A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Lately I've been busy with end-of-the-year work at school; we have exams starting the 31st (ugh). I'm finding a way to balance that and finishing this story. I'll write as much as I can this weekend and update again. I promise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 17
Jack, Will, and Morgan fought furiously, every ounce of energy being incorporated into every lunge, slash, and blow as metal clanged against metal. The amulet was still being held by Jack, who had the priceless treasure in a death grip.
The three pirates danced around each other as swords swung into different arcs and at different angles. For a moment, the battling trio moved around in a circle, grunts of frustration escaping from their gritted teeth. Morgan swiped forcefully at Jack's feet, but the captain jumped up into the air just in time to dodge it. When Jack's feet had made contact with solid earth again, he successfully blocked a lunge from Will. Jack then began to due both combatants by using his sole sword to deflect swipes from both Will and Morgan. Jack made to dart away, but his feet caught Will's outstretched leg, and he went toppling to the ground. The amulet flew from his grasp and skittered away into the sand a few inches. Jack attempted to reclaim it, but Will scooped it up as he dashed past; Jack slashed at the vacant space with his sword.
"Bugger!"
Jack leapt to his feet just as Morgan ran by him, in hot pursuit of Will. Immediately, Jack raced after him until he had caught up. Thinking fast, Jack tried to land a hard punch to the side of Morgan's head, but Morgan was too quick. He dodged the attack, gripped Jack's fist, and before he knew it Jack was back on the sandy ground.
"Stay down, Sparrow," Morgan grunted at Jack as he continued to give chase.
Unfazed and irritable, Jack got up again and ran in the same direction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth had been left to tend to Morgan's oversized cronies. The three goons drew their own swords without so much as a second thought and slowly began to advance upon Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, who already had her sword grasped firmly in her hand, looked from malicious face to malicious face, the reality of her situation uncomfortably settling in. But despite that, Elizabeth was able to raise her sword as a sign of acceptance to the pirate gang's challenge.
However, before any one of them could make a move, a short figure darted from behind Morgan's men and came to a halt beside Elizabeth. Elizabeth looked down to see who it was and felt her jaw drop in surprise. Her son was standing there, a sword of his own clutched tightly in his right hand.
"Michael," she began in a disciplinary tone, but was cut off.
"Mum, honestly! You could definitely use some help...just save the telling off of me for later, alright?"
Elizabeth was almost able to answer, but the sound of shifting rocks attracted her attention. She, Michael, and the three henchmen looked around to see many rocks and pieces of rubble coming together as if being pushed upon each other by some invisible force. They soon formed five massive rock warriors, each carrying a large stone sword.
Out of fear upon seeing something so amazing yet imposing, Elizabeth and Michael both slowly backed away. The three pirates of Henry Morgan's behind them abruptly forced their blades into Elizabeth's arms, too cowardly at the prospect of this duel to see it through. Elizabeth let the three swords that lay in her arms fall to the ground as she and her son dashed away from the charging stone monsters. But Michael suddenly tripped on one of his feet and went sprawling down to the ground.
Elizabeth helped him up instantly and turned around to see the rock warriors drawing ever closer. They were too close; doing the only thing she could, Elizabeth brought her sword up to meet one of the rock monster's.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Will now found himself at the base of a spiral set of stairs that were carved into a tall structure with a small temple at the top. Will spotted Morgan and Jack closing in on him fast, and began to race up the stairs as he tucked the amulet into an outside pocket on his overcoat.
Seconds later, Morgan reached Will and raised his sword. Will whipped around quick as a flash and brought his blade up to meet Morgan's just in time. Will and Morgan struggled up a few steps, then back down as they both attempted to defeat one another. They lashed viciously at each other, the tips of their blades coming within inches of each other's faces. Suddenly, Morgan's fist made contact with the exact spot where the amulet was stored within Will garments. The amulet was dislodged and went flying into the air. The amulet soared over Morgan's head and down the steps.
