Disclaimer: I do not in any Way, Shape, or Form own Pirates of the Caribbean . If I did, I would have a Jack Sparrow at my side, and I wouldn't at all complain .
Ch. 13
'About time she did something useful instead of brooding.' I thought and continued my reading in peace.
After I read most of what was in the chest I decided to see where the boys were at. I knew they weren't on the beach anymore since there was no one else but myself left. I walked into the forest on the island listening for the sound of clashing swords. I looked towards the water and felt myself pale a bit seeing the literal fish men come to shore. I quickened my pace making it to an old monastery, but I didn't go inside it. I then heard the sound of a bell and mentally groaned, placing a hand over my face. "Could they make it any more obvious?" I muttered darkly sighed heavily. I ran through the forest trying to think of a plan to put into action, and unfortunately I wasn't able to think of anything. I stopped running and started rubbing my head. "Out of all the bloody times that I need to save my ass, a headache starts up." I mumbled bitterly and leaned against a tree. It was then that I heard something crunching and turned around, praying to some sort of higher power that it wasn't what I thought it was. Unfortunately it was, Will and Norrington were trying to keep their balance on a wheel, that looked ready to fall apart any second now, and Jack was inside it running. I was about to call out to warn Jack of the pole, but, it was too late. He hit the pole hard, and fell out of the wheel dazed.
Running over to him, I shook him awake. "Oi, Jack, get a hold of yerself." I said, slapping his face a bit. He shot up suddenly and pushed me aside, and started running in the direction of the wheel. I felt my hand twitch down to my knives but decided against it. I stood up and started following him, needing something to help blow off some steam now. I soon passed Elizabeth, Pintel and Ragetti, who were just starring, not knowing what to say. I went over to them and shook my head. "Don't ask me. I have no clue." I said with a shrug, answering their questing before they could ask me.
I looked down on the ground and saw the chest. Leaning down I picked it up with a blank look on my face, looking at Elizabeth. Pintel and Ragetti must have realized this cause they turned towards me with their swords already drawn. I tucked the chest under my arm and drew my sword. "Do you really want to try it?" I asked boredly. I knew these two wouldn't be a challenge, since they're known as cowards when things got tough. They turned on heel to Elizabeth and started to advance towards her when an aged axe thrown into a tree, getting embedded into it. We all looked in the direction that it came in, and three out of the four of us paled. I just grinned and held the chest up for the fish men to see. "Lookin' for somethin' boys? I asked with wickedly.
Elizabeth started backing up until she was in between the two and they gave her their swords before taking off, past me and grabbed the chest. I was going to stand ground and fight, but Elizabeth caught my arm, not cutting it luckily, and dragged my along with them.
"Let me fight." I told her, not pleased with this. She ignored me and let go of my arm so I would be able to run on my own. Pintel and Ragetti weren't looking at where they were going, and ran into a tree, causing them to let go of the chest. Turning around I drew my sword and a knife, blocking a mace that was meant to take off my head. I kicked the fish man in the chest, causing him to stumble a bit. While Elizabeth and the two dumb bells all swapped swords when they needed them, I fought on my own, trying to protect the chest. So when one of the opposing crew with a shell for a head grabbed the chest I ran after him, and threw a dagger into his back, unfortunately though, that didn't stop him.
"Hey! Give me my dagger back shellfish!" I yelled, wanting my dagger back. The shell man didn't look at me. I continued to run after him and cursing at him angrily. It was only when a coconut hit the man's head off did I stop running and pull my dagger out of his back. I looked over and chuckled a bit, seeing Jack.
"Nice aim Cap'ain." I said smirking and went over to the chest. Jack soon came over and held the key up for me to see, then opened the chest. I sat down and crossed my legs, watching him, and ignoring the headless fish man who was trying to reunite the body and head again. I couldn't help by stare at the heart that was beating in front of us. I watched as Jack pulled it out, gazing at it as well. We heard some yelling and looked behind us, seeing a horde of fish men coming our way. He stuffed the heart into his shirt and closed the chest, leaving it as he grabbed my arm and pulled my away so we wouldn't get noticed. We made our way back down to the beach and to the row boat. Once Jack let go of my hand he went about to get his dirt and take some of it down then proceeded to put the heart in there, then covered it back again, just in time for me to black an attack with one of the ores, then knock the man out. After a few seconds, the mill wheel came out of the forest, running over a few of the fish men in the process. Everyone watched it for a bit as it went on for a few metres before it fell over. I couldn't dwell on it too, too much since we got attacked again. Another fish man came over to us and threw a dagger in between his eyes before charging at him with my sword.
