Like a vulture hovering over a cliffside perch, Buckeye leered at the audience. Chloe, who normally loved eyepatches, ("nothing makes gives you that pirate chic better than severing an eye!" She'd say to herself in her castle) despised the two pieces of fabric over his eyes. They were like two blackholes attempting to suck out her souk with his pursuit of the truth. At last, the blind man spoke, his words as hard as his face.

"It was the eve of midnight and I had a craving for me nightcap! I needed some hard alcohol to forget the nonsense and tomfoolery from this lesser pirate crew."

The Whaleboat's crew all glared harshly at him, but to Buckeye, he merely smirked. "I don't need eyes to see the ire in your vision, you motley crew. Outsiders like you don't belong in this haven for true scallywags."

"That's not true!" Chloe screamed. "They're twice the scallywags you'll ever be, you mother puffing blowfish!"

Both Big Joe's crew and Chloe's crew rose to their feet. Every single person (even the normally reserved Ramone, looked ready to fight for his honor.)

"They already look mucho mas feo compared to me!" Antonio Sabreheart exclaimed. "But when I'm done with them, even the scum off the bottom of the sea will be prettier!"

Ramone raised his hooves. "Howabout some fistihooves, you hooligans!"

Chloe smiled at her crew ready to defend her. She was ready to leap into battle too and pummel these former heroes of hers until oblivion. But the gavel banged against the table. "Order!" Buckeye announced. "So we can finally put this case to rest."

Legalbeard nodded. "He is the judge sadly."

"Thank you," Buckeye grinned. "I had settled down in my chair and found a long time chum waiting. Big Joe had laid anchor for the night and he gazed at the stormy sea with a weariness in his eyes."

Buckeye cracked his knuckles. "We exchanged some words. None are of much importance to this tavern turned courtroom when suddenly, this demonic young girl came traipsing down the stairs."

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"Arrjection!" Legalbeard shouted. "How did you know it was her?"

Buckeye leaned back in his stand. "As a illegally blinded pirate, I can recognize footsteps around me."

"Arr," Legalbeard growled. "Thats not sufficient evidence."

"Well," Buckeye nodded. "That and she exclaimed, 'Fienmond!' and ran him through with a sword!"

Chloe lowered in her chair like a deflated pufferfish. Indeed, she had in that dream of hers. "Rosemary, "she muttered to herself. "Why aren't you helping me?!"

"I think that should be enough," Buckeye said and he faced his crew. "I'll let the dishonorable jury decide."

"The dishonorable hung jury!" Antonio proclaimed his arm around Navi the Navigator who looked at him lovingly.

Chloe looked to Legalbeard helplessly.

At last, one last course of action flashed through her mind. She'd speak for herself. It was a dream after all...

"Legalbeardy," Chloe said. "Can I please speak before them? I just might have something to say."

"Arrjection!" the pirattorney cried. "Please. Before yee lubbers decide. Let me client speak for herself. Unless you are truly that spineless like a jellyfish."

Buckeye paused for a second. "Very well," he smirked. "But there's no way she can dig herself out of this prison."

Chloe took to the stand. She nervously gulped like she was swallowing a small ivory ball. Ramone stood up and pumped his hooves. "You go, my queen!"

Chloe no longer felt fear. She had to speak for her freedom. "I'm so tired." she remarked. "I'm so tired of all of this...."

"We're not!" Buckeye shouted. "You murdered our captain."

"I don't mean that..." Chloe said softly. "I came here to become pirate queen, but I never planned to kill anyone. Pirates who backstab other pirates don't belong in any crew of mine!"

Even the normally edgy Buckeye was silent.

"There may have been a pirate king here," Chloe said. "But to me...that didn't matter? Why? Because there was no pirate queen!"

There was a look of shock on all of Big Joe's crew. Even the grumpy Gino Taur raised his heavy eyelids in shock. "I was going to propose a joint rule!" Chloe proclaimed. 'Big Joe was savvy enough that I'm sure he'd agree!"

Quietness reigned in the Scoundrel Saloon. But at last, Navi spoke. "That's... true," she said. "He was looking for a pirate queen. Though obviously this would be a different proposal than he intended."

"Exactly," Chloe smirked. "Wasn't into that big guy anyway. But I'm sure he'd be down with a joint rule. I had no intention to kill him."

"But you did!" Buckeye exclaimed. "And unless someone can prove otherwise, you're going straight to the gallows where you will be hung...and not in the Antonio Sabreheart way!"

"Hold it!" A deep but clearly female voice shouted.

There was a loud creak and the least likely person Chloe expected stood in the doorway. It was Chief Inspector Valcom and she was drenched and covered in sea weed. Her normally spikey hair was matted down heavily and her black tank top stuck to her body. "I can prove this child isn't the murderer. But one of you is!"