Can all you readers please accept my apologies for being so slow getting this out – my other pieces of work have been distracting me, meaning I haven't written any Artemis Fowl fanfiction for four months! I will try to get out more chapters quicker next time!

SOMEWHERE UNDER SHANGHAI, CHINA

Mulch Diggums was experiencing stomach problems. Not the best thing to be happening when you are several thousand feet below the surface of the earth.

He adjusted his direction, trying not register the pain deep in his stomach. At least the scent distracted him. His highly sensitive nose singled it out from the flurry of other smells; a rabbit, a nearby landfill, a rotting orange far above him. The scent he was tracking was insignificant, almost nonexistent to the average fairy, but to him it was deep and pungent. He was drawing closer to the smell, now going up towards the rapidly approaching surface. He wormed his way through the intertwining roots of a bunch of trees, and surfaced in the bushes that surrounded a picturesque park that seemed out of place in the sea of concrete and glass skyscrapers. He peeked out from between the leathery leaves, shielding his eyes from the glare of the sun. He could already feel it prickling against his sensitive skin despite the countless layers of SPF-75 sunscreen he had applied earlier. Normally he wouldn't even bother going out in this heat, let alone with the stomach cramps he was getting. Doodah Day had to take a sick leave due to getting thrown down fourteen flights of steps during their last mission and seemed quite content lying in a private hospital bed with nurses giving him chocolate truffles and massages whenever he pleased. Mulch wished he could be there too, but he had a mission and wasn't going to turn back now.

A stout, cloaked figure was making its way through the park, not bothering to keep away from prying human eyes. The only thing covering his inhuman face was a hood.

Mulch had to admit, it would look sinister and other-worldly to a passing mud man – what person can walk with a massive hood coving almost it's entire face without bumping into anything along the way? Any human who witnessed what the thing was about to do would spin off stories about a mysterious cloaked midget, providing a perfect cover. It reminded him of one of the mud man legends he had learnt about in school, a 'Grim Reaper', some sort of angel of death. As far as he knew, this guy seemed to be a small version of him. Mulch followed him, keeping to the shadows of the trees right up to the edge of the park. The truth was, Mulch didn't actually know where the Grim Reaper guy was going from there, and all he could hope was that he was going somewhere shady. The sun was already starting to cause a rash.

To his relief – and horror – the thing was making its way towards a large glass building covered in billboards announcing new 'anti-aging' and 'quick and easy' products in bright, bold print. Mulch would only guess what this building was – but one thing was for sure – this mission had just got a whole lot harder.

XUZHOU, CHINA

'Are you sure this is the closest we can get to Shanghai?' Holly asked through her helmet mic.

'Unfortunately, yes. The shuttle port in shanghai got closed down because someone built an airport over it.' Foaly paused before saying, 'you still have exactly 534km to go before you reach the shopping centre'

'Exactly my point', Holly muttered irritably. 'And can these wings go any faster?'

'No need to get annoyed. I can't exactly control where the mud men dump their buildings. And yes, those wings can go faster'

'Well, they aren't,' Holly snapped. 'We'll be lucky to be there by next Christmas at this rate'

Suddenly Foaly voice changed. It became harsher. 'Holly. Slowly lower yourself down to the ground. Do not make any sudden moves.'

'Why?' Holly whispered in response while slowly lowering herself down.

'I gave you the wrong shimmer suit. I gave you the prototype. The solar panels have almost stopped working altogether'

'Are you saying if I make a wrong move the solar panels might stop working altogether?'

'Yes'

'And that I will plummet seven hundred feet with nothing to hold me up'

'Yes'

'And I probably won't make it seeing as I am only going down slowly and only have 5% power left?'

'Yes'

The shimmer suit suddenly winked out, exposing Holly. If anyone were to drive along the road and look up, they would see a small, black – clothed person plummet to the ground. Surely not even a fairy could survive.