A Pirate's Tale By Me

I speak of an entirely different Anamaria than the one in the movie!

Anamaria stopped in her tracks, looking up at the clear summer sky, and smiled. The whole day stretched in front of her and she decided to spend it outdoors.That meant in the woods, exploring any uncharted areas. She walked across the backyard and through her own entrance into the woods. Unfurling her large map, she traced her last treks with her finger. Charting her way was important to her, even though it was really unnecessary. As she headed for a new section, she began her usual method of day-dreaming. Soon she'd be done mapping these woods. Holding a tall branch as her walking stick to guide her steps, she dreamed today of sailing uncharted seas, roaming forever free on a pirate ship. It's a pity those days are long gone, she sighed. Still, it never hurt to dream. Suddenly her foot caught on a hidden fallen log. She fell flat on her face. Grumbling, she pushed herself off. She sat a moment, getting her wind back. "Ow," she muttered, not because of her scratched arm, but because she was sitting on something sharp. She stood up on her knees, turning and peering down at the shimmer. She unearthed a gold ring, with a huge blue stone surrounded by little pearls. Well, that's cool! She smiled and tried it on. It slipped easily onto her finger. She stared at it for awhile. It reminded her of something…the ocean, that was it. She paused for a moment, hearing a foreign sound. Hunters? No, it sounded like a large body of water. Maybe I've discovered a new pond, Anamaria figured. She walked towards the strange sound, her map still in her hand. To her surprise she stepped through a clearing and found herself walking on sand, looking at what appeared to be the sea. On the not-too-distant horizon she thought she saw a ship. Trying to catch her startled breath, Anamaria walked up to the shoreline, saying something like this: "Wha- Wha- Wha?" She dropped to her knees, then froze. She turned around, back to her woods, her 'backyard forest'. She yelped with amazement as she saw palm trees replaced her precious oaks. "Whoa!""I don't suppose you could lend a hand here, mate?" A strange, familiar voice made her leap to her feet. She stared at the figure who was holding up big piece of red cloth. "Jack? Jack Sparrow?" She cried. "Captain Jack, if you please, love." He smiled at her now, the charming Jack-smile. Her eyes narrowed. "What trouble are you getting out of now?" She asked him. His eyebrows raised and she realized she'd never seen him without his bandana before. "Do you know me somehow?" He seemed almost worried. "No, I, er- I know you, sort of, but you don't know me." She said."Ah, well, that's a puzzle, to be sure, but not really my primary concern here. See, I really could use a ship right now, and there happens to be one right out there." He paused, obviously thinking things over. She could almost hear his clever wheels turning. He smiled slightly at her, and his eyes were dancing. "How would you like to sail the seven seas, darling? Free to do what you want to do simply because you want it and no one to tell you you can't do what you want done." He grinned now at her knotted brow. "Um…actually, it's kinda been my dream to be a….a pirate," she sort of laughed. Why not go along for a ride with Jack Sparrow, er, Captain Jack. "Perfect!" He cried almost before she'd spoken the words. "Then try waving that lovely blue sash, towards the approaching ship," he instructed. She glanced down at her (new) outfit. She slowly untied the blue wrap that was around her waist. She also noted her pirate pants, boots, and stained loose white shirt. She waved down the ship fairly easily and had to step back a bit when it landed. It was the Black Pearl, that was easy enough to see. "Who be you?" called a familiar voice. Anamaria spotted Mr. Gibbs leaning over the rails. She glanced behind her and saw, unfortunately, no Jack. "Um…Jack?" She called hesitantly, then yelling it. A coconut whizzed by her at hit Gibbs square in the skull. She winced for him as she heard the ensuing swears. She looked around for the culprit, Jack. She spotted him strutting- no, that was just the way he walked, she realized- out of the forest, holding a fresh coconut. "What's in your head, Jack?" She asked. He shot her an annoyed look, "It's Captain. How many times-?" Gibbs interrupted him with