she stares at the demigod, watching his broad chest slowly rise and fall with his breath, a thin sheen of sweat shines on his thickly muscled body in the hot midday sun. She swallows hard, takes a steadying breath and lets it out. Taking a timid step closer to the napping demigod, she whispers "Maui?" It feels like it's been so long since she has seen him and it fills her with a strange electricity to just see him laying there, breathing quietly and peacefully on the sand, like he is just supposed to be there. Like he's been there all this time.

He continues to snore very softly. Moana steps closer. What is he even doing here? Is it just her, or does it look like he is a bit leaner? What is he doing here!? Aren't there important demigod things he should be tending to or something, instead of dozing on the beach in the middle of the day?

"Maui?" she says a bit louder this time and Maui takes a much deeper breath, yawns and stretches with a satisfied groan. Then he opens his eyes and rolls over to face Moana, leaning on his right elbow. He looks her up and down and a smile slowly splits his face.

"Heh-hey! Look who finally showed up!" Maui brushes off some sand from his arms as he sits up, "You still don't look like much of a future chief, Curly." he smirks with a chuckle as he gets to his feet.

Moana lets out a peal of laughter as all of her doubts and questions flee from her mind at his typical comment and charming smile. "Maui!" She runs over to the demigod with open arms, colliding roughly with his big chest and pressing close with everything she has.

"Oof," His thick arms wrap welcomely around her shoulders and he chuckles. "Hey kid..." A few moments of elated silence pass as Moana just hugs Maui and gets lost in the joy of seeing the mischevious demigod again. She doesn't even care that her face is pressed against his broad sweaty chest. His sun-warmed skin makes her feel like she is being hugged by the actual sun. His heart beats like a steadily pounding to'ere drum in her ear almost as if to remind her that, yes, he is real and he's here and she's hugging him. The calm rhythm of his heart vibrates in the fibers of her soul, and the feeling surrounds her thickly and for a few endless moments she is lost in the rightness of it. Strangely, Moana feels… whole. The manawataki, the rhythm of life that flows through her people and defines their songs that are as fundamental to her as breathing is echoed in the steady beating of his big heart. This revelation rises sudden and unbidden, the meaning of it all so foreign to her.

Awareness returns to her with a wash of goosebumps as a stiff breeze to teases her hair. She stores away her unusual thoughts for a later time when a clear head may lend some insight. For now, she just can't believe her best friend came back! To her island! She just can't stop smiling. "Missed you too," His voice rumbles softly in his chest and Moana laughs again.

Moana at last pulls back after one last good squeeze and some of her hair has stuck to his sweaty chest and she giggles as she pulls it away and tucks it back behind her ear. She looks up into his eyes. He looks down and smiles back and she just shakes her head in disbelief. "I never thought I would see you again, after that first voyage, you didn't show up anymore when I travelled."

Maui takes both her shoulders solidly in his big hands and regards her, his expression light, but serious, "What, you think I would forget about my number one fan? Gimme a break, kid!" A warm breeze kicks up out of nowhere and swirls around them, blowing their hair towards the sea. He musses the top of her head with a laugh. "also, I recently heard you had a birthday coming up." The demigod regards her with a smirk and a raised brow, "I don't miss luaus, at least not if I can help it. Gotta maintain the demi-bod, if ya know what I mean." He gives his signature grin with an eyebrow raised and he flexes his muscles to show off and Moana laughs through her darkening blush. "And of course, it would make me a bad friend if I missed yours."

"True…" and... you're looking great I might add! Moana thinks to herself. "Wait… how did you even know about my birthday, I don't remember ever telling you?" Moana challenges as she and Maui walk over to her partially scattered lunch and she scoops it up with Maui's help.

"Your Gramma Tala, her spirit actually. I like her attitude. She's a real energetic woman." He sneaks a taste of some of her pork and moans through his mouthful in staunch approval. He finishes chewing and swallows, "Mmmh… You know, she's persistent. Don't even know how she found me, but she did. Gave me a talking to about a few things, but ultimately she thanked me." His smile is a little smug.

