Chapter 68

Everyone has been fighting for a while. After seeing enough, Hector got onto the table and fired his gun in the room, causing everyone to immediately stop fighting.

"It was the First Court what imprisoned Calypso.", said Hector. "We should be the ones to set her free. And in her gratitude, she will see fit to grant us boons."

Jack came towards Hector and asked, "Whose boons? Your boons? Utterly deceptive twaddle-speak, says I."

Hector rolled his eyes and got down. "If you have a better alternative, please share."

There was a pause. Then Jack said, "Cuttlefish." Hector looked confused. "Aye."

He then lazaly started to walk. "Let us not, dear friends, forget our dear friends, the cuttlefish." He then went up to Ching's men and said, "Flipping glorious little sausages. Pen them up together, they'll devour each other without a second thought. Human nature, isn't it? Or… Or fish nature." Jack then put his hands on Ching's shoulders, causing her men to grab the ends of their weapons, but not pull them out. "So, yes, we could hole up here well-provisioned and well-armed. Half of us would be dead within the month." He then let go of her shoulders. "Which seems quite grim to me, any way you slice it. Or…" Then walked in front of one of Jocard's men, making him nervous and uncomfortable. "Uh…" He then awkwardly walked passed him and continued. "As my learned colleague so naively suggests, we can release Calypso, and we can pray she will be merciful. I rather doubt it. Can we pretend she's anything other than a woman scorned like which fury hell hath no? We cannot. Res ipsa loquitur, tabula in naufragio. We are left with but one option. I agree with, and I cannot believe the words are coming out of me mouth...Captain Swann. We must fight."

Elizabeth looked satisfied.

"He gets it.", said Gajeel.

"You've always run away from a fight.", shouted Hector.

"Have not.", said Jack.

"Have so."

"Have not."

"Have so."

"Have not!"

Everyone kept moving their heads back and forth while they were arguing.

"You have so, and you know it."

"Have not. Slander and calumny. I have only ever embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions. I submit that here now that is what we all must do: We must fight...to run away."

There was silence. Then Gibbs shouted, "Aye!"

"Aye!", everyone shouted with agreement.

"He blends in with everybody and they all agree to him.", said Gray.

"I guess that's part of his charm.", said Erza.

"Juvia loves Gray-sama's charm.", said Juvia as she hugged.

"At least they agreed to fight.", said Lily.

"Now we can rampage on the seas!", said Gajeel.

Hector then spoke. "As per the code, an act of war, and this be exactly that, can only be declared by the pirate king."

"They have a pirate king?"

"You made that up.", said Jack with disbelief.

"Did I, now? I call on Cap'n Teague, keeper of the code."

Jack's expression turned to shock. Everyone else gasped.

"Who?", question Gray.

Captain Sri Sumbhajee elbowed one of his men and that man said, "Sri Sumbhajee proclaims this all to be folly! Hang the code. Who cares of a…?"

Before he can continue, a gun was fired and the bullet hit the man in the shoulder, causing him to immediately fall to the ground. Everyone became cautious and looked at the source of the gunshot and saw a man sitting there blowing on his gun. He looked kinda like Jack.

"Code is the law.", said Teague, keeper of the code.

Jack twitched while everyone slowly sat down.

Teague came up to a nervous Jack and said, "You're in way, boy."

Without a word, Jack awkwardly walked away from Teague as he came closer to the table. Behind him, two old men were carrying a large book with a look and the title Pirata Codex.

Everyone looked shocked and whispered what is happening.

"The code.", everyone said.

"As set forth by Morgan and Batholomew.", said Ragtti.

The two men put the book on the table. Teague then whistled and then a dog with keys in his mouth came up to the table and gave the keys to Teague.

Pintel and Ragtti looked surprised.

"That can't…", said Ragtti. "How did…"

"Sea turtles, mate.", answered Teague as he unlocked the book.

Erza came up to the dog and grabbed him and cuddle with him. Everyone was watching her. "I...I like this dog.", she said in a cute tone. "You're not just cute, you're adorable!" Everyone then ignored her and they all looked at the book.

"Hey, code guy!", shouted Gajeel. Everyone looked shocked as Teague looked at him. "Why do you smell like Jack?"

"What?"

"You and Jack's smells are the same. Are you related?"

"I tell you another time…" Teague opened the book and began to read a passage near the bottom. "Ah. Barbossa is right."

"Hang on a minute.", said Jack as he read the passage and shoving away Teague. "'It shall be the duties, as the king, to declare war, parley with shared adversaries…' Fancy that."

