Chapter 1

Her eyes felt heavy as she was trying to wake up. 'Huh, must have fallen asleep' she thought.

'AND someone PLEASE stop with the loud banging noise!'

"na"

What was that?

"ana"

There it was again. That faint voice. It sounded sooooo familiar to her. Worried, careering, you could almost hear the desperation just to make her wake up.

"Moana, WAKE UP! Now is not the time for ya' beauty sleep!"

Moana tried to open her eyes. Now that her hearing was returning she could hear a loud CLASH, as if someone was being thrown and broke, whatever it was, as it landed. She could hear some groaning and cursing. Her eyes flew open faster than she ever thought was possible. She remembered now! Maui coming to her boat and asking …

No wait, scratch that.

'Persuaded' her to come to Lalotai was the more adequate term. Saying that he had forgotten something the last time he was there and he wanted to beat the dumb crap for almost killing him as a side bonus.

'What could possible go wrong?' She had thought.

Ohhhhh boy was she wrong.

After some really heavy debating they had come to the agreement that they would try and apologize, like really say sorry for leaving Tamatoa there on his back all those years ago.

It had also had taking Moana two suns going down to come up again, multiple ear pulling and oar smashing to convince him it would do him good. What Moana didn't know was that Maui had only dragged the fight out for the fun of seeing Moana going mad. He was happy to be around the curly haired Non-princess. Not that she would ever know that, because it would mean he had to spill out his emotions of actually missing her. Even though, he was pretty sure she already knew that. But Maui was too proud too voice it. And that she looked quite cute when she was all red while she got mad. He would never make the "chosen one" mad just for the fun of it.

Or would he?

"You gotta watch your temper, Shrimp. Or that Tomato head of ya is gonna burst"

Huffing Moana had sat down, not before sticking her tongue out in a hopeless attempt to get back at Maui.

Laughing Maui pulled the sail to gain more speed.

When they did come down there, they were ambushed by Tamatoa. And at some point, after a lot of hook smashing against claws, shell and some bad mouthing, Moana had been thrown in the air, landed and hit her head on a rock so blackness overtook her.

"Moana, for fuck's sake. Get your pretty ass up and get my hook."

"Get it yourself, Hero, I'm not feeling well. My head hurts a lot you know" She moaned in pain. She slowly checked for blood on her scalp. "tsk'd" as she found the bruise.

"MOANA" Maui hissed loud at her. Looking up from where she sat she saw that Maui [where] was holding Tamatoa's claws with both hands, [and] his hook nowhere near to be seen.

Slowly Moana got up on [wabbleling] wobbling legs. With a slight *sigh* she looked for the hook. Her vision was a bit blurred but if she focused a bit she could see more.

'There' it was on the ground. She barely saw the handle peeking out of some rocks.

Looking back at Maui, her stomach dropped a little. No chance for Maui to get away from where he stood while he still was holding onto Tamatoa. Thinking fast Moana got up, forgetting all about the pounding pain in her head.

'He needs it'

Running fast as she could, after some struggling to get her feet going, she gained balance again. She jumped over rocks, further over some treasure Tamatoa had spread out.

"That's right, babe"

She turned a confused look at Tamatoa while she ran. 'What's up with him?' thought Moana.

Tamatoa had a smug grin plastered on his face but it didn't matter now, it had to wait for later, whatever it was. What mattered was getting the hook to Maui.

"Just a little further" Moana mumbled.

'Then throw it to Maui and we win! Piece of banana bread. Yay' \ o /

What Moana didn't see coming were all those eight-eyed bats flying in from the entrance.

"Urgh! You GOT to be kidding me! MAUI we got company!"

Maui groaned in frustration. This was just his luck. "Let's go down and say sorry to Crap Cake, she says. Let's be friends again she says" Maui huffed to himself, irritated. All he wanted to do was to get that thing he had seen on Tamatoa's back. Smirking as he remembered how Moana had swung that trustworthy oar more than ten- twenty times at him before he had given in to say sorry.

What he really casted an eye at was a pendant shaped like a flower. Like an orchid, light purple in its color. A rare one indeed. Just like her. Ever since he had seen it on Tamatoa's back when he had pulled up his hook the first time they were here Maui hadn't been able to forget it. He couldn't stop thinking about how to get it for her as a gift.

It was small enough to be hidden in the neckless from her grandmother. Just a thank you gift for freeing his demigod butt from the piles of pebbles.

Yeah it had been easy if freaking Tamatoa hadn't been expecting them to return and had an ambush ready as they walked in his cave.

'What is up with that smug attitude' Maui wondered. Still holding on to the oversized claw to get a better grip and pushed the dumb crap back.

