The Final Task: The Most Dangerous, Difficult, and Romantic Test of all: ASKING HOLLY SHORT ON A DATE! WARNING: HOLLY/ARTEMIS SHIPPING.

Holly was escorted in, unaware of her situation. Root beamed as she sat grumpily on a chair placed there for her, and swelled up. My prolific readers can guess what's coming next.

"Okay," started the commander, "The final task is at hand. Before we fill in Holly for what she's here for, let's introduce you to our celebrity judges, who will be grading your performance for today!"

A curtain was drawn, and three judges sat at the panel. All of them looked extremely disgruntled.

"The first is…our very own Chix Verbil!"

Chix was posing in the first chair, grasping a mirror in one hand, and a comb in the other. He grinned toothily, and then settled back into his nonchalant state.

"The next is… Lili Frond!"

A disgusted scowl marked Holly's lips for a fraction of a second, as Lili twisted a stand of hair around her slender finger.

Root drew breath, supposedly to further the drama. If he wasn't such a successful LEP officer, he could have been a Show Host.

"And our last, but certainly not least, Butler!"

Butler shifted uncomfortably in his tiny fairy chair. Artemis stared at him with disbelief.

"Butler?" He asked. "How did they get you down here?"

"Apparently they made a clever video of you tied up with a gun to your head. I should have suspected it was a trap."

"Enough, enough," said Root. "Time for our task! Holly, can you guess why you're here?"

"Umm…." Thought Holly sarcastically. "Let me guess, some idiotic idea thought up by Foaly?"

Foaly whinnied indignantly.

"How dare you accuse me of this?" The centaur cried. "I'm just as much of a victim here as you."

"Actually, Short," Root cut in. "It was my idea. So you'd best keep your mouth shut. This is a task called Talk to a girl, and it involves all four of us trying to get a date from you."

"I'm going to say no to all of you, you know," snorted Holly.

"If you want to keep your job, you won't."

Holly quieted, and the games began.

Mulch was first, and strode up to Holly with an overlarge smile on his face. "Hey, I make it a point not to date beyond my species, but…. I think I want to go on a date with you."

"I'm honored."

"No, really, how about this Friday?"

"If you take a shower," said Holly, sniffing the air around Mulch disdainfully.

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes."

The exchange was over quickly, and soon Chix had opened his mouth to grade the dwarf's performance.

"On a scale of one to ten, I'd give you a five," said Chix, smoothing his hair and admiring the effect in the mirror. "That was an awful performance, but you got the date."

Lili rolled her eyes. "Oh, Chix, your soooooo in denial. Mulch, I'll give you an eight."

"Ahem…." Said Butler, straightening his tie. "I don't know much about…. ahem…. dating. I would give you a seven though, because Holly is hard to get."

Before anyone could ask how exactly Butler knew this, Foaly clopped up, smiling sheepishly.

"Hey, Holly," he whinnied, trying to be cool. "Hey, you want to go on a date? I know…. I know…. This is rushed…. But I'd like to go with you."

Holly grinned. "Sweet," she said. "Sure."

Then it was over.

"Erm…." Said Chix. "You got her to actually blush. Extra points for that. So, um, eight."

"Well, Foaly, I think you were super adorable," crooned Lili. "Ten!"

"That is absurd, Lili," said Butler. "It was good, so I'll give you an eight as well."

After that, no one stepped up to the task. Root glared at Artemis plaintively. Artemis, however, avoided his gaze. The commander sighed and bounded forward.

"Holly," he started coolly. "As an informal gesture, I'd like to invite you to an LEP party. Nothing major. A friendly date."

Although they both knew this was an act, Holly looked immediately at her feet. "Yes, commander, I'd be honored."

Chix yawned. "Yeah, yeah, I'll give you a seven for the mushy stuff."

Lili frowned. "Shut up, Chix, take a nine."

Butler suppressed a grin. "From me, take an eight."

The judges comments were short, but still gave Root a swell of pride. He walked back to his seat, but not before throwing Artemis a gloating expression.

Artemis sighed and was the final contestant to walk nervously up to the elfin captain.

"Captain," he began. "I know we have had our differences, but I'd like to…. (Artemis gulped; relationships were not his forte) goonadatewithyou."

Holly blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Artemis started to sweat, something he wouldn't usually do. Holly noticed this.

"Artemis," she sighed. "It's just a test. You don't have to act like you're actually sweating to win. I'd bet that you wouldn't anyway."

Suddenly, Artemis stopped sweating. "Acting, Captain Short?"

His tone was sincere, and there was no lie in his eyes. If Holly didn't know better, her heart would have melted then and there.

Chix, however, was unimpressed.

"Sure, Mud Boy. I'll give you an eight, and no more."

"I smell jealousy," taunted Lili. "A ten."

"Amazing," said Butler. "I almost believed you, Artemis."

At this comment, Holly became cold again. "Got to your seat, Fowl," she hissed.

Artemis did so. He was still in disbelief for what he had said. Apparently, so was everyone else.

"Well," crowed Root, slicing through the silence. "In a moment, we will find out the winner."