Author's Note: I hope you like my story...if you don't, well, give me your suggestions and I'm sure I could do better when I know what's wrong.
NOTE: Cyrenela will not be a Mary-Sue in the future chapters. SHE WILL CHANGE...very different actually...How much different? Keep in touch to find out!
Disclaimer: I don't own Artemis and his friends, just Cyrenela and Faith for the meantime -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
FOWL MANOR Butler scouted the grounds; Artemis had locked himself at the study saying that he wanted to do some research on his plan. Butler knew better than to disturb his charge, so he decided to scout the grounds. Not that anything interesting would happen, the estate is heavily guarded, he never actually heard of a break-in at the manor...
A flurry of silver feathers suddenly rocketed towards the ground, Butler rushed over to find something he never expected.
Holly sat on the back of a majestic eagle; her hair was very untidy, as if it had been blown by the wind, which is what did happen. The eagle looked quite irritated, it was sprawled on the ground, wings still spread out.
Butler walked forward to release the poor animal of its burden. Holly, being a bit flustered did not struggle.
"Hello Captain, why the visit?"
Holly ignored the greeting. "I WANT TO SEE ARTEMIS, NOW!!!"
Butler obeyed, Holly wasn't known for her peacefulness, seeing that she preferred advancing in painful attempts to get what she needs and wants.
When they arrived at the front of the study's door, Butler said, "I'll just inform Artemis of your arrival, wait here."
Holly obeyed, but she did not hide her discomfort and irritation.
Barely a minute later, Butler returned and nodded at her to enter.
Inside, Artemis was seated on an armchair, smirking freely. Holly had to resist punching him at the face.
"Hello Captain. Glad to see me?" Holly scowled; Fowl was as snide as ever.
"You wish."
"A little worn down, aren't we, Captain? Is it because of the flight?"
If Holly had mind power as we call it, Artemis is nothing more than a puddle now.
"Is the LEP running out of technology? I hardy expected you to ride on the back of a wild animal, the poor thing," he said casually.
Holly looked as if she was about to murder Artemis with about a dozen or so different weapons. At the precise moment Holly was about to blow up, the eagle flew into the room from the open window, it settled on the floor, ruffling its feathers, before gazing at them with its silver eyes.
Artemis immediately recognized that stare, "Madam Perfecto, you were Captain Short's chaperone?"
Cyrenela returned to her original figure, and then seated herself on another chair. Everyone looked at her to say the first word, she sighed in expiration, things were really wearing her out. She might he perfect, but she also needed to rest; unfortunately she rarely had the chance to do that. Especially in times like these, when very heavy burdens are placed on her shoulders.
"I take that you would like some explanation, Captain Short?" she said wearily.
Holly nodded, and then she got out a recorder from her pack, turning it on. Then she took out a laptop, with a few clicks Foaly was soon on the screen.
"Hello, Fowl. Long time no see, eh?"
Artemis nodded at him.
"What do we have here, Holly?"
Holly turned the screen to face Cyrenela.
"You know Master Foaly, you look incredibly like your great grandfather, Master Stalon."
Holly could almost sense Foaly's surprise emitting from the monitor. "You know him?"
"Yes, we worked together in Mission: Elfish Col," she said. A thoughtful expression on her face.
"What was he like? Is he as smart as he said? How many inventions did he patent? What-
"Foaly, if you don't mind. We're not here to discuss your grandfather, ask her the questions. Please?" Holly said irritated.
"Oh, yes. Very well, err...who are you again?" "I am Cyrenela Arlene Perfecto, known to the People as Fectnoperi." She was tired of introducing her name too.
Foaly jumped with glee. "I've been trying to dig up information about you disappearance forever! Now I will have the answers for everything! The council will appreciate my discovery!"
"No, the council will not know her presence. This mission is secret, and it will stay like that," Artemis spoke up.
If Foaly had jumped and was still in the air, he would've come crashing down with a lot of broken body parts. "Okay, okay...on with the questioning," Foaly said lifelessly, a moment of honor had just deflated like a punctured balloon.
"Why the plea for help?"
"I need help in finding my lost friends, but I can't do it alone, so I asked help from Master Fowl. He agreed to help me, but his plan involves supervision from the LEP. That's why I sent the message to Holly."
"Fowl actually agreed to help? Without payment? Now that's a first," Holly exclaimed. The look on the humans' faces was enough to prove that there still wasn't a first.
