Eleven . Three Birds with One Stone

"It's the Swann," Jack yelled above the noise to India, who stood beside him.
"I think we were safer below deck!" she shouted back, as men fought all around them, thankfully absorbed in their own battles and paying them little heed.
"Go free the rest of our crew," he told her, "They're likely in the brig."
Instead of questioning him, she nodded, and turned to vanish below deck in search of her crew. Jack dodged a stray sword edge, hurrying away from the man who held it. Another man decided to cross swords with him. "Look," he began, "I don't want to have to hurt you." The other man didn't seem to care. "Fine," Jack continued, fighting harder and backing the man to the edge of the boat. As another cannon rocked the ship, the man plummeted backwards over the railing. "Sorry," Jack said, and turned to fend off another attacker.
Amidst the confusion, Jack recognized two people. One was Hawke, who had desisted from yelling orders and was busily fighting for his life - against Will. Jack wondered briefly whether Hawke was any match for Will, and then whether Will still practiced three hours a day in order to 'kill pirates should he meet any.'
Jack Sparrow carefully picked his way over to where the two were fighting.
"Will!" he called.
Will looked over briefly, while still fighting with Hawke. "Jack! Nice to see you."
Jack watched for a moment, not wanting to distract his friend. "Need any help?" he asked.
"Yes," Hawke replied, thrashing his sword against Will's.
"You do, or Will does?" Jack asked after a moment. "Not that I'd offer you any," he continued.
"Thanks," both Will and Hawke replied sarcastically between the clanking of metal.
Jack sighed. "I meant Hawke, son," he informed Will. "Oh, by the way, did you show up especially for us or was there some other reason?"
Will seemed a little irritated. "Look, Jack. If you're not going to be of any help, would you keep quiet so that I can fight?"
"Oh, yes, certainly. Sorry." Jack intervened, taking over from Will, who appeared thankful to have a break. Jack and Captain Hawke travelled across the deck, fending each other backward in uneven turns.
"Any astounding last comments you'd like to make, Thomas?" Jack asked.
"I was going to ask you the same thing."
"Hmm, not at the moment."
"All right then, same here."
They fought some more.
"When are you going to give up?" Hawke wondered.
"Tired?" Jack asked. "Me too. Will?" he called. Will Turner took over swordfighting again, giving new energy to the fray.
"Thanks," Jack said.
"Not a problem," Will replied.
India emerged with the rest of her crew. As her men spread out to fight Hawke's shipmates, she hurried over to Jack and Will. "Jack," she called. He spun around.
"India," he acknowledged her with a smile.
Will and India's crews were gaining the upper hand in the general situation. Most of Hawke's men had either been slain or had jumped overboard. The few who were left were being taken care of. Some had thrown down their weapons in plea. The cannons stopped firing, and the overall noise level had dropped considerably.
"I have a question, Thomas," Jack began. "Are you going to surrender anytime soon?"
"Never!" Hawke replied defiantly. "Why?" he asked. Will backed off a little to give the man time to think.
"The rest of your crew doesn't seem to share the same sentiment," India observed.
Hawke slowly lowered his weapon. "And if I choose to stop fighting?" he asked, still on guard.
Jack, India, and Will all looked at each other.
"I suppose we could drop you off at the nearest island," Jack said after some consideration.
"Or we could kill you," India added. "I'm sure no one would mind watching as we slit your throat."
"I might," Jack said squeamishly. The others turned to look at him. "Just kidding," he tried. They continued to stare. "Honestly!" he insisted. As much as he liked to pretend otherwise, he didn't particularly like the sight of blood. "What are we going to do about Hawke?" he reiterated. They turned back to face the other pirate.
"Tell ye what," Hawke said, backing up. "I'll go. You'll see naught of me again, I promise ye." Hawke stood against the railing and glanced behind him, readying himself to jump.
Will stepped forward, but not in time. Captain Hawke had plummeted over the side of the ship. Will shouted after him, but Jack reached out a hand to hold him back.
"Let him go," Jack said. They watched him struggle to swim away from the ship. "If he manages to swim ashore, let's hope he keeps his word. Hawke is one bird I'll be happy never to see again."
"Elizabeth!" Will breathed. He dashed back towards the Renegade Swann, bounding across one of the planks set between the two ships. Jack and India tottered across after him.
"'Bird' I suppose is what reminded him," Jack said to her.
"But what if Hawke finds the treasure?" India asked, still worrying.
"Then he finds the treasure. What could he do with it all? There's enough to last him a lifetime, even if it were shared a hundred ways!" he assured her.
India reached in her pocket, digging out several gold coins from her stash. "We can get more when we need it, can't we?" she asked.
