Chapter Eleven

Rogue could not keep her hands off of Joseph, but she hated doing anything in the sleeping quarters with her husband as she felt all eyes were drifting toward them and they had no privacy. Usually, they snuck off together after dinner for some quality time together and had just done that after the action had calmed down.

Joseph was so completely lost in Rogue that he did not notice the rain, the wind whistling through his long, white hair, or even Kyna calling the crew together. In that moment, he knew nothing except the delicious taste of his beloved's lips and the way both her tongue and hands made him melt inside. He stumbled back into the darkness, subconsciously seeking a place to hide their private moment in when he stepped upon something that crunched softly and heard a yelp.

Rogue broke the kiss and looked downward, trying to see in the dark what manner of being was down there. She couldn't make out who it was and did not recognize the voice.

"Show yourself." When the command did not work, Joseph curled his fingers into a fist and used his magnetism to flare a blue light. He showed the light into the darkness, and his eyes met the face of a stranger.

"Who are ya, shugah?" Rogue asked as she did not recognize the cowering man.

"I need to see Xena," his voice quivered, "or Jack Sparrow! I'm only supposed to talk to them!"

"How'd you get here?" Rogue asked. "Fly?" She scoffed at the idea of a mere man flying. This man did not seem to be anything special. "Come out o' there. We'll take ya to the Captain."


Kyna was growing impatient and was seconds away from telling Matrix to have Frisket sniff out Joseph and Rogue when she heard footsteps. She turned toward the sound and was rewarded with the sight of her two missing crew members. Her almond eyes narrowed in on the stranger, however, and she walked to meet them. "Who is this?"

"Evidently a stowaway," Joseph answered her. "He says he will not speak to any one other than Jack Sparrow or Xena."

Kyna turned back and yelled out. "JACK! XENA!"

Jack walked over. "Yes?" He saw that Xena approached from another direction.

She did not say anything but just stood and watched the stranger. She knew she'd never seen him before. "I'm Xena," she told him. "Who are you?"

Sam looked at the beautiful woman standing before him decked out in warrior clothes. He had never met Xena face to face, but he had heard tales of her exploits many years ago. "A friend of yours sent me -- Aphrodite?" He smiled at her.

"Aphrodite sent you?" Jack asked. "Who are you?"

"I am Sam Wilder, a has-been," he told them.

A sparkling of pretty, bright lights and pink rose petals preceded the appearance of the Goddess just mentioned. Aphrodite looked at Sam. "Not any more," She told him and waved a hand at him.

Sam felt as though he was shocked by lightning. His body stiffened, and then he felt filled with renewed power. He breathed deeply and then, looking at Aphrodite, he thanked Her.

"If you truly wish to thank Me, Sam, you will not let Me down," Aphrodite gently reminded him. Her attention then turned to Xena and Jack. "He is the Halliwells' White Lighter."

Jack had fallen to his knees at the first sight of Aphrodite as had almost everybody else on deck. Xena looked at Aphrodite. "Thank You for helping us. Can You take us to them, or will He not allow that?" she questioned hopefully.

"A means of arriving there will be soon in coming," Aphrodite replied with a reassuring smile. She had checked on Ares and Strife both before returning to Sam and had been pleased with what She had discovered. Her eyes turned to Jack. "Stand, Jack. I have something to give you."

"It was You then before!" Jack exclaimed. "I thought it was, but I wasn't sure. We have found favor with You, Oh Blessed Aphrodite?" Jack rose slowly to his feet, his eyes still gazing at Her feet and not Her beautiful face. He dared not look at Her directly.

"Jack, you have had My favor for a very long time. I have only waited for you to acknowledge Me in turn. Did I not, after all, find a way to set things right between you and your beloved Will?"

"Oh, yes, and I will be eternally thankful to You for that as long as I live! Now all I ask is for You to help me save him and my family? I will do anything You ask of me."

