Chapter Three: Questions

Lower Elements, Section Eight

“Really, Holly.  You had me terribly worried,” Foaly said.  When Holly had finally gotten back into the safety of the Lower Elements, Foaly was there waiting, tapping his hoof.

Holly still felt the warm glow envelope her.  “You’re starting to sound like a father, Foaly,” she said, smiling at him.

“I noticed a spike in your magic reading on the LEP bio-chart.  Did you complete your ritual?” he said, quickly changing the subject.

“No, I didn’t… I was actually–”

“What’s that you got there, Holly?” he asked, quickly dismissing the sudden fluxuation in her magic equilibrium.  He was pointing at the glowing flower tucked in her uniform.

“Oh, it was a gift from Arty–I mean, Artemis.  I think some of my magic lept in to try and repair the cut in the stem,” she said.  She did her best to try and keep her moment with Artemis under wraps.  The last thing she needed was Foaly getting in on her love life.  Not that she didn’t trust Foaly with her secret, but she knew she’d be constantly pestered with her new “boyfriend.”

Still… it didn’t seem so bad to be pestered about having a wonderful guy like Artemis as a boyfriend.

“You know, I really think I’ve seen something like that before,” Foaly said, examining the flower.

She pretended to be listening to him while daydreams floated happily in her mind.

“There are just a lot of odd things happening with you lately, Holly.  First the sudden youth, then the ridiculous magic spike without a ritual, and now you’re holding a glowing rose?  What have you been up to?”  Truly, all of this was enough to make anyone suspicious, and Holly couldn’t blame him.  Foaly was worried about his friend and all of the strange occurences that had follwed since her trip to the surface.

“I just took a visit to the surface is all.  I passed by Arty–the Fowl manor and said hello.”

“Really?  And according to the surface-clock, it’s about 2:35AM in his time.  What was he doing up so late?”  Foaly’s suspicions were growing.

“Foaly, please.  It was just chance.  You know us well enough to know that fate and luck seem to like us.  A lot.”

He skimmed it over in his head.  It was true.  Luck had a knack for hanging around Artemis and Holly, and fate seemed to bring those two closer and closer together.  Still, he had a hard time not letting the events bother him.

D’Arvit, Foaly, just settle down.  It’s like you’re trying to be her father! he thought to himself.

“It’s okay, really…  And I bet Caballine is missing that hairy chest of yours, Foaly.  We should both head home and get some sleep.  It’s probably gonna be a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

“Alright, you win for tonight, Holly.  Goodnight, get home safely.”

“Will do, I’ll see you later,” she said, turning away.  She was glad to get out of Foaly’s interrogation.

It’s like he’s trying to be my father! she thought, smiling.

Lower Elements, Downtown Haven

“Where hast thou been, O dear husband of mine?” came a smooth and melodramatic voice from upstairs.  Foaly took off his work jacket and hung it on the rack.  He could not help but shake the fact that he felt almost as if he were a father pestering his young daughter about her whereabouts.  However, he was home.  He shouldn’t have to worry when he’s home.

“Sorry, Cabe… I’ve had a busy day, testing new field equipment… You know how it is,” he said, slowly entering the room he and his wife shared.

“I dreamt of a terrible dream in which I had befallen a horrific ailment, and I awoke when you had placed the magical kiss on my lips.”  Her soft blonde locks poured over her head like a jar of honey.  She was still putting on her medieval melodrama, and although Foaly loved her eccentric ways, he was just too tired to continue with her charade.

“You know I will always be your prince, but I’m just too exhausted to get my knightly tongue going,” he said, laying in bed next to her.

“I understand.  You know I’m always her for you, Foaly,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.  Her hand ran up and down his chest, which had become tight and muscular from his constant jogging and exercising with her.

“I know, Cabe… That’s just one of the many reasons why I love you,” he said, kissing her back.

Suddenly, a thought occured to him.

“What do you remember about a glowing flower?” he blurted suddenly.

“…what?” she asked, not understanding why her husband had asked such a strange question.

“Caballine… Do you recall anything involving a glowing flower?  It’s been on the tip of my tongue, but I just can’t seem to catch it at all,” he said, scrathing his head.

“I can feel it in my mind, but I can’t put my finger on it.  Sounds like something from the old fairytales… I’m sure some sleep will be able to refresh my memory,” she said, turning her head to him.

He kissed his wife on her forehead and then her lips.  “I love you so much,” he said softly to her.

“I love you too, babe… but for now, let’s get some rest.”

Foaly clapped his hands together.  The lights shut off automically.

The clapper, he thought to himself.  The only invention that humans had thought of before fairykind.  Amazing.

Lower Elements, Downtown Haven

Holly ran the hot shower for herself, feeling the day’s total accumulation of sweat and dirt rinse off from her body.  As she showered, a thought pulsed quickly into her mind.

