Here's the sequel guys! as I said in the summary, two huge surprises but I promise neither one will be cheesy or tacky and just thrown in there to throw in. It took me a long time to add my own twist while still incorporating most of the basic story line. I can't wait for you guys to read this whole thing. For now please enjoy and let me know how you like the beginning of the sequel. :)
Aelthar
Chapter 1: Return of the Sparrows
The courthouse square was exceptionally busy that morning. The imminent number of pirate hangings that were soon to occur no doubt accounted for the increase in activity in front of the dismal courthouse.
A richly decorated carriage rattled underneath the entranceway to the square causing the many people on foot to scramble out of the way. Many commoners looked towards the door of the carriage to see an equally richly dressed woman exit. It was not all that uncommon to see wealthy women this side of London, but this woman was different than most. She was dressed as fine as the queen of England would be; her cream, silk dress was crafted by only the best of seamstresses in town and an elaborate necklace graced the woman's neck. He hair was not done in as tall of the fashion as most women kept theirs and her hat, when she held her head a certain way, concealed most of her face. The carriage man helped arrange her small train so that it was no longer on the steps of the carriage before he gave a polite nod and slowly drove the carriage away.
Catherine pulled her skirts carefully around her; she wasn't used to wearing such finery yet she held herself as if she had been raised as a queen. She watched as her carriage drove away, absorbing the sounds of the square around her.
"PIRATE SWORDS! PIRATE SWORDS!"
Catherine began to walk purposefully towards the courthouse astonished at the wide path she was given. None of the commoners wished to interfere with a woman of her stature.
"PIRATE EXECUTION TODAY! WATCH HIM SWING!"
Two boys ran in front of her fighting each other with wooden swords. Merchants everywhere tried to sell her authentic pirate wares.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Gather around and see, the true pirate sword of the merciless Catherine Porter!" a merchant nearby shouted.
Catherine turned towards him, a bemused smirk on her face as she took note of the rusty sword; she wouldn't be caught dead with a sword of that poor repair.
The courthouse loomed in front of her as she reminded herself of exactly why she was dressed as a queen standing in the middle of the town square. She walked halfway up the steps before carefully taking her large hat off. To any bystander it looked as if she simply wished to remove the large hat before entering the courthouse, nothing to suggest that the simple action was carefully calculated to send a specific message to someone within.
Catherine walked quickly towards the courtroom bowing her head slightly towards any official looking man in the hall while at the same time setting them with an intimidating gaze. She was quickly granted access into the courtroom and allowed a prime seat with full view of the judge's chair and the pedestal for the prisoner, while at the same time, away from the common people of London.
A number of other wealthy ladies of society where surrounding Catherine chatting and gossiping as they waited for the next prisoner to be brought out, it was as if they treated the event as the ancient Romans did gladiator fights.
Movement along the jurors' bench caught Catherine's eye. She turned towards the bailiff as he nodded in understanding pocketing a substantial sized purse.
"Order! ORDER!" shouted one of the Lords, desperately trying to get the rambunctious crowd in control.
"Now appearing before the court, the notorious and infamous pirate, pillager, and highwayman-Captain Jack Sparrow!"
The crowd erupted into jeers as a rather large jailor bullied the covered prisoner onto the stand and roughly jerked the bag off his head.
A flustered Gibbs looked around the room in annoyance trying desperately to plead his case to anyone who would listen, "I told ya! The name's Gibbs! Joshamee Gibbs! How many times do I- "
"Hear ye, hear ye!" shouted the bailiff over the din, "Presiding over these trials, all rise and attend to the right honorable Justice Smith!"
Everyone who was not already standing quickly rose and turned towards the doors behind the judges chair to see a slightly tall man in a large white wig step forward onto the stand.
The crowd settles as the Judge sits down and carefully adjusts his glasses, "Now. What do we have here?"
Jack smiled over the handkerchief that was hiding his tell tale beard as he gazed over the crowd. His eyes paused on Catherine as he felt himself smile even wider; all was working according to plan.
Gibbs looked at the judge in confusion, "Jack?"
The jailor quickly hit him hard over the head with a small club.
