Matthew stared at the harbor. He saw a man in black and a strange but, familiar woman, sitting on the shore. “Ray, there she is, on the shore!” he called. Ray, and the rest of the crew on the ship, looked where Matthew pointed. “Well, I’ll be darned, she kept her promise!” Michelle exclaimed happily, “Raise the flag!” The flag, navy w/ a black rose and crimson letters on it, rose high above the deck. It whipped in the wind like a bird in flight. Billy stood up straight and yelled, “All hail “The Black Roses””. Everyone else repeated in unison.
People ran from the shore as quickly as they could. Screaming kids were carried along. “What’s going on?” Black Pyro asked Ama. “You’re about to meet the terrors of the seas but, don’t worry their on our side!” Ama answered. Shones and the others came running down to the shore. The ship boarded and the crew ran out yelling and carrying on. “Good morning, Captains Shones and Ama!” Michelle greeted them.
Rath came out of the ship behind the crew. “Well, that was very amusing!” he said. Jacha looked up at the sail, “I should’ve known Shones was behind this disturbance!” Phoenix and Draco laughed at him. “What!?” Jacha said guiltily. “You really think she’s weird, don’t you?” Phoenix asked. “Actually, yes!” he replied. Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn walked over to Rath . “Why were you with the pirates?” Lyn asked. “Dart.” Rath replied.
Rebecca looked at the pirates’ bandanas. The bandanas were black with flames on them. “I like your bandanas!” she said excitedly, “They’re awesome!” Billy looked at her, “Thanks, I made them!” Keshma looked the ship over, “The name of this ship should be The Shadow Rider because it came out of nowhere.” Everyone looked at him. “Ok, The Shadow Rider it is.” Michelle declared. “Wow, I didn’t know he’d actually have a good suggestion!” Shones exclaimed. Everyone laughed.
Challow kissed Shones excitedly. “We get our own pirate band!” he jumped up and down. Everyone laughed at him. Ray looked at Guy. “I bet we get to hit him if he messes up.” They laughed amongst themselves. Justin walked up on the deck from the gully. He yawned and looked over at all the strange group of people talking to the crew. “Are they new recruits?” he yelled to down Michelle. “Some are, the others are either our captains or their friends.” she replied. “Good to know we’re not feared by all!” Justin called back sarcastically.
Shones walked on the deck of The Shadow Rider. Her group followed and Eliwood, Hector, Lyn, and Rath walked away from the ship. “Bye, we’ll miss you!” the small group yelled. Billy, Ray, and Guy went below deck. Challow walked up behind Shones, grabbed her waist, and they swayed from side to side. Everyone watched in awe.
When the ship headed out to sea, everyone went to the mess hall. The food they had was spaghetti, rolls, and fruit. Everyone enjoyed their meal. “Who is the cook?” asked Keshma. “That would be Ray, Guy, and Billy.” replied Michelle. Jerachi ate two plates of food, burped, and went to his cabin. Dart stomped in to the room. He was soaked from head to toe. “What happened to you, lad?” Michelle asked with concern. Dart looked up, “You left without me, that’s what happened to me!” he answered angrily.
The sound of clanging forks and plates filled the gully. A storm had started above deck. Thunder clapped recklessly. Lightning filled the sky. Dark clouds floated over the sea like flocks of birds flying to shore. Darkness fell over the deck and hull of The Shadow Rider.
“Everyone to their cabins!” Shones yelled. “I’ll be right back.” Challow followed her to the deck. He watched as she opened her cabin’s door without any problems. Challow walked toward the door. A big wind blew and caught Challow off guard. From out of nowhere, Shones grabbed him and pulled him inside the cabin. “Can’t I trust you for two minutes without you following me?” she asked as calmly as possible.
Challow looked at her kind of devious. “Stop doing that. It’s tempting me.” Shones said, purring as she did. Challow jumped, “Stop the purring, it’s creepy!” Shones laughed at him. She leaned over and gave him a big kiss. He returned it and they fell to the floor.
A thump and a rolling noise came from the captain’s cabin above Ama and Black Pyro. “That was disturbing!” said Ama. “Tell me about it!” Black Pyro rolled his eyes. They laughed. “I wonder who fell over.” Ama wondered aloud. “I think they both fell over!” Black Pyro said. A cracking sound came from outside the door, followed by murmuring. “Dart really has to stop having accidents like that!” said Ama. “Stupid picture frame!” Dart yelled. Ama and Black Pyro laughed.
