-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-

(Somewhere in the future)

It is a stormy night and to Riley's luck, a lightning bolt struck the generator house of Opal's mansion. If his life in not in so much danger now, he would have mocked Opal about such a horrible house design but of course, Opal is not the one who designed the manor in the first place, it was her husband. Riley grimaced, what kind of human in the right mind would marry someone like Opal anyway? It must be the greatest mistake a person could make. But then again, no one knows who 'Belinda Zito' really is. Thinking about that, Riley somehow felt sorry for Opal's said to be family.

Although being a Fowl means not only riches and fame but also danger, Riley was contented with that. He'd give everything, and even do anything just to bring back the old days when they were all together. Even from what happened earlier that day, Riley won't give up in this goal.

-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-

Flashback

As usual, he was slacking in his work again when someone came in his work area to deliver his lunch. Expecting it to be Pandora or some of Opal's dumb minions, Riley didn't bother to look at the new comer. He heard the person place a tray on the table near the door.

"Here is your food, hybrid" an extremely familiar female voice said. She pronounced the word hybrid with such distaste that made Riley's blood boil up to the boiling point.

He turned to give her a witty insulting response but when he saw who the person was, the words he was about to say stuck in his throat, like a huge lump. He felt cold inside and his legs felt weak as his heart started to beat faster than the usual. For a moment he felt as if he lost the ability to speak.

"What are you looking at?" the woman asked, completely annoyed

For a good two minutes, all Riley could do is stare at the woman. He wanted to cry and hug her like a lost child but something kept him back. Finally he found his voice but his brain only ordered his mouth to utter only one word

"Mother…"

At first the woman blinked twice in shock before gaining back her composure and immediately snapped back in the same irritated tone she used before.

"Who are you calling mother Hybrid?"

Riley rarely displays any emotion when he is surprised or shocked, maybe just a few blinks or a little widening of the eyes, nothing too exaggerated but for the first time in his life Riley's mouth hung open in shock.

"Mother…your - tell me your joking" he said, as if to reassure himself

"Stop calling me mother hybrid or I'll shoot you," the woman answered ominously and to prove that she is not joking, she pulled out a fairy-type gun that Riley wasn't familiar off and pointed it at the young boy.

"Mother, it's me Riley. Remember? I'm your eldest son," Riley said despite of the threat the woman gave him.

Without hesitation the woman pulled the trigger, luckily Riley managed to dodge it. Who knew training with the Butler kids would be this handy?

"Mom!" Riley nearly shouted all formality forgotten

"Stop calling me that! I don't have any sons! Heck I don't even have a husband -,"

"What did Opal do to you?" Riley asked out loud, still looking wide eyed at his mother cutting whatever she is intending to say

The woman's eyes widen at the question as if it insulted her, but Riley knew better, "Don't you dare speak something vile about my mistress hybrid"

At those words, realization struck and it struck hard, like he has been hit by a truck. Of course, his mother is a strong woman and would not easily submit her loyalty to any person, especially Opal. It would be like waiting for pigs to fly. She would never ever call Opal her mistress not unless… "She brainwashed you," he said his speculations aloud. His eyes never left his mother; he was too confused, scared, shocked and angry to even think clearly.

He didn't even dare to move away when his mother pointed her gun at him, ready to shoot.

"How dare -,"

"Please stop," Pandora's voice cried out. Riley's mother held her fire, looking at the daughter of her said mistress

"I can take it from here thank you, you can leave us now" Pandora ordered gently. Riley's mother gave Riley one last look of disgust before marching out of the room.

When his mother was out of sight, Riley nearly collapsed into a nearby chair but he kept his expression blank. To Pandora, the only thing that processed in her mind is that, Riley is not feeling well. He is white as a paper sheet, his hands are trembling and he is breathing faster than normal. There is a hidden expression in his eyes that she couldn't place. She saw that same expression a few days ago after he regained consciousness due to over fatigue and she doesn't know what that emotion is.

"D'Arvit!" Riley cursed angrily, throwing a graduated cylinder to the wall, shattering it. Riley stared at it for a while before throwing a glass beaker to the wall as he muttered a string of incoherent curses.

