Chapter Seven

The Last Warrior of Motunui

The moon cast a subtle silver light upon Tracy and Elsa who both sat on the deck of the ship as it sped across the ocean, rapidly being towed by Maui. At this rate, they would probably reach Motunui the next morning. Tracy sat crosslegged on a wooden crate while Elsa stood not too far away, silently staring out into the dark. Melody had gone down to the quarters to rest and sharpen her arrows, and had left the two girls up on the deck with time to think and brood.

Elsa looked over at Tracy, who had begun chanting some spell under her breath. A small purple mist rose from her hands, before dissipating quickly. She heard Tracy mutter something in exasperation, evidently disappointed that her spell did not work. "So you can conjure magic?" Elsa asked, breaking the hour-long silence that had begun when Melody left the deck to go down to the ship's quarters.

Tracy looked over at Elsa. "Yeah, I guess. But my magic doesn't seem to be working. Some sea witch huh."

"Melody must have seen something in you. Otherwise she wouldn't have brought you on this journey for no reason." Elsa assured her.

"You trying to reassure me? Or yourself?"

Elsa was taken aback, not expecting that response at all.

Tracy chuckled. "Yeah, it's that obvious. You feel like an outcast too and don't know what you're doing here. When Melody introduced us, she said you were the Queen of- uh…"

"Arendelle."

"Right. That one. So what are you doing here? You some kind of witch too?"

"You could say that. People think I'm a monster so that counts, I guess." Elsa admitted. "I have these." She formed an ice dagger in her palm, letting Tracy witness her abilities. "Most of the time, they're only good for hurting the ones close to me." She tossed the ice dagger out into the ocean. "The only thing that makes sense to me is that Melody and the demigod need my powers to level the playing field against some guy we're going up against. But I don't even know who we're fighting and what this is all about."

"Yeah, I was kinda hoping someone around here could tell me what we're up against on this little voyage. Melody said that she would leave it to the demigod to explain it all, but he's in the ocean playing shapeshifter." Tracy agreed. "I guess I kinda wanna know what I'm doing here, and how this is supposed to be any better than staying in the Dark Zone and following in my family's footsteps."

Elsa looked curious. "Dark Zone?"

"Yeah, it's no palace like where you're from," Tracy replied. "Down in the Dark Zone, I was taught to destroy all human vessels that passed through the Bermuda Triangle. I'm a sea witch. Which is why I don't get why Melody would want someone like me to be on this mission."

Elsa found herself listening to a monologue that sounded very similar to the one that she had given to Maui not long ago. She looked at Tracy, who had broken eye contact and was staring down at her brown boots which had replaced her tentacles. "You know, you and I aren't all that different." Elsa said cautiously.

Tracy let out a snort. "Yeah right. You're the Queen of Aaronbell-"

"Arendelle."

"-Arendelle, and I'm a sea witch from the Dark Zone. Sure, we aren't all that different."

"No, I don't mean where we come from or our statuses," Elsa continued. "We're both ashamed of our past and what we've done. I've had some time to think it over, and I guess what Melody told me was right: being on this quest gives us a way for us to make up for our mistakes and bad choices. I've only known her for a day, but from what I can tell, she sees the best in everyone and everything. So like I said, she must have seen something in you… and me."

Tracy bit her lip and took a minute to take in all that Elsa had told her. "I guess you're right," Tracy looked up at Elsa. "But I still don't know who I'm supposed to be. Am I really more than just a sea witch?"

Elsa smiled. "That's something we're both going to have to figure out." She got up and walked towards the stairs leading down to the ship's quarters. She stopped and turned back to look at Tracy. "It's late. I'm going to catch some sleep."

Tracy nodded, following Elsa down to the ship's quarters to call it a night.

###

Elsa awoke to the sound of gagging that seemed to be coming from the deck. She blinked, the sunlight flooding in through the dirt stained window of her cabin and she took a while to realise that it was already morning. Pulling the bedsheet off her, she swung her feet out of bed. She put on her shoes and walked up the stairs to the deck, and was greeted by the sight of Tracy throwing up over the side of the ship.

Melody stood behind her, holding her hair up. "Morning, Elsa."

"Morning." Elsa replied, looking over at Tracy. "What's up with her?"

Melody pointed to a couple of packets lying on the deck. "Combat rations. I stole some from my dad's troops back home."

"They're disgusting." Tracy lifted her head up from the side of the deck, pale and weak.

"I mean, it's not like we have any other choice." Melody shrugged.

