A/N: Alright, normally I have the chapter written out on paper and then I type it, but I'm going to straight up type this one, so I hope it turns out as well as the others have. I hope you're enjoying the storyline so far. I really like it. (Of course, it's my story! Hahaha)
Inside Artemis's head, Fowl Manor, Ireland
These memories are part of who I am… These memories are part of who I am… The words reverberated in Artemis's head as he opened his eyes, squinting as he let his eyes become accustomed to the bright lights in the bar. Bar? Why was he in a bar? Looking around, he saw all sorts of interesting creatures at the tall tables. They seemed to be watching two goblins fighting on television. Frowning, Artemis looked around for something that would give him a clue as to where he was. A blonde fairy walked by him; she was wearing a tube top and some spangled shorts. She walked away to reveal a centaur sitting at the bar, wearing a cowboy hat and boots. "Foaly?" Artemis said, surprised at the words that had come out of his mouth. "Hello, Mud Man. Confused?" Foaly said, looking utterly please with himself. Artemis continued to frown and reluctantly asked, "Am I dead?" The centaur snorted, "Dead? Do you think I would let you die? No one has any faith in the poor centaur!" Artemis crossed his arms, indicating his dissatisfaction with Foaly's answer. "Why don't I remember you? You seem to know me." Artemis said, taking a quick glance around the room. Picking up a television remote, Foaly motioned to the bar stool next to him. "Have a seat, Fowl. We've got a lot of catching up to do…"
Fowl Manor, Ireland
"Foaly, it's been close to an hour… are you sure everything is alright?" Holly said into her helmet communicator. For once, the centaur wasn't completely sure about this situation. "Perhaps… perhaps you should bring him back here, so we can monitor him. We've never tried to do this after such a huge mind wipe," he said, keys clacking in the background. Holly felt anger swell up inside her once again, but she refrained from screaming at Foaly so that she would remain undiscovered. She sighed loudly and paused, laying her hand on Artemis's forehead. "Come on, Artemis…" she whispered.
Inside Artemis's head, Fowl Manor, Ireland
"Well, I've got a question… who is Holly?" Artemis asked after setting down the glass of water that the bartender had given him. "That's a very good question, but you have to remember for yourself. Let me show you some of your memories, and then we'll see if you can remember her." Foaly pressed the play button on the remote, and the TV in front of them came on with a soft pop. On the screen was Holly, when he had first seen her. She was picking up an acorn to complete the Ritual. "What am I doing? Why am I watching her?" Artemis asked, his brow furrowed. Foaly chuckled, "You kidnapped her." Continuing to watch the scene unfold, thoughts trickled back into Artemis's head. Gold, fairies, the Ritual, mesmer… the list went on. The scene on the television ended with Artemis shutting the door to the cell he had kept her in. He frowned. He remembered Holly completely now, but he couldn't understand why he was mean to her. Hadn't she turned out to be his friend? "But… why did I kidnap her? Why did I want to do that? She's my friend, right?" Artemis mused, looking over at Foaly. "Because you were an evil little Mud Man," a female voice said behind him. Artemis felt her punch him hard on the shoulder and he spun around, almost outraged. Standing in front of him was Holly as he last remembered her. She was not wearing her LEP helmet, and he could tell that she was trying very hard not to smile. "Ow, what did you do that for?" he asked, rubbing his shoulder. "Because you deserved it!" she said, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes as a smile spread across her face. Before he could even say anything, Holly had thrown herself at him, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. Artemis smiled, returning the hug. The mystery was beginning to disappear.
