The Ingenious Plan

"See it seems to me a dead enemies a good enemy, and two dead enemies a rare sight. See it's hard to even get rid of one. And I drink to the man who can get his enemies to do each other in, and kill two birds with one stone. A pirate who can do that is demmed supernatural and I drink to them." Stated by a pirate who had just exited a very unsuccessful battle against the navy.

The Black Pearl moved smoothly through the waters, no thought of distance or time, just cutting through the sea as if it was not even there. The fresh black sails rippled with the wind, the railing polished to perfection. Her head board clasped the Sparrow in its grasp, always looking forward with that eternal gaze, the Sparrow always ready to fly from her hands, but seeming to be unable to, entwined forever with her.

The wheel was left tied, some of the crew sat upon the deck, leaning against the mast, or ropes or even the railing for the bold ones. They all were there to take in the fresh night air, and the brightness of the full moon, shining down upon them and casting a pale light upon everything she touched. She bathed the Pearl in an ethereal light, more then ever the ship appeared almost supernatural. Not only for that were they gathered though, but also for that unspoken fear, which spread among them, no one wished to be alone on a night such as this.

A light fog surrounded the ship, and it gave the feeling that it was weightless floating through the clouds, nothing to stop her voyage and triumphs, adventures and loves. One of which was standing at the helm, a solitary figures, some of the crew cast wary glances towards him but he did not stir, lost in deep thoughts where no one could follow him, not even his Pearl.

The talk changed from the cost of good rum, to the fine life the Tortugan citizens led, to funny stories the men remembered. The laughter was somewhat forced though, the curses and blushing of those teased tinged and pale, with no real feeling. The water seemed to reverberate the sounds tenfold, making them almost unbearable. Constantly their glances sneaked towards the captain almost involuntarily, where was this man to lead them? What was he thinking of so deeply? Many of the crew had not seen Jack so sober, in manner; of course, Jack was not completely sober in the literal sense of the word, sneaking seven bottles of rum in during the course of the day, all in close succession of each other. His attitude seemed slightly dampened, though, despite it. He smiled the same and his values had not changed a wit, nor did it seem possible the madness would ever leave him, but to the men, and one woman…. he was different. It seemed there was always a dark cloud following him wherever he went, almost as plain as the one which literally follow the ship constantly in the distance.

He had taken to singing that wretched song, as Gibbs pronounced it, more often then before, almost as if he was trying to remind himself of what it was he was supposed to do. He had dragged his crew all over, from Spain to the Caribbean to Singapore and then back. When the Commodore had taken chase after them his spirits had lifted slightly, he had devised ways to infuriate the man, fleeing to what appeared to be an impassable bay and then finding a path to a secluded hidden cove where the Commodore could not follow, or even see. It had appeared that they had disappeared, and this was the story which had been circulating among the taverns. Jack Sparrow, spirited his ship the Black Pearl from under the navy's very sight. The crew had celebrated that night, holding festivities they had not had the pleasure of knowing in a while, but it was short lived. The cloud had passed closer, sneaking upon them while they had lain. They were forced to flee before it reached them, and whatever that unnatural cover, that pelting rain and lightning bolts hid, caught them in its cold grasp.

They had lost the navy completely, Jack had pronounced that the red coats were a bunch of ninny's to run at the sight of the storm, and not bother to follow the pirates up afterwards. He had been quite annoyed, the navy had been something to have fun with, someone to vex and tear Jack away from that cloud. Jack seemed to lose a bit of his twinkle once the navy left them, he was bored now, all the fleeing and no proper adversary to cheat, it was quite dull actually.

They had news that Buhkett was searching for them upon the sea, but with him Jack preferred not to play, even though the temptation of creating another legend was almost unbearable. He had already had one brush with the East India trading company, he did not want another, and he doubted that this time it would be his pretty skin that copped the price. So grudgingly he had led the men on a course far away from Buhkett and that cloud. News of the fearful storm which took many casualties always seemed to be waiting for them in their next berths. If it wasn't for Jack's need of rum, oh and the occasional snippet of food, and water, he would stop passing through the ports. It was quite tedious to hear news of a storm one already new about, but quite another thing to have ones amazing story of vanishing in front of the navy brushed aside for it.

Now they had been at sea for a while, Jack had stated to the crew that they would be heading for the Bahamas, then had changed it to the Americas, finally to China, and then proclaimed they would try Africa. After each sentiment he had retreated to his cabin, where his cursing was heard, and a large crash of bottles.