Elsa sighed and peeled open a packet of combat rations. She peeked inside. Ugh, it really looked horrible. Never would she have dreamt that she would need to eat one of these, having lived her entire life in luxury in the palace. She put the open packet to her mouth and pushed the slimy and mushy substance into her mouth, swallowing it quickly. Almost immediately, she felt like throwing up just like Tracy, but forced the feeling down by swallowing hard and tilting back her head. She needed the energy to survive the entire day, and it appeared that the disgusting rations that soldiers ate on a routine basis were her only option, so she had to get used to the taste.

"We're almost there, girls!" Maui hollered over the rapid splashing of the water against the ship.

The three girls looked out into the horizon in front of the ship. They were fast approaching a huge island. Finally, they were reaching Motunui! As the ship neared the island's beach, Maui shape-shifted back into his human form and the ship began to slow down. Using the rope tied around him, Maui dragged the ship up the sand and it rested on the beach.

Elsa and Tracy disembarked from the ship carefully, jumping and landing on the soft sand while Melody took off her jacket and grabbed her bow.

She slung her quiver over her back with her bow in hand, and jumped from the ship's deck. She landed on the soft sand, joining the rest of the warriors. "So, where's this Moana?" Melody asked.

"I'm not sure." Maui replied grimly, seeming hesitant to venture further inland. He had known that he was coming back to save Moana, but now that he was here, this place reminded him of the attack that had happened days ago and it sent chills down his spine.

"Where's the last place you saw her?"

Maui pointed towards a spot beyond a plantation of palm trees on the beach.

"Then let's start there." Melody said confidently, signalling for the rest to follow her further inland.

Both Tracy and Elsa looked as hesitant as Maui was, but for a different reason. This island seemed to give off a creepy vibe of death and destruction, and they both felt uncomfortable. Nevertheless, they followed Maui and Melody, afraid of what might happen to them if they stayed behind.

Melody pushed aside the huge palm leaves and walked through the plantation of trees, with Maui, Elsa and Tracy following behind. They made their way past the trees and out into the open space on the other side, and they were horrified by the sight that greeted them.

A village lay in ruins, with houses razed to the ground and motionless villagers strewn across the beach. Some of the survivors were picking up what was left of their homes, while others were slumped against the trees, wounded from battle. The beach itself was partially covered in red, and spears and other weapons were scattered everywhere.

Maui exhaled sharply in distress, running a hand through his thick greasy hair. The three girls shuddered, having never seen so much death and destruction before in their lives. This was more than what they had signed up for, but it was too late to turn back now.

Tracy looked around. She had caused destruction to human vessels before, but this was destruction on a magnitude that she had never seen before. Whoever or whatever had caused this was way out of her league, and for a few seconds, she wondered if she had joined the wrong side. "What happened here?" Tracy asked.

Maui turned around to look at her with a grim expression on his face. "The Major."

"Who?" Tracy was even more confused than before, and Elsa listened in, hoping to get a clue as to what they were about to face.

"He did this. I saw it happen right before my very eyes. And I could do nothing to stop him." Maui continued with guilt in his voice. A horrible thought crept into his mind. What if the Major had killed Moana after he had escaped from Motunui? He shuddered.

Melody walked up to one of the survivors who was carrying pieces of wood across the beach. "I don't know if you can understand me. I'm sorry about what happened here, but do you know where we can find Moana?"

The villager looked back at her with tired eyes. "The Ali'i wants to be left alone,"

"Please, we came to this island to help her," Melody pleaded with genuine sympathy.

The villager hesitated before pointing in the direction of a tall mountain. "There," he replied.

Maui looked up. He was blinded by the sun in his eyes, but briefly saw the silhouette of a figure walking away from the edge of the mountain. "That's Ancestors' Peak." Maui said.

The villager looked at Maui. "You," he pointed at the demigod. "You were supposed to help us. The Ali'i trusted you."

Maui bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry I couldn't save Motunui."

The villager looked at Maui, and walked away, his eyes filled with sadness.

Maui sighed. He knew that he had betrayed the trust of Moana's people, but he had done it so that the rest of the world had a chance to be saved. "That's the tallest mountain on the island where chiefs of times past placed their own rocks to mark their leadership." Maui explained with a heavy heart.

"What if she doesn't want to be found?" Elsa asked anxiously.

"I owe it to Moana to find out." Maui said firmly, walking towards the mountain. "Stay here." Maui looked back at the three girls. "It's best for Moana if she sees a familiar face first." In a single bound, Maui leaped up off the beach, causing sand to fly everywhere from the impact, and he landed on the summit of Ancestors' Peak. Maui got up from his crouched position from where he had landed, and looked around. He spotted the pile of rocks that the ancestral chiefs had added to that cemented their legacy, and looked for Moana's rock which had been on top of the pile. It wasn't there.

