"ATTACK!"
At the guard's command, several swords lunged at Puss.
Sweeping his blade, he deflected them with ease.
With a step forward, he engaged one of the guards, and in just two swift moves, disarmed him, sending the sword flying into the air before it clattered down onto the dock.
Puss jumped on the guard and kicked him square in the chest, launching him backward…
Splash!
…and into the water.
Still mid-air from the kick, Puss had to block another incoming sword. He defended with his blade, but the force pushed him back. His boots skidded across the wooden pier, stopping right at the edge, but he managed to halt his momentum.
He narrowed his eyes at the one who struck.
"Meeoooww!!"
Letting out his battle cry, he leapt back into the fray like a one-cat wrecking machine.
His sword seemed almost alive, perfectly angled at every strike to disarm, slash, or unbalance the guards.
And his strength? Far from lacking—immense. With just the force of his swings, he could topple large armored men who tried to defend themselves.
He handled the well-trained squad swiftly.
With a series of quick kicks to the last guard's face, sending him unconscious to the ground, Puss landed in a spin and struck a pose.
With a flick of his sword, he shed the blood from the blade and sheathed it.
He hadn't killed anyone, nor maimed or crippled. Just a few cuts—enough to make the lesson last.
He would reserve his cruelty for true criminals and villains.
Puss then walked through the port, every eye following him in terror, until he reached one guard who was still conscious, though wounded and barely hanging on.
Slipping a paw into his boot, Puss pulled out a letter and placed it into the man's trembling hands. The guard recoiled slightly at the approach of the feline he now saw as a terrifying monster.
"Deliver this letter to the governor." He said, giving the dazed man two pats on the shoulder.
He then turned to Jack, but his expression twisted as he realized the boat was gone—the spot where it had been was now completely empty.
He looked out to sea and spotted it already drifting far from the port, with Tornado standing still inside, staring back at him.
Puss placed a paw to his forehead in exasperation.
'What is that stupid horse doing just standing there… haah, well, at least it makes things easier,' Puss thought, shrugging it off.
Just as he was about to run after them, a loud voice shouted beside him.
"Ahhh, no! They stole my luna!!" An old fisherman cried, pointing to the boat where Jack and Tornado were. His shock was so great he forgot about the fearsome cat beside him.
But the others on the dock hadn't forgotten, and quickly dove for cover, praying for the poor old man's soul.
This time, it was Puss's mouth that twitched.
'So your boat is called Betsy, huh?... Betsy, my paw. Damn Jack. Once again, I should've seen this coming.'
He walked toward the old man, who came out of his trance at the sound of footsteps. Turning, he nearly fainted upon seeing Puss.
"Old man, I'm buying your boat." Puss said calmly.
He wasn't about to leave the old man without his livelihood. He wasn't that heartless.
"N-no, señor Puss, the boat is yours! Please, don't hurt me!" the old man begged, falling to his knees.
Puss said nothing. His reputation was beyond saving at this point—arguing with an old man wouldn't help.
At some point, his reputation shifted from false hero to city destroyer.
Pulling off his boot, he took out a pouch of coins, removed a single gold coin, and flipped it to the man with his thumb.
The old man caught it reflexively, dazed—and when he saw the golden gleam, his eyes widened, jaw dropping in disbelief.
"That should pay for a few boats like that one." Puss said, returning the pouch to his boot and slipping it back on.
Then, crouching slightly, he pushed off with his back paws and dashed forward.
His four paws were almost a blur—like illusions from moving so fast, leaving only afterimages behind.
Reaching the edge of the pier, he didn't stop. With a final step, he launched into a massive leap.
Like a rocket, he soared through the air at breathtaking speed. As he began to descend, he spread his arms and legs wide.
His body glided forward, closing in quickly on Jack's boat, which hadn't had time to get very far.
But rather than land on it, he aimed behind it—
Splash!
Diving cleanly into the water, he swam to the surface in seconds and leapt into the boat.
He hadn't aimed for the boat directly, worried his fall might damage the fragile thing.
Shaking himself gently to get the water off—without turning into a wet furball and embarrassing himself—Puss, still dripping, stared at Jack with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, Puss, I was just preparing the boat, but the rope slipped and—poof!—suddenly I was out here. I was just about to head back to pick you up." Jack smiled calmly, as if that were the truth.
"Tell me, señor pirata… you seem to be missing something for a pirate. What do you think of an eyepatch? Or maybe a wooden leg? I can help." Puss replied with a calm smile, extending his paw—sharp, dangerous claws emerging from his fingertips.
"AHH!" Jack yelped, stopping in his tracks and beginning to nervously chew his fingernail again.
Then he paused and raised a finger.
"I don't think I need those. After all, I'm already a successful pirate. But you're right, I am missing some pirate essentials… like gold, and a ship. Maybe you can help with those." Jack said with a grin.
Puss rolled his eyes, sheathed his claws, and sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the side of the boat, arms crossed, one leg stretched out.
"Señor Sparrow… You said this boat was yours, and that you had sailed across the seas in it. But since it's stolen, that claim seems rather... falso. Speaking of which, I paid one gold coin for the boat. It's yours now. Your commission just dropped to nine coins." Puss said indifferently, gazing out at the vast open sea.
Jack had just raised a bottle to take a swig when he heard that—and immediately spit it out.
"Pff! Cough! You said… you paid a gold coin for this broken boat?! And it was my gold coin?!" Jack looked at him in horror.
Puss gave him a playful look.
"Congratulations, señor Sparrow. Today is your lucky day. You made two wishes—one was for a boat, the other was for gold. The boat has been granted. Take me to Far Far Away, and you'll get the gold." Puss smiled.
He then removed his hat, placed it over his face, and closed his eyes to rest, not caring about Jack's grumbling.
His heart slowly calmed with the rocking of the boat and the soft sea breeze.
Puss in Boots was leaving Spain.