Alright! We've reached the desired amount of reviews, and here I am, updating! Special thanks to: grapejuice101, XantheXV, and FeltonLover2010 for reviewing!
(did you hear they might be making 5th PoTC? I heard they were making the 5th and 6th back-to-back! Awesomesauce, right? The only problem is, they're not sure the director/producer of the other PoTC films wants to do it. Sad, right?)
So, remember how I said that I'd be making some changes to Adelaine's life in the 'Random Authors Note'? Yeah. Well here's the first chapter that gives you a hint about it.
Disclaimer: I do not own PoTC or any of the original characters beside Adelaine and 'The Prometheus Weed'.
Enjoy!
Chapter nine
Adelaine pulled the rope taut, the abrasive threads digging into her palms. The rope made an X over and around the pin, then wrapped around the base, pulled through the wraps and yanked down as hard as possible, securing the lines for the crew in the rigging. Adelaine looked up and rapped her knuckles against the main mast.
"All clear White!" she called and a shark-man saluted and pulled himself with strong leathery arms up the ropes. The rope swiftly spun beneath her fingers as Adelaine tied the next one. A shadow fell over her and her head snapped up to see her father next to her, tying the rest of the life lines. Adelaine reached out a hand and tried to stop him. "No, its okay I don't need any help." Bootstrap stopped working and lowered his hands. "I need to talk to you," he said in a hushed voice. Adelaine looked around them and stepped forward, lowering her voice as well. "About?"
"A way for you to escape the Dutchman."
Adelaine held her hand up, stopping him from saying anything more.
"No. I'm not abandoning Will. We need to find the key." Bootstrap pushed her hand down and leaned in. "William will find the key on his own. You can help him as much as you can while on board, but promise me you will leave at the first chance." Adelaine raised an eyebrow.
"And how exactly do you imagine me doing that?"
"With the Prometheus Weed."
"The what?"
"The Prometheus Weed. It's a plant that will help you breathe underwater, allowing you to stay under for a long amount of time."
"Well that's…helpful. I guess. How do you expect me to get one?"
"The library."
"A library? On the Flying Dutchman? You've got to be kidding me," Adelaine scoffed, rolling her eyes and folding her arms over her chest. She highly doubted that any bloody being on this rotting tub wanted to read, much less even knew how to read. Bootstrap shook his head. "I'm being honest with you. In the captain's quarters is a small library, about three shelves maximum. On the third shelf, look for a book labeled Aquatic Plants. It should be under there."
"A weed? In a book?"
"I'm not sure where the weed is, I just know there's one aboard this ship. There are rumors that Jones slid a map leading to it between the pages, but that's as far as my knowledge goes."
"How do I get in?"
"Through the door."
"You know that's not what I meant."
"When the captain is out or when he's sleeping."
"He takes naps?"
"Yes."
"And you expect me to sneak in his cabin, while he's sleeping, and look for something you're not even sure is there?"
"Yes."
"You're insane."
"So they say."
Adelaine sighed and rubbed her temple. "Fine. But don't expect me to do it immediately."
Bootstrap leaned forward and put a grisly hand on her shoulder. "Promise me, once you get the weed, you'll escape as soon as possible."
Adelaine sighed again.
"Fine. I promise."
Will appeared next to them with light footsteps, arms crossed over his chest and a thoughtful expression on his face as he watched two crew members play a game of dice. Bootstrap went to stand on his other side in a similar position. "Wondering how it's played?"
Will shook his head. "I understand. It's a game of deception. The game includes all the dice, not just your own. What are they waging?" Bootstrap clucked his tongue and shook his head sadly.
"The only thing we have: years of service."
Adelaine leaned in, her hazel eyes focusing intently on the board. "So anyone can be challenged?"
"Aye."
Adelaine turned her eyes to peer upward at her brother, who had a mischievous smirk twitching at his mouth.
"Will…" she warned, but he ignored her.
"I challenge Davy Jones."
Adelaine face-palmed.
The crew became silent, the jittering and cheering of the previous dice game gone, all eyes on Will. The dice cups on the low wooden table rattled as the thump of Jones' peg leg came limping down the stairs. His slimy, octopus face appeared under the blue, barnacle encrusted tri-corn that sat firmly atop his pale head, and he smirked at Will. "I accept. The stakes?"
"My soul. An eternity of servitude." Adelaine's jaw dropped with a popping sound. You're a moron, William. Jones chuckled and narrowed his eyes. "Against?"Will stepped forward and threw the drawing of the key down onto the table. "I want this."
Jones reached out with his clawed hand and slowly unfolded it, then stared at it aghast as ripples of chatter flew through the observing crew. Jones' smirk fell into an angry frown and he leaned forward, whispering to Will "How do you know of the key?"
Will smirked and slowly sat down. "That's not part of the game now, is it?" Jones snarled and sat down opposite from him, reaching under his tentacle beard with a single tendril and pulling out something metal. The key. Adelaine bit her lip to keep from laughing. He keeps the key to his heart in his beard? That's not very hygienic.
Bootstrap sat down at Jones' left with a thunk of his own dice cup. Jones sneered. "What's this?"
"I'm in, matching his wager."
Will locked his father in his gaze. "No. Don't do this." Adelaine smirked slyly and grabbed a nearby mug, slamming it onto the table. "I match it as well."
Jones eyed them all over before breaking into deep laughter. "Well ain't this fine. The whole Turner family. This should be fun." Will turned to Adelaine and frowned. "Adelaine, no." She rolled her eyes and ignored him.
"Die's cast. I bet three two's. It's your bid, Captain."
Jones sneered at her before making his bet. "Four four's." It was Will's turn. "Four five's."
On to Bootstrap. "Six three's."
Back to Adelaine. "Six seven's."
"Seven five's."
"Eight five's."
Jones threw his head back and laughed. "Welcome to the crew lad."
"Twelve five's."
All heads snapped around to stare at Bootstrap. "Twelve five's. Call me a liar, I upped the bid." Adelaine winced and out of the corner of her eye she saw Will stiffen. Jones scowled and knocked Bootstrap's cup off the table, revealing all the dice. "Bootstrap Bill, you're a liar and you will spend an eternity on this ship." He then whirled to face Adelaine and her brother. "Little Turners, feel free to go ashore. The minute the next time we make port." He broke off his sentence into loud guffawing, and Adelaine and Will shared a hopeless glance. As if the Flying Dutchman would ever make port. Will's eyebrows furrowed angrily and he turned on his father as Adelaine nonchalantly leaned back and kicked her feet up onto the small table.
"You fool. Why did you do that?"
Bootstrap sighed. "Because you would have lost."
Adelaine snickered as she examined her dirty fingernails. "It was never about winning or losing. We just wanted to know where it was.
Did you guys enjoy it? Do you like the idea of the 'Prometheus Weed'? I hope so...
So, anyway, I heard of the idea to do this in other stories, so I thought 'why not', so here I am, doing it.
The thing is, I'm feeling abnormally generous (heehee) so here's my proposition. If I get 3 reviews, the 3rd reviewer gets a bonus chapter. So if you are the 3rd reviewer, send me a PM saying what you'd like to see happen in an upcoming chapter (it can't be in a scene in a movie, its an entire chapter dedicated to what you'd like to see happen.)
If I get 5 reviews, I'll post the bonus chapter immediately as soon as I open the New Review e-mail. Savvy? 'Cause you know, I don't have to upload the bonus chapter immediatley xD
I actually think this is a cool idea. I'm looking forward to seeing what you want to happen =D So get reviewin'!
~Spidey