THIRD TRIAL

[whimsicalism]

To the court room. Make it quick, alright? I don't really know about any of you but I don't want to waste more time on a couple of bratty teenagers.

[The Queen still is silent as you descend to the court room. There are ten less of you than when you began. The podiums look empty as you go to them. Even if the podiums are getting empty, though, there is a new jury box near the Alices that is rather full... of ghosts of all the participants of the previous round you've discovered and of your dead compatriots. They don't talk but they're there. Judging. Always judging.

There is someone who doesn't notice this addition, though. Queen Alice.

The Queen is quiet but she's next to the Cat. Her head is bowed to her chest as she seems to sleep quietly. Then as movement she jolts up, smiling vaguely as she nods.]

Yes, a tea party--that's what we...need...

[Her head drops back to her chest as she falls asleep again. The Cat glances at her then back at the crowd with agitation.]

Someone is responsible for Lena and Neku's deaths. Do something about it, will you? Why did you even bring one of those ghosts in with you, anyway?

Comments

[xxxx_me]

[He nods.]

[prescience]

Given that no one seems to have access to all of their abilities, or their abilities at full strength... If she came back, she may not have had the level of control she anticipated. Right?

[xxxx_me]

Maybe...

That's all she told me about it. She wasn't really used to talking to people about it, and she looked really uncomfortable even saying that much. I think she only explained it because I read most of the poem before she found me with the journal.

[And magic is not really his wheelhouse so uh

He's a little useless for conjecture here.]

[imozon]

So, was her aunt the person who didn't want her to have friends?

[Seems weird to her, but she's not... well, there's an argument for her being a sorceress of the shadows but that would be kind of a misleading description.]

[xxxx_me]

Her aunt was a bad person. Even when she wanted to talk about it to someone, her aunt wouldn't let her.

[strictura]

[ Frowning... He kind of wishes he'd known this about her earlier. ]

[imozon]

Oh

[A major adult figure in her life was evil and wanted her to not have friends? Hm...]

[prescience]

That's all right, Allen. We should all know by now that she was particularly guarded about these matters.

Thank you. [Time to sit down and think about this dark aunt magic.]