Author's Note: It's good to be writing again! I'm done with my studies for the time being so I got all the time I need for my stories. Hopefully, I can pass more chapters earlier now with it. Also, thank you so much for all the reviews and suggestions for story ideas in the reviews. I really appreciate it, and it gives me some good ideas to use for future chapters and perhaps sequels for this fic.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter, and please fave and leave me your thoughts on it in the reviews. Thank you so much.
July 6
Studio~ Main Gate
"Oh, so you're back," Oldbag smirked condescendingly at Iris, who grumbled in response. "So, are you satisfied with your search? Are you convinced that witch Shade is guilty yet?"
"Not quite, Miss..." Iris said, her eye twitching. "I came here to interview you in regards to this case."
"What's there to talk about? Violet Shade is guilty. End of story."
"I believe there's more to it than that," Iris retorted, crossing her arms. "I heard from the prosecutions' investigation team that you gave them a photo of the suspect."
"Of course I did!" Oldbag declared, grinning smugly at Iris. "These kinds of things are important. Just left from here is the camera that took the photo."
"Okay, and if you could allow us to see this photo?"
"Hmph! I wouldn't give it to you even if my life depended on it!" Oldbag said. "And even if I wanted to, that lady with the whip already took the data the cameras had during the day Mr. Power was murdered and the days before that."
"She WHAT?!" Iris exclaimed, tugging at her hair. That prosecutor really had to make things so unnecessarily complicated! "But how am I supposed to know the contents of that photo!?"
Oldbag shrugged. "I don't know, ask that whip lady yourself? I wouldn't count on it, she'd strike you down before you'd even open your mouth. Besides, the more proof she has, the more we can finally bring that no-good Shade to justice!"
"Why are you so convinced that Ms. Shade is the killer?" Pearl asked.
"This guard station is the central station," Oldbag explained. "No matter where you go, you have to get past me first! And even if you did find a way past me, there's no way you can avoid the security cameras!
"They're automatic! They can tell when someone walks through them and they snap a photo! It also records the time when it takes the picture too, but I don't bother myself with those details. And since these cameras are practically everywhere, there's no way anyone could get past them!"
"There are way too many cameras in this place," Pearl added, glancing at the computer inside the guard station and seeing the large number of areas that were being surveyed.
"It's all for a good reason, dearie," Oldbag said, her voice noticeably softening as she turned to Pearl.
"The incident with Will Powers?" Iris asked, to which the old security guard glared at her.
"Shut up! It's rude to interrupt!" she growled at the lawyer before turning back to Pearl. "Ah, Will Powers. The man was a giant doofus who had a face only a mother would love, but he was a good guy and a good actor, considering he played the Steel Samurai."
Pearl perked up, raising a brow. "Isn't that the old TV show Mystic Maya watches?"
Iris nodded and opened her mouth to answer, only for Oldbag to cut her off and say, "The Steel Samurai was an old TV show that Will Powers starred in as the main character. It was popular with a lot of kids and adults, but it got canceled sadly."
Oldbag drooped her head and sighed. "A shame too. A lot of new shows came in to replace it like the Pink Princess, the Nickel Samurai, and the Jammin' Ninja, but they didn't hold up compared to the Steel Samurai."
"Until Crystal Crusader Rose came along," Pearl added, smiling widely.
"That's right, little cutie!" Oldbag said, giving Pearl an affectionate pat on the head. "A show created and directed by Powers himself! An epic space saga filled with action, drama-!"
"And romance!" Pearl exclaimed happily.
"Yeah!" Oldbag let out a hearty laugh, but then she paused. She dropped down slightly as she frowned. "It's a shame Powers had to go out like this. He might've been a big dumb moron, but he had so much ahead of him..."
"I believe we have all the information we need," Iris said. "Thank you for telling us this information, Ms. Oldbag."
"Hmph!" Oldbag's eyes narrowed as she glared at Iris with contempt. "Fine, fine. Now quit wasting my time and go bother someone else. I have work to do."
Iris sighed, pressing her palm against her face. "Let's go, Pearl."
"Bye, Ms. Police Lady!" Pearl said cheerfully. "Thank you so much!"
"Oh, happy to help, dearie!" Oldbag said happily, grinning widely as she waved Pearl goodbye. "Be safe!"
. . .
