"All right!" Jack called from his place at the helm. "Pull up anchor and release the sails!" The crew cheered as they carried out Jack's bidding, glad to be sailing again after the terrible storm. Moments later, the Pearl's dark sails had been released, and the ship began gliding out of the cove and into the sapphire Caribbean Sea. Jack grinned, feeling the fresh salt air run through his tangled hair as he steered the Pearl.
Maria was high up in the crow's nest, keeping look out for any ships or islands on the horizons.
"Anythin' up there, lass?" Gibbs called from the deck, tearing Maria away from her thoughts.
"Nothing but blue skies and seas!" Maria called back down.
"Good, that'll make my watch easier," Gibbs said. "Come down 'ere. Jack wants to talk to ya."
Maria nodded and climbed down, too tired to do anything fancy after last night's storm. "Did he say why?" she asked, and Gibbs shook his head before steadily making his way up to the crow's nest. Maria shrugged and darted over to the helm where Jack stood.
"Ah! There you are, luv!" Jack exclaimed as he saw her.
"Gibbs said you wanted to talk to me?" she enquired in a curious voice.
"Aye, well, it appears that it's come to the time to turn back to Port, it bein' the third sunrise in the morning." Mariana suddenly realised with a jolt that he was right; she had been away from home for almost three days. "As we agreed."
"Jack," Maria began, speaking carefully. She hardly knew where to begin, so she took a deep breath, and just said whatever she thought of. "I've really enjoyed these past days," Jack grinned at this comment, "and though I know I have to get home and let everyone know that I'm okay, I don't want to stay there forever. I love my family and my home, but now I've had time at sea, I don't think I could stay on land forever more. I love it out here, on the sea, on this ship, where no one cares who I am, what I dress like or how I act. Jack…you've set me free."
Jack smiled at Maria, the odd fatherly-like pride showing itself on his face again. "I'm glad you've enjoyed your time here, luv, and I'd be glad to have you as a part of my crew any day. But, as we agreed, I shall take you back to Port Royal, and you can see your parents again."
Maria had hardly gotten the words 'Thank you' out of her mouth when a strong wind blew up, bringing with it the scent of a storm.
Gibbs stared wide-eyed as the huge thundercloud that had not been there moments before loomed in front of him. "Damn freak weather," he muttered darkly under his breath before yelling at the top of his lungs "Thunder storm ahead!" The entire crew flocked to the prow, watching the power of the fast oncoming storm growing before their very eyes.
Jack stared at the cloud, frowning. Whether it had been created by fate, destiny or another curse, the storm struck him as being the most unnatural thing he had ever seen. "Tie everything on deck down! Secure anything and everything, including yourselves! I want five of you to go up there an' release those sails, but only if you know you can handle it!" Four of the crew answered Jack's calls and quickly began climbing the rigging. The rest ran around like headless chickens, tying everything in its place. Jack knew that he was pushing it with only five men attending the sails, but with four, there was little hope of getting it all done. He glanced over to Maria, and saw her looking at the oncoming storm, frozen in her place. He placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. "Do you think you could get up there an' help those men?" he asked in the most serious voice Maria had ever heard him use.
Maria thought for a moment, and then her expression turned to one of utter determination. She nodded. Jack nodded back, and Maria ran to the nearest part of the rigging and began to climb it with lightning speed. Her heart leapt into her throat as the first flash of lightning cut across the sky, immediately followed by a loud clap of thunder.
She reached the first sail that the other men had begun to release, and helped them pull the last few ropes, letting the dark material go from the top of it's bonds, leaving it to flutter like a huge flag. Maria signalled to the next sail, and she and the men made their way towards it as quickly as they possibly could.
Anamaria stood at the helm with Jack, the swelling waves already too strong for one man to be able to control the wheel. She gave Jack a worried glance, one that he shared. This storm was already much stronger than the one before, and the rain lashed down, making it almost impossible to see. Most of the crew had now tied themselves to the main mast on a safety line, and only the five up on the rigging remained unseen.
Minutes later, Maria swung through the rain on a rope, landing next to Anamaria and Jack.
"All of the sails are loose," she reported. "What now?"
"Now you tie yourself to the mast and ride it out," Jack said sternly, in a voice the Maria knew not to argue with. She nodded, and turned only to face a huge wave towering over the ship, about to sweep over the deck. It was the most terrifying thing that she had ever seen, and knowing that it was about to crash over her made it even worse. Jack saw it too, and reached out to grab Maria just before it swept over the ship.