Moana smiles reminiscently as Maui talks about her grandmother. "sounds like Gramma Tala. See? Didn't I tell you that you'd be a 'hero to all' again?"

Maui shrugs, "Well, I mean… yeah," he chuckles and takes another big pinch of pulled pork between his thumb and forefinger and tosses it in his mouth, "Thif porp if fo goob!" He says through his mouthful.

Moana's eyes go wide and she laughs, "Hey, that's my lunch! Jeez, what is it with you and food?" Maui makes an innocent and unsure frown and shrugs. Moana rolls her eyes, "well, guess we ought to go back up and get you fed if I'm gonna eat at all today!"

Maui laughs, wipes his mouth on the back of his hand and his eyes go wide, "Whup! Almost forgot…" he runs back to grab his hook, lifting it with an effortless twirl and rests it across his shoulders. With an easy smile he rejoins Moana and they walk back up to her village. Some of the villagers they pass as they make their way through the taro fields stop what they are doing to stare at the thickly muscled and heavily tattooed man following Moana. To her relief, not a single one stops her, they just go about their business, not questioning the Chief's daughter.

Moana and Maui reach her fale and she asks him to wait outside for a moment while she goes to find her dad. Maui obliges happily, planting the curve of his hook in the rich earth and leaning on its handle as he brushes off some sand from his legs.

Taking a preparatory deep breath, Moana enters her family fale and walks over to her dad. He is folding tapa with his back to her and she hesitates, trying to think of what to say when he suddenly turns around and crosses his arms with a smile. "Alright, Moana. What is it this time? You want a new boat built so you can go find us some more islands? Another fale for storage? A new field to cultivate kukui trees?" Moana can't help biting her lower lip through a barely contained smile, sometimes her father is the most hilarious man.

She giggles, "No dad, it's a lot simpler than that. I want you to meet someone and I was hoping we could give him lunch?"

As soon as the word 'him' left Moana's lips, her father's mind is filled with thoughts of the future, 'Aue! Perhaps she has at last found a boyfriend! A handsome, sturdy husband to raise a family with… Someone that will make this village proud!' "Absolutely! Where is he, I'll have lunch prepared immediately!" Before Moana can even answer, let alone react, Tui is rushing out of the fale. He shoves the tapa curtain aside and steps out into the sun.

Moana is given pause at his sudden eagerness, and rushes to try and beat him outside so that she may give her father a proper introduction to the demigod. But she is too slow, Tui opens the tapa and steps out of the fale to be greeted by Maui's broad shouldered back. The demigod is casually leaning against his hook, picking sand from under his nails. Moana steps out just after her dad does and she manages to speak first, " Um so, Dad..."

Maui casually turns around at her voice, one curious eyebrow raised.

Tui steps back and takes in this huge muscular guy that's nearly covered head to toe in tatau like a tapestry of stories. And then he sees the hook. His head tilts in confusion, then he gets this strange expression, "Moana who-?" Tui gestures at Maui as he turns to look at her. He looks like he disapproves. Disapproves of what?

"Dad!" Moana cuts her dad off and Maui chuckles. She clears her throat and Maui rests the hook across his shoulders patiently. "This… this is the demigod that helped me restore the heart of Te Fiti, Maui. Maui… this is my father, Tui Waialiki, chief of Motunui island." Moana chews her lip anxiously as her dad begins scrutinizing the demigod.

Tui is quiet and still as he stares at the barrel chested demigod. "Demigod?" Tui's tone is incredulous. Maui nods. "Maui?" another nod.

"In the flesh. Don't worry, I get it all the time. Nice to meet you." Maui says charismatically as he reaches out and shakes Tui's hand.

Tui looks genuinely stumped now as Maui shakes his hand with enough vigor to jostle the chief. "You're a… the demigod, Maui?"

Maui nods.

"And, you really did do all the things my ancestors claimed you did?" Tui asks quietly, his skepticism is slowly turning to intrigue.

