In The Lanes Between
Sora, Riku, and Kairi were riding their gliders deciding on what to do next.
"Any ideas on where we should go?" Kairi asked.
"Well we know that a member of the Organization was at Port Royal." Riku said.
"And did promise we would return." Sora said.
"And we might get an idea on what the Organization next move." Kairi said.
"Then we agree that heading to Port Royal should be our next move." Riku said.
They all nodded and began to fly to Port Royal.
Port Royal: Shipwreck Cove
They soon landed on a small island with an impressive mountain range on it. They were dotted with green trees. They saw the Black Pearl sat docked in a cove of the island with dozens of other ships, facing what looked like a smaller island in the centre of the cove. But it was comprised with the remains of hundreds of wrecked ships.
"At least we know that Will, Elizabeth and Barbossa is here." Sora said.
"Question is whether they managed to bring Jack back." Riku said.
"I think we have other problems?" Kairi said.
Sora and Riku looked at her and noticed she was facing the other way. They then saw a bunch of pirates pointing pistols at them.
"Hold your fire!" A voice said. Everyone turned around and saw Jack standing there. "They're with me mates." Moments later they were walking towards a giant ship.
"You look well for someone who is supposed to be dead." Riku said.
"Argh but no prison can hold Captain Jack Sparrow." Jack said.
"Then would you mind telling us what you are doing here?" Sora asked.
"Discussing our next more." Jack said.
"Discussing with whom though?" Kairi asked.
"The Brethren Court!" Jack said.
"And the Brethren Court is what?" Kairi asked.
"There are nine Pirate Lords that control a certain portion of the oceans of the world and me and Barbossa happen to be Pirate Lords not to mention Elizabeth is one as well now." Jack explained.
"Guess we've got a lot of catching up to do." Sora said.
"Indeed lad but all will be clear soon." Jack said.
"With you around nothing is clear." Riku muttered.
"Good point." Jack said.
They walked up a winding series of staircases and soon they could hear plenty of noise. Once they entered the room they saw a long, sturdy, wooden table was in the centre, stretching across the room. There were Pirates all-around of it there were six pirates sitting around the table there was an Arab pirate with a dark red and green turban and long, dark brown hair and a moustache. A Frenchman with pale face makeup and a dirty powdered wig. An older Asian woman with white face makeup and glazed over eyes. A tall well-built black man with a braided beard. An old Hindu man with a green turban and a white beard. And a short Spanish man with a grey beard and moustache. The four of them then walked to the head of the table where Elizabeth who was now wearing and oriental, dark green and gold outfit that looked like it could be a set of light armour. A long sword was sheathed at her belt, Barbossa and Gibbs were standing.
"I see you three have returned and your timing couldn't be better as time be of the essence. I hereby convene this the fourth Brethren Court. To confirm your Lordship and right to be heard, present now your pieces of eight, my fellow captains." Barbossa said.
The Brethren Court then instead of pieces of eight they placed pieces of junk into a tray. Both Sora and Kairi were confused.
Those aren't pieces of eight they're just pieces of junk!" Kairi said.
"Aye, the original plan was to use nine pieces of eight to bind Calypso, but when the first Court met, the Brethren were worth one; skint broke." Gibbs explained.
"So change the name." Sora said.
"To what? To 'Nine Pieces of Whatever-We-Happen-to-Have-in-Our-Pockets-at-the-T ime? Oh yes, that sounds very piratey." Gibbs said.
Barbossa then added a wooden eye. Jack reluctantly put in one of the coins hanging from his bandanna, woven into Moroccan beads. Elizabeth added something as well a Jade Captain's knot.
"Now then our location has been betrayed. Jones and Beckett are on their way here." Barbossa said.
"Who is this betrayer!?" The black Pirate Lord asked.
"Not likely anybody among us." Barbossa said.
"Where's Will?" Sora asked.
"Not among us." Jack replied.
"It matters not how they found us. The question is: What will we do now that they have?" Barbossa said
"We fight!" Elizabeth said. Instantly half the room burst into laughter.
