A/N: Now, it's time to get some story!

THE ESSENCE OF IT ALL

Chapter 3: Where is She?

Frank awoke to another day in Ibamen. He was really beginning to like it here, and everyone was being successful. People were coming from all over to visit the many sims that offered various services. Chef Watanabe's was often by reservation now, although Chef Gino's was more casual and not as busy.

Roxie dished out only the best ice cream, MFranke Zoe could predict just about anything, and everyone danced the night away at Club Candy! Frank was glad that he wasn't a traveling essence mason, or he would have to leave!

He sat down on a bench in the middle of town. Watching everyone else in the town run about their business. It was Saturday, and tomorrow would be Sunday. The trains didn't run on Sunday, so no visitors were around then.

"Hey, Frank!" he heard.

Frank looked up to see Violet and DJ Candy waving him over.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We're having a dance competition tonight in the park," answered Violet, clearly excited for it. "We were hoping you could essence up a billboard."

Frank thought about what he would need, and agreed to it.

"Any specific essences you want on it?" Frank inquired.

DJ Candy thought for a second. "I heard that there's a cave in the back of the forest. It's filled with essences you can prospect. One of them is a musical note essence I believe. That would be perfect for the billboard!"

"Ok, but isn't the forest blocked by logs?"

"Go talk to Mayor Rosalyn," Violet suggested. "If we're a one-star town by now, we'll have had a saw commissioned to us. She'll have it."

"Thanks, guys."

Frank strolled over to town hall and, sure enough, the saw was right there. Mayor Rosalyn gave him permission to open the forest, and he did so without delay.

Frank entered the quiet forest. It was different than the rest of town. There was more room in here for houses…maybe he'd move in some more sims when he got the chance. Following his map, he eventually made it to the cave and cautiously entered it.

He whipped out his essence detector and began prospecting.

-fifteen minutes later-

Frank exited the cave with his essences and built the billboard. Thanks to it, the party was amazing.

Every sim showed up to the competition, and every style of dance was shown! Frank was laughing and having a great time. Then, DJ's stereo started to play "Glamorous" by Fergie, which was pretty much Poppy's song. He saw Violet a couple yards away.

"Violet!" he yelled across the noise. Violet looked over at him.

"Where's Poppy? This is, like, her song, isn't it?"

Violet thought for a minute and looked around. She didn't see Poppy anywhere. Not only that, but she was sure that she was excited about coming to the party tonight.

Violet yelled back, "She probably got caught up tending to her flowers or something. Let's go find her!"

Frank and Violet left the party, being held over by the river. They walked across town to Poppy's shop.

"Odd," Violet thought. "The lights aren't on."

She knocked on the door. "Poppy! Poppy, it's Violet!" No answer. She knocked harder. "Poppy! Open up!"

Frank pushed her out of the way and closed his eyes. His hands glowed green and the door was reduced to essence. He picked it up to rebuild the door later.

"You didn't have to do that!" Violet exclaimed.

"You have a better idea?"

The flower shop was deserted. It didn't seem like Poppy was in the shop.

"Violet, are you sure Poppy's here?"

"Her necklace is over there on the table. She never leaves home without it."

"I'll take your word for it."

They searched the bottom floor. Where was she? They looked through the aisles of flowers. They searched behind the counter. Finally, it was time to head upstairs.

Violet was becoming more and more nervous the longer the search went on. She shakily brought out a spare key to unlock the door to the second floor.

"Maybe she's sleep-"

The door had a violent red streak across it. Frank went to open the door, but Violet stopped him.

"Don't open it, don't open it…"

He did anyway. Violet turned away.

The bed had blood on it. The walls were covered in bloody handprints. But, Poppy was not there.

"Where is she!? Where is she!?" Violet cried. Suddenly, a piece of paper floated down from the rafters.

Her life is still hers, for now.
Where the music plays, the sports go, and the dreams fly.
Find her before you are too late.

Frank pondered over the note while Violet recovered from completely breaking down.

"Music plays? Do you think DJ Candy did this?" Violet asked shakily.

"Not really," Frank replied. "Aren't you really good friends with her? Let me think for a second."

What did he do since he got here? He built his house and workshop. He built numerous houses and many pieces of furniture. He built the billboard…

"The billboard!" he yelled in triumph.

"What?" Violet said.

"Remember when you and DJ Candy asked me to make a billboard for the party?"

"Yeah…?"

"DJ Candy mentioned the cave in the forest. The three essences that can be prospected in that cave are Musical Notes, Soccer Balls, and Flying Carpets!"

"So it is her!"

"Violet, why are you so excited to pin the crime on someone already!? Let's find Poppy first!"

Violet and Frank burst out of the shop, heading for the forest. Vic Vector and Mayor Rosalyn were walking home after the party, and saw them hurrying.

"Hey, hey!" Vic laughed. "What's going on?"

They stopped the catch their breath. "Something's happened to Poppy," Frank panted. "She's hidden in the forest."

An extremely awkward silence followed.

Mayor Rosalyn took charge. "I'll round up the town residents. Violet, come with me and we'll get the police. Vic, go with Frank and find Poppy!"

Frank and Vic took off for the forest. Once inside, they were alert for every sound, every motion, and every shadow. They carefully made their way back to the cave Frank entered earlier.

"Vic, it's too dark in here!"

"Leave it to me."

Vic pulled out his modified Nintendo DS with adjustable lighting to make a makeshift flashlight. They looked around the cave, searching for Poppy.

It wasn't long before they struck gold.

"Oh my god…"

"Is she alive?"

Poppy lay there on the floor of the cave, a large gash on her side bleeding profusely. Vic raised his DS to see that someone had carved a message onto the cave wall.

"Frank, look at this."

Frank did indeed look at it.

My motives now not clear to see
Though many you will try to save
She played with dolls and took her tea
But that is not her destinY

He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and decided that the only thing to do now was get Poppy out.

"Here, we'll have to carry her through the forest. Hurry!"

They picked her up, using Vic's shirt to slow the bleeding. What a sight for the townsfolk! Frank and a shirtless Vic carrying a bloody Poppy out of the forest. Everyone gathered around. Frank could see Violet crying and actually apologizing to DJ Candy for thinking the things she did. He saw paramedics rush up and whisk Poppy to the train, where she could be treated. She was saved.

Frank looked at the rest of the townsfolk. He didn't believe that it was an inside job. Something was different about this that didn't seem like the work of anyone before him.

"I do not suspect the townsfolk," he announced. "I do not believe that anyone here had a motive for hurting Poppy. There are two clues. Both were notes with riddles. The first led us to Poppy. The second, I don't know."

"Everyone," the Mayor jumped in. "Be careful. This came as a shock to all of us, but I'm sure that we can get through it together."

She turned to Frank. "Frank, organize a team. We need to stop this madman before he, or she, can strike again!"

Frank decided that the best way was volunteers. "Does anyone wish to help me bring this person to justice?"

Violet raised a shaky hand. So did Vic. Chef Watanabe's hand went up. DJ Candy walked up to him and so did Roxie. Frank looked at his team and nodded. He would need their help to solve the mystery.

What is it that makes writing murder/violent fanfiction in cutesy-cartoony games fun? Trust me…there's enough of it in Animal Crossing.