Grrrr. Here is the chapter 17 re-write. I didn't like how the other one turned out, so I changed it. Hope you guys like this one. Its pretty much the same except for then ending.
Oh, and to the anonymous reviewer: thank you for pointing all that out to me. It really helped me out. I see what you mean about how I should write for the fun of it not for the readers. Which is how I started the story, but throughout it became more for the reviews. Now, im back in it for the fun. Thank you so much!
Heres the chappie:
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
She was back as herself and she couldn't be any happier! That meant…that meant that the curse was broken. That meant someone had to declare their love for her.
"Jack?"
"No, Im Johnny" the little boy answered.
"Oh no sweetheart, I know who you are."
She continued embracing the boy as she thought of Jack and where he was this very moment, hoping he and the ship survived the awful storm. Her stomach grumbled and the boy flinched.
"Are you hungry?" he asked
"Actually, yes, I am. Where can we find some food?"
"Follow me"
Johnny stood up and Gemma followed him, walking in and out of palm trees and such. When they stopped, they were at a little camp, including shelter, boxes of food, and a chest. As she looked at the camp, she was speechless. How could so small a boy be capable of taking care of himself on a deserted island? A smile formed on Gemma's lips for the first time since her last encounter with Jack, and she walked over to the crates, but Johnny beat her to it.
He lifted up the lid to reveal tons of fruit, dried vegetables, bread, and some bottles of liquor.
"Take what you want, theres plenty more" he said to her.
Gemma placed her hand inside the box and grabbed some bread along with a bottle of what looked like to be whiskey. She plopped herself onto a nearby rock and started munching on her food. She was highly impressed with the boy. Johnny walked over to a nearby rock and sat eating quietly.
"How long have you been here?" she wondered aloud.
"As far as I could tell, about 4 months. My birthday passed before we were shipwrecked. I turned ten then. But you don't have to worry about the food being bad, its all preserved. If you want something other than the whiskey, I have fresh water in that canteen over there"
He pointed to a container standing on top of a boulder and she nodded. Finished with her meal, she strolled over to where the chest lay in the sand.
"Do you mind?" she asked politely
Johnny motioned her to go on and she opened it with delight. Dresses, brushes, perfumes, everything! She lifted up one of the dresses and stared wide eyed at the gorgeous garment. The silky red gown was beautifully made with strings of gold intertwined in the seams, and long, flowing sleeves that became bigger around the wrist. Though the neckline was a little low, it was definitely something she could live with.
Gemma reached into the chest to bring out yet again another marvelous dress. This one was green and came down to a 'V' in the front by the waist and the rest flowed out. Her astonishment continued as she investigated the trunk. As she made her way towards the bottom, she spotted a loaded gun and two swords. Gemma lifted them out of the chest and held them up high.
"Do you know how to use one of these?" she inquired.
"Nope"
"You wanna learn?"
"Ooh! Yes, please!" he shouted, rather excited.
Johnny walked over to where Gemma stood and imitated her stance. He held one sword while she the other and together they practiced for hours. By the time the sun started to set, both were sweating and ready to eat. The boy did most excellent and he never ceased to amaze her with his skill and knowledge of everything. Gemma, feeling rather sweaty and gross, decided to take a bath in the spring she found earlier.
Leaving her shoes and new sword with Johnny, she went to bathe. She stripped herself of clothes and stepped into the luke warm water. A little groan escaped her lips as she settled herself under the water. Gemma's eyes were shut and her hand was sliding up and down her other arm as she attempted to clean herself.
Her eyes shot open as she heard a noise. Figuring it was just an animal, Gemma went back to cleansing herself. Yet again another noise was heard, but this time she stayed low and looked around her, hoping to find a source. Her eyes peered over the edges of plants until she came upon another set. Once the other eyes made contact with her, they shut but then opened once again looking in the other direction.
Becoming a little suspicious and scared, Gemma quickly got out of the spring and dressed herself with her pirate garb. As she turned around, she came face to face with another man. This guy was well over six feet with golden hair tied at the nape of his neck and stubble around his chin. Wishing she had brought her sword, she stepped back in a guarded manner preparing to fight.
When the man did nothing, she dropped her fists to her side. She stood still as the man whistled loudly signaling the others. From behind a tree, another man came out. This one had flaming red hair and a long beard to match. He held up his hand for reassurance.
"Miss, me names Captain Tempest. Whats a lady like ye be doin on a deserted isle such as this?"
"My name is Gemma Doyle and I was washed ashore after a fierce storm, the same one you encountered most likely." She retorted.
"Aye, that be true. Me ship just happened to stop by 'ere to gather a few necessities."
"I see"
"But, let it be known that I was sent on a mission that intend to fulfill."
Gemma studied the man. He wore a simple sailors outfit and seemed to mean no harm, but she wasn't entirely sure she could trust him.
"And what is that?"
"To bring home a lady for the prince to marry, and by golly! Would ya look at that? I found one!" He chuckled.
"Wh- what?" she asked, stunned.
"Ye see, there be no princess or whatnot to be a marryin the prince, so we were sent out to find him a bride."
"What if I don't want to go?" she asked unbelievingly.
"Well then, im not sure. But surely ye wouldn't wanna pass up an opportunity such as this lass."
Captain Tempest smiles awkwardly revealing gold capped teeth and a strangely long tongue.
"Yes I would, because I refuse to marry some prince!"
"There really be no choice in the matter. Ye either come willingly or we force yer to."
Gemma couldn't believe what she was hearing. This man is wants her to marry the prince! But what about Jack? She couldn't leave him. She loves him.
"You''ll have to fight me before I go anywhere."
"So be it lass" he said while unsheathing his long sword.
Captain Tempest stepped forward lunging at Gemma, who of course, did not have her sword as she had left it with Johnny. She ducked out of the way in time and raced towards the camp. Gemma picked up the sword that was leaning up against a rock and brought it around in time to block a blow intended for her stomach. She looked around for Johnny but could find him nowhere. While she lost eye contact with Tempest, he struck her on her right side making her kneel down in pain.
She let out some form of a war cry as blood started oozing from her abdomen. Tempest had not cut her deeply, though. Gemma's eyes began to shut and her head was beginning to feel faint from the blood loss. She gripped her side and rolled onto her stomach. Tempest walked up from behind and pulled his sword out. He pointed it straight at Gemma.
Johnny watched from behind the bushes and saw his only friend being hurt. His eyes began to expand once he saw the other man take out his sword, pointing directly at her head. His heart started beating faster and faster with every second hoping nothing bad would happen to Gemma any more. Tempest crouched down low next to her fading self. He brought his arm up, and Johnny squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting to see anything too brutal. He didn't hear anything so he opened them once again to see Gemma on the sand, not moving, and eyes shut. Tempest's sword had red on it and a smile on his face was clearly visible.
Some of Tempest's men hauled Gemma towards their ship and he stayed right there. Johnny left the bushes and went the back way to the beach. He saw them climb aboard from the rowboat and then a few coming back shore for their captain. Quickly he sprinted towards his secret hideout where a homemade boat was stored. The moon was not but a sliver in the sky, much to Johnny's advantage. He slipped the boat out into the ocean waters and began rowing in stealth mode to the ship, praying not to be seen.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
There is the new and improved chapter 17. Sorry the last one was a bit on the bad side. I don't know what I was thinking while I wrote it, but I like this one more. Besides, now it isn't her fault she is leaving Jack. Not that she wouldn't have found a way to get back to him if I didn't change it. So what do you guys think?