Jane squinted at her for a long time, probably trying to decide if Ally was for real or not. “Rabbit prints,” Jane repeated dubiously. “Are you seriously trying to tell me that a rabbit stole my mother’s watch?”
“Not just any rabbit,” Ally explained eagerly. “The kind of rabbit who talks and wears waistcoats and is obsessed with watches.” She expected Jane to shout out the answer right away, but when she didn’t, Ally sighed and said, “The White Rabbit!”
Jane looked at Ally like she was crazy. “Like from Wonderland?”
Ally nodded. “Except he’s not in Wonderland anymore. Somehow, he’s here. In Auradon. Eating carrot cakes, and destroying Spirit Weekend banners, and stealing watches. Get it? Watches! He’s obsessed with time! All the clues add up. The thing on the head of the shadow you saw? It wasn’t a ponytail, it was a set of rabbit ears! And the pattering of feet you heard in the hallway? Those were his feet.”
Jane sighed, clearly growing impatient with her. “Ally, I really don’t want to get involved.”
“I know you think I’m crazy,” Ally said, “but I assure you, it all makes sense. Look at this.” Ally reached into the pocket of her dress, and a moment later, she pulled out a long gold chain. On the end of it dangled the old, broken pocket watch.
“Mum’s pocket watch!” Ally cried. “I’d completely forgotten about it. Until I remembered it, of course!”
“Of course,” Jane said sarcastically.
“And I remembered that when I broke it, the clock stopped. At one thirty p.m.! It was the connection I’d been looking for!” Ally continued.
Jane obviously wasn’t following. And she looked like she was about to kick Ally right out of her dorm room. Ally knew she had to talk fast if she was going to convince Jane her theory was right.
“This pocket watch is some kind of clue. You see, it’s my mum’s. From Wonderland. She said it was very old and very fragile, and she once warned me that I should never ever break it. But then yesterday, I broke it. Well, technically Dino broke it, but that’s not important. What is important is that it’s dead. Its heart stopped.”
“Watches don’t have hearts,” Jane pointed out grumpily.
“They most certainly do!” Ally said defensively. “How else would I be able to tell that the watch is dead? It stopped at exactly one thirty p.m., just minutes before the cake was eaten. Then shortly after that, your watch disappeared. Don’t you understand?”
Jane massaged her forehead, like this whole thing was giving her a headache. “No, I don’t. I don’t understand anything.”
Ally pointed at the large crack on the glass face of the watch. “I think breaking this watch is somehow connected to the White Rabbit coming here to Auradon. Everything that has gone wrong around here started when this watch broke, which means…”
Ally’s voice trailed off as a troubling feeling settled over her. Her shoulders slouched. Her face fell. The room seemed to darken.
“Wait. It means this is all my fault,” she finally whispered, almost too quietly for anyone else to hear. “All this time I’ve been looking for the person responsible, when actually I’ve been the person responsible.”
Ally was genuinely distressed. She felt like she might burst into tears.
At this, Jane seemed to soften a little bit, as though her anger about everything that had happened couldn’t compete with the empathy she felt for her friend.
“Well, I’m sure that’s not true,” Jane said consolingly. “You just said that Dino broke the watch, not you.”
“Yes, but I found it. And instead of giving it straight to my mum, I decided I wanted to keep it and clean it up. That’s how it got broken. If Audrey finds out that it’s my fault the signs were ruined, then she’ll convince everyone to hate me!” Ally felt tears welling up as she stared pleadingly into the eyes of her best friend.
Jane stared back, her own eyes conflicted. And then Ally saw the shift in Jane’s expression. Her earlier resolve to not get involved in any more madness was quickly being replaced by a look of protectiveness as years’ worth of friendship shone through the rain cloud that had settled over the girls.
“Well,” Jane said meekly, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, “we won’t tell Audrey. We won’t tell anyone. Until we figure this out.”
Ally exhaled and sniffled, feeling relieved to hear Jane say that. It wasn’t total forgiveness, but at least she knew her secret was safe.
