Aquatic Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 21: Stranded Again; the Second Rescue

Later On

The Black Pearl had made way towards the ocean and sailed somewhere near the oceans of Port Royal. Though they were uncharted waters, so no one knew where they were at this point. But the Pearl did stop near a small island, about as big as one cultesac block. Though they didn't stop for the scenery…this was the spot to where they would set the Mermaid Princess free. Two pirates were dragging the helpless Mermaid princess towards the edge of the railing of the right side of the boat. The crew of the Black Pearl shouted out with delight and eagerness to throw someone overboard. The crew of the former Interceptor was not as pleased by this as they shouted with distaste.

Frey, who shouted out for Eric's behalf, was furious at this scene. Eric should have been there to help his girlfriend, but as soon as the deal was made, Barbossa had the boy sent to the Sick Bay to get patched up. Later, he was thrown into the brig once more, to prevent any heroics from being attempted. He ran up to Barbossa, but was held back by the pirates, as he spouted out, "Barbossa, you backstabbing pirate! You swore she'd go free!"

Barbossa shot back at the child, shouting, "DON'T DARE IMPUNE ME HONOR, BOY!", And then he calmly stated to the boy, "I agreed to yer friend, I'd let her go…but it was he who failed to specify when or where." And then the pirates snared Frey as he struggled with the ropes, "But you can go along with 'er, ta give 'er a little company. Call it a fair deal for ya as well." And then with one swing, the pirates threw the boy overboard.

Ariel gasped at that; knowing full well that with his arms tied together behind him and his feet as well, it would be impossible to swim back up. She broke the hold that the pirates had on her, which caused her to fall on the plank. She then dragged herself off the plank and dunked into the water to save his life.

Barbossa then whistled, bringing Jack over to the plank. Tied to him was Dax, with the Calypso bracelet in his furry hands. As Jack was being pushed on to the plank. As soon as he stepped on to the plank's starting edge, he looked back to his former first mate, Barbossa, he nervously smiled to him as he stated, "I would have thought that we were past all this."

Barbossa smirked as he walked over to Jack, and placed a hand over him and on his shoulder. He then mockingly sneered, "Jack…Jack…did ya not notice before?", he then pointed to the island, the one where Ariel was swimming Frey over to, as he replied, "That be the same little island that we made you governor of, during our last little voyage."

Jack took one look at the island and paled at it, whimpering silently as he looked back to Barbossa, and nervously smiled at him, "I did notice."

Barbossa then gloated to Jack mockingly as he stepped back, "Perhaps, you'll conjure up another miraculous escape, but I doubt it. Off you go." Then the pirates forced Jack to walk over to the edge to be pushed off.

But then Jack stopped as he looked back to Barbossa as he stated, "Ya know, last time, ya gave me cutlass to me, as well as a Silver Eagle with one bullet in it before."

Barbossa thought about it, and then nodded to it, "By the powers, ya right!", he looked to his crew as he asked, "Where be Jack's effects and pistol?", Bo'sun handed them to Barbossa as he showed them to Jack.

But then Dax, who was still tied on to Jack's belt, mentioned, "Well, seeing as how he's got company. A gentleman…would be given' two more pistols for the kids."

Barbossa shook his head as he cruelly answered, "It'll be one pistol as before. And you can be the gentleman to shoot the lady, stab the boy, eat the hairy monster accompyin' them all…and lastly, when there's nothin' left for ay, you can starve to death yerself.", and then threw the items into the sea. Jack stood there for a moment, and then jumped in after them, swimming to the bottom to fetch them.

And then with that, Jack swam over to the island, with his effects in tow.

On the Island

Ariel had gotten Frey to shore; she immediately undid his bindings as he got onto his feet and sat up on shore. Ariel sat up along with him, looking at the retreating form of the Black Pearl helplessly now. She brought her tail up and rested her chin on the knee part as she looked at the retreating ship in despair. She then moped as she buried her face behind the knees, "It's hopeless, isn't it?"

Frey looked to her surprised as he asked, "What is?"

She looked to him, feeling lost and alone as she answered, "We're stuck on his island; there's no chance for us to help Eric now."

Frey raised an eyebrow to that as he asked, "Well…couldn't you swim over to your kingdom and ask your dad to…"

"No!", Ariel nearly yelled out, startling Frey in the process. Ariel calmed down slightly as she explained, "Daddy wouldn't understand; he placed Eric to protect me. If he found out that I was easily kidnapped by pirates…", she sighed in despair as she slumped a little, feeling completely hopeless.

Frey sighed at that as he seemed to understand the gravity of the situation. If they went to Triton, then he'd just blow a gasket; it was then that they realized they were on their own now. But just when they feel any more hopeless, a small beacon of light came walking on to shore. Jack Sparrow was lugging his way up to dry beach, with Dax following towards the kids as he raced to Ariel. He then stopped to her as he handed her the bracelet, "Here, kid. I think you'll be needin' this to walk around."

She smiled at that as she lightly took it, "Thank you, Dax.", and then slipped it on. The magic took affect, and Ariel was once again restored to her human self, with legs and human clothing as well. She got back up, along with Frey as they looked to Jack.

