Chapter Three
"Come away, O human child:
To the waters and the wild
with a fairy, hand in hand,
For the world's more full
of weeping than you can
understand."
- William Butler Yeats
Outside, Mulch was attempting to rake up the glass from the exploded windows, oblivious of the epic battle going on within.
"Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go!" He stilled, then slowly turned just in time to see seven ridiculous looking "dwarves" with shovels slung over their' shoulders disappear around the corner of the house.
"What is-"
"Supercalifragalisticexpealidodious!" What was going on? There was a bunch of penguins in suits dancing around with orange men that had green hair! They were wearin coats that said WONKA? Mulch screamed, and dropping his rake ran to the garden.
"That's it Fowl, I'm done," he said, and unhinging his jaw, he dove into the soil and tunneled away.
"I'd like to blame this on typical mud man interference, but this time it is Mulch I hear, that brings me back to your humble abode, Mr. Fowl." Root ground down on his cigar in frustration. "Where is he, by the way?"
"I believe the Oompa Loompas frightened him off," said Holly.
"What?" Root's face became a deeper hue of red.
"Nothing, never mind. Regardless, we have to figure out a way to reverse this and put everyone back where they came from."
"Foaly is still working on a plan," Root said. "What happened with the duel?"
"I think they are still at it," said Artemis. "It had reached the solarium a little while ago."
"Show me where this whole thing started."
Artemis led the way down to the library, but in the doorway, a gigantic purple dinosaur held out his arms in glee.
"I LOVE YOU," he began singing.
"What is this?" screamed Root, furious.
"YOU LOVE ME!" The dinosaur advanced towards them, reaching out for a hug.
"Draw your weapons," ordered Root, "prepare to fire on my command."
"WE'RE A HAPPY FAMILY!"
"SHOOT!"
With several laser blasts, the purple giant lay stunned and unconsious on the rug. Gingerly, they stepped around him. Commander Root looked around the library, at the scorched software mingling with incinerated books, and smashed tea set. Shaking his head, he said,
"We'd better wrap this up quick." He glanced down at Barney, "it's getting ugly now."
"Butler, can you contain our guests out in the garden before they do to much damage," Artemis gestured out the window at the penguins who were now summersaulting over the rose bushes into the Oompa Loompa's arms. Butler nodded and left.
"Commander, at least the..." Holly waved her arms, "characters, are only on the Fowl estate."
"So far," he snapped back.
"Yes, but at least we have it localized right now. It will make it easier for Foaly to sort through."
Butler strode down the garden path toward the penguins. A whirring in his ear tickled and he swatted at, what he thought was a fly. But an affronted gasp made him look again. A tiny fairy wearing a green leaf-like dress, gave him a snobbish scowl and buzzed off toward the house. Butler stared after her for a moment, but hearing the penguins, decided that he had bigger problems at that moment.
Tinkerbell circled the house, then seeing the broken library window, flew in and settled on top of the bookshelves. Down below, two elves and one human man were discussing something. In the doorway lay a large purple and green dinosaur, out cold, with it's tongue hanging from it's mouth. Her eyes settled on the human. His black hair glistened in the sunlight. Tink's eyes grew big and she fluttered her wings. Pan's recent rejection of her in favor of Wendy glowed within like a hot ember and she now saw Artemis as a balm to her wound. Cheeks flushing, she chittered joyfully with a girlish thrill. But then her eyes turned to Holly and saw the way they looked at each other.
Jealousy is a powerful emotion, and Tink felt as green as her dress in that moment