Jane took the watch from Ally and ran her hand over the cracked glass. Ally had to admit Jane looked slightly intrigued by the broken heirloom.
“So, let’s say this backward logic of yours makes sense,” Jane began hesitantly.
“It does make sense,” Ally affirmed.
“Fine,” Jane agreed. “If all of this is true, then why would the White Rabbit do all of these things? Like, why would he snatch your cake and steal my watch and ruin all of the Spirit Weekend signs? He’s not a villain, right?”
Ally pursed her lips in thought. “No, not really. He’s…well, he’s complicated. I mean, he didn’t get banished to the Isle of the Lost like all the other villains, but he was loyal to the Queen of Hearts, who was a villain. But mostly because he was just terrified of losing his head, like everyone else. So I don’t think he’s evil, per se. According to Mum, he was always just very anxious and restless.” Ally stopped and studied Jane’s expression for a moment, trying to determine what her friend was thinking.
“You do believe me, right?” Ally asked.
Jane didn’t say anything for a long time. Then she murmured, “I don’t know, Ally. This all just seems a little…”
“Mad, I know,” Ally said with a sigh. “And I understand if you don’t want to get involved again. Especially after what happened last time. But I also know that if I don’t figure out how he got here or how to stop him from wreaking havoc on our school, then he’ll do something much worse. Like ruin Mal’s concert.”
“That would be bad,” Jane agreed. “Mal’s been planning this surprise for Ben for months. So what are you going to do? Try to catch him?”
Ally immediately shook her head. “Mum tried that once. It got her into a whole lot of trouble. If there’s one thing I learned growing up, it’s that you don’t go chasing white rabbits.”
“Then what?”
Ally tapped her forehead, trying to organize her thoughts. Meanwhile, Jane turned the watch around and around in her palm, thinking.
And that’s when Ally saw it.
The engraving on the back!
“Wait!” she said, reaching out to take the pocket watch back from Jane. She turned it over to study the letters etched into the metal surface. Ally had first seen the words when she found the watch under the floorboard.
“I bet he could help!”
Jane leaned in and read the engraving.
“ ‘Mr. Weiden’?” Jane asked. “Who’s that?”
“The watchmaker! It has to be. Watchmakers always stamp their names into the backs of the watches they make. And if he made this watch, then he might know how it’s connected to the White Rabbit.”
Ally immediately pulled out her phone and opened a search. She typed in MR. WEIDEN WATCHMAKER. Both girls stared at the phone in anticipation.
When the results came back, Ally felt her stomach clench with disappointment.
“It says there is no result for ‘Mr. Weiden watchmaker,’ ” Jane said.
Ally harrumphed. “Hmmm. He must not be listed.”
“Maybe you should ask your mom about this,” Jane suggested.
Ally shook her head. “I don’t want to ask Mum. For starters, I’d have to admit that I broke the watch and she’ll undoubtedly be cross about that. Plus, she always acts a little peculiar when I ask her questions about Wonderland. Like she doesn’t want to think about it. She won’t even visit Tweedleton because…”
Ally’s voice trailed off again and she was suddenly lost in her own thoughts.
“Ally?” Jane asked, waving a hand in front of her face. “Hel
lo!”
Jane’s voice sounded like it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.
Ally blinked and focused back on her friend.
“I have to go there!” Ally announced decidedly.
Jane squinted, clearly not able to keep up. “Go where?”
“To Tweedleton! It’s where a bunch of Mum’s Wonderland friends retired. There has to be someone there who knows about this watch, someone who can help me understand what happened and how to fix it so I can save Spirit Weekend!”
“How are you going to get there?” Jane asked apprehensively. “You’re not old enough to drive and I don’t think anyone here is in the mood to give you a ride right now.”
“Hmmm,” Ally said, pretending to think very hard. “If only I knew someone who could magically turn regular items into modes of transportation. Someone whose mother, perhaps, is famous for doing just that.” She stared pointedly at Jane until Jane understood.
“No,” Jane replied immediately. “Last time I helped you out, I ended up completely humiliating myself. Plus, I’m not allowed to use my magic.”
