Gone With The Wand
In his workshop, Cedric was practicing magic with flying cards.
"Oh, I think I've finally got it, Wormy!" He smiled. "Cardium constructo!"
A house of cards formed itself.
"Mr. Cedric!" Sofia and Madeline called.
"Ohh, Merlin's mushrooms!" Cedric groaned, as the cards collapsed.
"That's just what we came to see you about." Sofia declared, as they entered the workshop.
"I won a contest at school, and I've been invited to meet Merlin!" Madeline held up a scroll.
Cedric gasped, and read the scroll.
"'The great wizard, Merlin, invites you, Princess Madeline of Enchancia, to visit him in his legendary tower of dragonhold this afternoon'!" He read. "Do you realize what an honor this is?"
"There's more." Sofia grinned.
"You may bring up to three guests along with youuuuu..." Cedric gasped as he read the rest.
"Sofia was already my first choice..." Madeline declared.
"And we know Merlin is your hero, so we decided to invite you too." Sofia added.
"Thank you, Princesses!" Cedric cheered. "This is like a dream come true! I am finally going to meet my idol, the one and only Merlin!" she straightened his bow in front of his mirror. "This is going to be the best day of my life!"
"Here we are!" A voice called.
"Oh no." Cedric turned towards the door, where a woman and a girl were standing. "I forgot about-"
"Cordelia the Conjurer!" The woman smiled, holding a green wand.
"Uncle Ceddy!" The girl rushed over and hugged Cedric.
"Oh, you must be Princess Sofia and Princess Madeline." Cordelia turned to the girls.
"Hello." Sofia curtsied.
"Nice to meet you." Madeline followed.
"My brother has told me so much about you two." Cordelia declared.
"You're Mr. Cedar's sister?" Sofia gasped.
"Indeed." Cordelia nodded. "And this darling creature is my daughter, Callista."
"Hi, Callista." Madeline smiled. "I'm Madeline."
"And I'm Sofia." Sofia added. "We're friends of your uncle Cedric's."
"Any friend of uncle Ceddy's is the bestest best friend of mine!" Callista hugged them both.
"Wow, you look just like Mr. Cedric." Madeline declared.
"Don't I?" Callista grinned. "I asked mummy to make my hair just like his!" She jumped up and hugged Cedric again. "I missed you so much, uncle Ceddy!"
"Yes, well... me too." Cedric patted her on the head.
"Oh, thank you so much for volunteering to watch Callista today, Cedric." Cordelia smiled.
"Yes, about that, Cordelia..." Cedric started.
"I am only in Enchancia for a few days, and I am determined to make the most of it." Cordelia continued. "Shopping at spell's fifth avenue, Lunch at the all you can conjure buffet... oh, and I'm having an enchanted pedicure at two."
"Yes, but I'm afraid something's come up..." Cedric tried to tell her.
"What? No!" Cordelia looked at her planner.
"Then you understand?" Cedric asked.
"I've scheduled a fairy dust facial for two as well!" Cordelia revealed. "I'm double-booked!" She turned her wand into a quill. "I'll just have to move it to three." She started writing. "There. Now Cedric, you're such a dear for doing this!"
"But-" Cedric protested.
"Now, I'll be back at sundown to pick up my little angel-face." Cordelia declared, unaware of Callista taking her planner. "You mind your uncle Cedric, Callista. And behave!"
"Yes, mummy!" Callisto sighed.
"Toodles!" Cordelia left the workshop.
"Oh, I can never get a word in edgewise with her!" Cedric groaned. "And now, I can't go with you to meet Merlin!"
"The invitation says Madeline can take three guests." Sofia pointed out.
"That's right." Madeline nodded. "Why don't we just take Callista with us?"
"Oh. Well, I suppose we could..." Cedric admitted.
Suddenly, Cordelia popped back in.
"Oh Callista, sweetheart?" She called. "You've taken mommy's planner again, haven't you?"
"But mummy, the cover is just so reddishly red!" Callista declared. "It matches my red robes!"
"I know you love red, darling, but I've got a busy day ahead, and I'm going to be needing that." Cordelia told her.
"Yes, mummy." Callista gave the planner back.
