Chapter Ten: Twilight

Disclaimer: Own nothing except everyone not copy written in the story. There is a cross-over from a literary source and I don't own any from that either but I'm not telling you what it is because it'd ruin the ending, haha. Point is, I don't own anyone except Auburn, Mary, and Lady Luck.

I want to thank everyone who's read this and I really hoped you enjoyed it because I enjoyed writing it for the most part. I'll probably have another story up soon that I've been working on for awhile and if you enjoyed this one, you might like that one. I'm also trying to start up a story with the author Alel (Wench's Log, or A Girl Geek's Journal of Piracy) so be on the lookout for more from yours truly! Thanks a bunch, you guys who read and review are tres best!


"Auburn, I'm tired and it's getting late," Mary complained as they trudged up a great hill, a mountain more the like.

"Would ye like me t' carry ye, Miss Mary?" Auburn asked, his patience never failing once.

She nodded and he swooped her effortlessly up onto his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

At the same time, the good captain was trudging up the same hill, just on the other side. The harder side, actually, covered with rocks and tree stumps which he was having an awful time avoiding.

"Ow- God damnit- bloody Hell- stupid fuckin'- OUCH!"

This hill was where the townsfolk said that they heard the boy talk about but they warned Jack against going there. "T'is haunted, sir, with creatures that only come out at twilight and do horrid tricks on them who go up there! Beware good sir!"

Jack, as per usual, didn't pay any mind to what they said and had started off, thinking it to be an easy trek for sure. Half a day later, however, he wondered if the top was just an optical illusion and he'd never reach it.

Auburn and Mary reached the top before Jack and settled in a soft pallet of grass. "Look at the sunset, Aubie. Are we going to stay the night here? What about Mr. Jack? We should be getting back; he'll be getting worried."

"Don't worry yer pretty lil' head 'bout nothin', Miss. Everythin'll be just fine. Sit here wit me an' I'll play ye a lil' ditty, aye?"

Her face began to glow with excitement. "Yay!" She cried joyfully, settling beside him obediently.

Placing the pipes to his lips, Auburn began to play a cheery little jig, the melody dancing about in the colours of the sunset. Mary's attention was caught by little lights rising up from the ground, sparkling and bouncing all around.

"Ooh Auburn, look! Fireflies!" She got up and began chasing them immediately, trying desperately to clap her hands around them. She shrieked, however, when they began getting back at her, zipping around and pulling at her hair and ears. "Auburn help!" She cried, fearfully, running back to the boy.

Auburn laughed. "They're just playing with you, Miss Mary."

"What are they?"

"They're faeries."

"Faeries?"

"Aye, we're in a faerie ring."

"Does this mean yer a faerie too?"

Auburn opened his mouth to answer when there was a cry and cursing.

"Ach! Get offa me you bloody little imps!"

The two turned and saw Jack swatting the faeries away from him. Auburn laughed and played a little trill on his pipes and the faeries disappeared immediately.

"Thank you, Mr. Auburn. Why the blazes did you come up here in the first place?"

"Mr. Jack, I saw faeries!"

"That's wonderful, Miss Mary, let's get back to the ship, aye?"

"I like it up here though, Mr. Jack. It's just like in my dream."

"Mary…"

There was a sudden chirping noise and the little balls of light came out again, chanting a high-pitched version of the girl's name.

"They recognize ye, Miss Mary," Auburn said with a satisfied smile.

"A'ight boy. I've had my suspicions about you but I want to know what's going on!"

"We're goin' home, Captain Sparrow."

"'Scuse me? We?"

"Mary and I."

Jack gave the boy a blank look.

"Captain Sparrow, allow me t' introduce meself…" the boy gave a bow and opened his mouth when a high pitched screech came out of nowhere followed by a larger ball of light which subsided to reveal a young, flawless woman with long dark hair and wicked eyes.

"Ho mischievous Oberon, back again? I hoped you'd be gone forever more. Where's my changling boy?" she spat.

Jack looked at Auburn who somehow was shed of his sea fairing clothes and was now clothed in a dark cloak and a tunic made of birch bark and leaves.