July 6
Studio Entrance
"Big Sis, I'm confused," Pearl said. "Ms. Shade said she was sleeping in her dressing room, but Ms. Police Lady said there's a photo of her going to the Winter Cloud Building."
"Hmm..." Iris paused, rubbing her chin. "That photo seems to be the key to this. Detective Gumshoe and that security woman said that it was Ms. Shade heading to the crime scene, but we can't be certain unless we see it for ourselves."
"Then maybe we should go ask Scruffy Detective if we can look at the photo?" Pearl suggested, to which Iris raised her brow at this.
"I highly doubt he'll let us see it, especially with...her here..." Iris gritted her teeth and her hands balled into fists, but she managed to calm herself with a deep breath. Then her eyes widened as she realized...
"You called him Scruffy Detective?" Iris asked, then she suddenly recalled that this was the 2nd time her sister called the Detective that.
Pearl shrugged. "That's what that mean prosecutor lady called him."
Iris took a step back in response, fumbling over words as she reeled from the surprise.
"D-don't follow that woman's example, Pearl!" Iris shouted out, the panic and worry evident on her face.
"Was calling him Scruffy Detective bad, Big Sis?"
"N-not really...b-but you really shouldn't follow whatever Ms. von Karma does!" visions of a teenage Pearl wearing gaudy formal attire and angrily whipping everyone in sight flashed in Iris' mind. The lawyer shuddered at the thought. There was no way she'd let that prissy, egocentric, overemotional bitch poison her little sister's mind!
"J-just promise me you won't follow or do anything Ms. von Karma does, okay, Pearl?"
"Okay, Big Sis," Pearl said with an innocent nod. "But still, what should we do about that photo?"
"Hmm...it's a stretch, but maybe we should go to wherever Ms. von Karma is and try to get it from her," Iris said. "It's a long shot, but maybe we can convince her..."
. . .
July 6
Winter Cloud Building~ Entrance
whp-CRACK!
"AAAGH!" Gumshoe cried as he fell to the ground, scattering the large stack of papers he held, as Prosecutor von Karma glared at him with murderous fury.
"You call that evidence!?" von Karma shouted, stomping her foot. "That doesn't have anything to do with the case, you incompetent, lumbering OAF!"
"Um...excuse me?" von Karma heard a voice from behind her...
whp-CRACK!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"
And reacted accordingly. Von Karma growled at the sight of her rival Iris, who was clutching the large gaping wound on her face as a result of the whip attack.
"What do you want!?" von Karma asked Iris rhetorically, gritting her teeth.
"W-well, I heard you had a photo from-"
whp-CRACK!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
"As if I'd give anything to you!" the vile prosecutor shouted. "Don't even think about coming into the Winter Cloud Building either! The prosecution has full permission to investigate this area as long as we desire, and I intend to be very thorough with it, so the defense is not welcome here!"
"But this is the crime scene!" Iris snapped, glaring at von Karma while taking a step towards her. "You can't just ban me from the-!"
whp-CRACK!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
whp-CRACK!
"OoOooOOOOoooOOOOH!"
whp-CRACK!
"OKAY, OKAY, I'M LEAVING!" Iris cried out, letting out a frustrated growl as she stomped away from the Winter Cloud Building's entrance. She then approached Pearl, who already had a towel in hand for her older sister.
Pearl winced at her older sister's wounds. "You should've known that this would've happened," Pearl said, gesturing at Iris' fresh wounds as she handed her the towel.
"It was worth a try," Iris sighed, wrapping the towel around her face to cover up the bleeding. "For now, we should head someplace else to search for clues. Prosecutor von Karma may have blocked us from the crime scene, but I won't let her leave me empty-handed! Ready, Pearl?"
Pearl huffed and raised her arms high, a determined look on her face. "Ready! It's time to save Crystal Crusader Rose!"
. . .
July 6
Studio Employee Area
Pearl's eyes gleamed in excitement and awe as she observed all of the sets and objects scattered around the Employee Area. She recognized most of these delightful things. Weapons used by Rose, the various monsters that she had fought throughout the series, the sets and backdrops that were locations in the show...it was a Rose fan girl's paradise!
"Aaaah...!" Pearl squeed in utter delight as she pointed at a costume on display. "Look, Big Sis! It's the Mesmer Witch from the first episode!"
Pearl gasped as she turned her head and pointed at the backdrop leaning against the concrete wall. "And a painting Olde Neo Toyko! It looks so real!"
