Chapter Soundtrack:

Shiny-  Jemaine Clement (Moana)

Disclaimer:

The movie, 'Moana', is copyrighted by Walt Disney Animation Studio. It was directed by Ron Clements and John Musker and the co-directors were Don Hall and Chris William. It was released by Walt Disney Pictures in 2017.

I only claim copyright to the characters, and some of the elements of the story, that are of my own creation.

Summary:

A young woman, seemingly ordinary, is deserted on an island that is void of life but is then confronted by a man who completely baffles her with his words and actions. He couldn't really be a demigod now, could he? There was no such thing as real gods. Or was she the one mistaken? Could she trust in his friendship after all the heartbreak and disappointment in her life?

...

Chapter 10

'' Ho ho ho! What have we here? It's a sparkly, shiny... WAIT A MINUTE!''

Tamatoa threw Moana into the air (which dislodged the shiny shells from around Moana) and caught the terrified girl in one massive claw.

Said claw was riddled with deep scratches and small dents either from fighting other monsters or... from his battle with Maui.

'' OH, its a human!'' Tamatoa spoke in a spiteful tone.

I cringed at the tone of his voice and the way he peered at the small (to him), terrified girl grasped in his pincer.

''What are you doing here in the Realm of the Mo... ?''

Moana had begun swivelling her head from one side to the other in an act to keep her eyes on both of the crab's eye stocks, but this seemed to irritate the monster even more.

'' Just pick an eye, babe. I can't ... I can't concentrate on what I'm saying if you keep ... yep, pick one. PICK ONE!'

A shaken expression was plastered to Moana's eyes as her gaze froze in front of one huge blue eye.

'' Your a funny looking little thing, aren't you?!'' Tamatoa spoke again.

I jolted forward an inch when the crab reached out to hook the edge of his pincer under Moana's necklace and pulled it closer to his eye.

'' DON'T! That's my grandma's!'' Moana snapped out in agitated fear as she grabbed the shell into the safety of her palms.

'' That's my grandma's!'' Tamatoa repeated in a fake girly voice before his voice turned hard.

'' I ATE MY GRANDMA! And it took a week because she was absolute, hideously humongous!''

I hid a small involuntary laugh ( that was more akin to a nervous, fear induced cough) behind my hand.

Peara gave me a questioning look but I waved off her curiosity when I spotted movement on an opposite ledge.

I couldn't help a quiet groan when Maui made to leap up onto the crab's carapace but stopped when Tamatoa edged further from the ledge.

The demigod slipped when he had halted his lunge and was now hanging from the edge.

'' Hurry and get back up onto that ledge, Maui,'' I whispered in my head as Tamatoa heard the scraping coming from behind him.

The monster frowned thoughtfully and was about to turn his head to see what was making the noise.

'' BECAUSE YOU ARE AMAZING!'' Moana exclaimed inarticulately but was successful in distracting the crab with her words.

The Monster turned his attention back to the teenager as she continued with words to pump up the animal's ego.

''And we mortals have heard the tales about the crab, who became a legend. And I got to know how you came to be so 'crab.... you... less'.''

I cringed when Moana's voice became halted and distracted when the Monster's head kept edging closer and closer to the teenager.

His eyes filled with suspicion, and his voice was ominous, Tamatoa asked:'' Are you just trying to make me talk about myself?''

My posture was as taught as bow-string ready to be launched when the crab's head came to be so close, that any further and Moana's nose would have touched the crab's head.

'' Because IF you are...''

Moana gulped audibly and I was just about to do something incredibly stupid with the fishing-rod clenched tightly in my hands when I felt two much smaller, pincered arms wrap themselves tightly around my knees.

''Maija, don't go out there! Daddy's just gonna hurt you, too,'' Peara hissed out in a panicked voice.

I stilled very reluctantly, gritting my teeth at the scene of Tamatoa intimidating one of my friends.

Then the massive crustacean surprised me by whipping back his head and saying:'' Then I'm glad to oblige you...''

