(A/N: Yay for title and cover change! The original artwork of the "pirate queen" is by Didier Graffet. Decided to write another chapter while currently working on other projects.)

23 Years Later

The Krait rose and fell peacefully as it sailed through the Caribbean Sea, the waves gently lapping against its hull. They had taken a plentiful cargo just the day before and they were on their way to Tortuga to sell and spend their plunder.

"Ship ahoy! Ship's tailing behind us!" a crew member shouted from the crow's nest.

Suddenly, the captain burst from his quarters, the plume in his magnificent hat blowing in the wind, and began barking commands.

"All hands! Get to yer positions and make speed!" he then turned to the quartermaster. "What is this ship that be makin' tail on us?"

"Take a look for yerself, Cap'n," the quartermaster said, handing him his spyglass.

The captain took the spyglass and strode over to the stern of the ship. He extended the spyglass and looked through to the ship following them far behind. The ship appeared to be a giant grand warship, with multiple decks, sails, and cannons, upon cannons, upon cannons. A ship like that could outmatch any ship in the Caribbean, especially a smaller corvette like the Krait.

The spyglass went further up to the mainmast to the flag. He was expecting the ship to be flying friendly colors, but the flag wasn't friendly at all. Unlike the traditional black flags pirates fly, the flag was all red. The white skull wore a bandana with beads hanging down, and two bones were crossed below it. There was also a black bird in flight next to the skull. Rogues.

What's worse was that even though the ship was massive, it sailed at unusually great speeds, quickly catching up to the ship it was following.

The captain quickly lowered the spyglass. The usually brave pirate momentarily had a hint of fear sparkling in the blue through his jaundice yellow eyes. "Aye, she's not a friendly one. Hundred cannon warship and no quarter given. It be catchin' up to us quick," he said to the quartermaster.

He turned back to the crew and began shouting at the top of his lungs. "Belay that! Furl the sails, make ready the guns, and brace yourselves! Prepare to be boarded and show no fear!"

The men scurried around the main deck and the gun deck below, preparing for battle.

"But Cap'n! This ship will never stand a chance against a warship with more than fives times the cannons we do," the quartermaster urged.

The pirate grinned. "When do ye ever know me to stand down and run from a battle?"

As the Krait came to a stop, the warship quickly caught up and sailed next to the port side of the smaller ship.

Upon a closer look at the warship, the multiple decks didn't appear to have many men aboard, at least not for a warship. A ship like that would have been crewed by hundreds. At least the Krait was at an advantage.

"Prepare the guns, ye bloomin' cockroaches!" the captain commanded. The men on the main deck cocked their rifles. The gun ports of the Krait opened up and the muzzle of the cannons rolled out. "FIRE!"

A series of explosions rattled from the Krait and smoke filled the air as the guns hit the broadside of the enemy ship. Plumes of white smoke flashed fiery orange at irregular blast intervals.

As the gunfire died down, some of the smoke was carried away by the sea breeze, revealing something none of the men aboard could believe. While the warship had been rocked by the explosions, the broadside remained undamaged. There was not a single gash, dent, or even a scratch on it. This warship was invincible.

Suddenly, grappling hooks were fired from many of the warship's cannons and took hold of the railing of the Krait, reeling in the ship closer to be boarded.

Little did the captain know his ship had already been boarded.

"I'd must say, mate, i'twas quite bold of you to stand ground against the Grand Barnacle."

The captain slowly turned and the smoke that clouded the deck revealed what seemed to be another pirate, the Grand Barnacle's captain.

He was shorter and more slender, but alas he seemed to be a very successful pirate. He wore an extravagant hat over a red bandana, with dreadlocks wrapped in various fabrics, coins, and strings and strings of beads made from wood, gold, silver, and other fine materials hanging down from his head. Similar beads also hung from his beard twisted into two braids.

Under his coat was a fine embroidered silk blue waistcoat, wrapped with an equally fine sash and two expensive looking belts with even more treasures hanging off of them. Sheathed away in his baldric looked to be the hilt of a very nice sword.

"Most people would immediately surrender at the sight of my ship and the rest of my fleet," the enemy captain slowly approached the captain of the Krait, the brown in his kohl-lined eyes firing with intimidation. "Half of the crew would already be lying across the deck dead by the time I board...not any of my doing."

The Krait's captain smiled broadly in recognition. "Jack Sparra', isn't it?"

Jack swiftly drew his sword and pointed it threateningly at his neck. "Captain Jack Sparrow," he corrected in a menacing low voice. The sword appeared to be very powerful, giving off a faint glow. It was recognizable by anyone.

"The Sword of Cortés," the captain whispered. He looked back up at Jack and continued. "Captain Jack Sparrow—the scourge of all pirates of the Caribbean and the Seven Seas. Me ship Cobra was attacked by one of the ships in yer fleet, the Koldunya, many years ago."

Captain Jack lowered the Sword and flashed a smile, revealing rows of gold and silver teeth, one of them having a ruby fixed in. "Ah, I remember hearing word about your ship, Captain Barbossa. I'm terribly sorry to hear about that," he said in a very unsympathetic tone.

"I invoke the right of parlay, as according to the Code," Barbossa said, "and would like to come to a negotiation."

"I'm no pirate, mate. The Code doesn't apply. Normally, I wouldn't hesitate to kill you and your men right now. But alas...you've been attacked by my fleet before, lived to tell the tale, and have the bravery to stand up and try to negotiate with me. You seem to be quite...what's the word I'm looking for—resilient. I'd say I'm rather impressed." Jack sheathed his sword and stepped up to Barbossa. "Perhaps I will come to a negotiation...but only on my terms."

"Name yer terms, Captain Sparrow."

A corner of Jack's mouth rose, as if he had been waiting for this moment. "You can take the offer, or not. You, your crew, and your ship will join my fleet, damn the Code, eliminate piracy and the Brethren, and know the true meaning of freedom..." he lightly tapped the hilt of the Sword, "...and power."

Barbossa thought for a moment. "And what'll it be if we don't accept yer offer?"

Jack's face grew darker. "I'll bring you, your crew, and your ship down to Davy Jones's Locker, and be sure you're down there for good since you seemed to escape last time...Savvy?"

Barbossa thought even more, ever so lightly considering the offer. He then looked to his crew who seemed to be afraid out of their minds. He stared at them knowingly, urging them to say yes. Each of the men frantically nodded.

He turned back to Jack. "We have an accord."

(A/N: This was my first time writing Barbossa in a fic, so forgive me if the dialogue seems weird!)