Chapter 73: Zack vs Jawline

"This is quite a predicament we're in, wouldn't you say?" Ted asked the Sableye who was currently standing in front of him, his back turned towards him whilst he firmly held a shield in front of them both. Both pokemon currently found themselves backed up against a wall, enduring Jawline's onslaught of non-stop water pellets that pelted their only means of defense. The shield itself already had some dings in it due to how powerful the pellets were, slowly denting inward as Jawline reigned a barrage of them like a machine gun.

"Truly!" Shift grunted as he struggled to hold his grip. "The shield can't hold up much longer. It'll lose its form if this keeps up! You wouldn't happen to have any ideas, would you?"

"None that wouldn't put us in the line of fire," Ted replied. "Not unless we both jump in opposite directions."

"It's risky!" Shift said. "He would have more of an advantage to get both of us before we had much of a chance."

"I guess this is it then," Ted said. "It's been an honor fighting alongside you."

"The feeling's mutual," Shift said right before the shield was knocked from his claws, finding Jawline standing before them, his sword raised.

"I couldn't have said it better meself," he said as he looked straight at Ted. "So long, landlubber!"

Just as Jawline made to swing his sword down, a most unexpected occurrence placed everyone into shock as Zack's trainer suddenly grappled him from behind, grabbing hold of the sword and directing it up against Jawline's neck. "That's enough!" he said, placing all his strength into his arms. "I won't let you hurt them!"

"What be this?" Jawline questioned. "A human who thinks he can stop me?" He laughed, amused by the attempt this human was trying. "T'is a valiant effort, but ye ain't got the cojones to follow through. Ye ain't committed enough to!"

With that, Jawline elbowed him in the gut, causing him to release his hold on him. Jawline turned and fired off a powerful Chilling Water attack, knocking Zack's trainer toppling over a semi sofa that made up a small lounge area. It was in that moment Laura cried out his name as she rushed over to him.

Jawline turned his attention back to the two pokemon he was fighting as he heard Ted yell, "Move!" Shift jumped to the side as Ted rushed the Feraligatr, his claws extending as he began swiping them at him. All Jawline could do was defend himself by crossing his arms in front of him to take the majority of damage.

While he endured the endless Fury Swipes, he glanced over to see where the Sableye was, knowing full well that this was all a distraction to catch him off guard. From the corner of his eye, he managed to spot him forming up another large Shadow Ball like before, using the same sword he transformed from Kurage's to encase it in his shadowy attack. A plan concocted within his head on how to counteract the attack and waited until it was launched directly at him. That's when he put his plan into motion.

Thrusting his arms outward, Jawline ceased Ted's attack, flinging him back. Turning, Jawline grabbed a hold of Ted's foot, swinging him around before tossing him towards the oncoming Shadow Ball. Shift could only watch in horrified surprise as his Shadow Ball detonated, sending a charred Ted flying into the crowd.

"Ted, no!" Laura cried as she rushed over to where he fell.

"That's one down," Jawline said with a victorious grin as he turned his attention upon Shift. "Now it's yer turn!"

"I hate to tell you but I won't go down that easy," Shift said to him.

"I doubt that," Jawline said. "I've seen yer little tricks; and I know how to deal damage to ye so this will be easy."

Shift tsked knowing full well that if he were to get doused with another water attack that, especially with the Chilling Water, that he would be rendered completely helpless, considering his body temperature would go down to the point he'd be too busy trying to warm himself up, but then there was also the possibility that Jawline would keep up his attack until he hadn't any air to breathe in, drowning him. He would have to think up a strategy quickly if he were to take this ferocious pirate captain down.

As Jawline took a step forward to resume the fight, his leg was suddenly bumped into by a pink and white cat who appeared to be off balance. "Oops! Sworries!" she said as she began to teeter the other way. "Didn't mean to bump into yous!"

An eye twitched.

A head turned.

