Chapter 27

Elizabeth and Jack climbed aboard the Pearl. Something was wrong and many pirates noticed. None more than Barbossa though. Gibbs hurried to them.

"Jack, the armada's still out there," he said, "the Endeavor's coming up hard to starboard, and I think it's time we embraced that oldest and noblest of pirate traditions."

"Never actually been one for tradition." Jack commented. He stood to the rail, looking at Backett's ship. Then Gibbs asked the question many were wondering.

"What happened to Will, and... Jack..." Gibbs paused, "where's Jewel?" Jack closed his eyes and lowered his head. a few small tears breaking loose. Everybody lowered their heads and took off their hats in honor. Jack sucked in a deep breath and stood tall.

"Jewel was... A brave girl. But the only way to honor her death is by defeating Beckett once and for all," Jack turned to his crew. "Loose the sails and lay on iron!" he called out

"Belay that, or we'll be a sitting duck!" he said

"Belay that, belay that." Jack said quickly

"But captain," Gibbs started

"Belay!" Jack said. It went back and forth between the two with Gibbs trying to say something, but Jack stopped him.

"Kindly SHUT IT!" He finally said, he pointed at Barbossa, "Then kindly tell me what I'm to do with my baby gone? Should we all just die and be done with it?"

"Be patient lad!" Barbossa yelled, "And don't think you can charge forward like this." He leaned closer to Jack, "And do not think you are the only pirate in mourning for Jewel." Jack sighed and looked down before turning his attention on the Endeavor.

"It seems then we'll all be seeing her soon." Jack said. Just then, ahead of them, the Flying Dutchman emerged from the water as it normally did, but there was something different about it. Before their eyes it was changing. What coral, seaweed, and various other sea-life that had made homes all along the ship fell off. The Flying Dutchman began to look good as new, while still wearing battle scars and looking a tad worn. Overall, it looked like a normal ship though.

Jack went along the railing toward the bowsprit, seeing something hanging from the end of the bowsprit on the Dutchman. Barbossa noticed it too and pulled out his spyglass. Jack snatch it from his hands and focused on it. Jack smiled and handed the spyglass to Barbossa. A smile sprouted on his face too, briefly though.

Although many would have just seen a strip of a red cloth hanging on the Dutchman's bowsprit, those who knew who it belonged to, knew better what it was. A red bandana.

On the deck of the Dutchman, her crew began to look normal as well. The "fishy-ness" of their appearances melted away, leaving them as just plain ordinary men. One person stood ahead of them at the bow, looking back at them. Down her right arm ink slid off as if it were water. She looked up and smiled.

"Orders captain?" Jewel shouted, looking to the helm. Will stood behind the wheel a changed man. He seemed more confident then ever before. He had a dark green bandana on his head and his shirt was opened so one could see the scar that came from his heart being cut out.

"Ready on the guns!" He ordered. The crew all gave yells to obey.

"Step to!" Jewel shouted. She looked back at the Pearl and smiled.

"Full canvas!" Jack commanded, going to the helm.

"Aye, full canvas!" Barbossa said before following. The Dutchman and Pearl nearly collided before turning toward Beckett's ship. They sailed in tandem approaching, the vessel from opposite sides. Jack looked over at the Dutchman and saw a single figure waving at him wildly. Jack chuckled and waved back. Jewel smiled. They ships were right next to the Endeavor.

"Cap'n?" Gibbs asked

"Fire!" Jack said

"FIRE!" Gibbs yelled

"Fire!" Will echoed

"Fire!" Jewel shouted

"Fire all!" Elizabeth shouted. In unison, the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman open fired upon the Endeavor, blasting at it with every gun on board. The men that were not yet deck on board the Endeavor scrambled around and across the deck. Not to attack, not to defend, but to abandon ship. Many even jumped in the water, sinking like rocks, to avoid being killed by cannon-fire.

"I never thought the sound of breaking wood, could ever be so beautiful." Jewel commented walking to the helm. A lone figure seemed to remain calm as the world was crashing around him. Beckett strode down the stairs from the helm to the main deck, his confidence gone, his control gone, everything lost to him. The powder magazine finally ignited, causing the whole ship to explode. Jewel took in a breath, closing her eyes. After she let it out, she opened them.

