DISCLAIMER: I own nothing POTC related except for characters and lines that have not appeared in the movie.
NOTE: This was one of the most difficult chapters to watch. I know it doesn't seem like it, but, trust me. PLEASE REVIEW!
Chapter 12
At The Gates
Hope opened her eyes then quickly shielded them to a blinding white light. When the light dimmed the image before her took the breath out of her. It looked like something from a dream. A smooth and quiet flowing stream ran through fields of pure green grass and flowers of every color surrounded her. The sky was cloudless and the lightest shade of blue she had ever seen. Butterflies lightly danced across the tops of the flowers and birds flew overhead singing to what a glorious day it was. Hope smiled and turned around only to see a sight that was terrifying. The green field stopped and was replaced by a dark and brooding forest. Tall, dead, and straggly trees with a thick canopy. Fog was covering the ground and surrounded the forest. Just looking at it sent chills up her spine.
"Dreadful isn't it?" a female voice came to her. On instinct Hope reached for the sword in her belt but felt nothing. Looking down she saw the only articles she wore were her black boots and trousers, and white shirt. She touched her abdomen and felt nothing. She examined her arms and saw that the wounds she had received were gone.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Hope demanded. As if on cue a circular white orb appeared in front of her. Despite her surprise Hope felt calm and at peace as she looked into the orb. After a few seconds the orb flew back and took the image of a woman who Hope instantly recognized.
"Hello, baby sister." The woman said.
"Catherine?" She only nodded. "Am I dead?
"No. At least not yet. You are at the gates of life and death." Catherine waved her hand and an image of the Black Pearl came into view. Hope saw Jack cradling her with the crew gathered around him. "You're body is still alive but your subconscious and soul are standing here. Your choice will decide your fate."
"My choice?"
"Your body is injured in more ways than a body should be."
"Wait a minute. The prophecy isn't fulfilled yet?"
"No. You must make the choice whether to live or die. If you choose life your soul will return to your body…" Hope cut her off.
"If that's the case then send me back I choose life." Hope said.
"I'm afraid it's not that easy. Your mind chooses life, but your heart is still undecided. If your heart decides that you want life your soul be will sent back, but your heart, will be empty."
"Empty?"
"No feelings. You will become what Draco was." Hope knew.
"If I decide life then my soul is sent back without a heart if the anguished tears of one born into evil and taken out by good are not shed. I will become a black-hearted pirate."
"Yes."
"Well, then I guess one step at a time. How do I choose?"
"Look back on your life and find out who you are."
"That should be easy enough. I already know who I am. I'm Hope Sparrow-Danforth, daughter of Isabelle Danforth and Captain Draco. Wife of Captain Jack Sparrow and mother of Katie Sparrow."
"Yes. But that answer only tells you what you are, not, who you are."
"I don't understand I thought they were the same thing?"
"No. They are completely different. Your mind tells you that, because in your heart you know who you are, but you don't want to accept it as the truth or you haven't realized it. That is what you need found out." Catherine reached out her hand. "Walk with me." Hope took Catherine's hand and just as she did the green field and dark forest disappeared and they were walking through white space. Catherine, with the palm of her hand turned out, waved her arm in front of her. The white space was filled with an abundance of colors. Above them was a black sky dotted in millions of stars.
"Where are we?" Hope asked.
"We are in your mind."
"Interesting. It's more appealing than I would have imagined."
"There are a great many things that we don't see with our eyes that are wonderful and magnificent. But we know they exist. The same holds true for who we are." Hope was silent as she looked around her.
"How do I find out who I am? I think I know but so many things have happened in the past few weeks I don't know anymore."
"Who do you think you are?" Hope clenched her fists.
"A pirate." Catherine sighed a little.
"Blood doesn't affect the truth of who we are. Just because you have pirate blood in you doesn't mean that you are one."
"But I married a pirate. I sail on a pirate ship, with pirates. My father is a pirate and my uncle is a pirate."
"If a man is a minister does that make his wife one? If a woman is a servant does that make her husband one as well?"
"No. But you didn't answer my question completely? How do I find out who I am?"