He was just looking out at the retreating form of the Black Pearl, and then sighed heavily, "That's the second time I've had to watch that man sail away with my ship." And then walked towards the forest of the island. the teens looked at each other for a moment, and then hope seemed to seep back into them. Ariel ran after Jack, followed by Frey, and a skeptical Dax who trotted off.

Sebastian was then scuttling back to shore, feeling a little weak around his knees. He panted for a moment, and then saw the others, following the pirate as he raised an eyebrow. He then scuttled after them asking himself, "Wat are dey up to?"

A Little Later On

Jack had been wandering around the center of the island for some time. But mostly he was trying to get away from the teens, particularly the redhead, who seemed to make it her duty to bug him completely. She was spouting on about trying to make another rescue attempt to helping Eric. And it was getting pretty irritating as she continued to plead with him, "But you were marooned on this island before, weren't you? So maybe we could escape in the same way you did back then…."

"To what point and purpose, young Missy?", Jack asked as he turned around and nearly startled Ariel. He then folded his arms as he pointed out to her, "The Black Pearl is gone now. So unless, aside from the Tail and fins, you have a rudder and a powerful engine hidden in that bodice…", and raised his hands in defense at that comment, "…Unlikely…", he returned to his arm folding as he pointed out, "…young Mr. Thatch will be long dead by the time we reach him."

And then he walked towards one of the trees, going back to whatever it was that he was doing. But Ariel wasn't about to give up as she walked to him…as he knocked on a tree. She then stated to him, "But you're Captain Jack Sparrow.", he still ignored her as he took a few strange steps in front of him, as Ariel followed and continued, "Your friend, Gibbs, told us you vanished from under the eyes of seven agents of the East India Company. You sacked Nassau Port without even firing a shot." She then stopped in front of him as she pleadingly asked him, "Are you the pirate I've heard about this whole time or not?" She held him by the shoulders, and looked at him with pleading eyes as she asked sincerely, "Please, Jack. Help us. How did you get off this island last time?"

Jack tried to look away from her eyes, but if there was one thing that he couldn't do, was refuse the Puppy Dog Pout from an attractive girl. Frey joined up with them, along with Sebastian and Dax, as they stopped behind Jack as he sighed in defeat. He then hung his head in defeat as he looked to Ariel, and begrudgingly told him the true tale behind the tale, "Last time…I was here for a grand total of three days. All right?" Ariel looked to him a little confused, but then let him go as he spotted what it was he was looking for. He then dug into the sand…as he lifted the top of a secret storage cache, "Last time, I looked around here for the first day, and on the Second day, I found out…", revealing a storage cache of bottles…all filled with rum. He then walked down the steps as he explained, "…the rum runners used the island as a cache. And on the third day they came past on their ship, the Sea Turtle, and I was able to barter passage off.", he then grabbed a few bottles as he walked back up to the kids as he muttered through his teeth, "By the look of things, they've long been out of business. Probably have that bloody Commodore Norrington to thank for that."

Ariel was a little surprised by that, but then Frey stepped up. He was a little peeved off that this was the real way and not some Pirate Voodoo trick to help them get off. Feeling hopelessness coming back, but with anger backing up with it, he spat out to Jack with venom, "So that's it then? That's story of the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow?" as soon as Jack was back up the steps, Frey grabbed him by his vest collar as he spoke to him with anger gritting teeth, "You spent three days here... lying on a beach... drinking RUM?!"

Jack paused for a moment, and then answered calmly, forgetting that he was being yelled at, "No. I spent the first day walking around the beach. The second day I found the cache by morning…and then was lying on the beach drinking rum. And on the third day I bartered off with the rum runners.", and then broke the boy's hold on him as he answered, "So in reality I spent only one day lying on the beach drinking rum." Seeing the silent expressions on their faces, Jack paused for a moment, but they shrugged as he handed them both rum bottles, and turned towards Ariel as he simply said, "Welcome to the Caribbean, luv.", and then walked back towards the beach.

Frey, who was a little miffed, ran off to berate Jack even more so. However, Ariel watched the two retreat, feeling slightly worried that eveyrthing would not work out. However, her attention then went back to the rum bottle that Jack had given her. her eyes then went wide and a smile grew on her face as she thought, 'This gives me an idea…', and then knelt down to Dax and Sebastian, "Sebastian. Dax. As soon as it's nightfall and when Jack's asleep, take all the rum out of the cache."

The two looked to each other, slightly confused by this, as Dax looked to her and asked, "Why, whatcha got planned?"

Ariel held the rum in hand as she said, "Not yet, we have to wait until Jack's asleep.", and then ran off to catch up to Frey and Jack.

Sebastian, who wasn't too sure about this, shook his head in worry, "Dis plan's got me on my last nerves."

Back with Jack, he was calmly sitting on the shore line, opening his bottle of rum. That is, until Frey walked up in front of him, and then looked at him hardly. It was due to this whole thing that he blamed Jack for it as he asked, "Just out of curiosity, were any of those stories that my friend heard about…actually true?", by the time he had asked Jack that question, Ariel had arrived and stood aside to Jack, as Frey went on with the interrogation, "Is there any truth at all?".

