Authors Note:

Please enjoy and review at the end.

Thanks mates!

Chapter 26:
The Vex Upon All Men

I got up, scratched my head and whispered, "We've got to visit someone who might know, luv". Will and Norrington both asked in unison "Who?" I licked my lips and whispered "Tia Dalma."

Elizabeth quickly got up and asked "Tia Dalma?" I nodded nervously as Will asked, "Who is she?" Norrington looked at Jack with a confused expression. Elizabeth looked at me and whispered confused "Was she your ex-finance?" My expression had turned to one of a confused nature as I asked shocked "Why would you think that luv?"

Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders as she whispered back to me "…because, you said she gave you this ring." I gave her a small grin and got up and explained to the three of them "Tia Dalma was never near being me fiancé. She gave me that ring in a trade. I gave th' lass' a special golden hair brush that she wanted an' she gave me th' ring t' help me ou' in me journey's."

Elizabeth got up onto her two feet and whispered, "Oh, I see." I gave her a small grin and was about to grab her hand when Will took out his sword and hit my hand with it lightly. I turned to look at him confused as he said firmly "Let's go find her then". I moved his sword out my way and took a few steps around the sand. I then bent down and picked up some sand in my hand and watched it slip right through my fingers.

I began to snicker and Will raised his voice at me and said "Jack, I want to get to my father!" I shook my head slightly back and fourth and said back firmly "Mister Turner, who is the Captain of the Black Pearl?" Will rolled his eyes but said very mockingly "You". I nodded and replied"Aye, and I suggest ye be puttin' that sword away before it finds its way into your throat."

Will shook his head at me and chuckled while putting his sword away. Elizabeth walked towards me and asked anxiously "Jack, when are we going to leave?" I was thinking of my answer when Will sat down in the sand and began to chuckle madly. I rolled my eyes and asked "Now, what do ye be findin' amusing?" Will looked up at me and said "Nothing, you dirty rum soaked pathetic excuse for a man". My eyes widened and I began to get angry as Elizabeth asked, "Will! What is wrong with you? Why would you say such a thing?"

James shook his head slightly and shouted out "Isn't it obvious Elizabeth? He wants you for himself." Will then got up furiously, while picking up some sand. He then threw the sand back down on the shore and screamed, "That is not the point! I want to find my father, and Jack here is not doing anything about it!" I licked my lips quickly and took a few steps towards him while saying seriously "Nothin' about 't, eh, mate? Nothin'? I'm sorry but 't wasn't me fault that yer father decided t' abandon ye. Yet, I chose t' help ye, an' ye show nay appreciation or e'en consent on th' fact that Jones' be comin' t' kill me! Did ye erethink about what ye be sayin'?"

I paused and then grabbed his collar and shouted into his ear "If I leave this isle, arrr I become bait fer th' Kraken, an' I don't want that, an' I'm sure Lizzie dasn't want that either! Am I right, or am I right luv?" Elizabeth nodded and I let go of Will's shirt while screaming out "'ere's Gibbs? I want me bloody rum!" I then walked away from the three of them leaving everyone but Norrington speechless. Norrington put down his shovel and asked confused "Did any of you understand what he said?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes and shouted while following me "Come on. Let's go."

- - -

A few seconds later I had made my way to Gibbs and he was getting the long boat ready. I shook my head and said to him "Mister Gibbs, we won't be needin' th' long boat fer a while. We cannot leave." Gibbs gave me a worried face and said slyly "Captain, I be thinkin' before ye came and…" I interrupted him and said jokingly "Thinkin'? I didn't know ye could think". Gibbs chuckled nervously and continued "As I said Captain, I be thinking that we should be leaven the isle Sir."

Elizabeth, Will, and Norrington had now caught up with me. I turned to look at Elizabeth who gave me a soft smile. I turned back around to face Gibbs as I asked him concerned "Why?" Gibbs whispered nervously "Because Captain. I be missing' the ship you see." I nodded but then Elizabeth shouted out "He's lying about… whatever you may be talking about." Gibbs chuckled nervously and whispered in my ear "Just a few moments ago, Captain. I saw you know who's' ship."

My eyes went wide and so I asked him "Are you certain?" Gibbs nodded nervously as I got into the long boat screaming, "Get in you scallywags! Oh…" I then turned to see Elizabeth and said softly "and you love…." I began to raise my voice once again "Go on! Get in th' boat! We need t' leave as smartly as possible… Gibbs, we can use th' tide t' help us get as high as we can above th' water". Gibbs nodded and said "Aye, Aye. Captain. Now you men, get in!"

