> The Princess of the Night: The Sorcerer
>  by theanarchisteire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> An Unexpected Twist
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

There was a blinding light, accompanied by a searing flash of agony, which disappeared as suddenly as it arrived. The former princess cried out in pain as she plummeted towards the lake that had just materialised below her. The night sky was clear, which was odd, thought Nightmare Moon. The last thing she saw before her sister cast that spell on her was a cloud-filled sky. Nightmare could feel herself picking up speed, racing towards the lake in a streak of light.

“I wonder if we look like a shooting star?” mused a small voice in Nightmare’s head.
“Oh, for pony's sake, do shut up, we do not have time for your nonsense,”retorted Nightmare Moon as she reached terminal velocity.
“Is this going to hurt?” inquired the voice again, seemingly indifferent to the entire affair.
“Most likely,” admitted Nightmare, striking the lake.
The pony’s body froze in shock from both the impact and the temperature of the water in which it was now immersed. The princess could feel that she’d broken some bones with the force of the impact. Just before she lost consciousness, the former co-ruler of Equestria willed herself to float to the surface.

***

Less than a mile away from the aforementioned lake, a young man was just leaving the stable after tending to his horses. It was the middle of the night and he wasn’t used to disturbances like this, but he enjoyed the horses’ company, and so went to check on them.
“I wonder what got them so worked up?” he muttered to himself. Just then, there was a noise akin to a cannon firing. The man’s keen ears told him the sound had originated from somewhere near the lake. Sensing danger, he swiftly crossed the yard and opened his back door, retrieving the shotgun he kept there for pest control. Admittedly, he had never used it on an animal, but he took it regardless. It made him feel brave. The young man set off at a jog towards the lake.

Ten minutes later he arrived, sweating and out of breath.
“God, I really need to get back in shape,” the man panted. He remembered being in secondary school and running the same distance in almost half the time, without feeling nearly as exhausted as he did now. Just then, the man snapped back to reality when he noticed ripples on the otherwise still lake. He gazed out across the lake and thought he spotted something, but he couldn’t be sure. He approached the edge of the lake and called out.
“Hey! Is anyone out there?”
There was no reply, but the mysterious shape was steadily drifting closer to shore, and so the man waited patiently.

After five minutes or so, the shadow began to take on substance, and the man was shocked by what he saw. It looked like a pony floating slowly towards him. Without a moment’s hesitation, the man threw down his shotgun, stripped down to his underwear and began to wade into the lake. Instantly he regretted his decision, for the water was icy cold, but he continued regardless. With the water up to his waist, the man unceremoniously plunged forward into the freezing water and began paddling towards the shape, which was now easily identifiable as an equine of some description, or so the man thought. He was too busy to notice the folded wings and horn that the creature possessed.

“How in the world you managed to get yourself out here is beyond me,” said the man, his teeth chattering from the cold. He wrapped one arm around the pony’s neck and gently pulled it back to shore. When they finally flopped onto the grass bank surrounding the lake the man felt so drained that he simply collapsed on the ground.
“How nice it would be to just lie here and sleep under the stars,” he thought. But he knew he would not be able to sleep without first ensuring that the pony was ok, so he pushed himself up off of the ground and slowly approached the still unconscious animal.

It was at that moment that the man noticed the strange appendages on the creature’s back and head. Certain he was hallucinating; the man knelt down and gently stroked the magnificent creature’s wings and horns.
“What in the world are you?” the man whispered, filled with awe.

***

Princess Luna had witnessed the entire affair from her mind; however, she was still too weak to regain consciousness. In her mind’s eye, she stomped her foot in frustration. She could only hope against hope that this strange creature would not abandon her, for she required answers. What was this place? How did she get here? What was this creature who was even now checking for the flutter of her heartbeat, a small breath in her lungs? She wandered through the corridors of her unconscious mind, searching for the being she shared the space with. Finally, in the darkest, most rotten corner of her mind, Luna found her darker self. Mustering all her remaining strength, Luna cast a binding spell on Nightmare Moon. It was not a powerful as she would have preferred, but it would simply have to do for the time being. She then began preparing herself for the traumatic transition back to consciousness.

***

The man breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed the rise and fall of the creature’s chest. He draped his clothes over the pony and snuggled up close to it in an attempt to warm her up and keep himself warm at the same time. It was at that moment the creature’s eyes flickered open and a slight moan escaped its lips. The man, who was dozing off, became instantly alert. He sat up and stared at the pony, patiently waiting for it to regain full consciousness.

“Wh-where are we?” mumbled Princess Luna.
The man’s jaw fell in amazement as he backpedalled away from the creature. It talks?
“No, please do not fear us,” said the princess, reaching a hoof towards him, “We mean you no harm.”
“No way… This is not happening,” muttered the man to himself.
“Actually, it is,” said Luna, confused. “Please, we need your help.”
“O-of course,” the man stuttered. Certain that this was all some sort of crazy dream, he saw no reason not to help the creature.
He approached the pony once again and began to examine her body. He decided from the sound of its voice that it was female, though felt no compulsion to confirm the guess.

“I’m not one hundred per cent sure, but I think your fore hooves may be broken,” said the man, looking the creature in the eyes for the first time.
“Do you have a name?” he inquired. If it could talk, he mused, then surely it had a name. It was a perfectly logical progression of facts.
Yes, because logic applies to situations involving horned and winged beings.
Shut up, the last thing I need in my dreams is you, snapped the man irritably.
“My name is Luna.”
“Well Luna, it’s a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it could have been under different circumstances. I’m afraid we have a slight problem.”
“What is it?”
“Well, my house is over a mile away and I have no way to get you there…”
“That should not be a problem, just picture your home in your mind.”
“I’m not sure how that will help,” said the man slowly.

“Trust us, just do it.”
“Alright.” The man pictured the yard of his house, with the stables off to one side and an old pickup truck parked out front. As he did this, he became aware of a strange presence in his mind, and not the familiar one that he suppressed with medication. He felt a surge of energy and suddenly they were sitting in the yard, Luna panting from the teleportation spell she had just cast.

