A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for all the reviews and for all of you who gave me feedback about what kind of ending you'd want to see. I'm sad to say this is the final part of the story, because I really have grown to love this thing. Anyways, I'll get right on with it. Here's part four. Enjoy!

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Part Four; Cerberus

Artemis stared at Eurydice for a long time with an unexplainable expression on his face. The ghostly woman had begun to get annoyed with her, as she had labelled him, eccentric guest, when he finally decided to reply.

"Doomed is a very harsh word," he said, "Perhaps greatly challenged. Or severely outmatched. Certainly not doomed."

Eurydice blinked stupidly at him. She shook her head and closed her eyes, attempting to gather her thoughts. Much to her growing annoyance, her gathering was interrupted by the sound of Artemis' voice.

"Can you help me?" he asked. She felt his hand lightly tap her wrist and she instantly recoiled.

"No," Eurydice replied, "I can't." Artemis did not seem to buy her answer. He pursed his lips and pressed on, knowing that Eurydice's advice was probably his only key to success. And besides, her response didn't sound all that sincere.

"You can't or you won't?"

Eurydice fixed her cold eyes upon his face, unblinkingly. If looks could kill…well, actually, that wouldn't have made much difference. And, very suddenly, the look on Eurydice's face changed from anger to sadness, as she still stared into his face.

"I don't need another fallen hero on my conscience," she muttered, finally breaking her gaze and staring intently at the surface of the table. Artemis frowned deeply.

"Look," he said as softly as he could, "If you help me, I won't fail. I just need an idea." Eurydice seemed to think about it for a moment. And for a moment the entire room was silent. Artemis could hear low growling in the distance. Eurydice must've heard the ominous sound as well, because she came out of her daze, a fiery look in her eyes.

"There's one thing," she said quickly, "Hermes was going to try it, but he was too afraid. Persephone knows that, so if you go through with it, she'll think you're really brave. And if you succeed…then wow…I can't even imagine how impressed she'd be. Now really, you should have nothing to worry about, because you're already dead. But I guess if old Cerb gets in a bite or scratch that would be fatal to Hercules, well then you fail. But it'll be okay. You won't feel anything. So how about it?"

"You want me to try something a god was afraid of?" Artemis was amazed. What could possibly frighten an Olympian? What could possibly harm an Olympian?

"Isn't that what I just said?" Eurydice quipped, "Are you going to do it or not?"

Artemis seriously considered it for a moment. He certainly wanted to save Holly, but was it really worth trying something that Hermes himself was afraid to do. Of course it was. Holly was worth anything. He had died for her and there was no greater sacrifice than one's own life.

"I'll do it," Artemis finally answered, his voice almost completely steady.

"Good," Eurydice said. She hurried over to a wooden cabinet on the far side of the room and threw open the doors. Artemis saw several glass vials lined up on the shelves, each containing a different coloured liquid. Eurydice ran her pale fingers along the middle shelf, muttering under her breath. She stopped about halfway through and pulled a vial filled with bright orange liquid from the shelf.

"This," she said, turning to Artemis, "Is your best bet." She handed him the vial and he studied the contents, shaking them around a little bit. It was the most beautiful shade of orange he had ever seen.

"What is it?" Artemis asked, his eyes never leaving the uniquely coloured liquid.

"It's water," Eurydice said in a matter-of-fact tone, "From the River Phlegethon."

"The river of fire," Artemis muttered, instantly understanding the orange tone of the liquid. "What do I do with it?"

"You drink it," Eurydice said, "Obviously."

"Isn't this exactly like what Hermes did?" Artemis asked, afraid the Persephone would find his approach boring and mediocre.

"I told you already," Eurydice sighed exasperatedly, "He was too afraid to drink it. He simply gave Cerberus water from the Lethe. Two very different methods if you ask me. Different rivers and different consumers."

"Why was Hermes afraid?"

"Because," Eurydice began to explain, "No one has ever tried water from Phlegethon before. It is rumoured to give the drinker great powers, but at an unknown cost. It's risky, I know, but unless you can think of something better in forty minutes…it's what you're stuck with."

Nothing that she had said registered with Artemis, save for the mention of how much time he had left before his battle. Forty minutes. He could've sworn…

"Persephone said five hours"

"I heard her," Eurydice nodded, "And it has been nearly five hours. Time passes differently in the Underworld. Much quicker. I mean, we have a lot of it, what with the whole eternity thing. Are you going to drink it or not?"

Artemis shook the vial around once more and nodded. It was his only chance to save Holly. Slowly and with uncertainty, he popped the cork off the glass and brought the vial up to his lips. Eurydice nodded and the man took a long swig, swallowing every last drop of the water.

