"I heard you're puttin' together a crew." Captain Teague took a swig from his mug of rum.
We were sitting in a tavern called the Captain's Daughter, and each of us had a mug filled with rum.
Jack looked a little confused, "If enough people keep sayin' it, it must be true."
"And I heard where you're headed." Teague continued as though Jack had never said anything, "The fountain."
"I take it you've been there." I spoke up.
This man had seemingly done everything, so it was only logical that he had been to the infamous fountain.
He looked at me blankly, but with a touch of humor in his eyes, "Does this face look like it's been to the fountain of youth?"
"Depends on the light." Jack interjected with a small smile.
That was surprisingly tactful.
"Once you get to the fountain there'll be items required. For the pro-fain ritual." he held up two fingers, "Two chalices."
"On the map there was a chalice." Jack nodded.
"Two silver chalices from Ponce De Leon's ship. You'll need both."
"For?"
"The ritual. Don't be a fool Jacky." Teague looked a slightly annoyed, "Find out every detail before you set sail."
"Set sail with what?" I snorted, "We don't have a ship."
"Those folk over there." he nodded towards some people across the room, "They have a ship. They're signin' up up sailors right now."
Jack and I turned our heads to look at the other pirates.
"And one last thing Jacky." we looked back at Teague when he spoke again, "The fountain will test you. Mark my words."
What could he mean by that?
We all bumped our mugs together and took a swig. Jack and I looked back at the other pirates, but when Jack turned back to say something to Teague, he was gone.
Jack and I got up and snuck around behind a man strumming a guitar on the steps.
I held a knife to his throat and spoke quietly into his ear, "I hear you be recruiting a crew."
"Aye." he answered with a little nervousness in his voice, "That is... Jack Sparrow be puttin' together a modest venture."
I took the knife away and stepped out where he could see me. So did Jack.
"You've got some nerve ain't ya!? Turnin' up 'ere, dressed like that! What are you, some kind of imposter!? the man looked indignant.
Jack looked a little annoyed, "Do you have any idea who I am, mate?"
The man starts laughing, "Oi! There's a bloke 'ere what's forgotten his own name!"
Jack and I rolled our eyes.
That guy is not the sharpest sword in the armory...
Suddenly I saw Jack looking into the back room with interest and turned to look for myself. I saw a shadow that resembled Jack. And then it disappeared. Jack began making his way back there and I followed him. When we got to the back room, a figure stepped out from behind a post. My mouth fell open.
They could be Jack's twin!
Jack squinted at the person, "You've stolen me! And I'm here to take meself back."
They hid behind the post again and he stood on the other side. They peeked around and saw each other. Jack flung out his sword and so did the imposter. They ran out from behind the post swinging at each other. All I could do was stand and watch. This was just to weird. They hopped up on the stone rim of the cook fire and continued to fight. They stopped to stare at each other and Jack stroked his mustache. The imposter did the same.
"Stop doing that!" Jack lurched forward to slash at the imposter, who jumped away.
I finally got over the weirdness of the situation and pulled out my sword to go help Jack. I got over to where they were and started slashing away.
"Oi! Sylvia! Whose side are you on!?" Jack deflected my blade away from his face.
"Sorry! I can't tell the difference between you!" I turned on the imposter and started slashing at them.
They managed to knock me into Jack and we both went crashing to the floor, while the imposter escaped up a ramp.
"Oof! Hector must be strong if 'e can pick you up." Jack cringed.
I glared at him, "If you want my help, don't insult me!"
I got off of him and he jumped up to run after the imposter. He tried jumping over a barrel that they rolled down the ramp, but he caught it with his foot and fell on his face. I was able to jump over the barrel and make my way toward him. He got up and stepped aside to let a second barrel roll by, which I also successfully jumped over. The imposter got up in the rafters and Jack followed in an elevator. I climbed a ladder and got up there in time to see Jack swing across on a rope and kick the imposter in the back, sending them through a space between the rafters. Jack dropped gracefully to the ground and they began dueling again. I climbed swiftly back down the ladder and joined them. I slashed at the imposter's side, but they managed to shove me away, while keeping Jack at bay.
I tumbled onto a crate and heard Jack say, "Only one person alive knows that move."
So apparently he knows them.
I got up and turned around to see Jack kissing the imposter.
"What in the world are you doin'!?" I exclaimed.
