*Author's Note*

Hello my cherished readers!

I feel that it is prudent for me to address the content at the beginning of this chapter.

I have done my best to generalize the research I have managed to do about the Saofa'i and 'ava ceremonies.

I do not go into this lightly, nor do I intend any offence to the rich heritage and culture of the Pacific people.

I tried my best to keep it simple and give all terms for traditional items accordingly. If there is ANY part that I got wrong or messed up, please do not take offence, but tell me so I can address it accordingly.

These ceremonies are complex and steeped in rich tradition. I want to convey their importance without alteration of the facts, within the bounds of this fiction.

I do not pretend to know the slightest bit about these ceremonies, and simply did my best to present them according to a first hand account I read that was written a few years ago by an actual Pacific islander in description of his very own Saofa'i. Taking his account, paired with research I gathered on the internet, I tried to describe a simplified version that fit my story. I tried to avoid too much detail, for simplicity and out of a deep and humble respect for the Pacific culture and her treasured people.

Their culture is beautiful and speaks to me spiritually and emotionally and I hope to one day experience it firsthand.So, with that said, here is chapter four!

X

Chapter 4 *- Saofa'i -*

When Maui finally spots Motunui Island after three days of travel, a dreadful heaviness wraps itself around his chest. He is not looking forward to facing Moana with the replies he received from both gods.

As Maui approaches the shore, he can see that Moana is waiting on the beach. Thankfully, she is alone. Maui slows himself with a few flaps of his wings before he lands on the sand and transforms. When his feet sink into the familiar soft warm sand, it finally sinks in that his week long whirlwind journey is finally over and he lets out a travel weary sigh.

Moana is so relieved to see the demigod has returned safely. But he does not look triumphant at all. He looks downright dejected. Moana's smile falls as she walks over to the tired demigod. When she looks into his eyes, she sees hurt and disappointment. Moana has a feeling she already knows what happened and tears start to well in her eyes as she hugs his chest. Not a single word is spoken for a long span.

When Moana pulls away, she looks up at Maui, holding his forearms with her small hands. "You have the look of disappointment on you. What did they tell you?" Her voice is soft and small, her tone somber. In her eyes, Maui can see that she already knows that the gods said no.

Maui chews his bottom lip for a moment while he gathers the right words. "Well, Te Fiti told me…" Maui pauses, suddenly noticing that the village is extravagantly decorated. "Wait a minute. What's going on, what's with all the decorations?" Maui questions as he looks around at all the red flowers and decorative tapa and torches leading up to the fale tele. There is a lot of red. Red signifies the status of chiefhood.

Moana clears her throat. "The elders began preparations for my Saofa'i three days ago. We are having the 'ava ceremony today and I will be named chief. Then, I will place my stone atop my father's." Moana looks distractedly looks back over her shoulder towards the mountain before looking back at the demigod.

Maui blinks a few times while her words sink in. "Saofa'i… Why are they naming you chief so soon? Wait..." Maui tries to read her expression but his eyes are blurred with sudden tears. "Tui… I… I was too late." Maui's stomach turns itself into knots. He was gone too long, and for nothing. What a waste! I could have been there for her and instead I left on some ill-conceived mission that was doomed to fail from the start. Maui's mind reels and his fists clench with anger directed at himself and his foolhardy sense of heroism.

Moana gasps when she realizes what he must be thinking and grabs Maui by the wrists, "No no no no! Maui! It's okay, he's okay! He's still sick, but he's still here."

Maui's fists unclench, "Oh, thank the gods…" he lets out a heavy sigh of relief, tilting his head back and blinking the tears away. "I'm sorry, I never answered your question." his expression is a bit ashamed. Moana shakes her head in forgiveness and wipes her eyes. "They told me that they can't change what's already preordained to happen. Nothing can be done, and whatever happens, happens." Maui frowns.

Moana frowns in disappointment, but not with Maui. She isn't sure why, but she had a feeling that this was something that couldn't be changed. "Maui," she whispers in an apologetic tone.

