“I have never considered myself a failure before today, Butler.”
The three humans sat together, staring at the assortment of humanoids in front of them. It hadn’t taken long for Artemis to recover his senses, with the Butler siblings following suit immediately after. The young boy was amazed by the presence of the two creatures that hadn’t even been in his line of sight at the time of the accident. He could understand the hairy animal’s arrival with them in the land of ponies, yet the other two seemingly fell from nowhere.
“That’s because you haven’t failed before, Artemis!” Juliet attempted to be uplifting, though the sentiment was lost on the boy's self-loathing.
Butler shifted uncomfortably as he holstered his Sig Sauer before commenting, “Perhaps you were unsuccessful in finding these creatures, but you opened a portal to whole other world.” After a short moment of silence he added, “That must count for something, right?”
The boy’s eyes burned with fury at the three uncertain beings before him. Maintaining a composed tone he groaned, “I spent three months and countless resources attempting to find a society identical to these two officers. I failed, and turned my eyes toward a goal much less scientifically secure. How is it that I found my otherworldly goal before finding the one right under my nose?” He attempted to justify his failure in stating that they were, in fact, magical creatures that had remained undiscovered for thousands of years.
The large bodyguard sighed, “We can’t even be sure they’re fairies, Artemis.”
“Unless you count the body composition, the advanced technology, and the obvious magical energy radiating around them, no we can’t,” his young charge retorted.
Jolts of blue electricity danced around the two officers, the scrapes and bruises that had remained after their arrival sealing and vanishing before the humans’ eyes. There could be no other explanation than magic. Yet, despite his similarities to the other two, the dwarf’s wounds didn’t seem to be healing at all. If anything, he simply looked to be getting worse, if only by comparison.
“They are pale, which serves as signs of a lack of sunlight. It was night when the accident occurred. Therefore we can determine that fairies are nocturnal creatures.” Artemis began piecing a puzzle of his own creation together, trying to distract himself from the fact that he had failed by adding a success in its place. “The musky vulgar one is coated with dirt. It is obvious he is capable of burrowing underground; there is no other way into the mansion without the security systems activating. We really must fix that, Butler.”
“Yes, of course, sir.”
“The vulgar one also does not seem to be healing himself, so it shows that not all fairies are magical. He has a different build from the other two, so there must be different races of fairies.” Artemis’s voice was starting to waver. Whether it was from anger over his failure or disbelief that he had discovered two brand new sources of magic, it was uncertain. He continued, “Those two are dressed in identical suits with almost identical builds, ignoring the fact one is female and the other male. They are officers of some sort of government; they have the same symbols sewn into their shoulders. Their size indicates that fairies do not get large like humans. To them, Butler must look like a proverbial troll.”
It became obvious to his companions that he wasn’t talking to them anymore. He was off in his own mind again, covering his inner plotting with outer action. It was something he hadn’t done since before the creation of his device. The two humans remained silent, the younger continuing to stare at the row of fairies.
“The officers both carry the same tiny golden book. It can be inferred that it is either a bible for the fairy people or a manual for military officers. If I could read their glyphs it would be a simple task to figure out which.” As if actually meaning for his companions to listen, he held up one of the golden squares they had found in the pocket of the female officer’s battle suit.
Butler chimed in, “It wouldn’t be a military manual. Officers wouldn’t carry such vital information on them during a reconnaissance mission.” His years of serving in battle had given him a degree of knowledge a civilian couldn’t hope to question. Despite the fact that these officers weren’t human, it was safe to assume they would follow the same safety protocols.
“But why would they carry bibles around?” Juliet seemed to chime out of nowhere, the question as valid as any other about the fairy folk.
Artemis analyzed the difference between the two officers and the out of place vulgar creature. After minutes of study he concluded, “Perhaps it isn’t a bible of religion, but simple social standards. A fairy that obeys the rules is given full range of its powers, while those that do not are stripped of what makes them magical and exiled.” He began to rummage through Mulch’s person with an unspecified purpose.
Butler suppressed a groan as he commented, “Keep in mind you’re basing all of this on assumptions. That isn’t like you, Artemis.” Something about his charge’s behavior was bothering him.
