Hiya! Its is I, with the next instalment of Dimension Domination! Yes, I know, its been an awfully long time. And I mean a reaaaallllyyy long time, but I finally decided to get back to it and carry on from where I left off. I will now be updating every Monday for the next five weeks. So here it is, leading up to, what I hope will be a spectacular climax to DD, chapter 11!
Chapter 11
Disney Creek
Z pushed onwards, forcing his tired legs into heavy strides, mashing the grass as his feet twisted to keep their balance. A few times he had to reach out and grab Lirael's shoulder to keep upright, although this was less accidental than she knew. It was hot in the fields, very hot, and sweat ran freely between the soldiers and Fairies that escorted them.
High above them flew the Paperwing, carrying the wounded, and Flames, the great dragon swooping and soaring, the exhausted Daz and Ruby riding atop him to regain their lost energy.
It had been a long trek through treacherous land and many portholes and only Jak's knowledge of them had kept the troop alive. Now, finally, they had arrived.
Z put on a spurt of energy, surging to the top of the emerald green hill they had been climbing, and peered over the top. He grinned openly at the sight before him.
"I see it! Lirael, I see it!" Lirael smiled to, pulling herself to the hills summit, despite her heavy bell bandoleer, and gazing with Z at the sight before them.
"Disney Creek!"
Sure enough, the huge valley lay sprawled beneath them, its evergreen fields and trees sparkling in the mid-day sun. Crystal clear water ran in a glittering, sapphire stream and fruit grew in abundance on every branch.
"Its…beautiful…"
Kiz and Goofy joined them on the hill top, admiring the view.
"Yup, that's Disney Creek alright." Goofy confirmed in his throaty tone. Z frowned.
"But…I don't understand…where's the fortress?"
"Why, Its right there! Don't you see it?" Goofy pointed a finger between two streaming waterfalls. Z stared, the glint of a rainbow catching his eye. He followed it, a bursting, full rainbow residing between the two falls. Hang on…there was something strange about it…golden dust was flowing from its lines, sprinkling to the floor slowly, as if caught in something…
All at once he saw it. Z almost choked in amazement. Before there had been nothing, but, without warning, a fortress had appeared, as if springing into existence.
"How? What? That's impossible…" Goofy shook his head, his ears swinging from side to side.
"Nope. The fortress of Disney Creek can only be seen by those who know its there. If you have never heard of it or do not know where to look, you'll pass right on by."
"What a clever defence…"
Lirael punched Z lightly on the arm. "Come on you. Disney Creek awaits!"
The Fortress itself was a slight blue in colour, a mighty gate positioned in the centre, with many smaller battlements atop it. It was an amazing sight, awe inspiring even, currently holding around three hundred thousand of Mickey's troops. In those very fields, (for Disney Creek was a huge valley - once filled with water but now drained) the very first battle against the Mulldack had been fought.
Kiz addressed Jak, a tad puzzled. "Hang on, haven't we already been to Disney Creek? It sure didn't look like this…"
"No, we weren't here. If you remember, we were on the lands above the creek." Jak pointed skyward. Kiz gazed upward, following the cliff side to the top where it opened onto another piece of land.
"Ah yes…I remember now. Treeus Margon…"
It was not long until they reached the fortress. The Paperwing landed and the wounded were taken from it and carried the last little way, Cloud and Kiz taking one on a stretcher. Flames landed and walked beside them, shaking the earth with his great footsteps. They passed several huge chunks of marble, the fallen remains of a great bridge above them that the Metalheads had destroyed (see Chapter 5 for more on that battle) Then they stood before the fortress itself.
Donald stepped forward and took a small ivory horn from his pocket. He blew on it, a shrill bark sounding forth. A soldier appeared on the battlements above them. A minute later the gate opened with an agonising screech and the party entered through the great doorway before them.
Inside Samos was waiting for them.
"You?" Z roared in outrage. "What? How? How did you get here before us?"
"Quieten down my boy and I will tell you. But first, you must eat and drink. You must be tired after your long trek."
The group ate greedily, Daz guzzling water and Ratchet shovelling down mouthful after mouthful of chicken while Samos proceeded to tell his story.
"It happened quite by accident. Myself and Mickey were cornered in the study of Abhorsen's house, fending of a group of attacking Metalheads, when behind us a porthole appeared, just like that! We had no idea it was heading our way, it just opened right there in the study. Of course, we weren't going to just jump inside and leave you all, our plan was to alert you and take the porthole to the fortress before it disappeared. It was the perfect means of escape, it couldn't have come at a better time."
