Holly spent the remainder of her vacation going through training and
exams again. Going through the courses at double speed so as to be done
just as her vacation was ending. She passed with flying colors.
The following Monday she started work.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Artemis sighed. "Must I go?"
"I know you don't want to leave us, Arty. But we'll be together again soon. Don't worry. You'll have lot's of fun."
"Yes, son. I've got nothing but work to do here for several days and your mother is planning a charity banquet. You'll have much more fun with Butler than a couple of old people like us. I do wish you hadn't objected to inviting your cousin."
"Spare me. He spends his days wearing out his thumbs at video games."
"And you spend your days on the computer," his mother said cheerfully. "We're awfully sorry we weren't able to make it to your graduation yesterday. And I hate to have you have to leave you again so soon. But we'll see you in a week. We can meet up in Bordeaux."
"Yes, mother. Goodbye. Come, Butler."
Butler picked up the bags and followed Artemis to the Lear Jet waiting outside. Artemis climbed aboard. After a short flight they reached France and were in Paris.
Artemis stood before the gates and scoffed, "Of all the places to send me why did they have to choose Disneyland?"
* * * * * * * * *
Holly walked around the surface freely. It was just after sunset. Disneyland was one of the few places on the surface that the People could walk about freely without attracting too much notice. It also gave her a chance at some fresh air. They only had one or two of the fairies monitoring Disneyland at a time and a few others would be allowed to come as tourists. The fairies working at Disneyland were had to help the environment and stop the litter, try to keep violence around the park to a minimum, and make sure that the humans didn't know the People existed.
Holly bought some mineral water and was mid-sip when she saw a certain familiar raven-haired figure.
* * * * * * * * *
"Butler, you are not dragging me on another ride. Space Mountain was bad enough. It's upset my stomach terribly."
"You should at least try to have some fun, Artemis."
"This is not fun. Tromping across the Artic was more fun than this is. In fact-what is she doing here?" he spied a familiar pointy eared someone.
Butler caught sight of Holly just as Artemis did.
Holly appeared to be choking on her water.
Butler and his employer advanced and she sputtered, "You again? What are you doing here?"
"We're.tourists," said Artemis, disdainfully. "You?"
"Reassigned. Apparently I'm not up to par as far as being a Recon officer is concerned." She grimaced.
"You not up to par?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"They're trying to force Root to retire. He called me. They wanted to fire me. But what does that matter to you, Mud Boy?"
"Why? Aren't you the best shuttle pilot they've got?"
She gave a sigh of disgust. "They recommended I begin commercial piloting."
"And a great shot with a gun?" His fingers went to his throat where a little golden disc hung on a fine chain. The disc was a coin that Holly had tossed fifty feet in the air before shooting it at dead center.
"Yes," she said bitterly. "Why are you here?"
"My parents feel that I should be out having fun."
"Apparently they don't think causing chaos among the fairies counts?"
"Apparently. They've sent me to spend nearly a week here." He shuddered.
Butler whispered, "His stomach doesn't necessarily agree with most of the rides."
Holly grinned. "You'd never last in the pods. I've got to get back to work, Mud Boy." Her face was sour again.
"Come, Butler, can we get back to the hotel I need some decent food. You packed everything I wanted in the suitcase?"
"Yes, Artemis." He nodded once at Holly before following his employer passed the people dressed in animal costumes (such as Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse) and walked carefully to avoid the cotton candy and gum that stained the ground.
The following Monday she started work.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
Artemis sighed. "Must I go?"
"I know you don't want to leave us, Arty. But we'll be together again soon. Don't worry. You'll have lot's of fun."
"Yes, son. I've got nothing but work to do here for several days and your mother is planning a charity banquet. You'll have much more fun with Butler than a couple of old people like us. I do wish you hadn't objected to inviting your cousin."
"Spare me. He spends his days wearing out his thumbs at video games."
"And you spend your days on the computer," his mother said cheerfully. "We're awfully sorry we weren't able to make it to your graduation yesterday. And I hate to have you have to leave you again so soon. But we'll see you in a week. We can meet up in Bordeaux."
"Yes, mother. Goodbye. Come, Butler."
Butler picked up the bags and followed Artemis to the Lear Jet waiting outside. Artemis climbed aboard. After a short flight they reached France and were in Paris.
Artemis stood before the gates and scoffed, "Of all the places to send me why did they have to choose Disneyland?"
* * * * * * * * *
Holly walked around the surface freely. It was just after sunset. Disneyland was one of the few places on the surface that the People could walk about freely without attracting too much notice. It also gave her a chance at some fresh air. They only had one or two of the fairies monitoring Disneyland at a time and a few others would be allowed to come as tourists. The fairies working at Disneyland were had to help the environment and stop the litter, try to keep violence around the park to a minimum, and make sure that the humans didn't know the People existed.
Holly bought some mineral water and was mid-sip when she saw a certain familiar raven-haired figure.
* * * * * * * * *
"Butler, you are not dragging me on another ride. Space Mountain was bad enough. It's upset my stomach terribly."
"You should at least try to have some fun, Artemis."
"This is not fun. Tromping across the Artic was more fun than this is. In fact-what is she doing here?" he spied a familiar pointy eared someone.
Butler caught sight of Holly just as Artemis did.
Holly appeared to be choking on her water.
Butler and his employer advanced and she sputtered, "You again? What are you doing here?"
"We're.tourists," said Artemis, disdainfully. "You?"
"Reassigned. Apparently I'm not up to par as far as being a Recon officer is concerned." She grimaced.
"You not up to par?" He quirked an eyebrow.
"They're trying to force Root to retire. He called me. They wanted to fire me. But what does that matter to you, Mud Boy?"
"Why? Aren't you the best shuttle pilot they've got?"
She gave a sigh of disgust. "They recommended I begin commercial piloting."
"And a great shot with a gun?" His fingers went to his throat where a little golden disc hung on a fine chain. The disc was a coin that Holly had tossed fifty feet in the air before shooting it at dead center.
"Yes," she said bitterly. "Why are you here?"
"My parents feel that I should be out having fun."
"Apparently they don't think causing chaos among the fairies counts?"
"Apparently. They've sent me to spend nearly a week here." He shuddered.
Butler whispered, "His stomach doesn't necessarily agree with most of the rides."
Holly grinned. "You'd never last in the pods. I've got to get back to work, Mud Boy." Her face was sour again.
"Come, Butler, can we get back to the hotel I need some decent food. You packed everything I wanted in the suitcase?"
"Yes, Artemis." He nodded once at Holly before following his employer passed the people dressed in animal costumes (such as Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse) and walked carefully to avoid the cotton candy and gum that stained the ground.