"Got to be in here somewhere," was what he was heard proclaiming. Finally the crew had heard singing coming from his cabin, and different types of crashes to the former ones, which Ana Marie had proclaimed was their captain falling down, although she had said it in a less flattering manner, and had referred to Jack with an unfavorable word.

At the end of the day the crew had completely no idea where they were headed, or how long they were expected to be upon the sea. All they had a perception of was that they were in the Caribbean, somewhere close to Tortuga, but closer to Port Royal to some of the men's unease. Jack always seemed to tread back to these waters, after their visit, very brief one at that, to Spain they had returned here and then headed for Singapore. It was almost as if their Captain was stalling, trying to make the journey last longer, or maybe it was that he honestly did not know what to do, he did not contain a plan up his sleeve. None of the crew believed this though, they knew their Captain was a different one to normal, but they also knew as sure as their names that he always had a plan in that head of his. They had complete faith in him, although sometimes the types of plans he came up with tried it. So they sat upon the deck, waiting for their silent captain, who had only appeared from his cabin a little while ago looking like he was in uncharted and rough waters, to tell them where to go. There was silence as the conversation reached a lull, but it soon began again as their curious glances gave them no answers, that figure still swayed slightly at the helm, a bit unsteady after the amount it had consumed.

Three of the crewmembers stuck together closely and did not join the conversation, just executing from an argument which had taken place out of the captains sight below deck. One perched on an old barrel, his clothes and unruly beard proclaiming him as an old sailor at first glance, another leant against the mast, her hair blowing slightly with the light breeze and the third stood near the rail and gazed mutely out to sea, the colorful ornament which perched on his shoulders as silent as himself, for once, it's chattering was often much to the Captains chagrin.

They observed the other members talk, but they, most of all, kept on glancing piercingly at the captain, except for Cotton, who kept his gaze firmly fixed on the rolling sea. The other two soon grew into a stupor themselves, the pleasant sea air, and heavy thoughts, spiriting their minds away. It took them a while to realize the conversation had stopped, but it wasn't long to realize what had made it stop dead in its tracks. All eyes were riveted to the swaying and extremely drunk captain, standing with his hat cocked aside, and his hands filled with a large bottle of rum, which they had failed to notice before, or he had been hiding in his coat, and his compass, which he always seemed to be examining. The left palm of the hand which was holding the compass was bound with a rag.

"Were devils, were black sheep….hiccup….really bad….wait what's the line," he seemed to turn to the sky for an answer then nodded, "Ah that's right really bad eggs," he sang his favorite line with enthusiasm, although it was extremely off key. "Drink up me hearties," with that he threw back his head and took a swig of rum. "Aye but were loved by our mummies and dad's….. "

The crew had been gazing at Jack as if transfixed, waiting for something, anything and everything. All he had given them was a well-known song extremely off tune.

"That's it," Anna Marie hissed, she pulled Gibbs up roughly, who had sighed and shook his head, and was in the process of retrieving his flask. He was about to protest, but when glancing at her murderous look he had decided against it. "We are going to talk to him now." She pushed Gibbs roughly in front of her and continued to push him towards the helm and their captain, silent Cotton followed behind, and all the crew's eyes traced their movements.

Anna Marie pushed Gibbs in front of her, right next to the Captain. They all stood looking at him expectantly like that, but the Captain failed to notice them, it seemed, a bit involved with catching the last dregs from his bottle. Finally Anna Marie dug Gibbs and he coughed slightly. Jack glanced at them for a moment, his hair clinking as he turned it.

"D…Don't you think that you should be a bit quieter captain?" he inquired in his gruff tones, wisely ignoring Anna Marie's vicious gaze. "Only that you don't know what could hear you on these waters, its frightful bad luck you know, to be singing with a full belly and a full moon." He followed with this quickly, Jack raised his eyebrows.

"Aye, but it's not my belly that's full, but my head," Jack countered, lowering the bottle. "And I already know what's going to hear me on these waters, man, makes no difference if they do."

Gibbs nodded appreciatively, uncertain of how to broach the delicate subject he really wanted to talk about. Anna Marie gave an angry growl and pushed Gibbs out of the way, confronting Jack herself.

"Where are we going?" she snapped, she was always one to plunge in rather then tread carefully.

Jack looked at her, and then gave her a grin filled with gold teeth. "Well that would be telling now wouldn't it?"

