== Pahili Ahuna ==

"Kamehameha's army approaches!" came the cry from a scout as he hurried to inform the royal court. Kaumuali'i now reigned in place of his mother who had passed the previous year. Zechariah immediately stood, having chosen to continue serving the new king of Kaua'i as he had served his mother.

"How far offshore are they?" he demanded. The scout shot him a fearful expression. The reputation Zechariah had garnered as a warrior of the king's army had become legend in the ten or so years following the demise of Captain James Cook. Zechariah and those placed under his command have never lost a battle and were the most feared and respected of Kaua'i's warriors. They had always managed to emerge victorious, even when the odds weren't exactly in their favor. Zechariah, realizing just how intimidated the scout now appeared to be, relented a bit and attempted to smile. Others in the court seemed to revel in striking fear into everyone around them. He refused to be one of them. "Forgive me, I did not mean to sound so harsh. How far are they from landfall?"

"They may reach us by sundown, kapena," the scout answered, addressing him by his Hawaiian title. Zechariah nodded before summoning his warriors together. He led them out towards Waimea Bay where the scout had spotted the approaching coterie of canoes and ordered them to stand watch over the shore while he and his second-in-command boarded a canoe and set out to meet the approaching army directly. To the disbelief of the men commanded to guard the shore, a sudden storm approached and struck with an unrelenting fury. A heavy fog settled over the area, restricting visibility to being almost non-existent as the remaining warriors had no choice but to seek shelter, the howling winds making the heavy rain sting as they struck flesh.

"'Auhea kou kapena...?!" a royal advisor demanded as the men entered without Zechariah, their king asking where their captain was in Hawaiian. The arriving remnants of the wizard's army all began to speak at once, prompting the advisor to then demand that they all shut up. Pointing to the one nearest to him, he says, "You. Speak!"

"A terrible storm has approached from the bay, sir! We do not know if our kapena has survived!" the man cried, shrinking back from the death-like glare of the advisor.

Turning to one of the messengers nearby, the advisor commands, "Go! Tell the king what you have heard-"

"There is no need," a familiar voice said dismissively from just beyond the entrance. Shocked expressions overcame all as Zechariah and his second-in-command entered the location, both sopping wet from the rain. One of the warriors fainted upon seeing him, revived and helped to his feet by his fellow combatants.

"Kapena...?! But... how?" stammered one of Zechariah's men. Zechariah smiled.

"It will take more than a little rain to stop me. Please excuse me, I need to make a report to the king," Zechariah replied before entering Kaumuali'i's location. The King of Kaua'i was lounging in comfort as his winningmost military captain walked in. Kaumuali'i beckoned him forward.

"It is good to see that you have survived!" exclaimed the king. "Tell me, what happened out there?"

"We went out to confront Kamehameha directly, but the storm struck before we could. Most of the canoes were upended in the process, but a few managed to escape unscathed. They may return. We need to be prepared," Zechariah informed him. The king nodded. He gazed in wonder at this foreigner that had managed to keep his island safe from invaders. He rose from where he was lounging and beckoned for Zechariah to follow, then turned to his royal messenger. "Send word to the rest of the island. I wish to make a proclamation."

"What is this about?" Zechariah inquired as he followed the king out of the royal residence. Kaumuali'i didn't respond. Instead, he led the curious captain to where he normally made his royal decrees.

"Maka'ainana 'o Kaua'i, hear me!" another royal advisor cried out as the people of Kaua'i gathered to hear the words of their king. "By proclamation of the Mo'i Kane 'o Kaua'i, Zechariah Avery shall be called by a new name!"

"What...?!" Zechariah almost shouted, but then stopped himself. Zechariah Avery was a name he'd been given by a family that disowned him, known to a wizarding community that shunned him because he chose to live amongst the non-magical folk of Great Britain. For what reason did he even want to keep the name?

He had no answer for this.

"From this day forward, he shall be called Pahili Ahuna, the Phenom of Kaua'i!" came the declaration. Zechariah blinked.

Pahili Ahuna...

Now there was a name he could wear with great pride that didn't remind him of the family who disowned him or the wizarding community who had ostracized him. It was a name he could wear with great pride, a name that was entirely his. On that day, Zechariah Avery was no more and would no longer exist as far as the wizard was concerned. No, from this day forward, he wore his new identity with great pride.

He was Pahili Ahuna!