November 22, 2003

Okay. Now, I'm gonna try to update sooner. I was really busy since I last posted, with school an' stuff, and it's just been really hectic. Amin hiraetha!

And, as you girls (I'm just assuming, girls really like Jack Sparrow/OC fics) probably know, I've found a muse! His name is Partouf, and he's my little elephant from Astralis.

Partouf: Yuppers! Hey, can I tell them what Austra- I mean, Astralis is like?

Marie: Maybe another time, Partouf. First, tell them about yourself.

Partouf: Okee dokee! I'm small, about 1 foot tall, and I'm grey; I have very cute feet and ears, and I love to read! YAY!

Marie: YAY! So, that's Partouf! He's a real sweetie, but he might pop up in the middle of the chapter to add something, like an Info bit! That works! I hope. . . .

Yeah, I'm agreeing with SotSK on this (the Astralis thing; check out his bio), but only because IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY! Please wish him a happy birthday, as he's turning 14! YAY!

Now, onto the 9th (or 13th, whichever you want) chapter of The Black Rose!

*all of the reviewers go 'FINALLY!'*

************************************************************************

'Commodore, the ship is closing fast. What is your decision?'

'We stay and fight. I will not run from a pirate!'

I heard these voices as I lay on the deck, ignored by the people rushing about. Suddenly, I heard footsteps coming towards me, and I shut my eyes as the man kneeled down and hoisted me over his shoulder.

~How much undignified! ~ I thought, but went limp all the same as I felt myself being carried back down to the hold, as I could smell it already. I opened my right eye just a bit as I felt the coolness of the hold, and made note of a tall man carrying me over his left shoulder like a sack of potatoes. I heard him say to George (I could tell from the voice. Besides, there was no one else down there but him) 'She's t' be kept locked away 'til further notice. Orders from the Commodore.'

The jingle of keys, the creak of a cell door, and I quickly closed my eye just as I was placed unceremoniously back in my corner. ~Perfect. There goes the only spot left that didn't hurt, and I'm sitting on it! ~ I thought with consternation, and waited until the footsteps faded until I stood up like a shot. 'George, its Jack! He's come back! The Black Pearl is gaining on The Hunter, and fast!' I told him, and almost cheered, until the aching pain in my head caused me to lose balance and fall over onto my injured . . . pride.

'Oww. . .' I moaned, rubbing my sore behind as well as I could with the chains around my wrists, and I stood once again, with some help from George. He looked at me, and said with a worried tone 'Miss, you shouldn't be getting your hopes up! Norrington may have a few tricks p his sleeve.' I nodded, but said with conviction 'Jack is going to win, George, whether you think so or not! I'm inclined t' believe so, even if it seems hopeless. Now, you can either help me out of this cell and back to the Black Pearl, or I can sit and rot.'

George smiled, but then seemed nervous, like something had just crawled over the back of his neck. 'Miss, I'd get in trouble for that. . . .' he began, but then looked like he was remembering something, and then said with surety 'Since I owed your father, I'll help you out. To hell with Norrington and it's better than he deserves!'

I waited patiently as George fumbled with the keys, and kept an eye on the doorway, thinking ~ I wonder if Jack has caught up to us . . . .!~ Finally, I heard the 'clunk' of a lock giving way, and George opened the door for me, letting me out and saying 'Now, miss! You had best hide behind the barrels. If this Jack fellow is as close as you said, then hide quick! A battle could start at any moment!'

I nodded, and found an empty space behind a stack of barrels in a corner near the stairwell, so that if the time came, I could run up at a moments notice. George pressed a finger to his lips, indicating that I be silent, and then walked past me to go up the stairwell.

Partouf: What's she doing? Marie (from in the fanfic) what the- I'm hiding, what does it look like I'm doing? Partouf: Oooh! Hide and Seek! I LOVE HIDE AND SEEK! Marie (in the fanfic): Oh, hush up, will you? I'll be found! Partouf: Oh, *in whispers* okee dokee then! Readers: PARTOUF, SSHHH!

I sat there, hardly breathing as I strained my ears to hear what was being said on deck. 'Reef the sails!' a man shouted, and I heard another man yell 'Pull in the sails! We're turning about to fight! Be ready, men!' I silently smiled to myself and said under my breath 'So, they're fighting! Perfect.'

I ignored the rest of the talk, which was not really understood by me at all, and I sat there to wait for when Jack would board The Hunter and take me back, fiddling with my chains and thinking of how to get them off. I didn't have to wait that long, because I soon heard a boom of cannons, which told me it was time. I popped my head out from behind the barrels, and craned my neck to see up the stairwell, and saw men rushing about with their blades drawn.

~This is it, Marie! Don't lose faith! ~ I thought, and walked softly up the stairwell with a wary eye. The first thing I noticed was that we had somehow turned to the port side, so that we blocked off Jack's way past, in a way. Norrington's men were gathered on that side, and I wondered why I hadn't seen any men rush past me when I was in the hold to get to the cannons.

I found that out soon. There was another way down to the hold, which was just on the other side of the ship, with a short ladder-step leading down. I hid behind the mast, and peeked out just as the pirates had begun to swing over onto The Hunter! 'Oh, good! Now to find Jack!' I said to myself, and moved quickly from behind the mast, hurrying to the port side.

On my way, I caught sight of George, who was up near the helm, looking worried but amazed at what he saw. 'GEORGE!' I called up to him, and ran over, ducking as a shot almost shaved my head. I ran up the stairs, and grabbed his hand with both of mine (the chains constrict them), saying 'Quickly, onto the Black Pearl! The Captain will help, trust me!' George hesitated, then squared his jaw, yelling 'Right, miss!', and ran with me to the scuppers. I could count on not being stopped, as all of Norrington's crew were not in an epic battle against the pirates, so we slipped past the skirmish quickly.