“Ok, now I know I’m dreaming,” said the man, looking at his surroundings, slightly disoriented.
“What makes you say that?” inquired the princess.
“Well, first off; I’m woken up in the middle of the night by strange noises and my horses going crazy. Then I come to the lake and find a winged unicorn-“
“Alicorn,” interrupted the princess.
“-Alicorn, which then teleports me back to my house. I don’t know how things work where you’re from, but that just doesn’t happen in this world.”
“Well I am afraid to tell you that this really is happening, and the sooner you start believing us, the sooner we may part ways. This is rather embarrassing for one of our status, but may we rest in your home for the night?”
The man sighed. “It doesn't matter; It’s only a really messed up dream. Come on, you can sleep in my spare bed for the night.”
> A Shocking Revelation
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning the man was shocked to find Luna in his kitchen preparing a breakfast salad.
“Really? I’m still dreaming?” he asked, unable to actually process what was happening without his morning coffee. He turned on the kettle and began adding coffee granules and sugar to his favourite mug while waiting for the water to boil.
It was only then that he realised that Luna, a pony with no hands, was tossing a salad. He rushed over to her, examining the scene closely. He could not see how she was doing it. All of her hooves remained on the ground, and a soft blue glow enveloped her horn.
“Wha- How are you doing that?”
“Last night we teleported you,” said the Alicorn, levitating the food on to plates and levitating the plates over to the table. The man’s jaw dropped as he watched. He could not see how she did it. Her hooves stayed on the ground, and her horn was enveloped in a soft blue glow, as were the objects being levitated. “Is it really so difficult to believe that we know other kinds of magic? But where are our manners? We do not even know your name so that we can thank you.”

“Gerard,” said the man meekly, hearing the kettle switch off behind him. He turned and poured the water in to his mug, adding milk and stirring. He took a long sip and sighed before turning and approaching the table.
“Well Gerard, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” she said, extending a hoof. “And thank you for allowing me to stay the night,” she said as they shook. It was odd, shaking a pony’s hoof.
“It’s fine, last night I figured you were a hallucination. Right now, that still seems pretty likely. Wait, wasn’t your leg broken last night?” asked Gerard, confused.
“It was, but you would be amazed at what a good night’s sleep could do for you,” said the Alicorn slyly.
“Yeah, that and being an Ali-whatever,”
“Alicorn,” she supplied.
“Yeah, that,” responded Gerard, sipping his coffee.
The princess chuckled, “Well yes, we suppose that helps too.”
Luna’s laughter sent a shiver down Gerard’s spine. A thought occurred to him then.
“How are you speaking English? As far as I can tell you aren’t exactly from around here…”
“Well,” she began, “last night we simply used a translation spell, but while we were teleporting we accessed the language centre of your brain and, for want of a better word, absorbed everything you knew about the English language.”
“I see…” responded Gerard, extremely uneasy at the thought of someone poking around inside his brain. It was something he’d been dealing with for decades, but this only made him more uncomfortable.

“What’s with the ‘we’, by the way?” asked Gerard. “As far as I can see, there’s only one of you.”
“Oh,” said the Alicorn, “you misunderstand, we are using the royal ‘we’, not referring to multiple beings.” She cleared her throat softly and looked away for a moment. Gerard was still too sleepy to notice the hesitation though. “We are unsure… do royalty use the same patterns of speech in this world?”
“Umm, yes… But wait, you’re royalty? Like a queen or something?” Gerard thought of bowing, but it seemed silly.
“Well, actually we are a princess. It is a long story… In our world there are four different sentient equine species. There are the Earth ponies, who till the fields, the Pegasai, who control the skies, the Unicorns, self-important magic users, and finally, the Alicorns. The latter are considered the most powerful. There are bitter divisions between the three former species, with regular war between them. However, several centuries ago, my sister and I managed to unite the warring factions and an uneasy peace was formed. While my sister took responsibility for raising the sun, I was given dominion over the night, hence my Cutie Mark.”

“Your what mark?” Gerard asked, confused.
Luna rose from her chair and showed Gerard her flank. Sure enough, there shone a crescent moon on a black background.
“Our Cutie Mark. It is what tells a pony what they are destined to spend their lives doing. Surely you… humans, as you seem to call yourselves, have something similar?”
Gerard shook his head. “No, we have nothing like that. It’s trial and error really. I’d say most people spend their lives in jobs they hate.”
“That is simply dreadful!” exclaimed Luna, sitting back at her seat and continuing to eat her breakfast. Gerard poked half-heartedly at his, wishing he could have had some bacon instead, maybe a fried egg, some sausage… Gerard stopped that train of thought before it got out of control and returned to his salad. Luna noticed his lack of enthusiasm and became worried.
“Is the meal not to your liking? We are sorry, we are not accustomed to preparing our own food.” A thought occurred to her. “You are not a carnivore, are you?”

“No, I’m an omnivore, but I am partial to meat. Really, this salad is delicious. It’s just this is a lot to digest,” said Gerard, chuckling at his pun. Luna tried stifling a small giggle, but failed. “Anyway, enough of my terrible jokes, please continue with your story.”
“Well, to answer your question on magic, it is a common thing in my world. The Earth pony and Pegasai’s magic increases speed and strength, while the Unicorns and Alicorns can make use of telekinesis, teleportation and energy blasts. All species can use symbol magic, providing they have the skill and attention to detail required. It appears magic is not as common in this reality, but I believe it is still present in some form or another. I can sense magical auras similar to my own.”
Gerard was only able to sit there; slack jawed. He had work to do, but as he looked out the window, he noticed the rain pouring down, drenching everything in sight. There was a distant peal of thunder.

“So you’re not even from this dimension?” asked Gerard.
“No, although I do not understand how I ended up in this reality to begin with…”
“It is a lot to get your head around…” Gerard agreed. “How do you plan to get home?” He was unsure when he had started believing the pony sitting opposite him at his kitchen table. She just seemed so sincere. That and she was a clearly sentient equine with the appendages of the two most famous mystical equine creatures in history. His hallucinations were never this complex.
Luna smiled sadly. “I am afraid I cannot, at least not any time soon.” The smile turned shy, yet playful. “Why do you ask? Do you wish to be rid of me?”

