Summary: The movie was never made. But, in the past, it all really did happen. A Medallion's missing and in the future, a young woman holds it as a family heirloom. Much to her suprise -and dismay-, she is transported back in time and must face danger and adventure that she never would have imagined experiencing. Self-insertion fic.
Rating: PG-13
Reviews:
Pirate Gyrl: It's not a problem ^^ I know what its like to not have any time. You really think its getting good? ^_^ If you do, yay! I'll try to keep on doing that. And I like Elizabeth and Jessica's dialogue differences too, ^^ Even though she's dressed from that period, her speech implys she's not from the 18th century. I've actually only seen it 6 times, but the scripts are wondeful, ;)
aniron1: Thanks, ^^ Jess will have a bigger part in chapters to come, and in this one, :) its bigger than the last one anyhow. And thats the only costume I've actually made that I've semi-designed. I have alot more coming up though: I'm working on a nightgown (I'm using Elizabeth's as a template) and a 18th century short dress, then I plan on making a Christmas dress ^^
saiyan-girl-cheetah: Maybe she will fall for someone, ^^ Nothings actually determined... plus theres still some ways to go... Thanks for pointing out those errors! Whew! I fixed them but, I hadn't caught them... ^^;; then not running it through spell check really causes problems x.x; I got lazy... ^^ thanks for the review and keep readin! Tell me if I need to improve on this chapter, ^^ I find it a bit weak...¬.¬
Disclaimer: Not mine. Unfortunately... 'tis Disneys... *le sigh* I only own me...
14 days left...!!!!
Chapter Five: No Knight in Shining Armor
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Elizabeth sat by the windows at the stern. Her eyes moved over the slate grey waters below as rain softly pounded against the glass. She let out a sigh as the sea rolled, calmly, yet menacingly. There was no escape there. She looked over her shoulder and spotted Jessica: she was sitting on the floor, once again dressed in her dark blue dress while Elizabeth hadn't changed back into her nightshift. She couldn't help but wonder what was going through that dark head of Jessica's. For the most part, she seemed calm, unafraid.
That wasn't the case. Jessica was scared, maybe even more so than Elizabeth was. But she hid it as best she could: if there was one thing Jessica prided herself in, it was her ability to put on a good show. A believable one at that. No one could ever tell what was really going on inside. And that's just how she liked it.
The two couldn't have been quieter. If the circumstances had been different, maybe the two would have been talking and getting to know each other but, the situation they were in didn't exactly provoke conversation.
Outside, they could hear a voice calling out; both of they're heads went up and they looked to the door.
"I don't think we're moving." Elizabeth stated quietly as Jessica stood up and walked over to the window beside her.
"I think your right." Jessica agreed, narrowing her eyes slightly to see better out of the now fogged up windows.
******
High on the main mast, Twigg cupped his hands over his mouth and called down to the weather deck, "Isla de Muerta! Isla de Muerta, off the port bow!" His scratchy voice called.
Below, Barbossa stepped to the railing and looked above his head: the storm clouds were slowly dissipating. His gaze then lowered to the horizon where the dark, ominous shape of Isla de Muerta seemed to float. It was an unfriendly sight to behold, with its dangerous cliffs that shot straight into the water. His aged hands grasped the railing as his face reflected a mixture of loathing and fear.
Jacoby approached, slightly hesitant, "Orders, Captain?" He inquired.
"Bring her in, not too close. I won't brave the reef... not until high tide. We lay anchor before dark," Barbossa informed him.
Jacoby nodded and backed away as the Captain continued to stare, "That is, if it doesn't sink back down to Hell where it came from..." he growled.
There was silence on the deck, the crew worked silently, almost as if they feared making any sound. Ragetti and Pintel were busy coiling rope when Barbossa called out to them.
"Aye, Cap'n?" Pintel stalked up; the younger, one-eyed pirate behind him.
"Go fetch Miss Jeffrey."
******
Jessica and Elizabeth were standing at the window when a loud knock drew them from the safety of they're own minds. The both turned around and stood side by side as the door opened. What a sight they were, they way they appeared was almost completely different from each other: Elizabeth stood regally, her honey colored hair still curly as it was natural, still wearing the plum silk dress, her skin slightly tanned. Jessica stood plainly, her shoulders dropped as her dark brown hair was straight as sticks; her skin pale in comparison to Elizabeth's as freckles speckled her cheeks beneath her dark green eyes while her navy blue and gold dress was open in front like a robe, revealing her jupe, corset and shift beneath that.
Pintel and Ragetti both stepped in the room, the shorter man's hand resting on the butt of his pistol; "Cap'n Barbossa want's a word with ye, Miss Jeffrey." He gave a terrible smile that made Jessica's insides squirm.
