A/N: This epilogue was originally included alongside chapter 27, but I have decided to give it its own chapter. Though short, I think it warrants it. If anyone is confused by this story suddenly being updated despite being finished, this is why.
With this chapter up, I have officially finished editing this story. It's taken far longer than expected, mostly because I've only worked on it periodically. Nonetheless, I'm pleased to have it finished. If you made it this far, I hope you enjoyed the story – it's not perfect, but it's certainly better than it was.
I do have an upcoming Artemis Fowl story, which should be posted on here and AO3 in the coming months. So if you have enjoyed my work, keep an eye out for that.
-Kio
Epilogue
Location Unknown, Time Unknown
Consciousness came gradually to the boy. Reality called to him from far away, as though across a great chasm. Slowly, he became aware of his physical presence. He was lying down. A gentle breeze suggested he was outside. The ground was soft and cool beneath his face. Grass, perhaps.
I am alive, he thought.
For reasons he couldn't explain, the thought surprised him. He wondered why, but the memory wouldn't come. In fact, no memories would come. He had a past, he was sure of it, he just… he just couldn't remember. His mind was blank, as though wiped clean.
Despite this, he felt… content. It wasn't a feeling he was used to. He wondered what was responsible for his unusually good mood. Something else he couldn't remember?
No, that wasn't it. It was something from the dream he had been having.
The dream… what had it been about?
He tried to focus, but the images were already fading. There had been darkness, he remembered that. A shadow over his mind that would not let him go. There had been a girl, too. A beautiful girl and an explosion. And suffering. Suffering that had felt like it would never end.
The boy frowned. If the dream had been so bleak, why had it left him feeling happy? The answer was there, he could feel it, at the edge of his consciousness. Just beyond his grasp.
He opened his eyes and looked around. He was lying on the grass by the side of a lake, just a few inches from the water. Clear sky met a jagged row of mountain peaks before him. The Alps, he realised, though he could not explain how he knew.
The boy raised his head and studied the surface of the lake. His reflection stared back at him.
Dichromatic eyes, he observed. One blue, one hazel. How unusual.
He paused. They were more than unusual. They were… familiar? He felt the ghost of a memory brush past him, just out of reach. Something from his dream. Whatever it was that had left him feeling so content.
The hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Holly. Something about Holly.
The End
Original A/N: You know when I said I was going to write a sequel? This is why. Among other things, it will explain why Artemis isn't dead. The reason I'm leaving that out of here is not because I haven't thought of a way to explain it, but because it will be a relevant part of the plot in the sequel. Also, I wanted to have the subplot of Artemis losing and regaining his memories (like in TLG, at least we assume he eventually regains them there). And yes, there is a good reason that he loses them here, but I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the sequel to find out ;)
I'm afraid I don't have an exact time for when the it will be up, but I would guess it will be a few months. I have some pretty important exams coming up, but after them I'll have more free time than I'll know what to do with. So it'll be a little while, but I don't plan on being gone for too long.
In a shameless attempt to gain followers, I will now carefully remind everyone that they can follow me as an author to be notified as soon as I start the sequel.
See? I'm unbelievable. But seriously though, if you want to...
Anyway, this has been a great journey for me, and I want to thank everyone who's stuck with me the whole way. I love you guys. Speaking of which... how about leaving me one last review...?
-Kio
