Authoress' Note: I really don't have a reason for just disappearing for so long. I got busy, but still. I am so, so sorry! And if you are still with me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart! Disclaimer:
Rosy: Meh. Whatever. I don't own the books or characters.
Artemis (shocked): What? That's it? No humiliation? No hyperactivity? No…anything?
Rosy: Well, if you insist.
Artemis: Why. Why do I do this to myself?
Rosy: Mwahaha. Because Arty insisted, I feel obliged to make this disclaimer more entertaining.
Artemis: Don't call me Arty.
Rosy: What's that? I can't hear you. I'm too busy doing my disclaimer!
Artemis: But you already disclaimed! What are you still talking for?
Rosy: *points at giant rhinoceros chasing Minerva into a plothole* That.
Artemis: *facepalm*
Rosy: Enjoy the last chapter!
"Okay." The little demon walked over to Holly and placed his hand on her arm. "First I am going to give her a special dose of my magic. Young demon warlocks have enough power to be almost immune to lunar eclipses," he informed Artemis.
"That's lovely, No 1, but we are on a little bit of a tight schedule, if you don't mind."
"Right! Sorry. Still getting used to this whole rescue thing. It's tiring! I don't know how you guys do it. Well, I guess the lasers help, but-"
"No 1," Holly said through clenched teeth. "I'm happy to see you, but we really should be leaving."
"Okay, you're all good to go!" he said, beaming and standing up.
Holly stood, too, checking for any remaining damage. "Everything seems okay," she said. "Thanks, No 1." She grinned and gave him a hug. "We still don't have transport, though."
"Well, I brought these. Could we use them?" The little warlock picked up the bundle he had dropped, pulling out two sets of wings. "I thought it would be a good idea, seeing as how you two never seem to have anything helpful with you."
"That is absolutely not true," Holly retorted.
No 1 looked at her. Artemis looked at her.
"Oh, shut up, both of you," she huffed, strapping on a pair of wings. "Put these on, they're a better model than the other," she said, tossing the second set to Artemis.
"What do we do about him?" Artemis asked, gesturing toward Kong as he cinched the straps with difficulty around his arms and torso.
Holly bent down, checking out his vitals. "Still out cold." She stood up, dusting off her knees and sliding the helmet back on. She instantly felt more in control, more confident. "Foaly, are you finally ready to do something useful?"
"I've been useful," the centaur pouted. "It's not my fault you seem to pick the only situations where absolutely no one can help you."
"Moving on, Foaly. I'm guessing we're gonna need a full memory wipe team here. Maybe some special equipment, too."
Foaly considered sulking for a while longer, but decided against it. Someone had to be the bigger fairy.
[line break]
Several hours later, Holly was sitting in Fowl Manor with her eyes fixed on a dozen computer monitors. She turned to one of the screens. "Foaly, what's the update?"
Some keyboard noises, then: "Looks like the memory wipe team got there okay. Kong won't be running any more fairy operations, you can be sure of that."
"Do we know how he got out of prison?"
"Probably one of Britva's thugs. Inside job, that kind of thing."
"What about Britva? We can't just let him go."
"Wiped," Foaly assured her. "Very, very carefully. He's under the impression that he's a Russian philanthropist whose only goal in life is to help orphans."
"Nice touch, Foaly. Are we sure he's out for good this time?"
"Yes, I'm sure. Have I ever been wro-"
Holly gave his pixels a dirty look.
"Eh, anyway. Yes, I'm sure."
Artemis and Butler joined Holly, with Juliet running in quickly behind. "Well, do we know what this was all about?"
Holly turned. "Looks like Britva was trying to get back at your whole family, Artemis."
The boy winced. "How was Kong involved?"
Holly shrugged. "Along for the ride, as far as we can tell. Kong was still half-crazy from the stunt we pulled on him. He just wanted to catch a demon. He probably told Britva just enough to make him think the kidnapping would make them both rich."
Butler frowned. "What about Britva's hired muscle? We don't want them walking around with memories of fairy kidnappings in their heads."
Foaly spoke up. "Won't be an issue. Looks like "the boss" didn't bother telling them anything. All the guards who had even a glimpse of what was going on have been wiped," he finished smugly. "And I've wiped all traces of fairies from Miss Paradizo's records. I made sure this time."
"So…it's really over? Everything's fixed?" Holly sounded doubtful.
"How many times do I have to say it?" grumbled Foaly. "Everything is fine."
"Not quite," Juliet said, scowling. "Someone still needs to take care of Sool."
Artemis sat up. "Ah, that won't be a problem."
Everyone looked at him. The teenager smirked slightly. "I already took the liberty of ending his career. A few video recordings, a few phone calls to the right people—or fairies, as the case may be. I don't think you need to worry about Sool coming back to the LEP."
Holly grinned. "Thanks, Mud Boy."
"I could still visit him, just to make sure it really sank in," Butler offered.
Holly shook her head. "Minimum violence, big guy. Even if it's Sool and he deserves it."
There were a few seconds of silence as everyone let the whole incident finally sink in.
Finally, Butler stood up. "Well, someone has to explain to Artemis' parents, again."
Juliet sat next to Holly. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"I'm fine. No lasting effects whatsoever. Besides, it's not like this is our first life-threatening adventure." Both laughed. Juliet hesitated, then stood up. "I should go help Dom think of a story for what happened."
"Foaly, there aren't going to be any lasting effects, right?" Holly asked, as Juliet left.
"No, you're completely healthy. Artemis, on the other hand, will have to have his DNA monitored until we can figure out exactly what this whole genetics thing means."
Holly had almost completely forgotten about the conversation they'd had. It seemed like forever ago. Artemis had too, apparently. "Will I be all right?"
The centaur waved a hand dismissively. "You'll be fine. It's just a formality, really. I have to finish the paperwork on this whole thing. Holly, I'd tell you to take a few days off, but I know you won't listen to me."
"Nope," she said.
Foaly sighed, but laughed as he switched off the screen.
There was a minute or two of uncomfortable silence as Holly and Artemis realized they were alone in the room. This wouldn't have been such an issue a couple years ago, but now it just made everything more complicated.
"Listen, Artemis. For what you did-"
"It was nothing," he said awkwardly.
"No, it wasn't. I just wanted to say…thanks."
"You're welcome," he muttered, glancing up. He still wasn't used to looking at his own eye.
Then Holly reached up and kissed his cheek. Well, she meant to kiss his cheek. She really did. But he moved at the last second, so she ended up…kissing his mouth.
Artemis was so surprised that he didn't move for several seconds.
Holly's face was red. Artemis was pretty sure his was, too.
"I didn't mean-" Holly started. Suddenly they heard a crackling from one of the screens.
"Yes!" Foaly crowed, punching the air. "I just won the office pool!"
A/N: Well, it's finally done! The first fanfic I've actually finished! I'm hoping the ending isn't TOO lame? Please, please review! You guys are the best, by the way, for sticking with me even when I didn't really deserve it! Next I will be finishing my HP fic, and possibly posting some Les Misèrables? Let me know your thoughts! Questions, comments, concerns are all welcome! -Rosy