Thank you reviewers, as usual!
I added a note at the end of chpt 3, and I'll just repeat it here… I've bumped this up to a T rating because, yes, there is quite a bit of action in this, creatures are killed with swords and such.
Well, here's part 2! : )
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Taking a deep breath, Flint lit the cord, dropped the torch, and dove into the water, making sure to swim a good distance away from the ship. From a mute, undersea world, he heard a muffled explosion, and then splashes as bits of wood hit the water's surface. The gator resurfaced to admire his handiwork. As planned, the explosives hadn't completely obliterated the craft, but instead blew a large hole into the hull. Water sloshed in and the vessel began to bob and teeter, no longer seaworthy. Smiling triumphantly, Flint started swimming towards the other ships back in the bay.
"Ackk! Help me! Help me!"
Flint looked around, bewildered. Where was that coming from…surely not…? Boom! The ship to his right rocked dangerously; Dorian had finished his task as well.
"Ackk! The crow's nest is falling! It's falling! It's falling!"
The crow's nest! Squinting, the Totodile could make out the silhouette of some creature struggling frantically in the basket atop the mast. Whoever it was, it was stuck up there. Flint bit his lip indecisively. His ship was already leaning heavily into the bay, filling fast with water. Then,
"I'm coming fer ye!" diving again into the water, the gator kicked as fast as his body would allow, determined to reach the ship before it collapsed and disappeared into the waves.
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Dorian surveyed his ruined vessel. Everything was going according to plan. He had heard Flint's ship go off as well, a bit earlier than his. Verifying that was the fact that the gator's craft was already dipping into the water. Satisfied, Dorian climbed onto the docks. He looked around, and frowned. The ships to his left, assigned to Buso, Torq, and Tottle, were still floating peacefully in the bay. There were shapes moving aboard the deck of one of them… what were they doing? Dorian saw no trace of the gator either. If Flint had finished first, shouldn't he be in the harbor by now? Dorian glanced around again. On the riggings of Flint's ship, could it be…?
"Fool! What are you doing?!" Dorian hissed under his breath, as he recognized the distinct shape of a Totodile clambering up the ropes of the fast sinking ship. He was headed for the crow's nest, but why? Dorian was about to find out, as he took a running leap from the docks and pursued his comrade.
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There was no escape. Holding Tottle behind her, Torq crouched, ready to use tooth and tail to fend against the Persian with two cutlasses. Contrary to popular belief, water types cannot fire massive amounts of water from their bodies. That is physically impossible, not to mention ridiculous. In the water, the Vaporeon could definitely manipulate her element, but on land she could do nothing with it. So bracing herself, she prepared for the worst… But it never came.
Just as the feline was about to rush in for a fatal attack, a loud, groaning sound echoed through the bay. And before the Persian could take a single step, a gigantic mast came down on top of the cat, pushing her down, through the deck, through the hull, and down to where her brother lied.
"Let's get out of here!" Tottle yelled, amidst the crashing timber, as he and Torq leapt off the ship. They were just in time, too, as the two halves crumpled into the water shortly after.
"What happened?" Torq asked. Tottle pointed at the answer.
Buso's ship had edged close to theirs, and the entire starboard side of it was destroyed when its mast mysteriously came down upon their vessel. There was a shuffling sound, and they turned to find Buso next to them, grinning widely. Baffled, the two didn't even bother to ask how the cook pulled it off, staring with mouths agape between the Slowpoke and the demolished ship.
Then, nearly knocking him over, Torq pulled Buso into a tight hug and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Oh, you saved us Buso! Thank you!"
The cook turned as red as the fire on his stoves.
"Now, let's pack that other ship and sail on out of here!"
The two followed the Vaporeon as she headed back to the alley for their supplies. They could taste freedom now.
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Panting, Flint doggedly climbed up the unstable riggings, nearly reaching the crow's nest. The squawking that came from it had yet to cease.
"Arckk! Oh, I be a goner! A goner! A poor, handsome creature like me, lost to the sea! Oh, woe is me! Woe is me!"
"Shut it you blabbermouth! I'm coming to save you!" Flint bellowed at the beast, starting to regret his heroic decision. The ship was nearly submerged now, and if it collapsed while he was still on it… pushing the thought from his head, the gator climbed on.
A resounding crash was heard, and the Totodile saw that the ships on the left had been sunk.
"They're all waitin' on me" he growled to himself. The mast creaked; it wouldn't hold much longer.
Finally, Flint felt wood as he heaved himself into the crow's nest.
"I'm saved! I'm saved!"
It was a Chatot, a parrot-like bird. One of its legs was in a shackle, held closed by a chain anchored to the mast. The wooden pole gave a sudden lurch.
Flint thought fast, "Alrighty, hold still mate!" He went to work on the chains with his powerful jaws.
"Oh thankee, thankee, kind sir! What's yer name? Mine be Gully! Gully! Gully!" It chattered incessantly, unfazed by the gradually titling mast, or the fact that he was chained to it.
The chains were rusted, but still held strong. Still, Totodile are notorious for their super strong jaws, and Flint was no exception. He could feel his sharp teeth chipping away at the worn metal. The question was, could he get through in time?
Suddenly, the mast gave way, and with a final splintered cry, cracked erratically down its spine. It was free falling now.
Mustering all his strength, the Totodile gave the chain one final crunch. Shnck! Steel gave in to bone as the metal loops broke apart.
The Chatot squawked, "Freedom! Freedom!" and took to the skies.
