Chapter 4: The Beginning of the End

A/N: A big huge THANK YOU goes out to my reviewers: Lin, SeaRose, Breeze2, Rizz, Jen17, and Will Turner. I'm glad I can provide you with some entertainment!

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When the Black Pearl landed at Isla de Muerta, three pirates came down to the brig to get Will. He cast a longing look at Elizabeth, clearly worried that this was the last time he would ever see her. Then his eyes darkened and his jaw tightened, his hand moving to grip the handle of his pistol tightly. His weapons were mostly concealed, but easy to get to once the ambush began.

"Shouldn't you take us with us? It's not wise to leave your prisoners unguarded," Carrie said to the pirates.

"Don't worry, poppet, we're leaving two men behind to keep you company," Pintel sneered. She pretended to sigh with relief.

"Oh, good. And here I was worried that we were dealing with stupid pirates. This should make things much more interesting," Carrie muttered, but the pirates weren't listening. They were busy dragging Will off to his death. Or so they thought. . .

I moved to the back of the cell to try to see what was happening through a knothole. I could see the pirates rowing towards shore. By a quick count, I estimated that there were about fifty of them. There were only fifteen of us.

"Should we begin now?" Anamaria asked.

"Wind in the sails! Wind in the sails!" Squawked Cotton's parrot.

"Cotton's right," I agreed. "We should get going as soon as possible. Everyone, get ready to lift the door! 1, 2, heave!"

Everyone tried to act as a lever for the door. Will had showed us how to apply the strength, but nothing was happening for us yet.

"Why isn't it working?" Carrie grunted.

"Because we're going at this from the wrong angle. Don't push up, push up and out," Darla said. Carrie and I were still quite angry at Darla, and were quite unwilling to listen to her, but the rest of the crew tried what she said, and the door sprang free.

"The pirates probably heard that. They're coming now!" Carrie cried. I smacked myself.

"How could we not think of that? Fine, everyone go out the hole in the side. We'll swim to the stern and climb up there," I instructed.

"Can everyone here swim?" Carrie asked. The crew voiced their affirmations, and we all made our way into the other cell, of which the door had been blasted open by a cannon. We climbed through the hole one by one, as quickly as possible, into the murky, ice cold water.

"Darla, where are you?" Carrie cried frantically.

"I'm right behind you," Darla said calmly. Carrie grabbed her.

"Stay with me. Don't let go of me. Mom'll ground me for life if I let you drown," Carrie said.

The water was surprisingly calm as we swam alongside the boat towards the stern. We climbed up easily and landed on deck.

"Arrr, there they are!" one of the guard-pirates growled. They advanced towards us, and we quickly ran to get the lifeboat in position.

"And just what do ye think yer doing?" the other pirate asked us.

"Ye can't outrun the Black Pearl in one of them lifeboats!" the other chuckled.

"Hey, what's that? I think I hear Barbossa calling for you! Yes, I see him, over there!" I said, pointing towards the beach.

"Huh?" the pirates asked stupidly, moving to the side of the boat and peering towards shore.

"Let 'er rip!" Carrie yelled. We let go of the lifeboat and it crashed into the pirates, sending them into Davy Jones' locker in pieces.

We let out a great cheer of celebration.

"Drinks all around!" Jack cried.

"Sorry, Jack, -er, Captain Jack, but the rum is gone," I said.

"Why's the rum gone?" he cried.

"Because our ship, with all your rum on it, was blown up. Come on, let's go save Will!" I yelled. We all got into the lifeboat and began rowing to shore.

"But why's the rum gone?!"

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A/N: Muahahaha. . . I'm so evil. A lovely little cliffhanger for you, eh? Muahahaha. . . I don't like being evil, really I don't, but I have to keep you interested. Next chapter should be up by today, I hope.

Please R/R if you don't completely hate me! Also, keep in mind that constructive criticism is welcomed and appreciated.

-Stacy