Norribeth: the KMC fic

I'm trying to think to post, but I took some cold medicine and it's made my mind all fuzzy. Just a few reminders, because we're sort of moving out of character to what the merpeople are again:

Elizabeth already took the challenge to fight Atropos and Spoon, so why would they not fight her? That's part of the challenge.

Spoon and Atropos do not come from the same kingdom. Atropos and Spoon are technically enemies, although they've been working in tandem to care for James while waiting for the challenge to begin.

Spoon is not evil. The merpeople aren't evil either. Atropos and her people are.

Spoon genuinely likes James and she just wants to 'keep' him because of that. And he's attractive. She likes pretty things.

Atropos just likes having him because...she's evil. 😄

is someone working on a bit?

Oh, but good post. I like the way you pulled in Jack and Will into the bargain, and then I like Will and his crew going to see the battle. That's fun.

Is anyone going to stay with james?

Surreal, why dont you write the next bit? I'm concerned i dont fully grasp what is going on. lol. 🙂

I'm not sure what Willo has in mind. I just don't want Spoon to be evil. 😄

I don't have anything in mind. You guys have full control. I guess I pulled a Kate and created a situation and hope someone else will make sense of it, lol.

"I'm trying to think to post, but I took some cold medicine and it's made my mind all fuzzy. Just a few reminders, because we're sort of moving out of character to what the merpeople are again:

Elizabeth already took the challenge to fight Atropos and Spoon, so why would they not fight her? That's part of the challenge."------Surreal

Yeah, I think they actually will physically fight, but I think they have more in mind for Liz to do. Remember, they both want her to lose, and I don't think either of them would create a situation in which Liz would have the upperhand, and Liz is a pretty good fighter. I just thought they would try to make soemthing a little harder for her.

"Spoon and Atropos do not come from the same kingdom. Atropos and Spoon are technically enemies, although they've been working in tandem to care for James while waiting for the challenge to begin."---Surreal

Ah! I did remember that! My attention span is back. That's why I have Spoon say, "we?" like "why are you getting into this?" Atropos plans to use Spoon if Spoon wins. She figures she'll get James either way, but she'll get him easier if Spoon wins. So she's playing everyone.

"Spoon is not evil. The merpeople aren't evil either. Atropos and her people are."----Surreal

I'm sorry if I made her seem evil. I think she's incredibly selfish and immature, though, so it just seemed natural she would want more than just James. She's not in love with him exactly.

"Spoon genuinely likes James and she just wants to 'keep' him because of that. And he's attractive. She likes pretty things.

Atropos just likes having him because...she's evil."-----Surreal

But I think it fits all that. Spoon hasn't teamed up with Atropos and she's surprised Atropos says, "we" like they have. I just am having Atropos see Spoon's potential victory as her own potential victory. But like I said earlier, I have no idea what the challenge should be. I think they should physically fight, but there also needs to be something much more mentally challenging, that would actually be really hard for Liz to do.

pulled a kate. wow, i laughed hard at that one.

mmm let me finish my coffee and i'll try and think of something

I wasn't trying to be critical, because I liked your post, Willo. 😄 I just wanted to stop a potential slide of Spoon's character before she ended up becoming some crazy mergal trying to take over the ocean or something. 😄

As far as the challenge goes, Spoon would not cheat. She'd fight fairly with Elizabeth, so anything Atropos has up her sleeve would be a big surprise to Spoon...including the idea of making Liz fight someone or something else. 😄

I just wanted that to be clear about Spoon's character. She's selfish and childish, but if James really, really really wanted to be freed, she'd probably let him go. Probably. 😉

Ok, I'm still waking up myself...I absolutely cannot take coug medicine without it knocking me out for 10 hours. So annoying. I'm still staggering around like I'm drunk.

I have something in mind to post, but I have some housework to do, though I might sneak off to the library to post.

i'm working on something. ill have it up in a few.

Okie dokie. 😄

BACK TO the beach. Elizabeth, Jack, and whoever else was there with them are climbing into a longboat.

Jack: So what's at stake if you lose, hmm?

Elizabeth: I'm glad to hear you have faith in me, Jack. (pauses) Just my life.

Jack looks at her sideways, maybe guessing that she is lying. Elizabeth is struggling to maintain composure.

Elizabeth: Jack... do me a favor. Stay behind and keep your eye on James. I don't trust these creatures.

Jack: Stay behind?

Elizabeth: Please.

Jack shrugs and jumps out of the boat, wading back to shore. He turns and takes his hat off to her and she nods.

They reach the Flying Dutchman and board. Will gives Elizabeth an encouraging hug.

Will: Ready?

Elizabeth: Of course.