"I will do all that I can, Jack, though I fear that I am part of the reason why they were taken. I worked hard on both your coupling and the other recent ones that have taken place within your crew. They were meant as a present for Xena and Gabrielle," She smiled sadly at her old friend, Xena, who had never lost the dear spot she held in the Goddess' heart, "but My happiness over the results made another Goddess jealous. She is the one who led the others to your people, but I am the one who will help you recover them."

"As I said, Sam Wilder is the Halliwells' White Lighter. I know you do not know what that means as many of the rest of you also do not. The Halliwells are part of Jack's family, and they are Witches." Each mind was shown a picture of not only the four women but also of Ororo. "A White Lighter is akin to the fables of Guardian Angels. In fact, White Lighters are the Guardian Angels of Witches and, as such, they are capable of healing." She looked at Sam. "Beginning this day, however, Samuel, you will not only be healing Witches. If they are a member of Jack's, Xena's, Kyna's, or Kat's crew and are injured, you will heal them, regardless of their species, religion, or anything else. Do you understand Me?"

Sam nodded his head. "I understand. I am amazed at Your powers! I thank You for Your gift!"

"Then use it well, Samuel, this night. Jack," Aphrodite returned Her attention to the Pirate Captain. "A long time ago, you were able to do something that few people are. These swords," two finely crafted swords appeared in Her out-stretched hands, "will help you recapture that ability."

Jack gazed at the two swords and thought they were more beautiful than any other he'd ever seen. "It's been a long time since I did that," he told Aphrodite. "I am very rusty. These swords will help me to do that again? Are they mine for just a small time?" He held his hands out to Her and waited for Her to place them within.

Aphrodite's hands brushed upon the Pirate's as She passed the swords to Jack. "They are yours for the keeping, My Sparrow, but you must only use them when you most need them." Her voice sounded within his mind, As long as you have faith in Me, these swords will meet whatever mark you attempt.

He accepted them gratefully, and he felt the warmth of their power in his hands. "Thank You, Oh Blessed Aphrodite!" he whispered to Her. "If You ever want me to do something, You have but to ask it of me, and I will do it."

"Xena?" Aphrodite called as She turned to look upon her old friend. "I believe you will have need of these, My friend." Her now-empty hands moved in circles in the air, and when they stilled again, one hand held Xena's sword and the other her chakram.

"Thank you, Ditey!" Xena declared and, taking both in her hands, returned first the chakram to its rightful place on her hip and then the sword to her scabbard before reaching out and hugging Ditey.

Aphrodite smiled as She returned Xena's hug. "There is a great deal more that must be made known here before you go into battle," She spoke aloud to the group after reluctantly parting from Xena. Her eyes peered at the vast amount of Pirates and Piratesses. "Where is Sean Cassidy?" She asked though She already knew.

Sean had been at the back of the group but now stepped boldly forward. He had read many books on the Gods and Goddesses of old, and Aphrodite had always been one of his favorites even though he quit worshipping Her at the time that his Em was taken. He gazed at Her now in disbelief, because although he had worshipped Her, he had never thought he'd get to see Her face to face.

Aphrodite closed the remaining distance between them and touched a gentle hand to the cheek of the man who had once worshipped Her. "I know these past centuries have been filled with naught but heartache and misery for you, Sean. My hands were tied, but they have been have been unbound for this one night -- this night that will set many wrongs right. Your Emma is aboard that ship, but she believes you to be dead. She saw the same images that you saw only what happened to her in your sight happened to you in hers. You also must know that she is under a spell that will prevent her from seeing you, but if you follow your heart, you can not go wrong."

Sean fell to his knees and lowered his face to the deck. "I am sorry fer e'er doubtin' Ye, fer nae believin' Ye e'er cared in the first place! Thank Ye fer tellin' me! Can Ye tell me how tae break the spell on me Em?" He stayed in the lowered position, not daring to look at Her face.

"She needs to believe that you are there, that you are alive, and once she does, the spell will shatter."

"How do I convince her?" Sean asked.

