I do not own Lilo and Stitch, Kim Possible or American Dragon: Jake Long. Zee and Zorax are my OCs.
Let Justice be Served!
No way! Zee thought in disbelief as she stared at Lilo and Stitch in shock before a wide smile crossed her face. Maybe I'm not sunk after all.
Cobra Bubbles bolted upwards from his seat. He was unable to get to the girl and illegal genetic experiment, as he was located in the side seats of the Council Room. The social worker yanked his black sunglasses off and glared at Lilo and Stitch with such fury Zee took a small step back in fear. "What are you two doing here?"
Lilo tilted her chin in the air with determination. "I already told you. We are here to testify for Zee's innocence."
"You will leave immediately," Cobra said angrily.
Lilo ignored the ex-CIA agent and turned to the stunned Grand Councilwoman. "Witnesses are allowed to come up and testify, correct?"
"Yes," the Grand Councilwoman said slowly.
"Then it's only fair that Stitch and I get to testify. The truth must be told!" Lilo pumped her fist in the air dramatically.
The Grand Councilwoman glanced at Gantu. The Captain shrugged. What Lilo spoke was the truth, and there really wasn't much they could do. Kicking the little girl out would result in an infraction of the Galactic Democratic Laws. "You may speak," the Grand Councilwoman said finally.
Lilo grinned and faced the council before her, ready to make her speech. "You all think Zee is nothing but trouble. But really, you have only looked at her negative qualities."
"All she has is negative qualities!" a council member exclaimed.
Lilo frowned. "Everyone has positive qualities," she said firmly. "It's just a matter of being able to see them. I know that there's the belief that Zee is the one that caused my surf accident. That is incorrect."
"Cousin saved us," Stitch said.
Lilo nodded. "And I know you're all mad because Zee broke a bunch of rules like stealing ships and robbing banks, and you have a right to be mad. But Zee didn't do any of those things for fun or to taunt you. She did them because she needed to survive, and those were the only ways she thought of that would help her do that."
"We were never going to exterminate her," the Grand Councilwoman interjected.
"But she didn't know that. And even if she did, would you just lie down and wait for someone to arrest you?" Lilo asked. "The greatest thing about surviving anywhere in the galaxy is having freedom. When you're after someone, intending to take away that freedom, then you really are making them fight for their life."
Whoa, Zee thought, impressed. This girl is good.
The entire Council Room was as stunned as Zee. The words the little girl spoke were wise beyond her years and there was also truth within them. The Grand Councilwoman cleared her throat, managing to find her voice again. "I must remind you that 000 sabotaged the Galactic Armada by vandalizing ships and blowing up our headquarters."
Lilo rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "I assume you started going after Zee because you discovered she was an unnatural creation, a species that did not exist. And because of this, she had to be arrested. Am I on the right track?"
The Grand Councilwoman nodded slowly. Lilo shook her head. "There's the problem! The same one you had with Stitch. You wanted to arrest them because they were illegal genetic creations and for no other reason. I bet when you first started shooting at Zee, she became afraid." Lilo looked towards her friend for confirmation.
"I was terrified," Zee agreed. "At first, I didn't understand why I was being targeted by the Galactic Armada. I guess I figured that your pursuit of me would stop if I got rid of your main base."
Stitch motioned for her to continue and Zee suddenly realized that this was her chance to explain herself. "I blew up your headquarters out of anger. I was mad because I had heard about the other experiments on Earth and how they were living happily. I was mad you had given them a chance, but were still hunting me down. It doesn't excuse what I did, and I really am sorry about that. It was a stupid move done at a time where I was frustrated and tired of it all."
The Grand Councilwoman stared at Zee for a moment. "I understand why you would have been frustrated, but nonetheless you must pay the consequences for the laws you have broken. Perhaps the sentence can be brought down to-"
"Wait!" Stitch cried. "Remember when meega landed on Earth? You let Stitch stay with family."
"Yeah!" Lilo agreed. "Even though Stitch was supposed to be arrested, you sent to him to 'exile' on Earth. Why is Zee an exception?"
"I saw some good and redemption in 626. He had found a family and was no longer a savage beast."
"Well, Zee has good in her and she has a family," Lilo insisted. "Whether she was meant to be an experiment or not, she is still 000 and that makes her our cousin." Lilo tilted her head high and stared firmly at the Grand Councilwoman. "I myself have made many mistakes, but does Nani judge me on that? No. Stitch has made tons of mistakes and I don't judge him on those either. Zee has apologized for her actions, and this all started because you wanted her punished for something she could not help.
"If all of you want to hold a grudge and not give Zee a second chance like everyone deserves, so be it. I just hope you can live with your conscious constantly reminding you how you refused to give justice when you yourself would do anything to be given a second chance if you were in this same situation."
"Ohana means family. Family means no one gets left behind, or forgotten," Stitch added. "Zee family. And we won't leave cousin behind."
Zee was touched. She struggled to keep her tears at bay and glanced at the two who had come all this way to help fight for her. She had come to Earth looking for freedom and a place to hide. Instead, she found a family and someone that was willing to give her a second chance.
The Grand Councilwoman stared at Lilo for a long moment. Finally she said, "All of those who believe that 000 should be given a second chance, raise your hand."
Lilo and Stitch raised their hands high in the air. Zee put both her hands high and bit her lip nervously.
Cobra regarded Zee carefully, glanced at Lilo and Stitch, raised his hand.
Reuben thoughtfully studied 000 and put his own paw in the air. Gantu raised an eyebrow. Reuben shrugged, a slight smile on his face. "We cousins gotta stick together."
Gantu sighed and reluctantly raised his own hand. "I can't believe I'm doing this after she trashed my ship."
The Grand Councilwoman held her hand up and gave a curt nod towards the flabbergasted alien.
Zee watched in shock as nearly every hand in the place went up slowly. I can't believe this is happening.
"I declare that 000-now to be known as Zee-will be given a second chance to prove her redemption." Zee collapsed on her platform in relief. "But-"
I knew there was going to be a but.
"-you must repair and restore every ship you destroyed."
Zee pushed herself up a little bit, jaw slack. "I must have crashed at least twenty ships! All of which I'm very sorry about," she added quickly.
"Then you have a lot of work ahead of you," the Grand Councilwoman said curtly.
Zee nodded in acceptance. After all, it was the least she could do.
Lilo cheered and high-fived Stitch. "Zee is free! Zee is free! We did it!"
"The first ship you will repair belongs to someone you know rather well," the Grand Councilwoman spoke.
I have a bad feeling about this.
"You report to Zorax the Intergalactic Bounty Hunter sometime this week to repair his damages."
Zee was sorely tempted to point that she was technically not the one who caused the destruction, but decided not to push her luck. "Yes ma'am."
I knew I should've thrown old Zorky in the pits when I had the chance!
"We will remove your restraints, but you will be required to wear a monitor cuff so that we can track your movements as a precautionary measure."
"That's fair," Zee agreed. Really, she would agree to nearly anything at this point if it meant no more fugitive days.
The Grand Councilwoman nodded. "I think we've all learned something worthwhile today, and it's all thanks to Lilo and Stitch. Court is adjourned. Enjoy your freedom, 0-Zee, and use it wisely."
"I promise," Zee said sincerely.
And it was a promise she would not break.