Chapter Two: Throwing a Turnball

Foaly's Home Office

Artemis sat back in his chair as he watched Holly and Foaly on the screen in front of him. It would seem they were both having similar dreams that included the genie that he saw earlier. When he showed them the footage, he could see surprise in Foaly's eyes, and anger in Holly's. After all this was yet another creature they had avoided their detection, and it was now in trouble. Holly stood with her arms folded over the label of her jacket and scowled at the footage as it ended. Artemis already knew who the owner of the jacket was. Commander Julius Roots. He sighed and pretended not to have noticed.

"So, what do you think?" He asked them.

"Isn't that a bit strange, I mean, as far as I know... computers don't surf the Internet on their own and find things we didn't even know really existed." Holly said, looking over the printed information about Wisher.

"Seems too convenient to me," Foaly said, "Why would this just fall into our laps?"

"Well, you did say it was in trouble, and to find it." Artemis said, "maybe it just has a better touch at computers then you do."

With that Foaly began to chew Artemis out. He knew he had to get Foaly thinking straight, which was difficult these days. Once he had settled down, he seemed more awake to the current situation.

"Sorry old friend, I know you're the best." Artemis said, trying not to sound too strange. "But I need you both to think hard about this. It's another case like before. A human has a magical creature and is trying to sell it to make a profit."

"Seems to be a pattern with mudmen." Holly said under her breath.

"I honestly think this is a trap, and that this poor genie is the bait." Artemis said.

"Whether it is bait or not, we have to do something. Just from that video I fear what it's neck will look like under those chains." Foaly said.

"What will LEP do to help with this?" Artemis asked. Ever since the lemur, he's felt more akin to the small furry creatures. Seeing one like it in pain made his stomach do back flips.

"They're are busy with a troll that escaped, I don't think they will help us much." Holly said.

The trio went quiet for a while, thinking to themselves. It wasn't something new for them, having no back up from LEP. It had happened several times before and they had managed to pull through. As before though, they know how dangerous one human can be once they trap themselves a fairy. They had to factor in that two of them felt like zombies at the moment, and that Artemis was under the watchful eye of Butler and his younger brothers. Taking a trip topside to deal with it themselves would take at least a week to authorize, since it would be a non-LEP operation. Again, no biggie. What Artemis said next made both Foaly's and Holly's stomachs churn and hearts skip a beat.

"Why don't you two sleep together?" He said, not looking up from his papers.

"What?" Holly blurted.

"Ack, I meant-! Not like that!" Artemis said, realizing his mistake a little too late.

Holly was about to verbally punch Artemis in the face when Foaly spoke up.

"What mud boy here is saying that he thinks we can link dreams, a common practice in other parts of the world. Since our dreams contain the same genie, she might be able to speak to us and give us a heads up on what is going on. In order to have such a linked dream state, we would need to be within a close proximity of each other, thus allowing our subconscious minds to connect." He said all in the same tone, without looking up. He already seemed half asleep and was only speaking information.

" Correct." Artemis said. "Holly, why don't you escort Foaly to your place? I can only see mounds of mechanical stuff behind you. I myself should retire for the night."

"Good idea." She agreed and placed a hand on Foaly's shoulder.

"I'll email you guys what I've found so far and you can view it once your both on your feet again. Good night you two." He said, and once they said their good byes he closed the link.

Foaly almost fell over right then and there. Holly grabbed him under the arm and looped one of his over her shoulder.

"Come on, no sleeping yet." She said, helping him get up and grab a jacket.

"Do we really need to go to all the way to your place?" He mumbled.

They both briefly looked at his home, then agreed there was nowhere to rest.

The walk back seemed to be taking a while Holly thought. No, it's only because Foaly has four feet and three are asleep. No other reason. Haven was beginning to turn a soft crimson as the artificial sun started to demand dawn. Holly tried to focus on the way home, that's all she had to do she kept telling herself. Yet with a sleep deprived mind and the effort to carry her friend, her mind took the time to run around without her control. 'I do miss him... We all do...' Her head lowered as she unlocked her front door. 'We need him...'