Elizabeth pushed the shorter girl to the side and stepped forward, "What is it he wants?" She questioned, but it sounded like more of a demand, and it was met with a harsh slap from Pintel, who had crossed the floor, after it passed through her lips.
"Hold yer tongue!" He snapped as Elizabeth held her cheek and stepped back, glancing at Jessica before staring back at the two pirates.
Jessica wanted to ask the very same, but her cheek was still sore from when she was slapped just a few days prior by Bo'Sun. She stepped forward and walked by the man, heading out to the weather deck, assuming that's where the Captain was waiting for her. What does he want? She asked herself in thought, trying to suppress a shiver as the damp air washed over her once she passed through the doors. They closed behind her and the two Pirates who were sent to fetch her followed her closely.
Swallowing, Jessica held her chin up and balled her hands into fists at her sides. To her right, she could see the outline of the Captain in the fog. She started to walk in that direction, the shoes she had been provided with the previous night thumping along the planks of the deck. She stopped a few feet behind him. "...You..." (she stopped herself from saying bellowed) "...called?" She questioned as she folded her arms over her chest.
Barbossa turned and smiled that smile that made her feel sick. "Aye," He clasped his hands behind his back and then circled her, as a predator would his prey. She stared straight ahead, catching a glimpse of the island in the distance, but made no move to imply that.
"Care to share why?" She asked cautiously, earning a small grunt from him as he stepped him beside her.
"Miss Jeffrey, I think its time we discussed ye part to play in this grand scheme. Ye see: Miss Turner's blood is the only blood we need, leaving you unharmed. All we need from you, is this bit of shine," He slipped his finger under the chain and pulled it up, watching the pendant dangle from it. "But, since me and me crew haven't the foggiest idea of how to send you back to your time, I was wonderin', what am I to do with you?"
Jessica's heard skipped a beat. Oh wonderful... here it comes... She thought as she clenched her teeth together and unconciously let her fingernails dig into the flesh of her palms as she balled her fists tighter, she winced slightly. A knot formed in her throat.
He dropped the chain and grinned when he noticed the slight heave in her chest and her shoulders move a little as her fists tightened. "Now, I've thought of all the possibilities," He walked toward the rail again and placed a hand on the hilt of his cutlass, "I could let me crew have they're way with ye, and then let them throw ye overboard," He smiled wickedly and took pleasure in the look of fear and disgust that crossed her face, "Or, I could keep ye aboard and make swab the decks, serve meals and perhaps a few other things for me."
Jessica didn't like the way he said other. She tried to swallow the knot in her throat, but failed. She pressed her lips into a tight line. She didn't like her options, however, serving meals and swabbing decks appealed to her much more than being ravaged by the entire crew and then thrown overboard to fend for herself and most likely drown.
Barbossa smiled at her silence: he knew what one she would pick. But he wanted to hear it from her, "Well?"
She closed her eyes tightly and then let out a small grunt, "I guess I'll have to choose the latter..." I can't believe I'm doing this... Frowning, she drew in a deep breath.
His lips curled into his wicked smile as he stepped toward her, "That's a good lass." He put a hand on her shoulder and turned her to face Pintel and Ragetti who still stood behind her, though a bit farther back. He nodded to them and they moved forward to escort her back to her cabin.
******
Jack and Will had been busy: Will found out his father was really a Pirate rather than a Merchant Marine, they had sailed to Tortuga, gotten a crew, survived a storm and were now nearing Isla de Muerta.
The Pirate Captain --Jack-- leaned over and studied something that was cupped between his hands: his compass. Though, the position he was in gave one the idea he was praying.
The compass had an old-fashioned rose petal style direction marker below the quivering indicator that spun before settling on southeast.
"Bare three points starboard." He spoke gruffly from where he stood to the slender, dark skinned woman who held tightly to the wheel. She turned it, adjusting the course as the ship leaned into a new direction.
Jack looked back down at the face of the compass; it spun again, reversed and then rested on northeast. "Six points port."
The woman frowned, but followed the order, reversing the wheel and feeling as the ship followed the command of the steer.
Will worked on the deck, coiling a rope and watching Jack and the woman. His expression clearly showed he wasn't very happy with the situation. Behind him, an older man -Joshamee Gibbs-- with graying chop sideburns stepped up.
"Left handed ropes are coiled against the sun, or its back luck!" He twirled a finger, "Anti-clockwise." He took the rope from Will as the ship-changed course again.
Mr. Turner had enough. Will needed to know some things.
"How is it Jack came by that compass?"
"Not much is know about Jack Sparrow before he showed up in Tortuga with a mind to go after the treasure of Isla de Muerta. That was before I met him, back when he was Captain of the Pearl."
"What? He didn't tell me that." Will glared.
