Chapter 25: The Final Stand
Elizabeth and Keira rushed after Pintel and Ragetti as fast they could. The two jumped out in front of then scheming men and Keira leveled her sword at their throats.
"'ello poppet," Pintel waved and the two drew their swords.
Keira glanced nervously at Elizabeth and the two began to back away nervously. There was a loud raucous a few yards off and a large mill wheel rolled past. Keira squinted to see that Will and James fighting on it, Jack running after it, his sword drawn. She rolled her eyes, her attention being brought back to the two men in front of her. There was a loud thunk next to her and her green eyes fell on a hatchet embedded in the tree next to her. Pintel and Ragetti handed their swords to Elizabeth, taking the chest and running off. Elizabeth glanced at Keira before running for it as Davey Jones' crew approached.
"Sword!" Elizabeth called frantically as they fought the advancing crew, while running away from the undead pirates. Keira tossed Elizabeth her sword, turning to see another group of the sea-engulfed pirates.
"Sword!" she yelled and Ragetti tossed her his sword and Elizabeth shoved her sword through one who oddly resembled a blowfish. They large group stumbled upon the chest and Keira grabbed it, not realizing that the key was sticking out of the front. She then booked after Elizabeth and the others, her sword drawn and ready.
Keira stumbled onto the beach to see Jack and Elizabeth fighting off the advancing pirates. She ran over to them just as the large wheel rolled out of the jungle, splashing into the shallows a few leagues away. Her attention was brought back when the familiar hammer-headed shark-man slashed at her. She parried his blow as she watched James join in the fighting.
The group was backed up around the longboat within minutes and Keira could hear her heart pounding with nervousness in her ears.
"We're not getting out of this," Elizabeth pointed out and Norrington piped up.
"Not with the chest, into the boat," he ordered, grabbing the chest.
"You're mad," Keira looked up at him as he unsheathed his sword.
"Don't wait for me," he muttered before running off with the chest clutched tightly to his side.
Keira watched him run away looking astonished and Jack placed a consoling hand on her shoulder, "I- I say we respect his final wish."
"Aye!" Pintel said, jumping in the boat.
The small group quickly rowed back to the Pearl, where the rest of the crew was eagerly waiting for the successful news. Gibbs helped Keira onto the deck, and unconscious Will being pushed up behind her. He looked at him curiously before having him placed aside until her woke up.
"Keira, love, a word please," Jack muttered, coming up behind his wife. She nodded and he pulled her into his study, clutching his jar of dirt tightly.
"Yes, Jack?" she asked as he closed the door.
"I have it," he grinned, bouncing the dirt happily.
She looked at him curiously, "You have what?"
"The thump- thump, Jones' heart!"
Keira looked at him with astonishment and Jack smiled, Gibbs knocked on the door, swinging it open, "I gave the command, we're heading out to open sea."
Jack looked slightly sick but nodded all the same. He followed Gibbs out onto the deck, his eyes on the retreating island. Elizabeth was leaning over Will when he woke up.
"Where's the chest?" he demanded and Keira jumped at his voice.
"Norrington took it to draw them off," Elizabeth explained and Keira nodded, moving toward Jack.
"Where's the Commodore?" Gibbs asked as Jack leaned on the helm.
"Fell behind," he muttered his grip tightening on his jar of dirt.
"My prayers be with him. Best not wallow in our grief. The bright side is: you're back and made it off free and clear," Gibbs smiled.
There was a loud rushing noise and the Flying Dutchman appeared out the sea next to the ship. Keira shrieked and backed into Gibbs, whop steadied her on her feet.
"Lord I done that," he muttered crossing himself.
"I'll handle this mate," Jack muttered, moving toward the ledge, his eyes on Davey Jones.
Keira opened her mouth to protest but stopped when Jack shook his head at her.
