The Luau was in full swing as Moana danced amongst her people, performing the ancient steps of her ancestors as she jumped and moved to the beat of drums. There were smiles all around as she twisted and showed herself off, smiling at her mom who was sitting in a hammock off to the side. Aisake was also watching her, along with his brother Orō, who was a bit older. Both of them were young and handsome in the firelight, glowing as they set baskets of fruits and meat on the long tables.
When the dance ended and there was clapping all around, Moana left the floor breathing heavily. Even through the loud beating of the drums, she was called to the surf. It was especially noisy tonight, practically screaming at her to come to the shore. Rolling her shoulders and picking Heihei off one of the small cooking fires where he decided to sit, Moana made her way towards Sina, and the tapestry of her Grandma Tala,
"Moana,"
Turning, the young chief smiled at Aisake who approached her, beaming ear to ear, "you danced wonderfully,"
Sharing a honi, Moana smiled,
"Thank you. I knew all that practicing would pay off eventually,"
"Uh, do you want to step out for a bit? We'll take a walk,"
Moana's smile slipped slightly as she looked towards the sea. Aisake seemed to get the message and laughed weakly, rubbing the back of his neck,
"I see someone else has got your attentions for tonight?"
"I'm sorry, Aisake. I promised myself I'd go wayfinding..."
"I understand, Moana. Orō and I are staying to help clean up, maybe you can come help us out when you get back?"
"Maybe. Thank you, Aisake,"
He nodded happily as Moana placed her hands in his and leaned up, stealing a kiss from the mans lips before hurrying towards her mom. Aisake blinked and walked off dazedly as Moana hugged Sina around the shoulders,
"He seems like a nice young man," she said, unconsciously touching the tapestry hanging behind her, "handsome,"
"He is, mom. And understanding," Moana stated, dropping into the cloth and curling up as they watched the dancing, "I'd like to get to know him better,"
"So why did you turn him down?"
"I promised myself to the sea, tonight," Moana explained, looking again to the ocean where the waves crashed against the sand, "I think I need...time to clear my head,"
"If that'll make you happy, my little minnow," Sina said, taking Heihei from her daughters arms, "go on. Be back before daybreak,"
"I will. Don't stay up too late,"
Sina chuckled weakly as Moana stood and left the community fale, making her way through Motunui and down towards the shore. Here, the waves drowned out the distant noise of humming drums. The surf was wild tonight, reaching out and nearly touching the high grasses just beyond the sand. Walking along the coast, Moana knitted her brows as she was nearly knocked from her feet,
"Woah, ocean! What's the matter?"
There was no answer, only another surge of water as Moana stumbled. She couldn't wayfind in these conditions, it would be too risky. The ocean was obviously troubled about something. Moana stood and looked out towards the moon, only for her eyes to be drawn elsewhere. A faint blue glow was coming from the shallows, sparkling in the depths as Moana squinted.
Suddenly feeling drawn, and with the ocean pulling at her, Moana waded into the water. Before she could reach the sparkling object though, a large surge came over her, causing a scream to escape her throat as she became completely submerged. Panicking and kicking towards the surface, Moana couldn't seem to reach it as she was dragged down by the undertow. Was the ocean mad at her? Mad enough to try and drown her? Struggling, Moana was merely pushed farther down into the coral, shoulders protesting as a glimmering caught her eye.
Resting in the sand a little ways away was a rock, glowing like the heart of Te Fiti itself. Reaching out for it, Moana released a heavy and sudden breath as her arm was slammed into a nearby reef, causing seawater to flood into her lungs. Grasping blindly, Moana's fingers clasped around something smooth and cold as the waves suddenly stilled. There were no more surges as Moana allowed herself to be washed up on the shore. Breathing heavily, the young chief pulled herself up onto the sand, clutching the blue stone in her hand as her heart thudded in her chest.
If it wasn't so dark, and Moana had been paying any attention, she would have noticed the lines of tattoos now splattered on her shoulder. But she wasn't, and Moana fell to the sand exhausted, quivering with cold as she looked at the ocean,
"Why did you do that?" She asked, clutching the rock she had grabbed and looking at it. The stone was very similar to the heart of Te Fiti, smooth and glowing a cerulean blue color. In its surface were swirls which resembled waves,
"What is this?"
"Moana!"
The girl lifted her head weakly as several figures began coming through the brush. Hiding the stone in her grandmothers necklace, Moana coughed again as Sina's hands came to caress her face,
"Moana? Moana!"
"I'm...ok..." she croaked, holding up a hand and wincing. The coral from the reef had done a good number on her arm, tearing it up and causing it to bleed,
"Just stay still. Aisuka, help me get her back to the village."
The young man nearby nodded as Moana felt her feet and back leave the sand. Her eyes were already dropping from the excitement, and if she had been more awake, Moana would have seen the pulse of blue light which rippled the ocean before disappearing.
