Epilogue: Captain Jack Sparrow

"…Turns out not even Jack Sparrow can best the devil…"

A silent shadowed figure sat on the other end of Davy Jones large barnacle encrusted table, it's red eyes glowing in the darkness of the cabin. It had no need of clothes, its lower torso was the cloven hooves of a goat, with brown fur. Small goat horns adorned its head. A goatee, though not visible on it's face now as it was bathed in shadow, completed the hair on it's face, along with a crop of thick black curls.

"So Pan," Davy Jones intoned, using the name he favored most for the man, he was never easy with his rival. "What brings you upon my humble ship." He gave a mocking smile, his eyes glinting in the odd light morphed by the sea and flickering within the cabin through the windows.

"Come now brother," Pan said, in a friendly voice leaning forward so Jones had full view of his face. His voice was rough and velvety his red eyes glowed. "For that is what we are really isn't it.

"I was a man before this," Jones said, indicating his appearance, his octopus head, distorted features, the tentacles that formed his beard. "But what were you I wonder. A man also perhaps, deformed, cast from your fellow men for it." He held Pan's gaze, his voice taking on almost a story telling tune. He did not know what had turned Pan into what he was, but he was quite sure that he was not always it.

Pan tore his gaze away from Jones, his face revealing nothing, whether Davy was right or not, he probably would never know. "That is the question now isn't it?" Pan said, a smirk curling his lips.

Now what is it you want?" Jones asked leaning back in his carved and twisted chair. "A chat perhaps, a talk about the business." He snorted at his own joke, Pan simply ignored him.

"Actually," Pan said, "I came here about Sparrow."

"Ah," Jones said, narrowing his eyes. "Is that it Pan, hm? Jack Sparrow?"

"I think he likes to be called Captain, just as I dislike being called Pan," he replied, giving a humorless smile.

"If wishes were ships," Jones said, smiling coldly. "So what is it about Sparrow that has brought you onto my ship?"

He saw how Pan was tense, his finger twirling his goatee, he was not comfortable on the sea, just as Davy wasn't comfortable on land. Opposites the both of them, but they were both needed, on land and on sea.

"His soul," Pan leaned in and whispered, Jones stilled from rolling his eyes, Pan was always for dramatics.

"Is it now," Jones said, cocking his head and feigning interest, he lighted his pipe, "And what would you want with his soul, seeing as he belongs to the sea."

"Ah," Pan said, "Now that is the interesting part isn't it. Jack Sparrow escaped being claimed from you because it wasn't his time. Then guess what the bold fellow does on land hm?"

Jones kept silent puffing his pipe in Pan's face, Pan made a distasteful face and turned away. "You were saying," Jones said, raising his eye brows innocently.

"He died," Pan said Jones started, looking at Pan to show he was tricking Jones, he appeared not to be though, just smiled smugly.

"Yes," he continued, "He died. Now we all know, whoever dies on land is mine, those that die at sea are yours." Pan leant back into his seat, "But we also know that some men are fated to die on sea or land, they've got too much of it in them to not have one or the other as their final resting place."

"Jack belongs to the sea," Jones hissed at the thought of being cheated from the man's soul again. "His soul belongs to me." He put out his pipe, tapping it against the table smartly. His tentacles coiled with his anger, writhing.

"Well it also will belong to me now too," Pan said.

"Will?" Jones questioned, catching the use of phrase.

"Aye," Pan said, narrowing his eyes, "You see he cheated death a second time, with Fates help. Apparently it still isn't his time. But now he owes a debt to both of us, his soul."

"It's mine," Jones snapped.

"Our's," Pan corrected his eyes glowing brighter, "It's ours."

"You can't share a soul," Jones spluttered, Pan was annoying him more then usual.

"You are right of course," he said inclining his head. "But maybe we could play for it."

Jones narrowed his eyes then laughed, "I see," he said. "Liars Dice, seeing as you be on my ship."

"A compromise perhaps," Pan said, taking out a pair of dice, "Whoever rolls the first six wins."

Jones bristled at this, knowing he would have the advantage with Liar's Dice, but his eyes crinkled at a new thought.

"Play with our own dice then," he said not revealing his thoughts, he slipped a dice from his pocket, Pan inclined his head, putting away one dice into his belt pouch.

Watching each other they shook the dice, each blowing into their cupped hands, they let them roll. The dice came together in the middle of the table, Davy Jones slightly wet, Pan's slightly singed. They both rolled a six.

"Again I suppose," Pan smiled, Jones smiled back with equal deviousness. They rolled again, and the same result occurred.

"Again then I suppose," Jones growled, his patience coming to an end. For a third time they rolled, the dice bouncing slowly along the table top, and each coming to rest six small black dots facing up.

Jones stood up his chair falling to the floor, his tentacles writhing once more. "You cheated," he growled to Pan, who was also standing his red eyes blazing.

"You cheated," Pan said in the same accusing tone. They both knew they had each cheated, it was no secret, what could you expect from two devils after all, even though they ruled over opposite places they were more alike then they cared to believe.

