The stars were nearly endless, millions of them twinkling in a velvety dark sky. They were so densely packed together that it was almost dizzying. Spilled across this tapestry of shining points of light was the splash of te Ikaroa, the Milky Way, painting a pathway across the night sky.

Lost in the glittering expanse above him, Tamatoa sighed in contentment. For more than a thousand years he'd been kept from the stars. He had longed to see them so desperately that it hurt, but had never expected to ever have the chance again. Now, thanks to the secret tunnel that Maui had left unsealed for him, he had ready access to them whenever he chose. The first few months after he'd recovered from their arduous misadventures beneath Lalotai, he and Maui had gone every single night to watch the stars wheel overhead.

Part of Tamatoa suspected that Maui was humoring him a little, but it didn't matter. After everything that had transpired, they had a lot of catching up to do. Under the starry sky, they caught up on centuries upon centuries of lost time. After all, apologies had been made and trusts rebuilt, but there was much still left to be said. Sometimes they argued, of course. There was far too much bad blood to pretend nothing had happened, but they always managed to work it out in the end.

More often, however, they just laughed and told stories the way they used to do centuries ago. It was comfortable. It was familiar. Tamatoa liked it.

For the first time in longer than he cared to admit, Tamatoa was completely happy. He had everything he could possibly want.

He had his best friend back. He was whole again with all limbs present and accounted for after finally being forced to molt. He had his comfortable home and his beautiful treasures, augmented with shiny new additions from fresh adventures with Maui throughout the Realm of Monsters.

And he could see the stars whenever he wanted.

Tamatoa couldn't remember a time in his life when he felt more at ease. Everything was perfect. It was certainly a far cry from times past. Unbidden, unpleasant memories bubbled up. Alone, half-starved and abandoned on an island that he was steadily outgrowing, with a dwindling food supply, all while going steadily mad from the isolation. A shiver ran through him. Those nightmares haunted him enough and he didn't want to think about that now. Or ever.

No, things were good now.

A glimmer of motion caught his eye, breaking him out of his reverie. Eyestalks swiveling up, he watched as a shooting star skimmed across the sky. Leaving a fiery trail in its wake, it traced a long path towards the west before vanishing into the darkness.

Maui would be coming from that direction soon enough. Tamatoa could taste the season's change on the wind and Maui had promised to return as soon as the trade winds lost their winter strength, making easterly sailing less difficult. The plan this time was for him to stay the entire summer in Lalotai. As delighted as Tamatoa was for the long visit, he couldn't help but wonder why. He had suspicions, of course. It seemed as if Maui was having a degree of trouble finding his place up there after so long away, but Tamatoa had kept these thoughts to himself. Of course, his silence on the matter was not entirely without an element of selfishness. After all, if he brought it up too soon, Maui might change his mind and shorten the trip. No, he'd wait until there was little chance of Maui bailing early, then he'd spring those uncomfortable questions on the demigod.

The sky was beginning to brighten on the horizon, a red dawn creeping slowly up in the east where heavy clouds had gathered in the night. The sun was coming up, morning was upon him, and there was a warm patch of sand calling Tamatoa's name back home. Leisurely and with no great haste, he rose slowly from the rocky ground and stretched his legs. The first soft rays of sunlight were already shining on the glittering array of treasures on his back. He lingered a moment, pausing to admire the way the light played upon his gleaming hoard. A little shimmy set them all to sparkling and he smiled, pleased.

Then he turned back towards the long tunnel that would return him to Lalotai, stepping into its hazy purple glow and heading for home. Maui would be here soon and Tamatoa would be waiting for him.

"Come lie back down, Kamapua'a."

Kamapua'a ignored her. He didn't so much as cast a glance to where she was reclined on a sleeping mat. Even the sight of her, beautiful with long, dark hair draped enticingly over her naked skin in the flickering firelight, could not distract him from his fury.

"I thought he was long gone! More than a thousand years and no one has seen him!" he fumed, pacing back and forth with jerky steps.

"You hadn't heard? A girl found him and helped him restore Te Fiti's heart."

He cast a baleful glare at the woman, who looked back at him with round eyes.

"It was a few years ago now," she added.

Kamapua'a snorted fiercely, derisively. "The great demigod of the wind and sea needed a mortal's help? Figures! Some demigod."

The woman went on, despite his building anger. "And then there's rumor that he and a monster crab saved the world from some terrible darkness after that, too."

Kamapua'a, mid pace, spun sharply on his heel and stopped to stare at her. He fought for words but only managed to blurt out a question. "What?!"

