Arthur and the Invisibles 4: Defender of the Seven Kingdoms

Chapter 15: Return of the Seides

Arthur wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed when his mind pushed his consciousness back into reality, which was, strangely, the first thing his mind spent time considering. As his body began to regain its strength, he opened his eyes to the pleasant view of the ever changing ceiling of the forest, which was now shadowed itself by a vast blanket of faint orange that was the morning sky. Well, at least he was able to see this 'ceiling' through the green strands of a large fern that lay right in his face. He weakly moved his face from side to side in a truly pathetic attempt to remove the fern from his face, and as expected, he only succeeded in allowing the rough ends of the fern to briefly tickle his face. His brain still experiencing an annoying state of subconsciousness, he began to raise an arm to waft away the fern. 

But his mind finally began to grasp hold of Arthur's senses, and more importantly, his memory. And it wouldn't let go. Arthur's eyes snapped wide open from their somewhat weakened state, everything he should be remembering being thrust into his mind. Although the sudden rush of conscious information left him physically dizzy as he lay on the forest floor, his mental capabilities were working overtime to process everything. A fern can't be in my face if I'm still a Minimoy! So if it's in my face... He considered slowly, a nervous, jittery feeling taking control of his body as he flung his own hand into vision, and moved the other to his head. 

His ears were reduced to normal, his hair was no longer huge and spiky, and, above all, his hand was recognisable as that of an eleven-year old human boy. A huge grin spread itself quickly over his mouth. It had worked. It hadn't been the same as consuming the elixir of life, and it certainly hadn't been as his grandfather had described Darkos' transformation, although that might have been because Darkos was a corrupted Minimoy, and had no human form. No matter. Whatever happened, it had worked. 

Digging his newly enlarged fingers into the bark of a tree for leverage, he managed to lift himself to his feet. He felt slightly more disorientated than he had done the last time, and had to use the tree to support his weight, rather than his legs, with which he was experiencing a peculiar feeling of unfamiliarity. He remained leaning against said tree for a few seconds, concentrating on regaining both his balance and his breath. But having succeeded in both, he stood upright and observed his surroundings, concentrating on the fact that he'd neither seen nor heard Betameche or Selenia. He quickly made a quick glance around the immediate area, but saw neither of them.

But he wasn't worried, and he considered the idea that as they were Minimoys, the unconscious phase may be taking a small while longer. So he simply remained there, getting used to his old body again. However, if one thing had remained that was shared between both bodies, it was his reflexes, and his head whipped round in panic at the sound of a snapping twig behind him. His eyes fell upon a crouched silhouette, and he was relieved that it was only one of his friends. Although, they were incredibly well covered in a dense blanket of greenery, thus meaning Arthur was unable to identify any details, and therefore, identify which one of his friends it was. He took a step towards the shadow.

"S-Selenia?" He guessed. Trying to move his vision around the concealing fingers of the vegetation, but to no avail. However, although his attempts to identify his friend by sight  failed, he was gifted with a response.

"Arthur?" Stammered the evidently nervous, but ever angelic voice of his princess. He breathed a sigh of relief that she was okay. But even as she stood, Arthur could make little of her, only a few glimpses of her ever evident red hair. Although she seemed to be looking down to study something, perhaps her new hands, it appeared that she was purposely facing the opposite way to him.

"It's okay, Selenia." He assured her, taking another step towards the vegetation that covered his princess. "Look at me. Please?" He asked sincerely. He heard her take a stuttering breath, assuming she might be in shock. He wouldn't blame her, given that she'd never gone through the transformation, like he had. Yet, she replied.