Gerard almost spat out his coffee. His eyes widened as he said “No! Of course not!”
“I was merely jesting Gerard, I know you would not be so inhospitable. You have a kind heart.” She finished quietly, looking away as she did.
“Good. I wouldn’t want you to think me rude.”
Just then there was a sharp knock at the window. Gerard looked around and saw a local farmer peering inside, wide-eyed. Luna also noticed this and promptly vanished. Gerard moved to the back door and opened it.

“Hey! Can I help you?” he asked politely, leaning out and looking at the man.
“Umm, yeah… I was wonderin’ if I could borrow some feed for me horses?” the farmer asked, still looking quite shocked.
Gerard answered automatically. “Yeah, sure. You know where it is.”
The farmer nodded and then stopped. “Gerry, just now?”
“Yeah?” he answered, wincing at the nickname.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but did I just see a pony in your kitchen? With wings, and a horn?”
Gerard laughed nervously, sweating slightly. “I think you need to lay off the whiskey, Jim!”
The farmer eyed him suspiciously for a moment before relenting. “Aye, you’re probably right. Well, be seein’ ya!”
“You too Jim, have a good day!” he said as he retreated inside.

A few minutes later, when he was sure the farmer had left, he called out.
“Luna, it’s safe to come back now!”
The Alicorn reappeared in the chair. “Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes, he’s gone now,” replied Gerard. “Although that was way too close. Having an Alicorn around is a little conspicuous.” He thought for a moment before continuing. “I’m not sure how this magic thing works, but surely you could change your appearance, maybe something a little more human? At least get rid of the wings and horns.”
Luna nodded. “Perhaps it would be for the best.”

With that her horn began to glow. It became brighter and brighter, shrouding Luna’s form. Gerard had to raise a hand to cover his eyes. When the glow subsided and he lowered his arm, a woman stood before him. She was beautiful. There was no two ways about it. Her long, black hair flowed down her back like a river. Her eyes twinkled like stars, her irises a deep purple. But there was one problem. She was very undeniably naked. Gerard covered his eyes and spun so he was facing away from her.
“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t see anything, I swear!”
Gerard was glowing the shade of red normally associated with beetroots. Luna, realising her mistake turned a similar shade of red while frantically trying to cover her nude form.

“No, it is us who should be apologising. It is custom for ponies to wear clothing only during special events. We can see that this is not the protocol for humans.”
There was another flash before Luna spoke again.
“Gerard, you may turn around now, we are clothed.”
Gerard turned slowly, willing his cheeks to return to their normal colour. The dress she wore was dark, like the night sky, and was covered in sparkling gems. Her skin was pale and almost seemed to radiate a soft glow. Luna coughed self-consciously. Gerard realised he was staring and looked away.
“Sorry,” he muttered, still amazed by her beauty.
“It is ok,” she blushed.
> An Arrangement
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few days passed and the two developed a sort of routine. As they were washing the dishes after a meal, Gerard stopped and looked at Luna. He wanted to ask her something, but he was afraid of getting his hopes up, just in case. Finally, he decided to go ahead and ask.
“Luna?”
“Yes?”
“Would it be possible, in theory, for a creature other than an Alicorn to learn Alicorn magic?”
“Why?” she asked suspiciously.
“I just think it’d be pretty cool to be able to teleport and levitate stuff,” said Gerard, a twinkle of childishness in his eyes.

“Well, normally a Unicorn would have to train for many years to be able to control magic that powerful,” started Luna carefully. “But, ever since I first met you, I have felt a strange aura emanating from you, something similar to the magical aura beings in my world extrude. I would say it is possible, if you were willing to invest a lot of time and effort.”
Gerard noticed that she had begun to refer to herself in the singular form, surely a sign that she was becoming more comfortable around him.
“Well, I have nothing better to do, and if there’s a chance it might work, I’d like to give it a try, if you were willing to teach me?”
“I do not see why not,” said the princess, shrugging. “Very well, I shall teach you the ways of magic, in return for you teaching me everything there is to know about your world.”
“That seems fair,” said Gerard. “So, where do we begin?”

“Firstly, you will need something to channel your magical energy through,” began Luna. “In my world, Unicorn’s horns are suited for this, because they are essentially an extension of our brains. Starswirl the Bearded figured this out through careful study and the dissection of many Unicorns who donated their bodies to magic-science.”
“Hmm, sounds a lot like Leonardo Da Vinci…” mused Gerard.
“Who is that?” questioned Luna.
“Never mind, that’s a different lesson entirely,” he responded. “So, what you’re saying is that I need to find something to channel my energy through?”
“Exactly,” confirmed Luna. “Is there any such object that magic users in this world use to channel energy?”
Gerard pondered it for a moment. “Well according to popular culture it can vary from their own hands to wands and staffs, but I’d have to do more research to figure out what works best…”

“Surely there would be books detailing such things?” suggested Luna.
Gerard thought about it. “Well, I think the book shop I normally get my research material from has an occult section…”
“Well what are you waiting for?” asked Luna, “Go! Get the books!”
Gerard smirked. “Someone’s eager for me to learn magic, aren’t they?”
Luna blushed slightly. “Perhaps that is so, but it is merely because I would hate to see so much potential go to waste…”
“Of course,” said Gerard “I’ll be back soon. There are books in the living room if you get bored. Mostly mine I’m afraid, but I’m sure that’ll change soon.”
He grabbed his keys off the table and left the house. Luna sensed him walk to the truck and get in. A moment later, she could hear the rumble of the engine as he started the truck and pulled out of the driveway, heading to town.

