Chapter 21: Thank You

Jack held the crown in his hands and marveled at its beauty as he turned it over again and again. Will let out a sigh of relief thinking to himself, "it's finally over."

Jack stood up and looked toward his crew. "Gents. We finally got what we set out to find, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without me fine crew."

The pirates lifted their cutlass' in the air and began to cheer loudly but it was soon silenced as out of nowhere the same scene they had witnessed just moments before appeared in their very midst. Jack and Will were right by the trunk where the same girl was tied to, and there she was again. Those black cloaked apparitions were floating about in their same ritual dance. Jack and the rest of the crew were utterly confused. How could it be that the same scenario was re-playing yet again. The one with the knife stood before the girl and lifted his hands to bring the deadly weapon down on her, but before the blade reached its target, Jack threw himself in between the girl and her ghostly murderer. The knife went right through him, but the ghosts continued as though nothing had happened and disappeared the same way they did last time. Jack turned around and the girl that had been tied to the trunk before was standing there with a look of shock and relief. The ropes had fallen off and she looked….human.

Jack stepped over slowly and stood by Will and he whispered, "Will? Do you see the same thing I think I'm seeing?"

Will just nodded his head unable to speak. This has certainly been a long night for everyone involved.

The girl looked towards Jack and spoke. "Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome, but what exactly is it that I did?" He answered, more confused than he ever has been.

She smiled as she answered him, "For breaking the curse. I was killed here many years ago by the people that lived on this island. They kidnapped me from my ship and used me as a sacrifice. After they killed me, though, a terrible plague wiped out their entire village. But I remained cursed to live the same night they killed me over and over again. That is, until you saved me."

Jack's eyes were wide in disbelief as he listened to her story. He had seen many things in his lifetime that played with the boundaries of reality, but things like this never ceased to amaze him. The girl was turning to leave and Jack stopped her, "Wait! What's ye're name miss?"

She turned around and looked at him and with a smile on her face said, "Princess Doria."

With that, she turned again to leave and as she walked towards the trees a brilliant white light appeared and she was gone. Will and the crew looked towards Jack who stayed staring at the spot where the princess was just seconds ago. He finally turned around and with the crown firmly in his hands, began his trek back to the ship. "Let's get back to the Pearl mates, we have a crown that needs deliverin'." Before they could take one more step Jack saw in the trees what looked to be an old woman walking away and then disappear. He shrug it off thinking it must be his eyes playing tricks on him and he continued his path.

They all followed Jack back down the trail. The sun had begun to appear and they could see their way much better now. The oil for their lamps had long been gone. Each man's face showed how tired and bewildered they were, no thanks to the many events they endured during this long night. As they finally reached the Pearl and walked up the plank, his ears heard the most wonderful thing he could think of.

"Daddy!" Celeste ran into his arms and he lifted her up into the air and brought her back down to give her a big hug. As he cradled her against his chest, Angela and Brennan walked across the deck to greet Will who grabbed both of them in his arms and squeezed them both tightly. Jack set Celeste down and took her by the hand as he walked to his room. When he opened the door there was Romi sitting up in their bed, she smiled when she saw him enter the room. He just stood at the door with his little girl beside him.

"I heard Celeste call you and it woke me up." She swallowed hard trying to contain her emotions.

Jack gave her his infamous grin and it was all she needed to come undone. He walked to the bed and put his arms around her gently. He buried his face in her hair and inhaled her beautiful scent. Celeste stood at the door watching her parents. "Ew, you guys are going to get all lovey aren't you?" She started to turn and leave and with her back to them she had a smile on her face, looking very much like her father's, and she scurried off.

Jack lifted his head to look into his wife's hazel green eyes. They were filled with tears. "I was so scared that something happened to you."

"Luv, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." He said with enough cockiness to bring a smile to her face. He brought his lips down and kissed her gently.

"Did you find the crown?"

He brought it up and placed it on her head. "Aye, of course I did. Now we just have to sail back to Italy and return it to the king where I will finally be excused of my piracy. And with the reward we'll be gettin', we won't have to worry about lootin' anymore."

Romi looked at him with utter disbelief on her face.

"Well, maybe no lootin' for a little while." He said as he laughed out loud.

Jack lay back in the bed with Romi in his arms and breathed a sigh of relief to know it was done and over with. They will set sail first thing tomorrow morning so his crew can get some rest for the long travel back to Italy.

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