Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Moana. All belong to Disney and the story's creators. I only own Lahela.
I hope you enjoy the story. Thank you to those that have reviewed and continue leaving me feedback! I love hearing what you all have to say.
- ShadowMoon2430
Chapter 8
The wind pushed them forward at a fast pace thanks to a little help from Lahela. It was finally time. They had come so far. Thinking back on it now, not a lot of time had passed but so much had happened. And now it was coming to an end. The heart would be turned and everything would return to normal.
Lahela looked up from typical seat in the back as she eyed Moana and Maui. "Do we have any sort of plan? I've been near Te Ka a few times. This isn't going to be an easy thing. He is held up on an island and in order to reach Te Fiti, we need to either get through him or around him. Either way is going to be difficult."
Moana, though still determined as ever, became worried at the thought. "I hadn't really considered what we would do."
"Don't worry. We'll find a way. I'm gonna fly in and strike from above." He turned towards Lahela. "Just keep the rain falling, though preferably without trying to sink us."
Lahela rolled her eyes at the obvious comment. "Noted."
An uncomfortable silence fell over them as their thoughts began to dwell on different things, but mostly on what was to come. None of them tried to break it though. What was there to say? So it stayed, lingering as the waves rolled by as the distance shrank between them and their destination.
"I figured it out." Maui spoke suddenly as he continued looking out at the ocean, cutting through the silence. Neither girl seemed to have a clue what he was talking about and remained quiet. "You know the ocean used to loved when I pulled out islands cause your ancestors would sail the seas, and find them; all those new islands, new villages... It was the water that connected them all. And by way of the ocean, I think I began looking for, ahh... Curly haired, non-princess."
"Don't start that again," Moana said with a roll of her eyes.
Lahela laughed, smiling as she teased the demigod. "Looks like Maui's getting soft."
Moana joined in with a laugh. "But that is literally the nicest thing you've ever said to me. Probably should've saved that for Te Fiti."
"I did. Moana of Motunui," he paused as he turned to look at what lied before them. "I believe you have officially delivered Maui across the great sea."
Just as he said, an island was coming into view. They had reached Te Fiti and simply needed to get to her. The trio rose to their feel as they mentally prepared. Just as they got closer, something awakened before them. Great clouds of smoke rose from the ground making it nearly impossible to see. Then, through the smoke they could see Te Ka rise, red lava burning beneath the skin of rock that covered it.
"It's time. Go, save the world." Maui grinned before he transformed into a hawk and took to the sky.
Lahela grinned as well as she watched him go before she looked at Moana. "I'll help us get through as much as I can but I leave the navigating to you. I've got a nice storm in mind."
"Got it, let's go." Despite the danger they were heading towards, she couldn't help but be excited about getting so close.
The goddess stood as she kept the wind pushing them forward, her main focus was bringing the clouds over Te Ka though. With Maui distracting him with physical attacks, Lahela would have time to make a heavy rainfall.
It didn't take long for Te Ka to notice them. Just as they got closer, a ball of lava was thrown towards them, barely missing the boat. The wave created was enough to rock the boat, knocking both girls off balance. Lahela turned to check on Moana just in time to see the heart fall into the ocean. Eyes wide, both girls tried to grab it before it was out of reach but it was too late.
"Maui!" Lahela yelled, getting his attention before she pointed towards the ocean.
He quickly realized what was wrong and transformed into a fish as he dove into the water. Getting the heart was easy, the real trouble was avoiding the lava that Te Ka was flinging into the ocean, guided by the glow of the heart. The struggle was worth it when he made it back onto the boat, heart in hand.
"Maui, Lahela..." Moana started as she kept her eyes trained ahead of her, on Te Ka.
Both looked over before they realized she was sending them straight towards the lava monster.
"What... What are you doing?" Maui asked anxiously.
Moana pointed ahead as she showed them a divide in the island, right beside Te Ka. "Finding you better way in."
Lahela watched with wide eyes before she suddenly stopped supplying wind, though it didn't stop them. "Moana, stop!"
