Chapter 1:13 Kangaroo Court

"Here ye! Here ye! Honorable Judge Punisher presiding!" shouts the bailiff. Cheers and applause erupt from the courthouse crowd as the kangaroo judge hops in wearing a court dress and bench wig.

"Welcome to Punishment Court!" Judge Punisher proclaims. "Let the punishment begin!" The crowd whistles and cheers. The judge waves his arms so they cheer louder.

Betty, the court stenographer, sits atop a giant pedestal carelessly jabbing keys with her pointer fingers.

The judge takes a seat. "Ok, people, lets get this over with. I've got stories to watch."

"First up: Billy the Goat." the bailiff says as a goat in a prison striped uniform steps forward. "An escaped goat. Broke out of Caterbury Prison."

"How do you plead?" asks the Judge.

"Not guilty, your honor. Baa! I didn't do anything! I'm innocent! Baa!"

"Is that so? What was this goat imprisoned for?" asks the Judge.

"He was jailed for, uh, various reasons your honor." the Bailiff replies.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes?"

The judge sighs. "Betty?"

The stenographer shrugs.

"No one here knows? Well I guess we'll have to let you go then."

"Boooo!" the crowd moans.

"Order! Order!" the judge bangs his gavel.

"Wait a minute. Billy— did you just say something?"

"No, your honor." the goat baas.

"Betty— read that last part back."

"The defendant said, 'I admit it. I'm guilty.'"

"No I didn't! I'm innocent!" Billy cries.

"Crocodile tears!" proclaims the judge. "To the punishment chamber! Ready the crocodiles!"

"No! Baaa!" Billy wails as he's taken away by the guards and the gawking crowd cheers with satisfaction. Everyone except for the old bear who snuck in the back and is hiding in the audience.

"Next. Next!" the judge rolls his eyes.

The knight drags Theo and Maise forward.

"Children? What are children doing here?"

"Not only that, your honor. They had this—" the knight holds up the blue flower.

The crowd gasps.

"What do you have to say for yourselves, children?" asks the judge.

"We just want to go home." Theo says.

"Well this is strange. There's no precedent for this. What say ye, naysayers? All in favor of release?"

The naysayers all say, "Nay!"

"Well that settles it." the judge slams the gavel. "Guilty! I hereby fine you one million coppers."

"But we don't have any coppers." Theo says.

"You're in contempt! Away with you! Give them the doors!"

The crowd chants, "Doors! Doors!"

The guards grab them and Theo shouts, "We didn't do anything! You can't do this!"

"Oh, yes I can! Who did the Queen make judge? You? Did she make you judge?"

"I don't even know what you're talking about!" Theo yells back.

"There's right and there's wrong, child. And you two are wrong. We proved that here today."

"This is silly!"

Judge Punisher springs forward, "You're silly! Betty strike that from the record. There's no silliness here. Away with you."

The bear watches painfully as the guards drag Theo and Maise away.

"Great work, Jean." the judge says to the knight and she beams with pride.