Chapter 14: The Duel

'I need time to think about this,' That's what Moana had said, staring wildly between Rohe and Maui, her heart clenching and unclenching in fear and pain, her eyes prickling with childish tears, 'this...this is-is too much. I-I have to talk to Maui-'
Rohe had denied her that request with a fiery glare and a shake of her head, 'at least give me time to think this over,'

That's how Moana ended up back in her chambers, staring at one of the black obsidian walls and crimson drapery with dim eyes. In the far corner of the room, the same group of three holoholona from before were sprawled on silk pillows, braiding each other's hair and painting intricate designs onto one another's skin. Inwardly, Moana wondered what it was like to be a holoholona, lounging about the Palace all day long with no responsibilities other then caring for occasional house guests, and the ever temperamental Rohe. She wouldn't have to deal with being a demigoddess, or being a young chief, or...Maui.

'Where would I be without Maui?' Moana thought to herself, leaning on an open palm as she rested an elbow on her knee, 'I wouldn't be in this mess. But I also wouldn't have gone to Tē Fiti. I would still be on Montuni. I'd still be trapped there, longing for the ocean, yet knowing I could never have that life,'

Moana's lips twisted into a deep frown,

'Without Maui, I never would have found Tangaroa and Rehua. My people would all be dead without him...'

Moana cocked her head the opposite way now and sighed heavily. It was her choice to make. Get the comet and return it to Rehua in order to save her people from extinction, or save Maui, and let Montuni die. It was an almost an impossible decision. Maui was a part of her story as a Wayfinder. And without him around, Moana felt as though a piece of her very soul was just...gone.

"You care for the Demigod, child?"

The silky voice of Pele startled Moana from her thoughts as she glanced up, twisting around to face the slender woman. She had changed out of her red garments, and had instead dawned a toga of white and gold. It contrasted against her dark skin as her ember eyes flickered, "you are in deep thought,"

"I wish the decision were easy," Moana admitted weakly, playing with the braid which lay limply on one of her shoulders, "I lose one piece of my life or the other no matter which direction I turn. What am I supposed to do?"

"Mm, destiny is cruel that way, child." Pele sighed slightly and glided towards the bed, sinking down to sit beside Moana. Almost hesitantly, her warm, fragile hand came to rest upon the Wayfinder's shoulder, "Rohe is a very powerful goddess, but she too was faced with a most awful choice. Live for the rest of her life as the monster which Maui made her, or give up her soul to Whiro and gain the power to destroy him. Revenge, unfortunately, outweighed her very will to live,"

Moana felt her heart give slightly, her fingers clutching the blankets of the bedspread as Pele looked towards the same wall Moana had been staring at earlier, "you, young Wayfinder, have a different problem. To either risk the lives of your family, or the immortal existence of the man you love,"

Moana stiffened slightly and turned to stare at Pele. Love? She didn't love Maui. Maybe as a friend or a brother, but not as anything else. As if reading her thoughts (or maybe just her startled expression), Pele smiled weakly,

"You deny it now, child. But when it comes time for him to go, your heart will protest. But, fate is funny that way I suppose," Pele sat back casually as her smile disappeared and her eyes became sad, "Rohe shares a similar story to yours, but her own envy and anger blackened her heart. Don't let this choice do that to you too. After all," Pele grinned weakly and cocked her head to one side, "you only have an eternity,"

Standing and smoothing out her dress, Pele moved gracefully and caressed Moana's tear stained cheek before heading back towards the chamber door. Before leaving though, Rohe's advisor turned,

"By the way, Rohe loves to gamble. Perhaps it's something you and her have in common?"

Then Pele was gone, leaving Moana and her three chambermaids once again in silence. Knitting her eyebrows, Moana looked at the floor. 'What does gambling have to do with anything?'. Then it struck her. Similar to a wave overtaking the shore, Moana's head filled with a brilliant idea. A crazy one, but brilliant. Standing and holding out her hand, Moana felt an oar materialize in her grip, glowing the same soft ember as her tattoos. Glancing down as there was a pinching at her shoulder, Moana smiled at Mini Mo. The little inked girl was giving her a double thumbs up, and had a bright smile on her golden face,

"Thanks Mo. I just hope this isn't a mistake,"

Inhaling shakily, Moana strode towards her holoholona escorts, who looked up at her as she came to stand before them, "I've made my decision,"

'Of course young Wayfinder,'

'We'll tell Goddess Rohe right away,'

'Follow us, child. Yes, follow us,'

As one of the girls darted ahead, the other two flanked Moana's sides as she weaved her way back towards the throne room of Rohe. Immedslty, the vast doors opened wide and Moana was granted entry. As before, Rohe sat upon her throne, eating grapes off a vine as Maui sat slouched beside her, unhappy and irritated, "Rohe, I have made my decision,"

Kneeling respectfully before her, the Goddess of the Underworld sat up and smiled,

"That was fast. Tell me Wayfinder, what have you decided? I'm dying to know."

"Rohe, Goddess of the Underworld, I challenge you to a duel,"

"A duel?" Rohe's voice held a pinch of annoyance, but it was outweighed by her curiosity, "go on?"

"If I defeat you, I'll leave your realm unharmed with the Comet and Maui,"

"Interesting proposition, child. But what if I win, hmm? This is certainly no one sided deal?"

Moana inhaled shakily, glancing at Maui who was staring at her from under his protruding brow. Turning back to Rohe, Moana held her head up high,

"If you defeat me, Rohe, you can keep the Comet, Maui...and me, as one of your loyal holoholona,"

"No Moana!"

Moana winced at the sound of rattling chains as Rohe glowered over her shoulder and snarled at Maui before facing Moana once again with a devilish smirk on her face,

"Are you not already immortal child? What good is gambling your life if you barely have one?"

"I'm not gambling my life, great goddess," Moana mumbled with a shake of her head, "I'm gambling my freedom. If you win, I will willingly give my immortal soul to you, and remain here in Te Uranga-o-te-rā i for all of eternity,"

To prove her point, or to just avoid looking into Rohe's glowing eyes, Moana folded her hands and bowed deeply at the waist. It was in a similar manner to her chambermaids, and seemed to cause Rohe to give a bit,

"Big words for such a little girl, Moana of Montuni. This wasn't really part of our deal, but, I always love a good gamble. As you set the winnings, I get to set the rules,"

Moana stood back up nervously as Rohe hummed slightly in her throat, contemplating,

"Well, no duel is fun with crooked rules. So, first one rendered immobile wins the match. One weapon, and one special request will be granted per contestant, and this room is our battleground," Rohe motioned around them with her hands as she turned to Moana, "am I missing anything?"

"No outside assistance?"

"Hmm, you're smarter then I thought. Very well, it will be a one on one duel," Rohe smiled to reveal her fangs and held out her hand, "do we have a deal, Moana of Montuni?"

'Don't do it Moana! It's too dangerous!'

Moana inhaled sharply and nodded slightly, surging forward to take Rohe's hand and shake it firmly, their grip becoming encircled in a rope of fire,

"It's a deal,"

•Oooo, Moana vs. Rohe, who's gunna win? I think that answer is obvious ^* just wanted to take the time to thank all my readers. I love your votes and your comments, and I'm so happy to see this has so many views now. I'm just so, so happy! Till the next update my lovelies!

- Rose