"Riley is something wrong?" Pandora asked, not knowing what to do.

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine. Why would something be wrong, huh?" Riley answered, his voice dripping in sarcasm glaring at Pandora.

Still not knowing what to do, Pandora just bit her lower lip to fight her tears, "I'll just leave you alone then."

-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-

Riley sighed; he didn't mean to vent out his anger on Pandora. But then again, she was a traitor; she might as well deserve something like that as response. But still, why is it that somehow, he had this strange feeling that Pandora is innocent.

Brushing the idea off, Riley stood up, lit a candle before he locked his bedroom door. Then he returned to his bed and lay on his side. For weeks, he was afraid of using the communicator his father gave him in case of emergencies but the power interruption that night was a perfect opportunity to use it. Twisting it in the way his father taught him, Riley took a deep breathes in before he quietly called a person on the other end of the line.

"Cythus…"

Cythus is the third youngest son of their godfather and the closest one to Riley because they are only a few decades apart. But, of course, all of Foaly's sons inherited his love for teasing Artemis and his sons and vice-versa. There was a long pause on the other side of the line. The long pause is followed by a loud thud, which Riley assumes to be Cythus tripping over something.

"Riley?" came Cythus's uncertain tone. Riley heaved out an exasperated sigh. That seems to be an enough answer for Cythus immediately said, "You're not dead! Congratulations!"

"I'm deeply touched by your concern Cy," Riley said sarcastically, rolling his eyes in the process however he kept his voice low that only he could hear

"We heard about what happened. No matter how much we wanted to send someone to help you escape, we need to focus on the attack here and I'm telling you, we need all the help we could get," Cythus explained. Riley could hear that he is typing something on his computer keyboard. Knowing him, Cythus is probably working on securing the line

"How are things down there?"

"Bad…really bad," Cythus answered and his tone said it all, "So many casualties and we are lacking magic. Only a few of fairies are able to perform the ritual."

"Is it true that godfather is -,"

"Yeah," Cythus interrupted preventing Riley from continuing, "He was assassinated in his office. Mother is so devastated so she is extra helpful in treating the wounded saying something about continuing the fight whatsoever."

There was a pause; Riley didn't know what to say. He never tried comforting someone who just lost their father.

"I know Opal is behind all of this but based on the surveillance videos, a human did the murder. It doesn't make sense," Cythus continued, preventing the pause from getting too long

Riley felt a sudden cold feeling rush in him. His thoughts immediately went on a roll, thinking of the possible persons who did the murder.

"How is everyone there? Mom is the one asking," Cythus asked, snapping Riley out of his train of thoughts

"Honestly, I don't know," Riley answered, "I'm being held prisoner apart from the rest of the family because the pi-man is making me fix the time machine -,"

"You're fixing the time machine? Alone? You're bluffing." Cythus interrupted, in a fake astonished tone to tease him then he returned to his normal tone, "This is no time for jokes Riley."

"I'm not joking," Riley answered through girthed teeth. Riley heard Cythus chuckle died down so he continued, "Temmy temporarily broke it to buy some time. Pi-man wants to destroy our entire existence. Apparently, Opal doesn't trust father to fix it so she turned her attention to me."

There was a pause of silence then followed by Cythus's slow answer, "Okay"

"I'm not joking around," Riley said though he kept his voice under control

"I believe you. Julius Riley Fowl is not the kind of person to joke anyway because he is not good at it," Cythus answered. Riley nearly face palmed, even in difficult situations they still love to tease him.

"Father and Angel are being held captive somewhere in this malodorous manor while mother is brainwashed," Riley said, continuing his always interrupted report

"Your mother is there? And did you say brainwashed?" Cythus asked immediately and started typing on his keyboard for an unknown reason.

Riley did a quick summary about the events earlier that day, how his mother tried shooting him in the head for calling her mother. Of course, he left out the part about Pandora

"I have no idea where my grandparents and the rest of the Butlers are either." he added after the story

"What about Temmy?"