I leaned against the wall, pressing my face against the hard surface to muffle a hysterical laugh that wanted to escape my lips even as I heard Peara facepalm herself with one of her pincers.

The whole situation was extremely serious for the lot of us, but Tamatoa's split personality was unintentionally tickling my funny-bone.

'' Oh for the love of the Gods, please, please don't sing, daddy! It's so embarrassing when you do it to almost every creature that wanders into our lair,'' Peara moaned out under her breath, still holding one pincered arm around my legs.

'' In SONG form!'' Tamatoa jovially added as he flicked something shiny into the air where it disappeared into a shimmering window of sea-water.

'' Well, then we do have a humongous problem because he IS going to sing,'' I murmured, shoulders shaking and the tears of mirth sliding down the wall of the lair.

'' Oh Gods, Maija, you never used to have such twisted humour, '' Peara grunted out as she banged her head against the back of my knees.

'' I've become somewhat dark and twisty over the past twenty years,'' I hummed out before turning my attention to the gargantuan crab.

Tamatoa cleared his throat loudly before beginning to sing:

Well, Tamatoa hasn't always been this glam.

I was a drab little crab once.

Now I know I can be happy as a clam...

Because I'm beautiful, baby.

[Tamatoa shifted in a circle, gesturing to his magnificently decorated carapace that was lighting up the smooth walls of the cave when glowing and shimmering balls of light bounced and reflected from the nearby surfaces]

'' It's like a glowing disco-room in here,'' I thought with heavy sarcasm, as I kept my eyes glued on the dancing, singing creature]

Did your granny say listen to your heart?

[Tamatoa's claw came into contact with Moana's chest, which immediately forced a sharp cry of pain from the teenager.

I stiffened in outrage at seeing my teenaged friend being wounded by the Monster]

Be who you are on the inside?!

I need three words to tear her argument apart.

[another cry of pain was ripped from Moana's lips when Tamatoa stretched her arms to the very edge of their limits.

I very nearly lunged at the Monster in outrage but was held back by Peara who had relocated her other arm around my knees.

'' No, please don't go out there!'' she cried out in an almost whisper]

Your granny LIED! 

I'd rather be...

Shiny!

[Tamatoa started prancing around the sandy floor, singing loudly and enthusiastically]

Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck.

Scrub the deck and make it look...

Shiny!

I will sparkle like a wealthy woman's neck.

[Tamatoa made a slicing motion across his neck with his claw, and Moana and I simultaneously gasped and winced at the implied implication]

Just a sec!

Don't you know?!

[ Tamatoa turned to look up at the ceiling window where a huge school of fish had gathered, swimming closer and closer to the mouth of the ceiling window]

Fish are dumb, dumb, dumb!

They chase anything that glitters (beginners!)

Oh, and here they come, come, come...  

[splashing noises were suddenly heard as the gathered fish began to rain from the ceiling opening, having indeed been chasing the glittering and shimmering of the crab's carapace...]

To the brightest thing that glitters.

[and the falling fish ended up straight into Tamatoa's open maw as he stood just under the opening]

Mmm, fish dinners.

[Tamatoa smacked his mouth after swallowing]

I just love free food...

And you look like seafood. Like seafood...    

Tamatoa started slowly pulling the claw holding Moana closer to his mouth, and I uttered a sharp gasp upon realizing what was about to happen to my friend.

I tried pulling away from Peara's grasp (even as Moana started struggling against the hold on her hair), but she wouldn't let me go.

'' Peara, let go of me! '' I hissed out, but she persisted in keeping a firm hold on my legs

'' No!'' she whined out, her face pinched with emotional pain as she looked up into my brown eyes.

'' But..., '' I paused, wincing heavily as I heard Moana's terrified voice cry out '' No!''

Just moments before she was to be swallowed.

'' HEY CRAB-CAKE!

Tamatoa visibly flinched, froze and slowly turned his head to see the Demigod, Maui, standing on his carapace with a self-satisfied grin to his lips.

I uttered a deep breath of relief as Maui grasped his Magic- hook and pulled it free of its perch on top of Tamatoa's pile of treasure.

