So Sue Me: Self Inserts at World's End

by 716786

A magic compass sends two girls to a world where pirates face extinction and find themselves in the middle of the battle for the open seas and their own freedom. They're mad, coz THAT'S HOW THEY ROLL. R&R MarySueParody WTxOC & JNxOC COMPLETE!

14. P A R T Why? Because I Gotta!

A/N: Happy New Year!!! Hope you all had an awesome Christmas and New Year however you spent it. Here's hoping this year brings you all the happiness in the world. :3

The fic shall now continue with an end in sight.

Just as a friendly reminder; Theo and Isa are split up, Theo is on the Empress with Sao Feng's crew and Norrington (;D he didn't die, no) and Isa is on the Endeavour with Beckett. I would also like to remind people that, in essence, Theo and Isa are Sues. XD So anybody who reviews saying that they're Sues... well, no shit.

Disclaimer: Nothing from the Pirates of the Caribbean series belongs to me. Theoli and I apologise in advance for our bastardisation of this awesometastic series. Isaviel Gale and Theoli Runkle are self-insert original characters who belong to their respective real life counterparts. Also, Love Is In The Air is by John Paul Young, Hooked On A Feeling is by David Hasselhoff (omg, you need to youtube this), Backstreet's Back is by the Backstreet Boys (you know you loved them once XD) and Ooh, Aah, Just A Little Bit is by Gina G.

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So Sue Me: Self-Inserts at World's End
Chapter Fourteen: P-A-R-T-Why? Because I gotta!

I.

"Have you had another vision of late?"

Isa turned her head slightly towards the owner of the voice, knowing full well who it was. "No," she replied, turning her eyes back to the open waters. "Not lately."

Beckett stood beside her and for a while neither said a word as they continued to watch the waters, reflecting the bright sunlight and the blue skies above. In all honesty, Isa had become more than a little worried about her lack of visions, since she was expecting to have at least one telling her how Theo was doing. She was terrified that something had gone wrong, that her request on her friend had caused something terrible to happen to her and if it had, it would be all her fault. When those thoughts ran through her mind, all Isa could do was keep faith and believe that Theo wouldn't be downed so easily. She most certainly couldn't talk to anybody about her concerns, and she went to extreme lengths to make sure Beckett was completely unaware of her innermost thoughts.

She had also been thinking hard about how they could sort this out with as little bloodshed as possible. Surely there was some sort of compromise that they could all reach where they could all sail the seas together?

"Is there no other way?" Beckett glanced at her. "I mean, to deal with pirates. Some sort of..." She chewed her lip a little. "Rehabilitation program? There's already been so much death, surely there's a way for us to avoid anymore."

"What makes you think that I want to avoid it?"

Isa started, then turned to face the man beside her. "Sir?"

"Piracy is against the law, which means all pirates are criminals." His gaze was still fixated on her, and for the first time since she came aboard the Endeavour she felt the coldness of his eyes, the contempt of his words, and it hurt her. He didn't seem to notice her shrinking back. "Criminals are dealt with accordingly. I do not make the laws, I merely uphold them."

"But surely you don't want to see these people die?"

"Why wouldn't I? The East India Trading Company will grow at an astounding rate once the seas are cleansed of this little problem." He turned away from her. "I would have thought you'd know that, Admiral. Don't you share the same vision?"

Was he testing her now? She didn't know, maybe this had all been some kind of test of loyalty, and her wavering now just gave her away. "I don't know what that vision is," she replied, honestly. "I just don't like seeing death."

"That's what got us into this mess. You not wanting to see any more death."

Isa glanced at her arm, still wrapped in bandage under her coat. "I know."

"You will have to choose a side once and for all," he said.

"I have."

"Have you?"

Isa looked him straight in the eye before answering, "Yes."

"Good. Remember that next time you get an attack of sympathy. You must realise that they brought this on themselves by leading the lives they've led. With them around, the EITC is suffering and I, nor the Crown, can stand by and let that happen."

"No, sir."

From behind them, Lieutenant Greitzer shouted, "Sir! There's one not too far off with two bodies- Wait, one of them is alive!" He looked up from his telescope. "What should we do?"

