Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inkheart/Inkspell charaters.

A/N: This chapter is actually important, even though it's short and it may not seem that way. Besides, you should know an author doesn't just write something for no reason! So pay attention, and enjoy!

Chapter 4

The next day, the group spent their time enjoying their stay on the island, and trying to find someone who could spare them a boat that was big enough for them all.

Thankfully, they eventually found the same merchant that had helped them the day before, and he had a ship that was a sloop. He led them to see the ship, and they saw how wonderful it was. It was the perfect size, and was a beautiful sight too. The boat was the exact color of a tree, with beautiful pictures of mermaids, water nymphs, a fire-eater, a strolling player, the Castle of Ombra, and all sorts of animals carved onto its sides. It had one mast, with a red sail with a big black heart in the center. Farid asked about the heart, and Mo told him it stood for Inkheart.

As soon as Roxane— with the help of everyone else— gave the merchant money for the boat, the adults began to load the boat with food, water, and the few things they had brought with them on the trip.

Farid and Meggie were told to find something else to do— and to report back to the ship at sunset— and they gladly did so. Farid went to practice his fire, and Meggie roamed the town.

Meggie found many things that caught her interest and others that grossed her out, but she had a nice time. The only thing that was unpleasant was the heat, and how sweaty and sticky she felt.

So, Meggie decided to take a dip in the ocean. She found a part of the beach where there weren't any people around. She took off everything but her underclothes, and walked into the water. It felt cold at first, but also very refreshing.

She spent her time looking at the stones covering the bottom of the ocean through the clear water. They were bigger and shinier than the ones in this world, and each one seemed to have a design carved into it. She swam in deeper, took and deep breath, and plunged into the water. It was even more beautiful the deeper she went in, with the turtles and crabs.

Unable to hold her breath any longer, she went back to the surface. To her surprise, there was Farid in front of her. Thankfully, he had only taken off his shirt. From the look on his face, he was surprised to see her there too, and was blushing, looking as red as his fire. After some silence between them, Meggie said,

"What are you doing here, Farid? I thought you were practicing your fire."

"Some old man found me doing so and got scared, so I had to leave," he replied, still blushing.

"You know, if Mo finds us here, he'll kill us," Meggie said.

"That's true, but do you really think he will?" Farid asked, beginning to turn his normal color.

"No," Meggie said returning the smile.

"Come on, let's pretend Mo doesn't care, and we can do whatever we want together," Farid said.

"Ok, I'm in," Meggie replied.

"Come on, I want to show you something," Farid said, and pulled her underneath the water with him.

Once they were under, Farid went to a nearby coral reed Meggie hadn't noticed. He swam to its bottom and broke off a piece that was jutting out of it, and signaled Meggie back to the surface. Then he handed Meggie the small piece of coral saying,

"Keep it with you, you may need it someday."

"What's it for, Farid?" Meggie asked curiously.

"You'll find out one day or another," Farid said with a mysterious look in his eye.

"Good enough for me," Meggie replied pleased.

They walked back to shore, quickly getting dressed. Afterwards, Farid did a bit of his wonders, and gave Meggie a flower of fire. Then they walked back to the ship hand in hand.

The beautiful boat was ready to set sail, though it was only about three. They stepped aboard, finding the adults fighting over stupid things. The best argument to watch was the one about naming the ship:

"It should be named after me!"

"Why should we do that you selfish brat!"

"Then what's your suggestion?"

"To name it after me of course!" Snickers came from Farid and Meggie.

"NO!"

"Why don't we name it after something else? Like a simple plant or animal?" Good suggestion, but,

"No, too plain!"

"I don't think any of your ideas would be better!" And on it went, with pointless remarks like shown.

After a little bit of laughing at the entertainment, Farid and Meggie decided to find pick out a room on the ship for them to share. The one to their convenience was the farthest one down the narrow hall, with two beds and trunks for their small package of clothes and other things.

Meggie put her piece of coral and flower inside the trunk with her other things, and lay down on her bed. Farid had unpacked and was laying on his bed, when a growling from both stomachs made them jump up immediately to go find some food. Too lazy to find a kitchen, they went to the bickering grown-ups— though that's just a standard name, for these grown-ups looked like arguing babies.

Meggie broke up the bickering saying,

"The boat is going to be named Silver Adventure, and that's final! Now stop acting like idiots and start thinking about acting more like the responsible adults you think you are!"

They ignored Meggie's little lecture and only payed attention to the name Meggie had mentioned, finally nodding their heads in agreement. Finally, they were ready to work.

"What we're having for dinner is a good question. I happened to buy a tray in the market!" Resa said proudly.

"So, we're going to snack on a metal tray?" Meggie said disgusted.

"You're forgetting the magic part of this world Meggie," Resa replied, "It's not like those boring trays in our world. This tray gives you any food or utensils you want."

"Good job, Resa! Where is it?" Farid asked.

"Let me get it, and we could start our feast!" Resa replied, quickly disappearing into the hallway and into her room.

Resa came back with the tray and a table too. So one by one everyone went up to the tray, asking them for their meals. Then they sat down on chairs that had appeared, enjoying their meal and company.

The next day, everyone was awoken at dawn, and was prepared to make their way to the end of the world. The merchant had come to say his good-bye, and to give everyone instructions on how to keep the ship going.

Once this was over, he left, and set sail. They saw a beautiful sunset ahead of them, and they were all thinking the same thing:

Bring it on!

The mistress and her crew were close on the others' trail. They kept a safe distance behind to prevent from being spotted. Meanwhile, the mistress was getting things prepared for the day of the end of the trip, even though it was only the beginning. She had tons to prepare, for it was to be a night remembered by all on the boat.

"Basta get my cauldron ready, and put all my potions on the boat into my room!" she called.

Basta reacted immediately, and she started to do the many arts she possessed. Disobeying her rules, Basta interrupted her saying,

"Why do you want your mother and father back so bad?"

"How dare you interrupt, you filthy little dog! And, am I mistaken by saying that you were a slave to my father, and obeyed his every word?"

"That may be true, but—"

"Not another word! I want my father back just as much as you want you master back! Now I understand why he was going to feed you to the Shadow!"

Basta turned pale and kept quiet, remembering that day. He was looking forward to seeing the mistress's parents, but dreading it just as much.

So on both boats went, one behind the other. They enjoyed the fresh salt breeze, and found many things to do during the hours and hours they had to kill. What an adventure they had to look toward to!