The tables and chairs in the Scoundrel Saloon had been arranged to form two separate seating arrangements--one for the Whaleboat's crew and the other for the Big Joe's. As Chloe looked uneasily from Ramone, to Vinnie to Monica, to Abacab to Sunny, she blew out an exhale of exhaustion. "I can't believe this," she said. "We should be working with Big Joe's crew and defeat Fienmond once and for all! Instead, they're looking for a way to throw me in jail and have me executed! I had no idea that this is what would happen when I came to the Underpass."

"Aye lassie," Abacab said with a sigh. "That's the way the sea cliff crumbles. I never knew I'd be devoting the rest of me life to finding a polka dot whale either! Life has a funny way of throwing a harpoon at your plans."

Monica held her hands together and warmly smiled at Chloe. "We know you're innocent, chica! You'd never hurt anyone who didn't deserve it. Right Vinnie?"

Vinnie gave two thumbs up! "Yeah. She'd never smack me unless I wasn't pulling ma weight on this crew! Den dat demonic little girl would pummel me to a pulp!"

Monica shook her head and covered her face with her hand.

"Uh I mean..." Vinnie said. "Chloe would beat me over the head with good morale...in a metaphorical sense of course!"

"Worry not, my queen!" Ramone said with his hooves held together. "Fortunately, this cretin will not be testifying. I was with you all night so I can truly say of you went downstairs and killed this King Hooligan!"

Chloe smiled from ear to ear. "That's wonderful, Rammy. Were you up all night watching me?"

Ramone's eyes darted back and forth. "Well no, my queen. I had to get some beauty rest for today! But I can assure you, if you were on a murderous rampage, you would have woken me up!"

Chloe smiled nervously. "Let's hope that holds up in pirate court."

"Don't worry, boyo!" Laura said with a wide grin on her face. "I can testify too. I know there's a global conspiracy against you involving lima bean production in the Southern Sea. Clearly you were framed by a disgruntled worker in that industry!"

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Chloe rolled her eyes. "I sure hope a gag order exists in pirate court."

"Arr," Legabeard said, placing a hand on Chloe's shoulder. "Thats enough banter between you and your chums. Let me just explain to yeh about something. The one who will be overseeing this case…well he's also the prosecutor and…"

Suddenly, Legalbeard was jammed in the head with a metal cane. "Owww yeh could poke an eye out with that thing."

"That's the point!" Buckeye said, a grin fixed on his face. "How do you think I feel having no eyes!"

Chloe mouthed the words. "You…you're going to oversee the case?"

"Well of course," Buckeye said with a needle toothed smile. "Though I can't technically "oversee" I do firmly believe that justice is blind."

Chloe rolled her eyes hard. "I don't know what pains me more, these puns or the fact thst the man who wants me dead being the judge, jury and prosecutor!"

Buckeye grinned again, his smile curved in a cruel arc. "Both lass. You took my king away from me, so I will take it all away. Now without further ado!"

Buckeye felt his way to the judges stand and banged his cane on the stand. "Let the murder mystery of Big Joe the greatest pirate king commence! Justice shall prevail in this lawless town!"

Big Joe's crew all sat silently in there chairs, but they offered glares as cutting as their sabres and swords.

"First person I call to the stand…" Buckeye cried. "Was not at the scene of the crime when it happened, but he heard some very important words the day before. Words that will damn the suspect almost as much as her actions. I call Mugs Silvercup the barkeep to the floor."

The eye patched bartender with a slick widows peak walked up to the stand. Chloe recognized him from yesterday. He was the man who oversaw their arm wrestling match. "Now Mr. Mugs…"

"Please," the hardened bartender said. "Call me Muggy. That's what the my mom always called me."

"Do I look like your mom?" Buckeye asked putting his hands on his hip.

"Nah," the bartender said. "But I always envisioned Mrs. Justice like a caring mom ready to take care of those who need it most."

"Right…" Buckeye said. "Well, Mrs. Justice would really like it if you said the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."

"With a side of truth?" the bartender answered. "As a bartender I always have to think about every order coming with a side."

"Yes," Buckeye muttered. "You can have the truth with a side of the truth."

"Excellent!" the bartender said. "Well, then justice will be served on a delicious steamy platter. What will you ask me?"

"The most important question: what did young Chloe say to Big Joe in front of everyone in the saloon. What was her most ferverent and burning desire?"

"That is an easy one…" Mugs answered. "That little girl said she would become pirate queen by any means necessary. And now, after today, I wake up and find that she is accused of killing the king of the pirates!"

Chloe swallowed hard as all eyes were on her. Words that she had once boldly proclaimed had turned around and condemned her.