“No old friend, they are not simple assumptions. They are logical deductions that anyone could make with enough of an incentive given our clues. When these fairies wake up, perhaps we can put our deductions to the test.” Artemis backed away from the dwarf, placed both copies of the golden book into his coat pocket and waited for the blue sparks to finally finish their dances across the fairy bodies. Almost instantly, the female creature began to stir awake.
With barely a second of hesitation, Butler drew his Sig Sauer and aimed it for the fairy’s head. Holding back an objecting scoff, Juliet focused on the creature’s waking movements. Artemis simply waited to see how things would play out, not having a way to plan for a specific scenario. He would, as much as it pained him to think it, ‘wing it’ as he went.
With almost no consideration for her surroundings, Captain Short pushed herself into an upright position and reached a hand for her face. She let out a confused grunt as her fingers made contact to her skin and not the helmet she had been wearing before the blinding golden light sucked her in. In an instant she became disconnected from her one source of guidance. Panic started to flood her body, only barely concealed in her slow movements.
Opening her eyes, the captain was quickly able to register her situation. Hulking above her, nearly the size of the troll she’d incapacitated earlier in her mission stood a human that resembled more of a bear than a man. In his hand rested a primitive pistol that was most likely fully loaded and ready to end her life. Even with magic, it was hard to heal a splattered brain. Off to the side she noticed a much smaller, frailer boy in a dapper suit with a smug grin on his face. Behind the two men sat a girl, probably barely older than the boy, sitting with a regretful frown on her face.
Mud People.
The next thing she decided to examine was the surrounding area. Beside her lay a hopefully-unconscious Commander Root and a disgusting-looking Mulch Diggums. All around them stretched a grassy field with trees in the distance in one direction and a large garden in the other. The scent of apples filled her nose periodically when Mulch’s musk wasn’t drowning her. She could see the world through unfiltered sunlight, which only made her heart rate increase greatly. Though the light didn’t feel scorching, she was certain it was the panic keeping her from feeling the effects.
She spoke in a tongue foreign to the humans.
Artemis replied with a blunt, “Of course they have their own language; they aren’t human.”
Butler grimaced. “This could get difficult.”
Recognizing the humans’ language as a variation of English, Captain Short attempted to communicate again. This time she snapped, “Where are we, Mud Men?”
The three humans were taken aback by her sudden shift in language. The young boy answered with a smug, “We are not in Ireland, nor are we on Earth.” He took pleasure in the confusion that filled Holly’s features.
The fairy pressed on, “So then where are we, Mud Boy?”
“Equestria,” he replied bluntly.
“Where is that?” she scoffed, annoyance starting to overtake the panic.
With a smile the genius took an uncharacteristic opportunity to give a cliché joke. “It is a long way from Kansas, my dear. And I’m afraid there are no ruby slippers to send us home with a wish.” Perhaps the joke hadn’t been executed properly, but he still found humor in the situation.
Juliet flinched at the failed attempt at humor. She sighed, “Artemis here found a way to a whole other world. You fairies should be jealous of his work.”
“How’d you know we’re fairies?!” Holly snapped with her panic resurfacing in her features.
“You obviously aren’t humans, my dear. Your ears are malformed, your bodies are too small, and the miniscule blue sparks that dressed your wounds are not found in human biology. What else could you be?” Artemis stood proud, most of his assumptions having been proven correct up until that point.
Taking a moment to consider her essentially-stranded position, Holly looked around for signs of her equipment. With no luck she moaned, “What’d you do with my helmet?”
“The equipment is safe. I would never harm such advanced machinery.” Artemis turned away from the fairy, his bodyguard’s firearm pointed safely at her. He slowly stepped over to a pile of non-human-manufactured machines and gadgets hidden safely underneath Butler’s large sports coat, the two officer helmets at the very top of the stack. He chuckled, “At least not until I get the chance to dissect it.”
“You have no clue what you’re getting into, Mud Boy!” the fairy snapped, her face flushing red in anger.
The boy lifted up one of the helmets to examine it in the light. He sighed, “Whatever it may be, I’m certain we can handle it.” Placing the armor safely back on the pile, he casually strode to the side of the dwarf-like creature. “My true concern is regarding the nature of your people.”