"Fine," Pan said silkily, "I suppose that's how we'll have to play it."

"Aye," Jones replied, "A challenge then, to see who will get Sparrows soul in the end."

"At his end," Pan corrected, smiling cruelly. "Yes I suppose it is."

The devil of the sea and the devil of the land standing across the table from each other, did not seem to find it odd that they had not even asked the person whose soul was concerned upon the matter. They had not even though of such a thing. For if they had they would have probably found that Jack Sparrow would want neither of them to get his soul for a very long time, preferably never.

J.S

Elizabeth sat upon the beach, the tears running down her face, the sobs racking her body. The rum bottle lay at her feet, she had cast it onto the sand once reaching it, not wanting to look at it again. Jack had not resurfaced, an hour or so had passed. For half of it she had been screaming his name, diving, trying to find him, but nothing had answered she was alone upon the island. Elizabeth knew that after Fate had released Jack, just like her, the water would have hit him, and she remembered what he had said before, there was no point in trying. There was no hope, either way Jack wasn't coming back.

It was too dark to row back to the Black Pearl floating in the deeper water, she didn't want to anyway, not now. She didn't know what to do anymore, she'd come all this way….now she was completely alone, where she had begun. It all didn't seem to matter the rum bottle, the fighting, the knowledge that she knew when it came to it she would take up a sword and defend herself again, despite what she knew could follow, which was the death of a person at her hands.

Elizabeth just sat and cried for Jack, without any hope left, without any will to fight anymore. It all just seemed so pointless, Will was probably dead, and now Jack was too.

"The sirens can do that to you," a hoarse voice sounded behind her. Elizabeth turned listlessly without any real thought, to face the person who had spoken.

A rather wet Jack stood before her, dripping water onto the sand, looking rather unhappy about all the water, which had managed to soak into him.

"Jack?" she cried.

"Captain love," he said grinning and showing his gold teeth, "It's Captain Jack Sparrow. Just because I haven't reminded you in a while doesn't mean you can just forget."

Elizabeth cried out, throwing himself at him and squeezing him in a hug. He stood there rather awkwardly, not being one for hugs, and finally patted her on the head for want of anything better to do.

"Now you've made me wetter then before," he grumbled.

Elizabeth laughed, looking at him, it seemed like an age since she had laughed. She felt happiness fill her at the sight of him, and not just because he was standing before her, but because he was alive. More alive then he had been in ages, the shadow had almost disappeared completely, and his eyes sparkled once more with inner mischief and life. He was Captain Jack Sparrow again and Elizabeth drunk up the sight like a person who was thirsting.

"What took you so long," she reprimanded, hitting him gently on the chest.

"Oh," Jack exclaimed, his eyes widening in fake innocence. "Lizzy love don't tell me you were crying because you thought I was dead."

Elizabeth scrunched up her nose, making a face at him. "Flattered are you?" she asked.

"Actually I'm insulted," Jack said, waggling his eye brows, "How could you even think that I would let something as trifling as a few sirens kill me."

"Oh really," Elizabeth said, raising her eyebrows and banishing the thought of Jack struggling to breathe. "Is that what you think."

"It's the truth," Jack leant closer and whispered in her ear.

"Jack Sparrow I was under the impression you never told the truth," Elizabeth questioned.

"Only when it's good for you love," Jack grinned, "Otherwise I'm a temple of honesty." He curled his moustache and striked a pose, somewhat marred by the fact he was dripping.

"I'll start a fire then shall I," he sighed, taking off his hat and emptying it of water.

"I'll get the wood," she agreed, "And the food and rum."

"I think this time I'll be in charge of the rum," Jack quickly said, making all haste towards the boat, Elizabeth smiled as she looked after him.

J.S

Elizabeth lay upon the beach the fire flickering and warming. She felt content, her belly filled with food from the boat, and with warm rum which on her past adventures she had grown to like well enough though not love. The soft sand acted as a mattress, the breeze blew the smoke from the fire away from herself. The moon and shining stars caused the soft sea to twinkle as if thousands of little diamonds were just below the surface. She felt younger then she had since the war began, though the wounds were still there they were beginning to heal. She had the bottle in full tact safely within her grasp and she knew that she was going to start on her journey to find Will in the morning, she was no longer helpless.

Jack came over and sat down beside her, watching the flames.

"Jack?" she asked, he only murmured in reply. "What took you so long to resurface?"

Jack grinned at her, "Well you don't miss a thing," he said. "Fate wanted to have a little chat with me, and I've decided Lizzy that I will accompany you on your quest to find Will."

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, she had thought he would anyway, but she didn't know why.

"Well because it's honourable and good an' all that…" Jack trailed off at Elizabeth's look and sighed. "Cause Fate may have mentioned something bout a treasure of a sort at the end."

"Gold?" Elizabeth queried, Jack merely shrugged and Elizabeth let it lie. She fiddled with her chain absently looking into the flames.

"It was a good thing you did back there," Jack said, his voices quiet.