But my relief over Maui having saved Moana from being eaten was faltered somewhat when I heard Peara give a quiet worried whimper as she clutched my knees a tad more firmly.

'' I'm back,'' Maui was heard saying reverently, before kissing his own weapon.

'' He's gonna hurt my dad,'' Peara whimpered, burying her head into the soft trousers on my person.

I winced heavily at both Peara's, and Maui's words as the demigod exclaimed: '' ITS MAUI TIME!''

Tamatoa gasped in obvious unease and dread as Maui lifted the hook into the air with a triumphant grin on his lips.

Peara's father's grip on Moana's hair faltered enough for the teenager to suddenly plunge down from a great height.

THUMPPP

'' AGH! '' Moana exclaimed as she hit the sand on her rump. She was left dazed by the sudden harsh impact and was unable to move further away from the crab's massive back legs.

'' Moana get out of there!'' I hissed through my teeth, worried that she had hurt herself badly in the fall.

I was so focused on my teenaged friend that I almost missed the next words of Maui saying: '' What do you say, little buddy?! Giant hawk? ''

And the twirling of his staff before he exclaimed his trademark: '' CHEEHOO!''

A flash of blue light later Tamatoa, Peara, Moana and I were all staring in disbelief (mixed with shock) at a rather confused looking auburn fish that stayed suspended in the air for a moment before falling on top of Tamatoa's treasure...

Clinkkk

Not missing another beat, the fish-Maui jumped into the air, shouting another: '' CHEEHOO!'''

FLASH

Now there was a confused shark?!

FLASH

A green Iguana?!

FLASH

'' A reindeer of all animals?! What in the w...?! '' I gasped, unable to believe my eyes.

FLASH

A lime- green and blue beetle?!

FLASH

A pig?!

FLASH

''And now he is back into his demigod form?! Uh oh, we're all so screwed,'' I groaned out loud as I noticed the similar look of startled realization appear on Maui's face.

'' HO HO HO!''

A large, cruel grin was plastered to Tamatoa's face as he lifted his head from the safety of his carapace.

''Well, well, well!'' Tamatoa sang out as he started circling around.

[His huge eye-stocks fixed upon a cowering Maui who was holding his fish-hook within a 'death-grip'.]

Little Maui's having trouble with his look.

[Tamatoa started shaking his carapace violently as he pranced around the cave floor.

Maui lost his footing and started tumbling around on top the monster's back]

You little semi-demi-mini-god.

Ouch! What a terrible performance.

[Maui was flung off Tamatoa's carapace, but was immediately caught in the Monster's massive pincer]

Get the hook. Get it?

['' Oh sure, you pompous windbag!'' I huffed out sarcastically, with my left eye twitching at the creature's words as Tamatoa started swinging poor Maui around with his hand still holding tightly to his fish-hook]

You don't swing it like you used to, man!

SMACKKK

['' AHH! '' Maui exclaimed with pain as his back came into contact with the wall on the other side of the cave]

Yet I have to give you credit for my start,

And your tattoos on the outside.

[Tamatoa pranced ever closer to Maui, who quickly stumbled to his feet and swung his hook at his nemesis who counteracted by grasping the swung hook.

I uttered a sharp gasp as Maui was pulled into the air before being thrown straight into the cave ceiling]

For just like you I made myself a work of art.

I'll never hide! I can't, I'm too...

THUMP  

[Maui slammed face down into the sandy floor of the cave with an audible grunt]

Shiny!

Shinkkk

[The hook had slammed into the sand some distance from the demigod, and Moana (who had, at last, regained her bearings) tried running in the direction of the floored Demigod.

But Tamatoa pranced in her way, stopping the young Islander from getting close enough to assist the floored, dazed Maui.

I gritted my teeth and tightened my hold around my fishing pole]

Watch me dazzle like a diamond in the rough.

[Moana was grabbed by the hair and pulled forcefully away from helping Maui, again]

Strut my stuff, my stuff is so...

Shiny!