“If you expect me to talk, you’re wasting your time.”
“It matters not,” the genius dismissed her resolve, staring down at the still-unconscious kleptomaniac. “Everything has its price.” With a cold expression that showed nothing but ambition, Artemis’s eyes met Holly’s.
The fairy had to struggle to hold back a shudder, easily disturbed by the icy deviousness in the boy’s eyes. It only took her a moment to recover and realize that she had been given the perfect opportunity to use one of the most useful fairy abilities: the Mesmer. Holding back the sudden excitement in her gut, Captain Short poured every bit of focus she could into her following statements.
“You’re pretty smart for a human. But don’t you think you should let us go? I mean, we can’t really be much use to you.”
To Artemis, the fairy’s voice rang out like a chorus of angels. Her eyes gave off a faint, comforting glow, and the boy couldn’t help but crack a smile at the peaceful feeling that washed over him. As the fairy spoke, the boy’s eyes slowly began to change colors, becoming a light shade of pink. Butler slowly approached his charge, sensing a sudden change in demeanor and focus.
Artemis, his focus returning the moment the fairy’s speech ended, turned toward Butler with a much peppier tone in his voice. He chuckled, “I believe the fairy is right, Butler. We should let them go.” Turning back and smiling at the suddenly-relieved LEPrecon officer, he added, “It’s not like there’s an infinite wealth of knowledge to be gained from their society.”
Captain Short’s victorious grin was short-lived, realizing that, for whatever reason, her Mesmer had failed her. Taking time to look into her captor’s eyes, she noticed that the bloodshot color that usually symbolized a Mesmered creature was nowhere to be seen.
“How foolish do you think I am? You’ll have to do much better if you expect to manipulate a genius of my standing.” The boy returned to the dwarf’s side, intent on continuing his previous train of thought. He sighed, “This creature managed to break into my manor, most likely with the intention of robbing me blind. If it’s wealth he wants, perhaps I can give it to him…for a price.”
The captain shot to her feet, disregarding the gun perpetually pointed at her head. She objected, “You wouldn’t dare! Why do you even care what we are Mud Boy?” As if instinctual, she reached toward her belt for her gun, only to remember it was with the rest of the confiscated technology.
The genius, his patience growing thin, tittered, “It’s not so much what you are that intrigues me. I would dare to say it’s the sheer value of the machines you possess that makes me want to know more.” The grin on his face faded as he continued staring down at the grubbiest of the three fairies. Each second that passed where he didn’t wake up only annoyed the boy more.
“What would a Mud Boy like you do with our tech, anyway? Play cops n’ robbers?” A gruff voice snarled, sending a slight burst of hope through Holly’s mind. The second fairy, wearing a similar jumpsuit to the captain, burst to life with surprising agility. Despite appearing old, the commander was on his feet and ready to attack his captors in a matter of seconds.
Of course, seconds were all Butler needed to switch his aim from one head to the other. Upon seeing that he was the new target for the troll-esque human with a gun and that he had been relieved of his own equipment, Commander Root stood down. Instead, he simply relaxed his body, knowing that fighting at that moment would get him nowhere. Seeing her commander suddenly stop resisting, Captain Short followed suit.
Artemis resisted the urge to smile triumphantly as his captives ended their resistance. Looking the older fairy square in the eyes, he asked, “Would you like to be a bit more cooperative than your companion, sir?” Although he had no genuine respect for the fairy, he felt that the honorific would help encourage a diplomatic relationship.
The commander resisted the instinctual urge to use his Mesmer, deciding that his officer would have already tried. Instead, he simply grumbled, “Keep your ‘sir’ to yourself, Mud Boy. You won’t get anything out of me that you didn’t from Captain Short.”
“So you’re a captain, then? Captain Short,” Artemis mused, “has a nice ring to it. Wouldn’t you agree, Butler?”
The fairy in question adopted a look of utter disgust at hearing her name come from a Mud Man, especially one so vile. Keeping a tone somewhat fitting for a military officer, she scoffed, “You act like ‘Butler’ is a much more respectable name.” The large brute of a man simply grunted in retaliation, hardly bothered by the snide remark.
