A/N: For all you fluff/romance lovers, it will happen between Maui and Moana eventually. But I'm mean so we're gunna have some drama first ^^ toodles!
Chapter 6: Empty Skies
"Maui, demigod of the wind and sea. Hero to all. Why did you leave for two years and never come back?"
Moana paced in the island grass by the shore that night, oar tossed over her shoulders as she trampled a well worn path. Above her, the navy sky sparkled with billions of stars, including the replica of Maui's hook. Nearby, the soft roll of the surf matched Moana's heartbeat as she walked back and forth.
With all the excitement over and done with, Moana felt the overwhelming feeling of frustration crawling back into her consciousness. She still hadn't confronted Maui about his sudden disappearance after Tē Fiti. It was something that had been bugging her for years now, but Moana couldn't seem to find the right way to approach the subject.
Glancing down as something snapped against her skin, Moana frowned at Mini Mo, who was leaning in her canoe with an unamused look on her inked face,
"Listen, I'm trying, ok? At least you and Mini Maui are actually on talking terms,"
The inked girl folded her arms in disbelief as Moana rolled her eyes and grunted,
"It's been different since he got back. It's like we aren't even friends anymore. I thought maybe we just needed to get used to one another again, but he's shutting me out,"
Mo shook her head slightly as Moana left the patch of grass where she had been pacing and tromped down to the beach. This particular side of Motunui was almost completely void of coconut trees, and was mostly an expanse of field grass and shoreline. Sitting down on the ridge created by the land and shore, Moana huffed and leaned on a hand.
The past few days had been a little more then trying. Not only had Moana found Maui again (more like rescued him), but she had also found out she currently carried the heart of Tangaroa. He was a very powerful God, at least from the stories Moana had heard from her Grandma. But then again, she had never heard of Auahitūroa before.
Shaking her head and grunting again, Moana brought her focus back to the problem at hand. Confronting Maui. He was purposefully avoiding her, and Moana wanted to know why!
"Alright, I think I just need to go talk to him. Good plan?"
Moana looked to Mo, who merely shrugged and nodded, freezing back into her position as the young wayfinder stood from her place on the sand and brushed herself off,
"I'll find Maui and make him tell me why he left. Though...I can't really make Maui do anything...No, it's already been decided. Find Maui,"
Turning on her heel, Moana meant to go stomping off towards the village. However, she suddenly had the urge to turn and look at the ocean. Upon doing so, Moana's heart dropped into her gut. There was something plummeting right towards her! Gasping out of sheer panic, the young Chief grasped her oar and drew it back. Bringing it forward, Moana used her strength to whack the ball of light hurtling at her into the ocean, watching in horror as the water swallowed it.
Breathing shakily, Moana hurried down to the surf line, looking into the ocean. She was knocked back however as the sea foam rose up to reveal the ball of light. Though it was no longer an orb, but a tall creature with eyes like fire,
"O-oh no,"
Stepping back and holding her cherished weapon, the glowing monster growled as the ocean began to lap at its submerged waist. Moving to wade from the shallows, Moana turned and ran the other way out of instinct. She needed Maui's help! Moana didn't get far however before a blazing fire hit her back, and she flew forward into the grass with a pained yelp,
"Puny demigoddess!" The beast roared, though it was more like a high pitched, electric clicking noise. Whipping around and scrambling to her feet, Moana jumped to one side as another fireball exploded nearby,
"I haven't even done anything!" She cried out, raising her hands as the ocean surged forward and crashed into the monster. It squealed and smoked, but in a similar manner to Te Kā, quickly regained its light,
"Mere water can't defeat me, child!" It hissed, slamming its large hands into the shore as glowing tracks crackled through the sand and barreled towards where Moana stood. Gasping, she pulled the ocean towards her and urged it to protect her. The shield was weak though, and evaporated to steam as new bouts of electricity crackled through Moana's veins and caused her to cry out and fall to her knees.
The beast roared again as it emerged from the water, crystallizing the shore wherever it stepped as it reached out and knocked the oar from Moana's grip before taking hold of her leg. Hanging upside down, Moana gasped as she was lifted upward and tossed into the air, rapidly falling to the ground as her landing rocked Motunui and cracked the earth.
Groaning, Moana clutched weakly at the grasses with her fingers, feeling electricity jump across her skin as the creature laughed,
"Give me the heart, small demigoddess, and I will spare you your suffering-"
"CHEEEEHOOO!"
