ProChapter Author's Notes: Okay, things start finally happening in this chapter. HURRAH! A little more Jack/Will-ness, but not much yet. Elizabeth finally joins the story. Yadda yadda. Just read, fool! _
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~Chapter Two~
*"Death Isn't Good Enough."*

The sun had risen not too long ago, and Captain Jack Sparrow was behind the wheel with Will at his side once more. The two men had informed the crew of their rescue plan, and they did not agree at first. Once reminded of the treasures hidden inside the island cave, however, they were more than happy to provide the backup their captain had ordered.
For a while, Jack, Will, and the entire crew were fairly silent as Captain Sparrow once again skillfully steered his beloved ship through the perilous passage that had claimed the lives of many sailors and pirates before them.
"Soon enough, young William," Jack spoke, not moving his eyes off of the sea before him, trying to reassure Will. "You'll 'ave your little lass back and it will be all happily-ever-afters from then on, eh?"
Will was silent a moment and gave a grim nod. Jack gave him a questioning look. "Things... haven't been as perfect as I thought they would be." Will admitted after a moment.
"How do you mean?" Jack inquired.
"Well, Elizabeth is so... high class." Will began. "So proper. We never touch, just a rare kiss here and there when no one is watching. It's like we're miles away."
The two were silent a moment more, before Jack grinned wickedly. "Ah, 'never touch'? So I suspect yer still an innocent then, lad?" the pirate laughed. "Or... perhaps a eunuch?" Will scowled.
"I am NOT a eunuch."
"I've seen no proof."
"And you never will."
Suddenly, Jack held his hand out to shush Will. "Quiet, boy." he said. "We're here." Jack ordered the crew to lower the sails and drop the anchor, and the 'Black Pearl' was soon completely stopped.
They were surprised to find that nobody was guarding the entrance to the cave. Jack and Will, swords at their sides and Jack with his now loaded pistol, they slowly began rowing into the cave. Coming up behind them was two more boats of Jack's crew, careful to stay as quiet and out of sight as possible.
Will shivered slightly as he thought about what they might find once the reached the heart of the cave. He slowly turned his eyes to Jack, who seemed completely emotionless as he rowed the boat forward. He took in a deep breath, and until their little boat hit the land, neither of them had spoke.
"Now, boy," Jack whispered to Will as they crept silently onto the rocks. "Keep yer sword in yer hand, and as I asked you the last time we were here... try not to do anything STUPID."
Will nodded. "I remember. 'Wait for the opportune moment'." he quoted the pirate. Jack grinned, pleased at hearing his words come from the boy's mouth. Once the crew had assembled with their weapons at the ready on the rocks and out of sight, Jack nodded toward Will.
The captain and the blacksmith crept silently into the large opening of the cave. It was basically the same, littered with gold and jewels. The only difference was Elizabeth sitting in a corner of the room and a rather uninviting pirate standing in front of her with arms crossed and eyes fixed on Jack and Will, but there was no one else.
"Will! Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed upon seeing them.
"Sparrow and Turner." the pirate spat the names as if they were venom. "So good to see you. Come in, come in." He yanked Elizabeth to her feet and brought his pistol to her temple. "You'll be dropping your weapons now, mates."
Will looked to Jack, and the pirate gave a small nod. They set their swords on the ground. Jack didn't make a move for the pistol in his holster, for it couldn't be seen under his long coat. "Scott." Jack regarded the man.
Scott grinned. "So you remember me then, CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow." he hissed. "You should, after what you DONE to me." He threw Elizabeth to the ground, but kept his gun pointed at her.
"'What I did to YOU?!'" Jack snorted indignantly. "I do believe it was you and the rest of that mutinous crew of scum that betrayed their ol' Cap'n Jack and stuck 'im on an island to die. An' you 'ave the audacity to blame ME for fightin' back at the cursed lot of you? I do believe I 'ad every right to get you all hanged... though apparently they missed one."
"We were going to finally be free." Scott scowled through gritted teeth, obviously not caring about the logic in Jack's statement. "I'll make you pay what you've done to me."
"So you're gonna try to kill me AGAIN, mate?" Jack chuckled. "'Seems you've tried that before... twice, if I'm not mistaken? Three times the charm, is that your plan?"
