A/N: This is definitely the last chapter and the Epilogue will be next. Be warned that this chapter will be shorter than the last one. But each story has to come an end, right? Be warned, the half of this chapter will bring you tears. It made me shed some when I wrote them.
I do not own Cardcaptors, Pirates of the Caribbean, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, Shrek or Kingdom Hearts(Kingdom Hearts is only mentioned. None of the characters will appear in this story).
CH11: Right Course.
On board the Black Pearl, the fight was nearing it's end and while no one could have seen the tragedy that fallen upon on the Flying Dutchmen, Ash instantly felt the sharp, painful memory of Will's future-self being stabbed before his duties as Captain of the Flying Dutchmen was restored due to Darkrai's death. At this memory, Ash Ketchum somehow what had happened, which brought shock, horror and tears into his heart and soul.
Davy Jones had killed Will who in turn, with the help of Sakura, Jack and Sailor Moon, stabbed his heart to complete the time-line that was meant to be. Ash made to go and help the others to get off, but was held back by Gibbs as the boy struggled to free himself in desperation.
"She's taking us down!" Barbossa shouted, starting to panic and Sailor Mars grabbed the wheel and began to turn the Pearl from the Dutchman, but due to both ships being stuck together, it was a losing fight unless the rest of the Sailor Team and the crew did something to free the Black Pearl. "Make quick or it's the Locker for us all!"
While the Sailor Team, especially the horrified Tuxedo Mask hesitated, knew that Sakura and the others would have to get out themselves somehow. With a hard choice, Sailor Venus aimed up, shouting, "Venus, Cresent, Beam, Smash!" and her power of beam of energy shot up from her fingertip before it smashed the wooden mast and freed the Black Pearl.
No sooner was this done, Barbossa and Sailor Mars both turned the wheel and the ship hard to starboard. Once free, the Pearl sailed free from the Flying Dutchmen and safely out of the maelstrom, leaving the other ship to slowly become swallowed by the giant whirlpool.
No less than a few seconds after Davy Jones died, the Pearl flew up and away from the Flying Dutchman, out of the maelstrom. The Dutchman was caught in the swirling currents of the vortex; with her Captain gone, she could only go downwards to the sea's embrace. On her deck, Will's eyes struggled to remain open a few seconds longer. He wanted to drink in Elizabeth's face as long as he was able too. He was fled that the last thing he would see would be her, before he must at last succumb to the debt that all must eventually pay.
Will's eyes closed, and his wife and friends were heart-broken, horrified and shocked beyond belief. Sailor Mini Moon, seeing that Will wasn't waking up, instantly threw herself into the past-self of her mother's arms and sobbed, and Sailor Moon, tears falling, could only embrace her future-daughter and sobbed. Elizabeth watched in horrified desperation. The tears were streaming down her face and she was screaming, "No! No! NOOOO!"
Sakura, too heart-broken to look anymore at the dead body of one of her friends, one who she had been unable to apologise, could only throw herself into the horrified Jack Sparrow's arms and soaked his shirt and chest with her tears. Jack could only hold his crying friend in his arms. He never thought that his chest would ache for the loss of someone dear to him, but now that Will was gone, it hurt him terribly. It was that instant that he knew, immortal or not, Jack could not live with himself if Will had died.
But then Jack, and even Sakura and Sailor Moon who both stopped crying, suddenly noticed that they were no longer alone. The mutated members of Davy Jones' crew were approaching. They were all staring at Will, the previous terrifying and inhuman looks on their faces were now replaced with confusion and yet comprehension at the same time. They were chanting in unison, "Part of the crew, Part of the ship, part of the crew." which was absolutely haunting.
While hurt and hearts aching, the trio knew that time was running out and for Will's sake, they had to get Elizabeth off to safety. Sailor Moon carried Sailor Mini Moon in her arms and stood up quickly, Sakura, forcing herself to focus on getting herself and her remaining friends away, stood up and helped Jack to grab Elizabeth who was who was still vainly trying to get Will to respond to her in some way.
"Don't leave me!" Elizabeth sobbed, only to be grabbed by the upset Sakura, and Jack, pulling her away from Will's body.
She did not want to leave him like this and she struggled against Jack, who had to resort to force in order to pull her away. "Don't! No!" Elizabeth pleaded, before screaming to Will, "I won't leave you!"
While the crew gathred around Will's body, Sailor Moon and Sakura, knowing there was only one day to get themselves, Sailor Mini Moon, Jack and Elizabeth out, threw Pokeballs into the air calling out for their Pokemon, and from the flashes of the opened spheres, were Sailor Moon's Charizard and Sakura's Flygon who both instant carried their passengers to escape. Sailor Moon and Mini Moon climbed on board Charizard, while Sakura, Jack and Elizabeth climbed on board Flygon.
They payed no heed to Boostrap speaking to the body of his son, knowing that this was the only way to have Will live again. "The Dutchmen must have a Captain." With a thrust of the knife that Will gave back to him, he slashed at Will's cut.
"GO!" Sakura and Sailor Moon shouted to their Pokemon.
Charizard roared while Flygon shrieked, both flying-type Pokemon thrusting their wings and with the aid of the winds from the storm, immediately flew up into the sky with Sailor Moon and Sailor Mini Moon, Sakura, Jack and Elizabeth, and of course the monkey who, having recovered, grabbing onto Flygon's tail to escape as well. The two Pokemon and their passengers lifted up and away from the rapidly sinking Dutchman and they were soon flying high above the maelstrom. And they had a perfect view of the Dutchman as she disappeared beneath the waves, reclaimed once more by the seas.
