Pearl approached the entrance to Shipwreck Cove, barely able to squeeze through the Devil's Throat. As one of the largest pirates and the largest of the Pirate Queens, it was a common problem. The passage was just deep enough for her draft. The gathering was large. Larger than anything she'd seen. Even larger than the first meeting Wicked King had brought her to. Every pirate lord and their followers were here. There had not been such a meeting like this is any of their lifetimes. Pearl settled in her dock, listening to the sounds of the drunken men ashore. There was a shout near the cove entrance. She'd look up to see Empress, but that wasn't who the shouts were for. Behind her, the brig who had caused this mess. Interceptor looked around slowly and with a low head, however his Union Jack was gone, replaced by a swatch of cloth. The Black Flag. Several ships moved in to usher Empress to her berth while others trained their guns on Interceptor. "Hold your fire!" Pearl shouted. "A new pirate is always welcome to our fold." She added with a smile at him. "I'm going to have to get used to being called that." Interceptor sighed before smiling, "I finally saw it your way." Pearl shifted so he could take the berth beside her. "What changed your mind?" She asked. "The torture of an already suffering soul." Pearl sighed and nodded. "She was dealt a cruel hand many years ago. I heard what you did for Empress, thank you." "I wasn't going to allow someone a fate worse than death. I wish I could have helped Dutchman. So what's the plan here? What are you trying to do to stop the Armada?" "Barbossa has a crazy plan to release Calypso. Personally I think she won't be very merciful to the ones who bound her in the first place." She grimaced. "Jack's got a plan though. He always does." "You're a bunch of crazy arses." he chuckled, "So I'm inclined to believe everything you just said." She winked. "Pirate." She replied.

From another berth, Troubador started singing. "The king and his men pulled the Queen from her bed. They bound her in her bones. The seas be ours and by the powers. Where we will we'll roam." Pearl grinned. "Yo ho, all hands hoist the colors high! Heave ho thieves and beggars never shall we die!" The whole fleet, even the drunkest, managed to join in. Interceptor had heard the words before as a child and in recent times by pirates that were in their final moments. Muttering awkwardly, he joined the singing. The more that sang, the louder it became. An oath of defiance against the British armada.

The drinks flowed and inevitably brawls broke out. Troubador had one particularly lovely spat with Empress. It seemed the only one who could hold their liquor was Pearl, who sat idly by, smirking. Well, her and Interceptor, which somewhat surprised the black galleon. A proper British gentleman who could handle rum better than most pirates? Heresy! "Did you by any chance engage in pilfering rum rations when you were a kid?" She asked. "All the time. Mum whipped my stern pretty hard each time, but each lash was well worth the reward." he grinned toothily. "I drove Britannia crazy with my ways. There was always a barrel or two missing but she could never officially prove anything. She and mamma knew it was me though." She chuckled. "I got away with it by putting the blame on my brother." She ducked as an empty bottle was thrown over her head, shattering against the rocks. "Dark Shadow, yes, he's told me many times." the brig chuckled. She grimaced as a schooner took one step too close to a brig and another fight broke out. "He's part of the Armada, you know." he continued, avoiding looking at any of the fights. "I know. We went our separate ways years ago." She shrugged. "So you say." "I do." A drunk schooner staggered over to her. "Hi honey." He purred. "No thank you." She turned away. "Aww, but you haven't heard my offer yet." He cooed. "She said no, pal." Interceptor growled. "Oh Mr. Navy don't be such a killjoy." He said, patting him on the back. He brushed his flank against Pearl's who allowed him up to her. She winked at Interceptor. Then, as he mounted her, she bucked, stabbing her rudder into his balls. Interceptor winced as if he'd been the target. The high pitched sound the schooner made, made it evident he was not feeling all too confident now! As he ran off, Pearl laughed. "This ain't my first rodeo brother." She chortled to Interceptor.