"Shipwreck Cove is a fortress! A well supplied fortress! There is no need to fight if they cannot get to us!" The Asian woman said.
"Yeah and be dead in a couple of months." Sora muttered.
"There be a third choice." Barbossa said as he walked around the room as he spoke. "In another age, at this very spot, the first Brethren Court captured the sea goddess Calypso, and bound her in her bones. But that was a mistake and I say we free her in order to destroy Beckett." At that moment everyone fell silent.
"Who's Calypso?" Sora asked Gibbs.
"Calypso was a sea goddess and was the reason that Davy Jones cut out his heart. You see she gave him the task of ferrying the souls of those who died at sea to the next life, with his ship, the Flying Dutchman. But he would have to stay at sea, and not step foot on land for ten years and said she will wait for him. But after those ten years were up Calypso wasn't there. In a rage he cut out his heart the rest you know. Then, he told the first Brethren Court, how they could bind Calypso into a human form." Gibbs explained.
"And Barbossa what's to free her is he mad?" Kairi asked.
"That lass is a very good question." Jack said.
"Shoot him!" A pirate yelled.
"Cut out his tongue!" Another pirate yelled.
"Shoot him and cut out his tongue! Then shoot his tongue! Maybe trim that scraggly beard." Jack said.
Soon after, a full-out brawl broke out between the two halves of the pirates. One half agreed with Barbossa, the other didn't. Jack, Barbossa, Elizabeth, and Sora's groups stayed by the door and watched.
"This is madness!" Elizabeth said.
"This is politics." Jack corrected.
Barbossa then stood up on the table and took his pistol from his belt and fired a single shot into the air through the roof. At the sound of the gunshot the fighting came to a complete halt.
"It was the first court that released Calypso, we should be the ones to set her free! And in her gratitude, she will see fit to grant us boons!" Barbossa said.
"Whose boons? Your boons? Utterly deceptive twaddlespit, says I" Jack said.
"If ya have a better alternative, please share." Barbossa said.
"Cuttlefish." Jack said. Jack walked around the room. "Let us not, dear friends, forget our... dear friends the cuttlefish. Pen 'em up together and they will devour each other without a second thought. Human nature ain't it or fish nature." He stopped behind the Asian woman and spoke directly to her. "So yes we could hole up here, well provisioned and well-armed, and half of us would be dead within the month! Which seems quite grim to me any way you slice it or as my luni- colleague so naively suggests, we could release Calypso and we can pray that she will be merciful. I rather doubt it. Can we pretend that she is anything other than a woman scorned whose fury like which Hell hath no? We cannot." He had reached the other side of the room. "Therefore, we are left with one option. I agree with and I cannot believe that the words are coming out of me mouth Captain Swan. We must fight."
"You've always run away from a fight!" Barbossa accused.
"Have not!" Jack said.
"You have so!"
"Have not!"
"You have so!"
"Have not!"
"You have so!"
"Have not!"
"You have so and you know it!"
While the two were talking every pirate in the room watch them both like they were watching a tennis match.
"Have not. I have only ever embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions. I submit that here, now, that is what we all decide. We must fight to run away!" Jack said.
Suddenly the room was filled with exclamations of aye. But Barbossa wasn't moved.
"As per the code, an act of war and this be exactly that can only be declared by the Pirate King." Barbossa said.
"You made that up!" Jack said.
"Did I now?" He smirked. "I call out Captain Teague; Keeper of the Code!"
There was a collective gasp. Jack looked slightly put off and the corner of his mouth began to twitch. Then the Hindu man nudged one of his aids, who spoke for him.
"Sri Sumbhajee declares this all to be folly! Hang the code! Who gives a-." The aid said.
A single gunshot rang out. Then there was a single, clean, bloodless hole directly through the middle of the man's chest. He was completely still and silent before he fell over backwards and landed with a dull thud. The room was totally silent again for the next time in the past few minutes. All eyes turned toward the doorway the shot had come from. A man stood silhouetted against the pale gold light from a single lantern. He held up his smoking pistol and blew away a few wisps of it from the barrel.
