It has been seven days since the great foreign ship embarked on the last leg of its long voyage, with in tis board the leader of the Motunui tribe, Moana, considered as official ambassador for the relations of the tribes of the archipelago with the foreigners of the Kingdom of Corona, but also as a representative of the archipelago for the discovery of this new island bearing the ominous name of Skull Island. At the beginning of the trip, Moana had felt very lonely, isolated, in the midst of all these foreign men, some of whom were looking at her with rather unhealthy attention. Captain Wagner, although polite in appearance, was rather distant and preferred to stay away from his men. Fortunately, Flynn and Princess Rapunzel were there, and had shown themselves as true allies, even friends, to Motunui's young chef, which she greatly appreciated. Rapunzel had been able to tell her story to Moana, when she still possessed golden hair of infinite length and possessing the healing powers of a magic flower born from a tear of sun fallen on earth. Moana had been fascinated by this story, and asked what had caused the princess to cut her hair and give up that power. Rapunzel answered her a very simple thing: to avoid that malicious people would want to use her, as was the case with the mother Gothel. Sometimes such powers, however beautiful and beneficial, should never have fallen into the hands of mortals, which Moana had expressed in full understanding of her point of view.

Night had fallen on the immensity of the ocean, and the ship continued to slide, very slowly, on the dark blue tablecloth, as the gentle breeze caressed the sails. Too nervous to sleep, Moana had come to get a little air and stood leaning on the rail at the front of the ship, alone, and thoughtfully contemplated the surface of the water splitting against the hull of the ship. A quiet silence reigned over this usually noisy ship, teeming with sailors, and the princess of the islands enjoyed the silence with each passing second. As she remained thoughtful, Moana saw, with some surprise, a mound of water rising alone, as if she had a life of her own, and ascended to her. Moana smiled. Apparently, the ocean had never forgotten her and continued to watch over her. Moana reached out her hand and touched the soft water with her fingertips.

_ "My dear friend ...." says Moana "... Do you think I'm making the right choice?"

The ocean having not voice to talk, contented itself with a silence that Moana understood. But the ocean also touched her heart, telling her that she had to trust herself and her own decisions. She was Moana de Motunui, the chosen one of the ocean and savior of the archipelago. As always, Moana could count on the precious support of the ocean and smiled at him.

_ "I must save Maui, but at the same time .... I do not know why, but I feel that something is on this island .... Something old .... And dangerous ... I feel it, but on one side .... I know I have to go."

The ocean nodded, but would not seek to distract the princess from her own path. But suddenly, the ocean returned to its normal state as soon as possible, and Moana quickly guessed why. Behind her, footsteps were heard on the wood of the boat and approaching. One of the ship's sailors, on guard duty for the night, came towards her, looking friendly. He was very young, still a teenager, with blue eyes and short, light brown hair and a little cap on the head. Moana had already seen him several times. It was Tim, the moss of the ship. He was one of the few sailors to having greet Moana with a smile aboard the ship and one of the few who look really friendly. Moana had taken a liking to him.

_"Are you speaking alone?" he asked a little timidly coming to lean on the rail, right next to her. Moana pretended nothing.

_"Somehow .... Speaking alone sometimes helps me to take stock of things, and especially about myself." it was the first thing that came to her mind, even if there was truth in his sentence. Tim seemed to understand and nodded, watching the ocean with a dreamy gaze.

_"I've always loved the ocean and the stories that are told about it ... Do you think these legends can be real? That the ocean can be governed by forces that go beyond common mortals?"

Moana was delighted and surprised by the young sailor's curiosity about the ocean legends and smiled. She who had seen so much that no other had seen before probably, she was the best placed to know the answer. She gently patted Tim's shoulder.

_"For my part, I believe it, but it's up to you to make your own opinion, Tim. I'm sure that this world, all over its surface, has been offered to us by forces much powerful and ancient than anything we can imagine, and it's up to us to respect its laws in order to preserve it." She said with her own conviction. Tim smiled and looked at Moana, who was staring at the ocean. He looked at her ... her long black hair and wavy in the light breeze of the evening .... her beautiful face and her eyes .... When she turned her gaze to him, he made as if nothing had happened and almost blushes. Moana gave a little non-mocking laugh and patted his hand.

_ "Tim, stop dreaming and get back to work." suddenly intervened the less friendly voice of another sailor. Tim immediately obeyed and returned to his post, giving one last friendly glance to Moana before leaving. The other sailor almost shoved Tim forward faster, which inwardly revolted Moana, but what could she do? She had no authority over this foreign ship. Someone else came to the young woman to keep her company. It was the young princess Rapunzel, wrapped in a large silk shawl to protect herself a little from the fresh air of the sea.

