Elizabeth, here, soaking in the waters of Tortuga where blood and various other pirate fluids had spilled. This dream was strange enough. He ought to ask her to slap him and wake him up. And yet, those raw marks from rope ties and the tiredness of her eyes told him: this was no dream of his making. Quite a nightmare really. He looked her up and down with concern. But the thought of asking real Elizabeth if she was all right died on his lips. Fate hadn't brought her here for him. He wouldn't be made a fool again. "My Pearl, on that ship?" He pointed upwards, "You're certain?"

"I saw it with my own two eyes," Elizabeth tread water. "It's in his quarters, on a shelf over his desk."

"Right," Jack nodded. "I assume, what with the tossing overboard, that you're considered dead?" He handed her the rope that was tied to the dock. "Mister Gibbs is on the wharf, take the ladder behind the barrels. Pull yourself up and he'll keep watch."

She took the rope, her cold hand stalling a second over his ringed fingers. In that moment he admired what a tiny thing it was. "I want to help."

"You're dead, love, the dead can't help. Trust me." He began to climb the rope towards the deck.

"Jack!" Elizabeth plead.

"Ah. Shouldn't there be a Captain in there?" He smiled at her for a second before returning to his task.

"Infuriating man!" She huffed as she watched his form slip deftly over the side. "…Be careful."


So far, so good. Not a body in sight. Well, sans the uglies that were keeping watch near the gangplank. Captain Jack crept as they argued.

"I won them coins fair and square!" Said the smelly one.

"No ye didn't ye bloody bilge rat!" Said the square one.

Jack swiftly knocked their heads together, gaining the coin purse in question as they collapsed on deck. "Well, gentlemen, it would appear that you're both wrong."


Ragetti was running about town like a chicken with his head cut off. In fact, he almost lost said head when he stuck it into a rather shady business deal. He narrowly avoided the knife thrown at him. Jack, oh, where was Jack?! He must have ran the length of the shops by now…

Heading back towards the boat, he spied a pretty redhead. Jack liked pretty girls, didn't he? "Have you seen Jack?" His question was loaded with hope.

She observed how his feet danced with the query, as if he were on a jog. "Might've." She brought her hand to his cheek, which stilled him. "What's in it for me?"

Ragetti swallowed against his dry throat. "I ain't got no money, Miss. If that be what yer after."

Sighing, she took her hand from him and placed it under her suddenly bored chin. "None of you ever do. Not very good at your jobs, are you?"

"Trying to get better!" Ragetti spoke optimistically.

"Aren't you the cute one," she smiled. "I like you, so I'll let you in on a little secret. I saw him heading for the docks."

"Oh! Thank you, Miss!" He kissed her cheek gratefully, before speeding off.

She held her hand there in surprise. How could such an innocent pirate exist? She chuckled with a wave, "Good luck!"


"Pintel."

"Yes Cap'n?" the man spoke from several feet behind.

"Which one is he?"

"The, er, one with a tattoo on his neck, sir."

"Of a seal?"

"Something like that."

The captain's eyes scanned the crowd, growing wary. "I see no such man." His hand lingered on the sword at his side. "You wouldn't be lying to me now, would you?"

"'Course not, sir!" Pintel shrugged as the dark-haired man advanced on him.

"I don't like liars. You saw what happened to that cabin boy, didn't you?"

"Indeed I did, sir." Pintel found himself pressed against a ramshackle wall. "It's only- that I-"

"That you what?" Blackbeard's face was inches from his.

"That I forgot to mention that he's a barkeep!" Pintel coughed out as he saw the man with a mermaid on his neck manning the bar.

Blackbeard turned his head, noting the tattoo. "So he is." He looked back. "And that is not a seal. Next time you report to me, get your details in order."

"Yes Cap'n," he nodded. As soon as Blackbeard approached the bar, Pintel shot out the door. Or, more precisely, into Ragetti.

"Ragetti, you idiot! Watch where yer goin'!"

"Sorry!" The man in question rubbed his noggin. "I've got to get back to the docks!"

"'s fine by me! I'll beat you there myself once Cap'n discovers the man I told him about is a myth!"

The two gave each other a worried look and kicked rocks towards the wharf.


"Miss Elizabeth!" Joshamee Gibbs' eyes widened as he noted the drenched creature crawling onto the dock. "What're you doing here?"

"Long story, Mister Gibbs." Elizabeth sloshed into a seat beside him. "The gist of it is that the Black Pearl is aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge. Jack, of course, is going to rescue his ship. Hopefully, we can hightail it out of here before an untimely, and might I add, rather dreadful demise."

