Disclaimer: The characters and concepts in this story pertaining to the movie, The Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, are the property of the Walt Disney Corporation. This is an amateur writing effort meant for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter Eight: Will Go Wrong

The tattered sails of the Trailblazer were clearly seen on the horizon, drawing nearer as it closed in on the Black Pearl slowly but surely. By now, the tide was against them, but Jack would not be outdone so easily, especially by that of an inferior ship. He slammed the telescope shut, eyes narrowing in frustration. Now, he was in dire need of a plan.

"Captain!" Ana's voice shattered his temporary reverie and summoned his attention back to the helm. Her finger was pointed off towards the island, directing his vision into a secluded cove. And there, amidst the stone peaks of the Caribbean, lay his goal.

"The Wayfarer's Redemption," she said, but her words fell on deaf ears. Words, after all, did no justice for the mightiest ship of the Caribbean. Second only to the Black Pearl, of course, but Jack Sparrow surrendered his ego for the moment when he was in the presence of Bootstrap's pride and joy. Paid for with money from Bootstrap's own pocket, it was a work of pure beauty. With a fortified hull and a broad base, the Wayfarer was completely at home in any sort of terrain, especially that of the Caribbean storms. It was a perfect match for Bootstrap's adventurous nature. But the crowning glory of the Wayfarer was the mermaid motif atop its bow. The gorgeous craving was solid mahogany in the likeness of Bootstrap's dear wife and beloved mother of Will Turner Jr. Her face was slightly upturned, away from the water, and if one were to look close enough, tears would be traveling slowly down her cheeks as if she were in a constant state of mourning for her absent husband.

For several minutes, Jack could not take his eyes from it. He found himself leaping back into his memory when William 'Bootstrap' Turner ruled over the Caribbean like a God. As one of the finest pirates ever to sale, he relished the opportunity to focus on the past.

"What of the Trailblazer, Cap'n?" Gibbs asked him.

Jack's eyes narrowed, his gaze moving back to Ana Maria. "Why don't you take them on a cruise around the Caribbean?" he suggested jokingly.

"Aye, aye," she said mischievously.

"Mr. Gibbs, prepare a boat. We're going ashore."

He wasn't exactly sure what he was going to do, but Jack was quite certain that he had to manage two things. One was that Ana had to keep the Trailblazer busy enough for him to approach the Wayfarer. Second was that he had to determine whether or not Bootstrap left the map on board. It wasn't unnatural for a Captain to leave a ship to his First Mate after retiring or death. In fact, Jack inherited the Pearl when Bootstrap managed to amass a fortune large enough for the Wayfarer's construction. Between Jack and Barbossa, the good captain had handed down the mighty Pearl to Sparrow and left them to sort out their differences on their own time.

Well, the stories of how that worked out were legendary, but Jack managed to win the Pearl back in the end. So all's well that end's well, and he wouldn't have traded his ship for all the Wayfarer Redemptions in the world. But of all the ships in the Caribbean, it was certainly the most enigmatic. Since Bootstrap's demise, Jack had received not a whisper of its activities, whether legal or not. He was under the impression that it had most likely been out of the area for a long time, perhaps under the control of a foreign captain who had been chosen as Bootstrap's successor.

Keeping low in the dingy, Jack couldn't take his eyes off her. Bootstrap's design had been flawless. Even Gibbs found himself staring in wonder at the proclaimed 'Pirate King's' ship.

They rowed into the cove cautiously, knowing how paranoid pirates could be. Especially in Port Royal, what with Norrington guarding it like a hawk. Nightfall would be upon them shortly, keeping them as hidden as they could be. And by the looks of the Sparrow's mansion, the Port would be quiet that evening. Everyone had been invited to a massive party, it seemed, including the smaller ranks. Chances were, the meeting between he and the Captain of the Wayfarer would go quickly and quietly, just the way he preferred it.

Suddenly, the empty expanse of deck space that had once greeted him became occupied by a lone sailor. If he were the Captain, he certainly wasn't dressed like it. His clothes were loose and rugged, hanging off his well toned body. A thick layer of black hair hung in knots on his head, halfway down his back. Beneath that, a pair of dark, almond shaped eyes scanned the cove and came to rest on the tiny dingy advancing upon him.

"You've twelve pistols aimed at your heads, good gentlemen, so kindly state your business before they assume you're a threat."

He spoke well for a pirate, and Jack would have been a fool to think him uneducated. He held himself too highly for such a thing, and the behavioural traits he exhibited were polar opposites to that of most buccaneers.

"Just inspecting the precious little cove you and your men have found yourselves," Jack replied, feigning ignorance. The man didn't seem to be fooled, but he continued his act anyways. "This wouldn't happen to be Bootstrap's old ship, would it?"

"Not since his death," the man shrugged. "Bootstrap happened to leave it to a son before passing."

"And you wouldn't happen to be that son, would you?" Jack asked, his blood running cold at the sound of Bootstrap having a son. If the whelp inherited his treasure map too there'd be hell to pay.

