“Why Diggums?” Trouble asked.
“Because Mulch is the only fairy who has broken into Koboi’s high security labs twice and lived.”
“True,” Trouble said. “Alright, Captain, I’ll send you Diggums in the next shuttle.”
“Just let him dig up,” Foaly said, jokingly. “It’ll be faster.”
“Your absolutely right, Foaly,” Trouble agreed.
“I am?”
“I’ll have him dig up to Fowl Manor ASAP.” Trouble’s face disappeared.
“Okay,” Holly said. “We need to figure out a plan. I think that we should spend the night here, so that we can organize ourselves and then we will go after Opal in the morning.” No one argued with Holly. Artemis had his eyes glued to the blinking dot and Foaly didn’t care.
A few hours later, there was a knock at the door. Artemis opened it to find Mulch.
“Hello, Artemis,” he said, walking in. Holly and Butler were sitting in the living room discussing what tactics to use on the mission.
“There are plenty of leftovers in the fridge, Mulch,” Artemis said, before he could ask. Mulch smiled, showing his tombstone sized teeth, before sauntering into the kitchen. Artemis sat in a chair away from everyone, lost in his own thoughts.
“Artemis,” Butler said. Artemis looked up at his giant bodyguard. “I think you need to get some sleep.” Artemis nodded.
“What time is it?” he asked, looking out the window.
“It’s almost midnight,” Butler said. Artemis slowly got up. Mulch was snoring on the rug, a chicken leg in one hand, and Holly was quietly sleeping on the couch. Artemis dragged himself up to his room and didn’t even bother to change clothes before he flopped onto his bed. He fell into a fitful sleep.
Artemis opened his eyes and found he was alone in a small familiar room. Moonlight shown through a circular window on the back wall, slightly illuminating the room. A door stood on the opposite wall. I’m in the closet at the Roberts’ house, he thought. He got up and tried the door. Locked. He sighed and turned around. In the middle of the room stood a ghostly figure.
“Elena?!” Artemis said in surprise. He slowly approached her. She had on the dress she wore to the New Years Eve party. Her hair flowed like a waterfall down her shoulders. Her face was etched with sadness.
“You didn’t save me, Artemis,” the ghostly Elena said. “I trusted you but you didn’t protect me.”
“I tried, Elena. I really did.” Artemis closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them again to find that he was alone in the room. He turned around to try the door again. The ghost Elena’s face was inches from his. He gasped and stumbled backward. She was gone again.
The door opened and Artemis saw a light at the end of a long hallway. He got up and started towards it. He arrived at the other end and found himself in a corridor. Barred rooms stood on each side. Artemis calmly walked down the path, looking in each cell as he passed. They were all empty. He arrived at the end of the hallway. He looked in the last cell of the left and thought it was empty at first, but then he noticed something shivering in the far corner of the room. It was a girl. She was curled up in a ball, with her head buried in her knees. Her hair fell in strands all around their face.
“Hello?” Artemis said. The girl looked up. Artemis saw Elena’s scared features staring back at him.
“Elena!” he yelled. He tried to run to the cage but it seemed the faster he ran, the farther away the cage got. Eventually, he couldn’t see it anymore.
“Elena!” he screamed again. A trap door opened beneath him. He could see the ground rushing up to meet him. He closed his eyes and waited for the impact.
Artemis jerked awake. He looked around and found he was in his room. His hand reached over to his nightstand to turn on the lamp. Light filled the room. Something crashed to the floor. Artemis looked down to see his gold pocket watch.
He slowly reached down to pick it up. He turned it over in his hand. His finger felt a secret compartment. A small sliver followed the opening of the watch. Artemis slid his fingernail through the slit and the chamber popped open. A folded piece of paper fluttered onto Artemis’s lap. He opened it and found Elena’s handwriting.
Dear Artemis,
If you’re reading this, you found the secret compartment. I knew it wouldn’t take you very long. You are the smartest person I have ever met. No matter what other people say, I know that you are a good person deep down, even though you are involved in criminal activity sometimes (yes, I know about the heists). I really hope that one day you will see the good in yourself. Look at me, I’m rambling again. Well, let me just get to the point.
What I want to say is I’m in love with you. Ever since the first time you put your arms around me and told me that everything was okay. You showed me kindness in my time of need. You believed in me. I know that I am just some orphan girl that you accidentally hit and then happened to get a job at your house, so if you don’t feel the same just turn me down gently, okay?
