DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything POTC related

NOTE: I had a couple people ask me to add how Hope's mother fits into all this.  This part is just the prequel. To find out how her mother fits into it all, please read this stories sequel(already written): The Dragon's Eye.  PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!

Battle of Two Worlds

     Hope was below deck when she heard yelling coming from up on deck. Curious, she went up to the main deck and saw two marines dragging Elizabeth, who was protesting the whole way, to the captain's cabin. 

            "They're cursed! They can't be killed!" Elizabeth yelled as the two shoved her into the cabin. Hope quickly walked over to Gillette who stood in front of the doors saying something about a mermaid.  When he closed the doors and turned Hope stood right in front of him. He was startled a bit.

            "What are you doing?" Hope asked.

            "Hope! You've got to convince them. This is Sparrow's doing." Elizabeth yelled

from inside when she heard Hope's voice.

            "The commodore ordered her kept somewhere safe in case we're attacked. The

same applies to you," Gillette said taking her arm and leading her to the cabin. Hope

pulled away.

            "Oh, no. I'm staying right here. If we're attacked I can help." A few of the

marines and sailors within hearing distance laughed a bit. She glared at them.

            "I'm sure you can but the commodore isn't the only one who wants you safe," he

said reaching out for her again but she had seen it coming and backed away.

            "Did you forget what I told you back in Port Royal? I've been sword fighting

for seven years. I can match any of these men."

            "I hardly doubt that, miss. You're a woman," one sailor from the group said. Hope had her back turned to them. In a quick motion she drew her sword, whirled around and threw it. The

sword lodged itself into the mast a mere inches from the sailor. The eyes of all who were

watching were wide especially Gillette's.

            "If anyone else doubts my abilities I would gladly engage in a sparring match with you.

Any takers?" They all shook their heads 'no'.  She walked over to the mast and pulled her

sword out and turned to Gillette who was still looking at her shocked. "I'm staying here

to help. End of discussion."

            "Where did you learn that?" the governor asked walking over.

            "I already told you before, Governor Swann. I have been receiving instruction

from a local for seven years." The governor looked at Gillette then back at Hope.

            "Very impressive," he said walking towards the cabin. 

            "You'll be all right out here, then?" Gillette asked. Hope gave him a look that said

'do I really need to answer that question'. "Very well," he said before heading to the

helm with another officer. Hope went to the railing and looked out.  A few sailors were

still staring at her.

            "Would you please stop that? It's not unheard for a woman to handle a sword…well, I guess it is if you're an upper class woman but still it's not a rule, although some treat it as one." They then went back to doing what they were before as Hope turned her attention back towards the water. She looked down and saw the ropes tied to the anchors moving unnaturally. She quickly ran up to the helm where Gillette was looking at something through his telescope. "What is it?" When no one answered her she looked herself and saw a boat with two women, each holding a parasol. Realizing the truth her eyes widened. "Oh, my god. Edward, I strongly

suggest you prepare the crew." The others on deck including Gillette looked at her.

            "Why?"

            "We're going to have a battle on our hands." Gillette looked back through the telescope just as one of the women threw down the parasol and started strangling the other. Both were from the cursed pirate crew as the moonlight showed them for what they really were. Gillette put the telescope down in alarm just as the pirate on the right fired his pistol knocking Gillette's hat off. Everyone turned just as the rest of the cursed pirates of the Black Pearl attacked.

     Both crews battled against each other, regrettably the pirate were winning. From where she started on the helm, Hope had now been forced to the far end of the ship and now fought with multiple numbers of pirates at times. Blocking the thrust of the one she was currently battling she cut his head off sending it overboard.  The pirate continued fighting without its head but Hope finally had the advantage.  She proceeded to cut the arms off. They fell to the ground and crawled towards her. She stepped on both, picked them up and threw them overboard before knocking the body away.  She grabbed his sword and started to make her way back towards the middle of the ship blocking what ever pirate attacked her. Knocking another overboard she turned to the rest of the Royal Navy. They were attempting to impale them.  She turned to her left and saw Gillette knocked to the deck.   

