gorge-chick: The sequel is going to be called Glass Figuritas. I will start it once my semester ends. (December)

Chapter Thirty-One: Trial and Error (Part Two)

"That was brutal. Flora, your sister just destroyed motive and several other charges. I'd be impressed if the outcome wasn't so daunting," whispered Tecna during recess.

Helia was optimistic. "Well, there's no way he can get off attacking Euphoria. She's been kidnapped twice and he won't stay out of her dreams."

"Very true." Diaspro folded her arms. Her anger took over her sense of decorum. "I just know our lawyers better get their stuff in order. With everything we invested, this should have been open and shut."

"I don't care what happens tonight, Nabu will never set foot in Andros," Aisha decided. Riven smirked, very pleased with her thoughts. Sky, Diaspro, and Stella echoed her mindset. "Can you imagine the disaster it could have been if the Wizards of the Black Circle went through a trial?"

"Oh come on, nobody could get the Black Circle off! No offense, Flora." Bloom commented. She didn't like the mentality of the group. She was raised believing in a justice system. Even though she was arguably a vigilante and sometimes felt like the wrong people got away, she didn't feel like the justice system was wrong.

"None taken," Flora said. She wasn't blind; she knew what type of man Anagan was and continued to be.

The recess ended and resumed with Pandora called to the stand. "Pandora of Solaria are you aware that you are unable to speak untruths in this courtroom via magic?"

"Yes."

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

"Yes."

"Pandora, you are currently the fairy of virtue, right?"

"Yes"

"But you weren't always, correct?"

"I used to be the witch of sin, but I was expelled from Cloud Tower and decided to switch to fairy magic."

"That's unfortunate. Why were you expelled?" Her lawyer started pacing.

"My brother John and I worked for Nabu and Stormy."

"You were the defendant's underling?"

"Yes," Pandora replied.

"What did you do?"

Pandora frowned. "I didn't work for him long, but I spelled the Winx and the Dragonfire Unit."

"And you definitely worked for him, correct?"

"Yes. He was the one I asked to let me go and he did."

"No further questions."

Miele approached Pandora and folded her arms. "You say you worked for my client as an underling, but you later said he allowed you to leave after you asked."

"Yes."

"Did he contact you later?"

"No," Pandora said shaking her head.

"No marks linking you together? A contract?"

"No."

"What kind of villain does that?"

Pandora swallowed. "Okay, it could have been worse. I got lucky. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I wish I could take it back."

"People make mistakes... Please tell the court how my client approached you?"

"Well Stormy approached me at White Castle-"

Miele stopped pacing. "Stormy approached you? I thought you worked for my client?"

"I did! She did. I mean, she was working for him so, yeah!"

"And you said yes? What did Stormy offer you that was worth attacking your fellow witches?"

Pandora looked away. "She asked if I wanted to show the Winx a thing or two. Ismene had just humiliated me in front of my friends. I was mad; I wasn't thinking!"

"So you attacked them the same day?"

"No."

Miele pounced, "Then you received orders from my client to attack them later?"

"No..."

"So Nabu NEVER gave you orders to attack the Winx?"

"no..."

"You're telling me, you spelled the Winx girls of your own free will?"

"yes..."

Miele started counting with her fingers. "Just like Lucy kidnapped Euphoria of her free will. Just like the Wizards of the Black Circle also kidnapped Euphoria of their free will. Just like Leon hurt Topaz of his free will. Just like John and Stormy attacked the Winx of their free will. These are things they would have done no matter what. My client just gave you all the means to do so; that is his only crime and he isn't on trial for it."

"My brother only did it because of me!"

Miele tilted her head. "Oh? So then he left once you quit, correct?" Pandora was quiet. "No further questions, your honors."

Pandora started crying. She felt more humiliated now than any time of her life. Miele destroyed her testimony and made her look like a silly girl; perhaps she was. Semiramis watch what happened and felt dizzy. She was supposed to be next. She couldn't handle it; Semiramis got up and ran out the courtroom! Miele played dirty and she already knew what was going to happen. They were going to replay her memories. The court would see that she was told multiple times to stay away from Shadowhaunt then to stay on the ship. She ignored both warnings. Worst of all, it would further prove Nabu's innocence. John was the one who dragged her deeper into the castle, not Nabu. "Semiramis, Semiramis, wait!" Semiramis stopped and turned to see Sky running after her.

"I don't want to do this." Semiramis pleaded with him. She didn't want to go back.

