Slightly Spirited Away
Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl
It was a tragedy nay a crime, that Angeline Fowl should find herself in the quite simply horrific situation of having an unbearably adorable granddaughter and being banned from dressing her up and showing her off. Absolutely horrific
Didn't Arty know how much she had always wanted a daughter? Well no she supposed he didn't as she would never say anything to any of her children that even suggested she didn't love them exactly as they were and that they weren't everything she had hoped for in a child (although it had to be said the criminal tendencies were a little trying and would it kill Artemis to be a little more informal from time to time). So yes while Angeline loved her boys dearly and wouldn't change them for the world she had always secretly wanted a daughter. But in her defense what woman didn't want a little girl they could buy pretty clothes for and have heart to heart talks with (and of course screaming matches, couldn't forget those. Lord knows Angeline had had more than a few with her own mother)
Of course Angeline Fowl had never had the chance to have a daughter, because two years after the twins were born in the brief period between their forth and fifth nanny's her husband informed her, after nearly three hours of trying to explain to Myles why it was bad to give your brother at home electroshock therapy with the intent of jump starting his brain into being smarter, that he now remembered why they had never seen fit to give their eldest son a younger sibling before now. Angeline could sympathize she imagined being lost at sea and taken hostage by the Russian Mafia did wonders in making you forget just how much hard work children were especially when they were of the genius variety. So that was it, Artemis Fowl Senior went on to say, no more, three was more than enough. Of course at the time it was only two as Artemis the second had taken a leaf from his fathers book and had disappeared into the ether, which as it turned out was a very apt term for what had actually happened.
But back to the matter at hand. It was entirely unfair that Angeline Fowl not be allowed to carry out her god given rights as a grandparent.
So here she was perched delicately in front of the door that lead to the nursery fingers curled elegantly around the door knob. Sucking in a deep breath she fluidly turned the knob and pushed the door open. Angeline allowed a small thrill of triumph to spread through her, she normally didn't make it this far.
The Nursery had been completely overhauled for it's newest resident, but then again it was completely overhauled for every new addition it received, Angeline wouldn't be in the least surprised to find the room had steadily been getting smaller over the years as lord new how many coats of paint had been layered on to the walls. It must have been an inch thick by now.
Currently the walls were a soothing pastel almost mint green. Both parents had downright refused to paint their daughters room pink and after extensive research on the effects colours supposedly had on the mind Artemis decided green was the best choice, a colour that inspired the calm of blue along with the happiness of yellow, perfect for a baby. Angeline had had the room tastefully decorated by Helene before Artemis could even think of putting any of his theories on how the visual aspects of a room could affect an infants development to the test. The nursery set she had commissioned was another victory for Angeline, her first grandchild was getting nothing but the best, no matter how many times the little darlings parents complained about how flowery, poofy and entirely unnecessary everything was.
As quietly as she could Angeline tiptoed into the room and made her way over to the flowery poofy yet not entirely unnecessary crib which stood opposite the grand windows overlooking Fowl Manor's immaculate rose garden. Of course Angeline couldn't enjoy the view of her rose garden because the curtains were currently closed for naptime. Something she did feel a bit guilty for interrupting, lord knew the parents needed their rest.
Pushing her feeling of guilt aside Angeline continued her perilous trek to the crib. She really couldn't believe she had made it this far 'must be an off day' she thought to herself trying very hard to quell her excitement, it could still all go wrong very quickly if she wasn't careful. Ever so delicately she approached the crib and peered inside it. Her heart instantly melted.
There was no denying the fact that Ariel Fowl was adorable. She took after her mother in most respects but there were a few firm reminders of her dual heritage as a Fowl. Angeline was proud to note she had her nose. She also possessed her father's skin tone, albeit a healthier looking shade The biggest reminder however were her eyes, they were the patented deep Fowl blue, even if they were slightly bigger than most would consider human.
Her ears, face shape, lips, eye shape and hair all came from her mother, Captain Holly Short. Which was why Angeline Fowl was sneaking into the Nursery instead of simply breezing in plucking young Ariel from her crib and going her merry way.
