AN: Hello again! Look, I've updated after only a week! That's a vast improvement...

Anyways, this is, in a way, a transition chapter. It was suppose to happen with CH25, but timewise, it doesn't happen till after CH26, so I decided to place it here. Anyways, because I have homework, and need to get to bed, I must apologize profusely, for you are going to be reading the roughdraft that I wrote in an hour. Hopefully, I will come back to edit, but I dearly want to continue with the rest of the story, and just wanted to get this out of the way...

Anyways, suggestions would be good on how to improve it.

Enjoy.

"Commodore! There's a…a…ship! It's coming from the water!"

Belmont, at the excited and frantic shouts from his crew, rushed to the railing to witness the strangest thing in his life. A gigantic, rotting ship was now making its way toward his own warship, dripping still from arising from the ocean.

His breath caught in his already parched throat. Naturally, as a sailor, he had heard stories of this ship, the ship of Davey Jones. The hundred years of service if you were not already killed. Running his hand through his graying hair, Belmont faced his men.

"Ready the guns and load your muskets! We have a fight on our hands!"

Ella sat in her cell, her chin resting comfortably on her knees. That was the only thing comfortable about the situation, however. The floor was a mass of decaying hay mixed with foul smelling water, and the cell itself was cramped and musty.

She sighed, a deep, weary sigh that echoed around her. It had been a long night, and a long day…and another long night. At least, she assumed that was the time frame, considering she had no windows to show her otherwise. Of course, Ella had slept, what little she could catch between the loud shouts of raucous laughter and gun shots from the crew. For a navy vessel, they had become very undisciplined…almost criminal. She wondered how many of them were aware of the Commodore's plans…and how many supported him.

It was cold and dingy, and after a sudden wave of shivers, Ella stood up. No good was being done just sitting there moping. There had to be a way to escape. Had to be.

After all, two girls before her, Elizabeth and Clarissa, had escaped. Ella could almost hear Belmont's furious roars at the discovery of their disappearance, in that anger hitting her across the cheek and splitting her lip.

So maybe she did provoke him with the pointed comment that he was stupid enough to not to have posted some guards to watch them. But it had been obvious enough…

Her moment of distraction was wiped away as distraught shouts reached her ears. It was the soldiers, no doubt suffering from terrible headaches from the night before. Ella wondered what could possibly cause them to be acting like this…until it occurred to her that Belmont had finally found Finn.

Now, she had no idea what had happened to her best friend, but wherever she was, Belmont certainly did not have her. That meant only a few choices: either Finn was still at Port Royal, trapped again with Barbossa, or Richard had found her and taken Finn to the Black Pearl. While she felt excessively guilty at the action, Ella smiled at the thought of her reunion with the captain. Finn had obviously been rather distressed about Jack, and it was rare for her to ever lose control like she had. Whatever the case, it must have been rather interesting.

"Get the girl!"

The shout had been from Belmont, and it was high pitched and frantic. Now, what girl was he talking about? Finn, whom he might have discovered, or herself?

The question was soon answered for Bella as a familiar face came through the doorway, outrunning two soldiers red faced soldiers. Turning around, he whacked one across the face, sending both tumbling to the floor, giving him time to rush over and unlock her from her cell.

"Captain Turner!" she gasped, gawking unabashedly at him. "Why…what…how…?"

"Explanation later," he gasped. "We need to get you out of here."

"No duh!" Ella laughed, leaping happily into his arms and squeezing him tight in thanks.

"No…duh?" he repeated with a frown.

Ella couldn't help but giggle. "Sorry, it's just slang."

"Right…we need to leave. Now."

Taking her hand, Will led her up the stairs, the two soldiers hot on their tail. They appeared in a terrible, messy scene of smoke, blood, and screams. But Ella kept her mouth shut, though she dearly wanted to scream, and followed Will across the deck as quickly as she could, wincing as a stray bullet whizzed past her cheek.

"Get the girl!" roared Belmont once more, and Ella turned to see him charging her, blade out and slicing at anyone, soldier or not, who dared get in his path. The sight made her faint of heart, and quivering, she stumbled forward.

Will, however, was entirely cool-headed and whipped out his own blade to point at the Commodore. The officer stopped, and much to Ella's surprise, lowered his weapon slightly.

"Do you know who I am?" asked Will quietly. The commotion between the crews had stopped once it was apparent that the captains were confronting each other, and all eyes watched the scene intently.

Belmont opened his mouth a few times before glaring openly at Will. "Everyone knows the story of Davey Jones and the Flying Dutchman; at least, any respectable sailor. What do you want with this girl?"

"First of all I am not Davey Jones. He's dead."

"He can't die. That's why people fear him so."

"You will find that he can, and is. I killed him."