Anna Marie held up her hand, as if she was itching to slap him, but she refrained from it with a lot of effort. "Where….are….we…going?" she said, instead emphasizing each word with a jab at Jack's chest. Jack backed up with each jab and she followed until he was cornered at the rail. He looked behind him at the rolling sea, then up at her murderous face. He tipped the rum bottle back and managed to gain some final drops, which immediately went down his gullet.

Anna Marie wrenched it from his grasp and threw it in the sea, Jack decided that there was a very good chance that he would be next, so he thought the best course of action would be to relent…. in a way. He squirmed away from her and headed for the wheel, pushing the rest of the crew which had crowded around, out of his way.

"We are going," he called back to her as she began to follow him, Gibbs and Cotton at her heels. Jack reached the wheel and discarded the rope which held it in place, taking it in his hands.

"We are going that way," he said, flapping his arms evasively to the right, he then turned the wheel hard, making the Pearl jerk a bit and creak.

The rest of the crew turned their heads, roughly in the direction he had pointed; they saw nothing but the open sea, the moonlight making it appear silvery. They barely saw that because of the fog. The Pearl turned slightly to the right, and then continued on its course.

"You don't know do you," Anna Marie pointed out, after assessing that there was nothing there, she shouted it more then pointed this time.

Jack opened his mouth in indignation, and then changed it to a patronizing grin he aimed her way.

"That's for me to know and you to find out, isn't it then?" he said. He then snapped his black compass open and began to examine it, not sparing her or the crew a second thought. His brows furrowed as it had often taken to doing when he examined it.

"Souls disappearing," the parrot suddenly squawked, Jack jumped as did some of the silent crew who were standing in front of Jack, waiting for a sign that he had the answer.

"Dead men," the parrot squawked again. Jack paled a bit.

"Well what do you have to say Mr. Cotton," he composed himself and snapped briskly. He had never really gotten the hand of interpreting the parrot's gibberish.

"That was just the parrot captain," Gibbs muttered.

"Oh," Jack looked at the parrot, and then at silent Cotton, the parrot repeated its words again. "Well someone shut the blooming ornament up, a captain can't think on this ship," he growled but the parrot had disconcerted him. He remained slightly pale and finally snapped the compass shut.

He headed down the stairs and over the quarter deck to his cabin, Ana Marie quickly grabbed his arm and turned him around.

"You haven't answered my question," she snapped.

"Gold and jewels," the parrot suddenly squawked from Cottons shoulder.

"Cottons right Anna, maybe you should let the captain get some rest," Gibbs muttered nervously glancing at the angry woman and their captain. The rest of the crew followed them, their heads turning from one angry face, to one unreadable one and back.

"I agree with you man," Jack piped up, turning to go again, but Anna Marie would not let him.

"We deserve and answer," she snapped, "If we don't get out of these waters soon the law is going to catch us, we better have somewhere to go."

"Is that a threat?" Jack inquired as pleasantly as ever, as if he was just asking her the time of day.

"Great trials," the parrot squawked again.

This time both Anna Marie and Jack turned to Gibbs. "Cotton's right," he began as he usually did. "Were surrounded by enemies."

"Let's head for the Bahamas," Anna Marie snapped at Jack.

Jack looked at the crew, then behind them, "Well in case you haven't noticed, the Bahamas are that way," he pointed his hand at the barely visible water behind them, "and unless you want to be running into Davy Jones, I don't think we should be heading towards those towering clouds somehow. Call it just an inkling…"

"Well I doubt we'll be receiving a great reception at Port Royal Jack," Gibbs piped up.

"We'll be caught between two enemies, there's no way to get around Port Royal without the navy spotting us, you've driven us into a trap," shouted one of the men suddenly, he was often drawn into superstition and not the brightest gem in Jack's crew, but this time he did have a point.

Jack reviewed the disgruntled faces of his crew, and sighed, he didn't need this right now, he wasn't exactly in his best state of mind, he was too sober in his reckoning for that.

"Well no use fretting bout it now," Jack said, "You lot all jump off to bed and get some rest and ol' Jack will take care of the rest. Go on, got to get up bright and early tomorrow," none of the crew moved, Gibbs wouldn't meet Jack's eye.

