Maui grit his teeth together in an attempt to prevent himself from yelling at everyone in the room. The council was infuriating. And wasting time. Time they didn't have if they wanted any hope of rescuing Moana. Maui's fingers dug into his arm and he barely held onto his temper when the council questioned him – again- about the eel.

"Who was that?"

"Tuna-roa, a water demon."

"I thought you defeated him a long time ago."

"Obviously not."

"What does he want with Moana?"

"I don't know, he only mentioned revenge."

And they launched into another round of debates and arguments. They were getting nowhere and if he stayed a moment longer he would break something, probably one of them. Maui pushed off the wall, grabbed his hook and marched down the aisle, not caring that the people had to jump out of his way.

"Maui! Where do you think you're going?" Chief Tui's voice boomed over the noise of the crowd.

Maui stopped in his tracks, fist tightening on his hook and nostrils flaring.

"Where am I going?" His voice was dangerously calm and he turned to face the chief, officially losing his temper.

"While everyone here is flapping around like a flock of chickens," he gestured to the group and several members flinched, "I am going to save Moana. So go ahead, keep discussing." He waved a hand at them in dismissal. "But I'm leaving."

He turned back towards the door and began walking.

"We're all worried about her, Maui," Tui called after him. "Me most of all; she's my daughter and I -"

"AND SHE"S MY WIFE!"

Everyone, including Tui, jumped. Maui glared at the chief where he sat at the front of the council.

"Go ahead and sit there like a coward. I'm going to take my canoe, find that eel and kill him with my bare hands if need be, to save my wife. And you," he growled, pointing at Tui with his hook, "just try and stop me."

Stunned silence followed him through the doorway and into the cool night air. Maui swung his hook and shifted into a hawk, quickly making his way to the hut he was supposed to be sharing with Moana that night. He lit a torch, barely noticing the flowers decorating the inside of the hut, and began to slam supplies into a basket. Hooks and twine to fix sails, blankets, enough food to last him a few days. He never ate much during voyages, and he could always fish along the way, but one could never be too careful.

He gathered up the basket and torch, but with a last thought went and grabbed Moana an extra set of clothes. He gathered everything together, pausing at the open doorway. He studied the inside of his new home, his temper cooling and finally allowing other emotions to surface.

Rage, yes. Shock at the sight of an enemy thought long dead. And, if he was honest with himself, he was disappointed. Maui's eyes scanned the hut he had painstakingly built for Moana after completing the challenges several weeks ago. Tonight he would have been falling asleep next to the woman he loved, holding her tight, her face being the first thing he saw when waking. Maui heaved a sigh and snuffed out his torch, making his way to the beach.

Surprisingly, with the onslaught of emotions battling inside him, there was no fear. Of course he had a large amount of worry niggling his gut, especially since he had no idea what Tuna-roa had planned. But Maui knew Moana. He knew she would put up a fight. Maui smiled, stepping over a log in the path. He wouldn't be surprised if he found Moana sitting in Tuna's lair, sitting prettily on the dead eel's carcass, wondering what took him so long to get there. That is, if the eel was lucky. Maui's mood darkened again. If Maui caught Tuna alive, the eel would wish Moana had finished him off first.

Maui made it to the shoreline and scanned the area for his canoe. It was large enough to hold two people, but also was lightweight. Speed would be the most important aspect in successfully finding Moana, and Maui needed to make it to Tamatoa quickly. If anyone knew where the eel was headed it would be that beady-eyed bottom feeder.

Maui had just spotted his canoe at the end of the line when footsteps came behind him.

"Not that one, Old Man. This way, I already have one ready."

Taianui took the basket from Maui's hand and walked down the beach. Maui frowned and followed skeptically.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, staring at the large canoe Taianui was preparing.

"Isn't it obvious?"

He dumped Maui's supplies into the already full cargo hold and jumped off the deck, landing in front of Maui with a smile.

"I'm coming with you." He grinned widely and placed his hands on his hips. Maui barked a laugh.

"No, you aren't. It's too dangerous."

Maui trudged back down the beach towards his canoe. Taianui jumped in front, walking backwards and waving a spear that Maui now noticed he carried.

"Exactly!" Taianui exclaimed, looking behind him to avoid falling over a large branch, "It's been boring on the island, and think about it, this is the perfect way for me to build my reputation on the island, not to mention finally getting one of the women to look at me."

He moved to Maui's side and Maui rolled his eyes as his friend draped his arm across his back.

"Picture this," Taianui spoke quickly, sweeping the spear through the air. "Taianui braving the ocean with his best friend and demi-god Maui in rescue of fair maiden. Taianui, risking his life to save his best friend's wife from the clutches of a giant sea monster, because that's what a best friend does. Taianui facing untold danger with best friend-"

"This is not about you, Taianui!" Maui shrugged his friend's arm from his back and marched faster. "I'm sorry, but I have much bigger problems than stroking your ego. Tuna probably already has Moana at his lair, and who knows where it is. I need to get there quickly, and your arguing is not helping things."

Taianui halted, his voice losing its usual bolster, "I know, Maui. That's why I want to help."

Maui stopped and sighed, running his hand over his face. Mini-Maui looked at him with disapproval and Maui glared at the little guy, flicking him over his shoulder.

"I know how important this is, and that's why I thought another pair of hands could be helpful. Moana is my friend too, I just want to see you both safe and happy."

Maui turned, looking at Taianui who stood with the most serious expression Maui had ever seen from the man. Several moments passed with the two men staring at each other before Maui sighed again and nodded.

"Ok, you can come. Sorry for, you know." He waved his hand in the air. Maui felt a twinge on his chest and saw Mini-Moa clapping. He rolled his eyes, walking quickly back towards the large canoe.

"Apology accepted, Old Man." Taianui jogged to keep up and soon the two men had the boat sailing smoothly across the lagoon.

"So, any idea where we're going?" Taianui steered the canoe over a large wave and Maui worked the sails to catch the wind. They splashed over the reef and made their way into the open ocean.

"I have no idea," Maui said, staring into the water and wondering why the ocean wasn't giving any clues. "That's why we're heading to a friend to see if he knows anything."

"And who is this friend of yours? Anyone I should know?" Taianui put his hand in the water to check the current, distracted by the art of sailing to fully understand his question.

Maui smirked.

"Ever heard of Tamatoa?"

Taianui's head jerked up, his fingers dripping water.

"The giant crab? But that means we're heading towards-"

"Yep, Lalotai. Just think of the girl's reactions when you get home." Maui pitched his voice several octaves higher. "'Oh Taianui, you're so brave to follow your best friend into the realm of monsters.' 'Oh Taianui-'" Maui caught a banana sailing at his head and laughed at Taianui's scowling face.