Whew, meh finally updated! Oy! My apologies, mates, I know the wait was long. But I had one of the worst cases of writer's block I have ever had. It was painful, honest. Anywho, time for reviews:
Authoressinhiding: That sounds really cool! Danke for da reviewz!
Little Miss Sparrow: Important?...Hummm...that gives me an idea. And for that you get a cookie. But no Avatar? Ye don't know what yer missin' mate! And about Norrikens? Of course it's odd! That's, like, this whole story, eh!
marauder4ever: Of course cabbages. Glad somebody found that funny. Lol, thanks for the review.
Mrs Capt Jack Sparrows: Hee hee: Commodore Pirate...Can't wait to write that chapter...XDD
pirateobsessed: Of course triangles are evil. We're doing trig in geometry. And I'm thinking the whole time: when the heck am I ever gonna use this in real life? I mean, naturalists and authors don't use trigonometry in their professions!
Jess is a pirate: Yes I had to put the bit about the glass in. Geeze. It really freaks you out that much? Well in that case...jaggedglassprotrudingfromhischestandthebloodandthegutsandthegore! CABBAGES! -sniffcry- PSSA week is done, and spring break is almost ovah. Mate, we should so get all of Passover off. That's downright insensitive if you ask me, that we get off for Christian holidays, but not Passover or Chanukah or anything. Seriously.
RespectTheSporks: Yeah, I was starting to wonder where you had disappeared to...Thanks for the review!
obbits14: o.0 incredibly stupid? James? ...-eyes glint evilly- Yet another wonderful idea by a reviewer: here's your cookie.
Thanks for all the reviews, mates! I feel loved! Oh, and about the Author's Note on the last chapter, I left a bit out. See, I wasn't thinking 'awkward' about her sister being his mum. I was actually going to put Ames as his mother, and that's when I was thinking -AWKWARD!-
Disclaimer: Meh no own anythin', so no suing! ;.;
Chapter Eleven: Casting Off
Jack raced into the jungle, Ames secure on his back, cart following obediently. James appeared beside them, hopping into the cart as it sped past. "We good?" the girl called over her shoulder. He nodded. "Okay cool. Steady as she goes, Captain."
The stallion whinnied a response and kicked up his heels, himself being small enough that there was room enough between he and the cart to do so, picking up the pace just a bit. The lass threw back her head and whooped as she felt the wind flow through her tangled hair. For some reason or other, James found himself smiling at their joy. It was a happiness that baffled him, but he decided to ignore this unfamiliar feeling of uncertainty and instead just revel in said happiness. It seemed only a few minutes later ((though it was really more like twenty)) that they neared Jack's secret cove. He slowed to a stop, and the girl gingerly shimmied down his back to land in the cart beside James. "What is it? We're nowhere near the ocean—how can they possibly see us?"
"We're not there yet, Commodore. We just needed to take care of something first before we could go."
"And that would be...?"
"Just needed to do this." She tied a spare bandana (Will had had a few after all!) around his head, covering his eyes. "Can't be givin' away the bearings of this cove nor that of Jack's island to the pirate scourge of the Caribbean now can we?" Out of respect and a good bit of common sense, he put up no fight.
They finally made it to the beach. Jack, unhitched, plodded steadily through the sand, and Ames hobbled after him, leading the son of her clone. The Pearl waited for them. As it were, there was a pier not far off where she was anchored, and they merely strode down the dock to meet the pirates gathering together to set up watches and the like to search for them. Ames and James paused while Jack, still a horse, strode up the gangplank with deliberate, almost proud steps. As soon as he was fully aboard the vessel, they followed. "Miss Amy!" cried Gibbs, coming over to jubilantly lift her into the air: he'd become quite fond of the lass. Right reminded him of his niece she did. "Yer back—and with a few friends I see," he said, setting her down--gently upon seeing her crutch--and scrutinizing the blindfolded figure and tall, cocky-looking stallion. "But, uh...where be Capn' Jack, eh?"
"Uhm...that is Jack, Mr. Gibbs," she replied uneasily with a gesture to the dark equine. "Er–Jack?"
Luv, I'm comfortable enough as it is. And I need me a rest—all this changing is tiring, you see?
"Yah, well if you don't want your crew to leave without you on account of the lack of need for a horse, you'd best change back."
We'll see about that. Jack moved closer to the old salt, looking more like a playful animal in his movements than like the pirate he'd looked like not three minutes and twelve seconds ago, until he was nearly eye to eye with his pal, one foreleg raised curiously, ears straining as far forward as they could go.
Gibbs gave the creature a good hard look in the eyes, and was surprised when it bested him at a glaring contest. Well, perhaps not glaring, but there was something in his gaze that was clever and knowing, while at the same time commanding. "Aye, that be Jack all right."
Jack snorted. As if you expected anyone else!
"And who be this?" Joshamee nodded to the blindfolded Commodore, though lacking the hat, any trace of his uniform, and for the moment, his title.
"This? This is Jim Hawkins. He volunteered to try to help us get Jack back to normal," she answered, thinking quickly and thanking her lucky stars she'd been thinking about Muppet Treasure Island earlier that morning.
"An' 'e's blindfolded to keep the location of our island under wraps, eh?" She nodded. "Yer a right smart lass ye are."
"Of course!" She nodded to Jack again. "Seriously, man. Now would be as good a time as any. You know, before Ana decides to throw you overboard!" With a surprised snort, Jack was human almost immediately, succumbing to the constant thread of thoughts of his human self she'd been sending throughout the conversation.
Gibbs stumbled a few shocked steps backward, nearly toppling over. "Jack! Mother's love, ye could warn a man!" yelled he, clutching his heart.
