Bird-Maui flew for hours. He traveled quickly, faster than Makani could have ever hoped to on her boat.
Even though all of this time was spent simply sitting atop the bird and waiting to arrive at Makani's home island, Makani did not become bored. She had the endless sea to watch, the bird's feathers to examine, the clouds to touch, and the sky to scream into.
Occasionally, Maui would let out a terrific screech - that was his warning that he was about to do a trick. At these screeches, Makani and Konane knew to hold on for dear life as Maui swooped and soared up and down, forming hills out of his flight path.
They passed over Konane's island. Konane yelled down, "Hello, family! I'm on a bird!" Makani laughed gleefully. She could laugh as hard as she wanted, scream as loud as she wanted, be as happy as she wanted as long as she was flying on Maui's back. The wind erased the memories of it all, anyhow.
They passed over all of the islands that Makani had stopped at during her journey, all of the islands that she had sworn to help. I promise, she told them silently. After Gramma, you are my first priority.
After what seemed like decades and the blink of an eye, Maui started to slowly descend, circling over an emerald green island. Well aware that this might be the last time she had the chance to see her island from this angle, Makani stared down at it, drinking in every detail. She noted a dazzling blue pond deep in the forest that - to her knowledge - none of her people knew about. Strange, she thought, that we could live here so long and still not know all.
They landed on the beach. Makani tumbled off of Maui, unable to stand after so long in a sitting position. Konane had no better luck.
With a flip in the air, Maui turned into a crab. He waddled over to Makani and curled into his shell. She grabbed him and slipped him into her skirt's pocket as what seemed to be the entirety of her island's population rushed toward them.
Makani's mother wrapped her in a hug, sobbing. Her father enveloped them both, kissing their heads. "My girls," he said over and over.
Makani felt a tap on her shoulder and pulled away from her parents to find Konane standing awkwardly behind her. Her father stared at this stranger with a look that could kill on his face.
Makani reached for Konane's hand. He gave it to her.
"This is Konane," she called to her people, raising his hand. Then, quieter and only to her parents: "I will tell you everything, I promise, but first, we must speak to Gramma. Alone."
"We need to speak to Moana privately," Makani told the medics firmly. After a second of hesitation, the woman and man nodded, stood, and exited the tent.
Makani knelt beside her gramma, brushing a lock of silvery white hair out of her face. Her breathing was coming short and quickly.
"Gramma," she whispered. "I did it."
With what seemed to be great difficulty, her gramma opened her eyes. Then she blinked, as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing. "Makani?" she asked in a raspy whisper.
"And Konane," Makani told her softly, scooting aside to leave room for Konane to sit beside her.
Konane smiled fondly down at the old woman. "Hello, Mother."
"Konane," Moana said with difficulty. Her hand moved feebly over the top of her blanket as if she was trying to raise it. Konane spared her the trouble and grasped her hand, lifting it to his lips before gently returning it to the blanket and stroking her fingers.
"We found him, Gramma," Makani said excitedly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small hermit crab that Maui had become. Setting him down gently behind her, she heard the thump that meant the demigod was human once more. She stood and backed away from her gramma to give them space.
Konane joined her next to the wall of the tent. Together, they listened to Maui's words in silence.
"Moana," he breathed, bending down and kissing her forehead. "Moana, I am so sorry."
"Don't...be." Moana coughed and managed to stem it by swallowing. "I should be sorry. I pushed you away out of fear."
"You have nothing to apologize for," Maui told her firmly. "Moana, I love you. You are brave and beautiful and wise. I'm sorry I let so much time between us get away."
Makani was nearly choking on the sob that she wouldn't let escape. When she looked over at Konane, his fist was blocking his mouth, tears gathering in his eyes as he watched this final exchange between his parents.
"I love you, too," Moana said softly. "Maui, I have to ask something of you."
"Anything," Maui said eagerly. "Anything."
"Take care of Makani. Show her the world." Moana coughed. "My other grandchildren are content to stay here on the island. But Makani is like me. Help her help other. Show her what life can truly be." Moana struggled for a deep breath.
"I promise," Maui told her quickly. His hands folded and unfolded. Makani could sense that her gramma's time was drawing near. Tears streaked down her face as her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
"I love you all so much," Moana told them. She took a deep breath, settled back against her pillow, closed her eyes, and died.
Makani burst into tears. Sobs wracked her body as Konane guided her toward the doorway. Maui was bent low over her gramma's body, his shoulder likewise shaking.
Konane hugged her close when they were outside and she buried her face in her half-uncle's shoulder.
When she pulled away from him, she saw her parents awaiting her. Her father's face was crumpled with sadness and recent tear tracks remained on her mother's cheeks. They held their arms out wide. Makani rushed into them.
Suddenly, her mother gasped and pulled away. Makani glanced over her shoulder and was stopped by the sight that she saw.
Maui was walking out of Moana's tent. But he was not alone.
The spirit of Moana, in the height of her youth, walked with him, hand in hand. Together, they grinned at Makani and started for the beach.
Nobody tried to stop them.
Moana's burial was not a solemn occasion.
People danced, laughed, told stories of her life. Makani was treated like a hero for finding the demigod Maui, and her cousins clamored to hear the tale.
She omitted the parts about Konane and Maui and Makani's love. Some things were not hers to tell.
Finally, she escaped down to the beach. Lying on the sand, she closed her eyes against the burning sun and sighed deeply. Her job was done. Soon, she would have to explain what was happening to the people of the other islands and convince her people to help them, but not today. Today she could rest, and remember her gramma.
A small cough made her open her eyes. What she saw made her fly to her feet.
Maui and Moana's spirit were standing there, watching her with looks of amusement on their faces.
"Ready to see the world?" Maui asked, extending a hand to her.
Makani grinned.
She grabbed Maui's hand.