Love,
Elena <3
Artemis stared at the paper. She had the courage to put her feelings down on paper and I can’t even admit to myself that I like her, he thought. He slowly stood up and walked down the stairs. He opened the front door and sat on the porch, looking up at the stars.
Holly awoke and heard someone coming down the stairs. She saw Artemis walk out the front door. She got up and followed him. She found him sitting on the porch, looking up at the sky. Holly sat down next to him. He held a pocket watch in his hand.
“Beautiful night,” she said. Artemis only nodded. “Is that from Elena?” she gestured to the watch. Another nod. Holly sighed. “You really love her don’t you?”
Artemis looked down at the watch in his hand. He smiled slightly and nodded again. Holly felt as if someone was squeezing her heart. She blinked back a few rebellious tears. She knew that fairies shouldn’t fall in love with humans, but she and Artemis had been through so much together. She couldn’t help but develop feelings for him. But, do you love him enough to let him go? A voice in the back of her mind asked. I do, she replied.
Holly stood up. “Come on,” she said. “Lets get everything ready to go.”
Elena opened her eyes and found herself in a white cell. There was a sink with a mirror and a toilet on the right side of the room and she was lying on a cot on the opposite side. She sat up and felt something heavy on her neck. She walked over to the mirror to see what looked like a black collar around her neck.
“Ah, your awake.” Elena whipped around to find Opal smiling at her through the cell door. Her eyes widened in fear.
“What do you want with me?” she asked.
Opal chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious. I have done so many tests on you that I have actually changed your genetic makeup. You can now have magic, if I give it to you. I need to finish my research and it would be stupid to start over. After all, I did spend two years experimenting on you.” Elena shivered as her reacquired memories flashed through her mind.
“Mervall! Descant!” Opal screamed. The twin pixies appeared by her side.
“Yes, Mistress,” they said.
“Make sure the prisoner doesn’t escape.” She floated away on her hover chair. Elena suddenly had an idea. She closed her eyes and collapsed onto the floor.
“What just happened?” Mervall exclaimed. Elena opened her eyes a tiny bit to see Descant starting to open the door. That’s it, she thought, just come right on in. The pixies ran inside and knelt down beside her. Elena jumped up and hurdled over the twins. She raced out the door and towards the exit. Yes, she thought.
A sudden shock sent Elena to her knees. She clenched her teeth to keep from screaming. She grabbed at the collar around her neck. A chuckle came from the overhead speakers.
“I don’t think so, Ms. Williams,” she heard Opal say. The Brill brothers carried Elena back to the cell and the shock collar stopped. She crawled over to the far corner and wrapped her arms around her legs. She buried her face in her knees and wept.
“We’re here,” Artemis said, stopping.
“Where?” Mulch said, gesturing to the empty field. “Let me guess, it’s invisible.” He started to walk around, waving his arms in front of him.
“No, Mulch,” Holly sighed. “It’s beneath us.”
Mulch dropped his arms. “Oh.”
“Foaly,” Holly said into her helmet. “I want you to scan the building.”
“Done.”
“Okay,” Holly produced a hologram of the laboratory. “We’re here.” A red dot appeared above the building. “And Elena is here.” A blue dot appeared. “Mulch you need to build a tunnel here.” She pointed to a patch of dirt. Mulch unbuttoned his bum flap and Artemis and Holly backed away. He disappeared into the ground. Minutes later his head reappeared.
“Okay, everyone can come down now.”
Artemis was the first one to the hole. It was a straight plunge into darkness. He sat on the edge. Artemis took a deep breath and pushed off. He slid through the blackness. The tunnel seemed to never end.
Artemis landed next to Mulch. He rubbed his head and started to sit up. Just then, Holly fell through the hole and landed on Artemis’s back. He was pushed into the ground again.
“Sorry, Arty,” she said, helping him up. The dwarf spittle on the wall lit the room with its phosphoric glow. Holly pulled out her Neutrino and set the laser to a fine point. She burned a hole in the metal roof. Artemis slowly removed the metal and dropped through the hole. Mulch and Holly were right behind him.
They ran through the hallways following Holly. She was leading them towards Elena’s locator. They turned a corner and Artemis found he was in a familiar place. A corridor with barred cells on each side.
“I’ve been here before,” he whispered.
“What?” Holly said. He ignored her and ran down the hallway to the last cell on the left. He grabbed the bars and his shoulders drooped. There was no shivering figure in the corner.