The Ship dives, and after Will lightly kisses Elizabeth's mouth, she finds she can breath underwater. Will seems to know where they are going, and steers the Dutchman towards a steep underwater drop-off, where rocks and sunken ships dot the ocean floor. A large crowd of mermaids have gathered, but they hide behind various debri so that only their sharp eyes can be seen. Everything feels dark and cold and vaguely unsettling. Elizabeth closes her eyes for a moment, remembering the time she was sinking to the ocean floor after falling off the parapet when James first proposed to her. Her mind jumps ahead to her old wedding dress sinking. She opens her eyes and shivers.

Anamaria: (looking around) Welcome to Pirates' Paradise.

Spoon and Atropos, restored to their mer shapes, approach the Dutchman.

Atropos: Challenger must come with us. Everyone else stays.

Will and Anamaria look at each other nervously, and Anamaria pulls Elizabeth aside to give her some last minute advice.

Anamaria: Steel yourself, Elizabeth. This place changes skin like a chameleon. You must pass by any temptations that arise, for that is the mer-people's chief power. They will try to beguile or seduce you, but if you would save James, you must hold to your purpose and pass them by.

Elizabeth nods, taking a moment to ponder those words. She climbs out of the dutchman and Atropos leads her to a crevice between the rocks.

Atropos: In there, human.

Elizabeth crawls in. It's an underwater cave, but a huge pocket of air makes the place almost dry, like a cave on land would be. Spoon and Atropos are once again human-looking.

Atropos: Now... for the challenge. (she hands Elizabeth an old, rusted sword with strange lettering across it) You must travel down that corridor (points ahead) until the light meets the bottom of the sea. If you stray from the path, you will die. Once you have reached the end of the path, you will meet a monster you must destroy without mercy. If you kill the monster, you must bring the jewel from its neck back to me, and I will name you winner.

Elizabeth: (indicating Spoon) What about her?

Atropos: She has her own challenge to attend to. Now go! You have only until sunset.

Elizabeth grips the sword and starts down into the corrider. It is dark and clammy, with water dripping through from the sea above. The path twists and turns and Elizabeth eyesight swims; she seems to be hearing sounds and voices around her. Suddenly she starts- a dark shape is ahead of her, calling her name.

Voice: Elizabeth! Daughter!

Elizabeth: Father?

Swann: It's me, Elizabeth. Take me back up to the shore. I've been trapped here for days upon days... but you can save me now! Quickly!

Elizabeth looks at him in horror and fear.

Swann: You must save me, Elizabeth. Your mother would want it.

Tears stream down her face, but Elizabeth shakes her head.

Swann: Don't leave me here, Elizabeth. Don't leave me in this awful place...

With a cry of anguish, Elizabeth runs past him, down deeper into the tunnel, holding her hands over her ears to block out his cries after her.

She has just begun to catch her breath when she hears something else. It is the sound of a man weeping. She runs forward-- and sees Will sitting by the side of the path, his head buried in his hands.

Elizabeth: Will!

Will: (standing) Elizabeth! I thought you were dead...

Elizabeth: I'm not... I'm here. Whatever is the matter?

Will: All my life, I loved you Elizabeth. I gave up everything for you, even my freedom. And your rejection has made life unlivable.

Will pulls something out of his pocket--- it is a beating heart, and Elizabeth realizes it is his own. Blood trickles down his shirt and hands as he holds it up. His shape shifts from the little boy she first knew him as to the man he is, back and forth. He lays the still beating heart at her feet.

Will: Everything's over for me, now.

Elizabeth: No! Will... there's your father, there's Anamaria.

Will: But you are the only one who can save me now! If you bring me back to the surface, my heart could perhaps be mended.

Elizabeth: But I can't! I must.. I must... (but her thinking has become cloudy and she rubs her head, knowing there is something she must do. Will steps closer, holding his hand out to her)

Will: Save me, Elizabeth. You're the only one who can.

Elizabeth is weeping, but she lifts up her sword and warns him back.

Elizabeth: Stay back!

Will: (a plea) Elizabeth...

Elizabeth runs past him, moaning in frustration and despair.

She goes on, deeper and deeper. Everything is hazy... the scenery around her seems to change, and voices call her name. The air seems so thin, she can hardly catch her breath.

She seems to hear the sounds of the sea at night. Wearily, she stumbles on. She hears someone singing. It's familiar... "Yo ho, Yo ho a pirate's life for me..." And then she sees him. It's Jack, standing as before the helm of a ship, singing merrily, a bottle of rum in his hand.

Elizabeth: Jack?

Jack: Lizzie! Have some rum!

Elizabeth: (wondering if he's going to ask her to save him as well) What happened? Why are you here?

