I am finishing this story today because I have something to do tomorrow and won't be able to get on. Enjoy the ending!
Moana was sore, especially her throat. She coughed, curling up on her side. A large hand settled on her head.
"Easy, Moana."
"Maui?" she rasped, opening her eyes to stare at him. He helped her to sit up, and her arms trembled. "What happened?"
"You nearly drowned," he murmured, swiping her dry hair out of her face.
"Am I alright?"
"Are you?"
"Part of me is missing," she whimpered.
A delicate hand held out a blue stone, and Moana looked up to see Te Fiti. The other gods were cooking pork and fish, but all of their eyes were on her, their hands frozen in whatever task they had been performing.
The goddess handed her the carved blue rock. "Kanaloa is in this stone. But before you break it, we have something to say to you, Moana of Motunui."
They all stood as one and bowed low to her. "You have our sincerest gratitude," Lono said solemnly.
"Yes, Moana. Kanaloa has chosen the best companion in the known world," his sister said with a nod.
"Companion?"
"I do not know if you will ever truly be one," Te Fiti replied. "He…She did not become as we did. She chose a companion, and we will forever be grateful for that. Kanaloa was never as we are, or were, and her becoming was different."
"Where's Whiro?" Moana asked, staring at the glowing symbols on the carved stone.
"Locked in the Underworld, and he will not be let out for a while," Tama-nui-te-ra growled, his eyes flashing in rage. "We have drained most of his power, but we didn't take away all of it."
Moana stared at the gods as they gazed back, respect in their faces. She finally cracked the stone against a rock, and Kanaloa flooded into her mind. She unconsciously tensed then relaxed as strength she didn't know she'd missed came back. The ocean caressed her mind fondly, and she knew it thought she was brave.
"I guess your plan worked, Maui," she said with a smile.
He smiled back, shrugging. "You had a point. You had no powers in our first adventure. I figured you could handle this without any, too."
"It was your plan, Maui?" Lono asked curiously.
"Yeah, Kui was useless," Maui said dismissively, grinning at the other demigod.
"Except as bait," Moana said slyly, and everybody laughed, but nobody laughed as hard as Maui.
"Food, Moana?" Hinakuluiau asked, offering a plate.
"I'll take pork. Kanaloa hasn't tasted pork before."
They all focused on eating for a few minutes. The gods couldn't help but notice that Maui was sitting very close to the girl, and they shared a knowing smile before Te Fiti stood up.
"Let us create a song for Moana that the mortals will sing forevermore!"
"That's not necessary," Moana argued, blushing.
"Nonsense! You taught the villagers my song!" Maui laughed. "And I will teach them yours! When we leave, we will go right back to Motunui so that your father will forgive Kanaloa. He still thinks the ocean killed you."
"And there will be a verse on your love, too," Kui teased.
That shut Maui up, and the gods all laughed. Maui and Moana had hot faces as they looked at each other, but she leaned against him and they shared a kiss.
"You will be together for as long as the world lasts," the black-eyed demigod said to Maui. "You will never mourn for her again."
"Yeah. I know. And that's the best thing the ocean's ever done for me."
"For us," Moana replied, her blue eyes gleaming with emotion.
"Yes, princess."
The girl cried out in anger, shoving him. He laughed, embracing her and kissing her into submission. The other gods didn't understand, but they didn't need to. She pulled back, a challenge in her eyes that Maui would always meet. He smiled, and she kissed him again before drenching him in ocean water.
"I'm not a princess. I have no animal sidekick!"
Maui snorted, picking up his fishhook. "You'll regret that!"
Even Mini-Maui looked vengeful, so she leaped over the fire and ran to the sea, her dearest friend chasing after her, both of them laughing all the way. The gods smiled. It was good to see Maui find somebody, and to have such a brave, fierce girl amongst them. They were pleased, even more so when the ocean spat a fish in the demigod's face. They all descended into rapture, gripping their sides as amusement overcame them, then they turned to composing their new song.