Jack sighed in defeat as he put his rum bottle down and looked to the two teens. He then sighed as he asked them both, "Truth to the stories, eh?", he rolled up his right sleeve to reveal his P brand, his Sunset Sparrow tattoo, but then he pushed it up further to reveal what appeared to be a shark bite on his bicep. He then rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a nasty vein-shaped scar going upward, which made Ariel gasp in fright for Jack. And then finally, he opened his shirt a little, and revealed a few gunshot and slash wounds on his chest.

After he saw the two teens a little freaked out by them, he answered, "No truth at all."

Frey shrugged as he just forgot about berating Jack, "Um, sorry that I asked.", and then sat down on Jack's right, as Ariel sat to Jack's left. But then something popped into Frey's mind as he looked to Jack and asked, "Um…by the way, I was wondering. Before Barbossa pulled off her bracelet, how'd you know Ariel was a mermaid before then…when we stole the Interceptor?"

Ariel's interest was perked by that as she looked to Jack and Frey surprised as she asked, "He knew? How?", she then scolded at Jack, "And tell the truth."

Jack sighed, knowing full well this wouldn't end good, "Aright. I confess. It was during my teenage years of buccaneering that I stumbled upon one of your kind. Of course, she was wearin' that necklace that our redheaded friend is wearing now."

Frey didn't seem fazed by it, seeing as how it was probably common for a mermaid to save someone's life. However, Ariel was a little surprised by this as she leaned in and asked Jack, surprising him in turn, "You mean…wait. Who was it? What did she look like?"

A little surprised by that, but kept his distance, Jack merely shrugged, "I don't remember. It was night, a storm was goin' on that night, it was raining pretty hard…"

"I was probably drunk of rum at the time…", Dax quirked out, mocking Jack in the process.

Everyone stopped talking to that point, ignoring the small otter as they all just sat there. But then Jack pointed out as he said, "I'd say a month, maybe two…keep a weather eye open…for passing ships, with no hope of being spotted at all."

Feeling a little strung out of luck, Dax slumped as he looked to the pirate, "There's gotta be something we can do…"

Jack nodded, "You're absolutely right.",…and then shoved his open bottle in the otter's mouth. And as he did so, a small ounce of the rum trickled down Dax's throat. Jack pulled it out, making Dax cough and gag at that, as Jack answered as he raised his bottle, giving out a slight toast, "Here's to you, Eric Thatch."

It was only until Jack took a shot from his rum bottle, that eveyrone heard it. They turned towards Ariel, who had her eyes closed at the time, as she hummed out a small tune. From what Jack could make out, it was a pirate's tune. It was then that Jack's interest was peaked up as he raised an eyebrow and asked Ariel, "What's that?"

Silently smiling at her success to catching Sparrow's attention, Ariel shrugged acting like she didn't care, "It's nothing. It's a pirate's song that Eric taught me.", she smiled, remembering that, "I caught him humming it the first week I spent with him living in his house once, and so I asked him if he could teach me it. It was on the day we first met you."

Jack was serious in thought at this moment, as he looked to Ariel, and asked, "Now let me see I have all the facts here, luv….", and then looked at her surprised as he asked, "You and that boy are sharing a home together?" Ariel nodded in that, and Jack just scoffed and mumbled, "Kids have no bloody shame at all these days." It was then that after he was done mumbling to himself, he looked to Ariel as he somewhat demanded, "Sing it. Come on, we've got the time; let's have it."

Ariel shook her head as she looked back out to sea, "No, I'm…I haven't had a lot to drink."

Jack thought about it for a moment, and then held up his bottle, "How much more?" Ariel smirked at this, and then opened her bottle up…and hten suddenly guzzled down a few gulps, much to Sebastian's shock. Dax and Frey looked at the girl like she had lost her mind, but Jack just shrugged as he gulped down a few drinks himself.

Later that Night

A bonfire was burning on shore as it lit up the near dark beach. However, there were no signs of sleeping, as the three humans were dancing around, singing around, drunkenly. So far they had a few bottles each; Jack had just gotten to five bottles of rum, Frey on the third, and Ariel…on the eighth. They were busy at the moment, singing out loud…

We're devils,

We're black sheep,

We're really bad eggs,

Drink up, me hearties, yo ho

Yo ho, yo ho,

A pirate's life for me!

"I love this song!", Jack shouted out, halfway drunk as he spun around until he crashed butt first on the beach. Ariel and Frey, who were drinking along with Jack, plopped on the beach as well. Jack shot up his bottle as he proclaimed to Ariel, who sat by Jack's right, "When I get the Pearl back, I'm gonna teach this song to the crew. And we'll sing it all the time."

And Ariel raised her bottle up to Jack as she stated with a dumb ward smile, "And you'll be the most fearsome pirates in the Caribbean, right?"

Jack shook his head as his drunken nature started to slip a little, as he was thinking a little clearly, "Not juz the Caribbean, Luv. The entire ocean; the whole wo'ld. Wherever we'd wanted to go to...we'll go.", and then in a clear state of thought, Jack then told Ariel, "That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel n' o hull, n' deck, n' engines; that's what a ship needs.", he then pointed out as he looked out to sea, with his hand almost grasping out the ocean with it, as he finished, "But what a ship is….wha the Black Pearl…really is…to me…is freedom."

