Curse of the Captain of the Shadows

Unknown waters

The waves crash against the ship as it glides through the waters and the evening sun starts to set. Knuckles sits in his study looking at the local trade booths he will need to visit once they dock in Xena. A yawn comes to him and he sets the papers aside just as the door knocks. "Captain?" A female voice said. "Come in Daisy" he said. A woman with auburn hair, fair tan skin, and sapphire eyes walks in. "I bring good news" she smile. "And what news is that?" He asked seeing excitement in her eyes. "Luigi asked me to marry him and I said yes!" She clapped. "What wonderful news my friend! I will have Amelia and Peach set up a celebration after we do our trading in Xena." Knuckles said happily and walks to her before hugging her. "That would be amazing thank you Knux" she said. "You're welcome my friend we can plan for it tomorrow morning." He replied and she nodded before leaving. "Nice to see he finally asked" he chuckled and went to his bed. He closed his eyes and drifts off to sleep.

Metal clashing, screams of anger, blood being spilled, and females wicked laughter roams through the fight. A dark shadow female figure grows over the fight  and shadowy pirates rise and join the fight. Knuckles looks around seeing his crew with unknown pirates fighting the shadows and then a blue hedgehog appears saving him from the shadowy female and his emerald eyes glowed while holding a gem the color of fire glows making the female scream. She swings her shadowy claws and Knuckles arm was gashed from the impact. The hedgehog was pushed to the side before she darts to knuckles and stabs him in the heart.

Knuckles bolts up gasping and cold sweat drips down his face. What the hell was that?" He wondered and gets out of bed. He walks through the ship that echos with crew members snoring or moaning in their rooms. He climbs up the wooden steps leading him to the deck that lay quiet under the stars. The calm sound of the open waters relaxes him and he thinks back to when he was a child. How his father would bring him to the deck to charter the stars and learn of the constellations. He looks down missing his father and he brush his fingers over the star he carved into the wood from that night. "I hope I'm making you proud father..." he thought. "Captain?" He turns and sees a pink hedgehog at the helm and he smiled before walking up to her. "Has the sea been kind to you Amelia?" He asked. "Yes captain" Amelia (Amy) said. "You know you can call me knuckles or knux" he said pulling out a gold telescope. "Well since you took over I will call you captain just like I did your father. Who I will always be in debt for what he and your mother had done." She said and he sighed. "I've known you too long to argue with you Amelia" he chuckled. "You better you're like a brother I wish I had." She said. Knuckles and Amelia have known each other since they were about 15 years old when Amelia's parents were killed during a raid and knuckles parents took her in as a line cook. Now she is Knuckles right hand since he took over. "Anyways how is your courtship with Honey?" He asked looking out into the ocean. "Oh that's over she left me for another woman....." she sighed. "I'm so unlucky in love..." she huffed. "Hey you'll find the right girl one day my friend" he said lowering the telescope. "I hope so and of course you as well Captain." She replied with a smirk and he rolled his eyes. "I'm assuming my mother put you up to helping score a suitor?" He said and she shrugged. "I'll take that as a yes. Thanks" he chuckled and so did Amelia. "Don't worry I'm not gonna sneak a man into your chambers like Shadnar did." Ameila said and knuckles laughs. "Good" knuckles said and they continue to talk. Yet unknown to them there was another ship lingering yet was unseen. A black metal telescope lowers revealing a blue eye. The female magenta hedgehog walks off the deck and into the hallway below the ship. A two tail yellow male fox exits the room where she was approaching and stops in front of him. "Well?" He said. "He's there let me speak to my brother" she said and he nods letting her in. She approached a desk where a male hand hangs in view flipping a coin. "Captain?" She said. "Yes Soina?" A male voice said. "We found him. Shall we take his ship?" She said. "No not yet. Just keep a close eye on it for a few more days. I can't risk the Xena navy searching for them down and we get caught." The male voice said. "Yes captain. "Now tell me what does he look like from your telescope?" "He's a red echidna just as you were told, eyes are purple as the morning sky and dusk set, and quite handsome." She said. "Sounds promising and now I know the stories are true. Once his crew leaves Xena." The chair turns and the captain faces her.

"Take them and their ship to our hideout"