indiscernible shouting. Jack yelled back, "That was for leaving me with those bloody cannibals!" Gibbs yelled something in his own defense, but Jack kept going, "You're lucky I know a few savage languages!" Anna stared at him a moment, "How do you learn a cannibal's language?" She asked. He paused, considering. Then he spoke softly and way too close to her, "You just make it up, dear." He stepped back, putting his bandana in its proper place, then pointed towards the ship, "Care to join us?" He asked her, "Or you could stay here on this cannibal-infested spit of land." Given those options, Anamaria retied her sash and walked ahead of Jack, climbing up onto the Black Pearl. From this high view, she could almost see all her adventures.Jack stepped on board behind her. It made her dizzy just watching him swirl around in his crazy movements. Gibbs and the rest of the crew welcomed him back, shooting her puzzled glances. From behind her Anamaria heard a female voice speak up, "Who's your new friend, Jack?" Elizabeth Swann sauntered up to them. Jack was still standing next to Anamaria and to her surprise he placed a casual arm around her and smiled at Elizabeth. "This is my lovely…comrade…um, hmm. What did you say your name was?" Jack asked Anamaria. She raised an eyebrow at him and would've shoved him away, but she happened to catch Lizzy's smirk. Mind games, she realized. "Anamaria…" she answered. "…and you're Elizabeth, right?" Her smirk faded at that and she began her British tirade, "Jack, how do you find these girls-" "That's women, love," Ana said in a Jack voice. He smiled at Anamaria, then taking his arm off, he waltzed over to the steering wheel. Elizabeth stalked over to him, "Might I trouble you to keep your word?" She pestered. Anna caught a worried look on Jack, then he turned and smiled at Liz. He held his hands up as if in defense -Anamaria realized this is just how Jack talks to people- then tried to reassure her, "Yes, yes, we'll go and save Will. I am sorry if my almost getting eaten got in the way of your plans," he paused, thinking of something, "It was you who gave the command to leave, was it not?" He asked a very uncomfortable-looking Liz. She sputtered a few times, then admitted it, "Any man who falls behind is left behind, isn't that right, Jack?" "Whatever help you sleep at night, darling," he grinned coldly. "Well, this is all so fascinating, but I for one am utterly lost. Just where is you're going and what are ya after?" Ana asked after a brief silence. Jack spoke towards the sea, "We're headed to Isle de Menca to save brave William Turner, who I'm sure you've heard of, since you apparently know all of us." "Yes, I do, and it'd be best if you did not ask me how," Anamaria decided. "And why is that, I wonder?" Asked Elizabeth. "The truth is far too complicated for you, I'm afraid," Ana explained. Jack gave a funny little snort to that, then he began shouting orders that Anamaria didn't quite understand. "You've never worked on a ship before, I reckon?" Jack asked. Ana chuckled at that, "I've never even seen one like this." Jack seemed very surprised at that. "Well, then, feel free to take a tour. It'll have to be a quick one, though," Jack said. "Why's that?" She asked. "We're almost there, love," Jack pointed. Ana turned and saw a huge island a long ways away still. It almost seemed shaped like a, "Face?" she wondered aloud. "Yes, very good," Jack said dryly. "Did you at least warn the girl of the danger?" Gibbs popped in. "Woman," Jack corrected at the same time Anamaria cried with alarm, "Danger?" Jack glared at Gibbs. "Jack?" Ana asked suspiciously, "What are we getting into here?" Gibbs answered for Jack, "See that huge gaping cave there where the mouth forms?" He asked. Anamaria nodded, he continued, "Well, that's the base of the active volcano that form that there little island. It could fill with hot, blistering lava that could burn your skin clean off at any moment!" Gibbs paused for effect, "That's where we believe ol' Blackbeard's keepin poor Will." "So we're just going to sneak in there and snatch Will out of 'Blackbeard's' volcanic fortress?" Gibbs nodded, Jack looked uneasy. Anamaria asked, "How did you 'lose' Will, anyway?" Jack looked very uneasy now, as Gibbs opened and closed his mouth, then looked to Jack questioningly. Jack grunted, "Blackbeard came to Tortuga and…threatened to…um…take Elizabeth, unless, of