Chapter Ten: A New Game Begins

"Arty, are you sure about this?" Artemis' mother asked as she watched her son finish packing up his things.

"I'm quite sure about this mother, I'll be fine." Artemis said as he taped the boxes shut. He had a feeling it would be coming down to this in the end, and now felt like the time to do so.

Mrs. Fowl couldn't believe it was already to that point. Her little Arty was moving out all on his own into the big world. She agreed that the house was much more active then he was used to, and now that he was pursuing his own life he'd need to focus more. He was like his father, there was nothing she could really say that would stop him at this point.

"Are you sure you'll be okay? I mean, moving away from the manor." She asked him.

"Mother, I will be fine. You have my new addresses and phone number, and I'll be moving closer to my friends. They'll help keep an eye on me." Artemis said, knowing she would know whom he was speaking of.

With all his possession packed and loaded into the car, he said good bye to his family one last time. Butler was going to stay with him as his body guard for as long as Artemis would permit, but he was getting on in years. He would be returning to the manor to help look after the younger siblings. They got into the car and started their journey to Artemis's new home.

"Sir, are you sure about this?" Butler asked.

"I'm positive." Artemis said, watching the landscape going past as they were driving. The drive would take several hours. Dusk was falling as they rounded a corner, his new home would be on a hill as well. Artemis liked having the high ground. Something shined in the tall grass along the road as they drove past. Something oddly familiar. "Butler, stop! Here, stop!" The brakes screeched as the car rocked to a halt.

Haven City

Root plashed cold water from his apartment's sink onto his face. It had been a long day of healing warlocks and grump ex-superiors. Foaly didn't stop jabbering at him till he closed the door on his face after grumpily saying good bye. He knew the centaur wouldn't take it personally, since it wasn't the first time and he would be back at his door in the morning. LEP falling apart, then coming back together again. Holly and Artemis swapping eyes. A new species lost and then found and then lost again. Weather in Haven. He allowed himself to fall back onto his bed with a quite grunt. He hadn't done that since he was... well, he can't remember ever doing that. So much had passed since he was gone, it was as if he was in another world completely. For a moment, he wondered how things would have happened if he had not been killed. Holly would never had been forced to run and start all over again. LEP would have stuck together, so much wouldn't have happened. Root felt an odd pain in his chest and sat up.

The small computer on his table began to beep annoyingly. As a present from Foaly, he wouldn't put it past the annoying centaur to have set the most annoying beeping sound in the underworld as his new message alarm. He got up and started to make his way towards the machine. Not sure if he wanted to check the message, or simply smash it and get some rest. Later he was glad he decided to read the message.

Artemis's Home

A two story modern styled home, Artemis had it remolded to his liking. Butler was slightly impressed by his young masters new home, but then again, it was Artemis. It couldn't have been any normal home. Their guests had arrived by the time they were done unpacking. Holly came into view standing outside the doorway, sitting on the stained chestnut railings. The common night time light fog hid their transport, but butler could sense there was more of them.

"Welcome to my new home." Artemis said to Holly as she stood up. "You and your friends are welcome inside. I've got a surprise for you."

Trouble came into view on cue for the word "surprise". Holly followed Artemis and Trouble into the home. Butler stood outside waiting for Foaly to gallop his way over from locking down their shuttle. Once they were all inside and seated, Artemis reached into his bag and pulled out a small box.

"You brought us here to see an old paperclip box?" Trouble asked, sounding frustrated.

"Not the box, but what is inside it." Artemis said, grinning as he took out a small gem stone. It took the group a moment before they noticed what was so significant about the gem.

"That was Wishers' gem stone!" Holly said. "But where is Wisher?"

Artemis walked over and handed Holly the gem. "Take a look."

The group crowded together as Holly held the gem up to the light. Directly in the center they saw a small, curled up and sleeping, Wisher. Holly stared at the gem, feeling slightly confused.

"She must have used all her magic, and then returned to the one place that was safest for her. Inside her gem." Artemis suggested.

"But then how did she get all the way from Haven, to here?" Trouble chimed in.

No one really had an answer. Teleportation came to mind, but Wisher never showed that ability in the time they knew her. Genies were not really as well known as they should have been. The group decided it was best to keep this to themselves. With everyone thinking the genie was gone, it was probably for the best. At least, till things quieted down in Haven. Holly held the small gem, grateful she did not lose another friend.

Haven's Criminal Asylum

Turnball sat quietly in his padded cell. He must be mad. Julius paid him a visit. Mad, he must be. He could still see the colors of the cell the LEP boys had painted just for him. What was up, what was down. Wait, someone was at the door. Or was that a sink? Oh, his mind hurt now. Someone walked into his cell, closing the door behind her. She had four hoofs, how interesting. She looked pretty. Where had he seen her before. Oh no, she held a needle! Turnball tried to utter a word, something, anything. A warning, a scream, help? Nothing.

"P-Pancakes!" He muttered gaspingly.

"Hush, this won't hurt. I'll be needing you..." The female said and sedated Turnball. She then yelled to the guard. "He's dead! Someone has killed Turnball Root!"

They came like flies to her trap. The LEP guards got the same treatment and were down before they could ask what was wrong. The female lifted Turnball onto her back and moved towards the doorway. Her mind had been so much clearer in the past few months, and her leader had given her the most rewarding of tasks. This last one, stealing the brother of their old enemy, was the finishing touches to their plans. With a shimmer of light, she was outside of the asylum and in the streets of Haven. People moved around her as if she didn't even exist. Walking around her as one would subconsciously walk around a mailbox to not hit it. All according to play. Caballine looked up at the skin with a smirk. Who would win this round? Foaly and his group of fairies, or herself and her new friends. The stakes were now much higher than ever before, and her opponents had no idea yet. In an instant, she and Turnball were gone. Let the games begin.