“Puck, I forbid this,” Granny said.
Puck ignored her command. “Old lady, if I die I’d like you to do one small thing for me. I want you to build a one-hundred-acre museum dedicated to my memory. Bronze my clothing and possessions. Have at least three hundred marble statues erected of me in my most dashing poses. One of these statues should stand at least one hundred feet tall and greet ships as they float down the Hudson River. One of the fourteen wings of the museum should have an amusement park with the world’s fastest roller coaster inside. None of these rides should be equipped with safety devices. You can license some of the space to fast-food restaurants and ice-cream parlors but nothing should be healthy or nutritious. The gift shop should sell stuffed Puck dolls packed with broken glass and asbestos. There’s a more detailed list in my room.”
“Puck, no!” Sabrina cried. “You don’t have to do this!”
Puck rolled his eyes. “It appears I have to do a lot of things to keep you safe, ugly.” He flashed a quick smile.
Sabrina blushed and felt like everyone was suddenly watching. “What are you going to do against that monster?”
Puck took his little wooden sword from his waist. “I have this, Grimm. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re going to get yourself killed!” Daphne said angrily.
“Don’t disrespect the sword, marshmallow!” he said.
He darted toward the dragon and was soon jabbing at its ears with his weapon. The creature roared and he stuck it in the eye. It turned its massive body and exhaled a tiny blast of fire but Puck easily flew out of its path.
“Come and get me,” Puck taunted, and rocketed into the air. The angry dragon did just that, soaring upward after its tiny, annoying prey.
With the path clear the family rushed into the cabin. Once inside, they helped the elderly Everafters through the mirror and then the very young and the smaller animals. One by one the frightened people stepped through to safety. Geppetto broke away to approach the Grimms.
“Have you seen my boy?” Geppetto said.
“I think I saw him heading into the magic mirror,” Granny lied. “You should go look for him in the Hall of Wonders.”
Geppetto thanked her and disappeared through the reflection.
Granny sighed. “I couldn’t tell him the truth.”
“What is this t’ing that I hear outside?” Reggie said from his mirror. His dreadlocks shook nervously.
“Dragons have attacked the fort,” Sabrina explained.
“Dragons! You have to get me out of here, missy.”
Prince Charming rushed into the cabin with Snow at his side. “Ms. White! I won’t hear another word of this. Get through the portal, now.”
Snow stomped her foot. “Mr. Charming, as you may be aware, I am not seven years old. I can take care of myself.”
Charming threw up his hands in frustration. “Fine. This is a direct order from your commanding officer. Sergeant, you are to get through that portal at once. Prepare the Hall of Wonders for the refugees.”
“You won’t be housing them in your hotel?” Veronica asked.
“My hotel?! These mongrels would destroy the place. The sheets are five-hundred thread count,” he said.
Reggie looked bewildered and nervous. “Hey, my friend. The Princess Beauty lent me to you with the belief that you could keep me out of trouble. I’m fragile, you know.”
“Can I take a magic mirror into a magic mirror?” the prince asked.
Reggie shrugged.
Harry appeared in his mirror. He scratched his head. “The instructions that came with me say that to do so might tear a hole in the dimensional fabric of the universe. We could all implode into a million tiny pieces.”
“Has it ever been tried before?” Charming said impatiently.
“No, sir,” Harry said.
Charming took Reggie off the wall and shoved the mirror into Henry’s hands. “Hank, take Reggie inside when you go.”
Sabrina’s father tried to argue, but Charming had already bolted out of the cabin and back into the fray.
Sabrina could hear the popping and snapping of burning timber. From the irritated sensation in her nose and eyes it was clear the fort was burning. A steady stream of refugees flooded into the cabin and through the portal. Sabrina’s father and mother did their best to hurry them through as a bottleneck of panicked Everafters clogged the door to the cabin. One after another disappeared through the reflection until the only people left behind were King Arthur’s knights, a few brave princes, and most of the Merry Men.
“Where’s Jake?” Henry cried.
Ms. White stepped forward. “I saw him at Briar’s grave. He refuses to leave.”
Henry looked at his mother. Granny Relda was near tears. Then he dashed out of the cabin. Before anyone could stop her, Sabrina raced after him.