"That's why I'm here. To guide you." Raising her hands upward colored waves appeared. "Each of us has a destiny that sets us all apart. The path is different for you and me but the journey begins in the heart." Waving her hands the waves turned into images from Hope's past.
"You must go to the present and then go to the past. The road is rocky and the way is far. It's a dangerous trail and a difficult quest. If you want to know who you really are." Images flashed before them. "Let us go to back eighteen years."
An image appeared of Hope when she was thirteen-years-old. Her brown hair was long and curled and she wore a pale blue, lace lined dress. She was standing out at the docks watching the Royal Navy load supplies onto the Interceptor.
"From when you were five years old you were fascinated by pirates and adventures at sea. You spent most of your time gazing out into the harbor, daydreaming."
SCENE CHANGE
Young Hope was still watching them load supplies as a twelve-year-old Elizabeth Swann skipped over to her singing.
"We pillage, we plunder, we rifle and loot. Drink up me hearties yo ho! We kidnap and ravage and don't give a hoot. Drink up me hearties yo ho!" When she neared Hope sang with her.
"Yo ho, yo ho a pirate's life for me. We extort, we pilfer, we filch and sack. Drink up me hearties yo ho!" The two girls laughed.
"I have always enjoyed that song." Hope said smiling.
"Wonderful day isn't it, Hope?"
"Yes. I'm surprised your father actually let you out of the house."
"Actually he didn't," Elizabeth said pointing behind her and saw one of the maids standing a few yards back. Hope laughed.
"I see."
SCENE CHANGE
"A wonderful memory, yes. But I don't how this will help me decide." Hope said.
"You don't remember what happened that day do you?" Catherine asked. Hope looked carefully at the image and tried to think. The answer came to her as she saw three men sail up to the dock.
"That was day I saw real pirates for the first time."
SCENE CHANGE
"Elizabeth, look." Hope said pointing to three men dressed in pirate's clothing rowing up to the dock. As they got out of the boat she saw that one was taller than the other two and wore a tricorne hat. The second was chubby and wore tan trousers and a white shirt. The third man was moderately built and wore a tan waist coat over a white shirt and red trousers. Hope turned to Elizabeth and they both held the biggest smiles.
"Pirates." They said in unison. Their excitement was soon diminished when the harbormaster walked over to them asking for a shilling to tie their boat at the dock and all three pulled guns and shot him along with several other merchants and Royal Navy soldiers. The scene terrified Elizabeth and she ran to the maid. Hope stood still and watched with interest what was unfolding.
"Hope, come on!" Elizabeth yelled in a pleading tone. Hope slowly turned and ran to Elizabeth and the maid as they ran towards the Governor's house.
SCENE CHANGE
The image faded. "You and Elizabeth were best friends even though your views on pirates changed that day."
"Yes. She was always there for me when I needed someone to talk to." Catherine nodded as she went to another subject.
"Your fascination of pirates continued for many years. Childhood fantasies some called it. In your heart that fascination continued even after you started to hate them." Catherine spoke as another image appeared.
SCENE CHANGE
A fourteen-year-old Hope stood at the balcony of a small, white 2 story house. Firing it's canons at Port Royal was a ship with red sails. Once again she stood motionless and silent with no fear. A maid ran into the room where Hope stood.
"Miss Danforth. Please, come quickly. We must hide you. Pirates are attacking the town." She said pulling Hope away from the window.
As the two ran down the stairs the front door swung open and James Norrington ran into the front parlor carrying Catherine.
Hope realized then what scene Catherine was showing her.
SCENE CHANGE
"Oh god no. Catherine, please. Don't show me this. I don't want to experience it again."
"I know it will be hard for you but you must."
"But why? I already know what happens. You die! Draco shot you. My own father by blood shot you and you die on that settee in the parlor." Hope yelled.
"Hope."
"Please. All I will see is how my hatred for pirates started like you said." Catherine sighed and erased the image. "Thank you."
"Hope. If you choose life you will see things as you continue on that will forever be locked in your mind and will never leave you. Things that will haunt you."
"I've already seen enough that will haunt me for ten lifetimes."
