Butler’s subconscious was nibbling his attention although he wasn’t clear about it’s message. The bodyguard’s primary function is to protect his Principal. This was the only thing that he could think about at that short moment. Then he realized. The principal can’t be shot if you’re standing right in front of him.

‘I should laser peel your blue diamond tattoo off your arm right now!’ He could just imagine Madame Ko saying that.

Butler rushed back out of the kitchen and saw Arno Blunt cock his silenced pistol. “You first. Then the ape.” Butler flung himself in front of Artemis and shot six bullets at Blunt. He got knicked on the temple and was rendered unconscious. But the price for Butler was a cold, metal blow under the heart, and possibly fatal.

                                          * * *

Several Hours Later

Butler was cold. He thought of nothing. No auditory thoughts at all. Just images formed in his brain. He saw Juliet. He appeared to be laughing and Juliet was twirling around in the sand box. It was a time in his early days. Juliet was trying to do spinning kicks and kept falling. Butler helped her up every time she fell. Then… that image ended.

Something else forced its way up through his memories. He was in the academy. Madame Ko’s bodyguard academy to be precise. Butler had just gotten off the train. He met up with a girl. Butler and the girl walked for miles and approached a door with a guard. The guard said a word. Butler could not hear it, but he knew what the word resembled. Password. Butler and the girl swiftly pulled out a single dagger and held them up to the guards neck. The guard motioned them to enter. Then… that image ended.

The next image was in the same time period. He was at Madame Ko’s graduation ceremony. Hundreds of people were watching. He and the girl were getting their blue diamond tattoos. They were incredibly happy, but they didn’t smile. That was a bodyguard’s weakness. As happy as they were, they were also sorry. The pair had grown a strong friendship over the years, even if they didn’t admit it, but they didn’t cry. That, too, was a bodyguard’s weakness. He could read Madame Ko’s lips. Butler and Aurora, you both are graduating from my academy today and you will search for your own employers. Then… that image ended.

Now, Butler was at the hospital with his newly found employers, witnessing the birth of their first child, Artemis Fowl II. Butler was told by Master Fowl that he was to protect young Artemis at all times. Butler held young Artemis in his arms. This was who he was to protect until they day he died. Butler’s fate was sealed. Then… that image ended.

This next image was a little more recent. Butler was in Fowl manor. He was rushing down the stairs and into Captain Short’s cell. He entered and saw Juliet sitting on the floor. She was staring at the cell wall and apparently mesmered. He picked her up and started to head out. The walls started vibrating. Butler ran out and saw a cloud of smoke. Out of the smoke, a troll appeared. He put down Juliet. The beast started charging at him. Butler fired three shots at the troll’s chest. The monster kept going and picked him up with its scything tusks, slicing off thick chunks of flesh. Butler fainted after several more seconds of agony. Then… that image ended.

Butler’s whole life flashed before his eyes.

                                          * * *

Butler opened his eyes. He was home. Artemis was asleep on the armchair beside the bed. The boy looked a hundred years old. It wasn’t surprising, after all he’d been through. That life was over now though, all of it.

“Anybody home?” said the manservant.

“Butler, you’ve come back to us.”

“It’s a surprise to me. I never expected to see you, or anyone else, ever again.”

Artemis poured a glass of water from the bedside jug.

“Here, old friend. Just rest.”

I’ll stop here, since you know what happens next.

Some other stories by GoMulchGo:

• What if Mulch was caught by Opal and the Brill brothers?
• ????????
• Update!
• Three Choices
• Mulch and Foaly