A claw reached out and grabbed Skitty by the head, lifting her up.

"Oh thank goodness!" Skitty said as her little legs continued flailing in the air as if she was still teetering all over the place. "Thanks mister! I didn't think I'd ever be able to stop moving!"

"Ye want to stop moving, do ye?" Jawline asked her. "Then let me help ye!" He then reeled his claw back and threw Skitty towards the table Ted was sitting at before.

"Wheee!" Skitty exclaimed as she flew towards the table at a high speed. Just as she was about to crash into it, a black blur suddenly appeared and landed itself upon the table Skitty was about to crash into, said Skitty now dangling from the scruff of her neck in the jaws of the black blur. "That was fun! Throw me again!"

"You alright, Skitty?" Zack said as he placed her down.

"Yep! Thanks for the save!" was her response as she staggered off the table. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a ride to stop." Everyone simply stared after her as she swayed off with the rocking of the ship. Zack wasn't entirely sure what to make of it, whether he should be concerned or if he should chalk it up to Skitty being Skitty.

"And who might ye be?" Jawline asked wearily, drawing Zack's attention.

"I'm Zack," was his response. "Sorry I'm late. Some unfortunate stuff happened that prevented me from being here."

"And are ye here to fight me also?" Jawline asked him. "Much of me time has already been wasted. I might as well just-"

"Why are you talking funny?" Zack asked, stopping him abruptly. "And why are you wearing those weird clothes? And that ridiculous hat?"

The pokemon in the room all dropped their jaws in response to his question, Jawline's crew included over the bold questions he just asked. Jawline's claws shook angrily, his eye twitching rapidly having been mocked by him.

"He's a pirate, Zack bro," Ted spoke out raspily, catching Zack's attention. "They talk in their own slang and wear outfits to match."

"That's just weird."

"Plus they go adventuring in the sea."

"Sea fearing adventurers?" Zack asked excitedly. "That's so cool! Also, what happened to you? You're looking like you fought Charcoal and lost."

This, of course, prompted Kara to lean over and gasp. "M-mister Ted! You're hurt!"

"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before," Ted chuckled. "I'm glad to see you're safe nonetheless, considering."

"That still doesn't explain why you're charred," Zack said to him. "From what I was told, you were fighting water pokemon."

"What happened was an unexpected counterattack," Shift said, making himself known. "Your friend was thrown into my attack meant for him." He pointed towards Jawline who remained standing where he was, his clenched claws shaking with rage.

"Hey! I know you!" Zack said. "You're the card guy I met!"

"A pleasure to see you again, Zack," Shift greeted him. "Your timing couldn't be better." He glanced up towards Kara who was still clinging tightly to him. "And an extended greetings to you as well, miss. I do believe you're a member of the staff aboard this ship, are you not?"

"Oh!" Kara said in surprise, a small blush adorning her face at being recognized. "I-I am! I didn't think you would know me."

"Perish the thought," Shift said. "As a fellow employee, I do tend to keep track of who works upon this ship, even those who go unnoticed." Kara felt a warmth of happiness at the mere thought as she shifted shyly upon Zack who was currently looking over towards the stairs.

"Why is D.Z. lying unconscious on the stairs?"

"STOP. IGNORING. ME!" Jawline bellowed, stomping his foot down. "I have had about enough of all of ye doing what ye please! Do ye know who I am? Do ye know the power I hold over all of ye? I am the most feared pokemon of the Water Bomb pirates! Not a single soul can ever match up to me! All tremble before me name! I am the terror of the sea! Ye landlubbers have no advantage over me! I traverse the land and sea! That is what makes me unbeatab-"

Jawline was suddenly stopped abruptly before he could finish, for in that instance, Zack leapt off the table in a full on Quick Attack, having made sure Kara was off him before he did, before he spun his body and whacked Jawline square in the face with an Iron Tail, sending him flying into the wall.

