Hey, everyone thanks a million for reading! It brings me joy to know people like my writing. By the way, keep information in mind that was mentioned briefly in earlier chapters… just in case you get confused during this chapter. So the note at the end of this last chapter is very important. And I did just say last chapter? Yep, so read the note, um, well, read the story first.
Chapter Ten: The End?
"God almighty." Gibbs breathed, his eyes widened at the sight he beheld. The kraken curled its thick tentacles tightly around the Pearl, cracking and snapping the beautiful structure. Swallowing hard, Gibbs realized his beloved captain and the sweet Miss Swann were dying as he watched from the safety of the lifeboat. He had tried to wait for them, or at least Miss Swann, but the crew had gotten antsy and restrained him as they rowed away, too afraid for their own skins to care for anyone else.
The kraken's roars ripping through the air and the sound of the Pearl's destruction were the only noises as the pirates watched their home and captain disappear. Everyone was in awe as they realized Jack Sparrow was finally caught, there was no escaping this. The rowing slowly picked back up as a heavy mournful silence fell over them.
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Will's hand itched towards his pocket, already feeling the cool metal in it. The chest sat in the sand waiting for him to reach for it. This was his chance, Jack was obviously distracted and Will wasn't sure how long that would last. So in one fluid motion he fell to his knees and grasped the chest tentatively. A steady beat vibrated through his hands, making him smile. Davy's heart really does lie within this chest. Pintel and Ragetti sat up from their collapsed positions, watching Will in curiosity. Will was oblivious to all around him as he began to withdraw the key from his pocket and placed it in the key hole preparing to unlock the chest, but stopped when he heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed.
"Mr. Turner. What a surprise." Beckett's voice was amused and sent a cold shiver down Will's spine. Will sighed and slowly retracted his fingers from around the chest and stood up, spinning around to face Beckett. Smirking Beckett, slide into a fighting poise, balancing his sword perfectly. Pintel and Ragetti ran up behind Will to help him if a fight were to break out. Beckett didn't notice the two pirates as his eyes fell to the chest. He smothered a gasp as he recognized the chest and the immense power that it held. He could control the seas with that chest, not to mention, it'd be a snap to kill Sparrow if he were to assume Davy's position. As for Elizabeth she wouldn't have a choice, she'd have to marry him if he were to own the seas. It all could be his.
"I see you didn't gather Sparrow's compass like you were instructed to." Beckett announced, trying to keep the atmosphere light and friendly, but made no move to put his sword away. Holding Will as a hostage was another great way to threaten Elizabeth into a marriage.
"Elizabeth is no longer in your hands. I owe you nothing." Will hissed glaring icily at Beckett. Will seethed as he set his eyes on the man who locked his fiancée away, and the way Beckett looked to the chest was making Will uneasy. Will's ostentatious possessive stance told Beckett that retrieving the chest wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. But what Beckett wants, Beckett gets.
"How about we settle this like civilized gentlemen." Beckett chuckled, slowly dropping his sword to his side, but not putting it completely away.
"I'm not the one with my sword out." Will whispered sternly. Beckett's fake smile wavered and he cast a desperate look to the chest that didn't go unnoticed by Will. The two realized they weren't suppose to be friends, but their hatred for each other was confusing, neither knew where it began or ended. But they knew it was there and they weren't going to ignore it.
Suddenly, Beckett lunged, piercing the air where Will had been standing, but Will had grabbed Pintel's sword from his sheath and jumped to the side, barely escaping Beckett's sharp sword. Will took off through the dense foliage, Beckett on his tail. The two whacked through the trees and swished their blades at each other's throats and jabbed at each other's stomachs.
"Why are you doing this!" Will yelled, throwing Beckett against a tree. Beckett turned and growled in frustration.
"That chest there, whether you know its importance or not, I will have it!" Beckett yelled jumping over an upturned tree.
