Chapter 1

"So, tell me, what has become of my ship," asked Barbossa as he bit into his trademark green apple. A yellow-toothed grin spread across his face.

Everyone else in the room, except Tia Dalma, stood in stunned silence. Their bewildered eyes were glued to the pirate they had believed to be dead for five years now. Elizabeth's mouth slightly hung open in shock. After a few moments, Will suddenly whipped out his sword.

"What are you doing here," Will asked sharply.

Barbossa chuckled in his usual manner and looked to Tia Dalma, waiting for her to provide the million-dollar answer to the million-dollar question.

"I bring him back from the dead. We make a deal that he has to pay me back before he becomes a free man," replied Tia Dalma in her usual playful yet loopy tone.

"Why?"

"Like you, William Turner, I could tell that he had a certain destiny about him. A destiny to guide you to what you want the most."

Barbossa started to descend the rest of the stairs. Finally on level ground, he strutted over to lean casually on a table. "Believe me, I'm not too crazy about this idea either, but we always have to do things we don't want to do."

"But you hate Jack," said Elizabeth with no trace of a tone in her voice that suggested that she absolutely despised this man.

"True," replied Barbossa, "but in order for me to regain my freedom in the world, I'm afraid I find myself to have to oblige to your request, and not be disinclined to acquiesce it." He turned to look at Will. "You can put that away, Mr. Turner. It won't do me any good to slice you in half."

Will begrudgingly slid his sword back into his hilt, his gaze never leaving the mutineer.

"Now, I believe no one answered my question. Where's my ship?"

"It went down with Jack," Elizabeth forced out, clearly still upset about what she had done. Deep inside her, she knew that she had done the right thing, in a way. The Kraken did just want Jack, not them. But in saving five lives, she had also ended another. Nothing was able to stop the wave of guilt that had been sweeping over her for the past few hours. It was Barbossa's voice that brought Elizabeth out of her thoughts.

"Like they say, the captain goes down with the ship. Even if it wasn't really his," he said with the smallest hint of amusement in his voice.

It took every fiber inside Elizabeth's moral being not to strangle Barbossa right then and there. She knew that Jack and Barbossa both shared the same amount of hatred for each other, but Elizabeth still thought that even someone like Barbossa should show at least a little bit of respect.

"So how do we sail to World's End without a ship?" Those were the first words that Gibbs had spoken since Barbossa revealed himself.

"Don't fret your hairy little head over that," Tia Dalma spoke up. "I already have a means of transportation arranged." She walked over to the window and pointed out to the sea. Elizabeth was the first one to arrive there and gaze out in awe.

There, on the shallow waters, illuminated by the torches and candles of the mourners outside, floated what appeared to be a ship. But not just any ship. A ship that everyone in the dimly lit cabin recognized upon first glance: The Black Pearl. But how could that be? Elizabeth herself had seen the Pearl sink into the depths of the ocean with...

She stopped. She couldn't bear to think about her own little act of piracy.

"Is that really..." Will broke the silence.

"The Black Pearl...II," Tia Dalma gleefully finished for him.

"But...how did you...?"

"I work in mysterious ways, Mr. Turner. Have you forgotten whose cabin you're currently in?"

Will walked over to her. "Then I suppose since you've provided us with a ship, you plan on us following your rules?"

"That is exactly what's floating around inside my head," she grinned.

The rest of the crew turned to her expectantly.

"Your task is a simple one. Keep sailing North until you cross a thick fog. There, you will discover that the blue sky has turned a deep shade of purple, the water as black as the night, and all traces of life have been replaced by the odious stench of death and despair. World's End: The heaven, and sometimes hell, for dead pirates. If your will for Jack to return to the land of the living is strong enough, then he will be reborn. But beware, there may be some there and along the way who will try to stand in your way. Both dead and alive."

After Tia Dalma finished, a subdued silence followed. Elizabeth felt shivers of fear running down her spine. Dead and alive? The thought chilled her to the bone. It was the first time in a while that she felt even the slightest sense of fear. But she knew that as long as she would face these dangers along with Will, then she could summon up the courage to get her mission accomplished.

"Can we have another jar of dirt," Pintel asked nervously.

Both Will and Elizabeth rolled their eyes at the stupid question.

"You set sail tomorrow at sunrise. I suggest that you all get some rest. You'll need it."

Everyone nodded. Tomorrow their quest would begin, and Elizabeth wouldn't feel as bad as she did now because she would be doing something to help clear her conscience.

Everyone started to find a place to sleep. As Will swept past Elizabeth, she could tell something was wrong with him. She especially noticed when he settled down on top of a few blankets and a pillow without wishing her or kissing her goodnight. After that, it only took a few seconds for realization to hit her. He saw me!