...

(Y/N)'s P.O.V

"We did it!" Ari shouts with laughter while I jump up and down in excitement.

"We did! We really do work well together," I laugh in disbelief, Ari securing the heart back in his necklace.

"Yeah... We do," Ari softly agrees, glancing over to me with a smile.

I look back at him for a moment, nervously grinning before looking at Maui.

He looks between us before snickering, shaking his head as he focuses on steering the ship.

"Congratulations on not being dead, you two. You surprised me." Maui admits, pulling the darts from the boat. "But I'm still not taking that thing back."

My smile falls as Ari sighs from next to me, Maui tossing the darts into the ocean before rising.

"You wanna get to Te Fiti you gotta get through a whole ocean of bad." He explains, walking past us as the boat rocks. "Not to mention Te Ka."

He points to his back, a tattoo of Te Ka seeming to roar as the mini Maui falls from the sky.

"Lava monster?" Maui scoffs, turning back to us. "Ever defeat a lava monster?"

"No," I reply in an obvious tone, Ari raising a brow and folding his arms.

"Have you?" Ari fires back at Maui with a smug smirk, making me place a hand over my mouth as a small laugh escapes me.

Maui grumbles, turning around and no doubt pouting. His mini self travels to his back, seeming to snicker as he lowers a scoreboard and marks our side 1.

Maui bitterly laughs as he fully turns to face us, "I'm not going on a suicide mission with a couple of mortals."

He moves Hei Hei from the lower compartment, Ari's face falling one more to a frown.

"You two can't restore the heart without me," Maui continues, raising a coconut before placing it back inside. "And me says no."

He takes a banana from the storage, walking closer to us.

"Then me says no banana," I mumble, swiping the banana away from him as he looks down at me in irritation.

"Fine, fine. Whatever. I'm getting my hook." He moves past us, plopping down and holding the oar. "End of discussion."

Ari groans in frustration, rubbing his neck before pausing. I look back at him as he stares at Maui's tattoo, my gaze following it and noticing the group of cheering people.

We both nod to each other with a grin, Maui looking up as I clear my throat.

"You'd be a hero..." I hint, tossing the banana back into the storage.

"That is what you're all about, right?" Ari adds, leaning against the mast with folded arms.

"Little children," Maui scoffs, rolling his eyes. "I am a hero."

"Well..." I drag the word, Maui's brows furrowing. "Maybe once, yeah. But now?"

"You're just the guy who stole the heart of Te Fiti." Ari clicks his tongue as he shrugs, shaking his head. "The guy who cursed the world."

He shrugs nonchalantly walking to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he smirks at Maui.

"You're no one's hero."

Ari leads me away, Maui scoffing.

"No one's?"

I look back, shaking my head with a slightly amused, disappointed frown. Maui's face falls, his gaze shifting to Hei Hei's.

Hei Hei clucks and tilts his head before Maui looks at the ocean, the ocean also shaking its head.

His expression falls more as Ari turns to face him, "but, put this back," he shows the heart before concealing it once more. "Save the world... You'd be everyone's hero."

His mini self pretends to have the heart, racing along Maui's chest and placing the heart back as people cheer.

"Maui! Maui! Maui!" Ari whispers, trying to encourage the man further before nudging my arm.

"Oh. You're amazing!" I play along, Maui seeming to agree with the idea before shaking his head with a frown.

"We'd never make it without my hook. Not past Te Ka."

"Then how about we go get your hook?"

"Yeah!" Ari nods, Maui brushing past him and facing away from us. "We'll get your hook, take out Te Ka, restore the heart..."

Ari holds out his hand to Maui, faltering. "Unless you don't wanna be..."

"Maui, demigod of the wind and sea... Hero to... All?" I finish, grinning with expectation as Maui slowly turns to us.

His mini self holds his hand out, waving it to agree to a hand shake as Maui sighs heavily.

"First, we get my hook." He firmly says, Ari nodding.

"Then we save the world. Deal?"