It was then that Ariel sort of now had a clear understanding on what was going on with Jack now. He didn't want the ship out of vengeance, but Barbossa had stolen from Jack was more than just a piece of property…it was Jack's freedom. Ariel seemed to relate to that as before she had Eric in her life, she seemed to have no freedom in the ocean. That was what Eric was also to her; her heart's freedom, because she had given it to him, seeing he made her felt free.

She warmly smiled to Jack, as she scooted over to him, and leaned on his shoulder. Jack was a little surprised by this, and even more as Ariel comforted Jack, "Jack…it must have been really terrible for you to be trapped here on this island." She then scooted in closer as she sighed in sadness, "So alone…with no one to talk to…"

Letting his guard down, Jack gave in as he smirked charmingly, "Oh, yes. But the company is…", and then wrapped an arm around Ariel, with her smirking knowing full well Jack fell for it, and then continued, "…infinitely better than last time, I think.", and then smirked lecherously as he added, "The 'scenery'…has definitely improved much."

And then Ariel broke free as she exclaimed, "Jack Sparrow…I'm not entirely sure I'm drunk enough to allow that sort of talk.

Jack nodded to that as he said, "I know exactly what you mean, luv.", and then straightened out his mustache as he looked at Ariel seductively.

Then Ariel raised up her rum bottle as she toasted, "To Freedom."

Jack nodded to that as he toasted to her, "To the Black Pearl.", and then the two took a swig of their rum. However, the amount that Jack was currently guzzling down, he had drunk himself to sleep. Ariel stopped and smirked at the accomplishment; if there was one thing she neglected to tell Jack, was that merfolk were slightly unaffected by alcohol.

She turned towards Frey as she stated, "Come on, Frey…let's….", but then stopped, seeing him sleep on the ground, like Jack, all drunken and drooling. She turned to where she knew that Dax and Sebastian were and saw the two walking towards her. But from what she saw, they were wobbling a little; not walking straight at all at this point. She then asked with a raised eyebrow, "Um, guys…did you unload all the rum out?"

The two plopped right over next to Frey's sleeping drunken form as Dax hiccupped with an answer, "Hic! Yeah, don't worry…Hic! We got the stuff unloaded….Hic!"

"Did you two drink any of that rum?", Ariel asked, feeling a little worried. The two nodded absentmindedly, as Ariel's eyes went wide as she asked, "How much did you drink?"

The two shrugged, and then finally, fell flat on their backs, stone dead drunk. She sighed at this, knowing she would have to do the rest herself.

The Next Morning

Jack stirred from his little rum-induced sleep, while Frey slept, clinging on to the rum bottle like a teddy bear. Jack became fully awake from his sleep as his nosed picked up the smell of something burning. He sat up quickly as his ears picked up a boom sound coming from behind them, and turned around quickly at to what he saw. Ariel had made a huge bonfire by using the palm trees' leaves, a few wooden planks…and to Jack's horror…the rum cache itself.

Jack shot up, his jaw dropping and his eyes going wide, panicking and ran to her shouting, "No! Not good! STOOOP!! Not good!" He then stopped to her as she walked away from the burning mess as he whined, "What are you doing?! You've burned all the food, the shade... the rum!"

Not caring about the rum, Ariel nodded, "Yes, the rum is gone."

Jack pleadingly asked, "Why is the rum gone?!"

Then Ariel stopped as she turned around and faced Jack Sparrow as she ansnwered, "One; because it's a vile drink that turns even the most respectable men into complete scoundrels! Two; that signal is over a thousand feet high! The entire Navy is probably out there looking for either three teenagers: Eric, Frey, and myself, or the Black Pearl." And then she looked to Jack with her hands on her hips, asking him as she pointed to the bonfire, "Do you really think there is even the slightest chance that they won't see it?"

And then as if Ariel hadnt said anything to him, Jack whined and pleadingly asked again, "But…why is the rum gone?"

Ariel then shook her head and huffed as she walked over to the sleeping forms of Sebastian, Dax, and even Frey. And then she sat down next to them as she looked out to sea, "Just wait, Jack Sparrow. Give it an hour, maybe two, keep a weather eye open, and there'll be white sails on that horizon!"

Jack was seething on the brink of insane anger as he glared daggers on the redheaded mermaid. He silently reached for his pistol, but then stopped for a moment, as sanity crept back to his already insane-induced mind. He sighed and just walked off, leaving the four behind as he vented on to the end of the island. a few good minutes had past as Jack made some distance from the four; while along the way, mocking Ariel, "'It must have been terrible for you, Jack'. Must have been terrible….", he then turned around as he shouted out loud for Ariel to try to hear, "WELL, IT BLOODY IS NOW!!"

He then turned his attention back in front of him, and then paled at what he saw. Not too far away, Jack spotted the HMS Dauntless, slowly but surely sailing towards them offshore. Jack's shoulders slouched over as he sighed in defeat, "There'll be no living with her after this."

