One minute they were sailing down the wide river that ran through the island, the bright greenery like walls on either side, and the next, they passed through a shimmery, almost completely translucent veil, and then they were on the open sea, free of the Island at last.

"That was weird!" Pintel said looking around at their surroundings once they were through what must have been another portal.

Barbossa seemed unperturbed at what had just happened, and kept a steady confident hold of the wheel, steering onwards, whilst everyone else just looked relieved to be on their way. It felt as if they'd been trapped on the Island forever. A strong wind had caught well in the Eternity's sails and she was gliding along at a good speed, the smell of the fresh air breathing over her crew.

David and a few of the others leaned over the rail staring incredulously at the place they had left behind. It was just as it had looked when they had first happened upon it, it appeared to be that small island again, hiding it's true secrets behind invisible gateways.

"Wonder if we coulds get back in there one day." Ragetti said softly.

"Who would want to?" Pintel replied, "Glad to see the back of that godforsaken place. Can't drink from the fountain now anyways!"

"Maybe we could search the water for it if we cames back." Ragetti added.

"You'll never find it now, it would be a fools errand. Not to mention that some things are just better left alone." Gibbs said thoughtfully. "We've already interfered with such things enough, now we need to take care of putting things right, for the sake of anyone who will feel the wrath of Beckett if he gets his way." he then looked at the faces turned his way, "We have a long journey ahead of us, I suggest we all get back to our duties."

As everyone went away to do their work, Gibbs walked over to David, stopping by his side. "I'll go below deck and see if there is anything helpful on board, though goodness knows what we'll be able to defend ourselves against Beckett with."

"Thank you, Gibbs." David said, "For everything." he managed a smile and Gibbs returned it with one of his own.

"You're welcome, kid."

"Calypso said you'll find what ye need to defeat Beckett in the cabin." Barbossa's voice suddenly boomed from behind them, causing them to turn around to meet his gaze. They noticed that Cotton had now taken up the position at the helm.

"Well I guess that solves a problem or two." Gibbs said happily. With that the three of them made their way to the cabin, feet drumming on the white wooden planks that made up the deck.

When they opened the cabin doors, they found it to be decorated all in white, too, strangely no dust in sight. Who had kept the ship so clean? But that didn't really matter right now.

Much like any ship cabin, there was a desk near the back, on which the three of them could see two shiny blades glinting in the light that shone through the great rear window.

~P~O~T~C~

It had been a long few days at sea. David sat motionless in the cabin, staring down at the two silver swords that lay atop the white table. They were magnificent weapons, sharp enough to slice a man in half with minimal effort, he'd wager.

The handles were a pearl white finish, smooth looking like the shiniest marble. Upon the blades there were some etched symbols; possibly some obscure language that he or none of the other crew members knew to be able to decipher, and even more astounding, on each of the handles were matching engravings of a small bird; a sparrow.

They were the only weapons they had so far found aboard the Eternity, besides from the standard cannons on deck. But what could be so special about these swords that could destroy an immortal? Where they made with some kind of magical enchantments?

Sighing, David leaned back in the simple white chair and closed his eyes. He thought of his grandfather. Why hadn't he told him more about all of this? Did he know about these swords and the ship he now sailed on? Maybe if he'd let him know more he would have been able to stop all of these terrible events from happening, and somehow have prevented the Navy from taking his father.

Jack. He wondered if they had any chance at all at reaching Port Royal in time to save his life. The Commander had had a good head start. If Beckett had wanted to hang Jack the very moment they arrived, then it might already be too late. That is if he even decided to wait until they got there. Maybe he'd indulged himself with a hanging aboard the ship. David had once heard that it had been known for pirates to be hung off of the main masts if their captors didn't possess the patients to wait until they had reached the shore and the gallows.

And if by some miracle, Jack was still alive at this very moment, David wondered if he were in pain, or if he was thinking of his son, even if he believed him to be dead.

~P~O~T~C~

Jack sat silently on the floor of the familiar cell; the very same one that he'd once been set free of by the young William Turner. But there would be no such luck for him this time.

Firstly, the Navy had taken no chances with their prisoner, Jack was not only locked tight within the confines of the cell, but cuffed in wall mounted irons, very much like he'd been on board the Commander.

He had nothing left to do now but await the fate that was surely coming to him. Upon their arrival back at Port Royal a mere few hours ago, Beckett had already ordered the gallows to be erected and everything set up so that Jack's execution could go ahead tomorrow afternoon right before sunset.

Though he'd once hoped that there was a chance that his life would end in an entirely different way, Jack knew deep down that this was the only end for most pirates to meet. It was too late to take back that in which way, his life had shaped his own destiny.

