Crescent Moon

by David Partelow

  Pellan did his best to keep his footing, yet the little fairy saw that he still had bits of ice upon him. He was now frozen to the water below him. Not wishing to give the kobold leader any further advantage, Pellan aimed his staff at Razdon. As he concentrated, the unfrozen waters of the pond rose in rippling waves as they rushed toward the leader of the kobolds.

  At this, Razdon laughed. “You have sealed your fate, Pellan. These waters are now mine,” bellowed the kobold before using his staff again.

  This time, as Razdon’s magic began to work, the waters near the shore rose high in a mighty swell of water, swallowing Pellan’s approaching waters before rushing back toward the little fairy. Pellan tried to move, but he was still frozen in place. His wings were not strong enough to free him from the ice. Kneeling, Pellan covered himself and closed his eyes as the giant wave began to crash down upon him.

  Splash!

  Pellan heard the waters crash in a fierce wave, yet all he could feel was the wind upon his skin. Taking a chance, the little fairy opened his eyes. It was then he found himself soaring in the skies and in the arms of a much larger looking fairy who looked at him with concerned eyes as she flew him away from Razdon and his spell.

  From the ground below, both heard an agitated voice over the kobold’s curses. “Ana!”

  Ana sighed as she circled back toward the pond. “I am never going to hear the end of this, but I couldn’t allow you to be hurt,” she said. “Are you okay?” Ana asked of Pellan.

  “I am fine, thank you,” said Pellan. “But I fear my fellow fairies are not.”

  Ana nodded. “We will do what we can. Take flight and help your friends,” she said.

  “But I have lost my staff,” said Pellan.

  “Helping goes well beyond magic,” said Ana. “Now go!”

  Pellan did as he was told, using his wings as Ana released him. He watched as the largest fairy he had ever seen swooped down to help more of his friends and family. She rushed in, grabbing a kobold from behind before dropping him in the pond. Razdon shouted angrily at her as Ana continued to help the fairies, saving them where she could while tormenting the kobolds at every turn.

  Upon the ground, Liz was angry at Ana for putting them in danger, yet she knew her sister was only doing the right thing. Taking her anger, she decided to focus it upon the kobolds as she aimed her bow. Firing it again and again, Liz knocked kobolds off their wolves and shot their weapons out of their hands, causing many to flee. Her aim was near perfect as she fired repeatedly.

  As the kobolds began to be pushed back, Liz rushed across the frozen waters that Razdon had created. She fired left and right, continuing her attacks as the Kobolds continued to flee from her assault. The lily fairies began to cheer for Liz and Ana as they tried to defend the little pond. The kobolds found themselves taken fully by surprise as Ana and Liz kept on fighting.

  Finally, Razdon’s patience vanished as he aimed his staff at Liz. “Fools! You have brought only doom to yourselves! Now taste my wrath,” screamed the kobold as he again focused his will and magic.

  As Liz aimed an arrow in Razdon’s direction, her eyes widened as magic poured forth from the kobold’s staff. The ice that she stood on began to shake and rise. Suddenly, ice shards tore from the ice, engulfing the young elf. Liz cried out in pain as she was forced to let go of her bow and shield her eyes.

  At this, the leader of the kobolds saw his chance. Using his staff again, he drew more water to himself, turning it to sharp ice daggers. With a smile on his face, he willed these daggers at Liz. They flew at their target with great speed, toward the dazed elf.

  “Liz!” Ana screamed. With her sister in peril, the young elf fairy raced to rescue her.

  Using her magical wings, Ana sped to Liz, arms outstretched. With great speed she streaked across the pond. Just before the ice daggers reached Liz, Ana met her first, pushing her sister down upon the frozen pond water and out of harm’s way. The momentum sent Liz sliding across the ice as Ana crashed down. Above them, the ice daggers tore by before hitting into the surrounding trees.

  Ana grunted as she hit soundly upon the ice. She rolled three times before coming to a stop and tears rushed to her eyes. The impact had hurt, yet she was happy that Liz was safe. Her left wing stung as she brought herself to her knees. Ana tried to stretch it out as Liz began to find her footing.

