Ten Years at Sea

By S.D.

Chapter 1 – Below and Above

The moment Davy Jones turned and plunged the sword into his chest was over so quickly, yet a multitude of thoughts flashed through Will's mind in the midst of the pain. How could this happen? I'm the best swordsman I know. How did I not see it coming?

He felt himself falling to the deck, and could not gather the strength to catch himself. He saw Elizabeth beside him. She was upset. Of course she was upset. He wanted to comfort her, but the words wouldn't come. He struggled to maintain consciousness, but felt it slipping away. There were voices, but they were faint, as if from a long distance away. His vision was only full of Elizabeth. She was his world, and she'd be the last thing he'd ever see…

Will awoke to an eerie world. Dark and cold, flickering with unnatural green and blue light. It seemed the entire world was in motion, swirling about him. Am I dead? He thought. Am I on my way to the afterlife?

A gruff voice startled him from his thoughts. "William. Do you hear me?"

Will tried to sit up to find the source of the voice. His left side felt as though it was on fire and he collapsed back on the soft surface.

"Take it easy, son. You've got quite a wound there." And suddenly, he remembered. Davy Jones. I've been stabbed.

"Bootstrap?" He croaked out.

"Aye, son. It's me."

"Where's Elizabeth?"

"She's on the Pearl. Jack took her back before we went under."

Under? They were underwater. That explained the light and the cold. But it was impossible…

"Davy Jones?"

"He's gone. Gone for good."

"But then… who stabbed him? Jack?" Will struggled to make sense of everything. The Dutchman had to have a captain, and whoever stabbed Jones' heart became captain.

Will felt a hand on his right shoulder. He looked up, shocked to see that his father had lost all the sealife that had been clinging to him ever since he first met him. His face was pale, but clean. An expression of sorrow was etched across his features.

"William – son – you were dyin'. There was nothin' we could do for you. So Jack took your hand and helped you stab Jones' heart."

Will shoved himself upright, groaning as the pain coursed through his body.

"No." He whispered. "It's not true."

"I'm sorry, son."

Will gingerly pulled his blood-soaked shirt aside and saw not only the sword wound, but a ragged gash across the left side of his chest. He raised his eyes, and saw Jones' black chest on a table nearby. Nausea overtook him and he retched.

"I know it's a lot to take in." Bootstrap said kindly. "And I wish I could give you time, but there ain't no time. The Pearl is in trouble, and we can't resurface without a command from the captain."

"The Pearl…"

"Aye, Beckett's still alive and well and wantin' to take down Jack Sparrow." Bootstrap paused. "And Elizabeth will be wantin' to see that you're alright."

"I don't know if I'd call this alright," Will said hoarsely.

"Nevertheless, the Dutchman needs her captain. Are you sound enough for command?"

"I guess I'll have to be if Elizabeth is in danger." He struggled to his feet and stood to face his father. "Tell me what I need to do."

Will followed his father to the upper deck, passing many crewmembers on the way. Like Bootstrap, they had all lost their monstrous appearances and looked like men again. Most of them removed their hats in respect as their new captain passed by. When Will reached the upper deck, he was shocked to discover that the ship itself seemed to have been reborn as well. The barnacles, seaweed and slime that had covered the ship and sails had vanished.

Bootstrap read his son's reaction. "Aye, she's restored to her former glory." He said quietly. "And it's all thanks to you, my boy."

"I didn't do anything." Will said bitterly.

"Maybe not," Bootstrap said agreeably. "Maybe it's just your presence."

Will sighed deeply, feeling intense pain as he did so. "Let's just do what we have to do to save The Pearl."

Will took up a position near the bow. He grasped the rigging, not sure what to expect as they surfaced. He looked questioningly at his father.

"Ask the crew to bring 'er up, Captain Turner." Bootstrap responded, beaming at the phrase Captain Turner.

Will nodded. "Bring her up and prepare the cannons. We've got another battle to fight."

The crew stared at him but didn't move.

"Are you all deaf and dumb?" Bootstrap shouted. "Listen to your new captain and take this ship topside!"

The crew jumped into action. The ship began to rise quickly. Soon the waves were breaking over the deck as they burst onto the surface. Will felt the sun shining warmly on his body, and heaved a sigh of relief. His wounds twinged painfully, but it was not as agonizing as before.

Will gazed across the brilliant water and saw Beckett's ship, The Endeavor, closing in on the Pearl.

"The Pearl's in rough shape." Bootstrap commented. "She'll not be able to take Beckett down herself."

"Bring us alongside the Endeavor. We'll trap Beckett between us and take him down."

"Aye, Captain Turner."

Will grasped the rigging tightly as they sped toward the two ships. His gaze searched the deck of the Pearl, hoping to catch a glimpse of Elizabeth. And suddenly, there she was. She was staring at him across the distance, excitement evident on her face. Will called to the crew to pour on the speed. They were catching up with the Endeavor, and with any luck at all, the Dutchman and the Pearl could take her down with little to no damage to themselves. Will briefly wondered if Elizabeth realized what had happened to him, but he pushed that thought aside and concentrated his whole attention on sending Beckett to the depths and protecting the Pearl from harm.