"I know, pretty shit answer if you ask me." Maui grumbles as he scratches the back of his head and looks down at the ground. He swirls his big toe in the sand. Moana suddenly presses herself against his torso and wraps her arms around him tightly. At first startled by her openness, Maui eventually softens and wraps his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, Moana." he whispers gently as he feels her hot tears run down his chest.

"It's not your fault," she says softly into his skin.

After a few beats of silence, Maui pulls away from Moana and takes her shoulders in his hands. He looks down into her red teary eyes, "So, why now? Why not wait to perform the Saofa'i later? Say, at the end of the wet season?"

"The elders decided that it was time to name me chief. They said that with the state of my father's health, it would be simpler this way. They told me I was ready." Moana starts to babble between sobs. "I'm not… I don't... feel ready. For any of this."

Maui hurts for her. His face clenches sympathetically and he squeezes his eyes closed and pulls her into a reassuring hug. "Moana," Maui starts as he opens his eyes and pulls back. He takes her upper arms gently in his hands and looks hard at her, conviction plain on his face, "You are ready." Moana looks up at him with hope in her eyes and a smile grows across her face.

"Thanks Maui." Moana says with a small wash of relief.

Maui smiles broadly, "You've come so far, and remember, I've always got your back, chosen one." Moana smiles gratefully and throws herself against Maui in a hug that he warmly returns. "Okay, okay, let's get going, you have a big day ahead of you!" Maui says with a gentle chuckle.

Moana suddenly gasps in shock, realizing she has to go get dressed and have her headdress woven on and that alone takes hours. "Oh gods, you're right! We gotta go!" Moana says urgently as she pulls Maui by the hand up the beach towards the village and they start running up the hill towards the elders fale.

x

It takes four hours for Moana to get ready, and the majority of that time is spent sitting in the royal fale while her complex tuiga (headdress) is woven section by section into her hair.

Down the hill, Maui has been helping prepare the fale tele for all of the guest seating, arranging fala mats around the large building. In a smaller nearby fale, the 'ava is strained one last time before it is deemed ready.

Maui looks up from folding a fala mat when he hears voices coming from the royal fale. He turns to see what's going on.

Moana has stepped out of the fale surrounded by the elders, all in their finest ceremonial clothes. But when he sees Moana, his heart skips a beat. She looks incredible. All of her clothes are decked out in red. Feathers, shells, paint, flowers. Red designs crawl across the ie lavalava (fine lavalava) she is wearing and her top is completely covered in little scarlet macaw feathers painstakingly sewn one by one onto the fabric. She is wearing her father's whale tooth necklace. Her wrists are adorned with the absolute finest polished kukui nut bracelets. Her headdress, the tuiga, is glorious. It is a stunning palette of reds with bright iridescent white circular shells, cowrie, countless red feathers and a grand spray of vibrant hibiscus red hair. She looks like a chief. Gods above...

Maui gets an elbow to the ribs from a villager beside him and he lets out a small startled sound. "You gonna stare at her, or are you gonna finish arranging these mats?" she quips with a smirk.

Cheeks flushed red, Maui mumbles an apology and returns to his duties. The woman just shakes her head and chuckles.

As the elders escort Moana down the hill through the gathering villagers to the fale tele, Maui and the others finish arranging the last of the seats. The fale tele is ready for the 'ava ceremony.

Starting with Moana at the designated head of the fale, her mother and father seat themselves beside her. Maui is given an honorary seat to Moana's left, since he is a demigod after all. The elders then file in and take their seats on either side of the Waialiki family, working in descending order by their rank in the village council. After the elders have seated themselves, a conch is blown by Tulani, one of the higher ranking elders, calling the village to the fale tele for the ceremony.

Soon, the whole fale tele and the surrounding area is filled with people and the elders begin the ceremony. Songs are sung, and everyone has their drink of 'ava as the head of the council, Atamai proclaims Moana's new title of High Chief of Motunui.

It takes around an hour for all the elders and council members to drink 'ava as they discuss the future and their plans and the needs of the village going forward. They talk softly amongst themselves as the mildly sedative 'ava seeps through them.