"Oi! Fish face!" Jack called, holding up his jar of dirt. "Lose something, aye?" He called, making his way toward the stairs. Keira wanted to warn him but it was too late, he stumbled down the stairs to the lower deck, she had to fight a snort of laughter as he got to his feet quickly. "Got it! Come to negotiate have you, you slimy git. Look what I got," Jack continued in a sin-song voice. "I've got a jar of di-irt, I've got a jar of di-irt, and guess what's inside it?"
Jones looked annoyed and the cannons of the Dutchman slid out of it's sides. Keira gulped and Jack muttered an order which Elizabeth relayed to Gibbs.
"Hard to starboard!" she yelled and Gibbs swung the wheel frantically.
"Raise up the foreyard!" Will yelled and the crew bustled into action.
Jack moved up the stairs to the helm to find Keira on her knees, shielding her head from cannon fire. Will and Elizabeth joined them as they moved out of range and Keira got to her feet.
"She's falling behind!" Elizabeth grinned as they watched the Dutchman shrink into the distance.
"We're the faster?" Will asked, looking at Gibbs.
"Against the wind the Dutchman beats us, that's how she gets her prey. But with the wind…" he explained.
"We're got her advantage," Will finished.
"Aye Gibbs nodded and Will moved over to Jack as Keira and Elizabeth leaned on the rail, watching the ship shrink behind them.
"My father is on that ship. If we can out run her we can take her. We should turn and fight," Will said to Jack, his tone hard.
"Why fight when you can negotiate? All one needs is the proper leverage," Jack muttered, placing his jar of dirt on the banister and patting it. Just as he lifted his hand off the lid the ship shuddered to a halt and the jar tumbled off the banister, breaking just below. Keira watched as the sand scattered everywhere, no trace of what was supposed to be inside.
"We must've hit a reef," Keira muttered as Jack looked frantically about him below them.
"No, it's not a reef!" Will said, pulling his sister and Elizabeth away from the rail. "Get away from the rail!"
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"The Kraken," Will whispered and Keira's eyes grew wide with fear. "To arms!"
Gibbs rushed into action, going below to shout orders, "Load the guns! Defend the mast!"
"It'll attack the starboard side, I've seen it before. Roll out the cannons and hold for my signal."
Will moved below deck with Gibbs and the they watched as the large oozing tentacles of the Kraken crept up the sides of the ship. Keira looked up at the looming suction cups and had to refrain from vomiting.
"Easy boys," Will said calmly as said as the tentacles crept ever higher over them.
"Will?" Elizabeth called nervously next to Keira.
"Hold. Hold!" he ordered.
"I think we've held fire long enough!" Pintel shouted.
"Will!" Elizabeth practically screamed and Will nodded.
"Fire!" he yelled and the ship shook with cannon fire. The Kraken let out a wail and retreated its tentacles as they sizzled and burned from the cannon blast. The crew began to cheer and Gibbs looked over the sides.
"It'll be back. We have to get off the ship," Will said, looking around.
"There's no boats." Elizabeth pointed out, seeing that most of them were broken from the Kraken's retreat.
Will glanced around the ship, his dark eyes falling on a barrel of powder that was slowly rolling across the deck he looked up and turned to the crew, "Pull the grates; get all the gunpowder onto the net in the cargo hold," he ordered. He then grabbed a rifle and handed it to Keira. "Whatever yo do, don't miss."
Keira nodded determinedly, "As soon as you're clear."
She glanced at Elizabeth, who looked scared and determined and the two nodded. Elizabeth grabbed a rifle as well and the waited. Keira suddenly realized the absence of her husband and noticed Elizabeth looking out over the side of the ship. She did so as well to see Jack retreating in the only longboat left.
"How could he--?" she muttered and Elizabeth placed a consoling hand on her shoulder.
The ship shuddered violently and Keira grabbed Elizabeth as she lost her footing. The two struggledt o keep balance and Will came back into view, barking orders.
"Haul away!" he shouted as the tentacles of the Kraken smashed into the sides of the ship as the rum and powder slowly was hauled into the air, Will holding on to the side as it rose.
