Hey everyone…..I'm so sorry for the late update. My computer has a mind of its own and it crashes whenever it wants. I had to type this chapter up twice. Thank you so much for all the great reviews! This chapter is pretty long…hopefully it'll make up for the long update :)
Chapter 8
The air was still and the water was quiet as the Interceptor crept closer and closer towards the enemy. Smiling rather smugly, Lord Beckett stood at the helm with his hands closed behind his back.
"My Lord?" Norrington asked quietly, awaiting his orders.
"All hands on deck," Beckett replied, keeping his eyes glued on Jack from a distance.
Norrington relayed the order to the rest of the men before retaking his post by Beckett's side.
"Is there something humorous, Lord Beckett?" he asked, motioning the other man's sudden chuckle.
"Just that it will be nice to finally kill him," Beckett replied with a sinister smile as Norrington turned to stare at the Interceptor and its crew.
Across the water, the Interceptor inched towards the Royal navy fleet. The crew was ready at their stations as Gibbs took his place between Jack and Barbossa.
"Captain, orders," he whispered.
Both men turned and faced him, unsure as to whom he was asking. Laughing nervously, Gibbs fumbled with his fingers and his words, trying to figure out what to say. Sighing, Jack turned his body to fully face Barbossa.
"Hector, let's say for the time being that we bury the hatchet, savvy?" he asked, tipping his hat up slightly.
Barbossa pondered the idea for a moment before extending his hand.
"Aye, we have an accord," he said and they shook hands. "We can always go back to betraying and killing one another tomorrow."
"Don't forget marooning one another on Godforsaken spits of land," Jack reminded, causing the other Captain to grin widely.
"Aye, we can't forget that," Barbossa stated.
"As far as I can tell, we stand at 2-0 on that," Jack expressed, somewhat grumpily.
"Excuse me, Captains?" Gibbs said, capturing their attentions. "Orders?"
"Make ready the canons," Jack replied.
As Gibbs came to leave, Jack grabbed his arm, causing him to spin around.
"Do not forget what I told you," he stated quietly as Gibbs nodded and scurried off across the deck.
With that, Jack turned to his left and saw Elizabeth approaching him.
"What is it, luv?" he asked.
"Nothing," she replied, gazing ahead with a faraway look in her eyes.
"Elizabeth?" he said quietly, capturing her attention. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking about my father," she responded, her voice full of sadness and worry. "I just wish I knew he was alright. The last time I saw him, he had helped me escape Beckett."
Touching the side of her face, he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb.
"You love him very much, don't you?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," she replied simply before closing the distance between them. "Jack, I…."
"You what?" he asked with a serious look on his face when she had stopped talking.
Taking a deep breath, she tilted her face up and gazed into his soulful eyes. She felt weak at her knees by the intensity of his gaze and before the moment was lost, she decided to say what was on her mind.
"I love you," Elizabeth whispered.
His eyes widened slightly at her sudden revelation, but before he was able to respond, they heard a loud whistling noise from above their heads.
Looking into the sky, Barbossa turned towards the rest of the crew and shouted. "Take cover!"
Everyone looked up just in time to see a canon rushing towards them. Running for cover, they watched as the canon tore a portion of the deck into pieces. Aboard the Black Pearl, Will gazed out at the Interceptor as it was suddenly bombarded with several canons. A mixture of regret and satisfaction washed over his face as he looked at his father.
"Fire," he said quietly.
"William, please think about what you're doing. Elizabeth is on that ship," Bootstrap said, touching Will's arm. "So are the rest of the crew and Jack."
At Jack's name, Will's body tensed up and his eyes turned dark as he faced his father.
"Fire at the Interceptor," he said, more firmly than before.
Sighing softly, Bootstrap nodded and faced the crew dejectedly. "Fire."
Lighting the canons, the crew plugged their ears as another set of canons went flying at the Interceptor. Struggling to his feet, Jack pulled Elizabeth up before heading to the helm.
"Fire!" he shouted as Gibbs repeated the order.
The crew scurried around the deck before firing their canons at the enemy.
