Pirates of the Caribbean: The Amulet Of Atlantis Chapter 23: Battling Henry Morgan, a pirates of the caribbean fanfic

A/N: I hope you enjoyed AWE if you've already seen it; I sure did! Best in the trilogy! I'm seeing it for the second time tomorrow. Anyway, here's the rest of "Amulet of Atlantis", I hope you've enjoyed it as well. Be alert for something else Pirate-related from me tonight.

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Chapter 21

Waves crashed hard against the rock columns that had torn holes in the seabed and were currently protruding from the violent surface of the ocean. These rock columns surrounded the Black Pearl at different locations, radiating the feeling of imprisonment. Everyone onboard the ship eyed each crude column with unease and fear, not quite comfortable with their current predicament. Henry Morgan, on the other hand, absorbed every feature that he could with an air of immense pride. He gently caressed his fingers over the smooth surface of the glowing amulet, fully respecting it's great power. He then grabbed hold of it and thought; immediately, the blue energy force that had been protecting them earlier vanished with a flash.

Morgan strutted over to the railing, hopped up onto it, and stretched out a hand that was holding a knife. He used all his strength to carve a depression deep enough to fit the amulet in. Morgan roughly pushed it in and jumped back down onto the ship as that particular column began to grow a few more feet.

Morgan turned to his men. "Shall we admire what we've accomplished?"

At that very moment, on the side of the ship, Jack and the Turners were steadily and carefully climbing up toward the deck, making sure that they did not make any noises that would attract the attention of Morgan or his men. Finally, they reached the top, and they all peered inconspicuously onto the deck.

Morgan and his men all had their backs turned and were occupied with something else. Jack gave both Will and Elizabeth a look and they nodded in return. Stealthily, the four pirates crept aboard and snuck up behind the miscreants who had orchestrated this entire catastrophe.

When they were within arms' reach, Jack, Will and Elizabeth slipped their hands over the mouths of the three nearest crewmen while swiping the swords from their sheaths. Will and Elizabeth motioned for Michael to look away while the trio slit the throats of the pirates whom they had surprised.

The sound of metal cutting into flesh caused Morgan and his men to whip around, swords of their own at the ready. Morgan glanced down upon the fallen bodies and glared back up at Jack, Will, and Elizabeth.

"I see you managed to escape my little death trap."

"Barely. We're here to repay you for it," Will replied evenly.

"Good. I want to have the pleasure of killing you all myself," sneered Morgan.

"Then you'll be sorely disappointed on that account," said Jack.

"We'll see about that."

Without warning, Morgan's men charged the trio, swords raised high above their heads and shouting maniacally. Jack, Will and Elizabeth raised their own blades just in time and were able to shove their opponents away. But all too soon, the battle had truly begun.

Will fought with the sword in his hand in a fashion most unlike him. He was unmerciful in each blow he landed, pouring every ounce of energy into combating this miscreant. Will spun around in a circle, bringing his blade down hard at an angle, an action that allowed him to halt the other sword that was about to lunge at his kneecap. Will forced the blade away while he swung his fist toward his adversary's cheek in the same instant. The pirate staggered back a few feet, regained his composure, and lunged forward furiously. Will ducked down just in time to avoid the attack and then brought his own blade up to make contact with the unprotected back of the villain. The opponent screamed out in momentary agony before resuming his assault.

Will dashed away toward the steps that led to the upper deck. The pirate gave chase, taking strides two times bigger than Will's. Will was able to reach the elevated level just in time and he grabbed hold of a dangling piece of rope that hung from the rigging. Will propelled himself forward until his feet had left solid ground. As Will swung away, his adversary lashed at him, but to no avail. Will turned himself around and outstretched his feet, which made contact with the marauder's gut moments later. The force of the blow knocked the evildoer back until he hit wood. Will released his hold on the rope and landed on his feet. Next, Will bent down and landed a firm punch right between the pirate's eyes. Will then spotted Elizabeth dueling two of Morgan's men at once, clearly outmatched.

Not wasting any time, Will stepped up on the wooden railing, getting himself into the proper position. Will waited for the opportune moment before leaping down on top of the closest of the two pirates currently assaulting Elizabeth. When he did so, he landed upon the brute hard enough to send them both rolling across the deck. The moment they stopped, both Will and the pirate jumped to their feet and began dueling relentlessly. The fight caused each of them to engage in a type of dance which took them from one end of the ship to the other, both dodging stray blade swings and lunges all the while. Before he knew it, Will was fighting back-to-back with Elizabeth. Each lover was using the other for support as their arms began to grow tired from the restless fighting.

