If Our Hearts Unite
Chapter 19: Hoist the Colors pt. 2
Dusk had begun to settle in, the mists of the ocean fogging over the ominous looking island. Sora eased the ship around to circle the island, looking for a way inside without running the ship into the sharp rocks of its shallows.
"This is the place, according to the map." Sora picked it up, straining her eyes against the dimming light. "How are we supposed to get inside, though?"
"Hmmm… well when we're traveling to other worlds you always use your heart as a guiding key, right? Why don't you try doing the same thing here? It worked earlier when we found the ship."
"Oh, good idea, Goofy." Sora stepped back to the helm. She gripped the spokes and closed her eyes. She could feel the heartbeat of the sea… and followed its rhythm to a small crevice hidden in the island cliffs.
The long stretching cave seemed to echo with eerie whispers, and music. As the crevice spread out into the cove, her eyes slowly opened wide and soaked in the atmosphere of the torchlit fortress. Hundreds of pirate ships were anchored there, and among them The Black Pearl stood strong.
"Looks like everyone is here." She shifted the ship and ordered for the anchor to be dropped. "Come on, let's hurry! We have to tell everyone what we know!"
~Inside~
The real Jack Sparrow leaned against the globe that held all of the captain's swords. It was tradition for each pirate lord to show a sign of truce by sheathing their inherited weapons into the globe. It was also tradition for every pirate lord to give up their "pieces of eight" to prove their position, and be given a right to be heard.
"Sparrow!"
When it came time for him to present his, Jack fiddled with the brass coin hanging from one of his many braids… and hesitated. He needed to buy more time, he thought. He wasn't sure what the court would decide to do, but he needed to give Beckett time to follow the trail he'd set out, and bring him here.
He hoped Sora had found herself passage home, and away from all the madness. As much as he admired the young girl's bravery, this fight was a pirate's fight, and someone as kind and honest as she had no business entangling herself with them.
"I don't know if any of you noticed but we're one pirate Lord short and I'm as content as a cucumber to wait until Sao Feng joins us." He told the court, ignoring the hat being passed around with the other "pieces of eight."
"Sao Feng is dead… he fell to the Flying Dutchman." Elizabeth spoke as she stepped forward from the dark with her new crew. During the lapse of time she'd gone through a lot, and had somehow found herself the captain of a crew from Singapore. She sheathed her sword into the globe to join with the other pirate lord's swords.
"He made YOU captain?" Jack looked shocked as Elizabeth joined him and Barbossa at the head of the table. "They're just giving the bloody title away."
"Listen… listen to me!" Elizabeth pleaded with the bickering mob of pirates, her eyes full of determination. "Our location has been betrayed. Jones is under the command of Lord Cutler Beckett. They're on their way here."
"The heartless are too!" Sora spoke from the doorway, dripping wet from the swim from her ship. Donald and Goofy stood behind her, panting from the exertion.
"Sora!" Elizabeth turned looking relieved as Sora and her crew came up behind her. The other six pirate lords who didn't know the kid all started to shout and point. "You're alright. What happened to you?"
"No time to explain, Elizabeth. It's as you said. Beckett, and Jones are on their way here but they're not alone. Luxord, the man who's been controlling the heartless, is going to infiltrate and attack this place." Sora turned fearful eyes to the others. "We have to do something!"
"Aye!" Barbossa pulled Sora in, making her grunt. "The lass is right. Now that we know they're headed this way, what do we do when they arrive?"
"It's obvious isn't it?" Sora clenched her fist, her eyes showing a spark of challenge. "We fight!"
There was a brief silence… but then thunderous laughs echoed as the bulk of the pirates laughed at her suggestion.
"Shipwreck cove is a fortress… a well supplied fortress!" Mistress Chen, one of the lords, explained. "There is no reason to fight, if they cannot get in."
"That may stop Cutler Beckett and maybe even Davy Jones, but that's not gonna stop the nobodies and the heartless." Sora argued. "They can go wherever they please regardless of walls or dangerous waters. You'd just be putting yourselves in danger here and playing right into his trap."
"Captain Sora is right… Jack, Barbossa and I have dealt with their kind before. They do not abide by any laws, they do what they please." Elizabeth stood tall and lifted her chin proudly. "Our only true option is to fight! We're the nine pirate Lords. Together we can crush our enemies and bring freedom back to the seven seas!"
Despite her words, and Elizabeth's bravery, they were shut down. The pirate Lords were unaware of the true threat of the heartless, and of the Organization.
