A Matter of Arrangement.

Soundtrack: Kottonmouth Kings- Positive Vibes

Ireland, two days until resurrection

Holly flew low over the green shingled rooftop that was the coastline of Ireland. The sea beamed off to the right of her, shimmering playfully in the moonlight. The band that separated earth from ocean stretched out ahead of her; it was taut, twisting and jarring in each direction as the powerful water slapped against its cliffs vengefully.
The euphoria was like nothing Holly had experienced before. It was the same every time she flew, she knew the feeling, and the feeling knew her. For Holly, it surpassed anything and everything she had known previously; first love, first kiss, first time her team had successfully decimated Trouble Kelp’s at Crunchball. Nothing could stop her now. Nothing.
‘Alright Holly, no pressure now, but if a mud man was to raise his hand about now he could probably pick you out of the air. Lets get some height! Do you want to get back in one piece?’
Holly’s little moment was cut off abruptly. She replied into the helmet so sharply that the speakers underground nearly split.
‘First of all, it’s half three in the morning, Foaly. Nobody wants to go sky-fishing for invisible fairies at half three. Second, what’s your problem tonight anyway? That’s the first thing you’ve said apart from mumbled expletives directed at who knows what.’ Holly heard the centaur yawn loudly into the microphone.
‘Sorry Holly, it’s just… ah- it’s just I’ve not slept with the baby, and now Caballine’s getting frustrated about how long I’m working…’ He trailed off, obviously tired and worried. Holly was sympathetic towards the couple. She knew how rough things had been going for them lately. She changed the topic;
‘It’s alright Foaly. Now, How’s the way to Tara from your end?’
‘Fine, one small motorway traffic jam but that’s all. Nothing to catch you out.’
‘That’s handy. Say Foaly, I’ve been needing to complete the ritual for a while now, so I was wondering…’ Holly left the sentence hanging.
‘Ye-es.’ Foaly picked up.
‘I’ve got time haven’t I? And, well, on the way back from Tara, just for a minute I could pop in and see-’ Foaly cut her off.
‘No. Absolutely no way. Have you any idea what-’ This time it was Holly’s turn to interrupt. She put on her very best pleading little girl’s voice.
‘Ple-ease Foaly. You know why I need to talk to him.’
‘I have no idea why you need to talk to him! Holly, we can’t just have you popping above ground for visits. Not my rules, Commander Kelp’s.’ Foaly took a second to sigh deply, and Holly capitalized.
‘Come on Foaly, no-one would ever know.’ She said, ‘Just do it for me, as a friend.’ That was it, the ‘as a friend’ trumpcard. Foaly was as good as beaten.
‘Holly, if I let you do this, you have to babysit Swift. Twice.’ Holly told him she would be more than happy to watch the baby. Heaven knew that Foaly and Caballine needed some time to themselves.
‘Okay, two conditions.’ Said Foaly, ‘One, you go tomorrow night. That way I can make out you’ve gone to do the ritual, it’s a full moon.’ Holly grinned to herself. He had seen through her initial explanation straight away. Yet a flash of de-ja-vu overcame her; the ritual was the same story Foaly had concocted for the previous trip to Fowl Manor. Holly doubted she gave Foaly enough worth as a friend, the amount of times he had put his neck out for her. She made a silent promise to make it up to him. ‘And two,’ the centaur continued, ‘You tell him in advance. The last thing we want is Butler taking you out by accident. Again.’
‘That would be wonderful.’ Holly replied, and smiled widely as she cut a huge dip through the night sky. The shuttle port approached. Yes, that would be wonderful.

Some other stories by saynototrouble:

• Contest Entry- A Visitor.