The next morning, Ellie awakened, feeling worse than the day before.  Some of the worsening feelings were attributed to her emotional well-being.  She felt ashamed for scolding her guardian during the night, as the Spirit wanted to make sure she was all right.
     “How could I have been so foolish?” she asked herself sadly.  “I got mad at her.  I’m so sorry.”
     Princess, thought the Spirit to her, I am not angry with you.  I am only concerned for your health.  This influenza is something you have never experienced before.
     Harold knocked gently on the door.  “Honey, can I come in?”
     “Sure, Dad.”
     He walked into her room with a strange elongated object.
     When Ellie saw the object, she suddenly moved to the back end of her bed.  “What…what is that!?” she shouted in panic.  “Keep that thing away from me!”
     Harold looked at the object and realized she had never seen it before.  He stayed back in hopes of calming her down.  “Whoa, Ellie, relax.  Take it easy.  This is called a digital thermometer.”
     “A di-gi-tal ther-mo-me-ter?” Ellie asked perplexedly.
     “That’s right, pumpkin.  This device measures something within you called your body temperature.  For us humans, the normal body temperature is supposed to be 98.6 degrees.  I’m not sure what yours would be, since you are an alien.”
     The Nature Crystal Spirit soon appeared to them.  “We did have illnesses on our world, but we do not know about this influenza.  Is it dangerous?”
     “It can be if left untreated,” Harold answered.  “I’m not even sure what her immune system is like.”
     “I can’t remember if I was ever sick on Naturia,” Ellie said with some concern.
     The Spirit nodded.  “You were ill when you were eight years old.  You and many others suffered from a disease called ferminata korga.  The symptoms included a high fever, sneezing, coughing, and shaking of the body.”
     Harold noticed a pattern.  “Wait! Those sound like the symptoms of the flu.  I just need to get a check of your temperature, Ellie.”
     “Why?  So I miss school and miss that test?  I can’t!  That test is ten percent of the grade for this quarter; it’s too important!”
     “Ellie, there is nothing more important than your health.  Besides, you can always take a make-up test.”
     “No!  I have to take that test today, and I will!”
     “Well, at least let me check your temperature.  Open your mouth and say, ‘ahh.’”
     “Aaahhh.”
     “Now, move your tongue up.  I have to put it underneath your tongue.  Trust me, it won’t hurt.”
     She did so, and was instructed to stay still for one minute.
     After that minute passed, Harold took the thermometer from her mouth.  “Ellie…your temperature is at 102.7 degrees.  I think it’s best you stay home today.”
     “But that test…  I can’t miss that test!”
     “I’m sorry, Ellie.  I don’t want you to make yourself worse.  You’re staying home today so you can rest.  I’m going to call the school and notify them that you won’t be able to attend.  After that, I’ll come back with a nice hot breakfast for you.”  Harold left the room to make the telephone call.
     Ellie, though, was very upset, with her fever making her unable to think clearly.  “He doesn’t understand!  That test is more important than anything right now!  If I have to sneak out of here, then I will!”
     The Spirit was shocked by Ellie’s actions.  “Princess, you must rest your body.  If you remain untreated, you could die.”
     “I don’t care!” Ellie snapped.  “I’m going to take that test today, and nothing’s going to stop me, not even you!”  She quickly got herself dressed and pulled together a rope of shirts.  Throwing it out the window, she climbed down with her backpack and quickly got on her bicycle.  “I’m sorry, but my test is more important right now.  I hope you can both forgive me.”
     Harold returned a few minutes later with a hot chicken broth.  “Okay, Ellie, here’s a nice hot-what?  Ellie?”  He then looked at the Spirit.  “What happened?”
     “She only concerns herself with this English test she has today.  She feels that is more important than her own well-being.”
     “Oh, no! She has no idea what that could do to her.  Can you stop her?”
     “No, Mr. Peterson.  I can only be her guide and mentor.  I have no powers of my own to stop her.”
     “Maybe I can do something.”  Harold rushed to his truck in hopes of catching up with Ellie.  Unfortunately, the morning cold would not allow the truck to start.  “Come on, come on!” he said angrily.  After several tries, he slammed his hands against the steering wheel.  “Shoot!  By the time this old thing gets going, she’ll be at school already.”
     The Spirit appeared in front of him.  “You cannot start this vehicle?”
     “Not without giving it at least five minutes to warm up.  I’m worried about Ellie’s health.”
     “As am I, Mr. Peterson.  As am I.”  Princess, please be careful.

     About 20 minutes later, she arrived earlier than expected at school, but the energy she used in pedaling made her very hungry.  “I’ve - got to eat something - now.”