Holly narrowed her hazel eyes, "What is Fowl's price?"
Surprisingly, Artemis was uncomfortable.
As if reading his mind, which she might have, Cyrenela said, "It's nothing important, let's concentrate at the situation at hand."
Though with curiosity still in her mind, Holly complied. "All right, sure. What makes you think the LEP will willingly lend help?"
"Because of my numerous assistance to the People before, I believe it is proper for the debt to be repaid," Cyrenela declared.
"It is, but Fowl is involved," Foaly spoke through the laptop. "That changes things; the Council isn't very fond of him."
"I didn't request this, Foaly. Madam Perfecto will explain why," Artemis said defensively.
Cyrenela sighed, explaining...explaining, when will it end? Not now, that's for sure. "He is included in the prophecies, no one could replace him."
Foaly whistled, "Included eh? Let's just hope that when we emerge from this, our pockets won't be lighter. Fowl is known for his tendency to rob us of our gold."
Artemis put on an innocent face while Holly looked at him suspiciously. "No need to worry, Master Foaly. I'll let you know when such a thought crosses his mind," Cyrenela assured.
Artemis glared at her, "Don't read my mind," he said threatingly.
"I will only read it if I get suspicious," she stated.
"I think we're wandering a bit from the subject here?" Juliet spoke up. Everyone calmed down a bit.
"All right, now what is the problem actually?" Foaly asked.
Another explanation is demanded, oh well, "My companions are lost. We need your help to retrieve them, would you? Please?" Cyrenela said pitifully, my, tiredness must really be affecting me, I'm sounding desperate.
Holly and Foaly glanced at each other, doubt in their faces.
"What do you think, Foaly?"
He shook his head, "I'm not sure, it doesn't concern the people in any way. And if they're to use the LEP's technology, they would need the commander's approval, we'll have to ask him," He looked at the humans, "I'm not guaranteeing anything, If Root refuses, I'm afraid you're on your own."
Cyrenela nodded solemnly. "I understand, the People have to protect themselves of the Mud men."
"You must bring them here, Holly. Julius would want to hear their story in person. There's a shuttle port a few miles due east, I suggest you head over there, make it quick."
Foaly was just about to cut the connection off when Cyrenela suggested, "I could take us there right now. Actually, I could take us at the Ops booth at this very minute"
Foaly looked at her incredulously. "How?"
"It's none of your concern," she turned to those in the room. "Well, shall we?"
"Wait," Artemis said as he packed his laptop with a few other curious gadgets in a bag. Butler shouldered his Sig Saucer and waited.
When everyone was ready they gave a nod.
"Relax, the ride will be a bit rough, I grant you. Just leave everything to me," Cyrenela said as she closed her eyes.
A second later everybody was covered in light. The room had disappeared, including the floor. Everyone seemed to be floating around in nothing. Artemis wondered for a moment what Cyrenela meant about a rough ride, everything seems so peaceful, how wrong he was when a gaping hole suddenly emerged out of nowhere.
Cyrenela peered at them.
Go in there, said a hallow voice.
Everyone looked around, wondering who said it.
Cyrenela waved her hands, that's me, now, go into the hole .
They obeyed, though with slight doubt.
Artemis tried to speak out loud, but no sound came out, he'll ask her about it later.
One by one they entered the hole, as soon as they were pulled in came the rough round. They were sucked into it so rapidly that they could've sworn that their skin was pulled off. They still saw each other, but a bit blurred. Suddenly something went very wrong,
Artemis felt an arm wrap around his neck, cutting his air supply. He gasped, and tried to cry for help, but no sound came out, and the rapid movement of the vertex will certainly prevent his allies from doing anything even if they tried.
He wriggled, whoever it was turned him around. He gasped at what he saw, a girl was before him, her eyes blank and dull, as if she died. She wore a dress, which to his surprise is exactly like the one Cyrenela wore, but it wasn't Cyrenela of course. What stood out from her appearance is a deep scar on her face, left side, red and flaming like fire. It looked like a simple drawing of a flame, it did glow like one. Her face was lifeless but pretty, not that it mattered.
She grasped his throat once again, her grip getting tighter and tighter. Artemis thrashed wildly but nothing prevailed, when he almost felt like dying he was suddenly released.
He took in air greedily, breathing deep.
