Ah, now this is a good chapter compared to the last, and finally the words will indeed be said! Now, the little prose I made up for this has parts of it taken from several lines from several different songs inthe Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera The Pirates of Penzance, most notably from 'Poor Wandering One'. Of course, these lines are scattered about, intertwined by substitutions I've created, to keep it fair. The first part also sets up a separation that will be maintained for a few chapters, Will and Barbossa with the main fighting force, Anamaria and Gibbs exploring with their own party, and Elizabeth with some company. However, in the second part, they'll be some big connections made between those on the island and those in World's End, the formatting keeps it straight.

Disclaimer I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney) and, to be on the safe side, The Pirates of Penzance (G&S) though that may be public domain.

14. What Needs To Be Said

As the ships approached the island, quite a few of the pirates halted their search and gathered at the edge of the beach, watching the approach as they discussed whether or not they should confront any landing party. There were 10 Chinese sailors, Marty, Tia Dalma, and Captain Hector Barbossa and Will Turner. The former crew-members of The Empress were squatting in the sand while one of them used a stick to sketch out the lay of the land, muttering softly in Cantonese as he explained the possibilities of the coming battle. Nearby, Tia Dalma had been feeling faint and was now lounging against the trunk of a tree, muttering softly to herself while Marty stood beside her and used a rag to mop off the sweat from her brow.

A few feet away, Captain Hector Barbossa was listening intently to the meeting of the Cantonese sailors and Will, feeling awkward, queried, "What are they saying?"

Captain Barbossa glanced back at Will and responded, "They are trying to decide if they should hold steady, here at the tree-line, in the first landing or if they should charge at the first chance of surprise. The ships are far enough away that they probably haven't spotted us yet, though that isn't a guarantee, and if there is no chance to surprise them, then it would be best to hold until the situation is fully gauged. In any case, they know that they are the first line of defense or attack, being endowed with a rare 'blessing' that will protect them as they eliminate as many men as possible."

Will sighed and murmured, "They are honorable...I can find no blame with them, or with their late captain, for becoming privateers. Their lives were far harsher than our own, they just wanted to find a better advantage here...if we live, Jack will probably let all of them join him if they so wish."

Barbossa nodded and remarked, "Yes, Jack can be forgiving in that way...to me, so many years ago, I thought it a weakness, but I see now that it is necessary, the best course of action sometimes in troubling times. Will Turner, I must say that it was an adventure indeed to have sailed with you and the rest of Jack's crew. I gather that you will leave us, when this is all over?"

Will nodded and replied, "Yes, I cannot take to piracy any longer...I was never really a pirate, entirely, I may have sometimes been brutal and cold enough for one, but...I am too good. Elizabeth loves Captain Jack and this pirate life, it will suit her fine, and I can leave in peace of her happiness. I will return to England, when I have done my part here...the Caribbean holds too many ill memories for me, especially...of your attack."

Captain Barbossa blinked and turned to stare at Will as he asked, "Uh...what do you mean?"

Will frowned and answered, "You attacked a merchant ship, about 12 years ago. I was on that ship, barely more than a boy, and I saw everything...you massacred them and then you sunk the ship."

Captain Barbossa gaped at Will, then he glanced away and lowered his head as he muttered, "Ah...I recall now, the Aztec gold. I cannot excuse that, Will, the damage that I did to them and to you...my sins are my own to bear, my curses, and I cannot ask forgiveness from anyone, especially those men whose lives I took."

Will sighed and rubbed his forehead as he murmured, "Yes, that's quite right, I just needed to hear that...it cannot change anything but it can cast a dim light into the darkness. Anyway, what about the others, where are they?"

Marty glanced up and replied, "Gibbs and Anamaria, along with the rest of the Chinese sailors, took off toward another end of the beach earlier, I don't know if they even know about the attack since they haven't come back yet. As for Pintel, Ragetti, Murtogg, and Mullroy...they were here, yes, but I think the two soldiers convinced the other pair to come help them look for Miss. Swann."

Will grunted and Captain Barbossa nodded as he remarked, "Yes, and wherever Elizabeth is, I'm sure that's where she'll find Jack...they can handle themselves, especially with the help of that foursome, though I wish that Gibbs could come back with his force, we need the extra aid."

Tia Dalma opened her eyes and informed him, "He and my sister will come when it is necessary, but they have their own meeting to consider...the ships, can anyone see which is The Flying Dutchman?"

Will shuddered and glanced out at the distant armada, shaking his head as Dalma sighed and settled back into her sleep. At that moment, the Chinese sailor that had been leading their conference stood up and walked over to Barbossa as he told him, "Captain, we have decided that we shall start back here, in wait for the landing party to approach before we charge."

Captain Barbossa nodded and said, "Now that is an excellent plan, and I shall place you in charge of that attack. What is your name?"

The man bowed his head and coolly replied, "You may call me Lin, if you so wish, I was an assistant to my late Captain Sao Feng. I suggest, my Captain, that we should take our positions now...they will land within a few moments."

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Elizabeth hurried over and bent down, checking Jack's pulse and breathing...both were faint, but he still lived, although the worse for wear from dehydration and starvation. She carefully checked to see that his sword, his pistol, his compass (which she thought of as 'the Compass of Want' as Sao Feng had called his invention), and his hat were secure before she attempted to lift him from his armpit. Elizabeth grunted as she started dragging Captain Jack Sparrow out of the cave, careful that he wouldn't bang himself too badly on the rocks, though she couldn't help it when his boots dragged themselves through the water. The most important thing was to get him out into fresh air, away from the damp chill of this cave, and where she could have space to care for him...yet he wasn't exactly lightweight and she feared that she might drop him if she got too exhausted.

