"It only opens after a human sacrifice."
Taianui stared at his friend in disbelief, his jaw hanging slack and his spear tumbling from his now limp hand. Maui couldn't be serious, could he? A bead of sweat trickled down Taianui's temple and he bent to pick up his weapon. He had heard the story of how Moana came here, but surely there wasn't any sacrifice made. The strain of the two day voyage and the intense sun must have finally gotten to his friend.
Maui began to laugh, "Just kidding! Why doesn't anyone think that joke is funny?"
"Because it's not," Taianui growled, heart dropping to his toes in relief.
Maui only shrugged. "Eh, it's still it makes me laugh," he said, beginning to chant.
Taianui's eyes widened. The chant was one that he had never heard before and he couldn't even understand most of the words. It must have been ancient, even before the times of the great voyages. Maui grunted and slammed his fists into the ground, vibrating the whole mountain. A large door slowly creaked open, revealing a dark, gaping hole. Taianui scrambled backwards to avoid falling into the abyss. Once the door stopped moving he leaned forward to peek into the darkness.
"Don't worry," Maui called from across the hole. Taianui glanced at his friend, who stood with a smile on his face. "It's a lot farther down than it looks."
With a wink Maui jumped into the hole, his "chee-hoo" reverberating off the stone walls. Taianui watched Maui fall and heard a faint "There's still a long way to go!" drift up to where he stood.
Taianui looked skyward, heart hammering. "Ok, if Moana can do it, so can I."
He backed up a few steps and settled into a running position, bouncing on his toes. Taianui took a deep breath and shouted "This is crazy!" and jumped after Maui.
After what seemed like an eternity of falling, Taianui's feet finally hit water. He held his breath but kept his eyes open to watch the current rush by. He was surrounded by bright swirls of colors, the most beautiful blues and purples he had ever seen. If Taianui didn't fear that he was falling to his death, he might actually enjoy the experience.
Far below his feet he could barely make out Maui falling through the water. Taianui's lungs began to burn and he panicked, arms flailing in an attempt to make himself fall faster towards the edge of the water that he still could not see. The light became unbearable and his lungs were on fire when he suddenly dropped out of the water into open air.
He screeched, lungs heaving for air and his body twisting around now that it was no longer supported upright by the strong current. His spear fell from his hand and he landed with a grunt, his fall broken by something soft. Taianui coughed, deciding he was never going to take breathing for granted again. He sat up and was quickly flung back onto the ground. He lay on his back for several moments and watched Maui wince and stand to his feet.
Maui's mini tattoos put a tally mark inside a box with what looked like two people standing above it. Taianui watched in fascination as the two characters high-fived each other.
"What does that mean?" he asked, sitting up and pointing to Maui's chest.
"What? Oh, that-"Maui stretched and the Mini's started rolling in silent laughter. "Let's just say that you're not the first person to use me as a landing mat. And they," he pointed to the still laughing Mini's, "love reminding me about it."
"So, this Tamatoa guy." Taianui gratefully grabbed onto Maui's outstretched hand and quickly got to his feet. "Where do we find him?"
Maui pointed in the direction of what looked like a large cave in the distance.
"He should be right over there, a nice short walk, but try not to get eaten. There are monsters here after all."
Maui shouldered his hook and grinned before heading off. Taianui grabbed his spear and followed slowly, staring at his surroundings in awe.
He always prided himself on being one of the tallest men in the village and was always impressed that he seemed to be Maui's equal. Almost. But never in his life did he feel as small as he did now. They had started above the ocean, travelled through it, and somehow managed to enter a realm beneath the very bottom of the ocean. Taianui could see massive sea creatures swimming high above them, the water supported by some force that Taianui was determined to discover.
A geyser shot into the air next to him, the water reaching all the way to the ocean above. Taianui stopped and waited, but nothing dropped through the bottom. He nodded his head in thought. The water must have some sort of barrier, allowing things from Lalotai to pass through, but keeping everything in place on the surface. The only way down must be the passage Maui found, and even then they had needed an ancient chant to open it.
Taianui smiled at his revelation and had just turned to follow after Maui when a loud scream and wind pierced through the air near his head. Heart hammering Taianui dropped to the ground, narrowly missing the claws of a gigantic bat. The bat swooped around, coming back towards him for another attack. He scrambled to his feet and ducked behind a large plant, holding his spear at the ready.
The bat spotted his hiding spot and swooped down, claws ready to tear him through. Suddenly the plant grew larger, revealing huge fangs. It snapped the bat from the air and swallowed it whole. Taianui yelled and scrambled out of the crevice, dodging smaller plants that now nipped at his arms and legs. Hearing a clicking sound on the path, he turned and saw a masked creature with spindly arms and legs running after him. Taianui sprinted down the path, stumbling around a corner and almost slipping on the loose dirt.
He turned back to see if the masked creature had followed and collided with a solid object. A shadow loomed over him and with a pounding heart Taianui acted out of reflex; he pulled back his arm and swung at the towering mass.
Maui rubbed his jaw and glared at his friend, silently deciding to keep visitors close by him if he wanted to avoid being punched again.
"Sorry, thought you were a monster." Taianui shrugged and tried, unsuccessfully, to casually cross his arms over his chest.