Sailor Mini Moon once more buried her face into Sailor Moon's chest. Elizabeth tightly onto Jack, watched until there was nothing more to see, until her last connection to her husband vanished only then did she bury her face onto Jack's shoulder and sob bitterly. As for Sakura, Jack and Sailor Moon, all of them felt as though their hearts were wrenched out. Sakura could only close her eyes and sobbed. She finally understood the true loss of losing someone close to her heart. She'd been unable to understand it fully when her mother died due to her being only three at the time, but then she thought on how her father and Tori must've gone through when they saw it and understood it all too well. It made her feel even worse, thinking about her mother.
Sailor Moon and Jack both watched on, before gazing at each other with sadness, the former already having tears soak her face, but even so, she and Jack both had to be strong, for the sake of Sakura, Elizabeth and Sailor Mini Moon. They rose into the sky, out of the cold, blowing rain and grey mist, up into the light and the sun. The storm was passed. The sea had spent its fury, and now all was calm. It was as such Calypso had calmed her anger, and perhaps this was the test the group had to understand; the pain of losing someone and the struggle to survive such a fight, but would have to have to pay the price that was most precious to them.
Eventually the sobs eased into miserable and heart-broken expressions, yet acceptence that there wasn't a thing anyone could do, Sakura and her friends then noticed the Black Pearl sailing just underneath them, the middle of the deck having been cleared to make room for Charizard and Flygon to land onto. At Sakura and Sailor Moon's request, the two Pokemon landed gracefully and safely onto the deck, their human passengers, and the monkey climbed off and onto the deck, before Charizard and Flygon were both recalled back into their Pokeballs.
When Ash and the rest of the Sailor Team rushed to meet with Sakura, Sailor Moon and Sailor Mini Moon, their expressions, as well as Elizabeth's and Jack's, and the absence of another friend confirmed their fears and sorrows; Will was dead. Ash shut his eyes, shedding lose a few tears as he softly sobbed, upset with himself that he failed again; he'd been unable to prevent Davy Jones from killing one of his friends, and this time Ash wasn't even there when it happened. It ached his heart more that both Sailor Moon and Sakura had to endure that.
The other four Sailor Scouts shed silent tears as well at the loss.
Jack was greeted by Gibbs, who scurried up to him with a worried look. "Thank goodness, Jack. The armand's still out there, the Interceptor's comin' up fast, an' I think it's time we embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions."
Jack barely heard him. His eyes were locked on the swiftly approaching flagship of the East India Trading Company. There was a hard set about his face. "Never actually been one for tradition." He murmured. Only those who knew Jack well would have known the significant of those words. His tone contained not the slightest trace of sarcasm, no hint of irony. The drunken, slightly crazed mask had dropped completely, replaced by a look of rage and hatred.
Jack Sparrow, in that moment, was revealing that he was more than a pirate or a captain; he was a man, who had just lost one of his closest friends.
Sakura, Sailor Moon and Ash, hearing this, also held looks of range and hatred. They lost Will, their past-selves would have to endure the agony of the trails against Team Nappers and the ressurrection of Davy Jones before the three of them met, having to travel back in time and this history to forever repeat. And it was all because of Beckett, Beckett, the one who was responsible for everything. No, this time, Jack wasn't going to run away; he, along with Sakura, Sailor Moon and Ash and the Sailor Team, wanted justice.
After a terrible moment of looking at the interceptor, Jack whirled around and began shouting orders. "Close haul her, luff the sails and lay 'er in irons."
Barbossa immediately objected, "Nay, belay that or we'll be a sittin' duck." as he wondered if Jack had finally lost it.
But Jack was determined, ordering again. "Belay that belay that."
"But, Capt-" Gibbs tried.
"Belay!"
"The arma-"
"Belay!"
"The Inter-"
"Stow, shut it."Jack growled, growing impatient at last.
Knowing that nothing was going to change Jack's mind, and by judging the determination expressions from Sakura and her friends, nothing to change their minds either. So Sakura, Sailor Moon, Ash, Pikachu and Jack hurried up to the wheel, followed by Gibbs and Barbossa, who had despaired of any sane resolution to the confrontation and were now merely going along for the ride. The minutes passed in tense silence. The Interceptor came closer and closer, the Pearl all the while lying totally still, making no attempt to flee or engage the enemy. None of the crew knew what was happening, but Beckett, on the Interceptor, thought he did.
"What are they waiting for?" Gillite asked, puzzled as he noticed that the Black Pearl wasn't making a move.
"They expect us to honor our agreement." Beckett answered, but held an evil and pleased smirk. He was a man for lies and he loved to live with it. So the Flying Dutchmen was sunk, but he believed all was not lost.
Beckett had other ideas. He had said that he would eliminate piracy, and he would while he had them all in one place, every last one of them, and then in his own self-promise, he would eliminate all governments and kings from the around the world and rule the Planet as it's true ruler, to elimate foolish resistances group such as the Sailor Team. The canons of the Interceptor were extended, all of them aimed at the Pearl. No mercy and no quarter would be given; all that was needed was the order to fire.
As Sakura and her friends noticed, all of them held hardened glares, but none more so than Ash, Sailor Moon and Jack. They should've known that Beckett would go back on his word, as usual. Which meant that they were given no other choice. But against a large army, how could they even stand a chance now?
"Nothing personal, Sailor Moon." Beckett whispered evilly. "It's just good business." And yet, whoever said that pleasure could not be mixed with business? Things were looking dire, but if Beckett had any idea of Jack's true nature, he might have planned differently. Jack himself had never intended to honor his deal with Beckett. And in fact, he knew something that the Lord of the East India Trading Company did not.