"It's over." she said calmly. Cheering erupted from the Pearl. Jewel smiled, bouncing on her heels, a laugh escaping her. She laughed more and jumped up and down, her fists in the air.

"It's over!" Jewel cheered, jumping around in a circle. She grabbed Will's hands and spun him around, but stopped when she realized who he was. Especially who he was now. She let go of his hands and backed away.

"I'm terribly sorry about that, um, Captain." Jewel said, looking down, not noticing Will walking closer, "I mean, it's a good thing Beckett's gone, but doing that to your own captain, in any case, can be considered-" Jewel was cut off. Will held Jewel's face and brought her lips to his. Jewel's eyes fluttered close in reaction.

However, it didn't feel right. No, not at all. She remembered falling in love with him when she first saw him, she remembered the braid in her hair actually being done to get his attention, but now? The spark she had for him had fizzled out. But she still liked him, just not in that way.

"I'm sorry Will," Jewel said, stepping back and tying her bandana around her left arm, "I used to love you, I really did. Not that I don't love you now, but... You're a best friend to me. And you have Elizabeth to love." Will smiled

"I thought you always wanted that." he said. Jewel was at a loss for words. He was right. And she did enjoy it a bit. She chuckled and scratched the back of her head.

"Yeah... sir." Jewel said

"You aren't in debt to me." Will said

"As I recall, that was the reason I was able to live through drowning." Jewel said, her hands behind her back. Will shook his head.

"Not any more." he said. Jewel smiled, then cleared her throat.

"But um, there's one more thing... Please." She held her right arm out, "I'd like it back. Not you whispering, but ship-jumping... And maybe that ship-sinking-into business I spotted." Will reached out and turned Jewel's hand over, pulling down her fingerless glove. He pressed his lips against the tattoo. When he pulled away, a small shimmer passed over it. Jewel slid her glove back on, then wrapped her arms around Will's neck.

"I'll never forget you Will." she said. He hugged her back. She pulled away and rubbed tears from her eyes. Small ones though, nothing big.

"I should get back home." Jewel said. She was about to ship-jump when she looked back at Will, "Oh and... When you have that one day with Elizabeth, make it count." He nodded to her, and she returned the gesture before closing her eyes to ship-jump. She appeared in front of the Captain's cabin. Nobody spotted her though. Everybody was too busy cheering, dancing, whooping, and hollering to care. Jewel huffed, crossed her arms, even though her left arm was in a sling, and strode forward.

"What is all this then?" She yelled as loud as she could. Everybody stopped what they were doing and stared at her.

"Having a party without me? I think that's rather unfair!" Jewel yelled, letting her arms fall to her sides as she walked into the crowd. With a cheer everybody converged on her, hugging her, cheering her name, praising her being alive.

"Pintel! Ragetti!" Jewel laughed when they hugged her from both sides. She pulled away and went to Gibbs.

"Jewel!" he said, wrapping her in a giant bear hug.

"Can't breathe! Arm broke!" she wheezed. Gibbs chuckled and let her go. Jewel hugged Barbossa. He messed with her hair and gave her a quick hug.

"Is that all?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't make us think you're dead next time." he said with a smirk. Jewel chuckled and looked at Jack. The two embraced each other, tears being stuck in their eyes.

"Thank god you're alive." Jack said

"Dad?" Jewel said, making him look down at her, "Im sorry for what I've said, for what I've been saying during this whole ordeal. I don't hate you."

"I'm so proud of you." he said softly

"And mom sends her love." Jewel said. "She called it out to me when I was leaving." Jack put a hand on Jewel's head.

"I'm so proud of you luv." he said, "And I'm sorry for the mistakes that risked your life. I will attempt to not make any more of them at all."

"That's a lie." Jewel said with a smirk.

"Of course luv. Can't make any promises in the pirate business." Jack said

"I don't care. It'll be just another adventure." Jewel smiled. Jack smiled.

"Aye luv." he said. He knelt down and picked up his hat off the ground, placing it on Jewel's head. It fit her perfectly.