A/N: Back again! And I’ve got a brilliant idea for this chapter. I think it’s brilliant, anyway. But before we start, I skipped a few weeks to begin with because it would basically be the same thing over and over again: swordfights, pick pocketing, stealing their food, learning to shoot a gun (hey, that’s new!). But yeah, that would get pretty boring. Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don’t own Pirates, the students, Nina, or any volunteered characters. I only own Angel, Sandra, Carrie Ann, and Snickers. SirenoftheStorm’s story inspired me to write this and credit goes to Camilla Sandman.

Chapter 14

The days turned into weeks and the weeks eventually took the students out of August and placed them squarely in early October. The days grew hotter and more humid and there often came a up a storm seemingly from nowhere. It was during this time that the students learned to keep their footing on a wildly rocking ship and soon they had no problems standing at sea whatsoever. Benjamin’s seasickness even decreased somewhat and there was less and less need for ginger.

The students’ sword fighting skills were increasing at a steady rate and Will bragged on them several times. Their hands became sailor’s hands, tough and callused, and they grew stronger and stronger, both physically and in friendships with their fellow classmates. Serenity became part of the group and continued following Angel around like a puppy. Though Angel usually ignored her, she was pleased that someone admired her that much.

The pirates took the group to various islands to visit or ransack towns, whichever the case happened to be. They also raided several merchant ships, but all were small game and no great profit came of them, though Jack liked to spin tales of how pirates grew rich off merchantmen. It always got them worked up and excited, which is what he intended it to do. They were lucky that none of them had any serious injuries from their many attacks. The injury that still held the record as being the worst was Sandra’s hit to the head, but that was because it knocked her out and she was wobbly for several days afterwards.

It was shortly after they had returned to Tortuga that Carrie Ann sent word for them to hurry back to Pelegaus immediately. The students were confused over what the big rush was since Jack would not explain it more clearly or let tem see the note, but they headed out without many questions, this time taking Nina, Elizabeth, Pintel, and Ragetti with them. Rumors soon started up, which did not surprise the crew since they were sailing with women, after all.

“Do you think Carrie Ann died?” Emily asked from her bunk, sounding almost hopeful.

“She sent the note,” Angela reminded. “I don’t think she’s dead.”

“What do you think’s wrong, Angel?” Sandra asked from across the room. “You’re like her assistant, or something.”

“I’m not her bloody assistant,” Angel retorted, somewhat irritated at the comment. “I don’t know what’s going on more than th’ rest of ya.”

“We might as well go on to sleep,” Serenity hinted from her bunk above Angel’s, but that did not stop those who wanted to talk from talking. They whispered and giggled over absurd suggestions far into the night until Angel finally threatened to shoot their “bloody heads off” if they did not stop talking. They were not too worried over the threat since Angel could not shoot the broad side of a ship, but they obeyed anyway since they knew she was good with a sword.

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Before she knew it, Mei was jerked from her hammock and forced to stand. Strong hands gripped her arms and she swayed unsteadily on her feet, trying to blink the sleep away and figure out what was going on. Behind her, she heard the same treatment being dealt to Jibsi, Emma, and Mary. The person holding onto her shoved her forward, forcing her to walk against her will. They entered the hallway and she heard her fellow students shouting left and right.

“That it, men?” One of them asked over the din. From the looks of it, he was in charge.

“Yes, sir, thirteen in all,” the man who was holding Christine replied, his voice jerking as she tried to break free.

“Good,” the man in charge stated calmly. “Take them up on deck with the rest of the crew.”

The men dragged the students up onto the deck. The sun glared down on them, blinding them momentarily. Mei heard a shout and a short scuffle just before her eyes adjusted to the bright light. Once they did, she could see the man who was holding onto Angel also holding his nose, which was now streaming blood. He reached back and slapped her across the face, streaking blood on her cheeks. She threw a curse in his face and spat on his shoes.

Suddenly Mei felt handcuffs being tightly clasped around her wrists. She jerked her arms, as if finally coming out of a stupor, but it was too late to get free. She looked ahead and saw the crew of the Black Pearl being shuffled off the ship, all in handcuffs as well. That was when she knew the situation was helpless.

“What the bloody heck is going on?!” Lissie shouted.

“Silence!” One man shouted above the din. Someone fired a gun. Everything went silent. The man who fired the gun turned to the commanding officer, nodding for him to speak.

“This is a formal arrest,” the man stated calmly as if giving the time of day. “We have orders from Lord Cutler Beckett himself to try you all and hang you if found guilty, which I do believe you all will be by the look of it.”

“Who told Beckett about us?” Christine asked, glaring harshly at the man.

