At World's End

by blackpearllover

Will, Elizabeth, and the crew reluctantly follow Barbossa to the world's end to rescue Jack. Meanwhile, Jack has discovered that purgatory isn't quite what it's made out to be...

1. Tia Dalma

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Chapter One: Tia Dalma

"So tell me, what's become of my ship?"

Tia Dalma's shack was, most fittingly, silent as the grave, as Captain Hector Barbossa – a man they'd seen die with their own eyes, no less – slurped at the juices flowing from the shiny green apple clenched in his gnarled fingers. A giant plumed hat perched crookedly from his very much alive head, and the smirk playing across his scarred lips did not serve to ease the room's tension in the slightest.

Will was, predictably, the first to make a move. Also predictably, his move was in the form of drawing his sword and leaping towards the pirate who had not only stolen the love of his life and nearly killed her, but also forced him to turn to piracy, almost killed him, as well as confined his father to the depths of the ocean, where he'd been left with no choice but to enslave his immortal soul into the service of Davy Jones.

The occupants of the room gave a collective gasp as the tip of Will's glistening cutlass whistled through the air towards Barbossa's exposed throat. Only Tia Dalma and Barbossa himself seemed unafraid, and their reactions were justified when Will's blade stopped an inch from the pirate's ruddy flesh.

"I'm surprised at you, Mister Turner," Barbossa said, eyeing the blade inches from his throat disdainfully.

"Why?" Will sneered, all his hatred for the man pouring forth in that single syllable. "You thought I'd kill you?"

"No," the pirate smirked, taking a cool step back up the stairs and away from the sharp steel. "I'm surprised you let me live. Clearly you're a smarter lad than I gave you credit for on our last adventure."

Will scowled deeply at the insult. "You've always been a poor judge of character, Captain Barbossa. For some reason, Tia Dalma thinks you can help us save Jack, and I'm not fool enough to dispatch of you before I find out if you'll actually be of use to us."

The malicious smile on Barbossa's face widened. "So harsh, so practical, Mister Turner! What happened to that innocent little blacksmith we all knew and loved?"

"He grew up," Will snapped. "And watched a lot of people that he cared for get hurt." His brown eyes flickered momentarily towards Elizabeth, who was clutching the drink Tia Dalma had given her with white fingers, her whole being fairly simmering with disgust for the formerly-undead Captain. The betrothed couple's gazes locked for an instant, and Will abruptly turned away, missing the look of shame and misery in his fiancée's eyes.

Barbossa laughed cruelly. "Trouble in paradise, lad?" When Will growled and made to slash at him, the pirate held up his hands apologetically and backed up another step. "Calm down, boy, I was only having a bit of fun."

Mr. Gibbs stepped forward. "Leave Will alone, Barbossa. Why don't you start tellin' us how you came to be here, before our young friend loses his patience and does something I'm sure none o' us will regret?"

"You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Gibbs," Barbossa snorted, clearly not intimidated in the least. "But as much as I'd like to delight you all with a tale of my daring escape from Hell, I'm afraid the honour falls to dear Tia."

Tia Dalma leaned back against the rickety table, a mysterious smile blossoming on her dark face. "You be too kind, Captain. His return was not of me doing, but de will of de demons of de land he was sent ta after me Jack sent a bullet tru his heart."

"Hell," Elizabeth said softly, a horrified look twisting her features. "That's not where Jack was sent, is it?"

The smile on Tia Dalma's face was clearly intended to be comforting, even though it failed to sooth a single person in the room. "Me darlin' Jack was not sent ta any place such as Hell, I assure ya. And he is not truly dead either. He's stuck halfway between our world and beyond, unable ta move on because of his debt ta Davy Jones."

"We must save him!" Elizabeth cried. "If he's actually in… in limbo or something-"

"In the circles of higher learning which I am known to frequent on occasion," Ragetti interjected, "we call it purgatory."

"That's right," Pintel agreed instantly. "There's all sorts of stories 'bout it in that bible thing Ragetti's always prattlin' on about. It's said to be a terrible place, all fire and ashes."

"Dat would be Hell you are tinkin' of, child," Tia Dalma laughed. "Purgatory is notting like Hell."

