AN: For TodoMomo Week 2022! Prompt: Crossover

Yes, we have too much Disney on at my house. I put Shouto and Momo into a version of the world Moana lives in with the following caveats:

- the characters are aged up;

- Shouto is not intended to be anything like Maui;

- Added Japanese mythology into the mix;

- Added Greek mythology references.


Kuroakami
...

The cavern, despite the daylight, breathed darkness.

Momo shuddered. A vague chill ran down her spine. She extended her torch into the opening of the island cave. Its flame shed smoke that smelled like roasted coconut, and spilled light as bright as a miniature sun - to keep shadows at bay.

Craggy rock spread along the ground. But, the walls appeared smooth. 'Water. It must wash through here.'

Momo shook her head. 'No one but a god could have survived in this place.'

She bent to move along the corridor. Her sandals tapped against stone. The hollow echo and occasional stumble announced her presence to the being imprisoned inside.

Momo kept one hand on the wall as she walked. The torch light fluttered.

'I wonder how far this goes?'

Air flowed from the inside of the cavern. It lifted pieces of her hair from her forehead. 'There has to be another entrance. A place for the water to return to the ocean.'

The space narrowed, and the ceiling dipped. Momo lowered herself to her knees. She groaned, then set off at an awkward crawling shuffle - still holding aloft her torch.

After several meters, the cave widened; dusty light filtered into a large, sand-strewn space. Momo stood. She held the flame high.

Gasp!

The dark shadow of a man sat on the floor. Knees up, chin resting on his chest. His forearms lay against his kneecaps; thick chains dragged from wrist to wrist.

Soot stained his cheeks. It coated his hair, and dusted his bare skin.

"He-hello?"

The figure didn't move. Momo stepped closer. The stench of old sea water caught her nose. She sniffed and tried to breathe through her mouth.

The daughter of the Māori chief crept near. 'Is he…asleep?' She reached for him.

He moved! The figure gripped her arm! Momo stumbled as he yanked her forward. She held her torch up and away. Her knee sliced against the rocky floor.

The figure lifted his head, like a corpse coming to life - one cell at a time. Momo struggled against his grasp.

"Let me go!"

A rumbling sound gathered like storm clouds. He roared and twisted her arm. A single blue light burned like a flame in the dank cavern.

"I'll snap you in half," he snarled.

"I! I have no doubts of your power. But! I'm not your enemy. I swear."

He forced her arm behind her back at an odd angle. She seethed.

"I came to. To free you." Momo squeezed her eyes shut. The muscles of her shoulder screamed.

"You lie," he said. But, the man's - no, the god's grip loosened.

She pulled away. Relief flooded her body even as her arm throbbed. She placed her torch against the wall - held up by a few, loose rocks.

The tribal chief's daughter knelt before him and bowed her head. "I came across the seas. To find you. I. I need your help."

"Help. After you put me here? Imprisoned. Chained, like a—"

She placed a hand on his cheek; swept dirty pieces of hair from his left eye.

A hiss shushed from his lips.

"I'm not the one who put you here. But, I promise. I can free you."


"You cannot 'free' me," the god lifted his head and lay it back against the cavern wall. A large, black metal shackle rimmed his neck.

Momo's heart thudded against her ribcage; tears pricked her eyes. "No one should have done this to you."

"You cannot free me."

"I have been chosen by the gods and the sea." Momo squared her shoulders. "You are Enji, god of fire."

"That's my father."

"What?" She shifted; a stone moved and she almost tumbled to the floor of the cave.

"Enji, god of fire is my father. My mother is human. Or, was."

"Ah. I'm not sure I." She righted herself. "The runes say a fire god was imprisoned here."

"They're half right."

"You're the son of—" She kicked loose rocks towards the far wall. "But, his only child—"

"Was slain after his mother burned to death, yes."

"But! How can that be? The legends say that the son was cut into pieces - creating other deities. The blood that clung to the sword was all that remained of both father and mother."

His eyes closed.

"Unless! But, no can you? You can't be, the Kuraokami?"

He lifted his head and those glowing eyes found her. Stared through her.

'The Kuraokami's a fable, isn't it?'

The deity grunted. He shifted to lay against the wall, again.

"I can't say you look like a snow dragon. I mean, I've never seen one, but, you look rather human to me."

The chained god growled.

"Well, excuse me! But, a dragon?" She knelt beside him. Momo ripped a piece of cloth from her skirt; she pulled her waterskin from her belt and wet the fabric. "We don't exactly see snow in these islands, you know."

His eyes met hers. She gave him a small smile, and extended the container of water to the captive.