"Deal," Maui replies, taking his hand and shaking it.

Before tossing him into the ocean.

"Maui!" I yell, looking around before the ocean places Ari back on the boat.

Ari crosses his arms, his bangs in his face as he huffs.

"Sorry, girly. Worth a shot," Maui shrugs, grabbing the oar. "Okay, we go east," he mumbles, raising his hand to the sky. "To the lair of Tamatoa."

He ducks his hand in the water, Ari and I watching curiously.

"If anyone has my hook, it's that beady-eyed bottom-feeder." Maui grumbles, twirling the oar before using it to turn the boat.

"Woah!" I yelp, ducking under the sail as it swings my way.

Ari quickly does the same, narrowly avoiding it and looking over at me with a grin.

The boat sails quickly ahead, gliding over a wave and landing easily on the other side.

Maui swiftly ties a rope, looping it before focusing on tying it.

"Teach us to sail." Ari suddenly says, making me nod eagerly.

Maui blows a raspberry, turning away as he does other things.

"Come on!" I agree, rising. "It's our job to deliver you across the great ocean."

"Yeah!" Ari nods, reaching to grab a rope before yelping as he nearly falls. "... We... Should be sailing."

"It's called way-finding, princey," Maui replies with a roll of his eyes, moving past us and climbing the mast. "It's seeing where you're going in your mind. Knowing where you are..." Maui flips around, looking at the sunset. "By knowing where you've been."

"Okay, first, I'm not a prince," Ari says in annoyance, Maui dropping himself down in front of us.

"Not really a prince," I agree, nodding as I raise a finger. "He's the son of the Chief."

"Same difference." Maui snorts, rolling his eyes.

"No, it's not the same," Ari firmly says, grunting as Maui moves him to the side and out of his way.

Maui sighs with exasperation, gesturing to Hei Hei, then to me. "If you have an animal sidekick, and some sort of love interest, you're a prince."

"What? L--Love interest?" I nervously laugh, shaking my head.

"She... She's not... She's my--" Ari stammers out, Maui scoffing and rolling his eyes as he continues.

"Neither of you are way-finders, you'll never be way-finders, and you will never--"

Maui suddenly stops talking, his eyes widening as he collapses with a groan.

Ari and I look at each other in confusion, my face lighting up as we see the ocean behind where Maui stood.

A dart was sticking out of the man, the ocean waving before ducking back into itself.

"Really? Blow dart in my butt cheek?" Maui mutters, his cheek pressing against the boat and making his voice a bit muffled.

The ocean rises once more, handing Ari the oar.

"Nice!" I laugh, the ocean twirling around me for a moment before high-fiving Ari.

"Now, then..." Ari smirks, easily moving Maui aside and taking his place.

"... You are bad people." Maui grumbles from his spot, making me snicker.

"Well, you can still talk. So... You can teach," I muse, leaning against the mast before nearly slipping.

Ari holds back a laugh, making me playfully glare at him before huffing. 

"Lesson one. Hit it," Ari encourages, waving me over.

I sit besides him, Maui groaning in annoyance for a moment.

"Pull the sheet."

"Right," I mumble, rising and grabbing a rope in question.

"Not the sheet." Maui says in a monotone, Ari also rising and reaching for another rope. "No. Nope."

"What?" I mumble, the two of us moving along the boat in an attempt to find it.

"Nope. No, tried that one already."

The boat moves sideways, making me groan in frustration as Ari sighs.

...

The stars were now overhead, Ari raising his hand in uncertainty. He does it multiple times, me peeking over his shoulder at it.

"... You're measuring the stars, not giving the sky a high-five."

...

"What was that thing you did with putting your hand in the water?" I question, making Maui sigh.

"If the current's warm, you're going the right way." He explains in a monotone.

"Really?" Ari tilts his head, dipping his hand in the water. "It's cold..." He pauses, gasping. "Wait. It's getting warmer."

Maui was smirking smugly, making me groan in disgust as Ari gasps in horror.

"Agh! That is disgusting! What is wrong with you?!"

