Little Sparrow
Summary: "Now up is down," was the last thing any of them heard before the rush of water drowned everything else out. Later, waking up on a random, deserted island, they almost immediately notice that something was not right with their Captain. Sparrington, Salazak, Willabeth, maybe others mentioned.
"Jackie?" Captain Edward Teague, Pirate Lord of the Madagascar, Keeper of the Pirate Code, he who had seen and done it all - if rumors are to be believed - couldn't help but stare at the rejuvenated Jack Sparrow of only eighteen years of age as opposed to the thirty eight he had been expecting to find him in after he had realized the Song had been sung. It had been years since they had seen each other, after Jack had set free one certain friend of his who had been sentenced to death for breaking the Code by attacking another pirate ship. All Teague knew about Sparrow were the stories that circulated the world as Jack made a name for himself, but he had did his best to keep tabs on the wayward boy with the first eleven rules of the Code tattooed on his back as a representation of his station within the Shipwreck Cove and all of piracy at large.
Said boy-who-should-be-a-man-but-was-a-boy-again turned to fully face the Keeper, boldly keeping their gazes locked like rare few dared with Teague. He saluted the older pirate with the same salute everyone had been greeting him with since he had set foot on the docks of the Town of Shipwreck, two fingers touching the side of his forehead with a small nod. "Keeper, sir."
He was as shocked as everyone else when the aging man grabbed him by the shoulders and dragged him into his still strong arms, wrapping him up in an emotional hug. Jack could actually feel a slight tremor coming from him and a small smile spread across his lips. So maybe they hadn't really grown apart; the old man had probably just been pissed with him for dying. Jack wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. But it was obvious he had been missed and so he melted into the embrace, hugging him back and enjoying finally feeling at home and so completely safe that he even forgot a little about the dangers nearing the Island.
Teague ignored the gaping pirates as he drew back a little from the Caribbean Pirate Lord, taking his face into his hands, staring at the features of a boy for whose safety he had always fretted, day in and day out until he had made him the Pirate Lord that he was today after proving he was capable of looking out after himself and countless others. It had been painful to see that haunted look in those usually bright and warm dark eyes after the Battle of the Devil's Triangle, but he had been glad at the outcome. So he had given his Piece of Eight to him and declared him a new Pirate Lord, the Caribbean's third one at that, since he knew these waters better than maybe even the aquatic creatures that lived here and loved them even more.
But that boy had been gone for twenty years. A legend had been born in his place. A legend larger than life, whose name everyone knew, one that never seemed to end or grow dull, no matter how many times it was retold. Yet before him stood not the legend, but the boy again and Teague didn't know what to do.
"How?" Was all he could ask, still staring at the teen's face. Jack gave a half bitter smile and a shrug.
"Beats me. I died, ended up in the Locker, stayed there for a year and became slightly too unstable for my own safety and sanity because of it. This was the only solution to preserve my mind and body. I kind of gave an expatiation just a short while ago, but you missed it."
"It's sound like quite the story. A story I'd like to know."
Sparrow snorted. "You and me both. I don't remember a good part of it, as it were. Needed time to heal, which is why I am like this." He glanced down at himself to make his point. "It's supposed to wear off on its own, if I understood correctly. I actually think it might be time, soon."
"And how did you escape the Locker?" Was what really interested Teague, not that he wasn't grateful. He was elated, almost on a high from seeing Jack was alive, safe and (mostly) well. "I thought that was impossible."
"You're forgetting that I'm Captain Jack Sparrow." The cheeky little reply along with the teasing smile wrought out a laugh from the Keeper and Jack's eyes twinkled before they softened, his grin now a gentle smile. "And it seems I made good friends this time. They fetched me and kept me safe at my most vulnerable."