It was at this moment, when all hope seemed lost, that there came the great sound of the sea trembling. It was a familiar sensation, but it came as a surprise too many, for it was something that they thought would be gone forever. But the surprise only increased as a few seconds later, the sea parted and with a great breach of water, the prow of the Flying Dutchman flew into view. But there seemed to be something different about her. She no longer appeared so fearsome or nightmarish in appearance; in fact there was something awe-inspiring in the very sight of her. Even as it settled upon the surface, great chunks and pieces were sloughing off, revealing a ship that rivaled the Black Pearl in beauty, power and majesty.
The transformation seemed lost on Beckett, who was merely satisfied that the Dutchman had survived, an asset that he could continue to make use of. But, this was where Beckett was wrong. As Ash had once been predicted, in the hour Beckett thought would be his greatest triumph, he made his most fatal hour. For the she had not just survived; the Flying Dutchman had been reborn, in all her former glory.
On board the Flying Dutchmen, something extraodinary happened. The crew was going through a similar transformation as the ship itself. The mutated, monstrous fish monsters had disappeared, revealing the very human men they once had been. Having lived so long without any sort of soul or feeling, they were looking at their hands and at each other in apparent awe. None more so that Bootstrap Bill, who remembered with perfect clarity what had happened prior to the transformation. Once he had gotten over his own appearance, his eyes flew immediately to movement from up by the wheel.
There stood Will, with a long jagged scar running down along the right side of his chest, but other then that, he was very much alive. But, there was something different about him, something that perhaps only a sister Captain would have been able to see. Will's eyes were set and determined, and he seemed to know exactly what had to be done. "Ready on the guns!" He called to the crew of the Flying Dutchman. The newly turned human men stood for a moment, almost as if confused by the sound of a voice that was commanding, but not harsh or deadly.
On the Pearl, Sakura, Sailor Moon, Ash, Jack and Elizabeth had been waiting with bated breath, but when they heard the ringing, clear tones of those dear voices, all despair vanished and joy took over. Elizabeth's face blossomed into a happy smile, as did the faces of Sakura and the Sailor Team. Will was alive! And the Flying Dutchmen was on their side now! They had the victory to while not change history as they would've liked, but to at least protect the current history they all lived in. Jack had a wild grin on his face and he felt himself ready to make a stand once more. "Full canvas!" He cried.
Barbossa was standing beside Jack, the three leaders of the Sailor Team and had been so astounded by the Dutchman's sudden reappearance and the voice of the new Captain that he had been unable to speak for a few seconds. However, when he heard the order made by Jack to loose the sails, for once, he was not going to argue. "Aye, full canvas!" He echoed, and the combined words of the two Captains were more than enough to spur the crew into action.
The dark sails of the Black Pearl were let down and a wind seemed to spring up from the very sea itself, propelling forward to the Interceptor, which was being boxed in by both the Pearl and the Dutchman. So confidant had Beckett been of his chances, that he did notice what was happening until it was too late. The Interceptor was literally trapped by the two swiftly approaching vessels, and when the canons appeared on both ships, aiming straight for the Interceptor, Beckett seemed to realize that this was truly the end.
"Orders, sir?" Gillite asked, beginning to panic. When Beckett just stood there, he asked again, becoming more and more panicked, "Sir!?"
"Jack?" Ash asked, to Jack.
Jack didn't hesitate. Instead, with a smile, he ordered, "Fire."
"Fire!" Ash ordered.
"Fire!" Gibbs echoed.
"Fire!" Sailor Moon echoed.
"Fire!" Will ordered.
"Fire!" Barbossa echoed.
"Fire!" Sakura echoed.
"Fire all!" Elizabeth echoed at last.
The Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchmen's movements turned to sandwich the Interceptor between them was as flawless as it was menacing to the crew of the enemy flagship. Their nerve deserted them and they stock still in terror. And only when the Interceptor was trapped with no chance of escape, was the order given to fire. Canon shots ripped into the hull of the Interceptor, the continuous barrage was more than the Intercetpor could stand. She slowly began succumbing to the flames, sinking beneath the waves.
"Orders! Orders, sir!" Gillite tried again, but was met with silent and horrified realization on Beckett's face.
"Sir, what do you command?" One of the soldiers cried out.
Beckett, coming to a dismayed and horrifying realization that his goals had all been shattered, just like he was feeling shattered as well. Not only had Jack Sparrow, the pirate whom he loathed for thirteen years, outsmarted him once more all because of good will from his heart, and for freedom, but that young enchantress, Sakura Avalon, and Sailor Moon, the leader of the Sailor Team, had succeeded in giving the entire world the peace and freedom it's inhabits had longed for. He also realised that Ash had been right all along. Ash Ketchum, the other boy who was just like Jack Sparrow, Sakura Avalon, and Sailor Moon.
Coming to a shattered acceptance, Beckett could only mutter to himself, "It's just...good business..."
Panic seized the crew and when no order was given by their Captain they lost all control. So there was only one thing to do, and Gillite gave out the orders to the crew himself, "Abandon ship!"
With this order, everyone, save for Beckett, all leaped off the ship and into the ocean. Though not all of the soldiers could get off. Some of them were blown and killed by the cannon fire by both the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchmen. Lord Cutler Beckett alone did not feel the surging grip of fear or panic. As he looked out upon the destruction of his life's work, all he felt was a curious sense of detachment. Having lived so long in pursuit of his own aims at the expense of everyone who stood in his way, pirates or not, he had forgotten what it meant to be afraid, even of failure.
