A/N: Not much to say, besides I'm extremely sorry for the even longer wait.  I seem to get worse every time, don't I? *wince* Anyway, I'm shocked at all the reviews this fic has been getting.  I decided to reply to the reviews, so if you left one last time, be sure to check it out at the bottom of the chapter ^^ Thanks again for everything.  I hope you enjoy this chapter, the good stuff finally begins.  (Thank you to Kayden, and I love you Rachel)

Kayden:  I don't know why I never have anything to say in this little author's note of mine.  Ah well.  Here you all go.  Enjoy!  I worked long and hard on it.  :o)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

By: Savvy Jack Sparrow

-

Will awoke the next morning to find himself sprawled on the ground.  The sun was up and people ran hither and thither trying to repair the damage caused by the attack.  He sat up slowly and winced, gingerly touching his head where he had been hit unconscious.  He stood up and watched two soldiers carry a badly injured man past him.

He ran up the stone steps where Norrington stood engrossed in a map of the Caribbean.  Governor Swann paced around, looking worried while several other guards, including Murtogg and Mullroy, watched, waiting for any orders.

"They've taken Elizabeth!" he cried urgently.

"Mr. Murtogg, remove this man," Norrington said idly without looking up from the map. 

Murtogg made his way briskly over to Will's side and made a grab for the blacksmith's arm.  He moved away quickly when Will jerked his arm out of reach.

"We have to hunt them down, we must save her!"  Will exclaimed, frustrated that no one seemed to be doing anything about the situation.

Governor Swann stopped pacing abruptly and turned around to face Will.  "And where do you propose we start?" he inquired sharply.  "If you have any information concerning my daughter, please, share it!"  He turned his back on them again and continued to stare out to sea.

"That Jack Sparrow…" Murtogg offered hesitantly.  They all looked up at him.  "He talked about the Black Pearl."

"Mentioned it, is more what he did," Mullroy corrected.

Will stepped forward eagerly.  "Ask him where it is. Make a deal with him; he could lead us to it."

"No…" Norrington said, sounding bored as he continued to pore over his map, "the pirates who invaded this Fort left Sparrow locked away in his cell ergo they are not his allies."  He straightened up and looked at the Governor.  "Governor, we will establish their most likely course..."

Will watched Norrington purposely ignore him and stormed forward angrily, slamming his hatchet through the map and into the table.

"That's not good enough!"

Norrington turned to Will, looking slightly perturbed at being interrupted and stared at him coldly.  He pried the hatchet from the table.  "Mr. Turner," he began, as he walked around the table towards Will.  "You are not a military man, you are not a sailor."  He stopped, his face inches from Will's and grabbed his arm, forcibly towing him to the steps.  "You are a blacksmith and this is not the moment for rash actions."  He stared at him a moment to make his point clear, then lowered his voice.  "Do not make the mistake of thinking you are the only man here who cares for Elizabeth."  He handed Will back his hatchet and turned to finish his conversation with the Governor.

Will glared at Norrington's retreating back for a moment before his eyes lit up with a sudden idea.

******

Back in his cell, Jack had resorted to trying to pick the lock with a bone.  "Please…" he muttered encouragingly to the lock.  He heard footsteps coming down the stairs and left the bone, throwing himself down on the floor and trying to look innocent.

Will stopped in front of Jack's cell, a little out of breath.  "You, Sparrow!"

"Aye," he responded, raising his head slightly from the ground to see who was addressing him.

 "You are familiar with that ship, the Black Pearl?"  It was more of a statement than a question.

Jack placed his head back on the ground.  "I've heard of it," he commented casually.

"Where does it make berth?" Will demanded.  He peered through the bars and impatiently put his hands on his hips.

Jack raised his head again.  "Where does it make berth?  Have you not heard the stories?" he asked, astonished that Will didn't know.

Will made no comment.

Taking his silence as a 'no', Jack lay back down.  "Captain Barbossa and his crew of miscreants sailed from the dreaded Isla de Muerta. It's an island that cannot be found except," he glanced up and made a motion with his hand to illustrate his story before continuing, "by those who already know where it is."

Will frowned. "The ship's real enough; therefore its anchorage must be a real place."  He moved closer.  "Where is it?"

Jack studied his nails nonchalantly.  "Why ask me?"

Will gritted his teeth in annoyance and looked down.  "Because you're a pirate."

Jack gave him a cocky smile.  "And you want to turn into a pirate yourself, is that it?"