            "Edward!" she yelled running to him.  Just as the pirate raised the sword above his head to bring it down Hope swung her own, cutting off his hands.  The pirate turned and looked at his arms before looking at her. "So sorry," she said knocking him away.

            "Hope?"

            "Having fun yet?" she asked offering her hand to him. He took it.

            "Not particularly."

            "Good. That makes two of us."

            "Why aren't we able to stop them?"

            "They can't die, they're immortal. The only way to make a stand against them is to

stop trying to impale them and attempt to dismember the head, arms, hands, legs, and

torso if you can," Hope instructed as she set off again.

            "Hope!" Gillette called after her. She turned back to him.

            "Be careful."

            "You too." Her attention was then taken away when she heard the bell ring. In the process of battling another pirate she saw several others shattering the windows of the captain's cabin trying to grab at something. She went and started to knock them away but there were too many for her to handle by herself. As if her mind was read a couple marines came and started to take care of the extra. Cutting the hands from one she saw another at the door stagger back a little. She then saw he was missing his forearm. She caught him off guard cutting his head of and then his other hand. The pirate scrambled around looking his missing parts. "Serves you right!" When she opened the door she expected to see Elizabeth but only saw Governor Swann. He was using a rolled up map to hit the forearm of the pirate she had just fought. When the arm stopped he picked it up, victoriously.

            "Governor Swann?"

            "Hope?" In the moment he spoke the curled hand began moving again and he threw it

into a drawer and closed it.  Soon enough the desk started moving.

            "Where's Elizabeth?"

            "I don't know. She climbed down the back of the ship."

            "She did what?" Hope contemplated the action for a moment. "She went after Will," Hope said as she ran off

            "Wait! Hope! Where did my daughter go?" he called after to her and moving away from the desk. He quickly thought better as he once again leant against it to stop the shaking. When Hope ran back out on deck she saw the crew that had been standing guard by the caves come on board. As two more pirates attacked her she was too preoccupied to see the third pirate coming up behind her.

            "Hope! Look out!" a voice called from behind her. She kicked the two away and turned, seeing Edward on a railing holding a hook and the third pirate coming at her. She quickly rolled out of the way as the hook was thrown. The pirate dodged it and then proceeded after Gillette. She would have went to help him but she was attacked again. The pirate had forced her near Norrington.

            "What are you doing out here?" he yelled out fighting off a pirate.

            "What does it look like?"

            "I thought I ordered you put somewhere safe."

            "They tried but I wouldn't let them. Besides, look around, there's no place to be safe!" She swung her sword at the pirate and cut off his head before she continued on her way. She was blocked by one of the pirates she had kicked away earlier when Gillette threw the hook. As the two fought a second one came from behind her and before she could react he slashed her arm. The force whirled her around and the one she had been fighting slashed her across her abdomen. She yelled out in pain as she fell to the deck. Norrington saw this and tried to go to her.

            "Hope!" His attempt was failed when the pirate he had been fighting with attacked him again.  Hope struggled to stand but couldn't.  The two pirates stood over her grinning.

            "End of the line, poppet," one said. Norrington tried to force his way to her again but

couldn't. He stopped and swung at the pirate again before he turned his attention back to Hope just as one of the pirates raised his sword.

            "No!" In one last effort she reached for her sword and swung it. As her sword sliced his arm of it turned back into flesh. In that moment all noise ceased.  The pirates looked around

the deck and saw that even though they were in the moonlight they were not skeletons anymore.

The two standing over Hope backed away confused.  She crawled away with her good arm

as Norrington reached her and examined her chest wound. "How bad is it?"

            "I don't think it's too deep, my arm is another matter." She said flinching against the pain.

            "What just happened?"

            "Will broke their curse. They're mortal again." Norrington looked around the

deck at the confused pirates.

            "Can you stand?"

            "Give me a moment," she said just as Gillette ran over to her and the pirates dropped their weapons.

            "Are you all right?"

            "I will be, eventually," she said as Norrington stood up straight and confident. 

            "The ship is ours, gentlemen."

            "Huzzah! Huzzah!" the crew yelled boisterously. Hope looked at Gillette.

