Frozen Summer
Ch. 1 Home Again
It was a pretty typical day for Artemis Fowl.
If you call being shut in a study all day on a computer, hacking the FBI website typical. But anyways, back to Artemis. The boy genius was still glued to the computer screen typing away on a new plan. A totally illegal scheme, mind you. The boy stopped typing and pondered what had happened over the course of the last 3 years.
He had discovered the People, a civilization of mystical creatures who lived underground in a city called Haven. Artemis smiled remembering the Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecain Police whom he had kidnapped and held for ransom.
That started a whole new series of adventures with the People who Artemis had befriended and helped with several crises.
Over the course of the adventures, the genius had defeated a humanoid pixie Opal Kobai, traveled back in time to save his mother and a colony of demons, and fought against many enemies including goblins and trolls.
The boy smiled as he thought of Foaly and Holly, his two closest friends of the People. He hadn't seen them in a long time. Artemis half hoped the fairy communicator would ring and announce the new coming of a highly dangerous venture into the unknown. His train of thought was suddenly interrupted by his massive bodyguard, Butler.
"Artemis, lunch is ready," Butler rumbled in a low gravelly voice.
"One minute, Butler," answered his clearly distracted principal. Butler sighed. "Artemis, Madame Fowl insists on you coming right away." Now it was Artemis's turn to sigh. "Fine, Butler. Tell Mother I shall be down soon." Then the boy was gone behind the computers again.
Butler turned away from the boy and started out the door. Master Artemis had been in his study all day working on a new devious plan.
Frankly, Butler was a bit uncertain about the new plan. Knowing Artemis, this could get complicated as fast as you could say,' d'arvit!' He walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Angeline Fowl was there at the table. She looked up as Butler walked in.
"Well?" she asked.
Butler answered quickly, "He says he will be down soon." Angeline stood and walked out to the main room. The bodyguard could hear her yell up to Artemis," Artemis Fowl the Second! Get down here right now!"
Butler smiled slightly as he heard a muffled reply from Artemis then Angeline again.
"I don't care if you are in the middle of an 'important' job! You get yourself down here right now, mister!"
There was the pit-pat of feet on the marble stairs. Then Angeline and Artemis entered with Angeline looking triumphant and Artemis pouting slightly. Angeline slid into a chair and her son sat down across from her. Angeline smiled across at Artemis.
"Thank you, dear, for coming down." She said looking across at her son. Artemis had a soft spot for his mother, Butler knew. So he wasn't the least surprised when his charge smiled.
"You're welcome, Mother." Artemis replied. Angeline looked mockingly like a mother scolding a naughty toddler. "Now, now Arty! You know how I feel about you calling me 'mother'!" Artemis winced visibly.
"Sorry…Mom…." He answered a painful expression on his face. His mother paid his face expression no heed, only stood up and squeezed Artemis with motherly love. "I know, Arty. It's so good to have you home!"
Just then Artemis the First and the two rowdy twins came whirling in the kitchen. The twins laughed as their father chased them around the table. Artemis II and Angeline watched as the twins and the father collapsed into their chairs when Butler and his sister Juliet served lunch.
Artemis I looked up to Butler. "Thank you, Butler."
"You're welcome, sir." Butler replied, and continued passing plates around the table. Once all the plates were passed around, he and his sister sat down to their lunches. Conversation stated with Artemis I.
"So, what have you been up to Artemis?" he asked his son.
"Well Father," Artemis replied," I've been working on a new project concerning the Fowl aircrafts." Butler knew this to be entirely not true, but said nothing.
"Really Arty-boy?" his father said. "Is that all?" Butler saw out of the corner of his eye that Artemis winced at his Father's words. The boy nodded slowly. "Hmm. We shall talk later, Artemis." replied Artemis the First.
Lunch proceeded without any unusual events, just the friendly conversation around the table and the occasional interruption of Beckett or Myles screaming for help as their twin was taking over their sippy cup or plate.
After lunch, Artemis and his Father had a talk, in which Artemis the First severely told his son to not engage in illegal activities. Artemis said he would try, then again retreated to his study. Time passed without much change, except that Butler now stood in the study watching over his charge as he typed away on the computers.
Then the fairy communicator rang.