Fellowship & Fairydust

Panting while Hina’s moonlight healed us, Clair walked over to the person who helped stop the Heartless. Now that our lives weren’t in danger it was easy to get a better look, and I was shocked to see she was most likely a year or two older than I was. “Thank you for your help,” My cousin told her. “We really appreciate it.” 

“Aye, lass. That was very brave of you. I see you’re quite the fighter.” Our chauffeur added.
“Well, as Chief of Motunui, I have to keep my people safe from things like those monsters,” She said as she looked at us. “Who are you, and where are you from?”

“I’m Scrooge McDuck, and these two are Clair Fay and Jason Norman.” The old duck answered her. “We’re from a faraway island, so we didn’t know what to expect here.”

“I guess that makes sense.” The way she looked at me made me feel uncomfortable in some way. I don’t know how to explain it, but her expression made me feel like she was looking at something she couldn’t make sense of. “I haven’t seen markings like the ones on your clothes before, and he’s so pale I thought he was an albino.”
That made me frown. “Excuse me? Nothing’s wrong with my–” Before I could say anything else Clair covered my mouth with her hand. 

Blinking at that, the girl asked, “What was he talking about?”

“Don’t mind him. He’s an idiot.” Hina said.

“That I agree wholeheartedly with.” Scrooge nodded. 

I would’ve pulverized him there and then, regardless of his age, except the moon goddess stepped in. “I am glad to finally meet you, Moana of Motunui.” So that was the name of the girl. Now introductions were out of the way.

“How did you know my name?” She asked. 

“One does not restore the Heart of Te Fiti without gaining the attention of the gods. I’m surprised the likes of Fe’e or Kanaloa have not come to you.” 

I had no idea who those were supposed to be, but it sounded like other gods. Wait. More than one god? What kind of world was this? Were the people this primitive to have multiple deities? 

“So, Hina. You said we needed Moana to help you. Why is that?” My cousin asked, while I noticed that Moana’s eyes widened at the named Hina. Guess she was familiar with this goddess. A part of me still did not want to believe all this, but I had nearly been cooked alive and she saved me. I was willing to put my disbelief on hold. For now. 

“Well, because she was the last person to see my husband.” 

The chief gasped at that. “Husband? Who?”

“Oh, you might know him as a changeling, shapeshifter, demigod of the wind and sea, and hero to humanity.” 

“You mean him? He’s your husband?” With a sigh, she explained, “I haven’t seen Maui since we restored the Heart of Te Fiti. He flew off not long afterward.” 

The moon goddess rolled her eyes at that. “Of course he did.” 

“So, will you help us find him?” Clair asked Moana. “We would really appreciate it if you did.”  

A sad expression appeared on her face. “I would, but I’ve got my problems to worry about. My parents disappeared not long ago, and afterward, these monsters have been showing up on Motunui. I have to find them first.” 

“They’re called the Heartless,” I said. 

“The Heartless?”

“They live up to their name,” Clair said. “They’re a danger to every being in existence, and unless they are stopped they’ll make your people suffer a fate worse than death.” 

The young chief’s eyes widened at that. “Oh no.”

“Consider that an incentive to help us,” Hina said. “If you do, I will do all in my power to protect your people, and to help you find your parents.” 

“Thank you, Hina. I will help you find Maui.” 

“Great. So let’s get going.” I said as I took a step down the beach.

“Uh, wrong way. The boats are down by the lagoon.” 

“Wait. Boats?” 

 

***

 

“These are boats?” I asked when I saw what Moana planned for us to sail on. “They’re little more than rafts.” My comment earned me another whack on the head from the stingy old duck. 

The moon goddess gave me a look. “Oh, these vessels are seaworthy,” Hina told me. “I’ve spent countless nights watching over the people as they sailed across the sea on these.” 

After giving me a strange look, Moana got on one that had a spiral pattern on the sail. The way she touched it made me think of how a soldier would touch a trusted weapon or vehicle. But that did not change the fact that they were incredibly primitive. I mean, working by hand? Sailing on the ocean? Ships hadn’t done that for years on Harthyn. 

They flew in the air now.

Getting on one of the boats, the elder duck tapped the side with his cane. “Oh, these are excellent crafts for sailing. I’ve had to make do with less than adequate in my time. Like this one year, I was searching for the legendary…” 

“Save the story for later,” I said. “Let’s just go find Hina’s squeeze and get this over with.” 