Jack, who had just begun the ascent up the stone stairs, was in the position where he was able to catch the amulet. Looking up, he thrust his open hand into the air just in time to catch the amulet. Jack smiled widely in triumph, but that stupid grin soon turned into one of surprise as Morgan came barreling down the steps, followed closely by Will. Jack instantly draped the amulet around his neck by means of the silver chain connected to it and charged ahead, screaming madly and waving his sword around blindly. Will and Morgan had to back up against the stone wall in order to avoid Jack, however they gave chase the instant he was past.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With swords in both hands, Elizabeth relentlessly dueled the first two stone warriors; one with each arm. Elizabeth expertly maneuvered each blade, matching each swipe thrown her way. Beside her, Michael fought with an opponent of his own, and was doing so quite well. He dodged every lunge and swipe effortlessly and never let up in his attempt to defeat his adversary.
Elizabeth jumped into midair as a blade was swung toward her legs. Her feet landed upon the massive arm of the stone fighter, and as he raised his arm, Elizabeth was able to leap clear over his head and land gracefully behind the monster. The two of them quickly re-engaged each other, with Elizabeth taking turns in using each sword she clutched. However, those swords were soon knocked out of her hands and were sent flying to the sand a few feet away. Acting upon instinct, Elizabeth dodged another lunge, flipped onto her back, and rolled over to where her swords lay. She snatched them up and blocked the latest attempt to run her in. As she and the stone warrior struggled, with Elizabeth still lying on her back, Elizabeth's eyes caught something.
In the center of the creature's chest were engravings that encircled one another. These engravings of circles grew smaller and smaller until they formed a heart-sized blue circle in the center. Elizabeth suddenly got an idea and was able to force her foot against this circle hard. The creature reeled from the blow, allowing Elizabeth an opportunity to rise back up.
The stone warrior lunged at her once more, but Elizabeth's agility was still vastly superior to the slow, hulking figure of her abnormal opponent. She held the massive stone arm down with one hand while she plunged her second blade straight into the center of the engravings carved into the creature's chest. The instant this action had been completed, the stone warrior became completely rigid at once. Elizabeth withdrew her sword sharply as she watched the stone beast crumble to rubble at her feet.
Elizabeth took this as initiative and dashed off to combat her second adversary.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jack had finally reached the top of the stone steps, which led into an elaborate temple. Along the inner perimeter were engraved portraits and symbols which depicted Poseidon in all his glory. The floor sported the same designs and also had some stone benches here and there. In the center of this temple hung two lengths of rope, which had obviously been attached to an enormous bell a long time ago.
However, Jack did not have time to fully absorb this information, as Morgan and Will reached his spot at that very instant. Morgan jumped toward Jack, but Jack was ready for him. He swung his blade up and halted Morgan's in the process. Jack then shoved Morgan against a nearby stone column and clipped him under the chin with his fist.
Jack made a beeline for one of the ropes, but Morgan was upon him within seconds. He dragged Jack to the ground and reached for the amulet. His hand closed around it and pulled it over Jack's neck. Morgan then raced toward the first dangling piece of rope and tugged, the end result being Morgan taken on a ride up through a hole in the ceiling shaped like a dome. But Will managed to grab Morgan's legs just in time and was pulled up along with Morgan.
Jack got up, rolled his eyes, and took an alternative route: a ladder carved into one of the columns.
On top of the dome, Will and Morgan were continuing their duel. Both were standing upon the tip, careful to keep their balance as they swung their swords in different arcs. Morgan had the amulet tied slightly around his right wrist, the same hand he used for his sword.
As Will and Morgan maneuvered their blades in many different directions, Jack climbed up from the ladder and cautiously sneaked up behind them. Jack waited until Morgan's right arm lunged past Will and quickly untangled the amulet. Once again, Jack only momentarily smiled before getting back into the fight. Jack matched each of the blows sent his way. At one point, Will was forced to duck down due to the overwhelming metal tips, leaving Jack and Morgan to duel for only a few seconds before he popped back up and knocked both blades away. Then, with surprising agility, he snatched back the amulet and jumped off the dome, landing on a stone platform a few feet below. The other two pirates scooped up their fallen swords and immediately followed suit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elizabeth and Michael Turner were fighting side by side once again. They were now down to four stone warriors, and Elizabeth had the knowledge of how to defeat them. As both mother and son fought gallantly, Michael got a sudden idea. He turned to Elizabeth.
"Give me a boost, mum!"
As Elizabeth continued dueling, she managed to giver her son a quizzical look. "What?"