Maui was on the same side as Lahela. "We won't make it."
"Yes, we will," she argued.
"Turn around," Maui snapped.
Moana was determined to keep going. "No."
"At least wait!" Lahela yelled as she looked back towards Te Ka and realized what was coming towards them.
Still, Moana did not change. "No."
And then it was too late. Just as Te Ka swung his arm down towards them, Maui jumped forward with his hook to block it. The power of the collision created such a force that it shook the water. The boat was sent flying back with the waves away from the island. They didn't stop until the island was out of sight again.
A stillness settled over the boat. Lahela and Moana stood with eyes on Maui. His eyes were glued to his hook and the crack spreading through the top of it surrounded by a charred area, showing just where it collided with Te Ka.
"Are you okay?" There was no reply to Moana's words. "Maui?"
"I told you to turn back." Maui's words were chillingly calm.
Lahela knew immediately that something was wrong and stepped forward until she was beside the demigod and placed a hand on his arm in comfort, though she knew it wouldn't help.
Moana continued. "I thought we could make it."
"We?" Maui chided.
At his tone, Moana looked down and conceded. "I thought I could make it." She looked back towards his hook then. "We can fix it."
"It's not that easy," Lahela added solemnly.
"It was made by the Gods." Maui explained. "You can't fix it. Not even Lahela can fix it."
Lahela unconsciously tightened her grip on his arm. She knew the words weren't meant as an insult, but it reminded her of what she couldn't do none-the-less.
Maui glanced at her but didn't correct his words, choosing to remove her hand instead as he stepped towards Moana.
"Next time we'll be more careful." Moana started. "Te Ka was suck on that island. It's lava. It can't go in the water. We can find a way around."
The back and forth continued with Maui. "I'm not going back."
"What... We still have to restore the heart." Moana said in shock.
"Moana's right," the goddess interjected. "We need to do this."
"My hook is cracked." Maui held up his hook to enforce his point. "One more hit and it's over."
Moana continued. "Maui, you have to restore the heart."
"Without my hook, I am nothing."
"That's not true."
"Without my hook, I am nothing."
Having had enough of their arguing, Lahela shook her head as she pointed at him. "You're only nothing if you let yourself be nothing."
"We are only here because you stole the heart in the first place," Moana added in annoyance.
Maui was having none of her words though, letting his anger get the better of him. "No, we're here because the ocean told you you're special and you believed it."
It was only for a brief moment, but his words cracked her resolve and they all saw it. "I am Moana of Motunui. You will board my boat."
Maui was done. He swiftly changed into a giant hawk, though not without issues at first due to the crack. "Goodbye, Moana. Lahela."
"Maui! You can't go. Let's just talk for a minute!" Lahela cried suddenly when she realized he was leaving them. She glanced at Moana before looking back at him. "Just a minute… Just us."
"There's nothing to talk about." Maui looked at Moana then who had continued her speech. "I'm not killing myself so you can prove you're something you're not."
Moana's words were turning into a plea. "The Ocean chose me."
Maui's words were final. "The ocean chose wrong."
"Maui!" both girls cried together as he took off.
"Don't go anywhere!" Lahela proclaimed as she faced Moana. "I'm talking to him whether he wants to listen or not. Then I'll be back. No matter what we decide to do, I'm helping through the end." She turned then but paused. "Just… don't touch the water until I'm back."
Moana nodded as she watched Lahela take a hesitant step forward. "Can't say I've ever tried to transport myself while standing on water before," Lahela mumbled. "Help me out, Ocean." She stepped onto the ocean then, focusing on the small landform she knew was nearby, if the sandbar could even be called such a thing.
In a flash, Lahela was relocated. The power that coursed through her made her stumble as she landed with a splash. She didn't have time to situate herself as looked around and spotted Maui a distance away. A strong wind was needed and she focused on halting his flight in order to bring him back towards him.
She knew the moment she got his attention. He turned suddenly and moved towards her.