He pulled away and smirked, "Always wanted to do that."
I don't believe this.
He ripped off what turned out to be the imposter's fake beard, "Hello Angelica."
Oh good.
"Hello Jack." she spoke with a Spanish accent and pulled off the fake mustache, "Are you impressed? I think I almost killed you once or twice there."
"I'm touched at this most sincerest form of flattery." Jack took off her hat and tossed it aside, "But why?"
"You were the only pirate I thought I could pass for." she answered as she pulled off the wig.
"That is not a compliment."
"Don' worry Jack. I forgave you a long time ago."
"For what?" he squinted, "For leaving you?"
"You'll recall that I left you." she started to walk away.
I was already starting to dislike this woman.
She's too confident.
Jack followed her, "A gentleman allows a lady to maintain her fictions."
"Look Sparrow. As long as my sailors get their money, they're willing to put up with any number of peculiarities."
"Ah. Well there is one peculiarity with which I will not put up with. I will be impersonated as Captain. Nothing less."
"Well for that you need a ship. And as it turns out. I have one." she smirked.
"I bet you do." I glared at her.
She glanced at me then looked back at Jack.
He pretended not to hear me, "I could use a ship."
"I hear tell you've been to the fountain." she looked him straight in the eyes.
"There's been a lot of hear telling going on these days." he squinted.
She ignored his comment, "The fountain of youth."
"Dearest Angelica, fret naught. You still have a few usable years left." Jack smiled.
She laughed shortly, "Always so charming." she became serious again, "You didn't answer me."
"He's never been to the fountain." I spoke up, "He stole the map and then couldn't figure it out."
"You have a map?" she looked at him curiously.
"Actually-"
Jack was interrupted by the same man we had met earlier coming in, "Milady! I seen some un-seamen like fellows of a vicious looking nature!"
Through the doorway I could see British soldiers searching the tavern.
Oh bugger!
"Friends of yours!?" Angelica hissed at Jack.
"I may have unintentionally slighted some king or other."
"You know you haven't changed!" she was still keeping her voice down.
"Implying the need?"
"Yes." she poked her finger at him, "You betrayed me. You used me! I was innocent of the ways of men!"
Ha! Sure you were.
He looked shocked, "You demonstrated a lot of technique for someone I supposedly corrupted."
"We're in imminent danger! Get out of 'ere now milady!" the man was trying to block the door with crates.
Angelica turned her attention back to Jack, "I was ready to take my vows! And you! What were you doing in a Spanish convent anyway!?"
"Mistook it for a brothel." he blinked, "'Onest mistake."
I rolled my eyes. The soldiers burst in and the man ran out another door while the three of us began fighting them off. Two of the soldiers took me on and I managed to fend both of them off.
"We are at a disadvantage!" Angelica sounded a little scared.
"Speak for yourself!" Jack and I said at the same time.
He shoved another soldier away, "Unlike some who pretend to be, but cannot in fact hold a candle to. I am Captain Jack Sparrow."
He slashed open a wine barrel and it's contents spewed onto some of the soldiers. Angelica and I started doing the same, until there was wine shooting all over the place. They eventually cornered us, but I saw Jack and Angelica exchange a look before she swung her sword toward a lever next to Jack and I. We ducked and her sword made contact with the wood, opening the trap door that was below us. The soldiers just watched as we plunged into the water.
We popped to the surface by a dock and gasped for air.
We made it!
"How can you say I used you?" Jack looked over at Angelica.
"You know exactly how!"
"I know, but how can you say it?"
She made a frustrated noise and we swam up to the dock. Jack and I climbed up so we were sitting on the edge, but she just leaned her arms against it.
"So what is it?" she asked Jack.
"What is what?" he sounded annoyed.
"About the fountain. What do you know?"
Jack drained the water from his boot, "You don't happen to have two silver chalices circa Ponce De Leon, do you?"
"No."
"Ah. Thought not."
"Why?"
"I hear stories. Rumors." he answered evasively, "You are of course, aware of the ritual?"
"Yes I am."
"Mmmm."
I rolled my eyes as I wrung out my hair.
And you aren't.
"What is it?" he finally asked, "What is required?"
I felt a prickling sensation in the back of my neck and reached back to pull out a small dart.
What is that?
"A mermaid, Jack." Angelica smirked.
I saw Jack fall back and then darkness closed in on me too.