A/N: You know, I feel more like I'm reading this story than writing it. I keep thinking that I'm waiting for an update and then I realize I'm waiting on myself. I want to know what happens next just as much as you guys. Well, here it is.

Slayers and Curses

By: Embarr

Chapter 4: Bring on the Baddies…

Buffy was slowly walking back to the mansion in defeat, feeling that her morning mission had been mercilessly squashed, when the sense of foreboding swept over her. She froze, looking around at her surroundings. Nothing seemed amiss however. A stronger feeling then hit her, exploding in the air. Buffy staggered with momentary dizziness. She closed her eyes to fight away the vertigo and steadied herself on a branch protruding over the path she was on. Buffy listened patiently to her surroundings as she recovered; trying to sense what had caused such a severe reaction.

The wind had changed.

Buffy frowned at this. Sudden changes in the weather never meant anything good and this one had a supernatural feel about it. She realized with a surge of ire that this was probably what the unknown "higher power" had meant for her to face. And, like she usually did, she was going to face it. So much for screwing with her own fate.

"Bring on the baddies," she mumbled grumpily and headed back towards town.

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She reached town in time to hear gunshots. Buffy swore under her breathe. Was the big bad already making trouble? She realized with annoyance that she'd left all her new weapons up at the mansion. There was no way she was facing an unknown threat without something. She glanced around, looking for anything she could use and quickly caught sight of the blacksmith's sign up ahead. She bolted for the door and practically bulldozed it down in her haste. Buffy paused for a moment once she was inside but found it empty save for a sleeping Mr. Brown. She spared a disgusted glance towards the old blacksmith before heading towards the nearest display of swords. Buffy took the first one that her eyes landed on, testing it in her hand.

It would have to do, she thought. She just had to kill this baddy and then get it back before it was missed. Will would understand if he caught her and she doubted Mr. Brown would even notice. Buffy hurried to the rack of daggers to grab a few. Before she had time, however, someone came hurriedly through the same door she'd stormed through just moments before. She looked desperately around for a hiding place and finally ducked behind the forge.

She listened carefully, picking up the sound of boots scuffing across the floor and the clinking of metal. Something was set down and when she heard what sounded like a bottle falling to the ground, Buffy chanced a peek.

The sight of Jack Sparrow creeping carefully up to Mr. Brown met her sight. Buffy rolled her eyes when he yelled, trying to wake the drunken man. When he walked off Buffy finally noticed the chains holding his hands together. Buffy suppressed a groan. He was who they were shooting at. She should have known, seeing as her ears hadn't picked up any frantic screaming. She contemplated just letting him go. He wasn't her problem after all, and the military could take care of their own issues without her. He was trespassing on a friend's workplace though and, ignoring the annoying thought that she was doing just the same, she stepped out.

"You don't waste any time getting in trouble, do you?" The sword dangled leisurely at her side as she jumped down from her hiding place. She smirked as Jack jumped in surprise and hastily pulled out his sword. When he finally saw her though, a grin played on his lips. He lowered the sword but didn't put it away.

"We meet again, Miss Summers." Buffy raised the sword higher and moved closer to the pirate. He eyed it questioningly but didn't seem worried.

"You know, this is only the second time I've met you but you're really starting to get on my nerves."

"Aren't you a little pretty to be handling a weapon like that?" Jack looked pointedly at the sword which was now aimed at him and getting closer.

"Don't let the skirt fool ya. I know what I'm doing."

"Do you now," Jack gave her a once over, his eyes lingering a little longer than necessary on her assets. "Then it isn't rightly fair that I'm in shackles, eh?"

"You're a pirate. I think that evens it up." Jack smirked.

"You doubt your own abilities with a sword?"

"No."

"Then prove it." His words were seductive to her senses, enticing her to a challenge which she was finding hard to resist. She considered the pirate in front of her; saw the playful challenge on his lips and intensity of his fiery eyes. Buffy found the edges of her mouth curling upwards and a responding flicker flit through her hazel(?) green eyes. Jack took this positive response as a cue and quickly sprang into action. Buffy watched him carefully, sword still raised, as he picked up a heated piece of metal and headed towards the donkey attached to the machine. When he headed towards the moving wheels, Buffy noticed what he was doing and couldn't help feeling impressed at the intelligence of his actions. He quickly snapped the metal links and when he turned to give her a satisfactory smile, a smile came unwillingly to Buffy's lips. Jack unsheathed his sword then and came to stand before her. They stared at each other for a moment, both their swords raised and waiting for the other to make a move.

