Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the POTC characters in this story. But I'm guessing you already knew that…
MAJOR SPOILER WARNING: This story takes place directly after POTC 2! If you haven't seen the movie, DO NOT READ THIS FIC unless you want the most amazing ending in the history of movies to be revealed to you. I urge you to see the movie first! The surprise will be way better that way. Now you can't say I didn't tell you so…
Chapter 1- Rival Return
The power of the descending footsteps unleashed a wave of alarm and uncertainty. It surged throughout the hut, piercing the mystified crew and liberating them of what little knowledge of the unknown they had. William Turner's eyes narrowed, and Tia Dalma grinned in accomplishment. The soothsayer's eyes slowly drifted to the man who now stood before them, a greedy sneer spreading across his face.
"Tell me," he cackled avariciously, his monkey dancing excitedly on his shoulder. "What's become of my ship?"
Elizabeth's heart froze and Gibbs' lip began to twitch.
Barbossa.
He brought a soft green apple to his lips and sank his gritty teeth into it, the pleasures of life enriching the taste as juice dribbled down his scraggly beard. He laughed wickedly, his yellow eyes blazing with ferocity.
Elizabeth was the first to speak.
"But—it's—well…..not possible," she muttered in surprise.
"Not probable," Barbossa corrected, taking a second bite of his eagerly awaited apple. He began forward, chewing the mushy fruit in his crusted mouth. Tia Dalma smiled mysteriously at him as he passed her.
"But how did this happen?" Gibbs questioned. "I mean, it's just not normal ter bring someone back from the dead, now is it?"
Tia once again smiled enigmatically at Barbossa. "It took skill, cunning, and brain powder."
"Don't you mean brain power?" Will asked aggressively.
"I always mean…..what I say," she replied, not taking her gaze off of Barbossa. She slowly arose from her wooden chair, her skeleton-like hand smoothly stroking the crystal ball centered on the table.
"There is a place," she began dreamily, still stroking the orb, "off t' coas' of an ancient Spanish isle where a fine wildflower grows." She moved in a circle around the table as she released the crystal ball, which was now glowing. "It is called t' Ashflower. T'Ashflower glows when t' full moon rises in t' sky on a midsummer night. It is then that its power is emitted."
A pink flower appeared in the crystal.
"If you look carefully enough, you can see a fine powder that falls from it with the power to raise a person from sleep or take a person from life. I've been to this Spanish isle many times. It's called La Isla de Destino; The Isle of Destiny."
She spoke softly and with gentle words as her eyes reflected the Ashflower to the crew members.
"I used t' Ashflower to wake t' Captain." She nodded to Barbossa, who took her hand in his. His wet, cracked lips kissed her silken hand as she slunk into the wooden chair facing the crystal ball.
"Why?" Will shouted. "Why would you wake him?"
Tia's eyes flared as she turned to him. "He was brought to me. The monkey you gave me was in deep suffer. He jumped up and down by t' man, wanting him to wake. I performed t' miracle. I gave Barbossa life, and he told me t' story of t' Pearl."
"But why not kill him after you learnt how evil the man is?" Gibbs questioned.
Tia smiled and looked to Barbossa. "He is gentle man. He knows what he wants. And he knows how to save Jack Sparrow."
The shack became silent as Tia's message met the ears of the crew members. Wind viciously blew outside the shack, and a thin mist began to pour inside.
"As we all do know," Tia said, almost in a whisper while still gazing at Barbossa, "destiny can be changed." The light in the orb was brighter than ever, and Will found himself gazing at it incessantly. Was it true? Could Barbossa really take them to Jack?
Then, before anyone could respond, the light burst from the orb. It was a bright, magical light that fully illuminated the shack. Tia laughed anomalously. Barbossa grinned and tossed his half- eaten apple in the air. As it reached the circling light, it instantly became a whole apple again. He caught it in one hand and resumed devouring it with a voracious bite.
Tia looked admirably at her creation. The light had encircled all of the crew members and was as bright as the morning sun. "You are witnessing the Waves of Destiny. They will tell you how to save Jack Sparrow."
"How?" Elizabeth inquired hesitantly.
Tia smiled and brought a finger to her soft lips. She opened her hand and blew a thin layer of dust into the air.
The light began to move more quickly. It rose into the air and began to form a shape: the outline of Jack Sparrow appeared.
"This man….Jack Sparrow….is t' one you seek," Tia declared. The light continued moving until it formed a new shape: a map.
"You are here, in my hut." A point on the map started blinking as a path to a small island began forming. "This pat' is the one you'll take to find 'im. You will end up….here." She pointed to the small island on the edge of the map. "Worl's End."
"World's End?" Elizabeth repeated.
"Aye," Tia responded pleasurably.
"And I'll be takin' ye there," Barbossa announced. "On me ship….the Pearl."
"Well bad news," Will mumbled. Barbossa turned to him.
"Say again?" he said.
"It's gone. Destroyed. By a horrible monster. The Krakken."
"Ahh, I see young Turner is still up for disbelieving in those who know much more than he."
Will's lip twitched, as if he was ready to say something in return, but decided not to. Instead, he drew his sword with a quick hand and pointed it at Barbossa's throat.
"You've gotten your life back," he cried, fuming. "And I can just as easily take it away."
Barbossa smiled. "Ah, no boy, that won't be happ'n." He drew a sword of his own and pointed it at Will. "If anyone dies here, 'till be you."
"Enough!"
Elizabeth grabbed Will's arm and pulled it back. "This is not about you!" she shouted at Will. "This is about Jack Sparrow." Will pulled his arm away from her in frustration.
"The man we all love. The man who lives life to the fullest each and every day. And what does he have to show for it? Friends who would rather take away the one person who can lead us to him instead of listening for once! Stop running on blind ambition! This is our only chance."
Barbossa chuckled. "I see Miss Elizabeth is still working for the good." He lowered his sword.
"Aye," she said, walking towards him. "Even if it means working with a despicable, greedy, foul, sewer rat like you."
Barbossa grinned. "Don't worry m'dear, I'll bring back yer precious Jack."
"Captain!" she shouted. "Captain Jack!"
"Yes, I remember," Barbossa replied. "But as long as yer travelin' with me, you'll be referring to me as Captain Barbossa."
"Not a chance," Will said. "You will bring us to Jack. We will save him. And then you will return to your watery grave." He paused and turned to Elizabeth. "And we will continue with our lives. Unless your interest lies somewhere else."
Elizabeth trembled. Had Will witnessed her deception kiss with Jack? She answered carefully.
"Of course we'll continue with our lives. Why wouldn't we?"
Will turned away from her, unable to speak. She hadn't answered the question.
"There is tension in this shack," Tia declared with enthusiasm. "I will clear. But first, see how you can foil t' fate of witty Captain Jack."
Please R+R!
