It took me a really long time to write this. I wrote part of it and
just couldn't write the rest. I finally finished and I'm very sorry for
the delay. I've slightly changed the chapter with Ana getting whipped so
that that punishment is not as severe. Also, I think most of you probably
know some fencing terms but I'm going to define a few here for anyone who
doesn't:
Parry: To block an attack. Past tense is "parried."
Riposte: The attack after the parry from the one who did the parrying. Ripostes can also be parried, themselves.
Remise: The attack after a parry from the one who was parried (in other words, a second attack attempt.) In now-days fencing it doesn't count as points but as this is a battle for life and death, it can count very much here.
Feint: To pretend to hit in a certain place, while the real attack is going to be in another place.
Not all of these terms are going to be used in this chapter but they probably will later on, so if anyone needs them posted for the next chapter, let me know.
***
"Sparrow's daughter?" Barbossa sneered, "Ya should have never come here. In a few moments ya'll be down in the brig with yer parents."
Tori didn't reply. She was filled with hatred for the man who stood before her. In one movement, her cutlass was out and she had lunged at Barbossa. He parried, easily. "I know yer a girl but fer a Sparrow ya should at least be able ta do better than that," he taunted.
Tori attacked again and he parried. There was no riposte. He seemed unwilling to start his own attack. She growled as he blocked all of her attacks but still refused to strike. "Ya can't win by playin' defense all the time," she growled.
"I'm not tryin' ta fight in the first place," he replied, blocking a thrust to his head, "I refuse ta cross blades with a female."
"Ya already 'ave," Tori spat, "Ya've got no gentlemen in ya, anyway so why try to act like one?"
Her best tricks wouldn't work unless he did more than parry. She even gave him a large opening to her heart, trying to get him to attack. It was risky but worth it if it got him to fight more than a defense battle. He ignored it. Somehow, he had managed to not backup at all, despite the fact that he was only parrying. He was good with the blade; there was no doubt about that. "I'll use ya as another incentive ta persuade yer father ta give up the hidin' place ta his treasure. Yer mother didn't seem ta work that well."
"What 'ave ya done ta my mother?" Tori yelled.
The hatred cost her a bad hit. She wasn't concentrating as well. But a thought crossed her mind. 'Free my parents.' Their imprisonment could still be used against her. She backed up, until she could feel a rope against her hand. Barbossa smirked. "Frightened?"
"Never!"
Sheathing her cutlass, Tori grabbed it in both hands and launched herself off the upper deck. "I've still got a score ta settle with ya, Barbossa," she yelled back, "I'll finish it later."
She was flying over the two fighting crews. Spotting a small spot near the trapdoor to the brig, Tori tried to calculate her landing so that she landed there. She made it and before anyone could stop her quickly went below deck. There was a door to her left. Thinking it was the brig, she opened it. It was the armory. She spotted Jack's, Ana's, and what she thought was Will's sword lying in a heap in a far corner. She took Jack and Ana's swords and stuck them into her belt. There wasn't enough room for Will's so she merely held that in her hand.
'Next cabin,' she thought.
The door was slightly ajar. Tori peered in and could make out the cells: the brig. A pirate sat before the cell, staring off into space. Tori couldn't see her parents in the cells because of the dim lighting but she was almost sure they were there. She opened the door and slipped in. Pulling out her pistol, she crept up behind the guard. When she was five feet behind him he gave a start and whirled around, blade out.
It was too late for him. Tori pulled the trigger. Without another word the pirate crumpled to the ground, dead. Feeling a slight remorse, Tori stepped over him. "Sorry, chum," she muttered to the dead man, "But ya stood between me and my parents."
"Tori?"
It was Jack's voice.
"Father?" her voice cracked.
She was almost afraid to look for fear that they were badly injured. Ignoring this, she strode to the cell. Jack and Ana looked tired and dirty but otherwise unhurt. "Stand out of the way," Tori instructed them, drawing her cutlass. Jack was out of the way but looked at her uncertainly. "Tori.." he began.
He didn't get any farther. Tori swung her cutlass with all her might against the hinges of the cell. The whole thing shook. Three more hits and the door collapsed. "Flimsy thing," she commented, kicking it aside.