Maui smirked, "Not getting scared, are we?"
Taianui snorted, dropping his arms. "What? Of course not. And they-" he pointed to Maui's chest, "can stop laughing."
Maui looked down and saw Mini-Moa clutching onto her counterpart, both shaking. Maui gave a small chuckle of his own before beckoning in front of him towards the pat.
"Go ahead then, straight down the path."
Taianui waved a hand. "No, no it's fine. You know the way better than I do. I'd probably get us lost and then we'd be down here even longer."
A bat swooped overhead and Taianui ducked, holding his spear aloft and eliciting another round of laughter from the mini's.
"Alright, stay close then."
Maui led the way, with Taianui following uncomfortably close behind. Maui turned his head and smirked at his friend.
"Do I need to hold your hand? Or are you just using me as a shield?"
"Hrmph," was the only answer, but Taianui did back away a few steps. They made it to the cave without any other incidents, though Taianui's flinching at every sound was enough to give even Maui anxiety.
Maui paused by the cave entrance, scanning the area slowly before entering. He didn't see Tamatoa. He walked confidently into the cave, looking for a large mound that would show where the crustacean was hiding. Several mounds of treasure and debris were placed along the floor, but none looked like what Tamatoa had camouflaged himself with the last time Maui visited.
"So, is he home?" Taianui asked, climbing onto a large mound filled with the wreckage of a whole canoe.
Maui stopped moving, but continued to study the cave. "I'm not sure. He doesn't usually go far from his collections, so if we wait long enough-"
A loud rumbling came from behind him. Maui rolled his eyes at his friend, who was clinging desperately to the mast pole of the wrecked boat. The mound shifted and stood, revealing Tamatoa underneath. The canoe on top tipped over and Taianui's feet scraped the sides of the crab's shell, trying to find a foothold.
"Hey! Tamatoa!" Maui spread his arms in greeting.
"Maui, how nice of you to visit. And look," he grabbed a still struggling Taianui, "you brought me a snack. How kind."
Tamatoa tossed Taianui to his other large claw and lowered the protesting man towards his mouth.
"Don't eat him, he's a friend."
"Oh, how sweet." The crab studied Taianui closely. "And what will you do if I do eat him?"
Maui rested his hook on the ground and leaned his arm on the handle. "I'll tear off your other leg."
The crab snorted, "Hmm, you're no fun."
He dropped Taianui onto the ground and the man scrambled away from the giant crab. Maui felt a small twinge of guilt, but he reminded himself that Taianui volunteered to come.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company? I don't see your little wayfinder with you, so this couldn't have been her idea."
Maui sighed, "I need your help."
"Oooo ohhhh!" Tamatoa laughed, dancing around the cave and almost stepping on Taianui. "To think that I would see the day where the great Maui begged for help! Oh, glorious day!"
The crab's bright lights flashed and Maui sighed in annoyance. Even Taianui shot the crab a hard look. He stood and joined Maui.
"I need you to tell me what you know about Tuna-roa." Maui had to shout over the crab's antics.
Tamatoa paused mid-dance. "The rumors are true then. But I thought you killed him several millennia ago."
Maui shifted, agitated with Tamatoa's inquiry. "Well, apparently it wasn't fatal. He had a decent scar though. Now, tell me what you know."
"Ho-o, out for revenge are we? Going to finish what you started?"
Taianui snorted beside him, breaking his silence. "That eel kidnapped Moana. During their wedding." He jerked a thumb in Maui's direction. "So you might want to start talking soon, otherwise he'll start to get real angry.
Tamatoa's large eyes blinked slowly. "Are you threatening me, little human?" The crab grinned slyly, raising his large claws.
Taianui narrowed his eyes and raised his own weapon in response. Sighing, Maui stepped in front of his friend, blocking the view of both parties.
"Please, all I'm asking is for any information you have. I need to save Moana before Tuna hurts her. It's already been two days."
Tamatoa huffed and folded his legs under him, settling down closer to the two men. Taianui relaxed his weapon and both men waited for the crab to speak.
Finally, the crab rolled his eyes. "You're lucky I like that girl, even though you stopped bringing her to visit. But unfortunately, I don't know much more than you about that annoying eel. The only rumors that made their way to me were the ones saying that Tuna was back and seemed bent on revenge. But, you seem to already know that."
Maui growled in impatience and swung his hook. "That's not good enough! I need to know where his lair is and what he plans on doing with my wife!"
"You know," Tamatoa studied his claw, "I might know someone who can help. I only get secondhand information down here. But this person, well, they can see everything."
Maui ceased his pacing, his neck tightening at the crab's casual attitude. Maui had the distinct impression that he want going to like the answer.
"Human!" Tamatoa barked and looked at Taianui. The man jumped, making the crab grin. "When you were sailing last night, how did the moon look?
Taianui's brows furrowed in puzzlement, but Maui groaned as realization hit him.
"It was almost full," Taianui responded, looking between the smug crab and Maui, who had started to pace again. "Does that matter?"
Maui nodded. "Thanks for the help, Tamatoa."
"Tell her I said hi!" Tamatoa called out to their retreating backs. He waved a claw, laughing.