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 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 Nine: The Mutiny

Two Years Later:

The Black Pearl, sailed mightily across the Caribbean. At her helm was Jack Sparrow, the ship's Captain and "partial owner", according to Evelyn. Jack steered the wheel with great care and focused most of his concentration on the horizon. The rest of his thoughts were focused on Evelyn as she played a little wooden flute while some of the crew members sang to the jaunty tune.

After months of pillaging their hearts out, Jack had decided he wanted to go after a much bigger prize: The Cursed Treasure of Cortez; A treasure that would bring great wealth to he and his crew. It amazed Evelyn that the curse legend didn't even bother Jack in the least after all he'd been through.

"Cap'n," Barbossa said as he came up behind Jack, breaking his thoughts, "Everything's in equal share."

"Ah, good then," Jack replied. "We should be ter the island in about…" He paused, looking at his compass, "a days time."

"Uh, sir," Barbossa started, "Maybe ye should give me the bearings fer the rest of the way. Ye look a little tired, mate."

"Alrigh'," Jack said, grinning. "Sounds fair 'nough. Come inter me cabin an' I'll tell ye the way."

"O'course sir," Barbossa said with a sneer. "Ye wouldn't want anyone ter overhear. I wouldn't trus' information like that ter just anyone."

Later that evening, Barbossa stood at the helm, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He was running everything over in his head, carefully scheming his plan.

"When do we start, sir?" Bo'sun asked him, a few pirates listening from behind.

"When the time is right, mate," Barbossa said, sneering. "Let's wait 'till the bugger's too drunk ter know what hit 'em, eh?"

"Aye, sir," Bo'sun replied, grinning.

Jack sat at the desk in his cabin, planning where to hide the loot they were after. He began to hum a one of the shanties he had heard Evelyn playing earlier until she walked into his cabin.

"Jack," Evelyn started, as she walked toward him, "'ave ye been in here all day?"

"Aye," Jack replied. "Why? Ye upset that ye had ter work up top deck rather than keepin' ol' Jack company?" He smirked at her.

"No," she answered impassively, "I was jes' wonderin' why Barbossa be at the helm when we're so close ter Isle de le Muerta." She glowered at him.

"I gave him the bearings," Jack said, standing.

Evelyn looked perplexed. She didn't think Jack trusted the man THAT much. Infact, she didn't trust the man at all.

"What?" Jack asked seeing the look upon her face. "Ye look surprised."

"It's nothin'," Evelyn replied, walking over to the bed and taking a seat. She sighed when Jack gave her a 'I know something's wrong, luv' look. "It's jes' that I don't think that man is one ter be trusted."

"'E is me Firs' Mate, luv," Jack said, "'E 'asn't given me any reason not ter trus' him before."

"Touché," Evelyn said, simply.

"Cheer up, Evy," Jack said, placing an arm around her shoulders. "We'll be ter the isle shortly. Jes' think o' all the booty we'll be gettin' out o' this." His dark eyes went wide with wonder.

Evelyn pondered this for a moment. He was right. Barbossa had never given them any reason not to trust him. He had been a true member of the crew and done all that had been asked of him so far without protest. Still, something did not seem right about that man.

Over the past two years it had become normal routine for Evelyn to share the Captain's Cabin with Jack. Neither had any complaints. The two had grown quite close. They had even had a small 'marriage' if you could call it that. There was no ceremony. Just a spoken statement and Bootstrap as a witness.

They could have easily been confused as being a happily "married" couple by those who did not know them. If they hadn't argued so much that is. They were too much alike. They both had their own determination and pride. They wouldn't have had it any other way, however.

The night had grown unnaturally cold. Evelyn shivered and huddled closer to Jack. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her hair. She was not asleep. She had not been able to. Something was not right. Every sound she heard startled her. She kept listening for something that would let her know that she had not gone insane. She wanted to know that she was right in thinking that Barbossa was up to no good. She had valid reasoning for this, however. She had been walking by him and another sailor on deck the other day. They were speaking in hushed voices and acting very suspicious. When he noticed her walking past and watching him, Barbossa had looked at her as if she were a long sought after treasure that was finally about to be discovered. This in itself irked her.

She took a moment to let her thoughts wander. She had calmed herself down enough to just about fall asleep when the door to Jack's cabin burst open.

"Jack!" Bootstrap yelled as he strode over towards the bed.

Jack shot straight up and looked around, confused. "What? I'm up!"

"The crew's goin' mad up top! I've tried ter calm 'em down but they jes' won' listen ter me!" Bill continued.

"What?" Evelyn said, slowly sitting up. "I knew those bloody bastards were up ter somethin'"

Jack threw on his jacket and strode out of the room. Evelyn and Bill followed a few paces behind.

"What's all this ruckus about?" Jack yelled.

"I'll tell ye," Barbossa yelled. The boisterous pirates quieted down so that Barbossa could speak. "Jack, mate, I really regret havin' ter inform ye o' this. Ye see, to put it briefly, the crew an' I have decided that we don' want ye ter be captain any longer." Barbossa sneered at Jack.

Jack went deadpan for a moment, having to register what had just been said. Suddenly he began to laugh. "That's funny, mates! Ye almost had me goin' there fer a minute. Now really, what is goin' on?"

Barbossa stared at him as if he were an imbecile. He sighed. "That me friend, is one o' yer many weaknesses. Yer entirely too trustin'." He turned to a bushy haired dark pirate beside him. "Mr. Twigg."

"Yes, sir," Twigg answered.

"Escort our humble Captain ter the plank." Barbossa leered at Jack as he said this.

Jack looked horrified.

"No!" Evelyn screamed as she started to run to Jack's aid. A stout pirate grabbed her about the waist.

"No, no, poppet," the pirate said, "CAPTAIN Barbossa has other plans fer ye!"

Jack's mind began to race. There were too many against him to try to retaliate. How could I have let this happen? He asked himself as his hands were being bound with a short piece of hemp. Bootstrap put his head in his hands. He knew that there was nothing that could be done.

"See that bit o' land over there, Jack?" Barbossa asked. "It's all yours, mate!" Jack sneered at his mutineer in contempt.

"If ye had any honor in yer worthless little soul ye'd give me a pistol and a flask o' water." Jack said.

"That is how a true maroonin' would go." Barbossa said, "I'll tell ye this, since ye've been such a good captain, if not a lit'l gullible, I'll give ye half o' that. Someone bring me a pistol!" A flintlock was passed up to the plank. Barbossa threw it in the water. "Fetch!" He yelled as Jack jumped in immediately after it. He would have a great deal of trouble finding it in the dark night waters of the Caribbean.

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