Just a couple minutes before, the unlucky stranded group of people who found themselves in the highest cosmic court for a crime they didn't commit also saw the threat of a space-time disaster in front of their eyes!
This threat ended as quickly as it started, and after Santana and Imperatrix left the room were the first quiet but relatively moments in the courtroom.
Each of the Magic Gatekeepers returned to their stands though there was still some audible bickering between them. When all was quiet, Aiko stepped from her stand again and spoke to the group at the defendants' table.
Her arms were folded and she had a stern expression. "The trial is over and she's out of the room." She sighed with relief before she continued her announcement.
"Yes, definitely..." Someone said at the table. Others nodded and agreed.
She sounded stern again and spoke with more urgency. "Before we send you out though, there's something we need to tell you. If any of you are thinking about overthrowing the League of Paine..." She said until she interrupted herself with laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good luck! You'll need it!" She burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "Hahahahaha... None of us could say that with a straight face, but I tried!" She said more calmly, but she was still laughing and wiped a tear from one of her eyes.
"Even my attempt did not succeed when I rehearsed it in my mind." Thutmose bluntly stated.
"Seriously though, they have enough raw power to overpower any mage aise from us since they stole one of our superweapons--" Aiko said, sounding dejected and annoyed.
"Mine was stolen!" Mia furiously blurted out.
"I'm not ignoring that!" Aiko said to Mia before she continued to explain the situation to the group at the table. "Despite our power, we can't fight them directly unless they cause SPACECON 2, and we can't at full power unless it gets to SPACECON 1, but you really don't want that to happen!" She warned.
"Do not presume these words are our official endorsement of this class of magic nor the League's rival faction with which it is associated." Thutmose flatly stated, carefully choosing his words.
"Al be that if any ye by aventure follow these words, we shalt look the other way." ("Albeit if any of you by chance follow these words, we'll look the other way and not stop you") Ragnar added.
"We should be impartial, but their leader is an a**hole who cheated our f**king system!" Mia added.
Aiko pulled out a handful of colorful gear-shaped crystals from one of her sleeves and held them up. "The Nova-class Mages wield magical weapons powered by these superconductors!"
She let them get a closer look at the crystals. They were oval-shaped with gear teeth along the rims and looked familiar.
"The Magical Renegades pioneered that, and we don't want to endorse them because they oppose The Magestablishment, but we'll give them credit in these desperate times." She said reluctantly. "Those weapons are another way for a new mage to power up quickly without risking their soul like if they became a witch or warlock. Remember, we're just saying. Anyone who tries would be doing this at their risk."
There were murmurs at the table; was anyone serious about trying this; joining the Magical Renegades to be the last hope to free space-time from the League's grasp?
"Do you reckon any of you could learn this while going to class, keeping your grades up, getting enough sleep and enough time for hobbies?" Ella asked.
"Are you being sarcastic with that?" Kayla asked with a chuckle.
"Oh heavens no; I know in some of those shows in the anime club there are characters who do that." Ella said with a chuckle but she also sounded conflicted.
"Like one of your favorite shows!" Kayla cheerfully said to Felicity. "Should I say Sailor Felicity? Ooh! I could even see you being Renegade Felicity!" Kayla chuckled.
"I wouldn't be Renegade Felicity since that'd defeat the point of an alter-ego and besides they have a different theme..." Felicity said with a nervous laugh.
"Or... Katt, if you want to take your stunt performing to the next levels of spectacle and danger, you should join them if you get the chance!" Kayla said to Katt, half-jokingly.
"But then wouldn't you, Alicia and Melody need to join too?" Felicity asked.
"Right... We might need a miracle to make that possible, if this happens!" Kayla said.
Katt didn't immediately say anything but her eyes widened in excitement about the possibility. "I'd love to join them! It's been my dream for years, but I've never been lucky enough to cross paths with any of them--" She thought.
"What do you think about that?" Kayla asked Katt.
"Hypothetically, it sounds awesome." She said after a few moments. "I just thinking of things." She chuckled.
While a conversation went on at the table, Katt resumed her thoughts.
She remembered when she met Aurora in the morning and her sudden departure. "Darnit! I should've asked her if she was able to initiate any new members and if she would've been willing to help me with that! It sounds awesome though Ella has a point too with her questions!" She thought.
