All right, this is something that will turn out to be veeery interesting, I believe. This story was inspired in US history class, when we were playing a game called Who Wants to Take Over the World, in which you won countries in Europe by answering questions correctly. Kind of like Millionaire. Anyway, I spent most of my school day writing this, and it is something quite different. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.
. . . And Then They Made Me Their Chief
Chapter 1
To Captain Jack Sparrow, there was nothing quite like standing at the wheel of your ship on a warm Caribbean day, feeling the breeze blow through your hair and mist from the sea spray upon your face. It was on warm, sunny, calm days like these that Jack realized how wonderful life could be. Everything in life was perfect. He had his Pearl, his crew that were also close friends, and his freedom. Those were the three most important things to the pirate captain. That, and rum. Rum was right up at the top, too.
Jack stood at the helm of the Black Pearl, his right hand on the wheel, his left holding a half-full bottle of rum. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts, and was staring blankly off into the horizon, when from the crow's nest, the lookout shouted, "Sail Ho!"
His daze broken by the cry, Jack immediately scanned the horizon for a ship. He found what he was looking for, off to the port side of the Pearl. The larger ship was heading straight toward them. He whipped out his spyglass and was taking a closer look at the fast-approaching vessel when his first mate, Anamaria, bounded up the steps to the helm and stopped at his side.
"Looks like a Navy ship to me," she told him assertively. And, indeed, it was. It was a very large ship, probably a hundred-gun ship, and was flying the Union Jack on the top of its mast. But this was not just any ship of the British Royal Navy, this particular ship was one that Jack had become quite familiar with on his adventure to defeat undead pirates just over a year ago.
"It's the Dauntless," he said plainly.
They were only about fifteen miles outside of Port Royal, because Jack was planning on attending the wedding of his two good friends, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. The young couple was to be married in less than three days, and after Jack received a secret invitation, he responded back to them and promised that he would not miss it for the world. Jack thought happily about the couple. He thought about how nervous and foolish young William would be acting as the day rapidly approached, and he hoped that Elizabeth's wedding dress did not include a corset. The wedding would prove to be a very interesting experience, he thought.
So it came as no surprise to see the Dauntless patrolling its own waters surrounding its port. What did come as a shock was that below the Union Jack, a flag of truce billowed in the breeze.
The pirate captain thought this to be most unusual. Why on earth would Norrington want to speak peacefully with pirates, rather than arrest them to see them hang? "Somethin's not right here," he muttered to himself.
His concerns were seconded by Anamaria. "It's a trap," she said calmly. "They're just tryin' to catch us.
This had been the first thought that had occured in Jack's mind, but he had quickly discarded it. Although he and the Commodore have been enemies for quite some time now, they both held a certain respect for each other. Sometimes it seemed like the fierce pirate hunter really did not want to catch the infamous captain, because it would be the end of what seemed to be a game of friendly rivalry. And Jack knew that even if Norrington was trying to capture him, the man would never stoop as low as to pull a dirty trick like what Anamaria had in mind. It would not be at all dignified.
"No," he finally responded to her theory. "Ol' Norrie wouldn't play a gag like tha'. Not very gentleman-like, y'see?" He thought to himself for a few seconds while staring at the fast-approaching ship, then announced his decision. "Let's go see wha' they're wantin'."
By this time, most of the Pearl's crew were leaning against the portside railing, staring intently at the approaching vessel. They all turned their heads in shock at their captain's foolish idea. Every pirate knows that you cannot trust the Navy. They'd make like they wanted to talk to you, but then before you know it, you're dangling by the neck. Was Sparrow trying to get them killed or something?
Gibbs, Jack's trusted quartermaster, spoke the crew's concerns. "Cap'n, what's in yer head? Y'know ye can't trust th' Navy! They just wanna see ye hangin'!"
Gleams of light flashed as the capain bore a quick, white-and-golden grin. "Mr. Gibbs, the Commodore an' I sorta have this agreement about the whole hangin' issue." Gibbs tilted his head in wonder at what his captain could possibly be speaking about. However, Jack did not continue on with the matter, but proceeded to call out commands. "Run up a flag of truce! We'll pull up alongside 'em, then see what they be wantin' from Captain Sparrow." As a couple crewmen went to acquiesce with their captain's command, Jack returned to the helm and harded a port.