Holly sat on the stool next to him as Foaly said, "Now that you remember Holly, let's work on remembering Mulch, Root, and a few others." Foaly again pressed the play button, bringing up Artemis's memory of the mind wipe. Before the clip even finished, Root and Mulch appeared at the bar, Root puffing on his fungus cigar. Seeming pleased with him, Artemis smiled. "You seem to be catching up quickly for a Mud Man. Now, I want you to look around the bar… all of these fairies, goblins, and miscellaneous creatures are also part of your memories. You will find that you remember all of them now," Foaly said, looking around the room. Artemis nodded, indicating that he could indeed remember all of the patrons in the bar. "But why are we in a bar, Foaly?" Holly whispered as Artemis continued to scan the room. The centaur shrugged, "I don't know… it sounded like a place a Mud Man would go." They noticed that Artemis was now sitting in frustrated silence. "Is something wrong, Artemis?" Holly asked, her hazel eyes studying the seventeen year old boy in front of her. "Why is it that I can remember everyone, and I can even recall how I know them, but I don't know how they relate to each other… or even how I feel about them? I'm sure I'm probably supposed to hate Root, but why can't I remember that?" Artemis asked, looking from Holly to Foaly.
Foaly looked at Holly, who looked back at him. "Because it's the last step… once we release the rest of your memories, you will be free to do with them as you please. It's important that it's done correctly, or you may revert to that evil Mud Man that you once were, complete with all the knowledge one could possibly get about the People," Foaly said, looking a little bit concerned. "We just hope you will make the right choice, Artemis," Holly said, her eyes meeting his. "Why are you so concerned?" Artemis asked, looking at Holly. Foaly continued, "We don't know who is giving you these memories back… hopefully it is our real life selves, so that we can be sure that you wake up to a positive memory. However, if it is someone who is plotting against the LEP, then our world could be in danger when we release the rest of your memories." Artemis looked at Foaly and then looked back at Holly. "But I don't want to harm you… I promise I won't," he said, trying to remember why Holly's presence was affecting him. "We appreciate the gesture, but your thoughts here won't be able to control you once you wake up…" Foaly said, standing up.
Holly looked at Foaly and then at Artemis. Foaly stood in front of Artemis, studying the young Mud Man. "Are you ready for this?" Foaly asked, picking up the remote control once more. Artemis let out a shaky breath as he held Holly's gaze. Finally breaking it, he looked at Foaly, who was pointing the remote straight at him. Artemis nodded and Foaly pressed play.
A rushing sound filled Artemis's ears as the people standing before him began to fade away. He remembered now… Foaly was his friend, as was Mulch. Root was like an enemy, yet not totally. And Holly…
Fowl Manor, Ireland
Holly's eyes hadn't left Artemis's body in the two hours that had passed since Artemis had fallen unconscious. She was really beginning to wonder if they had done the right thing. Taking him to LEP headquarters would be risky, but if something was seriously wrong, then she needed to get him to Foaly and the techies. But something had just changed. Did his eyes just move? she wondered, studying him. It was several minutes before it happened again, but she saw it clearly this time. Artemis's eyes were moving behind his closed lids. "Foaly, he's still out of it, but he's moving his eyes around," she whispered into her helmet mic. She was sure she had heard the centaur sigh with relief before he said, "It's working. He should be waking up very soon."
As suddenly as the eye movement began, Artemis took as huge breath, scaring Holly so badly that she had to slam her hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming. She stared at Artemis, whose eyes were now wide open. "Holly? Are you here?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. Her hand remained clamped over her mouth, but she let out a small squeak, which Artemis heard. Afraid to face reality, Artemis slowly sat up and turned to his left to face her. He was holding his breath. He wouldn't have recognized her if he hadn't looked straight into her eyes, but he saw round, hazel eyes staring back at him. "What took you so long to find me?" he said, looking at her. She swallowed, removing her hand from in front of her mouth. "Believe me… I wanted to bring you back, but no one would let me." He studied her for a minute before opening his mouth again, "Your hair… it's so long. I almost didn't recognize you." She absentmindedly touched her hair as she said, "I don't know why I don't just cut it." Artemis smiled, not feeling like his normal self, but not feeling like the Artemis of the last three years. "You should leave it that way. I like it," he stated simply.
To be continued!