Chapter Thirty: Trial and Error (Part One)

Euphoria felt a familiar ripple through her mind. Nabu appeared. He looked around, surprised at the dark emptiness. Euphoria was always an expressive girl. She had vivid dreams and creative ideas. Her mind was always an inviting place. It was no longer the case. It had been months since the battle against John. He heard she accidentally killed him with her Enchantix powers. Apparently, it hit her hard. It broke his heart to see how it effected her. This was his fault. She walked to him, but there was no scenery created. Nabu took Euphoria in his arms and apologized. It wouldn't change things, but there was nothing else he could do.

"Things will be harder when you wake up," Nabu warned her. Euphoria looked at him with tears in her puffy eyes. They were already irritated from her lack of sleep and crying. Even in her dreams that was all she could do. Nabu wiped her eyes. "This trial will be brutal, mentally and probably emotionally too. Just be strong once more. I promise this is the last time I will hurt you."

"I should have listened to your warning."

"I should have listened to your common sense." Nabu let her go and backed into the darkness. "It's time for you to wake up now. Be strong."

Euphoria's eyes slowly opened. She turned over and groaned. She had been dreading this day for a while. It was the day of the trial. She rolled out of bed and shuffled to the bathroom. After a shower, she got dressed and ate breakfast. It surprised her that she could eat. She had to testify today. Her lawyers assured her it was an open and shut case. She wanted it over quick. Then she could put everything behind her and move on. She thought about the rose Nabu gave her, stopped, and concentrated on something else. Ignoring the constant alerts on her phone, she went to the Sovereign Court House.


Regina was glad she brought shades. She knew trials sometimes were public spectacles, but this was extreme. It seemed every move she made warranted a picture. They were all together: Regina, Ismene, Topaz, Euphoria, Semiramis, and Pandora. When Tecna, Musa, and their parents came, they were almost blinded by lights! The old Winx and new Winx together was too good to pass up.

Stella posed and waved. Musa shook her head. "This isn't the red carpet, Stella."

"Maybe not, but I can't help, but give them what they want," Stella said flipping her hair into the wind.

The mood soured when Nabu arrived. He got harsh glares from his former friends and their children with the exception of Flora, Topaz, and Euphoria. It hurt. Euphoria looked at him with eyes full of pity. Nabu looked away and went inside. The rest followed later. They walked inside the courtroom and sat in the plaintiff section. It had to be spelled to allow their lawyers room. Nabu only had Miele. "Open and shut," Pandora whispered to Topaz. She nodded; she didn't know what Nabu could do with just one defender.

The moment the trial was scheduled to begin, they were commanded to stand. Three elves with long white hair and white robes approached the front of the courtroom. They were to preside over the intergalactic court. No one knew their names; they lived separate from society as observers. This method kept the elvish triad unbiased and unaffected by outside influences. Once they sat, everyone present did as well.

The elf in the middle stood again. "It is high noon of the ides of Magix's fifth lunar cycle. The trial of Andros plus Five versus Nabu has begun. Prosecution commence with your opening statement."

A representative of the Winx's collective lawyers stood. Since the triad assigned guilt and punishment, they were the only people who needed convincing. "Your honors the struggle of good and evil has been fought since our earliest recollection. In our world that's all it comes down to. Evil causes destruction, damage, and hurt. Evil is the reason our world isn't perfect. With the exception of witches, we're taught to suppress dark thoughts. Sometimes it's hard to ignore the darkness. Most of us do, but the defendant did not. He was unhappy with his world and heartbroken. These are difficult emotions; most people say they would do anything to get over depression, but those people don't really mean anything. Would most people want to destroy their friends' marriages for their happiness? Would most people attempt to murder children for happiness?! No, most people wouldn't even consider such things, but Nabu of Andros did. The defendant ignored good and got close to killing eleven children, including an unborn baby. The defendant is more than guilty; he's evil." The Winx's lawyer sat in the plaintiff's section.