Later

Aboard the HMS Dauntless

The group had been rescued later on, as soon as a small longboat had come ashore to take them upon it. as soon as they had gotten back on board the Dauntless, Ariel and a now haggered Frey, were greeted by Milo, who gave them a warm group hug. He had told them both, despite Frey's grumbling on having a hangover, that he had pressed on and on about coming on to this rescue mission. Ariel was just happy to see Eric's uncle once more, but then frowned as Jack was placed in irons by Mullroy and Murtogg.

But then she was in total shock as she heard what was to come next. Norrington then ordered, "Alright men. Turn the Dauntless around; we are to head back to Port Royal immediately."

Not only did Ariel pale, but so did Frey and Milo, as Mr. Thatch protested in fear, "Commodore, I came on this rescue mission to save three teenagers lives. Not two!", he pointed out to sea, "My nephew's still out there! We have to go save him!"

Norrington, who seemed to ignore Milo Thatch's protest, walked away from them towards the Steering room, "No, Ms. Ariel and Mr. Asapin are safe now. We've apprehended Mr. Sparrow, and now we're to go forward on to Port Royal. Not to go galivanting after pirates."

Then Ariel stepped forward as she stated, "Then you're condemning an innocent man to death."

Norrington stopped for a moment, and then turned around to face Ariel. He then calmly and seemingly caringly and uncaringly stated to her, "Young Eric Thatch's fate is regrettable…but then so was his choice to engage in piracy."

Ariel couldn't believe this; this man was willing to let a boy die for no good reason except that Eric committed piracy. She then pleaded to Norrington, in desprate need for him to see the reasoning why Eric did so, "He did it to rescue me. To prevent anything from happening to me, Commodore."

It was then that Jack thought of another well-opportune moment to get his ship back. He pointed out, "If I may be so bold as to inject my professional opinion.", he then stepped forward to Norrington, with Murtogg and Mullroy following behind, and Norrington rolling his eyes at this. Then Jack stated to him, "The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be able to make good time." He then went deeper into it as he tried to sell Norrington the ambitious streak, "Think about it.", Jack smirked, knowing this was gonna work, "The Black Pearl. The last, real pirate threat in the Caribbean waters, eh? How can you pass that up, right?"

Norrington took a deep breath and looked Jack in the eye as he answered, "By remembering I serve others, Mr. Sparrow.", and then turned around as he headed for the steering cabin, "not only myself."

Jack slumped in defeat at that, and Ariel walked up to him, patting him on the shoulder. In truth, she was hoping that Jack's scheme would have worked in some way, but now it was hopeless. That is until Frey got fed up with this as he grumbled, "We don't have time with this.", and then walked up to Murtogg and Mullroy.

He swiped the keys from the two unsuspecting men, elbowed Murtogg in the face, casuign him to lose focus and stumble a little. Next, he walked over to a stunned Mullroy, and grabbed his rifle and pistol, and clubbed him in the head to knock him out. And then when all the confusion was going on, he walked up to Norrington and held the guns right into his face. All the Navy officers ran over to the scene, and every last one of them aimed their guns at Frey. A stunned Milo and Ariel looked at Frey with a little confusion, but Jack just seemed to flinch at all the guns pointed aroudn them. Seeing as how Jack was cuffed and couldn't get to his cutlass and gun.

Then Frey looked to Ariel as he tossed her the keys and said, "Uncuff Jack right now.", and then turned his attention back to Norrington as he threatened, "You want to serve others, Norrington? Fine. Here's an order: you and all the Navy officers…", then pointed to Murtogg and Mullroy, who were recovering from the assault, "…except those two…", and stated again as his attention was back to Norrington, "…go to the brig and lock yourselves up in it. while we take the Dauntless to Isla de Muerta on another rescue mission for my buddy and her girlfriend. Or we can all just shoot each other and die."

Norrington took a calming deep breath, and then asked the boy, "So…you're really willing either imprisoment…or the gallows…just for the sake of a friend?"

Frey cocked the gun in his hand and almost glared at Norrington at that point, as he answered, "Believe it."

Then Gilette, being the cocky moron, stated to the boy, "As I told you and your friends before…this ship cannot be crewed by two or three men. You'll never get it to this fictional island."

Then Jack, now freed and gotten to his Silver Eagle, stepped to Frey's side as he pointed out, "And I said to you, Son.", he then aimed the gun and cocked the hammer as he replied, "I'm Captain Jack Sparrow…Savvy?"

Back Aboard the Black Pearl

Down in the brig, the crew of the former Interceptor were locked in a tight cell altogether. Parallel to them was another cell, holding Eric in it as he paced around back and forth. His Seablade was nowhere to be seen at the moment, but his jacket and wet-shirt were folded and lay aside on the bench in the cell with him. Currently he was shirtless, but with a couple of fresh bandages on his chest. The ship's medic had applied a sort of healing salve to the wound on his chest before stitching and bandaging it, to ensure that it stopped bleeding.

Eric knew full and well that Barbossa wasn't about to let him die just yet. 'He still needs my blood, that rat-faced…', but then he shook those thoughts away as he tried to focus back on Ariel. From what he remembered from all the shouting, they had marooned her, Frey, and Jack on an island. He cursed to himself, feeling so helpless and stupid that he should have specified where to let her and the others go. He sighed, knowing full well that Barbossa wouldn't keep his word on that, 'He would have done something backstabbing anyway.'

