AN: My Muse is back! I picked up the Visual Guide and the junior novelization to Dead Man's Chest. Definitely worth a read for all you diehards out there. Three more weeks!

I'm in the process of revamping this a bit. I'm only changing a few minor details, ie. How Jack and Evelyn get the Pearl, etc. to fit in better with Dead Man's Chest. I've also done some editing.

This chapter is entirely brand new!

This story contains SPOILERS! If you don't want to be spoiled, then wait until you've seen the movie, and then read it, okay? Okay!

Every Rose Has It's Thorns

Chapter Seven: The Flying Dutchman

Jack stood on the deck, more afraid than he had ever been in his life. He looked around him. At first it seemed that the ship was deserted. Slowly, one by one, crew members of the Dutchman came out of the woodwork. Literally. Covered in barnacles and seaweed, they approached the pair of pirates with curiosity. Jack stared at them wide eyed.

A man with a tentacled beard appeared in front of him out of the mist. Davy Jones.

"Ye seem ter have had a little trouble with yer ship, me boy," Jones said, eyeing the young man. "Yer so young."

Jack could do nothing but stare at the famed pirate. A creature so notoriously evil the devil himself was his equal.

"Why so silent?" Jones asked. "This just happens to be yer lucky day."

"I doubt that." Jack stared at the man, a little bit of bravery sparking within him.

Jones glared at him. "Hmmm…" He eyed the young girl that lay beside him. She awoke suddenly, shooting straight up. She looked around herself wildly. "And what be yer name, my dear?"

"Evelyn." She knew exactly where she was. She tried not to show any fear.

"Ye know why yer here, don't ye?" She nodded. "Well, then." He ran a tentacled hand through her hair. She winced as if his touch burned her. "Ye can either join me fer a lifetime or spend an eternity at the bottom of the sea. Choose."

"No, ye don't want her. She's a woman. Ye hate them, as I recall." Jack smiled. Evelyn's jaw dropped. He was trying to weasel his way out of death!

"A soul is a soul," Jones stared at her. "And she looks worth enough. Not to mention, the crew may fancy her." He took a step toward her, eyeing her up and down. Evelyn felt violated.

Jack stepped in between Evelyn and Jones. The supernatural pirate stared in his eyes. "I'll make a wager with you."

"It's not wise to bargain with the devil, boy." Jones raised the closest thing to an eyebrow he possessed.

"I'll take me chances." Jack stared right back, giving the man a toothy grin.

"Alright. Ye have me curiosity," Jones took a step back from him. "Wat did ye have in mind?"

"I'm willing to give you an eternity of my service, if you let her go, and give me The Black Pearl." Jack grinned.

Evelyn stared at him. The Black Pearl was a myth. Jack had mentioned to her once that he wished he'd had it, especially on days that the wind was slow. It was said to have been the fastest ship ever produced by man. However, it resided on the bottom of Davy Jones Locker. If raised from the bottom of the sea, it's speed could out match any ship. Even The Flying Dutchman herself.

"Ah," Davy Jones replied. "The Black Pearl." He scratched at his beard. "That story's still floating around, eh?"

"She's real isn't she?" Jack asked.

"Real enough." Jones stepped towards Jack, "I like you, me boy. You have a fire in you like none other." He leaned in, "You just may be worth that." Jack smiled.

"The woman stays. But ye'll serve as Captain aboard the Pearl for thirteen years, and then pay yer debt."

"She hasn't agreed to anything, yet." Jack stared at her.

"What'll it be my dear," Jones faced Evelyn with a sneer.

Evelyn stared at Jack. "Why?" She mouthed. Jack looked back at her with the most caring look he had ever given her. He was just as trapped as she was.

"I'd rather die than have to look at you for the next hundred years," She glared at Jones.

"Then so be-"

"Wait!" Jack shouted, once again stepping between Jones and Evelyn. "I'll roll you for it. If I lose, you get my nice, neatly wrapped little soul right now for an eternity, instead of waiting thirteen years for it. But let her go. She's only a child," he pleaded.

Davy Jones stared at him for a few moments. "She must mean an awful lot to you. But she's chosen." Evelyn started to fade into the mist.

"I love her!" Jack shouted. He was at the end of his rope. Davy Jones' eyes went wide at the outburst. "You remember what that's like. You would have died for her-"

"Enough!" Jones shouted. "Follow me." He led Jack into his cabin, leaving Evelyn to stew over Jack's profession.

A few moments later, they emerged from the cabin. A grin was plastered on Jack's face. Evelyn noticed that she was no longer transparent.

"You may leave," Jones said to Evelyn.

A great black ship rose from the dark waters of the Caribbean. Evelyn and Jack stared in awe at the Galleon before them. It was a haunting sight. Black to the core. Black sails, black deck, even the ornamentation was black. A woman holding a bird about to take flight was carved into the bow. Jack looked as if he was about to drool.

Evelyn was about to speak but she and Jack were transported onto The Black Pearl without a moments notice.

"See you in thirteen years Mr. Sparrow," Davy Jones voice boomed in the mist as his great ship disappeared into the briny deep.

Evelyn stared at her friend in awe. "You cheated death."

"For both of us," Jack said, slumping down to the deck. He let out a deep sigh.

"Why did you do that?" Evelyn sat across from him, her adrenaline racing so fast, her ailments no longer bothered her.

"It seemed like the opportune moment."

"Did you mean what ye said?" She stared at him, her brow creased.

He sat for a moment in silence and then shrugged. He smiled at her and took her hand in his.

She gave it a squeeze. "What about yer deal? Seems like you didn't quite escape unscathed."

"We'll worry about that later." He said simply.

Good ol' Jack, Evelyn thought, not even afraid of death itself. "So now what?" she asked.

"We stick to the plan. We need a crew." Jack rose and stalked to the helm. He ran his fingers over the wood of the wheel, caressing it. Evelyn stared at him and raised an eyebrow. He turned toward her and smiled. "Make way for Tortuga."

"Aye, aye, Capt'n." She turned to ready the sails. "By the by," she paused. "Why did you save me?"

Jack grinned, "Yer like the sea, luv. I just can't leave ye be."

For a moment, Evelyn didn't know how to respond. Then she stalked away from him not knowing whether to be terrified by his confession, or thrilled.

AN: Please tell me what you think whether you're a first time reader, or just rereading for the changes!