Disclaimer: All new from the original uploaded chapter 25. Yes, I said I was taking a hiatus (and I am), but I was bored one day and played with what I had uploaded, adding new stuff, rearranging some of the old, and ended up with over 6,000 words. I like keeping my chapters under 3,000 if I can. Anyway, I decided to split what I ended up with and now, Chapter 25 is mostly new. Don't worry, as I've kept most of what I had before, but for a later time. Anyway, this one has a bit more action, more dialogue, and I think the continuity within the POTC arc. But, that's just my POV.

Anyway, I wanted to have more conflict between the turtles and the curse, trying to be as 'realistic' as one can, considering this is fantasy. Keeping to the canon, if you will. So, rather than waiting to replace it when I return to writing, I've decided to do it now. I hope my original reviews 'stay the course', but – well – if they don't, then my apologies to those who wrote them.

As always, I don't own anything other than this plot and a different HMS Falcon than the one which sailed through the early 1940's by the British navy.

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Chapter 25 – Honor Wins!

Considering their long, uneventful 'cruise' since the tsunami, the turtles had been bored for far too long. Simply put, the battle with the British Navy couldn't have come at a better time. Of course, given the curse-driven thirst for blood and mayhem, all four brothers fought with an intensity that went well beyond the norm.

At least, they would have had the two ships sailed close enough for boarding.

As it turned out, the vessels sailed too far apart to allow for either side to invade the other, at least not without setting down a longboat and rowing over. And it was frustrating, too, because Leo and his brothers were unable to use their weapons. Consequently, the only way to lob any kind of an attack against the encroaching British was doing what the rest of the crew were doing. They took up pistols. Considering their lack of experience with such weaponry, it proved quite problematic, too, especially with how poorly made the guns were, at least compared to the more modern version the mutants were familiar with. It made things more difficult to hit anything, other than the frigate's hull.

Nonetheless, the air crackled and boomed with the sounds of pistol and cannon fire. Smoke from ignited gunpowder wafted amongst both crews like choking swirls of fog, sometimes obscuring the ships from each other. Yet it did nothing to quell the blood-curdling screams from the British, as pirate-initiated shot found their mark. Like leaves in an autumn gale, men fell from the Falcon's yardarms, dropping into the sea, wounded or killed. It seemed the British were taking a heavy toll, yet they persisted against the pirates, determined and resolute.

While the turtles grouped as one behind the bulwarks, each took aim at their individual targets. Unfortunately, their lack of success was becoming frustrating.

"This is ridiculous, Leo!" Raphael roared irritably, "I can't hit ANYTHING with this stupid gun."

Mike was in full agreement, "Yeah, dude, I mean, if we can't kill anyone, who knows which side wins?"

"I have to agree, these guns are poor excuses for weapons," Leo concurred, "but, for now, it's all we have to work with."

"Unless the boats drift closer together, but if feels as if Captain Sparrow is preventing that."

"You think he's doing it deliberately, Don?"

"I don't know, Leo, but I do know every time the frigate gets close enough for its crew to board, the Pearl moves far enough away to prevent it."

"I would think Jack would WANNA fight, I mean…that's what I wanna do."

"Raph, you always want to fight."

"No, Leo, this time it's different, I mean, give me no reason at all and I'd even shoot Don's head off."

Donatello stared wide-eyed in horror at his brother, "Seriously?"

"Well, don't you feel like doin' that? I mean, I feel so…weird right now, like I wanna see blood and guts and..."

"Yeah, dudes, I can't wait to use my chucks!" Mike grinned, "Or better yet, a sword! Yeah, I can really get into this swashbuckling stuff!"

Leo looked strangely at his baby brother. He knew that Mike hated sharp pointy things, especially swords, which was why he favored the nunchukus. Mikey didn't even like to use throwing stars, but before Leonardo could give more thought to the strangeness affecting his brothers, suddenly the bulwarks in front of him splintered as British shot ricocheted off the hull. It was enough to bring the turtle in blue back into the fight. For the moment, Leo stopped wondering about his brothers and took aim at the British ship again.

After a short while, however, the same frustration that beleaguered the turtles began to affect the pirate crew. Everyone began wondering why every time the frigate drew closer, the Pearl would pull away. Blood lust was a heady drug and a cursed blood lust made it nearly impossible to quench. Eventually many of the men began complaining about using their pistols and yelling for Jack to steer the Pearl closer to their enemy.

Their captain refused, however, which gave weight to Don's theory that, for some reason, Jack didn't want to fight.

Drafted by the rest of the men into confronting the captain, as they felt he was least likely to get himself shot for insubordination, Mr. Gibbs rushed up the steps leading to where Jack stood behind the pilot's wheel.

Of course, it helped to know that Jack couldn't kill Gibbs if he wanted to.