In paralyzing blindness of defeat and failure, Beckett could only descend from the helm and onto the deck, while the stairs behind him was destroyed, not hitting him until he paused, stood waiting for his end. All he could do was stare out and not even have time to close his eyes to accept his punishment before the final explosion rocked the ship, turning it into nothing but rubble. This explosion, witnessed by so many, even by Sailor Moon, she caught sight of Beckett's expression of defeat and failure, and for a split second, she saw an image of something very and strongly similiar; A tall modern building in a large city, high above at the top in a room, a blonde-haired man, similiar to Beckett, becoming engulfed by explosion from an attack, which also engulfed that person.
Where did that image come from, she wondered. Sailor Moon, while she utterly hated Beckett, couldn't help but feel slight sympathy for the man, despite all of the evil deed he had done. Or perhaps this was some sort of memory of something she'd seen before and the fear and sympathy the man she did not know, or believed she did not know, it ached her heart a little.
In his demise and due to the explosion, it sent the now lifeless Beckett, the former Lord of the East India Trading Company, into the ocean. His body crashed onto the floating destroyed flag that floated into the water, where he then sank into the ocean, swallowed up by the seas. But as Ash and Pikachu both watched this with sadness of this, both knew, this wasn't fully the end of Beckett, at least not here. For now, for everyone of the past, it would be 200 years of peace until the events in the Ameria region carried out.
As the last of the blackened remnants of the Interceptor sank beneath the waves, there was still tension onboard the Black Pearl. There was still an armada to contend with. Would the destruction of the Interceptor spur them to attack, or cause them to retreat? But at that very moment, Marty, who was on lookout in the rigging, shouted, "They're turnin' away."
At this announcement, everyone broke out into wild cheers of relief and celebration. They all knew what this meant. They had won! Against overwhelming and impossible odds, the pirates and the Sailor Team had prevailed. The Sailor Team couldn't it that they had actually won.
Sailor Moon, Sailor Mini Moon, and Tuxedo Mask smiled happily, before embracing each other. Sakura, suddenly remembering something, went up to Ash and said so only he could hear, "Ash! Ash, we did it! Lord Beckett and Davy Jones are gone! Both here in the past and in the future!"
Eyes widening as he realised that she was right, Ash soon felt victory and excitement as well. It was finally over. Everyone in the future, including himself, his friends, and the future-selves of their pirate friends; they were finally free. The curse of Lord Beckett and Davy Jones was at last broken. Now they can live their lives without having to worry about either of them. The Sailor Team had saved Time and the Realm of Light once more.
Surged with excitement, Ash leaped up into the air and punched it, celebrating, "Yeah! We defeated Davy Jones and the East India Trading Company!" with Pikachu echoing his best friend's happiness and excitement.
Sakura grabbed hold of Sailor Moon's hands and the two jumped and down happily, laughing in celebration. While the pirates were celebrating, to Pintel and Ragetti's confusion, Mullroy and Mourtogg, who had come to abandon their Royal Navy days once they finally understood that not all pirates were bad afterall and that they never liked Beckett in the first place, had changed from their EITC attires into more traditional pirate clothes, quickly having become pirates themselves. Pintel only shrugged at Ragetti, deciding that those two weren't so bad after all. Who knows, maybe they could all become friends. None the less, they resumed the celebration.
All of the other pirates from around the world, having seen the victory by the Black Pearl and now the Flying Dutchmen on their side, captained by Captain Will Turner, roared and cheered as well. They were dancing, shouting, and throwing their hats in the air, reveling in their victory. Whatever their separate quarrels and differences with each other, for this day, they had overcome all that they had shown just what free men were willing to do to preserve their rights.
And in one of those ships, the Keeper of the Pirate Code would not perhaps have admitted it, but any who took the time to look would have seen that Captain Teague's face was softer than it normally was and his eyes were shining with obvious pride. And when his son caught the eyes of his father, he took off his hat and threw it into the air. It was a small sign, but to Jack, it meant a great deal. It told Jack that Teague was so proud of him. Even from the distance, Jack never felt so close to his father than ever before. Captain Jack Sparrow was, after all, in his own way, one of the greatest heroes of all pirates, along with his rival, their crew, their friends of their present, and their friends from the future.
As though inspired, Jack removed his own hat and announced, "Mr. Gibbs, you may throw my hat if you like." handing over to his First Mate, who took it greatly.
"Aye, aye, Cap'n."Gibbs replied, with a great deal of enthusiasm as he threw the hat into the air and let out a whoop of joy. "Hooray!"
Jack, however, was not yet so lost in his emotions that he could forget propriety. No sooner had the hat become airborne then Jack prompted Gibbs, "Now go and get it." in which Gibbs, not glancing on the deck worriedly, hurried to do so.
Sakura and the others, seeing this, laughed when Jack told Gibbs to go find his hat, before Sakura turned to Ash and she teased, "Goes to show you that both you and Jack at alike, Ash; especially since none of you want to lose your hats."
"Hey!" Ash pouted, blushing a little, embarrassed.
"Pikachu." Pikachu muttered with a sheepish sweatdrop. Even he knew this was the true case, but Pikachu decided not to comment. Luckly, neither did anyone else in the Sailor Team.
The Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman sailed side by side. They had left the main pirate fleet behind and were heading for a small chain of islands which lay one side of Shipwreck Island. It had been half an hour since the end of the war, the victory that not only saved all pirates, but also the rest of humanity. Who would've thought that pirates would be Earth's saviors, aided by the Planet's protecters who had travelled two centuries from the future?
