Hey people. Sorry for that scene in the last chapter but hey it's a story plot. And a grave robbery is a good plot.
Since it's fan fiction I believe it is safe to say I really don't own anything besides the plot. I don't understand why I need to say this since it IS fan fiction but better to be safe than sorry. Well I'll shut up now
Enjoy.
-Kaylin H
Haven City
Despite the rumors heating up in the underground city of Haven, Holly Short was not an undercover cult member, not going on random surface runs, and most definitely not seeing someone. Gods.
Holly was growing more tired of these ridiculous rumors. And they were spreading like wildfire. I mean,undercover cult member;come on! Still, the People couldn't seem to mind their own business or stop whispering to one another while she crossed the street. Seriously, all she was doing was heading for a hair appointment. The surface shuttle port is on the other side of the city, people.
The surface
Holly hadn't gone to surface in months, not even to complete the ritual. Not since... well, it didn't matter.
In truth, the People worried about her. The once rebellious, sarcastic humored, care free LEP captain just one day stopped smiling that brilliant smile, never cracked a sarcastic joke, or even strapped on a pair of wings and set skyward in those past two months. Even on days where the city was lit up and lively, she remained concealed in her shell.
Holly was walking back to her apartment after her hair appointment. She wasn't wearing her typical LEP uniform but civilian clothing instead. She wore a pullover grey hoodie, washed out ripped jeans, and black boots. She's changed her looks these past few months. Her hair now hung above her shoulders in a simple bob cut. Her brand new blue-green highlights shone in her wavy auburn locks.
She always found small distractions to help keep her mind off... recent events. So why not color your hair.
As Holly strolled down the block, she couldn't help but notice fairies stares in her direction whispering to their neighbor. She listened as they watched her with curious eyes, accusing her of things she would not be caught dead doing.
She was able to listen in on the conversations surrounding her.
"Isn't that the LEP captain from the news?"
"I thought she quit the LEP".
"Nah, she's just on a long break"
"I heard that she got a bad injury that mentally scarred her for life".
"Ridiculous! I heard that some friend of hers died and the LEP let her go".
Holly shot the pixie youth who confirmed that last one a death glare, feeling her face heating up not a second later.
She put her hood up and continued down the street. Holly promised herself that she wouldn't let these rumors get to her head. That last one, however, stung. Just how much did the public know?
Holly felt tears welling in her eyes as took her earbuds and phone out from her back pocket and select "Calm Down" by Krewella from her Mud Man music list.
There was no doubt that our good captain has changed due to these unfortunate events. She used ito not let anyone or anything hold her down and put the People first and emotions second; now, she felt as if she's been strong for too long. She shut the world out so she could explore her emotions on her own. She found small changes her best idea for coping, dying her hair for instance or introducing herself to human EDM music (which she found herself loving, especially Krewella).
If you to look at her now, you may think that this was just a harmless mood swing and she would get over it soon. But if you truly looked deep in eyes you could see her insides burning. Her emotions battling against one another as she carried on her grief.
The elf was about to turn the next corner when she thought she heard an ear splitting cry for help through her music. She froze in her tracks, took her earbuds out and listened...
"Quiet, kid!", she heard a gruff voice bellow.
The LEP captain slowly made her way to the next alley entrance and duck behind a trash can. Two fairies, one elf, one large sprite had a younger sprite pinned to the wall. The poor sprite looked scared out of his mind.
"We'll just take what you have and be on our way", the elf snarled.
"P-Please, I'm telling y-you. I don't have anything", the smaller sprite stuttered
"Shut up!", the elf ordered.
Holly felt her police instincts kick in as she formed a plan.
"We're not gonna hurt you unless you give us problems. Clear?"
The sprite nodded and the elf set him down. That's when Holly abandoned her hiding place to face them.
"Hey!",she screamed to get their attention.
The three all turned their heads in her direction.
"Here's how it's going to work",she started. "You put him down and walk away before things get messy. And we wouldn't want that now would we?"
The two big fairies took a long glance at Holly before they looked towards each other and started laughing.
"Yeah, and what are you gonna do, girly? You think you can take us".
Holly smiled sickly. "Funny you should ask, cause it seems like I just might".
Before the elf giant could even blink, Holly advanced and whacked him in between the the eyes. She thought she heard a crack before the other elf hit the ground.
The bigger of the sprites present dropped the smaller one and lunged for Holly. She slipped out of the way as her attacker tripped on his own feet and hit the hard concrete.
Holly stood and walked over to the two unconscious figures to make sure they were unconscious. That was easier than I thought, she thought to herself. She turned to the adolescent sprite, trembling on the ground and held out a hand to help him up.
"You okay, kid?"
"Y-yeah, thanks",he muttered. "If you didn't show up I would be dead meat".
"No need to thank me. It's my job",she paused "Or it was".
The young sprite took at moment to get a good look at her.
"Hey, you're that LEP captain from the news. Holly right?"
Holly looked stunned. "Yeah that's me. The media can't seem to mind their own d'arvitting business", she looked down at her feet.
"Hey I never believed those silly rumors anyway", he assured her. "Whatever the real story is, I hope you work through it".
"Thanks, kid",she smiled.
"No problem".
"Okay, listen. I want you to call the LEP now before they wake up", she nodded towards the unconscious fairies. "Make sure you tell them everything but don't mention my name and don't make the call until after I leave. Commander Kelp would drag me back to the Plaza and have my head".