"Yep." Maui replies matter-of-factly as he gestures to his tattoos across his chest and belly, and in turn each one moves, showing mini Maui pushing up the sky, before leaping across Maui's chest to lasso the sun resting on his right collarbone. Then he drops down to Maui's belly where he snatches a flame from Mahuika, the fire goddess and strides away before leaping back up to hold up the sky again. Mini Maui gives a big smile and a thumbs up with one hand as his other continues to hold up the sky. Tui's face slowly goes slack after watching the tattoos move across Maui's dark skin.

"Even the monsters?" Tui asks, blinking out of his momentary trance and shifts his attention back to the rest of Maui's moving tattoos.

Maui laughs, "Even the monsters. You're welcome." he says with a smile as he turns around to show off the monster tattoos on his back and flexes nonchalantly. His tattoos dance around and move and mini Maui struts around bashing monsters on the head.

Tui's mouth opens but he doesn't seem to be able to speak anymore. Then his brow furrows and he sets his jaw, suddenly quite intimidating. He has noticed the tattoo on Maui's sternum, right over his heart, depicting a young woman on a sailing canoe with a spiral on its sail, and he instantly recognizes his daughter on her canoe. He stares at it for a few beats, transfixed by the small beaming tattoo of his precious girl, permanently etched into the dark skin of the demigod. "Are you courting my daughter?" he asks in an almost harsh tone as he crosses his thick arms across his chest and looks hard at him, eyes narrowed.

Maui's eyes go wide in shock and confusion. He fumbles with his hook before sticking the end in the dirt, quickly looking back at the chief, "Am I what? N-no. No! I'm just a-heh... I'm just a friend, a good friend."

Never in Moana's life has she been so embarrassed! Or confused! Why would her dad think THAT? Gods that's crazy! They barely actually even really know each other, not to mention he's a FREAKING demigod! Doesn't that make him kinda off-limits or something? Moana speaks up, "Uh, yeah… he's just my friend, dad. So! How about we sit down and get some food?"

Maui laughs good-naturedly, obviously welcoming of the distraction, "I like that idea. After you, master wayfinder."

Tui wordlessly follows his daughter, still a bit befuddled by the great big man… demigod, his presence and what exactly his relationship is with his daughter. He tries to walk pointedly between them. You know, just in case.

After some quick preparation by Moana and Tui, they sit around a pile of freshly cooked reef fish and taro and vegetables and eat. Maui is rendered silent as he revels in the taste of freshly roasted fish and hot fluffy taro buns. His first real proper meal in literal ages.

As lunch wraps up, Tui admits that must attend an elders meeting, and as he stands, so does Maui. Tui looks at the demigod as he extends his huge hand. Tui slowly smiles and shakes Maui's hand. "So great to finally meet you, Maui. Thank you for visiting! I apologize that I must excuse myself so soon, but I have to discuss the new islands' leadership nominees with the elders. Feel free to stay as long as you need. Our island is open to you."

Maui smiles and nods in appreciation, "Thank you, Chief Tui, your hospitality is deeply appreciated!"

Tui leaves the small fale, leaving Moana and Maui to themselves.

Maui chuckles as he sits back down beside Moana. "So, that went well." he says with a hint of sarcasm in his raised eyebrow and sidelong glance.

Moana laughs and takes a small bite of her remaining fish and chews thoughtfully. After swallowing she replies, "Well yeah, I guess you could say that. He warmed up to you pretty quickly after he sorted out who you were."

Maui laughs again, "yeah, that over-protective father bit was only a little awkward." he chuckles as he finishes his last few bites of food and leans back against the pole of the fale. With a very satisfied sigh, he laces his fingers behind his head and rests it against the pole as well.