But even as things had turned out alright in the end, it didn't come without a cost. Will Turner, now Captain of the Dutchman, was leaning on the rail, looking at the Black Pearl and at one face in particular, which stared steadily back at him. They had been through so much, and now it seemed as though the distance which separated them was as large as it ever could be. But, if one were to look at them now; they would see that the bonds which held them together were now stronger then ever.
Bootstrap came up to his son, asking with respect, "Orders, sir?"
Will turned to look at his father. "You're no longer bound to the Dutchman." he said, quietly, "You're free."
Bootstrap on the other hand, had other ideas. "Aye, that's a fine thing, but by my reckoning, I still have a debt that needs paying, if you'll have me." Bootstrap was not speaking of his debt to the Dutchman, he still had one that needed to be paid: to his son. But this was one which would be no hardship for him to fulfill.
Will sensed this, and to tell the trtuh, he would not have had it any other way. "One the wheel then, Mr. Turner." He ordered kindly with a smile.
Bootstrap smiled, the smile which made one see that the kindness and love he had felt for his son had always been there, even when it seemed that all his humanity had been lost. "Aye, Captain Turner."
Bootstrap went to the wheel. But Will found that his eyes were once more drawn back to the Black Pearl and Elizabeth, the woman he loved. And not just the woman he loved, but also Sakura, the dear eleven year old girl who was also one of his close friends. The girl who possessed magical powers and yet her heart was that of pure gold and silver. She also had friends, and not just those who had their own abilities, magic or not, but also pirates. It was because of Sakura and the Sailor Team, they knew the similiarities and made the difference.
Bootstrap noticed the look. He knew what his son was going through, and yet he had regained his life only at a very great sacrifice. "This ship has a purpose again." He said gently, "And where we are bound, she cannot come. One day ashore, ten years at sea, that's a steep price for what's been done."
Will knew this to be true. He felt that this was indeed his destiny and he would fulfill his task with the strength and determination with which he had greeted every challenge in his life. However, he was also aware that love had a power that was all its own, and that could overcome any obstacle, no matter how severe or impossible.
"Depends on the one day." He said, understanding, yet his voice wasn't without hint of tears. But it was for the best.
Elizabeth was glad that Will was alive, but this was not necessarily the way that she had wanted their story to end. As Will broke their gaze to speak to his father, Sakura, Sailor Moon and Ash approached her.
"Don't worry. You'll see him again." Ash assured Elizabeth. Though he knew what his friend was going through, but he also knew the truth in all of this. He wasn't going to say anything, though. Because he knew, the time-line would forever repeat itself.
"And even though Will might be far away, he's always with you in your heart." Sakura added. She would definitely miss Will, but she had a feeling that she would see him and Elizabeth again, and not because of time-travel.
When Elizabeth didn't say anything, Sailor Moon placed a comforting hand onto her shoulder, and the young leader of the Sailor Team told her, gently, "I know what you're going through. You're not the first wife having to wait. Other than that, Will found a place not only on the Flying Dutchmen, but also in your heart; Your hearts are connected." quoting the similiar line Sora and Kairi once said.
Seeing how Sailor Moon had long forgiven Elizabeth for everything that's happened, the latter smiled before the two shared a fond embrace, muttering to the teen, "Thank you."
Once this hug was done, Elizabeth hugged Sakura who returned it, the latter's eyes filling with tears. The reason for this was now that Beckett and Davy Jones were gone, things had calmed and peace had returned. This also meant that Sakura and the Sailor Team had done their task, and this meant it was time to say goodbye.
They were interrupted by Gibbs, who had come upon the two. He cleared his throat respectfully, and when they turned to face, he said, with an almost shy politeness. "Your chariot awaits, your highness." He gestured to a longboat that was being lowered into the water. "The oars are inside."
Elizabeth and the Sailor Team knew that it was time to go. With a final nod to each other, the group went down the steps, seeing that many members of the crew had lined up to pay their respects, and they were greeted by a fond farewell to the pirates who were also their friends and their allies. Barbossa was the first.
"Mrs. Turner. Young Miss Avalon. Sailor Team." He said, inclining his head in a way that was not at all sarcastic.
The group smiled at him, and Sakura, finally accepting Barbossa not only as an ally, but also...a friend. "You're not so bad after all, Barbossa." Sakura said, shaking hands with the pirate who returned it, accepting this as a first symbol of friendship.
With a final nod to Barbossa, Sakura and her friends went down to Pintel and Ragetti, and Pintel said, "Good-bye, Poppets, and lads." While his companion tugged his eyepatch respectfully.
"See you guys later." Ash waved at the pirates, sad to be leaving, but knowing that they would see each other again.
Such like nods and bows followed Sakura, the Sailor Team and Elizabeth, this normally rough and rowdy band now grown silent and respectful, because in this moment, they saw that Elizabeth was not only worthy of the title Pirate King, she, along the Sailor Team who had come here for help them for all of their futures, had sacrificed the most of any of them in order to bring about their victory.
Very lastly, Elizabeth and the Sailor Team came to Jack, who had his head down, feeling a bit awkward. Jack wasn't exactly what one could call sentimental, and he was not partial to long, sloppy goodbyes. It made Sakura, Elizabeth and Sailor Moon smile a little. After Elizabeth had her wordings which repeated on Jack's farewell when he left Port Royal on the day she, Will and Sakura saved him from his death, Jack just smiled and shook hands with her. He was then caught by surprise when Sakura hugged him, before he patted her back, but the warmth of his smile didn't fade. After all, she was what all of this had started of time-travel, and he was going to miss her.
