Pirate, Extraordinaire // Sequel to Take Off Your Dress, Pick Up A Sword

a nice hat

The beach was an unbelievably welcome sight. Joanna had never been so glad to see sand in all her life. She screamed in joy; five men echoed her without hesitation.

The closer they trudged to the Black Pearl, the more it became apparent they weren't alone.

"The mooring line!" Bellowed Pintel from the sand. From the ratlines of the Pearl, Ragetti waved ingenuously to him. "Let loose the mooring line!"

"What the hell are they doing here," Joanna protested, quite fed up with surprises.

"Our work's half done!" Gibbs exclaimed in gratification, slapping Pintel's shoulder as he trotted by.

"Thank the Gods," Lejon said, brushing past Joanna to join Gibbs.

Gibbs chirped, "Make ready to sail!" Joanna had never seen him so happy to give an order.

"Wait!" That was Will, pulling up beside Joanna. Chest heaving, he still found enough air to argue. "What about Jack? I won't leave without him."

Joanna shook her head. Biting her lip, she snatched Will's sleeve and began hauling him in the direction of the Pearl. "There's no drums," she said waspishly when he complained. Will's jaw closed with a click.

"Oi!"

Her heart brimming with tentative, effervescent hope, Joanna whirled to look up the beach. Sure enough, there he was: Captain Jack Sparrow, caterwauling across the sand at top speed. The joy was short-lived, however, as it became obvious what Jack was running from. Hundreds of cannibals rounded the bend, yelling battle cries to Jack's pinwheeling figure.

"Time to go," Will squeaked and ducked away.

Joanna bolted for the ship, consumed by two thoughts. One: If we ready the ship, and he's fast enough, Jack can climb aboard as we leave. Two: My sense of self-preservation is stronger than my desire to see Jack aboard this ship.

Will hot on her heels, Joanna hastened for the deck of the Black Pearl. "Gibbs!" She called as soon as her feet kissed the deck. When she had his attention, she asked: "Orders?"

Gibbs tossed her something brown and heavy and faintly smelly -- Jack's coat. "Greet the captain," he said with a grin, and bustled off to observe the tacking of the Pearl.

"Yessir," Joanna said to his back. Obediently, she shot for the railing.

Will trailed after her, spinning once as he took in the Pearl. Joanna imagined he saw a very different vessel than the one he had been an ephemeral prisoner of. "No holes in the sails," he observed as they went up. "Your doing?"

"Yours," Joanna replied with a grin. At Will's confusion, she elaborated. "The Pearl was as cursed as her inhabitants. When you broke the curse, you freed her."

Will's eyes raked over the sky-piercing masts. Idly, his hand found the railing.

Joanna and Will looked on as Jack splashed into the sea and grappled for a handhold on the Pearl's lines. "Alas, my children!" He announced as he found footing, swiveling to address the beach. It was busy with crying, mournful Pelegostos. "This is the day you shall always remember as the day you --" Rudely, Jack was interrupted by a stifling wave.

"Captain Jack Sparrow," Joanna called as the water fell away, completing his tagline. She leaned over the railing with a smirk. "You've had a busy day!"

"Anna!" A man in sharp contrast to his earlier imperturbable facade, Jack greeted Joanna happily. He wiggled his fingers in a coquettish wave. "Hand up?"