Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
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Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Squirrel's Best
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Chapter 11: For You, Sparrow
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I grew silent as we continued our trip to the Bayous. I refused to look at Elizabeth and Will couldn't meet her eye either. The river in the Bayous was misty and it seemed as if the world already knew of the death of Captain Jack Sparrow. Mourners hummed a deep solemn song as they held their candles. I stared straight ahead and sat close to the bow of the long boat. Poppins remained silent on my back. We docked and I was the first to rise, brushing off the help of Will. I walked up the stepladder and straight into Tia Dalma's arms. She embraced me and my arms hung limply at my side.
"I know child." And she ushered us in. I sat, rigid and unmoving, even as she draped a blanket around my shoulders. She studied me for a moment. "Where did ye get dat dress?" she asked gently.
"Jack," I finally said, "had traded Will and I to Davy Jones. It was Jones who gave it to me and said I reminded him of someone he once knew." She chuckled sorrowfully.
"Aye, I can see that." I didn't have the heart to question her. Will took a seat beside me and resorted to stabbing the table with the knife his father gave him in the place of pure silence. Tia left shortly and returned with a small tray. She offered it to Elizabeth, who shook her head. "Against de cold, and de sorrow." Tia urged. Elizabeth accepted and took a mug. The voodoo witch doctor came to Will and me. "It's a shame. I know you're t'inking that wid the Pearl, you coulda captured the devil and set free your father's soul." Will set a mug in my hands and took one for himself.
"Doesn't matter now. The Pearl's gone. Along with its captain." The knife struck the wood and he did not make a move to retrieve it again.
"Aye." Gibbs said from his stance at the door. "And already the world seems a bit less bright." Pintel and Ragetti took the offered drinks. "He fooled us all right to the end. But I guess that honest streak finally won out." I looked to Will and scoffed ever so slightly, so only he would notice. "To Jack Sparrow!" He held out his mug.
"Never another like Captain Jack." Ragetti tried to keep himself composed and my heart warmed a little to his honesty.
"He was a gentleman of fortune, he was." Pintel swallowed, letting volume hide his sadness.
"He was a good man." Elizabeth toasted, not looking at anyone.
"To you, my love." I said softly, knowing they could all hear me. We drank and I saw from the corner of my eye that she did not. Will looked at Elizabeth and I could feel his bitterness and anger slip away, like it always did. I shut my eyes, knowing that he felt that Elizabeth loved Jack.
"If there was anything could be done to bring him back…" He rose, "Elizabeth."
"Would you do it?" Tia Dalma asked suddenly, almost desperately. "Hmmm? What… would you? Hmmm?" She looked from Elizabeth to me, then the rest of us. "What would any of you be willing to do?" She came to me. "Hmmm? Would you sail to the ends of the eart', and beyond, to fetch back witty Jack and 'im precious Pearl?" I stared up at her.
"Aye." Gibbs looked to us.
"Aye." Pintel rose, a look of fierce determination on his face.
"Aye." Ragetti swallowed, standing with his comrade.
"Awwk! Aye." Cotton's parrot squawked.
"Yes." Elizabeth wiped her face.
"Aye." Will's voice was soft.
"Anything." I whispered.
"Alright. But if you're goin' brave de weird, and haunted shores, at world's end, den... you will need a captain who knows dose waters." We heard the heavy footsteps of well-made, leather boots and I moved closer. Barbossa grinned.
"So tell me, what's become of my ship?" He bit into a green apple and Jin cried out at the sight of more people. I dropped my mug and began to laugh.
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Okay. Really, really short. But it's cool. Because chapter 1 of Are We There Yet? Will be up tomorrow! Aw-right!
Reviews are Love,
The Idiot Author.
