Chapter Eighteen:
Divine Judgement

I won't give up.
Now I won't break down.
Sooner than it seems life turns around.
And I will be strong

Even if it all goes wrong,When I'm standing in the dark,I'll still believe.
Someone is watching over me.

Someone's Watching Over Me
Hilary Duff

"The Council of Elders will now come to order." A crisp voice demanded. Looking outside of his magical prison, Sam raised an eyebrow, looking unimpressed. He supposed that they had been surprised and all, but he wasn't amused that seven Crest Holders, including himself, had been captured within five minutes of landing on the world. Reaching out a hand to poke the buzzing energy of the cage, he shook his head when his hand simply passed through it. "The outsiders to the world of Magirth now stand at trial to defend themselves against the count of trespassing on the Heavens, interfering with the World's resident council of Divine Beings, bypassing the World Walls and flying the face of the law of the Galactic Go-."

The man speaking froze when he saw Kairi blatantly step out of her cage, passing through the field of energy as if it didn't affect her at all. Looking back at the sparking prison, and raising a brown eyebrow in defiance of the man leading the court, Kairi crossed her arms, a look of rebellion on her face.

Sighing, Sam followed suit, passing through the energy to stand at Kairi's side. Seeing his friends ignoring their imprisonment, Tidus tried to follow in their steps, yelping when the energy zapped him. Seeing the look, one of mixed relief and anger, directed at him by the Judge, he crossed his arms and glared back.

"I do not understand the charges." Sam announced. "My friends and I were simply entering your world; there hasn't been time for us to break any rules."

The man glowered down at Sam, a slightly impressive sight in his golden robes. "That is what the charge is based on. Since the World Walls were put into place, the Gods and Divine Beings in charge of our Galaxy decreed no being should attempt to break through the Walls and enter other worlds unless invited by one of our Council."

Zelda stepped up beside Kairi. "And if we do not recognise their authority?"

"You will simply be cast into purgatory without a trial." The Judge said simply.

"Uh, yeah, so, about that trial." Sam cut in as Zelda opened her mouth once more. "Hush." He said, more quietly so Zelda could hear. "I don't wanna be sent to purgatory."

"We won't." Zelda replied. "Leave this to me."

Exchanging a look with Kairi, Sam shrugged. Giving him a reassuring smile, Kairi raised her hands, suddenly clothed in the Papal Gloves, banishing the cages keeping their friend imprisoned. Catching the eye-bulging look from the Judge, Sam snickered, inhaling sharply as the stands surrounding the court suddenly filled. Beings cloaked in brown robes sat silently, not a single movement among them. Quirking his mouth, Sam leaned closer to Zelda again. "Yeah, whatever you're doing, do it now."

"Honoured Elders, Guardians of the Forces of White Magic on Magirth, we have come before you despite orders by the Galactic Gods not to visit other worlds." Zelda began, being cut off as the judge waved his hand.

"I'm aware." He said coldly. "And no matter who you are, you do not have the permission of the Galactic Gods to be here."

"We do not answer to the Galactic Gods." Zelda retorted. "Their rulings have no power over the eight of us, nor can their jurisdiction affect us."

"Blasphemy!" The judge spat as the figures watching murmured, clothe rustling as they leaned in to talk to one another. "All beings within this galaxy must answer to the Galactic Gods, no exceptions."

"Who are these gods?" Kairi interrupted simply.

"What?" The Judge blinked, looking astounded.

"Who are these Gods?" Kairi repeated. "I mean, I'm not going to worship a bunch of Gods I know nothing about."

The man drew himself up. "The Galactic Gods are comprised of the members of this Council and the Council of Gods from four other worlds." He snapped. "You are speaking to the Magirth Representative."

"Oh good." Zelda broke in. "This makes things so much easier. Now quiet."

The man sank back down into his throne, looking as if he had been physically slapped. Drawing herself up, Zelda strode forward, a delicate image of pink and white among the clouds of the court room. "Members of the Council of Elders, as of this moment I reverse the decision to imprison us set down upon us by this Elder." She waved her hand towards the judge. Looking directly at the man, Zelda arched her eyebrow. "We are here under orders from the Supreme Gods."

Again, a murmured wave of shock sounded around the room. Sam watched with interest as the Elder up on the throne turned an interesting colour of purple, before smacking his hand down. "Blasphemy! For such lies, you will spend an eternity within purgatory."