"The code is the law." The man said.
"That must be Captain Teague." Riku whispered.
"Is it me or does he look like Jack only with thirty years added on." Sora said.
"Aye well there's a good reason for that." Gibbs said.
Teague walked slowly toward the table. He then stopped at Jack's back.
"You're in my way boy." Teague said.
Jack then took several side steps. Teague gestured to someone in the direction he had come. Out came two extremely old men, carrying a huge book between them. When they set it on the table he opened it up slowly almost reverently. He seemed to know exactly what page he wanted. He scanned the page for a moment, and then tapped a certain spot with his finger.
"Ahhh... Barbossa is right." Teague said.
"Hang on a minute." Jack said. He then began to read the page out loud. "It shall be the duties of the king to calm war. Fancy that!"
"There's not been a king since the first Court! And that's not likely to change." The Frenchman said.
"Why Not?" Elizabeth asked.
"You see the Pirate King is elected by popular vote." Gibbs said.
"And each pirate only ever votes for himself." Barbossa said.
"I call for a vote!" Jack said.
There were a few annoyed sounds from the pirates. Teague walked to a corner of the room and picked up a guitar and began to play a quiet tune.
"I vote for Ammand, the Corsair!" Ammand said.
"Capitain Chevalle, the Penniless Frenchman." Chevalle said
"Sri Sumbhajee votes for Sri Sumbhajee." One of Sumbhajee aids said.
"Mistress Ching!" Ching said.
"Gentleman Jocard." Jocard said.
"Elizabeth Swan." Elizabeth said.
"Barbossa." Barbossa said.
The guitar stopped playing when they reached Jack.
"Elizabeth Swan." Jack said.
"...What?" Elizabeth said stunned.
"I know. Curious, isn't it?" Jack said with a smile.
Instantly, the Pirate Lords broke out into loud protests trying to convince them to change his vote, or at least vote for himself and be done with it.
"Am I to understand that you lot will not be keeping to the code then?" Jack asked.
A guitar string suddenly snapped, and everyone noticed. Teague sent a strange look at the others, murder in his eyes. The Pirate Lords fell silent immediately and slowly sank back into their chairs.
"Very well. What say you, Captain Swan, King of the Brethren Court?" Ching said.
"Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn we're at war." Elizabeth said.
The next morning
Around two-hundred ships sat floating in front of Shipwreck Island ready to set sail. Sora was leaned against the railing looking out to sea.
"Something is on your mind is there?" A voice asked. Sora looked around and saw Kairi standing there.
"There's no way Jack would vote for a pirate that would go to war unless it was in his best interest." Sora said.
"That thought crossed my mind as well." Kairi said.
"There's nothing we can do but keep an eye on him." Sora said.
A few moments later Beckett's flag ship sailed out of the thick fog. Every last pirate in every last ship let out a loud battle cry. Then out of the massive fog bank came hundreds of EITC ships following behind the Beckett's flag ship. One of them was the Flying Dutchman. The shouting of the pirates died away almost immediately at this unnerving sight. Sora also noticed Air Pirate and Battleship Heartless soaring alongside the ships. Also on board the ships Sora saw Dusks and Gambler Nobody's on the ships with Pirate Heartless and members of Jones crew.
Minutes later it was agreed that Jack, Elizabeth, Barbossa and Sora would sail via longboat to a nearby sandbar between the two fleets to negotiate with Beckett's men.
They soon rowed to a tiny island and meeting them there was Will, Beckett, Davy Jones who was standing in a bucket of water and Rolud.
"Luxord we had a feeling that the Organization had a hand to play in this." Sora said once he saw Rolud.
"Not a bad guess but the name is now Rolud." Rolud said.
"Sorry to break this conversation up but we have business to discuss. And as to the first accusation do not blame Turner. He was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect look to your left." Beckett said
Sora, Elizabeth and Barbossa looked to their left and looked at Jack.
"Why am I not surprised." Sora muttered.
