Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Bag
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Chapter 10: An Interrupted Death
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I stood by a pillar, watching as Jack stood on a platform, hands bound looking straight ahead.
"Jack Sparrow, be it known that you have," the official began, reading from a scroll.
"Captain!" I interjected, "It's Captain Jack Sparrow." Several important looking puffs glared and I gave them my middle finger. Jack grinned,
"For your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith – piracy, smuggling…" the official droned on.
Will gave me a nod before making his way through the crowd towards Elizabeth. I didn't hear what he said, but I knew exactly what he was saying. I breathed in deeply and clenched my hands around my sai that hung at my waist. Poppins was on my back, whispering worriedly,
"Everything will be fine," I assured it. I scanned the crowd. Will nodded towards me as the noose was placed around Jack's neck and I darted into the crowd,
"Move!" Will bellowed. I cackled madly, swinging my sai expertly so people would step back. Will threw his sword and it landed right below Jack when the trap door was released. His feet skidded and he tried to stay on. Will began his fight with the executioner and I scrambled up the podium. Cutting Jack free, he and I, well, he fell and I simply followed suit, through the trap door. He cut his bonds on the sword.
"Come on," I shouted, Will somersaulted off the scaffold. "Show off," I snapped. He grinned at me. Jack tossed one end of the rope to him and I followed behind, ready to defend them from the back. They tripped three officers and I leapt over them. "Hey! Watch where you leave your mess!"
"Sorry!" Jack called over his shoulder as they rounded a pillar and gave a sharp tug. The men they had roped hit their heads on the stone. I laughed and followed them. Two officers cornered me on the other side of the column. Raising an eyebrow and grinning, I did some fancy twirls and flips with my sai. They looked amazed. I rolled my eyes. Jumping up, I switched my hips so I kicked one and then the other with my opposite foot. I ran over to where Jack and Will were and the three of us were soon surrounded.
"I thought we might have to endure some manner of ill-conceived escape attempt but not from you." Norrington's eyes were narrowed at Will. I bared my teeth in his defense, "And who is this? Your lover perhaps?" I snarled and attempted to scratch out his eyes. A soldier knocked my hand out of the way with his bayonet.
"On our return to Port Royal, I granted you clemency. And this is how you thank me? By throwing in your lot with him? He's a pirate!" Governor Swann put his two cents in.
"And a good man!" Will declared. Beside me, Jack mouthed That's me! I snorted. "If all I have achieved here," Will continued, "is that the hangman will earn two pairs of boots instead of one, so be it. At least my conscience will be clear." I sighed,
"Drama queen," I sang.
"You forget your place, Turner." Norrington threatened dangerously. Oh yeah, like I was really afraid of that wig.
"It's right here…between you and Jack." I grinned,
"Don't count me out," and I stood between Jack and Will, holding hand with both of them. Will smiled at me, giving my hand one last friendly squeeze.
"I as well," Elizabeth joined Will. I sighed. If she was doing, it just wasn't cool anymore.
"Elizabeth!" her windbag father sputtered, "Lower your weapons. For goodness' sake put them down!" He waved about his frilly sleeves. The men lowered their weapons. I raised an eyebrow. I guess there were perks to being the Governor's daughter.
"So this is where your heart truly lies, then?" I frowned. Poor guy. As much as he was an asshole, I think he really liked Elizabeth.
"It is." She smiled coyly at Will. I gagged in the background. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jack notice Mr. Cotton's parrot.
"Well! I'm actually feeling rather good about this." He approached Governor Swann, "I think we've all arrived at a very special place, eh? Spiritually…Ecumenically…Grammatically?" He turned to Norrington, "I want you to know that I was rooting for you, mate. Know that." He whipped around to Elizabeth, "Elizabeth …it would never have worked between us, darling. I'm sorry. Will …nice hat and… take care of Ashlyn will you?" I blanched,
"Aw, hell no!" I grabbed his hand tightly, "I'm coming with you Jack," He grinned,
"Was hoping you'd say that." I smiled back and turned to the crowd,
"Seeing that we've all been saying the things that have been on our mind," I cleared my throat, "Gov'na, you're a windbag, but you're a cool windbag. Norrington? As much as I have to admit that you're an asshole," he glared at me, "You're pretty awesome. Elizabeth doesn't deserve you. Lizzie?" I looked at her, "You're a bitch. Treat Will nicely or I really will bust your head like a piece of fruit and Will?" I grinned, "Dear, dear William. You have great sex," Governor Swann and Norrington sputtered. Elizabeth's eyes became the size of watermelons as Will colored. Jack gave a hearty laugh as we walked backwards.
"Friends! This is the day that you will always remember as the day that-" I rolled my eyes,
"Oh, shove it up your ass Jack," I threw my arms around his neck and we both plummeted to the sea. We came up, gasping for air,
"What was that for?" he demanded as we swam out,
"For being a dork,"
"What's that?" I sighed,
"Oh, forget it!" and he laughed. Jack grabbed me and held on.
"Pet, I'll have you know that once you're on the Pearl, you'll be a marked man… woman…" I giggled,
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Good," he grabbed a rope that Gibbs had thrown out to us and pulling me with him, we soared out of the water and on deck. We landed in a tangled heap by the wheel and I laughed,
"I thought you were supposed to keep to the code?" Jack quirked an eyebrow as Gibbs, Anna-Maria and the rest of the crew came running up to us.
"We figured they were more actual guidelines," the crew chuckled. Anna-Maria pulled me to my feet as Gibbs pulled Jack to his. She grinned at me and I returned the favor. I pulled Poppins off to check if it was okay. I raised both eye brows. It was already dry,
"Can I have my iPod?"
"I guess that means you're staying?" I smiled,
"I guess." I turned, putting my headphones on and watching as a smiling Cotton handed Jack his hat.
"Thank you,"
"Captain Sparrow," Anna-Maria set his coat on his shoulders. "The Black Pearl is yours." Jack looked around fondly, gently placing a hand on the wheel and feeling along the wood. I turned my music on and grinned as one of my favorite songs began to play. Suddenly aware that the crew was watching, Jack began to bark orders,
"On deck, you scabrous dogs! Man the braces! Let down and haul to run free." He turned to me and pulled me beside him, "Now..." he looked out to sea, "Bring me that horizon." He began to hum and pulled out his compass, "And really bad eggs…drink up, me 'earties, yo ho." He grinned at me snapping the compass shut. I smirked back,
"Jack? I think I have a better theme song for you." And I set one ear bud in his ear, keeping the other one in mine.
I restarted the song and watched with a growing fondness as his grin slowly grew wider.
FIN.
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Oh man. Ten chapters. Not too bad, huh? Don't worry. There will be a Pirates of the Caribbean 1.5: Adventures of Jack and Ashlyn. That takes place between this and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Squirrel's Best. ARGH and now I have to wait for that DVD to come out. RAWR.
Thanks for reading.
