At breakfast the Yokai tucked in with their usual fervor. Moana, dressed in a pink kimono covered in a pattern of sakura petals, stood up causing the entire room to silence.
"Listen, everyone. The Tipua have weakened the sealed portal to the Unseelie Realm. Soon, they will break free. I need your help. Gather everyone you know. If you don't know someone try to make a connection and bring them onto our cause. At sundown we will meet at the Great Lake. In order to protect all we hold dear we will have to fight together! There aren't any factions just as in the days of old. We are FAE, creatures who ensoul the very essence of nature. ", Moana said. "We ARE ONE! We are FAE!"
The Yokai jumped to their feet, tentacles, ghostly tendrils, and bones all cheering so loud it rattled the walls. Throwing their appendages in the air they chanted "We are one! We are Fae!" as they charged out the front double doors. Moana stared into space as the hall emptied out. Maui, still remained in his seat shoving his face with the remainder of his breakfast.
"I'm terrified.", Moana said softly. Maui looked up from his numerous plates.
"Of what?", Maui said mouth half full.
"I don't know if it will make any difference", Moana said. Her limbs felt heavy and her head spun. With an exhaled breath she sat down. "The Seelie realm has been segregated for centuries, Maui. Centuries! If we don't unite we're doomed. But, even if we fail I can at least say that I did everything I could"
Standing up she made her way to the door. "Where do you think you're goin'?", Maui said.
"I wouldn't be much of a leader if I didn't do what I told others to do", Moana said.
"Nah, that's not what I was talkin' about. You can't be seriously goin' on without me?", Maui said gayly.
"When we first got here you really hated the Seelie realm. I figured you rather sit this out", Moana said bemused.
"Well, I AM the hero of men and women… everyone loves me!", Maui said. "No one is better suited for a mission like this."
"Maui, you have a way of, how should I say this… your charisma is way too intense for most people and so they end up not liking you!", Moana smirked.
"Oh, I see you're saying that I'm not likable.", Maui said quirking an eyebrow.
"No, I'm saying that you've got a large list of people who feel just as the Ponaturi do.", Moana said.
"HA!", Maui guffawed. "Alright, Curly, I'll show you. No one's more of a people person than ME"
….
Moana walked to the lake and dove in. There she found Gille and the other Pania clustered in a huddle talking with their forked tongues. As she approached they looked her up and down with narrowed eyes. Gille looked over at Moana his nervous gaze flickering between the huddle of Pania and her. Moana approached with crossed arms.
"Hey, Gille", Moana said evenly. Gille nodded. "The Tipua have weakened the portal and soon they'll be in the Seelie realm. We're united the Fae clans in order to fight."
"Isn't that nice", Gille said condescendingly. The other Pania giggled and snickered.
"Yes, it is. You know what won't be nice? A horde of demented Tipua and evil Fae destroying our realm", Moana said. The Pania looked at her with daggers in their eyes. Gille's widened and he grabbed Moana by the arm swimming away from the group.
"Look, I'd love to help but you know it won't make any difference", Gille whispered. "We're all just too different."
"So, what do you suppose we do when they come? Sit by and let them tear us to shreds? Tell me, what will you and your crew do when they find you?", Moana said. She looked at his trembling fragile gate and felt nausea churn in her stomach.
At this he straightened his shoulders and tilted his chin up. "We Pania can deal with anything that comes our way. We don't need any help"
"Yvaine was absolutely right about you and your friends. You're insolent self-absorbed little brats!", Moana yelled. Gille's posture deflated and fear clouded his eyes. Facing his palms upward he created sparks once more transfiguring them into little dolphins. Moana grimaced as she smacked them away from her face. The tiny sparks made miniature explosions before they dissolved into nothing. "If you change your mind the entire Seelie realm WILL be meeting here tonight at sundown".
At that Moana swam to the surface. She walked on shore and began drying herself with a soft cloth and pulling on her pink kimono. Moana watched as Maui instantly threw up his hands against his eyes. In a quick glance she thought she saw his eyes peeking through tiny gaps between a few separated fingers. Looking up once more his fingers were held tightly against one another and the gaps were gone. Shrugging her shoulders she tied her Obi and was done.
