Good Afternoon gentle reader.

Cast of thousands: Oh god, she's having Charles Dickens delusions now.

Me: (ignoring them) If you happened to glance at the update date, you may well be wondering why I'm writing this on Christmas day. The truth of the matter is that I'm avoiding My Fair Lady which is on TV. I really hate that film. Apologies to anyone who likes it, I'm sure it is an excellent film with multiplitious merits but ... I really hate that film.

By the way, I got the Pirates of the Caribbean DVD for Christmas. But while I own a copy of said film, the characters and setting etc do not belong to me. Savvy? I own a poster now too if that helps.

Cast of thousands: It doesn't. And aren't you supposed to be writing a story?

Me: Ah yes, I remember. As ever, thank you for all reviews. Also, thanks for the reviews for that scribble I wrote yesterday, 'Jack's Christmas lunacy' I'm glad people seemed to like it. I mention it because I know some people who reviewed it review this, I recognised some of the names I recognise, savvy?

Cast of thousands: No. Get on with it.

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Will ran back on deck, closely followed by Elizabeth who was only wearing one shoe; the other was clutched tightly in her hand.

"What is it, Jack?" she asked, breathlessly. He was still standing stock still, staring out to sea.

"It's the Black Pearl." He answered. Elizabeth squinted in the direction that he was looking. She could see a ship, but it was too far away to make out any details.

"How can you tell?" she asked, sharply.

Jack looked round at her. "She's my ship." He answered simply.

"What are we going to do?" Will asked. "I mean, now that we've found her." They had never actually discussed this far ahead.

Jack's eyes were once again upon his ship. "Follow 'er." He waved his arms. "Circumspec'ly." Elizabeth and Will exchanged glances.

"Uh, Jack?" Will began. "The Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean. How can we follow her?"

"You don't need to tell me that the Black Pearl is the fastest ship in these waters. But, I think we may have a chance." He frowned. "She's low in the water, listing slightly. Won't be making very good time. We can keep her in sight, I think. And she'll be making for Enner's Cove."

"How do you know?" Elizabeth asked.

"It's the closest point that you can repair a damaged ship and not be seen." A sudden realisation struck. "Those idiots damaged my ship!"

They made good time, following the Pearl. Jack was careful to always stay well behind, and to change direction often, so that it wouldn't be obvious to anyone watching from the other ship that they were following.

Elizabeth watched Jack, pacing around the deck, swearing bloody revenge on whoever had been careless with his beloved Pearl. He had been doing that for two days now, and it was getting annoying to say the least. She wondered if the ship really was his only concern and if so, how could anyone be so selfish. But then, she remembered that she had thought that before, and been proved wrong. Maybe, attempting to understand Jack Sparrow was a waste of time. Not that that would stop her trying of course.

She stopped watching Jack, and glanced over at Will. He was at the helm, looking like a true pirate, she thought fondly. Their relationship had been a lot simpler over the last few months, with no distractions, well except Jack. And he, of course didn't disapprove of them in the slightest. Perhaps it was having another aim to concentrate on - first looking after Jack, then helping him get his ship back. Or perhaps it was being away from society and from Will working all day in the Blacksmith's, not that Jack didn't keep them both busy. Either way, they could talk comfortably now, like they had in the first glorious year after they had become engaged. Will was once again her best friend. And all seemed right with the world. Except the small matter of how they were going to get Jack's ship back. She really didn't have a clue if the eccentric Captain even had a plan.

As a matter of fact, Jack did have a plan. Just not a very complete one. He planned to follow the Pearl until it stopped, then see what was going on. Detailed scheming was all very well, but sometimes you couldn't beat improvisation for results. If you didn't know what you were going to do, how could anyone else? Unpredictability, Jack thought, was always the best plan.

It was just before dawn on the third day when the island came into view. It was considerably larger than the island Jack had been stuck on, but uninhabited. From a distance, they watched the Pearl move in to the cove.

"She'll be there for at least the rest of the day." Jack said confidently. "We can make it in to the other side of the island and walk across. It'll take a while though."

"And then what?" Will enquired.

Jack shrugged. "See what's what. And see what can be done about it."

It was a little after noon when they got close enough to the ship to be able to hear - distantly - shouted commands.

"Alright then." Jack turned to Will and Elizabeth. "Best thing would be, if you stayed here, out of sight, and I walk out up there." He pointed to a cliff above the Pearl. "And see who's got my ship. You won't maybe recognise the crew if it is them, quite a few changes since last time. So stay there and keep out of trouble. That means, don't do anything stupid. Either of you. Savvy?"

They nodded reluctantly, and Jack set about climbing the hill. It was actually fairly tiring and he was a little surprised to notice that his leg was hurting again. He'd almost forgotten that. Best not to start remembering it now. He reached the cliff-top and, keeping low, moved to the edge and peered down.

He immediately recognised the men moving around the ship below him. He stifled a groan. Since realising that Stenson might have lied to him, he had almost believed that he had been wrong, that his crew would never have mutinied. But there they were, working on the ship. They had betrayed him. They hadn't thought him fit to be captain. He wondered, idly, whether it had been Gibbs or AnaMaria who had planned it. Whose hat now lay in the Captains cabin? He didn't see either of them there. He felt tired. He had no idea how to get back his Pearl. He wasn't even sure why he was trying. Perhaps he truly did not deserve her.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was fuming.

"How dare he, I mean, just expecting us to wait here like good little children. Who does he think he is?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow." Will said before he could stop himself. Elizabeth glared at him.

"I know that." She snapped. "But how can he just assume that that means we'll obey his every command. I think we should go and do some investigations of our own. If we stick to that tree line we won't get seen."

She strode off without waiting for an answer. With very little choice, Will ran after her. She was a little way ahead, when they both heard someone moving towards them. It clearly wasn't Jack, the footfalls were too regular for him. Wide-eyed, they took cover, Will among some bushes, Elizabeth behind a tree.

The man came into sight. He was squat and balding and, from his dress, a pirate. He was also heading straight for Elizabeth.

Will inhaled sharply. She would be caught. He couldn't let that happen. Without real conscious thought, he stood up. The rustling he made, alerted the pirate who turned round. The look on the man's face was almost comical. They stood for a second, staring at each other, then, all at once Will turned and ran. He had to lead him away from Elizabeth.

He ran, in and out of the trees, then found himself running along a narrow ledge on the cliff. He could hear the man running along behind him. The pirate yelled out, presumably to the ship, that there was someone here, that they had to make ready for sailing. He was worried in case Will had friends then. Good. Maybe, if he could keep him occupied long enough they would just decide to leave.

All at once, Will came to a sudden stop. He had run out of ledge. He turned round slowly. The pirate came running round the corner, gun drawn and grinned, showing a mouth filled with broken teeth. Will reached for his own gun, too late. The pirate fired.

Will felt a sharp pain and was conscious of falling backwards. He even felt the shock of hitting the water. Then, nothing but blackness.

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Uh, guess that would be a cliffhanger. Not for me, I know what happens next.

Cast of thousands: No you don't.

Me: I do, generally. Anyway, please review on your way out. And happy Christmas.