Hey everyone! It's approximately twelve midnight here in Singapore so MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! It's really dark now and I finally got the chance to bathe, so my shirt is all wet and yucky (yuck). And the chance to type. So yeah.
By the way, realize I'm chatting? Me like to chat… I already opened all my Christmas pressies and got a sketchbook from my sister. Yayness! Now I can draw! Oh yeah, and you know the winners in the previous chapter are supposed to be underlined and in bold, but I dunno why it turned out like that.
Extremely long replies to my reviewers!!!! THANK YOU AND MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope I'll finish this by Boxing Day… why is it even called Boxing Day ((shrugs))?
Electric Fire: Hey I don't like tight pants ((sticks out tongue at pants)). They're… tight. I love jeans, but I only have TWO PAIRS!!! Argh… I CAN'T hide at Christmas parties, poor me… I'm a bit like Arty, forced to go eat with everyone but today I helped with the barbecue and just picked some food off the table without a plate. Now I'm feeling hungry… haha. I showed marnsmonkey? I did? Okay, that's good! Great! Merry Christmas to you too! Thanks for reviewing!
Black Aliss: Merry Christma… what? Chrismhankwanzaa? What's that? Sorry I'm really, really stupid. Trouble… nah, Holly and Arty are dancing together now… Trouble's not exactly perfect… Thanks for reviewing and Merry Chrism- something. Merry Christmas!
VampirePeaches: No, for me it isn't orange, it's… blue. Light blue. Yeah. That's right. No, no, Holly didn't consume any alcohol; she just wanted to make a fool of Arty-kins. Foaly and Root think she's drunk, since Holly would never ever want to dance with Artemis. I'm not good at romance stuff. I think. I'll try to add some mushy stuff here, you know like Holly blushing because evil Foaly put some mushy song on, I dunno. I'll think as I write, and you know I haven't thought of anything yet while I'm replying, so yeah. Really? Guys run around at your school with mistletoe? That's bad… lucky mine is all girls' school… Actually no boy my age would do that ((grins)). I love Arty/Holly! Arty/Holly RULES! I always thought, "Hello? Holly's eighty-something and Artemis is only a teen? Age difference! Species difference! Height difference!" Then I read AgiVega's fic and got really interested. Then we got the Sims 2 and made Fowl Manor and Holly and Arty fell in love. We did help along though ;). Then I started liking Arty/Holly and I think it RULES!!! GO A/H!!! Thanks for reviewing and a merry Christmas to you!
AgiVega: I'm not too sure about the romance right now… you mean Artemis and Holly kissing? That's WAY too OOC… haha. But maybe something else, I'm not sure. I thought I explained that in the previous chapter? Okay… erm. Because the fairies (consisted of Root, Foaly, Holly… uh I think that's all) want to teach him the meaning of Christmas. So when Holly's dancing with him she tells him, he understands, they do dunno what sick stuff, blah blah blah. Okay, that was a very, very vague explanation ((grins)) Yep they're mushy, mushy Christmassy songs. Who doesn't WANT to make a fool of Arty? (Fan girls: ME!) By the way, can I save your pictures? The Artemis Fowl ones. Please??? Thanks for reviewing and a merry Christmas to you!
Yue-neko: Thanks! Thanks for reviewing and a merry Christmas to you!
Cyberspace: Poor you… fourteen is merely three days - I mean two days away! Happy birthday in advance (okay that's not very reassuring), thanks for reviewing and a merry Christmas to you!
yellowreviews: Hi Jing, again! Thanks so much for reviewing. Artemis/Foaly??? HAHAHHAHA!!! That's funny!!!! What Beatles song? Erm…yep Foaly is that outdated. Haha… Merry CHRISTMAS!!!
Lils Evans: I like saying oy too… haha. Thanks for reviewing and merry Christmas!
Now on with the story…
Extra disclaimer: I don't own the Christmassy songs in here. So don't sue me.
Chapter 4: Underneath the Mistletoe...
"Holly, could you stop it?" asked Artemis wearily. His head was throbbing painfully now and he couldn't seem to wriggle out of Holly's grasp.
"No," said Holly promptly and whirled him around for the billionth time. All the elves had gotten fed up with their continuous dancing and had started to dance again, ignoring them. Though some still stole glances at them, silently hoping they would dance by accident under the mistletoe.
"No, really, I mean it, or I'll call Butler," said Artemis angrily.
"How are you supposed to reach him when you're underground, huh, mud boy?" asked Holly, smirking. Artemis groaned.
"Deck the halls with boughs of hoooollly, falalalala, lalalala…" the room suddenly echoed with music unknown to all fairies except Artemis.
"What the-?" said Holly in disbelief.
"'Tis the season to be jolly, falalalala, lalalala…" The snow, real snow this time, came down thicker and faster than ever. The problem was that the real snow only fell on Holly and Artemis, thus covering them with mounds of cold, wet mounds of ice.
