Fellowship & Fairydust

“So, what exactly can we expect to face down in the realm of the monsters?” Scrooge was asking as he kept showing how fit he was for his age. 

“Giant bats, monster fish, carnivorous plants,” Moana began to list off. “And other creatures that would haunt your dreams for years.” 

Shaking his head, my cousin continued to climb up. “Let me be clear about something. The only monsters that exist are people who get on my nerves, and kaiju. I have not seen any kaiju since coming here and I do not expect to see any.” 

“What’s a kaiju?” Moana asked. 

“Giant monsters from where we’re from,” I explained. “Some are so big they can demolish mountains and cross islands in a few steps.” My words must’ve spooked her because she let out a gasp. Looking up, I lost my words as I saw a crater on the side of the mountain, like something heavy had been thrown into the side of it. There were also scorch marks around the impact like someone had thrown firecrackers at the mountain. “What happened here?”

“A battle,” Jason said before looking up. “Let’s go.”
Once we got to the top, I noticed my cousin was looking at something on the ground, and it made me gasp when I saw it. A stone face carved into the top made me feel like it was trying to warn us away from this place. I got goosebumps just being around that thing. As soon as Hina got up with us, she did a little chant before jumping onto the nose. As the mouth opened, I found myself disliking the entrance even more. But there was still that pull within me. 

“Let me go first.” The goddess told before leaping into the hole. Jason then followed her, as did Moana. I tried to get myself to follow, but that was a deep hole, and the mystical purple glow was…

“Gah!” I gasped as I was pushed forward. “Scrooge!”
I swear the elder duck was smiling before he jumped in after me. He let out a cry as he did so, though I couldn’t tell what. It sounded a lot like “Geranium!” As soon as he was in, the entrance closed, sealing us into darkness except for the purple glow below us. 

As we fell, Hina held her hands up, and I felt gravity’s effect lessen on me. When I hit the water, it felt the same as if I had jumped into an air-pool. All around were rings of purple lights intertwining with each other and making it seem like we were falling through a portal of some sort. It was quite beautiful to see, and I could feel magical energy flowing all around me as I fell through the water.

We exited out through another pool serving as the sky, but a glance upwards made me see the ocean from underneath. We were under the sea?! No time to worry about that now. I tried to grab a vine but I missed and thought I was going to crash against the ground. However, someone grabbed me from behind and kept me from falling flat on my face. I saw Scrooge grab a vine with his cane, and after spinning three times did an impressive flip and nailed a perfect landing. 

“It’s okay. I’ve got you.” Moana said as she helped me up. “You don’t want to fall into a monster’s mouth down here.”
“Did you?” I asked. 

“Almost,” She said after a moment, in a tone that told me not to ask any more about it.

“Maui!” Hina gasped, dropping Jason on top of Scrooge. Turning, I saw her run towards a massive person covered with tattoos dressed in a skirt made of leaves. 

My jaw dropped at the sight. “That’s Maui? He’s huge!” 

“What are those markings on him?” Jason asked. 

“Tattoos, lad.” The old duck told him. 

“What? Those things were outlawed two decades ago.” 

“This isn’t your world.” In that last part, Scrooge spoke while using his hat to cover it up. Good thinking. 

A groan from the big guy drew our attention back to him. “Maui?” The moon goddess asked while he opened his eyes. Upon seeing her, he let out a scream that I didn’t think someone of his build was capable of. “Don’t move so much, you big–”

“Maui, what happened? What did this to you?” Moana asked him.

“What are you doing here?” The demigod asked her before looking at us. “And who are they?”

“I brought them here, Maui. To look for you.” The annoyed goddess told her husband.  

Looking at her, he said, “Hina, I don’t need help protecting mortals.”

“Yet a monster defeated you. Again.” 

“It wasn’t… it was a big monster. Huge. Teeth made of obsidian, and eyes like lava.” 

“Hold up,” Jason said. “You changed your response. It wasn’t a monster that beat you, was it?” 

“Look, kid–”
“Jason.” 

“Whatever. I’m a shapeshifting demigod hero. I don’t get beaten by anything other than monsters. Which is why I’m here in Lalotai. I’m going to hunt that monster down, and show him why I’m–”
“Him?” The chief folded her arms at that. 

“Yeah, there are male monsters. It’s not like I can be beaten by a mortal.” 

“You were beaten by a mortal?” Hina asked her husband. 

Looking at Moana, I asked, “Is that even possible?”

“No. At least, not until now.” Was her answer.

Approaching him, Scrooge asked, “This not-mortal. Did he have a Keyblade perchance?” 

“What?” 

“Show him, Jason,” Scrooge said.

Folding his arms, my cousin shook his head in agitation before holding his hand out. As soon as the Born Fighter came to his hand, the demigod let out a gasp and tried to back off until he was near his giant hook. Grabbing it, he pointed the weapon at my cousin. “You’re with him! That non-mortal who attacked me and forced his way down to Lalotai.”

Dread filled me as I looked at him. “This non-mortal. Did he have red hair? Dark clothes?” 

“That’s him,” Maui said before he realized what he admitted, and let out a curse underneath his breath.

Jason frowned at that. “Mortem.” Before anyone could stop him, he ran off into the dark foreboding realm of Lalotai. 

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