Teague followed his gaze as it slid fondly to the core crew of the Black Pearl. Gibbs, Marty, Pintel, Ragetti, Mr Cotton and his parrot. Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. The unexpected presence of Philip Gillete, Theodore Groves and, most importantly and most shocking of all, James Norrington. Oh, Teague knew them all. He had to, since their lives seemed to be oh so intertwined with Jack's. Then there were two he wasn't the most comfortable with, although he knew Tia Dalma was truly fond of Jack and saw him something like a son or a nephew. But she was still dangerous, though not nearly as much to Jack as she would be to anyone else. Teagoue outright glared at the should-be-dead-but-was-revived Hector Babrossa, who had once dared mutiny against and then maroon Jack. Had he not just redeemed himself by saving Jack, Teague would have hunted him down as soon as he heard he was alive and not cursed with immortality.
"Good friends, you say?" He had not missed the Spaniard in Jack's group and wondered at his masochist tendencies.
"The best. Some old and some new."
"While your lover's reunion is touched," Sao Feng cut into their private conversation with a mocking voice and a sneer on his face. "Do we not have more pressing matters to attend to than Captain Teague buggering his little whore?"
"EWW!" Jack all but screeched, tearing himself away from the now fuming, highly insulted Keeper as Teague glared death and snarled like a raging animal at the Pirate Lord of Singapore.
"That is my son, you sick, perverted moron!"
Sao Feng's jaw, along with the jaw of anyone else who had not been aware of this fact - and that only excluded Tia Dalma, Joshamee Gibbs, Mistress Ching, Jacord and those who worked in the Cove as the Keeper's men - hit the ground with an echoing thud. Jack was rubbing his eyes, as though that would banish the images brought on by Feng's words.
"I think imbecile's more like it, Da. Remember? Moron, imbecile and then idiot. Bloody buggering hell, I'll never get that out of my head. I'm cursed, traumatized. Tia Dalma's spell was wasted. Ew, ew, ew, ew."
"Idiot it is then." Teague said as he patted his son's shoulder comfortingly. He glared at the gawking pirates and their jaws snapped shut with a loud clack. He turned back to the truly traumatized looking teen. "You were saying?"
"Right. Pirate King. 'It shall be the duties, as the king, to declare war, parley with shared adversaries' etc etc etc." It seemed that focusing on the Code helped get him over the disturbing images Sao Feng had implanted into his mind with that stupid deduction. Said man was currently burning with shame and humiliation, his hatred for Sparrow growing by the minute. He'll have to be properly dealt with after this sorry mess was finished with.
"There has not been a king since the First Court." Chevalle said, looking around the room although his gaze stayed strangely on Jack for a moment or two longer, contemplative. Thoughtful. Considering. Jack arched an eyebrow, although he went unseen by the Frenchman. "And that's not likely to change."
"Not likely." Teague agreed and finally left his son's side, going to sit in a chair in the back and picking up his guitar, idly playing some tune he knew by heart by now, his gaze subtly fixed in his de-aged son. That was quite possibly the most absurd thing to have happened in his life. And that was saying something.
"Why not?" It was, for the first time, Will who beat either Elizabeth or Theodore to the question, looking around in confusion.
Gibbs obliged him with a reply. "See, the pirate king is elected by popular vote."
"And each pirate only ever votes for hisself."Babrossa finished it for him, bitter and not understanding why they were even considering this. They already had a means to be rid of all their enemies, including the infamous Silent Mary, no matter how she had found itself here when she should be at the bottom of the sea. Then again, seeing as to whom Beckett had under his command, it was to be expected that something as simple as ship resurrection was happening. " This be a waste of time. We should just free Calypso and be done with it. I'm sure she would help those who finally freed her."
"She's more likely to go after you lot first for imprisoning her in the first place, not help you." Jack secretly beamed at having James' support in this. At least his lover was sharp enough to understand the tragedy that could follow. Shipwreck Island was immune to even a goddess' magical influences, but in order to free Calypso, they'd have to be at open sea, out of the shallows. Where they were fair game and easy prey to an angry goddess.
"Not with 'er fondness fer certain idiotic pirates we all know." He sent a pointed look at Jack, who in turn looked at him as though he were crazy.
"Mate, I can't drown." He said as though that explained everything. It did, although no one seemed to get it.
