Hey, this is pretty much just a filler chapter and I promise the next one will be much more interesting. Very interesting! Sorry it took me so long, the two computers that i tried to get it on didn't work. There was something wrong with it so i had to try everything in my brain to get it up.
Chapter ten-night fight
Jack sat apart from the other men, watching as they drank and partied around a big fire, much like the one he had made on the rum island with Elizabeth, which had been burning since before sundown. More to satisfy Anamaria then because he was hungry, Jack ate a large piece of bread while he listened to Mulan
"Ethan has two ships under his command." He took a large drink of ale and swiped a stray piece of blond hair from his green eyes and stretched out all six feet, three inches of himself, making it obvious why he had traveled with Blackbeard. "The other ship is piloted by a man called Ryan Molcuom and captained by Fredrick Marko."
"Marco?" Jack raised an eyebrow. "Fredrick Marco is still alive?"
"Are the seas still tossing?" Mulan took a large sip of rum. "Fredrick is very much alive and very much hates you." He smiled and winked. "Funny, I hate you to but we still manage to get along." Jack smiled and looked across the beach at the men, Carrion playing his violin and tapping his foot to a made up rhythm. Some of the men where dancing drunk and one was even approaching Anamaria.
"Brave man." Jack said, indicating the man. Mulan looked over to and laughed lightly. "Very brave or very stupid."
"Or very lucky." Mulan said. Anamaria glanced over towards Jack before she extended her hand and soon they were engulfed in the dancing crowd as they to joined in. Jack felt a strange twinge of jealously before he pushed it away and turned back to Mulan who was smiling, his eyes on Will and Elizabeth.
"He looks a lot like Bill." Mulan said. Jack nodded. "Have you told him?"
"Bout what?"
"Bout you being his uncle or has that slipped your mind?" Jack shook his head and Mulan sighed. "She looks kind of like May."
"She's not though." Jack said quickly. Mulan nodded, pain in his eyes. May had been his sister.
"You know, I thought Bill and May would marry." He said. "I thought they'd live happily ever after. But, when she died…I don't know. Did he ever really love Diane?"
"Must have." Jack said, "They had little William Jr. didn't they?" Mulan smiled. Jack's heart was beating fast. Any minute now, Mulan would say it was his fault. He had to change the subject. "Why did you follow me? It wasn't to talk about the past."
"No." Mulan sighed. "It was to talk about an alliance and get information."
"An alliance?" Jack shifted uncomfortably. He hated alliances. Allies always dragged you into something or turned on you when the winds changed. Usually he was the one doing the turning but, he'd known Mulan since they were kids and Mulan would turn just as fast if a better option rose.
"Yes. Ethan's made an alliance with Marco, a good alliance and now we are alone. You know my history with both of them." Jack nodded. "So, I was thinking…I hear that your going after some new treasure that Ethan wants. I want in."
"You want in?" Jack asked. "Listen mate, I go after this treasure alone." Mulan smiled evilly.
"Yes, but I have information. Ethan has Bill." Jack had to think a moment before he understood what he'd just heard. "Also, there's information the Navy hasn't even divulged to the public. Do you remember the pirates of the Black Pearl, under Barbossa?"
"How could I forget." Jack said.
"Well, you know me, I know everything." Jack smiled blandly. "They escaped before their hanging, the Navy never told a soul. Guess who they joined."
"Ethan." Jack muttered. Mulan winked.
"Yes, they are part of his crew and, since you hand picked them, you know enough about them to give us what we need." Jack sat there for a moment, thinking.
"What do you want in return?" He asked suspiciously but tried to keep his voice neutral.
"I want to know about this treasure." He said. "I want to know everything about this treasure."
"Well, it is an interesting tale." Jack said, yawning. "One which you will hear in the morning." And with that he got up and made to walk away. "Wait." Jack stopped and turned to face Mulan again who was looking distinctly ruffled. "How was Bill caught?"
"Out side a bar in Tortuga." Mulan said. "You're usual tavern I presume. Now that I told you that, you can tell me about this treasure." Jack smiled and shook a finger at him.
"You gave that information on your own Edward. I need to give you no reward." Mulan nodded fairly and Jack made his way through the dancing men to the rowboats on the beach. He wanted to go back to the Pearl.