     She walked into the cafeteria and got herself an orange and orange juice.  “Maybe this will keep me from getting worse.  I must get through that test, no matter what it takes.”
     Rob entered the cafeteria and noticed Ellie already eating away at an orange.  He then snuck up behind her.  “Hi, Ellie.”
     She suddenly jumped in fear.  “Oh. Rob, you scared me to death.”
     “Sorry, Ellie, I-hey, are you okay?”
     “I’m fine, Rob.  I’m just fine.”  She sniffled again.
     Rob then tried to put his hand to her forehead, but she resisted.  “Ellie, if you’re sick, you shouldn’t be here.”
     “Look, Rob!  I said I’m just fine!  I have to get through the English test today. That’s more important…”
     He finally managed to get the hand up there.  “You’re hot - and I’m not talking about hottie hot.  You do have a fever.  You shouldn’t have come.”
     “You’re not my father, Rob!  Now stop with this nonsense!  That test is ten percent…”
     “Ellie, you won’t be coherent enough by sixth period to even take that test.  You’ve got to go home, for your own sake.”
     “Now, look, Rob, I’m fine!  Leave me alone!”  She then stormed out of the cafeteria to find herself a quieter spot to think.
     Because Rob’s mother was a registered nurse, he already understood what was happening to her.  “She’s becoming delirious.  She’ll end up endangering herself if she continues like this.  I can’t stop her, though.”

     At 9:00 Angel Marrero’s trial had resumed at the courthouse.
     “Prosecution,” said Judge Arlenson, “you may resume with your next witness please.”
     Jeremy Roth stood up and spoke, “Your Honor, prosecution would like to call Taneshia Rogers to the stand.”
     Taneshia soon took her place next to the judge and was given the oath.
     “Taneshia, you are also a member of the cheerleading team, but not a captain or co-captain, right?”
     “Yes, sir.  I am just an ordinary member of the team.”
     “Now, what did you think about Angel as the captain of the team?”
     “Well, she was great.  She always drove us to push harder, which I thought was important motivation.”
     “So, you had no trouble with Angel’s drive to succeed as a cheerleading team.  Now, how about away from the practice?  How was Angel then?”
     “I wondered what kind of person she actually was.  Whenever she would see someone from Vagley talking with a Gurney student, I would see her simmer with building anger.  It was like she didn’t approve them speaking to each other or something.  When Mr. Cranston announced the fall festival, Angel just rolled up a piece of paper with enough anger to scare anybody.”
     “So you started to notice Angel’s personality changing.”
     Taneshia nodded.  “Yes, sir, I did.”
     “Tell me what happened that led to the accident paralyzing Valerie Wilder,” Roth requested.
     “I walked up to Valerie that afternoon just as school was getting out for the day.  We talked about the big game on that Friday.  I had received a message from the secretary that my parents wouldn’t be able to pick me up, so I asked Angel and Cassie if they could give me a ride home.”
     “And they did so?”
     “That’s right.  We left in Angel’s car around 3:20.  Things were going well until Angel saw Valerie walking.  That’s when she decided to run her down.”
     Angel suddenly jumped up and screamed, “That brat deserved it!  She had no business talking to that Gurney garbage!”
     Arlenson slammed her gavel.  “Miss Marrero, you will sit down, or you will be escorted out of this courtroom.”
     Angel’s attorney Arleen Sanders had trouble trying to restrain her client.  “That’s enough, Angel!  If you don’t, I’ll change your plea to guilty and end it right here.”
     “Do that, lady, and you’ll be the one regretting it, got that!?”
     “I’m warning you, Angel,” Sanders said angrily.  “I’m supposed to be defending you, but your stupid actions are going to cost you your freedom.  I’ll have you removed myself if need be.  Now sit down!”
     Angel sat back in her chair and said, “Whatever.”
     Sanders then looked at the judge.  “I’m sorry, Your Honor.  I’m trying the best I can.”
     “I know,” said Arlenson.  “Miss Marrero, one more outburst and you will be removed immediately, understand?”
     “Talk to the hand.  I’ll do whatever I want.”
     The judge stood up and angrily said, “Not in my courtroom, young lady.  I’ve had juvenile delinquents act more mature than you.  Now you will behave.”  She sat back down and took deep breaths to calm herself.  “The court reporter will strike out everything after Taneshia’s last comment.  Taneshia, you may continue.”
     She nodded and spoke further.  “After she did it, I wanted her to turn around and help her.  When she said she wouldn’t, I wanted to call an ambulance.  Angel said if I did, I would go to jail with her and Cassie.”
