"Huh?" Archibell said, shaking his hand. "That lubber is literally like a…"

"Shadow?" the man said and he popped out from behind Archibell's back.

Archibell raised an eyebrow and turned around. "Well I'll be parrot's daddy, you are good!"

"It's been awhile..." the Moonshadow said. "Jonas!"

"Wow!" Elise said, hopping up and down. "You do know him! A real Stealth Pirate!"

The Moonshadow took a humble bow. "My shadowing skills, learned from Everworld arts allow me to silently follow behind someone as long as they have a shadow."

The Moonshadow pointed to himself. "I was the finest thief in the land, and I even poached jewels off the former queen until…"

"Until?" Elise said, her thin lips pursed.

"I used my skills on someone without a shadow!"

"You didn't…" Archibell said, and Elise's eyes went wide with curiosity.

"Aye," the Moonshadow said and his head slumped. "I tried to follow that Sea Reaper and raid the ghost ship for black jewels and it really messed me up bad! Ever since I got spooked, my technique has never been the same again! Now it's pure chance if my power works or not!"

"Well then," Archibell said, gazing at the sorry excuse for a Stealth Pirate. "How 'bout you show us how to get outta here, and we'll free ya too. Then you can rekindle your passion for sneaking."

There was a hunger in the Moonshadows' eyes and he clasped Archibell's hand. "Would you really do that, Archie, ol' buddy, ol' pal?"

"Toss in the stuff you pawned off o' me on your early days," Archibell said, extending his hand on the man's hunched back. "And it's a deal! I could really use that square goblet I raised from Blackeye Beach again."

The Moonshadow rubbed his hands together and licked his lips. "Very well. The Warden keeps a set of keys to Prison Island in his study on the third floor. But the biggest issue is, it's heavily guarded. There's only one person who mades it in his office other than him...his laundry lady."

"I don't see whatcha getting' at?" Tony asked. "Are we supposed to dress as cleaning ladies?"

"Or…" the Moonshadow said, "You could simply hide in his laundry basket! It's the only thing that's bigger than his mouth!"

The Lyre's crew all exchanged glances. "I guarentee you," the Moonshadow said. "You hide one of these kids in that basket and the Warden won't suspect a thing. The question is...which one?"

Elise and Tito looked at each other. "I should go!" he said, turning aside from Elise. "Speckles is too delicate!"

Elise stuck out her tongue at him with his backturned. She pushed her glasses up and turned bright red.

"The only problem with that," the Moonshadow said, "Is we need a distraction for the guards outside the laundry room! Do you think this ginger girl can do that?"

Tito took another look at Elise and said, "You know what, she's too meek for that. I'm the master of distraction. I distract myself all the time."

"You might want to see a psychiatrist about that," Archibell smirked.

"Alright," Tito said, puffing out his chest and trying to act masculine in front of Elise. "Me, fish head, the old man, and the witchy woman here will be the distraction and Speckles will sneak into the laundry basket!"

"I just hope you can provide a good distraction," the Moonshadow said with a wry expression.

Don't worry about that!" Sincirce said strutting in her prison jumpsuit. "The boys can never look away from me!"

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

The disembodied saxophones played in the background and she rolled her eyes. "They're still following me around. What horny horns."

The five took a left turn to the other side of the hallway where two guards stood. Everyone remained on the edge of the doorway, quietly watching the guards. "This is the place!" Tito said, "Now witch, work your body magic!"

"Some sexy body magic coming up!" Sincirce said, and she began to prance down the hallway.

She lifted her knees and ran her hands along her jumpsuit in front of the guards. "Ooh la la!" she said as both guards gaped at her.

"Err….nice jumpsuit?" one of them said, "It's very baggy."

Sincirce's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Baggy?! Gah, why must these jumpsuits be so saggy and baggy! My body magic can't handle these fashion backwards designs!"

She dropped to her knees and dramatically cried, "Nooooo!"

"Do you think we should try someone else?" Tito asked as Sincirce sobbed on the floor.

Archibell raised his hand. "Let me go next!"

The proud captain waltzed out onto the floor and smiled. "Hey fellas," he said with a casual smile. "I happen to have lost my way. Do you know where the bathroom is?"