"My hands are clean in this." Jack said he then looked at his very dirty hands. "Figuratively."
"My actions were my own, and to my own purpose. Jack had nothing to do with it." Will said.
"Well spoken! Listen to the tool!" Jack said.
"Will, I've been on board the Dutchman. I understand the burden you bare but I fear that cause is lost." Elizabeth said
"No cause is lost, so long as there is one fool left to fight for it." Will said.
"If Turner was not acting on your behalf then how did he come to give me this?" Beckett asked. He held up Jack's compass. "You made a deal with me Jack, to deliver the pirates. And here they are!" He tossed the compass to Jack, who caught it. He looked extremely uncomfortable. "Well, don't be bashful! Step up! Claim your reward!"
"Your debt to me is still to be satisfied. One-hundred years in servitude aboard the Dutchman as a start!" Jones said.
"That debt was paid mate. With some help." Jack said.
"You escaped!" Jones said.
"I propose an exchange." Elizabeth said suddenly. Beckett and Rolud looked particularly interested. "Will leaves with us. And you can take Jack."
"We'll accept that deal if Sora comes with Jack." Rolud said.
"What!" Sora said in shock.
"I'm sure Master Xehanort would like to have an extra piece on his side of the board." Rolud said.
"Done." Will said.
"Undone!" Jack said.
"Done." Beckett said.
"Undone!" Sora said.
"Done." Rolud said.
"Jack is one of the nine Pirate Lords! You have no right!" Barbossa said.
"King." Elizabeth reminded.
"As you command you're Highness." Jack said taking off his hat and bowed to her.
Then both he and Sora walked slowly toward the 'other side' just as Will walked forward too. Beckett adjusted his position forcing to stand next to Davy Jones. He put his hat back on and tried not to make eye contact.
"Advise your brethren. You can fight, and all of you will die, or you cannot fight, in which case, only most of you will die." Beckett said.
"You murdered my father." Elizabeth said glaring at him.
"He chose his own fate." Beckett said.
"Then you have chosen yours. We will fight. And you will die." Elizabeth said
Then she, Will and Barbossa walked back toward the boat.
"So be it." Beckett said with a smile.
Port Royal: Flying Dutchman's brig
Sora and Jack were sitting in a dirty water-filled cell.
"Well! We have successfully arrived aboard the Flying Dutchman as per the overall scheme." Jack said.
"Thanks to you and your scheme we're locked in the brig!" Sora said.
"But you can use that Key of yours to unlock the door then I can stab old Jones's heart." Jack said smiling.
"The only problem with that is there's no lock on the door." Sora said making the smile on Jack's face to disappear.
"To be honest I never thought of that." Jack said.
"Clearly! But why do you want to stab it last time you wanted to use as a bargaining chip." Sora said puzzled.
"Because he who stabs the heart in the chest and kills the captain of the Flying Dutchman, must take his place. You see the Dutchman must have a captain." Jack explained.
"Yeah but won't you end up like Jones if you don't ferry souls to the other side?" Sora asked.
"True I'd rather not have a face with tentacles... But immortal has to count for something, eh?" Jack said.
"Yeah but to unlock the chest you need the key and I have a feeling that it's not here." Sora said.
"Your right there lad you see it was the key that was that dark item you had spoken over last time." Jack said.
"Speaking of last time what happened to Norrington?" Sora asked.
"It would same as if Norrington gave old Jones's heart to Beckett. But from what Elizabeth had said he was killed when he helped them to escape from Jones's." Jack said.
"So what do we do now?" Sora asked.
"Don't worry I'll think of something." Jack said.
"Somehow that doesn't fill me with confidence." Sora said.
Port Royal: The Black Pearl
Back on the pearl Will, Elizabeth and Barbossa had just climbed aboard.
"We were going to use the Black Pearl as a flagship to lead the attack." Elizabeth said.
"Oh will we now?" Barbossa said.
Then from below deck a great deal of pirates were Tia Dalma. She was bound tight with extremely thick ropes.
