The impending trial was enough to terrify AJ. She never would've guessed that because of her efforts to try saving the Jester, she herself would end up at the mercy of the Queen of Wonderland. After having watched the degeneration of the execution with Kaitlyn saving the Jester and Alex killing one of the executioners, the Queen made it abundantly clear that AJ was not going to make it out of this world alive, a thought that was making AJ scared the more she thought about it.
"I have no idea what to do," AJ said, nervously pacing in a circle.
"Just stay calm and you'll know when to do what you have to do," John said, trying to reassure AJ.
"Yeah, you keep saying all of this cryptic crap about me knowing what to say and what to do, but I'm starting to lose faith in what you say," AJ said, rolling her hands around nervously.
"My 'cryptic crap', as you so charmingly called it, may seem confusing, but I promise you. It will help you in the long run," John said.
Before AJ could question John any more about what he said, the same person that was officiating the execution stepped into the room. "The trial is to begin momentarily. The accused must come with me now," the official said.
Taking one last look around the room at all of her friends, AJ swallowed and nervously followed the official out of the room. Walking down the hallway, AJ soon found herself stopping in front of a large set of double doors that had an elaborate heart design carved into the wood. Before AJ could raise her hands to push open the doors, the doors swung open themselves. Looking over to the official who gestured her into the room, AJ took a deep breath and walked into what she was guessing was a courtroom. Interestingly, there were no rows of seats along the walkway she ventured down; there was only a small set of stairs that rose from the ground and led to a stage with a podium in the center of it. Looking up above the podium, AJ saw the Queen seated directly opposite her and, looking to her left, saw what she was guessing to the jury box. Once AJ made her way up the small flight of stairs, she came to a stop in front of the podium. Any chatter amongst those seated in the jury box stopped the minute AJ was at the podium. Coming forward from where he was standing outside of the courtroom, the official walked until he was standing in between both the Queen's seat and the podium where AJ currently stood.
Clearing his throat, the official said "Ladies and gentleman. Your Majesties. Today we are gathered here for a trial. The accused is here on the grounds of halting the execution of the Jester and murdering one of the Queen's guards."
"Thank you for that," Vickie said to the official, who hurried away from the courtroom. Looking down at AJ, Vickie smiled evilly and asked "Now, are you ready for your sentence?"
"Sentence? But I thought you said this was a trial," AJ said in confusion. "Shouldn't you at least allow me to call witnesses first?"
"Why should I do something as pointless as that?" Vickie asked. "After all, I'm almost certain that there's nothing those so-called 'friends' of yours could do to help."
"You don't know that for sure," AJ said. "You seem to be forgetting that during the execution when I spoke out against you, my friends all stood and spoke out against you as well."
Fuming at what AJ was saying, Vickie almost said something when she heard Dolph behind her say "Your Highness. The girl does have a point. You could at least allow her to call a witness or two to aid in her defense."
Hearing the King say this, Vickie huffed and said "Fine. My King as persuaded me to allow you this chance, little girl. I will you to call any witnesses to help you. But, if they do nothing to help you, then it's off with your head."
Swallowing at this news, AJ drummed her fingers on the podium. 'Think, Mendez, think. Who could I possibly call in to help me out?' AJ thought to herself. After spending a few more seconds in thought, AJ suddenly said "I call Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum forward as my witnesses."
Not really expecting any witnesses to be called in, Vickie banged her scepter, which caused the doors to the courtroom to swing open and two guards to appear with Ted and Cody following behind them. Once Ted and Cody made it to the area AJ was standing in, both men looked at AJ confused.
"Did something happen in here that we should know about?" Ted asked.
"You haven't been having that much trouble with your trial, have you?" Cody asked.
Shaking her head, AJ said "No. But the Queen has allowed me to call in witnesses to help defend me."
Surprised, both men blinked and then looked at each other. Then, seeing the look on AJ's face, Ted said "OK."
"We'll do our best to help out," Cody said.
"Thank you both," AJ said, smiling a small smile.
Watching the witnesses take their places at the stand, Vickie then said "Tweedles, you have one minute to tell me why it is that I shouldn't have the disobedient girl executed for obstructing the execution of the Jester."
Caught offguard by the limited amount of time they had, Ted then said "Well, you shouldn't execute our friend here because she is not from our world."
"As such, she did not know that you had your own way of doing things," Cody said.
"Then why didn't you educate the girl on the way things work around here?" Vickie asked.
"Because we felt that your way was not the way things should be," Ted said.
"While most residents here blindly follow your word, we don't agree with it," Cody said.