"Mr. Gibbs!" Jack exclaimed, looking through the crowd for his second in command.
"What is it Captain?" Gibbs asked, running to his Captain's side.
"Try to miss the Pearl," Jack stated, his voice almost pleading.
Smiling wryly, Gibbs nodded.
"Aye Sir," he replied before rushing towards Cotton.
"Fire!" Barbossa shouted roughly as they came to pass between the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl.
Their canons caused a little damage but the response they received from both sides was devastating. Gazing onto the Interceptor as it passed by, Will noticed Jack taking Elizabeth's hand and pulling her to safety. The small gesture released an angry scream from his throat and he turned to Bootstrap with a grave look in his eyes.
"Fire!" he shouted.
His father regretfully obeyed and the Black Pearl joined the Flying Dutchman in unleashing hell on the Interceptor once again. The ship rocked violently in the water, throwing everyone off their feet as a small portion of the mast came crashing down on the deck. As they scrambled to their feet, the Flying Dutchman and the Black Pearl had already turned around and attacked them again. Barbossa tried to steer the ship away, but the Black Pearl was the fastest ship in the water and quickly gained on them. As they bombed them from behind, Beckett's ship cut off their path in the front and sent a series of canons towards them. Brushing the debris off his jacket, Jack turned and faced Barbossa. The unspoken words exchanged between them through a single glance made Jack turn towards Tia Dalma. Walking across the deck and ducking from more flying debris, Jack stopped directly in front of her as Elizabeth watched them from afar.
"It's time," was all he said.
Looking up slowly to meet his eyes, a smile formed on her face as she released her grip on a set of ropes that were keeping her balanced on her feet.
"Yes," she agreed. "It is."
With that, Jack removed a small knife from his inner jacket pocket before taking her hand in his. They waited for a brief moment, both of their eyes cast on their joined fingers as if unsure whether they should take the next step.
"This may hurt a bit," he finally said in a quiet tone before cutting a thin line on both of her palms.
She winced slightly from the pain as another set of canons bombarded their ship. As the three ships began closing in on them, they formed a circle around the Interceptor. They continued releasing canons as they circled around them in the water, causing even more destruction than before.
"Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed over the loud crashing noises in the background, but he was unable to hear her.
Cutting both of his own palms, he clasped Tia Dalma's hands, allowing their bloods to mix with one another.
"What is he doing?" Elizabeth asked, facing Barbossa as he struggled to steer the vessel.
"Releasing Calypso," he replied as she faced them again.
Tia Dalma shut her eyes and leaned her face up to the sky as Jack pulled her in close.
"Calypso…," he whispered softly into her ear. "I release you."
The moment the words were spoken, a shot of light came from the clouds in the sky and struck their joined hands. Snapping her eyes open, Jack saw that the voodoo Priestess was gone and that the Goddess had returned. Squeezing her grip on his hands, she began taking his blood as he winced slightly from the pain, but managed to keep his feet planted firmly on the deck.
"Jack!" Elizabeth exclaimed and came to rush to his side, but Barbossa held her back with one free hand, the other gripping the wheel tightly. "Let me go! She's killing him!"
"He knows what he's doing," the Captain replied. "Only the Pirate King can release her through a blood exchange."
Elizabeth looked at him for a moment as realization dawned upon her.
"So that's why he wanted to be Pirate King," Elizabeth said, freeing herself from his tight grip. "It was so you could release Calypso, not to convince everyone to fight."
"There's no chance for us to win this war by ourselves, Miss Swann," Barbossa explained. "Jack and I both knew that. We just used the 'convincing everyone' speech as a mask to get one of us elected as Pirate King so we could release the only weapon we have that could help us win."
Looking back at Jack worriedly, she saw calypso raise his body into the air and hold him there for a minute before releasing his hands. Falling down onto the deck, Jack pushed himself away from her as Elizabeth ran to him. Pulling his body with her, they both looked forward as another ray of light shot through Calypso's body.
"Lord Beckett?" Norrington exclaimed, having seen what had just happened.