Looking down, he saw Moana's rock, which had been scratched and discarded beside the pile of rocks, together with her personal spear. Picking the spear up, Maui looked further and saw a girl sitting at the opposite edge of Ancestors' Peak. His hopes were raised, and walked cautiously towards the girl. She had the same build as Moana, as well as the same hair which seemed frizzier than usual. "Moana?" Maui called out hopefully.

The girl didn't turn around, as if having not heard Maui's call.

Maui walked to the edge of the mountain slowly, kneeling down to speak with her at eye level. "Moana, it's me. Maui. I've come back for you."

Moana turned to look at Maui, and he was surprised to see that her already tan skin was dark with bruises and some areas were still blood stained. Her eyes had dark circles from a lack of sleep, and her lips were parched.

"Why did you come back?" Moana's cracked voice was filled with defeat and her eyes dull with depression.

"I came back for you, Moana." Maui replied, dismayed by the state his best friend was in.

"It's too late." Moana turned away.

"Where's the Major?" Maui asked, lightly putting a hand on her shoulder, deeply concerned for his friend.

"Gone. His black magic was too strong. He took the totem and left. I couldn't stop him."

"Look at me." Maui said firmly.

Moana turned to look at Maui, her face tear stained.

"He had black magic. There was nothing you could have done to stop him."

"I could have." Moana replied quietly. "My father trusted me with the family pendant before he died. He told me that the light magic was now mine to wield."

"But it wasn't enough to stop Kane." Maui insisted.

"It could have been. If only I had been stronger, I could have saved everyone. But because of me, my family and friends are dead," she held her father's pendant gently in her hand. "This is all I have left of my family now."

Maui was at a loss for words. "This-this was all him. It wasn't your fault."

Moana turned away from Maui. "You shouldn't have come back. Please, just leave me be."

Maui sighed. He knew he had one last card he could play and he prayed that it would work. "Moana, he's still out there. He'll hurt more people if we don't stop him. We need your help."

"Don't use that prophecy stuff with me." Moana replied. "It's not going to work."

"No, no, forget the prophecy." Maui continued. "I've known you for the past few years. The Moana I know doesn't give up, even when she's been knocked down. Remember the heart of Te Fiti?"

Moana looked up at Maui again. "That was different."

"It may have been," Maui insisted confidently. "But you're still the same Moana. And I know that you're stronger than this. Prove the Major wrong." Maui pulled Moana to her feet and held out the spear for her.

Moana looked at Maui and took the spear in her hand. "Where is he?"

###

Melody looked up at Ancestors' Peak. It had been a while since Maui had gone up to the summit and she was starting to wonder if he had fallen asleep up there. "You guys doing fine?" she looked at Tracy and Elsa, who had both hidden under one of the palm trees which was surprisingly still intact after Major Kane's troops had destroyed the village.

"It's kind of warm." Elsa replied, wiping away bits of perspiration from her forehead. She had used her ice powers to create a new sleeveless light blue dress for herself which extended down to her knees, with a darker shade of blue leggings to keep her legs protected from bug bites, and comfortable white sneakers on her feet. The climate in Hawaii was way warmer than Norway's and her previous outfit had been too thick as she had created it after The Great Freeze. After all, being out here on the quest didn't call for royal attire, so she could dress however she wanted.

Tracy rolled her eyes. "How much longer do we have to wait here?" She looked at the dead bodies of the villagers that were still strewn across the land. "This place gives me the creeps."

"Hopefully not much longer." Melody looked up at the mountain again. Just as she looked up, she saw a large silhouetted figure jump off the edge of Ancestors' Peak against the glaring sun and she stepped way back to make room for the landing.

Maui touched down on the ground in a crouched position, making a huge dent in the sand. Clinging on his back was the girl Melody presumed was Moana.

She dismounted and immediately pointed her spear towards the direction of the three girls.

Instinctively Melody drew back her bow, aiming an arrow at the spear.

"Who are you? What are you doing on my island?" Moana asked fiercely.

"Woah, hold on! They're friends!" Maui quickly lowered Moana's spear with his hand. "I went around the world to find them to help us on our mission!"

Moana slowly eased up, reverting to a normal position from her combat stance, still a little wary of the strangers on her sacred grounds that had already been defiled once.

"This is Princess Melody of Denmark. She's an archer and a human-mermaid hybrid." Maui pointed to Melody, as she placed her arrow back in her quiver.