It was just then, his thoughts turned elsewhere when he heard a mop smacking the floor. He stopped and saw that the two pirates, Pintel and Ragetti, were mopping up the floors. And just then, Cotton stepped up, and his parrot spoke up for him as it squawked, "Shiver me timbers."

Gibbs smirked as he translated for his shipmate, "Cotton here says you missed a bit.", that earned a growl from Pintel as he continued to mop up.

However, Eric had a thought strike him. He walked over to his door as he looked through it and asked the two, "Hey!" Catching their attention, Eric asked, "You guys were with Jack's crew once, right?"

The two looked at each other for an answer, until Ragetti replied, "Aye. We were with the former Cap'n."

Eric lit up as he then asked, "Well…then you two must have known about my older brother, William Thatch, right?"

Pintel just sighed at hearing that name as he looked to Eric and asked, "O'l Honest Will?", he nodded as he went on, "Aye, we knew 'im. Never sat well with ol' Honest, what we did to Jack Sparrow. The mutiny and all that.", he then put his mop in the bucket as he let Ragetti finish up as he explained, "He said it wasn't right with the Code of the Brethren Court.", he then pointed out to Eric, "That's why he sent a piece of the treasure off to you and your family, as it were. He knew that his family, namely you, would keep it secret and safe from us."

Eric took that in deeply, now knowing why Will had mailed him that coin. He had given him a huge responsibility to keep that coin hidden. Pintel then growled as he leaned towards his cell and slightly glared at the boy, "He said we deserved to be cursed…and remain cursed."

Ragetti stopped, and had a look of pity for Eric's brother as he shook his head, lamenting on what happened next, "Stupid blighter."

"He was a good man, through and through.", Gibbs pointed out, defending the name of Jack's former swordsman shipmate.

Eric sort of smirked at that, but it didn't last long, when Pintel said next, "A' course, as you can imagine…that didn't sit too well with the captain."

Ragetti then walked up, slightly chuckling at what was coming next as he smirked at Eric, "No, that didn't sit to well with the cap'n at all...", he then nudged Pintel as he asked, "Tell 'im what Barbossa did."

Then Pintel growled at Ragetti angrily, causing him to flinch back a little, "I'M TELLIN' THE STORY!", after calming down a little, Pintel then went back to the story, seeing that Eric hadn't torn his attention away from it, "So…what Captain Barbossa did is…he strapped a cannon to Honest's bootstraps."

Ragetti chuckled, "Honest's bootstraps."

"Then ol' Bo'sun dragged him towards the ship's railin' near the edge to the Mariana's Trench.", Pintel went on, seeing that the boy wasn't liking this one bit at all now. And then Eric paled and fell into despair as he heard Pintel's ending to the story, "…And the last we saw of ol' Will Thatch, your brother…he was sinkin' into the crushing black oblivion of Davy Jones' Locker." And after that, Pintel then sighed as he shrugged a little, finishing up, "Course, it was only after that we learned we needed his blood to lift the curse."

Ragetti sighed at that as he pointed out, "That's what you'd call ironic.", Pintel nodded at that, and then the two looked to each other as they chuckled at the irony. But then stopped as they looked over to see Eric pointing at something behi8nd them. The two stopped chuckling and turned around, only to freeze in their tracks to see Barbossa and Bo'sun standing there with chains.

Barbossa then nodded to Eric as he ordered Pintel and Ragetti, "Dress him and bring him."

Later that Night

Isla de Muerta Coast

In the murky waters, the Dauntless had made its way to the waters of Isla de Muerta. The crew, including Norrington, was all confined to the brig seeing that the deck was completely empty. The only ones currently working the ship were Milo, Jack, Ariel, Frey, and the two soldiers, Murtogg and Mullroy, seeing as how they were the only prisoners left to help, and didn't give much resistance. They were all currently busy doing something else; earlier on, Jack had formulated another scheme, much to Ariel and Frey's dismay on this. However, this was a pretty good plan by the sound of it. Currently at this point in time and distance away from the docked Black Pearl that they had spotted no too long ago, everyone was getting everything ready for it.

But now, at the railing, Ariel was leaning on it, dressed in only her bathing suit. Jack had said that it was part of the plan, but she didn't almost believe in it until he had told her the scheme. Right now, she was looking at the cave entrance; praying that Eric was alright and safe…and still alive. She never once in her life, felt this helpless and unable to do something. But things were going to be different, as her face changed from depressed to hard-on determined to rescue Eric this time.

However, her thoughts were turned elsewhere as Jack walked up to her, with a bottle of rum. It seemed that Frey's bottle was the only one that survived and that Jack was taking a quick sip of it before his part of the plan was set into motion. It was then that Ariel looked to him as he looked out to sea, and simply asked, "You weren't going to tell Norrington about the curse, were you?"

Jack shook his head responding, but then turned towards Ariel as he mentioned, "I noticed neither were you. For the same reason, I expect."

Ariel nodded at that, "He wouldn't have risked it, or he wouldn't believe it once we let him and the crew go."

