I stood to Jack's left, his hand clasped in mine. My other hand rested on my sword hilt.

"You excited?" I asked. "We're finally taking him down."

"Beckett?" His gaze didn't leave the foggy horizon. "More triumphant. He deserves any pain we deliver."

I agreed silently, sparing a glance to the crew. My crew, and Jack's. I felt a strange sense of pride.

"Is this what it's like to be a captain?" I asked, turning.

He smirked. "Depends. What part of having a higher rank than me are you referring to?"

I pulled his hat down over his eyes. "Idiot. You know what I mean."

He fixed his tricorn and finally faced me, grinning. "I find being a captain rather enjoyable, love. Though I've never been a Commodore."

I grinned happily. "I think I'll hand the title in, later...I'm happy just being a Lord. King seems a bit much." I frowned. "And I'm a woman. I'd like to be referred to as my actual gender."

He tutted. "You're crazy, love."

For some odd reason, the insult stung a bit. I suppose it was my lack of trust in him. I wanted to be able to count on him, but I couldn't. Not at the moment, anyhow.

"Jack Sparrow is saying that to me?"

"Captain Jack Sparrow." He corrected, his smile mischievous.

"Oh, whatever..." Our kiss was passionate but brief. We were interrupted by Marty, his voice carrying. It amused me how his small body could be so loud.

"The enemy's here! Let's take her!" He called, pumping his fist. Cheers broke out; I merely smiled.

We watched the Endeavor emerge from the fog, her colors hanging limp. The wind was weak and the air was heavy; a chill hung over the waves. I had changed out of the Chinese garb and back into my old clothes, and the moisture in the air seemed to stick to the fabric.

Only the Endeavor was visible. I rubbed the corner of my sash between my fingers, an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

The roistering and yelling abruptly stopped as what appeared to be one hundred ships appeared behind the Endeavor, silhouetted by the fog.

I refrained from letting my jaw drop. "We're screwed." I whispered.

"Abandon ship! Abandon ship!" Cotton's parrot screeched, before doing just that. Real faithful, that bird.

We became even more screwed as both crews turned their eyes on Jack, glaring heavily. I smiled at them, hoping that it got the message through: Do not attack him, or you shall be dead before you can count to five.

Jack smiled weakly. "Parlay?"

***

It was an odd picture. We were in the middle of the 1800s, walking along a sandbar, the smell of salt in out noses and crystalline water on either side.

And up ahead, I could see William, Beckett, and Davy Jones...who was standing in a bucket. I wondered how awkward that must've been, carrying Davy on land. The thought made the situation slightly more enjoyable, knowing the disadvantages of our enemy.

"So ye be the cur that led these wolves to our door." Barboussa snarled at Will. I stared at Will, my heart sinking.

"Don't blame Turner. He was merely the tool of your betrayal. If you wish to see its grand architect, look to your left." Beckett said smugly, smirking.

Barboussa looked at me.

I looked at Jack.

Jack looked out at the open Caribbean, hands in his belt. He realized we were staring at him accusingly, and made a gesture of surrender. "My hands are clean in this! Figuratively..." He studied his fingernails with a frown.

"Jack Sparrow," I said, warning in my voice. "You wouldn't betray me like that, would you?"

"Ah!" Beckett seemed amused. "She returns your affections." He fixed his eyes on me. I swallowed hard and decided not to look at the pirate to my left.

"My actions were my own and to my own purpose. Jack had nothing to do with it." Will said, his gaze even.

Jack smiled. "Well spoke! Listen to the tool."

But by the way he and Jack locked eyes, I could tell they were both lying.

"Pàntú." I muttered. Chinese wasn't one of Jack's languages.

I shook my head. "Will, I understand your situation with your father." Jack had filled me in. He originally told me to talk to Elizabeth, but I can be persuasive. "But I don't think there's any hope left."

No hope at all. The sailors on the Dutchman were too far gone, and I had watched Bootstrap Bill Turner stick a sword through James Norrington's chest.

"No cause is lost if there is but one fool left to fight for it." He insisted, his eyes hard.

"A fool you are, William..." I thought of Elizabeth.