"Never!" Will growled, gripping onto the iron door fiercely.  He paused and let go of the bars with his right hand, wearing a defeated look.  "They took Miss Swann."

Jack grinned and sat up, lifting both his arms.  "Ah, so it is that you've found a girl," he exclaimed.  "I see.  Well, if you're intending to brave all, hasten to her rescue and so win fair lady's heart…" he shook his head and smiled apologetically, "You'll have to do it alone, mate.  I see no profit in it for me.

Will thought a moment.  "I can get you out of here," he said suddenly.

"How's that?" Jack asked.  "The key's run off."  He motioned down the stairs with his head.

Will stepped back and studied the cell door.  "I helped build these cells," he said, pointing.  "These are half pin-barrel hinges."  He picked up a bench that stood next to the wall and placed the legs under the cell door.  "With the right leverage and the proper application of strength…" Jack tilted his head, watching Will intently.  "The door will lift free."

Jack squinted.  "What's your name?"

"Will Turner."

Jack gazed at him, motionless, for a moment before leaning forward.  "That will be short for William, I imagine."  He looked down.  "Good strong name," he commented and raised his eyes to Will's again with a grin.  "No doubt named for your father, aye?"

"Yes," Will said slowly, narrowing his eyes with suspicion.

"Aha," Jack murmured thoughtfully, before picking himself off the ground.  "Well Mr. Turner, I've changed me mind.  If you spring me from this cell, I swear on pain of death I shall take you to the Black Pearl and your bonny lass.  Do we have an accord?" He inquired, sticking his hand through the squares of the cell door.

Will hesitated for a moment, wondering what exactly he was getting himself into.  He took the offered hand and shook it.  "Agreed."

"Agreed," Jack repeated.  "Now get me out!" he said, motioning with his hands.

Will braced his foot against the bench and pulled down, lifting the door off its hinges.  He threw the bench and door to the ground.  A loud, echoing clang emanated around the stone prison.  "Hurry, someone will have heard that."

Jack jumped out of the cell and moved towards the wall that was holding his pistol, sword and compass.  "Not without my effects!"

******

They ran through ankle deep water and flattened themselves against the wall beneath a bridge, surveying the ships that sat in the harbor.

"We're going to steal a ship?"  Will asked, following Jack's gaze.  "That ship?" He glanced at the Dauntless with growing trepidation.

"Commandeer," Jack corrected.  "We're going to commandeer that ship."  He pointed to the Interceptor.  "Nautical term."

They watched a line of British soldiers boarding the Interceptor.  Jack turned to Will, looking serious.

"One question about your business boy, or there's no use going. This girl, how far are you willing to go to save her?"

"I'd die for her," Will responded, without hesitation.

"Oh, good," Jack smiled, turning back to the ships.  "No worries then."

Will cocked his head and stared at Jack curiously.

******

A group of soldiers ran past a cluster of small rowboats.  Once they were out of earshot, the boat lifted to reveal two pairs of legs that hurried into the water at a crouch.

"This is either madness or brilliance," Will remarked, as they walked along the sandy bottom of the harbor, breathing the pocket of air between the water and the boat's bottom.

"It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide," Jack smirked.

Will accidentally stepped in a lobster crate as they made their way to the Dauntless.  He attempted to walk and shake his foot to free himself at the same time, but failed.  At the surface, a small barrel that was tied to the crate and acted as a buoy bobbed along, catching the attention of a young black boy who was fishing off the dock.

They climbed up the Dauntless and crawled over the railing of the huge ship.

Jack trotted swiftly down the steps with his pistol in hand.  "Everyone stay calm, we are taking over the ship," he announced loudly.

Will jumped over the railing and stood boldly next to Jack with his sword drawn.  "Aye, avast!"

The men laughed.  Jack turned to glare at Will, who gave a slightly sheepish look in return.

Gillette strode over and scoffed imperiously, "This ship cannot be crewed by two men. You'll never make it out of the bay!"

Jack pointed his pistol at Gillette 's nose and cocked it.  "Son, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow... Savvy?"

******

Several sailors wended their way up the ramp carrying barrels and crates onto the Interceptor.

One of the navy officers paused in his work, noticing Gillette and his men in a small boat madly waving their arms.  "Commodore!"

Norrington looked up from his papers and immediately took out his spyglass.

"Sir, they've taken the Dauntless! They've taken the ship!" Gillette shouted, pointing frantically at the large ship.  "Sparrow and Turner, they've taken the Dauntless!"

