Island

It was small, but full of life. Plants and animals thrived on it. Even though none of the Black Pearl's crew had been on it, they knew what it was like just from one look at the lush green landscape beyond the white sandy beach.

"Wow." Jewel said, "Just why are we here dad? Hiding from our venture in England? After I saved you?"

"That venture in particular helped me gain something very valuable that you suggested." Jack said. He had his hands behind his back a smile on his face.

"What's so valuable? Is there another treasure on that island?" Jewel asked

"No." Jack said, making his daughter look at him, surprise on her face.

"Nothing you want to steal?" she asked

"No." Jack shook his head.

"No person you want to steal?" Jewel asked

"No." Jack shook his head

"No person you need to settle problems with?" Jewel asked

"I don't have problems with people." Jack said, put off by her comment. Jewel crossed her arms.

"Yes, you do." she said. Jack was about to reply, but looked back at the island.

"No luv, the island is the treasure." he said. Everybody stared at Jack. Just stared. And stared.

"What did you do in England?" Jewel finally asked

"That treasure from that island, recall it? Used it to convince a cartographer, that this island is Sparrow Isle and should not be invaded, conquered, or ruled by anybody else, but me." Jack said

"But dad... That was a load of treasure!" Jewel shouted, making Jack roll his eyes, "That was enough to buy TEN Black Pearls!"

"Would you rather have ten more Black Pearls luv," Jack said, putting an arm around her shoulders, "Or would you like an island that is all ours?"

"Uh," Jewel started, trying to think of an answer. Jack looked at his still shocked crew.

"Let go the anchor and all hands to the boats! We're going ashore." Jack announced

Some say it was curiosity. Others say it was the call of adventure. Whatever the reason everybody was excited to get on the island. Their island. They had a place to hide out! A place to relax! Once the boats touched the sand, everybody jumped out and darted into the jungle. Jewel walked next to her father, a hand on her sword.

"Are you sure it's safe here?" she asked

"I stumbled across this island years ago luv. Devoid of any human life, no cursed treasures or anything magical, no monsters, an absolutely peaceful sanctuary." He pushed aside a palm frond and held his arm out to the jungle. Jewel walked in and looked up.

It was beautiful. The overhead canopy filtered the light, giving a green glow to the world below. Plants of every shape, size, and color grew everywhere. Even on the trees. There was the sound of a splash. Jewel ran through the rest of the foliage and found the reason: The men were jumping into a pond from on top of a waterfall.

"We have a waterfall?" she asked, her happiness showing.

"And a cave behind it." Jack said. Jewel was actually excited. She went to the water's edge where Gibbs swam to. Shirts, vests, and boots scattered the shore.

"This is wonderful Jack!" he said. Another man jumped into the water. Jewel giggled and quickly took off her vest, boots, sword belt, and shirt, wearing a red brazier her mother fashioned and her rolled up pants. She bounded up a small path to the top of the waterfall. By the time she reached the top, everybody was already in the water.

She ran and jumped up, pulling her legs close. With a smile, she closed her eyes and held her breath before hitting the water. It was deeper than she expected, but it didn't sting her eyes when she opened them. She stretched her arms up and swam around in a circle before swimming behind the waterfall to find the cave. The cave was deeper than she thought it was, too.

Something grabbed her leg and pulled her into the water. She let out a shriek, then realized it was only Gibbs. She punched his shoulder, diving under the water to swim to the other men in the crew. Jack stood over everybody at the top of the waterfall. Without a shirt, one could see all of his scars and tattoos.

"Come on dad!" Jewel yelled up at him. Jack did a perfect swan dive into the water. He swam under Jewel and tickled her. She smacked him away playfully. The rest of the day was like this. Absolutely fun and relaxing. At one point Jack grabbed Jewel and held her as they jumped from the waterfall. Later they played a water version of the game "blind-man's bluff", where somebody had to swim with their eyes closed and try to catch the other people.

As the sun was setting, everybody stretched out along the beach, letting the sun dry their bodies. Once night came, they made a large bonfire. They sang and danced around it. Also, stories were told by Jack with his adventures, and Gibbs with his legends. As the fire died, everybody rowed back to the Pearl. Except Jewel and Jack. Jewel smiled up at the stars shining like diamonds in the sky.

"What do you make of our island, luv?" Jack asked

"It's perfect daddy." Jewel smiled at him. Jack smiled back, glad to have done something right for his daughter.