Journey of Discovery Chapter 23 (A Kingdom Hearts Story)

Journey of Discovery Chapter 23 (A Kingdom Hearts Story)

“Who?” I asked. 

Both eyes looked at me at that. “Tamatoa. The greatest crab who ever lived. Collector of all things shiny and valuable. That’s me.” Eyes narrowing, his other claw reached for my medallion. “Interesting piece you have there.” 

“Claws off,” I said while firing a dark fireball at the crab’s eye. With a growl, the monster dropped us while he rubbed the spot where I hit him. Realizing this was my chance, I leaped up onto the back of the monster, earning a cry of surprise from the duck that was hiding in the gold. With a swing of my Keyblade as it materialized in my hand, I knocked the miser away and scanned the crab’s back for whatever it was that brought me here. 

Ducking from a swing of the claws, I then saw something just in front of me that seemed to be the source of the light. Grabbing it, I leaped off the back of the crab while I stole a look at what I just took. Hmmm. A locket, shaped like a heart. I almost threw it away when I remembered it had a light similar to the princess of Agrabah’s heart. This is connected to the hearts of light. I know it. 

Opening a Corridor of Darkness, I stepped into it, leaving the idiots to their fate.

 

***

 

JASON’S POV

Not again! I was beating Mortem and he turns and runs again, leaving me with the old duck and the giant… whatever that thing was. Tamatoa, that’s what it said its name was. And I could tell the theft of some of his treasure is making him incredibly angry. “Thieves! Robbers! You dare to rob me of my treasure?!” 

“Hey, we’re not with that guy! We’re trying to stop him!” I said while Scrooge picked himself up from where he was. 

“And you failed. Now you shall feel my wrath, thieves!” With that, Tamatoa hit Scrooge so hard he knocked the old duck against the wall, and I wasn’t sure if he was fit enough to take a blow like that. Frowning, I charged forward at the giant monster, or shrimpy as he was nowhere near as big as the kaiju I’ve seen. Still, I could tell this was going to be a tough fight. 

As he came running towards me with speed I didn’t anticipate, I tried to roll under him and attack one of his legs. He leaped back and hit me with one of his claws. Frowning, I watched as Tamatoa smiled while walking towards me, lifting a claw to attack me again. Holding up my Keyblade, I attempted to block him but ended up getting forced back again. 

Yelling in frustration, I ran forward and struck one of his claws with my Keyblade, but that also failed as he simply grabbed it and threw me against the wall again. Groaning, I wasn’t sure how much more I could take of this. I was feeling lightheaded and took that as a sign that I was losing too much blood. No. I won’t let fear take me. I didn’t come here just to get killed by a stupid monster and some cuts from a fight. 

Forcing myself back up, I grunted as Tamatoa grabbed me with his claw and lifted me. “Now you see what happens to those who try to steal my treasure.” He chuckled as he opened his mouth. Realizing what he was planning, I tried to jab my Keyblade into the crab’s claw but my weapon just bounced off him. No. My eyes widened with horror as that mouth got closer and closer…

“Hey!”

 

***

 

CLAIR’S POV

I had never seen a monster like that one that was trying to eat my cousin, and I had been surprised that Moana called out to it. “Tamatoa! Remember me? The mortal who tricked you before?” 

“You.” Tossing Jason to where Scrooge was, the monster advanced at us. “I can never forget you. You made me think a barnacle was the Heart of Te Fiti and then left me lying on my back while you escaped. Do you have any idea how hard it is for a crab to get back on his feet?” 

“You had that coming,” Maui said while he held his hook up, which had purple glyphs appear all along with it. “And guess who can use his hook again?” 

“I’ll be sure to add it to my collection once I pry it from your hands again.” The crab creature threatened as he advanced with speed I didn’t think was possible. I knew kaiju could move fast, but with all that weight on his back, he should’ve been slowed by it. Grabbing me, Maui dove to the right while Hina and Moana dove to the left. 

The monster turned to look at the chief and the goddess, but the demigod wouldn’t have it. “Hey, crabcake! How about I rip off another of your legs?” That succeeded in getting his attention as the crab turned to us and raised one of his claws. Raising his hook, Maui swung it at our opponent, parrying it and then releasing a wave of energy that knocked several of us back. “Kid, I hope you’re good in a fight.” 

“Not really,” I admitted. I had only just gotten the hang of a few spells, and given that we were in some sort of underworld with the ocean above us, I don’t think they were going to be much use. 