Jack: To save you, darling!

Elizabeth: Me?

Jack: Well I love you, don't I? In me own way? And I know your deepest desires, Elizabeth. I know what your heart truly longs for. The sea, and a ship, sailing off into the horizon, into freedom. I can give you that freedom. (steps forward)

He's so real, Elizabeth can smell the rum and the sea and almost see the sun rising over a the endless ocean. A salty breeze drifts by her. He presses his lips against hers, and Elizabeth trembles.

Elizabeth: Jack... I can't... I musn't.

Jack: I'll take you away from all this, Lizzie. To a life of adventure. (kissing her neck) I may be an old sea dog but I still know how to show a lady a good time. Let me save you then, eh? Don't make me be alone forever...

Elizabeth: Oh Jack... I've wanted you to save me. I wanted you to...

Jack moves to embrace her, but she draws her sword again, pointing it at him.

Elizabeth: No, Jack. Not this time...

Jack: The sea awaits you. The pearl is ready!

Elizabeth shakes her head mutely. She backs away from him, finally turning and running down the tunnel, still weeping. She passes under a waterfall and feels along the wall in the dark. For a moment she drops to her knees, exhausted, her heart breaking. She glances back up the tunnel, but it's no use. Using the sword for balance, she pulls herself back up. A long time seems to have passed. She crawls through more tunnels, travels down darker and darker paths. Suddenly, she sees a glimmer of light ahead. She runs forward, and through a rough doorway is a small chamber with no roof, but the water doesn't enter the chamber. The setting sun through the water casts a golden glow across the floor and onto the person standing in the middle of the chamber--- James.

Elizabeth runs to him and throws her arms around him, weeping, but he holds her shoulders roughly and puts her away from him.

Elizabeth: James! I'm here. I'm here to save you.

James: I don't want to be saved. I choose to remain with Atropos and her people, forever.

Elizabeth: No, James! You love me. You belong on land, with people, with me. We're going to start a new life together!

James: No, Elizabeth. I don't love you anymore. I choose to remain here. And since Atropos requires a mighty prize, I will fight you and deliver your body to her.

Elizabeth shakes her head, her strength gone. She lifts up her sword feebly as James attacks. He is brutal and quick, but even when weary, Elizabeth is skilled with the sword.

Elizabeth: (as they fight) James, I'm sorry for everything.

James: I can't forgive you.

Elizabeth: Atropos lied. She told me I would be fighting a monster, not the person I love most in the whole world.

James: Your love isn't enough.

Elizabeth: (suddenly stronger as she battles him) Yes it is!

James: Your love isn't enough!

Elizabeth: My love is stronger than you could imagine.

James: It isn't enough!

Elizabeth: It is!

In a final motion, Elizabeth disarms him and plunges her sword into his heart. She can't believe what she's done as he falls to the floor, writhing in pain. His form begins to change... and it's no longer James, but Spoon who lays there with a sword in her heart, dead. Elizabeth's mind is suddenly clear. With a hand over her mouth, she kneels beside the mermaid and sees a jeweled necklace at her throat. She pulls it off quickly.

In a blinding flash, the room disappears and she is on shore, the sun setting in the distance. Atropos stands before her with a cold face.

Atropos: You have won the challenge. I release my claim on the human and will fulfil the rest of our bargain.

She vanishes into the water. Elizabeth drops to her knees in disbelief and wonder, as the Flying Dutchman surfaces nearby. It begins to fall apart, the spell of it broken, until it is merely a pile of driftwood on the water. Elizabeth closes her eyes blissfully, too weary to find the others just now. In the distance, she sees James coming towards her...

YOU ARE ONE OF THE COOLEST PEOPLE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD! Oh, I loved what you did. It was so perfect, every little thing. Loved every second. BEST WORK! Masterpiece! Now I guess we resolve everything. That challenge was definitely worth the hype we all made it out to be.

James: Elizabeth? Elizabeth?

(he throws her arms around her when he realizes she's all right)

Liz: What happened? (puts her arms on his for support)

James: It seems the Flying Dutchman is no more, but I've been wrong before.

Liz: No more? Will? (looks around, very disoriented)

James: I think he's all right, Elizabeth. Come on. Can you walk? (she nods) Let's get further back on land, please. I don't think I want to go back in the water for a while. (smiles) Thank you.

(Liz simply puts her arm around him and lets him help her back inland to Tortuga)

someone else! We need a possible wedding, definite make-out scene, and character resolutions.

I'm so delighted you liked it! 🙂 I think I'll leave the make-out and the wedding to you or surreal. 🙂

Hee hee hee, I think I'll leave the wedding to Surreal since she is the champion of N/E. Sorry, Sailorleo, but you're the champion of N/You. 😉

CUT TO THE CREW OF THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

(They are hanging onto the debris left from the ship's destruction, just floating along, kicking towards the shore)

Ragetti: What just happened?