"Flip me! Now!"
Elizabeth shoved her current opponent away long enough to allow herself to lace her fingers together and provide a place for Michael to rest his right foot.
"One...two...three!"
On the count of three, Elizabeth launched Michael into the air. Miraculously, it appeared, Michael's plan worked and he landed in a sitting position behind his stone adversary's neck. The warrior glanced around in confusion, only to have his progress impeded by Michael placing his hands over what appeared to be eyes, blinding the monster.
"Whatever you did to that other one, do it now!"
Although she thought it a bit awkward to be taking orders from her own son, Elizabeth obliged nonetheless and stabbed the solid circle in the warrior's chest. Just like the previous one, the stone warrior crumbled to pieces and fell to the ground. But right before that happened, Michael jumped to the next adversary so Elizabeth could do the same with this new one.
Jack, Will, and Morgan were certainly outdoing themselves. The three of them would engage in the usual duel for a few minutes each time they landed on a different stone platform before promptly leaping onto the next.
Will was able to elbow Morgan in the side of the face and then spin around in a full circle to deflect Jack's latest attempt to disarm him. As Jack and Will busied themselves with more dueling, Morgan crept up behind them and swiftly grabbed the amulet from Will. Job completed, Morgan leapt down to the next platform.
Jack and Will wasted no time in following him. However, both pirates furiously tried their best to hinder the other's progress by shoving each other away. But this did nothing to faze them; Jack and Will kept jumping until they had once again reached solid land.
Morgan was racing toward the ships, which were still moored to the shore. Jack and Will tore after him at a breakneck pace.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The second to last stone warrior had its feet knocked out from under them, sending them backward on their back. Elizabeth raised her sword and forcefully plunged it into the center circle and watched without remorse as it crumbled apart. Now only one remained standing.
The stone creature lunged at Elizabeth, but she connected swords with him just in time. Elizabeth forced the blade away and attempted to land the final stab, but the stone man grabbed her arm and lifted Elizabeth off her feet. Elizabeth's sword fell to the ground as she dangled helplessly in midair.
But then, Michael came to his mother's aid and snatched up her sword and tossed it back to her in one fluid motion. Elizabeth caught it, and before the monster had time to fully comprehend what was transpiring, Elizabeth stabbed him in the middle of his enormous stone chest. After that, Elizabeth was dropped to the ground like a rag doll as the last stone warrior was decimated.
Slowly, Elizabeth got to her feet. As she was dusting herself off, neither she nor Michael noticed the group of Morgan's men carefully advancing upon them. When the cronies were close enough, they raised their swords that they had retrieved and surrounded Elizabeth and Michael.
Without warning, the pirates attacked.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan dueled both Jack and Will whilst running backward. He did his best to fend off his persistent opponents, but two against one were never good odds. Within the course of a few seconds, they had reached the very same spot where Elizabeth and Michael were busy fighting Morgan's pirates.
Both groups of adventurers dueled side-by-side. While Jack and Will attempted to disarm Morgan, Elizabeth and Michael fought Morgan's henchmen without the slightest signs of fatigue. Elizabeth was shoved to the ground, but before her adversary could bring his blade down, Elizabeth managed to kick the sword out of the brute's grasp. Elizabeth then jumped to her feet while catching the blade that was suspended in the air. Elizabeth landed a hard blow to the side of the pirate's face without missing a beat.
At that very same moment, Will had his sword knocked from his grasp. Elizabeth took notice of this and shouted out his name.
"Will!"
Will turned in time to catch the extra sword that Elizabeth had tossed his way. He swung back around to engage once more in the relentless duel.
But all too soon, Morgan lashed out with his arm in a way so powerful that it managed to send both Jack's and Will's blades flying. Realizing defeat, The duo raised their hands in surrender. Elizabeth and Michael followed suit a minute later.
"Shame," Morgan taunted through an evil grin, "I expected better from you, Sparrow."
"This isn't over yet," Jack replied defiantly.
"On the contrary."
Two groans of pain attracted Jack's and Will's attention. They turned to see Elizabeth and Michael slumped on the ground, unconscious. And before they had time to react, Jack and Will were in turn knocked out cold by the hilt of Morgan's sword.
