Hallo, I'm back again! Wow, that was quick...anywho, just to let you know, while you're waiting for me to update, there's this really random and extremely hilarious fic out under the title of "Oddness", posted under the author name of pirateobsessed. Not only shall you read it along with this story, but you shall review it, too! ...or suffer the attack of a very maniacal Rin. And if you don't know who Rin is, then go read the freaking story, and leave a review. Savvy?

Oki, now that I gots that off me chest, it's time to reply to some reviews:

Jess Is A Pirate: Yes, I made you wait another chapter :;cackles evilly;: And about the coke truck? Yesh. And don't forget the Captain Morgan to go with that, sabieren? HA, yeah, last Halloween was hilarious. I still don't get how he knew Dave was a girl, but didn't see through my disguise...what finally made him realize I was a girl anyway? LESTER! Our favorite possum -and Jeff's hedgehog from Vanessa, who is really starting to make his move- 0.o; Oh, and it's Burton, ya whelp, not burtin. GEEZE!

Little Miss Sparrow: You know something, I actually understood that! o.0;; wow. Glad to know I can make you laugh, and why thank ye for such a luverly review. XD But running in circles is fun! And so addicting! And if I can't write anymore, well...hmm, I could use that as a threat to get people to review. ;:evil eyes:; MUAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

pirateobsessed: In the same place? Maybe. Close to it, anyway. Anywho, tell Rin—that is, if she already knows—that I apologize for using her face (o0). I shall use o.0 and 0.o from now on. And if she doesn't already know, I see no need to tell her, savvy? Alright?... And yes, crazy minds do think alike.

...And great minds think CHEESE! Iheart Cheese. Xd

Authoressinhiding: Why wouldn't you review? Why would you even ask such a horrid question? I'd start worrying after the first couple of chapters, and then I'd see you log on and such and know you'd been ignoring...or I'd get really paranoid, so...and then I'd get a bit discouraged to write, cuz you're one of my strongest supporters, mate. Anywho, you spelled Murtogg with one 'g' in your last review. You should know that already, so don't ask me. Duh.

RespectTheSporks: I'm updating, I'm updating! Geeze, happy? And no, I haven't read it. Haven't heard of it, to be quite honest...

marauder4ever: Why thankee!

Oh, and...-counts- let's see, seven in July, 31 March, 30, 31, 30...and however many days are left in February by the time I get around to posting this...well, add the last one to 129 and you get however many days left to go until PotC2 cometh out. w00t! X3

Disclaimer: I own nothing. -sobs- NOTHING, you hear? -sobs again, then perks up and starts running in circles again- WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Chapter Eight (whoa, 8 chapters! ...dang): How Revealing!

They stood, staring confusedly at the stallion in the parlor. Finally shaking herself out of the trance, Amy stepped over to him, laying a palm on his neck. He turned his head and looked at her with deep, intelligent eyes, ears flicking forward. What, might I ask, just happened?

"You turned into a horse again."

Yes, I had figured that much, thank you, he snorted sarcastically. What I meant was what was it that made it happen?

Ames shrugged. "I have absolutely no idea." She thought a moment. "What were you thinking about right before it happened?"

About being a horse, but I've done that quite a few times since I changed back, and nothing has happened.

"Interesting, I was thinking the same. Beautiful day for riding, eh?" she asked, blinking her eyes pleadingly.

Jack sighed. That it is. But I wish things weren't so obscured about this whole thing. What makes this keep happening?

"I don't know, why don't we go back and ask the other fruits?" she rolled her eyes.

As did Jack, tossing his elegant equine head. Then something clicked. Wait. You ate part of that same fruit, aye?

"...Yes."

Then perhaps we are linked somehow through that fruit. Whenever we think the same regarding my shape, it must trigger something. Quick, what were you thinking about last night when I changed back?

"About you being human," she answered quickly, an epiphany coming on.

As was I! Jack replied. That must be it then. Quick, think of me being human again.

"Aww, but it's such a nice day for riding."

We can ride later, provided this works...Actually, we can ride if this doesn't work, too, but we need to see if it will first, all right? Ames nodded, and they both pictured Jack as a human. Long moments passed in which nothing happened, before Jack said gently, You're letting your mind wander.

Amy opened the eyes she had not recalled closing, and gaped at him incredulously. "How did you know that?"

I...don't know, luv. I saw myself in me own head, then...saw something what looked like...Norrington?...Something about him being attractive? Jack shuddered.

Ames groaned. "Oh geeze, we really are linked through this thing, aren't we?"

Aye. Now, back to the issues at hand, darling. I'd rather like to know how this all works, if it's all the same to you.

"Fine, fine." So they imagined, carefully keeping their imaginations in check. Both had unconsciously shut their eyes to better picture his flamboyant, charming (annoying) self. Ames felt a slight breeze brush against her face, and she opened her eyes to see the wind that had rushed to the pirate was now rushing away, taking anything and everything with it that it had brought (i.e. anything horsey), and returning anything it had taken (for instance anything human, savvy?). She was surprised at how gentle a breeze it was now, seeing how violently it had come to him before. No wonder she hadn't noticed him change back the night before until she realized the story had stopped!

Will and Elizabeth exchanged a bewildered glance. What just happened?