Beckett frowned slightly at the occurrence aboard the Interceptor just as another shot of light left the sea Goddess. Aboard the Flying Dutchman, Davy Jones gazed at their ship with a sad expression on his face.
"Calypso," he whispered as a tear streamed down his cheek. "My love."
A final ray of light shot through her body and she rose a few feet in the air, her entire being glowing brightly and her hair flying all around her. After another moment in the air, her body slowly landed back on the deck and the Goddess snapped her eyes open. The light quickly disappeared as a vengeful smile covered her lips. The smile vanished from Davy Jones' face as he angrily wiped the tear away.
"Fire!" he shouted in a fit of rage, ending the silence that had engulfed them.
As his crew quickly obeyed, Beckett's ship and the Black Pearl followed suit and began unleashing their canons once more. Rushing to his feet, Jack tore two pieces of cloth from his shirt and tied both of his hands before facing Elizabeth.
"Where are you going?" she asked him worriedly.
"Calypso should keep them busy for a bit," he replied. "It should give me the distraction I need to go after the chest."
"Be careful," she pleaded with him as he leaned in and kissed her.
"You know who I fear for right now?" he asked, leaning back. "All of Davy Jones' pirates you're going to slay shortly."
She smiled at him and the way he trusted that she could take care of herself. Kissing her once more, Jack rushed to the side of the ship and grabbed a rope before turning to face the Goddess. Raising her hands above her head, Calypso looked up at the sky and whispered something that only she could hear. The clouds suddenly turned dark and began closing in, followed by sudden lightning bolts that shot into the water. As the canons continued firing, pirates from the Dutchman boarded the Interceptor and vice versa, the same with the Black Pearl and Beckett's ship. Glancing back from the edge at Elizabeth, Jack smiled softly before swinging his body through the air and onto the Flying Dutchman. Landing on his feet, he let go of the rope just as a small movement in the water began growing and suddenly turned into a massive whirlpool within seconds.
Finding a gap between the Black Pearl and the Dutchman, Barbossa steered the Interceptor into the line of their circle as the four ships began trailing the outer edges of the whirlpool. The remainder of the British Royal Navy moved across the sides of the whirlpool and met the other pirate ships in combat.
"Fire!" Capitainne Chevalle exclaimed at the top of his lungs as his crew unleashed a set of canons at the first row of ships that were approaching them.
As the battle continued on every deck, canons shot through the air and rocked every ship, sending broken pieces of debris into the air and the sea. Ducking past a few swords, Jack rushed across the deck of the Flying Dutchman and secretly crept downstairs. Heading into Jones' personal quarters, Jack yanked the door open only to come face to face with Murtogg and Mullroy, the two British soldiers he had first met in Port Royal a couple years ago.
"What are you doing here?" Mullroy, the chubbier of the two soldiers asked as both aimed their weapons on him.
"And no lies!" Murtogg warned, his voice hardly threatening.
"You remember how well things went for us last time, don't you?" Mullroy said, facing his friend. "We asked Mr. Sparrow why he was in Port Royal and he said he had come to commandeer a ship."
"Uh, that's Captain Sparrow," Jack interrupted as both soldiers faced him again.
"What do you want this time?" Mullroy asked once more.
"No lies!" Murtogg repeated as both Jack and the other soldier faced him with frowns on their faces.
Shaking his head, Jack stared down at the chest which sat between the two soldiers before leaning his face up and smiling.
"I'm here for that," he said.
The two soldiers glanced down at the chest before turning back to Jack.
"Over our dead bodies!" Mullroy exclaimed.
"Listen mate, we can either argue and tussle back and forth and therefore waste what precious little time none of us have or you could simply give me the chest," Jack said in a single breath before smiling. "Personally, I prefer the less bloody of the two choices, savvy?"
The two soldiers seemed confused by his words and he smiled before grabbing hold of the chest.
"Always a pleasure," Jack expressed with a small salute.
"We'll shoot!" Murtogg exclaimed as both men triggered their weapons.
"No you won't," Jack said before walking backwards towards the door.
"Hey! Stop!" both soldiers shouted in unison.