     “And then, when you told what had happened, Angel and Cassie attempted to harm you, right?”
     “Right.  However, I noticed Cassie starting to change because her punches weren’t half as hard as Angel’s.”
     “Thank you, Taneshia.  No further questions.”
     In a surprise move, Sanders stood up and said, “I have no questions, Your Honor.”
     “Very well, Miss Sanders.  Taneshia, you may step down.”
     Angel angrily said, “You don’t have any questions?”
     “No.  I don’t have anything to counteract her testimony.  Now hush.”
     Angel’s mother Corona was next to testify for the prosecution.  She answered some hard questions about Angel’s life back in South Central Los Angeles and showed the scar on her right shoulder, the result of a stabbing by her own daughter so she could get initiated into a gang.  “I had to get her away from that area after my husband and son were murdered.  I thought I could get her away from the gang, but I couldn’t get that attitude out of her.”  Corona cried throughout her testimony.
     “She wanted to start a gang here in Gurney, right?” asked Roth.
     “Yes.  She won’t understand gangs create nothing but death and destruction.  There is no need for a gang here.  I like it here, and I do not want to be reminded of the past and its nightmares.”
     Judge Arlenson said, “We will take a two-hour break for lunch and resume at 1:00 this afternoon.  Court is now in recess.”

     Throughout the day, Ellie progressively grew much worse.
     As she entered her fourth period Biology class, Misty noticed how pale Ellie had become.  “Peterson, you okay?  You don’t look good at all.”
     “What is this?  Why is everyone suddenly so worried about me?  I can get through this.”  Ellie took her seat and did the best she could to stay awake.
     Miss Blake walked into the room and also saw Ellie’s complexion.  “Ellie, are you all right?  You look pretty sick.”
     Ellie thought she was stuck in a nightmare.  “I’ve told…at least 10 or so people…that I’m doing just fine.”
     Miss Blake tried to check Ellie’s head, but Ellie pushed her hand away, insisting there was nothing wrong.  “I want you to go to the nurse, Ellie.”
     “Please, Miss Blake,” Ellie pleaded.  “I feel better than I really look, but if it does get worse, I’ll go to the nurse.”
     Blake shook her head.  “Ellie, you have to be the first person I’ve ever seen have enough energy to come to school for a test when you’re really sick.  I don’t know if it’s brave - or foolish.”
     “What?” Ellie said in shock.  “How can coming to school be foolish?”
     “It’s foolish when you come to school too sick to learn, and possibly passing whatever you have to others.  I’ll let you try, but if I feel it’s warranted, you are to go to the nurse immediately.”
     “Yes, ma’am,” said a dejected Ellie.
     Even Misty was surprised at her behavior.  She’s crazy.  No one in their right mind would be at school in this condition.  How did she manage to get away from home?
     Somehow, Ellie survived the class without any further problems, with her biggest struggle trying to keep awake and alert.
     When it was time for lunch, Ellie ordered some chicken soup and an orange to help her make her immune system stronger.  “I’ve got to hold on just a couple of hours more…I must get to that test.”
     She sat alone during her lunch, trying to maintain as much strength as possible to at least make it to sixth period.

     The trial resumed in the courtroom at 1:00, and Sheriff Sanderson was on the stand for the prosecution.  He explained about the time Taneshia stepped forward and told the truth about the entire situation.  “She was really scared to tell me at first,” he said, “but somehow she calmed herself down when she started explaining.  She just happened to be the most important witness in the case.”
     “Okay,” said Roth, “what happened next?”
     “Just 20 minutes after Taneshia went home with her parents, Angel, with Cassie’s help, kidnapped Taneshia and took her to a point just on the edge of the forest.  The two girls started to beat her up, and then Princess Elementa came to the rescue.”
     “Thank you, Sheriff.  We’ll let Princess Elementa’s testimony handle it from here.”
     Sanders walked up.  “So, Princess Elementa will testify here?  Where is she?”
     “She’s probably busy with an errand right now, but she’ll be here soon enough.”
     “Really?  How do we know she really is from another planet?  For all we know she’s probably a fake.”
     “Objection!” Roth shouted as he stood up quickly.
     Arlenson agreed.  “Sustained.  Court reporter will strike Miss Sanders’s last statement.  Until Princess Elementa gives her own testimony, neither council is to bring her up again.”
     Sanders nodded.  “Of course, Your Honor.  No further questions.”
     “Where is Princess Elementa?” Arlenson asked to Roth.  “Is there any way to reach her?”
