A/N: Hey everyone! Sorry for the long departure from this story. Work has been busy. Haven't had much opportunities to sit down and write. I promise I haven't abandoned it. I have much of the story outlined. Hope you enjoy! Reviews are welcome and appreciated.

Elizabeth's Vision

When she opened her eyes, there was naught but blue skies in every direction. Elizabeth's breath caught as she realized she stood ankle deep in placid waters. There was no land in sight, there were no clouds, there was no breeze, but she felt no surge of panic. Oddly, she felt at peace. She dug her toes in to the sand and wiggled them around, savoring the softness. A smile crept upon her face. She lay herself down, letting the water lap over her, and closed her eyes. A dull echo resounded in her ears as she lie just under the surface and the sun shone high above her, breaking past the barrier of her closed eyelids and warming her. She couldn't remember the last time she felt so peaceful. Her ease was interrupted as a shadow crept over her face. She snapped her eyes open and a lone figure stood hovering over her. Squinting, she tried to make out the face, but the light of the sun kept the figure in shadow, unmoving. Elizabeth sat up slowly, careful not to make any sudden movements should she startle whoever stood before her. A familiar face started to come in to focus as she got to her knees.

"Mother?" Elizabeth closed her eyes and opened them again. The woman still in front of her. "How? Am I dead?" Elizabeth asked, suddenly frightened. Her fever dream had broken and she was aware of how strange her surroundings were, unable to remember just how she had gotten there.

"Elizabeth, dear, don't be frightened." The woman said reaching her hand to touch Elizabeth's face. "You're in the land between life and death. A meeting place for the living and the dead to communicate."

Elizabeth stood. "I don't understand. Why am I here? Why are you here?" She asked, confusion filling her brain with fog.

"You asked for help, did you not?" Elizabeth stared ahead, still not comprehending her situation. "With the map?"

Realization dawned on Elizabeth, and before her eyes her mother transformed into Calypso. The water disappeared around them and they were suddenly back in her cabin on The Red Devil.

"I should have known." Elizabeth said, getting to her feet.

"Yes, you should have. I hadn't expected I would need parlor tricks to get your attention."

Elizabeth was used to Tia Dalma's harsh tones, but stripped of her human form, the woman before her was lighter, almost teasing. Absent of accent she wasn't quite so intimidating, or maybe Calypso made it so just for her sake.

"A dream? Hardly one of your better tricks." Elizabeth bit back. "How was I to differentiate this from any other dream?"

"I thought you knew me better than that, Elizabeth Swann."

"Not well enough it would seem; however, well enough to know that you didn't need to disguise yourself." She paused and sat on the edge of her bed. "So, you're here to help?"

"It is so. Your former husband tells me you have a map that is undecipherable?"

"Yes. A man who calls himself Alewar gave it to us, after spouting off nonsense about Jack and I being chosen to save the greater good."

"Child, it is not nonsense. Well, perhaps the bit about Jack, but you, my dear, are of great importance."

"But why? I am no one special. I don't have any supernatural abilities. I am not a god."

"Perhaps not, but that does not mean you aren't destined for greatness. There is a warrior's fire inside you. Unquenchable. And it bleeds throughout you. After everything that you've been through, you still do not know?"

"Know what?"

"One day you will see, but I cannot be the one to show you. You must discover that for yourself. For now I will help you with your map. Let me see it." Calypso demanded with her hand out.

Elizabeth gave her a confused look, but quickly remembered where Calyspo had brought them and proceeded to head into the main cabin. She stopped short upon seeing Jack slumped over the map, apparently asleep. Elizabeth smirked and moved toward him, laying a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Jack, wake up. We have a guest." He didn't move. "Jack" She said louder shaking him slightly.

"He cannot hear you. You are asleep. I just need the map" Calypso said from the doorway.

"Oh." Elizabeth said drily and pulled the map out from underneath him. She lay it out over the table and gestured toward Calypso.

Calypso sauntered eloquently toward the table, almost floating. She peered over the map, and a thoughtful look flitted across her face as the ink swirled around nonsensically forming words or phrases.

"Yes, I see how this could be confusing to a mortal." Calypso said with a smirk.

"I'll try not to be offended by that remark." Elizabeth added with folded arms.

"This is only one half of what you need to read it. Does Jack still have his compass?"

"Yes, but it only points to…well it doesn't matter what it points to, but it's not pointing us in the right direction."

"There is more than one way to use that compass. Bring it to me."

Elizabeth did as commanded and pulled the compass from Jack's belt. He stirred slightly in his seat, muttering to himself. Elizabeth wondered if it was merely coincidence or if he could really feel her presence. For a moment she was tempted to hit him with something, but was soon interrupted.

"Quickly, child. I don't have all day." Calypso urged her.

Elizabeth hurried toward her and handed her the compass. Calypso took it from her and clutched it in her hand momentarily before opening it up and setting it down on the map.