“He’s gotten word from Commodore Norrington about your little school of piracy,” the man replied in the same easy tone as before. “But I wouldn’t worry about that. If I were you, I would be worried about getting the judge to see that I’m innocent.” A smirk of victory crossed his face. “Men, take them to their cells.”

The group cast glares at the man as they were pushed and shoved off the ship and through the town, which they recognized as being on the more populated side. The men and women who were out gathered on the sides of the streets, eyeing the group of pirates warily. Some made snide remarks that were audible to them, but they were powerless to do anything, so they marched on, trying to hold onto what remaining dignity they had.

When they got to the jail, the jailor was surprised and somewhat incredulous at the sight of that many prisoners, but led the way back to the cells regardless. The building was hot and musty, they realized, as their swords, pistols, sashes, and knives were all removed and confiscated. Their captors unlocked the shackles and pushed them into the cells. Some of the girls attempted one final escape, but ended up being thrown into the cell headfirst. Because of the limited amount of cells available, the girls were packed four into a cell and Benjamin by himself.

“Your trial will be tomorrow morning,” the man in command stated, strolling along the cell lined hallway just out of reach of several hands that shot out through the bars on each side. “I suggest you make yourselves comfortable.”

“Where’s Will?” Angela shouted, though the man was directly in front of her cell.

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about the rest of the crew,” he said, something in voice sounding smug. “You’ll see them all tomorrow at your trial.”

“I demand to see that lying traitor Norrington!” Christine shouted after the man as he strode down the hall. He laughed over his shoulder and they heard the large metal door open and shut and no more from him was heard.

The group remained silent for a while except for a few frustrated sighs. After several minutes the door squealed back open and they heard footsteps. Soon the owner of the footsteps revealed himself to be Norrington, looking none too happy about being forced in there.

“You dirty rat!” Christine shouted at him. “We were good to you and you broke the deal!”

“I told before I made the deal,” he said, not raising his voice. “I just never let on that I said anything.”

“How could you do this to us?” Catalina asked, holding onto the bars and looking desperate.

“It’s because it’s my duty even though I’m no longer part of the Royal Navy,” he answered. “I have a duty to uphold to the people who sail the ocean by capturing pirates.”

“You’re worse than any of us, ya know that?” Angel asked coldly. “A bloody traitor, th’ lowest form o’ life.”

He sighed at the whole pointless conversation. “I’m sorry it had to end up this way. I may be able to convince the judge that you were forced to sail against your will, but remember that it was not my choice for you to become pirates.”

With that, he spun around and walked quickly out of the hall, leaving the students to their own devices once again. For a long while, they were all silent, realizing that maybe piracy isn’t all that it’s made out to be. After all, there had to be a reason for the phrase most pirates spoke of often: A short life and a merry one. This would be the end of theirs if the judge did not find them innocent, though that was a far cry from being logical.

“’Ey, Lissie,” Angel suddenly whispered, “you’ve got a knife, right?”

“Aye…?” The younger girl raised an eyebrow.

“How do you have a knife?” Emma hissed from across the hall.

“A pirate always keeps one hidden,” Angel smirked to herself as she pulled one out from the inside of her right boot. Lissie grinned and drew one from out from under her belt at the small of her back.

“I’ve got one too,” Serenity stated excitedly as she held hers up. “What’s your plan, Angel?”

“Don’t ’ave one,” she answered, an eyebrow arched , “…yet.”

Collective groans echoed through the cells as their one glimmer of hope vanished in that one sentence.

“You’d better come up with one bloody fast,” Christine snapped angrily from across the hall, but was not met by the normal quick comeback. The other girl was busily eying and turning over the knife in her hands.

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The metal door creaked open and slammed shut and several pairs of footsteps echoed down the hall. The group groaned to themselves as they shook the sleep from their eyes. Morning sunlight streamed dimly through the small, bar covered windows.

The cells were unlocked one by one and handcuffs were again clasped onto each wrist, this time with chain links between them so that they could not run away. Then, they were hustled out of the jail and into the bright sunlight, making them squint as they continued at the relentless pace. The group felt like they were being paraded through the town just for the sake of being humiliated, but finally they were brought into a new building. Rows of empty benches lined either side of the middle isle and up at the front stood Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and the crew of the Black Pearl.

The students halted for a moment, feeling there might be a slight chance of escape with the other pirates here, but that plan quickly fell to ruins at the sight of ropes tied around their wrists. The soldiers marched the students up to the front of the room and sat those who would fit on a long, wooden bench and left them to their own thoughts for the time being.

Angel hastily glanced round and whispered to Serenity, who was sitting next to her, “Don’t act attached t’ Jack or any of th’ crew. Be indifferent. Pass th’ word.”