Beckett stalked over and held a hand out, waiting for the Lieutenant to hand him the telescope. After taking a look, he smirked. "Well, well, looks like we'll be playing host to young Mister Turner."

"What?" Isa took the telescope. "What the hell is he doing here?"

"He was probably found out."

"Found- Wait, he was the snitch?" Isa looked at Beckett, telescope still held up at eye-level. She really shouldn't be that surprised, he did lead Beckett and Sao Feng right to them and got the two crews arrested. Still, if he'd been found out, why was he still alive?

"Indeed he was. Fish him out, I believe we'll have plenty to discuss over some tea."

II.

Theo sighed, irritably. "For the last time, Norriboy, we are going to Shipwreck Cove. That is final." She turned and began walking away, ignoring her crew who seemed to know what to do anyway. Norrington, looking less than happy, followed Theo relentlessly.

"Did you not listen to a word I just said? Beckett knows. He is going to kill you all."

Theo checked some ropes before shooting Norrington a bemused look. "I heard you the first thousand times, Jay-Jay." Giving the crewmember in charge of said ropes a pat on the back she kept walking, heading back to the helm.

Norrington wasn't giving in. "I'm grateful that you saved my life and all, but that's going to mean nothing if we go there."

"We have to fight."

He grabbed her shoulder. "For God's sake, listen to what you're saying-"

Theo smacked his hand away. "Listen to me, for a moment, will you? I am a pirate, they," she motioned to her crew with a sweep of her arm, "Are also pirates. You think that if we don't stand by the rest of the Brethren Court now that Beckett just won't bother looking for us?" She shook her head. "You know as well as I do that it doesn't matter when and where, he will, eventually, find us all. At least this way we know the where, and probably the when as well." Theo leant against the wheel. "Speaking sense always gives me headaches. Now, I will say this one more time just because you're pretty; we are going to shipwreck island, and I am going to wait for Isa there."

"What if Isa is betraying you?"

"She's not."

"How do you know?"

"Because I trust her with my life." Theo raised an eyebrow. "You met her once, does she seem like the type to betray? Do you think she'd think of this elaborate scheme if she was just going to betray us?" Okay, so asking him to recall a girl he'd met once was probably a long shot-

"No, she doesn't."

Theo blinked. "...wait, what?"

"She doesn't seem the type, you're right."

"You remember her?" Theo wasn't even bothering to hide her surprise.

"I do tend to remember people, unlike some," he stared pointedly at Theo. Upon realising his hint was going unnoticed, he cleared his throat and continued, "Especially if they happen to fall into my arms the first time we meet."

Theo watched him for a while, unblinking, and after a moment Norrington started getting nervous so he swayed side to side to see if she'd just fallen asleep with her eyes open again. When her eyes followed his movements he knew she was still alert, which only made it more creepy for him. Slowly, Theo's face broke out into an evil, evil looking grin. "Oooooooh, I get it."

"What?"

She twirled, grabbing the nearest crewmate to dance with. "Lurve is in the air," she sang as she danced, "Everywhere I look around!"

"Excuse me?" Norrington looked around. "What?"

She stopped dancing. "Oh, you prefer something more contemporary?" She was lost in thought for a few moments as Norrington tried to work out what the hell she was talking about. He was about to speak when she smacked her fist against her open palm. "Got it!" She began dancing around the deck again, like a loon, this time singing a different song. "I can't stop this feeeeeling, deep inside of me!" Twirl, twirl, pose. "Giiiirl you just don't realise, what you do to me!"

He finally caught on. "What- no! That isn't- I didn't-" He flapped a bit.

Theo stopped, leaning all the way backwards as her dancing partner supported her weight with his hand on the small of her back. She tilted her head, looking at the upside-down Norrington. "Ohreally? Why are you going red?" She flipped herself upright, twirling once more before posing in an elegant, yet awesome way. She bowed at the small round of applause she received from her crew before walking over to Norrington, who was turning an interesting shade of purple.

"We've only met once," he said immediately, before Theo had a chance to speak. "Why would I have feelings for her if we've only met once?" He snorted at the incredulity of it all.

Theo still had that evil grin on her face. "Mm-hmm, and who exactly are you trying to convince here, eh? Actually, how can you love her if you've only met once?"