"CAPTAAAAIIIINNNN!" Jawline's crew cried out, watching their beloved Captain go flying.

"Man he's annoying!" Zack said as he landed. "He sure likes to talk, doesn't he?"

"He has been doing an awful lot of that," Shift agreed. "It's a wonder how others could fear him, lest they just wanted to shut him up."

Zack laughed at this, amused by Shift's humor. "That's a good one!" he said as Jawline's claws gripped the sides of the wall.

"So ye want to fight, do ye?" he asked as he clambered out of the hole. "Fine! Ye will be a fine example to- HURK!"

Jawline was rammed into by Zack who launched himself with a Quick Attack. Jawline's legs buckled slightly, but not enough to cause him to fall. Recovering quickly, Jawline swung a claw towards the Umbreon, missing as he jumped back at the last second. Zack then tilted his head back before unleashing a volley of yellow stars at his opponent.

"This again?" Jawline questioned as he blasted them away with Chilling Water. Zack barely had any time to avoid the attack as he found himself drenched in the chilling water.

"Th-th-th-th-that's c-c-cold!" he said, shivering once the attack ended. Jawline wasted no time in charging him, grabbing the sword he dropped as he came up upon the Umbreon and in one fell swipe slashed his sword across his body, spewing blood everywhere.

"Zack, no!" his trainer cried as he watched his beloved pokemon fall to the floor. Gasps were heard all around, heads bowed as their reality sunk in that their last hope was all but gone. Shift could only stand there stunned, bewildered by the fact that Jawline gained the upper claw with such ease. He was a fool for believing that this intriguing Umbreon had what it took to go toe to toe with the Feraligatr.

He flinched as Jawline slashed again at Zack's downed body, then a second time followed by a third and plenty more after that, leaving deep gashes in his wake as he laughed maniacally.

Kara, meanwhile, sunk to her knees, her eyes glazed over as she stared at the gory scene before her, feeling the hope within all but shatter as the Umbreon who had saved her was mercilessly mutilated.

"Now ye see the true power of what we're capable of!" Jawline said as he continued slashing Zack relentlessly. "Did ye really think ye could go against me, ye landlubber? This is the price you pay!"

A sorrowful sigh escaped Ted as he bowed his head, knowing that Jawline had them beat, but what's more: the fact that his closest friend was now gone. He glanced over towards Charcoal who could only stare in shock. He couldn't fathom how he was feeling watching Zack's life slipping away with every slash. He couldn't even begin to imagine how Skitty would feel when she found out. Ted returned his attention back towards the Feraligatr in time to see him plunge his sword straight into Zack's body…

…

…

…

…and that's exactly what happened…

…

…

…

…had Zack's Detect not kicked in the precise moment he leapt back from Jawline as he swung his claw at him. Horrified by seeing all this unfold, Zack took a few extra leaps back, gaining a fair distance from him, prompting Jawline to raise an eyescale curiously.

"What ails thee?" he questioned. "Are ye beginning to recognize just how powerful I really am?"

"N-no," Zack stuttered, shaking his head to rid the visions he saw. "I-it was something else. You're not all that terrifying to… other things, more annoying than anything."

Jawline clenched his teeth hard, triggered that he would be ridiculed so nonchalantly. "Ye dare mock me?" he questioned as he calmly walked over to where his sword lied and picked it up. "Ye haven't seen nothing!" His eyes bulged in the next second, for Zack had sat down to scratch at an itch behind his ear.

"Hm? Oh, sorry," Zack said as he shimmied in relief. "I didn't mean to ignore you, but I had to scratch that itch."

Jawline was upon him in a matter of seconds, enraged that the pokemon before him paid him no mind, swinging wildly as Zack made his best attempts to avoid getting slashed; but even he knew he wouldn't be able to last long.

