The Chosen: Ch 8

[spacebabie]

Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean and all related characters belong to Walt Disney, Gore, Jerry, Ted and Terry.

Rating: T for now. 

Characters: Most of the entire cast

Pairings: Will/Elizabeth, Jack/Anamaria,

 

The Chosen

 

Chapter 8: Two Forces

-

James Norrington grasped the tankard in his hand while he stared at Jack Sparrow. He did not say anything while the foolish pirate rode out his intoxicated state, and chose only to sip the warm juice. His former enemy was no longer giggling and had his hands across his chest while he breathed deeply. James glanced at the others in the shack; nearly everyone’s ears were growing, all except Tia Dalma’s.

“I may drink from the finest brandy,” Gibbs stared at his own tankard. “I may sail to the Far East again and sample some of their finest opium, but I swear to the good lord himself that I will never have felt such ecstasy as I have when Anamaria kissed me.”

“What?” Jack pursed his lips before he sat up. “Words such as the ones as you have spoken are on the same level as mutiny.” He shook his finger at Gibbs. “Now if were not faced with the possibility with an Apollo eclipse then you and I would have a bit of a talksie in me cabin.”

“It is called an apocalypse,” Groves corrected him. He was stroking his new ears.

“I’m sorry Jack,” Gibbs held up his hands. “It is not quite what you think. It isn’t because of who I kissed. It’s because of who kissed her.”

“And I was the one who kissed him,” Anamaria pointed out.

“We don’t have time for this,” Elizabeth set her tankard down. “We have to save my husband.”

“From himself,” Jack spun around. “Which is what I have been doing a lot of whenever we run into each other.” He pressed his index fingers together. “He does a lot of stupid things, but what can you expect from an honest man?”

“To save the world,” Tia Dalma approached James. “You have always claimed to be an honest man. It was he deep inside, under the bitterness and despair that made you do the right thing.” Her fingers brushed under his chin. “I could not allow someone such as yourself to die back then.”

“I had a touch of destiny myself,” James stared into the witch’s bloodshot eyes as he remembered the words she said when woke up from his near death experience. “This is what I have been destined for?”

“That and something else,” Tia stepped back.

James stared at her unchanged fingernails and then at her ears. “You are still the same. You haven’t changed.”

“I was wondering about that part myself,” Gibbs said. “How is she unaffected?”

“Is it because she is a witch?” Anamaria asked.

“It is,” Tia nodded. “Those like me and those with the gift in some form cannot become favorites or minions, but we can be carriers.”

“I don’t think I quite understand,” Elizabeth said before she took another sip of her berry drink.”

“Those who can see what should happen before it does, those who can read others, those who can send their thoughts, those who can move by merely thinking, they are the one with a gift.” Tia held up a finger. “But they are not ones who practice magic.”

“Unlike yourself?” Groves asked.

“I have the gift of reading as well as play with magics. We will not become favorites, but our kisses are the same.”

“Any pirate who comes your will can be changed like we have been,” Gibbs said. “What if they were already Minions.”

Tia’s eyes widened. “A good question. If a Favorite kisses a Minion they will not change a Minion to a Favorite, nor will they change the person back. They will go to sleep until the battle has been one.” She pointed to the James. “The same if a Favorite is scratched by a Minion.”

“We will have to be careful,” James felt his tail wrap around his leg. “We should try to keep our ears hidden. We do not know who may or may not be a Minion.”

“We might,” Elizabeth stared at her fingers. “Will’s fingernails have turned black. His minions would also have black nails.”

Tia nodded. “They will not try to turn everyone into Minions, they will help spread pain and illness around. The abilities of Favorites are not as strong as the Chosen. They can heal in groups and create areas of protection.”

“We should leave now,” James set the tankard down. “I have a fine engraved pocket watch, Miss Dalma, if you would accept that as payment.”

“Your kiss is enough of a payment,” Tia smiled.

“Jack,” Anamaria hissed and nudged the pirate captain.

“Can’t ask her now, luv,” Jack shrugged. “We have to save the world and all before we can think of asking about that.’

Anamaria grabbed handful of his dirty and untamed dreads and pulled. “You bloody well be asking about it since it is yours. Do you not feel any responsibility?”

“Aye,” Jack held up his hands. “I wasn’t sure which you were referring to love.” He received a loud slap across his face.

“You know you deserve that.” Gibbs shook his finger at him. “How can ye be daft about something like that?”

James raised his eyebrows at the display and turned to Elizabeth and Groves. Neither one had a notion of what the pirates been talking about?

“There is a child,” Tia approached Anamaria and placed her hand against the other woman’s stomach. “He has been here for nearly two months.”

Child. James blinked at the word as it sank in. “That was why you came?” He tried to find the right words. “You wanted to confirm she was with your child.” He closed his eyes. “With Jack Sparrow’s child, my God that man has actually spawned.”