"Foaly," said Artemis simply. Holly gritted her teeth.
"Is that a mud man song?" she asked.
Artemis nodded. Holly released Artemis (finally) and clenched her fists. Artemis quickly turned and took the chance to get back to his table, but then he felt a hand tugging at his suit.
"Not so fast, mud boy. You haven't finished dancing yet," said Holly and pulled him underneath the rapidly falling mass of snow. Artemis stared at his suit in disgust. It would never be the same again. Holly picked up a ball of snow and flung it Artemis. He, of course, fell down and soon his once black Armani suit was completely white and drenched with snow.
"Don we now our gay apparel, falala, lalala, lalala…"
Artemis shivered and rubbed his arms.
"Dancing would warm you up," said Holly and pulled him to his feet.
"Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, falalalalala, lalalala…"
Holly whirled Artemis around, the snow beating him mercilessly onto his head and shoulders. Artemis, having no idea how to dance, just followed.
"I hate that centaur," said Holly, her teeth chattering. Wherever they went the snow followed them, so they were both shivering. Dancing did warm them up, anyhow. Nobody else had noticed the real snow accumulating on Artemis and Holly.
The song changed abruptly.
"We wish you a merry Christmas, we wish you a merry Christmas…"
Artemis almost felt like going to the toilet. Holly laughed aloud.
"That's a really pathetic mud man song," she commented. Artemis nodded in agreement.
Back in the Ops Booth, where Foaly is triple-tasking; sending the sim into the bathroom, controlling the real snow on Artemis and Holly and randomly picking the wrong songs
"D'Arvit, where ARE those songs," muttered Foaly, feeling frustrated. He scrolled down, only to find some mud-men called The Beatles. He loved those guys. They were cool. Too bad they were already dead. Foaly sighed and scrolled down more.
"Foaly you blasted centaur let me in!!!" roared a very irritated Root. Fairies down there were complaining about the absurdity of the songs, and now Foaly was playing one called "Frosty the Snowman". Foaly ran, ahem, I mean stumbled very awkwardly to the computers and typed a long string of passwords. Root came in, looking furious and biting into his fungus cigar to control his anger.
"FOALY!!! WHAT KIND OF SONGS ARE YOU CHOOSING???" roared Root, stalking importantly into the Booth and peering over at Foaly's 'work'. The simulated Artemis was using the toilet, real snow was following Artemis and Holly everywhere and Foaly was listening happily to a song on some headphones.
"I like this song. It's sung by the Beatles," he said happily as he saw Root.
Root tore of off the out-of-date headphones and tugged the centaur's ear.
"ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ONE OF MY OFFICERS FALL SICK???" he yelled into Foaly's ear. Foaly was half deaf for a moment.
"Uh, no," he said, clutching his head.
"YOU HAVE NO TASTE FOR MUSIC!!!"
Foaly nodded blankly in agreement.
Root clapped a head to his forehead and ran over to the computer, which had a whole list of music. Presently Foaly was listening to one called "She Loves You" sung by the Beatles. It obviously had no reference to Christmas. Root slammed his hand onto the desk, and while doing that his finger accidentally pressed the left mouse button of the mouse…
Back in the, uh, room, where Holly and Artemis are getting drenched and freezing coldArtemis groaned inwardly. "Frosty the Snowman" was his least favourite Christmas song. Actually, he hated all sorts of Christmas songs, which Juliet frequently played during Christmas just to annoy him. Suddenly, the song changed.
"She loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah…"
"What the-?" said Holly incredulously. She couldn't believe Foaly had actually such bad taste.
Artemis paled as the song went on. Juliet loved playing this one into his ear, while he preferred listening to "It's No Game Part Two" over and over again.
"She told me what to say, she says she loves you, and you know that can't be bad…"
Holly made a face, but inwardly she felt embarrassed.
"Ew…" she said in disgust. Artemis remained silent.
"That's not for Christmas," he said lamely.
Ops BoothFoaly rubbed his head. Root had probably burst his eardrums.
A song was echoing throughout the booth. Oh no. That was his favourite song. He stood up and quickly turned it off. Root looked frustrated.
"How the D'Arvit do you switch off that song???" asked Root angrily. "I mean, me, as the most efficient commander of all time, should know! All thanks to you, pony boy."
Foaly rolled his eyes. Root, always blaming him for everything, as usual.
He spotted a random song, liked its title, and clicked on it.
Back to the usual Artemis and Holly
Artemis wasn't getting warmer, though he felt a new emotion bubble up inside him… could this be the spirit of Christmas? He and Holly were truly dancing now; obviously he still couldn't dance, but he was just being pulled along by Holly. He felt devastatingly – happy. Yes, happy. He felt like dancing with Holly was causing this emotion.
"Artemis?"
Holly's voice roused him from his "oh this is the Christmas spirit" thoughts.
"Yes?"
Holly kicked him.
"You sound pathetic."
"Thank you."
