Me: Oh my gosh, I am so-so sorry that I haven't been updating! It's just that I've been really busy with homework and other stories!

Sirius: Good thing that you have today off, eh?

Me: You said it. Okay, today I have looks down a list Sirius to answer your reviews!

Sirius: All right, let's start with dan'sgirl: Well no DUH you hate it! It doesn't have Harry in it!

Silverpaw: Don't give him ideas!

jacksparrowsdaughter: Deal with it. And be kind! It's her first fic!

Me: But it's not my ONLY fic!

Elven-Roarior-Jeavryn: Oh yeah, she's tough! I can still feel it stinging!

Melissa: -grins-

Sirius: And last but not least, fierce as a tiger: I am honored that you think I'm cool. No, she's never heard of His Dark Materials and she's too lazy to get off her butt and update sooner.

Me: -decks him-

Disclaimer: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!

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"WHAT!" everyone exclaimed.

Melissa's head dropped back into her hands.

"I can't think of any other option!" she said. "Barbossa will kill us if we don't get rescued, and then he'll sail to Isla Demuarta!"

"So, in other words…?" John asked nervously. This time, Sirius answered.

"We're screwed."

Melissa tore her head from her hands and screamed.

"Ugh!" she said when she finally ran out of breath. "We're screwed, my dad doesn't even know where we're going, the only thing I can do is fight, and we can't even-"

She stopped, and everyone was shocked to see tears rolling down her face.

"My life is over!" she wailed. "I wanted to settle down with a man that I loved, have 2 kids, and watch them grow (A/N: hey, she's a girl! She's entitled to girly moments!)! Now I probably won't even live to 13!"

Everyone was speechless. John sat down next to her and faced her head towards him.

"Melissa, crying won't do anything," he said gently. "You're strong, smart, a bit dense at times, but your YOU. If you weren't you, who would you be? Think like YOU would. Think!"

Melissa stopped crying. She sat there for a moment, her eyes glazed over, deep in thought. Then she sprang into action.

"All right, listen up!" she barked, making everyone jump. "We'll split up into groups!"

"What's that going to do?" Sirius demanded. "We can go together!"

"I have a plan," she said simply. "And if one of us falls when we're together, then we all fall. If a single group falls, the rest of us still have a chance."

"That makes sense," Elizabeth said. Melissa grinned at her.

"Will and Elizabeth, you'll go together. Will, you'll probably have to use your other arm, seeing as your shoulder is broken. John, you'll go with Sirius-"

John interrupted her. "I'd rather go with you."

Melissa shook her head.

"We all need either a person who knows magic, or a swordsman. I can't go with you. You HAVE to go with Sirius. And besides-"

She grinned and shook her braid, where the diamond ring was still braided.

"I'm a big girl. Anyway, I'm going with Fred. Will and Elizabeth, I want you to sneak into Barbossa's quarters and try to find out as much as you can about his plans. Sirius and John, you two will try to incapacitate as many of the crew as you can with magic, muscles, or brains, seeing as they hate logic. Fred and I will…"

She stopped and grinned sheepishly.

"We'll do whatever we can."

Jack walked up to the harbor. It was midnight, and he and the crew were about to steal a ship to save Melissa.

"Are you ready?" he muttered to his crew. He saw the majority of the crew nod, and he crept onto the deck of a boat. He waved to everyone, and they jumped aboard.

"Alright, people! Let's hop to it!" he roared, and everyone scurried about, taking down the sails and such, as Anamaria took hold of the wheel. Jack grinned and lounged against the edge of the rail. Except for the fact that Melissa could very well be dead, he was where he belonged- out at sea.

"…And really bad eggs," he murmured as the ship took off.

A/N: YES! IT'S BEEN UPDATED!