"Ready whenever you are darlin'." Buffy's gaze hardened as Jack smirked at her and she moved forward with a quick blow to the pirate's side. He blocked it though and the move brought them closer. She saw the smirk on Jack's face broaden into an amused grin and frowned slightly at it.

"You seem to know what you're doing." Buffy opened her mouth to retort, but the sound of the door interrupted her. Slayer and pirate froze for a moment and then each darted for a hiding place. They had both dove for the same cover however and Buffy found herself uncomfortably wedged into the space behind the forge along with Jack. A large, calloused hand clamped over her mouth when she grumbled a complaint and she promptly bit it despite the disgust it caused her. Jack let out a muffled grunt and then froze as he heard the person shift towards their hiding place.

"Who's there?" Buffy's eyes widened in recognition of the voice and she moved towards the opening of their hiding spot. Before she could though, Jack grabbed her and brought his sword up to press against her neck.

"Sorry love," he mumbled softly against her ear as he pushed her forward with him, out into the open. Buffy didn't believe him. He was a pirate and he would do whatever necessary to get the job done. She found she couldn't blame him.

"Buffy!" Will looked at them with surprise and worry as he noticed the sword threatening Buffy.

"Hey Will," she said feebly. Her eyes watched the sword at her throat warily but she didn't feel afraid. Will's gaze was poisonous as he looked at Jack and she felt a laugh rumble from Jack's chest, pressed to her back as he held her securely.

"You've got yourself a strapping young man there, Buffy. Is he willing to fight for you, I wonder?" Buffy grumbled an insult under her breath, which went unnoticed.

"You're the one they're hunting; the pirate."

"You seem somewhat familiar. Have I threatened you before?" Buffy rolled her eyes at the question, feeling slightly bored at the conversation going on as she patiently waited in Jack's grasp. Were these guys all talk and no action?

"I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates," Will said scathingly. At this point, Jack began slowly backing up, taking Buffy with him.

"Then it would be a shame to put a black mark on your record. If you'll excuse me, the girl and I have somewhere to be." Jack continued backing up towards the door. Buffy groaned as Will grabbed for a sword, pointing it towards her and Jack. Jack paused.

"Do you think this wise, boy? I'd hate to see such a pretty thing hurt because of your foolishness." Buffy couldn't help agreeing with Jack on the fact that Will was being foolish. She didn't worry for herself since she had the inkling that Jack didn't want to hurt her and would be able to even if he did. Buffy admired her friend's bravery, but silently swore at what he was doing.

"You threatened Miss Swann and you now threaten my friend. I won't let you leave here."

"You threatened Elizabeth," Buffy questioned Jack angrily. Her eyes sparked with the annoyance and anger she felt.

"Only a little." She could hear the smirk in Jack's voice, which only grated on her nerves. Will looked angrier than before as he stepped forward, sword raised. He had no chance to do anything though, as in a split second Buffy had shoved Jack's sword hand down and flipped him in one fluid movement. The pirate grunted in surprise and pain from his hard collision, while Will stared at the scene in bemusement. Buffy stood there, hands on hips and a scowl on her face.

"No one messes with my friends." Jack grimaced as he sat up slowly, rubbing the sore spot on the small of his back. Will had a sword to his throat before he could look up. Jack looked at Buffy with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

"Where did you learn a move like that?" Buffy only gave him a strained smile in response. They fell into an air of silence at that moment as Jack eyed both her and Will carefully and Will's gaze switched between his captive and Buffy. Buffy just stood their trying to avoid their looks. The shuffle of feet brought an awake and slightly sober Mr. Brown to their attention before the door behind them was violently opened and soldiers came flooding in. They gathered themselves around the group in the center of the room, guns trained on Jack who just looked at them gloomily. Norrington followed the procession with a satisfied smirk on his face.

"Well, I trust you will remember this as the day that Captain Jack Sparrow almost escaped." Jack gave him a pitiful glower. Norrington ignored the look and gestured to his men. "Take him away."

Buffy watched as they roughly led the pirate out of the building, holding each of his arms tightly while several guns remained trained on his back. Commodore Norrington turned to them all, satisfied smile still on his lips. His gaze landed on Will as he spoke.

"Well done, Mr. Turner. You've assisted in the capture of a dangerous fugitive." Will didn't say anything, just moved to place his sword back in it's holder on the wall. Buffy kept her eyes glued on the spot Jack had disappeared from but snorted at Norrington's comment. When she looked up, Norrington was staring at her. She feigned innocence and the man soon removed his gaze from her. He left quickly with not so much as a curt bow and they were once again drowned in silence.