Cutler Beckett spoke again. "If Turner was not acting on your behalf, Jack, then how did he come to give me this?" He held up Jack's compass.

I stared at the thing, swinging from Beckett's hand, furious.

"You made a deal with me Jack, to deliver the pirates." Beckett's tone had changed. I couldn't detect the emotion, but whatever it was, it was strong. "And here they are. Don't be bashful, step up, claim your reward." He chucked Jack's compass at him, and Jack caught it, his face carefully blank.

I couldn't read his eyes. I could always read Jack's eyes.

"Your debt t' me is still t' be satisfied!" Davy Jones snarled, glaring at Jack. "One hundred years aboard the Dutchman, as a start!"

Jack smiled. "That debt was paid, mate. With some...help."

I felt like a bomb; I could explode any moment. My nails dug into my palms, and I realized I was clenching my fists so hard that my sharpened nails sliced my skin.

"You escaped!" Davy exclaimed. He looked just as furious as me.

Jack swayed, wincing. "Technically..."

I was ignited.

"You all listen," I snapped. They looked to me, mildly surprised. "Here's my deal. Will, you're leaving with us. And you..." I glared at Cutler and Davy. "You can take Jack. I'm sure you'll find some use for him."

Will grinned. "Done!"

Jack gaped at me. "Undone!"

"Done!" Beckett.

Barboussa stared at me, outraged. "Jack is one of the Nine Pirate Lords! You have no right!"

I gave him an icy stare. "Does it look like I bloody care, mate? And, oh, perhaps you've forgotten...I happen to be your King." I turned back to our adversaries. "Done."

Jack considered me for a moment before removing his hat and bowing mockingly, his dreads swinging. "As you command."

Time seemed to slow for a moment. As Jack stood, Barboussa whipped out his sword and narrowly missed Jack's head. Instead, he separated his Piece of Eight from his bandanna.

Jack darted backwards, panic in his eyes, as the silver flashed in front of his nose. His hat tumbled to the sand in the commotion. Jack the Monkey grabbed the coin and beads just before it hit the ground, and then took his place back on Hector's shoulder. I handed Jack's hat back to him without comment, not meeting his eyes.

"If ye have somethin' t' be saying, then I be sayin' as well." Barboussa said to Jack, his eyes glinting.

Jack stared at the tricorn in my hands before looking at Hector. "First to the finish, then?"

Barbossa merely glared.

To my surprise, Jack left the hat in my hand. I held it loosely, wondering whether or not to drop it, before deciding to place it on my own head.

"Safe keeping." I said coolly, as Will joined us.

Jack ended up beside Davy Jones. He winced, as the tentacles writhed near his ear. "Jack Sparrow," Davy asked, snarling. "Do you fear death?"

Jack shifted uneasily. "You have no idea."

"Advise your Brethren." Cutler Beckett addressed me. He must've realized I'm in charge. "You can fight, in which all of you will die, or you can not fight, and only most of you will die."

I matched his cool stare. "Usted es un infierno de una rica animales idiota, Cutler Beckett." I said in a threatening tone. "We will fight, and you will die."

"Elizabeth knows what you did to her father. I know what you've done to Jack. I may not like her, or him, at the moment, but you are a sick man, Cutler Beckett." I said softly.

"They chose their fates." Beckett said, his eyes hard.

"And you have unfortunately chosen yours." I said. "See you on the battlefield, senor." I turned, almost feeling as if I emitted waves of fury. Perhaps I did.

"King?" Will asked. He seemed to be in good spirits.

"Courtesy of Jack." I said. "I've forgiven you, by the way. Don't make me regret it."

He smiled. "Thank you." He paused. "How is Elizabeth?"

I ripped the hat off my head and let it hang at my side. "She's fine, if hurt. You need to give her a hug, or something."

"A hug." He sounded incredulous.

I shrugged, smiling slightly. "Feeling adventurous, then? Give 'er a kiss."

Will blushed and looked away. I grinned at Barboussa. He smirked back.

Well, I thought. That could've went better.

I made a list of people I could trust. Barboussa, oddly enough. Lizzy, even more strange. Tia.

It was a list too short for my liking.