DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl or any of the characters included in the package. I do like to play with them and often end up giving them back worse for the wear. (Especially Captain Jack Sparrow!) ;

CLAIMER: I do, however, own the plot of this story and all my OC therein. Some stay around, some don't. That's life, ne?

Part 17: It Begins

Chelsea was down and at Ana's side in an instant, checking her pulse and breathing to make sure that the other still lived. She didn't understand what had happened and she assumed none of them did.

"Some women do not know their place," Jack muttered to himself, staring at Ana with hard eyes.

The eagle dropped from the sky and found its perch on Jack's left shoulder. Its talons digging into his skin didn't seem to bother Jack; it was if he had dealt with falcons all his life.

The hound of fire growled savagely and the three beasts advanced on the helpless group in the middle.

"There'll be none of that Guardians," Jack said sternly, lifting his forearm to chest level as the eagle edged its way down his arm with a screech. "Hawtawna, put a stop to this."

With a loud screech the eagle leapt into the sky and transformed back into the immense horned falcon. The mighty bird flapped its wings hard, sending strong currents of wind down that took the other beasts off their feet and left the humans untouched.

The hound growled as it regained its footing and looked up at the bird as the fire around it blazed hotter. Two thick tendrils of flame leapt from the canine's shoulders and solidified into black, hair-adorned wings. The unicorn also staggered to its feet and light shimmered above its shoulders before creamy wings sprouted from its skin. The fox stood and contented itself with glaring up at the aggressor.

The hound and unicorn took to the sky and began multiple assaults on the eagle. Hawtawna spun and dove to the best of his abilities to avoid the massive balls of fire and bolts of lightning that were sent his way. He was hit on more than one occasion and each time he fell close enough to the desert sands the fox creature sent blasts of water his way.

"That is enough. Guardians!"

Abruptly, the four creatures stopped attacking one another and froze in place, their attention now fixed solidly on Jack.

"Return to your lesser forms; save your strength."

"Jack, what is going on?!" Will asked in a confused and exasperated manner.

Jack turned to face the group and was shortly surrounded by a common dog, fox, and horse with the eagle perched on his shoulder. "Do you not know the legends of the mighty Guardians?"

"No," Will replied blatantly.

"Then it is about time you learned them. For now they come into existence. The great Guardians were forged from four elements to protect this land. They all are commanded by one man: the pharaoh. I am this same man. I have control over the hound Tvatui of Fire, also known as the Hound of Ra. Also under my jurisdiction are the horse Nratu of Lightning, the fox Anauu of Water, and the eagle Hawtawna of Wind. They were created to help me save this land from the evil that plagues it." Jack's stormy eyes passed over the confused and terrified members of the group until they landed on the only one who remained unconcerned. "My brother."

Dozell stepped forward, his whole composure starkly different from the Dozell the others knew. "Yes brother. Why have you taken it?"

"That is not for you to know."

"It is my right by blood. Once you are gone it will be my duty to protect the Stone. And I know for a fact you will not be around much longer."

"Is that a threat?"

"Bet your life on it. It's a promise."

"Ana! Ana! Wake up, please!" Chelsea begged, shaking Ana's shoulder in an attempt to wake her. Both ancient siblings looked to the source of the voice and saw that Ana still laid motionless in the sand.

"Why don't you release her? After all, you'll need all the strength you can summon to have even a hope of defeating me. Not that you will." Dozell taunted, watching his brother's reaction closely.

Narrowing his eyes Jack snapped his fingers at his side but his gaze did not leave Dozell.

"Besides, we wouldn't want her to miss seeing me kill you. You, who are in the body of her love." A dark smirk twisted Dozell's otherwise handsome features.

"Ana?" Chelsea asked quietly, hopefully, as the other's eyes flicked open slowly.

"Let's begin, shall we?"

Jack nodded slowly, his newly cropped hair flicking gently from the movement. "Yes. For it is my duty to defeat you and save this land."

"Defeat me you will not," Dozell growled, clenching both hands into tight fists at his sides. Transparent purple flames formed around his fists from seemingly nowhere and the sight sent the others—excepting Jack—back with fear.

Jack reacted like he had seen this coming and clenched his own fists, which were soon covered in transparent white flames. "Guardians it is time," Jack said evenly, barely suppressing the hatred he bared for the other.

The eagle screeched and the sound carried across the sands and echoed back eerily. It was awhile before any of them dared to move but once the Guardians had transformed and were in motion everything seemed to move in a blur. Tvatui, Nratu, and Hawtawna took to the air while Anauu stayed close to Jack's side in a protective stance.

