Act 32.

"Pardon?" said Margaret with a growl. "You summoned it?"

The leader did not seem to realise the danger he was in. The people were celebrating all around them and he was caught up in the mood.

"That’s right," he said. "We summoned it to attack our enemies. There is a group of trolls nearby and we are at war with them. We thought if we brought forth a creature to send at them, we would win."

He frowned as he remembered the time.

"Unfortunately it did not go as well as we had planned," he said. "The creature could not be controlled and started rampaging around. We did not know what to do, so we prayed for help, and the Mother sent you. Now we are fine."

The Queen had her fists on her hips and was tapping her foot. This meant that she was angry and frustrated. She couldn’t yell at these fools , even though she wanted to, because they were not her people. So she stood there simmering.

"So we put ourselves at risk, because you don’t know any better than a child?" said Margaret.

She stepped forward, but Linda held her back.

Margaret looked at her. Linda just shook her head. It was not worth getting even with them, they really were not wise enough to know what they had done. The energy would have been wasted.

Margaret sighed, pulled some more of the creature off of her armour and stepped back.

"Well, now you are safe," said the Queen. "We will be going now, if you please."

"But you must stay for the celebrations," said the leader. "We must thank you properly."

"There is no need," said Linda, realising that the others were not in a mood to celebrate. "We must be going."

She looked around at the others.

"Anyone know how we are to get back?" she asked.

The others shook their heads.

Suddenly right nearby a black portal opened up. Wind blew past them into the portal, causing their hair to obscure their vision. The winds howl made it hard to hear, but Linda could hear that some of the people were frightened and running away.

"Guess that answers your question," yelled Mikako through the noise of the wind.

Linda held her hand out for the Queen who, smiling at the gesture, took hold of it.

The two of them stepped through, followed closely by Margaret and finally Mikako.

They stepped out into the chamber of the Black Mother. Both Goddesses were still there. The Earth Mother was smiling as usual. The Black Mother had a look of satisfaction.

"Well done," said the Earth Mother.

"Thank you for your help," said the Black Mother.

"You are welcome," said Mikako. "And thank you for teaching me more of myself."

"You are not too disappointed, are you?" asked the Black Mother, sounding like she was afraid that it was true.

There was small silence, and Linda thought that Mikako might actually answer in the affirmative. And for the first time, the Black Mother looked unsure of herself.

"No," Mikako finally answered. "I know now that the world is more complicated then I was first taught. I think I can live with my origins. Thank you Mother."

For the first time, the Black Mother smiled a genuine smile.

"Now, how are we to get back?" asked the Queen.

The Black Mother tossed a vial to Linda. It was the the one that Gregore had given her, when he had sent them here.

"That should get you home," said the Goddess.

The four women crowded around the vial.

"Bye bye," said the Earth Mother cheerfully. "It was nice meeting you."

They heard a sigh from the Black Mother and then Linda opened the vial.

The sickening feeling of being on a roller coaster came over her again and soon they were on their backs on the bank near the lake.

Linda picked herself up and helped the Queen to her feet. The others looked unhurt but Margaret was in need of a good scrub.

Gregore stood up from the rock he had been sitting on while waiting.

"It went well?" he asked.

"Considering the circumstances, yes," said Linda.

"You will have to tell me all about it sometime," he said.

He held his arm out to the Queen.

"Shall I accompany you to the castle?" he asked.

The Queen looked at Linda.

"You go ahead, my Queen," she told her. "I wish to wash off and I believe the Dark Knight would like to as well."

Margaret just nodded her head and began to unbuckle her armour.

"Very well," said the Queen. "We shall see you later."

She took the proffered arm and they disappeared down the path to the castle.

Linda turned to the others. Margaret was already out of her armour and was removing her undergarments. Linda started to remove her armour, and saw that Mikako was sitting on the edge of the water looking out.

She walked over to the mage.

"You ok?" she asked.

Mikako looked up at her and nodded.

"I always felt a little different even at home," she said. "Now I am beginning to understand why. And I realise that it is fine, because I have friends who care for me and don’t seem to mind my differences."

Linda hugged Mikako.

"I don’t care who created you," she said. "I know what you are really like and I will always call you my friend."

Mikako hugged her back.

"Come on," said Margaret from the water. "You coming or what."

Linda laughed and removed her armour and clothes. She swam looking back every once at Mikako who sat contentedly on the shore.

Life was full of surprises. And she liked it that way.