After a couple minutes of sailing towards each other, the two ships finally met, side by side. Jack noticed the Norrington standing at the helm of the Dauntless. He took off his hat and waved it in the air while shouting, "'Ello, Commodore! What seems ta be th' matter?"
Norrington answered him in his regular, short-tempered voice, "Permission to board, Sparrow?"
"First off, it's Captain Sparrow. Second, what's yer business anyway? Because if this is some sorta trick to get me an' me crew hanged, we'll just be on our merry way."
"I have some official business concerning yourself, Captain Sparrow." Jack smiled as the Commodore remembered his title. "Very important business that I must discuss with you immediately. And no, we were not planning on arresting you or your crew," he sighed dramatically. He did not want to admit it, but he respected Sparrow and his crew, and really had no desire to see them dead. Then, there would be nothing left for him to do. He was rather relieved when his orders clearly stated that he was not to arrest the pirates.
The Black Pearl crew looked at each other with a bit of relief, but they still did not entirely trust the Navymen. However, their captain was in a particularly generous mood on this fine day, so he allowed them to board. "All right, Commodore. You an' a couple o' yer men can come on over to th' Pearl, so we can talk business".
---------------------
On board the Dauntless, Commodore James Norrington called back to Sparrow, "We will be over in a few moments." He then turned to Lieutenant Gillette, Officer Groves, and a few other men, and asked them to accompany him over to the Pearl.
After all, this would indeed be one of the most difficult and embarassing tasks the young Commodore will have ever had to dealt with in his career. He needed all of the support he could get. As a few crewmen laid a plank between the two ships, Norrington announced to his group, "All right men. This job must be done, and unfortunately we are the ones who must do it. But just try to keep a straight face." He took a deep breath and started over to the plank. As he walked, he looked down at the letter he held in his hand, and could barely keep himself from laughing a bit. Just the thought of what he was about to announce was so terribly ridiculous, it was hard for any man to keep a straight face. But now the time had finally come. He stepped up onto the plank, took a deep breath, and slowly walked across and onto the deck of the Black Pearl.
------------------------
Captain Jack Sparrow greeted the navymen with a hearty grin. "Commodore!" he shouted while approaching the group of newcomers, "Haven't seen you in a while! An' hello to all you fellas, too." Norrington rolled his eyes at the slightly mad pirate. But after seeing the half-empty rum bottle in the man's hand, his behavior made more sense.
Norrington returned the greeting, but much more curtly. "Good afternoon, Captain Sparrow."
The crew of the Pearl lurked back behind their captain, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously. They were all curious as to what the reason of this meeting is. Jack then voiced their concerns. "So, Norrington, tell me. What's the reason for this 'ere li'l meetin'?"
Norrington finally realized. Now was the time. After talking about it for a few weeks now with fellow officers of the Crown, the big announcement has finally come. He cleared his throat, reopened the parchment letter in his hands, and began. "We have a decree from the Royal Crown concerning Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton IV, Duke of Worcester. . ."
He paused and looked about at the confused faces of the crewmen of the Black Pearl. However, the captain did not share their confused looks. He had suddenly taken an interest in staring at his shoes, and his cheeks had turned slightly rosy.
The Commodore continued, trying to hide his disgust. ". . . or more commonly known now as Captain Jack Sparrow."
The entire pirate crew looked at their captain in shock and surprise. Captain Jack Sparrow was really a British nobleman? Was this some sort of joke or something? They began whispering amongst themselves, and then began asking Jack questions.
"Captain, what th' hell are those madmen talking about?"
"Is it true, or is this some trick?"
"Your real name is Francis? Haha!"
"You're a Duke?"
Jack Sparrow, formerly Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton IV stood with his head hung toward the ground, and raised a hand to silence his anxious crew's questions. He almost did not believe what was happining. Nobody had called him by his birthname in more than fifteen years! He even doubted that his family still knew he was alive, and preferred to stay out of their rich, snooty, pompous lives. He took a deep breath and raised his head. To his crew, he announced, "I'll answer yer questions later, savvy?" He then turned back toward the Commodore and took a few steps closer to the man. Noticing the amused looks of the face of the Navymen, he smirked and said quietly, "Aye, that'd be me."