“Jack, ” Elizabeth stood up. “Anamaria, Congratulations.”

Jack flashed his teeth and chuckled. “What can I say?” His eyes widened. “He?”

“It will be a boy.” Tia nodded.

“Another little Sparrow for the nest,” Jack resumed his grin. “Ah little Jack junior,” He furrowed his brow and shook his head. “Naw, I think I’ll name him after you, Admiral. James Teague Sparrow, Teague being my father’s name of course.”

“I am deeply flattered,” James said through clenched teeth. His eyes were on Anamaria. “I wish you had asked about the child before I put him and his mother in jeopardy.”

“The child will be unaffected,” Tia Dalma said.

“Still be best fer her to not be in any fights,” Gibbs said. “She can kiss the rest of the men, but for the sake of the child she should be kept out of harms way.”

“I agree.” James said.

“What is Jack’s other question?” Elizabeth asked. “He thought Anamaria was talking about something else.”

Jack’s face turned red, even the pointed tips of his ears had turned pink. “Nothing. Nothing really, nothing to worry your bonny little head about.”

“Now I am curious,” Groves smirked. “I don’t believe I recall the last time Jack Sparrow was embarrassed.”

Jack traced his finger across his neck. “I said it is nothing.’

“I don’t believe it is something that should not be mentioned in public,” Gibbs watched as his captain continued to fidget. “Only Anamaria knows of course.”

Jack spun around and pointed at the pirate woman. “And she won’t tell anyone.”

“No,” Tia Dalma pressed a finger under Jack’s chin and turned his face towards her. “You will tell me.”

Jack gulped. “Well it started not long after I became a father and,” he paused to cough. “The thing is…” he stared at the ground before he looked up at the rest of the room. “Bugger this.” He cupped one of Tia Dalma’s ears with his hands and placed his mouth against it.

James tried not to hear any word and turned to see if any of the others were also trying to avoid it. Anamaria had covered Gibbs’s ears with her hands and both Elizabeth and Groves had turned away.

“Oh that,” Tia Dalma stepped away from Jack and rolled her eyes. “That happens to all men at some time.”

“Maybe to those like the Eunuch,” Jack held up his hands. “But not to Captain Jack Sparrow.”

“It has had happened to you, but it won’t anymore, not for a while.”

“Oh?’ Jack’s eyes widened before he smiled again. “Tia love, how can I repay you?”

“I didn’t fix it. You can thank the Admiral.”

Jack blinked before he pointed to James. “What have you done, mate?”

“I am not your mate,” James said. “And I believe it may have been the kiss.”

“Ah,” Jack stroked his beaded goatee. “That would explain it, now wouldn’t it?”

“Now we have gotten that away,” James turned to the doorway leading to the ladder. “And the fact that we have been stalled.” He glared at Sparrow.

“I was the one who asked,” Elizabeth said softly.

James chose not address that issue and reached for the door, only to have felt him being turned around and over come with the stench of rum and rotten cheese. His eyes widened when he saw familiar lips close in. He held up a hand to block the pirate .

“Jack!” Elizabeth, Anamaria, and Gibbs cried out at once.

“Sparrow,” James pushed the pirate off of him. “I do not know how you handle such matters aboard your own ship, but I will have you know I do not engage in the act of buggery.”

“Which is a pity,” Jack held up a finger. “Limiting yerself to only the fairer sex when there are a lot of pretty men out-“ He paused in speech and pulled Anamaria close to him and gave her a long kiss. “Why am I not feeling it?” He asked once he stepped away from the pirate woman.

 “Feeling what?” Elizabeth asked him.

“I’m not dancing at clouds and my hand isn’t entertaining me,” Jack continued to stare at his hand as he waved it around.

“That is why you kissed me?” Anamaria asked. “To have that feeling again.”

“Why did you think I tried to kiss Norrington?” Jack asked.

“You did say one shouldn’t limit oneself to the fairer sex,” Groves told him.

“Ah,” the pirate captain blinked. “What are we all waiting for? We have to prevent a big doom from happening.”

-

They had left the hut just in time. Pintel had Ragetti’s throat in his hands while he uttered a string of obscenities. Raggeti’s hands waved around. Both were causing Jack’s longboat to rock back and forth.

“Gentlemen,” Jack greeted the two loudly. Pintel released his hold on the younger man. “I don’t mind having you throttle each other, but you are not minding the boat when you are trying to kill each other, now are you?”

“You know what this idiot said?” Pintel stared up at his captain. His eyes doubled in size. “Your ears, all of you.”

“You ears all of you?” Jack tapped the bottom of his chin. “Is that really worth getting upset about and threatening to kill for?”

“Their ears,” Ragetti gasped as he pointed to his own. “All pointy.”

“Your captain shall inform you of what we had learned,” James said

“Tail,” Pintel pointed at him.

“How did he get a tail?” Ragetti asked.

“Did you visit her so you can get pointy ears and tails.”