Soon, the command had spread down the line and just as it had, a man in a black robe and a ridiculously large wig stepped in. The soldiers prodded the students with the points of their guns as a signal to stand, which some reluctantly did while others remained seated. As soon as the man sat down at his elevated platform, the man next to him called out, “You may be seated.”

Those who had a place to sit did so while the rest stood.

“You are all here on convictions of piracy,” the judge stated, as if they did not know. “Captain Sparrow, we have found sufficient evidence on your ship as well as on your person to convict you and your crew.”

“Oh you mean th’ gold?” Jack questioned. “That was a gift. M’ long, lost first mate left it for me, so technically we did not steal it an’ seein’ as how he’s already dead there’s not much of a case, now, is there?”

The judge eyed him dully. “Captain Sparrow, are you or are you not aware of the consequences of piracy?”

“Very aware,” Jack stated dryly.

“You and your crew, Captain Sparrow, have openly showed yourselves as pirates,” the judge continued as if not having been interrupted. “There is not much evidence you can present that would save yourselves from the hangman’s noose. We have seen the mark of piracy on your arms and know beyond a doubt that you are pirates. So against all this evidence, how do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” they chorused, as if it would do any good at this point. It was more of a reflex than anything else.

“I see…” the judge said, not surprised at the response. He looked over all their heads to the soldiers in the back. “You may take them back to their cells.” The sound of shoes on the stone floor echoed through the room. “Captain Sparrow and his crew will hang this afternoon.”

Quiet whimpers were quickly extinguished upon remembering Angel’s command.

“Now, for the rest of you,” the judge said, turning to the students while the crew and captain of the Black Pearl were being quickly ushered away after their extremely short trial. “We found you on board a pirate ship, wearing men’s clothes, carrying various weapons, and working as part of the crew.”

“We were sleeping,” Lissie corrected, shifting her hands and causing her handcuffs to clank together. “We weren’t bloody working when your men found us.”

“Regardless of what you were doing the exact moment we found you is irrelevant,” he replied, not impressed with her snappy attitude. “Captain Morgan and his men have not found the mark of piracy on any of you except for one,” he stared at Angel when he said that. Then continued, addressing the rest of the group, “but that certainly does not mean you are innocent. What I have said earlier is enough to assume you were part of that crew, though all but one of you are women.” They were silent, most eyes downcast. “How do you plead?”

“Not guilty,” came the half hearted answer that would not even convince a person who thought they were innocent to begin with.

The judge stared dully down at them. “Be that as it may, I declare you guilty of piracy.” He slammed his gavel down on a block of wood, the sound made the group jump. “You will be hanged tomorrow morning.”

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The were quite when they got back to their cells. The shock of actually getting caught and being hanged had not even crossed their minds. They knew piracy was a high risk and that they would probably only have a short life, but those warnings had been shoved to the farthest corner of their minds and excitement and curiosity had taken the forefront.

The very faint sound of drums at the fortress on the other side of the town reached their ears and they knew the ceremonies for the crew’s hanging was taking place. They all gathered as close to the north wall as they could, not because they would be able to get a better view, but because it was closest to the place where their crew and captain were.

The minutes passed by in agony, the sound of the drums being forever printed in their minds. When the sound suddenly stopped, it took a moment to adjust to the silence. It was as if the noise had always been there and now that it was gone it was unnaturally quiet.

Stifled sniffs soon took the place of the drums. Sniffling turned to sobs as more and more of them began to cry. Not for themselves and the impending doom of the next day, but for Jack and Will and the crew.

Serenity wiped a tear from her cheek as she listened to the other sobs that filled the jail. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Angel drop to the floor and sob into her knees. Lissie and Emily immediately broke their hug and included Angel and Serenity in the embrace.

Tears lasted well on into the night and were only stopped when sleep finally overtook the students.

The night seemed unnaturally short when their sleep was interrupted by the loud squeaking of the metal door at the end of the hall. Several feet pounded through the hall and the doors were slammed open with rough orders to get up. The group numbly obeyed and allowed scratchy ropes to be tied around their wrists instead of the normal handcuffs and they were harshly pushed and shoved out of the jail. Waiting just outside the jail was a wagon that was to carry them to the gallows. They clambered on and the driver snapped the whip over his horses head, signaling for it to go.

“Angel…?” Angela whispered, prodding the other girl’s knee. “If you ever thought up a plan, now would be a good time to put it to use.”

The brunette stared dully up at the girl across from her. She pulled the knife from her boot and handed to her. “Cut yer ropes and escape while ya can.”