  “And now, you curse on wings,” said Razdon confidently, “I will freeze away all your good intentions!” He then aimed his staff again at the young elf fairy.

  “Ana!”

  Liz called out to her sister as she saw Razdon work his magic. Her bow was out of reach and there was no way to reach Ana in time. Liz watched helplessly as Ana turned to see Razdon point his staff at her. A great mound of water rose high before the kobold and froze into a mighty wall. This wall then began to fall in Ana’s direction, ready to wash over the elf fairy and crush her with its unforgiving chill.

  Ana looked about, scared. Her wing was still hurt, and she couldn’t fly away in time. Ana knew she had very few seconds left and could hear the cracking wall as it fell towards her. Looking upon the ice below, she saw Pellan’s little staff there resting just out of her reach. With only a breath left of time, Ana reached for the staff. Taking it into her hands, she raised it above her head and closed her eyes.

  The large wall of ice crashed down violently upon the pond. Liz cried out as the waters rose in a violent wake. Liz stood quickly, wanting to rush out to her sister. Yet she couldn’t move as she stared at the waters in amazement. From across the pond, the kobold known as Razdon was doing the same.

  “It cannot be,” said Razdon as he looked out upon the waters.

  There in the middle of the pond stood Ana and she was unharmed. Both Liz and Razdon had watched as the ice burst around her, missing the young elf fairy completely. Ana remained standing upon a floating piece of conjured ice, now looking at the little staff that looked like a wand in her hands.

  As Ana stared at the little stick, the tip of it began to glow. Again, the watching fairies cheered as the light grew brighter. Razdon hurled more ice in Ana’s direction, but this ice simply crashed against an invisible barrier in front of Ana. Liz could not believe her eyes.

  “Impossible,” blurted Razdon.

  “She’s magic,” said one of the little lily fairies.

  “Holy wow,” said Ana as she continued looking at the makeshift wand in her hands.

  “This changes nothing, creature!” Razdon pointed at Ana angrily but there was fear in his voice now. “This pond will belong to the Steelgrip Kobolds. This I swear!”

  Lowering the makeshift wand, Ana still held to it as she pointed to Razdon with a free hand. “Your words are hollow, kobold! These waters are not yours, nor will they ever be. We will not let you taint this pond, or strip these water creatures of their homes! Now leave before you regret your actions!”

  “Never!” Razdon shook his fist at Ana before he again readied his staff for magic. “You will fall before me!”

  “So be it,” said Ana as she focused her energy upon the shoreline and Razdon.

  Fluttering her wings, Ana aimed her makeshift wand with both hands. The tip glowed as the waters around the elf fairy rose with a magical life. Rising slowing from the ice she stood upon, Ana continued to concentrate as the pond obeyed Ana’s will. In moments, Razdon knew it too, that the waters he longed to claim had turned on him.

  Razdon tried once more. Aiming his staff, he hurled more daggers of ice at Ana. As his magic neared the elf fairy, the waters rose up, swallowing the daggers easily. The waters continued to swirl as Ana slowly hovered toward the shore line. As she approached, more kobolds turned and fled.

  Razdon was clearly shaken, but his anger kept him in place. “You do not scare me! You will fall before me, creature! And now you will see my anger,” said Razdon.

  “No,” said Ana as she shook her head. “Now we shall see your true colors as you run in fear.”

  Swirling like angered s
nakes, the waters lashed at the shore before crashing upon the leader of the kobolds. Soaked to the bone, Razdon coughed up water as he tried to regain his feet. It was then that he realized that his magical staff was broken. The kobold stared at his broken weapon in agony before gazing up the approaching elf fairy again. And then, as Ana predicted, Razdon’s true colors burst forth.

  The kobold leader turned and fled, and the remainder of his clan was not far behind him.

  At this, the little lily fairies burst into cheer. Liz found herself cheering as well. It was evident that she was proud and amazed by her adopted sister. Ana stuck her tongue out at the fleeing kobolds before she landed upon the shores at last. As Ana looked upon the little fairy staff in her hands, Liz and the lily fairies rushed to her.