Moana smiles as she works on her remaining food, thinking about what first to show him of her island while he's here. There's just so much on her island that she finds beautiful. She couldn't really pick any one place or thing she likes the most. There's the beautiful waterfall with the two pools beneath it that her village uses to bathe and relax. There's the little glade where the ice cold water springs from the rocks of the mountain so fresh and sweet. Or the stretch of beach where long ago, a lava flow touched the surf and made a beautiful flat surface where Gramma Tala taught her how to dance. Or the little clearing she found deep in the forest where grass grows soft and lush, where she goes to be alone. She has worn many paths through the forest that skirt around beautiful stands of flowers or fruit trees. One that leads to a grove of ancient and gnarled kukui trees where the elders harvest the finest black kukui nuts for their prized ceremonial leis… Ceremony… that makes her think of the Chief's Mountain, where every chief that came before her placed a stone atop the peak to raise the whole island higher. The view from atop the mountain is unlike any other on her beautiful little island.

That is where she will take him. "Can I take you to the top of the Chief's Mountain? I want to show you something."

Maui looks over at Moana and smiles, "Absolutely." With that settled, they clean up and make the hike, Moana showing him some of her favorite things along the way. They reach the top in about an hour and a half since she takes her time and also kinda takes the long route. Just as an excuse to spend a little more time with her friend.

Moana explains to Maui that each stone was placed by a chief that came before her. And the next will be hers. She asks Maui to come to her ceremony. He gladly agrees. They take seats on the cliff, letting their legs hang over the edge as they look out to the ocean.

"What brought you back here, Maui?" Moana asks quietly, looking up at his peaceful face.

He looks down at her, his brow creased a bit with thought. It takes him a few minutes to answer. Moana looks deep into his brown eyes and searches for his answer.

"Um, well, I guess…" Maui chuckles almost bashfully, "I guess I missed you." he heaves a big sigh and runs his hand through his hair, pushing some strands from in front of his face back over his head.

His answer takes Moana off guard. So… what about those thousand or so years of solitude? How did he not completely lose it? She must have made a curious expression, because Maui shifts to face her a bit better and elaborates.

"Things for me have been kinda slow lately. I did a little traveling and took care of some monsters, but the last two months, there hasn't been a single thing going on for me to do." Maui continues.

"You look like you've trimmed down a bit..." Moana at last caves to her desire to mention his physique. She's been dying to bring it up all afternoon. She just can't help but notice his figure being just a touch more lean and his musculature looking a bit more defined. Not in a drastic way, he just looks healthier. She saw outlines of his abs when he flexed earlier today. She doesn't exactly remember seeing those when they first met.

Maui laughs heartily, "I'm glad you noticed! Getting off that island and being able to really get out and move around really helped, but that's literally all that's changed."

Moana nods, "Well, you look good." She blushes and laughs, Maui joins her with a chuckle.

"Thanks kid, you're not too shabby either." His cheeks are darkened by a soft blush. He looks out to the ocean and takes a big breath, then he looks back at her, "Hey, you know what, I want to go sailing with you again. Nothing crazy like last time!" He says through a laugh, "just around the island. That… you know… that would really make my day."

If she was honest with herself, Moana could feel the butterflies in her stomach, slamming against her belly button trying to escape. "I think we might have enough time to make it happen if we hurry. Like we gotta run down the mountain, like, now…" she says as she counts out a few hand widths between the sun and the horizon.

Maui's expression goes from happy to positively devious in the blink of an eye. "Why run, when you can fly?" he transforms without missing a beat and crouches down, lowering his right wing so Moana can climb onto his back.

Her eyes go wide and her heart leaps into her throat. "You… you want me to get on your back? You can't be serious..."

"Just as serious as my tattoos, kid. Come on! Unless you really do want to hike back down the mountain. In which case…" he starts to lift his wings as if he were about to take off.

"Wait, wait!" Moana stops him, stepping closer and reaching out to him.

Maui laughs a deep laugh as he lowers his head and slips it under her, effortlessly lifting her onto his back, "That's what I thought. Just hold my feathers and I swear I won't let you fall. I've got your back."

