Before Maja could process what was happening next, she was in Varua's Jeep again, sitting in the front passenger seat this time, with Kalani, Atamai, and Olina squeezed together in the back as the car raced out of town and towards the shore.
Varua parked the car near a more remote small beach lined with black lava rock and dotted with green bushes, with a particularly large rocky outcropping extending into the water like a natural pier, all glowing with orange and gold from the sunset off in the distance. The palms rustled in the cool breeze as the five young adults stepped out, and Kalani took Maja's hand, taking her to the edge of the shore.
"Kalani, what are we doing?" Maja demanded, confused.
"Take off your shoes," Kalani instructed as she kicked off her sandals. Dumbfounded, she glanced back at Varua, who gestured for her to do what Kalani said, and he, too, removed his shoes.
"Come here," Kalani said once Maja was barefoot. Together, the two girls stood side by side, the water kissing their toes, and Kalani began to sing softly, kneeling and putting her hand in the water, closing her eyes, and focusing.
Maja realized Kalani was singing in her native language, Motunuian, but she was unsure of what she was saying. Then Maja suddenly felt overcome by emotion, a tear slipping down her cheek and disappearing into the rolling surf below.
Feeling a sense of déjà vu, the water suddenly pulled back, the same glowing swirl Maja described appearing, and from the center, the wave rose above them.
Maja nearly fell backward in shock as she processed the sight before her, but this time, she wasn't alone and wasn't seeing things.
The Ocean truly was alive.
"Ocean!" Kalani exclaimed tearfully. Ocean leaned its head forward, seemingly examining the two, raising its 'brow', before suddenly pulling back in apparent surprise and swirling around them excitedly, splashing them with water. Varua joined the two, utterly in awe.
"The stories are true," he whispered, holding his hand out. Ocean greeted him as well, splashing him playfully.
"The stories?" Maja questioned softly.
"Maja, one of our most famous and beloved stories on Motunui, is the tale of Moana and the Legendary Sea, the tale of how Moana restored the Heart of Te Fiti and saved the world. Ocean was the one who aided Moana on her quest to find the legendary Demi-God of the wind and sea, Maui! Ocean had always been there for Moana, up to her marriage and having a family of her own. According to legend, Ocean aided the generations well after Moana and her two daughters. But many, many generations ago, Ocean disappeared, stopped communicating with us directly."
"It's been literal centuries since Ocean interacted with anyone," Olina confirmed, eagerly coming to Kalani's side, and Ocean happily played with her hair, pulling her topknot loose, earning a delighted giggle.
"Maja, you broke the cycle."
"But— why me? I have no connection to Motunui."
"Maybe it doesn't have to do with connection by blood. Maybe… Ocean knew you were meant to come here after the interview fell through. It was meant to happen." Varua said, placing a hand on Maja's shoulder.
After entertaining Olina and Atamai, Ocean leaned forward, studying Maja closely, following her movements.
"Do you… know me?" She asked softly, unsure if there was an answer, but much to her shock, the Ocean 'nodded'. "You do?" Another nod.
"Do you know me?" Kalani spoke up, receiving another nod, then Ocean reached forward, a tendril of water touching her chest where her heart was, then gesturing to the land, "You knew my ancestors, you knew Moana, you knew Laeli, you knew Aihe."
"Laeli and Aihe?"
"Moana's daughters," Olina explained, "Laeli was the eldest. She left Motunui's shores when she grew up but never returned. No one knows what happened to her. Been a mystery for millennia. But Aihe stayed and had a family of her own. Kalani can trace her ancestry directly back to Aihe, and therefore, Moana."
"We'll tell you Moana's full story another day at the Cultural Center; that's where we share our most valued stories with the kids. But she's a crucial cultural figure in our history, so it's important to know who she is and her true story." Varua said, gesturing again to Kalani, who now seemed to be having a full 'conversation' with Ocean.
Maja could sense the emotions and how impactful this was for her.
"I'm glad I could help."
"You did more than help, Maja. This means the world to me. I should be thanking you."
"We can't keep this a secret, people are gonna have to know that Ocean is back. Everyone knows how important Ocean has been for us."
"You're right. But Ocean has a right to be involved when it wants to." Kalani said, turning towards her friends and going off to the side to talk with them, but Maja stayed by Ocean, unable to tear herself away from its presence; no longer mysterious and foreboding, but strangely comforting and familiar.
"You know me…"