Jack continued smiling and when he finally reached the door, he sprang outside with the chest. Sighing in frustration, the two soldiers rushed after him above deck and noticed for the first time the depth of the destruction occurring around them. Ducking away from a portion of the destroyed mast, Jack suddenly found himself face to face with Davy Jones.
"Just where do you think you're going?" he asked, his eyes lowered.
"Well, I thought I'd go and find a little twig and stab the life out of this pathetic little heart, savvy?" Jack said with a wide grin.
Releasing a beastly roar, Jones removed his sword and attacked Jack without a moment's delay. Grabbing his own sword, Jack fought back while holding the chest in his left hand.
"How do you plan to open the chest anyway?" Jones said as their swords clashed in the air and they stopped midway. "I have the key and I'm not about to hand it over to you, Sparrow."
Glancing at the chest for a moment and thinking, Jack turned back to Jones with an even wider grin.
"Trifles," he said, causing Jones to break their stance and attack him in a fit of anger.
Their fight moved across the entirety of the deck before reaching the edge of the Flying Dutchman, where Jones managed to knock Jack's sword out of his hand with one swift move, cornering him.
"Stop fighting it lad," Jones said proudly. "Just give me the chest and give yourself up to me."
"I'm not going back to the Locker, mate," Jack expressed.
"I know, you've been saying that," Jones remarked before breaking out in a wicked grin. "Are you afraid of the pain I'll put you through again?"
Jack remained silent and looked at the deck, painful memories flowing through his mind.
"Did you enjoy the pain?" Jones asked quietly, leaning slightly forward to intimidate his fellow Captain. "Did you enjoy the torture?"
Jack slowly leaned his gaze up, but remained quiet.
"How about all of the cuts and the wounds? The memories," Jones continued. "Seeing all of the things you wanted but could never have. Do you remember all of that, Jack?"
Another moment of silence passed by before Jack suddenly smiled, catching Jones off-guard and causing him to frown.
"As much as this trip down memory lane has been fun, I'll have to take my leave now," Jack stated before tricking Jones to the side.
Slipping under his arm, Jack quickly grabbed his sword and attacked his enemy. Pushing Jones away with a single thrust of his sword, Jack grabbed a rope with his free hand and turned back to the other Captain.
"Besides, your fate is looking more grim than mine, mate," he said with a smile before revealing the key to the chest and flaunting it in Jones' face.
Immediately feeling for his inner pocket, Jones snarled when he realized that Jack had secretly taken the key from him. Before he was able to respond, though, Jack sprung his body over the edge and swung himself through the air. Jones watched him for a moment before spinning around, an order on the tip of his tongue. What he saw however stopped him cold.
"Calypso…," he gasped as the Goddess stared at him blankly.
Flying through the air and escaping the canons, Jack landed feet first on Beckett's ship. Having seen him from the bow, Norrington made his way across the deck and immediately pointed his sword at him.
"Are you going to kill me?" Jack asked, slowly moving away towards the edge.
"Don't move," Norrington warned, keeping his sword at the pirate's throat.
"To think I actually once respected you," Jack began and shrugged his shoulders. "Too much rum that day, I suppose."
"You're under arrest, Sparrow," Norrington exclaimed and held his hand out. "Give me the chest."
"I can't mate," Jack replied softly. "Besides, you owe me."
"Owe you?" Norrington asked in disbelief. "What could I possibly owe you for?"
"When you stole the chest that day to better your own personal life, you set off a chain of events that have led us to where we are today," Jack said before his eyes darkened. "I partly blame you for what happened to me."
"If I recall correctly, it was Elizabeth who left you for dead," Norrington stated firmly.
"You see, I've had a great deal of time to think about all of this and I've reached a certain conclusion. She may have committed the actual deed, but your actions forced her to take hers," Jack responded before his voice lowered. "Jones is an evil, sadistic creature and what he does to you in the Locker is a fate no one deserves."
Norrington slightly lowered his sword, his opponent's words affecting him greatly and playing on the guilt he already secretly harbored.
"I may not be perfect, but you have a lot to atone for mate," Jack exclaimed.