The genius shook his head in disappointment before sighing, “Maybe this uncivilized crook will be willing to tell me what I want.” Placing his hands into the pockets of his pants, he asked, “May I at least get your name, sir? It’s hardly fair I know your subordinate’s and not yours.”
Commander Root asked calmly, “What makes you so certain she’s my subordinate?”
“She was banking on you being the one to get her out of this bizarre mess. When you surrendered, so did she.” Artemis couldn’t hold back a cocky grin at the sight of Holly’s expression.
The fairy in charge conceded, “My name is Commander Julius Root of the Lower Elements Police. And how should we address you, Mud Boy?” His professionalism in the face of such uncertain circumstances was admirable.
“I can’t help but sense hostility in your voice, Commander. It’s in your best interest to remember which end of the barrel you’re on.” The boy waved dramatically at his bodyguard, who stood unwavering with his eyes down the sights of the Sig Sauer. Taking a slight bow, he explained, “My name is Artemis Fowl II. The man with the weapon is named Butler. You may address us as such.”
Root glanced off to the side where a Mud Girl was sitting on a large rock simply watching their interaction. He scoffed, nodding her way, “So who’s the girl?”
Juliet hopped to her feet and cheered, “My name is Juliet! And, if it’s any consolation, it’s my pleasure to meet the both of you!” Artemis was almost tempted to let out an exasperated sigh at the happy-go-lucky attitude of the younger Butler sibling.
Captain Short took a second to analyze the Mud Girl, almost positive that she was the black sheep of the trio. Unable to figure out what tied her kind-looking-nature to the selfish and brutish behavior of the other two, she simply asked, “So how’d you end up with these two fiends?”
The girl’s expression quickly soured, sending a shiver down Holly’s spine. Juliet scoffed, “He’s not the kindest guy in the world, but don’t you ever insult my brother like that!” A scowl covered her face as she spoke, stressing her point.
Butler grumbled, “Our family is under the employment of Master Artemis’s. It’s a mutually benefitting relationship.” All the while he spoke the gun never strayed from its target.
Artemis continued monitoring the third fairy, who seemed entirely at ease in his unconscious stupor. “So you two are what most people call ‘elves’, correct? You have similar characteristics common among most mythologies, such as the pointed ears.” As he mused over the specifics of the fairy classification, he began noting every tiny difference between the two officers and their grimy brother.
Commander Root decided to ignore the boy in favor of examining their surroundings. They stood, practically defenseless, in the middle of a wide green field. In the distance stood a line of apple trees, while in the opposite direction stretched a wide field of crops. Up above, the sun was mercilessly beaming down on them. In most cases, direct sunlight would be an issue for the fairy people.
Under that premise, the commander asked, “Would it be possible for us to move to the shade of the apple trees?” He looked back at Holly, who sent him an agreeing nod.
Artemis took time to consider the request before replying with a smug, “It’s perfectly fine right where we are. I don’t think it’s too warm. Do you, Butler?” Without waiting for a response from the bodyguard, he continued, “Or do you simply expect us to take you someplace you can take cover and retaliate against us?”
“Are you always this distrusting, Mud B…Artemis?” The commander swallowed his words half way through, deciding civility would be their only chance for the one mercy they were requesting. It would be any minute now…
The boy chuckled, “Only when magical non-humans who hold limitless potential are trying to trick me, I’m afraid. Are you always so concerned about a little sunlight? I mean, you aren’t exactly pale, Commander.” Again he turned his attention to the still-sleeping fairy, losing patience at an increasing rate.
Noticing her commander start to get annoyed, Captain Short decided to take the tension away with a little subject change. With urgency in her voice she explained, “You’re right; we’re a species of fairy called elves. The fairy on the ground there—Mulch Diggums—is a dwarf. Dwarves are natural-born miners, so direct sunlight in concentrated amounts is very toxic to them!” Ignoring the sour look her superior was drilling into her, she continued, “If you want to use him as some sort of information tool, you might want to get him out of the sun.”
