57

The Escambia Courthouse was huge. Junior didn't think he'd ever seen a building as grand as it was, besides maybe a skyscraper. Surprisingly it was a pretty new building, being opened back up in 1978 after being rebuilt. Junior had to research it a little bit for a school project, and that info had still stuck with him.

His father grabbed his arm and walked him inside the building. It looked even fancier on the inside. There was a group of people talking to someone at a desk, presumably from another case. Bowser took Junior past them and went with Jeffy and Marvin into an elevator.

The elevator took the group up to the third story. Around a corner were two giant doors, which led to the main courtroom. The scary place Junior was most worried about. Instead of heading there right away, Bowser took Junior straight ahead into a small office to check in, Marvin and Jeffy following close behind.

The woman at the office desk looked almost identical to the nurse Junior saw when he woke up in the hospital, but this time her name tag said 'Susan.' She was busy typing something on a laptop until she noticed Bowser standing in front of her. "Oh, hello sir. Sorry, I was busy with something. Which case are you here for?"

"I'm here for the case against Fernando Strongbottom. I'm the prosecutor. Marvin and Jeffy are here to spectate." Bowser replied, stepping aside to put the other father and son into view. "And of course, my son will be watching too."

"Alright. So you're Bowser, right? Goodman's waiting for you in the office right next door." Susan said. She shifted towards Marvin, Jeffy, and Junior. "You three may go wait either inside or right outside the main courtroom. Everyone will go inside around 8:55."

Marvin nodded and gestured for Jeffy to follow him. Junior got out of his father's hold and followed after the two. Right outside the courthouse was Cody, Toad, and Woody all waiting there. Cody and Toad were talking to each other while Woody was leaning against the wall eating some shrimpos from a Tupperware container. Junior approached his two friends, Jeffy tagging along while Marvin talked with Woody.

"Hey guys." He greeted, gaining the attention of the two boys. "Has Chef PeePee come this way yet?"

"Hey Junior! He hasn't yet. He probably won't until the last minute." Cody answered. "Where's your dad?"

"He's talking to his lawyer." Junior said.

"Are you guys ready to take down that Charleyyy-watching fuck?" Jeffy asked confidently.

"Jeffy, language. We're in a courthouse, not at home." Marvin scolded before going back to his conversation with the cowboy.

"Heck yeah I am, Jeffy. I nearly crashed the limo when Junior called me and told me everything. I knew that guy was bad news." Toad said.

"We all know what we're going to say once we get called up, right?" Cody asked.

"I know what I'm saying." Jeffy said, crossing his arms confidently and smiling.

"I do too. What about you, Junior?" Toad said before shifting his attention to Junior.

"I kind of do, but I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna get called up since I'm 'brainwashed.'" Junior scoffed. His phone buzzed in his pocket so he took it out to check the message.

Joseph messaged you: Hey dude, I hitched a ride and made it here. Where do I go

Junior: 3rd floor, then turn the corner. Cody, Jeffy, Toad, and I are already here

Joseph: aight thanks. I hitched a ride from some green dude and a tiger, isn't that sick?

Junior: hell yeah dude

Junior put his phone back in his pocket. "Joseph's coming up, and Tony and Shrek are with him."

"Oh hell yeah, I haven't talked to Tony in forever." Toad said. On que, Joseph along with the two other men came out of the elevator. Joseph turned the corner, and ran to Junior.

"Hey dude!" He looked at everyone else. "And other dudes too." He dabbed everyone up as Tony and Shrek made their way over.

"Oh, hey donkey!" Shrek said in his thick accent, startling Marvin. "Are you here to defend the chef too?"

"Marvin!!! Hey!!!" Tony greeted as well.

"Hey guys..." Marvin said. He checked the time, and saw it was 8:40. Once he looked up, he saw Goodman and Bowser walking towards the group.

"Wassup Tony?" Toad said, getting the tiger's attention. The animal turned around and waved happily. The two started up a conversation while Bowser approached Marvin.

"Ready for court, Marvin?" Bowser asked. The people around him glanced at him with an eyebrow raised before going back to their conversations.

"I think so..." Marvin said.

As Marvin and Bowser engaged in awkward conversation with Goodman just standing there on his phone, someone came up the elevator. Marvin didn't even look at who it was until Jeffy said something.

"Hey mommy! Don't I look snazzy as brass?" Marvin turned to see Rose in a simple yet fancy dark-blue dress. She didn't even look Marvin in the eye.

"Yes, yes you do sweetie." She answered, giving the boy a pat on the helmet while giggling.

Another person walked to the doors, this time it was Judge Pooby looking very smexy. He opened the doors, and turned back to the group of people. "You may enter the courtroom, and we will get started at 9 am sharp."

Junior looked at his friends nervously, before stepping into the room that led to the beginning of the end.

Or would it be the beginning of the beginning?