            "Not bad for a woman." He smiled and laughed a little as he placed his left hand on the side of her head and wrapped his right across her front. She laid her in the hollow of his neck.

     The crew began clearing the dismembered body parts and dead marines and sailors as another half escorted the remaining pirates to the brig. Hope, Norrington, Gillette, and Governor Swann were in the captain's cabin with the ship's doctor as he started to clean and dress her arm wound.

            "I never thought it was possible for a woman of your status to be so skilled with a sword," the governor said.

            "I know. Sometimes I can't believe I chose to learn."

            "Who taught you?" Norrington asked.

            "If I tell you do promise not to arrest him?"

            "I can't arrest a man for teaching someone how to handle a sword." Hope was hesitant and grimaced as the doctor continued cleaning the wounds.

            "Will Turner." They were all surprised.

            "Will Turner?"

            "Yes. He is very skilled with swords when it comes to fighting with them and making them. That sword the governor presented you for your promotion was crafted entirely by Will not Mr. Brown." Norrington was surprised. The governor was about to speak when one of the lieutenants came to the door.

            "Pardon my intrusion. Governor Swann your daughter has returned with Will Turner and Jack Sparrow." Hope sighed heavily thankful they were not killed. Governor Swann and Norrington quickly left the cabin. Hope attempted to follow but flinched in pain.

            "I'm afraid you cannot move around right now, Miss Danforth. I still have to deal with your chest wound." The doctor instructed as he began to wrap her arm. "Now, if you would lay back Miss Danforth so I can clean the other wound.

            "Would you like me to leave?" Gillette asked her.

            "No, that's okay. But, could you do me favor and see if they are all right." Gillette nodded as he left the cabin, shutting the door behind him and walked over to where Norrington and the governor stood. Jack was in irons with Murtogg and Mulroy, and Elizabeth and Will were explaining things to Norrington.

            "Where's Hope?" Elizabeth asked.

            "She's in my cabin with the doctor," Norrington informed them. The three, including Jack held looks of concern.

            "What happened? Is she okay?" Jack asked.

            "Not that it's any of your business. But she's fine, her wounds are nothing to serious. Pardon my intrusion." Gillette informed them and apologizing to the governor and Norrington. Norrington looked at Murtogg and Mulroy.

            "Take Mr. Sparrow, below deck. He will be hung a noon the day after we return." Will watched as they took him away below deck. Elizabeth immediately took off towards the cabin and knocked before entering.

            "Elizabeth," Hope said

            "Edward just told us. How are you feeling?"

            "Aside the pain I'm doing just fine. I take it things went well in the cave?"

            "Yes. Captain Barbossa is dead."

            "That's good. What about the Black Pearl."

            "Those bloody pirates you, Will, and Jack picked up took it, leaving Jack behind before the curse was lifted."

            "Let me guess. Gibbs said that they have to follow the code?"

            "Yes. Because they left, the commodore ordered that Jack would be hung at noon the day after we get back." Hope closed her eyes and sighed as the doctor finished dressing her wound.

            "I need you to stay off your feet as much as possible. I will check on you periodically."

            "Thank you." He nodded and took his leave. "Has James learned nothing? Jack may be a pirate but he doesn't deserve to be hanged," Hope said sadly.

            "I understand. I believe it is wrong as well," Elizabeth added bringing a chair and sitting beside Hope. "I might be wrong about this, but, I've noticed a couple things since that island between you and Jack. You both were very close on the deck earlier tonight." Hope looked at her in sadness and that was all Elizabeth needed to see the truth. "You love him."

            "Yes. I never expected it to happen, it just did. I feel terrible about that. When he is hung I don't want to live the rest of my life with Edward feeling that I could have done more to help Jack."

            "You can try convincing my father."

            "No. Both he and Commodore Norrington are bound by the law to arrest and hang any pirates no matter what." Both the women were silent. "Actually, there might be a way," Hope said pulling her idea together.

            "What way would that be?"

            "There is one way, but it would require Will's help and an act of piracy that Will and I have already committed."

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NEXT CHAPTER: The Hanging and Farewell