     Roth realized there was really no way to contact her.  “Oh, dear…we never gave her anything to which we could reach her.  Um, can we have a recess until we can find a way to get her here?”
     “She knows she must be here to testify,” said the judge.  “I can’t change the rules for witnesses.  I’ll give you one hour tops, no more.  Is that understood?”
     “Yes, Your Honor.  We’ll do the best we can.”
     After recess was called, Roth and Sheriff Sanderson went into the hallway.  “What can we do?” Roth asked frantically.  “We don’t have a way to contact Princess Elementa.”
     “I don’t know.  We never gave her a cell phone or anything.”
     “Wait a minute, how did she know about Taneshia being in trouble?”
     “She said something about listening to the wind and the trees.  I don’t know anything else.”
     “If we don’t get her here in an hour, Angel may go free.”
     Inside, Angel said, “If that freaky princess doesn’t show, I’m gonna walk!”
     “Maybe,” said Sanders with uncertainty.  “But from what you told me, she’s got a strange way of showing up at the last possible second.”
     “Don’t jinx it, lady!  We’ve got it made!  I’ll be outta here in no time. And then I’ll make Cassie and Taneshia pay for turning against me.  I will make the war happen.”
     “Be careful what you say, Angel.  Remember when you were arrested, ‘Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law'.”
     “Yeah, well here’s hoping that stupid princess freak doesn’t show up at all.”
     Angel did not realize how wrong she was about to be…

     At school, Ellie managed to make it all the way into her sixth period English class despite still feeling very sick.  “Now - to take that test.”
     The teacher, though, could easily tell how sick Ellie had become.  “Ellie?  Did you come today to take the test?”
     “Of course, Mrs. Dabney.  The test is - ten percent of the grade this quarter.  I’m going to take it…”
     “Ellie, you can’t.  You’re not well enough.  I can give you a make-up test.”
     “No!  This test is so important. I - must…”  Ellie suddenly fell forward and passed out.
     B.J. Montgomery was first to react.  “Ellie!”
     Mrs. Dabney saw Stanley Buchanan, the security guard, walking by.  “Stanley, we’ve got an emergency.”
     He hurried into the room and saw Ellie’s unconscious form.  “What happened?”
     “She’s really sick.  Can you get her to the nurse?”
     He immediately picked her up and carried her in his arms.  “I’ll have her there in no time.  Meanwhile, notify the secretary to contact her father.”
     In a matter of minutes, Ellie was lying quietly in the school nurse’s office.
     “Goodness, she’s got a temperature of 104.  Why did she come to school today?”
     School secretary Jeanine Gorman had put out a telephone call to Ellie’s Earth father.
     At the Peterson home, Harold was about to go out for another harvesting run when he heard the telephone ring.  “Hello?”
     “Mr. Peterson, this is Jeanine at Gurney High.  It’s about your daughter Ellie.”
     “What?  What’s happened?”
     “She collapsed in her English class, and the nurse says she’s running a bad fever.”
     “Say no more, Jeanine.  I’m heading over there right now.”  Harold grabbed his jacket and quickly took off in his truck to pick up Ellie and get her safely into bed.  “Ellie, please be all right.  Just hang in there, pumpkin.”
     Back at the school, the nurse used a washcloth to make Ellie sweat in the hopes of breaking the fever.  “School policy won’t allow us to give her any medications unless it’s specially approved by the Board and her father.  Problem is - I don’t think she’s been sick before.”
     Jeanine walked into the nurse’s office.  “Mr. Peterson’s on his way.  How’s Ellie doing?”
     “She seems to be getting a little better, but I’d rather have either her father or a doctor take care of her.”
     As soon as she said that, Harold rushed in.  “Ellie!  Oh, no, I tried to stop her from coming to school today, but she insisted on taking the test.”
     “She has a 104 fever, Mr. Peterson,” said the nurse with much concern.  “She walked into Mrs. Dabney’s English class and was about to take the test when she passed out.  She needs to either get to a hospital or home to rest.”
     “I’ll get her home.  I’ve got plenty of hot foods and orange juice to help her feel better.  Thanks for taking care of Ellie.”
     “Just part of my job, sir.  Good luck with your daughter.”
     Harold gently helped Ellie walk to the truck while Buchanan placed her bicycle and backpack into the truck bed.
     “I hope she’ll be all right,” the security guard stated worriedly.
     “Me, too.  Thank you for your help.”
     Harold started to drive when Ellie slowly opened her eyes.  “What? Where am I?”  She then turned to her left.  “Dad?  What are you doing here?”
