A.N I originally wrote this story for a challenge over on the AFC fan fiction site, the challenge was to write a fic that was based on a fairy tale so this one is based on Thumbelina by Hans Christian Anderson. But don't let that put you off and see if you can spot who is who. Also this is my first AH ff so I would like to know what you think of it (constructive critisism welcome)

This does not belong to me, the characters and base plots belong to their respective authors, enjoy.

Thumbelina

By Beetle Juice

Chapter 1: Shift-work

No. 64, King Frond the second Apartment Block, Haven Centre, Underground.

Apartment blocks in Haven are much like the ones aboveground, they are cramped, cheap (but not as cheap as you might expect them to be) and they number in their masses. The King Frond the second Apartment block or KF2, as it has been named by its permanent residents, was no exception. It was situated just off the main plaza and had been home to many generations of students, LEP officers and other people who did not have enough time (or money) to maintain their own house. Apartment number 46 was where LEP Captain Holly Short could be found at this ungodly hour on the morning of Sunday the 5th of August. She had been transferred to the LEP when Section 8 was no longer needed to control the demon threat. Moving back to the LEP meant working through most of the day seven days a week with almost no holidays; which of course did not do anything to improve Holly's bad mood. She had to work overtime last night but because she had already signed out at reception she wasn't going to be paid for it and now she had to get up at five in the morning to finish off some paperwork that had got handed down to her Retrieval because they were absolutely useless for anything other than putting their own lives in danger.

Holly checked her watch as she grabbed a nettle smoothie from her fridge and ran to the door to pull her boots on. It was 4:55, she had five minutes to get through the plaza door or she wouldn't be paid for half of this shift either. She snatched her badge off the kitchen work surface and ran out the door, only pausing to swipe her card across a small panel in the wall beside her apartment to lock the door. As she jumped down the steps three at a time there was an incessant buzzing in her back pocket.

"Of course I did the damn paperwork!" She shouted into the communicator as soon as she had pulled it out of her pocket.

"Calm down," oops, she had shouted at Foaly "I just rang to make sure you were out of bed, you have three minutes to get here you know?"

"No, of course I don't," Holly ran through the apartment block foyer and out into the crowded street "I'm only going out for my usual early-morning mad dash to Police Plaza."

"Okay, okay," Foaly said defensively "lay off on the sarcasm, that's my department."

"I'm not in the mood for jokes today Foaly, is there anyway you could distract the receptionist? Just give me a few more minutes."

"Sorry Holly, no can do," Foaly considered it for a moment "unless you want me to go to Defcon 1, that should distract them for at least five minutes."

"Like I said Foaly, no jokes."

"Okay, I'm sorry, where are you now?" Holly looked at her surroundings for the first time since she'd left the apartment block.

"I'm on Haven Main Street, about to turn onto the thoroughfare to the Plaza."

"You might want to avoid that one Holly," Foaly consulted the mornings traffic report "the third annual country gnomes rights group meeting is on today and there's three lanes down."

"Okay, I'll take the other way, down Moulander Boulevard and shortcut through that service alley that comes out next to Haven General Hospital."

"That seems clear, but you could always go-"

"Its alright Foaly, I'll take Moulander."

"Okay, but be it on you're head."

"What do you mean by that Foaly?" Holly was still grinning "I knew you were paranoid but not to this extent."

"I don't know, but I have a bad feeling about this."

"Ah, those famous words," Holly was laughing now "I think that you should take a break from mud men movies Foaly, they're getting to you."

"Its not funny Holly, just be careful."

"I will Foaly," Holly rolled her eyes "I risk my life everyday."

"You have two minutes and counting." Holly growled at the centaur and slammed her communicator shut. She was on Moulander now, it was oddly quite but most residential roads were these days. If she really made an effort she would be able to make it to Police Plaza in time but that was if she sprinted for it.

She lengthened her stride and turned a corner onto the alley she had spoken of before, she could see the Plaza at the end of the tunnel-one minute thirty left now. She was going to make it.

"Where do you think you're going," growled a low voice on her right and a hand reached out and grabbed her by the waist.

"Let go of me!" She shouted and reached for her side arm "I'm an LEP officer and I am qualified to use force if necessary.

"You won't be able to girly."

"And why is that?"

"Because you'll be unconscious," Holly felt a hand wind over her mouth and a sharp pain in her neck. The last thing that she saw before she passed out was a huge grin, that of which only a dwarf is capable of.

E.N So I hope that you liked that atleast a little bit, hopefully I can get everything up soon (-ish)! Please review, I would love to know what you think (and it would be a great Christmas present!) so just hit that little button down there and type a few words!