“The admiral is the only one who has a tail and as for the ears you will be getting them too,” Gibbs pointed at them. “Best not to complain. Better to be a soldier of an angel than a devil.”

“Will is not a devil.” Elizabeth said firmly

“Devil?” Both idiotic pirates stared at each other in confusion. “I thought you needed to see Tia Dalma about,” Ragetti lowered his voice. “You know what?”

“We know about the little Sparrow,” Groves said as he helped Elizabeth into the longboat.

“Mr. Gibbs may I have a word?” James asked the former Navy man.

“Ye want to speak with me and not Jack?” Gibbs blinked. “We are not bringing up the past are we?”

“No,” James shook his head. He wasn’t sure which past Gibbs was referring to, whether it was the older man’s time in the Navy or the brief time James was a part of Jack’s crew. Off all the pirates, Gibbs was the one who treated James with respect and kindness. James had suspected he was trying to lure him to embrace the life of piracy.

“More of what we are about to face?”

“If we cannot contain Mr. Turner in his transformed state I will be seeking you out with a small fleet, do not be alarmed.”

“I won’t.”

“I need to meet near the island of Great Inagua or at these coordinates.” He trusted Gibbs would remember some of his naval training and knew the man had helped Jack chart out the path created by the compass.

“I will, but why are ye telling me this.”

“Because while Jack maybe the captain I feel you are the one who knows what they are doing.”

Gibbs stared at him. “Ye don’t know Jack as well as I do. He may seem like he doesn’t know what he is doing, but he does. He has surprised myself many times and he may surprise you.”

“You have grown accustomed to his antics, Mr. Gibbs, not I.”

“May you have the best of luck.”

“Thank you.” James watched Gibbs as the older man climbed down to the boat. “Now it is my turn.”

“That isn’t Latin,” Pintel said. “And it doesn’t have to be in Latin to count.”

“Angels prefer Latin,” Ragetti had his hands folded and against his mouth. “The admiral would be flattered I am praying in his language.”

James froze  “I am not an actual angel. I was just given a few aspects.”

“You can pray to Norrington later,” Jack said, completely ignoring what James had said earlier. “You two row us back. First, Anamaria give them each a kiss.”

Ragetti ceased in his praying and dropped his hands. Both he and Pintel blinked at the latest command from the captain and grinned, exposing their rotting teeth towards Anamaria in a fashion that caused James to long for a bath.

“Captain Groves, I wish to put a great distance between us and them,” James pointed towards the pirates once he stepped inside the long boat. “You and I shall row ourselves back to the Sandpiper immediately.”

-

James chose to not say much during the trip back to the Sandpiper, only addressing Groves and Elizabeth when either one asked him a question. He thought of all that had happened recently. His first assumption was correct. The woman in his dream was an angel, a messenger from heaven who had chosen him to battle the champion of hell. He did not want to fight William Turner, but he would if had to, just long enough to weaken him.

“Welcome back, Admiral,” Mullroy greeted as their longboat crept along side the small ship.

“Gentlemen you may be alarmed by our appearances,” James said as he waited for Elizabeth to climb aboard first. “I must first warn you of an impeding battle.”

“Where is this battle?” Murtogg asked.

“We are not certain,” Captain Groves nodded towards James. “It might be in Port Royal. It might be in the middle of the ocean.”

“Our appearances have been altered slightly,” James climbed aboard the ship. “Mine, more so than Mrs. Turner and Captain Groves, and do not blame Miss Dalma. The change had begun with me when the Naiad had her encounter with the unknown.”

“The light changed you?” Murtogg asked.

“Not quite, but more like the angel within the light,” he removed his hat and wig and flicked his tail into view. “I have been chosen by a messenger from heaven to do battle against the devil’s own forces.” He stepped next to Elizabeth and pointed at her ears. “Both Mrs. Turner and Captain Groves have been changed into soldiers who will me protect the innocent and fight along my side. Sergeant Mullroy and Sergeant Murtogg I am giving you the option of also joining.”

“What if we refuse,” Mullroy asked.

“Then it would be best if you sailed back to England, or to the northern colonies,” James said. “I am not certain if anyplace will be far away enough from where the battle will be, but the Caribbean is no longer safe.”

“Soldiers for Heaven and God?” Murtogg asked.

“It does seem like it,” Groves shrugged.

“Then I will accept this change,” Murtogg straightened his back proudly.

“So will I,” Mullroy had his jaw set in determination.

“Mrs. Turner, may you do the honors?”

“It is transferred by a kiss,” Elizabeth’s cheeks turned pink. “After I kiss you, you will become a Favorite and anyone you kiss will also be changed. It would be best if you sat down due to the brief moment of intoxication.”

Both marines flushed at the idea and shuffled uncomfortably before they sat down on deck.

“Captain Groves,” James ignored the sight of Elizabeth kissing them. “Take us back to Port Royal.”