As Jawline swung his sword down again, Zack suddenly pivoted his body, readying an Iron Tail as a resounding clang reverberated throughout the lobby as metal met steel. Both Zack and Jawline gritted their teeth as they both placed all their strength in both arms and tail. Sparks flew from the contact, neither side giving an inch as they attempted to push the other back. Everyone watching had held breaths as they watched the two finally break away, only to meet each other once again, repeating the process over and over again, almost like it was a true pirate fight.

"This-"

CLANG

"-is the-"

CLANG

"-craziest-"

CLANG

"-thing-"

CLANG

"-I've ever-"

CLANG

"-done-"

CLANG

"-in my-"

CLANG

"-entire life-"

CLANG

"-ever!"

Zack leapt through the air as they deflected each other's attacks, panting as he landed. He noticed his opponent doing the same, clearly tiring out but not fast enough.

"Screw it!" Jawline said after a moment's silence between them. "I don't give a crap anymore! Everybody on this ship is dying, regardless of who they are."

Jawline's crew looked at one another nervously, wondering exactly what he meant. The Azumarill added to speak up to ask him carefully, considering he was already steaming mad. "B-but Cap'n," he said. "All we need is the loot, right? We only kill if necessary. Besides, what will we do with the coast guard when they get her-"

"To hell with the coast guard!" Jawline yelled, causing the Azumarill to flinch. "Did ye hear me stutter any? I believe I said that everyone aboard this vessel is dying! Me mind's made up! That goes for the coast guard as well. No one will be left alive." He then glared straight towards Laura and Zack's trainer before marching his way towards them. "Those two will be first! It's obvious they're yer trainers so let's see if yer strong enough to protect them!"

"Don't you dare!" Zack said as he ran after Jawline. "This is our battle so leave them out of this!"

As he made to stop Jawline, he found himself stopped instead as he found himself dangling from his grip having leapt at him. The two glared at one another as Zack struggled to break free from his grasp. "Yer in no position to make demands," Jawline growled. "So I suggest ye wait yer turn. I'll deal with ye shortly."

With that, Jawline tossed Zack straight towards the same counter Rugar was punched through, only instead of going through the same hole, he was fortunate enough to be thrown to the side of it. That still did not stop the force of impact at which the velocity he was going from preventing the pain from occurring as he made contact with the counter, leaving a slight dent as he slid to the floor.

Staggering to his feet woozily, he watched as Jawline neared his trainer and Laura, the former placing an arm before her to keep her protected. He quickly shook his head and looked around for a last minute solution before it was too late. He took a good look at the counter, putting aside the curiosity of why there was a gaping hole in this odd structure.

He looked to his left towards the table Kara had remained safe upon, her eyes transfixed with worry on Jawline, her body trembling. He then moved his head slightly right until he was staring straight at the stairs D.Z. lied upon, then towards the two trainers on his right. He racked his brain as he looked between the three, spinning his head in quick thought.

Spinning… spinning… spinning…

SPINNING!

Of course! It was the best course of action he could take; and take it he did as he quickly hopped up on the counter only to hop off it immediately, launching straight into a Quick Attack as he rushed straight for the table. Kara let out a squeak of surprise as Zack hopped up on the table, only to pivot his body quickly and rush towards the stairs. He angled his body towards his trainers and rushed for them before angling his body back towards the counter, hopping up upon it only to repeat the process.

Jawline stopped as he noticed only reached the two trainers, but because Zack's sudden run-by caught him off guard. With weary caution, Jawline watched as he hopped off the counter towards the table the lass pokemon from before stood upon before launching himself off towards the stairs before running by him again. From the counter to the table to the stairs to passing him by back to the counter, Zack continued gaining speed as he kept rushing to these four spots repeatedly, becoming a blur of black the more speed he gained. Before long, he found himself at a newfound speed, one that he's never pushed himself to until now, circling the Feraligatr like he was the wheel to that one casino game with the ball, though in this case it would be more like a square considering the sharp turns he had to make. Of course, he was the ball; and his target was, of course, the water captain.