"Oh, it's just a little phase Callista's going through." Cordelia declared. "She's been taking things. I'm sure she'll grow out of it before too long. Toodles again!"
Cordelia left once more.
"Oh, dragon drums!" Cedric spat.
"Ooh!" Callista used her own wand to pull the scroll out of Madeline's hand. "What's that, Madeline? Pretty red lettering!"
"Callista, give that back!" Cedric demanded.
"We're going to need that invitation to see Merlin." Sofia declared.
"Would you like to come with us?" Madeline asked.
"Is uncle Ceddy coming?" Callista asked.
"Yep." Sofia nodded.
"Then I'm coming too!" Callista danced around Cedric. "i want to go everywhere my favorite uncle goes!"
"She can't along!" Cedric protested, as she hugged him again. "What if she keeps doing... what's she's doing?"
"We'll keep an eye on Callista." Madeline declared.
"It'll be fine." Sofia agreed.
"Oh, I do hope you're right..." Cedric sighed.
Sometime later, they stood outside a grand tower.
"Dragonhold, the legendary tower of Merlin." Cedric declared.
Madeline reached for the doors, which opened opened by themselves.
"Oh." She smiled.
"Let's go in!" Callista rushed forward. "There's lots of stuff to play with in here!"
They all entered, finding the inside quite messy.
"Nobody's home..." Sofia frowned.
"I thought we were expected." Madeline mused.
Cedric stopped by a mirror, and checked his hair.
"Aren't you handsome?" A voice declared.
"Ahh!" Cedric yelped.
"It's a magic mirror!" Callista smiled.
"It's not a magic mirror!" A blue-robbed appeared inside. "It's just got a wizard in it!" He jumped out of the mirror.
"Merlin!" Cedric gasped.
"In person." Merlin bowed. "Please forgive my little trick. I was just practicing a new spell that can put a person inside a mirror. All you need is some water from a reflecting pool, and a shiny silver bowl."
"Yes, yes." Cedric conjured up a notepad and started writing. "Reflecting pool water, silver bowl... wonderful!"
"I'm Princess Madeline of Enchancia." Madeline declared. "And this is my sister, Princess Sofia."
"And this is our royal sorcerer Cedric, and his niece, Callista." Sofia added.
"I won the contest." Madeline smiled.
"Welcome, one and all." Merlin declared.
"Oh, this is such an honor, Mr Merlin, sir." Cedric gushed. "I am your figgest ban- I mean biggest fan!" He facepalmed. "Merlin's mushrooms!"
"Oh, would you like to try some?" Merlin offered. He waved his wand. "Fungus amongus!"
A plate full of mushrooms appeared.
"They are quite tasty, if I do say so myself." Merlin boasted.
At the same time, Callista spotted a red hat.
"Ooh." She walked over to it.
"It's not often that I have guests." Merlin admitted. "Excuse me a moment, while I tidy up the place a bit..." He waved his wand. "Spickandspanio!"
The mess cleaned itself up.
"So pretty!" Callista reached for the red hat, only for it to fly away. "Wait, come back here!" She chased after it and grabbed it. "Gotcha!"
"Callista!" Cedric growled.
"I love red hats!" Callista put the hat on.
"That one belongs to Merlin." Sofia declared.
"I know." Callista took it off.
"Put it back!" Cedric urged.
"If I must..." Callista sighed, putting the hat back with the others.
The cleaning was finally done.
"So, let's get this visit started, shall we?" Merlin smiled. "I'll give you the grand tour of my tower. There's so much to see. I'm not sure I've seen everything, and I live here!" He lead them up some stairs. "I have so much in store for all of you!"
Merlin: A day spent with me is a magical day
So please don't be shy, sky walk this way
Here is a spell that makes you climb like a lizard
Each trick is treat
When you visit this wizard
Here is the hall where I keep all my things
My wonderful wands, my radiant rings
Inside of that tank are some special mementos
I swam all the way to Atlantis to get those
I just pick up a wand
Give it a twirlin'
So you can see how to make magic
Like Merlin
Yes, you will see how to make magic
Like Merlin
Cedric glanced at a long red wand.
"Wait, is that the dragonclaw wand?" He gasped.
