A Fire Burns Within Me Version 2

August 18

Previously:
I clung to the back of the kraken, trying not to let go as it jerked this way and that. I knew it was in pain, fighting Will and them, but I couldn't heal him until the curse was broken. I'd almost had it when there was a massive explosion about the water and Kevin had to leave to regroup.

"Just a few more seconds...there!"

I opened my eyes to see the pieces of the black hull all around us. I was too late to save the Pearl, and too late to save Jack.

"Against the cold and sorrow."

Estelle reached up to grab a mug from off of Calypso's tray. Frank and I snapped our hands out to grab her hand.

"That drink is not for you, sis," I said.

She pouted. "But I'm cold."

"Here." I grabbed a mug and emptied it in Gibb's already empty mug. Focusing my powers from Hestia, I filled it up with hot chocolate. I'd seen my doppelgänger do it ages ago, and have been working on it ever since.

"Thanks, Percy!" Estelle chirped, taking a slow sip from the mug.

Calypso paused by Will. "It's a shame. I know you're thinking that with the Pearl, you could have captured the devil and set free your father's soul."

"Doesn't matter now." Will said. He took a breath, as if to face what he was about to say for the first time. "The Pearl is gone, along with its captain."

"Aye." Gibbs said sadly. "And already the world seems a bit less bright. He fooled us all right to the end, but I guess that honest streak finally won out." He paused, lifting his own mug. "To Jack Sparrow."

"Never another like Captain Jack." The one eyed pirate in the corner of the room said.

"He was a gentleman of fortune, he was." His short friend added.

"He was a good man." Elizabeth said.

Will drank without saying a word, then turned to see Elizabeth looking to be on their verge of tears with her cup in her hands. "If there was anything that could be done to bring him back..." he stood. "Elizabeth—"

"Would you do it?" Calypso asked hurriedly. "Hmm? What would you...hmm? What would any of you be willing to do, hmm? Would you sail to the ends of the earth and beyond to fetch back witty Jack and him precious Pearl?"

"Aye." Gibbs said, followed by the others in the small shack. Including the parrot of the mute dude.

Will nodded and softly said, "Aye."

"Aye!" Estelle said excitedly.

"All right." Calypso smiled. "But if you go and brace the weird and haunted shores at world's end...then you will need a captain who knows those waters."

Could that have been any more dramatic? I thought as Captain Barbosa came stomping down the stairs.

"So tell me, what's become of my ship?" He bit down on a crisp green apple. Monkey Jack sat happily on his shoulder.

Later, in the midst of all the preparations, I stopped Calypso for a chat.

"Do you by chance, know if Poseidon's trident will break my curse?" I asked.

"Was it made at sea?"

"No, but I am Poseidon's son. Surely that counts?"

She gave me a slightly creepy if not condescending smile. "The trident can only break a curse born at sea."

"Thanks anyways." I said grumpily. Turning back to Zoë, Frank and Estelle (who was still drinking her hot cocoa), I said, "Why is it so hard to find a realm with a cure?"