Chapter 16: The Rosechu Turnabout Part 1

Breakfast was just set up for everyone over an hour ago. But due to the delay with the surprising guest coming into their lives, the food was colder than usual. Despite that, everyone decided to enjoy what was there anyway like they were a bunch of college students who were just desperate to eat.

Saki was teaching SNT about proper manners while the food was being consumed. "You see SNT?" She was talking to SNT at the dining room table. "This is how you do proper manners. You take your fork and you cut the food like this."

SNT proceeded to follow Saki's movements only to accidentally spill syrup on her lap. "Whoops!"

Saki facepalmed. "Sticky lap I see! Hey, at least when you see a boy, it's easier to keep your legs closed."

Elise looked at Ashlyn and said, "Can you get Miss SNT some napkins to help her clean up a bit?"

Ashlyn came running in with a hot towel. "Already on it!" She proceeded to start whipping it off.

"Wait, Ashlyn, don't touch me there! Let me handle it!" SNT insisted on covering her lap, getting her gloves sticky in the process.

"No, madam, let me handle it!" Ashlyn insisted. SNT took the towel out of her hands before any awkward moment would commence and started to do it herself.

Rookie stared at the hybrid as he was chomping down on his food. It made him bite down on the fork with no food on it, showing that he wasn't paying any attention to what he was doing.

Once SNT's lap was clear, Saki told her about what was going on the next day. "I would like to personally invite you to our concert tomorrow. It's why I came to see you this morning."

"One of your concerts?" SNT questioned. "Sounds fun. But I guess I could go if I am not too busy tomorrow."

"Oh, trust me, it's gonna be so much fun with you being there! I am gonna perform some of my best songs, including some new ones."

"Really?" SNT felt a feeling of excitement enter her body. "I can't wait to hear it!"

"Yeah, I think you're gonna like it. My voice is so sexy and irresistible that nobody can look away from me as they hear it. I'm like a siren of the darkness who will bring in the light."

"You think so highly of yourself," Rookie interrupted. "Don't you think you're just too self-centered?"

"Nah, it's just that everything I sing becomes 100 times better no matter how bad the lyrics are," the fox explained. "I sing everything I write no matter how bad it may sound. People just love my voice. That's what they pay money to see, right?"

"So even though you sing a lot of bad songs, people are still buying your music?" questioned Rookie.

"Isn't that how the music industry works? The people with real talents like Rand and Alicia always try to write something genuine. But they work with me because they know they can't sell their music to anyone under their own name. As long as you have the looks, you can sell any music to anyone no matter the quality. I am lucky to have a voice that the gods have blessed me with. I am so happy to share it with all of you!"

"Interesting." Rookie took another bite of his food.

Saki recalled something, "Ugg... You're starting to remind me of Delilah the Donkey. That chick is cute and makes herself look pretty. But that chick can't even sing. Every time she opens her mouth, another baby dies! Delilah the Donkey huh? More like Delilah the As-."

At that moment, a bang came from the edge of the room. A two-tailed red fox ran toward the Princess like she was panicking. The princess quickly recognized her. "Miss Pumpkin!"

She moved her bang out of the way and looked at the princess. She was struggling to say anything as all attention went to her. "Princess, I think a ghost took some of our food supply!"

"A ghost?" Elise was having a hard time comprehending what Pumpkin was trying to tell her. "How can there be ghosts here?"

"Shouldn't you know? You're the one here who is spiritually in depth here. That's literally why I came to find you!" Pumpkin explained.

"So you want me to check your garden for any spirits?" Elise asked.

Pumpkin nodded. "Yeah, I just want to make sure that I am not crazy. I know what I saw last night."

That was when Rosechu peeked into the room a little to notice the conversation. She didn't want to make herself too obvious. Pumpkin ended up seeing her. "What... was... was it you?!"

"Huh?" Rosechu noticed the fox looking directly at her.

Pumpkin stormed over to Rosechu with a blue fiery aura coming off of her body. The heat energy being admitted was incredible, like being next to a fireplace. The fox confronted her, putting her finger on her chest. "It was you I saw last night. You stole from my farm!"

"What... What are you talking about? I wasn't even here last night!" Rosechu explained.

"Last night, I saw someone with a similar fur color to yours. They also had the same type of tail just like you have," she accused.