Artemis shot his attention toward the informative fairy, wondering just how much of the story was true. He looked back and forth from the dwarf to the apple trees for quite some time before finally conceding. With a deep, uncertain sigh, he ordered, “Juliet, this dwarf should be no problem for you. Take him to cover.”
“You really wanna let him outta your sight? We all might as well go.” Commander Root decided to cash in on his subordinate’s idea.
Butler offered his advice on the matter, “We should take them all to cover. Who’s to say that the dwarves are the only UV-sensitive race of fairies?” Again, despite his split focus, the brute’s gun never once strayed from its target.
“Very well then, the fairies can go first, with Butler’s gun just behind them. Juliet will carry the dwarf, and I will monitor him from behind.” The boy had given his orders, and there was almost no way to change his mind once it was made up.
The large bodyguard took over with the orders, accustomed to this type of escort job. With an ominous growl, he commanded, “Hands on your head and don’t try anything funny. One sudden movement and the commander’s head goes all over the place.” With the barrel of the gun mere inches from its intended target’s head, Butler pushed the pair forward toward the trees.
“You didn’t have to put it so bluntly, bro…” Juliet almost sounded a little guilty as she hefted the dirt-coated dwarf over her shoulder.
With a sudden fit of coughs, the final fairy burst to life, writhing in all directions in an attempt to break free from the girl’s grip. He choked out, “I’m perfectly capable of walking, thank you very much!”
The two LEP officers turned on a dime, horror filling their features. The commander growled, “Don’t let that bastard down! He’ll be gone before you can even blink!” The barrel of Butler’s gun pressed hard against his skull as a warning not to continue his outburst.
Captain Short groaned, “Mulch is one of the slyest, dirtiest criminals in all of the Lower Elements. He’s been arrested countless times and managed to escape most of them. If you want any info from him, you won’t let him open his mouth until we’re someplace he can’t get away.” As much as she hated to be giving the Mud Men tips, it was the outlaw’s fault that she and Root were even wrapped up in the whole mess. The last thing she wanted was for him to be free in a whole other world.
Mulch burst into laughter, “That’s right; you’re those Mud Men from the lab! How’d you manage to get your grubby hands on the commander of the LEP?” Taking a second to crane his neck and examine the two LEP officers in front of them, his smile stretched even wider.
“If you don’t quit squirming, you’re gonna end up taking a nice long dirt nap!” Juliet tightened her grip around the struggling fairy, fed up with the dirt he was flinging all over her.
Artemis chuckled, “The timing couldn’t be more perfect. So, Mr. Diggums, how toxic does this sunlight feel to you?” Holly’s face grew pale as she realized that the humans’ belief in her story rested upon whatever garbage Mulch decided to spew.
“Whuzzat?” the dwarf snorted, digging in his ear with a pinkie finger.
Holding back his disgust, the boy elaborated, “Captain Short explained to us that sunlight is toxic to dwarves. Is that true?”
Mulch chuckled, “Toxic, not so much. We burn like toast, though!” He took a moment to look back at the giant human holding a gun, noticing the disgruntled expression on Root’s face. Lowering his voice, he explained, “But fairies’ magic powers get weaker in sunlight. Give us some moon, and you don’t stand a chance.”
Finally, something to work with! Just as the genius had expected, the dwarf was actually willing to surrender information! With a victorious grin, he whispered, “Is that so? So that’s why they want to be in the shade…”
“Right. Most fairies have this power that makes ‘em invisible. With the sun in the way, those two can’t get away.” Taking a moment to let the new knowledge sink in, Mulch scratched aimlessly at his beard. Then, louder than before, he cheered, “The first bit’s on the house, kid! Next time it’ll cost ya.”
Artemis sighed happily, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Mr. Diggums.” His expression falling a few shades darker, the boy turned to Butler and barked, “Change of plans, old friend. What do you say we keep these two as far away from the shade as possible?”
“D’Arvit (a gnomish curse that doesn’t take much to decipher)! You had to go and sell us out, didn’t you?!” Commander Root was absolutely furious, his face flushing its more-common-than-it-should-be beet red color. The barrel of the gun against his head was the only thing keeping him from taking action.
Captain Short growled through gritted teeth, “I promise you’ll pay for this, Diggums!”
