Battle of Isla de Muerta

"*With haste we returned to Isla de Muerta; our goal to rescue the ungrateful Will Turner from the villainous pirate Barbossa and his wretched crew.*"

## Battle of Isla de Muerta

### Combatants

Black Pearl vs Jack Sparrow's Crew vs HMS Dauntless

### Location

Isla de Muerta

The **Battle of Isla de Muerta** was the final conflict that ended the violent hunt for Aztec Gold on behalf of the cursed crew of the *Black Pearl*. Jack Sparrow orchestrated conflict both on the island and outside aboard the HMS *Dauntless*, sending Barbossa's crew onto the Navy ship to fight the marines, while thinning the herd so that he could fight Barbossa and end his curse. Jack deliberately put the curse on himself, a decision that saved his life during the fight when he was stabbed by Barbossa. Jack worked with Elizabeth and Will to end the curse at just the moment that Jack could use his last shot to shoot and kill Barbossa. The curse was ended the and violent streak of the cursed crew of the *Black Pearl* was closed.

## Prelude

##### Previous: Destruction of the *Interceptor*

During their search across the Caribbean Sea for the Aztec Gold that they had stolen and lost, upon which lay a curse that caused the cursed crew of the *Black Pearl* to become unfeeling skeletal un-dead pirates, the crew of the *Black Pearl* had destroyed the HMS *Interceptor* in their search for the medallion. Their search was successful and the final piece of gold was returned to them so they could end their curse by returning it to the stone chest on Isla de Muerta. They took the motley pirate crew that manned the *Interceptor* as their prisoners while marooning both Elizabeth Swann and Jack Sparrow on an isolated island to die. The *Black Pearl* immediately set out to return to Isla de Muerta to end their curse using the final piece of gold and the blood sacrifice of Will Turner.

Elizabeth and Jack were rescued from their island by the HMS *Dauntless*, taking Jack into custody while Elizabeth pleaded that they use their ship and men to rescue Will. Initially, Commodore Norrington refused, seeing Will as having engaged in piracy, however Elizabeth stated that it was to save her. She asked that he do it as a wedding gift to her, accepting Norrington's wedding proposal. On this condition, Norrington agreed, planning to defeat the crew of the *Black Pearl* and rescue Will as a wedding gift to his beloved Elizabeth. Jack Sparrow was ordered to sit at the helm and provide directions to Isla de Muerta where they would engage Captain Barbossa's crew in battle.

They caught up to the *Black Pearl* at Isla de Muerta, spying on the ship from afar as it was anchored at the shallow sea surrounding the island. Jack suggested they use the navy forces to conduct and ambush, deliberately withholding the information that the crew was cursed and un-killable. Elizabeth remained on the *Dauntless* where she tried warning the men, however they did not believe her.

## Recount

##### Tense negotiations

In the island by the stone chest that held the Aztec Gold, the cursed crew gathered around to witness the end of their curse for a second time, chanting for blood to be spilled. Will Turner was brought into position over the stone chest and Barbossa prepared himself with his knife. Jack Sparrow had been released by the Royal Navy to negotiate with Barbossa to send his crew out into the open where the navy could attack. Jack revealed himself to Barbossa just as he prepared to kill William Turner, stating that Barbossa didn't want to be doing that. He revealed to Barbossa that the HMS *Dauntless* was just offshore and was waiting for the crew to exit the caves where they would be ambushed. Without their immortality, they would be vulnerable to the ambush. Jack urged Barbossa to launch an attack on the Royal marines and take the *Dauntless*, using the ship to start his very own fleet, asking that the *Black Pearl* be given to him so that he may fly under Barbossa's colors as Captain of the ship while Barbossa becomes Commodore of a small pirate fleet. Jack's plan to was use Barbossa's forces to free Jack of the Navy, while also thinning their numbers enough that Jack could fight against Barbossa alone. Jack Sparrow then took a small bunch of the Aztec Coins, throwing them back into the stone chest as he spoke. He did however keep one of the coins, deliberately placing himself under the curse and thus making himself un-killable. Barbossa considered Jack's plan, asking for a bigger percentage of Jack's plunder should he serve as Captain under Barbossa. Barbossa settled on 25% of Jack's plunder before sending out his cursed crew to attack and take the *Dauntless.*

##### Attack on the *Dauntless*

The cursed crew approached the *Dauntless* on foot, walking across the sea bed to reach the ship, climbing aboard. Just as the pirates boarded the ship, Elizabeth escaped onto a small row boat that had been towed to the back of the ship, escaping through a window and rowing over to the *Black Pearl*. Pintel and Ragetti were sent out in women's dresses to distract the royal marines as the cursed crew boarded and began silently slicing the throats of the royal marines aboard. Full conflict broke out on the ship as the cursed crew were spotted. The marines tried and failed to shoot the pirates, quickly learning that it was folly. Elizabeth was able to climb aboard the *Black Pearl*, sneakily locating the brig after throwing Jack the Monkey off the boat. A royal marine on the *Dauntless* rang an alarm bell, catching the attention of James Norrington who still sat outside the cave entrance to Isla de Muerta. He immediately called for their return to the ship. The marine ringing the bell was quickly killed. Pintel and Ragetti climbed aboard the *Dauntless*, manning the cannons and firing at Norrington and his men as they approached their ship. Sparrow's motley crew were released from the cell on the *Black Pearl* with the help of Elizabeth Swann, who took charge and led the group to the deck where they disposed of Grapple and Mallot, throwing them overboard by throwing a rowing boat at them. Elizabeth then attempted to rally the pirates and enter the caves to rescue Will. They did not follow her however, claiming that they now had control over the *Pearl*. Elizabeth was unable to rally their support, going alone on a row boat into the caves while the motley crew sailed away into the fog on the *Black Pearl*. Meanwhile, Norrington and his men boarded the *Dauntless*, entering the fray on deck. Norrington himself entered into a duel with Koehler.