"You can't prove I was there!" Rosechu responded.

"You ate my fruits and spices!" she responded. "Princess, please lock this girl up for stealing!"

"But... but I wasn't even there!" Rosechu explained.

"Enough!" SNT pushed Pumpkin out of Rosechu's space and added her two senses. "Rosechu was with us last night. Both Rookie and I can vouch for her."

Rookie nodded in agreement and added. "Yeah, Rosechu couldn't have done it. There must be a logical explanation."

"Perhaps maybe you saw the tickle monster last night. It came to tickle your fruit to get all of its juices out of it. Don't worry, Detective Saki is on the case," the popstar added. She grabbed a monocle out of her pocket and put it in her eye.

Everyone had a weird look on their face while looking at Saki. There was a moment of silence. "Umm... I don't think I want to imagine what she just described." Elise nodded no.

"Sounds awesome," Ashlyn got next to Saki and held both of her hands. "Perhaps I can be your trusty assistant! Together we can investigate all of the fruit to see how much of their liquids did they release when they were tickled. Don't worry, your trusty assistant can do the calculations for you!"

"Yes, that's the spirit! Together, we can find the tickle monster!" Saki added.

"Please, can we stop talking about fruit juices? The less we know the better!" Rookie yelled.

The conversation then shifted back to Pumpkin and Rosechu. SNT was standing in the middle of the two. "Let's go check the scene of the crime. But I am telling you that Rosechu is innocent."

"It is best to hear both sides of the story before we make a judgement," the princess explained. "Let's go to the scene and we will take a look at it. Pumpkin, you can explain what you saw when we get there."

"Well, while Rosechu's the accused, we should keep her here in custody. She's the only one who looks like what I saw last night. I demand justice!"

"What?! I didn't do anything wrong!" Rosechu yelled in fear. "I just got here."

Elise nodded. "Yeah, those are the rules here. Once you are accused, you must be held in custody until your innocence is proven. Ashlyn, I demand that you keep Rosechu in chains until told otherwise."

"Yes ma'am!" Ashlyn grabs chains from a statue and puts them on Rosechu's arms. Rosechu was completely helpless to do anything but hoped that there may be something they find in the investigation to prove her innocence.

"Don't worry Rosechu, I promise I will get you out of this," SNT nodded.

Rosechu smiled. "Thank you, just don't worry about me too much."

"Alright everyone let's go!" Elise announced, packing her bags together. Ashlyn pulled Rosechu's chains to force her to come along. SNT, Rookie, Saki, and Elise all follow Pumpkin to her garden on the base of the mountain. The hurricane surrounding the island was still in place. Even though the weather was somewhat pleasant, the humidity was higher than usual, which told everyone what was probably going to happen in a few hours.

"I think we need to hurry with this investigation," Elise admitted. "Looks like the eyewall may once again close on us in a few hours and I don't want to be outside for that."

SNT and Rookie were confused with what she just said. "What do you mean?" SNT asked.

Elise pointed towards the edge of the eyewall and said, "Do you see that the clouds are getting closer to the island? When that happens, we are going to get a terrible storm. We don't have a lot of time to waste."

"It looks like we won't have a lot of time to investigate, so let's make this quick," Rookie explained.

"I've never really investigated something before. I hope it's easy." the hybrid prayed.

April 10, 10:00 AM

? Island
Pumpkin's Garden

Everybody was standing around the garden. All of the fruits and vegetables were all organized around the area. The land they stood upon was completely bare of any grass and only had a variety of fruits on the vines. In the next area was a variety of animals all eating the grass.

Rosechu was face to face with Pumpkin who seemed eager to tell her story.

"Alright Pumpkin," Elise announced, "Please explain your side of the story."

"Fine." Pumpkin walked over to the edge of the garden. "Last night, I was carrying a basket at around 1. I came because I was collecting fruit for my bar and wanted to start making food for tomorrow. That was when I saw her." She pointed at Rosechu. "Just within the moonlight, I saw her eating away at my onions. When I yelled hey, she looked at me with those blue eyes she had and panicked. Then she ran into the mountains."

"But that wasn't me!" Rosechu yelled. "You got to believe me! I would never do something like that!"