"Certainly," he replied. "It was a very pretty island, and I wouldn't mind visiting it again. Let's give it a couple months though. Then maybe the bodies will be cleared away."
"Eew," India said, scrunching her face in disgust.
Jack grinned and set his hand on her back to lead her after Will. "Let's go see how our mate's doing," he suggested.
They found Will and Elizabeth below deck in her cabin with their arms wrapped around each other. When Jack and India entered, the other two turned to look.
"Jack Sparrow!" Elizabeth exclaimed, then looked to Will.
"Isn't it an odd coincidence that he was aboard the ship with Hawke," Will asked.
"Very," Elizabeth replied, looking questioningly at Jack. "Aren't you going to tell us a story?" she inquired.
Jack looked at India. Would they share the secret? "Of course," he began.
India cut in. "The island that you dropped us on happened to be the island where the treasure was hidden," she said.
"Really?" Will asked, surprised.
"Really," Jack repeated. "When we came across you, we were in actual fact leading Hawke away from the island so that he wouldn't discover that for himself."
"Oh," Will said. "Sorry about marooning you and all," he continued apologetically. "I would like to say I had it all planned out so that you could get the treasure while I went to find some cannon balls to defend it with ."
"But you didn't," Jack finished.
Will shook his head. "No."
"Why did you go to get cannons?" Jack asked.
"Actually," he began, "It was because Hawke stayed behind. I was hoping to give him a good fight, then maybe I wouldn't have to pay him. It happened to be a good opportunity to find arms - while he was distracted with you."
"Glad we could be of service," India said dourly.
"I have a question," Jack stated.
"Yes?"
"Why were you flying the Union Jack?" he wondered.
"Oh," Will said. "I figure it's safer that way. The Brits don't give you as much trouble."
"That's clever," India said.
"Especially if you haven't got any cannons," Jack added. "However, when you didn't have weapons, you were flying the Roger ."
"Looks more menacing. Scares other pirates away," Will explained.
"Right," Jack said.
"Sounds crazy," Will admitted, "But it works."
Everyone smiled at each other in silence.
Jack cleared his throat. "I believe I'll be commandeering Hawke's boat, if no one has another use for it or otherwise objects?" he declared.
"Go ahead."
"Are you going to be heading back to Tortuga then?" Jack asked.
Will shook his head. "We picked up what provisions we needed along with the cannon balls. We were actually headed for Madagascar," he informed them.
"That's quite a way to travel," Jack observed, "Even with fair winds. Any particular reason to go to Madagascar?" he asked.
Will and Elizabeth exchanged glances. "It's where he wanted to go for our wedding," Elizabeth said with a sly smile.
"I thought we had decided that was going to be our honeymoon," Will countered.
"You're getting married?" India asked.
"God willing," Will replied with a touch of pride.
There was a pause.
"Did you want a best man?" Jack asked. "I would offer to hitch you up, but the powers of Captain of the ship were bestowed upon me by - well - me, so I think ye might want something a little more legally binding?"
Will nodded. "Despite the fact that I'm a pirate and all."
"I'd settle for nothing less," Elizabeth added, still in Will's arms. India stood several paces away from Jack, who stood next to the doorway.
"We were headed for Port Royal," Will continued.
"My father wanted to be there," Elizabeth explained, "And he's granted us leave to hold the festivities in the town."
"Ah yes, the governor," Jack said. "I suppose Norrington will be there too?"
Elizabeth groaned. "More likely out hunting pirates," she said.
"Ah. Well then. What say you I lay low for the ceremony, and join you mates for the after-party?" Jack suggested. Will smiled. "Agreed." "You wouldn't want to sail with us to the island first?" Jack asked. "There's a lot of treasure to be had." "I was never in this for treasure," Will shook his head. "You were the one who stole my ship. And now that I don't have to repay Hawke, I've no use for the gold." They looked at each other. "I'll give ye the directions," Jack said. "Thanks." The four left the cabin and headed above deck. Everything had calmed, and the two crews were working to clean up the ships.
"So you finally found yourself a bird," Jack commented. Elizabeth smiled patronizingly, still not at all certain about Jack Sparrow, one way or the other.
"Two," Will said, referring to Jack. "It's good to see you again after all this time."
"Three if we want to count Hawke," India piped in. They all looked over at her. "Well, his name is bird-related too," she insisted.
"It's a mad, mad world," Jack agreed with a smile.
Will, Elizabeth, Jack and India faced each other. There was so much to say but no one could find the right words.
"With any luck, we'll see you shortly," Will said.
The crews divided. Jack and India waved goodbye, and headed for Hawke's ship. There were still a few matters to straighten out.