Artemis had forbidden for his daughter to leave the Manor until he had created a holographic disguise for her. Originally he had been willing to let her out on the grounds but that was before a few particularly dogged photographers had set up camp at the front gate in the hopes of being the first the capture the new Fowl Heiress on film.
Since then Artemis had been at work around the clock designing and programing a wearable holographic projector, just like the one he had made for Holly. It was quite remarkable really, disguised as a common (or rather ridiculously expensive) watch it projected a holographic image of the wearer around their actual form. But while it had been all to easy to program such a device for Holly to disguise her ears and make her appear taller programing one for Ariel was turning out to be a tad more difficult, in fact it was more than difficult it was impossible.
Babies simply grew to fast for the hologram to keep up so Artemis would have to wait until Ariel reached a more stable plateau in her development.
And that meant Angeline wouldn't be allowed to dress her granddaughter up and show her off to her friends until she was a year old at the least. Unless of course Artemis didn't know about it.
Which was of course where the difficulties lay.
But she had made it this far, there was no turning back now.
As gently as she could Angeline reached into the crib and lifted her granddaughter out. Ariel didn't wake even as Angeline settled her into her arms.
She couldn't believe this! This was just too perfect, now all she had to do was liberate a set of clothes from the antique dresser, something cute and frilly should do the trick, get the nappy bag she had oh so cleverly hidden away in the 18th century box seat in the Manors foyer and she was home free.
Allowing a smile to spread across her face Angeline Fowl turned.
Her smile disappeared.
"Going somewhere Mother?" Artemis Fowl the Second inquired casually. Angeline scurried to regain her composure.
"Goodness Arty you scared me! Yes actually, I was planning to take Ariel on a stroll through the...Library"
Artemis looked entirely unconvinced.
"The Library?"
"Yes, all those lovely books to see and read, fun fun fun! Now if you'll excuse me darling Ariel and I have a date with Beatrix Potter" Angeline side stepped her son and headed for the door. So she wouldn't be able to dress Ariel in something frilly, no matter, her one piece pajamas were cute enough. This was all really a minor setback.
"Are you sure you won't be needing this?" Artemis asked holding up the nappy bag. Angeline almost faltered wanting to demand how on Earth he had found it, she had been certain no one would ever look for a nappy bag in an 18th century box seat. But she quickly caught herself and put a confused expression on her face.
"A Nappy bag Arty? Why would I need a Nappy bag? The Libraries only in the East Wing"
"And I don't suppose you could tell me how it managed to find it's way into the box seat in the foyer"
"Haven't got the foggiest"
"Really?"
"Arty I have better things to do than hide nappy bags in antique furniture"
"Better things like meeting your friends in town for lunch? Which of course none of this has anything to do with."
"Are you implying something dear" Angeline could feel herself slipping, Artemis quirked an ebony eyebrow and she cracked.
"Oh please let me take her Arty, it's only for a few hours, she'll sleep most of it! I've already packed her a few toys and her formula and look I've even got a little hat!" She reached into the Nappy bag and pulled out a knitted cap with a crochet rose on it.
"See? No one will be able to see her ears, she'll be perfectly fine. Please?"
Her son sighed deeply and pulled a hand down his face.
"Mother..."
"Mum"
"Very well Mum, you know it's simply too dangerous for Ariel to leave the grounds until I can fit her with a projector"
"Oh listen to yourself Arty! 'Fit her with a projector'? She's your daughter not one of your experiments."
"I'm well aware of that which is why I can't risk it. Even if her ears were covered someone would surely notice her eyes or the blue sparks bouncing around in her mouth..."
"If only you and your brothers had had that, teething would have been so much more enjoyable for all parties concerned" Angeline sighed dramatically.
"But like I said she'll probably sleep the whole time"
It was at that terribly inopportune moment that Ariel decided to wake up and start crying. Angeline glared, Traitor, anyone would think she didn't want to be dressed up in frilly clothing and used as an accessory. And before she could remind Ariel that this was supposed to be a united front Artemis took her into his arms and began humming softly.
