auth0r's n0te: i am n0t sure ab0ut y0u, but i did n0t really like h0w TLG ended. s0, i have finally decided t0 write my 0wn alternate ending t0 the last b00k. i may c0ntinue this as an actual st0ry at s0me p0int 0r i may just let it al0ne. f0r n0w it is c0mplete. let me kn0w what y0u think 0f it.

Death. It was a strange feeling. It was nothing like what you would see in the movies, but he had already known it would not be. He knew what occurred in the body and brain when a person died. Even so, knowing and experiencing were two very different things and no amount of knowledge could have prepared him for what he was going through now.

He had fallen, collapsed on the ground as his heart beat sporadically. This hardly mattered though. His attention was far away from the physical world by that time. As he collapsed his brain was lit up with an overwhelming amount of activity. It was a chaotic burst of memories overlaying the horrendous pain his heart was in and the terrible burning as the energy in his brain raced around his synapses. His childhood, the loss of his father, his mother in a steep downward spiral, the sprite he had tricked into letting him see The Book, Holly in a cell after he had kidnapped her, escaping the bio bomb, the train in the arctic and restoring Holly's magic after, saving his father, the C Cube incident, having his memories erased and later gaining them back on yet another venture, defeating Opal for a second time, Minerva, N°1, bringing Hybras back from Limbo, stealing magic, his mother ill from what he believed his own magic, returning to the past to find a way to save her, tricking the younger Opal, The probe in Iceland, falling deeper and deeper into the Atlantis Complex, All his therapy sessions after which he had soon felt were unnecessary including the last one just this morning. This morning… So much had happened since this morning that it felt as though it had been ages ago that the day started. Those memories replayed themselves as well, all of this tearing through his mind in a blaze that felt hotter than the surface of the sun in mere seconds that seemed to Artemis to have been decades.

And then it was cold. And dark.

His thoughts were beginning to come through again and he focused on trying to force his eyes open. Surprizingly this worked. His vision was blurry at first but soon the world came back into focus around him. There were animals and corpses scattered around, the former vessels the Berserkers has inhabited. His brothers and Juliet lay unconscious on the ground. He saw Holly and Butler standing there with shocked and sorrowful looks on their faces. Holly was kneeling on the ground hugging somebody close and sobbing into their shoulder.

'Oh…' was all Artemis could think as he caught a glimpse of the person's face. It was his own.

A chill washed over him then, like the biting cold that stings the skin while walking in a blizzard. Something in him felt heavy and he observed his friends, unseen by them. They seemed so miserable. It took all of his will to tear his gaze away from the somber sight. He let his eyes rest on the manor. Humanity had suffered a terrible blow today but had narrowly escaped an even worse one… but for how long? Artemis knew the ramifications of the Techno-Crash. The human world was filled with things that needed power to function and would be yield catastrophic results if that power was cut. In only a month it was likely that the world's nuclear reactors would go into meltdown as the water that had been cooling them evaporated. Eventually the gas and chemical factories would end up spreading their poisons. It would kill so many people and make large areas unlivable. If it was bad enough it might even reach the People… How much loss had they suffered already from this day's events? And all for what?

It was not right. None of this was right. None of this ever should have been allowed to happen.

He could make this right. There had to be some way to make this right.

Artemis scanned the area with his eyes, his mind running through scenarios and possible solutions at a million miles a minute trying to formulate some kind of plan. He did not yet stop to even have a look at himself, his demise not quite registering in his mind yet. He was a soul, free from his body and still, for the moment, tethered to the physical world. Had this wormed its way into his thoughts he might have found it curious and wondered if the delay in his spirit moving on was due to his being human, similar to how there had been a delay as spell cast from the gate searched for the fairy part of him before he had been killed by it.

None of this was currently occupying his thoughts. It would in due time when the realization of his death finally sunk in, but for now he continued his search as though he were still very much alive. His eyes eventually fell on the dead body of Opal Koboi, the dark magic it still held burning away at her flesh and revealing more at more of her skeleton by the minute. It was potent, the air around it shimmering from the smoldering heat of the magical energy. It was dangerous, but it was something he could use, seemingly the only thing he could use.

As he had in life Artemis willed his body, if a spectral form could be called that, forward towards Opal's corpse. He had stolen magic before, but that had been in the time stream. His body had been immaterial and he was able to integrate it into himself. He was immaterial now too. Hopefully he could take the energy into his ghostly body in a similar manner.