"How'd it go?", Maui said unshielding his eyes.
"About as good as I figured it would go", Moana groaned. "I'll talk to the Elder Pania later. It's such a disappointment talking to them. I guessed I romanticized the Pania. So, I had pretty high expectations. I would've at least settled for rude but helpful and accommodating. But, NO, they had to be complete jerks."
"That's life, Mo", Maui said.
Moana sighed. "Anyway, let's get going. I have a feeling sundown will come sooner than expected", Moana said.
"So, you got a plan?", Maui said.
"Nope, let just keep walking. If we find someone let's talk to them", Moana said.
"Heh, this a new one! The Organizing Queen is being spontaneous! Looks like I'm rubbin' off on ya'", Maui said gently elbowing her. Moana stuck out her tongue at him and she laughed.
They came to a clearing in the trees where several tiny log houses with green roofs sat side by side. Each had red brick chimneys with billows of white smoke rising from them. In front of the houses stood a long wooden table with a roasted pheasant, a pile of steaming potatoes, loaves of bread, pine nuts, wild strawberries, large wheels of cheese, and various sweets atop it. Clustered around the table sat diminutive squat men who chattered and guffawed heartily. They each had large metal steins in their hands as amber mead sloshed from within causing the white foam atop to slither down the sides. Their beards were full and fluffy reaching their protruding bellies.
"Man, I haven't had Honey Mead in centuries", Maui said licking his lips. "One drink won't hurt and some of the pheasant too. Maybe a little of those candied apples…"
"Aue! Didn't you just eat?!", Moana said.
"Yeah, and now I'm hungry again", Maui said. He walked up to the table and leaned against his hook. "Hey, Clurichaun! It's been a while"
"Maui!", a little man said with fiery red hair. His red pointed cap rested on his shoulders. "Last we saw 'ye out drank ole Seamus here!". The little men all went into an uproar of laughter.
"Yeah, I'm gonna take 'ye down tis' time Demi-God!", Seamus said with a glint in his eyes. He waved his hands and an empty Stein appeared.
"Good luck with that, short stack. I'm four times your size and can drink my way through your entire village.", Maui said with a laugh. All the little men ooh-ed and laughed once more.
"No one out drinks a Clurichaun!", Seamus said smacking his knee. "Have a seat ye' ole' codger!"
"Alright. First you gotta meet someone.", Maui said. He waved Moana over she came next to him curiously eyeing the short men. Their cheeks and noses were cherry red as the saccharine scent of ale drifted off of them. "This is Moana. She's good people. You remember Atarau? This is her Great Granddaughter."
"Ah! Bless me heart!", one Clurichaun cooed. The others all gasped and gaped chattering among themselves.
"Aye Miss, yer quite the looker", Seamus said. "All Pania I've met are naught but tossers n' arseholes. But if you're the descendent of Mistress Atarau you've got me respects". The other Clurichaun nodded and agreed.
"If I win –which I will because I always win – you've got to join our cause", Maui said causally spinning his hook.
"Ah, and what kinda mischief 'as the Demi-God got himself into now?", Seamus laughed.
"No mischief this time. We're uniting the Seelie realm to fight the Tipua. They're coming with all the Unseelie Fae to destroy our realm. We gotta unite or die.", Maui said. The Clurichaun all gasped their eyes growing wide. "If I win you gotta meet up with us at the Great Lake during sundown."
"You've got yerself a deal, Demi-God", Seamus said. They shook hands and Maui, sitting on the ground, plopped himself down in front of the table. With an eager look he grabbed the empty stein. Moana looked at Maui's jovial disposition as he drank. She smiled feeling a budding of something within her chest. It was small and unformed yet strong and radiating warmth. As Seamus poured more of the gold frothy liquid into his stein Maui paused. Looking up he wrapped his arm around Moana's shoulder.
"Here, have a sip. It'll bring me good luck", Maui said. Moana put her lips to his stein and took in a swallow. It was sweet, thick, malty, and chilled. Not something she would drink again. Yet, it wasn't exactly horrific either. "You're goin' down, Seamus. You know what they say about a Pania's kiss."
