"Benjy!" A cry from bellow as the crew began bustling.

"The black Pearl is gaining on us!" Benj shouted down from his perch. The ship rocked and he had to clutch at the edges of the crows nest to stop himself from tipping over.

"We're going at full speed!" Anna-Maria's voice cried. She was at the helm, hat barely keeping her long dark hair out of her face. The wind picking up as they pushed the ship to the limits.

"You!" Benj pointed at a random crew member. The man stopped to peer up at him in confusion. "Get up here and take my place!" The man jumped and ran to the nearest rope ladder. Benj swung himself easily out of the nest and onto the rigging. He grabbed a rope and slid down it, bare feet hitting the deck with a thud.

He made it up onto the prow just as Will and Elizabeth emerged from below deck. "What's going on?" Elizabeth asked.

"The black Pearl is chasing us", Benj snapped as he peered back at the dark shape of the following ship. It was growing steadily closer, like a shadow on their tail.

"But this is the fastest ship in the Caribbean!"

"Well you can tell that to them when they catch us!" Anna-Maria bit back.

Benj turned and peered over the horizon. "We're shallow along the draft!" He announced. "Head towards those shoals. That should bide us a bit of time".

"Aye aye Captain!" Anna-Maria spun the wheel and the ship began to turn.

"Don't call me captain", Benj scowled. Anna-Maria ignored him. "Mr Gibbons!" He called. "Landen the ship! Lighten the load!"

"Aye sir! Throw anything we can afford to lose overboard!" There was a flurry of increased activity below. Benj saw boxes and barrels disappear over the edge and into the sea. However, it didn't work. The black Pearl was still gaining on them. Benj cursed loudly as he watch oars slide out on the other ship.

"Leave the canons!" He commanded. "We're going to need those".

"And load them with what?" Anna-Maria cried.

"Anything! Everything!" Benj turned in surprise at Will's voice. The two men locked eyes. Will's were set firm, panicked but firm and controlled. Benj felt a mad grin tug on his lips. His own panic a fierce surge of energy.

"You heard the man!" He screamed, swinging up so that he was stood on the thin railing, arms out stretched as the sea wind buffeted his hair. "Use everything! Load the guns with the cutlery! Fill them with nails! We're not going down without a fight!"

"The Pearl is going to sneak up on our port boarder!" Mr Gibbons called. "She's going to get us without ever presenting as a target".

Benj let out a fierce growl, brain wiring as the thought. "Lower the anchor on the starboard side!" He stated. Everyone stared at him.

"Yes!" Elizabeth shrieked. Her eyes were wide and she seemed to have cottoned on to what Benj was thinking.

"It certainly has the element of surprise", Will shrugged. Mr Gibbons and Anna-Maria both stared at the three of them as is they were crazy. Will and Benj both grinned at each other. Benj even grinned at Elizabeth, a new respect for the woman blossoming. She bared her teeth back. The adrenaline making them all wild.

"You're daft boy!" Anna-Maria huffed. "You're all are!"

"Aye! Daft like Jack", Mr Gibbons smirked. "No wonder you're Jack's first mate!" He slapped Benj harshly on the back and ran to address the crew. "Lower the starboard anchor! Do it you slimy gits or it's you we'll load into the cannons".

"Do it or I'll eat you all for breakfast!" Benj roared. That got the crew moving again. The anchor landed with a splash, the coils of rope disappearing into the sea.

"Hold on!" Will shouted as the ship started to list. Benj grabbed on to a nearby rope, feet still balancing on the railing.

"Let go!" Elizabeth shouted to Anna-Maria. She stepped back and the wheel began spinning madly as the ship turned sharply. The force of the sudden turning almost sent Benj off balance. He staggered, one foot slipping from the railing. A hand reached out and grabbed him by the belt. He was pulled safely forwards back onto the deck. Benj let go of the rope and gripped onto the arm still holding him.

"Don't you go falling now", Will warned, tone teasing and low. Benj practically beamed at him, his sour mood earlier fading under the thrill of danger.

"Don't worry", he winked. "I may have stumbled but I'm not one to fall William". Will's eyes sparkled and he smiled slyly.

"One day you will", he promised. Benj's eyes widened for a moment. The comment unexpected.

"That day is not this day", he muttered. "Today we have other things to worry about". He pressed his face closer to Will's for a second. Long enough and close enough to see Will's sly smile fade into a confused expression. Then Benj was pulling the man's hand off his belt and storming down the ship.

"Aim the canons!" He called as the black Pearl came alongside. "Fire!"

The bangs sounded and everything descended into chaos. Smoke billowed up as cannonballs wizzed past. Everything becoming noise and sound. Benj darted and ducked round the ship, trying to avoid the wood splinters as much as he could. Screams echoed in the air as people fell or were struck. At one point he tripped over a fallen man. His hands colliding with the wooden deck as he caught himself. As he rolled back up he pulled out one of his swords. The steel sung in his hand twisted his wrist. Over the sharp snap of gunfire and the bang of cannons, he heard the war cries of the crew as the pirates of the black Pearl began to swing aboard.

One man came screaming at Benj. He struck out with his sword and it rang against the other's cutlass. The pirate grinned at him savagely over their locked swords. Benj snarled back, teeth sharp. They danced for a moment. The two blades swishing as they both tried to let the other lessen his guard. A sharp crack made them both jump. The main mast of the interceptor snapping and falling across the deck of both ships. Benj had to duck as the riggin swung around wildly. The pirate advanced, sword coming down to meet Benj's upturned blade. Then he kicked the man in the balls. The pirate doubled over in surprise and he took the opportunity to knee the man in the face. Benj felt something crunch under the impact as the pirate was knocked back. Benj took the opportunity to leg it while the pirate was distracted.

He found Elizabeth in a flurry of petticoats and sharp blades. The woman had gotten her hand on a sword and was swinging it mercilessly at her foe. "Where's the medallion?" She called upon seeing him.

"Where's Will?" He shouted back. The medallion was still in his pocket. The weight reassuring against his thigh.

"He's"- she began then her face whitened with panic. "He fell bellow deck!" She scrambled across the deck, Benj on her heels. The trapdoor to below deck was pinned under the fallen mast. Elizabeth dropped to her knees to tug at the debris. "Will!"

"Elizabeth!" Will's voice called out. "The door is blocked!"

"Will!" Benj's voice was sharp with panic. His hands jointing Elizabeth's in trying to shift the debris. The wood was heavy and further weighted down by rigging and the thick sail. Together the two of them pushed and heaved but it wouldn't budge.

"Theres water! I can't shift it!"

Benj was just about to call back when a hand landed on his arm. Elizabeth shrieked as two men pulled her sharply away. Benj whirled and punched the pirate holding him in the face. The man recoiled with a shout and more hands came to grab him but benj was already on his feet and darting towards the railing.

"Stop him!" Barbosa's voice echoed. The crew of the black Pearl converged after him. Benj grinned as he leapt onto the railing. He turned and flicked Barbosa the middle finger as he fell backwards over the edge. The shout of anger cutting off as he hit the water.

Unedited