The Heir to the Pirate King

Just a Teaser:

The old man's face was weathered, worn. It seemed he had lived an eternity. His clothing was mismatched and strangely tawdry in a piratical way. His hair was long and dreadlocked, the scars on his face a testament to how long he'd lived. He gave a knowing nod at Jack and tipped his hat to Will.

"Ahoy, matey. This be death?" he asked in a low growl of a voice.

Jack froze. This was the last person Jack had ever expected to meet on this sojourn. "How marvelously mystifying it is to see you…not alive and all."

"Welcome aboard, John Teague," Will ushered as he shook Teague's hand.

Teague stepped aboard the Dutchman, and planted himself. His head turned slowly, observing all that was going on. "Thank ye, matey. I'll not be long. I'm on me way to me locker, aye?"

Jack's jaw dropped, and he couldn't speak. Never had Captain Jack Sparrow been struck speechless.

Will, while not struck dumb, was surprised as well. "Well," he thought aloud, "Not necessarily. You could remain aboard the Dutchman, and serve under my command for however long you wish, postpone the judgment, and even ease the punishment…if you like."

Teague looked at Will for a moment, but not in discernment. The old man had had his mind set for centuries. He shook his head slowly. "No, I'll be on me way quick as wind, I will."

Will nodded in agreement and gave the signal to his father to continue on their way.

"How did you come about this odd carbuncle?" Jack asked as the three moved about the deck.

"I chose to die. It was me time." Teague laid a hand on Jack's shoulder, giving it a paternal pat.

"But it didn't have to be." Jack stopped walking as he sensed the conversation was going to get a lot more serious.

"Boy, you learn one thing from being immortal. And that's that water will always be wet."

Jack stood there, gaping, as Will and Teague moved on.

(A/N: Wow. It's been so long. I hope you all don't hate me. I'll try my hardest to pick this back up again. I promise. Because I still have a good idea of where I was going with it, believe it or not.

Thank you all for reviewing! It's meant a lot to me. ^_^)