"Which would be a reason for the choice of death. If that is what you decide." Hope looked away. "Let's move forward one year." Catherine said as yet another image appeared.
SCENE CHANGE
A fifteen-year-old Hope ran through the streets of Port Royal when a boy about her age ran into her coming around the corner. The impact sent them toppling to the ground.
"Oh. I'm sorry, miss. I wasn't watching where I was going," the boy said going over to Hope and offering his hand to her. Hope was instantly taken in by his brown eyes and handsome features.
"It's okay. I wasn't really paying any attention to where I was going either." Hope said taking his hand. They stood there starring at each other for a moment before the boy bowed to her introducing himself.
"My name is, Will Turner. I don't believe we've met before." Hope smiled and curtseyed.
"My name is, Hope Danforth."
"It's a pleasure, Miss Danforth."
SCENE CHANGE
"If I am not mistaken this was love at first sight was it not?" Catherine asked. Hope smiled.
"At that time it was, Will more than me. He wanted to take our friendship to the next step but I told him that my heart belonged to Edward. Though I was still young, I was falling in love with Edward and wanted nothing more than to marry him." Hope said.
"And yet you fell in love with a pirate while you were engaged to Lieutenant Gillette."
"That's a completely different matter. A lot changes in six years. Edward became more arrogant once he was promoted to lieutenant. I still loved him, yes, but, when I met Jack, I didn't know my heart could change so quickly."
"Do you still love Edward?"
"How could I not. It's no mystery that women can have feelings for more than one man, you did."
"I know. And I regret that, even in death. If I had not met Will's uncle in Tortuga then I might still be alive. I would have married James and lived the rest of my life happy." Hope was silent.
"I don't regret the life I gave up and the life I chose, Catherine. I loved Edward, yes, but I chose Jack and I haven't looked back." Catherine smiled as she realized her sister was making the necessary steps to choosing her fate.
"It's quite interesting how your relationship started though." Hope laughed.
"I know." Catherine raised her hand and another image appeared. A 21 year old Hope stood on the main deck of the Black Pearl gazing out into the open, sun cast sea, enjoying the adventure she had craved all her life as she sailed to Tortuga with Captain Jack Sparrow and Will Turner. Behind her Will and Jack tied off the sails. She could faintly hear Will talking about his father.
"What was your reaction to hearing that one of your closest friends had a father that was a pirate?" Catherine asked.
"I don't really remember. I still despised pirates at that time so I guess I felt sorry for him."
"If you hated pirates then why did you travel with one?"
"I was
scared for Elizabeth. I didn't want what happened to you,
happen to her."
SCENE CHANGE
Hope paid no attention to the two men talking up at the helm until she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. When she turned around she saw Will with his sword a few inches away from Jack's back.
"My father was not a pirate!" Hope ran up to them.
"Put it away, son. It's not worth you getting beat again."
"Will! He's a bloody pirate. His goal in life is too make other's miserable…" Hope started as Jack cut her off.
"Not true. My goals in life are to raid, pillage, plunder, and pilfer."
"Did I ask what your goals were?"
"No you didn't, love, but,"
"Then be silent!" Hope yelled at him as he put his hands up in defense. "Will, if you kill him you give up every chance we have of finding Elizabeth." Will hesitated before continuing with his statement as if he ignored what Hope just said.
"You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement, in a fair fight I'd kill you." Hope sighed and raised her hands a little.
"Why do I even bother?" she said leaning against the railing. Seconds later she saw Jack spin the wheel moving one of the sails. The yard caught Will and swung him out over the sea. "Oh my god!" Hope cried out before spinning to face Jack. "Are you bloody ins…" Hope yelled out with Jack cutting her off.
"Uh uh."
"You're ins…"
"Uh uh uh uh!" Jack said pointing his finger at her. Hope fumed before she grabbed his hand and pushed it down.
"If you kill him. I kill you. Savvy?" Jack smiled his crooked grin.
"You are just full of surprises, aren't you, love?" Hope looked at him disgusted before looking down and realizing she was still holding his hand down. She quickly removed her hands and wiped them on her pants.
