Epilogue

Fowl Manor, Ireland

Holly brought Artemis back in the hour before dawn, just when the sky was turning from black to a deep blue. The boy was silent on the way home when she took him over the sleeping city and sea, the breeze roaring in their ears as they headed for Fowl Manor in the chilly air. He didn't even raise so much as a protest when she grumbled that he was getting too heavy to fly with her despite the weight reduction from the Moonbelt.

Holly manipulated the controls on the mechanical wings when they were over Fowl Manor, bringing them to a gradual descent before the front door. Artemis pulled the cam foil off and handed it back to her, still silent, still thoughtful.

'You're pretty quiet today,' she said, raising the visor of her helmet. 'Oh by the way – Iris told me to tell you that she'll send your clothes back to you soon. Said she's sorry for not washing your clothes earlier, but her washing machine was on the blink.'

'It's all right,' he said, buttoning up his jacket. 'At least the jacket was saved.'

'Joking now?' said Holly. She nudged him with her elbow. 'Go on, ring the bell. Your mother and Butler will be waiting for you.'

'You met my mother, didn't you?' he said, his hand poised over the doorbell. 'What did she say?'

'Nothing much,' said Holly. 'Oh blast – your laptop and BlackBerry's still with Foaly!'

'You can bring it back with what remains of my clothes,' he said, the corners of his lips quirking into a smile.

'I wouldn't put it past Iris to look through them too, you know,' said Holly. 'Go on, ring the bell.'

'How long was I away?'

'About…three days.'

'I see.'

'Your mother will understand, Artemis.' Holly gave his arm a reassuring squeeze.

'I didn't help you or the People – much.'

'Well, there's always a first time for everything,' she said consolingly. 'You still helped us. I wouldn't have got out of the tunnel if you hadn't gone there with Mulch.'

'It was the least I could do.'

He rang the doorbell and waited. Holly turned on her shield, vibrating out of the visible spectrum.

'Holly,' he said quietly, 'you'll keep in touch, won't you?'

'I'll try to get you a new phone,' she replied, a disembodied voice beside his ear.

'Thanks.'

The double doors opened slowly. A woman stepped into view, her long hair falling untidily down her back. She raised her hand to the blue diamond at her throat as Artemis dropped a kiss on her cheek.

'You came back in time,' she said, hugging her eldest boy. 'I was so worried.'

'I'm here, Mum,' he said, smiling into her shoulder.

'Butler told me what happened,' said Angeline, 'he's been blaming himself for not going with you.'

'I'll talk to him later.'

'And your brothers have been missing you, Artemis! Your father has been so anxious. Really, we'll have to stop you from leaving us next time.'

'I'll try not to leave too long,' he said.

'Won't you invite your friend in?' Angeline whispered.

Artemis raised his head and turned to look at Holly outside. He could still see the shimmer. The sun was beginning to creep over the horizon, throwing its first light over the grounds. A golden heat haze hovered just outside the front door, drifting uncertainly from right to left. He rather thought that Holly was shuffling in midair in embarrassment.

'Come on in,' he said to the empty air.

The haze drifted to the left and stayed there.

'I think she's a bit shy,' he whispered back to his mother.

'No matter,' Angeline laughed. 'Another time, perhaps.' She walked out to the haze and smiled. 'Thank you for bringing Artemis back, Holly.'

'See you soon, Holly,' said Artemis. He held out a hand to the haze, but Holly didn't take it. 'I'll keep an eye out for you.'

'See you, Arty,' an elfin voice said in his ear. He felt the lightest of touches on his cheek, as though invisible fairy fingers had brushed themselves across his skin. The haze drifted down the steps and over the boundary wall of the manor.

Artemis shielded his eyes and watched her go in the morning light.

'She'll come back,' said Angeline. She put an arm over his shoulders and led him inside.

She will, he thought, as the rest of his family trooped down the stairs to welcome him home.

Haven City, almost eight years ago

Opal Koboi woke up at her working desk in Koboi Labs, her cheek stuck to the polished surface. She raised her head slowly, wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth. For a moment she thought that sparks danced across her vision, but they vanished as soon as she managed to open her eyes fully.

She must have fallen asleep while working at her desk last night, but it wasn't an unusual occurrence. Nights often bled imperceptibly into days for her now, and there was no one to check on her or wait up for her back home. The only people she spoke to these days were the workers in her lab, and the Brill twins. But they weren't what she considered her equals.

It was a strange dream she had last night…something about taking over Haven City…world domination…an elf with auburn hair…a Mud Boy…and there had been –

Opal slid out of her seat and padded cat-like across the room to her computers.

There had been the LEP. And a deal with a disgraced officer. And there had been goblins…ingenious. The plan had actually looked as though it might work.

She slid the keyboard towards her, and began to plan.

A/N: Opal in the past is Colfer's idea :) I thought it was really neat of him to wrap up TTP like he did. This would make my fic AU once Book 7 is published then...

As Bugs Bunny puts it - "That's all, folks!" *sniff* It's been great hearing from you guys!

I'm outta tiiiiiiime ~ And hi-ho, off to uni I go.