The guards both looked at each other. "Yeah…" one of them said and pointed behind Archibell. "Over there."

Archibell turned his head and gave a callous smile. "But uh...can you guys accompany me? I'm a little nervous going to the little boys room alone!"

The first guard rolled his eyes. But the other one smiled fondly at Archibell. The second guard spoke with a softer tone. "This is a much better seduction attempt than that witch lady!"

Archibell flashed a grin at the guard and waggled his eyebrows. The guard who turned beat red. "Meet you there, hot stuff," Archibell said with a wink.

The second guard licked his lips, but the first shook his head. "No Larry!"

Archibell shoulders slumped and he walked back to Tito dejected. "At least you did better than Sincirce!" Tito said.

"No fair!" the witch cried. "One of them doesn't even play for the right team!"

"Welp…" Tito said to Tony and Elise. "Fish head is our last hope…Let's pray he can do this."

"I gots da perfect plan!" Tony smirked.

The two bleary guards were suddenly wide eyed when Tony walked on his front fins. He began to sing a merry tune in his gravelly voice. "Hello sweet baby, hello sweet doll! I'm your one and only, I'm your fishy gal!"

The two guards' mouths nearly dropped to the floor. "Is that a singing fish, Larry?" the first guard asked.

Larry was dumbstruck. He mouthed the words yes. "Welp," the first guard said back. "This is how you know you've been on your shift too long. I think we need to take a mental health break."

Larry looked at the other guard and nodded. The two timidly walked down the hallway.

"Remember kiddies," Tony said with a bow. "Always take care of yer mental health!"

Everyone ran to Tony and smiled. Tito looked at Elise. "Well speckles. I think you should give this a shot!"

"You really trust me?" Elise said, her eyes wide. "Even though I'm delicate?"

Tito looked away bashfully. "You seemed like you really wanted to do this. But don't say I didn't warn you! This is gonna be really tough."

"Yay!" Elise said, and she hopped into the basket in the laundry room.

"Quick!" Tito said. "I think I hear the laundry lady coming!"

Elise buried herself in the clothes and everything went dark. She soon heard a middle aged woman humming and the clothes shuffling around her. Elise remained as still as possible as the basket rolled away.

She couldn't hear much over the wheels but she remained in place. The laundry cart rolled for a bit, before it stopped. Suddenly, Elise heard the sound of a lift. It was going up to the third floor.

There was a resounding ding and the cart began rolling again. Elise heard a guard's voice. "Is that for Lord Cornbury?"

"Who else," the middle aged woman growled. "He owns more clothes than all of the prisoners here."

"Go on in," the guard said, "But don't stay too long. You know Lord Cornbury doesn't like people in his room."

The door opened and the basket rolled inside. After cursing Cornbury beneath her breath, the middle aged laundry woman walked outside and closed the door. Elise immediately popped out, gagging hard from the fragrant smelling fancy clothes.

She hopped out and looked around. The room was as garish as the man himself being covered in pink and white checkered paint. The only repreieve was an open window, revealing the clear blue tropical sky. Elise began to shuffle through drawers, tossing out even more clothes, but she didn't find anything. It was only when she looked at the warden's desk did she notice anything of note.

Stretched on the top of the table was a large schematic. It depicted a human in a wheel. The wheel was located at the center of a naval boat. The paper read, "Prisoner-powered-steamboat."

Elise gasped. "So this is what the wheels were for."

The door creaked open, and Elise heard a deep, campy theatrical. "Oh my! What is this cute little girl doing in my room?"

Elise let out a terrified squeak as she watched Florian Cornbury pointing at her. "And what is she doing with my renovation plans for the Mainland Army?!"

Elise quickly grabbed the schematic and attempted to scurry away with it, but he barricaded the door.

"You're not going anywhere, cutie pie," he said with his hands outstretched. "Until you give up those plans!"

Elise backed away nervously as the warden's shadow stretched over her. She stepped backwards, but peered over her shoulder. Turning around, she gazed at the third story window.

Suddenly, she was overcome by adrenaline. She ran over to the window and peered out it. The bay was a long way down, but she had no choice. "What are you doing?! Florian demanded. "Get off of there!"

"S-S-Shell ya later?" Elise stammered timidly and flung herself out the window.