Sea Journey

Chapter 21 Pep Talk

By: Major144

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. This is just a story for fun.

Moana, Maui, Ruby, and Chelsea rode the geyser out of Lalotai and to the surface. They flew a few dozen feet into the air before they crashed into the wet shores of the island. The heroes were a bit bruised and dazed, but not seriously physical hurt. Maui's pride on the other ban was a bit of a different story.

"We're alive!" Said Moana in both excitement and surprise.

Moana was the first ever human to enter Lalotai and come out alive. She checked on her friends and saw that both Ruby and Chelsea appeared to be alive and well and Maui who must have been trying to use his magic on the way up now sported a shark head and upper body, while his body half remained human. Moana covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, but it could still be heard. Ruby and Chelsea looked over out Maui saw his odd transformation and they covered their mouths as well as they tried to stifle their laughs. Maui just groaned and scowled at his companions. He knew he was sporting a mix of animal and human parts that must have been a hilarious sight. Maui hand fully gotten the hang of his magic yet and it seemed like the powers above were punishing him a bit.

"Ok you had your laugh. Now I want to thank you all for your help. Moana you did me a solid by being a good distraction, but you also almost died. And I couldn't even beat the dumb crab. So chances of beating Te Kā: bupkis. We're never making it to Te Fiti. This mission is cursed." Said Maui looking a bit depressed and defeated.

"Hey you were just a bit rusty with your hook and powers that's all. You we're separated from it for a thousand years, so it might take a little time to get reacquainted with it and it's powers." Said Moana.

"Yeah we didn't automatically expect you to be all powerful and amazing once you got the hook back. You just need to practice a bit and I'm sure it'll come back to you." Said Chelsea.

"And besides you forgot you're not alone on this quest. Me, Chelsea, and Moana are here and we can help deal with any trouble we come across. We've made it this far." Said Ruby.

Maui managed to change back to his human form, but he still looked a bit depressed and defeated as he and the others headed back to the boat. Moana wondered if Maui's trouble with his magic might partial be related to the tattoo on Maui's back Tamatoa had revealed, so she decided to ask a question.

"How do you get your tattoos?"

"They show up when I earn them." Said Maui a bit happy to change the subject.

"How did you earn that one? What's that for?" Said Moana indicated the tattoo on Maui's back that was currently hidden by his hair.

"That's, uh, man's discovery of Nunya." Said Maui looking a bit uncomfortable and annoyed to talk about that tattoo.

"What's Nunya?" Asked Moana.

"Nunya business." Said Maui.

"Now you're just being rude." Said Chelsea.

"I'll just keep asking. What's it for?" Said Moana pushing the subject.

"You need to stop doing that. Back off." Said Maui getting angry.

"Just tell us what it is!" Said Moana.

"I said back off." Warned Maui.

"Is that why your hook's not working? You don't wanna talk? Don't talk. You wanna throw me off the boat and quit the quest? Take my boat or turn into a bird and fly off. You wanna tell me I'm a dreamer who don't know what they're doing? I know I don't. I have no idea why the ocean chose me. You're right. But... my island is dying. So I am here. It's just me, Ruby, and Chelsea. And I want to help. But I can't if you don't let me." Said Moana getting a little upset.

She wanted to help Maui, but she and her friends couldn't do that if he didn't tell them what the issue was.

"Look whatever is bothering you, you can tell us and we won't judge you. We just want to bring balance to the world and peace between my people and the krakens." Said Chelsea.

"You're our friend Maui, we care about you." Said Ruby.

Maui looked at the three women and let out a sigh.

"I wasn't born a demigod. I had human parents. They... They took one look and decided they... did not want me. They threw me into the sea... like I was nothing. Somehow I was found by the gods. They gave me the hook. They made me... Maui. And back to the humans I went. I gave them islands, fire, coconuts. Anything they could ever want." Said Maui looking tired as he told his friends his backstory and the true reason for his feats.

"You took the heart for them. You did... everything for them. So they would love you." Said Moana in understanding as everything fell into place.

"It was... never enough." Said Maui hanging his head low.

"Maybe the gods found you for a reason. Maybe the ocean brought you to them because it saw someone who was worthy of being saved. But the gods aren't the ones who made you Maui. You are." Said Moana trying to cheer Maui up.

"Yeah they may have given you your hook, but you're the one who did amazing things with it." Said Ruby.

"No one told you want to do, you just did it." Said Chelsea.

Maui looked up thoughtfully at the three women who smiled at him. He then looked down at Mini Maui who smiled up at him and gave Maui a thumbs up.

"Okay, okay. I... I love you too, buddy. Also thank you Moana. Chelsea. Ruby. It felt good to talk about my past. Yeah! Feeling good now! Next stop, Te Fiti!" Said Maui with a smile as he felt energized.

The group located the boat and quickly pushed it into the ocean. Gutt's ship was anchored off shore and by the time Flynn, Gupta, and the Kakamoras noticed them the little boating was a good distance away and sailing away from the island. Moana and her friends were one big step closer to finishing their quest.

To be continued.