The sprite understood and nodded.
"Okay, once I leave make the call", with that, Holly turned to walk out of the alley.
"Wait, Captain!"
Holly turned towards him "Yeah?"
"Thanks again"
Holly smiled and nodded in return then continued her way to her apartment.
Awhile later when she made it to her complex, she noticed the environment seemed a little off. Maybe I'm just being paranoid,she thought. But when she reached her automatic door she saw it wide open and the key pad fried. She barged in, ready for a fight,but when she looked around she saw that no one was there and everything didn't seem to have been missed placed.
Her apartment was small but homey. The kitchen and living room in one area while the two doors on the other side lead to the bathroom and bedroom. Nothing seemed to be tampered with but she kept her guard up. Then she heard something from a dark corner in the kitchen area. Almost like... a clomping of hooves? She studied harder and saw a large,dark figure there, not paying any attention to her.
"Who's there!", she demanded. She looked around the room for something to defend herself with. In the corner of her eye, she saw a metal flower vase. She dumped the flowers onto the carpet and got into position. "I won't ask again!". She raised the vase higher as a warning.
The figure was now definitely, paying attention to the elf. They slowly reached for the kitchen light switch and flicked it on.
"Woah,Captain. No need for that"
Holly sighed in relief and lowered the vase. "Foaly, don't scare me like that".
The centaur looked shocked. "Me? You're the one threatening to bash me in the head with a vase, might I remind you!"
Holly scoffed. "Only because someone broke into MY apartment, might I remind YOU!", she mocked.
Foaly sighed in defeat. "Yeah, I had that coming".
They stood in silence for a few moments, taking it all in. Nether one of them had seen the other in months. Foaly was so worried about his friend and right now he just wanted to embrace her and ask if she was alright, but he knew she needed space. Foaly finally broke the silence.
"Holly-"
Holly cut him off. "What are you doing here, Foaly?".
He sighed and walked over to his friend. He hesitated to tell her what happened on the surface. Considering how she reacted to the medical records, how would she react to this. "Holly something happened", he began. "On the surface".
"Don't tell me", Holly cut in holding a warning hand. "Something happened to the Mud Boy and you want me there".
"Well technically speaking-"
She lowered her head, shaking it. "I knew it",she muttered.
Foaly reached a hand towards her. "Holly".
"No,Foaly",she backed away from his reach. "Forget it".
This was the kind of reaction Foaly had feared. He wanted to help her,but knowing how stubborn Holly was, made it impossible. "Holly listen to me", he urged on. "Eight months ago, when we found a way to save him, you were willing to break every rule in the Book for him" He grabbed her shoulders and made her face him. "You didn't care if it was illegal or what the costs were. You knew that it would work. Why? Because back then you actually had hope".
Holly shrugged off his hold on her shoulders. She walked over to one of the chairs in the living room area and sat down. Foaly watched as she hung her head and started making small noises. Foaly couldn't tell if she was crying, but as he listened carefully, he found that she was laughing.
He raised an eyebrow at her, concerned. How could she be laughing. When she finally stopped he saw tears forming in her eyes.
"Hope, Foaly?",sadness and uncertainty clouded her features. "Hope is what you make of it. It can either be a vision of a better future or it can be reminder of what exactly you don't have and that's the reality".
Foaly was taken aback at his friends statement. Once behind those eyes she had determination and hope. Now, Foaly saw anger and despair and hopelessness behind that hazel and dark blue eye. That blue orb in her skull was one reminder of what she didn't have. The one that once belonged to the human in question. What happened to her, Foaly thought. Now or never. I have to tell her.
Foaly took a deep breath and took the plunge. "Holly, I can't imagine what you must be going through and I know it's been rough",he started, "but something brutal happened at the manor and we need your field of expertise". Holly didn't reply, instead she just stared into space. "Holly". She finally looked at Holly him. "Please".
She thought about this for a moment. On one hand, it would be good for her to get out and see everyone again. On the other hand, did she really go to the birthplace of all her grief. It was a hard decision but in the end, she made the one she felt was best for everyone.
Holly silently nodded at Foaly. He let a relived sigh. "Okay, but what happened. Is he..."
Foaly shook his head. "This is about Artemis but...not that Artemis"
Holly looked confused. "What do mean, that Artemis...". Slowly she understood. He meant the original Artemis. Her features soon became concerned. "Foaly, you don't mean".
Foaly nodded. "Artemis' grave..."
Holly went from concerned to vengeance seeking. "Foaly!".
He sighed and looked at his elfin friend in the eyes. "...has been stolen from".
The look on Holly face was definitely vengeful and outraged. In honesty Foaly didn't expect her to react like this. This was terrifying.
Holly then raced to her room to get a few things, without saying a word. When she finally came out she had a duffel bag slung onto her shoulder. Foaly just stared at her, afraid to move. She came to the door and stood in the entryway. "You coming, donkey boy", she turned to face him. Foaly just nodded but stayed still.
"Oh, and Holly", he called.
Holly faced the centaur again.
"When were you going to tell me about your hair", he pointed at her new highlights.
She just groaned and rolled her eyes and continued out the complex.
"Uh, excuse me. But I think I have a right to be concerned about these kind of things", he called after her.
"Would you just shut up and move!"
So what did you think? Crazy huh. Well don't worry the next chapter will be out soon. KREWELLA FOREVER! Later people.