Immediately, his throat began to burn and his skin tingled. Pain coursed through him, making him feel as though every bone in his body had spontaneously combusted. He fell to his knees and shook violently. Eurydice's eyes grew wide and she dropped to the floor, grabbing at Artemis' trembling form.

And just as quickly as it had started, the severe shaking stopped. Artemis sat on the floor, panting. He looked up at Eurydice, who was studying him curiously.

"Are you okay?" she gasped, "How do you feel?"

Artemis thought about it for a moment. He didn't feel very different, perhaps just a few degrees warmer than he had for the entirety of his time in the Underworld. Finally, he looked up at Eurydice, who was still staring at him.

"I feel the same," he said. Eurydice looked disappointed, a frown on her lips and a crease above her brow. She held out her hand cautiously.

"Stand up," she instructed. Artemis obeyed, reaching for her hand, and together they stood up. Once standing, Eurydice began to pace again. Artemis could almost see the gears turning in her head.

"Did it work?" Artemis asked tentatively.

"Not sure," Eurydice shrugged, "But we have no more time. Persephone hates bad punctuality." She grabbed Artemis' hands and once more he felt himself being pulled through various areas of the Underworld. When they came to a stop, Artemis took a moment to register his surroundings.

He and Eurydice seemed to be standing in a very dim cave, lit only by the presence of Persephone, who stood a few feet away, the terrible smile still on her lips. The cave smelled ancient and a little bit like wet dog. Artemis heard a river rushing just outside and used his better judgement to determine that it was Styx.

This could only mean one thing. This cave was the home of Cerberus.

As if on cue, the great beast growled, making the hairs on the back of Artemis' neck stand on end. He heard a sharp intake of breath from Eurydice.

"Artemis Fowl," Persephone spoke in a regal voice. She seemed much more ominous now than she had in the throne room. "Your job is to tame the guardian of the Underworld. You know what is on the line. And to make your task a bit more interesting…"

Persephone snapped her fingers and Artemis felt strange. He looked down at his arms and legs, noticing that the colour was rapidly returning to his flesh and his clothes. Eurydice let out a small whimper.

"What's happening?" Artemis muttered. It certainly wasn't a bad feeling, although he had a sneaking suspicion that the repercussions of regaining his colour would be quite terrible.

"You're alive again," she hissed, "A mortal. This is bad…oh gods."

Artemis paled considerably, looking strangely like a ghost again. If Cerberus hurt him, he would certainly feel it. Perhaps Eurydice wasn't too far off with the whole doomed concept.

"Any last tips?" Artemis whispered, "You know, before I die…again."

"Lead him out of the cave. He doesn't like water all that much. Or heat. Good luck."

And with that she snapped her fingers and disappeared. Persephone gave him one last smile and followed her, leaving Artemis alone in the cave. Well, almost alone. He heard the loud thudding noise of paws trotting against the stone floor. Heaving a deep breath, Artemis began to walk backwards, vaguely wondering why he had not asked Eurydice for a weapon. A lapse in intelligence which, for the moment, he would blame on death.

Gradually, Artemis met the end of the cave, still not having caught sight of the three-headed dog. Once he stepped out onto the shores of Styx, there was a bit more light, and he could see that the mouth of the cave was massive.

Artemis still heard the echoing sound of paws, and knew that soon enough he would meet the creature. He stared intently at the opening of the cave, and sure enough, Artemis Fowl was correct.

It started with a wet, black nose, roughly the size of a dinner plate. Then came the first paw, which could have flattened an SUV. Slowly, but surely, Cerberus emerged from the cave, Artemis' confidence inching away little by little, until the dog was standing completely outside of the cave, staring at the tiny mortal with hungry, blood red eyes.

"Cerberus," Artemis gulped. The dog, looking very much like a mastiff, seemed to have heard him. He cocked his head to the side, and growled ever so slightly. And then, Cerberus began to bark, and it took Artemis all his might not to cover his ears. The bark was louder than a rock concert and made Artemis cringe.

Suddenly, without any warning, Cerberus' left head lunged straight towards Artemis. The man barely had time to react, rolling out of the way just as the razor sharp teeth ripped through the soil of the riverbank.

Artemis quickly thought about what Eurydice had told him. There wasn't much he could do with the water, as Cerberus was massive and he doubted whatever water he could splash on the beast would do nothing but make him angrier.

Now, what about heat? There was no heat in the Underworld. Unless…

An idea had struck Artemis. He focused intently on Cerberus, on the fact that he was the only thing standing separating him from Holly. Anger and longing bubbled in his chest. From what he had learned being married to Holly, magic was greatly influenced by emotions. The more one felt the stronger their magic was.

Before he could explain what had happened, a slick stream of fire shot from his palms, which, luckily, were not in his pockets, but rather pointing to the ground. Cerberus seemed taken aback by this, a slight whimper escaping his throat, although it sounded more like the roar of a jet engine.

