Norrington's Darling

The Maelstrom Battle

POV: Zuri Norrington

The storm that gathered was undoubtedly the work of Calypso. I could feel her magic in the rain that fell. I soaked up the rain, letting it wash over me, letting the rain bring me to my best. I let the cold soak into my bones. I prepared for battle.

Chaos had erupted on deck the moment the rain fell. It was made worse when Gibbs shouted, "MAELSTROM!"

Elizabeth looked to Barbossa. "Captain Barbossa, we need you at the helm!"

Barbossa turned to her from where he watched the sea. "Aye, that be true!" He took the wheel and gave orders. "Brace up the yards, ya cockeyed deck apes... Dyin' is a day worth livin' for!"

"REMEMBER THIS SHIP IS STILL JACK'S!" I yelled at him before running to the brig where I'd left my sword. Beside it was a note scrawled in Tia's handwriting. I shoved it into my pocket where it would not get wet and raced back to the deck.

We careened at top speed toward the maelstrom, wind filling our sails. I watched as the Dutchman barreled into it, heading straight for us.

Will gave the warning shout: "She's on our stern and gaining!"

"More speed!" ordered Barbossa. "Haul your wind and hold your water!"

Men rushed to comply. I went to Elizabeth's side.

"Have we given Jack enough time?" she asked.

"Possibly," I said. "It's hard to tell and I can't risk checking the threads. I can't risk using my magic. Jones will think me Calypso and you need me here for when things get really bad."

"Yes, we do," she admitted. "But if Jack hasn't succeeded, this does us no good."

The Dutchman fired at us. Cannons hit the ship hard.

"Take her out or she'll overbear us!" Will said, shouting to be heard even though he was right next to Barbossa. It would be a miracle if any of us giving orders had voices left by the end of this.

"Nay, farther in! We'll cut across to faster waters!" No wonder Jack had made Barbossa his first mate. He was smart. Daft like Jack and smart like Jack, just one step behind.

"Prepare to broadside!" Elizabeth screamed as the ships grew close enough for me to see Jones at the helm.

"Captain the guns!" yelled Gibbs.

"At the ready!" replied Will.

"FIND JACK!" Elizabeth yelled to me. 

I nodded and retreated behind the stairs. I took one of Jack's beads from my pocket and concentrated. "Jackie, where are you?" I shook with effort. It was so much harder to concentrate and my heart was pounding like a drum in my chest. But at last I watched through my brother's eyes as he left the brig behind.

"He's left the brig, Elizabeth!" I shouted to her. "We gave him enough time!" She nodded to me and I returned to myself, letting my magic expand to cover the Dutchman. To hell with it. If Jones noticed the traces of Calypso, let him assume it was the storm. 

I could hear Gibbs shouting orders but what they were I didn't know. Then everyone began to scream, "FIRE!"

Cannon after cannon went off, cannonballs missing at random or striking well. The Dutchman fired back and screaming ensued. Chaos broke out everywhere. 

An impression of victory crossed my magic—Jack had stolen the chest. I gave a victorious whoop and a cannonball smacked into the Dutchman, taking out at least three men. And a thread snapped—Mercer's.