AN: From now on, 2-3 chapters per week.
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The throne chamber had gone quiet.
Smoke still hung in the air from shattered stone and gunfire. Dust drifted slowly downward through fractured beams of winter light cutting through the broken wall.
Prince Wapol lay motionless where he had fallen.
Jack Sparrow crouched in front of the only other person still conscious.
Young Dalton.
The boy's back was pressed flat against the wall. His hands trembled violently. His pupils were wide, unfocused.
Jack tilted his head slightly.
"What's your name?"
Dalton's mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Jack leaned closer.
"I asked a question."
To Dalton, the man in front of him wasn't a pirate.
He was a monster.
Blood on his coat. Calm eyes. A sword that had just ended a prince's life.
Dalton suddenly screamed.
"Don't eat me! Please! I—I have an ill mother! I need to take care of her!"
Jack blinked.
He looked over his shoulder at Augur.
"…What's the deal with this one?"
Augur adjusted his glasses.
"He appears to be traumatized."
Jack nodded slowly.
"Yes. Understandable."
He patted Dalton's shoulder.
Dalton shrieked louder.
Jack's expression darkened slightly.
"I am not," he muttered as he stood, "a monster who eats people."
From the broken wall, Crocodile peered in.
She took in the sight of the young guard trembling before Jack and let out a quiet sigh.
It was… amusing.
She stepped inside fully, boots clicking against the cracked marble floor.
"What do we do with the rest?" she asked coolly, gesturing toward the unconscious doctors and guards.
"Kill them?"
Jack whipped his head toward her.
"Why does it always have to be murder with you?"
She raised a brow.
"They are enemies?"
He pointed at Dalton.
"Look at him. He's already scarred for life."
Dalton, hearing himself referenced, screamed again.
"Don't eat me!"
Then he fainted.
Foam gathered at the corner of his mouth.
Augur nudged him gently with Senriku.
"He's out cold."
Jack shook his head in pity.
"Poor lad."
Crocodile folded her arms.
"How is Ragetti?"
"Hiriluk is dealing with him," she replied. "Apparently he only now understands what pain is."
Jack nodded.
"Good. Though it's a bit weird he didn't feel it for such a long time."
He glanced around the ruined chamber.
"Right. Find whoever is next in charge. The old king. Inform them of… recent developments."
"And you?" Crocodile asked.
Jack grinned.
"I believe I shall inspect the treasury."
Augur's glasses glinted darkly.
—
It took remarkably little effort to reach the vault.
One firm kick.
A splintering sound.
And the reinforced door gave way.
Jack stepped inside first.
He paused.
"…Oh."
Gold.
Yes.
But modest.
Neatly stacked coins. Modest jewelry.
And shelves. Full of books.
So many books.
Augur walked past him, scanning titles.
"Medical treatises," he said. "Anatomy. Pharmacology. Herbal compendiums."
Jack picked up one volume.
The first page contained a detailed illustration of a woman's anatomy.
He immediately dropped it.
Wiped his hands on his coat.
"…Inappropriate."
Augur ignored him and continued scanning.
"These could be useful."
Jack was already pulling an empty wooden barrel toward himself.
"Robin would appreciate them."
"We lack a doctor," Augur added.
Jack nodded thoughtfully.
"Fine. Select a few."
While Augur carefully filtered volumes, Jack began filling the barrel with gold and jewels.
He was halfway through when something caught his eye.
Tucked inside a velvet-lined case.
He crouched.
Lifted it gently.
A fruit.
Swirling patterns across its skin. Oddly shaped—almost like a stylized apple fused with a bulbous gourd. Its surface bore spiral ridges like coiled waves. A faint metallic sheen shimmered beneath the crimson-and-gold coloration.
Jack's grin widened.
He weighed it in his hand.
"Interesting."
Without ceremony, he dropped it into the barrel.
Augur looked up.
"What was that?"
"Snack," Jack replied casually.
Augur did not believe him.
—
When they exited the treasury, Jack was practically glowing under layers of stolen necklaces, rings, and chains. The barrel rolled behind him.
Augur followed, arms stacked with carefully selected medical books, a few gold chains draped around his neck for balance.
Crocodile stared.
"…Of course."
Jack gestured at the barrel proudly.
"Reparations."
"Did you settle matters?" he asked.
"Yes," Crocodile replied. "The doctor representatives will form an interim council. They are terrified."
"Good."
"They will select a new ruler."
"Excellent."
"They do not trust us."
Jack smiled.
"They shouldn't. Even I don't trust me."
She exhaled slowly.
"I assured them we would not harm them."
Jack nodded.
"Also tell them to repair the Pearl."
Crocodile rolled her eyes.
—
One day later.
Kureha's hut was full again.
Gibbs sat upright now, color returned to his cheeks.
Ragetti lay plastered in bandages like a poorly wrapped statue.
Hiriluk had been dragged back to the capital by desperate representatives who decided the "man associated with the pirates" must now lead them.
Though they did it mostly due to fear.
Kureha stood near the hearth, examining a golden necklace.
"Payment," she said flatly.
She had stripped Jack and Augur nearly bare before Jack cleverly relocated the barrel out of sight.
She had cursed him for it.
Now she examined the necklace approvingly.
"Cheap craftsmanship," she muttered. "But acceptable."
The crew gathered.
Augur adjusted his coat.
"How is Ginny?"
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Ginny stood near the fire, Bonney in her arms.
She smiled, though it looked forced.
Robin lowered her gaze.
Jack stared at the flames.
Kureha did not soften her tone.
"Sapphire Scales."
Silence.
"I have tried everything."
Ginny's grip tightened around Bonney.
"The disease is aggressive. Rare. Sunlight accelerates it."
She looked at Ginny directly.
"You have six months."
Ginny's smile trembled—but held.
"And the child?" Augur asked quietly.
Kureha's voice remained clinical.
"Bonney will likely not survive past ten."
The words settled like ash.
"She must remain away from direct sunlight," Kureha continued. "The scales will worsen otherwise."
Robin closed her eyes briefly.
Jack said nothing.
The fire cracked.
Ginny gently rocked Bonney, who stirred slightly in her sleep.
"I'm glad," Ginny whispered softly, "that we found you."
Robin's fingers curled slightly at her sides.
Augur looked at the floor.
Gibbs removed his hat.
Crocodile's cigar had gone out unnoticed.
Jack finally spoke.
"…There must be something."
Kureha shook her head.
"I can prolong it."
"How long?"
"A few months at most. As much as I don't want to accept it, you would need a far better mind than mine to even stand a chance at the cure."