"Don't listen to him," Beckett's voice suddenly came as he appeared with four other soldiers. "Hello Jack."
"Becky," Jack replied with a fake smile.
"You've got the chest…and the key," Beckett remarked, his hands clasped behind his back. "Admirable, but I'm afraid it's too late."
"It's never too late for me, mate," Jack replied, the smile reappearing on his face. "After all, I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
"I'm afraid that even your luck runs thin this time, Captain Sparrow," Beckett expressed with a wicked grin that made Jack stop in his tracks.
Back on the Interceptor, Elizabeth pushed a pirate aside and grabbed his sword before turning to fight a soldier and a pirate with two swords at the same time. Her hair tie had blown away and her long hair hanged loosely over her shoulders. Both men attacked her fiercely, the swords clashing in front of their chests. Before they engaged any further, however, the two men stopped and looked at one another. After a brief pause, they left Elizabeth and began fighting one another.
"Men," she said with a scoff before turning around to see Barbossa fighting three other pirates with one sword while handling the wheel with another and still cackling wildly.
Smiling and rolling her eyes, she turned her gaze and focused on Beckett's ship, where Jack was cornered by Beckett and Norrington.
"You will make an exchange with me Jack," Beckett stated. "You will give me the chest and turn yourself in to me."
Jack stared at the man in silence for a moment before breaking out in a fit of laughter.
"In exchange for what?" he asked in disbelief, holding the chest and the key closer to his body.
Smiling, Beckett took a single step forward.
"You see, that's always been you're weakness, Jack," he exclaimed.
"Do tell Becky," Jack stated sarcastically.
After pausing for a brief moment, Lord Beckett's smile returned. "You're a good man."
"All evidence to the contrary," Jack replied with a sly grin, causing Beckett to smirk.
"Oh, you are a good man, Jack. You can admit it," he continued. "After all, isn't that why Elizabeth Swann left her two fiancés James Norrington and Will Turner…both upstanding men, for you?"
Jack's gaze slightly faltered as he glanced around himself or a moment.
"Be there a point to your drabble?" he asked.
Nodding, Beckett motioned two soldiers with a wave of his hand to retrieve someone for him. The soldiers quickly rushed below deck and returned moments later pulling a prisoner with them. Removing his eyes from Beckett, Jack focused on the prisoner and what he saw made him stop cold. Standing before him was the former Governor of Port Royal, Elizabeth's father. His hands were bound in shackles and his wig had been removed. His face seemed slightly bruised as he stood with a defeated slump.
"Bugger," Jack mumbled quietly under his breath.
"Governor Swann?" Norrington exclaimed and came to rush to his aid, but the soldiers held him back. "Lord Beckett, what is the meaning of this?"
"The Governor still has his uses, James," Beckett exclaimed and turned back to Captain Sparrow. "You see, Jack, I have every intention of killing the Governor for his treachery and betrayal against the Crown. But I could overlook his sins and send him free to be with his daughter on one account and that price is you."
Jack looked over at the Governor who slowly raised his face to meet his.
"You're wasting your time, Cutler," Governor Swann expressed in a quiet voice, his eyes leaving Jack's. "He's a pirate and only cares for himself."
"That's where you're wrong, Weatherby," Beckett replied.
A moment of silence passed through them as Beckett faced Captain Sparrow.
"You love Elizabeth, don't you?" he continued as Jack and the Governor's eyes met once more. "Your silence speaks volumes. So tell me Jack…will you do nothing and let her father be slain? Could you live with yourself knowing that you could have saved him but didn't?"
Jack's eyes fell upon the deck as he carefully weighed his options.
"Do you think she'd ever forgive you?" Beckett continued, emphasizing his words to add more effect to them. "Do you think she'd ever look at you the same again?"
"Don't listen to him," Governor Swann suddenly said to Jack as everyone faced him. "I do not know what my daughter sees in you, but if it's true that you love her then do not do what he says. I trust Elizabeth's judgment…even if you are a pirate."
Sighing, Jack shook his head before smiling softly. He stared at the Governor for another minute as another canon rocked their ship. On the Flying Dutchman, Calypso and Jones gazed intently at one another.