"Not necessary!" Jack quickly called out as Catherine winced slightly, "You were saying?"
"Jack Sparrow," spoke Gibbs cautiously catching on, "is not my name. My name is Joshamee Gibbs!"
"Is that so?" Jack questioned seeming to ponder over the small bit of information, "It says, 'Jack Sparrow' here."
"I told 'em!" answered Gibbs becoming increasingly frustrated; "I'm not Jack Sparrow, who I would be happy to identify to the court, if it would help my case."
"I think that would be a poor defense unless you want to be bludgeoned again like a harp seal," Jack answered quickly as the crowd began to get rowdy again, "The prisoner claims to be innocent of being Jack Sparrow. How do you find?"
A confused foreman stood up, "No trail? But aren't we here to examine the evidence?"
Jack rolled his eyes, "Foreman. Your finding. Guilty?"
The Foreman looked unsure, "Guilty verdict means he'll hang."
The crowd at once began to voice their approval yelling and banging on anything they could get their hands on; they wished to see another hanging.
"HANG HIM! STRING HIM UP!" shouted a woman in the crowd. Catherine glared at her as Jack looked over at the crowd silencing them immediately.
"…Guilty?" the foreman said cautiously.
The crowd roared in approval, "That's not fair!" shouted Gibbs above the din.
"Shut it!" shouted Jack banging the gavel on the stand, "Joshamee Gibbs! The crime which you've been found guilty of is being innocent of being Jack Sparrow," Gibbs, as well as half the court looked at Jack in bewilderment trying to follow, "I hereby commute your sentence and order that you be imprisoned for the remainder of your miserable, moribund, mutton chopped life. There!" Jack said ending any further discussion and banging the gavel on the stand once more.
The bailiff quickly grabbed the prisoner and dragged him outside of the courtroom as Jack stood to leave the room, "Means shall be arranged to transport the prisoner to the Tower of London!"
Jack quickly sped down the hallway of the courtroom removing the wretched wig and wiping the powder from his face. He yanked open a door revealing the actual judge struggling to remove himself from carefully tied ropes. Jack quickly took the judge's robe and draped it over the struggling man as a blanket.
"Thanks very much!" he said kindly as he turned to continue out of the courtroom grimacing as he removed the scarf. He quickly found the jail carriage where Catherine had promised it would be and took his hat from the carriage driver noticing with a small smile the man had a skull and crossbones tattoo on his wrist. Jack quickly jumped into the carriage just as the doors were shut and the order was given to drive.
"Hell's teeth!" sputtered Gibbs, "Now we're both headed for prison."
"Not to worry," Jack said brushing aside Gibb's negative outlook, "Catherine's paid the driver. Ten minutes we'll be outside London town, where Catherine will meet us shortly with horses. Tonight we'll make the coast. Then it's just a matter of finding a ship."
"All part of the plan yes?" asked Gibbs drinking from the flask Jack offered.
"Exactly," smiled Jack rather pleased with himself, "I arrived in Londontown just this morning to rescue on Joshamee Gibbs from one appointment with the gallows. Seeing as how you're still alive, I'd say its all been very successful thus far."
"And Catherine?" Gibbs asked with a knowing smile.
"Has been scouting out the area for both a ship and means of rescuing you," Jack said taking a swig from the flask, "What happened to you Gibbs? I thought you were employed or otherwise engaged."
Gibbs nodded, taking the flask, "Aye. But I always listened like a thief for news of the Black Pearl. Nobody's seen where she might next make port- then I hear a rumor. Jack Sparrow was in London with a ship, looking for a crew."
Jack looked at Gibbs in confusion, "Am not."
Gibbs nodded again, "But that's what I heard. Fact is you're signing up men tonight, pub called Captain's Daughter."
"Am not!" defended Jack.
Gibbs shrugged, "Well I thought it a bit odd, especially because I heard no one tell of Catherine. But then again, you've never been the most predictable of sorts."
"Tell me something," Jack started, taking a drink, "There is another Jack Sparrow out there sullying my good name?"
"An imposter!" said Gibbs, slightly shocked.
"Indeed… but an imposter with a ship."