Holly's apartment was small, but still comfortable enough. She moved Foaly to the couch and positioned him on the couch the best she could. He would have a kink in his back when he woke, but not that he would mind too much for the sleep he'd get. Holly went to the kitchen and turned on her laptop. She sent a message to Commander Trouble Kelp, saying that her and Foaly badly needed some time off to deal with personal sleep issues and their "fowl" moods. She sent the message and got a drink from her fridge. After chuckling about the 'sleep issues' he would let them have the time off, recognizing her choice of words for the last part. After checking up on Foaly, who was contently drooling in his sleep, Holly went to her own bed. Exhaustion swept over her body the moment she spotted her pillow. She was out before she hit the sheets.

When Holly opened her eyes next, she was not in her room. Instead she was standing in a vast field of grasses. The moon hovered over head, seeming rather larger than normal. Although it looked peaceful, it had an uneasy feeling about it. She soon spotted Foaly galloping over to her, but before she could greet him he pinched her cheek.

"Ouch!" She responded, and rubbed the spot. "Wait, what?"

"Exactly what I thought. It's a dream Holly! But it seems we can feel pain." He said.

"That's strange..." She said.

"Yeah, gives me a creepy feeling." Foaly said.

"I find it comforting..." said a tiny voice behind them.

They both turned to see Wisher sitting in the grass, watching the moon. She looked free of her bonds and her white fur had its glint back. Soft blue runes skittered along her paws and her tail. Holly leaned over to touch her, but Foaly gently touched her shoulder to stop her.

"Wise move, Foaly." She said, not looking away from the moons. "I would love to feel a friendly stroke on the fur... but I need to concentrate on here. Now. Besides, Neither of us would feel it."

"Ah..." They said, and took a step back. It was a moment before they began to speak.

"Who are you? Why have you not said a thing before? Where are you?" They began to ask, each for their own questions.

"I'm Wisher, the last genie. I haven't had the strength or hope... I thought everyone else was dead or didn't care. I don't know where I am. I'm owned by this human, my gem was sold to him from a miner who did not know what he possessed. He comes, wishes his demands, and if I don't grant them, he beats me. If I behave and do as he says, then I get to have a glimpse of the moon..." She said, her voice growing quiet at the end. "He never lets me rest long..."

Holly knelt beside her, and spoke as calmingly as she could. "Wisher, we need to be able to find you to help. Isn't there some way?"

Foally watched the two whisper and he looked at the moon. "Err, guys? The moon is fading."

"He's coming!" Wisher yelped. "He must know, he always knows!" She leaps to her feet, but didn't run. Instead, she leaped into Holly's arms. "Please... Find Me!" Holly hugged her close, gently. "I promise we will, Wisher. Just hold on." The dream and wisher seemed to melt away. They were placed back into their own minds for their own dreams. They slept the rest of the night, their bodies too tired to wake and chat about what just happened. Commander Trouble Kelp poked about his office, 'I want to sleep in too...', he thought.

Wisher felt pain before she knew she was awake. He had stunned her again. She sat up the best she could, and shivered when she heard the voice.

"Good morning ticket." His pet name for her, his golden ticket... "I've got a new wish, lucky you."

"..." She kept her silence. He said his wish, and she gasped. "N..No..." She couldn't do that. How could she? But she was bound by fairy rules themselves to obey her master's wish. But... Such a wish would put Holly and Foaly in danger. All of Haven would be in danger. She had no choice... He would start to beat her soon if she delayed any more. She stood on unsteady feet to command the wish true.

"I want someone just like me, only of your kind, to come and aid me with my plans!" He had laughed harshly as she stood. "You know more fairies then me, so pick. And pick wisely!"

She chose, and felt the pains of commanding a wrongful wish. For of all the people she could of summoned... Turnball Root, was the only choice she could see.