Suddenly, she heard some distant voices outside the cave and Elizabeth paused, shifting Jack's weight as she cried, "Hello! I'm in the cave, I need help with Jack!"

In turn, she heard Ragetti's voice yell, "Fellows! She's in here and she says she's got Jack!"

Elizabeth sighed in relief and waited as the four fellows, Ragetti and Murtogg along with Pintel and Mullroy, all entered the cave and squeezed themselves through to her, glancing down at Jack as Murtogg said, "Right, Miss. Swann. I think you can let me and Ragetti lift him up between us, that'll be best."

Elizabeth slowly nodded and transferred Jack carefully into their hands, checking to see that they had a good, yet gentle grip on him before she took the lead alongside Mullroy and Pintel as they progressed out of the grotto. Out in the air, Elizabeth inhaled deeply and glanced around, waving her hand toward a clearing beyond the tide-line as their destination. However, before they could reach it, they had to make their way over and around the slippery rocks and, several times during this trip, they almost dropped Jack despite their best efforts, but Elizabeth was on hand to help catch him in time.

In World's End, the dead pirates stared as Captain Jack Sparrow flailed around on the deck of The Black Pearl, sliding sometimes, as if being pulled or hefted by invisible hands. Several times, he yelped and seemed to waver, but grunted as he became steady again.

Captain Sao Feng shook his head and asked, "What is going on, Jack?"

Jack managed to say, "They're carrying me, though it's awkward...I think that I fall sometimes."

Cotton arched his eyebrows and queried, "Who is on hand to catch?"

Captain Jack Sparrow cleared his throat and said nothing, though Governor Weatherby Swann sighed and shrugged...he could not disapprove and perhaps this would be a good practice for their married life in trusting each other.

At last, they reached the clearing and they laid Jack on the ground, getting a good look at him in the sunlight...Pintel inhaled deeply and muttered, "It looks bad, Miss, I can't say how he's managed to last this long."

Mullroy slowly nodded and inquired, "How can we treat him and restore him to health, when we have no medicine or food at hand and we are threatened?"

Elizabeth sighed and murmured, "With our hearts, as my father told me in his final words."

With that, she sat down on the ground beside the still captain, stroking his forehead as she recited these words to Captain Jack Sparrow:

"Poor wandering spirit,

Though thou hast surely strayed,

In blood water and in grim desert,

On your allegiance we've a stronger claim

And steps will retrace with the tide.

For if such poor love as mine,

Sighing softly to the river, can help thee,

Take heart of grace and guidance,

It is thine with the loving sea breeze,

Bringing the tide to the grim desert,

So sail back and fair days will shine for us."

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Finally, Captain Jack Sparrow's movement settled down and he was lying on his back, staring up at the mast while the sailors stepped forward, but Teague Sparrow held up his hand and hissed, "Give him space and be silent! Listen, I think there are people talking."

They did hear first one, and then another male voice speaking gruffly in the air and the former crew of The Flying Dutchman and of The Empress glanced around, confused by what was going on, yet with the first voice, Cotton murmured, "I...I think that is Pintel."

Weatherby lifted his head with the second voice and remarked, "That is one of those soldiers that was with me at my death, they were loyal."

Meanwhile, Jack winced and closed his eyes, feeling so chilled and yet hot...he vaguely could see rough faces hovering over him, but there was a wisp of hair, a gentle touch on his forehead, and she spoke. He strained to hear, not knowing that the spirits on The Black Pearl had finally all grown quiet and still, tense for a moment, but then they relaxed at "Poor wandering spirit", knowing she spoke to them in this "grim desert". Jack opened his eyes after a moment, and her voice still echoed here in the distorted desert now, even louder...he stood up at the "steps" and waited, waited for the key.

"For if such poor love as mine..."

Jack shook his head, it wasn't poor for someone like him,

"...can help thee..."

Jack nodded and murmured, "We both have what we need in each other..."

"It is thine with the loving sea breeze,"

As the sails in this grim, airless desert suddenly rippled, growing taut with the force of a salty wind blowing against them, straining to move The Black Pearl from its stiff perch,

"Bringing the tide to the grim desert..."

Something splashed against the ship and Captain Sao Feng gasped as he rushed over to the rail, looking down as he cried, "Water! It's welling up from the sand, it's swelling up to a foot right now and rising!"

Governor Weatherby Swann chuckled and glanced off toward port as he exclaimed, "I think I see something in the distance! It looks like an island! Jack, we'll reach it soon enough! Come, come...Jack?"

For as Governor Swann turned back around, to gaze at the space where Captain Jack Sparrow had just been standing a moment ago, his arms spread apart and smelling the breeze, he found that Jack had vanished. The other pirates and sailors hadn't really noticed, flocking over to watch the tide rise and bear them off or to look out towards the island, pointing out other ships approaching in the distance, but Wheelback had lingered back and now he turned his head toward Swann.

Governor Weatherby Swann appealed to him, "Sir, did you see what happened to Jack?"

Wheelback shook his head, but replied, "I do not think he is here...his body was elsewhere and now he's gone back to that and to your daughter. Let's make due course towards the nearest shore of that island and mayhap we'll see him soon."

Favorite phrases: Well, naturally I have some fondness for the little prose piece I cooked up for this, it suits the situation and, if you were to look back, some of the phrases in there also popped up in Jack's definition on true love. I had made this piece in advance, of course, I thought it would be wonderful if 'Penzance' could meld with 'Caribbean'!