"And in need of a crew," pointed out Gibbs.
"Which as fate would have it," Jack said taking the flask back from Gibbs, "so am I."
"What about you Jack?" Gibbs asked, "Last I heard, you were hell bent to find the Fountain of Youth" he quickly grabbed the rolled up map from Jack, "Any luck?"
Jack took the map back from Gibbs, "I did not! I am just as bent as ever! Only certain… circumstances are delaying my definite departure. Mark my words Master Gibbs, we will see those waters, just… not yet."
Gibbs for the first time since he was reunited with Jack studied him carefully; he had changed since he had last seen him. Catherine was no doubt the cause of that.
The carriage lurched to a stop;
"Oh!" exclaimed Jack as he stood towards the rear of the carriage, "short trip."
Jack poked his head out of the carriage expecting to see the dismal outskirts of London when he was met with twenty loaded guns pointed directly at him,
"All part of the plan yes?" Gibbs questioned mockingly now seriously doubting his chances of ever getting of the rainy island.
Jack turned to climb back into the carriage just as a guard moved to knock him out.
"No" he groaned as the soldiers quickly grabbed hold of him and dragged him towards the fort.
Jack didn't bother to struggle as they marched him through the castle, instead letting his legs hang loose making the two guards holding him carry his whole weight. They roughly plopped him down in a chair and tightly manacled his wrists to the armrests. Jack jerked at the chains trying desperately to find a weak point but stopped as soon as the doors closed. It was then that he realized he was completely alone. He looked around the room searching for any way he could escape at the opportune moment. It was then that he really took notice of the incredible feast laid out before him. Smiling slightly he peeked to his side as if someone was watching him. Seeing no one he jerked his chair forward once, then once again, then twice more. Jack slowly reached his hand out for a rather savory looking pastry. The doors suddenly slammed open causing Jack to quickly jerk back kicking the table in the process. The top pastry rolled off the table and Jack gave it a quick kick sending the pastry flying towards the ceiling where it was impaled on the chandelier just as close to twenty guards walked in. Jack crossed his legs as if nothing had happened in time to see the fattest person he had ever laid eyes on waddle into the room and ooze onto the chair across form Jack.
A man in a carefully powdered wig looked at Jack carefully.
"You are Jack Sparrow?"
Jack rolled his eyes; "There should be a 'Captain' in there somewhere."
The fat man squinted at Jack, "I have heard of you. And you know who I am," he stated arrogantly.
Jack looked as if he were trying to ponder where exactly he had seen a face that fat before, "Face is familiar; have I threatened you?"
Another wigged man to the side of the fat man looked at Jack as he would have looked at horse fodder under his shoe, "You are in the presence of George Augustus, Duke of Brunswick – Luneburg, Arch treasurer and Prince –elector of the Holy Roman Empire, King of Great Britain and Ireland… and of you."
Jack stared at the fat walrus in front of him with his mouth slightly open, "Doesn't ring a bell."
King George waved off Jack's last statement, "I am informed that you have come to London to procure a crew for your ship."
Jack waved this comment aside rattling the chains as much as he could, "Vicious rumor. Not true"
King George looked perturbed, "So you lied to me when you said you were Jack Sparrow."
"I am Jack Sparrow, "Jack sad starting to jiggle the chains, "But I am not here to procure a crew. That is …someone else."
"Ah," sighed George trying to understand, "Someone else named Jack Sparrow," he turned to the two wigged men beside him, "You brought me the wrong wastrel. Find the proper one and dispose of this one."
"Oh, wait, wait, wait, hang on a minute. I am Jack Sparrow, the one and only. And I am in London,' he said as he tried to jerk his hands free of the chains on the chair.
"To procure a crew?" George asked over the rattling of the chains.
"What?" Jack asked rattling the chains even harder.
"To undertake a voyage to the Fountain- can someone please remove these infernal chains!" George shouted exhaustedly.
"Come, come," sighed Jack as two guards rushed to unchain him while George held his head as if he were in extreme stress.
"We know you are in possession of a map," a wigged aid said.
"So confiscate the map, and to the gallows with him!" the other said.
"Have you the map?" George asked slowly as if he were speaking to a child.