Gifts are received from the people of Motunui and congratulations are sung to Moana before Tui calmly raises his hands. The gathering falls silent as the old chief clears his throat. Atamai helps him stand to speak. "My people. It is with great pride that I give you my daughter as my successor." Tui pauses to cough, then he clears his throat and continues. "With Moana leading you, I have no doubts that as a people we will grow stronger and braver. We will sail to the ends of the earth and find many new islands and start many great villages." Tui pauses again to catch his breath for a moment. "As your new chief, Moana will always lead you to prosperity and happiness. May she lead you for many, many long years. Moana," he looks now to his daughter and smiles, extending his hand to his seated daughter. Moana looks up to her father and takes his hand with a smile and stands up beside him. "My daughter, it is time for you to place your stone on the top of the mountain, and raise this whole island higher!"

Moana has tears streaking from her eyes as she smiles at her father.

The village erupts in cheers and the people start singing as they file out towards the mountain path. People line each side of the path all the way up and at last, Moana and her father, followed by Sina and the high council members make their way to the base of the mountain. Maui follows beside Tui so the weary old chief can lean on him while he walks.

Tui is only able to walk up to the base of the mountain before he becomes winded and has a coughing fit.

Maui stops and helps him take a seat on a rock. "You need to rest."

Tui shakes his head as he coughs for a moment, "Just for a moment, then we continue. I will climb this mountain for my daughter." Maui nods respectfully and waits with Tui until he stands. They make their way slowly up the mountain with the elders and council members.

It takes Tui longer to climb because she must rest frequently, but Moana hangs back and they walk together all the way to the top.

The elders gather around the stack of ancient stones and Atamai holds Moana's stone as he stands beside the stack.

Tui walks over to Atamai and puts his palm on the cool stone in his hands. "Moana, step forward." Tui instructs. Moana walks over and stands in front of Atamai and Tui. "Chief Moana Waialiki, with this stone, you will, as your ancestors before you, raise this island higher. It will signify your lasting contribution and devotion to this village. Remember those who came before you, and honor them." together, Tui and Atamai extend the stone towards her.

Moana looks to the stack and sees her conch, the one the ocean washed up the day she returned from her fateful journey to Te Fiti. She reaches over to it and picks it up, turning the colorful shell in her hands thoughtfully. Then she looks up at the elder and her father. With a sure smile she places the shell atop the stone and then takes the stone from their grip. She feels the weight of it in her hands. She commits that weight to her memories. Then she turns to face the stack beside her and carefully places hers on top of her father's.

The stone represents her position as chief, and the shell her commitment to her heritage as a voyager. The shell also serves as a reminder of everything she went through to come to this point. That day many years ago when she, as just a small child barely able to walk, wandered to the ocean to collect a conch and decided to help a baby sea turtle instead. When she first met the ocean. The same day the ocean chose her to restore the heart of Te Fiti.

She turns to look back at Atamai and Tui and smiles. Atamai steps forward and pulls her into a honi. Moana smiles and closes her eyes, holding the elder's shoulders.

"We are all so proud of you, Moana. You will be a good leader." Atamai assures her in a soft tone as they pull away from one another.

Now Tui steps closer to her and grips her hands securely. "You are the best daughter a father could ask for. I am so proud of you, Moana." He pulls her into a brief honi before he pulls away with a proud smile. "Let's head down the mountain for lunch. You need to eat before you start your tatau." Tui lovingly tucks a stray strand of hair behind one of her ears.

At that reminder, Moana's stomach lurches. She had forgotten all about getting her tatau! Nervously she nods and turns to face the council of elders and all of them kneel down and bow to her, the new chief. She waits for them to stand and turn around to walk down the mountain.

Maui steps over to Tui and puts a hand lightly on his shoulder. "I can carry you down if it would make it easier on you? There's no need to strain yourself."

Tui takes a moment to consider the demigod's offer. Then, he nods with a few coughs. Maui gently lifts Tui under his arms and knees and carries him down the mountain bridal style.

After descending the mountain, Tui walks Moana down the ceremonial path lined on both sides by every villager, to the royal fale so the elders can remove her tuiga. She then changes into much lighter, somewhat more revealing clothes to facilitate her tatau ceremony. A plain cloth top that has one shoulder, much like her favored cowrie shell embroidered red top, and simple short cloth sarong.