The god, or dragon? Dragon-god….He lifted it with both hands - to reach his lips. When he finished drinking, Momo leaned over his arm and wiped at the dirt on his cheek.

"I didn't expect I'd find a dragon. You're not," she cleaned away the sand from his face. His right eye gleamed grey, rimmed with gold - even as his left iris blazed a vibrant, flame-like blue.

Pale skin shimmered in the quavering light. She caught her breath. "You're not scaly, or—"

"I have a human form."

"Oh." Momo brushed soot from his hair. It still appeared as two shades of dirt. "I'm sure you'll want to bathe, once we get you out of here."

"What are you? Not one of those rodents, pests."

"Human?"

"You're not," he took another sip of water, "like them."

"Certainly not like the ones who chained you up and left you here." Hot liquid filled her abdomen. Those dual-colored eyes narrowed.

"But, why didn't you—"

"Turn into a dragon and escape?"

"Well, yes."

"An army hunted me. Attacked with poisoned arrows and spears. My shackles are made of adamantine. Enchanted by the gods."

"Which means the gods themselves—"

"They banished me here."

She cleaned his forehead; the tribal chief's daughter moved pieces of hair from his face.

"What do you want?"

Momo's stomach flopped over. "I told you. I've been looking for you. I need your—"

"You called me Enji." He snapped at her.

She rocked back on her heels. 'Well, he definitely doesn't like his father.' Momo took a deep breath; she let it out slowly….

"I've been searching for a god." She pulled pieces of hair from her face. "You. Were the only one whose whereabouts, I could decipher from the ancient runes."

His features remained blank, fixed. As if a deity carved his face from rock. His eyes were hard, but luminous, jewels.

'Not at all like—'

"Why do you need a god?"

...

"Please. My people need your help. They're dying. So are our lands. Don't you care?"

Dispassioned, but beautiful, the blond deity tipped his head. "Do humans care for the barnacles on the bottom of your boats?"

...

Her heart sank. 'Why would he be any different?' Momo swallowed. 'No, I came all this way. I have to try.'

She raised her head and squared her shoulders. "My village. The river has all but dried up. Fish and animals aren't as plentiful as they were - even a few years ago. We are ill-equipped to fight against drought or famine. They're not foes to defeat in battle."

"You're from a warrior tribe, then."

"My tribe has settled. They farm and fish. I'm a," she combed fingers through the ends of her hair. "A healer."

His lips stretched into a grin. "You're a fighter, and a healer. The journey here should be impossible for a human."

"It almost was." She shook out her rag and dabbed at his neck. He lifted his chin - allowing her to continue her ministrations.

"But you journeyed alone. Warrioress. Healer."

Heat wafted from his skin. She let her eyes trace over his high cheekbones; the thick musculature of his shoulders. His arms.

His bare chest.

"Ah," she met his gaze, "call me Momo."

"What tribe sent you? And why would they send you, alone?"

"I am of the Māori." Momo rose to her feet. "But, they aren't the ones who sent me. It's rather difficult to explain."

The dragon-god held up his shackles. Metal clinked and clanged.

"Ah. Right. But, you see, it was the ocean who sent me. And a—"

"The ocean sent you? To free me."

"It did! In the hopes you could help me find Te Fiti and convince her to restore the land."

His gaze flickered. The god, er, dragon, sighed. "Hm."

"Would you refuse?"

"It's a difficult task."

"So is freeing you."

He raised an eyebrow. "What's your plan?"

"I. I have s-something."

...

"Occasionally, we do find you humans amusing. Especially your ideas of love. So, quaint." Eros' lips twisted, as if he meant to keep himself from laughing.

"Love, is powerful. It is…greater than. All the power I could ever—"

"Yes, yes. I must say. You will do nicely. I've changed my mind. I shall help you."

...

Her skin tingled all over; her stomach knotted. "I believe it will work. Somehow."

He grumbled. "Not reassuring, Momo of the Māori."

"I! But, I!?"

He snarled and hissed. His face contorted in the firelight. "The little princess means well. Giving me your supply of water. Cleaning this face." He tugged and pulled at his chains - and let out a roar!

"It doesn't make a damned bit of difference."

Momo swallowed. The dragon-god sneered; his eyes glowed amber, then turned a fiery red. "Go home."

"I can't." She shook her head slowly. "I won't!"

"There are no locks for these. Which means there's no key." His shoulders and arms strained against his shackles. To no avail.

"They're enchanted. So, unless you're a mage or possess a mystical ability as a blacksmith—"

"I am neither."