Luna made her way into the living room and over to the bookcase. She did not know Gerard was an author. There was a whole shelf dedicated to his books, and another containing literary magazines, which she assumed contained reviews of them. They all appeared to be historical fiction, with many of the titles referring to battles and wars she had never heard of. Her gaze was then drawn to the mantelpiece above the fireplace, where many awards sat. Among them sat a few pictures. These piqued Luna’s interest. She slowly walked over to them. They depicted a young boy, Gerard! He looked so carefree, she mused. He had longer hair, and wore dark clothes with many chains and pieces of metal attached. His t-shirt had the words ‘Abject Agony’ written on it, with what looked like a bleeding heart in the background.
“These humans have such odd clothes…” she muttered absentmindedly.

One of the pictures stood out from the rest though. It showed Gerard as a teenager, but that was not what interested Luna. No, what caught her eye was the man standing next to him. He had short, grey hair and was dressed in jeans and a shirt. He looked a bit thin and worn, but his eyes twinkled with life, and a mischievous joy. It took the princess a moment to realise where she had seen those eyes before. Then it struck her. They were Gerard’s eyes! So this man was a relation. His father perhaps, or an uncle maybe. She resolved to ask him when he came back. In the meantime, the woman returned to the bookshelf and chose a book at random. A soft blue glow wrapped around it and tugged it free of the shelf. She moved to the centre of the room, the book following her. There she sat upon the rug in front of the empty fireplace, curled up and did something that she had enjoyed since she was a filly. She read.

***

“Hey, Gerard!” boomed the shopkeeper, smiling. “It’s been a while since I saw you here!”
Gerard returned the smile. “Yeah, since my last signing if I’m not mistaken.” He said, embracing the man warmly.
The bookshop was moderately sized, and divided into neat sections, one half fiction, one non-fiction. Little children ran around the fiction section, looking for their favourite series, while bored parents browsed the non-fiction. Of course, there was the odd parent who had no qualms with being just as excited, if not more so, by the books in the fiction section than their children.

“So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, my friend?” the man asked, leading Gerard over to the counter.
“Straight to the point, as usual Liam, “ commented Gerard, scanning the bestseller section. Several of his own books resided there, a fact that still shocked him. Liam chuckled at that.
“I never was one for small talk… So, what do you need? Research material? You know whatever you need I can order in, it’s no problem.”
Gerard thought about this for a moment, before asking “Do you have anything on magic?”
Liam looked slightly taken aback. “What, like witches and wizards? I never thought you’d be into that kind of stuff. All your books are about soldiers fighting in wars, not magic.”
“I’m considering a career change,” muttered Gerard. Then, louder, “So, do you have anything on it?”
Liam made a few quick keystrokes on the computer that sat on the counter. After a few moments of waiting, the computer pinged.

“Looks like you’re in luck, we have some stuff in the back left over from that big Wiccan convention a few months back.”
“Wiccan?” enquired Gerard, confusion writ on his features.
“Yeah, apparently they’re like Neo-Pagans or something. Remember, the Church kicked up a real storm about them being here?”
“Oh yeah!” said Gerard, remembering. A minister had been arrested after attempting to firebomb the convention centre, claiming that the Devil was possessing the people inside.
“So, you want me to bring a few of them up so you can have a look?” asked Liam.
“Yeah, that’d be great, thanks,” replied Gerard.

Liam disappeared into the back room while Gerard waited patiently at the counter. While he waited a young boy, no more than fifteen, approached him.
“No way! You aren’t, you know…”
Gerard turned to see the boy holding up one of his books. He smiled.
“The one and only!” he replied.
The boy’s eyes looked as if they were going to pop out of his head.
“D-do you think you could sign this for me?” he asked, stuttering. “I-I mean, if it’s not too much trouble…”
“Not at all, anything for a fan,” said Gerard, turning and locating a pen on the counter. He opened the book to the dedication page and signed it. He couldn’t help automatically reading the dedication he had written. 
This book is dedicated to my late uncle, Robert. Thanks for all the love and support you have given me over the years, and for getting me through some tough times. Rest in peace.
Gerard handed the book back to the boy, who thanked him again before running off, presumably to brag to his friends.

He turned to find Liam standing there, a stack of books on the counter.
“Do you ever get used to it, people looking for your autograph?” he asked as he totaled up the cost of the books, using his employee’s discount. Gerard laughed heartily.
“No, never. I still think of myself as an amateur author, sitting in my bedroom, filling refill pads with my crazy ideas. I try not to think about the fame, just in case it goes to my head.”
It was Liam’s turn to laugh at this. “Are you kidding? You’re the most down to Earth guy I know!” he said, taking the money Gerard had handed him.
“A down to Earth guy, buying books on ancient magical rituals, “ he joked, picking up the stack of books. “Keep the change, I know you used your employee’s discount again.” He added.
Liam just chuckled as Gerard navigated his way out of the shop.
“I can’t wait to see what that guy comes out with this time… Hopefully he’ll send me an advance copy!” he muttered excitedly before returning to his work.

***

Gerard closed the door as quietly as he could with his foot, trying not to drop his stack of books. The kitchen was empty, so he moved through to the living room, where he found Luna sitting on the rug, gazing intently at one of his books. She turned a page with magic, completely oblivious to his presence. Gerard sensed his opportunity and carefully placed his books on the armchair, before slowly creeping up behind Luna. He placed his mouth next to her ear and whispered,
“Looks like someone’s enjoying my book.”

Luna jumped up and squealed in fright, turning to find Gerard lying on the floor, howling with laughter. She stomped a foot.
“That was not funny!” she protested. “We did not even hear you arrive home!” She had reverted to using the royal ‘we’ in her shock without realising.
“The… look… on… your face!” Gerard managed between bursts of laughter. “I… can’t breathe!”
Luna’s face slackened and she began to laugh too. “I suppose it was amusing… Although not as amusing as this!”
Gerard was enveloped in a blue glow. His laughter stopped immediately. “Wh-what are you doing?!” he asked, beginning to panic.
“Getting even,” she said with a wicked smile.

