Chapter 30 - unedited

Elizabeth observed from the docks as they got the ships ready. It was strange to not see the Pearl around, but she guessed that she would have to get used to it.

Contrary to what she had expected, Jack seemed overly calm about the prospect of fighting Vane. She didn't know if it was because he had fought against him before or if it was because he wanted revenge. Barbossa, on the other hand, was obviously not looking forward to it, but since he wanted her help on the matter with Blackbeard, he seemed willing enough to just do whatever it took. As for Teague, he was maybe the most enthusiastic about the idea of capturing Vane. As he had told her the first time that she was there, he was a bit old for this type of things and it was one of the reasons he had never pursued any pirate personally. However, as he would have some help this time, he was quite euphoric and had sent a ship to get information of where Vane would go.

A week and a half passed when the ship that Teague had sent came back to the island with the news that there was a rumor that Vane was going to Saint Kitts.

"Don't do anything stupid, lass, alright?" Teague spoke to Elizabeth "We'll be back before ye know it."

Jack and Barbossa also said their goodbyes and, before they knew it, the three pirates were leaving Shipwreck Island, leaving their Pirate King alone in there.

The journey to Saint Kitts was filled with tension and anticipation. The three of them passed the treacherous sea, navigating towards the island, all of them with a sense of foreboding and urgency to stop Vane. As each of them were in their ships, there weren't really tensions or fights that passed between them. The sea was already drenching their bones when they neared the damnable island a week and a half later.

However, as they walked through the narrow streets filled with merchants and many other people, they discovered that there's not a sign of Vane anywhere in the place. They walked and walked for a few hours, but found nothing.

It was, however, when they were back on the ships and going back to Shipwreck Island that they suddenly found someone they hadn't expected to.

(JAMES' POV)

James had been allowed to use a small ship to his expedition towards Shipwreck Island to reach a supposed agreement with the pirates, though James knew that calling it that was wrong in itself, as the only option the pirates would have was death.

He had taken with him Gillette and Groves, as well as another six men to manage the ship. With the directions that Beckett had pointed in his notes, they followed the way towards the Caribbean Islands. When they were closed to pass a place that was called the Devil's Throat, they found themselves in front of three ships that they recognized as pirate ships.

He recognized two of them: one being the one of Jack (the Nereid's Storm) and the other being Barbossa's (thanks to the flag). This one seemed about to fire his ship, but he was able to hear Jack's voice shouting a stop.

"James?!" he screamed.

And obviously James did see Jack in the Nereid's Storm, his figure small from so far, but still distinguished from the rest.

"Jack!" He screamed as a greeting.

In a moment, the other two ships make some room to James' new little ship and in a few minutes, Jack was able to board the ship and jumped towards James.

"Good to see ye, mate" Jack smirked.

"I would say the same, but I don't bring good news" James grimaced a bit.

"Yes, well… That's apparently that we'll have in common" Jack replied easily, with a shrug. "We've been chasing Vane, but he has already left Saint Kitts and, according to the people in the island, he already managed to get himself a clergyman."

"... What?" James blinked.

"Long story, the short version is that Vane needs him for a ritual…" Jack dismissed quickly "What about you? I didn't expect you to be around here… Specially so close to…"

Jack didn't finish, probably not wanting to give up the location, but James shook his head.

"The governor knows about Shipwreck Island thanks to Beckett's notes" James explained "That's why I'm here… I need to convince Elizabeth to make a deal."

Jack grimaced.

"I think this is going to end very horribly in some way."

"Let's hope it'll be that for Vane and not us." James shook his head. "If he has the clergyman already, he will do his plan now. We have to stop him and then we can go to Shipwreck Island."

Much later, after Jack had relayed the message to his father and Barbossa, they decided to follow the simple clues. The only place Vane could go where he would have power was the Atlantic Ocean and, since they were desperate enough, they opened Jack's compass: it was a way that they would be able to find him. Jack hadn't trusted in that a lot: after all, Barbossa would want his revenge against Blackbeard too much, his father would not be able to center himself in just one idea, and Jack himself knew that he tended to think in the Pearl more than anything. But of course, James, as strict as he was, was able to make the compass stop in a point with a sudden clarity.

With that, it was then suddenly easy. The days turned into weeks as they followed the gentle directions of the compass, following James' ship, which was a strange sight to see, as someone would have seen at least two pirate ships following one of the Navy in a way that it was obvious not a chase.

It was night, the full moon high in the sky, when they were able to find Vane's ship, the Katherine. It was obvious that he had the chest with him, and the dagger was shining a strange dark red that led them to believe that he had already harnessed the power of the philosopher stone in it.

They had to move and fast, so they followed a simple plan: James and Jack's ships would take the lead first, since they were the ones that were more interested. Teague and Barbossa would stand to the sides to avoid Vane an exit or a way to escape.

Of course, the battle that took place was intense and chaotic. Cannons rang in the air, ropes were swinging from ship to ship, metal clashing fiercely, the air echoing with the clash of swords and the thundering sound of gunfire.

