Ashley's eyes fluttered open as she struggled to regain consciousness. Her anklet that she used in the small hole was laying by her side. She scooped it up and replaced it on her ankle, and sat up. ~*Where am I? What happened? Oh . . . my . . . God . . .*~ She was in some sort of cavern, and it had more treasure in it than she had ever seen in her life. The floor was carpeted by gold and silver coins, and mountains of jewels lined the walls. Statuettes and figurines lay in different places, crowns and gem encrusted goblets lay strewn about the place. Ashley walked around in a daze, thinking that she was dreaming. Her ship had never had this much treasure, it had never even had half of it. Ashley was in awe, ~*one handful and I'd be richer than any other king in the world.*~



Her job was done, she had located the treasure. Deciding to insure herself more time to live, she looked for an expensive piece of jewelry, to show Wesset that she had, indeed, found the treasure. Deciding to pick up a necklace with a single sapphire on a silver chain, she stooped down, and put it on her neck. ~*Now it's time to leave.*~ She went to the back of the cave, and realized it was only a dead end.



~*Where do I go now?*~ Ashley went back to where she had awoken and tried pressing herself against the wall. ~*It's not working. So that means I'm trapped here.*~ Sighing, she dropped onto a rock and put her chin in her hands. ~*I'm not going to be stuck here, not on this miserable island. I'm going to find a way out, and then we'll make it back to the ship.*~ Her brow furrowed as she tried to recall what had happened. ~*First I was sucked into the wall, then I ended up here . . .*~ Pounding her fist into the rock she grumbled,



"This is making no sense!" Her fist was bloody from the pounding on the rock. She didn't care that it didn't help, she just like the feeling of her fist hitting into something over and over again. After about a minute of this, she felt a jolt, and the rock moved. Bending closer to it, she decided to hop off of it, and tried pushing it forward. As the rock began moving forward, she saw a small pool of water come into view. ~*Why is it always water?*~ And without another thought, she plunged into the narrow pool, and allowed herself to sink to its bottom.



It was like an underground passage, it led her downward, until her feet were able to graze the muddy bottom. Then it curved upwards, and she could see dapples of sunlight. Breaking gently through the tranquil surface, her two brown orbs peered above the water, and scanned her surroundings. She was in an entirely new area of the island, that much she could tell. Making sure that there were no men in sight, she climbed out of the small hole, and pulled herself onto dry land. ~*Where am I? How far am I away from Wesset and the crew? And the Black Pearl? Has Jack done it yet?*~



Questions flew around her head in an endless stream that resulted in a dull headache. She would have preferred to sit and sort everything out, but then remembered the time limit Wesset had setup.



~*If only I could get him away from the crew. Get him and his men to move so I could lead an escape.*~



She wracked her brain, trying to come up with a plan. After many minutes, with no ideas, Ashley collapsed in a frustrated heap on a rotting log. Absently staring at one of her boots, she allowed her mind to drift. After a short time, she stood up and began walking to where, she hoped, was the other end of the island. Ashley had a plan, and all she needed to do, was hoped it worked.



~~**~~



They stood there for what felt like hours. Will watched the water nervously, and waited for Ashley to return. When the golden light had first shone from the pool, almost everyone was certain that soon, Ashley would emerge, with arm loads of treasure and riches.



But she didn't come.



Wesset had watched with eyes full of lust and desire at the water, until he could take no more. He had turned away, and angrily stabbed one of Jack's crew.



"Where is she?" He growled, as the man slumped in front of him, and then lay crumpled at his feet. Wesset began to mutter things to himself, and Will thought he was mad.



"Sir, why don't you send someone in after 'er?" One of the younger men suggested.



"Sounds like a plan . . ." Wesset grinned, and then slashed him. "Tell us what yeh see then!" Laughing insanely, he shoved the bleeding man into the water. Will watched horrified as he sunk below the surface. ~*He's lost his mind. He's gone crazy with his obsession of this treasure.*~



Will's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden cry.



"I've got it! I've got the treasure! I've got the . . ."



The shout was never finished because at that moment a loud explosion rocked the island, and Wesset, with a horrified expression, ordered the crew to follow him.



~~**~~



What was that? Ashley had been shouting at the top of her lungs, preparing to put her plan into effect, when all of a sudden, a cannon ball had narrowly missed her, and went shooting by her. Startled, she had ducked down, and watched as another one hit the sand in front of her. ~*What in the bloody hell? What's 'appened on the Fang?*~



Branches began breaking behind her, and Ashley ducked herself even further to avoid being seen. She watched as Wesset's men sprinted past her hiding spot. Letting out a sigh of relief, she got up, and started running in the opposite direction. ~*This is good. I think this new plan is going to work much better. The crew will have had a chance to escape, and then we can help take over The Savage Fang.*~



~~**~~



Jack's plan had worked perfectly. Without much trouble, the guards had been taken care of. There were casualties, but nothing that the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow couldn't handle. He was surveying his new ship when Gibbs approached him.



"Cap'n. Seems there's another ship coming 'round the island. We should set sail soon, 'less we want to fight another ship."



