Arthur and the Invisibles 4: Defender of the Seven Kingdoms

Chapter 12: The Truth

The panic Arthur had felt when he lunged towards his friends made the time they were falling for seem a lot longer than the single second it took them to tumble into the tall, glass cup. Slumped down headfirst in a pile with Beta and Selenia, he heard the microphone clatter off the sides of the glass, before hitting Beta on the head mere micrometres from Arthur's face.

"Why!?" He heard Beta scream, but he couldn't even force a smile. Managing to uncurl himself from his slumped entanglement with his friends, Arthur tried to steady himself against the sides of the glass. But the glass itself was too smooth and therefore slippery, and he only succeeded in slipping backwards back into a jumbled pile.

Tilting his head sideways, he was met with Selenia looking him dead in the eyes, with an expression that was hard to make out in the darkness.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered shamefully to her. But even in the darkness, he saw her break a smile, as she leaned forward to plant a light kiss on his cheek. The short burst of joy, and the realisation she still had trust in him forced him to make a smile. But only moments later, their short moment in the darkness was interrupted by a unfamiliar laugh from somewhere above them, and Arthur looked up just in time to see a huge human hand descend into the crate, and take hold of the glass. As they began to ascend, a loud, sophisticated voice rang out from the study above them.

"Yes! Yes, it worked!" He exclaimed, like an excited child. And as the cup was raised out of the crate and placed on it's surface, the three Minimoys came face to face with the man who had made their life a nightmare. 

Observing him for the first time, Arthur noted his short black hair, and his complexion which oddly, made him look like a rather respectful man. The professor quickly moved to his grandfather's desk, and returned moments later with a large magnifying glass, which he hovered between his eye and the interior of the glass as he peered in. "It's so good to finally meet you three! The heroes of the Seven Kingdoms! Although, that hair Arthur..." He began to snigger, before bursting into a small fit of laughter that ceased almost as soon as it had started. "You look like a walking dandelion!" Arthur sighed. This wasn't the first time he'd been called that. "Wait! Hold on..." The man said, apparently reaching down into his pocket. His hand reappeared with what looked to be a small remote, and a pair of mini speakers, which he placed onto the crate. Apparently pressing something on the remote, he motioned to the cup. "Go on! Let's have a chat." Arthur was confused at first, before realising he had motioned to the microphone that still lay in the centre of the cup. Finally managing to pull himself to his feet, he bent down to the small metal object, and spoke through gritted teeth.

"Why would we want to talk to you?" He snarled. The professor sighed.

"Come now, Arthur. We must be civil with one another." He said casually. Selenia jumped to her feet, bending down to speak into the microphone, but pointing her finger at the professor at the same time. 

"Given everything you've done, you're lucky he's speaking to you at all!" Selenia yelled.

"Ahah! Princess Selenia, I presume? It's a pleasure to meet you, but clearly the feelings not mutual." He said, leaving his crouched position and beginning to pace around the study. "I must say you three, I'm feeling a little hurt. You're making me out to be some sort of criminal." He frowned. By this point, Arthur's face was riddled with disbelief.

"You are! Kidnapping innocent Minimoys, shrinking my family, the Seven Kingdoms don't belong to you!" He yelled. But the professor slowly turned to face them, and his face twisted into a knowing smile.

"That's where you're wrong, Arthur." Arthur's ears sprung upwards in confusion and surprise. "Why do you think the Minimoys are here in your back garden, and not in Africa?" He asked. Arthur replied, bu he couldn't hide the nervousness from his voice.