I pulled my dagger out of his head while kicking him back with the heel of my boots. Then I followed him slashing with my sword. When I knew he was down, I ran over to the boat, seeing as Ragetti and Pintel were about to take our boat. I got there the same time as Will and pointed our swords at them. They must have forgotten that they gave their swords to Elizabeth since they gave us sheepish smiles and took an ore and net. Will looked down at the chest and picked it up, before I could warn him though, Jack hit across the head with the ore, causing me to give him a dry look. I hoisted Will into the boat, making sure that he was safe and kept my sword out, everyone being forced around the boat. It was then that Norrington took the chest, saying that everyone should get into the boat and not to wait up for him. He then ran forward with the chest, fending off the fish men. We looked at him as if he was crazy for a few minutes before Jack snapped us out of it.
"Let's grant his last wish." He said in a strained voice, the rest of us agreed and hopped into the boat, and went back to the Pearl. Once on there, Jack ordered everyone to set sail, and that we were leaving the island. I went up to the helm and sat on the edge of it, listening to the crew. I had an odd feeling though that we had been duped by Norrington. 'He isn't that selfless to sacrifice himself for pirates...' I thought, and rubbed my head again. Cotton's parrot flew over to me and landed on my shoulder. "Yer thinkin' too much." He squawked, and then whistled. I chuckled softly and stroked his head a bit. "You think so?" I asked. All he did though was fly back over to Cotton.
I shook my head my head, chuckling some more. I turned my head out to the water again and let out a sudden yelp which caused me to lose my balance on the railing, and fall backwards, landing on my back. There, coming out of the water was the Flying Dutchman, in all of its haunting glory. It was sailing beside us, causing everyone to start getting anxious. I stood up and went over to Gibbs, gulping a bit. I looked over at Jack from the corner of my eye, looking very smug and proud of himself. He walked over to the railing and held up his jar of dirt.
"Oi fish face!" he called over. "Loose something?" he said something else, but I couldn't understand it. He then fell down the stairs and everyone winced at that. "Got it!" he said and stood up again, still having that smug look on his face. "Come to negotiate aye ya slimy git? Look at what I got. I got a jar of Dirt, I got a jar of dirt, and guess what's inside it." He said in a sing song voice. That caused me to smack a hand over my face and groan. "Do not tell me he just did that..." I whispered over to Gibbs, who also seemed a bit perturbed at what Jack was doing. "Aye, he did." He said. "Where's the rum when you need it..." he muttered under his breath.
Suddenly the cannons were loaded, all aimed for the Pearl and I groaned again. "Just what we need..." I muttered and looked back at Jack, who wasn't so smug anymore. "Go to starboard." He said, and Elizabeth shouted the order out. I climbed up the main mast, securing the sails. The Dutchman then shot his cannons at us, causing me to lurch forward, losing my balance once again. I grabbed the mast and slid down onto the deck before making my way over to Gibbs and ducked a bit when another cannon went by. "Triple cannons?" I asked in a bit of disbelief.
Jack took control of the helm causing Cotton, Gibbs and I just to stand there and watch as he steered the Pearl. I hung onto the railing feeling the Pearl shift suddenly to avoid the cannons. 'Come on Pearl, hold up fer us.' I thought praying. I looked behind us and saw that the Dutchman was falling behind. "Is that a good sign?" I asked, worriedly. I had a feeling that Jones didn't give up that easily. "Aye with the wind the Pearl is unbeatable." Gibbs said with pride.
Marty looked at the Dutchman and yelled to everyone that they were giving up. I had a feeling that, that wasn't the case, but everyone was celebrating. Will went over to Jack, saying that if could outrun the Dutchman, that we should be able to fight it, but Jack would hear of that, and just said that all one needs is the right leverage, and patted his jar. At that moment the entire Pearl rocked. I had to place my hands on the rail in front of me, and watched with Jack and Will as the jar of dirt fell onto the deck, and smashed into pieces. Panicking Jack ran down to where the sand laid, looking for the heart. I knew it wasn't there, thanks to Norrington. 'So the bastard did take it.' I thought. One of the crew members was pointing down at the water and I looked over at Will, seeing his eyes widening. "Will... tell me it isn't what I'm thinking it is..." I said quietly.
Will didn't answer me and just pulled Elizabeth away from the edge. "Get away from the edge, it's not a reef." He yelled. When asked what it was he said it was the Kraken. I had to shut my eyes and bit. "You've got ta be kiddin me..." I mumbled. Will then ordered the crew to load the cannons, since this is something we've never seen before. I looked at Jack who was standing still and frowned, going over to him. "You better not be leaving us." I stated from behind him, my hands on my hips. He jumped and turned around, giving me that look that just said that he was going to abandon us. "Of course not luv. We're going to go to safety." He said then went about and grabbed my arm, pulling me to the boats without anyone noticing us. I was about to protest, but he just sent me a look that told me to trust him. I bit my lip and nodded, letting him lead me away. We were a few meters away now and I looked at the Pearl, watching as giant tentacles sprouted slowly from the depths of the sea.