She met his gaze. "A giant crab, down in Lalotai. They fought against some ancient evil together," she repeated. "That's what people are saying, anyway."

He stared at her still, jaw nearly agape in disbelief. "That—no. They hate each other."

It had been his one consolation—hearing the rumor on the wind that those two idiots had suffered some monstrous falling out. When Kamapua'a had dug deeper into the story, he'd been positively tickled to discover that Maui had apparently ripped the crab's leg off over some trinket. Learning that a few months later the demigod had lost a fight with some lava demon and had completely vanished had been an added bonus. Kamapua'a was satisfied that, even if he hadn't taken revenge himself, the two were suffering adequately for their crimes against him.

But now, Maui was alive and the two had apparently reconciled.

His pacing resumed, now with added fervor. Fury permeated every inch of him.

"Kama, come lie down," the woman invited again.

He stopped and glared at her once more, but then went back to pacing and disregarded her. Women were so empty-headed, never understanding what was important. And there was little more important than his righteous outrage!

"I can't let this stand," he muttered, thinking aloud. "He's right here and—" His words trailed off into a guttural growl of frustration. "No, they both need to suffer. After what that crab did—"

"But the crab monster is in Lalotai."

Now she was just stating the obvious. He gave her a withering look. "Yes, and?"

"So, you'll go down there to fight it?" she asked.

Kamapua'a recoiled at the very thought. Go to Lalotai? The Realm of Monsters? And fight the monster on its own turf? He suppressed a shudder. He'd heard that the creature was truly enormous now and, while Kamapua'a was skilled at fighting—and tricking—men, he was not much of a monster-fighter. The thought of facing down something that dangerous was decidedly unappealing, downright terrifying if he really considered it.

He squared his shoulders with a snorting grunt. "No," he said, dismissive in his bluster. "That's too much effort. Lalotai is huge, I'd never find him."

"And full of all sorts of monsters," she pointed out unhelpfully.

He grumbled a vague assent, but didn't bother to respond otherwise. Of course there were multitudes of monsters down there and, if he did go to Lalotai, he'd probably have to fight through plenty of them in order to find the one he wanted to exact vengeance upon.

"If only you could just take care of them all at once."

He snorted again, rolling his eyes at the ridiculousness of the very thought as he stomped back towards the fire. "Oh sure, but that's just wishful thinking."

"Maybe so," she said, "but—"

Kamapua'a frowned, ceasing his restless pace to look down at her. "But?"

"Legend says there's a secret place on this island where the magic of Lalotai extends into our world."

His frown deepened. "Extends? How so?"

"It's said that the veins of Lalotai are exposed there. A weak spot where the magic that sustains the realm is worn thin."

Kamapua'a mulled this over. If there was some outcropping of Lalotai here, maybe the fragile, precariously balanced magic could be damaged. Perhaps even destroyed. He could get revenge without even setting foot in the Realm of Monsters and he could claim it as a heroic victory, too. How the ladies would swoon for Kamapua'a, the hero who rid the world of all monsters. He could find it, destroy it, and—

"Of course, it can only be accessed by those born wholly human," she continued on, interrupting his thoughts.

He looked back to her, scowling as his pleasant fantasy of heroism and revenge evaporated. "Well, what good does that do me then? I was born a kupua and—"

Then it hit him. His scowl melted away just as quickly as it had formed, replaced by a jubilant smile.

"But Maui—Maui was born a human," he said slowly, awe at his own realization coloring his words. "The gods made him a demigod."

She merely gazed up at him and Kamapua'a smirked his superiority, pleased that he made a connection she seemed ignorant of.

"It would take a demigod to touch that magic and survive," she agreed, nodding.

His smile widened, a plan already forming. He could take his revenge on both of them for humiliating him, get deemed a hero for it, and do it all without breaking a sweat. It was flawless.

"Now will you come lie back down with me?"

Kamapua'a hesitated, glancing back at her. The firelight flickered in her dark eyes, beckoning to him. Empty-headed or not, she was gorgeous. She was no Pele, but he'd taken pleasure in their time together just the same. However, now that he had a plan, Kamapua'a wanted to get started right away, as Maui looked like he was ready to depart at any moment. His eyes lingered on her a moment longer. Perhaps, though, he had time to celebrate just a little first.

Maui awoke under dark skies. The stars were already out above him and a quick glance at their position spoke volumes. He had slept a bit too late, it would seem, and had missed the tide. It was only a minor setback, though. He was Maui and he could still launch a canoe, even if conditions were less than favorable.