"Bloody DEVIL." Scott growled. "Death isn't good enough! I will make you pay for the rest o' your days, just like you've done to me. You'll wish for death." Saying that, the man pulled a round, golden object from his pocket. In the middle sat a beautiful pink gem, and on the surrounding gold were inscriptions of a language long gone.
"Ah, you're going to give me a present?" Jack laughed with a sarcastic smile. "Thass a kind gesture, mate! Rather pretty little sparkly, don't ye think, Will?" Will just shifted uncomfortably, worried about where all this was going.
"Fool." Scott sneered. "This is the gem of the sorceress of the sea, Badiva."
"Uh-huh...?" Jack cocked an eyebrow.
"Many years ago," Scott explained. "Badiva's husband betrayed her with her very sister. Badiva became so infuriated with all of mankind that she cast a curse upon this gem, swearing revenge on the men who've hurt her. Any man who the spell is cast upon will be cursed. If the man is submerged in seawater just once after it is cast upon him, the curse will take effect. So far as I know, 'tis irreversible aside from one cure that no man has ever found."
Jack was silent and simply looked at the gem. Finally, he spoke. "And so, let me guess here... you're plannin' on setting a magical hocus-ie pocus-ie on me?" Jack grinned.
"Laugh now." Scott shrugged. "You'll regret it later." Scott held the amulet in front of him, gem pointed at Jack, and began to mumble something in a language none understood. It only took a moment, and Will could swear he saw the gem grow in brightness as he spoke, and then fade to an almost dull red color when he had finished. He also thought he saw a slight tremor occur around Jack, but the pirate seemed not to notice or care.
"That's it then?" Jack asked humorously.
"That's it." Scott said with a grin. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall kill the girl and the lad and let you on your way, Sparrow." Scott aimed his gun straight at Will.
BLAM!
In a fashion quite similar to the fight with Barbossa, Jack had drawn his gun and shot Scott faster than the other pirate could shoot Will. He had got him almost cleanly in the middle of the chest, knocking him over immediately.
As soon as the gunshot was heard, the crew that had been waiting as backup appeared, weapons drawn. "It's taken care of." Jack said to them, and they put down their swords and pistols and inspected the scene.
"Will!" Elizabeth shouted, running up to the blacksmith. "I'm so glad to see you!" She threw her arms around him and the two embraced closely for a moment. She gave him a small peck on the lips.
"I'm so glad you're all right, Elizabeth." Will said, relieved. He brushed a strand of hair from her face as they ended the hug. The young woman turned to Jack.
"Jack Sparrow." she addressed him with a wide smile.
"Thass CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow, luv." the pirate replied with a smirk.
Elizabeth surprised the captain with a hug, but he returned it nevertheless. "Thank you." she said fondly to both men. They both smiled and gave her a nod. After the crew finished gathering whatever treasures they could find from the cave, they set off back toward the 'Pearl'.
Will rowed this time, Elizabeth in the middle of the little boat and Jack in the front, admiring the jewels he had pilfered from the cave. "Jack..." Will began suddenly. "What of the curse?"
"What of it?" Jack chuckled. "It's nothin'." He nonchalantly continued to go through his findings. Elizabeth spoke up, a worried tone in her voice.
"How can you say that after seeing the curse of Barbossa's men?" she asked. "You never know... this could be real trouble." Jack rolled his eyes.
"Don't worry so much. You'll live longer."
The rowboat finally pulled up next to the 'Pearl', and Elizabeth, with a hand on Will's shoulder for support, stood slowly to pull herself on board. She clumsily rocked the boat as she stood.
"Careful, woman!" Jack cautioned her.
"Mr. Sparrow! Do not address me in that manner---" before she could finish, she stepped onto the side of the boat and completely capsized it. The three fell immediately into the water, completely submerging them.
Will helped Elizabeth pull herself onto the upturned boat, and they sputtered and coughed up a fair amount of seawater. A moment later, Jack's hand shot out of the water and he pulled himself beside them. Will and Elizabeth's eyes went wide.
"JACK?!"
The pirate gave them a questioning look. "What is---" he stopped in midsentence upon hearing his voice..., which WASN'T his voice...

PostChapter Author's Notes: YAY! Finally some stuff happened! What happened to Jack? Who or what has he become? Don't you want to KNOW?! Find out next chapter! ^_^ I know, I'm so bad. CLIFFHANGER! I know that it hasn't been that interesting so far, but trust me, I have big plans for this fic and from here on things will get more in-depth. (Oh, and more Jack/Will slashy goodness... LOTS more! ^_~)

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