"See, the thing is captain," he finally said after some encouragement came his way by way of elbows, "It would really help, if, you know we knew where we were going. We have to get the ship ready and all…. Were all just a tad nervous, and it would help if maybe you could share your plan with us, you know to rest our minds…"

Jack stared at them, "My plan," he said, not exactly understanding, "Oh… yes of course man…my plan. Jacky boy always has a plan…"

Gibbs nodded encouragingly, the rest of the crew exhaled, relief evidence in their stance, they knew their captain would have the answer.

"You know, I'm a bit disinclined to give you the bearings," Jack said, stalling, his mind was working relentlessly. "Since what happened last time and all…"

"We don't really need the bearings capt'n, just an idea of where were headed," Gibbs added enthusiastically.

"My plan…" Jack muttered.

Anna Marie sighed heavily, Jack turned to her. "Well what do you think my plan is then, eh?" he asked, trying to pull of an air of superiority.

Anna Maries eyebrows raised, her eyes flashed. "You don't have a plan," she shouted as if Jack had just told her plain as day, "You don't have a plan, of all the useless, scurvy, lay about dogs….Were surrounded by enemies, and unless they blow each other up our necks will be in the noose and you…." She would have continued if Jack hadn't stopped her with the expression on his face. Turning from extremely puzzled and at a lost, it had suddenly grown into a smirk as realization dawned. His eyes shined and he quickly strode towards his cabin, his brain was turning again, you could tell by his confident air that he had something up his sleeve, when before there was just an arm.

He reached the cabin doors and then turned to face the silent crew. He grinned craftily, "Gentleman if I am not the most brilliant captain on these seven seas I'll spill all the rum into the sea," he pronounced, quite happy with himself. He swung the doors wide open and sauntered in.

"Crooked door," Cotton's parrot ruffled its feathers.

"Captain what's the plan to bring you into such a fine mood?" Gibbs called.

Jack turned and looked at them and grinned again. "Our enemies are going to blow each other up." With that he swung the double doors shut.

"Were devils were black sheep were really bad eggs…" the crew could hear Jack singing at the top of his lungs inside his cabin.

"Soul's disappearing. Dead men," Cottons parrot intoned again, the crew gazed at the green and red ornament bathed with the silvery moon with despair. They were all at a loss of what to think of their mad captain, and whatever crazy scheme he had hatched which made him so happy.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you saved this fic from Davey Jones locker(lol) Hope you liked and please keep the feedback coming so I can improve and write something that you'll enjoy. The next chapter sees a fitting for a dress, a scared groom to be and a reception gate crashed by monsters. Thanks again

Sairra : p.

Williz-

thanks for the long review, I really appreciate it. I'm excited that someone's enjoying this story, because I like writing it. Your review made my otherwise bad day, thanks. : ). , (I love this story but I was surprised that others thought it was good too lol, I'm my biggest critic). I wasn't sure if I was keeping any of the characters in actual character, so what you said really helped; I know I'm sort of on the right track now. It's good to know that the others characters are getting as much appreciation and ppl aren't just skimming through them. I'm sort of a sucker for Jack, but there will be equally as much of him as the other characters. I just realized I'm doing a will, Elizabeth Jack thing with my chapters. I'll try and continue like that, because it's the most effective way to tell the story. Without the other characters there wouldn't be a Jack to play with anyway, and I think that Will and Elizabeth are both good characters. Anyway I'm babbling on, I thought such a good reviews deserved a long reply, thanks again : P.

lateBloomer04

Thanks for the long review. I got two when I hardly get any, I was realy surprised and happy. I actually looked up the second movie just after I'd written that chapter and found tons of spoilers, your right about Bootstrap. I'm gonna' fix it up somehow later in the story cause it's annoying me lol. I just realized I've been spelling Behketts name wrong, lol, eeek gotta go fix that up. I'm cramming everything from the trailer in here and hope that I at least assume some things right bout the movie, sigh I wish it was here. Oh well suppose it's the fun of writing this fic. I'm going be getting to Behketts character soon, though I haven't yet figured out how he's going enter, I have a few sketchy ideas, he'll probably be in the next chapter along with mentions of the wedding. I was thinking of having the reception, instead of the actual wedding, because I want it at night, but Elizabeth will get to try one her pretty dress, and Will starts to feel a bit tight around the collar. Thanks again for the review : P.

PirateAngel1286

Thanks for the review, I think I would have abandoned this story if I'd gotten no word from anyone lol. I'm happy you like it, and I will keep going, hope you liked this chapter hopefully the next one will be coming up soon depending on my homework. : P