Norrington, Elizabeth and Will got into the long boat quickly and James and Gibbs started to row as quickly as they could towards the Pearl. Will turned to me and asked, "Why the sudden change?" I gave him a small grin and asked "…and why do ye ask so many questions mate? You know, they can get ye into trouble…." I stopped smiling and said seriously "Too much trouble". I stared at him in the eyes and he gulped, and once I saw that, I turned to Elizabeth and asked her "Excited?" Elizabeth shrugged and answered back with a question "To Tia's?"

Norrington sighed and asked, "Excuse me. But is there any way that I could know why are we rowing so fast?" I looked at him and said "No." and shook my head. Norrington turned his head to the side and whispered "Bloody Pirates!"

- - -

"Jack Sparrow…. I knew you'd come back to me sometime", was the first sentence spoken to me by Tia once we had arrived at her house. I gave her a small smile as she made her way to me and grabbed my hand and squeezed it. She began to giggle and I grinned at her and then heard someone clear his or her throat. So I turned and saw that it was Elizabeth who had did it. I let go of Tia's hand and said, "This is…" Tia interrupted and pointed to Elizabeth "You… you have a destiny about you Miss. Elizabeth Swann or should I say future Mrs. Sparrow?" Elizabeth smiled at her and asked confused "How did you know?" I grabbed Elizabeth's arm and whispered into her ear "Tia knows everythin', luv."

Elizabeth shrugged while I looked around her house. Tia then gasped and pointed to Will "…and you, you have some future about you too, Will Turner". Will looked at me confused and whispered to me "Future?" I nodded and whispered back to him "Just play along." I smiled at Tia and said, "We need a favor from ye…." Tia smiled and whispered "Arr, you know I demand payment."

I closed my eyes and hit my self on the head lightly and said "Aye, payment. I forgot about that." I looked around for Gibbs, but realized that he was taking care of the boats. I rolled my eyes and saw James so I grabbed him and pushed him forward "Here… a slave." James rolled his eyes at me and raised his voice "I am no such thing! I am a former Commodore and I do not intend to be anyone's slave…."

Tia Dalma raised her voice and interrupted him "Silence! Now, who are you?" James' eyes widened and then said "Surely you know. You guessed everyone's identities, so you can definitely identify me". Tia got up and walked towards him, looked him in the eyes and after a few seconds said, "No, I cannot". I smiled proudly and whispered into James' ear "I guess she can only identify important swabbies. Sorry."

James rolled his eyes and Tia asked, "What is the payment?" I looked at Elizabeth who looked back at me and whispered "This". She then held up the ring I gave her and whispered to me "Your life is more important Jack." I smiled at her and kissed her lightly on the cheek while grabbing the ring and whispering into her ear "I promise to give you another Lizzie". Elizabeth nodded as I gave the ring to Tia Dalma.

She smiled and said happily, "Aye, the fib ring… the payment is fair. Now what is it that you desire?" Will shrugged and asked confused "Jack, said something about a key." Tia's eyes narrowed as she asked "The key Jack?" I nodded and Elizabeth grabbed my hand as Tia walked towards us "Well, You know of... Davy Jones, yes? A man of De Sea. A great sailor, until he ran afoul of dat, which vex all men. Even you witty Jack."

James asked "Greed?" Jack rolled his eyes and then Will said sadly "No, love." Tia continued, "Aye, it was a woman. He fell in love with her. See, it was a woman, as changing, and harsh, and untameable as the sea. Him never stopped loving her. But the pain it cause 'im was too much to live wid. But not enough to cause him to die. So he cut out his heart, and put it in a chest, and the key that ye all search for, he keeps with him at all times."

My eyes widen and Will pushed me and says, "You knew this!" I sigh and shout back at him "I did not." Will shouted back at me "You did too!" I then said back "I did not, not, not, not!"

I pushed him away and Elizabeth asked, "Are there any other copies of the key?" Tia's eyes widened for a second but then replied quickly "No. There are not." Elizabeth nodded sadly and she took my hand and hugged me while saying sadly into my chest "So we are doomed. We can never get the key now". I closed my eyes disappointed but then opened them as Tia spoke "You can't, but he can". I opened my eyes to see Tia pointing at James. He asked loudly "Are you all mad?" I began to smile at him and I said as nicely as I could "Oh come on mate. Pretty please wi' rum on top?"

Authors Note:

Just as Jack asked Norrington to help him, I ask you to write me a review.

Pretty please with rum on top?

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