AN: Okay, I know that I haven't been updating, but it's cause all my chapters that I had ready was on my USB, and um… it snapped in half. So, I had to start again. Ugh… the only good thing was that I had another copy of the chapter… somewhere… here… Okay, I'll stop talking (typing, whatever). Here's the story.

Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me except for Rafiki and the plot.

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Chapter Five

First Task

Small Town outside a Castle

Artemis awoke once again with a thumping headache. Grumbling, he dragged himself to his feet, and looked around for Holly. She was no where to be seen. Artemis jumped to his feet in alarm, glad to not to feel any light-headedness as he examined his surroundings.

He seemed to be facing a wooden wall, and underfoot was a patch of lush green grass. He turned and saw wide green meadows, rolling across the landscape, a few trees and pastures with cattle and sheep grazing, all bathed in the soft yellow glow of a morning sun.

Morning? Artemis wondered how long he had been out. Rubbing his temples, Artemis debated if he should walk to the other side of wall or not. The wall didn't have any holes that he could see through, so if all his enemies were on the other side of the all and holding laser guns, he wouldn't know. Artemis decided to walk around the corner. He wasn't feeling particularly suicidal, but Holly might be on the other side.

He walked around, and bumped into someone. His hands shot out immediately and steadied himself, clutching the shoulders of the person that he had bumped into.

"Oh, hi Holly."

"Hi to you too. Next time I just need the hi, not the blow."

Holly brushed his hands off her and she walked away a few steps. Artemis gazed at the scene in front of him. He seemed to be in a village. There were people that cast him strange looks as they shuffled by with their shopping baskets that were filled with everything from raw fish to open clay bowls of spices. Artemis guessed that they had been sent to some middle age village. He turned back to Holly.

"So, do you know where we are?"

"Oh, the great Artemis Fowl doesn't know where we are?" Holly said, faking surprise in her voice.

"Oh, and you can faint if you want." Artemis said sarcastically.

Holly smiled, and walked to the wall, before slipping back her robe. Artemis never realized that she had bought new clothes. He himself was still in his suit. Well, that explained the strange looks.

"Where did you get those clothes from?"

"I left a bunch over there for you." Holly said without turning around. She sounded annoyed.

Artemis went, and looked around. "Where did you change?"

"Just pull them over your head." Holly said irritably. She lifted up her shawl to show Artemis the emerald LEP suit she still had on underneath.

"Ah."

Artemis quickly pulled the material on, and flicked open the bracelet that was on his wrist.

"Communicator?"

Holly nodded, before turning around. "I can't get through to Foaly."

"This isn't a real world Holly; even Foaly's signals can't get to you in an imaginary world."

Holly glared at him for a moment, before throwing something at him. Artemis ducked out of the way. It hit the walkway, and everyone stopped to look at them. They were mainly women, wives Artemis guessed, on a shopping errand. There were a few men that were selling things on the makeshift stalls though.

"You're supposed to catch it, idiot." Holly hissed, before sliding over and picking it up. "It's okay." She assured the curious people who were wondering who this dark haired, pale blue eyed man and his pale red haired girl was. The shuffling was resumed rather slowly.

"Great way to stay inconspicuous." Artemis commented.

Holly's eyes flashed. Her hazel eyes angry. "Oh, and that was my fault?"

"Merely a fact, Holly dear. Now, what did Rafiki want? A pea, wasn't it?"

Holly rolled her eyes. "Don't try to change the subject, Mud Boy."

"I'm rather older than the time you met me -"

Just about when Artemis was about to launch into the official 'adult age' classification, a man came up to them, or more precisely, came up to Holly.

"Are you lost, miss?" he asked, grinning toothily.

Artemis was about to retort, when Holly held a held up to him.

"Not lost, but we've come from far. What is the name of this beautiful town?" she asked sweetly.

"Yeah, sure, lay it on thick." Artemis muttered. Holly shot him an evil glare.

"We are called the Belairians. Our humble town is the small village of Belair, the town next to the royal castle." The man said, bowing low.

