Pirates of the Caribbean: The Amulet Of Atlantis Chapter 18: Discovering The Amulet, a pirates of the caribbean fanfic

Chapter 16

What was currently happening was truly a sight to behold. The Black Pearl and The Nightmare were now underwater and traveling through a vortex which allowed the ships to avoid the surrounding ocean. An invisible wall of energy had enclosed the ships, causing the seawater above and around them to bounce harmlessly off the blanket of energy. Everyone onboard both vessels stood transfixed on the decks, gazing intently out ahead of them at a jaw-dropping sight.

A short distance away, a vast collection of crumbled ruins were scattered about the seabed. These remains were made of stone, and only a few structures of intricate and majestic design stood unharmed but still encrusted with barnacles. Embedded in the ocean floor itself were bones and skeletons of human bodies; inhabitants of the once magnificent civilization that was Atlantis. In the center of all this stood a tall and imposing stone tower. The body of the tower sported many unique engravings and symbols, all of which led up to an engraving of a person's face. The face was one of an old, yet powerful man with a flowing beard and bushy hair; Poseidon, the God of the Sea. The left eye of this stone portrait seemed normal, however the right eye held something more than just empty air. Intricately placed within the eye space was a fist-sized, glowing sapphire blue stone that entranced anyone whose eyes fell upon it. Along the sides were silver chains, which evidently served as a necklace to the person who possessed this artifact; the Amulet of Atlantis.

"It's beautiful," Elizabeth breathed once the ship was close enough to allow everyone a good view of the piece of valuable treasure.

"Amazing how something so entrancing can also be used as a source of immeasurable destruction," Jack observed.

"That's why we can't let Morgan get his hands on it," said Will. "We need a plan so that he can't take advantage of us."

"Just follow my lead. I always have a plan...even if it is convoluted in some sense."

Just then, both ships made contact with land and were halted in their tracks. Without another word, Jack went below deck. Once he did, Will turned to Elizabeth.

"Why do I have a feeling that all this is going to end badly for us?"

"Because we're with Jack."

Will shrugged. "True."

Will and Elizabeth then faced Michael, who was at the railing staring transfixed at the ruins of Atlantis. Slowly, they approached him.

Michael turned to face his parents. "Am I coming with you?" he asked eagerly.

Elizabeth bent down, shaking her head. "It's too dangerous. Your father and I are very cautious about letting you come along, especially after what happened last time. You're going to stay here on the ship while we go ashore and get the Amulet."

"Mum, please!" Michael protested. "Dad's taught me everything there is to know about properly defending myself. I can take that ugly git Morgan with one hand behind my back!"

"I'm sure you can," said Will, "but the fact of the matter is, you never know what could happen in a situation like this. After all, we are underwater in the middle of an ancient city that was destroyed by a blue stone. Not to mention we're apparently working alongside someone we consider an enemy. We just want you to be safe, son."

"And I'll stay safe. Just let me come along...I can help you."

"When you were born, Michael, we swore that we would protect you from danger. We were shanghaied into this whole mess, and we certainly don't want you to suffer because of it." Elizabeth's voice was laced with concern.

After a few minutes of silence, Michael nodded his head, but in a somewhat reluctant manner. "Alright. I understand." He then raced down below deck as Jack ascended the same steps.

Jack came over to Will and Elizabeth, looking in the direction Michael had run. "What's troubling our miniature crewmate?"

"He's upset because we won't let him come with us to get the amulet," Will answered.

"Ah. I can't blame him, though. I would want to take part in this if I were in his position."

"Well, why don't you place yourself in our position? If you had a child, would you want him or her to be in a situation where it was likely that they could get hurt?"

Jack grinned. "If I had a child, I wouldn't know what to do."

But as Will and Elizabeth walked away shaking their heads, Jack's grin faded a little. Uncomfortably, he recalled a time in his life where his frivolous activities had resulted in an unwanted pregnancy. Upon hearing the news, Jack did the first thing that came to mind, which was run away. Jack just could not fathom being responsible for a child. Shaking off the feeling, he went to prepare for departure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aboard The Nughtmare, Henry Morgan gazed confidently ahead at the long forgotten city of Atlantis. He could see quite clearly the amulet, which was embedded in a tall stone tower located in the middle of the spectacle. An evil grin slowly spread across his scarred face.

