A golden glow envelopes Minerva. Cedius shoots another energy blast at her, in frustration. It fails to penetrate the golden aura surrounding the reborn human woman.
Then, suddenly myriad strands of golden light emanate from Minerva, and zap across the chamber - without her bidding or control. Harry, Krista, Marina, Rachel, Dick and Anarosa are all ‘zapped’ and are again bathed in gold auras of their own. This time constantly - for now, that is. Those who were unconscious are now alert again. Thos who had been under Cedius’ and Amalthea’s chains of hypnotic control are now freed.
For a moment, you puzzle as to why you are unaffected - then the answer hits you. Out of your army, you are the only one left here who didn’t unlock any of the doors in the Labyrinth. All of those who did, and are still alive - are now being granted the shared power of the Eye of Zeus. The gem was never in one place alone - its energy had been scattered, and stored in such a way, that no one being could ever posess it!
You yourself didn’t unlock the Centaur door. But, thinking about it, where is Fe…?
The merman’s face and upper body suddenly shoots out of the pool of water, reeled in by a strand of light that had disappeared into it. Felix’s sleek form is glowing with the same energy as your other friends.
“Wow!” he cries, seeing you all gathered. “So that was the tunnel to the heart of the Labyrinth!”
Cedius sweeps his gaze all around at the ‘charged’ individuals now ranged in a circle around him. His face contorts with horror, as he realises what he is confronted with.
“Rachel! Everybody!” you shout. “You’re sharing the power of the Eye of Zeus! Use it to neutralise Cedius!”
Marina, no longer transfixed, grins with relish. “I sense we can do this with our minds, my friends! Power up, on the count of three?” she suggests.
Anarosa nods. “One!”
“Twwo!” snarls Harry.
“Three!!” cries Rachel.
As one, your friends concentrate and cast forth a wave of energy that folds inwards to the central point of the formed circle - towards Cedius. The giant satyr tries to hold back with the Eye of Hecate. The two forces meet, and buckle - then there is a great flash of light and a ‘BOOM’. An instant later, the energies in the chamber are all gone - the two magics having cancelled each other out. Cedius roars in fury, as he shrinks back to his original size. His lost mass is transferred into a blast of hot air. As you all reel with the effect, Cedius throws the burnt-out Eye of Hecate at Minerva - then tries to break through the circle. Unfortunately for him, he received a taste of Rachel’s fore hoof as she rears up and kicks him in the stomach. Harry and Krista then pin your enemy to the floor.
Cedius gives a nervous laugh. “Ni-nice kitties?” he says, hopefully.
Harry poises his claws above the satyr’s chest. “One ffalse move…,” he warns, “…annd I wwill turrn you into ggoat’s cheese!”
There is a wail from Amalthea. She claws your equine chest with her sharp fingernails - and as you twist aside, the scarred satyress seizes her dropped dagger and rushes forward to rescue Cedius. “Release my master!” she shrieks.
As she draws level with the watery pool, Feliz reacts and grabs Amalthea, pulling her in. There is a furious scrap - then Sapphire and Emerald emerge from the underwater tunnel below the pool. The three merfolk between them, succeed in holding Amalthea prisoner. The satyress coughs and splutters, as her head breaks the surface again from her dunking.
The fighting is over, you realise! We’ve done it!!” you cry.
Your friends cheer, in jubilation. There are tears as Rachel and Marina apologise for hurting each other - then your mate trots over to examine your wounds. They turn out to be minor.
Rachel smiles, and the two of you hug each other. “You are so brave, Ben!” she proudly declares.
“So were you! And everyone else.”
There’s a round of mutual congratulations and thanks. Marina kisses your check. “Well done, Ben! You destroyed the orb that Amalthea was using to hold us all under Cedius’ hypnotic control!” Then your centaur sister’s face turns glum. “Where’s Deirdre? Harry and I saw Cedius and Glaucus torturing her. We were unable to intervene…”
Rachel tells her the bad news. Marina begins to cry - and the three of you hold each other, united in your grief.
Finally pulling away, you turn your attention to Minerva. Apart from her bikini, she is naked - and still human. The former satyress is sitting down besides the pool, and trying to cover up her groin. She looks down and wiggles her toes, slowly taking in the changes to her body.
You trot over to her - and Dick and Anarosa join you both. “Your being human was the clinch in acquiring the power needed to defeat Cedius, Minerva! Well done!” Dick congratulates her. He then comments, “You‘re not changing back.”
“The third use of the Medallion invoked a transformation for keeps, remember?” Minerva smiles. “And my real name is Miranda. Cedius bestowed the name of Minerva upon me, when I became a satyr - against my free will. Now I’ve got back what I wanted - my own life and freedom.”
Anarosa nods. “What will you do now?”
“Go back home - and claim back the life that was taken away from me!” Minerva - or rather, Miranda - begins to sob with mixed emotions.
“If you leave the island…, will you forget us?” Dick asks.
“No… I’ve been touched by the transformational magic on the island. And when I get back, my folks should remember me - now that I’ve human once more.” Miranda regards you all, then brightens up. “But feel free to call on me, when there’s a wedding!”
*************************************************************
Using the magic left in the medallion, you all call upon Mr Amiacing - and he meets your group at the entrance to the Labyrinth, along with two security troopers. He reveals that the fighting across the isle is now over. With the hypnotic hold of the rogue satyrs broken, Cedius’ remaining loyal followers have been overcome. Amiacing praises you all.
“What about them?” You point to the captive Cedius and Amalthea. “There are some of us who would love to see Cedius dead!”
Cedius laughs mockingly. “We are your helpless prisoners! To kill us now would be an act of cruelty!”
Amiacing mulls their possible fates in his mind, then beams. “I have an idea to put to the Management,” he declares…