"MAUI!"

He looked over his shoulder to see Moana holding his beloved hook as good as she could on her arms. It got thrown high up in the air. Maui had to take a few steps to catch it. Okay the hook is pretty heavy! When you have the bod of a 3000 years training, you get used to swinging that hook around. Maui was impressed that Moana could throw it that far.

"Thanks princess. Now it's MAUI'S TIME"

"CHEEEEEHOOOOO"

Giggling Moana watched how Maui transformed into an animal that stood on all fours and was light brown in its color. A proud beast you could say. Black hair around his neck, all the way down to his chest. Tattoos on his ribcage and all the way to his paws. Longer tail than Pua by far and with a black tot of hair on its end. If Moana hadn't been caught up in Maui's shapeshifting-skills she would have seen how a smirk lingered on his face and a glint in his eyes

'Yeah, I know, I know, breathe it in, Curly. It's not every day you get to see this bod'

After what felt like a long time of staring at Maui, Moana shook her head to come back to reality and gave him a nod. She even earned a slight blush from Maui who had been staring right back at her. He had noticed something different about her. So he had taken some time to look at her. Like really look at her. Her long slender legs, the wider hips. The tanned kissed skin of her stomach. The top being a little more filled out then the last time he had seen her. Long neck free from her hair that was pulled up into a bun. The baby fat on her, all gone now.

'How much time has passed again?' Moana was definitely not the little kid he had sailed across the sea with anymore.

No, now there stood a woman in front of him.

Tamatoa let out a cough.

"So, should we get on with the fight? You two little love birds" crap cake teased after watching the starring competition take place.

"I have some friends here who are anxious to get a piece of you ever since you got down here"

Saying so an eyed bat leapt at Maui, fangs out ready to slash him. Maui was quick enough to dodge the attack. He jumped on its back, let out a growl and sunk his teeth down hard on the bats neck. Hearing the satisfied pop from breaking its neck, Maui knew it was dead.

'That was easy!' *ROAR* "No one can defeat the great M…"

Looking over at Moana he could see a disgusted expression written all over her face.

"SHIT! Forgot she was here!"

Maui saw how three bats surrounded her taking her attention from him to them. The chosen one got ready with a spear she had found lying in the cave floor. Moana stabbed one of them in the guts. It cried out in pain, dropped down, twitched and died (Moana only hoped) a horrible death. Maui quickly got to her as the other two bats scrambled further away from her. He nodded and stood with his back to her so they could take the others down together.

Long time passed as they just stood and waited for them to attack.

"Again! What's up with the starring competition?! GET THEM!" Tamatoa roared.

Four more bats came and surrounded them.

"This is bad, princess"

Maui watched as the bat scrambled around them in a slow pace. Making sure they didn't miss[ed] anything if they tried to attack.

"I know, but I'm sure we can do this" tightening her grip Moana held on to the spear, Maui was convinced they just might get out of this alive. Not totally. But convinced enough for his standards.

One bat came at Moana.

Maui quickly ran towards the bat, a shade of blue light surrounded Maui as he changed back to his regular self, at the same time charged into the bat and his hook splicing open the creature's corpus, leaving a clean cut. Turning around Maui saw Moana lying on the ground with the spear pointing at another bat.

'Turn around for one second and she's already in trouble' *Sigh* 'No worries Curly. Maui's coming for ya'

The bat came straight towards her. She lowered the weapon a little so the spear would hit it right in the chest.

But it got STUCK.

Panic began to spread in Moana's eyes. She couldn't get it out. The spear got caught between two massive rocks.

"Please. Come out!"

In the corner of her eye she saw how fast the bat was gaining on her. Getting really nervous now she tried pulling even harder than before. "Shit shit shit" the bat was close now. Really close. In sheer panic she threw herself down. Holding her arms over her head for protection.

*THUD*

Silence

"Huh?!"

Peaking ever so slowly over her upper arm Moana let out a shriek. Towering over her was the bat. Inches from reaching her with the claw that protruded from the edge of its wing. Looking at her with red eyes, and some nasty green drool coming out of its mouth, looking like slowly dripping poison.

Never had she thought that it was a good thing the spear got stuck in the first place. Sticking in the chest of the beast sat the spear. Blood slowly running down from where it had penetrated its skin. Black fur turning a reddish color on the way down only to create a pool on the ground. If Moana listened closely, she could almost hear how the blood drops landed in the pool.

"Yuck. That just gross."

Looking back up to the many eyes she saw how the light slowly died and the lifeless body slid down the spear. Making it go all the way through its back. Wings and head hung down, yet the feet rested solid on the ground. 'Better get out while I can. And before I get crushed Thank you very much' Ducking down under the now dead bat, tugging a wing away, she found Maui on his way over. Smiling at the sight she waved at him.