Elizabeth's hand slammed down on the table. "I don't give a damn what it's like!" she snapped. "All I care about is that Jack is there right now, and we aren't doing a thing to help him!"

Tia Dalma inclined her long, dreadlock-covered head in apology. "You be right, o' course. I'll cut ta da chase, den. Barbossa, wid ma 'elp, made a deal wit de devil – de devil doesn't like Davy Jones prolongin' people's lives de way 'e does. If Barbossa can stop Davy Jones's dominion over da seas, he'll be awarded wit a second chance at life."

"And what about Jack?" Mr. Gibbs demanded.

Tia Dalma nodded again, smirking slightly. "Dat was my condition in da agreement. It was I who got Barbossa an audience wit de devil. In exchange, he's agreed ta 'elp save Jack."

Elizabeth's eyes widened as her memory suddenly flashed an image from their first encounter with the gypsy woman… a memory of a pair of boots and legs, the rest of the body hidden behind the wall. "But Barbossa has been alive again before Jack was even killed! How could you make a deal concerning Jack's salvation, when he was still alive?"

Barbossa's lips twitched in a mocking grin as Tia Dalma cackled. "Ya forget so quickly dat I can see da future at times, girl. I knew dat Jack would be needin' ma 'elp, so I made it so dat when de time came, I'd be ready."

Elizabeth frowned. "Just why are you so intent on saving Jack, anyway? What's in it for you?"

The voodoo priestess cackled again. "Ya could say I'm… fond of 'im. I'm sure ya can relate, Miss Swann."

Elizabeth immediately glanced at Will, who was studiously avoiding her gaze, much as he had been their entire journey following the kiss he'd witnessed on the Black Pearl. She huffed, affecting an air of nonchalance. "I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about."

As the pirate crew exchanged bemused looks and Will examined a speck of dirt on the floor intensely, Tia Dalma grinned and waggled a finger at Elizabeth. "Don't be tinkin' I don't know what 'appened, girl. Ya can't fool Tia Dalma."

"Yes, I'm beginning to understand," Elizabeth muttered.

Mr. Gibbs cleared his throat pointedly. When Tia Dalma glanced his way with her intense gaze, he gulped nervously and scratched at the kerchief tied round his neck. "I was just hopin' that maybe we could get back to savin' Jack."

Another eerie grin exposed the mystic's crooked yellow teeth as she bobbed her head in agreement. "O' course. Ta reach Jack, ya got ta sail off da edge of de map – for dat ya need a Captain wit no fear and nottin' ta lose."

Barbossa gave a mock bow, much in the manner of the late Jack Sparrow.

"Ma people will drop ya off at Tortuga, where ya can get ya'selves a ship," she continued. "Under da direction o' Captain Barbossa, he'll take ya to a man who can show ya da next step of da journey ta save Jack."

"And who might this man be?" Elizabeth demanded archly. "I thought you said Barbossa knows how to save Jack. We shouldn't need someone else's help."

"His name is Captain Sao Feng," Barbossa said slowly, tossing his apple core to his undead monkey and plucking another from one of the many pockets of his bulging coat. "Makes berth in Singapore."

The words clearly you've never been to Singapore drifted through Elizabeth's mind, a memory from a time long past when she was able to sleep at night without fearing what mortal danger she would encounter when the sun rose.

"Captain Feng 'as a map on 'im, a map that'll lead you to purgatory, and Jack," Tia Dalma concluded. "It is a precious ting to 'im, and 'e won't part wit it easily. Dat is where da danger starts, and dat is why I ask ya now wedder ya truly want ta save Jack – would ya risk ya lives for 'im?"

"Absolutely," Elizabeth agreed instantly. Like I didn't see that one coming, Will thought bitterly.

A shaky chorus of "Ayes" sounded from the crew. That left only Will, whose eyes narrowed as he regarded Tia Dalma intently.

"For a man dat claims ta be Jack's friend," she said softly, "ya seem ta have a lot of anger towards da man."

"There is no love lost between Jack and I," Will snapped, of course glancing at Elizabeth, who of course looked away. "But if I'm to rescue my father from Davy Jones' clutches, I have no choice. The Pearl is the only ship that is fast enough to catch the Dutchman, and seeing as it's in purgatory, that's where I have to go."