He sat up and stretched, looking out to the dark sea to take stock of those conditions. The tide was coming in, waves driving heavily against the shore. Little flickers of blue sparked in the waves—bioluminescent algae activating in the turbulent water. Despite the rough seas waiting for him, Maui smiled.

There was a rustle in the brush just beyond the beach, a whisper of movement among the leaves. In an instant Maui was on his feet, hook in hand.

A tall man stepped out of the shadows and onto the moonlit crescent of sand. He looked vaguely familiar in the way that most humans looked vaguely familiar. After all, over a couple thousand years of seeing the same features repeated in face after face, they began to blur together. Still, there was something that itched at the back of his mind—

"Maui?" the man asked, his voice just shy of being truly tentative as he approached. "Demigod of the wind and sea?"

Well, it was always nice to be recognized! Maui relaxed, planting his hook in the sand and leaning his weight against it. "That's me."

"Hero of men?" the stranger went on.

"That too. And women. All, really."

"Oh, thank the gods," the man said, his expression twisting into one of great relief. "We need your help!"

Maui's lip turned down in a slight, thoughtful frown. He knew there were a handful of mortals living on this island, but they seemed to have everything well in hand. Once again, some deep part of him had been secretly disappointed and that feeling of uselessness began to creep back in. In the week he'd spent making repairs to the canoe and gathering supplies, not a single mortal had approached him for assistance. After a thousand years without him, it was abundantly clear that the humans had grown into their own self-sufficiency and had little practical need for a demigod. Maui would have liked to think it didn't bother him, but it did.

Dragged down by such thoughts, he almost missed the fleeting glint in the stranger's eyes, gleaming in the pale moonlight with a shrewdness that seemed at odds with his benign demeanor. Then the look was gone and Maui was left questioning if he had ever really seen it, or if it had merely been a trick of the faded light.

"There's a great evil on this island," the man continued. "The others fear to even speak of it, but I told them that the great Maui was here and could save us from it."

Maui shoved his brooding thoughts away, perked up by the praise. Maybe they did still need his help, after all. "What kind of evil?"

"The worst kind!" the man replied without hesitation. "Come with me, I'll show you."

Maui hesitated. He glanced back towards the sea, where the waves still flickered with soft light under the starry sky. It was already past time to leave for Lalotai. The tide was coming in heavy now, pushing higher up the beach. Despite that, he should really be going. He'd made a promise to Tamatoa and intended to keep it. Too many promises had been broken in the past to let that happen again.

The man's voice cut into his thoughts with an insistent plea. "Maui, please help us. We need your help."

Maui looked back to him, took in the plaintive look on his shadowed face. He was torn. This was the first human in quite some time to need his aid. And yet he knew he should stick to his plan and launch the canoe, sail for Lalotai, and meet up with Tamatoa as discussed.

Then again, he'd missed the outgoing tide.

It would be morning before the tide turned again. That gave him some time. Surely he could go take care of this one little thing—real quick!—and be back by the time more favorable conditions rolled around. He'd only lose half a day, at most, and could perhaps make up that time at sea with a good wind. Tamatoa would underst—

Maui stopped himself from even thinking that old line again.

Things weren't like that now, though. This wasn't like before. He wasn't going to make that mistake again, no. He'd just go take care of this one little thing and, one way or the other, be on the sea when the tide went out in the morning.

Resolved, he turned back to the stranger. "Okay. Let's do this."

The man smiled. "This way.

The forest was dark, lit only by the palest dappled moonlight that fell upon the tangled undergrowth along the path. The lithe stranger moved through it with a swiftness and familiarity, however—so swiftly that Maui nearly had trouble keeping up through the dense jungle.

To slow his guide down, Maui tried to get him talking. Besides, there was something still bothering him about this strange man. He wished Tamatoa was here; the giant crab had an uncanny, and sometimes unsettling, intuition about people. He could always be relied on to pinpoint what someone was about. In his friend's absence, however, Maui would have to figure it out on his own. He'd just have to get the guy talking and work it out himself.

"So, what is this thing anyway?" he called ahead to the man.

The man slowed his pace, but only for the moment it took to turn and look behind him. "A great evil!"

"Yes, but what is it?" Maui pressed, shoving his way through the tangled vines that his more slender guide slipped deftly through.

The man glanced over his shoulder again. "Nobody knows!"

"Well, how long has it been here?" Maui asked, annoyed.

"Oh, forever," the man replied without hesitation, ducking under a branch and still keeping several paces ahead.

