Kraken and mortality

It didn't take them long to find an island. Before heading there, they had to decide which of them would go. Percy found it amusing when both Barbossa and Sparrow were unwilling to leave the ship to the other one. Will Turner told them both to go and leave him in charge – temporarily. The compromise was good enough for both, so it was agreed. Pintel and Ragetti were going too. Percy decided to join them.

"Now that's what I'd call a giant squid," Percy said when he saw the dead Kraken on the beach.

He watched as Pintel and Ragetti began to carefully poke the carcass with sticks.

"Take that you stupid fish," Percy heard one of them saying, only to be corrected by the other, that it's actually a cephalopod. Once they began to discuss how to turn the Kraken into business, however, Percy was so irritated at such disrespect on the deceased sea creature that both Pintel and Ragetti ended up soaking wet.

"You know, the problem of being the last of anything is that there'll be anyone left at all." Barbossa was saying.

"Sometimes things come back, mate," Jack replied. "We're living proof, you and me."

Percy frowned at that. "I suppose neither of you was never truly dead."

Jack frowned at that. "What do you mean, truly dead?" he asked. "I know I shoot a bullet on Barbossa's head and he was NOT under that curse."

"What curse?"

They explained about the cursed coins in Isla de Muerta, and how they were cursed so that anyone who stole one would be practically immortal. In a way that only moonlight showed them their true state as skeletons, and how one simply could not taste or enjoy – that no food or drink would satisfy them. The curse was lifted by returning all 882 coins and paying the price of blood.

"Were you under the curse as well?" Percy asked Jack.

"Only for a few minutes," Jack replied. "For tactical reasons."

"Did you check Barbossa for life signs after you shoot him?" Percy asked.

"No. I was rather busy with other things." Jack shrugged. "You mean he was merely knocked out?"

"Something like that. I suppose Tia Alma healed you?" Percy said.

"Yes," Barbossa replied. "Except she said she brought me back from death."

"Near-death more likely," Percy replied. "So what was your story?" he asked Jack.

"That took me to Davy Jones' locker," Jack replied, pointing at the carcass. "Along with my ship."

"We went for him," Barbossa added. "We only returned a few hours ago. Of course, getting out was much more difficult than getting in."

"That goes without saying," Percy shrugged. Then he told them about his own first journey to the Underworld.

"Who did you leave behind?" Jack asked when Percy got to the leaving part.

"My mother," Percy replied. "Uncle H wasn't expecting that at all." He continued the story of getting out, battling Ares for the Helmet of Darkness, which he then handed over to Alecto. He finished with the way he had returned the lightning bolt.

The others were polite enough to let him finish, but once he had their first question had to do with ability to fly.

"Dad did tell you I'm about two centuries to the future, remember?" Percy told Jack. "In my time—well, these things called planes fly. It's rather commonplace to board one for fast travel, though it does cost more than other methods. And I usually wouldn't go anyway, 'cause Uncle Z would blast me down."

"But he didn't blast ye?" Barbossa put in.

"And risk his own master bolt? Course not." Percy shrugged. "There was turbulence, though. Anyway, my mother was returned – as soon as Uncle H got his helmet back so in the end we all got out… I suppose you weren't dead either, Jack – just taken like my mother."

"Yer mother was returned, then?" Jack asked, hoping to cheer them all up.

"For now," Percy said sadly. "I know she'll one day go to the Underworld – permanently."

"I dunno," Jack tried to cheer him up. "Maybe ye'll find the Fountain of Youth or something."

"So… do you want to eat the Giant Squid or shall we feed it to the fish?" Percy asked. "Either way, but it will not be left on land."

"We'll eat it," Jack decided. "Won't say no to free food, will we? Pintel, Ragetti, chop this up and back it for the ship."

"Why would ye be insisting on not leaving it behind?" Barbossa asked as the three walked off the beach.

"It belongs to the sea," Percy said, as if that explained everything.

"Son of the Sea God," Jack agreed with a grin.

Barbossa didn't get it – this was again more to the religious side, which was not his strong suit. Even if he had been brought to life by an immortal. No, he knew more of things like fighting, pillaging and plundering like a dread pirate he was. But, he agreed with Jack about the free food part. Later they did find a fresh water spring, but it was not drinkable. There was a dead body of a Chinese man in it. Just then then they were informed of another ship's arrival.