Albuquerque

A Plan to Stop Morgana

Meanwhile, Gina brought the royals to her farm. Everyone could tell that Athena was unhappy.

"Athena, what happened back there?" Kathy asked.

When nobody was looking, Gina's parents Maria and Raul came out. They were surprised to see their visitors—but they were more surprised to see Athena.

"I couldn't stop Morgana after I saw the painting my family has been trapped inside all these years," Athena sighed, fighting back tears. "Seeing them trapped in that enchanted painting reminded me of the last time I saw Eric."

"Eric?" Walter asked.

"My big brother," Athena revealed. "He has recently turned 21, so he was ready to be crowned King of Albuquerque. I was trying on my dress for the coronation when I saw Morgana from miles away. I went to warn my family. Cedric knew a spell that could protect Eric and our parents and grandparents inside an enchanted painting, but he needed time to cast it, so I went to face Morgana alone."

"I'm sorry," Kathy sighed.

"When I saw Eric in that painting, he was really anxious," Athena frowned, shedding tears. "He begged me not to face Morgana alone because it was dangerous."

Everyone felt bad for Athena, but Maria and Raul courageously went up.

"We have the spell that can get them out," Maria revealed.

"We do?" Gina asked.

"We do," Raul nodded. "Your grandfather showed us where it was before he left, but neither of us learned magic, so we cannot cast the spell."

"You'll have to do it, Gina," Maria told her daughter.

This made Gina nervous. "Why would I be able to do it?" she asked nervously.

"Gina, you're down there in the basement, practicing magic day and night," Raul told her. "You think we don't know this?"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the gate. It was possible that it could be Morgana's guards, so the royals hid. When Raul opened the gate, it was really some folks.

"Raul, Maria, did you hear?" asked a man happily. "They're saying that Princess Athena has returned."

Raul and Maria let their friends in.

"We have to be careful," Maria said.

"Princess Athena, it's okay—we can trust them," Raul said, facing the tree, where Athena was hiding.

Athena came out from behind the tree, and the folks were surprised that the princess was alive.

"It's true—the princess lives," a woman gasped. She and her friends bowed before the princess.

"Oh, it's good to see you, too," Athena smiled. "You look awfully familiar." Then she realized who these folks really were. "Wait a minute. Isabel? James? Rolf? Naomi? Is that you?"

"You know these folks?" Gina asked.

"Yes, I babysat them over 50 years ago before Morgana took over," Athena revealed. "They've grown."

"You were gone a very long time, Your Highness," Rolf said.

"That's right—you may still be 17, but we grew up," Isabel agreed.

"And I'm still 17 because I was frozen in time," Athena realized.

"Yes, and now that you're here, we'd be happy to face Morgana," James smiled.

"Thank you, but I don't know," Athena said. "I'm the one who has to face her."

That's when Kathy remembered something that Marian said earlier. "You may be the one, but you're not the only one," she said. "Marian said that, and now I know what she meant."

"Okay, what did she mean?" Athena asked.

"We can all help," Kathy declared. "You don't have to face Morgana alone. You just have to tell us what to do to stop her."

Athena thought about this. "The whole time I was I the Amulet, I thought I was alone—but you're right, Kathy," she smiled. "It doesn't have to be that way."

"I'm glad you feel that way, Athena, but what good are we against Morgana and her guards?" Gina asked.

"Don't worry—I'll come up with a good plan, but I'll need everyone to help," Athena declared.

"We're in," Maria smiled.

"Not just you—everyone," Athena smiled.