Disclaimer~ I do not own anything.
A/N~ Thanks for reviewing. Did you all like the last chapter? I know I did. Well of course I would, I wrote it! But tell me what you think.
At the End of the Road, Somewhere in Ireland
Root exhaled deeply. It wasn't everyday someone like a daughter to you almost died and then was healed in a miraculous process. He would like to show his joy but that would be very unprofessional. And no matter what, he would never go so far as to embrace her like Fowl had. What has been getting into him lately, he thought. Must be those damn teenage hormones.
Butler was utterly, utterly shocked. Artemis had shown emotion before but hardly ever in this quantity. The only other time he had seen such emotion coming from Artemis was when he found out that his father was all right and going to live. But, this was Holly Short. He had heard from Foaly that her nickname in the LEP, although she didn't know it, was Kick-your- butt-Short. Someone who would punch a person for touching her in such a way. But, what shocked him the most, was that she wasn't doing a single thing to stop him. She was embracing him back, and she was even smiling! What had gotten into her lately?
Holly lifted her head slightly. Was it starting to rain or something? Because her shoulder was getting wet. Nothing else was getting wet though. That's odd, she thought. Then the answer came to her. It was not raining, Artemis was crying into her shoulder. Wait, what? This day just keeps getting stranger and stranger, she thought.
Artemis was embarrassed. He had never, with the possible exception of when he found out that his father was alive, lost hold over his emotions. He had snapped, or so to speak. He embraced Holly and then started sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder. From now on it would be like pulling teeth to look the others in the eye without feeling shame, or having them snicker, but with Holly it will be even harder. He would feel extremely awkward whenever he was around her from now on. This whole thing was just so embarrassing!
Trouble was mentally kicking himself. I should be the one holding her, he thought stubbornly. Just without the whole crying business. I should have gotten to her first and not some annoying, pale, irritating little mud-child. This whole thing wasn't fair. I'm the one who cares about her, not him! Or does he?
After realizing what he had done, Artemis stopped crying and lifted his head and let go of Captain Short. He stood up swiftly and stepped back, while simultaneously helping Holly up off the ground. Gingerly he rubbed his eyes and wiped away his tears. Without a second glance he started to make his way back to the Bentley.
Everyone exchanged nervous glances before following him to the car. There was not anymore business left to conduct here so they might as well be on their way. By the time everyone was settled into the large car an awkward silence settled in the car. Not a single person, fairy or human, moved or made a sound. Even Foaly, who could move around and make noise freely didn't, it just was not the time for something like that. But the silence had to be broken by someone, and who better to come up with a silence breaker than Foaly.
"So. Now that we, umm, have that covered let's move on to where we can find Koboi." Foaly practically spat her name as if it left a horrible taste in his mouth. He was still angry at the comment Commander Root had made a year or so back that if they had not have had Fowl, then Koboi would have beaten them. That comment had hit a nerve in Foaly. What had been the most disappointing was the piece of information had been true. And Foaly didn't like being a runner up when it came to who had the best technology under the Earth.
"You are the genius, pony boy. We pay you to come up with ideas, so start thinking, unless, of course, you're still too shaken by Fowl's water- work display." Commander Root said gruffly. Even if Commander Root hadn't noticed it but his comment had had a double-sided sting to it. First of all it insulted Foaly's intelligence by suggesting he hadn't been thinking. The most obvious part of the sting was that directed to Artemis. When a little boy cries it's embarrassing, but when a boy in his teens or older cries, it's downright disgraceful and shameful.
At his words Artemis' complexion turned the rosy red of a blush. Root had half expected Butler to turn around from the drivers seat and give him a stern look of disapproval but Butler didn't do anything to suggest he didn't like what Root had done. In fact what he did was quite the opposite. Butler had a small smile on his face because he knew that Artemis was finally getting told off for doing something and that Artemis knew that he wouldn't do a thing about it. Artemis didn't even come back with a comeback. Boy, was he sure losing his touch.
