WRG: Here's chap. 8. My friend has helped me to write this one and the spells that Ara and Sam use.

Em: Are you still ignoring me?

WRG: I think that it is wonderful of her to help me out. I don't own DP. This chapter will start out with a small recap. By the way, congratulations to Help-Help and angel-phantom-babii for correctly guessing what Almira means. Before I begin, I must tell you that 'Blah' is a telepathic message from Sam and 'Blah' is from any other psychic person. Now on to the story!

Em: (uninterested) Guess that answers my question. (grins evilly) I'll make her pay.

"But there is a way to stop her." At first, the voice was not recognized by anyone, not even Sam. Sam searched through her memories and finally found a match. When it was found, she ran up to hug the owner of it.

"Oh, I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Mira. You have grown so much since you walked though that portal," a middle-aged woman replied.

Before she could be introduced, Valerie asked, "You're Sam's old nurse, aren't you?" The woman merely nodded.

Sam quickly introduced her to everyone, "Linda, these are my adoptive parents, Pam and Jeremy Manson, and my best friends, Danny, Tucker, and Valerie. Everyone, this is my nurse, Linda." After some quick pleasantries, they were all seated once more. Sam turned to her old nurse and asked a question that she was afraid to ask. "Linda, how many people have died so far?" This was said in a fearfully quiet tone.

"Not many of the villages were hit. She only destroyed the ones close to the castle; most of the people that lived there took refuge in other ones." Linda looked at Sam's eyes. They were filled with relief for those who escaped, worry for those who didn't, and a question that was to painful for the girl to ask. Linda answered that question with news that would at least inform her. "Your parents are currently in hiding. Your father was injured but not severely, just a few burns on his arms. Your mother was not harmed." Relief washed over Sam like a waterfall. Linda continued, "They left a message for Ara saying that they would never surrender. When she read that, Ara sent a message that could be heard from anywhere in the kingdom." Linda paused, not wanting to repeat the evil message but knowing she had to do so. She took a deep breath and continued, "The message was 'If you won't surrender peacefully then I guess I'll have to find your precious daughter. I believe that you'll do whatever I want with her DEAD!' She scoured the entire kingdom to try to find you. When she didn't find you, she searched for me. I had come to here to Earth to find and protect you. What I didn't know was that she had followed me. I believe that I was almost to this house when she attacked you. I apologize for leading her to you." The Earthlings in the room were quite confused and amazed. Linda bowed her head and faced Sam. Sam was glad that her parents were safe, angry at her cousin, and annoyed at Linda for acting the way she was.

"Linda, quit acting like that. You know I never liked being treated like I'm better than everyone else even as a baby. And don't apologize for something that isn't your fault."

Linda lifted her head and replied, "I'm afraid that I forgot that during the time that we've been separated, Mira." She was about to say something else when Danny spoke.

"Hold on. What does Ara want Sam's parents to surrender? "

Linda smiled a small smile and replied, "That is something that Mira should tell you herself." All eyes turned to the gothic girl.

Sam spoke her answer in a small, soft voice, "Ara is second-in-line for the throne of Taurus. My parents and I are the only things that in her way of ruling the kingdom." She hoped that that was all she needed to say for them to get it. She saw realization dawn on Valerie's face first shortly followed by the Mansons', Tucker's, and Danny's faces. Valerie was the first to speak.

"So you're a princess?" To this, Sam merely nodded. "What about Ara's parents? Wouldn't they become the king and queen if you and yours all died?" Linda answered this question.

"Her parents were murdered by Ara herself right before she attacked the castle." Everyone's eyes widened except for Sam's.

"How could anyone possibly murder their own parents?!" Valerie exclaimed. Sam looked at her.

"Val, I know it seems impossible to you, but it doesn't to Ara. She has her mind set on becoming ruler of Taurus and won't let anything short of death stop her." Sam paused for a moment and said, "She is completely evil and doesn't have a conscience." This did make a lot of sense to the other three teens. After all, Danny and Tucker had met a ghost that was, and still is, like that. Valerie had been told about the other time-line at Tucker's persistence.

"So, what are we going to do, Sam?" Tucker asked. Sam stared at him. He's seen what she can do, so why is he asking? As soon as that thought entered her head, she knew the answer. He wants to help. I'll bet that Danny and Val also want to help. I also have a feeling that they won't give up, especially Danny. I know that he hates when he can't help. He will probably follow me unless I teleport myself to wherever my battle to the end with Ara is.Sam was about to say something when she received a telepathic message from Linda.

'You will need your friends in order to defeat Ara, Mira.'

'But I don't want them to get hurt.'

'It is natural for you to feel like that, Mira, but they will be very helpful, especially that Danny. And not only because of his powers, either.'

'You read his mind?' Sam wasn't angry, just curious.

'Yes, I read all of your friends' minds.'

'Oh. How else would Danny be helpful?'

'I will get to that, but first, I have a question. What is the opposite of evil?'

'That's simple. Good is the opposite of evil.'

'That is only partially true.'

'What do you mean, Linda?'

'Perhaps I should reword the question. What is the opposite of pure evil?'

'Something that is purely good, right?'

'Correct. What is something that is purely good?'

'I'm not sure. Everything seems to be a mix of good and bad.'

'There is only one thing that is purely good: True love.'

'I should have seen that coming.' This was said in a dry, sarcastic tone. Linda mentally chuckled.

'Do you now understand why Danny will be helpful?'

'Kinda.'

'Tell me what your understanding is.'

'Well, I love Danny with all of my heart. I don't know how that makes him helpful, but I do know that nothing could stop me from loving him.'

'Well said, Mira. As I stated before, true love is the opposite of pure evil. It is also rare. Someone who is pure evil, such as Ara, cannot experience true love. That is a weakness. Ara does not know this. I have a feeling that if she were to see two people who truly love each other, she will want it. Do you understand now?' Realization was beginning to come to Sam.

'She'll be driven insane with jealousy, meaning that she'll be distracted, which will be her downfall. Am I right?' Linda just smiled at her and nodded. 'But for that to happen, Danny would have to truly love me.'

'Your point?'

'What if he doesn't?'

'He does, Mira. I read his mind, remember?'

Oh yeah. So I have to tell him for your idea to work then, don't I?'

'Yes, you do. He also has to admit to loving you as well. I suggest telling him now. If you wish to do so in private, I will explain my idea to the others. Is that what you want, Mira?'Sam thought about it for a moment.

'Yes, Linda, I'd prefer that.' She then turned to Danny, who, along with Tucker and Valerie, was wondering what the two were talking about in their heads. "Danny, can we talk upstairs for a moment?" Danny was instantly worried yet curious at the same time. He nodded and followed her upstairs and into her room. Sam sat on her bed and patted the spot next to her. He sat down.

"Sam, what do you want to talk about?" Sam could tell he was worried about what she was going to say.

His worry increased tenfold at her reply: "Us."

WRG: Not really a cliffhanger, but I decided to stop there. Just to let you guys know, if chap. 9 isn't up by the end of this month, it might be a long time before it is. Why? Because that's when school starts and I'll probably be pretty busy. I'll write the next few chapters by hand in a notebook when I get the chance, which will probably be during lunch or towards the end of each class. Many thanks to my reviewers!

BTW, I know that Sam was kinda OOC when she was talking to Linda telepathically, but if you think about it, she totally trusts her. Plus, she knows that Linda can read her mind so why bother lying?