"Yes." Merlin nodded. "I used this particular wand to vanquish my greatest enemy: the evil enchantress Morgana!" He pointed to a portrait of a dark-haired woman.
"She looks pretty powerful." Madeline mused.
"And mean." Sofia added.
"Yes, but she was no match for the magnificent Merlin!" Cedric unfurled a picture of Merlin, with a defeated Morgana on her knees beside him
Cedric: Merlin's the mage with the magic mojo
Messing with him is a tragic no-no
Merlin: That may be so
But for now let us focus
On having some fun with our own hocus pocus
So just pick up a wand and get it a twirlin'
And I'll teach you how to make magic
Like Merlin
Cedric: Yes please
All: Please teach us how to make magic
Like Merlin
You just pick up a wand
Get it a twirlin'
It's fun learning how to make magic
Like Merlin
Like Merlin
Merlin: And now you know how to make magic
All: Like Merlin
"Bravo!" Cedric cheered.
"Amazing!" Sofia declared.
"Awesome!" Madeline added.
"Wow!" Callista cheered.
"Pish-posh!" Merlin grinned. "That was only the tip of the iceberg, ladies and sorcerers. There's much more to show you!"
Some time later, Madeline and the others departed.
"Thanks for a great day, Mr. Merlin." Madeline smiled.
"Safe travels, my friends." Merlin declared. "Do come again sometime!"
"Farewell, Merlin!" Cedric called.
"Toodle-oo!" Callista waved.
"Bye!" Sofia smiled.
"Well, that was really fun." Madeline noted as they walked home.
"Is that all you can say about meeting the most amazing wizard in the world?" Cedric asked.
"You're the most amazing wizard, uncle Ceddy!" Callista declared.
"Yes, well..." Cedric patted her on the head. "Meeting Merlin was a dream come true. He even gave me this autographed picture! Can you believe it?"
"I got something too!" Callista held up a large wand.
"The dragonclaw wand?!" Sofia, Madeline and Cedric all gasped.
"Yes, don't you love how red it is?" Callista asked.
"Callista, you can't just take the most powerful wand of the greatest wizard in the world!" Cedric groaned.
"You have to give it back!" Sofia urged.
"Right away!" Cedric added.
"But I like it!" Callista protested.
Morgana suddenly appeared in front of them.
"I like it too." She declared.
"It's Morgana, the evil enchantress!" Cedric gasped.
"Merlin's enemy!" Madeline declared.
"Archenemy." Morgana corrected. "It has a better ring to it, don't you think?"
Morgana used her magic to take the dragonclaw.
"Hey!" Callista yelled.
"At last, I have my hands on Merlin's dragonclaw wand!" Morgana cackled. "With this, I can finally defeat that do-gooding old wizard!"
"Give that back!" Callista demanded. "It's not yours!"
"That didn't seem to stop you from taking it." Morgana sneered.
Cedric held the girls back.
"I could never get into Merlin's tower, so I never had a chance to grab his dragonclaw wand." Morgana admitted. "But you brought it right to me. Let's try it out, shall we?"
As Morgana waved the wand, Cedric shielded the girls. However, nothing happened. Morgana kept waving it, with the same outcome.
"Oh, that crafty conjurer has locked it with a charm!" Morgana growled.
"So only he can use it." Sofia realized.
"You're no match for Merlin!" Cedric declared.
"Then I'll just take this wand back to my fortress, and find out how to unlock it!" Morgana sneered, as she made a mirror appear. "Then I will able to use Merlin's own dragonclaw wand to defeat him!"
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Cedric cast a spell, but Morgana used her mirror to deflect it back at him, and he was wrapped up in magical strings. "Mercury's meatballs!"
"Mirror, mirror, in my hand, who's the baddest in the land?" Morgana asked. "Me!"
Morgana laughed, then vanished.
"Don't worry, uncle Ceddy!" Callista brought out her own wand. "I'll get you out of this mess. Come loosium!"
The strings vanished.
"Oh Callista, what have you done?" Cedric asked as he stood back up.
"Freed my favorite uncle?" Callista suggested.