"Don't be actin' so surprised, love. You were unable to resist the charm of Captain Jack Sparrow. Nothing to be upset about." Hope scoffed at him.
"You're such a pirate."
"Why thank you, love."
"Bring him back over this instant!" Hope demanded.
"Come, come. There's no reason to get your bodice in a twist. Just let me say one thing." Jack said turning to Will and pulling his sword. "As long as you're just hanging there, pay attention. The only rules that really matter are these. What a man can do, and want a man can't do."
SCENE CHANGE
"I find it hard to believe that this young girl, who detested pirates, especially this one, ends up marrying him and having a child?" Hope laughed.
"Sometimes I have to think about that myself. I hated pirates, but here I am falling in love with one."
"What changed you?"
"I don't know."
"Perhaps it was the day that the man who loved you became jealous of your closeness with a pirate." Hope looked at her.
"I would hardly call Edward's reaction jealousy, it was more anger and frustration, I have to say I don't blame him."
"I'm not talking about Edward. I'm talking about Will Turner."
"Will was jealous? I hardly think so. There was nothing more than friendship between us, besides he fancied Elizabeth."
"Yes, but, you said that he wanted to take your relationship to the next step. Whether you realized it or not, Will Turner fancied you as well. He turned his attention to Elizabeth for two reasons. One, he did love her. And two, you were off limits." Catherine said as another image appeared. "If you recall on the voyage to Isla de Muerta, Will got jealous of how close you seemed to be getting with the dashing, pirate captain."
SCENE CHANGE
Hope was standing at the helm looking out to the sea already crossed. Jack stood with his back away from her steering the ship. He turned around and looked at her.
"You are looking the wrong way. The adventure is on the horizon." Hope smiled a little.
"Maybe for you, Captain. But for me there is no horizon. By now my father has found out what I have done and when I return to Port Royal the consequences will be great."
"He can't be all the bad can he?" Hope turned to him.
"He's a minister. Enough said. In ways I think he is worse than Norrington, Edward, and the governor put together."
"You still be his daughter. He loves you."
"You know for a pirate you seem to be well-versed on the matters of family and presume much."
"I wasn't born a weasely, black gutted pirate, love. I became one on my own accord." Hope laughed a little and this made Jack smile.
"Fair enough." The two starred at each other for a few moments before Hope blushed and turned her back to him. Jack smiled before he turned around himself.
SCENE CHANGE
"Blushing in the presence of a pirate? Where did that come from?" Catherine asked.
"I don't really know. Jack's not like other pirates. There was something about him that made him is unique and I guess I was surprised by that uniqueness."
"Let's see what happened next."
SCENE CHANGE
Jack looked down at the wheel after another few moments of silence then back over at Hope.
"Come." Hope turned to him confused.
"Excuse me?"
"Come here." Jack said gesturing to him.
"And why may I ask?"
"Just come here. I promise I will do nothing. I want you to see something." Hope was hesitant. Jack sighed and grabbed her arm.
"No! Let go of me!" Hope said as he positioned her in front him, her back to his chest. He took both her hands and put them on the wheel all the while keeping his hands on her wrists.
"Look out to the sea in front of you. Put your mind at ease and let your senses guide you. What do you feel?"
"The wood of the wheel and your cold hands."
"I find it hard to believe that the daughter of a minister could be so stubborn."
"I'm not stubborn."
"Hate to tell you this, love, but it's true." Hope sighed in defeat. "Now, try again and be serious."
"I don't feel anything, Jack."
"Close your eyes."
"What?"
"Please?"
"Very well." Hope closed her eyes.
"Now. Let you senses take over. What do hear?"
"The waves."
"Very good. Now. What do you feel?"
"Peaceful. Relaxed."
"You're close. That is how you feel. What do you feel?"
"Freedom."
"Exactly. Nothing holds you down. Every time you set sail it's a new adventure. That be the main reason for me becoming who I am. A ship is freedom." Hope turned to Jack.
"I never thought of it that way." Will looked up to the helm and saw how close Jack and Hope were.