Norrington smirked and looked at the pirate before him. He was stunned when he first learned of the man's past, and still was in a bit of disbelief. How could this man, dressed in ratty clothing, with dreadlocks and beads adorning his long, matted hair, possibly have come from a wealthy background, and be a man of nobility? What on earth went wrong that he gave up that wonderful life to become a pirate? The Commodore had the dire urge to ask him the questions that had been flooding his mind for the past couple of weeks, but he decided to wait until the pirate volunteered the information. He figured that the man's crew would force him to tell the whole story right after they were done, so Norrington decided to cut to the chase. "Mr. Spar- I mean, Sir Francis Stanton," he took amusement at seeing Jack's blush. What a horribly embarassing name to have, Francis. He continued. "By order of the Royal Crown, you must come with me to Port Royal immediately."
Jack looked at him curiously. He could still feel his cheeks burning from being identified by his birthname. Francis, what a god-awful name that was. Bloody family names. But why must he go to Port Royal, he wondered. Maybe his family had finally discovered his whereabouts, and want him sent back to England immediately. He surely hoped not. He ran away for a reason, which he hoped they had realized. A reason which he felt obliged to divulge to his crew and the visiting Navymen, as well as the rest of his interesting past, as soon as he figured out what exactly the Commodore wanted. "An' may I ask why?" he finally asked.
Norrington sighed and looked down at the parchment in his hand. The time for the big announcement was finally upon them. He was both anxious and nervous to see the pirate's reaction, and hoped the news would not go to his head too much. He took a deep breath, and spoke the words.
"Sir Stanton, just a few weeks ago, it was announced that you had inherited the throne of England."
God help us now, Norrington thought. King Jack Sparrow.
Haha, how do you like that? There's my twistedly weird sense of humor for you. Please review! Another note, for my other readers of Before the Pearl and Legends Never Die, I'm not giving up on those, my muses are just taking a short vacation.
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.
. . . And Then They Made Me Their Chief
Chapter 1
To Captain Jack Sparrow, there was nothing quite like standing at the wheel of your ship on a warm Caribbean day, feeling the breeze blow through your hair and mist from the sea spray upon your face. It was on warm, sunny, calm days like these that Jack realized how wonderful life could be. Everything in life was perfect. He had his Pearl, his crew that were also close friends, and his freedom. Those were the three most important things to the pirate captain. That, and rum. Rum was right up at the top, too.
Jack stood at the helm of the Black Pearl, his right hand on the wheel, his left holding a half-full bottle of rum. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts, and was staring blankly off into the horizon, when from the crow's nest, the lookout shouted, "Sail Ho!"
His daze broken by the cry, Jack immediately scanned the horizon for a ship. He found what he was looking for, off to the port side of the Pearl. The larger ship was heading straight toward them. He whipped out his spyglass and was taking a closer look at the fast-approaching vessel when his first mate, Anamaria, bounded up the steps to the helm and stopped at his side.
"Looks like a Navy ship to me," she told him assertively. And, indeed, it was. It was a very large ship, probably a hundred-gun ship, and was flying the Union Jack on the top of its mast. But this was not just any ship of the British Royal Navy, this particular ship was one that Jack had become quite familiar with on his adventure to defeat undead pirates just over a year ago.
"It's the Dauntless," he said plainly.
They were only about fifteen miles outside of Port Royal, because Jack was planning on attending the wedding of his two good friends, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. The young couple was to be married in less than three days, and after Jack received a secret invitation, he responded back to them and promised that he would not miss it for the world. Jack thought happily about the couple. He thought about how nervous and foolish young William would be acting as the day rapidly approached, and he hoped that Elizabeth's wedding dress did not include a corset. The wedding would prove to be a very interesting experience, he thought.
So it came as no surprise to see the Dauntless patrolling its own waters surrounding its port. What did come as a shock was that below the Union Jack, a flag of truce billowed in the breeze.