"You took Merlin's dragonclaw wand, and now Morgana is going to use it to defeat him." Madeline declared.
"I didn't know she was going to do that!" Callista shrugged.
"What are we going to do?" Cedric sighed. "Merlin invited us into his tower. He trusted us, and this how you repay him?"
"I... I'm sorry, uncle Ceddy." Callista started crying.
"Ohhh... there, there, little one." Cedric comforted her. "It's alright... I mean, no! It's not alright! You can't just take things like that!"
"Please don't be mad at me, uncle Ceddy!" Callista wept. "I'll go get that wand back for you, and everything will be okay. Alright?"
"We'll take care of this." Sofia told her.
"Yeah, together." Madeline nodded.
"Yes, but we've got to do it before that egocentric enchantress figures out how to unlock the wand." Cedric declared.
"Do you know the way to Morgana's fortress, Mr. Cedric?" Sofia asked.
"Yes. If memory serves, it's the last evil fortress on the left." Cedric recalled. "You can't miss it!"
They made their way to Morgana's fortress, which was guarded by two ugly creatures, one fat, one skinny.
"There it is." Cedric whispered. "Morgana's fortress."
"How can we get past those... what are they?" Madeline asked.
"Imps." Cedric revealed. "Morgana uses them as guards. Ohh, ugly little fiends. And they're always, always hungry."
"Maybe we can distract them with food, and sneak past them." Sofia suggested.
"Good thinking, Sof." Madeline nodded.
"Ooh, let me do it!" Callista offered. "Cookieosity!" A plate of cookies appeared. "Ooh, don't they smell yummy?" She asked, as she floated them over to the Imps.
"Do you smell something?" The fat Imp asked.
"Just your stinky breath!" The skinny Imp answered.
"No, my breath is more garlicky." The fat Imp frowned. "This smells more like..."
The Imps noticed the plate.
"Cookies!" They cheered, running after the plate as it floated away.
"Well done, Callista." Cedric smiled.
"Now's our chance!" Sofia declared.
While the Imps were busy eating the cookies, Cedric and the girls sneaked into the fortress. Inside, the walls were covered with mirrors.
"Wow." Madeline gasped. "Look at all the mirrors."
"Morgana must really like to look at herself!" Callista noted.
"Let's just find Merlin's wand and get of here!" Cedric urged.
They reached a statue of a centaur holding a red ruby in his hand.
"So red..." Callista smiled. "I want it!"
Using her wand, Callista floated up to the hand.
"Wait!" Sofia hissed.
"Callista, don't!" Madeline called.
"Oh no! Get away from that centaur!" Cedric called.
Callista took the ruby. The centaur statue then came to life, reaching for her.
"Callista!" Cedric cast a spell that tied up the statue.
"Who dares steal my ruby?!" The statue roared as Callista dropped down to the floor.
"Come on!" Sofia urged Callista along.
"That is mine!" The statue broke free.
"Run!" Cedric called.
"Come back here, thieving cowards!" The statue yelled as it chased after them.
"Through the doors! Hurry!" Madeline pointed.
Suddenly, Callista tripped.
"Help!" She called.
"I'm coming, Callista!" Cedric helped up, and they continued running.
"You cannot escape me, foolish mortals!" The statue grabbed them both.
"No!" Callista yelled.
Cedric zapped the statue's hand, making him let go of Callista.
"Just go!" He told his niece.
"This way!" Sofia called.
"Uncle Ceddy!" Callista cried.
"Keep running!" Cedric told them.
"But Mr. Cedric-!" Madeline gasped.
"Go!" Cedric repeated.
The girls ran out of the fortress, the statue running after them.
"Thieves!" The statue yelled as they hid.
"What's this?" The fat Imp asked, looking at Cedric. "A gurgler?"
"It's 'burglar'!" The skinny Imp corrected him.
"That's what I said!" The fat Imp retorted.
"Take him to Morgana!" The skinny Imp ordered.
"With pleasure." The statue dragged Cedric back inside.
"All we wanted was for Mr. Cedric to have a special day." Sofia groaned. "Why do you have to take things, Callista?"
"I don't know." Callista sighed. "It's just... there's so many things I want."