“No. She should be right here.” He yelled, kicking the cell wall. He turned to his right and noticed another door. He slowly approached and opened it. In the middle of the floor was an unconscious figure.
“Elena!” He ran and knelt next to her. Bars suddenly appeared across the doorway, preventing Mulch and Holly from entering.
Elena’s eyes flew open and she stood up, simultaneously pulling a gun from behind her back. The barrel was pointed straight at Artemis’s heart.
“Get up,” Elena whispered menacingly. Artemis slowly stood up and noticed something. There was a glowing chip on Elena’s forehead.
“Elena?” Artemis asked hesitantly. A dark chuckle came from the speakers overhead.
“Sorry, Mr. Fowl,” Opal said. “Elena’s not here anymore. You see that chip. That allows me to control her.”
“Elena, please. It’s me, Artemis,” Artemis said. He took a step forward and heard the gun cock. He sighed.
“A-Artemis?” He looked up to see that Elena’s face had changed. Instead of being hard and unfeeling, it was now scared and confused.
“Yes, Elena. I’m here.”
“I-I can’t move my arms.”
“I wouldn’t try anything,” Opal said. “If you resist, I will make you shoot your precious boyfriend.” Elena and Artemis both blushed at the word “boyfriend.”
“Go stand against the wall, Mud boy.” Opal said. Artemis backed against the wall. He looked at Elena again.
“How many cameras are in the room?” She mouthed. He glanced around quickly.
“Four. One in each corner.” He mouthed back.
“Okay.” Elena had used a gun before and had pretty good aim. She gathered all of her strength. She regained control of her body momentarily and shot all four cameras.
“Tisk, tisk.” Opal said. “You shouldn’t have done that. And guess what, you missed one.” A lens appeared on the handle of the gun. Opal could now see Elena’s face.
“Say bye-bye, Artemis.” Opal pushed a button. Elena felt her finger squeeze the trigger.
“Because Mulch is the only fairy who has broken into Koboi’s high security labs twice and lived.”
“True,” Trouble said. “Alright, Captain, I’ll send you Diggums in the next shuttle.”
“Just let him dig up,” Foaly said, jokingly. “It’ll be faster.”
“Your absolutely right, Foaly,” Trouble agreed.
“I am?”
“I’ll have him dig up to Fowl Manor ASAP.” Trouble’s face disappeared.
“Okay,” Holly said. “We need to figure out a plan. I think that we should spend the night here, so that we can organize ourselves and then we will go after Opal in the morning.” No one argued with Holly. Artemis had his eyes glued to the blinking dot and Foaly didn’t care.
A few hours later, there was a knock at the door. Artemis opened it to find Mulch.
“Hello, Artemis,” he said, walking in. Holly and Butler were sitting in the living room discussing what tactics to use on the mission.
“There are plenty of leftovers in the fridge, Mulch,” Artemis said, before he could ask. Mulch smiled, showing his tombstone sized teeth, before sauntering into the kitchen. Artemis sat in a chair away from everyone, lost in his own thoughts.
“Artemis,” Butler said. Artemis looked up at his giant bodyguard. “I think you need to get some sleep.” Artemis nodded.
“What time is it?” he asked, looking out the window.
“It’s almost midnight,” Butler said. Artemis slowly got up. Mulch was snoring on the rug, a chicken leg in one hand, and Holly was quietly sleeping on the couch. Artemis dragged himself up to his room and didn’t even bother to change clothes before he flopped onto his bed. He fell into a fitful sleep.
Artemis opened his eyes and found he was alone in a small familiar room. Moonlight shown through a circular window on the back wall, slightly illuminating the room. A door stood on the opposite wall. I’m in the closet at the Roberts’ house, he thought. He got up and tried the door. Locked. He sighed and turned around. In the middle of the room stood a ghostly figure.
“Elena?!” Artemis said in surprise. He slowly approached her. She had on the dress she wore to the New Years Eve party. Her hair flowed like a waterfall down her shoulders. Her face was etched with sadness.
“You didn’t save me, Artemis,” the ghostly Elena said. “I trusted you but you didn’t protect me.”
“I tried, Elena. I really did.” Artemis closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He opened them again to find that he was alone in the room. He turned around to try the door again. The ghost Elena’s face was inches from his. He gasped and stumbled backward. She was gone again.
