Disclaimer: Same as the usual. I only own OCs specified in other disclaimers.

A/N: Also, I hate to start the "chapter" with bold writing, but...yeah...it's starting with bold writing. Okay, I lied. It's not Christmas yet lol. Anyhow, yes, I am planning a sequel. But first, I hope to get around to updating and/or completing one or two of my other stories that are currently on hiatus.

Epilogue:

"April 19th, 1728

Dear Captain Edward Teague,

I am aware that I have not written to you and Mother in quite some time. For that, I apologize. My business in Port Royal recently led to me accompanying Commodore Norrington, Governor Swann, and that wayward half brother of mine on a voyage.

Jonathan is not well.

I am sure you are aware of the stories of the Lady Rose, one of the Royal Navy's ships. Jack fell victim to the ship's crew and was their prisoner for quite some time. Stiles joined him, but escaped with little more than a pirate brand and a broken leg. He tells me they were prisoners for nine days.

It seems that being a captive on that vessel has destroyed Jonathan. There's so little of his old personality there that I recognize. His eyes are too often haunted with memories none of us could ever understand. He's injured badly and moves slower than Grandmama on her bad days. I haven't seen his wounds myself, but Commodore Norrington has informed me of the damages. It may come as a shock to you. I advise against telling Mother most of it.

Jack has had his back whipped near to the bone, several ribs kicked in, one of his eyes blinded, and his cheek stabbed through from the inside. He also has several cuts from a sword.

But that's not the worst of it. He's had his tongue cut pretty badly and struggles to speak. Even more horrifying than that, Jack has been raped several times.

He trusts very few people, the most particular of them being Elizabeth, Governor Swann's daughter. She's the only one who seems to be able to get through to him when his fear gets the better of him.

A few months back, Barbossa (you know the legends as well as I) kidnapped her, thinking she could break the curse upon the Black Pearl. Of course, the real child of William Turner teamed up with Jack to go save her.

As of right now, we have been sailing for about two days. It's been eleven days since Jonathan was rescued from the Lady Rose. He's begun to speak more, his tongue slowly healing along with his other wounds. He still doesn't talk as much as he used to. I feel he's getting impatient with all of the extra treatment, however.

I will write again soon, to inform you of anything else that shall happen. I hope you and Mother are well.

Lord Jacob Karver"

"April 28th, 1728

Dear Jacob,

I trust you've been watching over your brother since his rescue. After the voyage, if he hasn't lost his ship again, have him set sail for Libertalia. I've trained this bird you've sent to recognize the Troubadour. Have it deliver your next letter directly to my ship. Your mother and I await word of Jack's improvement. She took the news well.

Captain E. Teague, Keeper of the Code"

"May 16th, 1728

Dear Captain Teague,

We are well en-route to Libertalia now, though Jonathan has yet to question where we're going. He's recovered quite well, so I find it odd that he hasn't yet asked the helmsman to set a destination.

Two days after I sent my last letter, the Lady Rose caught up with and attacked our ship. With assistance from the Black Pearl, we forced the other ship to retreat. Jack took some damage to his ribs and a lung, but was otherwise rather unscathed.

Just the next day, he stood at the helm of his ship in a storm. Naturally, given what he'd gone through, it had ended up too much for him. His first mate, our old family friend Joshamee Gibbs, reported to me with the information that he'd had to take over for him.

And the night after that, Jonathan's nightmares got the better of him. His screams woke the whole crew of the Dauntless. Only Elizabeth was able to convince him that he was alright; he'd thrown half of his cabin at poor Norrington.

Five days later, we finally arrived at our destination. Surely you've heard of the Craving Caverns? We endured the trials the caves threw at us (Jack had gained enough confidence to lead our small group himself) and emerged to find that the Lady Rose had returned with one final attack.

That day ultimately saw the death of Wilford Hampton, half of his crew, and the sinking of the Lady Rose. Jonathan regained the sight of his left eye and what he had lost of his tongue. I had Stiles's leg mended.