Sky visualized what would happen to her if she testified. He reached the same conclusion she did. If there was any way they could win, he would have convinced her to be brave. There wasn't. Instead, he took his daughter by the hand and away from her troubles. He wasn't sure if his assistance was eighteen years late or right on time.

Meanwhile...

When Semiramis failed to appear, Regina was called next. She wasn't nervous. Seeing Miele work actually pumped her up. Regina may not have been the smartest, but there was no way Miele could work her way around her testimony. "Princess Regina of Andros, 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, I am," Regina said with a cool smile.

"Very well. Can you tell us your first interaction with the defendant."

"He woke up on my nineteenth birthday. He asked my father if he was afraid of me because I'm a witch. I said something rude back, but I apologized." Regina watched fondly at the memory.

"So he was hostile towards you for being a witch?"

"For just being me. He didn't like that my parents were married." Regina recollected their conversation at the swings. "We got into a heated discussion and he attacked me." Nabu blasting her made the audience gasp. She looked at Miele and Nabu. There was no way she could talk out of that.

"Is that all he did?"

"He had John teleport me to Shadowhaunt with an anti-magic bracelet. He taunted me. He wanted me to die."

"But you're a witch."

"He said he didn't want any of my friends showing up," Regina explained.

"How did he tell you this?"

"An audio recording."

"No further questions." Her lawyer gave Miele a smug grin and sat down.

Miele walked up and looked at Regina. "A recording. How are you so sure it's my client's voice?"

"Temporary perfect recollection, it was him."

"Just like you're sure that he told John to transport you there."

"Yep."

"You expect the court to believe a guy who doesn't have shadowfire tampered with an anti-magic bracelet that could only work via shadowfire?!"

"Objection!"

"Withdrawn, answer the question, Princess Regina," the Triad decided.

Regina didn't back down. "Somehow he did. It wasn't John's voice on the recording."

"Yes, because a guy who let his twin brother get arrested in his place wouldn't trick you." Regina frowned; Miele sighed. "Why you instead of a fairy?"

"A slow death, I guess. Why don't you ask him," Regina said coolly.

"I'd rather ask the mastermind."

"What?"

"Nabu can't be the mastermind. If you're correct, instead of transporting you to a volcano or a deep section under the ocean, he sent you to Shadowhaunt. By your logic this mastermind sent a witch to Shadowhaunt despite the fact that you had another witch as an ally. But then again, by your logic, killing the second generation makes sense!"

"What?!"

"You were arguing with my client at the swings and his scepter discharged, why didn't you tell your guards?"

"It wasn't a big deal."

"It must not have been, you didn't flinch. You still could have though."

Regina rolled her eyes, "But I didn't."

"Was the discussion at the swings that dark?"

"No, I just didn't really care."

"Then what did you say to my client at the swings?" Regina thought back to her and Nabu's confrontation on Andros. "Verbatim, what did you say, Princess of Andros?" Regina recapped the conversation and stopped at his apology. "Continue."

Regina's eyes widened as she repeated the part Miele wanted. "Unless you kill us, me and the second generation are not going away."

"Exactly! You told that to a man who had just lost his family, the love of his life, and his world. Nabu didn't come up with any evil plan, you did!"

"Objection! The defense has implied my client deserved the attempt on her life!"

"Don't bother, I have no further questions."

Regina glared at Miele and got off the stand. They called Euphoria as the last witness. They swore her in and asked what happened to her. Euphoria swallowed and looked at Nabu. He looked at her and gave her a small smile. She didn't want to be there. Part of her wanted to run away like Semiramis, but they would lose if she did. She had the most information on Nabu. It was up to her. Euphoria went into pageant mode and told them about being kidnapped by Lucy, then by the Wizards. She talked about how she was shot at by John and her conversations with Nabu were he confessed he was trying to kill them, but couldn't.

Miele stood up once the prosecution was done. She started with a devastating question. "Princess Euphoria, are you in love with Nabu?"

"Objection! Irrelevant!"

"Sustained," decreed one of the elves.

Miele pouted. "Fine. When you were switched with Lucy did you have your powers?"

"No, I had Lucy's powers."

"The power over insects, correct?"

"Yes."

"Did you see Nabu when you were trapped in Lucy's body?" asked Miele

"Yes. I asked him why I was alive and he said he knew he should kill me, but couldn't."

"Then what?"