Jack's kohl-lined eyes scanned the beach, searching for a female and male swimming back to the ship. When he saw no one, he mumbled to Gibbs,



"We set sail in five minutes. No more, no less. And raise this flag, Gibbs." Jack tossed the other man the red material Ashley had given him only hours ago.



Gibbs left Jack's side and repeated the order to the crew. Jack remained at the edge of the ship for only a moment, before turning his back on the island.



~~**~~



Ashley tore down a path, hoping to find her way back to the ship. She heard people following her, but refused to stop. She wasn't sure if Wesset's men had seen her, or if she was simply going insane. Leaping over some shrubbery, she managed to clear the bush without falling. She heard gunshots behind her, heard screams and shouts. ~* I still don't understand what's going on.*~ The screams faded, as she continued running.



"Argh!" Surprised at the sudden pain, a shower of tiny pebbles pelted her skin, she continued running as more explosions went off around her. She wasn't sure if it was gunfire missing her, or more random cannonballs, but nothing stopped her. ~*Faster!*~ Finally she reached the edge of the beach. Just as she waded into the shimmering water she turned around. ~*Did everyone make it? I can't be the last one. I was alone though. They probably escaped before me.*~ Turning back to The Savage Fang, Ashley began swimming into the water. ~*The signal is up, guess everything's okay.*~ The usual black flag was down, and a red one was replacing it. Ashley continued to swim, even as her muscles became more sore and tired as time wore on. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to keep going, to not stop. And it was a good thing that she did not stop, because with all the noise and cannon fire, she didn't know that two boats were rowing behind her, and were catching up quickly.



Unaware of the oncoming danger, Ashley continued to make her way toward the ship. Just as she was almost there, she felt something whiz by her head. ~*What in the bloody hell . . .*~



"No . . ." Before she could say anything else, another bullet came at her. Narrowly missing her shoulder, the shot went by in a blur. Quickly diving below the surface, she began swimming again, and only coming up for air when her lungs felt ready to burst. ~*I've got to get someone onboard to see me. I need a rope or something lowered down, fast.*~ Resurfacing, she tried to yell to the crew, but it was impossible over the noise. ~*Shit I'm doomed I'm doomed I'm doomed!*~



~~**~~



"Five minutes is up, sir." Gibbs was once again, standing behind Jack, awaiting new orders.



"How far away is the other ship?"



"It's getting much closer, yeh can see it comin' 'round the bend o' the island." Jack squinted, and saw the approaching vessel, which was continually firing cannon balls at the beach.



Jack sighed, her plan had worked for everyone but her and Will. ~*That's why she ain't a pirate. Too damn noble . . .*~ It was a shame to leave her on the island, but there was the code to consider. Looking down into the water he noticed the two boats getting closer to his newly acquired ship. ~*Better set sail before . . . hello, what *are* they doing?*~ The people in the boats were now aiming their pistols at the water, and firing many shots. Suddenly something shot up out of the water and then went back down just as quickly.



" Wait, Gibbs. I see her." Glancing back at the water, he waited for her to resurface. In about thirty seconds time, the head came up again. This time she waved her arms frantically at the ship, until a bullet barely missing her, forced her back down. Grabbing a rope, Jack began lowering it down to where Ashley was swimming to.



~~**~~



Instantly she saw the rope and began forcing her burning muscles to push on. It was dangling in front of her, and she was only a few feet away from it. ~*Come on, keep going! Will's probably on the other end holding the rope. Wait . . . Jack?!*~ Trying not to look surprised as she grabbed onto the end of the rope, she began to pull herself up. Jack did his best to help, grabbing the rope and tugging backwards. Just as she was within reach of the deck's edge, a bullet hit the side of the ship, startling her. It was at that moment that she let go of the line, and Jack leaned over, barely managing to catch both of her wrists in his hands.



They both knew she was capable of climbing up herself, but something stopped her.



"Jack! Where's Will? And the others?" She screamed over the continuing noise of cannon fire and gunshots.



"What?! 'ow can yeh be thinking like that at a time like this?" Another bullet whizzed by the girl's head.



"They didn't make it did they?!" Her voice was barely audible over the noise.



"No, nobody did!" ~*Can't she just shut up and climb already? I can't hold her forever, she ain't exactly a twig.*~



"So yeh're plannin' on leavin' 'em here?!"



"Pirate's code! Now climb up, lass."



Ashley was considering what Jack was saying. Maybe she would have climbed aboard and forgotten the entire thing, had it not been for what happened next. She was digging her nails into his hands and sleeves to pull herself up. And just as she was halfway there, his right shirt sleeve was torn back by her grip, his pirate brand exposed. Looking down at it, she froze. Jack noticed her change and looked at her face. It had changed from desperation, to determination.



"I'm not a pirate." And saying that she looked up at Jack, she gave him a solemn look, almost as if it was a goodbye. Before Jack even realized what she had done, she had let go, and with a soft splash, landed back into the water.



A/N: Review or I swear upon pain of death, this story will end . . . MWAHAHAHAHA! SO REVIEW DAMN YOU! REVIEW!!!!