The Cloud Castle

THE TREASURE ROOM

"The Cloud Castle is filled with beautiful and interesting places," I remarked as we climbed up the staircase.
   We reached a landing, and Galatea led us through a door at the top. It revealed a hallway lined with Silver Doors decorated with crystals.
   "Those are the rooms of the fairies of the Grand Council," she explained.
   "It almost looks like dormitory at Mouseford!" Pam remarked.
   "With a lot more BLING," Violet said, touching the door.
   "The Hidden Passageway is on this floor, but we must pass through here quietly," Galatea whispered. "The fairies should all be asleep, but if anyone WAKES and finds us here, there will be trouble."

   We tiptoed down the hallway and turned down another one. The walls of this hall were made of Purple Clouds with white patterns on them. Crystal scones LIT UP the walls.
   "The door to the passageway is here, but it is invisible," Galatea told us. "If I had my crystal, I could find it more easily. But without it, I am not sure where to LOOK."
   "So now what do we do?" asked Pam.
   "We must carefully feel the wall," Galatea answered. "The door is invisible, but we should still be able to find the doorknob."
   It was a long hallway, so we quickly got to work, running our paws over every surface of the Cloud Walls.

   "Cheese and Crackers, I just can't find it!" Pam said after we had been looking for a few minutes.
   "I can't find anything, either," Violet said. 
   Galatea put a warning finger to her lips.
   "Shhh. We must not Wake Anyone."
   "Sorry," whispered the mouselets.
   We quietly continued our search.
   I carefully moved my paws up and down the walls. The doorknob had to be there somewhere! Then, at last, I felt something solid and Round beneath my paw.

It was smooth and cold.
   I grasped it and turned it. Immediately, I heard a CLACK, and the invisible door sung open.
   Behind me, I heard the others GASP in surprise. The wall had opened into a secret passageway!
   "You Did It!" cheered Violet.
   "With a little patience and a little luck," I said with a smile.
   I gazed through the door. There was a staircase just ahead, leading UPWARD.
   Galatea grabbed my arm. "WAIT, I forgot to tell you something important. After we go through the door to the Treasure Room, we cannot pass through it again. Once we leave, we must exit through the HALL OF MIRRORS. It is a twisty corridor of mirrors that can create DANGEROUS ILLUSIONS."

"What do you mean?" Violet asked.
   "Some of the images that the mirrors REFLECT are not real," the fairy explained. "We Cloud Fairies know which are fake images right away, because we are creatures of the sky, pure and clear. But it may not be so easy for you."
   "Because we come from the WORLD BELOW?" I asked.
   Galatea nodded. "Exactly, Thea."
   Violet looked thoughtful. "I was in a house of mirrors at a carnival once," she said. "I couldn't tell which refelction was the real me, and it terrified me!"
   "Those who are afraid will not make it out of the Hall of Mirrors," Galatea warned.

Violet took a deep breath. "I will be STRONG. I can do it."
   "I know you can, Violet!" Pam said, putting a paw on her shoulder.
   "And we will be right there to help you through it," I promised her.
   "Well then, are you ready?" Galatea asked. Pam and Violet looked at me and nodded firmly.
   "Good," Galatea said. "I'll go first."
   Then we walked up the stairs and entered the TREASURE ROOM.