Back to Jack, who was only now opening his eyes, looking himself up and down, holding up a hand and flexing his fingers, patting his chest as if to make sure it was solid and real, wiggling his toes inside his boots, rocking on his feet a few times, wiggling his mustache, et cetera. He looked back to the lass. As human as before, darling. It worked!

She grinned a moment, before it quickly faded from her face. "But you still can't talk."

Jack shook his head, giving her an annoyed look for ruining the victory. That was his job, after all! No, not yet. But I will once we get all this sorted out, you mark my words.

"You're starting to sound like Gibbs again."

What do you expect? I've known the man for most o' me life. Don't be a hypocrite—I've caught you acting like me more often than not, and most of it wasn't just to get dear Mr. Turner to believe you, savvy?

"Jeez, Jack, I was only pointing it out." Jack blinked. "You take things a bit personally for an experienced pirate."

Dammit, the equine characteristics must be rubbing off on me about as much as I rub off on you.

"Nah, you just look tired."

...That too...

"No riding then? You need some rest."

No, we can ride, if only for a short time.

"You sure?"

Aye. 'Sides, I could use a bit of exercise, you could use a bit of fun—why not? 'S a wonderful day, so you said, eh?

Ames hesitated a moment. "Sure," she nodded. "Let's do it." Both bowed their heads in focus, closing their eyes simultaneously, and moments later Jack was a horse again.

Yes, this is a definite improvement.

"Miss?"

"My apologies, Mrs. Turner, we were hoping to take a ride through the garden."

"Yes, well he could've waited until he was outside first before changing back."

"Nah. Too big a risk of being seen." Hoofbeats echoed against the polished floor, and they looked up to see Jack, nearly nose to nose with Will. "'Do you believe us now?' he asks."

"Yes, Jack," Will replied in an instant. He stepped back a pace so he could see more than just the dark, whiskery muzzle. And to escape the smell of horsebreath, but that's beside the point. He laid a hand tentatively on the stallion's forehead, as if to prove to himself what he'd just seen (and twice, at that!) had been real. Jack nickered gently in response, as if to say 'Yes, it's really me.' An ear flicked toward the girl, and he pulled away from the touch.

"Ready?"

Aye.

She led him out of the house, shirking off the surprised stares of the gardeners, and vaulted up high onto his back. (Seventeen-three hands, about, so...math time...seventeen times four, plus three, divided by twelve and with a remainder...his back was about five feet and eleven inches off the ground, if my math is as good as it's supposed to be (yay for mental math!), and that's higher than it seems, mind you. He's a tall horse. Really.) Wrapping her legs around him, she urged him into a jouncing trot and worked on her posting while bareback—which needed some work—warming the both of them up. After one lap around the capacious garden, she urged him into a smooth canter, her body moving with him as well as his moved with the Pearl. Experimenting with her bareback skills—which were not particularly great—she steered him toward a fallen log, out of the way and out of sight of anyone on the main path. Only a foot high, but it was sufficient for the practice, and they flew over at what might have been considered a bit too fast. After near a half hour had passed, Jack finally slowed and stopped. Come on, we should go find him and see if he'll help. It's getting later than I would like it to be.

"Fine, fine. Was fun while it lasted." Jack bobbed his head, not necessarily agreeing nor disagreeing, cantering back to the front door, from which Elizabeth and Will had decided to watch. "We're gonna head off," she told them. "We should be back around nightfall." With a nod from the both of them, Jack whirled around and took off at a canter down the path, through the garden, down the street.

XxXxXxXxXxX

"Oh, sir, can I help you with that?" asked a stable hand by the building they were headed for. "I can hold him for you while you're in there, provided you have an appointment."

"Oh, that I do, mate," Amy replied, lowering her voice a bit. She dismounted, exchanging a glance with her horse.

I'll be fine. You just get in there, and I'll find you both, all right?

She nodded discreetly. "Thankee, sir," she replied to the hand, holding out a shilling and handing over Jack's lead.

She headed inside, whispering silent good lucks to her friend. Up the stairs, down the hall, round the corner and down another hall—she didn't know how she knew where to go, really, but perhaps Jack had tapped into her subconscious again and was guiding her there. She could only imagine he had snuck there for whatever various reasons he might have had. She stopped right outside his door, pondering the thought of him having an appointment with another scheduled for this very time, and leaned down to observe through a keyhole, noting as she did so that the door was unlocked. There he sat, behind his desk doing endless paperwork. He was bereft of his coat for the heat, and it was hanging on a stand in the corner. He wasn't expecting anyone. Thus, with confidence, she threw open the door and strode in, careful not to turn her back as she closed it again. They stared at one another in silence for a moment untilshe finally greeted him."'Ello, Commodore."

There, happy mates? Ye got your answer. Now review, or I'll...have to start running around in circles until I'm too dizzy to update, savvy? -MUAHAHA!- So yeah, review. Or else. That blue button. Yeah. Click it. C'mon. Not that hard. C'moooooonnnn. You knwo you want to. Click it. Cliiiccckkk iiittt. And review. Oki? Oki. Now. Click. Bye.

P.S. C'mon, it's fun to go clicky clicky and Tappity taptap! Click. Button. There. Click.