The Crown And The Island Of Fantasma
Part 2 from The Coast of Spain
I did research and in the 16 and 1700s Italy did have kings and queens. Just a note.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from POTC.
Chapter 1- A Certain Golden Crown
It was past midnight and the town of Tortuga was very much awake. The sounds of men fighting and laughing, the women giggling and talking. The streets were filled with these people. Drunks, prostitutes, sailors and pirates. There was one man who sashayed down an oddly empty and dark street with only the moonlight and the lights of nearby taverns to illuminate his way. His hands dangling in a feminine manner as he walked. The several trinkets in his hair and beard bouncing back and forth clicking against each other. His tri-corner hat sat on his dark hair just over his eyes. He stopped and looked up at the moon and the light shone on his handsome face. He grinned and continued on his way. He arrived at a small cottage and knocked on the wooden door. A small old woman appeared as she cracked the door enough to see who was there.
"Who are ye?" She asked with a high pitched annoyed voice.
"I'm looking for Susanna Roth. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He gave a polite bow.
The woman looked him over. "Captain Sparrow aye?" She opened the door more, turned and walked to a chair near the fireplace. Jack came inside and shut the door behind him. The old woman sat down and motioned for Jack to do the same. "Come, sit."
Jack in the chair across from her.
"So why are ye lookin' for me Captain Sparrow?"
"I heard ye know the whereabouts of a certain golden crown that supposedly once belonged to princess Doria of Italy some 70 years ago."
The woman glared at Jack. "Why do ye be wantin' to know? Hmm? A pirate ye are. All ye want is the crown to keep for ye'r selfish ways. Ye'll probably sell it for a bottle of rum!" Her arms were flying around as she yelled at Jack who just lowered his head and stared at the floor annoyed with this woman and her accusations.
"I need to know because the reigning King Ferdinando wants it back. It belongs to the family."
She didn't believe him. "Why would the King of Italy want a pirate to help him find it?"
"He has sent many of his sailors out to find it and all have come back empty handed. He apparently heard of my travels and reputation of being the best pirate that ever sailed these waters." He gave a smug, quirky grin. "And when I had visited the island of Sicily, he heard that I was there and requested my presence at once. The King wants me to find this crown and return it to him and he will then excuse me of my charges of piracy. Not to mention the hefty reward I'll be getting." He smiled a mouth full of golden teeth.
The woman had calmed down now. "I see. I suppose I should be trustin' ye then Sparrow."
Jack nodded. "I am an honest man Ms. Roth. By the way, if ye are so concerned over this crown why have ye never helped anyone find it?"
She smiled. "Not many people would be so courageous to go where this crown is hidden. A few have come to me many years ago and when I tell them where it is located, they think I've either gone daft or become too frightened to go on the quest. I've 'eard of ye and the things ye have gone through Sparrow. The cursed treasure of Cortez and all."
Jack was very much intrigued at this point. "Where is the crown?"
Susanna leaned in towards Jack and put her hands together as if to pray. "It is hidden on the island called Fantasma."
Jack gave her an incredulous look. "That island is not but a ghost story. Nothin' more than an old legend that doesn't exist."
"This is the reason no one has yet to find the crown of Doria. They dismiss it as a fable. Something that was made up to frighten people. But it is very much real. I have seen it with me own eyes!"
"How do ye know where the crown is?"
Susanna leaned back into her chair and placed her hands on her lap. The flickering of the fire glowed upon her white hair and accented her wrinkled face. "I was a young handmaiden of 15 aboard the ship Doña Anna. Princess Doria was aboard this ship. We had sailed into a fierce storm and the ship had hit a land no one was able to see through the rain and the waves. We had no choice but to stay there till mornin'. Before the sun rose, we looked for Princess Doria but she was nowhere to be found. We searched the island but did not find her. The ship had an enormous hole that was unfixable. With the boats we had we managed to leave the island, but some were left behind to find the princess and bring her home. We sailed for a long time, not knowin' where we were. Finally we made it to Tortuga and as the others left to return to Italy, I stayed 'ere. I 'eard she was never found and the ones that were left to find her, never returned home. They tried findin' the island again but failed to locate its whereabouts."
Jack's eyes were wide. If this was true this woman was 85 years old. She most definitely looked it too. He played around with this information in his mind as he stroked his beard.
"How do ye know where the island is if no one can find it?"