"Eh, piss off ye' ole' cunt!", Seamus laughed as began chugging down the gold liquid.
"That wasn't a kiss, Maui. I drank some of your Honey Mead", Moana said.
"Same difference!", Maui chuckled.
"This, is a kiss", Moana said sweetly. She reached up and caressed his chin as she pressed her lips to his cheek. Her internal voice screamed at her. The other voice, which had been growing stronger since coming to the Seelie realm, purred deep and rich like cat after having dined sumptuously on a bowl of cream. Maui touched his cheek with a toothy grin.
"Woah… you want some more of this?", Maui said. Moana laughed and declined.
Time flew by as Maui and the Clurichaun laughed and drank. Maui seemed to grow more energized as the crowd of Clurichaun began barking out stories of outlandish and hilarious tales of happenings within the realm. Maui laughed smacking the back of poor Seamus who lurched forward from the blow and tossed his drink onto the Clurichaun in front of him. Moana, although not imbibing like the rest, was swept away by the merriment and chatter. She hadn't remembered a time when she had enjoyed herself so much. Her cheek hurt from laughter and seeing the comradery around the table caused her to swell with hope. Sometime during Maui's emphatic storytelling Seamus dropped his nose towards his chest and began to snore loudly. The Clurichaun and Maui all went into an uproar of laughter at Seamus's defeat.
"That ain't fair Demi-God! You didn't out drink 'em. You merely bored 'em to death!", one Clurichaun said. The others guffawed.
"Hey, what can I say! It's not my fault Short Stack can't compete with all this!", Maui said flexing his muscles. Several Clurichaun tossed rolls at him and booed causing Maui to chuckle heartily. Maui stood to his feet rubbing his stomach with a satisfied groan. "Alright guys, I gotta fly. Oh and do us a favor. Go out and get as many Fae to join up with us as you can. We're gonna need it"
"Thank you all very much!", Moana said with a wave.
"Deal's a deal. We'll do what we can.", a Clurichaun said. He turned to Moana and kissed her hand. "Goodbye, me Lady, don't be a stranger."
…..
They continued through the forest coming to a bridge. It was looked as though the moss and ivy had taken it over ages ago leaving it little more than a mound of greenery. Peaks of stone and clusters of mushrooms managed to appear here and there throughout it. As they walked across the bridge an ominous snarl echoed throughout the trees. Maui and Moana started as a medium sized creature with a hump back leapt in front of their path. It had an eye patch made of steel and a round helmet to match. He leaned most of his weight onto his bulbous walking stick. As the wind blew he clutched his tattered brown cloak to himself. His saggy and wrinkled greenish brown skin hung from his willowy body. Even his long tail was covered in the soft crumpled forms.
"Damn Pania back to taunt old Plich! GET! You heard me scram!", the goblin cried. He shook his fist as her bared his pointed jagged teeth.
"We're not…", Moana said. She noted the color of his eye was a pearlescent white. Perhaps his vision wasn't up to par.
"Your energy feels like one of 'em! But not your friend. Anyone whose a friend of them trouble makers ain't a friend of mine!", Plich growled. Extending his claws he hobbled forward. Maui lifted his hook and smacked it loudly into his palm.
"Look old man, we're not looking for trouble. Let us cross your bridge. Easy peasy", Maui said.
"Never! Go around or I swear I'll punch a hole in your gut!", Plich snarled.
"Damn Mo, and you said I had enemies! What the hell is up with your people?", Maui said. Moana rubbed her temples and groaned.
The goblin narrowed and widened his eye at Moana. "Bless my stars, Atarau? Is that you?", Plich gasped.
"Actually... OUCH", Moana said. Maui jabbed her in the side with his elbow shaking his head vigorously side to side. He gestured with his hands for her to go with it. Moana shook her head as she furrowed her brow and mouthed the word "NO". Maui took his index finger and swiped it across his throat while sticking out his tongue. Moana sighed.
"Y-yes, it's me!", Moana said nervously.
"Ah, it's been years my old friend. You've been busy, this I know. But you always have time for old Plich.", Plich smiled causing a cascade of winkles down his face. "No one visits Plich anymore. Plich is all alone"
Moana's heart clenched for the old goblin. Instinctually she reached into her bag and withdrew the sparkling necklace. "Here, Plich. This is for you. You've always been a good friend to me", Moana said.
