Merina and the Magic

The first beams of sunshine danced upon the magic castle. Inside was the royal family: Princess Merina, King Charlie, and Queen Emerelda. The evil Magician, Monaro, was keeping them prisoner. He wanted to learn the magic secrets of the castle, but the King would not tell him. Merina was in her room at the top tower. She did not know that her family had been captured, for it had been done during the night, and they all had orders not to let her know about the capture. But her door had been locked. She made her bed of satin by herself, for the maid had not answered the bell. When Merina found that the door was locked, she almost immediately guessed what had happened. She was smart and knew that Monaro was trying to find out the secrets of the castle. There were secrets, but the magic seemed to work only for Merina. Doors opened for her by themselves, roses bloomed in winter when she walked by the rosebushes, and when she had her bath, the water was not too hot or cold. Sometimes Merina heard her parents talking. She heard the words Merina, magic, and Monaro. Merina now decided to run away and find help. She gathered together some jewels, her magic lamp, and some food that she got from her little icebox. With these provisions, she climbed down the ivy that was on the outside of the palace, and ran quietly away. Merina wondered why her room door hadn't opened for her, but then she realized that if it was locked, it couldn't open. She walked under a tree and stopped to have breakfast. As she reached into her bag for the food, the lamp fell out. Merina looked at it and decided to ask the genie where she could find helpful people. She rubbed the lamp and the genie came out. "What do you need?" the genie asked. "Well, I was wondering if you could help me," Merina replied. The genie nodded. "My family is in trouble and I wanted you to..." "I know all about it!" the genie said. "Why don't you conquer Monaro?" Merina was surprised. "Me?" she squeaked. "But I can't..." "Yes, you can!" the genie interrupted. "How do you think doors open for you and roses bloom for you?" Merina gasped. "You mean the palace magic?" she asked in surprise. "Not anymore," the genie said. "The magic has left the palace." Merina shook her head and then suddenly got it. "You mean, me?" she asked in amazement. The genie said," Yes. You have the magic. It obeys you. You just have to figure out how to use it. Now I have to go. I have a Genie Meeting." She drifted back inside the lamp. Merina smiled and started to get her food, then thought of the magic. She stared at the bag, thinking about food flying out and landing on her outstretched hand. After a few seconds, a piece of cheese flew out and dropped into her hand. The princess practiced by making sticks fly and leaves rustle. Now for the big test. She concentrated on a little boy and his balloon. The balloon had just floated off into the air. Suddenly, the little boy floated off after it and grabbed it. Then he flew back down. Merina went back to the castle and made the front door unlock and open. Monaro whirled around and growled," How did you get in?" Merina glanced at him and he went flying up to the ceiling. While he was up there, Merina untied her parents and floated Monaro to a window. She opened the window and Monaro floated out and into the sky. Merina pictured him landing in China and that was of Monaro. The King and Queen hugged their daughter and said," We're so proud that you figured out how to use the magic! Only one person in a family can use it. It wasn't us, so we figured that it had to be you!" Merina felt honored that the magic had chosen her. Her parents explained that the magic was used for a purpose for each person. Merina had saved her family. Doors still opened for her and roses bloomed and her baths were perfect, but Merina could never use her magic for anything else again.

Copyright 1999 by Chantessy. All rights reserved.