The Princess of the Night
Chapter 6 – The Plunge
Luna sat under the willow tree, staring into the dark waters of the lake. Her mood was pensive. She sat there, reflecting on the last few months. Gerard was progressing quickly with his training. He had managed to use all of the elemental powers, and now he had moved on to projection magic. It was the art of creating objects from images in the mind. But that was not what she was thinking about. Instead she thought about Gerard. She knew her feelings for him now, but she couldn't be sure if he felt the same way. He was awfully close to her, and physical contact was not an issue. But she was so inexperienced that she did not know if that was a sure indicator of his feelings.
She did not want to risk making the wrong move and jeopardizing their friendship in the process. It was just the biggest mess! She wished she had her big sister there to talk to, Celestia always knew the right course of action. The lunar princess watched as a light breeze stirred the water of the lake, causing small waves to form. She was so lost in thought that she jumped when she heard the voice behind her.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Gerard stood there in faded jeans and a t-shirt. The wind had ruffled his hair slightly, but he didn't seem to notice. She thought it suited him.
"It is nothing. I was merely thinking about the past few months, and how much everything has changed."
Gerard sat opposite her, his legs crossed like hers. He was close enough for their knees to touch. Luna was acutely aware of this contact and she blushed, looking away. Gerard seemed interested.
"Changed?" he asked, "How?"
Luna sighed and looked at him.
"Everything I suppose. Before I came here I was hated and feared, shunned by even my own sister." Luna took a deep breath and sighed loudly. She was teetering on the edge of something huge, and it scared her. If she jumped, everything would change, and not necessarily for the better. After a long moment she took the plunge.
"But then I met you. I told you my story, and you did not judge me, not even for a second. You seemed to care about me from the very start, and then when you tried to defend me from those mages even though you knew you were powerless." Gerard winced at the memory. "No one has ever done that for me before…" she finished in a whisper.
Her heart thudded in her chest. Tension filled the air like a thick fog. Gerard had leaned in while she was talking and now their faces were mere centimetres apart.
"Gerard," she whispered, and then he was kissing her. Her eyes fluttered closed instinctively. It was a gentle, pleasant thing. His soft lips moulded against hers, and they sat like that for a while, his hand cupping the side of her face. Gerard pulled away, looking into Luna's eyes. He wasn't sure if that was the right move to make, but the princess reassured him when she kissed him again.
And so that is how life passed for the two for many years. The College of Mages left them to their own devices, and Gerard continued to study magic, from necromancy to telekinesis. The two settled into a comfortable routine, and everything was fine, except for one thing. Gerard continued to age. Eventually, when he was an old man, he realised something had to be done.