"Mother's love. Would ye look at that now." Gibbs said walking to Will. "Don't believe I have ever heard of Captain Jack Sparrow letting anyone touch the wheel of his ship. You could be blind but still see that something be growin between those two." Will's face took on an angered look before he marched up the stairs to the helm.
"Hope!" She ducked under Jack's arm and went over to Will.
"What is it Will?"
"I need to talk to you about something." He said leading her away with him. Before descending the stairs he glared back at Jack, who smiled back at him.
SCENE CHANGE
"You fell in love with him that day, didn't you?"
"I would be lying if I said I didn't. I didn't want to accept the truth at the time."
"Just like you don't want to accept that truth that your real father was a pirate." Hope shook her head no. "But you did eventually accept that you were in love with him and admitted the truth out loud." Catherine said bringing another image up.
SCENE CHANGE
Jack stood on the gallows looking down as an official read his crimes.
"Jack Sparrow. Be it known that you have been charged for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith. Piracy, smuggling…"
"This is wrong." Elizabeth spoke before Hope agreed.
"It's not fair. He aided in rescuing Elizabeth and you're executing him."
"Commodore Norrington is bound by the law." Governor Swann explained.
"As are we all," Reverend Danforth said. Hope looked away and saw a blue and yellow bird flying overhead. Thinking nothing of it she turned back to Jack but then looked back realizing it was Mr. Cotton's macaw. Her eyes began scanning the courtyard for Will. Hopefully he had seen the macaw and was in the process of doing what they talked about.
"Impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England." Hope forced a smile and shook her head. "Sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul." Jack looked over at Hope as she did the last thing he asked her to do. Surprisingly, Gillette didn't seem to notice. Her eye contact was broken when Will walked up.
"Governor Swann, Commodore, Reverend Danforth, Hope…" he stopped on Hope. She moved her head and eyes in the same direction towards the parrot. He only looked at her and nodded slightly before focusing his attention on Elizabeth. "I should have told you from the first day I met you. I love you." With that he walked away. Hope smiled a little as she looked back at Jack as the executioner put the rope over his head. Jack was looking at her strangely. She lowered her head slightly and pointed her index finger towards Will's direction. Jack looked down and saw Will forcing his way through the crowd. Norrington realized what he was going to do and called his marines.
"I can't breathe," Elizabeth said as she fell backwards. Gillette, Norrington, and the governor attended to her. Moments later the executioner pulled the lever and Jack fell threw catching himself on the blade of the sword Will threw into the door. Will ran up the stairs to the gallows and battled the executioner.
SCENE CHANGE
"Eventful day?"
"You could say that."
"You realize you engaged in a pirate type act don't you?"
"Like plotting to release a prisoner of the crown under a sentence of death?"
"Exactly."
"I had do something. He was judged on his past actions. Like Elizabeth said, it was wrong."
"I find it interesting that you confessed your love for Jack right in front of your fiancé."
"Be true to your heart, right?" Catherine nodded.
SCENE CHANGE
"You forget your place Turner." Commodore Norrington said placing a sword at Will's throat.
"It's right here, between you and Jack." Elizabeth walked over to stand beside Will.
"As is mine." This act took Norrington, his men, and Governor Swann by surprise.
"Elizabeth. Lower your weapons," Governor Swann said to the marines in despair. When they didn't lower them he yelled out. "For goodness sake, put them down!"
"No!" Commodore Norrington yelled out. "Remove these two from the pirate." The guards pulled Will and Elizabeth to the side and left Jack in the open. Hope pushed her way through the marines to stand in front of Jack.
SCENE CHANGE
"James, was a wonderful man, stubborn in many ways. Especially when it came to pirates."
"He still is. I don't doubt that if I had returned to Port Royal after leaving with Jack and got caught he would have arrested Jack and tried to hang him again."
"You don't know that for sure. He seemed pretty convinced about that speech of yours."
SCENE CHANGE
"No! Commodore Norrington please! Don't do this. Let him go." Jack looked at her sincerely with a hint of confusion.
"Hope! What are doing?" Gillette asked.
"I'm sorry, Edward. Commodore, please. Let him go."
