Blue and Hazel
An: I don't own Artemis Fowl.
Chapter Twenty-Six
When Holly woke up the next morning she was surprised by the roughness of her bed. Had she been so tired that she fell asleep upon the cold ground? It wouldn't be the first time really. Manyrecon missions in the past have reduced her to a tired mess. She remembered laying on her kitchen floor as if it was the mostcomfortable place in the world.
Holly stretched her stiff muscles. Holly and Foaly had a wealth of information pertaining to Artemis's whereabouts and they could only hope Opal was there as well.
After a strangely loud yawn, Holly tried to get to her feet but was shocked by the heaviness of her arms and legs. Was she truly so tired that she could barely stand? She grimaced. She would have to stretch properly before the mission.
Suddenly a bright light shone beyond her resting place. She shielded her eyes the best she could with her heavy arms. A figure stood in the doorway. She frowned at the sight of the intruder and tried to reach for a weapon but was suddenlygrabbed. The unidentified individual dragged her out of her own bedroom and pushed her along a corridor that bared no resemblance to any hallway she had seen in her home. She glanced at the male and noticed he was a goblin. Wait? How had a goblin gotten into her home? Her eyes widened as she was pushed into a grand hall. Two large thrones sat at the end to her left. She was shoved to the front along a gold embroidered red carpet.
"Artemis?" she asked as her eyes fell upon her longtime friend.
Artemis gave her a wink as he dusted off his royal blue dress shirt and black slacks. What was this? Holly glanced around her surroundings once more.
"If it isn't the former Captain short, how deliciously exciting."
Holly snapped her head to the right and her eyes widened. Sitting on Artemis's side in the neighboring throne was Opal herself. She adorned a dark navy blue gown that flowed over her delicate frame. A ruby encrusted crown settled upon her head.
"Opal Koboi."
"That is Queen of Earth Opal to you," she scoffed obviously disgusted by the lack of honorifics. "After all, I am queen. I assumed we have taught you well enough of this development."
The goblin holding her arm was currently laughing as if there was a joke.
"And why are you chuckling?" Opal spat at the goblin. "Where are my truffles? Really? You are simply a disgusting sight when you laugh goblin. Don't do that in my presence again. Do I have to repeat myself? Where are my truffles?"
A gnome nearby shoved a box of truffles into Holly's chest. It was then she noticed the thick heavy shackles on her ankles and wrists. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her head. How did she become a prisoner?
"Come on now," Opal smirked. "Serve your queen."
Holly clenched her teeth. "I serve no one."
"You don't say? I beg to differ," she cackled. "That wasn't what the centaur said yesterday. He was happy to bow before me, new ruler of Earth."
"Artemis?" Holly questioned with a quiet voice.
Artemis only smirked as a response.
"Come forward and serve me now," she shrieked.
The goblin shoved her harshly and she stumbled up the three long steps to Opal's throne. A delighted expression befell the witch's features. She couldn't understand this. How did she get here? When? What was going on?
She meekly opened the box of truffles and watched as Opal fished out one piece for herself.
"These truffles taste so much sweeter today Artemis," Opal shared. "Wouldn't you care for one as well?"
Holly watched in horror as Opal fed Artemis a piece. He chewed slowly before nodding in agreement.
"It does taste sweeter today," he agreed as he moved closer for a kiss that never came. "My queen."
Opal preened at the title. "Oh, Artemis, I would state how inappropriate your behavior is but I am too impressed with our success to care. And may I ask where your crown is?"
Artemis smiled with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Too heavy."
Holly gasped from shock. Artemis and Opal had been working together and were now possibly in control of the world? How had this happened? She couldn't understand it at all. Tears welled in her eyes as she began realize how much of failure her mission had been.
"Artemis please, reconsider," She whispered from her heart break. "I can't see you like this."
"Excuse me," Opal glared. "Who said you could see him of your own will or at all? Guards take Captain short back to her cell and teach her some manners."
The goblin directed her back to her room with a rough shove.
"Artemis don't do this. You don't want a life like this, this isn't who you are."
"I've always admired power Holly," he beamed. "Opal was the only one who could guarantee a life I deserved."