The Commodore's eyes twitched slightly at the blunt comment. "Then who are you?"

"Captain Turner."

Raising his sword to chest level, Belmont lunged suddenly, running his weapon smoothly through Will's exposed chest, then, pulling it out with difficulty. Ella shrieked in terror at seeing her rescuer come to his knees with blood spilling out. Smiling, Belmont whispered, "And I suppose you can too."

Then, just at the loud laughter from the navy had died down, Will stood up, wincing, but wiping the blood away all the same. "Actually, no. Not right now. If you knew the legend like any respectable sailor, you would have known better than that."

Belmont was white as a sheet, watching stupidly as Will put his sword to his throat. "What do you want with the girl?" he asked quietly.

"To rescue her," Will answered simply. "I am not going to allow her to be subjected to such evil treatments and men such as yourself. Men," he called, now addressing his crew. "let's leave. We have some business to settle with Barbossa."

"You assume to much, saying I am an evil man," growled Belmont. "You hardly know me."

"The few men I do know that have kept women prisoners were pirates. I can only assume you must be the same type," replied Will bitterly. "As for your own business with Miss Bronte, I could care less."

"I do believe it is the same as yours," answered Belmont.

"If that is so, I suppose we will eventually meet again. And be careful; I don't take kindly to true criminals," Will warned softly. "Lets leave."

Ella was led onto the Dutchman quickly, and she couldn't help but smile triumphantly over at Belmont as she sailed away from the wreck that his ship was now. The Dutchman had been merciless during the attack, and the once proud and speedy Hildegard would obviously be much slower now. She was safe.

However, there was a distinct problem. Will had previously been traveling under the water; this not only added to stealth, but greatly increased speed. But now with Ella on board, this was not an option, seeing as she was not part of the crew.

And it was quickly realized that while a threatening and dangerous ship, the Dutchman's strength did not lie in speed, and despite her damages, the Hildegard was able to keep up from a distance, always in sight.

This hardly concerned the Captain, though, and Ella remained quite content for the remaining day, except for three questions that continued to disrupt her thoughts. Now, she hardly knew Will, only in passing, but he was friendly, and the two were quickly friends. So she had no problem in asking as the sun set.

"How did you know where I was?"

Will smiled. "I belong to the ocean. I know many things because the ocean tells me."

Ella raised her eyebrow at the vague answer, but decided to not press the subject, seeing as she would probably not understand him even if he went into detail. "Why did you rescue me?"

At this Will became somber. "Please do not judge me, but it was not at all for your benefit, though of course I would not want you coming to harm. I don't know how, but Barbossa came across Elizabeth. I only came to him because…the ocean told me she was with him. But I didn't believe it. Of course, when I saw her…"

"There was an attack on Port Royal," explained Ella softly. "Both me and Finn were caught in it, though I don't know what happened to her."

"Yes, the Barbossa wanted me to rescue whichever girl was with the Commodore in exchange for Elizabeth. He seemed to believe one of you had the key he wanted."

"The ruby one? I haven't seen that since Barbossa took it from me."

Will sighed. "Then Winifred must have it."

Ella frowned, thinking deeply before talking again. "I don't think so. You see, at Port Royal, we were both running away from the Commodore because he wanted to kidnap us."

"He thought you had the key he wanted."

"Yes, but Finn wasn't running away from Barbossa. She was more worried about the Commodore. If she had the key, shouldn't she be afraid of Barbossa as well?"

Will furrowed his brow. "Maybe you are right. All of this is confusing me terribly; I wished I hadn't come in the middle of it all."

Ella laughed. "I'm sorry, though I do have one more question. You are going back to Barbossa, right?"

"Yes, to get Elizabeth. I hope you don't mind…I mean, both you and Winifred seemed to have been used no more than bartering tools, and I feel horrid--"

"I've dealt with Barbossa before," answered Ella. "I don't think he will kill me, just lock in that dingy cell again."

"I can try to keep you on my ship. I imagine I could, seeing as I am invincible."

"In that case, let me finish my question. After Barbossa, where are we going?"

"Following Jack."

"Why?"

"Don't you want your friend back?"

Ella laughed again. "So, she is with him."

"Why is that funny?"

"Oh, no reason. I just can't wait to hear her opinion on the matter. I still can't forget the names she called him…"

Will stared at her blankly, then after remembering, laughed as well.

Ella sighed happily as she looked out to the water. Things seemed to be going well, and she could almost kiss Will for his idea in rescuing Finn. Soon, they could be together again and safe, away from all of this. If there was one thing she remembered it was when Finn had screamed, "I always wanted an adventure, and here it is, practically given to me on a silver platter, and I HATE IT."

At this point, Ella couldn't agree more.