Iris smiled at her little sister's enthusiasm. "I'm glad you're happy, Pearl, but we have to focus on-!"
"Intruders!" a voice shouted from behind them. "How dare you trespass in my glorious domain!"
The two sisters jumped in shock as they turned to see who this new person was. Iris raised a brow in confusion, while Pearl gasped in shock when they saw right in front of them was a strange-looking woman glaring down at them with her arms crossed.
She was a tall, looming figure who wore a green Victorian-styled dress that was adorned with black emeralds on the trimmings, as well as the black emerald necklace wrapped around her neck. She held a long black staff that resembled a large twisted tree branch with its tip resembling a clawed hand holding on a large emerald.
The woman looked down at Iris and Pearl, her glowing red eyes and sly smirk perfectly fitting with her pale white skin to give her an overall demonic appearance.
"It appears you know who I am, girl," the strange woman chuckled, sending a chill down Iris' spine.
"Um...g-good afternoon, miss..." Iris chuckled nervously, scratching her head nervously. "I-I'm sorry, but I'm afraid w-we haven't met-"
"Not you, insignificant woman! I was talking to the child."
"Emerald Empress..." Pearl whispered angrily, her hands balling into fists. Iris turned to Pearl, tilting her head. Wasn't that the name of the villain of the Crystal Crusader Rose show? It was then it clicked in her mind. This weird, gaudily dressed woman was...
An escaped mental patient who thought she was this Emerald Empress character!
...Or she could be the actual actress who played the Emerald Empress. Both ideas made sense in Iris' mind, but she leaned toward the former.
The Emerald Empress (Iris internally groaned at the name) chuckled evilly at Pearl.
"The young one knows me. It appears my reputation proceeds me," she said, kneeling to Pearl's level. "Tell me, child, what are you and this..." she narrowed her eyes, studying Iris' suit. "...accountant doing in my domain?"
Iris scoffed. "I'm a lawyer!" she retorted, narrowing her eyes at the Empress.
"Does it look like I care, whelp?" the Empress said, standing up to face Iris. "Perhaps you should've made that clearer in terms of-"
"There you are, Celeste!" a voice called out. "I was starting to get worried for a moment there!"
Iris, Pearl, and the Emerald Empress-really named Celeste-turned and were quickly greeted by a young girl who seemed to be about Maya Fey's age. She was a lean teenager who wore a blue and white striped long-sleeved shirt underneath a brown vest, and a pair of jeans. She had long brown hair that was tied into a ponytail and had a pair of glasses. Running up to the three of them, this young girl caught her breath and wiped the sweat from her brow.
"Where have you been?" she asked Celeste. "I know you still wanted to practice, but that didn't mean you had to-oh, hello there! Who are you two?"
"Um...good afternoon, miss," Iris said, giving this new girl a small bow. "My name is Iris Hawthorne and this is my sister Pearl."
"Nice to meet you, the name's Penny. Penny Nichols," she said, waving her hand before gesturing to Celeste. "And the one in the costume is Celeste Starr."
"Hmph! An appropriate term would be Empress of the Universe, you mediocre peasant!" Celeste shouted, but Penny just laughed nervously.
"I'm sorry about that, Celeste can be a bit...method with her acting," Penny said. "So what brings you here to the studio?"
"We're representing Ms. Shade in her trial tomorrow," Iris said. "We believe that she's innocent and we would like to interview you in regards to this matter."
"Oh...you're lawyers. I haven't seen people like you since Mr. Powers..." she paused, frowning as she struggled to say the words. "...since Mr. Powers..."
The moment she said that name, she choked in grief, clutching her forearms and glancing away from
Celeste noticed this and in a strange sense of compassion, placed her hand on Penny's shoulders.
"It's okay, Pen," she said soothingly, dropping the Emerald Empress act. "You don't have to talk about it if it hurts you. I'll take it from here."
"N...no, it's fine," Penny assured her before turning to Iris. "I'm sorry...it's just, I never thought we'd have another...incident like this. And with Mr. Powers too..."
Iris noticed the grief-stricken look that flashed on Penny's face. The girl managed to compose herself quickly, but the rookie lawyer managed to spot it.
"Mr. Powers was a good friend of yours, wasn't he-EEK!" Iris asked, but Celeste raised her staff and pointed it menacingly at Iris, who took a step back and gestured her arms defensively.