"What nonsense he be doing?" Jawline thought as he tried to pinpoint Zack's exact location. "Whatever it be, it be useless! This won't stop me from killing his trainer; or the lass!"

Despite Zack blurring by between him and his targets, Jawline raised his sword, preparing to strike the male human first. Before he had the chance to, Zack finally changed his course, plowing full speed into the Feraligatr.

"Max Speed Quick Attack!"

Jawline was instantly launched from the lobby like a rocket, a result of the speed Zack was going. Jawline flew out the doors onto the main deck of the ship, his crew fighting against the rebellious pokemon who were bold enough to challenge them. Every fight nearby ceased as Jawline flew straight into a piece of decor, the decor helping to slow his speed but not enough to keep him from flying into a structure that sat in the middle of the pool.

Back inside the lobby, Zack watched as Jawline flew into the structure, no doubt destroying a part of it. He panted, exhausted from the speed he had undergone. Even though he knew going that speed would tire him out, it was the only solution he had to save everyone from being killed. He felt his stomach rumble hungrily as his mouth salivated. For some strange reason, a lofty smell filled his nostrils. It wasn't a strong smell, but it still smelled delicious. Not to mention his mouth felt kind of funny.

The taste of whatever he had in his mouth was soft and kind of… what word it was he was looking for, he couldn't think of. All he knew was that it tasted delicious; and so he chomped whatever it was he was holding, the soft texture making it easy to chew. The best way he could describe it was a wheat-like texture, but better. Almost immediately after swallowing, he felt a surge of energy course through him, like his hunger was sated and was replenished. Now the only question was where he had gotten it during his run around.

"YOU LANDLUBBING WHELP!" Jawline yelled as he burst from where he crashed, drawing Zack's attention back to him. "I AM THE MIGHTY CAPTAIN JAWLINE OF THE WATER BOMB PIRATES! NO POKEMON IN EXISTENCE CAN BEAT ME! ALL FEAR ME WHEN THEY HEAR ME NAME!"

"I don't care who you are!" Zack yelled as he launched into another Quick Attack to resume his fight. "All I know is that I'm kicking you off this ship!"

"INSOLENT FOOL!" Jawline yelled as he reached into the satchel on his side. "I'LL SHOW YOU WHY WE'RE CALLED THE WATER BOMB PIRATES! THERE'LL BE NOTHING LEFT OF YOU AFTER THIS!"

Whatever Jawline took from his satchel, Zack couldn't see. All he could see was Jawline placing the unknown object in his mouth and swallowing. Jawline's entire body bloated suddenly as he reeled his head back. Realizing what was about to happen, Zack broke out of his Quick Attack, skidding across the deck as Jawline fired out a large sphere of water at rapid speed.

Because of how slippery the deck was, Zack was unable to slow himself as the water sphere made contact, ripping up the floorboard as it exploded in what felt like Ted's powered punch making contact with his Shadow Ball, only ten times stronger.

The shockwave was so strong it could have caused extreme damage to him had Shift not appeared at that moment, a shield in claw as he took the brunt of the attack. His shield was instantly shredded into nothing as Shift went flying back, his body being shredded by the shockwave. Zack watched in silent shock as Shift crashed into a nearby outside bar, bottles toppling on top of him as a result.

Zack turned, his teeth clenched angrily only to change to that of surprise as a wave of water hit him, knocking him back into the lobby. Fear overtook him at first as he believed Jawline to have doused him with the freezing water, but found the water lukewarm. That was a relief at least. The only odd thing was the fact there was something off about the water, one he couldn't put his paw on.

"Aw cripes!" one of Jawline's crew mates said as Jawline ceased his attack and began charging towards Zack angrily. "The Cap'n's using Stomping Tantrum with Bulldoze!"

"That landlubber's good as dead!" another crew member said. "Calming him down is going to be a pain!"

"I am unbeatable!" Jawline yelled as he charged straight for Zack. "Yer not! I win! Ye don't!"