It was quite a strange sight, one that Angeline never thought she would ever get used to. Her eldest son, someone who for most of if not all of his childhood could really only be described as an emotional black hole, cradling his daughter against his chest humming some nameless tune. It was however a sight that had become somewhat common over the past month.
Recently most of Ariel's care fell to her father, well her father, grandparents and the Butler siblings. Holly tried to be above ground as often as she could and thanks to the permanent visa that had been granted to her at Ariel's birth (The Council may have been a bunch of long winded narrow minded dolts who frowned upon and Human Fairy interaction and outright scowled at Holly and Artemis' relationship but they certainly weren't about to separate a child from it's mother) she now lived on the surface and commuted to Haven daily.
But the past month had seen a crime wave sweep through the Lower Elements, firstly the Goblin gang turf wars had escalated from skirmishes in the tunnels into all out war on the streets of Haven, then Fairy artifacts began disappearing from their museums and galleries to wind up in Human collections, Artemis had been called in to assist with the Human aspect of the investigation, petty crime in Atlantis had skyrocketed to a new century high and to top it all off a group of university Pixies had seen their way clear to form a little society in the name of Opal Koboi with the expressed intent of carrying on her work whilst she was incarcerated.
The LEP had pooled every resource and man or woman they could get their hands on and Holly Short hadn't been above ground for a month and a half.
Artemis missed her terribly, though not that anyone who hadn't known him for his entire life would be able to tell and he was increasingly worried that she wouldn't make it back above ground before Ariel started crawling or said her first word. He knew Holly would be devastated if she missed that.
"Calm down now Airy Fairy" Artemis said softly rocking Ariel gently and to Angeline's shock using the nickname Beckett had coined for her. ("Get it? Airy-elle and Fairy cause..." "We get it!") The nickname Artemis had immediately hated and swore never to use. If the sight of her granddaughter had melted Angeline's heart into a puddle then the sight before her now was evaporating it. She gave a small smile and decided to admit defeat. For Today at least.
STORY NOTES
True Colours: There have been many studies on the affects colours can have on our moods and while I may not be a believer and feel the same could be said of Artemis is I think he'd be willing to put the theories to the test. Green is hailed as a good colour to use anywhere in the home becaus it relfects nature and therefore can give the illusion of space and a connection to the outdoors but it also supposedly cvombines the calmess of blue and the happiness of yellow plus green cancels out blues 'cold' and yellows 'warmth' so tempreture remains steady, I have no idea how a colour is supposed to effect the climate but I'm just going on what the decorating sites told me.
Nappies: Diapers for all you Americans and possibly Canadians.
Ariel: Let me explain this name. So I was searching the web for a nice Irish name to give Artemis' kid when I came across a fantastic site (The first one that comes up in Google search if you need one) that gives names from amoung many other things Irish Mythology. I came across the name Ailill which means 'Elf' and another version of Ailill was Irial, which to me looks phonetically similar to Ariel (which isn't Irish...) I chose Ariel over Irial because Ariel was also the name of a character in the Shakespeare play 'The Tempest' Ariel was a spirit tied to the character of Prospero who rescued him sometime before the actual play takes place, he/she (Ariel's gender has caused a lot of debate) is used by Prospero to spy on others. Also the most commonly known use of the name Ariel is Disney's 'The little Mermaid' where it's the name of the main character, I'm sure we all know the story. I thought Artemis would apprieacte the literary comparrision of the first and as for the second well think about it, Mermaid living below the ocean longs to go to the surface, Elf living below ground in a similar situation.
Holographic projector: I am a fan of the show 'X-men Evolution' and in this show the character of Nightcrawler who looks nothing like a human is given what is called an 'Image Inducer' so he can go to school and the like. It's a device that looks like a watch and casts a hologram over him so he appears normal. I personally think it's cool idea and tend to carry it across into other fandoms where it would be useful, even if lets face it it'd never work in real life.
Anyway that's all for now I apologuise for my poor spelling and punctuation. Feel free to tell me what you thought I accept critism just please be constructive and polite.
Ari Out