Zelda sighed and shook her head. "You'll wish later that you had not done that."

That was all the warning he received before the room darkened. The ceiling, an endless abyss of blue, turned a midnight blue, a white and gold speck of light dropping out of it. Floating down lightly, his eye wings spread to keep himself aloft, Seraphimon, God of Light and Darkness, floated down until he was just above the fog that covered the ground.

The reaction was tumultuous. The robed figures around the room dropped to their knees, genuflecting before the seraphim god. Only the Crest Holders and the Elder remained standing. Looking enraged when the Crest Holders did not drop, the Elder pointed a finger at Zelda, who was smiling serenely, looking as if she were simply out on a picnic. "My lord, these mortals gave sullied your name and broken the laws set down by my Council."

Whose council?

The Elder suddenly froze, drawing a deep breath in. "The Council of Galactic Gods, my Lord. I had a mere slip of the tongue." He answered smoothly.

The young girl proclaimed herself above such a Council. What was your reply, Elder?

The Elder's eyes narrowed. "I informed her that this was impossible, my lord." He added the final title reluctantly. "There is no body in this Universe above my-uh, the Council of Galactic Gods other than the Supreme Gods of course."

Seraphimon floated patiently. Are you aware of recent happenings in this Universe, Elder?

The Elder paused, and then shook his head. "We are forbidden to look outside the World Walls on this world, my lord."

An unfortunate law. If you had, then you would have seen the foretelling of the destruction of this Universe. The ancient Crests have been called, Elder; you have detained and arrested their representatives.

The man's eyes widened, making him looked like a stunned Magikarp, Sam noted with amusement. "But the Crests are still not above my power." He stammered, abandoning all pretences of shared power. "I hold power over the entire galaxy!"

And the Crests hold sway over the very forces this Universe is made from. Your power over their Holders is nonexistent, the Crest Holders answer to no council by the Council of Universal Gods.

Sam snickered, drawing a glare from the Elder. Placing an innocent look on his face, Sam raised his left hand, back up, showing the glowing blue symbol of Friendship.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, as your saying goes. Seraphimon's voice boomed through their beings, felt, rather than head. The Primary Crest Holders are second in power only to the Universal Gods.

Seraphimon suddenly shot upwards in a column of white, gold and blue. I have sent for one of the Patrons to escort you to your goal. His voice made it obvious that he believed this to be over. Though his body was gone, Seraphimon's voice still sounded. After her objective is complete, she will return here to discuss the responsibilities of a Galactic God, as she is the Pokémon World's representative on that Council.

Looking back up at the Elder, Sam could have sworn he saw him twitch. "Fine." He snapped, looking much lesser impressive from his new position on the ground. "In this case, I order the eight of you to -."

"No." Feeling much more confident, Sam shook his head. "You heard the big angel guy. We're here to do something else, not listen to you."

An explosion of green suddenly filled Sam's vision. Giving a yelp, he stumbled back, finding himself looking up at a large bird. Vibrant green feathers, reminding Sam of leaves, made up the main colour of the creature's plumage, while red feathers outlined the green. Black antennae moved independently of one another, while a large tail arched over the creature's body to fall at her feet. Her wings nestled against her body while she surveyed the scene before her.

Gulping, Sam simply stared at as the Legendary Bird Pokémon, Echotrance, shuffled around until she could see the Elder.

"Aramis, what has been going on here?" Her beak opened to reveal a light voice, like the whisper of moving leaves. "I was told to arrive here as soon as possible."

The Elder, Aramis, Sam corrected himself, look at the member of the Wings of Council with something that looked close to disdain. "I was informed that we have no power over these individuals."

"Perhaps you should attend the Galactic Council more frequently, Wise One." Echotrance answered diplomatically. "The news was passed down to myself, Mindy, Baihumon, Valoo and Carbuncle at the last Council, which you were mysteriously absent from."

Aramis scowled. "As the current appointed leader of the Council, I do not see why I sho-."

"Should not attend every meeting? I understand." Echotrance cut through. "I will take my leave now, however. The Crest Holders must complete their circle. Excuse me."

Turning around, she looked at the group. "If you would hold onto my feathers, honoured ones, I will take you to the two remaining members of your group."

Sam blinked in surprise, and then sighed. It seemed today was only going to get stranger.