Holly raised an eyebrow. Artemis – being playfully sarcastic? Um, no way. Then it hit her. He had gotten it. The Christmas spirit. Yes! All part of the plan. She grinned.
"Tell me, Artemis. How do you feel?"
Artemis, for once, was honest. Due to the Christmas spirit.
"Strange."
"Like how?"
Another song interrupted Artemis's answer.
"Last night I took a walk in the snow, couples holding hands-"
Holly and Artemis stared at each other's hands and stiffened.
"-And places to go… seems like everyone but me is in love, Santa can you hear me?"
Holly rolled her eyes. Another version of San D'Klass.
"Continue, mud boy. Ignore this pathetic mud song (A/N: no offence to Britney fans out there! Holly is prejudiced against mud people ya know!)," said Holly, rolling her eyes.
Artemis nodded, his throat dry. He had a sudden desire to return home. He cleared his throat. Holly waggled her finger at him.
"Don't try stalling for time, Fowl. I know what you're doing," she said warningly. Artemis sighed, then shivered, since the ice had seeped through his shirt and icy cold water was trickling down his back.
"I cannot explain it."
Holly gasped in mock astonishment.
"The great Artemis Fowl, not knowing how to explain something?" said Holly, laughing.
"Maybe, maybe, maybe, we'll be all alone under the mistletoe…"
"You hope," snorted Holly in reply to the song.
Artemis gulped. He had a strange feeling in him; all he wanted to do now was go home and wish his parents Merry Christmas. He smacked his head inwardly. His father's joyfulness must have been very contagious.
Holly looked at the boy. He was lost in thought. She smirked. He had definitely got it. For once in fourteen years, Artemis Fowl had gotten the Christmas spirit.
"Fowl?"
"Huh?" he said blankly, and immediately afterwards cursed himself for not using an appropriate word.
"You'd better wish your parents merry Christmas. It's going to be midnight; we've been dancing here for hours," said Holly, unknowingly tugging the mud boy to a clump of mistletoe…
Ops Booth (I'm sick of this place)
Root was getting sick. Foaly was doing nothing but babbling about how good the Beatles were. And he was getting sick of the song. He glanced at one of the many computers, whose camera was aimed on Holly and Artemis. They seemed to be talking. Then, Root almost fainted. Holly had unknowingly danced underneath some mistletoe, and she didn't see it.
"Foaly! Tell Holly to move away! Stupid centaur!!!" yelled Root. Foaly pouted.
"I'm not stupid," he declared and spoke into the mike.
Underneath the Mistletoe… (Readers: OOH…)
"Holly! HOLLY!!!" Foaly's voice sounded in her ear.
Holly jumped, almost tripping over her dress. She had forgotten the earpiece.
"Cut the snow out, will you??? I'm shivering down here!!!" whispered Holly.
"You're under the mistletoe," he said simply. Holly gulped and looked upwards. Artemis followed her gaze.
"Uh-oh," murmured Holly.
"Brilliant," muttered Artemis sarcastically.
"Uh huh," said Holly and grinned wickedly. "You know what this means?"
"No," said Artemis just as Holly pulled him down and kissed him on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas, mud boy."
Battered Ops Booth (you know why, don't you?)
"D'ARVIT!!! ONE OF MY BEST OFFICERS KISSED A MUD BOY!!!" screamed Root hysterically, banging his fist and practically smashing Foaly's precious computers. Foaly was moaning and wringing his hands in despair.
"Only on the cheek, Santa!"
"CUT THE CRAP!!!"
"It's not crap! You wanted to wear that suit anyway," said Foaly innocently. Root started yelling and his cigar fell onto the floor. Foaly stomped his hooves angrily and jabbed towards the cigar.
"D'ARVIT! I'M GOING TO FIND THAT D'ARVIT ELF NOW!!!" screamed Root and walked through the double doors, which Foaly had gladly opened to release him. Once alone, he started mourning for his spit-flecked computers and half broken tables.
Back to RootRoot stomped angrily all the way to the huge room, muttering under his breath. Foaly had changed the song, and it was very horrible, but Root ignored it. All he could think was: Holly kissed Fowl. Holly kissed Fowl. Holly kissed FOWL. HOLLY KISSED FOWL!!!
He entered the room and searched around for a snow-covered shivering couple. None around. He clenched his fists and searched for a long time. He didn't know how long, but he knew one thing.
They were gone.
Oh finally! This was a very hard chapter to write; I have never danced in Christmas parties EVER. I think it's the worst… it was very hard to add in the songs… I spent over 3 hours doing this one. Now it's 12.36 am, on Boxing Day. Because I had to go to sleep that time I started typing, right…
Please review, no matter how bad and sicky it is!!! I hate this chapter!!!!! ARGH!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! I LOVE ALL MY REVIEWERS!!! THANK YOU!!!
Okay so not to the flamer.
To yellowreviews: Yes I used your Beatles idea!