As Gibbs did a marvelous job of looking bewildered and Elizabeth scowled at her fiancée, Tia Dalma pressed, "Is dat a yes, den?"

Will sighed. "Yes."

"Good," she smiled. "Den Captain Barbossa, ya have yer crew. I shall provide de boats ta Tortuga, and from der ya know da route. Good fortune be wit you, and try ta bring Jack back… in one piece, if ya can manage. He and I 'ave some… unfinished business." The way she salaciously ran her tongue over her lips was a clear indication of what that unfinished business would be.

A flare of jealousy sparked in Elizabeth's mind before she could quell it. This is what got you into trouble in the first place! she scolded herself as the pirates began filtering from the mystic's shack. You're engaged, for heaven's sake! So stop thinking of Jack as if he's… Her heart rallied in support for Jack. You kissed him, didn't you? Doesn't that give you some claim over him? But, the practical part of her countered, you've already got a wonderful man. Why waste your life on a man who could be, for all we know, dead!

Tia Dalma sidled over as Barbossa clapped a hand on Will's shoulder and prodded him out the door, leaving the two women alone in the ramshackle hut.

"Jack and I go way back," she said quietly. "We've done tings ya couldn't imagine, and tru it all I learned one important ting about Jack. He's a fighter, and when 'e wants some'ting, 'e takes it."

"Pirate," Elizabeth laughed softly.

"Indeed," Tia Dalma agreed fondly. "But 'e is also one o' da most sincere men I've ever met. Ya can be sure o' one ting – he never does some'ting unless he's got a reason."

"I kissed him," Elizabeth admitted. "And then I chained him to the Pearl, and let the kraken have him."

Tia Dalma smirked. "And ya're feelin' sorry for dat, girl? Jack's been around a long time – do ya really tink he'd let ya do sometin' like dat, wit'out knowin'?"

"You're saying he let me leave him for the kraken?" Elizabeth demanded in shock.

The voodoo priestess laughed. "Just between ya and me, Jack's no stranger ta chains." Elizabeth blushed. Tia Dalma cackled at her embarrassment. "I told ya we 'ad a history together, didn't I? Da point is, girl, ya coulda never chained 'im ta dat mast if 'e didn't want ya ta."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed in thought. "But why would he knowingly let me send him to his doom?"

Tia Dalma gave her a sly grin. "No one knows what's in dat man's 'ead. Maybe 'e was already plannin' ta face off wit da kraken ta give ya a fightin' chance. By playin' along, at least he got a kiss from ya before de end."

"Does…" Elizabeth trailed. "Do you know if he…"

"Actually cares for ya?" she finished. "I can only tell ya what I know, and dat is dis. Jack was willin' ta risk 'is life more den once ta save yours. Make o' dat what ya will."

Could he actually love me? Elizabeth wondered hopefully, then mentally smacked herself. Will! Remember Will! Even if he's forgone all attempts at speaking civilly to me…

Tia Dalma inclined her braided tresses in something akin to respect. "I don't envy ya da path ya're gonna be takin' dese next days. But I tink ya can 'andle it. And say Hi ta Jack when ya see 'im."

"You truly think we'll find him?" Elizabeth murmured.

The mystic smiled mysteriously. "Dat is for me ta know. Some advice, if ya'll hear it?"

"Go ahead."

"The Turner lad loves ya, dat much is clear, even if he's confused from what 'e witnessed on da Pearl. Don't write 'im off just yet. Sometimes bein' stuck on a ship wit a charmin' man, your fiancée across da sea, makes matters of da heart get complicated. Ya get what I'm sayin', Miss Swann?"

Elizabeth sighed. "I haven't a clue what you're getting at."

Tia Dalma laughed. "I only 'ope ya become clear soon on da matter, before ya break two hearts instead a just one."

"All aboard!" Barbossa growled as his motley crew shuffled down the rickety steps into the multiple river boats scattered around Tia Dalma's shack. "Although Jack Sparrow's in no immediate danger, there's no sense in keepin' him waitin'. Hop to it, ya scurvy dogs!"

Will clambered into a rowboat alongside Mr. Gibbs, and looked up to see Elizabeth, still gorgeous even when wearing ragged sailors' garb, stepping gracefully down the stairs. Without even thinking about it, he leaped to his feet and extended a hand, helping his fiancée into the boat, which caused a tentative smile to blossom on her face.

