Annabelle went ashore with Elizabeth, Jack, and Norrington in a small rowboat. It was a small island, the white sand glaring in the sunlight. Norrington carried the shovels as Elizabeth led the way with Jack's compass. After a few minutes, she tossed it in the sand and thumped onto the ground.

"The compass is broken, Jack. It doesn't point to what you desire most like you said."

Jack eyed the compass, then Elizabeth. "It does, love. You're on it."

Norrington handed Annabelle a shovel and they started digging. Her arm muscles burned within a minute. It was another few minutes before Norrington lowered his shovel to scoop out more of the thick sand, and made a loud clunk. All four of them dropped to their knees and brushed away the sand on top of the object, soon revealed to be a chest. With a bit more effort, they lifted it out. Jack took one of the shovels and used it to break the lock. Inside they found letters, and a dark object underneath. Annabelle and Elizabeth curiously went through the letters as Jack lifted out a smaller chest. To Annabelle, they looked like love letters.

They all leaned in to listen, Annabelle curiously following their lead.

Thump thump.

They flinched back, still gaping at the chest.

"It exists," Elizabeth stated.

"You were actually telling the truth," Norrington murmured.

"Why are people so astonished when I do?" Jack asked.

"Because you're a pirate!" William's shout was heard behind them.

They all turned, Elizabeth running to him and embracing him. Annabelle's shoulders sagged with relief. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Norrington watching the happy couple. His face grew glum as he lowered his eyes.

"How'd you find us?" Jack asked.

"Sea turtles," Will joked. "I actually owe you a bit of gratitude, even though you tricked me into going on that ship in your place, I found my father." *Will was on the Flying Dutchman?*

Elizabeth glared at Jack and stomped towards him. "You lied to me this entire time?"

Will knelt down and withdrew the key from his pocket, about to unlock the chest when Jack drew his sword. Within moments, Will stole Elizabeth's sword, and Norrington drew his. Annabelle and Elizabeth stood there in shock as the men pointed their swords at one another.

"If I let you stab the heart, the Kraken will still roam the seas on the prowl," Jack explained to Will.

"I intend to keep my promise, Jack, and set my father free!" Will declared.

"Beckett desires what's in the chest. If I take it to him, my life will be restored," Norrington argued. His words rang in Annabelle's head: "I plan on finding a way of my own to receive my pardon and restore my life."

The three men sparked into a swordfight, the girls gasping in shock. They followed them as the fight moved further down the shore. Elizabeth began shouting anything she could think of, while Annabelle was still dumbstruck at the men's behavior.

Her questions were now answered. The possession of the heart guaranteed more power than she had imagined, though she still didn't know what kind of power. One thing she knew-they were willing to obtain it for personal gain, regardless of any selfishness or selflessness.

She stood there for a few more moments, wanting to shout like Elizabeth, but since it wasn't doing her any good, she kept quiet.

She heard muffling movements behind her, then saw the source out of the corner of her eye. She turned to see Pintel and Ragetti running off with the chest. She nudged Elizabeth, and they both took off after them, leaving the stubborn men to their quarrel.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~

They chased them all the way into the jungle. "How should we stop them?" Annabelle shouted.

"This way! We'll cut them off infront!"

When they caught up to them, they jumped infront. Pintel and Ragetti stopped. Elizabeth moved her arm to her waist, and all courage dissipated from her face.

"Oops."

Annabelle turned her head to see her reaching for her sword, which was no longer there because Will had taken it, and Annabelle wasn't in possession of one.

The two men grinned evily and drew their swords. The girls slowly stepped back, but were soon distracted by an enormous wheel rolling by, with James and Will dueling on top of it, and Jack running inside it. *What the...?* They watched it pass before backing up a little more, trying to think of their next move. *Oh, boy, what now?*

An ax sliced through the air and stuck in a nearby trunk. The girls turned to see the Flying Dutchman's crew racing towards them. They moved like human men, but resembled sea creatures or parts of coral. Annabelle took one wide-eyed look at the horrifying creatures and took off.

Pintel and Ragetti handed Elizabeth their swords and picked up the chest. They didn't get very far when they ran the chest into a palm tree, causing it to shoot from their hands and fall back to the ground.

The four of them tried to catch their breath as the creatures neared. They all looked at each other and seemed to read each other's minds. They fought off the crew, exchanging Pintel's and Ragetti's swords when necessary. Annabelle was terrified each time the sword was thrown her way. When she first boarded the Pearl, Elizabeth had taught her most of what Will had taught her, but of course she was still very much a beginner. She used her fear to give her power when she yielded the swords, successfully fighting off her attackers.

Eventually, they made their way back to the bright, hot shore. Everyone's attention was diverted momentarily when the wheel rolled out of the jungle, onto the shore, and teetered over into the shallow water. Jack, Will, and Norrington splashed around, muttering something Annabelle thought she probably didn't want to hear.

Elizabeth tossed one of the swords back to Annabelle, and the fighting recommenced. They slowly made their way towards the boat, hoping they could somehow escape soon. Annabelle swung with all her might, trying to remember Elizabeth's instruction. She was surprised she hadn't been hit yet.

She heard Elizabeth scream and she rushed to the boat. Her cousin was leaning over Will, who had been knocked over the head and fell over the boat. Jack and Norrington joined the girls, the creatures surrounding them.

"What now?" Elizabeth gasped.

Norrington grabbed the chest out of the boat. "Everyone get in the boat. They won't let us out of here if we take the chest."

"What are you doing?" Annabelle cried.

Norrington quickly placed a hand on her arm, his breath brushing her cheek. "Go," he said in a low voice. "You'll be safer with them."

With that, he tore towards the crew, drawn sword in one hand, the chest tucked under his other arm. Annabelle tried to lunge forward as she shouted after him, but he ordered her to go.

Norrington swung his sword at the creatures, his heart pounding. He didn't want to leave her behind, but he also did not want her to have to face Davy Jones. He couldn't live with himself should something happen to her. Elizabeth may not have been his to protect anymore, but he could at least protect someone else dear to the Governor.

Elizabeth pulled Annabelle into the boat with the others and they rowed to the Pearl as fast as they could. Annabelle tried to get up, but was held down by her cousin and Jack, watching helplessly as Norrington was outnumbered by Davy Jones's crew.