The raven haired teen knelt next to the corpses and extended a translucent hand towards it. The black magic reacted immediately, sparks going off and small bolts arcing across what was left of Opal before jumping at him. For a moment it reminded him of a snake attacking, intent to bite and infect the body with its toxic venom. It was a perfect comparison considering the nature of the power. Even so, as that bolt struck and was absorbed into him there was no turning back. The white hot searing flame of the magic met with the frigid cold of his spectral body sending the teen reeling in agony, despite his lack of a nervous system. How could he feel pain without pain sensors? I suppose that is like asking how he can think without a brain. The mechanisms by which ghosts functioned were truly an enigma.

Regardless of what he should or should not be able to feel or do, the agonizing pain continued. It was scorching like fire but burned more like acid and left him feeling exhausted and chilled to the non-existent bones. Even though he had no lungs he was panting as the spots the pain had caused cleared from his vision. Artemis tried to force his mind to focus on the task at hand through the residual throbbing. He needed to recall the spell that N°1 had cast to send Holly and him back in time. Thankfully, that flash of memories from earlier had brought the event to the forefront of his mind along with the rest of his life and he was easily able to pick it out and examine the little demon's actions.

For a moment he glanced back at Holly. She was still there sobbing into his corpse with Butler next to her trying to comfort the distraught Elf. The sight solidified his determination and he concentrated on the magic he had just stolen. It bubbled up inside his being painfully, burning once more. Sparks began to fall from his hands and spread up his arms and across his body. They danced in his vision almost mockingly, daring him to try to use them.

He began to cast the time travel spell, getting it as similar as he could to the once his warlock friend had not so long ago.

Then it was cold. And dark.

Artemis woke with a start, sitting bolt upright. Somebody was screaming…

It took him a moment to realize that the person screaming was actually him. He bullied his panicking mind to calm down and stop. Soon enough the noise died away, leaving him sitting there panting and covered in cold sweat.

'Assess the situation…' he commanded himself. He swept his gaze across the area slowly. He was inside a building in a room with the door closed. The lights were off and the curtains were closed but a dim light was beginning to try to force its way through the thin sheets of cloth. 'The sun must be coming up…' he reasoned. He paid more attention to the objects in the room. They were things he knew, things he recognized. '…because they are mine…' his mind said, and it was right. The objects in this room belonged to him, as did the room itself. He was sitting on something soft with another soft object draped over him. it was his bed and comforter. 'I was asleep…? Was all of it nothing more than a bad dream…?' Artemis wondered, reaching to get his phone from the nightstand. He opened his digital calendar and looked at his schedule for the day. As expected it told him that he was to be awake in ten minutes to get prepared and journey to Haven for his final session with Doctor Argon. The genius teen huffed and thought, 'Well then. I-'

Before he could finish that thought a flood of images crashed into his mind, memories of the day before, or rather the day that had yet to happen. His death, the black magic, traveling back in time to prevent it, everything came over him in a vast wave, leaving a horrid chill in its wake. He saw a few sparks dance across his vision and looked on solemnly. It had happened. He had died. And now he had come back and his soul seems to have merged into his younger self's. It had been like hitting a reset button on the day. A do over, if you will. And he could see two possible outcomes to it. The first was that things would play out as they had before and he would be unable to change the course that the events took regardless of his efforts which would result in his death once again. The other possibility was what he was hoping for, that with his knowledge of what was to happen he would be able to take measures to stop it before it occurred. Really, there was only one thing he needed to do to make that happen.

For now though Artemis could relax. He fell back on his pillow and stared at the ceiling, breathing heavily, letting it all sink in. there was once thought forcing its way into his mind and getting louder and louder by the second, 'I died.'

Finally, the realization of his own demise was sinking in, taking hold of his thoughts. It was startling. He had died. He had actually died. His entire life had flashed before his eyes and he had DIED. His body began to tremble and shake. Artemis rolled onto his side and curled up into a ball, the memory of the burning pain and ghastly chill taking over any logical thought and driving him to tears. The raven haired youth sobbed into his comforter for what felt like hours.

In reality it was only a few minutes. He jumped when the alarm on his phone went off, staring at the source of shrill sound with wide terrified eyes for a moment before his ability to reason returned to him and he calmed down again. He ceased the ringing on his phone and pulled himself out of bed to get ready for his day, pushing the traumatic memories aside for now. It was something he had always been good at, forcing away his pain and problems to get done what needed to be done.

With his goal in mind Artemis went through the routine he had the last time; showering, getting dressed in one of his nicer suits, placing the diagram he had drawn for Argon's brace in his pocket, stopping in the dining room for breakfast and finally standing with Butler in the foyer waiting for Holly to arrive to take them to Haven. As Artemis stood there next to the man mountain watching out the window for the ship he spoke without looking taking his gaze from the yard.

