—Katherine—

Jack, Terasa, Barbossa, James, and I row over to a sand bank far from the other ships, the sand a welcome change to the constantly moving ship I was on before. On the opposite end, waiting for us with anticipatory looks, are Will, Beckett, Jones, and Theo—the last person giving me pause. Of course Beckett would make Theo come, he knows how close the lieutenant and I are. "So you be the cur that led them to us," Barbie spits at Will.

"Don't blame Turner," Beckett smiles," he was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left." We all look in the direction we were told, including Jack who is at the very end of the line.

"My hands are clean in this," my father says quickly, holding his hands up with his palms out. I roll my eyes at him, wishing I had something hard that I could smash over his head for all the trouble he's brought down on us.

"Jack had nothing to do with it," Will says tiredly. "My actions were my own, and to my own purpose."

"That's right, listen to the tool." I step on Jack's foot hard, grinding the heel of my boot into his toes.

"If Turner wasn't acting for you, then how did Shorty get your compass," I ask accusingly. "Don't even try lying to me, Jack." Davy leans forward, confined to his crusty bucket of water since he couldn't set foot on land just yet.

"You made a deal with me, Jack," Beckett says haughtily, tossing my father his compass," to deliver the pirates. And here they are. Don't be bashful, step up, and claim your reward." Beckett's gaze slides from my father to me, James noticing immediately and grasping my wrist gently. Beckett's eyes narrow just a fraction at my husband's action, hands twitching at his sides.

"Your debt to me is still to be satisfied," Jones snarls," One hundred years of servitude aboard the Dutchman, as a start!"

"That debt was paid, mate," Jack points out, his hand waving in our direction. "With some help."

"You escaped."

"How about an exchange," Terasa asks, Jack's smile growing until she continues. "Will comes with us and you can have Jack—do whatever you want with him, I don't care. Have fun, go crazy."

"Done," Will smiles.

"Undone," Jack argues anxiously as Jones leers at him.

"Done," Beckett says in a firm don't say not done again tone of voice, the crafty smile playing on his lips giving me cause for concern. "Mrs. Norrington will come as well."

"Not happening," Terasa shouts just as James and Jack growls," Never."

"Take 'er," Barbie shrugs with a grin," less trouble for me."

"Enough," Beckett yells," she'll be far safer on board a ship where a trained doctor is present, or would you rather her give birth in the middle of a battle with only filthy pirates to help her along?" Why is it everyone except for James and I realized I was pregnant? Theo bows his head, walking forward and grasping my arm firmly but gently.

"I'll watch over her," Theodore assures my husband. Jack holds my hand tightly during the exchange, the both of us coming to stand near Jones only after Barbie cuts the beads and coin hanging from my father's bandana, Bubbles scooping it up and taking it back to Barbie.

"Do you fear death," Davy asks, getting right in Jack's face.

"You've no idea," Jack answers.

I lean towards Davy and ask," Are you afraid of taking a bath?" Theo puts a hand over my mouth and forces me into a longboat away from the human-fish hybrid that was shooting me a dirty look.

"There are times when it's certain you are Jack's daughter," Theo mumbles.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Sometimes—usually—you act exactly like him, only sober."

"Humph, I take offense to that." Beckett takes a step towards my group, which, in all honesty, probably isn't smart since most of them look about ready to wring his neck.

"Advise your Brethren," he commands mockingly," you can fight, and all of you will die. Or you can not fight, in which case only most of you will die." Terasa moves forward, her furious expression telling me what she's decided.

"You raped my best friend," she snarls.

"I didn't hear her complaining at the time." Theo holds onto me as I lunge forward, his hand covering my mouth again to muffle my curses.

"I'll kill you for that, Beckett. I'll make you wish you had never laid eyes on Katherine, but first I'll cut out that filthy tongue of yours so you can't complain. We wouldn't want that to ruin our fun, would we? We will fight and we will win, and when we do, I want you to know that I'll be coming for you." With those last words, she leads the way back to the other side of the sandbank.

"That is what the bringer of your death looks like, Beckett," I tell him as they climb into the longboat," a woman that you sneered at will take away all of your will to live and I can't wait for it to happen."

—Terasa—

"We'll need to use the Pearl as the flagship to lead the attack," Carl tells me as I climb back on the deck.

"Will we now," Barbossa asks with a mocking tone. I look past him to where Pintel and Ragetti are leading Tia out of the brig, thick ropes binding her and keeping her under their control.

"Barbossa, you can't release her," Will exclaims in frustration, quickly catching onto Barbie's plan. The other pirates seize Will, James, and I, their pistols at the ready in case we tried to fight against them. Carl gives a helpless shrug, looking out at the enemy ships where his best friend is being held.