One of his crewmates came up to Morgan's side. "Cap'n, I suggest you bring along a contingent of a few men with you. You honestly cannot trust Jack Sparrow."

Morgan turned to face his crewmate. "I don't. That's why I'll be doing just that in order to ensure that I obtain the amulet. Once I have it, though, be prepared to take the Black Pearl."

"Cap'n?"

"Sparrow and the Turners will meet their untimely demise at the hands of the amulet's power while locked in the brig of this ship. Even though Hades built this ship, I guarantee that it'll be no match for what the Amulet of Atlantis will produce."

"Which is?"

"The future."

As the crewmate walked away, Morgan slid his sword out of its sheath and examined the blade with an expression of satisfaction. This was the sword that had been plunged into the hearts of countless pirates and British soldiers, and along the edge there was a hint of dried and crusted blood. As Morgan replaced the sword, he fixed his eyes once again upon the tower which held the amulet.

Soon, thought Morgan, soon I'll have the power of God in the palm of my hand.

Jack, Will, Elizabeth, Morgan and three of his crew members stepped onto land. The longboats had transported them to this spot, even though there was not much water between the ships and land in the first place.

They cautiously made their way through the ruins, as if fearing that someone would jump out at them at any moment and start attacking them. Everyone had their swords drawn and at the ready, just in case danger did show its ugly head in one form or another.

Despite the conditions and circumstances, a gust of wind blew, carrying with it an eerie howl, like that of a ghost's moan. Jack glanced around, squinting his eyes as if trying to spot something that was only visible upon careful examination. However, all he saw were mounds of rubble and half-decimated stone structures. Shaking off a sudden sense of uneasiness, Jack refocused on the task at hand and plowed forward.

Will and Elizabeth walked side-by-side, both clutching their swords tightly in their hands. They too could not help but look around in wonder, absorbing every bit of information that they could from the remains of Atlantis. From the bits of the city that were distinguishable, it was evident that the people who lived in Atlantis formed a knowledgeable and extremely advanced society. Even though it was nothing more than mounds of rubble and half-standing temples, fortresses, and homes, Atlantis was still a city that commanded anybody's attention.

High above the ancient structures, what would be considered the sky was bathed in a luminescent bright sapphire blue light. Rays of vastly different colors streaked across the area like parts of a rainbow that had been spaced in different intervals. It was no wonder that this city had been created by a God; its appearance even in a time of extinction was awe-inspiring.

As the small congregation of pirates continued to make their way through the shambles, not one of them was able to relax. They jumped at the sound of the smallest rock slipping a few inches deeper into the rubble.

It was not until they all had all reached the base of the amulet tower did any of the adventurers breathe a quick sigh of relief. Jack eyed the tower intently, noticing the small impressions carved into the stone large enough to fit hands and feet into. These impressions went all the way up to where the amulet currently sat.

Jack removed his coat and hat, and handed them to Will and Elizabeth. "Mind the stone, mind the pirate, don't mess with my hat."

Without another word, Jack turned around and began to make a gradual ascent toward his goal.

Onboard the Black Pearl, Michael bounced back and forth on the balls of his feet, unable to contain his eagerness. He was just itching to go ashore and help his Mum and Dad get what they were after. While he had been below deck, Michael had come across a rather impressive sword and taken it for himself. For a while, he had practiced his lunges, dodges, and other techniques that his father and grandfather had taught him recently. As always, Michael had proven himself to be a master with the blade, despite his young age.

Michael curiously glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was watching him. Satisfied to see that no one was, he hastily dashed over to the opposite side of the ship, grabbed a length of rope, and raced back over to the edge of the ship. Michael found a piece of the ship to tie the end of the rope around, did so, and once again checked for wandering eyes.

Then, he slipped over the railing and climbed down carefully to the edge of land beneath him, sword stuffed into his own personal sheath. When his feet made contact with the ground, Michael wiped beads of sweat off his forehead. Now all that was left to do was follow the footsteps left in the sand by his parents, Jack, Henry Morgan, and the other pirates.