     “I’m taking you home, pumpkin.”
     “What?  What about the test?  Did I...”
     “No.  The nurse said you passed out right at the beginning of the period.  You didn’t get to take the test.”
     “Oh, no! I’m going to flunk this quarter for sure!”  She hung her head in shame.  “I failed…”
     “Ellie, you didn’t fail the test.  You haven’t taken the test yet.  In our school system, when you can’t make a test due to illness, you’re allowed to take a make-up test.  It may or may not be exactly the same, depending on which teacher you have.  The important thing now is to get you home to rest and recover.  Having a 104 fever doesn’t help matters right now.”
     “104?  Is it that bad?”
     “Yes.  If a human’s body temperature gets over 103, it could become very dangerous.”
     “I let you down, Dad, and I’m sorry.  I put...”  Ellie suddenly stopped talking and looked straight ahead with her eyes opened wider.
     Harold noticed.  “Pumpkin, what’s wrong?”
     “The core of nature’s essence,” she said in a nearly trance-like state.  “It’s…trying to contact me again.  The wind - the trees - all giving me a message.”
     “Can you tell what it is?”
     Focusing on the voices within nature itself, she started rambling.  “Needed - testimony - courtroom - immediately…””&nnbsp; She suddenly remembered.  “Princess Elementa!  I have to testify at Angel’s trial as Princess Elementa!  I’ve got to get a move on!”
     “But Ellie, you’re not well enough.”
     “I know that, Dad, but - if I transform into Elementa, perhaps the flu can be temporarily suspended.”
     Harold was a bit hesitant about this idea.  “And what if it doesn’t work?”
     “It’s a chance I have to take, Dad.  If Princess Elementa doesn’t testify at Angel’s trial, she could go free and terrorize others all over again.  For Valerie’s sake I have to do this.”
     After a sigh, Harold said, “Okay, Ellie, if you have to do it, then go for it.  Want me to drop you off right here?”
     “Thanks, Dad.  I promise I’ll meet you at home as soon as I’m done with the testimony.”
     “Okay.  I trust you, honey.  Just be careful.”
     “I will.  I would kiss you, but I don’t want you to…*ACHOO!*…catch this, either.”
     Harold dropped Ellie off at Gunther Street, about two miles from the courthouse.
     Finding a thicket of trees nearby, she ran with as much strength as possible into the hidden spot.  “I just hope this works.”
     She crossed her arms and closed her eyes as she chanted, “Nature’s Spirit - I hereby summon your power!”
     The Nature Crystal materialized on her forehead and allowed the headband to appear.  As she went through the metamorphosis, she felt her flu symptoms becoming less of an influence on her.  The flames changed her clothes into the royal purple jumpsuit, snow created her jade-green boots and gloves, wind breezes conformed into the turquoise mini-dress and green shoulder sleeves, and finally the water changed her head into her royal form.  Ellie had once again become Princess Elementa.
     The princess took a deep breath and discovered her idea did work.  “I am well for now.  I was right about the flu being temporarily suspended in my true identity.  Now, I must get to the courthouse before it is too late.”  She flew into the sky and headed for the courthouse.
     It only took her two minutes to get there, and the security guard was startled to see her landing in front of him.  “Can I help you, Miss?” he asked.
     “Yes, sir.  I am Princess Elementa.  I am to testify at the trial of Angel Marrero.”
     “Oh, yes, yes.  Mr. Roth and Sheriff Sanderson are waiting for you.  Come with me; I’ll take you to them.”
     As Elementa and the guard walked into the courthouse, she asked, “Why do you believe me?  How could you tell I was Princess Elementa?”
     “They showed me a photo of you and told me that when you came, I was to escort you to them immediately.  Besides, I’ve never met someone who could literally fly to court.”
     “I guess that does help.”
     Roth and Sanderson were getting concerned because there was less than 10 minutes left before their time ran out.
     Fortunately, Roth saw the guard and Elementa walk up together.  “Princess Elementa!  Oh, are we ever glad to see you.”
     She quickly went over to the two of them.  “Sheriff Sanderson, and you must be Mr. Roth, the prosecutor.  I apologize for not responding quickly enough.”
     “That’s our fault, Princess,” said Roth.  “We never figured out a way to call for you, but how did you know it was your turn to testify?”
     “This may not make sense to you, but I heard a message from the wind and the trees.”
     Sheriff Sanderson smiled.  “Princess Elementa, you’re from another planet.  What may not make sense to us can make perfect sense to you.  We’re just glad you made it here.”
     Roth stated, “I’ll notify the bailiff to tell the judge you’re here.  I’ll be right back.”