It was difficult to reach Vane at first: His first mate and others protected him with a clear determination as Vane tried to finish the ritual that would allow him to kill the captain of the Flying Dutchman and that way give those waters to Poseidon, as they wouldn't have a claim.

However, as the battle started to get closer and the fighting crueller, they managed to reach Vane just in time and Jack moved his sword, making Vane avoid the hit and to stop the ritual in the middle, making the clergyman stuttered.

James took the man and pushed him aside far from Vane, emerging from the shadows and joining to fight alongside Jack.

Vane snarled in anger and, in a desperate attempt to escape, he tried to unleash some of the power of the dagger, which carried a very strong and dangerous power that shook the ship they were in.

Vane seemed to glower at Jack and James, furious and in rightful anger, and moved not only the dagger but his sword as well to try to fight. However, things were not looking well for him: He was surrounded, he couldn't move, the time to complete the ritual was drifting away and the chest of the Flying Dutchman was out of his reach… His defeat seemed to be imminent, and the combined efforts of three pirates (even though Jack couldn't exactly be counted as one) and a Navy ship finally gave results as, with a quick lunge and a parry, James disarmed Vane, while Jack subdued him with a gun against his head.

They stood in the ship, victorious, though the toll of the battle was evident in all of their faces.

"This won't be the end," Vane promised.

And seemed to be the only words he would say.

Thus, it was with Vane defeated and secured, along with his crew, they hastily departed towards Shipwreck Island, knowing that there wasn't a threat anymore directed to the Flying Dutchman.

The journey to Shipwreck Island is filled with uncertainty, but mostly with also relief from most of them.

As only pirates knew how to enter Shipwreck Cove, Jack had jumped into James' ship so he could be able to guide it safely to port.

When they were once again on soil, Teague was the one to take charge, with Jack's crew and with his, of Vane and the rest of the captured pirates.

James' on the other hand, was guided by Jack towards where they would be able to find Elizabeth.

This one never would have thought that he would be walking once again around the streets of Shipwreck Island. If he was honest with himself, this had been madness the moment he had been brought back to life and if someone would tell him that it was all a bad dream, he would believe it in a heartbeat. However, James knew that it wasn't: He was there ordered by the governor to stop Vane first and then to deal with Shipwreck Island to end the pirate threat; if they had no hiding, it would be easier to deal with pirates shacking ports and the like.

He'd been sent by the Commodore to "speak" to them, as he had commented. They only were trying to do so in that manner for two reasons: One was the knowledge that the island could be under siege for a long period of time and it would hold against any attack, as they knew the place better than the Navy; the other reason was that Elizabeth Swann was currently King of the Pirates and she had been a governor's daughter, if they could get her in their power, they would get the pirates.

All in all, James was tired of politics, piracy and gods being tangled together. He should be thankful, he guessed; once he had gotten close enough to the island with the ship at his charge, he had put a white flag (on Jack's proposal) and had been listened. That had ended in directing his own ship to port and practically dragging him around the island until he ended in a building with a big room that had a lot of chairs and a globe of the planet.

"Sit. The king will see you in a bit."

When Elizabeth entered, James couldn't help but looked surprised. Even though he had known that she was pregnant, he hadn't expected her to see her in that state, or maybe he hadn't imagined her in that way. She looked radiant, happy despite the circumstances and he noticed that someone (maybe Teague, or Barbossa) had already given her back the chest of William's heart, as she was carrying it between her arms and left it at the table carefully.

"Eli… Your Majesty" James corrected himself.

"You can call me by my name, James, I know you already" she answered with a smile "I'm glad to see you well."

"You as well" he replied carefully.

"You bring a proposal from the governor of Port Royal" she tilted her head.

"That's correct…" he nodded "Governor Trelawney… Elizabeth, he has Beckett's notes on where Shipwreck Island is. He was very interested in getting this place and… Honestly" James shook his head "The only way I managed to convince him is by pure luck and the fact that is you I have to talk to and not other pirate" He took a deep breath "There's no way of not being conquered except if you kind of unify your power to his."

"He won't see me as someone powerful" she replied quickly "I'm a woman."

"... Yes, I know" James admitted and avoided looking into her eyes "Obviously if you would… if you could get a normal alive husband…"

Elizabeth stared at him. "... You can't be serious."

"Do you have another proposal?" James asked, obviously tired and exasperated "Because I don't. It's either me or technically Sparrow would work, as he works for the Navy in some way due to the letter of marque, but…"

"But with his past it wouldn't be seemed as a strong marriage that he could control as he could if it was you" she interrupted him, knowing how a marriage with Jack would look in Port Royal, with his past as a pirate and her being one.

"I know you don't love me, Elizabeth, but I don't want to fight with you or raid this place or…" James closed his eyes, trying to keep his patience in check "It's not only about my promise to Turner. I also want to protect you. I want to protect all of you and I can't believe I'm saying that about a bunch of pirates, but… they're also people. Not always good people, but I've learned that no one truly is completely and I don't want to pretend that I don't care about it."

