Arthur and the Invisibles 4: Defender of the Seven Kingdoms

Chapter 9: Return to the Stunning Rapids Bar

As Replay led them through the undergrowth, Arthur began to get nervous about their plan. Or rather, his plan. He had obviously never met Crobe, but would he really take kindly to his own men being told they couldn't take Replay? Even if it was him telling them?

Replay stopped on the other side of a large boulder, and when the three Minimoys followed him, they found themselves staring at Replay's previously mentioned 'Beetle'.

Since the first time Arthur had visited Paradise Alley, he had always been confused by the vehicles driven by the Koolomassai. They appeared to be insects, beetles, ladybugs, etc, but their eyes had been replaced with headlights, their underside filled to the brim with mechanical parts, and the space above their neck transformed into a cockpit of sorts. Arthur could never figure out whether they were living, mechanical, or a morbid mixture of both.

Replay's beetle was not unlike Max's, although the headlights seemed not to be illuminated, and no glow worms lay on it's underside.

"So how do you like my ride?" Replay boasted, extending his arms towards his Beetle, as if revealing some grand masterpiece.

"Cool!" Beta replied with an air of excitement. Arthur glanced at Selenia, who just crossed her arms.

"Hmph." She snorted. Classic Selenia.  Arthur thought to himself as he moved his eyes back to the Beetle.

"Pretty nice, Replay." He replied, modestly.

"I know right!" As he approached the vehicle. "Come on, get in! It'll be a bit of a squeeze, but we should all fit in!" He said casually, opening the door and slipping behind the steering wheel. Arthur was just thinking that Selenia wouldn't like having to squeeze in with Beta and Replay, when his ears pricked up in surprise, as he felt Selenia's hands on his shoulders, and her breath on his neck.

"When this is all over Arthur, I'm either going to kiss you, or kill you." She whispered in a tone of voice so toxic it felt like it was slicing through his brain, before strutting angrily to the door of the Beetle. As he joined Betameche in walking to the Beetle too, the two of them looked at each other for a second, then at Selenia. They both motioned to the Beetle, and asked nervously and in unison:

"Princesses first?" Selenia's eyes flared up in immeasurable anger for a split second.

"Oh, no, no, no, no! Not this time!" She exclaimed, grabbing them both by the back of the neck, pushing Beta in so hard he fell flat onto the seat, before pushing Arthur in. More gently. Finally, she clambered up into the cockpit, pushing Arthur sideways a little before managing to close the door. And Replay had been right. It was definitely a tight squeeze.

Selenia glared at Arthur with a stare of purest hatred, and all he could do was laugh nervously before asking:

"Should we get a move on then, Replay?"

"You got it, Arthur! Paradise Alley, here we come!" He exclaimed happily, turning the keys in the apparent ignition. There was a loud whooshing sound, and Arthur managed to bend his head round enough to see that a pair of huge wings had appeared from the back of the beetle, and were flapping so fast they merged into a constant shade of spinning, shimmering silver.

Slowly but surely, Arthur felt himself and the others begin to rise off of the ground, millimeter by millimeter. And when they were a fair distance from the ground beneath them, Replay glanced at Arthur, raised his eyebrows before glancing his eyes downwards at the pedals. Arthur followed his signal, realising too late what was about to happen.

Without warning, Replay raised his foot quickly, before slamming it down onto the accelerator so hard it disappeared into the metal shell of the insect. And before could even shoot a panicked glance at Replay, the Beetle shot forwards at blazing speed.