Moana obeys, settling in on his broad avian shoulders and carefully grabs two handfuls of soft brown feathers on his collar as he crouches, sweeps his wings above him and launches his body into the air and pumps his powerful wings down and propels them up into the air. Moana is simultaneously terrified and thrilled as the demigod's wings piston beneath her, lifting them ever higher. She feels like her stomach was temporarily left behind on the ground.

They rise above the low hanging clouds that shroud the tops of Motunui's mountains and Moana revels in the cool misty sensation of the clouds touching her skin and she closes her eyes and lets go of Maui's feathers for a moment. Innately trusting the mighty demigod, she closes her eyes, leans back a touch and stretches her arms out to the sides like her own set of wings and lets out a sigh, allowing the incredible sensation of flight to fully engulf her senses. "Maui, this is unbelievable!"

Maui lets out an avian cry in agreement, looking back over his shoulder at Moana with his sharp, honey gold hawk eyes. Moana makes eye contact and reaches out and strokes his head. Maui fluffs his head feathers in a pleased manner before he turns his attention forward once more, "Now then, the moment I've all been waiting for, hold on!"

Moana's eyes go wide and she wraps her arms around his neck as he folds his wings against his body and dives towards the earth. Moana lets out a scream and Maui lets out a playful whoop as the wind rushes past them and the ground speeds closer. Maui waits until the very last second to unfurl his wings and pull up, letting his belly and legs scrape the treetops as he angles towards the sea. Moana is laughing as Maui dips low and drags his claws in the crystal clear water before banking hard, dipping one wingtip in the sea before he flaps his mighty wings to right himself and glides to the beach where he gracefully lands and transforms, Moana still on his shoulders. He carefully grabs her waist and lifts her over his head, setting her on her feet in front of himself.

"Oh Maui, that was incredible!" Moana turns and hugs him in thanks for a moment before running over to her canoe. "Come on! Hurry!"

Maui laughs and runs over behind her and helps her slide the small vessel into the gentle surf and she jumps aboard as he gives it a push before jumping on himself. Moana is already preparing the mast and sails as Maui paddles them out past the breakers. They both wordlessly do their part, working effortlessly as a team to sail until they pass the last breaker and are outside of the reef.

Moana looks back at Maui as he steers and she gets those butterflies again. She smiles and he stands, offering her the oar and the sail guide rope. She proudly takes them and leads her canoe around the island using everything Maui taught her.

"Feels good to sail with you again, Maui. I'm so glad you came." Moana says softly after a span of very comfortable silence. They have made it over halfway around the island.

"I agree. I have you to thank for bravely rescuing me from that lonely island, so that we could go on to save the world!" Maui's prideful expression and flamboyant proclamation reminds Moana of something that instantly annoys her.

Moanas eyes narrow and she crosses her arms incredulously, "I seem to recall things going a little different that day. In fact, I'm fairly certain you tried to leave me on that island! You even trapped me in a cave! With a giant boulder!" Moana huffs in recollection of how rude he was, and pouts at a shamefully blushing Maui, who has been taken quite off guard at how quickly the small talk turned on him. "So actually, I believe Maui, the trickster, owes me an apology…" Moana arches her brows expectantly with a nearly deadpan expression on her face. She is only mildly serious, but still, that day he hurt her feelings and she at least wants a little apology.

Maui ties off the sheet and faces Moana more pointedly. His expression is at first smug, but then he frowns, ashamed. "Aue… You're right." Maui pauses and takes a deep breath. He lets it out in a big sigh that Moana swears causes the water around them to quivver and ripple outward, like a huge stone dropped in a calm pool of water. Moana can feel the sudden unnatural stillness in the air and it gives her uncomfortable goosebumps. Maui looks hard into her eyes, and she swears she sees them swim, just a whisper. Moana jumps a bit when Maui starts talking, his voice low, "You showed up with a boat and I saw my way out and without even giving the consequences of leaving a mortal on that island a second thought, I caught you up in a song and tricked you into a trap... and just took what I wanted."

Moana's eyebrows curve upwards now. Her arms uncross and she looks at the demigod with a subdued expression as he speaks, waiting for him to continue. So far, she likes where this is going. He is obviously ashamed of what he did. She plants her hands on her hips.

