Oh boy, is Nora in a pickle now.

How can she defend Gryphon(sorry I change the spelling a lot) on an offense she has condemned someone else to?

Not to mention...

Let's just see what she does in:

Trying Trials Part 2!

Nora's POV

The Queen was sitting back down, with her husband looking down at us nervously. "Does your lawyer have anything to say about this?"

Nothing… I can't respond any more than Gryphon can.

"Miss Prowler?" The King questioned.

No… He really did… J

Just like Alex.

Just like Dad. Just like Dad… Just like-

"I object, Mom!" My head shot up. The Prince of Hearts was leaping over the side of the jury stand and running up to stand next to Gryphon and me. "Nora can't be expected to defend him on a charge like that! Why did you even order her to be his lawyer then?"

The Queen pointed down at her son. "Lee! Go back and sit quietly in the jury. You have no right to speak for the defense."

"A-Actually, dear." The King leaned over to her. "There is a law that states that the Prince may interrupt any trial as long as he has a good reason."

"Who made such a law?" The Queen demanded to know.

The King told her. "You did, dear. You wished for our son to start taking part of the court." Thus the Queen huffed and allowed the Prince to speak.

Lee cleared his throat and addressed the room. "Guests of the Royal Court, ask yourselves this: Is it really Gryphon's actions who have brought this on us?" Though he was talking to the room, the Prince's eye fell on me. "Was Gryphon not already forgiven when this happened? Could there not be another guilty party?"

Now the guests were talking with each other, even the Queen and King whispered between each other. With everyone distracted, the Prince of Hearts came up and spoke directly to me.

"I know who you are now." He said. "You're the reason we held this party. We all thought the trouble was over and we could relax. But even worse trouble is just ahead." What this Lee was saying struck a feeling in my gut. I knew he was right. And… somehow I've known all this time that…

I say it out loud. "You're all different parts of my mind…"

Everyone stops talking again. They are all looking at me.

I take the time to really look at all of them too. From the time I first met each of them, I wasn't just drawing on similarities between my real-world friends and them.

With Chaz and Tina I can the difference between my immature and mature way of thinking. Times when I'm selfish and when I use what I know to help those I care about.

At the Duchess' house there's ambition, superficial cares and anger. Brandy sits with Tweedle-Cam now looking like she's finally been freed from that awful place, and Kimmie (somehow human and in her own clothes) sits contentedly without her mother looking over her.

The (anti) tea party… in way is A, Nigma High itself: Filled with questions and mind challenges under the guise of a normal and care-free place for all us odd-balls. It also has the most interesting people!

But what does that make the castle where I've met Gryphon, the Prince, The Queen, the King, and so many others?

Then I remember moments from my time in the dungeon, where The Beast is held. It's not really clear, but Jabberwocky's mind games and the tea I drank can only sum it up as this: "This court." I declare. "This is my place of my deepest thoughts.

"That being said, Your Highness, it can't be declared if Gryphon is innocent or guilty as I haven't yet decided if there's any way I can forgive him for what he did." Gryphon looks up at me. He no longer looks guilty, just that he is listening. "Gryphon, I know that deep down I can forgive Finnwich of betraying me. He did betray me. Even worse than anyone before, but since he's part of my mother's family, I know that if I can find a good reason to then I will speak with him again."

Gryphon, The Royal magician who looks so much like my great-grandfather Finnwich, sits up straight in his chair and lovingly says. "I… I know your great-grandfather loves you, Nora. He wants you to forgive him. He doesn't know what he can do either. He wants Elena back; he wants him time for his family back. He only wants to undo his mistakes."

I say to him, "I know."

Gryphon smiles back and says. "Of course you do."

What was a tender moment was interrupted by a banshee-yelling Queen of Hearts. "But what about The Beast!? These tremors in Enigmaland are going to destroy the kingdom! That is the heart of this trial and the trial is not over until the matter is resolved!"

