Justin was surprised when Alex came home one day in a really bad mood. She was normally in a good mood and really happy.

"Alex," he asked, "are you okay?"

"You'll just laugh at me if I told you"

"No I won't," he promised, "I'm really worried about you"

"It's just that ever since I won the competition I'm afraid that you totally hate me"

"Hate you? Alex sit down for a minute"

Reluctantly she did.

"Okay," she said, "what's up"

"Look," he told her, "you and I have definitely had our arguments. It's true that I've gotten mad at you a few times but that's because I was jealous of you"

"Because I won right?"

He shook his head.

"No," he said, "it's because you're such a strong person with or without magic… I'm nobody without mine at least that's what I thought."

"Do you still think so," she asked

"No. Magic isn't who I am. I may not have my magic anymore but I have my little sister and my best friend"

Alex hugged her brother.

"And," he added, "do you want to know something?"

"Sure," she said, "tell me"

"I wouldn't trade your friendship and love for all the magic in the world"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do Alex," Justin said, "with all my heart"

"Well," Alex said, "I would give back all my magic if it was a choice between having my magic and having you in my life. Every time I look at you I see the brother who's protected me ever since I was a little girl. You were the one I could always depend on. You always protected me and you were always there for me no matter what.

"Even when I turned you into an 8 year old during the cruise you could have told mom and dad when we got home. You didn't. You could have gotten mad at me. You didn't. You've always been my hero… with or without magic true magic is in your heart"