"I know what you're trying to pull, lawyer," the actress said, gritting her teeth with tranquil fury. "I don't care what you or what that traitorous witch told you to do, but Pen's been through a lot ever since this mess happened and I'll be damned if I-!"
"C-Celly, no!" Penny said, grabbing the staff's handle. "Don't do that!"
"She's clearly taking advantage of your emotions!"
"She's just doing her job, Celly, just drop the act for a bit and put down the staff!" Penny implored the actress. "I'll just talk to them, it won't take long."
Celeste stared at Penny for a moment, then reluctantly lowered her staff. She took a step back so Penny could step forward to talk to Iris, but not before giving the lawyer a bone-chilling glare that screamed 'make my friend cry and I will gut you slowly and painfully!'
"So...what can we do for you?" Penny asked.
"Well, first, can I ask what you do here?" Iris said awkwardly, Celeste's glare making her uncomfortable.
"I'm a production assistant," Penny answered. "I help set up props. I even made a few of myself! And Celeste here is..."
"The bane of the cosmos! The terror that stretches from the farthest corners of the galaxy!" Celeste declared in the most hammily evil way possible, cartoonish movements and all. "I am-!"
"An actress."
"W-what!? No, I am the devourer of worlds! I am the Emerald Empress-"
"The character that she plays in the show," Penny interrupted again, giving her friend a sly smirk.
"You just had to ruin my moment, Pen..." Celeste grumbled, crossing her arms.
"Oh, quit pouting, you're out of the set," Penny scolded Celeste playfully before turning back to Iris and Pearl. "We've been working in this studio since the time Steel Samurai was airing."
"That's the show Will Powers starred in before he became a director? Can you give us any info regarding it?" Iris asked, to which Penny nodded and grinned, her eyes shining with excitement.
Celeste noticed this and sighed, pressing the palm of her hand against her face. "Oh no..."
"His show was the best!" Penny exclaimed. "Before Crystal Crusader Rose, there was the Steel Samurai and I'll tell you, nothing could ever top that show! It sucked that it got canceled, but it'll live forever in the hearts of the children who watched it and the fans who grew to adore it!"
"I...never really watched that," Pearl chimed in and Penny gasped, her eyes widening.
"Neither did I," Iris added.
"W-WHAT!? You never...CELLY!" Penny shouted, grabbing Celeste by her arms and shaking her profusely. "Get my laptop! We gotta show these two the Samurai FAST!"
"Oh, calm yourself, Pen, you're embarrassing us both!" the mad actress shouted, swatting Penny's hands away before letting an irritated sigh. "To actually answer your question, yes. Mr. Powers was famous for his role as the Steel Samurai, but when that show got canceled, he felt that he could've done more. As such, he took up directing and created his own TV series titled Crystal Crusader Rose.
"While Crystal Crusader Rose had a rocky start, it did end up becoming as popular to children and adults as the Steel Samurai, likely due to the same people who worked on the latter utilizing their skills for the former."
"And for a guy who only had acting in his resume, he did a pretty good job in directing Rose," Penny's enthusiastic smile then wore down, replaced with a solemn expression. "It's a shame that he's..." Penny sniffed, tears starting to form in her eyes. "...he can't even get to see his show end properly..."
Celeste gritted her teeth, clenching her fists. "It was that traitorous witch's fault...pretending to be a hero, only to be the greatest evil of them all...!"
Iris raised a brow as she turned to Celeste. "You think Ms. Shade is responsible for the murder."
"Who else could it be!?" Celeste snapped. "I had my suspicions of her ever since she stepped foot into this studio! A girl with no identity, no experience in acting, yet she gets to be the lead role!?
"She was always acting friendly towards Mr. Powers. I knew she was up to no good, and no one believed me, but look at what happened now!"
Pearl whimpered in fright at the sight of Celeste's frustration, hiding behind Iris for safety. Iris also looked surprised but tried her best to not let it deter her.
"While I understand you're belief in Ms. Shade's guilt, Ms. Starr," Iris said, "I believe there's more to this case than what's going on and-"
"There's nothing more to this case, lawyer!" Celeste interrupted with a growl. "You may think she's innocent, but I know the truth! And tomorrow, everyone will too!"
With a huff, Celeste stomped on the ground then hastily walked away, her anger radiating all over her body.
Penny winced. "Geez...sorry about Cel there. She's a nice person, really; but she can get really passionate at times."