"So…what happened?"
"Just as we'd defeated the Metalheads we heard a great roar and an enormous Dark Warrior appeared in the doorway. The monster took a swipe at me, see here?" Samos pointed to a long scar on his arm. "And began to breath poison gas, filling the room. We had no choice but to turn and flee through the porthole and that's how I ended up here. I thought you were all dead, I could only hope your plan would work Z."
"Well, it did, as you can see. I have a meeting with Artemis Fowl and Commander Root actually."
"I know, a porthole appeared in the fortress about an hour ago and we went to investigate. It led to Fowl Manor (Note: Fowl Manor is the name of Artemis Fowl's mansion in the books) They're waiting for you."
"I'd better go. But first…one question. Where's Mickey? I thought you said you both went through the porthole?"
"We did. Mickey went first, but he managed to use his half of the Crystal Element to set the porthole to take him where he wanted. I arrived here, and he travelled to his Palace in Disney World. Apparently the Mulldack is preparing an attack force there."
"Okay…I'd better get going. Samos, you coming?"
"Of course. If there's one thing we need, it's a plan of attack!"
This time Z barely felt a thing as he travelled through the porthole. He remembered the first time, where the journey had knocked him to the floor and robbed him of energy. Things had certainly changed.
Z and Samos emerged inside Fowl Manor itself. The place was a huge, finely decorated and beautiful building that was thoroughly against Z's tastes.
"This place is to old."
"To old? I'm older myself!" Z laughed.
"It's the musky smell. That and those portraits…"
Z cast his eyes upwards to stare at a long row of family portraits. Generations of Fowls stared back at him. He was tempted to put a laser blast through one of them, but stopped himself. It would probably make void whatever contract they had with Artemis.
They walked on, taking a sweeping, central flight of stairs to the second floor. Classy. The study was second on the right. Z didn't knock.
The room was rectangular in shape, a large wooden table occupied the centre of the room with panels of computers and a vast wall sized window at the far end. Artemis Fowl himself was seated at the head of the table, Butler standing to his side (Butler is…well, Artemis's Butler, but also his deadly body guard) Artemis was a striking figure, more so than even Z had imagined. His black, unkempt hair fell lightly on his face, piercing sapphire blue eyes scouring the room with an intelligent gaze, sharp nose and poignant pale lips, merging into an expressionless mouth. His body was thin, but not in a toned way, and he wore a black suit, immaculate in appearance.
The stubby Fairy, Commander Root, sat, occupying the left side of the table. He had light grey hair, close cut and a cigar wedged in the corner of his mouth. It was not lit.
"So," He said, as Z took up the place opposite Artemis, Samos sitting to his left. "You finally decided to show up?" Artemis looked at Root, barely turning his head. "You are late, Z." His eyes remained hard and cold, like marbles. There was no warmth, no pardon, as was found in Roots tones.
Artemis's sentence had a far more striking effect. Z smiled openly.
"Yeah, I guess I am." He sat lightly, taking a swig of water from a jug laid out on the table, placed next to a series of small glass ash trays.
"Cigar?" Asked Root. Z shook his head sharply.
"Thanks, but no, I don't smoke."
Artemis smirked slightly, and sat upright.
"We are agreed on my payment, yes?" Z frowned, his eyes turning hard to match Artemis. "Payment? I suppose your not doing this just to help out the struggle against the Mulldack?"
"Of course not. I expect full payment for my trouble. My brain is an organ which I wish to conserve. I do not have time to use it in such a way as you have suggested unless there is something in it for me."
"Fine. Gold?"
"So you know me then Z?"
"Yeah…you could say that. You could say I've…read a lot about you." Z smiled. It was a nasty smile. A smile that said 'I know something you don't'. Artemis almost faltered, but kept his cool. What worried Artemis most was that this Z was still a child. Growing quickly into adulthood, yes, but still a child. There would be no advantage here, Z would not underestimate him.
"So, you wish for me to draw you up a plan of attack. Let me ask you, what war is this you are fighting?" Z thought fast.
"it's a…war between the Fairies."
"Fairies?"
"Yes. A great Fairy of power that calls himself the Mulldack has taken over…Atlantis and taken power of an army from another dimension."
Artemis perked up.
"Dimension you say? I shall wish to study this…Dimension."
"Perhaps you shall, but first the plans. You have Fairy technology remember, use it well."