     As soon as the bailiff told the judge of Elementa’s arrival, he made an announcement.  “Court will resume in 10 minutes, repeat, 10 minutes.”
     This news was not welcome for Angel.  “No!  That freaky princess made it, but how?”
     Sanders looked at her client.  “I told you the princess has ways of getting here.”
     “She testifies against me, and I’ll take her down myself!”
     “If you want to make a fool of yourself and destroy the case, then go ahead.  Otherwise, you’d better watch that temper.”
     When the ten minutes passed, Judge Arlenson resumed the trial.  “Mr. Roth, you may call your next witness.”
     “The State calls Princess Elementa to the stand.”
     Accompanied by the security guard, the princess walked into the courtroom like any person would.  She already understood how important her testimony would be in this case.
     Angel seethed with anger as the princess took her place on the stand.  I’ve got to stop that witch!  If she testifies I’m done for!
     Angel wanted to stand up and take a lunge at Elementa, but Sanders stopped her fast.  “Don’t even think about it, Angel.  You’re losing more and more creditability by your actions.  Now stop it!”
     “Bailiff,” said the judge, “please explain to her what you’re about to do.”
     He nodded and then took a book.  “Okay, Princess.  Place your left hand on this book; then, place your right hand like this.”  He showed her the 90 degree angle to which her right hand was to be placed.
     After she did so, he said, “I’m going to administer the oath to you, after which you can only tell the truth.  Otherwise, you could be arrested for lying, which is called perjury.”
     “I understand, sir.”
     “Now, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”
     Elementa nodded and answered, “Yes, sir, I do.”
     The judge said, “Thank you, Princess.  You may now be seated.”
     Roth walked up to the witness stand.  “For the record, please state your name and occupation.”
     She spoke into the microphone in front of her.  “I am Princess Elementa from the planet Naturia.  However, I now make Earth my home.  As for my occupation, I serve as an honorary deputy in the Sheriff’s Department.”
     The attorney nodded.  “Princess, how do you know of this situation involving what happened to Vagley High cheerleader Valerie Wilder?”
     “I really did not know until I heard of Taneshia Rogers being beaten by two fellow cheerleaders.  Ellie Peterson saw me in the sky and waved for me to come down.  She then explained to me about Valerie Wilder’s… um, I believe it is called ‘hit-and-run accident,’ with the fellow cheerleaders being Cassandra Robbins and the defendant, Angel Marrero.  They were beating on Taneshia for telling everything to Sheriff Sanderson.  When I noticed what they were doing, I intervened.”
     Angel quickly jumped up and screamed, “You gutless jerk!  Why don’t you take me on, one-on-one, right here!”
     Sanders tried to restrain Angel as best she could.  “You’re going to wreck the entire case!”
     “Shut up!  I am going to get you, you pathetic phony princess!”  Angel tried to make a move for Elementa’s throat.
     The princess, however, was prepared.  “Perhaps another encasing of ice will finally get you to stop.”  With a mental command to the crystal, she fired a small beam of blue light at Angel’s feet, freezing them in place.
     “Let me out!  You can’t do this to me!  You’ve got no legal power here!”
     Judge Arlenson said, “Didn’t you hear what she said, Miss Marrero?  Princess Elementa is an honorary deputy, which allows her to enforce the laws of this county.  You may proceed, Princess.”
     “Thank you, Your Honor.  Angel and Cassandra were hurting Taneshia at the time, but I noticed Cassandra appeared to have a change of heart.  Later, she told me she felt ashamed for what she had done and has a cousin in that children’s hospital.  She had the courage to stand for what she knew in her heart was right, turning on Angel and believing in herself.”
     Cassandra smiled, knowing the princess was right in her statement.  Thank you, Princess.  Coming from you, that means more to me than you may ever know.
     “And what did you to finally put a stop to Angel for good in this matter?” Roth questioned.
     “I encased her in special Mercurial ice which would remain frozen for several hours.  Her mother also told me of the stab wound in her shoulder as the result of Angel’s - initiation into a gang.  I have been on Earth for only a few months, and I have already learned of a concept called peer pressure - something to which I hope to never fiindd myself a victim.”
     “Thank you, Princess.  Miss Sanders, you can cross-examine.”
     The two attorneys walked by Angel, with her feet still frozen in the ice.  “Let me out of here!  I have a right to a fair trial!”
     Sanders looked at her and said, “Not if you’re going to be continually disruptive.”  She then focused on Princess Elementa.  “Princess, is this the first time you have ever testified in a court of law?”
     “Yes, it is.”
