Norrington's Darling

Captain Turner's Mutiny

POV: Zuri Norrington

Tramping through the forest, I was reminded of our escapade to control the key to Jones' chest. I remembered my wild James fighting my brother and Will for the key... Jack seemed to know where my mind had strayed. He poked me.

"Your Norrie's alright, Zu," he promised me. "No need to worry. You'll get to go live your dream. Raise a kid. Maybe two."

I gave him an odd look. "You didn't strike me as the sort who'd want to be an uncle."

Jack gave me a crooked grin. "Ah, well. Time and tide. I've changed."

"Most certainly," I agreed, throwing my arm around him. "You've been dead." It was then that he noticed. Jack's intake of breath warned me before he said anything. My voice was soft as I said, "Yes, Jack. That's exactly what you think it is."

"You and Norrie have been busy!"

"JACK!"

"Please don't tell me he gave you that on the island near Malta you and I used to..." His face drained of color when he saw my expression and he mimed vomiting. "I am never staying there ever again."

"I hate you," I muttered, skin warm and red with embarrassment. Others were starting to look at us.

But thankfully, we reached the spring. Unthankfully, there was a body laying face-down in it. 

Barbossa dragged his finger through the spring, then tasted the water. He spat it out immediately. "Poisoned. Fouled by the body."

Pintel turned over the body. "Hey, I know him! He was in Singapore!"

"Captain!" called Marty.

A panicked Ragetti was motioning at us from the beach. "OI! We've got company!" Shaking, he pointed out to sea, where another ship was by the Pearl—Sao Feng's ship.

Pistols were turned on Jack. My brother's face drained of color. "He's the captain," he said quickly, pointing to Barbossa, who rolled his eyes.

Raucous noise reached us long before we reached the deck of the Pearl, but once we got there, I swore I went deaf at the sound. With guns trained on us, we were forced up to the deck where Elizabeth and the rest of our crew were being held at gunpoint...except for Will. Instantly, my stomach soured.

"Sao Feng!" Barbossa cried. The bitter anger in his voice was evident, but he'd pasted on a fake smile. "You showing up here, 'tis truly a remarkable coincidence." Jack quickly crossed to hide behind Barbossa. I pulled him closer to me.

"Jack Sparrow." Sao Feng's decisive footsteps against the deck made my stomach turn uncomfortably. Jack's head appeared from behind Barbossa. "You paid me great insult once."

"That doesn't sound like me," Jack said, drawing himself up to his full height. He was still shorter than Feng and Barbossa. Feng punched him in the nose. I hissed and someone threw me my staff. It was aimed at Feng in an instant.

But Jack waved me away and he looked up at Feng, hand over his nose and his eyes watering. His nose cracked when he twisted it. "Shall we just call it square then?"

"Release her," ordered Will, pointing to Elizabeth. My staff went up again. This time, no one stopped me. "She's not part of our bargain."

"And what bargain be that?" hissed Barbossa.

"You heard Captain Turner," Feng shouted, smug sarcasm dripping from his posture and his voice. "Release her!"

"Captain Turner," Jack muttered, still holding his nose. 

"Aye, the profidious rotter led a mutiny against us," growled Gibbs. His glare was one that threatened death.

"I need the Pearl to free my father," Will snapped. "That's the only reason I came on this voyage."

"Why didn't you tell me you were planning this?" Elizabeth gasped.

"It was my burden to bear." The words had an edge to them. Elizabeth recoiled as if slapped. Though I hadn't forgiven her for betraying my brother, I felt pity for her.

"He needs the Pearl," Jack mocked, pointing at Will. "Captain Turner needs the Pearl!" His point turned to Elizabeth. "And you felt guilty." To Barbossa. "And you and your Brethren Court! Did no one come to save me just because they missed me?" Marty, Pintel, Ragetti, Cotton, and Jack the monkey raised their hands. As did I. Jack beamed at us. "I'm standing over there with them."

He made to move, but Sao Feng grabbed him by the neck. "I'm sorry, Jack, but there's an old friend who wants to see you first." 

Jack sighed. "I'm not certain I can survive any more visits from old friends."

"Here's your chance to find out," Feng hissed. He pointed a finger at me. I raised my staff as if I would break it off. "You, too, little bird. You're supposed to be captured. I'm sure the lord will be very angry with you and your husband when he finds out the lovely little trick you've pulled on him. Or is it just you, and will your husband be betrayed?" He grinned. "Oh, this. I wish I could see it."

He shoved us toward two of his men and we were marched off the Pearl and into a rowboat. On the horizon, the Endeavour waited.

Beckett.