A/N: Hello everyone, and thanks for reading this far into the story!

Disclaimer: All characters, settings, etc. belong to Eoin Colfer. Which, judging by reactions to this story, is a good thing.

This chapter is dedicated to the fourth reviewer, Robinroxks. I've recently gotten into Young Justice, and I agree. Robin Rocks. :)

For those who ask why I don't dedicate chapters to them, I don't dedicate chapters to people who don't log in because I want to avoid confusion. Sorry for the inconvenience.

When Holly entered Artemis' room at seven in the morning, the mud boy was asleep, tossing and turning in a restless dream. Holly was tempted to let the boy be, but they really only had a few days. Four at the most according to Number One. The lamp by Artemis' bed was on, either he had been trying to stay awake, or someone had been watching him and forgotten to turn it off. Holly hoped it was the latter. Artemis needed to be as rested as possible.

She leapt up to the seat of the chair, and from there onto the bed beside her sleeping friend. "Arty," she said softly, "Wake up." She shook his silk-clad shoulder gently, but he didn't respond other than a slight crease between his dark eyebrows. She shook a little more urgently. "Arty come on, we don't have all day."

Blearily, his blue eyes opened. "Good morning, Holly," he said, a bemused expression on his tired face. "What's the plan?"

"That's your area of expertise, genius," Holly quipped back. "Now get your lazy butt out of bed, I've got some intel. Mulch and Dooda finally caught the accomplice."

"I'm mostly awake," Artemis muttered, pushing the blankets to his waist as he sat up. "What did you get?"

"Well, I got Glimmer's end goal, which is nice to have before going in."

"World domination?" Artemis asked, rolling his mismatched eyes.

"Something like that," Holly said, nodding.

"Too early in the morning for that, let me get dressed first," he yawned, sliding his legs out from under the cotton covers. The boy trudged across the carpet and into his closet. Holly felt her brow furrow, but tried not to dwell on how tired her friend must be. There was no use in worrying over something she could do nothing about. She did, however, wonder how long he had actually slept last night.

As she waited for the boy (though he was almost an adult now, wasn't he? Almost a man.) to come out of his closet, Holly kicked her feet back and forth against the edge of the bed and watched the sun rising. There was only a small gap in the heavy curtains, but it was enough to see the colors, light pink and blue and purple and a bit of yellow where the sun was just peaking above the horizon. Oh but that was what most fairies missed about the surface. No matter how advanced their technology was, it could never capture the beauty of a surface sunrise or sunset.

"Alright," Artemis said, and somehow, his voice sounded much more alert than just a few minutes ago. "What's the evil plan?"

Holly told him.

"So . . . she needs my magic."

"Something like that," Holly said, and watched from the bed as Artemis began pacing.

"You said her lair is under the place we first met? And that there's a backdoor that lets out in Stonehenge?"

"Yes," Holly said, drawing out the word as Artemis paused, icey blue and warm hazel eyes boring into her own.

"Is Number One still here?" Holly nodded. "To keep an eye on me, I'm sure," Artemis muttered, as he continued pacing, hands clasped behind his back. He was in a suit again, only there was a black jacket over the white shirt, unlike the morning before. Artemis had stayed in bed the rest of the day after Holly had deposited him there, and the extra rest (if not sleep) appeared to have invigorated him slightly. Or maybe it was being able to use his brain. "But I'm sure he would be willing to help. How long until Mulch gets here?"

"He's probably on his way now," Holly said.

"Even better." Artemis settled himself in the armchair beside the bed, steepling his fingers and resting his pale chin atop them. His eyes were closed, and Holly supposed that he might not be talking for a while. He probably didn't want distractions. He probably wouldn't even hear anything if she said something. Still, she couldn't help it.

"Are you feeling better?" He didn't answer. "Because if you're not, Foaly has suggested that you stay out of the thick of this one. Stay in the manor and talk to us through earpieces or something."

"Sorry Holly, that's not going to happen," Artemis said, distractedly.

"Worth a shot," Holly huffed, plopping her elbows on her green-clad knees and resting her chin on her hands.

"You knew I wouldn't agree," the boy argued, eyes still closed.

"I was thinking that maybe logic would trump . . . well, ego."

"It's not ego. And the logic was flawed. How often do earpieces work all the way through a mission?"