"Apologies, Your Majesty. Too long my fate has not been in me own hands. No longer." He rips the necklace that Sao gave me from my neck, adding it to the bowl holding the other pieces. Of course that junk has something to do with it. That's why he wanted the ornament on Jack's bandana.

—Katherine—

"The enemy," Beckett says loudly, walking in front of a line of soldiers while fixing his frock coat," had opted for oblivion." He stops in front of Theodore, sending the other man a cruel smirk. "Ready the fleet."

"To your stations," Theodore orders to the sailors, the men rushing to do as he commanded with Theo following them at a slower pace. I blink back the tears, facing Beckett with no fear showing on my face. I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry.

"As I said before," I say, proud when my voice doesn't break," you'll die before this is over."

—Terasa—

"Be there some manner of rite or incantation," Gibbs asks curiously, unsure for once as to what will happen.

"Aye," Barbossa nods, waving his hands over the wooden bowl in Pintel's hands," the items brought together, done. Items to be burned…." He holds up a hand, Ragetti giving him the thing used to light cannon fuses, already smoking and burning as Gibbs pours some liquor into the bowl. "….And someone must speak the words: Calypso, I release you from your human bonds."

"Is that it," Pintel asks skeptically.

"'Tis said it must be spoken as if to a lover." Barbie straightens, raising the thingy as he prepares to ignite the bowl. "Calypso, I release you from your human bonds!" He brings the thingy down into the liquid and, as per the norm around here, nothing happens. Boy, and I thought the pistols not working was anticlimactic. This is just plain horseshit.

"It's a miracle I was ever conceived," I mutter," Mom must've been drunk." Everyone looks accusingly at Barbie, muttering that he could seduce a cow. Ragetti steps up reluctantly, looking to me for permission.

"You have to say it right," he mumbles uncertainly.

"Get-R-done." Ragetti brushes hair away from Tia's face, leaning in close to whisper the words. The objects in the bowl catch fire suddenly, floating in the air when Pintel lets go hurriedly and steps back, deciding to hold onto the rope instead. The smoke goes up Tia's nose, the goddess breathing it in as if it was the best smelling perfume in the world.

"Tia Dalma," Will says, stepping forward. "Calypso." The bowl falls to the floor and her head snaps up. "Who was it that told the first Brethren Court to imprison you," he asks. "Who was it that betrayed you?"

"Name him!"

"Davy Jones." Tia begins to grow, snapping the ropes that bind her.

"This is it," Pintel yells. "This is it!" She grows to monumental size, towering over us all. Once she stops, Barbie kneels down in front of her I a show of respect, removing his hat with a flourish. The rest of us following suit in fear that if we didn't, she would kill us.

"Calypso," he shouts up at her," I come before you as but a servant, humble and contrite. I have full-filled my vow and now ask your favor. Spare me, my ship, and my crew; unleash your fury on those who call themselves your master or mine." She screams down at us in an unknown language, squirming against the ropes still tied around her arms. I'm just taking a wild guess, but I'm pretty sure she's saying something along the lines of fuck you and everything you stand for. She dissolves then, her skin melting into several crabs that wash over us like a tidal wave, knocking me off my feet.

The crabs overflow the ship until only the few that are clinging to people are left. Sympathetically, I help pry one of James's nose and fling it off the ship. "Was that it," Will asks with forced nonchalance.

"Really," I ask," that's what you ask after we were swarmed by crabs?" He gives a shrug, grinning and wrapping an arm around me as a sign that he forgave me for lying to him.

"That was no help at all," Carl growls at Barbie," anymore ingenious ideas, Einstein?"

"It's not over yet, so stop with the whining." I stare up at the sky long enough to notice the clouds rolling in. Perhaps she'll help us after all. When all this is over, I'm going to Disney world by damn! I deserve a nice leisurely stroll through the park and maybe I'll punch me a Mickey while I'm at it.

"We're going up against an armada that's led by the Dutchman, we've no chance to get through this with our lives," Gibbs says despondently.

"There's a fool's chance, and what are we if not fools?"

"Stupid, crazy, insane," Carl lists, holding up three fingers. "I got more if you're still curious, those were just the top three."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," James sighs," but I agree with Terasa. Let's win this fight, so I can get back to my wife." I remember suddenly that Lizzie gives a long speech right about now, something that riled the crew up enough that they were ready to take on the world, but I can't remember the words, so I guess I'll improvise. I climb up on the railing, summoning a bullhorn to make sure the others can hear me.

"Everybody shut your mouths, I'm talkin' here," I yell, getting the reaction I wanted. "Now, they've got an armada, sure, and all we've got are you useless bilge rats, but think of it this way! We may not be as fancy as them or drink tea—"

"I happen to like tea," Ragetti interrupts.