     “Do you have a general understanding as to how the court system works yet?”
     “Sheriff Sanderson has been showing me the workings of the court system for this area.  He also told me about differing situations from one area to another.”
     “Now, you rushed into the rescue after Ellie Peterson came and told you about Taneshia being beaten up by Angel and Cassie.  Was that to cover their tracks - or your own?”
     Roth stood up.  “Objection!”
     Elementa said, “Wait. I can answer this.  On my planet I was raised never to use the powers to gain anything for myself.  I will use my powers only when they are necessary.  In this case, Angel had threatened to harm another human being, and I had to do something to stop her.  Until that night, I did not know who Angel Marrero was.  I understand your line of questioning, and it is just a part of your job.”
     Sanders was surprised at how calm the princess remained.  “Very well, Princess Elementa.  No further questions.”
     Judge Arlenson was satisfied with the testimony.  “Princess Elementa, you did very well.  You may step down now.”
     “Thank you, Your Honor.”  She stepped down, relieved she survived a serious line of questioning from Angel’s defense attorney.
     She then sat next to the sheriff.  “How did I do?” she whispered.
     “You did great, Princess.  You just told the truth, and it helped a lot for us.”
     Tom Wilkins, though, was not impressed.  “When she tries to leave, I’ll stop her.”
     “Your Honor,” stated Roth, “the prosecution rests its case.”
     “Thank you, Mr. Roth. Miss Sanders?”
     “I call Angel Marrero to the stand, but she’s still stuck in that ice.”
     Princess Elementa stood up and said, “My apologies, Miss Sanders.  I will free her.”  Emitting a heat beam from her finger, she melted the ice around Angel’s feet.  “She should be able to take the stand now.”
     “Thank you, Princess,” Sanders said in some shock.
     After Angel was given the oath, Sanders started asking her questions.  “Angel, how was your life in Los Angeles?”
     “It was tough; gunfire every night, at least one person getting hurt or killed.”
     “How was your family life there?”
     “It was going well until both my dad and brother were killed in drive-by shootings.  I wanted revenge on those guys who killed ‘em, so I opted to join a gang to get them back.”
     “You wanted to get back at them, but your mother stopped you from doing that, right?”
     “Yeah. She moved us to this place - and I never thought I’d fit in.”
     “What did you do to get yourself to fit in?”
     “Became captain of the Vagley High cheerleaders, where we are always going to be better than any other school.”
     “Thank you, Angel.  Your witness, Mr. Roth.”
     Roth went up and quickly started questioning her.  “You may have worked your way to becoming captain of the cheerleading team, but you have a bad record from your time in Los Angeles, don’t you?”
     “What are you talkin’ about?  I don’t have a...”
     “Your Honor, I submit into evidence her police record from growing up in Los Angeles, a record that covers more than ten pages and all kinds of crimes.”
     The judge took the record and was shocked.  “Well, this certainly explains a lot - shoplifting, vandalism, and the attempted assault with a deadly weapon on her mother.  Continue, Mr. Roth.”
     “Then, when you got here to Gurney, you felt the only way to fit in was to start your own gang, right?”
     “Well, yeah.  This town is too quiet.  I wanted some noise.”
     Sanders shook her head.  Angel, you should’ve gone for a guilty plea.  You just sent yourself to jail.
     “And the only way to do it was by the homecoming game, right?”
     “Yeah. I wanted to have war break out between the three schools.”
     “And you figured by paralyzing Valerie Wilder, you would achieve that objective, correct?”
     “Got that right!  She had no business talking to that Gurney creep!  She got exactly what she deserved, and I don’t regret it one bit!”
     “That’s all I wanted to know.  No further questions, Your Honor.”
     “Angel,” said the judge, “you may step down now.”
     She walked back like she believed she had easily won the case.  “That was so easy.”
     Sanders sighed in embarrassment.  “This is going to be the biggest blunder I’ve ever had in my law career.”
     The two attorneys finally delivered their closing statements and turned over the control to the jury, who now had to decide if Angel was guilty for what she had done.
     Princess Elementa thought to herself, I promised Dad I would be home after I testified, but I suspect the jury will not need a lot of time to decide Angel’s fate.
     Sure enough, it only took the jury 15 minutes to come to a decision.
     The jury foreman read the verdict.  “We, the jury, find the defendant, Angel Marrero, guilty of attempted vehicular homicide and attempted murder in the first degree.”
     Angel wanted to go after the jury.  “No!  You won’t get away with this!  I can do what I want to whoever I want!”