"Butler." The teen began, "I will need you to remain here today."

The large man shook his head and told his charge, "No can do, Artemis. I'm your bodyguard. It's my job to be by your side and protect you from harm."

The young genius sighed inwardly. He had figured that would be the answer he would receive; still he was not giving up yet. He looked up at the man with a grave and determined expression on his face and tried again, "Please. I need you to stay here today."

This time Butler paused before answering. There was something in his employer's voice and the look in those mismatched eyes that told him how important this was to Artemis. Of course, with no foresight into what was to happen today he could not know exactly why this request was so vital, but he certainly felt it. For one, Artemis has actually said please, something the boy rarely said. It conveyed something about the gravity of the request, making it less a request and more a plea. Butler sighed, hoping he would not regret giving into this and reassuring himself that if something happened Holly would be there and would keep him safe.

The bodyguard nodded once, "Alright, Artemis. I'll stay here at the manor this time. Don't give Holly any trouble and call me is anything happens."

Artemis's eyes widen for a moment in surprise and he turned his gaze back out to the yard. He could feel a wave of relief wash over him. He nodded almost imperceptibly and whispered, "Thank you, old friend… You have no idea how much this means…"

After Holly arrived Artemis boarded the ship and the two were en route to Haven. Holly asked why Butler had not accompanied them but Artemis shrugged it off in his usual arrogant manner. Though she was still curious and more than a little suspicious the elf held her tongue and watched her friend closely until they arrived at the clinic. From there Holly went to see Nopal while Artemis waited in a room for the doctor to arrive. This time he sat patiently by the water wall and allowed himself to meditate on the events to come. He was in no rush, knowing exactly when Argon would arrive. Besides, he needed a moment to help keep down those memories and feeling he had suppressed this morning. He was so close. It was no time to be breaking down now.

When the gnome hobbled into the room Artemis was in the exact place he had been the last time this had happened. He played the memories over in his mind as he relived them. They played out just as they had before and soon he was deemed functional and standing next to Holly showing her what he had taught Nopal on his previous visits. Just as before she received the call from Foaly about Opal the younger right on time and the two were on their way via the Stick to Police Plaza.

On their way into the building Artemis allowed Holly to get a few feet in front of him. He withdrew his cellphone from a jacket pocket and dialed Butler. It only rang once before the bodyguard answered and demanded to know what was wrong, having instructed his charge to call if something happened.

"The new security system has detected fairies on the property. It is imperative that you incapacitate them, but do not use lethal force." The Fowl heir instructed and proceeded to give Butler the location of the pint sized trespassers. The part about the security system had been a lie, though he planned to implement measures to detect fairies on or under the manor grounds if this plan was successful and they all survived. As it were he was giving their location based on memory, but he could not exactly explain that he had lived through this day before. Even with all they had been through already that may seem a little far-fetched.

Putting his phone away, Artemis followed Holly into the room where Foaly and Trouble were watching Pip and Kip on the monitor. Opal the younger was there in between them as she had been before, a hostage. Artemis fixed his gaze on the monitor, examining the cracked wall of his home behind the fairies. It was the same wall at Fowl Manor that looked like a map of Croatia. Holly, Trouble and Foaly were talking, but the human teen was not paying them any mind this time. Instead, he was completely focused on the screen, the sounds of the other beings in the room drowned out by the sound of his heart beating in his ears.

Ba boom.

Once. He waited.

Ba boom.

Twice. He watched, breath catching in his throat.

Ba boom.

On the third heartbeat there were two faint glints on the screen. Then the gnomes dropped to the ground before they ever drew their weapons. Artemis released a breath he had not realized he had been holding. Slowly, the panicked sounds around the room came back into focus, invading his ears. The officers were confused about what had just happened. Trouble Kelp growled and demanded, "What happened up there?!"

"Butler…" Artemis breathed out, knowing full well that his bodyguard had hit the two gnomes with tranquilizer darts. Foaly, Holly and Trouble looked over at the human who was still staring at the screen as though some type of miracle had just occurred. They had somehow heard him over the chaos in the room. Holly made her way over to him. When she got to her friend she immediately noticed the tears cascading from his eyes down his cheeks as he watched the monitor. The Elf reached a concerned hand out to place on his arm. When she did though she gasped, a few sparks jumping from Artemis to her. For a moment memories flashed through her mind, his memories. What she saw, all of the things that had now never happened, left her breathing heavily. Holly stared up at Artemis with wide mismatched eyes who slowly turned to look back at her. Tears were beginning to well up and drip down her cheeks as well and the two simply gazed deep into the eyes of the other, a mirror endlessly reflected back upon itself.