Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Artemis Fowl. Those go to Eoin Colfer.

Okay, the sister thing.

Chapter 7: Little Dolls

Sisterhood of the Pixies HQ, Haven

Opal Koboi had caused quite a stir when she entered the Sisterhood Headquarters when she was only twenty years old. She was the youngest pixie to ever be invited to join the long standing society, and the first ever to refuse admittance. Instead, she chose to attend the Brotherhood of Master Engineering. Before leaving, she claimed that after she graduated she would gladly join the exclusive Sisterhood of the Pixies.

There were not many rules, just a reputation. Only female pixies could join, although for years some of the richer elf heiresses had tried to start a Sisterhood for themselves. Some had even feigned being pixies, in order to join. But not one made it past the main foyer. The Sisters were quite proud of their security, and were most proud that not a single male, of any species, had ever entered even their smallest sanctuaries.

The Sisterhood was originally for any girl pixie, but in recent years, only the pixies of Principality Hill seemed to actually pass the initiations. The rich, snobby pixies, often compared to human dolls. Amber Brill was not one of those pixies. She actually had a brain.

The five pixie candidates sitting across from her, had no brains inside their large heads, only a roster of the newest fashions jumbled in. They were practically identical, and for a moment Amber was reminded of porcelain dolls. At the moment, their only individuality was the outfits they wore. She shuddered as she imagined them in matching uniforms with the same hair style.

"Now, I can guarantee that all five of you will pass tomorrow," Opal Koboi said next to her. In her voice, there was no trace of the usual mesmer. That was what she was for. "Tell them Amber." The giant pixie nudged her. Amber threw a dirty look at Opal's face. She only saw a thick layer of veils, surrounding the round ears and face of Opal. She'd taken to wearing it ever since she became a Mud Girl, claiming it was to hide her ears, but Amber's brothers said otherwise.

Amber turned to the dolls before her. Using thin amounts of the mesmer in her voice, she talked the girls into working for Opal. She handed each of them a box with their supplies, then ushered them out. She turned back to the large pixie on the day couch, wondering if it was worth the effort to employ a group of giggling, annoying brats to do what she was perfectly capable of. Then again, she was busy with prisoners twenty four hours a day.

"Sister Opal, couldn't goblins be used?" Amber asked.

"Of course not! They could burn me, and besides, these girls are much smarter."

"You tell yourself that," Amber muttered.

"What did you say?" Opal demanded. Ever since becoming human, Opal had been very paranoid. Her brothers Scant and Merv had told her that. Then again, ever since they had been arrested, they were paranoid too. She sighed.

"Nothing, Sister Koboi."

"That's what I thought. How are the prisoners?" Opal, said, not even trying to hide the glee in her voice.

"They're fine. The Mud Girl is really confused, but Major Kelp is still trying to escape. Should I sedate him again?"

"No. They must be ready for when dear Foaly arrives. He did get the message, correct?"

"As you ordered, Sister Koboi," Amber reassured her boss. "Should I go back to the prisoners? I don't trust their intelligence against a few goblins."

"Of course, go. Just remember, that when Foaly arrives, contact me. That way, I can head over on home, perfectly innocent." Opal giggled. "How could he think that I forgot him? Really. I set a trap for the commander, Holly, and the Mud Men. In fact, I gave Foaly's trap to that Mud Boy and Holly. Did he simply think that I was going to bury him in molten iron? Of course I had something special for him, but now I've just had to modify it." Opal started laughing, and Amber snuck out as she continued her ranting about revenge.

Alexis stared in wonder at her cage mate. It was like Alex, in only size, thank goodness. She watched as he strained against his bonds for a minute, then gave up, head hanging. She let out a breath.

"Um, I'm Alexis. What are you?" This was the first time she had dared to talk. Then again, it was one of the first times she had been awake. The person beside her had been intent on escape, and occasionaly taunting the creatures surrounding the cage. But that was the one good thing about cages. She was on the inside, unable to get out. Those things on the outside were unable to get in. However, it was worrying when one conjured up a ball of fire, but they simply had advanced flamethrowers. It was the only explanation her mind could come up with. Unless this was some type of magic. She wished.

"I'm Major Trouble Kelp of the LEP, and I'm an elf," the creature answered.

Alexis blinked. "Whoosh," she said, and waved her hand over her head. "I didn't really understand that, except for the elf part."

"Not many people do," the elf replied. "My name is Trouble. I work for an organization called the Lower Elements Police. LEP for short."

"That's better. I think I heard of it, somewhere," her forehead wrinkled, and she went deep in thought. "I can't remember where."

"Artemis Fowl, maybe?" Trouble ventured. He couldn't think of any person that might let LEP slip into a conversation , but perhaps Artemis had slipped up.

"How do you know about me and Artemis? Does everyone know about that tape?" Alexis let out a muffled scream. "I really hate my brother," she finally muttered.

"Hey, we have something in common. The brother part, I mean," Trouble rushed. "Well, and, no, I don't hate my brother or anything. He's just, annoying."

"Younger or older?"

"Younger." Alexis looked at Trouble in a new light.

"Wow, mine is younger too. Only eight years apart and we're polar opposites."

"Yeah, not even twenty-two years between me and my brother and --"

"You are twenty-two years apart? Is he like, a baby now?" She asked, a look of shock on her face.

"What? No, no, even thought he acts like it," Trouble answered.

"Well, how old are you?"

"I'm--" But Trouble was interrupted by the sudden arrival of their pixie captor. She came over towards the cage, dismissing the goblins. She didn't look too threatening, not even being three feet tall. But the large rifle at her side, one that Trouble recognized as the outlawed softnose laser models, was more than enough to compensate for the vertically challenged kidnapper.

"Aw, are you two finally bonding? Good. At least you'll each have a new friend before you die. And poor Alexis, you have no clue what's going on, do you? Ironic. A Mud Boy kidnaps an elf, and now a pixie kidnaps a Mud Girl. Strange turn of events here. Just accept that fairies exist, otherwise being killed by one will just be more confusing." With that, the pixie threw back her head and laughed. She then stalked off, sitting in a dark corner of the room.

Alexis was silent for a moment. "Are all pixies crazy?"

"Basically, yes." Before the words even were all the way out of his mouth, Trouble was hit on the shoulder by a rock, thrown from the dark corner the pixie had gone to. "Hey!"

"Oops, I slipped. Next time I won't miss your head," the voice in the corner said. Then, she started laughing again.

"That is going to get so annoying," Alexis muttered. Trouble barely heard. He was too busy looking at his shoulder. The rock had hit hard enough to draw blood, and no magic came to fix it. He was cold. The only consolation, was the sharp rock, now lying at his side. It just might come in handy. He shifted, so the corner was blocked from sight by Alexis.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

"Making a plan."

Yeah, I had to get Trouble back in. I like him so much!