Disclaimer: We do not own any piece of the POTC franchise.
Hey we're still alive! Sorry this chapter took so long but we've really been working on it for months. Between school and work and other stuff of course. This one is a joint venture, we both wrote it and it's almost double the length of a regular chapter as you can see. So, we left off where Will and Belle were about to go on their big task adventure leaving Elizabeth, Jack and the mysterious man behind to make sure the seas are at least partially safe in their absence.
"What was that about Will," Bell asked in a hurt tone.
"It was nothing," he said as he hung his head down.
Bell could see both relief and what looked like disappointment in his eyes. "Will, if I am to be your wife now – well – I need to know what is bothering you."
Will thought about just telling her it was nothing once again but while he was not happy about the binding he knew Bell didn't deserve to be hurt as well. "She's not – she thought she might be but she's not." Bell looked at Will in confusion. "She's not with child. She's not carrying my child."
"Oh, I see."
"I – we didn't know and it wouldn't have made a difference with us so it's not an issue," he hurriedly added.
"It would have mattered and made a difference. I'm sure Elizabeth is more than disappointed – she must be devastated. I mean to think she could have had another child by you."
"It doesn't matter Bell. She's not and my life is with you. Life that is IF we survive all of this."
"We will survive – we have to for everyone's sake," Bell said halfway smiling at Will.
"First we must hurry and get to this island and find that cave," Will said picking up speed, "I don't quite understand how all of this is going to work or why we need to go there. I thought just being bound together would be enough."
"No. We are strong together but there is too much to learn in such a short period of time. From what my mother has said – we will learn quickly and grow close in this cave. We'll be together and will understand the potential of our powers together."
Will glanced back at the Pearl, they were readying more boats. "Looks like they will be following us soon." He squinted his eyes and looked in the distance past the Pearl, "or maybe not. I think I see a ship in the distance heading our way."
The waves began to increase in size and a stronger wind began to pick up. "Will, relax. It's not the Dutchman. Maybe it's someone who's going to help us."
"Bell, you don't know for sure and-"
"Will, if you keep this up Jack and the rest won't be able to reach us. You might drown our family and friends, just look at the sea swells you are causing by your worrying." Bell gently reached out and rubbed his leg. "Now take a deep breath and calm down." Will did as she asked and the seas began to calm. He then returned to his steady rowing but picked up some speed. Bell smiled at him.
"Just in case. We need to find that cave so I can learn about these powers of mine." Bell only smiled and nodded in agreement.
Elizabeth sadly watched as the two rowed further and further away. She kept reminding herself that this was for the greater good so there wasn't really any other choice in the matter. She looked away from them to see another ship appear on the horizon.
"Jack? Do you recognize that ship?" she asked stepping away.
Sparrow looked in the same direction and shook his head. He raised a hand as though to signal for the crew to prepare to fight when a voice called out, "there's no need to worry."
Everyone looked around and realized that it was the strange cloaked man who had spoken.
"It's only the rest of my crew."
"Your crew?" Jack asked a bit too shrewdly.
"Aye. What, did you think that I was alone on these seas?"
"He didn't mean it that way," Elizabeth said, interjecting quickly before a fight occurred, "he just meant that now we don't know quite where your allegiances lie. Sir."
"My allegiances lie with the ones who are on the side of good. That would be your lot I assume. The seas need to be kept safe and we are all working towards that."
The man crossed his arms and waited for any sort of rebuttal. When none came, he called out to his crew that it was safe for them to board.
"Hang on a second mate," Jack said, "we don't even know who you are!"
The man looked to Calypso and she ever so slightly inclined her head to let him know that all was fine. He pushed down the hood and looked at Jack square in the eye.
"My full name is Samuel William Turner."
The cave was just in front of them. Will stopped rowing for a moment in order to rest his arms.
"So, should we just row right in?" he asked.
"I suppose…" Bell said.
Will picked up the oars and continued forward when suddenly a hole appeared in the water. The boat began to tip and Bell nearly fell in if not for Will grabbing onto her hand, holding on as tightly as he could. Slowly her hand began to slip and Will reached over with the other hand. That made him let go of the ship and both of them fell down, down into the abyss.
"Will? Will," Bell called picking herself up from the ground. "Solid ground?! Will, where are you?" I don't understand we were in a boat when we- , Bells thoughts were interrupted by a low moan. She slowly moved through the darkness towards the sound – "Will, is that you? Please answer me Will – I'm frightened."
Another moan was released and then in a quiet tone, "Bell? Where are we?"