They vanished in a flash of light, and when Gerard opened his eyes he saw Luna floating above him. He looked down to see the lake, and his eyes widened.
“You wouldn’t!” he gasped.
“Would I not?” she asked, the evil smile spreading. The glow around Gerard faded and he hung in the air for an impossibly long moment before plunging into the cold water of the lake. He surfaced to find Luna standing under the willow tree where they first spoke, waiting for him. He felt a burst of determination inside himself. He needed to get over there fast, and get even. Even as he thought this he felt the energy growing inside himself, getting larger, more powerful, until-

He stood beside Luna. He was still dripping lake water. The princess’s jaw dropped.
“Did… did you do that?” asked Gerard, confused.
Luna shook her head.
“Then that means… I just teleported! By myself! Awesome!”
A huge smile spread across his face, and he hugged Luna with joy. She was so overcome with amazement that she didn’t realise what was happening until it was too late. A flash of light later and the pair were hovering above the middle of the lake. Gerard pulled back his head and smiled.
“Gotcha.” He said as they both plunged into the lake.

***

The unusual pair sat by the fire, drying themselves off as a beautiful crescent moon shone outside, an exact copy of Luna’s Cutie Mark.
“Well, it seems I don’t need a wand to channel my energy,” commented Gerard.
“Indeed…” commented the princess absentmindedly, combing through one of the tomes Gerard had brought home. “It says here that only lesser mages need to use wands or staffs, and that more advanced magi only use them out of habit.”
“Makes sense, I suppose… This book says it isn’t the wand itself that channels the magic, but the gems and crystals embedded in the tips,” said Gerard, looking up from another book. “I didn’t realise crystals could hold energy.”
“Oh yes,” Luna responded, “it is their atomic structure that allows them to contain vast amounts of energy. Some of the most powerful magical objects on my world use crystals to power them.”
“You seem to know quite a bit of science-magic,” remarked Gerard, returning to his book.
Luna blushed. “Well I must admit, reading was a hobby of mine. My sister and I had amassed a huge library in our castle, and I would spend hours wandering through it, reading all of the books that caught my eye.”

“Oh, a scholar,” teased Gerard.
The princess chuckled at this. “Hardly. Although it makes sense for a princess to be well read, considering she has to settle all sorts of disputes among her subjects.”
Gerard acknowledged this with a nod.  For a few moments there was silence as the pair continued to read, apart from the gentle crackling of the fire in front of them. Luna looked up at Gerard and asked what had been on her mind all day.
“Gerard?”
Something in her tone made Gerard stop reading and look up.
“Yes?” he asked, “Is something wrong?”
Luna floated down a photograph from the mantelpiece. “No, everything is fine, thank you for asking. I was merely wondering who this man was.”
Gerard took the photo in his hands and the glow around it subsided. He smiled gently and sighed.
“This is my uncle, Robert. He took care of me for a long time. This is his house, actually. He left it to me when he passed away.”
“Oh…” said Luna, seeing tears begin to form in the man’s eyes. “I am so sorry, I did not know…” she crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
“What happened?” she whispered.
Gerard sniffled before wiping his eyes. “Heart attack. They say he went peacefully, in his sleep. He was a good man, he taught me a lot.”

Luna was silent for a moment. “I am sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful man.”
“He was.”
They sat like that for a long time, the woman cradling the man as he relived his past, until eventually his breathing deepened and became regular, and she knew he was asleep. She lay him down on the rug and levitated a cushion over from the armchair, putting it under his head. She brought one over for herself and lay next to Gerard, wrapping her arms around him, surrounding him in a cocoon of warmth.
> Elemental
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“It seems you just needed something to unleash your magical potential once you were aware of its existence,” said Luna. “But make no mistake, I will still have to treat you like a novice. The brain is like a muscle, and if you overtax it, it can snap- something you do not want happening.”
Gerard nodded obediently. They had spent several weeks tracking down all the books of magical lore that they could, with help from Liam of course (who by now was ready to explode with anticipation for Gerard’s next book). They ignored the traditional rituals that they found, they weren’t looking for good luck, or to summon demons. One book dealt with  a discipline called Elemental magic. This was more Gerard’s speed. Luna had agreed that it would make more sense to learn the disciplines unique to his reality first, as his body and energy would be more suited to them.

It was for this reason that the pair stood in the middle of a lonely field, surrounded on three sides by trees, and on the other by the large house they shared.
“Ok, now remember what the book said,” continued Luna in an authoritative tone. She stood behind Gerard, not wanting to be in the line of fire.
”Just focus on the atoms above your palm. Will them to vibrate faster and faster, then pour your energy into them, this should cause them to ignite.”
Gerard focused as he was told, but nothing seemed to happen. He stood still for several minutes, hands outstretched, palms facing upwards. Then, just as he was about to give up, his hands began to heat up. It was an almost imperceptible thing, but Gerard noticed it.
“I think something’s-“
“Be quiet!” ordered Luna, “Concentrate, keep it under control.”

Luna could sense the magic in the area building. She could feel the heat radiating from Gerard’s hands now, several paces away. Without warning, two small balls of flame flared into life in his hands. Gerard’s eyes widened in awe.
“I’m doing it!” he laughed, “I’m actually doing it!”
Luna smiled. “Ok, now be careful, we do not want you to go burning the forest down.”
Gerard grunted in response. “I think I can make them bigger.”
“It would be unwise to-“
Luna was cut short when the balls of flame in Gerard’s hands began to expand from the size of golf balls to tennis balls.

Gerard was no longer laughing however. The muscles in his arms and neck were straining, and a thick sheen of sweat covered his face. The flames were about the size of basketballs now, and still expanding.
“Gerard, stop this immediately!” shouted the princess. She could feel the strain his mind was under, and the amount of energy he was using to expand and sustain the flames.
“I don’t think… I can!” he whispered fearfully. The flames had stopped growing now, but they were huge, and Gerard felt extremely weak. He felt his legs give way underneath him and he fell to the ground, the flames vanishing.
“Gerard!” shouted Luna, rushing to his side. She checked for a pulse. Weak, but definitely there. She breathed a sigh of relief before picking him up and teleporting him home.