"Oh, so we're calling them missions now?"

"I need quiet, Holly."

Holly grumbled, but acquiesced. They needed a plan, and they needed one fast. No matter how good Artemis apparently felt at this moment, the magic Number One had locked away could free itself any day. She slipped from the bed and began stretching. It had been a long night. Morning. Whatever. She needed to do something physical, but she didn't want to leave Artemis. Because she was worried about him. Why was she worried about him? Was the Mudboy really just a friend? He wasn't exactly more than a friend. They were . . . sort of somewhere in between. But that didn't sound right either. As she arched her back away from the floor in the classic 'bridge' position, the answer came to her. He was a bit like a brother. Annoying, scary at times, but she loved him unconditionally. You're also a bit overprotective of him. Holly promptly told the voice to shut up.

Holly flipped over so that she was facing downwards and arched her back like a cat about to spit. Her back cracked a bit and she grinned. "I didn't know you did yoga."

"I thought you wanted silence to plan, Arty. Plan." All Holly got in response was a grunt of annoyance. She'd always wanted a brother. Putting both arms behind her back, palms flat against the carpet, Holly scooted forward until she felt the strain in her shoulders. She stayed there for a few seconds before pulling her arms forward and swinging them back and forth. A knock sounded at the door.

Artemis said nothing, made no motion to indicate that he had heard the knock. Holly called for the person to enter. It was Butler and Mulch.

"Ah, Mulch. You're here." The dwarf looked a bit surprised.

"'Ow'd you know it was me?" he asked.

Artemis cracked open his eyes as a smirk appeared on his face. "I'd know that scent anywhere, my friend." Mulch appeared slightly affronted.

"I'll have you know," he started, "that I smell largely of the freshest dirt around."

"Yeah, we noticed," Holly said with a smile. "It is nice to see you Mulch. And thanks for catching Tinsel. We got some good information from him."

"Anything for my favorite LEP officer," Mulch said with a roguish grin. "Remember this when I decide the law isn't for me?"

"Only until your first crime."

"You police are no fun," Mulch grumbled.

"Do you have your plan, Artemis?" Butler asked.

The boy nodded. "It's not one hundred percent complete, but it is good."

"In your not-so-humble opinion," Holly quipped. Artemis just grimaced at her.

"Where is Number One?"

"Oh, we gettin' the warlock's help on this? This must be big, then."

"Foaly didn't tell you?" Holly asked.

"Well, didn't have much time for chattin' while that bloody centaur was throwin' me in a shuttle."

"Glimmer wants to use an ancient spell to enslave humanity to her."

"Oh. And she's waited a few days to do this . . . why?"

"She needs me."

"Goodness. Ego much, Mud boy?" asked Mulch, bushy eyebrows raised. Artemis sighed and spoke as one would to a slow child.

"The spell requires a human with magic."

"And, of course, there's only one of those that the fairy people know of," came a voice from the still open doorway.

"Hello, Number One," Mulch said.

"Hello Mulch."

"So wait," Mulch said, brow furrowing as if he had just realized something. "Foaly said the evil sprite-elf mesmerized you. Why didn't she just take you then?"

"The way the spell works," Holly said when Artemis didn't say anything, "the humans would be enslaved to that one magical human, rather than the fairy. Unless the human dies. Then they're enslaved to the fairy. Apparently, if the human has very little will to live, the spell casting with kill them. So . . . the mesmer was . . . um . . . well that is to say . . ." she didn't want to give away Artemis' secret. Who is was he had been told to kill.

"She used the mesmer in an attempt to have me murder my family and friends." The bluntness with which Artemis made the statement shocked them all into silence for a moment, though it didn't stop Butler from moving to his charge's side and laying a large hand on the youth's skinny, black-clad shoulder.

"Well . . . okay. So . . . wow." It could say that Mulch had lost his powers of speech, except he kept talking.

"How are you feeling Artemis?" This was from Number One, who had also made his way to the boy's side. "I'm not sure you should be doing anything stressful, it could aggravate the magic into-"

"I'm fine, Number One." The little demon looked unsure, but nodded.

"You have a plan then, Mud boy?"

"Yes, Mulch. I have a plan. Unfortunately, it involves splitting into teams."

"Well," Holly said, "Let's hear it then, genius."