Disclaimer: Nothing is owned by me and will ever be of my ownership.

Title: The Collective: Switched

Author: Mystical Light

Pairing: Will/Elizabeth

Genre: Post COTBP AU

Summary: Will and Elizabeth find themselves in a sticky situation when they wake up to find themselves in the other's body. Post COTBP AU

I decided to post the first chapter a little early. Enjoy.


It was early in the month of August and the sun was being particularly troublesome for the citizens of Port Royal Jamaica. It beat down on them and no one could find any reprieve. Being inside a sweltering blacksmith shop didn't help matters in the slightest either.

Pounding away on molten iron, Will Turner took a moment to wipe his brow before continuing with his job. He pretended that the iron was Captain Barbossa and with each smack he was killing the man over and over again.

"And that's for killing my father. And that's for taking Elizabeth captive. And that's for marooning Jack and stealing the bloody gold coin in the first place."

This went on for a fairly long time and when he finally finished he ran to get a drink of water before he'd pass out due to heat exhaustion. There was a knock on the main door and he called that whoever it was could come in.

"Will? Are you here?" a sweet voice called.

Will took a large gulp of water and almost ended up choking on it.

"Will," the same voice called out again, this time much closer and more upset.

Will managed to finally calm himself down when his beloved Elizabeth finally came around the corner and found him.

"Will, are you all right?" she asked tentatively walking into the room.

Will managed a nod as he walked closer and gave his beloved a kiss on the forehead. "I'm fine so long as you're here. You surprised me; what are you doing here?"

Elizabeth smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Can't a girl visit her beloved when she has a little free time between wedding planning?"

The two of them headed back to the main room because even though it was still hot, there was a lot more room to move around. While Elizabeth took a vacant seat, Will went back to work.

"So how is the planning going?" Will asked before beginning to work again.

"Well I'm having a little trouble deciding on what kind of paper the invitations should be written on. Then at four o'clock I have to go for a dress fitting. How's your day been?" Elizabeth asked. She tried to sit in a certain way so that the heat didn't bother her but realizing it was useless to try she finally took out her fan.

"I've been busy myself," Will said putting his leather apron back on. "I've got to get four horseshoes ready by the end of tomorrow. Then I need to work on hoes and an iron fence," he said before starting to bang away at the metal.

"Goodness Will," Elizabeth said continuing to cool herself off, "if you keep taking jobs like this then we'll never have any time together and I'll have to plan the whole wedding myself."

Elizabeth waited a few minutes for a response but didn't seem to be getting one. "Will?" Maybe he couldn't hear her over the banging. "Will?" Still nothing. Elizabeth finally closed her fan, got up and grabbed the hammer from out of his hand.

"Why did you...?" Will asked, finally looking at her.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "You were lost in your little world again and I wasn't finished talking. ...What was I saying?"

Will shrugged and made to grab the hammer but Elizabeth still held back. "Elizabeth, I really need to finish," Will said reaching for it again.

"Not until you agree to help with the wedding plans," she said holding the hammer behind her back.

Will closed the distance between them and pulled Elizabeth into a kiss while simultaneously grabbing the hammer as well.

"No fair," Elizabeth said once he backed away.

Will laughed as he walked back to his work station. Unfortunately the metal had cooled off too much and now he needed to start all over again. He sighed.

"Elizabeth do you think you can come back later. I've got a lot of work to do and I'm afraid you're being a distraction."

"Oh," she said surprised. "If you think it's for the best."

"I will see you later tonight to help with the planning; I promise."

He gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek and watched as she went on her way before continuing.


It was eight o'clock and still Elizabeth didn't hear from Will. She and her Father were sitting in the salon; he was looking over some papers and Elizabeth alternated between looking out the window and reading a book.

"Perhaps he has other duties tonight Elizabeth. You can go and visit him tomorrow," her Father said not looking up from his paperwork.

Elizabeth sighed and gazed outside once again. "But he promised."

Elizabeth closed her book, kissed her Father and said she was going to be in her room for the rest of the night. When the door was shut and locked she made quick work of turning her sheets into a rope so she could climb down. Once out she made a run for the main part of town and finally came upon the smithy. She placed her ear to the door and all she could hear was metal hitting metal. The door was unlocked so she walked right in.

"Will Turner," she called out.

Will, who suddenly felt a draft against his heated back, looked up to see Elizabeth standing in the doorway; arms crossed and an angry expression on her face. "Elizabeth; what's wrong?"

"Where were you supposed to be this evening?'" she inquired, walking further inside.

Will thought it over and tried to remember. "I…"

"You were supposed to come and help me with the wedding Will," she answered for him. "I haven't gotten your opinion on anything yet. Do you want to get married because you surely aren't acting like it?"

"Elizabeth, please. I've been busy," Will said trying to placate her. "You knew that earlier when you came barging in here."

"Barging in? Is that what we're calling it now when I come and see you?"

"Elizabeth, I'm sorry if I broke one tiny promise to visit you but don't you have people helping you with your decisions with this wedding. People are in high demand of my works and since I need a little money to put away for us..."

"Will, my father already promised he'd give us a hand." If there was one sentence that Will did not want to hear, that was it.

"Elizabeth your Father is in no way going to assist us. I want to provide for my Family."

"But Will he only wants to do what he feels is best for his only child."

"And I wish my family could do the same but they can't. My Father is gone and my Mother is dead. I just wish that you could understand my life for even a few minutes. You have no idea what it's like to have to work for your next meal and not have everything handed to you," Will said not being able to look her in the eye anymore.

"Everything handed to me?" Elizabeth said walking over to him and turning him to face her. "Is that what you think my life is like? Try being trapped in your own household, being placed on a pedestal and having to be an 'example' to all the other girls and children of the village. Oh no Will, you don't get it. Not at all."

The two of them were now beyond words as they glared at each other.

"YOU JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND MY LIFE!" they shouted at the same time.

Outside lightning seemed to crash right on top of them. They both jumped and looked towards the ceiling.

"I-I have to go," Elizabeth said running outside.

The rain came down as soon as she reached the mansion. She went in the front door and ran to her bedroom before anyone could see or hear her. She shut the still open window and collapsed onto her bed and fell into a deep, uncomfortable sleep.

On the other side of town, Will suddenly felt a yawn coming. He made quick work of putting out the fire and making sure everything was in place so he could start early the next morning. He went right to bed without even taking off his clothes or having anything to eat.

He felt bad for saying those words to Elizabeth. Tomorrow he would go right to her and apologize. For right now though, it was time for a little sleep.


Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think about it thus far.