A/N: I realized after posting the previous chapter that I had forgotten to specify that the casualties of the battle with the Killer Rabbit consisted merely of Barbossa's other two new recruits; they, along with Arrow, were created for this story purely to be used as bunny fodder. Obviously, anyone familiar with Monty Python and the Holy Grail (in which three similar background knight characters were dispatched by their furry foe) might have figured that out, but it probably is worth mentioning anyway, just in case. :/

Once more, a massive "thank you" to all those who've reviewed.

Chapter Two: The Golden Hand Grenade

Captain Teague, Pirate Lord of Madagascar and Keeper of the Code, was more than willing to assist his son and Barbossa, albeit on one condition: the item they sought from him was so mighty that he must carry it himself, and therefore sail with Jack & Barbossa all the way back to Bimini. Jack & Barbossa, for their part, were more than willing to comply.

And so, it was that the pirates soon found themselves once again standing before Cueva de Conejo. This time, the entire crew of the Pearl had joined their two captains. Behind them stood Teague, along with his two wizened assistants, Morgan and Bartholemew, the original writers of the Pirate Codex, which they now carried between them. Accompanying them as well was the dog bearing the key by which to open the massive book.

Before them, they could see their fluffy white enemy, who had already finished the remains of the victims of their last encounter; its little pink nose twitched as it looked back at the returning intruders. This time, however, the pirates knew they had the upper hand, for they had now acquired the most effective weapon possible for dealing with this particular obstacle. Now Captain Teague stepped forward and handed the small box containing said weapon to Jack. He opened it to reveal the relic in all its glory: the Golden Hand Grenade of the Brethren, created during their first assembly, during which time it was blessed by the sea goddess Calypso, before the nine Pirate Lords bound her in human form.

The crew gathered around Jack, and marveled at the sacred missile. "How's it, um... How's it work?" asked Marty eventually. Jack frowned. "Good question." He knew what to do with a regular grenade, but the item he now held must surely require more to be done in order to achieve the desired result. Beside him, Cotton's parrot squawked: "'X' marks the spot!"

"He's right," said Barbossa. "We must consult the Codex," he continued, turning to Teague. Teague smiled in response, and said to his assistants, "If you will, gentlemen, the records of the first gathering of the Brethren, part six – 'The Blessing of the Golden Hand Grenade.'"

He pulled out his guitar and began to softly play as Morgan, after unlocking it and finding the section in question, recited.

"'And Captain Atilla, King of the Brethren presented the Grenade to a bound & gagged Calypso, saying, "O Calypso, queen of the sea and its creatures: though we be near the end of the ritual that will bind ye in yer bones, we ask that ye work yer remaining powers on this hand grenade, so that with it may we blow our enemies to tiny bits in yer honor." And though Calypso was furious, being now mortal she was forced to grant the King's wish on pain of death. And the rest of ceremony to bind her was then performed, and the Pirate Lords rejoiced, and they feasted upon lamb, and sloths, and carp, and anchovies, and orangutans, and breakfast cereals, and fruit bats —'"

Twang! One of the strings on Teague's guitar snapped as he glared at Morgan. "Skip a bit, mate," he growled irritably. The old man nodded nervously, and continued.

"'With the feasting over, and the Pirate Lords and their crews thoroughly full and pissed, they began to ask Captain Atilla just how to use the now blessed Hand Grenade, for they had been told that the instructions for its use had been planted in his head by Calypso as she blessed it. Captain Atilla's response is recorded here verbatim: "First, ye must light the Golden Fuse. Then, ye must count to three; no more, no less. (A pause as someone asks a question)...Yes, that's right, mate, three is the number ye must count (Another pause)...Aye, the number of the countin' must be three (Yet another pause)...No, ye drunken lout, ye musn't count to four (Still another pause)...No, ye musn't count to two either, unless ye then follow that up with three (A final pause)...No, ye bleedin' mongrel, five is right out! (A gunshot) Anyone else need a bullet in their heads to help them remember? No? Good.

"'"Now then, once the number three – bein' the third number been reached – then lob ye the Golden Hand Grenade of the Brethren towards yer foes, who, bein' naughty in Calypso's sight, shall snuff it."'" The old man closed the book as Teague said reverently, "So sayeth the Brethren."

"Right," Jack replied. His mind had wandered off a bit during the old man's rambling, but he felt he'd gotten the basic idea. Striking a match off one of his rings, he lit the Golden Fuse, cocked his arm back, and counted: "One...two...five!"

"Three, sir!" Murtogg shouted next to him.

"Three!" Jack corrected himself – his concentration must have been addled somewhat by Morgan's long-winded reading – before throwing the Golden Hand Grenade with all the strength he could muster. It landed inches away from the Killer Rabbit, but this was enough. In the wake of the fiery explosion, the pirates saw with relief that their lagomorph adversary was no more, and the way to the Fountain of Youth was clear – for now.

To Be Concluded...