"Remind me never ta get in the way of your blade, Tori," Jack drawled, lazily.
"Father!"
She crossed the cell in two strides and threw her arms around him. Jack lost his balance and fell over, Tori with him. They both laughed. Tori got up first and helped Jack up. "Me old bones are gettin' lazy," Jack grinned.
Tori turned to Ana who was looking at her, through eagle eyes, without any show of emotion. "Mother," Tori said softly.
She looked at Ana for a moment. It was almost as though looking through at a mirror. Except for having Jack's eyes and disposition, Tori looked almost exactly like Ana but she hadn't realized it so much until now. Leaning forward, she slipped her arms around Ana and hugged her. Ana's expression didn't change but she put her arms loosely around Tori. "I missed ya," she whispered in Tori's ear.
"What's that?" Tori felt the wounds on Ana's back.
Ana winced and pulled away. "What is it?" Tori sounded more worried.
"Rope burn," Jack replied.
Ana glared at him.
Jack ignored it. "Where's me rum?" he asked Tori.
"Here somewhere," Tori found the small leather pouch that she had clipped to her belt. It held a flask of rum, "Here." She held it up.
Jack quickly took it from her and downed the entire thing in one gulp. "Not strong enough," he stated.
Ana gave an annoyed sigh. "Our crew is up on deck fightin' for us, Jack Sparrow, I think we'd better help them."
"How do ya know?" Jack asked.
"It's hard not to, what with Tori bein' here and the sound. Can I have my sword?"
She eyed it. Tori nodded and handed it to her. Before anyone could say anything else, she was off, her strides long and purposeful. "Leave Barbossa fer me," Jack yelled after her, "It's my fight."
Ana made no acknowledgement that she had heard him, and moved out of their sight. Jack eyed the flask again and turned it upside-down trying to get the last drops. "Bloody empty," he finally announced, storing it in his belt.
"Sorry to break up this reunion," Will called through the bars, "But would you mind getting us out of here?"
Jack jumped. "Bloody 'ell. I almost forgot ya were there."
Tori raised her cutlass to attack the hinges but Jack held up a hand. "My way."
He produced a dagger from his belt and worked the lock free in a matter of minutes. "There," he said, satisfied, as the door swung open.
"I can't see that well," Will tried to push up the bandage which flopped back over his eyes, "Arugh!"
He tore it off, ignoring Elizabeth's cry of protest. "Where's Nick?" he asked Tori, brow furrowed.
"He's here somewhere," Tori said, uncomfortably, "He was on the Black Pearl with us."
"Nick is up there... fighting?" Elizabeth cried.
"I think so."
"Not my boy!" Elizabeth grabbed the closest thing possible, an oar, and ran out of the brig; dress tearing as she stepped on it.
"Elizabeth!" Will bellowed after her, but she didn't come back.
Will shook his head. "Is that my sword?" he asked Tori, pointing to the one she clutched in her hand.
"What? Oh.. aye," she handed it to him.
"Jack, if you don't mind I'm going to make sure Elizabeth is alright. I've no worry for Nick. He's natural with a blade but I don't want Elizabeth getting hurt."
"No, no don't mind at all," Jack looked very vague, "Go save yer bonny lass."
"Right then," he nodded and left the cabin, in his long graceful stride.
"Best we'd better help them, as well," Jack still looked as if he wasn't completely in this world but it was fairly normal for him so Tori didn't say anything.
"Aye," Tori handed Jack his blade since he wasn't reaching for it.
As soon as the blade hilt was gripped firmly in his hand, Jack snapped out of his daze. "Barbossa, ya bastard, I'll get ya if it's the last thing I do," he muttered, teeth clenched.
"That's my fight!" Tori said, sharply, "I started it and now I have ta finish it."
"His father killed my parents!"
"WHAT?"
Tori whirled around. She'd never heard this before. Jack was standing there, grief written all over his face. "After he marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, he went and killed me parents."