Pintel: Well, I reckon Miss Swann won her challenge.

Ragetti: Was the challenge to blow up the ship?

(everyone ignores him)

Bootstrap: Well, son, looks like everyone is going to get a happy ending.

(The crew turn back into humans and kick along to shore)

Will: I hope Norrington is all right. It was too strange having such power.

Bootstrap: I'm just so relieved you're free of it.

Will: And you. Will you come back to Port Royal with me?

Bootstrap: Is that where you live?

Will: I haven't lived in England for years. I'm a blacksmith.

Bootstrap: Are you in need of a partner?

(Will looks over at Anamaria. He's free, but their problem hasn't changed. Will swims over to her)

Will: Doing all right?

Anamaria: (nods) Elizabeth won. I can feel it.

Will: Are you going to avoid what we need to talk about?

Anamaria: I think you're regretting throwing that compass away.

Will: No. If you want to live on the sea, I'll do it with you.

Anamaria: I don't know if I can do the blacksmith's wife....unless you're still not proposing. (small smirk)

Will: Oh. So now you want me too?

Anamaria: Well....

Will: But you couldn't handle mainland life?

Anamaria: I don't know.

Will: I'll tell you what. Marry me, I'll spend life on the sea with you until you feel like retiring.

Anamaria: You would do that for me?

Will: With you. And I have someone in mind to sell the blacksmith business to. (looks over at his father)

Will: Father. I think I will sell the business to you, well, give it to you.

Bootstrap: I'm not much of a blacksmith.

Will: Then hire one. I'm sure if you get with Teague Sparrow he'll have some idea how to get one.

(smiles all around)

Anamaria: Land!

(everyone reaches Tortuga and starts walking for the town)

Jack: Fine sight you all are.

Will: Jack! I can honestly say I'm actually glad to see you!

Jack: Tsk tsk, Turner. Losing your own ship. Not much of a captain you make.

Bootstrap: Nice to see you came to see us safely to the bar, Jack.

Jack: Well, I'm here for a little more than that. I'm here to ask for a divorce.

Anamaria: I thought you said once I was a devoted wife...but that was probably the rum talking.

Jack: Probably. What say you to it? That way you can marry old what's-his-face and I can go galavanting about wherever I please again?

Anamaria: I never stopped you from doing that.

Jack: But now I'm legally able to take up with one if I so choose. Savvy?

Bootstrap: Jack and legal don't go together, really.

Jack: They will whenever Mrs. Sparrow reels her lovely head into the scene. (gets down on one knee) Divorce me, Anamaria.

Anamaria: I will.

Jack (springs to his feet): Come back to Tortuga and see the others.

Will: Is Elizabeth there yet?

Jack: Not yet, mate. She will, though. She will.

CUT TO OTHER END OF THE BEACH

(James and Liz couldn't hold off. We see their silhouettes together stretched out on the sand holding one another in a tight embrace as they kiss)

Someone else make this hot and steamy. I'm off to lunch!

....you killed my mermaid. And why wasn't Atropos involved in the fight at all?

I'll let Surreal take care of the hot and steamy. i LOVED the bit where Jack got down on one knee to ask for a divorce. best thing EVER~!!

oh and ps, sorry for killing your mermaid, and atropos was involved. she was causing all the tempting hallunications. 😉

I don't know. I don't think I'm up to writing any steamy stuff.

I guess I don't get why Atropos wasn't really involved in the fighting, and why she gets off after tormenting James and making him kill Liz's dad, etc, while my poor mermaid gets offed for no apparent reason.

I can try to write the wedding scene, but I'll need a bit of time to do it. And I need to write something for Spoon too, I think...

At any rate, I'll have something up in a few hours, hopefully.

sheesh i dont know. why don't you just write the entire story so it meets with your approval, eh?

this is meant to be fun, i dont take it too seriously. i just write whatever i feel like... i dont sit around planning out how every detail is going to work out. i'm not making an actual film, so i dont have to.

i thought it made sense to have spoon die. she was sweet but unnecessary, and it showed Atropos' cruelty that their challenges coincided and how atropos used spoon. We've had plenty of physical sword fights in this already, i was bored of that. plus, some things are meant to be left open ended i think. they've defeated a lot of villians already. it would be overkill i think to take down atropos as well. there's still evil in the ocean, and i think leaving atropos alive shows that. the focus of this story was always n/l as i recall, so i dont feel bad killing off side characters or whatever.

anyways, scratch it all if you like, and redo. i dont really care.