Gryphon offered is own voice in advice. "The only person who can possibly answer this question is Nora." He stands up. "Nora Prowler, what has disturbed your piece of mind? If it is not me, then who? Your well-being, and all of ours, is at stake here."

"ORDER! ORDER!" The Queen bellowed. "STEAK!" A Wurst of Diamonds place a plate with a steak fork and knife in front of the Queen. "I've been starving! All I've had is tea today."

"Bring me a pizza, would you? No fish." The King asked the Wurst, who promptly dropped a pizza box in the King's lap. "Continue your testimony, please."

The Prince and I both face-palmed at this. "Augh… Well, Gryphon, I honestly don't know where to start."

The Prince said to me. "Think about it: you've been really out of it since you came back from Coral Grove. Did the incident with The Beast shock you?"

"No." I answered. "There's no way my kids could know it's me because they heard the rumor after it was messed up. And I have a pact with VP Victoria, but even if she does go back on it no one would believe her."

"Was it because your friends were going to leave Coral Grove without you?" Biffy called from the jury.

"Not that either." I said. "In fact, I would have felt worse if they tried to go back for me since there was a good chance they would have been captured and locked up tighter before they could find me."

Brandy stood up and raised her hand. "Ooo! It's because The Serpent is now staying in town and you're on edge with him being out in the open!"

"No, no." I told her. "I haven't spared him much thought this week because my mind's been preoccupied with-" My eyes sprung open in realization. Everyone leaned a little closer to hear what I had to say.

"With what?" The Queen asked.

"Yes, what?" said the King.

Dormouse sprung from his sleep, saying "What what?" Only to be shushed by Jenny the March Hare.

"What's been on your mind, Nora?" asked the Prince of Hearts.

My eyes wandered around the room. Up at the Queen and King on the edge of their seats, around at all the Wursts and Jester Barrage to the side, at the colorful jury of Enigmlanders, then back to Gryphon and the Prince.

I answered, "None of this." Gryphon gestured with his talon-hand for me to continue. "Since I've gotten back, I haven't been thinking about my friends, or their families, or any of their problems! I've just been letting myself think I'm unwanted because now I have no idea where or why Dad just disappeared.

"I've just been feeling depressed."

"Objection!" came a voice from the jury. It was The Cook (Brandy) standing with her hands raised. "Don't you have a right to be depressed when your only family isn't there when you come home?"

I told her. "You're right that I do. But I've let it get to the point where I'm shutting out everyone expect the one person who just isn't going to show up."

"Like having a huge party only for the guest of honor to bail out." The Prince of Hearts observed.

I smiled and put my hands on my hips, finally understanding. "So is that what all this was about? Was I brought to Enigmaland just to be told how badly I need to get back on the ball?"

Tina stood and flew over from the stands, landing right next to Lee. "That's about it! Nora, Enigmaland is in your head, but that doesn't mean it can't surprise you. You know that you've been depressed and blocking everyone and everything out. But you're also a Dream-Walker and are more in tune this place than most people. So technically, we're more real than just a dream."

Lee finished, putting an arm around her shoulders. "Things got a little out of hand with The Cheshire Cat and The Beast stuff, but we just wanted you to come here to see that you need to wake up from this! Our well-being is dependent on yours, so we got your back even when ya think you don't need it."

I think I'm starting to understand this. "But all this hasn't been a lesson for me to just cheer up, is it?"

Gryphon shook his head. "No. Very astute, though. As you've become more aware of your powers, so have others. Nora, you must remain in control of yourself at all times. The Beast has tasted freedom and will no doubt sink to any means to regain it. Enigmaland will keep him at bay, but it in the end the last line of defense is you." Gryphon leaned over looking me right in the face, placing a talon gently on my shoulder he said, "Remember what makes it strong, and never lose what it is that makes you strong. You are a warrior.