"Oh Will, I don't know and it's dark but, well, although I can hear the water we are on solid ground."
"So it would seem." Will began to get up and quickly had to sit back down.
Bell had been trying to help him stand and felt him sit down again. "Are you alright," she asked kneeling next to him. She reached out in the darkness and found his face. She gently began to caress it when she suddenly pulled it away, "you're hurt. I can feel the blood trickling down."
"I'm ok, just a bit dizzy. I suppose I hit my head on something although I certainly cannot tell what in this darkness."
"Here, let me heal you," Bell said placing her hand over the wound.
"Bell, your hand gives off a small glow when you are doing that. We must not have seen it in the bright light of day. Here give me your hand and concentrate on light." Bell did as she asked and there now appeared a glow about the cavern. They both looked around one end of the cavern there appeared a huge waterfall with remains of their boat littering the edges. The other way seemed to show a path. "Looks as if we have no choice in our course."
"Let me look at you and make sure you're completely healed." Bell carefully examined him. She stopped and looked into his eyes before slowly descending upon his lips. He began to resist but found himself lost to her and returned her kiss with a great passion. They both broke the kiss and found themselves breathless. Bell smiled, "you know in my dreams you have blue eyes but I love your eyes being brown as well."
"Your dreams? You dream about me? With blue eyes?"
"Well you see when I have these reoccurring dreams – well they come true. They always come true."
"Always?" Bell nodded her head in agreement. "And what do you dream about Bell? What happens when I'm in your dreams?"
"Well," Bell paused and Will could see her blushing in even this light, "I saw us in this cave, uh, making love." She paused again, "come to think of it – your eyes are brown until we leave this cave. Well after we leave here, I see us making love many times and we have 5 children. We are sooo happy Will. We love each other so much in my dreams."
"5 children? William and 4 others?"
"No," she said sadly, "5 of our own. William wasn't one of them."
"But what of Elizabeth and William? Surely they survive this? Surely we must defeat Payne."
"I don't know Will. I only know that we survive and we have a large family." Will nodded and sadly tried to accept his fate.
"ENOUGH," a deep voice boomed from the path in the cave, "almost time to begin your lessons."
Will and Bell quickly stood to their feet, "who's there," Will asked?
"I'm your teacher and your lessons are about to begin," the voice said matter of factly and this time the voice came from next to them. Will and Bell looked at one another. "Ignorant children." They felt the breeze from someone waving their hand and suddenly appeared an old man – a transparent old man.
Will's brow was crumpled in disbelief, "You're a ghost?"
"Some might call me that but I'm here only to help you learn about your powers. If you learn quickly, you should be out of here before your first child is born."
"What?! We haven't even- , That would be months or years-"Will exclaimed. Bell grabbed hold of his arm and gently rubbed his back trying to calm him.
"I'm sorry but we have friends and family that need our help. They will be killed by the new captain of the Flying Dutchman in a matter of days if we don't-"
"Doesn't matter. Not my rules. Only when you have mastered your powers and you two are truly joined will you be allowed to leave," the teacher said uncaringly.
"We are joined. Whether we wanted to be or not," Will explained.
The teacher laughed, "that simple ritual was nothing but you'll figure it out – sooner or later," he added. "Rest now, we begin tomorrow."
"But-" Bell tried to say but the teacher was gone. She turned to Will, "I guess we need to see if there's a better place to sleep."
Will nodded but kept his head down. Bell lifted his chin up, "Don't forget Will Turner that I have family up there too and her life is at stake."
"I'm sorry Bell. I wasn't thinking." Bell reached up and once again kissed his lips. He gave her a small smile and then led her by the hand in search of a place to rest.
Will's sleep was filled with conflicting visions of himself, Elizabeth and Bell. Unfortunately upon waking he couldn't quite remember what it was he had seen. He turned over to see Bell sleeping with a big grin on her face whispering something Will couldn't quite hear. She looked so beautiful when she slept. Like a princess.
Suddenly, the ground felt like it was moving beneath them. Will sat up and looked around but it was still rather dark and therefore all he had to go by was the moving ground. A rumbling noise came from Will's left and he shook Bell to wake her.
"What is it? What's going on?" she asked, suddenly alert.
The two were silent and the noise got louder and closer. The rumbling got worse and worse. Bell clutched Will's arm tightly, frightened. Out of nowhere a light from nearby torches lit up the cave and Will looked around to find a hole in the wall big enough for an entire ship to fit through. Listening through the void, it was where the rumbling was coming from and it was louder and closer than ever before.