I can't help but let out a small laugh as Ari frantically washes his hand on the ocean side, Maui chuckling childishly.

...

Third Person P.O.V

The three managed to get to the island, the boat bumping the land.

Ari slept leaning against the mast, (Y/N) leaning her head on his shoulder and his arm wrapped around her.

He wakes up from the force, looking around for a moment before gasping.

"We're here? (Y/N)!"

(Y/N) wakes up, looking around in a daze before yawning and gasping.

"You did it!" She laughs, rising up and dusting her skirt off as Ari jumps off the boat.

"See? Told you we could do it," he boasts to Maui, stopping and setting his hand on a tree with a wide smile.

His smile falls, his brows furrowing in confusion at the sight of a familiar island.

"Motunui? We're... Home?"

The tree starts to blacken, making Ari gasp and jerk away from it as it turns into ash.

"Ari!" A voice calls, making him look back with wide eyes.

"Dad?"

"Ari!" Sinna shouts, the darkness swallowing their island.

"Mom?"

"Help!"

Tui yells, the two rushing to the shore and collapsing as the darkness falls on them. They were taken by the ash, Ari gasping and shaking his head frantically.

"Ari!"

Ari jumps, quickly turning with wide eyes as the boat (Y/N) was on starts to get tugged aggressively back to sea.

"(Y/N)!" He yells, the waves becoming violent as dark clouds form overhead. "(Y/N)!!"

A wave crashes onto her and the boat as lightning flashes, the ocean calming for a moment and revealing she was gone.

"No!"

...

Ari jolts awake with a gasp, looking around with wide eyes.

"Ari? You okay?" (Y/N) questions, making him look back at her.

She was fine, watching him in concern before splashing some water on her face.

"I hope you both enjoyed your beauty rest," Maui muses as he steers. "You know, a real way-finder never sleeps. So they actually get where they need to go."

(Y/N) yawns, Ari still recovering from his nightmare before noticing a shadow looming over them.

"Muscle up, you two. We're here," Maui looks up at the large mountain with a unworried smile.

The mountain stood tall on a small island, the sun hidden behind some clouds but some rays escaping and casting an eerie shine.

"Ari?" (Y/N) lightly places her hand on his shoulder, making him jump before forcing a smile at her.

"I'm okay," he confirms, sighing as he rises. "So... You're sure this guy's gonna have your hook?"

Ari questions, jumping onto the island and offering his hand to (Y/N). She takes it, using him for support as she follows.

"Tamatoa? Oh, he'll have it." Maui nods, lowering himself and placing feed in front of Hei Hei. "He's a scavenger. Collects stuff. Thinks it makes him look cool."

He motions to Hei Hei, pointing inside his mouth to represent him eating.

Maui walks away from the rooster, looking back and ducking his head to the feed a few times as Hei Hei starts doing it by himself.

"And for Tamatoa, trust me... My hook is the coolest collectable."

"And he lives way up there?" (Y/N) asks, tying the boat to a rock to ensure it doesn't drift away.

"No, no, no." Maui shakes his head, walking past the two. "That's just the entrance to Lalotai."

Ari gasps softly, "Lalotai? The realm of monsters?"

(Y/N) nervously clears her throat, "w-we're going to the realm of monsters?"

"We?" Maui chuckles as he starts climbing. "No. Me. You two are gonna stay here with the other chicken."

He clucks mockingly, Ari raising a brow and (Y/N) looking back at Hei Hei.

"He's a rooster." She mumbles, Maui still laughing.

"That's what I'm talking about. Gimme some," he goes to high-five his mini self, the mini Maui boredly staring at him. "Come on! That was a good one. How do you not get it? I called them chicken and there's a chicken on the boat."

"He's a rooster," (Y/N) corrects again as Maui starts climbing up the wall, ignoring her.

"I know they're human, but that's not the-- you know what? Forget it. Forget it! I'm not explaining it to you."

Ari and (Y/N) look at one another with determination, nodding.

