Moon and the Protectors

Prologue

---10 Years Ago---

                The King and Queen of the Light Side of the planet Avinar looked down from their balcony to where their children played. The older girl, Halley- whose name came from the comet which gave her exceptionally strong powers over all the elements- played with the younger Moon, teasing her with little balls of floating water over her head. Both of them frowned as one of the orbs burst at Moon's touch, dousing her in water and causing her to squeal in surprise. The Queen sighed.

                "That's another possible power down for Moon, it seems. I'm starting to worry, Sun, nothing is working. She has the typical Wisp for her age, but no sign of an actual ability. She doesn't even have the normal healing rate for one of our class- remember when she cut herself? What if she doesn't have powers? What if she doesn't age slower like we do?!"

                The man sighed. "Calm down Galaxy, we already know she is aging like she should. As for her powers... well, you know the stories about those born under a blue moon. We just have to keep trying. Her healing should kick in with the rest of her abilities."

                "At least Halley's training is coming on well, she'll be a good queen one day. Her powers are incredible, I don't think there has ever been anyone of her equal. And so protective with Moon..."

                The two glanced back to the daughters below, to only see Halley standing in the middle of the otherwise empty space, her eyes scrunched tight. King Sun frowned and leapt down from the balcony, expertly stopping himself from hitting the ground with a quick burst of his fire ability. He reached the dark haired girl as she finished counting, her Wisp bent slightly in the breeze.

                "Halley, where's your sister?" The girl flinched slightly at his tone.

                "We're just playing hide-and-seek dad."

                The man groaned. "You know what happened last time you guys played that, she wandered out of the Palace walls! It's too dangerous for you guys to be running around, especially as magic users and certainly as royalty! We have to go find her at once."

                "I want to come!" Halley said quickly. "I never get to leave the Palace, and Moon's been out twice now!"

                "No Halley, I can't have you wandering around, too. Stay here and take care of your mother, alright?"

                Halley sniffed. "Fine," and used her air ability to give her a boost as she jumped up to the balcony where her mother peered down worriedly.

                After a quick scan of the area to ensure that Moon really had run off, the blasted four-year-old, he gathered some guards and sent out a search party for her. They didn't have to look long to find her, seriously injured with a Darksider crouched over her wielding a knife. He was quickly dealt with by the Guard and the lilac-haired girl was carefully transported back to the Palace.

                When Halley caught sight of her sister in the Infirmary, weak and unhealing, she almost lost it. Queen Galaxy comforted her, trying to reassure the girl that it wasn't her fault. But Halley knew she was to blame. She knew her sister was vulnerable and without powers like she was, their parents reminded the kids every day. She should have taken better care of Moon. Disappearing into her room for days, Halley poured over her schoolbooks for a possible way to cure Moon, but there was nothing to be done if she couldn't heal herself.

                And this gave Halley another idea- a myth about how one of the first magic users of Avinar saved her non-magic lover- she had to transfer some of her power to her sister, then Moon could save herself. To the young girl, it seemed like a perfectly logical plan, one that only she could do without the caster losing their powers permanently. So that sleeptime, when everyone else in the Palace was asleep, Halley snuck carefully into the infirmary.

                Quietly, as to not wake her nearby mother, Halley arranged the candles for the spell. Propping the ancient book against her sisters leg, and she recited the spell.

What once was mine now shared with you

Unlock the gift hidden deep within

Knock down the barrier in your mind

Release the magic deep inside

                What seemed to Halley like half the Palace came running in as the spell completed, but by then it was too late to stop what was happening. Halley had sacrificed her ability to her sister, hoping to save her. The crowed watched with wide eyes as the wound finally began to heal, and Moon's violet eyes snapped open, her new powers causing them to glow as she lashed out at her perceived attacker with her suddenly-unlocked energy burst ability.

                "Moon. Moon! It's ok, you're safe!" Halley called brightly, escaping her father's grip and ducking under a ball of purple energy to give the younger girl a hug. Slowly Moons attack slowed, and her eyes faded back to normal. The guards snapped out of their shock at what had transpired enough to start herding all the observers out.

                The small family converged around the bed, Moon only wincing slightly at the jostling of her partly-healed wound. "What- what happened?" She asked hesitantly. "I can't remember anything, and I... feel funny." She touched her wrappings with a wince.

                The two adults glanced at Halley, wanting an explanation for themselves. She gulped at their fierce expressions, just then realizing how mad they might be that she, the heir to the throne, had so easily given up power. But the eight-year-old didn't think too far down that path of consequence as she hugged her sister again.

                "I helped you unlock your powers, Moon, and now you'll be okay!"

-------

                If only then Halley had known how she would later come to regret this decision,and resent the sister who's life meant that she couldn't reach her full potential.