He didn't seem to be talking to her. It was almost as though he was reliving a part of his life. "They hadn't spoken ta me after I decided ta become a pirate. The were good respectable people," he continued, "I remember Barbossa sayin' that he'd kill every Sparrow he could find, as he sailed away. As soon as I was of the island, I went ta make sure they were safe."
He shook his head, "They were murdered in their sleep. Whole village in an uproar as to who'd done it. I barely escaped with my life, fer bein' a pirate. I swore that I would kill Barbossa if it was the last thing I'd do."
"Why have ya never told us this?" Tori asked.
"I never wanted yer mother ta know that I came from a good family. Shameful."
"Ya've already gotten revenge on Barbossa," Tori told him, "That's over. It's my turn ta take out my revenge on his son."
Jack looked at her for a moment and then nodded. "I suppose yer right. Very well, I'll leave ya ta yer fight."
Tori handed it to him "Let's get these bastards."
***
To reviewers:
Reese Sparrow: Yeah, I had a lot less time than that but I've more now. *Dances around happily*
VagrantCandy: I'm very sorry for leaving you with a cliffy for so long.
Karin: *Hides behind Will.* *Wails* I'm so sorry for leaving this off so long.
totallyobsessedwithLOTR: I TALK TO CHARACTERS TOO!!!! Well that's not necessarily a good thing but it could be. What's weird is that I'm actually really good at memorizing stuff (I act a lot) but for some reason I always mix up a few words whenever I talk about my favorite movie quotes. Maybe that comes from acting a lot because you're more concerned about getting the idea of the line down than the exact wording.
Sparrow Quill: THANKS SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING MY PATHETIC MERRY AND PIPPIN STORY THAT NO-ONE ELSE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO! I know it's bad but it makes me feel a lot better to have one review on it. Don't think I'm just going forget about Reph. There'll definitely be something with him and Tori later but Reph just gained Tori's trust in Tortuga so he wasn't about to throw it away so soon.
Anmras: *Wails again* I always have problems with writers block at the time people most want to find out what's happening.
Yakkorat: Actually the next one is really going to be more of the action chapter. Tori's waited so long to see her parents I thought they might need to have a little communicating before anything else.
Terra-Carina: Thanks. I was trying to post soon but it didn't happen.
Parry: To block an attack. Past tense is "parried."
Riposte: The attack after the parry from the one who did the parrying. Ripostes can also be parried, themselves.
Remise: The attack after a parry from the one who was parried (in other words, a second attack attempt.) In now-days fencing it doesn't count as points but as this is a battle for life and death, it can count very much here.
Feint: To pretend to hit in a certain place, while the real attack is going to be in another place.
Not all of these terms are going to be used in this chapter but they probably will later on, so if anyone needs them posted for the next chapter, let me know.
***
"Sparrow's daughter?" Barbossa sneered, "Ya should have never come here. In a few moments ya'll be down in the brig with yer parents."
Tori didn't reply. She was filled with hatred for the man who stood before her. In one movement, her cutlass was out and she had lunged at Barbossa. He parried, easily. "I know yer a girl but fer a Sparrow ya should at least be able ta do better than that," he taunted.
Tori attacked again and he parried. There was no riposte. He seemed unwilling to start his own attack. She growled as he blocked all of her attacks but still refused to strike. "Ya can't win by playin' defense all the time," she growled.
"I'm not tryin' ta fight in the first place," he replied, blocking a thrust to his head, "I refuse ta cross blades with a female."
"Ya already 'ave," Tori spat, "Ya've got no gentlemen in ya, anyway so why try to act like one?"
Her best tricks wouldn't work unless he did more than parry. She even gave him a large opening to her heart, trying to get him to attack. It was risky but worth it if it got him to fight more than a defense battle. He ignored it. Somehow, he had managed to not backup at all, despite the fact that he was only parrying. He was good with the blade; there was no doubt about that. "I'll use ya as another incentive ta persuade yer father ta give up the hidin' place ta his treasure. Yer mother didn't seem ta work that well."
"What 'ave ya done ta my mother?" Tori yelled.
