Sea Journey
Chapter 11 Maui
By: Major144
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.
Moana, Ruby, and Chelsea rode the boat through the sea, along with Pua and Heihei. The reason Ruby and Chelsea decided to ride the boat instead of transforming into their giant kraken form and mermaid form, was to prevent attention being drawn to them. Since the krakens and mermaids were still enemies the sight of Ruby and Chelsea swimming together would draw attention and send the whole sea a buzz and eventually word of that would reach both the kraken kingdom and the mermaid kingdom getting the inhabitants' attention as well as the attention of Ruby and Chelsea's families, so it was best to try and keep a low profile as best as possible, until the heart was restored.
Moana took the opportunity to introduce Ruby and Chelsea to ocean. She called upon ocean to reveal itself like before and like with Tala a water tendril rose up from the sea and gave a little wave to Ruby and Chelsea. Both the kraken and the mermaid were amazed by this and the appearance of the ocean being called upon by Moana showing they were friends strengthened both Ruby and Chelsea's faith and determination in Moana's quest in restoring the heart and bringing peace to their people.
Moana felt more confident in her quests now that she had a couple of allies along for the journey. She found it both a little funny and amazing that she was perhaps the first human in a thousand years to not only meet a mermaid and kraken, but befriend them as well. It was also a little crazy that both Ruby and Chelsea were princesses.
Moana practiced the little speech she would give to Maui with Ruby and Chelsea and they gave her positive feedback and suggestions on how to improve it. Ruby told Moana to be more assertive and aggressive in her words to intimidate Maui and show she meant business, while Chelsea suggested Moana held her ore in a threatening way to help sell the act.
"Thanks for the feedback you two. I hope this works, but what if Maui refuses to aid us or what if he ties to steal the heart for himself?" Said Moana looking a little unsure.
"Leave it to us. If Maui tries something will handle him." Said Chelsea.
"I can go giant and Chelsea can come at him with her trident. Between the three of us, I think we can handle Maui." Said Ruby.
"At least the two of you have powers. I'm just a sailor with a ore." Said Moana.
"Don't say that. You're a amazing person, Moana!" Said Chelsea.
"Yeah, out of all the people and creatures in the world, the ocean chose you for this quest to return the heart. No one from your village dared venture out to sea, because they were afraid, but you did it without a second thought." Said Ruby.
"I guess you're right. Just wish I had more to offer for this quest." Said Moana.
"I'm sure you have another talent you just haven't thought of yet. This is a big quest and I'm sure you'll discover something about yourself along the way. Just have a little faith and patience." Said Chelsea.
"Alright let's see what this quest has in store for us." Said Moana feeling both excited and determined.
The little band of heroes traveled through the night as Moana taught her companions what little she knew about sailing and Ruby and Chelsea told Moana about their people and cultures. With the knowledge Moana had given them Ruby and Chelsea each took turns steering the boat allowing Moana to get some rest. The next day the group arrived on a island they believed that was beneath the constellation where Maui was supposed to be. Moana, Ruby, Chelsea, Pua, and Heihei got off the boat taking in their surroundings. Nothing looked unusual about the island at first glance and there wasn't any sign of anyone living in the area.
"You sure we're at the right place?" Asked Ruby.
"I'm sure, look at that rock over there." Said Moana indicating a large rock with hundred of tally marks on it in the shape of hooks.
"Maui." Said Ruby.
"Yep, he's here alright." Said Chelsea.
"So how do we want to go about this? Do we come in peaceful and friendly or do we go straight with intimidation and force?" Asked Ruby.
Moana was about to answer, when she noticed a large humanoid shadow cast on some rocks that was approaching them. It had to be Maui! Moana quickly grabbed Heihei and dashed over to the boat ducking behind it. Ruby, Chelsea, and Pua followed Moana and ducked behind the boat as well. Moana steeled herself as she prepared to meet Maui face-to-face. This was an important part of her quest and she needed to make a good impression on Maui showing him she wasn't afraid of him and that she was determined to restore the heart. Moana cast a look over at Ruby and Chelsea thankful that she wasn't alone in this and if things went bad, they had her back.
The group could heard the sound of footfalls on the sand as Maui approached the boat eagerly. Then they heard his voice.
"Boat! A boat! The Gods have given me a boat!"
The boat was then picked up and lifted into the air much to the three girls surprise. The person doing the lifting was indeed a large muscular man, who held the boat up high with one hand and looked pretty proud of himself and excited about the boat. Maui then noticed the now visible women and he let out a startled cry dropping the boat towards them, but luckily Moana and the others quickly darted out of the way. Maui recovered and quickly picked up the boat curious if he he had whacked the three women with it, but saw they weren't under it and that they were standing over by the side looking at him.
Maui did resemble the statues that the mermaids and krakens have of him, though he wasn't nearly as fierce or menacing looking as those. He was large, excessively muscular, with a dark skin complexion, with tattoos imprinted throughout his skin, a small nose, curly black hair, small dark brown eyes, wearing necklace, and banana leaf skirt.