"He is in who-knows-where back in time," Riley answered and did a very fast forward version of the events that day when Opal came to the Fowl Manor. After that story Riley took a deep breath and continued, "If Opal continues her devious plan, Temmy will be there to stop her."

"That is if I give him the device. That's why I contacted you." Riley added and gave a sigh, "As much as I hate admitting this, I need your help on this one"

He heard Cythus chuckle at the other end of the line at the last part of what he said.

"Whooh, did I hear that right?" he teased, "You're needing my help. Well that's something new coming from a Fowl. Can you say please when you say that?"

Riley rolled his eyes, "Cythus…"

Cythus sighed, "Alright, fine. I'm all ears. What's your plan?"

-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-

Present time

There is nothing much to say to what happened after dinner. And from the two time travelers, they were just too willing to leave the dining hall after the dinner is finished.

"See I told you our family dinner is not that bad. And it was pretty normal, if you ask me," Temmy said, glancing down at Cerise, who was humming something Temmy haven't heard before. But then again, Temmy was never a fan of Cerise's choice of songs.

"Pretty normal?" Cerise repeated

"Well it was," Temmy defended

"Oh sure," Cerise said rolling her eyes, "Disregarding the fact that there are two teenage geniuses there -,"

"Why only two? You are disregarding me? And it's genii," Temmy commented

"Plus two five year-old geniuses," Cerise went on as if not listening to Temmy

"They are six years old and its genii," he corrected once again

Cerise blinked twice before rolling her eyes at him and waved her hand as if dismissing the idea off, "Whatever…two presidential bodyguards, a fairy and two time-travelers." She finished

"And your point is?" Temmy answered raising an eyebrow

"You have a weird description of normal,"

"Only because it is not normal for it you it does not mean that it's weird. Try looking things through a Fowl's point of view and you will see that I mean,"

Cerise can feel her cheeks turn red. Of course, who was she to say something like that?

"Right, I'm sorry." she apologized and Temmy just gave a nod as an agreement. That didn't reassure Cerise though. But from various experiences, it was better to let the storm pass than to fight it.

So both of them walked in silence which was only broken when Cerise reached her room

"Good night," she said to Temmy, hoping that he will at least just say a sweet good night to her

"Yeah, night" was all the answer he gave. Cerise sighed and smiled apologetically at him.

Temmy felt a little bad for being mean to Cerise as he thought about what he said when he was on his way to the Manor library. Maybe he'll just apologize to her tomorrow, when his mood lightens up a little.

Meanwhile at the library, Artemis was looking for a good children's book to read since his father already finished reading all of the stories in their room, the twins told Artemis to find some in the library. Never did he imagine those eyes could be so powerful. Then a knock echoed throughout the room and in came a beautiful French girl. At the sight of Artemis, Minerva immediately beamed at him and walked closer.

"Hello Minerva, I hope you enjoyed our dinner awhile ago." Artemis said as he climbed the ladder to look at some books at the high shelves.

"Yes I did," Minerva answered gleefully, "I hope you don't mind if I borrow some books from you library. I just thought of reading a bit before going to sleep."

"Don't worry, I don't mind. You can borrow any books you want." Artemis answered as he read the contents of a book

"What are you looking for?" the French girl asked

"A story book," Artemis answered as he climbed down the ladder

"My brother always lets me read to him too." Minerva said with a knowing nod. Then her attention shifted on the huge glass window on their right, just in time to see some fresh snowflakes coming down from the heavens.

"Oh look, it's snowing," she said a little excitedly despite of herself and walked to the window. Artemis followed her and watched the falling snow.

Artemis II is not actually fond of playing in the snow. In his whole childhood, he never played in the snow. He didn't even try building a snowman. For him it was a waste of time. As a young child he had a lot of things in mind, his father made it clear that he would soon be inheriting the Fowl wealth so at an early age he must start learning to be responsible. But of course, that is not just the reason why Artemis didn't like the snow.