After other short farewells from most of the other members of the Sailor Team, the ones who helped bring him and the Black Pearl back, also having a fist-punch with Ash who smiled, symbolizing their re-first meeting which Jack did not know yet, but Ash knew from memory, with Pikachu giving the pirate a victory and happy sign.
Finally, when it came to Sailor Moon, she finally accepted Jack as a true friend. Annoying, but a friend, none the less. "Jack. I always think of you as a friend."
Jack grinned, though perhaps tinged with a hint of melancholy closest acceptence from the teenaged young woman. "Keep tellin' yourself that, darlin'."
Smiling, Sailor Moon stepped forward to give him a quick kiss on the cheek, but he stopped her with upraised hands. "Once was quite enough." despite the fact that he still loved her, he accepted that her heart belonged to Tuxedo Mask.
"Good point." Sailor Moon nodded in agreement.
And with that, Elizabeth Turner, and the Sailor Team boarded the long boat to leave behind their friends, and once they reached land, the Sailor Team would leave behind the past to return to their present where everyone else were waiting, with stories to tell them of one of their greatest adventures. For Elizabeth, she would begin her new life.
The sun was setting in the west. The hours of this single say had passed all too quickly. Sakura, Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Mini Moon, Ash, Pikachu, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus rested by the island to watch the Black Pearl sail away with it's two Captains. Though they knew, once they reached Tortuga, Barbossa would no doubt leave both Jack and Gibbs behind stranded and take the Black Pearl as his own along with the rest of the crew. But they also knew, much to their, especially Sakura's, amusement, that Jack had already planned ahead. While Jack was still saddened to have his beloved ship taken away from him again, he wouldn't be all that surprised, and at least he wasn't stranded on some deserted island this time.
In the meantime, he sneakily cut out the middle part of the Charts, which would leave Barbossa with the ship, but without the map...well, at least he had the outside part of it, but it was nothing more than useless paper. Jack had once told Ash this, which Barbossa added to the truth as well, Jack, though, had the Charts, and that was one of the keys to his, Barbossa's, and the rest of the crew's eventual immortality without costs or strings attatched.
Here in the past, that would be in five years. Five, short years. What that key to immortality would be, Sakura and her friends did not yet know. But unlike their last three previous adventures, the pirates of the Black Pearl's next big adventure would not have them in it. Either it would be on their own, or someone else they all know who would also time-travel, they didn't know.
Sakura didn't move from her spot as she watched the Black Pearl sail away. The Flying Dutchmen was still out there. Who would've thought that something like this had actually happened. It already felt like forever since the war had ended, yet at the same time, her first meeting with her friends she met in Port Royal felt like only yesterday. She also knew that Elizabeth would have to wait to fully be reunited with Will forever.
"Sakura?" Sailor Mercury's voice snapped Sakura from her thoughts, causing the latter to turn to the former as well as the others. "Is something wrong?"
"Oh. No, it's nothing." Sakura replied, smiling sadly. "I was just thinking on how long Jack and the others would have to wait to meet us again in the future. 200 years sure is a very long time."
"It might be long for the world, but I bet Jack and the others felt like it wasn't that long." Ash pointed out, with an understanding smile. "After all, we've been in their memories long before we even met them, and that's why it was meant for us to be here in the first place."
"I know it's not easy, Sakura." Sailor Moon spoke gently to her friend after a moment of silence. "But we've all been in tough situations without time-travel before. But even with some things that we had to lose, or prices that are kind of steep, it turns out okay in the end."
While Sakura knew it was far more than that, given what Riku was going through, and what Will and Elizabeth are going through, she knew that Sailor Moon was right. Besides which, 200 years might be long for everyone here in the past, but for herself and her friends with her now, it could only be months or a year or two before they would see their friends of the Black Pearl again, and that wasn't that long at all, especially given the Legendary Long Year.
"Yeah." Sakura finally nodded.
"We should get going." Tuxedo Mask declared, smiling gently.
Everyone else nodded, and as Sailor Mini Moon called upon the Time Gate for herself and Tuxedo Mask to return to Far Far Away, the effects of the Return Card began it's magic under Sakura's silent command that she, Ash, Pikachu, and the other five Sailor Scouts were ready to return as well. But before they all disappeared back into the future, Sakura suddenly heard a familliar voice and turned just in time to see Will and Elizabeth at the shores of the beach not too far from them, the two of them sharing passionate kiss. Desperate, tender, longing, so many things, because it had to last them ten years.
And although she was beginning to not see or hear the surroundings of the past any longer, Sakura could've sworn she heard Will say to Elizabeth for the last time, "Keep a weather on the horizon." Will said, before he finally took his final leave.
Although had been meant for Elizabeth, Sakura felt that it was meant for her and the Sailor Team. Before Sakura vanished into time to return to the Present, she, along with Ash and Sailor Moon, managed to catch the glimpse of the Flying Dutchman sailing into the horizon, and as the sun disappeared, the flash of green lit up the sky, and the next instant, the ship was gone. In the white and pink flashes shooting up into the sky behind Elizabeth, Sakura and the Sailor Team were gone as well.
Elizabeth stood alone on the shore. She and Will had been aware of their friends of the future vanish as well, and both knew, they returned to where they belong. But as Sailor Moon had said, their hearts were connected. Elizabeth had gave Sakura's apology to Will who accepted it, and he had at least apologised to her earlier before the battle against the Flying Dutchmen.
This was for the best.
Back in the Present in Far Far Away...One day later...
