The Pivotal Five

Summary: Five great stories come together in an epic imbalance that sets the world of fantasy on its side. Each people from each story must learn to put their differences aside and work together to save their own world, and the world of reality.

Last episode: Harry Potter and co. meet Ann Turner and the rest of the crew from the Black Pearl.

Chapter 12: Operation Short Retrieval

It was one crazy day, Artemis admitted to himself. The three of them, Butler, Fay, and Artemis, just sat there, contemplating the meaning of fairies in the world. Artemis was rediscovering some of his own secrets when Fay saw fit to break the silence.

"Hey, Artemis," she started.

"What?" He looked at her slowly, wondering what could possibly be passing through her mind at this time.

"Why is it that we haven't..." She blushed. "Have you ever wondered why we've stayed platonic friends?" This last bit came out in a bit of a rush.

Artemis sighed at her foolishness. "When I first understood who you were, I thought we were related. Family, however distant, is still family, and it is downright plebeian to have such feelings for one's family." He thought that would clear the matter up.

"But, I don't get it. You are probably the closest friend I will ever have, and even though I know we're not related, how is it that I don't have any romantic feelings for you?" She didn't quit. She thought, with Artemis' huge brain, he'd be able to figure it out.

"What relevance has this to anything?" Seeing her eyes, big with inquiry, Artemis thought for a moment. "We've been through too much to muck up our friendship with sentimentality."

"Oh, so you're just not sentimental."

"Yes, but that would explain my friends only feelings for you. I have no idea why you have no feelings for me." He really wished she'd drop the subject.

Fay felt as though she would hit herself. Here she was, the only person her age to actually get close to the infamous Artemis Fowl, and she couldn't even fall in love with him. What was wrong with her? Before she voiced these concerns aloud, the phone rang.

Butler answered it quickly. "Yes, he's right here, sir." And he handed the phone to Artemis. He straightened as though he felt something, and left the room quickly.

Sending Butler a look, he received the phone and put it to his ear. "Artemis Fowl the second speaking."

"YOU D'ARVITING MUD MAN! GIVE US BACK CAPTAIN SHORT!"

Artemis held the phone a foot from his ear, and could still hear the commander shouting. When the commander took a minute to breathe, Artemis put his two cents in. "Commander Root, I do not have Holly, nor do I have any idea what you're talking about."

"YOU ARE STILL A SLIMY DIRT WALLOWER! YOU REMEMBER EVERYTHING, YOU FILTHY BLOODSUCKING TURNCOAT..."

Artemis put the phone down on the table beside him and waited for Root to finish. A sound like grunt of breath came from the other line, and a new voice started talking.

"Fowl? I know you're not holding the phone. I can see you."

It was Foaly. Artemis quickly put the phone to his ear.

"That's better. In your search for fairies, did you ever come across anything about witches and wizards?" he asked, paranoia lacing his worried voice.

"Just the usual babble about village healers. Nothing really condemning," Artemis answered, feeling a sense of foreboding come upon him.

"Well, there is more than just your village healers, Fowl. There are some real, flesh and blood, witches out there, and they've got Holly."

Artemis couldn't figure out why, for the life of him, they were telling him this. As he considered, Butler reentered the room. He looked relieved and exhausted.

"Why are you talking to me about this?" Artemis inquired.

"I've set up a system to detect who is and who isn't a witch. It'll pin-point any magic being on the planet. There are millions of them, where there weren't before. These beings live above ground, in plain sight of mud men and no one sees them. The point I'm trying to make is this; right now, at this very moment, there are four, get that, four magic beings inside your house, alone, not to mention Fowl's vast courtyards and grounds." Foaly didn't even take a breath as he explained this.

"I'm not quite understanding you," Artemis replied. Butler motioned for the speaker phone, and he nodded. "Foaly, Butler and Farren Rhian Kilburn are in the room with me. I'm putting the phone on speaker, and only we in the room will hear you." He pressed the button before the centaur had time to reply.

"Here's the long and short of it. Your parents, Artemis, you, and this girl Farren are all creatures of magic. You are not mud men at all. We've traced Farren's heritage and linked it the Missing Aeryn Merrow. You, on the other hand, belong to a great line of wizards. Weird, huh? Any idea why this escaped your family for centuries?"

"That makes all the sense in the world," Butler cut in. The two looked at him strangely. "I just had to go put on a mysterious fire in one of the bathrooms. Miscellaneous items have gone missing, and the fairy technology bugged out on us."

"A wizarding school has kidnapped Captain Short," Foaly finished. "It's very close to you. In fact, officials from that school should be there any minute to retrieve you and Farren---"

"Fay!" Fay interrupted. "My name is Fay!"

Foaly just continued on. "--and take you both to this school. While you are there, find Holly. We'll specify a drop-off area and send you back on your ways."

The door knocked, and the dial tone was heard on the phone.

A/N: Guys, I started writing this a year ago. THIS IS PRE- OPAL DECEPTION. Just pretend that book never happened...Okay, so...that was a bit weird, wasn't it? Just all of a sudden came from nowhere. I apologize for it being only dialogue, but there's really not much else going on. Time to address my reviewers! -oh goodie!-

Tikvah Ariel: I know there are some mistakes, but when I uploaded the last chapter, my keyboard was bugging out on me...I should go back and fix it though...lol! Okay, I feel I have to explain Ann's good looks. Have you seen PotC? To say Orlando Bloom is breathtakingly handsome would be a devastating understatement, and Kiera Knightley isn't exactly ugly. -- Thus the reason their child, Ann, is good looking. Thank you for reviewing, and I don't envy you for the amount of catching up you have to do...;-)

Oddball91: I appreciate your review, once again. Sorry, I have no control over when I write, and when I don't...:-) Hope to see you soon! and Enjoy this chapter!

Cerulean Asphodel: Anachronism (an-Ak-roe-nism) n. A person, place, or thing obviously not fromthe aforementioned time period. Example: A movie of a caveman using a cell phone. That's an anachronism. Thanks for reviewing! I am not doing anything but letting my mother go out to WalMart at 7 am in the morning to buy me the book. At which point, I will be waking up at 7:30, when she will definitely be home safe with that marvel of marvels. Then, I will say I am sick for my family function, and proceed to finish that damn book the same day I get it...just to keep tradition going. ;-)

Please R&R! Even though I don't even have an ego any more, my creativity might just peter out if you let it sit without motivation. ;-)