"No, Artemis," she wept as she was completely pulled from his view. "Don't do this."
She repeated this from the hall to her cell. They shoved her inside. She felt the rough calloused hands of the goblin as he pulled harshly on her arm. There was no escape.
She jolted awake. She glanced around her quiet bedroom. The memory of the heinous nightmare crept back into her mind. Moisture welled in her eyes and she furiously wiped the tears away. She wouldn't let anything she saw happen. She rose to her feet and began her daily routine. She left the memory of her nightmare behind her as she jogged to the LEP headquarters.She arrived only ten minutes later. She listened raptly to Foaly'sinformation on her mission.
"What happened to Stout?" she asked curiously.
"Oh, good question," Foaly pondered. "But we should think about that later. He didn't really have a huge part anyway. Here are the coordinates. It is time to bring our boy back."
She nodded firmly before heading to the surface. She stretchedextensively before taking to the sky. As she traveled Foaly spoke to her about what she may encounter.
"You seem shaken? Everything alright?"
"Fine, Foaly. Just fine."
He raised a single brow. "No, you are not fine just fine. Tell me what is going on. It will cloud your mind during the mission and we can't afford distractions."
Foaly was right so she began to tell him about waking on a cold cell floor and how she met up with Opal and Artemis. When she ended with the goblin's plans to 'teach her manner's' Foaly's mouth was open a gape.
"I am going to tell you right now, we won't let anything like that happen," Foaly nodded. "First of all I would eat my own tin foil hat before I allow myself to serve Koboi. Second of all you are one of the best female officer the LEP has ever seen."
Holly laughed despite the clenching in her heart. "You are right. Thanks Foaly."
"You are pulling in on the destination," he smiled. "I trust you know what to do but don't worry I'll be with you every step of the way."
She touched to the ground and rush to the large abandonedbuilding in a vast forest. Once she arrived inside she was shocked by how empty it was. The silence drifted through the corridors. She tapped her finger against her neutrino as she navigated the empty halls. Had Foaly possibly be wrong about this one? No, Foaly never slipped up like this.
"What do you see?" Foaly asked due to her confused expression. "Anything good?"
She opened her mouth to comment on how oddly quiet it was but then beyond her point a familiar figure met her gaze.
"Lucky Charms?" she breathed out.
"Ah, Captain short," the male smirked. "Now, what are you doing snooping around here?"
"Lunar?" she finally asked when she properly remembered his name. "What? Did recon send you? I wasn't aware they knew anything about this?"
Lunar chuckled darkly. "Oh, Miss Short. I think you are strangely mistaken."
She watched as he pulled an odd looking neutrino from his holster. Her eyes surveyed the scene carefully. He looked to be polishing the device as if it were a prized piece. Lunar glanced up casually giving her the most chilling smile she had ever seen.
"No, you are sadly mistaken Miss short, recon didn't send me."
Holly's frown deepened as she began to unfasten her own weapon. "What is going on here, Lunar?"
She slowly began to move back.
"We can't have you getting in the way of the plan," Lunar smirked as he raised his weapon and pointed at her head. "Oh, just to let you know my weapon is not set to stun."
It was then Holly knew Lunar had no plans to work alongside her. In fact when the first shot missed her by an inch she realized Lunar was here to stop her. She composed herself from the shock of her revelation and began firing. The sounds of the current struggle bounced off the walls around them. Was this a wild goose chase? It couldn't be. Lunar was here alone. If so was Artemis not even here? She jumped out of the way of another close shot. Artemis could be clear across the world and this location was simply a well place red herring. Despite this obvious truth she fought on.
Before she sent another fire Lunar's way she noticed the other was now charging at an incredible speed. What was he doing? She let out a gasp their bodies made contact. Lunar launched a fist at her face which she dodged. It had been a while since she had seen unrestrained brute force. Lunar wasn't even using the neutrino. He was aiming directly for her face. She struggled with his weight for a while before a fist clipped her shoulder. She hollered out from the sharp pain enveloping her now sore collar bone.
