Aphrodite was about to push open the doors when a familiar voice cut through the air. "Aphrodite? Is that you, Princess?"
 
She turned to see Erah, the Fairy of air one of her fairy God mother, running towards them, her face flushed with excitement and worry. Erah's eyes, usually bright with laughter, were now filled with tears, and her arms reached out to embrace Aphrodite.
 
"Oh, Aphrodite, I missed you so much!" Erah cried, her voice choked with emotion. "I thought I would never see you again!"
 
Aphrodite returned the embrace, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "Erah! I missed you too! It’s so good to be back."
 
They held each other tightly, the warmth of their friendship filling the space between them. "Tell me everything," Erah whispered, her voice trembling. "What happened? Where were you?"
 
Aphrodite pulled back slightly, her gaze meeting Erah's. "It’s a long story, Erah. I was kidnapped, but I’m safe now. We’re back home."
 
Erah’s eyes widened, and she pulled back, her face etched with concern. "Kidnapped? But who would do such a thing? And what about your parents? Are they alright?"
 
Aphrodite’s heart sank. "That’s the thing, Erah. I’m not sure. It’s complicated. There were people who claimed to be my parents, but…"
 
"But they weren’t?" Erah finished, her voice laced with suspicion. "Who were they? What did they do to you?"
 
Aphrodite hesitated, her mind racing back to the grand celebration in Abyssal Plain, the unsettling feeling that had gnawed at her, and the parrot's urgent warning. "They were impostors, Erah. They were sent by the dark sorceress Surseris to keep me from returning to my kingdom."
 
Erah gasped, her eyes widening in horror. "Surseris? But how? Why?"
 
"I don’t know," Aphrodite admitted, her voice filled with a mixture of anger and confusion. "I’m still trying to understand what happened. But I do know that Surseris is a powerful sorceress, and she’s capable of anything."
 
Prekthos stepped forward, his gaze meeting Erah’s. "We need to be careful, Erah. We don’t know what Surseris is capable of, and we need to be prepared for anything."
 
Erah nodded, her face hardening with determination. "I’m with you. We’ll figure this out together."
 
"But what about my parents?" Aphrodite asked, her voice laced with worry. "Are they safe? Are they even in the castle?"
 
Erah’s expression shifted, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger. "That’s the worst part, Aphrodite. They are here, but… they’re not themselves. They’re acting… strange."
 
"Strange?" Aphrodite repeated, her brows furrowed. "How strange?"
 
Erah took a deep breath, her voice low and strained. "They’re acting like they’re in love. Like they’re… more than just a king and queen. It’s like they’re trying to be something they’re not."
 
"What do you mean?" Aphrodite asked, her voice sharp with confusion. "What are you trying to say?"
 
Erah hesitated, her gaze shifting nervously. "I’m not sure how to say this, Aphrodite. But it’s like… they’re trying to take over the kingdom. They’re acting like they’re more than just your parents. Like they’re trying to be… the rulers."
 
Aphrodite’s eyes widened in shock, her mind reeling. "What? But how? Why would they do that?"
 
"I don’t know," Erah admitted, her voice filled with fear. "But they’re not the same. They’re acting differently, and they’re making changes to the kingdom. They’re trying to… change everything."
 
"Change everything?" Aphrodite repeated, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "What do you mean?"
 
Erah took a step closer, her voice hushed. "Aphrodite, they’re trying to take control. They’re making decisions without your consent, and they’re ignoring the traditions of the kingdom."
 
"But they’re my parents!" Aphrodite exclaimed, her voice rising with frustration. "How could they do this to me? How could they betray me?"
 
Erah reached out and took Aphrodite’s hand, her touch gentle but firm. "I know, Aphrodite. It’s hard to believe, but they’re not acting like themselves. They’re not the parents you know and love."
 
Aphrodite’s anger flared, her heart pounding with a mixture of betrayal and confusion. "What’s going on? Why would they do this? What happened while I was gone?"
 
"I don’t know," Erah admitted, shaking her head. "But I think it has something to do with Surseris. She’s been trying to manipulate the kingdom for years, and I think she’s finally found a way to get what she wants."
 
"But how?" Aphrodite asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and dread. "How could Surseris possibly control my parents?"
 
Erah hesitated, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and suspicion. "I don’t know for sure, Aphrodite. But I think she’s using dark magic to control them. She’s trying to make them do her bidding."
 
Aphrodite felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her mind reeling from the revelations. "This is all so confusing! What should I do? How can I stop Surseris?"
 
"I don’t know," Erah confessed, her voice filled with concern. "But we have to do something. We can’t let her take control of the kingdom."
 
Aphrodite felt a surge of determination. "We can’t let her win. We have to stop her. But first, we need to figure out what’s going on. We need to find out what Surseris is doing and how she’s controlling my parents."
 
Prekthos stepped forward, his gaze focused on Erah. "We need to be careful. We don’t know what kind of magic she’s using, and we don’t want to put Aphrodite in danger."
 
"I’m not afraid," Aphrodite said, her voice firm. "I’m angry. And I’m determined to find out the truth."
 
Erah nodded, her eyes filled with admiration. "I’m with you, Aphrodite. We’ll face this together."
 
The parrot, perched on Prekthos’s shoulder, flapped its wings, its voice filled with urgency. "We need to be strategic! We need to gather information and find a way to counter Surseris’s magic."
 
Aphrodite took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities. "I know! We need to find the Elders of the Enchanted Grove. They have ancient knowledge and wisdom. They might be able to help us."
 
Erah nodded, her eyes brightening with hope. "That’s a great idea, Aphrodite! They might be able to tell us what’s going on and how to stop Surseris."
 
Prekthos smiled reassuringly. "We’ll find them, Aphrodite. And together, we’ll unravel this mystery and set things right."
 
Aphrodite felt a surge of warmth, knowing that she had the support of her friends and her kingdom behind her. They were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in love and purpose.
 
"Let's go to my room, I know my parents live to stay on my room." Aphrodite said then fly to her room.