Miele stood up and walked in front of the Elvish Triad. She held her head high and began her opening statement. "The prosecution is quick to mention good and evil, but just good and evil as if there are no shades of grey. The prosecution is quick to speak of my client's allegations, but won't expound on context. My client is far from evil. Honestly, my client only committed one crime. He confessed to it and has made no excuses. He could have. My client suffers from Temporal Disturbance Syndrome. TDS is what you call the inability to adapt to a time period after displacement. Time is an interesting phenomena that we often take for granted. After waking up from a twenty-four year coma and being thrust into a new world without time to adapt, Nabu of Andros made bad choices. He aided and abetted dark magical beings. He is remorseful and ready to receive your sentence. However, the latter charges against my client are both unsubstantiated as well as superfluous. My client is not a terrorist. These same realms ready to give him such a label forgot about his sacrifice on Tir Nan Og and his work on Andros prior to his coma. My client never conspired to murder. He's not a malicious mastermind. He never kidnapped those princesses. He did not trespass telepathically, hex, steal, misuse anti-magic or strip the powers of the heavy metals fairy. You will find my client is not guilty. Then hopefully the savior of Tir Nan Og can get some much-needed help adjusting with his TDS and move on."

Miele gave a satisfied look to the Winx's lawyers. The representative of their legal team stood up and called Darcy to the stand. She held her back in pain and waddled to the stand. She looked as if she would drop at any moment. Timmy walked her with grave concern. Darcy leaned back and looked at the prosecutor. "Darcy of Whisperia, are you aware that you are unable to speak untruths in this courtroom via magic?"

"Yep."

"Are you also aware that this courtroom was charmed to give you temporary perfect recollection?"

"Yes."

"Very well, how are you acquainted with the defendant?" As he spoke, the ceiling of the courtroom began to display Darcy's memories.

"I'm not really. He visited my husband when he woke up from his coma. I didn't trust him then," Darcy glared at Nabu, "I was right."

"What were you right about?"

"That he shouldn't be trusted. He wasn't pleased to see me with Timmy. He asked too many questions, and hated the responses. So when Icy and Stormy came to me saying a wizard hired them to kill the children of the Winx and their boyfriends, I knew it was Nabu."

Their lawyer folded his arms. "So what did you do?"

"I protected my son and husband. Icy and Stormy were in my house when I got Xavier from school. They had Timmy in their clutches and asked for my son." Darcy almost growled. "He shot Timmy out their hands and after they were safe, I fought my sisters."

"You were hospitalized."

"Yeah."

"You are pregnant."

"Yeah."

"So that means you got into that fight with-child."

"Yes." Darcy rubbed her stomach in concern.

"That's a lot to go through. You overexerted your powers, then were smashed by ice and electrocuted. Pregnant! How did you did you manage?"

"Medicinal magic. I almost miscarried, twice. I stayed on bed-rest under the guise of being allergic to the bandages that heals bones."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I only have one last question. What were your sisters after?"

"I've already answered this. My son, not me, Xavier."

"No further questions."

Miele stood up and approached the bench. "Darcy of Whisperia, exactly how did you know my client was after Xavier?"

"I already said this, Icy and Stormy told me."

"Really they said Nabu specifically?"

Darcy thought back to her conversation with Icy and Stormy. They didn't say Nabu. "No."

"What exactly did they tell you?"

Darcy leaned back. "I don't have to answer this."

"Then don't, but tell me this. If Icy and Stormy were after Xavier, why did they approach you first?"

Darcy opened her mouth and closed it. She thought about the question before answering. "They wanted to reunite our coven."

"So they wanted more than just Xavier...! The infamous Trix. You pissed a lot of people off back then," Miele thought about herself specifically. She remembered how Flora got her Enchantix. Darcy was going to pay for it now. "Considering your past and the Winx's past how were you so sure it was Nabu and not another wizard?"

Darcy scoffed. "Because I have common sense."

"You didn't have facts. Without facts you planted paranoia into Ismene of Eraklyon and First Princess Regina of Andros's heads and gave them dark magic!"

"Objection, the defense is leading the witness!"

"Sustained," the elf on the left replied.

"I apologize. I shouldn't have brought up your past. You're notable for your work in antimagic now, correct?"

"Yes."

Miele produced the antimagic bracelet Regina was bound to. "Do you know what this is?"

"Obviously."

"Then, please explain to the court how it works."

"It's an antimagic bracelet specifically made to contain shadowfire."

Miele smirked. "Ah, so anybody can activate this."

"No. It only recognizes shadowfire. Timmy made it in case our baby loses control of her powers."

"Shadowfire... You're the witch of shadowfire correct?"

"Somewhat, it manifested in me."

"So you know if someone possesses shadowfire and dragonfire correct?"

"Yeah."

"Does Nabu have shadowfire?"

Darcy wanted to claw Miele's eyes out. "...no."

"So he couldn't have activated this device."

"..."

"No further questions."