Bell ran and pulled Will to a far corner of the room to protect both of them. A giant bolder came rolling into the room. It stopped in the center and stood completely still.
"What is it Will?" Bell asked.
"This is your first test!"
Will and Bell turned to see the ghost appear and make its way over to them.
"The first test; now?" Will said.
"Aye; a test of endurance. I believe the two of you know the tale of Sisyphus."
"The man who had to roll the boulder? My Mum told me…"
"Well now the two of you are going to repeat his test," the ghost continued without letting her speak.
Will looked at both of them while they spoke. He knew very few things about mythology and history. He was sure that he heard something about that from a sailor from his time when he was on the sea looking for his father.
"Repeat the test? You mean you want the two of us to move a giant boulder, by ourselves?"
"A test of ENDURANCE!" the ghost said loudly before disappearing to where he came from.
Will and Bell stared at the boulder. Will knocked a fist against it, trying to figure out how hard it was.
"It's a pretty sturdy rock," he murmured.
"Should we try pushing it?" Bell asked.
She and Will got into position; each put their hands against the rock and tried pushing as hard as they could. The boulder remained in place and they put every ounce of their strength into moving it yet the rock remained where it had first stopped.
"What's the plan now?" Bell asked.
Will brought his hand to his chin and thought it over. There were only so many things they could do to move a giant rock. If he had some sort of stick he could use for leverage but with a boulder like this, Will would need an entire tree trunk to move it. That's when his thoughts finally turned to their abilities. It could work…
"Maybe we should try moving it using our power over water," Will finally said.
"Really, you think that would do something?" Bell asked.
Will shrugged. "It couldn't hurt."
Will rolled up his sleeves the two got back into position again. They both closed their eyes and concentrated. The sound of the boulder being moved gave way for Will to open his eyes. They were actually making the giant rock move!
"Bell its working!" Will exclaimed.
Bell opened her own eyes and nodded, but tried not to take her attention off the task at hand.
"Do you think we'll reach the top soon?" Bell asked very out of breath. It was hours later and still they were working hard to complete this first test.
"I should hope so. It's not like we can stop anytime soon otherwise we'll have to start all over again." Will was getting exhausted himself. Every breath he took felt like fire in his lungs. "Since we're still going to be here for awhile, why don't you tell me a bit more about that Sissy-bloke?" he then asked sincerely.
"Sisyphus," Bell corrected him before continuing, "was an ancient Greek who was punished by the gods. He was charged to roll a giant boulder up a hill every morning and by the time day was finished the giant rock would roll all the way back to the ground for the next day. This he did for the rest of his days."
"I see; and now it seems we must do the same. To test our endurance," Will said.
"So it would seem," Bell said.
Neither one of them knew how much further till they reached the top of wherever they were going. Will looked to his side to see that Bell's power seemed to be weakening. Thinking quickly Will grabbed her hand and the combined power of both of them gave them enough strength to go on.
Before they knew it, the boulder had reached a wall of some kind. They had finally reached the end of the road. Will picked up Bell and the two of them twirled around in a circle.
"I'm so exhausted, Will. I can't believe we had to do that. You don't think they'll make us do it all over again tomorrow do you?"
Will smiled at Bell, "No of course not." Then Will thought again, "well at least I don't think so." Will's smile disappeared, "You don't think they would do you?"
They both shook their heads and in unison replied, "no."
Their ghostly host listened to their conversation and turned to his leader. "They have no idea of what they are in store for them."
"Well, let's give them an idea of what the future could hold," the hidden figure ordered, "Show Will the possibilities through his dreams."
"Yes, of course," replied the ghostly figure replied before they both vanished into thin air.
Will and Bell found a suitable place to sleep and lay down near to each other but not close enough to touch. They both fell asleep quickly after such a tiring day. As soon as Will fell into a deep sleep, he began to toss and turn. It wasn't long before Bell was awakened by Will's crying out in his sleep. She quickly went to him gently trying to wake him up. She couldn't seem to get him to awaken. "No! Watch out! NO! I can't live without you," he screamed before he began crying. Bell continued to try and wake him and was having no luck when suddenly Will sat upright and continued to breathe heavily as he panicked.
Bell put her arms around him and gently rubbed his back. "Will? Will, are you ok?"
"I – yes, Bell I'm fine," he said as he pulled away from Bell's embrace.
"You don't seem fine. Did you have a nightmare?"
