Moana woke with a jolt.

She looked around her hut with gasping breaths. She looked outside. The sun had not risen yet from the horizon. The last bits of stars still twinkled faintly as the light of a new dawn creeped up. Her thoughts went back to last night. Was it just a dream? As she made her way to stand she felt something smooth and firm press against her hand. She looked down and gasped. It was the comb. It wasn't just a dream. Te Fiti's words swam through her head. She scooped up the comb and quickly gathered her things. There wasn't a moment to waste.

….

Maui blearily opened his eyes as he felt the early rise of the sun. Since he arrived, all he could do was sleep and drink some water. He must be ill. He'd never stay this long on this island otherwise. It was hard to breathe deeply, and his legs felt really numb. His throat was parched. He reached over and used the shell in the basin to drink some much needed water. One thing about Te Fiti's island; the water was always cool and clean to drink. He felt a sense of revitalization as he gulped down another shell-full. Once content he settled down again and reached for his present for Moana. Patting himself over he realized it was gone. He soon fell into a sense of despair. All that hard work, and now he had no gift for Moana. But then again, he may not make it in time for her birthday the way he was feeling. He felt his eyes grow heavy. Maybe he can still give her the comb in his dreams. Last night's dream was a good start; maybe he can continue where they left off.

….

Tui and his wife Sina made their way to their daughter's hut. There was much to do before Moana left at midday for Motunui. Upon arrival, Tui waited outside as his wife checked on their young chief and Master Wayfinder. After a few moments, Sina returned with a worried face.

"My beautiful wife, what is wrong? Where is Moana?"

"She not in there. Nor are her belongings. I think she may have left early. But I know she wouldn't leave without word."

"Chief Tui! Sina!" It was Kalea. She was a good friend of Sina's.

"Kalea! What's wrong? Is it Lani? Or is it your baby Kale?"

"No, both are fine. Where is Moana?"

"We don't know. We were about to search for her." At Sina' words Kalea paled.

"I think you both need to come with me." She hurried back down the hill towards the village, Moana's parents close behind. As they reached her hut near the beach they stopped as she went inside. Looking out towards the canoes, they saw that Moana's was indeed missing from the fleet. Both parents looked at each other with great concern. Why did their daughter leave so abruptly? Their answer came as Kalea came back outside her hut with her daughter Lani. She ushered the young girl forward.

"Lani, I need you to tell Chief Tui and Sina what you said about Moana." Lani looked back at her mother and then at Moana's parents.

"Moana left in her canoe." Sina bent down so that she was eye level with the child.

"When did she leave Lani?"

"Before the sun woke up but after Kale woke up." Kalea spoke up.

"Lani, tell them everything you saw this morning." Lani nodded.

"Before the sun woke up, Kale woke up because he was hungry. His crying woke me up. As mama fed him I saw Moana running past our hut to the canoes. I followed and asked her where she was going. She said Maui was in trouble and Te Fiti called to her to save him."

"Maui?" "Te Fiti?" Her parents repeated. The looked at each other.

"You don't think she's avoiding us because of her celebration? Do you?" Sina asked. Tui hesitated.

"I do admit, she was rather adamant we forgo the announcement last night after the festivities."

"But even so, she has never gone back on her people or her duties. Even back when she left the first time, she only left because our island was in danger." Tui grunted.

"And Maui, even though I've always had my reservations about him, he has never let harm come to Moana. I doubt he would allow her to come to his aide without good reason." They both turned to the sea, praying to the gods their daughter returned home safe.

...

THE NEXT DAY

Moana felt the sand beneath her feet as she came ashore onto Montunui. The sun was setting on her back as it made its way to bed. She didn't have much time. She needed help. She raced to the village center once her canoe was secure. Upon her arrival a series of questionable voices drew her attention.

"Moana?"

"Moana, I thought you weren't arriving until tomorrow."

"Moana's here!"

"EVERYONE PLEASE!" Her voice rang out loud and clear. It hushed the crowd. She quickly stood up onto the top of the Chief's steps so that she could get her message across.

"Everyone, I need your help. The great goddess, Te Fiti, came to me in a dream. Maui, the demigod of the wind and sea, is dying." She could hear faint mutterings in the crowd.