As she waited, she focused on reigning in her powers. It felt like she was stuck in a constant flow of electricity. She slowed her breathing and closed her eyes as she worked on drawing in all her power. She was just in time as she heard a splash from in front of her.
Lahela opened her eyes to see Maui standing in his true form again.
"I'm not going back so just quit now if that's why you're here."
She took a breath as she collected her thoughts. "I understand why you don't want to, but it needs to happen. You haven't seen the islands. Seen them dying. We messed up last time, but it is possible. We just need to think it through more. You can still shapeshift and fight. All your stories tell of a hero. Live up to that instead of holding yourself back."
"I already told you, I'm not getting myself killed over this." Maui turned away from her for a moment. "Why are you so eager to die as well?"
"I'm not eager to die. I'm eager to live to see something better. As I've already told you, because of what you did, I stopped answering prayers and visiting humans. I'm nothing but a disappearing myth while your stories live on." She looked at him in disappointment. "Yet you won't even live up to your stories."
Maui looked back at her. "One hit and my hook is gone. My powers are gone. I'm not losing that. I wanted to help. I wanted to help you, but not with the price we're facing."
"Demigod, huh?" Lahela looked dejected. "What you are is a coward."
"Try not to get yourself killed." Maui took off then as he transformed.
The goddess remained there until he was nearly out of sight. "Why did I even bother?" She looked at the ocean as it pushed against her legs. "And why do I care so much? Things were easier when I stayed out of it all. You just had to start it all..." She walked out farther, letting the water soak her skirt. "Would you care to help me get back to Moana?"
The Ocean obliged as it pushed her along, reaching the boat in little time at all.
Lahela stood on the boat as she squeezed out the water from her red hair but didn't say a word.
"He's not coming," Moana concluded, piecing together the lack of news from the goddess and her quiet stance at that moment. "I had time to think while you were gone… And a little help," she added with a small smile. "We can still get the heart to Te Fiti if you're willing to help."
She moved her eyes over to Moana as she saw the resolve in her. Despite everything that had happened, she was still willing to push forward. It was what she liked about her, why she had actually started to believe in the girl. "I told you, regardless what you decide, I'm with you."
Moana smiled as she stepped closer to Lahela, determined to cheer her up some. "Let's do this. Then you can rub it in Maui's face after we save the world."
"You're right, let's do this."
As they approached the island for a second time, they took the time to form a plan. It was a bit difficult however with Heihei trying to step off the boat at any given moment. Next thing they knew though, Te Ka was in front of them, looming as their biggest obstacle.
With a nod towards each other, Moana brought them forward as Lahela brought in rain clouds. As the rain began to fall, a fog rose from the ground, creating a cover for them. The steered to the left as if planning to go around the island. Just as expected, Te Ka followed with the intent to strike them when the chance arose.
Moana and Lahela had other plans though. Once in the thick of the fog, they quickly changed directions and went towards the break. That was when Te Ka realized he had been tricked by the shape of a rock that had been jutted out of the ocean, taking on the appearance of their sail.
Te Ka screamed as he turned and swiftly moved across its island. It was a race as they tried to get past the land just as Te Ka swung at them, hitting the side of the cliff surrounding them as well. As the rocks fell and hit the water, the rough waters became too much and flipped the boat. Lahela and Moana were both sent crashing into the water.
"Give me a second!" Lahela yelled as she started swimming towards Te Ka's island. Moana remained by the boat as she tried to figure out how to get towards Te Fiti while unable to sail.
The rain continued to pour down as Te Ka aimed again, this time towards Lahela as he made the connection between the sudden rainstorm and her. Just as she reached land again and climbed out of the water, Te Ka swung his arm down towards her. At the last second, a giant hawk swept through his arm and cut off his attack.
Moana and Lahela both looked up and grinned. "Maui!"
A moment later, Maui landed by Moana and helped flip the boat back into its rightful position.
"You've came back." Moana said extatically before trailing off. "But your hook. One more hit, and ..."
