A/N: Just to let you know in advance, this may become a tiny bit confusing, as a lot of the conversations happening in this chapter are thoughts. I think it's pretty self explanatory though. Pay close attention. Woo! Happy reading.

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Chapter Twenty-Six; Inner Conversations

Holly dodging Celestia's attack had some repercussion. The ball of sparks hit the opposite wall and sent rocks flying all over the place. Between keeping herself and Arielle from getting hit, Holly did not pay any attention to the voice in her ear. It was Artemis' voice, and unbeknownst to her, he was muttering something about having solved their problems. Holly landed on her feet, Arielle in a ball beside her. The captain was mad. She had had enough. Holly pulled out her Neutrino and shot at Celestia, hitting her square in the stomach. The queen was thrown backwards by the force, which she had obviously not been expecting. Holly looked down at her weapon.

"Too easy," she muttered angrily. However, it seemed that the queen was knocked out and that gave Holly a minute to think. She was about to open contact to Artemis when she heard a tiny voice in her head. A voice that wasn't hers.

"Holly?"

Holly paled considerably. She would kill him.

I told you to stay out of my brain Mud Weasel.

Holly began to block out any thought of Artemis. She tried desperately and in response she heard an annoyed sigh from inside her mind.

"Please don't block me out Holly," Artemis told her subconsciously, "You weren't answering me, so I figured this was the only way to contact you. We have talked like this before."

Talk fast.

"I found the weakness."

Holly could just picture the smug look on Artemis' face.

I said talk fast, she thought, I want you out soon. Plus, she'll be waking up at any moment.

"Fair enough. It's power. Her one weakness is power."

Artemis, you're losing your touch. Holly snorted. Whether it was out loud or mentally she could not tell.

"I'm serious Holly."

Maybe you haven't noticed, but power is what got us into this mess in the first place. Her power and the fact that it's too strong. Much too strong to be a weakness.

"That's the thing," Artemis conveyed his thoughts to his elfin companion. "She may have power, but it's ancient. She's old and her powers are out of date. That's why your little laser blast knocked her down. She's never experienced anything like it. It's not something she can defend herself from. Use your power against her."

Keep firing? Sure thing. Holly smirked. This would be fun. Who ever said revenge wasn't partially sweet?

"No, not literally Holly. Distract her. Stun her with technology."

Holly's thought waves with Artemis were interrupted by Celestia stirring out of her stupor. She quickly turned her mind back to Artemis, to say goodbye.

"Wait, before you go…"

No time Mud Boy.

"Arielle has to say the spell."

Holly completely blocked Artemis out of her mind. She had other things to focus on, and what with Celestia regaining her footing, there was no time for explanations from Artemis. All she knew was that if this plan worked she would never hear the end of it from Foaly; about how his beloved technology saved their hides.

"What was that?"

Holly looked over at the Queen, who seemed quite dishevelled from her tumble.

"Power," the elf smirked. Celestia glared at her.

"There is not a chance that you have power greater than mine."

"What makes you say that?" Holly smirked even more. She was simply following Artemis' instructions. Distract her. She hated being a distraction. Holly ran her long fingers along the barrel of her Neutrino and pointed it directly at Celestia, pulling the trigger lightly and sending a small blast her way. The Queen stumbled backwards and Holly took advantage of her momentary lapse in concentration to glance down at Arielle.

"Say the spell," she muttered quickly and quietly to the younger elf. Holly really didn't understand the significance of the three words she had just uttered, but a look of realization dawned on Arielle's face. She nodded. Celestia stood shakily again, angered at the second hit.

"What is that in your hand?" she asked inquisitively. Holly knew that if she did not have the Neutrino she would most likely be dead by now.

"I already told you," Holly said. She noticed that Arielle was slowly standing up. However, Celestia did not. She was too busy staring at Holly's hands.

"It is impossible," she said, "I have power beyond anything you could ever dream of. How do you I grew to the size of the humans? I killed them and took their so-called powers. Why do you believe it is possible for me to conjure fire from my palms? I killed goblins and took their powers. I have the best from every race. You have no chance against me."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Arielle said strongly. She stepped up beside Holly and she smiled.

Arielle closed her eyes and let herself be overtaken by magic. She felt power rushing through her veins. She had started this entire mess and she would be the one to fix it. Before she could even process her thoughts, words began flowing from her lips.

"Witch away, banished be,

Stay away for all eternity.

Imprisoned by light,

Against your dark.

Witch away, banished be,

Stay away for all eternity."

A moment of deathly silence passed, taking what seemed to be a century to end. A horrified look came over Celestia's face as a tiny hole appeared in her abdomen, growing. Light shot out of her 'wound' and her terrified, pained screams nearly destroyed Holly and Arielle's ears. Both elves placed hands over their ears as the queen exploded into a thousand beams of white light. After several moments, the screaming abruptly ended and Holly looked around, surveying the cavern. There was a tiny prism on the ground where Celestia had been standing only seconds before. Holly picked it up and pocketed it.

"Safer that way," she muttered to herself. The she turned to Arielle. "Good job," she smiled. Arielle beamed.

"Thanks Captain. Although, I really don't know where those words came from."

"It doesn't matter," Holly laughed, "All that matters is that they came." Arielle nodded and opened her mouth to reply when a single stone fell from the ceiling. The cave, now with no magic to support it, would crumble in moments.

"Let's split," Holly said. She grabbed Arielle and clipped her to her belt. Holly activated her wings and flew out the way she came in. As they approached the entrance, Holly took out her Neutrino and smiled. More shooting. She blasted a few rounds into the rock slide that had destroyed her entrance and was soon left with a smoking hole in the rock, which she proceeded to fly out of.

Holly and Arielle landed gracefully right under the nose of a very pale, shocked looking Mud Boy. Artemis smiled. His plan had worked. Although, that was needless to say.

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A/N: I hope that you all liked that. I'm not sure if it qualifies as a very good climatic battle. Here's hoping. Review please. Cheers.