I do not own Moana nor any characters affiliated with the story, all rights belong to Disney.
By the time the stars had appeared, the island was filled with the delicious aromas of roasted meats and soaked cakes. Everyone came up to Maui and Moana to thank them for saving them and Moana couldn't help but smile as she watched Maui soak it in, though she was glad that most of the attention was on the happy couple for the ceremony and the celebration. When Maui was asked to come forth and bless their marriage, she quickly slipped away to the beach where the canoe was waiting. Not wasting a moment, she pushed her boat out into the water and jumped in, catching a breeze which quickly put her beyond the reef.
Certain that she was far enough away so no one could catch her, she reached into the compartment where a loose piece of wood was sitting, grabbed her little knife, and began carving. When finished, she turned to the water.
"Ocean?"
The faithful crescent head appeared.
"When he comes to the shore... would you please give him this?"
She placed the wooden slate onto the water below the crescent shape and it began to push it back to the island. Moana watched her message float away back to Kahoka and then raised her eyes to look at the bonfires and the people dancing around them, certain she could see her parents shapes as they appeared to be talking to Maui (whose hulking shape was unmistakable). A tear dropped from her eye as she whispered painfully, "...Goodbye."
Sniffling, she straightened herself, turned back to the open sea, and pulled on the sheet. Catching a gust of wind, she sped off to her final destination: Manu'maniti.
*PAGE BREAK*
"Lua o mai faatasi ma avea ma se tasi, e mafai ona faamanuiaina ai le Atua oulua faatasiga," Maui said happily over the hands of the newlywed couple. The crowd erupted in cheers as he finished and out of the corner of his eyes he saw two people he recognized as Moana's parents. As soon as he got through the crowd, he walked over to them.
Tui and Sina bowed as the Demigod approached them.
"No, no, please," Maui smiled and bowed to them, "I should be the one bowing to you… I actually would like to ask you something, Chief Tui."
"Of course," he answered, "What can I do for you?"
"… Well, Chief Tui sir… I would like your permission to court your daughter… and marry her in the future. I promise to take care of her and help her with all of the responsibilities that come with being Chief."
Maui wondered why they looked at him with confusion, Was there some sort of ceremony I missed on asking permission to marry someone? Do they not think I'm good enough for her?
He swallowed the nervous lump in his throat and continued, "I will do whatever you want me to so that I can prove that I am a worthy suitor-"
"No, no, no," Sina interrupted him, "That's not it. Moana already informed us that she loves you and wants to be with you... but she gave us the impression that you did not want to stay on the island, so she gave up her right as Chief."
Maui's eyes opened wide, "She WHAT?"
Tui nodded, "She gave that right to Ariitea, he's the Chief now."
Maui looked all around for Moana when he spotted a canoe far outside of the lagoon. Oh no... He turned and reached for his hook before he realized he dropped it on the beach. He sprinted back down the island to where he landed and looked all around when the dragging marks in the sand caught his attention, and they lead directly into the ocean.
"Where's my hook?!" He shouted at the water, "What did you do with it?!"
A crescent head appeared carrying something. Maui held out his hand and the water placed the slate of wood into it before disappearing. Noticing the carved marks, he squinted in the dark to read:
"Maui- I know what I'm doing. I'm saving everyone that I love. I told the ocean to take your hook until I reach Manu'maniti, then it will give it back to you. I love you and I will always be with you, please do not forget that. Moana."
He threw the note to the side and bellowed, "GIVE ME MY HOOK!"
The ocean didn't respond.
"She's going to her death, don't you get that?! Give me my hook and maybe I can save her!"
The crescent head rose up, but it sadly shook its head and then disappeared again.
"WHAT GOOD ARE YOU?!" He screamed as the tears ran down his face. Without his hook, he had no powers to shapeshift and catch her. ...But maybe I don't have to!
He turned and bolted back to the villagers who were dancing and celebrating blissfully. But when Maui came running in between them, everyone stared.