Jack, surprisingly, chose Elizabeth to be the Pirate King and he also chose to fight. The following morning found Pearl, Interceptor and the rest of the Brethren fleet lined up waiting for their opponents to arrive. "Pirate King?" Interceptor asked her. "Of the Brethren Court, courtesy of Jack." "What is the pirate king? I thought you lot valued freedom." "The Pirate King is elected by popular vote however each pirate usually only votes for themselves. Jack decided to break that norm." "I uhh. I see." From over the horizon masts appeared, at first there was cheering and then the true size of the enemy was revealed. "The armada." Interceptor sighed, knowing the numbers before they had arrived. "You'd best have an ace up your sleeve, lass." Pearl saw a signal flag from Endeavour. She wanted to parley. "Interceptor, Empress with me." The three set out across no mans land to a little spit of land. They went face to face with Endeavour, Shadow, and Cedar. "So you're the one who led this filthy curr to our door." Empress spat at Shadow. "Don't blame Shadow. She was but the tool in the plan. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left." Interceptor and Empress turned to Pearl. "My rigging is clean in this, figuratively." She answered after a quick inspection of her dirty ratlines. "My actions were my own and to my own purpose, Pearl had nothing to do with it." "Well spoke, listen to the tool!" Pearl grinned. "Your debt to me is still to be satisfied, 100 years servitude as a start!" Shadow growled. "That debt was paid mate, with some help." Pearl waved her rigging lines towards Interceptor. "You escaped!" Shadow accused. "Technically, I slipped out." "I offer you a choice. You can fight and all of you will die. Or you can not fight and only most of you will die." Endeavour said. Pearl advanced on her. "You and your brother murdered my mate." She hissed. "He chose his own fate." Endeavour said. "And you have chosen yours. We will fight, and you will die!" With that she turned around and stalked off, Interceptor and Empress following. Endeavour watched them go with a heavy sigh. "So be it." She said. "Did they surrender?" one of the schooners asked. "Not exactly." Interceptor sighed. "What now?" "Endeavour will send Shadow as the lead of the first wave. It'll be heavily armed but sluggish. I'll take care of Shadow, the rest will fall in line." "I don't know if I'm prepared to die." the schooner whimpered. Interceptor looked grim. Empress grabbed the galleon so they faced each other. "Revenge won't bring your mate back, Pearl, and it's not something I'm intending to die for." "Then what shall we die for." She turned to face her fleet. "You will listen to me, listen! The Armada will be looking at us, and what will they see? Frightened bilgrats amongst a ragtag fleet, no. They will see free ships, and FREEDOM! And the enemy will see the flash of our cannons, they will hear the ring of our swords and they will know what we can do! By the sweat of our brows, and the strength of our backs and the courage of our hearts. My fleet, hoist the colors." "Hoist the colors." "Aye hoist the colors." The murmur went through them. "The winds on our side, boys that's all we need!" "HOIST THE COLORS!" Pearl cried. The cheer ran through the gathered pirates, various flags with forms of piracy icons flying high in the wind. The highest were of Pearls skull and cross swords.

With the Armada, Dogg approached Endeavour. "We have a favorably wind, ma'am." "So we do. Signal Dutchman to give no quarter. That should brighten her day." the first rate murmured. Dogg raised signal flags atop his masts. Cedar growled at Shadow and shoved her ahead. "To arms! We give no quarter!" The thunder attracted Shadow's attention. "Britannia?" She gazed skywards. The answering rain was beyond cold and it infuriated her. She gave a howl of rage and lunged, charging towards Pearl who answered with a lunge of her own. The two headed on a collision course. Interceptor followed Pearl and Cedar followed Shadow. Dogg trailed behind. A few bolts of lightning struck the water between them, the sea suddenly churning and rotating into a swirling funnel. "Maelstrom!" Interceptor cried. Pearl was not swayed in her course. Cedar however was a bit more nervous. "Veer off!" He cried. "She'll not harm us. Full bore into the abyss." Shadow growled. "Are you mad?!" Cedar shouted. "Ha! Afraid ye'll get wet?" Shadow mocked. As the four entered the giant whirlpool, Dutchman and Cedar went straight for them, while Pearl and Interceptor remained on the edge. The British warships were on their sterns, firing chase guns with booming explosions. "They're on our stern and gaining!" "More speed! Haul your wind and hold your water!" Empress shouted from the Brethren fleet. Interceptor snarled again, "Pearl, take us out, or they'll overbear us!" "Nay, further in. We'll cut across the faster waters." Pearl said, shaking her bow free of spray. "Prepare to broadside."