"When the time comes, there will be some one there. In fact . . . " Aphrodite smiled. "There already is. She is in the hold of the Saucy Wench as is one of your dear friends, Kurt Wagner. Have him relay to her what he is seeing, and tell him something that only the two of you -- Emma and yourself -- could know."

"Thank Ye, Aphrodite! Please forgive me fer e'er doubtin' Ye!"

"You are forgiven, My son. I know why you turned against Me, but now you know that even a Goddess' hands can be tied. I have waited a long time for these wrongs to be righted, but finally We are on the verge which reminds Me . . . " She turned partially so that She could look upon Jack again. "Jack?"

"Yes?" his voice quavered.

"I ask one thing of you, My child, not for Me but for friends who we both hold dear. There are two men who have recently come into your life -- two who you do not know if you should trust or not --, but I tell you now they are to be trusted."

"I will trust them, Aphrodite. Thank You for everything!"

She smiled. "Thank you, Jack. Without you, this would not have been possible. For this one night, I will walk among you all, and you can not keep your faces to the deck the entire time so now I ask you -- each and every one of you -- to rise."

Once all were standing, they turned to look at Aphrodite, wondering what She would show to them and finding Her beauty completely overwhelming.

Aphrodite turned next to Kyna. "Captain Chan, will you please call upon your crew? Introduce them to the rest, and then, Captain O'Hara, I will ask you to do the same."

Kyna and Kat nodded. Kyna wanted to thank Aphrodite for helping her, all those centuries ago, to finally believe in love and in William but knew that this was neither the place nor the time. "As you all already know, I am the Captain of Destiny's Ghost. My name is Kyna Chan. My First Mate is Spike," her fingers entwined with William's.

"My name is William," Spike said as he turned to look at the others. "It's past time you guys knew that."

Kyna smiled at William, very happily surprised that he had finally deigned for the rest of the crew to know his real name and not just his nickname. William smiled back at Kyna and held to her hand. "Thank You, Aphrodite," William spoke to the Goddess, and when Aphrodite turned to look at him, he whispered to Her, "for Kyna."

Aphrodite smiled and already knew the next words to come out of Kyna's mouth, thanking Her for William and for giving her the courage to finally open up her heart and let him in, even before they came out. "You are both most welcome." She nodded to Kyna and gently spoke a command, "Continue."

Kyna nodded. "Our Boatswain is Trina Malloy." She indicated a tall, blue-eyed, blonde woman dressed in black who stood beside a man who looked very much like her, a Mexican, and another blonde man. "Our doctors are Phong and Beast," she motioned to each in turn. "Our Sorceress, Willow Rosenberg," she gestured to the redheaded Willow who had calmed Elvira's wolf. "Our Gunner, Enzo Matrix, and our Weapon Checker, AndrAla." She indicated a green-skinned man who stood with a blue-haired woman in his arms.

"Our Carpenter, Andrew Dye." She gestured to one of the two blonde men standing beside Trina. "Our Powder Monkey, Mouse," she indicated a purple-skinned woman with orange hair. "Our musicians, Ray Tracer and Doyle." She indicated the Aussie who wore the strangest glasses any of them had ever before seen and the Irish man with the visions. "Our Cook, Remy LeBeau." Kyna quickly continued before the French man could open his mouth.

"And the rest of our crew: Trent Malloy, Carlos Sandoval," she indicated the other blonde man and the Mexican standing beside Trina. "Kennedy," she motioned to the brunette woman who hovered next to Willow. "Joseph and Rogue," she gestured to the white-haired man whose arms were once more wrapped around his beloved wife. "Bob," she motioned to the blue-skinned man who stood next to Matrix, AndrAla, Phong, and Frisket. She continued on until she at last came to the latest additions of the crew. "Raziel and Groo." Her free hand gestured to each in turn.

Kat stepped forward but neither could nor wanted to escape Ace's arms. She looked first at Aphrodite, and her words were simple as she believed the Goddess already knew what was in her heart and mind. "Thank ye."

