DISCLAIMER: Unfotunately I still don't own POTC :(

Chapter 12- Revenge

The night breeze that played through Jack's tangled hair was refreshingly cool after the warm day. The rustling branches in the trees around him woke Jack from restless sleep. His first thoughts were of Alexis, although he knew that his mind had never strayed far from her. The trees and bushes being blown in the wind behind him made distinguishing individual sounds almost impossible, but the snap of a thin branch was hard to miss with Jack's keen hearing.

His head twisted around to peer into the dark forest. Jack frowned to himself and began wondering what type of creature was going to have him for dinner, when a hand snaked its way around the left side of him, and clamped itself over his mouth. A pair of soft blue eyes greeted him in the dark. "Shhh," Alexis instructed him emerging from the blackness to kneel next to him, taking her hand away from his mouth.

"Alex!" Jack exclaimed in disbelief, "How-?"

"Later," she answered, "Right now we have to get you out of here. I have a plan."

Then, under the cover of the night sky, Alexis explained her idea to Jack. Listening intently, Jack nodded his head in approval. "That actually might work, luv," he told her, "And mine would 'ave too, if you hadn't gone and gotten yeself killed!"

Her eyes smiling back at him, Alexis answered smoothly, "I'm still here, aren't I?"

Jack waited until she disappeared back behind the tree before grinning at her comment. He felt the rope around his hands fall free and he began stretching out the cramped muscles in his arms as Alexis cut the bounds of all his men. As they awoke to find Alexis freeing them, there was more than one exclamation of surprise.

Will's eyes lit up at the sight of her. "I thought we'd lost you!" he told her in astonishment.

"You're not going to lose me that easily," Alexis replied with a small smile.

"Easily?" Jack mused, "You were shot, luv."

Politely ignoring him, Alexis detailed her plan to Jack's crew.

Just before the sun rose to signal the start of a new day, and vision was at its most difficult, a cry for help broke the eerily quiet morning. Grumbling, Pintel threw off the thin sheet that had been covering him and went to investigate. Stepping out from the tent, he stalked over to Jack's crew, his eyes still half closed. "Wha' do ye want?" he growled at them, unsure who it was that called out.

"Over 'ere!" a voice yelled from the far left side of him. "There be somethin' in the woods," Mr Gibbs told Pintel, giving the trees behind him a frightened look, "Hammond says he saw a creature with teeth as sharp as ye blade!"

Seeking to help him exaggerate the story, Jack's crew nodded back enthusiastically. Appearing casual, but his eyeswere filled withunease, Pintel told them, "I'll get some of the other men to go 'ave a look."

"Aye, you do that," Jack called after him as Pintel went inside the closest tent. The beads jingling in his hair as he turned his head to grin deviously at his men, they waited.

The small group of men Pintel had brought with him entered the forest apprehensively. Believing Jack and his crew were still tied safely to the trees, they never gave them a second glance back as their eyes fixed on movement up ahead. "Did ye see that?" Pintel half whispered to the pirates with him.

With that, something black swept past the tress in front of them. With only a slight hesitation, they took off after the creature. Weaving in and out of branches, they began to slowly catch up to the figure ahead of them. At last a break in the trees allowed them to catch their breath. Across the clearing, a glimpse of black could be seen through the greenery.

Eyeing the still creature, Pintel edged quietly towards it. Beckoning the others to do likewise, Barbossa's men began to close the gap between themselves and the unidentified creature. As swords began to be pulled from their belts, the ground fell away from under their feet. Raising their arms in an attempt to grab hold of thin air, they fell, landing with a thud of bodies and swords as they hit solid ground.

One pirate with a scar down his eye stared around at the rectangular shaped dirt walls that surrounded them. "Wha' is this?" he growled in confusion.

"Well, I like to call it a pit," a voice answered above them. As their eyes squinted towards the sky, Alexis' grinning face appeared at the edge looking down at them. A black hood pushed back from her tanned face.

"You're supposed to be dead!" Pintel gaped up at her.

Laughing at his surprise, Alexis replied, "Yes, so everyone keeps saying."

"Ye not just gonna leave us 'ere are ye, poppet?" he asked her with a sickly sweet smile.

Shrugging, she answered, "Probably."

And with that, she turned her back on them, and flew off towards the shoreline, hoping that Jack, Will and the other pirates had made it safely back to their ship.

The sight that greeted her was exactly what she had been wanting to avoid; a clash between Barbossa's men and Jack's. Alexis knew she had drawn away five of Barbossa's men, but their ferociousness made them much stronger men in combat then Jack's crew. Drawing her sword from her red belt, she took a deep breath, and plunged in among the battle.

As her sword came up to parry another's, Alexis spotted Will being attacked by two men. Her lack of concentration, allowed the pirate to swipe at her stomach, causing Alexis to stumble backwards onto the ground. With quick reflexes, she threw her sword up, blocking the fatal blow. Rolling to the right, Alexis jumped to her feet, dodging the man who tried once more to take her down, and ran towards Will.