[Tamatoa mercilessly threw Moana down into what looked like a  constructed prison made out of whale-bones]

Send your armies but they'll never be enough,

My shell's too tough.

THUNK

[Tamatoa had struck his carapace for emphasis.

I winced heavily,  wondering whether Maui, Moana and I had indeed already lost the chance of getting out of this 'underworld' alive]

Maui- man!

[Maui grunted in obvious pain as Tamatoa's claw tip was viciously swung downwards, straight onto the sole of his foot as he tried to crawl in the direction of his Magical Fish-hook]

You can try, try, try...

[Maui was dragged backwards away from the hook]

But you can't expect a demigod...

[Moana ran forward to grasp the bars of her prison as she strained to see what happened next, but visibly cringed when Tamatoa's claw came down to hammer Maui's back with tremendous power, pushing the demigod deeper into the soft sand]

To beat a decapod (look it up).

['' Oh, Maui,'' I murmured worriedly as he managed to painstakingly crawl to his hook, only to be pulled up by the massive crab who started to brush him away from the magical object.

And much to my consternation, Tamatoa looked very much like he was playing the guitar of all things]

You will die, die, die

[OOF!''

Maui hit the ground with a 'thump' and weakly lifted his head up to stare at his nemesis who lifted the Magical hook back onto its perch on his huge carapace]

Now it's time for me to take apart...

[Tamatoa forcefully struck the wall with the back of his claw, which immediately triggered a massive shell to start falling over the wide hole of the roof. 

Which blocked out all light from the cave]

Your aching heart.

[Except for all natural light!

I gasped in wonderment as the cave was assaulted by luminescent light from all living cave-plants and creatures aside for Maui, Moana and me.

The little crab clinging to my legs was a living, breathing mass of dozens of different, luminescent lights.

And yet I couldn't focus on the magnificence of my friend's new looks for long.

Tamatoa had closed in on Maui and had grabbed his hair in a tight grip, exposing a certain tattoo that made my brows furrow]

Far from the ones who abandoned you...

[I frowned deeply, my core filled with sympathy towards Maui who looked very taken aback by Tamatoa's revealing words]  

Chasing the love of these humans

Who made you feel wanted.

[Tamatoa lifted Maui up by his hair, forcing a gasp of discomfort to escape his lips, and dangled the demigod over the prison made of bone from which Moana was staring in anger at the now brightly bioluminescent Crab- monster looming above her]

You tried to be tough...

But your armour's just not hard enough.

[I winced heavily as Maui was cruelly dragged along the wall of the cave]

Maui...

[Maui was thrown high up into the air]

Now it's time to kick your...

[Before he was kicked back into the air by Tamatoa's front leg]

Hiney!

['' ARGHHH!''

I winced as the demigod struck the hard treasure of the carapace with tremendous force]

Ever seen someone so shiny?!

[Maui weakly lifted his head, now looking very dizzy and weakened. He tried his hardest to crawl forwards towards the Magical Fish-hook at the centre of Tamatoa's massive carapace]

Soak it in 'cause it's the last you'll ever see

[but Tamatoa started spinning around in a circle, and his violent motion became too much for the weakened demigod who started slipping down the carapace]

C'est la vie, mon ami

I'm so... Shiny

Now I eat you, so prepare your final plea.

[The dance circling of the Monster finally fully dislodged Maui, who yelped loudly as he violently flew off the creature's back, only to strike the solid ground once more]

Just for me.

You'll never be quite as...

Shiny!

[I stared in absolute horror and dread as Tamatoa  menacingly approached Maui, claws snapping together and his bioluminescent eyes holding a feral gleam in them]

You wish you were nice and...

Shiny!

I could only gape in helpless horror as Tamatoa snatched my friend up by the foot and tossed Maui into his open mouth.

Maui was quick enough to grab hold of the closing maw, but it was clear that his strength was waning. He wouldn't hold for long.

He uttered a strained grunt, and I could already see his arms caving in at the pressure the crab was putting into crushing the demigod in his teeth.

''HEY! I've got something shiny for you.''

End of Chapter 10

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