Tui leads her in and presents her to the master tattoo artist, or tufuga ta tatau, Opetaia. Maui waits outside. When he steps back outside a few moments later, Tui asks Maui to join Moana to receive his own tatau as well to commemorate not only Tui's gratitude, but Maui's place among the people of Motunui. Maui's expression becomes deeply grateful, "I would be deeply honored."

Tui smiles and gestures to the doorway and Maui enters the fale. When he looks around, Maui sees the two tufuga ta tatau and Moana in the center of the fale. There are two mats side by side on the floor and Moana is kneeling on one. She looks up when she hears him enter and her whole face lights up. Maui cannot help but smile as he walks over and kneels beside her on the other mat. He reaches out for her hand and waits for her to take it.

Moana timidly reaches over and takes hold of his hand and they both lay down on their stomachs. Their tufuga ta tatau each prepare their skin and prepare their tools as Moana looks anxiously into Maui's eyes. Maui let's Moana squeeze his hand as they both have new ink pounded into their skin.

Both of the tufuga ta tatau sing rhythmic ancestral songs as they immerse themselves in their work. The fale is filled with their voices and the tapping of their tools.

Maui is given designs that fill some of the larger, empty spaces in his calf and thigh tattoos. The tufuga ta tatau adds designs that tell of his strength and connectedness to the people and the sea, including small fish and the unique fala weave design of the people of Motunui.

Moana's are slightly unusual, in that she receives the traditional designs that denote chief hood, the pe'a, which are normally carried by a man, but hers are modified to appear more like the malu women are given. That way, she has the signification, without so much heavy inking. Softer, lighter lines and less heavy color blocking to render a more delicate feminine tatau that still asserts her chiefhood.

As they start to take shape across the small of her back, sides of her hips and around to the front of her upper thighs, Maui is filled with pride at just how well they suit her. The ink designs are strong, beautiful and intricate. When completed over the next week, the tatau will cover from her waist down to just below her knees.

x

After many hours, Moana emerges exhausted from her first tatau session, tender and a little bloody and bruised. Smiling with pride to the elated gasps of Moana's mother and the female elders, Vai and Sulata whom had stayed to comfort Sina. Moana will continue the process over the following days until her pe'a-malu, as her tufuga ta tatau affectionately called it, is complete.

Outside, the council elders and Moana's parents have been singing along with the tufuga ta tatau. When he hears the tapa curtains shuffle, Tui shakily gets to his feet from the steps outside the fale and faces his emerging daughter. When his eyes fall on Moana, tears instantly spring to his eyes and fall down his cheeks, a massive proud smile splitting his face.

Her clothes are stained with ink and some ink-darkened blood. The garments are modest and simple but show off most of her fresh marks and as her father follows each line and sees the story that the ink has started, he only cries harder. "Aue… My most beautiful daughter…" he starts through a shaking voice, "You will be the greatest chief Motunui has ever known." His chest swells with pride as Sina, rendered speechless and teary-eyed at the sight of her daughter, helps him walk over to her and both of them firmly embrace her, careful of her tender tatau, but still holding as tight and close as possible. She and her father share a tearful honi, crying through their smiles. Tui us overwhelmed with pride.

Maui steps out of the fale now, and walks up behind Moana, having put his lavalava back over his loincloth for modesty's sake. With a huge happy sigh, he wraps his huge arms around all three of them, pulling the family tightly against his broad chest and lets out a peal of laughter, eliciting a chorus of the same in reply from the Waialiki family. "Nothing like a fresh tatau to bring a family together." Maui offhandedly says with a smile, and Tui, despite his chest congestion and pain, laughs heartily until fresh tears well in his eyes.

"Speaking of tatau," Tui starts, pausing to cough, "let's see yours, Maui!" He finishes with arched brows and the family moves apart and turns to face Maui.

Maui's face darkens with a sudden ferocious blush as all their eyes search his body for his new ink. He's never felt quite so scrutinized. He nervously runs his hand through his hair and shifts on his feet, hesitant. "Uh…" Maui lets out a nervous chuckle.