"It's fine," Iris said, then she remembered what the actress has said. "She complained about Ms. Shade getting the main role despite a lack of acting experience, did she not?"
"Oh, that. She auditioned for the role of Rose when the show was still being made," Penny said. "Despite being an A-list actress back in her child years, she ended up losing that spot to Violet. She got the role of the Emerald Empress instead, but she does feel bitter about not being Rose from time to time. Why do you ask?"
"Hmm..." Iris rubbed in her chin. So Ms. Starr was an A-list actress and had a grudge against Ms. Shade for taking the lead role?
I know I shouldn't jump to conclusions, but it could be a possibility, she thought before saying to Penny: "I was just curious, Ms. Nichols," she then gave the young woman a warm smile. "I believe I've gotten enough information from both of you. Thank you for giving me the time to talk to you both."
"It's no problem," Penny chuckled nervously. "Good luck with your case."
Penny waved Iris and Pearl goodbye and turned around to follow Celeste to where ever she was going. By the time she was gone, Pearl looked up to Iris and asked, "You think Emerald Empress did it, don't you?"
"Either her or Oldbag," Iris sighed, massaging the temples of her forehead. "Those two...really have it out for Ms. Shade, but at the very least Ms. Starr has a reason."
"So...we have our culprit. Does that mean we solved the case?"
"No, Pearl," Iris said. "We shouldn't assume that either of them is the culprit. Our primary objective is to prove Ms. Shade's innocence. While Ms. Oldbag and Ms. Starr seem like culprits, trying to accuse them with no evidence to prove it is wrong. And besides..."
Iris then turned to the door to Ms. Shade's dressing room. "There's still one place we haven't checked yet."
. . .
July 6
Ms. Shade's Dressing Room
Pearl froze in awe, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the contents of the dressing room. Whatever that amazed her at the Employee Area was nothing compared to the majesty that was right in this room. Worn by a mannequin was an elegant black gothic dress with long sleeves and pink trimmings. To most, it was just a costume; however, upon seeing firsthand with her very own eyes, Pearl couldn't help but squeal in excitement.
"This dress...Crystal Crusader Rose's dress!" Pearl cheered in absolute delight rushing toward the mannequin to take a good look at her hero's dress. Upon further inspection, Pearl could just see the detail it took to make this wonderful outfit. The handstitched trimmings that were carefully woven into the dress, the glitter that made the dress dazzle in the light, the fact that it had no wear or tear whatsoever...it was the most beautiful dress she had ever seen.
Iris giggled at her little sister's seemingly entranced state towards the dress as she too observed it and noticing the tag behind it.
"Costume No. 1..." Iris read quietly, jotting that detail mentally. After that, she then walked past a naked mannequin and proceeded to analyze her surroundings for any clues proving Ms. Shade's innocence.
She started her searched at Ms. Shade's table, but found nothing relevant to the case. There was the key card, but Iris doubted that it had to do with anything. She then looked at the makeshift bed Ms. Shade made for herself, but it had nothing of importance too. She then searched the wardrobe, then walls, then the trash bin, then the floor, practically every part of this dressing room...and she still found nothing!
"Grr...damn it!" Iris shouted, kicking the wall in frustration, which took Pearl out of her entranced state and made her turn to her older sister.
"Are you okay, Big Sis?" she asked. Iris didn't respond immediately as she thought about the evidence she had gained so far. The autopsy report and the security cameras that were scattered all around the Studio were good, but they weren't enough. She gained some useful details involving the came from Ms. Oldbag, Penny Nichols, and Celeste Starr; but the usefulness of those details remained to be seen. There wasn't anything of interest here in this dressing room, and not to mention Ms. von Karma's insistence to gatekeep that photo, as well as the crime scene itself!
Iris sighed, pressing her palms against her face. She had to go look for someplace else for clues, and hopefully, she'll find some, because things were not looking good for her or Ms. Shade...
Court Record:
Evidence:
1. Iris' Attorney Badge
2. Letter of Request
3. Security Cameras
4. Will Powers' Autopsy Report
5. Crystal Crusader Dress (Costume No. 1)
6. Key Card
Profiles:
1. Pearl Fey
2. Violet Shade
3. Franziska von Karma
4. Detective Gumshoe
5. Will Powers
6. Wendy Oldbag
7. Celeste L. Starr/Emerald Empress
8. Penny Nichols