Maui looked at the odd trio of women for a few silent moments then he spoke.
"Are you three real?"
"Yes." Said Moana.
Maui then reached over to his right shoulder and pinched himself hard making himself yelp in pain.
"Ok. Good, so I'm not dreaming and these girls are real." Said Maui aloud to himself.
"Um...why would you think you were dreaming?" Asked Chelsea.
"Well you're the first people who have ever been to this island. So...if been kinda lonely for the past one thousand years and I had to make sure you were real and not a dream or hallucination." Said Maui.
"A thousand years, so you are Maui?" Said Ruby.
"I am indeed in the flesh." Said Maui as he took a pose and confirmed who he was.
Maui then seemed to realize that a couple of guest weren't humans.
"Wait a second. You're a kraken...and you're a mermaid." Said Maui pointing a finger at Ruby then at Chelsea.
"How did you figure out I was a mermaid?" Asked Chelsea curiously.
"Been around the world a long time and been around plenty of mermaids to recognize one using their magic to give them human legs." Said Maui.
"That's actually impressive." Admitted Ruby.
"Thank you. Now I know why you're here." Said Maui.
"You do?" Asked Chelsea.
"You wanted to meet me and get my autograph!" Said Maui excitedly.
"No." Said Ruby and Chelsea.
"Oh...then I guess you're looking for the heart of Te Fiti then. Sorry to break it to you, but I don't have it. If I did I would give it back to you and humbly apologize for stealing it. I don't want any trouble with Te Fiti's creations and protectors." Said Maui.
"Um...ok." Said Chelsea.
"Not exactly what we were expecting." Said Ruby.
Moana then decided to speak.
"Maui, shapeshifter, demigod of the wind and sea. I am Moana..."
"Hero of Man." Said Maui interrupting Moana.
"Wh..What?" Asked Moana
"It's actually Maui, shapeshifter, demigod of the wind and sea, hero of man. I interrupted, from the top, hero of man. Go." Said Maui.
"I am Mo..." Began Moana, but got interrupted by Maui again.
"Sorry, Sorry, sorry, sorry. And women. Men and women. Both. All. Not a guy-girl thing. Ah, you know, Maui is a hero to all. You're doing great."
"What? No, I came here to..." Said Moana, but Maui interrupted her again by taking her oar.
"Oh, of course, of course. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Maui always has time for his fans." Said Maui.
Maui then picked Heihei up and used his beak to carve into the ore.
"When you use a bird to write with, it's called tweeting. I know, not every day you get a chance to meet your hero." Said Maui as he gave the ore back to Moana.
Moana now saw that her ore had a carving of a hook and a heart on it. She just stared at it and then cast a look at Ruby and Chelsea just looked back and shrugged. This meeting wasn't going like they had expect. Moana let out a angry huff as she confronted Maui who had gone over to examine the boat.
"You are not my hero. And I'm not here so you can sign my oar. I'm here along with my friends because you stole the heart of Te Fiti and you will board my boat, sail across the sea, and put it back."
"Yeah... It almost sounds like you don't like me, which is impossible because I got stuck here for a thousand years, trying to get the heart as a gift for you mortals so you could have the power to create life itself. Yeah. So what I believe you were trying to say is thank you." Said Maui looking a little annoyed and offended.
"What? You stole the heart for the humans?" Said Moana looking confused and horrified.
"Do you have any idea what your actions caused?" Demanded Chelsea.
"Not exactly...kind of hard to know what's going on in the world, when you've been stuck in the same place for a thousand years. I really can't go anywhere and no one ever visits." Said Maui.
"The krakens and mermaids have been at war with other for the past thousand years!" Said Ruby looking annoyed.
"What? Why?" Asked Maui.
"The krakens believed the mermaids helped you steal the heart." Said Ruby.
"And the mermaids believed the krakens helped you steal the heart." Said Chelsea.
"Whoa ok. For the record I did befriend some mermaids and krakens to learn where the heart was and about the guards guarding it, but the theft was all my doing. I knew that there would be some kind of argument between the krakens and mermaids after the theft, but I had no idea a war would break out between them and that it would be going on for over a thousand years. I'm against war." Said Maui looking a little worried and defensive.
Ruby and Chelsea just glared at Maui
"So what do you mean I should thank you?" Asked Moana.
Maui saw this question as an opportunity to change the subject and maybe get the mermaid and kraken to be less mad at him. He put on a big smile and began to dance and sing. Maui indicated his tattoos and pointed out a miniature tattoo version of himself he dubbed Mini Maui who came to life on his skin and began dancing and demonstrating all of Maui's heroic and great deeds and feats displayed on his body.
Okay, okay
I see what's happening, yeah
You're face-to-face with greatness and it's strange
You don't even know how you feel. It's adorable!
