I left you all on a cliff hanger before, didn't I? Apologies for freaking some people out! I wrote up this chapter real quick because I just had to continue it ASAP! Yeah, it may all seem a little too obvious, but I really hope you enjoy the chapter, because it the penultimate one!!

A Destiny Fulfilled

"No!"

Jones spun around and the blade came down…

And stopped inches short of Will's heaving chest as Jones arched sharply backwards and shrieked, water spraying from his mouth and tentacles flailing. Will gasped as he spotted a slender silver shaft protruding from Jones' barnacled stomach, the metal flashing in a flicker of burning lightning. He was confused and stunned until he saw the grim-faced ex-Admiral viciously twisting his blade further into Jones' gut to exact more pain from the hated sea devil.

Norrington's teeth were gritted in resolve and his eyes blazed in a frenzy that mirrored the ferocity of the lightning that surged around him. He drank in the dark sweetness that spawned from receiving a good slice of vengeance. Even though he knew the Captain could not be killed by mortal wound except for the destruction of his inky heart, it still felt good to finally thrust a weapon into your enemy.

With only a few moments hesitation, seeing that Jones was distracted by the cold steel churning in his belly, Will jumped to his feet but remained stooped as he staggered swiftly across the slippery deck to Elizabeth's side. Elizabeth was still on the floor but was sat up and as stiff as a board as she leaned forwards in fearful anticipation, eyes darting between Will beside her and Norrington. Bootstrap hadn't moved an inch from where he was slumped against the railings, staring at the blackish blade wedged into the wood by a youth with a face Bootstrap remembered, but couldn't name. Jack was frozen too, broken sword poised over the pounding heart, torn between a side to chose.

Norrington wrenched out his sword with a grunt-like snarl and shoved Davy away, the Captain slamming against the railings and stunned for perhaps a heartbeat. In this short time, Norrington glanced over to Jack, who was biting his lip in frustrated confusion.

"Just do it, Jack!" cried Norrington in exasperation. Jack looked up, bewildered. In the back of Norrington's mind, he felt a flicker of puzzlement too: he'd just called him Jack.

A sudden pressure on his back thrust him back to alertness. But it was heavy and drove into him and made him jerk forwards sharply. There was a second of confused deadness before an onslaught of fire twisted through his veins and pulled at his throbbing bones and severed his nerves that drenched parts of him freezing numbness. He gasped and gagged on the blood that he heaved up his throat, eyes bulging as all he could feel was that scorching magma-hot agony that gripped his entire torso. He could hear a startled thudding in his ears that could only be his weakening heart, the rain and lashing of the waves a whooshing wind, Elizabeth's scream muffled. He shuddered and looked down to see Jones' sword – no, his old commodore's sword – jutting just inches from his heart, his left lung pierced by the metal that sliced into him. He felt something wet and cold beside his ear.

"You will not forestall my judgement, Admiral."

The sword was yanked free with a smooth sliding sound slick with blood and Norrington gasped and gurgled before any strength in him deserted him and he collapsed to the deck.

Unknown to Norrington, Elizabeth was screaming his name and sobbing whilst Will held her back and held her close. Jack's eyes were wide with surprise, but he gulped when Davy turned to face Will.

"Back ter business" Jones chuckled darkly.

It just happened at that moment to be when the truth crept up upon Bootstrap as he stared at the dark little knife before him. His misty eyes became sharper and he hoarsely murmured "William! My son!" He turned to face Jones who was now advancing upon Will and Elizabeth, and with a croaky roar he staggered towards the Captain and grabbed him around the shoulders and pulled him down, the two cursed men wrestling and beating each other ferociously.

Will loosened his grip on Elizabeth, and the two of them darted forwards to Norrington. The ex-admiral was pallid and his eyes were glazed and unfocused, perhaps seeing beyond the curtains of rain and lurching deck.

"Why did you do that?" asked Will softly "You could have just let the sword stab me."

"You have more to live for… I have nothing" Norrington murmured, his voice slurred. His eyes rolled towards Elizabeth, and he coughed and mouthed her name. Elizabeth shook her head and whimpered shakily.

Jack stared at Bootstrap and Davy, then Will and Elizabeth clustered around Norrington, and lastly the pulsing organ in his hand. He sighed and closed his eyes, and when he opened them he scowled. "Ah well, I was always rooting for him. Bloody Norrington."

***

The fire in his chest was all Norrington could focus on, because it stole every ounce of his attention till that was all that he knew. Everything was darkness before his eyes; perhaps it was the cloud of smoke from the blaze that he thought must be turning him to ash. But then he felt another pain tug his torso. It was just as strong as the fire in his veins, but for some reason it wasn't so painful.

And then something strange sensation washed over him. It was cold, but not freezing. And yet it felt of nothing, so it was like the wind had enveloped him. It was actually quite pleasant.

Am I dead? he thought. Is this what it feels like? Is there something beyond life?

While he pondered his situation, time stretched on into eternity, but at the same time lasted no more than a second, so he had no comprehension of how long he remained in the cool quiet calmness. But then there came another change.

He frowned as he could suddenly sense something tingling the edges of his fingertips. It spread all over him and made him twitch. And then he could hear a dampened hiss as his consciousness returned, smell the bring scent of the ocean, taste some metallic dry blood coating his teeth. He could see a faint light before him, and soon it became a peachy-red brightness that demanded to open his eyes.

I have eyes? his sluggish brain told him.

He cracked them open and winced at the intense sunshine that deflected off his retinas.

When did it get so sunny? he thought as his memories returned. And then he recalled Jones and the pain, and with a gasp he abruptly sat up.

He was still on the Dutchman, but he was near the steering wheel. How he got there he didn't know. As he sucked in several shaky sharp breaths, he felt the oxygen filter though his lungs, but the although the action was familiar and rhythmic, it felt odd. Norrington could also feel a slight coldness over his heart, but then froze.

He had no heartbeat.

He looked down and saw his shirt had been torn open, and he cried out in alarm and a little revulsion at the jagged red line that stood out like a scarlet ribbon on his flesh, his chest heaving in shock.

But Norrington suddenly felt a great thrill of relief and determination. Oddly, this felt right. He now had a purpose as the Dutchman's captain, something worth doing with his life, some honour he had regained. He gritted his teeth and stood up.

Before him he could see the crew looking up at him in either awe or with grins on their faces. But the crew were hardly recognisable, for their oceanic masks had fallen from their pink fresh flesh, and they peeled off watery sticky features like irritable scabs. One sailor caught his eye, and he recognised him as the man that had attempted to attack him when he was helping Elizabeth and her crew to escape. The sailor met his eye, smiled crookedly and dipped his head a little.

Norrington returned the smile before addressing his crew, his eyes bright with predatory excitement as he spotted the Endeavour before him and the Black Pearl beside him.

"Ready the guns! The fight's not over yet!"

Gaha! One chapter left now! It came so quick! I hope you enjoyed it guys, even though it was obvious from the very beginning.