Sorry about all the time it took for me to get this chapter out - I've been studying for exams and had to push fanfiction to the side for a bit. I'm hoping to get this finished on cue for Christmas, so I'd better get a move on. Enjoy and review, please :)

FOWL MANOR, DUBLIN

Artemis lay on the floor of the foyer, feeling the cold of the marble spread like icy tendrils along his skin. But even despite his fall and the throbbing lump that had now appeared at the back of his head, he recovered quickly. His brilliant mind refused to be restrained by unconsciousness, but his thoughts still felt slow, like he was waking up from a long sleep.

'Artemis, are you alright? I'm so sorry – I...' He opened his eyes to see Minerva. There was genuine concern and regret on her face, but he didn't care. He stood up shakily, ignoring Minerva's offer for help.

'Nothing to see here,' he said to the small crowd of people who had gathered around him, trying to sound calm. His thoughts were clearer now, and the panic of losing Holly was starting to set in.

'Are you sure we can't help you in any way?' Asked one by-stander innocently, before hurriedly shuffling away at Artemis's expression. Everyone else scattered.

'Artemis...we can find her, I promise, I can explain to her...'

Artemis turned to Minerva, her eyes full of remorse. He wanted to forgive the fifteen-year-old girl, but couldn't bring himself to it. When he next spoke, his voice was cold.

'You may leave now. Haven't you done enough?'

Minerva didn't answer. Instead she burst into tears, and ran out the door, sobbing.

Finally Artemis's brain kicked fully into gear. Grieving wasn't going to do anything – he knew that; he had to find Holly before she did anything stupid. For all he knew, once she was underground he might never see her again.

He grabbed the Bentley's keys from the sideboard, before making his way out the front door. Suddenly a large hand gripped his shoulder. It was Butler.

'This is your only chance, you know,' the manservant said quietly, so as not to be overheard. Artemis realised Butler would have seen the entire thing – he had been stationed by the door for most of the party to stop uninvited guests from entering. 'I'll drive you to Tara'

Artemis looked at him gratefully. 'Thanks, Butler'

The atmosphere in the car was still noticeably tense, even though Artemis had a clear plan mapped out in his head.

What if she isn't there? They'll never let me into Haven... Doubtful thoughts confronted him constantly. Or what if she won't listen? What if...?

He shook his head angrily. Being negative wasn't going to do anything. He pulled out a pocket Sudoku out of the glove box to help calm himself down, but he couldn't focus on the numbers. He shoved it back, frustrated. The Bentley was no doubt faster than Holly, but the road was windy and uneven, while Holly had a straight run across the fields. Artemis decided to voice his worries.

'Are you sure we can beat her there?' he asked.

'To tell the truth, I don't even know how she's going to get there without help –Tara is a long way to run to,' Butler comforted. 'She might not get there for hours'

Artemis shook his head. 'Fairies have much better stamina than humans – I suspect Holly would be able to travel for a very long time before she gets too exhausted. She told me that she renewed her magic today as well, so in theory she would be able to repair any injuries.' He frowned, premature lines appearing across his forehead. 'There isn't much we can do except drive faster'

Butler stamped down on the accelerator, nodding approvingly as the Bentley let out a throaty roar in response. 'Certainly, Artemis'

Artemis retrieved a map from under one of the back seats of the car, and slowly started tracing a route through the countryside. Butler couldn't help watching as he systematically worked through equations, not even bothering with a calculator. After a few minutes of silence, he circled a figure and showed the map to Butler.

'I've traced out two basic routes, the one in blue is ours, the one in red is Holly.' Butler nodded, but didn't interrupt. 'I have done some calculations, and assuming I was knocked out for approximately ten minutes, Holly had a bit of a head-start. But once I factored in the speed of the car compared to Holly, we should arrive there at least four minutes before her. If there are no obstacles,' he added.

Artemis instantly knew he had spoken too soon. He could hear an approaching wailing noise, and flickering red-and-blue lights were beginning to flash across the rear-vision mirrors.

'I'm going over the speed limit,' Butler told Artemis. 'They're onto us.'

Butler could almost hear Artemis's brain working.

'We have three options,' Artemis sighed. 'Option number one; you hop out and pulverise the police officers. Number two; we try to outrun them. And number three...'

'What?' Butler asked desperately – the police car was gaining on them.

'I run,' said Artemis quickly, before opening the door and jumping out of the car, ignoring Butler's shouts resounding into the night air.

ATLANTIS MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON

'Why are you here?' Opal asked Spikkle suspiciously. 'This operation has to run perfectly. Everything must run to plan.'

Spikkle didn't look worried. 'It will, Miss Koboi. That I can promise you'

'What makes you so sure?'

'Let me explain something. I have been working on the Atlantean military for ages, and helped design most of this prison. I know it like the back of my hand.'

'Why then, are you helping me break into it?'