“Oh, c’mon,” Ally begged. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for the White Rabbit. Do it for Spirit Weekend!” Ally tilted her head and stared at Jane with large pleading blue eyes.
Jane looked like she was having some kind of argument inside her own head. Finally, she said, “Fine. I’ll do it. To get my mom’s watch back.” Jane paused for a moment, before quickly adding, “And to save Spirit Weekend.”
I didn’t want to be late for our very important date…in Tweedleton!
The two girls stood in the center of the tea shop, searching for something for Jane to transform.
“A teacup?” Ally suggested, wondering what kind of vehicle a teacup would turn into.
Jane shook her head. “I’d feel more comfortable with food. My mom always preferred vegetables.”
Ally ran into the kitchen and returned a moment later holding a bright-green ripe cucumber. “How about this? It was the only produce I could find. We use them for cucumber sandwiches.”
Jane took it and turned it around in her hand, examining it from all angles. “This could work.”
“Great!” Ally exclaimed.
But Jane didn’t move. She just continued to stare at the cucumber with hesitation.
“What?” Ally asked. “Wrong vegetable? Wrong color? Wrong shape? I think I could probably find some old cabbage in the Dumpster out back.”
“No,” Jane said, biting her lip. “I just…you really think that someone in Tweedleton will be able to tell you how the White Rabbit got into Auradon?”
“Of course,” Ally said with certainty. “The White Rabbit lives in Wonderland and these people in Tweedleton are all originally from Wonderland, so they have to be able to help.”
Jane nodded. “I guess that sounds logical.”
There was that word again. Ally really disliked that word. “What’s so great about being logical anyway?” Ally asked.
“Because it means that something makes sense and follows order and rules.”
Ally crinkled her nose. “That sounds like a horrible thing to be. I don’t follow any order or any rules.”
“I hadn’t noticed,” Jane said sarcastically.
“And you know?” Ally went on, ignoring Jane’s jab. “You could probably stand to be a little un-logical every once in a while, as well.”
“It’s illogical,” Jane corrected. “Not un-logical.”
Ally frowned. “That makes no sense at all!”
Jane giggled. It was the first time Ally had heard her laugh in a long time. It was a nice sound, and it made Ally giggle, too. “I guess maybe that’s the point.”
“Well, I say it’s un-logical,” Ally maintained. “And that’s exactly what I strive to be. Un-logical.”
Jane laughed again. “Then congratulations, Ally. Because you are the most un-logical person I know.”
Ally beamed. “Thank you.” Then her smile fell for a moment. “Wait, is that a compliment?”
Jane nodded. “Absolutely. Now let’s do this.” She turned and carried the cucumber out the door.
Ally clapped her hands and followed. “Goody! I just love magic. What do you think you’ll be able to turn the cucumber into? A glamorous trolley? A first-class airplane? A stretch limo?”
Jane set the cucumber down on the ground, took a step back, and called out, “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!”
An explosion of green sparkles and smoke erupted around the cucumber, and a second later, Jane and Ally were staring at a huge…
Ally tilted her head. “Uh, what is that, exactly?”
Jane studied it, too, trying to make sense of what she had conjured. “I think it’s a canoe.”
It was indeed a canoe. A long green canoe with two seats and paddles attached to the sides.
Ally didn’t want to be rude. After all, Jane was using her magic to help her out, and it seemed the two of them were maybe starting to get along again. But there was no way she was going to get to Tweedleton in a canoe. “Um, Jane, darling,” she said as politely as she could. “This is lovely. Simply lovely. But the problem is, Tweedleton is a landlocked town. I can’t very well travel there by water.”
Jane winced. “Oh. Whoops. My bad. I’m still getting the hang of this whole magic thing. I haven’t gotten it completely under control yet. I still don’t know what will come out when I say the words ‘Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo.’ ”
Suddenly, there was another blast of green glitter. It surprised the girls, who both jumped back from the transforming canoe. After the puffs of smoke had cleared, Ally stared at the new vehicle in front of them and her hopes came crashing to the ground. Maybe asking Jane for help wasn’t the best idea she’d ever had.
