Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. The movies are copyrighted items of Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer productions. The original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is copyrighted to Walt Disney corporation.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Chronicles of Jack Sparrow
Chapter Three: "The Treasure of the Aqua Marine"
Nearly two months had passed since James' capture, during which Rosalinda's health had begun to deteriorate. Perhaps over two years without news finally got to her, causing her to lose interest in her health. Or perhaps it was the disease that was spreading through Caracas. Nevertheless, Rosalinda's rapidly deteriorating health was beginning to worry Jack, who had stayed home lately to accompany his mother, who had recently been restrained to bed.
Every morning, Jack would prepare breakfast for him and his mother (it wasn't much, mind, but at least it wasn't poisoned) and eat together, having the occasional chat usually about Jack's recent adventures with his own "band of miscreants" as Jack had put it. Every once in a while, though, Jack would leave during the afternoon, though usually he only did this if his mother had company, and return during the late hours of the afternoon.
During one such day, Jack had returned later than usual, the day already entering night, only to find his mother crying in bed, clutching in her hand what seemed to be a letter.
"Mama? What's wrong?" Jack said, rushing to his mother's side. Rosalinda said nothing. In response, she held out a trembling hand to Jack, from which he took the letter.
"It's a letter from Papa!" Jack said excitedly, scanning the letter for a sender. But upon seeing the expression on Rosalinda's face, he read on.
"'…have been captured under the charges of pirating,' blah blah blah 'and I am therefore sentenced to life in prison until further notice'!" Jack read, his eyes widening in shock. "'Until further notice'… he makes it sound as if…" he broke off, looking at his mother, who was now crying louder than ever. "… as if he barely escaped the noose."
During the following weeks, Rosalinda's health worsened still, to the point where she was actually dying. Finally one night, just two weeks before Jack's birthday, her health finally gave in. A simple funeral was held in her memory, with just close family and friends in attendance.
"At least she died quietly…" Jack muttered to himself after the funeral. He stayed behind after it was over, silently mourning.
"What of the boy?" Jack heard someone say somewhere behind him.
"Who will take care of him?" said another.
"What about his father?" said yet another.
"James has been imprisoned. The boy's practically an orphan now." said the first.
"He'll be fifteen in two weeks! That's practically of age." said the last.
That's right… Jack thought to himself. In two weeks I'll be able to join a crew… start a new life… as a pirate…
Three days had passed since Rosalinda's funeral, and Jack was now living on his own, bringing about a change in his person; hunting and fishing for food, spending most of his time in the jungle or confining himself in his house, where he worked hard on a new map.
He could sometimes spend hours working on the map, working well into the night, often not sleeping. During such nights, one would usually find Jack asleep on the table, papers askew, mouth open wide, as Ricardo, one of Jack's friends, did when he was looking for Jack.
"Jack! JACK!" Ricardo yelled in Jack's ear, desperate to wake him up.
"Five more minutes, Ma…" Jack muttered as he shifted his position.
"Jack, I'm not your mother. Now wake UP!" Ricardo yelled as he slapped Jack's back, finally waking him up.
"Ricardo! What're you doing here?"
"The maps, Jack. Juan told me yesterday that you said the maps would be finished today."
"I did?" Jack said after a moment.
"Yes." Ricardo said, nodding vigorously.
"No I didn't. What I did say was to tell him to tell you that the maps might be finished today, and that I'll tell you myself when the maps are finished, so that I may present them to you myself, for otherwise I'd have you storming into my house, waking me from my sleep, asking me for a map which I don't have to present. Fortunately I have finished the maps last night, considering the possibility that Juan failed to tell you the possibility of me possibly not finishing the map, savvy?"
Ricardo blinked a few times before asking, "So do you have the maps or not?"
"Yes, yes, I have them." said Jack, motioning Ricardo to the table. "Here it is." Jack said, flattening out a map on the table. "The map to the approximate location of the Aqua Marine. Or rather, what's left of her." he said with a glimmer of pride in his eyes.
Ricardo picked the map up and walked around the room, observing the map with utmost interest.
"The 'X' on the map is where I marked the most likely location of the vessel." Jack said over Ricardo's shoulder.
"Ricardo?" said Jack after a while, since Ricardo seemed too caught up in the map to say a single word.
Ricardo then straightened himself up, rolled up the map, and said, "It's settled then."
"Yes. It's settled." Jack said. "What's it that's settled?" he added.
"We're going after the treasure of the Aqua Marine." Ricardo replied as though he were talking about something as simple as a walk on the beach.
"What? Have you been drinking rum again?" Jack asked suspiciously.
"No, I'm perfectly fine, Jack. Listen to me, it's perfect. We're the only ones who know where to find the Marine. We find it, get the treasure, and we'll be famous!"
"That's just too simple, mate. You can't possibly do all that on your own. You obviously haven't given it much thought." Jack argued.
"That's just it! It's so simple, it just might happen! Besides, I'm not alone, I've got you."
"Oh, and you think two lads such as ourselves are able to pull this off?" Jack asked pointedly.
"Of course not, I've got a few other people as well."
"Oh really? So you expect us and a few other boys to swim all the way to the middle of the sea? You haven't even got a ship, mate."
"That's where you come in, Jack." said Ricardo, placing his arm around Jack's shoulder.
"Me? I thought I came in with the maps." Jack said confusedly.
"Well, yes, but we also need your help in getting us a ship." Ricardo explained shortly.
"What? But I haven't got the money to buy a-" Jack started, but a look from Ricardo set him on the right track. "Oh… I see…"
"Well?" Ricardo asked after a moment.
"So you're planning on-?"
Ricardo nodded.
"And you want me to-?"
Ricardo nodded more vigorously.
"And so you need me to-?"
Ricardo nodded more vigorously still, that Jack thought his neck was in danger of snapping. Jack contemplated over this for a moment, pacing the room, muttering under his breath.
"When?" Jack finally asked.
"Soon. As soon as I can get the boys together. I'll have you noticed within the day. So you're with us, then?" Ricardo said, standing up.
"Yes, yes. I'll go with you." Jack replied as Ricardo walked towards the door.
"I'll see you soon, then, Jack." Ricardo said, leaving Jack's house.
"Would you please remind me why we're doing this now?" Jack asked Ricardo, who was hiding behind a boulder a few feet to his left.
"Because the port is least guarded at this hour. And there happens to be a small ship, good enough for us to take over." Ricardo replied simply.
"I know why we're doing it now, what I want to know is why we're doing it today, of all days! You do realize today is my birthday, right?"
"Yes, and what better way to celebrate it than to take over your first ship?"
"Commandeer. We're going to commandeer a ship. And I can think of a few better ways to-" Jack started, but he was interrupted by Ricardo.
"Shh! There they go!" Ricardo said in a whisper, pointing out two figures in the distance walking away from the port. "Now's our chance. Are you ready, Jack?"
"Haven't got much of a choice, have I?"
"Suppose not," Ricardo said shrugging, "now go! We'll be right behind you."
Rolling his eyes, Jack made for the ship they were to take over, Ricardo and the others close behind him. Under Jack's lead they boarded the deserted ship, struggling with Jack's orders ("Lift the port anchor!" Jack ordered one of the boys. "The LEFT anchor!" Jack added with frustration). Soon they were on their way, sailing into the night, unnoticed by anybody.
And so began the first misadventure of Captain Jack Sparrow.
A/N: I am extremely sorry for the long update, and even more so for the short and forced chapter. bows repeatedly In my defense, school has been murder with homework piling up. Pls R&R, and i'll try and answer comments and questions too.