At least there was one relief that death would bring; an end to his feeling of grief.

The silence was loud here in the darkening prison, and for whatever reason, all but one of the other cells were vacant, but the painfully thin pauper who occupied it, hardly stirred. Jack realised that it was the people like that who would be slaughtered under Beckett's new planned regime, regardless of their crimes or if they'd even committed any in the first place. Culled for no other reason then existing un-wealthily. Beckett was a fool to think that it was only the poor who were misguided enough to be doomed to a life of crime and debauchery, for the wealthy could also be corrupt thieves, scandalous in their glutinous ways. The power hungry were far more dangerous then a poor man who steals food to keep starvation away.

But Beckett could not stand the thought of sharing his world with those who did not meet his own personal standards, and he had made up his mind that they were to be rid of. Now that he was immortal, no one would ever have a chance of fighting him back. It was to be as if the devil himself had risen, ready to forever torment souls.

Jack also pondered the whole prophecy business. Even though he and David had so obviously failed, why had he been fated to stop all of this in the first place? After all, like Beckett had even reminded him, he was a pirate, so why would someone with a whole lifetime of total disregard for others, have been meant to try and help innocents?

But this of course, was just one of the many questions he would never get an answer to.

Fearing that he may go mad with these thoughts, if only a short time left to live, Jack leaned his head back to the cold stone wall and closed his eyes, praying that the unconsciousness of sleep would come and take him far away, if only in his dreams.

~P~O~T~C~

Finally Barbossa had some good news for the crew, "We can't be far off now." an experienced pirate, he seemed to be very certain of his navigational skills, and luckily, he was right as soon there were shouts of "Land hoy!" from the crows nest.

As they got nearer, most of the pirates recognised the familiar sight immediately. It was certainly strange for them to be back here again.

Barbossa, back at the wheel, was taking them on a careful route, so that they would remain out of sight as much as possible to anyone at the port, though it was impossible for them to hide the ship completely, in fact, they had a clear view of a few other ships that were docked, including the Commander and the Black Pearl. "Drop the anchors!" he shouted when they were close enough, "We'll have to go in the boats from here!"

As the boats were launched, David was starting to get worried as he stared out across the water, "We're probably too late..."

"Don't say that!" Gibbs told him, "They had under a days head start which must mean they would have arrived back here in the early hours of this morning, they wouldn't hang anyone in the dark, Beckett will want to make a public display of Jack. The town's folk will be encouraged to go and watch. It's nearly mid-afternoon now, if anything, we might be just in time..."

David hoped that Gibbs was right, but there could still only be a matter of minutes for all they knew. Time was not on their side. Quickly he went back into the cabin and carefully sheaved the two swords. It wouldn't be easy to carry them both on his person, but it was the only way to guarantee their security.

Once in the boats, they rowed as close to the dock as possible, but climbed out as soon as the water was shallow enough to wade through.

There was a stack of barrels and crates by a fisherman's shack, and following Barbossa's lead, everyone crouched down behind them using them as cover.

"Right, this is goin' to be tricky," Barbossa started, "the fort will be heavily guarded, so I suggest we get in by...."

David wasn't listing to Barbossa's proposed plan. A horrible gut feeling told him that he had no more time, and had to act now. Without further delay, he ran, fast towards the main town. He ignored the shouts from the other crew members, who urged him to go back to them.

Within a few minutes, he saw a man pulling a horse along by it's reigns. Quickly David pushed the man aside and mounted the black horse. He dug his heals into the horse's belly, urging it forwards. It shot through the town like lightening, people staring as they cantered past.

A drum-roll somewhere up ahead caught David's attention and he headed in the direction of the sound, the horses hooves clattering on the ground noisily.

Though he knew he had no plan to speak of, he approached the fort without slowing. Two Navy crew members stood either side of the entrance, but the huge wooden door was open wide as spectators piled through for the execution of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Women started shrieking, and their male companions helped them out of the way quickly as David's horse galloped through, the guards were able to do nothing, taken completely by surprise as they were.

But the path was not completely clear for David. The crowds were packed more tightly within the fort and he had to slow down until people moved from his way, but now he could hear the shouts of the increasing number of Navy officers who were gaining on him. Then came the rifle shots, missing him narrowly, but causing chaos all around. There were screams in every direction amongst the mass of confusion as David ducked from the shots atop of his steed, weaving in and out of the scrambling people, whilst at the same time searching through the crowd, trying to find what he had come here for.

At last, just up ahead, he caught sight of the wooden structure of the gallows, the afternoon sun shining so brightly behind it, he had to squint to see the silhouettes of the people stood up on the platform.