The pirate captain thought this to be most unusual. Why on earth would Norrington want to speak peacefully with pirates, rather than arrest them to see them hang? "Somethin's not right here," he muttered to himself.
His concerns were seconded by Anamaria. "It's a trap," she said calmly. "They're just tryin' to catch us.
This had been the first thought that had occured in Jack's mind, but he had quickly discarded it. Although he and the Commodore have been enemies for quite some time now, they both held a certain respect for each other. Sometimes it seemed like the fierce pirate hunter really did not want to catch the infamous captain, because it would be the end of what seemed to be a game of friendly rivalry. And Jack knew that even if Norrington was trying to capture him, the man would never stoop as low as to pull a dirty trick like what Anamaria had in mind. It would not be at all dignified.
"No," he finally responded to her theory. "Ol' Norrie wouldn't play a gag like tha'. Not very gentleman-like, y'see?" He thought to himself for a few seconds while staring at the fast-approaching ship, then announced his decision. "Let's go see wha' they're wantin'."
By this time, most of the Pearl's crew were leaning against the portside railing, staring intently at the approaching vessel. They all turned their heads in shock at their captain's foolish idea. Every pirate knows that you cannot trust the Navy. They'd make like they wanted to talk to you, but then before you know it, you're dangling by the neck. Was Sparrow trying to get them killed or something?
Gibbs, Jack's trusted quartermaster, spoke the crew's concerns. "Cap'n, what's in yer head? Y'know ye can't trust th' Navy! They just wanna see ye hangin'!"
Gleams of light flashed as the capain bore a quick, white-and-golden grin. "Mr. Gibbs, the Commodore an' I sorta have this agreement about the whole hangin' issue." Gibbs tilted his head in wonder at what his captain could possibly be speaking about. However, Jack did not continue on with the matter, but proceeded to call out commands. "Run up a flag of truce! We'll pull up alongside 'em, then see what they be wantin' from Captain Sparrow." As a couple crewmen went to acquiesce with their captain's command, Jack returned to the helm and harded a port.
After a couple minutes of sailing towards each other, the two ships finally met, side by side. Jack noticed the Norrington standing at the helm of the Dauntless. He took off his hat and waved it in the air while shouting, "'Ello, Commodore! What seems ta be th' matter?"
Norrington answered him in his regular, short-tempered voice, "Permission to board, Sparrow?"
"First off, it's Captain Sparrow. Second, what's yer business anyway? Because if this is some sorta trick to get me an' me crew hanged, we'll just be on our merry way."
"I have some official business concerning yourself, Captain Sparrow." Jack smiled as the Commodore remembered his title. "Very important business that I must discuss with you immediately. And no, we were not planning on arresting you or your crew," he sighed dramatically. He did not want to admit it, but he respected Sparrow and his crew, and really had no desire to see them dead. Then, there would be nothing left for him to do. He was rather relieved when his orders clearly stated that he was not to arrest the pirates.
The Black Pearl crew looked at each other with a bit of relief, but they still did not entirely trust the Navymen. However, their captain was in a particularly generous mood on this fine day, so he allowed them to board. "All right, Commodore. You an' a couple o' yer men can come on over to th' Pearl, so we can talk business".
---------------------
On board the Dauntless, Commodore James Norrington called back to Sparrow, "We will be over in a few moments." He then turned to Lieutenant Gillette, Officer Groves, and a few other men, and asked them to accompany him over to the Pearl.
After all, this would indeed be one of the most difficult and embarassing tasks the young Commodore will have ever had to dealt with in his career. He needed all of the support he could get. As a few crewmen laid a plank between the two ships, Norrington announced to his group, "All right men. This job must be done, and unfortunately we are the ones who must do it. But just try to keep a straight face." He took a deep breath and started over to the plank. As he walked, he looked down at the letter he held in his hand, and could barely keep himself from laughing a bit. Just the thought of what he was about to announce was so terribly ridiculous, it was hard for any man to keep a straight face. But now the time had finally come. He stepped up onto the plank, took a deep breath, and slowly walked across and onto the deck of the Black Pearl.