"Yet, you remained determined. So much so that, despite my attitude towards you, you never gave up. Not on your mission, or on me, even when I had given up on myself." His chest expands with a deep breath that he lets gently escape through his nose with a huff. "Moana, I am sorry I treated you so dismissively. I more than took advantage of you. The way I treated you was despicable. I hope there is some way I can make up for that." Maui hangs his head. The air is chilled and dead calm. Moana shivers a bit.

Moana is given pause by the apparent emotion that has now flooded Maui's features and demeanor. His apology makes her cheeks burn with a blush she didn't expect. She is a little intimidated to be honest. This is a side of the demigod she has never seen, and she has no idea how to take it. She was not prepared to see him so capitulated. Its obvious he really regrets his actions and she really didn't set out to make him feel so horrible, she only wanted him to realize how she felt then, and maybe get an apology. "Maui… I…"

The demigod silences her with eye contact that gives her goosebumps all over. He shakes his head, "I've been around for thousands of years and achieved countless feats both foolhardy and noble. That is something I let go to my head. However, I have never felt as appreciated as you make me feel."

Slowly, Moana reaches out to Maui's chest with her right hand and he quietly watches as she runs her fingertips over the subtly raised areas of skin where the ink of his tattoos is etched permanently by the gods. Her thumb sweeps softly over the image of her likeness standing boldly on her canoe. She looks over at the image of the sun, lassoed by his hook and she traces the line from the stock-still Mini Maui's hands up to the sun. She leans down to look up into his downturned eyes, her chest tightening at the shame and hurt showing in them, "Even after you did all this for my ancestors?"

Maui nods quietly, glancing back down at his chest for a moment. Moana is made aware, once more of the stillness of the canoe, and in the air as his hair falls in a dark curly curtain over his shoulders and hangs unmoving over his collarbones. "Do you remember when I told you that it was never enough for them?" he looks back up at her and his eyes are dark. "I wasn't just saying that. They were always begging me for more fantastic and incredible things. That's what drove me to take the heart of Te Fiti. It was my last ditch effort to please them. I had truly run out of things to give them. I figured, 'why not let them run the show now?' I've taken care of everything else. So I journeyed to Te Fiti. You already know how that turned out." Maui hangs his head.

Moana furrows her brow in pity for Maui and she is the one holding his shoulders reassuringly now. "No need to beat yourself up for it anymore, Maui. We brought her heart back. We restored the goddess to her true form and she thanked us. She even forgave you, Maui. Now, all is as it should be." Moana looks hard into Maui's eyes. "You know," she pauses, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. When they do, she feels that lurch in her chest, "I forgive you too, Maui." Moana gets goosebumps as soon as she says his name, then she feels a soft breeze touch her left cheek and her hair sways in the sudden but gentle warm air current. There's that swim in his eyes again. This time she is certain it's there. It makes the subtle amber streaks stand out against the warm cacao of his irises. In that following heartbeat, Maui smiles and she can see the relief in the crinkle of the corners of his eyes and the subtle upward curve of his strong brows. The canoe starts to bob in the sudden return of the ocean's rippling waves.

Maui's appreciative smile warms Moana. "Thank you, Moana." He says softly. Then, his stomach growls. "Uh, heh-heh! How does dinner sound?" he chuckles softly with a winning lopsided smirk. The unshakeable Maui who is comfortable in his own skin is back. And Moana laughs, feeling the relief coming off the demigod.

"Dinner sounds delicious!" Moana enthusiastically replies, more than happy to grant him that respite since things were a bit tense for her too. "How about you take us in, oh mighty demigod of the wind and sky?"

Maui smiles broadly with a hearty belly laugh that sets Moana right at ease, "It would be my pleasure." He politely takes the oar from Moana and with an absent glance at the blade, he sees his 'autograph' is still etched into the hardwood. He smiles even wider as he takes the rope Moana hands him and kneels at the stern, positioning the oar and adjusting the sail for the turn towards the shore. As the sun begins its final march down the horizon, the sky is painted with a beautiful palate of color.