Artemis hid a laugh by coughing.

"You, maiden, surely is here to see the prince?" he continued.

Holly tried to say something that didn't confirm or deny this. Artemis took over.

"What is the prince seeking, exactly? We were given vague information."

The man looked from Holly to Artemis. "But you surely know what the prince seeks! The Majesties wish for the prince to find a bride to be. Many princesses have tried and failed, and the prince has just come home from his travels. You, beauteous lady, is sure here to see him?"

Artemis coughed again. Actually, he sounded like he was choking.

"Erm… yeah, I'm here to see him. Can you please show me the way?" Holly said. This all sounded very familiar.

"Oh, of course! It would be an honor!" The man grinned toothily.

He trotted forwards, and cast a look back at Holly. She gestured him forwards, and he beamed again, and Holly followed him. Artemis ran to catch up.

"What on earth do you think you're doing?" he demanded.

"Well, if we're going to live here, I can at least live like a princess." Holly smirked.

Artemis scowled. "Do you want Root back or not?"

Holly's smirk disappeared.

"Anyway, I know where this place is." Artemis continued. "I saw a place like this in a book that mother had kept from my… childhood."

Holly let the smirk back onto her face. Artemis was barely past his childhood, and he already couldn't stand to talk about it.

"Rafiki wanted a pea, and obviously it would not be just any random pea. This is a fairytale. The Princess and the Pea, you must've heard of it. That is the pea we must get."

"So, you read fairytales?" Holly jibed.

Artemis scowled. He didn't answer. "So, since you're pretending that you're a princess, they'll probably think I'm the servant." Artemis' scowl deepened.

Holly was genuinely enjoying herself. "Or personal assistant, if you want." She offered, smiling.

Artemis glared at her. He was just about to retort when the man spoke to them. Actually, when he spoke to Holly.

"We have arrived, fair maiden."

"When is he going to stop calling you 'fair maiden'? For god's sake, you're not even human." Artemis muttered.

Holly snapped her head around. Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Nothing." Artemis replied coolly.

Holly turned stiffly back to the man. "Thank you…?"

"Marcus. Feel free to ask for my assistance again!"

"Thank you so much, Marcus." Holly said with a smile, before she entered the double doors with Artemis still sulking at her side.

There was a long dirt path that led to the castle that was made out of stone and had numerous flags flapping at the tiptop of the towers. Artemis looked back and saw many of the people gawking at the fence at them. He turned back, and saw the two guards at the door. They took one look at Holly and let her in, and Artemis could see that they were thinking about blocking Artemis.

"This is my guide. Please let him through." Holly asked sweetly. Artemis scowled.

"Of course, madam. Just to say, the Queen and King and Prince are out in the grounds, but you are welcome to go in, they will be back soon." One of the guards replied.

"Thank you, I'll go inside." Holly smiled, and drifted past them, and halted in the doorway. Artemis tapped her shoulder. "Do you need some advice from your guide?"

"You know very well that it was the only way to get you in." She snapped.

"Well, why do you need me here? Madam?" Artemis swept her a mock bow.

Holly opened her mouth to retort, but found nothing appropriate to say. She closed her mouth, and Artemis straightened, staring at her. Holly shifted her gaze away, fidgeting with the hem of her robe.

"Well, you should go get some better clothes." Artemis finally said softly.

"Yeah."

Artemis pulled out a big sheet of cam foil, and he covered himself with it. Holly shielded, but hesitated. "Where are the bedrooms?"

Artemis rolled his eyes. "There's a spare closet in the bedroom five doors down to your right at the top of the stairs."

"How do you know?" Holly asked.

"Can we please stop wasting time?"

