Author's Note: This is my first fan fiction story, and I hope you enjoy! Any pleasant constructive criticism is welcomed!
Chapter 1: Adventure
It seemed too quiet onboard the Black Pearl, after Will became Captain of the Flying Dutchman and Barbossa decided to hand the Black Pearl to Jack without a fight, telling Jack he "fell in love", there was definitely lack of excitement on the ship. The dear captain of the Black Pearl, Captain Jack Sparrow did not like it one bit, but he could really not do anything about it.
"Bloody nothing!" sighed Jack exasperated, "Mister Gibbs!"
"Aye Capt'n," yelped a startled Gibbs, who had been standing beside Jack as Jack steered the Pearl.
"Have ye, or have ye not noticed a lack of activity on me ship?" asked Jack while looking at Gibbs expectantly. Gibbs oblivious to Jack's obvious boredom, thought it was a sort of trick question and decided to improvise or more like blabber a notion.
"Well ye see Capt'n the crew including meself, are doing the duties on the ship and working laboriously as always. Unless, ye mean there is a lack of -erm how do ye put it- er yes, adventure?" replied Gibbs in a slightly hopeful voice. His eyes observed his Captain trying to read his Captain's reaction, it was never easy with Jack, and Jack was probably one of the most unpredictable men in the world. For a moment Gibbs thought Jack would turn to him and say something like, "Nonsense Gibbs!" He saw Jack furrow his brow, but no immediate answer came. Instead Jack fluidly removed one of his hands off the wheel to stroke his braided and beaded goatee thoughtfully.
"Adventure?" whispered Jack in a low husky voice, the word almost forgotten, his dark orbs now held a gleam as he remembered how many adventures he had been part of.
"Capt'n you have been part of so many adventures as a pirate," Gibbs rambled on with a proud look on his face as he knew he answered the question as correctly as possible, "but how many life adventures have you had as just a regular man, as only Jack Sparrow?"
Jack's eyes snapped up to see Gibbs smiling face, Gibbs really has no idea there is so much meaning in that one statement does he?, thought Jack.
"Mister Gibbs," started Jack, "what kind of an adventure does a regular man go through?"
Gibbs smile dropped to a frown, what kind of adventures does a regular man go through in life? Gibbs asked himself. Gibbs thought hard for a moment then he thought of one, he was pretty confident Jack would definitely drop this "tricky" conversation.
"Well Jack," started Gibbs, but abruptly stopped when Jack sent him a death glare, "er, I mean Capt'n. One of the greatest adventures I have heard of, that regular men go through, and this can even apply to some pirates like Will or Barbossa, is love."
Love, Jack repeated in his head, for some people it may be adventure but for him it was a total waste of time. He handed the wheel over to Gibbs, muttering something like, "me one and only love is the sea" and "going to get rum." Gibbs let out a long breath, as Jack swaggered away; relieved the conversation was apparently over.
When Jack entered his cabin he went straight to his rum cabinet, it was a beautiful mahogany cabinet with ornate designs deeply carved into it. Jack's fingers fluttered across the smooth, expensive wood. He recalled the day he got it; it was a few weeks ago when he and his crew plundered a merchant ship that must have come from India. On the ship his crew found silks of many colors, precious woods and furniture, interesting spices and even "white gold" (also known as sugar). That same week he went to Tortuga and Port Royale to make some profit out of the raid, although he kept some items and some he gave to Lizzy. Jack opened the rum cabinet and retrieved a rum bottle, pulled out the cork with his teeth, then spit it out and took a large swig. The rum burned down his throat, warming him inside. He let his thoughts momentarily flood his mind, making him realize he was bored with his life, he took a seat on his bed.
"It is not what it used to be mate," he told himself and took another long drink.
He seemed to find nothing as exciting as it used to be, by all means he still enjoyed it but it was as if he himself was changing as a person and his ideas in life. No, he thought to himself, I think I'm just lonely.