"Now I know this may sound silly, but it's not. He may be immortal, but that doesn't mean he can't die. And he needs our help. A long time ago,when he lassoed the sun to give us longer days, the sun let some of its rays fall into the ground. From where the rays hit the ground, magical healing flowers grew into bloom. There are two of them on this island. And I need your help to find them."

"Why should we?" A voice rang out. Moana narrowed her gaze towards the voice as the crowd parted around her naysayer. It was Kamaka. He was only two years older than Moana. He was buff and had plenty of tattoos. But he was not very smart nor openminded enough for her tastes.

"Why should we help the demigod that nearly destroyed our island? Did he help us when he was the one who stole the heart in the first place? And if I recall correctly, he was more interested in finding his hook than helping you return it." Moana glared at him.

"Because if it wasn't for Maui, you wouldn't be here. He was the one that made the islands so our ancestors could find them. He was the one who brought us fire, and planted the first coconut tree. Again, I repeat, he lassoed the sun so we had longer days. And he planned to give us the heart of Te Fiti when he failed. Oh, and did we forget the part where Maui doesn't have any magic powers without his fish hook? So, yes, I think we owe it to Maui to help him out, Kamaka." This gained several nods and volunteers that Moana needed. Everyone took a torch in the fading light and made their way out looking for the flower Moana described to them. One was found quickly not too far from the shore. But for some reason, no one seemed to have any luck finding the other. Moana kept searching but as she looked the more Te Fiti's words swam through her head.

Moana, you will need three of these flowers. The goddess had the ocean show her an image of the golden flower.

"How will they help?"

The Sun itself is the essence of life, as I am. All powerful and all healing. These flowers are grown from the Sun's tears when it fought Maui as he lassoed it to lengthen the days. It will heal the poison and revitalize him. Moana stared at the flowers intently, committing them to memory.

There are two on your island that will not be too hard to find. However, the only remaining one near enough is with Hine and Pele; the goddesses of Moon and Fire

"Okay, I'm sure I can reason with them to let me have their flower to save Maui."

Moana, be careful. While Hine is as cool and calm as the night sky, her sister Pele is volatile. Her temper is vicious if not controlled. You must be gentle and tread with mindful steps.

Moana nodded.

"I understand."

Moana shifted as she looked up and realized she made her way to the place of Chiefs. The sky had darkened to where she saw the torchlights of her village being lit. She noticed the few remaining torches of scavenging parties still searching for the flower, except for the one light halfway down the path she had been on not too long ago. It was smaller and fainter to the others, and it wasn't flickering like any flame she had seen. In fact, it had a shimmer to it. Moana's eyes widened at the possibility and rushed down the path, stopping at certain ridges overlooking the path in hopes not to lose sight of the weak light. Right before the vine that she used to use to rush down to the village was the golden flower she was seeking. Her heart lifted. She looked out to the sea.

"Two down, one to go."

….

Maui felt like he was weightless, like he was floating. No, wait. Not floating, flying. Upon opening his eyes he saw he was in his giant hawk form, soaring over the ocean. He felt the setting sun on his feathers, the wind in his face. It was wonderful.

'Ahh, this is the life.'

Off in the distance, he spotted the definitive shape of Lalotai.

As he flew he could faintly hear Moana calling him from that location.

'Moana?'

Diving down to increase his speed, he felt the sun hide away behind some dark clouds as he slowly made his way closer to the tall mountain. Near the top he saw the open mouth of the entrance to the realm of monsters, and standing at its edge was Moana.

'Moana? What are you doing here?' he cawed. Just as he reached her she had jumped in, leaving him to transform and dive in after her. As he landed he checked all around looking for her with no luck.

"Moana? Moana!"

It wasn't until he was at the entrance to Tamatoa's lair that he could finally hear her. She was talking to that decapod bottom feeder like he was the best thing in the world. But as soon as he took a step, Tamatoa turned his head and growled at him with a menacing glare. Maui smirked.

"Heya crab cake! How about me and ma hook…" he looked down and saw he only carried a spear in his hand. Where was his hook? Upon looking up he saw it was back on the decapod's shell.

'What the-?'

"Oh Maui, I am going to love kicking your hiney." Tamatoa started crooning.