Holly turned, and ran up the stairs, leaving Artemis skulking near the window drapes. She turned, and opened the door slowly, trying to make it seem like a breeze blew it open. She went to the wardrobe, and grabbed the first thing she saw. There was another door in the room, and she opened it. White bathroom. She went in, and wedged a doorstop under the door. So old fashioned… Still shielded, she slipped on the bronze dress. It had an extremely long train, and Holly tore it off. She turned, unshielding and looking at her reflection in the mirror. It actually looked better without the train… She spotted a brush and a few clips, and went to fix her hair. She was rather enjoying this. Despite everything, Holly stopped rushing, trying her hair piled loosely around her shoulders or up in a bun. She went with loose. A few with swipes with the brush, and she buffed her cheeks with a little bit of the red powder after about a one minute debate with herself. Not much, it just made her look like she was more than warm. She snatched a large topaz clasp from the shelf, and pinned it to her hair, holing the stray strands away from her face.

Holly spun around a bit more, and made sure that the pin wasn't about to fall. She then walked out, not bothering to shield. She also pinched a pair of slippers from the bedroom. Well, she couldn't be expected to wear the LEP boots, could she? She peeked out the door, and her sharp eyes found a slight haze in the corner of the room, but no one was there. She ran down the stairs.

"Artemis!"

The haze didn't move. She crossed her arms. "Artemis! Don't be an idiot, you Mud Whelp. Take off the cam foil; I'm not doing this by myself." She hissed.

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Artemis was glancing out the window, and saw a carriage pulling up. Three figures stepped out, and they conversed with the guard. He saw the prince straighten up. He smirked. However, Artemis couldn't feel happy that his plan was falling into place. He didn't want Holly to be a princess… especially someone else's… Then someone came running down the stairs.

He froze, but Holly's voice called his name. "Artemis!"

Artemis turned, and the taunt on his lips died. Her now pale skin contrasted with the orange and brown dress she had hurriedly thrown on, her auburn locks now seemed longer than ever now that it was swirling down her shoulders. Her eyes sparked with anger, and Artemis couldn't help but just marvel at her. He felt something inside him. Like when he couldn't figure out a problem, rare as that feeling was. A little like frustration, but not too much like it. Holly's voice jerked him out of his thoughts.

"Artemis! Don't be an idiot, you Mud Whelp. Take off the cam foil; I'm not doing this by myself."

Artemis unfroze. He pulled off the cam foil, keeping his expression blank. Holly was glaring straight at him, but all he said was "They're coming. The door will open in about ten seconds, so I guess you'll have to meet your prince. His name is Edward."

Holly looked hesitant. Her gaze lingered on Artemis' pale face for a moment longer, but, predictably, the doorknob clicked and it swung open. Artemis' blue eyes left Holly's face, and she whirled around to face the people that had just pooled into the wide hall.

The first person she saw was probably the king. He was the typical stereotype king. Round, red in the face, scruffy beard, with a pair of laughing eyes and a big smile, and squat. The next person was the Queen. She was quite lanky, tall, also smiling, a bony hand clamped onto the King's shoulder. Then a few guards pooled around them loosely, and then another man came into the room, a disgruntled expression on his face. Since he was of a younger appearance and also wearing a crown, Holly guessed that he was the prince. There was nothing quite special about him, just the normal fairy tale prince. Brown, wavy hair, brown eyes, and tall with tight pants. He was also wearing a fur lined red cape. Holly had seen way to many Mud Man movies (downloaded, of course, by Foaly) to think too much about the person's appearance. She was thinking that the queen might recognize Holly wearing her dress and hairpin. No such thing happened though.

"Hello, my dear!" The queen said pleasantly, her face breaking into a wide smile.

Artemis was just brooding, wondering when the queen would try and fit her pea under Holly's bed so that they could get out of the place.

"Morning, your Majesty." Holly said, and curtseyed. She wondered if she was over doing it a bit. She cast a quick glance at Artemis. He had been so quiet she wondered slightly if he was still there.

"We're so sorry that you had to wait, we didn't realize that you were still coming. We thought that Edward had invited everyone already." The queen apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine." Holly said, smiling. "My father insisted that I come, but we got caught in a little bad weather."

"Oh my dear! Are you alright?"

Artemis rolled his eyes, but no one was paying attention to him. Just as well, really.

"Yes, healthy and whole." Holly replied cheerfully.