"Are there any other boats left on this island?!" He shouted, startling everyone.
Someone timidly replied, "No, all of the canoes were stolen by the Fefe Tele, so..."
"GAH!" he cried out in frustration, "Fine! Who among you is the best craftsmen?!"
Four men raised their hands and came forth.
"How soon can you build a single person canoe?"
They looked at each other before one of them said, "Two, maybe three days."
"That's not quick enough, what if you had the materials right in front of you?"
"Then it would only take a day."
Maui turned to the nearest tree, picked up an axe lying nearby, and chopped it down with one swing. The villagers stared in fear as he threw it down at the feet of the craftsmen, "Here you go, so get to work! HURRY!"
They ran off in fear to grab their tools when Tui and Sina came up to him, "Maui, what's wrong?"
Taking a deep, defeated breath, he turned to explain, "Moana is gone..."
*PAGE BREAK*
It was approaching nine days since the victory on Kahoka and Moana squinted into the distance, desperately seeking the maelstrom she remembered Maui leading her to. When she saw the familiar little island, the bittersweet memories of a few weeks before filled her mind and she smiled. She didn't regret spending her precious moments with Maui, and she never would. She shook herself out of her melancholy and refocused, realizing the entrance was only a few hours away. Quick as she could, she pulled the sheet and the sail caught the last gusts of wind which helped to speed along her journey. Finally, the weather around her began to turn dark and dangerous. Before it got too rough, she grabbed the loose line and tied it to the mast before tying the other end around her waist. It would be harder to hold on to this time since she had to steer the boat before she could really secure herself, but at least she was mostly secure. She got closer and closer to the edge of the maelstrom and looked down at its eye.
... I'm ready.
With tears in her eyes and one final push on her oar, she began her terrifying descent into the abyss.
*PAGE BREAK*
Maui tacked on the water for hours, begging the Gods to change the winds direction and give him more speed. He was only a day behind her, but that was enough to give Moana a good head start and he had no idea how long he'd actually been travelling. He cursed himself over and over for being so foolish as to momentarily forget his hook, giving her the perfect chance to get the jump on him. But nothing would stop him, he had to get to Moana before she reached Manu'maniti even if it meant he had to swim the whole way there. And with what luck tacking was doing, he was starting to consider that option.
Finally the wind blew in a more favorable direction and he immediately jumped up to adjust the sail when he heard a loud *clunk* on the deck. He turned to see his hook lying there, sopping wet, with the ocean's crescent head looking down at it.
"... No," he whispered as he deftly walked back to pick it up. He looked to the ocean, "She's...?"
The wave nodded sorrowfully.
Maui couldn't breathe. He suddenly lost all of his strength and dropped to his knees as he felt an agonizing pain rip through his chest. His body racked in uncontrollable sobs when he raised his head and cried, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The hook dropped from his hands and his body followed. The boat floated aimlessly for hours as its only occupant cried excruciatingly painful tears. What could he do now? The Leviathan would never give up such a powerful and innocent soul such as hers, especially not to the Demigod that had caused him so much grief. The Gods would never interfere either, no one would help him. He sat up and stared ahead at the open ocean, wondering what he could possibly do now that all meaning of life was gone. She was truly gone, it was all over.
Maui looked down at his chest to see Mini Maui crying, looking up at the depiction of Moana next to him. The little tattoo grabbed her and hugged her, holding on to the only thing left of the real Moana. But it wasn't enough, not to the human part of him. Mini Maui looked up into his eyes and glared, picking up his little hook and shifting himself into a little hawk. Maui wiped his tears away and furrowed his eyebrows, "You're right. This isn't over."
He grabbed his hook and swung it wildly, changing himself into a giant hawk. With one great flap of his wings, he was airborne. And he knew exactly where he was going.
Authors Notes: Don't worry, it's not over yet. I would never leave these two to that kind of fate :) tune in tomorrow for the big finale, and don't forget to review!