"Nonsense," he muttered, "I have me crew, me ship, me rum!"
He thought hard, he did not feel the same rush of adrenaline when he would fight in battle, and he did not even find that much pleasure and thrill when he slept with whores. It was just all too familiar! Still exciting, and enjoyable, but not enough. His reputation was still the same, but wasn't sure if his sanity level was, maybe he was going sane, and realizing there is more to life than just pirating. Jack sprung from his bed, and erased his thoughts with another drink. He swaggered to the doors of his cabin and just stared a few moments at the doors, contemplating on what to do. Tortuga? he asked himself, he quickly discarded the thought. Then he understood what he was feeling, Captain Jack Sparrow wanted something new. He hurriedly stepped out of the cabin, and walked to the wheel.
"Capt'n," Gibbs acknowledged the captain with a slight nod of his head, Gibbs hoping his captain did not have any more "tricky" questions.
"I have realized something Mister Gibbs," Jack said quickly as Gibbs opened his mouth to speak, "I want adventure, so literally it has to be something exciting, different, otherwise known as….new," as he said this he moved his arms in hypnotic motions, making the rum slosh in the bottle.
"So, ye want a bonny lass to love?" asked Gibbs ridiculously, believing the captain was now looking for love.
Jack whipped around to face Gibbs, making his dreadlocks hit Gibbs in the face and the trinkets clink. Jack then raised his hand and smacked Gibbs upside the head.
"Of course not Gibbs, we could go treasure hunting or something. Anything that is new and exciting. I personally believe love is neither of those two, and besides I am happy being without a woman hanging on me arm like a dead, smelly rat," replied Jack with a matter-of-fact voice and hint of annoyance. As Gibbs handed the wheel to Jack, Raghetti passed by them carrying two mops and Pintel tailing behind him with a bucket of dirty water.
"I dun' think women are smelly," said a passing Raghetti, "I find most of 'em beautiful! It is more like men are smelly, and women dun' won' us to hangin' aroun' their arms."
Jack and Gibbs just looked at Raghetti incredulously, as Raghetti continued walking on. Then Pintel cut in.
"Ye Captain, ye should listen to 'im. He has got experience," said a sarcastic Pintel, and started to snicker.
"Oh and ye do Pintel?" asked Raghetti as he sent his plump crewmate a glare, this wiped the smile off Pintel's face and was about to open his mouth to argue.
"That's enough, or ye will both be sent to the brig, savvy?" said Jack full of annoyance; he really was not interested in what both had to fight about.
"Alright Capt'n," said Raghetti as he glowered at Pintel.
"Yes Capt'n," Pintel replied, as he stared angrily at Raghetti.
Both Raghetti and Pintel continued on their way, ignoring the other. Gibbs just looked at them with a slight look of disbelief, and then noticed his captain was consumed in his thoughts. Gibbs found this as a chance to escape his captain's "tricky" conversations, and discreetly walked away. Jack noticed Gibbs walk away but dismissed it, since he was contemplating on what to do.
Jack continued to steer the ship silently. Then a thought hit him, his compass. He was sure his compass would lead him somewhere at least. Since one hand was on the wheel and the other holding the rum bottle, Jack handed the rum bottle to a passing Marty. A look of utter confusion passed Marty's face but he shrugged it off and continued walking away while taking swigs of the remaining rum, seeing as his captain was to preoccupied retrieving the compass hanging from his trousers. After Jack retrieved his compass, he closed his eyes then snapped his compass open. He opened his eyes slowly and smirked when he saw the compass spin a few times then stop at a certain point, he adjusted the wheel slightly. He inhaled deeply, smelling the salty breeze. The very wind at the moment seemed to whisper, adventure.
Preview for next chapter:
The Pearl started gaining unusual speed as it rode the waves effortlessly, even though the waves were crashing aggressively against the sides of the ship. It seemed like eternity before the ship's speed decreased, the waves got smaller, and the fog started to disperse.
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