“And that’s a bicycle,” Ally said blankly.
“A bicycle built for two,” Jane corrected, as if that made all the difference.
And it was different, all right. Ally had never seen a bicycle for two people before. It looked like someone had taken two normal bicycles and glued them together, creating one long bike with two seats, two sets of pedals, and one handlebar in the front.
Once again, Ally didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but she was feeling a little bit hopeless at the moment. “It’s divine, really,” she said, stepping forward to give the bike a tap. “And so sturdy. Well, done, you. I’m just not sure how I’m supposed to get to Tweedleton on this. Perhaps you can whip me up something else?”
Jane shook her head solemnly. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea to transform it again. You might risk losing quality. I think this is the best I’m going to be able to do.”
Ally bit her lip, trying to think of a way to turn this dead end around. “Right, then,” she said brightly. “No problem. I’m sure this is perfectly simple to ride once I get the hang of it.”
Ally hiked up her blue-and-white dress and stepped over the bike, sitting down on the first seat. She positioned her feet on the pedals, took a deep breath, and pushed off, pumping her legs. She was able to maneuver the bike about three feet forward, but it was simply too big for just one person and she eventually toppled over onto the grass.
“Oof!” she cried out.
Jane cringed. “Ally, I—”
“Not to worry!” Ally called, hopping back up and attempting to mount the bike again. “I just need a little more practice. I’m sure it’s just like riding a bike.”
“Ally,” Jane said more sternly. “Stop. Just stop.”
Ally brought her feet to the ground and fought to steady the long bike, which wobbled beneath her. “What?”
Jane looked like she was trying hard not to laugh. “First of all, you need a helmet. And second of all, I’m coming with you.”
Ally felt a lump of gratitude form in her throat. “You’re going to come with me?”
“Well, someone needs to help you ride that bike.”
“But I thought you were cross with me,” Ally said. “For making you look like a fool in f
ront of everyone.”
Jane stared at her feet. “I am. I mean, I was.”
Ally immediately lightened at Jane’s use of the past tense, and she let out a huge sigh of relief. “So does this mean you finally believe me?”
Jane thought about that for such a long time, Ally began to fidget. Then Jane spoke very softly. “I guess it doesn’t matter if I believe you. I believe in you.”
Ally felt her whole body warm with appreciation toward her best friend. “Thank you, Jane. For not running off and telling everyone this is all my fault.”
“I don’t think it is all your fault.”
“Yes, well, thank you for keeping my secret.”
Jane shrugged. “That’s what friends do.”
Ally felt a pang at the word friends. She certainly hadn’t been a very good one to Jane lately. She’d been so obsessed with proving to everyone she could solve a mystery that she hadn’t stopped to think how her obsession would affect Jane. “And I’m sorry,” Ally added quickly. “For…everything.”
“It’s okay,” Jane said. “I…I know you were just trying to help me get my mom’s watch back. And I can’t really blame you for that. Even though your methods might be a little illogical”—Ally shot her a look—“sorry, un-logical,” Jane corrected, “I know your heart is in the right place.”
Ally put her hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat. “Well, I should hope so. If it were in my foot, I’m afraid I’d be dead.”
Jane giggled. “You always find the most peculiar ways to see things. I really love that about you.”
Ally grinned. “And I love how loyal of a friend you are.” The two girls stood there, smiling at each other, before Ally realized they were losing time. “C’mon. We’re late! For a very important date!”
Jane looked confused. “Did you call someone in Tweedleton and make an appointment?”
Ally shook her head. “No, silly. It’s just an expression.”
Jane ran over and was about to hop on the bike, but something made her pause. She glanced around, and after spotting two mushrooms growing in the grass nearby, cried out, “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!” The mushrooms instantly grew and morphed into two light brown bike helmets. Jane picked them up, handed one to Ally, and placed the other atop her own head.
Ally's Mad Mystery Page 7