Curse of the Cruise Ship

Chapter Nine

It Begins

ESF's Author's Note: Sorry if this is rather short. Only two more chapters left! Then you'll have to wait until December for "Dead Man's Cruise." But all hope is not lost! I am working on another time-travel fic in my free time, and I will post the first chapter on my profile (Eternal Silver Flame, if you've forgotten) the same time that wendystwin and I post the last chapter for this fic. I'm not going to tell you much about it, except that it is a time-travel fic, and wendystwin is not helping out with it.

Sorry this took so long. We still love you all!

wendystwin's Author's Note: Man, ya'll don't wanna get your wisdom teeth pulled out, cuz it's hell, ok? Now, I think it would be cool if we all had teeth like George Washington's, made outta wood. Yup. I'm sleepy from my pills, so review.

Twenty minutes later, they were aboard the Dauntless. Jack, Melody and Wendy were standing between Murtogg and Mullroy. Elizabeth was arguing with her father.

"But we've got to save Will!"

"No!" said Governor Swann, as he walked over to Commodore Norrington. "You're safe now. We will return to Port Royal immediately, not go gallivanting after pirates!"

"Then we condemn him to death."

The governor paused. "The boy's fate is regrettable, but then so was his decision to engage in piracy."

"To rescue me, to prevent anything from happening to me!"

"If I may be so bold," interrupted Jack, "as to inject my professional opinion." He approached Commodore Norrington, and Murtogg and Mullroy followed him, pulling the girls with them. "The Pearl was listing near to scuppers after the battle. It's very unlikely she'll be able to make good time. Think about it. The Black Pearl. The last real pirate threat in the Caribbean, mate. How can you pass that up, right?" He looked around, smiling hopefully.

"By remembering that I serve others, Mr. Sparrow, not only myself." Norrington turned away and headed up the stairs to the helm.

"Commodore, I really must protest," said Elizabeth desperately, following him. "Please do this. For me. As a wedding gift."

Norrington halted halfway up the stairs and turned to look at her hopefully. "Elizabeth," said the governor, coming up beside her. "Are you accepting the Commodore's proposal?"

Everyone eagerly waited for her answer. "I am," she said finally.

Melody tried to hide her scowl. Liar, she thought to herself. Wendy was pretending to smile happily.

"A wedding," said Jack excitedly. "I love weddings! Drinks all around!" Norrington glared at him. "I know," said Jack, and held his hands out, wrists together. "'Clap him in irons,' right?"

Norrington walked down the stairs, and Jack lowered his arms slowly. "Mr. Sparrow, you will accompany these fine men to the helm and provide us with a bearing to Isla de Muerta. You will then spend the rest of the voyage contemplating all possible meanings of the phrase 'silent as the grave.' Do I make myself clear?"

"Inescapably...clear." The two Navy men dragged him up to the helm, and Norrington focused his attention on Melody and Wendy.

"As for you two..." he began, and the girls prepared themselves for the worst.

"Commodore," said Elizabeth quickly, "These women are not part of Jack Sparrow's crew, they have lost their memories. They have been very kind to me, and I would appreciate you not locking them up."

Norrington studied her for a moment, then turned to Melody and Wendy. "Is this true?" he asked.

"Every word, sir," said Melody.

"We woke up behind Will's shop with no memories but our names," added Wendy. "We joined up with Captain Sparrow to avoid being hung."

He considered for a moment. "Very well," he said finally. "With your permission, Governor, I believe it would be all right to let them off with a warning."

Governor Swann looked surprised, then nodded. "I don't see why not." The girls sighed in relief. "But Commodore, I must question the wisdom of going after the pirates."

"With all due respect, Governor." Norrington stared at him. "Mr. Turner is a subject of the British Crown and therefore under my protection."

Governor Swann nodded. "Rightly so." There was a small stare-down between the two men, and then the governor glanced at Elizabeth. "Take care of her," he said, and went up the steps to the helm.

Norrington looked to Elizabeth. "Might I speak to you alone, Elizabeth?" he asked offering her his arm. She took it, and they walked away. Melody and Wendy, in order to give them some privacy, headed off.

"Well," said Wendy quietly as they headed for the bow, "that went well."

Melody snorted. "They don't know the truth about the pirates," she whispered. "Half these men, and maybe even us, are going to die because the don't know they're cursed."

Wendy frowned. "I meant that we got off with a warning."

The two of them stood in silence for a moment, worrying about the coming battle.

"If we do survive, what are we going to do when this is all over?" asked Melody. "We have no family that we know of, no money..."

"We could join Jack's crew," suggested Wendy.

Melody sighed. "The real life of a pirate isn't what the big screen portrays, Wen. It's very hard. Besides, how do we know we won't wake up at home when Jack shuts the compass?"

Wendy shrugged and leaned over the starboard side of the bow. "I wish I knew."

Night had fallen, and once again, they were sailing through the ship graveyard. Jack, Melody, and Wendy were silently looking off the starboard side of the Dauntless when Elizabeth, now wearing a red Navy uniform, approached Jack.

"You didn't tell them about the curse," she said, not looking at him.

"I noticed neither did you three," he said. "Same reason, I imagine."

"He wouldn't have risked it," said Elizabeth.

"Coulda gotten him drunk," Jack smiled, and Wendy giggled. Elizabeth looked at him. "Don't get me wrong, love. I admire a person who's willing to do whatever is necessary."

Elizabeth smiled slightly. "You're a smart man, Jack. But I don't entirely trust you."

Jack walked up to her. "Peas in a pod, darling," he said, pointing at himself and Elizabeth.

She stared at him, but then saw Norrington over his shoulder and looked away. Jack turned around, and Norrington tossed Jack his compass. "With me, Sparrow." Jack looked at Elizabeth once more before following the commodore to the longboats.

Elisabeth sighed. "I hope Will's all right," she said.

"Don't be silly, Lizzy," said Melody, with a kind smile. "He'll be fine."

Elizabeth looked at her. "Why do you call me that?"

"What, Lizzy?" She nodded. Melody shrugged. "I don't know, it's shorter. Why, should I stop?"

"No, it's fine, I was just curious."

Soon, the Navy returned, with orders from Norrington to lock up Elizabeth and her friends. But Elizabeth did not like that idea.

"Sorry, but it's for your own safety," said one of the soldiers, as he and his companion dragged her to the captain's quarters.

"I don't care what the Commodore ordered!" Elizabeth shouted. "I have to tell him! The pirates! They're cursed! They can't be killed!" She was shoved into the room with Melody and Wendy, who had gone without a fight.

"Don't worry, miss, he's already informed of that," said Lieutenant Gillette, as he prepared to close the doors. "A little mermaid flopped up on deck and told him the whole story." With a mocking smirk, he shut the doors.

"This is Jack Sparrow's doing!" she shouted through the glass. Frustrated, she turned around. After a moment, she began searching the room.

"What are you looking for?" asked Wendy.

"Bed sheets." She opened a drawer. "Ah!" She lifted out a neatly folded pile of linens and tossed them on the bed. She sat down and began to tie them together. "Are you going to help me or not?" she asked when the girls just stared at her. They looked at each other, shrugged, and began helping Elizabeth tie the knots.