***

Gerard woke to the smell of lavender. He slowly opened his eyes to find himself in his own dimly lit bedroom. The room was filled with a heavily scented smoke, which came from several sticks of incense burning throughout the room. He became aware of something around his head, and reached up to find it was a circlet of some kind. He reached up to remove it when a voice cut through the silence.
“Do not take it off. The sapphire in that circlet quite possibly saved your mind from snapping. I do not think it is safe to take it off just yet. Nor would I remove the necklace you are wearing, the ruby is strengthening the beat of your heart.”
Gerard sat up slowly. He noticed the curtains were drawn, and a large array of symbols and gemstones surrounded his bed. Luna sat in the corner, watching him intently. There were bags under her eyes and her hair was a dishevelled mess.

Gerard tried to open his mouth to speak, but his dry, cracked lips wouldn’t open. Luna levitated him a jug of water and a glass. Gerard drunk greedily from the jug, ignoring the glass completely. He drained the jug and Luna set it back down.
“How long have you been awake?” was the first question Gerard asked. Luna sighed before answering.
“Since you almost killed yourself three days ago,” was the reply. “How could you be so irresponsible? I have been tending to you for three days, using not only my own magic, but also all of the healing rituals described in those books.”
Gerard shrunk back slightly under the verbal assault.  Luna took no notice as she continued, stalking over to Gerard in her rage.
“You could have died! Or worse, your mind could have snapped and you would live out the rest of your days experiencing violent hallucinations!” Gerard almost spoke up at this, but decided against it. Now was not the time.
“I warned you not to push yourself too far, and you completely disregarded my advice!”

She was looming over Gerard now. “Do you have any idea what you have made me suffer through these past few days?” the princess’s body sagged and her head bowed.
“I was so worried…” she whispered.
“Worried?” questioned Gerard.
“I thought I was going to lose my only friend…” she replied.
Gerard slowly rose out of bed and approached the princess. He pulled her into a gentle hug.
“It’s ok, I’m here now, and I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere,” he mumbled, unsure of what else to say. They stood like that for a few moments, until Gerard moved away and began coughing. Luna chuckled slightly and threw open the curtains, and then the windows. Fresh air flooded the room and Gerard’s lungs cleared. The pair stood there for a few moments until Gerard’s growling stomach broke the awkward silence. Luna laughed at this.
“It seems someone is hungry,” she commented.

***

“Are you sure about this?” asked Luna in a worried tone.
“Yes,” answered Gerard. “I know what I’m doing this time.”
Almost as soon as he said this twin balls of flame flared to life in his hands. This time, instead of expanding uncontrollably, they stayed a manageable size. Gerard held them up, watching them flicker in the breeze. Then he thrust them upwards, watching the fireballs arc up into the sky before eventually fizzling out. Gerard looked proud of what he had achieved, but he felt drained. He looked to Luna.
“You wanna bring us home? I’m feeling spent after that.”
Luna laughed softly as she took hold of Gerard’s hand, teleporting them home.
> The College
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Life was quite peaceful on Gerard’s estate, so both he and Luna knew something was wrong when they heard the sound of a car pulling up outside. They wove their way through the stacks of books in the living room, making for the front door as they heard a knock. It was loud and ominous, and Luna was filled with a sense of foreboding.
“Gerard, there is something wrong with this. I can sense whoever is there has a powerful magical aura. It would be wise to exercise caution.”
Gerard nodded at this as he moved towards the door, the knocking becoming louder, more insistent. He opened the door to see two very official looking men in suits. They had small silver pentagrams pinned to their jackets.

“Can I help you?” asked Gerard warily, instinctively shielding Luna with his body. The man on the left smiled. His long, dirty blonde hair was slicked back. He was tanned and spoke with a pleasant American accent.
“Yes, you can. You see, we are from the College of Mages, and my colleague and I were hoping we could come in and have a chat with you?” he had a certain cadence to his voice, the rhythm of his words setting Gerard at ease. Luna grasped his hand and squeezed tightly, and Gerard snapped out of it.

“No, I think here is as far as you’ll go,” he said, his voice hardening. “Now, would you like to tell me what you’re doing here?”
The man chuckled lightly, glancing at his partner.
“Straight to the point, I see. That’s quite simple really, we want her,” he said, nodding to Luna. Gerard took a threatening step forward.
“You won’t touch her,” he growled.
The pair of mages burst into gales of hysterical laughter. Eventually, the American managed to say:
“And just how do you plan on stopping us?”
Gerard concentrated, and summoned two balls of fire. The sorcerers stopped laughing immediately.
“Just try it, kid,” threatened the second man in a south London accent. Gerard complied, launching one of the fireballs. The two men parted, and the flames passed them harmlessly, fizzling out in the dirt.

“My turn,” grinned the American. Gerard felt himself being grabbed by an invisible force just before he was thrown to the side, skidding along the ground. His head connected with the side of the truck with a thunk, and he slumped to the ground. The second fireball fizzled out of existence. Luna stared daggers at the College mages.
“You will regret doing that,” she promised, clenching her fists. The pair raised their eyebrows, looking at each other.
“Feisty one she is,” laughed the Englishman. They started forward at the same time, grabbing one of Luna’s arms each. The moment they did they disappeared. A second later Luna reappeared next to Gerard. He was moaning and holding the side of his head.
“Are you all right?” inquired the princess, looking concerned.
“Yeah,” mumbled Gerard, rising to his feet. “Hey, where did-“
The two sorcerers fell screaming from the sky, hitting the ground with a crunch. Neither got up.

Luna’s eyes glowed and a blue aura enveloped the mages. A moment later they disappeared again.
Gerard raised an eyebrow. “Are they dead?” he asked
“No, they are merely unconscious,“ answered Luna, “I have sent them beyond the borders of your land.”
Gerard looked relieved. “Good. I’m glad you didn’t kill them.”
He stumbled, his hand going to his head. Luna rushed to his side, supporting him.
“I think you should get some rest. You may have a concussion. Go inside, I will erect magical barriers around your land to ensure these College mages cannot return.”
Gerard nodded, turning towards the house. After a few steps Luna spoke. “Oh, and Gerard?”
Gerard stopped and turned. “Yeah?”
“Thank you for trying to defend me. Most people would not have done the same.”
Gerard looked embarrassed. “I was just protecting a friend. It was nothing, really.”