Jack paused halfway out of his chair and looked around, "No," he stated plainly.
"Where is it?
"The truth?" Jack stated standing up, "I lost it. Quite recently in fact."
George watched as Jack surveyed the enormous amounts of food on the table, "I have a report. The Spanish have located the Fountain of Youth," George said calmly as Jacks reached for some whipped cream, "I WILL NOT –HAVE SOME MELONCHOLY-SPANISH MONARCH- A CATHOLIC!- GAIN-ETERNAL-LIFE!" George shouted slamming the table, Jack flinched each time but finally grabbed a dollop of cream.
"You do know the way to the Fountain?" a wigged aid asked hopefully. This whole fountain episode had been a rather big headache for everyone involved with the kind.
"Course I do!" Jack said, shocked anyone would doubt him, "look at me!" he exclaimed carefully flicking a handkerchief to the floor.
"You could guide an expedition?" the other wig asked.
Jack carefully positioned a chair away form the table as he addressed the king, "With your permission, your heinie, you will be providing then, a ship?" he threw the handkerchief behind him, "And a crew?"
"And a captain," George said motioning to a side door.
Jack hid behind the chair as a stiff wooden leg could be heard entering the room. He poked his head around the chair and was surprised to see a very pompously dressed Barbossa flamboyantly bowing to the King with his pegged leg.
"Afternoon Sire," he said as Jack glared at him with as much loathing as he could muster, "If I may be so bold," Barbossa started, "Why is that man not in chains? He must be manacled at once!" he said hotly.
George scoffed at the idea that someone would be able to escape, "At the center of my palace? Hardly."
"Hector" Jack said sidling around the chair, the hatred evident in every word he said, "How nice to see a fellow pirate make good of himself," he mocked.
"Pirate? Nay. Privateer on a sanctioned mission under the authority and protection of the Crown," Barbossa explained fingering his wig.
"As may be." Jack said growing suspicious, "First. What has become of my beloved Pearl."
"I lost the Pearl as I lost my leg," Barbossa answered slamming his leg on the table.
Jack froze with anger, "LOST THE PEARL?" he growled.
Barbossa lifted his leg off the table, "I defended her mightily enough, but she sunk nonetheless."
Jack burst across the table shaking with rage as two guards dragged him back to the other side, "If that ship be sunk properly, you should be sunk with it."
"Captain Barbossa," George whined, "every second we tarry the Spanish outdistance us. I have every confidence you will prevail and be rewarded with the high station you so desire."
Barbossa bowed again with much pomp, "To serve doth suffice sire."
Jack looked at him with an eyebrow raised in disgust, "You sir, have stooped."
"Jack," said Barbossa as if Jack were a child, "our sands be all but run. Where's the harm in joining with the winning side? And you do meet a nicer class of person."
Jack observed his explanation, "I understand everything," he said eyeing the two guards, "Except that wig."
Jack twisted free from the guards. Looking towards the pastry he grabbed both of the rifles and pointed them upwards causing them both to fire. A chain on the chandelier snapped causing the chandelier to swing. Jack knocked both of the guards out with the buts of their rifles and jumped onto the table. He kicked a plate of food toward a guard running towards him and ran down the table kicking everything out of his way. He quickly grabbed hold of the back of the chair he had so carefully positioned and gracefully flung himself over in an acrobatic flip. As soon as he landed Jack threw the chair out the window. A guard charged towards Jack, sword raised, but slipped on the handkerchief Jack had thrown on the floor. As the guard tipped out of the window Jack handed him a tassel which then hurled Jack towards the ceiling. He grabbed hold of the chandelier and swung away again. Jack grabbed the pastry just as he landed on a balcony and as he took a big bite, he bowed towards the court smirking at Barbossa as he did.
Jack quickly ran down the corridor searching for a way out. He had to find Gibbs. Again. Then Catherine. Then they all had to get the bloody hell out of here. He ran down a stairway and smiled to himself as he knocked a hat off the guard on the way down. Catherine would kill him but just couldn't help himself. The guard quickly followed Jack but when he reached the bottom Jack was nowhere to be found.
