Midona sighed, and half-sat, half-fell on the low wall behind them. She took a swig of whisky.

"I don't know what to do, Anna. I'm fifteen. How am I supposed to rule, esspecially now? The other courts are always trying to test the ever-changing boundaries, to see how the one they call 'the halfling queen' will react. My father had ruled for a long time. He wasn't always a fair or just king, but he had their respect, which is more than I do. I'm a halfling. To belong to both worlds is to belong to neither. And then, well, my powers are fading, frankly. Elissa's final 'f*ck you' to my family."

The gancanagh lent back lightly, allowing some of the pent-up anger and confusion and fear that had been pressing down on her to come out in a sigh.

"People always say that I'm stronger than this. That I'm so much more than my young age would suggest. But is that a good thing? Me and Iblis and Ash...didn't we deserve a childhood? It sounds pathetic, but I never wanted this! Did any of them consider that? Why didn't we get a choice in the matter? They say I can do this.... but what if I can't? If I'm not demon enough to rule them, and not fae or mortal enough to leave them? What if I screw up, and start a war? I wish I could leave, gods only know I do...But I can't."

Midona didn't often let herself look vulnerable, she had to be a queen, a ruler, someone strong, dependable, intelligent.

And months of pretending will inevitably turn to truth in the end, and as such, a plan began to form in Midona's mind.

"Except maybe...I don't have to. Kyra gave up her throne, and okay, I don't want to be like her, but at the same time...the court would be better off under a full demon, right? I'll feel bad about putting another in my position, but if it's for the best..."

"Guv, if yez don't wanna be in charge, don't be. Yez'll only send yezself nutters." Anna was full of words of wisdom.

Midona laughed, "Yeah, yeah. Except maybe I already am? Who knows, right?" Midona teleported away, back to the door. She walked through it.

"Umm...Erik?"

"Yeah?"

"You'll make an excellent king."

And before Erik could react, she clasped his hand in her own, letting the little power he had left flow from her to him.

"My queen, you-"

"No. Not 'queen' anymore, Erik. Midona."

"Right, Midona, umm...why did you do that?"

Midona shrugged, "The court needs new energy. You seemed a good candidate for the job. You have always been the next king."

And with that, the halfling queen-no-more walked back through the door, into victorian london.

And then realized that her magic was no longer strong enough to teleport her back to Anna.

"Crap."

Anna swore when her friend disappeared. She had a feeling she'd gone back to her own time. A few minutes later, she felt her friend's presence back in London. She had a fuzzy image of her friend stanting on South Street, a few minutes away, but a twisting labyrinth of alleys, so she quickly ran down the streets.

"Midona!" she cried, spotting her friend by a wall. "There yez are. Where'd yez go?"

Midona grinned, "Back to Rhode island. To...end this little 'problem', so to speak. I feel bad for Erik, but..." Midona shrugged, "It's for the best. But then, I found myself here. And I seemed to be unable to teleport back, and, mayhaps, lost." she grinned impishly, "Where exactly are we?"