Mr. Gibbs frowned, showing his yellow teeth. "Aye. Ain't it always the way?"

She gave a laugh out her nose.

The two turned at the sound of thunderous footfalls on the dock. "Pintel! Ragetti!" Elizabeth's head peeked up from behind the barrels.

"He's comin'!" Pintel shouted, "Cap'n's on his way!"

"Shit." Elizabeth cursed as Joshamee flushed at the unlady-like behavior. She turned her eyes towards the boat in anticipation. "Come on, Jack, come on!"


There it was, a little ship in a bottle. His little Pearl. Jack marveled at what magic could keep it in such condition. Blackbeard would prove to be a deadly foe if he was able to wield this. Jack was about to snatch the glass up when he wondered if a trap were set. He felt the weight of the pilfered coin pouch in his left hand. He eyed the bottle. If there were any triggers in place, that should offset it. "Sorry," his mouth twitched at the inanimate pouch. Quick as a wink, he tossed the bag in place of the bottle, grasping his ship at the same time. "Aha!" He smiled.

A whistle, a bird unknown to this island, sounded from the window of Blackbeard's quarters. Mister Gibbs' signal. "Back already, are we?" Jack turned on his heel, carrying the bottle with both hands towards the back of the ship.


Soon Elizabeth, Joshamee, Pintel, and Ragetti were all lined up behind the barrels.

"My leg's stickin' out!" Ragetti squirmed, "He's gonna see it!"

"No he ain't, ye lily liver!"

"Both of you better shut yer mouths or we'll all be seen!" Mr. Gibbs' admonished. As soon as they quieted, he followed Elizabeth's suit and watched the ship for signs of Jack.

"Blackbeard!" Ragetti quivered silently as the angry man stomped up the wharf towards the gangplank.

Elizabeth fought every to scream, Get out of there, Jack! Even if her voice couldn't, her mind was. She had come so close. Traveled so far. Faced torture and death. After all that, she'd only spent a second with the man who had haunted her dreams enough to inspire this adventure to begin with! That smug, stupid pirate. Her lips became a fine line. There had to be more time. There just had to.


Jack was moving as swiftly as possible without dropping the tiny Pearl. How was one supposed to go about getting their vessel back in working order? Was there some sort of bibbidi-bobbidi-boo?

"What are you doing aboard my ship?" A voice growled.

Oh, well, no time to figure it out. Might as well go with his first instinct. Jack tossed the Pearl over the stern. If he wasn't right, bottles would float- wouldn't they?

"Just taking a stroll, really. Lovely craftsmanship," Jack trailed a finger on the wood. It came up spotless, much to his surprise.

"Would you like to admire the craftsmanship of my sword as well?" Blackbeard extracted his long blade, prepared to run the intruder through.

Jack looked on with a wince, "I'm not one to examine swords, mate."

Blackbeard gave a battle cry as he ran forward.


"Look, there!" Ragetti cried, "It's the Pearl!"

"What in the name of-," Pintel squinted, "it's growing on the water!"

"Praise be!" Mr. Gibbs grinned, "We've got a ship!" He turned to his crewmates, "And I've got just the dingy to get us there. Come on."

While the rest of the crew rushed to the rowboat, Elizabeth's concern was elsewhere. She was startled when Mr. Gibbs grabbed her hand. "He'll be all right. He's Captain Jack Sparrow." Through the quirk of his lips she could see his well-veiled apprehension. "Come on."

At that, Elizabeth followed suit.


Blackbeard's sword rammed into the side of his ship as Jack dodged. This gave the pirate a second to realize he was once again in command of the Pearl. "It's back!" Jack beamed as he noted the black vessel sitting pretty in the waves.

"No!" Blackbeard yelled as he extracted his sword. "How'd you get yer hands on that?"

"A little birdy told me." Jack raised his sword to meet the next blow. "Speaking of which, I have to get back to that Swann. Er, whatever she is now. If you'll excuse me-"

"You're not going anywhere." Blackbeard thrust his sword. Jack parried until he was up against the rail. At Blackbeard's next move, Jack flipped over the rail, aiming for the sea. This act earned him a slice to the midsection that would make it much harder to swim to the dingy. Harder, but not impossible.

"I'll get you for this!" The angry pirate yelled from the stern of his ship. "You and everyone you've ever loved!"

So, just me then? Jack formulated the words in his head, but the blow to his stomach kept him from speaking. For now, he would concentrate on swimming.