Shouldering a couple bags of food she jumped onto her canoe given to her by Te Fiti after they had restored the heart.
Concentrating on the reef she steers herself out to the sea.
Sitting cross legged on the sail she watched the water as questions ran through her mind.
She used to believe she knew who she was but now that she knew she was adopted she wanted to know the story behind it.
Reluctantly she returned her thoughts to her promise to her mother.
She had to find her old friend she had to find Maui.
But where would a shape shifting Demigod choose to live? She wondered to herself.
Looking once more at the water she questioned it "you have any ideas where to find Maui this time?"
The ocean was quiet as if to say it was as stumped as she.
Groaning she slid to her knees trying to think like the shapeshifter.
She smiled knowing Maui he was probably off causing trouble again.
She thought of Maui's mother who had thrown him in the sea and wondered if her real parents had done the same.
She wondered why Gramma hadn't told her but decided mom and dad probably asked her not too.
She wondered how she was ever going to find Maui the ocean was huge and Maui was not very predictable.
What ever island he went to would have to be beneficial to him.
Moana gasped as the thought came to her.
During a voyage rumors had been heard of a village about twenty leagues north of Motunui that had been having trouble with monsters roaming the island and she was sure if Maui was anywhere it was there.
He liked being the hero to all so if she located that island she might just find him.
Recalibrating the sails she quickly set her course for the Montacka Island.
The water started to grow tough as the ocean was trying to stop her from going to this area of water.
"Stop it, please I have to find Maui and I'm sure he is there." she insisted.
The ocean only grew rougher trying to block her path but now she was drawing close to the island.
Something caught her boat and started spinning her.
Confused she quickly checked it out and terror filled her chest.
Moana had gotten stuck in a whirlpool and she was sure she'd get sucked into it with her boat.
She tried to make a desperate jump but didn't make it far enough.
The water dragged her down as she struggled and struggled to get out of its grip.
Finally she hit her head on her boat and passed out sinking down to the bottom of the sea.
Moana lay unmoving on the sand, completely unconscious finally discovering why the ocean had tried to stop her.
Above the water a giant hawk dove from above the Island and became a giant dolphin instead.
Diving down to the bottom he lifted the limp body onto his back and rushed for the surface heart pounding terrified he he might be too late.
Breaching the surface he shape shifted once more and carried her in his strong Demigod arms.
"Don't be dead princess, please don't be dead." he was begging every step of the way..
He collapsed onto the sand and just held her close.
He couldn't put a finger on it but for some reason he felt drawn to her, for some reason he was very protective of her and the idea of her dying was completely unacceptable to him.
The truth was Maui knew why he felt so protective of Moana but he didn't have the heart to tell her the truth.
He was all to sure that Moana would hate him if she discovered what he had chosen not to tell her. Something he had come to realize during their visit to Lolatide he had realized she was special and the truth was he had guessed who she really was.
At that time he was only guessing at the truth but then when he had argued with Moana and taken off abandoning her at sea he had immediately been sorry his overprotective heart had turned him around and he had gone back.
And when he saw a blue Manta Ray his Demigod eyes knew it for what it was.
A spirit visiting the living.
But why would a spirit be visiting a human child? He wondered.
He flew close enough to hear what was being said, from what he could hear the spirit was her deceased grandmother.
And Moana was telling her grandmother she couldn't do it, that she had failed the mission.
But the Grandmother was reminding Moana of who she is.
And then together the two began to sing a duet together about who they believed she was and then hanging onto the sail she hollered "I am Moana!"
Then she watched her dive into the water dive down.
The spirit looked up at him knowingly and while Moana couldn't hear her she spoke to him.
"We both know Maui who she really is and why she's really special and I believe in your heart you have always known. But it's up to you to tell her."
But now looking into Moana's limp face almost sure he had just lost that chance he felt certain he could never face telling her the truth.
And then the girl started coughing and all the water from her lungs came up from her throat and coated one of his arms but Maui wasn't even grossed out in fact he didn't mind he was more concerned that Moana was alive.
He hugged her tight and just petted her.
"Oh thank the gods you're alive, you almost gave me a heart attack and I'm a Demigod it's hard to scare us." He suddenly teased her.
Moana was looking at him with gratitude.
Then she breathed out the words.
"I knew it, somehow I knew you'd be on this island I was right." he saw pride on Moana's face but shook his head.
"No Moana, I came here because I sensed you were in trouble and I came here for you." he responded.
Moana groaned, "well damn I felt certain you'd be where rumors of monsters were at because you like being the hero, I was totally wrong, I only came here because I was looking for you." she explained softly.
"Me? Why would you be looking for me Princess Te Fiti's heart was restored and I haven't stolen anything else that needs to be restored." he asked confused.
"Well this time I need you for a different type of journey, my mom told me that the only way she would allow it is if you went with me but you see I wouldn't want it any other way, I couldn't see going on any journey without you at my side." she explained.
Warily he looked her in the eye "what kind of Journey?"
Moana nodded "well my parents recently revealed to me that I'm not really their child, I was adopted, it's fine with me of course they will always be the ones who raised me but still I need to know who I am. Who were my original parents? Why was I put on a raft in the middle of the ocean and left out there alone? Please Maui will you come with me and help me find out?"
Maui looked uncomfortable at the moment as if he wanted to tell her something but he just nodded.
"Of course Princess." he agreed.