Disclaimer: Pirates of the Caribbean belongs to Disney and Gore Verbinski. Some of the story was written prior to At World's End and therefore the story has a bit of extra mythology. Our story begins where the second movie left off.

Like a Moth to the Flame

Chapter 1: Smoldering cinders

"Well, what are you all staring at?" Barbossa asked as he took a bite of his green apple.

"You're dead, Jack shot you," Will Turner protested.

Elizabeth Swan turned toward the witch. "What sort of foul trick is this? How is a man whose heart is as black as the sails of The Pearl supposed to help us?"

The witch sighed and shook her index finger at Elizabeth. "First of all, girl, dem pots shouldn't be callin' dem kettles black. Now, part a de reason this man is back has ta do wit da heart a' Davy Jones. I had to bring 'im back. He's de only one who knows how ta get Jack Sparrow back. Der be a curse on de dead because Jones hasn't been doin' his job. Da heart ain't where it's s'posed to be and de dead float on de waters because no one's der to take dem to de afterlife."

Elizabeth and Will glanced at each other, perplexed. "The song's been sung too," Barbossa added.

"That's all fine and good, but what do we do now?" Mr. Gibbs interjected.

Barbossa looked at the small group in the room and smirked. "Ya need to get the heart of Davy Jones, but you also want Jack back. The way I see it, you all need a new captain. I volunteer my services, free of charge, if you will allow me to be fillin' that position."

"Why should we trust you? Weren't you the one who tried to kill all of us?" Elizabeth protested.

Barbossa turned his head and petted the monkey on his shoulder. "Why must you people argue over technicalities? This time it'll be different. I have no intention of killin' anyone."

"You're the only chance we have, aren't you?" Will realized.

"That's right," Barbossa agreed.

"Then please tell us, what is in this venture for you?" Elizabeth questioned.

"Only my mortality, ya see, the heart is cursed and so are all those tied to it. The fate of that small, decaying article is what I'm interested in," he explained.

"And what is the curse?" the pirate with the wooden eye inquired.

Barbossa strode toward the door. "I don't have time to be tellin' ya now. We have to get ourselves a ship, and I only know one that'll do. If you all want this plan to succeed, then I suggest you follow me now."

The choice was either failure or success. A look passed between Will and Elizabeth and they knew that despite their better judgment, they had to trust him. Everyone followed Barbossa out to a few rowboats. They took the boats to nearby port and began walking. Over the next two days, Barbossa made sure that everyone ate and was taken care of as they continued walking.

On the afternoon of the second day they reached their destination. It was a lonely, dilapidated dock with only a few ships. Barbossa recognized the ships as privateer ships and walked over to the captain of one who was inspecting a shipment of barley. The burly man looked at Barbossa with curiosity, but not recognition. Will and Elizabeth hurried over to hear what was said.

"Sir, I was wonderin' if you could tell me where Captain Cinders is," Barbossa began.

The man pulled at his graying black beard. "Haven't heard that name in a while, but I can tell you that the ship has started docking here again. Should be sometime this afternoon."

Barbossa nodded and walked away. "Whom are you looking for?" Will asked.

The pirate sighed and watched as a ship he knew neared the port. "An old flame," was all he said.

"Why is he called 'Captain Cinders?'" Will proceeded.

"The captain is known for burnin' when pillagin'" he explained.

A well-built wooden clipper ship landed in the dock. Barbossa waited until the crew had left and then signaled for the others to follow him. A scrawny form with a dark blue hat that covered the head was the last. Barbossa came up behind the figure. "Captain Cinders, it's been a long time," he said in his usual pirate drawl.

The voice that replied had a forced hoarseness, as if the person was trying to disguise it. "Who dares address me so?" The figure stopped short and wheeled around. As the form clad in brown pants, white shirt, and a well-worn once sapphire blue jacket and black boots looked up, the hat was removed. "Barbossa? I thought you were dead!"

"So did a great many people, Lucinda Tavish," he replied.

The figure was a woman, standing shorted than Elizabeth, with coal-black hair pulled back in a low ponytail and cold crystal blue eyes. She looked to be around thirty, wearing a little makeup. Without the hat there was no doubt that she was a woman.

Taking a step back she drew her sword with her left hand. "How dare you come back to my port! After the stunt ya pulled last time, I'm surprised that ya'd even so much as bat an eye at me!"

He put his hands up as if trying to calm her. "Now Lucinda, I've come to make you a peace offering. Granted what I did before was low and scoundrelish, but I've reformed somewhat," he paused and pulled out necklaces with diamonds and opals. Her eyes became like saucers. "These are yours."

"What's the catch?" she demanded.

He shook his head. "No catch this time, yet. These I'm givin' you as compensation for our last… altercation."

"T'was more of a pillagin' I believe," she remarked.

She took the jewelry and pocketed it as he continued to speak. "Now I have a business proposition for ya. I need-"

Cutting him off, she extended her right hand, palm up. "Apple. You know the way this works." He sighed and reached into his pocket, handing her a green apple. She took a bite of it and lowered her sword. "Alright, ya may proceed."

"I have a small crew, but we need a vessel. We need to retrieve a man, as well as an article that affects things of the sea. As much as I hate to admit it, we need help finding Jack Sparrow," he began. She put her sword away and glared at him. By this time Will and Elizabeth had stepped closer to him.

Lucinda slapped him hard across the face. "How dare ya ask my help to find that bilge rat! Do ya know what he did last time he was near my ship? That lunatic raided my whole cargo hold under the pretense of tradin' for food! And that was after he stole a few other things from me!"

Barbossa fingered his jaw Will neared him. "I suppose you'll tell me like Jack would that you didn't deserve that."

The old pirate shook his head. "No, regrettably I deserved that." Then he sighed heavily, facing Lucinda again. "I plan to pay you and if you want to come along to ensure that your collateral in this venture is safe, then you can."

She took another bite of the apple. "I want the specifics then. How long will ya be needin' my ship? Where are you takin' it? And do we need any additional supplies?"

"I think we know where he got the apples from as well as his use of legalities," Elizabeth whispered to Will.

Barbossa and Lucinda began walking over to where her crew was bartering for supplies. "I can't tell ya exactly how long we'll be gone, but we are goin' into open ocean for part of it, and we are trackin' down a former commodore for the other part of it. We will need supplies," he replied.

She smirked and tossed the apple core behind her. "Hector Barbossa, yer a lyin' cheatin' son of a kraken, but I haven't had a good adventure in a while. Do I have yer word that my ship will remain intact, that my crew will be unharmed, and that I will be paid in either treasure, paper money, or coins?"

"You have my word," he responded.

They shook hands. "Then we have an accord," she relayed.

Elizabeth and Will rolled their eyes and walked back to the rest of the crew to round them up. Lucinda's ship was ready to set sail three hours later. The Kraken's Toothache left port with Lucinda at the wheel and Barbossa standing next to her.

"Now we're headed that way," Barbossa pointed, "so perhaps I'd better…" he reached for the wheel.

Lucinda glared at him and spoke through gritted teeth. "My ship, I steer."

He backed up and moved toward the rail, sighing. Will turned to Elizabeth and Gibbs, having seen the exchange. "This is going to be a long voyage."