Moana awoke the next morning feeling refreshed. The sunlight filtering through the medical fale hit her eyes, causing them to flutter as a wide yawn escaped her throat. Spreading her limbs and arching upwards towards the sky. It was only now that Moana felt the odd prickling of her shoulder. She hadn't hit the reef in that way the night before, at least, she didn't think so.
Rolling up onto her backside, Moana removed the sheets from her torso, only to scream out in a similar way to Maui upon their first meeting. Sitting contentedly on her shoulder was a small inked figure. The tattoo was of herself in a canoe, holding her favorite oar. The 'Mini Moana' was smiling as the ocean propelled her,
"What the-"
Just as she went to touch the new addition to her body, Moana squealed as the tattoo began moving, and the little figure blinked, yawned and stood up on her skin,
"O-oh...Kay. I think I'm hallucinating right now,"
The tattoo turned around and looked at her, seeming to panic as well and held out her oar as if to defend herself. Lifting a hand, Moana tried to calm the little inked girl,
"Calm down, it's fine. Uh, d-do you remember how you...you know...got onto my shoulder?"
The Mini Moana shrugged and shook her head from side to side. She then seemed to change her mind and held up a finger before diving down into the inked water. Moana waited for her return, only to turn to her lower arm when there was a distinct tapping there. Looking down, she raised up her hand to find another tattoo. This one was a bit more elaborate. The Mini Moana was underwater, and the ocean was presenting her with a small oval,
"Oh! I see,"
Reaching up, Moana flicked open the lid to he grandmothers necklace, finding the blue stone resting right where she had put it the night before,
"So you showed up when I got the rock?"
Mini Moana nodded and swam back up onto Moana's shoulder, hauling into her canoe and taking up her oar once again,
"Ok, so...why did this happen? I mean, last night was all a bit fuzzy-"
"As it should be," Sina said, starling Moana as she fell out of her cot and onto the floor. Groaning, Moana smiled weakly up at her mom,
"H-hey," she sing-songed weakly, leaning on an elbow as she waved casually, "how's it going?"
"Other then the fact that I nearly lost my daughter for a second time last night?"
"I'm sorry," Moana stated, standing and covering up her shoulder with her hair, and holding her tattooed arm behind her back, "I don't know what happened-"
"Moana, I've already seen them,"
Exhaling in defeat and slumping forward, Moana pushed back her hair to reveal Mo, and let her arm fall weakly to her side,
"Something happened last night that I...I will never understand,"
"Mom I-"
"Moana, go."
The young chief blinked slightly as she knitted her brows,
"Go where? I can't leave Motunui-"
"Moana, this," Sina lifted her arm and motioned at the tattoos, "this is the work of gods,"
"Are you saying I can't stay on Motunui cause I have...what, magic tattoos?"
Moana felt slightly hurt, but Sina rapidly shook her hands and head,
"That's not what I mean, Moana. You know what I mean,"
Moana was confused for a moment, jumping when something slapped against her skin. Looking down, Mini Mo was pointing at the fish hook and heart carved on her oar,
"Maui?"
Sina nodded and took Moana's hands in her own. She supposed Maui would be the only one to understand her current...tattoo problem, as he had similar ones. But she didn't even know where he was! Even the ocean didn't know.
"The fish hook will guide you," Sina said, mimicking grandma Tala as Moana stood and hugged her mother tightly, "go, find out what happened. Then come back,"
"I will," Moana stated, "I promise,"
"Good. I had the men prepare your canoe."
"You...knew I would want to leave!"
Moana seemed almost hurt again as Sina turned and picked up Heihei who had been pecking at the wall nearby, setting him into Moana's arms,
"You're my daughter. I know everything. Now go,"
Nodding, Moana swallowed her tears and held tight to Heihei as she exited the medical fale. Motunui was only just illuminated by dawns light, meaning many of the villagers were still sleeping. Sighing, Moana pounded down towards the shore. On the sand was her canoe, the red swirl standing out against the horizon as Moana exhaled deeply. She would find Maui again, make him explain what had happened to her.
Jumping up onto the deck, Moana placed Heihei in the hold while she grabbed her oar, dropping it suddenly when a spark of electricity passed through her arms. Looking at Mini Mo who was trying to get her attention, the inked girl was swinging the tool around like a weapon,
"Ok, ok calm down," Moana complained, picking up the oar again. It didn't shock her this time as she dropped back down to the sand, pushing her canoe into the still lagoon water. Once floating, she read the breeze and pulled her sails, surprised that no large swells awaited her while approaching the reef. Once out of the shallows, Moana unfurled her sheet to its full extent and caught the wind,
"We head towards the sun," Moana explained, feeling Mo gleefully jumping up and down on her skin, "and when I find Maui I'm going to give him a piece of my mind,"