"There be a third course…" Barbossa pat Sora on the shoulder which she shrugged off, but watched him wander the room as he spoke. "In another age, at this very spot, the brethren court captured the sea goddess, Calypso, and bound her in her bones. That was a mistake."
"Bound Calypso?" Sora whispered to herself then gasped when she thought of the "other" Jack and his words. "Tia Dalma, So that's what she meant when she asked me to free her."
"Sora?" Goofy looked at his young Captain's thoughtful expression. Her blue eyes seemed distant and yet focused. He looked back to Donald who shrugged in confusion as well. As the pirates fought and debated, Sora stepped back and removed herself from the chaos.
"Barbossa may be right…" Sora spoke aloud to them. "Calypso is the goddess of the sea. I felt her heart as we crossed the ocean, and it's been guiding us ever since we got here. Showing us the way."
"Okay, but if Calypso's heart has been trapped..." Goofy scratched his temple. "Where do you think it's been hiding all this time?"
"Hiding?" Sora murmured and she rubbed the stars on her ears. She felt their power activate and glow, and immediately spotted a sprinkle of lights among the chaos. Hiding away in the back, one of Barbossa's men held a hat with various pieces of junk inside. She approached the man, his eyes focused on the fighting so he didn't notice her pick up a random piece from the hat. Immediately Sora could hear the roaring sounds of a turbulent ocean… and images of a strong powerful woman taking claim of it.
"Oi, what do you think you're doing there?" Ragetti, the pirate in question, slapped her hand making her drop the item in her hand. "Don't touch."
"Oh! Sorry!"
"KYA!" Mistress chen let out a screech as a sudden cloud of black smoke appeared and Luxord stood in the center of the meeting table.
"So sorry to barge in. Dreadful etiquette on my part."
"Luxord!" Sora screamed and grit her teeth. She unleashed her keyblade and jumped on the table as well.
"Now, now, Sora, I'm simply here to fulfill my duty." Luxord waved his hand and a half a dozen nobodies appeared around, causing the pirates to panic and take up arms. "Attention pirate lords! Lord Cutler Beckett demands your presence outside."
"Shoot him!" One pirate lord called out.
"Cut out his tongue." Another said.
"Shoot him, then cut out his tongue, then shoot the tongue." Jack added comically.
"Aye! Avast!" One pirate slashed his sword at a nobody but it did no damage. Instead its body seemed to liquify then snapped like a whip launching the pirate across the room. This caused further panic.
The pirate skittered back, as the nobody raised its body to attack him, but Sora jumped off the table and cut it down with her blade.
"Sorry, but conventional weapons don't work on these guys…" Sora told them, and pointed her keyblade at Luxord, staring him down. "Your fight is with me, Luxord. Leave the Brethren Court out of this!"
"That's quite brave of you Sora… but you know as well as I do that you're only delaying the inevitable." He crossed his arms. "I shall give these men some time to think about their decision. Beckett's army, and the Flying Dutchman will arrive soon and I promised to deliver the pirates straight to them. One way or another there will be a battle. I'll make sure of it."
"Stop!" Sora leapt at Luxord, her blade cutting through black as he and his nobodies vanished. She clicked her tongue and stood tall atop the table. She had the attention of the entire court now, and turned around to address them.
"I'm not a pirate lord. I can't make your decisions for you. Still Luxord, and his minions are my foes, and I will fight them off whether you want my help or not." She clenched her keyblade. "Beckett and the Flying Dutchman however, are another matter. It'll be up to you guys on how you wanna deal with them."
Sora looked to Elizabeth, Jack, and Barbossa and nodded her head.
"Leave Luxord to me… you guys continue with the meeting. Whatever you guys decide, we'll support you." Sora looked to Donald and Goofy. "Let's go guys!"
Sora jumped off the table and hurried out the door followed quickly by Donald and Goofy. They swam back to the ship, and Sora gave the order to prep the ship for battle. She didn't know what would be waiting for them outside the island… but she was going in guns blazing.
~The Ship Endeavor~
Cutler Beckett sat at the table and stirred his tea as Luxord appeared in a cloud of black. He was used to his sudden appearances by now and casually sipped at his cup.
"Well?"
"I gave the pirates your message, and have left them the ultimatum. They can either come out and fight like true men, or huddle in fear as my own army ransacks the fortress." He crosses his arms. "I have every confidence that the pirates will choose to battle."
"And the girl?"