"Well, for your information I was thinking about what we could do to track Koboi. What you all would need to do would be to go into Koboi labs. It has been abandoned for a while now so you won't have to dodge any goblins or anything this time. She would have more than likely left behind some DNA, in a strand of hair or a piece of skin or a drop of blood. Just get anything of hers and bring it to the OP's booth. That way I'll be able to use my new invention, you know, the one I used to find Holly with. So do that and then we will figure out the rest." He concluded smartly.
"Which way are we going to get in from?" Butler asked.
"Well we can't get in from the main entrance or any of the side entrances." Mulch said, while gaining a harsh glare from the Commander. "So that narrows it down to the way we went in last time."
"So we have to fly in the shuttle's again?" Butler asked, praying for a 'no'.
"We won't have to fly that piece of crap this time. We'll have a better shuttle, designed for those things." Root said, remembering their last trip to Koboi labs.
"Can I drive?" It was the first thing Holly had said since she had been healed and she sounded so hopeful and full of enthusiasm, just like a small child waiting for Santa to come down their chimney. The thought of flying a shuttle again but the light back into her eyes and a rosy glow back into her cheeks.
"No." Commander Root grunted.
"Why not?" Holly whined.
"Because, Short. You just got healed from major magical surgery so you are not fit to fly a shuttle. I will."
"But, that's not fair. You just got done performing extensive magical surgery and so did Trouble, so that only leaves me who can fly a bird." Holly defended her position, fire in her eyes.
"I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FAIR, SHORT! SO QUIT YOUR BELLYACHING AND SHUT UP! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Root exploded.
"You know, Julius. She is correct. So she should fly." Foaly interjected, and if anyone could have seen him he had a smug smile on his face. One of his favorite hobbies was telling the Commander that he was incorrect.
Root was fuming. He hated it when the pony said he was wrong, and that's exactly why Foaly did it. His face was a lovely hue of deep purple and several large veins could be seen protruding from his face and neck.
"FINE!"
Holly smiled, I won, yay!
"It's off to Tara we go." She said.
A/N~ So what did you think? Please review.
A/N~ Thanks for reviewing. Did you all like the last chapter? I know I did. Well of course I would, I wrote it! But tell me what you think.
At the End of the Road, Somewhere in Ireland
Root exhaled deeply. It wasn't everyday someone like a daughter to you almost died and then was healed in a miraculous process. He would like to show his joy but that would be very unprofessional. And no matter what, he would never go so far as to embrace her like Fowl had. What has been getting into him lately, he thought. Must be those damn teenage hormones.
Butler was utterly, utterly shocked. Artemis had shown emotion before but hardly ever in this quantity. The only other time he had seen such emotion coming from Artemis was when he found out that his father was all right and going to live. But, this was Holly Short. He had heard from Foaly that her nickname in the LEP, although she didn't know it, was Kick-your- butt-Short. Someone who would punch a person for touching her in such a way. But, what shocked him the most, was that she wasn't doing a single thing to stop him. She was embracing him back, and she was even smiling! What had gotten into her lately?
Holly lifted her head slightly. Was it starting to rain or something? Because her shoulder was getting wet. Nothing else was getting wet though. That's odd, she thought. Then the answer came to her. It was not raining, Artemis was crying into her shoulder. Wait, what? This day just keeps getting stranger and stranger, she thought.
Artemis was embarrassed. He had never, with the possible exception of when he found out that his father was alive, lost hold over his emotions. He had snapped, or so to speak. He embraced Holly and then started sobbing uncontrollably into her shoulder. From now on it would be like pulling teeth to look the others in the eye without feeling shame, or having them snicker, but with Holly it will be even harder. He would feel extremely awkward whenever he was around her from now on. This whole thing was just so embarrassing!
Trouble was mentally kicking himself. I should be the one holding her, he thought stubbornly. Just without the whole crying business. I should have gotten to her first and not some annoying, pale, irritating little mud-child. This whole thing wasn't fair. I'm the one who cares about her, not him! Or does he?
