The Pivotal Five

Summary: Five great stories come together in an epic imbalance that sets the world of fantasy on its side. Each people from each story must learn to put their differences aside and work together to save their own world, and the world of reality.

Chapter 5: Stories and Feasts

The feast was almost completed when the Turner family showed up. Ann was still nowhere to be found. Elizabeth tried to keep herself calm by telling herself she'd find her before the Black Pearl left Tortuga's dock. Little did she know of the new cabin 'boy' who was helping prepare the feast.

"You'll let me with you on your adventures, right, Captain?" Ann asked anxiously. Jack was overseeing everything before he greeted his guests.

"Of course. You've got to do your job, though. I won't have a sloth working for me," Jack warned.

Ann nodded vigorously.

"That's a girl. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go placate your mother." Jack smiled and left Ann in the galley.

"I don't understand how you are able to work here," a voice came out from the shadows.

"I don't understand it, either," said Ann. She looked at the new cook that Jack acquired in Tortuga.

She was a young woman and her name was Cesair Finn. Flaring red hair spiraled down her back, almost to the floor. Fierce gray looked out of round eyes. Lips that begged to be telling a tale were thin and almost colorless. Her eyes set off her translucent skin, and the lack of coloring in it almost gave her the appearance of being dead. Her voice was low and resonating with an Irish lilt, compelling one to listen to her yarns.

"Miss Finn, am I needed?" Ann asked.

"Not at the moment. The only thing left to do is wait for the heat to cook the food. Why are you here?" Cesair asked.

"I'm looking for something other than my boring life," Ann replied honestly.

A smile tugged at the corners of Cesair's mouth. "This certainly won't be boring. After this stop, the captain will be looking for something to do. Would you like me to tell you about what I am going to tell him?"

"Oh, yes, please!" Ann beseeched, thinking Cesair knew almost everything.

"Midas was a great king. He was just and kind. There was only one thing wrong with him."

Ann stared at Cesair, entreating her to go on.

"He was obsessed with gold. He had numerous cellars, filled to the brim with gold. Yet he wanted more. One day, a god named Dionysus gave King Midas one wish. Midas wished that everything he touched be turned to gold." Cesair paused for dramatic effect. If there was anything she knew how to do, it was to tell a story.

"What happened then?" Ann asked breathlessly, held captive by Cesair's abilities.

"The wish was granted. Every single thing Midas touched turned into solid gold. At first he was thrilled. Then he tried to eat. He grabbed an apple, but was disappointed when he bit into it, almost breaking his teeth. He was dying of starvation after a while. Once he had forgotten his curse, and tried to hug his daughter." Ann gasped predictably. "She was immediately changed to gold. Oh how Midas grieved! So he went back to Dionysus and demanded his wish be taken away. Dionysus told him that in order to do this, he must cut off his left hand. And he did."

"Why would you tell the captain about this?" Ann interrupted.

"Hush. I am not finished," Cesair said impatiently. "The Hand of Midas exists, and will still turn anything it touches into gold. And I know where to find it. I've sailed the ocean my whole life. I was actually born on a ship. My family would have taken the Hand of Midas, but we were too slow to catch it, for it is in a city that was built on the back of a giant turtle. Every other month the turtle sinks below the water, and the city is preserved in the depths. But when it reaches the surface, its glory is presented to the sun for the next month. It never moves."

"So, we're going to go find the Hand of Midas? Marvelous," Ann remarked.

Cesair, satisfied that she had entertained the young Turner girl, went back to the food. "It is all ready. Would you like to eat in here, now, or would you like to serve?" she asked.

"I'd like to eat in here. If my mother finds me, I'll be in deep trouble," Ann replied, embarrassed.

"Understood, young one."

Ann was given her food, and she ate at the crew table, which was empty. It was in a room directly next to the fancy dining room, where her parents and siblings were eating.

"Elizabeth, you must eat more than that. Manners don't matter on a pirate ship, love," Jack gently chided.

"I'm not terribly hungry, Jack. My apologies. I worry about Ann. Where is she now? Will I ever get her back?" she explained, her voice laced with apprehension.

"Darling, you heard Jack. No one will hurt her in Tortuga. They know she's too young to be hired for anything," Will comforted.

"I'll help you find her. I'll see if I can have her returned to you before we set sail out of Tortuga, again," Jack promised. "It'll take a fee, as I've been out of business and haven't had any plunder in a long time."

"Alright," Elizabeth agreed.

"How much?" Will asked.

Ann listened with increasing fury. That was why Jack let her stay aboard. So he could wheedle money out of her parents! The outrage! Ann washed her dishes quickly and hid in the compartment she found in her room. She had to stand on her little table to get in. She barely fit in it, and she doubted Jack knew it was there.

After everyone left the ship, Jack walked into Ann's room to talk to her. "Ann, where are you?" he asked in a suspiciously innocent tone, supposedly to no one.

Before she knew what was going on, she was tumbling out of the compartment. "Oof!" she breathed as she fell on Jack.

"Trying to hide on me, wee one?" he asked drolly as he stood up.

"You dishonest lout!" Ann screamed. She slowly headed for the door.

Jack heaved a great sigh. "Pirate," he reminded.

"You could have just captured me and asked for a ransom. You would have gotten more, then," Ann spat.

"I could have, but then your parents wouldn't like me half as much. No, no, that wouldn't work. Now, do you really think that I intend to give you to your parents, after I agreed to pay you an adult's wage for sailing in my crew?" he inquired.

Then Ann realized that he meant to let her sail under him. "No," she mumbled, an embarrassed blush playing along her cheeks.

"Right then. We're setting sail very early tomorrow. So I want you to get some rest," he commanded.

"Yes, sir," said Ann respectfully. "Captain, are we searching for the Hand of Midas?" she asked.

Jack chuckled. "Indeed." He then turned and headed out of her room.

Excitement filled Ann as she got into her bedclothes. She dreamed of a giant turtle, and a white city on its back.

They were off the next morning before dawn faded. They sailed quickly, as to lose any ships the Turners would send after realizing that Ann had been aboard the Black Pearl the whole time.

(A/N: I am very sorry about this taking so long. It's a fun story, I'm tellin' ya, if only I could get to the parts where everything clashes together. -sigh-. I sincerely hope you who reviewed will stay patient. I've got bits and pieces written, and I'll try and tie it up before everything meets. It's becoming quite large.

Hartwood: Thanks for reading beyond HP (if you did, anyhow). It is only 1/5 of the whole thing… o.o;; Thanks for reviewing!!

Ev Blue Song: I expected people to be a bit…well…weirded out by Fay. It's just that I can't see Artemis Fowl without her now that I've gotten to know how they react to each other…Don't worry. Lord of the Rings is coming. And then you get to yell at me by telling me how I put them all out of cannon…lol, jk. XD Read my profile for specifications on when LOTR will join in. Thank you for reviewing!)