"See for yourself…" Luxord motioned out to the distance where Sora's ship was seen heading straight for them.
"Excellent…" Beckett stood up and picked up his telescope. He peered through it, spotting Sora and her small crew. "Younger than I thought she'd be… but no matter. Let's leave her no course but to surrender."
"As you wish, Lord Beckett, leave it to me." Luxord snapped his fingers, a thick fog raising and stretching over the sea, a myriad of heartless and their ships circling around Sora, keeping her trapped.
~Sora~
As she imagined, Luxord was waiting for her the moment she came out of the cove. She could see the various dots of ships in the distance… Beckett's army was gathering, and preparing for battle. Sora knew they couldn't take them on alone and it wasn't her place to meddle there.
The only thing she could do was protect the Brethren Court from Luxord's involvement, and give them the freedom to choose their own fate.
"Luxord wants the pirates to face off against Beckett. He plans on swiping the chest in the heat of battle, and we can't let that happen." Sora told the other two.
"What's your plan, Captain Sora?" Goofy asked.
"If only we could… uh oh." Sora saw the fog, and immediately knew what it meant. Her grip on the helm tightened as the heartless ships surrounded her, leaving her nowhere to flee. "Not good."
"What do we do now?" Donald looked at Sora.
"We've got no other choice, Donald." Sora's eyes glittered and her lips curved up in a confident smile. Her earrings glowed and she closed her eyes feeling the heart of the sea. "Man the cannons! Let's show these guys what real pirates can do!" She spun the helm, the ship turning broadside.
The heartless attacked, shadowy canonballs launching through the air in an attempt to bring down their defenses.
"I don't think so!" Sora raised her keyblade, the stars on her ears glowing brighter as she summoned the power Calypso had gifted her. "DEFENSE!"
A huge wall of water raised up around the ship, blocking the attacks. Immediately after Sora readjusted her position and called out to her crew.
"Fire!"
Three ships went down immediately. Using the new freedom of space Sora took another wide turn to face off against the enemies at portside. Her eyes narrowed as a fog encompassed the small fleet of ships and they vanished.
"Where… whoa!" Sora barely had time to turn her ship as the fleet reappeared right in front of them, threatening to run them down. Immediately she let loose another attack but not before their canons shot across their flank. The ship rocked and waned in response and Sora grit her teeth against the assault.
"Impressive…" Beckett murmured as he watched the battle from afar. "Despite being overwhelmed by numbers she's standing her ground. So you did not exaggerate about her power."
"The child's gifts are beyond this. She's formidable yes… but she's even more so when she has friends to protect." Luxord told him… and as if on cue the sound of canonfire echoed and the heartless ships vanished one by one in dusty black clouds.
The Black Pearl led a swarm of pirate ships out of the cove. Their joined attacks make quick work of the heartless ships, and they join alongside Sora to face off against Beckett's army.
"Jack! You guys!" Sora smiled and ran to the side of the ship waving at the crew of the Black Pearl.
"Couldn't let you have all the fun, lass." Jack grinned and turned to Elizabeth. "Well, your nibs, you got your war."
"Aye, but at what cost?" Barbossa stared down the Armada. "Our odds of victory with the Dutchman at the ready are slim."
"That's a matter of perspective, Hector." Jack suggested. "Sora, come aboard the Pearl and take temporary command. The three of us will go to that small peninsula and discuss terms with Beckett and Jones."
"Aye, aye!" Sora saluted and jumped aboard the Pearl. The three captains were gone for about an hour, before the rowboat returned… but instead of Jack, Will came aboard with Barbossa and Elizabeth.
"Will! Glad to see you're safe… but where's Jack."
"He's with Jones, part of the terms were that Jack satisfy his debt by becoming part of his crew." Will explained.
"Fear not lass…" Barbossa slapped a palm against Sora's back. "We've still got an ace up our sleeve." He motioned to the crew members who were pulling Tia Dalma out of the brig. She was completely bound by ropes.
"Tia Dalma! Why are you guys treating her like a prisoner?" Sora turned her head up. "She's our friend-"
"A fickle goddess, Calypso be. Best take precautions." Barbossa motioned Ragetti forward, and dropped two more trinkets into the bowl containing pieces of Calypso's heart. "Now then, lass, I believe you have a promise to fulfill."
"Right…" Sora's keyblade appeared in her hand. She stepped forward, giving Calypso a sympathetic look. The friendly look that was usually on Tia Dalma's face was gone, and replaced with a look of anticipation, and inner fury. Still… when she looked into Sora's eyes, the look softened and the smallest of smiles spread on her lips.