After realizing what he had done, Artemis stopped crying and lifted his head and let go of Captain Short. He stood up swiftly and stepped back, while simultaneously helping Holly up off the ground. Gingerly he rubbed his eyes and wiped away his tears. Without a second glance he started to make his way back to the Bentley.
Everyone exchanged nervous glances before following him to the car. There was not anymore business left to conduct here so they might as well be on their way. By the time everyone was settled into the large car an awkward silence settled in the car. Not a single person, fairy or human, moved or made a sound. Even Foaly, who could move around and make noise freely didn't, it just was not the time for something like that. But the silence had to be broken by someone, and who better to come up with a silence breaker than Foaly.
"So. Now that we, umm, have that covered let's move on to where we can find Koboi." Foaly practically spat her name as if it left a horrible taste in his mouth. He was still angry at the comment Commander Root had made a year or so back that if they had not have had Fowl, then Koboi would have beaten them. That comment had hit a nerve in Foaly. What had been the most disappointing was the piece of information had been true. And Foaly didn't like being a runner up when it came to who had the best technology under the Earth.
"You are the genius, pony boy. We pay you to come up with ideas, so start thinking, unless, of course, you're still too shaken by Fowl's water- work display." Commander Root said gruffly. Even if Commander Root hadn't noticed it but his comment had had a double-sided sting to it. First of all it insulted Foaly's intelligence by suggesting he hadn't been thinking. The most obvious part of the sting was that directed to Artemis. When a little boy cries it's embarrassing, but when a boy in his teens or older cries, it's downright disgraceful and shameful.
At his words Artemis' complexion turned the rosy red of a blush. Root had half expected Butler to turn around from the drivers seat and give him a stern look of disapproval but Butler didn't do anything to suggest he didn't like what Root had done. In fact what he did was quite the opposite. Butler had a small smile on his face because he knew that Artemis was finally getting told off for doing something and that Artemis knew that he wouldn't do a thing about it. Artemis didn't even come back with a comeback. Boy, was he sure losing his touch.
"Well, for your information I was thinking about what we could do to track Koboi. What you all would need to do would be to go into Koboi labs. It has been abandoned for a while now so you won't have to dodge any goblins or anything this time. She would have more than likely left behind some DNA, in a strand of hair or a piece of skin or a drop of blood. Just get anything of hers and bring it to the OP's booth. That way I'll be able to use my new invention, you know, the one I used to find Holly with. So do that and then we will figure out the rest." He concluded smartly.
"Which way are we going to get in from?" Butler asked.
"Well we can't get in from the main entrance or any of the side entrances." Mulch said, while gaining a harsh glare from the Commander. "So that narrows it down to the way we went in last time."
"So we have to fly in the shuttle's again?" Butler asked, praying for a 'no'.
"We won't have to fly that piece of crap this time. We'll have a better shuttle, designed for those things." Root said, remembering their last trip to Koboi labs.
"Can I drive?" It was the first thing Holly had said since she had been healed and she sounded so hopeful and full of enthusiasm, just like a small child waiting for Santa to come down their chimney. The thought of flying a shuttle again but the light back into her eyes and a rosy glow back into her cheeks.
"No." Commander Root grunted.
"Why not?" Holly whined.
"Because, Short. You just got healed from major magical surgery so you are not fit to fly a shuttle. I will."
"But, that's not fair. You just got done performing extensive magical surgery and so did Trouble, so that only leaves me who can fly a bird." Holly defended her position, fire in her eyes.
"I NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT FAIR, SHORT! SO QUIT YOUR BELLYACHING AND SHUT UP! THAT'S AN ORDER!" Root exploded.
"You know, Julius. She is correct. So she should fly." Foaly interjected, and if anyone could have seen him he had a smug smile on his face. One of his favorite hobbies was telling the Commander that he was incorrect.
Root was fuming. He hated it when the pony said he was wrong, and that's exactly why Foaly did it. His face was a lovely hue of deep purple and several large veins could be seen protruding from his face and neck.
"FINE!"
Holly smiled, I won, yay!
"It's off to Tara we go." She said.
A/N~ So what did you think? Please review.