"Thank you, Ragetti. As I was saying…." I clear my throat, pleased with myself. "We may not be as fancy as them, but we know a hell of a lot more tricks and how to fight dirty, so do me a favor and HOIST THE COLORS!"

—Katherine—

"I've always wanted to say this," I smile.

"What," Bucket inquires. I clear my throat, standing up proudly at the railing facing the pirates.

"HOIST THE COLORS, YOU USELESS BASTARDS!" I know they can't hear me, but it's the thought that counts. Beckett rolls his eyes, turning to face Theo as the soldier walks over to us.

"We have a favorable wind, sir," he says, hands clasped behind his back. Beckett looks up, taking a sip of his tea as he contemplates what to say.

"So we do," he acknowledges. "Signal Jones to give no quarter; that should brighten his day." As Beckett says the last part, his eyes stay focused on me to see my reaction. I say nothing, my proud expression never faltering. "I wonder, will you still look so proud when you watch your friends and husband fall?"

"They won't be the ones falling, Beckett," I say coldly.

—Terasa—

It's controlled chaos on the deck, the rain pouring down on us now making everything slick and dangerous. I look down in the men, watching them running and shouting out orders now and again. "Maelstrom," Gibbs cries out, pointing out in front of us. Confused, I lean forward to get a better look, spotting a whirlpool close by.

"Whirlpool," I shout, my heart beginning to race," just say whirlpool! Barbossa, we need you at the wheel!"

"Aye, that be true," he agrees, pushing past me and to the helm. "Brace up yards, you cack-handed deck apes! Dying is the day worth living for!" I smile, witness the transformation from worried old man to Captain in a split second. The Dutchman sails alongside the whirlpool, headed our way fast.

"She's on our stern and gaining," Will shouts.

"More speed! Haul your wind and hold your water!" Does that mean try not to pee yourself? I realize why he said that when we join the Dutchman on the inside fringes of the whirlpool, the ship lurching dangerously. It gets even worse when the other ship begins firing its cannons at us, the balls ripping through the wood and sending splinters flying. I duck down quickly, eyes widening.

"Take us out or she'll overbear us!"

"Nay, further in. We'll cut across faster waters."

"Prepare to broadside," I warn, tightening my hold on the railing so that I don't go flying.

"Captain the guns," Gibbs shouts to the others.

"Muster your courage, men," Will demands, joining the crew," at the ready."

"Fire," Barbossa, Will, James, and I scream one after the other as we come up beside the Dutchman. As we come closer to the other ship, men and fish board each vessel. I pull my sword out, glad Will had forced me to take lessons and learn how to wield this thing. One of the creatures march towards me, looking smug since I'm just a woman.

"I wouldn't look so happy if I were you," I call out to him over the sound of the rain," I'm a lot stronger than I look!" His grin widens, bringing his sword down I a blow that would have been fatal had I not blocked it with my sword. I dispatch the thing quickly, my size making it easy to weave in and out of his reach. A moving target is harder to hit. Another creature takes its place, driving me towards the center of the deck where Will is fighting.

"Elizabeth," Will asks suddenly as we take out the two creatures attacking us," will you marry me?"

"A bit sudden, isn't it," I joke with a grin. "A time like this isn't exactly proper."

"Now may be the only time and I love you!" EITC men are in the fray now, but at least they're easier to take out than the fish people. We meet again near the same spot as earlier.

"I love you too!" A creature that looked to be part jellyfish comes at me, a simple swipe of my sword across his throat forcing him down. "Dad, marry us!"

"I'm a little busy at the moment," Barbossa responds, fighting off two of the fish people.

"Now, or so help me, I'll—"

I'm cut off when an enemy charges me, screaming as he runs and begins the familiar dance of death. I quickly kill the thing, not pausing as another thing takes the place of the last one. Barbossa jumps up on the railing. "Dearly beloved, we be gathered here today…." Will holds me close to him as a new creature attacks my father. "To nail your gizzards to the mast, you poxy cur!" Will and I have to break apart briefly to fight before coming back together.

"Terasa Sterling," Will questions," do you take me to be your husband?"

"Damn right," I nod fervently.

"Great."

"Will Turner, you want me to be your wife?" Holding hands, we beat back the other creatures and men, trying not to get lost in the crowd without each other. "In sickness and in health…?" He catches me as I'm pushed backwards and runs the creature through. "….With health being the less likely."

"I do!"

"As Captain," Barbossa yells to us," I now pronounce you…." He takes care of another enemy. "You may kiss…." And another. "You may kiss…." Another thing falls to his blade. "Just kiss!" Will gathers me into his arms, kissing me with all the passion he was capable, warmth flooding through me and into him.