Just so you know, I hope you appriciate the time that went into this chapter, which I could have spent sudying for exams. But no, I chose to write instead... Ok, lets face it. I wasn't going to study anyway. I was going to work on an original story, but my sister (whose new to . She writes glee *shudder*(and not the awesome guy kind) under the pen name RainbowSquirrelJumps05) conviced me that I should write this instead.

Anyway, this ff is almost over. 1 chapter after this, and then 'When Skulduggery Met Ghastly' will be...*dramatic pause with head to side and takes glasses off really slowly (I don't wear glasses)* over *sob*

Also, I apolgise for not telling the pirates to attack properly. I haven't had a lot of practise at it.

Chapter 9

Anyone Order a Sea Monster?

Skulduggery kicked out, catching the pirate in front of him in the knee. The prate hollered, falling to the ground, but there was another one to take his place. He could see Ghastly firing punches to a mob of pirates, and Dexter was somewhere else, throwing energy around. Skulduggery pushed at the air and clicked his fingers, then dodged a slice of shadows.

He found himself back-to-back with Ghastly, who was sporting a broken nose. Through a gap in the throng of pirates, Dexter was trading punches with the brown haired woman, who was dodging and ducking and diving and dipping and dodging like a pro. There was a slight lull, just enough for Skulduggery to catch his breath, and he saw Dexter kick at the woman's knee and then flip her. He kicked her in head as she was down, then turned, panting slightly, just in time to recieve an elbow to the face. Dexter stumbled back, and the pirate grinned, following him. Dexter lashed out, catching the pirate in the stomach.

Skulduggery knocked a fireball heading to Dexter off course, then pushed at the air, knocking several pirates off.

Suddenly, the boat shivered. Everyone froze. The pirates looked at one another, then collectively took off, running into the cargo hold, taking the unconscious ones with them. Skulduggery, Dexter and Ghastly looked at one another.

"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Skulduggery asked.

Ghastly shook his head, and Dexter pointed over the side. "Maybe it has something to do with that."

Skulduggery and Ghastly looked where he was pointed. The water churned, turning murky, and Dexter yelled, stumbling back as a tentacle slithered over the side. Another one coiled around the mast, and tightened. There was a loud crack and it fell, ever so slowly, towards them. Ghastly and Skulduggery pushed at the air, deflecting it.

A rubbery hide crept on the ship as it tilted drastically. Skulduggery clicked his fingers, throwing a fireball that left a blackened mark on the pale, glistening skin.

The three of them grabbed onto something, and the ship was nearly verticle in the water.

"Any other ideas?" Ghastly yelled.

"We could give it a stomach ache, but that's about it," Dexter yelled back.

Skulduggery looked at a rope that dangled above the monster. It swung towards them, but other than that, it wasn't doing much. The monster looked up at them, and a sharp, cruel looking beak appeared.

"We could swim," Dexter said. "Anything is better than falling into that."

Skulduggery looked at Dexter. "Do you trust me?"

"Do I have any other choice?" Dexter asked back.

"It's that or the monster."

There was a pause as Dexter considered this. "What did you have in mind?"

"Ghastly?" Skulduggery asked.

"Yes."

Skulduggery took at deep breath. "Ghatsly, I need to you get Dexter, then angle the both you into the water, as far away as you can get. Then swim as far west as you can until you hit land."

"What about you?" Ghastly asked.

"I'll meet you there." Skulduggery watched as both men shook their heads. "I need you to trust me on this."

Ghastly looked at him, then held a hand out to Dexter. "I hope you know what you're doing," Dexter said.

"I do," Skulduggery replied. Dexter finally grabbed Ghastly offered hand, and Skulduggery watched as they disappeared over the other side of the boat. "I hope," he muttured, suddenly alone with the monster.

Aaaaaaaannnnnnnnnndddddddddd... haha. Now you have to find out what happens next!