Well, that was terribly unhelpful. "Can't you—oof!" Maui stumbled over a root in the dark, but quickly regained his balance. "—can't you tell me anything?"

"Of course!"

Maui left an expectant silence between them, but it went unanswered as they hurried through the forest. When no further explanations were forthcoming, Maui prompted in exasperation, "Well?"

"We're almost there," the man supplied.

Maui let out a groan of frustration.

"Shh," the man admonished, pausing up ahead and finally slowing his pace. "We must approach quietly."

Maui tried not to let his annoyance show. As glad as he was to finally be needed again, this was not exactly how he pictured it. Something was off about this guy and Maui was beginning to have doubts.

Then the forest drew back, thinning out around them into an open space. The sounds of night birds and croaking frogs faded away, leaving an oppressive silence in their wake. Maui knew without needing to see the man beckoning to him emphatically: this was the place.

It stood in the center of the wide clearing, unmistakably their goal. An ancient pillar of stone sprouted up from the earth, illuminated by the moonlight that flooded the open area. It stood perhaps a few hand spans taller than Maui himself, ruggedly cut from old grey stone. Once the monolith may have been jagged and harsh, but eons of time had worn it smooth and softened its outline to gentle curves—leaving only a faint hint of its earlier shape. Spidering up from its base, thin veins of blue crystal traced up from the dirt like many-forked lightning. Like lightning, they pulsed with strange blue light. There was a slow, steady rising and falling to that light, pulsing to an intense brightness then fading to a muted glow in a rhythm not unlike a heartbeat.

Maui stared, fascinated. He'd never seen anything quite like this before. Tamatoa would have loved it.

It was that thought which brought him sharply back to his task. He needed to get this handled so he could get on his way.

He stepped closer, pushing a palm frond aside. It was then that his eye fell on a curve of white, thin and smooth, on the ground. It was a bone. His eyes widened as he saw more and more of the same. There were bones scattered all around the pillar—human bones. Some were bleached white, brittle and broken, but others were more recent, with bits of tattered, rotting flesh clinging to them.

Maui's eyes hardened and the last of his doubts were swept away. There was something foul at work here. A faint shimmer hung in the air surrounding the carpet of bones, almost unnoticeable in the night. Maui lifted his fishhook and used it to poke at the glimmering haze.

Nothing happened.

He glanced at the stranger, who was hanging back in the shadows of the forest. The man waved his hand encouragingly, urging Maui forward.

"It's the glowing stones. You have to destroy them to save our island," he whispered, an anxious note in his lowered voice.

Maui nodded, then stepped into the clearing. He passed through the shimmering air easily and without issue. Ancient bones crumbled to dust under his feet as he stepped closer to the stones. Other, newer bones merely cracked and crunched underfoot. Maui grimaced, kicking them away with an angry vehemence. He couldn't save those poor souls, but no one else would be hurt by this thing.

Behind him, he heard the man's harsh whisper again. "Use your hook!"

Maui suppressed a snort. What did this guy think he was going to do? "Thank you, mister obvious," he muttered.

He raised his hook, lining it up with the thickest vein of the pulsing crystalline stone. One quick stroke, then he could get out of here and on his way back to Tamatoa.

"Actually, the name's Kamapua'a."

Maui was already bringing his hook down when the name registered—a name he recognized. A name that would not be innocently asking for his help. His eyes went wide as he realized his mistake, even as his arms were already in motion. He'd been tricked. Too late to stop, the hook struck the stone with all his strength behind it.

A powerful shockwave of magic rushed out, stirring up a flurry of dust and rock chips that momentarily clouded Maui's vision. It was a blow strong enough to split most stones clean in half, yet when the dust cleared the monolith remained standing and unmarred. For a moment, Maui held his breath and it seemed as if everything was fine.

A brittle, cracking sound broke the heavy silence of the clearing. He watched as the lines of blue crystal began to slowly splinter, shattering within the matrix of stone that surrounded it. The glowing pulse of pale aqua light dimmed, then suddenly flared again at the point where his hook had struck—not a cool blue now, but a burning red that flamed up so brightly that Maui had to shield his eyes. Then the fiery light streaked downward, chasing the lines of stone into the earth.

The ground trembled beneath Maui for a moment, then the light faded away and all was still and silent once more. The veins of crystal, previously alive with light, were now dark, grey and empty. Maui shifted his weight from foot to foot uneasily as his night vision slowly returned. He wasn't sure what he'd done, but he had a bad feeling about this.

Maui turned to look for the other man—the kupua who had tricked him—but Kamapua'a was gone.