Now, he stood nearly nose to nose with Jack, hotly contesting the captain's obvious avoidance to the fight, "I don't sees why we can't engage the enemy hand t'hand, Captain! After all, they're the ones chasin' us, wantin' us dead! An' we're cursed, can't be killed, so the crew wants t'know why ye keeps turnin' away the blasted boat? T'let'em live past a day will leave behind witnesses t'what d'rection we flee. It would be unwise…unhealthy even!"

Jack stood his ground, "No one can finds the Pearl, Mr. Gibbs, other than by chance, but, I do knows what yer feelin'. Neverth'less, we'll discourage from here, we do not engage 'nless pressed t'do so."

"At the risk a'sounding - mutinous, Jack, I am certain BARBOSSA didn't have such res'vations!"

"Barbossa didn't have a lot of things, mate," Jack flexed his right hand, mindful of 'other things', "An' in case you've forgotten, I'm not 'im." Sparrow straightened his posture just a little, "I would likes to think I can outlast this bedeviled curse."

Gibbs felt a sudden rush of raging irritation, however. His next verbal challenge came faster than he had time to think, which almost proved fatal, or would have if not for the curse, "Outlast my 'mother's bonnet'. Yer just AFRAID!"

Almost immediately, Gibbs felt his side pierced with Sparrow's rapier. He flinched and panicked for just a moment, before he realized it really didn't hurt all that much. Still, he found it quite disconcerting to see the sword sticking out from his midsection.

Sparrow noticed the same thing and muttered, "Bummer. Forgot 'bout the curse," and he quickly removed it, only to take his pistol from his waistband, and aimed the nasty end of the gun at the first mate's nose. The captain growled a warning, "Afraid I am not, stupid I am not, but if I hears any more complainin', you and those who side with ye can join the frigate's crew…complete with fancy bracelets and neck wear!" Jack smiled dangerously, a snarl to his lips in threat, "Savvy?"

Joshamee Gibbs gulped, his eyes wide. He stepped back quickly, one hand to his side, fingering the wound, then pleased when he found none. He then threw both hands up in surrendered supplication, "Oh gawd, Cap'n, I'm so sorry, don' know what came over me, mus' be th'curse."

"Yes, it must be, Mr. Gibbs, 'cause if it isn't, then you be treadin' a thin line here. I've had me fill of mutineerin' crew and though you've proved yerself inval'able, I will not risk another." He saw the contriteness in his first mate's face, so he added, "Just tell th' men t'stand down and keep firin'. No hands t'hand unless boarded!"

"Aye, Cap'n. I'll tell the men," Gibbs gave a quick nod and slipped back down the stairs to the crew below.

Some of the men complained mightily, of course, and those men found themselves tossed over the railing and into the sea by Sparrow's more loyal followers, namely Will Turner and Gibbs.

"An' any more of yea wantin' t'mutiny will be join' 'em. So, get back t'yer posts and keep firin'!" Gibbs looked around at the men. His face showed nothing but malice and the crew did hesitate for just a moment. Suddenly, as if nothing at all had happened, they turned went back to their positions, continuing the passive assault on the British frigate.

It was partway through the battle and after he and his brothers began to score hits when Leonardo paused in his shooting. He stared at the enemy beyond and then looked over at his brothers. Each one had an expression unlike them and as he turned and studied the rest of the pirate crew, they, too, had the same look. His face crinkled as his eye ridges pinched together in confusion. "Something's not right, something's...wrong!"

Suddenly, like an epiphany, "What in blazes are we doing?" he wondered in shocked surprise.

Confusion clouded his mind, again, however, and he shook his head to clear it. Leo looked around again, taking in the crazed expressions of the crew and his brothers. He shook his head a second time and gulped deeply. Peering out between the railings of the Pearl, as if for the first time, Leonardo saw how many of the British floated dead or injured in the water. The Falcon itself seemed beleaguered as well, with gaping holes in its side, although none below the water line, at least as far as he could tell. One of its three masts was out of commission, too, the top half broken off. If not for the lines securing it to the others, it would have crashed to the deck, but it was definitely useless. The main mast and the other were still intact, but for how long, Leo didn't know. Certainly not for very long if the Pearl continued firing its cannons, that much Leo was certain. Leonardo was convinced, though, that if the fight continued, the Falcon would surely sink…and for some reason he thought it would be rather cool to see, too.

Once again, a strange thought seeped into his curse-clouded mine, "But, those men? What about those men? They're just following orders, right?"

Suddenly, something bubbled up inside of Leonardo's chest, something he had forgotten, something important. Yet, whatever it was, Leo knew that something was wrong, no matter how 'right' he felt about destroying the enemy.

Quickly, he turned to Donatello, "We need to fall back and re-group!"

Donny stared at him incredulously, "What? You're kidding, right?"

Raphael overheard the exchange and couldn't believe what Leo had asked, "No. We're making headway here!"

"I found a problem and it may…help us!" Leo lied. He knew what he saw in Don's expression wasn't his brother and as for Raphael, Leo knew that to tell him to cease his attack would be futile. Lying was a much better alternative to arguing with his brothers, especially when one of them seemed so totally out of character.

"Will it help destroy the other ship?"