"We talked and I gave him advice to move on. He told me that he loves his friends enough to kill and would, then he left me." Euphoria grew pale. "He left me die from giant bugs."

"Wow, it must have been really hard to have been trapped in a house overrun with insects with a body that controls insects." Euphoria frowned. Elliott clenched his fist. Stella growled and Helia calmed her down. "What about Ogron and Gantlos, didn't my client have Ogron shot?"

"Yes, but he was also gunning for me."

"My client is a wizard, he didn't need a gun to kill you."

"Objection!"

"Overruled."

Miele smirked and continued. "Why didn't he let Gantlos and Ogron sell you? Heck, why didn't he kill you? You were right there!"

Euphoria closed her eyes. "I asked him the same thing, but he told me not to think too much into it. ...He said that his plans would be altered if I died then."

"Did you believe that?"

Euphoria looked at Miele, her eyes begged her not to make her answer it. She had no choice, but to tell the truth. "No, I didn't."

"Did you tell him that?"

"...yes."

Miele continued. "Did you think he wanted to kill you all?"

"no..."

"What else did you say?" Euphoria had no choice, but the repeat the conversation between her an Nabu. It didn't look good. She practically asked him to kill her and he didn't. She also revealed it didn't matter what form she was in, he couldn't kill her. It showed that not only did she think he wasn't a villain, that she dreamed of him. "Did you dream of my client before or after he entered your mind?"

"Before."

"What happened the first time my client entered your dream?"

"He warned me about John and Stormy. Then he gave me a rose to let me know it was really him."

"He didn't make an attempt on your life?"

"No."

"How many times has my client entered your dreams?"

"Eight..." Euphoria wanted to disappear.

"Did he make an attempt of your life any of those times."

"No."

"When was the last time my client entered your dream?"

Euphoria closed her eyes. She didn't want to see anyone's face when she answered that question, "this morning."

Miele asked one last question. "Was Nabu allowed in your mind?"

Euphoria swallowed and looked at the wizard. He was looking at her with a worried look. "He was welcomed to any part of me if he had wanted." Stella fainted! Euphoria was beyond embarrassed. Her fellow Winx had different reactions. Ismene was disgusted. Regina was upset because she knew they had lost. Pandora and Topaz were melancholy for that same reason.

Miele hid her own blush. She wasn't expecting such a charged response. "No further questions... Your honors, the prosecution has failed to provide sufficient evidence against my client. The defense motions to dismiss this case."

The Elvish Triad looked at each other before talking amongst themselves. The discussion went on for over twenty minutes before they disclosed their decision. "Motion granted. The sentence for aiding and abetting dark magical beings with commence on a later date. Case dismissed."

The were commanded to stand again. Riven, Musa, and Brandon voiced their displeasure, but were silenced by a spell until the Elvish Triad left. Diaspro glared at the failed legal team and was too upset to speak. Euphoria sneaked towards her mother. She felt responsible and didn't know what she could say. She probably said enough. Topaz held Pandora as the ex-witch cried. Jeremy held them. Stella was finally regaining consciousness. Helia held her as Bloom fanned her. Nobody saw Chimera approach Nabu.

Chimera stood in front of Nabu with an angry expression. She thought about Pandora's expulsion, Jeremy's arrest and the death of John. "You son of a bitch!" She slapped him. "You hurt my kids!" Chimera continued to strike and punch Nabu. He made no effort to stop her. Euphoria started to walk towards Nabu, but Helia grabbed her wrist. She looked at the wizard once more before lowering her head. She felt like Chimera's screams should have been aimed at her. "You destroyed my family! You killed my boy! You killed my baby boy..." Eventually she grew tired and broke into tears. Mirta rubbed her shoulders and carried the grieving mother away.

Nabu called after Chimera. "I'm sorry about Kevin. I can't bring him back, but I will make sure you and your children never want for anything."

"His name was John," Elliott said bitterly.


Flora put her arm around Topaz and kissed her forehead. The teenager sighed sorrowfully and started to walk out of the courthouse with her mother. Miele stopped talking to one of her colleagues and ran after them. "Flora!" They stopped walking and looked at the Linphean lawyer. Flora hadn't seen Miele in twenty years. It amazed her how much she had changed. There was hardly any trace of the girl Flora left behind. Miele finally matched her height and she looked very mature in her pinstriped grey suit. The light green blouse and short haircut brought out her eyes. Flora was filled with many emotions. She wanted to throw her arms around her sister and go back to their home in the trees. Miele couldn't stop looking at her sister. She seemed to have gotten more beautiful. Fairies aged well. "Flora..." Miele didn't know what to say.

