On the 'Flying Dutchman', Gibbs and much of the crew are cleaning the disgusting remains of the Kraken of the deck. It is slimy, and several of the BIG TOUGH PIRATES pass out from the stench. Gibbs is looking nervous and disgruntled. He is mumbling to himself and keeps throwing glances to the sea, where we now see a pair of longboats heading towards the 'Black Pearl'.
In one boat sits Jack, Elizabeth, Jan and Roland, and in the other, Barbossa, Ragetti and Pintel. Elizabeth notices that Jack is fingering his pistol constantly. They arrive at the 'Pearl' and they all clamber aboard. Both Jack and Barbossa at first seem overcome and stare around the ship with gleeful awe. Elizabeth asks Barbossa where the Piece of Eight is, and the pirate swaggers into the captain's quarters and rips up a piece of boarding, revealing a glorious golden coin. Jack is surprised, but Barbossa comments that he always did know the 'Pearl' better. Barbossa hangs the coin around his neck and moves back onto the deck. "Now then," says Jack, "If Mister Barbossa here would return to the Dutchman and send over Mister Gibbs." But Barbossa says that the 'Pearl' is his and steps towards the wheel. Jack points his pistol at Barbossa, who points his own right back. Another pistol taps against Barbossa's ear, from Elizabeth. Jan also points his pistol at Barbossa. Ragetti and Pintel accidentally point their pistols at each other, before training them on Jack and Jan respectively. The whole group is locked in a great circular stand off. Jack claims that Davy Jones raised the 'Black Pearl' for him and no one else, but Barbossa comments that when he was captain no one mutinied or got the ship eaten. Elizabeth says why can't they just share the vessel, but Jack laughs, prompting Elizabeth to train her weapon on him. "Sorry, luv," he says quickly. In the corner of the ship, the blind Roland is listening to all this intently, and then begins laughing. Everyone looks at him. Roland comments that no matter where he is, or whoever has it, the 'Black Pearl' will always be one with Jack Sparrow, thereby making him its rightful Captain. Barbossa scoffs at this asks who the bloody 'ell this Warlock thinks he is? "Your rescuer," is all Roland says. Barbossa seems rather humbled by this, and backs away, saying to Jack that he will be First Mate again then. "Cook," says Jack. "Quartermaster," says Barbossa. "Cabin boy," laughs Jan, but then gets poked by Barbossa's pistol.
It is agreed that Jack will captain the 'Black Pearl' along with Gibbs, Elizabeth and half of the crew, and Barbossa will captain the 'Flying Dutchman' with Ragetti, Pintel and the other half of the crew. Elizabeth asks just what exactly the Pieces of Eight will do when they are all together, but Jack and Barbossa look stumped. Roland explains that long ago, the Goddess of the Seas, Calypso, fell in love with a mortal man, a man of the sea. Such was there love that Calypso betrothed upon the man the greatest gift she could think of: immortality. The sailor became immortal, became bound to the sea like the Goddess Calypso herself, so that they might always be together. But Calypso was a Goddess after all, and she was wild and untameable, thus the man of the sea could not bear the pain anymore and cut out his heart to stop it. The man's name was Davy Jones. When Calypso found out what her man had done, her fury became such that she destroyed fleets of ships with single breaths and terrorized the ocean waves. Until, the pirates of the era joined together, forming the Pirate Brethren, the most ancient and powerful of all pirates. They defeated Calypso in battle, reducing her to a mortal prison, and trapped the essence of a Goddess in eight golden coins, which would remain with each of the Brethren until they died, and then it would pass down to the closest shipmate and so on and so on. If all of the coins can be brought together, then the essence of the Goddess would be resurrected, her mortal host identified, and she would serve the will of those who restored her.
Jack, Ragetti and Pintel are open mouthed at this tale, whilst Elizabeth shakes her head, clearly a none believer. Barbossa nods knowingly, adding that some also say that the member of the Brethren who took the coin that held the largest part of Calypso, also took some of her powers, and thus became immortal too, and has never died. He is the First ever Pirate, and his ship is the First Vessel of the seas. Barbossa points at a small ruby in the centre of the coin, and everyone sees that it is glimmering. The First Pirate has summoned the Brethren, and as such the Gathering will commence. None but the First Pirate will ever know how to reach the Gathering, as the ship which bears the Piece of Eight will go itself.
Barbossa returns to the 'Dutchman' and the ship is tied to the 'Black Pearl', before taking off at a phenomenal speed across the waves. Pintel looks to Barbossa and asks where the Gathering will commence. Barbossa smiles, murmuring, "Shipwreck's Cove".
Back on Purgatory Island, Will awakens from his unconscious status on the beach, the growls of the Guardian long gone. He is instantly aware of a dark figure looming over him though, and he jumps up quickly. It is Bootstrap Bill. The father and son embrace. Bootstrap looks terrible, even more of a sea creature than before. Will asks how he got here, to which Bootstrap replies that Davy Jones' demise backfired slightly. It did not release anyone from the 'Dutchman', but rather gave Norrington Jones' powers. Norrington released the crew from the 'Dutchman' in order for them to serve on his ship, but Norrington sought to punish Bootstrap for everything his son had done to him, thus banishing him to spend his fate in the ocean. "Imagine that," says Bootstrap mournfully, "to spend an eternity in the waves, slowly becoming one with the sea, until I am nothing. It is like reliving Hector Barbossa's tyranny all over again." Before Will can say it, Bootstrap says he knows that Barbossa was freed from Purgatory and that Jack Sparrow is the reason for Will's imprisonment. "I was rescued," continues Bootstrap, "by a ship older than the Dutchman and blacker than the Pearl. The First Vessel." Bootstrap explains that the Captain is the greatest pirate who ever lived, the man who will unite pirates against the marshalled armada. Bootstrap also comments that Will must join the fight. "What about you?" asks Will. "My fight is done," replies Bootstrap. He says it is time to go, but Will reminds him that another soul must remain in Purgatory in place of another. Then Will realises his father is planning and steps back. Bootstrap insists that it is the only way, but Will protests. Suddenly three sailors emerge from the water, old pirates, silent and regal, and grab Will. They begin dragging him into the water. "My life is done," says Bootstrap, "you have made me proud. My one good deed in life is to take your place in life. Do not hate yourself. Do not miss me, my son. Goodbye". And Will is dragged into the sea screaming.
When Will opens his eyes again, he finds that he is on board a black ship, surrounded by thick fog and mist. All of the crewmen seem old and noble, as though they are all captains of the sea. At the head of the ship, Will can see a dark figure standing perfectly still in the breeze. Will is helped to his feet and a blanket thrown around his shoulders. A man with one eye and a wonderfully bushy beard identifies himself as Gale, the First Mate of the First Vessel. Will is at first sullen and rude, still mourning his father, but nods at the figure at the head of the ship. "The captain," says Gale, "but do not try to speak with him. He will speak with none except Calypso, when she forgives him for the terrible deed he did all those years ago. He imprisoned her". Will asks where they are going, noticing the weapons and crates on the deck. "To the Gathering of The Brethren," says Gale. "To Shipwreck's Cove."