Norrington turned his gaze to the Dauntless, where he could see Will holding onto several ropes while Jack threw up his arms repeatedly as if motioning for Will to hoist the ropes. 

"Rash Turner, too rash."  He lowered his spyglass.  "That is without doubt the worst pirate I have ever seen."  He shut it with a snap and turned to board the Interceptor.

******

Will ran up to Jack when he noticed the Interceptor set sail.  "Here they come."

Jack held his pistol over his shoulder and glanced at the ship coming their way.  He grinned.

******

"Bring her around, bring her around!"  Gillette shouted to his men, not wanting to miss out on the second capture of Jack Sparrow.

Norrington and his men boarded the Dauntless, some swinging on ropes while others walked over on a board that was laid across the railings of the two ships. 

Jack and Will were nowhere to be seen.

"Search every cabin, every hold, down to the bilges!"

While the search commenced, Jack and Will swung across to the Interceptor unnoticed.  Will went by and pulled out his hatchet, cutting loose all the ropes connecting the ships.  They began to sail away as the board fell into the sea.

Norrington halted abruptly upon hearing the sound of cracking wood.  "Sailors, back to the Interceptor! Now!" he shouted, his voice rising with panic.

"Quickly men!" another sailor said. 

But they were too late.  The one sailor that did attempt the swing across quickly found himself bobbing in the ocean.

Jack stood at the helm of the Interceptor and swept off his hat with a flourish.  "Thank you, Commodore, for getting us ready to make way. We'd have a hard time of it by ourselves!"

Soldiers rushed to the railing and began firing at the Interceptor with their rifles.  Will and Jack ducked to avoid being hit.

"Set top sails and clear up this mess," Norrington ordered to one of the officers, walking briskly away.

The officer hurried to follow.  "With the wind a quarter astern, we won't catch them."

Norrington stopped and turned to face him.  "We don't need to catch them just get them in range of the long nines."

The officer hesitated, and then turned to yell out the orders.  "Men, come about! Run out the guns!"  He lowered his voice.  "We open fire on our own ship, sir?"

"I'd rather see her at the bottom of the ocean than in the hands of a pirate," Norrington replied, with an edge of contempt.

"Commodore, he's disabled the rudder chain, sir!"

"Abandon ship!" Gillette screamed, as the Interceptor bore down on them.  They jumped out just before the ship minced the small boat, sending the pieces churning underneath.

Norrington closed his eyes and flinched as he watched Gillette's boat being torn apart.

The navy officer gazed out into the horizon where the Interceptor was rapidly vanishing and shook his head slightly.  "That's got to be the best pirate I've ever seen."

"So it would seem," Norrington said, narrowing his eyes.

******

Will was sharpening his sword aboard the Interceptor, talking to Jack who didn't really seem to be listening.  "When I was a lad living in England, my mother raised me by herself.  After she died, I came out here, looking for my father."  He glanced up at the pirate, waiting for a reaction.

"Is that so?"  Jack muttered distractedly, tending to his own business.

"My father, Will Turner," He said, standing up and sheathing his sword.  "And in jail it was only after you learned my name that you agreed to help," Will continued, trailing after Jack.  "Since that's what I wanted, I didn't press the matter."

Jack knelt down and readjusted a rope without answering. 

"I'm not a simpleton, Jack.  You knew my father."

The pirate stood up and faced will.  "I knew 'im.  Probably one of the few that knew him as William Turner, everyone else just called him Bootstrap, or Bootstrap Bill."

"Bootstrap?"  Will asked, bewildered.

Jack jumped down to the wheel of the ship and threw off the rope that was holding it steady.  "Good man, good pirate."  He turned to Will.  "I swear, you look just like him."

"It's not true," Will denied, with a hint of warning in his voice.  "He was a merchant sailor; a good, respectable man who obeyed the law."

Jack rolled his eyes and gripped the wheel with one hand, swinging back around to look at Will again.  "He was a bloody pirate, a scalawag."

"My father was not a pirate," Will insisted, unsheathing his sword.

Jack tilted his head back slightly and sighed.  "Put it away, son. It's not worth you getting beat again."

"You didn't beat me; you ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd killed you," Will snapped, glaring at the pirate's back.

Jack smirked.  "Then that's not much incentive for me to fight fair then, is it?"  He turned the wheel sharply so that one of the sails moved out and the yard caught Will in the stomach, dangling him over the ocean.  He picked up Will's sword and sauntered over to the railing where the blacksmith was struggling to hang on.  "Now as long as you're just hanging there, pay attention."

Will fought for a better hold.