Dart looked at the broken frame laying on the floor, “Note to self, don’t run into picture frames.” Michelle came out of her cabin and laughed. “What?” Dart asked. “You have a big splinter in your head!” Michelle laughed, again. Dart pulled the piece of wood out of his bandana. “Well, that was really weird.” Justin walked up from The Under. He was covered with black sticky goo. “Where’s Shones?” he asked, “We’re having a problem in The Under.” “She’s in the captain’s cabin. Don’t ask how she got there!” Michelle replied. “Shush! Listen.” Justin put his ear up against the wall. The storm had stopped. “I’ll be right back!”
A knock came upon the door. Challow looked up from where he lay on the floor. “Shones!!” Justin yelled from the other side. Challow looked over at Shones, who lay beside him. “Hey, wake up.” Challow whispered softly in her ear. Shones rolled over to face him. “What’s up?!” she gently stroked his cheek. He smiled, “Justin’s at the door.” “Shones!!! Are you even in there?” Justin banged harder on the door. “What do you want?” Shones asked.
Shones opened the door. “Finally you come out!” Justin exclaimed, “The dragon that powers the ship, its spitting goo everywhere.” “I can tell!” Shones exclaimed, “Give it that box behind the cupboard in the kitchen.” Justin looked at her weird. Then, he went below deck.
Black Pyro and Ama looked at each other. “I think we’d probably want to get to breakfast early. The other pirate’s will take over if we don’t hurry.” Ama remarked. “Sure! Let’s go!” Black Pyro looked up at Ama with a smile. They left the room. The hallway was empty. Ama and Black Pyro walked to the mess hall, hand in hand. They kissed and entered the room.
Ray looked toward the door. Ama and Black Pyro were walking in. “Looks like they are the only smart ones.” Ray proclaimed. Billy followed Ray’s stare. “Ah hah. Did you know they’re in love?” Billy asked. Ray gave him a weird look and shook his head, “They’re both kind of short so, it doesn’t bother me none.” Guy watched Ama and Black Pyro enter. Then, he went back to cooking.
The mess hall smelled of fresh fruit, cooking meat, and other great smells. A savory steak smell filled the room. Ray, Guy, and Billy chopped up the vegetables. Guy threw them to Ray. Then, Ray would take them and slice them into smaller pieces. Billy would take the veggies and throw them in the stew. The meat sizzled and bubbled.
“Why did we have to come in so early? The smells are tempting me!” Ama wondered aloud. Black Pyro smiled, “I know the cook maybe, I can get us something.” Ama shook her head and smiled, “Go ahead, I’m starving!” Black Pyro walked over to the cook’s door. He could see the cooks going through their routine. “Hey, Ray!” BP called. Ray walked over. “Waz up?!” Ray asked. “Do you got anything for me?” BP asked. “I knew you’d ask. I got just the thing!” Ray went under the counter and came up with a plastic container.
A vile with a crimson liquid in it, a littler container with a blue and black solid in it, and a dark glow-in-the-dark spoon and fork were in the large container. “Is that Dragon’s Blood and Mystic Fox mix?” Black Pyro asked excitedly. “You bet it is! Made it myself!” Ray exclaimed. “Thanks pal!” BP walked off with a smile. Ama looked up at the over happy Black Pyro. “What did you get from him that you’re smiling about?” She asked. “We get Dragon’s Blood and Mystic Fox mix!!!” BP jumped up and down in a fit of joy.
The lunch bell rang and the mess hall became full. Challow and Shones were nowhere to be found. “Where did those two go off to?” Dart wondered aloud. Justin stood up and looked around, “I thought I saw them when I came in.” Black Pyro looked over at him, “That would’ve been me and Ama that you saw.” “Oh.” Justin replied stiffly. A loud clunking sound came from The Under. Everyone turned to the hall.
“Justin isn’t the best listener. I told him to give the box to the dragon, not sit it down here on the stairs!” Shones stood up from where she had fallen. Challow giggled a bit. “Oh be quiet!” she snapped. Shones picked up the ancient golden box. She walked up to the dragon. Its red face seemed to glow in the darkness. The dragon’s body was black. It let out a roar of happiness.