Slowly sailing through the dark seas of the Caribbean was a large frigate ship. It was decorated with crimson-red and golden colours, with numerous miniature skeletons and skulls decorating the exterior of the ship. The ship's sails were painted blood red, but they were dirty, torn and tattered from long use and many battles. The flag flowing in the wind was a large skull with flames surrounding it. The figurehead of the ship had a great horned skeleton holding a goblet of wine in one hand and a spear in the other.

This was the Queen Anne's Revenge, captained by the pirate Hector Barbossa, formerly belonging to the infamous pirate Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. On the upper deck of the Revenge was Barbossa's large crew, drinking and celebrating. Walking past these celebrating crewmembers were Mullroy, and his partner Murtogg. Formerly marines in the British Royal Navy, they had deserted to become Pirates on the Black Pearl, and now the Queen Anne's Revenge.

"I'm not going in there to tell him!" Mullroy said, worry evident in his voice. "It was your idea!" Murtogg responded. "No, it was my idea for you to tell him!" Mullroy explained. "He likes you more than me." Murtogg stated. "He doesn't like anybody." Mullroy responded. They walked up to the Captain's cabin, skulls decorating the walls.

Inside the cabin, Captain Barbossa sat on his chair. His suit consisted of dark brown, full breeches, a brown, double-breasted waistcoat elaborately ornamented by a pattern and a grey coat with black cuffs, black liner and thin black brims around the buttonholes, fitted with buttons made from melted down Inca silver stolen from Spanish ships. His big, round, dark hat rested on the desk in front of him. In his hand was a green apple, which he took a bite out of as he enjoyed the silence.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the cabin door. Mullroy and Murtogg suddenly barged in. "Sorry, sir." Murtogg said. "We know you said never to disturb you." Mullroy stated. "Or to come in without good cause." Murtogg continued. "Or to speak without first – um." Mullroy started. "Or to speak unless our thoughts were absolutely necessary." Murtogg looked at Mullroy, before looking back at Barbossa. "Like the time the ship was on fire." Murtogg said. "That being an example of necessary thoughts. Again – we apologise for starting that fire." Angered, Barbossa suddenly stood up, whipping his pistol around and firing a shot which narrowly missed the two.

"SPEAK!" He said, frustration evident in his voice. A moment of silence enveloped the room.

"It's a man, sir." Murtogg said. "We found a man drifting in the water." Murtogg's voice was filled with curiosity. "He was mumbling things about his ship, and the ships nearby." Mullroy said. "The ships? What of the ships?" Barbossa asked them.

"Well – they're being attacked, sir. By an enemy that takes no riches." Mullroy said. "Kills without provocation!" Murtogg emphasised. "They're being sunk by a Captain called Salamander..." Mullroy stated. "It's Salavar." Murtogg said, looking at Mullroy in confusion.

"Salazar?" Barbossa said to himself, fear heard in his voice as he comprehended what he was hearing. El Matador Del Mar? The Butcher of the Sea? It was impossible. How could the man be back – he was dead. "That's it, your sirness!" Mullroy said. "He leaves one man from each vessel, to tell the tale. And I think we just found one."

Grabbing his dark hat off the desk and placing it on his head, Barbossa strode up the steps and walked past Mullroy and Murtogg, who followed him. He walked across the upper deck, past the celebrating crewmembers of the Revenge, to the bow of the ship. There was a man sitting on the deck, traumatised. Above him stood two Pirates – Pintel and Ragetti.

"Ooo – here comes the Captain!" Ragetti said with glee was Barbossa pushed past the two Pirates and grabbed hold of the traumatised sailor. Barbossa grabbed the sailor by the collar, pulling him up to his face. "Is it true that Salazar has returned? Is what you say true?!" He questioned, the traumatised sailor whimpering.

"Y-yes…" The sailor said. "I saw him – El Matador Del Mar. The Butcher of Pirates. He has returned to kill us all! His ship was a cage of death! His men – cursed! Broken! Cracked!" The sailor explained, frightened beyond belief. "They followed me. Armando Salazar followed me! He's here! I'm dead – you're all dead!"

As he said that, the eerie creaking of death was heard. In the dark shadows of night, the outline of a ship was seen – ribs opening like a cage above the bow of the Revenge. Barbossa looked up in shock. "The Silent Mary…"

Eager not to die, Barbossa let go of the man and unsheathed the Sword of Triton – the mystical broadsword of Blackbeard. He turned and yelled out to the crew of the Revenge. "All hands – brace for a sudden change in heading!" He pointed the Sword of Triton to the starboard side of the ship, and the Revenge suddenly jerked to the side, moving out of the way and narrowly missing the impending attack of the Silent Mary, which came crashing down onto the surface of the water. The Revenge had moved according to Barbossa's will – an ability gifted by the Sword of Triton.

