My first fanfic for Arthur and the Invisibles. I've been rewatching the first movie recently. I've seen all three movies, but this fic takes place at the end of the first film.
This was actually going to be a oneshot with just Arthur, but made it into a heart-to-heart talk with his grandfather. It's surprising how the plot changes. ^_^
I know the movies were based off the books, but I never read the books. I put this story in the books section just to be on the safe side. I've been dying to write an Arthur fanfic since 2019.
Well, enough's enough, let's get on with the story.
Stars scudded the dark blue mantle, wispy bluish gray clouds were painted across the sky with the moon looming overhead. The night stretched on from one end of the meadow to the next. The house sat well in the large clearing surrounded by the forest. The house had grown quiet since the coming of twilight and Arthur couldn't think of anything more enjoyable than what had happened.
His grandfather was back after three years. The story Archibald told his parents was that he had "been lost in Africa with amnesia." It was better than having to reveal the Minimoys' world to them lest resulting in Arthur's mother fainting again. She often did that when overwhelmed with unbelievable news. Arthur didn't mind it and only celebrated the tearful yet joyful reunion. And he counted the days to the tenth moon to see Selenia again.
Arthur had just returned home and he was already missing the Seven Kingdoms. He was going to start his initiations to be an official member of the Bogo Matassalai. African tribes, Minimoys, traveling by telescope to enter the Seven Kingdoms. These weren't fairytales; they were real.
The Bogo Matassalai were camping in the forest in a few miles away. Arthur would be visiting them tomorrow to start taking the tests. His grandfather took these tests a long time ago and was a member ever since. Arthur was going to take these tests, too, and become a member of the tribe.
For as long as he could remember, Arthur had never felt at home anywhere. He spent most of his life in boarding school and spending the summers in his grandmother's house. The three year absence his grandfather left made a void Arthur couldn't fill. Not until he solved his grandfather's hidden riddle and traveled to the Minimoys' world. He met Selenia and her brother Betameche. The three of them traveled to Necropolis to retrieve the rubies and defeat Maltazard. He even married the princess which was more than Arthur expected, but it wasn't something he regret doing. He was happy, and the rest of his family was happy to have everyone back together. The house was saved and no one had to die in the process. Except, perhaps, the Evil M.
Arthur had been so absorbed looking out the window that he didn't hear his door opening.
"Hey hey, Arthur!," trilled Archibald's voice.
Arthur turned around. "Grandpa," he hooted.
Archibald walked up to him, standing by his side, taking a glimpse out the window before looking at his grandson.
"How are you, son?," he asked, clapping his shoulder.
"I'm good, Grandpa," replied Arthur. "More than good."
The old man peeked out the window again, smiling to himself.
"Are you thinking of her?," he queried.
Arthur concealed a blush. In spite of himself he couldn't hide the fact that he was missing Selenia and her world already.
"Yeah," he said, not meeting his gaze. His eyes looked on at the starry sky and the forest that beckoned him.
"I know she misses you, too," said Archibald.
"Do you think she's as excited as I am?," asked Arthur.
"Of course I do," answered Archibald.
Arthur turned from the window and walked up to his calendar. He checked the day to the tenth night. The night he would be granted passage to the Minimoys' world. His contemplation was interrupted by his grandfather's happy chuckle.
"She's not going anywhere, Arthur," he said as he strolled up to him.
"I know," said Arthur. "I just can't wait to go back."
"I spent three years imprisoned by the Evil M," quoth Archibald, "and even I can't wait to see the Minimoys again."
"They really were happy to see you."
"Ah yes, the King and Miro. I was happy to see them, too. And Selenia and Betameche."
The old man took a seat on an empty chair, motioning for Arthur to come sit with him. The boy did so, sitting on his lap.
"Did you think about me the whole time you were imprisoned?," queried Arthur.
"Of course I did," said Archibald. "I thought about the day I'd see you again."
"So did I, Grandpa."
Arthur glimpsed at the journal again before asking another question.
"Do you think Selenia and I will always be together?"
It took Archibald a moment to come up with an answer.
"I don't know how to answer that, son," said Archibald, sitting more squarely on the chair. "I know that the first kiss exchanged between a Minimoy marries them immediately..."
"What about when I'm older?," insisted Arthur. "What if a girl wants me to be her boyfriend?"
