Chapter 17

The rickety old ship was anchored at the port in front of the town. Looking at it, It was a feat for it to actually float. The Damsel had seen many fights and apparently was not taken care of at all. To give the crew of the Black Pearl this vessel to sail on the dangerous waters to Singapore seemed to have been a mercy killing for it.

"This is a junk." Will said

"I'd say it's more of a sloop with how its bow was designed." Barbossa said

"No, it's an actual junk. It's amazing this still floats." Will said

"You sure this is it?" Ragetti asked Pintel.

"He said third dock, last boat." Pintel shrugged. Ragetti looked away for a moment before looking back at his friend.

"But what about the third dock from the other side?" he asked. The two continued back and forth while the others walked toward the ship. Gibbs leaned on a barrel to get a glimpse of the aft end, to see the name.

"The Damsel." Gibbs read, "Aye, this is her." Some of the letters had fallen off, making it appear as 'T e Dam el', but there were still imprint on the wood of what was once marked. Gibbs walked toward the gangplank, realizing he was behind in the group. He climbed aboard while everybody was looking over the ship.

"How goes things?" he asked

"Tattered sails. We might not be able to make it to Singapore." Elizabeth said, looking up at the masts. Barbossa ran his hand along the wood railing. He walked up the squeaking stairs to the helm. He grabbed it firmly and turned it a few times. Pintel and Ragetti came up from below.

"She's leaking!" Pintel said, "She's leaking buckets!"

"We'll have to get the water out while we sail, or we'll sink." Ragetti said

"She'll be fine for one more trip." Barbossa said calmly. He stared at the horizon. The sun was rising. He walked down to Gibbs.

"Pray that we'll not have a confrontation with Jones or the East India Trading Company. Make ready to sail soon." he said, walking toward the gangplank.

"Where are you going?" Gibbs asked

"To find that Sparrow who was supposed to journey with us." Barbossa said, walking down the gangplank to the dock. Everybody stopped what they were doing to watch Barbossa leave.

"You heard him, make ready and load supplies! We'll need food, gunpowder and cannonballs!" Gibbs commanded. Everybody went back to work shortly after.

Barbossa walked the path to the cemetery, not finding Jewel in any of the taverns and pubs he had passed. He pushed away the bushes to see the girl in front of her mothers grave... But there was nothing there. Thunder cracked overhead as a dark cloud moved over Tortuga.

He hurried back down the path through the town, visiting as many pubs and taverns as he can, searching for the one pirate girl. He stopped and sighed, rain drizzling down. In a matter of seconds, the rain was pouring. Standing in the entrance for a tavern, Barbossa paused to think and retrace his steps mentally. Apparently she wasn't in the town. She wasn't at Rose's grave either. He had searched the interior, but what about the beaches?

He took in a breath and walked to the beach. There, in the sand, he spotted somethings that were quickly vanishing with every drop of rain. He followed the fading footprints quickly. However, they had all vanished after a few feet of running. Barbossa continued in the direction they pointed in though.

He reached a cave. Carved out of the earth by time and weather, it was a large hole in a wall of rock. Barbossa walked inside, keeping to the edge, his hand on the wall. The darkness was consuming. The only clear glimpses he had at the cave floor was when a flash of lightning would dart across the sky.

"Sparrow?" he called out, "Sparrow, are you here?" A few stones fell into a pool of water. Barbossa turned in the direction they fell. Nothing. Just blackness. A light appeared just behind him.

"Barbossa?" Jewel asked, holding a torch. "What are you doing here?"

"The question would be one shared amongst us." Barbossa said, stepping carefully to reach her.

"I needed to get a few things before we left." Jewel said. She grabbed his arm and led him onward. His hand brushed against something carved into the wall, but he couldn't see it. Jewel led Barbossa down some steps and into a large cavern. Barbossa was amazed at the sight. Rows and rows of weapons of every kind and nature. Swords, muskets, scythes, axes, daggers, blunderbuss', it seemed like every weapon ever made was stored here.

"This is where she kept her prizes then?" Barbossa asked

"Yeah. The ships and cargo she sold for quite handsome prices, but mom loved seeing new weaponry and taking it." Jewel said. "She had a thought that if she had something that could kill her, and learn how to use it effectively, then she would figure out how to live if the weapon was turned against her."

"Wise thoughts from a pirate who's ship was named 'Blood Garden'." Barbossa said

"The name was fitting considering her name was Rose." Jewel replied. Barbossa looked at her. Somethings were different. Her right sleeve was cut off to show the rest of her kraken tattoo. The yellowed sash around her waist was replaced by red, green, and yellow patterned one. Her pants were changed, with her wearing a pair of dark navy blues instead of a brown pair. Her bandana was tied around her upper left arm, while a strip of cloth was tied to her right wrist. And there, hanging off her right ear, was a small gold ring. Barbossa smirked.

"Amazing what happens after one night." he commented

"I felt it was time for a change," Jewel shrugged, she put a hand to her earring, "And... I've always wanted one."

"And Jack never let you have one?" Barbossa asked

"For a man who told me to get a tattoo when I was five, he did not want me to poke a hole in my ear when I was fifteen." Jewel said

"Happy Birthday." Barbossa said

"What?" Jewel asked

"Your birthday. It passed while we were on the island. Or on Darny's ship, I can't exactly recall." Barbossa said

"Oh. I forgot about it. It's funny a few months ago I was excited for it, to spend it with my dad," Jewel said, sadness coming over her. her birthday was going to be the first in a long time that she would have spent with her father.

"Why are you here?" Barbossa said, drawing her attention away from what she was thinking of.

"We could use these." Jewel said as she reached into her bottomless bag, pulling out a hand cannon, "I think this would be of more use to Marty, it packs a punch. And I've got more swords and pistols, and..." She pulled out a pair with an intricate design of the sea waves on the butts, "these are staying with me."

"Are those the-" Barbossa started

"The pistols that never ran out of shots?" Jewel said, "Aye. That's why I'm keeping them." She pulled out a sword, a small broadsword that was a few inches longer than a cutlass. She sighed when she saw it.

"You can use this." she said, handing it to Barbossa. He raised his eyebrows and wrapped his fingers around the hilt.

"Sure about that?" he asked. They looked at each other, Jewel smiled.

"Yeah. You'll take care of it." she said, letting go of it. Barbossa held it up.

"We're shoving off soon." he said. Jewel nodded and led the way through the cave.

"Is the Damsel still floating?" she asked while they walked

"Barely. It's bound for her final stop will be Singapore." Barbossa said

"I'm sorry about what happened with me and the twins. I was younger, I didn't know any better," Jewel said

"Suc and action might have made your father proud." Barbossa commented. They stood outside the cave and watched the sunrise over the calmed waters. The two were standing next to each other, close to each other. Jewel leaned on Barbossa and rubbed at her arms, feeling a cold wind blow.

"I... I trust you Barbo... Captain Barbossa." Jewel said. He looked down at her and smiled. His gaze returned to the horizon while his arm reached around Jewel's shoulders to hold onto her.

"And I trust you," he said, "Jewel Sparrow."