[A/N] – According to the movies, the time skip between the two movies is 20 years. However, it is unclear when Barbossa lost the Pearl. Some say it's around 16, so I will make it 14 since I want to give him time to find the King and climb the ranks, while Artemis explore her little path on top of Blackbeard's ship.
Almost 14 years have been spent on top of the Pearl for Artemis. Going from one adventure to the other, the endless freedom was in her grasp. Sailing on endless seas, the pirate crew being her only family. Her heart never settled for anyone, and with her gaze always locked on the horizon, she found the years passing faster than she expected.
Everything though, was about to change in one single eventful night.
The sea was calm, and the Pearl was moving along the small waves, gently rocking its sailors to sleep. All unaware of the threat coming from the mist and the shadows around them. Artemis was asleep on top of the crows' nest, and Jack the monkey was sleeping curled in her lap. Her teeth slightly hit each other as a cold rush of wind seemed to touch her.
Opening her eye, through the fogginess of the sleep, she noticed a faint silhouette. In seconds, it became clearer that it was a ship and she doubted it had good intentions. Quickly she grabbed the rope connected to the bell and started to ring it with such ferocity that she was sure the rope would break any moment.
The sound of the bell raising alarm, caused everyone to quickly rush on board with their swords extended. They looked around just as the ship came into full view. Whether its intentions, the Black Pearl was known not to take it lightly upon any ship crossing their paths, let alone one with no pirate flag on it.
Wasting no time, the pirates all charged. Grabbing ropes, they swung on the ship that had approached them only to find it empty.
Artemis landed last, looking around at the deserted deck. Was this some sort of joke? The ship could not move on its own and without any crew. Even the Flying Dutchman needed manpower to sail properly.
She was about to say something when she felt it... A weird sensation, like some insect or something crawling up her leg and causing her to shiver from that foreign and sneaky touch.
Looking down, she stared once she realised it was a rope.
In seconds, the ropes of the ship came alive.
Like snakes they moved fast, trapping the legs and bodies of her crew before hanging them upside down. The cries of those daring to speak were muffled by the ropes, keeping them all trapped and silenced.
Then from the shadows and the deck beneath, the crew of this mysterious ship emerged. They had fallen into an elegant and very smart trap, a trap that had sorcery behind it for there was no way to explain what had taken place and how the ropes moved as if they had free will of their own.
The crew was variant, with some men looking very out of place.
The majority though were black, muscled men that did not speak and only glared. They towered over most of the sailors, theirs and the black pearl's as well.
"Looks like we have a good catch guys," a female voice said, a Hispanic accent not being ignored.
Into the light of the candles walked a woman, wearing a black fatherly hat. She looked young, around Artemis' age, if not a little younger, and from her clothing; she must have been the captain of the ship.
"He will be proud," the Hispanic woman said and looked at the men hanging around her, not noticing Artemis, who was ironically hanged right above her. Her mouth was free since she never made a noise, but her hand was already working on the ropes by using the knife she always had hidden in her boot.
"Who are you? What ship is this?" Barbossa asked, somehow managing to fight and avoid the ropes that tried to muffle his voice and failed.
"Allow me to welcome you to Queen Anne's Revenge. You will work for me now" the woman said, giving a small fake bow.
Everyone panicked or left out muffled cries, recognising the name. Right after Davy Jones, there was only one pirate that had taken the world by storm. A pirate so ruthless and cold, that he had become a tale to scare the children at night.
Blackbeard.
Yet, the famous captain was nowhere to be found.
At his place seemed to be this woman, who seemed to command the ship that she claimed was Queen Anne's Revenge. But the stories were not fake, right? There must be a Blackbeard and there was.
However, where was he?
Barbossa struggled, his body halfway free since only his one leg had been trapped. The ropes were odd since they hang some of the crew from one leg or both and in others wrapped around them like snakes.
Yet, the Captain of the Pearl was not willing to go down without a fight. Grabbing his blade and freeing his hand, he did one desperate move. He cut off his leg from his knee and down, freeing himself from the ropes.
He let no cry or any noise as he fell on the deck, blood coming from his leg like a small river. Wasting no time, the older man used all of his strength to move and quickly dive aboard, splashing into the sea and leaving behind him only a trail of blood to be absorbed by the wood of the ship.
The woman took a few steps towards the railing that was close by, wanting to see if he could spot the fool and order her men to bring him back on board.
However, before she could, a blade was pressed against her neck.
"Tell your men to drop their weapons," Artemis said to her ear, her dagger pressed tightly against her neck and her other hand holding her sword. "Now" she demanded, turning the captain to face the crew, not wanting to give her any time to try anything.
The foreign crew was reluctant at first to obey her and Artemis was about to press the blade even more, willing to draw some blood to make her point. Barbosa might have been a coward and abandoned them, but she would not do that to her crew, her family.
With him gone, the leadership fell on her and she was ready to save her people.
