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"You're friends with a pirate captain!?" Topaz almost screamed.
"Yeah, something wrong with that?" Shelby asked.
"Uh, YEAH!" Topaz cried. "He's a pirate! When he came in, everyone else in the bar turned white and bailed!
"Yeah, and the bar owner told us that if we ever saw him that we should run before we meet with the other end of his sword!" Tails said.
"They just say that because they're scared out of their wits of him." Shelby said. "Listen and learn guys, Garin is one of my best friends, I met him when we were just kids, and ever since we've been getting each other in and out of all sorts of trouble. He even saved my life once."
"He did?" Sonic asked.
"You better believe it." She said.
"But we were told that he defeated a terror of the seas!" Kevin said.
"You got that right." Shelby said. "And if he hadn't, this whole village would have gone up in smoke!"
"But I thought pirates were mean!" Tune said.
"Well, Gain is a special case." Shelby said. "Come on, let me introduce you guys."
"Are you sure?" Sonia asked.
"As sure as I am blue." She said, pulling Sonia out of her seat.
"Oh, alright." Double D said, getting up from his seat.
Shelby walked over to Garin and pulled him over to the table.
"Garin, I'd like you to meat, Sonic, Sonia, Manic, Knuckles, Tails, Tune, Ed, Double D, Eddy, Kevin, Johnny, Plank, Nazz, Rolf, Topaz, and Nova."
"You mean these are the famous hedgehog triplets?" Garin asked.
"Yes they are." Shelby said.
"It is an honor." He said and made a graceful bow.
"He may be a pirate but he's a pirate with class." Shelby said.
"So we noticed." Sonia said.
"Anyways, Garin, we need a favor." Shelby told the handsome pirate.
"Oh?" He asked,
"Yes, what do you think the chances are of you and your crew being able to get to Castaway Kay?" Shelby asked.
"Very good." He slyly said.
"Well you better be sure about it because we received a message from Queen Aleena telling us that we need to get to that very island."
"Compared to old Scar Blade, this will be easy." Garin said.
"So it was Scar Blade he took on." Topaz whispered.
"Who's Scar Blade?" Johnny asked.
"One of the terrors of the sea." Shelby said.
"I've heard all sorts of rumors about him." Topaz said. "One even says that he's a ghost!"
"I guess that would explain how the boat got under water." Shelby whispered to Garin.
He nodded in agreement.
"So, you think you're crew is willing to follow you there?" Sonic asked.
"They're all ready to even follow me down to the deepest darkest corners of Heck itself." Garin answered.
"Wow, now that's loyal." Kevin said.
"Rolf, is something wrong?" Nazz asked the blue goat. "You haven't said a word all day."
"My guess he's still bitter to Nova." Shelby said, leaning on a table.
Rolf grumbled in his native tongue and some of them weren't quite sure that they wanted to know what it was.
"So Garin, you up to the job?" Eddy asked.
"You better believe it." Garin said.
"Okay, so, when do we leave?" Sonic asked.
"Very soon." Garin said.
A few hours later…"I can't believe it only took us this long get everything really." Sonia said as she placed another crate on the ship.
"Yeah, normally it takes a full day to get everything ready." Manic said as he placed his own crate down.
"Well it's not everyday that a ship had two super sonic fast hedgehogs loading everything it needs on board." Shelby said as she carried three rates past the two siblings.
"Show off." Manic grumbled.
Ed then walked by then, one crate in each arm.
"Okay, now I know they're doing this on purpose." Sonia said.
Nova and Double D helped load another large crate on board and they placed it near the mast.
"You guys can take a break." Shelby said. "The we can take care of the rest."
The two nodded and headed over to the starboard railing. They watched as the fairly sized crew carried things all over the deck, even Garin was helping. Double D was even surprised when Shelby ran all the way back Robotropolis and back just to get their little lifeboat. She explained that Garin didn't want to risk losing anyone from his crew but they were short on lifeboats at the moment Time quickly passed and soon it was time to set sail.
"Alright." Garin announced. "Are we ready to set sail?"
Many of the heads nodded.
"Very well then." Garin said.
"CAPTAIN GARIN!"
Everyone looked and saw a small orange cat come running up.
"Who's that?" Double D asked Shelby.
"That Talaka." She quickly said.
"Captain, the helmsmen flaked out when they learned where we're going!" The young cat cried.
"What?" Garin asked in shock.
"We can't leave port without them!" A voice said.
"Wait, we needmorethen one?" DoubleD asked.
"The waters around the island are monstrous, it takes two good pairs of arms to get past the whirlpools." Shelby explained.
"Well, I could try." Knuckles said.
"Knuckles have you ever bent metal with nothing but water?" Shelby asked.
"No." The red echidna said.
"Well, that's what happened the last time I tried to get to that island." She said. "We need another good pair of arms to get through it all."