"There has not been a king since the First Court.", said Chevalle. "And that's not likely to change."

"Not likely.", said Teague as he walked back to his spot.

"Why not?", asked Elizabeth.

Gibbs answered. "See, the pirate king is elected by popular vote."

Hector jumped in. "And each pirate only ever votes for hisself."

"I call for a vote.", said Jack. Teague then started to play on his guitar while everyone agreed.

"I vote for Ammand the Corsair."

"Capitaine Chevalle, the penniless Frenchman."

"Sri Sumbhajee votes for Sri Sumbhajee.", said one of his men.

"Mistress Ching."

"Gentleman Jocard."

"Elizabeth Swann."

"Barbossa."

"Vallenueva!"

Jack spoke. "Elizabeth Swann."

Everyone was shocked.

"What?", said Elizabeth.

"I know. Curious, isn't it?"

Everyone then yelled at Jack with rage.

"Vote for me.", said Jocard. "Vote for me."

"What you talking about?"

"No!", shouted Ching.

"Am I to understand that you lot will not be keeping to the code, then?", question Jack.

The string on Teague's guitar snapped and there was silence as Teague gave everyone a serious look. Everyone quietly sat down again.

"Very well.", said Ching. "What say you, Captain Swann, king of the Brethren Court?"

"Wait. Wouldn't it make her queen?", asked Gajeel.

"Yes, anyway. Captain Swann?"

Elizabeth spoke. "Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn...we're at war."

Sri Sumbhajee stood up. "And so we shall go to war.", he said in a very high pitch tone.

The mages were stunned when they heard his voice while everyone then got up and started to yell very determily. Jack turned and went up to Teague.

"What?", said Jack. "You've seen it all, done it all. You survived. That's the trick, isn't it? To survive?"

"It's not just about living forever, Jackie.", said Teague. "The trick is living with yourself forever."

Jack nodded. "How's mum?"

Teague pulled up a small woman's head with sticks criss crossed in her mouth.

Jack looked desturbed and smiled awkwardly. "She looks great."

"I knew you were related.", said Gajeel as he came up to them.

Early in the morning, the group and Jack got up early to repair the ship so that they can find the others. They were told by Jack to find white crabs, which everyone confused. Despite that, they all looked around Port Royal for white crabs. Eventually, they found all they need and return to Jack.

"Aye, that's all of 'em.", he said. "Now, to do my final task. Be back in a trice."

Jack then walked away, leaving the group confused. A while later, Jack came back.

"There mates, Fit to sail any sea.", he said. "Now, Sora, one final inquiry: is there any particular reason you wanted this ship?"

"You're asking that now?", question Lucy.

Sora thought for a moment and then said, "Yeah, to explore the seas, free as the wind."

"Good answer.", said Jack. "You are a pirate… Captain Sora."

"But, Jack...why do you keep saying 'final,' like you're leaving?"

"Ah… It's because this me has run his course, mate."

White crabs then fell off of Jack.

"'This' you?"

Donald then looked at the white crabs moving away, he looked confused.

"Aye, the surrogate me that the goddess of the sea sent here to help you lot."

"I thought you smell different.", said Natsu while Wendy and Laxus agreed with him.

"And you didn't mention it?!", question Lucy.

"Of course, any me is still me.", said Jack. "I may be a duplicatable, but I'm always incomparable. The sea, she smiles upon us, Sora-and let's leave it at that, shall we? For now, the real me has a crucial engagement...at Shipwreck Cove, where the Pirate Brethren will meet Beckett and his lot in battle to win back our freedom."

"Then let us help.", said Sora.

"No, it's for pirates to resolve. But not you, Sora." Jack then started to glow. "You're as free as the winds now, and far you'll go."

Jack's body glow brighter and then he was turned into a bunch of white crabs and they fall on the deck, causing them to scream in fear.

"What the hell?!", shouted Natsu. "He was food this entire time?!"

"You're missing the point!", shouted Lucy.

The crabs then fell off of the deck and into the water while the group watched.

"So, Jack was showin' us the way.", said Goofy.

"Even if he did get tricked.", said Donald.

"Jack… He said it was the pirates' battle to fight.", said Sora. "But a fight for pirates…"

Everyone smiled and shouted in unison, "Is a fight for us!"

"C'mon! Let's find the real Jack!"

"But, where is he?", asked Charle.

"He had it circled on the map.", said Laxus as he was holding it. "I'm pretty sure the others are with him, too."

