First Challenge of The Brethren of the Pen:
"And then they made me their chief…"
Now that the shock was slowly disappearing Barbossa found himself enjoying this rather ridiculous situation. The sound of clinking swords in the dusty environment only increased that feeling. Almost care-less he pointed his sword at Jack who was cornered against a rock.
"So what now, Jack? Will it be two immortals locked in an epic battle until Judgement Day and trumpets sound?"
Jack rolled aside, replying "Or you could surrender."
Barbossa laughed to himself, typically Jack. Always had the gift of gab. Too bad that never led him to much good.
With an amused "Arrrr!" he continued his pursuit. From the corner of his eye he noticed the whelp and that Elizabeth girl -who had come out of the blue to join this party too- harassing one of his crewmembers. Let them be, Barbossa would concentrate on Jack.
For a while they fought again, the situation unlikely to change. Then all of a sudden there was a loud explosion. Little rocks of the ceiling dropped on his head and some movement behind him made him look around. Will, near the chest, Jack and the girl were surrounding him, silent and hopeful to finally settle things once and for all. Jack had pulled his pistol and held it pointed at him.
Barbossa sighed by the futility of this confrontation.
"Jack, what is it that you think you can achieve here? We can't die and we can't fight forever. We both know arguments nor agreements will save you here. Why couldn't you just for once accept things the way they were? Why did you have to come after me and your precious Pearl? WHY do you always think you're in control of the situation!"
Jack's blank expression made Barbossa go on. He grinned at a memory.
"You know, you really should have changed your attitude ten years ago already. Captain of the Pearl!", Barbossa said scornful.
"You were nothing but a weak, pathetic mug who wouldn't recognize a traitor even if he spat you in the face. Once I pointed out to your beloved yet born mutinous crew that they would need a man of strong deeds instead of weak words and agreements -especially with a so called curse involved- they didn't think twice and called me their chief… Another worthless, treacherous accord, you could say, but these simple creatures never realised. Except for your dear old friend Bill. But unfortunately for him his objections only helped me showing my crew how I turned my words into deeds… Hahaha. Too bad there truly was a curse and I actually needed that pathetic bunch of losers in order to lift it again…
You see, Jack, your problem is… you have believed in the power of your words too often when instead you should have more trusted on immediate action."
For a moment Jack's blank face brightened. A fraction of a second after that his single bullet left his gun and hit Barbossa in the chest.
"Ten years you carry that pistol and now you waste your shot." Barbossa was really surprised by Jack's stupidity and at the same time he felt a little amused, for once more it was proved Jack Sparrow could never act clever.
"He didn't waste it." It was the voice of the whelp, bitter yet calm.
Barbossa saw Jack throw the coin he bled on to Will who threw it –together with the coin he himself bled on- into Cortez' chest. Lightning struck Barbossa when he came to realise. Incredulous he looked at Jack who was just standing there with a look on his face he recognized as something you could call compassionate. But Jack didn't say a word.
Blood ran out of Barbossas' heart while he felt it pounding desperately and his knees started to buckle.
"I feel… cold", he said, vaguely surprised to see the cave's ceiling. Then there was just blackness.
Cold-hearted he had been indeed.