"You don't like the snow?" Minerva asked, noticing Artemis's frown

"Not entirely. I just don't like the idea of getting wet," Artemis answered, not a complete lie though

"Typical Artemis Fowl II," Minerva giggled, shaking her head, "Oh it's nice to finally have a break at things." she added, stretching her arms a bit

That comment was followed by a good five-second silence. Minerva once again looked at the Irish genius and one look was enough to tell that he is deeply thinking of something.

"You seem to be thinking a lot," she commented to get back his attention

It didn't fail and Artemis was brought back to reality, "Hmmm?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Many usual things that kept popping inside my head." he answered with a smile, his eyes tell a different story though. It was as if he is hiding something important

"Of course, you wouldn't be Artemis Fowl if you stopped thinking." Minerva answered, smiling as well. She took a deep breath and with her best smile she continued, "Do you think about me too?"

"Of course I do," came an automatic answer from Artemis.

"Like for example?" she pressed on in her sweet tone

"Like how you are? How are you in school? Have you discovered something I don't know yet? Things like that." Artemis answered truthfully.

"Nothing more?" the French girl asked further.

Artemis gave a slightly puzzled look as she stared into his mismatched eyes. This is one of the rare moments when Artemis's brain has one of those 'abnormalities' causing it not to function well. Minerva walked closer to Artemis, not talking her eyes off him.

Then suddenly, for an unknown reason she looked up and a surprised smile spread across her face

"Oh look mistletoe."

Artemis looked up and no doubt, there was mistletoe hanging above them. For a moment Artemis frowned, he made it clear to his mother that he doesn't want any mistletoes hanging around when someone is coming over. There was an incident a few years ago when he was young when the daughter of his father's friend nearly fainted in excitement when the same situation happened, only Artemis had no idea what do people do under the mistletoe before.

He was pulled back out of his childhood memories when Minerva reached out and touched his cheek. Her eyes twinkled that Artemis had to stare at it for a while for an unknown reason. For her it was now or never, she stood on her tiptoes and slowly lifted herself up to reach Artemis's lips.

Now or never, right?

Minerva closed her eyes and was about to give him the awaited kiss when someone cleared his throat loudly at the end of the hall and closed the door loudly behind him.

"Sorry for interrupting." Temmy said but didn't actually sound sorry at all. The two immediately stepped away from each other but since Temmy was covering his other eye, he can't tell who is redder but he was so sure the Minerva was glaring at him.

"Can I borrow some books?" he asked

"Go ahead," Artemis answered.

Temmy chose some books on the shelf and when he turned to look at his father and Minerva, the young French girl planted a quick peck on Artemis's lips, causing the latter to just stand there.

Minerva caught Temmy's eyes and gave a smile of satisfaction and left, still blushing. Temmy looked back at his father, who just reeled himself back to his usual self

"Okay…" Temmy said slowly, picking up the books he dropped, "I could have lived without seeing that."

And with that he left.

As he walked down the hall, the scene before kept replaying in his mind. Did that really happen? Was that really a part of the past? Now he knew why Riley hated the French girl and Temmy can't blame him. As he passed by a hall mirror, he caught a reflection of himself and to his horror, the Hamogram ring has totally powered down. Clear as crystal he could see his mismatched eyes; blue and hazel, like his father's. His heart started to beat faster, he must return to his room right away before someone sees him like this. His eyes would be dead giveaway of who he really is.

Then a thought struck, what if that little scene is not really part of the past, will that little scene change the future?

"D'Arvit!" he involuntarily spoke out followed by a few curses in Gnomish and hit the wall

Unknown to him, standing a few meters away from him was a certain female elf, who was on her way to her room after a drink of water. When Temmy realized that she was there, the first thing he could do is to cover his hazel colored eye. He knew that she heard what he said and for an unknown reason, Temmy felt scared, like a child caught lying.

"Is something wrong?" Holly asked

"No…Its nothing," Temmy shuttered.

Okay, now he is shuttering?

Temmy shook his head lightly and walked away, never daring to look back at the bewildered expression of the female captain.

Temmy prayed with all his heart that Holly would just forget that incident that night but knowing her, he would be on her top list of people to investigate at that moment.

-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-