"I'm sorry Miss Rosechu, I'm afraid that Miss Pumpkin's words are the only evidence we have to go off of. Unless new evidence is found to counter her words then your innocence is still yet to be cleared." Elise explained.

"You gotta be kidding me!" Rosechu looked upset.

"Listen to me!" SNT yelled. "If we can find this evidence to prove that she is innocent, can we let her go?"

"If you can find good evidence to prove her innocent, then I will allow her to be released." the princess explained.

"Well let's take a look around SNT," Rookie suggested. "Perhaps we can find something to help."

"Yeah, you're right." SNT admitted. "Rosechu needs help more than anyone, I can feel it. She needs all the help she can get. I know she didn't do it. As long as I believe in my friend, we can get her out of this."

"Alright let's do this!" Rookie yelled in excitement.

Begin Investigation
Pumpkin's Garden

Saki reached out her hand getting herself a bubble wand as a magnifying glass.

Saki: "Alright Ashlyn! Let us go look for clues. I can sense that the Tickle Monster is still at large. If we don't find him soon, we could be sleeping tonight with him breathing over us with his hands tingling like a little girl."

Ashlyn: "THIS GUY MUST BE STOPPED! I'll check over here, you look over there!"

Saki: "Okley Dokely."

SNT and Rookie first look directly at a plant with some of its fruit missing. SNT looked at it closely.

SNT "Hmm, you see this Rookie? It looks like most of the fruits on this tree are gone. There is almost nothing left."

Rookie: "Yeah, it seems there is nothing left."

SNT: "I will inspect every nook and cranny until there is nothing left." The hybrid looked around the tree until she noticed a yellow fruit left on the ground. "Oh, look there!"

Rookie: "What is that?"

SNT: "It looks like not all the fruits have been stolen. There is half of a fruit sitting on the ground. It kinda looks like it's been bitten already."

Rookie: "Oh, you're right. I didn't notice that!"

SNT: "Really, how could you not notice a bitten fruit sitting on the ground?"

Rookie: "This is the first time I have ever really gotten a look at it to be honest."

SNT thought to herself, A fruit dropped on the ground that has been bitten. I wonder what that means?

Bitten Fruit: A bitten fruit was found on the ground next to the tree Pumpkin claims that she found the culprit eating next too. It's been dropped on the ground for some reason.

This Thought has been added to Logic

SNT and Rookie moved over to the fence that surrounded the garden. SNT examines the fence.

SNT: "Oh look at this!"

Rookie: "What is it?"

SNT: "I wonder why a part of the fence has been broken off."

Rookie: "I wonder if it was like that before. I think it might be something that was already there!"

SNT: "Do you really think so?"

Rookie: "Yeah, let's ask Pumpkin about it later."

Broken Fence: A piece from on top of the fence looks to be broken off.

This thought has been added to Logic.

SNT quickly notices that there is something else behind the fence.

SNT: "Hey look at that!"

Rookie: "They look a lot like footprints."

SNT: "They are. But something is off about them."

Rookie: "What is that?"

SNT: "It kinda looks like there is only one set of footprints. And it seems to be heading toward the fence."

Rookie: "Interesting."

SNT: "I think I should make a note of that!"

Footprint Notes: These sets of footprints are pointed toward the fence on the other side of Pumpkin's Garden. There is no second set of footprints in sight.

Footprint Notes was added to Evidence

SNT: "The fruit was also not the only thing that seems out of place here. Look at the tree itself."

Rookie: "What's wrong with it?"

SNT: Well if you compare all of the other trees around it, it seems that the leaves are gone. Every other tree is fully intact with leaves and everything but this one looked like it died.

Dead Tree: The tree in which it looked like the fruit came from looks dry and dead

Dead Tree was added to Logic and Evidence

SNT proceeded to walk over toward Pumpkin.

SNT: "Hey, Pumpkin do you mind if we talk?"

Pumpkin: "Well... ok, sure."

Rookie: "We have a question about your garden. How long have you been running it?"

Pumpkin: *sigh* "Well, I've lost my concept of time in this place, but I think I've been here for at least 5 years. I started the garden 4 years ago and it's been going strong."

SNT: "What types of things do you grow here?"

Pumpkin: "Well, whatever I find floating around in the ocean and on this Island. Subaru helps me look around for all of these fruits and vegetables. Some people on this Island even took care of their own pets and brought them here. That's where I get all of the meat from."