     It took a couple of guards to restrain her, but Princess Elementa said, “Hold her while I encase her in ice once more.”  Again, she encased the guilty person into a block of ice, only leaving her head untouched so she could breathe.
     “Thank you, Princess,” said the judge.  “Angel Marrero, as is the custom here, you are immediately sentenced to 25 years in prison, and you will be eligible for parole within a period of eight years.  Now, will both Cassandra Robbins and Taneshia Rogers come forward?”
     The two girls came in front of the judge.
     “Cassandra, you were an accomplice to the crime, but you showed great courage by admitting what you did and testifying against Angel under your own power.  Since you are not 18 years of age as of yet, I will only sentence you to 200 hours community service with a peer pressure group.”
     Cassie smiled with great relief.  “Thank you, Your Honor.  I am glad to accept that punishment.”
     “Taneshia, you were the first person to step forward about what happened to Valerie.  You were just in the wrong car at the wrong moment, yet you feel as though you are also guilty of the crime.  I can assure you, you are not.  Angel apparently wanted make both of you fall with her, but she failed because you both found your own courage.  You should be proud of yourselves, and your parents should be very proud of you as well.  Ladies and gentlemen, I declare this case closed.”  She slammed the gavel and said, “Court dismissed.”
     Princess Elementa said, “I must leave now.  Someone told me Ellie Peterson is suffering from something called the flu.  I promised to visit her at her home.”
     “Sure thing, Princess,” said a satisfied Roth.  “You really came through for us.”
     She then looked at a dejected Sanders.  “You have not failed in your task, Miss Sanders.  You were her court-appointed defense attorney, correct?”
     “Yes, I was.  I’m going to be the laughing stock of the group.”
     Roth gave her reassurances.  “No, you won’t.  You just had an impossible person to defend.  I’ve seen you in action, Arleen.  You’re one of the best.  Don’t let this one bad case scar you for life.”
     “Thanks, Jeremy.  And Princess, you did great for your first time.  You’re a fast learner.”
     “I have much adjusting to do still here on Earth.  Now, if you will excuse me.”
     She went into the hallway, but someone grabbed her arm.  “Not so fast, Princess Elementa!”
     She turned around.  “Tom Wilkins, I presume?”
     “Got that right, my dear.  You’ve got a lot of questions to answer from me.  For instance, why won’t you admit that you’re a faker who wants us to believe she’s from another planet?”
     Sheriff Sanderson stepped to Wilkins’ right side and said, “Let go of her, Mr. Wilkins.”
     “Not until I get answers, Sheriff.  What’s the cover-up?”
     “There isn’t one, sir.  Princess Elementa has done nothing wrong.  I guess this is stemming from the humiliation she gave you at her first public press conference.”
     “You expect me to believe that garbage?”
     “No,” said the princess as she changed her arm into a cloud to loosen the grip.  “Your mind is not very open, is it?”
     She walked to the outside of the courthouse and flew into the air.
     Wilkins wanted to go after her, but Sanderson said, “You’d better not try it.  I can arrest you for attempted assault.”
     “I have the right to get the truth, and I’ll get it one way or another!”

     Princess Elementa transformed into a cloud and returned to the Peterson home through the chimney.  Changing back to her true form, she said, “Dad, I have returned.”
     Harold came into the living room.  “How’d it go, pumpkin?”
     “It went fine.  Angel has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, Cassandra must serve 200 hours community service, and Taneshia has no charges against her.”
     “Terrific.  Angel Marrero got what she deserved.”
     “Yes.  She practically destroyed her credibility with her outbursts.”
     “Okay, hon.  Change back to Ellie and have some hot chicken soup.”
     “I think I will, Dad.  Nature Crystal, my work is complete.  Revert me to my Earthly form.”
     In a matter of seconds, the royal garb was replaced by the clothes she had worn to school and her glasses.  “Whew, that’s better.  I-oh…”  She suddenly felt a surge of weakness overtaking her.
     “Ellie! What’s wrong?”
     “Dad, I don’t - feel so good…”  She suddenly fell forward and passed out again.
     Harold checked her head.  “That flu’s struck back and hard.  I’ve got to get her to the hospital and fast!”
     He got one of his younger workers to place her into the passenger seat of the truck.
     With no hesitation, Harold got his truck running as fast as he could without going too far over the speed limit.  “Hang on, pumpkin, just hang on…”

Ellie made it to the trial as Princess Elementa, but reverting back to Ellie has triggered the flu virus much stronger within her.  Can she survive the trip to the hospital and the treatment?  Find out in the follow-up story “Emergency for Elementa,” coming soon!

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