Ahoy, mates.
After two years or so, I've decided to start writing fanfiction again. I am deeply ashamed that I've returned to it, but it's so addicting once you start it up again. And after seeing Dead Man's Chest a few times... well, who could resist?
So... here is the premise of my story.
Let's take ourselves to that moment in the movie where (spoilers ahead) Elizabeth, kissing Jack, chains him to the mast.
Now let's say Elizabeth never makes it off the ship herself.
Drama? I think so. Basically, what the third movie COULD be, if the writers had seen fit to add this little twist.

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean. Obviously. That's why I'm writing a FANFICTION. Fiction by a fan.
Anyways.
Time to fix on the old tricorn (made it from an old leather jacket) and get writing.
The game is on.

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Chapter One
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"Pirate."

The word lingered in her mind, a not entirely undesirable word. She rolled it around mentally, considering it, wondering over it. She was a pirate. This was a path Elizabeth had never truly considered, except perhaps late at night when the sky was darkened with clouds and oppressive, leaving her completely alone to her thoughts. Then, and only then, did she flirt with the dangerous notion of piracy.

And now Jack was telling her she was a pirate.

Her hand still lay clasped over his, the shackles cold against her flesh, his flesh. Her guilt harnessed her to him, and she stood before him wordlessly, unable to move. She could hear them in the longboat, hurrying each other along, and Gibbs calling to her. But she did not move, could not move, would not move.

"They've gone, ye know." Jack's voice roused her from her shock, and he added, with a hint of disappointment, "P'haps ye aren't such a pirate after all. Lass, there's nowhere for me to go now. Mind releasin' me?"

Anger and fear rose in her throat as she removed the shackles. It had not been in the plan to stay there, but damn it all, she had a conscience. So she wasn't a true pirate after all. And now the others were gone, leaving her alone to her death.

Jack rubbed his wrist, and directed his gaze downwards at the young woman before him. His usual jovial attitude had disappeared, and he reached out to tip her chin up, searching her face. "You're a good woman," he told her quietly, and that smirk snuck across his face quickly. "But a bloody awful pirate. Now, Lizzie." He turned, his back to her, and drew his sword. "Let's greet the beastie." She could not see his face, but she could well imagine the glitter of his eyes and his determined smirk; a look that was completely Jack Sparrow and yet, she feared it was not enough.

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The Pearl went down under the powerful force of the kraken, collapsing like a twig and disappearing beneath the waves. In the longboat, the remaining members of Jack Sparrow's crew watched, grief and guilt gripping each one.

Will, in the middle of the boat, rowed steadily onward, refusing to look back- unable, actually, to look back, Ragetti's sword prodding him gently in the back. It was only this threat of death that kept him from going back for Elizabeth... Elizabeth. Elizabeth was gone. Her life had been taken by the sea, a fate that had never been fitting for her. And even before that, her heart had been stolen by a pirate. Eyes fixated on his arms- pulling, pushing, pulling again. Steady, steady- he rowed onwards, as Gibbs turned his back on the watery grave of his captain and commanded, gruffly, "To land, lad. We must pay Tia Dalma a visit."

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The laterns lit up the dark, gloomy river as the longboat drifted towards the humble abode of Tia Dalma. Arranged like stars against the blackness of night, the lantern bearer's regarded the pirates with steady, unnerving eyes.

"Do they know?" Will murmured, and the sound of his voice lit up the silence. His companions glanced at him sharply, and he fell silent, gritting his teeth as he rowed harder.

"Mind the boat, Mr. Cotton," Gibbs ordered absently, and stood shakily to his feet, climbing up to the door of Tia Dalma's home. He was followed inside by Will, Marty and the bumbling pair of Ragetti and Pintel. Cotton was left alone in the darkness.

"I thought you might be coming." Tia looked up from where she sat, leafing through a book that looked ready to fall apart at any second. "Come in," she added, though unnessecarily, for they were already in.

They bumbled further in, together, a collective group of tragedy and dismay. Finding chairs and perches, a stunned silence fell over the room, and it was Will who broke it, thumping his knife deep into the wooden tabletop. "Will we go after them?"

"Them?" Gibbs repeated, and it was then that Will realized that Elizabeth's death had gone unnoticed.
The pirate cleared his throat guiltily, and stood up straighter. "Aye," he finally drawled. "If it be possible..." Here he trailed off, and a hesitant glance was directed towards Tia Dalma. "Is it?"

She smiled, showing blackened teeth. "Aye, it is possible."

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Barbossa!

Bloody, stupid, damnable Barbossa! He was to be their captain, their saviour? The man who had gotten him caught up in all this in the first place? Will clenched his fists tightly by his sides as he returned to the boat to relieve Cotton. It was Barbossa who had kidnapped Elizabeth, sending Will off on a death-defying adventure to save his love! And now he was expected to trust the man?

"Why should I trust him?" he grumbled aloud, and ran agitated fingers through his hair.

"We have no one else to trust, lad." Gibbs joined him in the longboat, shrugging stiff shoulders apologetically. "If we want to save Jack and young Miss Swann..."

"We do."

"Aye, then we must trust him." A deep silence covered the two in a fog, and not another word was spoken until Gibbs returned to the hut. Even then, it was a simple apology. Nothing more.

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"I am myself again, then?"

"Of course." A smirk crossed the face of the shorter man, and he adjusted his wig. "You are on the way to regaining your title, your honour, your status... your life."

"Good." The taller man exhaled sharply, rubbed at the grime covering his face. "Good."

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A/N: The ending of this chapter is a bit cliff-hanger-y, but it's pretty obvious who it is. Next chapter should be up soon... Reviews are much appreciated.