The dwarf opened his mouth to send them some snide remark, but his words were cut off by an abnormally loud static sound ringing out from the pile of LEP equipment. All six of the present beings turned toward it with sudden curiosity, each for their own reasons. The officers looked almost desperate to retrieve one of the helmets, but that would be a dangerous move with the humans on watch.
Even Mulch was curious just what kind of message had been relayed through the earpiece of the machine. He could barely make out the faint voice of a certain centaur, but he wasn’t going to tell them that.
The fact that the devices functioned even in a whole other world is what intrigued Artemis and, to a lesser extent, Butler. The bodyguard was interested due to the apparent warranty of a communication device that worked inter-dimensionally. The boy, however, was simply interested in harvesting the technology to make a profit in the human world.
Juliet, although surprised by the sudden noise, didn’t seem too interested in the tech. Instead, she continued her struggle to keep the dwarf under control as he squirmed to face the pile of confiscated machinery.
Praying that the brute beside her couldn’t hear, Holly whispered as quietly as she could, “That must have been Foaly. Sir, we need that message…” The only response she got was a guttural grunt from the still-flustered commander.
The dwarf never seemed to miss a beat. He groaned, squirming even worse in Juliet’s grasp, “Would ya mind lettin’ me down, Mud Girl? I’m more than a little curious what that horseman just said!” There was a glint of mockery in his eyes as he turned back toward the fairy officers.
“Did you say horseman? Do tell, what does that mean?” Artemis was suddenly intrigued, the dwarf actually starting to fight back for the first time since his initial waking.
Root growled, “Don’t you dare, Diggums!”
“Shut up, Julius! I mean…You know what, forget it…” Mulch noticed an overwhelming anger flooding the commander’s expression and didn’t dare test him any further. Instead, he turned back toward his captor and sighed, “If you take one of those little helmets and push the button on the earpiece, it’ll bring up a nifty menu you can use to play that message the centaur just sent.”
Taking only a second to consider whether the information was a distraction or another freebie, the boy began to walk toward the pile of equipment. He examined the helmet for any sort of touch-based traps before lifting the one taken from Commander Root into the air. “Butler, would you care to do the honors?” he offered the machine to the gun-wielding brute.
Glancing away for only a moment to examine the headpiece, Butler chuckled, “Sorry, Artemis, but there’s no chance of my head fitting in that thing. Besides, I have to watch these fairies.” He swayed the gun only slightly, never moving the barrel from its target, to signify what he meant.
The genius sighed, “Yes, that makes sense. How foolish of me. Very well then.” He placed the helmet on over his head and pushed the indicated button. The visor of the machine fell down over his eyes and filled his sight with readings of different qualities. The entire screen opened up into a menu written in the same glyphs as the little golden books he’d confiscated.
“Now, look for this series of symbols.” The dwarf craned his neck to face the LEP officers, who were sending him almost-pleading glares. “A triangular figure, an infinity with a squiggle under it, a raindrop, a double-helix, the same triangular figure, a dragonfly, and a leaf. That specific series of glyphs spells out ‘Messages.’”
The two fairy officers looked at one another with confusion and disbelief. Then, in an instant, a wave of understanding washed over them. The dwarf had actually just done them a favor! Holding back their excitement, they watched the boy as he sorted through the many words scribbled out on the visor before him. Any second now he would find the symbols he was told to look for.
With a loud crackling sound, the helmet short-circuited and its wearer was sent to the ground. For the first time since drawing it, Butler lowered his pistol and dove to his charge’s side. Juliet dropped her prisoner, more concerned with her employer’s health than the creature that had caused it. In a matter of seconds, all three fairies were free from their immediate captors.
The bodyguard roared, “What did you tell Artemis to do?!” His attention refocused on what he’d been instructed to do, and the gun was immediately aimed for the disoriented dwarf’s head. An index finger hugged the trigger, ready to fire with a hair’s width.
Captain Short finally took action. While the brute was busy with Mulch, she put some of her military training to work, swiftly approaching the pile of fairy tech. Juliet awaited her at her destination, dismissing the boy’s health in favor of payback.
