(A/N: So, I rewrote this thing like, 2 or 3 times.
Finally, things are coming to fruition here in this chapter. Unfortunately, we don't see everybody's favorite part [I'm gonna leave that up to you to decide what exactly that is - I can't speak for everybody!] but rest assured, you will like this.
Enjoy!)
Holly woke up in a cold sweat, although she had no idea where it would have come from. She didn't generally remember her dreams, or her nightmares. This was no exception. All she did remember was something about Artemis.
It was always Artemis, when she had nightmares, and in the past week or so, instead of normal dreams, her 'dreams' had been more thoughts and feelings than anything, but they were clearer than any dream her subconscious could ever conjure up.
This last night, she had 'dreamt' that Artemis was feeling extremely nervous, which was not unusual, then triumphant for what seemed like a split second, then pain. Everything was consumed by searing, unbearable pain.
Holly shuddered. These dreams were always dominated by stress and worry, but this one felt so much more real.
On another note, Holly suspected that these 'dreams' were more than just dreams, but something similar to one-way telepathy. There were a few records of similar instances hapening with Fairies. One or the other would save the other's life, or do something particularly important for the other, and they would develop a 'connection', so to speak.
Holly stood and stretched. As she did so, something on the bedside table caught her eye. A tablet, with a video recording of Artemis ready to play. She cautiously touched the middle of the screen, and Artemis spoke:
"Good morning, Holly," the recording said. "If you are seeing this, that means at least one of my plans is well under way. As such, I have something I need you to do." Artemis leaned in close to the camera, his gaze steady and determined.
"I want you, without any further delay, to return to Haven. I have a surprise that I feel you will enjoy quite a bit. I have instructed Butler to take you as far as the shuttleport, then Mulch will take you the rest of the way. The surprise I have for you is in Commander Root's office." And with that, the video ended.
As the video instructed, Holly didn't waste any time in getting packed for the trip back home to Haven. As she hurriedly shoved her clothes into her suitcase, she thought about what Artemis could have put in Commander Root's office.
She had no idea.
00000
Artemis, meanwhile, was sitting on a bed in the Police Plaza infirmary, trying to quell a massive headache. The stress that had filled him for the past week was finally taking its toll on him. But while that as part of the reason for Artemis' migraine, the bigger reason was the constant and sudden changes his body was undergoing.
You see, Artemis was now a Fairy. The Ritual had gone almost exactly as planned, the only kink being that Artemis had not yet finished the transformation. At this point, he was four feet exactly, and his ears were only partially lengthened. Earlier, Foaly had said that Artemis should be done 'de-growing' by the time Holly got down.
Artemis had been very glad about this, for several reasons, the first being that he only had to endure this pain for another three to five hours at the most. The second reason was that Holly was coming down, and when she did, his biggest plan yet would come to rapid fruition, hopefully with good results.
The door opened and Foaly trotted in, holding a small case of what looked like painkillers.
"Hey, Mud Boy," he said. "How's your head? Do you need anything for it?"
Artemis looked up at the centaur, his face contorted in pain.
"No, thanks. Who knows how the - ah - pills will affect me."
Artemis may have been in constant, almost unimagineable pain, but that didn't stop him from giving one of his customary lectures, albeit a short one.
Foaly shrugged. "Good point." He sat in the specially modified chair next to Artemis' bed.
"Commander Root just told me that he got a call from Butler - Frond, I can't believe he's back -, and he said Butler's on the way with Holly. They just got to the shuttleport and they're on their way down."
Despite the pain, Artemis grinned.
"Good."
00000
"So tell me, Butler. Why are we going back to Haven?"
From the backseat, Butler shrugged as best he could in the cramped space.
"I dunno," he said. "Could be something to do with Commander Root." Of course, Butler knew the real reason for their trip, but would not tell Holly, lest Artemis fire him.
"It's nothing against you," he had said. "This is simply very important to me. Besides, I doubt it will come to that."
Butler shuddered internally. That possibility was motivation enough to keep his mouth shut, even with the unlikely chance that Holly mesmered him to tell her.
Mulch, who was currently driving the shuttle, picked a few beetles out of his beard with both hands and popped them in his mouth.
"You know, I saw Arty last night," he said around a mouthful of insect. "He's the one who told me to come get you."
"What?" Holly was confused. Artemis had been in Haven?
"Yeah, he told me to come to the shuttleport to pick you up. Something was off about him though... seemed a little shorter than I remembered..."
It took all of Butler's willpower not to strangle the dwarf with his bare hands, but he somehow managed, even appearing apathetic about the whole thing.
Mulch, if you say one more word...
Holly merely furrowed her eyebrows. "Keep your hands on the wheel, Mulch."
You're one lucky Fairy, Diggums. Butler had to resist a sigh of relief.
00000
Artemis paced the floor of his small room, getting increasingly stressed by the minute. The bleak walls reminded him too much of his quarters under Opal's custody. He needed to get out of there soon. On the plus side, his migraine had stopped, and he could now focus on getting physically used to his miniaturized body, instead of dealing with the pain.
His now extremely sensitive ears heard hoofsteps in the hallway, and he turned to face the door. As he expected, Foaly opened the door and came in.
"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
Artemis paled. Depending on what 'bad news' there was, it could have a very negative impact on his plans.
"I prefer the bad news first. That way, the good news makes me feel better," Artemis explained.
Foaly nodded. "The bad news is that Holly has a good idea of what your 'surprise' is. The good news is that she's waiting in Commander Root's office." He paused. "There's more good news too. Butler's here as well, and I just calculated your expected lifespan."
Artemis' eyes widened. "What is it?"
"At least 1200 years."
Artemis sat on his bed.
1200 years?
"That's... very good," Artemis said numbly. He had expected to live a lot longer, but 1200 years... that was a lot longer than he had expected.
Artemis abruptly stood and snatched a small container off his bedside table.
"Excellent. Now, let's go to the Commander's office."
00000
"For the last time, Captain, I don't know what the surprise is. All Artemis told me was that you would be coming here soon."
"Is Artemis in Haven right now?"
Commander Root sighed. "Yes, he is in Haven. I don't know why he isn't here. Either he misjudged your commute time, or..." his eyes widened.
"No..."
Holly was understandeably concerned. "What do you mean, 'no'?
Commander Root didn't respond, instead staring wide-eyed, seemingly into space.
He never stares into space...
Holly followed his gaze and had to keep herself from passing out. Artemis stood in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe nonchalantly.
It wasn't the fact that Artemis was leaning on something, which he never did, it was the fact that he could lean where he was.
Artemis was three feet tall, with pointed ears.
"Wha - Artemis?"
Elfin Artemis straightened and sauntered over to Holly.
"Surprise," he sang.
(A/N: I know, Artemis doesn't usually saunter, but I had to make it funny for you guys!
I'm hesitant to press the "publish" button because I know I'm gonna get a whole lot of reviews and it's gonna be overwhelming.
But oh well, obviously I did, or else you wouldn't be seeing this!
Review please!)