"H-hey," Zack said as he lifted his head woozily. "Do water pokemon know how to use Double Team?"

"Not normally," Ted answered raspily

"Then why are there three of him?"

"Oh dear," Ted said as Jawline began swinging his claws at the Umbreon, leaving marks for every swing.

"Not so tough now, are ye?" Jawline said as he continued swinging. "Where's all that bravado?" He laughed without letting up. "Yer just like all the others: all talk and no bite! When it comes down to it, yer weak! Ye can't save anyone no matter how much of a brave face ye put on!"

As he went to swing another claw down upon him, a small, mesmerizing flame perched upon the tip of an orange tail came between them, resulting in Jawline ceasing his attack to follow said tail down to whom it belonged to, finding the Charmander from before hunched over, heaving heavily as he struggled to keep his tail steady.

Jawline growled, irked by the fact that pokemon continuously kept getting in his way. Who were they to express no fear from his mere presence? What drove them to defy him? It mattered not, for in one fell swoop, he hoisted the Charmander by the throat and reeled his fisted claw back.

"Ye want some of what I'm giving him?" Jawline growled. "I'll be more than happy to oblige!" He then rammed his fist straight into the Charmander's stomach. This, of course, triggered the sea sick Charmander to finally give in and upchuck everything directly onto Jawline's face, instantly quelling his rage. Never, not once in his life, had he ever experienced an occurrence such as this. Having been thrown up on had left him speechless as he remembered noting that the Charmander was looking quite pale from earlier. If he had remembered he would have taken a better approach to dealing with him. Instead, he stood there, regretting his poor choice of punching the Charmander in the gut with his vomit dripping down his face.

Having been the one to upchuck his insides onto him upon seeing his reaction was enough for the Charmander to utter a small laugh, sickly as he might have been. "Worth it!"

Jawline simply stared with a blank look upon his face before turning his attention upon Zack as he spoke, not a word to be said. "Whew! That's just what I needed! Thanks, Charcoal!"

"Couldn't let you have all the fun now, could I?" Charcoal wheezed. "Figured that might have cleared the confusion from the Water Pulse you got hit with."

"What, and take all the credit for myself?" Zack asked with a laugh. "Nah, it's not my style. Still, it's much appreciated. Even something as small as that helps bug time." Charcoal smiled as Zack looked over at Jawline. "Now then, as I've said before, you're getting off this ship. Don't think about coming back."

Zack's eyes took on a rainbow of colors as he ran straight up to the Feraligatr and fired his attack off on him, placing extra power into it. "Max power…. Psybeam!"

Jawline said nothing, not even emitting a scream as the attack was blasted directly into him point blank. His hold on Charcoal loosened, allowing him to drop to the floor as Jawline felt his feet leave the floor as the attack lifted him into the air. Jawline could only watch as everyone in the lobby became smaller for him the higher he went. He barely felt himself smash through the ceiling due to the initial shock of what had occurred. He barely even registered the ship growing distant the further he was carried off nor the attack breaking off having reached its boundary limit. He soon became nothing more than a speck himself as he flew off into the distance… defeated.

Back upon the ship, having launched Jawline off the ship, Zack's attack was broken off as Jawline's hat landed upon his head, covering his eyes. Zack swiveled his head around in alarm at first, but once no danger came to him he became aware of the hat upon his head. Raising a paw, he tilted the hat up, glancing up at it with a pondering thought in mind.

"What do you guys think?" he asked. "Does this make me look cooler?"

Jawline's crew, who all remained where they stood gaping in shock of their captain's defeat, began scrambling for the doors in a mad panic, screaming of their captain's defeat and yelling for a retreat.

"Huh… I guess not."

Cue one laughter from Ted as everyone aboard the ship jumped with joy at the defeat of the Water Bomb pirates as pokemon and humans alike went chasing after the scurrying crew.