In a cave somewhere

The vines let Root and No1 go as the girl withdrew herself from Holly. Holly was breathing evenly now.

"How did you…?" No1 began. The girl looked up, and both of the fairies were struck by how world-weary she looked. You would have thought she hadn't slept for months on end, and all the apparent fatigue just appeared in the course of two minutes.

"We won't be able to help much longer. It grows stronger as we grow weaker. Next time, I may not be able to pull her or any of you back," she said, tiredness weighing down every word she spoke. Holly stirred and moaned.

"Holly…?" Root asked. The girl looked down at Holly.

"She will wake soon. Good luck." She began fading and silvery gray sparkles swirled around her very slowly. When she disappeared fully, all that was left were the sparkles, and soon even those were gone.

St. Mungos Hospital

The healers watched in awed silence. Their patient, whom they had almost given up all hope on, was just healed by a ten-year-old that wasn't even in wizard school yet!

"How… how…" one of them started feebly. The girl ignored them and she gently laid Artemis on the bed again. She leaned over and whispered something that was inaudible to any but him.

"Contact your friends and rendezvous as fast as you can," was what he heard. The girl straightened and a silhouette of something blue and luminescent appeared on her back. However, before the healers could properly see and decipher the outline, the girl had already disappeared in a slow swirl of sapphire sparkles. The sparkles hovered there for a short minute then they faded away.

Artemis's eyes shot open. "I need to leave," he said.

"But you just-"

"I do not care. I need to leave."

"Sir, we can't allow you to leave without someone with you. We will call your previous visitors if you wish, but please be patient," one of the healers said. They pursed their lips and quietly bustled out. Artemis laid his head on the pillow again.

While you call them, I need to get in contact on my own.

In a cave somewhere

Holly woke up and shot into a sitting position, breathing heavily.

"Captain Short, are you alright?" Root said. Holly looked at him for a moment.

"My commander came back from the dead and if I remember correctly, I nearly went to the dead myself." Holly said, still breathing too heavily to make out a tone in her voice.

"Erm, yeah Holly. He isn't a hallucination, and when you were dieing one of the girls from the dream saved you. She disappeared a second ago actually." No1 said. Holly went paler if possible and rested her head on the cave wall.

"Hell froze over, didn't it?" Holly said. No1 cocked his head.

"Basically, yeah."

"Captain Short, why are one of your eyes blue?" Root asked suddenly. Holly looked up.

"No1 probably told you about the time tunnel, right?" Root nodded. "Artemis and I switched eyes in transit."

"So now Artemis has one of your eyes?" Root asked.

"Yeah." Holly answered.

"How long have I been gone?" Root asked, rolling his eyes to the sky.

"I'd say about… four years sir."

"WHAT?!"

Great, thought No1, more raging.

No1, what are you talking about?

Both Holly and No1 gasped inaudibly. Root was too busy shouting to notice.

Artemis? Please tell me I'm insane. Holly thought, though she didn't mean it. She was actually rather glad she could talk to Artemis but she was sure it was a hallucination.

No Holly. You, No1, Qwan and I had our consciousnesses bound during the time spell.

So now we are able to subconsciously talk to each other? No1 asked.

Basically. Artemis answered.

Finally! I was wondering when you and Holly would wake up! Qwan's voice appeared in their heads out of nowhere.

Qwan! No1 exclaimed.

Yes, it is me, m'boy. And honestly, what did make you and Holly loose consciousness like that?

We landed in a battle and got knocked out there. Holly thought.

It is good we are all awake and able to think to each other because we need to get back together. Qwan, you and everyone else need to use the orb to get here and Holly and No1 need to find their way to us. We can rendezvous in the Terilan Forest south of London. Harry's friends will be with me since they want him back. You can shield while you are there.

Oh and Artemis, the- Holly couldn't finish telling him about Root since Artemis's presence in her mind was abruptly pulled away. What?

If someone gets off willingly it usually is slow. I'm not sure he is safe. Qwan said gravely. Speaking of which, I have to go! His presence was suddenly ripped away as well.

This isn't good. Holly thought.

A/N

Yay! I get to torture my audience with more cliffies! Whoo! Now things are picking up speed, people! I own nothing. REVIEW!!