Aphrodite nodded in understanding and smiled at the couple. It had taken Her a long time to find some one who could love a person as insane as Ace and just as long a time to find some one who could love one with a temper as fiery as Kat's. The two fit each other perfectly, however.

Kat turned her attention to the gathered group. "Me name's Kat O'Hara, an' I'm the . . . " She coughed through the word she wanted to add -- reluctant. "Captain o' the Frolickin' Monkey. Me First Mate's Ace Ventura." She prayed he would not talk with his butt.

Ace was sure not to drop his pants this time. He grinned at the others and didn't let go of Kat. Not only was she the Captain of his ship that he had been lucky enough to steal, but she was the Captain of his heart. "Thank you, Aphrodite, for everything, and could you please help me . . . " He thought to Her, . . . keep my pants on when I'm supposed to?

Aphrodite could not help Herself; She burst out into a fit of giggles. Finally managing to swallow Her laughter, She nodded to Ace but still could not keep a straight face.

Kat's eyes glanced swiftly between Aphrodite and Ace. Just what in the Hell had her monkey boy asked the Goddess of Love? Please, Gods, din't let him have said somethin' embarrassin'!

"He didn't," Aphrodite assured Kat, "not about you any way." She smiled slyly.

Kat nodded and let it go though she was still full of curiosity and would corner Ace on it later. For now, however, the Irish woman turned her attention back to the rest of the group. "As most o' ye already knae, most o' our crew's animals, but we di ha'e some humans aboard. They are our Boatswain Hansel . . . " She pointed out the blonde man and was about to move on when he spoke.

"Please tell me! Is he . . . still there? How bad have they hurt him? Please tell me, Aphrodite!" The Goddess could not help but to hear the tears in his voice and heart.

Aphrodite turned to look at Hansel with a sad but compassionate expression. "They have not . . . hurt him as badly as some of the others, Hansel. He lives, and he misses you terribly. You two have got to have a talk, though. He's not going to make the first move," She told Hansel, shaking Her head once. "You're going to have to move on him, but he loves you. He just doesn't think you could ever feel the same."

Jack smiled to himself as he heard those words. It had not been too long ago that the same could have been said about Will and himself. He'd almost lost Will, and he determined to help Hansel get Derek.

"I'll talk to him," Hansel told Her. "I love him more than anything else in the world! He has to know that! Thank You for telling me, but I want to ask You for help when I do tell him."

"I will be there," Aphrodite vowed, "if not in person where you can see Me then in spirit, but I will be there, Hansel."

He smiled at her and then hugged the thought of what he was going to tell Derek to himself. He wasn't about to let him get away from him again!

Aphrodite smiled, clearly pleased. "Captain O'Hara?"

Kat nodded. "There's also our Gunner Bishop," Kat gestured with a hand to the tall, black man whose orange cat even now rode his shoulder, "an' our Cook, Fonzie." She smiled and pointed at one of her oldest friends.

Fonzie smiled at Aphrodite. He couldn't bring himself to say a single word so awed was he by Her beauty!

"Okay, now that that has been settled," Aphrodite announced, clasping Her hands together, "it is time for the rest of you to see exactly who you are going after. Some of you will recognize some of those who you do not realize have been taken. We will begin with them. There are four sisters who have recently come into Jack's family. Their names are Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and Paige Halliwell."

Hank shuffled rapidly through the pictures he'd held onto throughout everything that had happened that evening, and suddenly the picture floated out of the stack. It rose into the air, and Hank pushed his spectacles back up on his nose as he peered at it in awed shock. "You really did do quite a terrific job on these, Hank." Hank's mouth fell open at the Goddess' praise.

The sketch rose into the air and grew larger so that every one there could see it. It could be seen from both sides of the paper, and the black and white suddenly turned to very descriptive and bright colors. It was as if the gathered Pirates were looking upon the Halliwells themselves!

"There is another of their family . . . "

"There should be three more!" LeBeau was quick to jump to his booted feet. "Three women! 'Ro, Patty, an' Penny!" He gazed at the Goddess.