As the Revenge passed the Mary, Barbossa looked to the side. At the wheel of the Silent Mary was Salazar – looking at Barbossa. Both of them exchanged glances, Barbossa shocked at the confirmation of Salazar's return. Salazar looked at Barbossa, intrigued. The Revenge performed a manoeuvre which was nigh impossible – they had escaped death. The two ships passed eachother, now sailing in opposite directions. Murtogg looked at Barbossa. "What now, sir?" He asked. Barbossa turned to him.

"Time to meet a witch."

Earlier…

Salazar slowly sailed the Silent Mary across the sea, following the outline of a small, drifting piece of wood, with a person lying on top of it. The crew's lieutenant, Lesaro, walked over to Salazar. "Capitán," He begun. "There is a ship sailing towards us." Salazar looked closer, seeing the man on the driftwood be taken by the people in the nearby ship.

"Our next victim." Salazar stated. "They are looking in the wrong direction – look up, pirates! And see your death!" He spun the wheel, the Silent Mary responding to his command and ascending into the air, the ribs of the vessel stretching out, pointed. "Bye, bye, filth." He said, and spun the wheel. The Silent Mary crashed down, only to miss its target as the pirate ship jerked to the side and moved out of the Mary's pathway.

"What?" Salazar exclaimed as the Silent Mary crashed down harmlessly onto the sea. He turned his head, looking to the pirate ship which was now passing the Mary. At the bow of the ship was a one-legged man, holding a large, sovereign broadsword in the air. Salazar looked closer, seeing the name written on the back of the vessel.

Queen Anne's Revenge.

"Oho." Salazar muttered to himself, intrigued. Lesaro looked at the cursed Captain. "Capitán, they are getting away!" He said. Salazar smiled, black liquid dripping out of his mouth and onto the deck of the Mary. "Let them go," He begun. "This Pirate intrigues me. The one-legged Captain of this…Queen Anne's Revenge."

"Once Jack Sparrow is dead, I will be coming for him next."

Barbossa walked through the dark alleyways of Saint Martin, walking up to a locked gateway guarded by a single soldier. "I'll be needing some time with your witch." He said, dropping a small sack of gold into the soldier's hand, who then opened the gateway for Barbossa.

Barbossa walked in, looking to the bald woman facing away from him. "I have been expecting you, Captain." She said, dripping green liquid into a cup. "Perhaps you'd like some tea?" He asked, drinking the green liquid from the cup. "I shall pass – thank you kindly." He responded.

"The price of crossing my door is blood, Captain." She said, walking over next to him. "That explains why you're not so busy." He deadpanned. "Everyone pays, eventually." She remarked. He walked up to her. "Shansa – you and I made a bargain long ago. I saved you from the gallows, remember?"

Shansa turned and looked at him suddenly. "And I cursed your enemies, but now you come to me in fear, as the dead have taken command of the sea." She stated. "And what would the dead be wanting with me?" Barbossa asked her. She laughed. "Not you, Captain. They're searching for a Sparrow."

Barbossa looked at her, intrigued. There was only one thing she could be talking about. "Jack?" He asked her, curiosity overwhelming him. She nodded. "Jack will sail for the Trident, a girl…and a pearl."

Barbossa scoffed. "The Trident can never be found." He stated. She smiled. "The Trident is Jack's only hope. The dead are conquering the sea – unable to step on dry land." She slowly looked at Barbossa. "Maybe you should retire to the countryside." Shansa suggested. Did she worry for his safety? He looked at her, almost insulted by the suggestion. "Do you mean…grass?" He asked her. "On a farm? Milking a cow, making cheese? Well, I seek treasure!"

Shansa looked at Barbossa. "Ask yourself this, Captain – is this treasure worth dying for?" She asked him bluntly. He thought for a moment, before leaning closer. "I'm a pirate." He said. "Always will be. So how do I save what be mine?"

"Jack held a compass," Shansa begun. "Which points you to the thing you desire most. But betray the compass – and it releases your greatest fear." She explained. "And a pirate's greatest fear be Salazar, is it?" He asked her.

Shansa held her hand out, revealing the compass she was holding. Jack's compass. Barbossa looked down in surprise. "What? How did you get this?" He asked her. "I have my ways." She responded. "Lead them to Jack before he finds the Trident," She said. "And all your treasure will come back to you." Barbossa grabbed the compass, looking at Shansa.

"Time to make a deal with the dead."