Philip rolled his eyes at the pirates, muttering something about their simplemindedness and stupidity. "It means," he drawled, getting their attention. "That the goddess can attack us all and he will survive. While the rest of us die. Because we don't hold the favor of mermaids."
"That story is actually true?!" Someone cried out from the crowd of pirates incredulously and Jack sighed, pitying his own sanity. Tia Dalma was actually looking at him with pity even though he was against Barbossa's plan to free her. They were losing time. If their enemies arrive before Shipwreck Island before the Brethren and their ships can get out of the Crossing, they will be easy targets. There won't be going back because ships are not meant to go backwards.
"I call for a vote." He said, much to the groans and frustration of the other Pirate Lords, but he just kept his cheery little smile as they whined like spoiled children told to do their homework.
"Why should we vote?" Ammand grunted petulantly, challenging Jack.
"Have we not already decided that we will not fight?" Ching questioned as well and Sparrow rolled his eyes at them all. He was the youngest but apparently the most mature and normal of the lot. Which was saying something, as Jack knew he was by no definition of the word considered normal.
"Listen, mates. Out there, beyond the safety of the Cove, the Silent Mary and the Flying Dutchman are approaching with all those unpleasant Englishmen that want to hang us. Now they," He emphasized with his fluttering hands, becoming more animated with each word he spoke. "They will one day die or simply lose interest or maybe even find some way to make the Crossing without proper education in that regard. With them we can deal with." He stopped moving about and leaned heavily on the table, over the Code with his hands on either side of the big tome, letting his face become a bit shadowed as he tried to impress on them the gravity of the situation. "But Jones or Salazar ... Jones will eventually be called to sail elsewhere by this Beckett individual, but Salazar is like a dog with a bone. He won't be leaving this place, ever. And he has the whole of eternity to wait for us out there."
"What do you mean?" Sri Sumbhajee's remaining advocate asked for his master, said Pirate Lord frowning in confusion at the youngest one there.
"Captain Salazar, his men and his infamous galleon the Silent Mary fell in the Battle of the Devil's Triangle. How many of you know anything about that place or that particular battle, from twenty years go, it would seem?"
"It was a fierce battle, led by Captain Teague and ten other Captains. Only one ship came out of the skirmish in the end and it was the ship that defeated the Silent Mary." Villanueva summarized for the Court, eying Sparrow suspiciously. "The Wicked Wench was her name, I heard. Once upon a time captained by Captain Morgan. Good man. Died in that battle."
Tai Huang and his men, along with all those who had been there whenever Jack had addressed the Black Pearl by her first name, gaped at Jack as he grinned. "Aye, she be a fine ship. The fastest ship to sail the seas."
"Before the Black Pearl appeared." Sao Feng agreed, ignoring Tai Huang as he tried to get his attention.
"De Wicked Wench is de Black Pearl." Tia Dalma informed them all with a wicked smirk. "I brought back 'er Captain fer this meetin'." She cackled as more staring and gaping ensued. Jack just rubbed at his forehead and waited for the ball to drop. When he saw that it had, he put up a hand to stop any questions or exclamations from interrupting what he would rather discuss, glaring at them all to tell them to shut it without using words. It was quite effective.
"The Devil's Triangle is a cursed place. Any and all ships that ever sailed in never sailed out, that much I am sure all of you know." The pirates all nodded, listening. "I lured Salazar into it and left him to his fate, but I have always suspected the curse might take hold of him and his men. I have long since wanted to go back and check on them, but it seems I never did and this is the consequences of my never going back. I know Salazar. He hates pirates enough that he'll stay out there until the second coming and not even that will lead him away. He'll stay here until we come out and he kills us all, savvy."
"Then we just hand over to him you and make an accord with him." Ammand said as though it were the most logical solution in the world and Jack winced as his Da missed a note. No one else noticed, but Jack knew the song as well as his father did. If this meeting goes on for much longer, there won't be any Pirate Lords left.
"Salazar doesn't make bargains with pirates. He's not Beckett. He doesn't suffer fools or traitors. Chances are, he'll kill you lot before he deals with me, you can be sure of that."