Pintel and Ragetti listened to the sounds of males arguing and metal clashing. They exchanged surprised glances at the turn of events and then fixed their eyes on the chest that had caused the trouble. Pintel walked timidly up to the chest and glanced back at Ragetti who quietly stepped to Pintel's side. They exchanged a knowing glance, this chest was apparently very powerful and seeing as it was unguarded they decided to take advantaged of the moment. Pintel sunk to his knees, Ragetti crept up behind him, and turned the key slowly, hearing a light click and the lid flew open. There, sitting in the corner of the chest, was the bloody still-beating heart of Davy Jones. Pintel was struck with awe and watched it beat away before turning around to Ragetti and slamming the lid shut. The two gave each other excited glances and Ragetti grabbed one side of the chest while Pintel tugged at his coat awkwardly and shifted it to hide a suspicious shape.
"It would only be right for us to take temptation out of their way." Pintel reasoned grabbing one side of the chest. Deviously giggling the two hurried down the beach, the chest bouncing between them.
Will's sword flung through the air and slammed into a tree, the point embedded in the thick bark. Beckett smirked and inched closer to Will, readying himself to thrust his blade into Will's stomach. Just as the blade stabbed forward Will stumbled to the side and fell as Beckett's sword slipped from his hand and cluttered down a small hillside and disappeared in a patch of bushes. Will watched it fall in relief and detected movement where the chest resided and leapt up to check on the chest. Beckett growled and was about to tackle Will and kill him with his own hands when he noticed Will running towards the clearing they had just been. Before rushing after him Beckett tugged Will's sword out of the tree and slipped it in his sheath.
"No! It's gone!" Will seethed, where was the chest? Beckett glared at the empty spot where the chest had once sat.
"There!" Will shouted pointing to the two stumbling pirates stealing the chest. Will and Beckett hurried after them; their differences were set aside as they watched their treasure shrink in the distance.
Pintel and Ragetti heard Beckett and Will huffing after them and increased their speed. Rounding the corner they saw the Pearl's crew just making it to land in their lifeboat. Knowing Jack had been after the chest and not wanting to be caught stealing it they plastered fake smiles on their faces and Pintel and Ragetti sprinted forward to gallantly hand the sacred treasure to their brave captain. But Jack wasn't there. Instead as they examined the boat and shore for the captain they heard a sickening roar and turned to see the last of the Pearl being devoured by the devilish beast. Will and Beckett came to a stop as they witnessed the horrific scene as well.
Will began frantically searching for Elizabeth through the crew, but he couldn't find her. She couldn't… No. He pushed through everyone and spun in circles looking for her familiar golden hair.
"No…" Will breathed stumbling forward as if he was attempting to race out and rescue her from the monstrosity before him. He knew Elizabeth was on the ship. But there was nothing he could do but watch, taking in ragged, painful breaths to steady his breaking heart. Beckett watched in sweet vindication as Will fell to his knees in agony. Hearing a light rustle from behind, Beckett turned and watched his faithful crew emerge from the trees. He nodded his head to tell them to capture the crew of what was now a pile of broken wood and glass at the bottom of the kraken's stomach. Beckett took the moment to place his sword against Pintel's throat causing the pirate to drop his end of the chest, starting Ragetti into dropping his as well. Beckett gathered the chest in his arms and motioned for his crew and the captives back to his ship. The previous Pearl's crew made no attempt to escape they had nowhere to go and felt they had nothing better to do than head to the noose anyway.
Once the captives were ties securely to the Navy ship's main mast Beckett circled them slowly, taking in his success. The chest sat majestically on his desk and he couldn't wait to view the treasure that awaited him. Of course the heart was the best perk he received from this whole adventure. He'd make great use of it once something else was done. Bringing Elizabeth and Jack back to life to kill them slowly and painfully himself. In fact he had picked up a great captain to help him with this task. A captain who knew the waters of the end of the world.
Heavy boots stomped upstairs and onto the deck. The owner of the boots smiled, purely enjoying the sight of their victory. He walked around the captives and recognized each face. He sighed and reached for a green apple he had stored in his pocket and took a big bite.
"So tell me. What's become of my ship?" Barbasso turned to Gibbs and grinned wider, apple juice seeping through his scraggily beard.
Sorry to leave you with such a cliffhanger but there's a reason behind it. Here is the super important news, there's going to be a sequel! Woot! So stick around for another swashbuckling tale of our favorite witty pirate. Okay, I just wanted to let anyone reading this know my sequel has been started, it's called A Pirate's Legend, so go on and read away!