Sharca/ I love that song, so I was so happy to realize that the lyrics fit so well. I'm glad to have a new reviewer!

TheOddOne/ Sorry, I didn't think you would mind. It was more or less a nod in your direction to say 'Hey, thanks for reviewing'.

Mulch Diggums/ Eep! I apologize for my lack of Jack. Remember, there's always the Alternate story. There's plentey of Jack in that one. Peace? BTW, fencing is a ton of fun. You should seriously try it.

Janet Tripper/ Grace is 13. Her young age makes everything so simple since you know that there won't ever be any romance between her and any character whatsoever. I consider that a very good thing. -wink-

Captain Davy Jones/ Whoo! Welcome! But ah, Starfire did not inspire the beginnings of Mary-Sues as a group. Merely that one particular line in my one particular story. Besides, I don't really like Mary-Sues and I love Starfire (Although Raven is a bit cooler in my opinion)

JeanieBeanie33/ Thanks for the sympathy. I thought about it and figured that it'd be ok. And yes, the longboat thing really stumped me last time I saw DMC.

Estel Ashlee Snape/ Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to review each chapter.

ta1nt3d1uv/ Sorry about that, I must not have caught it. Heh, my bad.

NarnianPirate/ Oh goodie! You had me worried there... Kidding.

See, this is the kind of reviewing I've been talking about! Thank you! Keep it up, guys!

Alright, no one got the reference, as I predicted. In fact, I bet my brother 20 bucks and now I am a rich girl. Whoopie! Anyway, you can most often see The Three Stooges doing that gag. Cracks me up every time. What do you mean I don't look like the kind of person who would like something like that? Fine, be that way. -wink-

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They rowed along for some time in silence, both deep in their own thoughts. Finally, Will spoke. "How is Elizabeth?"

"What?"

"Elizabeth. You know what's supposed to happen, so you can tell me how she is, right?"

Grace thought a moment. Did she really want to tell him the truth? "She is… Unharmed, if that is what you meant."

"You don't sound too sure about that."

"Just don't be too hard on her. The woman knows what she's doing. I promise. Just keep focused on the task at hand."

He seemed unsatisfied, and was about to press further but was interrupted. "Ship!" Grace pointed out the brownish blur in the distance. They rowed closer until someone spotted them. The two were hauled aboard and ushered inside the captain's quarters. She gratefully accepted a blanket.

"Strange thing to come upon a longboat so far out in open waters."

"Just put as many leagues behind us as you can. As fast as you can."

Bellamy made no move to do anything. Grace stood up. "Get going or else you're all dead men!" She immediately clapped a hand to her mouth, having gone too far and sat down again.

"And what are we running from?"

"A storm. That's how we got out here. We abandoned ship right before it hit and rowed like crazy…" She went to cover her slip-up. "Will? Isn't that Elizabeth's wedding dress?"

"Yes." He turned to the captain. "That dress. Where did you get it?

"It was found aboard the ship. The crew it thought it was a spirit bringing some omen of ill fate."

He smiled to himself. "That's foolish."

"Yes, It brought good fortune! The spirit told us... Put in at Tortuga. And we made a nice bit of profit there."

Grace gave Will a look that said, "Oh, I sooo told you."

"I imagine... some of your crew may have jumped ship there.

They were interrupted by another sailor. "Captain, a ship's been spotted."

"Colors?"

Grace mouthed the word she desperately didn't want to hear. "She isn't flyin' any."

"Pirates!"

"Or worse."

"Much worse."

They ran out to the deck and Grace motioned for the crow's nest. "Safest place on the ship."

Will climbed up and looked out over the ocean. "We've doomed us all. It's the Flying Dutchman!"

Her heart began to race as she watched the scene unfold. One tentacle reached out and grabbed on of the sailors and pulled him below the surface of the ocean. Jones' voice rang through her head. "Let no joyful voice be heard!" One man screamed and wildly rang the warning bell. "Let no man look up at the sky with hope!" Another sailor was dragged into the depths. "And let this day be cursed by we who readily wake the Kraken!" The beast burst through the water, tentacles failing. They mercilessly tore the ship in half, splinters and debris flying everywhere.Will and Grace used the momentum of the falling mast to jump clear of the wreck into the water. They grabbed hold of a well-placed piece of wood and floated towards the Dutchman.

"What now?" She sputtered, trying to stay afloat. She could feel the sting of the salt water on her shoulder.

"What else? Swim!"

"But…" She drifted off and followed Will, trying to swim with one arm. Finally, he pulled her up to the head and they listened to the voices drifting down from the deck.

"Neither one are here. They must've been claimed by the sea.

"I am the sea." Grace almost smiled at this. That was a great line.

"What of the survivors?"

"There aren't any survivors." The sound of the dead men hitting the water sent shivers down her spine. "The chest is no longer safe. Chart a course to Isla Cruces. Get me there first, or there'll be the devil to pay."

"First?"

"Who sent that thieving charlatan and that meddling child onto my ship? Who told them of the key? Jack Sparrow."

She realized that she was shaking slightly. She tried to calm herself and reached out with her mind. "Please tell me you're still there. I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for doubting you. I know Jones stopped them from throwing be overboard because you told him to. Please, I need your help."

"Apology accepted. Yes, I believe you need a way to shore?"

"Do I ever."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Just wait."

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Grace had nodded off, but was abruptly awakened by the numerous shouts of "Down!"

"Grace!" Will violently whispered. "I'm out of ideas!" It was not a second later that two brown lumps appeared in the water. "Are those….?"

"Sea turtles!" She jumped down into the water and grabbed the shell of one of them. "Thank you." She didn't receive a verbal response, but she could feel the spirit smile. Then she was gone. The subtle presence in the back of her mind had suddenly disappeared. Her part of the plotline was complete. She sat up on the turtle and felt the wind in her face as she shot towards shore. "I'm FREEEEEEEEEEE!"

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She's freeeeeeeeee! And so ends my plot detour. The next chapters, I'm afraid, won't be up as quick as these, given that I have to go back to school. I'll do my best, though!