"That's not really the purpose of our conversation, now is it sir?" the man replied coyly.

Jack's eyes narrowed. You tricky devil, he thought with a smirk. But no one outsmarts Captain Jack Sparrow.

"My associate and I were pondering just what's got Port Royal all quiet. Surely the great Commodore Norrington has better things to do than attend the Governor's garden parties?"

"Not with the Commodore's daughter marrying a blacksmith," the man revealed.

"Now that's interesting," Jack whispered diabolically. He turned his sights on the man once more. "You're not talking about Bootstrap's whelp are you?"

"One in the same."

"Pirates finally moving up in the world, are they?"

"Indeed they are," the man laughed again. Jack's eyes gleamed. Several more seconds of conversation would have the man wrapped around his finger.

"Well, this day has been full of surprises. First my associate and I find our old Captain Bootstrap's ship – a sight for sore eyes – and then find out that the late, great Captain's son is to be married to a Governor's daughter."

"Are you saying you once sailed under Bootstrap?"

"Best year's of my life," Jack said, mocking tears. The man seemed pretty convinced he was telling the truth, and while Jack's emotions were very real, they would not have manifested themselves so dramatically.

"Small world," the man replied.

"Very small," Jack grinned madly. "Say, Mr. Gibbs was just inquiring as to who the Wayfarer was sailing under now. Seeing as how us being bound by a ship and all, how's about we meet Bootstrap's successor?"

"Wish you could, but he's gone ashore for the evening. I wouldn't expect him back until dawn, at the very least."

Shot down, Jackie-boy.

He was about to dismiss himself from the conversation when a loud explosion rocked the entire island. Jack whipped around just in time to see the large cannon ball splash into the water not far from their dingy, sending shockwaves throughout the tide pools and soaking the two pirates to the bone. The man was on attention in an instant, bellowing out orders that Jack couldn't make out in his fervor to comprehend what had just happened. Gibbs had taken it upon himself to start rowing, just as another cannon ball exploded from the Trailblazer, headed in their direction.

Pulling out his telescope, Jack inspected the situation. The Captain of the the Trailblazer was waving merrily to him, a smile on his face. Either he had seen them disembark or had simply noticed the dingy by mistake during their pursuit of the Pearl. Either way, his plan to distract them had failed, and another cannon was going off.

Jack's ears strained to hear beyond the loud cannon roars to what was happening on the Wayfarer. The man on board was shouting to someone out of his sight, but the words were unmistakable.

"Run to the Governor's house," the man said quickly. "Tell Morgan to head back here immediately or this ship sails without a Captain."

The name sent more shivers down Jack's spine than the implication of Will. Morgan was a name he hadn't heard in years, one of great importance to him. His eyes unconsciously drifted to the palms of his hands, hidden by leather flaps to assist in thievery. Underneath them gleamed the white scars of a deal gone horribly wrong.

"Ye understand me Jack? This means forever. It means that you both are bound to one another till death."

"Morgan," he murmured to himself, then looked to Gibbs who was rowing for cover. "Mr. Gibbs, we're going ashore. We've a party to crash."

Author's Notes

I know how every klaxon in your bodies must be going off the moment I brought up a character insert once more, especially a female one. However, I can assure you that I have the utmost respect for the characters created in the original canon and though I have handed this young woman a fairly significant role, she could never outshine the good captain or his seaworthy sidekick, Will Turner. However, if her presence offends you, I completely empathize. Inserts are never a pleasant sight, even well developed ones. So if you have any concerns or complaints, I would love to hear from you. But I will not tolerate flames on my review board. If you do have a problem with the character and wish to attack me personally, send me an e-mail. I can't say I'll reply but at least you know that your unintelligent blabber will go somewhere. Cheers!

Reviews

SugarHighNutcase: LMAO! Love the name, lol. Oh yes, the sequel is going to be good regardless. I'm so happy they've got Jack Sparrow coming back. The movie wouldn't be the same without him. And I'm very happy to read that you're enjoying the story. I was quite nervous, seeing as how this is one of my first fanfic. And don't worry, Will and Jack are going to reunite very soon!

alexwacrap: Oh, gosh, the days aren't going by fast enough till I can watch the movie! I can only imagine how amazing it's going to be, what with the casting and all. Bill Nighy is my hero and he'll play an excellent anything. They could cast him as a talking rutabaga and the movie would still be better off with him in it. And how could I forget Johnny Depp, who needs no introduction as the only reason the first Pirates ever succeeded as a film? Not that I have anything against Orlando…

taurusbaby0509: No worries! I myself was away from the computer for a while and couldn't update as fast as I'd liked. It's nice to know that you came back though! I love it when there are regular reviewers!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! As authors yourselves (for the most part) you understand just how much even the most constructively critical of comments are appreciated. Just knowing that someone is enjoying your work is amazing. So please, keep them coming!

Sincerely, Serpent.