------------------------
Captain Jack Sparrow greeted the navymen with a hearty grin. "Commodore!" he shouted while approaching the group of newcomers, "Haven't seen you in a while! An' hello to all you fellas, too." Norrington rolled his eyes at the slightly mad pirate. But after seeing the half-empty rum bottle in the man's hand, his behavior made more sense.
Norrington returned the greeting, but much more curtly. "Good afternoon, Captain Sparrow."
The crew of the Pearl lurked back behind their captain, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously. They were all curious as to what the reason of this meeting is. Jack then voiced their concerns. "So, Norrington, tell me. What's the reason for this 'ere li'l meetin'?"
Norrington finally realized. Now was the time. After talking about it for a few weeks now with fellow officers of the Crown, the big announcement has finally come. He cleared his throat, reopened the parchment letter in his hands, and began. "We have a decree from the Royal Crown concerning Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton IV, Duke of Worcester. . ."
He paused and looked about at the confused faces of the crewmen of the Black Pearl. However, the captain did not share their confused looks. He had suddenly taken an interest in staring at his shoes, and his cheeks had turned slightly rosy.
The Commodore continued, trying to hide his disgust. ". . . or more commonly known now as Captain Jack Sparrow."
The entire pirate crew looked at their captain in shock and surprise. Captain Jack Sparrow was really a British nobleman? Was this some sort of joke or something? They began whispering amongst themselves, and then began asking Jack questions.
"Captain, what th' hell are those madmen talking about?"
"Is it true, or is this some trick?"
"Your real name is Francis? Haha!"
"You're a Duke?"
Jack Sparrow, formerly Sir Francis Johnathan Henry Stanton IV stood with his head hung toward the ground, and raised a hand to silence his anxious crew's questions. He almost did not believe what was happining. Nobody had called him by his birthname in more than fifteen years! He even doubted that his family still knew he was alive, and preferred to stay out of their rich, snooty, pompous lives. He took a deep breath and raised his head. To his crew, he announced, "I'll answer yer questions later, savvy?" He then turned back toward the Commodore and took a few steps closer to the man. Noticing the amused looks of the face of the Navymen, he smirked and said quietly, "Aye, that'd be me."
Norrington smirked and looked at the pirate before him. He was stunned when he first learned of the man's past, and still was in a bit of disbelief. How could this man, dressed in ratty clothing, with dreadlocks and beads adorning his long, matted hair, possibly have come from a wealthy background, and be a man of nobility? What on earth went wrong that he gave up that wonderful life to become a pirate? The Commodore had the dire urge to ask him the questions that had been flooding his mind for the past couple of weeks, but he decided to wait until the pirate volunteered the information. He figured that the man's crew would force him to tell the whole story right after they were done, so Norrington decided to cut to the chase. "Mr. Spar- I mean, Sir Francis Stanton," he took amusement at seeing Jack's blush. What a horribly embarassing name to have, Francis. He continued. "By order of the Royal Crown, you must come with me to Port Royal immediately."
Jack looked at him curiously. He could still feel his cheeks burning from being identified by his birthname. Francis, what a god-awful name that was. Bloody family names. But why must he go to Port Royal, he wondered. Maybe his family had finally discovered his whereabouts, and want him sent back to England immediately. He surely hoped not. He ran away for a reason, which he hoped they had realized. A reason which he felt obliged to divulge to his crew and the visiting Navymen, as well as the rest of his interesting past, as soon as he figured out what exactly the Commodore wanted. "An' may I ask why?" he finally asked.
Norrington sighed and looked down at the parchment in his hand. The time for the big announcement was finally upon them. He was both anxious and nervous to see the pirate's reaction, and hoped the news would not go to his head too much. He took a deep breath, and spoke the words.
"Sir Stanton, just a few weeks ago, it was announced that you had inherited the throne of England."
God help us now, Norrington thought. King Jack Sparrow.
Haha, how do you like that? There's my twistedly weird sense of humor for you. Please review! Another note, for my other readers of Before the Pearl and Legends Never Die, I'm not giving up on those, my muses are just taking a short vacation.