Jack nodded to that, but then pointed out to her, "Could have gotten him drunk, though.", Ariel shot him a disapproving look, but then Jack defended, "Oh, don't get me wrong, luv. I admire a person who's willing to do whatever's necessary."

Ariel couldn't help but smile at that, but then sighed as she looked to Jack, and with an apologetic tone, said, "Jack, I owe you an apology.", Jack seemed a little confused by that as she continued, "You see, I thought you were like Barbossa and his men. But Eric was right about you; you really are a good man at heart.", she blushed slightly, remembering how Eric always acted sometimes, "In fact, I think you and Eric are sort of alike in some ways."

Jack smirked at that as he retorted, "Peas in a pod, darling.", but then shot at Ariel, "Though I'm still not forgivin' you for what you did to the rum.", he then comically pointed out, "Seein' all that rum go up in flames…you don't know what that can do to a man, luv."

Just then, Frey with Dax on shi shoulder arrived saying, "Jack. The longboat and Sebastian are ready to leave anytime."

Jack complimented, "Good man.", and walked towards the longboat, but stopped for a moment. He turned around, and spoke one last time to Ariel, "Oh, one last thing…", Ariel turned to Jack, her full attention to him. He then shot out, "That mermaid that saved me life….she mentioned her name was Athena.", and then walked to the longboat with Frey, leaving Ariel a little stunned at that name.

Her face was full of surprise as she whispered to herself, as if to confirm the name, "Athena? But that's…that's my mother's name…"

Back in the Cave

The crew of the Black Pearl was walking back in to their trove hideaway. Pintel and Ragetti were pushing a bound Eric towards the treasure hill with the Aztec chest in place. Eric tried to struggle his way out, but remained calm at this; though innerly, he was dreading this whole thing. Pintel then padded the boy on his shoulder, slightly comforting the boy as he encouraged him, "No reason to fret, lad. Just a prick to the finger, a few drops of blood…"

But then Twigg and Koehler pushed Ragetti and Pintel out of the way. The two pirates grabbed Eric forcefully as Twigg threatened out, "No mistakes this time; he's only half-Thatch.", he then looked to Eric and smiled evilly as he and Koehler pulled him to the chest, "We spill it all out through his throat!"

And as the two escorted Eric to his sacrificial altar, Pintel shrugged at Ragetti as he said, "Guess there is reason to fret."

A few minutes later, Eric was forced down to the chest on his knees, with Bo'sun holding him down. Bo'sun was enjoying this little irony; he had helped kill William Thatch, and now he was helping to kill his youngest and only brother. The pirates all chanted out, demanding the boy's blood be spilled over the gold coins. However, as they did, Jack was coming through, politely excusing himself through, and making them all look at him with much surprise to seeing him there.

Barbossa was standing up at the chest, holding up the sacrificial knife once more in his hand as he said, "Now let's try this one more time…", and then chanted, "Begun by blood, by blood un…", and then stopped as he heard the chanting stop completely, and then saw why. Much to his, Bo'sun, and even Eric's surprise, Jack was walking up towards them.

Eric smirked at this as he smiled, "Jack!"

However, Barbossa paled as his shoulders slumped at this, and rose a confused eyebrow as he loudly whispered, "It's not possible."

But then Jack stopped as he was close enough, and then pointed out, "Not probable, actually."

Then Bo'sun raised Eric up as the young lad asked out loud, "Wait! Where's Ariel and Frey? Are they alright?"

Jack sighed as he rolled his eyeballs at that, as he answered, "They're safe; mostly Ariel, she's safe…just like I promised. She's waiting for you back at the Dauntless, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word, really.", but then paused for a moment as he corrected the situation, "Except for Ariel, who is, in fact both a girl…and a mermaid."

Groaning at this, Barbossa interrupted this as he shot out to Jack, pointing the dagger at him, "Shut up! You're next!", and then walked over to Eric, as Bo'sun put the boy back into position. Then Barbossa grasped the boy's hood as he placed the blade at the boy's neck, preparing to slice it open.

But then Jack stopped him as he shot out, "You don't want to be doing that, mate."

Barbossa glared at Jack as he calmly replied, "No, I really think I do.", and was about to cut Eric's throat open, until Jack spoke up once more.

Jack shrugged as he muttered, "Your funeral."

Barbossa sighed with much annoyance, rolled his eyes, and stood up as he looked to Jack and asked, "Okay. Why don't I want to be doing this?"

Jack then took a few steps forward as he answered, "Well…because the HMS Dauntless. The Pride and Power of Port Royal…", then pointed out to the cave entrance, "…is floating out there…waiting for you." The pirates all murmured to each other at this, surprised by this whole thing. Even Eric seemed a little uncertain by this whole thing, but the pirates, including Barbossa, were now taking this into consideration.

Back at the Dauntless

Frey, who now had two daggers on his belt at the ready for battle, was keeping a small lookout at the cavern. With him were Murtogg and Mullroy at the ready, with their rifles. However, Murtogg was a slight bit confused by this as he asked Mullroy, "I forget. What are we doing here?"

Mullroy sighed as he looked to his comrade and explained, "Well, Mr. Sparrow went in there, to save the boy, and try to convince the pirates to come out, unprepared and unawares. As soon as we're ready, we release the Commodore and the rest of the crew out to prepare for the pirates. We ready the missile launchers and gun stations, catch'em all in the crossfire, and send them all down to see Old Hob."