"Melody is fine." she gave a small but friendly smile.

Maui pointed to Elsa. "And this, is Queen Elsa of Arendelle. She's…cold."

"Ice manipulation." Elsa corrected, still wary of the fierce tribal girl.

"And this," Maui pointed to Tracy. "Is Tracy. She's uhh…" Maui paused, realizing that he didn't know anything about the octopid other than the fact that she came out of the ocean.

"A sea witch. From the Bermuda Triangle." Tracy finished his sentence bluntly.

"Former sea witch." Melody chimed in quickly, hoping that Tracy didn't make a bad first impression on Moana.

Moana raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry, I can vouch for her." Melody reassured, looking at Tracy in annoyance.

"Right… So you think this alliance of warriors will be enough to stop Major Kane?" Moana looked at Maui in doubt. "Even a hundred of our villagers couldn't stop him and his mercenaries from destroying our home."

"Trust me." Maui looked confidently at Moana. "The prophecy s-"

"The prophecy says so. Yeah I get it." Moana finished his sentence. "I don't know if the five of us will even survive an encounter with Kane, much less stop him."

"We will." Melody spoke up confidently.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Trust us."

There was an awkward silence that hung over the atmosphere for a minute or two, then Moana sighed in resignation. "If you say so. Let's go."

The five warriors walked out of the village and through the plantation of palm trees that led to the coast. They walked across the sand and piled onto the ship that rested on the beach, and Maui pushed the boat off the sand and into the water. He climbed aboard the ship, much to the confusion of Melody, Elsa and Tracy.

"Wait a minute. Maui, if you're on the ship, who's gonna pull us across the ocean?" Tracy asked, puzzled.

"Ah. Watch this." Maui smiled, nodding at Moana.

Moana lifted her hands with her palms facing up and stared intensely at the water, narrowing her eyes in concentration. The water behind the ship rose into a mini tidal wave, and moved towards the ship. Instead of breaking off upon contact with the ship, the tidal wave held together, pushing the ship forward through the water at a pace much faster than when Maui had towed the ship as a whale.

"And that's Moana for you," Maui proclaimed proudly as the ship sped across the water.

"Right, so where exactly are we headed?" Elsa asked on behalf of the rest of the team.

"Agrabah." Moana replied, looking around at the warriors. "After the Major overpowered me with his black magic, I overheard him telling one of his mercenaries to plot a course for the Cave of Wonders in the city of Agrabah. I don't know why or what that is, but I know that's where he's headed next." Moana finished.

"And at this rate, we won't be far behind." Melody continued.

"I'm sure some of you still aren't sure exactly what we're up against." Maui looked around.

Tracy and Elsa nodded, and so did Melody. Even she didn't have all the details yet, only pieces of the puzzle.

"This man called Major Kane. He invaded Motunui to steal the ancient snake totem which now helps him to harness his black magic efficiently." Moana began. "He and his forces decimated my village and slaughtered countless, leaving a few alive as 'a show of mercy', he said." she finished grimly.

"I didn't think the day would come when the events of the prophecy would be set in motion," Maui continued. "But the Major has finally emerged from the shadows and has begun his quest to destroy mankind. And so I assembled this team of warriors from around the world according to the prophecy in a bid to stop him."

The team looked around at each other. It was a lot of heavy information to take in.

"Whew. Didn't think I would be saving the world when I woke up this morning." Tracy said in a sardonic tone, walking away from the deck down to her quarters to try to process all that she had heard.

The rest of the warriors remained silent, each wondering what they had just gotten themselves into, leaving only the sound of the waves splashing against the ship as the warriors advanced towards Agrabah.

Writer's Commentary:

In this chapter, I began to explore more of the heroines' purposes on the quest through conversations between Tracy and Elsa, and Maui and Moana. And we finally return to Motunui, to find it in ruins. All that imagery of the village being torn down is to showcase the state of mind that Moana is now stuck in. Guilty that she wasn't able to stop the Major and furious at him for destroying her home, we get to see her meet the warriors that Maui had assembled.

I think that it's going to be a very interesting dynamic between all the different heroes, now that we've assembled the entire team. They are heading towards their next destination to stop the Major, and Maui finally brings them all up to speed. Everyone learns of the villain and what they have gotten themselves into. Ending this chapter off in a dire tone sets the stage for their anticipation of what comes next, and the grave challenge that they will find in the Major. In the next chapter, we will explore more of the Major's backstory. It's going to showcase the Major that you know in a whole different light!