He thought for a moment before answering. "Her eyes, they had such sadness behind them, but such life and..." He stopped, then turned his head slowly to look at Theo, who had the most lewd smirk on her face. "That was low."

She winked. "Oh Jamiekins." She sighed. "Pirate. Now, I do believe my work here is done." She walked off, chest puffed out with pride, leaving Norrington staring after her with a mixture of bemusement, scorn and embarrassment. Not a minute later she returned, walking backwards up the steps to where she was stood before she began her dancing. "Forgot, need to steer the ship."

III.

As hard as she tried to listen to the conversation between Will, Beckett and Jones, Isa found her concentration waning. From what she had heard from Jones the Empress had, once again, slipped from the grasp of the EITC and sailed off with Theo at its helm. The crew had said that Admiral Norrington had vanished and was presumed dead, though Isa refused to believe that; When Theo made a promise she never backed down for anyone or anything, least of all the pirates who held her captive.

She rubbed her brow, trying to concentrate on the conversation happening around her and finding herself hindered by queasiness. It hadn't been particularly long after Will had been dragged aboard that she had started to feel the familiar nausea and piercing headache of an incoming vision, and although she had tried her hardest to keep it at bay she didn't know how much longer she could do so. She most certainly didn't want it to happen around the three stooges, that was for sure.

"What else have you not told me?!" Jones seemed pretty miffed, though Isa couldn't really blame him. You think if you see someone eaten by the Kraken the chances of them coming back were slim to none, and then your boss neglects to tell you about it. Ooh, bad communications right there.

"There is an issue far more troublesome," Beckett said, skilfully avoiding the awkwardness of the previous topic by hopping to another entirely. "I believe you're familiar with a person called 'Calypso'?"

He recoiled as if he had been struck, twitching a little before replying. "Not a person, a heathen God. One who delights in cursing men with their wildest dreams and then revealing them to be hollow and naught but ash. The world is well rid of her."

Isa wasn't so sure; he was speaking as if he knew from first hand experience and from the look that Will gave her, he had noticed the same. He sipped his tea, continuing his smug charade. "Not quite so well, actually. The Brethren Court intends to release her."

"No! They cannot!"

"Technically, they can," Isa pondered aloud. "Since now they have Jack, all of the pirate lords can gather."

"The first court promised to imprison her forever, that was our agreement!"

"Your agreement."

"I just showed them how to bind her; she could not be trusted. I- she gave me no choice. We must act before they release her-"

Will and Isa exchanged looks again before looking at Jones and speaking simultaneously, "You loved her."

Isa was mildly bewildered. "She's the girl from your story? The one who left you on your one day on land?"

"Shepretended to love me!" Jones stomped over to the young girl, looking increasingly angry.

Isa grimaced. "So you betrayed her?"

"She betrayed me!"

Will stood up with his teacup and saucer in his hand. "And after which betrayal did you cut out your heart, I wonder." Isa then had to duck pretty quickly to avoid getting a teacup and-or its contents in her face after Jones, in quite a petty show of irritation, smacked it away, angrily. Beckett glanced at the smashed cup, understandably not wanting to get in the middle of this bitch-fight.

"Do not test me," Jones said.

"I hadn't finished that."

Thus began an intense staring match, during which Isa crawled back into her seat after dusting herself off. "Err, guys? More pressing matters?"

"You will free my father," Will turned and walked past the captain, turning to look at Beckett. "And you will guarantee Theo's safety, along with my own."

Beckett raised an eyebrow, then glanced at Isa. She gave a light shrug. "Your terms are steep, Mister Turner," Beckett began, "We will expect fair value in return."

"There is only one price I will accept; Calypso murdered!"

Isa rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her tea; honestly, this whole ordeal was beginning to sound more dramatic than an American soap opera. Has anyone ever tried to uncross those ever-so-crossed wires there? Isa thinks not. Again with the communication problem.

"Calypso's aboard the Black Pearl, Jack has sailed the Pearl to Shipwreck Cove."

"And with you no longer aboard her, how do you propose to lead us there?"