Aphrodite's gaze met the French man's red eyes. "Once upon a time, there would have been. Patricia and Penelope passed away."

The news hit LeBeau hard. He had to sit down. His mouth did not open again even as Ororo's picture came to life beside the Halliwells'. What had happened to his beautiful cheres! Upon seeing Ororo's picture, he gasped. He could not believe that the Weather Witch was alive and that his beautiful, willing cheres had died!

Sam sat down hard. He knew that Penny and Patty were dead, but the knowledge still hurt.

"I will not tell each of you where to go, but Sam, I want you and LeBeau to go together first to Paige. Do not argue with me, Remy," She warned him as the French man prepared to open his mouth. "You will be needed to fight Paige's captor, and Sam will be required if she is to live."

The two males mentioned glared angrily at each other, both knowing the past and neither liking the other.

"Remy, there's something else you need to know. A woman from your past has Paige and Autolycus." Autolycus' picture joined the others.

"Who?" Remy demanded to know.

"Belladonna," Aphrodite answered.

"I'll send Belladonna to Hades with great pleasure!" Remy declared.

"There is another who is involved in this who many of you know but do not realize has been taken." The three pictures returned to Hank while Dawn Summers' image rose into the air.

Spike growled. "How dare they take my little bit! I'll make the bitches suffer greatly before I kill them! Who has her? Darla? Dru?"

Willow gasped in shock at the sight of Dawn's face. "Oh, my little one!" she whispered. "What have they done to you!" She was glad to have Kennedy's arms sneak around her.

"Thus far, Dawn has been one of the lucky ones. She and Winifred Burkle . . . " Fred's picture joined Dawn's. " . . . have been spoken for by one who does not wish to harm them, but they, along with everybody else, will be in danger when the attack begins."

"What shall we do with their captor?" Spike asked Aphrodite.

"Her name is Kalena. She is . . . trapped on the ship. She does not wish to be there . . . "

"Why doesn't she simply leave?" he interrupted Her.

"She is a mortal, William, and she knows to leave the ship will bring her death. There has only ever been one who has managed to escape the Saucy Wench alive, and . . . " Aphrodite chose Her next words with extreme care. "She is currently paying for that."

Jack knew instantly that She was speaking of Faith. He felt Lex stand to move beside him, and he reached out and touched the boy on the arm. Lex stood quietly beside Jack. "Faith?" he whispered.

It was Aphrodite Herself who answered him. "Yes."

"What about the rest of my family? Do they live?" Lex asked.

"Clark Kent, Julian, and Sarah . . . " The two pictures replaced Dawn's and Fred's in the air. " . . . all live. Julian and Sarah have not yet been harmed, but I can not say the same for Clark." Her eyes gravely met Lex's. "This is going to sound strange to you, Lex, but it is of the absolute utmost importance that you get the green rock away from Clark as soon as you reach him."

"Green rock? What is it, and what have they done to Clark?"

"The rock is a piece of kryptonite. Clark's captor wears it as a necklace. She has not yet realized, however, that it is what is responsible for making him so weak. If it lingers too near him for too long . . . " Her words trailed ominously off.

Lex didn't have to hear the words 'he will die' to know that was what She was implying. "And what of his captor? Is she torturing him, or just . . . unknowingly torturing him?"

"She is . . . " Aphrodite sighed. "In a way, both."

"Then the bitch will die!" Lex declared. "What of the girl -- Jasmine? She was taking care of Sarah and Julian."

"She and Simon . . . " Their pictures replaced those of Clark and the kids. " . . . are still doing their best to do so, but she is at a . . . a great loss."

"Jasmine's always at a great loss," Lex told her. "The poor girl does not have a complete mind!"

"She has one," Aphrodite told him, "but it is . . . inaccessible to her at this time."

Jack and Lex exchanged glances. This was one thing they really thought Aphrodite was confused about, but it was good to know that the kids, Jasmine, and Simon were not hurt yet. Lex sat down beside Jack and continued to pay attention to the others being revealed.

