I stood guard over my niece, ready to spring if anything happened. I might not be able to protect my own daughter right now but I could look after Hayden for Jack. Elizabeth was in the corner of the room. Sao had brought her along for some random reason.
"By this time tomorrow we will arrive at Shipwreck Cove and you will be free, Calypso," I kept my poker face as Sao walked into the room, burying the dislike I held for this man while Hayden watched him with a cold dignity, "Not the name you fancy, I imagine, out of the many that you have. But it is what we call you."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth asked him, "Who's Calypso?"
He ignored her, "The Brethren Court, not I, the first Brethren Court, whose position I would have opposed, bound you to human form, so the rule of the seas would belong to men and not..."
"To whom it truly belongs. The goddess who owns it and her father," Hayden really was a great actress.
"But one such as you should never be anything less that what you are."
"What pretty, hollow words," Hayden smirked easily, glancing over at Elizabeth who nodded in agreement. Maybe those two could get along...
"Can I be blamed for my efforts? All men are drawn to the sea, perilous though it may be."
"Lovely, but all false. Men often use desire as a shield to hide their crimes."
He held his hands up in surrender, "I offer simply my desire."
"You want something."
"I would have your gifts, should you choose to give them."
"And what if I say no?" her eyes went cold and dark.
"Then I will take your fury!" He grabbed her and kissed her. Hayden reeled back and punched him in the face. Then an explosion tore apart the room. When the air cleared. I found Hayden kneeling over Sao Feng, dying from bloodloss, a piece of wood impaled through his body. I winced and sent a prayer to my great uncle for his soul.
"Captain," Hayden gently touched his face, "May Charon guide you to the Afterlife and Lord Hades care for you."
"Here...please," he gave her his necklace, my eyes widening in realization, "With all nine pieces of eight, you will be free. Take it! You are captain now. Go in my place to Shipwreck Cove."
"I will, Captain."
Tai Huang ran it, "Captain the ship is taken, we cannot..."
"Forgive me, Calypso," he whispered as he died.
"What did he tell you?" Tai Huang demanded.
"He passed on the piece of eight," she said softly, closing his eyes respectfully, "I wish he had been given the chance to die honorably in battle."
Tai Huang gaped at her, "Why?"
"He was a good pirate and one of the Nine. He deserved better," she stood, "I know I'm not the Captain you chose, but I promise to do right by you and the men, Tai Huang."
He nodded, not looking happy but willing to listen. She smiled calmly, "Let's get up there and defend the ship."
I followed the two, Elizabeth beside me, until a familiar voice caused me to freeze just in the door, "You!"
*Hayden's POV*
"Heya, Norrington," I couldn't help but grin, "How ye doin'?"
"What are you doing here?"
"She captain now," Tai Hunag said simply, voice strained with grief and panic as the fishman held a knife to his throat. I stayed stioll not to anger the one threatening myself.
"Captain?" He squawked.
"Yep. Guess what? I've got a surprise for you!"
"Who are ye?" Davy Jones tried to tower over me.
"I'm Captain Hayden Sparrow, bitch," I snarled, "One of your great-granddaughters. Charlie, the one related to ye by blood, is off bein' trained to take her position. Your girl," I addressed Norrington, "Actually."
"My-" his eyes widened, "She's alive?"
"Aye an' ye didn't leave the best impression with the whole drinkin' and snarkin'. Or the accusations 'bout the brand."
"JAMES NORRINGTON! WHAT DID YOU DO?" Aunt Abby stormed out from below decks, "I COME BACK FROM THE DEAD TO FIND OUT YOU'VE SIDED WITH CUTLER BECKETT? DON'T YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE IS?"
"A-Abby?" His voice broke.
"YES!" Aunt's dark eyes flashed, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?"
"Take the prisoners to the brig!" Mercer shouted and stared at her, "Well, Mrs. Norrington, it seems your family is full of surprises."
She spit on him, "Go to hell! I remember who murdered me!"
"Wow, is our family dysfunctional!" I told my great-grandfather cheerfully, "We should totally have a reunion! That'd be one for the memory books!"
"BRIG!" Mercer all but screamed.