Everyone stared at Will, who had been playing with some nautical instrument before it nearly took his eye out. He glanced about, noting that he was center of attention, then reached into his pocket as if he had just remembered something. "What is it you want most?"

Beckett smirked, taking the compass from Will. Isa watched the exchange. "So what, when we get there we just... wait?"

Will nodded to Isa. "What else do you suppose we do?"

"I dunno, send some kind of scout to lurk around and get some information? I figure you'd want some kind of information or something." Gosh, that sounded intellectual, perhaps the nausea was making her lose her brain cells.

"It's not like any of us are that inconspicuous, is it?"

Beckett held his cup close to his lips. "No, but if she stayed out of the way then it could work."

Isa nodded. "Exactly- wait. What?"

He chuckled. "I assumed you were volunteering."

"No! Well, yeah, maybe, but-"

"She could die on that island," Will interjected, much to Isa's surprise. "The pirates there aren't exactly her friends, especially with her now wearing that uniform."

Beckett gave an unconcerned shrug, lifting his cup and drinking what was left before setting it back onto the small table. He looked down on Isa, who had remained seated; she didn't trust herself to be able to remain steady at the moment. "You'd go, wouldn't you? For the company?" He leant in and lowered his voice, "For me?"

Isa nodded, pretty sure that he knew that he was, essentially, sending her to her death. Yes, she wanted to go and yes, she wanted to use the opportunity to find Theo, but she couldn't help feeling a little put out by Beckett's request. For one last time she shoved the nausea back so that she could prepare to travel to Shipwreck Island with Jones on the Dutchman, leaving Will with Beckett on board the Endeavour.

IV.

By the time Theo and Norrington had arrived on the Island, apparently every pirate ever had already arrived. Theo didn't seem at all phased by that, in fact she seemed more than a little happy at making a grand entrance.

"We're fashionably late, of course," she said to Norrington as they, and the crew, made their way down the long winding passageways to find the place where the Brethren Court was convening. Luckily for them it was all pretty much a one-way system so it wasn't long before Theo could hear more than a couple of familiar voices.

"Might I point out that we are still short one pirate lord, and I'm as content as a cucumber to wait until Sao Feng joins us."

"Yeah, sorry to burst that bubble," Theo said, waving to the crew of the Pearl who were stood by the edge of the circle that surrounded the table around which the pirate lords were gathered. "He won't be coming, mainly because he's dead. Dutchman got us."

There were loud cries of outrage and shock as the news slowly sunk in, and whilst that was going on, Theo sank her sword into the globe; not because she knew it was what you meant to do, mind, she just thought it was a really cool thing to do.

Jack grinned. "He made you captain!"

"Damn right!" Theo raised her hand in the air and Jack gave her a high-five.

Elizabeth looked happy at first, then confused when she noticed the uniformed man beside her. "James?"

"Elizabeth..."

"You were under the pay of Lord Beckett?" It suddenly dawned on Elizabeth how Beckett actually got the heart, why he was wearing the uniform, what she didn't know was why he was there with Theo.

Theo coughed. "So was I."

"Oh yes, good point."

"I'm sorry, about your father."

Elizabeth tensed up. "As am I."

"I didn't know."

"My father's death is not something I blame you for, James. There are plenty of other things to take that space."

Theo threw herself into the nearest chair and whistled to get everyone's attention. "Also, Beckett kinda knows where we all are, so I'm guessing he'll be here not too long from now."

"Who is this betrayer?"

"Not likely anyone among us."

Theo glanced around. Jack nudged her. "No, he's not among us."

"What of that man?"

Everyone turned to stare at Norrington, still in his Admiral jacket but mostly without the trimmings and shinies that his full uniform had. He took a step back with his hands raised, defensively, looking to Theo for assistance. "He's no traitor, he broke us out of the Dutchman. He's cool." Theo nodded to Norrington, who left the room for fear of being shot or stabbed.

The French pirate lord glowered. "How can you be sure?"

"Well, how can I be sure you didn't betray us, Frenchie?"

"How dare you!"

"Not nice when someone accuses you without any sound evidence, is it?" Theo snapped, finding her good humour dissolving incredibly quickly.

Barbossa stepped in before things got out of hand. "The issue isn't who betrayed us, the question is, what do we do now?"