Plich gasped. "I know this magical energy anywhere! This is the necklace of the Goblin Elders! Atarau, you lovely thing, you found it!", Plich said. He attempted to do a little jig but was hindered by the dependence on his cane. "Thank you! Thank you!"
The goblin hobbled over to Moana and kissed her on the cheek. Maui made a face as if he were about to vomit. Moana knew there was no foul intention in it. It felt like the kisses her Grandfather used to give her as a child.
"How can Plich repay you?", Plich said.
"Plich, the Tipua are coming with all the evil Fae to destroy our realm. We need everyone to come together so we can fight them off. Please, will you join us? All the Seelie Realm is meeting at the Great Lake during sunset", Moana said.
"Plich will do better than that!", Plich said. At that he emitted a loud howl. Several thousand rocks, pebbles, and boulders rolled from beneath the bridge, out of the trees, and from across the land. They gathered around Plich and began to unfold revealing a horde of goblins of all shapes and sizes. They grumbled and rubbed their eyes.
"What is it, great-great-great Grandpa?", one groaned. "That call is only for emergencies! It better be something worth our time!"
"The Tipua are comin'. Let's get goin'", Plich said. Two larger goblin picked up Plich and sat his fragile body on their shoulders. Together they all marched forward. "To the Great Lake! It's been ages since we've had a good brawl."
Maui watched gobsmacked at the parade streaming past them. "Did you know what that necklace was?", Maui said.
"Nope. When I went into my parents room I just had a feeling that I needed take it with me", Moana said. "If Gramma Tala were still alive she'd have A LOT of explaining to do"
…
Maui stood at the Great Lake murmuring his "Moana, Moana" song with a great grin. The great crowd of various fae didn't register through the din of euphoric haze that clouded his mind. Rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet he snapped out of his reverie upon hearing the succinct "AHEM"s of a familiar baritone voice. He looked over at the Mizuchi with a smug look on it's face. Maui crossed his arms and quirked a brow.
"Your beaming grin is uncharacteristic considering the grim circumstances", the Mizuchi said swirling itself into a comfortable resting coiled position.
"You're just being negative. Look at all the fae that came! I think all the Seelie realm is here!", Maui said gesturing to the crowd. The Mizuchi closed it's eyes feeling the energies around him. A sharp sparkling energy radiated from Maui's cheek.
"Ah ha.", the Mizuchi crowed. "Nothing enchants a man in love like a Pania's kiss. I take it you have implemented my advice."
"She's human too, you know", Maui snipped. He gave the Mizuchi a sour look only making it's smug expression ingrained deeper into it's features. "Actually, she's more human than Pania."
"That's how human blood works. But, that certainly isn't how Fae blood works. Fae blood is partly determined by lineage but mainly by spirit.", the Mizuchi said. The water-dragon looked over at Moana her arched back and fiery gaze. "I see the fae blood in her has begun to take a deeper root. That selkie skin is only speeding up the process."
Maui recalled the glinting mischievous eyes of the Ponaturi as they saw Moana in the selkie skin. A sinking feeling in his stomach gave him a hunch toward what they were withholding. "Tell me, what would happen if she keeps wearing the selkie skin? Nothing bad, right?", Maui said.
The Mizuchi eyed him with a half lidded gaze which communicated that Maui already knew the answer. "Due to her spirit's natural alignment her Fae blood would consume all traces of her human blood"
"Oh crap…", Maui gasped.
"I don't see the problem", the Mizuchi said.
"Yeah, you wouldn't", Maui grumbled. He expelled a breath of frustration. "Goddammit, it's one thing after the other!"
"You might want to be kind to me, Demi-God", the Mizuchi said with a snort. "I gathered the Karyu, Chiryu, and Kazeryu. We are still waiting for the arrival of the Ryujin- the Lord of the Dragons. It has been several centuries since we've gathered together. It was your Moana that inspired all of this"
"Uh-huh, that's great.", Maui said looking around. After spying Moana he ran towards her. Grabbing her shoulders he gave her a grave look. Her brown irises were excessively large and doll-like. "Mo, you gotta take the selkie skin off"
"What are talking about?", Moana said.