"Where were you?" he demanded with a growl.
"Davy…," she began, but he grabbed her arms and pulled her in close.
"Where were you?" he snapped at her. "I came back for you and you weren't there! Look at me now! This hell that I live in is because of you! Where were you?"
"It's in my nature, Davy," she replied in sad regret.
Removing his grip from her arms, Jones looked away and let out a roar.
"But you took your vengeance," she said, the strength returning to her voice as he faced her. "You had me imprisoned in a mortal body for all these years."
"Your hell will never compare to mine!" he snapped angrily.
Gazing at him sadly, Calypso closed the distance between them and gently placed her hand upon his vacant chest where his heart used to reside.
"I can still feel it beating," she whispered as he softened beneath her touch. "It was such a heart."
They stayed close to one another for another long moment, taking in each other's scent before Calypso drew away from him.
"Stop this war, Davy," she stated, causing the icy wall to form around him again. "Don't do this."
"I own the ocean, Calypso," he replied and took a staggering step back. "I can do anything I want and no one can stop me, not even you!"
Sighing, she continued to gaze at him in silence.
Piercing her sword against another's pirate's chest, Elizabeth ducked past three swords and ran to the edge of the ship. Gazing out at Beckett's location, her eyes widened when she recognized the man in chains.
"Father!" she screamed aloud, her echo reverberating above all the noise.
Jack shuddered slightly by the shrillness of her voice. The Governor's eyes grew sad as he struggled to gaze at his daughter.
"Elizabeth!" he shouted, on the verge of tears.
"Father!" she screamed once more and fought off two pirates before facing them again and shouting his name repeatedly.
She came to grab a rope and swing herself towards them, but the distance was too far. From the Black Pearl, Will finished his duel and faced Beckett's ship, having heard Elizabeth's scream. Grabbing a rope from another pirate, he swung his body through the air before landing next to Norrington.
"Beckett, what is this?" he demanded impatiently. "Why is the Governor here?"
"It's just good business," Beckett replied before facing a quiet Captain Sparrow. "Right, Jack?"
Glancing back at Elizabeth, he saw the worry in her eyes from across the whirlpool as she gazed at her father. Turning back, his hand which held the chest slowly lowered. Smiling in victory, Beckett took the chest and the key and tossed it to another soldier. Slowly raising his hands behind him, Jack sighed as a soldier clasped his wrists in iron.
"No," the Governor pleaded weakly. "Don't do this."
"It's already done," Beckett replied, motioning another soldier to remove the chains from around Weatherby's wrists before turning towards a defeated Jack. "You must love her very much…giving your life for her happiness."
"What is going on here?" Will demanded, cutting in.
"Jack has agreed to exchange himself for the Governor's freedom," Beckett exclaimed smugly.
Will faced Jack in complete shock and surprise, unable to form any words to utter.
"You agreed…to his exchange?" Will asked in disbelief.
Glancing back once more at a worried and confused Elizabeth, Jack turned back to Will with a soft but sad smile. "How could I not?"
Breaking up the rare moment, a soldier rushed towards Beckett.
"We're badly damaged, Sir," the soldier exclaimed.
"How bad?" Beckett asked, his voice not showing a hint of worry.
"My Lord Beckett, we're sinking," the soldier replied, suddenly getting everyone's attention.
Before he responded, Beckett turned towards Jack and smiled, an idea forming in his mind.
"Evacuate everyone onto the Black Pearl," he ordered as the soldier rushed off.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Will demanded.
"Boarding your ship…or Jack's ship," Beckett replied before facing the Governor. "You're free to be with your daughter."
Muttering angry obscenities, the former Governor turned to face Jack. "Why?"
Jack simply stared at the older man sadly, his silence answering the question. Before he was able to say anything else, two soldiers ushered Weatherby Swann towards the ropes.
"What about Sparrow?" Norrington suddenly asked.
"He's none of your concern," Beckett replied firmly. "Go to the Pearl, James."