The hatred cost her a bad hit. She wasn't concentrating as well. But a thought crossed her mind. 'Free my parents.' Their imprisonment could still be used against her. She backed up, until she could feel a rope against her hand. Barbossa smirked. "Frightened?"
"Never!"
Sheathing her cutlass, Tori grabbed it in both hands and launched herself off the upper deck. "I've still got a score ta settle with ya, Barbossa," she yelled back, "I'll finish it later."
She was flying over the two fighting crews. Spotting a small spot near the trapdoor to the brig, Tori tried to calculate her landing so that she landed there. She made it and before anyone could stop her quickly went below deck. There was a door to her left. Thinking it was the brig, she opened it. It was the armory. She spotted Jack's, Ana's, and what she thought was Will's sword lying in a heap in a far corner. She took Jack and Ana's swords and stuck them into her belt. There wasn't enough room for Will's so she merely held that in her hand.
'Next cabin,' she thought.
The door was slightly ajar. Tori peered in and could make out the cells: the brig. A pirate sat before the cell, staring off into space. Tori couldn't see her parents in the cells because of the dim lighting but she was almost sure they were there. She opened the door and slipped in. Pulling out her pistol, she crept up behind the guard. When she was five feet behind him he gave a start and whirled around, blade out.
It was too late for him. Tori pulled the trigger. Without another word the pirate crumpled to the ground, dead. Feeling a slight remorse, Tori stepped over him. "Sorry, chum," she muttered to the dead man, "But ya stood between me and my parents."
"Tori?"
It was Jack's voice.
"Father?" her voice cracked.
She was almost afraid to look for fear that they were badly injured. Ignoring this, she strode to the cell. Jack and Ana looked tired and dirty but otherwise unhurt. "Stand out of the way," Tori instructed them, drawing her cutlass. Jack was out of the way but looked at her uncertainly. "Tori.." he began.
He didn't get any farther. Tori swung her cutlass with all her might against the hinges of the cell. The whole thing shook. Three more hits and the door collapsed. "Flimsy thing," she commented, kicking it aside.
"Remind me never ta get in the way of your blade, Tori," Jack drawled, lazily.
"Father!"
She crossed the cell in two strides and threw her arms around him. Jack lost his balance and fell over, Tori with him. They both laughed. Tori got up first and helped Jack up. "Me old bones are gettin' lazy," Jack grinned.
Tori turned to Ana who was looking at her, through eagle eyes, without any show of emotion. "Mother," Tori said softly.
She looked at Ana for a moment. It was almost as though looking through at a mirror. Except for having Jack's eyes and disposition, Tori looked almost exactly like Ana but she hadn't realized it so much until now. Leaning forward, she slipped her arms around Ana and hugged her. Ana's expression didn't change but she put her arms loosely around Tori. "I missed ya," she whispered in Tori's ear.
"What's that?" Tori felt the wounds on Ana's back.
Ana winced and pulled away. "What is it?" Tori sounded more worried.
"Rope burn," Jack replied.
Ana glared at him.
Jack ignored it. "Where's me rum?" he asked Tori.
"Here somewhere," Tori found the small leather pouch that she had clipped to her belt. It held a flask of rum, "Here." She held it up.
Jack quickly took it from her and downed the entire thing in one gulp. "Not strong enough," he stated.
Ana gave an annoyed sigh. "Our crew is up on deck fightin' for us, Jack Sparrow, I think we'd better help them."
"How do ya know?" Jack asked.
"It's hard not to, what with Tori bein' here and the sound. Can I have my sword?"
She eyed it. Tori nodded and handed it to her. Before anyone could say anything else, she was off, her strides long and purposeful. "Leave Barbossa fer me," Jack yelled after her, "It's my fight."
Ana made no acknowledgement that she had heard him, and moved out of their sight. Jack eyed the flask again and turned it upside-down trying to get the last drops. "Bloody empty," he finally announced, storing it in his belt.
"Sorry to break up this reunion," Will called through the bars, "But would you mind getting us out of here?"
Jack jumped. "Bloody 'ell. I almost forgot ya were there."
Tori raised her cutlass to attack the hinges but Jack held up a hand. "My way."