"I can't do that Miss Danforth. It is against everything I have ordered if I let him go free. Jack Sparrow is the most sought after pirate in the Caribbean." Jack stepped around her but before he could say anything Hope clasped her hand over his mouth.
"Jack is a good man. He may be a pirate but there's more to him than any of you realize. Please Commodore."
"Miss Danforth. You hate pirates as much as I. Why are you defending him? He's one of them!" Hope looked at Jack then back at Norrington.
"You're wrong about that. I used to hate pirates but I don't anymore. He may be a pirate, but as I said there's so much more to him than you realize." Norrington saw the expression on her face as she spoke those words and he knew.
"You defend him now because you love him." Hope closed her eyes and looked sadly at Gillette who held a look of disbelief and confusion.
"Yes." Jack, who was surprised, smiled and turned to guards behind him and mouthed, 'She loves me'. Norrington's face softened and Gillette still had a look of confusion but anger replaced the sadness.
"I can't believe I'm hearing this. What about us, Hope? He's a pirate how can you possibly love him, why do you love him?" Gillette yelled in anger.
"You have to believe me, Edward. I didn't expect nor did I want any of this to happen. I love you, I still do, and I always will. You were the first man I ever truly loved, Edward and I wanted you to be the last. Because of that, I tried so hard to deny my feelings for him but I just couldn't anymore. I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I don't ask it of you today nor do I blame you for not doing so, but someday I hope you can."
"So that's it then. Just like that, it's over," Gillette said with not so much anger.
"I'm sorry. I know there is someone out there for you. I'm sorry I wasn't the one. Part of my heart will always belong to you but the rest belongs to Jack Sparrow." Gillette lowered his head for a moment before he nodded sadly. Hope looked at Norrington who was still trying to figure things out. "James. Both our families have been close friends for eight years. You know what it feels like to lose someone you care for." Norrington lowered his sword remembering the day he lost the love of his life, Catherine. "The day pirates invaded Port Royal you had proposed to my sister. You were coming home to tell me when the town was attacked. Catherine was shot and died several minutes later. That day you vowed to hunt down the pirates that had taken her from you and kill them. Over these last seven years I have seen how you live your life. Since that day your entire life has been nothing but revenge on any pirate that comes into port. Nothing will ever bring Catherine back. Killing the pirates who took her life will not give you closure to her death. You need to move on, I did." Norrington was silent as the others around them were surprised. "But you found love again in Elizabeth. When she was kidnapped by Captain Barbossa your hatred against pirates rose even higher. And in your search you found that it was a true pirate, and a man with pirate's blood that saved her."
"What are you trying to say, Hope?" Norrington asked.
"What I'm saying is that…" Hope started but was cut off by the governor, who had been listening intently.
"That perhaps on the rare occasion, pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy. Piracy itself can be the right course," the governor said. Hope and Elizabeth looked at him with surprise and Norrington showed the hint of a smile, accepting that what was just said was the truth.
"Lower your weapons and release Miss Swann and Mr. Turner."
SCENE CHANGE
"Piracy can be the right course. I never thought I'd ever hear that from the governor."
"Let's fast forward a little"
SCENE CHANGE
"Well, I'm actually feeling rather good about this." Jack said as he came from behind Hope and walked in a drunken manner over to Governor Swann and talked into his face. The governor wrinkled his nose at the smell of Jack's breath. "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, aye? Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically." Jack then moved to Norrington. "I want you to know that I was rooting for you mate. Know that." Making his way back past Swann and between Will and Elizabeth and Hope he turned towards Elizabeth. "Elizabeth. It would never have worked out between us darling. I'm sorry…" Hope shook her head remembering that night on the beach. Elizabeth looked at him a little appalled. "For my heart belongs to an annoying, snooty, sword fighting, hot tempered young woman," Jack finished going over to Hope. He pulled her face to him and kissed her. All the marines and Swann were disgusted by this. Gillette looked on with a solemn face. Will and Elizabeth just smiled. As Jack pulled away he leaned closer to her and whispered. "I will return in two weeks if you decide to come with me." With that he went to the stairs of the parapet. "Miss Hope Danforth. As I said before, I have fallen in love you. Lieutenant Gillette, I do hope there are no hard feelings."