Sighing, Norrington followed the rest of the soldiers who had lived through their duels towards the ropes. Unsure of what to say, Will silently followed them. Taking her chance to reach her father, Elizabeth grabbed a rope and swung herself onto the Black Pearl. Running past Will and Norrington, she ran into her father's arms and embraced him warmly. On Beckett's ship, Cutler pushed Jack towards the mast and chained him tightly.
"It's just good business?" Jack asked and shook his head. "Do you know why Victoria never loved you?"
Beckett's smile disappeared at the mention of her name.
"Because you have no honor," he finished.
"No honor?" Beckett asked in surprise. "You're the pirate. She died because of you, Jack."
"No," Sparrow said sadly. "She died because of you, mate."
Beckett's anger began boiling through his veins as his cool demeanor slowly disappeared.
"Killing me won't bring her back," Jack continued.
"Nothing will bring her back!" Cutler snapped before punching Jack in the stomach, causing him to cough from the blow and slightly bend his knees.
Punching him once more, Beckett straightened himself and calmed down.
"But it will give me the satisfaction I long for," he stated.
Walking forward, Beckett's smile returned to his face.
"I win, Jack," he said with a wicked grin. "You lose."
With one final glance, he walked over to the edge of the ship and quickly disappeared. Glancing around himself, Jack noticed that all had abandoned Beckett's ship except for him. He stood chained to the mast, left standing all alone. As a series of waves rocked the sinking ship, a severe sense of déjà vu washed over him, the familiarity of the entire situation making him smile. On the Black Pearl, Elizabeth leaned back from her father's embrace with happy tears in her eyes.
"Father, I was so worried," she declared, a broad smile on her face.
"Elizabeth…," he began, but was unable to find the right words to say.
When he didn't speak further, Will slowly approached them.
"Elizabeth…," he exclaimed.
"Will," she said with a small smile on her face as she was happy to see that he was alright and had survived the battle so far.
Gone was the angry man who hated her, she realized. Instead, Will's eyes held certain sadness in them, one that she couldn't quite place.
"What is it?" she began as a small frown covered her face.
Looking around herself at the Occupants on the Black Pearl, she suddenly realized that the most important person was no where to be found.
"Where's Jack?" she asked.
When no one answered her, she turned back to her father.
"Father," she said firmly. "Where's Jack? He was aboard Beckett's ship with you."
"Jack Sparrow…," the older man began slowly.
"Captain Jack Sparrow," she corrected quietly.
Smiling sadly at her, Weatherby nodded. "Captain Jack Sparrow….he…."
"Father!" Elizabeth exclaimed impatiently, worry showing on her face. "Where's Jack?"
"Jack Sparrow has arrived at his fate," Beckett's voice suddenly came as he stepped in front of them.
Leaving her father's side, Elizabeth closed the distance between them.
"Where is he?" she demanded.
Smiling, Beckett motioned for his soldiers to place everyone under arrest.
"He traded his life for your father's freedom and now he's going exactly where he belongs," he said calmly. "Hell."
Immediately turning her attention to Beckett's ship, Elizabeth gasped when she saw him. The ship was well under water and Jack was struggling to free his hands.
"Jack!" she screamed his name, her voice louder than ever before.
Hearing her scream, Calypso turned her attention away from Davy Jones, her gaze shifting between Jack and Elizabeth on the two opposing vessels. From the sinking ship that was being pulled in deeper and deeper beneath the whirlpool, Jack leaned his gaze up to meet her eyes. Realizing what she was about to do, he shook his head at her.
"Don't," he pleaded with her.
Not caring about his warning, Elizabeth leapt forward to grab a rope but Will was quicker and he held her back.
"Elizabeth!" he said as she desperately tried to free herself. "Elizabeth, please!"
"No!" she screamed.
Jack watched her struggle and smiled sadly at her as the water surrounded his body. He kept his eyes planted firmly on her, not noticing how quickly the water was rising.
"Jack!" she cried out again as their gaze never wavered.
Widening his smile, Jack took a deep breath as his face suddenly went under water.
"No!" she screamed and finally pulled out of Will's grasp. "Get off of me!"