"I don't have time to explain. Just, listen to me. Take it off", Maui said urgently. Moana turned a shade of crimson. Maui quirked an eyebrow until the possible implications of his words dawned on him. "No, no, I didn't mean…"
"I don't have time for games, Maui. The portal will soon break open and we'll have a massive battle on our hands and I'm stressed out of my mind.", Moana said shrugging out of his touch. Just then the crowd became excited with an uproar of chatter. A red dragon whose hair was bright orange and crimson made elegant loops through the air. Another, whose scales and skin looked almost translucent, swiftly joined it while a brown and green dragon later tagged along. Flying to the ground, the dragons coiled besides the Mizuchi and began talking in hissed whispers. The crowd in front of Moana parted revealing a fellow with a thin mustache that reached his chest. He wore armor created from brown scales and yellow spikes trailed down the center of his back. His nails were sharp talons and his eyes glowed a bright yellow his pupils were inverted and black. He reached for Moana's hand and pressed his lips upon it.
"I have heard much about you, Moana Great Grandaughter of Atarau.", the man said in a booming voice. He smiled wide revealing several rows of pointed teeth. "As the Ryujin, the dragons came to me pleading this new cause. The more I heard, the more my heart was stirred. And so, you have my allegiance and therefore all the allegiance of the dragons."
"T-thank you.", Moana said. She caught herself gazing at the red horns that protruded from his head. Feeling guilty for rudely gawking she looked away only to find herself unconsciously returning her eyes to them.
"I will lend you my sword and when I return to my dragon form, you may ride astride my back.", the Ryujin said. The dragons all ceased their conversing and gasped.
"But, my Lord, that is the highest honor!", the Karyu growled.
"What of it! As your Lord and Master I can do as I please! Will you challenge me?", the Ryujin hissed. He widened his eyes menacingly and barred his fangs. The Karyu bowed it's head. The Ryujin returned his gaze to Moana. She felt a chill run up her spine. "As leaders we will ride out first. You must show the enemy and those following you that you're not afraid."
"Easier said than done", Moana sighed.
"Even if you're breaking inside make your face like flint. Bare your fangs and howl. Strike fear inside your opponent. For this is the way of the dragons", the Ryujin said. At this he began to transform his body contorting and twisting until a dragon, which greatly dwarfed the others, stood before them. It opened it's mouth revealing a gleaming sword laying on it's tongue. Moana grimaced and reached for the sword. Oddly, it was without moisture. The dragon sloughed off several of it's radiant scales. They shuddered and writhed on the ground transfiguring into a small suit of armor. "Put this on. Your current clothing is not sufficient."
Moana felt greatly disgusted at the idea of wearing a portion of his skin. But, in desperate times beggars couldn't be choosers. She slipped on the armor. It felt as if she were wearing something about as heavy and tough as chiffon. Yet, upon running her fingers against it the rough scales said otherwise. Clutching the sword she climbed atop the Ryujin's head. He extended his neck bringing her far above the crowd. Moana looked down at the sea of Fae all a twitter and looked for the Pania. With a heavy heart none could be found. Holding back tears she put her shoulders back and raised her chin.
"It has been centuries since the Seelie realm has been united. But, today we are fighting for our lives, our homes, our way of life, and our families. We are fae! We are one!", Moana said aloud. The crowd roared, growled, howled, and hissed in affirmation. Although her tone was firm and succinct inside she felt herself wilt upon saying the word 'family'. Waiting for the din to subside she looked out over the crowd. There Maui stood with his grin stretching ear to ear and the warmth within her chest returned. This time it felt larger and deeper than before. "We know this land better than our foes. Everyone get back to your natural elements and fight like hell. Link up with other surrounding Fae and use the terrain against our enemy"
The dragon lowered it's head and she slid onto it's back. It extended it's great wings casting a shadow over a fourth of the crowd. The slow beat of it's wings caused a great number of Fae to go tumbling and rolling head over heels backwards. As the Ryujin lifted into the air a great gust of wind swept over the land covering the sky in a murky grey. The strong wind pushed against the Ryujin making him seem as if he were flying in place for several minutes. When the gust relented the dragon shot through the air. Moana bit her lip as she clutched fists fulls of his hair. A screech filled the air and several gaunt women with sallow blue skin and sunken in black eyes howled. Their mouths lay agape filled with yellow jagged teeth. Long flowing white cloth draped from their bodies in a spectral manner. Moana wanted to clap her hands over her ears but doing so would cause her to fall.