He immediately realized what he'd done, and withdrew his hand as if stung by some poisonous beast. "Will…" Elizabeth said pleadingly, but he turned away from her. Don't think I've forgotten what you did, he thought savagely to himself. Even if Jack was about to sacrifice himself for us, that was no reason to snog him senseless! Especially not when you're engaged to another!

Will had always been one for propriety, and he just couldn't wrap his head around Elizabeth's actions. It didn't help that every time she'd tried to explain, he'd ignored her and made some feeble excuse to leave the room.

Elizabeth sighed and sank into the back of the boat, as far from the scowling blacksmith as possible. I'll tell him everything – the reason for the kiss, my feelings for him, for Jack – soon. But not until I've sorted things out first. Satisfied with her decision, Elizabeth turned her attention to Mr. Gibbs, who was babbling loudly about some local legend or other. Shaking her head in amusement, she settled down to listen to what would no doubt be a humorous, adventure-packed tale, ten percent of which may even be true.

The small fleet of crafts pulled into Tortuga's docks in the dead of night, which didn't help much with maintaining some semblance of secrecy, as every light in every building was lit, and the shrieks of whores and bawdy laughter of drunken sailors pierced the night sky. "If you're going for discretion," Mr. Gibbs laughed quietly to Elizabeth, "in any town you dock during the night. In Tortuga, you dock during the day, because everyone is so hung-over there's no chance of someone seeing you."

"Apparently," Elizabeth agreed dryly, leaping agilely from the boat to the rough wooden dock that led to the heart of the pirate town. She turned to give a hand to Mr. Gibbs, only to find him halfway out. Will was already standing by Barbossa on land, speaking intensely to him and gesticulating wildly. It reminded Elizabeth rather forcefully of a certain pirate captain who was known to fling his arms out without reason, and she hurriedly shoved the memory to the back of her mind before she went all teary-eyed.

The crew, headed by Barbossa – who looked rather pleased at being in charge again – made their way to Tortuga's most popular hangout, the Faithful Bride tavern. Gesturing for his crew to seat themselves, Barbossa clapped his hands and proclaimed loudly: "Drinks all around!"

Silence blanketed the room as the drunken pirates and giggling whores regarded the resurrected pirate captain in wonder.

"Hector?" a whore squealed in delight, her crimson hair being twirled rapidly round her manicured nail. "I thought you was dead!"

Barbossa smiled charmingly – something Elizabeth had never believed he was capable of – and tossed the whore a wink. "My lovely Scarlet, did you really think that Captain Barbossa was gone for good?"

She beamed at him and practically flew to his side, draping her frilly arms around his wide shoulders. "Never." Barbossa laughed and fell back in his seat, dragging the laughing woman with him. Within an instant the whole tavern was pressing towards the formerly-undead man, all eager to learn what miracle had brought him back.

Elizabeth huffed in disgust and leaned towards Mr. Gibbs, the only one she seemed to talk to lately. Not that that was surprising – the only other person she'd consider having an intelligent conversation with was Will, and he… well… she wasn't going to worry about him right now. Keep saying that, she taunted herself. It may even come true one day.

A short while later – actually, five hours, but with the amount of rum consumed, no one was lucid enough to care – Barbossa had won a fairly large ship called Neptune's Wrath from a down-on-his-luck poker player who had apparently forgotten the fact that an ace high did not, in fact, beat a straight-flush.

"What a horrible man," Elizabeth hissed as Barbossa tipped his hat to the man he'd swindled out of a ship.

"Good pirate," Mr. Gibbs shrugged. "Besides, you really want to debate ethics when Jack's life is dependin' on us gettin' a ship?"

"I suppose not," Elizabeth sighed.

Barbossa strolled over, feathered hat bouncing jauntily from his inebriated stride.

"When do we set sail?" Elizabeth demanded.

Barbossa frowned. "Now now, Missy, you'll be callin' me Captain from now on."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but didn't debate the point. "Captain, then. When do we sail?"

"Tomorrow morning," Barbossa declared grandly. The whole tavern quieted as they strained to hear the much-celebrated pirate make his announcement. "Tomorrow, ladies and gents, we set sail for the End of the World!"

"That does not bode well," Elizabeth groaned.