  Liz hugged her little sister tightly. “Ana, that was amazing! You saved us all! How did you do it?”

  As Liz released her, Ana shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it was Pellan’s staff here. I could feel its magic and it guided me.”

  “Then that is extraordinary,” said Liz.

  “I am afraid that is untrue,” said Pellan as he landed near Ana and Liz. The rest of the little fairies formed up behind him. Pellan then bowed to the two sisters. “But first, on behalf of all of us, I wish to thank you both for saving our home.”

  Liz nodded to him. “I am glad we were able to help,” she said. “What do you mean about what Ana said being untrue?”

  Pellan chuckled. “My staff is magical yes, but it will not work for just anyone. It takes me considerable strain to use it, yet Ana here was able take hold of it and put it to great use. She truly is a magical creature and even I can sense that my staff has bound itself to her.”

  “What are you saying, Pellan?” Ana asked.

  Pellan bowed to Ana then. The other little fairies did the same. “I am saying thank you, Ana, and the staff is yours now,” he said before looking up with a smile. “Though I have to say for you a better term is wand.”

  Ana looked down at the enchanted object in her hand. She had to admit that it felt home in her grip, like it was a part of her. “Pellan, are you sure?”

  At this the leader of the lily fairies laughed and the others quickly joined him. “You speak as if I have a choice. That is a wand now and it is yours, Ana. Consider it a gift well earned.”

  The fairies then joined in a great cheer. It was a pleasant sound to both Ana and Liz. As they continued their cheer, Ana looked again at her new wand. She never thought she would wield magic as well as fly. The discovery had left her feeling overwhelmed. Next to her, Liz placed a hand around her, still clearly proud of her little sister.

  “So, what now, Pellan?” Liz asked.

  The lily fairy looked about. “Well, our home is safe. The kobolds are gone. You and Ana have ensured these things. I think there is only one course. Now, we celebrate,” said Pellan. At this the other little fairies cheered once more.

  It was then that Ana and Liz found themselves caught in a wonderful celebration. The little fairies swirled around them, singing and dancing in gorgeous display. Flowers and food were brought. The two sisters laughed and danced and ate. Time flew by in those moments and the excitement did not slow down until the Firestar began to set.

  Liz looked up at the descending Firestar. “Oh drat! We must go! There is something that we need to do immediately,” she said.

  “What is that?” Ana asked.

  “Get home before we lose our hides,” said Liz. “It’s getting late!”

  Ana’s wings and shoulders lowered. “Oh, fine,” she said sadly. “But I like it here!”

  Liz nodded to her sister. “I know. Which is why we need to head back now, so we can return soon,” she replied.

  “Good point,” said Ana before turning to the little fairies and their leader. “Pellan, I promise we will be back to keep watch over you. I don’t think those kobolds will be any more trouble to you, but there are other things out there.”

  The lily fairy leader smiled as he bowed his head. His wings hummed with contentment as he flew. “Thank you again, Ana and Liz! We all look forward to seeing you again soon,” he said.

  “And you will,” said Ana as she began to wave. “Goodbye everyone! Stay safe!”

  “Farewell, little fairies. Until we meet again,” said Liz as she too waved.

  “Goodbye, Ana! Goodbye, Liz!” The farewell was a joyous chorus of all the lily fairies present.

  Liz rushed through the forest quickly with Ana trailing easily behind her. Both of their hearts still raced at the events that had just unfolded. They had just saved a large group of little fairies from a swarm of kobolds. As they headed home, Ana looked down at her new wand, still surprised that it was now hers. So many thoughts raced through the minds of the young sisters as they rushed home.

  “That was amazing, Ana! I didn’t know you had it in you,” said Liz as she continued her pace.

  “That makes two of us,” said Ana as she kept up with her big sister.

  “I just can’t fathom it right now,” said Liz as they ran. “I mean, I knew you were special, Ana, but this goes beyond even what I imagined! I cannot wait to tell mother and father. They will be as proud as I am!”

  Liz could hear Ana behind her halt in her tracks as she spoke. “Stop!” she screamed.