Will looked at her and wiped his eyes. He averted her look and turned away. Bell felt hurt by his avoidance of her and spoke in a quiet tone, "you dreamed of Elizabeth didn't you?"
Will quickly turned back to her, "Why do you say that?"
"Because you are upset and well – you talked in your sleep."
"What did I say Bell?"
"Not much – but it stopped with you saying you can't live without her." Will hung his head. "I'm sorry Will. You don't have to talk about her if you don't want to-"
"It wasn't her, Bell. I didn't dream of her."
"Oh, it was about William-"
"No Bell. It – it was about you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you." Will's eyes met Bell's and although she was concerned about his nightmare and his feelings, she couldn't help but feel some hope. He dreamed of her and he couldn't live without her.
"I – what was it about?"
"Well, let's just say that we need to be very careful and I want you to stay very close to me. Please don't ask me details."
"I think I can handle that Will," she said smiling.
"Well, let's try and get some more sleep. We have no idea what tomorrow holds for us," Will said. Bell started to stand and go back to her spot but Will grabbed her hand. "Stay here close by me." Bell nodded and curled up then Will laid down behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"You know Will that I could get used to this." Will said nothing but kissed the top of her head before closing his eyes to a more restful sleep.
Some hours later their ghostly host woke them up.
"Is it morning already," Bell asked.
"It's not like we'd know in this cave," Will complained.
"Over there is some food and water," their host pointed, "hurry and continue down your path."
"What is our test for today," Will asked.
"Not moving that rock again," Bell complained.
"You're task will be shown to you soon enough and you'll need no more instructions from me," he stated before disappearing again.
"I suppose we should eat Bell and keep up our strength. No telling what is in store for us today." Bell and Will ate quickly some bread, fruits and drank some water. "Guess we better get started."
"Alright." Bell took one last bite and grabbed Will's free hand as he held the light in his other hand.
They both walked apprehensively in the cave wondering when they would begin their next test. After hours of walking, Bell finally stopped. "Can't we rest here for just a bit?"
"I suppose so. I just don't understand what we are supposed to be doing?"
"Well," Bell said smiling, "maybe it's a test of patience."
"Somehow I rather doubt that one. Wait did you hear that," Will asked.
"Hear what?"
Will let go of Bell's hand and put his finger up to his lips to tell her to be quiet. There was nothing but silence and as Bell was about to speak – she heard it. It was a distant roar.
"There. Did you hear it Bell?"
Bell nodded, "what – what do you think that is?"
"I – I'm afraid that it might –" he stopped again to listen to the noise get closer.
"It might be what Will? You're frightening me. Please tell me."
Around the corner the cave looked lit up and the noise of a large creature moving got closer.
"It was in my nightmare last night Bell," Will turned from looking down the corridor to Bell's face. "It was a some giant lizard type of creature."
"Will, you mean a dragon."
"Dragons are mythical. They don't really exist."
"Yes and neither do sea goddess but yet I'm a daughter of one."
"Good point. I suppose a dragon did exist in my dreams." Will scanned the room, "Bell go over there behind that large boulder and wait for me."
"I'm not leaving you."
"I can't protect us both – now go!"
"But we're stronger together-"
"And I know exactly where you'll be. GO!"
Bell did as she was told and Will drew his didn't take long for them to see their mythical creature and it was much bigger than Will had remembered in his dream. "I don't know how I'm supposed to fight this beast Bell. Any ideas?"
"Well unfortunately most of my powers are drawn from the sea and I don't see any water near by. As long as it doesn't have the power of-" Bell was cut off as the creature turned to her and blew out a long stream of fire.
"Bell," Will yelled partly to warn her and partly to try and distract the beast.
"As long as it didn't have the power of fire, I could have helped you more. This beast has rendered all my powers as useless. Will you can fight it with your powers," Bell yelled from her hiding place.
"I don't even know what my so called powers are. Since they came from the goddess of the sea don't you think they are related as yours are to the sea."
"Not really Will. Think about it. She wouldn't give the captain of the flying Dutchman powers of the sea. It would make him too powerful and be a challenge to her. She'd give you powers that would only be good once every ten years."
"I think I understand but I still don't know what to do Bell," Will continued while he poked his sword at the dragon hoping to draw its attention from Bell. The dragon would whip its tail at Will keeping him at a distance. When it had played enough with Will, the beast decided it was time to finish the one hiding behind the rock. It moved forward towards Bell and knocked Will back against the cave with its powerful tail.
