Disclaimer: I do not own the Abarat books or the future movies/series. Wish I did, but Clive is a genius, so I'll give him the credit.
"Absolute Midnight" By Princess Amberly
Chapter 1: The Real Journey Begins
The juffet birds were singing noisily, which seems to have been what awoke Candy from her endless sleep. She smelled the unmistakable scent of the Izabella that gave Candy the strength to sit upright. Sand fell from her shoulder length hair to the beach that she had laid upon, to exhausted to get up and explore.
She watched the waves crash upon the shore, which left behind a foam on the freshly wet sand. Little crab-like creatures scuttled around in it. Candy shook her head, as though in an attempt to clear her mind.
Candy had recovered from all of the emotional turmoils she had suffered not to long ago. She didn't know how long she had been asleep here on Huffaker. She looked around, studying the life around her. She saw the oddest tree over to her left. The tree moved and shook slightly; which meant someone was in it.
"Show yourself immediately!" Candy demanded with much authority. A little creature swiftly dropped out of the tree, and landed neatly on the ground ten feet away from Candy. It was a little monkey-like creature with wide ears and eyes the size and make as that of a human. The fur was a reddish brown and it had a tuft of hair at the tip of its' long tail.
"Who are you, little creature?"
"I- I am Burble, the muntmook," it squeaked.
"Well, I have never heard of a muntmook before."
"But I know who you are, Candy. You are the sorceress who will save us all from the end of the worlds!"
"I guess you could say that, but-"
"No, you will!" it squeaked at her, "You are our salvation. You will be the one to soon lead the Abarat to peace, and you will remain in the Abarat to rule with justice and grace, as a queen should," it added quickly.
"What makes you say that?!" Candy asked Burble incredulously.
"You are the magic wielder are you not?"
"Well, yes, but-"
"And you have defeated the most powerful wizard known in all of the Abarat-"
"Actually, he-'
"And escaped Christopher Carrion for the longest time." And the muntmook stared at her in awe.
"But I didn't-"
"You did those things, don't deny it. All of the Abarat knows, Candy," and it scampered away before Candy could even think.
She groaned. Everyone would be expecting a lot from her now. At least she knew why she was here. She faintly remembered all of the wild and painful happenings of the few days before. Then she remembered the Princess Boa.
"Princess?"
"Yes?"
"Have you always been there?"
"Yes. Did you have a nice sleep?"
"Yes, I did. Thank you." A pause between them as they reflected on all things past, "But, what about Finnegan?"
"What of him?" she asked calmly.
"Do I know him because of you?"
"Yes, you do," she answered quietly.
"Do I have feelings for him?"
"That is something you must answer for yourself. I was going to marry him, but- well you know what happened."
"Yes, what do you think I should tell him?"
"I am unsure. I think you should tell him about us, he'll figure it out eventually, but we will have to find him first. Though, I am not certain about how he will react to this."
"I feel as if I am talking to myself…"
"Me also, but just to be remembering, that we are not separate. We are one. Together until the end, so no matter how lonely you feel, I will always be here with you, even though I am not seen."
"It is a great comfort knowing that you are here, Boa. I wish to know if all of my actions were from me, or from you, I feel a bit used at the moment."
"I knew you would. You were there; I was only a faint mist at the back of your mind, almost like a conscience. But when you started drawing the sea, that was me and my influence, when you met the Mischief brothers, I was slowly beginning to emerge to the surface little by little as you went on your adventures with Mister Malingo, until you finally found out about me and you, then I could finally talk to you. I showed you some of my memories, and guided you a bit. But other than that, it was all you, Candy. Don't feel lied to. You will feel as I feel, and I with you also. There is so much more to be done, and there is such a long road ahead of us."
"I know," said Candy. "There is much to be done. How about we get off of this island?"
"By swimming? No, let's try to find a boat, or light up a good fire."
"What if the fire attracts unwanted attention?"
"We've done worse. Unless you would rather swim with the mantazacs…"
"No thanks. I'll find some stuff to burn."
"I wish I could help…"
"You always do. I have your strength, and your words, you help enough."
"Thank you, Candy. You will make a great ruler one day."
"Thank you."
Candy went to go collect the firewood from the nearby forest. It was slightly damp, but at least burnable. The rotting tree flesh made a dull crack as she stepped on them. There was all sorts of things growing on the dead debris on the forest floor. She assumed it was the Abaratian version of fungi. Some were so outlandish; Candy would never have even imagined them in her wildest dreams. Blues and bright pinks with swirl patterns all over them. All other colors Candy couldn't even describe were all over in this jungle-like place.
Candy saw some berries, she asked Boa whether they were safe to eat or not.
"Oh, these type are fine, they are called smoke cherries."
"Why is that?"
"Because when they get too ripe-" one berry puffed into smoke and disappeared.
"They turn into smoke," Candy finished.
"Yes."
Candy picked a whole pocketful of them. Them resumed to gathering fire fuel. Anything that might burn, she grabbed.
After gathering a good few armfuls and laying them in a pile on the beach, she rubbed two very dry sticks hard against each other. They were warm in seconds, and Candy could feel the heat emanating from the friction point. After a good half an hour, the little fire sprung to life, and Candy carefully placed it inside the little teepee pile.
The fire very slowly builded up, and almost went out, but soon it became a decent sized fire with the smoke rising at least 20 feet in the air. Candy sat and waited on the sandy beach eating the smoke cherries. They were delicious, and had a slightly bitter after-taste to them. They were enjoyable nonetheless.
Candy watched the plants. Some of them moved and swayed like the Izabella, but others never moved nor grew at all. Some seemed to hum slightly on the wind trying to let the wind carry their songs all over the Abarat for all to hear and enjoy. It made Candy listless, like their purpose at the moment was to lull Candy to sleep.
Candy had eaten enough of the cherries to be filled up, she found she was still tired, and allowed the plants to hum to her as she slipped into yet another dreamless sleep.
Later on…
Boa awoke Candy urgently within her sleep.
"Candy?! Candy wake up! There is someone coming toward us! I can hear it!"
"Huh?" and Candy jumped awake immediately. Sure enough, she heard someone crashing rapidly through the trees in her direction.
"Crud," she cursed under her breath. She leaped to the side and ran in that direction.
"Candy!" she heard a man shout at her. She whirled around on the spot to see who had called her name.
"Finnegan!" she cried out with joy as she ran to him.
"Everyone! I found her! She is here!" Soon there was more rapid crashing heard through the trees. All of her comrades appeared: Mischief, Geneva, Malingo, Deaux-Deaux, and, (to her surprise) Letheo.
Candy ran directly at Finnegan, and leaped into his arms. He caught her and gave her a strong embrace. Candy squeezed back and closed her eyes and sighed.
"I don't think that was me that ran at him. Was that you?"
"No, it wasn't." Boa said back.
"I am so glad you are all safe!" And Candy took the opportunity to hug them all.
"I missed you, lady," said Malingo as he held her tightly.
"We all did!"
"Three cheers for Candy! And for another battle won!"
A/N:
I hope you all like this! Review me if you like it and I'll keep going with it!
Your loving writer,
Princess Amberly