A/N: Final chapter !!!!!!!! Sorry for the long wait : I didn't have internet access until today. sighs Long chapter, but it reads very well. You'll love the ending... I hope ;)

Chapter XXV : "Vortigan vs Jack in a last stand"

I ran to the edge of the ship but abruptly stop. Without second thoughts, I tore off the bottom of my dress, standing in my petticoat. I took one of the ropes and crossed with all my strength to the Drache.

On the deck, I stood up, trying to look everywhere. Pirates, all and almost one on one with their swords. Blood, suffering…. Was it all because of me ?

"You're dead !" I heard in a yell.

I turned around, seeing a pirate running towards me, sword in the air. Standing stupid, I was paralysed and couldn't move out of fright. In a blink of an eye, a sword went straight through the pirate. I looked beside him as his body crumbled : Anamaria was the one that just saved my life.

She came towards me in a hurry.

"Ana…" I whispered. "Thank y…"

"Wut yu think you doin'?" she yelled.

I was shut up, stupidly still.

"Well ?!" she asked again.

Taking over my emotions, I finally replied :

"Alexandre ! Where is he ?!"

A pirate ran towards her. She turned around, swiftly avoiding the enemy's weapon before running him through.

"He's safe. In tha cabin. Join him and wait there ! I'll clear you a path."

I nodded and started running towards the captain's cabin, Anamaria following closely behind me, catching a new fight with a pirate that was coming towards me.

I got into the cabin and closed the door behind me. I turned around abruptly and looked everywhere, but no sign of Alexandre.

"Alex ?!" I said before screaming his name a second time.

A loud "bang" was heard, getting my attention towards the lower cupboard. A small head popped out and before I could confirm what I truly saw, Alexandre was running towards me.

I opened my arms and hugged him tightly.

In a quick draw to the left, Jack's sword fatally wounded yet an other of Vortigan's men before an other one immediately jumped on the occasion to fight against him.

Gibbs, who was equally fighting an other pirate, came back to back with Jack.

"Well, Mr.Gibbs ?" Jack asked, swords still crossed with his enemy.

"Don't you 'well' me, Jack!" Gibbs replied, angered.

Both of them pushed back the enemy pirates and ran them through.

"Charity?" Jack asked

"Don't know. Haven't seen her yet." Gibbs replied.

"How about Vortigan ?"

"No signs of him either"

Following their brief conversation, pirates came towards them, attacking them anew.

One step at the time, Vortigan marched on the deck of the Drache, slaughtering every face he wasn't familiar with. Not caring about if the men were faithful to him or not wasn't a bother. He knew what he wanted : he saw her, he could still smell her. He was going to get her now, in a matter of minutes.

A loud bagging at the door made Alexandre and I jump into the air out of fright. I could see a dark shadow on the other side, trying to force his way brutally inside.

My heart pounded horribly fast.

I shook Alexandre rather abruptly, trying to get his attention, ordering him to get back into his hiding place.

He looked at me, eyes wide opened. I knew then it was too late.

I got up, turned around and kept Alexandre behind me in a vain attempt to make him invisible from any harm. The door finally broke open, Vortigan's silhouette making itself more apparent.

"Pick a boo, I see you…" he whispered

Within a few large steps, he caught up to me, grabbing me by my hair and pulling me to his face.

"Thought you could run away ?" he asked. "I'm quite happy to see you actually… You'll be more useful to me then I first thought."

He pulled me brutally, obliging me to follow him out of the cabin.

Once on deck, Vortigan knew exactly where he would find his next target : Jack was struggling against a large and tall pirate, swiftly managing his way thought before stabbing him without mercy.

Vortigan stopped, his arm around my neck, almost choking me to tears. The other pirates who saw us, Jack's and Vortigan's crew both concerned, slowly stopped fighting and stared at both of us.

"Jack…" I whispered.

Vortigan lowered his head, getting his mouth to my ear.

"Louder" he ordered me.

Shaking, I started panicking, letting all my fear and anger out in one single yell.

"JAAAACCCKKKK !"

My cry called upon everyone, every single living soul turning their attention towards me and postponing their current fights and getting out of Vortigan's way.

Eyes wide open, I looked at Jack. He slowly turned around to look at me and Vortigan.

