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happened?’ Max stammered, swinging round to look at Hercules.
    There was a look of quiet satisfaction on the superhero’s face. ‘Juno has been defeated by her desire to destroy,’ he replied. ‘Her own magic has imprisoned her in the castle’s underground dungeon.’
    â€˜The dungeon!’ Finlay exclaimed.
    â€˜We’ve been looking for that!’
    â€˜It is extremely well hidden under the ground. It has lain undisturbed for centuries,’ said Hercules. ‘And now that the crack has closed, hopefully it will stay that way.’
    â€˜But what actually happened?’ Max insisted. ‘How did the magic put her there?’
    â€˜Your powers collided,’ answered Hercules. ‘The superpower you have right now stems from goodness and loyalty. Juno’s power stems from evil and selfishness. They are exact opposites; one cannot conquer the other, and they are equal in strength. But because you decided to protect each other, your power doubled and sent Juno’s own destructive power back at her with

    double the force. She could not defend herself against it.’
    â€˜Did you know that would happen?’ Max asked, remembering how Hercules had seemed to be goading Juno.
    â€˜I had an idea it might,’ replied Hercules with a relieved smile. ‘I knew that if she attacked you, your power would protect you. But I suspected somehow that you would protect each other and so make her own magic the cause of her downfall.’ He smiled at them. ‘In every task you have undertaken you have stood by each other with no thought to your own safety. You have acted with great loyalty.’
    The boys looked at each other. ‘We’re friends,’ Max said simply.
    Finlay grinned at him. ‘Yeah. Even if you do like patting mad bulls.’
    â€˜Least I don’t try and climb trees with branches that are going to break!’ Max grinned back. ‘Or act like I think I’m a cowboy!’
    â€˜No, you just think you’re a hotshot bullfighter!’ Finlay teased.
    â€˜Cowboys?’ Hercules said, looking confused. ‘Bullfighters?’
    â€˜It’s a long story,’ Finlay grinned.
    Hercules shook his head. ‘I do not think I will ever fully understand you boys, but I know one thing for sure, you are both true heroes. I can never thank you enough for freeing me.’
    â€˜So what happens now?’ Max asked.
    â€˜I must go back to making sure that the balance between good and evil is maintained in the world. I have won this fight against Juno, but the battle goes on as it has over the centuries. Still, for now, she must stay in the dungeon until she finds a way to break free.’ Hercules looked at the tower. A smileplayed around his mouth. ‘Or until she finds two willing helpers to help her get out!’
    â€˜Can’t see that happening!’ Max said. ‘She’d deafen them with all her screeching!’
    â€˜What about the superpower?’ Finlay asked hopefully. ‘Can we keep it?’
    But Hercules was shaking his head. ‘I am afraid you must give it back to the gods. If you were to keep it you could not go back to your real life.’
    Finlay was disappointed but not totally surprised. ‘I guess it would be weird to have a superpower all the time,’ he admitted, remembering how when he’d been super-fast it had made playing football at school very difficult because he couldn’t run at normal speed.
    â€˜Place your hands on the gatehouse wall,’ Hercules told them. ‘On the same stone that you found the power.’
    The boys looked at each other. ‘Race you?’ said Finlay.
    â€˜OK,’ Max agreed eagerly.
    A second later they were both standing in front of the gatehouse.
    â€˜Dead heat!’ Max said.
    For a moment, Finlay looked sad. ‘I guess we’re never going to be able to run that fast again.’
    â€˜No,’ Max sighed.