Maui stopped running.

He saw how Moana got up on her feet again. Whipping her face clean from all the blood that had landed on her face with the back of her hand.

"Behind you!" Maui yelled.

Moana froze. Terrified she looked behind her. There was another bat.

Stepping over the stone it gave a low growl. Slowly she turned around to see it straight in the face. She could smell its breath. Foul Rotten breath smacked her right in the face. Moana tried not to gag. But it was hard when all you could smell was death sipping out of its mouth. She looked back to where Maui was. He was running to her but it seemed like he was running in slow motion. She could see the horrified look on his face moments before Moana felt something hit her side that left her crashing into something solid. Pain began to form in the right side of her body where the beast had hit her.

Maui was running as fast as he could. He saw how Moana, with pain written all over her face, went flying in the air headed towards a wall. Thinking fast Maui changed into a hawk flew faster than her so he could get behind and catch her before the wall did. Maui let out a big *OUF* as he caught Moana and landed on a rock sticking out of the wall.

Moana coughed trying to regain her breath from the impact.

"That *cough* slimy son of a *cough*"

Maui let out an amused chuckle "Now, now there Curly, that's not how a princess should talk"

"Despised the situation its good *cough* to see someone is having fun *cough*"

"Yeah, ya'h right Curly. We should figure out how to get out of this mess I put us in in the first place" Moana now fully regained her breath.

"What are you talking about? Pfffft it's not that bad" *cough*

"Kid, we still need to get rid of one little bat beside that huge ass motherfucker AND let's not forget crapcake over there." Maui pointed at Tamatoa who looked at them with a murderer's glint in his eyes

"So tell me one more time princess, how bad is it?"

Moana looked around the cave hoping to find something that could help them, simply ignoring his question.

"What if… no that won't work. How about…"

Maui could almost hear her brain cracking for being used to come up with some sort of a plan.

"What if you shapeshifted into a larger animal. If you can, that is. – Then take them down?" Moana asked shyly. Completely shocked Maui just looked at Moana.

"And what are you supposed to do, eh?"

"Well haven't thought about that yet, HERO." Moana hissed at Maui.

"At least I'm trying to figure something out here!" Buried in her thoughts again Moana began to bite her thumb nail.

"Yeah, that's what I thought Curly. Well, keep it up cuz we ain't got all day" Maui turned while crossing his arms.

"Well you aren't helping much here either Demi" As Moana did the same something caught her eye. Just in the back of the cave was a rope.

'See now we are talking' Moana jumped happy.

"Maui, look!" Moana pointed at the rope she had discovered. Groaning Maui turned to see what she was getting so excited about.

"What if we use the rope to tie it around Tamatoa's legs while one of us is playing bait again?"

"Won't work, Curly."

"WHAT!"

"Why won't it work, Maui?" Before Maui even had a chance to explain to her, two of those flying creatures came down towards them.

"No time, Buttercup. We gotta move."

Maui grabbed Moana by her waist, pulled her to him and jumped down to the floor.

Letting her go, he looked up to see where the bats where. But when Maui was about to say something to Moana he found out that she wasn't even with him anymore. He got a glimpse of her dress disappearing behind a pile of treasures.

'I swear. That thick headed woman sometimes. She WILL get herself killed one day.'

Shaking his head he pinched the bride of his nose.

'Sometimes I wonder how she did survive that trip to the isla…'

He didn't had the time to finish that thought, for above him came a bat straight for him.

"SHIT"

Getting ready to take the creature on he looked it in the eyes.

'How can you even decide on what eye you gonna look at when there's EIGHT of them?!'

Lowering his hook more he got ready to send it flying back with a powerful blow. Just as the bat was 3 feet away he swung his hook as hard as he could at it so Maui could hear the skull break from the impact and saw it flying over to the other side of the cave. Hitting the wall it got stuck there for a second before it slid down leaving bloody tracks on its way. It almost landed on the ground, when the second bat came right at Maui. Groaning he got ready again for another heavy swing.

'I hope Moana hid herself'

When it had almost reached him the bat turned sharp leaving Maui hitting thin air "what the…" Realizing too late what had happened, he was send flying across the cave.

"AAAAAAARGH"

Hitting the wall with a loud SLAM he made a large crater around him. Sliding down he hit the floor, groaning out in pain from his back.

"That'll teach you not to mess with Wa'lu the Wicked, Semi-demi-mini god. HAHAHAHA." Tamatoa laughed out in a victories voice

"Wait."