Moana steps up and puts a gentle hand atop his left forearm, reaching up to his right holding the back of his head. She gently pulls his arm down and smiles up at him. "No need to be bashful, Mighty Maui. Bare them proudly, you earned every strike against your flesh."

Maui's head tilts thoughtfully at her words and he sighs, relenting with a growing smirk. "I suppose you're right, I just don't want to take the attention away from the one who really deserves it today… it is your day after all." he says with a humble smile as he unties his lavalava and unwraps it from around his waist, revealing his legs and the fresh designs within, and around his existing tatau.

Moana can't help but giggle at Maui, "Don't worry, you can't steal my spotlight, demigod. I'm a chief now! That means you can't call me princess anymore either." Moana finishes with a smirk and her hands on her hips. Everyone laughs at Moana's snark as they move closer to examine Maui's tatau.

Maui smiles as Sina, Tui and the two elders, Vai and Sulata scrutinize his tufuga ta tatau's handiwork, still blushing fiercely, but baring his new ink proudly.

Moana's tufuga ta tatau, Opetaia, steps out, all of his supplies packaged up in the cylindrical container he keeps them in, and his four assistants follow him out. Shortly, Maui's tufuga ta tatau, Talaga, steps out with his equipment and assistants in tow. Talaga and all eight assistants exchange farewells with the Waialiki family, to go clean up for dinner, leaving Opetaia.

Opetaia gestures for Maui and Moana to come to him. When they step up to the artist he takes their hands together in his and squeezes before letting them go. "Come with me to the beach so that we may cleanse your skin with the ocean's salty caress."

Moana and Maui make eye contact and Maui smiles with a raised eyebrow at his poetic words and smile before looking back at Opetaia and nodding. Moana shares a honi with Sina and the others before they help walk Tui to his fale so he can rest.

Opetaia leads Moana and Maui down through the village to the gentle slope of the beach where he walks between them, leading them towards the surf. Together, they wade into the surf and Moana winces at the stinging of the salt water, gripping Maui's hand tightly. His brow furrows a bit at the sharp bite of the ocean against his raw skin, but he forces a smile to take over, looking into Moana's eyes to ground her through the burning pain. Silently, Moana stares hard into Maui's eyes as Opetaia wets a soft cloth that he carefully wipes over their tatau one last time before he takes each of their cheeks in his hands and gives them both a honi before departing.

Maui and Moana are left alone in the surf as the sunset renders countless colors across the sky and the surface of the sea like a bouquet of flowers. Maui stares out into the distance and just breathes as the stinging of the salt is replaced by a gentle soothing coolness that puts him at ease. A part of him likes the fact that the new tatau is painful, unlike all his others. It is a rite of passage. You earn it, just like his others, but with the shedding of blood and the experience of intense pain through the process. Gives it that much more meaning.

So far, Moana's lower back, around her hips and the top three or four inches of her legs have been tattooed, including her bum. That part hurts the most right now. She knows she won't be doing any sitting anytime soon. But she is so thankful she has started getting her ink. The pain is totally worth seeing her father cry those proud, fat tears.

Her heart clenches. Her father, despite putting on a tough face for the village, is not doing any better. Moana is terrified for her dad. Each day, he slips further and further into the sickness and it takes more and more of his strength. He can barely eat and he has lost so much weight. Though he is a thickly muscled man, much like Maui, even that has begun to be sapped away by the illness.

The awful thought that she is watching him waste away strikes her aggressively and without warning. Without realizing, Moana has wrapped her arms around her chest, as though trying to keep herself from shattering into a thousand pieces like a delicate sand dollar beneath a careless foot.

Maui's huge hand on her shoulder startles her and she looks up into his deeply concerned face and her heart hurts even more when faced with the possibility of having to explain her shift in mood. A sob rises unbidden in her chest as she cracks, stumbling into Maui's huge embrace, her head hitting his chest heavily as she cries quietly for her father.

