Five hours later, a young man with slick black hair and a black suit sits in the courtroom, awaiting the defense. The man has dark skin and brown eyes. His tie is a deep red, like fire, and in his eyes lies a powerful resolve to win this case.

However, behind that resolve, is a sadness. A sadness and bitterness for the one he lost so long ago. Something that happened that made him lose all his freinds...

The accused and their attorney enter the courtroom. The accused, chained with enchanted cuffs stands next to their attorney. An old friend of the man.

"Law," the man greets from behind his desk at the other side of the courtroom. His hostile glare hiding a longing to gain back the friendship he had with her and their other friends, before the incident.

"Wesley," Law returns in kind with a similar reply, "how's the law firm?"

"Fine," Wesley fakes a scowl, "yours?"

"Fine," Law counters with similar methods, "are you ready?"

"Yes. As soon as the judge arrives."

The doors to the courtroom open. A woman in a suit of about thirty with a bun in her brown hair enters. She walks past the red mahogany desks of the two lawyers, her shoes echoing, tapping on the white marble floor until she sits, holding her gavel.

"Court is now in session," she states, "Wesley, please review the charges against Mr. King."

"Very well," Wesley gets up and stands in front of his desk, "as many of you watching this trial are aware, King here is a well known fanfiction writer, but that's all we really know about him. He constantly hides his life in the other world. Mayhaps this is to hide his identity."

"Objection!" Law exclaims, "he could easily be tracked by his account by the government if found guilty! He has no reason to hide-"

"Order!" The judge slams her gavil, bringing silence to the lawyers, and hushed whispers to the crowd, "this is a matter only of the crime he has been convicted of. Murder. Please call your first witness Wesley."

"I call the one who arrested Mr. King," Wesley explains, "officer of the law, Shawn."

Shawn, a man with shades and a blue suit enters the courtroom. He wears black loafers on his feet as he approaches the stand with a lack of enthusiasm. After all...

He's testifying against an old friend.

"Please state what you saw the night of the murder," Wesley demands.

"Very well," Shane sighs, "it was late at night. I was patrolling Law's website trying to find the one responsible for the series of killings. Five minutes before the murder, I ran into King, said he was posting something. He seemed distressed. I told him to take it easy, and he left after saying OK. Five minutes pass, and I hear a scream. The street lights are out, but I see it. I see the unholy glow of his mask. It's unmistakable. Someone with a mask like King's killed that user. I'm sorry King, but that's what I saw."

"It wasn't King!" The mask flips, "where is he!?! Where's the one who had that mask!?!"

"Joey chill!" King takes the mask from his pocket, causing a panic, "you're gonna get us shot!"

"I know who was in that mask!" Joey continues his frenzied yelling as guards point guns at King, "and I can prove it! Put me on and I'll show them everything!"

"Hold your fire!" Law yells, "he's harmless as a mask."

"Mr. King what is that thing talking about?" The judge glares.

"I don't know," King replies, "I really don't. He does. I could put on the mask but-"

The guards prepare to fire.

"Hold it!" Law exclaims, "under law 234-7B we MUST hear all witnesses. By this law, King should be allowed to wear the mask."

"He's guilty!" Wesley exclaims, "I've seen him kill! That mask-"

"Is a witness," the judge reminds, "I'll allow it, but one wrong move..."

"Don't worry," the mask chuckles, "I won't try anything. King, do it."

Law looks at King, who appears to have a distressed look on his face. He mutters just loud enough for only himself and Law to hear, "I can't. I can't. If I put it on again it may not come off."

"King?" Law asks quietly, "are you OK?"

King doesn't reply, but simply puts on the mask.

"We're fine," Joey smiles walking into the middle of the courtroom, "now, let me tell you what really happened... King doesn't know about this, but I too am a master of the dark arts. I was created from... let's say certian spells we don't want to repeat here. Dark incarnations to manifest me from a novel he's writing. I used those same incantations..."

Joey takes a deep breath, and look Wesley dead in the eye with a smirk, "to create my twin brother."

"What!?!" Wesley asks, "there's two of you!?!"

"Welsey calm yourself!" The judge demands.

"Wait," Shawn steps in, "then that mask I saw-... he used pyromancy. That means-"

"My brother was stolen," Joey elaborates, "two weeks ago. He tends to submit to those who wear his mask. He too has dark magic, but tends to enhance the abilities of the user. King and I have no pyromancy, and no motive. We were seen five minutes before the murder heading the other way."

"Yeah," Law adds, "he has an alibi. You have no solid proof! My client is inoccent until proven guilty! As is the law-"

"After what be did," Wesley glares, "I say to Hell with the law!"

"You have no solid evidence," the judge states, "the use of pyromancy goes as far as to prove King's innocence. I see no reason to continue this trial. Defendent King of Pens is not guilty."

The shackles dissapear, Joey smiles and walks up to Shawn.

"How you been man?" He greets.

"Uhhhh..." Shawn replies, "the mask."

"Do you really think I care?" Joey chuckles, "Joey's in charge now!"

Law sees that this is going to end badly and blasts the mask off with an arcane bolt. King's flinches in pain.

"You OK?" Law asks, walking up to King?

Wesley leaves quietly, a bitterness in his eyes.

King doesn't reply, but merely grabs his mask, looking down and hiding his face. The crowd amd judge leave the courtroom, leaving only Shawn, Law, and King in silence as King grips his mask.

"King?" Shawn asks, "are you OK?"

King sighs and looks up with a painfully forced smile that both of his friends see right through as black blood oozes from around his eyes where his flesh has been torn off by the mask.

"I'm fine," he lies, "why do you ask?"

"Jesus Christ!" Shawn exclaims, "your face!"

"So?" King asks, "it's fine. What did I miss? We won right?"

"Is that mask..." Law asks, "hurting you?"

"This mask has saved my life many times," King smiles, "don't worry about it. Never thought the three of us would be in the same place again."

"You didn't answer-"

Law stops as Shawn signals her that it isn't best to press on with such a subject.

"Anyways," King wipes the blood off his face, staining his arm, "I know it's been a while, but, why don't we hang out like old times?"

Shawn and Law exchange a look, and shrug. Unable to name a reason not to, but what really makes them agree is the pain hidden behind King's smile. There's something odd about it, and the two silently agree to figure out what he's hiding.

"Sure," Law smiles, "but just one condition."

"What is it?" King asks, wiping more inky blood from his face.

"I hold onto the mask," Law demands...