Jack had finally reached the point in the tower where the amulet was situated. He let out a deep sigh, trying to ignore the anticipation coursing through his veins. Next, Jack searched around the amulet for another depression in the stone which would allow him to ease the treasure out of its resting place without risking damaging it. Unfortunately, he found none. Gritting his teeth in annoyance, Jack did the only thing there was to do.

He pulled out his dagger from his belt and carefully eased the tip between the stone of the tower and the amulet itself. When he had pushed the blade as far in as he was willing to, Jack tightened his grip on the dagger's hilt. He paused for a moment, contemplating the outcome. But before he got too wound up in his own thoughts, Jack reeled his mind back in and refocused.

Applying just the right amount of force, Jack pushed the hilt away from him so that the blade itself was shoving the amulet out at an angle. After what felt like hours, the amulet slipped free at last and Jack caught it with his free hand just in time.

"Such a satisfying feeling," Jack smiled as he admired the amulet before tucking it away in his shirt.

A minute later, Jack had returned to his comrades, a goofy grin plastered across his face. He whipped out the amulet.

"Got it!"

Everyone surrounding the wily captain gazed in silent awe at the glowing gem. Morgan stepped forward tentatively, as if to tenderly touch its bright surface, but suddenly whipped out his sword and pointed it at Jack.

"I commend you on a job well done, Sparrow. Now, if you'll kindly hand over the amulet."

Morgan's men had their own blades out now as well. Jack quickly assessed the situation and found that he could do nothing but smile.

"Ah. The nature of greed and betrayal did consume you as I thought it would."

Morgan smirked. "It never left me. But I must admit that I am rather surprised that you trusted me for so long. However, your moral fiber proved beneficial for me. Now give me the amulet."

Jack hesitated.

"If you try to resist, Sparrow, you'll just be prolonging the inevitable. Either way, me and my men will kill you all and I will have the amulet in my possession."

Jack looked from the amulet to Morgan countless times before reluctantly sighing. "Very well, you greasy git. You win."

Jack started to hand Morgan the amulet, but was halted by Will raising his sword.

"I can't let you do that, Jack," he said firmly.

"Are you daft, mate? Stop trying to be noble!"

"You do realize that if you give up the amulet, it will be the end of life in the Caribbean as we know it."

"And what if I don't? What then?"

"The way I see it, Jack, the amulet is no good either way. Someone has to destroy it before it does damage...in more than one form."

"And what if I were to keep it?"

Will smirked knowingly. "Come off it, Jack. We all know you're interested in the amulet just because of the profit it'll turn if brought before the right bidder."

Jack grinned. "You know me too well." He faced Elizabeth. "What say you to this?"

Elizabeth's face was stoic. "Will's right. The amulet has to be destroyed."

Jack rolled his eyes. "Biased is what you are. Just because he's your dear husband..."

"Marriage is all about care and devotion, Jack," said Elizabeth.

"Let me tell you something about marriage. It's just a challenge to see who'll fall out of love first," Jack retorted.

"Which is why no woman wants to be near you. You repel them," Elizabeth fired back.

"Pirate," Jack smiled. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

"If you all are quite finished with this attack of character," Morgan spoke up, "there's a more pressing matter at hand."

Jack glanced at Will, who held his ground.

"I protect the ones I love, Jack," he said as he stepped in front of Elizabeth. "If you hand over the amulet, the world we know will be nothing more than a memory. But if you don't, it'll end up doing damage anyway...probably worse than what Morgan plans to use it for."

"Don't listen to the boy, Sparrow. Your only safe bet at the moment is to give me the amulet."

Jack looked between Will and Morgan. Finally, after a few minutes of silent contemplation, Jack drew his own sword.

"If both of you feel this strongly about the matter, then what say we settle this like civilized pirates?"

Will held his gaze. "Nothing I haven't done before."

Morgan smirked. "Oh, this will be too easy."

Without warning, Jack, Will and Morgan engaged each other in a ferocious three-way duel over possession of the Amulet of Atlantis.