"That is a quite a pickle."
"Grandpa."
Archibald chuckled. "Oh, okay. Okay," he pacified.
Arthur cringed his nose into a surly pout. Though he imperceptibly faltered, Archibald caught it.
"Do you want to hear what I think?," he said.
"What?," muttered Arthur, looking up at the old man.
"I think," began Archibald carefully, "that no matter how far apart you and Selenia are you will always be together. You don't any protocol to tell you what to do or what to think."
"She did kiss me before we left," retorted Arthur.
"I saw that," laughed Archibald. Arthur giggled lightly at the memory.
"What about when I'm all grownup," said Arthur, "and Mum wants to know about Selenia?"
"That is even harder to explain," said Archibald, his thumb and forefinger stroking his beard in thought.
"Can Selenia crossover to our world?," asked Arthur, blindly hopeful.
"I don't know," replied Archibald, "it usually works with humans shrinking down to enter the Minimoys' world."
"Can it be possible?"
"I suppose it's possible."
"Would she be willing?"
"If she's willing, and you're willing, there's nothing stopping you from reuniting with her and her with you."
Arthur glanced down at the sketchbook. The watercolor portrait of Selenia was stored in there. Meeting Selenia in person, he remembered being speechless at the likeness of the portrait. The portrait's technique emphasized her otherworldly loveliness to effect.
"And do you know what?," said Archibald.
"What, Grandpa?," remarked Arthur.
"Remember what the Bogo Matassalai said?"
Arthur wracked his brains for the answer.
"They said a lot of things," he said.
"Do you remember one in particular?"
Again, he searched through his memories, trying to pinpoint the exact phrase.
"There is one that resonated me," replied Arthur.
"Which one?," said Archibald.
"That your heart is the strongest of weapons."
Archibald could sense the yearning in his grandson. It was as strong as it was familiar. He remembered to keep his voice calm, like a lullaby.
"You're not going to forget her, Arthur," he said, "no matter how far away you are or where your life takes you. I spent three years in Necropolis waiting, wishing, hoping for a miracle. And I got it: you. I didn't believe you were actually there until you started talking about my inventions and I knew it was you."
Arthur smiled at the memory. He was overjoyed to see his grandfather again after so long. He couldn't think of anything that could top that off.
"It's only ten days till the next full moon," said Archibald, stealing a glance at the calendar, "but the rest of your life is yet to come."
Arthur stood up, and his grandfather rose to his feet, stretching his arms, hearing a clear crack pop. He was indeed confined that long.
"You're too young to be worrying about all this fate and desire stuff," spoke Archibald, "you're only ten years old."
"I'm already technically married to a princess," reminded Arthur.
"Right, right," Archibald nodded.
He made his way towards the door, tipping his pith hat.
"Well, I'm off for a bath," he said, peeking over his shoulder, "it'll be first one in three years."
Arthur chuckled.
"G'night, Grandpa," he said, smiling.
Archibald returned the smile.
"But the Bogo Matassalai are right," he repeated, "your heart is the strongest of weapons."
"Sure," said Arthur, nodding.
Archibald exited his grandson's room, turning to the left, off to rejoin his and his wife's room.
As soon as he was gone, Arthur crossed the bedroom to sit by the window again. He peered out, eyes gazing at every star in the black sky. The Minimoys were hidden in their underground kingdom and Selenia was safely tucked away in her palace probably thinking about him, too. She must be nervous as she was excited to see him again.
Now that Maltazard was gone, he could look forward to returning to Selenia's world while focusing on his initiations. He was ready but nervous all the same. He was scared, but he wasn't going to let it stop him. He didn't care how many times he was pushed down, he was always going to get back up. And no matter whether he was human or two millimeters tall he was stronger than he let on. That's something not all ten-year-olds could admit.
"Your heart is the strongest of weapons," he mused to himself, eyes looking from one corner of the garden to the next. Selenia was there, waiting for him.
Fate and desire had to be put to the test. If this initiation was to test out his strength and his mind, then he was also going to put his fate and desire to the test as well. That which is rare is always valued highly.
Arthur was going to put himself through whatever trial came at him, and he would come out smiling.
This story was going to have a different title, but chose this one after thinking about Arthur and Selenia's friendship and how they ended up getting married like that. I ship them, yeah.
How was that? Not bad for a first-timer, right? :)