course, Will could pay him 100 thousand pounds. I don't know, he must've thought she was pretty or something..." "But you could have paid it off, couldn't you have?" Anamaria asked him. "Darling, I would've loved to, but I simply don't carry that sort of change in me pocket, now, do I?" Jack smiled. She didn't buy it, "You're a pirate, he's a pirate- you could've struck a deal.""And I did, love- I told him I'd get him the money. He could even keep Will as leverage if he wished." Jack paused. "I had hoped he wouldn't take me up on that little deal, but he did, so now I am going to hold up my end of our bargain.""So you have the money?" Anamaria asked him. "No," Jack said calmly, "But I have a plan." Anamaria was almost afraid to ask, so she instead asked Gibbs this: "What did Blackbeard want the money for?" Again Gibbs looked to Jack. Jack glanced towards him, then back to Anamaria. He flashed her a gold-toothed grin, "Probably just to buy more rum- but I think he was full of it already when he asked." Ana rolled her eyes at this, and disgustedly muttered the famous line, "Pirates." They soon laid anchor a mile or so away from the back of the island. "Just what is your plan, Jack?" Elizabeth asked. "You, Gibbs and I will go ashore on the longboat. Anamaria, too, if she wishes," Anamaria nodded. Why not? "We know one thing- what Blackbeard really wants." Jack said as they rowed to shore. "What might that be?" Elizabeth asked. Anamaria understood Jack suddenly. "You mean Elizabeth?" Jack looked taken aback, "No one's ever figured me out so quickly." "Jack!" Liz cried, "You mean to- to 'sacrifice' me?" They landed. "I think she's offended, Jack." Ana tried not to smile. He smirked at that, then pulled some supplies from the boat. He handed Elizabeth a small sheathed dagger and Anamaria sword. "I figured even the women should be defended." Jack paused, "Especially the women, in this case." "Are the stories true, then?" Ana asked, "Is Blackbeard really so fearsome?" "I suppose he is, though I've never really been interested in confirming how many wives he's killed." Jack said this matter-of-factly. Elizabeth paled considerably. "So, you're going to send little Lizzy in to distract Blackbeard," Liz opened her mouth at this, but Anamaria continued, "Then I suppose I'm to save Will while you and Gibbs battle Blackbeard?" She guessed. "Close," Jack admitted. "I was thinking Lizzy could distract ol' Blacky while you and Gibbs save brave Will- try untying him- and then Lizzy could run for her life, whilst I guard the boat." "And how do we know you won't just leave us?" Ana asked, her arms crossed. Jack flinched- this was clearly his plan. Liz spoke up, "Why don't YOU distract Blackbeard while I save Will?" Shots whizzing by them answered instead of Jack. They all ducked behind the nearest boulders. "New plan!" Anamaria yelled. "Get to the cave alive, try to save Will, then make a run for it!" "I'm all for it, unless they blow a hole in our bloody boat!" Jack yelled, then took off running towards the shots. He had his pistol out, and he fired a few shots, then reached the tree line unscathed. "How is he so lucky?" Ana wondered aloud. "Let's pray his luck passes to those he's with!" Gibbs cried, taking off after Jack, his head protected by his hands. "It never seems to reach Will," Ana pointed out. "Come on!" Liz yelled, running for it when the shots ceased- whoever was shooting, they were clearly after Jack. Following Gibbs and Jack, the two ran for ages. At last they caught up to the men. Gibbs looked as if he was going to have a heart attack. Anamaria prayed he'd catch his breath soon, he was freaking her out. "Alright, we've reached the cave. Now what?" Anamaria asked. Jack considered things a moment. "We go in, you all let me do the talking- Ana, you try and sneak by Blackbeard and his crew and find Will. This cave has a few nooks and crannies. I'm guessing Will is in one of 'em. You find 'im, you give us a good ghost sound," Jack decided. "A ghost sound?" Anamaria asked. "Yes, a woman groaning or something like that- he'll think it's one of his wives, see?" Jack explained. "Alright, I've got it- let's go before I lose my nerve- Are you going to be okay, Gibbs?" Anamaria asked, concerned. "Yes, yes, but I'd best stay here and wait it out. I'm not one of ye youngsters any longer," he admitted. They all nodded silent agreement, then entered the