Flint could see masses of sharp wood and sloshing waves rapidly coming towards him, as he and the mast came crashing down.
"Grab on! Grab on!" Gully struggled to keep speed with the falling gator and extended a leg to his savior.
The Totodile needed no second bidding. Just as the basket was about to hit the water, he made a desperate jump and latched on to the parrot's talons. The brave bird flapped in frenzy, dipping and rising as he carried his weight over the waters, away from his former prison.
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Dorian treaded water to stay afloat, almost not believing his eyes. Try as he did, he could not climb up the lurching, scuttled ship. So he stayed a distance from it, hoping that the rash gator was alright. But now, there was Flint, flying towards him out of the wreckage!
"Oi! Flint!" he called, waving his arms to catch the Totodile's attention.
Flint spotted him. Giving the Chatot a tug, he pointed at the Golduck, "That's my friend over there, can ye… Whoaaaaa!"
Without a warning, the parrot dived and unlocked his talons, sending the gator hurtling into the unsuspecting Dorian. Flint landed with a splash. Then, with a final squawk, Gully was gone.
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Skipper breathed in deeply, facing the open sea. The night's wind blew outwards from the land, ruffling the sea weasel's fur and sending a medley of leaves into the horizon, which was lined with the red of the approaching dawn.
Skip felt as though it was beckoning him as well, "Wait right there for me, dawnrise. I'll be meeting ye soon," he said to no one in particular. Holding a paw above his eyes, he looked back at the bay. Only one ship was left afloat, perfect. But that one ship had yet to leave the harbor. The pirates would be here…
"End of the line, deadbeast!"
…any minute.
Skipper didn't turn around. Ideas went through his head like jet streams. He could jump now… but then what? Then, he felt his heart leap as he saw the ship, his ship, pulling out of the port. Just a little longer now…
Plip! A drop of water hit the tip of his nose, then another, and before he knew it, he was soaked. The angry storm cloud was upon them.
"Whaddaya think he's doin'"
"How come he ain't lis'nin to us?"
"Oi! Buizel!"
The mob moved in on the sea weasel, but one of them suddenly turned to look at the bay as well, "Argh! Our ships! Somebeast sunk," the pirate paused to count, "FOUR of our ships!"
Skipper mentally cursed himself for not holding their attention. The pirates were in an uproar. The majority of them started storming back down the cliffs, driven into a total frenzy. Only one beast stayed. For a moment, lightning boomed and lit up the sky, illuminating murderous eyes and a hulking figure through the thick sheets of rain.
A Nidoking stepped forward, grumbling in a dangerous voice, "You're behind this! That's one of my ships you sunk!"
Skip put on a look of mock surprise, "I sunk? I was running for my life from you lot! One of yer crew must've fallen asleep at the wheel…"
The armored behemoth brought his foot down hard, not paying attention to Skip's words at all, "You'll pay for that with your blood, weasel!"
The Buizel noticed that his opponent didn't even have a weapon. Noting the large horn on the beast's forehead, his thick arms and legs, sinewy tail, and formidable claws, Skipper decided it was a good thing.
The Nidoking, who took up the entire ledge space, came forward, oblivious of the pounding rain. With a roar, he made a grab for the weasel. Skip had no doubt that the foebeast's grip could crush him in an instant. But the Buizel's weight and size gave him the advantage as he ducked under the creature's claws and jumped, head butted him under the chin.
The Nidoking took a few steps backwards, rubbing his snout nonchalantly, "You've got fight in you… for a dead beast.
He snorting, sending out a spray of mist. Then, lowering his head, he charged, lethal horn pointed right at Skipper.
Like a raging bull he rushed at the sea captain. In a split second, Skipper thought about jumping off the cliff, but smirked as he came up with an idea. The Nidoking felt something against his horn and stopped himself just inches away from the edge. Rock and dirt tumbled down into the churning waters below. Did he get the weasel? All this rain was impairing is vision. Reaching up to wipe his eyes…
"Oi! Watch where you poke those claws!"
The beast froze, mystified, then let out a deafening roar as he realized his opponent was not dead. As the horn was about to impale him, Skipper had side stepped and grabbed it. He hung on gamely.
The Nidoking thrashed about, clawing at the Buizel. But Skip was ready, and jumped from arm to head to horn, balancing and dodging all attempts from the foe to dislodge him. But the sea weasel knew that he couldn't keep this up forever. Just as he was about to contemplate that, the ground shook. And before either of the two could ponder what happened, the ledge collapsed, and they were falling.
It was a jumble of earth and rain washing down the cliff side. The Nidoking's final cry mingled with thunder. Because of his bulk, he dropped much faster than Skipper, and creatures built like him can't float.
It was a bit earlier than planned, but the sea weasel went along with the turn of events, positioning his body for the dive. He entered the water with barely a splash and shot through the savage waves like a torpedo, unnoticeable amid the storm.
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Righto! The next and final part of their escape will be up shortly.
(not that the story'll be done or anything. They've got bigger things ahead of them XD)
Oh! And if anyone's interested in what Skipper looks like:
http/canyx(dot)deviantart(dot)com/art/Skipper-80301627
Can't seem to post links, so just replace the (dot)s with . a dot
I know I've kept character descriptions vague, ("The Totodile… the Golduck…") I have a section later on their looks, but they're plain and the descriptions are plain (and fairly short) as well, can't be all spoofed up with fancy clothes when you're sailing the seas ; )
I'm very attached to my characters though, and there's a good chance I'll be drawing more of them later.
So, enjoy!
-Canyx
