The next day, Isabel and Dante went into the Forbidden Forest to the secret passage. Dante showed her more mystical creatures. There were pixies, fairies, dragons, ogres, trolls, unicorns, griffins, mermaids, and so many more creatures.

"So how did you and your family find all of these creatures?" Isabel asked.

"Most of them come to us looking for refuge. See, my family was well know throughout the land by the humans and the mystical creatures. Sometimes we would search for the creatures, but most times they would show up here." Dante said.

"How do they know where you are?"

"The royal family has a certain... je ne sais quoi. The creatures far and wide sense the presence of a member of the royal family and follow it. It's a gift. You'll eventually develop that gift as well." Dante said, staring deep into Isabel's eyes.

Isabel blushed and turned away.

"Follow me." Dante said.

He led Isabel to a flock of grown griffins. He walked up to one and put his hand on one of the griffin's beak. Then he got on its back.

"Come on." He said holding his hand out to Isabel.

She took his hand they took off into the sky, admiring the kingdom below.

Once they landed, a baby griffin flew by and landed in front of Isabel, a stick in its mouth.

"Aw. Aren't you cute! Wanna play? Huh, girl?" She said in a playful tone.

The griffin playfully pounced at her, knocked her to the ground, and licked her face. Then the baby griffin started chewing on Isabel's hair.

"This is Lionheart." Dante said laughing. "She loves to play. And chew on everything!"

Dante shooed the griffin off of Isabel and helped her to her feet.

"Want to see something absolutely amazing?" Dante whispered mysteriously.

"More amazing than this?!" Isabel said with an eyebrow raised.

Dante smiled and pulled her behind him. Soon, they reached the most beautiful view.

There was a waterfall that emptied into the Forbidden Forest. The trees were a beautiful green, so bright and alive. The water was a brilliant blue, unlike anything Isabel had ever seen before.

"This place is beautiful! How come I didn't know about this place, either? God. How many secret places are in Enchantia?"

"Too many to count." He said sarcastically.

Isabel smiled and looked down at the waterfall.

A unicorn trotted over to the stream and drank. It walked over to the waterfall, then, with a glow of it's horn, it parted the water and walked through the solid rock wall, disappearing.

"What?! Di -- did you see that?" Isabel asked mesmerized.

Dante shrugged then smiled.

"Maybe. Ha ha. Yeah. Unicorns are magic. Remember?"

Isabel laughed. She looked into his beautiful brown eyes. The sun hit his eyes at the perfect angle making them glow a golden brown. The soft breeze blew his dark hair away from his face.

"What?" He asked smiling.

"Huh? Oh. Nothing!" She said turning away blushing furiously.

Isabel looked at the water and all the creatures, then she looked up at the sky.

It was midday. The sun was shining over the Forbidden Forest. Isabel looked toward the palace.

"WHAT IS THAT!?" She said with a look of terror on her face.

Dante followed her gaze and his face fell. Darkness. A cloud of darkness fell over the palace.

"We have to go. NOW!" He said taking off running.

When they reached the palace, Dante froze.

"Dante come on! What's wrong?" Isabel said tugging on his arm.

He continued to stare. Isabel followed his gaze and saw a middle aged man with a staff and eyes filled with fire.

"Merlin! What are you doing here?! You were dead. You died." Dante said confused and angry.

"Did I, young Dante? Did I? I see you're still alive and well." Merlin said with a smug grin on his face.

"Only because of you! You killed my family! You trapped me in that forest! You should've killed me along with my family. You should've died. Not them!" Dante yelled.

"Dante! My family!" Isabel said pulling his sleeve.

"Go. I'll take him and by you some time." Dante said.

Isabel took off running, racing through the halls until she finally reached the throne room.

"Your majesties! You must come with me!" Isabel said.

King Rafael and Queen Alicia quickly followed Isabel into the Forbidden Forrest.

"How much further? What's going on? The queen asked. "Please Isabel, darling, what's happening? Who is that man?"

Isabel didn't stop to answer questions.

"Please we must hurry. I know a safe place." She said.

Isabel looked at the sky. The darkness was spreading fast. It already surrounded most of the kingdom.

The king followed her gaze.

"Where will we go where that crazy man can't find us?"

"Don't worry. There is a very special place. But no one can know about it." Isabel said.

"You have our word, darling. We won't say anything." The queen said.

They finally reached the spot in the Forbidden Forest that Dante had taken Isabel. She pressed the spot on the wall and it glowed as the wall opened to reveal the safe haven for the endangered mystical creatures.