"What, we're not going to fight? You know, show them how badass us pirates are?"

"Fight?" Frenchie laughed.

"Shipwreck Cove is a fortress, a well-supplied fortress!"

"So...we're going to sit here and play scrabble? How boring."

"There be a third course," Barbossa said, beginning to pace around the room.

Theo whispered to him as he passed by. "Dude, is this going to take long, you know how I get during long boring sessions of tedious yakking." She stepped back when she saw the look Barbossa was giving her. "Okay. Sorry. I was only asking. Sheesh."

"In another age," he began, "At this very spot, the first Brethren Court captured the Sea Goddess and bound her in her bones." He waited as the nods and murmurs of understanding spread through the crowd. "That was a mistake. Oh we tamed the seas for ourselves, aye, but opened the door to Beckett, and his ilk! Better were the days when mastery of the seas came not from bargains-"

"Dude, why don't you just say it? You want to free Calypso."

There was a silence that rang throughout the room as everyone stared at Theo, then at Barbossa. All at once everyone began shouting and arguing, opposing the very notion of releasing that which the first court had, with good reason, bound. Theo grimaced and blocked her ears a little, not particularly liking the shouting. After a few harsh exchanges a fight broke out at the far end of the table, and pretty soon the whole room, bar the crews of the Pearl and the Empress, were embroiled in a right epic punch-up with fists, bottles and swords being flung every which-way possible. Theo prodded Barbossa in the arm. "Shouldn't you do something about this?"

With an aggravated sigh he climbed atop the table to let off a warning round from his pistol. "It was the first court what imprisoned Calypso, we should be the ones to set her free! In her gratitude she will see fit to grant us boons."

Jack looked unimpressed. "Whose boons? Your boons?"

Theo snorted.

"Utterly deceptive twaddlespeak says I."

"If you have a better alternative, please, share."

"Cuttlefish."

Theo found her attention wandering - it wasn't like she hadn't warned them or anything - to thoughts of her friend Isa, and how she was doing. This was probably the longest the two had been apart since they'd first met, and it was quite a strange experience for her, not having Isa to inject some seriousness into the situation or to come up with one of her fiendishly smart plans. She hoped she had managed to convince Beckett about what had 'happened' for the two ships to get away. With Isa's gift of the gab she had no doubt that Beckett will have fallen for any line he was fed, but it was what the girl was going to do now that had Theo worried; how would Isa be able to get off the Endeavour? Would she even want to? If Theo's suspicions about what the compass pointed to for her were true-

Her attention was jerked back to the court by another gunshot which actually hit a man this time. Everyone watched as the victim fell, then turned their heads in the direction the bullet came from, where stood a man in a dimly lit doorway. He blew she smoke from his gun barrel before saying, "The code is the law."

Theo stared as the man descended the stairs and headed to the table. "Oh my God. He is so cool!"

"You're in my way, boy."

Jack shuffled sideways and out of the way. Teague motioned for the code to be brought forward, and two old men heaved a large book to the table, gently placing it on top of the remains of the impromptu fight from not long ago. He then whistled and a dog trotted forward with the keys, much to the bewilderment of various Pearl crewmembers. The book was opened and after a moment was spent scanning a few pages Teague stopped. "Ah, Barbossa is right."

"Hang on a minute..." Jack pushed past the other man. Jack muttered to himself a little before giving a sniff. "Fancy that."

"There hasn't been a king since the first Court, and that's not likely to change."

"What? Why?" Theo looked at Gibbs and Barbossa, waiting for an explanation.

"The pirate king is elected by popular vote."

"Each pirate only ever votes for hisself."

"Ooh. Well yeah, that would make sense. I'd vote for me."

"I call for a vote," Jack chirped. Everyone groaned and generally began making a fuss about the whole ordeal before the lords began voting. Theo, who wasn't really paying much attention and was focused on Teague playing the guitar, had to be elbowed rather harshly by Barbossa as a friendly reminder that she had to do so. "OW! Gawd damn, I vote for Theo, jeez."

Everyone looked to Jack for the last vote, fully expecting him to also vote for himself. Apparently they were all mistaken. "Captain Theo."

"...bzuh?"