The door opened and Artemis saw a light at the end of a long hallway. He got up and started towards it. He arrived at the other end and found himself in a corridor. Barred rooms stood on each side. Artemis calmly walked down the path, looking in each cell as he passed. They were all empty. He arrived at the end of the hallway. He looked in the last cell of the left and thought it was empty at first, but then he noticed something shivering in the far corner of the room. It was a girl. She was curled up in a ball, with her head buried in her knees. Her hair fell in strands all around their face.
“Hello?” Artemis said. The girl looked up. Artemis saw Elena’s scared features staring back at him.
“Elena!” he yelled. He tried to run to the cage but it seemed the faster he ran, the farther away the cage got. Eventually, he couldn’t see it anymore.
“Elena!” he screamed again. A trap door opened beneath him. He could see the ground rushing up to meet him. He closed his eyes and waited for the impact.
Artemis jerked awake. He looked around and found he was in his room. His hand reached over to his nightstand to turn on the lamp. Light filled the room. Something crashed to the floor. Artemis looked down to see his gold pocket watch.
He slowly reached down to pick it up. He turned it over in his hand. His finger felt a secret compartment. A small sliver followed the opening of the watch. Artemis slid his fingernail through the slit and the chamber popped open. A folded piece of paper fluttered onto Artemis’s lap. He opened it and found Elena’s handwriting.
Dear Artemis,
If you’re reading this, you found the secret compartment. I knew it wouldn’t take you very long. You are the smartest person I have ever met. No matter what other people say, I know that you are a good person deep down, even though you are involved in criminal activity sometimes (yes, I know about the heists). I really hope that one day you will see the good in yourself. Look at me, I’m rambling again. Well, let me just get to the point.
What I want to say is I’m in love with you. Ever since the first time you put your arms around me and told me that everything was okay. You showed me kindness in my time of need. You believed in me. I know that I am just some orphan girl that you accidentally hit and then happened to get a job at your house, so if you don’t feel the same just turn me down gently, okay?
Love,
Elena <3
Artemis stared at the paper. She had the courage to put her feelings down on paper and I can’t even admit to myself that I like her, he thought. He slowly stood up and walked down the stairs. He opened the front door and sat on the porch, looking up at the stars.
Holly awoke and heard someone coming down the stairs. She saw Artemis walk out the front door. She got up and followed him. She found him sitting on the porch, looking up at the sky. Holly sat down next to him. He held a pocket watch in his hand.
“Beautiful night,” she said. Artemis only nodded. “Is that from Elena?” she gestured to the watch. Another nod. Holly sighed. “You really love her don’t you?”
Artemis looked down at the watch in his hand. He smiled slightly and nodded again. Holly felt as if someone was squeezing her heart. She blinked back a few rebellious tears. She knew that fairies shouldn’t fall in love with humans, but she and Artemis had been through so much together. She couldn’t help but develop feelings for him. But, do you love him enough to let him go? A voice in the back of her mind asked. I do, she replied.
Holly stood up. “Come on,” she said. “Lets get everything ready to go.”
Elena opened her eyes and found herself in a white cell. There was a sink with a mirror and a toilet on the right side of the room and she was lying on a cot on the opposite side. She sat up and felt something heavy on her neck. She walked over to the mirror to see what looked like a black collar around her neck.
“Ah, your awake.” Elena whipped around to find Opal smiling at her through the cell door. Her eyes widened in fear.
“What do you want with me?” she asked.
Opal chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious. I have done so many tests on you that I have actually changed your genetic makeup. You can now have magic, if I give it to you. I need to finish my research and it would be stupid to start over. After all, I did spend two years experimenting on you.” Elena shivered as her reacquired memories flashed through her mind.
“Mervall! Descant!” Opal screamed. The twin pixies appeared by her side.
“Yes, Mistress,” they said.
“Make sure the prisoner doesn’t escape.” She floated away on her hover chair. Elena suddenly had an idea. She closed her eyes and collapsed onto the floor.
“What just happened?” Mervall exclaimed. Elena opened her eyes a tiny bit to see Descant starting to open the door. That’s it, she thought, just come right on in. The pixies ran inside and knelt down beside her. Elena jumped up and hurdled over the twins. She raced out the door and towards the exit. Yes, she thought.
A sudden shock sent Elena to her knees. She clenched her teeth to keep from screaming. She grabbed at the collar around her neck. A chuckle came from the overhead speakers.