"James," Aphrodite called out, "I know you fear your family is dead." Smee's, Connor's, and Frederic's images rose to take the places of Jasmine's and Simon's. "They are not."

"Oh thank Goddess!" James cried out. "How bad have they been hurt?" He felt a hand on his shoulder and saw that Xena was gripping his shoulder.

"Smee and Frederic are, as of yet, largely untouched but in grave danger. William?"

"Yes, Ma'am?" William asked, wondering what he could do and why She was calling him.

"I know you plan to go after Angel." Angel's picture joined the others'. "When you do, please help Connor, as well. You will know why later, but that is Angel's tale to tell."

Spike wondered what the Hell She was implying but did not dare ask Her. He watched as another picture joined Angel and Connor. It was a girl. "Who?" William asked.

"Zora," Jack supplied. "She's . . . Connor's woman. She's a Werecat of sorts and must be handled carefully."

"You will find these three held by the same one, William. The same one who . . . you wish to get your hands upon."

"Who? Dru? Where's Darla? I want that bitch too!"

"You will find her busy with this one." Crystal's picture rose into the air.

Oh my Gods! Jack thought. What are they doing to Crystal? Did he even want to know, and why wasn't her crystal protecting her?

"Thank you, Jack, for reminding Me of that. Helvira will be even harder to kill than usual tonight for she wears Crystal's crystal."

"How'd the bitch get it! Crystal never takes that off except to heal some one!"

"Judson took it," Aphrodite told him, "and gave it to Helvira."

"But . . . won't that bring You-Know-Who?" Jack asked.

"No, it will not for the same reason that Kyna and Willow were both unable to find the ships this evening. They are telepathically blocked, but Judson does know about You-Know-Who and does intend Crystal for him."

Jack's hands clenched and unclenched. How could he get to every one he wanted to get to to rescue? He was only one man, but he knew that the swords would give him special powers that he was not willing to share with the others. He'd just let them be surprised and shocked at the new Jack Sparrow!

"You must remember, Jack, that you are not alone tonight. This can only be accomplished through team work, and every one must pull their weight."

She continued to raise each picture in the air, telling the gathered group about each, until she came to the last picture. Then they found an image in their minds of a beautiful woman with long, dark hair and dark eyes and skin. "She is another held captive by these people. Her name is Theodora Todd."

"I knew she was not one of mine," Jack told Her, "but we will not leave her aboard those ships. Who's on which ship?" he asked Her.

"There are a few more first, Jack," Aphrodite told him gently, "and I want you to try not to leave a single one of these behind." Images of Rachel, Roxanne, Derek, and Emma also filled their minds. "Roxanne is the only one not held captive by the means you think, but she is just as trapped as the rest. She is, however, doing her best to help the Lewises."

"We will not leave any of your people aboard the ships, but we will kill all that we are able and we will burn the ships thereafter!" Jack declared.

"There are two others of theirs who I wish you to try to refrain from killing for they are good and do not wish your people harm." She showed them mental images of Kalena . . . "She is the one who has Winifred and Dawn." . . . and Elektra. "For those of you who know Kitty Pryde," Her eyes turned to Sean most of all, "you will find that this woman is very important to her."

"Those three -- Roxanne, Kalena, and Elektra -- are no more evil than Faith and Emma. They are simply trapped in a position they can only escape through death, but this night, they will fight alongside you."