Commander Root was completely thrown off guard by the sudden change of pace. He thought for a moment that he should save the criminal scum, but decided the dwarf was only getting what was coming to him. So, knowing he wouldn’t have much more of an opportunity, he joined Holly by their equipment.
Butler asked again, “What did you do to the young master?”
Mulch burst into laughter, rolling around to his stomach, “He overloaded the helmet, the stupid Mud Boy. Don’t worry; he’ll be back on his feet in a few hours!” It only took him a second to unhinge his jaw and consume a large enough portion of dirt to completely cover him from the bullet’s range.
Not sure what to make of such a sudden escape, the brute tried to follow after his new target. At the hole in the ground where the dwarf had vanished, the man was met with a wide cocky grin. With a slight wave of his hand, Diggums rolled in the dirt with his hind facing upward. Before the trained guardian could even bring his gun back to aim, a loud explosion rang out, sending him flying several feet into the air in a burst of rancid air. An expulsion of the air in the dirt the dwarf had just eaten, as it was.
Landing with a loud thud, Butler’s gun went flying several meters away, and he was out like a light. Juliet, seeing her brother so disgustingly incapacitated, charged toward the two officers before her. A two-on-one battle was never kind odds for the outnumbered party, let alone when the greater party consisted of two highly-trained magical soldiers.
And even with the odds stacked against her, Juliet put up one crazy fight! She was a Butler, after all. Though the extent of her training was the few sparring practices with her older brother on off days and only a few classes of formal martial arts, her ability to fight against the LEP officers was to be applauded.
Juliet charged at them, Holly being the first target. The fairy easily sidestepped the garish assault, but was immediately taken down by a leg sweep from the now-focused girl. Root took the chance to attempt to subdue their opponent with a choke hold, which only ended in his being thrown over her shoulder to land hard against the ground. The captain recovered with remarkable speed, tackling the Butler sibling to ground and pinning her with a spread-eagle form.
The hold lasted barely long enough for the commander to recover before Juliet broke out, sending the smaller fairy into her superior. Leaping to her feet from flat on the ground, she darted over to the still-recovering fairies and delivered a corkscrew elbow drop to the commander, leaving him stunned and unable to recover. Holly pulled the Mud Girl to the ground by her leg, her head landing with a loud thud on the soft earth.
Taking advantage of her stunned opponent, Captain Short threw herself to her feet and darted for the pile of fairy tech, rummaging for a specialized weapon that could end the battle without issue.
A wide smile stretched across her face as she drew from the pile her trusty Neutrino 2000, a Lower Elements Police standard issue firearm. Running on a nuclear battery, it had limited shots, but plenty of them. With four settings to choose from—ranging from stun to close-to-dead—the weapon was perfect for any field officer looking to incapacitate or otherwise harm a perp. Though not given express permission to use it, Captain Short believed her superior officer would make an exception just this once.
Seeing that Commander Root had recovered and moved from the line of fire, Holly took a deep breath. She checked to make sure the battery was installed, aimed directly at the still-downed human, and reached for the trigger.
Her aim was pulled away from its mark by a weird force wrapping itself around her body, and she fell to the ground with her arms bound to her side. As she fell, Juliet recovered and charged toward the superior officer once more. A pair of ropes went flying from the distance, wrapping the two combatants and pulling them to the ground just as one had her.
A short orange horse wearing a brown Stetson with a beautiful blond mane and tale walked into her line of sight. Raising a hoof to tip the hat, the horse sighed, “Y’all varmints really are a buncha trouble, ain’t ya? Don’t ya got any sense not to be fightin’ on somepony else’s property?” Sending a glare directly at the fallen captain, the horse shook its head and stomped off.
All Captain Short could do was sit in silent awe at what she’d just seen. Centaurs were fairly common in the Lower Elements, as were talking animal-like creatures. But, in all her days both on and off the force, she had never once met an actual talking animal! Her awe was short lived as she suddenly felt the urge to take a nap. Feeling suddenly at peace, Holly closed her eyes and drifted away from conscious thought.
As she faded from the waking world, she heard the orange horse shout at some unidentifiable target.
“Now what’d ya go an’ do that for, Nurse Redheart?!”