I’m awfully giddy about something like this… Usually I have a better sense of self-control.  Maybe I am getting younger, she thought to herself.

Or maybe I’m just in… love?

Holly quickly dismissed the thought.  Her feelings for Artemis were strong, but she didn’t want to use that word yet.  Not just yet.

Or maybe I do…?

She cut off the hot slime and quickly dried herself, changing into a fresh pair of nightwear while drying her hair.  She was suddenly in an inner conflict, fighting between her new, young self and her older, more mature self.  She wanted to say she loved him, but it had only been a few hours!  She could wait, couldn’t she?  D’Arvit, she was Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon and Captain of Section Eight.  She’s handled trolls, goblin rebellions, riots, and time travel, but she couldn’t handle a relationship?

It’s not just a relationship, her mind told her.  He’s a Mud Boy, and you’re a fairy.

But that shouldn’t matter, her heart said to her.  Affection can cross any border.

But it will not matter, her mind argued, when he grows old and withers away…  What will you do then?

Holly’s eyes suddenly widened.  She shut them and shook the grief out of her mind.  She did not want to think about that.  Not now, at least.  She desperately recalled her midnight voyage to Artemis, and the moment that blossomed between them.  The fresh memories of their kiss wiped away her terrible thoughts.  She realized that all her muscles had suddenly tightened.  She relaxed herself and fell on top of her bed.  She smiled upon seeing the rose he had given her laying peacefully on her shelf.  It glowed softly, eminating a brilliant light, equivalent to a candlelight but… a reminiscent flare of their shared bond glowed with the rose.

Her eyelids began to feel heavy, and they slowly won her over.  She dreamt of the first time she and Artemis had kissed.

Fowl Manor

Artemis awoke from his happy slumber.  He had been dreaming of the moment when, after being mauled by a gorilla, Holly had first kissed him.  He felt a sudden urge of positive energy run through his veins and he arose from his blankets, feeling that same energy run through his muscles.

Before moving out of his bed, he thought of any scheduled appointments or events he might have had that particular day.  None, most likely, except for–

Except for explaining to mother everything you’ve kept secret, Artemis thought to himself.

He did his best to justify the secrets he had kept from his family.  He had saved the world, hadn’t he?  Saved his world and the world that lay right below him?

But you lied.  Decieved them.  Hid secrets from them, he thought guiltily to himself.

Artemis quickly got out of bed, trying to shake off the terrible feeling of guilt and anxiety he had in his heart.  His mother had postponed their “talk” because of his recent insomnia.  He knew, however, that if he crossed paths with his mother the way he was now, she’d be riddling him with numerous questions.  He opened his wardrobe and attempted to find something that wasn’t a suit; he, unusually, did not feel like wearing a suit today.  He did not want to be a hero, a genius, nothing of that sort; he wished to be at ease for once.  At last, he found a pair of unworn sweatpants that fit him nicely.

After a quick change in attire, he began to wander around the manor.  The rising sun shot a warm ray of sunlight through the numerous windows of Fowl Manor.  He tried to smile at how beautiful his environment was, but the guilt of lying to, decieving, shorthanding, mesmerizing, and keeping secrets from his family still clawed at him.  He tried to think of anything, something that could make him happy.  Something like…

Like Holly Short.

A smile grew across his face.  In a brief flashback, he felt the warmth of her body against his, her warm breath caressing his chin, her lips on his own.  Blue sparks.

As he wandered the manor, he found himself questioning his sudden light-heartedness.  He had always been so rational in his thoughts, and all of his calculations would be put before emotions.  For most of his life, emotions only complicated things, so he had chosen to instead be a criminal.  A criminal genius.  However, every single on of his adventures had changed him for the better.  Perhaps, with every passing day, his guard was being brought down by the people he cared for.  Like Foaly and Mulch, giving him his humorous side.  He thought of his mother, Angeline Fowl, giving him the care and kindness that now resided in his heart.  His father also contributed as a role model for Artemis, abolishing his criminal affairs to spend time with what mattered most: his family.  Julius Root had made a fair influence, being an everlasting symbol of true respect.  Butler taught Artemis nobility and loyalty, displaying both virtues nearly every day of his life.  Then there was Holly.  She had, in a strange turn of events, opened Artemis Fowl’s heart and allowed him to love and be loved.

As he felt these facts blossom in his mind, he found himself in front of the door that led to Butler’s training center.  He immediately cleared his mind but kept a strong thought process centered on Holly.  He did not know why.  Perhaps it was, as the Americans said it, “just because.”  He knocked on the large wooden door, expecting the door to suddenly slide open.  It did not.  He slid it open himself, revealing a vast variety of numerous exercise machines and dojo training equipment.  It was a much larger room than he had expected.  A row of monkey bars sat above an empty space, surrounded by medicine balls and, slightly to the right, a long rack of large dumbbells.