"I vote for Theo."

"You do?"

He nodded. "I do!"

"Well, king me," Theo said, still surprised.

The other lords all began shouting at Jack, yelling at him to vote for them instead of Theo. Jack blinked, looking and sounding as innocent as he could. "Am I to understand that you lot will not be keeping to the code, then?"

There was a loud twang as Teague snapped his guitar string, slowly looking up at the scene from his chair far in the corner, glowering at anybody who dares to oppose the 'law'. There was a nervous laughter from somewhere among the crowd as everyone lowered themselves back into their chairs, offering nervous apologetic smiles.

"Very well, what say you, Captain Theo?"

Theo pondered, rubbing the imaginary beard on her chin. "You say this place is pretty well protected, eh?"

Mistress Ching nodded.

"And we have plenty of supplies?"

Again, she nodded.

"Well then. I say we have ourselves a damn good partay, baybeh!"

V.

As fortified and protected as they claimed Shipwreck Cove to be, Isa had found it surprisingly easy to get in; all it took was a few gold coins here and a flash of leg there and hey presto, she was in! Though really, it was dreadful security; she'd have to have a word with someone about that. In hindsight, it may have been pretty stupid to go to a pirate gathering wearing the uniform of, oh, only their worst enemy in the world right now, but there was little she could do now. All she could do was to take out the curls from her hair and put it back in the style it was in before her promotion.

She ducked out of sight as two pirates passed, heading back towards where the ships were docked. It had been surprisingly quiet for a gathering of every pirate ever, but she assumed they were all in a different area of the Cove, namely; the taverns and bars. Once the coast was clear she began to walk along, inching along with her back to the walls and crouching low when passing windows. She was on her knees peering around the next corner when from behind her came a voice.

"Isaviel?"

She started, then realised the voice was quite familiar. "Norri?" She gave a happy squeak before throwing her arms around the man, who just about managed to stop the both of them from falling over. "Theo did it!"

"She did," he said, smiling. "If you're referring to preventing my death, that is."

"I was, and yay!" She gave a gleeful clap then hastily unclung herself from the Admiral. "So Theo's okay too?"

"Very much so."

"Thank God."

The two fell into an awkward silence. It was quite bizarre that two Admirals were stood at Shipwreck Cove where, to all intents and purposes, their enemies were. What Isa had decided back on the Endeavour was that yes, she had decided on a side but it wasn't the one Beckett was thinking she had chosen; there was no way she would ever choose a side that opposes the one Theo was on. Of course, she was a filthy liar, so he didn't know any of this.

She laughed at herself, getting a strange look from the man beside her. "Sorry, just thinking about what Beckett's going to say."

"He knows you've-"

"No, heavens no, I wouldn't be alive if he knew. He just sent me on some reconnaissance mission to try and find out what the Brethren were up to. All I do is stay out of sight, as if I'd actually get back from this 'mission'." She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure."

Norrington furrowed his brow. "So why did he send you?"

"As an example? As some sort of.. I dunno, distraction?" She shrugged. "I can't think of any non-crazy reason."

"Perhaps he didn't expect you to actually get inside."

"Probably, I heard this place was meant to be really well protected."

"Howdid you get in?"

"I had some Theoisms up my sleeve," she snickered. "So what about you? Are you sure you want to be on this side? I mean, what with the effort you put into getting back to the top..."

"Even if I didn't, I doubt now's the best time to change my mind. No, there's no honour in betraying those whom you profess to protect." He looked at the ground. "Even if you claim ignorance to the betrayal."

"Governor Swann?"

He nodded, slowly raising his head to look at her. "I truly didn't know."

Isa gave a short sigh, casting her mind back to the day they had all found out that Elizabeth's father had died at the hand of Lord Beckett, how Elizabeth had cried until she had no more tears left. She started to continue along her path and Norrington fell into step beside her. "I know," she replied eventually.

"I don't know if Elizabeth could ever forgive me. Nor should she."

"Why not? It's not like you killed him."

"I didn't try to stop it from happening." He looked pained, guilt-ridden, sad.

"Have you spoken to Elizabeth?"