"There will be no need for that," a new male voice said, joining the small discussion and she felt a chill going down her spine; involuntarily.
Artemis glanced towards the helm, below it were the cabins. From the shadows there, an older man emerged. His clothes were in different shades of black, a black beard long and well taken care of was the most distinguished feature along with his aged dark eyes. A sword by his side, held by a hand with a few rings of it.
"Captain," the Hispanic woman said, and Artemis realised who the man was.
The true captain of the merciless ship. The man of myths was standing not too far away.
"Blackbeard" she exclaimed, finally putting all the pieces together.
The man had his attention on her, something in his black eyes intriguing him about her. She stayed put, trying her best not to shiver under his gaze. There was something sinister about him, she could feel it with every cell in her body.
Something dark and cold, inhuman even. She was not sure how to explain it but deep down she knew it. Not even Davy Jones had such a strong signature and he was one cursed and ruthless man.
No, this one was far different. He was tainted by the darkness that no man should ever mess with.
"Gentlemen, ladies...I was in my cabin, resting so nicely when I hear we are under attack. Instead of the matter to be solved fast, I come out to see my first mate held captive by..." he glanced at Artemis.
"Artemis Crow, Captain of the Black Pearl," she said with pride, keeping her head high and the blade pressed close to the woman's neck.
"Ah, Artemis," he said as if already knowing her personally. Like just remembering her face, let alone her name. "I expected our paths would meet eventually; your fame has preceded you"
The redhead was not sure what fame he was talking about. When she was with Jack, she was known as the woman by his side. She did play a role in the final war against the East Indian Trading Company.
However, she suspected that the rumours were more recent.
It was not common for pirates to have women on the crew, let alone one as notorious and famous as the Black Pearl. She knew she had made her name known among many pirates and their associates but she never truly knew to what extent and she never truly bothered to learn.
She was never one to have any interest in gossip.
"The woman who makes the sea and the winds bend under her will without question. You are quite the navigator as well. Your talents are wasted on this ship my dear" he said.
She wanted to scoff.
She understood those rumours since she was almost always behind the wheel. Just like before, the sea and winds always seem to favour them when she was in control. One reason their attacks were so successful.
Her skills in star navigation came from pure experience but as she came to find out, not many seem to possess it.
"And what should I do? Join your crew?" she half asked, half mocked but his look gave him her answer. Clenching the muscles of her lower jaw, she pressed the blade to the woman's neck, enough to draw blood. "Or I can simply strike you a deal. I will be part of your crew and in return, I won't kill your first mate. However, I want my crew to have their safety guaranteed. Drop them to the nearest civilised harbour, fully unharmed"
She said her terms, careful not to let any loopholes or empty spots. She had enough deals that went sideways because small windows, small holes and vague words could alter a deal altogether. She could simply bargain to let all of them go but something was telling her that it would not work out.
He could not care that much for his first mate. And even if he did, there was no guarantee they would not come after them again. With Barbossa already gone, the crew was unsettled and having another Devil on their tails, was too much for anyone.
Even her.
Blackbeard looked at her, studying her for a moment in silence. Everyone from her crew seemed to be holding their breaths as the two of them kept staring at one another, the silence existing among everyone was almost frightening.
The man took a few steps forward, heading for her.
"I have power that you cannot imagine, girl. I could simply stop you right there but out of respect for your skills, I will agree to your terms" he stopped a few feet in front of her and extended his hand.
Artemis looked from him to his hand, suddenly feeling as if she was about to make a very bad choice. Perhaps she was, but now it was too late to turn back and she did not have many options left either.
She pushed the first mate aside and looked at the extended hand for a moment longer before she mastered the courage to shake it. His hand was big compared to hers but both were equally rough from years of handling weapons and ropes.
She suddenly felt a sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach and the foul taste of bile had climbed up her throat, leaving a bitter aftertaste on her tongue. Her body was reacting to it and she fought hard her whole body before she withdrew her hand.
However, just as she did this...lightning flashed in the sky.
Another one hit the deck, a little too close to where the two Captains stood. A third lightning hit the sea as the wind picked up, a very bad storm seemed to have appeared out of nowhere; as if the Sea itself was furious for striking such a deal.
The bolt of lightning that hit the deck did not harm anyone and simply left a small scorch mark on the wooden planks. The duo did not flinch but many started to feel uneasy as the sky was clear of storms just a moment ago but now it looked as if a wild storm was coming; faint rain droplets already hitting the two boats and them as well.
"Welcome on board, Sea Heiress" he whispered the last two words, making her blue eye go wide as she stared at him.
Somehow he knew things; perhaps he knew more than she did. His words repeated in her mind and it was then she realised that the ropes could have still gotten her. Suddenly, the fact that their ship was under attack did not seem so random. This elaborate trap and this theatrical play were not something spontaneous.
No. It was planned.