"Be there some manner of incantation?" Gibbs asked
"Aye… The items brought together done… the words-"
"I don't think that will be necessary." Sora held out her hand to silence him and she raised her blade up, pointing to the items in question. Though there were nine pieces laying in the bowl, only seven glittered with power. The stars on her ears glowed and Sora closed her eyes and closed both hands over the hilt.
The seven glittering pieces rose up, and circled… the sky went dark a moment then light shot up from the pieces forming a lock in the sky. Sora then whirled her blade around aiming the tip at the lock and sent a stream of light that unlocked the heart fragments.
Tia Dalma started to jerk in response as her heart fragments joined together and slipped inside her human form. She inhaled deep, and felt her power grow.
"Tia Dalma!' Will called out to her, but she ignored him. "Calypso."
Calypso's eyes flash at him, the fury returning.
"When the Brethren first imprisoned you, who was it that showed them how?" Will questioned. "Who was it that betrayed you?"
"Name him!" Calypso demanded, her body jerking even more as her power and fury rose. Sora stepped back, getting a bad vibe from the exchange of words.
"Davy Jones." Will told her… and in a split second, Sora could feel Calypso's heart screaming with pain and betrayal. She held her ears, and closed her eyes as flashes of Calypso's past ran across her mind.
Tia Dalma's body grew in size, her weight causing the ship to wane and crack. She screamed the inaudible words, her anger so apparent, and then the body collapsed into a million crabs that flooded down and off the ship and into the sea.
The skies became ominous again, Sora shook off the crabs that were attached to her jacket and hat, and looked around.
"Well that was… weird."
"Ow ow ow!" Donald wagged his finger as one of the crabs refused to let go and he flung it off the side of the ship.
"Well she's no help at all." Sora heard someone say, and the mood of the crew drastically shifted. The hopelessness of the situation was getting to them all, and Sora could feel it.
"What do we do now?"
"Nothing," Barbossa slapped his hand against the railing of the ship. "Our final hope has failed us."
"It's not over… there's still a fight to be had." Will told everyone.
"We're up against an Armada..." Gibbs pointed out. "... and with the Dutchman there's no chance."
"Only a fool's chance." Elizabeth lowered her head, her eyes looking around as mist and clouds formed. The wind started to blow and rain scented the air.
Sora looked around at the gloomy mood, then up at the sky. She held her heart, listening for the beat and voice of Calypso's.
"Use that key to free me Sora, and you have my most certain promise. All the power of the sea, will ever be yours."
"Tia Dalma was Calypso… she was the one who was helping us." She looked to Donald and Goofy, saw the white crabs still skittering across the deck. She bent down to pick one up, looked into its eyes and felt the warm light echoing. Her smile spread and she turned around to face the crew. "You can't give up now!"
Her sudden shout brought everyone to her attention. Sora set the crab down and clenched her fists in a sign of confidence and hope.
"We can all fight together. The sea belongs to everyone!"
Her words both surprised and moved the crew. The tiny girl showing more courage than a the entire army of pirates. Elizabeth, also moved by Sora's words, took lead and she jumped atop the rail and grabbed the stirrup.
"You will listen to me… LISTEN!" She faced the crew with ferocity and fight in her voice. "The Brethren will still be looking to us, to the Black Pearl to lead… and what will they see? They will see free men, and FREEDOM! Our enemy will hear the ring of our swords and see the flash of our canons, and the courage of our hearts! As we succeed and they fail."
Sora looked up to Elizabeth, her heart which was already full of hope and courage, soared with confidence. This woman had gone through a lot, had seen adventures, and had gained a sense of self confidence that sang through her heart and echoed in those around her.
"Gentleman… HOIST THE COLORS!"
"Hoist the colors!"
"Hoist the colors!"
"THE WIND'S ON OUR SIDE BOYS! THAT'S ALL WE NEED!"
"Come on!" Sora slapped her hands on Donald and Goofy's shoulders and they leapt across the deck and to their own ship. They too raised their flag high, and Sora took the helm as rain poured down and a storm rage sea became the backdrop of battle.
The Black Pearl took point against the Dutchman that raised itself from the sea like a shark coming up to feed. The rapid waters formed a maelstrom at the center, and both sides used it to cut across fast waters. The Canons on the ship went from spread to broadside, and they attacked each other, with Sora circling the battle just outside. She was keeping her eye out for heartless and for Luxord.