Spikkle smiled mysteriously. 'Let's just say I have a bit of a...er, grudge against a particular person in the LEP. If you help me, ah...exterminate him, I'll help you enter the prison'

'And why should I do that?' Opal hissed. 'We can manage on our own, thank you very much'

Spikkle sighed and shook his head. 'No you can't. The security is far too tight – there's millions of ways to get yourself killed in there. Not even these security guards have been in the centre of the prison'

Opal looked doubtful, but seemed to take his word for it. 'Fine. It's a deal. Archie, go fetch the suits'

A few seconds later the small pixie reappeared, carrying a precariously balanced pile of suits, each in the same deep blue colour. He handed everyone one before retreating back to the pilot's seat. They were parked several thousand feet below the surface of the ocean in Opal's stealth shuttle - which had been modified specially for the purpose – preparing their break into the most secure prison in the world.

Am I mad? Wondered Archie sadly. For as long as Opal is around, I will never be able to have a real life. He shook the thought away, before checking to make sure the shields were working correctly.

Opal adjusted her sealed helmet, taking in a deep breath. Sterile, artificial air filled her lungs, and she shuddered with anticipation.

The airlock opened smoothly, allowing her to step out into the open sea - flanked by the two security guards, with Spikkle leading the way. She wasn't entirely pleased about these recent developments, but didn't protest.

The pressure of the tonnes of water above them was absolute – only their specially designed suits and previous exposure had prevented them crumpling like paper bags.

'Testing, testing, over,' came a slightly static voice through her earpiece. 'One, two, three, testing'

'Cut that out!' Opal snapped. 'You should all know perfectly well my equipment can function properly. Or do you doubt me?'

'No,' replied the voice. It sounded too calm and precise to be one of the dim-looking security guards, so she assumed it was Spikkle. 'But all equipment must still be tested...'

'Don't you lecture me!' hissed Opal, feeling her violent temper building. But she couldn't lose the know-it-all elf now, he was far too valuable. 'Just tell me how we get in this wretched prison! And turn on your shields, we can't be spotted'

Opal watched as the fairies all blended away into the background, before turning on her anti-shield filter on her helmet. Everyone else promptly came back into focus. To anyone but each other, they were invisible.

The prison was anything but a stereotype – it was a large sugar-cube-like structure, made of a deep green marble in the usual Atlantean fashion. But it was the walls which surrounded the building that really made it special. The inner complex was surrounded by what looked like a giant dome of glass 50cm thick, but Opal knew better. Still, Spikkle began to explain it to her.

'The domes surrounding the main building are actually made of a thick plexiglass – at about 50cm thick they are virtually inescapable. The only way in or out is through one door,' he pointed to an outline on the glass, almost invisible.

Opal approached the door outline, her palm hovering inches away from its surface. It was jelly-like, seeming to reach towards her enticingly. She quickly withdrew her hand.

'Smart-glass,' she breathed. 'I've been trying to get hold of this for years'

'Correct,' confirmed Spikkle confidently. 'It reads DNA - if it identifies a prisoner passing through it, they may as well have asked for a death sentence'

Opal narrowed her eyes curiously, waiting for Spikkle to continue. He ploughed on obligingly.

'Basically, if you step through it and it identifies the DNA of a prisoner, it will solidify with them in it,' he shuddered unnecessarily. 'If it detects people who aren't prisoners - just visitors – it will let them through, but set off the main alarm'

Opal didn't look disgusted like Spikkle - you could even go as far to say she was slightly amused. 'Serves them right,' she laughed; an awful tinkly laugh that sent shivers down Spikkle's spine. 'They're just a bunch of lowlife criminals'

So are you, Spikkle resisted pointing out. Actually, you're probably the worst of them all. Instead, he said, 'I've hacked the system and added our names to the list of permitted fairies, if it worked, we will be able to get through it with no trouble at all'

'And if we don't...'

'Seeing as your DNA is – or was – on the criminal list, you could be sealed in glass within seconds,' he told her.

He instantly knew he had said the wrong thing. In a flash he found himself pushed to the ground by Opal. 'If you have done this wrong,' she hissed through gritted teeth. 'I will kill you. Or these two will anyway.' She gestured towards the two security guards, who were standing stiffly either side of her.

'I will bet my entire life savings that it will work. I guarantee it' Spikkle said tremulously.

'How come you're so sure?' Opal questioned.

'I have my ways,' he replied, before carefully avoiding the topic. 'Come on. We need to make this fast'

Opal looked slightly tetchy, but sighed and walked straight through the glass. It was in odd sensation – even through her suit she could feel the jelly-like substance moulding around her form. It was a delicate moment, but was relieved to find the substance not changing from its usual state. Relief flooded her she stepped out the other side. Spikkle and the security guards quickly followed suit, all passing safely without incident. The main complex was where they had to be careful – security guards patrolled the area in an almost robotic fashion, constantly alert.

'The guards swap every fifteen minutes,' one of the security guards Opal had employed whispered nervously, talking for the first time. 'It's so they don't get tired'

'Makes sense,' said Opal offhandedly. Suddenly her tone turned serious. 'Please address me as Miss Koboi next time'

'Yes, Miss Koboi,' replied the guard, bowing deeply.