"Elizabeth…," he tried again, but her slap stopped him cold.
He touched his red cheek and gazed at her completely speechless.
"Don't you dare touch me," she snapped before running to the edge.
"Elizabeth, no!" her father exclaimed, running after her. "The storm!"
But she didn't care about the dangers that lied in her path. Jumping on top of the ledge, she took a deep breath and jumped off. Seeing this, Calypso quickly raised her hands to the sky and chanted a small verse. When Elizabeth's body finally touched the water, the sea was calm and the whirlpool had vanished. Everyone aboard the ships stood gazing over the edge at the calm water. It was as if the fighting had taken a time-out as everyone waited impatiently. Will stood dazed, for the first time fully understanding the depth of Elizabeth's love for Jack.
Beneath the water, Elizabeth saw Jack struggling and swam as fast as she could to him. The sunken ship had gotten caught on a reef and it kept the vessel from sinking any further. When she reached him, she pulled on the chains locking his wrists, but was unable to free him. Swimming in front of him, Elizabeth pulled his face to hers and kissed him, giving him some of her oxygen through her kiss. When she pulled back, their eyes locked and he smiled at her through the water, mouthing 'I love you'. Elizabeth's eyes widened and she smiled back at him. Leaning in, she kissed him once more, this time more passionately while caressing his cheeks. Quickly remembering their situation, she tore herself away from him and began swimming to the surface. He tipped his face up and watched her swim, the sad smile still on his face as he watched her reach the top.
"Elizabeth!" her father shouted happily when he saw her.
"Give me a sword!" she shouted back, struggling to catch her breath. "A knife! Anything! Hurry!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Norrington grabbed a small axe lying next to a dead pirate on the deck and tossed it into the water near her.
"Stop him!" Beckett snapped at two nearby soldiers, but he had already tossed it to her.
Grabbing the axe, Elizabeth took another deep breath and dove underneath the surface once more.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Beckett asked angrily, facing Norrington.
"Atoning for my past sins," he replied firmly.
Nodding, Beckett faced the two soldiers. "Place Mr. Norrington under arrest for aiding pirates against the Crown."
The men did as they were told and Norrington did not struggle against them. Under the water, Elizabeth finally reached Jack from behind and tried her hardest to cut the chains loose, focusing her entire attention on the task at hand. When she finally succeeded, Elizabeth swam in front of him happily and froze in her tracks. Jack's eyes were closed and he wasn't moving. Shaking him lightly, she received no response and shouted his name under water. Acting quickly, she pulled his body under her arm and began swimming up to the surface. Swimming for two people was incredibly difficult and it took her a bit to reach the top. When they finally surfaced, Gibbs and Barbossa, who had swung themselves onto the Black Pearl the second time she had gone under water, tossed them a line.
"Soldier, arrest those men!" Beckett ordered, but everyone had frozen and they were watching the scene before them.
Grabbing onto the line, Elizabeth held onto Jack tightly as they pulled them up onto the deck. Clearing the hair from Jack's motionless face, Elizabeth shook him several times as he lied on his back, his body unmoving.
"Jack…," she whispered, shock written all over her face as she shook him once more.
Everyone began crowding around them in silence, forming a small circle as Elizabeth's jaw dropped slightly and fresh tears mixed with the wetness on her face.
"Jack…," she choked his name out, on the verge of breaking down as Calypso suddenly appeared on the deck before them.
She gazed down at them along with everyone else for a long moment, taking everything in. As Elizabeth's lips began quivering, the tears began falling faster down her cheeks.
"Jack…," she suddenly cried and shook her head when he didn't move. "No. Oh God, no. Oh Jack, please."
Touching his face, she gently caressed his cheeks as her hair fell onto his still face and her tears dropped down on him.
"Baby, please…," she pleaded with him.
When he didn't respond, Elizabeth closed her eyes and screamed out in pain. Will and Norrington both gazed at her sadly as she pulled Jack's dead body onto her lap and embraced him tightly. Burying her face in the crook of his neck, Elizabeth broke down in hysterical tears, her cries the only sound in the calm sea.