Maui is initially given pause because of her behavior, jerking a bit when she collides with his chest, but he quickly feels how much she hurts so he silently holds her. Deciding it would be best not to push for an explanation at all, Maui instead allows Moana to sob out her sorrow against him as the sun slips beneath the line where the sky meets the sea.

He rests his chin on top of her head and gently strokes the back of her head to soothe her. After a span, Moana falls quiet, and with a few sniffles, she pulls her hands up against his chest and presses her fingertips against his skin. Looking up at him from within his arms, she takes a steadying breath and lets it out as he looks down at her, "I don't want to lose him, Maui." She croaks slowly, chin trembling as a fresh wave of sadness threatens to wash away her ghost of composure again.

Maui is gripped with that empathetic clench in his chest at the pain in her eyes and voice. He takes a breath searching for words, but finds none as Moana rests her ear against his sternum. Maui cradles the side of her head with his hand and tightens his other arm protectively around her torso, trying as hard as he can to keep her from falling to a thousand pieces.

x

It is late afternoon and Maui stands at the doorway to the fale where Tui is staying. The weary chief lays quietly on the thick soft fala where his mother passed so many years before. Moana has her forehead on his shoulder and her arms gently around him and he holds her warmly with one arm. Sweat beads on his brow. He has been taken quite suddenly by a strong fever that refuses to break.

Maui slips in quietly and stands in a corner, shrouded in shadow where the dim light from the two torches does not quite reach. He will not move closer unbidden. Only if asked. Part of him hopes he remains unnoticed. He doesn't feel like it's his place.

Sina is at her husband's other side, a hand resting on his chest as she runs a damp cloth over his forehead with her other. Diligent. Watchful. Unflinching in her devotion.

Maui can feel the difference in the molecules of the air. Thousands of years and a bit of demi-godly mojo lends him a keen sense of the world and the ebb and flow of life all around him. He can feel that something is different today. That knowledge makes his heart thud harder against his ribs like a constrained beast.

He loathes the illness that causes so much pain to the people he cares so much about. His fragile, precious mortal friends. That thought sends a jolt through his veins and the tempo in his chest steps up a few notches. He can't do anything. He is powerless. And that thought kills him. It twists him up inside. His jaw clenches with a brief wash of fury. The mighty Maui, powerful demigod and protector of human kind cannot defeat an invisible and miniscule disease. It's devastating and infuriating and unfair.

The sound of shifting limbs across fala mats rouses the demigod from his brooding and he looks up as Moana leans over her father's head and kisses his forehead. Tui weakly takes her head in both of his hands and holds her in a brief honi before letting her go. Maui looks to Sina and watches her as she wipes his forehead again. There is so much love in his tired eyes, and an equal helping in Sina's as she tenderly smiles back at him. Moana slowly rises to her feet and turns away from her father. She jumps a bit when her eyes outline Maui in the corner, a hand involuntarily rising protectively over her chest before she walks quickly over to him.

Maui opens his arms to her and she does not even hesitate, she quickly steps into his embrace and buries her face in his big chest. She heaves a burdened sigh and squeezes her arms around him and he holds her silently.

Tui coughs roughly a few times and it makes Moana tense in his arms. He sounds worse than he ever has. Weakened. Exhausted.

"Can you walk with me to Gramma Tala's beach…" Moana whispers barely loud enough against Maui's skin, but Maui hears her loud and clear. Wordlessly, Maui takes Moana by the hand. She lets out a small shocked sound before she looks up into his eyes. She was caught up in thought and his touch startled her. His expression becomes tender. An expression that puts a small seed of comfort in her heart.

Maui leads her out of the fale and they walk the path he now knows so well. Down to the water's edge through the leafy underbrush.

The path he walked so many times with Tui. The path he held so many conversations on. Carried armfuls of coconuts, baskets of taro, thousands of kukui nuts. Over the past four years, Maui seamlessly integrated himself into the daily island chores and that alone made him feel more important and more valuable than any fantastic feat ever did. Tui became like a brother to him. They joked, worked, sweated, laughed together. They built islands together. Tui is one of the best friends Maui has made in a mortal man. Tui and his wife Sina are the closest thing he has to family.