"Fair Titania, I've brought you back something better." He pushed forth Mary. "This is Mary, the daughter of that wanton, Anne Bonny. Doest thou remember her?"

"Aye I do," the woman replied. "I remember ripping you from her bed when she was barely of age. You've always been taken to virgins."

Jack had to snicker at that, being the man he was. This decided to be a wrong move, however, when the woman turned on him, eyes glaring.

"And who be this, trespassing on our faerie revels?" She asked, advancing on him.

Jack swallowed his fear and answered confidently. "Captain Jack Sparrow, my lady. Lady Lily Luck sent me to take this child here, promising treasure in return."

A cackle grew out of nowhere as the Lady spun out of thin air and settled on the ground.

"Knew ye'd be needin' me help, ole' Jackie boy." She grinned.

"Enough of this. This is a tainted child; I have no use of her."

"Titania, why must you be so harsh? She's half yours!" Luck protested.

"If I claimed half of that womanizer's illegitimate children, there'd be more than in all of Ireland!"

"Rash wanton, she is a good lass. Smart and strong. With the proper training, she'd serve you well. Her faerie half is stronger than any I've ever seen." Auburn objected forcefully.

Titania huffed and with a wave of her arm disappeared, child in tow.

Jack looked from Luck to Auburn and back again.

"What about my treasure?" he asked.

Luck rolled her eyes. "Aye, aye." She turned to the faerie king, gesturing. "Oberon, you promised."

"Aye and I always keep my promises." Out of nowhere he fetched a small sac. Upon seeing Jack's face react to its size, he laughed. "Oh silly mortals, always valuing size more than quality. Just take it and use it wisely, aye?" He threw it to the captain who produced from it a set of pipes, much like his. "These are special so use them wisely. The moment you set it to your lips, you'll know how to play it. But if you need help, play something you remember me playing and someone will come running on the quickest of winds. Godspeed, Captain Sparrow, it's been a joy serving under you. Thank you for returning my daughter to me."

The king took a bow and disappeared, Lady Luck close behind him.

"Stay out of trouble, Jackie boy! I can't always have such nice little changlin's who'll save ye in me place and teach ye how t' read." She gave him a wink and was then gone.


Jack gave a start and bolted up in his bed. He looked around his cabin. No sheet was tied up in the corner, no dresses left around, nothing to hint of a small child aboard. He got up, grabbed a bottle of rum and took it out on deck, reminiscing on everything that had happened, or he thought had happened on that ship in the past two months.

"Mr. Gibbs, how long since we left Ireland?"

The first mate, who was taking night watch, gave him a strange look.

"Ireland sir? We haven't left the Caribbean in months. Must have been a dream."

Jack gave him a confused look. "What about Mary and Auburn? The mast and…"

"Cap'n, maybe you should get some sleep and uhm, take a break from the rum. Just for a few days. The water and grog is still good down below. Something less… strong."

"Aye Gibbs, keep on course." Jack replied, heading back to his cabin. As he passed all the spots with forgotten memories, her voice flooded his mind.

'Tell me a story, Mr. Jack.'

'I be the fiercest pirate in the entire Caribbean, arr!'

'That'll be a pretty scar, Mr. Jack. I'm sure one day you'll tell your little dove or lass about how you got it.'

Jack sighed, rubbing a hand over his worn face and sat back on his bed. He glanced at his desk, noticing a little bundle on top of it.

"I don't remember that…" he said curiously, going to pick it up. The captain opened it and took out a set of pipes, hauntingly familiar. He dumped the rest of the contents out, finding about one hundred pounds and a piece of parchment. He gazed into the dark bag, wondering how so much could fit into such a little sac. Pocketing some of the money in his own money satchel, he picked up the piece of parchment and read:

"If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended,

That you have but slumber'd here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding but a dream,

Gentles, do not reprehend:

If you pardon, we will mend:

And, as I am an honest Puck,

If we have unearned luck

Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue,

We will make amends ere long;

Else the Puck a liar call;

So, good night unto you all.

Give me your hands, if we be friends,

And Robin shall restore amends."

The End.