Jack peeked out from under the table ease the guard ran by to see his affects laying on the table. He checked both the stairway and the hallway as he put his sword and pistols back in his belt. He ran up the same stairs and down another hallway until he came to a window. Jack threw the window open and cautiously peered out to see a long row of banners hung form the edge of the palace to the building next to it. Hearing the guards behind him Jack quickly climbed out and onto the banners. Sensing a guard at the window Jack pulled his legs up and carefully balanced himself on the rope. He could hear a cart into the distance heading his way. If he could just stay hidden a little while longer…
A sudden breeze rocked the banners and Jack's feet slipped. The guard at the window noticed his dangling feet and blew a whistle.
"Bugger," Jack grumbled as he looked towards the guard who had now taken out his sword.
Jack looked down below him to see a young girl picking up the fallen tassel. The soldier at the window quickly began to saw at the only rope holding Jack from the ground. Jack frantically shook his head, if he were to fall now, the young girl underneath him would be crushed. He shut his eyes as he felt the rope suddenly begin to fall. The rope swung in a graceful arc before Jack felt himself being flung face first into a carriage.
"Bloody hell Jack, you couldn't wait for me to come get you," Jack looked up to see a slightly annoyed Catherine glaring at him, "You just have to do everything yourself."
"Plans have changed, my love, and it is best we leave this wretched and rainy island and travel back to our summer home." Jack said looking out the window to see a large number of soldiers following.
Catherine sighed as she tried to carefully take off her dress.
Jack looked at her in utter bewilderment, "No time for that love," he said as he pulled a knife from his boot and cut the bodice off.
"Jack!" cried Catherine, somewhat disappointed to have the dress now lying in ruins, "That was the queens!"
She reached under the bench of the carriage for a small bag that contained her pistols and swords, as well as her usual pants and shirt and quickly followed Jack onto the top of the carriage, careful of her shift swirling about her.
Jack reached his hand out to pull her to stand up, "You know dear," he said as they jumped onto another carriage, "I think now would be a good time to tell you something."
Catherine rolled her eyes, "Now's not exactly a good time for a heart to heart Jack."
Jack pushed her from the carriage onto a smaller wagon carrying a coffin before following her himself.
"I should tell you now I never liked that dress," he said.
"What was wrong with the dress?" Catherine asked when she noticed the amount of ground the soldiers had gained, "Jack!" she called out in warning at the same time he stood up and pulled her onto a much faster moving coal cart.
Soldiers quickly began pulling themselves onto the cart. Catherine groaned as she punched one of them to the ground, "I stole it from the Queen's own room."
Jack smiled, "It made you look well..." he started as he punched a guard off the cart, "slightly on the chubby side my love."
Catherine stood shocked, "What?" she cried out as a soldier roughly pushed her to fall towards the front of the car with a soft thud.
"Ey!" Jack shouted yanking the soldier by the neck away from Catherine, "That's not very nice now is it?" he said as he punched the guard full in the face off the cart.
Catherine meanwhile, had thrown the driver off the cart and had taken control of the reins. The horses sped up with renewed vigor.
"Fire!"
Catherine ducked and Jack fell down in the coal pit as several bullets flew over their heads. One of the bullets hit the lantern spilling hot sparks over the coal.
The cart ran over a rather substantial bump causing the end to fall off and majority of the burning coals to tumble out causing the guards to split up and go in different directions.
"It did not make me look fat" Catherine seethed.
"It was a nice plump though-"
Jack was cut off as Catherine ran under a low hanging sign, which Jack quickly pulled himself onto. The cart continued on before it ran into a bread cart without Catherine in it, which was now brushing some of the coal dust off her dress.
Jack grinned widely as he fell to the ground but his smile was immediately wiped from his face as he saw a guard with his rifle pointed straight at Jack's heart.
"Filthy pirate," the guard grumbled cocking his rifle.
Two shots rang out, one over Jack's shoulder and one behind the guard. The guard fell revealing Catherine who was looking over Jack's shoulder with a small smile.
Jack turned to see a well-weathered face emerge from the shadows, "Hello Jackie," the face said with a salute.
"Hello dad," Jack saluted back.