"Seems a rather simple solution. Are you sure…?"

Elizabeth's doubts were quelled and her eyes widened as the ink swirled around the compass. All the intricate patterns that had occasionally popped out at her all at once had settled into an intricate design of a temple. Surrounding the temple was a lush jungle and a long path that led back toward the ocean. Words and phrases still littered the edges of the map, but none of them made much sense to her.

"I don't believe what I'm seeing." Elizabeth said finally after scrutinizing every detail.

"It's no easy task what you are supposing to undertake." Calypso said turning back to her. "There are many dangers on this road."

"But it's something I must do, is it not? Too late to turn back now and all that?" Elizabeth sighed.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean you can't be prepared. You of all people should know the value of preparedness."

Elizabeth chuckled to herself. "Yes, I suppose you're right. So, we're to travel all that distance by foot?"

"I'm sure there are horses you might find in a coastal town, or a canoe you can fashion to take you upriver. You are resourceful, as is Jack. But I must warn you, Elizabeth. Be very careful about who you put your trust in. While I myself don't succumb to irrational paranoia, you'd do well to stay alert. There are betrayers and mutineers all around you. Perhaps closer than you think." Calypso made a gesture toward Jack so small that Elizabeth hardly noticed it, but it was enough to plant a seed of doubt in her mind.

"Who, then, should I trust? Should I even trust this foolhardy endeavor? Or Alewar? Or you?"

"The guardians are a mysterious lot, I'll grant you, but they are good intentioned and they need you. Trust your instincts, Elizabeth." Calypso placed a palm on Elizabeth's cheek. "You were chosen for a reason." Calypso paused, unsure if she should inform Elizabeth of the path she was destined for. With a deep sigh she continued, "You fulfill an ancient prophecy."

"Beg your pardon?"

"A long time ago, when gods and monsters freely roamed the earth, there was great battle for power. Good fought against evil, brother fought against brother, all for the sake of being the most powerful in the realm. And in the end, nothing was solved, the gods were stripped of all but a small sliver of the power we once contained, the world was left in ruins and like an explosion the remaining power spread throughout, hiding itself. A short time later, when mortal men took their claim over the earth, the God of Chaos with his last remaining shred of life chose a mortal man and bestowed upon him, the ability to seek this power out. He wreaked havoc all over the world, conquering entire civilizations, imprisoning innocent people, and threatening the very fabric of existence. That is, until another mortal challenged him. A mortal from humble beginnings, but had the makings of a great warrior. He stumbled upon the chest, the one you seek, and opened it. The war did not last long, but the evil was defeated and the power restored to its resting place. Soon after, the challenger sacrificed himself so as not to be tempted, and all otherworldly magic lay dormant for a time. Such sorcery still exists in the world, the chest you are after contains the most powerful. It cannot be opened by just anyone, and those who have tried since have been unable to wield its enormity without corruption or death. There are many men searching for this power and others like it."

"Yes, Alewar said the Spanish are after it."

"Yes, but that isn't the whole story. It is you they require. After the war, it was prophesied that there would one day be a king of beggars, born on the salted seas, brought to power by the betrayed, who would be able to open the chest and control its powers should the world be in danger again. It is the guardians belief that you are that person, and they wish to have you fighting for the side of good in the wars to come."

"Wars to come?" Elizabeth asked in surprise.

"Power is only powerful when its existence is known. The more who are aware of its presence, the greater it grows, revealing itself to any who would wish to have it. A great battle is coming, that much is certain, but what side you land on, Ms. Swann, remains to be seen." Calypso grabbed Elizabeth by the shoulders and pushed her roughly against the table, "You must get to the temple, you must protect the chest!"

Elizabeth bolted upright in bed with a gasp, trying desperately to find her breath. Her hands clutched the sheet with white knuckles and sweat beaded down her forehead.

"What in the bloody hell just happened?" She said to herself breathlessly.

Quickly she got up from the bed and put on a pair of breeches from the floor, and rushed to the side cabin. She looked to the desk where Jack lay slumped over, and moved toward him. The map still in its place underneath him and the compass still in its place at his belt. Elizabeth pinched the bridge of her nose trying to recount everything Calypso had told her. Her mind was jumbled. 'Trust no one' she had said, 'protect the chest', something about a prophecy. She suddenly felt dizzy and headed to the main deck for air. Once outside, she took in a deep breath of the crisp air and felt the heat leaving her. Elizabeth made her way to the main mast and sat down, leaning up against it, wondering if Calypso was right. Could she really trust no one? Was Jack now suspect? Not that it would be that surprising really, she thought. What will happen to her when she finally reaches the temple? Where does Jack fit in all of this? How much should she tell him?

Elizabeth stayed against the mast for the remainder of the evening, ignoring the clouds the gathered over her, threatening rain and continued to mull over Calypso's words.

Their journey up to this point had already been lengthy and treacherous, but it soon became clear to Elizabeth that, for her, it was just beginning.