when you realize the only thing that kept Tala alive that long was the heart ): so when she gave it to them she knew she would die 😭

....

...

Third Person P.O.V

The two follow the fish hook in the night, the waves calm and the breeze fair.

...

The sun was now high in the sky, Ari clearing his throat and taking in a deep breath as he practices what Tala told him to say.

"We are Ari and (Y/N) of Motunui. You will board our boat..." He grunts, pulling the rope as (Y/N) walks over and kneels next to him. "Sail across the sea, and restore the heart of Te Fiti!"

He stable the post, (Y/N) frantically grabbing the rope as it slips from his grasp. She ties it down, making him sigh in relief as he pushes some hair from his face.

"How was that?" Ari questions, (Y/N) humming in thought.

"Better. Stronger," she replies with a nod, Ari grinning triumphantly.

"Let me try again," he clears his throat, sighing deeply. "We are Ari and--"

A loud thud catches their attention, Ari pausing and raising a brow while (Y/N) slowly turns to the noise.

"... (Y/N) of Motu--"

Ari continues, another thud occuring and causing (Y/N) to jump lightly.

"--nui?"

As he utters the last part of the word another thud happens, the two looking at one another in confusion.

(Y/N) slowly moves closer to the under compartment, Ari grabbing the oar as a weapon and raising a brow as she peeks inside.

She shrieks and flies backwards, landing on her bum as Ari swings the oar back, startled.

"What the?" (Y/N) questions, placing a hand on her rapidly beating heart as she looks down at the half-coconut. "... Hei Hei?"

"No," Ari drags the word in disbelief, kneeling down and raising the coconut. He quickly slams it back down with wide eyes, "it is Hei Hei!"

"Wh-- I-- How?" (Y/N) stammers, Ari lifting the rooster out of the compartment and removing the coconut.

Hei Hei lightly bawks, looking between the two with quick movements before turning. He looks at the ocean, swiftly turning with a confused noise as he sees more ocean.

All around him was ocean, his eye twitching as he was silent for a moment before shrieking a loud caw.

(Y/N) and Ari both flinch at the sound, Ari placing the coconut back on Hei Hei's head.

The cawing stops, Ari and (Y/N) side eyeing one another with confused frowns. He raises it, Hei Hei screaming once more.

Ari places it back down, silencing the rooster and repeating this process once more.

"Hey, Hei Hei," (Y/N) greets in a soothing tone, Ari slowly lifting the coconut off his head. "You're all right."

"Yeah, see?" Ari grins, setting the coconut down. "There we go. Nice water," he demonstrates it was alright by placing his hand in the ocean.

(Y/N) nods in agreement. "Nothing to worry about. The ocean is our friend." 

Hei Hei bawks as he waddles around, walking right off the edge of the boat.

"Hei Hei!" (Y/N) gasps, his feet appearing a few meters from the boat.

"I got him!" Ari yells, quickly diving into the ocean and swimming to the rooster.

He grabs Hei Hei, (Y/N) yelping and staggering as the wind suddenly jerks the boat away from Ari.

"Ohh, no!" She nervously laughs, attempting to readjust the sail as Ari shouts in alarm, swimming to her.

...

"... Sorry," (Y/N) apologizes with a nervous grin, Ari sitting criss-crossed.

His glare was set on Hei Hei, water dripping from his hair as he huffs. (Y/N) finds a small towel down below, placing it on his head and ruffling around his hair as a small laugh escapes him.

"Thanks," Ari sighs with a smile, setting the towel down before intently watching Hei Hei.

He turns slowly, moving to adjust the rope before gasping as Hei Hei starts to walk off the boat once more.

"No, no, no!" (Y/N) grunts, quickly dropping onto her stomach and grabbing the rooster before he fell in.

Both sigh heavily in relief, (Y/N) holding Hei Hei in her arms and looking around.

"It's too dangerous for him up here."

Ari thinks for a moment before lighting up when and idea, taking Hei Hei and placing him back in the storage compartment.

"Stay." He firmly says, standing back up with a nod.

"... That'll work," (Y/N) smiles, watching Hei Hei walk around the small compartment.

He runs into the side, turning and doing the same to the other side and repeating this process.