SNT: *Does a shocked face* "Wait... what do you mean that is where you get all of the meat from?"

Pumpkin: *sighs and makes a "bruh" face* "I make meat by reproducing blood cells in the lab from pets. What did you think I did?"

SNT: *looks shocked* "..."

Rookie: "Hello SNT, welcome to Veganism, would you like a personal tour?"

SNT: "The old fashioned taste of Chili Dogs... now ruined in a matter of seconds. I can't look at them the same anymore."

Rookie: "Can you tell us more about the fence? Was that damaged yesterday?"

Pumpkin: "Well if I recall correctly, the fence didn't look like that yesterday."

SNT: "Really?"

Pumpkin: "Yeah, it was completely fine."

Fixed Fence: According to Pumpkin, the fence wasn't broken yesterday

This thought was added to Logic.

SNT: "Hmm, One last question, when you arrived at the scene, what was the reaction of the culprit when you found them?"

Pumpkin: "Hmm... I think that she jumped when I saw her."

The Culprit Jumped: When Pumpkin found the culprit, according to her, they jumped in reaction when they saw Pumpkin.

This thought has been added to Logic

SNT proceeded to think to herself and started connecting her logic. Hmm, lets see, the Fixed Fence and the Broken Fence... OH!

Rookie: "What is it SNT?"

SNT: "The fence had to be broken when the crime was being committed. That is the only way for that to happen."

Rookie: "Wow, how did you figure that out? I don't think I would have ever guessed that."

SNT: "Really... is it just simple logic?"

Rookie: "Logic?"

SNT: "Apparently, that's something you lack!"

Broken Fence: The fence was broken as of last night. Possibly during the crime.

Broken Fence was added to Evidence

SNT proceeded to put some of her thoughts together. "Oh! I think I may have figured out something else as well. You know the fruit we found on the ground?"

Rookie: "Yeah!"

SNT: "I think the reason why half of the fruit was on the ground was because Pumpkin startled them. They dropped the fruit when Pumpkin called them out."

Rookie: "That is not too much out of the realm of possibility I guess. Let's keep that in mind."

Bitten Fruit: A piece of fruit was found bitten into next to the tree Pumpkin claimed to saw the culprit

Bitten Fruit was added to Evidence

SNT: "I think we got what we needed."

Rookie: "What do you mean? We only have two pieces of Evidence! I don't think it gives us any ideas of what exactly happened last night."

SNT: "I know, but I believe that this is all we have to work with. Rosechu must be innocent, and if she is, something must be here to prove that. The only thing that we need to do now is just tear apart Pumpkin's story!"

Investigation Complete

Elise: "Did you both find what you needed?"

SNT: "I believe so, I think we have enough to make sure that Rosechu is declared innocent. Trust us, we know she didn't do it. The Evidence should prove that!"

Saki: "You're right, my fellow comrades. I have found evidence that the tickle monster does exist on this island and I will do my best to prove that he is and I found evidence to prove it."

Ashlyn agreed, "Yeah, go Saki, you're the greatest detective. Nobody can outsmart your logic!"

Elise looked toward the red-orange two tailed fox. "Alright Pumpkin, Could you go ahead and tell us the story from the beginning?"

Pumpkin walked over to the middle of the garden and faced SNT and Rookie. She didn't look concerned or anything. This was the first time SNT looked at someone who wasn't blushing at the sight of her.

Pumpkin took a deep breath, "Alright, here is what happened." Just in that moment, it was like the two were suddenly isolated. Only the two of them remained in the world.

Pumpkin's Testimony: Last Night in the Garden

Last night, I went to go gather fresh fruits from the garden for tomorrow.

Just when I opened the fence, I saw Rosechu eating my fruit from the tree.

She was wearing nothing, practically naked.

I called her out, but she ended up jumping the fence and running into the mountain ahead.

SNT: "When you went to collect fruit, did she happen to eat all of them?"

Pumpkin: "Well, I grabbed what was left of them but I know I lost maybe at least half of my fruits have been taken. I collected the rest of them."

Rookie: "Why didn't you report this sooner?"

Pumpkin: "It was very late last night. If I went into the village to report, I would hate to wake anybody up."

Elise: "Yeah, I was possibly awake last night working on magical stuff and I didn't go to bed until after SNT went."