"Ahh…" As if summoned from her thoughts, Luxord appeared on her deck surveying the battle. "So that's the Flying Dutchman."
"Luxord!" Sora grit her teeth. "What you're doing is stupid. The chest has the heart of Davy Jones in it, there's no way it's the box you're looking for."
"No one knows what's in the chest we're looking for." Luxord pointed out and confused Sora even further. "If it's a black box, then we are to collect it. Simple as that?"
"Say what?"
"Regrettably the higher ups haven't deigned to tell us what's inside. Though we've been told that it does contain "hope." That's all you'll get from me." Luxord turned his attention back to the battle. "It's a little too chaotic to find the box in all this. I'll simply have to remove that ship from the equation."
Luxord snapped his fingers. Large white tentacles emerge from the center of the maelstrom and wrap around the Black Pearl, lifting it from the waters and threatening to crack it in half. With the Black Pearl out of the way, Luxord vanished into his black void and went in search of the chest.
"They're looking for hope?" Sora questioned, but quickly snapped out of it at Donald's sharp call. "Right… now's not the time. We're going in!" She spun the helm, cutting into the Maelstrom and using the fast waters to keep ahead of the Dutchman. She ordered Donald and Goofy to take aim at the Krakken. Little by little they wore it down, blowing the tentacles away. Though the Dutchman caught up and started taking shots at her, Sora kept up their defenses, her earrings glowing bright as the power of the sea remained on her side.
"Thanks, Calypso." Sora smiled as the water wall blocked Jones' attack. Sora unleashed her keyblade. "Alright men! One final assault, give it everything you got!"
"Aye, aye!" Donald and Goofy shouted.
"Ready… aim… FIRE ALL!"
A barrage of canonfire rained down on the Krakken. The Black Pearl dropped and returned to the waters, only slightly damaged from the restraint.
"WHAT A LASS!" Barbossa laughed from the helm of the Pearl. "Now then, you bilge rats, let's finish this!" He jerked the wheel putting the Black Pearl back into the attack position.
Aboard the Dutchman, Jack had finally found the chest and was looking for the opportune moment to cut across and escape with the chest. Luxord spotted him, demanding that he hand the chest over, but was denied.
"I'll not be giving you anything mate." Jack told him.
"Humph, then I invoke the right of par-"
"NOPE!" Jack pressed his hand to Luxord's mouth. "No, no parlay. Look around. We're a little busy at the moment for your games, mate. Besides..." He lifted the chest up to eye level. "I've already got what I came for." He breathed onto Luxord, the stench of his breath causing Luxord to wince and back up, falling backwards and off the ship.
"Sniff, sniff," Jack breathed into his hand and nearly gagged himself. "Yep, still works."
~Meanwhile~
Sora brought about her ship, circling the outside and into the boarding position.
"Take the helm, Calypso!" Sora called out to the sky, and then jumped aboard the Dutchman. As if by magic, her ship sailed off safely out of the Maelstrom and onto calmer waters. This left Sora free to assist Jack who was facing off against Davy Jones, playing keepaway with the chest.
"Ah ha!" Jack grinned as Sora, Donald and Goofy came forward and guarded Jack against Jones' assault. "The tables have turned mate."
"Hardly… just a few more maggots to join my crew!" Jones attacked, aided by the whipping tentacles of the heartless kraken under his ship. Sora cut through the writhing appendages, her eyes focused on the big boss. The ship bucked and groaned as canons blasted across the wood, the battle fierce and chaotic as ever. Jack found refuge high into the mast area, but Jones followed him.
Sora did her best to cut down the obstacles in her path, and yelped a bit when The Black Pearl and Dutchman collided in the center, bracing each other from being dragged down to the depths. Jack dropped the chest on deck and Sora met eyes with Will as he came aboard.
"Will! The chest!"
"Got it!" He grabbed it, making a run across the deck and back to the pearl. A stray tentacle lashed out knocking him back and off his feet. The chest slid across the wet deck, up for grabs. Jack kept jones busy and out of reach, but his sword was clamped down and snapped in two, Elizabeth joined the frey stepping in front of the chest.
"Harridan! You'll see no mercy from me!"
"That's why I brought this!" She drew her sword and took up the fight, but was quickly defeated. Jones knocked her into the stairs, and he stepped up to finish the job, but Will thrust his sword into his back and right through him.
"Mister… did you forget. I'm a heartless wretch." He whirled around slapping Will down and onto his back. It was then he saw the longful looks in both Will and Elizabeth's eyes. He laughed, mocking the two "Ah, love, a dreadful bond."
