TwoKinds: Dimensional Catastrophe

Part 20: Trace v. All

??? All rise! Chief Justice Adelaide, Associate Justices, the entire Judicial panel, we now stand here today for the most ironic case in history: the looney mage Trace Legacy, his followers and his "friends" against each and every one of us! Court is now in session!"
Trace What's happening?
Kyle <We're in a courthouse. They're here for...well...>
Adelaide 3 Trace Legacy, you have been criminalized for nearly ten years, and you are wanted for capital offense by illegal wizardry and bringing forth an army of followers, turning each and every one into anthropomorphic mammals--such as them--and obtaining human allies for sheltering. You are convicted of all the above, and your continuation of these practices, as seen before you. You have sentenced to execution, having been pre-decided from entire panel, the police and I. What do you have to say in your defense?
Trace Uh, uh- I have been framed! I'm not the Trace you think I am, and I didn't turn these people into "monsters." Thy e have been born this way! I have no clue I would be criminalized in such manner, as if I was the world's number one malefactor! Convict me if you want, but you'll be sorry! Kyle, why did you make me say that!?
Adelaide 3 Very well. Send him to-
Kyle Wait, Your Honor!
Adelaide 3 What now!?
Kyle As Trace's lawyer and--truly--his personal best friend, I reccomend we listen to each testimony from everyone convicted today!
Adelaide 3 Do you know for a fact, sir, that you, too, are convicted of breaking rule two as well as this young lady; and that these crestures are convicted for breaking several rules simultaneously!
Kyle I did not know the forests were used for authorized personnel only.
Adelaide 3 ...But since you pointed that out, and that each of you you were unaware of the rules, we'll here your testimonies, starting with yours.
Kyle Reasonable enough...

Kyle walked up to the witness stand. Chief of Justice Sythe portrayed as the opposing lawyer.

Sythe 2 Do you swear-
Kyle Yes. Same for all.
Sythe 2 Very well. Now, you were at the Riftwood East Tavern?
Kyle Indeed.
Sythe 2 Whatever for?
Kyle I was tired from the travels that brought us here.
Sythe 2 Are you saying, sir, that you were walking at great distances when you encountered him before you got here?
Kyle No, he was with us all along.
Sythe 2 Did you decide to go with him.
Kyle Actually, it's the other way around.
Sythe 2 Is that so? And where was he before you encountered him?
Kyle He and his friends were trapped in a manor setted up by my nemesis.
Sythe 2 If this man you speak of was your nemesis, then why did he trap Trace and others?
Kyle I...don't really know... Maybe he was trying to make them crazy...
Sythe 2 Crazy enough to serve to him!?
Kyle No; to get information from me.
Sythe 2 What information?
Kyle Sorry; although this is the government at work, the information is classified.
Sythe 2 Why's that!
Kyle He could be here, eavesdropping.
Sythe 2 Oh really? And can he please stand?
Kyle He's too smart for that.
Sythe 2 Oh?
Kyle Let's get back on the topic, okay?
Sythe Oh, right! Well, tell me about your first encounter.
Kyle I was with Tom and Lola in heavy rain heading towards the mansion; Trace and all of his friends were inside having dinner.
Sythe 2 And how many "friends" does he have?
Kyle Twenty to thirty, counting humans.
Sythe 2 Interesting. Continue.
Kyle For a few days, Lola helped Trace and a few of his friends return to normal.
Sythe 2 What do you mean by "return to normal?" How did she do it?
Kyle They were trapped in other forms, let alone a few. Lola used her powers to change them back.
Sythe 2 A mage, is she?
Kyle She can only shapeshift herself and others.
Sythe 2 Then she would outrank Trace here.
Kyle Shapeshifting's illegal?
Sythe 2 Highly restricted and banned. Anyhoo, how would you describe this "Lola?"
Kyle Kind, slightly naive, optimistic, curious... uh, and not evil.
Sythe 2 "Not evil," eh? I sense guilt in you. That is all!