Artemis smirked, focusing and channelling his emotions. The water from the river had worked. Eurydice would be pleased. And apparently, so would Persephone. This time, Artemis aimed and shot the fire straight towards Cerberus, who backed up slowly.

"Good boy," he said, much more confident now, "Sit!"

The dog did not listen, so Artemis sent a tiny bit more fire right above his head. The dog growled, but sat down grudgingly, still glaring at Artemis as though he would make a fine meal.

"Good boy," Artemis repeated, his arms still raised in case the creature decided to change its mind.

And suddenly, the shore of Styx disappeared and the throne room of Hades and Persephone appeared. Cerberus was gone, and in his place stood five familiar figures; Charon, Eurydice, Hades, Persephone, and…

"Holly," he breathed. Without another word, he ran across the throne room, Holly meeting him halfway. Artemis scooped up his wife and swung her around, a smile on both their faces. After a few moments, the sound of faint applause echoed throughout the room. Artemis spun around and saw Charon, looking quite bored and clapping sarcastically.

"Do I have to bring the brats back up river?" he asked. Persephone nodded, glaring at her husband who half-heartedly did the same thing.

"You did very well Artemis Fowl," Persephone said, "I am quite amazed. As I promised, both your lives will be returned, and the mortal world will have no recollection of you ever having been deceased. Now go, before Charon gets an ulcer."

The transporter shot Persephone a brief dirty look, which she ignored, instead returned to her throne, followed by her husband.

"I can't believe you came to save me," Holly grinned, "You're crazy."

"Maybe," Artemis muttered, "Maybe." He glanced back at Eurydice, who stood in far corner, smiling, with tears streaming down her ashen cheeks. Holly followed his gaze, and then looked up at her husband knowingly.

"She helped you, didn't she?"

Artemis nodded, "She lost a loved one as well."

"Yes, but I didn't think that Arinna was one to help others."

Artemis was about to question that when he remembered that Holly saw something completely different than he did. He told Holly to wait one moment and approached the corner in which Eurydice stood. The girl quickly tried to hide her tears.

"You were amazing," she said, "What are you waiting for? Go be all Romeo or whatever."

"Eurydice," Artemis began sadly, "I could have never done this without you. I owe you a lot." He paused for a moment to glance over his shoulder, catching Holly's eye. His look told her everything she needed to know. Holly nodded and smiled.

"I would rather die," he continued, "than live with a guilty conscience. This is why you're going to take my place in the land of the living." Eurydice's eyes grew wide and she shook her head vigorously.

"I…I can't," she stuttered, "Don't be stupid. Go back."

"Too late," Artemis said, turning away from Eurydice and towards the thrones, with two eight foot tall occupants.

"Lord Hades, Lady Persephone, I wish to propose a trade."

"A trade?" Hades echoed, "What sort of trade?"

"The souls of Holly and myself, for the souls of Orpheus and Eurydice."

A silence fell over the throne room and Charon took the opportunity to sigh dramatically. Hades hissed at him to shut up and threw a gold coin in his direction.

"Interesting," Persephone mumbled, "After all you've done to get here?"

Artemis nodded bravely. Holly stepped up to his side, her head held high. Artemis couldn't help but smile faintly, wondering what exactly Frond looked like.

"Very well then," Persephone said, "So be it." She snapped her fingers and Artemis instantly felt weaker. He looked at Holly, and noticed that her nut brown skin was now ghastly grey. He reached for her hand and grasped it tightly. The two looked over at Eurydice, who now looked completely different.

Her white hair had turned to a bright blonde colour and her eyes a vibrant blue. The waist-length braids were replaced by a messy ponytail. She looked all the world like a regular human being. Beside her, slowly materializing was a young man, strong and handsome, with curly dark hair and deep chestnut eyes.

"Orpheus," Eurydice sighed. She leapt into his arms and began to cry. Tears leaked down his cheeks as he ran his fingers through her blonde hair. Charon cleared his throat loudly.

"I hate to break up the reunion, but I have a schedule to keep."

Eurydice and Orpheus looked at each other and rolled their eyes. The two began to follow Charon out of the throne room, Eurydice explaining iPods to Orpheus, who looked extremely confused.

"And as for you two," Persephone muttered to Holly and Artemis. She snapped her fingers and they were instantly transported, hand in hand, to the Fields of Asphodel.

Inside the palace of Hades and Persephone, the great Greek tragedies were re-weaving themselves. The banner telling the story of Orpheus and Eurydice slowly unwound itself, changing to a new form. Once it was finished, there was a picture of a pale man in a suit, clasping the hand of a much shorter woman with bright auburn hair.

The End

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A/N: It's over! I'm so sad. I hope you liked that! Please review and let me know what you think. Cheers! And I love you all so much!

-Liv xoxo