"Now listen carefully for the next that I have to tell you will determine for some of you where you want to go. The following are held captive on the Saucy Wench: Gabrielle, Angel, Connor, Kurt Wagner, Zora Sheridan, Emma Frost, Lorne, Blue, Lockheed, Cindy, Elvira, Theodora Todd, Meesy, Crystal Frost, Cordelia Chase, Kitty Pryde, Winifred Burkle, Dawn Summers, Ororo Munroe, Piper Halliwell, Faith, Celina Lewis, Katrina Lewis, Morph, Elizabeth Swann, and Rachel Summers. On the Harlot, there are the following: Will Turner, Donkey, Salem Saberhagen, Samuel Smee, Frederic, Jasmine, Simon, Julian, Sarah, Brendan Richards, Wolf, Jareth, Wolverine, Prue Halliwell, Carl, Tom Ballard, Vang, Clark Kent, Dawson Leery, Cole Turner, Chong Chan, Sir Didymus, Trely, Paige Halliwell, Autolycus, Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, Phoebe Halliwell, and Derek Starsky."

Aphrodite shivered suddenly as something entered Wesley. "Jack, Xena," She nearly barked, "make certain that Wesley is cleaned out!"

Cleaned out? Jack wondered. What had they put into him?

"You do not really wish to know, Captain Sparrow," Aphrodite told him.

Xena merely nodded. She had been there before with Gabrielle. She'd have to take Jack aside and explain to him what Aphrodite was telling them in a way so that the others could not hear and be shocked.

"One more thing," Aphrodite spoke, "Willow, step forward."

Willow stepped forward and looked up into the beautiful Goddess' face. "With your permission, My dear child, I would like to give you two spells -- one for teleportation and one for healing. I would also appreciate it greatly if you would go with Jack into what he will find when he goes after his beloved."

"Thank you so much, Oh Blessed Goddess! I will go with him, and I will not fail him nor You!"

Aphrodite smiled. "I know you will not, My child." She touched one hand to each side of Willow's head, and the two spells entered Willow's mind. "They will always be there. You merely have but to think of them, and they will come."

Jack thought back over everything he had just heard, and he was worried as to Will's condition as Aphrodite had now made Willow even more powerful than she had already been and instructed her to go with him. He closed his eyes and prayed that he would be in time.

Ace slipped over and sat down by Jack. He had been trying to piece together which one of the people was Jack's beloved, but when Will Turner's picture had been shown, Jack had not been able to keep the tears from running down his face. Ace, putting two and two together, had realized that Jack's love was Will Turner, a man. He reached out and clasped Jack's arm. "We will be there with you, my friend, and we will get your Will back."

Jack realized that when Will's picture had been shown, he had given himself away by the tears and that neither Ace nor his people nor Kyna's held Jack's love being a man against him. They were still all willing to stand by him!


Strife had been walking forever and had lost count of how many times He had picked Himself up out of snow drifts only to continue walking and fall into yet another one. He had not found a single living being and wondered why Unc had sent Him here for the thousandth time. He had been about to call out again when something blue flashed past His face. It hovered in mid-air and then flew back in front of Him. The blue person hovered face to face with Him, and Strife wondered just what the Hades He was looking at.

Jack cocked his head at he stared at the Being before him in puzzlement. "What the heck are you doing here?" he asked at last. "Aren't You a God?"

Strife grinned at Him. "Guess you're what I was sent here to find? What are you?"

Jack folded his arms in front of him. "Asked You first. Are you or are you not a God?"

"I am a God, but Ares sent Me here to get you."

"Why would Ares send You here to get me?"

"It all involves the Goddess of Love, Aphrodite, and Unc not getting enough."

"Look I really don't care if the War God can get His piece or not! I have a country to freeze!"

"You have people to rescue, or are you not the cousin of Crystal Frost?" Where did that name come from, Strife wondered, and just who the Hades was Crystal Frost? He would never have thought that Ares had just slapped that information into Him.

"Crys?" Jack grabbed the God by His shirt collar. "What's wrong with Crys!"

"She and almost all of Jack Sparrow's crew have been taken prisoner and are being tortured even as we speak."

Jack thought quickly. "Where's Jack?"

"You?" Strife asked.

Jack Frost shook his head. "Jack Sparrow," he clarified.

"He's at sea on Destiny's Ghost."

"Take me there!"

"With pleasure! Can't wait to get out of this Zeus-forsaken snow!" He blinked out, carrying Jack with Him.

To Be Continued . . .