_ "Poor Tim ..." says the princess of Corona "... He has been in the Royal Navy for only eight months and despite his willingness to work and do well, the other sailors continue to belittle him constantly."

_ "Why show so much cruelty to him? He is the most helpful sailor of this ship." Moana asked. Rapunzel made her understand that it was not that simple and revealed something about the young moss's past.

_"Tim's father is infamous in the Royal Navy of Corona. He was a very experienced captain, but whose desire to be well seen by the king was such that one day, during a very dangerous expedition, Tim's father did not hesitate to sacrifice all his crew and his ship in order to survive and bring back the coveted loot. Fifty sailors lost their lives due to the fault of one. In the eyes of others, Tim is and will remain the son of him who sacrificed his companions for glory."

Moana had listened, feeling very sorry for Tim. She looked over her shoulder, seeing Tim being entrusted with a broom and cleaning the back of the ship, under the almost contemptuous gaze of the other sailor.

_ "But it's not because his father was so that Tim will be like that too." Moana insisted.

_ "Unfortunately, although I am the princess, as far as the sailors are concerned, it is Captain Wagner who has the last word, and he does not seem to share your opinion. I must also say that Tim's father was a great opponent of Wagner." Rapunzel said. While the young women were chatting, they were suddenly interrupted by the sudden and curious arrival of a thick sheet of mist dripping on the ocean and engulfing the ship in minutes. The view was considerably reduced and the atmosphere became heavier and more disturbing. Moana and Rapunzel looked around her, showing the same puzzled but troubled face.

_ "This haze .... What's going on?" Rapunzel asked.

_"I don't know." Moana replied. During her first quest across the ocean, she had never seen such a phenomenon before. The anxiety was even greater for the two young women when the haze showed the slashed shapes of large black rocks protruding from the ocean, like giant teeth of rock. One of the rocks appeared on the right side of the ship, just in front of the two women, and its shape made them shudder with anguish. An immense skull-like form of roaring monkey skull, and whose furious wind seemed to make it express a powerful roar. Once again, Moana felt in her heart that strange expression she could not explain, that fear and attraction to the unknown.

the ship's bell rang, waking the sailors from their sleep, and all climbed onto the upper deck, under the orders of their superior, demanding that they do so as soon as possible. Still half-awed by the awakening awakening, Wagner arrived on the bridge, his hat on his head, accompanied by Flynn, to see the current situation and see the sailors running in all directions in order to prepare. In front of the ship, there appeared other large black rocks emerging from the fog and like a labyrinth of stone teeth was about to engulf the ship in its foggy veil.

_ "Tuck the sails! Prepare yourself for any shocks, gentlemen!" the captain shouted with authority, trying to hide his possible concern. Meanwhile, Flynn had joined Rapunzel and Moana at the front of the ship, and all three were watching with amazement and terror, the huge, dark form of the fog appearing closer and closer ..... a land ..... an island! The wind was getting stronger, as well as the rain and the presence of threatening rocks on the water, as if a real natural barrier was being created to prevent the ship from continuing. The right side of the ship blasted a rock, tearing a small piece of wood to the bow but insufficient to capsize. Splashing through the powerful waves crashing into the ship, Moana brushed off her wet hair and while clinging to a rope, continued gazing at that huge island that had just popped up in front of them like a giant ghost on the ocean. The lightning exploding in the black sky showed the immense shadow of the island, making it even more intimidating.

_ "Skull Island ...." moaned Moana, staring at her, a shudder of fear running down her back. It seemed to her, or maybe in her imagination, to hear a bestial roar among the rumblings of thunder... _ "So, it really exists ...." Rapunzel said, coming to her side, also fascinated and intimidated by this unknown and imposing island not on any known map. Flynn could not say anything, so much was he subjugated by what he saw. On the upper deck, Wagner was also looking, a smile on his lips.

_ "I finally found you .... my hidden treasure." he murmured to himself, his eyes shining with the idea of the riches he could find on this new island.

_"BEWARE!" screamed Tim the moss suddenly, bringing everyone back to reality, but too late. A wave, much larger and more powerful, hit the ship on the side, pushing it towards a big rock which it hit hard at the level of the bow. Part of the bow of the ship was torn off and fell apart. With the shock, some sailors fell into the water. Moana too, was thrown overboard by the shock and under the horrified eyes of Rapunzel and Flynn, disappeared in the black and agitated waters.

_ "MOANA!" shouted Rapunzel and Flynn. Under the water and stunned by the shock, Moana struggled, blinded and lost in the dark water of the ocean. Unable to breathe and rise to the surface, she felt her strength diminish, then sank gently into unconsciousness, convinced that her last hour had come.