"The only rules that matter are these: what a man can do, and what a man can't do," Jack announced.  "For instance – you can accept that your father was a pirate and a good man or you can't.  But pirate is in your blood, boy, so you'll have to square with that someday.  And me, for example, I can let you drown but I can't bring this ship into Tortuga all by my onesies, savvy? So... "  He turned the wheel in the opposite direction and the beam swung back into place, dropping Will on the deck.  Jack walked up to him with the sword pointed.  He flipped it and caught it by the blade, and offered it to Will. "Can you sail under the command of a pirate, or can you not?"

"Tortuga?" Will asked, accepting the sword.

"Tortuga," Jack replied, with a smile.

******

Hoped you enjoyed the chapter.

Now, for the Review Replies...:

Thanks for the reviews, everyone.  I appreciate them so much. *hugs all of you* I decided to start answering all of the reviews after discovering that it feels quite good to have the author respond ;-D These are all written by me (Savvy Jack Sparrow) but please keep in mind that Kayden also helped write with me, so the reviews are more directed to the both of us =)

Kayden Eidyak – For some reason, I have the slightest feeling that you're being sarcastic again.  But I'll ignore that for the time being and say thanks for everything.  We really do make quite the team and now that you have the makings, write away!

sparrow-fan – I love the next scene too!  Thanks for commenting.

SubZero – I agree with you regarding the lack of Pirates of the Caribbean merchandise out there.  It's depressing, really.  And out of the two things they have out, only the soundtrack is worth buying.  In fact, the soundtrack is more than worth buying.  It's brilliant.

TheRabidMuFFiN – Like your name *smile* It's very unique.  I'm also wondering why there isn't an Adult Novelization or whatever out there.  I would definitely buy it, among thousands of other fans.  That's partially why I decided to write this.  Yes, send all your thanks to Kayden!  *grin*

hollow-ambitions – Wow, it took me about four tries to convince Microsoft Word that your name wasn't capitalized.  Thanks for the fav and I'm so glad that you're enjoying it so far.  I hope you like this chapter also.

Terriah – Sorry for the long wait, here's more for you.  Thanks.

kylie – I'm glad you think my storybook paraphrase turned out extremely good.  *smile* Thanks for your review.

Marggie – More for you, thanks.

J. Liha – So you think the swordfight was okay, then? Thanks so much, I really appreciate that.  I hope I'm not completely ruining the movie, I'm so happy you're enjoying reading.

Aye Mate – I cringe every time I read a badly written, grammatically incorrect fanfic.  So, to prevent that, I got myself a beta who calls herself a grammar freak ;-D *hugs Kayden* Thanks for your comment.

Aithne – Oh yeah, right.  *rolls eyes* I bet you're despising my story but just can't tell it to my face!  Thanks anyway.  *glomp* I love ya, and I'll definitely keep that in mind, GIBBS.

Meee – Aww, thanks =) That brought a smile to my face.  I hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter as much as you did the others.

Elizabeth – December 2nd!  Only... four months to go.  *unsure whether to be happy or sad* Count the days with me!  Anyway, thanks for the review.  Sorry for the long wait.

AliciaF – When?  Right... now! *lame grin*

clare – Glad you're liking my fic.  Here's your next chapter.

Jenna – You flatter me, really you do ^^ Thanks for the kind review.

jay – Here's the next chapter, thanks for commenting.

Gjinka Renamon – Woah, what a name.  Reminds me of DBZ or some anime like that ^^;; I'm happy you're liking this.  Next chapter here.

Anonymous – I didn't know so many people liked the next scene so much!  Although I shouldn't be one to talk, I like every single scene in the entire movie.  Here's the update.

Kristy – Thanks =)

Kheleksul – Awesome name.  That's Elvish for "icy wind" or something, right?  Gotta love the Tolkien.  I tried to learn Quenya and Sindarin once and failed miserably.  Anyway, thanks for the review and the favorite.  I'd love to see some of your work, just drop me an email and I'll be the first to review.

Liliann – Oh, me too!  It's so cute.  Jack Sparrow is the best.  I tried as fast as I could, though it still took a week.  Sorry

Tiffany – Wow, thanks for all four of your reviews.  I'm not sick of you, of course not, why would I be?  I love getting feedback.  If you want, I can email you whenever I update, I'm doing that with another person already.  Just bear with your friend, us fencing people can become quite boring once in a while ;-D Once again, thank you for all of the reviews and for letting me know what you like about my story.  I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

******

Please review.