"Hey!" Alexis yelled at the two pirates unfairly crossing blades with him. As one of the men with jet black hair started at her call, she brought her sword down on his. Swinging her blade around his, she felt the sword go loose in his hands as it flew to the ground. Caught by surprise at afemale's expertise with a sword, he stood awkwardly before her. Unwilling to complete her advantage, Alexis found she did not have it in her to kill this man. Even after the loss of her parents to such pirates, her heart would not allow her to take the life of another; Not for the wrong of his Captain.

Believing her hesitation was weakness, the man advanced towards her, raising a hand to grab her throat. Alexis' fist came up first, knocking the man hard in the nose. Instantly she regretted the action as pain seared through her fingers. Shaking her hand, Alexis heard someone laugh. Frowning, she saw Will smiling at her. "Jack would be impressed," he told her.

Their slight break quickly ended as both whirled around to find him amongst the fighting. It only took them a moment to spot him in the centre of the chaos, Barbossa bearing down on him. Even with his bizarre way of moving, Alexis was amazed with the way he fought. "Jack's doing alright for himself," Will noted humorously.

"Yes," Alexis replied with less enthusiasm, "I think I might go have a word with Mr. Sparrow."

Will watched as she dashed off towards his Captain, her long hair dancing behind her, then turned his attention back to his crewmates, who were in dire need of help.

"Ye know Jack, I'm gonna enjoy killing you more than the girl," Barbossa growled while breathing heavily from their sword play.

Returning a mischievous gold-plated smile, Jack replied, "It's actually funny you should say that."

Noticing that Jack's eyes lay on something behind him, Barbossa turned around. Alexis stood before him, with an expression on her face Jack had never seen before. Without taking her attention from Barbossa, Alexis said, "I'll take it from here, Jack."

Inclining his head towards Alexis, Jack drew away from Barbossa. Glaring at the slight girl standing defiantly in front of him, Barbossa could see the fire that burned in her blue eyes. Her hand lay firm on the hilt of her sword. "How the blazes did ye survive that shot?" he questioned Alexis.

Taking a step forward, Alexis replied simply, "It's surprising how strong some of that gold plated armour is that my parents considered part of the treasure."

Barbossa stepped slightly back as she advanced slowly towards him. Unwillingly to show weakness to a pathetic girl, he snarled, "Well I won't be making that mistake, again!"

Their blades connected. Physically, Barbossa was stronger, but Alexis had the rage and passion inside of her that had been building for ten long years. Staring into the eyes of the man as she fought him, time seemed still. The sounds of crossing swords from the pirates around them disappeared as Alexis focused everything on Barbossa; the one man who had taken her parents from her at an age much too young, and would have had her life too. Anger and sadness appeared to swallow her as the clash of metal on metal rang out.

Alexis stepped back as Barbossa shoved her back with his sword. The ground became unstable and she stumbled over something, falling backwards to the ground. Her blade slipped from her fingers. Feeling only regret that now she would never make him suffer the way she did, Alexis stared up at Barbossa, acknowledging her imminent fate,as he came to a stop at her feet.

"Ye should 'ave let me kill ye the first time round, girl," he laughed mirthlessly as he raised the sword in his hand above her.

A shout from the right caused both Alexis and Barbossa to turn. A sword flew towards her, and Alexis caught it without thinking. As Barbossa realized what was happening, he gripped the hilt of his blade tighter and struck down. Only having a second to react, Alexis thrust her sword up in desperation, stopping when she felt it make contact. Only this time, it did not meet metal.

Barbossa's yellow eyes went wide. Dropping to his knees before Alexis, he continued to stare at her as life began to drain away from him. He nodded his head once in her direction, as if in a sign of respect, before keeling to the side, where he remained still, never to rise again.

Author's Note: Yay! She's still alive! Ok, I am so sorry once again that it has taken this long for an update :( I have had so much work that I really haven't had anytime. I sincerely apoligize and hope you can forgive me! Oh, and the next chapter will, unfortunately, also be the last chapter :( I really hope you've enjoyed the story, and I'm going to try to get the last one up a lot faster!

Mystic Moon Maiden- Hehe, yep! She came back! I couldn't bring myself to kill her off, after all, she had to challenge Barbossa ;) Thankyou so much for your great review!
The Future Mrs. Jack Sparrow- 'Backs away from the large stick Mrs Sparrow is holding' Hehehe, I'm sorry! But she's back now! So it's all good ;)' Sorry I took so long to update! I'm gonna try very hard to get the last chapter up much quicker.
SpectralLady- Hehehe, it's alright! She's alive! And yep, your right, it is fun to kill off characters ;)
The EarthSong- Thanks for the review! Hope your enjoying the story! Nice name btw ;)