That low rumbling sound, like thunder rolling through the sky - it echoed in the small chamber. He exhaled; flames ignited around the puff of air.

Fire breathed against her skin.

"Leave!"

Momo fought against the rising panic; it shook her arms, her legs. Everything inside her urged her to run.

This man, god, dragon - whatever he was! He could roast her alive. Despite his chains, he was still…dangerous.

'No, I can't go back. Besides, I have been given. I have the power to free him - inside me.'

...

"Take this torch. And I, the magnanimous god of love, shall grant you the power to free your champion."

"My—"

He leaned over her; the blond deity kissed her forehead - then, patted her head. "Now, run along, little princess-warrior. I must say. You have your own sort of beauty don't you?" His gold-colored eyes danced.

"But, I—"

"Find your champion. Let love do the rest."

A strange warmth rushed through her - from her head to the tips of her fingers. Then, down to her toes.

"True love's kiss should do the trick."

"But! I can't just fall in love with some stranger?!"

His face twisted into something grotesque. "Then, just hope he falls in love with you."

...

Momo lifted the dragon-god's arms and fit in his embrace. His eyes widened. She moved closer, slipped fingers into his hair - and curled it around his ear.

"What magic is this?" He stared, transfixed. Golden light played across his features.

Momo pressed closer. Skin to skin, she whispered against his jaw. "I have been granted the power of 'true love's kiss' to free you."

"You've–"

She sealed her mouth to his. Momo kissed him - her lips pressing, coaxing…. A bright warmth flowed through her - saturating her vision. She lost sight of him in the glow.

Sand scraped her palms and her fingertips - where Momo clung to him. Air rushed and whirled around them. Her torch flickered out.

'Eros' torch.'

The dragon-god groaned. Rough, dry lips fit against hers. He tasted like ash, and smelled like a burning field of grass. 'Please work.'

The cave disappeared in the tumult of light and air; swirling sand and leaves danced around them. Momo held on for dear life even as his hands gripped the exposed skin of her waist.

The snow dragon leaned forward, ragged breath puffing against her nose. He took charge of their kiss. His tongue swept inside her mouth.

He crushed Momo to him. Her body thrilled every place they connected. An unfamiliar ache settled inside her heart. Her lungs.

She burned to be closer.

All at once, the light faded; air soothed to a whisper. Momo fell away.

The dragon-god glared at his palms. His wrists chafed and bleeding - they were no longer marred by chains. The skin around his neck - blistered and swollen, began to heal before her eyes.

"Tell me Eros didn't give you this spell. He's a jokester and a villain."

"But it was powerful." Light bubbled through her veins. "It freed you!"

The dragon-god snorted. Another growl tore from his throat.

"But, you're free?"

"I'd planned to let you free me, if a pest of a human could manage it. And then I'd leave you here." He hissed through clenched teeth. "But, we've been bound!"

The dragon puffed small flames. "Of all the idiotic! Unbelievable! True love's kiss? You'd believe that?" He scowled. "Of course you would. You're a princess who dreams of fairytales. Mortal!"

"Bound? But. Wh-what do you mean?"

"Bound! As in: it is now your heart, the one which beats in my chest. And mine belongs to you. True Love's kiss binds us for an eternity. If you die, I die. If I die…."

He held up his arm as a tattoo began to form; two halves of a heart appeared, then locked together. Lines rimmed his forearm - one at his wrist, the other, above his elbow.

"You have infected my skin!"

"I don't know how any of this," she pointed at the living tattoo. The inky heart beat in time with the one in her chest. "Happened."

"You have sentenced me to death."

"How have I—"

"I'm a demi-god. Immortal. Or should be."

"Rotting in a cave for hundreds of years. It could have been thousands - if I hadn't come looking for you. That's not!" Her heart squeezed and bled.

"That's not what?"

"Living." She wiped away tears.

"You're impossible!"

"Me? How?" She crossed her arms.

He breathed fire. It leapt from his lips and licked the air around her shoulders. The heat blasted her face, lifting her hair.

"Are you done with your dragon-like temper tantrum? We have work to do."

He snarled and snapped. Then stood from the ground.

Completely naked.

Momo blinked; her brain registered the state of his…undress. "You're! Aaaaagh!"

"Now, you're afraid of me? I used my fire, and you didn't even–"

"You're naked!" She covered her eyes and backed away.

He huffed. "You kissed me like a fevered lover, and now you're worried about my sex?"

"C-c-cover it!"

"No."

"I'll make you s-something." She turned away. "With leaves and twine."

"Fine."