Murtogg shook his head as he cleared up his question, "I know why we're here…what I meant is, why aren't we doin' it right now. You know, releasing the Commodore, and gettin' the guns ready right now?"

Frey sighed as he looked to the two, and pointed up to the sky, "Because we have to wait until the full moon's out. Otherwise, we'll be shooting at them blind."

The two officers nodded to that, seemingly understanding that. But then Murtogg asked Mullroy, "You think Jack Sparrow wasn't tellin' the truth about this plan?"

Back in the Cave

Jack was now standing in between the Aztec chest, Barbossa, and Bo'sun still holding a now standing up Eric. The pirates had let him live, only because Jack had a proposition to make. With leverage as a no option, Eric was wondering what Jack had to offer. Jack then explained to Barbossa in great detail, "Just hear me out, mate. You order your men to row to the Dauntless with the way they still are now.", pointing to them as he stated, "Then they'll do what they do best…", earning a vicious chuckle from them all as he went on, "Robert's your uncle. Fannie's your aunt; there you are with two ships. The makings of your very own fleet.", he then shrugged, "Of course you'll have the grandest as your flagship, and who's to argue?"

But then he pointed out the big picture to Barbossa, "But what of the Pearl? Name me captain, and I'll sail under your own colors, give ya ten percent of me plunder, you get to introduce yourself as Commodore Barbossa…", and then Jack threw in the golden ticket prize, "…and I'll throw in the redheaded mermaid as the biggest collateral as a hostage."

Eric nearly paled at that, but then Barbossa asked, "And why…would I want a fish girl? She ain't much for pleasurable company, and I doubt she'd make a good meal for the crew as a fish dinner."

Jack sighed as he explained, "She…is the youngest daughter of King Triton. The golden shell around her neck is simple proof of that.", he then sold it even more as he went on, "Hold her for ransom, and not only will we have all the fabled treasure of the Merpeople…but we'll also be gettin' the Trident. The fabled weapon of the Sea King himself. The only weapon with the power to control the sea itself. The whole world would be our…I mean, your oyster. Savvy?"

Barbossa thought about it for the moment; his arms crossed in thought about it. But then raised an eyebrow and pointed to Eric, "And I suppose in exchange for all that, you want me not to kill this whelp."

Jack shook his head as he replied, "No, no. By all means, kill the whelp.", but then raised his hands in defense as he stated, "just not yet. Wait to lift the curse until the opportune moment. For instance….", he then reached in to the cursed chest and picked out a few coins, "After you've killed Norrington, his men. And then later on, after you've killed the great Sea King and harpooned all his merfolk.", and then threw back the coins as he stated, "Every…last…one."

All the pirates laughed menacingly as they thought about slaying all those people and getting all that gold. Eric couldn't believe what he was hearing; at this point, if his hands were free and if he had the Seablade, he'd run Jack through. But then, something caught his eye as he saw on Jack's belt. It was Sebastian, hiding in the sash belt, shushing Eric to ensure he didn't get spotted. And then he noticed in Jack's hand, the one that held the cursed coins, one coin was still in his hand, kept well hidden. But then without Barbossa noticing or any of the other pirates, Jack quickly winked at him, showing Eric that it was all a big deception.

He then realized that this whole thing was just a scheme set up by Jack. So not feeling left out, Eric decided to try something; he stepped hard on Bo'sun's foot, causing him to let go of him. He then spat at Jack's face as he growled, "You've planned this from the beginning. Ever since you found out my name and Ariel's real origins.", but then he was pulled back by a snarling Bo'sun, and was shoved face first into the coins. He was then pulled back up, but didn't say a word as he growled at Jack…with his mouth closed.

Raising an eyebrow, Jack shrugged, "Yep."

Then Barbossa stepped forward, demanding, "I want Fifty percent of yer plunder."

"Fifteen."

"Forty."

Then Jack shot out defensively and finalizing the deal, "Twenty-five.", and then pointed to Barbossa's hat, "And I'll buy you the hat. A really BIG one... Commodore."

Barbossa took a few seconds to consider it, but then held out his hand with a smirk as he decided, "Then we have an accord.", and Jack took his hand and they both shook on it.

Then Jack shouted out to the crew, "All hands to the longboats!", the pirates just stood there, slightly confused by that. Jack shook his head as he winced, and turned towards Barbossa, "Apologies. You give the orders."

Barbossa smirked as he looked to the crew, "Gents….Take a walk.", the pirates all chuckled at that as they walked out towards the cave entrance, and then slowly emerged into the water. Pintel and Ragetti were on their way out as well, until Koehler and Twigg stopped them with one of the women's umbrellas as they smirked at the two, like they were a sick joke going on.

Jack raised an eyebrow as he asked himself and Barbossa, "Not to the boats?"

Barbossa smirked at this as he stated, "Why use boats…when going under is so much more unexpecting."

Jack smiled at that, but then turned away as he grimaced and whispered, "Oh, bugger."

Next Chapter: Battle of the Immortals; A Shot Wasted?