Pearl judged her distances beautifully. "Hold there, wait till we're board and board… Fire!" "Fire!" Interceptor cried. "Fire all!" Cedar shouted. "Fire!" Dutchman howled. The four warships opened up on each other, cannon shots blasting into one another's flanks. They circled in increasingly smaller circles as they went farther down the maelstrom. Suddenly Shadow stiffened. "Cover!" She screamed. Interceptor had deliberately aimed at the guards holding her heart hostage and injuring Cedar as well. Once she had recovered, she turned on the schooner, grabbing him in strong rigging lines. He looked at the lines before lifting his head to look at her. "Let go of me!" he hissed. Her menacing smirk only deepened into a grin as he felt the rotten rope begin slithering along his hull, tightening and prodding at areas to enter, such as his nose, mouth and even eyes. "No!" the schooner cried, "Dutchman! Long Shadow, please!" he begged, struggling. She chuckled at hearing him gag, her lines choking him. She pulled the key off his lifeless neck. A glow exited him and she breathed it in, devouring it. She let go of his limp body as briefly, that glow surrounded her and her eyes flashed blue as his soul was absorbed. "Oh Jesus..." Interceptor looked pale upon watching what had just occurred. She grinned and strengthened by Cedar's soul she turned on him delivering a nasty broadside right into his bow. He howled in pain, eyes closing as blood trickled from his port side eye. Pearl moved to defend him, fully aware that Shadow would likely just end up killing them both. The fluyt moved to deliver the final blow. A new vessel came in on her side and blocked her shots. "Long Shadow, this isn't you!" Dogg whimpered. She bared her teeth and moved as though she was going to attack him, then she paused. The yellow in her eyes faded and the green returned. "Dogg, I..." whatever she was going to say was broken off as Will Turner's knife stabbed through her captain's heart.

"Shadow!" he gasped, holding her as she suddenly began to struggle and gasp for breath. She rolled on her side, clinging to him her eyes wide. She thrashed about like a fish out of water. "She's going down!" Interceptor groaned, holding his eye. Dogg held her as tight as he could. "It's okay, Shadow. As long as I'm here, you'll be okay." She looked up at him, then with the last of her strength she reached up and kissed him hard on the lips. "Go. I'm not taking you down with me." He was stunned for a moment, the kiss honestly taking him aback. "I'm not leaving you." he finally growled. "Dogg please, just go." Shivering, her eyes beginning to glaze over, she pushed him away. Then she went limp. Moments later, the maelstrom consumed her. Dogg hissed as he watched, tears forming in his eyes. He looked to Pearl, who had turned out of the maelstrom along with Interceptor. She was supporting said brig, whose eye injury looked severe. "I'm not returning to the British." Dogg declared, "Hang me or recruit me, just don't make me go back." "If you're coming with us you better do it quick!" She growled. "Endeavour is coming up on our starboard. I think it's high time we embrace that oldest and noblest of pirate tradition." Interceptor panted, Dogg coming up to support his other side. "There's never actually been one tradition." Pearl said, not bothered by the sight of the man o war. "Pearl." "Wait." She didn't move her eyes off Endeavour even as the warship's three rows of guns were rolled out.