The rest of the crew had seen, and a shocked murmur ran among them, which the captain silenced with a grunt. "Good ta have ye back, Jack," Anamaria approached. Jack glared at her, unable to correct her with his proper title of 'Captain.' "Ye'll be happy ta know the raid was a success."
"Glad t' know it went well," Amy spoke for him. He lay an arm in thanks around her shoulders.
Ana looked from one to the other, surprised, then shook her head, blinking and ignoring whatever thoughts she had been thinking. "So, what's yer plan, Jack? What're yer orders?"
Jack and his young charge exchanged glances, before the girl belted out: "Back to the island!" in the best 'captainy'...voice she could muster. The crew chuckled. She couldn't be serious...? "Come on then. Weigh anchor! On deck, you scabbrous dogs! Man the braces! Cast off! Look alive, people!" The crew jumped to attention. "Eyes in the ship!" ((Which means: stop daydreaming and lend a hand!)) The men—and woman—jumped to work. "Come on Mr. Hawkins, let's get you to a cabin, eh? Jack, will you be all right without me for a few minutes?"
No orders yet to be given, love. You did just fine. And you'll be right near mute in the morning, I'll tell ye, Jack neighed. She nodded and led James belowdecks to the spare cabin. No matter how different he looked without his uniform and wig, there was still always the threat of his recognition, especially from Mr. Gibbs, thus he could not stay in the forecastle. The cabin, though, happened to be located right next to that of Ana, and she was likely to be the most suspicious of them all.
Once inside, and with the door securely closed behind them, she undid his blindfold and he set down his belongings, quickly surveying the room. "I'll have someone fetch a second hammock some time this evening."
"Another hammock? Somehow I don't think I'll be needing two, Amy."
"O'course not! This was my cabin to begin with, and for all I can tell, either we'll be sharing it or I'll be moving in with Anamaria."
"Ah. Well then in that case I guess I should in fact be thanking you for being courteous enough to share your quarters."
Ames smiled wryly. "Then why don't you?"
James grinned back. "All right then: Thank you."
"You're welcome," she bowed with a flourish.
'Hawkins' raised an eyebrow. "You know, you are one of the strangest women I have ever met."
"I know, isn't it great?"
"I am not sure yet. But we've plenty of time to find out."
She bobbed her head. "Cool. Oh yeah, and you might wanna lose that prissy accent, just to be safe. Can't have the crew thinking you high in society now, can we?"
"I suppose not."
"Rumor has it you were born and raised in Scotland." He nodded assent. "Then h'w aboot ye tree gooin' back ta that accent, eh?" she tried futilely to mimic the accent.
"Sounds like a plan. Out of curiosity, how often do you use an Irish accent?"
"Why, was that it just now?" James nodded and she ducked her head with a light blush. "...Oops..."
He grinned and stooped down to retrieve an old journal from his pack. "Time ter get ta work, don'cha kno'?" He said in the accent when she looked at him questioningly.
She blinked and nodded. "Good idea. I'm going topside for a bit, I'll be back later, k?" She walked out, leaving him with a slight smile on his face. She poked her head though the companionway's opening to hear a certain bo'sun yelling annoyedly at an even more certain captain.
"Answer me, when I ask ye something, Jack!" Anamaria was yelling at him. He was silent, didn't meet her eyes. In a mixture of confusion, frustration, and perhaps even some measure of fear, she slapped him across the face. Hard. "Why don't you speak, you dog!" Still no answer. She went to slap him again, but he caught her arm with a nicker, all manner of anger or annoyance nonexistent in his expression. She looked at him, confused, brows knitting together. With a barely audible whinny, he shook his head gently and walked away, releasing her arm. "Jack?"
Instead of turning around to face her, he swaggered over to Amy, who had fully emerged. "What, you're just gonna take that—just gonna let her do that?"
There would be no use doing anything about it, luv. She just doesn't understand is all, he sighed. He looked up into the rigging, then behind them to the helm. Cotton was currently manning the Pearl, but Ames could easily identify the expression of longing Jack wore.
She rolled her eyes. "Go ahead, I'm not doing anything. You go get reacquainted with your ship." He nodded and strode aft toward the bridge. "Neigh if ya need me."
Will do darling. He took his place at the helm, nodding to Cotton who immediately released it and stepped away obediently. The girl sighed as she watched him: however out of place he looked anywhere else, he looked like he was born to be where he now stood: feet braced apart, hands resting lovingly on the helm of his love, eyes gazing out to the horizon. He belonged. It was as simple as that. And she knew that she didn't. She had always favored the woods over the sea, if only by the slightest of increments. And the thoughts of where she belonged, the memories, came flooding into her head. That including the homesickness. She was not one to get homesick, were these under normal circumstances: she would always have some manner of communication, and she knew her family did as well with her as without. But now there was no phone to call them with, no way of letting them know where she was and that she was all right. No way of seeing how they were coping with her absence in their world. As far as things went, she probably no longer technically existed in relation to her own world. Her home. She realized she had always taken her family, her world, everything she knew and loved, for granted, and that something could happen to take them all away. But just as she felt the tears stinging the backs of her eyes, she blinked and took a deep breath, knowing full well that it was the chance that she wouldn't ever get home. And also knowing that there was a chance that she would. Fortunately, it was that hope of some day returning to her home and her life which drove her on. Instead, she limped to the bulwarks and watched the horizon, watched the dolphins swimming alongside the hull.
Jack couldn't help but smirk to himself as he relaxed in the confines of her mind, listening to her thoughts. Truly it couldn't be so bad having her here? He shrugged. They'd just have to wait and see. Both their thoughts shifted to the Commodore. Jack';s smirk widened. He couldn't wait to see how that prat would react to life as a pirate...
See, it was pretty much just another transitional chapter. Ick, I know itwas boring. Oh well, leave a review. Will try to update sooner...depending on how motivated I am.