  Liz slowed swiftly then. Turning, she walked back to where her little sister held her ground. “What is it, Ana?”

  Ana looked torn. She looked sadly between her sister and the wand in her hand. She tried many times to speak in those moments, only to stop and think some more. Liz waited patiently, sure that Ana would find the right words if she just let the elf fairy try.

  Finally, Ana looked Liz in the eyes and spoke. “Liz, I don’t want to tell your parents,” she said.

  Liz was confused. “Why not, Ana? They deserve to know such wonderful news!”

  Ana shook her head softly. “Because they won’t understand,” she said.

  Liz was ready to argue with her little sister, but the look in Ana’s eyes gave her pause. “You really think so?”

  Ana nodded. “I know so, Liz. It is hard enough getting out of Lunamorn as it is. If they were to find out about this adventure and about this magic, we would never be allowed to return! And I like it here! I like the little fairies and I want to come back and make sure they are safe. Can’t this be our secret, Liz? Can’t this be our place that no one else has to know about?”

  Liz thought hard as the two sisters looked on one another. Finally, she nodded and smiled. “Of course, Ana. I understand. It will be our secret and our place. I won’t tell a soul,” she said.

  Ana threw her arms around Liz’s neck. “Thank you, sis! This means so much to me!”

  “I am glad,” said Liz as she hugged her back tightly. “Now let us do one more thing together right now,” she added.

  “What’s that?” Ana asked as she let go of Liz.

  Liz looked up at the setting Firestar again. “Not get in trouble! Let’s move!” Liz added emphasis to her words by turning and heading quickly again to Lunamorn.

  “Hey, wait up!” Ana smiled as she let her wings give her speed. In a few seconds, she was caught up with her older sister and the two made their way safely home.

  decisions

  Elor and Marin

  “Concentrate, Elor,” said Marin patiently as she watched on. “Magic that is channeled through you must first be born within you.”

  Standing upon a raised rock, the little imp once called Puercelor held his hands above his head while lost in willful concentration. Sweat covered his face as he practically shook in exertion. The little imp had been training diligently to conjure magic with his adopted mother. And while the stone troll had been understanding, progress had been painfully slow, enough so to frustrate the little imp to no end.

  Straining, Elor spoke to Marin with clenched teeth. “I…still...feel nothing,” he stammered, never relinquishing his focus.

  The stone troll smiled at him. “T
hese things take time, young one. You must be patient in your course. True magic, when done correctly, is pure, powerful and without limits,” she offered.

  Elor did as he was asked, concentrating harder than before. In all his young life, he had never pushed himself to such limits as he did in that moment. Frustration continued to mount, for while he did as he was instructed he still felt no stirrings of magic forming from within. In the moments before he was saved from Marin, the young imp had felt completely helpless, unable to save anyone, including himself. He never wished to feel such a way again.

  It was then that a new sensation stirred slowly within him. At first, Elor almost thrust his eyes open in surprise, but fought such an urge. The little imp instead held to his concentration, allowing this new sensation to be nurtured within him. It was difficult to fathom, yet it was inklings of heat and life seeking to gain purchase in his very being. The sensation was frightening at first, but Elor slowly grew to welcome it.

  “I feel something, Marin!” Elor exclaimed through his closed eyes. “Something is building within me. I can sense it!”

  The stone troll smiled softly as she nodded her approval. “Hold to it, Elor. Hold strongly, for this is just the beginning. You are creating the pathways for magic, preparing your body to be a conduit for something bigger. Hold to your course,” she urged.

  In this mind, Elor pressed forward, holding to this new sensation. He had never felt such a thing, yet he found it easy to welcome such a sensation. Still feeling the growing magic coursing within, Elor channeled the focus to his hands. Soon, heat began to rise within them as Elor could imagine a ball of fire manifesting between his palms.

  In magic, you can be strong, but through the darkness even stronger.

  The alluring thought rushed through his soul, somehow emboldening Elor. The coursing power quickly strengthened further. Somehow, the magic came more easily as the fire between his hands grew stronger. The strain upon him lessoned almost completely then and Elor truly felt powerful.