"Cause then it's not funny..." Maui continues, his voice becoming faint.

...

Maui climbs higher, scaring off a bird. He places himself on the ledge, peeking down at the boat and noticing the two were gone.

"Hmm?"

Ari grunts lightly, looking back and helping (Y/N) climb to his side as they go past Maui.

Maui notices, groaning with an irritated expression.

"So, son of the Chief," Maui muses, climbing after the two. "I thought you stayed in the village. You know, kissing babies and things."

Ari looks down at him boredly, (Y/N) shaking her had in exasperation.

"Hey, I'm just trying to understand why your people decided to send... How do I phrase this?" Maui mumbles, the three climbing higher. "You. Not to mention your little girlfriend."

"I'm not his..." (Y/N) trails off, sitting on a ledge and offering her hand to Ari.

"She's..." Ari takes it, pulling himself up, "not my girlfriend, and our people didn't send us. The ocean did."

"Yeah," (Y/N) nods, climbing up the steep steps.

"The ocean?" Maui snickers, climbing after them. "Makes sense. You're both what, eight? Can't sail, obvious choices."

"It chose us for a reason," (Y/N) responds, panting lightly before looking down. "Ooh. Yeah, shouldn't of done that."

"It'll be alright," Ari urges, climbing besides her. "Come on."

She nods, smiling nervously as they continue.

"If the ocean's so smart... Why didn't it just take the heart back to Te Fiti itself?" Maui continues questioning, attempting to make them doubt themselves so they go home.

Ari pauses, looking down at his necklace as (Y/N) stares up the mountain.

"Or bring me my hook?"

"The ocean doesn't help you," (Y/N) mumbles after a second, quoting Maui from earlier. "You help yourself. Isn't that what you said?"

Maui stares at her for a moment before shaking his head, snickering. "Nah, the ocean's just straight up kooky-dooks. But I'm sure it's not wrong about you two... You're both the Chosen Ones!"

Ari pulls himself up onto the ledge, turning and taking (Y/N)'s hand before pulling her up with ease.

She pants lightly and smiles in thanks, her gaze shifting behind him. He turns around, the two walking to the edge and looking out to the ocean.

"The ocean chose us for a reason..." Ari firmly encourages, (Y/N) nodding in agreement.

"... If you two start singing a romantic duet, I'm gonna throw up." Maui states bluntly, staring at them with a deadpan.

(Y/N) looks around the area, Ari looking back at Maui with annoyance.

"So... Not seeing an entrance." He gestures around.

"Yes. Because it only appears..." Maui seriously starts, approaching the two. "After a human sacrifice. So, you or the girl?"

Ari's smile falls as he moves in front of (Y/N), her placing her hand on his shoulder as she peeks at Maui from around him, both frowning with worry.

"... Kidding!" Maui cackles, waving his arm. "Geez, so serious."

He takes in a deep breath, letting out a powerful gust of wind as he blows the sand away.

Ari coughs, (Y/N) ducking behind him to avoid the sand as the entrance was revealed.

The two jump as Maui starts shouting, moving around as he chants. He leaps into the air, slamming down on the rock.

The entrance rumbles, Ari staggering and (Y/N) pulling him back as he nearly falls. Down below glowed a faint purple, the drop deep.

"Don't worry," Maui shrugs, grinning. "It's a lot farther down than it looks."

He leaps inside, "CHEEEHOOO!"

(Y/N) and Ari look after him with wide eyes as his voice echoes.

"I'm still falling!"

A splash echoes after, (Y/N) nervously laughing and shaking her head.

"That... I don't... Wow," she stammers, taking in a deep breath and sighing to calm herself.

"We can do this," Ari smiles reassuringly, (Y/N) anxiously looking up at him. "Right?"

He holds out his hand, (Y/N) looking between it and his smile. She slowly takes it with a nod, Ari holding it tightly.

"Let's go!"

Ari shouts as the two leap after Maui and into the realm of monsters, the entrance slamming shut behind them.

...
..
.