He stepped to Will, raising his sword up.
"Yet, so easily severed."
"That's not true!" Sora, wet, bruised, and tired from battle shout at him from across the deck. With her thoughts and heart filled with Riku she stepped towards Jones, unafraid. "Love is stronger than you give it credit for. I've shared my heart with others, and it'll take more than the likes of your to break it!"
"What does a whelp like you know about love?" Jones accused, turning towards her with a sour expression.
"The whelp has seen more of the world than you know."
"Ha! What of it?" He pointed his blade back to Will, determined to get his "point" across. "Tell me William Turner. Do you fear death?"
"Do you!?" Jack, the opened chest in his right arm, and his broken, yet sharp, sword in the other.
"You're a cruel man, Jack Sparrow."
"Cruel is a manner of perspective." He shot back feeling confident.
"Is it?" Refusing to back down, Jones whirled around and stabbed Will through the heart. As the man cried out in pain, his friends stared in utter shock. Sora's eyes widened, her face went pale as flashes of horrific thoughts and images echoed in her mind and heart. Elizabeth's mournful cry pierced her heart, and suddenly Sora couldn't breathe or think.
RIku… Riku… RIKU!
"NO!" Her body moved before her mind could stop it. She ran at Jones, leaping on his back and beating her fists on his face and clawing her fingers in his slimy slippery skin. Donald and Goofy backed her up, grabbing Jones by the arms and dragging him back and keeping him off balance.
Jones raged and tossed Donald and Goofy aside. Then whipped Sora off his back slamming her into the railing of the ship. Sora coughed, losing air from her lungs as the rage died and she looked up at Jones.
"FOOLISH CHILD! You will not forestall my judgement!" He raised his sword to kill her next. The piercing stab of Jack's knife into his heart halted his movement. He slowly turned, saw that Jack had maneuvered it so will's hand had done the deed… saving Will from his fate.
Jones' body collapsed into the stormy waters, and though Elizabeth cried out in sorrow as Jack dragged her away, the rest of them abandoned ship and jumped safely aboard the Pearl before the Dutchman sunk into the depths of Calypso's Maelstrom.
The storm cleared, and though the victory of Davy Jones had been won, the pirates still had Beckett's armada to face off against. Though they could have run, embraced the oldest and noblest of pirate traditions, and retreat to Shipwreck cove… Jack boldly sailed ahead to face off against the Endeavor.
"I've never been one for traditions." He had said, his eyes more serious and stern than Sora had ever seen. The events of the Dutchman had hit him hard, and Sora could feel the echoes of grief from his heart.
"Jack…" Sora started to comfort, but jolted as the Dutchman rose up from the water. At first everyone was startled, and feared they would be under attack, but then they saw who was at the helm.
"Will!" Elizabeth cried tears of joy as she saw her husband, alive and well, captaining the Dutchman. Together, the two power ships flanked The Endeavor, and forced Beckett and his men into submission.
The pirates celebrated as the battle was won. Sora grabbed Donald and Goofy's hands, the three of them circling and jumping for joy. She gave hugs all around, surprised and happy when Jack embraced her back and pat her proudly on the head.
"You're a true pirate, after all, Sora. I couldn't be prouder." He slapped a palm on her shoulder.
"Thanks, Jack." She grinned wide, but the smile faded when she saw Elizabeth staring sadly and fondly out at Will.
"The Flying Dutchman must have a Captain." Gibbs told Sora, and he pat her on the head. "Just wed, and now her and Captain Turner must live in different worlds. One day ashore, ten years at sea. It's a steep price."
Though the mood was bittersweet, they all bid Elizabeth farewell as she left the ship to spend her one day ashore with Will. Sora watched them leave for the small island, and her heart ached for them both. She knew what it was like to be separated from the one you loved for a long period of time.
"One day isn't enough time." She said with a sigh.
"Oh, there's always enough time for one's heart to say what's true." Jack told her, sparing a smile. "Sora, you know that better than anyone." He looked out to his crew, and Sora followed his line of sight, looking to the people she'd fought alongside. "It only takes a moment to connect with your mates."
"Mmmm…" Sora smiled brightly now, and she held her heart looking up at the sky. "There's always enough time."
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Long time no see! Sorry this chapter has taken me so long to update, but I kept debating with myself what parts to add and cut and I hope what I've selected meets your approval my faithful readers!
Next Chapter: Citylife