As Lisa and Kellie bonded over their experiences in a previous reality, Merlin was reaching the end of his magical investigation. After much searching he had finally found the root to Samantha's racial change. Appearing now in a small shop, Merlin gazed at his surroundings.
The shop he materialized in was extremely bright and decorated on an almost cartoonish fashion. Images of outlandish looking magicians pulling rabbits from hats as well as skantily clad female assistants decorated the walls. Merlin frowned as he looked at the cheap parlor tricks and hokey merchandise for sale in the shop. Whoever was the owner of this establishment went to a great effort to diminish the seriousness of magic.
"Well it's about time you showed up." Merlin turned towards the voice, frowning angrily at the figure seated behind the register. "Morgan La Fay."
Morgan grinned slyly as she gestured towards Merlin. "How very perceptive," she said mockingly. "Come, have a seat, I'm sure you have many questions."
"I'd prefer to stand if you don't mind," he said tersely. Morgan shrugged calmly as she eyed her long time nemesis. "Suit yourself," she said calmly. "To be honest I will cause you no harm. As you can see I'm entrepreneur now."
"So I gathered," Merlin said flatly. "So tell me then Morgan. What made you decide to send powerful reality altering magic to mortals? Besides just wanting to be a pain in my ass."
Morgan smiled coyly as she rested her head in her hands. "Such language," she said sweetly. "You have obviously spent far too much time with that teenage apprentice of yours, and that...is the reason we find ourselves here today."
"Leave Kellie out of this," he threatened. Morgan smiled smugly as Merlins magic caused the building to shake, plaster dust cascading from the ceiling coating the shop in a thin film. "Oh Merlin," she chuckled. "We both know your enchantments protecting that girl andd her friends is far too powerful for me to break. Still...it hasn't prevented me from having a little fun."
Merlin glowered at Morgan as she smiled sickly at the ancient wizard. " What have you done Morgan," he whispered. Morgan smiled as she lightly drummed her fingers on the table. "Well Merlin," she said. "The girls may ne under your protection....but their mothers aren't."
Merlin narrowed his eyes as Morgan continued to smile at him. "As you've already seen Samantha's mother wished for a dream husband. She had no idea it would change her daughter like it did. Personally I wasn't as thrilled with that decision as I was with the others. Things have been...well....so normal, no fun really."
"Who else have you changed," Merlin demanded, causing Morgan to flinch.
"Patience you old fool," she spat, trying to regain her composure. Taking a deep breath Morgan sighed before smiling once more.
"Well first there was Claudia's mother," she said. "The poor woman was so lonely with her husband constantly on deployment. She just wished he would be home more often, so I let her make a wish."
Merlin paled as he realized what Morgan was saying. Tom Harris's injuries were the result of Morgan's meddling. Morgan had perverted a wish made in lonliness to maim Tom. Now Tom was home all the time, at a tremendous cost to his physical health.
"Damn you Morgan," Merlin fumed. "You maimed a man out of pure malice. You twisted that womans wish into something perverse."
"True," Morgan conceded, smiling sweetly. "But it was all in good fun. Still that wasn't the besy one." Merlin could feel his skin crawl as a disturbing look crossed Morgan's face.
"That girl Mary Elise," she said. "She has alot of potential for being MY assistant, dont you think?"
"Leave her alone Morgan."
"Perhaps," she mused. "Although in her case, I'm the reason she has gone down that path. The angry wish of an angry wife. She wanted her husband gone and I happily granted her request."
"Damn you to hell Morgan," Merlin spat, gritting his teeth. "These are peoples lives. Your actions have scarred two innocent girls, drastically altering who they are."
"Yes I have," she said gleefully. "And what fun it was."
Morgan now leaned back slightly as she smiled at the ancient wizard. "Well I'm sure you should run along now Merlin," she said dismissively. "But threat not and I guarantee we shall meet again soon. Who knows, maybe next time I'll have an apprentice of my own."
Merlin glowered at Morgan as he vanished, reeturning once more to his home. As he rubbed his chin thoughtfully he now tried to to think of a way to protect Kellie and her friends.