Lissie twisted around to the side and motioned for Mei to get the knife out of her belt. The other girl did, but the wagon lurched out of a pothole and she dropped it. Catalina quickly bent down and grabbed it, faking a violent cough, before the guards at the end of the wagon could notice.

The knives were passed along, each student cautiously cutting their rope until there was just barely a string holding the two halves together. Just as the owners of the knives received their weapon back, the wagon jolted to a halt and the two guards hopped off the end of it and motioned for the students to do the same. They obeyed and were lead down a long stone hallway and out into an enclosed area on the other side. The weird thing about it was that there was nobody there to watch the hanging.

They were all led up onto a long platform that had been built to hang several people at once. The nooses were placed over their necks and they stood solemnly, staring out over the open expanse which would normally have people gathered there for this occasion. A man began reading out the charges they were being hanged for in a loud monotonous tone, as if there were a large audience there to hear him.

“And may God have mercy on your souls,” he concluded, rolling a piece of parchment and descending from the platform quickly.

There was a moment of silence, but they soon heard the executioner step towards the leaver that would drop them to their deaths. He reached forward and grabbed it. They tensed. He adjusted his grip and they began struggling out of their ropes. Angel, who stood next to him, swung her arm out, fingers wrapped tightly around her knife just as the floor beneath all their feet began to give out. The executioner wailed in pain.

They dropped fast. The rope tightened around their neck. Suddenly the rope loosened and they dropped to the ground. Utterly confused, they jumped up and rushed towards the exit, throwing the ropes off their bodies, but soldiers stood in their way. The students tackled them like a wave, but were held back.

“Stop!” Came a shrill cry from somewhere behind them. They whirled around at the familiar voice to see Carrie Ann standing at another entrance with her arms crossed. Thrilled at anything familiar, they rushed towards her. She held up a hand and they stopped.

“What’s going on?” Sandra asked frantically.

“This was a test,” Carrie Ann stated calmly as Jack, Will, Elizabeth, and the crew of the Black Pearl appeared behind her. The students’ eyes widened and they started shouting or laughing nervously.

“How did you get the soldiers to cooperate?” Emma hollered, close to tears from fear.

“That was so not cool,” Mary shouted, running her shaking hands through her hair.

“You bloody scared us!” Angel screamed, shouting as many curses as she could think of, surprising some with her extensive vocabulary.

Jack laughed at them and strode up to the group. “Yer lucky this wasn’t real!” Ignoring what he said, his fan girls immediately rushed him and clung to him as if it were the last time they would see him.

Without waiting for Will to come forward, his fan girls scurried to him and glomped him. Elizabeth stood by, frowning and trying to coax them off of him.

Carrie Ann stood by, frowning at them, but continued anyway, “Yes, this was a test. You’re going to need to know what to do when something like this comes and unfortunately most sailors don’t. You’ve got a leg up on them by having this experience. I’m surprised that some of you would have knives hidden on your person, though.”

“We’re not idiots,” Serenity stated, crossing her arms to prevent anyone from seeing how badly she was shaking.

Carrie Ann gave her a puzzled look and turned to the rest of the students. “Who’s this?”

“Her name’s Serenity,” Emily supplied from her place hugging Will. “She wanted to know how to be a pirate too.”

“It’s a long story and I’m not in th’ bloody mood to tell it now,” Angel stated, still hanging onto Jack for dear life.

Carrie Ann raised an eyebrow. “Well, anyway, I’m pleased with most of your performance during this test except for yesterday evening when most of you broke down and cried after the fake execution. Whoever had the knives weren’t too subtle about cutting the ropes on the ride over here. The ‘soldiers’ noticed and that’s what you want to avoid. Angel, I applaud you for fighting back at the end with you knife, but you still would have died. How many of you had hidden knives going into the prison?”

Serenity, Lissie, and Angel raised their hands.

“Good job. Keep it up,” she said.

“How did you get the soldiers and everybody to cooperate?” Emma asked again.

“They weren’t soldiers. None of them were what they seemed to be except for the jailor. They were all pirates I bribed and cleaned up for the job. They are getting paid handsomely for this. That means, no, Norrington didn’t tell anyone about our school and Beckett certainly doesn‘t know.”

“Wow, that judge was convincing…” Benjamin mumbled to himself.

“Yes, that’s why he got the part,” Carrie Ann agreed. “But now, you’re weapons are over there. Go get them and when you get back, tell me what your favorite foods are.”

A bit puzzled by the second command, they scurried to get their weapons, thrilled to be alive to see another day, though not entirely sure they wanted any more surprises for a long time.

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A/N: Bet I had you going, huh? Maybe, maybe not. Anywho, I need to know your character’s favorite food! Tell me in your review. Thanks!