PAINFUL MEMORIES
The infamous Captain Jack Sparrow sat with his back to a wall of Tia Dalma's hut. He stared at the wall opposite of him; he didn't blink, he didn't move. A terrible story was playing out in his mind, a story he had seen many times in his dreams, a story he wanted to solve once and forever.
Tia Dalma pushed aside the beaded curtain that separated the back room from the main part of the hut and stepped out to greet Jack. Jack rose to his feet and took of his hat, " Jack? What's wrong? Did you not find the Chest of Davy Jones? You've come for another jar of dirt?" Tia Dalma sat down in her high- backed chair and motioned for Jack to also sit.
Jack took a seat, " 'No' would be thee answer for both those questions. I've come for something a bit more personal." Tia Dalma nodded her head but had a slight look of surprise on her face. "But I wanted to make sure it was ok with you first." Jack continued. Tia Dalma didn't say anything but instead looked at the door. Mr. Gibbs slowly pushed the door open as if he was trying not to wake a baby, "can I help you Mr. Gibbs?"
Jack turned so he could see Mr. Gibbs, "Captain, the crew and I as well have been a bit worried lately. I mean you've been acting strange…er, you've been wandering around the ship at night, and when you do get some sleep, I often hear you yelling 'No'." Jack slowly turned to face Tia Dalma; he looked at her, but her face was expressionless. "What does it matter to you?" Jack asked curiously.
"You're our Captain, sir, and I know this sounds weird, but we actually do care about you. After all, you bring in most of our wealth." A sly smile crept across Jack's face, "True." Jack turned around in his chair and again faced Mr. Gibbs, "You're right I have been troubled. It's hard to explain, so you better come and sit." "And the rest of the crew?" Jack shook his head and smiled, "bring 'em in."
Mr. Gibbs walked over to the door, opened the door and called down to the waiting boats t anchor. He stepped aside as Pintel, Ragetti, Cotton, and Marty walked in. Mr. Gibbs joined them as they all took a seat around the table, "Now Captain, tell us, what has been troubling you?" Jack let out a deep sigh, "It's better to show you." He glanced at Tia Dalma who got up and went to the back room. Some muttering and banging could be heard; the pirates looked at each other. After a few more mumbles and a loud crash, Tia Dalma came through the curtain and set a large, silver bowl in the center of the table. Mr. Gibbs leaned in to get a better look at the bowl; it looked like a normal bowl except it had a finely etched dragon coiling its way around the bowl. In it's hands it held an orb with an eye in it.
"What is that?" Mr. Gibbs asked, leaning back in his chair. "It is known as Jehovah." She got only blank looks. "or the Pool of Memories, as it's more commonly known." Every pirate, except for Jack, looked at one another. They all had heard tales about The Pool of Memories, but they had never believed them, until now. "Is it true then? What it does?" Pintel asked. Tia Dalma nodded, "And we're going to use it to help the beloved Captain of The Black Pearl." Tia Dalma motioned for everyone to gather around the bowl; everyone was hesitant until Jack stood up and leaned over the bowl. Tia Dalma joined the circle and passed her hand over the bowl. The water in the bowl rippled as if a stone had just been cast into it. As the ripples moved across the water a picture formed and began to move. Everyone leaned in closer and the picture took over their vision.
Men armed with muskets, dresses in red coats with white trim, stormed the beach of Tortuga. A man wearing a general's uniform rode an Andalusian through the streets shouting orders to the men he led. The men broke down doors and ransacked buildings causing the occupants to flee. "Find the Sparrows and bring them to me." The general shouted. Soldiers ran off in every direction, on the hunt for their pray.
Two girls ran down a dark ally; they carried a small bag on their back, holding their few belongings, and a sword on their waist. The darkness concealed their identities, but as they ran out into the street and light flooded their bodies, their distinct features could be seen. One girl stood taller than the other, at about 5'9", had long, brilliant blonde hair and blue eyes. The other had long dirty- blonde hair, stood at about 5'7", and had green eyes. They both had sharp eyes, lean bodies, round faces and scruffy hair.
"Jesse! Where's mom and dad?" the girl with blonde hair asked. "They're both waiting on The Pearl. We have to get there and get there fast, Kat!" the other answered. The girls quickly and quietly made their way through the mayhem on the streets. They were almost to the dock when a voice called out, "Sparrows! Sparrows!"
The girls whipped around, a young man ran up to them, "Come quickly! Your parents need your help!" "What's wrong Barbossa?" "Just follow!" Barbossa ran off towards the dock. As the three rounded the bend a horrific sight appeared. Hundreds of soldiers surrounded ten pirates that made up the crew of The Black Pearl. The enemies fought for survival; leading the pirates was the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow and his wife, the galliant lady-knight, Alana.