Moana lifted her head dizzily as the wings of a giant hawk practically blinded her, slamming chest first into the light monster as it squealed and fell backwards into the sea. Shaking her head and sitting up all the way, Moana watched as Maui brought his purple glowing hook down on the monsters throat, cutting into the shimmering skin and decapitating it. As the head sunk in the ocean with a final scream, the body crystallized into stone and disappeared as well.
Exhaling deeply, Moana tried to stand, only to collapse back to her knees as Maui swooped in and transformed back into himself,
"Easy princess," he stated, "you just got your butt kicked,"
Glowering from where she knelt, Moana groaned heavily as a soft, quiet ocean breeze ruffled her singed curls,
"What...what was that?"
"It was a Rongomai,"
"What's a Rongomai?"
"Just something to do Auahitūroa's dirty work," Maui stated, shrugging his shoulders and resting his hook over his back, "thought you could take it on by yourself, right? The new, super powerful demigoddess?"
"What?" Moana knitted her brows and got to her feet, wincing as she leaned on her oar for support, "Maui, I didn't go hunting for that thing. It attacked me. I was...actually going to look for you-"
"Why? Missing me already?"
Maui puffed out his chest, grunting and kneeling as Moana smacked him with the end of her oar (similar to when they first met). Grabbing his ear and dragging him towards her, Moana growled slightly,
"What is the matter with you?" She hissed, ignoring the wooziness still in her mind, "you disappear for two years, two years, Maui, and suddenly you act like I'm just some kid,"
Releasing the demigod and folding her arms, Moana turned her back. This wasn't the way she originally wanted to bring up this subject, but she guessed it would do just as well,
"Curly, come on. You had your chiefly stuff here on your Paradise, I had world saving to catch up on-"
"That's not an excuse," Moana grumbled, kicking a rock with her foot as she lifted her oar, feeling the place where Maui had engraved his autograph, "I thought we were friends,"
"Kookie Dukes," Maui stated with a laugh, though it sent a cold chill through Moana as her eyes widened, "we'd never work curly, and you know it-"
"Stop," Moana snapped, holding up one of her hands as tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, "just, stop,"
"Curly I-"
"No. I am Moana of Motunui, you will board my boat, sail across the sea-" Moana choked as she bit down on a knuckle to keep back her tears. What was the matter with her? She didn't feel anything other then friendship for Maui...right? "...I can't believe I actually had any sort of feelings towards you. I guess all demigods are the same-"
"Hey-"
Moana whipped herself around to face Maui, pointing a finger directly at his chest as he stepped back rapidly,
"It's only these that matter, right? You have this," Moana poked the empty circle where Mini Mo used to be and sneered, "and that's all you need to feel accomplished?"
Maui said nothing, even looked a bit conflicted as Moana laughed harshly and ran a hand through her curls,
"I thought we had something, Maui. I guess I was wrong,"
Moana felt like her heart was breaking as she took up her oar and walked away with a huff, stopping and looking at his back over her shoulder,
"As Chief, it's in my best nature to let you stay on Motunui as long as you wish. Goodbye, Maui. Demigod of the wind and sea,"
Whipping her head around, Moana made her way through the tall grasses, leaving the man alone on the beach as she headed back towards the village. She looked down however when she felt a tingling on her shoulder. The moonlight was bright enough to illuminate her skin, enough to see that a broad figure was embracing Mini Mo tightly. The two looked up at her when they noticed she was staring, and Moana smiled weakly.
"He can say if you want, Mo. But Maui will no doubt get...lonely, without his Miniature,"
The little inked wayfinder frowned and hugged Mini Maui tighter, just remaining like that as Moana returned to her village. The torches were burning dully, but as Moana approached her fale, a lone figure was sitting on the porch. Sitting down beside her mom with a huff, Moana looked at her knees,
"What happened?"
Sina's voice was gentle as Moana ran a hand through her hair and set her oar by her feet,
"I thought wrong about him, mom," she mumbled, "he's just another demigod. Just a child's tale,"
Sina said nothing, merely nodding as she reached out to touch Moana's shoulder blade. It was now the young wayfinder felt her skin prickle. Another tattoo had appeared.
"It's a demon," Sina mumbled, running careful fingers over the skin Moana could not see, "you were knocked out of the sky...by a star demon,"
"I'll tell you the story, mom, I promise. But please...not tonight,"
Moana felt defeated and lonely, moving closer to Sina as they sat together and looked at the sky. The navy tapestry which had once been full of life now seemed so dark. And not just because it was night, and the moonlight was barely glowing. No.
The sky was completely empty.