This is my first fanfiction in English. Please don't go away because of the

grammatical, spelling or syntactic mistakes and review, it could help me. I hope you'll enjoy

it.

Disclaimer : I do not own the characters nor the places contained in Artemis Fowl.

1. The accident

The pale boy lay unconscious among the remains of his jet aircraft. Blood was

trickling from his mouth, accentuating even more Artemis Fowl's usual complexion. The

quicksands, bubbling lazily, had started engulfing him. In the jungle, the birds had stopped

singing, and only the sputterings of the incandescent torn parachute were still to be heard. The

shut mouth of Artemis was now covered by the treacherous swamp, and soon the nostrils

would be filled in the same way, putting an end to the life of the most astonishing youth of

Ireland.

But suddenly, emerging from the thick bushes and huge trees, appeared a tall elf

dressed in a short tunic of shining silver cloth. With a curved stick, he reached Artemis' body

and dragged him to the shore. Then, firmly, he knelt down and stared intently at him. After a

long moment, a strange grin widened on his face. The elf took a scroll of parchment out of his

pocket and look at the picture. Same bloodless complexion, same dark hair, there could be no

doubt about it : this young adolescent was the most famous Mud Boy having ever dealt with

the Fairy People. Consequently a threat. The elf's smile disappeared, his features hardened.

There was no time to lose wondering about what to do : what could be the best ? The

elf took the fifteen-year old boy in his arms and clipped him on his belt. Then, activating his

wings, he flew to the beach of the lonely island. A broken trunk seemed to be waiting for a

passenger to transport. Without hesitation, the elf put Artemis Fowl in the hollow trunk and

pushed the makeshift small boat in the sea. The elf's face lit again.

" Farewell, Mud Boy ", he whispered. " And do not come back again… Never… "

He watched the trunk sailing away without the slightest remorse, although he knew the

ocean was dangerous at that period. However, what he actually wanted was Artemis to sink

without anyone noticing it.

Artemis woke up crying, his head buzzing furiously. He had a sigh of relief. All that

had been a nightmare. A terrible nightmare. No accident, no fire in the cockpit, no parachute.

Only a bad dream. And what a dream, really ! Flying alone over the Atlantic Ocean, without

his loyal manservant Butler to look after him. How silly ! But, wait a minute… No ! It was

real ! For a second the boy had felt his heart stop. For Heaven's sake, where was he ? Why

did he feel so seasick ? What was that terrifying noise he heard ? A thunder of waves…

Artemis raised. What he saw was appalling. In the weakening light of dusk, as far as he could

see, there was only water. No land in sight. Not even a boat. And behind him, attracting the

trunk he was in, a huge whirlpool. It was only a matter of seconds before he was crashed by

the power of water.

Here Artemis' great IQ would be of no use. Had it been an electronic system to fight,

he would have found a solution, but what could he possibly do in presence of such a force of

nature ? Jump overboard, to avoid being jailed in a sarcophagus ? the adolescent thought

bitterly. Before he could think more of his horrible end, Artemis was sucked in the whirlpool.

The speed was such that water was not able to enter the boy's lungs. In fact, Artemis could

not even breathe a single particle of oxygen. All he could do was hear the thunder of the

stream and see the blue of the sea carrying him in the depths of the ocean.

The lack of air made his lungs burn with pain, and Artemis was about to faint when his

infernal descent briskly ceased. Instinctively, the adolescent swam upwards. Nevertheless, he

felt it was too late, for his body could no longer move. His vision started to blur, catching a

glimpse of a slim fish urging towards him. Adieu, cruel world, thought Artemis, I won't have

the life I dreamt of. He fainted.

A mermaid grabbed his shoulders and kissed him gently to give him some air.

Immediately, Artemis became less pale and the lines on his brow went away. The creature

activated her rainbow-coloured wings, then carried the boy to a gigantic dome which she

crossed without difficulty.

2. Atlantis

Artemis' opened his eyes, blinking at the powerful bluish light above him. Although

he felt a great tiredness, his limbs were not painful after all they had encountered those last

hours. He gathered his thoughts. All had begun that morning at the Fowl Manor, in Ireland.

He had awaken in a state of great excitement, after a dream he had had. During those last two

years, when he had discovered a plot against him, he had kept searching for the truth. All had

stayed a blur in his mind, as in Juliet and Butler's. There was no way finding out what had

happened, all was out of reach. However, a week ago, a dwarf, who had introduced himself as

Mister Mulch Diggums, came knocking at the manor's door. The security system had not

noticed his arrival at the entrance gate.

The man had insisted to see Artemis, and then he had smiled with teeth like

tombstones, hugging the adolescent in his arms. Artemis was surprised at that reaction but had

not protested because the view of that strange man had reminded him of important but lost

memories. Mister Diggums had given a golden medallion to Artemis. It was a small disk, the

size of a coin, with a hole in the centre. The young boy, for a reason he ignored, could not

detached his eyes from the medallion. Suddenly, images of small creatures with pointed ears

and wings came to him, as those of a man-horse tapping on a keyboard. You need to sleep,

boy. Too much readings about magical creatures. It was Mulch who had brought him back to

reality. After a look in the sky, where the sun was rising, the mysterious dwarf had suddenly

said goodbye to the youth and run away.

Artemis had closely observed the dwarf's gift on the microscope, and quickly noticed

a scratch on the golden surface. So he had carefully scraped the layer of gold until a digital

disk appeared. Artemis had feverishly put it in his computer and found incredible documents

about fairies. The more he read, the more he remembered the written facts. It seemed unreal to

him but the documents proved that the mentioned "mind wipe" was the cause of his

incapacity to discover the plotter.