"When I was on that island, and we were searchin' for the princess, I had gotten lost in the thick forest. I 'eard a scream and turned my head to see the princess tied to a wooden pole stuck in the ground." She swallowed hard. "She was so frightened. I saw suddenly there were people around her, but these people, they had no legs. They seemed to be floatin'. She looked at me with wide eyes pleading for me to help her, but by seeing me, one of those things turned and stared straight at me. I looked into cold eyes that seemed to cut off my breathin'. I saw death in those eyes! I managed to break the stare and ran off as fast as I could. I found the others but was so frightened by what I saw I couldn't speak even after we left the island. When we did leave, I stayed awake the entire time, not being able to shut my eyes for the vision of what I saw in those eyes came to me every time I closed them." Her eyes were wide and she pointed to her temple. "The map of the island is ingrained in me head."
Jack felt a cold shudder go down his spine. "Will ye go wit' me then to find this island?"
The old woman laughed. "My dear Captain, I will show you how to get there. No more. No less."
Jack was visibly unnerved by this woman and her tales. But he was Captain Jack Sparrow. The most fearsome pirate that ever did sail. "Alright then, show me how to get there and I will return after finding this crown and give ye a small reward for yer help. Do we have an accord?" He put his hand out to shake on it and the old woman hesitantly took it.
After giving Jack the coordinates he excused himself and left the house. He walked back down the dark street with the old woman staring after him in her doorway for a moment then shut her door.
Jack swayed back down the street though a little less confident this time than when he first did.
He arrived at the port and looked at his grand ship. Ah yes the Black Pearl. He thought about the adventures he has seen with this ship. The crewmates that came and went. He remembered the death of his first mate Joshamee Gibbs. He sighed heavily at that thought. He was a good man. A good pirate. He thought now about the precious treasures his ship held. His beautiful wife Romi and daughter Celeste. Celeste was now 7 and grew more and more lovely everyday. His chest swelled with pride. Will had joined his crew and brought his wife Angela and son Brennan who was 8 years old. Will had wanted to stay with Jack after they found the treasure of Captain Ramos, but with Angela being pregnant, he wanted to wait till his son was old enough. Yes the Black Pearl held many treasures inside and once again she was going to assist Jack in yet another adventure.
HELLO ALL! HOPE YOU LIKE THE FIRST CHAPTER! THERE MAY BE THINGS IN THE STORY THAT YOU WON'T RECOGNIZE UNLESS YOU READ THE COAST OF SPAIN. PLEASE R&R!!!!
Part 2 from The Coast of Spain
I did research and in the 16 and 1700s Italy did have kings and queens. Just a note.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from POTC.
Chapter 1- A Certain Golden Crown
It was past midnight and the town of Tortuga was very much awake. The sounds of men fighting and laughing, the women giggling and talking. The streets were filled with these people. Drunks, prostitutes, sailors and pirates. There was one man who sashayed down an oddly empty and dark street with only the moonlight and the lights of nearby taverns to illuminate his way. His hands dangling in a feminine manner as he walked. The several trinkets in his hair and beard bouncing back and forth clicking against each other. His tri-corner hat sat on his dark hair just over his eyes. He stopped and looked up at the moon and the light shone on his handsome face. He grinned and continued on his way. He arrived at a small cottage and knocked on the wooden door. A small old woman appeared as she cracked the door enough to see who was there.
"Who are ye?" She asked with a high pitched annoyed voice.
"I'm looking for Susanna Roth. I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He gave a polite bow.
The woman looked him over. "Captain Sparrow aye?" She opened the door more, turned and walked to a chair near the fireplace. Jack came inside and shut the door behind him. The old woman sat down and motioned for Jack to do the same. "Come, sit."
Jack in the chair across from her.
"So why are ye lookin' for me Captain Sparrow?"
"I heard ye know the whereabouts of a certain golden crown that supposedly once belonged to princess Doria of Italy some 70 years ago."
The woman glared at Jack. "Why do ye be wantin' to know? Hmm? A pirate ye are. All ye want is the crown to keep for ye'r selfish ways. Ye'll probably sell it for a bottle of rum!" Her arms were flying around as she yelled at Jack who just lowered his head and stared at the floor annoyed with this woman and her accusations.
"I need to know because the reigning King Ferdinando wants it back. It belongs to the family."
She didn't believe him. "Why would the King of Italy want a pirate to help him find it?"
"He has sent many of his sailors out to find it and all have come back empty handed. He apparently heard of my travels and reputation of being the best pirate that ever sailed these waters." He gave a smug, quirky grin. "And when I had visited the island of Sicily, he heard that I was there and requested my presence at once. The King wants me to find this crown and return it to him and he will then excuse me of my charges of piracy. Not to mention the hefty reward I'll be getting." He smiled a mouth full of golden teeth.