Meanwhile, Michael was busy trying to fend off his current opponent. He was employing every trick and technique his father had taught him when they had partaken in their rigorous dueling lessons. Despite his short height, Michael was able to deflect his adversary's blade as if it came natural to him. A sudden idea struck Michael and he spun around in a flash, bringing his right elbow up to meet the pirate's groin. The buccaneer doubled over in pain, allowing Michael the opportunity to shove the evil man headlong into another charging at them from the railing. The impact caused both pirates to go tumbling over into the ocean below. Michael momentarily grinned before hastening over to where his parents stood fighting two more vicious-looking pirates, their backs pressed against each other.

Jack was taking on two opponents at once as well. He was awkwardly alternating between each one, allowing them both the same amount of time for swordplay. He managed at one point to land separate blows to each in rapid succession, much like that of a broken alternating hand inside a clock. Realizing something, Jack stepped back and watched with interest as both pirates lunged forward with their swords at the same time, the end result being the two brutes having their swords plunged into each other's chest. His first job accomplished, Jack dashed off in search of something else to do.

Michael darted up behind the pirate dueling Elizabeth, searching for the proper place to do what he had in mind. He finally came to a decision and punched the brute right behind both his knees, causing the miscreant to fall on his legs painfully. Elizabeth took the opportunity to land a solid hit under the henchman's chin. There was only one left now.

Will's opponent matched his every move with ease, which surprised Will very much. Will was beginning to run out of ideas and was in desperate need of some help. Suddenly, Will's sword was knocked from his grasp, causing the muscular pirate who was fighting him to grin triumphantly. He lunged at Will, who bended backward as the sharp blade swung over his face. Before Will could do anything else, however, a boom from a pistol rang out close to him, followed by the sound of a great heap falling to the deck. Will then fell on his back and looked up to see Elizabeth towering over him, pistol still aimed and smoking. She put her free hand down to help Will to his feet, and Will took it as Elizabeth pulled.

Will and Elizabeth looked all around them. Every body of each of Morgan's men were slumped on the wooden deck, either dead or unconscious. Next, they began to scan the area for any sign of Morgan himself. However, a struggling sound behind them alerted Will and Elizabeth of where Morgan was. They turned around to see the vicious pirate holding Michael, a knife at his throat.

"Don't follow me," he seethed.

Morgan picked Michael up, dashed over to the railing of the ship, and jumped out onto the nearest rock column. Morgan proceeded to climb up toward a piece of rock that jutted out, big enough for two men to stand upon, dragging Michael in his wake.

Will and Elizabeth made to follow, but Jack stopped them.

"Wait," he said. "You'll need these."

He handed the couple a pair of rifles. Will and Elizabeth took them, making sure they were properly loaded.

"What's the plan?" Jack asked.

"You need to destroy the amulet in order to destroy these creations," came Tia Dalma's voice. The trio turned to look her in the eyes.

"And how do we destroy the amulet?" Will inquired.

Tia Dalma walked up, swiped the rifles out of Will and Elizabeth's grasp, and muttered something incoherent. A few seconds later, the rifles glowed as if they were on fire, then returned to their normal color. Tia Dalma handed them back.

"These weapons now have the power to destroy the Amulet of Atlantis. Just shoot it, and the person who is using it for their own purposes will be killed as well."

Will and Elizabeth observed the location of the amulet at the top of the rock column a few feet away. Both of them knew that there was only one way to get there.

Will addressed Jack. "Here, you shoot it." He handed Jack his rifle. "I'm going after Morgan. I'll keep him occupied while you get a clear shot."

"What about me? He's my son too, Will," Elizabeth piped up.

"Help Jack."

Will planted a quick, yet firm kiss on Elizabeth's lips before racing toward the Pearl's railing and leaping onto the same rock column Morgan was climbing.

Will climbed furiously, intent on rescuing his son. He soon closed the distance between him and Morgan, gaining ever faster all the while. Ahead of Will, Morgan and Michael had reached the rock platform that stuck out from the rest of the column and Morgan looked over it and spied Will drawing ever closer. Morgan whipped out his pistol, pulled back the hammer, and fired.

The shot missed Will's head by a few inches, but Will still plowed ahead, unnerved by the close shave. He soon was able to propel himself over the edge of the platform, swinging up to face Morgan; Will drew his sword and Morgan followed suit.

"You couldn't leave well enough alone," said Morgan.

"I always finish what I start," Will replied evenly. "So I can't rest until you're done for, Morgan."

"Don't fret. You can rest when you're dead."