Artemis had the answer to his questions about Butler's recent weakness : he had been

shot dead because of Artemis ! The description of his restoration to life was incredible. The

young Irish mastermind had asked the help of the Fairy People ! He had to regain his

memories of these events. He would go to Florida, where the most skilful neurologist worked.

Consequently, Artemis discretely went to his jet aircraft and flew towards the United States.

He would not hurt anyone this time. Juliet and his brother Butler would be safe from his

extravagant plans.

Artemis had successfully regained his thoughts and was flying towards the Emerald

Isle when his plane had had one of its wings on fire. Then it was all blurred. But where was he

now ? The boy sat straight. Around him, great walls sculpted with delicate patterns. Through

the window, above the house he was in, a huge cupola separating the air from the sea. So he

was underwater. He walked cautiously to the vault of the room and waited. No one to be

seen. Artemis ran down a cobbled street and stopped at a crossroads. Fairies were walking

peacefully on the roads : elves, dwarves, centaurs, pixies, gnomes, even unicorns and flying

mermaids !

Someone grasped Artemis' shoulder. The boy almost gave a start but relaxed when he

recognized the captain of the LEP, Holly Short. The fairy was smiling at him. She was pretty

in her electric blue pareo and bikini. Her long auburn hair was flowing to her waist. She was

even prettier than in her official uniform. Artemis Fowl blushed and lowered his head shyly.

" I thought you were out of business since our last meeting ", she teased him.

" Hey, Holly ! " the adolescent said, smiling too. " Glad to see you ! "

The fairy took his hand and brought him to a desert square.

" Aren't you… angry ? " Artemis asked with an arched eyebrow.

Holly Short laughed heartily. Artemis felt strange. The fairy was… wow…

marvellous. The genius repressed his feelings : well, boy, love and adolescence, quite normal

actually.

" Angry ? Me ? ", said Holly. " Why would I ? I'm on holiday, Mud Boy. But, tell me, how

did you manage to come in Atlantis ? "

" Atlantis ? " choked the boy, puzzled. " The engulfed isle of Atlantis ? "

" If you could see your face, Artemis, really, it's amazing ! " laughed the fairy. " Atlantis is

legendary and engulfed for Mud Men, but in fact, it's nothing than a readaptation to new

activities. "

Artemis listened to Holly wide-eyed.

" Oh, Artemis, stop looking at me this way, you look like an owl ! You humans are so

stubborn ! Atlantis has never been destroyed by a cataclysm, sinking down into the abysses

was just of way of stopping Mud Men invading it. Too much tourism can be a threat to a

place, you know. "

The adolescent stood by Holly's side, perplexedly staring at the dome.

" You didn't answer my question, Mud Boy " Holly went on. " How did you manage to come

here ? "

" I didn't do it on purpose ! " Artemis protested. " My plane crashed over an island ! The last

thing I can remember was sailing on board a trunk, although I don't understand how it could

have happened. "

Holly Short looked fixedly at the pale adolescent. His expression was sheer sincerity.

But with Artemis Fowl, one could not be sure. Holly, struck by a sudden thought,

suspiciously said :

" How come you still know me, Artemis ? "

" I've just been to a neurologist. He reactivated what was hidden in the recess of my brain. "

It was Holly's turn to be amazed.

" But a mind wipe has never failed before ! "

Artemis smiled widely, pride shining in his gaze.

" I had told Butler to put all the information about the Fairy People on a disk. The one I gave

Mulch Diggums. He gave it back to me yesterday. And so here I am, with the full possession

of my memories. "

The fairy captain was tempted to blame him, but remained silent, admiration showing

in her eyes.

3. Contacting Julius Root

" Artemis, even though I'm not on duty, I will have to tell Commander Root about your

coming in Atlantis. "

The boy nodded, perfectly aware that it would be difficult for Julius Root to believe

him. Holly Short made her way to her home and put her helmet on her head. Once the

communication was established with the LEPrecon, the fairy asked to talk to her commander.

Soon, a red-faced male fairy appeared on her visor.

" Yes ? ", he said. " Holly… Captain Short ? Is that you ? "

" Yes, sir. "

" Weren't you spending a week in Atlantis, Captain ? You deserved those holidays, after all

you did for Haven City. Don't tell me you miss your missions ? "

Holly cleared her throat, avoiding her superior's gaze.

" Artemis Fowl is here, Commander ", she simply said.

Julius Root's face turned scarlet. He coughed violently before asking in an angry tone

of voice :

" Won't that Mud Boy ever stop messing with Fairy People ? "

Holly Short interrupted her commander.

" It was an incident, sir ", she explained calmly, " Artemis was wrecked. "

Silence from the LEP commander.

" Are you sure it was an incident, Captain ? ", he asked slowly.

" Yes, sir. I've heard witnesses. They saw an elf reject the unconscious Mud Boy to the sea. "

Julius Root groaned.

" I want a complete report of that, Captain Short. And the fairy who is responsible for that

disaster must be identified. "

" OK, Commander Root. "

Before Holly cut the communication, her boss cried :

" Wait a minute, Captain ! ", he barked. " Why am I not surprised that this Mud Boy is still in

contact with us ? Has he regained his memory ? "

The fairy girl did not answer. Her commander sighed.

" Well well well ", he said hoarsely. " Bring him to the Haven. No way discussing, it's an

order ! "

To be continued…