"Are you all right, Buffy?" Buffy shrugged.

"Yeah, just a little tense at the moment." She hadn't gotten to finish her fight with Jack the way she'd wanted. Her energy that had been coiling up since her arrival here was about ready to explode and she found herself looking forward to whatever big bad was to come; so long as she could vent a little.

"I take it that your objective this morning went unsuccessful?"

"Yep."

"Perhaps that is fates' way of telling you to wait."

"It would seem so… I'll talk to you later, Will."

"Good day, Buffy." She quickly left after replacing the sword she had dropped. It was well into the afternoon outside, she noticed. This was good, she thought. Night was almost there and she hoped it brought her a good fight.

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The next time Buffy left the Governor's mansion was under the concealment of night. She no longer wore a dress, as she was patrolling and trousers and boots were better apparel (though hardly an improvement in fashion), and her weapons were skillfully hidden on her person save for the sword strapped to her back. She had attempted hanging it from her waist, but the constant slapping against her thigh was too much noise for her. Now she crept quickly down to the town, hoping to find something worth fighting. The tension in her muscles from the unfinished fight of the morning was at its' boiling point.

Buffy reached the town in mere minutes. The streets were still full of the nightly crowd, those who spent the evening in the pub and wandering the streets with their companions after a long night of drinks and laughter. She kept to the shadows and avoided all the main streets. Her movement took her near the docks and she stopped for a moment to take in the night. It was very dark. Mist clung to the air around her and clouds hid the moon. It was nights like this she didn't like very much. They always screamed evil. Buffy inhaled the cool, damp air slowly. Her senses stretched out as she closed her eyes for a split moment. A chilling feeling washed over her and she opened her eyes again. She looked carefully out at the waters. Something stirred and she moved closer. She then saw an outline of something large creeping up and when her mind finally identified what it was the realization came with a whistle of cannon fire. She jumped at the crash and rushed to the edge of the shore. More cannon fire came and she saw the black ship illuminated with each explosion.

She realized she could do nothing about the cannons, but when her eyes caught sight of boats loading up beside the ship her gaze hardened. They started moving towards the shore and Buffy stood there waiting for them, sword drawn and dagger out. The pirates came from the boats in a rush and a waft of evil came with them. Buffy's eyes narrowed. They seemed human but looks were deceiving; she'd learned that a long time ago. She sprung into action and it wasn't until she was nearly upon them that they noticed the charging slayer. One pirate gave her a nasty smirk and lunged with his sword. He was sloppy though and she soon finished him off with a wound to the heart. He fell and she continued on to the next dirt-encrusted man.

This is too easy, she thought. The pirates were easily dropping under her sword and the pirates that weren't directly in her path were passing her by as if she posed no threat. She paused for a moment when there weren't any pirates coming at her and the scene behind her left her confused and anxious. The bodies of the supposed dead pirates were no longer where she'd left them and the town was being pillaged despite her attempts at prevention. Her legs carried her quickly to the town where she saw settlers screaming and some of the men fighting. She thought she caught sight of Will in there somewhere, sword brandished, but she could be sure in the confusion. She stepped forward to the pirate closest to her, a massive fellow with a shaven head. He had his back to her as he cornered a woman and Buffy promptly pounced, and chopped off his head. A weapon to the heart was ineffective, she thought, perhaps decapitation worked. The woman screamed at the display of violence and gore and ran off. Buffy just looked down at the pirate patiently looking for any sign of life.

There was to her dismay. The head started yelling obscenities and the body was clumsily trying to get up and retrieve its' head. Buffy grimaced at the nearly comical sight. Apparently she was dealing with some zombie of sorts. Her thoughts went back to her first dealings with similar creatures and what had caused the entire ordeal. If this was a similar situation, then the unnatural lives of these pirates was connected to some object like the mask her mother had hung in their home. A pang of home-sickness pierced through her at the thought of home and her family. For a moment she forgot about the fight around her, which she'd later be cursing herself out for.

Buffy was jolted out of her reverie though when a scream penetrated the gloomy cloud around her and she spun around to see another building explode and a woman in a nightgown being chased in her direction. Buffy let out a breath she had been holding and ran forward into the chaos. She may not be able to kill them right off, she thought, but slowing them down was a definite option.

A/N: There it is I suppose. Sorry to those who liked the fight scene between Jack and Will. I didn't want to cut it out myself, but Buffy insisted that she be in that scene somehow. Don't forget to review 'cause I'm loving the reviews I'm getting.