The woman had calmed down now. "I see. I suppose I should be trustin' ye then Sparrow."
Jack nodded. "I am an honest man Ms. Roth. By the way, if ye are so concerned over this crown why have ye never helped anyone find it?"
She smiled. "Not many people would be so courageous to go where this crown is hidden. A few have come to me many years ago and when I tell them where it is located, they think I've either gone daft or become too frightened to go on the quest. I've 'eard of ye and the things ye have gone through Sparrow. The cursed treasure of Cortez and all."
Jack was very much intrigued at this point. "Where is the crown?"
Susanna leaned in towards Jack and put her hands together as if to pray. "It is hidden on the island called Fantasma."
Jack gave her an incredulous look. "That island is not but a ghost story. Nothin' more than an old legend that doesn't exist."
"This is the reason no one has yet to find the crown of Doria. They dismiss it as a fable. Something that was made up to frighten people. But it is very much real. I have seen it with me own eyes!"
"How do ye know where the crown is?"
Susanna leaned back into her chair and placed her hands on her lap. The flickering of the fire glowed upon her white hair and accented her wrinkled face. "I was a young handmaiden of 15 aboard the ship Doña Anna. Princess Doria was aboard this ship. We had sailed into a fierce storm and the ship had hit a land no one was able to see through the rain and the waves. We had no choice but to stay there till mornin'. Before the sun rose, we looked for Princess Doria but she was nowhere to be found. We searched the island but did not find her. The ship had an enormous hole that was unfixable. With the boats we had we managed to leave the island, but some were left behind to find the princess and bring her home. We sailed for a long time, not knowin' where we were. Finally we made it to Tortuga and as the others left to return to Italy, I stayed 'ere. I 'eard she was never found and the ones that were left to find her, never returned home. They tried findin' the island again but failed to locate its whereabouts."
Jack's eyes were wide. If this was true this woman was 85 years old. She most definitely looked it too. He played around with this information in his mind as he stroked his beard.
"How do ye know where the island is if no one can find it?"
"When I was on that island, and we were searchin' for the princess, I had gotten lost in the thick forest. I 'eard a scream and turned my head to see the princess tied to a wooden pole stuck in the ground." She swallowed hard. "She was so frightened. I saw suddenly there were people around her, but these people, they had no legs. They seemed to be floatin'. She looked at me with wide eyes pleading for me to help her, but by seeing me, one of those things turned and stared straight at me. I looked into cold eyes that seemed to cut off my breathin'. I saw death in those eyes! I managed to break the stare and ran off as fast as I could. I found the others but was so frightened by what I saw I couldn't speak even after we left the island. When we did leave, I stayed awake the entire time, not being able to shut my eyes for the vision of what I saw in those eyes came to me every time I closed them." Her eyes were wide and she pointed to her temple. "The map of the island is ingrained in me head."
Jack felt a cold shudder go down his spine. "Will ye go wit' me then to find this island?"
The old woman laughed. "My dear Captain, I will show you how to get there. No more. No less."
Jack was visibly unnerved by this woman and her tales. But he was Captain Jack Sparrow. The most fearsome pirate that ever did sail. "Alright then, show me how to get there and I will return after finding this crown and give ye a small reward for yer help. Do we have an accord?" He put his hand out to shake on it and the old woman hesitantly took it.
After giving Jack the coordinates he excused himself and left the house. He walked back down the dark street with the old woman staring after him in her doorway for a moment then shut her door.
Jack swayed back down the street though a little less confident this time than when he first did.
He arrived at the port and looked at his grand ship. Ah yes the Black Pearl. He thought about the adventures he has seen with this ship. The crewmates that came and went. He remembered the death of his first mate Joshamee Gibbs. He sighed heavily at that thought. He was a good man. A good pirate. He thought now about the precious treasures his ship held. His beautiful wife Romi and daughter Celeste. Celeste was now 7 and grew more and more lovely everyday. His chest swelled with pride. Will had joined his crew and brought his wife Angela and son Brennan who was 8 years old. Will had wanted to stay with Jack after they found the treasure of Captain Ramos, but with Angela being pregnant, he wanted to wait till his son was old enough. Yes the Black Pearl held many treasures inside and once again she was going to assist Jack in yet another adventure.
HELLO ALL! HOPE YOU LIKE THE FIRST CHAPTER! THERE MAY BE THINGS IN THE STORY THAT YOU WON'T RECOGNIZE UNLESS YOU READ THE COAST OF SPAIN. PLEASE R&R!!!!