Luna blushed. “I see… I have not had many friends, so I would not know. I am grateful nonetheless.”
Gerard nodded and entered the house, making for his bedroom. He had said that she was his friend, but in truth she was so much more. Every time he saw her he was taken aback by her beauty. And the aura of sheer power she exuded… it was almost intoxicating. As he way down in bed he thought all these things and more. A voice in his head whispered teasingly:
“Someone’s in love.”

***

Luna sighed as she walked around the edge of Gerard’s estate. She stopped every few metres, mentally casting protection spells. As she walked she thought about Gerard. The first person she had met in this strange world, and the kindest she had known in both realities. She remembered the first night, how he had checked so frantically for vital signs, and used his own clothes to try and keep her warm. And now, he had gone up against two experienced mages when they threatened her. She was not used to this level of kindness. In the past people had only been nice to her because she was a princess. Genuine kindness was a new concept, one which she was thoroughly enjoying. She had felt so angry when the mage hurt Gerard. How dare he hurt the only person she cared about in this world! 

Luna exhaled loudly, calming herself. She finished her protection spells and teleported home. She went to Gerard’s room to check on him and saw that he was sleeping peacefully. She softly padded over to him and leaned down, gently kissing his forehead.
> Necessary Precautions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The College of Mages,” Gerard read aloud, “a safe haven for sorcerers of all kinds and a receptacle of arcane knowledge. Presided over by the Council of Seven, otherwise known as the Supreme Council. Well,” said Gerard as he closed the book, “they sound like a positively cuddly bunch!”
It had been several days since the College had paid Gerard and Luna a visit. Luna had immediately postponed Gerard’s Elemental training in order to teach him the basics of Symbology. His precise attention to detail made him a natural in the discipline, and he had insisted on helping Luna set up a myriad of protection runes around his land, in case the College tried to send any more representatives.
“I am sorry?” asked Luna, confusion writ on her features, “Cuddly? They sound like the exact opposite of cuddly!”

Gerard looked at her blankly. “It was sarcasm…”
Luna tilted her head slightly to the side as she said “Sar… casm? What is this sarcasm you speak of?”
Gerard’s jaw dropped. “You don’t have sarcasm in your world? Oh you poor, poor people. Our next lesson will have to be ‘An Introduction to Sarcasm’.”
“Of course it will be,” said Luna in an extremely sarcastic tone.
It was Gerard’s turn to look confused. Luna merely laughed, that laugh that sent pleasant shivers up Gerard’s spine.
“Of course we have sarcasm in our world Gerard, do not be silly!”

Just then the sound of an alarm bell halted their conversation in its tracks. It was the signal that magical beings were approaching the perimeter of Gerard’s land. The pair looked at each other.
“You stay here, I will see what is happening.”
“No! It’s you they want, I’m not letting you go out there alone!”
“You know you stand no chance against them!” said Luna, her voice rising now. “Last time you got away with a concussion, but this time I do not think they will have any qualms  about hurting you more seriously, or even killing you if it came to that.”
“And if I let you go out there alone they could capture you and take you back to the College to do whatever it is they want to do to you!” Gerard’s eyes narrowed. “I’m going with you, and that’s final.”
Luna sighed, realising the futility of arguing further. She went to Gerard’s writing desk and picked up a black permanent marker.

“Gerard, give me your arm,” she said, holding out her hand.
Gerard complied. Luna grabbed his arm and yanked up his sleeve as there was a large bang in the distance.
“They are trying to take down the shield,” muttered Luna as she began to draw a symbol on Gerard’s forearm.
“And what are you doing exactly?” asked Gerard, trying not to squirm.
“I am attempting to make up for your lack of training in Elemental magic by drawing the symbols for the elements on to your skin. In theory, if you tap them, you should be able to use them like normal Elemental powers,” she muttered, finishing the second symbol and starting on his other arm.

“In theory?”
“Yes.”
“So it’s never been done before?”
“No.”
“How do you know if it’s going to work then?”
“Trust me Gerard, it will work.”
“What if, for the sake of argument, it doesn’t work? What’s the worst case scenario?”
Luna hesitated, avoiding Gerard’s eyes.
“What will happen Luna?” he asked softly.
“It will most likely kill you,” she whispered softly, looking anywhere but into Gerard’s eyes.

“But you’re sure it’ll work?”
“Ninety per cent sure.”
Gerard looked in to Luna’s eyes and nodded. “Ok, I trust you.”
Luna finished drawing the last symbol and put the marker away.
“Are you ready for this?” she asked, holding Gerard’s hand.
Gerard was very keenly aware of how their fingers were intertwined as he gulped and said:
“Yes.”

In a flash Luna and Gerard stood on the edge of Gerard’s estate, where the road passed through an ornate set of gates, topped with two eagle statues. Just outside these gates stood eight men and women, all dressed in sharp suits. All wearing silver pentagrams. One woman’s hands glowed with a green energy, but when she noticed the two standing there, the glow faded, and her hands dropped to her sides. One of the sorcerers stepped forward. His slicked back dirty blonde hair  was very familiar.
“Why hello again!” he said, smiling at Gerard and Luna. “How are the two lovers on this fine morning?”

Luna and Gerard stiffened simultaneously.
“We are not lovers,” muttered Luna, blushing.
“Hit a nerve, have I?” smirked the American. “No matter. As you can see, we have you vastly outnumbered. Our request is the same. All you have to do is hand over that beautiful woman there so we can run some tests. And you, Gerard, is it?”
Gerard bristled. “How do you know my name?”
“Our scryers found it. It seems you forgot to include mental barriers along with this shield. Anyway, as I was saying, you can do whatever you want. Why, you could even come to the College and continue your magical training there.”
“And let you experiment on Luna? I think not,” said Gerard, taking a threatening step forward. He was now at the very edge of the shield.

