Hey, guys! Here's chapter 17, as promised! Ok, in this chapter I thought I'd reintroduce the fairies. I was reading through what I've done so far and I realised that the fairies have been kind of dormant for most of the story. So, I think it's time they make their presence known! ;)

Anyway, I just want to say thanks to Beckett Simpleton who has been one of my most faithful reviewers. Thank you! Speaking of reviews, I saw that my story is approaching 100 reviews! Please help me reach 100, it's on 98 right now!

Holly stood shifting her feet nervously in Trouble Kelp's office. The Commander had called her to his office for no apparent reason and, naturally, Holly was feeling slightly nervous about this.

A noise outside caused her to turn her head towards the door. Foaly trotted over the threshold, eyes on his hooves. Holly raised her eyebrows in surprise. She'd been expecting to see Trouble. Foaly looked up from the floor and took a few steps back in surprise. He obviously wasn't expecting to see Holly either.

"What are you doing here?" he asked incredulously.

"What are you doing here?" Holly countered.

"Well, I asked first." Foaly replied.

"Fine." Holly sighed "I was called up here by Trouble himself. I've no idea why I'm here."

"Same."

Just then Trouble walked in. He walked past them without a word and sat in the chair behind his desk. Holly sank into the chair opposite Trouble's. The desk sat between them like a barrier.

"Well?" she asked,

Trouble glanced up at her, his large purple eyes regarding his top recon captain.

"I summoned you and Foaly here because a certain...incident...has been brought to my attention. Captain, you were sent to Ireland to investigate an irregular magic burst, am I correct?

Holly ducked her head. "That's correct, sir."

"And at your debriefing you stated that the situation was under control and all possible dangers had been neutralised, is that also correct?"

"Yes, it is." Holly didn't like the way this was going. Trouble was big on formality at the office but even he wasn't this solemn. Also, Trouble's tone sent warning bells ringing in her head. He sounded angry, but determined not to show it.

"Then why in the hell -" Trouble roared, abandoning all pretence of indifference. " - has there been several reports of an expensive manor belong to a certain Artemis Fowl Sr collapsing for no apparent reason!"

"Well...we were g-g-g-oing to tell you!" Foaly stammered, more than intimidated by the deathstare Trouble was giving him.

Trouble ran his fingers through his hair, trying visibly to calm down.

"How did this happen?" he said switching his gaze to Holly.

"We're not sure yet, but we've got people working on it. I've been to see Artemis. Apparently he was the only one of his family present during the collapse."

Trouble glanced sharply at Foaly who nodded his head almost imperceptibly.

"And...and you think that coincidence do you?" he said, voicing both his and Foaly's thoughts.

"No, I don't." Holly said, resting her elbows on Trouble's desk and staring him straight in the eye. "If there's one thing I've learnt from working with Artemis Fowl II it's: there's no such thing as coincidence."

Trouble nodded. "I know what you mean."

"So, permission to investigate further, sir?" Holly asked.

Trouble sighed. "Ok, permission granted, Holly."

"Thanks, Trouble."

"And God help you if you get more trouble than you bargained for."

Holly and Foaly left Trouble's office, Holly with a big grin plastered all over her face. Foaly shoock his head and smiled.

"I should have seen this coming." he said "If Artemis Fowl is involved, Holly Short's the elf for the job."

Holly pushed auburn strands out of her eyes. "That's right. If there's danger ahead, I want in!"

Foaly shook his head again. "You're starting to sound like Trouble. Julius would have been proud of you."

"Thanks, Foaly."

Sorry, for the shortness of the chapter. Um...no pun intended. So, again, reviews appreciated. I want to break a record!

Thanks, guys!

~ Spinnika