Calm, he stared at his enemy, studying his intentions :

"Well Jack… I suppose you'll always manage to surprise me… Cheating death so many times, I'll end up wondering if you're truly the son of the Devil." Vortigan said.

"The girl…" Jack started.

"You think I care about this scrawny little thing ? You can have her, Jack. All I want is you."

Jack raised his sword, pointing his enemy.

"Then let the girl go…"

Vortigan got his grip tighter around me.

"Ah … Not that easy, Jack... You should know that."

"Then, let's make a truce, like the gentlemen we are…or more so used to be"

"…Which is ?"

Vortigan suddenly seemed to have interest in Jack proposition, making Jack smile faintly.

"If I happen to kill you, you're crew will leave without any other concern on my part."

Vortigan smiled.

"I think this can be agreed. …About the other half ?" the mad pirate asked.

"If I die… You'll let my crew and the girl go"

Vortigan breathed out, smirking with shiny eyes :

"Now you know your crew belongs to me, Jack."

Jack's eyes were small, gazing on Vortigan like it's prey.

"Then the girl is all I'll be asking for."

"YOU LOUSY SON OF A…." Anamaria started before being shut by the man that held his sword at her throat.

Vortigan's smirk just got a little more serious.

"Well, I'll promise to let her recover her freedom, in any case"

On these words, Vortigan shoved me to the ground and slowly pulled out his sword from his scabbard.

"I see we got ourselves an accord" Jack replied, taking a frightening position of avant-garde.

Vortigan went strait for him. Sound of clashing metals were heard, their swords brutally being forced on one an other in the hopes of cutting flesh.

I got up slowly, backing away from the scene, my eyes on Vortigan ratter than on Jack. Vortigan was smiling all along, his sword on constant move, his confident shining strongly. Jack frowned every instant. I was hoping the expression on his face was a result of him acting more so as a thinker on the side, strategically planning, patiently waiting for the right moment to strike. However, my hopes were suddenly crushed the instant I noticed Jack's sword flying in the air before hitting the hard word on deck and Vortigan's sword slashed the air to slightly cut Jack's left arm.

A prelude to his victory, Vortigan made himself larger and even more threatening than he had ever been. Jack still managed to keep a straight posture, even though his shadowy face clearly reflected his agony.

"I've been waiting 5 years for this…" Vortigan started "Now this will be the end of Jack Sparrow…"

Jack smiled : "Well then… Never thought of it to end this way…"

My heart stopped pounding. I took a step towards. I couldn't believe it : Jack didn't only loose, but he was giving up ? No, I wouldn't allow it myself !

"No !" I suddenly yelled. "NO ! JACK !"

Jack turned his head and looked at me, voiceless.

I started running, picking up his sword from the ground, but two of Vortigan's men came up behind me, stopping me on the spot as I yelled continuously, pleading for Vortigan to spare Jack's life but at that moment, Jack opened his mouth :

"Sorry, Charissiana"

I stood paralyzed, tears coming down my cheeks.

Jack turned his head around slowly, having courage to face Death.

Vortigan was about to trust his sword into Jack's body, but at that moment, something unexplainable happened, quicker than my eyes could see, wiser than my mind would process : Jack took out a small dagger he secretly had in his possession and quickly ran the blade into Vortigan's chest.

The pirate let his sword fall from his hand and looked at Jack, completely off-guard. He soon collapse at Jack's feet without a word.

The entire ordeal stroke us all, but Jack's crew quickly gain advantage, taking the upper hand on Vortigan's crew. Two men came to take prisoners the two men that still held me hostage.

I stood still, looking at Jack. My saviour, my one and only, came towards me with a smile. Speechless, I looked at him. He looked back at me, his eyes shining as thought he was actually grateful.

"I've finally kept my end on the bargain now, didn't I ?" he said.

On these words, he past by me, holding his left arm in pain. Anamaria and Mr.Gibbs came running towards him. Anamaria actually jumped into his arms, holding him tightly before backing away and suddenly scolding him.

I, for my part, lifted my head up high, realizing this one thing I had search for so long : freedom. I was finally free.

"You're near the town of Leogane… You'll find shelter there, I'm sure" Jack said

I looked at Jack and smiled.

Ever since the last fight, two days ago, Jack had taken back full control of the Black Pearl and made a round up discipline about the situation : some of Vortigan's men decided to actually serve under Jack's orders while others went about their business, Jack letting them leave peacefully on the Drache.