He soon was being tossed around and hearing that awful song again. The one that ate him at his emotions. All the while Moana was sitting in her makeshift prison. Soon Tamatoa had enough and tried to eat him as he fought against the crustacean's teeth and rancid breath. The next he knew he felt himself stretched thin as he stretched out. Opening his eyes he was back on the canoe. It was night, with a dust cloud lingering in the air. He tried to look around but couldn't see very much. He felt like he had blinders blocking his vision. Then he heard it; her voice.

"Maui?"

Maui felt himself get up, but not in the usual way. He felt like he was standing on the canoe, but not at the same time. He felt like he was being turned around and that is when he saw her. She looked bigger than he had ever remembered. It was then he saw her looking to his left. Looking left he saw his hook in his hands. It was cracked as a shimmer of purple electricity flowed through it jaggedly. But they weren't his hands. Looking up he realized what was happening. He was dreaming. And worse still, HE was Mini-Maui now. Unable to speak. Forced to watch the worst night of his life. The night he made his biggest regret.

'Oh no.'

"I told you to turn back." Maui winced as he heard himself talk.

"I thought we could make it."

"We?"

"I thought I could make it." The conversation continued as he remembered. And Maui struggled in getting his past self's attention; only to fail as the part he dreaded most started.

"Without my hook, I am nothing."

"That's not true-"

"WITHOUT MY HOOK, I AM NOTHING!"

Maui cringed as he saw the genuine fear in Moana's eyes as his past self stared her down and relinquished the heart.

A moment later he heard her try to fight him back. Her voice weak but steady.

"We're only here because you stole the heart in the first place." Maui turned away.

It hurt, hearing her say that again. Especially after he told her about his past. But she was right. It was because he stole the heart of Te Fiti he was stuck on an island for a thousand years. It was why he lost his hook. It was why she came to his aid time and again. And the one thing she asked him to do, he failed. He failed and he was too much of a coward to face it.

"No, we're here because the ocean told you you were special, and you believed it."

'No, we're here because I made a mistake. You were right, Moana.'

"I am Moana of Montonui-" And here it was. The moment that he regretted more than anything else. He felt his body turn around as he angrily argued with her, only to have to hear her say it anyway.

"The Ocean chose me." He felt himself deflate at the tears prickling at the edge of her eyes. The crack in her voice. How could he have been so selfish to say the three cruelest words he could ever say to her since they met? Maui sighed in anguish. He felt himself say what he really meant to say as his past self spoke his lie.

"It chose wrong."

'It chose right. It was right all along. Heck, you don't even need me to restore the heart of Te Fiti. You can do it all by yourself. Gods, you DID do it all by yourself. And the sad part is I was too afraid to admit it.'

A moment later he felt the painful jolt as he changed into a hawk and flew away against his will as she called out to him. He felt himself fly higher and higher. He screamed at himself to turn around and help her until he finally felt himself regain control of his flying. He immediately turned tail to see if he could find her again.

Moments later it was near the barrier island of rocks that he spotted her canoe. His heart sung. He smiled as he made his way down to reach her. But out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a terrible sight. It was Te Ka, or rather, Te Fiti trapped in her Te Ka form again. And she just threw lava towards Moana. He screeched to warn her. Thankfully, it missed the canoe but unfortunately caused it to capsize. He knew what was going to happen next. He dove down as Te Ka made to reach her and quickly chopped off her hand and landed next to his best friend.

"You came back!" She smiled. It lifted his heart but he wasn't going to waste any time. He needed to end this dream and quickly.

"Of course I came back. I got your back chosen one," He groaned as he pulled the canoe back to its original position, "now go save the world."

Te Ka began her next attack as she restored her hand. Using similar methods to his last battle with her, Maui began to distract Te Fiti so that Moana can save the world all over again. But when the time came for him to lose his hook, he saw the attack still made it through. Granted, it went lower and to the left of Moana. But still, it wasn't happening like it did last time. But he still had one card left to play.

"HEY, TE KA!"

As Te Ka paused he rushed into his haka dance. He hoped it would draw her attention long enough to have Moana make her move. But this time something wasn't right. Te Ka wasn't looking at him. In fact she ignored him. She remained focused on the curly headed girl across the reef. Maui felt dread overtake him. He chanted even louder and yelled insults at her, hoping to draw her attention away. But again Te Ka ignored him as she made her throw towards Moana. Fear gripped his heart as the lava ball made contact with the ruins of Te Fiti's island..

"MOANA!"

He dove into the water and tried to swim towards the island. But in his haste he forgot an important factor. Without his hook, he couldn't swim. It was part of the bargain that saved his life from the gods. And now, he felt himself sinking as he tried to reach for her. His chest ached as he felt it hard to breathe.

'MOANA! Ocean, please….help me...'

As he felt the darkness swallow him, he felt the push of the ocean and before he realized it he was on Te Fiti's shore. He coughed up a lungful of water and wheezed in a mountain of air. Then he looked around. Te Ka was gone, but the dark, ominous island remained. He struggled to his feet and limped his way to where he last saw the young Chief, calling her name as he went. His legs wobbled along and it grew harder with every step to find where she was. But after what felt like an eternity, he finally found her.

"Moana!" He rushed to her side.

Her body was dark in patches across her back and arms. Without thinking he reached to pick her up only to have her scream in agony. He released her only to have her land hard onto the ground and scream again in pain. Her whimpering didn't ease his anxiety. After a few moments he came up with a plan.

"Moana, I'm going to carry you on my back. But to do so I'm going to have to pick you up. I'm not going to lie, it's going to really hurt. But I need you to trust me, ok?"

She wheezed but weakly nodded. And like he predicted, she howled as he placed her onto his shoulders. But once she was in position, he cradled her bottom and legs in his arms and slowly made his way back to the cave he found after Te Fiti was restored. Rain had begun to fall. Even though he could hear her wince, he knew the cool rain would help with her burns. As he hoped it was there in its barren beauty. With great and gentle care he laid her down on her stomach under the opening, allowing the cool rain to fall onto her scarred flesh. He gave her the little water that was left in the basin, and started a fire some distance away from Moana. But even though it was meant to keep them warm, he saw the fear in her eyes as she stared at it. So with sand from the beach, he extinguished it. He stayed by her side and regaled her tales of his adventures. He sang old songs that he heard on his travels. And as he let his voice travel through the cave, the sky grew darker until there was a break in the rain and the stars appeared. A chill was in the air. He had just finished another song and paused to think of another when she whispered.

"M-Ma..ui..?" He perked up at this and sat closer to her.

"Yes, Moana?"

"I-I'm...sorry…" Her breath was so shallow it made his insides tight. His heart started to pound a little faster.

"What for? Mo, you have done nothing to be sorry for." She smiled weakly at that. That smile urged him on without trying.

"Moana, you are…...the best thing that ever happened to me;" he felt a tickle on the side of his face. He brought up a finger and realized he was crying.

"See, Moana, you-" He looked down and saw her eyes closed. He glanced and saw she was still, almost too still.

"Moana?" He reached down and stroke her face, but she gave no reaction.

'Oh, no. Oh no no no.'

"Mo? Wake up." He said urgently as he tried to gently shake her unblemished hand. Upon not finding another reaction, he tried the only one left to make sure she would wake.

'I'm sorry, Moana.' He placed his hand on her burned back and gave it a gentle, but firm shake and squeeze. Moana didn't move, nor make a single sound. Maui froze.

'Oh no. Oh Gods no!'

"Moana. Moana! Wake up, Mo! Come on!" He shook her again.

When he received no response he gently picked her up and cradled her in his arms. The tears that were barely grazing his cheeks came unbridled in steady streams as he rocked her in his aching arms. He stared at her motionless face. It was nearly serene. He felt his eyes scrunch close and a tightness in his chest. He felt himself shake as the tightness moved up into his throat, and through an agonizing roar of despair he sobbed. This was too real to be a dream. He could feel her fading warmth. He could smell of her burnt skin. No, no this wasn't a dream. It couldn't be. This had to be reality. They never saved Te Fiti. It was all just an illusion his mind thought to himself. This was the reality. It had to be. He held her close as his forehead joined hers in the sacred hongi.

'Gods, please...not her...spare her…'

"Please….take my powers...take my immortality….take my life…..Gods, just….please...bring her back." He wept; openly and bitterly. He wept, until he felt himself fall into the abyss.