Bonjour, my friends! Hello, world! Greetings, universe! Ok, that's enough of that. Thank you for all the reviews, everyone!
Victoria of Memphis: Gracias for the review! Yes, he has indeed been paying attention to the twins… Beckett at least. Deadlines are a pain, but if I didn't stick to them I wouldn't have this chapter out for another month. It's all about motivation!
HallelujahTheCreator: I love making people laugh, so yay! Well, at least I think people laugh. It's a fanfiction, you see. Thanks for the luck, and keep reviewing!
ACompanyofSwans: I considered grumpy, but he's more sarcastic and lighthearted at heart than mean. They should've made a dwarf called Stinky! And thank you very much!
KayDee-DesignerExtraordinare: Thank you! And he's my hero too…
Enjoy the chapter! I don't think it's quite as funny as the last ones, but the plot needed it. Not that there's much of a plot to this story, but sort of a backbone. I've been considering an "evil" alter, but I think it would be too heavy for the story. I need some feedback, so let me know it you feel the same.
I do not own the curious but wonderful creation that is Artemis Fowl.
Artemis was growing tired of these induced sleeps. They did not leave him refreshed when he awoke, quite the opposite. He often found himself in need of a good nap to get rid of the effects of his unnatural sleep.
They were a necessary evil, however. Or so said Dr. Argon. And though Artemis had his doubts about the fairy psychiatrist, he didn't really have any choice but to trust the fairy.
In any case, the delusional idiot who shared his psyche was only a growing annoyance. Artemis had tried, somewhat, to accept Orion and integrate him back into his own consciousness, but he wasn't really making much progress. A part of him simply refused, despite everything, to accept that the psychopath that was currently leaping around the room, performing an interpretive dance about- surprise- Holly Short's attractiveness, could be part of him. Holly, one of the only friends he had in the world! Was Orion trying to make any conversation with his friends painfully embarrassing?
Artemis watched Orion dance around some more, an expression of pure sappiness on his face. No, Artemis concluded, Orion was not doing anything on purpose. Just look at him! He's got to be the most laughably innocent being on the planet, thought Artemis, He couldn't intentionally do something bad if he tried.
Suddenly Orion was at Artemis's side. This surprised Artemis if only for the reason that they generally avoided each other in the mind room.
"Artemis, my boorish counterpart!" stage-whispered Orion, "I fear there is an evil creature among us!" Artemis sighed. Orion didn't usually include him in his delusions.
"Orion, you deluded idiot, there is no evil creature in here. It is literally impossible for anything else to be inside my… our mind." But Orion pointed toward a corner of the room.
"You are mistaken, fellow knight! For there is evil in this room as sure as Holly is descended from Aphrodite, goddess of beauty." Orion paused, smiling sappily, then continued. "My knight's sixth sense is never wrong. Come, we must confront it!" Orion dragged Artemis forward.
Exasperated, Artemis obligingly followed Orion to the corner of the room. Then it dawned on him. This was where the pulsing egg like alter had lain the last time he was here.
"Orion-" Artemis started, but Orion interrupted.
"No time, my companion. We must find out what has found a way into our mind!" Artemis braced himself.
There was a figure in the corner. It was lying on the ground on it's back, the spitting image of Artemis and Orion. Then it opened its eyes, and Artemis could see the difference.
"Hello, Artemis, Orion," the new alter smiled, eyes glittering, "So nice to see you. I am-"