Dozell stepped forward to meet the Guardians fearlessly, purple fire collecting around his fists and soon spreading throughout his entire body.

Fire, lightning, wind, and water came spiraling at Dozell from four separate directions and hit him in a massive explosion, sending sand flying everywhere. All who were witnessing this ancient struggle were momentarily blinded by the sheets of whirling sand.

A long howl carried across the desert and moments later the large, fiery form of Tvatui was looming mere inches from Dozell, who remained unfazed. The Guardian's eyes narrowed before he sprung forward, intent on tackling Dozell and finishing it once and for all. Before the enormous wolf could touch the younger prince a barrier clouded the air around Dozell and sent Tvatui soaring far away only to land hard on the sand.

"Is that all your pets are capable of?" Dozell taunted.

Hawtawna and Anauu burst forward and attacked in unison; one from the sky, one from the ground. Dozell casually lifted a hand at shoulder level and deflected the attacks back at their originators. Both Guardians fell to the sands of their homeland in their common forms once more after receiving the brunt of their own attacks.

Jack alone felt that the gray and blue sparks disappeared from the Stone, leaving it glittering with a weakened red and strong yellow.

"Pathetic."

A shrill whinny sounded from just behind Dozell and not a full second later heavy metal-clad hooves crashed into the sand where the prince had been but was no longer. Nratu looked up from the sand and caught a glimpse of Dozell just before she was sent hurtling across the sand, kicking up clouds of grit each time she made contact with the ground. Once she came to a stop, sprawled on her side, she was a normal horse once more.

Jack felt his strength waver further as red alone was left shimmering in the Stone.

Will and Chelsea looked from one fallen Guardian to another, fearing for their safety in relation to the battle. Despite what was going on around her, Ana's attention remained solely fixated on Jack. He hadn't even flinched throughout the fight. Blinked yes, but not flinched. Not even when Anauu and Hawtawna dropped to the sand at his feet and didn't rise. He hadn't reacted to anything. It was as if he wasn't even there.

"Now brother, tell me,"

Jack looked up to meet Dozell's gaze evenly at his brother's voice.

"Why take the Stone?"

Jack remained silent, slowly drawing out Dozell's patience.

"Dozell! What are you doing?!" Chelsea had finally found her voice.

Dozell turned to face the voice, the fight temporarily forgotten. He made his way to stand before Chelsea unrushed and stopped not a foot away from her. "Destiny," he answered in a whisper that held a dangerous edge. "Do not try to interfere."

Kona and Hunter, sensing the threat Dozell posed, growled savagely and put themselves between Dozell and Chelsea with teeth bared and fur bristling. The side of Dozell's mouth turned up in a creepy grin as his gaze traveled down to the dogs.

A good distance away Tvatui regained his footing ungraciously and shook the sand from his dark coat. It was obvious that he was too weak to be of any use but he growled inwardly and broke into a run toward Dozell with flames running from his mouth as drool would from a normal dog.

When the wolf Guardian was very close Dozell wheeled with his arm extended. An invisible force hit Tvatui squarely in the chest and sent him flying. This time when he hit the sand he morphed back to his weakest form and lay completely still.

The Stone's inner lights vanished leaving a black, empty shell.

"Sorry brother, but it seems that your first line of defense has fallen. And once you too fall your friends shall have to watch themselves. I will rule this land," he announced loudly, "even if I have to kill you to claim it," he finished slowly in a whisper that held the foreboding of a dark guarantee.

Hunter growled angrily and lunged forward, sinking his fangs into Dozell's leg before the prince could react. Holding in a cry of pain Dozell glared down at the dog and watched as blood trailed away from where the animal's teeth still dug into his skin.

"Idiotic pest, you will pay for your insolence," Dozell hissed, extending his arm toward the dog and watching with satisfaction as the animal's grip dissipated and he crumpled to the ground, completely motionless. Contented for the moment, Dozell landed a solid kick to the fallen hound's ribs as a lasting reminder of his superiority.

Leaving the safety of the group, Chelsea surged forward and cradled the large dog's head in her lap and gently—if not hesitantly—stroked his silky head and neck. Kona moved to Chelsea's side and lightly licked Hunter's muzzle.

"He's dead," Chelsea whispered sadly after a moment, a tear winding its way down her cheek as she buried her face in Hunter's limp fur.

Dozell turned back to face Jack with a sneer of pure hate on his features. "And now it begins."

[a/n: Please review! I'm going to try to get this story finished up before I leave so I don't leave anyone hanging.]