Flora opened her arms and embraced Miele. "Oh little sister, I missed you so much."

"Why wouldn't you let me come with you?" Miele asked. That had been on her mind for twenty years.

"I couldn't sweetie. It was too dangerous. They were always after me, keeping my distance was the only way I could keep you safe."

"I wouldn't have cared as long as we were together."

"I know, but I wanted you to have a life. You're an amazing lawyer. Even though I'm upset with the verdict, I'm so proud of you."

Miele hugged her tightly. "Please, let me do the same for you."

Flora thought about Miele's offer. Miele had become a great lawyer; she could probably beat the charges. She could return to Linphea and give Topaz a real life. She was practically done with her work on Eraklyon and Anagan wasn't banned from Linphea. If it didn't work, she'd be put to death. That didn't scare Flora as much as it used to. She was going to put her trust in her sister. "Yes."

While Miele was catching up with Flora, Topaz drifted to Jeremy. She put a hand on his shoulder; he kissed then held it. Karina and Graham looked at each other before approaching their partners. Pandora looked up at them and felt lonely. John would pick on her when she got jealous of her brother's relationship. She would give anything to have that once more. Her eyes filled with tears again. If she had just gotten over herself, John would have never tasted evil and he would be there. She lowered her head and then stood up with determination. She'd go back to school; both Cloud Tower and Alfea. She'd learn all she could about both light and dark magic, then she'd find John, even if he really was dead, and she'd bring him home for closure.

Meanwhile...

Ismene felt the warm touch of her mother's hands. She looked up to see Mirta's smiling face. She frowned. "Please don't try to get me to see the brighter side of things."

"There is one."

"No. Nabu's free. The team is a wreck! Pandora and Semiramis are depressed. Topaz wants to quit. Regina's probably going to do something stupid. I let Euphoria get Stockholm Syndrome! And we have to repeat this semester! What's the bright side?!"

Mirta kissed her daughter's forehead. "You care."

Ismene let that process and turned to blush and deny it. Brandon heard the conversation and approached his daughter and ex-wife. He ruined the tender moment with teasing. Ismene screamed and ran away from her annoying parents.

"Well this sucked." Regina muttered.

"Yep." Elliott agreed.

"So what are you going to do?" Regina was referring to his parents' separation. She was wondering if he'd go to Eraklyon or Domino.

"I was thinking I'd head to Andros for a while."

"There's nothing in Andros for you." Regina said walking away. She turned back to him and replied, "but when there is, I'll give you a call."

"Regina, let's go!" Riven growled. He glared at Elliott as Regina followed him to their craft. Xavier, Caspian and Ethan stopped playing so the Androsian prince could leave with his family. They'd later meet with Teredor, Niobe and Liliane.

Elliott waved the Androsian family off and walked to Euphoria. He noticed she was avoiding the other Winx. She was looking at Chimera and Pandora until she saw him coming. She braced herself for what she thought would be an insult. Instead, he gave her a hug. She froze before returning it. It was just like she remembered. He was strong and always smelled like firewood. She used to let herself get lost in her senses when he was around. Now all she could do was sigh. "You shouldn't beat yourself up."

"It's hard not to."

"Honestly... You did the right thing." Euphoria was surprised he said that. He was so against Topaz killing Leon. "John was unstable. I don't know how it happened and maybe we could have gotten him help, but at the moment he needed to be stopped. Besides, you didn't mean to. Now I see that justice isn't always served." He scoffed. "I was so idealistic."

"Maybe it was. I think the Wizards would kidnap fairies without Nabu. I think I would have had problems with Lucy without Nabu, especially with my resemblance to her alter-ego. Stormy was always a villain. John..." Euphoria stopped talking.

"...we'll get him next time. Villains always break out of jail."

Euphoria frowned. "But Nabu's not a villain."

There would be no jailbreak.

(A/N) THE END! Thank you for every review and favorite. It's really helped me write this. Everything Miele said was legit. If you reread it you'll be like "Oh! SMH" LOL! I hoped you liked the ended. It's crazy that it's over, so many seasons have changed while this was in progress: winter, spring, summer, now FALL! I wish that I had done some things differently, but I am pleased overall. I'll sequel to cover neglected characters. Look for Glass Figuritas this winter.