Keira tightened her grip on her rifle as the Kraken attacked the ship from all sides. She avoided the slimy tentacles, her eyes locked on Will as he held fast to the powder and rum. She aimed as Will floundered, his ankle caught on the net. She hesitated, getting her bearings in the chaos around her.
"Shoot! Keira shoot!" he was yelling down at her.
Keira took aim and prepared to fire but her footing was suddenly taken out from beneath her as a tentacle wrapped around her feet. She creamed and fought as it pulled her toward the Captain's cabin. Ragetti severed it, helping Keira to her feet. She quickly ran to get her rifle, finding it on the top of the stairs to the helm. She reached out to grab it but someone stepped on it.
Keira looked up to see Jack looking out at the destruction taking place. He looked down at her and picked up the rifle. Keira clung to his legs as he took aim, waiting for Will to get loose from the ropes. As soon as he was out of range Jack fired the gun, hitting his target successfully. The Kraken retreated with a loud shriek of pain, charred bits from the blast raining onto the deck. Jack helped Keira to her feet and they joined the rest of the crew o the deck.
"Did we kill it?" Marty asked curiously, looking over the side.
"No," Gibbs shook his head gravely, "We just made it angry. We're not out of this yet. Captain, orders!"
"Abandon ship, into the longboat," Jack said quietly, his hand caressing the mast lovingly.
"Jack, the Pearl," Gibbs protested.
"She's only a ship, mate," he replied gloomily. Keira placed a consoling hand on Jack's shoulder and he looked down at her.
"We'll get her back," she muttered. "When this over we'll get her back."
He smiled and pulled her into a kiss. Keira relaxed in his embrace and let him kiss her. The two broke apart and Will pulled Keira to the side.
"Abandon ship or abandon hope!" Gibbs called and he and Marty began loading what was left of their supplies in to the longboat.
Will helped Keira into the longboat and Gibbs handed her a few supplies. Will looked up to see Elizabeth taking to Jack, Her hand on his chest as she pushed him toward the mast. He narrowed his eyes curiously, wondering what she was doing but thought nothing of it.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"Thank you Jack," Elizabeth muttered seeing Will disappear into the longboat with his sister.
"We're not free yet, though," he muttered gloomily.
"You came back, I always knew you were a good man," she muttered, placing her hand on his chest and pushing him toward the mast.
Jack raised his eyebrows as his back hit the mast and she leaned close to him, "It's after you, not the ship. Not us, it's the only way, don't you see?" she muttered, chaining him to the mast.
Jack grinned and she backed away, "I'm not sorry."
"Pirate," Jack sang as she turned away. "Tell Keira I love her."
Elizabeth felt the tears well up in her eyes at the thought of Keira and she climbed into the longboat, sitting next to Keira.
"Where's Jack?" she demanded looking up at the tattered ship.
"He elected to stay behind to give us a chance," she muttered and Keira looked dumbfounded.
"No, Jack!" she yelled, trying to make her way to the side of the ship to climb up. Will grabbed his sister around the waist and pulled her back as the longboat rocked.
"Go!" Elizabeth ordered as Gibbs looked stunned. He nodded at Pintel and Ragetti to start rowing and they sailed away from the Pearl. As soon as they were a good distance away the stopped as the Kraken loomed over the Pearl.
Keira was already crying hysterically, calling Jack's name, her green eyes fogged as the Kraken took the Pearl down into the crushing water. She dissolved into more tears at the sight of the ship in splinters, knowing her husband had gone down with it. She buried her face in Will's chest, her heart aching with grief.
"He told me to tell you he loved you," Elizabeth whispered, remembering Jack's last words to her as they sailed away from the devastating scene.
Keira sniffed and looked at her with streaming eyes, "Thank you."
Elizabeth nodded, her chin trembling as she fought back her own guilt and tears, knowing it was her fault Keira was so upset. She glanced at Will, who was rubbing Keira's arm consolingly and let a few tears roll down her cheeks.