"Maybe we could find a replacement." Sonia said.
"I know such a hedgehog who might fit the bill." A fox said.
"Who, Jacques?" Garin asked.
"I heard that there's a very powerful hedgehog who lives in this very village, he's very powerful from what I've gathered." The fox said.
"Do you know his name?" Garin asked.
"Yes, his name is Shadow the Hedgehog." Jacques said.
"Do you know where we can find him?" Garin asked.
"I'm sorry, no." Jacques said. "But I do know what he looks like. He's a black hedgehog with red stripes on his spines, arms, legs and highlights along his eyes."
"Very well then." Garin said. "Everyone spread out and find this Shadow."
The whole crew nodded and quickly left the boat.
"Let us help too, Garin!" Shelby said.
"You can if you want." Garin said as he too left the ship and disappeared into town.
"Well, are you guys going to help or not?" Shelby asked the others.
"I'm in!" Topaz said.
"There are quite a few of us." Double D said. "Perhaps we should spilt into groups?"
"Good idea, Double D." Shelby said. "Nazz, Double D, Topaz, Nova, Tails, Knuckles, Tune, Rolf, and the triplets come with me, the rest of you see what you can find."
The group all nodded and quickly split into two groups as they left the ship.
"Where do we start looking?" Nazz asked as they entered the market.
"We look around town and see if we can find a black and red hedgehog." Shelby simply said.
"NO WAY!"
"Speak of the daredevil!" Sonic said.
Everyone looked just ahead of them and they saw a black hedgehog with red stripes on his spines, going up his arms legs, and highlights on his eyes. He had white gloves with black and red rims, golden rings, and strange white sneakers.
"You're not getting a meal!" The pig behind the counter or the small restaurant snarled.
"Why not?" The hedgehog asked.
"You don't have any money!"
"Give me the special!"
"Okay then."
The pig picked up a handful of some strange grey food and three right in the hedgehog's face!
"Hey, what's going on here?" Shelby asked quickly walking up to the stand.
"I'm just giving this guy what he deserves." Pig laughed.
"I think my little friend here will beg to differ." Shelby said, reaching into her pocket.
She pulled out a fairly sized ruby and placed it on the counter.
"Now, about a few specials?" She asked.
The pig picked up the ruby and examined it closely.
"Right, a hundred specials coming up for the little lady." The pig said.
"Not me, him." She said pointing to the black hedgehog.
"Right, coming right up." The pig said and quickly got to work.
"Are you alright?" Shelby asked the black hedgehog.
"I'm fine." He grumbled.
"Here, get that junk off you face." She said, getting a handful of napkins.
He quickly took the napkins and wiped his face off.
"Thanks." He said and tossed the used napkins into a trashcan.
"You're orders are ready!" The pig called and placed a large bag on the counter.
"You didn't have to do that for me you know." The hedgehog said.
"It was no problem." Shelby smiled. "So, you're Shadow the Hedgehog huh?"
"Yeah, what about it?" He asked, taking the bag.
"We need your help."
"For what?"
"We need your help getting to and island called Castaway Kay." She said.
"You want me to sail? No!"
"What? Why not?" She asked.
"It's not your business!"
Shadow stormed off when something suddenly knocked him to the ground.
"What the?" Shelby asked but she recognized the blue goat on top of the black hedgehog. "ROLF! Get off of him!"
Rolf didn't listen and continued to pin Shadow down. Shelby, Topaz, the triplets, Double D, Knuckles, Tune, Tails, Nazz, and Nova struggled to pull him off of the hedgehog.
"ROLF! GET OFF OF HIM!" Shelby yelled.
When they finally managed to pull the mad goat off of the hedgehog, Shelby noticed something silver in the dirt. When she tried to get a better look, Shadow suddenly covered it with his body.
"What was that?" She asked.
"What was what?" Shadow asked.
"That silver thing that you're covering up."
"There's nothing there." Shadow insisted.
"Yes there is, I saw it."
"There is nothing here!"
"Fine, have it your way." Shelby said with a shrug.
Shadow quickly gathered up his things and made a mad dash down the road.
"What was that all about?" Manic asked.
"I don't know." Topaz said.
"Any ideas, Double D?" Nova asked.
"No." He simply replied.
"Well, if h doesn't help us we won't be able to get to Castaway Kay." Sonia said.
"So how do we get him to help us?" Knuckles asked.
"You're asking us?" Tune and Tails asked.
"I think I might know where we can find out about that hedgehog and Topaz knows it too." Shelby said.
"You mean we're going there?" Topaz asked happily.
"Yep." Shelby said.
"Where are we going?" Nazz asked.
"To Sammy's!" Both girls said.
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What's the secret behind Shadow? What is this 'Sammy's'? Can they get Shadow to join them out at sea? R&R to find out.