“Then you’d better learn fast.” The demigod told me as Tamatoa swung another of his claws at us. Moving his hook in a way that I thought was supposed to be an attack, I gasped when I saw Maui change into a giant hawk. Flying up to the crab, Maui raked his eyes with those talons. Roaring in pain, the monster took a few steps back while I charged forward and moved underneath him. Gri, I hope this works. 

Fire,” I said, casting the spell up at the crab’s soft underside. At least I hope the underside was soft. A cry of pain and a large jump told me my answer was yes. Running so I wouldn’t get crushed by the weight of the monster as he came back down, I watched as Maui changed back into a man and brought his hook down on the monster’s back. Tamatoa turned to face him, snarling as he did. 

As I cast another Fire spell, I found myself wondering about what had happened with Jason’s fight. My magic and Maui’s attacks hit, but his physical attacks didn’t seem to make a dent. How does that work? The demigod’s been using physical attacks… unless… Maui’s attacks are more magical than physical. Tamatoa must be impervious to physical blows! But what could I do? I don’t think enough fire spells were going to be enough to stop him.

Looking over to where Moana and Hina were looking over Scrooge and Jason, seeing him cut up and beaten like that… something changed inside of me. He had been there as long as I could remember, protecting me from bullies. I couldn’t believe there was someone he couldn’t beat, and the thought that this monster had been close to devouring him when we got to his cave… it was something I wasn’t going to forgive. 

“Enough,” Tamatoa said as he hit the side of his cave, causing it to go dark until he lit up with a blue body with pink markings on his head. That almost made him more terrifying in a way while he grabbed Maui and threw him towards me, knocking both of us back before I could react. 

As he advanced closer, Maui got off and leaped at him with a mighty cry that sounded like, “Cheeehooo!” As he did, he hit the crab on the back, scattering coins and unleashing another wave. That gold had to be a source of Tamatoa’s strength, but maybe it could also be a weakness. While I fired a couple of fire spells, the crab turned its attention to me. Knocking the demigod aside, he grabbed me and lifted me into the air just as I had seen him do with Jason. 

“Nothing like a snack to give you a boost.” The monster said as he released me, resulting in me falling towards that mouth. No. Jason said I would have to stand up for myself someday, and that day was today. Gathering all my focus I prepared to fire one last fire spell. However, as I put my hand forward to cast the spell, something else happened. 

A surge of energy and bright light from my hand blasted the crab back while I went flying backward. As I crashed and slid down the wall, I realized I was now holding on to something. As I used the light of the glowing algae to see, I gasped as I realized I was now holding a Keyblade of my own! “Gri’s beak!” I’m sorry to say this made me take the name of my deity in vain, but I was shocked. The blade was made of intertwining colors like the rainbow forming an infinity sign while a sun, moon, and three stars formed the teeth. The hilt was made of white and black arms that almost seemed to symbolize balance while a small crystal orb was connected at the end. 

“What the perdition?” Jason asked from where he was. I don’t blame him because this was mind-blowing. I HAD A KEYBLADE! And it was so beautiful to look at. Hey, it’s the colors. They were much more beautiful than that horrible monster. 

“Oh, that will look lovely with my collection.” The monster said as he reached for it, but it seemed to renew my energy and magic at the same time. Leaping over Tamatoa’s claw, which surprised me because I had never pulled off that kind of move before, I ran to the other side and looked back at him. 

Holding my Keyblade, Guiding Light, up, I told the beast, “You don’t choose a Keyblade. It chooses you. Don’t ask how I know that.” Holding it up, I felt another spell come to me. “Thunder!” 

As I cast the spell, I saw a bolt of lightning come down from what looked like the roof of the cave towards my target. As the electricity hit the monster, he roared in pain from the attack while I remembered something important from science class: gold was an excellent conductor of electricity. Smiling, I cast the spell a few more times while the demigod attacked with his hook. 

After another minute or two, Tamatoa staggered as he struggled to stay on his feet, giving the impression that he had too much to drink. While I held my new weapon up, Maui lowered it for me while shaking his head. With a groan, Tamatoa’s eyes rolled up while he fell forward, crashing against the ground with enough force to rival a small tremor. I almost fell forward, but the demigod caught me. “Easy, kid.” 

“That… that was…” looking up at Maui I couldn’t help but smile. “Awesome.” 

“You’re certainly something else,” He said while we went to check on our friends. Scrooge was rubbing his head while Jason’s cuts had scabbed over thanks to Hina’s powers. The goddess, however, looked drained. 

Looking at the moon goddess, I asked, “Are you okay?”

“I will be, once the moon rises.” She said while looking at me.

“We managed to clean their wounds.” Moana said, “But I don’t think it would be wise to stay in Lalotai any longer than we need to.” 

Nodding, Maui gave the order. “Let’s move it.” 

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