Without realizing it in his deep thought, he has made it to the beach. They step out into the sand and walk down to the water's edge.

Moana turns into his chest and presses her ear there, heaving a sigh as her arms wrap tight around his big ribcage. Maui holds her close and presses his lips to the top of her head softly. The breath he draws in through his nose fills his lungs with the sweet scent of her hair and he closes his eyes, assaulted by a sudden and painful dichotomy of emotion. This sudden upwelling of feelings for Moana seem only to have been intensified by the powerful sensitivity brought on by her father's declining health. He is suddenly immensely protective. And then… there is something else. He feels a nervous flutter in his chest. That feeling gives him pause.

Moana hears the sudden disruption of his steady heartbeat and looks up with concern worrying creases on her forehead. "Maui… are you okay?"

Bad timing. He feels his cheeks heat up and he quickly stifles his emotions, horrible timing… ugh. "What? Yeah, I'm fine." he says, just a little fast. I'm really not. He thinks as he reassures her, stroking a hand down the back of her head with a reassuring smile. I have way too much rattling around in my head right now…

He glances behind her and his eyebrows rise when he sees a familiar shape in the surf. He looks back down at Moana with relief tingling in his fingertips, "someone's here to see you." His voice is low and gentle and he sees the goosebumps that rise momentarily on her shoulders and upper arms. That makes him smile a little bit. He's not the only one feeling overcharged with emotions. That's a relief.

Moana's eyes widen as the knowledge of her Gramma Tala's appearance pushes everything else to the back burners. A small smile peeks on her lips as she turns to face the manta ray cruising in the calm surf. "Gramma!" she calls out as she rushes to the water. The spirit lifts from the water in a misty blue cloud that takes the shape of Tala, arms outstretched and waiting for Moana. She has a bright smile on her gentle face that puts Maui at ease.

"Moana," Tala's warm grandmotherly voice fills Moana up inside as she embraces her granddaughter. "Oh look at how much you've grown," the spirit woman lets out a pleased gasp, "and your tatau! Oh! Look at it! I'm so proud of you, little minnow. I always knew you'd go so far!" She hugs Moana so warmly and Moana melts into her grandmother's spirit, finding healing in her embrace.

Gramma Tala looks over Moana's shoulder and looks right into Maui's eyes. Maui swallows hard as his heart stumbles for a second, "And look who else showed up, my favorite demigod." Tala raises a mildly sarcastic eyebrow at said demigod and he rubs the back of his head, avoiding eye contact. Maui manages to smile awkwardly at her as she sort of hobble floats over to him. She stops right in front of him and looks up into to his eyes, leaning up as far as she can before suddenly she snatches his left ear and yanks the demigod down to her eye level, making him yelp out a little sound of shock, a nervous grimace on his face.

Gramma Tala lowers her voice as she speaks in Maui's ear, her tone serious, "Now you listen and hear me well. I have seen the way your eyes follow Moana like a watchful hawk." Tala squints at him pryingly, "I know you feel that flutter here every time you look at her," Tala prods her left index finger firmly against his heart and Maui swallows hard as this old woman reads him like an open book. "You must understand that love is many things, if not sacrifice." Her left hand now rests on her hip, "If you plan on sharing your life with her, understand that you cannot come and go freely. You must learn to compromise, listen to her and hear what she says. And don't ever, EVER shut her out." Tala yanks firmly on Maui's earlobe for emphasis and the demigod cringes, he knows exactly what side of her family she got her spunk from. "She may be strong and defiant and brave, but she is also tender. Don't ever take that for granted." A pinch on his earlobe this time makes one of his eyes squint closed, "I know you carry a great many burdens, but if you share yourself with another, they can help you carry them, you don't have to do it alone." Tala gently presses her left palm against his chest now, her tone shifting drastically. Maui's heart stumbles at the similarity between Tala and Moana. "Now, for the message I came all the way here to tell you. I know my son is very ill, and is not very long for this world. She will need you now, more than ever. Take care of yourself. And my granddaughter." Tala releases his earlobe and pulls Maui into a long honi, a warm, grandmotherly smile on her face. Maui takes a long breath and feels her spirit surround him and comfort his soul.

