Alice gasped and rushed back across the hall, poking her head into her room. "Julius! Julius, come on, we have to wake Cinderella and Charming!"
The cat looked up sleepily, curled up on the bed. "What? Alice, what's going on?"
"It's the twins! They're after us… They know who we are… Julius, I think they're going to burn down the castle, no time to explain!"
Julius leapt from the bed, and took off down the corridor. Alice followed behind him, but was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.
She turned around, and there stood Zach, a grin on his face. "Whoa, whoa, whoa… Where do you think you're going, Alice?" She watched in horror as he held her by her shoulder with one hand, and poured gasoline on the carpet around her with the other. "You can't save them, you know."
She shook free, screaming, as he dropped a lighted match, the flames leaping up. She ran down the hall, the roar of the fire drowning out the sound of the boy's hideous laughter.
The smoke started to build, and she coughed as she ran through the large castle. "Cinderella! Charming! Wake up! Get out of here! The castle's on fire!"
The couple emerged from a room at the far end of the hallway. Cinderella looked at Alice, her face full of concern. "Alice? What did you say? What's happening?"
"The twins, they set the castle on fire! You need to run!" The three of them ran as fast as their legs could carry them, until they were finally outside, watching smoke rise into the night from the windows of the magnificent castle. As the flames began to erupt from every door and window, a sickening feeling began to eat away at Alice's stomach.
Where was Julius?
She felt numb, as if she was falling and had accepted that there was nothing that she could do about it. She couldn't move, she couldn't cry. She couldn't imagine her life without the cat.
He had always been there for her, in good times and in bad. He had saved her more times than she could count, from all sorts of dangers. Whenever she was sad, he cheered her up. Whenever she was scared, he calmed her down. Whenever Pete, that horrible bear, was chasing her, Julius was there to give him a sound beating.
And now, just like that, her best friend was gone.
Suddenly, a soft voice shook her from her thoughts. "Alice?"
There before her stood one of the last people she wanted to see: one of those blond demons.
"Alice," said Cody gently. "I didn't want to, you know. I told him not to… But, Zach, he…. He's my brother, you know? And I just can't win with him. He's stronger than me, and he doesn't listen, and…" He sighed, and shrugged, his hands behind his back. "I'm really sorry. But… It was the least I could do…." He slowly brought his arms forward, and Alice's eyes widened as she saw that he was cradling a limp, furry, black form. "I don't know if he's going to make it, but I know he means a lot to you… I'm so, so sorry…" The boy had tears in his eye, but he simply handed the cat to Alice, and ran off into the night.
"Julius?" The cat was breathing, but only just. His breaths came out like an old, worn-out machine, clogged with smoke. He didn't move, and he didn't open his eyes. "Oh… Julius…" She buried her face in his soft fur, letting the tears come liberally.
"Do you remember?" she whispered gently. "Do you remember how we met? I thought you were a ghost," her heart was breaking, but she almost laughed to think of it. "But, you were just covered in a sheet… You couldn't get it off, remember? I helped you, and you've never left my side since then…. You even followed me into my own world, when I left Cartoonland. I don't know how you did it Julius, but I know that you wanted to…. You just wanted to stay with me… Oh, Julius! Don't leave me now!" She was unable to speak anymore, but only sob over her unconscious friend, as his breathing slowed.
Suddenly, he stirred. "Alice…. Where am I? Did Pete take the crossword puzzles?" The delirious cat gazed up at the girl, his eyes swimming with confusion.
She felt her entire soul light up, as the cat moved in her arms. "Oh, Julius!" She held him close, kissing her best friend on the cheek. "I thought you were dead!"
The cat nodded, coming back into himself. "Boy… I thought I was a goner!"
A soft hand touched Alice's shoulder, and she turned her tear-streaked face upward. Cinderella stood over her, smiling gently. "I'm so glad you are both alright! You saved us, Alice, and my husband and I owe you our lives. If you hadn't woken us up…" the princess shuddered, and looked at her castle, which was little more than a completely gutted, smoldering frame.
Cinderella walked over to the ruin, placing a hand delicately against a charred beam. "Oh, I wish there was some way to fix this…" She stepped back, and Alice watched in confusion as the princess' eyes filled with hope and expectation, and her gaze went heavenward.
There was a bright sparkle of light, and an elderly woman stood beside Cinderella. "Oh, Dearie! It's been so long! Are you in need of my help, Child?"
"Oh, Fairy Godmother!" said Cinderella, imploringly. "It's my castle, you see, it…"
The fairy chuckled dismissively. "Oh yes, Dear, it's lovely, positively… Oh!" She noticed the destruction. "Goodness gracious! That must have been quite the fire!" Cinderella nodded solemnly, as the fairy rolled up her powder-blue sleeves, a silver wand materializing in her hand.
She stepped back, ceremoniously raising her wand. "Salagadula…. Menchikabula…. Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!" Within second, billions of dazzling points of light surrounded the charred building, and Alice shielded her eyes. The night became blindingly bright, brighter even than the fire that had destroyed the castle. When Alice opened her eyes, Cinderella's castle stood in all of its glory, as if there had never been a fire in the first place.
"Oh, thank you, Fairy Godmother. It's absolutely perfect."
The fairy nodded. "Oh, you're quite welcome, Child. Oh!" she said, noticing Alice. "Who is this?"
"This is Alice," said Cinderella, with a warm smile. "She saved us. She is going to save us all."
The fairy nodded, a darkness coming over her brow. "Yes, and perfect timing, too. Storm clouds have been gathering for a while now." She smiled at Alice. "Well, if that's the case, then I know just where you need to go. I have three very good friends, who live on the outskirts of this city. They'll be able to help you considerably more." The Fairy Godmother thought for a moment, tapping her wand thoughtfully against her cheek. "Just keep going straight, until you come to a big castle on a hill. When you get there, ask for Flora."
Alice smiled. "Thank you so much!"
The fairy smiled, nodded, and was gone in a shimmer of light.
"Before you go," said Cinderella softly, reaching into a fold in her nightgown, "I have something for you. I grabbed it before we ran." She pulled out a simple, yet beautiful box, and opened it. Inside there was a white, shimmering gemstone. "This is the gem that I am the protector of. Guard it well."
Alice took it, slipping it into the pocket in which she kept Snow White's gem, as well. "Thank you, Cinderella, for everything."
The princess smiled, waving. "I hope to see you again soon!"
Alice smiled, and walked off, into the night.