SCENE CHANGE
"The love of a pirate. Most would think it to be a horrible feeling but when it happens to them it's just like any other love." Catherine said turning to Hope who was staring at nothing in particular and had a smile across her face.
"The love of a pirate," Hope repeated her sister. Catherine was sensing something and decided to test it.
"Another image perhaps?"
"No. There's no need."
"You've made your choice?"
"I believe I have. Besides, even the right path has a few bumps along the way." Catherine nodded as the image of the present day appeared once again. "I was fascinated by pirates when I was younger and they still fascinate me today. I have found out that I have pirate blood running through me. My mother's brother is a pirate, my husband is a pirate, my best friend's father was a pirate, most of my friends are pirates, and my birth father was a pirate. I once heard someplace, though I can't remember when or where, that if you wake up in the morning and all you can think about is one thing, like reading, or in this case, pirates, then you are supposed to be a pirate. In my years I have seen both evil pirates and good pirates. Will's father was a pirate and a good man from what Jack told me anyway. That's who I am. I'm a pirate. And just because I'm a pirate doesn't mean I'm inherently bad." Catherine smiled. But not long after her statement, Hope started to fade in and out. "Catherine? What's going on?"
"You're body is dying it hasn't received the proper treatment for your wounds. You must say your choice now!" Catherine yelled.
SCENE CHANGE
Jacoby checked Hope's pulse again and felt nothing.
"She has no life in her!" he said standing up quickly. Jack's eyes widened.
"What? Hope?" Jack said shaking her.
"Oh my god." Elizabeth cried.
"Hope, please come back. Come back, darling. We need you." Tears began to form in Jack's eyes. He felt for a pulse and still there was none. Jack cried out as the tears fell freely and he pulled her closer and talked to her softly.
"Hope, you can't leave me! You can't leave Katie! I'm nothing without you. You brought me out of the life I had before I met you and brought me into a new one. You are my reason in life for everything. Please. I love you." As he cried as a single tear fell and landed on the dragon's heart.
SCENE CHANGE
Hope's body stopped fading and a bright light glowed around her heart.
"Catherine?" She smiled.
"The anguished tears from one born into evil and taken out by good has returned what was lost."
"But I haven't made a choice yet. I'm still here."
"You have decided Hope. Your heart has decided the path it wants to take. Look inside and the answer will come out." Hope closed her eyes as the bright light grew. The images that she was shown and those that were not flashed through her mind and then suddenly there was her answer.
"I choose life." Hope spoke as they disappeared from her mind and reappeared in the field. Hope turned and saw the black forest vanishing.
"I don't understand. I thought I had to make the choice before the tears were shed. Weren't those rules of some sort?" Catherine laughed.
"Well. Prophecies are more like guidelines than actual rules. They can be changed to an extent. Now, when you return to your body, your heart and soul and everything you felt you had lost will be there." They starred at each other for a few moments. "It is time for you to go."
"The one thing I will regret about this whole experience is that I will never see you again."
"Hope. I've been with you the entire time. I told you I would never leave and I don't intend to." Hope smiled.
"Goodbye, Catherine."
"One more thing, little sister. Can you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"James is aware of my relations with Darien Turner, is he not?"
"Not completely. He knows that you fell in love with a pirate but he doesn't know who."
"Tell him I'm sorry and that I still love him."
"I will, I promise."
"Goodbye, Hope." Catherine said before Hope faded.
SCENE CHANGE
"That necklace be glowin'," Gibbs said starring down at Hope.
"What does that mean?" Will asked. Before anyone could answer a bright light appeared out of nowhere and hovered past the crew. They were all so shocked they didn't know what to say. The light hovered lower until it was right over Hope's heart, then in the second it had appeared it was gone. Moments after Hope's eyes shot open and she gasped out.
"I don't believe it!" Gibbs said. Hope looked up at Jack.
"Jack?" Hope said sitting up and feeling for her wounds, but felt none.
"Her wounds have disappeared." Gibbs said.