"Te Ka has gotta catch me first." Maui grinned as he looked. "I've got your back, chosen one. Go, save the world. Leave Te Ka to me and Lahela."
Lahela kept her eyes on Te Ka as the two spoke, quickly zapping to the other side of the island as she avoided another hit. Just then she saw Maui come flying over before transforming into a whale. The splash was enough to hinder Te Ka while sending Moana straight towards the island where Te Fiti would be.
With Moana safely on the other side and out of the way, they could focus solely on the battle. Maui continued to transform, keeping Te Ka distracted as Lahela focused on weakening him with the rain as the waters continued to become more rough, splashing the lava monster anytime it got closer to it.
Despite their best efforts, it seemed like it was getting them nowhere. With each hit they gave, he simply regenerated. Hits. Dodging. Moving. More hitting. Regenerating. It was never-ending, but Maui and Lahela continued on, or so they thought. One more hit was all it took. Maui's hook was done. Maui landed roughly beside Lahela as she helped him up. Moana just had to return the heart and they were set.
It wouldn't be so simple though. A bright green light broke through the darkness from a short distance away on the other island, it wasn't a light that meant the heart was restored though. There stood Moana, the heart held high as a beacon calling for Te Ka.
As Lahela watched Moana walk forward, the ocean parted. Te Ka had a direct path to her.
"What is she doing?" Maui yelled from his spot by Lahela, watching things unfold.
"Wait!" She quickly grabbed his arm as he went to move again. "She knows what she's doing."
"Te Ka is going to kill her!" As if to support his argument, Te Ka moved with such force as it closed in on Moana, looking like a being ready to kill.
Lahela tugged on his arm so that he would look at her then. "Believe in her."
Maui looked ready to protest but she was right. He needed to believe in her. That's why he came back in the first place.
No matter how much she was hoping for the best, Lahela was worried for the girl. Te Ka was not stopping. But then something changed. The world seemed to pause as Te Ka and Moana stood face to face. What words were spoken, the goddess didn't know, but they worked. With the heart in hand, Moana returned it. That whole time, Te Ka was Te Fiti. The burnt shell that formed Te Ka fell away as Te Fiti was revealed beneath it, the complete example of life as she was covered in the greens of earth.
Lahela couldn't help but smile as she watched Te Fiti step forward and turn to where her island had been. With just a touch, life returned to the area, spreading to everything that surrounded her. She looked at Maui then, her smile unfaltering. "We did it."
Before he could reply, the Ocean swept them up and shot them back out to stand beside Moana. Just as Lahela landed, Heihei was next, rolling a few feet as he landed head first.
Maui watched as the bird landed with a laugh. "The chicken lives."
Once they were beside her, Moana looked at Maui. "I'm sorry about your hook."
Maui shrugged despite the disappointment over it. It could have been worse. "Well, hook. No hook, I'm Maui."
Just then, the trio was lifted into the air, all held on the palm of Te Fiti's hand. Realizing the situation, Moana quickly dropped down to bow, Lahela following soon after. Maui however needed a little push before he did so as well.
As they all stood up again, Maui grinned as he looked at Te Fiti, trying to play it cool. "How've you been?"
She was not playing along with it.
"Look, what I did was ... wrong," Maui confessed humbly. "I have no excuse. I'm sorry."
No words were said or needed. It seemed Te Fiti accepted his apology but it didn't stop with that. She raised her other hand then and opened her palm to reveal Maui's hook, laying there in one piece.
The demigod was so eager to grab it but refrained, unsure what to do. Lahela couldn't help but giggle at it all.
"You know, it will be rude to not take the gift of the Goddess," Moana added as Lahela pushed him forward a bit to grab it.
"Thank you," Maui said as he grabbed the hook and bowed his head. "Your kindness is deeply appreciated." He didn't wait another second then before transforming and flying off, landing back on the ground beneath them.
Te Fiti gave them one final gift as she formed a new boat, having lost the old one in the battle. With that, she set them down and moved away before she became one with the island again.