"Are you crazy?" was the first thing Tai Huang asked me when we had been locked up.
"Yep."
"It's a requirement," Aunt Abby said, a sour look still on her face. She hadn't gotten to finish yelling at the idiot.
"Aunt Abby-"
"I think James was in shock," Fishlips began to laugh, "I've never seen him like that before!"
"Honestly, Lizzie, it ain't funny."
She sobered, "I guess you're right."
"'Guess' I'm right?"
"Girls! Stop it now!" Aunt yelled.
"Yes, ma'am," I gulped, much to Tai Huang's amusement, "What? She's scary!"
My new crew all chuckled a bit at my expense while my aunt prowled and paced like an enraged lioness. Elizabeth was asking random fishcrew members, "Bootstrap?" and royally ticking me off.
"Stop that!" I snapped.
A man separated himself from the wall suddenly, "Bootstrap. You know my name?"
"Yes," she replied, giving me a triumphant smirk, "I know your son. Will Turner. We know him."
"William!" He laughed, "He made it, he's alive! And now he sends you to tell me that he's coming to get me. Godspoons! He's on his way."
"Yes, Will is alive. And he wants to help you."
"More like obsessed, mate," I grinned affectionately.
Bootstrap's face fell, "He can't help me, he won't come."
"But you're his father," Fishlips blinked.
He pointed at her. "I know you, he spoke of you. He can't come because of you."
"Me?"
"You're Elizabeth."
"Yes, I'm Elizabeth," she said slowly, confused.
"If Jones be slain, he who slays him must take his place. Captain forever. The Dutchman must always have a captain. If he saves me, he loses you."
"Not me. Not anymore," she shook her head and pointed at me, "He loses her, now."
I gaped at her while Bootstrap kept talking, phasing himself back into the wall, "He won't pick me. I wouldn't pick me. Tell him not to come. Tell him to stay away. It's too late. I'm already a part of the ship."
"Bootstrap," She murmured gently.
"You know my name!" He stared at us.
"Yes, I know your son," Fishlips repeated herself.
"William! He's coming, wait and see, he promised!" He smiled again.
"Oh, God," I whispered, "He's almost lost. He can't take this existence so he's lettin' the ship take over."
I looked up when the cell door clanged open and Aunt Abby asked, "James?"
"Abby!" He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
"Yo! Fishy dudes'll catch us if we don't move, Uncle Jimmy!" I pulled the two out of the brig with my crew, "Jesus, guys, we need t' get t' the Cove!"
"We cannot go to Shipwreck Cove. Beckett knows of the meeting of the Brethren. I fear there may be a traitor among them," Uncle James told me.
"All a part of the plan," Aunt Abby and I said together, "Beckett's screwed."
His eyebrow shot up to make the same expression I was so used to seeing, "So Charlie did get the eyebrow from you!"
Aunt Abby burst out laughing, "Really?"
"Aye," I stopped when we reached the back of the ship.
"JUMP!" she pushed us over and followed after cutting the line.
"ABBY!"
"Sayanora, suckers!"
*Charlie's POV*
Gran moved around me, making sure my dress fit properly. The shimmering blue fabric, a gift from my great-great grandfather, looked like the sea on a calm day. Gran had made it in the Ancient Roman style, fastened at my shoulders with two coral buttons, sleeves dangling down to my wrists and held together with coral bracelets. A long strand of pearls hung about my neck and almost completed the look. But something was missing...
"My lady!" A mermaid-one of those still loyal to Poseidon-floated at the surface of the small cove in my rooms. The Princess's Quaters were at the very bottom of Shipwreck Cove and built in an old sea cave that still opened up to the sea.
"Call me Charlie," I knelt down so I could be at eye level with her. She had braided shells and pearls into her hair and wore a top made f what looked to be seaweed.
"I bring a gift for you," she held out a small package.
I took it and opened it delicately to find a perfectly made seashell tiara. Grand ad I both gasped, "Thank you! It's beautiful!"
"You're welcome, Princess," she smiled and disappeared beneath the waves.
Gran settled the tiara into my mass of short braids, "You're perfect."
"Thank you, Gran," I murmured then said in a clear, strong voice, "I'm ready."