"And when it comes to your family: your father and Finnwich will have to wait until the next set of ordeals is over. Another storm is approaching Nora, this one five times more powerful than the last! You must make yourself ready physically and mentally. Start training as soon as you get home. Oh! And as for your conditions with your grandfather: Don't dwell on it too much. The way to forgive him may be closer to you than you think!"

Nodding confidently to Gryphon after his speech, I knew what I was supposed to be doing all this time. We're still in the aftermath. This little adventure may be over, but that was just the preliminaries. Lee's gonna need my help again and I'm not going to be useful if I sit around feeling bad for myself. "I promised I would never run away from my problems." I declared. "But I'll have to put Dad on hold until I can get through whatever is next!"

The entire courtroom stood up and cheered out loud. "ALL's FAIR! HOORAY!"

The Queen hit her gavel one last time: "Innocent until proven guilty!" When the gavel broke, she and the King merely laughed.

The chains fell off of Gryphon and he spread out his wings. Flapping his way up into the air, he took off his hat. "Now then." He reached inside and pulled out… first a book, then the magnifying glass, a frog, and finally, a whistle. "Let's get the girl home."

Gryphon blew on the whistle, but no sound came out of it.

"Broke?" asked the Mad Hatter(Biffy).

A hiss came from the hallway. At least twenty Wurst-cards ran in screaming in terror! Toppling and tripping all over each other, the dust cleared around them to show the Red Tazelwurm sitting on top of the pile. "Taz!" I called out.

"Hey!" Kimmie called up to Gryphon. "Why didn't you do that in the first place?"

Gryphon answered. "A person thinks they know who they are in the morning. But by night they have changed several times since!"

Taz came down and I ran up to him. "It's time for me to go home, Taz. I got kids back home who need me at my best."

Taz grinned and gave me the okay sign. "I just have one more question." I turned around and addressed the room. "On my way in here I heard a woman's voice telling me to come to the party. Who was that?"

Confusion and questions went to every female in the room. The voice was definitely an older woman's, so Jenny, Tina, Kimmie, and Brandy were out. The King looked at the Queen, but she shook her head. The woman did not have her accent.

"Who do YOU think it was?" The Prince asked me.

I thought for a second. "Maybe it wasn't someone I saw in Enigmaland."

"Ya know, you didn't really meet everyone who lives here today. Would like to stay a bit longer?" he offered.

I ruffled his hair, avoiding the crown on top. "Thanks, but there's a group of trouble magnets that need looking after back there! And to be honest, I really miss them. I had a great time here; every party needs to come to an end though."

The prince nodded that he understood. I turned back to Taz, but he was already gone!

"What!?" I screamed.

Lou pointed up at the ceiling, "Up there!"

We all looked. The tazelwurm was on top of the chandelier lighting the courtroom. How'd he get all the way there so fast! Taz next leaped down and ripped one royal Heart banner on the way down, which made the Queen screech. "Off with his head!" All the Wursts and Barrage took off after it, but were crushed when Barrage tripped and fell over his belled shoes! Next the Taz ran through the jury, making all seated stand up in a wave-like formation. Just when Taz looked like he was about to nose-dive right into the floor, he sent me a look which I caught the meaning of straight away.

I called over my shoulder as I ran towards him, "Bye guys!" Charging towards where the tazelwurm was about to land, I saw something like a black hole open out of the floor. Taz fell in first and I jumped in right after him. As I fell back into darkness I looked back up to see the last of light fading with the closed hole. I also felt a familiar heaviness as I fell. Right before I knew I was about to open my eyes on soft sheets, I heard that voice one last time say:

"You make a good little Alice."

Realizing that I do know who that voice belongs to, I fall much more slowly and in peace.

The next thing I see is the ceiling fan of my own room.

"Better get ready." Self-pity and sadness are not part of my routine anymore.

The End

A/N: Who do YOU think was the mysterious woman voice?

This fic contained elements of both Small World, Big Coincidences and All's Fair.

I'm gonna leave it at this for a while. (Not really sure if doing a sequel is worth the time yet.)

But I hope you enjoyed!

Bye-Bye!