We traveled with the Dauntless for some time, but now are sailing on our own. Governor Swann's daughter has joined us. I think you and Mother would like her. She's a unique girl. I can see something between her and my brother.

Jack seems closer to his usual self than he has in a long while, yet he still has a ways to go. He still isn't quite comfortable with the crew shouting orders at each other, and still has nightmares that occasionally wake half the ship. But he's getting better. He won't be pleased to learn of where we're headed.

Wishing the best to you and Mother, as always,

Jacob Karver"

*X*

The weeks following the battle had been uneventful. Jack had spent his time healing and getting back on track with making sure all was in order aboard his ship. Cotton's parrot eventually returned. Stiles resumed his duties as cabin boy. Jacob and Elizabeth helped where they could. The Pearl had made a brief stop in Tortuga to restock supplies.

Will had decided to return to Port Royal with Commodore Norrington and Governor Swann, mentioning something about the blacksmith shop he worked at. He'd wished them well in their travels.

Norrington had told Jack that he had indeed received a location for the heart of Davy Jones. Jack had advised him against giving it to Beckett once he retrieved it, hoping the Commodore would heed his words. The naval officer had promised not to attack the Black Pearl unless it was provoked and the two had parted as equals. With the heart likely in safe hands, the pirate knew he would no longer have to worry about his debt to Jones.

All was well in the Caribbean.

Other than the fact that Jack had absolutely no idea where the Pearl's course was set to. It'd nagged at him late at night, when he was near sleep, but he'd not been bothered to get up and ask Gibbs. He'd questioned Elizabeth about it, but she had told him that she had no clue.

That'd been a couple of days ago.

Now, in the heat of the midday, it had occurred to him that they were no longer in the Caribbean. The heat for the last week or so hadn't reached Caribbean temperatures. He drew a normal compass, noting that North was the opposite direction they were travelling in. Glancing at a map and tracing his fingers southward, he realized that they were travelling between the continents of South America and Africa. In fact, they were nearing the rough southern waters that surrounded the tip of southern Africa. He frowned. Where are we going?

"Gibbs!" He called, needing answers.

The older man was standing before him in little more than an instant. "Aye, Cap'n?"

"Why're we travelin' South?" Jack questioned, glancing up from the map.

Gibbs hesitated, fidgeting uncomfortably. "Er…"

That response told him everything. "Gibbs, why are we goin' to Libertalia?"

"It was your father's idea." Jacob informed him, entering the conversation.

"Ye wrote to him." The pirate captain realized, turning to face his half sibling. He sighed, frown deepening. "Why'd ye write to him, Jake?"

"He and Mother needed to know what was going on." The Lord replied calmly.

"No, they didn't!" Jack's voice rose slightly, his eyes widening in dismay. He paused, taking a deep breath to get a hold of himself. "Oh, bloody 'ell, what've ye done? Goin' to Libertalia's the last thing I need."

"They know we're comin', Jack." Gibbs told him. "Cap'n Teague wouldn't be very thrilled if we didn't show up."

"I would kill both of ye if I wouldn't regret it later." The Pearl's captain growled, irritation setting in. "Keep our course set for Libertalia. As much as it pains me to say it."

He whipped around, heading back to the comfort of his cabin.

"I daresay he took the news rather well." He heard Jacob say to Gibbs.

"Aye." The first mate grunted in agreement.

Jack entered his cabin, finding everything as he had left it. Elizabeth was leaning over some of the charts and maps on his desk, studying them. Her childhood tutors had only taught her limited geography and she was interested in learning more.

"I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever come back in here." She commented, not glancing up from a map of the colonies of the New World. "You've been out there since dawn."

"Been busy." He huffed, pulling up a second chair beside hers and sitting down.

"You don't sound very happy." Elizabeth mused, placing a finger on a spot of the map she didn't want to lose track of, turning to face him with concerned eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Don't you lie to me, Jack."

Jack sighed. "Well, I finally figured out where on the bloody planet we're goin'."

"Where are we going?" She asked him.

"The pirate port of Libertalia." He told her.

"And what's in Libertalia that makes you upset?"

"...Home."