"Bell! Watch out," panic filled Will's voice as his nightmare replayed in his mind from the previous night.
"Will. Will please save me," Bell cried as the rock shielding her from the dragon became hotter and hotter.
Will closed his eyes tightly. Instinct took over and he was filled with fear and fury towards the animal moving away from him. Will's eyes glowed and suddenly from no where a lightning bolt hit the ground near the dragon. The dragon turned quickly to face Will. In its haste it knocked the side of the cave and small rocks began to reign down upon Bell and the creature. The dragon shot fire at Will and Will easily dodged the flames. Will took a deep breath and let it out only to see once again lightning appear from no where and this it hit its mark injuring the dragon. The dragon seething in pain thrashed its tail around violently and kicked hard at the ground. The walls of the cave shook and the ceiling began to fall down.
"Bell! No, watch out," Will cried as he ran towards her only to be stopped by more falling rocks. The dragon was hardly moving but Will took no chance and used his sword to stab its brain. Finally there was no movement from the dragon and the cave now stood silent. "Bell? Bell answer me." Will ran to where the rocks blocked his way to where she last way. "Bell, please be ok." Will started moving rocks and remembering his test from yesterday, he used his power to help move the larger ones. Finally he was able to see a piece of her dress. "Bell? Bell, please." He soon had her under covered but she wasn't moving. Will clutched her tightly to his chest. "I can't lose her," he shouted to his ghostly host. "You have no right to take her from me just after I found her. She doesn't deserve this. She deserves love and she wanted to have our children. I know you can hear me do something," he shouted to void in the cave. Tears fear from his eyes to Bell's cheeks. Will gently wiped them away and kissed her forehead and then softly kissed her lips.
"Will? Am I dead?"
"Bell, oh thank God. I thought I had lost you." Bell smiled and raised her hand to his cheek.
"You're not rid of me that easily. You think a dragon can keep us apart?"
Will smiled and looked into Bell's eyes. "I was afraid. I was afraid I'd never see you again Bell."
Bell looked at him and almost questioned his thoughts but before she could speak Will pulled her into a kiss - a kiss full of passion. All of Will's feelings were pouring out all at once – the frustration with Elizabeth, the loss of William and Ana, the feeling of loneliness and the want of love and passion. Will deepened the kiss and Bell responded. It was everything that she had dreamed of – he was finally in love with her.
"Bell-"
"Shh. No words. I want to feel your love not hear about it." Will nodded and proceeded to cover her face and neck with kisses. "You might have lived your nightmare Will but now we are living my dreams."
Will slowly began to pull Bell's clothes away from her body and quietly the Ghost of the cave watched as their final and most important test began.
"Samuel William Turner," Elizabeth exclaimed.
"So does that mean that Bootstrap's…." Jack began to ask.
Samuel stopped the man with the shaking of his head. "No, no, Bootstrap's my uncle."
"Uncle?" Elizabeth said, "Will never mentioned he had any cousins?"
"I don't really think he even knew I existed. I've heard things about that side of the family in little bits and pieces over the years. Things like the Aztec curse and Jones', I don't think my Father was ever more proud. He passed away three years ago…"
"So your name is Samuel?" Elizabeth said, walking over to him and putting an arm on his shoulder.
"Aye," he said." "Samuel after my father and William after his favorite brother. My father was always proud of his brother due to his aversion to traditional piracy."
At this point, Samuel had absentmindedly walked to the rail and looked out to the sea with a wistful look in his eyes as he remembered.
"Wait a minute, Sam Turner?" Jack said, as if he were trying to remember something.
"Yes, that's me. Again," Sam said with a slight grin.
"Bloody 'ell, I think I owe you somethin'! Do I owe the whole world money?"
"Just most pirates. It's fine Sparrow, it was only a few pounds from a poker game so really you don't owe me much of anything, all right."
"You're the first to say that and I am grateful," he said, putting his hands together and bowing.
"If we can get back to how you're related to my hu…the father of my son please," Elizabeth said tapping her foot impatiently.
"Right sorry," he said smiling, "I think it would be best if we continued this in the galley, eh?"
"Fine by me," she said leading the way.
Jack and Sam followed so they could hear more of his tale.
Thanks for reading everyone. We know we keep reminding you of this, but this is still Willabeth. Okay. We're not doing Will/Bell. Willabeth; it's just not going to be a straight road getting there. We've got a few aces up our sleeves. Not very sure yet when the next chapter will be out but hopefully it won't be as long a wait as it was for this one. Please review.