It's been one day since Sakura and the Sailor Team returned to the present in the Fairy-Tale world, and they, the rest of the Sailor Team, and Darien and Fiona's parents knew, there were no more dangers to be sensed for a very long time. At least that's what they hoped. They didn't know when their next adventure would begin, even though, to Shrek's slight dismay, it might actually happen a lot sooner than they thought. Perhaps they would have more adventures here in the present before the end of the Legendary Long Year.
As for Jessie, James and Meowth...well, they already left to voulenteer jobs in Town since they had nothing else to do and actually wanted to enjoy fully exploring Far Far Away before the Sailor Team's departure back to Duloc for a well deserved break until after New Year's Day where the Team would go on another adventure for Serena to Compete in the Johto League Silver Conference.
"So Will really can't step on land but once every ten years, can he?" Madison thought as she, Kero and Sakura, having discussed this, were seated in the lounging room of the Castle.
Sakura, now wearing her pink dress, yellow shirt, white shocks and brown shoes, nodded, "Pretty much."
"It's probably for the best." Kero sighed, saddend but accepting it. "Don't know how to explain it."
"Well, maybe someday." Sakura began, which confused her two best friends, continuing, "We might be on more adventures in the Caribbean. I got a feeling we haven't seen the last of that place."
When met with silence, she explained, "Barbossa may have seemed evil, but he just wanted to be set free from the Curse of Isle de Muerta. Jack wanted to be free from the Locker. Both of them managed to do that."
"But how did they and the Black Pearl crew become immortal?" Madison wondered.
Sakura did wonder about that too, before she remembered that Mickey once secretly told her that he helped pirates one time which had a relation to time travel. At first, she didn't understand it and didn't remember back then. But now that she did, she realised that she might know the answer. She gazed at the window which viewed the Kingdom, part of the landscape outside, and the ocean. Staring at it, she was reminded of all of the adventures she and her friends had went through, and smiled warmly. She was glad that things turned out okay after all.
"I think I know who it could be. Someone that we know." Sakura eventually said, "When we see him, I'll ask him myself."
Smiling at the idea of another idea, Madison held up her video-camera and said with slight excitement, "Well, if you do happen to go back to the Caribbean, this time without time-travel, then you'll bring me with too, right?"
"You got it!" Sakura promised happily, smiling at her best friend and the camera.
Just as she said this, however, a glum Serena and an annoyed Shrek, along with apologetic Fiona and Darien, and a worried Rini, came into the lounge in which everyone else, even Donkey, Dragon and their babies had noticed.
"Don't tell me we have to stay for longer?" Shrek asked, in annoyance.
"Sadly, yes." Serena nodded.
"What's going on?" Ash asked, concerned and confused.
Fiona turned to everyone, and said, awkwardly, "Dad's caught a nasty cold and is on bed rest for a while. Since Shrek and I are the current royals through marriage, we have to fill in his and Mom's royal duties for a while."
"King Harold's sick?" May asked, alarmed.
"I think Fiona just told us that, May." Max deadpanned.
"Uh, but this means you have to Knight heroes, Shrek." Brock realised.
"Knight heroes?" Shrek asked, quickly becoming worried.
"And you have launch new ships." Lita added, adding to the list.
"By myself?" Shrek flinched.
"And attend charities and schools to children." Amy added.
"And sign paper work." Raye added.
"And host Royal Balls." Mina counted.
"And answer to the townspeople's requests." Puss piped in.
"And meet with other Kings and Quees that might come and visit." Donkey added.
The more the list went on and on, the more Shrek actually felt very terrified, his eyes twitching at all the things he had to do in his Father-In-Law's place until the Frog King got better. Just when things had settled down, like with the time-travel thing that only 8 hours after the Fairy Godmother incident, and now just after the time-travelling incident and already another incident was happening. Why can't he and Fiona actually have a real break for once?
"Okay, okay!" Serena cried out, exasperated to get everyone else to shut up. "We get the idea, guys. There's no need to give Shrek and Fiona headaches on what they already have to do in a few days. I mean, seriously; Darien and I already had that stress as first time rulers in Duloc after we got married and before our adventure in Kanto on Earth, remember?"
"Does that mean you're staying too, Serena?" Pinocchio asked, curiously.
"Well, yeah." Serena replied, "Did you seriously think I was gonna leave my In-Laws here by themselves? No way. Someone has to help Fi' to keep Shrek from getting too stressed out."
"Not too sure even you can help with my blood pressure." Shrek mumbled to himself. So much for going back to the Swamp next week.
Everyone else in the room shared a glance, before turning back to Serena and her family, before Ash said with a smile, "Well, you're staying here for a while, then is it okay that Pikachu and I hang out here for a while too?"
"Yeah, us too." Sakura spoke up immediately, with Madison and Kero nodding in agreement.
Much to the surprise of Serena, Darien, Shrek and Fiona, and the happiness of Rini, everyone else in the room all made their announcement that they were going to stay for a while too until King Harold gets better. While it seemed a bit much, the five of them decided that, sure, why not. Besides, with all of them put together and wanting to actually explore more of Far Far Away for a while longer anyway, they can all patch in to help Shrek how to act like a temporarily king, not that he was actually looking forward to it.
With Serena's approval, everyone smiled. Ash then stood up and approached the leader of the Sailor Team with a grin. "Take what you can." Ash said to her.
"Give nothing back." Serena replied. The two friends then high-fived.
Sakura, remembering how both Jack and Gibbs had said that in Tortuga in her and Will's first adventure with them, asked in surprise, "Did Jack teach you guys that?"
Meanwhile, in the Sinnoh Region's Oceans on Earth...