"Not properly, though I did see her at the Brethren Court." He nodded towards a set of doors at the end of their path. "I wasn't about to stick around when the rest of them realised who I used to work for."

"Did she seem angry? Bitter? Was she reaching for a sharp, pointy object to stab you with?"

"...no."

"Then I doubt she blames you."

"But-"

"Listen," Isa stopped and turned to face her walking-buddy. "I understand the guilt, really I do, but you can't take on the responsibility of something you had no power to prevent. So you made a few wonky decisions in the past, who hasn't?" She reached up and gripped his shoulder lightly. "Don't let it rule you, Elizabeth hasn't. Channel the guilt and anger," she continued, turning and motioning to nothing in particular in a very Theo-esque manner. "Use it for constructive thinking. Like Theo... sometimes considers doing." Norrington chuckled, much to Isa's delight. "There we go. Now come on, we should get Theo before she starts a riot or something."

As the two approached the doors that led to the chamber they could hear something strange... Isa squinted, concentrating on trying to remember where she'd heard the sound before; it was really very familiar, but she couldn't for the life of her place what exactly the tune was. Whatever it was, it was giving her a strange knot in her stomach, some strange sense of foreboding and doom. She pushed the doors open to be met with a wall of sound, all the pirates singing, led by a very loud Theo who had even taught them all the proper dance routine.

"EVERY PIRATE NOW!"

"YAARRRRRR!"

"ROCK YOUR BOOTY NOW!"

"YAARRRRRR!"

"EVERY PIRATE NOW! ROCK, YOUR, BRETHREN RIGHT! PIRATES BACK, ALRIGHT!"

Isa slammed the door shut. She then turned and started making her way back the way the two of them had come, only to find Norrington in her way. "Where are you going?"

She smiled. "To hang myself," she chirped, ducking past Norrington to try and keep walking.

Unfortunately for her he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back. "Don't you think that you're being a little overly dramatic? I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for whatever that was." He grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards the doors and pushed them open to hear an entirely different song being performed, but again, led by Theo who now had a bottle in her hand as she danced atop the large table in the middle of the room.

"C'mon everybody! Sing along!" Thus began a drunken group performance of 'Ooh, Arr, Jes' A Wee Bit'.

Norrington closed the door and stared silently at the it, unsure of how to react next; he opted to turn and begin walking away. Isa laughed and grabbed his arm. "Oh no, you're not leaving me to face that lot on my own."

The door opened and Theo popped her head out. Upon seeing the couple her face lit up, bouncing out of the doorway and flinging herself at Isa in much the same way Isa had done to Norrington. "I thought it was you I saw! You're alive!"

"Likewise," Isa said, smiling. Now that Theo wasn't singing and dancing on tabletops Isa allowed herself the relief of seeing her friend alive and well, if not slightly inebriated. "I see you're... having a party? Strange timing."

"We're having a party to commemorate my coronation!"

"Your... what?"

"My coronation! I'm KING."

"You're king."

"Yes. Pirate King THEONIDAS!" She posed as she shouted loudly, holding the bottle above her head in some sort of victory stance.

Isa gawked. "They made you pirate king?"

"I know, madness, isn't it?"

"Madness?"

"THIS. IS. PIRACY!" Another pose.

Isa snorted, though unable to hide the grin on her face. "Seriously? They made you king?!"

"Yeah, I felt as shocked as you sound," Theo snickered. "Jack voted for me instead of himself, which was really mad. But yeah, since apparently this place is nigh-on impenetrable we're having a party- Wait, how did you get in?"

"Being sneaky and bribing people, of course." She smirked. "How else?"

Theo sniffled, wiping away a pretend tear. "I'm so proud of my Isa."

Whatever Isa was going to say never came out of her mouth because the nausea and headache that had subsided earlier came back with full force, causing her to stumble unsteadily; she knew her time was up and, whether she liked it or not, she was going to have to face whatever images the future wanted to show her. She staggered backwards into Norrington, clinging to his arm when he raised it to steady her and when eventually her knees buckled and gave way he caught her as he had done the last time they'd met; the first time they'd met. The last thing Isa would remember before blacking out was Theo dropping the bottle of rum as she rushed forward, and the muted sound of smashing glass.

Then everything went dark once more.