"Barbossa you can't release her!" Will said. Then suddenly pirates grabbed Riku, Kairi, Will and Elizabeth.
"We have to give Sora and Jack a chance." Elizabeth said.
"Apologies your Majesty too long, my fate has not been in me own hands. No longer!" Barbossa said.
A pirate then pulled out the tray from the previous night's meeting with all nine pieces of eight on it covered in oil.
"Be there some manner of right, or incantation?" Gibbs asked.
"Aye. These nine items must be burned. And someone must speak the words Calypso I release you from your human bonds as if to a lover." Barbossa said.
"Calypso! I release you from your human bonds!" He sounded nothing like a lover. Barbossa then placed a touch into the tray but it didn't light up.
Y-you didn't say it right. You've got to say it right." A pirate said. The pirate then brushed a strand of hair away from Tia Dalma and leaned his head against the side of hers and whispered. "Calypso I release you from your human bonds."
The effect was astonishing. The contents in the tray ignited, burning very quickly. The thin grey smoke rose from it, and then shot into Tia Dalma's nostrils in a stream. She shivered and her eyes slowly closed. Will then moved closer to her.
"Tia Dalma!" Will said. She didn't respond. "Calypso." Her head snapped toward him and her eyes shot open. The tray fell and rolled across the deck. "When the Brethren Court first imprisoned you, who was it who told them how? Who was it that betrayed you?" Will asked.
"Name him!" Calypso ordered.
"Davy Jones." Will said.
Calypso closed her eyes. Then she began to grow both in height and in width. As she grew the pirates then quickly grabbed the ropes and pulled tight as if their life depended on it which it did. The men holding Riku, Kairi, Will and Elizabeth dropped their weapons to help. The ropes binding Calypso started to creak, snap and break. When she stopped growing she was over thirty feet tall and the floorboards were creaking ominously under her feet.
The crew gazed up at her in silent awe for what felt like a very long time. Then Barbossa stepped forward, and knelt down on one knee, discarding the torch. He gestured for everyone else to do the same.
"Calypso! I come before you as but a servant, humble and contrite. I have fulfilled me vow, and now ask your favour. Spare myself, me ship, me crew. But unleash your fury on those who dare to call themselves your masters and mine." Barbossa said.
Calypso was silent for a moment, and just smiled down at them all. Then she got very angry and then shputed what sound like a curse in a strange language. As she shouted she transformed into thousands of stone-like crabs that fell to the deck knocking everyone off their feet. Then the crabs fell off the side of the ship the crew staggered to its feet.
"What now captain?" Riku asked Barbossa.
"Nothing our final hope has failed us." Barbossa said bitterly.
Everyone spirits were low. Then mostly clear sky turned dark with thick, black storm clouds. The wind suddenly started to pick up.
"It's not over." Elizabeth said.
"There's still a fight to be had." Will said.
"We have an armada against us and with the Dutchman there's no chance." Gibbs argued.
"Only a fool's chance." Elizabeth said.
"Revenge won't bring your father back Miss Swan and it not I'm intending to die for." Barbossa said.
"Then what shall we die for?" Elizabeth asked. She leapt onto the railing and balanced herself by holding onto one of the lines. "You will listen to me. Listen! The Brethren will still be looking here to us! To the Black Pearl to lead. And what will they see? Frightened bilge rats aboard a derelict ship? No. No they will see free men and freedom! And what the enemy will see is the flash of our cannons! They will hear the ring of our swords and they will know what we can do! By the sweat of our brows and the strength of our backs! And the courage of our hearts! Gentlemen! Hoist the colours"
"Hoist the colors." Will yelled.
"Hoist the colors." Kairi shouted.
"Hoist the colors!" Riku shouted.
"Aye! The wind's on our side boys! That's all we need!" Gibbs said.
Absolutely every pirate around Shipwreck Cove let out loud shouts. All along the line of ships flags were hoisted into the air to the top of the masts.
Riku, Kairi, Will, Elizabeth and Barbossa stood proudly at the bridge of the Pearl. They looked towards the armada ready to do battle.