##### Duel on Isla Muerta

Inside the island, Jack observed the treasure. Barbossa noted that Jack had surprised him and that Jack was a hard man to predict. Jack then surprised Barbossa again by stealing the cutlass of a cursed crew member nearby and throw him into a pool. Jack tossed the cutlass to Will, who used it to free him of his binds. Jack and Barbossa immediately entered into a duel, crossing swords. Meanwhile, Will entered a duel against Jacoby and Clubba. As Barbossa fought Jack and pushed him into a retreat he threw his sword down, stating that Jack could not win. Jack stabbed Barbossa. Barbossa simply responded by removing the blade from his chest and stabbing Jack with it, thinking it to be a fatal blow. Jack stumbled backwards and into a strip of moonlight, revealing him to be cursed as a skeletal figure. An immortal. Jack revealed that he had stolen a piece. In a rage, Barbossa launched at Jack having picked up his blade once more. Jack pulled his sword from his own chest and the duel continued. Just as Will was about to be killed by Jacoby, Elizabeth Swann entered the fight, hitting Jacoby in the face and knocking him away. Will and Elizabeth were able to impale and trap the trio of pirates they were fighting along the length of a golden curtain rail. Will then placed a grenade into the rib cage of the skeletal Jacoby, pushing him out of the moonlight and thus trapping the grenade inside him. They sat quietly as Jacoby, Clubba and the other were blown up. Jack saw that Will and Elizabeth were now free. He cut open his hand, giving the blood sacrifice by spilling his blood across the coin. He stalled Barbossa, throwing the coin to Will who stood next to the stone chest. As Will placed the gold in the chest, the curse would be over. However, Barbossa recovered quickly, pointing his pistol at Elizabeth. Before he could pull the trigger Will cut his hand and placed the final pieces of gold in the chest. Jack took out his own pistol and used his one final shot to shoot Barbossa in the chest. The curse was ended, returning Jack, Barbossa and the cursed crew back into the living. Barbossa opened his jacket to reveal the gunshot wound opening in his chest.

##### Resolution

With the curse gone, Barbossa noted that he now felt cold, before dropping dead, killed by the final gunshot in the pistol of Jack Sparrow. The battle aboard the *Dauntless* too came to an end as the cursed crew returned to their mortal selves. Some individuals such as Koehler, were given fatal wounds in the moment of change. Koehler was stabbed by James Norrington, and died as he returned to his mortal self. The cursed crew members whom survived quickly surrendered. Jack, Will and Elizabeth left the Island of the Dead, returning to the *Dauntless*. Once on board, Jack was arrested for piracy, and they began their return journey to Port Royal. Will Turner was granted clemency.

## Aftermath

#### Next: ...

##### Hanging of Jack Sparrow

Upon their return to Port Royal, Jack was sentenced to death for his crimes and soon after their return was presented to the people of Port Royal in a public hanging. Will Turner attended the event, wishing to save Jack's life. Elizabeth protested the event, however was unable to change the unfolding of the procession. Will Turner approached Elizabeth, speaking to her momentarily where he confessed his love for her before disappearing into the crowd to rescue Jack. To provide Will with a distraction, Elizabeth pretended to faint, allowing Will enough time to produce his sword and throw it so that Jack landed on the blade, stopping him from falling and snapping his neck. The marines left into action to stop Will as he engaged in battle against the executioner. Jack's rope was cut and dropped, allowing him to drop down and escape. Together, Jack and Will fought off the advancing marines, however were cornered. As Norrington confronted Will, Will expressed that Jack was a good man and he felt that his place was to defend the pirate. Elizabeth stepped forward, also in defense of Jack. Elizabeth expressed her love for Will by his side. With his daughter in the firing line, Weatherby ordered for the marines weapons to be lowered. Jack took the opportunity to say his goodbyes and leap from the fort, landing in the sea where he could board the *Black Pearl* that had come to his rescue. Commodore Norrington determined that they would not give chase. He also chose to accept that Elizabeth had chosen to be with Will instead, leaving them to their partnership. Norrington and the marines retreated and the affair was considered ended.

The cursed crew members who had been captured aboard the *Dauntless* were not a lucky as Sparrow, facing the gallows and being hung.

## List of Combatants

(Those who lost their lives in combat are noted with a star)

### Jack Sparrow's *Interceptor* Crew

1. Jack Sparrow
2. Joshamee Gibbs
3. Marty
4. Anamaria
5. Cotton
6. ...

### Crew of the *Black Pearl*

1. Captain Hector Barbossa\*
2. Bo'sun
3. Jack the Monkey
4. Pintel
5. Ragetti
6. Koehler\*
7. Clubba
8. Twigg
9. Jacoby\*
10. Mallot
11. Grapple
12. Weatherby
13. Monk\*
14. ...

### Crew of the HMS *Dauntless*

1. Commodore James Norrington
2. Lt. Gillette
3. Lt. Theodore Groves
4. Governor Weatherby Swann
5. Will Turner
6. Elizabeth Swann
7. + 800 Crewmen

## Appearances

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl