Author's note: Thank you so much, people! I really appreciate your support and so, we move on with the Epicness. Is time for our heroes to meet and yes, I'll be adding a thing or two so we don't end up too quickly.

Let's go!

4. Le Toa

Maui was sure that the noise was from the shore. He walked around to make sure and heard what seemed like… a chicken? Maybe his ears were playing tricks on him. Or maybe not, cuz it was followed by the rush of footsteps in the sand. Someone was on his island. He moved slowly towards the sealine and was out of his breath. If he had paid more attention he would have probably heard the ranting of the sixteen years old girl hiding behind the object of his dreams as she rehearsed the way of talking to him but, never mind that. Oh, yes! Yes! YES! FINALLY!

"A boat. A boat! The god's had given me a…" the demigod lifted the vessel with one arm. Maui was so delighted with the view that, when he noticed the small human under it, he couldn't help a shout and dropped the canoe in panic. It took him a few seconds before he realized that he had probably splashed the poor thing but when he lifted it again, there was only a dazed little rooster. Now, where did the weasel pop? Someone cleared her throat behind him. Oh, there she is! And she was quick to avoid being hit when Maui turned around to face her with the canoe still on his shoulder.

"Maui, shape-shifter… Demigod of the Wind and the Sea… I am Moana of…" some rehearsed speech that was.

"Hero of Men" Maui had to step in a few times so that she said the titles right. You can't be a proper demigod if you don't keep your labels in check. Obviously, the girl didn't like that a single thing. She kept saying something about being Moana of Motonui or something like that. Maui had his hopes of her being his dear friend but that aggressive and proud look didn't fit with the little girl the demigod knew so he decided to treat her from zero and look for a way to get her attention or at least, her boat. And why did she keep waving her oar like… Oh, right! "Oh, yes, of course, of course!" he put down the canoe. "Maui has always time for his fans" he grabbed the oar and the stuck chicken in the sand to sign. "Here's a bird to write with. It's called tweeting" and there you go, sweetheart. A heart and hook. Not bad, hu? She must out of her mind with… Ouch! The girl has just hit him with the oar. What was that for?

"You're not my hero. And I'm not here so you can sign my oar. I'm here cuz you stole the heart of Te Fiti" she opens up her necklace revealing the small green stone. Just great. She has a death signal hanging from her neck. This is just getting better. And that leaves her out of coming with him. Ouch! And did the kid really have to grab him for the ear like a naughty child while she tried to get her oar? "You WILL board my boat, sail across the sea… and put it back" aaaaah, nope. No way. He tried talking her out of the idea and actually told the truth when he revealed that he stole the Heart for humankind but she seemed determined to ignore him so Maui decided to change strategies. Ok, time for plan b.

"So what I believe you're trying to say is 'Thank you'"

"Thank you?"

"You're welcome"

"What? No, no, I…" she stammered and he saw his chance. Truth was humans owned him big time and using that as a support, the demigod put his idea in action. She did seem surprised when she noticed Mini-Maui but that didn't keep him from moving on.

"Okay, okay, I see what's happening here

You're face-to-face with greatness and it's strange

You don't even know how you feel, it's adorable

Well, it's nice to see that humans never change

Open your eyes, let's begin

Yes it's really me, It's Maui, breathe it in

I know it's a lot: the hair, the bod

When you're staring at a demigod

What can I say except "you're welcome"?

For the tides, the sun, the sky

Hey, it's okay, it's okay, you're welcome

I'm just an ordinary demi-guy!

Hey, what has two thumbs and pulled up the sky

When you were waddling ye high? This guy

When the nights got cold, who stole you fire from down below?

You're looking at him, yo!

Oh, also I lassoed the sun, you're welcome

To stretch your days and bring you fun

Also, I harnessed the breeze, you're welcome

To fill your sails and shake your trees

So, what can I say except "you're welcome"?

For the islands I pulled from the sea

There's no need to pray, it's okay, you're welcome

I guess it's just my way of being me

You're welcome, you're welcome

Well, come to think of it

Kid, honestly, I can go on and on

I can explain every natural phenomenon

The tide, the grass, the ground

Oh, that was Maui just messing around

I killed an eel, I buried its guts

Sprouted a tree, now you've got coconuts

What's the lesson? What is the takeaway?

Don't mess with Maui when he's on the breakaway

And the tapestry here in my skin

Is a map of the victories I win

Look where I've been, I make everything happen

Look at that mean mini Maui just tippity tapping

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, hey

Well anyway, let me say you're welcome

For the wonderful world you know

Hey, it's okay, it's okay you're welcome

Well, come to think of it, I gotta go

Hey, it's your day to say "you're welcome"

'Cause I'm gonna need that boat

I'm sailing away, away, you're welcome

'Cause Maui can do everything but float

You're welcome, you're welcome

And thank you!" And she felt for it and into the cave, sweetie. It felt good to know that he hadn't lost his touch after ten centuries. They didn't call him trickster for nothing. He had the boat, she had an island for… Hey! Mini Maui couldn't agree with him. "Ouch! No, I'm not getting to Fe Fiti with some kid. I gotta get my hook back, you got yours and I'm not Maui without mine" this little fella surely is persistent. "Ok, talk to the back" he pushed his moving conscience to the drawings in his spine and walked towards the boat where he saw the rooster. Oh, yes! Two for the prize of one. "Boat snack!" he pushed the canoe into the water. "Good riddance, you filthy pile of pebbles!" and there was Mini Maui again giving him the cold stare. "What? Is a beautiful cave. She'll love it. And I'm gonna love you in my belly. Let's fill you up, Drumstick" he put some grain for the rooster but it didn't seem to understand that he had to eat it. The demigod had to put the bird in the right position. A kid and a stupid chicken, some duo! Uh? Someone was shouting. And here she comes doing an Olympic… No. The girl jumped from the cliffs but landed in the water, far from him. When she went back to the surface, he smiled. "I could watch this all day. Well, enjoy the island! Maui's out! The demigod set the sail and with a wind blow, he began to leave the rock behind. He thought he was finally out when a watery sound reached his ears and a strange water bubble hit the deck with the girl inside. "Did not see that coming" she moved her head with defiance and her hair splattered against her face. The kid had to put it away before talking. Maui had to keep himself from laughing out loud.

"I am Moana of Motonui. This is my canoe and you will journey to…" not happening, sweetheart. The demigod grabbed her and tossed her overboard. Mini-Maui became distressed but there was no time.

"All right, get over it. We gotta move… and she's back" Oh, gods!

"I am Moana of Motonui. This is my canoe and you will…" one move and again she's in the water for a few seconds before being carried onboard again. The Ocean seems to like this kid too much.

"It was Moana, right?"

"Yes, and you will restore the heart…" no, I'm not. Maui didn't have second thoughts. The moment she showed him the stone, he grabbed it and threw it as far as he could. It took the water ten seconds to throw it back in the face of the demigod, knocking him out. Fine, I get the point.

"Ok, I'm out" the man jumped into the ocean and was carried overboard before he could even get far. "Oh, c'mon on!" the Ocean answered spraying his face.

"What is your problem? Are you afraid of this?" the girl picked it up and held it close to him. Maui couldn't help scurrying back. That tiny piece of trouble was better in the bottom of the ocean.

"What, no! No, no, I'm not afraid" he tried showing a brave face but Mini-Maui showed that he was panicking and nodded. "You stay out of this or you're sleeping in my armpit. You stop it. That is not a heart, is a curse. The second I took it, I was blasted out of the sky and I lost my hook… Get it away from me!" why was she holding that thing so close?

"Get this away?" and now she's getting cocky and enjoying herself. Perfect.

"Hey, hey, hey. Stop that. I'm a demigod and I will smite you. You wanna get smout, smouten? Argh! Listen! That thing doesn't give you power to create life, is a homing-beacon of death. And if you don't put it away bad things are come for it!" that was driving him mad.

"Come for this?" yes, your stupid green spout is a whole lot of trouble. "The heart? You mean this thing? COME AND GET IT!" she started shouting ignoring his warnings. Nice show, Curly.

"Hush, you're gonna get us killed!" he frowned. She did still not believe him when a harpoon hit their deck. The rooster pecked it and Maui inspected it. Thanks for calling that blood-thirsty lot, kid, now we're in real trouble. "Kakamora"

"Kaka-what?"

"Murdering little pirates. I wonder what they come here for" he spared a glance towards the Heart before staring at the fog in the distance. Over a small rock, three small coconut figures were looking their way and talking in their usual knocking language. That couldn't be good.

"They're kind of cute" are you kidding me, kid?

The trio painted their faces in a fiery way and took out their weapons. Curly held her breath and Maui frowned even deeper as three large vessels appeared through the fog at the sound of the seashell. Now they were in one hell of trouble.

The Kakamora! Based on the mythology of the Salomon islands! This is going to be one challenge of a chapter but all in good time.

I hope I was able to capture this scene to start with.

And perhaps I'll add another of Maui's foes on this journey, we'll see.

Enjoy!