Title: The Fight for the Seas
Author: SailorNeo
Summary: The EITC has declared war on all pirates. Sequel to Freedom from the Curse.
Author's Note: Thank you all so, so much for reading and reviewing!

Chapter Two: The Brethren Council

"Will!" Elizabeth called. "Will! Angelina and James's ship is coming! And so is The Pearl!"

"Good," Will said. "Though I'm surprised Angelina and James are coming back. They said they wouldn't be back for another six months or so."

"I'm surprised Jack's coming back," Elizabeth said. "He and Ana Maria weren't on the best of terms when he left."

"No," Will said. "How many Lords does that make?"

"With Jack and Barbossa it's seven. All we need is Mistress Ching and the new one," Elizabeth said.

When the ships finally came into port, Angelina flounced to Elizabeth and said, "My King, may I present to you the new Pirate Lord of the Pacific seas…James Norrington."

Elizabeth's jaw dropped.

"Wot?" Jack asked from The Pearl.

"He's a what?" Elizabeth asked.

"My thoughts exactly," James muttered.

"So, how many Lords do we need?" Angelina asked.

"…Just the one for the Americas," Elizabeth said after a moment of stunned silence.

"Really? I thought we'd get here first," James said.

"Calypso," Barbossa said. "She brought us here, so what's to say that she hasn't brought the others."

"Okay," Angelina said. "Doesn't really matter. Where's Ana Maria?"

Jack winced. "Hopefully far from here. Just like everyone I owe money to."


"So you're sort of in charge of the Pacific ocean?" Ana Maria asked.

"Yup," Angelina said. "I wonder if I get anything…"

"Well, you got James, didn't you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Good point," Angelina said. "And he is so pretty." She glanced at Ana Maria. "So, have you and Jack made up yet?"

Ana Maria scowled at her. "What do you think?" she asked irritably.

"I'll take that as a no then," Angelina said.

"He think's I'm a fling," Ana Maria said. "And that since we're immortal that he'll always have a willing one."

"Not likely," Angelina said. "Just tell him that. Or slap him some more. That always seems to get through his skull."

"No, I'm going to avoid him," Ana Maria said.

"Just like you have been?" Elizabeth asked. "And for eternity?"

"I'll figure something out later," Ana Maria said.

Will stuck his head in the room, breaking the women's conversation. "The last Pirate Lord's here," he said.


James felt incredibly awkward sitting at the large wooden table with only his wife and Lin behind him. The other Lords—excluding Elizabeth—had at least half a dozen men. Elizabeth only had Will, Tai Huang, and Captain Teague, but she was the King so it didn't matter.

"Why have we been called?" Chevalle asked.

Angelina nudged James. "Go on," she whispered.

"The East India Trading Company has declared war on all pirates," he said loudly. "They killed Mistress Ching and have taken over her—my territory."

Immediately, all of the Lords but James, Elizabeth, Jack, and Alex began arguing. Then the other pirates began arguing. "This is pointless," James said.

"Yes, but it's tradition. And pirates don't like to break with tradition," Angelina sighed.

"Quiet!" Elizabeth bellowed at the pirates.

They all silenced and Elizabeth continued. "We must decide what to do. The East India Trading Company has declared war on all of us. What shall we do?"

Shouts of, "Burn them!" and "Pay 'em off!" rang out.

"I think we should fight back," Angelina said.

"I'm not sure of that," James said. "They are probably expecting that."

"You're the one that worked for 'em, aren't you?" one pirate asked.

"'E is!" another shouted.

Pirates began drawing their swords. "Oh dear," Angelina sighed. The din that had just been quieted sprung up and grew louder and louder until Angelina stuck two fingers in her mouth and whistled.

Loudly.

The pirates winced, but didn't put away their swords. "Nobody's usin' a sword on anybody! The Council is non violent to its members!" Angelina said.

"Back away from him," Elizabeth said idly. She'd rather not reveal that they were immortal, but if they needed to they would.

The pirates grudgingly sheathed their swords and backed away, but continued to glare at James.

"I may be new at this," Alex drawled from his seat. "But shouldn't we do what's best for the pirates?"


Author's Note: Okay, this was shorter than I thought. Sorry!!!