"Jack." Jack turned and came face to face with Anamaria. Her hair was flyaway and she was puffing from dancing. Her partner was now asking Elizabeth who was politely refusing. "You leaving?"
"Yes, luv. And, it's Cap'n." Anamaria rolled her eyes but let the 'luv' part go.
"I'll come with you then, I've had enough of the party for tonight." She made her way to one of the rowboats and was shoving it into the water before she realized Jack wasn't there. Looking around, she found him at the boat behind her, watching her pointedly.
"This one." He said. Anamaria raised her eyebrows.
"I already started pushing this one into the water." She answered.
"Ah, but I like this one better." Jack said simply, looking down at it fondly.
"Ah, but I happen to have a fondness for this one Cap'n, and there isn't enough boats to take one each." Anamaria said, sure she had won.
"But I'm the cap'n." Jack said, "And I can leave you here if you like. See what it's like to be marooned for once." Anamaria growled and let go of her boat. Trying to push her anger away, Anamaria helped Jack push the boat into the water. It was a slow and awkward journey away from the shore. They rowed together, Jack humming the entire time and he didn't shut up until they had arrived safely on the Pearl.
"Well, good night." Anamaria said stiffly. She made her way across the deck towards the crew quarters. "You know what, I'm surprised so many women like you."
"Oh?" Jack asked. Anamaria stopped, her hand on the doorknob to the staircase below decks. "Why is that?"
"Because, you're such an insufferable…you're just so…I just can't see why anyone would like you." Anamaria finished lamely. Jack laughed and sat down on the staircase up the wheel.
"But you can't find a reason why?" He asked. She could hear the amusement in his voice. "Sounds like you like me more then you let on, luv."
"Don't call me luv!" Anamaria yelled. "You know I hate it!"
"That's why I do it!" Jack cried, laughing. "That's why I call you luv! Until you call me Cap'n I'll keep calling you luv, and Darling, and Sweetheart." Anamaria glared at him across the moon washed deck.
"Then I'll just have to leave and not be a part of it anymore. I can only call respectable men Cap'n." Anamaria said. Jack stood slowly and walked down the stairs.
"Threatening to leave?" Jack said, "Or giving me your resignation?" Anamaria felt her heart beat speeding up. What was she doing? She didn't want to leave the Black Pearl. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out and Jack was getting closer. "I said, threatening to leave or giving me your resignation?"
"Leaving, going, gone." Anamaria finally answered. Jack stopped inches from her, his black eyes boring into hers. He looked grim and slightly ghostly in the shimmering white night. The sounds of the beach party floated towards them on the seemingly breathless night, the entire ocean seemed to be watching them. "I'm not part of your crew any longer Jack Sparrow. I hear by resign my post." Jack nodded and Anamaria left, going down to the crew quarters to collect her things. Mulan would let her on his crew, she hoped. Either that or she'd be staying on the tiny island-awaiting rescue.
She grabbed a small goat skin sack from her dresser and began filling it with cloths and her other personal items. She even grabbed Elizabeth's journal by mistake but didn't notice. This was it, she was gone and no longer a member of the Black Pearl.
When she finally made her way back up to the deck an hour later, it was to find it completely deserted. Jack had obviously retired to his cabin and was probably asleep, judging by the darkness filtering out through his windows. She felt slightly hurt that he wasn't even going to say good bye but tried not to think about it as she made her way back to the rowboats. The journey back to shore seemed like forever, longer then the journey to the Pearl with Jack. Mulan welcomed her on to the crew with open arms and that night she traveled to his ship, the Blue Sphere instead, anchored beside the Black Pearl. And, by the light of the full moon, she got a look at her new home.
Hope you liked it. Like I said, it was a filler but there was some interesting stuff in there, I hope. Anyway, now what will Ana and Jack do? Stupid idiots, they love each other! Can't they see it? (Deep breath, or should I say Depp breath) Oh well.
To my reviewers:
ALTENG: thank you, i would have flipped them the bird to, but this was a long time ago and the other ship, some of the men may not have had all their fingers. Yes, Jack and Ana are having power struggles and there is more to come. of course, since i am a woman, ana will win at the end...all men have to have a short leash. Please keep reading and reviewing.
GAZE: thank you for reading again. I hope you like it so far. I never thought of Ana as annoying this chappy but i guess you're right. Thanx for saying you liked my lines.