“I don’t think so, Ms. Williams,” she heard Opal say. The Brill brothers carried Elena back to the cell and the shock collar stopped. She crawled over to the far corner and wrapped her arms around her legs. She buried her face in her knees and wept.
“We’re here,” Artemis said, stopping.
“Where?” Mulch said, gesturing to the empty field. “Let me guess, it’s invisible.” He started to walk around, waving his arms in front of him.
“No, Mulch,” Holly sighed. “It’s beneath us.”
Mulch dropped his arms. “Oh.”
“Foaly,” Holly said into her helmet. “I want you to scan the building.”
“Done.”
“Okay,” Holly produced a hologram of the laboratory. “We’re here.” A red dot appeared above the building. “And Elena is here.” A blue dot appeared. “Mulch you need to build a tunnel here.” She pointed to a patch of dirt. Mulch unbuttoned his bum flap and Artemis and Holly backed away. He disappeared into the ground. Minutes later his head reappeared.
“Okay, everyone can come down now.”
Artemis was the first one to the hole. It was a straight plunge into darkness. He sat on the edge. Artemis took a deep breath and pushed off. He slid through the blackness. The tunnel seemed to never end.
Artemis landed next to Mulch. He rubbed his head and started to sit up. Just then, Holly fell through the hole and landed on Artemis’s back. He was pushed into the ground again.
“Sorry, Arty,” she said, helping him up. The dwarf spittle on the wall lit the room with its phosphoric glow. Holly pulled out her Neutrino and set the laser to a fine point. She burned a hole in the metal roof. Artemis slowly removed the metal and dropped through the hole. Mulch and Holly were right behind him.
They ran through the hallways following Holly. She was leading them towards Elena’s locator. They turned a corner and Artemis found he was in a familiar place. A corridor with barred cells on each side.
“I’ve been here before,” he whispered.
“What?” Holly said. He ignored her and ran down the hallway to the last cell on the left. He grabbed the bars and his shoulders drooped. There was no shivering figure in the corner.
“No. She should be right here.” He yelled, kicking the cell wall. He turned to his right and noticed another door. He slowly approached and opened it. In the middle of the floor was an unconscious figure.
“Elena!” He ran and knelt next to her. Bars suddenly appeared across the doorway, preventing Mulch and Holly from entering.
Elena’s eyes flew open and she stood up, simultaneously pulling a gun from behind her back. The barrel was pointed straight at Artemis’s heart.
“Get up,” Elena whispered menacingly. Artemis slowly stood up and noticed something. There was a glowing chip on Elena’s forehead.
“Elena?” Artemis asked hesitantly. A dark chuckle came from the speakers overhead.
“Sorry, Mr. Fowl,” Opal said. “Elena’s not here anymore. You see that chip. That allows me to control her.”
“Elena, please. It’s me, Artemis,” Artemis said. He took a step forward and heard the gun cock. He sighed.
“A-Artemis?” He looked up to see that Elena’s face had changed. Instead of being hard and unfeeling, it was now scared and confused.
“Yes, Elena. I’m here.”
“I-I can’t move my arms.”
“I wouldn’t try anything,” Opal said. “If you resist, I will make you shoot your precious boyfriend.” Elena and Artemis both blushed at the word “boyfriend.”
“Go stand against the wall, Mud boy.” Opal said. Artemis backed against the wall. He looked at Elena again.
“How many cameras are in the room?” She mouthed. He glanced around quickly.
“Four. One in each corner.” He mouthed back.
“Okay.” Elena had used a gun before and had pretty good aim. She gathered all of her strength. She regained control of her body momentarily and shot all four cameras.
“Tisk, tisk.” Opal said. “You shouldn’t have done that. And guess what, you missed one.” A lens appeared on the handle of the gun. Opal could now see Elena’s face.
“Say bye-bye, Artemis.” Opal pushed a button. Elena felt her finger squeeze the trigger.
In The Last Guardian, the evil pixie is wreaking havoc yet again,This time his arch rival has reanimated dead fairy warriors who where buried in the grounds of fowl manor. Their spirits have possessed artemis's little brothers, making his siblings even more annoying than usual. the warriors don't seem to realize the the battle they were fighting when they died is long over. artemis has until morning to get the spirits to vacate his brothers and go back into the earth where they belong.
Can he count on a certain LEPrecon fairy to join him in what could be his last stand? new york times best-selling author and comic genius eon colfer will leave artemis fowl fans gasping up to the very end of this thrilling finale to the blockbuster series.