"ORH Shit, shouldn't have said that. Ohhh well. Too late now anyway. Have fun with him.

*chuckles* I know that he is still pissed at you for tricking him too on your way here on the first visit with the human. Say where is she? Lost her already?" Tamatoa taunted.

Little did they know or see a small figure crawling around. Moana had gotten the robe she had spotted from the rock. Tied it around one of Tamatoa's legs. Then sneaked over to where Glitterclaw's other legs were. Moana slightly looked up to see if she was spotted yet. Only to find the giant crap looking with an amused grin plastered across his face as the fight between Maui and Wa'lu began.

'Phew, so good so far'

Moana tiptoed around him with the rope following her. Couple of times. Just to be sure. When she was done she hid back behind a large pile of treasure Tamatoa had gathered, a pile that waited to be polished so it would shine like the rest of his shell.

Before she was done with the last round with the rope Moana had to watch how Maui was sent flying over to kiss the wall.

'Maui, get up!'

The thought ran through her like a mantra. Seeing the bruise on his back as he slid down the wall made her stomach turn over in fear.

'Get up get up get up…' She prayed to any God or goddess who would listen to her at that moment. Peeking around from her hiding spot Moana saw Maui more clearly. Still laying on his belly he faced her. A second passed as his lazy eyes found hers. Grinning from ear to ear Maui had spotted her. Moana tried to tell Maui what she had on mind.

With waving arms she pointed at the rope in her hand then at Tamatoa's legs. Moana saw how Maui raised his eyebrow at her in question, turned his head to where she was pointing at and made big eyes at what he saw.

'So that's what you been up to huh' Curly' looking back at Moana, smirking.

She send a shy smile back like telling him 'yeah that's what I been up to.' Maui looked down on the ground and tried to get up on his feet again.

'Let me get this asshole first' he thought as he turned his eyes to Wa'lu and then back at her.

Moana understood that Maui needed to do this without her help. Nodding she crawled back behind her hiding spot. Just before she was completely gone she looked back at Maui who now stood more firmly on his legs. That broad back turned to her she could see it all. How tensed his muscles ached under the tattoo's and skin. How the muscles in his arm moved as he tightens in his grip around the hook.

"What's up Fishbreath? Ready for round two?" boomed Maui with overconfidence. Yep, there he stood, Maui Demigod of the wind and sea. Master of pissing people off, ready to attack at any moment.

She had never noticed how broad his shoulders were before. She felt how her breath got caught in her throat. She had watched him countless times before as he stood but never once had she really looked at him as she did now.

'By Te Fiti what is going on?' Moana blushed at the sight. 'I- I can't be into Maui like that. He's just someone I really liii… CARE about. Yep, care about deeply. *sigh* A lot apparently'

She had looked at some of the young men in her village but had never been interested on a romantic level. So here was Moana completely gone from the world around her that she didn't see the large shiny claw slowly crept around her waist. Steady increasing the grip so she wouldn't escape "WAAAAmmmhgf" she squealed but got silenced almost immediately.

"Shhhhhhhhh now we don't want Maui to see that I got his favorite human right in my claw. Get it, babe? Right in my claw? You know 'I have you right in my hand' expression? Take out the hand and put claw in instead, since I … you know what? Forget it. It's not funny when I have to explain it to you" Tamatoa hissed the last bit while still whispering.

She couldn't help but think how similar Tamatoa and Maui were as she looked unimpressed at the crab. She just hoped that the rope was still around his three and a half leg so they still had that trick up their sleeve. It was like Tamatoa could read her mind.

"Oh and babe, next time you're trying to sneak around with that rope please do it more quietly. You sounded like a big old pig who couldn't breathe properly" Wide eyed Moana looked back at Mr. Shiny Shell.

'I do NOT sound like a pig - Well okay maybe a little - BUT you try sneaking around with one side of your ribcage hurting as hell!'

Meanwhile Maui had been taking a good beating from Wa'lu.

Big and small wounds were spread over his injured body. The biggest one had come from an attack Maui hadn't seen coming. Panting Maui stood and could feel the warm liquid running down his back to his left leg.

'Mini, this is bad. I don't know what we ca….' looking down at the ground he saw some dirt that had been kicked loose. Looking around where Wa'lu was he noticed that there also was some dirt there he could use.

'Yeah how about it? Give it a try?' Mini nodded while smiling in agreement, then got to battle stance letting Maui know that he was ready for one more go.