"Then what is it you propose we do?" Jacord questioned this time, eying Jack in much the same manner Chevalle was. That was beginning to become unnerving, thank you very much.
"We appeal to Beckett's ego by meeting him for parley and then try to at least appease Salazar's ghost." Sparrow replied without hesitation. "The Devil's Triangle's curse targets restless, angry souls of its victims. Those who do not wish to cross to the other side. If we can somehow satisfy Salazar, then we'll have one completely immortal cursed ship less to worry about. Jones can easily be subdued if we are tricky enough to get his heart. Or stab the beating thing and make a new captain for the Flying Dutchman. The crew is bound to the ship, not who runs it. The Dutchman, for all that it is an indestructible ship, is the most vulnerable one. Especially with the Dead Man's Chest unlocked."
"And if the only way to appease Captain Salazar is your death?" Another chord is messed up, a bit more obviously, Teague's gaze now piercing through his son's head, daring him to agree to Sao Feng's offer.
"I'd let him do it. It would be only fair."
"No!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"Sparrow, are ya crazy!?"
"I vote for Jack Sparrow, the bravest of us all." The entire room fell silent as Chevalle stood up and stated his vote.
"Jack Sparrow," Jacord agreed, also standing up. Said man stared at them, wide eyed and open-mouthed with shock. His Pearl giggled encouragingly in his ear. Sao Feng looked around in panic and voted for himself. Barbossa also voted for himself, but Ching continued Jacord's and Chevalle's string, voting for Jack. Villanueva, Ammand and Sri Sumbhajee voted for themselves and Jack was left staring. With three votes for him, it didn't matter if he even voted. It had been decided.
"What?" Was all the teen could say.
Chevalle shrugged. "You have a plan, we don't."
"You would sacrifice your life for us, who would rather run away and leave all behind like cowards. This is the only way to stop you from considering it." Ching explained, trying her best not to look proud of him.
"You know the enemy. You have helped us all in the past. It is the least we can do for a friend. There'd be no better Pirate King of the Brethren Court than you." The African man explained with a grin.
Sao Feng, Barbossa, Ammand, Villanueva and Sumbhajee's advocate all protested, although the pirates watching the proceedings didn't seem to mind. Hey, who cares if he's a kid if he can save their asses, right?
"Am I to understand that you lot will not be keeping to the code, then?" A string finally snapped and Teague looked up with a thunderous expression on his face at Elizabeth's oh so innocent question and the protesting Pirate Lords fell silent once more.
"Very well." Eduardo said with great hesitation and displeasure. Ching ignored him, carefully climbing to her feet and turning in the direction she knew Jack to still be standing.
"What say you, Captain Sparrow, King of the Brethren Court?" Said man finally snapped out of it and regarded every pirate in the room for a long moment, his hand coming to rest on his Compass, feeling it shake. They were close. Close enough that Jack wondered if they should just sail out right now and wait for them, but he knew they had to prepare first. These people ... They were all looking a him with the same expressions his crew had been, the day Captain Morgan had finally handed over Jack the Compass, expecting him to pull a miracle and save them from certain death at the guns of the Silent Mary. History was repeating itself. They needed him. His friends needed him if they all wanted to survive.
He decisively raised his head, back going straight and every ounce of the Teague family pride and his training as the future Keeper of the Code was visible in him in that moment. "Prepare every vessel that floats. At dawn..." He looked at his friends, sharing a specific look with his mates. "We're at war."
Sri Sumbhajee stood up, gaining the attention of the entire room as he took in a deep breath. "And so we shall go to war."
They all kind of just stared at him, for he had the squeakiest voice any of them had ever heard. Jack swore an eunuch didn't sound like that while they were doing the snip snip. "What?" He asked helplessly again as the room broke into cheers and battle cries. He had not expected this, but feeling the tremors of his Compass still, he figured it was for the best.
But as confused and shocked as he was, he didn't miss the nod Barbossa gave to Pintel and Ragetti, nor how the collected Pieces of Eight were not returned. He'll have to see to that before the night is up.