Mariel's Magic Pt. 01

"Jackson, I see it was not you who did this yourself. I'll be back in the office tomorrow, and together we can fix this thing."

"Peggy, I am so sorry for what I said to you. You know that I think the world of you and have always admired your work. Yes, we'll fix this. We'll make it great! See you tomorrow."

As the session ended, the first rays of the morning sun appeared in the sky. Peggy sat, awed by what had happened. Finally, she said, "Thank you all so much." Then, after a pause, she asked, "Can I report on what we did tonight?"

"I'm sorry, child, no," said Hana. "You will remember what you did, and you will remember us. But if you try to speak or write of it to any but us, even to Stall, you will find yourself unable to do so. We here are wielders of white magic, and we use it for the good of the world, but for now, it must remain hidden."

"I understand. Thank you for the privilege of letting me see it. I think that I'll never be the same again. And if you ever need my help, you will have it. Now, I better get going. It's a long drive."

Back at the station, Jackson Stall drafted a correction to be broadcast on their station immediately, and then every hour after that until the evening, when a corrected version of the story on Mariel's Friends would appear.

"CORRECTION. This station is sorry to say that the story that aired two days ago on Mariel's Friends had many inaccuracies. The segments showing cruelty to animals were faked, and the interviews with Trista and Mariel were edited to distort what the two said. We will be airing a factual version of the story tonight at 6 p.m. and will repeat that story tomorrow and the next day at the same time. We sincerely apologize for the mistakes that were made."

That night, Jackson Stall stood in front of the camera and said, soberly, "Tonight, I stand before you not as a producer, but as a man seeking redemption for the shadows that I have cast. I am here to admit to a grave injustice. The report we aired regarding Mariel's Friends was inaccurate; more than that, it was a fabrication. The lies told were mine alone. The reporter, Peggy Adams, had nothing to do with them. It was me, alone, and for that I can only offer my apology, and tell you that after the program tonight airs, I will no longer be working for this station. I hope someday to earn your forgiveness. And now, I turn it over to Peggy Adams for the real story of Mariel's Friends."

Peggy stood before the cameras and started, "My visit to the Ranch where the show Mariel's Friends is created was a journey into a world where magic is not just the stuff of fairytales but is real." She went on to say that the magic was in the way the animals interacted with the people there. She could not speak of the real magic she had witnessed while there, but her sense of awe at what she witnessed came through as she talked to the audience. The screen came alive with images of Mariel, her laughter a melody that resonated with the very essence of the Ranch, her interactions with the animals a testament to the purity of her heart.

"As I stood amidst the meadows, witnessing the bond between Mariel and her animal friends, I saw no tricks, only a harmonious meeting of worlds, created by kindness and a profound understanding of the natural world."

The narrative that unfolded had the ring of truth, with each word and image denying the lies of the program that Jackson Stall had originally aired. The world watched, captivated by the genuine tale of Mariel's Friends, a narrative that sang of hope, unity, and the spirit of a young girl whose light refused to be dimmed by the shadows. In the wake of the broadcast, the Family stood vindicated, their names cleared, and their message echoing in the hearts of millions.

The show ran two more times and then was rebroadcast on cable to a worldwide audience. The story of the broadcast of a fake story, followed by the resignation of the producer and the re-airing of the true story, was national news; so, naturally, millions of people wanted to see the true story. In the end, ironically, the High Master's plan helped the Family to spread the light.

Stall left the station, sad to be leaving but happy that he could fix things. Eventually, everything turned out well for him. He did not know it as he was packing up his office, but he would soon be hired by the Family to produce their social media and podcasts, and would bring a high level of professionalism to them.

For now, all he knew was that the Family would protect him and his wife. Like Peggy, he was unable to speak of it, but he knew that they possessed powerful magic that would protect him from the High Master. It was this knowledge that allowed him to help produce the revised show without looking fearfully over his shoulder.

The High Master raged at his acolytes as the full extent of his failure became clear. White magic was spreading into some of the areas of the country where his darkness lay heaviest, and people, one by one, were shaking off the fears they had harbored for decades. The changes were reflected in political polls, where candidates who only sought to stoke hate and fear in their constituents were seeing lower poll numbers and smaller crowds.

With a voice that froze even his most hardened follower, the High Master demanded the presence of Jackson Stall, whom he labeled a traitor. The High Master screamed to the air, "Stall, you have dared to defy me and have sown the seeds of your own destruction!"

Stall knew it was the High Master when he saw the number on his phone; but also knew that the Family had already woven protections around him to keep him safe. He answered it, "Hello?"

"The High Master demands your presence, now!" said an anonymous voice.

"If he wants me, he can call me himself," Stall said, with anger.

"He will not call you and you will come. Remember, we have the power to utterly destroy you."

"Your master's threats are as empty as the promises he makes," Jackson retorted, the steel in his voice belying the fear he felt. But he still trusted Mariel and her friends.

The next call was from the High Master himself. He roared through the phone, "Do you not comprehend the abyss you teeter upon, Jackson? I could destroy you with only a whisper and cast you into a pit where you would never see the sun."

Jackson stood his ground. "Perhaps. But I know you now. You're not as powerful as you think. I willingly torched my career to fix what you made me do. I'm no longer worth anything to you, so go do your magic tricks for someone else." Then he hung up the phone.

"Jackson Stall, I can't waste more energy on you now," the High Master said, looking at the phone. "But I'll not forget this. The shadows are patient, and retribution will find you, in this life or the next."

Jackson, in his office, though free from the immediate threat, was acutely aware of the peril that would shadow his every step. Though protected by the Family, he gazed out the window, a man caught between the darkness he had escaped and the uncertain path that lay ahead.