Maui sighs into the honi and Tala releases him, cupping his cheek before turning back to confront Moana. Maui mulls over her words as he watches the old woman's spirit hobble back over to Moana.

Am I that obvious? Maui takes a seat in the sand, keeping his distance from the two women out of respect and doodles absently in the sand, thinking very deeply on her words.

Tala stands before Moana and Moana's brow slowly creases deeper and deeper with relief. "Oh, Moana. I am so very proud of you. You have become so powerful and sure. But even so, there is unrest in your heart." Tala tilts her head, considering Moana very seriously for a moment. "I feel the joy. And I feel the crushing anxiety. The weight of your chiefhood rests very squarely and quite heavily on your shoulders." She asserts as she rests her hands on Moana's shoulders. "There is a song, that was sung to me long long ago, when I was only a few years old, by an elder who mentored my mother. May I sing it to you, Moana?" Tala asks, running the backs of her fingers down Moana's cheek.

Moana holds her grandmother's hand against her cheek and nods, "I would be honored."

Tala smiles in that way, showing her emotional connection to this song. At first she softly hums a haunting, ethereal tune, looking out at sea and feeling the flow and the rhythm of the ancient song in her spirit before she begins singing.

"E koe mahino, (you will understand)

You will understand.

Whakarongo ki tou ngakau (listen with your heart)

You will understand

Let it break upon you,

Like a wave upon the sand.

Listen with your heart,

You will understand."

"Whakarongo ki tou ngakau, Moana. E koe mahino." Tala says after finishing the haunting song that gave Moana goosebumps. Moana nods and hugs her Gramma's spirit.

Maui hears Tala start to sing a very old song that strikes a powerful chord in his heart. As he listens, he draws his hook, erases it and draws that familiar spiral from Moana's sail, the same one now permanently tattooed over his heart. Then he erases that and draws a little turtle. He draws the spiral on its shell. Little honu. That makes him smile. He looks up to see the two women embrace one another and Tala walks into the water, disappearing quickly into the surf. He watches the glowing ray leap over the waves in the distance and then he looks back at Moana.

He watches her as she stares out at the setting sun. Her hair is alight with the warm orange glow of the sunset and it shines like a halo around her head. Maui cannot stop his wandering eyes from following the curve of her hips down to her strongly muscled calves. He watches her gather her hair atop her head and contain it in a bun with a piece of twine. Then she turns to face him and his heart leaps unbidden into his throat and he tries to nonchalantly tip back onto his right elbow. He mostly manages it. Moana walks over and seats herself in the space beside him, crossing her legs and gripping her ankles as she leans against him with a sigh. She does not speak for a long span, and neither does Maui, both of them content to sit quietly with each other and watch the sun go down as they digest Tala's words.

x

It's a while after sunset and Maui finds himself reclining on his back, staring at the stars, making his own constellations across the star-laden belt of light that arcs across the night sky. Realizing how late it is, he sits up to find Moana's dozing on the sand beside him. He looks up towards the village. Very few torches remain lit, it's after dinner. Oh… dinner. He thinks ruefully to himself as his stomach growls. His attention returns to Moana. Strands of her hair drape across her face and she has a little sand on her cheek but Maui can't stop himself from smiling. She's still beautiful. He muses as he ever-so-gently brushes the hair away from her face and uses the back of his finger to brush the sand off her cheek. The last sweep of his digit across her cheek makes her eyes flutter open. Maui pulls away and freezes, waiting for her reaction, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest.

"Maui," she starts sleepily, "How long has it been dark?" she slowly sits up and rubs her eyes. Maui relaxes with a smile.

"Not too long, but long enough for dinner to be over." Maui gets to his feet and Moana sits up and watches him. "We should head up and at least get something small before bed. Come on." Maui says with his hand extending as an offer to help her get to her feet. He smiles when she takes it and he lifts her effortlessly to her feet. He keeps a gentle hold of her hand and leads the way up to the village. They manage to rustle up a couple mangoes and a banana apiece to eat before they go to bed, passing out shortly after they lay down on their fala.

x