Moana and Maui are greeted at the shore by the last group of returning fishermen with the day's catch. They both pitch in and help carry baskets of fish to the cleaning fale up the hill near the feasting area. The village is holding a fish fry tonight to honor Maui, courtesy of Tui, and the guest of honor is barely able to contain his delight when he smells the delicious scent of cooking food.

Chief Tui honors Maui with a grateful speech and prayer and the elders all offer blessings upon the food and Maui himself. Maui is deeply moved by the generosity and love from their words. When the elders finish and Tui announces the commencement of the feast, Maui stands and lifts his coconut full of its sweet water. Looking around at all the faces of the villagers, he's filled with an immense sense of belonging. Smiling, he thanks the village for their boundless generosity and hospitality, with tears prickling in his eyes. The village cheers out a chorus of salutes in their beautiful language and they drink as one.

Moana makes eye contact with Maui when he sits back down and she smiles, wiping the tear from his cheek with her thumb. "You're welcome." She says it so only he hears and that only makes him swallow hard, clench his jaw and blink away more tears.

"This is just so kind. I've never had this kind of appreciation showed me. Humans have only ever asked me for more. They never thanked me… never gave me anything. This… This is really something." Maui looks from the villagers to Moana and takes a drink from his coconut without breaking eye contact with her.

MoMoana laughs gently, "I'm so glad we can all call you our friend, Maui. What you've done to help us means the world to us, and without you keeping the monsters at bay, we can't sail to new islands. This is the least we can do to thank you, for all you've done for us. Thanks to you, we can go out and find more! Now, let's eat!"

Maui looks thoughtfully at Moana, processing her words before he turns his attention to the gathering before him. He pauses, uncertain for only a second or so before he all out laughs when he notices the whole village is watching him intently. Maui laughs and raises his cup and shouts, "To MORE!"

The villagers raise their cups and toast with a chorus of "To more!"

Maui can't stop smiling, he looks around as the villagers look back to him again. He smirks, "You heard the princess, Let's EAT!"

The fale tele is filled with laughter and conversation as they dig into delicious fish, bread, taro, fruit and a number of local vegetables. As they eat, Maui regails the village with his stories. As the dinner wraps up, the children begin to migrate towards him, sitting all around him. Maui tells animated stories about wrestling giant eels and octopuses, and even about how he plucked the leg off of a giant crab and made him walk funny. The children particularly enjoyed that story.

As some of the villagers start to clear away leftovers, Maui takes the kids just outside of the fale where they ate to play in the grass. After eight of them all begged him at once to play with them, he quickly gave in and lead them outside. As soon as Maui's feet touched the grass, all the children tackled him and he stumbled and fell. Carefully avoiding falling on top of one of them, the demigod wrestled with the flailing bunch of arms and legs as they tried to bring him down for a merciless tickling. Laughter and squeals could be heard throughout the village. Some children soon become enraptured by his tattoos and how they move and as they all start to calm down and pay attention, he tells them each story as Mini Maui acts them out.The children are wide-eyed with wonder, amazed that he earned each tattoo by doing something brave to help people.

Moana feels a huge swell of joy in her heart as she watches the village absorb Maui as one of their own. She can't believe how happy everyone is. Especially Maui. He desperately needed to be around people again. To laugh. To eat. To talk. To be loved on. The overwhelming reality of his past strikes her and she is relieved and so very grateful to have him among her people, doing what he has always desired. He had only ever wanted to be appreciated and a part of a family and it seems this could be his new family.

Sure enough, later that night, Maui is invited by Tui and the elders to live among the people of Motunui so that he can have a place he can always call home, and he humbly accepts. A haka is dedicated to him by the village wayfinders and it moves the demigod to tears. Their haka speaks of a mighty demigod named Maui, who restored balance to the people and the world by teaching one girl how to rekindle her heritage, and, by remembering where you've been, how you can go anywhere.