A/N: Alright, I'm really sorry about taking so long, but I just kinda lost my inspiration to write for a while. Just in case you haven't noticed, the characters in this story will be OOC! Also if there is an asterisk (*) after a word that means there will be an author not for it at the bottom. Well I don't really have much else to say here so I guess I'll get started with the chapter.
"…" Dead silence. "Uh… Excuse me? Did you just say you can become a citizen of Haven?" Holly asked with her mouth hanging open.
"Yes, like I said, I have magic therefore I am, technically speaking, a magical creature. Haven's laws say that any magical creature that wishes to live there, by birth right, can live there." Artemis said matter-of-factly. Artemis turned back to his computer screen reading a little bit past the first law.
Holly still in shock sat down in an empty chair next to Artemis. "Artemis I really don't think the council will approve," Holly commented absently while deep in thought about the matter.
"It doesn't matter if the council approves or not, they can't override a law because they don't particularly like who it helps. And so far there aren't any laws prohibiting humans, or mud men in this case, from actually living there, just from knowing that it exists. Which I already do, so as of now I don't see anything stopping me from becoming a citizen of Haven." Artemis explained.
"Still there's got to be some law that isn't going to let you live there, magical creature or not," Holly commented before she began running some of the immigration laws through her head.
Artemis had already after just 5 minutes finished reading all of the immigration laws for Haven and said to Holly "Nope, there are no laws that even address mud men, much less banning them from the underground. In fact I'm guessing that the idea of a mud man becoming a citizen of any of the underground cities was so absurd that no one ever bothered to put in a law to ban it, an oversight on their part."
"So are you seriously considering becoming a citizen of Haven?" Holly asked finally deciding that there weren't any laws in place to stop Artemis.
"Absolutely," Artemis started, "this way I can be closer to you so we can see each other more often, since you wouldn't need a surface visa to meet with me. Also I have a few inventions I want to make, that should supply enough gold for me to live a comfortable life."
"Alright, I won't say anything before you want me to, I don't want the council to make a new law that would stop you before your ready," Holly said with conviction.
"Thanks Holly I'll call you when I'm ready to apply for citizenship," Artemis said while pecking Holly on the cheek, "I bet this will cause quite an uproar when the media catches wind of it."
Holly just laughed, and said that she had to get going otherwise Commander Root would be wondering where she was. They said their goodbyes, and Artemis started to trawl through all of Haven's laws, upwards of 2,500 internet pages.
Holly arrived back at her apartment 5 hours after she left, and took a nice hot bath and went to sleep. The next day at the LEP base* Commander Root was in a particularly bad mood, it seems after the initial shock of Artemis and Holly's revelation had worn off he didn't like what she was doing. As soon as Holly walked by his office she shouted "Short! Get in here!"
Holly just sighed and walked into his office. "What do you need Commander?" Holly said.
"I'm going to give you a warning Holly, not as your Commander but as your friend," Commander Root began but was cut short by a very obnoxious beeping noise followed by the pager like device built into his desk popping up and a no name private telling him that he should turn on the news. The Commander was worried; a newly recruited private wouldn't have the guts to page him for nothing, so he turned on the news on the TV in the corner of his office. This just in, the mud man known as Artemis Fowl has come alone into the underground saying that he was going to apply for citizenship here in Haven. He- Root turned off the TV, that was all he needed to hear. "We'll finish this conversation later," said Commander Root as he got up.
"Yes sir," replied Holly. Mentally she said to herself ˈWow, I didn't expect Artemis to make his move so quickly, but he does has impeccable timing.ˈ
"Captain short, your coming with me to sort this whole affair out," said Root as he motion for Holly to follow him. She did. Several minutes later they arrived where Artemis had been taken, an LEP holding cell.
"Ah, Commander Root," started Artemis, but before he could finish what he wanted to say Root interrupted him.
"Fowl, give me 3 good reasons why I shouldn't mind wipe you and send you home. You've got 10 seconds," said Commander Root slamming his hands down on the interrogation table Artemis was sitting at.
"One, I've done nothing wrong, two I'm just here to apply for citizenship, and three you do remember what happened the last time you mind wiped me, right?" Artemis replied smugly.
Root did remember, it nearly cost him his life. "Alright Fowl, you got me on that one, but your still not going to be applying for citizen ship," Commander Root said with finality.
"Actually, yes I am," contradicted Artemis.
"Uh, no you're not. Only fairies can live in Haven," said Root.
"With all due respect Commander, that is technically incorrect," Artemis said.
"And why is that, Fowl," grumbled Commander Root.
"Because, in the law books it never actually uses the word "fairy", but instead uses the words "magical creature"," said Artemis matter-of-factly.
Root didn't believe that, not that it would make a difference but paged that new private and told him to look up the immigration laws. About two minutes later the private paged Commander Root back confirming what Artemis had said. "Well either way, that little technicality of yours doesn't make an iota of difference, you're not a magical creature," Root interjected cockily with a triumphant grin plastered on his face. All Artemis did in response was to hold up an open-palmed hand and let off a few sparks of magic from the tip of his fingers. The grin instantly dropped itself from Root's face. "Ho- how did you do that?" Root asked partly in disbelief and partly in anger.
"That is not important, but rather that this means that I am a magical creature, therefore I can become a citizen of Haven by birthright," Artemis said. "Now then may I be on my way?"
Root found himself once again, in just as many days, mumbling long strings of unintelligible sentences. Holly took it upon herself to release Artemis from the shackles on his feet, and help him out of the tiny chair. "Commander Root, I would like to request a meeting with the council to argue my case," Artemis asked the Commander which seemingly shocked him out of his rambling.
"Fine, officially there's nothing I can do to stop you, so I'll have to let you meet with the council. But, you'll need an escort to take you there," the Commander looked at Holly and finished with "Holly?"
"I accept," said Holly, Root never doubted that she wouldn't.
"All right, I'll call the council and tell them that you're coming down, you do seem to have a convincing case," Root said he was finally now beginning to support Holly in her decision, he really didn't know why though.
"Perfect," commented Artemis.
"Alright, let's go mud boy," Holly commented, but it sounded more like an order. Artemis didn't comment but followed Holly as she walked through the winding halls of the LEP base towards the exit.
When they got out of the LEP building, Artemis said to her "You know you were really killing me the mud boy comments."
"Sorry about that, but as an officer I have to remain neutral and professional," Holly said "well at least when people are watching."
"Yeah, I know, but it still doesn't feel the best," said Artemis. They walked in silence the rest of the way to the council building, which happened to be only 3 blocks away from the LEP base. The walk itself was pretty uneventful until they came near the council building where a few young sprites started to throw half eaten food at Artemis, that is until Holly drew here neutrino 3000 on them. After that they quickly scattered and fled. When they got into the council building, a few guards rushed them into the court area of the building where the council was seated in the judge stands.
"We will now begin the trial**" said the head council man.
A/N: Alright there it is. *Not too sure if it is actually called the LEP base or not. **Not too, too sure if this is the right word to use, so if you have the proper word just send me a pm and I'll change it. I am also going to put this story into a state of indefinite suspension, because with 3 stories going at once it makes it hard to churn out timely updates. But! But! This story WILL be continued once I finish one of my other stories. And as always R&R!
PS: I'm still looking for a more original title so any suggestions will be appreciated!