Elizabeth sighed. "You're right. I hate it, but you are. I don't know if I'll manage to convince the pirate lords or even the pirates here, but I'll do my best."

"And?" he asked, hopeful.

"And I suppose" she raised her eyes to meet his "that I can be persuaded into marrying you, James" she smiled sadly "There are worst destinies, after all."

"Like death, maybe?" James replied with a roll of his eyes, but he shook his head when Elizabeth was about to retort in return. "It doesn't matter. I guess I'll talk to Governor Trelawney and we'll reach an agreement with our union."

"... Alright" she said in the end. "Thank you, James. For everything. For trying to protect me. I don't know if I deserve it."

James shrugged and didn't answer at that.

"Where's Vane?" he asked instead "I… Well, Jack and I should take him to Port Royal to face justice."

"He's in a makeshift cell, with the rest of his crew" she answered in a low tone. "Teague and Jack are with him now, keeping an eye of him."

"That's good. We should ready his crew and him for the journey to Port Royal" James sighed. Then his eyes went to the chest on the table. "Everything was okay?"

"Technically yes" she snorted "But James… I don't think we have finished with this… Calypso, Poseidon… It's just a matter of time."

"Maybe we'll be lucky"

"I would hope so" Elizabeth smiled gently, got up, and gave to James a small hug "Take care of yourself, James. And you better come soon. You have to marry a very beautiful bride."

James smiled in return and kissed Elizabeth in the cheek gently "Indeed I do" he agreed "I'll be back before you know it. I'll do everything I can to make you as happy as possible, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth softened at that. "I know."

They waited practically a week as Elizabeth's pregnancy was coming to an end and most of them wanted to be present.

It was quite a good thing that Jìng Yí and Miriam weren't the only women around or it would have been very strange, as most of the men knew almost nothing about pregnancies or babies.

It was a long wait in Teague's house in the center of the living room. Teague was probably the most calmed of all three, followed maybe by Barbossa, who said that he didn't worry but would glance to the ceiling whenever Elizabeth screamed. Next was maybe James, who would pace the floor before sitting into a chair and tapped his foot nervously and obviously, the only one unable to even keep pacing back and forth and sit for even a second was Jack, who would string curses and swears every time he heard her scream and would almost go a few times towards the stairs, only to change direction in the last second.

The sun has almost turned more orange and the sky darker when Jíng Yí goes down the stairs and everyone stands up in a flash.

"Well?" James is the first one to break the silence.

"Both Elizabeth and the baby are fine" she managed to say breathlessly. All of them sighed in relief and almost let themselves fall into their respective chairs "It's a boy."

"Can we see her?" Jack asked.

"Yes" she answered "But be very careful and silent… She's very tired."

When they entered, the rest of the women were taking care of the sheets and the small window of the room had been opened so some air would enter. Elizabeth was in the bed of the room, with the child in her arms, tired, sweaty, a bit pale, but overly pleased.

"Lizzie" Jack smiled a bit and then pinched the child who grumbled in his sleep, already calm in the arms of his mother "Strong boy…" he said, raising his eyebrows.

"He doesn't look like it. He's so tiny…" she said as she stared at him.

"He's beautiful, Elizabeth" James assured her, kissing the top of her head gently. "Have you thought of a name?"

"... I think so. I want to call him Henry."

"A strong name for a strong boy" Teague nodded from the door "He'll be very lucky and hav' a good life."

"You don't know that…" Elizabeth whispered, knowing how some babies could face horrible sickness and diseases.

"I've never been so sure 'bout something, yer majesty" Teague shook his head "Trust me on that. He'll grow to be a strong lucky boy."

Elizabeth shook her head a bit, but smiled thankfully at them.

A few days later, James and Jack, with no more duties and Elizabeth out of danger, decided that it was time to go back to Port Royal and make Vane face justice. They made a small draft with Elizabeth for a Treaty with Shipwreck Island with the things the old pirates had asked, Teague being very particular on not any death ordered by the Governor of Port Royal and making it clear that any habitant of the island who wouldn't abide by the laws would be punished by the Pirate King or by men ordered under her command.

Sooner than they wanted James and Jack were leaving Shipwreck Island in their respective ships and arrived a month later or so in Port Royal. They were quick on presenting Vane and his crew to Governor Trelawney, who praised them for their hard work and thanked them in the name of the Crown for their services. The soldiers took these pirates out of the way and it was only then that they presented the governor with the Treaty from Elizabeth.

After a careful consideration, the governor signed up and told them to take that paper to print a copy, so that way he and Elizabeth could have the agreement.

As the sun set, the governor decided that he wasn't going to wait, and made Vane face justice in front of all the people in Port Royal. As his death was announced by hanging, Vane took all that stoically and met his death sure of himself and with his head high until he dropped, the rope cracking the bones.

Jack took a deep shuddering breath and James gripped his shoulder. Things were difficult and would be for a while, but he wasn't alone. Whether more gods or something new would come, they were stronger together.

They would be alright.