"This is my husband, Kind Edward. This is our son, Edward the Second."

They each walked forwards, and the king kissed her hand. Edward the Second, or Holly had already started to think of him, ETS stared into her eyes, and very slowly and deliberately kissed the back of her right hand. Holly smiled, but sighed inwardly. Obviously ETS was trying to act like a real gentleman. Holly didn't go for that type though. She was too much of a wild card to be docile and calm… she was a bit like Juliet. She would rather go running and screaming than sit down and converse politely with a cup of tea and sticking her small finger out as she held the miniscule china cup. However, that was what she saw that she might be doing. She had to suppress a moan by just thinking about it.

"And who is this fine gentleman?" The queen asked another warm smile from her behalf.

Holly was about to speak, but Artemis changed tact. He was not about to be introduced officially as 'the guide'.

"I am Alyssa's brother, Artemis." Artemis said, also bowing.

Holly raised an eyebrow at him at her name change and his status. Artemis' blue eyes flashed to her face, before looking back at the queen.

"Welcome, Artemis. Artemis, Alyssa, what nice names! Artemis, Alyssa." The queen repeated, as if playing with the word and seeing if it would fit as a future son and daughter in law. Artemis almost grimaced. Edward the Second was still staring at Holly, and he showed the IQ so far of an ape. He'd rather go back to St. Bartleby's than actually be in a family with such a bimbo.

Holly spoke up. "If you don't mind, your Majesty, my brother and I would like a place to rest. We have… traveled far."

The queen jerked back to reality. "Of course! Where are my manners? Hannah? Hannah!"

A grandmotherly looking house maid came bustling into the room. She took one look at Holly and Artemis and bowed quickly, a grin on her face.

"Yes, your majesties?"

"Sir Artemis and Dame Alyssa need resting quarters."

"Yes, madam. Please follow me." She said to Artemis and Holly.

Holly gave the King and Queen a good bye smile as she and Artemis walked away.

"Honestly, I thought that we'd never get away." Artemis muttered.

Holly smirked. "Why do I have to change my name?"

This time Artemis smirked. "Because Alyssa sounds so much better than Holly, don't you think?"

"And Edward sounds so much better than Artemis, don't you think?" Holly said sarcastically.

To her surprise, Artemis' blue eyes grew suddenly cold. He looked angry.

"I'm joking." Holly added.

He didn't reply. His mouth was set into a hard line, but his face was blank again, blue eyes staring straight ahead. Holly was confused. Artemis hardly showed any emotion, much less one as powerful as anger. They walked on in silence before Hannah left them at the door of the room that was at the last one at the second level.

"Please make yourselves comfortable." Hannah said with a smile. "There are three doors. The one in the center is a bathroom, and the two on the side are bedrooms. I do hope that you enjoy your stay here, and pray that it will be permanent!"

Hannah bustled back through the door she came in, and Holly saw the three people in the hall still smiling pleasantly at them. She turned, and saw that Artemis had already opened the door and was going in. She hurried in quickly after him.

"What was that?" she hissed, once the door had safely clicked shut.

"What was what?" Artemis replied coldly. He went straight to the three rooms, and opened the one of the left.

"You! What brought all this on?"

"What on?" Artemis replied in the same voice. He turned and his icy blue eyes froze Holly to the ground. She couldn't say anything even when he had closed the door.

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Artemis closed the door behind him, trying very hard not to think. It was quite a hard thing to manage, since he was a genius, after all. He pulled open the curtains, and tried to think about everything but what he had just done. It was the first time he had had such an overreaction to such a minute thing… Stop it! He ordered himself. You don't need to think about it.

The sunlight poured through the wide window, and highlighted the blue colour coded room. Everything varied from shade of navy to sky blue, with golden edged cushions and pillows. The bed was large, the mattress about twenty centimeters thick. There was a wide desk, carefully carved out of wood and polished until it gathered the light and reflected Artemis' stiff figure on the engraved lion that was one of the table legs. Artemis walked to the window, and stared. There were children playing in the Center Square, every dirt path was lined with low hedges. The shops branched out to little houses, and Artemis saw the wall he and Holly had hidden behind. Holly…

Artemis turned abruptly, his eyes focusing on a fountain that was bubbling away. He tried to see the pipes that bumped up the tiles as it ran all the way to the river… Something on his wrist beeped. It was the bracelet that Holly had given him. However, it wasn't from Holly.

