Moana finally felt like she was complete.

She existed on the water with her people and her canoes, her two greatest loves, bouncing around the wooden structure like she was born wayfinding. She found her greatest joy was sharing this ancient way with her parents. It took a little while, but she watched them slowly realize their own true selves. This is where they were meant to be. Their very blood was singing with the satisfaction of their ancestors. It had been 5 years since they left Motunui, now with 7 islands under their belts.

The only thing she could do without was her people already raising her onto a pedestal of legendary status. It only made her a little uncomfortable. Whenever she would protest, they would quickly remind her that no one in a thousand years could say they had changed the world as profoundly as she had. And she would remind them just as quickly that she had not done so alone.

It surprised her when she had first seen him gliding alongside their boat with a wink. Warmth and pride had bloomed through her, down to her very toes that her friend had been able to see her in her element with the people that she treasured so much.

As Motunui gossiped from boat to boat, Moana's legend only grew. The birds passed on what they heard to the fish and the whales, and then to the crabs and coral, all the way down to Lalotai where the monsters passed her story on to the very gods themselves. Of all of this, she had no idea. Moana was living a simple, perfect life on the water…

…..Until things decided to change again.

It was already mid-day, the sun was high and shone onto her back where there sat a brand new tattoo, her first. A great hawk stretched across her shoulders and if you looked closely, you could see a mighty hook on it's wing with a crack on it's curve. This was her Maui, the one faced with incredible odds that changed him just as much as they had changed her, the perfect symbol of her greatest adventure and his.

She heard her name called from below and slid down the rope to the deck. Her feet landed with a loud and resounding thud. …Too loud.

"What's up?" She asked. The entire boat had fallen silent and awestruck, staring in her direction with open mouths. Only her mother wore a curious, knowing smile and only her father ventured to point just over her shoulder, his own face holding an expression of more amazement than Moana had ever seen on him.

She turned around and almost passed out. A smirk and a raised eyebrow from a familiar face returned her comical reaction.

"Hey Kid, long time, no see."

A hand on her palpitating heart, she gasped, "Maui!" Shocked whispers rippled behind her and Tui immediately approached the enormous deity with reverence.

He began, "Maui, demigod of the wind and sea-"

"Hero to all.." Moana helpfully supplied, earning an eye-roll from the subject of conversation.

Tui shot a warning look at his daughter and continued, "You honor us with your presence. What is the purpose of your visit?"

Maui smiled wider and responded with a formality that did not match his playful voice, "I come bearing a message for the great way finder who bore me across the see and restored the heart of Te Fiti."

Moana was very glad to see Maui but he was starting to make her nervous.

He continued, "The tale of your adventure and success has traveled far and wide. It has leapt from the grateful mouth of Motunui, to the ears of the ocean and of the gods."

She gave him a confused and hesitant smile and mouthed out, "What?"

He ignored her and continued, if possible, smiling wider, "The message I deliver is not a message but a gift. A gift of deity. Moana, you are to be demigod of wayfinding, to lead your people and all people."

Her mouth hung open, speechless. Maui's shoulders fell in relief and he let out a whoosh, "Man, I'm glad I didn't mess that up. How was the delivery on that?" he asked Tui, who didn't know what to be more amazed at in that moment.

With Maui acting like his old self again, Moana relaxed a little, "It's good to see you Maui." she smiled at him.

"Yeah, you too curly. It's been way too long." He walked up and gave her a huge, strong squeeze as she giggled breathlessly. The amazed village witnessing an actual demi-god on their boat couldn't contain themselves. First there had been a beetle, and then there was this huge man! They hadn't expected him to be so very big and some hadn't expected him to be there at all, just a legend for the speaking hut. All watched together as the great deity among them excitedly lifted that dumb chicken and exclaimed loudly.

Moana rubbed her arm nervously, "Maui, I don't know what to say. I've never thought about this before. I mean, do I even have a choice?"

He straightened, still holding Hei hei, "Well sure ya do, they asked me before they gave my hook. It's a gift you can accept or not." He shrugged and smiled down at his friend.

Tui and Sina approached them and tried to steady Moana, who was all but toppled over by the gesture and it's bearer.

Maui smirked again, "Don't worry too much about her, she always acts this way when she's face to face with greatness."

Her flustered expression immediately shifted to annoyance and he snorted. Just the reaction he was hoping for.

He pointed west, "There's an island there where you can resupply and do some thinking. You should get there by dawn."

And before she could say 'don't tell me what to do', he lifted his hook in the air and the biggest hawk anyone had ever seen lifted itself to the sky and sped away. She threw a shell at his shrinking form.

—-

Wow. I can't believe this just jumped out of me. Then again, I did watch Moana 4 times in 2 days.

This thing already has a mind of it's own. Hope you like it and thanks for reading.