Cyrenela had just sensed the presence of an uninvited guest. She saw the person strangling the boy to death and without second thoughts, attacked.
They both crashed, what soon followed was a wave of shock.
Faith? Cyrenela thought.
It was, Faith is one of her friends, one of the people she was seeking.
Faith didn't even pause, in a flash, she drew out a sword and struck, it sliced her abdomen.
She didn't worry much, she was perfect, the pain would merely be like the one she felt with Butler's Sig Saucer, constant but bearable. But what she felt was the exact opposite, it was pain beyond anything she ever imagined, it's the pain you feel when betrayed, when your heart was broken into a thousand uncountable pieces, the pain you feel when at the brink of death.
With the last ounce of her energy, she released a ball of light, which quickly engulfed the enemy, which is at the same time...the one she is trying to save. She held on...focusing her mind in getting them to safety.
Ops Booth
Foaly jumped as Artemis, Butler, Juliet, and Holly came crashing down from a hole that suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Artemis stood up hurriedly, his face was a bit blue, which was completely understandable given what had recently happened to him. He looked around frantically.
Butler, sensing that something's wrong, approached him, "Sir? Are you alright?" he was a bit blue.
Artemis stricken face was enough to answer his question, something is clearly wrong, then he noticed something, Cyrenela isn't with them.
The others got up shakily.
"That was...interesting" Holly commented.
"Where is she?" Artemis said, his voice shaking.
"What happened?" Butler asked worriedly.
"There was this girl, she tried to kill me," Artemis felt Butler's shock. "She nearly succeeded, but Cyrenela stopped her, and the last thing I saw before arriving here is...them fighting." He said hurriedly.
Everyone was now aware of what happened and what's happening, :the enemy knows where they are.
"Umm, about the black hole," Foaly reminded them.
They looked at the hole, it was still there, obviously.
Butler said, "Maybe she's still there, I could go back for her."
"I don't know, by the looks of it, that hole seems endless. I've read some story about this...I can't quite remember the details though." Holly said uncertainly.
"But we can't just leave her!" Juliet exclaimed, panic in her voice.
As if sparing them from making a crucial decision, Cyrenela dropped from the hole with a thump. Her front soaking with blood, and her face pale. At first glance they thought she was dead, but a moment later, she coughed out blood.
Holly rushed to her side, the wound was deep, too much blood was lost too, she tried to perform a healing, but only a few sparks was all she could give, the last time she completed the ritual was a year ago. "D'arvit" she cursed. No magic at the time you need it desperately.
She coughed some more, Artemis suddenly had an idea. "Cyrenela! Listen, you could do anything right?"
She nodded weakly, trying to focus.
"Heal yourself, do it for us," he remembered about how her powers were determined by the person's she is to help's morals. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into he palms, trying to not loose concentration on the situation, on what she's to do... Slowly, she felt the pain lessen...until it was like nothing more than a past nightmare...her breathing became steady. And she opened her eyes wearily, whispering "Thank you." Before passing out.
They gave out a sigh of relief on the knowledge that their friend will be alright.
"I'll go get Root," Foaly said.
He looked at the various cameras wired throughout the building, at the meantime; Root seemed to be yelling at Grub on the third floor.
He pressed a button, and said, "Hey, Julius! Come to the Ops booth, there's someone who wants to have a word with you."
At the screen, Root appeared to be throwing a tantrum on his way to the centaur, almost mutilating officers unfortunate enough to interrupt his walk.
Butler gently carried Cyrenela and placed her on a chair, but placing one hand on her shoulder to keep her from sliding down. He suddenly noticed something.
"Artemis, did she have this before?"
Artemis walked over to them, Butler was pointing at a very faint red drawing on her cheek, it could've been nothing, but considering the recent events, it just might be important. "It's almost like the one the girl had, but this one's faint...we'll just have to ask her when she wakes up, after all she does know everything."
Root came bursting into the room, screaming, "DID YOU REALIZE WHAT YOU DID PONYBOY? I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME JULIUS, BUT YOUR OVERGROWN HEAD COULDN'T QUITE PROCESS THAT DIRECT ORDER! YOU JUST HUMILATED ME, YOUR VOICE WAS BROADCASTED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING! I'M GOING TO CUT YOUR SALARY IN HALF!!!!!"
Foaly was practically shocked by the last sentence.