"Welcome." Isabel said. "You'll love this place. It's beautiful."

Two unicorns galloped by, baby griffins and dragons flew around, and pixies and fairies watered and tended to the plants.

"Now that we're safe, can you please explain who that was and why he's here?" The queen asked.

Isabel hung her head.

"You remember when you told me about my parents deaths?" Isabel asked. "That man... he killed my parents, your sister."

"Merlin?! I -- I thought he died. I thought he was killed by the royal witch!" The king said.

"I don't know as much as I wished I did but Dante--" Isabel started to say. She stopped with a look of horror on her face.

"What?"

"Dante! He kept Merlin distracted so I could take you here to keep you safe! He's -- he's out there by himself facing a powerful wizard! I have to help him!" Isabel said.

Isabel took off running towards the secret gateway. She whistled and a huge griffin, named Brush Fire, came out of nowhere. She jumped onto the griffin's back and flew off towards the palace.

When Isabel reached the palace, she saw Dante and Merlin going head to head. Isabel was able to fly in closer because Merlin was too focused on killing Dante once and for all. Merlin knocked Dante on his back with a magical blast. Dante hit his head on a rock, causing him to lose consciousness.

"Tell your parents I said hello." Merlin said, drawing back his sword, ready for the final blow.

"Merlin! STOP!" Isabel said as Brush Fire landed on the ground. "Leave him be! You're business is not with him."

Merlin just looked at Isabel and ignored her. He pulled his sword up once more.

Isabel froze out of fear. She closed her eyes as she clinched her fists. Her hands were burning with rage and frustration. When she opened her eyes, everything was frozen in time. She was the only one that could move. She looked at Merlin who's sword was suspended in mid-air, inches from Dante's chest.

She looked down at her hands. They were glowing with green light. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes, there was a burst of energy that came from her hands. Then everything returned to normal speed. Suddenly, Merlin was thrusted away from Dante. He hit a tree, then a branch broke, hitting his head.

Isabel ran to Dante and helped him to his feet. He staggered along as Isabel led him to the griffin. When they reached the griffin, Merlin stumbled to his feet, furious.

"Who are you?!" he asked. "No one defeats the great and powerful Merlin!"

"No one speaks in third person like that anymore, you idiot." Isabel said.

She turned back to Dante and helped him on to the griffin.

"Go!" she said.

"Wh -- what about you?" he asked still a little out of it.

"I'll be fine. Just go." she said. Isabel met Brush Fire's eyes and she flew off with Dante on her back.

She turned back to Merlin who was now running towards her.

How did I do that thing earlier? She thought to herself.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Her hands glowed with green light once more. She held her hands out in front of her and focused on Merlin.

Merlin aimed his staff at her then he fired. Isabel released the magical energy in her hands and Merlin was thrown yet again.

"This is for my family!" she said walking up to him while firing again and again. "My kingdom and my friends!"

As Isabel was about to deliver the final blow, Dante stepped in front of her, blocking her shot.

"I told you to leave!" She yelled at him.

"Well, I came back. And I'm glad I did. If you do this, you'll be just as bad as him. Don't do this. You're not like him, are you Isabel Grace?" He said, staring deep into her eyes.

Isabel looked at Dante then at Merlin. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She put her hand down and relaxed her fist.

"No. I am better than you, Merlin. I won't do this." she said. She shot the ground near his face with the magic that was in her hands.

"Guards! Take the prisoner to the wing where his powers will be useless." Dante said. "And never let him see the light of day again."

Isabel keeled in front of Merlin and whispered in his ear.

"You will die a slow death. You will never hurt anyone as long as you live. Understand. You are nothing. Who is Merlin? A piece of trash that was defeated by a sixteen year old girl. That's who." she said with a smirk on her face.

Merlin growled and tried to attack Isabel, but the guards jumped him and took him away.

"Enchantia is safe once again, princess, all because of you." Dante said.

The sun started to shine on Isabel's face. She looked up and the terrifying storm clouds that Merlin cast over the kingdom was clearing.

She smiled and closed her eyes, feeling the sun beam on her face. Then, she looked at Dante.

"Thank you. You helped me find out who I am. I feel as if I've been set free, like I can fly. That feeling wouldn't have been possible without you." she said. She kissed him on the cheek and smiled. "Would you come to dinner tonight with me and my family? I would love to see you there."

Dante nodded.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." he said.