"This is the day that you will always remember…"
The flamboyant pirate was once again cut off from finishing his speech by his own haphazard escape falling backwards from Port Royal's courtyard into the bay bellow. Sometimes he shocked himself although he would never admit it and this was one of these times as he came up for air and began to swim out to the open sea that he checked himself over and found no injuries at that point he couldn't help smiling up at the line of spectators watching him from where he fell. A smug smile grew on his lips as he watched Commodore Norrington's face redden by the second. Turning back to the open sea the waves picked up and his beloved Black Peal came into sight sailing straight for him. He wished he had time to see the look on Norrington and his men's faces now but he wasn't completely sure that they wouldn't open fire and try and shoot him to stop his escape. So, used his time more productively to put some distance between himself and the port by swimming to meet the rescue vessel.
Once he made it far enough out that he considered himself safe from errant bullets, he stopped and admired his ship powering closer until it was within distance for his crewmen to throw down a rope from the starboard side and hoist him up onto the deck. He landed with a fud and rather resembled a wet fish that had beached itself on land and now jumped towards the call of the ocean as he tried to get upright. While in this state his first officer Gibbs had joined him, and offered a hand up. Which he gladly took.
"Thought you were supposed to stick to the code" Jack commented.
"We figured they were more actual guidelines" His loyal first mate responded, now being joined by the rest of the crew who huddled round eagerly awaiting orders from their newly freed Captain. Mr Cotton had reunited him with his hat and he promptly returned it to its rightful place on his head and Anamaria passed the ships helm over to him. It was at this moment that it dawned on him that he was truly content, he'd defeated his enemy, made a fool out of the royal navy, got his ship back, was captain of a crew and now was free to travel wherever he wants. It truly was a pirate's life for him.
Absentmindedly he caresses the wheel of the peal when he suddenly remembered that his crew still stood around watching his every move.
"On deck you scurvy dogs, hoist the rudder, look lively" He ordered his crew into action and each man darted to different corners of the ship starting their work.
"Now give me that horizon" the pirate captain whispered to of his hands let go of the wheel and made its way to his belt where his compass usually hung. However, when his hand grasped nothing but fin air panic set in. Looking down the gap on his belt was clear, but when? How? Who? Suspicions thoughts filled his mind. Patting the many layers of clothing he wore in a desperate search for his navigational devise. Gibbs noticing his captains change in behaviour stepped in to help.
"Anything I can help you with, sir?" He asked confused.
"My compass Gibbs its gone"He showed Gibbs his empty belt. It was then that an all too familiar noise drew their attention directly behind them, where Jack the monkey proudly stood stolen compass firmly in his grasp. The Captain jumped towards the monkey but quickly recoiled as the primate let out a warning screech. The two Jacks stared each other down neither one daring to move.
"Pss Gibbs" Sparrow called not daring to take his eyes of the small creature for even a moment. "I'll distract the foul fee ridden thing and you grab my compass" Jack ordered.
"If you don't mind me asking how are you planning to distract him? he seems pretty focused to me" Gibbs inquired
"I have an idea" Jack stated hand hovering over his pistol waiting for his second in command to get into position. With a nod from Gibbs, Sparrow whipped out his pistol and aimed it at the monkey. The shot hit its mark and travelled through Jacks chest getting stuck in the woodwork of the deck. However, Jack barely even noticed the shot wound that was rapidly healing and instead focused on Gibbs' hands which were trying to grab at him. He made easy work of out witting the pirate and dashed through Sparrows legs to freedom, climbing up the rigging to the lookout.
"Bloody foul undead monkey stole my compass" Jack cried out alerting the rest of the crew.
"After it men" He shouted.
The ship was a hive of action once more. With the crew vying to catch Jack the monkey. Just when it seemed that it was trapped in the lookout it mocked the crew by jumping on their heads to get down to the deck. Where it stopped to screech in Sparrows direction. Finally having the last laugh it climbed onto the side of the peal and jumped into the sea compass still tightly grasped in his paws. It swam determinedly back towards the port. The Black Peal set off in pursuit once its crew had made it out of the rigging but it was hopeless they had lost too much time and the path the monkey had chosen to swim was shallow and full of sharp rocks making it impossible to catch.
In desperation, the captain was shouting orders about circling round and returning to Port Royal to catch the monkey and take back what was his. It was only when Gibbs shouted over that realisation hit.
"Are you mad? We can't go back there, captain they'll put us all in irons, half the royal navy are preparing to chase us down right now we can't give up the only lead we've got."
With one last huff and a longing look in the direction of the disappearing monkey he listened to reason and turned his ship to the open sea, mourning the loss of his precious compass and contemplating what he would do to the cursed monkey when he got his hands on it.