Off to starboard, the sea began to churn as something emerged from underneath. And then, Shadow burst from the waves. Her jaws were parted and her eyes were still closed but when they opened they were bright green. Dogg looked on in disbelief, but his expression turned to a grin of happiness. "Long Shadow!" he cheered. Her head snapped around to him, at first she was confused but then she smiled. Pearl laughed. "Dogg, take Interceptor back to the fleet." She ordered as she and Shadow turned parallel to each other, facing Endeavour. "Belay that, you're no match for her!" Interceptor snarled. "Belay that belay that!" the galleon answered. "But Pearl!" "Belay!" "Pearl-!" "Belay!" "But the Armada-!" "Stow it!" "Endeavour-!" "Stop, shut it!" With a huff she sailed on ahead, Shadow at her side. Watching them they looked so identical, they were almost like… and that's when Dogg understood. "Sisters." he breathed. Interceptor looked on with a confused expression before his eye widened. It all finally made sense. But that did little to comfort him as they sailed toward Endeavour, the triple decker warship having all guns rolled out and ready to fire. Pearl met her mother's gaze and the message in her eyes was as clear as day. "I will not fight you." Pearl and Shadow had no choice however. There was only one way this would end. "I'm so sorry." She whispered to the approaching man o war. She turned to her sister. "You with me?" She asked. "Always." Shadow replied. Endeavour came in between them. The First Rate held her fire. For so long she'd threatened to kill them both. But when it came time for her to be the one to attack...she couldn't. Not her daughters. And they wouldn't survive if the entire Armada attacked. There was only one thing they could do to make the British retreat. "The destruction of the Flagship. Dear God, Endeavour." Interceptor murmured. Pearl met her mother's gaze, having the decency to look a dead ship in the eye. Her cannons spoke, Shadow's answering at the same time. Between them they blew out Endeavour's sides. The man o war never said a word but when her magazine exploded she screamed. Pearl made a hard turn to the right and circled back, grabbing her mother's head and holding her before she sank. "I'm sorry. For everything." she whispered, looking into her daughter's eyes, "I only pray you, and your father can forgive me..." "Mamma, I do." "We both do." Shadow came up beside her sister. "Mamma, please don't go." Pearl begged. "It's too late for me...go...more will come...He will come. I'm so proud of you..." she breathed, letting out a final exhale as her eyes closed. They did not open again.

"Mamma? Mamma please!" Pearl held her tight, burying her bow in her shoulder as she cried. She couldn't hold onto Endeavour for long as her mother's body sank. She was forced to let her go, leaning heavily into her sister as the two staggered back to the fleet. Behind them, the Armada fled. "What did she mean...he will come? Who will?" "Alex, her brother. My uncle. Endeavour is-was the only thing that held him in check. He won't rest until he finds us." Pearl replied quietly. "Well, we have to prepare." Dogg sighed, handing Interceptor back to Pearl as he moved to Shadow's flank. Pearl licked the blood off Interceptor's face. Shadow's hull was less slimy than before as the old grime began to fall off.

A commotion was heard nearby as Empress and a schooner attacked and pinned a large third rate who hadn't retreated with the rest of the Armada. Pearl whipped around. "Let her go!" She roared. "But Pearl." Empress protested. "Do you really think we won this battle on our own. Someone had to be on the inside, to ensure our victory. And you are attacking her. Let. Her. Go." The two backed off allowing the vessel to find her keel. She looked upon them with distinctive blue eyes.

Shadow staggered, a glow surrounding her as the souls of those she consumed were set free. Some set into shapes, Morning Star faced Pearl and Sapphira looked at her grandson. They smiled at the pair, giving a nod of approval before they faded into the skies. Interceptor was stunned. Shadow even more so. Once she'd regained her bearings her eyes fell on Britannia. No ship should be able to move as fast as she did but they were all witnesses to it as Shadow embraced her lover. "Britannia, I missed you!" Pearl watched the pair happily but her mind was on her mother's last warning. "We've got a head start, but not by much. Alex will be coming for us all."