Will and Morgan engaged each other without hesitation. Both were furious fighters, and this duel turned rather dirty all too soon. Will made several attempts to slice Morgan's other eye out, but Morgan successfully deflected each of Will's swipes. Morgan then used his foot to shove Will down to the ground hard and in turn raised his blade high over his head.

Instinctively, Will gutted Morgan with his own boot, jumped back to his feet, and punched his adversary hard. As Morgan staggered back a few steps and wiped a trickle of blood from the side of his face, Will scooped his sword back up and advanced upon his enemy once more.

Will and Morgan continued to lash out with their swords as lightning cracked in the sky above them and the seabed way below them began to rumble and quake once more. But this did nothing to deter the two dueling pirates from their goal; they continued clinking their swords together as if the weather conditions around them were ordinary. The fight soon moved to the edge of the platform, with Will at the end.

Behind him, yet another rock column shot up out of the earth and was speeding toward Will at a breakneck pace. Will looked behind him, waited, and leapt onto the passing column at just the right moment. Morgan let out a yell of anger and did the same, leaving Michael alone on the stone platform.

Jack was currently taking aim at the amulet with the rifle in his hands. Elizabeth was standing beside him, looking anxiously ahead at the fresh new rock column that had just emerged from the seabed below and came to a halt on the right of the column containing the amulet. She could make out Will and Morgan dueling near the top of it, both of them holding onto the column for support. Elizabeth turned to face Tia Dalma.

"Are you sure this will work?"

"Positive, Mrs. Turner. If all goes well, we'll have the Caribbean we know and love so much back in no time."

Elizabeth now faced Jack. "Whatever you do, don't miss."

"Don't worry, luv. I haven't had a single drop of rum all day."

Jack finally got a clear shot.

"I have a very good shot right now. Just say when."

At the same time, Will and Morgan could tell that they were reaching the end of their fight. Both were beginning to ache all over and sweat was exiting their pores at an even greater rate. As Will managed to land two punches to either side of Morgan's face, he chanced a quick glance toward the Pearl. He could make out Jack, rifle in both hands and waiting for the opportune moment in which to fire upon the amulet.

As Morgan came back and the pair of them started to struggle with both their swords raised above their heads, Will estimated the distance between this particular rock column and the one holding the amulet beside them. When he had a good enough guess, Will forced themselves over to the edge of the platform. Once there, Will summoned forth all of his bodily strength and shoved Morgan down onto the platform located directly beneath the amulet's resting place. Morgan landed with a loud thud and glared dangerously back up at Will.

Will turned slightly to shout out at Jack. "SHOOT! JACK, SHOOT!"

Not waiting even for a sign of confirmation from Jack to show that he had heard Will, Will leaped from his spot and onto the other rock column beside him that still held Michael.

Just as Will's feet touched rocky earth, he heard a shot ring out. He whirled around, and next thing Will knew, the Amulet of Atlantis shattered into numerous pieces in a flash of brilliant sapphire blue light. Will dashed over To Michael and used his body to shield him.

Morgan had heard the sound of a rifle being fired, but he had not anticipated the amulet beside his face to abruptly shatter to bits and pieces, accompanied by a bright blue light. Morgan tried to cover his face in an attempt to protect it from the flying sharp and lethal shards, but he was too late. One shard lodged itself deep into Morgan's remaining eye and he cried out in sheer agony.

Suddenly, Morgan's flesh started to crack and have lines of blue light tear into his body, The pain soon became unbearable and as he shouted loudly in pain, a clear and taunting voice echoed inside Morgan's head.

"Your soul is mine," said the voice of Hades.

Seconds later, Morgan's body became nothing more than dust particles as it exploded in a flash of blue flames.

With Michael clutched firmly in his grasp, Will made his way toward the edge of the rock platform despite the violent quaking of the seabed. Will jumped down into the ocean just as the rock column crumbled to pieces and vanished beneath the surface of the sea.

Will and Michael began to swim toward the Black Pearl while trying to dodge the crumbling rock columns all around them. The sound was overwhelming, but it did not faze father and son whatsoever; they kept swimming toward the ship until they reached it. A length of rope was then thrown down and Will pulled Michael closer to him before taking the rope. He tugged and it yanked both Will and Michael out of the water with a great jolt.

Will and Michael landed hard on the deck of the Black Pearl and had a fleeting glimpse of the crew freed from the brig before they were assaulted with hugs and kisses by Elizabeth.

A short distance away from them, Jack watched as the clouds retreated from the sky and the bright sun once again illuminated the now peaceful ocean. He outstretched his arms in triumph.

"Let the world know that it will always remember this as the day it almost – "

"Oh, shut it!" snapped Will and Elizabeth simultaneously.

Jack could do nothing except humph in indignation.