The trio stood there as they took in the island in front of them. Lahela could hardly process how she was feeling. "We really did it. We really did it!" She turned then as she hugged Moana, the girl happily hugging her back with a laugh.
A second later, she pulled away and turned to do the same to the demigod. She stopped at the last second and stepped back, blushing nervously as she failed to form words about her strange behavior. She couldn't help it though. It was about time she was done waiting!
Maui laughed at the goddess before he dragged her back towards him in a hug. "Ha, I knew I grew on you."
As she finally pulled away, ignoring Moana who was grinning at the two of them, she didn't correct him, choosing other words instead. "Doesn't change how annoying you are though." She turned away then and crossed her arms, trying to will herself to calm down.
"Let's go get that boat ready to sail." Maui placed a hand on each of the girl's shoulders and pushed them forward. He was right at least. No one wanted to set out on the ocean without food.
As Maui went off to collect fruit from the trees, the girls continued picking things as they went.
"So what will the goddess of storms be doing from now on?"
Lahela paused as she considered Moana's words. "You know, I have no idea. I always imagined I'd go back to my old habits. But… I don't know. Maybe not yet."
"Well, if you can always come to my village, though you never really hung around them even when you were around… Or maybe another adventure with Maui…"
The goddess laughed at the latter idea. "If you want me killing him."
Moana shook her head. "I don't think that would happen. You don't hate him nearly as much as you like to pretend."
Moana walked off towards the beach then, leaving her standing there. It was true. She didn't hate him. She hadn't in a while, but it didn't change how frustrating he could be. All he did was work against them during the whole trip. He never wanted to help cause he was too busy looking out for himself. Sure, he might have saved her a few times, but it hardly made up for everything else.
But, there was that part in her mind she had been ignoring ever since they had faced Tamatoa. She had been worried. She did care what happened to him just as she cared about Moana. Why was she so upset when he said he wouldn't help though? She told herself that it was just disappointment with him after thinking he would help. It wasn't simply that though. She had actually missed his company and their banter.
She was not admitting that to Moana or Maui though. They all had things to focus on. Lahela pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and made her way to the boat.
When she reached the boat, Maui had just finished dropping fruit into the hatch when Heihei walked forward and fell head first right into it.
"Gonna miss you, drumstick," Maui said as he laughed at the chicken.
Moana finished fixing the ropes before she looked at Maui. "You can come with us, you know. My people are going to need a ... master wave finder."
As Lahela walked towards them, she paused. They could have their moment before she let them know she was back.
Maui smiled at her words but pointed out "they are already have one." He showed her then as a new tattoo formed, looking very similar to Moana as she sailed.
She launched herself at the demigod then, hugging him tightly as she realized this is where they parted ways.
As Moana pulled back, she noticed Lahela walking back towards them again. "What will you be doing?"
The goddess sat at the edge of the boat. "I figured I'd join you for now if you don't mind. Can't exactly fly like some."
"You're coming with me to the village?" Moana asked in surprised.
Lahela quickly shook her head though. "Not exactly. Just long enough to get myself to another boat. My actual boat should still be sitting on your island." She smiled at the girl before glancing at Maui then looking down. "After that… well… who knows."
"If you need a break from starting storms, come find me." Maui offered.
"I think I'll take you up on that actually. After all, answering prayers hasn't been my thing in a while. I'll need something to do." She grinned as she looked at the demigod. "Annoying you could be fun."
"Yeah, yeah."
"See you out there, Maui." Moana spoke as the demigod stepped back then.
Maui nodded. "See you out there, Moana... See you, Lahela." With that, he took off in hawk form, disappearing into the horizon.
It was just the girls then and within a few minutes, they were back out on the water. Motunui would be in front of them in no time.
And there you have it! The logistics of that conversation between Maui and Lahela earlier in the chapter have been haunting my thoughts for ages! I was determined for it to happen, regardless of how unlikely the scenario. The perks of writing worlds with powers and magic. The journey is done though! An epilogue of some sort will be up next. Then, if I can flesh out a plot for the sequel, expect to see that soon.