Now, here we were. Just the two of us, walking on the riverside, on top of a hill, looking at the blue horizon.

I breathed in deeply and stood silent just a brief moment. Jack was still gazing at the horizon.

I looked at him and these words I spoke we're privately made for his attention. He listened to every word :

"My father was a corsair before he fell in love with my mother. I'll remember those stories of his for as long as I live… It's probably why I love that horizon so much… For it's never the same."

I smiled, my heart puzzling up the broken pieces like magic :

"…It's always a new day." I added in a whisper.

Jack smirked, now understanding it all.

"Things never are what they seem, apparently…" he softly mentioned.

"Of course, they couldn't be… isn't it right, Jack Sparrow… Captain of the Black Pearl…"

He looked at me and smiled sincerely before frowning out of curiosity. Wait…what did she just said ?

"What is it then, I should know that you know ?" he asked.

"Do Sparrows follow in their parents footsteps ? I would assume… I'm I mistaking ? You are a good man, like the father before you…"

She knew his father ? No, it was unlikely. That her father knew his on the other hand… it could have been possible. That old man of his was somewhat known throughout the Caribbean. Charissiana's father and his probably crossed paths long ago.

"Why did you become a pirate ?" I asked.

He smirked maliciously, my curiosity probably irritating him anew... Well, just a little.

"That, is an other long story…" he answered.

I lowered my head.

"Whatever it is…For that path you have chosen, I am grateful… to you and to God."

On these words, Jack figured out she knew he hadn't always been a pirate. How ironic… Just like she hadn't always been a noble damsel born out of riches.

"God had nothing to do in my path…" he replied.

"Then what is it…? Poor and fortunate hazard ? Or… Freedom…adventure… or maybe, love… ?"

Hmmm, what was it ? It was a good question Jack couldn't quite put a finger on it. He smiled again, no answer given.

I smiled back again and looked at him with deep affection.

"I will always hold you dear, for everything you have done for me. In my thoughts and in my heart. I will never forget you. Thank you."

-----------------------------

Along with France and Alexandre, we watched the bark carrying Jack Sparrow away. I smiled, a new and profound joy inhabiting me again.

I lived and would continued to live on, my thoughts on one last thing before I would write a new chapter of life :

"Adieu… Capitaine Sparrow"

-----------------------------

A few moments later, Jack got out of the small bark and on to the Black Pearl with a proud feeling of accomplishment. He saved the girl, had the gold, defeated a long time enemy… All was well and would end well... or so he thought, for there was one thing missing just now...

"Where to, captain ?" Gibbs asked, coming at his side.

Ah ! The heading !

Jack turned around, smiling at Gibbs.

"I almost doubted… thanks mate ! Order to lower the sails." Jack replied, afterwards rushing to the helm.

On the upper deck, Jack looked at Anamaria

"I'll take the commands as of now, luv"

"Aye, captain." she replied, handling the helm to Jack immediately.

Jack took out his compass and looked at it, moving it left and right and left again.

Soon, Gibbs came up the upper deck and joined Jack.

"Well, Jack ?" Gibbs asked.

"How would Tortuga sound to you, Mr. Gibbs ?!" Jack asked.

"Good, captain… but that's not what I meant…"

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Then clarify yourself, Mr.Gibbs"

Gibbs hesitated, but continued on anyway :

"I mean the girl…"

Jack closed his compass, his ears attached to Gibbs' every word.

"You gonna see her again, Jack ?"

Jack thought, a sad look in his eyes :

"This chapter is over, Mr.Gibbs. She would be fine from now on…"

Gibbs nodded.

"I see…" he mumbled.

But suddenly, Jack turned around, a smile on his face :

"On the other hand, every girl should be assured well company from time to time…"

Gibbs eyes rolled over : Jack's first reaction was too good to be true on any count.

On that thought, he went down to the lower deck.

Jack raised his head and looked at the horizon. A strange feeling made him feel as thought Charity was at his side, looking along with him. But this time, he would see her smile. He smiled back at his mind's illusions.

"Goodbye, love" he whispered to his thoughts, locking her away into his memories he would never forget.

Fin.

AN: Well, Hoped you liked it. Thank you again so, so much for reading !!!!!!!!!!!! You guys are the best !!!