Jesse and Kat drew their swords and plowed through the soldiers towards their parents. Kat and Jesse were expert swordswomen; they cut down any enemy that stood in their path with ease. They quickly broke through the wall of soldiers and joined their parents in the mighty battle. A soldier lunged at Jack and blocked his sword arm; Jack grabbed the man's arm as the man tried to stab him. The two grown men wrestled; the man fell to the ground dead, Kat stood behind him, sword drawn. "A true Sparrow!"
Jack grinned and joined his daughter. Jesse and her mother were fighting together, proving that girls are tougher then they are given credit for. The soldiers kept advancing and soon took over the pirates. Soldiers grabbed the crew, Jesse and Kat, and Alana; it took five soldiers to hold down a very angry Jack. The general, no longer on his horse, stepped up to Jack and looked into his eyes.
"Jack Sparrow. You are finally mine." "It only took you fifteen years to get me." Jack growled. "Indeed, but now that I have you, I can take back what was originally mine." The general faced Alana, "Alana, my love, how I have missed you." Alana stared angrily at the general; the soldiers tightened their grip. "Let her go."
The soldiers let go and Alana ran over to Kat and Jesse, mother instincts taking over. The general's eyes rested on Jesse and Kat for the first time, "So you've become a mother." "Let them go!" Alana cried, "Now why would I do that when I can use them as leverage?" Panic clearly showed itself on Alana's face, "You wouldn't."
The general pulled out a loaded pistol and pointed it at Jesse's head. Jack broke free of the soldiers grip and lunged at the general. The gun went off; Jack recoiled, blood oozed from his shoulder. Alana screamed, but the soldier's tight grip quickly silenced it. Jack slowly got to his feet and stood in front of his daughters. Alana kicked the soldier holding her captive in the crotch; the soldier doubled over in pain. Alana ran to Jack and took her battle stance beside him. Jesse and Kat drew their swords and stepped around their parents, ready to fight.
"Alana. All I'm asking you to do is come back to Port Royal with me. But if you don't want to I can always kill the competition." The general's voice became dark and cold as his eyes went over Jack and his daughters. Alana bent over and whispered into Jack's ear; Jack nodded. Alana kissed Jack, than moved next to the general. The general put his arm around Alana's waist and pulled her close.
"Now that wasn't so bad." The general kissed Alana on the lips, "you son of a" "Dad." Kat put her hand on Jack's chest; Jack relaxed bit still kept his sword drawn. The general's eyes once again fell on Jesse and Kat. Jesse and Kat stared at the general; they could feel the hatred pouring form the man. "Kill them," the general ordered waling off pulling Alana with him. Jack and his girls started after them, but were cut off by the horde of soldiers. Jesse and Kat began cutting down soldiers keeping them away from their injured dad.
Blood continued to ooze from Jack's shoulder and he began to feel weak; he dropped to the ground. Kat bent down, "Kat! Behind you!" Jesse's voice rang out over the sound of clashing steel. Kat turned around just as a blade began it's decent upon her head. Kat put her arm up; pain shot through her arm as the blade sliced through it. This distracted Jesse; she turned her attention to Kat. Seeing that Kat was safe for the moment, Jesse turned back to the fight; swords clashed and blood flowed.
Jesse hadn't seen the other soldier behind the one she had just killed. He swung his sword and slashed Jesse's right eye. Jesse wiped the blood away; a thin line ran vertically about three inches across her eye. Kat kept her arm still; she continued to blot the wound her father had received with the piece of her shirt she had torn off. A soldier came up behind Kat and picked her up by the waist. She kicked and flailed, trying to break the soldiers grasp on her, but her wound weakened her. Jack lay on the ground slowly losing consciousness, watching his daughters being taken away until darkness over took him.
More ripples migrated across the water as the darkness disappeared. Jack slumped back into his chair, a tear in his eye. Tia Dalma sat next, a some- what sullen look on her face. Everyone else just plopped down, too entranced with what they had just seen to control their actions. "You…you… Why didn't you tell us?" Mr. Gibbs finally stammered.
"Too painful to tell you." Jack said, choking back more tears. "Who was that man? The general?" Marty asked. "You didn't recognize him?" Mr. Gibbs looked at Marty as if he just asked if two plus two equaled five, "How could you not know whom that was?" "Hey! I'm short. I don't always see people's faces!"
Tia Dalma raised her open hand, silencing the men at once, "your family is alive, I can feel it in my bones." Jack perked up, "Where! Where are they?!" "You know where your beloved wife is, but as for your children…only your heart can lead you to them." "I sense an adventure heading our way." Gibbs stood up and made way for the door; everyone else in close pursuit.
Jack sat back in his chair, feeling life seep back into his bones, knowing that his family was alive and out there. Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out his compass.