"My destiny and path have been fulfilled, for the better," Hope said.
"Hope! Love, you have no idea how scared I was." Jack said hugging her tightly.
"Darling,"
"Yes."
"Air," Hope gasped out. Jack drew back a little. "Actually, I do know how scared you were." Hope said as she stood up.
"Come again?"
"It's a long story."
"Do tell."
"Maybe some other time. There is only one thing I want to do now."
"And what would that be?" Jack asked. Hope hooked his neck with her hand and pulled him to her as she kissed him passionately. When they pulled apart Jack smiled.
"Where did that come from?"
"You remember that moment we had when sailing to Isla de Muerta. You were trying to show me what a ship really was." Jack smiled
"I do remember." Hope smiled as they embraced once again. Pulling apart she went to Will and Elizabeth as they hugged her as well.
"We thought you were gone for good."
"I almost was. You know that choice I had to make?" They nodded.
"Both of you had a hand in my choice to live." Hope said before she glanced back and saw Jacoby standing still. Hope walked over to him. "Thank you. For everything. I don't what would have happened if we hadn't met."
"I'm sorry about the way I acted earlier. My mind was so clouded at the time."
"In all truth. I forgave you a long time ago. Though I never showed it." Jacoby smiled and hugged her, catching her off guard. After she recovered she hugged him back.
"Can I call you uncle or do you prefer Jacoby?" Jacoby pulled away.
"We're family. You can call me whatever you want." Hope smiled. When she looked behind her she saw Draco's crew tied up around the two masts.
"Have you decided what will be done with them?" Hope asked Jack. He walked over to her putting his arm around her.
"Their fate is in your hands. They're your father's crew." Hope walked closer to them.
"You've caused pain and suffering in the lives of many throughout the Caribbean and the world. You have murdered fathers, mothers, children, and taken possessions from those that had nothing to begin with. Because of this you will suffer as well and pay your debt to the lives of every person you have murdered including the life of my sister. I sentence you to death by hanging on the shores of Port Royal. My friend Commodore Norrington will explain to you the rest." Hope turned to the others.
"Untie them and take them to the brig." Hope ordered. They turned to Jack.
"You heard the lady. Lock'em in the brig. And when you're done with that, set a course for Port Royal." Half of the crew untied them and took them below whereas the other half readied the Black Pearl for sail to Port Royal.
"What about the Dragon's Eye?" Will asked. Jack looked over at Hope. She then walked over to Anamaria.
"Jack stole your boat and told you that you'd get another one. How about a ship?" Anamaria looked over at the Dragon's Eye then glared over at Jack.
"It's a bigger and better one." He said grinning. Hope lightly hit him.
"What say you?" Hope asked.
"Aye." She walked over to Jack with her finger outstretched.
"If ye decide to steal me ship. I be…" Anamaria warned.
"I give you me word and me word is as good as gold."
"It better be." Anamaria said as she swung over to the Dagon's Eye.
"You men on deck. You will be sailing with Captain Anamaria, she will give you her terms."
"Aye, sir," they shouted as they all boarded. Hope was standing back with Will and Elizabeth with a smile.
"Gibbs. Inform the others of the situation at hand and to set sail for Port Royal.
"Aye, cap'n" Gibbs said as he headed towards the stairs down to below deck. Just then Katie ran out of the captain's cabin towards her parents.
"Mother!" Hope picked her daughter up.
"Oh Katie." Hope said hugging her. Jack smiled as he went up to the helm. As the crew reemerged they prepared the Pearl for sail. As the anchor was raised Jack looked over at the Dragon's eye where Anamaria stood behind the wheel shouting out orders to the crew. She looked over at Jack. He took his hat off and raised it over his head.
"If I see you again it will be too soon!"
"Good luck!" Anamaria shouted back.
"On deck, you filthy dogs! Man the braces! Let down and haul to run free." When the anchors were completely raised both the ships sailed off in different directions.
NOTE: Well? What do you think? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW. Sorry it's another is Hope alive or dead thing. She is alive but as it said its her choice whether or not she decides to live.
NEXT CHAPTER: Return to Port Royal