I then felt a pair of eyes burrowing into me. “Take heed, Jason Norman. It is not wise for a mortal to offend a goddess.” 

Humphing, I turned to make a retort when something hit me in the head. With a grunt, I looked around to find a conch seashell lying on the beach. Picking it up, I looked at the others with what felt like flames in my eyes. “Who threw this?” 

“Don’t look at me.” Clair held up her hands while the others denied any responsibility as well. With a frown, I threw it into the ocean and turned to get on a boat. However, something hard hit me again! Turning with a growl, I found the same seashell lying in the sand. 

“What in Gri’s name is going on?” I asked as I picked it up and threw it back at the water when the craziest thing happened. A small wave of water reared up out of the still surface and grabbed the seashell like a hand. Before I had time to say or do anything it threw the conch shell back at me, hitting me in the face and knocking me on my back. “What is going on?” 

My cousin just shrugged while the old duck laughed his head off like I was on some sitcom. Frowning, I moved to grab the seashell to throw at Scrooge. However, the ocean grabbed it first and pulled back, holding it up like it was taunting me. Growling, I ran over to grab the seashell, but it just kept pulling back, dividing the water like it was creating a path for me. 

Oh, for Gri’s sake. I ran down the path, trying to get the seashell back so I could throw it at the old duck. However, there was a swirling sound behind me, and when I turned I saw my path had been cut off and I was standing in the only dry spot with the water surface ten feet above me. “Oh no.” I realized too late what was going to happen. 

The water came crashing down on me, and I had to hold my breath to keep myself from drowning. The ocean spun around me, threatening to make me lose my lunch and my air. Then, it rushed by me so fast I felt like a torpedo in the water, and was sure I was going to crash against some rocks. What happened instead was I was launched out of the water screaming, I’m not ashamed to admit it because that was freaky, and crashed on the deck of one of the boats. The seashell then crashed on my head. “Oh, come on!” I yelled at the ocean, only to get a squirt of water to my face. 

Laughter came from the direction of Scrooge, and I turned to see him using his cane for support at this ordeal. “Oh, that was the best thing I have seen since I became your chaperone. Bless me bagpipes, I’d have paid good money to see that.” The laughing went one for a little bit while all I could do was sit there and take it. I didn’t dare grab the seashell in case the living ocean grabbed it again. I didn’t want to repeat that ordeal.

While I got up, Clair turned to Moana. “What just happened?”

“The ocean is a friend of mine,” She said with a smirk while giving a wave of water a high five, furthering my agitation. “It helped me when I went on my first adventure, and it still helps me now.”

Rolling my eyes, I said, “The ocean isn’t anyone’s friend. It’s an inanimate object, just a large body of water that—” I was cut off as the ocean raised its wave hand thing up and slammed it down on me. Growling, I turned to the ocean. “Quit it!” Great. Now I was arguing with water like a crazy guy. 

“I did warn you.” The moon goddess said. “I too am on good terms with the ocean.” 

After a few more laughs, Scrooge regained his composure. “Now, then. Shall we set sail?” 

“Yes,” Hina said as we all got off the boats and pushed them into the ocean. Once they were in deep enough we all climbed back on and looked forward. The ocean seemed to carry us to the edge of the reef where we sailed over it. As I looked towards the horizon I couldn’t help but wonder how many worlds could see so many stars in the sky. Why was I wondering that? I had to get back home fast. 

Clair, who was on the same boat Scrooge and I were on, looked over at Hina. “So how do we find your husband?”
The moon goddess pointed at a cluster of stars in the distance. “See that group of stars? They’re called Maui’s Fishhook. That’s how we find him. They always move to show which direction he lies in.” Her words made me look, and I saw they formed a constellation of a giant hook. Those stars did not exist on Harthyn.

“All right, everyone. Pull the sheet.” Moana told us, though only the elder duck made any movement on our boat. Looking at my cousin and me, she asked, “Do you two know how to sail?” 

“Will you be mad if we say we don’t?” Clair asked. 

With a chuckle, the old duck looked over at us. “Oh, there’s nothing to it once you’ve mastered the basics. Consider this your lessons in Sailing 101.”

“Wayfinding 101,” The chief corrected him. “First thing to remember is that it’s about knowing where you’re going by knowing where you’ve been.”

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