He produced a dagger from his belt and worked the lock free in a matter of minutes. "There," he said, satisfied, as the door swung open.
"I can't see that well," Will tried to push up the bandage which flopped back over his eyes, "Arugh!"
He tore it off, ignoring Elizabeth's cry of protest. "Where's Nick?" he asked Tori, brow furrowed.
"He's here somewhere," Tori said, uncomfortably, "He was on the Black Pearl with us."
"Nick is up there... fighting?" Elizabeth cried.
"I think so."
"Not my boy!" Elizabeth grabbed the closest thing possible, an oar, and ran out of the brig; dress tearing as she stepped on it.
"Elizabeth!" Will bellowed after her, but she didn't come back.
Will shook his head. "Is that my sword?" he asked Tori, pointing to the one she clutched in her hand.
"What? Oh.. aye," she handed it to him.
"Jack, if you don't mind I'm going to make sure Elizabeth is alright. I've no worry for Nick. He's natural with a blade but I don't want Elizabeth getting hurt."
"No, no don't mind at all," Jack looked very vague, "Go save yer bonny lass."
"Right then," he nodded and left the cabin, in his long graceful stride.
"Best we'd better help them, as well," Jack still looked as if he wasn't completely in this world but it was fairly normal for him so Tori didn't say anything.
"Aye," Tori handed Jack his blade since he wasn't reaching for it.
As soon as the blade hilt was gripped firmly in his hand, Jack snapped out of his daze. "Barbossa, ya bastard, I'll get ya if it's the last thing I do," he muttered, teeth clenched.
"That's my fight!" Tori said, sharply, "I started it and now I have ta finish it."
"His father killed my parents!"
"WHAT?"
Tori whirled around. She'd never heard this before. Jack was standing there, grief written all over his face. "After he marooned me on that godforsaken spit of land, he went and killed me parents."
He didn't seem to be talking to her. It was almost as though he was reliving a part of his life. "They hadn't spoken ta me after I decided ta become a pirate. The were good respectable people," he continued, "I remember Barbossa sayin' that he'd kill every Sparrow he could find, as he sailed away. As soon as I was of the island, I went ta make sure they were safe."
He shook his head, "They were murdered in their sleep. Whole village in an uproar as to who'd done it. I barely escaped with my life, fer bein' a pirate. I swore that I would kill Barbossa if it was the last thing I'd do."
"Why have ya never told us this?" Tori asked.
"I never wanted yer mother ta know that I came from a good family. Shameful."
"Ya've already gotten revenge on Barbossa," Tori told him, "That's over. It's my turn ta take out my revenge on his son."
Jack looked at her for a moment and then nodded. "I suppose yer right. Very well, I'll leave ya ta yer fight."
Tori handed it to him "Let's get these bastards."
***
To reviewers:
Reese Sparrow: Yeah, I had a lot less time than that but I've more now. *Dances around happily*
VagrantCandy: I'm very sorry for leaving you with a cliffy for so long.
Karin: *Hides behind Will.* *Wails* I'm so sorry for leaving this off so long.
totallyobsessedwithLOTR: I TALK TO CHARACTERS TOO!!!! Well that's not necessarily a good thing but it could be. What's weird is that I'm actually really good at memorizing stuff (I act a lot) but for some reason I always mix up a few words whenever I talk about my favorite movie quotes. Maybe that comes from acting a lot because you're more concerned about getting the idea of the line down than the exact wording.
Sparrow Quill: THANKS SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING MY PATHETIC MERRY AND PIPPIN STORY THAT NO-ONE ELSE HAS TAKEN THE TIME TO! I know it's bad but it makes me feel a lot better to have one review on it. Don't think I'm just going forget about Reph. There'll definitely be something with him and Tori later but Reph just gained Tori's trust in Tortuga so he wasn't about to throw it away so soon.
Anmras: *Wails again* I always have problems with writers block at the time people most want to find out what's happening.
Yakkorat: Actually the next one is really going to be more of the action chapter. Tori's waited so long to see her parents I thought they might need to have a little communicating before anything else.
Terra-Carina: Thanks. I was trying to post soon but it didn't happen.