Suddenly, a blade came out of nowhere, and managed to slice off a lock or my hair. 'SHIT!' I yelled, and looked to my left side to see Norrington walk out of the shadows under the helm. George looked horrified, and then Norrington turned to him, saying 'Well, Mr.Bloate! Turning pirate, now are we? I'll see that a second noose is made ready for you.' I rushed towards Norrington, and just as he brought his sword down to slice open my skull, I held up the chains and caught his blade, yelling to George 'RUN! Find Jack and tell him I'm still alive!'

George nodded, and hurried as fast as he could on his pudgy little legs, managing to scramble over the slight gap between the two ships. I yanked on my chains, and pulled Norrington's sword out of his hands, letting it drop to the deck. I quickly stepped on it, and picked it up, saying to Norrington as I pointed it at him 'Methinks that I have the upper hand, Commodore.' I backed away slowly from him, heading towards the Pearl, hoping that he wouldn't suddenly pull out another sword, because I had never learned to handle a blade.

To my horror, he pulled out a pistol, aimed it at me, and fired. His aim was off by a bit, and I was shot in the hip, missing my vital organs. I stumbled, and dropped the sword, falling against the scuppers. My head swam, but I swallowed and forced myself to stay conscious. I heard a yell, and I saw Jonathan swing in from behind me, and jumped right on top of Norrington, causing them both to fall to the deck. 'JON!' I screamed, as Norrington backhanded him and stood, picking up his sword and heading back towards Jon.

Suddenly, with a hissing and spitting, a mad ball of fur came from the Pearl, and launched itself at Norrington. 'Tom?' I heard Jon whisper, and the kitten landed on Norrington's face, scratching with all its might. I hurried over and helped Jon up, having to drag him back to the Black Pearl, as he tried weakly to go back and save Tom. 'Jon, listen to me!' I yelled at him, over the commotion of the fight, 'Go back and find a chubby man on the Pearl. His name is George, and he's a friend of mine. Bring this to him, as proof of him being a companion.' I tore a strip off of my shirt, and pressed it to my wound, staining it with my blood. I handed it to Jon, and said 'Now, GO! I'll get Tom, I promise you that.'

I shoved Jon over the small gap, and turned back to Norrington, who was yelling and trying to get the kitten off of his face. Finally, he struck it with the flat of his sword, and Tom was stunned enough to let go, falling away from Norrington. I watched in horror as Norrington raised his pistol, and shot Tom with no show of emotion whatsoever. 'You, you BASTARD!' I screamed at him, and forgot the pain, leaping at him with what was left of my strength.

But I didn't make it.

An arm wrapped around my waist, and I was pulled backwards onto the Pearl before I could manage to get close enough to Norrington to scratch his eyes out. I landed on my back on the Pearl's deck, and looked up to see Jack, who was looking very worried. 'Jack!' I gasped, and then he smiled, and yelled to his crew 'C'mon, men! Handsomely now, we've got what we was lookin' for!'

Quick as anything, the crew fell back to the Pearl, and the ropes holding the boats to each other were cut immediately. As we sailed away, I caught one last glimpse of Norrington, furious that Jack had escaped his clutches once again. I leaned against the scuppers, and almost tipped over into the water, had I not suddenly remembered George.

'George!' I called out, looking at the crew for his face, and I wandered through the men, searching feverently for him. I found Jack, at least, and asked him (with my right hand clutching my wounded side) 'Ja-I mean, Captain, have you seen a pudgy man? His name is George Bloate, and he helped me escape from The Hunter. Where is he?'

Jack grinned at me, and led me to the port side, where George was sitting with his back to the scuppers, mopping his brow and wheezing from the exertion of rushing around. 'George, thank you for all of your help.' I said to him with a smile, and held out my hand to shake his. But with that slight movement, a shot of pain rang up my arm, and I collapsed to the deck.

I remained conscious as I felt myself being carried to Jack's cabin, and I was lain on the bed. George had followed, and I saw him through the mist that now covered my eyes because of the pain, but I could hear him saying to Jack 'I believe she was shot, Captain. I was a doctor on The Hunter. I could. . . . Pull it out, if I could.'

I nodded, and in my haze, I said weakly 'Let him do it. I'll be unconscious in a moment, so go ahead. It's my. . . .left . . . . . hip. . .'

And then I slipped away.

************************************************************************ YAY! I'M SO PROUD! IT'S DONE, FINALLY DONE!

Not the fanfic, I mean! The chapter, peoples, the chapter!

*reviewers sigh with relief*

Anywho, I want to thank all of my reviewers for making my life happy, and Partouf has a list here of all of the people at the academy *giggles at her little joke*

Partouf: Okee, here we go!

PARTOUF'S LIST OF EXTRA SPECIAL PEOPLES! Ronnie, Servant of the Servant King, Stephanie, T A Maxwell, Jade Hseih, Draconic Ban-sidhea, Twilight Whisper, Abby Rose1, Aimi Komori, Daroga's Rainy Daae, and DaydreamBeliever14

Partouf: YAY! Jilli and I want to thanks all of you special people, and all of the other reviewers! If I've missed anyone . . . I'm. . . .I'M SORRY! *bursts into elephantine tears, no pun intended*

MtBR: It's okay, Partouf! If we've missed anyone, they can inform us! If we did, THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WE'VE MISSED! WITHOUT YOU, MY FANFIC WOULDN'T BE THIS POPULAR! I LOVE YOU ALL, SERIOUSLY!

Well, not that way!

Take what ye can, give nothin' back!

~8@ Marie the Black Rose @8~