Well, it's nice to see that humans never change
Open your eyes, let's begin
Yes, it's really me, it's Maui! Breathe it in
I know it's a lot, the hair, the bod
When you're staring at a demigod
What can I say except "You're welcome"
For the tides, the sun, the sky
Hey, it's okay, it's okay, you're welcome
I'm just an ordinary demi-guy!
Hey, what has two thumbs and pulled up the sky
When you were waddling yay high?
This guy!
When the nights got cold, who stole you fire from down below?
You're looking at him, yo!
Oh, also I lasso'd the sun
You're welcome
To stretch your days and bring you fun
Also, I harnessed the breeze
You're welcome
To fill your sails and shake your trees
So what can I say except you're welcome?
For the islands I pulled from the sea
There's no need to pray, it's okay, you're welcome
I guess it's just my way of being me
You're welcome, you're welcome
Well, come to think of it
Kid, honestly I can go on and on
I can explain every natural phenomenon
The tide, the grass, the ground
Oh, that was Maui just messing around
I killed an eel, I buried its guts
Sprouted a tree, now you've got coconuts
What's the lesson? What is the takeaway?
Don't mess with Maui when he's on the breakaway
And the tapestry here in my skin
Is a map of the victories I win
Look where I've been, I make everything happen
Look at that mean mini Maui just tippity tappin'
Well anyway, let me say you're welcome!
For the wonderful world you know
Hey, it's okay, it's okay, you're welcome!
Well, come to think of it, I gotta go
Hey, it's your day to say you're welcome!
'Cause I'm gonna need that boat
I'm sailing away, away, you're welcome!
'Cause Maui can do anything but float
You're welcome, you're welcome!
And thank you!
Maui took a big bow and grinned up at Moana and the others who were momentarily amazed at the song, dance, and dancing tattoos. Moana quickly shook her amazement off and decided to deploy a new tactic. She approached Maui opening up her necklace and took the heart out for Maui to see. Maui's eyes went wide in recognition and he took a fearful step back.
"The heart! Why do you have it?" Asked Maui.
"The ocean is my friend and they gave it to me. It wanted me to find you, so you can help restore it to it's rightful place to bring balance to the world and peace between the mermaids and krakens. You stole it, so you have a responsibility to help return it." Said Moana.
Maui was silent for a few seconds then he spoke.
"No. That thing is a curse that brings nothing but bad luck to whoever has it. The last time I had it I was shot out out of the sky by a giant fire demon."
"But you have to help! My island and the rest of the world is in danger!" Pleaded Moana.
"My best advice to you is to quickly get rid of the heart and find a new island. I rather remain stuck here for eternity then travel the sea with that cursed object." Said Maui as he turned to walk away.
Moana was shocked by this and she looked over at Ruby and Chelsea for help. Ruby quickly took action by changing into her giant kraken form. She then slammed one of her giant hands down on a very surprised Maui and pinned him to the ground, with his head sticking out between Ruby's fingers.
"Totally forgot giant krakens were a thing." Mumbled Maui as he tried to wiggle free, but couldn't.
Chelsea pulled out her trident and walked over to the down Maui pointing the tip of the trident at his face.
"Now listen here Maui. I am Princess Chelsea of the mermaids and the one restraining you is my good friend Princess Ruby of the krakens. We are friends, but our families and people are at war because of what you did. Restoring the heart will bring peace between them and save the islands that are being poisoned and corrupted by Te Kā's darkness. You will help our friend Moana of Motunui restore the heart or me and Ruby will tell our people where you've been all these years and they will come for you." Said Chelsea.
Maui eyed the angry mermaid and the giant kraken holding him down.
"Don't think about trying to shapeshift. You're not escaping." Said Ruby looking down at Maui.
"I...couldn't shapeshift even if I wanted to. I lost my hook after I stole the heart. Without I got no shapeshifting power." Said Maui with a tiny bit of embarrassment.
This gave Moana an idea of how to get Maui to help with the quest.
"If you agree to help us restore the heart, will help you get your hook back. Plus we will spread the story of how you helped bring balance to the world and ended the war between mermaids and krakens. Wouldn't that be a good comeback story that the humans and other beings of the world would love. It certainly would beat just hanging alone on a island waiting to be found and punished as your legends simply fade away." Said Moana.
Maui looked over at Moana as her words sank in. He liked the idea of leaving the island, reclaiming his hook, and becoming beloved by the people of the world once more. It would be a huge comeback!
"Alright I'll do. You drive a hard bargain, but I'm in. Will get my hook back and then go restore the heart." Said Maui.
Moana nodded at Chelsea and Ruby. Chelsea made her trident vanish and Ruby removed her hand from Maui and shrank back down to her humanoid form. Maui stood up and dusted himself off, before looking at Moana. The two of them shook hands cementing the agreement for the quest.
And thus Maui was onboard with the quest to restore the heart.
To be continued.