"Give up Short. You haven't reached any kind of resolution anyway," he called out as they struggled. "I'm the only one here."
Another fist connected with her other shoulder. She winced from pain but held her confidence intact.
"I don't care," she growled as she grabbed for her fallen neutrino by her head.
Another fist aimed for her head. She pulled the trigger without hesitation. A body slumped against her. She placed a finger toher fallen opponent's neck and sighed in relief. Lunar was simply stunned. Her neutrino slipped from her hands as she stretched out from exhaustion.
"Foaly," she breathed heavily. "Gather our few supporters. I want them to start making their way. I think we will have a lot of traitors to the LEP to take back in for questioning."
"Right, you alright?" Foaly asked as he examined her bruised skin from the screen of her helmet.
"I'll heal," she smiled blue sparks danced across her inflicted areas.
She rolled Lunar off her immediately. She rose to her feet and analyzed the now fallen male.
"I don't get it. He was assigned on the case. He was looking with me. He had been there looking really concerned about Griffith," she shared as she looked at Lunar. "How could he be here attacking me?"
Foaly frowned. "I had been right to think we have a rat amongst us. It has been a while since I've seen such erratic behavior during a fight. If there are more like him I'd be careful."
Holly bit her lip. "He said that he was the only one here."
"Well, I would check out the area anyway," he offered. "He is just hiding what is inside. Why come all the way here to fight for no one? If Artemis and Opal were somewhere else than why waste time fighting in a building of no importance?"
"Correct," she smiled as she looked down the corridor. "I better get going then."
She began her journey through the maze like building. Her frowned deepened as she once again was coming to empty corridors. Maybe Lunar had been truthful. There was absolutely no one in the entire building.
"Try that door," Foaly suggested. "I'm getting strong signals on my computer."
She nodded and opened the door. Her eyes widened at the sight of Artemis sitting comfortably in his chair sipping on some very sweet smelling tea. At the sight of her presence he grinned.
"Ah, Holly, right on time," Artemis smirked as he continued with his tea. "Well don't be so reluctant. You came all the way here haven't you? I'm a busy man you know?"
Holly had a terrible feeling about this but she entered and watched as the door automatically sealed shut behind her. Her eyes went back to Artemis Fowl the second.
"Care for some freshly brewed tea?" he asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.
Hey wonderfuls! Wow, so long since an update. Whoa! A lot occurred in this chapter didn't it? Sorry if the dream sequence may have come out of place. I truly had fun writing it. Also, the fight between lunar and Holly was my fave because she had no idea. And look who finally has arrived! Artemis Fowl himself. Thanks to everyone for the support. Special thanks goes to reviewers:
PierceTheVeils, thanks for the review. I enjoyed choosing the names for Commander Stern and Stout. The stories of the characters were in previous chapters but as for the names it was just a play on words. Marsh Stern is stern and stout is short and stout. Thanks, I wanted the readers to know that Stout wasn't incompetent or anything. He just started on traffic duty like everyone else. His only downfall is his eagerness but that just strengthens him to do well really. A request? It has been busy but I'll see what I can do. Just let me know. I'm glad you liked the story. Thanks for the support I truly appreciate it.
Majestic Narwhals, thanks for the review. Sorry for the confusion. I'll be glad to clear things up. Commander Stern is working for the LEP not Opal. He wants to find Artemis and expose him for the true villain he is. Stout is helping spy on them. I hope I cleared it up. Thanks for the support.
StarlightGilgalad, thanks for the review. And wait and see what happens with the commander. Thanks again for the support.
renegadestarforce, thanks for the review. I wish there was an award for best deceptive character. Stout was impressive and thanks for the compliment to his character. He appreciates it I'm sure. Thanks again for the support.
The Artemis Fowl Contest Page, thanks for the review.
Guest, thanks for the review, hope you enjoy the rest of the story. Thanks for the support.
And special thanks to the new followers and favorites
Captawsomer and musicalgirl4474, thanks for the support.
Thanks for the reviews, the favorites, the follows, and thanks to those just dropping by to read. I truly appreciate it. The next chapter will be on its way. It is 85% of the way done.
Until next chapter
bye