"Okay," Ari takes in a deep breath, clapping his hands once as he exhales loudly. "Next stop, Maui."

He sits in his place, tugging the rope with a confident smile and adjusting the sail. (Y/N) sits down, leaning against the small railing and enjoying the breeze.

The boat sails forward a few feet before stopping, the winds changing and the boat now sailing backwards.

(Y/N) grabs the rope, pulling it as she helps Ari tighten the sail to adjust to the wind.

...

Night time fell, the waves moving a little quicker and not so steady.

"We are Ari and (Y/N) of Motunui," Ari mumbles to himself, the waves bouncing the two around.

"You will... Board our boat!" Ari fights against the force of the waves, steering the boat towards the hook. "Sail... Across the sea..."  

(Y/N) grips the railing, her body moving with the waves so she didn't jerk around as much. Hei Hei slid left to right, unfazed as he did so.

"And restore the heart of Te Fiti!" He finishes, tugging the rope to steady the boat.

"Did... Tala want me to... Grab Maui by his ear?" (Y/N) suddenly realizes, processing her request.

Ari thinks for a moment, his expression becoming amused as he grins widely with a nod. "Yep. Yes, that's what she said."

(Y/N) rubs her neck, snickering slightly before smirking. "Hmm. So... Should I practice on you?"

Ari's smile falls as he nervously forces a laugh, his eyes glancing around anxiously.

"... Please don't."

...

Ari starts dozing off, his speech slurred. "We... Are... Ari and (Y/N) of Motu..."

The ocean curves up, watching him for a moment before slapping him.

"Board our boat!" He yells in alarm, gasping with wide eyes.

He looks around while catching his breath, a small smile forming on his face when he sees (Y/N) asleep. She was leaning against the railing, her knees tucked close to her and her head resting on her arm.

The ocean once again slaps Ari, making him yelp and jump. He glares at the ocean with a huff, shushing it.

"What?!" Ari whispers angrily, receiving no reply. He faces forward, shrugging it off before his eyes notice something.

The hook was no longer ahead of them.

He frantically looks around, shaking his head.

"Oh, no."

Ari slowly turns, groaning quietly in frustration when he sees the hook in the opposite direction.

(Y/N) stirrs as he steers the ship, yawning before gasping as it starts to tip over on her side.

"Woah!"

"No, no, no!" Ari frantically yells, rushing to the other side to try to balance it.

(Y/N) does the same, both too late as the ship tips over on its side and the two fall in.

Ari bursts from the water with a small gasp, (Y/N) emerging a moment later and panting lightly.

"Well, that was an effective wake-up call!"

"I'm really sorry!" Ari apologizes as he grabs the oar, the two swimming to the boat and grabbing on. "I am so so so sorry."

"It's alright," (Y/N) laughs, grinning at him. "We're both still learning. I really shouldn't have fallen asleep like that. I'm sorry."

"I-I didn't mind," Ari stammers back, the two smiling at one another in a comfortable silence.

Hei Hei caws, gaining their attention. He miraculously was fine, and standing on the tipped over boat.

Ari's eye twitches in disbelief before he shakes his head, attempting to flip the boat back over with a grunt and failing.

(Y/N) tries to help him this time, the task seemingly impossible as the waves continue moving.

"Uh... Ocean?" (Y/N) calls, looking around. "Could we get a little help here? Please?"

Lightning flashes in the distance, thunder rumbling as Ari looks to the sky with a gasp. Black storm clouds quickly made their way towards them, lightning flashing every so often.

"Uh oh."

(Y/N) and Ari quickly try to flip the boat over, the waves becoming more erratic as the storm drew closer.

"Please, help us!" Ari calls out, managing to lift the boat for a moment before a wave prevents it from turning over. "Come on..."

Rain starts to pour on them, the storm now directly overhead.

(Y/N) looks around with wide eyes, holding on as the boat starts spinning around. Ari climbs onto the boat, grabbing her arm and pulling her up.

"Help us!" He practically begs, making sure to keep a grip on her as the boat continues jerking around.

Thunder bellows, lightning clashing with the stormy cloude and the waves unforgiving.

(Y/N) gasps as a large wave starts to form, coming closer and closer to them.

"Ari!"

He manages to grab her and hold her down, the couple yelling as it crashes over them.

...