'Now, I've disabled the DNA cannons,' Spikkle told Opal, daintily ignoring her request, 'but we have to watch out for other traps – when I say stop, you must stop'

For once Opal didn't object. Briskly they walked towards the green marble building, just as a slow drone began to fill the air.

TARA, IRELAND

There were no tears as Holly ran across the field – but inside she was breaking. With every step she took, she felt a bit more of herself fall to pieces.

How did this happen? She asked herself sadly. It was so perfect...

The problem was; she just couldn't stop thinking about it. The vision of Artemis kissing Minerva, then his shocked expression afterwards clouded through her mind. Normally she would just flop down in the long grass in one of the fields and try to just focus on nature instead, but she knew even that wouldn't clear her head.

'Could it have really worked?' she wondered aloud. 'Or was I just so overcome with love I could never see the truth?'

But she couldn't find the answer to either question.

The familiar outline of the bush covering the entrance to the Tara shuttle port sent both relief and rising panic rocketing through her. Once she was on that shuttle back to Haven, she would never see Artemis again – she could accept the rank of Major, and that would be the end of it. Few trips to the surface, enough money to buy herself a decent house and a big boost of control over LEP's reconnaissance squad could be her ticket to happiness. Or so she hoped.

Holly glanced around once more, and to her relief there was no sign of Artemis. But one tiny, infinitesimal part of her almost wished he would jump out. Yet he hadn't appeared so far – Holly had to assume he was still huddled on the floor of the foyer, feeling sorry for himself. Somehow she couldn't draw any satisfaction out of this thought.

As she turned and looked at the fields of Tara, it seemed she could hear a whisper of words in the wind; 'Holly, Holly, please don't go, Holly!'

Holly sighed, trying to convince herself the voice was just an illusion. With an air of finality, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit stepped through the barrier, not looking back.

Artemis stumbled across the rough grass, his hands stinging. His jump out of the Bentley had been not at all graceful – he was now covered with cuts and now had a few more bruises to add into the mix.

His heart pounded hard against his chest – he could see Holly at the far side of the field, standing near the holographic bush used to disguise Tara shuttle port. His body was working into overdrive, even though he knew he wouldn't make it. In desperation he stopped running and hollered; 'Holly, Holly, please don't go, Holly!'

Yet it seemed to be of no use – besides pausing for a moment, Holly didn't react to the sound. Artemis cursed as she slipped into the bush. Even though his hopes of catching her outside had been dashed, he still had a chance. And everything hinged on Foaly. Two years ago Artemis had been told he was allowed into the Tara shuttle port without being shut out by the external DNA sensors, and now it was the only hope that remained.

In an agonising sprint, he crossed the rest of the distance then slipped through the barrier. He was safe.

Tara was strangely deserted – only the odd few stragglers hung around, waiting for the next shuttle to take them to Haven. A small auburn-haired fairy in a red dress was huddled in one of the seats at the back of the terminal, tears dripping from the end of her nose. Artemis resisted the urge to call out to her, instead calmly walking up and holding out a hand to her sobbing figure, batting away a gnome asking for a visa. It was a peaceful gesture, but he doubted it would work.

'Holly,' he started. 'I'm so sorry. It was...awful of me. I should have made it more clear to Minerva that I didn't like her'

For a moment Holly looked up in surprise at who was speaking, before converting it into cold fury. 'Get away from me!' she screeched in a most uncharacteristic way. She stood up, magic sparking ominously. 'You're nothing but a lying piece of filth!'

'Holly, you don't understand! I...'

'Don't understand?' She hissed, her temper boiling over. 'You think I don't understand?'

'I mean...' started Artemis, tripping over his words.

'I went out with Trouble Kelp when I was at the Academy,' Holly confirmed a point Artemis had suspected for a long time. 'We went out for three years. And you know why I broke up with him?' Artemis shook his head nervously. 'I caught him kissing Lili Frond on the night before my graduation. He blamed it on alcohol,' she said bitterly. Artemis felt like hanging his head in shame. The story fit – it was probably the reason Holly always called Lili 'nothing but a bimbo'.

'I'm so sorry,' he apologised. 'But the thing is...' Holly pretended not to hear him.

'I couldn't look at him for the next few years – the pain was just too acute. I was scared to expose my feelings for you in case the same thing happened,' she paused and turned away. 'I was right. All men are the same. And I thought you might be different'

'But I didn't choose to...'

'You did!' she snapped. 'You did, Artemis Fowl, and that's the thought you will carry with you to the grave'

Artemis never realised what was happening until it was too late. Their shouting match had brought them right to the edge of chute E1, Holly only a few millimetres away from toppling into the vast chasm. Before he knew it, she had disappeared over the side.

'Holly!' he cried. She was dangling over the swirls of magma, suspended only by her own hands clutching the ledge. 'Hold on!'

Her hand grabbed his for a few seconds, but it was impossible to hold on. Holly looked up at him with her hazel eyes as if trying to convey a message he couldn't decipher, before letting her fingers slip away from his, closing her eyes as she plummeted into the fiery depths below.

A/N: Anyway, R&R people, then I'll write faster! Also, check out my latest story "The Other Artemis"

Thanks :)