"Ryujin, what the heck is that?!", Moana yelled over the cries.
"The banshees!", the Ryujin said. A banshee hurled itself toward the dragon. The Ryujin dodged it whipping itself to the left. Moana screamed as she tumbled through the air and hurled towards the ground. The Ryujin plunged downwards and Moana landed with a loud thud on his back.
"Good gods, girl, do you not know how to ride a dragon?!", Ryujin said exasperatedly.
"Obviously NOT!", Moana said. She wrapped her arms tightly around the dragon's neck.
"You cannot fight while in that position.", Ryujin sighed. "Look, grasp my hair once more and dig your feet beneath my scales."
"Won't that hurt?", Moana said.
"If it did I wouldn't have told you to do it.", Ryujin said impatiently. Moana carefully released his neck and returned to grasping his hair. She tucked her feet beneath to large scales. Looking up toward the dragon's face she saw that it made no cries of pain and she released a breath of relief.
"There, now here a Banshee comes! Aim for it's head! It's the only way to defeat it", Ryujin said. Moana fumbled with the sword and clumsily slung it at the creature resulting in her swiping at the air. The creature's cries turned into peals of laughter.
"Oh, dear girl, please don't tell me you do not have battle training", Ryujin grumbled.
"Okay, I won't tell you that I haven't touched a sword in my life.", Moana said curtly.
"Well, you must learn quickly! Here it comes again!", Ryujin said. It took a sharp right. Moana lost a hold of his locks and tumbled through the air as she screamed. As she plummeted through their air she fell past several Banshee. Their dark gazes sent a cold choking feeling in her throat and all joy seemed to drain from her very essence. Closing her eyes she saw herself as a little girl playing Poi Rakau with the other children on Motunui. Her Father stood behind them as they all stood in a circle holding wooden sticks that stood eye level with them. He yelled "MAUI!" and the entire circle dropped their sticks and slung their bodies left desperately trying to catch their neighbor's sticks before it touched the ground. He yelled "Matau!" and they ran right. They laughed and cheered as one boy fell on his bum in a failed attempt in catching his neighbor's stick. The memory faded and replaced it with a visage of herself at twelve years of age. With a wry grin she held a wooden fishing spear in her hand and hurled it at the target made of bundles of leaves and dirt. Hitting it directly in the center the crowd of boys both cheered and booed at her success.
"Aue, Moana! This is a boy's game! Go play with dolls or something", a thin boy frowned. A host of boys behind him frowned in kind. Moana bit her lips to keep from laughing at their comedic tantrums.
"No, I like playing Tagati'a. And, you're just mad that a GIRL is totally kick all your butts!", Moana laughed as she placing her hands on her hips. The memory faded to black and she snapped her eyes open. The Ryujin had caught her and she was once again on his back.
"Ryujin, listen to me, I have a plan!", Moana said excitedly. "When you're going to turn left or right yell it out first. I'm going throw this sword at the nearest Banshee."
"What if you fall again? We cannot keep doing this!", the Ryujin growled.
"Trust me", Moana said. She shakily stood up on his back. She gripped the sword like spear and exhaled a trembling breath. The Ryujin yelled, "LEFT" and she hurled the sword directly into the forehead of the creature. It cried loudly before going limp and plummeting. Moana once again flew off the Ryujin's back and fell past the dead Banshee as a trail of black blood dribbled through the sky. She ripped the sword from it's head causing a wet snick't to resound. The Ryujin flew back around and caught her once more.
"CHEEEHOO!", Moana yelled. She raised her fist in the air as the black blood from her sword slithered down her arm. "That was one heck of a rush!"
"Yes, now we are getting somewhere!", the Ryujin said exuberantly. He released a roar that trembled the skies.