The never creaking Black Pearl, having been lasting for more than 200 years, sailed through the Sinnoh Region's waters, with it's two Captains at the helm. Jack was gazing at the setting sun. He'd actually been thinking about the adventure of when the others had saved him from the Locker 200 years ago, five years before he, Barbossa, the crew...and that blasted little monkey had become immortal. Yet, even after all these years, not one of them changed in appearence or in personality. But they had become more of good men. Still pirates, but much better than they'd ever been in their mortal years.
Jack's thoughts were broken by, to his irritation, by the Monkey squealling as it ate the peanut Barbossa was giving it. To make things worse, his former rival began to coo the miniture ape like it was his baby or something, "Oh, that's a good boy! Yer're Daddy's boy. Oh yes you are. Oh yes you are."
"Oh, shut it, Hector." Jack grumbled, turning to face the older man, commenting, "If you were a real father, I doubt you'd even talk to your son or daughter, or possibily two if you ended up with twins, like you do to that monkey." as Barbossa glanced at him, in annoyance.
"Is that so?" Barbossa questioned, sarcastically. "And I supp'se you would do better as a father, Jack?"
"'Course not." Jack replied, "Not a parent type."
That was a bit of a lie, though. As much as he hated to admit it, surprisingly, out of all of the three leaders of the Sailor Team, Ash was more like a son to him, while Sakura was more like a little sister Jack never had. Deciding to change the subject, he then said, "Though now that it's mentioned, I was actually thinkin' 'bout the time when we ventured with the Sailor Team when they travelled to our past for one last time. Not sure if they went through that yet, though."
"Arr." Barbossa smirked, "And what be of them knowing of how we became immortal?"
Jack's face faltered, before admitting with a sheepish grin, "Haven't told them yet. I don't think they even know about the Fountain of Youth or even met our other Time-Travel friend Mickey Mouse and his two mates, Ronald and Zoofy..." before muttering to himself, "Or was it Gonald and Doofy?"
Realising that Jack Sparrow had once again failed to give out that information the last time they travelled with the Sailor Team in the Orange Islands, Barbossa rolled his eyes in sheer annoyance, scowling, "Sparrow."
"Ah! Now I remember!" Jack, oblivious to his co-Captain's scowl, piped up, "It was Mickey, Donald and Goofy."
How King Mickey, Donald and Goofy know all of the Pirates of the Black Pearl and what this fabled Fountain of Youth really was...that was another story of the pirates' past that was possibly the answer to their immortility.
Not even the Sailor Team were aware of this, but someday soon they might learn about this. Until then, another adventure was waiting for them around the corner.
Back in Far Far Away in the Fairy-Tale World...
"~Yo ho, Yo ho, a Pirate's life for me~" Sakura was silently singing to herself, as she gazed at the ocean from the balcony of the lounge half an hour later after the announcement that she and all of her friends were saying in the Kingdom for a little while longer.
"Hey, Sakura." Ash's voice spoke behind her, causing Sakura to turn around to see him, Pikachu and Serena having arrived back in the room.
"Hey. What's up?" Sakura greeted.
"Well, we thought we've give you something that's probably best to be with you." Serena began, shrugging sheepishly.
While Sakura was puzzled on what Serena was talking about, Ash then pulled out a familiar item from his pockers and held out to her as it sat in the palm of his hand. When she looked, Sakura's eyes widened in surprise. It was Jack's Compass, given to Ash when the two had departed after the Darkrai Crisis.
"Jack give it me because he said that I'd do a better job in looking after it." Ash explained and answered Sakura's unasked question. "I want you to have it now, Sakura, since you met him first."
She stared at the magical Compass, the Compass that pointed to the thing the holder wanted most anywhere in the Realm of Light. Sakura never thought on how powerful it was until now. But something didn't seem right in her keeping it. Deciding to go for her gut instincts, she shook her head and gently pushed the Compass back to Ash, saying, "No thank you, Ash. You keep it. I think it's best that you look after it."
This surprise both Serena and Ash, as the latter asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I think the reason why Jack give it to you, other than the fact that he thought it was best to give it to you, it's because you've known him longer than any of us by now, especially here in the present." Sakura explained her theory. "Besides, it might be for another reason too, because he cared a lot about you, and cared a lot about all of us."
Not quite sure what Sakura meant by this, Ash eventually smiled and nodded, as he, Pikachu and Serena stood by both sides of their friend, gazing out at the ocean, with Ash saying, "You're right. Who knows, maybe we'll see them again next year in the Johto Region."
"Until then, let's keep all of the good memories we had with him and the others in our hearts." Serena added with a smile.
The others nodded, as Sakura concluded, "Absolutely. After all, it's a life of freedom."
So with another grand adventure and quest behind them and in their memories, Sakura and her friends had completed their goal in saving the time-line and the past, friends who became immortal and without time-travel, were now living in their present day era with the Sailor Team who would still go on many other adventures that were ahead of them.
After all, Cardcaptor Sakura would always gaze at the horizon, mostly gazing at the dusk and the dawn. Who knew when the adventure for her and her friends would start, but until then, she was definitely prepering herself for it.
And was looking forward to that next adventure.
To Be Continued...
A/N: The Epilogue is up next! This thrilling ending of this amazing adventure leads into the next big adventure, once again featuring both Sailor Moon and Shrek as the main protagonists in "Sailor Moon's Royal Quest". While you can read it up in "Sailor Moon Continuum Part Two-part 1", I might do the full story. It depends on what I want to do.
Also, as Jack mentioned, King Mickey meets with him. But that story is a prequel/sequel/prequel titled "Mickey Mouse on Stranger Tides" which, again, I might do in the future. Who knows.
Until then, see you in the Epilogue!