Artemis repressed a smile.
"Oh don't worry. I will. How many troops?"
"On our side? Three hundred thousand here," Samos pointed to a map he had brought. "And another three hundred thousand here. The enemy has over a million, separated into three main groups."
"Groups of…"
"Two groups of three and one of four hundred thousand soldiers."
"Then the objective seems clear. Take out the extra four hundred thousand soldiers and you become even."
Z smirked. "Easier said than done." Artemis smiled for the first time.
"Perhaps not. Commander Root? How many Bio-bombs do you possess?"
Night fell at the fortress. Kiz had met with a fifteen year old boy, he had fair hair and brown eyes that looked as if they'd seen to much. His name was Alex Rider (the main character from the AR series, starting with the book 'Stormbreaker') They were chatting avidly. Daz spied them and went over to Lirael.
"Hey, what do you think of those two?" Lirael smiled.
"Heh, they look cute…when do you think Z will get back?"
"Probably soon. I shouldn't imagine he'll want to stay away from you for to long." Lirael blushed, but was smiling.
"What do you think will…"
She was interrupted by a burst of pure energy. The air shattered like glass, a porthole opening in its fabric, and Samos and Z stepped back from Fowl Manor.
Everyone crowded round them, asking what had happened and Samos explained to the congregation while Z slipped away with his friends.
"Artemis agreed to help us - for a price, of course. He has a plan. All we need to do is send out a wave of communication that can easily be intercepted by the Mulldack, saying that we are seeking refuge at the fortress of Disney Creek with a large amount of Mickey's army. The Mulldack will see this and hopefully send out a large amount of his own army to trap us here and win control of the battle in one swoop. But, of course, it's a trap. We'll wait until his forces arrive, use a porthole to send ourselves and our army through to the Mulldack's Dimension (see chapter 4 for more on the Dark Land) Then, when the enemy go in for an attack they'll set of a hidden trigger and BOOM go our Bio-Bombs!"
(The Bio-Bomb is a biological bomb used by the Fairies in the book Artemis Fowl. It destroys all life in the area, but only life, no buildings are destroyed in the process)
Kiz grinned. "Sounds excellent, but why are we going into the Mulldack's dimension?"
"For a surprise attack. We're guessing most troops the Mulldack will send will be from his Palace. He can easily open a porthole from there to Disney Creek and send his Warriors through. That should leave the Palace relatively undefended. He sends his troops in, we send ours out. Then we attack his Palace. If all goes well we should capture it and obtain the Mulldack's plans, or, if we're lucky, even the Mulldack himself. We don't think he's yet powerful enough to escape his refuge."
The next day they prepared for the battle ahead. Weapons were primed, steel sharpened, commands practiced and the fake communication sent. There was no word yet of an approaching army. They waited and, at day break, received a message delivered by a Great Eagle. It was from Mickey Mouse himself. It read;
Samos,
An army of around four hundred thousand of the Mulldack's troops, consisting of Dark Warriors, Metalheads and many others has appeared through a porthole in Disney World and is, as I write, marching towards my Palace. I have around three hundred thousand soldiers at my command here, and many other weapons I can use to cause devastation to the Mulldack's forces, but it will be a close fought battle, no doubt, and it is conceivable that I may lose the Palace. I thought it best to inform you of this and to say that I will do my best to uphold our position and destroy as many of the Mulldack's troops as I can. I wish you the best of luck my friend.
Mickey Mouse.
Samos offered the letter to Z and he read it aloud.
"A second battle at Mickey's Palace? Good. That should distract most of the Mulldack's remaining forces. It will improve our chances."
"Yes, but if we lose both battles we will be destroyed. There will be no hope and no backup."
"We won't lose. I'll make sure of it."
And so all sides prepared to do battle. The Mulldack gathered his army for the offensive, Mickey priming for defence and Z, Kiz and Ruby watched as Samos opened the porthole through which they would escape, into the assault on the Mulldack's Palace.
Its
all heating up! Two battles are about to commence, will the Mulldack
be fooled into the trap that's been set? Will Mickey be defeated by
the Mulldack's army, lead by his arch-nemesis, Dark Mickey? Will
the attack on the Dark Land Palace succeed and will the Crystal
Element finally be found? More importantly, will all this stuff be
revealed in chapter 12? (I promise I won't keep you waiting for an
age this time!) There's only one way to find out! Until next time,
Seeya and R&R.
Z