"We all want things, but that doesn't mean we can just take them." Madeline declared. "Especially when they belong to someone else."
"I know." Callista frowned. "But I didn't think something this bad would happen."
"That's the problem." Sofia told her. "You didn't think at all. You just took things."
"You're right." Callista pouted. "I would trade everything I ever took if it would get my uncle Ceddy back. Oh, what are we going to do?"
"The only thing we can do: Get help from Merlin." Madeline declared. "You have to tell him you took his wand."
"And you have to say you're sorry." Sofia added.
"Okay." Callista nodded.
They returned to Merlin's tower, where Callista explained everything.
"I'm sorry I took your wand." Callista apologized. "If you help us save my uncle Ceddy, I promise I'll never take anything ever again."
"I forgive you, child." Merlin smiled. "But without my dragonclaw wand, I'm no magical match for Morgana. I certainly can't break into her fortress without it." He put Callista on his lap. "However, there is more than one way to scale a dragon. What this calls for is a clever plan!"
"Awww!" Callista hugged him.
"Hmm..." Madeline looked at a mirror. "You know, Morgana has so many mirrors in her fortress, it's like she collects them." She tapped on the glass. "Maybe she'd like one more... with some surprise visitors inside it?"
"My dear, I think she just might." Merlin agreed.
"Good thinking, Maddie." Sofia smiled.
"Now where is that pool of reflecting pool water?" Merlin frowned.
Back at Morgana's fortress, Cedric was locked in a hanging cage, his wand dangling from a string, just out of reach. Morgana was reading from one of her spell books.
"'Place the wand you wish to unlock on the altar of unraveling'." Morgana followed the instructions. "There." The wand started to glow. "'Next, set the glass dome securely over the altar'... What? Wait, which way does it go?"
"Some evil sorceress you are." Cedric smirked. "Can't even follow simple directions."
"Silence!" Morgana zapped the cage.
"Ohhh!" Cedric yelped.
"I need to concentrate!" Morgana snarled.
Just then, the Imps opened the door loudly, carrying a large object wrapped in green paper.
"Excuse me, your evilness!" The skinny Imp declared.
"Didn't I say not to disturb me?!" Morgana yelled.
"Uh, you did..." The skinny Imp trembled. "But it's that I thought-"
"Oh, don't think!" Morgana sneered, as she set the glass dome. "It's not your strong suit. ...What have you got there?"
"What we've come to show you, evil one." The skinny Imp declared.
"Someone left this on the doorstep." The fat Imp brought in the object, then plucked off a note. "Note says: 'Please accept this special gift from one of your biggest admirals'."
"Admirers!" The skinny Imp corrected him.
"It's what I said!" The fat Imp declared.
"Okay, open it." Morgana urged.
The skinny Imp tore off the wrapping, revealing Merlin's mirror.
"Ah, a mirror." Morgana smiled, walking over to it. "Well, it does reflect my absolute favorite thing. But I've got oodles of mirrors. Why does this one belong in my fortress? What makes it so special?"
"Why, the beautiful face gazing into it, of course!" Madeline's voice came out of the mirror.
"Blimey!" The fat Imp gasped.
"It talks!" The skinny Imp declared.
"Madeline..." Cedric whispered.
"Do go on." Morgana smirked.
"You are fairer than the fairest of the fair!" Sofia's voice declared.
"Agreed." Morgana said smugly. "Anything else?"
"Your eyes are like... pretty flowers!" Madeline announced. "And your lips are like... like..."
"Uh... bugs?" Callista's voice declared.
"Ooh!" Morgana grimaced. "Take that thing away!"
The Imps carried the mirror out of the room. Inside, Sofia, Madeline, Callista and Merlin frowned.
"Bugs?!" Sofia glared at Callista.
"Sorry!" Callista shrugged. "It was the first thing that popped in my head!"
"Wait!" Madeline called. "I mean, waaaaiiit..."
The Imps carried the mirror back to Morgana.
"Of all the faces that have gazed into my glass, yours is by far the most amazingly beautiful!" Madeline declared.
"Ohhhh!" Morgana squealed.
"You are way prettier than the sleeping Princess." Callista announced. "Or the one with the glass slipper."