Another lie, "Yeah, Don, it…will."

Reluctantly, his brothers followed Leo under the companionway stairs and out of sight from the rest of the crew.

Once under the protection of the stairs, Raph gave Leo a warning glance, "Fearless, this idea of yours betteh be a good enough to get that frigate off our backs!"

"Guys, look, I'm sorry, but it's not about sinking that ship."

Raph sneered dangerously, challenging his older brother, "I thought you said you found something that could help us!"

"I did!"

"No, you're just being a weenie!"

"Am not, it's just…"

"Are, too!" and then Raph began to turn to rejoin the fight. He found himself swung back around, though, as Leo grabbed his shoulder.

"This is not us, Raphael; we do not fight like this!" Leo was nearly snout-to-snout with Raphael, now.

"Maybe not in New York City, Leo, but here on this pirate ship we certainly do!"

"NO, RAPH, this is NOT US!" Leo squeezed his eyes tight as, yet, another overwhelming serge of blood lust attempted to subdue his sense of honor.

"You okay, bro?" Mikey asked and placed a concerned hand on Leo's shoulder, his own eyes glazed with battle fever.

Donatello stood next to him, his expression thoughtful, trying to assess the situation. He watched his older brother appear to falter. Leo's face contorted suddenly, as if fighting some inward battle. Something about what he said intrigued the bo-wielding turtle, something important.

Nodding tentatively, Leo replied, his teeth grating, "Yeah, I will be, Mikey, so long as we stay away from the main deck. And I must insist that all of us stay away."

"No way, Leo!"

"THATISANORDER, RAPHAEL!" Leo roared, a growl edging his words.

Raph suddenly whipped out both sai, "Been wantin' t'use these…"

Quickly and as if he had finally figured out what that important 'something' was, Donatello stepped between the two, a hand on each brother's chest. He then pushed them apart, saying, "Raph, Leo's right. This – curse – seems to have heightened all of our need for a fight. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out, I'm experiencing it, too! In fact…" Suddenly, Don seemed to lose focus. He looked over his shoulder and gazed between the steps of the stairs towards the skirmish beyond with an eager expression. It was hungry. As a small strange smile edged his snout, "Yeah and I…really want to run a sword through someone, too!"

Raphael and Michelangelo both gave wide, astounded looks at their normally passive sibling.

Mike scratched his head in confusion, "Donnie? Is that…you?"

Donatello shook himself and continued, "Yeah, it's me, Mikey, but, I know…we all know, that it's wrong, so…um…hard as it will be, let's just DO as Leo suggests, okay?"

Raphael snorted in disgust, his words dripping with sarcasm, "Well, if Don's feeling murderous, I guess that's proof enough th'curse is alive n'well." He gave Leo a nod, "Fine, we'll hang back, but th'moment we get boarded…"

"The moment the British board, we will protect Jack's ship, but we will not kill…no matter what!" Leo firmly instructed.

"WHAT?" Raph lost his composure then, "ARE YOU CRAZY?"

"No, I am not crazy, Raphael," Leo said insistently, "But we are cursed and can't die, so it seems rather unfair to kill those who can. And where we are able, we need to keep as many alive as is possible. I know we can't be everywhere. Nevertheless…" Leo sighed, "we do what we can to keep as many alive as we can. And to make sure we don't have too many to worry about, I suggest that we toss the British overboard when possible…that is if they do indeed board us. At the very least it will increase their chances for survival."

"Provided they can swim, Leo." Don added, "From what I've hear from Sparrow's men, just because they're sailors, that doesn't mean they can swim, which means some of the British might have the same problem."

"Well, Don, that's the best I can think of in giving them a chance, unless you have a better idea?"

Don shook his head, "Well, other than releasing one of the Pearl's longboats…and I don't think Captain Sparrow would 'savvy' that, I'll have to agree with you."

Much to his chagrin, Raphael finally agreed, but only conditionally, "Whateveh, Leo, I'll hold back, but if it comes down t'losin' an arm t'any sword, I'm gonna protect m'self, even if it's lethal to th'otheh guy. None of us knows if losin' a limb becomes permanent despite th'curse or if it can grow back and I would rather commit seppuku than end up a one-armed ninja!"

"Okay, I'll allow for that…" Leo gave his brother a critical eye, "…but no taking advantage, okay?"

There was a tense moment as Raphael hesitated. He continued to stare his brother down, appearing to weigh his options, maybe even challenge his brother's lack of faith. He gripped both sai uncertainly. Mike and Don watched nervously, both holding their breath, certain their brother would lose control.

Finally, "Okay. Ya have my word."

"Boy, that's a first!" Mike laughed, only to have Raphael playfully slug him one in the shoulder.

"OW, that hurt!"

"Not as much as getting' yer nose blown off!" Raph grinned maniacally and brought his pistol up hard against Mikey's snout.

The orange-wearing turtle went wide-eyed, gulping nervously, "Point taken, bro!"

Xxxxxxx

TBC