Artemis quickly removed his shoes and briefly stretched his muscles.  He felt his waking energy rise in him, pulsing in his veins.  He was, again, astouded by how out-of-character he felt.  However, the concern quickly vanished as he broke into a light run.  His run broke into a sprint, and he leapt forward and caught himself on the monkey bars.  He swung back and forth, grabbing the next bar with a graceful nimbleness.  When he reached the end of the track, he began to perform what Butler called “pull-ups.”  He could feel his arms beginning to hurt, and he remembered the time he and Holly had once climbed a theme-park built pyramid to escape flesh-hungry trolls.  He let go of the bar and dropped, panting lightly.  He continued to sample each every one of Butler’s machines.  He was surprised at how strong he really was, expecting himself to look/be like the proverbial “twig.”  Of course, he did look like a twig standing next to Butler.

Artemis heard the door slide open and turned to see Butler.

Speak of devil… again, Artemis thought to himself.  Again.

“So, I see you’ve finally made use of my equipment,” Butler said, his solid line of a mouth turning into a slight smile.

“Yes, I can see why you enjoy it so much.  It’s quite invigorating.”  Artemis realized that he was actually perspiring, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down his forehead.  He wiped it off with a towel that Butler had tossed to him.

“I believe you and I need to talk, Artemis.  I don’t enjoy being left in the dark, you should know that.” Butler referred to last night’s (or rather, early this morning’s) incident.

“Always curious to know, aren’t you?  Curiosity killed the–”

“Curiosity killed the cat, but I snuck up behind curiousity and shot it in the head with an elephant tranquilizer.”

Artemis learned never to stifle Butler’s curiosity ever again.

**********

Artemis sat across from Butler.  They were completely symmetrical from each other, sitting in similar chairs in front of a fireplace.  Butler stared at Artemis.  He could assume what had happened on the balcony, but he wanted to hear it from Artemis himself.

“So…” Artemis began.

“This is hardly a time for empty words,” Butler said, painfully curious as to what had happened on the balcony.

“I assume you already knew–”

“–that Holly came by.  Yes.”  Butler was getting slightly impatient.

Artemis shifted in his chair.  It was a very accomodating and comfortable chair, and yet he couldn’t find comfort with Butler’s eyes on him.  “You’re like an old woman dying for a piece of gossip to share,” he said.

“Ha ha,” was all Butler could say.

A moment of silence passed between them.

Artemis was the first to succumb to his laughter.  Butler soon let out his low chuckles.

“An old woman?  Seriously, Artemis?” Butler said, a grin on his massive face.

“Well,” Artemis said, trying to control his laughter, “you started it with your sneak-up-and-sedate-curiosity joke, old friend.”

They both laughed again, lightening the false tension between them.  Their laughter slowly dissipated, bringing them back to their original topic.

“Well, Butler…  I’m not quite sure what to make of this,” Artemis admitted.

Butler sat patiently, waiting for his master to organize himself.

“I kissed her,” he blurted out.

Butler had attempted to prepare himself for Artemis to say something along those lines.  His preparation had turned to dust.  A crease wrinkled his forehead, and his eyes widened only slightly.

“Is this what love is, Butler?  This strange, sweet cloud that makes me lose my focus, this… unique obstacle that dampens my thought processes, but still nestles warmly like a hummingbird in a tree. Please enlighten me.”

Butler slouched into his chair.  He relaxed himself, trying to figure his wording into an appropriate order.  It was difficult.  “You’ve never been one for poetic similies, Artemis,” he managed to say, though it wasn’t what he had planned on saying.

“I know.  Do you see what I mean?” Artemis replied.

“Artemis…  I am happy for you, I truly am, but out of all people–”

“I know.  I know…” was all Artemis could manage to say.

“I’m sure you see the predicament,” Butler said, with sadness starting to fill his face.

“It’s not the predicament; it’s the fact that I cannot find a solution,” Artemis said, suddenly looking like a worried young boy.

Butler stood up, towering high above Artemis.  Butler grabbed his young principal by the shoulders.  Artemis thought he was about to be killed.

Suddenly, Butler was embracing him in a… hug?

Artemis did not know what to do.

You idiot.  Hug him back! he thought to himself.  He raised his arms and allowed them to wrap around his bodyguard (or, rather, get as close as he could to wrapping his arms around his massive chest).

“Juliet was right.  I’m too emotional,” Butler muttered.

Some other stories by Stick:

• Blue Sparks: Part 3
• Blue Sparks Questionairre
• Blue Sparks: Part 1 (Warning: TTP Spoilers)

Skip to chapter: 1, 2, 3,