"Oh, well that's better." Morgana smiled. "I suppose you can stay." She sat back down by her book. "Put it over there, boys." She waved over to the side. "Then go do whatever it is you do when you're not bothering me."
The Imps moved the mirror into place, bowed, then departed.
"Now, where was I?" Morgana frowned. "Oh, yes. 'Fit glass dome securely over the altar'."
While Morgana read, the girls slipped out of the mirror, and hid behind a chair.
"You go free your uncle." Sofia told Callista.
"We'll get Merlin's wand." Madeline added.
"Right!" Callista nodded.
"'Once the dome is attached, twist it in a counterclockwise direction'..." Morgana read, as Sofia and Madeline sneaked over to the altar. She stood up, forcing them to go back into hiding. "'Next, drop three troll tears on the dome, along with a pinch of Pegasus powder'..." As she read, Callista made her way to Cedric's cage. "Wait a moment. Where do I sprinkle Unicorn hair?"
Callista waved to Cedric, who beckoned her over.
"'See instructions'... Oh!" Morgana scowled. "Whoever drew these pictures needs to be banished!"
Using her wand, Callista unlocked Cedric's cage. However, the cage door squeaked as it opened, alerting Morgana.
"You!" Morgana turned, distracted just long enough for Sofia and Madeline to remove the dome. "And you?!"
"Mr. Merlin, catch!" Sofia threw the dragonclaw wand.
Merlin jumped out of the mirror, and caught the wand.
"Hello, Morgana!" He declared.
"And you!" Morgana snarled.
Cedric reclaimed his own wand.
"What's the matter?" Merlin twirled his wand. "Don't you like what you see in the mirror?"
"Oh, I'll destroy you all for this!" Morgana grabbed her own wand.
Morgana and Merlin stood, wands held out, in a standoff. Then they fired beams of magic from their wands, which collided in midair, struggling against each other. The force of the magic struggled pushed them both back, though Merlin had Cedric and Callista to help him steady himself.
"How about a little taste of your own magical magician?" Cedric fired a stream of magic from his own wand, which strengthened Merlin's.
"Your two wands can't defeat me!" Morgana boasted.
"How about three?" Callista added her magic into the mix.
Together, they started to push Morgana back.
"Princesses, put that mirror behind her!" Merlin told Sofia and Madeline.
"You got it!" Madeline nodded, and she and Sofia pushed the mirror into place.
With one last push, Merlin, Cedric and Callista's wands overpowered Morgana's, blasting her inside Merlin's mirror.
"What is this?" Morgana slammed her hands against the glass. "What have you done? Where am I?"
"Someplace where you can reflect on your evil deeds for a while." Merlin smirked.
"Ohhh..." Morgana groaned, defeated.
"We did it!" Callista hugged Cedric. "We got you back!"
"Thank you, Callista." Cedric smiled. "Your uncle Ceddy is so proud of you."
A short while later, they were once again about to depart from Merlin's tower.
"Well, my friends, I suppose this is goodbye again." Merlin declared.
"Goodbye, Mr. Merlin." Madeline smiled.
"Sorry about all the trouble we caused." Sofia apologized.
"Oh, nonsense!" Merlin chuckled. "I haven't had this much fun in years! Farewell. I shall always remember the name Cedric the Sensational!"
Cedric fell back with joy, requiring the sisters to catch him.
"Where's Callista?" Madeline asked.
"I thought you knew." Sofia frowned.
"Coming!" Callista raced out, wearing Merlin's red hat.
"Callista!" Sofia, Madeline and Cedric gasped.
"How could you take that, after all we've been through?" Cedric groaned.
"Now, now." Merlin chuckled. "The girl didn't take it. I gave her the hat."
"Turns out all I had to do was ask!" Callista smiled. "Which is what I'm going to do from now on."
"That's really good to hear, Callista." Madeline beamed.
"The best news I've heard all day." Sofia added.
"Let's go home, uncle Ceddy." Callista declared
"Indeed, Callista. Let's." Cedric nodded, taking her hand. "Farewell!"
"Bye, Mr Merlin!" Sofia and Madeline waved.
"Goodbye!" Cedric added, as they all walked home.