"The prosecution has no follow-up questions for this witness your honors."

Another representative rose and called Topaz to the stand. "Topaz of Isis," She was surprised to know that was her full name, but it made sense. She never had documentation that swore allegiance to Eraklyon and she was born on Isis. "are you aware that you are unable to speak untruths in this courtroom via magic?" She agreed and began to tell of her troubles with Nabu. She told the court about having to save Euphoria and Regina. Then she gave a detailed recollection of Semiramis's ceremony. The prosecution had a strong case, but she was nervous when Miele approached her.

Miele smiled a little when looking at Topaz. She didn't look much like her sister, but when she concentrated she could see some of Flora's features. She could mainly see her sister in Topaz's eyes. Miele wouldn't be too tough on her; she was also doing this for her. If she could get Nabu out of his charges, she could definitely get Flora out of hers! She would. Then she would catch up on all the years she missed. "Topaz of Isis, you've testified about my client endangering your friends on the basis of hating the offspring of the original Winx Club, correct?"

"Yes."

"Who are your parents?"

Topaz felt like she was walking into a trap. "Flora of Linphea and A-anagan of Earth."

"Is that the same Flora of the original Winx Club?" Miele was still gazing into Topaz's eyes. Of course it was the same Flora.

"Yes."

"Interesting. What did my client do to you?"

Topaz frowned. "John and Stormy tried to kill me." A broadcast of Topaz's memory was shown to the court.

Miele leaned forward. "I'm sorry this happened to you, but this happened when my client was in custody. Has my client done anything to you, specifically, indirectly or directly?"

Topaz could only remember fighting John and Pandora's spell. Like Miele said, the attack in Eraklyon happened after Nabu surrendered and had nothing to do with him. It was the same with Pandora's spell, that was pettiness. After a long silence full of thought, Topaz realized Nabu hadn't done anything to her. "no, he hasn't..."

"Have you even seen my client prior to today?"

Topaz grabbed a lock of her hair and looked at the floor. "No."

"No further questions."

The Winx's lawyers talked among themselves before allowing Topaz to leave the stand. They called Ismene to the stand. It was pretty much the same story, saving Euphoria and Regina, and the inconvenience of switching schools. Miele stood up ready to shake her testimony.

"You speak of Princess Regina of Andros an Princess Euphoria of Solaria, but what about you? What did my client do to you?"

"John forced himself in my dreams."

Miele smirked. "So? You do the same to your fellow Winx."

"Objection!"

The elf on the left responded. "Sustained, tread lightly Miele of Linphea."

"My apologizes, your honors. You are the Witch of Nightmares correct?"

"Yes."

"So this is your speciality. How are you sure Nabu helped John get into your mind?"

Ismene was unabe to lie. "I'm not."

"John had the ability to teleport with his cloak. He could have used it to get into your mind. How are you sure it wasn't the cloak versus my client?"

"Because, Nabu forced himself into Euphoria's dreams."

Miele smiled. "Is that the truth?"

Ismene folded her arms. "Yeah."

Miele shrugged. "How do you know that's true?"

"She told me."

"Ah, so she told you. So you must have taken the offense. You're the witch of nightmares and the leader of this club. Once Euphoria told you my client forced himself in her mind, you MUST have done something, yes?"

Ismene lifted her nose in the air and admitted, "I brushed it off."

"Why would the leader of the Winx Club, the witch of nightmares blow off a mental attack?"

Ismene got mad. "Don't look down on me! I didn't feel anybody force themself in her mind!"

"So Nabu was welcomed in Euphoria's mind?"

"Look, all I know is entering a dream especially not wanted is a struggle. Brain waves are given off, I should have felt it."

"So Nabu in Euphoria's mind was different from John in yours. Why would they use a different method if they were on the same side? If John was an underling of Nabu?"

"..."

"Has my client even attacked you?" He hadn't; Ismene didn't respond. "No further questions."

One of the Winx's lawyers stood up. "The prosecution requests a recess."

"Granted."

The Winx looked at each other in disbelief. Miele was good. Maybe this wouldn't be easy after all.

(A/N) This chapter is turning to be longer than I thought. I will have to break it in of reviews, I realize I neglected some of the characters. So I will sequel. The girls will visit Earth for summer vacation and stay with Musa. Meanwhile there's a villain buying fairies and putting them in netted snow globes (Mr. Crocker would be pleased). I already have insane ideas.

Next Chapter: The trial continues...