Momo leaned her head against the cavern wall. 'Dragons. Apparently, they have no manners.' She groaned. "We should. We should go. Find food. I-I'm sure you'd like to see the sun. Breathe fresh air."

The ghost of a touch. So light…it must have been a breeze. It tangled in her hair. A soft voice hushed.

"Yeah."

Momo shivered. She turned towards the passageway that led her there.

Keeping her eyes on the ceiling, she reached for his hand. 'I see shoulders and neck. Definitely nothing below his chest. Except…' Dusty skin stretched across his perfectly formed abdominal muscles. A patch of hair began, and—

"Nope!' She turned her head, pulled his palm into hers, and tugged on his arm. He followed behind her.


Momo retraced her steps through the narrow cavern - to the opening along the beach. As they exited; the dragon-god disentangled his fingers from hers, and strode up a small hill.

He held a hand to his face as he stared in the direction of the sun; it bobbed along the horizon.

The tribal chief's daughter lost some of the specifics of his mortal-like figure in the waning sunlight. The bronze skin of his back - practically shone in the pinkish-orange light.

Momo's feet moved - until she stood beside him.

The sun's last breath faded beneath the horizon. Purple and blue wove their hues amongst the vibrant colors in the sky - reflected in the sea.

A breeze slipped between them. Words found the tip of her tongue and stuck.

Finally, as the night sky began to overtake the day….

"Why would you risk so much? For a banished god. Defeated and locked away by humans?"

She met his gaze. And for a moment, he looked like an ordinary young man. His matted, dust-covered hair - pieces of it shone silvery white in the last of the day's light.

The memory of his embrace replayed in her mind.

...

The snow dragon leaned forward, ragged breaths puffed against her nose. He took charge of their kiss - sweeping his tongue into her mouth.

His arms crushed her into his embrace.

...

She sighed. 'True love's kiss. The most powerful anti-magic weapon Eros could provide. He did warn me… It takes a toll. Unless, of course. His dragonness over there, and I….' She shook the thought from her head.

"Why would I risk it? I just, I wanted to believe…."

...

Eros glanced down at her. "You said, you need someone to help you?"

"A god."

"Ah, of course. A god to convince another god. I suppose I could help you. But, what can I say? I'm not much of a fighter, you know." He laughed.

"You're mocking me? My people are starving! The ocean chose me. And it said—"

"To find a god. Yes, you've said that, I think. Anyway, it just can't be me. I have no time, and quite frankly the whole thing sounds dull." He fixed her with his gold-colored eyes.

"You need a champion."

"What?"

"To reach the heart of Te fiti. You'll no doubt fight monsters along the way. Terrible. Mortals and their need for food." He shrugged his shoulders and pretended to shudder.

"Oh, but! I did just remember. My advice? If you need a god who can defeat a monster. You should find one who's worse than a monster. That will be your champion." He grinned with dead eyes.

"You're a smart one. I know you'll find him." An arrogant smirk played on his lips. "After all, you found me."

...

"I have faith that you're," she smiled and reached for him, "worth the risk." Her hand on his arm, the dragon-god's eyes widened. He turned away.

"We must find a way. To un-do this." He waved his hand at the strange tattoo of the beating heart.

"But, I— I don't know. Eros just said it would free you. He implied that it works better when people, er, beings are actually in love."

"I can't hold my dragon form. I tried, but it's like the dragon and my ice, are still locked away. We'll need my full power if we're going to defeat the monsters who guard Te Fiti."

"You'll. You'll help me?"

"After we figure out how to free my dragon. And we need to lose whatever trick Eros is up to."

Breakers danced around their ankles. Water rushed in and swirled about her legs. "Ocean," she bent and scooped seawater into her palms. It trickled down her arms, spun around her, then returned to the waves.

A single swell rose from the rest and doused the dragon-god from head to toe. He sputtered and tossed his head - whipping drenched strands from his face. Just in time to be 'rinsed' again.

He dragged his hands over his face, pulling two-colored hair from his forehead: fiery red on one side, and strands the color of snow on the other.

"The ocean sent you." He grumbled.

"You needed a bath."

He huffed and crossed his arms. "At least it was efficient."

Momo giggled. The dragon-god turned and headed back down the hill.

"Kuraokami?"

He paused. "Call me Shouto. Momo of the Māori."

"Just Momo. So, where do we start? We don't have much time."

"You're human. You need rest," he said with a sigh. "We'll leave at first light."

"To go, go where?"

He turned and shot a glance at her, over his shoulder. "The realm of Chaos. We'll find our answers there."