Four Kingdoms

This card trick seems magical, but it's not. To perform, separate all of the Aces, Kings, Queens and Jacks from a deck of cards. The rest of the cards will not be used. Begin the trick by telling this story of the greatest and most powerful wizard.

Once upon a time there were four kingdoms. In each kingdom there was a beautiful castle. (Put down the four Aces, face-up, in a row, next to each other.)

In each castle lived a wise and just King. (Put down the four Kings: the King of spades on the Ace of spades, each of the other Kings on the Ace of the same suit.)

Each King was married to an equally wise and just Queen. (Put down the four Queens, the Queen of spades on the King of spades, etc.)

One year to each family was born a healthy, happy child, and all seemed right with the world. (Put down the four Jacks, the Jack of spades on the Queen of spades, etc.)

And the greatest and most powerful wizard saw just how good things were and said, "Great! Now I can take that vacation to Disney World and visit the Florida Keys to soak up some sun." And so he began to pack. (While you are saying this, pick up the four piles and place them one on top of the other.)

In the mean time the evil wizard, Morganus, was conjuring up an evil spell to be cast on the four kingdoms. Once the good wizard left, Morganus didn't waste any time. He chanted, "Mouse tails, bat's eyes, blood from a rat. Mix it together in a great big vat." (While saying this, deal the cards into four face-down piles, one card for each word.)

His spell took hold of the four kingdoms and, leaving no stone unturned, he cast them to the four winds. (While saying this arrange the four piles in a diamond shape.)

The results were devastating. The children became lost in the forests, the Kings and Queens wandered aimlessly in the desert, and the castles were empty. (While saying this turn over the four piles to show the piles of all Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks.)

But soon the greatest, most powerful and most rested wizard returned, and he saw what Morganus had done. "This just cannot go on!" he said. And he cast his spell. It worked a magic much more powerful - it gathered in the Kings and Queens, children, and castles from the four corners of the earth.  (While saying this, pick up the four piles and lay them on top of each other.) And he said, "Morganus is in trouble if ever he's sighted. But these families four will soon be united." (While saying this, deal the cards into four face-down piles, placing one card for each word.)

And the wizard proclaimed that all was right in the kingdoms. (While saying, turn over the four piles to reveal the four united families.)

Note: with some practice you can cut the cards during the trick, but you have to make sure that you only cut the deck after card #4 or 8.