The assembled mages laughed.
“And what,” the American asked, his eyes glinting dangerously, “are you going to do to stop us? Use some of that pitiful magic of yours? Distract us by dying loudly?” he took a step closer. “You. Are. Nothing.”
Gerard bristled, advancing further. He was now on the other side of the shield. He was aware of Luna standing behind him, of the assembled mages readying their magic. He ignored all of this though as he tapped his forearm and flung it wide. A shard of ice about a foot long erupted from his palm, striking the cocky American mage in the shoulder. The force of the blow flung him back, blood spurting from his brand new wound.

Suddenly everything was happening too fast. The other sorcerers moved, preparing to unleash their magic. The woman’s hand glowed and a beam of light shot towards Gerard, who tapped the earth symbol and raised his arms, causing a wall of rock and dirt to shoot up in front of him. He was acting completely on instinct, his only motivation to protect Luna and not die in the process.

Luna flew past, having sprouted wings from her back and sporting a long horn on her forehead. She fired an energy blast of her own, hitting the female sorcerer in the leg. She screamed in agony as everything below her knee melted away, leaving only a stump. The wound was immediately cauterised, but Gerard did not think the woman would be thankful for small mercies. He lowered his shield and threw a ball of fire at the mage aiming at Luna. The man wheeled and screamed in agony, and Gerard sent a gust of air towards him, snuffing out the flames. The act of mercy had the unfortunate side effect of blowing the man in to a hedge, where he became entangled.

While Gerard chuckled at his predicament, the man did not seem as amused. Gerard’s laughter was cut short as someone barrelled into him from the side, knocking him to the ground. He looked up as the American’s fist connected with his jaw, slamming his head into the dirt. Gerard looked up, dazed, as the mage drew back for another punch. He tried to retaliate with a punch of his own, which the man brushed away with ease. He slammed his fist down and Gerard heard an unhealthy crack, warm liquid suddenly covering his face. He tried to focus, but his head continued to spin and blood continued to pump from his nose. He reached up and found the man’s wounded shoulder. In a moment of clarity, he pushed his fingers in to the wound, causing the American to scream and fall backwards, off of Gerard.

There were cries of “fall back!” and flashes as one by one, the group’s teleporter disappeared and reappeared, taking another mage with her each time. Last was the American, who looked at Gerard.
“This isn’t over.”
Then, in a flash of light, Luna and Gerard were left alone. Gerard attempted to stand as Luna’s horn and wings disappeared.
“Well, at least we know the symbols work,” said Gerard, attempting to stem the flow of blood with his sleeve. Luna limped over to Gerard, pulling his arm away and inspecting his nose.
“You’re hurt,” stated Gerard.
“It is nothing. You, on the other hand, are bleeding everywhere.”
Gerard shrugged her off.
“I’m fine, it’s only a broken nose. Let’s get home and see what’s wrong with you.”

***

Gerard ordered Luna to sit as he held a clump of tissues to his bleeding nose. It hurt like hell, but it was not his most pressing concern. He knelt down and lifted Luna’s dress, examining her lower leg. What struck him first was how smooth and powerful they looked. Following quickly behind that was horror. There was a deep gash several inches long on her calf. Gerard swore as he gently touched the edge of the wound. Luna gasped in pain and he quickly withdrew his fingers.
“Gerard, you must disinfect the cut before I can heal it,” insisted Luna.
“Ok,” said Gerard, discarding the clump of bloodied tissues and grabbing the disinfectant.

“You’d think healing magic would have something to disinfect things…” Gerard muttered as he gingerly began to apply disinfectant, wincing every time Luna gasped in pain. He tried not to stare at Luna’s legs, a difficult task, considering he was cleaning one of them. He was suddenly thankful for the length of Luna’s dress, and the fact that the cut was on her lower leg.
“Yeah, you’re ‘thankful’,” whispered a voice in his head sarcastically. “You can’t lie to me, you know you’re wishing the cut was a bit higher.”
“No,” Gerard replied internally, “I wish it wasn’t there at all!”

Luna jerked her leg back sharply as Gerard pressed too hard against the gash.
“Sorry, sorry!” exclaimed Gerard, silently chastising himself for not paying closer attention to what he was doing.
“It is ok,” Luna assured him. She focused, and the wound started to close slowly, the skin zipping up, not even leaving the faintest hint of a scar. Luna’s brow furrowed, sweat forming on her skin. Gerard stared in awe as the gash finished closing over, leaving her leg smooth and unblemished once more. Gerard ran his fingers gently over the now healed skin, causing Luna to shiver slightly.
“Gerard, could you please carry me to my room? I am feeling quite weak after that.”
Gerard pulled Luna’s dress back over her legs, resisting the sudden urge to look. He stood, broken nose forgotten, and picked her up, slowly making his way towards her room. When he arrived he lay Luna gently on her bed, pulling the covers gently over her. He then tapped the fire symbol, lighting the lavender incense placed around the room. He returned to Luna’s bedside, finding her already asleep. He gently leaned down and kissed her forehead.

***

He returned to the living room and sat on his favourite armchair, alone with his thoughts. It was not something he enjoyed.
“You like her!” teased the man sitting in the chair opposite Gerard.
“You’re not supposed to be here,” muttered Gerard, avoiding eye contact. The man looked almost exactly like Gerard, only… darker, somehow, with fiery red eyes.
“Oh, you poor thing,” mocked the man, “are your pills not working again? How terrible for you, and how fun for me.”
“Shut up,” muttered Gerard through clenched teeth. “Marek, just go away!”
“Why? Are you afraid I’m going to mess things up between you and Luna? Please, as if that would ever happen,” scoffed the man, Marek.

“Stop…” moaned Gerard, cradling his head in his hands.
Marek leaned forwards in his chair, a look of sadistic glee on his face. “You think that just because you can cast a few spells that she’ll fall for you? You’re pathetic!”
“Please… just go away…” Gerard was trembling now, tears beginning to fall from his eyes.
“The American was right. You. Are. Nothing,” hissed Marek, standing over Gerard now.
“STOP! JUST STOP!” screamed Gerard, pitching off his chair and curling up on the floor, sobbing openly now.
There he lay, murmuring softly as Marek’s hateful laughter filled his head.