Hello, everyone! Well, what to say here…I guess all I can do is to thank everyone who's reviewed the story. I'm kind of surprised (and a little disappointed) that there has been no constructive criticism. I kind of enjoy rebutting comments that I pass to be unfair…anyways, I still don't own Artemis or any of his little friends (or Butler). And don't forget to press that little button at the bottom of the page when you finish to submit a review!

Y2, The Lower Elements

The atmosphere was dead silent. The only light came from hundreds of glowing torches with flames which had been shining for centuries, located all around the huge stony cavern. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and an illuminating flash, accompanied by a great deal of smoke. The figure who had just robbed the jewel shop stepped out from this white blanket, holding the precious gem in his hand. Walking up to the wall of the cavern, he muttered, 'mea victoria accedit' and several glowing points appeared on the wall, forming a rectangle. The figure placed his hand on this wall in the middle of the glowing points, and stepped through. He appeared on the ledge of a huge cliff, overlooking an ancient metropolis.

"Master," cried a servant as the figure came through, "did you obtain the gem?"

"Yes," he replied, "where is Noxa?"

"I am here," said a magnificent woman, with the most beautiful voice imaginable, "and I can see that your mission succeeded. Will you tell me your plan now, dear Potestas?"

"If you insist," Potestas replied, "but first let us make ourselves comfortable."

Unlike the cavern, this new place had light, for although still underground, the architects of this place had loved the sky, and had bewitched the roof to change from lightness to darkness accordingly. Potestas and Noxa floated down from the huge cliff, followed by their servant. The three figures looked exactly like humans except for their snow-white hair and eerie glowing blue eyes, which hardly matched their young appearances. When they at last landed outside a splendid palace, Potestas said to his servant, "Tiro, go and fetch the general. Tell him to prepare the troops. We shall be dining in Haven before the end of the week…

Fowl Manor

Artemis sat at his desk, waiting for his mother and father to come in. He was deep in thought, trying to concentrate all his magic so that he might use it properly. This was the moment, he was going to help his parents to forget all the pain which he had caused them by disappearing. He had to get everything perfect. Finally, there was a knock at the door.

"Hello, Arty," Angeline said cheerfully, "what is it that you wanted to see us about?"

"Please sit," Artemis replied. As they sat down on his bed, he walked over to them and stared them straight in the eyes. "All the stories which Butler told you were not true," Artemis said to them. Then he tried to layer his words in magic, like he had heard Holly do before, "My disappearance had nothing to do with fairies at all, I was captured by the mafia, and was only just able to escape."

"But how is that possible, son?" Artemis Sr. asked.

"Damn," thought Artemis, "it's not working."

Concentrating every part of his mind, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation overcome his body. It started in his fingertips and spread, englufing his body in a hot rush, "Butler was only feeling guilty for not being able to stop all the men who came after me," Artemis said in a voice which sounded a mixture of both treble and bass at the same time, "I was kidnapped, and was only just able to escape. I hope that you can forget all the pain which you've felt in the last three years…I'm sorry…" Artemis' parents both looked at Artemis silently, and repeated, "Of course…it was the mafia…"

Half an hour later, Artemis Sr. and Angeline left their son's room, looking very relaxed, as if three years of troubles had been washed away.

Artemis lay on his bed, meditating again. After that meeting with his parents, he felt completely calm. But that feeling wasn't going last long. There was another knock on the door, and Butler came in. "Hello, Artemis. I was just searching through the mail, and I found something quite interesting…Minerva's in Ireland, giving a lecture at a university. And I've decided you're going to go and watch it, or maybe I should say 'watch her'…"

This chapter wasn't a very good one, but I think that the next one should be better…it will have a lot of new concepts though, because it will be where the story really starts moving quickly.