WHR R U? F

Artemis could only think of one person's name that started with F. Foaly. Artemis read the Gnommish symbols, and quickly sent a message back.

TRPPED. AF

He waited for two seconds.

AF!

Artemis rolled his eyes. Well, shouldn't Foaly expect that he would be here? It was only a question of where here was. He was sure that it wasn't a real world, but it wasn't comforting that he couldn't pinpoint time and place.

YES, & HLLY

He sent that, and was replying to the next message (OMG. UVE GT 2 B JKING), when his door burst open. Artemis stiffened, but sent his message (WHN DO I JK?), before Holly slapped him across the head and ripped the bracelet off.

"You, Mud Whelp, are supposed to tell me when we've gotten contact!"

Artemis turned, rubbing the back of his head, squinting at Holly as she pressed a few buttons and the screen widened. A few more words popped onto the screen.

SO WHT HPPEND 2 U?

Holly's fingers went flying over the little buttons, and Artemis just looked over her shoulder.

TRYNG 2 GT CNNCTN

Nothing but static played across the screen for a moment, but then you could see the faint outline of a head. The image sharpened a little, and Artemis could now see Foaly's eyes, but the image was still scraggly. He saw the pony's head bent over the keyboard, and second by second, the screen got clearer. Soon Artemis could see Foaly clearly, but the image was in black and white.

"Holly? Artemis? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, we can hear you." Artemis said. Holly didn't turn to look at him.

Foaly's head snapped up, and he gaped. Probably because he could only see Holly's face, Artemis thought.

"H… Ho… Holly?" he stuttered.

Artemis rolled his eyes. "No time to lose your head, pony boy."

The centaur's head snapped to where Artemis was leaning against the windowpane, glaring moodily at Holly. Artemis guessed that he was piecing two and two together, his brown (but now grey) eyes darting between the two of them. A smirk suddenly appeared on his face.

"Foaly, we're in trouble."

"Oh, big surprise." He sniggered.

"Foaly! Stop acting like an idiot!" Holly snapped.

Foaly tried to straighten his face. His face though, got grimmer as Holly filled him in roughly, about what had happened over the last few hours. Artemis noted that she left out a lot of parts concerning him. He found a little comfort in this.

"No name. Well, at least he's trying to act smart." Foaly scowled. "I don't know what I can do. You've got an unlimited amount of wishes though. Fowl can just keep wishing for more."

"No I can't."

Holly turned to look at him. Artemis tried to keep his face blank. Her hazel eyes were calm, though he thought he still saw an underlying spark of anger.

"What do you mean, Mud Boy?"

"I can only wish for more when I am in Rafiki's presence." Artemis replied expressionlessly.

"How do you know?"

It was the first time Holly had spoken to him since her entering outburst. Artemis shrugged.

"I just tried wishing for more. Nothing happened."

"Nothing would happen." Holly said in a brittle voice.

"Well, you can take that chance if you want." Artemis said, shrugging. "I won't."

Foaly was thoughtful. "He's got a point."

"He always has a point." Holly grumbled.

"Of course I do. That's what you like so much about me." Artemis said, smirking.

Then, just as Holly was fishing for a way to express how much she wanted to hit him (she doubted there was such a way to show it except for coming into physical contact with him), there was a knock on the door. No one knew exactly what to do for a moment, so the knock was unanswered. However, instead of just going away, the soft creak indicated that the door was opening, and someone was going to enter their room any minute.

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AN: So how did you like it? Besides the complete lacing of interesting stuff and yeah… it's probably because I'm focusing on my new fic The Four Elements (go read it! The link's on my page… Chapter Two almost up.) So instead of me advertising, I'll shut up and you can review

xx Athemia