SNT: "I thought you already went to sleep when I washed Rookie off."

Rookie blushed a little just thinking of SNT washing him last night.

Elise: "No, it was about 30 minutes after. Well, Miss. SNT, you may begin the cross examination."

SNT: "Cross Examination?"

Elise: "Have you ever done that before? Just compare what Pumpkin said to your evidence. You can also press her for more information."

SNT: "Alright, I'll try my best."

Rebuttal

Last night, I went to go gather fresh fruits from the garden for tomorrow.

Just when I opened the fence, I saw Rosechu eating my fruit from the tree.

SNT: "HOLD IT!"

Pumpkin looked directly at SNT when she yelled.

SNT: "Are you absolutely sure that it was Rosechu you saw?"

Pumpkin: "Yes, the fact that the person in question had a long tail like she does means that it could be her!"

SNT: "Yeah, but I also have long tails, you too! There are many people on this Island that have long tails."

Pumpkin: "Yeah, but yours are puffy, kinda like mine... wait a second..." Pumpkin proceeded to take a closer look at SNT's tails. "You... you have the same tails I do!"

SNT: "Well... yeah?"

Pumpkin: "Are... are we related?"

SNT: "What?"

Saki: "HEY HEY HEY, BACK OFF, she's mine. Nobody gets to take her away from me! Who are you supposed to be, the personification of a bad hair day? Are you what happens when Tails gets an operation?"

SNT: "Saki, what a terrible thing to say?"

Saki: "Oh, I'm sorry, I just didn't want you to get taken up by the waitress."

Elise: "Didn't you once talk about how you used to be a waitress?"

Saki: "... um... n.. No?" She gained this look on her face making her look guilty of something.

She was wearing nothing, practically naked.

I called her out, but she ended up jumping the fence and running into the mountain ahead.

SNT: "OBJECTION"

Pumpkin looked up only to see SNT point right at her nose. Then she put her finger up and smiled. "You know something, Pumpkin?"

Pumpkin: "Huh?"

SNT: "Why did you say run into the mountain?"

Pumpkin: "That is what she did."

SNT: "Would you agree, that if this person who ever ran would leave footprints behind?"

Pumpkin: "Well yeah of course?"

SNT: "If she did run then why did she leave no footprints behind?"

Pumpkin: "What?"

SNT presented the Footprint notes. "Please look at the footprints over there. As you can see, the footprints point toward the fence. There is no undeniable fact that the culprit snuck in this way. But if they went out the same way, why are there no footprints leading out?"

Pumpkin: "Huh... um... Umm..."

Rookie: "She is right, she couldn't have run if there is only one set of footprints!"

Pumpkin: "Well... um... she might have just followed her exact footprint out."

SNT: "What? That doesn't make any sense."

Pumpkin: "It's not like you can prove otherwise, it could have happened."

SNT thought to herself and figured that she had the answer. "I think I can prove that there is no way she could have followed the exact path her footprints were with this." SNT presented the bitten fruit.

Pumpkin: "How is that supposed to prove anything?"

SNT: "You admitted earlier that you caught her off guard last night. So she dropped this fruit. This proves that she was in a panic and ran off. If she was trying to follow her own footprints to make sure that she wouldn't leave a scene, you wouldn't care about retracing your steps. You would wanna get out of there!"

Pumpkin: "Um..." Pumpkin panicked a little.

SNT: "Pumpkin... why are you acting so weird. It's not like you're the one on trial here."

Pumpkin: "Oh... um... it's nothing really."

Saki: "Pumpkin didn't do it, It was the tickle monster!"

SNT: "Tickle Monster?"

Saki: "I have uncovered evidence to prove that it was the legendary tickle monster and I am not letting that up. Let me present my evidence to you."

Elise: "Do we really want to hear her out?"

SNT: "Well, maybe it might help to see what she found, it might help."

Saki: "I hope you're ready for what I am about to say. You are about to hear the best Logic you have ever heard in your life. But to keep you all on edge, I am just going to let this chapter end on a cliff hanger to keep the audience on edge for me!"

SNT: "Audience, chapter, what is she talking about?"

Saki: "Alright everyone, tune in next week to see how I blow Ni-chan out of the water!"

Rookie: "What is she talking about?"