It was a dark and stormy night in the Caribbean and the Dauntless was engaged in yet another battle. This battle, however, was not with one of the pirate ships that it so relentlessly hunted. No this was with an enemy of a different sort. England was again fighting France and the hostilities had filtered out to the new world as well. The ship that the Dauntless fought was a French man-o-war, which the Admiral had found skulking off Port Royals coast. Norrington honestly believed that they had been as surprised as himself when they were discovered. Unfortunately, the Admiral's fleet was elsewhere on routine patrols, he was on his own. It was a rather futile fight from the beginning. Still, he was an Admiral in His Majesties navy, and this was an enemy of England. He could not let them go and they could not let him stop them from leaving. The man-o-war out gunned the Dauntless and while the Dauntless was the swifter of the two ships the difference in the fire power was more than beginning to show. They had been at it for some time now, the fight taking them farther and farther away from land and into the nowhere of the middle of the ocean. By now it was apparent to just about everyone that the Dauntless was losing. Admiral Norrington raised his telescope just as the French ship turned to give another broad-side. The Admiral grimly watched as the canon balls delivered what he knew was the fatal blow to his beloved ship. The Dauntless had been hit at the water line by three of those balls. She was going down. Now his only concern had to be with his men. Would the sinking of the Dauntless be enough for the Frenchmen or would they continue to attack? Fearfully Norrington turned his eyes to the victorious ship, only to see her turning to continue on her way. Apparently it was. Turning his attention to his men, Norrington gave the order that he had never thought he would have to give, Abandon ship. The Dauntless sank in a relatively short space of time, taking those killed in the fight down with her to rest with Davy Jones. What was left of the officers and crew managed to fit themselves in six small boats, it was a tight fit. Looking up at the stars, Norrington knew that they were a long way from home. Still, most of the remaining crew was fit and they had some provisions and oars. All they had to do now was get back to Port Royal, a time consuming task but not that bad, thought the Admiral. The night was fair and come morning they would start on their way.
Unfortunately, things and the ocean are rarely that easy. In the wee early hours of the morning a storm suddenly blew up and in the turmoil of the storm the little boats were separated. As morning dawned and the Admiral finally had a chance to look around, his little boat was the only one around as far as the eye could see. He and the men in his boat were alone, and still far from home. To make matters worse all but two of the oars had disappeared into the stormy sea. Things did not look good, the Admiral had to admit but he wouldn't allow the men to give up. Taking turns they used the two remaining oars to move the little boat in the correct direction. It was mostly something to give the crew hope and something to do. They weren't going very far very fast. Days past, water grew scarce and was finally gone. Norrington watched as the men became weaker and weaker. Finally even the attempt to row was given up as the men on the boat became discouraged. Norrington himself was one of the last ones to succumb to the growing weakness. There was little movement from anyone on the boat now. Everyone knew that this was the end.
The next thing the Admiral noticed was that something was bumping the side of the boat. He must have passed out, because he could not remember a ship coming up to them, and that was something he believed he would have noticed. His senses were still not as they should be though and the only sensation was that of many hands helping those in the boat up onto the ship. Consciousness must have again eluded him as next he found himself laying on a hard deck with his eyes closed. Before opening his eyes he paused and allowed his other senses to tell him about where he was. He heard many voices blending together, in such a way that he couldn't really make out what they were saying. As he listened, trying to make sense of it all, one voice started to stand out. It was a familiar one, he had definitely heard it before, but where? Suddenly he knew where he had heard that very distinctive voice before and who it belonged to. No! It couldn't be. Norrington knew he couldn't be hearing that voice and he couldn't be on the ship that voice belonged to. No!
A hand touched his face just about then. Hesitantly, gently the hand turned his face towards where the man attached to the hand, had to be. He heard that distinct voice call to those around him. It said, this one's alive, take him to my cabin, and explain what's happening to the others. The Admiral again felt many hands upon him and then he was lifted into the air, and again darkness descended and for a while he knew no more. When the Admiral opened his eyes he found himself in the great cabin of a ship. Curiously he looked around. The walls were of a dark wood, almost black, and there was an unearthly blue glow to everything. There was a tri-corner hat on the table and a compass lying near. He knew both that hat and that compass. Closing his eyes tightly he again tried to deny what they were telling him. He heard the door open and all chance of denial was forever lost. For into the cabin walked none other than Captain Jack Sparrow. Norrington couldn't help but stare at the man. He looked exactly like the other two times he had appeared over the years, blue glow and everything. Jack looked at the shocked man before him and slowly approached. The Admiral didn't move a muscle. Jack grinded leaning forward he put his finger under Norrington's chin and gently closed his mouth. A long slow golden grin lit the long dead pirates face. He was enjoying the Admirals reaction enormously.
Norrington took a deep breath and asked the question foremost in his mind. He had remembered what Captain Sparrow had said about those who came aboard the Black Pearl and it being a permanent stay. Am I dead? Jack sat down on the bed edge and quietly shook his head. No, at least not yet. Not yet! What did that mean? At the Admiral's confused and slightly outraged look the gold smile reappeared. Now don't be getting yourself upset Jamie-boy, let me explain. Norrington nodded and Jack told him that they had almost not arrived in time and that everyone else had come to permanently join his crew. That is if they wanted to. At Norrington's raised eyebrows Jack explained with another grin that everyone had a choice. They could join his crew and spend eternity sailing the main on the Black Pearl or they could say no and go on to what ever came next. What that was even Sparrow didn't know, his choice had been made long ago.
What about me? The Admiral wanted to know, what choices do I have? Jack a ghost of a smile still on his face explained that Norrington was still alive, though barely, when they found them. He had a different choice to make. Jack held out his hands. On the one hand he could stay here on the Black Pearl and go adventuring with them. All cares forgotten, all responsibilities gone, at peace and free. Or they could leave him near Port Royal, in the little boat they had found him in, where he was sure to be rescued and go back to the care filled, responsible life that he lead. The choices were his. Norrington had to admit the first choice did tempt him somewhat. It would be easy, so easy. But as Norrington thought of those left behind in Port Royal, his family and friends, the final choice also became easy. He would choose to go back.
Jack could see Norrington's answer in his eyes. With a smile and a nod of his head Jack stood up. Alright then, thought that was what you would choose. We will be at your stopping point in about ten minutes. What! Norrington exclaimed. So soon? Well, luv, the cheeky pirate replied, there's no use in delaying this. In fact if your not going to stay with us it's rather urgent that you leave without much delay. The thing is that if your still with us come morning light, and he paused, well let's just say you will be extending your stay indefinitely. He smiled and helped the Admiral up off the bed and out onto the deck of the ship.
The men from the Dauntless' boat were lined up to say their goodbyes. Every one of them had decided to stay on the Pearl. Norrington shook all their hands and bid them farewell, and good-luck. Telling them that he did not blame them at all for staying. The Admiral assured them that this was a good ship and that Captain Sparrow would be a good Captain for them all, and that if things were different he would not hesitate staying and serving right here along side them. Then he turned and followed Sparrow to the side of the ship. There down in the water floated the little boat he had left the Dauntless in. Turning, Captain Norrington extended his hand, which Sparrow readily took. Norrington looked, for what he hoped fervently, for the last time at the ghostly Captain. Thank you Captain Sparrow for all that you have done and then he turned and descended the latter leading to the boat.
Captain Sparrow leaned over the side, looking down at the Admiral. Goodbye Jamie, take my advise, keep watching that horizon. You never know, someday I might just come by and renew my offer for you to come sail with me again. The Admiral looked back up at the pirate and smiled. Your right you never know, next time I might say yes.