Just then, Root noticed their visitors. "WHAT ARE THEY DOING HERE?! THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO BE MINDWIPED!"
Before he could continue his yelling, Butler picked him up by the collar, effectively making him shut up.
"Commander, we need to talk," Artemis started.
"Put me down, and I'll listen."
Butler put him down, gently.
"We want your approval in using LEP technology."
"And what makes you think that I'll even consider your petty excuse to use fairy technology?" he growled.
Artemis met his eyes squarely, "I am not the one who will use it, to say. I am merely responding from a plea of help," he said quietly.
Root wasn't convinced, "Yeah, right. And who are you playing the Good Samaritan with, hmm?"
"Her," he said, pointing at Cyrenela's sleeping figure.
The commander edged closer, and grimaced. "What happened to her?"
"We were attacked on our way here, she managed to hold the enemy back, but she was wounded as well," Artemis answered.
"What enemy? And there's no way a criminal could pass through the shuttle ports, they're packed with my officers for heaven's sake! How could they enter without us knowing?"
Foaly shook his head, "They didn't use a shuttle, commander."
Root blinked, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY DIDN"T USE A SHUTTLE?! THERE'S NO OTHER WAY THEY COULD'VE ENTERED HAVEN!"
"Well there is, or rather a way only someone like her can use."
Root displayed a perfectly confused face.
Foaly did the explaining, "She opened some sort of portal, I think. They were to travel through it, since it's faster than riding through the shuttle port, which is packed with tourists. She suggested traveling in her way, I wasn't there so I don't have any details of what actually happened, but it's quite obvious that it wasn't good."
"Alright, but what's the need of the equipment for?" He grunted.
Artemis took over, "Madam Perfecto-
"Who?" Root interrupted.
"Her," Juliet said, gesturing towards the unconscious girl.
"Asked help from yours truly, I agreed, but my plan involves fairy technology, without it, the plan cannot continue."
"As usual," he muttered. "But the human has no connection whatsoever with the LEP, we don't owe her anything. And besides, you tricked us, Fowl, the trust we had in you is gone."
"Uh, commander?" Foaly asked timidly, not quite favoring another decrease in his salary.
Root turned to face him, face magenta red. "What, ponyboy?"
"Actually, we do owe her. She's Fectnoperi," he said briefly.
Root's eyes narrowed. "You're babbling, ponyboy...my grandfather knew Fectnoperi, and we all know she's human. It's not like a human to live that long."
"That's one question I have no answer to," Foaly piped up.
"I could," Artemis said, with, of course, a hint of smugness. "She's immortal."The fairies gaped absently."What do you mean, Fowl?" Holly asked.
"I believe what I said previously is completely understandable," he inquired. "It's quite obvious...her appearance remains the same, no matter how old she is, which is fourteen centuries, actually."
"Fourteen centuries? She's even older than Frond," Holly mumbled. "But, even fairies aren't immortal, how can a human...?"
Artemis shrugged. "I myself don't know much about her history, it would be better, I think. That we simply wait for her to regain consciousness, so she can answer your questions."
The fairies looked at each other and nodded.
"Hey, where would we sleep? Cyrenela wouldn't be waking up for a while, I'm sure," Juliet squeaked.
Root and Foaly looked at Holly, while Holly for her part, glared at both of them.
"No, NO!" she cried.
"There's no other place, Short. They can't stay at the department, there're so many civilians, anyways, it's only until the girl wakes up," Root said with a tone which seemed to say not to argue with him, or else there'll be trouble...not the elf.
Holly's shoulders slumped with defeat.
"Come on," she said at the humans with her back on them.
Butler carried Cyrenela carefully, afraid of disturbing her slumber.
Then they followed Holly to her cozy and warm home, thought Holly personally thinks it won't fit that description the moment they step in there.
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Author's Note: Not really a note, a thanks to my reviewers, actually....
The CheezHead:
Thanks for your commendation, I don't really know about the Sue- writers...I'm new here anyways. Oh, and I'll be extra careful in avoiding typos, thanks for pointing out my mistakes, now I'll be able to avoid doing it again. THANK YOU!
Identity99:
I'm not annoyed, really. I actually liked the fact that you gave your suggestions. Uh, just a question, but why do readers often quit when they see a Mary-Sue, and why are they called like that? THANKS for keeping in touch in my first chapters; I hope to see you in the future ones as well!
READ AND REVIEW!!!