"It was the only thing I could do," Elizabeth replied. "I wasn't about to give up Will."

"No," Jack said, his voice thoughtful, "You wouldn't do that. A person forgets sometimes though…with the war and all."

Curiosity tugged at Elizabeth but she held her tongue, Jack was awfully quiet and thoughtful and she did not want to ruin the peace. Jack glanced at her though, catching her eye.

"Fine," he sighed, "Go on ask it then, what happened to you Jack."

"I don't sound like that," Elizabeth protested the high voice he put on. "And I suppose I got the hint after everyone told me, to wait until you want to tell me."

"I save some officers," Jack said, his voice quiet, "You know doing a good deed an all, their ship was burning the idiot I am I saved them. And then I certainly wasn't expecting thanks from the navy, but I certainly wasn't expecting that they'd arrest me when I returned the bloody officers. I saved their lives and they watched as I was arrested and locked up. S'pose you can't count on some men though, just forget for a while there you could count on others."

Elizabeth knew this wasn't all that happened to Jack, but she didn't question further, when he was ready to tell her she would listen.

"I killed a man," she said quietly, "I…I stabbed him he was unarmed, he had a pistol but it wasn't loaded. But I drove him through with my sword and I watched as the life ebbed away from him."

"You knew him?" Jack asked glancing side long at her.

Elizabeth merely nodded, keeping her gaze on the fire until her eyes burned, she also was not telling the full story, she wasn't ready to yet

Jack shrugged to her surprise, "It was either you or him love." He said matter of factly.

"His pistol wasn't loaded," Elizabeth said, "I could have disarmed him, I could have…"

"How could you know," Jack pointed out. "See that's the thing. It's what I think bout whenever I take a life. You don't mean to do it, its not planned or calculated. But when a man's coming at you with a weapon and you think he's threatening your life, it all comes down to either you or him. If the pistol had been loaded I wouldn't be talking to you right now if you'd decided to wait and negotiate with the waving barrel."

Elizabeth was silent, turning this idea in her mind, either him or her.

"For what it's worth," Jack said quietly, "I'm glad it was you."

They were both silent for a while, Jack even seemed surprised he had said it. "Orion has changed position," he said conversationally as he looked up at the constellations, trying to cover up what he had said.

"Everything changes, doesn't it?" It had escaped Elizabeth's lips without a thought. She felt more fuller for Jack's words, despite how awkward saying it had made him feel. It made her feel better to know that her choice had been him or her, not kill him, or let him live, like she had been thinking all this time. Jack had brought the matter into a newer light and she was glad at least one of them thought she had made the right decision without a second thought.

"Yes it does," Jack said, grinning as he lifted up his rum bottle and lay down upon his back with a little contented sigh. "But as long as you don't burn anymore rum we'll be all right."

"Oh really," she said looking down at him, he just grinned.

She smiled at this, because deep inside though she would never tell Jack she thought he was right. And for the first time in an age she was just content to sit on that island for the night and live. Because she knew that once the changes had come and gone they could deal with them eventually, and once they found Will, they would be all right. After all if Captain Jack Sparrow said it, it must have been true.

J.S

In a cavern far away the three fates, one glowing violet, the other green and the third white, watched the swimming water of a glowing bowl, all their eyes upon it.

"So sisters our chess pieces are in place," the smallest of them said in soft tones, "We have taken sides. Now all we can do is wait." Their eyes did not leave the swirling image in the bowl. It was of Pan and a man in a Pan's cavern, they were both talking.

"I…I don't understand," the man was rather disorientated being within the swirling mass of dead in the river sometimes known as Styx only moments before. He was sitting in the deep shadows of the cave his face unable to see.

"Yes, yes," Pan said, the model of understanding, "I know it can be quite upsetting. But you see," he said bringing his burning torch closer to the man, bathing his face in light. "I have a particular need for your help in a particular matter. I know your memory is slightly hazy but I think you'd remember a man named Captain Jack Sparrow?"

Lord Cuttler Beckett's eyes widened in recognition, "Yes," he said, his voice hard and cold, "Yes I think I rather do."

The Beginning

This is more of a chapter then an epilogue, but I wanted to get out all the things to make you think. YAY, this is the first story I've actually finished in my lifetime. Your probably confused on why I finished this story here. First of all it's cool to have cliff hangers. Secondly I find it easier to write three smaller stories rather then one epic one, you'll get quicker updates and it'll actually finish, I have commitment problems with epics lol and I just wanted to finish a story really badly. Also I reckon that in effect this story is really finished, changing is what it's called for a reason. Jack and Elizabeth find out about the changes and then they face them and they begin to heal. The next one will then be about their actual journey, the third you'll have to wait and see. I think it's best not to say exactly what happened to Jack and Elizabeth yet, it lets your imagination run wild, in the second one I might touch on it and fill it in a bit more.

The sequel will be up, probably now, so check it out after you've read and reviewed this if you want the actual closure of the story. Its called Deeds.
Special thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys rock