Not wanting to hear another word, Vickie said "I've heard enough of this! Guards, remove these two from the courtroom at once!"
Being grabbed by the guards, Ted and Cody both whispered a quick "Sorry" to AJ before they were dragged out of the courtroom. After the doors closed behind them, AJ turned to look at the Queen, who had a smirk planted firmly on her face. Clenching her fists under the podium, AJ thought 'How heartless could this woman be? Here her subjects are voicing their dislike of how things are in their world and she just turns a blind ear to them. This can't be right. I've got to bring a stop to this.'
Looking down to notice AJ scowling, Vickie laughed and asked "No more witnesses? Were the Tweedles your only defenders?"
Slamming her hand down on the podium, AJ said "No; as a matter of fact, they weren't. You seem to be forgetting, 'Your Majesty', I've got more friends here than just the Tweedles."
"Then call your next defenders forward," Vickie said, a steel-like edge coloring her voice.
Not liking the edge to Vickie's voice, AJ thought back to what it was that John had told her before she left tthe room where her friends were gathered. "Just stay calm and you'll know when to do what you have to do." These words were enough to help change AJ's whole perspective on her predicament. At this point she felt that if she was at least going to get put on the chopping block, she was going to make sure she told the Queen about how her new friends hated how she ruled their world. Looking up to meet the Queen's gaze, AJ said "For my next witnesses, I call forward the Hatters, the Dormice, the Caterpillars, and the Cheshire Cats."
Taken aback by the sheer number of witnesses AJ had called forward, Vickie huffed and said "I suppose I can allow this." Banging her scepter again, the doors swung open to reveal the same pair of guards leading the Hatters, the Dormice, the Caterpillars, and the Cheshire Cats into the courtroom.
Once he and the others met up with AJ, John leaned down and asked "Any particular reason why you called all of us in here at once?"
"I need witnesses to help prove my innocence to the Queen," AJ said. "Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum tried to help, but they didn't get much in the way of time to try and build a strong enough case for me. I need you and the others to help me out here."
Laughing, John said "Don't worry. I have a feeling that things will soon swing in your favor."
"How do you know for sure?" AJ asked.
"Just stand back and watch," John said, placing a comforting hand on AJ's head.
Blushing at the gesture, AJ stood aside and watched as John and the others took the stand. 'I really hope you know what you were talking about, John,' AJ thought, threading and unthreading her fingers together.
Looking down from her high seat, Vickie said "Now, tell me why it is that you all feel that our little guest here shouldn't be royally executed for interrupting the execution of the Jester."
"Why shouldn't she be executed? Well, it's wrong for one thing," Alicia said.
"She's right you now," Alex said, pointing at Alicia with her tail. "After all, you can't just go around killing people that speak out against you."
"Thankfully, someone else has finally done so," Kaitlyn said from her spot beside Alex. "Quite honestly, it was getting boring fast with us being the only ones here that would voice our own opinions about how you, more-or-less, rule this world."
"Not to mention, we haven't exactly liked it that you seem to think we're apparently pests in your eyes," Justin said from where he was perched on the podium.
"Then there's the way that it seems like you just seemingly fly off the handle at the smallest things," Punk said from where he was leaning up against the barricade surrounding the stage. "I mean, you beheaded your own royal gardeners because you weren't happy with the fact that they painted white roses instead of red roses. Who the hell even does that?"
"Crabby old ladies as far as I know," Alex said, which earned laughs from everyone on the stage.
Recovering from his laughing spell, John then said "As you can see, no one here among our friend's gathered group of witnesses ever really saw you as much of a ruler. In fact, the way I see things, it should be you who's on trial."
"That's an excellent idea," Alicia said. "I second the motion to put the Queen on trial for her crimes against the residents of Wonderland."
With the others voicing similar declarations, John looked up at Vickie and said "Well, you can't really argue with a chorus of people that want this to be your trial."
Trying to hide the apparent fear that was growing inside of her, Vickie said "Whatever could you mean by my crimes? I have been a fair and just ruler of Wonderland."
"Oh, that has got to be the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard in my life," Punk said. "Fair and just? You obviously must've shut your brain down when you've had execution after execution happen to innocent people."
"I've done what I've done for the better of Wonderland!" Vickie shrieked. "And if you all can't deal with it, then that's too bad because I don't see anyone in here that can do anything in the way of trying to dethrone me."
Piping up from where she was standing behind her friends, AJ stepped forward and said "Actually, since my trial is still in session, I feel that I can more than build up a strong enough defense against you. And, mark my words, someone's head will roll after this trial is concluded."
What's this? Script getting flipped on the Queen? Stay tuned to find out what happens next. =)