Acknowledging this Maui started to run. First slow then sprinting and by pushing off with his toes he got faster and faster. Wa'lu looked at Maui while he got closer and closer. Then before Maui got in 3 feet of Wa'lu he turned sharp to the side, at the same time he bent down picking up some of the dirt. Turning back towards the large bat he ran for a little then after a few steps he jumped up in the air. When he was above Wa'lu Maui threw the dirt at him. Shrieking the bat tried to get the dirt out of his many eyes by blinking. All too soon Wa'lu realized his mistake. The bat then tried to take its wings up and rubbing them but it just made it worse. Screaming out in frustrations for not being able to see, Wa'lu never heard Maui coming down.

"CHEEEEEHOOOO"

Smashing his now glowing hook, at Wa'lu's head. Eyes bulging out of their sockets from the impact. Ever so slowly falling limp down to the ground.

Landing on the ground Maui panted. While trying to regain his breath he looked for Moana who was still in the claw of Tamatoa. He seemed to be saying something to Moana that Maui couldn't hear from where he was. Tamatoa then stopped, realizing the cave had gone quiet from the fight with Maui and Wa'lu. Moana still looked unimpressed as before.

Taking some quick steps back he had managed to put them beside a loft. Tamatoa had removed his oversized claw from her mouth to pick up a dagger (really small in his claw) then as he saw Maui had begun walking towards him then began to run.

Quickly he looked down at Moana. He saw, she had her eyes on the demi god. Smiling at her rescuer Tamatoa jammed the dagger in her stomach. Her smile faded. Feeling a weird sensation, she looked down seeing the dagger sticking out of her.

She took her hands up and held onto the hilt, pulled as hard as she could – then it slipped out of her. Srhe held the dagger, weakly smiling back up at Maui she dropped it on the ground. Her eyes rolling back in her skull, falling limp, Tamatoa threw her aside like a doll.

"Now that she is dead and I got my revenge, I don't need her anymore"

Smirking evilly at Maui he saw how the rage consumed the demigod. 'Now this should be fun' The overlarge crap thought.

Maui ran to Tamatoa he had forgot all about his open wounds on his body. Maui then jumped up in the air but quickly landed again so he could slide over the ground in a semi sitting/laying position.

With a roar Tamatoa watched while he had tried to catch him. Maui slid right between his claws and under his belly. Bringing the hook up, he cut open Tamatoa's breast plates and left a pool of blood on his path behind him all the way to the end. Tamatoa failed to reach his big open wound with his claws in an attempt to close it. Slowly the crab's eyes rolled back and he began to fall, dead as he hit and shook the ground.

Maui got on his feet and headed over to where he had seen Moana getting tossed to. Panic was filling his body as he saw Moana lying lifeless on the ground.

"Nonononononono", he said when placing Moana so she laid in his arms with the head resting on his arm.

"Moana" Maui whispered as he gently shook her. Nothing happened. Trying to shake her a little harder this time "Moana" Maui desperately waited for any movement. Then her eyes fluttered a little. Slowly opening.

Relief washed over Maui.

"Hey there, Chosen one. Don't scare me like that." Maui couldn't keep his voice from shaking a little with relief.

Smiling at his concerned look, she gazed down to see what her hand was resting on that was so firm and felt quite nice under her hand. Moana had without realizing rested her hand on his chest. Feeling her cheeks turning pink, she turned her head a little hoping Maui hadn't seen and wouldn't tease her about it.

"How are you feeling?"

"Ohhhhh, just peachy. Never felt better after being stabbed" Moana barked out in sarcasm.

He chuckled at the remark of her, Maui began to inspect her abdomen for blood, but there was nothing to see. Frowning at this he traced his fingers over her smooth skin to feel if there was something he missed.

"Ehm, Moana?"

'Oh oh doesn't sound good. It's bad. Maybe it's my final time on earth or rather in Lalotai. Goodbye cruel world. Nice knowing ya' Goodbye mom and dad.'

"Shouldn't you, I don't know, have like… a knife in your stomach?"

"huh?!" looking down at herself she didn't see the dagger anywhere.

"Well that's weird. Where's the wound?"

"THAT is what I'd like to know." Maui growled a little irritated while he looked for it around them. Letting Moana go on the ground, she sat with a confused face expression.

Suddenly Moana felt something in her stomach. At first it was like a small bubbles going on, what morphed into a bearable pain soon grew to what felt like it was tugging at her. Pulling her away from where she sat.

"Maui. Something is not right."

"You tell me! You got stabbed and now the dagger has gone missing like some sort of magic trick!?" Not hearing the last bit of what Maui just said to her. Moana got dragged over across the room.

"WAAAAAA" Maui whipped his head to Moana and saw her getting pulled away from him. Reaching out to grab her. Feeling theirs fingers touch for a brief second and then gone.

"MOANA!"