cavern.As Jack and Elizabeth headed straight into the heart of the cave, Anamaria spotted a trail leading off to the side. She silently took it, feeling her way along when she lost her light. She could see patches of light finally. Quietly she whispered Will's name in the gloom. To her surprise there came grunts of response in a corner. She crouched down and pulled the figure into the light- it was Will, of course. She quickly undid the cloth that gagged him, then worked on his hands. "Who are you?" He asked quietly. "My name's Anamaria. I came here with Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth." She explained. His hands untied, they untied his feet together, and Ana helped him up. "Where are they?" Will demanded. "They're talking with Blackbeard." She told him. "I don't suppose Jack brought the money?" Will asked a bit bitterly. "No, of course not. What really happened, anyways?" She asked him as they headed back. "Blackbeard seems to hate Jack for some reason- Jack probably owes him for something, a wife or what not. Jack offered him Elizabeth, so I had to defend her alone. Jack found her before I could and while I was fighting of Blackbeard's crew they escaped. I was outnumbered, so they captured me and have held me, for their leverage, I imagine." Will sighed. They were at the end of the tunnel she'd found him in, she pointed the way Jack and Elizabeth had gone. They hurried along. Anamaria glanced at Will, "Jack really made a mess of things, didn't he?""He always manages to do that, and yet escapes unchanged every time," Will sounded grim. "Do you suppose anyone will ever change him?" She asked. Will chuckled at that, but then they reached an open section of cave and he never got to answer her. They crept up to see Jack and Elizabeth standing in front of a big, surly pirate. There were a few other pirates standing around. Jack was talking, naturally, and Elizabeth was looking around, uncomfortable under Blackbeard's eyes. "What's the plan here?" Will asked. Instead of answering, Anamaria let out a deathly, cold moan. Will jumped, startled, and a few pirates ran off. The others drew their swords, trembling. Blackbeard looked around, squinting. Jack nudged Elizabeth discreetly and she began to back up. "This place is haunted!" One of the pirates cried. "Haunted by one of me wives!" Blackbeard realized. "Run for yer lives!" He cried. Jack and Elizabeth were already running. They ran past Will and Anamaria, who quickly joined them. Once outside, they made their way to where Gibbs sat, waiting. He shot up off his stone chair when he saw them. Elizabeth looked at Will for the first time. "Will!" She cried happily, throwing her arms around him. Jack looked at Anamaria and rolled his eyes in their direction. Ana smiled back."You didn't have to be quite so convincing, did you? You scared the bejeezes outta me, and I was expecting it," Jack complained, though he seemed fairly amused. "We should probably return to our ship, don't you think?" Anamaria asked. "With all haste, darling," Jack agreed. They quickly made their way first to the longboat then to the Black Pearl. Climbing aboard, Jack turned to her, "You know, I think you'll make a fine addition to our crew," he decided. She laughed at that, "You know, I would love to come on some more of your adventures, Jack. But for now I should very much like to go home," she said. "Ah, well then, point me the way and I'll gladly take you there," Jack offered. She grabbed him by the arm and led him into his captain's cabin. "Er, what are you-" he began. "Shhh- close your eyes, Jack." He obeyed, but peeked a bit. She put her hand over his eyes. "I want you to hold onto something for me. If ever you should think of me, you can put it on and take me sailing away with you," She smiled. "You can come and save me from my lonely dreams, like you did today." She took her hand off his eyes. "No peeking!" She ordered. She put her hand in his and kissed his cheek farewell quickly. He felt her hand disappear and when he opened his eyes she was gone. Anamaria woke up in her familiar woods, her map still laying near her where she'd dropped it. She smiled a bittersweet smile, wondering if Jack would ever come back for her.Jack stared down at the blue ring in his hand, puzzled. He studied it closely, then his sly grin appeared knowingly. He played with the ring for a moment. Then he slipped it on.
THE END