#moanatla

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Long ago,

There was a time where there were only the sea and sky, sun and moon. But then, something amazing happened. An island emerged.

But it was not just any island, it was the mother island, Te Fiti. Who brought about life over the world (well ocean), and from this, humanity emerged.

Alongside the precious gift of life also came the gift to manipulate one of the four elements of the natural world: water, earth, fire, air. However, only a precious few were gifted with this ability.

Life itself, as well as a human’s connection to their natural element lied within her heart.

The world flourished, and people started voyaging, exploring the vast seas, discovering new islands, building communities on ones they called home.

Then came the emergence of demigods, who could not only manipulate one of the four elements that humans can, but also command great power of their own, and are gifted with a long life. They are the bridge between the physical and spirit world.

With great power comes great responsibility; the duty to ensure that the world remains in balance. There are only a few demigods in existence.

For thousands of years, the world remained in balance.

Until one demigod went astray.

His name was Maui. A demigod who is said to be able control the air around him, as well as shapeshift into any creature that you can imagine using his magical fish hook. Who’d once given a lot to humanity.

And, was also a trickster.

There were many that sought the heart, and he was no exception.

He’d stolen it from the mother island.

But, a terrible darkness started to bloom. Corrupting spirits, and slowly draining the very essence of life as it spread across the sea, hitting island after island.

Maui vanished. His hook and the heart both lost to the sea.

Once, where many had the affinity to manipulate one of the four elements became fewer and fewer, it’s connection weakening slowly over the years, until today, where only a few remain.

But there is still hope to make things right.

For someone will journey out there to locate him, and together, they will travel the seas to return the heart back to it’s rightful owner, and restore balance to the world.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Little waves of foam gently crash against the quartz sand, pushing, and retreating in its own rhythm. The sun’s rays reflecting across the body of the teal-blue ocean.

The wind gently blowing in from across the sea, and caressing the palm leaves of some coconut trees, swaying softly, yet keeping the beach below untouched.

A woman, advanced in her years, yet still holding a bit of a youthful spirit, stands on the beach with a clear view of the vast ocean, observing it with a sense of familiarity and peace. In her arms is a baby girl who is no older than a year, not quite old enough to walk on her own.

The day remains young, yet radiant.

The baby girl is currently looking out to the sea, pointing and cooing to it, as if saying how beautiful it looked, how it never seems to end the farther one looked.

As if understanding her granddaughter’s curiosity, she took a few more steps towards the water, close enough for the water to touch against her feet, but not submerge it, so that her precious little one can get a better view of the vast body of water.

Just like her elder counterpart, she holds a curiosity and awe towards the ocean. Day-by-day developing a love for it.

Encouraged by her grandmother, she holds a wide-eyed inquisitive gaze towards it, memorized by its beauty.

The ocean had always been an old friend of hers; beautiful, large, vast, and a constant companion.

(it can also be deadly and unforgiving if one’s not careful.)

Perhaps it can also be the same for her granddaughter, as she grows up.

The baby girl’s feet finally touch the ocean by the time she’s three.

When no one’s looking, the ocean, holding a sentience of its own, finally rises out in a small, smooth crest, as if saying “hello.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In spite of the tension with her parents with regards to her love for the sea, she still loves them all the same.

However, her bond with her grandmother was something…unique, special.

Unlike her parents, who’d discourage her from running to the sea…

Today, was one of the days that she managed to sneak off away from the village without her parents noticing.

(Or, she hopes that she did.)

Along the path that she ran, was a clearing that led to the beach. Once there, she’d noticed that she was not alone this time.

A bit farther off, where the ocean and the sand met, was her grandmother, dancing in rhythm near the vast body of water, moving in and out as the water pushed and retreated. Her arms moving gracefully in spite of her approaching in age.

This, itself was not new to Moana, as she had seen her grandmother dancing by the ocean before, and would even join her, clumsily trying to copy her movements.

(These, are just one of the many moments that she’d always cherish when spending time with her grandmother.)

But this looked different.

She could just not place where it was though.

Normally, when she’d find her grandmother at the beach, dancing near the ocean, she’d normally stop when she’d noticed Moana having arrived, and would smile mischievously, throwing a knowing look her way. Moana usually took this as an invitation to join her.

However, this time, it does not appear that her grandmother is aware of her arrival. Or, if she is, has not made any indication of such.

That’s weird.

Wanting to get a better look, she’d sought out a tree to hide behind its bark and low-hanging leaves. Curiosity getting the better of her, Moana observed her a bit more intently.

It appears that the ocean itself had a bit of a glow to it. Almost a white to its already bright, blue, clear surface.

But, that’s not the only oddity.

As her grandmother continued to dance, Moana noticed that little bobs of water appear to be moving in sync to the way that she moved, as if…

As if she were literally “pulling” the water, like a rope, and commanding it to her will.

(The thing is, from afar, she would have not noticed any of this had she’d not been paying attention, for the bobs of water that she saw were not really flashy or grand, but subtle, as of its one with the waves itself.)

What?

Moana blinked a few times, to see if she was simply seeing things.

Nope, the subtle glow to the ocean and the water blobs moving in time to her grandmother’s movements were still there.

Upon realizing this, she can’t help but think: “What exactly is grandma doing?”

The scene before her was both bizarre…yet also beautiful.

The water seemingly moving in time with her.

Moana, captivated by it all, continued to observe her grandmother for a bit more.

When once again, she’d felt that ‘tug’ in her heart from the ocean, this time a lot stronger and more persistent than she remembers. She retreated from behind her hiding spot, and joined her grandmother’s side once more, trying to copy her exact movements.

Except…

Nothing was happening.

The water did not move in time to her movements as it did her grandmother.

She tried the same thing a few more times with similar results.

Why wasn’t this working?

She cried out in frustration of it all.

Which was enough to bring her grandmother out of whatever spell she’d been seemingly under.

Once again, she looked at Moana with the same, mischievous, affectionate, and knowing gaze.

“Grandma.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Like I said, more coming soon. Oh, and a pretty huge thank @zabchan for helping hammer out some things about the AU, and overall for putting with me when I was just lore dumping about this thing. They are pretty awesome.

Oh, and of course @cartoonjessie for putting this (ATLA April fools day) event together. This was a lot of fun.

The AU is currently still being developed, so some things might get changed around.

(oh, and of course, I did leave the AU open to potentially expand kind of into like a sequel type thing. But I'm not quite there yet.)

Lets see how far I can go to take this AU.