"We'll need those back." Aiko said. Immediately, the people at the table handed the superconductor crystals back to her. The group's banter quieted down and Aiko continued to explain the space-time situation and one of the possible solutions.
"For the most historical accuracy, the League would need to be overthrown by the end of the year! The Great Power Struggle is happening again just in a different way!" She warned.
"But oh mighty Magic Gatekepers, that barely gives anyone 4 months!" Ella said.
"Does historical accuracy matter anymore in this timeline?" Kayla asked.
"We think it does, but... Ahahahaha... Barring their leader severely, spectacularly messing up, it's impossible. So why are We telling you any of this?" Aiko said dejectedly and shrugged.
"Because if you don't want to wait around..." She continued, her voice sounding more energetic; she showed this off further with jets of fiery magical energy in red and orange with yellow stars erupting behind her.
"Then someone, someone out there anathema to commonense needs to go out there and do the impossible! If anyone succeeds, they'll receive the highest of honors from us, the Magic Gatekeepers for freeing space-time!" She exclaimed, pointing towards the group.
"Your survivals of a trial from us is most impressive and a testament to your potential in this new timeline." Thutmose added in agreement.
"If maistow sterve and time travel can stop it not, then shaltow haven funerals shown ye weren worthy and bold fighters!" (If you may die and time travel can't save you, then you'll have funerals that show you were honorable and courageous fighters!") Ragnar said.
Mia picked up the gavel, which was gold and silver. It had a gold handle and a silver shaft. The head of the hammer was silver with gold edges and gold bands near the edges. The head of the gavel was decorated with the Magic Gatekeepers' insignia; the star in the insignia was a gem and there were four gems above it in red, orange, yellow and blue.
"These are our parting words." Mia stated. "This trial is adjourned!" She announced and struck the gavel on the surface.
With the drop of the gavel, a mysterious white light filled the room. The time-stranded people felt like they were floating and were being suspended in space-time again for a few moments!
When they were on solid ground again, they saw where they were teleported; the middle of a downtown plaza. They were seated on the edge of a large rectangular concrete pot. A large tree stood in the middle of the pot and it was surrounded by blooms of pink flowers and green shrubs.
Meanwhile in the courtroom, the Magic Gatekeepers had a couple more matters to discuss among themselves. Before they could, there was an interloper who didn't go unnoticed.
A small yellow and black robotic drone hovered in the air; it had a tube-shape with a circular lens and hovered in the air with a set of mechanical wings on its back.
Thutmose looked annoyed and glared at it, but instead of swatting it away, he had another plan.
"Imperatrix... If you are eavesdropping on us, We are not encouraging those humans to organize an revolution against your tyranny. We merely informed them of their chances if they were to be so bold as to attempt it. As much as some of us yearn to knife you in the back--" Thutmose bluntly stated.
"Don't you mean to 'backstab' her?" Mia interrupted.
"Perhaps, Mia, but I am not acquainted with your nonsensical jargon." Thutmose flatly said.
"OOOOOOH! BUUUUURNED!" Aiko burst out laughing, pointing at Mia. Ragnar joined in laughing.
"Dost tharst antidote for thine burn?!" ("Do you need antidote for your burn?!") He asked.
"Why the f**k to I bother with this sh*t?" Mia thought, looking visibly annoyed. She grumbled but she entertained Ragnar's question. "Don't you mean burn heal?" She asked him.
"Ha ha! Neeeerd!" Ragnar said, still pointing at Mia.
Bickering continued in the background. The drone tried to move towards the commotion.
"That's it! I'm not helping you get the next f**ing gym badge!" Mia shouted at Ragnar.
"But Miaaaa!" Ragnar said.
"I'll still help you, if you pay for lunch for all of us!" Aiko offered.
Thutmose still looked into the lens of the drone. He held out his hand and used telekinesis to keep the drone in place while he stood in front of it.
"Ahem...We shall comply with our obligation of non-interference under the condition SPACECON 1 or 2 do not occur." He stated.
"What's going on?" Imperatrix asked, speaking through the drone.
"Please... Pay no attention to the commotion..." Thutmose said, sounding annoyed with a hint of desperation.
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