"Ah, he's learned to play things closer to the vest now." Gibbs nodded, approvingly. "See, Jack was a mapmaker back in Old England an' somehow, he came upon money to commission the Pearl, hire himself a crew: promising each an equal share." He lowered his voice and Will leaned in, eager to learn about the man he had struck a bargain with, "So, they're forty days out, and the First Mate says, 'Everything's in equal share as should be the location of the treasure, too.' So, Jack gives up the bearin's: that night, there was a mutiny."
Will narrowed his eyes, disguising his shock and leaned in to listen as Gibbs voice dropped to but a whisper, "They marooned Jack on an island and left him to die... but not before he'd gone mad with the heat."
"Ah," Will stood up straight, "So that's the reason for the..." He swaggered around, acting like Jack.
Gibbs shook his head; "Reason's got nothin' to do with it. Now, Will," He lowered his voice again, causing Mr. Turner to lean in closer once more, "When a man is marooned, he's given a pistol with a single shot: well, it won't do much good hunting or to be rescued. But, after three days of starvin' belly and thirst, that pistol starts to look real friendly..." Gibbs held up two fingers and tapped them against his temple, "But, Jack made it off that island and still has that one shot."
Will laced his eyebrows together and Gibbs laughed just a little, "Oh, he won't use it though. Save for one man: his mutinous first mate."
"Barbossa."
"Aye." Gibbs nodded.
"...How did Jack get off that island?"
"Well, I'll tell you: He waded out into the shallows and here he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature came and acclimated to his presence. And then on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, harnessed them together and made himself a raft!" Gibbs smiled broadly.
Will raised an eyebrow and looked at the older man skeptically, "...He roped a couple of sea turtles."
"Aye, sea turtles."
"What did he use for rope?"
Will's question stumped Gibbs. He pursed his lips and looked thoughtful, but his thoughts were interrupted as a heavy thump of someone's boots stopped beside the two men, they both looked up.
"Human hair. From my back." It was Jack; one hand was tucked in his sash as the other rested on the hilt of his cutlass. "Let go of the anchor!" He commanded over his shoulder and it was echoed.
"Young Mr. Turner and I are to go ashore."
"Captain!" Gibbs jumped up and moved closer to Jack "What if the worst should happen?"
"Keep to the code."
Will watched the two, listening carefully.
"Aye, the code..." Gibbs nodded.
******
Jessica paced the floor of the cabin, muttering to herself and using her hands as if she were talking. Elizabeth watched her with an odd expression, part of her wondering if she had gone mad, while the other wondered what she was saying to herself.
In part, Jessica did feel as if she were going mad. She had made a deal with a Devil, Barbossa. Maybe she should have just jumped overboard and let herself drown. Or let Bo'Sun drop her that first day she was on the Pearl. She was beginning to wonder if Death was a better option than the ones she had been given. But, being her scared self, she chose the latter. She would serve as the Captain and do his bidding. What in the world was wrong with her?
She wrung her hands as she turned and walked the other way. Oh God please... Jessica stopped and hung her head, her hands now resting limply at her sides. Why did I have to do that... Why?
"Jessica...? Are you alright?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
Jessica opened her eyes and looked up at the other woman. She shook her head and put her hands on her hips before suddenly outbursting, "No! No I'm not all right! Do I bloody look all right?!" She cried out, "Here I am, stuck in the past, kidnapped by Pirates who are going to make me a maid on this stupid ship, after being faced with the threat of being raped and thrown overboard! Then, ontop of that, they want to kill you so they can 'consummate' -or whatever- this curse so it'll be lifted and they can be human again! Yeah, sure, it's a good thing to want to be human but these guys are seriously disturbed! If they were back in my place in time, they would need a really good shrink!" Tears formed behind her pea green eyes.
Jessica's outburst was met with confusion on Elizabeth's part. Most of what she has said didn't really register in her mind, but she didn't say anything.
"And you know what?" Jessica sighed heavily, "If I ever manage to get back, I think I may need therapy too."
Elizabeth didn't know what to say on that matter, but she cleared her throat and thought it would do best to offer a bit of hope to the girl, at least offer her a bit of her own hope. "Jessica, my father and Commodore Norrington are most likely out looking for me... when they catch up with us, we'll be saved and you'll be able to get back to where you came from and we'll both be safe." She forced a smile.
"Sorry Liz," Jessica folded her arms and stared out the window, "Forgive me if I don't share that thought with you: your knight in shining armor may come to rescue you, but I don't have a knight in shining armor. Never have, and most likely, never will." She pressed a fist against her lips while she watched darkness fall over the sky. Her eyes going out of focus as she did, fighting the tears that had formed behind her eyes.
Elizabeth turned away, not wanting to say anything more.
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Another weak chapter x.x; Oi oi. It was supposed to be longer but, uh, I kinda got lazy. I love my job but, it really takes it all out of me T-T Updates may be even less frequent. This chapter has actually been "finished" for a few days.
Read. Review, be nice. You don't gotta like it...