"Then we need to get going!", said Sora.

Elsewhere, it was dawn and all of the Brethren Court where on their ships, readying for Beckett to come. Suddenly, they all saw a ship approaching from the fog.

"They enemy is here!", a pirate shouted. "Let's take them!"

All of the pirates yelled out as a battle cry as the ship approached them. But they then stop yelling as dozens of ship approached them, causing everyone to lower their weapons and became cautious.

Jack smiled nervously. "Parley?", he said.

Listening to Jack, Hector, Elizabeth, the Mages, and Jack agreed to meet with the enemy on an island beach as part of the parley agreement. When they got there, Will, Beckett, and Davy Jones were standing there, waiting for them. Jones was standing in a water bucket. When the mages saw him, they looked grossed out.

"That's Davy Jones?", question Lily.

"Sick.", said Gray.

"Watch your tongue, boy!", said an angry Jones.

"You be the cur that led these wolves to our door.", said Hector to Will.

Cutler spoke. "Don't blame Turner. He was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left."

They all looked at Jack, who looked surprised. "My hands are clean in this.", he said. "Figuratively."

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

"Well spoke. Listen to the tool."

Elizabeth spoke. "Will, I've been aboard the Dutchman. I understand the burden you bear, but I fear that cause is lost."

"No cause is lost if there is but one fool left to fight for it.", said Will.

"If Turner wasn't acting on your behalf, then how did he come to give me this?", asked Cutler as he presented Jack's compass. "You made a deal with me, Jack, to deliver the pirates. And here they are." He then tossed the compass back to Jack. "Don't be bashful. Step up. Claim your reward."

"Your debt to me is still to be satisfied.", said Jones. "One hundred years in servitude aboard the Dutchman. As a start."

"The debt was paid, mate.", said Jack. "With some help."

"You escaped."

"Technically."

"I propose an exchange.", said Elizabeth. "Will leaves with us...and you can take Jack."

Hector, Jack, and the mages looked surprised.

"Done.", said Will.

"Undone.", said Jack.

"Done.", said Cutler.

"Jack's one of the nine pirate lords.", said an angry Hector. "You have no right."

"King.", she responded pridefully.

Jack smiled, took off his hat, and bowed. "As you command, your nibs."

"Blackguard!", shouted an angry Hector as he cut off the jewel piece on Jack's head with his sword. He then grabbed it. "If ye have something to say, I might be saying something as well."

"First to the finish, then?"

Jack and Will switched places with each other. But Jack was moved right next to Jones and he was very uncomfortable while Jones angrily looked at him.

"Do you fear death?", asked Jones.

"You've no idea.", he responded.

Cutler then spoke. "Advise your Brethren, you can fight, and all of you will die. Or you can not fight, in which case only most of you will die."

"We die either way.", said Erza. "I say we fight, and we will win."

"You murdered my father.", Elizabeth growled.

"He chose his own fate.", said Cutler.

"And you have chosen yours. We will fight. And you will die."

"So be it."

"Before we go…", said Gajeel. "I would like to join Jack on the Dutchman."

Everyone looked surprised.

"What?", said Juvia.

"Gajeel!", said Erza.

"Gi hi! It's fine. I got this.", he said. "Lily, you watch over them."

"Alright.", said Lily.

Everyone then left the area, leaving Jack, Cutler, Jones, and Gajeel there.

"Welcome aboard the Flying Dutchman, mister…?", said Jones.

"Gajeel Redfox."

"Well then Redfox. You will be joining Jack in the brig."

"Glad to hear that."

Elsewhere, the group was heading to Shipwreck Cove to meet with the others for the battle. As they were traveling, they entered a fog and Luxord's ship appeared.

"Not him again.", said Happy.

"Luxord!", said Sora.

On his ship, Luxord said, "Ahh, you do know how to make good time. Yes, one must simply marvel at your celerity. But, such compulsive behavior is eventually going to bring you nothing but sorrow."

He then snapped his fingers, and a few ships appeared in front of him while he was leaving.

"Lost him again.", said Sora.

"How are we gonna go after him?", wondered Goofy.

"First, get those Heartless!", shouted Donald.

"Right!", everyone said.

On the Dutchman, Jack and Gajeel were sitting in a cell while the crew was getting ready for the war.

I came on here so that I can get that heart for Jack. Once he has it, this whole thing will end.

He then heard Jack talking to himself, making him sigh with annoyance.

That is if he can stop being crazy...