'So that's the Kraken...' I thought, chewing on my lips. 'I'm abandoning my brother on that ship...' I thought, then I looked back at Jack. 'Or am I just letting myself live so I can be with a man that I happen to fancy, or maybe more?' I couldn't decide to do as Jack and I watched the scene before us.
The Pearl fired her cannons, causing the Kraken to retreat for now. "Jack... we can't just leave them..." I said quietly. I saw that Elizabeth saw us, but I really didn't care about her then. Jack didn't answer me but took out his compass. I smiled at him, since we were going back. Once we were on the ship I climbed up to where Will was to cut him loose.
"I thought you'd have gone." Will said to me, and I just smiled. "It wasn't really my choice Willy, just don't take anythin personal okay?" I said and took our father's dagger and finished cutting him loose. We dropped down onto the deck and ran out of the way, just as Jack shot the barrels. Will and I covered out ears and our heads just keep safe while the barrels exploded above us, burning the tentacles of the Kraken. It gave out a groan of pain and once again retreated. Will and I stood up joining the other survivors.
"Abandon ship, get into the long boats." Jack said. I looked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulders as he said that it was it was only a boat, Will and Elizabeth agreed with that. After a few minutes, Gibbs agreed and they started to prepare. I stood on deck with Will, Elizabeth and Jack, Jack and I were saying one last good bye to the Pearl. This was my home, my true home, that's what it had always felt like to me, a home, and a place that belonged. Placing my hand on the main mast, I tightened my hands into fists.
"Gabriella?" I heard my brother say quietly from behind me. I looked over to them then looked down at the Pearl. "This is my home Will..." I said and gave a weak chuckle. "I guess you could say that I want to stay on it till the end." I mused, and then ran a hand through my hair. "You care for him don't you?" Will stated more than asked. I gave a small smirk. "I guess I do... It's funny how you really don't realize the truth behind something until you're ready to give somethin' up."
I knew Will was taking this hard, especially when he hugged me. "I promise I will find a way to bring you back." He whispered to me. Hugging my brother tightly, I smiled a bit. "I'll be waiting." I whispered back and gently pushed him away, when he was down on the long boat I turned away, looking at what was left of the Pearl. I knew Elizabeth had tricked Jack to staying on the ship, that was why I was here as well, my bitterness for the woman would have been the death of me anyway, so I might as well just die with a place that I called my home. Elizabeth went down to the long boat and I looked over at Jack.
"You see a pretty face and this is what you get." I said crossing my arms teasingly. Turning to me he gave out a lopsided grin. "N' what's yer excuse luv?" he asked grabbing my arm and pulled me to him. He kissed me briefly, with that same grin, only for it to turn into a smirk. "You stayed so ya could be with Ol' Jack eh?" he said. I just smirked. "Maybe I stayed 'cause the Pearl's my home." I said. That caused him to chuckle. "Before we finish this discussion, mind letting me go?" he said motioning to his arm. I pulled out the spare keys that Jack entrusted me with and set his hand free. He flexed his hand a bit then pulled me back to him. "Now about the reason you stayed behind luv." He said, drawing me closer to him. "What am I to you Jack Sparrow?" I asked quietly. I knew we didn't have much time left before the Kraken came to us again, but I really did want to know.
Jack took his time answering me. "Ya be a mate, a crew member, and the one thing that I want most in this world it seems." I had to look at Jack straight in the eyes, when he said that last part and from what I could tell, he was telling me the truth. I tool out Jack's compass and opened it up and showed it to Jack, to where it was pointing, which was right at him. "I guess that means, you're the one thing that I want most in this world too then." I said quietly. I then closed the compass and placed it back where Jack always has it. I wasn't going to hold back anymore, I knew what I wanted, and I knew where I had to had to be. I then leaned closer to him and kiss him gently, but firmly. He responded almost immediately, moving his lips against mine.
Behind us the Kraken started to emerge, and we broke the kiss, almost bitterly doing so and turned to it. When we faced it fully, it let out a roar, causing it's saliva to coat us fully, and showing us all of its teeth. Once it was done, I shivered a bit and wisped the saliva away from my face, giving it a dry look. "Lovely." I said blandly. I looked over at Jack who saw his hat. He wiped the saliva off of him as well and picked it up, putting it on. He gave the Kraken a dirty look and took out his sword. I took mine out as well and we looked at each other.
"Ello beasty." We said, both wearing an identical smirk on our faces. We went up to the railing, ready to strike, even though we both knew it was the end. We raised our swords at the same time, just as the Kraken captured us with its mouth, and took the Black Pearl down to the depths with it.